Dragan's Redemption Book One of the Manor at Echo Lake Trilogy (5 page)

“
Good morning
,
James.”

Ignoring the disapproving look from the
butler
at his now empty glass
,
he stood and placed
it
on the bar.

“Are you ready for breakfast
,
Dr. Reynolds
,
or
have
you just finish
ed
?”

“I could use something to eat
, t
hank you.  James
,
are
you ever going to call me by my first name?”

The old man smiled at Dragan.  For forty years, they had the same conversation.  He appreciated the persistence.

“Probably not
,
Dr. Reynolds.”

“I didn’t think so.”

“If that would be all sir, I will inform the Chef you are home and
ready for your
breakfast.”

Dragan nodded absently as he watched the old man pick up the empty glass before walking back out of the room in the direction of the kitchen. 
The butler
’
s
gray hair combed
neatly,
not one piece out of
place
,
was cut military short.  His body, now bent slightly with age
,
wore the same outfit
he
had for the past
forty
years
:
black suit with crisp white shirt and tie
- u
niform of choice by the butler. 
Dragan’s
style would
definitely
have been much more relaxed.  James could have retired years ago but opt
ed
instead
to stay on staff at the manor, much to
Dragan’s
relief.  James was reliable, trustworthy, discreet
,
and extremely protective of his boss.   Not one time in all of the years of service did
anyone on
his staff question how everyone aged but him.  He knew that they talked behind his back
,
having heard
many of their conversations from a distance
,
but not one would ever dare approach the subject with him
directly
.  James in particular would shut them down if they had the conversations in front of him.  It was in hearing
his butler
defend him
repeatedly
,
that made James a solid fixture in the manor and in his heart.

Wa
l
king into the dining room, he noted the place setting at the far end of the table
.
  Striding over
,
he sat.  Within moments there was
a flurry
of activity as coffee was poured, piping hot, into his cup.  The silver carafe placed close so that he would have easy access to more if he so chose.  Platters of eggs, bacon, sausage, potato
e
s and
oatmeal
were also
s
et around him.  His eyebrows rose at seeing the abundance of food then looked to the
eleven
empty chairs around him.  He wished that someone would just sit and eat with him
- j
ust once.  His stomach growled indicating that it was time to eat.  Bowing his head, he folded his hands in prayer giving thanks for the abundance in his life and for the meal in front of him.  The
wait
staff
waited silently with their own hands folded in front of them until he finished
his prayer and lifted his head up before they resumed their activities.  Dragan
served
himself before looking around for James who immediately appeared at his side.

“Sir?”

“How do you do that?”

“Do what
,
Dr. Reynolds?”  Dragan saw the corner of James mouth
lift
and knew that he understood the question.

“The cottage by
Echo
Lake
seems to have an occupant.  Do you know anything about this?”

For the first time Dragan noted the hesitation in his servant.

“Yes
,
s
ir.”

“Would you care to elaborate or must I ask fifty questions?”

“You would have to speak with Connor sir for all of the details.  From my understanding,
it is occupied by a young lady looking to get away from the city.”

A picture of the woman Dragan met this morning flashed across his mind.  She did not seem like the
city
type.  He indeed want
ed
to speak with the groundskeeper.  “Find Connor and send him to me.”

“Now
,
Dr. Reynolds?”

“Yes now!”

Dragan
had finished with his mea
l
by the time the groundskeeper was
escorted into the room
. 
He
watched as the short, balding man hover
ed
near the door. 
Jack Connor had
taken off his hat, which he now twisted nervously in his hands. 
He
always reminded
Dragan
of one of the seven dwarfs.  He just wasn’t sure which one.

“Come.”  Dragan waved his hand impatiently.  Directing the man to the seat to his left, Connor looked desperately to James for help before taking the offered seat.

“
Coffee?”

“No thank you
,
Dr. Reynolds.”

“
I understand that the cottage
on my property
is now occupied with a tenant.  It is also my understanding that you may know something about this?”

“Sir
?
Yes
,
s
ir
.
” Connor swallowed hard, searching all the faces in the room
,
trying to determine if he was in trouble.

