I stepped back, rubbing my nose, and adjusted myself to make sure nothing was out of place. He looked quite perturbed but only at himself. He didn’t seem to be quite as stoic and prissy as before, but I wasn’t going to let my guard down. “I’ll give you another chance, but won’t you please announce your arrival with a cough or something next time?” I gave him a quick once over. “So, you look like the Rhett to my aunt’s Scarlett.”
“I was just going for the southern gentleman look but Rhett Butler works. Besides, I don’t think there’s a man here, save your father, who wouldn’t want to be associated with your aunt.” He said this with a bit too much ardor in his voice. A part of my brain I’d never realized having kicked in and I found myself thinking nasty things about my aunt.
Taking a deep breath I mentally tried to talk my inner hell-cat off the ledge of jealousy. Back up... just a guy, just a guy... I chanted.
“Yes, she is beautiful,” I agreed, trying inconspicuously to change the subject. Thinking ill thoughts of one of my favorite people made me feel a bit like a lunatic. “I’m glad to see you are socializing finally. It can’t be good for someone to always be locked away in the barn with cattle,” I joked.
Zane chuckled. “Actually, I am here because your father insisted I come. I did bring a gift, and I sincerely hope you like it.” He smiled and I stopped breathing. Tilting his head and leaning in just a little, I briefly wondered if he was going to kiss me. The idea wasn’t completely repulsive until I remembered it was Mr. LaRighteous standing in front of me. “Hmm, where did you get that necklace?”
“Well, first, you didn’t need to feel obliged to bring anything for me. It was nice enough that you came.” Ugh, I hated lying—I think I was lying anyway. “And second, the necklace was a gift from my aunt. It’s part of our family... well, our heritage, I suppose,” I explained.
“Really? May I look at it?” he asked.
“I guess. Would you like me to take it off?” I replied, but before I could finish, his fingers were at my throat tugging at the pendant, pulling me closer to him so that he could inspect my gift. It had to be wrong to feel so lightheaded being near him, smelling his slightly minty breath mixed with the light cologne he wore. I began breathing a little deeper, letting it fog my mind. Suddenly, he dropped his hand, and I snapped back to our conversation. The moment I made eye contact with him, I could hear his thoughts but they didn’t make any sense: That’s why I am in this Godforsaken place? This child is my mission. Good grief, why couldn’t it have been that Lucie woman? The thoughts went on a bit, but that was enough to confuse me and piss me off.
“I need to speak to your parents and aunt right away. I am right in assuming your aunt is also a Guide?” he snarled.
“How do you know about Guides?” I thought it was a secret? What the hell is going on here? When he didn’t answer me, I shook free of his grasp and pointed to where my family stood. “Whatever, they’re over there. I’ll leave you to whatever your ‘mission’ is.”
He gave me the most quizzical look before grabbing my wrist and dragging me along with him. The act succeeded in attracting some pretty humorous looks from my classmates, but I wasn’t in the mood for humor.
Couldn’t just this one night not be fraught with drama?
“Professor, Mrs. Dalry, Ms. O’Grady, I need to speak to all of you.” He voice was stern, and he was still holding my arm a bit too tightly. “There is no delicate way to begin, so I will get to the heart of it. I am descended from a long line of Caomhnóirs.” He turned to my aunt. “I’ll assume that at least you, Ms. O’Grady, know what a Caomhnóir is?”
“Please, it’s Lucie, and yes, I know about the Caomhnóirs. I am not surprised to see you here at all, to be honest. My niece is quite a talented person,” she said.
“Yes, well, I suppose I will find out for myself in due time.” He moved his gaze from my aunt to my parents and took a deep breath. “Mrs. Dalry, Professor, when I arrived in Kansas it was because I was lead here by gut instinct to fulfill a mission. The most important mission of my life, actually, to find the one person that I am sworn to protect until one or both of us pass from this world: My Guide.” Zane nodded in my direction. “I believe that person is your daughter.” His tone was very matter-of-fact, which was quite unnerving.
