Charmed by His Love

by Janet Chapman

  “You don’t think the woman might like to make sure you’re the right one before she finds herself walking down the aisle, wondering how she got there?”

  Duncan shifted his weight off his knee with a shrug. “Not according to my father. Dad claims time is the enemy when it comes to courting; that if a man takes too long wooing a woman, then he might as well hand her his manhood on a platter.”

  Trace eyed him suspiciously. “Are you serious?”

  “Tell me, Huntsman; how’s courting Fiona been working for you?”

  “We’re not talking about me,” he growled. “We’re talking about you MacKeages and your habit of scaring women into marrying you.”

  “I did notice you managed to get an engagement ring on her finger,” Duncan pressed on. “So when’s the wedding?”

  Trace relaxed back on his hips and folded his arms over his chest with a heavy sigh. “You don’t happen to have an available cabin in Pine Creek, do you?”

  Duncan slapped Trace on the back and started them toward the refreshment table. “Considering Fiona is Matt Gregor’s baby sister, I think you might want to look for a cabin a little farther away. Hell, everyone within twenty miles of Pine Creek heard Matt’s roar when he learned she was openly living with you without benefit of marriage.”

  Trace stopped in front of the large bowl of dark ale and glared at Duncan. “A fact that has brought us full circle back to women being warriors. The only reason I’m still alive is because Fiona puts the fear of God into her brothers if they so much as frown at me.” He looked at Peg Thompson, then back at Duncan—specifically at the scratch on his cheek. “Trust me; the strong-arm approach won’t work on any woman who can handle children. Not if a man values his hide.”

  Duncan refilled his tankard. “Which is exactly why I’m still a bachelor,” he said, just before gulping down his third kick-in-the-ass like a true highlander.

  Chapter Three

  Peg stared out the windshield of her van at Inglenook’s main lodge, so disheartened that she couldn’t quit sobbing. She had finally found a job that paid enough that she’d finally be able to put a roof that didn’t leak over her children’s head, yet here she was trying to pull herself together long enough to quit. She couldn’t even give a two-week notice, since the reason she was quitting was that she couldn’t find affordable daycare for the twins. After Jacob’s traumatizing incident Friday and her shameful behavior Saturday, Peg had spent two sleepless nights and all day Sunday wrestling with her decision to give her notice first thing Monday morning.

  And now it was Monday. And after a third sleepless night, she still couldn’t see any way around it, since Olivia had hired her when Inglenook had been a family camp that offered programs to keep her children occupied all day. Only a little over a week ago that camp had closed when Olivia’s ex-in-laws had sold the property to Mac and that freaky earthquake had turned Bottomless Lake into the ninth wonder of the world.

  She still had a job because a small army of scientists had replaced the campers, but now there weren’t any organized activities for her children. And that meant this was no longer a safe environment for the twins, and she couldn’t in good conscience draw a salary when she’d have to spend her time watching out for them instead of working. And besides, she really wasn’t needed anymore, since several of Inglenook’s original staff from town were looking after the scientists renting the cabins.

  Dammit to hell, she needed this job!

  What she didn’t need was to look out her kitchen window every morning at her flooded gravel pit, especially now that she actually had a chance to make money off it. Duncan MacKeage had come to see her yesterday, but not finding her home, he’d left his card tucked in her door with a note on the back saying he wanted to speak to her about buying gravel for Mac and Olivia’s resort road. Except most of the pit was underwater thanks to that stupid fiord, and the Land Use Regulatory Commission was pretty strict about disturbing ground near a lake.

  Peg wiped her eyes for the hundredth time since she’d left Peter and Jacob with Billy’s mom, and tried to take a deep, steadying breath. Only she wasn’t surprised when she failed yet again, considering she hadn’t taken a full breath since Billy had died. Damn, she was tired of holding it all together all by herself. She’d been fresh out of high school when she’d signed on for happily-ever-after, never dreaming she’d end up sleeping in an empty bed every night and raising four children all by herself.

