Warning at Eagle's Watch (22 page)

"But," she said, "I have finally decided to do something about it."

She cleared her throat. "First of all, I am donating this mausoleum of a place to the state, immediately, to be used as a museum, with the condition," she added with a friendly glance at the Raymond family, who stood, white-faced, in the corner of the room, "that the Raymonds have the right to make their home here, and to work here, for the rest of their lifetimes."

"Miss Scott," the lawyer broke in. "Don't you think it would be better for us to consult a bit about this? You could change your mind -"

"Nonsense!" snapped Priscilla in her authoritative tone. Hillary's lips curled into the trace of a smile. Scotty had made up her mind. No one would ever be able to change it.

Arnold and the Highfields were sputtering on the couch. Scotty addressed them next. "I will settle a satisfactory amount to be put into accounts for each of you." Their gray faces lit up. "But then I will consider my duty to you finished. It will be the last penny that you ever see from me, and I hope I never see you again."

They muttered in surprise amongst themselves, all red in the face.

"And Mitchell," she went on, turning to face him, "there will also be an account set aside for you. It will be adequate to make your adrenaline flow temporarily, I'm sure, but it will be far less than what you'll need to fulfill your dreams. You
do
have the potential to make something of yourself, young man, despite your impish ways. It's up to you from here on out. No more grandiose inheritances to dream about."

Scotty's blue eyes were direct, and Mitchell's twinkled back. "As always. Aunt Priscilla, you've got a knack for calling the shots. You won't hear me complaining."

"Scotty," Hillary broke in. "What are you going to do?"

"I," she announced in a gay voice. "I am running away! I am returning to England with Miss Matilda, where we will share her little townhouse on a pleasant little square in London. I will sculpt all the birds and animals that I please, and get away, at last, from this castle that has been a stone around my neck for so long!"

"Annie." She turned to her faithful cook. "You must come with me. You know I can't abide anyone else's cooking but yours."

The cook gave a hearty laugh, her more than ample bosom heaving as she nodded in agreement. Then Scotty told Daisy she would get a nice check.

Outside, the storm was subsiding. The sky no longer cracked with blazes of lightning. The thunder no longer echoed in their ears. Peace was being restored. The familiar and steady sound of the waves rumbled reassuringly, Kent's hand found Hillary's and he squeezed it happily. "We love each other, and I am in the process of convincing her to marry me," he announced to Scotty and Matilda.

"I should certainly hope so," scolded Scotty. "If anyone was ever meant for each other, it is you two. And I have something for you."

She walked lightly from the room, her head held high, her body moving easily, a healthy tribute to the strength and determination that had driven her to recovery.

When she returned, she held out a large box to Hillary and Kent. They opened it carefully, and lifted out the treasure inside.

"A little wedding present, Hillary, that I hope will remind you of some of the better times we had here at Eagle's Watch."

It was a sculpted eagle, intricately and lovingly formed by Scotty's own hands, its wings majestically spread for flight. Ready, Hillary thought suddenly, like Scotty and herself . Ready to begin another phase of life. Her eyes filled with tears.

How much fuller her life had become since the day she had so grudgingly driven her little car up to the entrance to Eagle's Watch. She had found love, she warmed to the touch of Kent's hands upon her shoulders. She had found fond friendships and self-understanding. It was worth the bad times that had come along with it. For the bad moments had passed, and the future looked bright and happy. The rest of the people in the room began to disperse, all amazed still at Scotty's sudden plans, but all actually satisfied, a tribute to the woman's fairness and sensitivity.

Soon Hillary and Kent stood facing Scotty and Matilda, and Hillary basked in the glow of being with the ones she loved most of all.

"Are you shocked at my decision, Hillary Holt?"

Hillary looked at Scotty with a smile. "I'm proud of you. I couldn't have planned better myself. I hope you don't mind if we come and visit you once in a while."

"You'd just better, if you know what's good for you!"

"Scotty," Hillary said impulsively. "The will you burned—just who were you going to leave the inheritance to?"

Scotty's clear laugh sounded like a ringing bell.

"That, my dear, is my secret!"

The End

Excerpt from

Season of Fear

by

Christine Bush

Chapter 1

As the bus bounded along the highway, Robin unfolded the letter in her hand and read it one more time. She knew she could probably recite it by heart if she tried, but somehow seeing the black type officially on the page before her made everything seem more real.