We stood there for what seemed like ages with our mouths open but were unable to put together the words to speak. I looked from my parents to my aunt to Zane and back again, the whole time trying desperately to figure out what I could have possibly done wrong to deserve a protector that was so horrible!
Finally, my father spoke but with the shakiest voice I had ever heard. I didn’t know if he was mad or just plain upset. “Mr. Laroche, if this is the job you were meant to do, then by all means do it. But if my daughter gets hurt because of your arrogance, please know that I will make your life hell. She is very intelligent and far more capable than anyone her age, and most people your age. Please treat her as an equal. Understood?”
“Understood, sir. I will never put her in harm’s way, I promise.” He looked a little shaken by this but recovered quickly and turned to face me. “Catherine, I swear by my birthright that I will protect you from all who try to do you harm. I will forever be in your service and anything you may need I will supply.”
“Oh my, how chivalrous!” I laughed, adding as much sarcasm in that statement as I could before walking off with all the haughtiness I could muster. This was my night, and I would not let this arrogant, deluded man think he would be my shining knight. I was not some damsel in distress. I did not need his help.
I scanned the party, trying to locate Will, and walked as quickly as I could to where he and Emma were standing. “Hi, guys. Mind if I hang out here with you for a bit?”
“No. What’s wrong, Cat? You seem a bit shaken,” Will asked.
I waved him off only to receive a look that could wilt lettuce. Taking a deep breath and holding it, I shrugged. “I’ll tell you about it tomorrow. So, are you going to introduce me to all those people who want to give me a chance now?” I directed my question to Emma and she was all too happy to drag me off and begin formal introductions.
My choice of costume was quite the hit, but no one could guess who I was. There were a few who were close, picking a character from one of Austen’s books, but no one hit the mark. It truly didn’t matter to me because I received so many astounded and flattering looks that I was quite full of myself.
Every once in a while, I would look around to be sure my “Caomhnóir” wasn’t making a nuisance of himself. Part of me was pleased that he watched me, and the other part was beyond infuriated. Whatever, it wouldn’t ruin my night; this was a mantra I repeated over and over.
We finished our introductions, and a few of the guys from school asked me to dance on the very nice dance floor my family had installed, compliments of my wonderful aunt. It was nice to feel male arms around me and dance with someone other than Will or my brothers, but none of them could hold my gaze for very long.
As it got later, the excitement of the surprise wore off and my mom and aunt began a few silly games to get people revved up again. They had bobbing for apples and a silly little maze in the barn. Everyone seemed to have a wonderful time. Even with Zane following me everywhere, I managed to enjoy myself.
Soon people began to leave while others stayed to help clean up. I was picking trash up when I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned, knowing whose eyes I would meet. “I don’t think I’m in any danger at this very moment, so you can leave now. Please.” I turned and resumed trash duty.
“Can we talk for a moment?” he asked. I wasn’t rude enough to say no, and he knew that.
“Fine, but make it quick. I’m really tired.” That statement wasn’t really true at all. After all the sleep I had during the day, I was still ready to party the night away.
“After talking to your a
unt and mother for a bit, I have acquainted myself with your talents. I would like to request that you refrain from reading my thoughts unless there is a need for it. I know you are not happy about this, and you should know I share your sentiment. I would rather have been given a charge with a few more years to their life, but it is what it is, kid.”
Wow, could he be any more condescending?
“Well, are you even sure I am the one you are to guard? Maybe you’re here for my aunt instead? And for the record, things between us would improve if you would please stop referring to me as ‘kid.’ It’s completely infuriating,” I retorted.
Anything to throw him out of my life.
The sheer confusion of my dueling thoughts was going to be something far more difficult to contain and manage than being a Guide.
