by Kit Morgan
Ten
Lorcan awoke, opened one sleepy eye, stretched, and closed it. His room was still dark, had he heard a noise? Why else would he have woken? Maybe he should get up and investigate. He’d not been able to sleep, thoughts of marrying Addy had kept him up most of the night, when he did fall asleep, he dreamt of her soft lips and smiling eyes. He’d seen them as she stood in the doorway to his room before she left, and gave her promise she would return the next day to see him. They had much to talk about.
He opened his eyes again, sat up, yawned, and froze, his breathing stopped. No!
Lorcan’s room was not only dark, it was black.
He shook with the shock of it. “Good, Lord, no. Ye can’t do this to me!”
“Lorcan, lad,” came his mother’s voice. “What is it? Is everything all right?”
“Maither …” He had to think fast, he could hear her footsteps coming down the hall. What if it was only temporary? Yes, temporary, a set back, it would heal itself, it had to! “I’m fine, talking in my sleep is all.” He turned his face toward the door. “My head hurts though, maybe a wet cloth?”
She said nothing, and he wondered what she was thinking. Could she tell? “Aye, I’ll see to it,” she finally said.
He breathed a sigh of relief when he heard her retreat, and put his hands over his eyes. He closed them, opened them, closed them, opened them again. Black, all was black. “Good God, what now?” He felt something sink into his gut. Despair? But no, Lorcan wasn’t so easily discouraged. Though blind, his eyes widened as another thought struck him. Addy.
Could she be easily discouraged? Would she still want to marry him when she found out? But no, by the time she came for her visit, his vision could already be coming back. He would wait, wait until he knew for sure. But even so, he wouldn’t be able to keep up the pretense he had his sight. He would have to tell his family, his Addy.
Lorcan raised his face to the ceiling. “Lord, ye know I haven’t spoken with ye much lately, but I’m speaking to ye now.” The thickness of his brogue surprised him enough to stop. He knew it happened when he was angry or upset. “You’re all I’ve got, I can’t lose my sight, not now, not ever.” He swallowed, his throat dry. “I’ve stopped the fighting …”
“Here we are,” his mother said.
He listened to her steps, tried to gauge where she was. He’d been so focused on his prayer, he didn’t hear her come in.
“Lorcan?”
He looked in the direction of her voice. “Aye, hand it here …” he said and bumped his hand against her. She was at his bedside.
“Lorcan …” There was definite worry in her voice. “What’s the matter?”
He swallowed hard. “Maither, I … I think I’ll lie down again.” He held out his hand and prayed she would place the washcloth in it. She did, and he listened for any sign she might be on to him. She gave none.
“I’ll be off to work then. You rest, and I’ll check on you later. Adaline will be up for lunch.”
He closed his eyes at the mention of her name, and nodded. If his vision didn’t begin to return by then, he’d have no choice but to tell them. Then what? His maither and da would be sick with worry, and what of Addy? Would she still want to marry him? He wasn’t sure she loved him yet. Oh, there was a definite attraction between the two of them, and his feelings for her were growing stronger by the day. But they’d both only begun to have them, and though they were to be married, they hadn’t spent enough time to develop the kind of love that binds two people together through thick and thin. She could still refuse him, walk away and marry another. Oregon City was full of single, healthy men. Men with eyes to protect her, provide for her …
Lorcan struck the mattress and groaned. Why now, Lord? Why? I’ve given up fighting, I’m going to marry the bride Maither sent for, what have I done to …
He stopped as he remembered bits and pieces of scripture. He was never good at memorizing verses, and wished now he’d been better at it, but he did know the good Lord was still watching over him. Just because he couldn’t see, didn’t mean the Lord didn’t have his best interest in mind.
He took a deep breath. He would heal, get better, and marry Addy, and that was all there was to it. He raised his face to the ceiling again. “Ye may be the creator of Heaven and Earth, but ye also have to remember ye created one stubborn Irishman, and I’ll not stand by and let this lick me ye hear? Aye, and I’ll not be acting the maggot either, I can’t. Some already think me a fool.” He sighed, done with his rant, and lay down upon his bed. “Let it be back when I wake up again,” he whispered. “Let me see.” Lorcan placed the washcloth over his eyes, and tried to sleep.
