In Search of the Past (Stacey and Shane Mcleod, #2) (16 page)

“Are you sure you don’t mind going to this, what did you call them last summer, ‘The idle rich?”

Shane laughed and reminded her, “You said, you weren’t one of them.” 

“I’m not, Annie is connected, that’s all. Wait until you see the little town I come from and smell the horse and cow poop on the ranch.  Half of the time when you come to the house, it’s on your boots and sometimes on you too. Mr. Chen won’t let you in the house until you’re out of your boots and sometimes your britches too. Now, do you still want to come to my house for Christmas?”

Shane caressed Stacey’s cheek and said, “I wouldn’t miss it lass, or Friday night either. Life gets more and more interesting with you in my life.  I never realized what an ordered, mundane life style I lived, until I met you.”

Stacey kissed Shane and laughed at him. On a more serious note she said, “Shane, I want to tell you about Eric and our special friendship.”

“It’s not necessary, sweetheart. Annie mentioned that he is your foster brother.”

“Yes, he is. Harlan asked Dad to give him a job. He was seventeen and I was thirteen. I was always hanging around him talking about archaeology. He wasn’t much of a talker, he would keep working and grunt once in a while. He had earned a scholarship to Baylor, but had it deferred until later. He knew he would need money for expenses, so he came to work on the ranch. When I say he came from a dysfunctional family, well that doesn’t tell the half of it. His parents were both alcoholics. One night they were so jacked up they drove right off into a deep ravine and were both killed.

He had two older brothers, that were killed six months later in a drug deal gone bad. Eric disappeared for two days after he heard. I guess it was too much to soon. I had a Great Dane I called Scooby. Mom and Dad gave him to me when I was eight. He and I went looking for Eric. We found him down by the lake. We stayed there with him just to keep him company. One day we were out on the lake in an old boat when I flipped over backwards and didn’t come up. He got worried and came after me. When he saw I was okay I stuck my tongue out at him. Back in the boat he said, “I aughta’ knock your block off.”

I said, “Go ahead and I’ll knock yours off.” We both started laughing. He talked and talked and told me the hell of a life he had lived. When I started college, he did too. He is the closest thing I have to a brother and he is one of my two best friends.

Friends

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tacey and Shane spent Saturday night alone, however, were invited to brunch at friends of his on Sunday. Annie and Hugh were invited also. They had all been friends for almost five years.  Nigel is an anesthesiologist, he and his wife, Megan have two children. “That’s one main reason we meet at their house,” Shane said.

Nigel and Megan O’Conner were nice and friendly and Stacey liked them both. The other couple was Iain and Rachael Graham. Iain is an orthopedic surgeon.  He was friendly, but his wife, Rachael, seemed a little cool and standoffish. Annie and Hugh arrived shortly after Stacey and Shane did.  Annie had met everyone previously, but this was Stacey’s first time, plus she was much younger than the others.  Stacey was glad Annie was there, she wasn’t sure how the others would accept her. She knew their age difference was open to comment, but she also knew she would only put up with just so much derision.

Nigel, Megan, Iain and Rachael had been talking earlier about Shane’s choice of fiancée.  Rachael had made the remark, what could they, or Shane for that matter, have in common with a twenty-one year old college student. Nigel and Iain grinned at each other. “You two just stop that,” Rachael said. “I’m sure she’s pretty and sexy and all that, but Shane’s girl friends have always been beautiful, glamorous, sexy and grown; may I remind you.”

“Yes, Rachael, you have a point, but let’s give the girl a chance before we black ball her,” Iain said. “Also, I would like to remind you, Shane never brought any of his other girl friends into the fold.  We always met them at a club or a restaurant.  I think that in its self is significant.”

After the initial meeting and the meal was over, the guys wound up watching a Rugby game on TV and the women in the dining room talking.  The children were at their grandparents for the day. “We didn’t want to scare you away the first time you came to visit,” Megan said, laughingly.

“I don’t scare that easily,” Stacey said. “I like kids.”

“You’re not much more than a kid yourself,” Rachael said as she gave Stacey a stony look. Stacey wanted to ask, why the attitude?  But instead she asked the ages of their children?  Megan said theirs were seven and five. “How many do you have Rachael?” Stacey asked, hoping to thaw out her frigid attitude.

“I have two, they are nine and six.  I’m a teacher. What do you do?”

“Stacey is an archaeologist too,” Annie answered quickly.

