by Vonnie Davis
Footsteps hurried up the steps and into the cabin. Kenzie pulled far enough away from Bryce to identify the men who filled the jet—Creighton, Ronan, Kendric, Earnan, Hamish, and Neilan. How had all these men traveled here so quickly to rescue her? Earnan carried his medical bag as he expertly inspected Bryce. He set the kit on a seat, opened it, and removed alcohol wipes. “Use these to clean off the blood. Kenzie, help him out of those blood-splattered coveralls. We need him cleaned up, and quickly.”
The elderly doctor pivoted toward Effie and pulled her into a tight embrace. Fer a split second, her widened eyes locked on Kenzie’s in shock. Then she closed them and, on an audible sigh, returned his hug.
Kendric knelt to examine the body. “His hands are empty. I didna want to explain a button or an earring in his clasp. No one touch anything. Am I clear?” He looked over at Effie. “Get out of those coveralls and use a couple of Earnan’s wet wipes. Your wig? Where is it?”
“In my bag, in the helicopter.” She unzipped and wiggled out of the baggy work clothes.
“The ‘wee’ weapon?” Kendric pierced her with a sharp glare.
Effie shrugged. “It has magically disappeared to the wizards who guard such things.”
Both pairs of coveralls were laid on the floor on top of each other and rolled up, with all the alcohol wipes and wrappers tucked neatly inside. Kendric looked to Creighton. “Yer our college track runner. Take this bundle to the helicopter, shove it under the floorboards where I keep tools, and bring back Effie’s wig.”
Creighton snatched the bundle. “Will do. Effie, where will I find yer wig?”
“In the outside pocket of my purse.”
He stopped before he stepped out of the cabin and pierced Bryce with a concerned gaze. “Are ye okay, brother?” Bryce nodded. “ʼTwas a fine job ye did. Damn, I’m proud of ye.”
Kendric, still in policeman’s mode, stood in front of Kenzie. “Yer lip is swollen. Did Fauste do that?”
“He backhanded me after I got smart with him.”
“How did he abduct you?” Kendric ran a hand down his face. “God, I canna imagine how I’m going to write up a report on all this.” He scowled at Effie and then chuckled. “Me superiors will put me on psychiatric leave for sure.”
“I had me car parked under a security light in the hospital parking lot. When I came out to go to the store, moths were flying around the light. One flew down and changed into Fauste. His Rolls-Royce was parked next to me car and he shoved me into it. I fought, but it all happened so quickly. Who would think a man could make himself into a moth?” The shudders of fear and terror began, as did her sobs. Within a heartbeat, Bryce had her enveloped in his arms.
“No more.” He extended an open hand in a stop gesture to Kendric. “Me sweet woman has been through enough.” He kissed her hair and forehead. “I willna allow her to experience any more pain. Not today. Talk to her tomorrow.” There was safety in Bryce’s arms. A security she’d never had before.
Creighton returned and handed Effie her wig. He slipped a knife in each of Bryce’s and Kenzie’s pockets. “Ye’ll both ken when ye’ll need these. Call airport security, Kendric. We’re ready.”
“While we wait fer the officers, will ye allow me to put yer wig on ye, Effie? A good Scottish man lives to take care of his woman, and I’ve decided to woo ye.” Earnan gently tugged her hairpiece over her bald head. Then he wove arthritic fingers through her curls. He removed a knife from his pants pocket. “Here’s yer weapon, me beloved.”
“Well now, we’ve got a lot of talking to do before we reach the ‘beloved’ stage.” Effie palmed Earnan’s cheek. “But I’m willing to give it a go once I find my love beads.”
Within minutes, security boarded the jet. Kendric reported how the dead man had abducted his cousin’s fiancée with plans to fly her to Romania against her will. How he had a sick obsession with Kenzie, slicing her throat and injuring her at every opportunity. He explained how the eight of them had flown in helicopters to find and rescue her.
The pilot opened the door and stepped out of the cockpit. “Sounds like we can take off soon, boss. Security…” His gaze widened as it swept the crowd in the cabin, and when it settled on the dead body, he smiled. “So, the bastard finally got what was coming to him. He was evil as evil can be. I worked for him because he threatened to rape my wife and daughter if I didn’t.”
