‘No, I’m fine,’ said Fraser kindly. ‘What was she doing in the yard?’
Dolly wheeled herself forward. ‘We think she’s a lost tourist. Probably a wee dram and a good night’s sleep will bring more answers in the morning.’ She turned her scooter towards Effie. ‘It’s late. You’d best get me home,’ she said as she disappeared up the hallway.
‘Here you go,’ said Effie, passing Liv the ice bundle.
‘Hang on!’ Fraser got to his feet. ‘What’s happening with her?’ He pointed towards Liv like she were an item of lost property.
This was the point where she should say she could sleep in her car or she’d get a hotel room but seeing as she wasn’t meant to know who she was, she was limping and she’d lost her phone when she fell – she was a bit stuck.
‘You live in a hotel, Fraser,’ said Dolly. ‘You work it out.’
‘But she can’t stay here,’ he said.
‘I can’t stay here,’ repeated Liv standing up and wobbling slightly. She stopped herself from reaching for the pike as support.
‘Why not?’ asked Effie. Fraser also turned to give Liv a questioning look despite what he’d just said.
‘Because… he’s a stranger.’ Liv pointed at Fraser.
‘No, he’s not,’ said Effie with a laugh. ‘He’s my cousin Fraser.’
Liv leaned forward to whisper. ‘But I don’t know him.’ She hoped her expression underlined her point.
‘But I do,’ said Effie, with an earnest nod. ‘He’s sound, is Fraser. You’ll be grand. But watch out for Janet.’
‘Who’s Janet?’ asked Liv.
Effie’s eyes widened and her expression took on a theatrical quality.
‘Janet was a local woman who made herbal potions for the sick. But after a few people died she was tried as a witch and strangled on the shores of the loch. At night you can hear her ghost wailing,’ she said. ‘Legend has it that she is looking for another poor soul to replace her so that she can return to the living.’
‘Okay, wasn’t expecting that,’ said Liv. She didn’t scare easily but that was one creepy tale.
‘I have to go.’ Effie pointed up the hall after Dolly. ‘Bye,’ she added cheerily.
‘Thanks a bunch!’ called Fraser as Effie strode after the scooter.
They returned to their respective seats; Liv lowered herself down more carefully this time to avoid any embarrassing noises. They sat in silence. This was awkward.
‘They say that an Englishman’s home is his castle and you actually live in one,’ she said.
‘I’m not an Englishman. I’m a Scot.’
‘Whoops, sorry. No offence.’ But she had a nasty feeling he was very much offended. They sat in silence for a moment. Liv decided that perhaps she should swap her ice to her ankle as that was still throbbing too. She rolled up the leg of her soggy jumpsuit, and undid her boots, revealing a very puffy ankle. She reached down and held the ice in place. She heard Fraser huff. She looked up and he was watching her.
‘Look,’ she said, ‘I don’t like being in this situation any more than you do.’
‘Here,’ he said getting up and handing her his ice. ‘If you’re stopping…’ He paused, probably in the hope that she would contradict him but she didn’t so he continued. ‘Then I’ve things I need to sort out. I’ll lock up, so we don’t get anymoreintruders.’ She tried not to react to his pointed comment. ‘And then we’ll go to bed.’
Bloody hell, he doesn’t waste any time,thought Liv, more than outraged.
‘Not so fast!’ Liv was on red alert. If she hollered would the other women still hear her? ‘I don’t need a place to stay that badly. I’ll sleep in the rain with the bull or cow or whatever it is, if I have to. But I am not sleeping with you!’ She wondered for a moment if this had been his plan all along. Ghost her and get her to track him down then she was at his mercy. Or was that just her tired brain overreacting?
‘Stop!’ Fraser held up his palm. ‘Not go to bedwith me. I meant I’ll fix you somewhere to sleep. Trust me, it will be nowhere near me. All right?’
Liv felt a bit foolish. ‘Oh I see. I thought… you know… I’m all a bit woozy and extra wary. Sorry.’
‘Forget it. If you want a dram, there’s whisky in the cabinet in the library. It’s good for shock.’ He pointed down the corridor to the left before heading in the opposite direction and leaving her alone.
