The cabbie nodded and Vee wrenched open the door. I climbed in first. Without a word, Duncan followed, elegantly tucking his large frame into the bucket seat. But when it was Fergus’s turn, he began to backpedal like a cartoon elephant shrinking away from a mouse. “I’m not goin’ near that thing,” he declared.
“You promised Fiona you’d follow me.” Vee balled up her fists, threatening the gentle giant with bodily harm, which under other circumstances would have been hilarious. But the frantic desperation that lurked just under her violent surface was no laughing matter.
Fergus shook his head from side to side. “Not in that thing. What is tha’ foul beast?”
In no mood to humor him, she grabbed his hand and twisted. “A horseless metal carriage. It’s not going to eat you. Now stop being such a big baby and get in!”
In a death-defying feat of agility, she wrenched Fergus forward, single-handedly catapulting him into the “horseless carriage” with Taxi scrawled on the side. Before he could protest, she’d slipped inside and shut the door, and we were speeding off to rescue a boy-king by defeating an evil witch. Perhaps she was part ninja after all.
CHAPTER 34
Veronica
Dunbrae Cottage loomed before us, dark and silent, appearing completely undisturbed. My chest tightened painfully. I’d had no tangible signs we were on the right track, but something in my gut had led me here. That same something made it impossible to be patient while Kenna searched for the spare key she’d hidden in the garden.
“It’s near the door … somewhere around here, I’m sure of it,” Kenna muttered to herself as she and Duncan lifted every leaf and rock within ten paces of the entrance.
About ready to break the cottage door down myself, I turned to Fergus. The gentle giant hopped up and down on the balls of his feet, his outward agitation a reflection of my own inner turmoil. “Can you open it?” I asked.
“Aye, m’ lady.” He took a giant step forward, almost knocking Duncan out of the way in his eagerness. “Watch out! I’m going in.”
In the same moment, Kenna yelled, “I found it!”
Fergus stopped in mid-stride. Obviously annoyed to have no physical outlet for his fear, he balled his massive hands into fists the size of melons and glowered fiercely.
“Thank the good Lord!” Duncan exclaimed as Kenna fit the key in the door and we all filed into the foyer. A stale smell of abandonment greeted us. Kenna flipped the light switch, but nothing happened. “Power’s turned off.”
My heart raced, beating so loudly in the eerie quiet that I glanced at my friends to see if they could hear it. But they were all looking around in distraction, frozen with indecision.
“Let’s split up,” I said. “Duncan, Kenna—you take upstairs. Fergus and I will search down here. Look for clues … anything, no matter how small, that seems out of place.” Three sets of eyes turned to me with undisguised skepticism.
“Vee, sweetie,” Kenna said gently, “I don’t think he’s here. It doesn’t feel like anyone’s been here in a really long time.” Duncan and Fergus nodded in agreement.
“Then the witch has done her job, hasn’t she? Don’t you see? She wants this place to appear deserted.” They all stared back at me, doubt clear on their faces. “Fine! You go, but I know he’s here.”
He has to be, I thought as I pushed past them and into the entryway. I headed to the hall storage cupboard and rummaged until I found candles and matches. Holding the matchbox, I attempted to strike a stick across the flint, but my hands shook so badly I couldn’t bring the two elements together.
“Let me help ye, lass.” Fergus’s voice, so close behind me, caused me to jump.
I handed off my task without a word. As the candlelight filled the space, I grabbed several candelabras on an upper shelf of the closet. Fergus inserted candles and lit the wicks one by one. In the shifting light, he appeared thoroughly chastised as he said, “I’m with ye, m’ lady. There’s a special connection between those who’ve received a Callin’.”