Protector (The Brannock Siblings Book 4)

by Jessica Wilde

  "Luke says I'm just like her. He said that Mom isn't really gone because she lives in all of us."

  "He's a smart man. The two of you very much resemble me and your mother."

  Her mouth curved into a smile and she rested her head on his shoulder again. "Did you both feel this way, too? Like every time you looked at each other you would burst like a firework?"

  Liam smiled and kissed the top of her head. "Aye, my beauty. Every time I saw her, from the very first moment, I felt it. I felt whole."

  ***

  Past...

  It wasn't every day that Liam actually wanted to stay awake. In fact, he usually counted the minutes until his day was over and he could go home and crawl into his bed to sleep for as many hours as he could capture.

  He woke early, drove to his job, spent the day hauling, lifting, hammering; basically doing nothing but heavy labor. Then he came home late in the evening, usually after his family already had supper. The only positive was that the work kept him in shape which he needed anyway. Becoming a guard was what he'd wanted since he saw his father in uniform for the first time, but he had to get there first.

  His job was difficult, but there were no jobs anywhere else for him and even though his goals didn't include constructing senseless buildings, he was grateful for it. Lately, however, with all the trouble happening up north, his days off became more and more frequent. He spent those days being at the beck and call of everyone in his family.

  He couldn't decide which of his jobs he would rather do.

  Today would be different, though. Today would mark a change that determined the rest of his life.

  And he wasn't prepared for it.

  Who could be prepared for that? A man never expects the course of his life to take a drastic turn because of a tiny moment.

  He'd spent all morning taking care of the final items on the list he was given two days ago. His aunt's rental house was a disaster and he spent nearly every day of his life fixing something in that place. It was as if the small cottage was determined to stay broken.

  The work needed to be done, however, and his aunt's struggle to stay afloat relied on that work. She rented out the house regularly, but not even close to enough. She tried to pull it off as a small Bed & Breakfast, but only one tenant at a time ever emerged.

  If the house was in Dublin, well, then maybe things would be different. But it wasn't. And instead of selling it and using the money to expand her small restaurant, she vowed to keep the house for the people who needed it more than she did.

  "Tourists don't need a cottage, Maggie," he had argued.

  "Not everyone is a tourist, Liam. Some people just need a place to run to."

  He never understood why she was so passionate about keeping the run down place she used to call home. Her husband passed away a few years earlier, leaving her to run the restaurant with her sister and desperately searching for other ways to stay afloat. He thought it was an unnecessary burden to keep all of it, especially when his mother would welcome her into their home with open arms. She was determined to hold onto both the house and the restaurant, though, and Liam just didn't get it. Not until he realized that his aunt was wiser than he gave her credit for.

  His mother always told him never to question Maggie. Today would be the first day Liam agreed with her.

  He hammered the last nail into the newly repaired step leading up to the front porch. Gazing up at the house he only ever saw empty since his uncle passed, he wondered how long the place would stay upright.

  He fixed broken things and checked on the house every day, but not once did he actually meet a tenant of his aunt's. He was grateful for it since he was no good with strangers these days. Something about not being able to carry on a conversation for longer than a quick greeting. It just wasn't in him to put himself out there like that. Not anymore.

  His life in Rathnew wasn't exciting, but it was enough for now. He had it all planned out. Earn enough money to put himself through school, study at university, and become the best constable Rathnew could ever hope for. Now, to just make the next year or so happen a little faster before his cousin finally convinced him to join the cause up north.

  He wanted nothing to do with war. Not only because he didn't believe the reasons were valid and he didn't want to get blown up, but because his future held more than a gun and a grudge.

  He also needed to think of his family and what was best for them. Times were hard, but they'd made it through so far. It wouldn't get any better if he ran off to play the hero.

  "Liam, boyo, have you finished with the back yet? Word arrived from Dublin, the tenant is on her way and I must say, I do not know that she'll think kindly of the weeds devouring the walk."

  Liam turned to see his Aunt Margaret walking toward him from the back of the house to which she was just referring. He rolled his eyes. "You're just like Ma, Aunt Maggie. You rightly know I've not finished. This step was a bloody bastard to get right."

  "Watch your language, laddie. I'll not have you runnin' off the poor girl renting my house in the first day."

  Liam rolled his eyes and grinned. "Aye, Aunt. I'll not run her off. She might need a little color, however, after sleeping on the inside of this dreary place. Do you not plan on painting the walls anymore?"

  "Dreary? Your ma will be hearin' from me before nightfall, daft little shit. I ought to clatter that fine face o' yours," she said sternly, sweeping a stray lock of her red hair back into the bun she always wore. Liam caught the twitch in her lips, fighting a smile he knew was already there. "Dreary! My house is not dreary. However, if you'd like to go to Jenks and purchase a few pots of that yellow paint you never let me choose, be my guest. But you'll have to wait a month. This bird is stayin' a while."

  Liam didn't plan on being around much in that month unless he was called. He wasn't looking forward to it, but he would have to find other ways to occupy his time if work didn't pick up anywhere else.

