Chapter 3: A Late Night Adventure

By: KaitlynRose

That night Sami had a hard time falling asleep. So many thoughts were swirling through her mind. She was suddenly a millionaire several times over. Her entire life she had busted butt to scrape together just enough money to live. Now she was wealthy beyond her wildest dreams. She had a family that loved her and wanted to spend time with her. She was engaged to the most wonderful man in the world. Her son was going to be overjoyed when he finished with camp. She was going to be staying in Ireland permanently.

Surely this was a dream. Any moment now she would wake up and reality would slap her in the face. What if Kate somehow found out about her and Lucas? What if she and Eugenia came here to stop the wedding? What if she and Lucas ended up like Mikayla and James? Would Kate come here and kill her once she found out about their marriage? Would Lucas jump off a cliff if that happened?

Haunting and sorrowful thoughts and images followed Sami into sleep until two hours later she woke with a start from a nightmare about Mikayla's murder, only in her dream Mikayla's face looked just like hers. Sami climbed shakily from her bed, being careful not to wake Lucas.

She slipped on her robe and walked over to the double doors. The moon was full in the night sky and everything below shined silver. She could see the trees outside blowing wildly back and forth. The gusts must have been very strong the way those giant oaks were bowing.

Sami rubbed her hands up and down her arms as she felt a chill creep over her. Sami walked back towards the bed. She was in the mood to talk to someone, to tell them about everything she was feeling. She looked at Lucas and saw he was sleeping deeply. As much as she wanted to talk, she couldn't wake him up. She tip toed from the room and went downstairs.

She stepped into the library and walked over to the table that held the journal and the decanter set. She ran her fingers over the worn leather. She let out a sleepy sigh. She was too tired to read, but she didn't want to go back to bed just yet. She poured herself a small glass of the sherry from the decanter. She swallowed the strong liquor and coughed slightly. The amber liquid was warm as it went down her throat and after a minute she felt that warmth begin to travel into the rest of her body. It had a calming affect on her wandering mind.

She set the crystal glass down and walked over the fire place. It was dark and empty. She wished a fire was burning but she decided against starting one. Instead she stood in the dark and listened to the wind.

Something was in the back of her mind, something about Mikayla. The tower. Mikayla had been found in the east tower. Like lightbulb being turned on, Sami suddenly remembered the key that she had got from Mrs. Heathcliff. She shoved it in a drawer when Lucy announced the company.

She left the library, walked back to the hall cabinet, and pulled open the drawer. There, in the moon light coming from the window she could see the key. She picked it up and headed back up the stairs to the end of the east wing to the large brown door.

She pushed the key into the lock. It wouldn't turn. She shimmied and wiggled the key in the slot and suddenly the lock gave and the key turned a full circle. She could hear the bolt inside the door drawing back. With nervous anticipation Sami pushed the door back as far as it would go. Before her was a long stone stairway that led up to total blackness.

She felt along the sides of the wall for a light switch. When she failed to find one she remembered that Mrs. Heathcliff said the third floor had never been renovated, so it didn't have electricity. Damn. She couldn't go up there now. She wouldn't be able to see a thing. She let out a sigh of frustration.

A flashlight. Surely there would be a flashlight somewhere in the kitchen, maybe in the pantry or a closet. Once Samantha Jean Brady set her mind to something there was no turning back.

Once again down the stairs she went. In the kitchen she turned on the light switch and squinted her eyes against the harsh light. She opened doors and cupboards until she finally found what she was looking for. The utility closet was full of cleaners, brooms, mops, and candles and flashlights. She picked up the flash light and turned it on. A high powered beam of light lit up the closet.

Just for the heck of it she shoved a white candle and a small pack of matches into her robe pocket before shutting the door.

By the time she stood before the stone stairway once more, she noticed that her resolve was fading somewhat. What was she doing? It would be dark and creepy up there, plus there would be spiders and other bugs. It wouldn't be a big deal to simply wait until morning and go when there would be daylight.

She heard a howl of wind come rushing down the stairs and felt it blow across her face. Without thinking about what she was doing she flicked on the flashlight and began to climb the rough cut stairs. She kept one hand on the wall as she climbed so she wouldn't lose her balance.

