Seacrets (27 page)

"No Daniel ya didna hurt me." She turned to her side and reached up to caress the side of his face. "Ya gave me the kind of pleasure I could never have dreamed could exist between a man and a woman. I couldna be happier that I saved myself for you." Maura leaned in to kiss Daniel gently on his forehead.
They laid there for quite a while just talking about what ever came into their minds and holding onto one another.

They finally got themselves put back together and Daniel stated that he'd like to continue this back in the guest house where they might be afforded a little more privacy, as he could start to feel himself becoming amorous toward
her once more. "Shall I help ya inta the carriage and get started toward the guest house or do ya want ta stay out here for a while longer?" He was really thinking, all the while, he so desperately wanted to swoop her up into his arms, toss her into the carriage and take her again, right then and there.

Maura was somewhat confused, Daniel certainly showed a lustful nature, but he never actually said he loved her during their lovemaking. He said he loved
being with her in this way
, but not the words I love you. She thought for sure, since they had just made love, he would have at least said the words
I love you
.
Mayhap he does not feel the way about me that I feel about him.
She thought.
Mayhap, he really does still have feelings of obligation to his previously betrothed woman. After all he is a very caring and honorable man.
She decided to be forward and just ask him if he still feels an obligation to his word to wed this other woman.

"Daniel, may I ask ya a somewhat personal question?"  Her voice a little timid and shy.

"Of course, woman, don't be ridiculous.” His tone was curt as he was a bit nervous about what the content of the personal question might be.

"Are ya still feelin' an obligation to the woman ya were betrothed to? The woman in the garden?" Maura cut right to the heart of her inquiry.

Daniel's reply was flat and cold in his return. "I was never in love with her ta begin with, if that be ya concern. It was merely a business arrangement between her father and mine. Actually, the marriage agreement was repayment for a debt my father owed ta her father. 'Tis all. Nothin' more." He shrugged his shoulders and gave a look of disgust as he remarked of the agreement. "Why do ya ask such things of me, Maura?" Now he was turning the tables on her. Putting her on the spot to reveal the true nature of her thoughts.

Maura instantly became tongue-tied. Stammering her words. "Why I...I'm curious is all. Ya looked as if you were quite intent on pursuing her in the garden, earlier, this night." He noticed her back stiffened when she spoke of him and Mallory being together.

"Am I detectin' a bit o' jealousy, on your part, Miss McCoveny?" Daniel said with a definite air of delight in his voice.

Maura thought his tone was a bit too jocular for her liking.
"Why absolutely not, Captain Hargendon!" She could feel the heat rising inside of her all the way from her toes to her, now, very flushed cheeks. She was embarrassed he had caught her in her true thoughts. She spat back her venom upon him. "I couldna care less how ya spend ya nights, Captain," I was just thinkin' that ya could do better, 'tis all." Maura started toward the carriage house entryway.

Daniel reached out and grasped her firmly by her forearm
, pulling her back into his embrace, trapping her tight against his chest. "How much better, lass? Tell me, now. I'm very interested ta know just how much better I could do." He was flashed that alluring smile of his. His eyes were fixed on hers, intently staring her down.

Maura's palms were
pressed against his hardened chest. She could feel his muscles tensing though his shirt. She pushed on his chest and cursed him for making her feel foolish and trite. “Release me or I shall scream. How dare you make me feel ridiculous.”

He loosened his grip on her and took a step
back. "Do naught play with fire, lass, or ya just might be gettin' ya self burned. Get my meanin'?"

"I get ya meanin' perfectly, Captain Hargendon." The intent of her tone was definitely not of a timid nature.
Maura turned her back to him and took quick strides toward Demon, Daniel's prize Stallion. She lifted her skirts and with the ease of a professional equestrian, she mounted Demon. Maura was completely in control of the massive beast. She reigned in the animal around to face Daniel and stated to him flat and cold. "Ya may come for ya horse in the mornin', Captain, as I will be takin' my leave alone."

Daniel was decidedly embarrassed he had underestimated Maura's capabilities as
a skilled rider. He stood there wide-eyed and dazed.

Maura dug her heels into the great beast, and shouted "Har!" and made her way down the path toward the cottage.

Once Daniel was past the initial shock of what had just taken place, he became furious he had let Maura get the better of him. He did not like being in a position of subservience.

