BY: Carrie-Anne
Chapter One…The Train Station
The exhausted traveler, Lili MacKinney, stepped down off the train, as she knew she was arriving in Glenbogle at 13:00pm. She paused for a moment glancing at her watch and then scanned the landscape of the breathtaking highlands before her. She continued to gaze at the view of the spectacular panoramic Cairngorms, which the scenery had taken over all of her senses, in particular her hearing, as the sounds of the train, chugging away, took off from the platform. The train became a distant speck in the horizon, on its journey back to Glasgow.
Lili had no idea that the curious rustic looking lad standing nearby was Duncan MacKay. She knew her cousin was sending Duncan to pick her up. But she just didn't know what he looked like or that he had been waiting for her on the platform stoop about 20 minutes prior to her arrival! The traveler took a moment to observe the odd-looking man, with wildly untamed brown hair, wearing a black leather jacket, a rock band tee shirt, a kilt and to top off the get-up, some black combat boots. He was also holding a cardboard sign with her name "LILI" painted in big green letters in somewhat legible handwritten scrawl, she assumed he had written it. She took a moment to chuckle to herself before adding, "Welcome to Scotland, Lili."
This was her first journey to her father's beloved "Ecosse" as he had always told her stories of his homeland country since she was a little girl. She hadn't seen her cousin, Lexie, in ten years since she had visited her family one summer. Lili's Aunt Pamela, Lexie's 'posh' mother had sent her cousin to America to learn the etiquette of world-class travel (in all actuality it was Pamela's 'posh' boyfriend who sent Lexie there). The two girls were inseparably close and always getting into lots of trouble. Lili's father loved having Lexie helping them out with the B&B that warm breezy season and his guests found her company charming too. He was just as sad as his daughter when the day had come to send off Lexie back to her home.
About two months ago, Lili's father had mentioned a letter had come for her. The return address had Alexandra MacDonald, as the stationary envelope was very elegant looking, so exquisite that she was afraid to actually open it! However, she knew it was her cousin and every time she got a letter from her, she jumped for joy like a child happy to have the news from an old friend. She knew her cousin was married now to some lord or laird named Archibald? Was it? Apparently, Lexie, or "Lady MacDonald" was requesting some "help" since she was expecting the arrival of twins in a matter of months. Weeks later, after the letter had found way to the letterbox, her father insisted over and over that he could run the family B&B without her for the annual summer. He had purchased Lili a surprise gift: a plane ticket to Glasgow and had also made the arrangements for her train travel to the small quaint town of Glenbogle. He wanted her to see Lexie and felt she deserved the long awaited visit.
Lili paused for a moment as she watched the curious gentleman walk up to her. She slung her black bag over her shoulder and proceeded to carry her rather heavy life of it's own suitcase. She had just bent down to lift the case, when the hand of the gentleman reached out and scooped up the luggage out of her grasp. "You must be her." He grinned with a question. "Lili?"
Lili glanced sideways at the kilted one, before noticing the cardboard sign under his arm and laughed, "Yes, I am. I take it you must be Lexie's friend Duncan."
"Aye, that be me, the one that Lex sent to fetch you from the sleeper." Duncan smiled once again, while striding on beside Lili as they walked down the steps of the platform to a vehicle that was anything but "elegant" and not the typical method of "getting around" for Kings and Queens from the 13th century. Most of the royalty she had read in fairytales, rode in a horse drawn carriages. Lili laughed at the insane idea that she would be traveling from the train station in "fashion", but this "royal red carpet style" now included mud splatters that covered a truck all over, which had obviously seen better days. "What?" Duncan asked as his brows rose. He had already hauled her suitcase to the back of the truck and had returned to the drivers seat. When his hand reached out, they both blushed at the soft touch, as their hands had made way to the same door handle. "Um…we trolley on the other side of the vehicle here."
"Oh right! I'm sorry." She replied jerking her hand way, and walked around to the "passengers" side of the "royal" truck and managed to hop up onto the seat while shutting the door. Duncan started up the vehicle and very LOUD blaring techno music came out dancing of the speakers as Lili spoke, "Ah, Duncan?"
"What?" He yelled, turning his head to face hers. He couldn't hear a word of what she had just said, before turning his attention to the dashboard and putting his fingertips on the radio volume knob.
"Duncan, the radio is…" Lili started to speak loudly and clearly trying to tell the lad that his radio was indeed hurting her ears!
He quickly turned down the radio with a flick of his wrist and…
"Oh! Very Sorry! I couldn't hear, since my radio was on!" Duncan apologized, while watching Lili's eyes widened in bewilderment at the fact that he was quite flighty, but sincere when stating the obvious. Lexie had written little about him in her letters over the years since she had started working at Glenbogle. But it was now Lili's chance to have an up close and personal encounter with the "anything but mysterious" Duncan and she wasn't currently sure of what to make of his odd character.
"I see. Or heard. Thanks for turning it down." Lili said, deciding groaning at him, would be of no use, or let alone polite, so she took the firm but friendly approach.
"No prob!" He hollered as he backed up the truck and then with a jerk of the wheel, sent them in the direction of the main road to the Glenbogle Estate. He sped up the vehicle and honked his horn at a passing bus. Lili noticed he wasn't the most cautious of drivers, but she let out a nervous smile at how fast they were traveling down the road. Within about fifteen minutes, the truck made a huge left turn, over an ancient bridge, down a dusty lane to an antique stone castle. Lili then let out a slow breath at the magnificent dwelling that belonged on a postcard. "Welcome to Glenbogle, Lili MacKinney!" Duncan chanted as he slammed down on the breaks of the truck, making her body jerk forward, and then he jumped out from behind the wheel. She managed to slowly get out of the truck and wander to the back, in hopes to retrieve her own luggage, but he had swiftly beaten her to it again.
"Thank you." She said kindly, letting out a breath, still trying to recover from his madman road handling.
"You're welcome. This is what us Head Rangers do here at Glenbogle!" He added proudly before shutting the hatch of the truck down on his kilt! He then got nervous because he was only in his skivvies under his tartan and if it was ripped off of him... With that passing inkling, his cheeks both turned bright beet red and also at Lili, who was trying to help untangle him from the closed door.
"Let me help you." She said with out any warning and quickly hit the button to reopen the hatch, before Duncan could. His kilt was then set free.
