“And what if she recovers? Would you then have to explain why you are living in sin with the woman?”
James stared at the floor, defeated. “It won’t happen. I…know. She’s dying, Gabriel. She slips away a little more each day. I need to give her this. She needs to know Samuel will be safe.” Looking up, he pleaded with his whole heart. “Please.”
All movement in the room ceased while Gabriel met his brother’s look.
The air was being sucked out of James. He didn’t even blink.
“Aye, I will do it. But you must remember it is not a legal nor binding marriage and cannot be consummated. And, you will have to legally adopt Samuel soon.”
“And you won’t tell Shannon it isn’t legal? She must never know.”
“I leave that job to you, dear brother. You will be the one to tell her when she recovers. But I will come back and marry you then, if she will still have you. And you give me enough time.”
“Time is what Shannon doesn’t have. But if God is gracious and lets her live, I will tell her and send for you. That is a promise.”
Gabriel grasped James’s forearm and pulled him into a hug.
James melted onto his big brother’s shoulder. It didn’t matter that James stood taller and weighed as much as a stone more, Gabriel was his big brother and would take care of him once again.
“We will need to tell the family. You know mother and the girls will want to help.”
“I don’t know if she will even be able to get out of bed at this point.”
Gabriel, always practical, patted his cheek. “Little brother, women must have the accoutrements. Trust me, it is necessary. We can tell them to keep it simple for Shannon’s sake.”
James nodded and opened the door. But in his heart, he closed the door to any other path. This is the one he would walk, one way or another. With Shannon beside him in spirit or in health. The choice had been made.
This is the path he would take.
* * *
Movement and swirling swishes filled Shannon’s ears. Whispers, soft with importance floated around her. What was happening?
A touch.
Shannon’s eyes flew open.
A hand stroked her cheek. Turning her head, she saw Louise kneeling next to the bed. “Shannon, would you like to be married today?”
She still dreamed, that was it. Reaching up, Shannon touched Louise’s face. No, this time she was wide awake. “Married?”
“Ouí. James has asked Gabriel to marry the two of you today. Would you like that?”
Shannon nodded her head and a tear escaped down her cheek.
“My daughters brought flowers into the room. We will help you into something pretty and arrange your hair. Do you think you can sit in the chair?”
Shannon again nodded. She was about to be married. How did James do that? No, her Heavenly Father did it. He answered her prayer. Now Samuel would be safe.
As the weight of the burden lifted, Shannon found she could breathe a bit easier, as if her brain received more oxygen, her thoughts became clearer. She was about to become a Crockett, a true member of the family. The kindness of God overwhelmed her.
“Don’t cry, dear heart. You don’t want your eyes all red for your groom.”
At that, Shannon smiled. Red eyes were the least of her beauty problems. But she would be a good wife, even if she couldn’t be a pretty one. As good as God would allow. Lord, please don’t let me cough during the wedding. I won’t ask to live and recover from my wounds, but please don’t let me cough.
A peace settled over Shannon. She was ready to face whatever lay ahead.
Louise and Lucy helped her sit and move to the chair. Today was her wedding day. Inside, Shannon laughed with glee. Who could have imagined?
* * *
The family squeezed into Shannon’s tiny room. Sarah, holding Samuel, stood to the back by the door. If he got too boisterous, she would quickly slip out.
Joseph stood at her side, holding Wee Joseph with the same plan.
When Sarah first learned of the immediate wedding, her thoughts held a twinge of jealousy. But watching now from the doorway, she felt a tremendous sadness. Daily Shannon slipped further away. Her waking moments were fewer and farther between. It must take tremendous will for Shannon to sit there as frail as she was.
Samuel squirmed.
“Look, lovey.” She pointed. “Mama’s getting married. You are going to be a Crockett.” She kissed his head.
“Mama.” Samuel surprised Sarah with his whisper, as if he understood not to interrupt. She turned him around so he could better see, and he quietly watched.
