Abigail huffed and begrudgingly made her way to the cantankerous old man. “What do you want now?”
“This lass be lookin’ for James MacGreagor. You know if he still be at Marblestone.”
Abigail’s demeanor completely changed and she smiled at the stranger. “He is, and if not now, he soon shall be. Would you care for a ride, my dear? I happen to be going that way.”
Jillian could not believe her luck. “I would be most grateful.”
“There, you see,” said the Provost, “ye do have a kind heart, though you usually keep it well hidden under your girdle.”
“Mr. MacGreagor, I’ll thank you not to mention my…unmentionables!” She took hold of Jillian’s elbow, stuck her nose in the air and guided the girl toward the Whitfield carriage. “Have you come far to see him?” she asked, as the driver took Jillian’s bag, and helped them both into the carriage.
“All the way from Bristol, England,” she answered. She could hardly contain her joy as the carriage began to move. “I mean to marry him, if he will still have me.”
“A wedding? My dear, that is marvelous. There is nothing the Whitfields and MacGreagors love more than a wedding.”
“How is James, is he well?” she asked as the carriage started up the hill. Colorado looked nothing like the constant green of England, yet the beauty of the Rocky Mountains was more than impressive. Tree leaves were beginning to blanket the ground in yellow and red on either side of the road, and some of the oak trees were as tall the spruce pine trees.
“He looks well enough to me,” Abigail answered. “Leesil and Cathleen thought him gone down with a ship, you know.”
“I thought the same, but I wasn’t sure they had heard.”
“Oh my yes, and their tears fell like rain. How happy they are to have him back.” Abigail pointed through the break in the trees. “Marblestone.”
“Oh, my. James said it was grand, but I had no idea?” Jillian couldn’t stop grinning and when the carriage finally stopped in front of the mansion, she could hardly wait for the driver to open the door and let her out. Before she could grab her bag, Alistair came out to help. “I have come to see James. Is he here?”
“Around back, I imagine.” Alistair barely got the words out before Jillian began to run around the outside of the house.
She rounded the corner, ran the width of Marblestone, ignored the gawking children, flew around the last corner and stopped. He was standing near the corral with his back to her, but she would know him anywhere.
Watching Blair training her colt was becoming a favorite pastime for James. He hadn’t seen Blair since she was six, and she was all grown up now. Time, in the world outside of prison, flew by so much faster, it seemed. For a moment, he thought he heard Jillian call his name, but it was just the wind and he ignored it. There was much to consider. He was home with the people he loved, yet he had not decided on an occupation. Should he stay and work for the MacGreagors, or…
“James?”
His mind was playing tricks on him and he was none too pleased. Yet, he wrinkled his brow and slowly turned to look. “Jillian?” he whispered. It was Jillian. She was running to him the way he imagined she would. Without even thinking, he opened his arms and as soon as she was in them, he lifted her off the ground. “I cannae believe it!” He kissed her cheek and her neck so many times it made her giggle. “Where…what…” he tried.
“Father lied. He meant well, but…” before she could finish her sentence, his lips were on hers.
Behind Hannish’s study window, Cathleen stood beside Abigail and watched the glorious reunion in the backyard. “She means to marry him?” Cathleen asked. “He has not said one word about bein’ in love.”
Abigail was beaming. “I feel another wedding coming on.”
Cathleen gave her dear friend a daring look. “And shall you ask Provost MacGreagor’s permission for this wedding as well?”
“No, I shall not! This one is not for my daughter, and he can have no say in the matter whatsoever.”
Cathleen giggled. “Dinna count on it.”
~ the end ~
Coming soon – Greed and a Mistress, (a Jackie Harlan Mystery) and then on to Marblestone Mansion, book 10.
MORE MARTI TALBOTT BOOKS
Marti Talbott’s Highlander Series, (books 1 – 14) is a continuing saga that spans four MacGreagor generations, and sees them through plagues, wars, kidnappings, poisonings, and the day-to-day challenges of love and survival. The first five books contain twenty short stories, while the rest are complete novels. They include: Betrothed, Book 6, The Golden Sword, Book 7, Abducted, Book 8, A Time of Madness, Book 9, Triplets, Book 10, Secrets, Book 11, Choices, Book 12, Ill-Fated Love Book 13, and The Other Side of the River, Book 14.
The Viking was written after the first twenty short stories, yet it is a prequel that explains how the clan came into being. It is followed by The Viking’s Daughter.
Marti’s Marblestone Mansion (Scandalous Duchess Series) follows the MacGreagor clan into Colorado’s early 20th century. There are currently 8 books in this series with more on the way.
Other Marti Talbott Books include: The Promise, (Carson Series, Book 1), Broken Pledge, (Carson Series, Book 2), and Seattle Quake 9.2, and The Billionaire’s Will, a Jackie Harlan Mystery
Talk to Marti on her Facebook Page at: https://www.facebook.com/marti.talbott
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Table of Contents
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 5
CHAPTER 6
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
CHAPTER 9
CHAPTER 10
CHAPTER 11
CHAPTER 12
CHAPTER 13
Marblestone Mansion, Book 9 Page 20