"Thank you." He chuckled once again, as his flushed cheeks returned to a normal coloring.
"You're welcome, that's what us American tourists do!" Lili nodded, trying to banter with Duncan, in hopes, to lighten their awkward moment.
"Except, you're family and not a tourist to me!" as a familiar female voice bellowed out from the front of the truck. Lili turned her head and excitedly squealed, while skipping over to her very sore sight to her eyes cousin. She gave her a huge hug too, regardless of the big pregnant belly Lexie wore so well.
"Oh my, it's been ages! You're a sore sight! " Lexie squealed back at Lili, trying to take a step back to look at her.
"Yes it has!" She replied back all smiles. Lexie hadn't changed ever, as she was still the same brown-haired, blue eyed, girl that she had met many moons ago.
"Dunc," Lexie added, while not taking her eyes off of Lili. "Make sure you carry her luggage to the upstairs guestroom!" She then carted her cousin away by linking her arm with hers. "I want to hear all about your journey and also about your Da? " Lexie rambled on and on…as Lili listened, "I want you to meet my husband too, since you've already met Duncan..."
"Yes, I have." Lili giggled, turning her body to the scene behind them as she unable to take her eyes off of him. He was now stumbling about with her suitcase. After setting it down with a slight pant, he tried to carry it off the ground again.
"Apparently, it's heavier that I had suspected on uneven ground." Duncan spoke up, trying to defend himself from her giggles and Lexie's rolling eyes.
"I see." Lili chanted girlishly, while she went over to the case quickly, and pulled out a side rope handle and handed it to him. She then pointed out the bottom of the case. "Here, it has wheels."
"Fancy that!" He chuckled while wheeling the case to the front door right behind the women.
"Leave it to Dunc, to do things the impossible way." Lexie commented, while whisking away her cousin to the inside of the house.
Lili was awe stuck when they entered the large main foyer, but she didn't have a minute to take any of view in. Because Lexie had led her into a sitting room, where she introduced Lili to her husband. The man had darker hair than his wife but with brown eyes. He was just slightly taller than her cousin with a slender like build.
"You must be herself, Lili." Lexie's husband replied trying to extend his hand for a formal shake.
"Yes, you're Archibald." Lili answered while Archie let out a vibrant chuckle.
" Archie, just Archie. No one has used Archibald since I was a tyke, so ---" As Archie's sentence was cut off when the trio heard a loud commotion coming from the main foyer.
"OH DRAT!" yelled Archie's mother from outside of the sitting room as she witnessed the mess she had made on the floor. She had almost made it the sitting room with tea and cakes before a suitcase had mysteriously appeared under her foot. She tripped over the bulky case while sending the afternoon tea flying through the air. The tray of goodies hit the floor with a loud crash!
"Mum!" Archie called, as his body came to a quick halt, as he tried extending a hand to help the poor lady up. "What on bl—-y earth are you doing? You've just about killed yourself! You know you're not supposed to help Marina like this."
"I'm alright dear, just this blasted blimey thing was in my way!" Archie's mother exclaimed exasperatedly, while kicking the awkward black suitcase with her foot before straightening out her blouse and slacks with her delicate hands. Her gaze wandered to their guest, Lili, who just stood there in awe once again at the woman's unmistakable introduction. She felt instantly guilty that her luggage had tripped the poor woman ungraciously up. "Oh dear, you've arrived and tea…the tea is in ruins!"
"Lili, this is my mother Molly." Archie introduced her to his pride and joy, his beautiful mother while putting an arm around her consoling her since the tea was indeed in shambles.
"Hi," Lili beamed, as she took the woman's outstretched hand and shook it gently.
"Oh hi. So sorry you had to see this." Molly muttered, cursing the suitcase. "I'll have Marina make more tea and I think I have more biscuits, not cakes, I'm afraid. You must be famished from your journey."
"No worries, Molly, Lili's used to messes." Lexie chimed in, hoping to keep her mother in law from feeling awful. "Since she works with tykes."
"Oh how wonderful, dear!" Molly added trying to grin as she swept a blond hair from off of her brow with her elegant fingertips and tucked the strand behind her ear. "You must be exhausted from your journey! Why don't you, Lexie, just show her to her room? I'll have Marina tend to this disgrace! Return to the sitting room in a few, as I'll have a new batch for afternoon tea in a jiffy." Molly kindly spoke with thoughtfulness in her tone. She also spoke of helping the "temporary" housekeeper in the kitchen. Something that Archie didn't like her doing, helping the help, since the new housekeepers would scatter away from Glenbogle every time Molly did so! She didn't even live in the house now and she was already intruding on the new housekeeper! She was only here today to meet and greet Lili.
Chapter Two…Lili and Paul meet…
Almost nine months ago the Glenbogle House was "explosively- redecorated" as the kitchen was still being remodeled but the rest of the house had been since repaired. However, Molly had other reasons for not moving back in, one, being she wanted her son and his wife to have some privacy with their incoming newborns and two, she didn't trust nor claim Archie's recently reappeared half brother, Paul.
Paul walked down the stairs as he witnessed the three busybodies chit chatting and also stepped over the food pile carefully. He didn't recognize the brown haired lass who was standing next to Archie's wife, but he was instantly in his own form of "awe" by her presence.
"Paul," Archie announced as he observed his mother become uneasy once again and she swiftly scampered off to the kitchen to fetch Marina and more afternoon tea.
"Who's this?" He asked intrigued, while walking up to his half brother.
"Lili MacKinney." Lili replied, as she took notice of his outdoorsy type form. He was tall, and as the description goes, dark and handsome too.
"Paul Bowman." He answered casually, while trying to avoid all of the stares, but hers. Lili became nervous and uncomfortably shifted her heels while looking into his dark blue eyes.
"Lili will be joining us for the next couple of weeks at Glenbogle. I'm looking forward to her companionship! Now where is Duncan? I'm going to kill him for leaving your suitcase where it tripped up poor Molly! Anyway…C'mon Lil! I'll show you to your room!" She then playfully tugged her cousin's arm and was trying to lead her away once again.
"I'll show her to her room, Lex." Duncan spoke up fast, as he had viewed the whole exchange between Paul and Lili after returning from the outside. He had left her suitcase for just a brief moment to "wash down the truck" with some water. But judging from the food catastrophe nearby, he was late as usual with finishing Lexie's requests.
