Dragon's Touch (Book 1 Linty Dragon Series) by J.M Griffin, Kristina Paglio Read Free Book Online Page A

griped.
    “I suppose you think you’re the best person to take on this estate and be the dragon keeper?” Dad asked in a snarky tone.
    Uncle Charles bristled. “The dragons should be auctioned off, they have provenance and great value. You and I know that Mother was nuts, and that she thought of them as real. A true crank, she was.”
    Slowly, I stepped forward, saw Vaughn’s subtle head shake and held my place. He’d seen me from his stance at the glass case of dragons, and only he was aware that I stood in the doorway. He sipped coffee, walked slowly toward the two riled men, and murmured, “Gentleman, surely your mother’s will shall clear up all the issues you are upset over?”
    Smythe was quick to say, “Exactly, this is a difficult time for everyone concerned, so why not cast your differences aside until the funeral is over and the will is read. All shall be explained then.”
    A harrumph issued from Charles. My father turned when Mrs. Douglas happily remarked more food had arrived, and he saw me step aside as the woman strode across the floor. She set a tray filled with tiny sandwiches, petite pastries, and a bowl of crisps on the library table, then motioned us to indulge in the repast.
    Dad’s gaze flicked to my right and I followed it. Somehow, Vaughn now stood at my side, instead of across the room. As I said, things were on the weird side. The gleam in Vaughn’s eyes threw me off a bit as I didn’t understand what it meant, and I joined my father. A sudden chill had taken me by surprise as had the animosity among my family members. I shouldn’t have been surprised that Charles and Dad would square off, but I’d hoped to have a day of peace before the funeral took place.
    My sweater hung over a chair. I slung it over my shoulders, grabbed a few sandwiches and sought the tranquility of the outdoors. The quickness of my actions didn’t go unmissed because I soon found Vaughn close on my heels.
    “I don’t need a chaperone, thank you,” I remarked as he drew abreast of me.
    “I’m well aware of that, though I did want to speak with you in private,” he said softly and guided me toward one of the woven sofas on the edge of the patio.
    The sandwiches were soon gone, I dusted crumbs from my clothes, and waited patiently while Vaughn stared off into the trees. Other than the breeze that whispered through the pines and the sound of birds chirping, all was quiet.
    “You’ll have a fight on your hands should you inherit the estate and aren’t willing to give up ownership. I’m concerned over who will become dragon keeper. Neither of those two is fit for the job. I believe Charles will take all this away from you by way of intimidation tactics, should you become the new owner.  By the way, your grandmother was never nuts, as he so rudely put it.”
    My gaze on his, I said in a dry tone, “Let him try.”
    “You spent enough time with the Americans to have taken on some of their “go-to-hell” attitudes. Good for you, that strength will be sorely tested, I’m sure.”
    “What makes you think I spent time with Americans? I was only in Boston for a day.”
    “Come now, Linty, your grandmother told me all about your studies at private school and then at Harvard University. I know more about you than you think,” he said smoothly.
    My pulse quickened at the inflection in his voice, which meant he knew a lot more than simply that I’d studied at Harvard. I wondered how much he knew.
    “Oh, yeah, there’s that. Having taken on a lot of American traits from my fellow students, I always yearned to be back in Scotland. There’s really no place like this.” I swept my arm out to encompass the estate and tilted my head back to inhale the sweet scent of pine.
    Before he could say more, the rear door opened. Mrs. Douglas poked her head around the frame and said, “You’d better come inside. I think there’s about to be a brawl.”
    We both hurried through the kitchen and entered the family room.