Chapter Six #2
“Mercenary as well as ungrateful, aren’t you? Rest easy, you’ll have it.” Pulling his arm free, he walked away. “Fetch your
friends,” he ordered over his shoulder. “It’s time the lot of you got off my ship.”
He was talking to Tremaine as Rynn went back inside the wheelhouse. Donal stood in the middle of the small room frowning at the door as she entered, while Seamus stood beside him with a calming hand on his shoulder.
“And what was that about?” Donal asked with an edge to his voice as she closed the door behind her. After the blowing wind
of the deck, the wheelhouse seemed warm, if a little stuffy. The air smelled of whale oil and damp wool and men. Of Donal’s
tone she took little notice. Jealousy had long been one of his faults, and one moreover that she’d learned to ignore.
“Since it seems Major Maguire will be keeping the guns, I asked him to pay for them. He agreed and will be giving you five
hundred pounds for them before you leave the ship.”
“What?” Donal’s whole demeanor changed. “Never say you bargained with the man for such a thing!”
“Well, I did. And a good job I made of it, too.”
“Rynn! You angel! Five hundred pounds!” Surging forward, Seamus snatched her up off her feet and swung her around in a circle.
“It’s far less than they’re worth but ’twill make all the difference!”
“Put her down, you oaf!” Donal pulled Rynn away from Seamus. “That was some good thinking, acushla.” He smiled at her. “What would we do without you to look out for us?”
As their eyes met, she didn’t smile back. Instead, she felt a pain worse than the ache of a sore tooth start up somewhere
in the region of her heart.
“Be five hundred pounds the poorer, that’s for sure.” Seamus was jubilant. Then he frowned. “Still, there’s the Sullivans.”
“If they think you’re drowned, and the Merrow’s lost, they’ll not be looking for their guns or their money,” Rynn said, adding, “Major Maguire told me to fetch you. They’re
bringing up Fergus from the brig. It’s time to get off this boat.”
“We’d best not tell Fergus of the plan until we have to.” Seamus headed for the door. “He’s not going to like it.”
“He’ll like it well enough once we explain the alternative to him.” Wrapping an arm around her to pull her along, Donal started to follow Seamus. Rynn stopped him by the simple expedient of planting her feet and shaking her head at him.
“You go along to Fergus,” Donal said to Seamus, who, having reached the door, looked around at them. “Rynn and I need a moment.”
Seamus groaned. “Donal, man, can’t it wait? You can kiss the girl later.”
“Go away,” Rynn said to him.
“I’ll be right along,” Donal promised.
With a heavenward roll of his eyes, Seamus departed.
“So, acushla?” Donal said when Seamus had gone. His arm dropped away from her waist. His expression had turned wary. Ah, he knew her!
Her heart gave another pang.
“Leaving Ireland is best, I quite see that,” Rynn said. “But it’s best for you and Seamus and Fergus. Not for me.” She took
a deep breath. “I won’t be going with you.”
“What! Now, Rynn . . .” He took her hand, held it prisoner in both of his. “You’re overwrought about Paddy and everything
that’s happened tonight. I know that, I understand, but you and I, we belong together. I know this is not what we planned
but it’ll still be us. You and me.”
His tone was that of a patient man, only slightly exasperated by what he saw as the vagaries of womenfolk. He still thought
he could talk her around. She could see it in his eyes, hear it in his voice, feel it in his touch as his hands cradled hers.
But she’d seen the future, seen her life with him unspooling in her mind’s eye in a bright burst of illumination that revealed
much in their relationship that she had never questioned before, and it had felt wrong. He was handsome and charming and so very dear, but little more than a boy. A feckless, reckless boy.
While the girl that she was when he’d left to go to war had grown up in his absence.
“You know how you said that you came out tonight with Seamus because he needed a man he could trust?” She hated having to
say such things to him, but she’d seen the truth now. As much as facing it hurt her and would hurt him, denying it would only
lead to deeper, greater pain for them both. “So do I need a man I can trust. The truth is, we are neither of us ready for
marriage, me no more than you. I release you from your promise, and our engagement.”
