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Authors: Cindy Miles

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BOOK: MacGowan's Ghost
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Or perhaps Gabe MacGowan would.
Glancing up, she studied the cliff to the right of the loch, and could make out a building of sorts on the top. She'd meant to ask someone about it but had forgotten.
She pointed. “What's that up there, Jake?”
He followed her finger. “Och, that's the old keep.” He wiped his nose with the back of his hand. “My da says it once belonged to our ancestors.”
“Can you go up there?” she asked.
“Aye,” Gabe's voice sounded from behind them. “But only with someone, right, Jake?”
“Aye,” the boy agreed. “ 'Tis dangerous up there, you know, with stones falling and such.”
Allie met Gabe's gaze. “I see.”
“Can we take her up there, Da? She's from America and they dunna have castles and such there,” Jake said.
“Another day, lad,” Gabe said. “Right now Ms. Morgan and I have a dinner to prepare.” He scrubbed his son's head. “And you have a bath to take, aye?”
Jake frowned. “Aye, I suppose.” He looked at Allie. “Tomorrow, then?”
“If your dad says it's okay,” she answered.
“Great!” Jake shouted, his r's rolling like his father's.
And with that, he took off.
“Go straight to your bath, lad!” Gabe yelled after him.
Jake waved, hollered something that sounded like “aye, aye, aye,” and kept on running.
Leaving Allie and Gabe alone.
Allie shifted her gaze to the ruins on the cliff. “So. Your ancestors used to live in a castle, huh?”
Gabe gave a half grin. “What? And yours didna?”
Allie laughed. “No. Mine didna.” She turned and looked at him. “Look. I'm sorry about Jake's mom. I had no idea—”
He lifted a hand to stop her. “Dunna worry about it. 'Twas before the lad can remember.”
“What about you?” she asked. “Is that why you can't sleep?”
Just that fast, Gabe's demeanor changed. His jaw tightened, he rubbed his chin, and he glanced out over the loch. The aloofness had returned with gusto. “ 'Tisna your concern, Ms. Morgan.”
She looked at him. Maybe she'd crossed the line, but sheesh. She just wanted to help. Apparently, though, Jake's mom was an off-limits topic. Maybe, eventually, he'd open up. Thinking to try and lighten the mood, she gave a slight smile. “My name is Allie, by the way. My mother's name is Ms. Morgan,” she said, and smiled. “Let's go get dinner started or we'll never have it ready in time.”
With that, she turned on her heel and began to climb from the rocks. Her rubber sole hit a particularly smooth, wet stone and she pitched forward. She turned to try to right herself, and found herself falling backward.
A dirty word slipped from her mouth.
Just as she fell into Gabe's arms.
Breathless from the adrenaline rush, Allie could do little more than lie there, supported by Gabe as he stared down at her. That jaw still clenched, and those eyes bored into hers, weighing and measuring.
She could barely breathe.
“Does your mum know you swear like a man?” he asked.
Allie blinked.
A smile started at the corner of Gabe's mouth.
“She's worse than me,” Allie said.
“I should have guessed.”
Allie stared up into Gabe's green eyes.
She'd known him less than a week.
He made her heart flutter.
“Are you ready to go now?” he said.
“I think so,” she answered. “Yes. I'm definitely ready.”
“Great,” he said, the r rolling. He continued to stare.
“Great,” she mimicked.
Finally, Gabe lifted her upright. Neither said a word as they made their way back to Odin's Thumb.
After a few feet, Gabe spoke. “Your brogue needs a bit of work.”
“Aye,” Allie agreed.
And for the second time, she heard Gabe MacGowan laugh.
And as they walked past Leona's, the Royal Post, and Willy the Fishmonger's, Allie wondered briefly just how many more times she'd hear that deep, throaty laugh before she had to leave for good.
More important, how long it would take her to forget it.
 
“Are you nearly finished with those?” Allie asked, pointing to the chips sizzling in the deep fryer.
“Aye,” he answered. “Are you nearly finished with those?” Gabe pointed to the cubed beef she'd been frying on the stove top.
“Yep.”
