The Swear Jar (6 page)

“Lady Meara, why don’t you take my
arm and away we’ll go?”  He tucked the carrots into his back pocket and held
the apples in his hand.

She put her hand on his arm.  Anne
was nearby, merrily feeding the horses.  The ponies knew treats were headed
their way.

“Here comes one,” said Meara,
ducking behind him without letting go of his arm.

“We’ll do this nice and slow, so no
one will spook,” he said.  “I’m going to hold out the apple, making sure I tuck
my fingers in so he doesn’t get a nibble.”

“Brave, Sir Duncan,” she murmured,
leaning forward against his back.  “Be careful!”

The pony munched happily while they
watched.  The second pony headed for her, nuzzling her side.  Her hand slid
down his arm and into his hand, intertwining their fingers.  She wrapped her
other hand around his bicep, pressing her breasts into his arm.  A thrill went
through him.  He wondered if she making a pass at him.  Then he saw the
terrified look on her face.

“Duncan,” she breathed.  “What is
he doing? Don’t let him eat me!”

“He won’t eat you, I promise.  He’s
just looking for his treat.  Take this carrot and hold it out to him.”

Chapter Six

Meara took the carrot, continuing
to hold Duncan’s hand.  She leaned towards the pony.  He squeezed her hand
encouragingly.  The pony took the carrot.  Meara smiled at Duncan.  She
realized he was stroking her hand with his thumb.  She was about to let go when
the first pony nudged him from the other side.

“Whoa, buddy,” he laughed.  “I have
a carrot for you too!  Do you want to feed this pony?”

“No, I’ll watch you.”  She stroked
his palm with her thumb.  “Do you think my friend wants his apple?”

“He’d follow us home to get it! 
You better give it to him.”  He didn’t want to let go of her hand.

She took the apple.  Turning, she
was surprised to see the pony right next to her.  She jumped, unintentionally
releasing Duncan’s hand.

“Yikes!  He’s close.  Are you sure
he isn’t going to eat me?” she whispered.

“Librarian-eating ponies are rare,
but they do exist.  I can’t rule out the possibility.  If you give him the
apple, we’ll make a run for it.”  He liked teasing her.

“You’ve been hanging out with Anne
too much.”  Smiling, she gave the pony the apple.

“Now back out slowly.  If they
follow us, we’ll let them eat Anne,” he grinned.

She giggled merrily.  Backing away
from the ponies, they headed towards the gate.  Anne was waiting, swinging an
empty bucket.

“What took you so long?” Anne
cried.  “I’m already done!”

“Why am I not surprised?” Meara
replied.  “Now, Anne, we have to get those plants and return Duncan to the
library.  It’s getting late and I’m sure we’re keeping Duncan from important
work.  Get moving, young lady.”

“Sir Duncan, do you really need to
get back to the library?” asked Anne.

“I don’t want to contradict your
aunt.  Let’s say I could keep myself busy if I were back at the library, but I
like having fun now and then.  What kind of plants were you ladies looking for
today?” asked Duncan.

“She has some boring list,” huffed
Anne.  “If it’s not on the list, she won’t get it.  It’s always like that!”

Meara said, “And there’s a good
reason.  You talk to me and I forget things.  It’s self-defense.  You know I
only stick to the list to annoy you.”

Anne scrunched up her nose and
squinted.  “You’re so mean.”

Meara blew the raspberry at Anne. 
“Go get a greenhouse cart and we’ll get started.”

Anne ran off, her braids flying. 
Duncan waited for Anne to be out of hearing to give a hearty laugh.

Meara rolled her eyes.  “You don’t
have to live with her.”

She followed her list while Anne
brought over different plants that were quickly vetoed.  Anne was frustrated.  
She picked up marigolds and approached Meara.  Duncan caught Anne’s attention
and winked at her.

“Anne, marigolds!  That’s perfect. 
Some gardeners say having marigolds repels deer and insects,” said Duncan.

Meara raised an eyebrow.  “Pest
control?  Anne, pick out a few marigolds.  Good job, Anne.  Thank you, Duncan.”

Beaming at him, Anne ran off to
gather the marigolds.  Meara went back to choosing plants.  The greenhouse cart
was soon filled to bursting.

Meara sighed.  “I think we’re
done.  Thank you, Duncan, for everything.  It’s been a wonderful day.”

He replied, “It’s been my
pleasure.  I don’t see many flower plants.  I thought you’d like flowers in
your garden.”

“I’m a black thumb.  I’ll be
surprised if these plants make it.  I’d hate to kill any pretty flowers.  These
plants have a chance if Anne waters them.”  She shrugged.

