Irish Meadows (19 page)

G
IL
SAT
AT
HIS
DESK
in the bank, reentering figures on the adding machine. He jotted the total on the ledger beside him, his head jerking up when he heard Mr. Hastings's office door open. James O'Leary had been in a meeting with the bank manager for almost an hour now, most likely applying for that loan. Gil wanted to speak to James before he left, so he quickly set aside his pen and made his way to the area outside Mr. Hastings's office.

“I hope you can make a quick decision on that loan, Arthur,” he overheard James say as he stepped out the door. “Time is of the essence, as you know.”

Arthur nodded. “I'll have an answer within the week. In the meantime, I hope to see you at our Independence Day party Saturday night. You and Kathleen will be there, won't you?”

“Wouldn't miss it.” James shook Arthur's hand, and then his attention fell on Gil. “Gilbert, good to see you, son.”

“Hello, Mr. O'Leary. Do you have a minute before you leave?”

“Of course.”

Arthur stepped forward. “Why don't you use my office? I'm taking a short break anyway.”

“Thank you, sir.” Gil led the way into the office and closed the door with a soft click.

“How is the family doing?” Gil asked after they'd each chosen a chair. It seemed ages since he'd had word of the O'Learys, and he missed them all something fierce.

“Everyone is fine. Except, of course, Brianna.” James sighed. “Kathleen is taking this very hard. With you and Brianna gone, she hasn't been herself.”

“So Bree is still living with your sister?”

Under his bushy mustache, James's mouth became a grim line. “Unfortunately, yes. Fiona has taken Brianna on as her new cause of the day. The two of them have conspired against me and refuse to do my bidding.” He scowled. “Don't think I'm not tempted to swoop in and kidnap my own daughter. If things don't change soon, I may do just that.”

Gil shook his head. “Brianna is an adult now,” he said quietly. “Though I may not agree with the way she handled this, I do believe she has the right to choose her own life.”

James leaned forward. His hard blue eyes pierced Gil's. “You haven't gone back on your word, I hope. You've stayed away from my daughter—now that she's broken her engagement?”

Gil met his stare. “I said I wouldn't go against your wishes, and I meant it.”

James huffed. “Thank goodness someone still has the good sense God gave them. I thank you for your loyalty, Gilbert. Speaking of which, I have one more request.”

Gil's stomach turned queasy.
What now?

“I trust you'll be attending the Hastings soirée on Saturday?”

“Yes, I'm escorting Aurora.”

“Excellent. I need you to announce your betrothal that night.”

The blood drained from Gil's face, leaving him light-headed.

“Arthur is making a decision on my loan application this
week. If you and Aurora become engaged, it will go a long way toward him approving my financing.”

James couldn't be serious. Gil had been seeing Aurora for only a few weeks now. “We're nowhere near that point, sir. I . . . we haven't even kissed yet.”

“Well, what are you waiting for? Move this romance along. Take her out to dinner tonight. Propose . . . or at least ask Arthur for her hand.” He patted Gil's leg. “Time is running out for Irish Meadows. I'm counting on you, son.”

Gil ran his tongue over his dry lips. “Are you saying you expect me to marry her?”

James's eyes narrowed. “Once I acquire the funds I need, you can do whatever you like. Though I'd think long and hard before letting a fine girl like Aurora get away.”

Sweat beaded on Gil's forehead. He'd grown genuinely fond of the girl and hated that this plan would hurt her.

Turmoil swirled in Gil's gut. Loyalty to James warred with his principles. Brianna had found the courage to defy her father. Why couldn't he do the same?

James leaned closer, as though sensing Gil's misgivings. “I know you wouldn't want to see Kathleen and the children lose their home. The home you grew up in, as well.”

Gil met his troubled gaze. “It's that bad?”

“Do you think I'd be taking such drastic measures if it weren't?” Heavy lines crisscrossed James's forehead.

“No, sir.” Despite Mr. O'Leary's flaws, Gil had always found him to be a moral man. The finances must be a lot worse off than Gil's few perusals of the ledgers had revealed. Could Gil stand by and do nothing while the O'Learys lost Irish Meadows? He could only imagine Brianna's pain at such an occurrence. It would kill her to lose her childhood home and her beloved horses.

Gil squared his shoulders. He may never become Brianna's husband, but he could do this one thing to help her family hold on to their legacy.

James rose and squeezed Gil's shoulder. “So I'll see you on Saturday?”

Gil swallowed his reservations and nodded. “See you then.”

As he accompanied James to the door, Gil tried very hard not to imagine the disillusionment on Bree's face when she heard the news of his engagement.

“Today we are going to volunteer at the orphanage.” Aunt Fiona's announcement preceded her entrance into the parlor, where Brianna sat reading her Bible.

Brianna's pulse quickened. Could it be the same place her sister and Rylan visited twice weekly? She hoped not, since she still hadn't forgiven Colleen for the stunt she'd pulled with Gil on the night of Brianna's birthday party. “Which orphanage is that, Auntie?”

Fiona adjusted the angle of the birdcage. “St. Rita's. The nuns there do an excellent job with the children.”

Brianna's stomach dropped. She tried to come up with a reason to avoid going, but nothing came to mind. She closed her book and rose. “What will we do there?”

“Usually I help serve the children's lunch and then assist with the cleanup.”

Brianna nodded, not wishing to dampen her aunt's enthusiasm. If she ran into her sister, she'd have to deal with it. They moved into the hallway to retrieve their wraps.