The flashlight actually did a good job of penetrating the darkness. Some moonlight filtered in through the windows which were covered with paper thin white curtains. She noticed a floor plan very similar to the one on the second floor. There was a long hall with doors on either side. She walked down the hallway a bit and then stopped to open one of the doors.

Inside she found a large bedroom that looked like it belonged in a black and white vampire movie. The walls were rough cut stone. The bed was a four poster with dust covered drapes. Cobwebs hung from the chandelier above. The room had a musty scent that came from years of neglect. She noticed the light coming in from the large window suddenly disappeared. She walked to the window and looked up. Thick black clouds had passed in front of the moon and blocked its light.

Sami gasped when she realized the flashlight was dying. The bright beam was suddenly going very dim. She hit it against the palm of her hand but there was nothing wrong with the flashlight. The problem was the batteries. Finally the bulb quit all together.

She began to breathe quickly as she pulled the candle and the matches from her pocket. She struggled to get the match lit but finally the tip of the little piece of wood ignited and she held it to the wick of her candle.

The candle was no where near as good as the flashlight. She looked around for more candles. She spotted a candelabra on the bed side table with five half used candles still in it. Quickly she lit all five before blowing out her single candle.

That was much better and her nerves began to calm down. She picked up the candle stick and left the room, closing the door behind her. She walked back to the staircase, planning to go back to her room when she saw another giant brown door like the one she entered to come up here. This must be the way to the east tower she realized.

She pulled on the handle and was surprised to find it unlocked. It opened outward instead of pushing in. There before her was another set of stone stairs. This one didn't go straight up but went around in a circle. She put one foot in front of the other and made her way up the spiral staircase. At the top was a door. This door didn't have a keyhole. When you turned the door knob a latch lifted up out of slot which allowed the door to be pushed in. She pushed the door open but didn't enter the tower room. She peered through the darkness for a moment from the top stair. The room was filled with broken furniture and odd shapes covered with white sheets.

She could hear wind whistling through the room. The sheets covering the furniture fluttered ever so slightly. She could understand why Mrs. Heathcliff said this place was haunted. The sheets gave the illusion of ghosts.

She stepped into the room and began to walk between the piles of junk. She spotted the window on the wall and saw it was covered with shutters. She lifted the latch and opened the shutters. Instantly a breeze flew through the room. There was no glass in the window. The wind blew out her candles and a loud crash caused her to scream.

She heard squeaking and a rustling sound above her head. Great, there were probably pigeons or an owl in here with her.

She dug in her pocket for the pack of matches. As soon as she lit the match a breeze coming from the window put it out. "Damn." She pushed the shutters closed. It stopped the wind from blowing but it also put her in complete blackness.

She fumbled with the matches and finally was able to light her candles again. She lifted the candelabra from the floor and looked to see what had fallen. With a sinking feeling in her stomach she realized that the loud noise she had heard wasn't something falling down but the sound of the wooden door slamming shut from the wind. She hurried back to the door and tried the knob. The door wouldn't budge. Just as she had feared, when the door slammed shut, the latch fell back into place on the outside of the door. She was trapped.

She quickly set the candles down on a wooden crate and began to pull at the door frantically. She pounded on the door as hard as she could.

"Help! Someone help me!" Again and again she pounded, praying that Lucas or Grandpa would hear her and come let her out. "LUCAS! GRANDPA! HELP! I'M TRAPPED!" After several minutes of pounding and calling for help, Sami finally gave up. No one was going to come for her until morning.

She stepped away from the door and began to look around the room. It was very scary looking in the dark. The flicker flames of the candles caused the shadows on the walls to bounce and dance. Suddenly a truly awful thought entered her mind. This is the room where Mikayla died. It wasn't a shocking thought, that was what had prompted this bizarre little journey to the tower in the first place, but she never expected to be trapped in the room.

Sami saw flashes of light appear around the cracks of the shutters. This couldn't be happening, she thought. There was no way she was trapped in a castle tower in the dark with a thunder storm approaching. She was forced to accept that indeed it was happening when the thunder began to roll ominously across the sky.

