Chapter 6

The fiddler had been joined by a drummer and harpist, and the first song was a joyful jig. As they began to do the steps together in sync, the rest of the dancers melted away, and Aaron found himself entranced by those green eyes and jubilant smile. The touch of her hand, the feel of her in his arms, the way she twisted and turned, had him completely enthralled, and as the night wore on, he wondered why he had never attended the cross-roads before. Aislyn was an angel, floating around him on gossamer wings, and he felt as if he were the luckiest lad in all of Ireland, perhaps the world, to have the honor to be her partner for the evening.

Though others had tried to come betwixt them, the only time they left each other’s side was when the set called for it, and even then, Aaron kept his eyes interlocked with hers, only losing sight of her in a turn now and again. There were other young men who clearly had their eyes on the lithe beauty, but he was certain now that Aislyn was his. If other girls had set their sights on him, he hadn’t even noticed.

By the time the caller shouted, “Last song,” long into a star-filled night, Aaron couldn’t imagine letting go of the small hand he held so delicately as they went through the steps of what would be their final dance of the evening. It was a spirited set, and by the end of it, most of the dancers, including Aaron and Aislyn, found themselves out of breath.

With the final notes, she wrapped her arms around him and leaned into his chest in a long embrace as the others also hugged, clasped hands, or waved goodbye. Several groups began to head off in various directions, many of them laughing, some arm in arm.

“I suppose I should be heading home now,” Aislyn said, stepping back enough to look up at him but not releasing him.

Aaron spied Genty still standing off in the distance with one of her girlfriends and a couple of the older boys closer to her age. She was laughing and leaning over to talk to Loughlin Modha. The warning his mother had given both of them rang in his ear as the night began to quiet. “Perhaps I should walk you home,” he offered.

“Oh, there’s no need. My cousin, Manus, is just over there. He can walk me.”

Aaron felt his shoulders slump. He was hopeful he would be able to prolong their evening together by making the journey back to the village hand in hand. “All right then,” he said, keeping his smile, though it was difficult.

“Unless… you insist,” she said, looking up at him with a demure expression.

Her arms were still wound around his waist, and the feel of her hips beneath his hands began to consume his thoughts. The smell of the sweet perfume she’d been wearing mixed with the faint scent of her perspiration became intoxicating as he gazed into those two green orbs before him. “I insist,” he replied, his voice a breathy whisper.

“Aislyn!” Manus shouted from several yards away. “Are you coming then?”

“Just a minute!” she shouted back. Returning her attention to Aaron, she said, “Let me go speak to him, and I’ll return straight away.”

Aaron could only manage a nod. She gave him a slight squeeze before she pulled herself away and took off to explain to her cousin he needn’t accompany her back to her house.

After a long moment following her form across the road, Aaron turned his attention to Genty who was still standing in the same group she’d been with before. Keeping an eye on Aislyn, he approached his sister who saw him coming and excused herself, meeting him about halfway.

“Did you have a good time?” she asked, the excitement from the dance and the effects of the mead evident in her voice.

“I did,” Aaron assured her, unable to control the smile that insisted on spreading across his face. “I was wondering if you’d mind if I walk Aislyn home. Only if Loughlin or someone else can accompany you though. I shouldn’t allow you to walk by yourself.”

“Shouldn’t allow me?” she giggled. “Aaron, I’m practically a mother to you.” She straightened his collar, though it hardly needed fixing. “Yes, Loughlin will walk me home, but you needn’t worry about me.”

“I shall worry about you,” he replied, placing his hand on her shoulder, “until you are safely home, and I am lying next to you, dreaming of this night.”

She laughed again and embraced him. “Very well, then, little brother. I shall see you at home soon. Be safe, and take care of that beautiful girl.”

Aaron turned to see Aislyn had snuck up on him and was standing at his elbow. “Shall we?” she asked with a smile.

Offering her his arm, Aaron nodded to his sister who went back to join her friends and turned his complete attention to the lovely young lady he was lucky enough to escort home.

The fires had gone out, and the moon hung low in the sky, not offering much light. There were others still milling about, making their way back toward their various homes, but as they journeyed on, the silhouettes became fewer and farther between, and eventually the only noise they heard around them was a symphony of insects celebrating the summer night.

“Did you enjoy yourself?” Aislyn asked. She no longer had her hand on his arm. Rather, she had slid her slim fingers down his wrist and interlaced her fingers with his.

“I did. Very much so,” Aaron assured her, giving her hand a squeeze. “And you?”

“It was certainly an evening I’ll never forget.”

Aaron stopped and turned to face her, his smile spreading across his handsome face. The moonbeams caught the sprinkling of hair that had come loose at her crown, and in the twilight, she resembled an angel, halo and all. She smiled up at him shyly, and Aaron slowly brought his free hand up to tip her chin ever so slightly. He waited to see if she would give him permission, and as Aislyn tilted her mouth up to meet his, he gently pressed his lips to hers.

Her mouth was warm and tasted of honey. He caressed her cheek with his thumb, reveling in the feel of her satiny skin. The touch of her hand sliding up his arm to encircle his neck caused him to temporarily lose his breath, and he felt his abdomen tighten.

Just as he began to press her to open her sweet lips, a shriek filled the night sky, its ominous vibrations seeming to shake the road beneath them and cause them both to jump back and cover their ears. Aaron pulled Aislyn close to his body and looked around, fearful of what he might see.