Part 9 (1/2)

I got back to my feet and sent an exasperated look at Gilley. He looked mournfully up at me. ”I'm sorry!”

I was so angry that I simply turned and stomped off. Heath came with me and slipped his hand into mine. ”It was an accident, M. J.,” he said after a bit.

”It was careless,” I said through gritted teeth.

”We can figure this all out without it,” he insisted reasonably. ”And at least you still have the letter.”

I stopped and blinked up at him. ”I do?” And then I felt all my pockets discovering that I'd tucked the letter into my back pocket. With a relieved sigh I started walking again. ”A load of good that'll do us,” I said after a bit, my foul mood returning. ”The important parts were all in the journal.”

When we finally reached the sh.o.r.e, our feet and pants up to our s.h.i.+ns were all soaking and I couldn't have been more cold, tired, and miserable. All I wanted to do was crawl into the van and point it back to the B&B.

We found the van right where we'd left it, but only then realized that Gopher had taken the keys. ”Look in his backpack,” I told John, who'd been shouldering it all the way from the top of the rock.

John sifted through the contents while Heath shone his flashlight into the interior. No keys.

”I think I saw him put them in his pocket after we got out of the van this morning,” Kim said quietly.

”Why did we only take one van this morning?” Gilley wailed. did we only take one van this morning?” Gilley wailed.

I remembered that it had been Gopher's idea. He'd wanted to save on gas.

Bone-weary and in a now truly terrible mood, I stared up the road and began to walk. ”Looks like we're hoofin' it,” muttered John from behind me.

I sighed again. This night just continued to offer up c.r.a.p sandwiches. Heath held out his hand to me as we got to the steep part of the climb up the road. ”Come on,” he said. ”It can't be that far.”

Unfortunately, it was close to five miles. It took us well over an hour to reach the B&B. When we arrived, there was a note on the door from Anya saying that she was sorry we'd missed dinner, but that she'd have a hearty breakfast waiting for us in the morning.

Once we'd tiptoed inside, Meg asked, ”Should we use the other van to go alert the authorities about Gopher?”

I was beyond exhausted by then, and every muscle in my body ached, but thoughts of Gopher's welfare made me say, ”Yeah. We need to see if they'd be willing to send a search party to the castle.”

But Heath reminded me about the permissive-access paper Gopher had shown the constable. ”They'll never go for it. We a.s.sumed all risks when we went to the rock. You heard what that constable said, that the village wouldn't help us if anything happened. Plus, if they do go, that phantom's likely to make mincemeat out of them.”

”We can't just leave Gopher there alone,” I argued. ”Seriously, Heath, we've got to do something something.”

”I can go,” said John. ”You two did more running around than me. Plus, the keys to the van are in my room. I can go file a report at least.”

Heath sighed wearily. ”Yeah, okay, John. Thanks.”

John moved quickly and quietly up the stairs, and everyone else worked their way up at a much slower speed. ”I'm so tired I don't even think I'll change. I just want to do a face-plant into my pillow,” said Meg.

”Me too,” said Kim.

”Me three,” said Gil.

Heath and I did not play along this time, but I was thinking, Me four ... big-time. Me four ... big-time.

I don't remember my head hitting the pillow. I don't even remember the final steps to my room. I do remember falling immediately into a deep and blissful slumber, and somewhere near daybreak Lord Dunnyvale visited me again. ”h.e.l.lo, good lady Holliday,” he said cordially.

”Lord Dunnyvale,” I replied, with a dip of my chin.

”Have you considered my offer?”

”I have,” I told him. ”And I don't think I like the terms.”

Dunnyvale appeared taken aback. ”Why, I thought they were quite agreeable,” he said to me. ”Don't you want to see your friend again?”

”Of course I do. But it hardly seems fair that the longer you hide his whereabouts from me, the more likely it is that he's in mortal danger.”

”Ah,” said Dunnyvale. ”Yes, that's a good point. Shall I sweeten the deal with a little bullion?”

I blinked at him. ”A little what?”

”Gold, dear. A little gold.”

Was he for real?

”I don't want your gold, Lord Dunnyvale. I want my friend.”

But Ra.n.a.ld eyed me with a look that suggested he didn't believe me. ”Everyone wants the gold, la.s.s.”

I glared at Dunnyvale. ”I said said I didn't want it, Lord Dunnyvale. I just want my friend.” I didn't want it, Lord Dunnyvale. I just want my friend.”

”Yes, well, start with Alex, then follow the trail to the gold, and there you shall find the clues that will lead you to your friend. You can't have one without the other, I'm afraid, and you can't do the last without dealing with the phantom.”

I rolled my eyes. ”You talk in riddles, my lord.”

Dunnyvale gave me a look of mock surprise. ”Do I?” he said coyly. ”Why, I believe I've spoken quite plainly.”

And with that, I woke up to the thin pink light of dawn seeping in through the blinds, and Gilley's soft snores in the next bed.

”Gil,” I whispered.

”ZZZZZZZZ ...,” he said.

I frowned. He looked really deep in sleep, and he was a bear to wake at times like that, but I really wanted to talk this whole visitation from the lord of Dunlow Castle over with someone.

”Gilley!” I said, right into his ear.

”ZZZZZZ ... snort ... ZZZZZZZ,” he replied. he replied.

”Fine,” I told him. ”Have it your way.”

With that, I moved off to the shower and soaked up all the hot water.

A bit later, showered, in clean clothes, and feeling quite refreshed, I tiptoed out of the room in search of food. As I closed the door softly behind me, I found myself staring right into a manly bare chest. ”Morning,” said Heath, his voice husky with fatigue.

I felt a blush hit my cheeks. ”Hey, there. You're up early.”