Head of security looked around, his eyes narrowed. “So, who stabbed him?”
“I did,” everyone but the pilot said in unison. Each pulled out a knife to show how he or she had committed the deed.
“Ye…ye all did?” The man pointed to Fauste’s body. “I see three wounds and nine people each holding a knife. None of which look big enough to make these cuts.” The head of security placed his hands on his hips. “So I’m asking again. Who killed this man?”
Each of them reiterated, “I killed him.”
—
A couple hours later, all nine “murderers” were flying home in the two helicopters they’d used to fly into Glasgow. Kenzie sat curled on Bryce’s lap. He held her legs off his injured thigh and she held her hand over the part of him she owned—his heart. He couldna bear being separated from her again.
“Earnan? Do I need to go back to the hospital? Canna I just go home and rest in me own bed?” He’d insist Kenzie stay with him. They could sleep every night spooned together, naked and sated.
“How’s the pain level?”
Bryce grinned. “Do ye really think ye’d get an honest answer from me about that?” At the doctor’s glare, he sobered. “That shot ye gave me must still be working. I dinna feel a thing. I’m holding me woman close, so all I feel are peace and happiness.”
“I’ll be by tomorrow afternoon to check on ye and give ye a schedule fer your physical therapy. Ye’ll need to strengthen yer thigh again.”
A sleepy voice entered the conversation. “Believe me, Doc. I’ve got all the therapy this man needs.”
What his love spoke was truth. After these past fourteen hours, he needed her so badly he ached. He looked at his wounded witch, with her swollen mouth and all her stitches. A more beautiful woman he’d never seen.
“Cousin, what are the chances of your landing this bird at Matheson Lodge?”
Kendric nodded. “Can do. Call our wee sweet bairn and tell her to start watching the sky fer us in about thirty minutes. Doc, ye and Effie want me to drop ye off too?”
“Nay. She still has tests scheduled on her heart later today.” The old man glanced back at the snoring American. “I want to be with her when she goes through that. Then I’ll drive her home to Iverson with some strict orders to rest.”
Kendric chuckled. “Good luck with telling her anything. I bet she was a hippie in her younger days.”
“That she was. She told me all about her experiences at Woodstock.” Earnan glanced at her with affection in his eyes. “I’ve never met anyone like her.”
A small group stood at the base of the steps of the castle-turned-lodge. Colleen jumped up and down and waved so hard, it was a wonder her wee arm didna drop off. Kendric set the bird down effortlessly on the lawn of the lodge and Paisley ran to the sliding door. “Welcome home, you two.” She hugged them both and helped Bryce make the leap to the ground. “She leaned in and yelled at Kendric. “Mind taking me along? I want to be with Gram when she has her tests. Creigh can bring me home afterward.” No sooner had she asked her question than she climbed into Bryce’s now vacant seat and buckled up.
Both he and Kenzie ducked under the spinning rotors and, once clear, he held out his arms fer his little girl. “Where’s Da’s sweetest luv?” She squealed and ran, leaping into his embrace.
“I’ll go talk to yer mum and fill her in while ye and Leena have some huggy time.” Kenzie strode to his mum, and their heads inclined toward each other.
“What’s this about ‘Leena’?” he teased his daughter, who had coiled herself around him like a boa constrictor.
“It’s m
e mum’s special name for her daughter. Our secret name.” She kissed his chin. “But I guess ye can hear it—we’re going to be a family soon. And maybe I’ll get a baby brother or sister. I been praying real hard on that one.” She nodded, the auburn curls he loved like crazy bouncing in the process. “I missed ye so much.”
“Och, me sweetest luv, I missed ye too. That hospital has stupid rules about children not coming to visit.” She glanced up at the sky, no doubt waiting fer him to growl at her about her tantrum yesterday. “I heard ye threw a bit of a temper fit over those rules.”
“Aye, but…but I promised Mummy I’d try real hard not to act that way again. I think I made her faint. I overheard Cook Edweena talking about it. I dinna like kenning I made me mum sick.”
