Under Orders (6 page)

She ran out
of breath, having rushed the words as fast as she could, needing to make him
see sense, and slowly that barrel lowered until it pointed to the floor.
Jonathan stepped forward palm up.

“May I?” he
asked, and Anna blew out the breath she’d been holding when Grand-pops nodded.
He swayed, but before she could do anything Jonathan had him propped up against
him. Grand pops looked old and frail now that he’d surrendered the weapon, and
allowed himself to be led to his favorite spot in front of the Aga.

Anna sank to
her knees and rested her head on his thigh, like she used to do as a child,
whilst Jonathan stood back to give them some privacy.

Grand-pops’s
fingers, bent by arthritis, stroked her hair, and Anna shut her eyes.

“I would have
shot him in an instant. I still would if he ever hurts you, Anna.”

She looked up
just in time to see the look of understanding pass between the two men.

“I would lay
down my life for your granddaughter, Sir. I would never hurt her, and I will
kill anyone who tries to, human or otherwise. She is under my protection and
the council’s.”

Jonathan’s
solemn words settled in the quiet room, and Anna smiled at him. She didn’t want
him killing anyone, but his protectiveness made her feel cherished. Now, if
only Grand-pops would see it her way. The silence grew uncomfortable, the
ticking of the old grandfather clock far too loud.

When Pops finally
spoke his voice was rough with unshed tears.

“That’s all I
needed to know.”

A ton weight
lifted off
A
nna’s shoulders, and
she jumped up and hugged him. He held her close for a minute and then laughed
and shooed Anna away. “Now, go make us that cuppa, whilst I quiz this young
whippersnapper of yours. I left the teapot in the study. Take your time. Some
things are not for women’s ears.”

Anna snorted
her disgust and glared at Jonathan’s smirk. She paused on the doorstep to see
the two men with their heads together. Jonathan laughed at something that Grand-pops
had said. No doubt he just told him one of his famous dirty jokes. Anna pulled
the study door shut behind her. She would take an extraordinarily long time
finding the teapot, left in its usual place by the fire.

Sitting down
in
her
chair in the study, she picked up the photo of her and her mum,
taken a few weeks before she died.

For the first
time since her mum’s death she knew with absolute certainty that everything was
going to be all right. She had never been so glad to be under orders.

The End

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Other Books by Doris O'Connor:

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