Belle hung back.
Gram and Joy were also there and as Belle continued to stand frozen to the spot, her mind consumed with all the ways Jack would lose his mind when he met Cassandra McNabb and The McPherson, Gram spoke.
“My granddaughter is a little shy.”
The McPherson regarded Belle a moment, his eyes narrowed.
Then his face cleared and he grinned a crooked, mad grin.
“Get over here, lass!” he boomed. “Let The McPherson get a good look at you.”
“Um…” Belle muttered.
“Come on, come on…” he urged, moving toward her and Belle wanted to retreat, she really, really did but she thought it might appear rude.
The McPherson got close and put a big, gentle hand between her shoulder blades and propelled her forward all the while looking down at her.
“I’m Angus McPherson of The McPhersons, at your service,” he announced.
“I’m Belle Abbot,” she whispered timidly.
He stopped her close to the huddle of women that had formed in front of the fireplace.
When he spoke again, he was no longer booming. It was quiet and as gentle as the hand he’d put at her back.
“I know, lass. Know you, know what you did. Never met a hero. Been one, a number of times, never met one. Least, not a wee slip of girl like you.”
She’d tilted her head to watch him speak and as he did, she pulled in a breath.
“No, lass,” his voice was still quiet when he talked on, “we won’t talk about it. I know it makes you uncomfortable.”
She didn’t know how he knew that unless Cassandra, the clairvoyant white witch soaked up her vibes somehow and told him but Belle didn’t say anything. She just nodded.
“Now!” Angus McPherson was back to booming. “Let’s get this ghost business sorted!”
“I’m Cassandra,” the witch came forward, a smile on her face, her hand extended.
“Belle,” Belle replied and took her hand.
When Belle’s fingers closed around Cassandra’s, through her hand she felt Cassandra’s body jerk. Then the woman went still, her smile died and her eyes grew hazy.
Belle grew concerned when she didn’t come out of her sudden, weird trance and Belle’s hand gripped Cassandra’s more firmly as she lost her shyness and moved closer.
“Are you all right?” Belle asked but Cassandra didn’t answer. She just kept staring at nothing, vacant, looking lost.
Angus got close and whispered, “Cass?”
“What’s happening?” Joy asked, her tone concerned.
“Cassandra,” Belle called when Cassandra still didn’t focus. She got closer, her hand squeezing and Cassandra’s hand squeezed back, so hard it caused pain. “Cassandra!” Belle called again, sharply. Now she was worried. “Are you okay?”
“Cass!” Angus bellowed, putting a meaty hand on Cassandra’s shoulder and shaking her.
All of a sudden Cassandra’s eyes widened and she yanked her hand from Belle’s like Belle’s hand burned.
Then she stared at Belle, her eyes full of something Belle couldn’t read but whatever it was, it made Belle’s worry intensify.
Significantly.