by Rikki Dyson
Shane watched Stacey’s body language as they rode along. There was something about the way she handled a horse, as if they were one. He had dated among the horse-set before, however, none of the women he went out with was the ‘equestrienne caliber’ of Miss Scott. She seemed a part of nature in whatever she did. Like a breath of fresh air with natural beauty.
Within an hour they were out of the woods and crossing a shallow part of the river. Stacey stopped to give the horses time to drink and rest. She looked around and said, “This is a good place to trout fish. My gramps fly fishes in a river much like this.”
Once again Shane was intrigued by this young woman. He had never met any woman that knew anything about fishing or fish, other than how to order one in a restaurant or visit an aquarium. In a short time they were at the back of Maxwell house and were stabling the horses. Stacey started unsaddling her horse to brush her down and give her feed.
“I’ll be right back to help,” Shane said. “I want to let them know we’re back and no worse for the wear.”
Stacey wondered what he meant by that, but said, “Sure thing, go ahead I can handle stabling down the horses.”
“No, wait for me, I’ll be right back.”
He did come right back, his dad and uncle John with him. Shane introduced his dad to Stacey. She stopped brushing down the horse, put her hand out to shake hands and said, “How do you do, sir.”
Andrew McLeod was impressed with this tall slender young woman. He had been hearing about her as soon as he arrived at Maxwell house. John had told him about the strange occurrence of her knowing the way to the castle ruins. He was intrigued, although he couldn’t tell you what it was about her but there was something exceptional. He offered to help, but Stacey was quick and efficient. Andrew could tell she knew her way around a stable and remarked, “You’ve never been here before Stacey, how in the world did you ever find your way down the back way?”
“Oh, she has a map in her head,” Shane answered for her.
“A most remarkable head, I’d say,” his dad said.
They came in the house by the back door. Aunt Letty said, “I have your food on the table.
Wash up here in the kitchen if you want.” Shane motioned for Stacey to go first.
“No thanks, I’ll go upstairs. I need more than a wash anyway.”
Shane was still standing looking at the door when his dad came in to ask if he was finished. “What’s wrong son?” his dad asked.
“Nothing Dad, she just amazes me sometimes.” Shane hadn’t realized that Stacey had not used the loo all day and she even put the horses needs before her own. Stacey came to the table almost at the same time Shane did. “Sorry to come to the table smelling of horse,” she said.
“Don’t you fret about that,” Andrew said. “the smell of horses is wholesome.”
“My gramps would certainly agree with you, sir.”
“Is he a rancher also?” Andrew asked.
“Yes sir, he is and a Veterinarian too.”
“So, that’s where you get your love of animals?”
“I guess, maybe, I’ve never thought much about it. Animals have always been a part of our lives. I’ve been going along on calls with my gramps since I was five.”
Shane sat there watching the rapport Stacey had with his dad. He was ashamed of himself because he felt a little jealous. He had been having unfamiliar feelings ever since Stacey had come into his life. Maybe it would be best for all concerned when she moved on, come Saturday, then life could get back to normal. Shane was so deep in thought, his mother had to ask him twice if he wanted more lamb chops. He shook his head and said, “No, no thank you, Mother.”
Uncle John was telling Stacey that the rental company had brought another car for her.
“Great,” she said. “I need to go into Leeds and find a dress appropriate for this shindig on Friday night.”
“Did you hear me, Shane?” His mother asked.
“No, sorry Mother, I didn’t. What did you say?”
“I asked, did you bring your tuxedo?”
“Yes, as a matter of fact I did.”
As Stacey stood up, she said, “If ya’ll will excuse me, I’m going to bed. It has been a long day. Goodnight.”
“Shane, darling, you seem rather tired yourself.”
“Yes, I believe I am Mother,” Shane said. “It has been a strange day.
Chapter 5
A Trip to Leeds
Stacey was up early the next morning. She was having coffee when Shane came into the dining room. He looked as if he hadn’t slept well at all. Aunt Letty was telling Stacey the name of a good dress shop. Stacey thanked her and got up to take her cup and saucer to the sink. When she came back, Shane asked, “Would you mind if I ride in with you? It seems I neglected to bring a shirt for my tux, after all.”