“She’s horrible with plants.  She
killed a cactus.  She’s so weird.  She doesn’t like roses.  She thinks they
belong in a garden, not in a florist shop,” Anne said.  “She likes carnations
and wildflowers because they’re practical.”

Meara rolled her eyes.  “We should
get Duncan back to the library before it closes.”

Anne navigated the greenhouse cart
towards the checkout stand.  Duncan followed, smiling and shaking his head. 
They could keep him entertained all afternoon.  Near the checkout counter was a
display case full of baked goods.  Anne was drooling over the goodies.

“Don’t even think about it,” said
Meara, leaving Duncan and Anne by the baked goods.

Duncan chuckled.  “She’s tough.”

“She’s worse than my own mother,”
Anne replied seriously.  “Look at those chocolate chocolate chip cookies.  Sir
Duncan, what kind of cookies do you like?”

“I like the classic chocolate chip
cookies but I also like the chocolate chunk and the M&M cookies.”

Meara was listening as the cashier
rang up their order.  “Anne, take the cart to the Jeep and start loading the
plants.”

Anne sighed.  “She’s so bossy.”

Duncan laughed.  “I’ll help you.”

Duncan and Anne loaded the plants
into the Jeep.  Meara joined them.  She was carrying a plastic bag, but didn’t
offer any explanations.  He gave her directions and soon they were back at the
library.  She pulled up to the front of the library and stopped.  They looked
at Anne in the backseat.  She was asleep.

“She’s had lots of excitement. 
I’ll take her home and throw her in the pool,” teased Meara.  “No response. 
She’s really out.  Thank you for everything, Sir Duncan.  I can’t remember the
last time I had such a wonderful adventure.”

“Thank you for sharing it with me,
Lady Meara,” he replied.  “I’m looking forward to Monday.”

“So am I.”  Blushing, she handed
him a large, white bag.  “I have something for you.”

He opened it.  “Chocolate chip and
M&M cookies.  Thank you.”

“A small token of my appreciation,
Sir Duncan.  You deserve them for putting up with us,” she said quietly.

She reached out to shake his hand. 
He held her hand firmly.  They looked into each other’s eyes.  The world melted
away as Meara got lost in his eyes.

“Until Monday, Mr. Phillips,” she
whispered.

“Until Monday, Lady Meara,” he
replied with a twinkle in his green eyes. “We’re not inside the library.”

Never looking away from her eyes,
he brought her hand to his lips.  He kissed her knuckles then he slowly
released her hand.  She turned a bright red.  He got out of the Jeep and smiled
at her through the open window.

She managed to squeak.  “Goodbye.”

“Goodbye.”  Grinning, he turned and
without looking back, entered the library.

She sat dazed for a few seconds. 
She sighed and smiled as she stared at the hand he had kissed.  A voice from
the backseat startled her.

“Did he kiss your hand?” Anne
asked.

“Yes, he did.  I’m being wooed.”

“What’s that?”

“Wooed.  Courted.  Romanced.”

“He does like you.”

“Be quiet, Anne.  I thought you
were asleep.”

“It got quiet.  I saw him kissing
your hand.  Do you like him?”

“If I tell you yes, will you leave
me alone?”

“Nope.”

“If I tell you no, will you leave
me alone?”

“Nope.”

“I can’t win, can I?”

“Nope.”

“Is that all you can say?”

“Yep.”

“Anne, you’re going to be the death
of me.”

“Yep.  Did you get any cookies for
us?”

“Maybe.”

“Maybe yes or maybe no?”

“Maybe you’ll find out after we’ve
unloaded the plants and get a kettle of water boiling for tea.”

“I’ll skip the tea and go for the
cookies.  Did you get the chocolate chocolate chip cookies?”

“Yep.”

Anne bounded out of the Jeep as
soon as Meara drove up to the front porch of the ranch house.  Anne emptied the
plants from the Jeep in record time.

“I’m drooling, Aunt Meara.  Can I
have a cookie now?” Anne danced and begged.

“Okay, kid, but if you spoil your
dinner, I know nothing.”

“It’s a deal.  You never answered
me.”

“About what?”

“Do you like him?”

Meara looked at Anne very
seriously.  “I do.  Can we leave it at that?  No teasing or asking questions?”

“Yep.”

Monday morning, Duncan awoke before
the alarm.  The weekend had gone by quickly.  He still wondered what had
possessed him to kiss Meara’s hand.  He had made her blush and speechless at
the same time.  He grinned.  He bounded out of bed in nervous anticipation.  He
was washed and shaved in record time.

With a towel around his waist, he
contemplated what to wear.  He didn’t usually wear suits, but today wasn’t an
ordinary day.  It was her first day.  But if he wore a suit, Tom and Lucy would
tease him.  He patted his belly and thought about joining a gym.  He decided he
would wear his usual slacks and dress shirt, no tie.  He dressed quickly.  He even
had time for a cup of coffee and a bagel.

