Goblin Moon (23 page)

The next days were a kind of heaven on Earth. Tearach held Kathy and the baby as much as he possibly could. Kathy returned each caress and gesture with sweet abandon. To just blurt out that he was in love with her wouldn't do, especially when she'd probably attribute such a proclamation to the baby's survival. The time, place and circumstances had to be perfect. More than anything, he now wanted Kathy to handfast with him. She deserved to be treated like the beautiful, intelligent woman she was, not the outsider he'd only pretended to tolerate. To this end, he made plans. Conceited as it might seem, there wasn't a woman alive who could defend herself against a Goblin man's romantic advances. He smiled thinking of it.

"What are you grinning about?” Kathy asked with a laugh.

"Nothing. Just thinking,” he said. “It's almost time to go home. Are you ready?"

She turned around to look at the Dolmen and the surrounding clearing once more. “I shall always love this place."

"So will I,” he agreed, and he made himself a promise that they'd come back for the birth of more children. She didn't know it yet, but she was about to be swept off her feet and right into his arms and life forever. He watched her cradle the baby in her arms as they slowly made their way back to the Goblin Meadow and the cottage.

The closer to home they got, the louder the sounds of celebration became. Tearach knew every citizen of the forest would come calling. Protective instincts drove him to take an alternate route and hurry Kathy and the baby through the back door. Throngs of well-wishers were already gathering in the nearby meadow.

Kathy laughed at his cautiousness. “Why are you so concerned? They only want to welcome us home."

He shrugged and sheepishly smiled. “I can't help it. I want the both of you to myself for a while longer. I'm selfish."

"You're no such thing. But maybe you're right. I would like a chance to get the baby settled in first."

"Then, you'll have it. We'll keep everyone away for a few more days. I'm not sure what Shayla will say, but that's a problem best dealt with later."

"Could you make an exception for Cairna? She
is
the baby's cousin and this is her home, after all,” Kathy teased.

Would he ever stop smiling? Tearach wondered. It was a special honor for Kathy to allow Cairna into the home first. It spoke of a loving trust and bond between the women he found endearing. “Of course. I'll have someone send for her.” He paused and pushed a strand of hair off her face. “Let's get you and Tearyn upstairs so you can both rest."

After he saw Kathy and the baby safely upstairs, he unashamedly locked all the windows and doors. When the first visitor came, he ignored the pounding on the front door and impishly yelled at those outside. “Damn your eyes, they're
mine!
Go get a woman and baby of your own!"

Upstairs, Kathy was getting into bed with Tearyn. She smiled when she heard his laughable plea go unnoticed. Someone yelled back at him, but the voice was so muffled she couldn't determine who the person was.

"All right, but just you two,” Tearach replied and opened the front door. He quickly closed it again after Cairna and Rome rushed in. Outside, perturbed voices complained and begged entry, but he was adamant. “Go away! Let us have some time, will you?"

Cairna bounced up and down with her hands clasped in front of her. “Please, let me see the baby and Kathy."

Tearach smiled and hugged her. “You can go upstairs, but quietly. Rome, help me get this crowd away from the cottage so Kathy and Tearyn can sleep."

"Tearyn!” the two younger Goblins exclaimed in unison.

Without conscious effort, he felt his chest stick out like a Highland mountain. “She named the baby after me."

"It's perfect,” Cairna squeaked. “And ... you're actually smiling. Oh, Uncle Tearach, it's so good to see you smile!"

He felt remorse and shame at having behaved so badly. Cairna had felt the brunt of his fear for all these years. “The future is all I'm concerned with now. It has to be. I've lived life too long in the past, and I'm sorry for it, sweetheart."

She wrapped her arms around him and kissed his cheek. “We can be a family now
?"

He nodded. “We can. And, unless I'm mistaken, Rome will soon be family, too, won't he? Did you two actually think you could hide your feelings from me, even when all those other young rogues came to call and you rejected them?"

She sheepishly turned her head away and rolled her eyes.

Rome stepped forward and held out his hand. “Cairna has agreed to handfast with me. I'd prefer it was with your blessing."

Tearach laughed. “You have it. Just make sure when the babies come that Kathy and I be allowed in the house first."