“Sure, are you ready to go now?”
Stacey didn’t bring a lot of clothes with her so for that reason she had on the same blue sheath dress she’d worn that first night for dinner and her Mexican huaraches sandals. Her dress wasn’t overly short only about three inches above her knees. Stacey felt her legs were long and gangly, so she didn’t wear her skirts as short as most girls her age do.
Shane hadn’t said a word since they’d left the house. Stacey turned off Maxwell road onto the motorway that went to Leeds. She wondered what his problem was. He seemed okay yesterday. She was getting a little annoyed with him and the way he was looking at her legs as if he had never before seen legs. As Shane was looking at Stacey’s legs he thought, to himself; god, her legs are long and beautiful. I can just imagine them wrapped around me. Bloody hell, what’s wrong with me? He told himself; say something stupid, before she catches you ogling her legs.
Stacey was about to make a remark when Shane said, “You surely do handle a stick shift well. Most of the women I know will only drive an automatic.”
Much relieved, Stacey said, “I learned by trial and error when I was nine. Tony, Rich and I are the oldest of the kids, so it was up to us to help out either in the summer drought or the winter freeze. When the cattle couldn’t get to feed it was up to us to get the feed to them. We used an old sixty-nine ford pickup to transport the hay to the back pastures. I drove and Tony and Rich would open the hay and push it out.”
“I thought you had no siblings,” Shane said.
“I don’t, Tony and Rich are the two oldest kids of our ranch foreman. When things get rough, we’re all expected to pitch in and do what we can. It’s like my Grandy said, “You don’t know what you can do until you try.”
“Your Grandy sounds like a wise woman.”
“That she is, Doctor McLeod, that she is.”
“Don’t you think it’s about time you call me Shane, Miss Scott?”
“Okay, if you call me Stacey,” she said with a smile.
“That’s a deal,” Shane said, as they shook hands.
“Now tell me Stacey, how long have you been an archaeologist?”
“Actually, I’m not official yet. I won’t graduate and get my degree until May.”
“What was your major?”
“The classic’s,” Stacey said.
The conversation fell into a lull as they both were thinking, ( it’s amazing how comfortable I am with him / her.) When they entered Leeds, Shane directed her to the hospital. Stacey looked at him with concern and asked, “Are you ill?”
“No, no,” Shane said with a smile, “I’m having lunch with an old friend, then he’ll take me to purchase a shirt.” When Shane got out at the hospital he gave Stacey directions to the dress shop, then turned back and said, “If you finish your shopping early, you’re welcome to join us for lunch.”
“Oh, no thank you. I wouldn’t wanna’ intrude. Thanks anyway,” Stacey said as she gave him a smile and drove off to find the dress shop. It didn’t take her long to find what she wanted. A black chiffon dress and black high heeled sandals. She was putting her purchases in the trunk when it dawned on her, she’d dri
ven away before Shane told her where they were to meet. Stacey drove back to the hospital hoping to find Shane still there. She asked the girl at the information desk, “Do you know Doctor McLeod?”
“No, sorry I don’t,” the girl said.
“Let me describe him to you, maybe you’ll remember him. He’s like six foot three, black hair, brown eyes. Very handsome and lithe.”
“I don’t know what lithe means, miss,” she said.
Stacey smiled at her and said, “It means, fit and athletic looking. He’s very handsome I might add.”
The young woman smiled and said, “If I see him, I may keep him myself.”
Stacey laughed with her and said, “Okay, that’s seems fair.” After looking in her handbag and realizing she didn’t have her cell phone, she asked, “May I use your phone please?”
Stacey called Maxwell house and Andrew answered the phone. Stacey told him what happened and asked, did he know the name of Shane’s doctor friend? “No, Stacey, I don’t, but I can give you Shane’s mobile number.”
“That’s great, I didn’t know he had a cell phone with him.”
