“See!” she cried. “This was all about a man who left his family and the girls brokenhearted in Tuam. He went about his travels, resting in Mulligan, until he finally reached Dublin.”
She studied the homemade map. “I’m sure Tuam was Texas, where he robbed this last bank and left the people there brokenhearted. He then moved on and waited for me in Apple Blossom.” She pointed to Mulligan. “Finally, he reached Dublin—Prairie Dell!”
Her excitement grew. “He’s marked this large square to the left of Dublin VAN DIEMANS LAND. See the “X”?
He leaned forward. “Yes, but why’s MOUNTAIN DEW written next to it? And why did he put THE BLACK VELVET BAND beneath that?”
She laughed. “The Black Velvet Band” was a song I clamored for again and again when I was small. It’s about an apprenticed young man who passes a fine colleen as he walks down Broadway. She pulls a watch from her pocket and slips it into his hand. The man is bewitched by her eyes that shine like diamonds and her long hair tied up with a black velvet band.
“Unfortunately, the young apprentice is taken to court the next day and given seven years transportation for possessing a stolen watch. He’s sent to Van Diemans Land.”
She consulted the map again. “Sam marked an “X” here where he left the stolen goods. The MOUNTAIN DEW makes sense, too.”
She began to sing –
Let the grasses grow and the waters flow,
In a free and easy way,
But give me enough of that rare old stuff,
That’s made near Galway Bay.
Come gougers all,
From Donegal,
Sligo and Leitrim too,
And we’ll give you the slip as we take a sip,
Of the rare old mountain dew.
At the foot of the hill there’s a neat little still,
Where the smoke curls up to the sky;
By the whiff of the smell you can plainly tell
There’s poitin boys nearby.
For it fills the air, with a perfume rare
That betwixt both me and you,
And as on we roll, we’ll drink a bowl,
Or a bucketful of mountain dew.
“That finishes the verse. The rare old mountain dew has to be what Sam hid. It was supposedly the best in all of Ireland.”
“And this last haul was Sam’s best ever. That’s the connection!” Noah kissed her enthusiastically. “You’ve linked the clues together.”
She read the directions in the top right-hand corner of the map aloud. “Go to one million bags of the best Sligo rags. Left two million barrels of stone. Connaught way to the five hogs. You’ve arrived in Sally Gardens, so watch for the Galway Races.”
Jenny scrunched her eyes shut, willing herself to hear the vague melody pulling at the back of her memory. As she concentrated, it began to form. She softly hummed along as it became clearer to her.
“The Irish Rover!”
She grabbed a pencil and slipped a new sheet of paper in front of her. She wrote out the words to the song dancing in her head. When she’d finished, the last puzzle piece fell into place.
“Millions must be miles. If we go one mile Sligo way that’s north, because Sligo is in the north. Left is west, and then back north again for Connaught.” She smiled triumphantly. “And Sally Gardens is where a couple in love met in a field down by a river. Maybe Sam marked it for me somehow.”
She stood and started to pace the small cabin. “Sally Gardens is down by a river in the song. With what I’ve seen of Nevada so far, it would probably be some barely running stream that passes where the money’s buried.”
She returned to point at the last words her father had written in the corner. “He mentions to ‘watch for the Galway Races’ here. That ballad has a line about ‘when the bell was run for starting.’”
“I’ll bet he’s attached a bell where he’s hidden his treasure. You’ve made sense of everything here.” He took her hand. “No one but you could have figured out all the nuances and names Sam used.”
Noah pulled her down onto his lap and nuzzled her neck. “I can’t get enough of your mouth or this swanlike neck.” He smiled. “Mo won’t be back for a bit. I think we need to celebrate how clever you are.”
“How should we celebrate?”
“We’ll think of something.” His mouth met hers.
CHAPTER 25
Mo returned from her day of poker minutes before the sun set, reeking of cheap cigar smoke. She flew into the cabin, pushed along by a brisk wind, and leaned her hefty weight against the door to insure it closed tightly.
“Win big, Mo?”
Jenny watched her aunt turn and beam at Noah, then she switched her gaze to her niece. She could feel herself color under Mo’s scrutiny. Suddenly, her aunt burst out in a hearty laugh and crossed the room to sweep her into a tight embrace. Mo kissed both of her cheeks, and then performed the same ritual on Noah.
“I can tell somethin’ must’ve gone right today besides me whippin’ the pants off Sid and Sherm.” Her eyes twinkled at the couple as she put her reticule down on the table. “Tell me all about it. And I do mean tell all.” Her broad grin caused Jenny’s face to flame.
“All you need to know, Mo, is that we are on close speaking terms again.” Noah reached out and pulled Jenny to him, his arm about her waist. He kissed her temple. She figured she had turned permanently crimson at this point.