"Aye, sounds good, since you now owe me." Lexie stated matter-of-factly, while lifting her light colored eyes to challenge him. "And also Molly."
"Ladies first." Duncan added, with a glance in Paul's direction, before grabbing hold of the heavy suitcase and lugging it behind Lili as they climbed the stairs.
"Where are you off to?" Lexie asked as she watched Paul turn towards the front door.
"I have work to do on the Centre." He answered, as he didn't want to be around Molly either, or even Archie for that matter. The past few nights, he's been dealing with the books at the Outdoor Wild Life Centre trying to prepare it for a One Year Anniversary picnic next weekend.
"Can't it wait?" Archie asked, knowing full well, Paul was just being his rude self. He was annoyed at how anti-social he had become ever since he agreed to that business proposal.
"No, it can't since I 'm meeting with an accountant." He explained, knowing full well, after being ordered by Archie, that Lexie couldn't continue trying to do the books for the estate, let alone the Centre too.
"Paul, just stop being bull-headed and come--- have tea with us. I'll ring the accountant, Aye?" Lexie suggested, before seeking out the chair in the hall to sit. The babies were restless and kicking up a storm in her tummy so much that she needed to relax her body for a short second.
"Fine." Paul added snidely, trying to just give into her pregnant demands so she'd quiet down. He still didn't understand how Archie managed to put up with her requests since they had found out about having the twins.
Meanwhile, Duncan showed Lili to her room. She opened the old creaking door and peeked into the room. She scanned the room as her eyes set on some rather large cracks in the newly repaired and painted walls.
"Yea, I kinda blew the house up last Autumn." Duncan explained, trying to be "manly" about the incident. He watched Lili run her hand over the remodeled wall.
"Right, Lexie had written to me about it. She mentioned staying at a B&B." Lili answered.
"Oh Really?" Duncan stopped, before realizing she knew the story, but then he got nervous and asked, "How, might I ask, did Lex explain it to you?"
"She just said that there was a bomb in the basement and it went off. Something about you having an old trunk full of memorabilia that was given to you from your grandfather. Only no one realized the WWII " memory emblem" was a live wired bomb. How scary."
"Aye, quite a livewire it was…you should have heard that sucker go! Actually it was me Aunt Liz who had the stuff in the first place after I saw me Uncle…" Duncan added, as his eyes widened in excitement of him and Archie trying to defuse the bomb and his explanation of where exactly the bomb came from. Of course, they had no luck, and evacuated house in the nick of time. The bomb rocked the whole dwelling while crumbling walls, leaving dust and rumble.
Lili was giggling at Duncan's recap of the whole incident. He had also explained why he was now working two jobs. "I'm still managing me Aunt Liz's B&B. I keep offering Arch money to pay for the damages by he keeps declining my offer. He just wants me to attend to the grounds and keep an eye on Lex. The problem is, Lex is a real sneaky lass. She's speedy too, you'd blink and off she'd go, doing something that a pregnant lady shouldn't be!"
"That's where I come handy." Lili winked, as she suddenly felt more comfortable talking to Duncan since the train station and started to totally understand why Lexie liked him so much. He was like one big kid looking for some fun adventure to embark on.
"Aye, well, I'm going to let you rest. I'm sure one of us will see to it that you're at Molly's beloved tea." Duncan replied sweetly.
"You don't have to go." Lili added, laughing, she was actually enjoying the company.
"I should. I have wolves over at the Centre to feed, since I'm filling in for Golly. I have to also help Golly with building a porch at his cabin too. Enjoy tea! Molly's cakes are simply brill. " Duncan added, about to wander out of the room. Of course, he was afraid of the wolves...but he managed to learn a few of Golly's tricks for feeding them. His mind wandered from his "fear" to an entirely new one! He stopped short and became slightly nervous at his next question. "Ummmm, Lili."
"Yes?" She turned to face him after opening her suitcase.
"Maybe, we could take a stroll around the grounds? Later of course…" Duncan asked quietly with a lift of his shoulders. He didn't want to get his hopes up unless she was going to flat out reject him. But he did like how she listened to him ramble about odd things since their ride from the station.
"I'd love it." Lili smiled warmly. She sensed poor Duncan's stress in asking her, and she accepted the invitation without a doubt in her mind.
"Jolly good. I'll meet you later then." Duncan nodded his head up and down while walking backward.
"Door." Lili warned him, but too late, he had clumsily walked into it.
"Ah, aye, one of these. Bye…" He waved sheepishly at her before trying to shut the door as his kilt had gotten trapped between frame and the door once again. He opened the door quickly, "Bye again." He added, before retrieving his tartan, closing it slightly. He boyishly skipped down the hall, whistling to himself at how wonderful it was to meet Lexie's cousin indeed.
Lili didn't have a moment to relax because once she unpacked her suitcase, and piled her clothing neatly in the bureau drawers; She turned to Paul, who had sauntered to the door silently while trying not to startle her. He responded, "Molly's teatime has been served."
"Oh great. Thanks." Lili answered, but Paul was gone. He had vanished after his announcement. " Gee, I guess, you're really shy, maybe I'll actually get to know you?" She then added to herself, while making way out of the room. She observed the mini art gallery walls of the hallway on her way down the stairs. She stopped for a moment and stared at the huge portrait of Hector MacDonald.
"That was my father." Archie's voice called from the main floor as he noticed Lili on the stairway.
"He looks…dashing, just like your kids will!" She replied with a beam, taking each step down with her stride, stopping at the foot of the stairs, before him.
"Aye, he does." Archie grinned and laughed, as no one had ever described his old man that way. He suddenly realized how well Lili was going to fit in at Glenbogle.
"There you are!" Lexie hollered, coming up from behind them, while putting an arm around Lili. "You're the guest of honor, you know!"
"Yes, here I am." She chuckled as they joined Molly's tea party.
Chapter Three…Molly's Tea Party...
For the next twenty minutes, Lili was surrounded by questions about her parents, her life in America, what it was like to be a "schoolteacher" and how she was enjoying Scotland so far. She had answers for all of the questions but the very last one, since she hasn't seen much of the country.
"I'm actually not a schoolteacher. I was an accountant up until I got separated from my husband. Now I just fill in for teachers in primary school and on the side run the after school program. My father keeps insisting I teach, but I'm unsure about the career. I'm looking for something closer to my current field of accounting, but also involves working with kids."
