A Song Across the Sea

by Shana McGuinn

  She stopped singing, confused, wondering. Time hung suspended while she stared into the shadows offstage, not daring to believe…

  Tara didn’t see the perplexed expression on the orchestra leader’s face. He continued to lead his musicians along valiantly in an improvised vamp, waiting for her to pick up her musical cue and re-enter the song. Tara stood there, staring off into the wings.

  “Reece?” she whispered tearfully, taking a step closer to the shadow. “Is it really you?”

  The music faltered, then stopped. Curious whispers broke out among the audience. Was this part of the show?

  Tara did the unthinkable. In the middle of a song, in the middle of a show, she ran offstage and threw herself into Reece’s arms, for it was him, it had to be him! Just to be sure, she pulled him onstage into the spotlight and gazed at him as if she were a starving woman beholding a banquet table. It was no mirage. No shadow. It was Reece himself.

  “You’re alive! You’re home!” She felt his arms go around her and knew, finally, that it was not a dream.

  Reece eventually found his voice. “How I’ve missed you, Tara,” he managed to choke out. “You’ve no idea.”

  “Don’t ever go away from me again.”

  “Never.”

  She couldn’t get enough of the feel of him. She hugged him fervently, wanting to meld into him so that they were one and could never again be separated. When she pulled away and fully looked at him, she was horrified by his pale face and the bandaged arm that rested in a sling.

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t even think. You’re wounded. Have I hurt you?”

  He laughed, and suddenly he was the old Reece again. The tawny, tousled hair, the crinkly lines emanating from the corners of his gold-flecked eyes, the resolute jaw paired with the mouth that was quick to smile—it was the Reece she knew. All the troubled years in between their first meeting and this moment fell away in an instant.

  Someone in the audience coughed. Someone else snickered. Belatedly, Tara remembered where she was. She turned sheepishly to the audience, aware that she’d committed an outrageous show business faux paux. Still, her tone was assured when she addressed the onlookers.

  “I’m sorry for interruptin’ the show. You paid good money to hear me sing, you did, and I’ll be finishin’ that song straightaway for you. But you see, this is me husband Reece. He’s just now come home from the war.”

  A thunderclap of applause and riotous cheers greeted this announcement. Tara knew that it wasn’t for her and Reece alone. Many in the audience were themselves waiting for sons and husbands and brothers to come home from the war. Reece’s return gave them fresh hope.

  Tara took Reece’s good hand in hers and waited for the noise to subside.

  “I’ve waited so long for him that I’m not goin’ to let him out of me sight. So, if you don’t mind, I’ll finish me song with me husband right here beside me.”

  She had to paraphrase only a little:

  Now that he’s back, you see

  There’ll be no other fish in the sea for me

  No other fish in the sea…for…me

  The audience roared its approval. The curtain fell, but not before Reece and Tara came together in a fervent, long-awaited kiss.

  • • •

  “That was the most unprofessional thing I’ve ever seen,” Ted Lattimer said, when Tara came offstage after her third curtain call. “Do you think you could do it every night? Listen to that crowd!”

  Lattimer turned to Reece and thrust out his hand but reconsidered when he saw the sling. “It’s an honor to meet you, Mr. Waldron.”

  Chaos broke loose backstage. Actors and crew members clustered excitedly around the happy couple.

  “Everyone, this is me husband Reece,” Tara called out, trying to make herself heard above the chatter. “I’d love to introduce all of you but right now—as I’m sure you’ll understand—we’re after goin’ home. We’ll have everyone over in a few days.”

  “For a big party,” added Reece.

  Tara kissed him again. “Just let me change, and then we’ll be off.” She led him toward her dressing room. “I think there’s someone else who’ll want to see you tonight, if you’re up to it. Your mother.” The policeman guarding Tara’s door nodded politely and stepped aside. She turned back toward Reece and sighed. “Oh, darlin’. I can’t believe you’re really here. It’s like a dream. And surprisin’ me the way you did!”

  A warning flashed across Reece’s mind. In all the excitement, he’d forgotten about the mysterious man who’d conveyed him to the theater. It was evident that Tara hadn’t known a thing about his arrival. She certainly hadn’t sent anyone to pick him up. Something was very wrong.

