Seacrets

by Adrianna Wingate

  Ӝ

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Aiden wasted not a minute, once he heard the shot from the main house."Sweet lord almighty, something' bad has happened for sure!" He immediately jumped upon his horse and raced toward the guesthouse. Aiden leapt from his stallion and without breaking his stride, was at his brother's side. "Danny!" He cried out in shocked disbelief. "You let your guard down, brother, big mistake!" Aiden rolled his brother's onto his back and felt his neck for a pulse.

  "Thank God...you’re still alive!" He was slightly relieved but still in fear for his brother’s life.

  Aiden grabbed hold of Daniel beneath his arms and dragged him into the guesthouse, placing him on the divan in the drawing room. He covered him with a blanket from the back of the divan, "Danny, hang on brother. I'll be back with mother and Doc Kerrigan." Aiden checked Daniel’s pulse one last time then jumped upon his horse and fled back to the main house.

  Mallory knew it would look bad if she were there. What would she say she was doing there? "Your family will look after you, now." she whispered. "I am so sorry I have to leave you like this, Daniel." Mallory blew him a kiss from outside the window and ran into the woods to make her escape. "And you! How could you do such a thing?" Mallory spat at the dark assailant, with her in the shadows. "I'll deal with you later. We must depart here before we're seen."

  Mary jumped down off the buckboard of the carriage, without any help from her son. "Daniel!" Daniel!" She cried out with fright in her voice. "Oh my God, Aiden, what has happened, here? And where's Maura?"

  "I have no more knowledge of the circumstances of this horrible findin’, than do you, mother." Aiden continued to try and fill in the blanks, as much he could. “I was on the steps of the front entry way talking with Danny, because he and Maura had yet another one of their silly disagreements." Aiden explained to Mary.

  "What disagreement?" Mary questioned her son.

  "Oh you know the usual. Danny says something stupid and Maura flies into a rage.” He continued to explain. “ Maura stole his horse because she did not want him to return her to the cottage and then the horse returns here, riderless, Danny was out o’ his mind with worry, takes off, and the next thing I hear is a shot ring out from the darkness. I lost no time in wonderin' what the hell had gone wrong. I immediately fled to the guesthouse to make sure both were alright and this is what I found when I got here. Daniel lying here bleedin' ta death and Maura is nowhere ta be found."

  "Aiden I really find it hard ta believe Maura would have shot Danny. Do you think that?” Mary was scared and confused.

  "No I don't think that's the case at all, mother. I think tis the scoundrel that has ne'er been caught, all these months.” Aiden deduced.

  "Then ya think this scoundrel has made away with Maura, as well?"

  "Tis very possible this animal was thus angry with Danny for injectin' himself inta Maura's life, he layed in wait for her ta be alone ta make his move ta kidnap her. But it looks as though our Danny got in the way. The scary thing is this person, or persons were probably among the party guests and knew exactly when and where to strike." Aiden's voice was dreadfully forlorn. He looked over to his brother's body on the divan. "Danny I am so sorry for the trouble that has befallen ya, brother. I feel partly responsible. Quinn and I should ne’er had the party, and then this wouldna happened." He ran both hands up the sides of his face and down through his auburn mane in frustration.

  Aiden heard a carriage pull up. Both he and Mary stepped out on the cottage steps and saw it was Doc Kerrigan. "What in blazes has happened now? Doc Kerrigan exclaimed as he entered the foyer. When he saw it was Daniel this time, he was shocked to say the least.

  "Daniel’s been shot, Doc." Aiden said. "We don't have a clue as ta how this all happened."

  "Well now's not the time ta speculate. Ya brother has lost a lot o' blood. Lets' get his jacket off and see what the damage is." Doc was short in his tone to Aiden and Mary.

  They all went to the task of trying to revive Daniel. As soon as they started to undress him, his eyes fluttered and he made some inaudible noises. Doc was pleased. "This is a good sign. Despite the amount of blood loss, he's able to respond to painful stimuli."

  "Daniel, Daniel!" Doc shouted. "Can ya hear me, man?" Doc shouted, again, even louder, forcefully tapping at his face to elicit a response...any response.

