The O’Rourke men stilled, focusing on A.J., as they had come to rely on him for his astute insights and for the information he gleaned, working with his men along the levee.
“Word has it that the puffed-up Urea owes men money in Virginia City. A lot of money. An’ they’ve been makin’ threats of comin’ here to have him pay up. Seems he’s dallied a little too long in one place.”
“And Lorena would have settled the debt?” Ardan asked in horror.
A.J. shrugged. “Aye. Or at least a big-enough part of it to buy him some time.” He looked exasperated, as Ardan and Kevin stared at him in horror. “Don’t act innocent, boy. Life ain’t easy for women, and some women are made to pay for men’s errors.”
“Not our wives and daughters,” Seamus said, his gaze haunted. “How could this have happened?” He gripped Niall’s shoulder, giving it a squeeze. “’Tisn’t your fault, lad.”
A.J. looked at the O’Rourke men. “The men at fault are the two fools in there”—he waved in the direction of the jail—“and the two men who plotted for this to happen. And the men in those towns who think a woman, willing or otherwise, is a way to pay off a debt.” He scowled, as he waved his arm to indicate the distant towns in the Territory. “I’ll spread the word I’m wantin’ information, but too many might chest their cards ’cause they know I’m associated with you.” He rose and sauntered away, after slapping Seamus on his shoulder.
“Chest their cards?” Niall asked, with a frown.
“In a card game, keep your cards close, so no one can sneak a peek,” Ardan murmured. “Though, if you cheated like that, you’d be one of the newer cemetery residents.”
They murmured their agreement, as they returned to the large family home, hopeful to find Lorena on the mend and Maggie miraculously returned to them. Unfortunately little was to go as they hoped for some time.
* * *
Seamus poked his head out of the back door, sighing when he saw Mary sitting on the steps. After a quick foray into the house, he emerged with a blanket, draping it over her shoulders. “Come, love,” he breathed, as he sat beside her, wrapping an arm around her waist. With a groan of relief, she rested against him, her head on his shoulder.
“I have this sense that if I sit here, long enough, she’ll return. She’ll appear, and I’ll hold her in my arms and ease her of any of the”—her voice broke—“atrocities done to her.”
“Love,” Seamus choked, as he pressed his face into her neck.
“Promise me,” Mary whispered in a tear-choked voice, tinged with rage and the deepest sorrow. “Promise me you’ll not turn against her for things done against her will.”
Seamus froze at her words. “A ghrá.” He took deep gulping breaths, his hand digging into her side. “How can you ask me that?” He spun, so he gazed deeply into her devastated gaze, blanching at the terror he saw. Cupping her face, he held her cheeks, as though they were more delicate than eggshells.
A profound silence enveloped them, as he stared at her. A neighbor slammed a door; another yelled profanities, and men on a nearby street laughed like idiots. Through it all, Seamus remained focused on Mary. “What must I do for you to fully trust me?”
She shivered and closed her eyes. “You don’t know what it’s like,” she said in a barely audible voice. “To have no say.”
A tear coursed down Seamus’s cheek, as a soul-deep sorrow filled his gaze. “I failed you, my love. I’m so sorry.” He nodded, as she stared at him in confusion. “If I were more capable, a trapper or a tracker, I would have found a way to find him and to make him pay. To prevent our precious Maggie from having to spend more than a few hours with him.” Another tear tracked down his cheek. “I don’t have that ability. I couldn’t find her.”
He paused, his voice raspy, as he battled rage and tears. “There was no one in town to pay to lead me out into the wild. I would have given such a man everything I had. But no such man was in town.” His hands shook.
“Cormac was willin’ to search, but he didn’t need to worry about me as he did. And Ardan was right that I needed to remain here with you and our lads.” He closed his eyes as a sense of impotent sorrow filled him. More tears fell. “I had no way to find her. To save her from him. I’ve never felt so useless. I’m so sorry.”
“Oh, Shay,” she cried, her hands rising to grip his arms. She tilted her face to kiss one of his palms. “That’s not your fault. I know you. I know the man you are. You did everything you could to find our Maggie.”
His gaze shone with pain. “If you know me, Mary, then you’d never have asked me that.”
A sob burst forth, and she fell into his arms. “I’m sorry. I know you’ll love her, no matter what he’s done. I’m so afraid, Shay. I’m terrified he’ll have destroyed a part of her that will never be restored.”
Seamus shuddered at her words, battling a similar fear. He closed his eyes, kissing the top of her head, as his hands stroked over her. “Our Maggie’s strong. We’ll love her and support her, until she never has any doubts. No matter what has happened to her.” He held Mary for a
