Iona thought she understood how that could be, how the temptation, the seduction of such great power could overwhelm. “Boyle talked me down. He helped me hold it, calm it, and finally stop it.”
Now those eyebrows rose. “Is that the way of it? That’s no small feat, to rein in a witch who’s not only reaping a whirlwind but riding one. Otherwise, the pair of you would be roaming about Oz looking for ruby slippers.”
“But I’d be the good witch.”
“Hmm. I’m relieved you weren’t hurt, either of you. And I’m thinking we might have a space of time, before he makes another lunge at us, to smooth out more rough edges. I’m proud of you,” she added, then rose.
Simple words, simply spoken, but they poured into Iona like fine wine. “Thanks.”
“I’ve a thing or two to see to in the workshop now that my head’s clear,” Branna continued. “I’ll tell Connor all of this, and as he came at you when you were with Boyle, it’s best if we tell Meara the whole of it as well. And Fin,” she added before Boyle could. “We’ll meet again, would you say, in a day or two, once I’ve—once we’ve all had time to think it all through.”
“I think that’s the right thing,” Iona said. “We’re stronger together, right, than separately?”
“I’ll hope. See you at breakfast, Boyle,” Branna said with a wink, then left them.
“Oh well, I don’t know as I should—”
“You should.” Now Iona got to her feet, held out a hand. “You really should. Come upstairs with me, Boyle.”
The wanting was so steep he couldn’t climb out of it. He stood, took her hand, and went upstairs with her.
* * *
UNDER STRICT ORDERS TO REPORT TO BRANNA’S WORKSHOP directly from the stables, and with Boyle busy in a meeting with Fin, Iona tapped Meara for a ride home.
“I have to get a car.” She frowned at the winding, narrow road Meara zoomed along as if it were a six-lane highway. “A cheap car. A cheap, reliable car.”
“I can put the word out on that.”
“Yeah, that’d be good. Then I have to learn how to drive on the wrong side of the road.”
“It’s you Yanks who drive on the wrong side, and can put the fear of God into a person just driving out to do the weekly marketing.”
“I bet. But why do you guys drive on the left? I read it was about having the right hand free for the sword, but it’s been a really long time since people needed to battle it out on horseback with swords.”
“You never know, do you? Most don’t battle it out on horseback with whirlwinds as a rule.”
“You got me there. Maybe I can talk Boyle into letting me drive some tomorrow. He’s going to take me around to some sites. I’ve been so buried in work and lessons I haven’t seen anything outside of that, and the village. Not really.”
“A day off’s good for the soul. But it’ll take considerable talk of the very sweetest of nature, and very likely promises of exotic sexual favors to convince Boyle to let anyone behind the wheel but himself.”
“I’m a good driver,” she insisted. “Or was when the steering wheel was on this side. And does everyone know I’m in the position to offer Boyle sex?”
“Anyone with eyes. If there’d been more opportunity today, I’d’ve pulled more out of you about the whirlwind business, and the sex. But we had too many people about for it.”
“You could come in,” Iona said as Meara pulled up at the workshop. “Then Branna couldn’t dump me right into more work, and I could give you lots and lots of details.”
“Why is it so entertaining to have a window into others’ sexual adventures? Maybe so we don’t have to deal with the upheaval of them in our own lives. In any case,” Meara continued before Iona could think of an answer, “I’d be all ears, that’s for certain. But I’ve errands need doing. Now, I could meet you at the pub later, with my ears, unless you’re already planning more adventures with Boyle.”
“I could squeeze in time for a drink with a friend. Do you believe in reincarnation?”
“Sure that’s a question.” Meara shoved back her cap. “Where did it come from?”
“I was wondering why some connections seem so easy, so natural, as if they’d already been made and are just getting picked up again. It’s the way it worked for me with you, with Branna and Connor. With Boyle. Even Fin.”
“I guess I don’t discount anything. You don’t when your best friend in the world’s a witch. But I think a big part of that is you’re open to those connections. You reach for them, you do. It’s hard not to reach back, even when you’re not the reaching type in general.”
“You’re not?”