“About twenty minutes ago,” Henri whispered, his gaze haunted, as though he’d seen a terrifying ghost. “He was driving a wagon out of town.” He pointed to the bluffs that bracketed the backside of the town. “Up to the main road.”
Seamus looked at Kevin. “Get horses. Find weapons.”
“Da,” Kevin whispered, as he knew how his father felt about weapons.
“Do it,” Seamus barked. “He has Maggie and Lorena.” He shook his head, as he refused to say more. “Go!” Spinning to Lucien, he said, “Go to Niamh’s. See if Cormac is home. If he is, have him meet us at the livery in fifteen minutes.”
To Niall, he said, “Go to the café. Have them shut down. I want everyone at the main house. Including Niamh, the lads, and the lads’ wives. Finn and Eamon will remain to ensure everyone is safe.”
“And Dunmore?” Declan asked. “You can’t expect the man to remain here, while he knows Maggie is in danger.”
“He’s too weak to be of any use,” Seamus said. “And we can’t risk havin’ to care for him, when our focus should be on outsmartin’ Jacques.” He spat out Jacques’s name, as though it were the worst blasphemy he’d ever spoken. “Dammit, I wish I were a tracker.” He shared a long look with Declan, his blue gaze fierce with anger and frustration. “I must tell your mum.” Seamus ran out of the warehouse, leaving Declan and the younger brothers behind.
Declan stood, swaying in place, at a loss as to what to do. He turned as the warehouse door burst open again.
“Dec!” Eamon yelled, as he ran toward him. “We just heard. Lorena?” Eamon gripped his shoulder. “Is she …”
Declan shuddered, as dread filled his gaze. “I don’t know. I can’t lose her,” he whispered. “I can’t …” He held a hand to his heart. “’Tis barely a year since we married.”
Finn gripped him by the shoulders. “Da will bring her back. They’ll find her.” He paused. “Are you going with them?”
“Hell yes,” Declan said. “I want to be there to comfort her.” He stared at them with horror. “I hate to think what she has suffered. What she is suffering.”
Eamon gripped his shoulders, his jaw tightening with anger. “Don’t allow yourself to imagine anything right now, Dec. Bury it all deep and focus on what you must do. Focus on finding your Lorena. On bringing her home. On holding her close and cherishing her.”
Declan nodded, a fierce determination in his gaze, as he looked at his brothers. “Don’t hate me if I kill the bastards who’ve taken her.”
“Never,” Finn said. “Never.”
* * *
Seamus returned to the house, where he pulled Mary into his arms, holding her close for a long moment. “I’m sorry, love. I’ve failed you and our daughter. I’ve failed Declan.” He shook for a moment, before burying his emotions deep. He released her, his hold on her shoulders firm, as he stared into her eyes. “I swear to you, I will bring them back, safe and unharmed.”
Mary cupped his cheek, her eyes brimming with tears and filled with terror. “I trust you, Shay. I know you will do everything you can. Promise me.” She waited, until he nodded. “Promise me you won’t do anything to risk you.”
He closed his eyes for a long moment, before he shook his head. “You know I would never break a promise, a ghrá. Especially to you, my dearest love.” He stroked a finger over her cheek. “So I can’t promise you that. If I have to risk myself to save our Maggie, I will. I always will.”
Tears cascaded down her cheeks, and she nodded. Standing on her toes, she kissed him, before breaking the kiss as she battled a sob. “I’ll pray, every moment you are gone, that you return to me. That you all return to me,” she whispered. “I love you, Shay. You and no other.”
“As I love you, my Mary.” He rested his forehead against hers for a moment, before he eased away. “I’ve asked that everyone move back into the house while we’re away. ’Twill be crowded, but I want everyone safe and under one roof.” He relaxed slightly, when she nodded her agreement. “Pack us some bread and other snacks, love. I must speak with Dunmore.” He squeezed her shoulder, as he moved from the room.
Seamus walked the short distance to the downstairs bedroom, poking his head inside. He met Dunmore’s alert gaze and nodded.
“He has her,” Dunmore said, without preamble.
“Aye,” Seamus said. “We’ll get her back.”
Hitting the blankets with his fists, Dunmore eased himself up, gasping, as he attempted to move too quickly. “I can’t come with you. I won’t be there, Seamus, to punish him for daring to approach her.” His gaze filled with impotent fury. “I should be the one to kill the man.”
“Nay,” Seamus hissed. “I should be. He tormented my Mary and the lads. He’s dared to threaten my Maggie and Lorena.” He nodded, as Dunmore’s eyes widened in shock at that statement, as Dunmore hadn’t known about Lorena. “He will suffer. I promise you.”
Dunmore took a deep breath. “Whatever happens,” he whispered. “Whatever has happened to Maggie, I will always want her. I will always love her.”
Seamus’s blue eyes filled with relief and pain, as he understood what Dunmore intimated. “I’ll bring her back. I promise you.” He clasped Dunmore’s hand in a firm grip, before he strode out, intent on leaving as soon as possible.
* * *
Maggie moaned, as the wagon continued to rock and sway. Her legs and arms were numb, and she had a horrible crick in her neck from how she was forced to lay. She dreamed of the soft bed in her father’s house. She allowed her mind to wander, as she imagined what it would be like to rest beside Dunmore, using his shoulder as a pillow. To listen to his heartbeat and to feel protected, as she laid in his embrace.
She clung to that
