Authors: Unknown
She felt the colour flare in her cold cheeks as she thought of the kiss he had given her after he had pulled her up in the saddle in front of him. It had just been a
spontaneous reaction from him, a
bit of a joke, but to her ... All the excitement of that moment came rushing back to her, the closeness and the warmth, and his eyes laughing down into hers, then the kiss, so short but unbelievably sweet. Katriona’s lips curved in an enchanting reminiscent smile. Surely, she would never regret coming here. A kiss like that, from a man like that, was worth flying to the moon and back to collect. Her blue eyes were dreamy.
The truck door jerked open. ‘Glad you’ve found something about Evangeline to make you smile.’ Her father stood there with a suitcase and overcoat in his hand. ‘The way Morgan ripped into me, I thought I was being tried for cruel and inhuman practices. Actually I think you scored more hits than I did.’
Katriona bit her lip in silence.
Her father gave her a rueful smile. ‘You don’t agree? Very well, you must deserve an apology, Miss Carmichael. If I’ve given any offence I hope you’ll forgive me, it was not intentional.’
Katriona choked on a lump in her throat. It was not right to have this proud hawk-like old man apologising to her. ‘Please don’t. I shouldn’t have come here to embarrass you. It was my mistake, not yours. My rudeness, not yours.’
Her father put down his case and overcoat and leaned against the open door of the truck. I’ve not got a lot of time. I’m driving through to Christchurch to catch a late plane to Auckland. I’ve cut it a bit fine already, but I simply can’t leave until you and I have this thing straightened out between us. I’ll be away at least a week. While I’m away I would like you to stay cm the station and get to know it a little—get die feel of the place. I wish I didn’t have to go at this time, but this conference is most important for my business. It was arranged months ago, so I’ll have to postpone the pleasure of getting to know you for just a little while.’
His tone was sincere and his smile was warm. This old warrior had charm, Katriona thought. ‘Thank you for your’ invitation ... your very kind invitation, but I think it’s better that I leave. I’m not angry or upset. As I said this afternoon, I did want to meet you, and I’m pleased that I came. I really feel that I mustn’t trespass on your hospitality further.’
For a split second she saw fire flash in his eyes, almost like the light of battle. This man did not expect to be refused ... anything. ‘So you’ve decided not to forgive me. Morgan was correct! I must have hurt you very much. I’m truly saddened by your decision.’
‘No, it’s nothing like that,’ Katriona protested. ‘Really I quite understand that my sudden appearance must have been quite a shock for you. I should have let you know I was arriving. I do apologise if I’ve caused you any pain or embarrassment.’ It sounded so stilted and formal, yet funnily enough she meant every word of it.
‘You’re causing me considerable embarrassment right now, young lady. You’re my daughter, my only daughter, and one short half-hour visit with me is enough to convince you that you’re better off without me than with me. I’m truly humiliated. It took your mother a
little longer to conclude that I was entirely useless as a
husband, so I can only surmise that you’re much more intelligent than she was, because it took you such a
short time to form your irrevocable decision. History repeating itself, will be the way the district describes it.’
Katriona was appalled. Her father seemed to shrink before her eyes, his voice became faded and old, his hand held over his face, shielding his emotion from her eyes, was shaking a little. How selfish she was! Always thinking of herself, of her own independent nature. She had not given her father a thought. He had to go on living here. And she had not had the insight to know that he would naturally couple her behaviour with her mother’s.
‘Please—it’s not like that at all. If it’s all that important to you …'
‘You’ll stay? I have your word on that?’ His voice was muffled and hi's face still concealed.
‘Yes. Yes, I’ll stay until you get back,’ Katriona conceded.
‘But then I
won’t get time to talk with you. Make it a
month. You’re young, a month out your life is not too much to ask for, surely? Be generous to an old man.’ His hand lowered, shrewd blue eyes met Katriona’s demanding a
favourable answer.
Defeated, she sighed, ‘I’ll stay a
month.’ It was against her better judgment, but she felt incredibly guilty, even though she could not fathom the reason.
Her father straightened up abruptly. ‘Glad that’s settled. I’ll take you inside, then I’ll be on my way.’
