Colin traced her hand and leaned forward. “He’s your uncle Jeremy, and I’m your uncle Colin. We’ll take you fishing and teach you to ride horses.”
“And then return you to your parents,” Gabriel murmured to me as he sat next to me again. “How are you, my darling?”
“Very tired.” I stilled his instinctive movement to clear the room. “Please, let them stay. I enjoy having everyone together, even if it is in my bedroom.”
“Thank you for this life,” Gabriel said, staring deeply into my eyes.
“I should be thanking you,” I whispered as I was momentarily overcome with emotion. “Such a full life, filled with family and friends, was only a dream until I met you. Now we have a wondrous future to anticipate.”
Gabriel smiled with intense joy as we held hands, watching as baby Geraldine snuggled into the crook of Jeremy’s arms. I looked from Jeremy and Colin, teasing each other over who was the best uncle; to Amelia and Savannah, whispering in the corner, sharing confidences and forging a friendship; to Mr. Pickens, watching the scene with quiet contentment. I sighed, gripping Gabriel’s hand and was at peace.
Author’s Notes
Thank you for reading Undaunted Love: Part Two. Never fear, I am busy at work on book four and will soon be forthcoming with the next installment of the Banished Saga. I hope you will continue to join me on their journey.
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Cast of Characters
BOSTON
Savannah Montgomery nee Russell: Clarissa’s cousin and confidante, recently married to Jonas Montgomery, lives in the Back Bay
Jonas Montgomery: wealthy New Yorker, Savannah’s husband
Lucas Russell: Savannah’s brother, works at his father’s linen store, “Russells,” is a talented piano player
Martin Russell: father to Lucas and Savannah, uncle to Clarissa, owns and runs the linen store, “Russells,” store and home in the South End, near the Sullivan home
Matilda Russell nee Thompson: Savannah’s mother and Clarissa’s aunt, sister to Agnes and Betsy
Betsy Parker nee Thompson: childless, lives in Quincy, married to a wealthy man, free-thinking, cryptic comments, Matilda and Agnes’ sister, Clarissa and Savannah’s aunt.
Richard McLeod: Gabriel’s middle brother, a blacksmith, friend to Colin
Florence McLeod nee Butler: married to Richard, orphan, used to teach with Clarissa,
Jeremy McLeod: the youngest McLeod brother, was in the Army, recently returned from fighting in the Philippines
Aidan McLeod: uncle to the three McLeod boys, smart businessman
Sophronia Chickering: feisty suffragette, lives on Beacon Hill, distantly related by marriage to the piano Chickerings
Sean Sullivan: Clarissa’s father, a blacksmith, from Ireland
Mrs. Rebecca Sullivan nee Smythe: Clarissa’s stepmother, has social aspirations
Delia Maidstone: headmistress at the orphanage in the North End
Zylphia Maidstone: Delia’s daughter
Mrs. Wright: Cameron’s mother
MONTANA
Gabriel McLeod: the eldest McLeod brother, a cabinetmaker, married to Clarissa
Clarissa McLeod nee Sullivan: suffragist and former teacher, married to Gabriel, sister to Colin, works with Mr. Pickens
Colin Sullivan: Clarissa’s brother, a blacksmith
Ronan O’Bara: Matthew’s friend who works in the mine with Liam
Amelia Egan: widow to Liam, was a schoolteacher, mother to Nicholas and Anne
Nicholas Egan: Amelia’s son
Anne Egan: Amelia’s daughter
Mr. A.J. Pickens: works at the Book Depository
Mrs. Bouchard: works on the Library Committee with her sister; considers herself a great arbiter of fashion
Mrs. Vaughan: works with her sister, Mrs. Bouchard, on the Library Committee
Sebastian Carling: mill foreman, befriends Gabriel
Cameron Wright: was a suitor for Clarissa’s hand, remained in Montana
Acknowledgments
It’s an honor to write books and have fans eagerly awaiting the next installment. Thank you to all of my readers!
Thank you, Margo and Brian, for your unwavering enthusiasm and interest.
I couldn’t ask for more ardent fans than the Ladies of Somerset. Thank you!
To my dedicated, wonderful editors, Caroline, Gary and Denise at BubbleCow, thank you for helping me see plot holes and ways to enrich my story.
Thank you to everyone who has helped spread the work about the Banished Saga. A big Montana thank you to all of the wonderful internet book bloggers, especially Charlie, Punya, and Kayla. Thank you!
Finally, thank you to my family. Your endless patience as I discuss random historical facts, lose the thread of a conversation because my mind has wandered to a new plot point, or I disappear to write is priceless. Mil Gracias!
“There is a sacredness in tears.
They are not a mark of weakness, but of power.
They speak more eloquently than ten thousand tongues.
They are the messengers of overwhelming grief,
of deep contrition and of unspeakable love.”
- Washington Irving (attributed)
Copyright © 2015 by Ramona Flightner.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher, addressed “Attention: Permissions Coordinator,” at the address below.
Ramona Flightner/Grizzly Damsel Publishing
P.O. Box 187
Boston, MA 02128
www.ramonaflightner.com
Cover design by Derek Murphy
Publisher’s Note: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are a product of the author’s imagination. Locales and public names are sometimes used for atmospheric purposes. Any resemblance to actual people, living or dead, or to businesses, companies, events, institutions, or locales is completely coincidental.
Ordering Information: Quantity sales. Special discounts are available on quantity purchases by corporations, associations, and others. For details, contact the “Special Sales Department” at the address above.
Reclaimed Love/ Ramona Flightner. — 1st ed.
Print ISBN: 978-0-9860502-6-8
eBook ISBN: 978-0-9860502-8-2
Undaunted Love (PART TWO): Banished Saga, Book 3.5 Page 30