  Not that she’d give one of them up, not even for all the money in the world. Because what good was having gobs of money if she didn’t have kids to take to the Drunken Moose for Vanetta’s infamous cinnamon buns? Or to dress in beautiful clothes that didn’t come from the thrift shop? And what good was being able to stop driving all the way to Millinocket to spend her food stamps so no one in town would know how desperate she was, if she didn’t have children to worry about being—

  Peg gave a startled yelp when the passenger door opened and Olivia slid into the opposite seat.

  “Sorry,” her friend murmured, folding her hands on her lap and staring out the windshield. “I just wanted to see what you found so fascinating that you’ve been sitting out here for over ten minutes staring at the lodge.”

  Peg buried her face in her hands and burst into tears.

  “Hey!” Olivia cried, turning Peg to face her. “Have you been out here crying all this time? Peggy!” she growled, giving her a shake. “What’s wrong?”

  “I … I have to quit my job.”

  Olivia reared back in surprise. “Why?” She gasped. “Is this about that little incident on Saturday? Because really, you had every right to go after Duncan MacKeage like you did.”

  “It wasn’t a little incident; it was a violent and utterly embarrassing attack.” Peg held up her hand to stop Olivia from responding. “It was also a rude awakening. I can’t work here now that Inglenook doesn’t have programs for Peter and Jacob, or for Charlotte and Isabel once school gets out. I can’t keep asking the girls to watch the boys, because that’s not fair to any of them, and I can’t watch them and do my job at the same time.”

  “Then we’ll come up with another plan.”

  Peg shook her head. “I spent all weekend trying to figure something out, and the only solution I came up with is for me to quit.” She grasped Olivia’s hand. “And you don’t really need me anymore. You have enough staff to look after the scientists.”

  Olivia reversed their grip, giving Peg’s hand a squeeze. “But you know I have to take Sophie to California so she can donate bone marrow to little Riley, and I was counting on you to look after Inglenook for me.” She blew out a sigh. “Because Mac’s decided we’re making a road trip out of it instead of flying. He wants Henry and Sophie to start feeling like the four of us are a real family.”

  “That’s wonderful,” Peg said more brightly than she was feeling.

  Olivia pointed to the right of the lodge. “Do you see the nose of that … that bus sticking out past the side of the garage? That’s my wedding present from Mac, and for the next two months it’s going to be my home.” She leaned closer. “I swear it cost more than a house. Hell, half the walls slide out on either side, making it twice as wide when we’re parked for the night. And it has granite countertops and marble floors, two bathrooms, a washer and dryer, and three televisions. Three! Why would anyone need three televisions—all hooked up to satellite, I might add—in an RV?”

  “Oh, Olivia, that’s wonderful. You’re going to see America.”

  “I can’t live in a bus for two months! I’ll go nuts.”

  “But it’s every mother’s dream to take her children on a road trip across America. Think of all Henry and Sophie will experience.” Peg gave what she hoped was a cheeky smile. “And I can’t imagine a better way to stay up close and personal with your sexy new husband.”

  “Are you insane?” Olivia whispered, looking horrified. “If I don’t kill Mac before we reach the Mississippi River, I’ll probably shove him into the
Grand Canyon.” She sighed again, shaking her head. “I know it’s going to be an exciting adventure, but I really don’t want to leave Inglenook that long.” She leaned back against her door, waving at the windshield. “I just finally got this place all to myself; why in hell would I want to leave it for two whole months?”

  “Maybe because the farthest you’ve been from Spellbound Falls in over eleven years is Bangor?” Peg pointed at her friend, shooting Olivia her I-mean-business scowl. “The day after school gets out you are leaving in that RV if I have to tie you to the roof.”

  “Actually, we’re leaving this Saturday. I’m pulling Sophie out of school early because Riley’s transplant is scheduled for three weeks from now—which is why you can’t quit. I need you here to hold down the fort so I actually have a home to return to.” She went very still. “Wait, I know; we can hire someone to watch your kids. There are plenty of women around who’d love a job, and with your being right here you won’t have to worry about what your little tribe of heathens might be up to.”