“Well, here’s the thing. Both of us need a nap. The doctor gave us medicine that makes us sleepy. I havna had mine yet because I wanted to stay awake long enough to see ye and to get me special kisses. I’m thinking tonight would be a good movie night. Cartoons with no explosions or shootings. Kenzie still gets awful headaches from noises. Can ye pick two special ones?”
Her face brightened. “Trust me. I know just the cartoons. Will there be popcorn?”
“Aye, and apple juice.”
“Can we watch them in your sitting room…alone…just like a little family?”
“Aye, luv. After dinner. Now, Kenzie and I both need to get to bed. We’ll be sleeping together from now on.”
She slid down. “Okay.” Her arms went around his legs, and he winced. “I missed ye, Da. I’m going to pick out the movies now.” She charged fer the house.
He limped toward the steps, where the women were talking. “I need to lie down, and I ken ye do too, sweetheart. Mum, I just told Colleen that Kenzie will be sleeping with me from now on. Our little girl was fine with it. I willna be kept apart from Kenzie again.”
“I understand. Your da wasna one to wait either.” A faint blush crept across her cheeks.
He kissed his mum and reached fer Kenzie’s hand. “Ye’ve never seen me bedroom since I moved into a separate wing after Colleen was born. I’ve got a big bed and a shower large enough fer two and a lock on me door so powerful even a nosy urchin like me daughter canna pick it.”
They made slow progress up the steps. “Did ye ever ken ye’ve got a lock too, sweetheart. It requires a special key.” He gave her a saucy wink. “And I’ve got just the key it needs.” His voice lowered to a sexual purr. “Let’s take a hot shower before we crawl into bed.”
Her steps faltered. “I thought ye said ye needed sleep.”
His hand swept across her behind. “Aye. But first I need some of that special therapy ye talked about earlier on the helicopter.”
She lowered her voice too. “Och. And would that be a blow job or a quick round of sex?”
“Sweetheart, ye ken how sick I’ve been. I’m thinking both…”
Chapter 23
June 23rd—A Midsummer’s Eve Wedding
Now that the threat of Fauste was gone, Kenzie tried to curtail some of the ancient protection preparations fer the wedding, but once the Matheson clan had their hearts set on something, there was no changing their plans. Everyone seemed so excited over every detail; she couldna hurt their feelings, even though the number of guests had somehow grown from forty to sixty.
So, here she sat, in Creighton and Paisley’s private quarters, having Effie and Mary Kate curl her hair with much prattling and fussing over each strand. Why couldna she wear her hair in its normal curly style instead of piled on the top and back of her head in a thick plaid knot? Along the hairline and above each ear, tendrils were curled with a curling iron. Effie called the wisps “sexy” as she sprayed a cloud of hairspray over each blasted curl. The spray tickled Kenzie’s nose and made her sneeze.
Aunt Una saw to everyone’s gowns. She was proud of her creations, so she was, and rightfully so. Both Mary Kate and Paisley wore navy, high-waisted gowns with off-the-shoulder short sleeves. Matheson navy and forest green plaid sashes covered the waistlines and tied in the back, which worked great fer Paisley’s growing pregnancy. The gowns ended mid-calf, and both attendants wore ballet slippers made of matching plaid leather. Una good-naturedly refused to tell how she’d dyed the leather that way. She was in high giggling spirits, and Kenzie feared her aunt had been nipping at her own private homemade brew of whisky, especially since her cheeks were especially ruddy.
Fiona had bathed Colleen and washed her hair before she burst into the sitting area, ready to be part of the dressing ritual. She was like the warm southern wind twirling and blowing from room to room, working herself into a state.
“Leena, could you come help Mumma?”
The five-year-old cyclone blew to her side. “What do ye need?”
Kenzie gathered a small black velvet bag from the table. “I need ye to hold me bridal earrings. Take good care of them, for one day ye’ll be wearing them at yer wedding.”
The child’s eyes widened. “Really?”
“Aye. Open yer hands and hold them side by side and I’ll place them in your palms. These are all I have left of me mumma. They once belonged to her mum, my grandma. I never got to meet me grandma, like ye’ve had the honor of meeting yers.” She glanced at Fiona and smiled. “That makes these pearl and diamond drops extra special. They are very old and dear to me heart.” She shook the velvet bag into her new daughter’s hands. “Look at them. Arna they beautiful, Leena?”
