Pioneer Dream: The O’Rourke Family Montana Saga

by Ramona Flightner

  “Talk to me, Mary. Whatever you think you heard, it can’t be as bad as you imagine,” he pulled up the rickety chair from the corner to sit on as he clasped her hand. “You owe me an explanation if you are plannin’ on disappearin’ again.”

  She glared at him. “You’d deserve it.”

  His eyes glinted with anger and disappointment. “Nay, I wouldn’t. I’ve done nothin’ but honor and love you since I found you.” He paused, his eyes shining with sincerity. “I’ve loved none but you since the moment I saw you at that harvest dance nearly thirty four years ago.”

  She snorted and swiped at her cheeks with the cuff of her dress. “Oh, have you? Then why were you in a … in a …” Tears tumbled down her cheek. “In a whore house the night I came here? Were you so concerned about me that you had to find relief with another woman?”

  Seamus’s eyes widened and then he burst out laughing.

  Mary snarled, hitting him on his chest. “Don’t you dare make fun of me! That’s not who we are an’ I will not have my husband frequenting such places. I will not have the people of this town thinkin’ you have your woman at home to order about as you please and your plaything at … at …” She shook her head as though unable to say more as she lowered her head again as another sob struck.

  “Oh, love,” Seamus said, his voice filled with a deep tenderness and love. “Will you listen and not judge?”

  When she stared at him with a desolate gaze, he clasped both of her hands, his thumbs rubbing over her skin as though to ease her heartache. “When I lost you,” he said in a low voice, as though unwilling to tempt fate by announcing in a loud voice that he had her back again, “I was suddenly the father of six children. I had no counsel from my wise wife. I had no soft hands that would hold me in the night and ease me of my burdens. That would soothe me of my fears that I had failed all of you.”

  He ducked his head, his voice low and earnest. “I married Colleen because of the lads. I could never care for her as I loved you.” He raised his head, shame and misery present in his expression. “She deserved more than a man who never recovered from the loss of his first love.”

  “Seamus,” she whispered, raising a hand to run through his hair and then to stroke his beard.

  “When Colleen died, I knew I would spend the rest of my life alone. I couldn’t do to another woman what I had done to her. Forcing her to accept a half-life. Married to a man who would never fully love her because he still communed with a ghost.” He paused, leaning into her soft touch as though reminding himself she was no longer a spirit, but flesh and blood in front of him.

  “When we moved here, I never thought to become friends with a Madam of such a house.” He looked at her with a chagrined expression. “But she offered a quiet place away from my boys. Our boys. Away from their fighting and bickering. A place where I could talk with a woman, listen to her soft voice, and receive her wise counsel. For if she is anythin’, the Madam is honest.” He smiled at his wife, his expression one of hope battling abject terror, and gripped her hands.

  “I found I needed softness in a life so filled with struggle and strife. And when I sat in the Madam’s back room, drinkin’ whiskey and talkin’ with her, I found it for a few moments.” His gaze roved over her worried expression, and he raised her hands to kiss them. “Although it was always a poor substitute for anytime I ever spent with you.”

  A tear tracked down her cheek as she listened to him.

  “I swear to you, on seventeen years of misery without you. On the home we lost in Ireland.” He paused as he saw her eyes flare at the meaning of his words, for Ireland had held everything they held most dear before they had to flee in 1847. “I swear to you, I never did more than talk to her. I never spent a moment with one of her girls.”

  Mary stared at him for a long moment, her gaze inscrutable.

  “Please, Mary,” he pleaded.

  She leaned forward, pressing her forehead against his before tilting her head to kiss him. “I believe you. For if there is one thing you’ve always been, Seamus O’Rourke, it’s an honest man.”

  “Oh, thank you,” he breathed as he pulled her into his arms, squeezing the air out of her. “You don’t know … I can’t lose you again, Mary,” he rasped. “Please, whatever may come, don’t leave.”

  She shook in his arms and wrapped her arms and legs around him. “I’m terrified of lovin’ you again as I did then.” She cupped his face in her palms, staring at him in resignation. “But I can’t love you any other way, my love.” She paused and whispered, “A chuisle.”

