Free The House on the Shore by Victoria Howard Page A

rubbish.”
    Morag blinked and focused her gaze on Anna’s face. “Scottish history tells it differently, as you well know, but I’ll not argue with you. You are entitled to your opinion, as I am. You may not believe what I say at the moment, lass, but you will. Something evil is going on. I can feel it.”
    “Oh, please! ” Anna snapped . “ Your imagin ation is running away with you. You’ve watch ed too many late night horror films on television. They always give you nightmares when you’re alone. Speaking of you being alone, when does Lachlan get back?”
    Morag wouldn’t be sidetracked . “Have it your own way, lass. You’ve known me long enough to know that the Sight has never let me down. I can see that my warning isn’t what you want to hear just now, so I’ll say no more. Shall we get on? We’ve still got another three bedrooms to tidy and lunch to prepare.”
    Anna bit down on her temper. “Yes, let’s . In fact, w hy don’t you go and start lunch? I’ll finish off up here. When I’m through, I’ll come to the kitchen and give you a hand.”
    “Of course, dear,” Morag smiled. She turned, and started down the s tairs, but paused halfway down.
    Anna leaned over the banister, wondering what the problem was . A family with two young children and a baby were checking in at reception. She saw the look of indescribable sadness on Morag’s face. She ha d shared Morag’s delight at being told she was pregnant, but couldn’t begin to understand the pain and disappointment she and Lachlan must have experien ced when Morag miscarried. She wanted to reach out and give her friend a hug, and was about to tell her that there was plenty of time for her to have a family , when Morag broke the silence.
    “And don’t forget to give the tiles in bathroom in room four a good wipe down. They look as if they’re covered in snow. I swear the woman in there showers in talcum powder instead of water!” s he called, as she continued down the stairs.
    The more Anna thought about Morag’s warning, the more concerned she became. Since arriving at the croft , she’d had more than her fair share of disturbed nights, but had put th em down to the unaccustomed silence, rather than Edinburgh’s traffic noise. T his talk of her being in danger , th at was just nonsense. Morag was just being her overdramatic self. Even so, Morag had a point. The croft was isolated, b ut the dogs would attack anyone who threatened her.
    No matter how much the warning echoed in her ears, nothing could persuade her that Luke was anything other than what he appeared, a yachtsman whose boat was in need of urgent repair. As soo n as the necessary part arrived he woul d be on his way back to America.
    Using her staff key , she o pened the door to room thirteen and pushed the service trolley inside. Only one of the two single beds had been slept in. As she moved the bed away from the wall , the toes of her right foot hit something hard. Why guests couldn’t use the stand provided for suitcases, she would never know. She bent down and reached under the bed, and dragged the case out of the way.
    Only it wasn’t a suitcase, but the gun case she’d se en the man carrying the day she ha d visited Morag. She starred at it for a moment, then something made her undo the catch and flip open the top. A bolt-action rifle with a telescopic sight lay inside. She shivered. Did the guest have no sense? He should have asked Ewan to lock it in the safe rather than leave it in his room. She closed the case and put it back under the bed. She’d mention it to Ewan and suggest he speak with the g uest before she left the hotel.
    Three quarters of an hour later she re - joined Morag in the kitchen.
    “Ewan tells me the young Laird has returned from London,” Morag said.
    Anna raised an eyebrow. “ That’s right . Alistair called at the croft the other day. I thought you said he’d sh own no interest in the estate.”
    “Until now he hasn’t, b ut that might