my age with nothing to show for it but some modest label clothes, half a mortgage, and a silver Acura SUV with eighty-five thousand miles on it.”
Smiling he said, “Your luck has taken a turn for the better.” He took a bite of roast beef and I suddenly remembered I was hungry, too.
I guided a fork with beef and a white pearl onion into my mouth and groaned with unladylike pleasure. “Oh. My. God. This is the best thing I’ve ever tasted.”
I spent the next few minutes more intent on testing the carrots, potatoes, sugar snap peas, and grainy artisan bread before coming back to the beef. All thought of goal jeggings was long gone and far away.
“Did Maisie make this? Whatever you’re paying her, it’s not enough.”
“Probably true,” Lochlan said. “So you wandered past the floral shop and you had lunch at the pub. Did you meet other villagers?”
In between bites, I said, “Yes. John David something.”
“Weir,” Maggie supplied.
“Right. He bought a really expensive thing at the store.”
“Rita came in when I was in the rear,” Maggie said. “She told him to buy something or leave.”
Lochlan’s jaw dropped. “She did not.”
Maggie giggled. “She did.”
Wondering if I’d been out of line, I said, “He pointed to the most expensive thing in the place and asked how much it was. I read the price from the tag. He agreed. Now why are you both acting like that’s the most remarkable thing ever?”
“Mr. Weir does no’ talk a lot,” Maggie said.
I nodded. “Yeah. I guessed that.”
“Who else have you encountered on your brief, but eventful time here?” Lochlan asked.
“Brad from the silver shop. Thomasin Cobb, the bootmaker.” I saw both her dinner companions roll their eyes at the same time.
“Do not let that little scamp lure you into buying new boots,” Lochlan said.
“I’m very sure there’s no danger of that.”
“Did you happen down to the river?” he asked.
“Yes. And I see why everybody asks that. It’s a postcard scene that you hope too many people don’t find out about.”
“Indeed.”
We talked about the area and its economy while we finished dinner. Tourism. Farming. Maisie cleared the table and asked what else she could do before leaving.
“More wine?” Lochlan ventured.
“I don’t suppose you have coffee? If we’re going to talk about serious things, I do best without brain fog.”
“We have a coffee contraption. What sort of coffee do you prefer?”
“Dark Kona or with Kona if you have it. Cream or creamer.”
“I’ll have some, too,” Lochlan said.
Maisie looked at him strangely. “You will?”
“No’ me,” said Maggie. “This very fine bottle of mead is all I’ll be needin’ for the night.”
In a short time, Maisie returned with coffee in big-handled mugs, creamer, and dogs. The one named Aisling wiggled over and put her head on my lap.
“Aren’t you a precious flirt?” I asked as I petted the silky hair on her head and ears. To Lochlan and Maggie, I said, “I’d love to have a dog someday.”
“That can be arranged,” said Lochlan. “Aisling’s due to whelp in a few weeks, give or take.”
I looked down at intelligent brown eyes, full of reflective light, liquid with adoration, intent on trying to communicate some mysterious canine thing. And I knew I could do worse than be the recipient of a puppy.
“Thank you. If I stay,” I said without looking away from Aisling, “I’d be lucky to get a puppy.”
As if she understood, Aisling raised her head and wagged her tail.
“You’ll have to pay what anybody else would pay.” Lochlan said sternly.
“Why ye old penny pincher!” Maggie said. “Just make her a bloody gift of the dog.”
Lochlan stared at Maggie for a few beats, took a sip of coffee, made a face, then said, “I don’t know what you’re thinking, Margaret. You know it’s against the rules. You also know she can afford to buy a dog.” I couldn’t help but feel a tingle of excitement thinking about having a dog like one of Lochlan’s two. He turned to me. “We will think on it and decide, should you stay.”
I was nodding. “Fair enough.”
“Well ladies,” he said. “Maisie’s gone for the night. Shall we get down to business?”
“By all means,” I said.
Lochlan looked between Maggie and myself then said, “Before we begin, I must have your promise that you will hear me out in entirety. There’s a tale to be told and you may find the subject matter unusual.”
“’Tis a tale as old as time.” Maggie nodded as she said with grave seriousness.