she'd pop over to the table and chat. Both women wanted the full update on work at the manor and flirted shamelessly with him, not that he was complaining.

Thursday was contractor day. Conall met with both the electrician and the propane guy. The news was better than he expected. They confirmed they could get right on it and complete the work by late Friday, but offered to return Saturday, if necessary. The stove and refrigerator were being delivered early Friday. The cleaning crew returned, as promised, and finished their job. While all this was going on Conall continued to go through the house making a list of things he needed to buy. A major trip to Walmart was in his future.

That night he went straight back to therose higher, a pleasant breeze rolled off the ocean and across the broad porch of the manor. Erin and Selene sat together sipping their breakfast tea and sharing moments from the previous evening. Shamus had fetched Rex from his small barn near the edge of the meadow and was saddling the horse for a morning ride. Both horse and master looked forward to dashing along the bridal paths that wound through the woods and circled the island.

He rode up to the porch to tell Erin and Selene he was off. As he came close Shamus pulled back on the reins and Rex came snorting to a stop. He pawed the ground with a front hoof, anxious to be on their way. Shamus patted his neck affectionally. "Be patient,