"How's Danny?" Lexie inquired, while her cousin tried to ignore the whole terrible memory that went along with living with her husband in New York. Lili didn't even want to talk about her separation and soon legal divorce as of next week. She just wanted a clean break and a fresh start. She just had no idea that she would be getting a new adventure so soon.
"I don't know. I haven't spoke to him since I left New York about six months ago. The divorce attorney I hired just deals with him personally, so I don't have too. Which reminds me, my lawyer is supposed to call here so that way I know when to expect the finale papers to arrive. " Lili stated abruptly.
"Well, better to be half hanged than ill married." Killwillie spoke, Hector's old friend glanced at Lili with interest, before also adding. " And you lived in New York? What a fine city!"
"Yes, for someone who likes city life. I prefer the country and that's why I decided to go back to Maine." Lili replied, unsure about how to add to his comment about being married because she considered her marriage to be well over.
"I see, still dear, that sounds delightful to live in New York, but how sad for you to leave your husband." Molly winked and smiled.
"Well, for an American, what do you plan on doing for a work here?" Killwillie bellowed, with also some speculation, trying to change the subject back to Lili's ideal line of work.
"I'm not sure. I told Lex that I'd only be here for a short month, before going back to the states." She shrugged with a reply.
"Oh well, I only ask because I have an job open at my restaurant for a manager." Killwillie tried to offer, but Molly interjected with a distressed tone.
"Don't offer her that! I will not allow you to steal this poor lass away. Lili is here to help Lexie out with the babies when they arrive aside from any kind of book keeping here at the house." Molly delegated, with a scoffed look at Killwillie.
"Well, Mum is right, as we could use a little book keeping help." Archie added, trying to come to his mother's aid. They had invited Killwillie for just a neighborly peacekeeping measure, not to take advantage of Lexie's cousin in any shape or form.
"I'd be happy either way." Lili said, as she was flattered at the "job offers" she was getting for her book keeping skills, but little did she know the willing horse is always worked to death! Then again she kept books for her father's B&B and still managed to rest a bit during the summers. Meaning there goes any vacation time while she was in Glenbogle. She started to worry about telling them she was a former accountant turned fill in teacher. Her worry shifted to despair at the next question tossed her way!
"How about dating?" Molly winked again as she very much like playing matchmaker. She started thinking of the perfect match for Lili to help ease her broken heart.
"Have you lost your mind? Dear Molly, that's absurd!" Killwillie rolled his eyes at Molly's idea of a dating participant for her Home run---Glenbogle First Dating Agency. "For golly sakes, the lass is fresh from the sleeper and you're already trying to marry her off!"
"Pay no attention to him, dear. He's lacking some brain particles today. " Molly replied, trying to ignore Killwille's disgruntled comments. She was a little disappointed that Andrew wasn't there as he was trying to get her paintings aside from other local artists' works ready for a show tomorrow night. Lili would meet him at dinnertime. "But seriously, darling, dating is fun."
"Thank-you for the offer, but I'm technically still married and I don't think..." As Lili started to add but her cousin elbowed her with a response. They were sitting on an antique sofa together while facing Molly and Killwillie who sat old fashion chairs. Paul and Archie were standing on opposite sides of the room.
"Nonsense, you haven't dated anyone, Lil! Your divorce is final next week! Oh and your lawyer did phone for you while you were upstairs…you should go out a have---" Lexie scolded her. Knowing full well what she had gone through to finally be with Archie, she understood that you have to "seek great and get something, but to seek little and get nothing at all". She was all for her cousin to find a romance while she was here visiting her.
"Yes, I have dated. Why didn't you tell me my lawyer called? What did she say about the arrival of the papers?" Lili corrected Lexie trying to avoid the further discussion of her failed marriage, but it was too late.
"Because I care about you and I didn't want to further upset you. The lawyer just mentioned something about paperwork arriving on Tuesday." Lexie said trying not to mettle, but that was impossible for her to not do! Even if Archie were to protest she'd argue with him that she was very right for caring about the well being of her cousin.
Lili replied politely, turning her face back to Molly, "Seriously, please don't go through the trouble to pair me up!"
Molly cut in with a friendly tone of voice…
"Oh hush, child! You know, there are plenty of single lads. It's always good to put many eggs in different baskets. I'll be happy to find you one." Molly chanted, trying to push the idea of setting Lili up. Lexie stopped her mother in law from saying anything else on the matter as her eyes then set on the perfect match for Lili…
"Aye, there are plenty available. I know of one for sure." Lexie commented, as she didn't take her eyes off of her brother in law. "Paul."
"What?" He asked, unsure of what he was going to hear for an answer.
"You should take her out! " Lexie exclaimed while delegating a duty. "Lili can do the books for you at the Centre too." As she prepared herself for a debate from him but got a much anticipated heated discussion from her husband instead.
"Lex, you shouldn't keep interfering…" Archie warned, but his brother interrupted him. Archie was trying to head his wife off at the pass, since he was always cleaning up when something would go ghastly wrong at Glenbogle! This time he was trying to intervene before hand, but it was no use as Lexie displease-ly scowled at him for trying to challenge her.
"Well…" Paul answered, ticked at how Lexie put him on the spot. However, he was intrigued with the soon divorcee sitting uncomfortably once again on the sofa. Lili's face gave it all away as her expression showed she wanted to throttle Lexie and then run for cover.
"Oh, yes, okay, fine idea then." Archie lied outright in fear of being smacked by his wife when they were alone! He looked Paul once over and shrugged, still certain the situation of pairing his brother up with anyone, even Lexie's cousin, was a seriously twisted idea.
"If my memory serves me right, Paul, you chickened out on the last date that Molly had set up for you. Poor Dunc, he had to fill in for both!" Lexie corrected as she was nibbling on cookies that were on a plate, which rested comfortably on her "shelf" or her mound of babies. She then felt a twinge and then a tightening of her sides as she tried to avoid the feeling and continued to focus on the matchmaking of her cousin and brother in law.
"Well, what do you think?" Molly gulped, while hoping Paul would decline the set up. She didn't want to match make such a sweet lass with a buffoon like him. However she kept her tongue between her teeth on the point of view of love matter, so instead she stated on the business venue of Lili working at the Centre, "She'd be good for the run of the place and I'm sure the wolves would appreciate her."