"Babies are a project I intend to work on right away.” Rome sent a searing look in Cairna's direction.

"You'll buy the cow before you get the milk, mister.” She stared at the two men before continuing, “Now, if you two are through with this inappropriate subject, may I please go up and see Kathy and the baby?"

Tearach cleared his throat and nodded. He hid a grin behind one hand when Cairna shot Rome an angry glance. Then she turned and bolted up the stairs.

"Well. I guess she told me.” Rome laughed. “I'm going to have my hands full with that one."

"Come on. Before we chase everyone away from the cottage, let's pour ourselves a whiskey and celebrate."

"I'm with you,” the younger man replied.

In the woods, far away from the revelry, sat a lonely figure who wrapped her arms about herself and wept. There was no joy in her life and never would be. All she'd cared for was gone. Mabb had nothing left to lose and intended to make others suffer as she did.

Two days later, Tearach cheerfully despaired of keeping Kathy and the baby to himself. No work was being done because everyone was waiting to see the new Goblin child. Looking down at her, he couldn't blame them. “You're as lovely as your mother, poppet. And I love you very, very much."

Seconds later, Kathy entered the room and stopped to watch Tearach lift the little girl into his arms. Arms that could probably crack granite were infinitely tender with the baby. Hands that had killed were as gentle and protective as any angel's against her tiny body. But he'd held
her
that way too. Kathy knew whatever he'd done in the past had no bearing on how she felt right now. She had to be certain. His love for their child was unquestionable. What of
them
and their lives together? There might come a time when he'd regret her presence.

Tearach turned when he heard her move behind him. “Are you sure these were the last of the gifts?” He tilted his head toward the latest pile of presents bestowed upon the baby. They lay, carefully sorted, upon the bed."

Kathy nodded. “That's it. And I've written thank you notes, but you should sign them as well."

"You should check again, Kathy. We might have missed something.” He grinned mischievously.

Kathy walked back toward the bed and began to lift wrapping paper and leftover ribbon. “No, I don't think there's anything ... Wait, there
is
one more. But there's no card."

"Open it,” Tearach said as he rocked the baby and tried to keep the impish look off his face.

Kathy carefully examined the small square box. It was a lovely copper color with a bronze, gauzy ribbon tied around it. All of the other packages had been appropriately wrapped for a baby girl. This one was more seasonal and romantic looking. She carefully untied the ribbon, lifted the lid and pushed back tissue paper. Silver flecks shimmered within the folds. Someone had added Fairy dust. She smiled at the black velvet box nestled within. “This doesn't look like a baby gift,” she murmured.

"Maybe it isn't."

He was trying so hard to appear nonchalant that Kathy knew the gift was meant for her. She quickly took the velvet box out of its coppery container and opened it. She gasped when sunlight hit the gemstone within. It was a perfect, two-inch long aquamarine. It had been faceted to look like a quartz crystal and hung on a lacy, silver chain. The craftsmanship was so delicate and refined that it could have only been handmade. For
her
. “Where ... Tearach ... You?” she babbled as she looked at him.

He slowly smiled and gently lowered the baby to the bed. “I thought it matched your eyes."

She looked down at the most precious gift she'd ever owned and tears filled her eyes. “Will you put it on me?” She slowly turned as he took the necklace from her shaking hands.

With one hand, Tearach lifted the golden curtain of hair off her neck and draped it over her shoulder. Then, he brought his arms around her and fastened the catch. Grasping Kathy's shoulders, he slowly turned her around to face him and deliberately laid the stone between her full breasts.

"I had to guess at the length of the chain. I think my reckoning was correct."

She gazed up into his dark eyes. “Aside from the baby, I've never been given any gift so rare. And both gifts came from you. Thank you, Tearach. I'll never take it off."

She placed her hands on his shoulders and stood on tiptoe to kiss him. He wrapped his arms around her and let the kiss go on and on. It was sweet, deep and full of promise. That she considered the baby a gift from him filled his soul with happiness. Still, the feelings within them hadn't been voiced. But the time would come when they'd both be ready. He wanted that time to be special.