“I’m
the man, damn it! I will tell her when tis time to leave…and it dam well should naught be on the back of my horse, by God!” He paced back and forth for a few minutes, running his hands through his thick mane, as he always did when he was insensed and agitated. “ Calm down Hargendon. She is just a female that has obviously lost her mind”, he thought.

“
Why, if I had a mind to do so, I could wring her delectable neck like a prize turkey.”

Daniel walked back to the main house and settled on the front porch steps to
collect his thoughts and to keep himself from racing down to the guesthouse and thrashing the living breath out of the woman. What in God's name could have gotten inta that woman ta turn her so disagreeable in a split second? He thought. She would naughtt have allowed me ta make love ta her if she was still mad about seein' me with Mallory in the garden, would she? Who knows what runs through a female’s mind, he reasoned with himself. 

Aiden walked out onto the porch
. “Where’s Maura got off to?”

Through clenched teeth Daniel answered his brother.
"Oh brother ya don't even want ta be askin' me anything about that little wench right now!" All the while grinding one closed fist into his other palm.

"Well did she just up and disappear inta thin air? I mean
, you’re here...hey, where's the carriage?” Aiden continued to question his brother.

"She stole my horse, she did, that little wench! Can ya believe that?" Daniel was ranting and pacing back and forth
.

Aiden let out the heartiest of laughs. Long and loud. "Oh you've surely met ya match, with that one,  brother
. She can give as good as she gets." Aiden grabbed hold of Daniel about the shoulders and stopped him from pacing.

"The two of ya are like firecrackers going off. One minute you
r in there dancing, lookin' to each other like ya are the only two in the room, hell, in the universe for that matter, and in the next she's stealin' ya horse and drivin' ya mad with anger. That is a lot o' passion, brother, a lot o' passion. Ya hang on ta that one Danny. She's the one, I'm tellin' ya." Aiden let go of his brother and stood back to let him settle.

§

Maura was halfway between the main house and the cottage when Daniel's horse suddenly became skittish and spooked. "Whoa Demon, whoa boy!" She could not rein him in.               He began to spin her around in circles and she became dizzy and was thrown to the ground, with a thud.  She was lying there in the middle of the trail stunned. Once she realized she was all right and was probably just going to be plagued with some bumps and bruises, for a few days, she sat up and brushed the leaves from her hair and the dust and dirt from her gown. Then it hit her like a terrible fright. "Oh my God! The damn horse is gone!" Maura was stricken with fear. “Daniel will surely kill me, now!" She stood up, wincing when she began to take a few steps and rubbing at her sore pride. "Oh why did I have ta run off all half cocked and loosin' my temper like that?" She began to call out to the horse. "C'mon Demon. Do ya have ta be livin' up ta ya name? Oh, you damn beast. Where the hell have ya gone ta? Ya are just the same as that owner of yours, stubborn and pig headed.” 

§
  

Daniel looked up in the direction of the cottage road when he heard the clip clop of hooves approaching. He was relieved Maura had the good sense to return his horse and talk things out.
His relief turned to instant dread when he saw a riderless horse approaching. He leapt off of the porch, missing every step. He grabbed hold of Demon's reins and walked him back toward the porch. "Demon, boy, where's Maura?" He felt terror, give way, in his own voice.

Aiden had just returned to the porch with a couple of bourbons to finish his talk with his brother when he fell upon this scene and became immediately worried, himself.
"Danny, did Maura return with ya horse?" His voice was shaky, though he tried to hide his own fear.

"No Aiden she did n
aught. I'm goin' ta head down ta the cottage." He was frantic, at this point. He could not lose her again. Damn his stubborn Irish pride. He should have insisted on returning her to the cottage. If they continued arguing, so be it. He was such a foolish man, he thought to himself. He mounted Demon, dug his heels deep into horseflesh and raced toward the guesthouse.

§

"Demon...c'mon boy" Maura was so angry with herself, at this point. "Oh why must I be so damn headstrong? I should o' let Daniel return me ta the guest house and then thrown his sorry arse out!" She continued down the moonlit road toward the guesthouse. After a few more minutes, she could see the entryway to the cottage and was feeling, somewhat, relieved she managed to get herself to safety.

As she reached for the gate to enter into the front garden area, she heard the loud cracking sound of dry leaves and tree branches. The woods were thick with lush greenery at this time of year. The moonlight illuminated the cottage path just enough for her to see her way up to the front entrance of the guesthouse. Everywhere else around the house was pitch black.

