Christmas In Delight: Delight Book Four Page 3

“That was fun,” Amy said, closing the door behind them. “I wonder what their story is.”

  “I’m sure we’ll find out tomorrow morning. Ross will probably do some digging.”

  “This is verra nice,” Gavin said, walking around the cabin.

  “Don’t get used to it. We’re no’ staying.” Conall’s gruff tone left little room for argument, but Gavin was going to try.

  “Why? I like it here,” he said.

  “Ye like the lass,” Conall said, flopping down on one of the beds.

  “She’s pretty.” Gavin lifted the lid on a box he found in the small kitchen, replaced it when he found it was empty, and then opened the rest of the cabinets and drawers as he spoke.

  “There’s more to life than a pretty lass.”

  “So ye think.” Gavin sat on the edge of the other bed.

  “So I know. I’ve been around longer than ye,” Conall said, sounding very much like the older brother.

  Gavin rolled his eyes. “True. Ye are an old man.” He thought he was going to get under his brother’s skin, but was sorely mistaken when Conall ignored the remark.

  Conall seemed happy enough to have a bed for the night, but he’d made it clear they were here for a reason. One they hadn’t spoken of since they heard the names Payton and Kade during dinner.

  “They’re here,” Conall said.

  “I heard. Do ye think Bear is as well?” Gavin asked.

  “Unless he’s dead, I’d say he was.”

  “If we stay here, we may be able to find out more about where they are.” Gavin was hoping to extend their stay. He liked this cabin, the food, and the pretty lass called Amy.

  “That part is easy. The hard part will be bringing them back with us,” Conall said.

  “They won’t wish to go.” Gavin could see by the look on his brother’s face that he thought him daft. “I’m no idjit,” Gavin said in response to the look.

  “Did I say ye were?” Conall asked.

  “Ye were thinking it.”

  “Mayhap.” He stretched his arms up and then behind his head. “Ye’d best get some sleep. Tomorrow could be a busy day.”

  “I wonder if Cassie will make us breakfast?” Gavin gazed out the window at the large flakes of snow falling from a white night sky.

  Conall laughed and Gavin spun to see what was so funny. “I thought at first she was giving us a bowl full of worms to eat.”

  “I’ve never seen anything like it, but it tasted good.” It was good to see Conall laugh. He was always so serious lately.

  “Are ye no curious to see what other wonders exist in this time?” He certainly was and he’d gladly postpone their trip back home.

  “We’re no’ staying, so what does it matter?” Serious Conall was back.

  “Ye ken, brother, ye should try to enjoy life more than ye do. No’ everything is a task to be completed.” He knew how to work hard and when he was done, he relished his time roaming the Highlands. If he found a fine lass along the way, all the better.

  “Wise words from one so young.” Conall jabbed.

  Gavin knew Conall was trying to irritate him and it worked. “I’m no’ young. Younger than ye, but old enough to ken what I want in life.”

  “And what would that be?” Conall’s disinterested tone did nothing to stop Gavin from telling him.

  “A wife, a home, land to farm.” He looked down on his brother where he lay. “The same as every man,” he snarled.

  “Not this one,” Conall replied through gritted teeth.

  “I doona believe ye. I ken it no’ to be true.” The reason they were searching the Fletchers had everything to do with land.

  “Believe what ye wish. What I ken to be true is that we will find the Fletchers and we will go back home where we belong.” He rolled onto his side, facing away from Gavin.

  “Are we done then? Do ye no’ care what I want? Ye expect me to follow ye wherever ye lead. Am I no’ to have a life of me own?”

  Conall didn’t answer him. If he continued speaking it would be to himself.

  He cast his clothes aside and got under the covers, marveling at the softness of the bed and the sheets and the warmth of the blankets. Falling asleep would be easy, waking up might be harder.

  “I think I’m in love.” Amy had been gushing about Gavin since they’d walked into the cabin and closed the door.

  “You just met him and you know nothing about him.” Avery worried about Amy. She was a risk-taker and always quick to try new things. So far this hadn’t included men, but it seemed there was a change happening with Gavin.

