Pioneer Dream: The O’Rourke Family Montana Saga

by Ramona Flightner

  Ardan nodded. “You know Da’s rules. All firearms must be left here.” Ardan pointed to the entryway.

  Sighing, Dunmore set down his rifle and slipped off his belt. The man beside him followed suit, unbuckling a belt with two holsters filled with Colt revolvers. After the men had set them aside, Ardan led them through the parlor to the rear of the house, calling out there were visitors.

  Dunmore stood in the doorway, watching the large family interact. Platters of food covered the table, while every available chair was filled with an O’Rourke. All seemed in high spirits, with laughter, teasing and storytelling overlapping each other. Fighting a wistfulness that he had never known such camaraderie, Dunmore met Seamus’s intent gaze. “He’s there. Doubt he’ll return. Cormac will have left his supplies with him.” He shook his head. “He didn’t give me the letter, no matter he promised he would when he arrived in Virginia City. And we didn’t find it, no matter how much we searched.”

  Seamus rose, clapping him on his shoulder and shaking his hand. “Ah, I know you did all you could, Dunmore. I’ll never be able to thank you enough for protecting my Maggie.” Seamus looked over his shoulder in the direction of his youngest daughter.

  Dunmore looked in the direction of Seamus’s gaze and froze at the sight of Maggie laughing, her cheeks flushed a healthy red and the ever-present wariness absent in her gaze. “It was nothing,” he whispered.

  “Now that’s where you’re wrong, my friend,” Seamus said. “’Twas everythin’ to me and my Mary.” He beamed at his wife. “Come, we’ll find another chair. We’ve plenty of food.”

  Dunmore hung back and shook his head. “There’s someone who wanted to meet you. He says you’ve acted in a dishonorable manner.”

  Seamus stiffened, his cheeks flushing with agitation rather than pleasure as he peered over Dunmore’s shoulder to the man lurking in the shadows. “Who would dare say such a thing?”

  “I would,” the plain man with booming voice said as he stepped forward into the light, but still behind Dunmore. “You enticed my daughter here, convincing her she was a pauper so that you could carry out your nefarious plans.”

  Seamus’s flush brightened further and he held back from attacking the man only because Dunmore stood in the way and he did not want to encourage his sons to commit murder before dessert. Or at any time. He sighed in an attempt to corral his temper. “You have a nerve comin’ to my house an’ proclaimin’ vicious lies.”

  “Are you or are you not Seamus O’Rourke?” The man asked. When Seamus nodded, he continued, “Did you or did you not send money to a woman to travel here to marry one of your sons?”

  “Aye, I did, but she was willin’!” He flinched. “Well, a wee bit willin’. Her aunt cajoled her into travelin’ here.” He focused on the man, his astute gaze raking over the man who appeared a few years younger than he. “Who are you?”

  “I’m in search of Aileen O’Keefe.” He looked at the table when he heard a gasp, blanching as he saw a woman gaping at him. “Leenie,” he whispered as he stepped around Dunmore who had moved aside. “Is that you, lass? You’re the spitting image of your mother.” When she continued to stare at him, he said, “You’re here.”

  Dunmore looked to the long table to see Kevin O’Rourke’s intended bride gawking at the man beside him. He gave a grunt of acknowledgement. “My instincts weren’t wrong,” he said to Seamus and moved to slip from the room. He stopped when Seamus gripped his arm and motioned for him to remain. Dunmore nodded, settling in to watch the reunion.

  “Father?” Aileen whispered, gaping at him. “Is it really you?” Her gaze roved over him as though he were an apparition. Dust covered and road weary, he wore brown, nondescript pants and top with a long jacket and brown hat. Desperately in need of a visit to the bathhouse, streaks of sweat formed rivulets through the dirt on his face. His brown eyes were lit with an impassioned glow as he stared at her.

  “Yes, my darling daughter. I’ve traveled for months trying to find you.” Although outnumbered and outmatched in every possible way, Cathal O’Keefe glared at each man in the room as though daring them to challenge his right to speak with his daughter. When everyone remained quiet, he said, “I’ve come for you. Just like I promised you I would in my letters. Why didn’t you wait for me, Leenie?”

