Undaunted Love (PART ONE): Banished Saga, Book 3 (26 page)

“I needed to know. I’ve wondered, for so many months, why she’s rarely written me.”

Gabriel turned to stare at the letter, looking at the smudged date. “It’s a month old, this letter. I wonder why it took so long to be delivered?” He flipped over the envelope and peered at the words next to Jeremy’s handwriting. “‘Sorry for delay,’ I think it says.”

“What could have happened to Savannah since then?” I shared a frustrated look with Gabriel. “I hate that I have so little news from Boston. I receive letters weekly from Aunt Betsy and Sophronia, but very few contain anything of real import.”

“What good would it do to know that Savannah had her baby taken away rather than the baby dying at birth?”

“I could have written her, let her know how concerned I am for her. I can’t imagine Jonas giving away her child.”

Gabriel snorted. “I can.” He had a faraway look in his eyes as he fingered the letter. “It sounds exactly like something that man she married would do.” He stared at me, and, for a moment, I saw a deep yearning in his eyes that was soon hidden. “Some men are incapable of recognizing the gifts they’ve been given.”

“Gabriel,” I whispered as I leaned forward and clasped his hand.

“I would have cherished a daughter, as much as a son. You know that, don’t you, Rissa?” Gabriel asked with intense urgency in his voice.

His hand tightened around mine to the point of pain, but I refused to grimace.

“I know, Gabriel. And I continue to hope, every day, that we will be blessed.”

Gabriel closed his eyes. “And I will continue to give thanks that you are here with me, healthy and happy.” A smile lit his eyes as he leaned forward and kissed my forehead. “Now, you’d better go to work, or that Mr. Pickens will send out a search party.”

“I doubt it. He thinks you’ve finally shown sense and are acting as a newly married man should.” I blushed as I spoke.

Gabriel laughed and rose with me. “Well, for once, I am in agreement with that old geezer.” He kissed me swiftly, and I departed for the depository.

***

THAT EVENING, I leaned against Gabriel on the overstuffed mauve camelback settee in Uncle Aidan’s sitting room. Colin sprawled on the floor with Nicholas, playing with tin soldiers. Amelia sat in the rocking chair with little Anne, comforting her as a new tooth came in. Ronan and Sebastian remained in the dining room, nursing their cups of coffee.

“I hope this doesn’t have to end when Aidan returns,” Colin said.

“It will be different, Col,” Ronan said. “It’s his house. He’s not going to want it overrun by the likes of us numerous times a week.”

“It’s not that I don’t want to see him,” Gabriel said with a tender smile as he kissed my head. “It’s just that I don’t want things to change either.”

“I agree,” Amelia said. “I worry how Nicholas will take it. He’s become a bit free, roaming about where he shouldn’t with Aidan away. Now that he’s coming back, it will seem a bit cramped in the back rooms.”

“You’ll just have to come over to our place,” I said with a smile that quickly turned into a frown as I looked at Ronan.

“Or you can come to mine,” Sebastian said. “I have a decent home over by the mill.”

“I’ll talk with Mr. McLeod about having Sundays off. Or at least one of the meals on Sunday off. That way, the children and I would be free once a week.”

I patted Gabriel’s arm. “I’m sure you’re all worrying for nothing. Aidan’s kind and generous. He’ll delight in having us over.”

As the conversation moved on, Gabriel murmured in my ear, “Are you all right, Rissa?”

“I’m fine. Just a bit tired. I didn’t sleep well last night.”

I heard Colin snort and wished I were within kicking range. I opened my eyes at the sound of Ronan moving his chair to the living room and Sebastian walking to the chair next to our settee, near the fireplace and across the room from Amelia.

“I remember you mentioning you missed your cousin’s music,” Sebastian said. He pulled out a black case tucked in behind a chair. I hadn’t noticed it on our arrival, and Sebastian must have placed it there in the commotion of helping Ronan into the house.

“Yes,” I said. “Now would be the perfect time to relax and listen to something Lucas would play.”

“Would you object to my playing the fiddle?” he asked.

I pushed away from Gabriel to watch Seb. “You play the fiddle? You’ve played all this time and never before performed for us?”

