by J Haney
“Couple miles at least.” I unhook my safety belt and reach back for Finn. “Hey, buddy? We’re here.”
“It's beautiful.” Onóra says getting out of the car.
Finn looks and yawns. “Food, bed, repeat.”
I chuckle getting out to stretch my legs. “Grab Fred.” I turn my head and see Sonny and Rose coming outside with a wave.
“Hello!” Sonny smiles, shaking my hand. “Welcome to The Fireguard Ranch. We’ve been waiting for you for quite some time.”
Rose grabs Onóra and hugs her like she knows her. “Oh, honey, we are so sorry about your daddy.”
Onóra pats her back. She’s not a touchy-feely person. “Thank you; we miss him dearly.”
“We’ve kept things up to his specifications, everything is clean, there are basics inside. Toiletries, sundries, we stocked the fridge with fresh local fruits and veggies enough to get you through the weekend at least. There’s also a binder with all the local delivery joints menus inside. Just in case.” Rose smiles.
“Here are the keys. there are three sets since there's three of you.” Sonny hands them to me. “Go on take a look around. I left directions to the Sedona mall on the kitchen counter with the binder.”
“Th-thank ya?” I say confused I thought they might show us around but apparently not.
“The horses, where are they?” Onóra asks.
Sonny smiles. “I was heading down to feed them. Would you like to join me? I know a horse that would love to see you.”
Onóra looks at me. “Do you mind going on in? Finn’s not much for them, but he can go in alone if you want to come along.”
“No, you go. See your boy. We’ll be here when you come back.” I pull her into me and kiss her gently. “Have fun.”
43 Onóra
Arizona is perfect, both for starting our lives over and becoming a family. The best part? Fireguard. He knew me as soon as he saw me. I made sure to brush him and feed him with promises to take him for a long run tomorrow.
“Miss Onóra?” Sonny asks me as I’m closing up Fireguard’s pen. “Would you like to see his heir?”
“His heir? I didn’t think he could reproduce.”
“Seems he had one left in him. We were going to geld him, but before we could, he managed to get a hold of Seraphim a young palomino rescue. The results have been- well see for yourself.”
I’m walked down several stalls to a pen with a chestnut brown colt. His coat shines like the sun with chocolate spots on his rear and a pair of crystal blue eyes.
“Miss Onóra, meet Soulguard.”
“He’s beautiful. Do you have to geld them? Can’t we breed them? Especially if it could be something like this every time.”
“Fireguard is at the end of his line, but Soul, here. He could be bred. We have a few mares that may be suitable for him. But breeding is a different game than rescuing, and we’re not set up for that.”
“We have plenty of room, though. Would it be hard to set up?”
“I’d have to do a little research. Can I get back to you in a few days?” Sonny asks, looking around.
“Of course, I have to talk to Rónán. I couldn’t make the decision alone. Is there anything else we should know about the property?”
“It’s fed by four wells, so the boy should be careful walking. They’re not very high above the ground, though they are in clearings. You know how boys are. They play where they shouldn’t.”
“He’ll mostly stay at the courts, but is there something we could do to make it safer?”
“Building fences, but then you run the risk of the horses getting caught where you cannot see. The property is fairly open for them to wander. There are fences, but they are far out, and the horses mostly avoid the tress for predators that live in the woods. Aside from your typical creepy crawlies, you know rattlesnake, gilia monsters, and the occasional scorpion or tarantula, we have cougars and bears, coyote, and the like. It is a big property.”
“Keep a shotgun handy, got it.” I scratch Soulguard’s head one more time. “I should probably get back to the house. I’m betting they’ve passed out already.”
“Only if they’re planning on sleeping on the floor. Your trucks didn’t come today they were delayed in Nevada. They will arrive tomorrow.”
“Of course it did. Guess we’re going to the store. Sheesh. I was really hoping our bed would have been here.”
“Hop in the truck I’ll run you back up to the house.” Sonny offers as the stables a good quarter mile down the road and through a thicket of trees.
