Rite of Passage (19 page)

Mystery, danger, a beautiful damsel in distress. This is like the movies!
How could I refuse?

I took her hand and we tiptoed to my door. With a look around I opened it, and we went inside. She sat on the couch as I pulled out two cigarettes, lit one and handed it to her. She inhaled deeply. I took the other. I sat on the floor next to her as she sat back, resting her feet on the coffee table. I felt slender fingers running through my hair. I took her hand and pulled it to me, kissing the palm.

“Courtney, what do you know about Mrs. Mac?”

“Other than the fact that she’s been like a grandmother? What do you mean?” she asked, sounding annoyed as she crushed out her cigarette. “Why? You can’t believe she had anything to do with what I felt.”

“No, of course not,” I assured her, still wondering.

She slid onto the floor next to me, resting her head on my shoulder.

“You two can become fast friends tomorrow.” She yawned, closing her eyes.

I watched her for a few minutes, luxuriating in her being close. I wanted to ask her about my provocative dream. The one where she and I were joined. Had she put that image into my mind? I never had the chance. “Hey, I thought you witches didn’t need to…” I stopped as I heard her gentle snoring.

Pulling off her boots, I picked her up and put her on my bed, covering her with the quilt. I kissed her lips softly.

Tomorrow held a series of challenges: calling my mother and friends to tell them I’d be staying, and the one I dreaded the most: trying to explain this to Rachel.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Sometime in the early morning hours I awoke stiff and tired on the couch. My aching leg and back muscles signaled I’d spent too many hours in the saddle. No matter how I shifted positions it was impossible to get comfortable. When I turned and saw Courtney lying snug and cozy under the comforter, my resolve evaporated. I crossed to the bed, threw off the warm covering and lay down next to her. As I did, she moaned softly, letting her arm fall across my chest. I turned, letting my gaze wash over every inch of her face. Playing my game again, I lay, trying to find a flaw, a tiny defect in the perfection. There were none. The musky scent of sleep mingled with the delicious jasmine that always surrounded her.

I leaned over and kissed her nose, letting my lips drift to hers. She smiled sweetly but turned away. As I lay watching the outline of that lightly freckled nose, I knew there was no woman I had ever wanted as much. None I ever would. But that would have to wait till Friday evening. The girl lying next to me seemed so young, so sweet, so innocent.
Eleven centuries!
It was difficult to grasp she’d lived so many lives. I let my arousal fade and turned from the angel lying a scant twelve inches away.

****

Courtney lay awake, luxuriating in being close to him, the scent of his body, the secure feeling of his arm encircling her. She had to slip from underneath and go tend to the horses. It was the last thing she wanted to do. Courtney smiled briefly as she thought about using her powers.
A spell to put Romeo and Pumpkin Patch back in fighting form?
Then she could lie here next to him…forever. It occurred to her that she’d often been annoyed with her human side because it always seem to hinder her. Now, as she felt his warmth and felt him pressed against her, she basked in it.
Love,
Courtney thought. What a wonderful word. She brushed aside a tear as she thought of her mother, wishing she could have lived to meet Robbie.

Quickly and silently she turned and slid away from Robbie. As she stood, Courtney turned and bent over him, studying his handsome, aristocratic face. She brushed strands of dark hair off his forehead and kissed his lips softly. He made a soft noise and turned onto his back. She tiptoed to the couch and pulled her boots on.

Courtney looked at her watch as she stepped into the dawn: 5:35. In the east the sun broke over the White Mountains. Making her way across the courtyard, she saw fingers of mist rising from the pool in the still, gray air.

Before she went to the stables she had a visit to make. Tiptoeing up the stairway, Courtney reached the long, paneled hallway and stopped in front of the third door on the left. She closed her eyes and concentrated. No need to knock. Simon opened the door wearing his silk dressing gown.

He nodded and ushered her into his room. “I expected you.”

Courtney sat down on the love seat that hugged the far wall.

“I had a vision last night,” she whispered.

Simon nodded again. “I know. I felt it, too. About half an hour after the fireworks ended?”

“Yes.” She studied her mentor, terrified by the implications of his confirmation.

He stood and paced, then proceeded to the double windows and opened them to the dawn.

