Reclaimed Love: Banished Saga, Book Two (26 page)

“Rissa,” he said, patting me softly on my back when he set me down.

“Would either of you care to tell me why Colin is here?” Aunt Betsy said as she maneuvered her way to a chair, her cane making a loud
thunk
with each step. She settled into my recently vacated chair and turned her blue-green eyes, lit with concern, on us. “I suspect he isn’t here to escort us home.”

I exchanged a worried glance with Colin but decided to trust Aunt Betsy. “I’m not returning home with you, Aunt Betsy.”

“What do you hope to accomplish?”

“A future with Gabriel.”

A slow smile spread across her face. “It’s about time. I’m thankful you have the sense your mama did to grasp at happiness and not allow others to dictate how you should live your life.”

“Thank you, Aunt Betsy,” I whispered, attempting not to cry.

“So that is why you have traveled here to be with us?” She turned toward Colin. At his nod, she looked at me and then toward Sophronia. “When are you traveling?”

“We ride out of town on a Northern Pacific train tomorrow, Aunt Betsy,” Colin said.

“Why don’t you rest a few days?” Sophronia asked.

“I’m concerned that Cameron may follow me. Savannah warned me that she heard him speaking with Jonas about traveling to the west,” Colin said.

“Then you need to leave as soon as possible. Clarissa, do you have comfortable travel clothes you wish to wear for a few days?” Aunt Betsy asked.

“I plan on wearing my eggshell-blue shirtwaist.”

“How have you managed to purchase your tickets?” Aunt Betsy asked.

“I have money saved from my teaching.”

“And I have some from the smithy,” Colin said.

She snorted as she rose. “Clarissa, will you accompany me to my room?”

“And you can keep me company, young man,” Sophronia said. “I shall enjoy speaking with you about the goings-on in Boston.”

I shared an amused glance with Colin as I walked slowly beside Aunt Betsy toward her room. Upon entering her lavish suite, I relaxed on the chaise longue in the nook by the window, curling up in the sun like a cat.

“Clarissa, I am surprised you did not share your plans with me.”

“I couldn’t risk anyone ruining my chances with Gabriel.” I watched her as I lay on my side.

“I know you cannot have saved what you need,” she said as she walked to a chest of drawers. “Take this, my dear.” She held out a sack that jingled and crinkled, and I realized it was filled with money.

“Aunt Betsy,” I said in protest, sitting upright as I grasped the bag.

“I have no need of this money, Clarissa. I fear on your journey to Gabriel, you may need more than you have saved. Take this and allow me to help in my own small way.”

“Thank you, Aunt Betsy,” I whispered as I rose to enfold her in a gentle hug.

“Be happy with Gabriel, and that is all the thanks I need,” she said as she leaned away from me to brush the tears from my eyes. “Clarissa, you have always been my favorite niece. I know I shouldn’t say such things, but I may never have the chance again. Be happy. Be honest with Gabriel. Do not be afraid of sharing with him your deepest fears, for, if he is the man you think he is, he will still love you.”

I nodded, my eyes welling again with tears.

“No tears, Clarissa,” she said. “We’ll have letters. Never forget, you are doing what your mama would have wanted you to do. Living out your dream, not the dream that others had for you.”

“Thank you, Aunt Betsy,” I said.

CHAPTER 23

Missoula, Montana, June 1901

GABRIEL THRUST OPEN the workshop door, allowing fresh air to slowly permeate his workplace. He raked his hand through his hair, shaking out wood dust. He continued to gently massage his right shoulder with his left hand, attempting to relax his muscles and ease some of the tension that seemed to have permanently settled there.

After a few more moments spent enjoying the sun and fresh air, Gabriel returned inside to continue with his work. A small rectangular room, his workshop was adequate for his needs. The sun continued to shine in through large windows on either side of the door, allowing him to work at his bench along the far wall with no need for additional light. A cabinet was fitted along the wall to the left of the entrance holding Gabriel’s tools. On the wall to the right of the door, a staircase led up to his living quarters above the workspace. Scattered throughout the room were pieces of furniture in various shapes and stages of development. The thick brick walls of the building prevented his neighbors from becoming annoyed when he worked long into the night.

He walked toward an angled drafting table, sat at his stool and tapped his pencil on the edge of a blank sheet of paper. He sketched a design for a small chest of drawers for one of his customers and soon became lost in the act of creation.