***
“Thanks.” I say with a wave to Sonny as I get out of the truck. He waves and I head inside. “Rónán?” I yell as I walk through the door. “We may need to do some painting and updating to our liking.”
Nothing. The house is radio silent. I walk through until I hear something outside. Splashing? I make my way to another door. This place is like a maze. Out the back door is the pool and in the pool would be Rónán and Finn.
“Am I going shopping alone?” I ask, leaning against the porch.
“Hey, wee bird. Did ya have a good time with ya horse?” Rónán asks swimming to the edge of the pool.
“Yeah, seems he had himself an heir since he’s been away. Soulguard is adorable.”
“That’s mighty fine. So ya say ya want to go shoppin’ I’m assuming for somethin’ to sleep on?” He lifts himself out of the water. His muscles flexing tightly.
I bite my lip, watching him. “I’d prefer not to sleep on the floor.”
“It has its advantages.” He smiles, grabbing a towel. One of my good ones that I packed in the truck!
“What are you doing! Have you lost what brain you had?”
“What?” He looks at me like I'm the one that’s lost my mind.
“Good towels. You’re going to ruin them.” God, I sound like my father.
“Wee bird, we have washers coming. They will be fine.” He kisses my head as he walks by me. “Come on, Finn. Let’s get dressed. Onóra you may want to check out the closets they’re fascinating.”
“What closets? Like all of them? There’s a ton I could be here all night.”
“The walk-ins in the master this way, if you wanna follow me.”
“Okay.” I say confused but follow. “We’re going to have to update this place. It’s so, old coupley.”
He laughs as we enter the master bedroom and just drops his pants. “Just leave the bathroom alone. I love this shower tub combo.”
I turn my head to the side and just watch him walk. “I think you’re going the wrong way.” He turns, giving me a show before closing the bathroom door. “You remember that when I won’t give you more than just a show.”
I go to follow him into the bathroom, but the two doors on either side catch my attention. He mentioned looking in closets. I open the one to my left, and it’s full of nothing but my accessories and shoes. I turn to go back to the left. Twisting the knob, I can already see garment bags, and the door is barely open. In the middle of the closet is my mom’s hope chest. I can feel my lip quivering. My hands are already shaking before I can even make it to the chest.
Going down to my knees with shaking hands, I open the chest. It’s all here. Everything. Mom’s dress, her barrette, antique dishes, jewelry, even the blanket she made me. I pull everything out; I need to get to the bottom. I need to know if they're here. I pop the false bottom, and there they are. Letters from my mom. She wrote one for every birthday and special event she could think of. I missed the one for my eighteenth birthday.
I’m crying as I clutch the letters to myself. Antaine’s been here. He gave me everything back. Maybe he could just be okay with just being our uncle. Only time will tell. I go through the letters. I only have four left. My eighteenth birthday, my wedding day, my first baby and one for the man I marry.
My hands shake as I open the letter for my past birthday.
Nora,
My sweet, girl. I can't call you that anymore, can I? Y
ou’re eighteen; you're a woman. An adult in many eyes. I have such hopes for you, my girl.
I hope that you find happiness. That you carve out a life for yourself apart from the family. I hope that you find love. that when you find it, you don’t run from it. That you fight for it, hold on to it for all it’s worth. I hope that you and Finn are close. that he’s growing up strong like his sister. I hope your father is happy too. Don’t let him be too lonely he deserves to be loved, even if it’s not I doing the loving. I know you will do great things; I just wish I could be there to hold you and sing to you. Know I will always watch over you.
I love you, my sweet girl.
Momma
I’m sobbing by the time I’m finished reading. Stupid emotions. I hate them. Mom and dad are together again, and now they’re watching over us together. I miss them both, and I wish dearly they could be here with us. I still need them. If it weren’t for Rónán, I don’t know what I’d have done. Finn kept me moving, but Rónán made me believe I could handle it all even if I felt like a fish out of water.
I feel arms wrap around me, and I sink into him. No one else can hold me the way Rónán does.
“I’m here; it’s a’ight. Ya cry all ya need to.” He smoothes my hair and kisses my tear-stained cheeks.
