eyes were wide as she leaned toward Emily. “Mr. Hannigan took a bullet in his side during the gunfight with the three outlaws. If you want to know the truth, the frontier is a rough and wild place, and I’m very glad to be in Dublin now.”
Emily and his mother gasped, and his sister covered her mouth with both hands, her eyes like saucers. “Charles survived. He healed just fine,” Daniel put in quickly. “In fact he was the best man at our wedding.”
“What was your wedding like?” Emily asked, her rapt attention fixed on Meredith.
“Our wedding was lovely,” Meredith said. “We were married in Garretsville in the prettiest little church made entirely of pine logs. Practically the entire town showed up for our reception.” Meredith sighed happily. “Nothing compares to the blue sky in the mountains of Montana, and the day we married not a cloud could be seen. I carried a bouquet of wild flowers, and I wore my best walking suit and a new bonnet.”
“That’s so romantic,” Emily said. “I want to travel to the frontier and get married in church made of logs, Mama.”
“It does indeed sound very romantic,” his mother agreed, running her hand over Emily’s curls.
For the next hour or so, he and Meredith told them about Garretsville, the mine, life on the frontier, and their journey to New York City by mail coach, steamboat, and train. During that time, Meredith had to excuse herself twice to visit the water closet, and once again he worried for her health.
“David will be home for the holidays, and I’ve sent him news of your return,” his mother said. “You must join us for Christmas. We’d love to have you, and we have plenty of room. I can’t imagine you’ve had time to settle into your home, or to hire adequate staff by then.”
“We’d love to join you,” he said. “For now, we should be on our way.” Daniel rose and offered Meredith his hand. “I’m looking forward to getting to know George, and I’m happy for you both, Mam.”
“Thank you, Danny,” his mother said. “You must know I will always miss you father. He took a piece of me with him when he passed, as did our wee daughter. We had a very good life and many happy years together, and I wish we’d had more.” Her brow furrowed. “What I feel for George is different than what I felt for your father. I’m content, happy. George and I are quite compatible, and we care a great deal for each other. What we share is a more sedate kind of love.”
Daniel grasped his mother’s hands and kissed on her the cheek. “I’m sorry you worried needlessly that I’d be resentful. I know Da would’ve wanted to see you happy again.”
She studied him closely. “I cannot tell you how glad I am to hear you say so. I want us to be close, a family again, and I know George will help any way he can with your business ventures. He’s brilliant, you know.”
“I look forward to getting to know him. Do you think he might be able to direct me to a reliable shipbuilder?”
“I’m certain he can. You and Meredith must come for dinner tomorrow night. The sooner you and George put your heads together the better,” his mother said as she and Emily walked with them down the stairs to the front door.
“Your driver will be in the kitchen,” his mother told him. “It’s too cold and damp to wait outside, and I instructed our staff to invite him in for refreshments while we visited.”
A different maid appeared, carrying their things. “I let the coachman know you’re ready to depart, sir. He’ll be waiting for you by the carriage, and we took the liberty of putting a hot brick inside for you.”
“Thank you,” he said as he helped Meredith into her coat. “We’ll see you tomorrow night, then.”
Once he and Meredith were on their way home, he couldn’t help thinking about how different things would’ve been had he received his mother’s first letter announcing her marriage. Knowing she and his siblings were well off would’ve changed everything. His vow would have lost its grip. Daniel frowned. “Meredith, does it seem …” He took a moment to organize his thoughts.
“I know what you’re thinking, because I’m wondering the same thing. If you’d received the news of your mother’s marriage, you wouldn’t have been obsessed with making things right for your family.”