Page 8 of The Winter Laird

“Aye,” he finally said. “’Tis the brooch.” He wordlessly held out his hand, and she reluctantly placed it in his palm. He turned it over, and then she saw him shiver as well.

Thebrooch?She turned to her aunt, the question in her eyes.

Evelyn smiled. “You rub it for good luck and a blessed marriage as you walk down the aisle—or run, in the case of some of our ancestors. That’s why it’s so smooth. It’s our family legacy.”

“Ah. So that’s why Reilly looks so ill. It’s meant for weddings,” she joked as Reilly continued to stare at it.

His eyes met hers, and she immediately stopped her joking. He looked stricken.

“Reilly—” she said.

He shook his head once, then looked at Evelyn. “Tell her the story. The legacy.”

Evelyn frowned at him, but then smiled at Brianagh. “It’s one that we pass down to each generation, and I do love this story. Until you came into my life, I didn’t think I’d ever get to tell anyone, as you know the boys would never care to hear it.” Both she and Bri rolled their eyes together, then burst into a fit of giggles.

“Evelyn!” Reilly barked. “The story.”

“Relax!” Brianagh exclaimed. “We don’t have to leave until tonight. There’s plenty of time. Don’t be so grumpy, you big oaf.”

“Thank you,” Evelyn replied with a regal nod of her head. Reilly just scowled, gave the brooch back to Brianagh, and then sat back down on the bed and glowered.

Brianagh returned her attention to her aunt. “So…family legacy. I’m all ears. You know how I love happy endings.”

* * *

As she pouredherself and Evelyn a cup of tea, Brianagh felt the weight of the brooch in her pocket. It was pretty heavy for its size, but it wasn’t uncomfortable—it was quite the opposite. It gave her a feeling of security.

Odd.

She sat down and slid the cup to her aunt, then leaned forward, her eyes sparkling. “Okay. Spill.”

“Where’s mine?” Reilly asked.

Evelyn and Bri didn’t even acknowledge him.

“It’s been said that once, a very long time ago, a curse was put on the O’Rourkes.”

Brianagh nearly rubbed her hands in glee. She loved this tale already.

“However, being as we’re Irish, things are never as they seem. Our clan at the time—”

“When was this?” Bri interrupted.

“Oh, before recorded history, I’m sure. No one knows exactly when. The Fates—you know, like the ones in history, the three old women—decreed that the O’Rourke clan would be the time passage keepers. One family member from each generation is given the ability to move time itself, but only for the greater good.”

“Obviously,” Brianagh agreed. “But what’s the ‘greater good’ entail?”

“Do you never stop asking questions?” Reilly asked, joining them with his own cup.

“Something not for personal gain, I’d assume,” Evelyn replied with a shrug. “Let me get through the story. You’ll miss your flight if you keep asking questions.”

“Sorry.”

“So, the family has this legacy of time-traveling. The O’Rourkes whispered it, ensuring that it was more feared than revered. The clan, you can imagine, had a very difficult time securing husbands for the women, but this only strengthened us, as was intentional. Only the bravest warriors married an O’Rourke.”

“Bravest or daftest, depending which side of the O’Rourke border you’re on,” Reilly muttered.

“Anyway,” Evelyn continued, “the O’Rourkes started time-traveling only at a specified point in the future. Well, our past. But the Fates’ future.”

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