  His arms tightened around her further at hearing her Gaelic endearment for him. He had taught her a few words when they were courting, and she had settled on my heartbeat to describe the depth of her love for him. He had feared he’d never hear her call him that again.

  “Oh, my love,” he whispered. “We’re together again. We’ll face whatever is coming side by side.” He let out a stuttering breath as he held her in his arms as a sense of peace settled over him.

  Chapter 11

  Maggie walked beside Kevin as he strolled from the family house toward their family store. He had taken a circuitous route, wanting to give her a chance to spend more time out of the house. She tilted her face up to the sun, tugging on his arm for him to stop a moment. “I love these midmornings. Before it’s too hot.”

  “Aye,” he said with a chuckle, watching her delight in the most simple thing. “Soon you’ll be cursin’ the hot summer day. But enjoy it while you can. Winter comes too soon here.”

  She sighed and slipped her arm through his. “We used to live in Canada. There were a few years it seemed as though summer only lasted a few weeks.” At his curious gaze, she shrugged. “This makes a nice change.”

  “Do you like it here, Maggie?”

  “What’s not to like?” she asked. When he stared at her with disappointment at her easy deflection, she flushed. “I do, but I’m afraid of coming to like it too much. What happens when Mother and I must move on again?”

  “Hush,” Kevin said in a raspy voice. “You’re never leavin’ us. Ever.” He put his hand over hers on his arm and squeezed it. “This fear you have will fade, Maggie. I promise.”

  She leaned into his side. “It’s hard not to worry,” she admitted. When he gave her a nod to continue speaking. “That this is all a dream. That Jacques will return and I’ll really have to return to him. That Da won’t continue to be a good man.”

  Kevin laughed and began to tick things off on his free hand. “’Tisn’t a dream. I could pinch you if you like, but I’d hate to bruise you.” He winked at her as she giggled. “Jacques might return, but you’ll never be with him again. You know by now all your brothers and Da will protect you from that man. And Da has always been a good man.” He paused and stared at her. “’Tis a deeper fear, isn’t it?”

  “I don’t know what you mean.”

  “What should happen if none of the lads are around to help you? You worry what will become of you if you’re alone.” At the fear in her gaze, he nodded. “We’ll teach you how to defend yourself. An’ not with a rollin’ pin either.” He winked at her and urged her forward.

  “Your siblings seemed satisfied by our parents’ explanation last night of what caused their separation,” Maggie said.

  “Our siblings,” Kevin said with a nudge of his shoulder against hers. He sighed. “All but Niamh. She needed Mum, and Colleen never filled the gaping hole left by our mum’s absence.” He paused. “I fear ’twill be some time before Niamh overcomes her anger at Mum.”

  “It wasn’t Mother’s fault!” Maggie protested.

  “Aye, I know that. An’ Niamh does too, in some small way.” He looked out at the sky where wisps of clouds flirted with the robin’s blue egg sky. “Can you imagine how hard it is on Niamh to know you had Mum all these years, an’ she was denied her?” He shook his head as Maggie was going to argue again. “’Tisn’t rational, but she’s hurt and regretting her own circumstances. Her marriage t
o Connor is not a happy one.”

  Maggie nodded, deep in thought. “I hope they’ll find peace soon.”

  Kevin urged her forward. “Come, stretch your legs a bit before returnin’ to the house.”

  They walked a short distance, passing a bathhouse, a laundry, and three saloons. The Sunrise was the busiest of the three at this relatively early hour.

  “What’s that place?” Maggie asked as she looked at the fine looking establishment with a red door. “Are you blushing?” She stared at her brother in incredulity.

  “Maggie, never go there. It’s the ahh, the place men … the unmentionable place.” He rubbed at his temple as he dragged her past it.

  “Oh,” she gasped as she looked over her shoulder to stare at it again. “It seems quite tame.”

