Dolly hurried and put her arm around her. “Gemma and I were just going to have some tea. It’ll make you feel better. Come now and sit down.”
“I have it just about all made,” Gemma told her.
She didn’t know what to say. Their kindness touched her and she wanted to cry again.
Dolly put everything on the table, and they all sat, sipping their tea in silence. Ciara couldn’t think of a thing to have a pleasant conversation about.
“I feel so bad,” Dolly suddenly stated. “I thought for sure there was something between you and Brogan.” She glanced at Gemma, who was nodding.
The cup shook as Ciara set it down. The pain was so raw, but she needed to talk to someone. “I thought so too. He told me he loves me and that was the last I’ve seen of him. I think he regretted his words and is avoiding me. I know I’m no prize, and I’ve been nothing but a bother to him. I told him I couldn’t be parted from Orla, and he agreed.” She blinked back a tear. “I wish I never crossed that river into Texas. So much has happened in the last months, and I feel off center and hurt.”
Gemma patted her hand for a moment. “I know when he looks at you his eyes shine with love. I hope he’ll be back and soon.”
Ciara nodded, not really agreeing. “He doesn’t trust that anyone can love him. He said he’d made peace with it, but maybe he’s still afraid of being hurt? I will not chase after him, and I don’t want any of you asking him about it. It must be his decision. I just hope my heart can accept he’s gone.” She bit her bottom lip, wishing she knew what to do next.
“God is always with you,” Dolly gently reminded her.
“Yes,” Ciara agreed with a forced smile. It was so hard. When her parents died, everyone said it was God’s will and she accepted it. It was getting harder and harder to accept things that happened. She stood. “Would you mind if I sat outside and cleared my head?”
“Of course not. Take your wrap, it’s chilly.” Dolly sent her an encouraging smile.
She took her thin wrap with her on her way out. Dolly was right, there was a chill in the air. She walked into the sunshine and felt warmed. She’d need to make some money to buy heavy wraps for her and Orla. Hadn’t their mother expected the cold? She had left many things they needed behind. But she couldn’t blame her parents for making the trip. Their farm had dried up, and nothing seemed to grow. Going West had sounded like a fine idea.
Life was ever changing, and she’d tried to bend and sway, going with the flow, but if she had to bend any further, she’d break. And she couldn’t let that happen. Orla needed her to be strong. Oh, why had Brogan left her alone? She’d probably never know.
A horse raced toward her, and upon it coming closer, she recognized Sullivan. He jumped down before the horse stopped. “Where is everyone?”
It baffled her how they knew what to do, but his brothers all appeared. Sullivan’s eyes held worry.
“I went to talk to Brogan, and there was a note on the table. Someone stole his horses, and he went after them. He wanted us to be sure to take care of the mares. I tossed them some hay and filled their water. But who knows when he left?” Sullivan looked into the eyes of each of his brothers. “I’m not sure where to start.”
“The fence,” Ciara said with sudden conviction. “The one that kept being taken down. It’s at the end of his property about fifty yards from your place.”
Sullivan gave a swift nod. “That’s good information. Donnell, Murphy, Fitzpatrick, and Angus get your supplies. Bring extra ammunition. We’ll meet back here in ten minutes. Teagan, Quinn, Rafferty, and Shea you must run both ranches.”
“A sound plan,” Teagan agreed. “Let’s get their mounts saddled.”
Ciara wrapped her arms around her quaking middle. “Do you think Brogan is all right?”
Quinn put his arm over her shoulder. “Sullivan would have told us if there’d been blood or any signs of a struggle. We need to have faith. A couple prayers would be nice. And have Orla go to Brogan’s. I bet those mares need to be calmed and the cows milked.”
“I will,” she agreed, unable to keep the quaver out of her voice.
Quinn ran for the barn. As she stood there, it felt as though a shard of ice was piercing her body. Supplies needed to be gathered. And that was something she could do. She ran into the house.
* * *
Brogan looked over his herd. Those lame-brained horse thieves had them in the nearest canyon. The three of them looked like young boys. There was no way he was hanging them. He just needed to scare them to near death. They’d taken off when they had first sighted him, but he didn’t follow at first; he needed to check his horses.
Now he was on their trail and finding it easy to follow. He wouldn’t be surprised if the horses didn’t just make their way back to the ranch where the hay and grain were.
It wasn’t much past noon, but the three boys had made a fire, and it looked as though they’d made camp for the night. Didn’t they know to ride until they couldn’t see? Quietly, he slid from his saddle, took his rifle, and saddlebag. He dropped the reins. Prince knew to stay put. He scouted the area more. There wasn’t even much cover. Why’d they camp there?
There were no guns, that he could see. Slowly he walked toward them, an amiable smile pasted on his lips. “Howdy, boys.”
The boys all stood and started to run, but they didn’t go in the same direction, and they plowed each other to the ground.
“Haven’t I seen you before?” Brogan asked, scrutinizing them. “Aren’t you the Dixon boys?”
“We’re men, not boys,” the tallest one said. It didn’t look as though the boy was old enough to shave yet.
“We hang men who steal horses,” he casually said.