  "Y-yes. What has, argh, happened?" Daniel spoke, but was in deep, agonizing pain and instinctively reached for his back. "What has got me in so much pain in my back, Doc? Have I been stabbed?" Daniel asked, trying to make some sense of what has happened.

  "No Daniel, you've been shot… in the back. The bloody scoundrel hadn't the courage ta face ya head on so as ta get the better of ya he shot ya in ya back, the coward."Aiden’s tone was of disgust.

  "Listen ta me Daniel", Doc broke in, "Can ya feel where I'm touchin' ya?" Doc asked while continuing to manipulate Daniel's legs below the knees.

  "Touchin' me where?" Daniel answered, with a tone of agitation.

  Doc had a worried look upon his face and Mary could see that he was worried.

  "How 'bout now?" Doc was touching him at the top of his right thigh.

  Daniel just stared at Doc and shook his head, "No."

  "What's wrong Doc?" Mary asked. Her eyes were wide and full of fear.

  "How' bout now?' Doc pressed Daniel on his right hip area.

  "Yes. I could feel that" Daniel returned with an air of certainty in his voice.

  "Good, Good. Doc replied with some relief. "Look Daniel you've got a bullet lodged in ya back and its probably leanin' on a nerve on ya spine that's preventin' ya from feelin' below ya waist area. I don't know for sure but if I can remove it, mayhap that will be all that is the problem." Doc's tone was weak and unsure.

  Something Daniel had never experienced with his friend, before. He had always been very sure of himself and of what his capabilities were when it came to medicine. It meant more now, than ever, for Daniel to hear assuredness from his friend.

  Daniel's thoughts suddenly turned to Maura. He remembered before he saw the flash of light and smell of gunpowder, he was in pursuit of Maura.

  "Aiden, did ya find Maura?" Daniel pleaded for an affirmative answer.

  "No, Danny I did naught," Aiden's voice filled with worry.

  "Daniel, Aiden said you and Maura had been quarrelin’. Mayhap that could explain some things that are not apparent to the situation?" Mary reminded Daniel.

  "We were arguin’ over Mallory, mother. Daniel replied.

  "Why Mallory?" Mary questioned.

  "Because she saw, argh, Mallory and I together out in the garden earlier in the evening. Really mother I canna go inta that right now!" Daniel spoke sharply to his mother, which he had never done before.

  Mary knew it was because he was in such severe pain that she would dismiss his tone for now.

  "There's no time for this nonsense.” Doc broke in. We've got ta get ya back ta the house and get this bullet out o’ ya back." They all agreed. Doc and Aiden got Daniel lifted into the carriage and back to the main house where Doc could properly work on his friend.

  §

  The second the gag was removed from her mouth, Maura let out a shrill scream. "You vile disgusting creature. I knew you were up ta no good, all along!" Maura wrenched herself forward. Her hands were still tied behind her back, preventing her from scratching Kilern’s eyes out.

  "Well now, I can see that ya have not lost ya creativity for name callin', Hehehe." Kilern cackled, as he backed away from her to sit across the room. "Are ya hungry yet gel?" Kilern sat at a wooden table, carving small pieces cheese, fruit, and bread. I can naught have ya gettin' too skinny on me, eh? The Gents willna be likin' that too much. They usually like a woman with some meat ta her bones." He taunted her in his wicked sadistic manner.

  Maura scanned the room. She felt a familiarity about the setting. She instantly remembered being in a decidedly similar predicament with this man. She remembered being in a bro
thel and also how she had came to be there as well. "You are nothin’ but a vile disgusting pig, Kilern! Daniel will see you dead before this day arrives at its end!"

  "If that's how ya are wantin' ta play this game that's fine by me, lass. I fancy the quiet, myself." He shoved the ragged cloth into her mouth to quiet her and returned to his chair across the room. "Your Danny, is not goin’ ta be of much help to ya from the grave, darlin'."

  Maura's eyes grew wide with fear. Her words were a muffled mass of noise.

  Kilern removed the rag from Maura’s mouth for just a moment. He could not wait to fully douse the venomous flame within her by revealing to her that her precious love was no more.

  "What do ya mean, from the grave, Kilern?

  I'm meanin' he's dead, lass, never ta rescue ya again from the fate that awaits ya."

