Tara perked up and asked, “Blond hair? Same build as Duncan?”

“Yeah, he had blond hair, but he was a little shorter.”

“Duncan, remember the other knight who challenged you at the Renaissance Faire?” Tara took a deep breath and turned to Fin. “Could that have been him?”

Fin nodded. “Aye, Tara, I think you’re right. He was the only man who matched us on the field. I remember him talking with Grainna once or twice during the Faire.”

“So, he is practiced in horsemanship and fighting in our time?” Ian asked.

“Aye.” Duncan and Fin both said together.

“Did he have a gun, Simon?” Todd sat back and gave up trying to eat.

“I didn’t see one.”

“Do you mean a matchlock gun?”

Todd reached down to his leg where his backup was clamped onto his ankle. After removing the clip and checking the chamber to make sure it wasn’t live, he handed the gun to Ian.

“No, not a matchlock. These are much more powerful with mechanism to kick out an empty shell and reload with one squeeze of the trigger. These keep your enemy at a safer distance.” Todd watched Ian’s frame relax as he studied the weapon. He took his silence as an invitation to elaborate. “Matchlocks will eventually lead up to this design.”

“How can something so small be deadly?”

“The speed and power propelling the large caliper bullet make up a deadly combination. Of course the closer you are to the perpetrator, the more likely you are to hit them.”

“All men in your time have such weapons?”

“I wouldn’t say all. Hunters, law enforcement officers, and some homeowners own them, but very few walk around with them strapped to their hip.

Except of course, most criminals seem to have them.”

“It would be best to assume the man with Grainna does as well,” Ian stated flatly.

“I don’t think so,” Todd argued. “If he did, he would have held the gun on Simon, not a knife.”

Liz shuddered with the memory fresh in everyone’s mind.

Ian handed the gun to Duncan. “Maybe, but we take no chances. Until this man and Grainna are found, none of the women or children are to leave the Keep. This includes you Cian.”

“But...”

“Nay, Cian. You are needed here and your training is not complete. I will not have you in battle and risk you being captured then used as a pawn by Grainna.” Ian’s decree gave little room for argument and his tone was final. “Duncan, you and Fin are to show Todd our ways, in horses and weapons. I trust you are willing to defend this family.”

It wasn’t a question really, more of a statement to which Todd gave immediate agreement.

“Then you will go with us when we search. You and your weapons.”

“What good is a gun if Grainna is immortal?”

Myra asked with evidence of worry etched in her face. The conversation stopped.

“How do you know that she is immortal?” asked Todd. He couldn’t help but wonder if anyone at the table knew for certain such an unbelievable fact.

“It is written in the legend,” Myra told Todd.

“It is also written that she is powerless, and we know that isn’t true,” Duncan reminded them.

“Maybe there is some type of loophole. Some way to destroy her.” Tara offered.

Todd’s head scrambled with all the possibilities.

For now, he sank into his seat and watched as the family pushed food around on their plates and mulled over the facts as they knew them.

Simon, who had remained quiet most of the night, finally spoke up when he asked his mother,

“We’re not going home, are we?”

Todd sent Simon a sympathetic look. We don’t go home.

Liz’s gaze went past her son and settled on Fin silently asking for answers.

“Simon. Remember how you said you didn’t like your school?” Fin asked.

“Well, yeah, but...”

“But what? Cian can work with you to teach you what men need to know here.”

His withdrawn eyes widened.

“Aye, and I can help with your Druid gifts as well. Like we did last week,” said Cian.

“Does this mean I’m going to miss my midterm in algebra?” he asked his mom.

“I think so.”

“Cool.”

Todd earned a disapproving grunt from Liz when he told him, “You’ll never use algebra anyway.”

Tara chuckled and offered Todd a smile.

“I’m tired,” Simon announced as he pushed his chair away from the table.

Liz jumped to her feet. “Come with me. You can sleep in my room tonight.”

“Elizabeth?”

Todd wasn’t used to hearing Liz’s full name used. From how quickly Liz swiveled toward Fin, it was obviously something she didn’t like.

“He will be safe with Cian.”

Liz’s jaw tightened. “Simon, why don’t you change, I’ll be up in a minute.”

Simon nearly bounced out of the room. Several family members stood to leave.

Todd waited and watched. Once Simon was out of earshot, Liz grit her teeth and glared at Fin. “I want him with me.”

“He’s safe with Cian,” Fin repeated

“And he isn’t with me?”

“I didn’t say that!”

“You implied it.”

“You cannot be with him every second, Elizabeth.”

“Who says so? You?”

“It isn’t possible or healthy.”

Liz clenched her fist. Anger and fear washed over her features. Her whispered words solidified her feelings. “I almost lost him, Fin. I won’t let that happen again.”

“I know. I won’t let it happen, either.”

“None of us will, lass,” Ian spoke up softly.

“I don’t know what I would have done if we hadn’t reached him in time, and she left with him or hurt him.”

Fin lowered his voice, touched her hand lying on the table. “We rescued him. He is safe and in the other room. She will not get to him here. I promise you.”

“I’m holding you to that.”

After a moment of silence, Ian stood. “Blakely.”

Todd met his eyes.

“A private word.”

Taking a deep breath, Todd stood and followed Myra’s father from the room.

Ian MacCoinnich was one hell of man, Todd thought as he followed him into the massive room. It wasn’t a surprise that Myra remained a virgin for as long as she had. With a protector like her father and brothers, it was a wonder she ever had that first kiss in the barn. Todd took pride in his ability to read people and their worth with few words. So far, Ian proved to be a man he wanted to be on the same side with. His absolute authority over his family and his men was awe-inspiring and exactly as Todd imagined Lairds in the sixteenth century should have been. Shit, he needed to stop thinking like that. It’s the way they were.