Текст книги "Tempting the Highlander"

Автор книги: Джанет Чапмен

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Текущая страница: 19 (всего у книги 19 страниц)

Catherine threw down the shovel and rubbed her forehead. “Okay,” she muttered to the retreating bird. “Maybe Robbie’s plan did have some merit. But only because Ron’s a guy, and violence is the only thing he’d understand. Go on,” she said, waving Mary away. “Go get my husband. We’ll let him clean up this mess, since this whole thing was his idea.”

“But you know what?” she said softly, stopping Mary. “It was almost anticlimactic, for all the worrying I did. I thought there would at least be some sort of emotion, but I don’t feel anything. Not anger or relief or even pity. Just… nothing,” she finished with a shrug.

Mary blinked, then turned and flew out the door.

Catherine sat down on a bale of hay and studied Ron while she waited, only to find herself surprised by how small he was. Three years ago—heck, three months ago—Ron had seemed twenty feet tall. But after living with, loving, and making toe-curling love to a true giant, Catherine decided that five-foot-eleven was rather tiny. Insignificant. And yeah, downright wimpy.

Ron had gained weight, she noticed, to the point that he looked slovenly. He had a paunch, his cheeks were puffed, and the peck Mary had given him—oh, that bad bird—

would likely leave a scar on his sallow face.

Catherine was just covering her mouth to stifle a giggle when her husband burst through the barn door, came sliding to a halt on the other side of Ron, and stared at her.

“Mary said you had something to tell me,” he whispered.

He was looking calm, but Catherine could read worry and fear and anger on every inch of his towering body.

“Well, I guess I have several things to tell you,” she said with a sigh. “I, ah, I should probably start by thanking you for the fighting lessons.” She smiled. “I can see where they might come in handy from time to time.”

“And?” he whispered ever so softly.

“And I suppose your idea of facing my demons might have had some merit.” She smiled again. “It felt kind of good to be the one in control for a change.”

“And?” he asked even more softly, the muscles in his neck and shoulders slowly relaxing.

“And I need a little help with a problem I have.”

“What problem?”

She gestured toward Ron. “Now that he’s here, I don’t know what to do with him.”

Robbie looked down, then back up at her. “Do you want me to offer a suggestion or simply take care of the problem for you?”

Catherine set her elbows on her knees, cupped her chin in her palms, and stared at Ron.

“I don’t know. I think this might be one of those times when a husband can be quite handy.” Her chin still in her hands, she looked up and smiled. “And it might satisfy your own manly need to be protective, if I let you dispose of him.”

He crossed his arms over his chest and lifted one brow. “You’re going to have to give me an instruction manual, so I know when to be your husband, guardian, or minion.”

Catherine stood up, walked around Ron, stopped in front of Robbie, and smiled up at him. “I think we’ve done okay without the manual so far,” she whispered, wrapping her arms around him and leaning into his chest. “How are your toes doing?”

“Don’t tempt me, woman,” he growled, hugging her fiercely. “I told you my guardian work comes first.”

She nuzzled his chest, soaking in his scent and closing her eyes with a sigh. “Then I guess you’d better dump him off at the edge of town before he wakes up.”

Robbie gave her one last squeeze, set her away, and stepped over to Ron.

“But take the boys with you,” she said.

He straightened from picking up her trash. “What? Why?”

“And Nathan. I want you to take Nathan with you.”

“What?”

“He was old enough to remember Ron as a monster. Let him see there is nothing to be afraid of. And that way, I know you won’t… ” She gestured toward Ron. “You won’t add to mine and Mary’s fine work,” she finished, brushing her hands together and walking toward the door.

She stopped and looked back. “I’ll be waiting up at the cabin,” she added, giving him a brilliant smile. “So don’t take too long, husband. I’m bringing fresh candles.”