In the weeks to come, the weather would grow much colder. The snow would fall, and they'd be able to make love to keep each other warm. He treasured the images he had of holding her very close in front of a warm fireplace, with the baby sleeping snugly nearby, and she'd wear nothing but the sparkling gem around her neck. No matter how cold it grew or how deep the snow drifted, his home would be warmer than any other place he'd ever known. As would his heart. Kathy must feel the same way. He was determined to make her understand his life was hers.

She finally broke the long, searing kiss, but not her hold on him. “I have nothing to give you."

"Do you call that kiss nothing? And what about that little piece of magic over there?” He nodded toward the baby.

"I meant something you could carry with you always.” She grinned and looked down at the sparkling blue-green stone. “Like this necklace."

He covered his heart with his hand. “What I want is in here. And I'll always have it with me."

Kathy swallowed back the large lump in her throat. She moved toward him again. The emotions she felt for him needed to be voiced. He needed to know. No man from her world could have ever spoken his thoughts so eloquently. Sadly, most of them had lost the ability. But Tearach was different in so many ways. It wasn't just his physical appearance or his magic abilities. He had such deep, abiding passions within him, and he wasn't afraid of expressing them, though the cost of doing so had sometimes been painful and humiliating. She'd always know where she stood with him.

"I ... we need to talk. There's something I want to tell you ... it's...

She was interrupted by a loud commotion in the hall. Cairna and Rome were trying to keep someone from coming up the stairs. Voices erupted in an argument. Tearach quickly pushed Kathy behind him.

"Take the baby,” he commanded and drew a dagger from his boot top.

Kathy scooped up the baby and backed as far away as she could. Whoever was in the hallway sounded very angry. The door to the room burst open, and Shayla stood before them.

"What's all this I hear about you keeping the others from seeing the baby? And just how long were you going to wait before bringing her to me?” Shayla angrily demanded. “I've left you alone and given you your time together, but now you must present yourselves to the rest of the Order."

Tearach heard the wind pick up outside and the air around the Sorceress fairly sparked with magic. “I wanted some time with them to myself. Is that so wrong, Shayla?"

"And what were you planning to do with
that
?” Shayla pointed toward the dagger Tearach held in his right hand.

He expelled a long breath. “Nothing! I just wasn't sure who was tearing through the house or why.” He quickly sheathed the knife. His senses were so focused on the baby and the need to protect her that he'd scarcely known when Kathy had entered the room earlier. Right now, he couldn't seem to feel any member of the Order, as he should. Long ago, his father had taught him to expect such a reaction to his child's birth. His ability to sense those around him would return in due time.

The wind abated and Shayla walked forward. “Given the way Goblin men behave with their newborns, I'll forgive you.” She smiled. “Let me have the baby."

"What do you want with her?” Kathy backed away, cradling the infant closer to her body.

Shayla lowered her voice and sat upon the bed. “Come and sit beside me, both of you.” She paused and turned her head toward the hallway. “Rome and Cairna, go back downstairs and quit lurking about like Gremlins. And the next time you try to stop me and my men from entering a home, I'll separate you for a month so that you can consider the foolishness of doing such a thing."

"Yes, Sorceress,” came two disembodied and contrite voices.

"Don't blame them,” Tearach explained, “I asked them to keep everyone away."

"Sit down,” Shayla told them again.

Tearach nodded to Kathy and they both sat on either side of the older woman. They waited for Shayla to gather her robe about her in queenly fashion. “Now, then, I want to see this new little blessing. I won't hurt her, Kathleen.” She stretched her arms out for the baby.

When Tearach nodded, Kathy slowly handed Tearyn over to the Sorceress. He watched Kathy nervously chew her bottom lip and her eyes never left the infant. They were full of fear. He knew that if Shayla did anything Kathy perceived as a threat, whether real or imagined, she'd die trying to get her baby back. It was very important that he comfort her and quickly. All Shayla wanted to do was look at the baby. It was a right she held as Sorceress. But Kathy couldn't understand that at the moment. “Come sit by me, love. It's all right,” he held out a hand to her. Kathy quickly stood and moved to him. He pulled her to his side and wrapped his arms protectively around her.