* * *
Adaline studied her hair in the small mirror above her dresser. She put in a few more pins, then turned her head this way and that to examine her handiwork. She spied her trunk behind her in the mirror’s reflection, and smiled. Her wedding dress was in it. She’d not bothered to unpack it after Lorcan marched her to the boarding house her first day in town. She’d been angry, and refused to add to her humiliation by staring at the gown. But tonight she planned on hanging it up before she retired. It would need to air, and she wanted it ready in case Lorcan decided to get married sooner rather than later. She smiled at the thought, patted her hair, then plucked her shawl from the bed. This was going to be a good day.
Or not. She opened the door and looked up into the face of Herbert Walker. “Oh, hello Mr. Walker.”
“Miss Dermont,” he said ardently. “I must have a moment of your time.”
“I’m afraid I’m on my way to work. Perhaps later.”
He ignored her remark and kept talking. “Miss Dermont, I’m sure it hasn’t escaped you that I’ve not been around much these last few days.”
She looked at him, he was right. She hadn’t seen him much since Sunday. Today was Thursday. “Were you out looking for land?” she asked. Everyone knew he was in the area to start a farm. She hoped he found something. It would mean he’d be leaving the boarding house. He’d talked everyone to death since his arrival.
“In that you are correct. In fact, it’s the sweetest little piece of farmland you’ll ever see, and just outside the city. You won’t have to go far for supplies, or to attend church.”
“How wonderful, does it have a house on it? Or are you planning to build?” She turned and started down the stairs. Something didn’t seem right. What did he say?
“There’s already a house, and the barn is enormous,” his words tumbled out as he chased after her. “But about the house. It has five bedrooms!”
“Five? Why Mr. Walker, you must be plan on producing quite a brood.”
“Yes!” he exclaimed as he raced down the stairs, passing her, and beating her to the bottom. He faced her as she reached the last few steps. “Miss Dermont,” he said sternly. “I’ll have you know I’m a man of risks.”
She stood on the bottom step and gave him a blank look. “Oh?”
He straightened. “I bought it for you.”
“OH?”
“We can be married this afternoon, unless you’d like to wait a day.”
She was speechless, her mouth refusing to work. She blinked a few times in hopes it would help, but still nothing came out.
He smiled, elated. “Oh, Miss Dermont! You’ve made me the happiest man on Earth!”
Now, her mouth started to work. “I …what?!?”
He grabbed her hand and kissed it. “I’ll see to the preacher, you see to looking as beautiful as you can!”
She looked flabbergasted at her hand, her lips curled into a grimace as he danced a circle in front of her. “Mr. Walker!” she finally managed.
He ignored her and turned another circle before facing her again. “I’ll see you tonight … darling.”
“Darling?!?”
He was off like a shot, leaving her to stand there with her mouth opening and closing like a guppy’s.
“Adaline?” Polly said as she came down the stairs. “Is
something the matter?”
Adaline turned, looked at her with her face still in shock, and shrugged. “Mr. Walker is getting married.”
“He is? Oh my! Now there’s some news. Who’s the lucky girl?”
“Apparently … I am.”
Polly’s eyes grew round as saucers. “What? I thought you were marrying Lorcan!”
“So did I, however, Mr. Walker has informed me, I will be marrying him.”
Polly covered her mouth to keep from laughing.
“Go ahead, let it out,” Adaline said as she shook her head.
Polly laughed as she came down the remaining stairs. “You have to admit, Mr. Walker is persistent.”
“I’m not sure persistent is the word I would use.”
Polly gave her a questioning look and smiled.
“’Glue’ is a much better word to describe our dear Mr. Walker.”
They both laughed. “Oh dear, you do have a problem,” Polly said through her giggles. “Now you have two men who want to marry you!”