“I should tell you that we may run into Colleen and Cousin Rylan. Daddy is making Colleen volunteer there as a punishment.”

Her aunt's eyebrow rose above the spectacles she often wore. “Whatever did Colleen do to warrant that?”

Brianna pinned on her hat with unsteady fingers. “She kissed Gilbert to force her intended into breaking their engagement. Daddy decided she needed to learn a lesson about the important things in life.”

“Indeed.” Her aunt's lips lifted. “I wonder if it's working.”

Brianna refrained from snorting in an unladylike fashion. Only a miracle could get Colleen to change her ways.

It didn't take them long on the streetcar to reach the orphan asylum. Brianna was amazed at the size of the building. She'd pictured something much smaller.

They climbed the stairs and entered the front door, stopping at the cloakroom to remove their hat, gloves, and wrap. At a reception desk, Aunt Fiona paused to greet a middle-aged woman seated there.

“Good day, Mrs. Taft. This is my niece, Miss Brianna O'Leary, who is staying with me for a while.”

The woman's eyes widened. “My, we are overrun with O'Learys around here lately.” She chuckled. “The more the merrier, I always say.”

“May I give Brianna a quick tour? She's never been here before.”

“Certainly. The children are in the common room right now for a short prayer service. I'll let Mrs. Norton know you're here to help with lunch.”

Brianna followed her aunt down the main corridor, their footsteps hushed by the diamond-patterned carpet that ran the length of the hallway. Along the way, they peered into two different classrooms. Brianna was impressed with how well-equipped and tidy the rooms appeared. Near the end of the corridor, Aunt Fiona pressed a finger to her lips and motioned for Brianna to follow her into a large room.

Children of various ages occupied a circle of chairs surrounding Cousin Rylan, who sat with his hands folded, head bowed in prayer. Brianna scanned the assembly until her gaze fell on the back of a familiar redhead, also bowed in a reverent posture. Colleen seemed totally engrossed in the service, her lips moving in time with Rylan's prayer. A small blond girl got up and climbed onto Colleen's lap. Instead of the rebuff
Brianna expected, Colleen gathered the child in her arms and laid her cheek on top of the girl's fair curls, dropping a kiss as she did so. Brianna blinked to make sure she wasn't seeing things.

Aunt Fiona motioned for Brianna to take a seat at the back of the room until Rylan closed his prayer service and released the children to return to their classroom.

In the flurry of activity that followed, Rylan noticed them, and a huge smile creased his face. “Brianna. How wonderful to see you.” He strode across the room to kiss her cheek. “And who might this lovely lady be?”

Brianna smiled at his ever-present charm. “This is our Aunt Fiona, Daddy's sister. Auntie, this is a distant cousin of Mama's, Rylan Montgomery.”

Rylan bent to kiss Fiona's hand. “Charmed to meet you. Though I must say, you are far lovelier than your brother.”

Aunt Fiona actually blushed.

From the corner of her eye, Brianna noticed Colleen approaching, looking beautiful in a simple blue dress. A wave of homesickness washed over Brianna like a physical ache. Colleen set the little girl on the floor, holding her by the hand.

“Hello, Bree. It's good to see you.” Colleen stood demurely in front of her.

Brianna hesitated, taken aback by her lack of haughtiness. “Hello, Colleen.”

Aunt Fiona moved to embrace her. “Colleen? My, what a beautiful young woman you've become.”

“Thank you, Aunt Fiona. You look well yourself.” A small frown crossed Colleen's features. “What are you both doing here? Did Daddy send you to check on me?”

“Goodness no, child.” Aunt Fiona pulled her short jacket a little straighter. “I like to volunteer here at least once a month. The children bring me a great deal of joy.”

Colleen smiled down at the girl beside her. “I know what you
mean. This is my friend, Delia. Delia, this is my Aunt Fiona and my sister, Brianna.”

Brianna smiled at the girl. “Pleased to meet you, Delia.”

Delia tugged on Colleen's skirt. “Miss O'Leary, you have a sister?”

“Yes. I have two sisters and two brothers.”

“And a mother and father?”

“That's right.”

“You're lucky. I wish I had a family like that.”

Brianna's heart squeezed with sympathy at the child's wistful tone. When Brianna looked at Colleen, she was astounded to see tears in her sister's eyes.

Colleen bent and gathered the girl in a huge hug. “I know one day you're going to have a wonderful family, too.”

Delia squirmed in her arms. “Could you 'dopt me into your family?”

Moisture shimmered in Colleen's eyes. “I wish I could, sweetie.”

Rylan moved in to sweep the child from Colleen. “I'll take Delia back to the classroom. Why don't you visit with your sister for a while?” Rylan's warm voice held a soothing quality.

Colleen nodded, pulling a handkerchief from her pocket to dab at her eyes.

He turned to their aunt. “Miss O'Leary, why don't we let the girls have a moment? We can help Sister Marguerite with the children until lunch.”

When Aunt Fiona had left with Rylan, Colleen motioned to the chairs. “Let's sit and talk for a minute.”

Brianna nodded and sat down, unsure what to say to her sister.

Colleen twisted the handkerchief in her hands, seeming equally ill at ease. “I want you to know,” she said at last, “how sorry I am for ruining your birthday, Bree. It was inexcusable.”

Bree straightened her spine against the cool metal. “Shouldn't you be apologizing to Gil?”