  “What letters?” she whispered. “You never wrote.” She clamped her jaw shut a moment as though marshaling all her strength. “I haven’t heard from you since you left when I was five.”

  Cathal fell back a step as though she had just slapped him. Glancing at Seamus, who gripped his arm in a steadying hold, he looked back to his daughter to see a man whispering to her. “Who are you? Why are you with my daughter?”

  “I’m Kevin O’Rourke,” the auburn haired man with hazel eyes said. “I’m her betrothed and we are to marry in two days’ time.”

  Cathal watched his daughter intently, noting how she leaned into the man and seemed to garner strength from the mere presence of him. “You care for the man?” he said. “Even though you were brought here as a mail order bride?”

  Kevin ignored Cathal, murmuring, “How do you know he’s your father?”

  Aileen sniffled, resting her head on Kevin’s shoulder in such a way that she could continue to look at her father. “I recognize his voice. And his eyes.” She gripped Kevin’s hand. “It’s like my soul recognizes him. As I would you, if I were separated from you for a long time.”

  “Nay,” he rasped. “Don’t even think it.”

  “Leenie,” Cathal said. “We can leave this little town and go wherever we choose. I have plenty of money. I can give you the world, just like I promised.”

  Aileen met her father’s earnest gaze and frowned. “I never wanted the world, Father. I just wanted you.” A tear tracked down her cheek. “I wanted bedtime stories, hugs when I hurt, a pat to my head to show me you cared a little for me.” She flushed as the O’Rourkes remained silent, watching the reunion. “Instead you left me with a woman who had no regard for me.”

  “I’m sorry, lass. If your mother had lived, everything would have been different. I sent home everything I could spare.” When he saw her blanch at his words, he glowered at her. “No letters and you had no idea about the money?”

  She shook her head, her hand shaking as she swiped at a tear.

  “I might not have been able to be with you, my darling daughter, but I wanted you to have everything your heart desired.” He took a step toward her and then stopped. “Tell me you are well.” His voice broke on well.

  Aileen pushed away from the table and Eamon, Finn, Oran and Bryan had to hop up to let her scoot out from around the table. She walked with measured step until she stood in front of him. “I am well. I love Kevin. He was not the man my aunt wanted me to marry, but I met him on the steamboat and fell in love with him. He’s a good man.”

  “I’m sorry I waited too long in coming home, lass,” he whispered. “I missed the chance to know you.” He raised his hand as though to cup her head and pull her in for a hug, but then dropped it without touching her. “I wish you every happiness, my darling girl.”

  When he turned to leave, Aileen gasped and leaped at him. “No!” she cried out, launching herself at him. She threw herself in his arms, trusting he would catch her. “No, you can’t leave,” she cried as tears cascaded from her eyes. “Why don’t you want me?” she asked over and over.

  He held her close, his big hands shaking as they ran over her back and shoulders. “Of course I want you, but your place is with your future husband now.”

  “No,” she said. “There’s room for you too, Father. Please,” she hiccupped out. “Don’t go.”

  Cathal looked at the O’Rourkes and, rather than seeing anger or judgment, he saw concern and welcome. “I don’t know what to say.” He continued to cradle his daughter in his arms and he kissed her head.

  “Stay,” Kevin said. “You’re a part of our family now.” He saw the gleam of deep emotions in the man’s eyes at his word
s. “We’re a tight knit family, but we always welcome others.”

  Seamus slapped Cathal on the shoulder. “Come, let’s have supper.” He looked over his shoulder and motioned for Dunmore to join them too.

  Cathal eased Aileen from his hold and smiled at his daughter while he brushed at her cheeks. “I always knew you’d be a beauty, my Leenie.” He nodded as her breath caught at his words and he beamed at her. “Come, introduce me to everyone.”

  She moved around the table, sitting beside Kevin again. Cathal and Dunmore crammed in beside Declan and Ardan, and soon the round of introductions began, with good-natured ribbing thrown in. Laughter and joy filled the room again as the two men melded seamlessly into their family unit.