“Yes, but only one the proud owner of a farm, complete with a house with not four, but five bedrooms. Oh, and an enormous barn.”
Polly’s hands flew to her mouth. “Oh, my Heavens!”
Adaline smiled. “Too bad he’s not the one I’m going to marry.” They laughed again, and Adaline, despite Herbert Walker’s recent shenanigans, hummed as she went to work.
* * *
The morning passed quickly, and Adaline couldn’t wait for lunchtime to run upstairs and see Lorcan. Her skin would breakout with gooseflesh whenever she thought of him, and twice she giggled with delight, which caught the attention of Mr. Brody. “What may I inquire, has the likes of you in such a fine mood this day?”
“The likes of me?”
“Well,” he said as he filled his pipe. “When you first started here, you were a different girl. Quiet you might say, sort of … let me see, what’s the word … standoffish. Ye know. Unfriendly like. Now look at ye. Happy as a lark and then some.”
She gave him a bright smile. “I am happy.”
“Aye, lass, I can tell.” He unexpectedly put an arm around her, and gave her a sideways hug. “I’m glad yer here.”
“So am I, Mr. Brody.”
“We’ll have no more Mr. Brody. From now on, call me Da.”
She blushed, tears in her eyes, and had to turn away. She’d not thought about the fact she’d have in-laws. Her own parents had been gone for years now, and she’d buried her desire for a mother and father long ago.
“What’s this?” Mr. Brody said as he bent to look her in the face. “Why the tears, lass?”
“It’s … just that … I didn’t realize this would be so …” she looked at him and smiled. “What’s the word? Wonderful.”
He glanced about the shop and lowered his voice. “Wonderful until Mrs. Brody has one of her tempers. When that happens, ye best run for cover.” He put his pipe in his mouth and winked.
She laughed, hugged him, then looked to the back of the bookshop. He patted her on the back. “Go ahead, lass. I know he’s waiting.”
She gave him one last smile, lifted her skirt, and scurried for the stairs. When she got to the upper landing, she pinched her cheeks a few times, smoothed her dress, and knocked. Mrs. Brody came to the door, a spoon in her hand. “There ye are, dearie.” She stepped out onto the landing with her. “I’m sorry, but he’s not feeling well right now. Maybe later he’ll be up for a visit.”
Adaline’s face fell into concern. “Do we need to send for the doctor?”
“No, I think all he needs is rest. We must have worn him out yesterday. He’s barely said two words to me all day. Slept the morning away, he did.”
“Oh, I’m sorry to hear that. I hope he’ll be all right.”
“I’m sure he will. Come see him after work,” she reached into her apron pocket and pulled out some coins. “Here, I’ve been so busy this morning I don’t have lunch ready yet. Go across the street and buy yourself something nice to eat.”
Adaline glanced down the stairs. “I can wait until tonight.”
“Nonsense, take this and buy yourself some lunch. And tell Mr. Brody his lunch will be an hour late.”
Adaline turned, her heart filled with disappointment at not seeing Lorcan. But getting his rest was more important. She took the coins Mrs. Brody offered, hugged her, and went downstairs. Mrs. Brody watched her go with a face full of worry. She wiped away a lone tear, and turned to go inside.
* * *
White’s Café across the street was a quaint little place, and Adaline felt as if she were in New Orleans again instead of out west. She took in the serene surroundings and reveled in the smell of whatever food was being prepared that day. She looked at the sign near the door with the day’s menu choices, and was about to make her selection, when Finn Mullany came through the door, followed by a group of well-dressed men. A woman was with them, causing a tiny gasp to escape Adaline as she took in her attire. The dress she wore was like nothing she had ever seen, and she was tempted to ask her where she had it made. Probably Paris. It would explain the obvious difference between the woman’s dress, and that of everyone else’s in Oregon City.
