Chapter Forty-Two
Katie had fallen asleep to the sound of Joseph’s voice, her two angels pulled up close beside her. Though the pain remained, both in her body and in her heart, she felt a growing sense of peace.
Morning brought setbacks. She tried to use her left arm and the remnants of her hand to change her stockings and, rather than finding success, she discovered her wounds were too raw and new. She’d been reduced to tears of agony and frustration. Walking from the bed to the chair at Joseph’s fireside hadn’t been easy since waking from her injuries, but she was particularly achy and stiff that day, making such a simple thing nearly impossible.
You need to be cheerful, Katie Macauley. This is no time for selfish wallowing.
But she hadn’t the strength in her for cheerfulness.
In the quiet of her solitary room she could hear voices below—quite a few if she didn’t miss her mark. Did Joseph have company?
She tucked the blanket more firmly around herself. Today was not a day for visitors. Not even the mouthwatering mixture of smells floating up from below tempted her to leave the quiet protection of her hideaway. She wouldn’t add to Joseph’s burdens by forcing her weariness on him, but she wasn’t equal to the task of hiding her pain that day.
Joseph came in the room about lunchtime. “How are you today?” Something in his tone told her he already knew.
She tried to force a smile, tried to think of some light and airy response. But the words died. “I’m having a hard day.”
He came and knelt in front of her chair, resting his arms on her knees. “What can I do, Katie?”
“I’m frustrated is all.”
“Well”—Joseph took her good hand in his, smiling gently—“I do have something I think will help lift your spirits a little.”
His encouragement touched her, but her doubts remained. Joseph kissed her knuckles. He’d done that again and again the night before. The simple, loving gesture both calmed her and set her heart fluttering in her chest. She needed this man more than any person she’d ever known.
“I have come to invite you downstairs.”
“Downstairs?” She shook her head. “I want to stay up here. I’m not ready to see people, Joseph.”
He pressed her hand to his heart and looked deep in her eyes. “I know this is hard, darling, but being with people who care about you and love you will help.”
“I can’t.” Her words shook. Though she knew herself ill-prepared to face the world, she hadn’t anticipated the immediate emotional toll of the mere suggestion.
“You have strength enough for this.” He squeezed her fingers and set her hand on her lap. He stood. “I see you’ve pulled your stockings on already.”
“’Twas a pathetic struggle, that,” she confessed with a sigh.
He pulled a box off the bureau and brought it over to her. Indicating the box, he said, “You’ve needed these for a long time. Yours were destroyed in the fire.”
He lifted the lid and tipped it enough for her to see a pair of fine, new boots inside. She recognized them immediately. They were the very boots she had admired nearly every day she’d worked for Mr. Johnson.
Joseph didn’t wait for a comment or reply. He pulled one out and loosened the laces. “I realize you can’t tie them yet,” he said as he slipped the boot on her right foot. “We’ll think on that, though, and find a way for you to manage it. Something will occur to us, I’m certain of it.”
He tied the laces in a loopy bow, then repeated his efforts with the other boot.
Katie could do little but stare. She had never in all her life owned such a fine pair of shoes. They were new and lovely. Her grotesque and misshapen feet looked almost elegant housed in such fine, deep-brown leather.
“I haven’t the money for these,” she whispered. “And I cannot ask you to—”
“Katie.” ’Twas a scold if she’d ever heard one. “Let me first say, they aren’t from me. The Johnsons sent them with very strict instructions that I was not to let you refuse.”
“The Johnsons?” Why would they send her such a gift? She’d failed to save their daughter’s life. They ought to despise her.
She wagered Joseph knew precisely why the offering confused her, but he didn’t explain. He returned to the bureau and pulled open one of the smaller drawers at the very top. He took something out, though Katie couldn’t make it out.
“This”—he set a neatly folded bundle of flowered fabric on her lap—“is from me.”
She unfolded it. “Oh, heavens.” Katie had never seen such a beautiful shawl in all her life. Deep blue flowers sat on a background of cream, with a blue crocheted edging so intricate and delicate she couldn’t keep herself from touching it.
She looked up at him, utterly speechless.
“Put it about your shoulders, darling. You have a few people downstairs who are anxious to see you.”
“Is this a bribe, then?” She had to confess that, if it was one, it was working brilliantly.
He smiled at her. “No. I have actually had it for three months, trying to find the right moment to give it to you.”
“And this was that moment?” She slid the shawl around her shoulders.
Joseph helped her adjust it. “I know going down there will be hard. I only hoped this would buoy you up a bit.”
She took a fortifying breath. “Promise to stay with me, Joseph, and I can face anything.”
Joseph closed the distance between them, pressing a sweet and tender kiss directly on her lips. The warmth of him so close, the feel of his breath on her face, brought the familiar combination of contentment and heart flutters.
