The MacGregor by Jenny Brigalow Read Free Book Online Page A

at the TV screen and swirled his whisky softly in its tumbler. Still, the day hadn’t been all bad. He’d had a major breakthrough with The Count and he’d had a very positive phone conversation with Campbell. God, but it was great to be the bearer of good news. Campbell was coming next week to watch his charge go through his paces.
    Something smashed on the floor in the kitchen. Sean was out of his seat like a jack-in-a-box. He trod carefully across the threadbare carpet and peered through the open door, his heart hammering in his chest. A milk bottle twirled idly on the flagstones, spewing milk into a little lake. Sean’s eyes whizzed around the room. Disappointment washed over him as he encountered Sarah’s black cat, Salem.
    With a curse he carefully mopped up the mess. For one wild moment he’d thought it was her. Megan.
    There was no hope of settling in for the evening. He grabbed his jacket and put on his boots and stepped out the front door. He’d already done the horses and he didn’t want to disturb them again. His gaze travelled down into the valley to the river flats. And his body stiffened like a setter on the scent when he spotted a small light bobbing across the distant paddock. What the hell?
    Minutes later he was hot-footing it towards the stretch of forest that ran down to the water. He could sneak up on whoever it was and catch them unawares. It was probably kids or poachers. As he jogged easily downhill a small black shape raced past. Salem.
    At first Sean thought the cat was just out hunting, but as he wound his way through the trees he had the odd sensation that the cat was on some other mission. Which was mad. But he couldn’t shift the idea, and he came to an abrupt halt when he realised that he was following the black cat. Which was even madder.
    Hidden behind the trunk of an elder tree Sean took a moment, his eyes following the cat with some difficulty in the moon-speckled undergrowth. When the cat stopped and turned around, Sean held his breath. Salem’s eyes flared gold in the moon rays as he stared straight at Sean. Just coincidence, Sean told himself. But the cat remained stationary, just the tip of his black tail lashing the air impatiently.
    Sean stepped out again, and Salem turned tail and trotted steadily through the bracken fern and brambles. Sean followed and tried to remember just how many drinks he’d had. He’d have sworn it was only a couple of stiff ones.
    The trees thinned and Sean could hear the tinkle of water as it gushed over its rocky bed. An owl screeched overhead and something small pitter-pattered past his feet. Salem sat down at the edge of the trees, and turned and observed Sean. He sighed and stopped.
    For a few moments all seemed peaceful, the landscape going about its secret nocturnal business. The air was clear and crisp, and the lush grass rippled softly in thebreeze. Sean felt ridiculous. He must have been mistaken about the light. Perhaps it had been a vehicle on the road.
    But then he froze as Salem stood up, obviously alerted to the same sound Sean had heard. Laughter. Or more accurately, giggling. High and clear as church bells on Sunday. And a light flickered in the distance, bobbing along in someone’s uplifted hand. And then someone spoke. A woman. And another replied.
    And hand in hand along the riverbank came two women. One old and one young.
    Sean stared at them. What on earth were they up to? Not hunting or poaching. He waited, curious to see what they were doing, when Salem burst into a cacophony of purring and broke cover. It was then that Sean noted the two women were attired in a most unusual fashion. Weird or what?

Chapter 17
    Megan was disappointed when the ride was almost over but she soon forgot in the anticipation of her first venture into the unknown. The Jackal and Hide was on the seedy side of the city. Megan looked with covetous eyes at the rows of bikes glittering beneath the street lamps.