MacGowan's Ghost (18 page)

“Talk to me, Sis,” Boe said.

Allie sighed. “Too long of a story for now, but maybe later. Let's just say the mortal in the case has way more unsettled matters of the soul than the ghosts do.”

“Ghosts? As in plural?” Boe asked.

“Yep. A friar. A French noblewoman. And two English lords.”

Boe laughed. “Good God. I bet Dauber would be jealous. He is such a mother hen.”

Allie smiled. Not long after Allie and Dauber met had Boe happened to pop in for a long weekend.

That was Boe's first experience with a spirited soul. In the beginning, she'd been resistant to believing Allie's claims to see ghosts. But Dauber had a few tricks up his sleeve, and it wasn't long before Boe's resistance to believe had been shattered.

As soon as it had, she'd been able to see Alexander Dauber to the fullest.

And she'd adored him ever since.

Allie's mom and other sisters soon followed suit.

“Well,” Allie said. “Dauber's here. Mother-henning as we speak.”

“Amazing,” Boe sighed. “Hey, you know something?”

“What?”

Her sister paused, then said, “I had a dream about Dad last night. Strange, but I hadn't dreamt about him in a while.”

Allie's chest tightened. She missed her father fiercely. “What was it about?”

“Remember the time we found that bag of dog food, and thought it'd be huge fun to poke holes in it?”

Allie laughed. “And dog food spilled all over the clean clothes in the laundry room and Mom chased us outside with with the flyswatter?”

“And when Dad tried to intercept Mom, they both went down in the driveway?” Boe laughed.

Allie remembered the day well. “It was just a few days before he died.” James Morgan had the absolute best smile, and he'd been laughing like a hyena that day, covered in mud.

“Yeah, I know. I miss him,” she said, then muttered something under her breath. “Hey, Mom wants to talk again. Call me later, why don't you? I miss you so much I think I could sit and chat for hours. Oh, and Sika says hi.” Sika was the nickname they used for their sister Ivy.

“Are you being careful?” asked Sara, Allie's mom, taking the phone back. “I worry about you being in a town full of people you don't know.”

To that, Allie smiled. “Don't worry about me, Mom. The people here are super nice. You'd love it here. Sort of reminds me of your place. And I never get tired of hearing the West Highland accent.”

“That makes me feel better,” said Sara. “I miss you, you know.”

“I know, Mom. I miss you, too.” She glanced again at Justin, who'd finally given up trying to make her laugh and was now leaned against the phone booth. Or at least he seemed to be leaning. “Where's Emma?”

“She ran out to the market,” Sara said. “She should be home soon.”

Allie glanced at her watch. “I've got to go anyway, so just tell her I love her, okay?”

“Will do. Love you, baby. Take care.”

And with that, they hung up.

Allie stepped out of the phone booth and Justin was still grinning from ear to swarthy ear. He fell into step beside Allie, and she looked at him. “What is up with you today?” she asked.

He traced his goatee with his thumb and forefinger, never once breaking his stare. “You find me drop-dead gorgeous, aye?”

Allie stopped, mouth open. “Oh! Stinkpot! How did you hear me?”

Justin lifted a brow. “Me first mate was deaf as a plank o' wood. I watched him read lips, so I picked up the habit, as well.” He chuckled. “I find myself already sorry for admitting the likes to you. 'Twould have been quite useful, me reading your lips without you knowing I was doing so.”

Allie mock frowned and continued walking. “You are a naughty man, Justin Catesby. Very, very naughty.”

Justin Catesby could do nothing more than laugh.

And Allie could do little more than join him.

Chapter 15

A
fter dinner had been cleared away and the last patron had left, Gabe, who'd finally made it home, Allie, Wee Mary, Gabe's mom, Laina, and all of the Odin's Thumb souls plus Dauber gathered in the main pub lobby to discuss the contract Gabe had acquired to sell the place, along with
options
. Options, Allie gathered, that Gabe was being somewhat resistant to. He'd mentioned his concerns that night on the cliff top, and they were true concerns. Ones Allie, and the others, could all understand.