She could hear the wind picking up even greater speeds. It whistled and howled threw the cracks of the shutters. She shivered as goosebumps rose up on her arms, part from fear and part from the chill in the room.

She watched as the shutters began to shake back and forth from the force of the wind. New lightning bolts flashed and more thunder rolled. Sami felt such a longing for Lucas at that moment. She knew when he finally found her he would let her have it for once again putting herself in a ridiculous situation, but she would gladly endure his wrath to just be out of this room.

The rain began to poor from the sky. She could hear the drops as they beat against the roof and the pair of shuttered windows. She looked over at her candles and saw that they were getting really short. They would surely burn out before the dawn came.

An incredibly loud thunder roared over head and she screamed when the shutters she had opened earlier blasted open from the force of the wind. She had probably failed to close them properly earlier.

Again she heard squeaking, only this time it was louder. She looked up and screamed as she saw the bats begin to fly around the room. She ducked low and began to thrash around and scream again when one of the bats flew into her hair.

"Get off! Get off!" She batted at her head and hopped around. "Ahhhh!" Finally she freed the bat from her hair and she plopped to the floor. She looked up to see the bats flying out of the window. She ran to the window. Rain washed into the room and Sami was quickly soaked trying to catch the shutters as they swayed frantically in the breeze. Finally she slammed them shut and forced the latch into place, double checking to make sure it was done properly this time.

Sami stood there breathing frantically trying to calm her nerves. She looked over and saw that three of her five candles blew out from the wind. She had to light the candles. She couldn't be in this room in the dark, not even for a second.

She tried to run to the candelabra on the other side of the room but she tripped over a broken rocking chair and fell. On the way down she slammed her head on the corner of a wooden crate.

She just lay there trying to fight off the urge to lose consciousness. Outside the storm continued to rage on but she wasn't even aware of it now. She was lost to a world of pain, loneliness, and darkness. She needed Lucas. He had to find her. She closed her eyes for just a moment. Her head was swirling and spinning. Finally when the blackness came to claim her she was actually grateful to surrender.

------------------

Lucas heard the thunder and woke gently from his sleep like he did his first night here. Tonight he didn't need to get up and run to Sami's room. He was already in her room. He rolled over to pull her close so she wouldn't be afraid but found an empty bed. It was the middle of the night. Where was she? He was sure she wasn't out horse back riding this time since a violent storm was happening outside.

He reached over to turn on the bedside lamp but the light didn't come on. He looked at the alarm clock and saw the numbers weren't lit up. The power was out. He climbed out of bed and pulled on his robe over his pajama bottoms. He stepped out into the hall to look for Sami. Maybe she was disoriented again and was wandering around like last time.

"Sami! Sami!" He continued further down the hall.

A door opened and Shawn stepped out his room wearing his robe over his bed clothes.

"Lucas? What's wrong?" He rubbed at his eyes.

"Sorry I woke you."

"You didn't. The storm woke me. It's pretty wild out there. Is everything okay?"

"I can't find Sami and the power is out. She's afraid of storms. I'm surprised she would be wandering around on her own."

"Don't worry, son. We'll find her. She might be in the kitchen getting a night time snack."

The two men walked down the stairs in their bare feet.

"Sami!" Lucas called.

"Samantha!" Shawn echoed.

The kitchen was empty. Shawn walled to the utility closet and began searching for flash lights. He found a box of them and pulled out two. He gave one to Lucas. The kitchen became easier to navigate once the beams were turned on.

"I'll search the main floor," Shawn said. "You head upstairs."

"Right," Lucas agreed. He quickly left the kitchen and ran back up the stairs. He went back to Sami's room just in case she had returned. Then he searched his room. Both were empty. One by one he checked every door and entered each room or bathroom. He finished the west wing and started on the east wing.

"SAMI!" He waited for a reply but heard nothing. He continued down the hall. He reached the end and saw the big brown door that was open and jutting out into the hallway. This looked promising.

"Lucas, did ya find her?" Shawn shouted from the bottom of the staircase.

