Dragan's Redemption Book One of the Manor at Echo Lake Trilogy (9 page)

“Is everything ok
ay
,
Dr. Reynolds?”

“It is fine
,
James.
There s
eems
to be a recurring visitor to my
property shooting at the animals again
; t
he newest victim being a hawk.
”

James peered into the room at the regal bird perched with its wing bandaged tightly to its
side
.

“You are very kind
,
sir
,
to take it in.”

“I could not leave it
,
James.”

“Of course not
,
sir.  May I ask how your visit went with the
new
tenant?”  James was worried. 
Jack
had come back and said that he was going to have a couple of days off.  He was
un
clear
about
the story relayed to him
by the groundskeeper
.  Jack had rambled
on about
something
to do with the
wolf jumping and almost killing him, then something about the woman jumping the wolf. 
Nothing
made sense.

Reading his
thoughts,
Dragan held back
a
smile.  “The visit went well, thank
you
for asking.  I was able to meet with
Amira
,
and she is going to stay for now.”

“Very good
,
Dr. Reynolds.”

“James, before I forget
.  I have given Connor a couple of days off to recuperate from a stressful moment he had today
at Miss Coulter’s
. 
Please ensure that he
is
paid for the time off. 
Also
,
have
a basket with assorted teas sent to
Miss Coulter
as a housewarming gift.”

“A basket?”

“
I
s t
h
at a problem?”  Dragan turned and looked at the butler.

”No, of course not
, I
will get on it right away.”

“Oh, and James, please deliver it yourself.  It does not need to
go
until tomorrow
so you should have plenty of time to prepare it.  I am sure
the chef
would love to help
put something together
.
”

“Would you like a card attached?”

“A card?
Hmmm, I had not thought of that – Yes.  Please write
Welcome to private property
-
My initials will be fine for the signature.”

James watched as Dragan walked away.  He could not remember one time in his
employment
that he ever sent a gift to anyone for him.  Smiling
,
James realized that he
was
looking forward to meeting th
is
new tenant.

The following morning
James pulled up in front of the cottage.  The flowers in the beds seemed to be bursting out
of the ground
.  The colors
,
vibrant and
wild
,
still held onto the morning dew
.  The petals seemed to radiate with the sun
’
s reflection
. 
James had to admit that
Jack did a great job fixing up the
building
.  He smiled while stepping out of the car.  The
groundskeeper
actually did wonders.  The cottage was
falling
down
around itself last year.  Looking at the structure now, he wondered if Jack and his crew had to rebuild from scratch.  It was in pristine
condition
.  Reaching into the back seat, he pulled out the giant gift
basket
the chef put together
,
grunting
from the weight of the contents.  The basket was stunning.  Inside were over 25 different variety of teas ensconced in a wooden tea box.  On the top of the box, the chef had the foresight
to
ask the
wood smith
if he would engrave her initials to personalize the set. 
As usual, t
he wood smith went a step above and designed not only her initials in scroll lettering,
but also
a vine of flowers to cascade along the side of the box.  It was quite
a
masterpiece
.  The tea was not the only thing overflowing the basket. 
Inside they
had placed two different types of honey from the
beehives
at the m
anor and an assortment of jams and jellies, scones and breads, made by the chef himself.  A beautiful red cast iron
teapot
with matching cups held center court
.
The entire
gift
wrapped in a sheer piece of fabric tied at the top with twine
and i
n the
knot,
a spray of evergreens, holly
,
and
baby’s
breath were tucked
in,
adding to the very rustic feel of the
gift
. 
Whomever
the new tenant was, James hoped that she appreciated the amount of work and talent that went into
putting it together
.

Walking to the
front
door, he realized that he didn’t have a free hand to
knock
.  Seeing the
top of the
door
open,
he called
out.  “Hello?  Anyone home?”

A female voice called out in
response
.  “I am in the back.”

Shifting the
basket
in his hand, sweat
now
breaking out on his
forehead
, he gingerly headed
a
round to the side then the back of the cottage praying he would have
a spot
to put down the heavy item.
Within
moments,
he saw her.  She was sitting in a
reclining
chair,
writing something in a
book
.
Seeing him, a look of surprise crossed her face
before she jumped up to help him with his heavy load.

