Illusions (5/28) -PG

      Barbara Lavelle (blavelle@sherbtel.net)
      Wed, 7 Feb 2001 18:48:32 -0600

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      --------
      Chapter Five
      
      
      Driving back to the cabin, Caitlin thought about the store manager and
      his sudden change in behavior. He seemed fine until he saw her name on
      the credit card. It reminded her of her conversation with Andy about why
      her father had never told anyone about having the cabin. She was just
      about to turn off the main road, when a deer came crashing out of the
      woods in front of her. Swerving to miss it by wrenching the steering
      wheel to the right, the rear end of the Jeep fish tailed causing her to
      slid off the still slick pavement onto the muddy shoulder. After coming
      to a jarring halt, she turned to see if Tanya was all right. The dog was
      picking herself up from floor by the back seat. "Sorry, baby, are you
      okay girl?" Apparently unshaken by their close call, she merely shook
      herself, and jumped back up on the seat and peered out of the window.
      
      Prying her fingers loose from the death grip she had on the steering
      wheel, Caitlin eased back in her seat and slowly breathed a sigh of
      relief.  Waiting a few minutes to compose herself, she sat forward and
      eased her foot down on the gas peddle. She could feel the rear-end slide
      slightly, but the Jeep didn't move. Switching to four-wheel drive, she
      stepped on the gas peddle again and tried to free the wheels but, they
      remained firmly stuck. Trying several more times, she decided she'd have
      to get out and take a look.
      
      As soon she opened the door, Tanya shot out passed her. "Tanya, no," she
      shouted in exasperation, trying to grab the dog before she squeezed by.
      But, it was too late.
      
      Walking to the back of the car and bending down, Caitlin saw the Jeep
      was sitting at an odd angle and the wheels were having trouble getting a
      firm grip on solid ground.
      
      "Damn! Damn! Damn!" She swore in frustration and started to rise.
      Unfortunately, Tanya decided it was the perfect time to jump up on her
      and she was caught completely off balance. Falling backwards and landing
      on her elbows in the mud, the Husky added to the situation by laying
      across her lap.
      
      Busy struggling to free herself from the mud and the dog, Caitlin jumped
      and Tanya woofed, at the sound of a man's voice from behind them.
      
      "Excuse me, I didn't mean to startle you, but, I-ah, thought maybe you
      could use some help."
      
      Turning, Caitlin recognized the man from the store parking lot looking
      down at her, and if she wasn't mistaken there was the distinct look of
      wry amusement sparkling in his dark eyes. Embarrassed and miffed at his
      apparent delight in her predicament, she answered peevishly.
      
      "Thanks! If you can stop laughing long enough at my expense, yes, I
      could use some help!"
      Stepping forward, Duncan grabbed Caitlin under the arms and pulled her
      to her feet.
      
      "I wasn't laughing," he said, just before a giggle escaped his lips.
      "Sorry. I'll-um, go have a look."
      Straightening her clothes, she glared at his back as he walked away.
      
      Taking several minutes to inspect the Jeep's position from different
      angles, he walked back to where she was standing and offered a suggestion.
      
      "Well, what's the prognoses?" Caitlin said sharply, still fuming about
      his finding her in such a mortifying position and thinking it was
      humorous.
      Ignoring her bad temper, he said, pleasantly. "I think I can push you
      out, if we put a few tree branches under the rear wheels to give them traction."
      
      Looking around, wishing she would have thought of that, she sighed, and
      said. "Okay, I'm game, let's give it a try."
      
      Duncan smiled to himself as he walked back to his  black Mustang, parked
      on the shoulder of the main road, and got a small hatchet out of the
      back.
      Placing several branches beneath the rear wheels, he pushed from behind
      as Caitlin tried the four-wheel drive again. Feeling the wheels starting
      to loosen, she pushed little harder on the gas peddle. The Jeep shimmied
      back and forth a few times before the wheels finally sputtered free.
      
      Delighted she was on solid ground again, Caitlin put the gear shift in
      park and jumped out to greet Tanya as she came running up with a small
      pine bough she'd found and they began to play tug-o-war.
      
      Distracted, Caitlin looked up just as Duncan walked out from behind the
      Jeep. Her mouth dropped open, and her eyes widened when she saw his
      unfortunate condition. He was covered from shoulders to knees with
      thick, black, gooey, mud.
      
      Unable to help herself, she burst out laughing. "Oh, no, look at you.
      Did I do that?"
      
      Duncan was not amused. "Did anyone ever tell you, you have a lead foot."
      
      Trying to talk through her laughter, she managed. "Oh, I'm so sorry,
      I-I-I got so excited when I felt the wheels coming loose, I guess I got
      a little carried away."
      
      "A little?" He said sarcastically.
      
      Putting her hand over her mouth to try and stifle her laughter, she
      couldn't help giggling despite the look of irritation glittering in his eyes.
      
      "I don't think I would laugh so hard if I were you." He said, as his
      eyes lowered and reminded her of her own less than pristine condition.
      
      Caitlin looked down herself and then at Duncan, and said. "I'm sorry I
      laughed. But, don't forget, you were quite amused a few minutes ago,
      when you found me in planted in the mud."
      
      He stood silent for a moment, then a wide grin split his face as he said
      "Yeah, I guess I was pretty amused when it was you, wasn't I?"
      
      "Yes, you were." She said, feeling like she was scolding a naughty
      little boy.
      
      "For initially coming to help a lady in distress, I guess I didn't act
      very gentlemanly, did I?" Duncan admitted.
      
      "No, you certainly didn't." Caitlin agreed, trying very hard not to smile.
      
      They looked at each other for few seconds, then they both burst out laughing.
      