"I think I know where she is," he shouted. "There is a stairway going up."

Shawn hurried up the stairs to join Lucas. Together they climbed the stone stairs to the third floor. Lucas was surprised Sami would have come up here in the middle of the night. He didn't scare easily but even he was willing to admit this place was creepy. Their flashlight beams cut paths up and down the long hall illuminating cobwebs and huge dust bunnies.

With out saying anything they began to check the doors. Lucas got lucky. The first door he opened was the stairway up to the tower. Suddenly he knew exactly where Sami was. She was in the tower. The east tower, where Mikayla was found murdered.

"Grandpa, up here!" He ran up the spiral staircase not waiting to see if the older man was coming or not. "Sami! Sami!" He came to the door at the top of the stairs and saw it was locked. He opened the door and shined his light inside the room. Instantly he noticed the two candles burning a few feet away.

"Sami!" he called once again. He felt Shawn put a hand on his shoulder, nudging him into the room. Lucas stepped inside. He saw Shawn reach down and set a box in front of the door. Lucas gave him a look.

"If the door shuts we'll be trapped," Shawn explained.

Lucas turned back around. His light glanced over something shiny and white. He stepped closer and saw Sami in her white gown lying on the floor.

"Oh God!" he gasped. Instantly he was next to her, checking her over for injuries. "Sami? Sweetheart can you hear me? Shawn, she has blood on her head. She must have fallen and hit something. Sami! Please, Sami, open your eyes!"

"We need to get her downstairs. It's too cold and damp for her to be up here any longer."

"Take my light," Lucas ordered as he thrust the small device to Shawn. As carefully as he could he slid his hands under Sami's body and lifted her up. It was difficult because of all the stuff in the room. He didn't have enough room to get in the right position but finally after repositioning her in his arms he got a good grip and was ready to go.

Shawn went down the stairs first carrying both lights to make sure Lucas could see the stairs in front of him and also to be ready to catch Sami should Lucas slip. Once back on the second floor Lucas took Sami straight to her room.

"She needs a doctor," Lucas said. "She hasn't stirred at all."

Shawn picked up the phone in Sami's room and dialed 10. After a moment Mr. Heathcliff picked up in the servants quarters.

"This is Mr. Brady. We need a doctor here right away. Samantha has hit her head and she's unconscious."

"I'll call Dr. Warner right away."

Shawn hung up the phone and ran across the hall to the bathroom. Lucas stayed with Sami on her bed trying to wake her. He looked up to see Shawn return with a cold compress.

Lucas took the rag and laid it on Sami's head where her wound was. The cold cloth on her face seemed to be waking her. She suddenly turned her head and moaned in pain.

"Sami. Sami can you hear me?" He could see that she was fighting to open her eyes but it was difficult.

Just then the bedside lamp came on and the numbers blinked 12:00 on the clock. The power was back.

"That's better," Shawn said.

Sami's door opened and a partially wet Mrs. Heathcliff entered the room. Obviously once her husband told her what had happened she got dressed and came straight over.

"Oh my dear!" Mrs. Heathcliff exclaimed. She hurried to the side of the bed and put her weathered hand on Sami's forehead. "She's runnin' a bit of a fever. Keep that cool cloth on her head. How did she get all wet and dirty?"

"We found her up in the tower," Lucas said. "She was lying in the floor hurt when we found her."

"I warned the lass to stay out of there but she wouldn't listen."

"Sami rarely does," Lucas said tartly. Once again Sami had wandered off, did her own thing, and gotten hurt.

"The doctor said he'd be here in about twenty minutes."

"Good."

"lu…lu…cas" The word was soft, barely a whisper, but Lucas had heard it.

"I'm here Sami." He caressed her cheek as he held the compress on her head. "Sami, can you hear me?"

"Sor…ry."

"It's okay. All that matters is that you're okay. We'll talk about your little stunt later."

"Sami, darlin', what happened?"

"Door…trapped…bats…tripped…hit my head." She still hadn't opened her eyes. The light hurt her head terribly. "Scared."

