"And good riddance to you," Moya shook her tiny fist at the pagan. "I pray you find some time machine and leave us forever."
~ * ~
Casey watched intently as a figure stepped from a shadow hand outstretched. "Who is there?"
"Ah, sweet Casey, cupid has touched my heart. I cannot sleep without thoughts of you and when my eyes close, my dreams are of you. It is I."
Casey giggled then wished she hadn't. "Kelly?"
"Sweet Casey, you mock me and yet I find I am going against the wishes of generations by coming here this evening. The arrow piercing my heart causes pain that will not vanish and a terrifying fear I will never see you again. Come down and walk with me."
"I would never make fun of you. I--" she couldn't profess her undying love. "What are you doing here?" But he'd said he come to her. The part about cupid was touching and so romantic. She closed her eyes, counting to ten and praying this wasn't her imagination working overtime. He wanted her to walk with him. He risked his life for her. Happiness exploded inside sending warm sweet shivers of delight throughout. "Did someone cast a spell on you?"
"What does it look like?" he asked, putting one foot on the trellis and reaching high with one hand as if he might be meaning to climb to the top.
"It appears you are a wee bit tipsy. If not, you are insane," she told him, keeping her voice as low as she could. It would not do for Sarah to hear him out here. While her brother might choose not to tell on her, Sarah would run straight to her mother.
"Perhaps I am tipsy. Perhaps I am under your spell of enchantment. Or I could be crazy--crazy in love. Do you want me to climb up and see how sturdy the trellis is?" His lopsided grin touched her heart.
"Of course not. If the trellis did not fall, you would assuredly be scratched all over from the rose bushes." He was so handsome, so perfect, his eyes so warm. When he looked at her, it seemed as though he saw nothing but her.
"You care…" His whispered words floated on the night wind.
"I would not wish to pick up the pieces if you fell, nor would I want to explain what a Shaunasey is doing at the bottom of an O'Connell balcony with a broken neck." Her heart fluttered with excitement. Thoughts of running out to meet him and walking in the gardens flashed through her head but were quickly put aside. The threat her brother would bring their father into this was very real and potent. If she had some idea of what the feud was all about, she could fight this and put the anger aside. She had no reason to call this man her enemy when all she wished for was to call him--my lover.
"Meet me," he told her. "If you dare," the challenge, undeniable, hovered on the air, real and intoxicating.
"Meet you--where--I cannot." Her pulse raced and her heart thundered so hard against her breast she had to put her hand there in hopes of taming it. She turned from him, wondering why she meant to defy all that was proper to find some way to meet this man. He meant nothing to her. She didn't know him, she reminded herself. But oh, how she wanted to know him--know him in every way.
"You're afraid. I can understand. But I don't want to hurt you or scare you," his voice gentled and she fell deeper in love.
She sneezed suddenly as the air filled with strange tiny golden specks and brushed away a light tickle that floated across her cheek. "My brother…" her words trailed off into the darkness of the night. Of course I'm afraid. Who knew what hornets would be stirred up if she met him and they were caught. If she met him once, would that be enough for a lifetime of dreams?
"Mine too. They don't think this is a good idea. They are right. If you are too afraid…" He backed away, one step at a time until she could barely see him in the dim light cast by her solitary candle.
"I am not afraid," she countered. "I understand this is not prudent or wise, but I--something happened last Sunday. I don't know what it was. Maybe it was just the need to understand the feud. Maybe it was something more. I have to find out or I will regret not understanding my feelings for the rest of my life." Stupid girl, of course it was something more. Your knees turned to jelly, and your insides flamed with the heat from his touch. Stupid girl, your knees are always jelly.
"Then meet me at two o'clock behind the old church near the town square." He'd moved closer and she saw what was quickly becoming her favorite lopsided grin. "You are my sun and my moon," he said softly. "You are my reason for living."
"I…" she began then stopped to think. He was so romantic. Perhaps he was using her or just seeing if she would be one more conquest. She had always been an impulsive person. But was she also being too forward? She wasn't sure. She'd never had a beau, not a real one. Only the kind who pulled her hair and teased her unmercifully.
"Please," he said extending his hand upward as if asking her to climb down right now and run away with him.
"All right," she told him cautiously. Knowing with her bad luck, someone, probably her brother, would find out about this. Knowing also she had to meet him. If she didn't pursue her feelings for Kelly, she might regret it the rest of her life.
He grinned broadly. "Two o'clock," he told her. "Don't be late. I might not be able to wait for you."
"You don't be late," she told him. Knowing she would wait until dark if she had to in order to get away. And she prayed if it came to that, he would wait for her
"Casey? Casey, where are you? Do I hear voices?" Sarah called from somewhere behind her.
Casey swallowed the lump of fear in her throat.
"I've got to go," she said to the darkness. He had already disappeared into the night.