  He followed her into the dark room.

  “That’s funny. I always leave the light on. The switch is right over—”

  He heard her cry of alarm and groped blindly for her in the darkness. When the light came on a moment later, the “driver” who’d met him at the docks held Tara in front of him like a shield, his hand crushing her throat and making her gasp wretchedly for air. With a quick, snakelike movement, the man reached over and locked the door, then drew a revolver from his coat pocket.

  Reece cursed himself for his stupidity. Of course. It was Muldoon who’d brought him here. Reece had intended to protect Tara from Muldoon, now that he was home. Instead, he’d allowed the two of them to walk right into some sort of a trap.

  “Let me go,” Tara croaked. “I can’t breathe! There’s a…policeman…right outside the door.”

  “The door is locked,” Muldoon said calmly, “and if your husband shouts out, I’ll break your lovely neck. Don’t struggle, my dear Tara. This’ll all be over soon enough.”

  “Let go of her,” uttered Reece explosively. “Now, you son of a bitch!”

  “Keep back, I tell ya.” Muldoon cocked the revolver and pointed it at Tara’s head.

  “Let go of her and deal with me. What do you want, Muldoon? This is quite an elaborate little game you’ve set up for yourself. Tell me about it. Why did you bring me here yourself?”

  “Sure and that was a stroke of pure genius, wasn’t it now? You see, I intercepted the telegram meant for her ladyship here, tellin’ her you were on your way home. I thought it would be a nice surprise if I delivered you right to her doorstep, and then killed you in front of her.”

  Tara’s eyes were wild with fear. Reece could tell that she was close to panic. Trust me. He tried to will the message into her mind. Trust me, Tara. I won’t let anything happen to you. We’ve both come too far for it to end here, like this.

  While Muldoon talked, he loosened his grip slightly—ever so slightly—on Tara, just as Reece hoped he would. Reece, keeping him talking, moved nearer to Muldoon.

  “How’d you get in here without anyone seeing you? That was a neat trick, with all of the precautions that have been taken to keep Tara safe.”

  Muldoon shook his head, pleased with himself. “Same way I’ll be goin’ out. Through the window. No one ever thinks of the window, do they?”

  “All because Tara humiliated you,” Reece taunted Muldoon. “She made you look like a fool, didn’t she, Muldoon. How dare she treat you as if you were vermin?”

  He’d struck a nerve. Muldoon’s cheeks reddened as if he’d been slapped. His voice was choked with anger.

  “She thought she was too good for me!” he raged. “A farmer’s daughter, puttin’ on airs, actin’ like I was some manure she’d stepped in. All the while she was plottin’ to come to America and find herself a rich husband.” He stared at Reece as if he wanted to throttle him, if only his hands weren’t busy gripping Tara at the moment. “A rich coward of a husband,” he sneered. “I’ll show her who’s the better man now.”

  Reece cast desperately about for a means to get Tara safely out of the way before Muldoon had a chance to pull the trigger. He could jump Muldoon, try to get the gun away from him, but with Tara in the middle—

  He tried another tactic.r />
  “A coward? Is that what you think I am? I’m not the one who’s bullying a woman. Why don’t you put down the gun and fight me like a man, Muldoon? Or maybe you’re afraid of me. You’re pitiful, Muldoon. A real man would be willing to fight me with his bare fists.”

  “No, Reece! You’re hurt! Please—” Tara’s cry was cut short by Muldoon’s hand, clamped over her mouth.

  “Come on, Muldoon.” Reece circled him, keeping up the pressure. “Only cowards bully women and use guns.” He gestured toward the sling holding his arm in place. “You can’t even beat a man with only one good arm, can you?

  Muldoon emitted an angry growl. He shoved Tara aside and charged Reece, landing a hard punch on Reece’s damaged shoulder.

  “No!” screamed Tara.

  Reece staggered but stayed on his feet, his face clouded with pain. He swung and hit Muldoon in the jaw, sending him toppling over a chair.

  Muldoon bounced back up like a cork, jeering.

