Page 29 of A Flower for Angus

“Well...I did enter your home one day and looked at your photo albums. It was there that I found your picture of you and your cousin in Inverness. When I’m following a subject, I like to know all I can about them, and well...you didn’t seem like a nice person based on the newspapers about your husband’s death. I know that doesn’t excuse it, but in my line of work...”

That was as far as he got because Poppy stalked the three steps forward to reach him and gave him a right hook in his mouth. Blood spurted immediately and he stumbled backwards with a screeching dynamo pummeling him in the chest.

Angus was as startled as everyone else, but he was the closest, so he sprang forward and grabbed Poppy around her waist and pulled her back.

“You slimy snake, you had no right to come in my home and go through my personal things,” she screeched at him. “Let me go Angus, I’m going to wipe the deck with him.”

“Hold on there, wee one, save some fer the rest of us. Ye got first blood,” he chuckled, grabbing her arms so they would stop thrashing.

“I think ye had better talk faster, Mr. Gallo,” Darro ordered with an amused grin. Dal was snickering behind him. “I don’t know how long Angus can hold her off.”

“Simmer down now,” Angus whispered in Poppy’s ear. “Don’t make me have to swat yer wee bum in front of everyone.”

Poppy ignored him. “If I’m such a horrible person, why are you here now? And it hadbetterbe good.”

Vince glared back at her, nursing his bloody lip with a handkerchief. “Because after I called him to let him know where you were, he wanted me to arrange an accident. I told him no way in hell was I getting involved with hurting anyone and to do his own dirty work. He said he would and hung up on me,” he snarled. “But after this, I’m not sure why I bothered to come up here and tell you.”

“Did you tell him where I was?”

He nodded. “Yes, he paid me and it’s my job. But I figured you could always arrange a flight out after I took off. He’ll have to hire someone else to track you after this, I’m done.”

Darro took charge after Vince’s declaration. “Mr. Gallo, ye need to come inside where we can discuss this subject more thoroughly. Macy, as my employee and housekeeper, ye will control yerself and go fix us all a pot of tea, please.”

“My name isn’t Macy, remember?” she retorted. “It’s Poppy. Poppy Condoloro.”

Darro folded his arms and shot her a steely look. “Are ye still my housekeeper, or no?”

Poppy flushed and then finally nodded. “Yes, yes of course, sir. I apologize to you for my behavior in your home. I won’t however, apologize to him.” She flashed her thumb at Vince Gallo and then walked to the door.

“I wouldn’t expect ye to, lass,” Darro replied with a deep chuckle. “After ye, Mr. Gallo.”

“I said what I came to say, why do you need me?” Vince asked, hesitating.

Darro’s eyebrows rose. “Because I have more questions and ye aren’t leaving here until I’m satisfied. One of my employees has been threatened and I don’t take that lightly. While Ma...er...Poppy works for me, she is under my protection.”

“Just make sure she keeps her fists to herself then,” Vince retorted as he went through the doorway.

Angus snickered.

As Darro followed Vince, he turned towards Angus and curled his first finger. “Angus, reduce the men to normal status and then join us, please.”

“Aye,” Angus agreed.

“Woo wee...I think I’m in love,” Dal exclaimed when the door closed behind Darro. “That Macy...er...Poppy...is a real scrapper.”

“Keep it in yer pants, Junior,” Angus snapped. “I done warned ye once, I don’t want to do it again.”

“Ye don’t seem to be making much progress,” Dal replied, practically running off the porch when Angus started towards him. “All right...I’m off.”

“Get a couple of the lads ready to unload my pickup when I get back there,” Angus called after him.

Dal waved his acknowledgement of the command and headed for the barn area.

Angus shook his head and climbed into his truck. “So, her real name is Poppy,” he muttered to himself with a satisfied grin. “This must be a sign from the almighty. He’s sent me another flower, and lord...what a red-hot flower she is.”

He’d already suspected that the lass had a temper, but was throttling it with all the other things she’d been hiding. Having seen a sample of it, he found it exhilarating. Now, if he could just hang onto her.

Back in his younger days when he’d been full of piss and vinegar, Angus had left Heaven’s Gate to find out what else might be out there besides working with sheep. He was the eldest of three sons, but he wasn’t sure he wanted to work at Neamh, which was what his father was training his sons for in the tradition of past years. Not all of them would, but he was especially hopeful of Angus. Angus had been hopeful for more than sheep.

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