“I daresay they look scrumptious, love,” Dauber said. “Reminds me of my own mother's cooking.”
“My mother didn't have to cook,” said Lord Ramsey. “The servants did all of that.”
Allie glanced at him while she flipped the meat. “What a little snot you must have been,” she said.
“Must have been?” said the friar. “Sounds as though he still is.”
They all laughed.
“ 'Twas the times, as you know,” Lord Ramsey said with a nod.
Gabe listened with curiosity. He'd hired the lass to help boot out—or at least force to stay quiet—the quirky lot of spirits who now took each and every opportunity to be around the American.
Not that he blamed them.
He'd been invited to the meeting tonight, and he hoped some sort of agreement could be met.
Not that he'd ever admit it, but he loved the irritating ghosts. They'd been a part of his life his
entire
life.
If only things could be different . . .
“Look you at how young Gabe there is gathering wool,” said Lord Killigrew. “I cannot fathom what consumes his thoughts of late.”
Gabe frowned at him.
“
Oui,
” Mademoiselle Bedeau agreed. “ 'Tis something powerful, no doubt, to give him such a look.”
Allie looked around. “Where's Captain Catesby? I haven't seen him today.”
“He'll be back tonight,” the friar said. “He made a short trip up the coast to see an old friend.”
Allie cocked her head. “So he can just zap back and forth to and from wherever?”
Lord Killigrew grinned. “We all can. We sort of just . . . think it, and we're there. You see, we move about in the mortal world, but on our plane of existence.”
Allie nodded. “That makes sense.” She rubbed her chin. “Can other mortals, outside of Sealladh na Mara, see you?”
The friar nodded. “At times, aye, for a certainty. It's been our experience, though, that those who are especially receptive can fully grasp our presence, whether we want them to see us or not.”
“Aye,” said Lord Ramsey. “And there are those not so receptive who perceive us merely as that certain something that makes one glance over one's shoulder.”
“Interesting. So Chester and Millie must have been relatively receptive?”
The lot laughed.
“Well,” Allie said, glancing at Gabe and grabbing the platter of water pitchers. “Let's get this food served and then we'll both work the bar.” A gleam lit her already gleaming eyes. “I've always wanted to do that.”
Gabe watched her push through the kitchen door, only to hear a rousing, cheerful greeting from the patrons in the lobby as she entered.
How had the lass become such a well-liked fixture at his pub in such a short amount of time? Mayhap 'twas that cheery sort of personality she had. Everyone, spirited or no', responded to it.
He glanced up, and all of Odin's souls, Dauber included but minus Justin Catesby, had ridiculous smiles pasted to their ghostly faces.
Right then, Gabe knew he was in trouble.
Deep, deep trouble.
With that, he began loading the plates.
He had a feeling this would be a long night, indeed.
Chapter 10
E
ight thirty, and the last of the dinner plates had been washed. Another successful meal without a problem or complaint. At least now Gabe was not surprised. Allie handled herself just as well with the live folk as she did with the dead ones. They all loved her. For Christ's sake, Willy MacMillan loved her.
And the lass could bloody well cook, too.
Amazing.
He tossed the dish towel onto the sink, dried his hands on the apron, and slipped it over his head. A few patrons remained in the pub, having a pint or two before heading home for the night.
Deciding to check on Jake and put him to bed, Gabe left the kitchen, peered into the pub, and then headed up the stairs. Opening the door to his room, he heard voices. Rather, one voice. A feminine one.
Allie's.
Quietly, he slipped closer to Jake's bedroom and listened at the door.
“How did you find out your da had died, Allie? Do you remember?” Jake asked.
Gabe's insides tightened.
“Well,” Allie said, “I was about your age, I think. My father worked during the night, so he was gone a good bit of the time, and when he was home, he was sleeping.”
Silence, so Gabe placed his fingertips on Jake's door and gave it a slight push. Leaning against the frame, he watched as well as listened.
Jake scratched his nose. “And so what happened?” he asked.
A somber expression crossed Allie's face, and she tried to smooth the cowlick at Jake's forehead. “My mother got a phone call during the night. My father'd had an accident at work and they'd called to tell her she needed to come right away to the hospital.”
