Later, I would ask Cassidy how long we stayed like that, just staring at one another across the field, and she swore it was only for a few seconds. It felt much, much longer to me, like forever. I schooled my face into its careful, expressionless pose and he seemed to do the same.
He stood, and as he made his way toward me in long, graceful strides, a hush dropped over the party. He towered over the other people, walking with purpose. The closer he got, the more apparent it became that he was gorgeously, blessedly tall. I pressed my lips together against the geeky grin that was trying so hard to appear.
McKale wore a dark green tunic with brown bottoms that went to his mid-calf, and his bare feet swished through the grass. His dark red hair hung in waves about his head. He had sideburns that turned into a thin beard running neatly along his jaw line down to a slightly pointed chin. His nose was straight and narrow and when he stopped in front of me I could see his eyes were hazel. I couldn’t look away from him.
“This is Robyn, son,” Brogan said.
He needn’t introduce us because we hadn’t taken our eyes from one another since locking gazes across the clearing. McKale inclined his head toward me. His expression had not changed, but his eyes searched my face with a pleasant, bashful curiosity.
“This is her father, Leon,” Brogan continued, introducing my family. “Her mother, Cecelia. And their youngest girl, Cassidy.” McKale gave a small bow of his head in greeting to each of them before turning back to face me, stepping closer. I got a whiff of something sweet just then, but I couldn’t place the scent. A natural aromatic of some sort, distantly familiar.
“Very pleased to make yer acquaintance, Robyn.” He spoke in a soft, lilted tenor.
I opened my mouth to say something amazingly intelligent, but what came out was a short burst of joyful laughter. The grin I’d tried to contain stretched across my face.
My laughter seemed to take him by surprise. I forced the smile away.
“I’m sorry,” I said. “It’s just that… you’re so… tall.”
Nearby little people gasped. A hot blush flooded my cheeks at the stupidity of my remark, and McKale’s face darkened.
“Aye. That I am.” He cleared his throat, looking away. An awkward silence fell, and I knew I’d screwed up, though I couldn’t understand why. Sure, it had been a lame thing to say, but he acted like I’d insulted him or maybe I’d insulted his people. I felt terrible.
The music still played, but stray clan members were beginning to assemble around us. I opened my mouth, not sure of how to fix the moment, but McKale beat me to it.
“I’d best be returning.” He motioned to the musicians who’d started a new song without him. “I bid you good evening.” He gave me one last reluctant look, as if he’d been shamed, then he turned and bowed toward my family and walked swiftly away from us. My mouth fell open as I stared after him.
Brogan stepped up, smoothing his beard down several times.
“I’m afraid ye’ve found the boy’s tender spot.”
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“He’s a tad sensitive about his height, is all.”
My sister and I shared a shocked glance.
“I didn’t mean it in a bad way,” I told Brogan. “I mean, look how tall I am!”
He cocked an eyebrow as if it wasn’t exactly something to be proud of. I felt myself frown.
“We Chaun men pride ourselves on being small of stature. I’m afraid he’s had a hard time of it. Forgive the lad, please.” People from the crowd stared at us. Brogan stepped away to shoo them, saying they’d have a chance to meet the guests after we got settled.
“Geez,” Cassidy whispered to me. “He got all weird about being called tall? That’s kinda… sad. Maybe he’s like Rudolph or something. I bet he can’t join in any Leprechaun games.”
She started to giggle at her own joke, but Mom elbowed her in the ribs.
“I can’t believe I said that,” I muttered, still staring out into the crowd. I couldn’t even spot where Brogan had gone now. I looked pleadingly at my parents.
“He’ll come around.” Dad patted my shoulder. Mom nodded in agreement, but her face appeared distressed about how fast our first meeting had soured.
“He could have been a little nicer about it,” Cassidy said.
“I think he’s shy.” I couldn’t help but defend him, even though I was shaken by the brief introduction. Nobody could possibly understand how stressful that initial meeting had been for McKale and me.
