Spirit of the Revolution (29 page)

“That doesn’t matter,” Mathias snapped. “What matters, is he’s still looking with a portion of the clues and that puts you in even more danger, especially now he knows the name McGregor.”

“How would looking in the wrong place possibly put me in any danger? I think it’s a good thing he’s off on some wild goose chase. You need to remember, Stoystown is in Somerset County. His search will take him quite a distance from here and from me,” she argued.

“Yes, but when he discovers he’s wrong, he’ll have to come back to the original source. He’ll believe you found the letter here and he’ll wonder what else you might be hiding.” Mathias shook his head and placed a hand on top her shoulder. “I’m so sorry, Jolena. We shouldn’t have involved you in any of this.”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” she said. “I wouldn’t have had it any other way. Besides, I really don’t think I’m in any danger, and even if I were, I have five of the best bodyguards on this earth. I know without doubt, you wouldn’t allow anything bad to happen to me. You’ve already proven as much. Now enough of all of this nonsense. We have more important things to discuss, like this letter for instance.”

She picked up the envelope from off her lap and slid her finger through the flap. After removing the single page from the envelope, she unfolded it, tossed her unused check to the side, and read the two brief paragraphs they sent in reply. She lifted a helpless hand and shook her head in disappointment.

“I’m sorry.” She put the letter on the table so they could all read it themselves before she leaned back against the cushions. “There really isn’t much to it. The genealogist said Thomas McGregor is a very common name in Scotland and that he would need more definitive information in order to check the land records for the specific Thomas McGregor we’re researching.”

“Right now that particular knowledge doesn’t matter anyway,” Mathias said. “We know Thomas is somehow involved and that’s enough for the moment. I think our best course of action is to continue looking for the location he referenced in his journal. I think once we find the place, the next clue will present itself.”

“You’re right,” Sam said. “Finding the location is the most vital thing we can do at present. Whether or not he sold property in Scotland doesn’t solve anything.”

“No, but it’s still a piece of the puzzle,” Alex said. “And we will need all of the pieces eventually if we’re to understand the message in full.”

Jo stood up then, stuffed the letter back inside its envelope, and tossed it on the table. “Well, if you’ll all excuse me, I’m going to go up and have a shower.”

After Jolena left the room and climbed the stairs, Mathias turned to the lads and said, “We must never leave Jolena alone in this house again. Paul Sanders will come back. It’s no longer a matter of
if
but
when
and
how.
Especially since the curator from the Pennsylvania Archives supplied him with the McGregor name. If he’s checking the property deeds, his research will return him to this house.”

“I agree,” Sam replied. “That man has a crazy look in his eye. I don’t think he’ll let a mere woman stop him from getting what he wants.”

“Don’t worry,” Jedediah said. “He’ll never get close enough to hurt her.”

Mathias elected to remain behind while the rest of the boys began the survey of Joshua’s property. He popped upstairs and into the library to keep a better eye on Jolena. Despite all their assurances, some things existed over which they held no power. And what if Paul Sanders made his attack during working hours?

That disturbing possibility gave way to a decision. She might not like it, could guarantee she wouldn’t, but from this moment forward, he would not allow her to leave this house unless he accompanied her. The ringing of the telephone interrupted his thoughts. He glanced over at the clock and noting the hour, couldn’t imagine who would call this late. After two rings, it stopped. Jolena must’ve answered the thing in her bedroom.

Without giving the call another thought, he ambled toward the painting. He never tired of looking at it. As he took in the lovely image of Jolena, he found himself considering another visit to her dreams. Enough time passed since the first to avoid suspicion, and he ached to hold her again.

“Mathias?” Jo called out as she burst into the library with a look of excitement etched across her features. Her blue eyes danced with anticipation. “You’re not going to believe this.”

“Believe what?”

“I hope you have your passport up to date because we’re going to Glasgow, Scotland.” Her voice quivered with excitement.

“Glasgow? What are you talking about?”

“Did you hear the phone ring just now? My Scottish counterparts have had this grand music festival in the works for well over a year now. I won’t bore you with all the details, but they’re going to put on several sold-out concerts over the course of a ten-day period.

