Mrs. Davies shook her head. “What would you have me do? Continue to clothe, house and feed her forever? She needs her own home. Her own place. And this was expeditious.”
He studied her for a long moment. “Finding an urbane man in your city of Albany would be expeditious. Not travelin’ all the way to Fort Benton. What are you hidin’ from her?”
Mrs. Davies stood ramrod straight as she shook with her pent up fury. “I don’t have to take such abuse from the likes of you.”
Kevin took a step back and breathed deeply as though attempting to rein in his temper. “I’m surprised you dislike me so much. If the agreement between your niece and that man falls through, ’tis always smart to have an alternative.”
She stiffened and acted as though she wanted to strike him. “Don’t even hint at her union not succeeding. Don’t give her lofty ideas, Mr. O’Rourke.” Mrs. Davies let out a calming breath. “She needs to marry. I’m certain I don’t need to explain to you our haste.”
He frowned as he thought through her words and then shook his head. “You’re vile to insinuate such a notion about your fine, young niece,” he rasped. “I’ll not listen to your lies.”
She grabbed his arm before he could turn away. “But how do you know I lie?” Her blue eyes bored into his. “How do you know my niece isn’t a consummate actress?” she asked as she fought tears. “You’ll never know how I’ve suffered, raising her all these years.”
Kevin watched her and nodded. He saw the flash of satisfaction in her gaze and leaned forward to speak in a whisper soft voice. “No, ma’am. You’re mistaken. I see through you, and you’re the one who plays fast with the truth. I’ll not listen to any more of your tales.”
He strode away until he had reached another part of the deck, his gaze unfocused as he thought through all his interactions with Miss O’Keefe and her aunt.
Aileen slipped outside onto the deck, wrapping her cloak around her shoulders. The past two nights, she had come outside with her aunt with the hope of Mr. O’Rourke’s brother entertaining her aunt. However, both brothers had been absent. Tonight, she had waited until her aunt had fallen asleep before sneaking from her room. She needed a few moments away from her aunt, and she knew if she remained within the lights of the dining area converted to poker tables, that she would be fine.
She jumped when a hand brushed over her arm. “Mr. O’Rourke,” she gasped as she met Kevin’s quizzical stare. “I’ve hoped to see you these past few evenings.”
“Have you?” he asked in his deep voice. He glanced inside and then urged her into the shadows. However, she remained close enough to the dining room that if she ever felt uncomfortable, she could call out and someone would rush to her aid.
She ducked her head, suddenly feeling unsure of herself and her desire to see him. She blushed at the foolish notion that he had wanted to spend time with her too, during their long journey to Fort Benton.
“Miss O’Keefe,” Kevin whispered, “why are you here?”
Her head jerked up to stare as though of its own accord and she looked into his penetrating gaze with confusion. “I wanted to see you,” she blurted out, her flush brightening at her forthright admission.
“Why?”
She stiffened and jerked on her arm, separating herself completely from him, although she still remained within the shadows. “I thought you’d not be such a simpleton,” she said, her gaze snapping with embarrassment.
He took a deep breath, but kept his hands at his sides, although he fisted and unfisted them as though fighting a desire to reach for her. “No, I’m no eejit,” he whispered. “Or I wasn’t until I met you.” He paused as they stared for a long moment into each other’s eyes. “Why has your aunt brought you on this journey?”
She held her breath and shook her head, hating the disappointment she saw in his gaze. “She wanted an adventure, and I must go where she does.” She took a deep breath, gathering all her courage. “She tells me I should heed her counsel, because as my guardian, she knows best.”
He took a step forward, his chest nearly brushing hers. “Because you need someone to care for your babe?” he breathed, his probing gaze watching her with a fierce intensity as though to root out any deception.
She gasped and raised her hand as though to slap him. She struggled as he grabbed her hand in a grip meant to thwart her hitting him, but never to harm her. “How dare you insinuate such lies? How could you think about me in such a way?” She shook her head in disbelief as her eyes filled with tears and a few cascaded down her cheeks.
He continued to stare at her with a deep intensity, but remained silent.
