by Zoe Matthews
“Okay, since I’m your woman, let’s go enjoy this meal,” Nicky put her arm through his and looked at him expectantly. She chuckled to herself, when Shaun’s eyes widened. He obviously didn’t expect her to be so agreeable to the idea.
The meal was some of the best food she had tasted. The bread was a little tough, but surprisingly flavorful, and the meat was incredibly tender. After they finished the meal, a few of the Indian women started talking in their native tongue and motioning for her to follow. She looked questioningly at Shaun, not sure what they were saying.
“Every time Kimberly or Bridget come, these women help them find herbs and spices for our home. They think you would like to do the same.” Shaun responded with a smile. She could tell he was expecting her to decide she didn’t feel comfortable going with them.
She lifted her chin and responded, “Excellent! I have always enjoyed cooking; I may as well learn how to recognize some of the herbs I cook with.” Shaun was once again surprised at her willingness to go out of her comfort zone.
She grinned at him and let the women lead her into the forest nearby. She spent about an hour picking and learning the native word for different types of herbs, some she recognized as seasonings from home, and others she had never seen before. She came back with a couple handfuls of herbs, which Shaun helped her pack into his saddlebags, along with what looked like jerky that Laughing Brook had insisted they take home.
Shaun looked up at the sky. “It looks to be about time we head back.” He called to Colleen, who was chattering to her uncle. Running Deer didn’t seem to respond with words, but his expression gave him away; he clearly loved to listen to Colleen talk. They all said their goodbyes and climbed back on their horses to head back to the ranch.
Chapter 15
Golin was finally on his way to the ranch. The man who had agreed to take him had never shown up, and it had taken a full day to find another man who was willing to guide him and to secure horses and supplies for the trip, much longer than he wanted it to take. He wished he could use his key to travel there, but, since that wasn’t possible, he had to do things the hard way. The one upside is the man who had agreed to take him wasn’t demanding as much money as the previous one was. His name was Trapper, and he claimed to know the mountains around Denver “like the back of my hand.” He told Trapper that he was a nephew of an uncle of the family, coming from Ireland, and he wanted to reconnect with his American family.
The trip to the ranch was made mostly in silence. Trapper was a man who only talked when he needed to. He mostly communicated with grunts and gestures. At first this bothered Golin, until he realized the less Trapper knew about him the better. He had to admit the mountains were beautiful. His home back in the medieval times didn’t have trees like this or the wildlife. He contemplated bringing Nellie to a place like this once he had her for his own. While they traveled, he took notice of his surroundings. Trapper followed a thin, dirt path that was at the edge of a fast-moving river almost the entire time.
After almost half a day of traveling, Trapper stopped his horse and allowed it to get a drink. Golin wanted to complain and tell him that they needed to keep going, but he decided it would be best to keep silent. He slid off his horse and allowed his horse to also get a drink.
“Do you know how much longer it will be?” Golin asked, trying to keep his voice friendly.
Trapper shrugged. “Just beyond that clump of trees.”
Golin felt his heart lift. It was time to get rid of the man. “Good, good. Well, I think I can find it on my own now.”
Trapper’s eyes narrowed. “I thought you paid me to take you right to their door.”
Golin took a deep breath, trying to keep his voice steady. “I decided while we rode along this beautiful path that it would be fun if I surprised them.”
“Who did you say you were again?” Trapper asked, as he pulled a stem off of some grass near the river, as the horses turned their heads from drinking and started to graze.
“My name is Randy Callaghan. I’m a nephew of an uncle,” Golin repeated the words he had told Trapper, when he found him in the saloon, trying not to sound testy. “I know I paid you to take me right to the ranch, but I changed my mind. You can still keep all the money I gave you. I appreciate your help getting me this far.”
Trapper continued to look at him, his eyes narrowing even more, as if he wasn’t sure he believed Golin’s story. Golin did his best to look Trapper in the eyes and did not glance away until the grizzly man stepped away. He picked up his horse’s reins and swung himself on its back.
“What about your horse?” Trapper asked him.
“Go ahead and take him back with you,” Golin instructed, as he started to walk away.
“How will you get back to Denver?” Trapper shouted, as Golin moved farther away.
Golin turned around briefly. “I’m sure my family will lend me a horse, when I need one.”
He turned around and continued walking along the path. After a few minutes, he turned again to make sure Trapper had left and felt relieved when he saw the hind end of the horse he had ridden disappear around a bend of the river.
Within only a few minutes, he could see a large ranch in the distance. A large cabin was farthest from him, and a barn and two, smaller homes were close by. As he smiled to himself, he knew it would be only a matter of time until he had the other, two keys. He touched his pockets, making sure he had his knife in its proper place.