“I understand you’re still in college,” Rachael said.

“Yes I am. I’ll graduate next spring.”

“How long have you and Shane been engaged?” Rachael inquired.

“Three months the twenty-fifth of this month.”

“I understand you’re an American,” Rachael said.

“Yes, as a matter of fact, I am,” Stacey said. “I’m from Texas to be exact.” This seemed to be going somewhere, but she wasn’t sure where. Stacey stood up and poured herself another cup of coffee and waited. 

Sure enough, Rachael said, “You know, long distance romances seldom survive.”

Stacey gave her a frosty look and said, “This one will.”

About that time the guys came back into the dining room. They all sat and talked as a group for awhile.  Around four the party broke up and Stacey and Shane left. 

“Did you enjoy yourself?” Shane asked on the way home.

“It was okay, but I would rather have been with you,” Stacey said, as she wondered if men were blind to snippy women.

“Right you are, sweetheart. There’ll be plenty of time for friends after we get married, again.”

“Did the Grahams seem a little unfriendly to you?” Stacey asked.

“Iain and Rachael,” Shane said with a frown. “No, they seemed as usual.” 

“Well, actually, it was Rachael not Iain.  It’s probably because I’m new to the group,” Stacey said very seriously.

“Was Rachael rude to you? Shane asked.

Stacey smiled at him and said, “Nothing that I couldn’t handle, so don’t give it a second thought.  She and I will get to know each other in time.  I did like Megan though, she was very friendly.

Shane had a feeling there was more to this than Stacey was telling. He detected a slight sound of hurt in her voice, so in the car park garage, Shane surprised Stacey by picking her up and carrying her up in the lift.  They met a few people and Shane said, “She’s not feeling well. I hope you’ll excuse us if we go first.” As they exited the lift, Stacey started laughing and telling him what a wonderful fool he was.

At the door of the flat Shane told Stacey, “Reach in my pocket and get the key.”  She reached and he said, “You know perfectly well that is not the key.” 

“It might be the key to something,” Stacey said. “Let’s go see if it fits.” 

“You’re a crafty minx,” Shane said chortling. “Have I told you how much I love you?” 

“No, but if you tell me, I promise I’ll keep searching for the key.” Stacey said, as she kicked off her shoes and Shane carried her upstairs.

Monday morning the alarm went off at five a.m.  Shane had to be at the hospital at seven a.m.  While he was showering and getting dressed, Stacey made coffee and heated scones.  As he grabbed a bite, he told Stacey, “Meet me at the hospital around twelve thirty so we can have lunch together.”

“As you wish,” Stacey said smiling.  She knew when she came, Shane would have to work and she would have to find things to do to keep herself busy. Stacey remembered an address she’d copied down from the TV. It was a program on ‘medieval times,’ where they were telling about, ‘Coats of arms.’  There was a huge book of them and Stacey wanted to go to this place and look at the book.  It quite possibly might help to find some of the answers she was still pursuing. Stacey decided to meet Shane first, then go to the coat of arms place.  She didn’t know how long it might take her.

Mrs. Wyatt

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tacey was in the shower when Shane’s housekeeper, Mrs. Wyatt, arrived. Stacey stepped into the bedroom with a towel around her and had a surprise encounter.  They both stood looking at each other. “Hello, I’m Stacey Scott, Doctor McLeod’s fiancée.”

“Doctor McLeod didn’t say a word about you being here.”

“Well, as you can see, I’m here,” Stacey said. The woman said nothing more, but just stood there. “Well, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll get dressed and get out of your way,” Stacey said.

On her way out, Stacey heard the woman grumbling something about, young women and decency today.  Stacey took a taxi to the hospital, then up the stairs to the third floor. She remember where Shane’s office was, but did receive a considerable amount of attention as she walked through the hospital.  Stacey was wearing a black soft leather skirt and jacket, with a pink turtle neck sweater, black high heeled boots and shoulder bag to match. When Stacey arrived on the third floor, just past the nurses station, her cell phone rang. It was Shane telling her, to meet him in the cafeteria.  As Stacey went back the same way she came, a nurse stopped her and asked, “Aren’t you Miss Scott?”

“Yes I am,” Stacey said.

“You may not remember me. I was your nurse, Rhonda, last summer, when you were in hospital.” 

“Yes, of course, I remember you. Thank you so much for your good care.”

“You’re very welcome,” Rhonda said. “May I be of some assistance?” 