Dear Mr. Ridley,

This is to introduce Miss Robin North, the young lady about whom we have corresponded and who I heartily recommend to fill the position of housekeeper for your residence. She has successfully handled many similar duties while in my employ at the Robinson Resort, and we consider her an asset to any staff.

Sincerely,

Herman Robinson

Robin smiled sadly as she reread her Cousin Herman's words. His little white lies had landed her the position as housekeeper at the Ridley Ranch in Montana. Besides omitting the little detail that she was his cousin, Herman greatly exaggerated her experience at his resort a few miles from Chicago. Actually, she had only been employed at the Robinson Resort for a summer, in between college semesters, and her duties had been limited to bedmaking and dishwashing.

But Herman had confidence in her, and she knew his confidence was not unfounded. For years she handled her father's house, saw to all of the details of keeping things in order, as well as making the many medical decisions during his long illness. And she attended college at the same time, budgeting her hours carefully so that there was always time to spend at her father's bedside, lovingly reading to him, patiently comforting him in his long fight for life.

He did not win the fight. The doctors had known that there was no chance of recovery, even though they had done every possible thing they could. But Professor Robert North was not defeated easily. He hung on, painfully, hopefully, as long as he could, and Robin's young heart felt defeated and alone when he took his final breath and died.

Life seemed a little blurred after that. She missed her graduation ceremony at the university, for the funeral was held on the same day. There were not many people to mourn her father's passing: only Cousin Herman and his wife, Lisa, a few friends of Dad's from the faculty at the university, and, of course, Robin. The service had been brief and touching, and Herman had been so very supportive and strong.

The days passed, and Robin drifted aimlessly around the big old house, remembering her father with an overwhelming grief. Her state of depression might have lasted indefinitely if it hadn't been for Herman. Dear Herman. He arrived on the doorstep one day, whisked her out of her state of lethargy, and efficiently began to tend to the legal details that she had ignored.

"You need a change of scenery, Robin," he said before all the details were ironed out. "A job." And the next thing she knew, he had written to an old acquaintance in Montana, and she had a job.

"Alexander Ridley of the Ridley Ranch," he told her. "You're to be his housekeeper. I'm quite certain you can handle that."

She nodded numbly, like a child.

"Great guy, you'll like him, Robin. He raises cattle on a huge ranch in Montana. Has three children, I think. Lost his wife about five years ago, and his housekeeper has just retired. I convinced him you'll be perfect for the job."

And in his determined way, her cousin made all the arrangements, closed the house, and Robin was on her way.

"You can't sit and mope, Robin," Herman told her kindly as he put her on the bus. "You've got to get out there and face life. You've been cooped up for years with your father, and it's time for you to see the world. Just do a good job. And then after you've made your mark, you can admit you're a college graduate and that we're related."

She waved goodbye from the bus window as they pulled out of the station, her emotions a mixture of apprehension and excitement. She felt very alone as the bus left Chicago behind, yet she knew that Herman's words were true.

That had been two days ago. This morning, in the early-light of dawn, they had entered Montana. By midafternoon, Robin would be at the end of her journey.

After a stop for breakfast, Robin dozed off. Sometime later she snapped to alertness as the driver announced, "Hamilton, Montana."

She had arrived.

Robin found her slender hands were shaking as she combed her long blond hair and tied it with a scarf at the nape of her neck. She gathered up her things from the seat beside her and made her way to the open bus door.

Instinctively, she felt the right pocket of her linen skirt for the letter of introduction from Herman. The crackle of the paper reassured her somehow. Yet she still felt nervous.

But as her feet first made contact with the sidewalk of Hamilton, as she inhaled her first full breath of fresh air, clean and warm from the midday sun, the tension in her body seemed to dissipate and her fears evaporated. She was here to begin her own life, a step long overdue, and she no longer desired to linger in the sorrows of the past.

She made a pretty sight as she carried her leather suitcases, her cheeks glowing with excitement. Her blue eyes were alert and happy, the sun highlighting the silky blondness of her hair. She wore a lime-green linen skirt and flowered blouse, and a comfortable pair of beige pumps. Her step was light as she made her way to a small sandwich shop on the main street of town, ready for a quick snack and eager to phone the Ridley Ranch to announce her arrival, as Herman had instructed. The ranch sat about five miles north of town, she knew. There'd be ample time for her to ease her hunger pangs before anyone would arrive to pick her up.