  Maggie looked up at the house with a wistful smile. She was too young to lose her husband and Liam made it a point to be there for her when he could. In her early forties, she didn't look a day over thirty. That is, until Fergus passed away. Her green eyes seemed duller and her normally bright face a little paler. Liam knew she struggled, but that was only because he saw it firsthand. Anyone else would take one look at her and go running for the hills because it was her will. She was tough and didn't give a damn what other people thought of her.

  "Not a tourist then? A month is ages in one place for a tourist."

  Maggie shrugged. "All I know is she is American, only gave me a week's notice. Sure to find out more when she arrives."

  He was going to be bored out of his mind then. They rarely stayed in the house since they were too busy traveling all around to see the tourist sites. He could probably sneak by and finish the other work he had to do while she was gone.

  "I'll be back when she arrives. Finish what you can, lad," Maggie called as she walked away.

  Liam strode behind the house and started in on the weeds that were overgrown on the back porch. It wasn't long before he heard his aunt greeting someone at the front. He was tempted to look and see who the tenant was, but then he really didn't care. He needed to get home soon and help Ma with the repairs she needed done in the kitchen. His father wasn't going to be back home until late the next evening and he didn't want her to worry about something big breaking.

  Footsteps sounded in the nearby kitchen and he could hear Maggie boasting about the view of the gardens. Whoever the tenant was, she didn't say much. Probably because she couldn't understand a damn word his aunt was saying. Maggie always forgot to speak clearly to visitors from out of country, but it was a riot to see the confused faces of those listening. A part of him wondered if his aunt did it on purpose just to see that look.

  Liam shook his head and started gathering his tools. It wasn't long before Maggie was back outside telling him to go home anyway.

  He would need to return soon enough to fix
the stones on the back steps that wobbled too much for his liking. He didn't want the tenant to get hurt if it broke off completely. That would cause his aunt a mess she didn't have the time to deal with.

  "I'll see you at dinner, Maggie," he waved and chuckled at her returning eye roll. On the walk to his car, he made a mental note to pick up some mortar for the stones. It was when he turned back to find his forgotten hammer that Liam saw her.

  Being no stranger to beautiful women, he didn't expect to lose his breath in one glance. He had his share of dates over the last few years, but there was something different about the figure standing on the back porch. Something that made Liam's chest tighten and his head swim.

  Long, dark brown hair draped over a slender shoulder as she looked up at the blue sky. A warm breeze swept a few strands of hair back and revealed a stunning profile that rooted Liam to the spot. Her cheek was a rosy pink and her nose was small and pointed with a charming drop to her lush pink lips. The urge to press his lips to the tip of that nose was almost irresistible, but those lips looked like they would end him. Her elegant jaw pointed to a small chin that brought the rest of her face to a graceful end.

  That flawless profile was a testament to what she must have looked like up close.

  He didn't dare find out for himself and it wasn't very often that Liam discovered himself shocked into stillness, awe at the sight before him. He stood there, watching her gaze at the sky with her eyes closed and her chest rising slowly, inhaling the cool air around her. She had no idea he was there and he knew if she turned to see him, she would most likely be startled into running away from his tattered appearance.

  So, he didn't move a muscle and he barely breathed.

  Hours could have passed by and still, Liam would have wanted a little longer to watch her. When she turned away from him and walked back into the house, he felt his entire body go slack.

  Disappointment.

  He wanted to get closer and talk to her, see her face to face and decide for himself if she was real or not. The opportunity passed, but his schedule suddenly cleared to make room for Maggie's house and maybe a little conversation with a stranger.

  It was a long moment before he finally turned away and walked to his car. The hammer could wait, but if he didn't leave now, he could stand there and wait all day for another glimpse of her.

  Liam rolled his shoulders as he climbed into his truck, feeling the tightness fade out until he could draw in a long breath. What was a woman like that doing traveling alone? All the way from America? It didn't seem right.

  The drive home wasn't long, but it gave him too much time to think. He had some decisions to make soon and those included his time spent helping Maggie with her rental and the small restaurant she owned. He could pass the responsibilities on to someone else and he was sure Maggie would support anything he did. It was a difficult decision, though, since he knew how busy she was and she was his mother's sister. He couldn't abandon her.

  The Brannocks were a large family. With Liam being the oldest at twenty three, he made sure he was around to help his parents out whenever they needed him. It wasn't expected, but it was a privilege. His four younger siblings were old enough to help out, but they were too busy sneaking off to meet their friends and begging Liam to cover for them.

  His brother, Brian, was only a couple years younger than Liam and was the smartest out of all of them. He spent most of his days studying or reading and kept to himself for the most part. That is, until the others decided it was time to get into trouble. Brian's goal was University, their goal was to make sure he knew they were all upset that he was leaving them. He had friends far and wide. Friends that were more like connections.

  Liam had no doubt Brian would go far in life.