An abashed smile drifted over Sebastian’s face as he nodded. “I was a bit rusty. Hadn’t played in years, but I’ve been practicing the nights we don’t meet up.” He pulled the violin from its case and plucked at the strings before running his bow over it, as though tuning it.

“By all means, play, Seb,” Gabriel said as I leaned down again, nestling into his side.

I closed my eyes, drifting to the lyrical music. The second song he played caused me to laugh as it reminded me of one of the songs Colin had said he was learning at the forge. Colin sung in his off-pitched voice. Soon we were all attempting to join in, with Ronan using a spoon on the metal of his wheels as a sort of drum.

The music continued on in that vein for nearly an hour. Finally Sebastian laid down the violin, stretching his hands. “I have to stop, or I’ll have a permanent hand cramp,” he said with a smile.

“Oh, you must play for us again,” I enthused.

“I’ll see about practicing new pieces for the next time we are together,” Sebastian agreed. He picked up Nicholas, who had leaned against his legs, to hold him on his lap.

“Seb, now that you’re done entertaining us, why don’t you tell us about the mill,” Gabriel said. I heard Ronan snort as he wheeled his chair farther into the parlor.

“Mr. Bouchard’s being a darned fool,” Sebastian said with a shake of his head. “How he can think that worthless easterner can work in a mill is beyond me.”

“I heard from one of the men at the forge that he’s hoping he’ll run it someday,” Colin said.

“He’d never!” Amelia sputtered. “Mr. Wright has no idea how to run a proper mill. That would be terribly unjust.”

“Well, I’m not the one showing an interest in the owner’s daughter,” Sebastian said. “Now it seems Mr. Bouchard is trying to placate his wife by providing some sort of employment for Cameron. Seems they’re willing to overlook the fact he’s a beggared, albeit well-dressed, smooth-talking man due to his connections out East.”

“Damn fools,” Colin hissed.

“All I hope is that the fool doesn’t lead to any harm to my men who need the work and know what they’re doing,” Sebastian said. “It’s hard enough preventing accidents and keeping my men healthy when they’re well trained and competent.”

“When it comes to Cameron, I’ve learned to expect chaos,” I said with a mournful glance in Sebastian’s direction.

***

AMELIA ROSE TO CARRY Anne to the bedroom. Sebastian followed suit with Nicholas in his arms and joined her in the rear of the house, away from their friends who continued to discuss Cameron, the mill and whether his interest in the Bouchard daughter was feigned.

“It’s all right, Nicky,” Sebastian soothed as he settled the child on his bed. Seb undid his shoes, stripping him of his stockings, pants and shirt. Nicholas curled on his side, and Sebastian rubbed his back. “Is it all right, ma’am, if he sleeps in his underclothes?”

Amelia turned to watch Nicholas with exasperated affection. “Yes, it’s fine. He’s exhausted, and it’s far too late for him to finally be going to bed. Tomorrow he’ll be a bear to be around.”

“I’m sorry, ma’am,” Sebastian said, his shoulders stiffening. “I never meant to make your life more difficult.”

She stroked a hand down Anne’s back in the too-small crib, then turned to grasp Sebastian’s arm before he could spin away. “No, you misunderstand me. This was a wonderful night, and I’m glad he could be a part of it. He loves his time with you and listening to your music. If he’s grumpy tomorrow, it will be worth it.”

Sebastian’s eyes lit with tenderness. “I wish we were friends,” he whispered.

“We are,” she breathed.

He traced a finger from her hairline over her cheek to her jaw. “I’m a fool for wishing for more.” His deep sigh resonated with regret as he backed away.

“No, you aren’t,” she whispered, leaning on the tips of her toes to brush a feather-soft kiss over his lips.

He jerked as though struck by a hot fireplace poker, watching her with a fiery intensity in his eyes.

“I’ve never been courted by anyone but Liam, and I …”

Sebastian’s smile bloomed like a desert flower after a gentle rain and quieted her with a soft shake of his head. He leaned forward and kissed her forehead. “Will you let me court you, Amelia? Show you what we could have?”