“Do you remember all of that, then?” Jake asked.
“No,” she answered. “I was asleep. But I remember my mom waking me and my sisters to tell us Daddy had been in an accident.” She thought a moment. “We had to bundle up and get dressed to go stay with our aunt that night.”
“Do you remember burying him?” Jake asked. He was getting sleepy, rubbing his eyes and turning sideways in his favorite position.
“Yes, I do,” Allie answered.
Jake thought for a moment. “My da has verra bad dreams. I think he's dreaming of my mother after she was dead. He wakes up screamin' sometimes, and he leaves and doesna come back for a long while. It scares me.”
Gabe again froze. He didn't know if he should interrupt or let his son tell Allie what was obviously bothering him so badly. He chose to wait.
“Have you told him?” Allie asked Jake.
Jake shook his head and yawned. “Nay. I dunna want to make him upset.” He looked up at her then, and reached out with his hand and grabbed hers in a tight grip.
“Can you help him, Allie? Captain Catesby says you have a way with ghostly souls. He says you mend them. Do you think you can mend me da's soul? Even though he's alive?”
The lump that formed in Gabe's throat was nearly too big to swallow past. He eased away from Jake's door, not wanting Allie to know he'd overheard the conversation. Once out the door, he pulled it closed and stepped down the corridor. When he heard the door open, he walked toward it again.
When Allie stepped through, her eyes widened in surprise. “Oh. I'm . . . sorry. Jake came and got me and asked me to put him to bed.” She glanced over her shoulder, toward his and Jake's small apartment, then shrugged. “I hope you don't mind?”
Gabe forced a half smile. “Nay, o' course no'. I thank you—”
“Gabe, come quickly,” Ron, a frequent patron at Odin's, called up the stairs. “Your mother needs you on the phone in the kitchen straightaway. I couldna find the bloody cordless.”
Gabe turned and hurried down the stairs, and he could hear Allie's steps right behind him. He made it to the kitchen and picked up the receiver Ron had laid on the counter. “Aye, Ma, what's wrong?”
His mother's voice was laced with worry. “ 'Tis your auntie, Gabe. Wee Mary's in terrible pain. Her stomach. I dunna know what's wrong with her.”
“I'll come straightaway,” Gabe said. He hung up the phone and turned to Allie. “I'm sorry to ask this of you, but can you stay with Jake? Wee Mary's sick—”
“You both go, Gabe. I'll stay here and watch after Jake and Odin's,” said Laura, Ron's wife. “Go. Hurry, and dunna worry about us.”
With a quick look at Allie, who nodded and was pushing him toward the door, Gabe grabbed his keys to the Rover from a hook on the wall and hurried out the door. Allie was silently right on his heels.
In minutes, they were at Wee Mary's. Gabe jumped out and hit the gravel lane leading to Mary's cottage running. He swung open the front door and found his mum, sitting beside Mary on the sofa. Mary was doubled over in pain.
Gabe knelt on the floor and put a hand to Mary's forehead. Her skin felt hot and was flushed. “What's wrong with you now, you wee troublemaker?” he asked, trying to keep his voice from shaking. “Have you gone and had some bad fish?” He glanced at his mum. “She's burnin' up.”
Allie came round and knelt beside him. She reached over, picked up Wee Mary's slender wrist, and held it for a moment. “How long have you had a fever?” she asked his aunt, then smoothed back the hair from her forehead.
“Just since earlier today, I suppose,” she said, her voice weak. “Och, me stomach is killing me.” She pressed low and to the right. “Just here. And I didna eat fish today, lad.”
“Do you have your appendix?” Allie asked.
“Aye,” Mary answered, then moaned.
Allie turned to Gabe. “I'd be willing to bet it's her appendix. How close is the nearest hospital?”
“Too far to wait for the ambulance service to arrive,” he answered. “Mary, love, I'm going to pick you up and put you in the Rover, aye? We're goin' to the infirmary. Allie here will ride in the back with you.” He glanced at his mother. “I'll call you once we get there.”
BOOK: MacGowan's Ghost
5.95Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
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