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  The Topaz Brooch

  The Celtic Brooch Series, Book 10

  Katherine Lowry Logan

  COPYRIGHT PAGE

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without the written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embedded in critical articles or reviews.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  An original work by Katherine Lowry Logan. The Topaz Brooch copyright © 2019 by Katherine Lowry Logan

  Kindle Edition

  Website: www.katherinellogan.com

  Editor: Faith Freewoman

  Virtual Assistant and Copy Editor: Annette Glahn

  Cover Design by Damonza

  Interior design by BB eBooks

  THE CELTIC BROOCH SERIES

  The Ruby Brooch

  The Last MacKlenna

  The Sapphire Brooch

  The Emerald Brooch

  The Broken Brooch

  The Three Brooches

  The Diamond Brooch

  The Amber Brooch

  The Pearl Brooch

  Family Trees

  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  The Celtic Brooch Series

  Cast of Characters

  About the Author

  1. MacKlenna Farm, Lexington, KY—Rick

  2. New Orleans—Billie

  3. MacKlenna Farm—Rick

  4. Barataria, LA (1814)—Billie

  5. Flight to New Orleans—Rick

  6. Barataria (1814)—Billie

  7. New Orleans—Rick

  8. Barataria (1814)—Billie

  9. New Orleans—Rick

  10. Barataria (1814)—Billie

  11. New Orleans—Rick

  12. Barataria (1814)—Billie

  13. New Orleans—Rick

  14. Barataria (1814)—Billie

  15. New Orleans—Rick

  16. Barataria (1814)—Billie

  17. New Orleans (1814)—Sophia

  18. Barataria (1814)—Billie

  19. New Orleans (1814)—Sophia

  20. Barataria (1814)—Billie

  21. New Orleans (1814)—Rick

  22. Barataria (1814)—Billie

  23. Barataria (1814)—Billie

  24. New Orleans (1814)—Rick

  25. Barataria (1814)—Billie

  26. New Orleans (1814)—Rick

  27. New Orleans (1814)—Billie

  28. New Orleans (1814)—Sophia

  29. New Orleans (1814)—Billie

  30. New Orleans (1814)—Sophia

  31. New Orleans (1814)—Billie

  32. New Orleans (1814)—Sophia

  33. New Orleans (1814)—Billie

  34. New Orleans (1814)—Billie

  35. The Temple (1814)—Penny

  36. Villére Plantation (1814)—Rick

  37. New Orleans (1814)—Rick

  38. New Orleans (1814)—Rick

  39. New Orleans (1814)—Rick

  40. New Orleans (1814)—Pete

  41. New Orleans (1814)—Rick

  42. New Orleans (1815)—Penny

  43. New Orleans (1815)—Penny

  44. New Orleans (1815)—Rick

  45. New Orleans (1815)—Rick

  46. New Orleans (1815)—Penny

  47. New Orleans (1815)—Rick

  48. New Orleans (1815)—Penny

  49. New Orleans (1815)—Rick

  50. New Orleans (1815)—Penny

  51. New Orleans (1815)—Penny

  52. New Orleans (1815)—Penny

  53. New Orleans (1815)—Rick

  54. New Orleans (1815)—Penny

  55. New Orleans (1815)—Rick

  56. New Orleans (1815)—Penny

  57. New Orleans—Penny

  58. New Orleans—Penny

  59. The Flight Home—Rick

  60. New Orleans—Penny

  61. New Orleans—Penny

  62. New Orleans—Penny

  63. New Orleans—Penny

  64. Mallory Plantation, Richmond, VA—Penny

  65. Mallory Plantation—Penny

  66. Mallory Plantation—Penny

  67. Mallory Plantation—Penny

  68. Mallory Plantation—Penny

  69. Mallory Plantation—Penny

  70. Mallory Plantation—Penny

  71. Mallory Plantation—Penny

  72. Mallory Plantation—Rick

  73. Mallory Plantation—Penny

  74. Gothenburg, Sweden—Penny

  75. Gothenburg, Sweden—Penny

  76. Gothenburg, Sweden—Rick

  77. Gothenburg, Sweden—Rick

  78. Jarlshof, Shetland Islands—Penny

  79. Mallory Plantation (Christmas Eve)—Elliott

  About the Author

  The Celtic Brooch Series

  Author Notes

  CAST OF CHARACTERS

  Alphabetical Order

  1. Adair, Brigadier General John: Commander of the reserve Kentuckians