~ * ~
You're a bloody fool, Kelly Shaunasey--a bloody fool. She's not going to show up here. There's no way. He kicked at a tuft of grass and gazed at the churning waves below him. A storm approached, the sky darkening as he stared at the whitecaps. A whale rose, spouted and dipped below the ocean. The sound carried and Kelly smiled at the sight. Seagulls floated on the air currents and their cries rose from the ocean.
"Kelly," the voice was soft and uncertain. He turned on a heel to gaze at the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen.
"Casey," he pushed her name and the air from his lungs. Surprised and thrilled at the same time at her appearance. "Casey, you came…"
"I told you I would. Did you think I would be leadin' you on?" She walked toward him, her hair flying behind her in a blaze of red. The breeze lifting her skirts around her ankles--the smile on her face angelic.
"I didn't think you would make it here. Did anyone follow you?" he asked looking around her, half expecting to see her brother or her father, pistols in hand. He could not believe his good luck but now that she was here with him, what was he to do?
"Of course not."
~ * ~
Moya chuckled beneath her breath, the laughter sounding like soft tinkling bells to Oran. "Of course, foolish humans, your faerie godmother and godfather followed. We couldn't let you make a mess of this first meeting. And here you are wondering what to do with the girl. You will be needin' some help from the two of us."
"Do you think we are doing too much?" Moya asked. "I wouldn't want things to move too quickly."
Oran snorted. "Too quickly? How on earth? If we weren't here helping them out, things wouldn't move at all. They'd be sixty before they finally found each other. I'm thinking today would be a good day for the first kiss."
"Sixty…you don't really think they are that bad?" Moya fluttered her wings, "Oh, yes, a kiss, a very sweet first kiss.
Oran could do little but shake his head and groan, remembering all the times they'd tried unsuccessfully to help them find each other. He tossed a load of pixie dust in the air. The wind caught the specks. They swirled and danced on the afternoon breeze, settling on the desired target.
"May the fates be with you and may you each take one more, and please make it quick, giant step to falling in love with each other. Never letting anyone, anything or any other fae creature get in your way," Oran said as he thought about Conn and Florence.
~ * ~
Th
e ocean churned and danced below them, waves crashing against the rocks and the sky was lined with pewter grey clouds. Sea gulls hovered on the wind skirting the rocky ledge and the old church's bell tolled three times.
Casey wrapped her arms around herself as she looked out at the sea. Kelly pulled her close, wrapping her in his sheltering embrace, wishing to do more than hold her.
"Let's walk," Kelly said, refusing to let her go. They followed a path down to the ocean. Tiny droplets of rain misted around them and the sun hung in a foggy golden orb dropping slowly to the horizon.
Resting her head against his chest, she wrapped an arm around his waist. "You know I've never been too steady on my feet."
"I gathered that the other day when you steamrolled into me." His hand tightened on her shoulder when she stumbled on a small rock.
"Pick up your feet, Casey," he heard her mumble.
"I won't let anything happen to you," he told her. Kelly felt the most compelling need to make his statement true. He wanted to protect her and keep all harm from her forever.
Casey laughed. "If you mean it, then you have taken on a daunting task. I am the most uncoordinated person on the face of this earth."
"Doesn't matter," he whispered close to her ear. Roses. "Hmm---"
"What?" she asked, stopping to look at him. They stood on top of huge boulder. The incoming tide sent waves of crashing mist, rising from the ocean.
"Roses, I smell roses," he said. Ocean mist surrounded them. He backed up a step. "Careful," he said, moving cautiously toward higher ground.
Casey slipped on the wet rocks and seaweed. He held on tight, realizing the waves were crashing all too high and they were far closer than they should have been.
~ * ~
Moya's wings turned gold in the ocean mist, her cheeks flushing to an angry crimson. "Does he think to woo her or kill her?"
"Calm down, Moya. See--he's put her on high ground. They'll be just fine."
"That's a fine start. She's nearly drenched to the bone. He's lucky she didn't slip into a tide pool. Doesn't he know yet she's accident prone?" Moya perched on a slender piece of saw grass, watching the scene unfold.
Oran made large lazy circles around the pair, trying for the power of suggestion, he whispered, "Kiss the girl, kiss the girl, kiss the girl…" Oran grinned, his ploy seemed to be working. "Kiss the girl," he whispered again.
~ * ~
Casey stood in front of Kelly, his arms around her waist the base of his chin resting on the top of her head. He felt as if he heard little voices in his head. Of course he wanted to kiss Casey but there was a right time and a wrong time. She was so young and inexperienced he didn't want to scare her away. But bloody hell, he wanted to kiss her and more.
He swallowed the lump in his throat. His fingers seemed to have a will of their own, making little circles on her arms. He enfolded her hands in his, brought one to his lips and placed a gentle kiss on top of her hand. Slowly he turned it over and kissed her palm. He felt her warm shiver to the depth of his soul.
Sea salt stung his nostrils, roses permeated beyond the smells of the ocean and into every sense he possessed. A soft breeze swirled around them and the sun glowed through the low hanging clouds.
"Kelly?"