“He gave her back to me.” I wipe at my face. “You think people can change?”
“I don’t know. I suppose so, I mean if we can go from good to bad, why not bad to good?”
“I missed this on my eighteenth birthday. I’ve had one every year since she passed.” I hand him the letter.
“I think she’d be happy to know ya've done as she hoped.” He pulls me into him tighter; it's then I realize he’s in just another towel.
I pull his face to mine for a sloppy messy kiss. I need to feel him, and if this is how it’s going to happen, then it’s okay with me. As his lips connect with mine, my right-hand tangles in his chest hair as my left makes him lose his towel.
“So we’re christening the closet first?” He smiles through our kiss. “I’m oddly okay with this.” He pulls at the waist of my yoga pants as I sigh happily.
44 Rónán
Non-stop. Since Italy, it’s been two and a half months of crazy. First, it was getting here then Onóra didn’t like the southwestern style, so we had to have contractors come out to replace the tile and stucco. It’s starting to come together, and all our stuff has been delivered. We came to realize my stuff and her stuff didn’t go together so well. So it was all donated, and now we got our stuff. Comfy seating in the vaulted great room will allow for a massive Christmas tree as she’s already begun to buy decorations. Thanksgiving is just around the corner, but around these parts, I wonder if we can even get a real tree.
We’ve painted, tacked in new crown moldings and even put in a neat little reading nook in the loft above our bed. Finn’s room is expanded with a full gaming wall, and he has his own homework room with computers and resources for all his study needs. When he finishes his homework each night, then he gets the Wi-Fi password for the day. It’s working out quite nicely.
I’m taking a break, collapsed in a chair in the kitchen while Onóra replaces the cabinet hardware.
“Rónán?” She calls in that voice that I know means she wants something.
“Yes, Wee bird?”
“I’ve been thinking…”
“Danger… Danger.... Will Robinson!” I jest, making robotic movements.
“So the horses, you know we have a few. What if we had more?”
“You want to take on more rescues?”
“If they need to be rescued, yes. But, I was thinking about breeding.”
“Don’t breeders have to have like good bloodlines? Pure lines? No imperfections? All that bullshit?”
“Yes, if you plan on racing. They’d be more for pleasure. Sonny and I have been doing the research. I wanted facts before coming to you. It’s a way to supplement our income. Yes, I know we have plenty of money, but college isn’t cheap and then if we have kids, and grandkids. What we have won’t last.”
“Sheesh, ya just went and spent our fortune did ya?” I laugh, nervously. “Ya already know ya want to. So what am I gonna tell ya? Just don’t go losin’ ya shirt, and if ya do. Charge for the titty show.”
“No, I mean, yes, I want to do this, but it’s not just mine. It’s ours. I can’t help the Italian side of me calculates everything.”
“No, it’s quite a’ight. If it’s what ya want, we’ll do it. I think I want to learn more about all of it as it is. Time to do something that doesn't put me in a chair or in front of a computer in the dark all day long. We have all this beautiful property. I want to enjoy it. Maybe get a tan.” I smirk watching her. She looks different. I can’t pinpoint what it is, but there’s somethin’.
She’s up and in my lap in no time kissing me. “Thank you.”
“Ya really wanna thank me?” I say, breaking our kiss.
“Maybe?” She crooks a brow at me.
“Let’s set a date, before the New Year.”
“For the wedding? It’s too soon to get married, in this mess we call a house. Can’t we get it done first?”
“Why? It’s just us. We have our whole life to fix up the house. But I’d rather be callin’ ya, my wife, sooner than later. I want that paper that calls ya Onóra Donnelly to be real.”
“Do you know what it takes to plan a wedding? You think this house is a mess now? Add a wedding, and it’ll look clean.” She watches me, she’s thinking. I can see it. “I’ll make a deal with you.” There go the arms over her chest.
“You and yer deals.” I open her arms, making them go around me instead. “Plead yer case, counselor.”
“You plan the wedding, and I’ll blow your mind for the wedding night.”
