“Where am I?” Torin tried to lift his head, winced, then ceased his efforts, no doubt from the pain since the wound in his shoulder had been one of the deeper stabs, likely intended to hit his heart.
“You’re at my family’s house in the city.” Kiernan reached for the glass again and brought it to Torin’s lips. “Take a drink.” He gently held up Torin’s head while he drank.
Torin managed a few sips before he laid his head back. “How long have I been here?”
“This is the morning of the third day.”
“Alannah? Is she safe?”
“Shaw tried to get her, but we’re hiding her here too.” Kiernan set the glass aside, then towered above Torin. Should he go after Alannah and let her know Torin had awoken? She would want to hear the good news. At the same time, he wanted her to sleep as long as possible.
Torin tried to push up again and this time made it to his elbows. “You need to marry her. It’s the best way to keep Shaw from having her, and you know it.”
Kiernan nodded. He’d had plenty of time to think aboutnot only what Torin needed to do, but also how to keep Alannah safe. And marrying her was still his goal.
“You love her, don’t you?” Torin’s voice was weak and gravelly.
“You should go back to sleep.”
“I need to know.”
Kiernan sat back down. That night when he’d learned Shaw had almost kidnapped her, he’d been tortured the whole time he’d ridden to Oscar’s Pub, needing to see her and hold her and know for certain that she’d survived.
When he stepped into the shed, he had no doubt he loved her. He just hoped that he’d get to spend the rest of his life showing her how much he cared about her.
His whole heart, soul, and body burned for her in an almost painful way. He couldn’t fathom losing her, and the possibility of Shaw going after her again nearly killed him.
“Aye, I love her,” he whispered. “She’s my whole world, and I don’t want or need anything but her.”
Torin’s body seemed to relax. “Send for a priest and marry her now.”
Kiernan hadn’t brought up marriage to her over the past few days, although he’d wanted to. She’d been too worried about Torin. But even if Torin had been well, Kiernan had sensed her pulling away from him, almost as if she was preparing to reject him again. He wasn’t sure his heart could withstand another crushing blow from her.
“Please?” Torin’s voice dropped to a pleading whisper.
Kiernan met the young man’s gaze. “I would if she’d let me.”
“You can convince her. Oh aye, tell her what you just told me.”
Even if she’d already made up her mind not to marry him, Kiernan could do nothing less than try to keep winning her.
Torin pushed up from his elbows until he was sitting. His face was etched with pain, and he pursed his lips together. “I have to be going. If Shaw hasn’t already figured out I’m here, he will soon enough.”
“Don’t worry.” Kiernan pressed Torin’s uninjured shoulder to keep him in bed. “Everyone thinks you’re dead.”
Torin ceased his efforts to get up. And for a few minutes, Kiernan explained their rescue efforts that night of the attack at the brickyard.
“Besides my da and the doctor, Donahue and Dustin are the only two workers who know you lived.”
Torin was silent a moment, probably trying to comprehend everything. “Do you really think the Farrell gang believes I’m dead?”
“Either way, after you recover, you have to leave St. Louis.”
“I’ll go as soon as I’m able to get out of bed.”
“You need to move to California.”
Torin didn’t immediately protest the idea.