A short time later, a knock at the door interrupted his work. He set aside his pencil before walking toward the door.

“You’re early today!” he said with a broad smile. Upon opening the door, he stopped short, staring with momentary confusion at a tall, well-dressed gentleman. “Excuse me, may I help you, sir?” Gabriel asked.

The gentleman appeared well-to-do, with freshly pressed black pants, a starched white shirt, crisp red checkered tie, black waistcoat, with matching overcoat and top hat. His shoes were brightly polished to a shine so bright that one’s reflection was visible. He turned fully to face Gabriel, and studied him for a few moments with his head tilted to one side. Suddenly, he beamed.

“Yes, I do believe you’ll be able to help me,” the man replied, in a deep, cultured voice with a hint of Boston in it.

Gabriel squinted, a whisper of a memory teasing him. He peered at the middle-aged man.

“Uncle Aidan?” Gabriel asked.

“Yes, Gabriel,” Aidan replied, unable to stop smiling. “I’ve finally arrived. And what a journey it was!”

Gabriel reached out to embrace his uncle but was afraid that would be improper and dropped his arms to his sides. Aidan nodded, seeming to understand his confusion, and grabbed him into a big hug, clapping him on the back. He released him and then gave a short
whoop
, hugging Gabriel again for another quick embrace.

“Ah, Gabriel, I never thought this day would come,” Aidan admitted with a wide grin. “Since I learned you had not perished, I hoped for it, prayed for it, but I always feared something would occur to prevent our reunion.” He looked up and down the street, and then peered into Gabriel’s workshop. “Is there somewhere we can go for a visit?”

“Yes, please come inside.” Gabriel waved toward his workspace, inviting Aidan in. Gabriel had not cleaned for a few days and realized a fine sheen of dust covered every flat surface. “Please pardon the dust, Uncle.” He walked to one of the chairs he had recently finished and wiped it off with a rag.

“You have beautiful pieces here, Gabriel. Is your business growing?” Aidan wandered the workshop, delight and awe on his face as he beheld the pieces created by his nephew.

“Yes, even though I arrived recently, my reputation is growing. I continue to sell more of my work. I don’t mind the long hours. New homes are being built, and I have a few commissions for finish work and cabinetry. I arrived a little over a month ago, but it seems there wasn’t a reputable cabinetmaker in town. I was fortunate.” He sighed and turned to his uncle, studying him. “I can’t believe you’re here. I can’t believe you’re really alive.” He collapsed into the chair he had just cleaned for Aidan.

“Gabriel, it’s as though a dream to me too. You look so much like your father. So tall and broad, with serious eyes, though with a smile ever lurking. You even speak like him.”

Gabriel watched his uncle walk around his workspace, studying his tools. He was tall and dark-haired like his brothers. Like his da. Yet Aidan was more lanky, long boned and trim. He had intense blue eyes with laugh lines at the corners that seemed to take in everything he saw in one quick glance. His voice was cultured, polished, gentle. Different from the booming, vivacious voice of the uncle he remembered as a child. However, the changes were subtle, and Gabriel could see in him the uncle he remembered.

“Uncle, please sit and tell me about your trip here.” Gabriel motioned toward one of the chairs, belatedly realizing it was dusty. However, Aidan sat with no apparent concern for his fine clothing.

“Ah, a well-made rocking chair.” He sighed, starting to rock to and fro. “This is one of my favorite types of chairs, where I often get my best thinking done.”

After a few moments, he cracked open his eyes and said, “I assume you made this?” At Gabriel’s nod, Aidan continued to rock. “A remarkably comfortable chair. I can see why you’ll be a great success.”

Gabriel smiled.

“You have your mother’s smile. Did anyone ever tell you that?” Aidan murmured, pain and sadness deep in his eyes.

“No, no one ever spoke of my parents in a positive way after they died,” Gabriel said. “I had to ignore what my aunt said about them, how she wanted us to remember them, and instead to remember what life truly had been like when they were alive. To tell Richard and Jeremy stories so that they would remember our parents as they were.”

“Ah, so that’s how it was then.” He watched Gabriel with an angry intensity in his blue eyes. “Richard didn’t care to talk much about your aunt. I’m more sorry than I can say that she had a hand in raising you three boys. She’s a truly vile person.” He looked toward Gabriel with anguish. “I thought I’d lost all of you that night. I was told you were dead. I couldn’t believe it. When I went to see your aunt, she met with me in her formal parlor and confirmed what I had heard.”