Paul was now officially ripped, since not only had Lexie messing about with his love life, but also now Molly. What was worse was they both were trying to mess with his business affairs as well! He started to think of a response but then heard Lili softly speak up, as she then tried to channel through the untamed troubled waters that situation of her dating and working with Paul had caused...
"Thank you for your concern, Molly, but this isn't necessary to set me up with anyone. The job here at the estate is just fine."
Paul watched her slowly before adding his own two cents, "No, I believe you're right, Lex and Molly. She's a perfect addition and I don't see why we can't go out too." Paul gave out a slow sure grin and waited for Molly's gut wrenching reaction, which was complete shock! She was surprised that Paul didn't turn the pondering down, since she could tell he was cross, but she remained quiet. "I'm heading down there now anyway."
"Good then I suspect you will take her with you." Lexie delegated again and gave Lili another nudge with her elbow. Lili just stood up from the couch and glared at her cousin, before trying to smile back at the kind room full of strangers. She noticed Killwillie was just observing the scene and almost asked about the job at the restaurant anyway, just to spite Lexie, but she didn't.
Killwillie then let out a sigh, after the "dating" decision had been made, and turned to Molly to state, "A bald heid is soon shaved." Meaning an easy task is soon complete, as in setting Lili up with Paul. Of course, this wasn't the case in hours to come!
About an hour later, Lili found herself in a truck driving down to the Outdoor Wildlife Centre with Paul. She had remembered Duncan asking her to go on a walk with him, but Lexie was so insistent that she help out her brother in law in the office. Lili just assumed her cousin wouldn't have suggested working, had she known of her "date." She spoke up, trying to break the silence that surrounded the two of them, "Look, it was nice of you to agree with Lex, but I'm serious, I don't want to date anyone." Lili was now trying to pinpoint Paul's mood, as he gave off no emotion in his face.
"I didn't do it for Lex, as I did it to torture Molly." He answered, while they arrived at the Centre's office. He turned off the engine and got out of the truck.
"To torture Molly?" Lili asked stunned. "Why on earth would you want to do that?"
"'Cause the woman and I purely do not get along." Paul explained, as he wasn't trying to insult her. They were walking towards the office, as Lili was unsure of what to say next. " Ever since I came back to Glenbogle and the woman resents my return. She doesn't trust me, even though I've done nothing to her. Her problems reside with her now dead husband, my father, who had an affair with my mother."
"I see." Lili added, but her answer only made Paul more interested in what she had to say.
"What?" He chuckled as they walked towards to office.
Lili knew very well how Molly MacDonald felt since her mind wandered back to her soon divorce. She knew she liked Molly for a reason and this is why. "Don't look a gift horse in the mouth, Paul, as I'm sure that kind lady doesn't resent you."
"You sound…"
"I've been through this before." Lili snickered, as she hated the fact that Lexie brought everything up about her failed marriage in front of strangers, or in this case Lexie's close immediate family.
"Actually, I'd imply that you sound bitter." Paul added, scanning the worry lines that appeared on her face.
"Just show me the books." She stated in a slight snap, while pushing past him as he opened the office door. Paul listened wisely and did as he was told.
"If you insist." Paul shrugged as he opened the door to the small office.
"What happened here?" She gasped and stammered, scanning the cluttered room of papers, supplies and file cabinets out of order.
"What you don't like my way of things?" He chuckled at her exasperation at the disarrayed room.
"No. I don't. This could take awhile to straight out this mess. No wonder why you weren't going to stay for tea." Lili added as she lifted a stack of papers with her right hand, only to watch another paper pile fall down to the floor in a thud. The thud was then joined by another thump as the second paper stack toppled over. It was like watching a bunch of dominoes, as she couldn't even laugh at the chain reaction her fingers had caused.
"The estate is much worse, I'm afraid, so you, Ms. MacKinney, have a lot of work ahead." Paul nodded while lifting his brows.
"This isn't something, we're going to do today, is it?" She asked astonished and scanning the disaster area with her eyes.
"Why? Do you have a something more promising to do?" He asked curiously, waiting for her to answer.
"Actually, Duncan wanted to show me around." Lili replied, trying to not sound ungrateful to the task at hand. She just got here and the idea of jumping full swing into work actually exhausted her. She was also dealing with a time jump of five hours, so the lag from her journey was getting to her. Since it's now 15:30pm, it would be more like morning back at home.
"Aye, well, this is business first, and pleasure later." Paul said, trying to figure out her sudden disgruntled mood.
"Actually no." She nodded her head from side to side in the response since there's always life in a living man, or in her case a woman!
"No?" Paul questioned, as she surely wasn't implying on leaving him to do the work on his own, just to go off with Duncan.
"One, I shouldn't be rude since I agreed to meet Duncan after tea." She said with a yawn. "Two, I don't want to sound ungrateful, but I really am tired. I appreciate...." She answered, before actually thinking about what she had said and how she had said it to Paul, who's face had now become even more harder to read. His emotions were clouded and Lili couldn't figure now out how he was going to react to her.
"Aye, so now we get to the matter at hand, I'm keeping you up. Well, here's how it goes in my office you help with the books. And maybe we'll see about you doing other things, like resting or off gallivanting. Understand, Lil, I am an ex-military man and when there's a task, you do it. For Yankee, I would assume you'd be thrilled to be working while you're here."
"What does that mean?" She asked getting slightly irritated at his inflexibility as she had just arrived in Glenbogle that day. Of course, she also had no clue that he had spent some time in a military prison than behind a desk weeks ago!
"I simply am implying that a Scotsman, one of my own kind, would be flattered to be working for a very prominent clan, like the MacDonald's. I've heard most Americans are "work-o-holics" and never ever stop from finishing a job until the end. "
"Oh? Well, I'll give you credit that part of your statement is true, as in "work-o-holics". But I sounds like you agreed with Lexie to hire me out of pity?" Lili stated as he was starting to infuriate her. She was here to help fill in Lexie's duties, so she could rest. She just didn't think the duties included dealing with an aggravating and resentful man! No wonder why Molly didn't get along with him! He was impossible to be around!
"Yes, I did. Just like I lied to her about dating you. Where are you going?" He asked, while Lili's body turned towards the door.
"Am I not allowed to go to the bathroom?" She added trying to find away to escape. She was certain as she didn't want to work with him. She'd explain it to Lexie, after she cursed her for pairing them up in the first place!