“Please, place it on the table.”

After gingerly placing the basket on the table,
James
mopped his brow
with his handkerchief
before bowing slightly to Amira.  “Good morning ma’am.  My name is James
,
and I am from the m
anor.  Dr. Reynolds asked me to deliver this to you.”

Amira looked from the butler to the basket then back to the butler with a stunned expression on her face. 
Realizing
that she must seem incredibly
rude
held out her hand.

“Hi.  My name is Amira – are you sure this is for me?”

“Yes
,
Miss Amira
, most
assuredly.”

“
And you say this is f
rom Dr. Reynolds?  Really?” 
Without
waiting for a
reply,
she walked over
to
the basket admiring the handiwork.  Tugging gently on the twine,
a
card fluttered to the table along with the spray of evergreens.  Picking them up
,
she inhaled deeply
of the pine
scent
.  James watched the
emotions flow across her face.  He was sure
there would be
some
that
would say t
h
at she
was not
a great
beauty
, but true beauty was the only thing he saw.  Every movement she made was graceful.  From her hair that was flowing freely framing a strong face
,
to t
he most brilliant green eyes he had ever seen, to the hand that reached out eagerly for the card
. 
Amira
, he could tell, was so much more than her
looks
.  She exuded
peace
and a gentle
kindness.  It was as if she
gl
owed from the inside out. 
Yes
,
James
thought to himself.  She was unusual indeed
,
and he was smitten at first sight
.

He watched as
Amira opened
the card then quickly attempted to stif
l
e the laughter that was fighting to erupt
from her
at reading the words.

Welcome to private property
.
–
DR

James watched in fascination
,
marveling how her face lit up even more when she smiled.
  He was unsure
of the message
when he wrote the card for his boss, but seeing her now, realized that the words held a hidden meaning to them both.
  Gesturing to the
baskets
contents, James
encouraged her to peruse the items.

“Please, would you allow me to help you unpack your gifts?”

Amira’s eyes twinkled as she smiled at him. 
“
Only if you agree to stay and share some of the contents with me.”

James
hesitated
, knowing it was against the m
anor
’
s protocol to fraternize but then
opted
to go against protocol
today
.
  He wasn’t getting any younger.
  “With pleasure
-
bu
t I mustn’t stay to
o
long.”

Amira sighed.  “
You
must go back to work I assume?”

James nodded his head before both of the
m
placed their
attention
back
to the basket
.
Amira read the card again before
setting
it on the table.  Lifting the
teapot
out of the
center,
she could not hold back.  “How amazing is this? 
Oh,
James
,
it is lovely.  Let me put some water on for us, and then I will continue to check out the other items.  I want to savor every bit.”

Within moments she returned, this time carrying a white linen cloth
, that
she placed on the table while James held the
basket
up.  She had also brought out a white ceramic water jug filled with water,
then
preceded
to arrange
the evergreens to her satisfaction.  James noted that she had an eye for taking simplicity and making it appear
extraordinary
. 
Efficiently
they worked together,
s
orting
through
the many items of the basket.  Amira oohed and ahhed over every piece placed within.  When they reached the
bottom
, she
stilled
.  Reaching in gently
,
she
lifted
up the wooden tea box and gingerly set it on the table.  Her fingers traced her initials and the
vines
carved
in the wood.  James watched her as she caressed every inch.  Lifting her head, her eyes met his
,
and he was startled to see tears glistening in their midst.  “This has to be the most beautiful thing I have ever received.  Who did all of this work?”

“
The
wood smith
at the manor
,
Miss Amira.”

“Well
,
he is very gifted.  Please extend my gratitude to him.”

“Yes, of course
,
Miss Amira.”

“You will, won’t you
,
James?”

“Of course
,
Miss.”  James
realized that t
he box triggered something in her that caused her sadness.  He so wanted her smile to come back.  “Tea now
,
Miss
Amira
?”