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“I bet you would look mighty fine in a kilt, husband. Want to try that for me one day, but commando? I could be your highlander princess needing rescuing,” she whispers, still loud enough for me to make out every word.
Teagan arrives just as Chance replies while raising one eyebrow, “Princess, do I have—”
I cover one of his son’s ears against my chest and the other with my hand.
“—a big co—”
“TEAGAN!” the MacDougall Brothers bellow in unison, drowning out the rest of my cousin’s sentence.
Aaanndsix goats a-fainting.
I watch a giggling Teagan get swept up onto the MacDougall hug-train.
Angus holds on a little longer than his brothers when it’s his turn.Interesting.And Shamus’s attention is all on Gwendoline.
CJ is prodding my face, giggling as babies do. I guess I have one of those faces that a baby enjoys poking. I pretend to nibble on his fingers, making all the necessary improvised noises to earn me more giggles.
Tucker needs to be getting back with the helicopter soon, so I’ll move things along. “Okay, CJ, you are going to come with me to see Shamus, who is wearing the skirt, and he will play with you while Mummy and Daddy talk to each other.” Translation: make kissy-kissy faces with each other.
I take a fainting goat soft toy out of Alice’s gift bag for CJ to be distracted with, noting I’ll have to go and get another goat from my merchandise stock to replace this one, which is now getting chewed on by CJ.
I walk right up next to the kilted-one, amused by his keen interest in my best friend. I nudge him with my elbow. “She’s a beauty, isn’t she?”
“Aye.” He sighs, watching Gwendoline. “I’m not looking for a lass to warm my bed and my heart.” He runs both hands through his hair before crossing his arms. “Been there, done that, got the scars to prove it. I’m just window shopping. Then I’ll be in Alaska enjoying the frozen landscape for a few weeks.” He one-shoulder shrugs as though that is that.
“I thought you were going for the ten weeks?”
“I’m playing it by ear. My family might need me back working after the New Year.” He tickles CJ’s tummy, earning himself some of those precious giggles. “I see Tucker, and ye have come a long way in a short time. Ye like him.”
“I do. He’s a good guy.” I jostle CJ on my hip, getting more comfortable holding him.
“Aye, and yer a good woman,” he says gruffly, gently ruffling CJ’s hair. He nudges my elbow. “A wee bairn on your hip looks good on ye too.”
I slam my poker face wall up.
A topic change is in order. “Shamus, I forgot I have to get something, could you please—”
“Aye.” He knows what I am asking of him and readily holds his hands out for CJ. “Hey, little man, let me introduce ye to my brothers. Would ye like that?” I wait a few seconds to make sure CJ is comfortable with Shamus. His parents are close enough if CJ needs them.
He shows no signs of distress, trying to grip as much of Shamus’s dark reddish-brown facial hair in his tiny fist toward his open mouth with a look of determination on his sweet face.
“No, little man, ye don’t want to be eating face hair.” Shamus gently pries open the tiny, clenched fist, waggling the plush goat in CJ’s face.
“Shamus, a wee bairn looks good in your arms.” I nudge him and wink.
His response is as I suspected. His eyes bulge, and he opens and shuts his mouth, no words escaping at first.
“Touché,” he grumbles.
I leave them to it, tugging the suitcase and carrying the boom box with me as I hurry away to find a replacement goat for Alice. The carry-on bag I’ll come back for later.
I make it across the deck to my open bi-folding external French doors just as Tucker walks out onto the large wooden deck, busy talking on his phone.
He sees me and holds a finger up, but I keep plowing my way through the house, losing the luggage by the kitchen.
“Hold up, Ophelia.” Tucker is multitasking talking to his friend on the phone while trying to pursue me. He’s got no time to be cornering me. He has places to be.
“I thought I was Hamlet or Shakespeare?” I throw it casually over my shoulder, “orShagspeare.”
