Page 26 of A Flower for Angus

Why not? Poppy found she liked curling into his side. Being alone with Angus in the cab of his truck was surreal somehow. It felt like the outside world couldn’t intrude while his arm was around her and she basked in that feeling. She’d worry about the ramifications later, right now her mind and body were enjoying their closeness. It had been so long since she’d felt so in sync with anyone.

As they made their way back to Neamh, she told him a little about her life and her family. Once she started talking, it was as if she couldn’t stop. She suddenly realized how truly isolated she’d felt after Julian died.

She knew he kept asking questions to keep her mind busy so she wouldn’t fret and worry, and she was grateful. His big warm body was comforting and made her feel safe—something she hadn’t felt in a long time.

***

“DAL!” DARRO BARKEDas he strode out of the barn office. “Get Henry and a few of the boys from the fields. Medium alert status! Then get yerself and Henry to the house.”

“Aye, boss.” Dal dropped his medical bag and ran for the four-wheeler at the back of the barn. Like a well-oiled machine, Neamh would be quickly fortified. Neither he nor any of the other men would waste time asking questions. When Darro spoke, they just responded, already knowing the precautions that were strictly in place and well-practiced. The boss would explain when the time was right.

Darro hurried into the kitchen and locked the door behind him. His tone was a little less demanding, but an order just the same. “Lucerne, honey, I need ye to go to the study, please. Make sure ye have the key to the safe room in yer pocket. Use it if ye have any doubts as to what ye might hear. Angus texted me that someone is stalking Macy and may be coming here before they get back. That’s all he knows right now. We were all correct though, there is something up with the lass,” he added.

“Oh no,” Lucerne squeaked with concern, turning off the stove and oven and taking off her apron.

“What’s going on, Uncle Darro?” Delilah asked from the corner of the kitchen table, her face turning pale. Both children scrambled off the bench seats and she took Corey’s hand, his big blue eyes wide with uncertainty.

Darro cursed silently. He’d forgotten the children had an early out day today and would be in the kitchen for their usual after school snack.

“I’m sure it’s just a safety drill,” Lucerne replied, taking both their hands in hers. “We’ve done them before, remember?”

They nodded solemnly, accepting her explanation and cuddling in close to her legs. “Can the two of ye help a pregnant lady into the study? I can’t go much faster than a waddle, ye know.” She smiled encouragingly at them.

“Aye, Auntie Lucerne,” they chorused with eager smiles.

Darro smiled as the children immediately fell under Lucerne’s calming spell. She was right, it was just a precaution, but the three, make that four, most important people in the world were right here with him. He didn’t intend to take any chances with their safety.

“Aye, Lucerne is right. This is just a precaution and ye’ve no need to worry.” He bent down to give them a hug and then patted Lucerne’s rear to encourage them down the hall.

Lucerne hissed and shot him a killing glare over her shoulder, just before he kissed her. He chuckled as he watched her sassy bottom undulate down the hallway. He hadn’t had to swat her luscious behind for several weeks, but interfering in his business with the hired help wasn’t allowed. Of course, Macy was her hired help as well, but he still didn’t expect her to countermand his orders or make excuses to an employee for his orders when he gave them. He wouldn’t do that to her and he didn’t expect her to do it to him. They had come to an agreement and she had apologized.

Besides, he knew she wasn’t very sore because he hadn’t swatted her very hard. She was just a stubborn little thing that liked to push her boundaries. The knock on the front door preceded Dal and Henry sticking their heads inside.

“Where do ye want us, boss,” Henry asked.

Henry always reminded him of a beefed-up version of Peewee Herman, an old-time star of a children’s show called Peewee’s Playhouse. His slick black hair was cut short to his head and his eyes were perpetually wide open. He strode to the door and motioned the men outside. “Henry, you take the back door and Dal, you pretend to be busy here near the front door. I’ll let ye know when I don’t need ye anymore. If anyone ye don’t know approaches, stop them. I’ll be close by.”

“Like whoever is in that car?” Dal asked pointing towards the outer road where dust was starting to rise behind an approaching vehicle. “I don’t recognize that car, does anyone else?”

“Want me to stay up front boss?” Henry asked, watching the dust rise and the car get closer.

“No, watch the back, Henry,” Darro replied. “There are plenty of eyes up front.” His gaze narrowed and he checked around to make sure the men were putting something between themselves and the approaching vehicle as he leaned his own body against one large pillar holding the deck roof. The 9mm inside his vest pocket was just a precaution he’d grabbed from the barn after Angus texted. Never hurts to be prepared. He didn’t normally wear a vest, but he kept this one handy in the barn for just such a purpose.

When the car drove into the circle drive and slowly made its way up to the front of the house, Darro watched the driver closely. When he finally pulled his tall frame out of the blue car and stood up, he could see the man matched Angus’s description. The plaid on his cap didn’t match any of the clans’ tartans that Darro knew, which meant he’d probably bought it at a tourist shop. Dishwater blond hair, sharp eyes, and a lean figure, but no sign of a weapon.

“Turn around,” Darro ordered.

“Is this Neamh?” the stranger asked coming around the front of the car.

“Bo, Misty, guard.”

The dogs immediately bared their teeth and stalked towards the stranger. “I said turn around,” Darro ordered again.

Holding his hands in the air with a shrug, the man turned around, calling over his shoulder, “I’m not armed, I just want to talk.”

“Now ye can turn around and talk,” Darro snapped after seeing there was no gun in the waistband of his jeans.

The dogs were still growling. “Can I put my hands down?” the man asked, watching them warily.

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