A sudden cacophony of strange noise came from the field to our right. It sounded like swishing grass and stomping feet. And something else… bleating? One of the Leprechaun men hollered something and the crowd surged to get a look at the field. The musicians began playing faster and louder, giving each other amused, knowing glances.
“What’s going on?” I asked.
“I’ve no clue,” Mom said, keeping a wary eye on the field.
A single white, fattened sheep ran through the high grasses with something dangling off its back. Another sheep followed behind it. After a few beats an entire flock of sheep came barreling through the field, all with these strange wiggling little things attached to their tops. A great roar of laughter rose up from the majority of the crowd, while the older, bearded men of the clan shook their heads and pounded their fists, red in the faces.
“What in the world?” Dad murmured. He took a protective stance in front of us three girls and motioned us to step back. We backed up as far as we could against the building just as the herd of sheep came stomping into the clearing in front of us.
One of the little things jumped off of its sheep’s back and ran right in our path. My eyes bugged out as I tried to comprehend what I was seeing. Cassidy screamed, dancing on her tip-toes as if it were a snake. Dad threw his head back in laughter.
“Is that… was that…?” I stammered. No freaking way. It looked and moved exactly like a man—a foot-tall man.
“I don’t believe it,” Mom said. “It’s the Clourichaun making a grand entrance, same as they did in the tales of old.”
“I thought you said some of them were normal sized!” I said.
Everywhere we looked miniature men were jumping off the backs of sheep, scurrying up on tables and dunking their heads into people’s mugs or dancing little jigs. Once Cassidy and I got over our initial confusion we laughed at the spectacle. Some were climbing the Leprechaun men and sitting smugly on their shoulders or heads. Cassidy pointed to one who sat on a woman’s shoulder and dove down into her cleavage, only to be pulled out and flicked away by her frowning male friend.
Leprechauns shooed the sheep out of the clearing, trying to herd them back into the direction from which they’d come. Cassidy elbowed me.
“McKale’s looking at you!” She spoke through the side of her lips.
I spotted him sitting at one of the long benches on the far side, leaning back with his elbows on the table behind him. A dark-haired little Clourichaun sat straddling his shoulder. McKale quickly dropped his eyes when he saw us looking.
Without hesitation, I turned to my parents. “Be right back,” I told them.
They nodded in agreement when they saw McKale. I started in his direction before I could lose my nerve. Cassidy caught up and walked by my side. McKale glanced up once and his eyes widened, but he looked back down again. I think the mini man was asking him something because he kept giving his head little shakes and nods. McKale had something sticking out of his mouth, like a large toothpick.
I weaved through the crowd and stopped, standing between his feet. He stared at my legs for a moment before timidly lifting his greenish-brown eyes to mine.
“I’m sorry I brought up your height,” I told him, opting for openness. “To be honest, I meant it as a compliment. I’m glad you’re taller than me. Really glad.” Okay, shut up now, Robyn. I clasped my fingers together behind my back.
His face softened and he appeared embarrassed, eyes flickering around me. I became a l
ittle distracted by the man on his shoulder who hadn’t stopped moving, trying to get my attention. At the moment I could have sworn he was pretending to do something naughty to McKale’s ear. Cassidy’s giggling confirmed it. McKale pulled his head to the side and his red eyebrows drew together. He pulled the little stick out of his mouth.
“Cut that out, cheeky bugger.”
The little man gestured to us girls, then pointed at his self. McKale sighed and tossed the stick in the grass.
“He wants to meet ye.”
“Oh,” I said, squatting a little to see him better. Being so close to McKale’s face, I caught the flavorful scent again and recognized it this time. Licorice.
The Clourichaun looked no older than McKale, with a head full of curly brown hair. I smiled at him and said, “I’m Robyn.”
He extended his arm and I put my fingertip in his hand, which he shook up and down, then to my amusement he kissed my finger. I heard him holler in a squeaky little voice.
“The name’s Rock! Yer quite a looker, there, Robyn!”
“Wow,” I laughed. “Thanks… Rock.” I moved to the side. Cassidy shot me a nervous look when I beckoned her toward him. She leaned down, putting her hands on her knees and examined Rock with wonder.
