For once, he�s not in that coat. Duncan kept to the stone lined path that spiraled through the green space alongside the river. The flowers encroached across the boulders and hummed with bees. It was early and the morning after a holiday�no one sane was afoot at this hour of the day except the occasional bicyclist whizzed by with a *brr-iing-brr-innnng* of warning. He�s not in his coat and that�s why I�m a little bit anxious.

�He can use my sword just as well as his own,� he said aloud, pausing beneath a tree and telling himself to calm down. The leaves made dapples on the ground around his feet. �And there are just enough unsuspecting passers-by to give us a bit of protection.�

Connor was twenty yards away, running zigzag through the trees and circling the hedge. A golden retriever bounded after him with its tail wind-milling in excitement. �HA!� the Scot yelled from behind the oak. It was challenge and bait in one word. The dog barked once and tore after him.

It�s a nice morning to take Rachel�s dog out for a walk, though there�s not much *walk* in this walk Duncan thought to himself. �You lost him,� he called to Connor. The retriever had stalled by a small water fountain and was lapping up the pool from a leak. I know Connor wanted me to stay longer, but I�ve got to get home. There�s inventory to check in and the new class rotation starts�I need to be there to supervise the instructors and make sure they have what they need.

�Hey, YOU!� Connor shouted at the hound. He waved one arm to get attention, then sprinted off across the green. The canine was a butter colored streak that looked six feet long in a rush after him.

The two vanished over the crest of the hill and Duncan picked up his pace to keep them in sight. To keep this sword near he reminded himself. �I didn�t come down here to RUN after you after I was up shooting pool with you half the night!� he yelled.

�Nimbus needs exercise or he tears up Rachel�s back yard,� wafted Connor�s voice. He had doubled back and was parallel now, jogging the way they had just come.

�Will you quit? I�d like to see more of the waterfront, not the same 300 yards!� protested Duncan. He halted with his hands on his hips, watching.

�Not the water! Nimbus�NOT the water!� ordered Connor. The retriever halted a rush towards the river and looked at it longingly. �Come on, boy�GET me!�

The dog ignored him and continued to stare at the water. A trio of ducks floated by in formation. A jay chattered from a log on the bank, irritated. A Styrofoam cooler lid with one corner broken drifted past. Someone had consumed a six-pack and left the bottles stuck upside down in the mud.

�Nimbus, don�t you dare! I�m not hauling you muddy and wet back in my car,� warned Connor, striding directly towards his charge. �Come on, waterbrain! You haven�t caught me yet!�

Numbus continued to watch the water. A fish flipped mid-river with a splap-p of glistening tail and the watching dog whined. He crouched over his forelegs as if to launch himself.

�No!� Connor ordered. �Stay!� His advance quickened to derail the catastrophe about to happen � and he had almost reached his target when Nimbus whirled and lunged at him! Forty pounds of dog hit around midsection and knocked Connor flat!

�And, he nails him�� Duncan said to no one, grinning. �Rachel said this was a canny pup.� The wrestling match down the hillside was punctuated by a few yells and excited barks. �Get him, Nimbus! Chew him up!�

�Hey!� protested Connor. �I thought you were on *my* side?�

�I�m on the dog�s side. He�s better looking.�

�Why do I bother�ouch, that hurt! To even�let go of that! Invite you off for�not the buttons! A holiday with me when�no licking! You take the DOG�S side?� retorted Connor amidst the nipping, wriggling, tugging match going on.

Duncan chuckled to himself and sauntered leisurely down the knoll again. By the time he reached the level, Connor had the dog down and was mock snarling in his fur. Nimbus looked smug and completely stupefied with pleasure.

�You must be happy with yourself. You�ve reduced him to being a complete idiot first thing in the morning,� Duncan said.

�Rachel said he needed a run with someone young enough to give him a good workout,� protested Connor. �I�m just getting all the energy out of him�and he loves it!�

�I was talking to the DOG,� Duncan smugly returned.

�Oh, you�re a bonehead!� retorted Connor. His expression was pure delight�Nimbus had him by a black sleeve and was shaking it for all its worth. Connor wrung the hound around and around on the grass as if he was twirling a top, but Nimbus never let go.

Rachel had it right. Before he turned into a city dweller, Connor always had dogs. There�s no room in his loft for one now � no room in his life for one. There�re no cows to herd, no sheep to gather, no varmints to hunt anymore. And if he fights and loses�then the dog might suffer before someone finds it. Besides, he can�t just tear around in a park like this with a long coat and a sword on him.

�Let the young pups play,� he said, remembering Rachel�s exact words from earlier. Now I understand that twinkle in her eyes and that smile as we left�

�What?� returned Connor. He had to raise his voice over the top of Nimbus�s furious and completely harmless growling.

�Nothing important, Connor.� Duncan looked at the retriever, who now had a mouthful of pant leg and was tugging furiously. �Give him hell, Nimbus!�

The growls became louder. �Count on you to root for the dog!� shouted Connor.

�I�d rather it be him than you wrestling with me this morning, dogbreath!� Duncan picked up a likely stick and hurled it out into the river. �Get it, Nimbus!�

�NO!� barked Connor, aghast.

The retriever released his grip on the jeans, crossed the twelve feet of grass, and launched himself off the bank hard enough to land seven feet out in the river. His long tail floated for a bit before becoming waterlogged and sinking as the dog paddled furiously after the floating branch

�Duncan, you numbskull�I�m going to brain you one! I have to put that wet dog in my car to get him back home to Rachel!� protested Connor. He stared incredulously after the animal.

Duncan dangled a forearm over his kinsman�s shoulder and Connor had to brace his footing to keep from losing his balance. �No, it just means you have to run around with him longer.�

�You said you wanted this to be a �short� walk-the-dog. You had a flight to catch back home, remember?� Connor eyed him suspiciously, but hopefully.

�Looks like I�m going to be delayed.� Duncan pointed off at the hound, which had hauled the stick ashore and shook a cascade of water droplets off. �I�m not riding in the car with that!�

Connor didn�t answer him with words�just a smile that crinkled up the corners of his eyes. Then he yelled �HA!� at the hound and ran up the hill. Nimbus took one look at Connor�s retreating figure, dropped the stick, and was after him like a shot.

*There�s* that light inside of him, Duncan thought to himself. They named him true.

~finis~
MacNair
July 3, 2003

Conchobhar, the Gaelic name for Connor, has many meanings amongst which is: keeper of hounds.

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