Mo looked at them fondly. “Let’s fix us some supper, you two, and I’ll tell you all about my day.”
Shortly afterward, they gathered around the dilapidated table. Noah solved the problem of only having two chairs by settling Jenny in his lap.
“You look like the cat that swallowed the canary whole,” Mo told him.
He smiled at Jenny and gave her a squeeze. “And if I am, Mo, I’m the happiest cat this side of the Mississippi.”
Her aunt shared how she had beaten her companions soundly, especially Sid. “Those boys’ll never get the hang o’ poker. They lose to me regularly, and they still come back for more every week.”
“Have you ever thought that they might lose to please you?” Jenny asked.
“Pshaw! Ain’t nobody fool enough to toss good money away, gel. Exceptin’ maybe your da.”
“The map!” Jenny explained how they had gone about trying to figure out the meaning behind Sam’s garbled directions.
“I’m sure we’ll locate the money tomorrow, Mo.”
“Wait a minute, Jenny.” Noah gave her a stern look. “There’s no we to this. It’s not that far. I’ll ride over tomorrow morning, check things out, and hopefully locate Sam’s hidden treasure. If I do, I’ll come back and let you know.”
“You don’t think you’re going without me?” She scooted off his lap, her hands fisted on her waist. “You’ve got another thing coming, Noah Daniel Webster, if you believe I’ll be content to stay behind.”
He stood and placed his hands on her shoulders. “Now listen, Jen—”
“I am not going to listen to—”
“Will you both be quiet?” Mo demanded.
They turned and looked at her.
“First of all, no more arguin’. I don’t take kindly to fightin’ o’ any kind. Come back over and sit down, and we’ll discuss this calmly.”
They glared at each other. Neither made a move.
“Jenny’s going with you, Noah,” Mo announced, “so sit down and let me tell you why.”
She gave him a triumphant smile. He sat, pulling her back into his lap. She perched stiffly. She was very interested in what Mo had to say.
Her aunt was blunt. “Riley Withers killed your da for that money, Noah. He’ll kill you, too, without blinkin’ an eye.”
Jenny saw the stunned look on
Noah’s face. “What? I know he was shot dead in the bank robbery. I assumed a lawman took his life.”
“When Sammy got here, he shared everythin’ about that last job with me. Riley Withers prevented two of their gang from escapin’ with them. He shot Pete in cold blood several miles outside of town. Sammy couldn’t save Pete’s life, but he tried to take Riley’s.”
Noah sighed. “Sam was about the worst shot I’ve ever seen. If he were aiming at Withers, it’s likely he shot his horse instead.” His mouth grew hard. She saw a new light burning in his eyes.
“It was business before. Now? It’s personal. I will find the money, Jenny. I promise you that. And I will search this earth till I find the lowlife that killed Pete.”
“That’s why you have to take her with you, Noah.” Mo shook her head. “If’n Withers follows you here—and it seems he’s been after Jenny since Boston—I don’t want him to find her alone and unprotected. If he shows up tomorrow, I can say I haven’t seen either of you yet. With Sammy dead, he won’t know what to do. The man never did have a lick o’ sense.”
He seemed reluctant. “What about you, Mo? Withers could hurt you, trying to see if Sam passed along any information to you about where the bonds are located.”
Mo frowned. “Hadn’t thought of that. ‘Course I’m ten times the shot Sammy was. I suppose I could take him out,” she mused. At Jenny’s gasp, she amended her tone. “I think I’ll just stay with Sid. He may not be a grand poker player, but he’s a helluva mean cuss. Even Riley Withers would think twice ‘fore he messed with someone like Sid.”
“Then it’s settled?” Jenny asked.
Noah wrapped his hand around her neck and brought her lips close to his. “I guess so.” He kissed her tenderly. Her pulse leaped at the contact.
“Oh, Lordy,” she heard Mo say.
Noah slept in front of the door that night. He intended to keep Riley Withers out, no matter when the man showed up. He hoped he had enough restraint to subdue the outlaw and not shoot him at first sight when the time came. He would need to return both the bank’s holdings and Riley Withers intact. Then he could begin a future with Jenny.
He looked at her now, still asleep, the dying firelight catching the highlights in her hair. The cabin was cold, but he contented himself to gaze at her a few more minutes, a sense of possessiveness stirring him.
Finally he rose, his legs stiff, his neck sore from the position he’d slept in. He tiptoed over and knelt beside her to press a soft kiss on her lush mouth. She awoke with a start and then smiled when she saw him. That smile nearly did him in. Her arms wound around his neck.
“You’re lucky Mo’s here.”
“Am I?” she murmured. “I thought I was lucky you were here.” Mischief lit her eyes.
