Protector (The Brannock Siblings Book 4) (5 page)

His mother always told him never to question Maggie. Today
would be the first day Liam agreed with her.

He hammered the last nail into the newly repaired step
leading up to the front porch. Gazing up at the house he only ever saw empty
since his uncle passed, he wondered how long the place would stay upright.

He fixed broken things and checked on the house every day,
but not once did he actually meet a tenant of his aunt's. He was grateful for
it since he was no good with strangers these days. Something about not being
able to carry on a conversation for longer than a quick greeting. It just
wasn't in him to put himself out there like that. Not anymore.

His life in Rathnew wasn't exciting, but it was enough for
now. He had it all planned out. Earn enough money to put himself through
school, study at university, and become the best constable Rathnew could ever
hope for. Now, to just make the next year or so happen a little faster before
his cousin finally convinced him to join the cause up north.

He wanted nothing to do with war. Not only because he didn't
believe the reasons were valid and he didn't want to get blown up, but because
his future held more than a gun
and
a grudge.

He also needed to think of his family and what was best for
them. Times were hard, but they'd made it through so far. It wouldn't get any
better if he ran off to play the hero.

"Liam, boyo, have you finished with the back yet? Word
arrived from Dublin, the tenant is on her way and I must say, I do not know
that she'll think kindly of the weeds devouring the walk."

Liam turned to see his Aunt Margaret walking toward him from
the back of the house to which she was just referring. He rolled his eyes. "You're
just like Ma, Aunt Maggie. You rightly know I've not finished. This step was a
bloody bastard to get right."

"Watch your language, laddie. I'll not have you runnin'
off the poor girl renting my house in the first day."

Liam rolled his eyes and grinned. "Aye, Aunt. I'll not
run her off. She might need a little color, however, after sleeping on the
inside of this dreary place. Do you not plan on painting the walls
anymore?"

"Dreary? Your ma will be hearin' from me before
nightfall, daft little shit. I ought to clatter that fine face o' yours,"
she said sternly, sweeping a stray lock of her red hair back into the bun she
always wore. Liam caught the twitch in her lips, fighting a smile he knew was
already there. "Dreary! My house is not dreary. However, if you'd like to
go to Jenks and purchase a few pots of that yellow paint you never let me
choose, be my guest. But you'll have to wait a month. This bird is stayin' a
while."

Liam didn't plan on being around much in that month unless
he was called. He wasn't looking forward to it, but he would have to find other
ways to occupy his time if work didn't pick up anywhere else.

Maggie looked up at the house with a wistful smile. She was
too young to lose her husband and Liam made it a point to be there for her when
he could. In her early forties, she didn't look a day over thirty. That is,
until Fergus passed away. Her green eyes seemed duller and her normally bright
face a little paler. Liam knew she struggled, but that was only because he saw
it firsthand. Anyone else would take one look at her and go running for the hills
because it was her will. She was tough and didn't give a damn what other people
thought of her.

"Not a tourist then? A month is ages in one place for a
tourist."

Maggie shrugged. "All I know is she is American, only
gave me a week's notice. Sure to find out more when she arrives."

He was going to be bored out of his mind then. They rarely
stayed in the house since they were too busy traveling all around to see the
tourist sites. He could probably sneak by and finish the other work he had to
do while she was gone.

"I'll be back when she arrives. Finish what you can,
lad," Maggie called as she walked away.

Liam strode behind the house and started in on the weeds
that were overgrown on the back porch. It wasn't long before he heard his aunt
greeting someone at the front. He was tempted to look and see who the tenant
was, but then he really didn't care. He needed to get home soon and help Ma
with the repairs she needed done in the kitchen. His father wasn't going to be
back home until late the next evening and he didn't want her to worry about something
big breaking.

Footsteps sounded in the nearby kitchen and he could hear
Maggie boasting about the view of the gardens. Whoever the tenant was, she
didn't say much. Probably because she couldn't understand a damn word his aunt
was saying. Maggie always forgot to speak clearly to visitors from out of
country, but it was a riot to see the confused faces of those listening. A part
of him wondered if his aunt did it on purpose just to see that look.

Liam shook his head and started gathering his tools. It
wasn't long before Maggie was back outside telling him to go home anyway.

He would need to return soon enough to fix the stones on the
back steps that wobbled too much for his liking. He didn't want the tenant to
get hurt if it broke off completely. That would cause his aunt a mess she
didn't have the time to deal with.

"I'll see you at dinner, Maggie," he waved and
chuckled at her returning eye roll. On the walk to his car, he made a mental
note to pick up some mortar for the stones. It was when he turned back to find
his forgotten hammer that Liam saw her.

Being no stranger to beautiful women, he didn't expect to
lose his breath in one glance. He had his share of dates over the last few
years, but there was something different about the figure standing on the back
porch. Something that made Liam's chest tighten and his head swim.

Long, dark brown hair draped over a slender shoulder as she
looked up at the blue sky. A warm breeze swept a few strands of hair back and revealed
a stunning profile that rooted Liam to the spot. Her cheek was a rosy pink and
her nose was small and pointed with a charming drop to her lush pink lips. The
urge to press his lips to the tip of that nose was almost irresistible, but
those lips looked like they would end him. Her elegant jaw pointed to a small
chin that brought the rest of her face to a graceful end.

That flawless profile was a testament to what she must have
looked like up close.

He didn't dare find out for himself and it wasn't very often
that Liam discovered himself shocked into stillness, awe at the sight before
him. He stood there, watching her gaze at the sky with her eyes closed and her
chest rising slowly, inhaling the cool air around her. She had no idea he was
there and he knew if she turned to see him, she would most likely be startled
into running away from his tattered appearance.

So, he didn't move a muscle and he barely breathed.