He made a quick stop at Maple Tree
Farm.  He bought chocolate kisses and an enormous bouquet of flowers.  The
bouquet was filled with brightly colored gerbera daisies, statice,
alstroemeria, mini-carnations and spider mums.  He made it to the library
earlier than usual.  He wanted to be there when she arrived.  He unlocked the
Youth Services office.  He placed the chocolate kisses in a glass bowl the
previous librarian had used for peppermints.  He wrinkled his nose because he
didn’t like peppermints.  He hoped Meara liked chocolate.

He found a vase in the staff
kitchen.  She would probably like to arrange the bouquet herself.  He had no
idea how to do it.  He chuckled about her dislike of roses.  What woman didn’t
like roses?  He relocked the office door.  He wondered if she would be early or
on time.  What would she wear?  Would she go home for lunch?  Would she show up
at all?  He rolled his eyes.  He sounded like a lovesick schoolboy.  He stood
at the Circulation Desk and stared out the front doors looking for her.

He spotted her coming up the walk. 
She was dressed in blue slacks, a light blue blouse and brown leather shoes. 
Her hair was in a ponytail.  She was carrying two plastic totes and a large
dark blue bag over her shoulder.  She stared at the locked door, willing it
open.  He rushed forward to unlock the door.

“Thank you, Mr. Phillips.  I was
wondering how I was going to manage it,” she beamed.

“Good morning, Miss Meara.  Were
you planning on moving in?”  He teased.

“Good morning.  This is only the
tip of the iceberg.  These are the bare necessities of the job.  I’ll bring
more stuff once I figure out what I’m going to need.”

Holding the door, he reached for
one of the totes.  “Here, let me help.”

“Thanks.  They get heavy after a
while.”

“You’re not kidding.  What’s in
here?  Do I see tools?  Are you planning on remodeling?”

“I might.  I’ll need the right
tools.”

“Welcome aboard!  Let me know if
you’ll need any heavy demolition equipment.  It might not be in the budget, but
we’ll see what we can do.”  He winked.

She laughed.  They walked to the
Youth Services office.  She put down her tote, shifted the bag on her shoulder
and took out her key.  Opening the door, she stepped inside to see the flowers
and chocolate kisses.  She almost dropped the tote.

She gasped, “Wow!  The flowers are
beautiful!  Who has such lovely flowers?”

His smile turned into a frown.  “I
don’t understand.  You don’t share this office with anyone.  The flowers are
yours as a welcome to the library.”

Flashing a brilliant smile, she
clapped her hands.  “Really?  That’s so sweet.  I’ve never been welcomed like
this!”

She leaned forward to inhale the
flowers’ scent.  She gently touched them.  Watching her, he placed the tote on
the floor next to hers.  They were standing very close to each other.  She
leaned against the desk, shying away from him.

He spoke softly.  “I hope you’ll
like it here, Miss Meara.  We’re very happy to have you.  If there’s anything I
can do, please let me know.  Tom and Lucy will be here soon.”

She whispered, “I’m very glad to be
here.”

She wondered if he was going to
kiss her hand again.  Since they were inside the library, she thought she was
safe.  He would honor the parameters they had set.  She would have like it if
he had kissed her hand again.  She would have liked it if he had kissed her on
the lips.  She blushed.  He watched her blush and wondered what she was
thinking.  He was tempted to touch her dimple, but he restrained himself.  He
heard Tom and Lucy entering the building.  Nodding, he left her office and
greeted Tom and Lucy heartily.  Tom and Lucy exchanged looks.  They smiled at
him.

“I see our new Head of Youth
Services has arrived,” said Tom.  “You’re practically skipping with that grin
on your face.”

“Tom, be nice,” said Lucy.  “How is
Meara this morning?”

“She’s fine and settling into her
office,” said Duncan, failing miserably to suppress his grin.  “You two should
say hello.  I’ll handle opening the library.”

Lucy nodded.  “I hope she brought a
coffee mug.  I’ll go check up on her.”

When Lucy was out of earshot, Tom
turned to Duncan.  “What’s the plan?”

“What do you mean?  What plan?”
Duncan replied, looking clueless.

“The plan with Meara.  Or should I
say Miss Meara?” teased Tom.

“There’s no plan, Tom.  Miss Meara
is a lovely woman and she’s going to be a great addition to our staff.”

“That’s your story and you’re
sticking to it?”

“Yes,” said Duncan, looking in the
direction of Meara’s office, his eyes softening.  “For now.”

“That’s the spirit!”  Tom clapped
Duncan on the back.