"Hmmm, lass," Kelly said, his mind in a fog, his pulse racing and his heart pounding. He was thinkin' surely cupid's arrow had pierced his heart, the potion more powerful than anything.
Casey turned in his arms and gazed at him with her gorgeous eyes. Her skin was flawless, her lips moist, begging for his kiss.
"Do you believe in love at first sight?" she asked a whimsical little smile on her face. Demurely, she lowered her lashes then slowly opened them.
"I do now," he said, his voice husky. He'd never thought to be smitten, never believed in love, let alone love at first sight. Liam would laugh at him. He would call him a fool. But his was a love that was doomed.
She rose, their lips nearly meeting, her gaze upon his, potent and strong. Her fingers played with the hair at the base of his neck. He moved forward, closer so as to brush her lips with his own.
"Kelly! Kelly! Where are you...?"
Chapter Four
"I'm busy," Kelly muttered to Liam. "Go plague someone else." Kelly's fingers tightened around Casey's waist. Wind whistled overhead and it seemed a lightning storm brewed on the horizon. A shriek of wind blasted the couple.
Startled, Casey gasped and stepped away from Kelly. She felt the flush of heat rise to her cheeks. "Liam," she whispered. "What?" but she felt as if she intruded on the conversation about to take place. She saw the angry blaze in Kelly's eyes, and knew he wasn't happy with his brother's intrusion. She wanted the world to know how she felt about Kelly, but it seemed everything was against them.
"Kelly, you've got to hear this. You too, Casey. This foolishness has to stop. The two of you must come to your senses," Liam warned.
"I'm not going to let a hundred year feud keep me from seeing Casey. Perhaps we should delve deeper and find out what has made our families enemies," Kelly said. "It might be something as ridiculous as snatching the last brick of cheese from another's hands."
"No one can tell us what the argument is," Casey turned on Liam, her hands clenched. "No," she said. "No we won't stop seeing each other, and yes, I will uncover the truth." More determined than ever, Casey's fists clenched and her jaw tightened.
"It's not just the feud," Liam said quickly. "It's about religion and politics and…" He shook his head, closing his eyes for a moment as if in thought.
To Casey, Liam sounded frustrated and angry. She knew he wanted what was best for Kelly but he didn't know how they felt, couldn't understand. Maybe she couldn't either. She barely knew Kelly but she loved him. She knew she wanted to spend the rest of her life with him. Everyone would call her daft if she told them how she felt and what she yearned for.
"If that's all you wanted, you can leave now," Kelly said seeming to brush Liam's concern to the back of his mind. "I won't, can't adhere to your wishes." Kelly ran his fingers through his hair, gazing toward the ocean.
Liam's expression was grim as he shook his head at the pair. "There's going to be a fight in town. Florence has issued an ultimatum to your family, Casey."
"What?" Her heart lurched. Patrick would never let a challenge go unmet. He was hot-headed to a fault. "What was it about?"
"No!" Casey felt another surge of heat and fury strike.
Liam turned to Casey, anger written in every line of his face as well as his foot-planted stance. "Patrick has taken the challenge as a personal insult. He says this has gone beyond what is polite," Liam said. "It seems he insulted your character. Had something to do with your seeming infatuation with my brother. So--"
"So it is a challenge against the Shaunasey's too," Kelly said, stepping forward with fists clenched tight. "I will not have Casey demeaned by the likes of Florence McAffe or any other so called gentleman."
Casey stepped forward. "Take me there," she said. "I'm going to put a stop to this." She would not have anyone fighting over her. Her honor? Honor be damned, she could care less. As soon as this gossip blew over, everyone would be fighting over someone or something else. She meant to put a stop to this. She would find a way to put the feud to rest. Loving Kelly for the rest of her life was all she wanted.
"It's no place for a lady," Liam said matter-of-factly. "We'll join ranks with your brother." He winked, "After all it's not Sunday. We can fight a common foe for the good of all."
"You're going home. Liam, see she gets there," Kelly said. "Let me take care of this. I need for you to be safe and in one piece."
"Why Kelly Shaunasey, you've no right to be tellin' me what I can and cannot do. Be off with you. I'm not going home when my brother is about to get in a fight over my honor. And when you seem hell-bent to join in. I can defend my own honor, thank you." Frustration ground away at her temper. She watched them full of themselves and their prowess. Her heart lurched, shivers spiraled down her ba
ck and a strange darkness engulfed her soul.
Liam looked a bit sheepish, staring at the ground for a moment before looking back to Casey. All awkwardness vanished in a moment so fast Casey wondered if she wasn't mistaken. "It's not really a fight. I haven't spoken the whole truth." He stared downward at the churning sea, hitting the rocks below.
"What is it then?" she demanded, stepping forward and pointing her finger at Liam. "Tell me the truth--all of it."
"Florence has challenged Patrick to a duel. When he refused, Florence called him a coward. Of course Patrick didn't take to the name calling. I saw the flash in his eyes and they seemed to smolder as if Patrick wanted to fight, as if he there was something eatin' away at his very soul," Liam said.
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