  Peg was shaking her head before Olivia even finished. “Too much of my salary would have to go toward a babysitter to make it worthwhile.”

  “I’ll pay her salary.”

  Peg glared at her. “Nothing’s changed from two weeks ago when I stormed up here to tell you that I’m not a charity case. I’m not drawing a full salary and getting free daycare just because you can afford it.” Feeling her face flush with … with … dammit, she wasn’t a charity case! Peg reached down and started the engine. “I’ve done what I came here to do, so please get out of my van.”

  “Peg,” Olivia whispered.

  Peg pulled her seat belt across her lap and snapped it shut. “You can put my paycheck in the mail.”

  Silence filled the van but for the uneven rattle of its engine, until Olivia quietly got out and softly closed the door. Peg slowly pulled onto Inglenook’s main lane then pressed down on the accelerator, pretending not to see Duncan MacKeage waving at her as he left Mac in the parking lot and started running to intercept the van—only to have to jump out of the way when she sped past him in a blur of blinding tears.

  Duncan stood with his feet planted and his hands on his hips, scowling at Peg Thompson fleeing from him. “What in hell is up with that woman?” he growled when Mac walked over. He pointed at the cloud of dust trailing in her wake. “If that’s your idea of a good friend, Oceanus, I’d hate to meet your enemies.”

  Instead of answering, Mac arched a brow at Olivia as she walked toward them. “Mind telling me what that was all about?”

  “Peg quit her job,” Olivia told him, though she was glaring at Duncan.

  “Because of me?” Duncan asked in surprise.

  Olivia turned her glare on Mac. “Fix this,” she said, gesturing toward the knoll. “She needs this job even more than I need her.”

  “Then why did she quit?” Mac asked.

  “Because she can’t afford daycare for the twins.” Olivia went back to glaring at Duncan. “After what happened Saturday, Peg doesn’t dare bring her children to work with her anymore.” She looked back at Mac. “So fix this.”

  “How?”

  “I don’t care how.” She stepped in the shadow of her husband, out of Duncan’s line of sight. “Pull a rabbit out of your hat or something,” he heard her whisper tightly. “Better yet, pull out a nanny. Because I’m not getting on that bus until you fix this.”

  Duncan smiled, realizing Olivia was asking her husband to use his magic. And even though she was upset and obviously desperate, she was also acutely aware that she had an audience.

  “You don’t have to whisper, wife,” Mac said. “Duncan knows who I am. All the MacKeages and MacBains and Gregors do.”

  “Then fix this,” she growled loudly.

  “I’m sorry,” Mac said, slowly shaking his head. “It’s not my place to interfere in people’s lives.”

  Duncan didn’t quite manage to stifle his snort.

  After glaring over his shoulder at him, Mac looked back at his wife. “Peg’s journey is one she must walk, Olivia. And for me to magically clear the obstacles in her path would in essence be robbing your friend of her free will. It’s the trials and tribulations people overcome and how they deal with the ones they can’t that define a person.” Mac smiled tenderly. “Just as you are empowering Sophie by letting her save her half brother’s life, you must also allow Peg to empower herself.”

  “Yeah, well, that may be how they do things in mythological Atlantis, but in Maine we help each other through our trials and tribulations.” She stepped around Mac and went back to glaring at Duncan. “So you fix this.”

  “Me? Why should I be expected to fix something I didn’t break? She’s your friend; you fix it.”

  “I can’t,” Olivia snapped, pivoting away. “Because I have to go spend the next two months in a bus with my ‘divine agent of human affairs’ theurgist husband, who can turn an entire state upside down but apparently can’t help my friend find daycare.”

  Duncan actually took a step back when Mac turned on him. “By the gods, MacKeage,” the wizard said quietly—which sure as hell contradicted the wild look in his eyes. “I have no intention of traveling across this country and back with an angry wife. So fix this, dammit.”

  “But I didn’t break it. I only just met Peg Thompson two days ago.”

  Mac glanced at Olivia stomping up the stairs to the lodge, then turned back to Duncan with a heavy sigh and scrubbed his face with his hands. He dropped them, the wild look having been replaced by desperation. “Then help me fix it.”

