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time you want. I ll get into the village and carry on with your research. I ll be fine.
You sure? Her blue eyes sparkled with gratitude. I ll call often to make
certain you re okay.
Oh, for goodness sake! If there are any problems--and there won t be--I ll ask
Mr. MacTavish.
Mally grinned. Mr. MacTavish again, is it?
You re the one who needs to be careful, Kate teased, changing the subject.
What if the professor turns out to be a pervert?
I can only wish, Mally laughed. Thanks, sis. I really appreciate this.
Within the hour she had her case packed and was waving a gleeful goodbye.
Kate watched the car roll down the driveway, and as it disappeared she turned to
stare up at the house that suddenly seemed even more foreboding than before. A flutter
of cool air added to the chill of her nerves. What have I done? she asked. Wrapping
her sweater around her shoulders she started for the house when the sound of tires
crunching gravel made her whirl round. Expecting Mally had forgotten something, she
was startled when the car and its two occupants pulled up near the stables. Both smiled
in her direction and she was automatically drawn closer.
Good morning to ye, came the jolly voice of a man unfolding himself out of the
driver s seat.
Good morning, Kate answered politely. She couldn t help but smile as the
oversized company heaved twice before actually getting out.
In comparison the woman with him was slender and popped out of the car with
the weightless grace of a dancer. Her long red hair swirled in locks as she opened the
LOVE NOT FORGOTTEN Ellen Ashe 43
back and started jostling cardboard boxes.
Puffing reddish gray whiskers from exertion, the man wheezed. Not as young as
I used to be. Taking a few steps towards Kate, he thrust out his pudgy hand and smiled,
Name's Douglas MacTavish, but call me Doug. Ye must be the lovely Katherine we ve
been hearing aboot.
Kate shook his hand. It was soft and clammy and his pleasing disposition was
infectious. Not certain what he had heard, she stumbled her words. Er, well. Yes. I m
Kate Daniels.
That little workhorse over there is my wife, Cindy. The hazel eyes swept in the
direction of a woman lifting a box almost as big as she was. Doug made no offer to help.
Don t suppose my brother is in, is he?
Oh, Kate said with little intelligence. Of course. MacTavish. It s just you
don t look the least bit alike.
Aye, weel. Father was a bit of a lassie s man. Married three times. I m the
result of the first union. Alex the second. The third was barren, but not from his lack of
trying.
Spare the poor lass the graphic details, Cindy said. I m sure she could care
less.
Be careful with that, woman. Mind where ye step.
Cindy threw him a glare and frog-marched the bulging box to the stable door. I
can t lift anything of weight, Doug explained sadly. Threw my back out a year ago and
it s been a problem since. Not to worry with a wee woman that strong to help. Eighth
wonder of the world, she is, in more ways than one.
Sod off ye silly bugger, she laughed. Obviously Cindy was used to his good-
humored teasing.
Doug studied Kate. My little brother was right. Ye are quite a looker. Have ye
been to our fair land before?
Ah, no, actually. What did he mean, quite a looker? What sorts of things
were being said behind her back? This is our first visit. My sister is with me.
Hear that, Cin! Doug clasped his protruding belly as he laughed. He s got two
women here. Aye, weel. Alex always had been a bit of a lassie s lad. Got that from the
old man I suspect.
Please, Doug, Kate said calmly. There s nothing going on between& .
He needs a good woman, Doug interrupted. Cin will tell ye the number of
nights I sat up worrying about the lad. He disappeared completely for near enough ten
years. No idea where he went. Drove me to drink with worry.
As if ye need an excuse to drink, Cindy scolded, riffling another box out of the
car. Jist look at the color of his nose.
Och. Never mind. He s home where he belongs now. Squinting approvingly
at Kate he added, He s thirty-eight, ye know. Soon past his sell-by date. Quite a catch
is our Alex.
That s nice, but I really& .
Tried to get him to move in with Cin and I. Guess the kiddies put him off. We
have three girls. Nearly all grown up now, sweet lasses. Doug s round chest swelled
with pride. Said he d rather live here. Loves this old place. Almost as much as he hates
it.
LOVE NOT FORGOTTEN Ellen Ashe 44
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