“Aye, they are.” Colleen held one of the drops high to catch the waning sunlight. “They are the prettiest things I ever saw. I wish I had a pair.”
“You may wear them to yer wedding, if ye like. But for today”—Kenzie picked up a velvet box—“I bought these little earrings to match the amethyst necklace for ye because ye are me flower girl and me special, special Leena.”
The child very carefully dropped the heirlooms into the black bag, opened the lid to the box, and gasped. “These are for me? Truly? I…I never had earrings before. And there are sparkly stones around them.”
So much happiness and utter joy from a child. ʼTis why God kept giving people children, Kenzie was sure, for tender moments like this. “These are made for ladies whose ears arna pierced. They screw on and dinna hurt yer earlobes. Can I put them on ye and ye tell me when they start to pinch a little?” Once the earrings were attached, Kenzie tapped the matching amethyst necklace on her new daughter’s tiny neck. She held out a mirror. “What do ye think?”
Bless the child, she pursed her lips as she stared into the mirror, turning her head from side to side and gently touching her jewelry. Slowly she went from woman to woman to show off her new favorite things.
“Ye have a way with her.” Fiona nodded. “Ye calm her and make her feel so important.” She eased the child’s forest green dress, styled like that of the women’s gowns, over Colleen’s shining auburn curls, nodding and muttering “Aye, child” every time Colleen ordered her to be careful of her new jewelry. Fiona tied her Matheson plaid bow and Una presented her with her matching ballet slippers.
Kenzie took a few moments to use the bathroom. Her nerves had her bladder in high gear among other things. She returned with a handful of tissues to place on the dressing table.
Dusk approached and voices drifted upward through the open windows: Guests had arrived. Kenzie had expected jitters in her stomach, but, while she had some, the upcoming ceremony wasna the cause.
Because, in the middle of all this joyous anticipation, all Kenzie could do was stare at the Kleenex that held the stick. Effie motioned everyone over. “I can’t take this another minute. Pull back the top tissue so we can look at that pee stick.”
“What’s a pee stick? My pee doesna get stuck anywhere. Should it, Mummy?” Oh, sweet Lord, where did this child come up with all these questions? Kenzie was going to be sick. She was so high-strung, between the wedding and being so tired and Colleen’s constant chatter and the minute details of a wedding, she almost wished it was over. Why hadna they ju
st eloped? Now this pee stick business that wouldna go away.
Her hand trembled as she lifted the top tissue and saw the blue plus sign. The feminine cheers and hand clapping were nearly deafening. Those doctors were wrong. Her lynx was right. There would be more bairns. She laid her head against Fiona’s blue gown and cried.
“Why is Mummy crying? Why isna she happy?”
Fiona extended her arm and drew the child into the embrace. “Your mummy is happy. She just found out she’s pregnant. That means she’s going to have a bairn. She didna think she could, but she got a special surprise today. The stick is something a woman pees on, and if a plus sign comes up, that means she’s going to have a bairn.”
“Oh, that. Guess you can blame me for this one. I’ve been praying for a baby brother or sister every night.” Her blue eyes opened wide. “I mean, I prayed really, really hard.”
“See there?” Effie blotted the tears from her face. “Prayer does answer things. Now for the unveiling of the bridal gown. Una has kept it a big secret and I’m dying to see it.”
Una set an old cardboard suitcase on the bed. Kenzie had gone to her aunt’s twice for measurements and neither time could she get the old snaggletooth witch to reveal one detail of the gown’s design. Time after time, call after call, Aunt Una wasna talking.
The thought had crossed Kenzie’s mind several times to simply go into town and buy a dress that she, the bride, had envisioned. But she owed her aunt fer all the years she’d taken care of her, shielded her, and looked after her mum when she had cancer. She couldna hurt the old woman. ʼTwas only a dress, after all. What was important was the man she was marrying, the man she’d loved so many years, and who’d rescued her from Fauste.
“Open yer robe, child. The outfit is in several layers.” Aunt Una removed a tissue-wrapped parcel from a small, old suitcase. She slipped on cotton gloves. “Me hands are so rough, I havna touched the material for fear I’d snag it. Take yer bra off, but keep the lacy thongs on.”