Courtney sat in silence, biting her lip as she closed her eyes and pictured Robbie.

“This is such a beautiful place. I’ve been absent far too long.” Simon’s words seemed casual and out of place. She knew better. His eyes wore dark shadows and his face looked drawn and weary. He must have been awake all night.

“Simon. I’m frightened.” She sighed and stood, clutching his long arm as he focused on the sun climbing above the distant mountains. “Not for myself,” she said, fingering the amulet. “For him. For Robbie.” She turned toward the sunrise. “I love him so much. If anything happened to him…” she whispered, unable to articulate her fear.

“Everything will be fine, my dear.” He turned, kissed her hair and gave her a confident smile.

“Did anyone at the Pagan Council have an inkling? Think anything out of order?” Courtney asked, not sure she wanted to hear his answer. The council was the supreme governing body for all pagans.

“Someone had mentioned a small sect of Druids that met at the ancient ritual site on Anglesey.” He shrugged. “No one thought they represented a threat. It makes no sense. Why would anyone want to interfere with the ceremony?” he asked, more to himself than to her.

“I have to warn him. Tell him he may be in danger.”

Simon held up his hand. “No. Not yet.”

“But you and I know that evil exists. Robbie’s a child. He believes in fairy tales. I’m so frightened that someone might…”

Simon shook his head. “Calm yourself, child. Let me talk to him. After you return this afternoon we’ll draw down the circle and seek wisdom from the ancient ones.”

“But Simon!”

“There is nothing to worry about. You and I are the most powerful witches to ever live.” He squeezed her shoulder gently to calm her. “Even if someone tried to prevent or sabotage our plans and the ceremony”—he touched a finger to the amulet that adorned Courtney’s neck—“we would defeat them.”

****

I awakened to the pleasant chirping of birds outside my window. I smiled and turned, stretching out my hand, expecting to find Courtney snuggling under my comforter. My heart sank. She was gone.

It was almost eight. I jumped out of bed, showered in record time, and dressed in light cotton slacks, a plaid shirt, and my walking shoes. I ran across the courtyard to the main house. When I entered the dining room, Courtney was nowhere to be seen.

I saw Simon. He was entertaining Jon, Gretchen, and several others at a large round table. After my conversation with Courtney and Michael, I surveyed the scene, still amazed that these fine ladies and gentlemen were witches.

Sitting alone at a small table, watching the show with a bemused expression was Mrs. McPherson. I waved at the large group. Simon rose and crossed to meet me with his hand extended.

“Good morning, Robert.” He nodded at me. “I understand you know who and what we are. And of the role we hope you’ll play in our ceremony.”

“Yes, sir. Courtney and Michael explained the…situation.”

“I’d like to spend some time this morning answering the questions that I’m sure are running through that agile mind.”

“Of course,” I agreed. I wanted to hear everything, and I did have a lot of questions. “I’ll eat breakfast and have to make some calls. How about 10:30 in the courtyard?”

“Fine.” He shook my hand again, nodding.

I looked up and saw Mrs. McPherson. She smiled warmly, motioning for me to join her.

“Would you sit with me, Mr. Robert? I saved a place for you and my girl.” She stood, leaning on her cane, motioning to the empty seat across from her. “I’d like to get to know you,” she said. “That would make Courtney happy.”

“Thanks. I’d love to talk to someone who’s known her as long as you have,” I said, looking around. “As a matter of fact, I was hoping to see her.”

“I saw her heading to the stables. Said she had to take care of some horses. She’ll be back shortly.” The older woman had a thick Scottish burr I found delightful. She caught my expression.

“I love your accent,” I explained, realizing I had just read her mind.

“You certainly are a fine-lookin’ young man. I can see what Courtney finds so agreeable in you.” She paused, motioning for a second cup of coffee. “I’m not used to being the one who’s waited on,” she confessed with a guilty smile. “So. What can I tell you about my girl?”

“I’ve heard that she lost several people who were close to her under strange circumstances?”

She fixed her coffee in a deliberate way, then turned watery gray eyes toward me. “Well, I can no talk for certain to the strange part. There was Mr. Phillips. He was killed in a terrible accident. It’s no secret he was Miss Courtney’s real father.” The older woman scanned the room and reddened. “And then there was Meghan, of course, her best friend. The wee child drowned at the pond where they were swimmin’. So sad. My Courtney tried to save her, but there was nothing she could do, poor dear.”

