Triumphant Love: Banished Saga, Book Nine

by Flightner, Ramona

* * *

  Gabriel passed the photograph to his brothers, and they nodded. Gabriel barely noticed Zylphia slipping away to give him and his brothers time alone. “Isn’t this just like Mum and Da?”

  “Yes, proud and delighted with us and their lives,” Richard said. He wrapped one arm around each of his brother’s shoulders. “Imagine how thrilled they would be with how we are now. Of our families.”

  “That we remain close,” Jeremy said. He looked at Gabriel. “No matter what happened to us throughout the years, you were always there for us, Gabe.”

  Gabe nodded. “I was the eldest. I never wanted us to be separated.” His eyes shone with the memory of that terror. “But I’ve never forgotten how you’ve supported me too throughout the years.” He smiled as he heard the clomp of feet as their children raced down the hall. He reached out an arm, corralling Billy so that he wouldn’t careen into the painting.

  “Hold up, Billy. Boys,” Gabriel said, nodding with approval as they all paused in their mad dash after Billy at his words.

  “Is that you, Papa?” Billy asked, as he looked at the painting with a curious tilt to his head. “And Uncle Jeremy and Uncle Richard?” He frowned. “They look like me!”

  “Yes they do, you imp,” Gabriel said, affection in his voice. “Although I think you look most like me.” He chuckled when Billy squinted his eyes, as though trying to determine if that were true.

  “Who are those other people?” Billy asked.

  “Those are our parents. Your grandparents, Geraldine and Ian McLeod. They died in a fire when we were lads, and then we were orphans.”

  “Orphans?” Billy, Victor, and Calvin said in unison.

  “Yes,” Richard said, as he pulled a few of his boys close. “But we always had each other. And then we found Uncle Aidan. He had been told we died in the fire too, and we had been told we had no more family left, other than the Mastersons.”

  Billy looked up at his father, his head tilted back to meet his father’s gaze. When Gabriel crouched so they were at eye level, Billy said, “They were grandparents? Like that lady in the park said she was my grandmother?”

  “Who said that, Billy? When?” Gabriel asked in an urgent voice, his blue eyes sparked with concern. He noticed that Clarissa had moved toward them at Billy’s question.

  “We were playing in the park.” Billy waved his arm around to encompass his cousins. “Aunt Delia and Aunt Minta were watching us. Calvin an’ I weren’t wrestling with our cousins but looking at the clouds, an’ this lady approached us. Seemed to have a poor opinion of you, Papa.”

  Clarissa crouched in front of Billy. “What did she look like?”

  Scrunching up his face again, as though trying to remember, Billy recalled in a halting voice, “Old. Blond hair that wasn’t really blond. Mean eyes.” His eyes widened in fear as his mother gasped. “Is she a bad woman, Mama? I never meant to talk with her.” His eyes sparkled as he said, “I kicked her in the shins when she grabbed my arm!”

  “She grabbed you?” Gabriel growled.

  “Yeah, but it hurt no worse than when we wrestle,” Billy said, shrugging. “She wanted you to know I’d met her, but I forgot to tell you.”

  “It’s all right, my little love,” Clarissa soothed. She ran a hand over his head and urged him to wander off to join his cousins. She exchanged a long look with her husband. “She’s back, and she intends trouble.”

  “Yes, but we will remain vigilant.” He pulled Clarissa close. “There’s nothing to ask Delia or Araminta about. If they had noticed, they would have told us. We can ask them to be more vigilant, but I fear that would offend them. They are always diligent when they care for our boys, and I know Billy has a penchant for wandering off.”

  “I hate to think we have to stifle any of his independent nature due to that horrid woman,” Clarissa murmured, her gaze on the beautiful painting. She kissed his cheek. “Don’t let Billy’s news ruin this moment, Gabe. This gift.”

  He shook his head, and he held her close, as he looked around the room and saw his children safe. “Nothing could, my love.”

  * * *

  Eleanor stood to one side, while she watched the McLeod men react to Zylphia’s painting. Although she saw how all the men reacted, her main focus was on Jeremy. He stared at the painting with a hungry longing that transferred to her when he saw her staring at him. She met his gaze, an intense flush overcoming her as their gazes locked. She remembered his request that she stand beside him, but her feet seemed frozen in mud, and she was unable to move toward him.

