Page 33 of A Flower for Angus

“That’s usin’ yer head, Darro,” Angus growled. “I was just thinkin’ the same thing. I’ll get the lads on white alert and put Sinh into action. He headed towards the door.

“Sin?” Vince asked, his eyebrows going up.

“Actually, it’s Sin with an h. It stands for Sangster’s Information Network Hub. Angus has a surplus of relatives and friends who keep him informed of things he might need to know. He helped me when Lucerne and I were dating, but he didn’t put a name to his gossip clutch until after that,” Darro chuckled. “It does work, that’s how we knew ye were coming.”

“I’m impressed,” Vince replied as they walked to the edge of the porch. He turned and shook hands with Darro. “I’ll let you know what I find out.”

Angus joined Darro on the porch again and they watched as Vince got in his blue rental and drove away. “Do ye trust him, lad?” he asked.

“I think we can trust him, but it’s best to be prepared in any case. What do ye think?”

“I think I should take Poppy to Thistlewind to be on the safe side until we know that sleekit basturt Condoloro has given up.” Angus growled.

Darro stared. “Ye really got it bad,” he chortled. “Ye’re falling in love with the lass.”

“Mind yer own business, ye git,” Angus replied grumpily.

Darro threw his head back and laughed. “Now ye know how I felt when I met Lucerne.”

Angus scowled at him. “At least ye didn’t have to worry about her runnin’ off to America on ye.”

Darro’s eyes twinkled and he stepped off the porch and headed for the barn, Angus falling in beside him. “Aye, there is that, but I’ll still have to make trips there to visit Lucerne’s mother’s family from time to time. I’m actually looking forward to going to New Orleans, I’ve never been there before.”

“If ye’re expectin’ me to say I knew a lass in New Orleans once, ye would be right,” Angus replied, some of his usual humor returning. “Never caught her face because she had on one of them Mardi Gras masks. Never took it off the entire evenin’ we spent together either,” he added with relish. “Didn’t need to, the rest of her made it a night to remember.”

Darro just shook his head. “I don’t know why, but I actually believe ye.”

Angus just grinned. “Lord’s truth.”

“Well, I don’t think taking Poppy to yer place is the best decision right now, Angus. Neamh is heavily guarded with plenty of willing hands fer ye to fire up. Ye would both be more exposed at Thistlewind right now and we don’t need to be divided.”

Angus sighed. “I know ye’re right, but the instinct to hide her away where the world can’t touch her is verra strong.”

“That’s yer heart talking and not yer head,” Darro replied, his face softening. He clapped Angus on the shoulder. “Dinna worry, old neeb, we’ll protect yer lass from this threat. After that ye’ll be on yer own for her temper.”

“That I can handle,” Angus retorted.

“I’ll remember ye said that when yer hanging out in the barn office with me instead of going home,” Darro mocked.

“Just because ye ran from Lucerne’s temper don’t mean I would run from Poppy’s,” Angus snorted. “I got a few more years of experience when it comes to dealin’ with the lassies than ye do, lad.” Angus opened the barn door to find Dal just walking up.

“Ye will be happy to know, Angus, that I’m leaving ye to yer Poppy. I’ve decided I’ll set my sights on the boss’s little sister. Do ye know when that hot tidbit is coming for a visit?” Dal asked just before Darro stepped in behind Angus. Then his face went beet red and his tongue stopped working. “I...I...” he stuttered.

Angus snickered while Darro took Dal to task. “That hot tidbit has a name, ye young cock. It’s Ainsley, and if I ever hear ye laid a finger on my sister, that won’t be the only body part of yers that comes up missing. Ye ken me?”

He strode away leaving Dal still gawping helplessly.

“Stuck yer foot in it this time, didn’t ya?” Angus taunted, his eyes dancing with laughter. “Ye’re lucky the boss didn’t bring out old Whipcord’s bullwhip to snap yer backside. Now get out there and tell the boys we are on white alert and report back to me. Skitter, ye little walloper.”

He watched fondly as Dal scurried away; his mocking retorts silent for once. It wouldn’t do the lad any harm to get verbally spanked once in a while. The young cock needed taken down a peg now and then.

***

POPPY HELD HER BREATHwhile she waited for the phone to connect. Given that it was about a 6-to-7-hour time difference between Chicago and London, she knew it had to be around 10:30 pm Chicago time. Her daughter didn’t answer phone numbers she didn’t recognize, plus it was late to be receiving phone calls at all. She’d been lucky Mack had picked up on his personal line.

“Hello?”

It was Andrea’s voice on the line she slumped in relief. “Andrea, darling, it’s me.”

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