  “I think I do. I know he’s perfect for me.” Amy faced Avery with her arms folded across her chest. She sounded a bit defensive.

  “Amy, you need to slow down. Get to know him before you decide he’s the one.” Avery’s voice took on a reasonable tone, so as to defuse Amy’s obstinance and in hopes that she might listen.

  “It’s kismet. The Jeep breaks down right at the foot of the hill where the cave is and they appear out of nowhere.”

  “I’ll admit, we were lucky it broke down where it did, but I’m not sold on kismet.” Secretly she was having her own private warm, fuzzy feelings about Conall. She hadn’t said anything to Amy, but when she first saw him, he seemed so familiar to her. Like she’d met him before. She wasn’t about to tell her friend, because Amy was already in fantasyland and there wasn’t room for both of them there.

  They hung up their jackets, took off their shoes and made themselves comfortable. “We should have asked Cassie for pj’s.” Amy looked into the closet by the beds. “Robes.” She pulled them out and handed one to Avery.

  “At least we don’t have to sleep in our clothes.” Avery got undressed, put on the robe and climbed into bed. “I hope this weather doesn’t mess up Crystal and Payton’s wedding plans. Everyone’s been working so hard to give Crystal her dream Christmas wedding.”

  “We can handle whatever comes our way.” Amy sat on the edge of Avery’s bed. “It’s only snow.”

  “I know, but there are people coming in from out of town for the wedding. The roads might end up closed.” Avery dreaded the thought, but she knew from experience that sometimes things happened that she had no control over. Owning the inn had taught her that. It might be booked solid and one good storm left her with an inn full of empty rooms.

  “We’ll just keep our fingers crossed then.” Amy held up both her hands with her fingers crossed. “See?”

  Avery couldn’t help but laugh. “And you think that’s going to work.”

  “I do. I’ve had to cross my fingers plenty of times.”

  “And it always worked out.”

  “Almost always.”

  “Okay. I’ll join you then.” Avery held up her own crossed fingers.

  “It has to work now.” Amy’s dreamy smile said everything about what she was feeling.

  Avery was happy to see her like this, but worried that she could just as easily end up in tears if things didn’t work out. Amy was always there cheering on her friends, watching them find love and eventually marry, but that hadn’t been her path. Not that she didn’t want it. Avery knew she wanted it very much. It just seemed that she wasn’t willing to look beyond Delight to find it and until today, no one had given her that butterfly-in-the-gut feeling she always talked about.

  “Amy?”

  “Uh-huh.”

  “Butterflies?”

  “Oh, yeah! Lots of butterflies. What about you? Butterflies?”

  “It’s too soon to tell.” Avery wasn’t about to admit that she was having very similar feelings about Conall, even if she was.

  Chapter 3

  “Good morning,” Gavin said as he opened his eyes.

  “Mornin’.”

  “Did ye sleep well?” Gavin was always cheery when he woke. It was a trait that was both annoying and admirable in Conall’s mind.

  “Well enough.” Conall wasn’t one to let his younger brother know how much he admired him or agreed with him, b
ut Gavin had been right last night. Every man did wish for a wife and family. He’d once thought all of those things were what he wanted, but then he’d found that as the years went by, they became less and less important. What good did it do him to wish for something that was unattainable? He’d seen his family lose everything – his friends and neighbors as well. Having nothing was preferable to having something that could be taken away at a moment’s notice.

  As for the English, his loyalty had a price and he’d been paid for it. As far as he was concerned, it was better to be friends with those who had the power than to fight them and end up dead.

  Gavin was still exploring the cabin. Opening doors, bouncing on the upholstered furniture and flicking the lights on and off. Conall didn’t blame him for his childlike curiosity. He would do the same, but he chose to keep his curiosity under control.

