"Wouldn't it be lovely if it could be like this all the time," she murmured, before drifting off to sleep contentedly.
In truth, Lochlainn had been thinking the same thing himself. But with so much to do all day, every day, there just never seemed to be enough time for the two of them to be alone with each other, to laugh and love. He had never shared a relationship like that with Tara. He had desired her, surely, but every moment he spent with Muireann left him aching for more.
But he couldn't reproach Muireann, demand more of her time. For one thing, their feelings for each other were something they never dared talk about. For another, he certainly couldn't complain when she had willingly chosen to help all those poor unfortunates from Colonel Lowry's and Mr. Cole's estates.
If they never had enough time together, it was because Muireann had shouldered so many responsibilities. As her estate manager, he had to take on those burdens as well. They were his own people after all, weren't they?
They certainly weren't Muireann's. Perhaps they would be one day, but he still couldn't help thinking of her as the beautiful young girl in the incredibly elegant gown he had first met in Dublin all those months before.
He was terrified she would go back home to Fintry. But to reveal his fears would be impossible. She would only laugh at him for having dared presume to fall in love with her. He could only try to make Muireann happy, support her, and pray she would decide to stay.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Several mornings later, Muireann rolled over in the bed sleepily, feeling a warm presence beside her. A smile curled her lips, and she cuddled up against the warm body. It was only when it stuck its fluffy wet muzzle in her face to kiss her that she opened her eyes and sat bolt upright.
Lochlainn laughed heartily at her stunned face as she exclaimed, "What is it?"
"It's a puppy, you silly woman. Surely they have dogs in Scotland," he teased.
Muireann reached out a tentative hand to stroke the auburn and black creature, which had the longest legs she had ever seen, and a fine coat which only waved slightly between its two tiny, high-set ears.
"No, Lochlainn, I mean what breed is it?" she giggled. "It looks a bit like an Airedale terrier, but the coat is wrong."
"It's an Irish terrier, in fact. You're right, they're similar to Airedales, but his black bits will disappear from his back and beard when he's older, and his whole coat will become the same auburn color, and stay straight, instead of becoming wiry," Lochlainn explained, stroking the affectionate creature as it snuggled up between the two of them.
"He's so beautiful, and so playful," she marveled as the pup played with her fingers like a kitten. "But why is he here? Where did he come from?"
"Colonel Lowry's bitch whelped shortly before you arrived. When you mentioned the rat and mouse problem, I thought one of the puppies would be perfect for you. Irish terriers are terribly loyal, and you can even train them as gun dogs. They have very soft mouths, and are very gentle, medium-sized dogs. They're also wonderfully sociable and love children, so there's no worry about him being unruly around the farm."
"What about the livestock?"
"You'll probably find he'll follow you everywhere, but as I said, with the right training, he won't bother to chase sheep."
"So he's mine?" she asked with astonished delight.
Lochlainn grinned. "I know it's early, Muireann, but Happy Birthday. He's only just weaned, so I want him to become part of our little family straight away. Do you really like him?"
"He's gorgeous. Thank you," she said, kissing him warmly on the lips, and getting another fond lick from the puppy.
She giggled again and asked, "What should I name him?"
Lochlainn thought about it for a moment, and then replied, "Well, there is a famous Irish terrier in The Book of Leinster called Tadhg. You could try that for a name."
"How do you spell it?" Muireann asked.
"T -A- D- H- G," Lochlainn told her. "It was a name given to the poets and storytellers in Ireland centuries ago."
"Tay-g," she intoned, experimenting with the name. "I like it. It suits him."
The pup friskily romped on the bed and she observed, "Look at him. He prances like a racehorse."
"It's in the breed to do that. They can be very proud and haughty with other dogs, and are completely game for anything."
"You seem to know a lot about them. Did you ever have one yourself?"
"No. I must admit I always wanted one, but my aunt who raised us never let us have dogs. Working so much, I never really had time to train one. Christopher Caldwell always had a pack of them though, which is how I know of them. Unfortunately, his were allowed to run rather wild. You have to be firm with this little chap," he warned.
"You'll just have to help me train him. I've never really had a dog of my very own either."
"I'll do my best to give you advice, but I think you'll do fine. Happy Birthday, Muireann, even if it is a bit early."
He bent to kiss her, and the dog jumped up and licked him on the chin as well.
"Thank you, Lochlainn. He's just what I needed to cheer me up."
"I hope you're not sad, Muireann," he said worriedly.
"Not really. I'm just taking stock of my life, I suppose. I'll be twenty-two soon."
"And I'll be thirty-seven at the end of the year. Where does the time go? I'm nearly old enough to be your father," he sighed.
"You would have had to have been a very precocious adolescent." She grinned cheekily, before lying back down with the pup, looking more weary than he had ever seen her.