“Yer on. But ya gotta pick the theme and tell me who ya want here. Because if I have it my way, it would be just us and Finn would get to stay at a friend’s house that whole weekend.” I waggle my brows at her.
“Finn has to be here, and you need to ask his permission first. You can’t ask my parents. That leaves Finn.”
“Actually technically it leaves Antaine or Dermot. Both whom have given their blessin’. But if ya want I should be askin’ the wee lad, I’ll ask.”
“If we’re getting technical, you’d have to ask Antaine and Tiberio. Do you really want to ask them? They’ll be fighting over who gets to pay for it.”
“Where're their numbers?” I go to get up, but she holds me down with a hard push.
“Okay, let’s think about this logically. Would you want either of them to plan our wedding? Antaine would want straight Irish, Tiberio Italian. I want neither.”
“So we’ll go Orthodox Jew, I can call in a favor from New York.” I’m grinning like a cat.
She purses her lips together. Oh boy, she’s thinking really hard now. “Let’s go to Vegas. I have an appointment with that obstetrician I was referred to here, tomorrow. We can go any time after that.”
“Don’t tempt me; it’s not like you don't’ have a dress already.”
“You said before the New year. There isn’t any way you’re going to be able to plan a wedding in two months. Not a fitting one. It just can’t happen.”
“Challenge accepted.”
Epilogue Onóra
Two Years! Talk about a challenge. It’s taken us two years to get to today. Rónán and I are getting married! It’s five in the morning, and he’s already off to do whatever it is Irish men do before the nuptials. Probably drinking with Antaine. Yeah, the dear old Uncle has become something of a fixture. It turns out he never had kids because he doesn’t like women. These mafia men with their lies and secrets, but he's away from the family and now a real part of ours. Did I mention our little family had an addition? Yup just after Rónán tried setting our first wedding date I found out we were having a baby!
Now that was a rough few months. We bickered on everything, and I swore so much that he finally learned Italian. With
it all, we managed to get the house remodeled, and my horses ready to breed, and on July twelfth, two-thousand and nineteen at four eighteen in the morning, little Rónán came screaming into the world. He’s a spitfire, and every ounce as adorable as his daddy. What’s worse is he knows it already!
“Finn! Come get Rónán; he’s trying to eat my stockings!” I holler for the boy who would be man.
He’s twelve now and thinks that since he’s damn near as tall as me, he’s grown. Of course, I’ll still light him up if he gets too out of line, so he’s stayed the course and is doing well with school.
A knock comes to the door, and Devon’s head comes through. “Sorry, boy’s detained, but I can be takin’ the wee one.”
“Please! I don't need a run in these; they’re my last pair of silk ones from Tiberio. I doubt he can get me more before noon.”
Devon takes Rónán, and off they disappear. Devon came when Antaine did, just one more thing Rónán didn’t know about his friend. They’ve all been great, wonderful and I have felt so-so loved.
I’m up so early not to get ready, as it’s still hours away, but to have a bit of private time. When I was ready to have Rónán, there was a letter from my mom about the birth of my first child, and now that I’m about to be married, there is one last letter to open.
I swallow hard. To think that there will be no more new letters after this. That this is the last time, I will get new words from my mom. I’m already crying, and I haven’t even broken the wax seal. I open it and steel myself.
Nora,
Today is the day. Your wedding day. I have no great wisdom to impart about marriage. I wish I did. Your dad and I loved hard and fought harder. Every day was a blessing and a curse, but every night was filled with love, hope, and happiness. Our home was blessed by you two children, and I hope for you that there are blessings too. Children, love, and laughter your whole life through. May the sun always shine on your most needed days and the home you live in to be well made to protect you from the storms. I wish your husband makes you happy, more important that he makes you laugh, for a humorless marriage is no marriage at all. I pray that your love is strong and never ends and that your home always be filled with good friends. May you go together in this life heart to heart and hand in hand, as you venture into new lands. See the world together; it’s worth it. Always remember that no matter what little thing the fight was about, that ring on your finger cancels it out.