  His delivery of Daniel's death could not have been more cruel. "Your, mine now, gel. So ya might as well reside ya self ta that fact.” He waited to hear her rebuke. When he did not, he continued his admonishment. “Well now, what have ya got ta say ta that, missy?”

  Maura silently stared straight ahead at the bead board wall.

  "Hehehe, I thought that 'twould shut ya up." He spoke while chewing on a piece of dry stale bread. He stood up from his chair, knocking it to its side.

  The crash of the chair hitting the warped, broken wooden floor planks startled Maura from her trance. Her eyes filled with tears. She felt if she had kept her head together, none of this would have happened, and in the offing, Daniel would not have had to pay the ultimate price...his life.

  Satisfied, he had broken her will, Kilern shoved the filthy rag back into her mouth.

  She felt an emptiness she had never experienced before. The love of her life was dead and it was her fault. She fought to choke back her tears.

  Kilern staggered over toward Maura. She had scrunched herself into the far corner of the room. He grabbed her by the back of her hair and pulled her to a standing position.With his grimy fingers entangled in her hair, he jerked her head back with a great force. Her eyes flinched in response to his rough grip on the back of her head. He had her so stretched up she was teetering on the tips of her toes. If she let herself down on flat feet, her hair would have been ripped out by the roots.

  Kilern stared her down.

  Maura was scared but was damned if she was going to give him the satisfaction of seeing her fear. She boldly stared directly back into his cold, gray eyes.

  His face was just inches from hers. His breath smelled of whiskey and rotten cheese. She thought she would vomit from the smell. She remained steady.

  Satisfied he put the fear of the devil in her, he thrust her backwards, where she landed on her back across the fallen chair.

  He thought to give her more where that came from but lost his balance in his drunken haze, he tripped over her and landed on his wrist. He screamed an immense, excruciating bellow.

  Maura quickly rolled out of the path of his fallen body. Her hands still bound, all she could do was inch her way as far away from Kilern as possible.

  Kilern rolled over onto his back and cursed Maura. He had draped his forearm over his mouth to trying to contain his agony, as he was quite certain he had broken his wrist when he hit the floor. "You bitch! You will surely pay for this setback, mark my words!"

  Kilern's speech was muffled and slurred.

  Maura could see that he was tiring and would soon be passed out from the whiskey and sheer exhaustion of his pain. She told herself she would have to wait him out then she'd start planning her escape. She kept telling herself she could not and would not just lay down for this animal and let him over-take her. She vowed she would die first.

  ξ

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Daniel lay face down across his bed, biting down hard on a wooden bit. The sweat was pouring down his face. He was burning with fever.

  "Now hold still Danny. This is gonna kill like the devil himself was takin' a bite out of ya back." Doc warned Daniel. "Aiden, come 'round here and hold ya brother’s shoulders down so he canna come up off o' the bed. Mr. Godsey, I'll be needin' ya ta hold onta his ankles. Now both of ya don't let him move, ya here?" Doc reinforced the importance of this. "Mary I'll be needin' ya ta hand me my instruments and potions, if ya have the stomach ta stay in here. Ya have always been an able assistant, but this is ya son, now. I'll understand if ya are not able ta stand it."

  Mary nodded and said, "ya could not keep me from bein' at my son's side, in his hour of need."

  Doc turned his attention back to Daniel, and began his explanation of what he would have to do in order to save his life and then keep him from developing an infection.

  "Daniel, gettin' the bullet out is only half the battle. I'm goin' ta have ta dig my scalpel inta ya back, hopefully I will be able ta pop the lead ball out and then put a brand heat to the wound ta make sure ya don't end up with an infection. Now ya might pass out, but that's normal. I'll leave ya mother somethin' for pain relief for when ya awaken." He promised his friend.

  "Alright now, laddie, here we go." Doc warned.

  Daniel sucked in his breath and clenched his teeth down hard on the wooden bit.

  Doc dug down under his skin to forge for the lead. Aiden and Godsey held him firm to the bed as instructed.

  "Mary, pour some alcohol into the wound to keep it cleansed and protected from infection." Doc ordered.

  Daniel thought his back was set on fire when the alcohol hit the wound. He screamed out in excruciating pain.