  Aileen stood in the room she shared with Maggie as she stared at herself in the mirror in one of the ugly, serviceable gowns that had been delivered from the hotel. Although her aunt had at first denied Mary and Maggie access to the room she had shared with her aunt there, her aunt had proven no match for the determined O’Rourke women and Aileen’s trunk had been delivered to the O’Rourke house that morning.

  However as she beheld herself with mounting dismay, she wished that one of her beautifully sewn dresses would magically appear. Instead she wore a dress that hung off her in an unattractive sack-like manner that concealed all of the curves Kevin adored. The hem frayed at the edge and the buttons were mismatched.

  “Is that the best option, lass?” Mary asked as she peered over her shoulder. “’Tis a bit … ” Her voice trailed off as she shrugged and made a face expressing her dismay at the ugly garment.

  Aileen closed her eyes in defeat. “I had beautiful gowns. Gowns that were blue and green, with elegant embroidery on the hems. But my aunt sold them.” She firmed her chin. “It doesn’t matter what I wear. Kevin will still want to marry me.”

  “Aye, ’tis true the lad’s besotted with you. But I’m vain enough to want to remember my wedding day in all its glory and not to have to banish the memory of an ugly dress and the lost dream of what could have been.” Mary squeezed Aileen’s shoulder. “I was fortunate enough to have such a wedding with Seamus.”

  Aileen met Mary’s contented gaze in the mirror. “You understand the wedding isn’t what is important. It’s the life we’ll lead afterward.”

  Laughing, Mary nodded. “Of course. But it never hurts to look your best.” She glanced over her shoulder and frowned as the doorway remained empty. “You might have noticed that my eldest daughter and I have yet to reconcile after my long absence. However, Niamh is fond of Kevin, and she wants him happy.”

  “I don’t understand what that has to do with me,” Aileen protested.

  “What that means is that she’s spent the past few evenings making you a dress,” Mary said with a brilliant smile. She stepped aside as Niamh stood in the doorway, a dress over her arm. She entered the room and shut the door behind her.

  “No need to have the surprise ruined,” Niamh said. “Kevin’s heard me moan often enough about the sackcloth you’ll be wearin’. ’Tis sweet of him to say he doesn’t care, but I can tell he’s disturbed he’ll have a fine suit while you’ll be in little more than rags.” Niamh had Kevin’s coloring, although her hazel eyes were not filled with joy and the promise of tomorrow as Kevin’s were. Instead a deep-seated resignation seemed to have taken root in her.

  Aileen watched as she set the dress down carefully on Maggie’s made up bed, and avoided much interaction with her mother. At Niamh’s urging, Aileen slipped off her dress and allowed Niamh to dress her. After a few minutes of fussing, she was spun to face the mirror again.

  Her breath caught at the sight of herself. Her dull brown hair seemed to shimmer with new brilliance as it rested beside the light blue dress that hugged her curves and fell into an attractive skirt. She watched as she raised hands to press against her cheeks as she attempted to prevent crying. “How?”

  “Oh, ’twasn’t difficult to borrow one of your ugly dresses and make adjustments,” Niamh said. She raised a hand with pins, tugging and pulling the dress so it fit perfectly. “If you take this off carefully, I’ll make the adjustments tonight, and you’ll have a gorgeous dress for tomorrow.”

  “I can’t thank you enough,” Aileen whispered, spinning to face her future sister-in-law. “I never expected such kindness.”

  Niamh smiled at her around a pin in her mouth. “’Tis because you’re unaccustomed to knowing what kinship is. I’m afraid, after tomorrow, you’ll have more kin than you know what to do with.”

  Aileen beamed at her and Mary. “I can’t wait.”

  Chapter 16

  A light fog burned off by the time Kevin and Aileen were to marry. Kevin had wanted to ensure that Aileen would be comfortable in the field behind the house, thus he wanted the ceremony early enough in the day to beat the intense summer heat, but not so early that dawn’s dew still clung to the grass. Thus a late morning ceremony had been planned. The priest had been commissioned to return, and he seemed delighted at the prospect, having informed Seamus that the previous ceremony had been the most entertaining one he’d every officiated.