Her breaths emerged as gasps as she fought a sob. She gave up the futile attempt to free herself from his hold and her shoulders sagged. “Why would you think such a thing about me?”
“I didn’t,” he murmured. “And your reaction only proved the teller of such a tale a liar.” He caressed a finger over her cheek. He met her gaze filled with doubt and hurt. “I will confess to having a few moments of uncertainty. You aren’t the first lass attempting to sweet talk an O’Rourke.”
“Is that what you think I’m doing?” she gasped as she jerked on her arm, breaking free of him. “Sweet talking you?” Her eyes shone with disappointment. “I thought we were friends. I thought … I hoped we could be more. It seems I was mistaken in you.”
She spun to flee back to the quiet misery of her stateroom with her aunt, gasping as a strong arm looped around her waist.
“No, Aileen,” he breathed into her ear. “You weren’t mistaken about me. I am your friend. And I want to be so much more to you.” He let out a deep breath along her neck, eliciting a shiver. “I hate the thought of you with any man other than me. Forgive me.”
She pulled on his arm around her waist, and he let her go. She turned, studying him in the faint light. “Why treat me like this? Why not ask me a simple question?”
He let out a sardonic laugh and ran fingers through his hair. “What was I to ask you, lass? Are you bearin’ another man’s bastard child? Are you lookin’ for a father for your babe?” He shook his head. “Sayin’ it out loud, I know I was a fool to consider it.”
She nodded. “I’m certain you have your reasons for being cautious.”
“All O’Rourkes are cautious when it comes to love,” he whispered. “We’ve seen what happens when that love is lost.” His eyes shone with the memory of loss. “Forgive me?” he asked.
Aileen looked deeply into his eyes before stepping forward into his arms. “For now. If you treat me like this again, I can’t promise I’ll be as understanding, Mr. O’Rourke.”
“Kevin,” he whispered. “Call me Kevin.”
“Kevin,” she breathed. “When we are alone, I’m Aileen.”
He ran his strong hands over her back, pulling her closer. “Aye, you’re Aileen, a wee fairy come to tempt me with what I fear I’ll never have.” He let out a sigh of contentment. “Let me hold you a few minutes longer before you have to return to your room.”
She sighed her agreement, snuggling into his arm for a few more stolen moments.
Three weeks later, Ardan and Kevin wandered along the riverbank within easy distance to the steamboat. The captain’s warning that they were vulnerable to an Indian attack rang in their ears, and they had no desire to be maimed or killed as they stretched their legs. They paused in their walking to watch the crew loading wood to fuel the steamboat’s engine.
Kevin crouched down and pulled out his tin whistle. He played a short, cheery song and Ardan clapped and hummed along, grinning with delight. Kevin smiled at his brother before slipping the whistle back into the inside pocket of his jacket, uninterested in drawing a crowd of onlookers.
“’Twas lovely, Kev,” Ardan said as he pulled on a stalk of grass and played with it. “Where’d you learn that piece? It was familiar but different.”
Kevin shrugged. “From a few of the lads in New York. We’d play during breaks and they knew songs I’d never heard o
r songs played in a distinct fashion.” He smiled. “They were from Donegal.”
Ardan smiled. “’Tis a shame you couldn’t play music for a living.”
Kevin laughed. “No, there’s no call for it, and I wouldn’t want to live away from the family. Who’d pay to hear me in Fort Benton?” He shook his head, his alert gaze on the ship’s deck.
“She’s not disembarkin’, Kev,” Ardan murmured. “You heard her aunt this mornin’. That no God fearin’ woman would place herself in danger when there were wild Indians about.” He shared a sardonic look with his brother. “The poor lass is stuck on that ship.”
Kevin nodded and focused on his brother. “It’s no concern of mine.”
Ardan snorted and kicked at a clump of dirt. “Right. So, who do you think her betrothed is?” He raised an eyebrow as Kevin glared at him. “Do you think ’tis any of the fine men in Fort Benton we know or a newcomer who arrived while we were away?”
