The Irish Trilogy by Nora Roberts

by Nora Roberts

  “Little Dee, I couldn’t ask you to do all that on your day off.” He creased his face into doubtful lines and patted her cheek. “No, it’s too much. I’ll get to it as soon as I find a bit of time.”

  “Uncle Paddy, don’t be silly. I’d love to do it.” Her smile was blooming again, chasing the clouds from her eyes. “Just show me what you want done.”

  “Well . . .” He permitted her to argue a few more minutes before allowing himself to be persuaded.

  ***

  Armed with a myriad of seed packs and a small spade, Adelia stood on the patch of lawn surrounding Paddy’s house and mentally mapped out her landscaping. Petunias along the walk, asters and marigolds against the house, impatiens for the border. And sweet peas, she thought with a smile, for the trellis she had asked Paddy to buy. In the fall, she decided, I’ll plant bulbs, as many as the ground will hold. Daffodils and tulips. Satisfied with her planning, she began to turn the earth.

  The sun grew warmer, and her sleeves were soon pushed past her elbows. In the distance she could hear the sounds of men and horses going through their daily routine: a shout, laughter, the thud of hooves on dirt. But soon, lost in her planting, she drifted apart. Softly, she began to sing a song remembered from childhood, the words soothing and familiar. The scent of fresh earth eased the ache with which she had awakened.

  A shadow fell across her. Twisting her head, she dropped the spade nervously as Travis looked down at her.

  “I’ve made you stop. I’m sorry.”

  He seemed impossibly tall as he stood over her. She craned her neck and squinted against the sun. It glowed in an aura around his head, and for one fanciful moment she thought he looked like a knight on his way to vanquish dragons.

  “No, you just startled me.” Picking up the spade, Adelia told herself she was a fool and began to work again.

  “I didn’t mean the planting.” He crouched down beside her, his shoulder brushing hers. “I mean the song. It sounded very old and very sad.”

  “Aye, it’s both.” She inched away, carefully patting soil over seeds. “A lot of Gaelic songs are old and sad.”

  Folding his legs under him, he sat easily on the grass and watched her. “What’s it about?”

  “Oh, love, of course. The saddest songs are always about love.” She lifted her head to smile at him. His face was close, his mouth a breath away. The spade hung suspended in her hand as she only stared, wondering what she would do if the whisper of space was gone and his mouth found hers.

  “Is love always sad, Adelia?” His voice was as soft as the breeze that danced around them.

  “I don’t know. I . . .” She felt the weakness growing stronger and tore her eyes from his. “We were talking about songs.”

  “So we were,” Travis murmured, then brushed back the hair that curtained her face. She swallowed and began digging with renewed interest. “I never thanked you properly for your help yesterday with Solomy.”

  “Oh, well . . .” Moving her shoulders, she kept her eyes on the ground. “I didn’t do that much. I’m just glad Solomy and the foal are well. Do you like flowers, Mr. Grant?” she asked, needing to change the subject.

  “Yes, I like flowers. What are you planting?” His voice was casual as he lifted a package of seeds.

  “All different kinds,” she told him, this time able to raise her head and smile. “They’ll be a lovely sight by summer. Your soil’s rich, Mr. Grant; it wants to give.” She squeezed a handful of earth, then held it out in her palm.

  “You’d know more about that than I.” Taking her fingertips, he studied the soil in her hand. “You’re the farmer.”

  “I was,” she amended and tried to free her hand.

  “I’m afraid I don’t know much about planting—vegetables or flowers.” He ignored her attempts to pull her fingers away and brought his eyes to hers. “I suppose it’s a gift.”

  “It just takes time and effort, like anything else. Here.” Concluding that if she gave him something to do, her hand would be released, she held out some seeds. “Just drop a few in and cover them up. Don’t crowd them,” she instructed as he obeyed. “They want room to spread. Now you cover them up and let nature take over.” Smiling, she absently brushed a hand across her cheek. “No matter what you do, nature has the last word in any case. A farmer knows that here the same way a farmer knows that in Ireland.”