  "Hold steady, Danny, I've almost got it!" Doc tried to give Daniel some hope this torturous procedure would be coming to an end. "There, I've got!" Doc cried out.

  "Hold steady, another minute, Daniel. I've got to cauterize the wound, now." Doc sounded apologetic he would have to implement increased pain before the real healing could begin. He instructed Mary to hand him the knife blade he had been heating on the hearth.

  "Look away Mary this is gonna be bad, darlin'. Daniel I'm so sorry for havin' ta do this to ya, but I must, if ya are goin' ta survive your wounds." Doc was tearful.

  He laid the searing hot blade across the wound and pressed it firmly to Daniel's skin, between the scapula and spine. Daniel screamed profusely when the scorching blade came in contact with his entry wound. It was but a minute before he went limp and passed out from the pain.

  Mary let out a shrill cry, begging mercy for her son's unbearable torture. "Oh my dear lord in heaven, please let my boy sleep and not feel this pain for a while, Please!"

  With a blur vision, Daniel finally began to awaken. The sun streamed in through the French doors leading out to the balcony. Daniel raised his arm up to shield his eyes from the sun. The French doors were slightly ajar and there was a cool midday breeze coming in off the pond. He tried to rise up and then he let out an exasperated groan, realizing he was unable to move very well and that he was in a great deal of pain. “Oh bloody hell!” he collapsed back down onto the bed.

  Mary entered the chamber just at that precise moment. “Daniel, son, ya are finally awake!” Mary was at his side in an instant. “I’ve not slept a wink for worryin’ ya would not make it through the night, son.” She wiped the sweat from the side of his brow and kissed him atop his forehead. She immediately noticed he was in a different position, telling her that he is now able to move his legs independently. “Praise God above! Ya will walk again! I must send Godsey ta fetch Doc right away.”

  Daniel had no clue what his mother was babbling about. What does she mean, I will walk again? Why would I not be able ta walk? He thought, through his groggy haze.

  “What has happened ta me, mother? His voice strained and his face distorted from the immense pain to his shoulder and upper back.

  Mary wasted not a moment in administering the opium Doc had left for Daniel, upon his awakening. “Here Daniel, do not speak. Swallow this liquid first and then we’ll talk.” Her tone was that of a worried mother, but at the same time was commanding and firm.

/>   Daniel did not argue. His pain was unbearable. Once the opium took hold, he was able to turn to his back.

  Mary placed a pillow behind her son’s upper right shoulder and neck, for support. She held a glass to his lips and instructed him to swallow. “Drink this and do not argue with me boy.” Her voice held an uncompromising tone Daniel recognized as strict and unyielding.

  She assisted him to take a few more sips of cold water to sooth his dry mouth.

  Daniel had not heard his mother speak to him that way since he was in knickers.

  Daniel did as he was told, without argument and then began to cough a bit as some of the cool liquid made its way down into his lungs. The opium made him a bit drowsy, but at least now, he was able to move a little easier without feeling as though someone were taking a dagger and carving it into his upper back. Finally able to speak he questioned his mother. “What has, argh, happened to me, mother, and where is Maura?” His voice was weak and shaky.

  “Daniel I had better go after ya brother and have him tell ya the whole of the matter. He’ll be able ta shed more light than I will, dear.” Mary called out the chamber door for Aiden to come. She let Aiden know his brother was asking questions. Mary left to go to the kitchen to brew more opium tea.

  Aiden approached Daniel with caution, as he did not have any information to convey. He also knew the lack of information would surely anger his headstrong older brother.

  “Good lord, man, I thought for certain we were goin’ ta lose ya, last night.” Aiden’s voice was filled with relief that his brother appeared to have survived his ordeal.

  Daniel was beginning to lose his temper, at this point. No one seemed willing to explain what had happened to him and, ultimately, that they were keeping Maura’s where a bouts from him, as well. “Good God, man! Stop all this sidestepping and just tell me what has happened here and where the hell is Maura?” Daniel’s voice bellowed so that Mary could hear him all the way down to the kitchen.

  Mary looked toward the ceiling, as she was preparing Daniel’s opium tea. “Oh dear, I’ll never get him ta settle, this time.” Mary blurted out to Cassie, her housekeeper. Cassie’s eyes grew wide with worry as she nodded her agreement.