“Fact is, it was Tim O’Malley who started the pool,” Maggie put in.

“He has to be stopped.”

“Oh, there’s no stopping Tim once a wager’s made.”

Unable to find the humor, Shannon shot Maggie a searing look. “You think it’s funny? People I don’t even know are betting on me?”

Maggie didn’t have to think it over. “Yes.” Then with a laugh, she grabbed Shannon by the shoulders and shook. “Oh, cool yourself down. No one can make you do what you don’t want.”

“Murphy Muldoon is a dead man.”

With less sympathy than amusement, Maggie patted her cheek. “Seems to me you’d not be so fired up if you were as disinterested as you claim. What do you think of the matter, Brie?”

“I think I’ve said more than enough.” But her heart pushed the words out. “He loves you, Shannon, and I can’t help but feel for him. I know what it is to tumble into love and not be able to find your way out, no matter how foolish it makes you. Don’t be too hard on him.”

Temper drained as quickly as it had flashed. “It would be harder, wouldn’t it, for me to let this go on when it isn’t leading anywhere?”

Maggie picked up the sketchbook, then held out the page where Murphy looked out. “Isn’t it?” When Shannon said nothing, Maggie set the book aside again. “The ceili’s more than a week away. You’ll have some time to sort it out.”

“Starting now.” Shannon picked up the watercolor and carried it inside. On the way up to her room, she practiced exactly what she would say to Murphy when she tracked him down.

It was a shame that she would have to break off their friendship just when she’d begun to realize how much it meant to her. But she doubted he would understand anything less than total amputation.

And he’d brought it on himself, the idiot. With an effort, she controlled herself long enough to prop the canvas carefully against the wall of her room. Going to the window, she scanned the fields. After a moment she caught sight of movement near the back of the house.

Dandy. She’d beard the beast in his den.

Her headlong rush took her down the stairs and outside. She was halfway to the gate before she saw the car parked at the side of the road, and Brianna and Maggie on either side of it.

She didn’t have to see to know an argument was in full swing. She could hear it in the sharp, impatient tone of Maggie’s voice. It would have been easy to continue on her way—but she saw Brianna’s face.

It was pale, and rigidly controlled, except for the eyes. Even from two yards away, Shannon could see the hurt in them.

She set her teeth. It seemed it was her day for dealing with emotional crises. And damn it, she was in the perfect mood.

The angry words came to an abrupt halt as she strode to the car and looked down at Maeve.