But what concerned her more was that Gabe's bigger issues were with himself and Kait. His past haunted him fiercely, and until he could let it go and possibly forgive himself, Allie knew and warned the others that selling Odin's and leaving Sealladh na Mara, in Gabe's eyes, was the only answer.

A small crack had started in Gabe's reserve, though.

Allie planned to take a wedge and widen that crack to the very best of her ability.

Lord Ramsey rubbed his chin. “I'm not following. You signed a bloody contract to guarantee a sale?”

“Christ, man, why would you do such a thing?” said Captain Catesby.

Allie could tell Gabe was getting frustrated. He rubbed the back of his neck and pinched the bridge of his nose. More than once.

He explained again. “Because. At the time—which was before I hired Allie—I felt selling was my only option. After you crazy fools scared off more than a half dozen potential buyers, I thought getting a guarantee per a Realtor would make sure Odin's would sell.” He glanced at Allie. “I wasn't expecting to have my mind changed.”

Allie grinned at him.

“We're no' leavin', are we, Da?” Jake's little voice said as he scooted across the lobby and threw an arm around Gabe's neck.

Gabe hugged his son and scrubbed his head. “Let's just say I'm thinkin' things over, lad.”

Jake looked directly at Allie and smiled.

Gabe gave Jake a loving pat on the backside. “Now scoot back to bed, aye? You've school in the morning and you need a good night's sleep.”

Jake then reached up, cupped his hand to Gabe's ear, and whispered something.

Allie couldn't read Gabe's expression. Surprise, maybe? She wasn't sure.

In the next second, the little guy was at her side, pulling on her arm so he could whisper something in her ear, too. She leaned down.

“Thank you, Allie,” he said. “But we've still work to do, I think.”

With that, he hurried back across the lobby to the stairs without turning back once.

Allie shot Gabe a look.

Green eyes studied her, bored right into her soul, so it seemed. It made her insides turn warm, and she wondered if anyone else could tell how flustered Gabe MacGowan made her.

She simply smiled and shrugged. How could she convey to Gabe something she herself didn't even understand? Later, when she could talk to Jake alone, she'd ask him more questions.

Wee Mary tapped the table with a nail. “So, lad, tell me more of this contract. 'Tis with the Realtor, you say? What does it mean, exactly?”

Gabe stretched his arms out over the table and clasped his hands. Allie noticed the thick veins running up his arms. He met Allie's gaze, then turned to his aunt. “I signed a contract with the Realtor. She gathers potential buyers and sets up the times for them to view the pub and inn. The contract is set so that she doesn't lose any money. Connected to that same contract is the one she makes with the potential buyers. They've signed a contract with her, as well. So I am obligated to allow them the chance to make an offer.”

“So you basically signed away your right to say nay, aye?” Justin asked.

Gabe nodded. “Aye, indeed.” He looked at everyone. “I've still no' made up my mind.” He scowled.

Allie thought that too much pushing wouldn't do the situation any good, so instead she clapped her hands. “Okay. Let's let things settle overnight, and we'll talk again tomorrow.” She met everyone's gaze. “How's that?”

“Right. Until then, we could plan just how to haunt the buyers, aye?” said Christopher Ramsey.

Allie frowned. “No, that's not what I meant.” She glanced at Gabe. “Let's just think things over tonight. No hasty decisions. Okay?”

Several grumbled
ayes
filled the room.

For now, that was good enough.

“For the record, I'd like my opinion to be heard and known,” said Justin. He looked straight at Gabe, and for a change, his expression was lacking mirth. He was dead serious. “I have known you your entire life, lad. I sometimes think I know you better than I know my own self, and there's one thing I know for a certainty. You and Jake belong here, with all o' us. At Sealladh na Mara.” He cleared his throat. “I dunna want you to leave.”

Each man held the other's gaze, and Allie could only imagine the years of memories running through both heads. She also couldn't help but wonder if Justin or the others had ever verbally spoken their feelings of Gabe and Jake staying, or if they'd simply dived straight in to the haunting.

Finally, Gabe wordlessly gave Justin a short nod.

“I fancied the head trick myself,” said Lord Ramsey.

Everyone chuckled, and he winked at Elise. “Excellent performance, mademoiselle.”

