Sneaks by B Button Page B

There was a lemony scent throughout; the trail of Una’s work. Even sixteen years older, she seemed tireless.
    There was a clamor of noise from the front of the castle. It sounded as if someone was putting down heavy objects and extending friendly but courteous greetings.
    “No, I’ve left her to drink in the courtyard. I worked her hard on this trip,” the male voice I didn’t recognize said.
    The man’s footfalls moved toward me. I was torn between wanting to run to the kitchen or back up to my room. I wasn’t prepared to meet someone without an introduction. My indecision caused me to freeze in place. 
    He wasn’t tall. In fact, he might have still been an inch shorter than me. His long, red hair was pulled back in a plait, but it showed signs needing a wash and style. He was a full grown man. His bright blue eyes opened with surprise as he stepped into the room and saw me.
    Ah, lass, pardon me. I dinna expect anyone in here yet.” He smiled slightly and did a mini-bow. “I dinna think I’ve had the pleasure. I’m Ian Duncan. And who may ye be?”
    “I’m …” I began. He didn’t remember. My stomach plummeted.
    “Ye are?”
    “I’m Kally. Kally Bright.” 
    It didn’t.
    Ian’s eyes first opened wide. He took a deep breath that verged on a gasp, but didn’t quite reach it. His face contorted as I could see he wanted to deny my declaration, but his mind began to bring back pictures from when he was fourteen, sixteen years ago. He was thirty, perhaps close to thirty-one. I didn’t know his birthday.
    He was a grown man. He was broad-shouldered, wore the shadow of red beard that had been neglected for a couple days, had very hairy legs extending from the kilt, and a hairy a chest showing from underneath his plaid.
    “Ian,” I said as tears welled in my eyes and then fell down my cheeks. I was so happy to see him, but I was sad, too. The boy I’d left behind had become a fast friend. Before me stood the man version, a version I didn’t want to attach to the boy I had known, because the loss of the years, of the potential time together to be friends was almost too much for me to take at this instant. Really, Ian had been my first real friend. No matter what, that friendship couldn’t be like it was.
    “Kally?”
    I nodded. “It’s difficult to explain what happened, but yes it is me.”
    “Kally.” Ian stepped forward and pulled me to him in a hug. It wasn’t an act of affection from a man, but from the boy who had been allowed to step back in time for a brief beat. He pulled away, but held onto my arms.
    “Is it really ye?”
    “Yes, it is.”
    “I need to understand what happened. Where have ye been? And why do ye still look almost the same?”
    “I can’t look exactly the same,” I said. “You didn’t recognize me at first.”
    “Ah, lass, if I’d had but another moment, the picture of you I have in my mind would have found its way back to the front. I never thought I’d see ye again, but I didna forget. I just wasna ready.”  He put his hand lightly on my cheek.
    “I see ye’ve met our company. Again,” Una said as she and her crew came from the kitchen carrying huge platters of food.
    Ian pulled his hand away from my cheek and his eyes away from mine. I wiped at my tears.
    “Get ye washed up for dinner, Ian boy. Fetch yer wife and come down and join us.”
    Wife? Una’s words knotted my stomach. She nonchalantly went about putting trays and bowls on the table, but stayed in the room, one eyebrow cocked as if to tell me something.
    I felt the color rush from my face and it was suddenly hard to breathe. Why hadn’t Una told me before? Did she this was less cruel?
    “Are ye all right lass?” Ian said as he stepped forward.
    I held my hand up.
    “There, see she’s fine,” Una said as she wiped her hands on her apron.
    “Verra well. I’ll see ye at dinner then, Kally.” Ian said hesitantly before he looked one more time at Una and then turned and left the