“My name’s Cassidy. I’m Robyn’s sister.”
He waved her closer, using his whole arm for the gesture. She leaned in, but he waved her closer still.
“Careful now,” McKale warned.
“He won’t bite, will he?” I asked.
“Somethin’ akin to that,” he mused.
When Cassidy got close enough, Rock grabbed her cheeks with his outstretched palms and pulled, pressing his whole face into her lips. I’d never seen her eyes so big before. I snorted out a laugh, and to my surprise Cassidy did not try to stand up or move away. She waited until Rock released her and then she beamed him a pretty smile. He pretended to grab his heart and tumble off McKale’s shoulder to the table, dying of love sickness. Cass laughed like it was the funniest thing she’d ever seen. She had the sweetest, bubbly laugh. Unfortunately I’d inherited my mother’s strange, mostly-silent chortle.
McKale scratched his cheek. “Sorry ‘bout that. He’s a bit forward.”
“He’s so cute,” Cassidy said. She sat down on the bench and Rock walked to her, putting his elbows on her shoulders and resting his head in his hands to gaze up at her, starstruck.
“Don’t encourage ‘im. Trust me. Ye won’t think he’s as cute full grown.”
“That’s right!” Rock yelled. “I’m even cuter!”
“You mean he won’t stay this size?” I asked.
“Nah. All Chaun can shrink and grow.”
“Even you?” Cassidy sounded as surprised as I felt. McKale nodded like it was no big deal. I pointed at Rock.
“You mean you can get that small?”
“Well, I suppose a tad bigger since I’m larger than ‘im in actuality, but aye.”
It took a second for me to comprehend all of his heavily accented words.
I sat down on the other side of McKale. I felt like I was making him nervous or something. He wouldn’t meet my eyes for more than a brief second, and then he would find excuses to look elsewhere. He kept rubbing his hands on his pants and crossing his arms, then uncrossing them. I wanted to take his hand or touch him somehow to reassure him, but it was too soon for that. So instead I climbed up and sat on the table top, resting my feet on the bench next to where McKale sat.
He looked down at my feet, examining them so long I began to feel self-conscious about how big they were. At least my brown sandals were new and cute, bejeweled with cream flowers along the straps. He surprised me by reaching down and running a fingertip across my big toenail, then looking at his finger.
“How’d ye do that?” he asked, sounding fascinated. “Make it red, like?”
“Oh, um, it’s called nail polish. It’s a special type of paint. I can show you later, if you want.” He nodded and looked back down at my feet while I gazed at his full head of red hair. I’d always pictured him as a brunette like me, but I liked this better. Only a guy would be lucky enough to have such natural color variations: shades of red with nutmeg brown undertones. Autumn colors. The world was so unfair.
Cassidy and Rock were watching us. Rock said something that made her stifle a laugh, but I couldn’t make it out.
“May I?” McKale’s imploring eyes were looking up at me and I realized he was motioning to my shoe.
“Sure, yeah.” I slipped one off and he picked it up, turning it round and round to see the specimen from every angle.
“Have you ever seen flip-flops before?” Cassidy asked. McKale shook his head, feeling the strap. Then he held it on his outstretched hand and wrist, appearing to measure it. I worried that he’d scoff at the size nine, but he showed no reaction. He ran a finger over the imprint my foot made in the squishy sole, and I began to feel tingly from the indirect attention. I wiggled my toes absently.
“Go ahead then, mate!” shouted Rock. “Give the shoe a snog—ye know ye want to!”
I blushed and McKale blanched, slipping the flip-flop back on my foot and crossing his arms.
“Git,” he mumbled toward our wee companion. Rock was undeterred by the insult.
After that, we sort of kept our attention on Cass and Rock who were quite the silly pair. He had to holler to make his voice heard over the raucous laughter and music around us.
“So you can get big, like us?” she asked her tiny admirer. He nodded. “Can you do it now?”
“Only for another kiss!”
Cassidy laughed, a glint in her eye. “My lips are too big. I almost suffocated you last time.”