"Bathroom? Oh, the loo, right…outside, take a right and then a left." He directed, unaware that was the last time he was going to see her, considering it was better for her to be alone than in his ill company!
Chapter Four...Perfect Fit...
Both experienced grounds keepers were trying to finish the last of the floorboards to the porch. Duncan was humming away, using a hammer in his right hand and holding a flathead nail with the other. He was banging the nails into wood, to the rhythm of his hum.
"Duncan?" Golly asked, wondering why his friend was in such a great mood. "What's with---?"
"I met the woman of my dreams today." Duncan spoke, while letting out a lovesick sigh.
Golly, the old man, caught on quick, "Aye, the Yankee, right?" He had yet to meet Lili but he knew if she looked anything like Lexie. He would seriously wish he were twenty years younger.
"Yes, Lili. She's quite a catch." Duncan chirped while he banged another nail in. "I haven't met anyone quite like her, Gol, she's witty, beautiful and..." as Duncan's ramble on about Lili was cut off by Golly's serious inkling into his most recent relationship with Killwillie's niece.
"What about Hermione?" as Golly witnessed his old friend stop his hammering and cut his humming short.
"What about her?" He asked curious as he wondered why Golly had brought up her up at that very moment.
"I thought you were dating her." Golly's brows lifted with his statement as he watched his longtime friend closely.
"Oh no, Gol, no we're not, and especially after I met Lili today." Duncan said, while trying to convince himself that Lili was the one, not Killwillie's constant nagging niece. He went back to hammering and humming about happily. He was on cloud nine and couldn't wait to go for a stroll with Lexie's adorable cousin.
"Yankee at 12 o'clock." Golly muttered as he viewed Lili heading towards the cabin. Her pace went from walk to run, before calling out Duncan's name.
Duncan swung the hammer with great force while turning his head to look at her. Since his eyes shifted onto her smiling face, instead of paying close attention to hitting the nail that his left hand was holding steady. The hammer in his right hand connected sharply with his left thumb in a huge BANG! "Oh suffering mercy!" He yelled out, while dropping the hammer, slightly dramatically, and sucking his throbbing thumb. He then lifted a brow at her for comfort.
"Are you alright?" Lili asked, feeling a little self-conscious for distracting him.
Duncan just gave a manly grunt with his thumb still in his mouth. "I'm come to the speculation that I keep hurtin' me-self whenever yer 'round." He mouthed with his thumb still in---only it came out to Lili as "I vum vo ve convulsion I veem vo veep vurtin my elf vith vo round."
"Huh?" She asked, as she was confused at what he was trying to say. She assumed it was kind of a greeting.
"OK. Sorry!" He added, nodding, while pulling his thumb out of his mouth to answer her!
"Lili, right?" Golly introduced with a nod. He ignored Duncan as he was acting like his normal self, an idiot, in the presence of a woman---it was hard to believe he was actually related to him. He now understood why his friend was so interested in getting to know her better.
"You're the third person to introduce yourself like you already know me." She laughed, as her infectious giggle made way into one of Golly's ears and out of the other.
"Perhaps, since Lex talks about you often." Golly replied with a wink.
"Ah," She said and then she checked out at the project they were working on before concluding, "Do you both need help?"
"Do you know how to build a porch?" Duncan asked, rubbing his thumb. He was happy she was so interested in "sticking around."
"I know how to swing a hammer." She teased and remarked, while her eyes focused in on him.
"Great, here's a hammer, but don't let good ol' Molly see you." Golly warned, as he welcomed her help and handed her the tool. "Or she'll take it away, since ladies don't do this line of work."
"Thanks, only you should be using a nail gun for this project. It'll go much faster, honest." She advised. "My father and I built a deck for his B&B one summer and the tool was a blessing in disguise."
" B&B? " Duncan's eyes widened in amazement...he had no idea her father ran a B&B...he had explained to her earlier about working for his Aunt.
"Yes, my father owns one and for summers I kept the books. I'm surprised Lex hadn't meantioned it to you. I would have said something earlier but you were going on and on about the bomb incident and working for your Aunt." Lili explained politely...Duncan listened...Golly interrupted...
"I have one." Golly answered, deciding to take Lili's advice, as he walked into the cabin to retrieve his nail gun. However, Duncan then sharply hollered, "YIKES, GOLLY!" when the four boards that Golly had been holding down with his foot, shifted off the porch with a huge crash onto the ground!
Golly rolled his eyes upon returning and handed her the requested nail gun. "Good thing to have the extra hands, Yankee."
Lili laughed at the new pet name the old man had given her. "Yes indeed, Golly."
"Now line these up and made sure they are level." She suggested, noticing the other uneven boards. But Duncan was too busy ogling over her beauty, body, and mind to really be paying much attention to what she was trying to explain to him. She then made the mistake of letting him get hold of the nail gun. "Make sure you aim it down, not up." she instructed, knowing very well if he didn't do as he was told, there could be a disastrous result!
"Aye, I get it, lass. No Worries." Duncan added, steadying himself with the powerful tool. She wasn't just worried though, as she was a little bit scared of him with it!
"There you are." Archie added to Lili as he approached the porch, but Duncan jumped, while being startled by the Laird. In the process of mid jump, he shot off the nail gun in an upward direction. At the same time the gun went off, Golly had ducked for a brief moment, to nail in a couple boards. He did not notice what Duncan had done until moments later after the nail from the tool-whizzed inches just above his head! Golly turned to look at the post behind him, as the nail stood straight out from it.
"Well Done!" Duncan exclaimed before realizing how stupid his statement was, since Golly could have been seriously wounded or even killed.
"That was---" Golly remarked in shock, and some annoyance towards Duncan being once again an idiot.
"A heart attack waiting to happen," replied Paul, as he stared at Lili, but she avoided his direction. She was still angry at him for being a jerk to her earlier at the office.
"Duncan! The tool isn't a toy!" Lili shouted at his absentmindedness, feeling slightly embarrassed. She then took the nail gun away from him, with a snatch of her hands, while glaring at him. "Let that be a lesson to you!"
"You're catching on lass as it's hard to teach him anything. I'm related to such a daft…" Golly nodded relieved aside from starting to explain to Lili that Duncan was his relative, as he knew Duncan couldn't be trusted with the tool, or in this case, weapon, but he wanted to watch them interact together. Apparently, she was good at keeping him busy or at least quiet anyway, something that Golly for sure liked while they worked.