He kissed her in reply, a deep, soulful kiss that left him weak in the knees.
“Will you two behave?”
He turned his head to look at Mo. “You’re just jealous.”
She sat up. “Maybe I am, and maybe I ain’t. I do know I’m hungry. Let’s get this day started with some flapjacks.”
Jenny put on the coffee, and they discussed what they would need to take.
“According to the map, we’re not more than two, maybe three hours from Sally Gardens,” he estimated. “Still, it may be harder to locate than we think, and even harder to find where to dig.”
“Remember the Galway Races. I’m sure we’ll find a bell nearby as a marker.”
Jenny’s positive tone spilled over, and his optimism grew. “Once we find Sam’s haul, it may be too late to start back.”
“I don’t mind. I think I got used to life out on the range. Mr. Mulholland—”
“Don’t go there, Jenny. I can’t stand to hear another pearl of wisdom from Milton Mulholland. Promise me you won’t mention his name again.”
Her green eyes sparked impishly. “I’ll think about it.”
He tried not to sound so disagreeable. “I’ll need to get a pick and shovel. Some flour and beans. We’ve got enough coffee for a short trip.”
“What will you do when we find the money, Noah?”
“Bring it back here for now. Normally, I’d head straight to the nearest Wells Fargo office so it’d be in good hands.” He ran a hand through his hair. “With an unknown variable like Withers wandering around, though, I figure I need to be here to greet him personally. The money can serve as bait, and I can kill two birds with one stone and bring both in at the same time.”
She shivered. “And what if he doesn’t show up anytime soon? What if we’re wrong about him?”
Mo snorted. “Ol’ Riley Boy will be here. Mark my words. He’s a slippery eel, but he’ll be drawn to all that free money.”
Noah rose from the table. “I think I’ll feed the horses and head over for supplies.” He glanced at Jenny. “Want to help shovel feed down that prissy-footed horse of yours?”
“She’s a lady, Noah,” Jenny said with mock haughtiness. “She doesn’t want you to forget it.”
He shrugged into his coat and then held her cloak out. He wrapped it around her shoulders, and she tied it, pulling the hood up for extra protection.
He opened the door, glad to see yesterday’s strong wind had died down. A light dusting of snow covered the ground, but no wind would make for a more pleasant ride. He grabbed Jenny’s hand and hurried her around the corner to where the horses were stabled. Once they reached the protection of the open shed, he pulled her into his arms for a searing kiss.
“Mmmm.” She pressed her head against his shoulder. “I didn’t know how entertaining feeding the horses could be.”
He kissed her again. “I bet even Mr. Mulholland hasn’t discovered that secret.”
“I thought you said—”
“—that you weren’t supposed to mention the all-knowing Mulholland. I didn’t say anything about me.”
“Then I’m glad I made no promises about dime novels.”
He groaned. “I only know one way to get Milton Mulholland out of your mind.” He dropped to one knee, his hands wrapped around hers. “Miss McShanahan, I know that Mr. Mulholland holds a special place in your heart, but do you have it in you to push those tender feelings for him aside—with good reason?”
She smiled down at him. “I am rather fond of him. However, if the reason were important enough, I might consider nudging him aside.”
“Is spending the rest of your life with me sufficient?”
She bit her lip. “Are you asking?”
He grinned. “I am, indeed. Jenny McShanahan, would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
“Didn’t you ask me this same question yesterday?”
“Yes, I did.” He brushed his lips against her gloved fingers. “But as I recall, you never gave me an answer. We got caught up in . . . other things.” He smiled at the memory.
He saw tears glisten in her eyes. “Yes, Noah Daniel Webster. Yes, yes, yes! I will marry you.”
He rose and cradled her face in his hands. “I love you.” He kissed her carefully, as if she might break.
Laughter bubbled up from her. He loved the sound of it. Almost as much as her sweet mouth and generous nature and quick mind. And he’d done the right thing by asking her to marry him again. The first time he’d been flippant. He wanted this to be the proposal she remembered.
“I love you, Noah Daniel Webster, former consumptive guide and current Texas Ranger.”
He grew serious. “I’ll be giving up Rangering, Jenny. I’m not sure what I’ll do or where we’ll even settle.”
She frowned. “Why? Being a Ranger is something you love.”
“I’ve found something I love more,” he answered. He wrapped her in a tight embrace, his lips brushing her hair. “A Ranger leads a nomadic life, honey. There’s danger aplenty.
I want to make you a young bride. I don’t plan on you becoming a young widow.”
“You’re really willing to give it all up? For me?”
He nodded, not trusting himself to speak. He held her close for a few minutes. The feel of her in his arms let him know he’d made the right decision. Rangering paled when compared to Jenny.
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