Epilogue
Seamus O’Farredeigh had no idea how anyone could live in a big city. Whether it was Colorado or Texas, the great outdoors, Mother Nature’s pallet, God’s handiwork, could not be beat.
“So glad to have you back. And with your son.” Aunt Eileen poured a hot cup of tea for her newfound nephew and handed young Seamus a similar mug with hot chocolate. “Whipped cream?” she asked the young boy.
“Yes, ma’am.” He smiled. “Thank you.”
Having only one brother, but six cousins, Seamus understood the concept of large families, but somehow, this branch of the clan was very different from his.
The cousins functioned more like siblings, even now that they were adults with families of their own.
And much to his surprise, rather than settling in their own corners as his cousins had done, they seemed to all come back to home base.
And frankly, he couldn’t blame them. The Farraday ranch was impressive, and Connor’s horse breeding operation next door was equally astounding.
“Can I go next door now?” His upper lip bathed in remnants of whipped cream, young Seamus looked up hopefully.
“Of course you can.” Aunt Eileen smiled, then spun around quickly. “That is if it’s okay with your father.”
And respectful. Everyone was so respectful of others. “That will be fine if your Aunt Eileen doesn’t think Connor or Hannah will mind.”
The kid let out a short squeal and taking a minute to set his empty mug in the sink, bolted out the back door.
“You’ve done a good job with him.” His new aunt kept her gaze on the boy through the back window. “How long since he lost his mom?”
“Two years.” And some days, it felt like yesterday.
“Well, good morning.” Ryan came downstairs, his fiancée Nicole on his heels.
“Sorry we missed the wedding… and the proposal.” From what Seamus had heard, the events had been memorable, but this was the earliest he could manage to bring his son to meet their new family.
Ryan swung an arm around Nicole, eased her closer to his side, and kissed her cheek. “Still am a bit stunned she said yes. I didn’t even have a ring.”
Kissing him back soundly on the lips, she gently smacked his shoulder. “I’m not marrying you for a ring.”
“I just wish your brother would hurry up and finish his rehab so we can get married sooner than later.”
Shaking her head slowly, and smiling at Ryan as though he were the only man in the world, Nicole blew out a soft sigh. “You are so impatient.”
“You bet I am. I want to make you mine before someone comes along and makes you change your mind.”
“Never gonna happen.” She eased up and kissed him lightly on the cheek.
It was obvious they were teasing each other, and even more apparent to anyone with eyes that these two were deeply in love.
If Seamus had to wager, he would gladly bet his last dime that this couple would one day celebrate a fiftieth wedding anniversary.
Watching them take seats side by side at the table, occasionally leaning into each other, looking up into each other’s eyes like a sappy cartoon, or, lord help him, feeding each other, these two were most definitely perfect for each other. Like he and Jane had been.
For just a second the hurt of the loss pricked at him, before he shook it off and looked to where Aunt Eileen was seasoning a roast for supper. He pushed to his feet. “Anything I can do to help?”
Her fingers covered in herbs and oils, she lifted her gaze to meet his. “You can call that brother of yours and ask him what’s keeping him. We’re all dying to meet another O’Farredeigh.”
His brother Thomas lived further north in Colorado than he did, so even though they’d left near the same time, Thomas still had some road time ahead of him. “I’m sure he won’t be long.”
Aunt Eileen turned to Ryan. “Any more trouble with George?”
“Nope.” Ryan shook his head. “We decided not to fire him and make him someone else’s problem, but he’s taken a pay cut to reimburse us—over time—for the damages, and now he’s working with one of us brothers at all times.
I really think he was so scared of going to jail for hurting us, that he’ll probably never cut a corner again as long as he lives, whether one of us is watching or not. ”
Before their aunt could say anything one way or another, footsteps bounded down the stairs. A moment later Joanna, Finn’s wife, appeared in the doorway waving something in her hand. “You will never guess what I found!”
“What?” Everyone echoed looking up.
“Emma Farraday’s diary.”
“Our Seamus’ wife?” Aunt Eileen’s fingers stilled.
“The one and only. It’s in one of the many trunks Ryan and Nicole found in that small room.”
“Well, that’s nice.” Aunt Eileen returned to slathering the roast in her homemade marinade.
“More than nice.” Joanna sat down. “Listen to this. I found my dear Seamus looking to the horizon with that same lost look he always has when thinking of his Bridget.”
Everyone at the table stilled at the mention of Bridget’s name. Even the lovebirds stopped making doe eyes at each other and stared at Joanna. Aunt Eileen shoved her hands under running water and then drying them on a dishrag, took a seat beside her niece.
“I know he loves me and the children with all his heart, but a small part of that heart died the day he received the letter from Bridget’s mum telling him of her death.”
“Wait. What?” Ryan frowned, taking hold of Nicole’s hand and squeezing it.
“You heard me.” Joanna closed the book. “The rest is just her thoughts but the important fact is that Bridget’s mother told him she’d died.”
Seamus leaned back heavily in his seat. “Why would she do that?”
“Wait.” Aunt Eileen held up a finger while her mind rattled around with a thought. “It was Bridget’s mother who told her she’d received a letter from Seamus’ landlady reporting his death.”
“That’s right.” Seamus was trying to piece it all together as well. “If I remember correctly, the landlady supposedly wrote the mother so she could break the news to Bridget more gently.”
“Or not.” Aunt Eileen’s gaze narrowed, her lips pressed into a thin line, and her hands resting on the table fisted. “That old bitty.”
“Am I missing something?” Ryan asked.
Still holding his hand, Nicole smiled at him. “Don’t you see? The mother was behind it all. For whatever reason, she didn’t want her daughter to come to the United States so she told each of the parties involved that the other had died.”
“Bridget was an only child.” Suddenly—and sadly—all of this now made perfect sense to Seamus.
“That was just mean.” Nicole sighed. “Couldn’t she have just come to the States with her daughter and grandson?”
Seamus shrugged. “No idea. But how sad.”
“Crazy how easily one person’s mistakes can cause so much hurt and pain to so many.” Ryan looked to Nicole. “Makes me think of Mom and Aunt Anne. So much lost time.”
“Thank God they finally worked it out. Tomorrow is never promised.” Nicole nodded and pushed to her feet. “I think I want to go for a little walk.”
“I’ll come with you.” Ryan stood, grabbed her hand, and together they strolled out the back door.
Yeah, Seamus thought to himself. There was definitely something magical about all the love in this family.
Not a single one of his newfound cousins seemed even the slightest bit restless or unhappy.
As a matter of fact, they all looked as though they’d only married last week and were still in the honeymoon stage of their lives.