Lucas held her hand as she whispered the last word. She must have been terrified being locked in a dark room all alone during a thunderstorm.

"I'll get some ice," Mrs. Heathcliff announced. "We have to get the swelling down on her head. She's getting a rather large bump there."

Lucas flipped the compress on Sami's head over so the cold side would be against her skin. Sami flinched instantly.

After about ten minutes Mrs. Heathcliff returned with an ice pack. She handed it to Lucas. He placed it as gently as he could on her head, which caused Sami to yell out.

"Sami, I know it hurts, but it's necessary," Shawn said.

"Grandpa's right," Lucas added. "We have to get the swelling down."

"There was so many bats. They were everywhere."

"I'm not surprised," Mrs. Heathcliff said. "They like to nest in the towers. My husband clears them out but they always return."

Sami looked at Lucas. "I…love you."

"I love you too. Stop fretting and just relax."

The night ended up being a long one. Dr. Warner arrived and ended up staying most of the night to keep an eye on Sami's concussion. He wanted to make sure it was just a concussion and nothing more serious. He gave her a medicine to help with the nausea she was feeling. He said that it was common with concussions to have a sick stomach.

Lucas and Shawn had stayed most of the night but the doctor told Shawn to get some rest after several hours.

"I'm fine," Shawn insisted.

"I know you are, but her fiancé can sit with her now. If you rest now then you will be with her when he needs to finally get some sleep."

Lucas knew the doctor just wanted Grandpa to go to bed for the sake of his own health and was giving him a reason for going back to bed. Finally Shawn relented.

"Fine, but if anything happens I want you to wake me."

"I will," Lucas told him.

"I promise you, Mr. Brady, she is going to be fine. The nasty bump on her head will improve in a day or so, though she will have a nasty head ache for several days."

Shawn nodded and then left the room without another word.

"Now, I think I will also lie down and rest for a bit," Dr. Warner said.

"I can put you in the bedroom right across the hall," Mrs. Heathcliff said.

"Brilliant," Dr. Warner replied with a yawn. Looking back at Lucas he said, "Wake me at once should a need occur, but she should rest peacefully now."

"Thank you, doctor," Lucas said.

The doctor and Mrs. Heathcliff both left closing the door behind them. Lucas picked up Sami's delicate hand and raised it to his lips so he could kiss it. "Sami, you're going to be the death of me," Lucas said. He brushed her hair back from her face. A large white bandage covered the gash on her head. The doctor ended up giving her four stitches to close it but since it was right at her hair line the scar would never be visible.

He yawned and stood up to stretch his legs and his back. He was tempted to lie down next to her but he knew he would fall asleep instantly if he did. Instead he pulled the wing back chair over from the fireplace and placed it next to the bed so he would be close enough to continue to hold her hand through the night.

In the distance he could hear another storm approaching in the distance. He highly doubted Sami would even know if another storm came or not. No, the bump on her head had her pretty out of it.

"Lu…cas…help me…Lucas."

"Shh, Sami I'm here. I'm here. You're safe now."

"Don't leave me," she whispered.

"Never." He kissed her hand once more and squeezed it tight. "I'll never leave you."

-------------------

The next morning dawned bright and early for Lucas. He sat up in the chair he had slept in and stretched. He groaned as the felt the aches and pains that came from sleeping in a chair. He tried to massage the kink in his neck.

He looked up at the door when Mrs. Heathcliff came in carrying a tray of food.

"Is the doctor still here?" Lucas asked.

"No, he left just a short while ago. He came in to check on Miss Brady while you were still sleeping. He left some pain pills for her and gave me some instructions for her care. He said she will be just fine in a day or two."

She set the tray on the bedside table and gently shook Sami awake.

"No," Sami moaned.

"Miss Brady, you have to wake up now."

"Go away."

Lucas smiled. Sami wasn't what you would call a morning person even when she was perfectly fine.

"I have medicine to help the ache in your head."

Sami forced her eyes open at that one. "I feel awful."

"Let me help," Lucas said. He slid his arm behind Sami's back and raised her up. Mrs. Heathcliff stacked some pillows behind Sami so she would be sitting comfortably in bed.