Hours could have passed by and still, Liam would have wanted
a little longer to watch her. When she turned away from him and walked back
into the house, he felt his entire body go slack.

Disappointment.

He wanted to get closer and talk to her, see her face to
face and decide for himself if she was real or not. The opportunity passed, but
his schedule suddenly cleared to make room for Maggie's house and maybe a
little conversation with a stranger.

It was a long moment before he finally turned away and
walked to his car. The hammer could wait, but if he didn't leave now, he could
stand there and wait all day for another glimpse of her.

Liam rolled his shoulders as he climbed into his truck,
feeling the tightness fade out until he could draw in a long breath. What was a
woman like that doing traveling alone? All the way from America? It didn't seem
right.

 The drive home wasn't long, but it gave him too much time
to think. He had some decisions to make soon and those included his time spent
helping Maggie with her rental and the small restaurant she owned. He could
pass the responsibilities on to someone else and he was sure Maggie would
support anything he did. It was a difficult decision, though, since he knew how
busy she was and she
was
his mother's sister. He couldn't abandon her.

The Brannocks were a large family. With Liam being the
oldest at twenty three, he made sure he was around to help his parents out
whenever they needed him. It wasn't expected, but it was a privilege. His four
younger siblings were old enough to help out, but they were too busy sneaking
off to meet their friends and begging Liam to cover for them.

His brother, Brian, was only a couple years younger than
Liam and was the smartest out of all of them. He spent most of his days
studying or reading and kept to himself for the most part. That is, until the
others decided it was time to get into trouble. Brian's goal was University,
their
goal was to make sure he knew they were all upset that he was leaving them. He
had friends far and wide. Friends that were more like connections.

Liam had no doubt Brian would go far in life.

Cara was next and as the oldest daughter, she had a motherly
way about her. Being only eighteen with two older brothers that didn't think
anyone was good enough for her, she didn't get the chance to go out very often
unless it was with friends Liam and Brian trusted. He figured they should
probably back off a bit, but it was too much fun to get her riled up. Ma scolded
them, but he knew she appreciated her sons watching out for her beautiful
daughter. Cara was no push over, either. They'd all seen her wrath more than a
few times.

Colin was another story. At sixteen, the boy didn't have the
slightest clue what he wanted out of life and spent most of his time chasing
girls that didn't want to be chased. Colin was also crazy and daring. Liam
found himself running to help him more times than he could count and their
mother and father were nearly at the end of their rope. Doctors were expensive
and Colin was a regular, not to mention the fact that his father's coworkers
knew the boy better than they should have.

Fiona was the youngest. After Colin, Liam's parents hadn't
planned on having another child, especially since Colin was born on the move.
Fiona was the blessing they all needed. She was ten years old and just as
active as Colin, but also as smart as Brian. She paid attention to what was
expected of her while Ma and Cara helped her along the way. For now, Liam was
her hero and although he knew it would change, it was a job he loved.

Mary and William Brannock had raised their five children as
best as they could and every single one of those children were grateful for
their love and support. Now if Liam could only find a way to tell them that he
no longer knew what he was doing with his life, things would be a little less
awkward.

His mother asked him almost daily what his decision was.
School? Work? Was he going to move up north with Maggie's boy?

They were decisions he'd made a long time ago, but somehow,
he got lost along the way. University was always the plan, but then how was he
to expect help from his parents when they were just getting by. Five children
could be expensive even if they were all grown. His decision to work and save
the money came easily, then more time passed and he couldn't remember what his
plan had been in the first place.

He caught sight of Fiona when he stopped the truck in front
of his home. She would play outside all day if there was no one to remind her
to eat and rest. She ran around with her dark braids flopping up and down on
her back and it wouldn't take long for her to become unrecognizable once the
dirt started to stick.

"Liam! Come look at the puppies. They've grown
already!" Fiona shouted as he walked up the path to the house.

Fiona had been keeping a constant vigil on the recent litter
of puppies her dog, Guinevere - a giant Irish Wolfhound - gave birth to just
three weeks before. It was hard to keep the little girl around when there were
seven puppies to cuddle with.

"Aye, Finny, I'm running," Liam called as he
followed his little sister to the shed behind the house.

She already had three of the pups in her lap by the time he
caught up to her and she was right. They were all grown quite a bit and it was
getting difficult for her to hold them.

"Take care with the teeth, Finny. You don't want Ma to
scold you again for not being able to do the wash."

Fiona frowned and dropped her head forward, "They don't
mean to bite me, Liam. They just can't help that their teeth are sharp as
blades."

"Right you are."

Liam held a small puppy in his hands while Fiona checked on
Guinevere who looked like she was about to collapse.

"Maybe I should take Gwinny inside tonight, she looks
shattered," she said, concern in her small voice and her dark blue eyes
wide as saucers.

"Why would you want to take the children away from
their mother?" Liam asked her and her reaction was amusing.

"Oh!" she cried. "No, that won't be right at
all. You can't take a child from her ma."

"And how do you think Gwinny would feel to be separated
from her babies?"

Fiona's brow furrowed as she pondered the question.
"You are right, Liam. She wouldn't appreciate that at all. I think she
might blather at me all night if I kept her from them. I just thought she might
want a chance to rest without the little ones climbing all over her."

Liam crouched down and tugged on one of Fiona's braids.
"You are a smart child, Finny. And I think you've done a wonderful job
taking care of the pups. Guinevere is grateful to you."

Fiona beamed at him and he felt a warmth in his chest
knowing that he just made her day.

"Come inside now. Ma will be needing help in the
kitchen with Aunt Maggie coming over."

Fiona grumbled under her breath about doing housework and
cooking disgusting vegetables, but Liam knew she would do anything that was
asked of her and she would do it with a smile.