Whiskey Rebellion Read online

  Sitting on the window seat, I look out at all the land that I’ve lived on since birth. I can see Declan’s house and even him riding toward it on his horse. He looks so gallant, like the prince he is. It reminds me that I need to go see my beautiful Belle. But thinking of her makes me think of Jackson and his sweet brown eyes.

  Ah, that man. When will I forget him?

  I guess, with all the things I have going on, that should be soon. I’m starting to think things may be a bit worse here than I realized. I may never be able to leave my home again. As I look out at the land, though, I know it wouldn’t be such a bad thing if I could just forget about Casey and what he did to me. Closing my eyes, I lean my head back onto the frame of the window and take in a breath of the cleansing and fresh air of my home. If I could sit like this, with no worries in the world, I would never leave.

  But that isn’t the case.

  Ma is sick. Casey is out of jail. And I’m yearning for Jackson like another sip of whiskey.

  Jaysus, I’m mad.

  Opening my eyes, I have every intention of grabbing my ma’s book to look it over, but something bright catches my eye. Squinting, I find it is someone setting up a tent.

  “What in the world? Who would camp here? It’s freezing at night!”

  But yet, there they are, setting up where Declan and Amberlyn got married. I can’t make out who it is. I can’t see their face since they are wearing a ball cap and a big, puffy jacket.

  “What a phanny,” I scoff. Has to be a phanny to feckin’ sleep in the cold!

  The nosy part of me wants to know who it is, but then the practical part of me knows it doesn’t matter. It is the Maclasters’s problem.

  As the person moves to stuff their bag in the tent, I can’t help but notice that they are huge, with big shoulders and long, long legs…kinda like Jackson.

  I’d be an eejit to think it was him, though. Why would he be here? But maybe I could go on over to the B&B for a quick drink and go over my itinerary.

  Lord knows I’ll need a drink for that maddening binder.

  And if it comes up in conversation about the phanny with the tent, I won’t be upset.

  “Mom, you just wouldn’t believe this place.”

  My mom cooed on the line. “The pictures are unbelievable!”

  “I know, the grass is so soft and plush. It’s like a pillow. The air is fresh, and when I come out of the tent—”

  “That you are insane for sleeping in.”

  “I’m fine, honestly. I’m not even cold.”

  Lie. I swear my balls are still frozen.

  “When I come out, though, all I see is this huge-ass castle. It’s magnificent.”

  “I’m so jealous,” she gushed.

  “You and Tom should come here, you’d love it.”

  “Tom, he says we should go to Ireland.”

  I can hear Tom’s hearty laugh from wherever he is in the house. “Didn’t he say that about Rome? And Paris?”

  “He did.”

  “Is he gonna pay for us to go all over the damn world?”

  “Please, he won’t even use the damn money he has!”

  “’Cause I don’t need it,” I say simply. “Or want it.”

  Shaking my head, I close my eyes as I let the sun warm my face. When I got my inheritance from the man they say is my father, I didn’t want it. I know, I know, who doesn’t want 6.8 million dollars? According to my mom, crazy fucks like me, but I don’t want it. I almost feel like it’s a payoff for what he put me through. I’d much rather just forget it. Forget him. And forget the money that sits in my bank account.

  I don’t need it.

  “I don’t get it, but whatever, honey. You do what you feel is right.”

  “I always have.”

  “You have,” she says. “I do miss you so. I’d love for you to come home.”

  I smile as I look out at the hill that holds the prince’s house. It isn’t like the castle. It’s much smaller, almost like a cottage. But it sits on the hill in the perfect spot that makes it seem bigger than it is. I haven’t gotten to explore the land yet, my clearance is still being processed, but I can’t wait until I can. I hear the ocean on the O’Callaghan land is even better than the land itself. I want so desperately to see it.

  I want to see everything.

  “I miss you too. I have at least another six months of traveling.”

  If I even go home. I’m still not sure.

  “Jackson—”

  “Mom, come on.”

  “Come visit, at least.”

  I know I should. But I feel if I did, I wouldn’t leave. My mom would keep me there, thinking of everything under the sun to guilt me into not leaving. I understand why she is like this. I was gone for six years when I was younger and I never got to see her, but I don’t think she realizes I had to leave home. I have to explore. I need to. She wants me to be like Tom, at home, providing for a family. I just want to go. The wanderlust is real in me.

  “Maybe, okay?”

  “Hmph, fine.”

  I can hear it in her voice. She’s annoyed, but I don’t care. I’ve gotta do this for me. As I toe the grass with my bare feet, I still can’t believe everything Lena said about this place was true. It’s like a dream. But then, I thought seeing her again would be a dream.

  Truth be told, I could be seeing her sooner rather than later.

  Not sure how that is going to go down.

  But if I’m honest, I sort of can’t wait.

  I’ve wanted to apologize like crazy since the moment she kicked me out. I almost went back before I left, but I knew she wouldn’t let me in. It was all too fresh. It has been almost two weeks now. Surely, she’s let it go by now. Ha. Who am I kidding? Women have death grips on grudges like they do on shoes. I’m not naïve. I know she’ll give me hell.

  Probably call me a bag of dicks at least three more times.

  I actually can’t wait.

  I sorta kinda miss her.

  Jesus, I’m a fucking idiot. Miss her? If I thought she was out of my league before, she is way out of it now. She is a princess. I am a nobody. Yeah, I’m insane. Miss her. Ha. What did I think would happen? She’d look at me again, we’d get those insane feelings of lust, and we’d go at it again? I am downright pitiful to think that could happen. That’s if I even see her.

  “Have you seen the royals yet?”

  Being knocked back into the conversation with my mom, I clear my throat and beg my dick to stop with its shenanigans. Adjusting my pants, I say, “Mom, they’re not really royals. They’re just stupid rich, and they started this town, according to the internet.”

  “If they call them prince and princess, I say they’re royals.”

  I smile. “Yeah, I thought that too, but they have no throne. Just lots of money.”

  “Hey, in that case, you’re a prince!”

  “Mom,” I groan, and she laughs.

  “My sweet baby prince, I love you so.”

  “Ew, Paige, stop. You’re embarrassing all of us.” I can almost hear Tom wincing as he speaks.

  My mom laughs. “So can you get a picture of them for me?”

  “Google them.”

  “No, I want a selfie of you with one of them!”

  “Jesus, Mom. No, I’m not really allowed on the land unless accompanied, and since I don’t have clearance, they can’t be around me on the land.”

  “That’s weird. They’re regular people.”

  “Who are worth billions.”

  “Eh, so what,” she says, and I can just see her waving her hand in a so what way. “They’d be lucky to know you.”

  “Thanks, Mom,” I say softly, and then I check the time. “Okay, I’ve gotta go. I have to go tend to the horses, and then I have to work up at the pub.”

  I can hear the eye-roll in her voice. “You’re working?”

  “Yes. I always do.”

  “And with horses. Your poor girl will be so jealous.”

  I laugh. “She’ll ne