  She thought through the past weeks without him, and she knew she had never been more miserable. The forced distance from Jeremy had caused a near physical pain. As she kept herself apart and watched the family interact, she realized that the agony she felt had been of her own making. She willed Jeremy to approach her, but, when he backed away, as though to create an even greater chasm between them, she took a step forward.

  She followed as Jeremy walked to the rear of his house. The way he traversed was blocked by a multitude of family members. She moved to the door and the hallway by the front door, glancing into the living room one more time to ensure Jeremy had not reentered. She met Sophronia’s worried gaze and then hurried down the long hallway that led to the rear of the house. Poking her head into the empty kitchen, she looked into the vacant sitting room.

  “Where would you go?” she whispered. She ran through the kitchen, out the back door, and caught her breath as she saw Jeremy sitting against the shed wall in the shade, his head bowed. When he thrust a fist back, slamming it against the wooden structure, she gasped. “Jeremy,” she called out as she approached him.

  His head jerked up, and devastated green eyes met her gaze. He ran a hand over his trimmed beard, as though worried he appeared disheveled, and he pushed himself to his feet. “Eleanor,” he whispered, his gaze roving over her attractive mint-green dress cut to showcase her curves. It was a dress Florence had urged her to purchase.

  “I … I must speak with you,” she whispered. She cleared her throat when she found it unexpectedly clogged as she reacted to the intense emotions in Jeremy’s gaze.

  “Tonight is not an appropriate evening to inform me that you no longer wish to marry me,” he said in a low, flat voice. “Even though I know that’s coming, I … Not tonight.” His gaze filled with longing and remembered anguish. “You don’t know what it is to see a painting like the one Zee created for us.” He sniffled. “It’s the second time a painting of hers has brought me to my knees.”

  “Oh, Jeremy,” she whispered. “It’s beautiful.”

  “Yes, beautiful and heart-wrenching. To see all of us as boys, with our parents beside us. With hope and love surrounding us.” He closed his eyes. “It’s hard to imagine the agony to come. The horrific loneliness and neglect we would suffer with our aunt. The abuse by our cousins.” He shook his head. “That painting …” He shook his head as a tear tracked down his cheek. “So don’t tell me what you feel you must, Ellie. Not tonight.”

  “No, Jeremy.” She stepped forward and cupped his face. “No, my love.” She met his confused gaze with an inkling of hope in it. “I … I love you. And I’m sorry.” She whispered out the words. When he didn’t react as she had hoped, she dropped her hand. “I’ve been a fool.”

  He nodded. “You have?” His ardent gaze traveled over her.

  He ignored the children exiting the back door and then hastily reentering the house when Billy called out, “Hugging and gross things might occur. Yuck!”

  Eleanor smiled. “At least I know where Billy stands with regard to kissing.” She sobered when Jeremy did not react to her smile. “Please, Jeremy. I acted like a fool. And I allowed my fears to rule me.” She raised a shaking hand to touch him again, running it through his disheveled hair. “I ruined our night together.”

  His eyes flashed with disagreement. “No. You could never have done that.” He took a deep breath. “I need to understand what you want. What you are saying, Ellie?�
� He traced a finger over her cheek. “I thought … I thought you wanted nothing from me after you remained apart from me this evening, when I had asked you to stand by me.”

  She bowed her head a moment and then firmed her shoulders as she met his gaze. “I love your family, but I did not want our reunion to become a public spectacle.” Her eyes shone with sincerity. “I will always feel insecure with regard to Savannah. I know she was the great love of your life. And I can never be her.” She choked on a sob and paused. “But I also know we can have a good life together. I want that life with you.” She froze when he shook his head.

  “No, Ellie,” he whispered. “How can such a smart woman have everything so confused?” He took a step toward her and reached forward with his other hand so as to cup her face with both hands. He looked deeply into her eyes. “As I’ve told you before, I loved Savannah. A part of me still loves her and always will. But you are not in competition with her. You are your own woman, and I’m thankful for that. If you were just like Savannah, it would be like a dagger to my heart every day. A constant reminder of what I had lost and the weak substitute I had been given in her place.”

