Call Home the Heart
him, the things he
    was interested in, as if he were someone important in her life.
     
     
Even their silences were comfortable, for example while Muireann
    gazed out the window admiring the view, or when they ate their
    sandwiches side by side, washing them down with some milk they were
    able to purchase at a small farmhouse when they made a brief rest
    stop to change horses.
     
     
Whenever Muireann laughed, she sparkled like a rare jewel. Not for
    the first time, Lochlainn compared her to Tara, who had remained
    cool, aloof, and had seldom smiled, let alone laughed. She had been
    incredibly alluring, but in a frustrating sort of way.
     
     
Muireann was also enticing, Lochlainn had to admit. It was amazing
    to him that she was full of joie de vivre even after all that had
    happened to her. Or was she simply trying to block out all she had
    endured, pretend it had never happened?
     
     
"You're doing it again, Lochlainn," Muireann remarked at one point
    as they neared Enniskillen.
     
     
 "What's that?" Lochlainn asked, puzzled, his steel-gray eyes
    glancing down at her lingeringly.
     
     
"Going off into that grim dark little world of yours, where I can't
    reach you."
     
     
Lochlainn stared at her for a brief moment before looking away. He
    told himself he simply couldn't kiss her again, though every fiber
    of his being yearned for her.
     
     
"I'm sorry, there are just so many things on my mind."
     
     
 "I know. I can see that. I just wish you'd tell me what they
    are. A problem shared is a often a problem halved."
     
     
"I'm not sure what the problem is myself," Lochlainn admitted
    honestly. "I'm very confused."
     
     
"I know I'm young and foolish, Lochlainn, but I do want to help
    Barnakilla as much as I can. And you did promise to be honest with
    me," she reminded him, taking his hand for a moment.
     
     
"I did indeed. I promise I shall keep nothing from you about
    Barnakilla," he replied, neatly sidestepping the issue. He scolded
    himself inwardly. In future he would simply have to keep his mind on
    his work and not on his new employer.
     
     
"We'll look over the papers whenever you feel up to it, Muireann, I
    swear."
     
     
Muireann lapsed into silence again, until Lochlainn reached out and
    took her hand in his both of his own, enjoying her spontaneous
    gesture of affection, and wishing to prolong the pleasure.
     
     
"You re very good with people, you know," he said suddenly. "You
    notice things about them. You, well, charm them might be a good
    word, if it didn't sound like something deliberate or coquettish.
    You're so natural, it just puts people at their ease."
     
     
Muireann blushed. "I'll take it as a compliment, though I'm sure I
    don't deserve it."
     
     
"But you do. That's the other odd thing about you. You're perhaps a
    bit too honest and open in your dealings with people."
     
     
"Oh dear, didn't I drive a hard enough bargain with the man in the
    shop and the owner of the livery stable?" she joked.
     
     
"No, I'm not talking about that. I just mean that you and I only met
    each other three days ago, and here we are conversing like old
    friends. You're my employer, and Paddy's, yet you treat us like your
    equals, members of your own family."
     
     
Muireann blushed and avoided his gaze as she declared, "Well, you
    are my family now. I have no other here." She paused for a moment
    and sighed. "People are dishonest with each other all the time. I
    try to be honest, and I think you do as well. Just because I've been
    badly disappointed though, doesn't mean that I'm willing to stop
    trusting everyone entirely. I'll trust you for as long as you prove
    yourself to be trustworthy, Lochlainn.
     
     
"But if I find you've betrayed me as well, our friendship will be at
    an end. But that's better than always being suspicious of people and
    fearing the worst. I find if you expect the worst from people, they
    inevitably live up, or down, to your expectations."
     
     
"Beauty,

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