“Who would arrive while we were away? No boats could get through,” Kevin snapped, his cheery expression faltering. “I don’t like envisionin’ who she might marry.”
Ardan ignored his complaint and said, “Could be a backwoodsman who wants to take her out into the wild. I fear she’s too fine a lady to survive long in the woods.” He shrugged. “Or a gamblin’ man arrived from Virginia City on a stagecoach.”
Kevin sighed. “More likely it’s Dunmore.” He paused as he considered the successful stagecoach driver, Philip Dunmore, who drove the lucrative route to and from Virginia City and Fort Benton. Although Kevin had always liked the man, an instant loathing set in at the thought of him with Aileen. “Although I can’t imagine he’ll want to settle down with a lass in Fort Benton. He seems fine living the life of a bachelor when he’s in town.”
“Aye, although you know every man reaches a point he wants to settle down.” He stared at his brother with a wicked gleam in his eyes. “I know Stanley and Aaron are eager to wed,” Ardan said, referring to Stanley Robinson and Aaron Foster, the saloon and hotel proprietors. They had successful businesses, and had expressed a desire to marry to their father, Seamus.
Kevin stopped pacing around the bluff and glared at his brother. “Any single man with sense would want to marry her.” He ignored Ardan’s raised brow at the statement as Kevin knew Ardan had no inclination toward Aileen. “Buford Hunt is too old for her. He has to be forty. And he’s too much of a buffoon to be worthy of her,” he said.
Ardan laughed. “You’ve always liked the man before now.” He shook his head. “And I’ll be sure not to tell the man what you think of him, lest he poison your soup.” Buford had taken over the running of the café the previous year when the Tompkins family had left to find land under the Homestead Act.
“And if you say that Ezra or Leander would be ideal for her …” Kevin took a deep breath at the notion of Aileen with Ezra Jackson, the enforcer at the town’s brothel or Leander Wilcox, the town’s sheriff.
Ardan shrugged. “She’d be well protected if she were with either of those men.” He laughed as Kevin growled and moved to hit him. He sobered as he saw his brother’s tortured expression as they discussed Aileen O’Keefe’s potential suitor. “I’m sorry, Kev.”
Kevin shook his head. “It’s not as though you aren’t doin’ somethin’ I don’t do to myself every day. I wonder and wonder who it could be. An’ I pray that I’m a more worthy man.” He stared at his brother with a bleak, desperate hope. “An’ I pray she’ll choose me.”
Ardan slung an arm over his brother’s shoulder, giving it a squeeze. “Well, we can rest assured ’tis not one of our brothers.”
Kevin let out a deep breath of relief. “No. Thank God.”
When the steamboat sounded the whistle a few times, they knew that was their signal to reboard. They joined the men who had disembarked, the conversation convivial and light as they joked with the men heading north that would soon be patrons at their store.
“Stop staring over the railing like a lovesick calf,” her aunt snapped.
Aileen blushed and took a step back from the railing. She knew her aunt was rattled when she used any reference to a farm animal. Aunt Davies never liked to acknowledge she’d been raised outside of a city. “I have every right to admire the scenery.”
Her aunt smacked her fingers still gripping the railing, causing Aileen to yelp and drop her hand. “A wild land, covered in sagebrush and grass with few trees in sight and an untamed river roaring past is not a scenery worth admiring.” She speared her niece with a severe stare. “I’m fed up with your infatuation, Aileen.”
Aileen lowered her gaze and backed another step away from her aunt. “We are friends, Aunt Davies. There is no reason for concern.”
Her aunt snorted in a very unladylike manner. “Of course there is, you fool! No man can ever befriend a woman without wanting more from her. It’s simply not possible.”
“Not all men have dishonorable intentions,” Aileen protested.
Aunt Davies leaned closer so they were nearly nose-to-nose. “Which only proves what a naïve simpleton you really are.” She flushed with indignation. “What more must I do to ensure you are well taken care of? Lock you in our stateroom for the remainder of our journey?”
Aileen paled and cowered at her aunt’s words. “No. I’m sure that’s not necessary.”