  2. Benoit, Remy: Elliott’s bodyguard, former Army medic

  3. Bonnard, Marguerite: Sophia’s friend from 1789 Paris, dress shop owner

  4. Bowes, Colonel Maurice: Instructor at West Point Academy

  5. Bowes, Lieutenant Maurice: British Navy Lieutenant, ancestor of Colonel Bowes

  6. Bradshaw, Morgan: Billie’s friend, caterer

  7. Butler, Robert: General Jackson’s military aide from Tallahassee

  8. Carroll, Major General William: Tennessee militiaman, commanded Andrew Jackson’s center at the Battle of New Orleans

  9. Chotard, Major Henry: General Jackson’s aide-de-camp

  10. Churchill, James: Subaltern, 4th Regiment of Foot, King’s Own

  11. Claiborne, William C.C.: Governor of Louisiana

  12. Clinton, Lieutenant Edward: British Royal Marine Infantry Captain

  13. Coffee, General John: Planter and state militiaman

  14. D’Avezac, Major Auguste Genevieve Valentin: General Jackson’s aide-de-camp and Judge Advocate

  15. Duffy, Emily: Goddaughter of Kit MacKlenna Montgomery, daughter of Frances Barrett Duffy (first appeared in The Three Brooches)

  16. Fontenot, Philippe: Husband of Rhona Fontenot

  17. Fontenot, Rhona: Wife of Philippe Fontenot

  18. Fraser, Elliott: Husband of Meredith Montgomery, father of James Cullen Fraser and Kevin Allen Fraser, grandfather of Blane and Lawrence, Chairman of the Board of the MacKlenna Corporation, retired equine vet (appears in all Brooch books)

  19. Fraser, Jenny “JL” Lynn: Wife of Kevin Allen Fraser, mother of Austin O’Grady, Blane and Lawrence Fraser, sister of Connor, Rick, Shane, and Jeff O’Grady, daughter of Retired Deputy Chief Lawrence “Pops” O’Grady, former NYPD detective, VP of Development and Operations MacKlenna Corporation (first appeared in The Broken Brooch)

  20. Fraser, Kevin: Husband of JL O’Grady, father of Blane and Lawrence, son of Elliott Fraser, half-brother of James Cullen Fraser, MacKlenna Corporation CFO (appears in all Brooch books except The Ruby Brooch)

  21. Hebert, William: One of Jean Lafitte’s artillerists (the ogre)

  22. Hinds, Major Thomas: Mississippi militiaman

  23. Jackson, Andrew: General in US Army, statesman

  24. Kelly, Elizabeth: Wife of Matt Kelly, mother of Amber and Olivia, grandmother of Noah and Heather Grant, grandmother of Elizabeth “Betsy” O’Grady, lawyer (first appeared in The Amber Brooch)

  25. Kelly, Matt: Husband of Elizabeth Kelly, fat
her of Amber and Olivia, grandfather of Noah and Heather Grant, grandmother of Elizabeth “Betsy” O’Grady lawyer (first appeared in The Amber Brooch)

  26. LaCroix, Estelle: Billie’s lady’s maid

  27. Lafitte, Jean: Privateer and hero of the Battle of New Orleans

  28. Landry, Roy: Former Marine, NOPD Detective

  29. Latour, Major Arsene Lacarrière: Architect, Jackson’s chief engineer

  30. Livingston, Edward: General Jackson’s aide-de-camp

  31. Lockyer, Captain Nicholas: British Naval officer

  32. Mallory, Amy: Wife of Jack Mallory, mother of Patrick and Margaret Ann, former Olympian, ESPN baseball analyst (first mentioned in The Broken Brooch)

  33. Mallory, Jack: Husband of Amy Spalding Mallory, father of Patrick and Margaret Ann, brother of Charlotte Mallory, New York Times best-selling author (first appeared in The Sapphire Brooch)

  34. Mallory, Charlotte: Wife of Braham McCabe and mother of Lincoln, Kitherina, and Amelia Rose, sister of Jack Mallory, surgeon (first appeared in The Sapphire Brooch)

  35. Malone, Inspector: Billie’s father, NYPD Inspector

  36. Malone, Tommy: Billie’s ancestor who fought in the Battle of New Orleans

  37. Malone, Wilhelmina “Billie” and “Penny” Penelope: Former Army Ranger, West Point graduate, owner of a catering business in Napa, California