As he walked closer, he debated if he should go to the large log cabin first or see if someone was in the barn. The decision was taken out of his hands when a man with red hair who was working in a field noticed him. The man dropped a hoe he was using and started to walk towards him.
“Hello,” the man called, as he walked closer. “What can I do for you?”
“I’m looking for the Callaghan Ranch,” Golin called back.
“Well, you found it.”
As the man came closer, Golin could see that he was likely the oldest son, Patrick, the one who had married the girl from the future. He recognized him from when he had eavesdropped on a conversation between Patrick and his brother right before the wedding.
Golin took a deep breath and began the story he had made up. He had told it so many times, even he was starting to believe it. “I’m Randy Callaghan. I came from Ireland last year. I believe I’m a relative of yours.”
“Really?” Patrick smiled, as he held out his hand in welcome. “That’s very interesting.” Patrick glanced at the field he was working in and then pointed to the large cabin. “Why don’t you come in? I believe it’s almost supper time, and I’m sure Bridget and Victoria will have the meal almost prepared. Then you can tell us how we are related.”
Golin followed Patrick, trying not to smile. This was going to be surprisingly easy. Patrick had already confirmed that Victoria was on the ranch. Now, he would need to get her alone. He should have the keys by the end of the day.
He followed Patrick into the house. It was more rustic than Victoria’s fine home. He could tell it was kept clean, although the couch seemed old. There was a large, braided rug in the middle of the room, and above the fireplace, there was a mantle with wooden carvings on it.
“Sit down, and I will get the rest of the family.”
Over the next few minutes, Golin was left alone in the living room. He quickly started a search in the room, being careful to put items back in the exact spot when he picked something up. He was disappointed when he didn’t see anything out of the ordinary. Then he saw the exact box that had been in Victoria’s office sitting on a small table. As he moved closer to the box, his own key started to vibrate in his pocket, and he knew the other two keys were inside that box. Could it really be that easy? He started to reach for the box, when he heard footsteps behind him, and he jerked his hand away.
“Bridget said to just bring you into the kitchen,” Patrick told him, as he entered the living room. “Please come this way.”
Golin made
sure he didn’t glance at the box as he passed it. He didn’t want to make Patrick suspicious. As he entered the kitchen, he heard a loud bell ringing from outside, and then a young girl came running into the kitchen, her black braids bouncing against her back.
“I rang the bell,” the child announced, as she slid onto a chair.
A woman, who was at the stove stirring something in a large pot, turned her head. “Thank you, Colleen.”
Golin noticed a young man who sat at the table, along with Collins and Victoria. When they saw he had entered the kitchen, the young man and Collins stood to greet him.
Patrick started to make introductions. “This is Randy. He says he is from Ireland and is a relative of ours.” He pointed to each person as he said their names. “This is my sister Bridget and my youngest brother, Keegan.”
Patrick placed a hand on Colleen’s head. “This is Colleen, Shaun’s daughter. Shaun will be here in a minute. And this is Collins and Victoria.”
Soon another man arrived, and Golin learned quickly that this was Shaun. Another woman followed him into the cabin, and she was introduced as Nicky.
The meal was tasty, and Golin decided to enjoy the meal. He hadn’t eaten since early that morning. After supper, he would make some excuse to go back in the living room.
“Do you all live on the ranch?” Golin asked with interest, as he spooned some stew into his mouth.
“Victoria and Collins live in town,” Colleen announced. “Keegan has lived with them all winter, because he wanted to go to school in Denver.”
Shaun laid a hand on Colleen’s arm to quiet her usual chatter. He had a bad feeling about this man who called himself Randy Callaghan, and he didn’t want too much information given to him about his family. From what he remembered, most of his relatives had died during the potato famine. A few had immigrated to America like his grandfather had, but they were living back east, and they had lost touch with them. He couldn’t understand why a relative would travel all the way from Ireland just to try to find them.
Randy looked nothing like he would expect any of his relatives to look. He was short and stocky and almost completely bald. Shaun knew most of his relatives were tall and thin. He remembered his father telling him that once when he was a child.
He noticed that Randy wouldn’t directly answer any questions that were asked about their family. At one point Patrick looked at him and shook his head slightly, letting Shaun know he was also concerned about who Randy really was.
When the meal finally ended, Nicky announced she would see if Kimberly had awakened from her nap and wanted some stew. She left with a bowl of stew and a few slices of bread. Colleen started to clear the table, performing her daily task, but Shaun told her to go with Nicky.
Colleen’s eyes lit up with delight, and she left the cabin, letting the door slam behind her. Shaun knew she would jump at the chance to help with the babies.
“What part of Ireland did you say you were from?” Patrick asked Randy, as he leaned back in his chair.
Randy looked confused for a moment. “I lived in a small village at the edge of the sea. You probably wouldn’t know of it.”
