horse maybe twice in my entire life—a normal-sized

horse.”

“Please, Mom,” Jacob said, craning his neck to look up

at her. “They’re real y nice. And they like us ’cause we

brushed them.”

“They liked it when I got under and brushed their bel ies,”

Peter added, making Peg squeeze him in horror.

She heard Duncan sigh. “Wil ye at least give the horses

and your children a chance to prove themselves? I would

never do anything to endanger your kids, Peg. We’re

almost legendary in the state for our gentle mares, and the

children of our clan start riding before they even walk.”

“I know how to ride, Mom,” Charlotte said. “And you’l

catch on real quick.”

Jacob tugged on her sweatshirt. “I’l ride with you if you

want, Mom,” he whispered. “And I’l sit in front and you can

hold on to me if you’re afraid of fal ing off.”

Oh God, Jacob was reassuring her? When had he gotten

so brave?

Oh, that’s right; when he’d started hanging around big

strong men.

Peg blew out a sigh. “Okay, I guess we can give it a try.”

“Whoopee!” Jacob and Peter shouted, jumping up and

down.

And to Peg’s surprise, none of the horses flinched. In

fact, one of them reached its big nose toward Jacob, and it

was al Peg could do not to pul him back when she saw his

tiny hand inches from its mouth. “Um, how are we going to

carry al our stuff?”

Duncan gestured at the sacks tied on al three saddles

even as his eyes lit with humor. “If it doesn’t fit, then we

don’t need it. We’re going for the day, not a week.”

“I know that,” she said, turning away. “Come on, guys,

help me get our things.”

“This is going to be the best day ever,” Isabel said,

running ahead of her. “The only way it could be better was if

Henry was going so I could ride with him.”

Peg ushered the others on ahead, but stopped when

Duncan cal ed her name.

“Where’s your new truck?” he asked, looking around, his

eyes turning serious again when he looked back at her.

“Please tel me it’s not taking a long nap.”

She’d cal ed Duncan’s mother the minute they’d returned

from Inglenook yesterday, and Peg had discovered that

Charlotte MacKeage could be just as strong-minded as her

son. The woman had persuaded Peg to use the truck until

she and Cal um got there later this week and signed the

title over, assuring her it was ful y insured and that she

preferred Peg drove it instead of Duncan because … wel ,

had she seen the man’s pickup? “The kids and I cleaned

out a spot in the garage for it yesterday afternoon, so it

doesn’t get covered in al the dust you’re stirring up in the

pit.”

“I’l keep the road watered when we’re hauling. And Peg?

Thank you.”

“For?”

He lifted the reins he was holding. “For not making us

walk those last four miles.” His eyes lit with something she

couldn’t quite identify. “And for not making me have to hunt

you down this morning,” he said quietly.

Not real y sure if he was joking or not, Peg mutely

nodded and turned away, walking inside to the sound of his

soft laughter.

“How about if for today we forget the ‘mister’ and you al cal

me Duncan?”

“Mom’s not going to like that,” Isabel said, giving him a

pretty impressive scowl.

“Your mom’s taking today off and she left me in charge,

so I guess that means I get to make the rules.”

“So when the day’s al done we gotta go back to Mom’s

rules and cal you Mr. Duncan again?” Jacob asked.

“That’s the plan.”

“What other rules you got?” Pete asked, eyeing him

suspiciously.

“Wel , when my tribe back in Pine Creek goes on a

picnic, al the little heathens have to catch their own dinner.”

Isabel gasped. “You got a tribe of kids just like us?”

“No, not of my own,” Duncan said with a chuckle. “I was

referring to my cousin’s children. And we cal ourselves a

clan, which is the same thing as a tribe. So, are you al up

for a little fishing?”

“I’m not sticking no slimy worm on no hook,” Isabel said,

back to scowling—until she suddenly beamed him a big

smile and damn if she didn’t bat her lashes. “But if you

baited the hook for me, M—Duncan, then I could catch my

dinner. I love trout.”

“Sorry, but it’s every man and woman for themselves

when it comes to fishing,” he said, making sure to hide his

smile when she went back to scowling. “So I hope you’re

not real hungry.”

“I ain’t afraid of no worms,” Pete said. He suddenly

gasped. “Hey, can I say ain’t today if you’re making the

rules?”

Aw, hel ; he hadn’t real y anticipated that particular

problem. “I suppose you can,” he said with a nod, “if you

don’t mind sounding like you’re only four years old.”

“He is four years old,” Isabel said, stil scowling. “And so

is Jacob.”

Lord, that one was going to be trouble for her future

husband. “Real y?” He looked from Jacob to Pete and

shook his head. “I’d swear they were older, because they

usual y talk and act like they’re at least six.”

“I’m six,” Isabel growled. But then she smiled smugly.

“And I don’t say ain’t.”

“We’re gonna be five in …” Jacob looked at his oldest

sister. “How many months until our birthday?”

“Three,” Charlotte said. She glanced up at the ledge

where Peg was reading, then looked at Duncan with the

same serious blue eyes as her mother. “Are al the men in

your clan big like you and Alec and Robbie? And strong

swimmers who can go in ice-cold water like you did the

other day?”

Figuring where this was headed, Duncan nodded. “We

al started swimming in cold mountain ponds around your

ages.”

“Girls, too?” Isabel asked.

“Wel , the girls like to wait until the water warms up a bit.”

“They must be bass, not trout.”

“Do the men in your clan live long enough to get … old?”

Charlotte asked.

Duncan stil ed, just now realizing that instead of heading

where he thought, the conversation for Charlotte was more

about … Sweet Christ, had Peg told the girl about her

family curse? “Yes,” he said quietly, “we have many

clansmen wel into their seventies and eighties, including

the women. In fact,” he said, standing up, “when you meet

my parents later this week, I think you’l be surprised to

know Dad’s eighty-two and my mom—whose name also

happens to be Charlotte—is seventy-nine, because they

look and act a lot younger.” He touched a finger to his lips

and gave Charlotte a wink. “But let’s not tel Mom that I

mentioned her age, okay?”

Stil utterly serious, Charlotte nodded.

“We don’t got no fishing poles,” Pete said, jumping to his

feet. “So how we gonna fish?”

Somewhat relieved to be off the subject of longevity,

Duncan gestured around them. “We have an entire forest of

fishing poles, so I guess al we need is some string and a

couple of hooks.” He bent down and dug through the sack

he’d brought and pul ed out a smal tin box. “Good thing I

brought some gear along on the off chance we didn’t care

for whatever your mom packed for our picnic.”

“But where we gonna fish?” Isabel asked. “We’re on top

of the mountain.”

“We seen a bunch of brooks on the ride here,” Jacob

said. “Trout live in brooks. We can go fish in one of them.”

“The last one we crossed was pretty far away,” Charlotte

said, glancing toward her mother, then back at Duncan. “It’s

the first time I’ve seen Mom reading a book in months, and