Page 8 of A Flower for Angus

“It’s a pleasure to meet ye, Macy,” Lucerne added warmly, taking Macy’s hand in hers. “But do ye want to put off the trial period until yer ankle is better? Do ye need to go back to town and see a doctor?”

Macy shook her head frantically. “Oh no, please. I-I’d rather stay if you don’t mind. Is that okay? I’m sure I’ll be right as rain tomorrow. Or even if I could get it wrapped? I can probably fix dinner tonight if it’s wrapped.”

“Nonsense,” Darro replied firmly, taking Macy’s ankle in his own large hands and probing lightly with his fingers. “I don’t believe anything is broken but ye will still stay off of it for a day or two. We don’t mind having ye here, we have plenty of room. And we don’t want any further injury. Besides, ye can’t drive with yer right ankle in that condition.”

Macy looked so relieved that it made Angus slightly suspicious. Was the girl hiding from something? Or someone? Or was she just broke, and needed a place to stay? What exactly was her story?

“I-I didn’t think of that,” she confessed. “Driving would be difficult, I agree.”

Darro took over with his usual commanding style. “Angus, bring Macy inside and we’ll take a good look at that injury. Have Dal come in to look at it as well. Lucerne, if ye still need to go to town today, then go ahead. The kids can look after Macy for a few hours until ye get back once we get that ankle wrapped.” He looked up at Macy. “Do ye like children, Macy?”

Macy nodded. “Yes, I love kids. I-I was never blessed with more than one though. I do have two grandchildren I dearly love.” She seemed to brighten at that thought.

Angus leaned in and plucked Macy from the seat. She couldn’t weigh much; she was such a light little thing. The girl needed to eat more.

“Do ye want her on the sofa in the living room, Darro?”

Darro nodded. “Aye, that would be best for now.”

Chapter 3

Macy gritted her teethas Angus carried her tucked up against his strong body once more. She seemed to fit him perfectly as if they were two parts of a whole. No one had ever carried her like this before and it was very disconcerting. When he went up the steps to the porch, he hefted her a bit on the first step and she automatically put her arm around his broad neck to hold on. “I’m too heavy for you to be carrying around like this,” she said stiffly, trying to shrink into as small a ball as possible.

“Nay, lass,” he objected, his teeth gleaming down at her as he smiled his way across the deck to where Darro was opening the door for him. “Ye’re just a bit of fluff in my arms.”

“It felt like you needed to get a better grip or were going to drop me,” she accused suspiciously.

He chuckled. “It got yer arm around me, didn’t it?”

She glared up at him, not knowing quite what to say. On one hand she was flattered, but on the other hand, an alarm equivalent to a six-alarm fire bell was sounding off in her head, warning her of impending danger. This man was going to be hazardous to her piece of mind. Maybe she should reconsider her employment at Neamh. Her lips tightened in disapproval. Her breasts tightened in anticipation.

The next few minutes were a madhouse while Angus carried Macy in and placed her on the sofa. Shocked and embarrassed at her reaction to Angus’s blatant flirting, Macy tried to ignore him after he put her down. She was greatly relieved when he set off on Darro’s instructions to find Dal, whoever he was.

***

ANGUS HURRIED OFF INsearch of Dal MacIntosh, his arms feeling empty after carrying hisuninteresting-turned-captivatingbundle into the house. He grimaced to himself, feeling like a fool over a pretty woman. He needed to get it together or she’d have him eating out of her hand before he could whistle the bonnie banks of Loch Lomond. In the barn, he found the man he was looking for.

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