“After all I’ve done for you, this is how you repay me?” Aunt Davies barreled on as though Aileen hadn’t spoken. “I have ensured you will marry a respectable, successful man. Cease your daydreams about that worthless Irish peasant.”
“He’s not worthless! Unlike us, he was able to pay for a stateroom on this ship.” She took another step back, bumping into a wall of tarp-covered crates as it appeared her aunt would strike her for her impertinence.
“Do you ever wonder why your father left and never came back?” She raised her eyebrows, her eyes lit with anger as she spat her vitriol. “He was tired of your mother’s hen pecking and your incessant neediness. No man, once he has the chance to know you, will desire a long relationship with you. He’ll run off at the first opportunity, as your father did.”
Aileen clutched a hand to her chest as tears coursed down her cheeks. “How cruel,” she whispered. “I never realized the extent of your disdain.” She held a hand to her mouth, battling back a sob.
“You’ve been coddled long enough.” Her aunt broke off from what more she would have said by the sound of two loud bursts of the steamboat horn. “All I ask, as the aunt who raised you and cared for you all these years, is that you trust my judgment. Meet the man I arranged for you. Do not dismiss him out of hand because he is not the worthless charlatan on this boat.”
Aileen stiffened. “I don’t know if I can do that.” She gasped when her aunt grabbed her arm, holding it in a vise-like grip for the moments remaining before the men reboarded.
“You would beggar us?” Aunt Davies’s eyes glowed with a near maniacal gleam as she stared at her niece. “After everything I’ve done, this is how you would repay me?” When Aileen stared at her in horror, her aunt continued, “If you fail to marry the man I chose, everything we have worked for will be lost because we will have to use every last cent to pay the man back for this wasted journey. Is that how you would treat me?”
“Of course not, Aunt,” Aileen stammered.
“Then promise me you will meet the man I arranged for you with an open mind and agree to marry him if he is at all suitable.” She did not say the words, “You owe me” again, but they were implied in her gaze.
Aileen sniffled. “I promise.”
After nodding with satisfaction, her aunt gripped Aileen’s hand and squeezed it. “Forgive me for speaking bluntly. I feared you would not see reason until it was in front of you.”
Shivering, Aileen nodded. Rather than glance at the men walking onto the boat, she spun to enter her stateroom, desperate for a few moments alone.
The following evening, the captain made the announcement during dinner that they w
ere about a week from Fort Benton. Everyone but she cheered. Aileen watched as an older man wooed her aunt and slipped from the dining room to find a quiet place on the deck. She pulled her shawl around her shoulders, as the evenings remained cool on this late May evening. The stars shone brightly and she fought tears as she stared at them.
“Why the long face, Aileen?” Kevin asked in a low voice as he sidled up to her.
She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath of the air tinged with tobacco, woodsmoke and Kevin’s subtle sandalwood scent. She fought the urge to lean into his side. “I’m nervous about our arrival in Fort Benton. About the changes that will bring to my life.” She wrung her hands together.
He rubbed at his forehead. “Because you’re promised to another,” he said, a statement of fact rather than a question. Watching as she paled at his comment, he waited for her to protest. To proclaim her choice of him. When she stared at him, in stunned silence, he swore softly and turned away to stare at the night’s sky.
“How long have you known?” she asked in a shaky voice.
“Since the first night I met you.” He rubbed at his temple.
“Why continue to speak with me if you knew I was to marry someone else?” She wrapped her arms around her waist as though to protect herself from his words, although she watched him with an avidity that belied her fear he would harm her in any way.
“I thought I could be content with your friendship.” He looked over his shoulder to meet her gaze, his filled with passionate longing. “I was a fool.”
She jolted and took a small step backward. “For wanting to be friends with me?” Her voice emerged small and pain laden.
He spun and closed the distance between them in one large step, cupping his hands around her face as he gazed at her with a fierce intensity. “No, for believing I’d be satisfied with only your friendship.” He lowered his head until his forehead touched hers. “You are singular, Aileen. I fear I won’t meet another woman like you ever again.”
Pioneer Dream: The O’Rourke Family Montana Saga Page 3