"Demon...is that you, boy?" She walked over toward the wooded area, where she first heard the cracking sounds. "C'mon now honey. If ya show ya self ta me I'll be givin' ya a nice sweet treat." She was making clicking sounds in hopes of drawing the beast out. "Damn you, beast, if ya are not as stubborn as that man that owns ya." She walked into the woods a little further, just out of the moonlight. The sudden familiar smell of dank foul breathe was immediately upon her in the dark. The last thing Maura remembered was a hand covering her mouth. Her own muffled screams and then blackness.

§

"Hurray up and help me get her inta the carriage. He'll sure ta be showin' up any minute now."
Kilern's whispers were strained as he was directing Mallory. "I never should o’ gotten involved with another female." He scoffed at Mallory for being a weakling.

"You shut your disgusting foul mouth, Kilern." Mallory spat back at him. "You'd be losing' your precious virginal prize if it were not for me helping you. And don't you be forgetting that fact, either, mister! If everything works out to plan,
he will soon forget all about her then I will have him
and
his money. My family will be out of debt and you will be a rich man, as well.”

"Shh
, hold down ya cacklin’, wench. I hear a rider approachin'" Kilern instructed.

Daniel dismounted Demon. He could see there were no candles lit in the guesthouse. This worried him. Although he held onto a spark of
hope, she was all right, because he had not run across her lying on the carriage road. He cautiously entered the gated area.

Daniel started up the steps to the guesthouse when he saw a powder flash and then a shot rang out. Daniel fell to the ground, at the base of the steps.

"What the hell!” He shouted, "Guess he's got more than one enemy, eh?" "We'd better make haste lest we be the ones ta blame, and we're already in deep enough with this family.”

"Are you crazy, Kilern, I can't just leave him there! Mallory screamed back in Kilern's face. "Oh my God Danny
, please do not be dead. You take her and go." Mallory instructed. "I'll go for help." 

"You had better not cross me girl, or you'll end up with the same fate as ya lover. Are ya hearin' me, now?" Kilern bellowed his murderous promise as he pulled away from the guesthouse and disappeared into the dark forest.

Mallory cautiously approached Daniel's body. She could see there was a great pool of blood all around him. She knew time was of the essence, if he was to survive.

"Oh Danny
, why must you be so damn stubborn? Who have you gone an angered now."

Mallory walked around Daniel's body, careful not to touch
him. Mallory heard the crackling of dry branches off to the side of the guesthouse. She backed away, scared and breathing heavy. Was she next?, she thought. Mallory heard the sounds again. She moved closer to the woods edge. Her breath was caught in her throat. "Oh my God! What are you doing here?"

Ӝ

Chapter
Twenty-Two

Aiden wasted not a minute, once he heard the shot from the main house."Sweet lord almighty, something' bad has happened for sure!" He immediately jumped upon his horse and raced toward the guesthouse. Aiden leapt from his stallion and without breaking his stride, was at his brother's side. "Danny!" He cried out in shocked disbelief. "You let your guard down, brother, big mistake!" Aiden rolled his brother's onto his back and felt his neck for a pulse.

"Thank God...you
’re still alive!" He was slightly relieved but still in fear for his brother’s life.

Aiden grabbed hold of Daniel
beneath his arms and dragged him into the guesthouse, placing him on the divan in the drawing room. He covered him with a blanket from the back of the divan, "Danny, hang on brother. I'll be back with mother and Doc Kerrigan." Aiden checked Daniel’s pulse one last time then jumped upon his horse and fled back to the main house.

Mallory knew it would look bad if she were there. What would she say she was doing there? "Your family will look after you, now." she
whispered. "I am so sorry I have to leave you like this, Daniel." Mallory blew him a kiss from outside the window and ran into the woods to make her escape. "And you! How could you do such a thing?" Mallory spat at the dark assailant, with her in the shadows. "I'll deal with you later. We must depart here before we're seen."

Mary jumped down off the buckboard of the carriage, without any help from her son. "Daniel!" Daniel!" She cried out with
fright in her voice. "Oh my God, Aiden, what has happened, here? And where's Maura?"

"I have no more knowledge of the circumstances of this horrible findin’, than do you, mother."
Aiden continued to try and fill in the blanks, as much he could. “I was on the steps of the front entry way talking with Danny, because he and Maura had yet another one of their silly disagreements." Aiden explained to Mary.

"What disagreement?" Mary questioned her son.