  “So, now that I’ve put them in,” he concluded with a grin, “I just sit back and watch them grow.”

  “Well,” she said, tilting her head and giving him a sober stare, “there might be a thing or two more, like watering or weeding. These seeds will take quick, and the flowers will pop up before you know it. I’m putting in sweet peas there.” She pointed across the lawn, forgetting that she still held the soil in her other hand. “When the breeze comes up at night, the scent will drift through the windows. There’s something special about sweet peas. They start off so small, but they’ll just keep climbing as long as there’s something to hold on to. There should be a rosebush,” she murmured almost to herself. “When the scents mingle together, it’s like nothing else on earth. Red roses, just starting to open up.”

  “Are you homesick, Dee?” The question was low and gentle, but her head whipped back around in surprise.

  “I . . .” Shrugging, she bent her face to her work again, uncomfortable that he had read her emotions so clearly.

  “It’s quite natural.” He lifted her chin with his hand until their eyes met again. “It’s not easy to leave behind everything you’ve ever known.”

  “No.” Moving her shoulders again, she turned away and began to spread marigold seeds. “But I made the choice, and it truly was what I wanted. It’s what I want,” she amended with more firmness. “I can’t say I’ve been unhappy a moment since I got off the plane. I can’t go back, and I don’t really know if I’d want to if I could. I’ve a new life now.” Tossing back her hair, she smiled at him. “I like it here. The people, the work, the horses, the land.” Her hand made a wide, encompassing gesture. “You’ve a beautiful home, Mr. Grant; anyone could be happy here.”

  He brushed a trace of dirt from her cheek and returned her smile. “I’m glad you think so, but it’s your home too.”

  “You’re a generous man, Mr. Grant.” She kept her gaze level with his, but her smile was suddenly sad and sweet. “There’s not many who’d say that and mean it, and I’m grateful to you. But for better or worse, the farm was mine.” Sighing, she traced a finger through the soil. “It was mine. . . .”

  ***

  Late the next morning when Adelia turned one of the Thoroughbreds she had been exercising over to a groom, Trish Collins approached her with a friendly smile. “Hello, Adelia. How are you settling in?”

  “Fine, missus, and good morning to you.” She regarded Trish’s dark beauty with fresh admiration. “And where are the lads this morning?”

  “In school, but they’ll be here tomorrow. They’re half crazy to get a look at the new foal.”

  “A beautiful sight he is.”

  “Yes, I’ve just had a peek at him. Travis told me how marvelous you were with the mare.”

  Her mouth dropped open a moment, surprised and inordinately pleased that Travis should have praised her. “I was glad to help, missus. Solomy did all the work.”

  “Call me Trish,” she requested with a shake of her head. “Missus makes me feel old and crotchety.”

  “Oh, no, missus, you’re not old at all,” she blurted out, horrified.

  “I wouldn’t like to think so. Travis and I won’t be thirty-one until October.” Trish laughed at the stricken face.

  “So you’re twins as well,” Adelia concluded, feeling more at ease. “I suppose that’s why I saw your brother’s eyes the first time I met you.”

  “Yes, we do bear a strong resemblance to
each other, which is why I constantly tell him how handsome he is.” She smiled at Adelia’s light, musical laugh. “Am I holding you up? Are you busy?”

  “No, missus.” At the raised brow, she amended, “No, Trish. I was about to take my break and fix a cup of tea. Would you like one?”

  “Yes, thank you, I would.”

  They paused at the top of the stairs to the garage house as Adelia bent to pick up a long, narrow white box. “Now what might this be?”

  “Flowers would be my guess,” Trish concluded, indicating the printed name of a local florist.

  “What would they be doing here?” She frowned down at the box as they stepped inside. “Someone must have left them at the wrong house.”

  “You might open them and find out,” Trish suggested, amused by the frown of concentration. “As your name’s on the box, they just might be for you.”

