Instead of replying, he clenched his jaw. But the silence was more than damning enough.
She clutched the coton either side of her,rather than giving in to the urge to pound her fists against his chest.“I don’t care if this is your cabin,” she said flatly. “Get out.”
His gaze flickered, as if he wanted to say somethingmore, but it was too late. She was done listening. She turned away from him and when the door shut behind him, she released a shaky breath, but shevowed shewould not waste her tears.
***
Dusk had fallen by the time theCrimson Rosesailed into a secluded covein Greatman’s Baynear Carraroe, but instead of the joy Fallon might have feltat being back in familiar territory, a cold numbness had descended over her. Shehadn’twanted tostay in the cabinwhen her frustration was boiling, but since she didn’t want to take the risk of encountering the captain on the top deckeither.
Nevertheless,she reluctantly waited to be summoned, but when Sean was the one who came for her, she wasn’t surprised. “The captain left to procure a wagon—”
Fallon brushed past him and was halfway down thegangplankby the time the first mate caught up to her.Thecrewhadstarted to carry theFlying Swan’s former cargo to shore, but now they paused and awkwardly watched the heated encounterunfold.
“Whoa! Where are you going?” Sean grabbed her arm.
She turned her head and pointedly stared athis hand. “I’m goingto see Father O’Leary.”
He blew out a heavy breath.“The captain saidto wait here—”
Fallon jerked her arm out of his grasp. “Hedoesn’tget todecide what I do.I’m a grown woman who can make her own decisions.” She continuedwalking,while the crewhastilygot back to work. Most of them shifted their eyes away as if trying to pretend nothinguntowardhadjust transpired.
She hadn’t made it farbefore Sean jogged to her side, grumbling about“stubborn Irish females.”
She glaredat him. “There’s no need to escort meif you are soannoyed. This land is as familiar to me as the back of my hand.”
“Aye,” he agreedwith a sharp look. “No doubt it is, but things have changed in the past few months. The coast is littered with the Royal Irish Constabularyand even the British Armyislooking to make trouble. They are especially interested in new arrivals.”
She rolled her eyes. “But I’ve lived here all of my life.”
“Untilrecently,” he pointed out.
She sighed, knowing that he would dog her heels if she didn’t just give in. “Very well. Join me if you must, but I warn you it will be a rather silentjourney, for I’m not in the mood to chat.”
Fallonhated to besoirritable, buteven if Sean was a fellow patriot and Irishman, he was still part of the Raven’s crew,and since she wasn’t pleased with his captain at the moment,that didn’t endearhimto her.
***
The first sight of Carraroenearlyhad tears stinging Fallon’s eyes. It seemed as though she’d been away for years instead ofjustafewmonths.
While some thingsappeared to be exactlythe same, as she headed toward the priory where she knew she would find Father O’Leary, for he had lodgingsat the rear ofthe church, Sean’s cautionary about the increased patrol wasn’t exaggerated. Several men in uniform were walking along the streets with their pistols displayed as a warning to anyone who wished to make trouble.
Fallon frowned, for she was concerned thatO’Mahony’sfailedrebellious endeavors in Canadato put pressure on Englandwould spur Stewart and his followers into brash actiononce they reached Ireland.She didn’t even want to think about the price of bloodshed should that happen.
With Sean at her side, Fallon strode up the steps of the familiar stone building and waited for the priest to arrive.
The moment the door opened and she spied the older man who had been like a second grandfather to her, the cascade of emotionthat she’d been holding at baybegan to fall down her cheeks. She instantly rushed into the arms of the surprised priest, grateful to be aroundsomeone she could trust.
“Fallon?CailinDaor, is it really you?”
She couldn’t answer for a moment, the sound of his sincere, caring voice causing her to cry harder. When she finally pulled back, she offered him a watery smile, for he was justas she remembered him. Even if his hair had a few more strands of white than she might have recalled, his eyes were stillas kindas theyever were when theyregarded her.“It is.”
The priest took Fallon’s hand in his and gave it an affectionate pat.“Itdoes this old man goodto see you, child, but why have you come back here?”
Fallon blinked, confused. “What do you mean? This is my home.”
Father O’Learyshook his head sadly. “The Ireland you left behind is not the same as it is now.”
“What do you mean?” Shefeigned ignorance as sheglancedaround,as if missingsome important clue. “Nothing has changed.”