Back at Maxwell house, Elizabeth asked Andrew, “Who was on the phone?”
“It was Stacey,” Andrew laughed and said. “It would seem she has misplaced our son. I gave her his mobile number.”
Stacey called the number. When Shane answered, she said, “Shane, I’m so sorry. I left without knowing where we’re to meet.”
“Yes, I know, now come to lunch with us.”
“No, I can wait here.”
“Are you finished shopping already?”
“Yes, I am. I didn’t need much.”
“Then come where I am Stacey,” Shane said. “Just listen to me. Come to the Queens hotel. We’ll be in the dining room.” Shane gave Stacey the directions and in about fifteen minutes she was there. Shane was watching for her and was at her side before she saw him. He put his arm around her and took her to their table. He introduced her to his friend Doctor Thomas Owens. Shane and Tom had gone to medical school together. The three enjoyed a friendly lunch. Stacey listened as they reminisced old times and two old friends. Hugh Grant who was in Africa at present time and Natalie Portman who was in India. They both were working with, ‘Doctor’s without borders.’
Chapter 6
The Lake
Shane didn’t talk much on the way back; for something to say, Stacey asked, “Did you remember to buy your shirt?”
Shane smiled and said, “Yes, as a matter of fact I did.”
“Sorry,” Stacey said. “My dad is a non shopper and I sounded just like Mom then.”
They laughed together and then talked about the beauty of the countryside and about the party on Friday night. Most of all they wondered what information they might find at Wakefield manor.
When they arrived back at Maxwell house, company had arrived. It was Shane’s cousin, Andrea, her husband Phillip and little son Ryan who’s two and a half. When they entered the house it was empty. Mrs. Nickels told them that everyone was out back under the trees by the lake. Stacey was enchanted with little Ryan. He reminded her of her little cousin Brandon, who was about the same age. Andrea and Phillip were both very friendly. They were interested in asking about America and Texas. When Ryan went down for a nap, someone mentioned going swimming. Uncle John remarked that a nap sounded better to him, Jogging, up to the house he went. He had just stepped inside the house when the phone rang. It was a client, he waved bye and away he went shaking his head.
“Do you have a bathing costume with you?” Andrea asked.
“Yes, I do,” Stacey said.
The four young people went to change. Andrew, Elizabeth and Letty decided they would just watch for awhile. The summer days could be so pleasant and then before you knew it, clouds would darken and it would be so cool that a sweater felt good.
Today the weather was warm and the lake was inviting. Stacey’s swimsuit was an Anne Cole, one piece green and blue with matching tie around saran. Andrea’s was a two piece bikini. The four of them swam and played and raced one another to the raft in the middle of the lake.
“You’re a strong swimmer,” Shane said.
“Yes, I have a competitive nature. There was no way I could let Tony or Rich out do me, they would’ve gotten too cocky.”
Shane chortled at Stacey’s remark. Thoughtfully, sitting on the raft watching Stacey twisting her hair to wring out the water; he asked, with great admiration and curiosity, “Do you fish, Stacey?”
Stacey squinted her eyes as she looked at Shane, “It this a trick question?” she asked.
Shane chortled again and said, “No, I was merely wondering, with you living in the country, if you know how to fish?”
“To answer your question, yes, I know how to fish. With a river and a lake in our Backyard, so to speak, it would be unusual not too. When we were kids; we fished mostly for catfish and bass but my gramps likes to fly fish. I like to fly fish sometimes too, but I’m too petulant to be good at it.”
Stacey smiled as she was remembering an incident that happened when she was three or four years old and had gone fishing with her dad.
“What are you smiling about?” Shane asked. “Some mischief you used to get into, I’d wager.”
“Close, but not this time,” Stacey said. “I was remembering going fishing with my dad when I was little. I was putting a worm on my hook when I asked my dad, “Does it hurt the worm when I stick him on the hook?”
“I’m not sure, but it probably does,” Dad said. “I believe worms have a nervous system. They wiggle when you touch them.”