“Kiss me when I’m big!”
“My parents are standing right over there.” But when we looked, they weren’t there anymore. “Hey, where’d they go?” Cassidy and I both stood up and searched with our eyes. They were nowhere in the crowd. A short blast of tingling magic hit us at our backs and we spun around. There on the top of the table sat Rock, full-sized, limber legs crossed. Cass let out a little scream in surprise.
“Ladies,” he said, inclining his curly head and flashing a cute grin.
I looked at McKale and caught him studying my face again. I gave him a small smile. To my surprise he flashed me a quick one in return before looking away again. It was the first time he’d smiled at me and it sent a buzz of warmth through my body.
Rock stepped nimbly down from the table, past McKale. The Clourichaun was my height, I couldn’t help but notice. Rock bowed to me first before turning to my sister. He took Cassidy’s hand and kissed her fingertips. Definitely a charmer. Then without asking, he leaned down and kissed her on the lips. She did not pull away. Instead she went up on her toes. Thankfully the kiss ended before I started to feel embarrassed, but it left Cassidy with a dreamy look on her face.
Her dream-state was quickly shattered when Brogan broke through the crowd, swinging his arms at Rock, who jumped back. Brogan’s assault kept coming, landing punches anywhere he could on the Clourichaun. Rock cupped his hands over his crotch, laughing as he begged Brogan to take it easy. McKale shook his head and chuckled as his friend climbed up and over the table, escaping Brogan’s wrath.
“What are you on about, old man?” Rock asked, extending his arms in question from the safety of the other side of the table. He had a mock-pained expression on his smooth face, underscored with amusement. McKale’s father was pink in the cheeks and had his small hands balled into fists.
“Our guests have hardly been ‘ere an hour and yer already making advances at their youngest? I think not! Keep your no-good hands to yerself and don’t be causing trouble among us. Do ye hear?”
“Aye, crystal clear. I’ll be a good lad. Promise.”
Brogan gave a deep, barrel laugh. “You don’t know how ta be good. Gather yer troublesome clan and leave us be. Go on!”
“All right then,” Rock said with an easy shrug. Brogan eyed him with distrust
and put his fists on his hips.
“I’d best be off, then. Night everyone.” Rock bowed to us and put two fingers between his lips, ripping an ear-shattering whistle. With a wave of his arm the tiny Clourichaun came bounding over from their various places. All of them but Rock had stayed small. They climbed him, some going up to his shoulders and others swinging on handfuls of his tunic. He gave Cass a stealthy wink before ghosting away into the field with the others. Once satisfied, Brogan turned to us.
“Please forgive his indiscretion. Their ways are not our own. ‘Tis getting late and I know yer both travel-weary. I’ve shown yer folks to their rooms, and I’ll show the two of ya to yers as well. We’ll be having more festivities on the morrow. Everyone’s itchin’ to meet ye.”
“Thank you,” I said.
McKale stood, rubbing his palms down his pants again.
“Good night, McKale,” I said.
“G’night, then, Robyn.” He watched my face.
I liked when he really looked at me, as if he didn’t want to stare, but his eyes would get stuck against his will. When he became aware he tore his gaze away and scratched his cheek self-consciously.
As Cassidy and I left to follow Brogan, clan eyes turned toward us. I realized then that nobody approached us while we sat with McKale, out of respect. I smiled and nodded at the people as we passed, excited to find our room and return tomorrow to meet them.
I peeked back at the shy guy who was staring at the ground, deep in thought. Lots of girls didn’t care for the quiet type. Even Cassidy, who was a smart girl in so many ways, often lost all proof of intelligence when it came to guys. Most girls I knew wanted boys like Rock: the confident and outgoing “bad” boys. But there was something endearing to me about McKale’s quiet, introverted demeanor.
I looked forward to gently cracking his shell and seeing what lay hidden underneath. We had to gain one another’s trust before we could bind. I welcomed the challenge.
WE FOUND MOM AND Dad coming out of one of the bungalow rooms.
“We were just looking for you girls,” Mom said.