enemy scouts try to break the line in the south.”
“Oh.”
It made it real again. All too real.
“There’s no worry. We held them back, sent them back, shored it up. But I’ll walk you back over nonetheless. Marg would expect it,” he said before she could argue. “As would my mother. So you’ll give me an ale by the fire as my reward.”
“I don’t have any ale.”
Sincerely baffled, he stared at her. “That’s a sad and pitiful thing.”
“I have wine.”
“That will have to do. Call your dog.”
She looked over, and through the rain and gloom, saw the lights glowing in Aisling’s cottage. “I’ve never called him from so far.”
“Distance means nothing. Connection is all.”
She reached out to the dog, mind to mind, heart to heart.
Time to go home, Bollocks. Come on back, boy.
She felt the click—connection. In less than a minute, she heard the familiar happy bark.
“He loves you.” As he watched the dog race through the rain, Keegan shoved his dripping hair back. “He’ll always hear you, always come to you.”
He bounded up to greet her with licks and wags, then generously did the same with Keegan before they started for the road.
“There was a time I’d never have been caught in the rain without an umbrella—always prepared.” She shook her head. “It was cloudy when I left this morning, and probably rained on the other side, but I didn’t even think to grab an umbrella.”
“The wet won’t melt you.”
When Bollocks leaped over the wall, Keegan gripped Breen by the waist and lifted her over. “The story of the evil witch with the green face.”
“The Wizard of Oz.”
“Aye, that. The water from the pail wouldn’t have melted her, but it was a good story nonetheless. Mind your feet on the steps.”
“Do you have a favorite book?”
“Why a favorite when there are so many, and I haven’t read all of them?” He swirled his hand and brought globes of light to the gloom of the woods.
Unsure of herself, she dug for small talk. “Let’s try this. You’ve traveled in this world.”
“I have.”
“What did you like about it?”
“I liked the mountains and the vast open in your Montana, and the forests and the tall white mountains in the farther west. Here, in Ireland, I like the familiar green and quiet of the hills.”
“What about things?”
“Things?” In his fluid way, he reached down for a stick, then threw it for the dog to chase. “Ah, all the books. And the music, so much to hear. I like some of the television. And pizza. This is brilliant. I had the best of that in the land of Italy, I think, and there they have art that opens the heart or twists it.”
Here in the woods, the rain came as a little patter. She liked listening to his voice weave through it.
“I’m a fan of pizza myself, but of all the food in the world, that’s it?”
“Ice cream, in the cone. And burritos.” He shrugged. “There’s much good food in this world, and many things of value. You’ve built great cities that have their own kind of beauty, but such noise. A constant din. You have great art, but many who covet it, and want to close it in for only themselves. And people who have kindness and generosity, who love their children, help their neighbors. But so many with such anger and greed and envy. Some with hate boiling like poison in the blood. Those who strike with violence for no cause, wars, so many at once. Rulers who clutch power, but not for the common good. None of that is our way.”
“No, it’s not. But some from Talamh choose to live here.”
“They do. I have a cousin who lives in Paris in France. He has a bakery there, and is happy. He has a family, and has made his life there. So.”
They came out of the woods. “His choice was right for him.”
She led him into the house. “I just need to feed the dog.”
“Check first.” After taking off his dripping duster, he hung it on a peg. Then in a gentleman’s gesture she hadn’t expected, held out a hand for her jacket.
“He was with my sister, the children.”
“Right.” She looked at Bollocks, saw he’d eaten and well. “A treat then, for being such a good dog. I’ll get that and the wine if you light the fire.”
He lit it from where he stood and followed her into the kitchen.
“Marg did well here.” He glanced around, with interest and attention. “This is a