His brow wrinkled. “I don’t get it.”
“Back in the day of muskets, they used gun powder and when a big battle was coming, they had to make sure they didn’t waste their powder or worse yet, let the rain get to it.”
“Ah.” He grinned. “No worries, lass. I’ve been in very few battles lately. I’ve kept my powder dry and I have plenty to spare.”
CHAPTER NINE
Kieran hadn’t been on many carnival rides in his life, mostly because they would’ve cut into his savings plan, but his emotions had been through some ups and downs over the years. Nothing like this, though.
He’d didn’t know if he was coming or going. But he knew who he wanted in the seat beside him for the whiplash curves, steep climbs and heart-pounding drops.
If Sara could only be his companion for this week, he’d count himself blessed. If he could be allowed to hold her in his arms now and then, that would be sweeter yet. If he could make love to her, even once, he’d ask for nothing more in this life.
A curry comb made Sam presentable. While they cleaned him up, Kieran evaluated the barn as a rendezvous location. Wouldn’t be his first choice, but he’d keep it in mind.
On the walk back to the house, they paused long enough to exchange phone numbers. Then he took her hand again, right before he made the mistake of asking if she had a fella back home.
She pulled her hand free. “Of course not! How could you think I had someone I cared about back home after the way I kissed you?”
“My apologies. It’s just hard to imagine a woman like you doesn’t have someone.”
“It’s hard to imagine a man like you doesn’t have someone, but I gave you credit for not being a cheater.”
“I’m an eejit.” He snuck a glance at her rosy cheeks. Anger turned her skin pink, too. “I’m sorry, Sara. The last thing I want is to insult you. Walking into Hannigan’s and finding you there was like a miracle.”
That brought a tiny smile. “Did you hear a choir of angels sing?”
“I do believe I did. I even know what they were singing.” He considered his next move. Why not? “Want to hear it?”
“Absolutely!”
He cleared his throat and began to sing his Granny’s favorite song, the one she’d beg for whenever she was feeling down,My Love Is Like a Red, Red Rose.
Sara stopped in her tracks and turned to him, her lips parted in surprise and her eyes alight with fascination.
The collie turned around, too, head cocked and tail wagging slowly.
He’d captured the pair of them with a simple Irish song that was older than the hills. He’d never sung it to anyone but Granny. Grandpa had started the tradition, singing to her when Kieran was a boy. He’d learned it by osmosis.
One day he’d busted out with it when Grandpa was singing, and he’d been doing it ever since, going solo after Grandpa passed. Never thought he’d be serenading an American woman from New Jersey in front of a Montana ranch house.
Might as well do it right. Taking both her hands, he held her gaze and put his heart into it. She deserved a gift of a song after all she’d done for him. It was old-fashioned and ridiculously sentimental, but judging from the glow in her green eyes, she loved it.
When he finished, she sighed and opened her mouth to say something. Enthusiastic applause from the porch startled her into letting go of him. Then she spun around.
Made him jump, too. Evidently his rendition had carried through the open windows of the house. Three people had been added to the four who’d been there when they’d headed out for a walk — a fella he recognized as Andy, an older woman he identified as Marybeth, and another man who likely was Buck.
Everyone called out things likegreat job, bravoandencoreto the point he felt his face heat as he and Sara approached the steps. Sara’s family and Desiree stayed on the porch, but Andy, Marybeth and Buck came down to meet them.
Andy stuck out his hand. “That was beautiful, son. Never heard an Irish tenor in person before. You have a gift.”
Andy’s handshake was firm and his gaze steady. Clearly a fella you could count on. “My granny says so, but then she’s prejudiced, isn’t she?”
“She may be, but she’s also right. I’m Andy Hartmann, by the way.”
“Figured. Kieran Haggerty.”
Andy grinned. “Figured.”