I thought about it for a very short while, then I kissed the little worm’s head and said, “Sorry little worm, but you gotta go.” Then I stuck him on the hook.”
Shane chortled heartily. “So you bait your own hook too. You are a very unusual young woman.”
Stacey had been admiring his chest hair and pectoral muscle. She was remembering how strong and hard his body felt against her when he held her close at the castle ruins. She had the greatest urge to reach out and touch him, but ducked her head a little embarrassed by her thoughts and afraid he would guess what she was thinking.
Quickly she said, “Not too unusual I hope. I’ll race you back to the pier,” and dove into the water. Shane dove in too and beat her to the pier by two strokes. Shane waved as he and Phillip swam back to the raft.
When Andrea had a chance, she got Stacey alone so she could talk to her. “I may be putting my nose where it doesn’t belong, but I have to warn you about Rory Wakefield.”
“I’m listening,” Stacey said.
“When we first moved here I was twenty. Phillip and I were seeing each other but no
commitment. I met Rory and he came on very strong. He’s very good looking and smooth
talking. When he asked, would I like to see the manor house? I said, yes, of course, I would.
Like, how many chances was I going to get to see inside a place like that.
Well to make a long story short, he took me to dinner then to the manor house. He had more on his mind that touring the manor house. Shane was driving from Edinburgh to London. He stopped by to see the new place and ‘god bless her,’ Mrs. Nickels told him where I was. I don’t know how Shane knew about Rory’s reputation, but he wasted no time in finding me. Not one minute too soon either. I was fighting Rory off when Shane pulled him off me. He told me, to get to the car. He gave Rory a good beating.
I don’t know what Shane said to him, however, Rory sent me a letter of apology and said he would not bother me again. I really owe Shane. You’re the only person other than Shane and Phillip that knows.”
“Thank you for telling me,” Stacey said. “That explains a lot to me, plus, fore warned is fore armed.”
Stacey had been watching Shane and Phillip horsing around and diving off the raft. She liked looking at his body, it was kind of exciting. He was very well built with just the right
amount of hair on h
is chest that tapered down into his bathing trunks. He had a muscular torso, slim waist and hips. He wasn’t just hot looking, he was drop-dead-gorgeous.
Stacey wondered, what it would be like to be under him with him full of passion. She had no reference to go on other than what other girls had told her. Of course, there were books and movies, but that was far from the real thing. Stacey knew in her dream that she had made love to the handsome, rugged earl, Eric Fitz-Morgan, but as hard as she would try she couldn’t bring the memory up from somewhere deep in her subconscious. It would flit across her mind but not stick long enough to bring it to full recognition. Stacey knew she was very attracted to Shane, however, come Saturday she would be leaving these people and never see them again. That saddened her because she really liked them.
Shane and Phillip were sitting out on a make-shift raft on the lake. Phillip noticed Shane kept looking to where Stacey was sitting talking to Andrea. Phillip said, “Stacey seems like a nice girl.
“Yes, I’m sure she is,” Shane said.
“Aunt Elizabeth said you met her here when her car malfunctioned.”
“Right, well actually, it was before that. She’s an archaeologist working on a dig near the medical center. She fell and hurt her head and was a patient in hospital and I was her doctor. She and I had a difference of opinion about a few things. She told me I was, ‘a quack and a jerk,’ and left the hospital.
“Were you?” Phillip asked chortling.
“I’m not a quack, however, I was a jerk about something.” Shane, once again was looking
toward Stacey.
“She’s a damn fine looking girl,” Phillip said again.
Shane and Phillip laid on the raft in the warm sunlight. Phillip dozed, but Shane laid there thinking about Stacey and how good she looked in her bathing costume. Those long legs, pert breast and lustrous long auburn hair. He loved watching her. The way she moved with total confidence.
He told himself, you’ve got to stop this old boy, you’re having impure thoughts and she’s far too young for that. I went out with very few college girls even when I was in college, he reminded himself and now certainly isn’t the time to start. Of course, there’s no reason I can’t appreciate her beauty.