Mademoiselle Elise Bedeau's transparent cheeks stained pink and she gave a curt nod. “
Merci.
It was passing enjoyable. The look on that fop's face as my dismembered head spoke to him was quite memorable.”

Everyone laughed.

“Gabe, do you have an appointment scheduled for your next buyer?” Allie asked.

He nodded. “Aye, in three days. Eight a.m. sharp.” Laina, Gabe's mother, spoke up. “Gabe, love, your father will be coming home that day. We were thinking of planning a welcome-home party.” She winked at Allie. “He's been a longshoreman since the day I met him.”

A few all-knowing
ahh
s sounded from the male souls.

“ 'Twas on a long weekend young Gabe here came along,” said the friar. “The very next year, his sister.” He winked. “Busy lads, those longshoremen.”

“Och, go on with ya, then,” said Laina, blushing. A moment later, she murmured, “But you're right.”

Another round of laughter rose.

“Oy, I'm tired. Sister, let's go, aye?” said Wee Mary.

“I can drive you both home,” said Gabe, who started to rise.

“Nonsense, boy, sit down,” said Mary. “We're just up the lane there.” They rose and started to leave.

Gabe rose, too. “Auntie, dunna be so hard-headed—”

“Lad, sit. I had me appendix out, not knee surgery,” said Mary. “Laina, tell your boy to stay put.”

Lords Ramsey and Killigrew, as well as Captain Catesby, all rose at once. “We'll accompany the maids,” said Killigrew.

Mary blushed. “Now, those escorts I'll accept. Come along, lads.” She grinned at Allie. “
Beannachd leat
,” she said in Gaelic.

“Aye,
beannachd leat
,” repeated Laina, who waved. “ 'Till the morn.”

“Bye,” said Allie.

Gabe walked both ladies to the door, dropped a kiss to each of their cheeks, and repeated those same Gaelic words.

“What does it mean?” asked Allie, rising and taking their glasses to the kitchen.

“I haven't the foggiest idea,” said Dauber, scratching his head. “Are you two up for a bit of bones tonight?” he asked the friar and Mademoiselle.

As Allie entered the kitchen, she heard a resounding “aye” as well as “oui” behind her. She shook her head. How the spirited souls loved to gamble. Even if it was just for bragging rights.

Rinsing out the glasses, Allie placed them in the rack and dried her hands. Glancing out of the window, she saw wispy clouds sliding past a thumbnail moon that hung low over the loch.

“ 'Tis beautiful, aye?” Gabe's deep brogue sounded close. He leaned on the counter beside Allie and stared out the window. He glanced at her. “When I was a wee lad, me da used to tell me stories of the kelpie who'd come to the wharf during a crescent moon to lure a mortal into the depths of the water to be its mate.” He chuckled. “Used to scare the bloody hell out of me.”

Allie smiled, then glanced at Gabe. He hadn't once tried to kiss her, much less touch her, since the night on the cliff. There was a hesitancy about him now, something making him hold back. It snapped in the air between them like a current of electricity.

She hadn't a clue what was wrong. But she decided that if he wanted to kiss her, he would. He'd unloaded a great deal of pent-up guilt to her that night overlooking the loch. Maybe he was ashamed? Maybe he wasn't sure he wanted to go any further with someone who would be leaving eventually.

“Me granny would say you were gatherin' wool,” he said. “That means you're in deep thought. What's wrong?”

Allie shrugged. “Do you find it strange I'm here?” she asked. She turned, placed her hands on the counter behind her, and lifted herself up to sit. “I mean, I'm practically living under your roof, eating your food, interacting with your family, your spirits, working in your pub.” She shook her head and crossed her ankles. “You hired me to oust your bothersome ghosts, but that's not why I'm here any longer. Don't you think that's weird?”

Gabe turned and leaned a hip against the counter, facing Allie yet only a couple of feet apart. He crossed his arms over his chest, and considered a moment. Then he nodded. “Aye. Almost as weird as, out of the entire bloody international and local Web sites listed for ghost busters—thousands, I recall—I randomly select a handful by name only and yours is one of them?” He whistled low. “Bloomin' crazy if you ask me.”