Page 43 of Guarding Salvation

“I guess it’s become so ingrained in me that I do it out of habit, now.” Aoife looked at him, and he touched her leg letting her know he understood.

“Now, let’s eat before we upset Mrs Murrel.” Lana stood and went to load her plate up with Rory close behind.

Bram looked at Aoife trying to gauge her mood. “You, okay?”

“I am actually. Your family are lovely, and I think I want to take Mrs Murrel home.”

“Good luck. Lana will fight you for her.”

When Titan and Snow arrived, talk turned to the estate and what there was to do. Titan decided he’d go with Rory and check out the cattle while Snow would stay back and look around the castle. As a former jewel and fine art thief, Snow had a huge appreciation for antiques and artwork, and they had a lot here in the castle. Some would say he was a fool for trusting her with such temptation, but he did. Snow had never stolen to be bad, she’d done it because it was all she knew to survive until Jack had found her and given her the same choices he had the rest. Finding her people, as she called Shadow, had been enough to break the habit.

Having Snow with Lana and Titan with Rory also achieved two other goals, and that was to make sure they were each safe and had someone with them and gave him some time alone with Aoife.

“You ready to have a look around?”

“Yes. Is this okay?” She motioned at her clothing, jeans and a jumper with a gilet over top.

“Yeah, we can grab you some wellies on the way out.”

Ushering her toward the door he saw a smiling Mrs M watching them from the hallway as she dusted the table. A nod and a wink of approval made him smile. He didn’t know what he and Aoife had yet, but he knew he was glad to have the seal of approval from those he loved.

He wished his parents could have met her and wondered what they would’ve made of all this. The letter from his father still sat in his bag where he’d stuffed it last minute before leaving to head home with Aoife.

“Ready to go?”

Bram’s head snapped up and he saw the pink of excitement in Aoife’s cheeks. It was a look he hadn’t seen before, but it suited her, and he knew he wanted to see more of it. “Sure, let’s go.”

Chapter 18

“Oh my God, I can’t believe that cow chased us.”

Bram still had hold of her hand, where he’d grabbed it when the beast had run at them. “She was just curious, and then you screamed and scared her.”

“I scared her?” Aoife was pointing her finger at her chest. “I almost died, and I got mud inside my boot.”

Bram pulled her against him and wrapped his arm around her, kissing her head. This morning had been damn near perfect. Showing the estate to someone who had no idea about the history and seeing it for the first time through their eyes had awoken his love for his home.

“You were not even close to dying, you daft mare.”

“Daft mare am I? Well, I’ll show you.”

He saw the playful glint in her eye seconds before she shoved him, and he went flying backwards into a mud puddle, landing on his ass. Shock rendered him speechless but when he looked up to see Aoife bent double with laughter, he knew he’d happily let her do it again if it kept that smile on her face.

“Oh, you’re in so much trouble now.”

Aoife’s eyes widened and she took off running through the woods as he gave chase. She darted through the trees, making so much noise even a blind and deaf person could find her. The density of the redwoods and the oaks in this part of the forest made the atmosphere seem darker than it was.

He saw Aoife dart behind a fallen oak, ducking down so she wouldn’t be found. Doubling back, he went around the long way, keeping her in his sights as she tried and failed to hide from him. Sneaking up from behind, he deliberately stepped on a branch not wanting to scare her given all she’d been through.

Aoife shrieked with laughter as she spun on her heel and saw him, taking off running. He grabbed her, taking them to the ground, rolling so she landed on him and not the cold, damp forest floor.

“Got ya.”

He held tight as she wriggled, and his fingers tickled her sides, making her giggle.

“No, stop. Oh God. I hate being tickled.”

“But you’re laughing.” He kept going making her squirm and giggle.