The other two boys gave the tall one mutinous looks. The smallest one took a step forward. “Mister Brogan sir, I’m still a boy so you won’t need to hang all three of us, just the other two.”
The middle boy pushed the young one to the ground.
“Listen up,” snapped Brogan. “Where is your pa?”
The tallest hung his head. “He got kilt in the war.”
“Your ma?”
“We tried trapping and hunting, but we don’t know much about either. Ma is sick and starving. You had all those horses all in one place and we thought… I don’t know what we thought. Once we had them, we didn’t know rightly what to do with ’em.”
They were scared enough.
“What’s your names?”
“I’m John, he’s Fred, and the turncoat is Lars.”
Lars stuck his tongue out at his older brother.
“I will take you with me. Where exactly do you live?”
“Not far,” Fred said. “Do you know the place where the land is mostly rocks? That’s where our cabin is.”
“I see.” How had these kids kept themselves alive for so long? Nothing grew in that area.
“I’m taking you home with me. Then I’ll send some help to your Ma. I’ll get you all fed, but you have to do something for me.”
John kicked a rock. “Of course, you need somethin’.”
What had these boys been through? Brogan shook his head. “I will show you how to trap and hunt and anything else a boy needs to know to be a man. Your part is to learn what I teach you. Understood?”
All three brown-headed boys nodded, and smiles broke across each face.
“Mount up. I’m taking you home with me.”
* * *
Orla stood at the downed fence greeting each horse as it stopped in front of her. “Are you sure you’re counting them?” she asked Ciara.
“Yes, I’ll get it right this time.” When had Orla become so bossy?
“Brogan is fine, and he’s riding this way.”
Ciara shaded her eyes from the sun with her hand and peered about. “Where?”
“You’ll see him soon. Melly here said she can feel the vibrations.”
Ciara smiled. “You’re usually right about these things.”
“There he is!” Orla
pointed in front of her.
The man she loved was riding out front, followed by three others. Was there trouble? Ciara grabbed her rifle off the ground. By this time, Teagan and Quinn both had run to be by her side. They made Orla stand behind them, but she didn’t care as long as the horses could get to her.
As Brogan rode closer, they saw that he had three boys with him. Ciara dropped her firearm and ran toward Brogan and Prince. The next thing she knew, she was in his arms.
“I’ve missed you. I wanted nothing more than to tell you I had to trail after my horses, but I didn’t think I’d have the time.” He walked with her arm in arm to Teagan. “The boys’ mother is real sick. Can one of you go for a doctor?” He explained where the cabin was, and Quinn took off toward town.
Rafferty took charge of the boys and brought them into the house to eat. He had them laughing by the time they went inside.
“Shall we?” Brogan asked Ciara and Orla.
“No, we only have thirty-two. There should be thirty-three horses,” Orla insisted. “You go. I’ll wait here.”
“We’ll wait with you. Which one is missing?” Brogan asked.
“Stewart. Melly said he’d have been here with the others, but some men caught him. She was sure at least one she already knew.” Orla smiled.
“You named them all?” Brogan’s eyes widened.
“Of course. Look! There they are!” Orla jumped up and down.
Sullivan, Donnell, Murphy, Fitzpatrick, and Angus rode through the break in the fence with the horse trailing behind.
“We made a good start,” Angus said. “Brogan… you’re here?”
“I told you the horses went back to the ranch,” Sullivan muttered.
“Did you catch the outlaws too?” Murphy asked, looking confused.
“Yes, and thank you for bringing Stewart back.”
Orla gave them an I-told-you-so smile. They all went into the house, and Brogan told them the story.
Sullivan stood. “I will go get Sheila Kelly. I doubt Doc is in town. I’ll bring her to the Dixon Home.”
As soon as he was gone, Fitzpatrick nodded. “I told you he was sweet on the little doctor gal.”
“Sheila Kelly, now she’d make a good wife if anyone was looking, which none of us are. Well, maybe Brogan,” Angus said while his face turned crimson.
“Ciara, can I talk to you outside, alone?” Brogan asked softly.
She nodded and led the way. Her stomach fluttered and then it churned.
He turned them so they were facing each other. “Ciara, I love you with every bit of love I have to give. Somehow you’ve become part of me, and I’m hoping you’re thinking the same thing.”
“What are you thinking of?” He was going to propose, she knew it.
“I’m going to need help with the boys until their ma is better.”
Her heart dropped. “I see. You want me to come over every day and watch the boys?”
His brow furrowed and he stared at her. “You’d live here.”
“Orla and I would share a room?” She thought she’d be sick.
“Where’d you get that idea? My wife sleeps with me. Orla will just have to get used to it.”
“Your wife?” She studied the ground and held her breath, fearful of even hoping.
“Did I not ask you? I’m an idiot. Ciara, will you marry me?”
“Say yes!” the crowd inside shouted.
Ciara nodded. “I’d love nothing more.”
“Yippee! I get to see the horses every day!” Orla yelled.
Ciara and Brogan shared a smile before he kissed her. It was so sweet, so tender, it made her feel so alive. He pulled back.
“What are you thinking about?”
“Faith.”
