Page 24 of Christmas at the Scottish Lodge
Quinn sucked in a breath. ‘Apology accepted I suppose. I was worried sick.’ He paused. ‘I wanted to visit today so I could find out what’s going on with my sister, but I’m still on call.’
‘Tough break.’ Jed puffed out a breath, relieved. The last thing they needed was Quinn at the lodge. He began to walkagain because he was getting cold and had too much to do to stay here.
Jed wanted to check in on Effie, to see if she needed help before he started teaching. The two new guests had arrived late last night, but one had been tired after her ‘exhausting’, ‘hideous’ and ‘horrendous’ journey so hadn’t bothered to eat the stew Mairi had prepared.
If he was lucky, he could sneak back in, check on Effie and leave again before he bumped into any guests or Mairi. Jed knew he was being a coward, but he couldn’t handle Mairi today. The way she’d looked at him in the bothy – all those questions in her gorgeous eyes. The hope that had made something inside his chest leap in response. She might have asked for a divorce, might still be planning to date the eejit from Edinburgh – but he could still affect her.
Jed reached the top of the slope and saw Douglas battling with something that looked like a sea monster at the back entrance of the lodge. He’d seen the contraption the day before, but it seemed to have grown. ‘I need to go. Looks like we have an emergency,’ he said urgently.
‘Later,’ Quinn barked, managing to add, ‘Don’t forget to keep me posted on what’s happening with my sister,’ before hanging up.
‘Douglas,’ Jed said, dropping his equipment on the ground so he could gather pace. The older man was lying on the wide patio at the back of Holly Berry Lodge.
He wore a silver snowsuit and was wrapped in a long tube of white ventilation hose which had somehow snaked its way around his body. ‘What happened?’ he asked, kneeling so he could check the older man was okay.
‘Nothing. I’m good,’ Douglas said, trying to smile. His blue bobble hat was a little skew-whiff and mussed hair poked from the edges, but he didn’t look injured. ‘I tripped over Bear, he washelping by digging the snow and loosening it so I could vacuum it up.’ He grimaced. ‘I knew he was there, but I got distracted.’ He frowned, his eyes swivelling back and forth. ‘I somehow got myself tangled in the vent of the snow machine.’ He shook his head and winced.
‘Where is Bear?’ Jed asked, looking around.
‘He ran to the front of the lodge, so he’s probably in the dining room or with Effie. I don’t want her to see me like this.’ He flushed. ‘I’m supposed to be helping out, not worrying her.’ He looked unhappy. ‘Poor lass has enough to fret about.’
‘Let’s get you up.’ Jed carefully helped the older man to his feet. There seemed to be more snow on the patio than before he’d left – and an abundance of large piles. ‘How’s the invention working out?’
Douglas grimaced. ‘Work in progress, lad. It needs some tweaks. I’ll have a tinker and take it for another spin later in the week.’ He glanced at the black snow shovel propped against the edge of the building. ‘I’m going to opt for the manual approach for now – for safety reasons.’
‘Aye.’ Jed almost laughed. He liked this man. ‘Let me know if you need any help.’ He turned so he could go and collect his skis from the snow.
‘Ach, I’ll be fine, lad. But before you leave, I want to talk.’ Douglas untangled his foot from a piece of wire which must have come loose from his invention and shoved it into the pocket of his salopettes.
‘What’s wrong?’
‘I’m worried about Effie.’ Douglas’s voice was low.
‘Why?’ Jed asked, suddenly concerned.
Douglas shook his head, his green eyes bright. ‘She’s working too hard. She won’t listen to me or the lass and do you know she stayed up most of the night playing with that pup you brought home?’
‘I didn’t.’ Jed swallowed. Effie had spent a lifetime picking up strays – including him – and sometimes she pushed herself too hard to keep them safe. He should have checked on her, but he’d been too busy trying to avoid Mairi.
‘So she’s tired?’ he checked. He’d take Midnight off her hands as soon as he finished today’s lessons.
‘Lad, I think your aunt has flu,’ the older man told him, his face creasing. ‘She’s trying to work through it, but the wee bug has her by the arms, legs and throat. She needs to go to bed, but one of the women who’s just checked in is running her and Mairi ragged.’
‘Greer Abernathy or Margo Green?’ Jed checked.
‘Greer,’ Douglas growled. ‘I’m sure she’s that mystery reviewer. No one’s that awkward in real life. I’ll take the wee pup for a walk soon, but even if I do that and tell her to rest, she won’t listen to me. Stubborn lassie.’ The words were filled with affection and accompanied by a soppy grin and a flush. Was the older man gone on his aunt? Did she feel the same way?
Jed wasn’t sure what he thought about that. He’d lived with Effie since he was born, and she’d never fallen in love with anything with less than four legs.
‘My wife was just like her,’ Douglas said sadly. ‘That’s why I know she’s going to run herself into the ground if we don’t do something.’
‘Let me put my equipment away and I’ll talk to her,’ Jed croaked.
He’d been so caught up with everything that he’d barely noticed his aunt. He had to man up and sort things out with Mairi, persuade her to leave the lodge, at least until after the ski competition. He just wasn’t sure if he was strong enough to do it…
11
MAIRI