  38. McBain, David: Husband of Kenzie McBain, father of Henry, Robbie, Laurie Wallis, Alicyn, and Rebecca, President of MacKlenna Corporation, veteran, author (appears in all Brooch books except The Ruby Brooch)

  39. McBain, Kenzie: Wife of David McBain, mother of Henry, Robbie, Laurie Wallis, Alicyn, and Rebecca, veteran, West Point graduate, MacKlenna Corporation attorney (first appeared in The Emerald Brooch)

  40. McBain, Henry and Robbie: Twin sons of David and Kenzie McBain (first appeared in The Broken Brooch)

  41. McCabe, Braham: Husband of Charlotte Mallory and father of Lincoln, Kitherina, and Amelia Rose; Jack Mallory’s brother-in-law, Kit MacKlenna Montgomery’s first cousin, former Union cavalry officer, lawyer, senator (appears in all Brooch books except The Last MacKlenna)

  42. Montgomery, Cullen: Husband of Kit MacKlenna Montgomery, lawyer, author, founder of Montgomery Winery (first appeared in The Ruby Brooch)

  43. Montgomery, Kit MacKlenna: Wife of Cullen Montgomery, goddaughter of Elliott Fraser, guardian of Emily Duffy, founder of Montgomery Winery (first appeared in The Ruby Brooch)

  44. Montgomery, Meredith: Wife of Elliott Fraser and mother of James Cullen Fraser, grandmother of Blane and Lawrence Fraser, owner of Montgomery Winery, breast cancer survivor (appears in all Brooch books except The Ruby Brooch)

  45. Moretti, Gabriele “Gabe”: General manager at Montgomery Winery in Tuscany

  46. O’Grady, Connor: Husband of Olivia Kelly O’Grady, father of Betsy, brother of JL Fraser, Shane, Rick, and Jeff O’Grady, son of Retired Deputy Chief Lawrence “Pops” O’Grady, former NYPD detective, VP of Global Security for MacKlenna Corporation (first appeared in The Broken Brooch)

  47. O’Grady, Lawrence “Pops”: Husband of Maria Ricci, father of Connor, Rick, Shane, Jeff, and JL, Retired NYPD Deputy Chief (first appeared in The Broken Brooch)

  48. O’Grady, Patrick “Rick”: Marine, former NYPD detective, brother of JL, Connor, Shane, and Jeff, president of Montgomery Winery in Napa, son of Retired Deputy Chief Lawrence “Pops” O’Grady (first appeared in The Broken Brooch)

  49. O’Grady, Shane: VP of Global Security for MacKlenna Corporation, brother of JL, Connor, Rick, and Jeff O’Grady, son of Retired Deputy Chief Lawrence “Pops” O’Grady (first appeared in The Broken Brooch)

  50. Orsini, Sophia: Wife of Pete Parrino, mother of Lukas Parrino, painter, artist, entrepreneur, granddaughter of Seamus Digby (first appeared in The Pearl Brooch)

  51. Pakenham, Major General Sir Edward Michael: British Army officer

  52. Parrino, Pete: Husband of Sophia Orsini, father of Lukas, former NYPD detective, former Marine, VP for Global Security for MacKlenna Corporation, JL O’Grady’s former NYPD partner (first appeared in The Broken Brooch)

  53. Plauché, Major Jean Baptiste: Louisiana soldier

  54. Reid, John: Lawyer and General Jackson’s aide-de-camp

  55. Ricci-O’Grady, Maria: Wife of Lawrence “Pops” O’Grady (first appeared in The Diamond Brooch)

  56. Ronde, Colonel Pierre Denis de la: Louisiana militiaman

  57. Stuart, Travis: Team leader at Northbridge Worldwide Group, Naval Academy graduate

  58. Taylor, Franklin: Billie’s ex-husband

  59. Thompson, Clovis: Owner of the auction house in New Orleans

  60. Viking Warriors: Erik, Bjørn, Birger, Forde, Arne

  61. Villére, Major Gabriel: Son of Major General Jacques Villére

  62. Wilson, Cate: Rick’s assistant at Montgomery Winery in Napa

  63. Youx, Dominique: General, Jean Lafitte’s brother

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Katherine graduated from Rowan University in New Jersey, where she earned a BA in Psychology with a minor in Criminal Justice. Following college, she returned to Central Kentucky, where she worked as a real estate and tax paralegal.

