"Let go of my niece"

"Let go of my niece" Red hissed into his ear and Brenan could feel the pressure of her knife scraping the stubble under his chin. "Or you're a dead man!" Her niece? What the hell was going on? Opening his hand slowly he let his knife tumble to the sand at the pretty blonde's feet. The woman spun from his grip and retrieved the knife that she had dropped when his hand had twisted it from her wrist and kicked Brenan's much heavier blade further from where he stood.

"Red" said Brenan calmly "Red, I didn't know she was with you." For almost three seconds the only sound that Brenan could hear was the crash of surf on the beach and bird calls from the thick growth that bordered the sand. Then the hand which had been twisting his head uncomfortably relaxed, in fact for a moment her palm slid across his cheek in what could almost be a caress as the knife was lifted from his neck.

"Brenan? Crews Brenan, I almost slit your throat." The surprise in Red's voice was unmistakable. "Brenan what in faulty flaps name are you doing here?"

"I came looking for you Red." Brenan started and suddenly Cindy's squeal of delight surprised both Brenan and Red equally.

"I told you he'd come for you Aunt Claire." Brenan turned to look at Red with sudden understanding.

"Claire?" He asked raising an eyebrow.

"Red" Corrected Red firmly "only family gets to call me Claire." Her blue grey eyes challenged Brenan to try it again and Brenan knew Red well enough not to push her when she had that look.

"And speaking of family, Mr. Kilgore, do you want to explain to me why you were assaulting Cindy?" Brenan took a deep breath and tried to explain the misunderstanding, but before he could start Cindy jumped to his rescue.

"It was my fault really Red." Brenan turned in confusion wondering how it was her fault.

"When I saw him watching you from the bushes, I thought he was some creepy pervert." Brenan wasn't sure that Cindy's 'help' was really what he wanted, but when she continued he became even more confused.

"I hadn't realized it was your old flame." Now it was Red's turn to be uncomfortable. "He was just defending himself, Red I don't think he would have hurt me even if you hadn't interfered."

"Cindy, why don't you go get lunch started while I talk to Mr. Kilgore." Cindy turned from the two with a big grin on her face, she didn't seem at all surprised that her aunt wanted some privacy.

"I guess you two have some catching up to do." With that she picked up the crossbow and sauntered off jauntily towards the small cottage leaving both Red and Brenan in stunned silence.

Brenan picked up his heavy blade and brushed the sand from the hilt in attempt to ease the tension.

"I'm sorry about your niece Red." He started "I really thought you were being stalked. If it makes you feel any better she almost took my ear off with that bow of hers."

"It would have served you right if she had." Red was regaining some of her composure now that Cindy was gone. Brenan turned the tables back on her

"Are you going to explain what Cindy was talking about." Brenan was sure he saw Red blush again, but she returned her knife to its sheath on her thigh and then signalled for Brenan to walk with her.