“Unfortunately, the featured violinist they booked canceled at the very last minute for medical reasons. They said he needs to have some surgery and it’s serious enough they can’t wait until after the concerts are over. So, they asked me to take his place. Of course, I immediately said yes. Although it is possible I could’ve screamed my acceptance,” she added as she tossed him an impish smile. “Did you, by chance, hear me do such a thing?”

Even though Mathias chuckled as he approached her, it took a few minutes to understand everything she said. “So, when is this music festival taking place?”

“We’re going to leave in about three weeks and we’ll remain in Scotland for a little over two, maybe a bit longer if I have anything to say about it. I’ve never had the opportunity to stay there for more than a day or two at any given time, and I would really like the chance to see the country.

“But, can you believe it? Do you understand this means we’re going to have the opportunity to look for Thomas’s land records ourselves? We’ll have plenty of free time while we’re there and I’m sure we can discover every detail concerning his property, from the moment he took possession of it, until the day of his death. Finally, one way or the other, we’ll have that piece of our puzzle.”

“Then I guess I’d better go and check that passport,” he replied, at once matching her enthusiasm. If nothing else, this trip would take her far enough away from Paul that he couldn’t touch her. At least for the duration of the journey. “Exactly what is a passport, anyway?”

Chapter 23

“Oh, stewardess?” the woman at the end of Jo’s row called out. “I really need to change to another seat. I’m still freezing half to death, and this blanket doesn’t seem to help at all. Look, I can literally see my breath.”

The flight attendant rubbed both arms with her hands during the woman’s exaggerated performance. “I’m sorry. You’re right. I can feel it too.” She looked up at the vent. “I can’t imagine what the problem is. But, the plane does have several empty seats. Take any one of them you wish.”

She turned her gaze to the man in the middle. “Would you like another seat as well, sir?” she asked

“Yes, please, if you don’t mind,” he answered.

As the passengers got up and walked toward the front of the plane, Jo tracked their progress.

“What about you, ma’am,” she asked. “Would you like to find another seat?”

“No, thank you,” Jo answered. “I’m fine right here.”

“Are you sure you don’t want me to get you another blanket then?” she asked.

“That isn’t necessary,” Jo replied, not really needing the first one. “Really, I’m fine.”

“Well, if you should find it otherwise, just let me know,” she said.

“Thank you. I will.” A slight smile appeared on Jo’s lips as the woman retreated down the aisle. Mathias and Sam wasted no time in taking the recently vacated seats.

“That took longer than I expected,” Mathias said. “Good thing the other lads elected to stay home. We might’ve aroused the lady’s suspicions if we had to clear out another whole row.”

Jo’s fingers played against her lips to mask her amusement as well as her comments. “Still, I wished they would have come with us. I think they would’ve had fun,” she whispered.

“Ah, you know them.” Sam waved a hand in dismissal. “They assign a great deal of importance to searching every particle of Joshua’s property. Besides, if every one of us evacuated the premises, who would look over Dakota and Lacy properly? Not to mention, with Sanders on the prowl, we don’t need to leave the homestead unattended.”

“You’re probably right.” Jo took a breath and turned to look out the window. An endless ocean lay before her and the sight worried her. What if it turned out the boys couldn’t travel as far away as Scotland? What would happen if they discovered a barrier they couldn’t cross? Could they find their way back home? Would some other sphere hold them captive?

“I don’t know about this, Mathias,” she murmured behind her hand.

“You don’t know about what?” he asked.

“About this trip. What if you guys can’t get all the way to Scotland?”

“You needn’t worry, we’ll be fine, Jolena,” Mathias replied. “If I didn’t think we could make it there and back, I wouldn’t have come. Besides, as you know, I’ve looked forward to this trip, and not just because of our search.”

Jo’s mind traveled to all of their carefully planned activities. She spent the weeks before departure, scheduling something for every spare moment she had. They would research Thomas McGregor’s land records first, but she also wanted to see as many museums, castles, and historic sites as they could possibly fit into her schedule. Some of them even included the ancestral lands of the McGregor and Fraser clans. Mathias and Sam both seemed excited over the prospect.

