man.
Chapter 8
When China Stuart and James McKriven walked around the front of the Kirk, she was a little flushed and he looked triumphant.
“I’ll catch you at the Wake. I’ve a few business calls to make, reception willing. Take care now,” said McKriven.
Most of the mourners had already set off down the path back to the jetty and the hospitality of The Cuckoo. Still shooting daggers at his rival, Donald was waiting for China by the graveside.
“What lies has that scunner been telling you?” he blurted out before she could say anything.
“About missing wills and unsigned contracts. Why didn’t Mrs. Baxter mention this lost will, Donald?”
“Because she isn’t a vampire like him. Once the Wake was over and we’ve given Bea a grand, island send-off, she was going to sit you down in the morning and explain what had happened. I can presume McKriven hasn’t found the will or else he’d be crowing about it. If he gets his claws on that piece of paper, it will go up in flames!”
“He’s a bit of a shark, I’ll give you that, but what have you got against progress, Donald? From what I’ve seen, everywhere on this island needs money pumping into it. Maybe selling off some of the land to McKriven will give everyone some much-needed funds!”
Donald was beginning to come to the boil, she could see that again. The man spent all his working life at sea, and when cornered in an argument, he became a little confused with his words. But this time, China was determined to talk this problem through like adults, without her bursting into tears or him storming off in a huff.
“He’s a crook! His whole family are crooks! Even at school he used to wave his money about, and—”
“Ah, maybe this is the problem, McKriven’s money. He’s a flash bugger, I’ll give him that, but you’ve got twice his courage doing your job and three times his good looks!” Before Donald could reach boiling point, China did the only thing she could think of to shut him up. She flung her arms around his neck, standing on her tiptoes, and kissed his face off.
When the two of them surfaced for air, Donald was absolutely speechless.
Hooking his arm with both of hers, China towed him towards the path with an impish grin on her face. “Now I’ve got the measure of you, Donald Dart! You start your arm-waving and that vein on your head standing out and that’s what I’ll have to do from now on! Call it physical therapy. So let’s get to this Wake before the wind picks up again and see if we can get to the end of a single conversation!”
The Wake was already in full swing when the two old friends burst through the door.
“There she is! What have you been doing with the last of the Stuart’s, Donald, you lucky lad?” cried Handy Andy, sloshing half his pint over several other mourners.
“He has been a perfect gentleman and escorted me back from the Kirk. A person could get lost on this island,” China came back with, before Donald started to stutter.
“Aye, I’ve heard that one before,” the handyman chuckled, but turned his attention back to the plate of food he had kidnapped.
Morgan was in his element, weaving between the full tables getting a tidbit here and a snack there. When a morsel of food wasn’t offered, he’d steal it from someone’s plate when the owner wasn’t looking. China pounced on the animal, roughing up his scruffy ears. He caught her a good few licks to the face in return.
“There you are, you rogue! Leave me to the mercies of the evil Baron McKriven whilst you’re stuffing your face, as usual!”
The dog gave her a puzzled look, then an abandoned chicken leg caught his eye and he was off in hot pursuit again.
“Like I said, Morgan is an eating machine.” Donald laughed.
As China went to grab an apron and make her way behind the bar, Irene Weise blocked her path. “Not today, China. You are Bea’s guest of honour. Her niece we all thought lost and now returned home.”
“Are you
Chapter 8
When China Stuart and James McKriven walked around the front of the Kirk, she was a little flushed and he looked triumphant.
“I’ll catch you at the Wake. I’ve a few business calls to make, reception willing. Take care now,” said McKriven.
Most of the mourners had already set off down the path back to the jetty and the hospitality of The Cuckoo. Still shooting daggers at his rival, Donald was waiting for China by the graveside.
“What lies has that scunner been telling you?” he blurted out before she could say anything.
“About missing wills and unsigned contracts. Why didn’t Mrs. Baxter mention this lost will, Donald?”
“Because she isn’t a vampire like him. Once the Wake was over and we’ve given Bea a grand, island send-off, she was going to sit you down in the morning and explain what had happened. I can presume McKriven hasn’t found the will or else he’d be crowing about it. If he gets his claws on that piece of paper, it will go up in flames!”
“He’s a bit of a shark, I’ll give you that, but what have you got against progress, Donald? From what I’ve seen, everywhere on this island needs money pumping into it. Maybe selling off some of the land to McKriven will give everyone some much-needed funds!”
Donald was beginning to come to the boil, she could see that again. The man spent all his working life at sea, and when cornered in an argument, he became a little confused with his words. But this time, China was determined to talk this problem through like adults, without her bursting into tears or him storming off in a huff.
“He’s a crook! His whole family are crooks! Even at school he used to wave his money about, and—”
“Ah, maybe this is the problem, McKriven’s money. He’s a flash bugger, I’ll give him that, but you’ve got twice his courage doing your job and three times his good looks!” Before Donald could reach boiling point, China did the only thing she could think of to shut him up. She flung her arms around his neck, standing on her tiptoes, and kissed his face off.
When the two of them surfaced for air, Donald was absolutely speechless.
Hooking his arm with both of hers, China towed him towards the path with an impish grin on her face. “Now I’ve got the measure of you, Donald Dart! You start your arm-waving and that vein on your head standing out and that’s what I’ll have to do from now on! Call it physical therapy. So let’s get to this Wake before the wind picks up again and see if we can get to the end of a single conversation!”
The Wake was already in full swing when the two old friends burst through the door.
“There she is! What have you been doing with the last of the Stuart’s, Donald, you lucky lad?” cried Handy Andy, sloshing half his pint over several other mourners.
“He has been a perfect gentleman and escorted me back from the Kirk. A person could get lost on this island,” China came back with, before Donald started to stutter.
“Aye, I’ve heard that one before,” the handyman chuckled, but turned his attention back to the plate of food he had kidnapped.
Morgan was in his element, weaving between the full tables getting a tidbit here and a snack there. When a morsel of food wasn’t offered, he’d steal it from someone’s plate when the owner wasn’t looking. China pounced on the animal, roughing up his scruffy ears. He caught her a good few licks to the face in return.
“There you are, you rogue! Leave me to the mercies of the evil Baron McKriven whilst you’re stuffing your face, as usual!”
The dog gave her a puzzled look, then an abandoned chicken leg caught his eye and he was off in hot pursuit again.
“Like I said, Morgan is an eating machine.” Donald laughed.
As China went to grab an apron and make her way behind the bar, Irene Weise blocked her path. “Not today, China. You are Bea’s guest of honour. Her niece we all thought lost and now returned home.”
“Are you
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