“Deidre knows Aunt Phoebe has let all her employees go. That’s why she arranged for the horses to go to another stable for now.” Lauren shook her head, her mouth in a tight line. “I’m sorry, Drew. Julia and I are used to picking up after our baby sister, but you shouldn’t have to.”
Lauren’s annoyance surprised Reginald. No’ that the spoiledbaby sisterhadnae earned it, but he’d no’ seen Lauren loose patience with Deidre before.
“To be honest, I enjoyed it,” Drew replied. “Working with animals is my guilty pleasure. Something I don’t get the opportunity to do much anymore. My father has decided having me oversee his American interests is a far more productive use of my time.”
“Have ye told him yer wishes?” Reginald asked.
Drew’s sad shake of his head spoke volumes. “It wouldn’t matter. I love being back here. I’d even hoped to make this my permanent home, despite my father’s—and even Phillip’s—insistence to the contrary. But that doesn’t seem to be in the cards.”
“I’m sorry,” Lauren commented. “Parents can be…single-minded.”
“The perils of being an only child,” Drew shrugged. “My father’s tenacity is noteworthy. ‘Expand the holdings’, could be a new motto on the family crest.” He laughed, but Reginald dinnae detect any humor.
“Phillip’s motives, on the other hand,” Drew continued, “are strictly social. Being seen in the right places, with the right names are important to him. But it’s not really his fault. He’s been brought up to think that way.”
Reginald heard the pain in his voice. “And if your future was in yer hands, no’ yer father’s?”
Drew snorted and shook his head. “It’s not that easy. Heirs and only sons of powerful businessmen do not become veterinarians. In my experience, they’re expected to attend Ivy League schools, carry briefcases, and commute in private jets, not follow their own, frivolous dreams.” He nodded toward the porch where Phillip and Deidre were laughing over something. “If only the Phillips of the world could be the successors, then people like me could live on the land, content to tend a few animals.”
He shook his head as if to discard everything he’d said. “Forgive me. It’s just that my ‘holiday’ will end soon, and I’ll be heading back to work. I guess it was the horses that reminded me what it might have been like to do something I love. I didn’t mean to sound ungrateful. I have a great deal to be thankful for.”
“Aye. Though ’tis a shame ye and yer father cannae change places. He could live in New York and ye here, if that’s what ye desire.”
“I wonder,” Lauren said, as they neared the porch, “if there’ll ever be a time when children won’t have to choose between disappointing their parents, or themselves.”
Reginald’s heart felt heavy for both Lauren and Drew. But he couldnae ken what ’twas like for either of them. His da and mither had never expressed disappointment in him. Quite the opposite, in fact. ’Twas only himself, that he’d disappointed.
“About time,” Deidre cast an exasperated look in Lauren’s direction. “We wanted at least one game of cards before Aunt Phoebe calls everyone to dinner.”
“We should help her,” Lauren prompted. “She and Julia have been packing all day. It’s the least we can do.”
“But she knows we’ve been planning to play,” Deidre pouted.
“There’ll be plenty of time, after we lend her a hand.” When Deidre’s sulk deepened to a scowl, Lauren gave her a stern look; the first Reginald had seen her use, with her sister. “Thatiswhat we came here for, remember?”
“Fine,” Deidre grumbled, before turning a sugary smile on Phillip. “Don’t you dare start without me.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it,” Phillip assured her.
Though Reginald kept his groan to himself, ’twas nonetheless intense. That quiet corner he’d coveted was becoming more appealing by the minute. But he needed to speak to Drew, first.
Reginald waited until the lassies had gone into the house before turning to him. “A word, Drew?” He turned to Phillip. “If ye’ll excuse us a moment?”
“Of course.” With an impatient scowl, Phillip took a seat on a porch bench.
Drew fell into step beside him as he walked several steps away.
“Ye mentioned yer parents had some history of this area. I’m…uh…intrigued, specifically, by the Jacobite history durin’ The Risin’.” He lifted a shoulder. “As ye well ken, my uncle Fergus had a rather black reputation at the time. And I’ve no’ heard of anything, or anyone that ever disputed it. ’Twould be interestin’ tae ken the facts, no’ just a fistful of night-tales and rumors handed down through the centuries.” He forced a laugh. “A man likes tae ken if his family’s closet is full of any patriot’s or merely rogues and rascals.”
Drew laughed with him. “I’d bet my inheritance that every closet has a few of the latter. Even mine. My parents aren’t at home right now, but I’ll call my father tonight, and see what he remembers, if anything. And I’m sure there are records or documents somewhere. My mother is obnoxiously obsessive about collecting and organizing those old things.”
“Thank ye, Drew. I appreciate yer help.”
Drew clapped him on the arm. “No problem. If what they have doesn’t help you, there are always genealogy libraries, specialty collections, and places you could research on the internet. I’d love to help, if I can. I like a good mystery as much as the next guy. Especially when it happened right in my back yard. Or, my neighbor’s,” he chuckled.
“I’m grateful tae ye,”
“I volunteered to help Phoebe get the horses ready to move, tomorrow. I think the new stable is sending a truck around noon. So, I can bring you what information my parents have, then.”
