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  “These are lucky cats,” Magda said and then said to Sam that maybe it would be better to wait until they were in the other house to build a similar one.

  “Good thinking,” Sam answered with a sigh of relief, and asked Declan if he was coming the next night.

  “We need to have your special skills in case the warrior shows up,” Magda told him.

  “Thanks, I’ll be there. I’ll buy some donuts on the way over.”

  “Custard please,” Magda smiled at him and handed Sam two of the sculptures. She picked up the other two and Declan followed them to the car.

  Magda settled in to read up on the history of Scotland and wondered if she should have some tartan items in the café as well.

  “This castle . . .” she said to Sam who was watching an old movie.

  “Mmm,” he answered.

  “It was owned by the local laird or lord or whatever, but the Vikings had been there before that. Then eventually it came back to Scottish hands but the Vikings had married some of the locals, and the first Lord of the Isles was half Viking and half Scottish. He kinda started Scotland as we think of it now. Look at that natural rocky harbour. You could see a Viking longboat tied up there. There is definitely a story to write up about these truffles.”

  Sam took the set of pictures.

  “They say the Vikings were such good navigators that some of them reached America years before the people who say they discovered it,” Sam answered.

  “How do you know that?” Magda asked.

  “Watching history on TV,” he grinned. “I like the archaeology programs.”

  “I never knew that about you and I thought I knew everything about Sam Barnes.” She came over and sat beside him.

  “Got to keep the magic and mystery going,” he said as he stroked her hair.

  “Magic and mystery, hmm. We seem to attract it all the time—ghost cats and psychic Crystal.”

  Crystal heard her name and came over to sit on Sam. She pressed her paws on his leg and he told her that she was hurting him. The cat took no notice and pushed at him until he sat up to ease the situation and his phone fell onto the floor. It rang and he picked it up.

  “She always knows when the phone is going to ring,” Magda remarked, but Sam looked puzzled and said hello several times before deciding there was no one on the other end.

  The next morning, the café being closed, one by one, they all arrived at Sam’s house. Sam Barnes liked modern lines and sleek construction which had always made for arguments between him and Magda for all the years since they’d been teenagers. The bungalow was long and low from the front, and stepping inside, one could see it opened up right through to the back.

  Sam and Magda had closed the blinds and folding glass doors that went through to the new extension, because it was partly to show it off that the group was meeting there. The entrance hall brought visitors into the large kitchen which had been renovated with an island in the center. The couch which had always been there when it was the living room, was still against one wall, but now there were shiny, new kitchen cabinets.

  The rest of the friends started to arrive, unloaded food that they had brought onto the island top, as they chatted away to each other.

  “Just Merle and Branston to arrive now,” Sam grinned. He was enjoying the slight mystification on their faces about where this extension could be. Declan knew because he had helped with the build.

  Magda’s cousin and his boss from the dude ranch came inside and removed their jackets. Merle placed food with the rest of the contributions. Magda noted that Branston was dressed normally. He saw the look on her face and grinned.

  “Could’ve worn the Stetson if you wanted to,” he said. She gave him a friendly push and went to the folding doors. Sam came and stood beside her.

  “Beers in the cooler, folks. Feel free to help yourselves and toast the newly finished extension.” He set the electronics in motion which opened the blinds, and Magda started to fold the glass doors away. There was a genuine gasp from the whole group as they walked into the two-story-high extension that soared way up to windows that let light flood in from above. The lights were on to display the whole effect. One was placed under the spiral stairway that led up to the roof terrace. The floor was ceramic tile with underfloor heating, and Magda’s influence could be seen in the dark-green leather couches, soft rugs, and tall evergreen plants in corners.

  “This is marvelous,” Rula said breathlessly. “I love it.”

  “Can we go up the staircase?” Katie asked.

  Sam led the way to open the door to the roof terrace. The outdoor area had glass railings all the way around so that the effect was an uninterrupted view. There were comfortable lounge chairs to relax on.

  “The original vision was on a piece of scrap paper,” Declan told them, “but it sort of grew organically. Sam could see the finished picture in his head.”

  “Declan seems to be able to build it,” Sam added.

  “It sure works,” Merle added as she leaned over the parapet. Magda called from the stairs that she had laid out the food and they made their way back inside. The evening chill was starting to be felt.

  They ate, drank, chatted, and relaxed.

  “Well, I do want to hear about this mysterious wood,” Merle said as she finished off her meal with a truffle.

  “Are you all sitting comfortably?” Magda asked. “I’ll tell you a story.” There was a ripple of chuckles and they waited. Sam brought in the box with the wood, the tartan, and one of the whisky bottles, but left it unopened. Magda cleared her throat.

  “You all know I have found that stories help the sales of the truffles so I sent for a bottle of this Old Pulteney Scotch whisky. The box arrived, and when we opened it, a cold breeze blew around the café and Declan saw the shadow of a man. Katie drew it from his description.” She produced the picture. “Exhibit one.”

  She started again.