  Holy hell; the wizard was asking him—a mere mortal—for help?

  “Only we have to find a way that doesn’t involve the magic,” Mac continued. He folded his arms over his chest, looking thoughtful. “It’s my guess that Olivia is mostly concerned that Peg needs the income, as Olivia’s father, Sam, is more than capable of looking after Inglenook while we’re gone. So I believe if we can find some way for Peg to earn a decent living and still look after her children, then my wife won’t spend the next two months glaring at me.”

  “Well, hell; if that’s all you need, then consider it fixed,” Duncan drawled. “Peg Thompson owns a gravel pit, and I’ve just spent the last two days trying to talk to her about hauling out of it until I get far enough up the mountain to open my own pit. The money I’ll pay her this spring for stumpage would be more than she could earn in two years. And the best thing is she won’t have to lift a finger other than to cash the checks.” He frowned. “Assuming that horseback of gravel continues running west. When I was there yesterday, I noticed most of the pit was flooded with seawater.”

  Mac stared at him, clearly nonplussed, and then shook his head. “I specifically cut the fiord along Peg’s land so she would end up with valuable oceanfront property.” He grinned. “I felt the pit would make a good marina.”

  Duncan turned to head for his pickup. “So much for not interfering in people’s lives,” he muttered.

  “Where are you going?” Mac asked. “I thought we were hiking up the mountain to decide where to position the road.”

  Duncan stopped and looked back. “It’ll have to be this afternoon. Right now I need to go place myself in front of the widow Thompson so she can take another shot at me.” He headed for his truck again. “Because with a little more practice, I’m hoping she can finally finish me off and move on to her next victim.”

  “MacKeage.”

  Duncan stopped.

  “I believe you’ll find that vein of gravel takes a sharp turn north rather than continuing west.” Mac hesitated and then stepped toward him, his brilliant green eyes turning intense. “And I would consider it a personal favor if you kept an eye on Peg and her children for me while I’m gone.”

  Duncan stared at Mac in silence for several heartbeats, uncertain if he was being given an imperial dictate or if the powerful wizard was actually asking. He finally nodded and slowly walked away, wondering how he was supposed to keep an e
ye on a woman he couldn’t even get near, much less one who recklessly attacked a man nearly twice her size.

  Duncan pulled his truck up behind the tired-looking minivan and shut off the engine as he stared at Peg Thompson’s house, which appeared to be in rougher shape than her transportation. Although the dooryard was neat to a fault, time and weather and basic neglect had obviously taken a toll on the double-wide mobile home, and he was surprised it hadn’t collapsed under the weight of this past year’s record snowfall.

  He climbed out of his truck and carefully looked around like he had yesterday, half expecting to be ambushed again if not by a small tribe of heathens then at least by a dog. But just like yesterday, he was greeted by silence. Which was baffling, since practically every house in Maine—especially if it sat back in the woods and was full of kids—had one or even several dogs in residence to discourage coyote and bear and all manner of uninvited visitors, including two-legged. Only the Thompsons didn’t even seem to have a cat, judging by the squirrels coming and going through the various holes in the eave of the house.

  He took the porch stairs in one stride—mostly in fear the steps wouldn’t support his weight—and knocked on the storm door that was missing its top pane of glass. Oh yeah, Peg Thompson would definitely sell him gravel.

  Maybe he’d offer to have his crew do some minor repairs on the house when he negotiated the price per yard, as well as point out that she’d have a working gravel pit again after he cleared off the timber and topsoil to expand it. That way he’d not only be sweetening the pot to get access to the gravel he needed, but Mac would see that he really was looking out for Peg. It was a win-win for everyone, including Olivia Oceanus. And having a wizard’s wife beholden to him was definitely a good thing.

  Hell, had he fixed their little problem or what?

  Except once again it appeared no one was home, so he couldn’t actually execute the fix. Duncan turned and frowned at the minivan. He could hear an occasional tick coming from the engine as it cooled, and he was pretty sure the van wasn’t an identical twin. So where in hell was she?