“What! You love me! You know you do!”
“I do, but—”
“But what?” His hands tightened on hers. He looked baffled, with hurt and a little outrage beginning to creep in.
“We’re very different, Donal, which you know as well as I do if you would but take the time to think about it, and we want
different things. I . . .”
“You’ve met someone else.” Cutting her off before she could finish, his voice turned harsh. The hands holding hers tightened
until his grip hurt. “While I was away fighting. Haven’t you?”
“No, of course not.” She jerked her hand free. “Don’t be ridiculous. It’s as I told you, we’re too different. Unsuited. As
tonight proves, you want excitement and adventure and to see the world beyond here and I—I am no adventurer. I want a quiet
life, safe in my home, surrounded by family and friends. You would hate being tethered in such a way and would hate me for
being the one to tether you.”
“Hate you! Damn it, woman, I love you!” Grabbing her, he wrapped her in a crushing embrace and kissed her, forcefully.
The heat of his mouth on hers, the strength of his arms around her, the feel of him against her were so familiar that for the briefest of moments she was motionless, soaking it in, heart aching even as she did so because she knew that, her pain notwithstanding, this was goodbye.
The door was thrust open and a harsh voice barked “O’Reilly!” before the incoming footsteps stopped abruptly.
Rynn pushed out of Donal’s arms to find Maguire standing in the doorway frowning at them.
“Tremaine and his men are leaving. The pair of you need to come now,” he said.
“I’m not going,” Rynn said. Her face was turned away from Donal but she could feel the tension emanating from him. “I am returning
home.”
“What?” Maguire looked surprised.
“You can’t.” Donal grabbed her arm. “If the Brits find out you helped us—”
“They won’t.” She pulled her arm free. “How could they? As you said yourself, it was too dark for those on shore to see me,
and the only ones who know are on this boat and in no position to tell.”
If Donal thought that was a reference to Seamus, Fergus and him, he was right, but not entirely. It was also a reminder to
Maguire of her—correct, she was certain—suspicions about his activities.
“Rynn.” Donal reached for her again. She eluded him by shaking her head and taking a step back, then looked at Maguire.
“Will you allow me to stay aboard, then put me ashore at Mullaghmore? I can find my own way from there.”
His face revealed nothing, but there was something in his eyes; he knew what she was holding over his head and didn’t like
it.
“If that’s your choice.” Maguire’s response was curt. “Although I’m not sure it’s a wise one.”
“I think I’m the best judge of that.”
His lips compressed.
“Owen.” It was Tim’s voice, which she recognized although he was out of her sight. “Tremaine’s holding a boat. And if they miss the tide, they’ll have the devil of a time getting back in.”
By that time, he was standing behind Maguire, peering at her and Donal over Maguire’s shoulder.
“O’Reilly.” Maguire’s attitude brooked no argument. “Time to go.”
“Rynn.” There was desperation in Donal’s voice and in his eyes as he looked at her. “Don’t do this. I know you’re angry because
I came out with Seamus tonight, but . . .”
“It’s not that.” She shook her head, although she could feel her heart cracking. It was impossible to put into words everything
that had gone into her decision, especially with Maguire and his henchman watching and listening. “It’s what I told you. Other
than that, there’s no more to be said.”
“O’Reilly. The boat won’t wait,” Maguire warned.
“Go. I’ll not be changing my mind.” Hard as she found it to do, Rynn met Donal’s gaze without flinching.
“I’ll not be sending for you.” Donal was breathing hard, focused on her.
“I’m not asking you to,” Rynn answered. “Take care of yourself, Donal. You’ll be thanking me for this one day, whether you
believe it now or not.”
Donal stared at her. She put up her chin at him.
“Go to the devil, then, Rynn Carmichael,” he said.
Then, his face like stone, he all but flung himself past Maguire and out the door.