Katriona was outraged. Gone was the tired old man image and back was the confident and eminently capable man she had met in the study earlier. She shot out of the truck and accused him, ‘Mr Carmichael, you’re a shocking fraud! You don’t give a damn if I stay or not. You don’t give a damn what the district says about you. You’re not honest...’
‘Now, now ... Morgan said you had a hasty temper.’ He smiled at her benevolently and half raised his hand to silence her protest. ‘My motives were honest, I did want you to agree to stay, but my methods may not have been ... strictly correct. So you see, to get you to stay I had to appeal to your better nature. Don’t you think it’s worth something to know that I believe you had a better nature?’
‘But why? Why did you want me to stay?’Katriona demanded.
‘Because Morgan said I couldn’t get you to change your mind. I rely on his judgment quite a lot, but every now and again I need to prove him wrong ... for his own sake, of course. It stops him getting bigheaded, you know.’ He looked at her quizzically with an impish light in his eyes.
For a moment Katriona held her anger against him, then she laughed, unable to help herself. ‘It doesn’t stop him from being arrogant and over-sure of himself, but I don’t blame you for trying. I think you’re a wicked old man, Mr Carmichael, but I’ll forgive you. If you’d been honest and said you wanted to cut Morgan Grant down to size, I would have been quite willing to go along with you. It would have saved you all that over-acting.’
He dropped his arm lightly on her shoulders. ‘Mr Carmichael is too formal. Most folk call me Ross and I’d be most pleased if you would too, Katriona. I think you and I could get along most agreeably. Let’s go and face up to Morgan. It will do me good to see his face. And thank you for agreeing to stay.’
They looked up as her father piloted her through the door. ‘Morgan, I’d be grateful if you’d take good care of my daughter Katriona while I’m up North. I’ll leave her in your hands and I’ll hold you accountable.’
He gave them a nonchalant wave, flicked Katriona’s cheek gently. ‘Evangeline is worth knowing, Katriona. Go to it... Morgan could be the key.’ The words were for her alone, and he left before she could answer.
‘It will be a pleasure to look after you, Katriona. Follow me. It’s okay, Nivvy, you finish your meal.’
‘Thank you,’ muttered Katriona as he held the door open for her. She felt a bit bemused. Too much drama ... and she felt foolish in Morgan’s thick sweater ... it dwarfed her completely.
'Your bedroom, and the bathroom is directly opposite. There’s your case. Take your time, Nivvy has your meal in the oven.’ Morgan reached the door and then swung round. ‘The cunning old eagle! How did he do it? How did he make you change your mind? I told him he’d not get you out of that truck without using gelignite ... the high explosive stuff.’
‘Perhaps that’s what he used,’ Katriona parried.
‘No, he’s got a more subtle touch than that. You’re not telling?’
Katriona shook her head emphatically. That was a secret she would keep, a secret she shared with her father. Her eyes were very bright and full of devilment. ‘Perhaps when you’re as old as Ross you’ll have as much charm and skill as he has at his command.’
‘Fallen for the old eagle, have you?’ Morgan grinned then left the room.
Conscious that she had already caused enough delay, Katriona showered quickly, and chose a froth of a dress from her case, made of muslin with lace and ribbon insertions. She brushed her hair and caught it back with a pale green scarf which matched the ribbon on her dress, touched her face with the barest minimum of make-up, lipstick and eye-shadow, and hesitated in front of the mirror. She looked so
young
in this outfit, but she had chosen it in deliberate contrast to the heavy-knit knee-length sweater of her last appearance. She strapped on her elegant high-heeled shoes, delighted with the extra inches they gave her.
As she paused in the doorway Morgan came forward with a look of warm approval on his face. ‘I’m glad you decided to stay.’
The words were trite, but his laughter-lit grey eyes were transmitting all sorts of incredible messages to Katriona and she was aware that she was blushing like an idiot. What a give-away! A starry-eyed teenager with a
crush on a pop star would probably have the same infatuated grin on her face. It was not fair. After years of being completely immune to all masculine charm and appeal she was being utterly devastated by Morgan Grant. And, what was worse, she was sure that he knew exactly the effect that he was having on her, that the electricity between them was melting her very bones.
Determinedly she tore her gaze from his. ‘I’m starving!’
‘I can see that,’ he laughed mockingly, pretending to misunderstand. ‘Oh, you mean for food.’