"Well, I would have done it properly if Arch hadn't showed up." Duncan accused defensively. He wanted to be alone with her soon and so he then tried to reassure her, "C'mon on, I didn't kill anybody. We're distantly related!"
"Thank Goodness for that." Golly joked aloud. Lili looked at the men confused but didn't question it. He was related somehow to Duncan's grandmother because of her first marriage…it was a long involved story that Golly explained to Duncan once years ago. He also told him his granny had remarried Duncan MacKay…his grandfather.
"Just scared the beejeezus out of poor Gol." Archie nodded, before asking the old man, "Are you alright?"
"Very well." Golly nodded with a simple "yes", up and down with his head.
"I was looking for you, Lili. You shouldn't have run off like that." Paul added with some concern minutes after Golly's reply, as he tried to get her attention. "Understand you were tired and all, but you wandered off. I was afraid a wolf had gobbled you up as four course meal."
"Paul, she's been found, no harm done, and she's safe with us here." Duncan stated simply, as his eyes made note of Lili's uncomfortable stance. He was now starting to get protective, aside from peeved at Paul's sudden interest in her whereabouts.
However Lili defended herself to the Laird's brother, by raising her voice, "Yes, well, I am safe, especially, since I'm hanging out with real gentlemen, not an arrogant pompous drill sergeant like you!" As she nodded her head, since she wasn't one to be outspoken, but Paul's rude behavior from earlier made her be.
Her dry humored reply, or basic insult to Paul, made the entire group of men then roar with laughter. Paul cringed. He knew he had gotten off to the wrong start with her, maybe deserved her silent treatment a little, but she was now threatening his manhood in front of the lot.
"Yankee, yer a perfect fit." Golly chanted while roaring with laughter at how she had pegged Paul so well. No one else had been able to put him in his place, but she sure did. It was going to be nice having her around, since Lexie used to always put the men in their places. But since she's been expecting, she's been unable to carry on her tradition of "looking after" the men and her interests, except for her husband's concerns.
Duncan's eyes narrowed at Paul, since he knew Paul must have said something to provoke her. Even though he laughed along with the men because he liked how she told him off, still he didn't like her to be upset. He happily moved his body closer to hers and was relieved at how she didn't move away.
Archie just continued to laugh, "She's definitely related to Lex."
Earlier, before Lili had told Paul off…
Paul had arrived back at the house in search for Lili. He assumed she must have walked back after he had talked to her about dating and working together, well he told her what she had wanted to hear, only it backfired, especially when he lied to her about not wanting to date and that she had his orders to follow if they were going to continue working together. However, he had explained it to her, all of it clearly came out very wrong. He had put a wall up towards her, just like he had done with every other woman that interested him in his life.
"Where's Lili?" Lexie asked Paul as he came running into the house out of breath.
"I don't know--she's not here?" He answered, while glancing at Archie and then Lexie.
Lexie then firmly replied, accusing him of doing something obviously brainless, such as upsetting her cousin, "What did you say to her?"
"Don't blame me, alright? It was your brill idea to have her working with me!" He defended, while his face went into a sulking pout.
Archie started to get angry with his brother for trying to squabble with his pregnant wife and he spoke in a raised tone, "Paul, don't have to shout at my wife, you know, I'm sure Lili's out roaming the grounds."
Archie attempted to calm Lexie down by wrapping an arm around her waist. He was excited about the impending birth of the twins but equally unsure of being a father of two. He had made a point to try to keep her as stress free as possible and having his brother lose her cousin wasn't helping matters much.
"Now look, Paul, I simply suggested she work with you. She's a very bright girl." Lexie lashed out at him, frustrated that he had upset her cousin and disappointed because she felt they were good together. "I assumed you'd take care of her, but now I see you couldn't do a simple thing like that!"
"Apparently so if she knows how to escape!" Archie added, with a slight laugh, calming down, but Lexie didn't find the situation as amusing he did. Paul shrugged her off and stormed out the door. Archie let go of Lexie, kissed her sweetly on the nose, rubbed her tummy and said, "I'll be back and I'll find her. I bet she's with Duncan and Golly. Don't worry."
Lexie let out a smile, while it faded as she witnessed Archie walk out the door, "I'll try not too."
After the porch "mishaps"…
Paul and Archie were in the truck and heading back to the house. Archie knew Marina would have dinner prepared soon. He noticed his brother was more quiet than usual.
Paul was still miffed at Lili for bravely bashing him in front of everyone at Golly's. He tried to push her out of his mind, as it was hard to believe he was actually possibly attracted to her. Lexie was right, she was very intelligent, but her intelligence, and not just working in a office together, baffled all of his senses.
"Why are you bruiting?" Archie questioned, as his eyes stayed focused on the road head. He tipped his head to the side to scan Paul, before tipping his head back to the road.
"I am not." Paul said simply, trying to hide his feelings on the matter of his sister in law's cousin once again.
"You're envious of Duncan since they went off for a stroll, Am I right?" Archie grinned, as he hadn't had any personal time with Paul lately, even though he didn't usually seek it out. He decided aside from his brother's stubborn business manners, that he was still technically a MacDonald at heart. To be a MacDonald man, you must fancy smart and loyal women. "You're sweet on her."
"No, I certainly do not take a liking to Lili MacKinney." Paul scoffed while his eyes roamed out the window. "I don't care that she's off promenading with Duncan. I am pleased, no beyond thrilled, to be rid of her."
"What did she do to you?" Archie probed, as he wanted more info on what had happened between Lili and Paul down at the Outdoor Wild Life Centre.
"Why are you pointing the blame at her?" He accused, knowing full well it was his entire fault for being awful to her at the office. He just wasn't used to working with women and she was one woman who had managed to find way under his skin within seconds to breathing near him.
"Because if I'm going to pick up the pieces, I need to know everything." Archie probed again only more lightly as he was trying to tread carefully with the subject in hopes that his brother would answer.
"She mentioned Duncan, the daft airhead, and how he had suggested they go off together and so I gave her my thoughts on the matter." Paul added snidely. He actually felt better resorting to name-calling where Duncan was concerned.
"Oh really?" Archie added, not surprised that Paul told her what he had been thinking; since he knew setting her up with him was his wife's terrible idea from the get go. Archie just assumed he would be "fixing" things as usual and he was still right. Now the question lingered in his mind as how to do so.