  He smiled at Eleanor, joy and love filling his gaze. “Instead I have you. A woman who means everything to me.” He paused, looking deeply into her eyes. “She was my first great love. You are my second great love, and I pray, my last.”

  “Truly?” she whispered.

  “I promise never to lie to you,” he vowed. “That night, before I ruined everything, was everything I could have hoped for. You are passionate and giving and curious.” He grinned as she flushed with pride at his words. “I’m sorry, Ellie.”

  She nodded. “And I’m sorry I reacted as I did. I needed to hear that I’d pleased you, and instead you said her name. I was at my most vulnerable, and I amplified it in my mind to mean more than it did.”

  “Most men are near brain dead after such a glorious experience,” Jeremy teased, although sober regret filled his gaze. “I wish I could promise I’ll never make that mistake again. But I can’t. I refuse to lie to you.” He watched as he saw her absorb his words. “I’ve loved two women in my life, you and Savannah. I fear her name may slip out again at some point.”

  Eleanor bowed her head, as though deep in thought. “But, when it does, it doesn’t mean you wish you were with her rather than me?”

  He shook his head. “No. Savannah is gone, and I know that.” His voice thickened. “A part of me will always mourn her, but not with the overwhelming sadness I felt when she first died. And, yes, I will have conversations with her, especially with regard to our son.” He paused. “But you are here. You are the woman I love. And I pray that you understand my heart is big enough to love you too. That you are generous enough and patient enough with me when I make mistakes.”

  She took a deep breath and whispered, “Do you want to cancel the wedding?” She gasped as he jerked her against him and wrapped his strong arms around her.

  “Hell no,” he rasped into her ear. “I’d marry you now, if I could. I want you as my wife, my friend, my lover for always, Ellie.” His large hand cupped the back of her head. “Please.”

  Her arms wrapped around his back, and she squeezed him with equal fervor. “Yes, please be my husband, Jeremy. I want you too. These past weeks have been awful.”

  “Thank God,” he whispered as he eased back to lower his head. Just before he kissed her, he whispered, “We shouldn’t disappoint Billy.” As she chuckled, his lips met hers, and he deepened the kiss, forgetting the world around them.

  Chapter 24

  Colin walked beside Clarissa as they headed to their neighborhood homes after he had worked a long day at the smithy and she at the library. They laughed and joked about the upcoming nuptials, their hearts light now that the discord between Jeremy and Eleanor appeared to be at an end. Colin came to an abrupt halt, his hand on Clarissa’s arm, pulling her to a halt. “Rissa,” he murmured as he stared at the woman who stood in front of them.

  “I had hoped you were miserable in your marriage to that cripple, but I fear my prayers have remained unanswered,” Mrs. Smythe said, as she looked Colin over from head to foot. “Although you continue to labor away at that worthless profession, like your low-born father.”

  “I never saw you upset by his profession as long as he earned a good income for you to waste on your ugly refurbishments,” Clarissa snapped.

  Colin took a step toward Mrs. Smythe, noting the cunning she never attempted to hide in her gaze when she spoke with him, the ringlets that no longer kept their curl and drooped around her shoulders, and her fake-blond hair. “You would never understand what I have with Ari because that would mean you have a heart. You would never understand the loyalty we feel as a family because that emotion is foreign to you.”

  Mrs. Smythe reddened, highlighting the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes and mouth. “I have a heart, Colin Sullivan. I simply don’t see the need to proclaim my love, like a sickened fool.” Her gaze was filled with malice as she stared at him. “And I understand loyalty. Especially loyalty to oneself.”

  Clarissa gave an inelegant snort. “That isn’t loyalty, you evil woman. That’s selfishness. And I should expect nothing different coming from you.”

  “Tell me, Mrs. Smythe, what was your overarching emotion toward your stepchildren when we lived with you in Boston? What was the emotion that caused you to ensure that Clarissa was abused in so horrific a manner she felt no option but to escape her father’s home? That made you ensure Patrick was so disdained by his father that he too had to flee? When you sent Melly off to an orphanage? Was that love?” Colin shook his head. “Even years later, you attempted to find a way to strike at me. How you must hate us that we have foiled you yet again.”