"That better?" Lucas asked.

Sami nodded her head slowly. "A bit."

Mrs. Heathcliff handed Sami two small white pills. Sami put them in her mouth and Mrs. Heathcliff lifted the glass to Sami's lips so she could wash them down.

"I have some nice hot broth for you," the cook said.

"Broth, for breakfast?" Sami questioned.

"Doctor's orders. He said broth for breakfast, and then if you held that down you could have some eggs and toast for lunch. Dinner will be what ever you want. He was afraid of you getting sick. Dr. Warner said nausea is common for head injuries."

"Oh." Sami really didn't care. All she really wanted to do was go back to sleep.

Mrs. Heathcliff lifted a spoon to Sami's mouth.

"I can do it," Sami protested.

"Here, I'll help Sami with her breakfast," Lucas said. "Why don't you come back in a little while for the tray."

"Of course, Mr. Roberts. I also brought up a cup of coffee and some toast and jam for you."

"Thank you."

After she left Lucas had a seat on the bed next to Sami. He picked up her broth and spooned some into her mouth.

"How are you really feeling?" he asked.

"Like I was hit by a truck. My head hurts…a lot…and I feel so tired." Lucas noticed a slight slur to her words, and she was clearly groggy.

He spooned in another bite. Sami felt silly having Lucas feed her like this, yet she appreciated the gesture.

"Do you remember what happened last night?"

"Most of it."

"Care to tell me then?" he asked.

"Only if you promise not to yell. My head can't take any shouting right now."

"Fine, I won't yell."

"Last night I woke from a nightmare. I couldn't go back to sleep."

"Why didn't you wake me up?"

"You were sleeping so peacefully. I didn't want to bother you. I went down stairs to the library. I saw the journal. It got me thinking about Mikayla. Two days ago I got the key to the upstairs from Mrs. Heathcliff but I never got the chance to go up because my relatives came over. After they left I didn't think about it again, until last night that is. Looking at the journal reminded me."

"I'm surprised you went up there. It was dark and there was a storm."

"The moon was shining when I first went up. I took a flashlight but the batteries died. Then I found the candelabra. I was about to come back down stairs when I heard noises from the tower."

"So you went by yourself to check them out?" Lucas asked.

"I thought it was just the wind. I remember feeling the breeze on my face. I never thought I would get trapped up there or that the room would be full of bats." She looked at him for a minute before asking, "How did you know I was up there? How did you find me?"

"The storm woke me up. As soon as I saw you weren't in bed I came looking for you. Grandpa also woke up and we each took a floor. Then I saw the open door leading up stairs. Once up there I knew where you would be the moment I saw the stairs leading to the tower. My heart just about stopped when I saw you lying in the floor bleeding from your head."

All thoughts of the broth in Lucas' hands were forgotten as they stared into each other's eyes. "I picked you up and carried you to your room. Grandpa called Mrs. Heathcliff and she called the doctor."

"A doctor was here?" Sami asked. "I don't remember that."

"You were pretty out of it most of the night. I'm not surprised. Just do me a favor, the next time you want to go exploring on the third floor wait for daylight and let me come with you."

"Okay, general. No more night time explorations." She let out a big yawn.

"I think it's time for you to get some more rest." She nodded her head sleepily.

Mrs. Heathcliff came back in. "If you will excuse me Mr. Roberts, I'd like to help Miss Brady into a clean gown and help her wash up a bit.

Sami looked down at herself and was surprised to see her pretty gown covered in dirt smudges and even blood. She felt her hair. It was knotted and she felt caked blood in it.

"I must look awful," she said.

Lucas grabbed her hand and kissed it. "You're as beautiful as ever."

------------------------

Several hours later Lucas peeked his head into Sami's room. She was sleeping peacefully in her bed. Her hair was now clean and lay like golden silk on her pillow. She wore a clean cotton Victorian gown that had ruffled lace at the wrists. The blanket came up to her chest and her hands rested peacefully on her stomach. Except for the bruise and bandage on her forehead she looked fine. Mrs. Heathcliff had taken good care of her. He stepped out of the room and pulled the door closed behind him.

