Page 28 of Treachery in the Highlands
My grandparents hug me fiercely and kiss my cheeks.They also fuss over me as if I'm a bairn, cooing and blubbering.This is nothing new, however.I love them to pieces.They can blubber all they like and I willnae complain.
"Are you sure you're okay, honey?"Grandmother asks."Your father is right.That man does look like a demon, with that goatee and wild hair."
I can't help but laugh."Grandmother, Joey does not look like a demon!He just has a different style than what you're used to."I lower my voice."Besides, I think he's quite fetching."
"Oh, I didn't say he wasn't handsome.The most dangerous ones usually are."
"Norma," Grandfather chides gently, "don't go putting ideas in the girl's head."
"I'm fairly certain those ideas are already there," Grandmother says with a knowing smile that makes my cheeks burn.
"Where is this mysterious time traveler now?"Grandfather asks, glancing around as if Joey might materialize from behind a tapestry.
"Father has him repairing the cellar door," I say, unable to keep the pride from my voice."Joey's surprisingly good with his hands."
Grandmother raises an eyebrow at that, and I feel my cheeks flush again.
"For building things," I clarify quickly."He's been here three days now.Father insists one harassing him endlessly."
"That's to be expected, honey.You are the only daughter of Kieran MacTaggart and Alyssa Vescovi."
"And how does your New York thief feel about manual labor?"Grandfather asks, his tone casual but his eyes shrewd.
"He hasnae complained once," I pronounce, and it's true.Joey has thrown himself into every task Father has assigned, from weapon sharpening to cellar repairs, with determination."I think he's trying to prove himself."
"To your father?"Grandmother asks, though her knowing smile suggests she already knows the answer.
"To all of us.But aye, mostly to Father."
The large, wooden outer door of the castle flies open, and Kieran MacTaggart stomps into the courtyard.He rakes his gaze over all of us.But his harshest glare is reserved for Joey."Sassenach, 'tis time we finished the discussion we had the other day with the entire family.Ahm glad Norma and Dale are here as well.Gather the aunts and meet me in the solar."
My heart lodges itself somewhere in my throat.The "discussion" Father refers to can only be about Joey's presence at Dùndubhan, and judging by the thunderous expression on his face, I'm not certain it will end well.
"Kieran," Grandmother says, stepping forward with that particular blend of deference and authority that only she can manage with my father."We've only just arrived.Perhaps we could---"
"Now," Father interrupts, his voice brooking no argument."The matter cannae wait."
Joey appears behind Father, his hands dirty from the cellar repairs, a smudge of dust across one cheek that somehow makes him even more appealing.Our eyes meet, and I try to convey reassurance I don't entirely feel.
"Should I make myself scarce?"Joey asks, wiping his hands on his borrowed trews."I'm getting pretty good at this home-repair stuff."
"You are coming with us, Joey Finnegan.Right now."
Chapter Eleven
Joey
The MacTaggarts have taken all the available normal chairs, leaving me with nothing to sit on except some kind of weird box that has spiky things shooting up from both sides.Oh, there's also a super uncomfortable engraved back.To top it off, I barely fit on this contraption, and my ass is already starting to hurt.Not sure what the medieval term is for this hard, wooden thing I'm sitting on.But hey, I'm used to bad furniture and the hard stares of angry men.Nothing Kieran MacTaggart says or does will tick me off.
Probably.
Two more people have entered the room.Kieran nods to the newcomers and introduces them."Joey, ye might as well know the names of these folk.Meet Dale and Norma Vescovi, Rachel's grandparents.Normally, the first daughter would be named after her mother's mother.But we altered that tradition for our lass.Alyssa chose the name---Rachel Morainn MacTaggart."
Alyssa smiles at her husband lovingly, then glances at me."Morainn was the first name of Kieran's mother who died a long time ago.She was from the Ross clan."
"Nice to meet you guys," I say to the gray-haired couple."Were you sucked into the past by magic too?"
"Sort of," Dale confirms."Kieran's aunts brought us here so we could be with Alyssa."
