Read Online The Accidental Scot by Patience Griffin - Free Book Online Page B

Pippa fed him his stew. Poor Max seemed too tired to talk.
    â€œGood” was his only word.
    â€œBetter than Bethia’s medicine?” She reached for thenew goblet. “Which brings me to the bad news. It’s time to take some more.”
    He offered her a weak smile and drank all he was given. She had him settled and asleep within minutes.
    Just as she sat back in her chair, a phone rang, the sound coming from the armoire. What if his family was checking up on him? Pippa found his coat and dug his mobile from the pocket.
    â€œMax McKinley’s mobile,” Pippa said.
    â€œPut McKinley on,” a woman barked with no salutation.
    Pippa agreed with what she’d heard about American women—very abrupt. “Mr. McKinley is indisposed.”
    â€œWhat are you talking about? He won’t be too indisposed to talk to me. Who are you?”
    â€œScullery maid,” Pippa snapped. “Who are you?”
    â€œMiranda Weymouth. His boss.”
    Pippa stopped short. Her women’s intuition kicked in. Something in the other woman’s voice sounded possessive, making Pippa think that Max and this Miranda might be involved.
    I’m such an idiot!
Some part of Pippa had been—
what?
—hoping Max was single and interested in her? God, she needed to get a grip.
    â€œI need to talk to McKinley
now
,” Miranda commanded. “Where is he?”
    â€œIn bed,” Pippa purred. Och, she shouldn’t have, but the flotsam on the other end of the phone infuriated her.
    â€œGet him up,” Miranda demanded. “I need to speak with him immediately!”
    â€œI don’t think so.” Pippa was as calm as the eye of ahurricane. “Mr. McKinley is deathly ill. I’ll have him call ye in the morning . . . if he lives.”
    With a huff, the line went dead on the other end.
    Pippa leaned back and gazed at her patient—handsome Max McKinley. He was a heartbreaker for sure. All innocence with his boy-next-door charm. How could the McDonnell have gotten it so wrong and think this one could be trusted? Da’s injury must’ve short-circuited his gift. If Max was involved with a woman such as Miranda Weymouth, then that was a huge mark against him.
    Darkness fell over Gandiegow with daylight scarce this late in the year and this far north. Pippa expected that any minute a ruckus would break out in the pub below, but it stayed surprisingly subdued—no music, no loud voices. She slipped out of the room to see what might have happened.
    Downstairs, there was a fairly large crowd, but they were eerily quiet. Bonnie was behind the bar tonight.
    â€œWhat’s going on?” Pippa asked.
    Bonnie tipped her head toward the stairs. “They heard about the Yank.”
    Taog sat on the barstool. “How is he?”
    â€œSleeping.” Pippa glanced up as if she could see through the floorboards.
    Monty cut in, acting defensive. “It’s not that we give two shakes about an outsider, it’s just we don’t need one to die on our watch. It’d be bad business for Gandiegow.”
    â€œOch, Monty,” Pippa admonished. “Ye calloused ole soul. I’ll tell Mary and she’ll take a frying pan to your sorry head.”
    â€œHe’s not a bad lad,” Murdoch said quietly to the crowd. “He helped Taog and me settle the CNC machine.”
    Quiet rumbles of conversation rolled across the floor.
    â€œI better get back upstairs to check on him.” Pippa turned to go. “Thank ye all for keeping the noise down.”
    She hiked up the steps and settled herself beside the Yank. Not long afterward, she heard the pub patrons leave and Bonnie close up early for the night.
    Pippa roused Max and gave him more of the nasty drink. His color looked better and he seemed a bit stronger. Bethia said she could stretch out the doses now. Pippa retrieved an extra quilt from the armoire for herself and fixed her bed. When