“Let him in, Alannah. He’s the one who brought me here from the brickyard and knows everything.”
Alannah hesitated. She’d learned that the brothers who helped Torin with the kiln had defended him and quite possibly saved his life by tending to his stab wounds so quickly after the attack. They’d also helped Kiernan stage the burial at the cemetery.
This man deserved her gratitude.
“Donahue?” she spoke tentatively as she opened the door for him. “I thank you for all you did to save my brother.”
Torin interrupted before Donahue could answer. “He’ll be saving more than just me if we can get some things figured out.”
As Donahue slipped past her and into the room, she shot Torin a narrowed gaze. “You’ll not be overexerting yourself.”
In the big bed, Torin still looked frail and weak, but already his energy was increasing. And his determination.
As she closed the door on the two men, she let her fingers graze the book in her pocket, unable to stop the flutter in her stomach at the prospect of letting herself dream abouta life with Kiernan. Was that really possible? Could she give herself permission to consider a match with him?
She wasn’t sure. But maybe it was finally time to get serious about the matchmaker’s wager and trust his choice for her.
30
Nothing at Oakland was the same without Alannah.
Kiernan reclined on the blanket and peered up at the stars, the trill of the crickets his only company. He shouldn’t have come out, should have stayed in his bedroom. But he’d ventured to the field anyway, hoping to think, hoping to find peace, hoping to figure out what to do next.
The lantern light glowed on the book he’d brought to read. But he hadn’t opened it and hadn’t enjoyed the beauty.
He’d thought staying away from Alannah would help him gain perspective and figure out what to do next. So he’d returned to Oakland three days ago. Instead of the distance helping, he was growing more restless, and the ache inside his chest was sharpening.
Should he ride to town and talk to her again? But what could he voice that he hadn’t already said? He’d told her he loved her, wanted to be with her, and that nothing else mattered. If he manipulated her into being with him, she’d only come to resent him and their marriage. And he didn’t want that.
No, she needed to want the match as much as he did, or it wouldn’t work.
Besides, he figured if he stayed at Oakland, he’d draw less suspicion to the city house. Not that the Farrell gang was suspicious. Like everyone else, they believed that Torin was buried in Wayfair Cemetery. Besides, they were too busy dealing with the charges of vandalism and arson to his brickyard as well as the charge of murder.
Of course, he hadn’t been able to press charges against Shaw specifically, since no one had seen him at the brickyard the night of the attack. But the investigator Kiernan had hired was compiling evidence that Shaw had been behind everything. It would only be a matter of time before the gang leader was arrested.
Regardless, Kiernan didn’t want to take any chances that Shaw would learn where Alannah was staying, at least not until after the man was safely behind prison bars.
As much as Kiernan hated to admit it, if she refused to marry him, then maybe she would be the safest going to California with her brother. There she could take on a new name and identity, and she’d be far, far away from the Farrell gang.
He closed his eyes against a sudden rush of pain in his chest at the prospect of her leaving and not being able to see her ever again. He couldn’t bear it.
“I see you can’t stay away from Alannah’s and your secret meeting place.”
His eyes flew open to find Zaira smiling down at him.
She was wearing a nightgown and wrapped up in a robe. Her single red braid fell over her shoulder, making her look younger than her nineteen years. But she’d proven herself tobe a mature and capable woman this past week in her quick thinking, daring deeds, and compassion for Alannah.
He’d been tempted a time or two to tell her about Torin still being alive, but already too many people knew, and he didn’t want to risk anything, not until Torin was out of the city.
He’d learned that Enya’s husband, Sullivan, was due back in St. Louis any day. Until he arrived, there was still time for Alannah to change her mind. And if she didn’t, would he be able to let her go with Torin?
He wasn’t sure he could.
Zaira’s smile faded. “Sorry I’m not Alannah. I didn’t mean to disappoint you.”
Were his emotions that readable? Kiernan pushed himself up until he was sitting, then patted the spot beside him. “Join me.”
She hesitated a moment before she lowered herself. She tucked her legs up and wrapped her arms around them, staring into the distance at the dark woodland that bordered the meadow.