  “You have no right to ignore the advice of your elders!” she hissed. “I would have made a brilliant match for Clarissa. And Patrick had done all he needed to show his loyalty to the family.”

  “You are a horrible person,” Clarissa breathed.

  “No, unlike you, I’m realistic. I know what I want, what I need, and I obtain it. I don’t weigh down my life with unnecessary entanglements. Whereas you seem unable to do anything unless you are so ensnared that you have no hopes of freeing yourselves in this lifetime.”

  “I’d never want to be free of familial obligations,” Colin said as Clarissa nodded her agreement beside him. “Without family, you have nothing.”

  “Oh, aren’t you the cute brother-sister pair, looking all hurt as you run into your evil stepmother. Did you never once think about how you poisoned your relationship with me from the first day, when you refused to call me by my rightful name? When you fought me on every change I wished to enact in my household?” Her eyes glowed with decades-old animosity. “I had hopes of a family once too, and you were too selfish to welcome me into your little club.”

  Clarissa shook her head. “I fear you have rewritten history to make yourself feel better, Mrs. Smythe.” She showed no remorse for continuing to use her stepmother’s first married name. “You wanted blind obedience and for us to never question you. That’s not what a family does.”

  Mrs. Smythe stared at Clarissa with abject hatred. “Mark my words, girl, if it’s the last thing I do, I will take what you hold most dear.” She turned on her heel and sashayed away, as though she had just had the most pleasant of conversations with the Sullivan siblings.

  Colin stood stock-still for another moment before propelling Clarissa into movement. “Come. Let’s return home. Gabe and Ari will be there to soothe us. And then we must determine what we know about Mrs. Smythe’s reappearance here in Missoula and what she could have planned.”

  “She’s delusional, Col,” Clarissa whispered.

  “Yes, and that worries me most of all. You can’t rationalize with someone who’s crazy.”

  * * *

  That evening Clarissa walked to Jeremy’s house for an impromptu gathering. Geraldine had agreed to watch the children during their shor
t absence, and she leaned against Gabriel as they strolled. He slung an arm over her shoulder, tugging her closer.

  “Everything will be all right, Rissa,” he murmured. “You’ll see.” He kissed her head, then dropped his arm and clasped her hand.

  After entering Jeremy’s house, they were brought into his study. Colin, Araminta, Eleanor, Patrick, and Fiona awaited their arrival. “I’m sorry we’re late,” Clarissa said.

  “No, we’re early,” Patrick said with a smile, although he could not hide the worry in his gaze. “I heard you had a run-in today with Mrs. Smythe and thought we should be here.”

  “Yes,” Clarissa said and closed her eyes, as though wishing she could banish their stepmother from pure force of will. “I … I fear what she may do.”

  Colin watched his sister, and, when she remained silent, he said, “Mrs. Smythe threatened to take what we hold most dear. I’ve thought about her threat, and I’ve thought about her past actions. She hates children, and I can’t see her wanting to take on a child, after sending her own daughter to an orphanage. No, she’d never be interested in a child, no matter her previous actions to steal Rose. I believe that was because Henry forced her to do it.” Colin’s somber gaze was in stark contrast with his customary jovial expression. “I fear it means she plans to harm one of us here. Or one of our spouses.”

  Fiona let out a sob, and she curled into Patrick’s arms. “No,” she stated, as she clung to him. “I can’t lose you.”

  Gabe added, “Let’s not forget that Jeremy and I were visited not too long ago by Henry. For all we know, he may still be in town.”

  Patrick wrapped his strong arms around Fiona, his jaw clenched, as he fought impotent fury. “Mrs. Smythe and Henry must know they will be foiled, like they were the last time they tried to steal my daughter.”

  Jeremy nodded. “I fear neither of them has ever learned when they are outmatched and outwitted. For we will certainly outmatch them.” He watched Eleanor closely, noting as she paled at the conversation. “Eleanor?”