"I'm sorry we woke you early, but I couldn't wait to see your face. I'll leave you and Tadhg to have a little nap, shall I?"
"No, not at all. I'll just have a small stretch for a second, and get dressed. There's plenty to do today if we're going to Donegal for the seaweed tomorrow."
Suddenly he thumped his forehead with the palm of one hand. "I nearly forgot. I've got one more birthday surprise for you."
Lochlainn came back a few minutes later with a steaming cup of coffee.
Thrilled, she asked, "Oh, Lochlainn, wherever did you get it?"
"I bought a second pack out of the items you sold back in February, to save for your birthday. I know you were careful, but ran out the other day, so you might as well have this now."
"Thank you for a lovely surprises, both the pup and the coffee," she said, kissing him full on the lips.
"Not sad any more?"
"How could I be, looking at those sweet brown eyes, and that adorable little beard?" she laughed, stroking Tadhg fondly as he squirmed under the covers to hunt her toes. "He is far nicer than the Scottish terriers or West Highland White terriers we have."
"These are meant to be the dogs of kings," Lochlainn told her as he stood and buttoned up his waistcoat, and then put his jacket on.
"You certainly know how to make me feel like a queen."
He blushed. "I do try."
"You succeed. Thank you."
"But now, I'd better go. Tree cutting, you know."
She nodded, resisting the urge to beg him to come back to bed. "Have a good day."
"And you, darling."
Muireann stood and kissed him one last time, then waved at him as he left for work.
Lochlainn was delighted to see that Muireann and Tadhg soon became completely inseparable. He would follow her everywhere, go up and down the stairs, even try to climb trees when she swung from a low-hanging branch as she walked through the woods to see Lochlainn a few days later.
"There's a ship coming up to the docks. Do you want to come down to greet it?" she called.
Lochlainn swallowed uncomfortably, and declined. "No, no, I need to finish here today if we're to go first thing in the morning."
All right." Muireann shrugged, disappointed that he never seemed to take an interest in her family or the letters she received from home, mainly from her sister and mother inquiring after her health and well-being.
Muireann prayed
they hadn't suddenly taken it into their heads to come over. She was relieved to see it was her cousin Michael on deck, with his youngest brother Archie, a playful, spirited, red-headed lad a couple of years younger than Muireann, who admired the new pup and instantly declared he wanted to see Colonel Lowry about getting one for himself.
"If I get a good bitch, we could start our own kennels," he said as he romped with Tadhg on the dock.
"They look like each other, red hair, long legs," Michael joked, but soon they got down to business.
Muireann was delighted to see another shipment of staples, all purchased for excellent prices, according to the ledger, as well as Neil's usual luxuries. There was a huge number of parcels for her birthday as well.
"I know they're early, but everyone wanted to cheer you up. And this is the biggest present of all, the Andromeda."
"Present? I don't understand." Muireann stared at her cousin.
"Philip Buchanan and Neil are giving it to you as your very own ship. The only thing you have to do is feed the crew. Any deals or trades you make are your own, though it will fly as a Buchanan flagship in order for you not to have to pay any taxes and duties yourself," Michael explained.
She gaped. When she could find her voice again she declared, "I couldn't accept! It's far too generous of Philip! He can't just give me one of his ships!"
"Neil says it is a good investment for you, and the price of it has come out of your stocks and shares. Philip doesn't need the ship anyway, since he's on his way back from Canada with another three to add to his fleet."
Muireann was so overwhelmed she could only gaze at the ship in awe. Hers?
"And you, how will you all get back?"
"We'll just wait until you have a cargo of your own to send to Scotland, and go home then."
"We were going to go up to Donegal tomorrow to gather seaweed for fertilizer, so if we can get the timber loaded, you can take us up there. We'll come back on the carts, and you can head back home," Muireann proposed.
"That sounds fine. I'll get things unloaded and organized at this end, and you can give Archie here a tour of the estate."
Muireann said proudly, "A lot has changed since you were last here. We have three times more tenants now than before, and we're pretty crowded in, but I think you'll find the workshops impressive."
"I find everything you do impressive, little coz. You should have been a man, with that head on your shoulders."
"It's too much fun sometimes being a woman." She winked conspiratorially.
"Ah, yes, and how is the stunningly handsome Mr. Lochlainn Roche? Is he well?" Michael asked, tousling her hair affectionately.
"Wonderful as always." Muireann smiled up at her cousin, and then turned away to give orders for all the men in the cottages not already working to come out and lend a hand.
Muireann went up to the house to see if there would be enough dinner for the hungry crew as well as the workers. Entering the kitchen with the faithful Tadhg at her heels, she stopped short when she heard Ciara drop her knife on the cutting board, sending chopped vegetables flying in every direction, which of course the pup began to chase and devour enthusiastically.