“Pa told us quite a bit of his childhood,” Shaun told him. “We’d likely recognize the name.”
Randy tried to change the subject. “Your family has been in America for some time. I’m sure things have changed in Ireland, since your family came here.”
“When did you arrive in America?” Keegan asked, as he ate the last of his stew and pushed the bowl away.
“A few… years ago,” Randy said. “It’s taken me awhile to get here. I had to stop and work, so I could earn enough money to get here.”
“How did you find our ranch?” Shaun asked.
Randy stood. “It was a long trip from Denver, and I am in need of….” He stopped and pointed to the door.
“The outhouse is just outside behind the cabins,” Bridget told him kindly.
After the man left, the adults looked at each other.
“I don’t think he is who he says he is,” Collins announced in his formal voice.
“I don’t either,” Patrick agreed. “Pa told us everything he knew and could remember about our family in Ireland. He never mentioned a relative named Randy.”
“I don’t think we should leave him alone for very long,” Shaun stood. “I’m going to go follow him and make sure he really does use the outhouse.”
“Let’s find out what he wants and then send him on his way,” Patrick suggested.
“Did he have a horse?” Keegan asked.
“No,” Patrick answered. “He was walking when I found him.”
“That’s very strange,” Bridget said. “How could he have gotten here so quickly from Denver without a horse?”
Victoria stood. “I’ll clear the dishes. Why don’t you men go have a talk with your… uncle?”
“If he is our uncle,” Shaun muttered, as he strode out the door into the warm, summer sunshine.
The man had used the outhouse, for Shaun could see him leaving it. He stood with his brothers and Collins, waiting for the man to walk closer to them.
“Would you like a tour of our ranch?” Patrick asked pleasantly.
The man hesitated, glancing at the cabin, but then nodded. “I would love to see your ranch.”
Patrick started to lead the man away, and Shaun and Collins followed. They did their best to get more information out of the man, but he answered the questions vaguely and always asked a question of his own about the ranch. Shaun was starting to wonder if the man was after money. He couldn’t think of any other reason a relative they hadn’t heard of before would suddenly show up.
After an hour of walking around the ranch, Shaun noticed that the man looked hot and sweaty.
“It sure is hot out here,” the man said, as he pulled a rag out of his pocket. He wiped his face and neck with it and then stuffed it back. “I would like a drink of water.”
Patrick nodded. “It does get hot in the mountains during the summer. Let’s head back, so you can get a drink.”
As they walked back, Patrick and Shaun exchanged glances with Collins. Patrick felt reassured that all of them didn’t believe for a second this man was who he said he was.
They arrived at the water pump that was located just outside the barn. Keegan picked up a tin cup that hung on a nail near the pump and quickly pumped some cold, clear water into it. He handed it to the man, as Colleen ran out of Patrick’s small house. She immediately headed towards them with a big smile.
“I got to hold one of the babies again, Pa,” she told Shaun excitedly.
“That’s great,” Shaun told her, as he placed a hand on her shoulder, keeping her away from the man. “Why don’t you…”
The man handed the tin cup to Keegan and walked towards Colleen. “I have something for you. This came clear from Ireland.”
“Really?” Colleen asked, delight dancing in her eyes, as she tried to move closer to the man, but Shaun kept his hand firmly on her shoulder.
The man reached into his pocket and pulled out the handkerchief he had used earlier. This time Shaun could see something tucked into its folds.
“What is it?” Colleen asked curiously.
Suddenly something dropped to the ground. Everyone gasped. It was a large, golden key, and it looked exactly like the two Victoria had given Patrick and Kimberly.
“Where did you get that key?” Patrick demanded with suspicion.
Collins immediately stepped forward, restraining the man from picking up the key. Patrick glared at the man and picked up the key himself.
“That looks like the keys that...” Colleen started to say, but Shaun silenced her by placing a hand over her mouth.
“Who are you really?” Collins asked the man in his formal voice, but he sounded very angry.
“I told you, I’m your uncle from…” the man started to say, but Collins shook him.
“You aren’t any relative of ours,” Patrick said, as he held o
ut the key in his hand. “Where did you get this?”
The man clamped his mouth shut and refused to say anything, but Shaun could tell he was very angry, as his face had turned red.
“Keegan, go get that rope off the fence over there,” Patrick instructed the teenager who ran off to do his older brother’s bidding, running to grab a rope Shaun had been using that morning while he trained one of the horses.
Soon the man’s hands were tied behind his back, and Patrick forced him to sit on a large rock that stood beside the pump.
“Colleen, will you please go get Victoria?” Patrick asked the child, who looked like she was going to argue with her uncle. She opened her mouth, but Shaun’s hand squeezed her shoulder hard, so she sighed and nodded.