“Miss Amira is living there.  She moved in a week ago today
,
as a matter of fact.  Didn’t come with too much stuff as the place came furnished.  She really loves the
place
,
and it
seems
to fit her just fine.”  Connor grinned, remembering the day she drove up
riding
in the limousine.  He had just finished weeding flowerbeds in preparation of the new resident.  He had hoped that all o
f his hard work was not in vain
and that the person that was to occupy the little cottage would appreciate the flowers.  He
wouldn’t
have to worry long.  After jumping out of the car, she
had
rushed over to the flowers, knelt checking out
each
one as if they were long lost friends
.
When she learned that he was the one that had planted e
ach
seed and bulb himself, she threw her arms around
him
and gave him a hug calling him a genius.  No one had ever called him a genius before.

Catching Dragan’s expression and the raised eyebrows, the grin immediately disappeared from his face.  “Have I done something wrong
,
Dr. Reynolds?”

“Who gave you permission to rent out this place?

Connor
looked
surprised,
glancing to
James then back to Dragan.  “Why, the other Mr. Reynolds did sir.
Didn’t you know?”

“
Aaron?!! 
No.  I most certainly did not know.
I
will
take it up with my brother
, thank
you Jack.”

Jack
Connor
stood knowing he
was
dismissed and that he really
should
leave but was unsure as to what the issue was in renting the cottage.

“Is there something else
,
Mr.
Connor
?”  Irritation now edged the words.

“Sir
,
if
I may say so.  You have nothing to worry about
with
Miss
Amira
.  She
won’t
be any trouble to you or anyone else for that matter.  She is as sweet as they come
,
and you would have thought that she had lived there for many years
,
she fits in so go
o
d.  She sure does love the
m
plants and seems to even have a gift with the animals.”

“
Indeed
?”  Dragan thought about the chase between her and his beloved wolf.  “That will be all
,
Mr. Connor.”

Not having the courage to press further
,
Jack left the
room
to leave Dragan deep in thought.  So, his brother was back.
Frowning, he searched his memory as to when the last time he had seen
Aaron
. 
London
19
8
5
.  Running a hand
through
his
dark
hair, he felt old all of a sudden.  Had it really been that long?  Dragan realized that i
t would be good t
o see him again, wondering why he had not made an appearance yet
at the m
anor
.
 

Rising from the table, he strode to the front door s
tepping outside into the
warm
morning sun
.
Dragan slipped the sunglasses on his face before walking around to the back of the giant stately
h
om
e
.  He took in the meticulously landscaped property.  He never tired of the view
of the mountains and lake
or lost appreciation for his staff
who managed
the upkeep of
the
land.  With four seasons to contend with
in
New England
, they were constantly kept busy
ensuring that not a leaf
or blade of grass
was out of place.  Rounding the corner, he sensed Shadow as
the wolf
approached
only
to fall into place a step behind his master, the giant
animal lowering his head
slightly in respect.  Tapping his leg giving the wolf permission to step closer
,
he reached down touching the
beautiful white
fur in acknowledgment of his presence.  “I take it she made it home safe.  Not that I had any doubt.” 
Shadow
reached up with his no
se
and
pushed
at Dragan’s hand as if to answer the quest
ion.  The wolf had remained faith
ful to him from the moment he was found
,
near death
,
in
a
bear trap.  His paw had healed years ago from not only the teeth of the trap, but the wolf
’
s own fangs as it had started to tear away at his skin in an attempt to get free.  Thankfully, Dragan had arrived in time before the poor thing finished its work, or even worse
had
died.  Now, the only sign of the trauma was the scar where the hair could not grow
back
.  Trapping or hunting
was strictly forbidden on his land
,
but he knew that the foolhardy still tried at times to sneak in and violate his rules.  Very few got away unpunished by him personally.  It bothered
him
to this day that he never found the one that had laid the trap that
almost killed
Shadow.  On the other hand, he was grateful for the wolf’s presence in his life.  It was the staff that
gave the wolf the name
Shadow
,
because he rarely left the master
’
s side.  Dragan frowned
,
thinking of this morning
’
s
incident
between the wolf and his tenant.  It was interesting in so
m
any ways, in particular for the simple fact that
Shadow never showed any interest in any other person except for him
.  L
ooking
down at the wolf walking
so proudly
beside him, he never remembered anyone else
daring to
touch
the wolf
beside
s
him.