Nonetheless, something about the way Mathias looked at her during his last comment made her blush. Well, that and the fact he curled his hand on top of hers. “Just the same,” she said. “Let me know if you suddenly feel something is wrong and maybe we can figure out—”

“Hush, Jolena,” said Samuel, cutting off the last of her words. “Nothing is going to happen, I promise. Stop fretting. Just settle down and enjoy the trip. We intend to.”

Jo let go of an anxious breath, dropped her hand, and laid it on her lap.

Sam looked past her then, to gaze out the window. “Just look at that ocean isn’t she something? You know, I always wanted to sail at least once during my lifetime. I never got the chance, but I suppose flying over it is just as good.”

She settled a little more comfortably into her seat and took in the view Sam mentioned. Her boys reassured her well enough and they did look as if they enjoyed the experience of this flight. A slight smile emerged as she recalled their marvel over the hustle and bustle of the busy, crowded airport. Of course, they just
had
to explore the complexity of the cockpit and the expressions they wore as the jet taxied down the runway and took off, she’d forever hold in memory. The long hours of the flight passed pleasantly enough, even though they kept all conversations to a minimum.

Within hours of their landing, they found themselves inside a quaint little two-bedroom cottage. The man in charge of the concerts gave Jo the use of it for the duration of her stay. A cozy fire roared in the large stone fireplace and the kitchen larder contained enough food to feed an entire army. The scent of a mouth-watering stew simmered on the stove, all courtesy of a lovely woman by the name of Agnes Galbraith.

Her husband, Timothy, picked them up at the airport and escorted them here to his “wee guest cottage” in the glen. He was certain she’d find it more comfortable than some musty old hotel in Glasgow, he had said.

As she opened her mouth to thank them, they halted her progress with raised hands and a firm shake of their heads. They insisted she did them the tremendous favor by agreeing to come all the way from America to perform in their concerts and on such short notice. Her humble lodgings couldn’t even begin to repay the favor, they said.

“If you find oot yer a needin’ anythin’, dinnae hesitate tae call,” Timothy said in his charming Scottish brogue.

“Thank you so much for everything and I will,” Jo said in return. “You’ll especially hear from me if I get lost.”

Agnes laughed and nodded. “’Tis an easy thing to do, to be sure. Th’ car haes one o’ those computerized talkin’ maps, so that shuid help you oot some. If you kin figure oot hoo tae use th’ thing, tha’ is. They stull mystify me, A’m afeart.”

“Well, hopefully I can figure it out. More than likely my biggest problem will come in remembering to drive on the left hand side of the road.”

“Jist gie yerself an extra thirty minutes to git tae th’ concert hall,” Timothy said while giving her a friendly wink. “You micht find oot you need it. So—if yer settled in then, Ah guess we’ll see you day after tomoorow.”

After they left her to herself, Jo set her laptop computer on the kitchen table. She promised the boys remaining at home she would send them an e-mail the minute they arrived. They learned how to use the e-mail program just as quickly as they did everything else. Mathias insisted on it, because should Paul rear his head, he wanted to know immediately.

“Hang on just a minute,” she said as she began typing her message. “I’m sending the boys a quick note to let them know we arrived. We don’t want them to have to worry for lack of hearing from us.”

“Make sure you tell them for me, they really missed out on our grandest adventure to date,” Sam said. “And, as a personal favor, lay it on really thick.”

“Don’t forget to add it only promises to get better, now that we’re here,” Mathias added.

Jo tsked and shook her head. “You guys are so mean. Here the other boys have made this huge sacrifice. They stayed home to watch over things just so you could come and have—”

“Sacrifice, nothing.” Mathias chuckled. “Despite the remoteness of the possibility, they feared getting stuck out over the ocean somewhere and not have the ability to find their way home.”

Jo’s heart dropped as he made the confession. “But you said if you didn’t think you could make it all the way here, you wouldn’t have come.”