Lucas decided to go down stairs. Maybe he could find a book to read to pass the time, or he could go to the sitting room and watch a little television. He was on his way to the library when he heard loud voices coming from the billiards room.

He stepped up to the door, which was slightly ajar, and listened to the heated conversation taking place.

"I've made my decision."

"You are breaking with tradition. The estate has never been left to a woman. It has always gone to a man."

"Well this time it won't."

"But she is an American!"

"She is a Brady!"

"This is ridiculous. She has been in Ireland for less than a week. I have been looking after this estate for almost twenty-five years. I have earned the right to inherit Wellston."

"I admit you have done a great job of caring for Wellston, but you were never next in line."

"Neither is your granddaughter."

"But she would be. Technically Roman should inherit the estate. After Roman would be Sami."

"I'm sorry, but you left Ireland. I agreed with my mother that you were entitled to your allowance, but as far as I am concerned you forfeited the right to own or pass on Wellston when you left. You've been gone for fifty years. What claim do you really have here?"

"How dare you? Yes, I've been gone, but we both know I had good reason to be gone. You were all safer with me in America. This is my home. This is where I was raised. I was born in this castle, and if I choose to I will die in this castle. Furthermore, I will pass it on to whomever I think will best take care of Wellston in the future!"

"But Sami isn't the best choice. She doesn't know the first thing about managing the estate. It is an overwhelming task."

"She will learn, and what she doesn't know about finances will be taken care of by Lucas. You saw for yourself, he is a smart lad. The two of them together can do anything, including taking care of Wellston."

"I can take you to court over this."

"Go right ahead. The fact of the matter is that Connie and I both agree on this decision. Sami loves this place. She will never sell it or let it fall to ruins. My decision is final. I have already ordered the lawyers to draw up the new Will and legal documents."

"You're going to regret this. Mark my words. You'll be sorry."

Lucas hurried to get away from the door. He could sense that the conversation was over. From the safety of the library he watched as Shaymus stormed from the billiards room and stomped his way down the hall.

Lucas waited but Shawn never came out of the room. He took a deep breath and stepped inside the billiards room with Shawn.

Without even looking up Shawn said, "I suppose you heard all of that?"

"Not everything," Lucas lied. "But I heard the two of you yelling…a lot."

Shawn let out a deep breath and nodded his head. "Shaymus is angry because he is not going to inherit Wellston when I die. Sami is." Now he looked up to see Lucas' reaction.

"I can't say I am surprised," Lucas said. "I didn't know, but I had this feeling. I've seen the way you and Constance have been watching, almost studying Sami at times. My only concern is that you haven't asked Sami if she wants this responsibility. She loves Wellston and will take the task on if you want her too, but before you give this place to her, just ask her if she is ready for it."

"I thought she was determined to stay in Ireland," Shawn said.

"She is. We are. But she was talking about buying a cozy cottage and living a simple life. I'm sure she'll want Wellston. No doubt she will be honored that you think she should have it, just talk to her first. Don't make this a surprise like you did her bank account."

"You're right. I'll have a talk with her. Not today. I don't think she is up for it in her current condition. Tomorrow if she feels well enough, and if not, definitely the next day for sure. I have to talk to her soon because word will spread fast and I don't want someone else to mention it to her before I get the chance."

"I agree," Lucas said.

"What about you? Are you okay with this?"

"It'll be a big job, but I can handle it. I'm good at finances, and hopefully Shaymus will stay on and continue to work for the estate. If he doesn't I can do it, or hire another and monitor what he does."

"Glad to hear it. I want you to know that I truly believe I am making the right decision. For some reason I don't completely trust Shaymus. I can't say why exactly. It's a feeling. As for Liam or Bridget, they're still a bit young, and they just don't seem interested. I think Sami is perfect."

"I'm sure she'll make you proud."

"Lucas, I want you to do me a favor."

"What?"

"Keep an eye on Sami. Don't let her go wandering off on her own for a while. I just…" Shawn didn't know how to finish his sentence.

"You think Shaymus will hurt Sami."

"No! No…I don't know. He's pretty mad, but I don't think he's violent."