  “You fight like a spoiled rich boy. You’ve no idea what it’ll take to beat me. Make no mistake about how this is all goin’ to end.”

  “Help!” shouted Tara urgently. “Somebody help us! There’s an intruder in here!”

  Muldoon made a move toward her, intending to silence her, but Reece blocked his path. Weaving and darting, Muldoon feinted a punch to Reece’s face. When Reece deflected it with his good hand, Muldoon rammed his other fist into Reece’s right shoulder again. And again. And again.

  Reece nearly collapsed. He swayed heavily, fighting off a wave of pain and nausea. Must…stay on my feet…he thought. Must…

  His vision was blurry, red-rimmed with pain, but he saw at its outer edges that Tara was trying to inch her way toward the door. Good! If she could unlock the door-

  He’d keep Muldoon busy in the meantime, although he didn’t feel strong or fast enough to be much more than a punching bag.

  “Miss McLaughlin? Are you all right?”

  “No! Muldoon is in here! He’s locked the door. Please help us!”

  Distracted, Muldoon turned his head in irritation. Reece caught him off guard with a blow to his face then hammered his fist into Muldoon’s solar plexus. The air knocked out of him, Muldoon bent over double, giving Reece the opening for an uppercut that snapped his head backwards.

  Reece dimly heard excited voices in the hallway outside. Someone pounded on the door.

  “Open up at once!” someone shouted. “This is the police. Open up, I tell you!”

  Muldoon ignored the command and shook his head from side to side like an infuriated bull. He threw himself at Reece and brought them both to the floor, but he was on top and used his advantage to rain savage blows on Reece’s right arm and shoulder.

  Tara leaped forward and grabbed Muldoon by the arm, trying to haul him away from Reece.

  “Stop it! For the love of God, stop it!

  Muldoon turned toward Tara with a twisted grin. “Look at your husband now. He’s not much of a man, is he?”

  Reece, his face waxen with pain, was struggling to get up. His eyes were distant and unfocused, his body trembling with pain.

  “Please leave him alone,” Tara pleaded. “I’ll do anything you say, Muldoon. Please.”

  A dull thud interrupted them. Then another sounded, and another. Someone was taking an ax to the door.

  Tara backed warily away from Muldoon. Would they break through in time? She heard the wood splintering—but so did Muldoon. He started toward her and she realized that he still meant to kill her, even with men right outside the door.

  She remembered the gun and lunged for her dressing table. She yanked open the top drawer, but the gun was not where she’d put it.

  Muldoon laughed. It was a terrible, mirthless sound. “Are you looking for this?” He held out the Remington. “Such a wee dainty thing it is. Maybe I’ll use it on your husband.” He pointed the gun at Reece.

  “No!” she screamed. “Leave us alone! When will you be satisfied?”

  “When you’re both dead,” Muldoon growled. “Moments from now.”

  She slapped him as hard as she could. He reacted in kind, with his fist. Her face felt as if it had been hit by a train. She felt herself falling backwards, almost as if in slow motion.

  The ax blade finally penetrated the wooden door.

  Energized by fury, Reece came at Muldoon like a wrecking ball hitting the side of a building, hitting him so hard the pistol flew out of his hand. Again and again his left arm swung forward, until Muldoon’s face was a bloody, pulpy mass. Muldoon clutched his middle in agony, using one hand to try and ward off the blows. Finally, he collapsed to the floor in a groaning heap

  Reece bent anxiously over Tara.

  “Are you all right?”

  Dazed, unable to form words, she tried to nod reassuringly.

  A hand reached in through the jagged hole in the door and unlocked it.

  “Tara? Speak to me.”

  Men rushed into the room. Muldoon was handcuffed, hauled roughly to his feet and half-walked, half-carried away.

  Tara saw a blurry sea of faces looking down at her. Only one was clearly in focus. Reece’s.

  “Tara. Darling. Can you hear me? Are you all right?”

  She smiled and finally found her voice.

  “Everything’s going to be all right now.”

  • • •

  Although Tara insisted she was not seriously hurt—just shaken and bruised—it was decided that a doctor would be sent to Adrienne’s house, for that was where she and Reece were determined to go.