  Katherine is a marathoner and lives in Lexington, Kentucky. When she’s not running or writing romance, she’s enjoying her five grandchildren: Charlotte Lyle, Lincoln Thomas, James Cullen, Henry Patrick, and Meredith Lyle, and a dog named Ripley.

  Please stop by and visit Katherine on her social media sites or drop her an email. She loves to hear from readers.

  Website * Facebook * Twitter

  I’m A Runner (Runner’s World Magazine Interview)

  Email:

  [email protected]

  Family trees are available on Katherine’s website

  * * *

  1

  MacKlenna Farm, Lexington, KY—Rick

  The morning after arriving at MacKlenna Farm in Lexington, Kentucky, Rick O’Grady, president of Montgomery Winery in Napa, had intended to get in a three-mile shake-out run, but David McBain sent a text and asked Rick to meet him at the security center.

  Instead of a run, a brisk walk would have to do.

  Rick reached the security center sweaty from the early morning humidity, but a breeze carrying the scent of late spring flowers, freshly mulched beds…and, of course, horses…wafted over him, along with the yellow-greenish pollen exploding in the air.

  Spring in Kentucky wasn’t a place for hay fever sufferers.

  When his nose started itching, he yanked open the door to the security center, which triggered the door sensor chime alert.

  The high-powered technology inside the building generated an incredible amount of heat, so David kept the thermostat set at sixty-five degrees, claiming he also worked better when the air was crisp. And for a sweaty Rick, he was happy to leave the heat, humidity, and pollen behind, and step into McBain’s freezer.

  The entryway led into a large room divided by a glass partition, with offices on one side and a row of computer stations with large flat-screen monitors on the other. The state-of-the-art computer system hummed as the hub continually scoured data and satellite images. High-resolution topography shuffled from one MacKlenna property to another, monitoring operations around the world, beginning with MacKlenna Farm, followed by Montgomery Winery, Mallory Plantation outside of Richmond, the wineries in Tuscany, the ranch in Colorado, the ranch in New South Wales, and the castle in the Scottish Highlands. Rick paid particular attention to Montgomery Winery’s flat-screen—relieved to see all looked quiet on the western front.

  Rick spotted David standing at the refreshment bar, stone-still—like an ancient warrior—intimidating the hell out of the coffeemaker. For long minutes Rick watched him, waiting for David to snap out of it.

  He didn’t.

  Rick waited another minute. What the hell? It didn’t speak highly of Rick’s intelligence to bother David while he was in some weird zone, but Rick had done stupider shit before.
So, hoping it would break through whatever had a hold on David, Rick asked, “What’s going on?”

  David’s expression changed the way a lion changes at the scent of prey.

  But, smart or not, Rick wasn’t ready to let it go. Another sign of stupidity. He hung around, put a pod into the coffee machine, and a green MacKlenna mug under the spout. Finally, he asked, “What the shit are you looking at?”

  David was a former member of the Royal Scots and had fought in Afghanistan. He was a dark-eyed son-of-a-bitch in his late forties with ten percent body fat and muscles cut and chiseled to perfection. His neck and jaw visibly tightened, and his face took on a mask of invincibility, but his eyes said the opposite. David was looking at something that scared the shit out of him. He held his coffee mug in a white-knuckle grip while fragrant whorls of steam rose in the chilly air.

  Rick had to ease David out of the spell without getting knocked on his ass in the process. “What do you see?”

  “Olc,” David groaned in Gaelic.

  David wasn’t one to overreact, so whatever he was seeing was real to him.

  Rick didn’t know what the word meant, but, combined with David’s body language, it didn’t mean angels.

  Rick waved a hand in front of David’s face. The man didn’t flinch. He didn’t blink. If Rick had punched him in the gut, David wouldn’t have reacted to that either. Rick had seen a soldier on the battlefield freeze in fear. His buddies shook him until he thawed. But David wasn’t the type of man to freeze or to shake.

  Rick Googled the word olc. Evil?

  How was Rick supposed to fight evil when he couldn’t see the enemy?

  He stuck his hand in his pocket and gripped the warm beads of his mother’s rosary.

  Easing David’s coffee mug out of his hands, Rick replaced it with the rosary, draping the cross over the backs of David’s fingers.

  There was no air blowing from a nearby vent, and David’s hands weren’t shaking, yet the cross jerked as if controlled by an invisible string. That and the enlarged pupils of David’s eyes freaked the shit out of Rick. He needed help.

  He sent David’s wife, Kenzie, a text: Come to David. ASAP. And then another one to Pete Parrino: 9-1-1.