  Auburn curls danced as she shook her head and chuckled. “Now who’d be sending me flowers?” Setting the box on a table, she opened the lid and gave a small cry of pleasure. “Oh, just look! Have you ever seen such a sight?” The box was filled with long-stemmed roses, deep blood red, their half-closed petals soft as velvet to her hesitant fingers. Lifting one out, she held it under her nose. “Ah,” she breathed and passed the bloom to Trish. “Straight from heaven.” Then, shrugging, she returned to practical matters. “Who could they be for?”

  “There should be a card.”

  Locating the small white note, Adelia read it silently, and her green eyes widened as she read the words a second time. She brought her gaze from the slip of paper to meet an openly curious regard. “They’re for me.” Her voice mirrored disbelief as she handed Trish the card. “Your brother sent them to thank me for helping with Solomy.”

  “ ‘Dee, to thank you for your help with the new foal. Travis,’” Trish read aloud, and added under her breath, “You certainly wax poetic on occasion, brother.”

  “In my whole life,” Adelia murmured, touching a silky petal, “no one has ever given me flowers.”

  Trish looked over quickly, observing the shimmering eyes and the stunned pleasure passing over Adelia’s features. Pushing tears back, Adelia spoke on a sigh. “This was a lovely thing for your brother to do. I had a rosebush at home—red roses they were too. My mother planted it.” She smiled, feeling incredibly happy. “It makes them that much more special.”

  Later, they walked back to the stables. As they drew near, Travis and Paddy emerged from the building, and the Irishman greeted them both with a beaming smile.

  “Travis, we’ve died and gone to heaven. Sure and it’s two angels coming to greet us.”

  “Uncle Paddy.” Adelia tweaked his cheek. “Living in America hasn’t lessened your gift for blarney.” Looking up at the man who towered above the rest of them, she treated him to the pure, honest smile of a child. “I want to thank you for the flowers, Mr. Grant. They’re lovely.”

  “I’m glad you liked them,” he answered, enjoying the smile. “It was little enough after what you did.”

  “Here’s something more for you, Dee.” Paddy reached into his pocket and withdrew a piece of paper. “Your first week’s wages.”

  “Oh,” Adelia said with a grin. “It’s the first time I’ve been paid in money for doing anything.” She frowned at the check, confused, and Travis’s brows rose in amusement at her expression.

  “Is something wrong with it, Adelia?”

  “Yes . . . no . . . I . . .” She stumbled and brought her eyes to Paddy.

  “You’re wondering what it is in pounds,” he concluded, grinning merrily.

  “I don’t think I figured it right,” she answered, embarrassed under Travis’s gaze.

  Chuckling, he did some mental arithmetic and told her. Confusion changed to astonishment and something close to terror.

  “What would I be doing with that kind of money?”

  “First time anyone around here complained about being overpaid,” Travis commented and received a baleful glance.

  “Here.” Adelia turned her attention back to her uncle and held the check out to him. “You take it.”

  “Now, why would I be doing that, Dee? It’s your money; you earned it.”

  “But I’ve never had so much money at one time in my whole life.” She sent him a pleading look. “What will I do with it?”

  “Go out and buy some of those female trappings and folderol,” he suggested vaguely, waving his hand, then pushing the check back at her. “Treat yourself to something. The good Lord knows it’s about time.”

  “But, Uncle Paddy—”

  “Why don’t you buy yourself a dress, Dee?” Travis inserted with a grin. “I’m curious to see if you’ve got legs under those jeans.”

  Adelia’s head snapped up, and she eyed Travis with a dangerous gleam. “Aye, I’ve legs, Mr. Grant, and I’ve been told a time or two it’s not a trial to look at them. But you’ll not have to be worrying yourself; it’s not dresses I need to tend your horses.”

  His grin only widened as he gave a negligent shrug. “It doesn’t matter to me if you want to be taken for a boy.”

  Her wrath increased as he had meant it to, and her eyes fired sharp green daggers. “There’s only one who ever made that mistake, he being an ill-mannered, bad-tempered brute of a man without a brain working in his empty head.”