It was strange to see the bride and groom’s faces so clearly and only the minister’s back. But the view allowed Sarah to see James’s eyes full of love for his bride. Looking over at Joseph, she caught the same look on his face, staring back at her. It made Sarah wish all the more for their day.
“And now, our new Mistress Crockett, I congratulate you and welcome you to the family.” Gabriel leaned over and kissed Shannon on the cheek while the family cheered.
“I have the shortbread.” Sarah Beth pushed forward, holding the cake over Shannon’s head.
“So, break it.” Lucy shouted, as pieces of the shortbread tumbled down into Shannon’s long braid and onto her lap.
Though the new Mistress Crockett couldn’t laugh, Sarah was sure she heard her anyway. The bride-glow belied how truly ill the lass was, but Sarah noted weariness in Shannon’s eyes.
Tanté Louise stepped forward. “Shannon, dear heart, I know this is supposed to come from your parents, but I hope you will accept it from us.” She handed the girl a small bell. “I doubt if you will have need of it to have family help with an argument with James.” Louise winked at her son and kissed the top of her new daughter-in-law’s head. “But you may also use it to call us if you need anything. Anything at all.”
“Thank…you.”
Tanté Louise turned back to her family. “And now we need to go to the dining room for refreshment. I will send some up for the bride and groom and you may, one at a time, come and bring your gifts. But please make your visit short. Shannon needs her rest and James wants time with his bride.”
Though the last part was said with a smile, Sarah knew it was all too true. She was afraid James would have very little time with his new bride.
Chapter Twenty-Five
I’m sorry.” Joseph found James by himself, sitting under a tree by the river. He never expected to hear those words. He’d come to do his best to comfort his brother. Instead James apologized to him. “About what?”
“About not understanding what you were going through. I think I understand a little better.” He plucked another shamrock, tearing it to bits and throwing it with other shreds onto the ground around him.
Joseph claimed a spot next to him and, grabbing a large shamrock, began to pull each heart-shaped leaf from the stem. “Now I know why everyone asked me if I was all right. It’s hard to think of anything else to ask.”
It had only been one week since they buried Shannon in the family plot on Edenmore. No sense in asking for problems with the church for wanting to bury a Catholic on Protestant soil. A stone reading "Shannon Crockett, Beloved Wife" had been ordered to mark her resting place.
“Does it ever stop hurting?” James didn’t raise his head. Instead he found another shamrock victim.
Joseph closed his eyes to the fluffy clouds passing through the azure sky. The pain no longer stabbed, he realized, but it still hurt. Somewhat. Yet no longer to the point of being debilitating. “I don’t know. I know it changed me. And I’m ready to again know joy.”
“With Sarah?”
“Aye, with Sarah.”
James, forsaking the shamrocks, picked up a small stone and skipped it out onto the River Foyle. “I can’t imagine ever loving anyone else.”
“I wouldn’t worry about it now. It’s enough to get through the day.”
“Aye.” James raked his hand
through his hair and leaned against the elm’s trunk. “I think I need to hear you say it will get better.”
“It will get better.”
James turned his deep blue eyes on his brother.
Joseph nearly broke to see the tears waiting to spill down James’s cheeks. He embraced the new widower, pulling him close. “It will get better, I promise.”
* * *
“Are you sure?” They stood by Antoine’s barn, or what was still left. They had made much progress, yet this scar—like so much—would take time to heal. And now another blow. Antoine knew the answer even as he asked the question. Albert never did anything without thoroughly thinking it through.
“We are ready to go back.” Albert scuffed his boot in the sod. “Mimi needs to be with her family. Of course, her father is gone now, but her mother and sisters all still live near Versailles, so that is where we will go.” Albert didn’t look him in the eye when he spoke their destination.
“We will miss you. I know Louise will miss Mimi. They are like sisters. What can we do to help?”
Albert finally met Antoine’s gaze. “I feel like a traitor, a failure.”
