Page 54 of Hold a Candle

“Here now, what’s wrong with ye two,” Angus bellowed, coming around to help Poppy out of the truck cab.

Jamie hurried to the back of Angus’s truck and laid the tailgate down. Immediately, both dogs jumped into the truck and rushed to the spare supply box Angus kept covered under a tarp near the front of the truck. They were barking and growling for all they were worth.

The commotion was bringing Darro, Dal, Pauley, and a few others flying towards them to see what was going on.

Angus came around and stood there scratching his head. “Bo, Misty, settle down,” he ordered, but the dogs started pulling at the tarp and shaking it in their teeth.

A high-pitched squeal suddenly emanated from the box. “Call them off, call them off! They got my shoe!”

Darro’s firm command rang out in the early evening air. “Bo! Misty! Heel!”

The dogs immediately stopped and sat on their haunches, growling. Their gaze didn’t waver from the box.

“Whoever ye are, come out of there right now,” Darro ordered. “If ye have a weapon, I suggest ye throw it out first or I’ll sic the dogs back on ye.”

“Okay, okay, just keep the dogs off me,” whimpered a scared voice.

“Belton?” Luca asked tentatively.

“Luca? Ye out there?”

“Belton! What are ye doing here?” Luca climbed into the truck and pulled the tarp off the young man inside. “How did ye find me?”

The lad with the bright reddish hair peeked above the box, his blue eyes watering slightly. “Everyone knows where ye are, Luca,” he hissed. “There’s a contract out on ye.”

Dal leaped into the truck behind Luca and grabbed Belton by the arm and dragged him upright in the box. The dogs growled more ominously and Belton shrank back.

“What are ye talking about Belton,” Pauley spat at him. “What contract? Who has a contract on my son?”

Belton shrank back down and looked fearfully around. “They could be watching,” he hissed. “Ye can’t let them see me or they will know I failed my assignment,” he cried miserably.

“All right, that’s enough,” Darro ordered firmly. “Luca...Dal...bring Belton into the barn where we can question him in private. I don’t want him in the house. As of right now, we are on red alert. Angus, make it happen...discreetly. And cripes, someone get Belton a hat to cover that beacon of hair!”

“My fishing hat is in that box, Luca,” Angus ordered. “Get it on the lad and the three of ye hop on out of my truck.”

“What about the dogs?” Belton whined, terrified.

“The dog’s will no attack ye unless I give the order,” Darro replied. “Bo! Misty! Friend,” he ordered. “Now, heel.”

The dogs immediately jumped out of the back of the truck and stood panting by Darro, one on each side.

Belton’s jaw dropped open as Dal stuffed the fishing hat over Belton’s curls and he stood up.

“Whether or not ye are a friend remains to be seen,” Darro added sternly. He strode over to Lucerne. “Honey, take Poppy, Delilah and Corey inside, but ye don’t have to go to the saferoom just yet. Dal and Henry will guard the house front and back. Lock the doors and wait for more information. Do ye have yer phone on ye and charged?”

Lucerne’s face flushed. “Um...yeah...kind of.”

His eyebrow shot up. “Kind of? Either ye do or ye don’t. Which is it?”

“I have it, but it’s nae charged,” she confessed. “I’ll put it on the charger in the kitchen while I’m working on the food for tonight.”

“What’s a contract, Uncle Darro?” Corey’s little voice quavered uncertainly, his gaze lancing between Luca and Belton.

Darro took a moment to pick Corey up and reassure him. “Nothing to worry about right now, laddie,” he said gently. “Ye go with yer mother, Poppy, and yer sister and protect them.” He sat Corey back down on the ground and pointed him towards Lucerne who held out her hand with a smile.

His little face took on a determined look. “Aye, Uncle Darro, I can do that.” He marched away towards the women.

Jamie was proud of the little lad. He had the makings of a fine Scottish gentleman. He glanced over at Pauley. She was trembling with anger and fear. “Steady lass,” he murmured, putting his arm around her waist and steering her towards the barn.

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