  “In the far north of Scotland on the rocky edges of the cliffs, behind the distillery, there are the ruins of an old castle. It was probably built about eleven hundred, but there is evidence that there were other buildings there before that. There is a small natural harbour and it is possible to scramble up to the castle from there, but not if somebody was trying to stop you. The sheer drop from all the other sides is quite amazing. Exhibits two, three, four, and five.” She passed out the pictures of the ruined walls, the drop to the sea, and the rocks below.

  “This castle was probably built by the man who was half Norseman and half Scottish. His father was the Earl of Atholl and his mother was a Viking. The area had been under the control of the Vikings, but times were changing.”

  Magda paused and said that the tartan of Atholl was in the box along with the tartan of Henderson who began the distillery.

  “If we open the box, we don’t know if the breeze will happen or anything else.”

  “Go for it,” Branston said and Sam knelt beside the box.

  “Here goes.” He opened the box and immediately a whirling wind swept around the whole room. It tugged at clothing and swept any loose papers up into the air. The leaves on the potted plants were swished back and forth. Sam picked up the piece of wood.

  Merle gasped and closed her eyes and Declan pointed to the spiral staircase.

  “What can you see?” Katie asked him, pulling out her pad and pencil.

  “Same man, standing on the third stair and pointing at Magda.”

  “He’s furious about something,” Merle said with her eyes still closed, and Branston took her hand. “He thinks that Magda took him prisoner. He’s not a good man. He hurts people and he’s proud of his strength.”

  “Oh, Lord,” Sam exclaimed, put down the wood, and went to sit beside Magda.

  “He’s fading” Declan told them, and Merle opened her eyes and nodded.

  “He has used up his energy for the time being.”

  “The thing is,” Magda said, “It must be the wood. The cats are terrified of the wood, but t
hey quite like the box and the bottles when the wood has been taken away.”

  “Crystal has swiped two pictures of the castle on the tablet,” Sam added.

  “She was right,” Rula joined in. “This wood is from the castle, not the distillery, isn’t it?”

  “So, if we get rid of the wood, what would happen to this warrior man?” Katie asked. They looked at each other and then looked to Merle for advice.

  “I just don’t know,” she admitted. “Probably best to just lock it away for the time being.” Sam put the wood into the box and took the box out to the garage. There were no more breezes and no sign of any warrior.

  “What about the whisky?” Declan asked. Magda picked up her papers.

  “Mikey tasted it and said it was like the ocean. Listen to this. With traditional warehouses exposed to the invigorating sea air blowing in off The North Sea, Old Pulteney captures the sea in every drop of its liquid. It also says that the flavor of the whisky says a lot about the role and influence of where it is made.”

  “I brought the bottle so that everyone could taste it if they wanted to,” Magda added, and Sam produced the bottle and glasses.

  “The price was phenomenal as I recall,” Katie said. “I already tried it, so no thanks.”

  Declan and Rula had also already tasted the amber liquid but Branston downed his shot and said he preferred bourbon. Merle sipped and approved it.

  “Very smooth. Experts on Scotch whisky would love it.”

  Katie handed Declan the sketch and he nodded and passed it to Merle.

  “Yes. You have him pretty much as I saw him in my head,” Merle told her. She looked at Magda. “He has to be a Viking.”

  “I guess I already thought that but never put it into words,” Magda answered. “I really think the truffles need to have more history about the whisky rather than the Vikings. The distillery started in 1826 and the Vikings were long gone by then.”

  “What have you got on that so far?” Katie asked.

  “Here we go, my little class of students,” Magda grinned. “The distillery was started by James Henderson. Probably the most northerly one on the British mainland. There were no roads to the area and the town relied on sea transport to send out its vast supplies of silver herring and gold whisky. The distillery still uses traditional methods of making the whisky.”

  “It must have been a flourishing place in those days,” Merle remarked and pulled out her phone to bring up a map of Scotland.

  “Isolated with no road links,” Declan added.

  “What about Henderson tartan items in the shop as well?” Magda asked. A sudden gust of wind whipped around her face.

  “Say that again,” Merle said.

  “Henderson tartan items in the shop,” Magda said, and the wind whipped her long, plum-colored hair around her face.

  Chapter 5

  “What if it was Atholl tartan?” Merle asked the air in general and said that she felt a warmer breeze cross her face.

  “Do you think the Hendersons were not the real owners of the area and it should still be yours?” Magda asked and felt a slight warm sensation across her brow.

  “He’s listening,” Merle said, “but not showing himself.”

  “So, he whips a wind when he’s angry and a warm breeze when he agrees,” Sam observed.

  “I think I’ll forget about the tartan items. It would be hard to get them anyway,” Magda said.

  “Artwork and natural-themed items have done well so far. We should stick with that,” Rula added.

  There were no signs that the Viking had heard or reacted.

  “Do you think he knows that he’s a long way from home?” Katie asked. Then the wind whipped around the room and swirled particularly close to Magda.

  “Whoa,” Sam said and put his arm around Magda. “Leave her alone.”

  “He doesn’t like you either,” Merle said with her eyes closed again. “He’s around somewhere and listening.”

  “How do I get rid of him?” Magda wondered aloud, and the wind swirled really hard around the room causing two of the potted plants to fall over.