“You are neither of those things, my friend. When do you plan to leave?”
“We’re not yet sure. It could be in a month or next week. It all depends on how soon I can gather the funds. I still have holdings in Versailles. Mimi’s father had watched over it for me, and then her brother-in-law. We need to wait for God’s timing. But we are going back.”
Antoine wanted to hold on to his friend, beg him not to go. He wanted to but knew better. This wasn’t an easy decision for Albert. But with Mimi’s twin gone and Alain-Robert’s passing and resting beside his aunt, the only reason to stay was their friendship.
Miles wouldn’t change that. Albert was more than a friend. More like the only brother Antoine had ever known.
Antoine grasped Albert’s arm. “Please, if you need anything…”
“Just your prayers. I don’t know what we would have done without you and Louise these past few weeks. In the midst of all that chaos, I felt like I’d just gotten my son back. And then…” Albert shook his head.
“Of course, we will pray. You know Louise, it is the same as breathing for her.”
Albert nodded.
“Come. We’ll start planning what you need. You are welcome to anything I have.”
Albert grabbed him into a bear-hold, very much like their old friend, Jean-Luc would have done. The bond was deep, the memories long.
“We need to break the news to Louise.”
“We?” Albert asked.
Antoine arched an eyebrow. “We’ve been through a lot together. Why stop now?”
Albert chuckled. “I like to think I am a brave man, a man of intelligence. But telling your wife that I am taking her best friend back to France is more than I can do. You must to do that on your own, my friend.”
Though Antoine laughed along, he still didn’t relish the task before him. Louise had yet to fully mourn Josephine’s death before Shannon, who had come to be like another daughter, passed away. Louise may be the prayer warrior of the family, but she was wounded and in need of prayer.
* * *
“Father, Reverend Fontaine is here.” Sarah Beth nearly sang in her excitement as she burst into his office.
Antoine closed his journal. “Thank you, ma petite.” Leaving the volume on his desk, he exited to greet his friend and business partner.
“Jacques. It is good to see you. How was your trip?” Antoine greeted the man with a kiss to each cheek and stepped back to get a good look. Though it had been awhile—since Kathleen’s passing—Jacques Fontaine looked the same as he always had. Tall yet slight of build, his boyish eyes danced with excitement. Antoine could tell he had another enterprising idea in mind.
“Good Reverend, welcome. We’re so glad you are here.” Louise took his coat. “And you will have to tell us how your wife fares and the children.” She guided the men to the parlor. “Come. Sit. Sarah Beth has gone to see about the tea.”
“Thank you, Louise, Antoine. I keep telling my dear wife I need to bring her along to visit you. She so wants to meet you. Well, one of these days. The children are doing well. James and Aaron are back at home now. That is a story in itself.”
Sarah Beth brought bannocks with the tea and poured for each.
Antoine smiled. “Well, it looks like we’re ready for a story, Jacques so please tell us.”
The Reverend Fontaine sat back on the seat and crossed his long legs. “Well, you know my sons had been in Amsterdam. I sent word to come home and made arrangements for the captain of a certain vessel to pick them up. The captain had cargo to go to London first, so I made plans for the boys to stay with my brother while there. The night after they left, I had a terrible dream. I saw both my sons struggling in the water among broken bits of cargo.”
Sarah Beth’s eyes were wide. “What did you do?”
“Well, Miss Sarah Beth, I wrote to my brother at once and said for him to keep my boys with him. Do not let them go with the captain, I implored. The dream returned off and on until I finally heard back from my brother.”
“What happened?” Louise sat forward in her chair, eyes big.
“The captain called for my boys, but because of my letter, my brother refused to let them leave. The captain tried to create a fuss, but my brother and sons stood firm. After he left, my boys made plans to come home by overland. They arrived safe and sound, but that captain and crew, well, no one has heard from them since they left London.”
“Oh, my.” Louise and Sarah Beth were mirrored copies of each other, both with hands to their mouths.