"Oh you know the usual. Danny says something stupid and Maura flies into a rage.” He continued to explain. “ Maura stole his horse because she did not want him to return her to the cottage and then the horse returns here, riderless, Danny was out o’ his mind with worry, takes off, and the next thing I hear is a shot ring out from the darkness. I lost no time in wonderin' what the hell had gone wrong. I immediately fled to the guesthouse to make sure both were alright and this is what I found when I got here. Daniel lying here bleedin' ta death and Maura is nowhere ta be found."

"Aiden I really find it hard ta believe Maura would have shot Danny
. Do you think that?” Mary was scared and confused.

"No I don't think that's the case at all, mother. I think
tis the scoundrel that has ne'er been caught, all these months.” Aiden deduced.

"Then ya think this scoundrel has made away with Maura, as well?"

"Tis very possible this animal was thus angry with Danny for injectin' himself inta Maura's life, he layed in wait for her ta be alone ta make his move ta kidnap her. But it looks as though our Danny got in the way. The scary thing is this person, or persons were probably among the party guests and knew exactly when and where to strike." Aiden's voice was dreadfully forlorn. He looked over to his brother's body on the divan. "Danny I am so sorry for the trouble that has befallen ya, brother. I feel partly responsible. Quinn and I should ne’er had the party, and then this wouldna happened." He ran both hands up the sides of his face and down through his auburn mane in frustration.

Aiden
heard a carriage pull up. Both he and Mary stepped out on the cottage steps and saw it was Doc Kerrigan. "What in blazes has happened now? Doc Kerrigan exclaimed as he entered the foyer. When he saw it was Daniel this time, he was shocked to say the least.

"
Daniel’s been shot, Doc." Aiden said. "We don't have a clue as ta how this all happened."

"Well now's not the time ta speculate. Ya brother has lost a lot o' blood.
Lets' get his jacket off and see what the damage is." Doc was short in his tone to Aiden and Mary.

They all went to the task of trying to revive Daniel. As soon as they started to undress
him, his eyes fluttered and he made some inaudible noises. Doc was pleased. "This is a good sign. Despite the amount of blood loss, he's able to respond to painful stimuli."

"Daniel, Daniel!" Doc shouted. "Can ya hear me, man?" Doc shouted, again, even louder, forcefully tapping at his face to elicit a response...any response.

"Y-yes. What has, argh, happened?" Daniel spoke, but was in deep, agonizing pain and instinctively reached for his back. "What has got me in so much pain in my back, Doc? Have I been stabbed?" Daniel asked, trying to make some sense of what has happened.

"No Daniel, you've been shot
… in the back. The bloody scoundrel hadn't the courage ta face ya head on so as ta get the better of ya he shot ya in ya back, the coward."Aiden’s tone was of disgust.

"Listen ta me Daniel", Doc broke in, "
Can ya feel where I'm touchin' ya?" Doc asked while continuing to manipulate Daniel's legs below the knees.

"Touchin' me where?" Daniel answered, with a tone of agitation.

Doc had a worried look upon his face and Mary could see that he was worried.

"How 'bout now?" Doc was touching him at the top of his right thigh.

Daniel just stared at Doc and shook his head, "No."

"What's wrong Doc?" Mary asked. Her eyes were wide and full of fear.

"How' bout now?' Doc pressed Daniel on his right hip area.

"Yes. I could feel that" Daniel returned with an air of certainty in his voice.

"Good, Good. Doc replied with some relief. "Look Daniel you've got a bullet lodged in ya back and its probably leanin' on a nerve on ya spine that's preventin' ya from feelin' below ya waist area. I don't know for sure but if I can remove it, mayhap that will be all that is the problem." Doc's tone was weak and unsure.

Something Daniel had never experienced with his friend, before. He had always been very sure of himself and of what his capabilities were when it came to medicine. It meant more now, than ever, for Daniel to hear assuredness from his friend.

Daniel's thoughts suddenly turned to Maura. He remembered before he saw the flash of light and smell of gunpowder, he was in pursuit of Maura.

"Aiden, did ya find Maura?" Daniel pleaded for an affirmative answer.

"No, Danny I did naught," Aiden's voice filled with worry.

"Daniel, Aiden said you and Maura had been quarrelin’. Mayhap that could explain some things that are not apparent to the situation?" Mary reminded Daniel.

"We were arguin’ over Mallory, mother. Daniel replied.

"Why Mallory?" Mary questioned.

"Because she saw, argh, Mallory and I together out in the garden earlier in the evening. Really mother I canna go inta that right now!" Daniel spoke sharply to his mother, which he had never done before.