      Stepping forward, he held out his hand. "Why don't we start over again.
      I'm Duncan MacLeod, and I am sorry I laughed."
      
      Meeting his smile with one of her own, Caitlin clasped his hand.
      "Caitlin Taylor," seeing his upraised eyebrows, she added. "And, I'm
      sorry I laughed too."
      
      Tanya came to sit beside Caitlin. Looking down, and patting her head
      gently, Caitlin introduced her. "This is Tanya, I believe you two have
      already met."
      
      "Tanya," Duncan said, as he put out his hand for her to sniff. Nuzzling
      his hand for a few seconds, she sat back on her haunches and looked up
      at him, her tongue lulling to one-side, apparently satisfied he could be trusted.
      
      Caitlin was surprised by her reaction. "Wow, she's not usually that
      friendly with people she doesn't know." She realized, that Tanya had
      become her barometer when it came to meeting and trusting new people.
      
      "She probably senses how charming I can be under the right
      circumstances." Duncan said, grinning.
      
      "I'm sure she does. Caitlin said, and smiled. "Well, I should let you be
      on your way, thanks again for stopping to help."
      
      "You're welcome. Will you be all right the rest of the way?" He queried
      
      "I should be fine, thanks. From now on, I'll keep my eyes open for deer
      trying to commit suicide."
      
      Duncan waved, and started to leave.
      Watching him walk away, Caitlin made a quick, instinctive decision. "Mr.
      MacLeod, wait."
      
      Turning, he waited as she crossed the short distance between them.
      "Look, I'd like to thank you for helping me and I really am sorry for
      getting you all muddy. If you're not doing anything tomorrow evening,
      would you like to come for dinner?" Before Duncan could answer, she
      added as a thought occurred to her. "Your wife and children are also
      welcomed, of course."
      
      "I'm sure they'd be delighted –if I had a wife and children," he said.
      "Is the invitation still open if it's just me?"
      
      "Of course." She said, realizing she suddenly craved conversation and
      how very much she wanted the company. "About seven-thirty?"
      
      Duncan nodded his consent and smiled. "Seven-thirty's fine. And my
      name's Duncan."
      
      "The cabin's at the end of this road Mr.- I mean Duncan," Caitlin
      quickly corrected herself before adding. "It's the only one."
      
      "I'll see you tomorrow night then." He said, and walked back to the
      black Mustang he had rented. From where he was parked, he could see
      Caitlin and Tanya as they climbed back into the Jeep and drove away.
      He'd always assumed that road was either used for logging or by the
      forestry service. The realization that there was a cabin at the end of
      it, made him even more suspicious. Maybe tomorrow night he'd find out,
      just who Caitlin Taylor really is and why she suddenly appeared.
      
      *****
      
      Like any other organization the Watchers had its nepotism. Jack Morrison
      was the brother of one of the older, well connected directors. Joe
      Dawson didn't have much choice, when he was saddled with a man he had
      always considered a risk. He tried to keep him in as harmless a position
      as possible. That's why he assigned him as manager of the general store.
      Because of the terrain, and other circumstances, it wasn't always
      possible for Joe to follow MacLeod. Morrison's job was to pass along
      information to Joe's alternate Watcher or, as a last resort take his
      place when MacLeod was in the area. The assignment seemed to satisfy the
      director and it kept Morrison out of his hair.
      
      Waiting until the last customer left, Morrison hung up the CLOSED sign,
      and headed for his office in the back.
      
      He knew he was in trouble. Slowly sitting down in the swivel chair at
      his rolled-top desk, he leaned forward on his elbows and rested his head
      in his hands, nervously, running his fingers through his thinning, gray
      hair.
      
      Bending down to pull open the bottom left-hand drawer, he grabbed the
      bottle of scotch whiskey and water glass he kept there for an occasional
      drink after hours. Setting them on the desk blotter, he uncorked the
      bottle and poured two fingers of the liquor into the semi-clean glass
      and gulped it down. The liquor burned his throat, making him cough and
      his eyes water. Rubbing the heels of his hands over his eyes, he cleared
      his throat and leaned back in his chair to catch his breath. Taking a
      deep breath, he reached for the telephone receiver, but his hand shook
      so badly, he dropped it back down on its cradle. "Come on Jack get a
      grip." he muttered to himself.
      
      As he reached for the bottle of whiskey again, his eyes fell on the
      wrist band that covered his Watcher tattoo. "Why now. Why did Taylor's
      daughter have to show up now!" He groaned out loud, as he slammed his
      fist down on the desk and continued to ramble on in self pity. "I
      screwed up royally this time, I should've gone to the cabin like Taylor
      told me to if anything ever happened to him. I always thought I'd have
      plenty of time because nobody else was supposed to know about the damn cabin.
      And MacLeod, what the hell is MacLeod doing here. He should still be in
      Europe. And why's he driving one of those sports cars, instead of the
      Thunderbird, no wonder I was caught off guard in the parking lot.
      Dawson'll have my hide for this one for sure if he finds out about
      Taylor having that cabin. He's had in for me from the start"
      
      Pouring another drink and gulping it down, he rubbed at his eyes again
      as he thought about his options. Maybe, I could be worrying for nothing.
      Who says Taylor's daughter'll find anything up there. Taylor was always
      sharp about covering up his Watcher activities. I could be opening up a
      can of worms for nothing. If anything happens, I can always tell Dawson
      it was all Taylor's idea. That I knew anything about it. Maybe, the less
      I tell Joe Dawson right now, the better.
      
      He continued to drink all night, deciding just before he passed out near
      dawn, that if Dawson didn't know, he couldn't use it against him. He'd
      save his ass anyway he could.
      
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