HauntedLaird by Tara Nina

tugged one straight and let it go?
Before he could stop himself, his hand took action. Looping a curl between his
fingers, he gently pulled it straight and let go. It did exactly as he thought
it would by popping right back into a tight curl beside her face. She didn’t
slap his hand away, instead she laughed. The warmth of her laughter filled him,
making him smile.
    “The only time those aren’t so curly is when I let it grow
long,” Lynn stated, fingering her hair as if ensuring it had returned to its
proper place.
    He touched her chin, lifting her face to look into her eyes
again. “Long. Aye. Would be nice on ye, mi wee one.”
    Padon stared at her until the realization of what Jasper had
said sank in. These men were here to help him return to Castle MacKinnon.
Though he hated looking away from those gorgeous eyes, he dropped his hand to
his side and looked at Jasper over Lynn’s head. “Man by night. Stone by day.
Apparently that part o’ the anti-curse be true.”
    “Aye,” Jasper replied.
    “Castle MacKinnon can no be reached in one night.”
    Fin stepped forward and offered, “We have a way ta get you
home. We just have ta get ta my grandfather’s farm before sunrise.”
    “How far?” Padon asked, looking at the wiry man.
    “Travis and I have made the hike in a day and a half, but
that was pushing it.” Fin looked him directly in the eye. Padon liked that. It
was a true measure of a man. If he couldn’t or wouldn’t meet his gaze then he
was untrustworthy.
    Padon said, “We shall leave now.”
    “We’ll gather our gear.”
    “Return here, quickly,” Jasper called to the retreating
backs of Travis and Fin as they hustled toward the stairs.
    “Do you have shoes or a shirt for Padon?” She posed the
question to Jasper. Lynn’s sweet concern for his state of undress made him
pause as he adjusted the sheath around him.
    Padon grinned at her. “Milady, ’tis no a concern.”
    Jasper laughed heartily. “Lynn. Padon tends ta be without
shoes and shall we say clothes as much as propriety allows. Ye be lucky he had
on a kilt the day he was cursed.” At the mention of that day, a dark shadow
seemed to pass over Jasper’s expression. “The curse be o’ no luck at all. If’n
I were there I could have saved ye.”
    “Nay, Jasper,” Padon replied in a reassuring tone.
“MacGillivray was determined ta end Clan MacKinnon. Ye would only have fallen
ta the curse as well.”
    “I should never have left the castle that night,” Jasper
snapped, but more at himself rather than at Padon.
    Padon rubbed his chin and his tone was laced with innuendo.
“As I recall it, ye left with a young maiden.”
    “Aye.” Jasper’s head hung low in shame.
    “Did ye enjoy the night?”
    “Nay,” Jasper admitted. “Naught happened. I tried and failed.
She no be ta mi liking.”
    Padon laughed. “More likely the amount o’ ale we drank that
night interfered.”
     
    Jasper let loose a nervous laugh but Lynn saw right through
it. Padon didn’t seem to be catching on to what Jasper was trying to say. When
Jasper looked at her, his expression spoke what he couldn’t and Lynn’s heart
took a nosedive to her stomach. From what she understood, Jasper felt guilty
for not being at the castle to save his friend. And worst of all, he was trying
to prove himself to be a man by bedding a woman, which apparently didn’t work.
Oh lord, what was she going to do to help him?
    Padon moved toward the waterfall. She followed. Jasper
lingered where Padon had stood for centuries. When she looked back, she saw a
light brighten around him and he shook his head as if saying no to someone she
could not see.
    “Padon,” Lynn called out and he stopped. She pointed to
Jasper.
    His shape flickered and it appeared he struggled to keep his
visceral appearance. Padon hurried to his side. He knelt in front of his
friend. Tears shimmered in his eyes.
    “’Tis time for ye ta go?” His voice cracked and Lynn sensed
he felt deeply for