"Yes I did. I will admit, as it was dreadfully awful. I made her believe that her working with me was out of pity for your wife." Paul retorted, cursing Duncan in the back of his mind. He knew if the airhead hadn't asked to show her around. He would have been happy to do it himself. He was just furious that the idiot beat him to the punch.
"When did you realize she was among the missing?" Archie stated empathetically.
"She fibbed that she was off to the loo. It was a good ten minutes that I realized she was not coming back to the office. Don't really blame here either, as I had made also the mistake of telling her that dating her was meant to torture your mother." Paul replied, while his body sank further down in his seat waiting for a scolding from Archie.
"Well done, brother. You have successfully shot your self in the foot, since I doubt she'll date or let alone work with you now." Archie applauded, while he shrugged his shoulders and rolling his eyes.
Archie's remark just made him feel worse, for once a woman was rejecting him. He then decided Molly would be pleased to set the woman up with someone else. He concluded," Molly didn't want Lili with me anyway."
"Lex did." Archie commented, while his stomach growled as he thought of the meal that would be waiting for them.
While promenading the grounds, Lili and Duncan were enjoying each other's company. They finally reached the shore of the loch, as she then made a point to pick up a stone and tossing it with a flick of her wrist. The rock upon being released skipped numerous times across the surface of the water.
"Well done." Duncan charmed as he watched the rock finally stop skipping and dipped into a wave.
"Thank-you." Lili forced a smile with her answer. She still felt awful for going up one side of Paul and down the other earlier, but he deserved every word of it since he had hurt her feelings.
"It's Paul, isn't it?" Duncan asked trying to skip a rock as well. He could tell the earlier events of the day were still troubling her.
"I'm just feeling bad about telling Paul off in front of all of you back there. I'd never do such a thing but he just is---ergh."
"Growing on you?" Duncan replied as she was fondly growing on him. He wasn't sure about saying anything to her about how she made him feel so he decided to just keep his cool. He picked up another flat rock and skipped it over the water a few times.
"No, he's infuriating, insensitive, and egotistical. It was Lex's idea to pair us up since apparently Molly has a dating service… " Her voice trailed off…while Duncan's trailed on…
"Oh, I know very well about it." He spoke low and shuffled his boots. He remembered Hermione and then his awful date with Helen, the woman with a husband!
"I know you do. Lex used it as a reason to con Paul into to allowing me to do the books for the Centre, aside from trying to set us up."
"How did Molly take this news?" Duncan asked cautiously, as he lifted a brow, while sending another rock skipping and picking up another flat one. He wasn't sure he liked the idea of Lexie and Molly trying to set Lili up with Paul, especially, after witnessing Molly's reactions to Hector having another son. He actually was going to talk to Lexie about setting himself up with her instead as a good gesture, but now he worried about her being with Paul.
"She was all for it. Well, my dating someone, only because Lexie kept bringing up everything under the sun that had to with my marriage. She didn't think I had dated anyone…" Lili's voice trailed off again.
"Are you now? Dating someone?" Duncan asked as his interest peeked as he then started to worry.
"Oh no, don't worry about that. The last man I dated had a Steinway and Sons piano dropped on him from a 50th story window. He died two days later from a brain injury. I had basically sworn off dating anyone for now, anyway. Well, until Lexie mentioned Paul, but I didn't want anyone going through the trouble finding me someone to date."
"Oh?" Duncan's heart sank slightly with his reply. He didn't like the fact of her going on a date with meathead, his now term of endearment for Paul. Then it finally registered in his mind, seconds ago that she mentioned being married, "Wait, you've got a husband? You're being set up with him?"
"Actually, ex-husband. We're divorced as of this coming Tuesday. Don't worry where Paul's concerned, I never want to go on a date with him ever, nor work with him! He had the nerve to tell me he was doing it out of pity for Lexie and also to torture Molly. " She explained, trying to skip another rock.
Duncan's heart then lifted, since she mentioned settling a divorce. Plus he liked the idea that her (ex-) husband was half way across the Atlantic so there was no reason to worry about him ruining any kind of a relationship she could possibly have with anyone. "Why are you getting a divorce?" He fired the question her way before she could comment more about Paul. It dumbfounded him that anyone would want to divorce her. He wouldn't since he was impressed with her in so many ways. Then again, he was "done with women" or so he told himself only to fancy another woman and have his own heartbroken. It confused him as to why no one would stay with him! Just a case of bad luck…he thought…perhaps for her too...
Lili paused, before Duncan cut in again, "Sorry. Don't answer that."
"No I should. About a year ago I was at work, dealing with some accounts and I came home early because I was feeling sick. Anyway, I found my husband going at it with another woman, and of course, the "other" woman was my best friend at the time. Right then and there that was the ax to the marriage with Danny. So after quitting my job in one week, I left New York, and moved back in with my father. Never thought I'd be a divorcee at age 28. You'd think I'd have kids by now, but not the case for me, I guess. Are you with someone? Do you have any kids?"
"Ouch, not good." He added, before Lili shrugged. "Um." As he paused about the dating part, since he was still dealing with Hermione, but then decided to shake his head, "No, I'm not and no kids. Not that I don't want any, I'd like to one day, but just haven't found the right person to settle down. Let's face it being the Head Ranger is a busy job, really no time for romance, I s'pose. I'm an Uncle…I'd think I'd make a great Dad…" He was trying to smile like he was "selling the whole idea of fatherhood" to her.
"Oh, that's too bad. You seem very nice and worth settling down with. I bet you make a great Dad too." She smiled, which only made Duncan smile back, as her up curved lipped expression was starting to wear him down in a great loving way. He actually liked talking about his "ideal" future as a topic of conversation with her.
"I bet you are too." He chimed in, trying to refocus the attention on her once again.
"Um…thanks." Lili agreed with a slight laugh, as Lexie came wandering down to the shore and she waddled carefully up to the pair.
"Aye, I was worried. You're safe." She called out as they approached her.
"How are the babies?" Lili instantly responded.
"Moving about some fierce, I hope the end is near, as I am seriously ready. Come along, Marina fixed a great supper." Lexie sighed and rubbed her tummy. She felt so huge, yet she knew in another week the babies would arrive, well, until she felt her body tighten up again, but then she allowed the "false" contraction to pass, while heading to the house for dinner.