“No.My eyes were shut.”
A man so striking that he could star in a superhero movie cleared the fence with ease by resting his hands atop it and leaping over.Silvery blond hair, smiling blue eyes, and a neatly clipped mustache and beard perfectly set off the muscular vision dressed in a faded blue tee, a kilt, and hiking boots.With his hands on his hips, he fixed the yard animals with a fierce scowl.“Which of these beasties is causing ye all the trouble, miss?”
Jessa glared at him.“Did no one ever tell you it’s rude to make fun of the tourists?”
“Who’s making fun of ye, lass?”
She narrowed her eyes at him, waiting for him to catch on and stop being a jerk.
He grinned.“I’m Evan, by the way, and ye are?”
“Jessa.”Apparently, last names were never used around here, so she decided not to share hers.
“What a glorious name, and I wasn’t making fun of ye.”He tipped a nod toward the largest pig.“I know they move.Seen it myself, though usually, ’tis only at night during a full moon.Yer arrival must’ve made them so happy they couldn’t wait till then.”He winked.“Scotland is filled with magic, lass.Ye’ll be hard pressed to find those who dinna believe in it.”
She wasn’t buying any of that malarky, no matter how handsome the salesman.“Then why did Keeva panic?”
He shifted his broad shoulders in a dismissive shrug.“Keeva does that sometimes.It’s cause she’s afraid she’ll stir Mairwen’s anger.”
“And you’re not afraid of Mairwen?”
He backed up a step and lifted both hands in surrender.“I have a healthy respect for Mairwen.She’s reasonable enough unless she gets her back up.Thenis when I fear her.”He aimed a smile guaranteed to break hearts at Emily.“And yer name?”
Emily sauntered toward him, ignoring his question.“You cleared that fence with ease and did it silently.Admit it.You moved the yard animals to play a trick on the unsuspecting tourists.”
Evan shook his head and looked as if he was about to deny it, then offered them both a dramatic, apologetic bow.“Aye, ladies, I did it.’Twas just meant as a bit of fun.Surely, ye’ll grant a man a bit of leeway.How else was I to meet ye?”
While it was irritating, Jessa grudgingly admitted it was flattering too, and it made her feel a great deal better about the whole yard statues coming to life situation.“I suppose Keeva was in on it, too?”
“Aye, cost me a promise to work on that wreck of a car of hers.”He crossed his arms over his chest, making his already huge biceps bulge even larger.“So do the two of ye grant me forgiveness?”
“Only if you promise not to do it again,” Emily said, “and you bring us dinner tonight.”
“Done!”He gave her a victorious smile and another lavish bow.“I’ll bring ye the finest Seven Cairns has to offer.Around eight or so.That’ll give ye time to get good and settled in.And now, if ye will excuse me, ladies, I need to get back to the shop afore old Drummond wakes up and misses me.”
“Your boss wouldn’t appreciate your taking time off to pick on the tourists?”Jessa asked, storing that bit of information away in case she or Emily needed it for future reference.
Evan laughed as he hopped back over the fence.“Drummond’s not my boss.Although he likes to think so.He’s my cat.”He threw up a hand as he jogged away.“See ye at eight.”
“His cat,” Emily repeated, still staring after him.“A guy like that toeing the line for his cat.You believe that?”
Jessa eyed the expression on the nearest concrete pig.The thing looked even happier than before—almost as if it were about to burst out laughing.She shook her head.It had to be travel fatigue and anxiety.As she headed for the door, she threw up her hands.“I don’t know what to believe anymore.”
* * *
“Didno one tell the watchers to behave themselves?”Evan, the Tranquility Weaver almost as powerful as the Master Tranquility Weaver Shona, burst into Mairwen’s sanctuary without knocking.“Neither woman believed the lie I told them.I saw it in their eyes.Their magic looked right through me.Ishbel is right.Both have a touch of the gift.”
“Keeva?”Mairwen didn’t bother pausing in the study of her writings.A ripple in the energies had already whispered there was trouble in the air.She had hoped her apprentice had it well in hand.Apparently, her hope was not to be.When the girl didn’t answer, Mairwen set down her quill and fixed Keeva with a look guaranteed to make her confess.
“I told the watchers to behave,” Keeva said, “but they’re drawn to Jessa.They like her better than most of the fated mates we’ve brought here.”She carried another ream of parchment over to the stack on Mairwen’s table and placed it with the others.“And it’s not just them.The earth and oak embraced her as well.So I panicked and fetched Evan.”She caught her bottom lip between her teeth and bowed her head.“I am sorry.It seems I have failed ye yet again.”
Mairwen folded her hands atop her papers.“Ye did right to fetch Evan.The lass needs some tranquility.The Conflict Weavers pushed her to the edge of reason with the discord they unleashed in her life to bring her here.I must speak with Malcolm about teaching his Weavers to use more restraint and finesse.”She eyed Evan, studying the shifting colors of his aura.“Ye are not meant for Jessa or her friend.Go with caution in this task, Evan.”
“I know my boundaries, honored one.I did what I could to calm them and will ensure there are no misunderstandings when I take them their supper later.”
His scowl surprised her, making her wonder if he had sensed more than he was telling.“What else have ye to share?”
“It is not only the Weavers and watchers meddling with Jessa Tamsen.There is another.An uninvited another.”
