* * *
Day had begun to turn to evening, and Dunmore remained deep in thought, as he perched on his rock. He froze when he heard footsteps approaching, his heart leaping at the possibility it would be Maggie coming to see him. He turned, glowering at the sight of Cormac Ahern instead. “Ahern,” he muttered, with a curse. “I thought you’d have sense to leave me well enough alone.”
Cormac stood, his head cocked to one side, as he studied the surly man. Married to the eldest O’Rourke daughter, Niamh, Cormac had discovered a contentment he had always believed would remain elusive. “I find I’m not as eager to be sensible these days.” His quiet words made Dunmore grunt with disgust.
Where Dunmore ran a successful stagecoach business, Cormac was a bullwhacker. He transported goods brought in by the steamboats to the various burgeoning towns throughout the territory. Like Dunmore, he worked hard in the summer and enjoyed the long off-season, although he had a wife and children to keep him busy.
Cormac took off his hat, running a hand through his long brown hair and fixed his piercing blue eyes on the desolate man. “She’ll come around.”
“She’s not the problem,” Dunmore said, with a sigh. “Do you like the man?” He continued to stare at the Missouri River, its timeless flow easing a tiny portion of the ache in his chest. “Seamus?”
Huffing out a shocked breath, Cormac gaped at him. “Of course I do. As you do.” When Dunmore remained silent, Cormac asked, “What’s got you riled?”
Dunmore stood, tossing aside the piece of grass he’d tied into knots. “He extracted a promise I’m finding hard to abide by and didn’t keep his side of the bargain.” He paced away and then paced back again. “I resent that my honor prevents me from disregarding what I agreed to.”
“Maggie seemed distraught when I saw her,” Cormac murmured. He met the younger man’s tormented stare. “You hurt her.”
“Dammit, I didn’t. Her father did.” He rubbed at his temples, as an impotent rage filled him. “Do you have any idea how hard it was not to pull her into my arms and kiss her senseless?” He flushed, as Cormac watched Dunmore with amusement for a moment, before Dunmore sobered. “I know she’s young, but I will always treat her well.”
“Maggie has the oldest soul of any O’Rourke.” Cormac furrowed his brows, as he stared at the man who’d been his friend since Cormac had arrived in Fort Benton, back then so distraught that his own brother was to marry the woman he loved. Through Dunmore’s guidance and tutelage, Cormac had become a successful bullwhacker and now ran an enviable business. Plus he was now married to the woman he had always loved. “Was Seamus foolish enough to insist you stay away from Maggie?” At Dunmore’s bleak nod, Cormac swore.
“He saw or heard of us kissing,” Dunmore admitted.
“Many women Maggie’s age are married,” Cormac said, before smiling wryly. “Although wee Maura won’t wed until she’s fifty.” He grinned, as Dunmore chuckled at his joke about Maura—Niamh’s daughter from her first marriage and Cormac’s niece, yet Cormac considered her his daughter. “Why would Seamus want you to stay away, when Jacques could return at any moment? Seamus should want to ensure that you’d keep wee Maggie safe.”
Dunmore sighed, as he collapsed onto the rock again. “He wasn’t rational. I’ve never seen him like that before.”
Cormac crossed his arms over his strong chest, as he gazed at the Missouri for a long moment. “Well, I know one thing for certain,” he mused. “Mary has no inkling of what her husband has done. For, if she did, she would have put a stop to. She’s your biggest champion, after Maggie.”
Dunmore shrugged. Finally he looked at his friend. “Why did you seek me out?”
Huffing out a laugh, he said, “I thought to invite you to dinner at the O’Rourkes. I didn’t know what had occurred.” Chagrined, he murmured, “I suspect you’d prefer to avoid any interaction with them.”
Dunmore rose, shaking his head. “No. I want to go. To show Seamus I will keep my side of the bargain.” He paused. “And I have to see Maggie again.”
Cormac slapped a hand on his friend’s shoulder. “I know all about that need. Come.” He motioned for Dunmore to follow him the short distance back to town. Cormac suspected there would be fireworks at this evening’s dinner and gave thanks he would be present to witness them.
Chapter 2
Maggie entered through the back door into the kitchen, intent on racing upstairs to her bedroom. With Phoebe married to Eamon and Lorena to Declan, and now that Winnifred had left for Saint Louis the previous summer, Maggie had a bedroom all to herself. Never had she been so glad to have her own space. However, her mum was in the kitchen, and Mary stepped in front of her, preventing Maggie from making a mad dash to her refuge.
“Maggie, love,” Mary murmured, as she pulled her close. She spoke in a soft voice, and the patter of her brothers’ feet sounded, as they departed the kitchen, leaving them alone. “Does he not want to come to dinner?” Mary eased away her youngest daughter, running her hands over Maggie’s head, as she gazed at her with love and confusion. Mary knew, as well as any O’Rourke, how dedicated Dunmore was to her daughter.
“He … He …” Maggie shook her head, unable to speak around her sobs. She fell forward, burying her head in her mother’s shoulder. She’d thought she wanted to be alone, but there existed no greater comfort than crying in her mother’s arms.
“Shh, my precious girl,” Mary whispered, gently rocking her, as she ran her hands over her back. “All will be well. Whatever happened