“No, if it had been your aunt, I would have known right away. Since I met you, there has been something about the way I felt that bothered me.” He shook his head. “I felt tethered to you, like you were thrown into my path for a reason. Honestly, I should have paid more attention. I mean your eyes alone are proof enough but everything about you threw me off.” He blew out a troubled breath. “Please don’t take this the wrong way, there are still no romantic feelings about you, and you need to know now that there never can be. It is an unwritten rule that Guides and Caomhnóirs can never be together. It is best to be open about it now rather than have that difficulty later.”
I straightened up and turned, arms crossed and brow raised. “Well, I don’t think you’ll ever have to worry about me pining for you, if that’s what you’re trying to say. Honestly, I’m not even sure I like you, although our last interaction left me thinking you might actually be a good guy. Clearly, I was mistaken. The only reason we need interact at all will be to perform our duties, seeing as how fate has made us partners. Being your ‘friend’ is not my objective.” Without warning, my brain took the next somewhat illogical leap. “You won’t need to live here or anything, will you? That would be torture.” I groaned as a new unwelcomed thought crept into my head. “You won’t be following me to school, too, will you? Oh hell, this could be so embarrassing. Ugh!”
“No, the only time I will need to be with you is when you are helping someone find their path. Not liking me will change I hope, but if it helps keep our partnership just that, then you can dislike me all you want. Fortunately for you, I am not opposed to helping those who detest me.” With that he was on his way to his truck with a quick stop by my parents to say thank you and good-bye.
He was so smug and... and... and dreadful! Stomping around the yard to finish cleaning up, I ranted under my breath about what a brilliantly horrible situation this was turning into. Now I was stuck with an arrogant protector with a God complex who insisted on downplaying my abilities and intellect at every turn. Not only that, but I was constantly upset with myself every time I closed my eyes and saw his handsome face. Hell, I was upset with myself for even thinking the belittling butthead was handsome, though he was and I couldn’t deny it.
With an aching head and downtrodden spirits, I made my way inside. I hadn’t taken time to open gifts while everyone was here, it had made me feel a bit childish, so Will and Emma helped me take them all inside. Hell-bent on watching me open them all, my mom suggested I start and Will and Emma stayed to offer moral support. I got some wonderful gifts from everyone, and I hated to think how badly my hand would cramp after I finished with the thank you cards. Will and Emma had gone in together and bought me a beautiful leather-bound journal with a special pen that had my birthstone on it. I had almost filled the one my aunt gave me at the beginning of the summer. When I got to Zane’s gift, I hesitated before taking the paper off.
Would it be rude to return it to him unopened?
I was fairly sure the answer to that was yes. I opened it in spite of my feelings toward him. To my immense surprise, he had given me an older copy the Jane Austen book, Mansfield Park.
It wasn’t a first or second edition but I could tell it was old. My first thought was that it was just too much. I’m sure it was valuable and had to cost him a lot of money. I would have to return it with a sincere apology. It was simply too much to accept from a man I hardly knew, and for the most part, thoroughly loathed.
“Hey, we’ve got to go, but I’d like to come by tomorrow. Is that okay?” Will bumped my shoulder and gave me a small smile.
“Sure, I’ll be here. Emma, are you coming, too?” I looked up, but could feel the space between my eyes still scrunched together from concentrating.
“No, I have to go to a family thing with my parents in Manhattan. They don’t think it’s appropriate for me to bring Will, so he’s on his own. My poor man.” She looked at him so sweetly, my eyes misted over. They were quite possibly the most beautifully in love couple I had seen, aside from my parents. It was hard to wrap my head around the fact that they were so young.
“Oh, okay. Well, Will, I guess it’s just you and me, amigo.”
“You know, you could at least try to sound excited.” He chuckled and gave me a quick hug. “See you tomorrow, Cat.” Then they were gone.
I made a few trips carrying my things to my room; on my last trip, Aunt Lucie came in and offered some help. I knew she wanted to speak to me because she had that look on her face—the one where the eyebrows are a little furrowed and the mouth is drawn down into a frown. I decided to open the discussion because looking at her face was heartbreaking. “So, what’s on your mind?”