  He sat up and relished the feeling of warmth provided by the cabin. It would be a nice respite for now from sleeping outdoors. Soon enough they’d be back in their own time and there were no such pleasures awaiting them on their return. He took a good look around. Last night his interest was on finding his cousins. This morning he took the time to notice all of the things his brother was fascinated by. The cabin was small but far more luxurious than any place he’d ever lived or stayed. Soft was a good way to describe it and he was a hard man who steered clear of the womanly world this cabin seemed to belong in.

  “Conall, do ye think Amy might like me?” Gavin asked.

  “From the look of her I’d say so. She spent much time gawking at ye, although I doona ken why.” He tossed aside the blankets and threw on his clothes.

  “The other one seemed nice.” Gavin stopped to look at him.

  “Ye mean Avery.” Conall knew what his brother was up to and it wasn’t going to work.

  “’Tis an unusual name.” Water came pouring out of a spout as Gavin tested it.

  “Everything here is unusual.” So many things he’d never seen before, but there was no time to learn about them. They had a mission to accomplish and the sooner they did it the better.

  Gavin’s eyes were alight with excitement. Conall had to get him back down to earth where he had his own feet firmly planted.

  Hands on his hips, Conall’s serious face and tone were meant to reel his brother back in. “I ken yer a dreamer, lad. We’re no’ here to stay. Doona set yer sights on what ye can no’ have.”

  It worked. Gavin’s excitement was drained. “Yer right.”

  “That’s no’ to say ye can no’ enjoy it while we’re here. Don’t allow yerself to be carried off by it.”

  His brother perked up a little. “When ’tis time to leave I’ll no’ be sorry, but how will we go back?”

  “The same way that we arrived. We’ll just go back through the cave and we’ll come out in our own time.”

  They both turned as there was a knock at the door.

  “See who it is,” Conall ordered.

  Gavin opened the door. “’Tis Ross. Good morn to ye.”

  “Good morning. Cassie sent me to get ye. Breakfast will be ready soon.” Ross closed the door behind him and walked toward the kitchen to turn off the water that Gavin had turned on and forgotten about. “Get yer things and let’s go.”

  “What’s that?” Gavin asked, pointing to the roadway and the large object roaring slowly by them.

  “’Tis a snowplow. It clears the road after a snowstorm,” Ross explained.

  Gavin glanced at his brother, but Conall wasn’t paying attention to the conversation. He had that stony look on his face. The one he wore when he went into battle. Of course, they weren’t looking for a fight today, but the day was young and anything was possible.

  “Cassie will get some hot food into ye. Ye’ll need it if ye intend to head back to the cave.”

  “We’ve been thinking.” Conall spoke to Ross for the first time that morning. “We’ll stay. That is if the offer still stands.”

  “It does. I’m happy to hear it. Ye’ll find Delight is a good place for lads such as yerselves.”

  Gavin was surprised to hear this. Last night his brother had seemed in a rush to leave. “Ross, have the horses been fed or should we take care of that first?” Conall asked.

  “I fed them first thing, before clearing the paths. Yer mounts are fine and happy to be in a warm, dry place.” He led the way up the front steps of the ranch.

  The snow had fallen all night and was still falling this morning, although at a slower pace. Gavin ran his fingers through his hair, which was wet once again and covered in melting snowflakes.

  “Good morning!” Cassie was carrying plates of steaming hot food from the kitchen to the dining table.

  Gavin found Cassie’s voice to be quite uplifting. She seemed a happy lass. “Good morn to ye.”

  “Good morn,” Conall said.

  Gavin took the same seat he’d sat in last night and Conall sat next to him.

  “Where are Amy and Avery?” Gavin glanced around the room and was disappointed to find they weren’t there.

  “Walt came by on his way back to town. He rescued her Jeep from the snow.” She handed each of them a plate.

  “Thank ye fer all of this.” Gavin could hardly keep the smile from his face as he surveyed the table.

  “You’re very welcome.”

  “Ye’ll find, if ye stay awhile, Cassie loves to feed everyone. She’s a verra good cook.” Ross planted a kiss on Cassie’s lips before sitting.

  “Thank you, sweetie.” She smiled warmly at the brothers before sitting across from Conall. “Are you going to stay?”