“Who told you that we had died? I thought everyone on the street had seen us alive, huddled in the middle of it, screaming out for our parents to the point of hoarseness.”

“I spoke with a neighbor of yours, across the street. I can’t remember her name, but she had a houseful of little ones. A widow, I think. Or her husband was out to sea. I can’t recall.” Aidan looked down, his eyes squinted, a distant look in his eyes as though deep in thought.

“But how can that be?” Gabriel exclaimed, causing Aidan to look up. “She took us in, took care of us after our parents died. She was the one who sent for Aunt Masterson. She…” Gabriel stopped speaking.

“I’m not sure, Gabriel, but I do know she told me that you were all dead and to seek out your aunt. Thus, I did, and, when it was confirmed you had died, I fled Boston. I had lost everything that had any true value to me. I never wanted to return. I was bitterly angry that I had lost my entire family that night.”

There was a period of silence, as Gabriel attempted to understand what his uncle had just told him. “You can’t know what it is to learn that there existed someone who wanted us. Loved us,” Gabriel whispered.

“Always, Gabriel. Always. Even when I thought you were lost to me, I loved you boys and never ceased mourning the loss of you.”

“Uncle, what do you remember about visiting my parents’ house?”

“Ah, Gabriel.” He sighed. “It’s not a simple thing for me, remembering those times.” He paused for a moment before meeting Gabriel’s eyes. “Returning to your parents’ house, your house, after my journeys was the closest thing I had to going home. I would go to sea, travel the world, and know that I could come home and be with family. Always be welcome.” He sighed again, closing his eyes with a half smile on his face.

“I remember the smell in the kitchen. Your mother was a terrible cook, so she always had spices brewing on a pot on the stove to cover up some disaster in the oven. She would laugh over it, then try again. Your father and I would discuss politics, his work or my travel. You boys would be in the kitchen, attempting to do your studies, but would really just be listening to us. After supper your mother would read to all of us from her latest book. Poetry or mysteries or novels. She loved to read and wanted her boys to have a proper education. It was a wonderful, welcoming place.”

Gabriel stared at him, unable to speak, overcome by memories. “Da never became upset that Mum was a horrible cook. We somehow never went hungry,” Gabriel murmured.

“Well, you all had stomachs of iron,” Aidan joked. “I agree, though your father never became upset with your mother in front of me. He knew she was not of that world and did the best she could.” Aidan paused for a few moments, then continued, “Understand this, Gabriel. Your father truly loved your mother, and they cherished and adored all three of you boys.”

Gabriel nodded. Gruffly clearing his throat, he asked, “Will you tell me more about them, some other day, Uncle?”

“Yes, of course, but I think we should wait for a time when we are both ready.” They sat for a few moments in companionable silence. Finally Aidan spoke. “Now, on to happier thoughts, my Gabriel. Any news of your Miss Sullivan?” He leaned forward, anxious to hear the recent updates.

“I am worried, Uncle.”

“Why?”

“Am I interrupting?” A soft feminine voice came from the doorway.

Both men immediately rose to their feet, with Gabriel walking to the door to open it fully. “Amelia, how wonderful to see you and the children,” Gabriel murmured, his eyes lighting with pleasure. “Please come in.”

***

“UNCLE, WHERE ARE YOU STAYING?” Gabriel asked, after his visitors departed.

“At the Florence Hotel. I like being in the midst of the town. I had thought I would need to stay in a rustic hotel. I rather enjoy those, but this is quite nice. It’s very modern, and I haven’t had to do without the conveniences I‘ve become accustomed to in San Francisco.” Aidan’s expression turned serious as he faced Gabriel, studying him. “Gabriel, what do you mean to do about Mrs. Egan?” He waved toward the door as though to indicate Amelia who had just left.

“I don’t know what you mean. Amelia and I are good friends.”

“Don’t be so disingenuous, Gabriel. I think you know exactly what I mean. She’s a young widow with a baby and child to take care of. She needs a man in this harsh world, and she’s set her sight on you. How can you not see that?”

Gabriel sighed, massaging the back of his neck. “You misunderstand our relationship, Uncle. I like her, maybe more than I should. I enjoyed a wonderful friendship with her while her husband, Liam, lived.” He met his uncle’s eyes. “We’ve discussed what you are saying, and she knows I am committed to Clarissa.”