Page 45 of Hold a Candle

“What did he say?” Angus asked curiously.

“He wants to know if ye want to become a constable and be fast-tracked to deputy,” she snorted.

“They couldn’t make enough donuts to keep Angus full,” Darro replied, his eyes twinkling at his second in command.

“Samhain festival champion three years in a row,” Angus retorted, glowering at Darro.

“That’s because no one else could bring themselves to eat all those donuts made to look like eyeballs, intestines, and other such nonsense,” Darro teased. “Lucerne said she doesn’t want to go anywhere near that contest this year with her pregnancy. Eyeballs with blood-colored filling oozing out of them when ye bite into one will have her heaving on the spot.”

They all chuckled and then Luca stood up. “If we’re finished here, I’d like to get back to help Dal with the barn cat that’s having kittens.”

“Kind of late for kittens, isn’t it?” Pauley inquired.

Luca nodded eagerly. “Dal says kitten season usually ends in September. Kittens can be born anytime actually, but they usually run between April and September, so this kitten mum is running a bit late. The mum is an orangish cat with golden eyes, so I’m curious to see what the babies will look like.”

“Well, that may tell ye who the daddy is,” Angus replied with a chuckle. “Then again, maybe not.”

“Looks like the lad is really enjoying his time with Dal,” Jamie remarked as Luca sped out the door.

“It would seem so,” Pauley agreed. “This has been a good opportunity for him. I thank ye again, Darro. And of course, Angus.” She smiled at both men as they stood up.

“Yer quite welcome,” Darro replied. “He’s a fine lad, I might add, and has been doing well.”

“That’s good to hear,” she replied with a smile.

The sound of feet running down the hallway alerted them all to incoming children. Delilah and Corey swept into the room chattering with excitement.

Corey was the first to speak. “We are carving pumpkins and turnips in the kitchen. Mum is helping us decorate them. See?” He held up a turnip that had been carved with eyes, mouth, and black yarn for hair. “Mine is a witch’s skull!”

Jamie knew that Corey was completely comfortable with calling Lucerne mum, but Delilah still held back a bit. He could understand that. She could remember her parents while Corey had been too young to remember much at all. Either way, he considered them both his step-grandchildren. “That’s a fine-looking skull ye have there, laddie,” he enthused.

Delilah looked slightly down her nose at the skull. “Mine is a pumpkin, and it’s too heavy for me to carry around,” she informed them. “But ye can see it in the kitchen.”

“Ye have been carving turnips and pumpkins all week,” Darro said with a chuckle. “How many do ye plan to have?”

Corey’s lip quavered. “Enough to light the way for mum and dad to get in the door for their snacks tomorrow night,” he informed them with innocent blue eyes. “I don’t want them falling on the steps.”

A shiver ran down Jamie’s back. “Aye...well...I’m sure they will appreciate that.” He could feel Pauley looking askance at him but he ignored it. The day of the dead coming awake to share food and gifts from their living relatives was not a Celtic celebration he took part in. He glanced over at Darro, his eyebrow lifting in silent question. Keeping the doors open on All Hallow’s Eve might not be the best option considering they were guarding Luca.

“We’ll talk about that later, Corey,” Darro said, taking his little hand. “Come on, let’s go see Delilah’s pumpkin.”

Jamie glanced down at his watch. Going on 4:00 p.m. “Do ye want to take a walk before supper?” he asked Pauley.

“Aye, that would be nice,” she replied, checking her cell phone.

Jamie took her hand and led her through the kitchen where they admired Delilah’s pumpkin, then spoke to Lucerne. “I’m taking Pauley on a little walk around the property,” he said.

“Unless ye need me to help cook?” Pauley asked.

Lucerne waved her hand and smiled. “Ye two go on, I have dinner under control already. Ye could probably do with some fresh air after being in the study for the last hour.”

“Stay away from the woods,” Angus teased. “The Ghillie Dhu doesna like anyone to come into his territory. Especially after dark.”

Jamie just rolled his eyes. “Come on, lass.”

***

PAULEY WALKED IN COMPANIONABLEsilence with Jamie around the circle drive and into the tree-lined lane that went out to the main road. Bo and Misty gamboled around them, their paws sending autumn leaves from the shrubs and other trees swirling around their feet as they ran.

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