Mary knew it was because he was in such severe pain that she would dismiss his tone for now.

"There's no time for this nonsense.” Doc broke in. We've got ta get ya back ta the house and get this bullet out o’ ya back." They all agreed. Doc and Aiden got Daniel lifted into the carriage and back to the main house where Doc could properly work on his friend.

§

The second the gag was removed from her mouth, Maura let out a shrill scream. "You vile disgusting creature. I knew you were up ta no good, all along!" Maura wrenched herself forward. Her hands were still tied behind her back, preventing her from scratching Kilern’s eyes out.

"Well now
, I can see that ya have not lost ya creativity for name callin', Hehehe." Kilern cackled, as he backed away from her to sit across the room. "Are ya hungry yet gel?" Kilern sat at a wooden table, carving small pieces cheese, fruit, and bread. I can naught have ya gettin' too skinny on me, eh? The Gents willna be likin' that too much. They usually like a woman with some meat ta her bones." He taunted her in his wicked sadistic manner.

Maura
scanned the room. She felt a familiarity about the setting. She instantly remembered being in a decidedly similar predicament with this man. She remembered being in a brothel and also how she had came to be there as well. "You are nothin’ but a vile disgusting pig, Kilern! Daniel will see you dead before this day arrives at its end!"

"If that's how ya are wantin' ta play this game that's fine by me, lass. I fancy the quiet, myself." He
shoved the ragged cloth into her mouth to quiet her and returned to his chair across the room. "Your Danny, is not goin’ ta be of much help to ya from the grave, darlin'."

Maura's eyes grew wide with fear. Her words were a muffled mass of noise.

Kilern removed the rag from Maura’s mouth for just a moment. He could not wait to fully douse the venomous flame within her by revealing to her that her precious love was no more.

"What do ya mean, from the grave, Kilern?

I'm meanin' he's dead, lass, never ta rescue ya again from the fate that awaits ya."

His delivery of Daniel's death could not have been more cruel. "Your, mine now, gel. So ya might as well reside ya self ta that fact.”
He waited to hear her rebuke. When he did not, he continued his admonishment. “Well now, what have ya got ta say ta that, missy?”

Maura silently stared straight ahead at the bead board wall.

"Hehehe, I thought that 'twould shut ya up." He spoke while chewing on a piece of dry stale bread. He stood up from his chair, knocking it to its side.

The crash of the chair hitting the warped
, broken wooden floor planks startled Maura from her trance. Her eyes filled with tears. She felt if she had kept her head together, none of this would have happened, and in the offing, Daniel would not have had to pay the ultimate price...his life.

Satisfied, he had broken her will,
Kilern shoved the filthy rag back into her mouth.

She felt an empt
iness she had never experienced before. The love of her life was dead and it was her fault. She fought to choke back her tears.

Kilern staggered over toward Maura
. She had scrunched herself into the far corner of the room. He grabbed her by the back of her hair and pulled her to a standing position.With his grimy fingers entangled in her hair, he jerked her head back with a great force. Her eyes flinched in response to his rough grip on the back of her head. He had her so stretched up she was teetering on the tips of her toes. If she let herself down on flat feet, her hair would have been ripped out by the roots.

Kilern stared her down.

Maura was scared but was damned if she was going to give him the satisfaction of seeing her fear. She boldly stared directly back into his cold, gray eyes.

His face was just inches from hers. His breath smelled of whiskey and rotten cheese. She thought she would vomit from the smell. She remained steady.

Satisfied he put the fear of the devil in her, he thrust her backwards, where she landed on her back across the fallen chair.

He thought to give her more where that came from but lost his balance
in his drunken haze, he tripped over her and landed on his wrist. He screamed an immense, excruciating bellow.

Maura quickly rolled out of the path of his fallen body. Her hands still bound, all she could do was inch her way as far away from Kilern as possible.

Kilern rolled over onto his back and cursed Maura. He had draped his forearm over his mouth to trying to contain his agony, as he was quite certain he had broken his wrist when he hit the floor. "You bitch! You will surely pay for this setback, mark my words!"

Kilern's speech was muffled and slurred.

Maura could see that he was tiring and would soon be passed out from the whiskey and sheer exhaustion of his pain. She told herself she would have to wait him out then she'd start planning her escape. She kept telling herself she could not and would not just lay down for this animal and let him over-take her. She vowed she would die first.