Read Online The Scent of Jasmine by Jude Deveraux - Free Book Online

Alex and his father had visited the McTerns where they lived just north of Glasgow. Alex had met all six of Cay’s first cousins, all of them older, richer, and better educated than Alex was. It was only when it came to horses, to any animal for that matter, that Alex was considered the leader. It was the oldest boy, Derek, eleven years Alex’s senior, who had recognized Alex’s gift. Derek had been adopted by Malcolm, who was now the laird of the McTern clan, and his wife, Harriet, and someday Derek would be the laird, so others listened to him. He said Alex was a “magician” with animals, able to make them do whatever he wanted them to. When Alex wrote Nate this, he started calling Alex “Merlin”—and to explain the name, Nate sent Alex a book about the ancient wizard. The name stuck, and forever after Nate called Alex “Merlin.”
    Alex’s mind returned to the present when he saw the tavern in the distance. It was larger and much busier than he’d like for it to be. His hope had been that he could walk in and order food, but with that many people there, they were bound to have heard the news from Charleston. If Alex were clean and in good clothes, with his face hidden behind his beard, he could probably walk in unnoticed. But as he was, he looked like someone who’d just escaped prison.
    “Damnation!” he muttered and thought of going back to Cay. They could live on the beef jerky and dried fruit for another few days. The farther south they went, the less likely that they’d be recognized.
    But his stomach growled, reminding him of the need for food. Alex dismounted and led his horse into the trees where he could watch the activity at the tavern. He could see that the kitchen was at the back of the house and there was even a big kettle outside. He saw cooks and butchers in bloody aprons moving about.
    In the front, the double doors opened frequently as people went in and out. No, there was no way he would be able to get in there without someone knowing who he was.
    An idea came to him. If he couldn’t go in, then he’d just have to make all of them come out. He checked the supply of gunpowder he’d brought with him. With that and some pinecones, he’d be able to make a great deal of noise.

    Cay ran along the path until the Scotsman was no longer in sight, then she went back to the dreary little campsite and sat down on a log. She had the pistol he’d left her in her hand, and she began to wonder if the powder was dry. If it was wet and she shot it, the pistol could blow up in her face. Even if it didn’t explode, it would take her at least three minutes to reload. But what if the powder was on the other side of whatever she was shooting at? If it were, say, a bear coming at her and she missed her first shot, how did she get around the huge thing to get the powder and reload? On the other hand, if she didn’t kill the bear with the first shot, it would kill her, so getting more powder wouldn’t matter because she’d be dead.
    When a branch behind her broke, she jumped up and aimed her pistol, but it was only a squirrel.
    “You must calm down,” she said aloud and looked to see if anything had heard her. It was daylight, but the overhead canopy of trees made it seem like twilight.
    Cay wasn’t used to being alone. Whether she was at home in Virginia or with her relatives in Scotland, someone male was always nearby. For a moment she closed her eyes and wished to see one of her brothers or her cousins or her father. “Even Tally,” she whispered. If Tally came riding up right now she’d be so glad to see him that she’d endure all his taunting and teasing with a smile.
    She opened her eyes and sat back down on the log. None of the many males in her life was going to show up to rescue her, to hug her, and tell her that everything was going to be just fine. Nor was she going to be able to run to her mother and pour out all her troubles to her. The truth was that if Cay went to any of them right