Free Tressa's Treasures (The King's Jewel Book 1) by Belinda M Gordon Page B

convince you. It's not about trusting me," Órlaith called as I left. "You need to admit to yourself that you already know what I'm saying is true."
    I turned back to her, meeting her eyes. "I'll stay for now. If I change my mind, I'll give you two weeks notice. If nothing else, I accepted a position with you and I'll see it through."
    "One last thing." The urgency in her voice kept me rooted in place. "Whatever you find in the place where the stones take you—no one is to learn of it but me."
    "I have Matt working with me. He may find something before I do, or he may be with me when I find it."
    "He won't," she said evenly. "I need you to swear that you will tell me—or Tressa—and no one else exactly what you find on my mountain. Do you so swear?"
    "Yes." Suddenly the conversation had the odd sense of an oath-taking, and I answered her with solemn conviction.
    I nodded to her again and then turned to go.
    "You will know when the time is right to reveal your find to others..."

    TRESSA
    Someone pounded on the front door as if it was their enemy, which they certainly didn't need to do to get my attention. I heard them approaching before their foot hit my front porch.
    I left the tomato I had been slicing, ran water over my fingers to clean off the juice, and dried my hands quickly on a dishtowel.
    I peeked out the window to see who was responsible for abusing my door. Alexander stood with his hands on his hips. A vein along the side of his neck pulsed madly. I released the latch and pulled the door open.
    We stood looking at each other in silence. I waited for him to open the conversation; anyone pounding on a door so aggressively must have something pressing to say. Why he remained silent, I did not know, but as he stood looking at me, his stance and his heart rate relaxed. Eventually, he spoke.
    "Did you know that trying to get information from your grandmother is impossibly frustrating? She just makes cryptic comments and refuses to tell you what you want to know."
    I laughed.
    "Aye, I know. And I can tell you from experience, it does no good to push. She will tell just so much and no more."
    I stood to the side to allow him to enter.
    "I'm making a salad for dinner. Would you like one?"
    "A salad? For dinner? Thanks, but a salad isn't dinner. It's a side dish."
    I smiled to show I appreciated his humor.
    "Sure and a salad is my dinner when I'm not dining at the Manor House."
    "Excuse me for interrupting your meal, but I wanted to talk to you for a minute if you don't mind."
    I ushered him into my small living room.
    I sat in the corner of my overstuffed settee and motioned for him to take a seat as I pulled my feet up under me and settled in. He ignored the invitation. Instead, he walked over to the fireplace and leaned on the old timber mantle with both hands, arms outstretched, hanging his head down between them. He seemed to gaze at the vase of hydrangeas I had nestled into the hearth. When he spoke, his back was to me.
    "You seemed genuinely surprised when I showed up for dinner that first night, but I need to ask. Did you have anything to do with helping Órlaith get me here?"
    "I'm not sure of your meaning, but rest assured, you were a surprise."
    "So you don't know the real reason she hired me?"
    What were Mamó's intentions? It was a good question. Clearly she had a purpose in this. She wanted Alexander to stay and search for River Rock, which should be impossible to find here. Yet he had found some, and quite easily at that.
    I hesitated as I searched for something to say that might help. However, my hesitation only served to bristle his already jagged nerves. He pushed forcefully off the mantle and spun around to face me.
    "You do know what she's up to."
    I sighed. Nothing clever had come to me, so I simply answered honestly.
    "Truly, I don't understand what she's doing. She wouldn't tell me either."
    "But you know something."
    I knew that I wanted him to stay... but I also wanted him to go. I took a rare few