"Then what are you worried about?"

"Ah, I'm just being a worry wart," Shawn replied. "Never mind."

"I won't let anyone hurt Sami," Lucas said. "I don't care if they're family or a complete stranger. No one is hurting Sami anymore."

Shawn stood up, clapped Lucas on the shoulder and walked from the room. Lucas could see the worry Shawn felt. He meant what he said. No one was going to hurt Sami. He would always protect her.

Right now he wanted to cheer her up a little. He had an idea. He needed to call Bridget. Mrs. Heathcliff would probably have the number.

-----------------

Sami woke slowly. She let out a contented sigh and stretched her back and shoulders. Her eyes fluttered open and she smiled when she saw Lucas sitting on the side of her bed.

"Hello there, sleeping beauty. You've just about slept the whole day away."

"A least when I do wake up your face is the first one I see. Hmmm, something smells good."

"Mrs. Heathcliff went all out for your dinner tonight. You have baked chicken, mashed potatoes with gravy, steamed carrots, bread and butter, and blueberry pie for dessert."

"That sounds wonderful. I'm starving." Sami gingerly sat up in bed and Lucas propped her pillows. He set a bed tray in front of her. Sami was finally well enough to eat on her own though he could tell she was still a bit woozy from her concussion.

"I also have a surprise for you," Lucas said as Sami stuffed a bite of potatoes into her mouth.

"Hmm, what?"

Lucas reached down to the floor and then lifted a vase filled with yellow, peach, and pink roses. There must have been at least three dozen there.

"Lucas, they're beautiful."

He held them close to her so she could smell their wonderful perfume before setting them on her bedside table.

"And I got you a companion to keep you company." He pulled out a large, fluffy, teddy bear. He was dark brown with pink patches on his ears and paws and he had a big floppy red velvet bow around his neck.

"You're so sweet," Sami said. "Thank you."

She placed the bear on the bed next to her and stuffed another bite of food into her mouth.

"What are you going to call him?" Lucas asked.

"I don't know. I'll have to think of a name. I can't think of anything right now." Her head was starting to hurt again even though she had only been awake for a few minutes. She had hit her head before but this time it had really knocked her off her feet.

Lucas saw Sami grimace in pain. "Here, your pain pills are right here. When was the last time you took one?"

"I don't know. Before lunch, maybe. It's been a while."

Lucas shook out two pills and passed them to Sami. She swallowed them down with a drink of water. She laid her head back against the pillow for a moment.

Lucas picked up her fork and speared a piece of chicken. "Here, open up."

Sami opened her mouth to accept the bite of food. After chewing it up she teased, "You better be careful, general. I might get used to being waited on hand and foot."

"You say that now, but I bet by this time tomorrow you'll be ready to climb the walls, you'll be so tired of being in bed." This time he put a bite of carrot in her mouth.

"I might not be that stir crazy if I had someone in here to keep me company."

"I can definitely keep you company, but I think we better hold off on anything more than company until your better."

"That's fine. All I need is your arms around me and I'll be fine."

Lucas smiled. It felt good to be needed. He'd known for a long time now that Sami needed him, but still, to hear her say it was wonderful.

She picked up her fork and continued to eat. It really was nice to be taken care of. To have someone watch out for her, attend to her. It had been nice earlier when Mrs. Heathcliff came to wash her hair and clean her up. The last time a woman had taken care of her that way was when she was a child and Isabella had been with her.

Lucas sat with Sami as she finished her meal. When she was done he removed the bed tray and set it in the hallway by the door so it could be removed later without disturbing Sami.

He could see that she was already getting tired again. He had had a concussion once and he remembered how all he wanted to do was sleep the first twenty-four hours. But Sami was improving. She was staying awake for longer periods of time each time she woke up.

He walked back to the bed, kicked off his shoes and climbed on top of the covers. He stretched out next to her and she rolled over to rest on his side. He wrapped his arm around her and held her close as she drifted off to sleep. His life was heaven right now. There was no where in the world he would rather be and no one he would rather be with. Once Will arrived life would be perfect.

--------------