Finn’s eye’s flicked about the room, glanced over her, and then fixated on a table in the corner. He led the group to it, and they sat. The woman looked at her as she passed, and gave her a warm smile. She was beautiful, and Adaline had to keep her mouth from falling open. The man who escorted her was equally handsome and well dressed, yet there was something about him that made her gut tighten, and she wondered why. His blonde hair was in stark contrast to his brown eyes, and he sported a neatly trimmed beard and mustache. He too looked at her, his expression warm at first, before he took on a calculated look. She shivered in response.
She turned her attention to the waitress who came to take her order, and had to force herself not to look in the direction of their table. It would, after all, be rude to stare. But their fantastic clothing, and especially the woman’s dress, was hard not to stare at. She could only conclude that they must be very rich to afford such clothing, and began to speculate on what they were doing so far out west. She’d expect to see a group like theirs in places like Paris, London, New York, even San Francisco, but not Oregon City.
She pushed her thoughts aside as she waited for her lunch to be served, and instead concentrated on her wedding dress and all that needed to be done before she and Lorcan could be married. Though their wedding would be small, she still wanted it to be special. She took a piece of paper and a pencil out of her reticule, and scribbled things down as they came to her.
“Miss Dermont! There you are!”
Adaline rolled her eyes. Oh no …
Herbert Walker dodged the café’s patrons as he hurried to her table. He pulled out a chair and sat without asking, his face flushed. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”
“Really?” she said dryly. “I’m only ever in two places. This makes three.”
“Never mind that,” he said, his face urgent. “We need to see the preacher right away.”
She closed her eyes and sighed. “Mr. Walker, you’re a very nice man, but …”
“No, you don’t understand,” he said and scooted his chair closer. “I didn’t mean the preacher per say, but the Sheriff.”
“The Sheriff?”
He glanced around, and lowered his voice as he bent his head to hers. “There’s something happening here, something not right.”
Adaline stared at him, her brow furrowed in confusion. “What are you talking about?”
He glanced about again. “There are strangers in town, I heard they got here a couple of weeks ago. They’ve been looking for men to work for them. Big men. Like that lug of an Irishman you work for.”
“Lorcan?”
“I just spoke with Mr. Dixon, he’s friends with the Sheriff, and they think these men are up to no good. I for one don’t want any bride of mine around such riff-raff. I must insist we leav
e.”
Adaline put her face in her hands and moaned. “Mr. Walker …”
“We can be married this afternoon, as soon as you finish your meal if you like.”
Adaline brought her face out her hands. “Mr. Walker … Herbert … I never said I’d marry you.”
He looked at her in shock. “But … what about this morning when I asked you?”
She sighed wearily. “You didn’t ask me to marry you. You told me I was going to.”
He reddened, and audibly gulped. His hands then started to tremble, and Adaline felt his embarrassment. “I’m sorry, but … even had you asked me, my answer would have to be no. I can’t marry you.”
His jaw tightened. “Is there someone else? There must be, why else would you not want to …” he closed his eyes tightly shut. “Miss Dermont, I must insist.”
“Insist what? Herbert …” she sighed. “There’s nothing more for me to say.”
His eyes sprang open, his face red. “Miss Dermont,” he said in a loud voice. His hand shot out and gripped hers so hard, his knuckles turned white. “I insist!”
Adaline leaned as far from him as she could. “Herb … Mr. Walker! Let … let go of me.”
People were starting to stare, and she could see a man approaching out the corner of her eye. Thank goodness, someone was coming to her aid.
“You heard the lady, let her go.” the man spoke in an even tone, and with an English accent.
Adaline looked up. It was the handsome blonde-haired gentleman from Finn’s table. He looked casually down at Herberty, who in turn now had a crazed look in his eye. One directed at Adaline.
“Perhaps you’d like to step outside,” the Englishman said in a firm voice. “Mr. Walker.”
Adaline’s eyes darted between the two men. Did they know each other?
Harvey’s expression went flat. He glared up at the Englishman. “This is none of your business,” he spat.
“Oh, but it is. I’ve just made it my business.” He reached down, grasped the wrist of the hand holding Adaline’s prisoner, and squeezed. Harvey’s face turned red as his eyes bulged. Adaline saw Finn get to his feet, as did the woman.