In Search of the Past (Stacey and Shane Mcleod, #2) Read Free

trying to contact you, Miss Scott.”
    “Why?” she asked. “So you could insult me further.”
    “No, of course not,” he said, mystified by her attitude. “I wanted to apologize for my actions the other day.  I don’t know what possessed me to say something like that.  It was quite unprofessional and insensitive of me.  I do apologize.”
    “I haven’t given it a second thought,” Stacey said, coolly.
    “I really don’t want to be here,” Doctor McLeod said, “However, it’s a fund raiser for a
    new wing for the hospital.  Doctor Fein was to give a small speech, but he was called out
    of the city, so here I am.  I dislike having to cow-tow to the idle rich.  Oh, sorry, are you
    one of the idle rich?”
    “I think you know better than that,” Stacey said.
    What brings you here then?” he asked. 
    “I’m with a friend,” Stacey informed him.
    A woman came up to Doctor McLeod, possessively took his arm and said, “Shane darling, I’ve been looking for you everywhere.  You’re such a naughty boy to run off and leave me like that.”  When Doctor McLeod turned to introduce Stacey, she was gone.
    For the past few days, Stacey had been visiting library after library, and the trying to get a lead of some kind on the Fitz-Morgan family. There seemed to be nothing, as if the records had been swept clean.  Therefore on Saturday, Stacey rented a car, packed herself a bag and headed for Yorkshire. She knew in her dream she’d lived in Yorkshire. Yorkshire was a big place and she knew she had only two weeks to look before going back home to Texas.
    Stacey arrived in Leeds late Sunday afternoon.  She found herself a hotel, ate supper and set up her game plan.  Leeds had two main libraries where she thought she might find relevant information on the Fitz-Morgan family. Before settling in for the night, Stacey called Annie.  She had promised her she would stay in touch.
    “Where are you?” Annie asked.
    “I’m in Leeds. I just wanted to let you know where I am and not to worry.”
    “Stacey, Doctor McLeod has been calling. He left his mobile number. Don’t you think you should find out what he wants?”
    “I’m not interested in what he wants. I told you he’s a jerk, Annie.”
    “Yes, I know you said that, but he seemed so nice. Eric’s been asking about you too. What do you want me to tell him?”
    “Oh, good grief, as little as possible. I didn’t tell him my plans because he would have insisted on coming along and I really wanted to do this on my own. Can you keep him busy Annie? You know how Eric is, he’s like a ole’ hound dog when he gets on your trail.”
    Annie laughed, “I’ll do my best sweetie. You will keep in close touch. Right?”
    “Yes, I promise, so don’t worry about me. Goodnight and thanks, Annie.”
    Stacey knew that she, or rather, the old countess had died in fourteen- forty- seven at that time she still had four living grandsons as well as numerous great-grandchildren.  There must be records of them somewhere, she thought. As soon as the libraries opened the next morning, Stacey was there ready to search the records for births or deaths of Fitz-Morgans, Ashworths, Maxwell’s and Howards. There were three castles of her descendants. Finwick keep, Falcon Crest castle and last but not least, Dun-Raven castle.  There had to be records of some kind. Stacey studied medieval maps of Yorkshire that the library provided.  Of course, the terrain looked much different in twenty-first century, than it had in the fourteen and fifteen centuries.
    The staff, at the library wanted to assist in anyway they could. They helped her find Ashworths and Maxwell but they were too recent to be ancestors. By noon Stacey felt they were more or less humoring her.  She was sure they thought, she was just some crazy American girl who was looking for non-existent ancestors. Around one o’clock, Stacey left the library tired and disappointed, but she wasn’t going to give up on her