  “Shopping’s a marvelous idea,” Trish broke in, deciding it was time to play peacemaker. “As a matter of fact, Travis”—she smiled and fluttered her lashes—“Dee’s taking the rest of the day off so we can do just that.”

  “Oh, really?” he returned dryly, folding his arms across his chest.

  “Yes, really. Come on, Dee.”

  “But I haven’t finished. . . .”

  Trish linked her arm through the still protesting Adelia’s and propelled her to a late-model compact. Before she had time to think things through, Adelia had an account at a local bank, a checkbook, and more cash than her apprehensive brain could comprehend.

  “Now”—Trish backed the compact from its parking space—“we’re going shopping.”

  “But what will I buy?” She stared at Trish’s clear profile in complete consternation.

  Stopping at a red light, Trish turned to her anxious face. “When’s the last time you bought something for yourself for the fun of it? Have you ever bought something because you wanted it instead of just needing it?” The light changed, and as she joined the flow of traffic, she sighed at Adelia’s blank expression. “Don’t misunderstand. I’m not saying people should just throw their money away, but it’s high time you did something for yourself.” Glancing at Adelia’s furrowed brow, she smiled and shook her head. “You can afford to slow down, Dee, take a day off, buy something foolish, stretch your wings, take a breath.” She grinned as Adelia merely stared at her. “The sky will not fall if Adelia Cunnane takes time off to have some fun.”

  No one was more surprised than Adelia when, in fact, she did have fun. The large mall fascinated her with its various small specialty shops and large department stores. There were more clothes than she had ever seen, in colors and soft materials that had her staring and touching in frank admiration.

  While Adelia gazed around her, Trish examined garments critically, going from rack to rack, dismissing dozens of dresses, skirts, and blouses, occasionally removing an item and hanging it over her arm. Finding herself in a changing room, Adelia could only stare at the garments Trish had placed on a hook. Then, taking a deep breath, she stripped off her shirt and jeans and slipped on a soft jersey dress in muted shades of green.

  The silky material felt strange and wonderful to her skin, clinging to gentle curves and falling gracefully below her knees. She gaped at the stranger in the mirror, her hand seeking the cross at her throat to assure herself that she was still the same person.

&n
bsp; “Dee,” Trish called from outside the curtain, “have you got one on yet?”

  “Aye,” she answered slowly, and Trish pulled the curtain aside, smiling in triumph at the reflection in the full-length mirror.

  “I knew that dress was you the minute I saw it.”

  “It doesn’t feel like me,” Adelia mumbled, then turned to face Trish directly. “It’s beautiful, but what would I do with so grand a dress? I exercise horses. I work in a stable—”

  “Dee,” Trish interrupted firmly, “whatever your occupation, you’re still a human being; you’re still a woman, an exceptionally beautiful woman.” Adelia’s eyes widened, and her mouth opened to protest, but before the words could be uttered Trish took her by the shoulders and turned her to face her reflection. “Look at yourself, really look,” she ordered in no-nonsense terms, then shifted to gentler tones. “There’ll be times when you’ll want only to be a woman; this dress is for those times. Now,” she said with practical authority as she released her, “try something else on.”

  For the rest of the afternoon Adelia allowed Trish to take command. For the first time in more than a decade, she permitted someone else to make all the decisions, and somehow she found she was having fun. They halted in front of a cosmetics counter, and Trish began spraying scents until Adelia grumbled in protest.

  “This.” Trish selected one of the bottles she had sampled. “Light and delicate, with just a touch of spirit.” Paying for the cologne, she handed the package to Adelia. “A present.”

  “Oh, but I can’t!”

  “Yes, you can. Friends get pleasure from giving presents. Now, that marvelous skin of yours doesn’t need any help, but I think we’ll accent your eyes—and some lipstick, nothing too dramatic.” She stopped and laughed. “I’m bullying you, aren’t I?”

  “Aye,” Adelia agreed, feeling caught up in a genial whirlwind and finding she liked it.

  “Well, you needed it,” Trish said firmly. “Is there anything else you want?”