  Cara was next and as the oldest daughter, she had a motherly way about her. Being only eighteen with two older brothers that didn't think anyone was good enough for her, she didn't get the chance to go out very often unless it was with friends Liam and Brian trusted. He figured they should probably back off a bit, but it was too much fun to get her riled up. Ma scolded them, but he knew she appreciated her sons watching out for her beautiful daughter. Cara was no push over, either. They'd all seen her wrath more than a few times.

  Colin was another story. At sixteen, the boy didn't have the slightest clue what he wanted out of life and spent most of his time chasing girls that didn't want to be chased. Colin was also crazy and daring. Liam found himself running to help him more times than he could count and their mother and father were nearly at the end of their rope. Doctors were expensive and Colin was a regular, not to mention the fact that his father's coworkers knew the boy better than they should have.

  Fiona was the youngest. After Colin, Liam's parents hadn't planned on having another child, especially since Colin was born on the move. Fiona was the blessing they all needed. She was ten years old and just as active as Colin, but also as smart as Brian. She paid attention to what was expected of her while Ma and Cara helped her along the way. For now, Liam was her hero and although he knew it would change, it was a job he loved.

  Mary and William Brannock had raised their five children as best as they could and every single one of those children were grateful for their love and support. Now if Liam could only find a way to tell them that he no longer knew what he was doing with his life, things would be a little less awkward.

  His mother asked him almost daily what his decision was. School? Work? Was he going to move up north with Maggie's boy?

  They were decisions he'd made a long time ago, but somehow, he got lost along the way. University was always the plan, but then how was he to expect help from his parents when they were just getting by. Five children could be expensive even if they were all grown. His decision to work and save the money came easily, then more time passed and he couldn't remember what his plan had been in the first place.

  He caught sight of Fiona when he stopped the truck in front of his home. She would play outside all day if there was no one to remind her to eat and rest. She ran around with her dark braids flopping up and down on her back and it wouldn't take long for her to become unrecognizable once the dirt started to stick.

  "Liam! Come look at the puppies. They've grown already!" Fiona shouted as he walked up the path to the house.

  Fiona had been keeping a constant vigil on the recent litter of puppies her dog, Guinevere - a giant Irish Wolfhound - gave birth to just three weeks before. It was hard to keep the little girl around when there were seven puppies to cuddle with.

  "Aye, Finny, I'm running," Liam called as he followed his little sister to the shed behind the house.

  She already had three of the pups in her lap by the time he caught up to her and she was right. They were all grown quite a bit and it was getting difficult for her to hold them.

  "Take care with the teeth, Finny. You don't want Ma to scold you again for not being able to do the wash."

  Fiona frowned and dropped her head forward, "They don't mean to bite me, Liam. They just can't help that their teeth are sharp as blades."

  "Right you are."

  Liam held a small puppy in his hands while Fiona checked on Guinevere who looked like she was about to collapse.

  "Maybe I should take Gwinny inside tonight, she looks shattered," she said, concern in her small voice and her dark blue eyes wide as saucers.

  "Why would you want to take the children away from their mother?" Liam asked her and her reaction was amusing.

  "Oh!" she cried. "No, that won't be right at all. You can't take a child from her ma."

  "And how do you think Gwinny would feel to be separated from her babies?"

  Fiona's brow furrowed as she pondered the question. "You are right, Liam. She wouldn't appreciate that at all. I think she might blather at me all night if I kept her from them. I just thought she might want a chance to rest without the little ones climbing all over her."

  Liam crouched down and tugged on one of Fiona's braids. "You are a smart child
, Finny. And I think you've done a wonderful job taking care of the pups. Guinevere is grateful to you."

  Fiona beamed at him and he felt a warmth in his chest knowing that he just made her day.

  "Come inside now. Ma will be needing help in the kitchen with Aunt Maggie coming over."

  Fiona grumbled under her breath about doing housework and cooking disgusting vegetables, but Liam knew she would do anything that was asked of her and she would do it with a smile.

  They walked inside the house together and Cara was already pacing the floors discussing her upcoming outing with a boy Liam was sure couldn't take care of her.

  "Ma, he said that he wanted to make sure I spent time with family at the festival. That's a good thing," Cara stated, wringing her hands together only to pause for a moment when she saw Liam in the doorway.

  "Yes, love. He sounds like a good man. Family is the most important and I've spoken with his mother before. They are good people," his mother said while seasoning beef she would be cooking later.

  Liam tried to be as casual as he could when he asked, "What man?"

  He wasn't fooling anyone if the look on Cara's face was any indication.

  "None of your business, Liam. I'll not have you chasin' Jerry off like you did with Sam," Cara stated with a glare.

  "Sam left on his own, Cara. Brian only mentioned the shooting tournament in passing and he bolted like a rabbit."

  Cara rolled her eyes and crossed her arms over her chest while Ma stood by the sink, chuckling. Liam could see her shoulders bouncing up and down and if Cara looked right then, all hell would break loose.

  His sister stepped forward with her hands pressed together like a prayer. Her long brown hair was braided over one shoulder and the freckles on her nose stood out against her pale skin. Cara was beautiful and they all knew it. Didn't help that she took after their father with those bright green eyes. The boys went crazy over her every chance they got and Liam had his hands full already.