Briana

  "You were a fanciful child, I see."

  "Aye." As they exited the pass she nodded toward the waterfall,

  spilling hundreds of feet from the top of the mountain into the river

  below. "It's easy to be fanciful in Ballinarin. It's a place apart. Lonely

  and wild. Savage and yet so beautiful. As though some heavenly artist

  had painted this scene, intent upon using every color. See there." She

  pointed to the clumps of rhododendrons, ablaze with reds and pinks

  and purples.

  Keane followed her direction, hearing in her voice a softness, a

  reverence he hadn't heard before. "Even the clouds are different

  here."

  "Aye." He glanced heavenward. The clouds above seemed torn and

  shredded by the wind. Some gauzy white, others with edges tinted

  gold and. mauve in a sky so blue it hurt to look directly at it.

  "You've come home, Briana."

  "Aye. At long last. Home." She had to take in a deep breath to keep

  from weeping.

  As the carriage rolled through the village, a woman herding a flock of

  geese stopped to stare at the passengers in the carriage: Spying

  Briana's fiery hair she called, "Look. It is Briana O'Neil."

  A husband and wife, tending their garden, looked up and joined in the

  chorus. "Aye. So it is. I'd know that hair anywhere. Our lady Briana

  has returned."

  Then a cluster of lads heard the voices and one of them leapt on the

  back of a pony, shouting, "I must take word to Ballinarin at once."

  Digging in his heels, he sped off to spread the news."I can see that our

  arrival won't be a surprise," Keane said with a smile.

  "Nay. In our little part of Ireland, there are few secrets."

  Keane watched as her hands, held firmly in her lap, clasped and

  unclasped. As the grey stones of the keep loomed up before them, her

  eyes filled. Tears rolled unchecked down her cheeks.

  The doors to the keep were thrust open and voices could be heard

  shouting as people began spilling out into the courtyard. By the time

  the carriage came to a halt, every single person in Ballinarin had

  assembled. Cook and housekeeper. Scullery maid and stable lad.

  Standing in front was the entire O'Neil family.

  Keane stepped down and assisted Briana from the carriage.

  "Oh. Sweet heaven, it's true then." Moira O'Neil raced forward to

  embrace her daughter. Her tears mingled with Briana's. "Oh, my

  sweet, beautiful daughter. You're truly back with us."

  "Let me at her." Rory rushed forward and picked up his baby sister,

  swinging her around and around, as he had when she'd been a little

  girl. "God in heaven, how I've missed you."

  "And I've missed you, Rory. Oh, how I've missed you."

  As .soon as he set her on her feet Conor came forward to hug her

  fiercely. "We feared the worst. When you never arrived home, we

  sent word to the abbey. Reverend Mother assured us you'd left

  months ago."

  "Aye." Briana clung to him, then turned to take hold of Rory's

  shoulder as well. "There were times I feared I'd never see my big

  brothers again."

  "What about me?"

  She turned, and for a moment couldn't believe her eyes. "Can this be

  little Innis?"

  He laughed and swept her into his arms.

  When he set her down she caught his hands and held him a little

  away. "How can this be? You're as tall as Rory and Conor. You've

  become a man while I was away."

  "I should hope so. Because you've become..." He tousled her hair.

  "You've become almost a woman."

  "Almost? Keep a civil tongue." She turned to the two young women

  who had walked up to stand quietly beside her brothers. "AnnaClaire.

  Emma." She hugged one, then the other, before catching sight of the

  fullness of their gowns. "Can it be that I'm about to become an aunt,

  not once, but twice?"

  "In fact," AnnaClaire said softly, "this will be your third time." She

  signalled to a small, dark-haired lad who was the image of Rory.

  "Come Patrick. Meet your Aunt Briana."

  The lad held back, too shy to greet this stranger.

  Briana felt tears threaten once more. "A nephew? And I didn't even

  know he existed."

  Suddenly the crowd fell silent as one figure stepped forward. Gavin

  O'Neil looked the same as when Briana had last seen him. A lion's

  mane of silver hair framed a craggy face that was still rugged and

  handsome. Though his middle had thickened, he still bore the traces

  of a seasoned warrior, with broad shoulders and muscled arms.

  For several seconds he merely stared at her, as though he couldn't

  quite believe his eyes.

  "So. You've come home then." His voice was the same as well. A

  fierce growl.

  "Aye."

  "Well then. Come and give me a kiss."

  She closed the distance between them and pressed her lips to his

  cheek.

  He caught her by the shoulders and held her a little away. His eyes

  narrowed as he studied the woman before him. His daughter. And yet,

  not his daughter. Where once she had been round, almost chubby, she

  was now thin and angular. Her lush mane of fiery tangles had been

  cropped, leaving a cap of curls framing a face that, if possible, had

  grown even more beautiful.

  She had become a stranger.

  While he studied her the others gathered around them, joining hands

  to form an unbroken circle.

  From his position by the carriage, Keane watched, feeling at that

  moment like an intruder. And wondering what it must be like to

  belong to such a large, emotional family.

  The voices became a chorus of questions.

