Undaunted Love (PART ONE): Banished Saga, Book 3 (33 page)

“Yes, to help me,” I whispered, swiping at my tears.

“I need to go back, Rissa. I need to travel with you.”

I looked toward Gabriel, standing near the doorway, a silent sentinel to our devastation. “Gabriel and I have enough saved for two to travel. We’d decided, if you wanted to come, you and I would go, and Gabe would stay.”

“That’s not fair to you, Rissa.” Colin shook his head, and I could tell he was readying his argument.

“I want you with me as we face attending our father’s funeral. You should be there too, Col,” I whispered, unable to speak louder past the thickness in my throat.

“I can’t believe Da’s gone. I … There’s so much I wanted to say to him. So much I never said because I got so mad at him because he married that awful woman.” Colin lowered his head, resting it on his bent knees as his shoulders shuddered with his sobs.

I reached forward to touch his back, uncertain how to impart comfort when I was in as much need for comfort. He took a deep breath, reining in his grief. “And we’ll have to face her again.”

He met my shattered gaze. “Most likely Mrs. Wright and the grandparents, too.”

“I know. But I still need to be there.”

Colin nodded. “We should pack if we are to leave tomorrow. I’ll tell Amelia why I’m not staying for supper. I couldn’t possibly eat.” He rose onto his knees again and leaned forward, embracing me for a few moments.

***

“ARE YOU ASLEEP?” I whispered. I laid on my back staring at the ceiling, tracing patterns on Gabriel’s arm wrapped along my middle.

“If I were, I’m sure you’d wake me up,” he mumbled, his voice thick with fatigue. I turned my head, meeting his teasing eyes. “That whisper would’ve woken the dead.”

I turned, rolling into him for a full-bodied hug. He grunted at my sudden movement before adjusting and holding me close. Our foreheads touched, and, if I arched my back, I could kiss him. For now, I remained in his embrace, breathing the same air, memorizing his touch.

“Are you all right, my darling?” He brushed his fingers up and down my back.

I shook my head, trying to blink away tears. “I know I need to go. I want to go. But I can’t stand the thought of leaving you again. Of not having you next to me.”

Gabriel stroked my cheek, causing me to meet his worried gaze. “I’ll telegram Uncle. Borrow the money from him. I’ll come with you.”

“No, I know you should stay here. You’ve important commissions.”

“Nothing is more important than you, darling. If you want me with you, I’ll be there.”

I blinked my agreement, plump tears escaping my eyes. “Of course I want you with me, but I know you should stay here. Even if it’s borrowing from Aidan, I don’t like being in debt.” I turned, wiping my face on the pillow for a moment before moving again so I could see Gabriel. “I’m just being selfish.”

“No, you’re not. And it never hurts me to hear you need me. That you want me with you.”

“Always, my darling. I’ll miss you, more than I can say while I’m away,” I said as I choked on a sob. Gabriel pulled me close as I cried on his shoulder.

“And I will never be happier than when you return to me,” Gabriel said.

Author’s Notes

Thank you for reading
Undaunted Love: Part One
. 
Clarissa's saga continues in
Undaunted Love: Part Two
as she journeys east to Boston to reunite with Savannah, Gabriel's brothers and to confront her stepmother, Mrs. Smythe.

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Cast of Characters

BOSTON

Savannah Montgomery nee Russell
: Clarissa’s cousin and confidante, recently married to Jonas Montgomery, lives in the Back Bay

Jonas Montgomery
: wealthy New Yorker, Savannah’s husband

Lucas Russell
: Savannah’s brother, works at his father’s linen store, “Russells,” is a talented piano player

Martin Russell
: father to Lucas and Savannah, uncle to Clarissa, owns and runs the linen store, “Russells,” store and home in the South End, near the Sullivan home

Matilda Russell nee Thompson
: Savannah’s mother and Clarissa’s aunt, sister to Agnes and Betsy

Betsy Parker nee Thompson
: childless, lives in Quincy, married to a wealthy man, free-thinking, cryptic comments, Matilda and Agnes’ sister, Clarissa and Savannah’s aunt.

Richard McLeod
: Gabriel’s middle brother, a blacksmith, friend to Colin

Florence McLeod nee Butler
: married to Richard, orphan, used to teach with Clarissa,

Jeremy McLeod
: the youngest McLeod brother, was in the Army, recently returned from fighting in the Philippines

Aidan McLeod
: uncle to the three McLeod boys, smart businessman

Sophronia Chickering
: feisty suffragette, lives on Beacon Hill, distantly related by marriage to the piano Chickerings

Sean Sullivan
: Clarissa’s father, a blacksmith, from Ireland

Mrs. Rebecca Sullivan nee Smythe
: Clarissa’s stepmother, has social aspirations

Delia Maidstone
: headmistress at the orphanage in the North End

Zylphia Maidstone
: Delia’s daughter

Mrs. Wright
: Cameron’s mother

MONTANA

Gabriel McLeod
: the eldest McLeod brother, a cabinetmaker, married to Clarissa

Clarissa McLeod nee Sullivan
: suffragist and former teacher, married to Gabriel, sister to Colin, works with Mr. Pickens

Colin Sullivan
: Clarissa’s brother, a blacksmith

Ronan O’Bara
: Matthew’s friend who works in the mine with Liam

Amelia Egan
: widow to Liam, was a schoolteacher, mother to Nicholas and Anne

Nicholas Egan
: Amelia’s son

Anne Egan
: Amelia’s daughter

Mr. A.J. Pickens
: works at the Book Depository

Mrs. Bouchard
: works on the Library Committee with her sister; considers herself a great arbiter of fashion

Mrs. Vaughan
: works with her sister, Mrs. Bouchard, on the Library Committee

Sebastian Carling
: mill foreman, befriends Gabriel

Cameron Wright
: was a suitor for Clarissa’s hand, remained in Montana

Acknowledgments

It’s an honor to write books and have fans eagerly awaiting the next installment. Thank you to all of my readers!

Thank you, Margo and Brian, for your unwavering enthusiasm and interest.

I couldn’t ask for more ardent fans than the Ladies of Somerset. Thank you!

To my dedicated, wonderful editors, Caroline, Gary and Denise at BubbleCow, thank you for helping me see plot holes and ways to enrich my story.

Thank you to everyone who has helped spread the work about the Banished Saga. A big Montana thank you to all of the wonderful internet book bloggers, especially Charlie, Punya, and Kayla. Thank you!

Finally, thank you to my family. Your endless patience as I discuss random historical facts, lose the thread of a conversation because my mind has wandered to a new plot point, or I disappear to write is priceless. Mil Gracias!

“There is a sacredness in tears.

They are not a mark of weakness, but of power.

They speak more eloquently than ten thousand tongues.

They are the messengers of overwhelming grief,

of deep contrition and of unspeakable love.”

- Washington Irving (attributed)

Copyright © 2015 by Ramona Flightner.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher, addressed “Attention: Permissions Coordinator,” at the address below.

Ramona Flightner/Grizzly Damsel Publishing

P.O. Box 187

Boston, MA 02128

www.ramonaflightner.com

Cover design by Derek Murphy

Publisher’s Note: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are a product of the author’s imagination. Locales and public names are sometimes used for atmospheric purposes. Any resemblance to actual people, living or dead, or to businesses, companies, events, institutions, or locales is completely coincidental.

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Reclaimed Love/ Ramona Flightner. — 1st ed.

Print ISBN: 978-0-9860502-6-8

eBook ISBN: 978-0-9860502-7-5