Free One Thousand Years to Forever by Mary Moriarty Page A

about how
he was feeling, what his temperament was like. She knew that from
just the short time she’d spent with him: whether he was relaxed,
excited or aroused. She knew at least once he had been aroused when
he had kissed her and his eyes had turned a deep violet. As he got
closer his eyes at first looked brown, but then she saw they
actually were going from reddish brown back to a dark purple. She
didn’t understand that, but right now was not the time to figure
that out.
    She would wait for him to speak
first.
    “ Katherine how... ”
    Katherine couldn’t hold it in any
longer. She needed to vent and here was her chance.
    She hit his chest with first her
fist then started pointing into his hard, sculptured chest with her
finger. She continued to pound on him. With either her fist or her
finger. She was going to make sure her point got across one way or
another.
    “ How dare you...
who do you think you are? I know it’s you or someone who works for
you that made my car break down but for the life of me I can’t figure out why. And do
you think I am a meek little woman who... ” She kept hitting his
chest for emphasis. She could feel the rage starting to ebb, which
was probably good because she was starting to feel stupid for
taking it out on him. She knew he was just trying to protect
her.
    Colum just stood there while
Katherine hit his chest. She kept it up for a few minutes. Saying
half sentences and then she finally collapsed into his arms. He let
his arms wrap around her and hold her as he rubbed the small of her
back.
    “ You have every right to be mad at
me. I can explain everything... But after, if then you feel you
don’t want to see me... I will honor that wish, but please, hear me
out.”
    He felt her go still, trying to
calm her sobs and finally after a sniffle she looked up at him. Her
eyes were red and swollen, tears still coursed down her cheek but
she was a bit calmer. “I will listen and I know whatever was done
was done to protect me and my kids, but please, in the future can
you please just let me in on your plans?”
    Colum caught a tear from the tip of
her nose with his index finger. After catching it, he saw Katherine
watch him intently as he licked it off the tip of his finger. He
saw Katherine watch him, intent on his tongue. “Keep that
thought... but for now how about Travis drives the girls back in
the Rover?”
    Katherine shook her head. “Normally
I would think that is fine but Olivia is pretty shaken
up.”
    Colum smiled. “I have a way out of
that.” They watched as Travis approached the girls. He was talking
to the girls and then the girls came up excitedly as if nothing had
happened.
    “ Mom isn’t this great, Travis here
is going to drive us back so you can take the copter with Colum...
Shopping was so cool today, Mom... ” She looked up in the sky. “Oh
Mom, Colum, look snowflakes!” She and Olivia danced around trying
to catch them on their tongues.
    Katherine looked at the girls and
then at Colum. “What just happened? Sally acts like she never saw
what happened, I don’t understand this, unless she is fooling
around?” She called her daughter. “Hey Sally, how do you feel? Do
you remember what just happened?”
    Sally came up, pulling her friend
behind her. “Of course Mom, we got the best deals because Colum
came and told us where to get all the deals on jeans... ” She
jumped up and hugged Colum. “Thanks again Colum, you’re great.”
Then she whispered in his ear. “And I know my mom likes you,
too.”
    That brought a smile to his face.
Katherine just stood there with her mouth hanging open.
    The girls went to get into the
Rover. The other men made sure their two wayward terror suspects
were secure. Colum wrapped an arm around Katherine.
    “ I’ll explain when we are up in
the air.”
    Katherine shook her head. She let
herself be led to the helicopter. She buckled up and then was
handed a headset.
    Colum climbed in put on his
headset. He glanced over