  Failing to swallow a chuckle, he gasped out, “’Tis early in the mornin’ for them.” At her flush, he led her to the levee side of the river. By now the river was too low for any steamboats to make it all the way to Fort Benton, so the constant whirl of activity from June had died down. Supplies and men continued to arrive, although they had to dock down river and be transported to Fort Benton by stage and cart.

  “Do you like it here?” she asked him.

  He shrugged. “I liked the hustle and bustle of New York. There was always somethin’ to do, but ’twas always loud. Too many people.” He closed his eyes and breathed deeply. “Here, there is the promise of a little space, although the land is barren. Nothin’ like Ireland.”

  She wrapped her arms around herself. “All of you older siblings make it sound like a mythical place.”

  He chuckled and shook his head. “No, ’twasn’t. But it was home. We had a simple cottage with a thatched roof. A peat fire warmed us, even midday on the many damp days Ireland gifted us.” He looked at the brown fields, but his gaze was distant as though seeing another scene. “Everything was green from so much rain. We never had to worry a well would run dry. Or that our crops wouldn’t have enough water.”

  He shrugged. “But our crops failed. Our potato crop. An’ we had nothin’ to eat. So Da held back some of the oats he was to sell and was in debt. Thought he’d pay the landlord back when things improved. But the landlord wanted us off his land.” He met Maggie’s horrified stare. “Sent us all on a ship to Canada, with a promise of a man meetin’ us with money. But there was no man, no money. Just poverty.”

  “What did you do?”

  Kevin shrugged. “I was twelve by then. Ardan was fourteen. We’d lost Mum and you.” He took a deep breath and looked to the distant riverbank. “We did whatever we could to help Da. Learned to polish shoes. Ran errands for shops. Picked up trash in streets. Mucked out stalls at liveries. Anything to earn a penny.”

  “Look at you now,” she breathed.

  He smiled. “’Tis all Da. He’s brilliant. And loyal.” He turned at the sight of a demurely dressed woman strolling in their direction. “Miss O’Keefe, might I introduce you to my sister, Maggie?” he called out, unable to hide the delight in his gaze.

  The woman called Miss O’Keefe stopped short at the sight of Maggie. Her gaze darted from Kevin to Maggie and back again. “Hello, Miss O’Rourke. It is a pleasure to meet you. I am Aileen.”

  Maggie nodded. “Very nice to meet you. As Kevin said, I’m Maggie.” She no longer winced when she said that name.

  After a moment of awkward silence, Aileen said, “No one could doubt you are an O’Rourke. You look just like Mr. O’Rourke, and you have your father’s eyes.”

  Kevin chuckled. “She looks like Mum, aye, except for the eyes.” He smiled at Maggie with pride for a moment before staring at Aileen. “I trust you are well?”

  “Oh, my aunt and I are well. She has not changed.”

  Maggie watched as a wealth of information seemed to be exchanged between them in that one simple statement and the long glance they shared. She cleared her throat, biting her lip to hide a smile as Aileen jerked as though pricked by a pin-cushion. “I was just telling Kevin how much I like Fort Benton. ’Tis a lovely town.” Her smile burst forth as Aileen gaped at her.

  “A wild town,” Aileen said, her gaze returning to Kevin’s as a moth to flame, as though unable to resist staring at him. “But there are compensations for living here.” She flushed and lowered her gaze as though embarrassed by her rash words.

  Maggie chuckled and looked from her brother to this young woman who seemed to sparkle as bright as the Missouri River under the midmorning sunlight when Kevin looked at her. “Yes, there are. How did you meet my brother?”

  “Oh, we met on the steamboat here,” she said. “He was a good friend. Helped keep away the boredom.”

  “I’m certain he did,” Maggie said as she squeezed her brother’s arm.

  “Aileen, ’twas lovely to see you. Maggie and I were headin’ to our store.” He made a motion as though to include her in their journey about town.

  “I hope you find whatever it is you’re searching for,” Aileen said. “Although, from what I hear, you have everything imaginable in stock.” She blushed prettily as she stepped around them to continue her short walk. “Enjoy your day.”

  “Aye, an’ you too, Aileen,” Kevin murmured.

  “Nice to meet you,” Maggie called out, watching as her brother was transfixed at her retreating backside.