  "Where have you been?"

  "How have you been living all these months?"

  "What about the lads who accompanied you?"

  Briana held up her hand. "All in good time. For now, you must meet

  some people who have become very important in my life."

  She crossed to Keane and caught his hand, pulling him toward her

  family.

  "This is Keane O'Mara. He saved my life. And now, for a little while,

  he seeks sanctuary here at Ballinarin. Keane, this is my family."

  Gavin O'Neil offered a stiff handshake, while Moira clasped his hand

  in both of hers and said, ' 'Our home is yours, Keane O'Mara. For as

  long as you desire."

  Rory and Conor mirrored their father's wary greeting, while their

  wives were as enthusiastic as Moira.

  Briana waved the housekeeper and butler over. "Mistress Malloy and

  Vinson are carrying Keane's greatest treasure of all. His daughter,

  Alana."

  "Oh, how precious she is." Moira opened her arms to the child, and,

  seeing the fatigue in the eyes of the old servants, became the efficient

  hostess. "You must come inside at once and let us make you

  comfortable. How far have you journeyed?"

  As the housekeeper struggled to keep up she said, "Clear across

  Ireland. And before that, London."

  "You were in England?" Gavin's eyes narrowed.

  Briana caught Keane's arm and started toward the door. "Aye. But

  we'll tell you everything later, Father. For now, I wish to wash away

  the grime of our journey. And taste Cook's
salmon."

  "And so you shall." Moira turned to her daughter- in-law.

  ' AnnaClaire, will you ask Cook to see that the lads catch some fresh

  salmon for our evening meal?'

  "Aye." The young woman hurried away.

  As she stepped inside, Briana paused a moment to drink in the

  familiar sights and scents of her home. Memories washed over her.

  Fresh tears filled her eyes.

  Keane laid a hand over hers. "Are you all right?"

  She took in a deep breath to calm herself. "Aye. It's just

  so...overwhelming."

  "I know." He touched a hand to her cheek.

  Just then Gavin walked in, stopped, then cleared his throat. Behind

  him, his two sons watched in silence.

  "You'll want to refresh yourself in your old room. Briana," Gavin said

  sternly.

  "Aye. Come with me, Keane. I'll show you where I spent the first ten

  and five years of my life."

  "He can see that later." Gavin paused, then strove for a softer tone.

  "I'm sure our guest would like some ale to wash away the dust of his

  travels." His eyes challenged. "Wouldn't you?"

  Keane nodded. "Aye." He gave Briana a gentle smile. "You go ahead

  upstairs. I'll see you later."

  She squeezed his hands. Then, with a swirl of skirts, she turned away

  and raced up the stairs.

  Gavin led the way to his library, with Keane walking between Rory

  and Conor. All four men were grim-faced.

  "Oh, this is wonderful." Briana sat between her two sisters-in-law,

  AnnaClaire and Emma. Keane was across the table, with Rory on one

  side of him and Conor on the other. As always, Gavin O'Neil sat at the

  head of the table, with his wife at the opposite end. Friar Malone sat

  on the right hand of Gavin, with Innis on his left.

  "I must tell Cook that this salmon is even better than I'd

  remembered."

  "I'll have her cook it every day now that you're home," Moira said.

  "We need to see that you eat more. You've grown very thin, Briana."

  Briana laughed. "Now you're beginning to sound like Keane. He

  wondered if they'd ever fed me in the convent."

  "How did you two become acquainted?" Friar Malone asked as he

  helped himself to a second portion. Ordinarily he curbed his appetite,

  as an act of self- denial... But this, he consoled himself, was a special

  occasion.

  "Keane found me lying in a field, more dead than alive. He took me to

  his home, Carrick House, and nursed me back to life. If it weren't for

  him, I wouldn't be here now."

  "We are forever in your debt, my lord." Moira's eyes filled and she

  looked down, embarrassed that her emotions were so close to the

  surface. But it would have to be forgiven, for her youngest child was

  home with her. And her heart was so full, she thought it would surely

  burst.

  "Tomorrow I'd like to visit the families of the lads who accompanied

  me." Briana pushed aside her plate. Suddenly her appetite had fled

  just thinking about the sad news she would have to relay.

  "Why?" Gavin's voice boomed out the single word. It was the first

  time he'd spoken since the festive meal had begun.

  "They need to know that their sons all died as heroes. They gave their

  lives to save mine."

  "I'll tell them," he said firmly. "There's no need for you to speak of

  something so painful when you've just come back to Ballinarin."

  "Aye. There is." Briana's voice was just as firm. "I was there. I saw

  what happened. Their families need to hear it from my lips. I'll be the

  one to tell them."

  Gavin's eyes narrowed. "Are you defying me this way just to test my

  patience?

  "Patience?" Briana returned his dark, angry stare without flinching.

  "When did you manage to acquire such a virtue as patience?"

  He picked up his goblet and drank. His fingers tightened on the stem

  of the goblet. "I'll overlook such impertinence, since it's your first

  night under my roof Perhaps you've forgotten, since you've been

  living at..." He turned and fixed Keane with a scowl "...Carrick

  House." He swung his look back to his daughter. "But in this house,

  my word is law. Anyone who dares to disobey me..."