Epilogue
Ciara could hardly contain the joy within her. She was now a married woman. Her love knew no bounds. Brogan reached out and took her hand in his.
“The first dance is ours.”
Ciara handed her bouquet to Orla and then she was pulled against her husband as the band played. They danced making use of the whole floor and she stared into his eyes.
“What are you thinking about?” he asked as he grinned.
“I was thanking God for you and Orla and my new family. I was thanking him that you patiently taught the Dixon boys how to hunt and then cut them in on your horse business. You’re wonderful with children.”
“They are fine boys and I’m just glad their ma is better.”
“You want children, don’t you?” She held her breath.
“I want to have children with you; as many as God blesses us with. We may have to enlarge the house someday.”
Her face heated and she knew it was the reddest of red. “I’m nervous about tonight.”
“So am I,” he whispered into her ear.
She pulled back and saw the truth in his eyes. “It can’t be too hard. All married people do it. Just be gentle.”
“I’ll always be gentle with you, my love. I will treasure you for the rest of my life as I give thanks.”
She felt a tap on her shoulder and frowned as she turned.
“May I cut in?” Orla asked.
“Yes.” Ciara pulled back from Brogan and waited for her to take his outstretched hand. Instead Orla took Ciara’s hand and tried to dance with her.
Ciara laughed. “Orla what are you doing?”
“I never get a moment alone with you. I wanted you to know Dolly invited me for a sleepover. That’s what she called it, so I imagine I’m spending the night. Gemma and Teagan will be there, so you won't have to worry. Brogan will be with you in case you get scared. It’s been a long time since we’ve slept apart.” Orla sounded excited, serious, and then sad.
“But you’ll be back, and you’ll stay with Brogan and me. And the horses.”
“Tell Brogan not to worry the mares won't be birthing tonight. The next couple weeks will be busy.” Orla took her hand and dragged her to Brogan. “Don’t forget to tell him.”
Brogan kissed Ciara and she tingled from head to toe. “Tell me what?”
“Orla said the mares will not be birthing tonight but the next couple of weeks will be busy.”
He nodded. “Good to know. They were on my mind. I hoped that we’d have some privacy tonight without having to help to foal. Have I told you today I love you?”
She smiled. “Once an hour at least. I love you too.”
“That’s why I keep saying it, I like to hear you say it back.” He hugged her to him. “You are the greatest risk I’ve ever taken and I’m so glad you thawed my frozen heart.”
“I’ll keep it warm always.”
They stood arm in arm watching the others dance. It was one of the best days in her life and she often told the story of how she and Brogan met. All their daughters found it to be so romantic.
* * *
Thank you for spending time with the Kavanagh brothers. Brogan was a hard nut to crack, but he eventually gave his heart. Next up is Sullivan’s Story. Do you remember the healer Sheila Kelly? They are the two most independent, stubborn people in a time where women were not encouraged to be independent or in some cases have opinions. Will Sullivan learn that the way to a woman’s heart is not telling her what to do with her life? Join me for some life-threatening adventure and grand romance!
Kathleen Ball
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Sullivan: Cowboy Protector
Shelia Kelly leaned over bracing her hand against the rough tree trunk. Her lungs burned and her legs felt like rubber. She breathed so hard it was hard to hear if she was still being pursued. She’d dealt with all kinds, but she’d never been chased by men with rifles.
The word witch could be heard and she took off running again. There wasn’t a way to save the little girl, she’d lost too much blood. She’d died as soon as they broug
ht her into her cabin. They put the blame on her and when they mentioned burning her at the stake, she took off running out the back door.
Her face, hands and arms were covered in scratched from the limbs of the trees and bushes. A few were deep but that didn’t matter. Where was she supposed to go? Those men would get the whole town roused against her and they’d hang her. She had to get Becca her daughter.
“Ugh.” She hit the ground hard as she tripped on a root. Her nose was bleeding, and her ankle throbbed. Still she needed to get away. Think, think, what to do. Would they expect her to run to town to get help? She turned north until she came to a fence.
Going any further was impossible. She slumped against a tree near the fence and lay on the ground, hoping the underbrush would hide her.
Closing her eyes, she prayed for protection. She was a healer not a witch. She’d healed so many of the people who lived in the area, but today all good deeds went out the window and blew away to be forgotten. She was mostly forgotten unless someone couldn’t get to the doctor or the doctor was away. Otherwise she lived a hermit type of life and had since she was thirteen.
Breathing became easier and her nose stopped bleeding. When it was safe she’d make herself a crutch from branches and go where no one could find her. Waiting until dark would be for the best. Now if only she could get her heart to stop pounding.
The pounding of hooves alerted her. They sounded to be coming from all sides. This was it.
One horse and rider were on the other side of the fence while the other was almost steeping on her. The quaking of her body wouldn’t stop.
“Howdy Russ,” a familiar voice greeted.
“Kavanagh, I’m looking for that healing woman. She killed little Jenny Wren. I need to talk to her.”
“Saw her last week. She was home with her daughter.”
“Thanks Kavanagh, I’ll keep looking,” Russ said sounding determined.
Brogan: Cowboy Pride: The Kavanagh Brothers Book Three Page 9