  “For now,” Conall replied.

  They piled their plates high with more food than Gavin had seen in ages. He was familiar with most of it and what he didn’t recognize he ate anyway, knowing it would be something he would like, as long as it wasn’t green like the salad from the night before.

  “What can we do to repay yer kindness?” Conall asked when his plate was empty.

  “I can always use help with the horses. Ye can clean the stalls.” Ross put his cup down and glanced at Cassie. “Is there anything ye need?”

  “Not that I can think of.” Cassie stood and began collecting plates.

  “I’ll help.” Gavin gathered the empty platters the food had been on and followed Cassie to the kitchen.

  “You can put them right there.” She pointed to an empty spot next to the things she’d just put down.

  “Is there anything else I can do?” He wanted to be as helpful as possible to these good people.

  “No. You go back and sit with Ross and Conall.” She shushed him out of the kitchen.

  “Ye’ll be needing fresh clothes.” Ross looked them both up and down.

  “We’re fine with what we’ve got,” Conall assured him.

  “I’m going into town, so it would be no trouble to take ye. Amy has a shop. I’m sure she could outfit ye with something warmer.” He emptied his coffee mug and set it down.

  “Amy, ye say?” Gavin thought this might be his lucky day. He’d been hoping to see her again. He glanced at his brother to see his reaction.

  “Aye. She owns the ski shop.” Ross motioned them over to the comfortable chairs near the fire.

  “We’ll come with ye then,” Conall said.

  “Good. Her shop opens at ten. We’ll leave soon.”

  “Should we get our horses ready?” Gavin stood, ready to head to the barn.

  Ross motioned for Gavin to sit back down. “Nay. Cassie will drive us.”

  Cassie joined them and sat on the arm of Ross’s chair. “I’m meeting Crystal at the bakery. We’ve got a wedding at the ranch in only a week and we’ve got some last-minute details to iron out with Rose.”

  “There’s to be a wedding?” Gavin asked.

  “Yes. Our friends Crystal and Payton are getting married.” She placed an arm around Ross’s shoulders and leaned her head against his. “You should meet them and the other Fletcher boys. You’ve probably got a lot in
common.”

  Gavin caught Conall’s eye. His brother gave a slight nod of his head. Ross and Cassie hadn’t noticed.

  “When you’re done at the ski shop, you should bring them by my bookstore for a little while and then we can all have lunch at the bakery.” She looked down at her phone. “We should go. I promised I’d meet them at ten on the nose.”

  Gavin was envious of Ross. He had a warm jacket and unlike he and Conall, wasn’t wearing a kilt. His legs would be much warmer. Maybe getting some new clothes was a good idea. How they would pay for them was something he had no answer for.

  Amy hurried through the door of the shop. She wasn’t expecting customers on a day like this, but she liked to be prepared for anything. She was pretty much running the shop on her own these days. Sue had gone back home to deal with a family emergency and Kirsten had sold her portion of the business to Amy. Kirsten was too busy with the ski patrol and search and rescue now that it was officially ski season.

  She straightened the racks and then went to the back room. Walt had been kind enough to help her unload everything from her Jeep before taking it to his shop. Now, after a stop at the bakery for some coffee and a muffin, she was ready to open some boxes.

  She’d just pulled out the first box and broken the seal when the bell jangled over the shop door. “I guess someone did make it out today after all,” she muttered to herself. Amy hurried out of the back room to find Ross along with Gavin and Conall.

  “Hi!” She could hardly keep the smile from her face. She’d been hoping to see Gavin again and she wasn’t disappointed at all by what she saw as he strode toward her.

  “Good morn!” Gavin beamed a smile right back at her.

  He looked even better to her this morning. His wavy shoulder-length hair had been combed and his eyes were bright and focused on Amy. “You’re out early.”

  “I thought they could use some warmer clothes.” Ross sat himself down in the one chair by the cash register.

  “Oh, sure. Let’s get you something better suited for this weather.” Amy bustled to the jacket rack, her gaze still on Gavin.