She bit her trembling lip, unable to prevent a tremulous smile from bursting forth, and nodded. Her eyes were filled with wonder as he leaned toward her and kissed her softly, his hands caressing the side of her neck. She gripped his arms, arching into him, but broke the kiss before he could deepen it when Nicholas grumbled in his sleep, interrupting their quiet interlude. Sebastian smiled again, a quiet contentment in his eyes as he stroked a hand from her shoulder to her hand, before turning to leave the room, his boot heels clicking softly so as not to wake the children.

Amelia ran a soothing hand over Nicholas’s head, pausing for longer than was necessary. She stood for a few moments to collect herself and to calm her racing heart before rejoining her friends.

CHAPTER 24

I STOOD IN THE DEPOSITORY, proudly staring at the rows of bookshelves Gabriel had just installed. I ran my hand over one of them, smiling at the thought of organizing the books properly, rather than on tables.

“You plan on standin’ there all day, Missy, and wasterin’ this fine day, marvelin’ at your husband’s talents?” Mr. Pickens asked as he thumped his cane on the floor.

I laughed as I faced him. “Maybe I do. I’m so excited we finally have bookshelves, Mr. A.J.!”

I raced toward him to give him a quick hug. Then I assisted him to a nearby chair so he could continue to oversee my work but not overtax himself.

“I ain’t as sick as I look, Missy.” He attempted to take a deep breath, but ended up shaking from a deep, rattling cough.

“I know what the doctor said—plenty of rest and no exertions. That means you can watch me work and entertain me with stories.”

“I ain’t no circus clown,” he grumbled. “Yer lookin’ better, Missy. You an’ that husband of yours finally make up?” Mr. Pickens wriggled his eyebrows at me as he watched me.

“We weren’t fighting, Mr. A.J.”

“You sure could’ve fooled me. Actin’ like a pair of wounded wolverines, never seeming happy to be together. Didn’t seem right, being newlyweds an’ all.”

“We’ve been married over a year, Mr. A.J.”

“Well, when you reach the forty-year mark, like I did with my Bessie, then you’ll understand yer still a newlywed now.” He smiled his near-toothless grin. “How’d you get him to apologize?”

I rolled my eyes at him, then laughed. “It wasn’t like that. Just a misunderstanding.”

“I hope it didn’t have nothin’ to do with that useless deadbeat who followed you out here.”

“A little.”

“He’ll leave you be, once you get with child.” Mr. A.J. gave me a pointed look.

“Mr. A.J. Please.” My voice broke, and I turned away for a moment before facing him again.

“Hmm. Well, seeing as you’re newlyweds, I’d enjoy the time afore a little one comes along and runs you rugged.” Again the wriggling of his eyebrows and a thump of his cane for good measure. “It’ll give you more time to read and misinterpret those cookbooks you seem so fond of.”

“Amelia’s been very helpful. I just can’t seem to cook anything away from her kitchen. I’ve been visiting with her most afternoons after work, and she continues to help me with cooking classes.”

“Speakin’ of that widowered friend of yours, I’d think you’d have plenty of stories from her.”

“Amelia?”

“That be her name. Just yesterday Mrs. Vaughan stopped in to inform me—” At this he ceased talking as he heard the outer door creak and slam.

Heavy footsteps sounded on the stairs, and I raced toward the stacks of books to give the appearance of being busy at work. I didn’t want to be caught in my ritual morning gossip session with Mr. A.J.

“A.J., Clarissa!” The deep voice of Mrs. Bouchard bellowed through the room. “I’m glad to see that man has finally finished his work. It’s about time, when you consider all we paid him.”

“You know as well as I do that you received a discount due to his fondness for the library,” I said, unable to hide a flash of annoyance from my eyes. I attempted to always call it a library with Mrs. Bouchard and Mrs. Vaughan, to prevent any further irritation on their part. “And he delivered them a few days early.”

“
Hmmph
.” She walked toward the bookshelves, causing the floor to creak with each step. Her sapphire-blue suit gleamed in the midmorning light streaming through the windows. She reached out to touch the wood, frowning as she traced the simple contours of the shelves. “I had thought they would look more substantial. More decorative. I want our members to feel that there is no better place for them to borrow books in Missoula.”