  “Hey,” Magda shouted and stood up. “Listen to me, you Viking man. Just stop being stupid. I never wanted you to come here. You must have got in the box yourself. So just stop it.”

  There was a stillness in the room and then the coffee table fell over.

  “Oh, my Lord,” Rula whispered. “He is not a nice man.”

  “What should we do?” Katie asked and looked to Declan. Declan looked at Merle and asked what she thought. She shook her head.

  “I can try and send him away, but I’m guessing that he won’t go.”

  “I think he follows the wood,” Declan added. “If we move the wood we can see if he follows.”

  “Then eventually put the wood somewhere a long way away?” Magda asked. “Wish I’d never thought about the whisky flavor.”

  “The truffle is great. It’s the Viking that’s a pain,” Branston told her. “Pity we can’t get him into an old-fashioned gun battle.”

  “The bullets would go straight through,” Merle smiled. “I think Declan is right. Let’s try his idea.”

  “Let’s all go to the café and see if he comes with us,” Sam suggested.

  “The extension is wonderful,” Merle told Sam. “Thanks for letting us see it.” They picked up jackets and boxes that had contained food and Sam went to retrieve the box from the garage. They set off in convoy to the café, then opened up to sit around in a circle and see what would happen.

  Merle said that if Sam opened the box again, she would call out and see if the Viking responded. Declan said he would watch for any signs. Sam checked that everyone was ready and opened the box. The same wind swirled around the kitchen and Merle called out to ask if anyone was there and to come forward. Nothing happened and she called again.

  “Are you there, Viking?” she called. “Bang once for yes.” There was a pause and then a bang that seemed to come from under their feet.

  Magda could not keep quiet.

  “Show yourself, you stupid man,” she cried out. “I am sick of you causing trouble.”

  “He just did,” Declan said calmly. “He’s beside the chocolate vat behind Katie”. Katie gasped and looked around her but could see nothing. She crossed the room and sat beside Declan. He smiled and said it was okay. “He’s not moving. Just standing there, but he looks angry.”

  “I don’t want to draw him anymore. He’s scary,” Katie answered.

  Sam addressed the apparition: “You are a nasty piece of work. This is America. You just cannot get away with this here. Keep away from Magda, or I’ll burn the piece of wood.”

  This produced a wind that seemed like gale force and a roaring sound that they all heard. It sounded like a fire that was being drawn up a chimney. They all looked about but nothing was destroyed and the sound died away.

  “That took all his energy,” Merle said. “He was furious but had to fade away.”

  “Yes, he’s disappeared,” Declan added.

  “So, he follows the wood and is attached to it. How can we get rid of it?” Magda asked. “I don’t want him ruining the café.”

  “It seems to keep him away when the wood is locked in the box,” Branston remarked. “Lock it and leave it somewhere until we can think what to do with it.”

  “What if I take it to the yard where I keep the shovels and things?” Sam asked. “I can lock it in one of the sheds.”

  “That sounds like a good idea,” Merle answered. “Let’s all take it and make sure that everything is okay afterward.”

  “Come on then,” Branston said and pulled her up to a standing position. The convoy of vehicles set off again and Sam led the way to his workplace. He opened up then made his way to a cabin behind the office. They put the box inside and closed the door.

  “Back to the café and see if he appears,” Branston grinned, and the group followed each other all over again. There was mercifully no response when Merle called
out again, and Magda found she was holding her breath and gripping Sam’s hand so hard that he winced.

  “Done. He’s not here,” Sam said.

  Everyone breathed a collective sigh of relief, and Rula fired up the drinks machine.

  “Truffles or cheesecake on the house,” Magda told them, and suddenly the feeling was cheerful, relaxed, and comfortable.

  “I wish,” Merle said to Declan, “that I could see the figure the way you do.”

  “It can be a bit of a nuisance sometimes. Over the years I’ve learned to block them out if I want to.”

  “I don’t want to draw the Viking any more but I would love to do any others that you see,” Katie told him. “It’s like a glimpse into history.”

  “People ask me to help them sometimes, but I have never really studied any of it,” Merle added, and Magda smiled.

  “Tell her about the turnoff for the ranch.”

  “My ranch?” Merle queried, and Declan nodded.

  “It’s just like a flash snapshot that I see and then it’s gone—but when I turn the car into the trail to the ranch, I see a wooden cabin and a woman working in a vegetable garden. She seems happy. Nothing awful there at all.”

  “Wow. That is amazing,” Branston said. “You’ll have to go and stand there and see if anything comes to you,” he added to Merle.

  “There has always been something special and little bit magical to me about the ranch. There was a community of some sort there. I did know that but not exactly where.” She looked at them. “Maybe a picnic and we can see if anything happens?”

  “That would be superb,” Rula said and the others were nodding enthusiastically.

  “Thanks for helping us deal with the ill tempered Viking man,” Magda said. “A woman working in her vegetable garden sounds more my sort of thing.” Then she added that she was going to look for wild raspberries on the camping trip in a few days time. “I like using natural ingredients.”

  “If I wasn’t needed at the café, I would have asked to come along,” Katie told her. “I need to get some new photographs of leaves, bark, shapes of branches and things. Going out in the wild on your own is a bit scary.”