  That afternoon, Seamus stood in the doorway of the kitchen, watching as Mary interacted with her two boys and his sons he’d had with Colleen. He noted that their boys were rarely home before dinner recently, and he realized he needed to speak with them again about the change in circumstances at home. He also realized, in his determination to reunite Mary with her boys, that he had ignored Niamh. He rubbed at his head, hating the sense that no matter how hard he worked, his best effort was never enough.

  However, the scene before him lightened his spirit. Niall, Bryan and Oran interacted with Henri and Lucien as though they had always known each other. He smiled as Bryan called Lucien “Luc.” When the older boy shrugged and then continued to chatter away with him, Seamus realized how seamlessly his three youngest boys had accepted and incorporated Lucien and Henri into the family.

  He looked toward the stove to find Mary watching him. She stirred a pot and then moved to the pan filled with dishes. She worked at a frenetic pace, and he frowned as he remembered her filled with a calm purposefulness when they lived in Ireland and during their short time together in Montreal. “Mary?” he murmured as he moved in her direction.

  “So sorry for being behind,” she said in a rush. “I’ll have the table set and the dishes done and supper ready before the older boys return.” She froze when he rested a hand on her shoulder. “I promise I won’t delay your supper again.”

  Stroking his fingers over her shoulder, he murmured, “Why was it delayed?”

  “Oran needed help with a book he was reading, and then we began discussing our favorite novels.” She ducked her head as though in shame. “I lost track of the time.”

  With gentle pressure, he eased her to face him. “If our supper is delayed, none will care.” He met her surprised look with a reassuring smile. “You’ll hear in our family prayer again tonight our thanks we did not have to cook this meal.” He squeezed her shoulder, frowning as she jolted at his actions. “Mary?”

  She shook her head. “Not now, Shay. Not with the boys here.”

  “Fine, but after supper then. I need to understand.” He watched as she took a deep breath before giving a barely perceptible nod in agreement. “I don’t want him always between us.”

  Her gaze flew to his. “But he will be. As she is.” She bit her tongue as though waiting for punishment for her rash words. When none came, she relaxed.

  “If we talk about them, accept the time we lost together, and truly forgive each other, then they won’t be.” He kissed her head and moved away, calling out to his boys to include him in their conversation. Soon he was debating the merits of Reconstruction, although his focus never wavered from Mary working diligent
ly at the stove.

  That evening at dinner, Maggie sat watching the scene with fascination as she had yet to accustom herself to the controlled chaos of an O’Rourke meal. Conversations flowed around her, food was passed back and forth and none were offended if she desired seconds.

  “How was your day, Maggie?” Eamon asked with a curious smile. He had yet to truly accustom himself to the idea he had another sister and that his mother had returned to them.

  Her eyes brightened as she was included in their conversation. “Lovely,” she said, having picked up one of her father’s favorite words. “I walked around the town today with Kevin. And I met interesting people.”

  “Who’d you meet, lass?” Seamus asked.

  “Oh, the nicest young woman,” she said as she looked down the table. She flushed as she belatedly realized all the other conversation had ceased as she spoke. “I think she has eyes for Kevin,” she said with a teasing smile to her second oldest brother.

  “I’m certain you’re mistaken,” Kevin stammered, flushing.

  Maggie frowned and shook her head. “No, she seemed delighted to see you again after spending time with you on the steamboat.”

  “Maggie,” Ardan murmured in a low, warning voice. “No more.”

  She paled as she saw the anger in Ardan’s gaze. “What?” she whispered. “I … Shouldn’t Kevin have a sweetheart?” When a deafening silence descended, she said, “Miss O’Keefe seemed a perfect woman for Kevin.”

  Kevin cast a glance in Ardan’s direction, remaining calm as Declan slammed his hand onto the table, rattling the silverware and glasses.

  “How could you?” Declan yelled. “How could you play me false?” Declan glared at Kevin, his voice incredulous. “I thought we were brothers.”

  “I’m sorry, Declan,” Kevin said in a low voice. “I … I never meant for it to happen.”