“Such a pussycat,” Joshua chuckled, carding his fingers through Colin’s thick waves.
“Alley cat’s more like it,” Nate teased. He reached to poke Colin’s ribs. “I must tell you, Irish, this country is everything you promised. It is so beautiful it takes my breath away.”
“Listen toyouwith the gift of gab!” Colin laughed.
“Likethat’sanything new!” Joshua teased.
“But you’re right, Natey-baby, it’s beautiful here,” Colin agreed. “And we have a lot more to see before this trip is over.”
“What’s on the schedule for tomorrow?”
“Light day,” Colin told them. “Walk around Killarney, look at the shops. Take a drive through Killarney National Park. See Ross Castle. Maybe take a walk on one of the trails after lunch.”
“That’s alightday?” Nate griped.
Colin waved away his complaint and glanced up at Joshua. “Anything you’d like to add?”
“I want to stop at that pastry shop you love so much.”
“Oh god, yes!” Colin moaned against Joshua’s thigh. “Petit Delice! I’ve loved that place since I was a kid.”
Nate leveraged himself to his feet. “Sounds great. But right now, I better go help in the kitchen.”
* * *
The following morning,the four travelers strolled the few blocks separating Aileen’s house from downtown Killarney. They explored the colorful shops that lined every street, stopping now and then to peer into the nearby pubs and restaurants, all of which boasted various types of ethnic cuisine. The sound of Irish bands was everywhere, and Colin delighted his companions and nearby tourists by singing along with several songs as they meandered from shop to shop.
Halfway down the block, David and Nate wandered into a small produce market while Colin and Joshua browsed the fruits and vegetables displayed in the outdoor stalls. Pausing beside a stand filled with fruit, Colin grabbed an apple and began to munch while Joshua laughed and poked his ribs, gesturing to a member of the Garda, the Irish police force, who was standing just down the block. “Better pay up. You don’t want to end up in an Irish pokey!”
Colin scoffed a laugh, then suddenly frowned as a man brushed past him on his way into the shop. He lowered the apple, his eyes fixed on the stranger, his intense expression causing Joshua to lean close in alarm. “Colin?What—” Before Colin could respond, Joshua heard David’s voice ring out from inside the shop, and he spun to face him.
“Nate! GET DOWN!”David cried, his voice cracking with fear.
To his horror, Joshua saw that the man had drawn a pistol and was moving toward the counter where the store owner stood. David and Nate cowered only a few feet away. David’s arm pressed Nate to the floor, and he half-turned to shield his husband with his body.
“Son of a…” Colin spluttered. He hurled the apple to the ground and bolted toward the gunman but was jerked to a halt by a powerful grip on his arm.
“Colin,no!” Joshua begged. “Please don’t!”
A nearby shopper pointed behind them. “I yelled for the Garda!”
Oblivious, Colin grabbed Joshua by both shoulders and slammed him to the ground. “Staythere!” he commanded, then sprinted toward the armed stranger who was lifting his pistol.
“Colin!” Joshua screamed. “NO!”
A split second later, Colin grabbed the man’s right wrist with his left hand and jerked it up, pointing the gun toward the ceiling as it discharged with a sharpcrack,the sound reverberating with deafening fury in the small shop. Ears ringing from the gun’s explosive blast, Joshua’s plea came to him from a great distance. “Stay DOWN!” he cried, terrified that Joshua might approach him and place himself in the line of fire.
Panting with both exertion and fear, he tightened the fingers of his right hand around the barrel and peeled it backward, yanking it down with all his strength, smiling with grim satisfaction when the gunman’s scream signaled his trigger finger snapping. “Down, goddammit!” Colin commanded through clenched teeth. His left hand twisted the assailant’s wrist until he lay on the ground with Colin’s knee pressed into his back, the weapon secure in Colin’s hand.
Colin felt a presence at his side and glanced up to see two members of the Irish Garda. One of the officers lifted the firearm from his hand, and as he got to his feet, he saw them secure the gunman, cuff him, and then haul him to his feet.
“Everyone all right?” one of the officers asked as his partner led the assailant out of the shop and toward a waiting police car. Assured that no one was hurt, he turned back to Colin. “You a cop?” he asked.
“I was a cop for ten years,” Colin replied. “Now I’m an attorney.”
“Well, laddie, it’s clear you still have a cop’s instincts,” the man said with a wide smile. He shook Colin’s hand. “We’ll need you to stop by the station and give us a statement.”
“I’ll do it right away,” Colin told him, then he turned to Joshua. His husband was on his feet. His face was blanched, and he stumbled as he lurched to David and Nate’s side.