  "I know the rest." She shoved back her chair; got to her feet. "Anyone

  who dares to disobey you is banished. For you and you alone are

  judge, jury and executioner."

  As she started to flounce away he leapt up and caught her arm.

  "You've never forgiven me for that, have you? It will always be there

  between us, festering, but never healing."

  "That's where you're wrong, Father. It was the only sermon that was

  preached to me every day for three long years at the abbey. And

  finally, after a flood of tears, and even more prayers and more misery

  than you can ever imagine, I succeeded in forgiving you."

  When the words were spoken aloud, she paused, realizing she had

  spoken the truth. In her heart she had truly forgiven her father.

  She turned and laid a hand on his cheek. "Perhaps the problem is not

  my forgiveness. Perhaps it's time you looked in your own heart to see

  if you can forgive yourself."

  For a moment there was only stunned silence. All those around the

  table seemed to hold their collective breath at the challenge hurled at

  Gavin O'Neil by his impertinent daughter.

  Suddenly a cry of anguish was torn from Gavin's lips. "Oh, sweet

  heaven. I feared I'd never live to see my youngest child, my only

  daughter, again. Was terrified that my punishment would be that I'd

  never get to hold you again. And now you've come back to me. And I

  don't deserve you. I don't deserve this blessing. This second chance at

  happiness."

  And then, while the others looked on in amazement, he dragged her

  against him and crushed her to his chest while he wept bitter tears of

  remorse.

  Friar Malone looked up and was heard to mutter, "Praise be. Our

  Briana has done what no amount of prayers and fasting could have

  accomplished. I do believe there will finally be peace in Ballinarin."

  "You must tell us everything." Emma looked up from the blanket she

  was knitting. She sat on a chaise beside AnnaClaire, whose young

  son, Patrick, had fallen asleep in her lap.

  Moira sat in front of the fire, with Briana at her feet, cuddling a

  sleeping Alana against her chest.

  "I'm told by Keane's servants that I would have died had he not fought

  for me."

  "How romantic," AnnaClaire said. "Do you love him?"

  Emma's needles went still.

  "Aye. With all my heart."

  ' 'Does he love you?' Moira held her breath.

  "Aye. I'm hoping Friar Malone can marry us while we're here at

  Ballinarin. Then, when we return to Carrick House, we can have

  another service there for the benefit of the villagers of Carrick,. who

  have a great affection for Keane."

  "Have you two spoken of all this?" Moira asked softly.

  Briana smiled. "There is no need, Mother. We each know what is in

  the other's heart."

  She saw the door to her father's library open. Her father and brothers

  and Keane had been behind closed doors for what seemed hours. Sh
e

  smiled, thinking about the silly haggling over dowry and the formal

  betrothal, which Friar Malone would no doubt announce at tomorrow

  morning's Mass.

  As the men began to file out, Briana turned and handed the sleeping

  Alana to her mother, then made her way to Keane's side. "We were

  just talking about you."

  "Briana."

  He sounded so weary, she found herself glancing up into his eyes.

  They were dark and shuttered. And as icy as when she'd first met him.

  "What is it, Keane? What's wrong?"

  He took a deep breath and looked around at the others, who were

  watching and listening. "I didn't want to tell you like this. Perhaps we

  could find a more private moment."

  "Nay." She felt a flutter of fear, then banked it. "Whatever you have

  to say, can be said in front of my family."

  "All right." He took her hand between both of his and stared at it,

  avoiding her eyes. "I've decided to leave on the morrow."

  "Leave Ballinarin? Where will you go?"

  "Home. Back to Carrick House."

  "But the Cranmers' army..."

  "We have our own village militia now. I doubt the Cranmers are

  willing to face a hundred swords and knives for the sake of a child

  they don't really love. After all, they were merely using Alana to hurt

  me. I do believe they'll give up their claim to her now that she's back

  in Ireland. Perhaps, in time, our lives will all return to normal."

  She smiled and squeezed his hands. "I pray it's so. I do wish we could

  have spent more time here at Ballinarin. I was just telling the others

  that I'd hoped Friar Malone could be the one to bless our marriage.

  But if you think it's best to leave, I'll be packed and ready on the

  morrow."

  When she started to turn away, he caught her hands, holding her still.

  "You don't understand, Briana. I'm afraid I didn't make myself clear.

  I'm returning to Carrick House tomorrow without you."

  "What...? Why...?" She stopped, tried again. "What do you mean?

  Keane, why are you saying this?"

  "You're home now, Briana. In the bosom of a family who loves you."

  "And I love them. But I love you too, Keane. It's only right that I go

  with you."

  "I'm afraid that isn't possible. Your life is here now, in Ballinarin."

  "Nay." She shook her head, sending red curls dancing around her

  cheeks. "My life is with you."

  "Briana, I know I saved your life. But you also saved mine.

  We're...even now. And you musn't confuse gratitude with love."