Katriona blushed so deeply that she was sure the colour must spread right down her bare neck and shoulders. She followed him to the table where Mrs Niven and two young men were sitting drinking coffee.
‘Ah. thanks, Nivvy, you’ve put Katriona beside me. I don’t know if you’ve all been properly introduced, but this is Katriona, Ross’s daughter, as you’ll have guessed. Katriona, this is Mrs Niven, and these two you met by Horseshoe Lake this afternoon, Gary and Jeff Travers.’
Mrs Niven acknowledged the introduction with a
smile. ‘We met this afternoon too.’ She placed a
plate in front of Katriona. ‘I hope your meal hasn’t spoiled. I didn’t know Ross had a daughter, but it’s lovely to have you here for a visit.’
Both men were on their feet waiting to shake her hand. They were obviously brothers, tall, slimly built and blond, with American accents. Jeff smiled as he took her hand. ‘A real pleasure.’
Gary gave her a cheeky grin. ‘Howdy! You could say there’s a real family likeness, but thank God you’re a lot prettier than Ross.’ Still holding her hand lightly, he turned to Morgan. ‘She’s as light as thistledown. No wonder you could do your spectacular rescue stunt with just a flick of your wrist. Why, if there was a good draught she’d float away on gossamer wings ...’
‘She might yet, if you don’t let her sit down and have her meal,’ Morgan said a little roughly.
Katriona enjoyed her dinner of well cooked roast beef and rich gravy and vegetables. It was friendly and companionable to have them all linger on over their coffee while she ate her meal, and listened to their farm talk. Not that she understood much of it, but if she was to be here for a month she might not be such a dummy. When she had finished her steamed pudding with rich yellow sauce and whipped cream she helped Mrs Niven clear the table and stack the dishes in the automatic dishwasher, in spite of the housekeeper’s protest that she should go and join the men folk in the lounge.
Katriona laughed, ‘We both will, when we’ve tidied up. That was a beautiful meal, but I need some exercise now.’ They took more coffee with them when they finally went through to the large comfortable lounge which had a cheerful fire burning in a
magnificent stone fireplace. Only moments later there came the sound of a
car being driven fast roaring up the steep bluff and squealing to a halt.
‘Carla,’ Morgan announced, getting to his feet. ‘I’ll get another cup for her.’
‘Boy, is she in for a shock!’ Gary commented with a significant look in Mrs Niven’s direction. There was a
great deal of satisfaction in his voice.
Katriona clutched her cup of coffee, nervously wondering who Carla was. It was quite obvious that Gary meant that she was the shock. She did not have to wait long. Carla swept into the room like a
tornado. She was a striking-looking girl, tall, blonde and curvy, wearing a
green suit with all the flair of a top fashion model, her face superbly made up, her brilliant brown eyes highlighted by the scarf so casually knotted at her throat.
She dropped her leather bag and gloves on the coffee table and walked to the fire with outstretched hands. ‘Oh, I adore a
fire! If I’d been born in the Stone Age I’d have made a
fabulous fire-worshipper.’ She struck a dramatic pose as Morgan came through, with the coffee. ‘How would I do as a fire goddess, Morgan darling?’
‘A fire devil would suit your character better,’ Morgan smiled indulgently at her exquisite face. ‘Coffee?’
‘For me? You really are sweet, Morgan, you must be rewarded.’ She leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek.
‘Lucky Morgan,’ commented Gary wickedly. ‘Two beautiful women bestowing kisses on him in one day. How do you do it, mate?’
Katriona could have murdered him as she felt the blush stain her cheeks.
‘And who was the other one?’ Carla’s voice had all the sharpness of a
diamond saw.
‘Ross’s daughter, Katriona Carmichael. Come and meet her, Carla.’ Morgan’s expression was enigmatic.
Carla turned as Katriona stood up. Shock and disbelief were written on her face.
Gary took Katriona’s cup from her, saying maliciously, ‘Now, Katriona, don’t be upset. I know your kiss was different ... Morgan kissed you, whereas Carla kissed Morgan, technically speaking.’
‘Shut up!’ Carla, white-faced with anger, pushed Gary aside. ‘Rubbish, absolute rubbish. Ross never had any children.’