  It had already been a long night. Tara felt numb with fatigue, battered physically and still spinning emotionally from what she and Reece had been through. She longed to curl up next to her husband and drift off to sleep but she knew how eager he was to see his mother.

  A sleepy maid answered the door and stared, openmouthed, when she saw who was with Tara.

  Adrienne was asleep at this late hour. Tara tiptoed into her bedroom, with Reece right behind her. She fumbled for matches and lit the candle on the bedside table then touched Adrienne softly on the arm.

  “Adrienne,” she whispered gently. “Wake up. Don’t be alarmed. It’s important. Wake up.”

  Adrienne stirred and opened her eyes. Her long, tawny hair was slowly turning to silver, and it gleamed in the candlelight as she sat up and gazed at Tara in confusion.

  “What is it? Do you have news?” she asked fearfully.

  “Better than that.”

  Tara stood aside. Reece came forward.

  “Reece!” Adrienne said in wonder. “Is it really you?”

  He sat on the edge of his mother’s bed and gathered her to him, holding her without speaking. They stayed that way for a long time.

  Tara quietly left the room. It was only right that mother and son have their reunion in privacy. Besides, she could afford to be generous. She and Reece would have all the time in the world together now.

  • • •

  He came later to the bedroom that had been hurriedly prepared for them in Adrienne’s house. It was too late to go to Celia’s. Tara had sent word to her hostess. She knew Mary would well taken care of.

  “I passed the doctor on his way out. He said that shiner will be gone in a few days, and that you’ll be just fine.”

  “I am fine,” Tara said. “But it’s yourself who needs to be examined. After all, you were in no condition for that ruckus with Muldoon. I specifically asked the doctor—”

  Reece waved the idea away. “I’ve had my fill of doctors. All I need is a good night’s sleep, and I’ll be back to normal.” He paused. “Almost normal.”

  With Tara’s help, he got his shirt off. He stretched out on the bed and issued a deep, heartfelt sigh. Tara slid into bed next to him, careful to keep away from his injured arm.

  “After I was over there for awhile,” he said, staring up at the ceiling, “I started to worry that I’d dreamed you up. That I’d come home and find you didn’t exist.”

&
nbsp; “And look what you did have to come home to. Muldoon.”

  “At least he’s in jail now. And I’m sure he’ll get a long prison term, so he won’t be bothering you again. It’s just that… I shouldn’t have let him get at you. I should have stopped him.”

  Tara gently kissed the corner of his mouth, making him smile. “You did just fine,” she whispered. “For a man with only one good arm, you were quite fierce. Did I forget to mention that?”

  He kissed her cheek, then her neck, then awkwardly slid her nightgown down over her shoulder so he could kiss the soft white curve of her shoulder, too.

  Tara grasped his intent. “Are you sure you’re up to it, Reece? You’re injured.”

  “I’ll never be that injured.” With his good arm, he pulled her close to him and kissed her in a way that made her tingle with desire. “Besides, giving Muldoon a thrashing made me feel like a new man.”

  “I rather liked the old one.”

  “How much?”

  She sought out his lips and kissed him slowly, dreamily. He put his arm around her and pulled her even closer.

  “That much? That’s not all that much.”

  “Well how about this, then?” She nuzzled her cheek against his neck, trailing her fingertips across his bare chest and kissed him again. The hand stroking her back moved slower and slower then slopped altogether. His lips were unresponsive. She drew back and looked at him, then chuckled to herself.

  Reece was fast asleep.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Reece, Tara and Mary moved into Adrienne’s mansion. A newly decorated nursery for Mary adjoined their suite of rooms. It was a splendid, spacious room fit for a child princess.

  Reece’s first meeting with Mary had been rocky. Handed to him, she immediately began howling in terror, and stretched out her arms beseechingly to Tara. Before long, however, Mary was following Reece around the house with her stumbling, eager gait, laughing at the funny faces he made for her and playing rough-and-tumble with him.

  Tara was concerned that Reece would overexert himself during these episodes, although he was steadily recovering his strength. He still had stiffness in his shoulder but was following a program of therapeutic exercise in order to regain the use of his arm.