“How gracious of God to give me that dream. His kindness is amazing.” The Reverend uncrossed his legs and sat up straight. “And so, what has been going on here at Edenmore? Be sure to tell me everything, as my wife will undoubtedly ask hundreds of questions.”
Louise glanced at Antoine, and Sarah Beth left the room.
“Did I say something wrong?”
“No, Jacques.” Antoine patted his wife’s hand. “We have experienced great changes. It seems the last time you were here, we expected it to be a joyous time with the birth of our first grandson. Instead we had to bid farewell to his mother. Now rather than joyous news again, we have sad tidings once more.”
Louise stood and the men did as well. “Gentlemen, I will leave you to talk. If you are in need of anything, please let me know. If you will excuse me.”
“Of course.” Jacques sat as soon as Louise left the room. “Perhaps my timing is not the best?”
Antoine watched Louise’s fleeting form. She’d never run from anything in her life. Turning back to Jacques, he replied, “Or perhaps your timing is His timing. You always have been good at comforting your flock.” Antoine proceeded to explain what had transpired with the Combers, the deaths and damage to the peace he and the committee attempted to bring the community. “We lost a good man in Michael O’Toole, and Paddy Flannigan is a shell of a man since they hung his son and Donovan Cummins. Albert and Mimi are moving back to France soon, so that only leaves Cameron McHugh, Thomas Stewart, and myself on the committee. The desire to reach all the people is still alive, but with only Protestants in our group, we are no longer trusted.”
“Then I am afraid I have even more ill news. The British have now made the export of our wool and linen fabrics illegal.”
“No. Who is to buy if we cannot export?”
“Exactly. That is why I have a plan.”
Antoine laughed. “I could tell by your eyes you had something stewing in that brain of yours. Tell the plan.”
“Well, I don’t know if you heard, but I gave up my congregation right after I returned from my last trip to Edenmore. It may have been a bit hasty, but there’s no going back to change it now. A member of the congregation was grossly breaking one of the commandments. I won’t say which one, but I swear I didn’t know about it. I happened to be in the middle of a s
ermon series on the commandments and the Sunday after he’d been caught, I preached on the very one with which he had difficulty.”
Nodding, Antoine couldn’t help but visualize exactly what happened.
“Well, the poor offender just knew I’d preached that sermon for him and yelled for the elders. I told them I had no foreknowledge of the situation. But the man wasn’t satisfied until he’d slandered me to the whole congregation. I finally released my post to concentrate on the weaving business. But now that we can’t export…”
“Out with it, Jacques. It’s not like you to make me drag a story from you.”
“We are moving. To Bantry Bay. To become fishers of fish.”
“What?”
Jacques laughed and slapped his knees. “I knew that would catch you. I have found two backers in London, and we have a three-year plan. The first year will be getting things all together; the salt house, the press, the ships and a place to live. I want you to come along. Join me in this. It would be like having another kinsman with me.” The reverend stood and held out his hand. “Antoine, let us do this together. Shall we?”
Antoine stood. “I’ll take your hand anytime my friend, but you must first let me pray over this decision. I believe God is in it, as you wouldn’t make such a change without His guidance. But I need to know if this is for me, for my family.”
“Of course.” The men shook hands.
“Now, I’m sure Louise wants you to make yourself comfortable in your room upstairs. It will give you time to rest before dinner.”
“An excellent idea. It isn’t an easy trip to the Laggan, or maybe I’m just getting too old.”
“Do not say that, good sir, in the presence of your elders.” Though Antoine joked, he knew Jacques to be about twelve years younger. However, that had never mattered, as the reverend had always offered sound spiritual guidance to Antoine and Louise since their first meeting in Bordeaux.
“Oh, and I nearly forgot. Joseph is interested in speaking with you about the business. But now that the business has changed, he may not be as interested. Just the same, I know he will want to speak with you on his own.”
The Crockett Chronicles- The Complete Collection Page 47
