say, ‘That’s right folks. You thought you were getting a real magistrate, but trick or treat, you got me instead’.” He laughed again. “I guess it sounds funny. But it’s not.” I took a deep breath. “I don’t want to walk in there looking as scared as I feel right now.”
“You know I’m going to be right by your side. All the time. All the way. Forever. If you let me.”
To me, that sounded like a proposal of more than a room, a closet, and sleepovers. I quickly decided my best response was to skirt the issue. “So how should we do it?”
“Do it?” I knew he was teasing.
“Come on. When? Where? What should I wear?”
He laughed. “That’s unlike you. I would have expected what to wear to come before when and where.”
“Ugh. Was that a criticism?”
“Certainly not. It was an expression of satisfaction that I know you well enough to know you view this event as something extraordinary.”
“You smooth talker. Answer the questions.”
“Tonight. Tregeagle. Bundle up. You’ll be cold with the wind rushing past.” I nodded. “But Rita. You will be safe with me.”
“Then why were you trying to get a spell from Aoumiel?”
“To make you feel confident. Not because I believed you’d fall.”
“Oh.”
“In fact I prepared for this. Just in case you changed your mind sometime. I’m going to ask two of my brothers to come so that you’ll feel triply safe. Between the three of us, no harm can come to you. Promise.”
I thought back and remembered that Keir had told me Maeve created ‘us’. I’d intended to ask him about that, but apparently, was too ADD to remember.
“Brothers?”
“Yes. Two are close by. One in Ireland. One in Scotland.” He grinned. “You’ll like them. Promise.”
“Sounds like a whole lotta promisin’ goin’ on.”
He pulled me into an embrace that had me wishing it was midnight in front of the fire.
“Promise. You’ll always be safe with me.”
At dusk I knocked on the door of Keir’s gatehouse at Tregeagle. Between my excitement about flight and the fact that he looked so scrumptious when he opened the door, I almost knocked him down rushing in for a kiss.
Gripping my waist with both hands, he pushed me away, firmly, ending the kiss in an abrupt way that was nothing like Keir. I looked up to see the face I loved wearing a stern expression I’d never seen and noticed, for the first time, that he was wearing something suitable for a Robinhood’s-Sherwood-Outlaws-theme party in a color that could only be called Braveheart-blue.
What the…?
The mad face growled, “Unhand me, Magistrate.” It took a second to process that he was referring to my hands locked around his neck.
“Rita!” I heard Keir’s voice and turned my head to see him moving toward me, looking luscious in a Henley, jeans, and an apron. “Kagan. Take your hands off my woman.”
I took a quick step back at the same instant Keir’s look-alike did the same, holding palms facing outward. “Not my doin’, brother.”
Keir looked at me, shaking his head. Pointing to another identical version of himself lounging in the big leather chair in a tweed jacket similar to Lochlan’s favorite walking costume, Keir said, “This is my brother, Killian, the Party Animal.” I blinked. Killian responded with a salute and a grin. “Seems you’ve already met my brother, Kagan, the Quiet and Broody.”
“I, um…” I stammered, “wasn’t expecting such a distinct family resemblance.”
Keir scowled. “You think we look alike?”
With no idea what the right answer might be, I spoke with my usual quick wit. “I, um…”
He laughed. “Just kidding. But don’t worry. I’m the only one who owns a cell phone and a pair of jeans.” He leaned in and said, “The two of them are lost in the past.”
When I found my voice, I said, “Hello Killian. Hello Kagan. Sorry about the…”
Kagan waved me off leaving the impression he’d prefer that I didn’t finish the sentence.
“I had this made, just in case you ever changed your mind about a ride.” Keir smiled as he held up a leather contraption. “It’s a breast collar harness. I’ll submit to wearing it in my altered form so you’ll have something to hold onto and feel more secure.”
It looked complicated, but if it would keep me from plummeting to an onomatopoeic death? I’m all in.
“Want dinner?” Keir asked cheerfully.
For the first time I noticed something smelled good.
“What do you have?”
“Fish stew.”
“Peanut butter and crackers?” I asked hopefully and heard Killian snort.