  Kevin stood in the warehouse where he had spent the night, staring outside. Da had forbidden him from spending the night before his wedding under the same roof as his fiancée, although they were in separate rooms. He smiled with rueful agreement as he knew he would have tried to sneak a glance at Aileen this morning. Instead the first time he would see her would be when she walked down the aisle toward him. His breath caught at the thought of marrying her. Of not having to snatch at moments together. At always having her wise counsel and warm affection.

  “Dreaming again?” Ardan asked as he entered the warehouse with two steaming cups of tea.

  “Nay, anticipatin’,” Kevin said with a grin.

  Ardan laughed and handed him one of the cups. “Drink up. You’ll need all the energy to survive the festivities today. For this is a true celebration and the entire town will be there.”

  Kevin slurped up a sip of the hot beverage and then stared at his brother with a silly grin. “I can’t believe today I marry Aileen.”

  Ardan laughed and punched him in his shoulder. “It seems like only a few days ago you were chatting with her on the steamboat. And now, you’ll marry.” He looked at his brother with pride and a hint of sorrow. “I’ll miss our times together.”

  Kevin shook his head and clapped Ardan on one shoulder. “Nay, Ardan, nothin’ will change.” He flushed and ducked his head. “Sorry. ’Tis a lie. I know I’ll look to Aileen first. Want to discuss things with her first.”

  “Aye, as you should. If you felt less about her, I’d worry.” He shook his head with chagrin as he beheld the joy and wonder emanating from his brother. “Don’t worry about me, Kev. You’re marrying the woman of your dreams. I will be forever grateful she loves you with an equal madness.”

  Kevin laughed and then looked to the warehouse door as it burst open. All of his brothers and Da entered, intent on helping him change into his suit. Within a few minutes, Bryan and Oran had him in stitches as they teased Lucien and Henri. They had melded well with them, and he enjoyed seeing them blossom under Da’s gentle love and guidance.

  Soon Kevin stood with his arms outstretched as his jacket coat was eased over his shoulders by Da. Kevin turned to look into his father’s solemn, glowing eyes and gave a subtle nod. Seamus pulled him close, squeezing him once and then slapping him on the back a few times. “Thank you, Da.”

  “Oh, lad, I couldn’t be more proud of you. Or happier for you and your Aileen.” He took a deep breath before murmuring. “May you know the same joy I’ve always known with your mother, without any of the separation or heartache.”

  “Thank you, Da,” Kevin repeated.

  “Let’s get going!” Oran called out. “If we keep dilly dallying, she’ll beat you there!” He ducked as Kevin lunged for him to wrap an arm around his neck to mess up his hair. Giggling, Oran sidled away to his expanded band of younger brothers, now incl
uding Lucien and Henri.

  Moving as a large unit, the O’Rourke men walked the short distance from the warehouse to the field. The priest stood chatting with Cormac Ahern, and nodded at their arrival. The soft midmorning light shone over them, while a gentle breeze blew. A meadowlark serenaded them, its song cheery and bright.

  Kevin stood beside Ardan and played with the cuffs of his jacket. He saw Ardan watching him with amusement and attempted to still his fidgeting. “I wish Aileen had a prettier dress to marry in. I know she’s frettin’ about the ugly dresses she has.”

  “I doubt you’ll be focused on her dress,” Ardan murmured with a hint of mischief in his eyes.

  Kevin laughed and shook his head. Soon Eamon began to play the fiddle, the townsfolk stood in a half circle around them with a path down the middle for Aileen, and the priest stood at the ready with his Bible open.

  At a soft murmur, Kevin looked toward his father’s house and he saw his mother, Maggie and Niamh surrounding Aileen. Unable to see her well, the realization that soon they would wed caused his breath to catch. His gaze followed their steady progression to the field and soon Aileen stood beside her father, beaming at Kevin.

  “Seems Niamh worked her magic,” Ardan murmured as Kevin stared at his bride in open-mouthed wonder.

  Rather than the drab, mud colored dress he envisioned that would hang off her like a bag, she wore a gorgeous, light blue dress with embroidery at the hem, neckline and cuffs. He recognized the fine Celtic scrollwork and understood this was Niamh’s gift to him. To them. The dress fit her like a dream, showcasing her beautiful figure and making her complexion glow. Her brown hair shone a brilliant chestnut color and her eyes glimmered with joy as she walked beside her father to meet him.