Ciara stared in horror. "Where on earth did you get that thing!" she shrieked, jumping up onto the table.
Thinking it was a game, Tadhg clambered up on the bench after her, and tried to reach Ciara on the tabletop.
"Help me! Help me!" Ciara screamed hysterically at the top of her lungs.
Muireann and Archie, who had tagged along behind his cousin, both ran after the puppy and dragged it away.
"Did it bite you? Let me see!" Muireann insisted, as Ciara huddled up, grasping her legs.
"Get away from me! Don't touch me! Don't touch me ever again, you bastard!" she hissed, her wild eyes darting around the room as if trying to focus on something.
Muireann stepped back from the table, stunned, while the other kitchen workers stared at Ciara in dismay.
Archie, who was kneeling with the pup on the floor, looked at the two women in confusion.
Muireann tried again. "Ciara, it's me, Muireann. I won't hurt you. I won't even touch you if you don't want me to. I just need to know if Tadhg bit you. If you're all right."
Ciara visibly shook, and suddenly unfolded herself and stepped down off the table.
"No, no, I'm fine. Really, I'm sure he's a lovely dog. I'm just afraid of them, that's all," she said in a forced tone.
"I'll try to keep him away from you as much as possible from now on," Muireann promised, but she was talking to thin air, for Lochlainn's sister had already fled out the door.
Archie finally released his breath with a loud whoosh. "I say! What on earth was all that about?"
Muireann shook her head. "I have no idea."
"I swear to you, Muireann, I didn't lay a finger on her. I just grabbed the dog."
She shook her head. "No, I don't think she was talking to you, Archie."
"Well, she couldn't have been speaking to you. She said ‘you bastard.'"
"She probably meant the dog," she muttered, lost in thought.
"Well, dogs and bitches hardly get married, now do they," Archie said with an uncomfortable laugh.
With the usual high spirits of youth, he shrugged off the whole incident, and investigated the entire estate from top to bottom with Michael and Mark. Muireann made some room in the new loft above the barn for her overnight guests, all the while wondering what had got into Ciara's head now.
When Lochlainn appeared in the kitchen for his dinner, Muireann managed to pull him over to one side and asked, "Have you seen Ciara?"
"No, why?"
"I'm a bit worried about her, that's all. She was terribly upset when she saw Tadhg. Is she usually terrified of dogs?"
He frowned. "Not that I know of. She was quite fond of them as a child, though we never had one ourselves."
"Well, don't mention it to her. She's probably already embarrassed enough. But just keep an eye on her, will you?"
Lochlainn nodded. "Thanks for being so concerned."
"And another thing. Neil and his brother Philip have given us the use of the Andromeda to make our own trades. So we'll be going to Donegal by ship tomorrow, and the carts can follow along behind after the markets."
"That's wonderful news." Lochlainn tried to smile, though it cost him a great effort. He knew he had to stop bristling every time she had contact with Scotland.
But with every new letter, or every time a ship arrived at the dock, he became more and more certain he was going to lose her. Jealousy burned within his heart as well for the man who could give her such riches, when he himself had nothing to offer.
He tried to pay attention to her next words, but he was lost in a welter of misery.
She said more loudly, "It is wonderful news, isn't it? So why do you look so worried?"
"I'm not at all. Just thinking," he lied.
"We do have a small problem, though. I don't want Michael to find out that all the luxuries he's taken the trouble to bring over will have to be sold at market. Can you make sure the coffee is parceled up, and the crates opened? We can put a variety of things into the carts for Donegal, and for Clogher and Enniskillen on Thursday."
"Do you really need to sell it all?"
"I think so. The little birthday presents too. I just need to open them all so I can write the appropriate thank you notes to everyone."
"But Muireann. . ."
"No, really, I have Tadhg, and a packet of coffee. Who could ask for more wonderful presents than that? What do I need with baubles, jewels and gowns?"
"But your family wanted you to have them."
"They wanted Muireann Graham to have them. I'm Muireann Caldwell now, landlord, and I have no time for such fripperies."
Reluctantly Lochlainn acceded to her wishes. "All right, I'll see to it they're all loaded on the carts before we go in the morning, with not a word to Michael."
Muireann went off to write her letters, then prepar
ed for her excursion to Donegal the next day. She packed a small parcel of clothes, food and other necessaries for herself and Lochlainn, and Patrick and Siobhan, who would drive the first cart up the following day.
Lochlainn and Muireann would sail on the Andromeda to Donegal town, and start gathering up the sea sticks and laying them out to dry. She was looking forward to her trip to the seaside, not least because she would have nearly a whole day with Lochlainn all to herself.
Call Home the Heart Page 23