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Ronan grinned. “On it, Captain O’Mara.”

Everly giggled and ran her fingers over the words of the love spell.

Ten looked around the table at his family working together. The circumstances weren’t ideal, but he loved the way they were all working toward a common goal to help Delilah and hopefully Aurora too.

7

Ronan

Ronan had done a lot of research on Delilah’s family before he’d gone to pick up lunch. He couldn’t wait to tell everyone what he’d learned. Jude had texted to say he had some information to share as well. The only one who hadn’t responded about work was Fitz. Ronan had no idea if he and Aurora had been looking into what happened to Delilah at Gettysburg or if he’d blown the whole thing off.

He wasn’t quite sure how to handle Fitz anymore. Ronan had offered unwavering support in light of the shooting, as had Jude and the soft touch didn’t appear to be working. Maybe he and Jude were going to have to come at Fitz the hard way. It wasn’t the way Ronan wanted things to go, but what other option was left?

When Ronan got back to the house, everyone was sitting around the kitchen table. Ten had put out drinks and plates for everyone. “Hey, guys.” Ronan set the bag in front of Jude, who began to unpack. Everyone dug into their food and ate silently.

“This is so yummy, Uncle Ronan. Thank you.” Aurora stabbed a piece of lobster with her fork and popped it into her mouth.

“You’re welcome, honey.”

“We have some really cool information to tell you about,” Everly said. “Did you do research on what happened to Delilah?”

Aurora nodded. “What we found is really sad, but it’s also wrong.”

“What do you mean, wrong?” Everly asked, her eyes shining with curiosity.

“Daddy, can you explain what we read? I don’t remember all the words.”

Fitz smiled at his daughter. “First you need to know a little history. There were two armies that fought in the civil war, the union army, who wanted to defend our Constitution, keep the United States whole, and make slavery illegal. It was mostly made up of the northern states, like Massachusetts. Then there was the Confederate Army, who wanted to form their own country where slavery was legal. That army was made up of mostly southern and some western states.”

“Slavery is stupid and cruel,” Everly said.

“You’re right,” Fitz agreed. “Maryland, where Delilah was from, was part of the Union Army, but there were battles that took place there and confederate soldiers had come through their state and took prisoners. According to what we read, Delilah was a nurse, who volunteered with the Maryland 11th Infantry Unit.”

“She was a nurse?” Everly’s eyes glowed.

“Amazing, huh?” Aurora grinned. “But then the story gets sad.”

“Delilah was captured by the 8th Virginia Infantry. The regiment brought her along with them to treat their wounded and also because…” Fitz shot Ronan a look that indicated he didn’t want to say too much in front of the girls.

“Because she was beautiful,” Aurora supplied. “The men weren’t very nice to her. The general especially. I think he hurt Delilah, but she wouldn’t show me how.”

Ronan had a feeling he knew exactly how Delilah had been hurt. “What was the general’s name?”

“John Joseph Daniels. He came from a wealthy family who owned a Virginia tobacco plantation as well as a hundred or so slaves that worked the fields and took care of household chores.”

“John Joseph?” Everly turned to Ten. “Do you think he’s the ‘J’ Delilah gave her picture to?”

“Maybe,” Ten said. “I can’t imagine giving something as precious as a photograph to your kidnapper.”

“Unless she had Stockholm Syndrome,” Fitz suggested.

“Or Delilah put a curse on it.” Everly grinned wickedly. “If someone kidnapped me, I’d use all my magic to make him pay.”

Ronan watched, stunned, as a dark look came over Everly’s face. He had absolutely no doubt that she could do that very thing. “Are you okay? You’ve been a little dark today.”

Everly shrugged. “Daddy, I’ve been around you long enough to know how often women get hurt by the men who are supposed to love them. I’m angry that this general thought he could just take Delilah, like she was a ripe apple on a tree. Who gave him the right to do that?”

“No one, that’s who!” Aurora said.