That was interesting. It raised a question. With her extraordinary powers, I found it hard to see Courtney letting her best friend drown, even if she was a child. Should I ask Courtney?

Mrs. McPherson continued, “They were both so full of energy. Always taking chances, jumpin’ their mares over stone walls they had no business tryin’. It was impossible to keep track of ’em.” She shook her head. “They lived on their horses and it was very warm that day.” Her eyes were moist and faraway. “They snuck off by themselves. The first we knew of trouble was when Courtney rode home cryin’ for help. By the time we arrived it was too late.”

“I heard that there were some strange markings near where the girl died.”

She raised her thick gray eyebrows. “I had heard that, too. Somethin’ about a sign or a symbol. The constable did come by, of course, but who knows? There’s lots of country folk livin’ out there.” She shook her head. “They have funny ideas.”

I found it difficult to believe that this wise old woman knew nothing about the markings. I was about to pursue the issue when a dreamlike touch rested on my shoulder. Courtney kissed my cheek and came around to sit in the chair between Mrs. McPherson and me. She was still dressed in her riding clothes.

“Hello there, sleepy head,” she teased, a playful look in her soft, dark eyes. Just seeing her brightened my spirits. The conversation with Mrs. Mac faded to the recesses of my mind.

“Well, if you didn’t keep me up so late, I could get up and help you with the horses. But I need my beauty sleep.”

She studied my face, her eyes taking in every feature. She put her lips together and sighed. “No.” She tilted her head. “You’re beautiful enough.”

I flushed and shot a look at her nanny. The older woman smiled.

We went to the breakfast buffet and gorged ourselves on poached eggs, freshwater salmon, and French toast. The conversation shifted to other topics. We discussed the weather, Courtney’s party, and the trip the two of them were going on that morning.

“Mrs. Mac has never been to America before. I’m going to borrow Jon’s Packard Victoria convertible. It’s spectacular.” She sneaked her fingers across the table, brushing mine. “I’ll take her over that delightful road we took to Naples. But then, we’ve done so many things, haven’t we, Robbie?”

Mrs. McPherson looked on like a proud grandmother.

“I cannot wait, darlin’.” She stood up and touched Courtney’s shoulder. “What time should I be ready?”

Courtney looked at her watch. “No rush. We have all day. I’ll meet you in the garage at 10:30.”

I stepped on her boot under the table.

“Ow,” she complained, looking cross.

“I don’t want you to be gone all day. I was hoping to sneak away.” I groaned and held my sore back. “For a long…walk.” I raised my eyebrows.

Courtney laughed. It was warm and delightful. Her eyes shone. She feigned a deep sigh. “You are incorrigible, Mr. McGregor. And here I thought you were a proper gentleman.”

I looked around and seeing no one watching, I took her hand, letting our fingers meld.

“Besides, while I take Mrs. Mac around the lake, you and Simon are going to talk. He’ll answer your questions, explain about our family and the ceremony.” She blushed.

“Right. But how did you know?”

She wore that playful smile. The irresistible one I loved. “I’m sorry. I thought you knew, darling?
I’m a witch!”

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Despite knowing that Rachel should have been my first call, I was a coward. I called two friends I’d made plans with and explained that I had to cancel. I apologized and promised to see them the following week, having no idea what or where I might be after Friday night. I reconnected with the operator, giving her my mother’s number.

After three rings she picked up.

“Hello, Mother.” I wondered about her reaction. She had a dinner party planned for Friday evening, and she adored Rachel.

“Hello, Robbie. How’s the reunion?”

“Better than I expected.” I swallowed and took the plunge. Being valedictorian, award-winning scholar, and All New-England athlete was one thing; telling my autocratic mother I was going to spoil her dinner party was another. “That’s why I’m calling.”

“That’s wonderful, dear. I knew you’d enjoy yourself.” She paused. “I can’t wait to hear all about it.” She stopped. I heard her Kerry blue terrier barking in the background. “Oh, be quiet, you naughty boy.” Since my father died and Michael and I’d moved out, Churchill was her only companion.