“Yes, absolutely, you can direct me to the cafeteria. I’m meeting Doctor McLeod there and I’m running a little late.”

“Oh my goodness, you’re his fiancée?” Rhonda said, full of astonishment.

“Yes, I am,” Stacey assured her.

“Oh, my goodness,” Rhonda said again. “We heard she was an American, however, I never dreamed it was you.” 

“Yes,” Stacey said. “I’m the lucky girl. Now, the way to the cafeteria please?”

“I’m so sorry,” Rhonda said.  Then gave Stacey the directions to the cafeteria.

When Stacey found the cafeteria, Shane wasn’t there yet, so she got herself a cup of tea and sat down.  Stacey, thought to herself; you’d think I was the main attraction. They didn’t gawk this much when I wore my boots and jeans. Finally, Shane arrived.  He kissed her and said, “Sorry sweetheart. I was called back in for a minute or two.”

“That’s fine,” Stacey said.

“Are you hungry?” Shane asked.

“No, you eat. I need to talk to you about something.”

“Right,” Shane said.  He served his tray and came back and asked, “What is it you need to talk about, sweetheart?”

“Did you tell Mrs. Wyatt I would be staying with you?”

Stacey knew from the look on Shane’s face, he had not.

“What happened?” He asked.

“I stepped out of the shower into the bedroom and there she stood.” Shane started chortling. “Well,” Stacey said. “Mrs. Wyatt didn’t think it was funny.” 

“I’ll talk with her sweetheart, she’ll understand.”

“I’m not so sure about that, maybe we should show her a certain piece of paper.” 

“Let me talk with her first, then we’ll see,” Shane said. 

“Okay,” Stacey reluctantly agreed.

After lunch, Stacey kissed Shane bye and caught a taxi to the ‘The royal college of arms.’ An elderly lady saw her as she walked in and asked, might she be of some assistance?

“I hope so,” Stacey said. “I understand you have a large book here that shows the, ‘Coat of arms,’ back to the middle ages.” 

“Yes we do, come this way.” The woman  took the book down and laid it on a table and handed Stacey a pair of white gloves.  “Is there some family or particular year in which you’re interested?” she asked.

“Yes, I’m looking for the, Fitz-Morgan family crest in the year thirteen seventy. May I look through the book for their coat of arms?”

“Yes, of course,” the lady said, “however, please keep the gloves on at all times.”

Stacey turned the pages slowly, one by one.  She was more than less half way through when she saw the, ‘Earl of Dun-Raven, coat of arms.  A tower with a raven perched on it.’ Stacey became weak in the knees and could hardly catch her breath.  She turned pages and looked for the coat of arms of the, ‘Hampton family.’ A few pages over, she found it also. Stacey took a tiny camera from her shoulder bag and photographed both pages.

“Where do you keep your information on the families?” Stacey asked

“Most of them we have transferred over to microfiche,” the lady said. “Eventually we hope to transfer them to CD’s.”

“May I look at the Earl of Dun-Raven, the Fitz-Morgan family?” Stacey asked.

It took Stacey some time to find them.  She scrolled to the year thirteen seventy, but there was nothing.  She scrolled back, then back farther to thirteen sixty, and there it was.  The betrothal and wedlock of the seventh Earl of Dun-Raven, Geoffrey Eric Fitz-Morgan to lady Frances Louise Hampton, on October first, thirteen sixty.  Stacey was nervous as she scrolled farther and found viscount Geoffrey Shane Fitz-Morgan-betrothal and wedlock to lady Anne Barr, on September sixteenth, thirteen ninety-three. Stacey scrolled farther, looking for Brandon’s name or the girls, but found nothing.

Stacey searched the records for Eric’s death, but found nothing. Once again, she scrolled farther, and then found the deaths of Geoffrey Thomas Fitz-Morgan- ninth earl of Dun-Raven but no date.  Thomas Edward Fitz-Morgan- tenth earl of Dun-Raven and his son Thomas Eric Fitz-Morgan-viscount around fourteen sixty-nine or fourteen-seventy.

“Could there be more information some place else?” Stacey inquired, confused.

“Yes it’s possible. Do you know where the fiefdom of the family was located?” 

“Yes, in Yorkshire,” Stacey said.

“You might try there,” she said. “I’m not familiar with that family. Of course, some families kept a very low profile in those days. For that reason, you understand information was sparse to non-existent during the years of, ‘the war of the roses.”