“Was it that obvious?” I shrugged my shoulders. “Cat, I need you to do everything Zane tells you, okay?” She sounded too worried for my liking.
“Okay, but you know I don’t like him. He’s an arrogant ass! Why me, anyway? You’re just as talented as I am, why not you?”
“I had always supposed, and this is quite short-sighted and arrogant of me, that I was about as talented as one could be. But, niece, you have me by mountains. You have the potential to be so much more than any Guide I have ever known. Someone like you comes along once a century, possibly even less. You need Zane. He was trained to do this.” She paused and sighed. “I believe they find out a little younger than we do and begin their training immediately, beyond that I am clueless.” She shrugged her shoulders, set my things on my floor, and began again. “You are the type of Guide the Badbeh will hunt as soon as they know about you. They will be relentless, and I can tell by the way Zane carries himself that he is very capable of keeping you safe from them. Besides, it could be worse, you could be attached to someone a lot worse looking.”
Is she serious? That is not a positive point in any way.
By my count, the negative points for being a Guide had unequivocally won out over the positive; Zane’s involvement assured that.
“Oh, please! Not you, too! It doesn’t matter what he looks like. He treats me as if I know nothing. He even calls me ‘kid!’ Do you know how infuriating that is?” I vented.
“I just meant that... Oh never mind, it doesn’t matter what I meant. There was another reason for my coming up here with you to talk. I have the name of your first Tourist.”
I felt my stomach turn and my head spin. I sat down right where I was to keep from falling down and sucked in a couple deep breaths, asking the inevitable, “Who is it?”
“Lois Stallings. She lives just west of here in Hope. You’ll need to get started on her next week as I don’t believe she has more than a few months left.” Aunt Lucie’s tone was all business now but not without a note of compassion.
“During all of my training, we never went over how I will know when I have a Tourist. How do you know this?” I asked, feeling a little remiss in not realizing we hadn’t covered this long ago.
“It’s not something you will know right away. It’s really just a feeling and eventually a name will randomly pop into your head, followed by visions. From there, your charges are typically close by, a
nd you will be drawn to them. It’s all very mystical. Just learn to trust your instincts.”
“Well, I hope it doesn’t take me long to get the hang of it. I hate to think of you trying to do your work and mine at the same time. I am sure you’ve been stretched this last year trying to help your Tourists while still training me. Thanks for everything you’ve done.”
“You’re welcome, honey. Can I ask you one more thing before I go?”
“Yeah. Shoot.”
“Why didn’t Zane realize what you were before now? Hadn’t you already talked to him this past summer?”
“I think it was my pendant. As soon as he read the back, he was hell-bent on talking to you and my parents. He mentioned a while back and then again tonight that he felt drawn to me. It bothered him all summer.” I felt a little embarrassed by the warmth that statement gave me.
“That makes sense. I had always figured that the pendant was just our reminder, something to help us get through the tougher cases, but perhaps it was also a way for the Caomhnóirs to detect us.” She seemed deep in thought, but I had my own thought to express just then.
“Wouldn’t they know by our eyes? It seems like that would be the best way to tell who were are.”
“To the outsider, our eyes are just strange but nothing beyond that. We do not go around advertising that they are what marks us as Guides, so it would seem normal for Caomhnóirs to have another way of picking us out. I am sure he had a strange feeling when he was around you, but since he hasn’t protected anyone before you, he wouldn’t know how to decipher those feelings. Perhaps it is another safety mechanism created by the elders to protect everyone involved.” She looked at her watch and bit her bottom lip. “Well, I need to get home. Keeping this party a secret from you has worn me out. I’ll see you tomorrow for a bit, and we can go over some last minute details about your trip to Hope. I will need to invite Zane over, too, since he must be a part of any trip you take to help a Tourist. Is that clear?”
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