She’d first learned to recognize the smell of his shaving soap while working in his house. The scent had long since become one of her favorites. She took a deep breath of it while he was so close, fully expecting him to pull back after their very brief kiss.
He didn’t.
His fingers wove through her hair, holding her close while his lips explored hers. Katie let her hand travel the length of his neck and settle on his chest. His heart pounded beneath her fingers. She pushed away all thoughts of injuries and regrets and uncertainty, and simply lost herself in that moment. All her life she’d been alone. Now here was this man, so kind and loving, who had stayed with her through the most terrible moments she’d passed. And he loved her as much as she loved him.
He broke the seal of their lips, leaning his forehead lightly against hers. They sat that way for what felt like minutes on end, though likely not more than a few seconds.
“I really do need to take you downstairs.” He clearly regretted the necessity.
Katie could sincerely smile at the sentiment. She’d have liked to remain there just as they were, as well.
“Shall we?” She kept her tone encouraging, despite a lingering wish to avoid the crowd below. Joseph had done so much. She wouldn’t make trouble for him over something so simple.
He nodded and, with obvious reluctance, pulled back once more.
“I should warn you I’m still not very sure on my feet.”
He gave her a look of amused scolding. “I hadn’t meant to make you walk, darling.”
That was all the warning she received before he slipped his arm under her legs and the other behind her back. The thoughtful man had even chosen the side that allowed her to link her good arm around his neck.
He lifted her with little trouble and carried her from the room. The voices grew louder as they reached the staircase.
“How many people are down there?” She felt increasingly nervous now that she was facing this gathering.
“We are packed to the rafters. Nearly the entire town has come to see you.”
Katie leaned into him, watching with discomfort as the bottom of the stairs loomed near. Her heart jumped into her throat as they rounded the corner. Merciful heavens. The room was bursting at the seams.
Katie bent her arm more closely around his neck, feeling entirely unequal to the immediate attention she received from the room. The crowd grew instantly quiet, all eyes following her arrival.
Biddy stood near the stairs, with Ian directly beside her. She reached out and quickly touched Katie’s arm. “You’re looking better, Katie.”
She felt better having her dear friend nearby. Her eyes fell next on Tavish and his mother, not much farther into the room. Tavish smiled at her in his usual friendly way. Facing a crowd when she was yet pained and ill proved easier with so many familiar faces.
Mr. O’Connor stepped up beside Joseph. He chucked her under the chin, his traditional way of greeting her. “We’ve missed having you among us, Katie, mo ‘níon.”
Mo ‘níon. My daughter.
“And I have missed you,” she said.
He smiled fondly before turning his gaze to Joseph. “I’ll let you set her down. I just needed to see for myself how she was.”
Joseph nodded and carried her further into the crowded room.
“Some of these are Red Road,” she whispered to Joseph.
He pressed a quick kiss to her temple. “That is a distinction that means less and less with each passing day.”
He set her down on a chair in the middle of the room and took his place in the one beside it. She’d seldom felt so out of her element. Her hair wasn’t done up. Though her shoes and shawl would pass even the most rigorous inspection, she doubted the rest of her looked fit for company.
Ivy and little Mary O’Connor sat not far off, playing with matching carved horses. It was good to see Ivy happy and lighthearted. Emma sat with Finbarr on the sofa. Emma smiled at Katie.
Her eyes fell on Mr. Murphy amongst the gathering. “I thought you’d been forced to evict the Murphys,” she said, her voice lowered. There were others among their number whom she knew had lost their claim on their homes the day before the bridge was burned.
“This town means to make a new start,” Joseph answered quietly. “I have torn up the eviction notices and everyone, except the Archibalds, is back in their own homes. This feud will be laid to rest once and for all.”
“Truly?” She could hardly believe it.
“Truly.”
Seamus Kelly stepped out from among the crowd, his gaze kind as he looked at her. “Joseph Archer’s asked us for a favor,” he said. “Something that started out small, but grew, likely beyond what he’d expected.”
Katie glanced at Joseph, but saw no clues in his face.
“Joseph explained to us that you’d lost more than merely a bit of your hand to our fighting. Though we can’t give it back, we want to give you something we hope will help.” Seamus nodded to the group of people gathered nearest him. “We started with a handful of Irish, listening to Joseph humming a tune to us.”
A tune?
“But word spread among the Reds, and they wanted to give you something as well.” Seamus slipped his hands in his trouser pockets. “We only hope we do it well enough for you.”
Seamus stepped back into the group, and Thomas Dempsey lifted his tin whistle to his lips.
Katie knew the tune within three notes. “Ar Éirinn.” Her father’s song. Her song. A lump of emotion threatened to choke her even as tears gathered fast and thick in her eyes. That song was her connection to home. No one played it quite the way her father did. She had reproduced it from her memories of him, but no one had ever come close to the pure melody he’d managed.
She felt Joseph’s hand slide into hers, but she didn’t look at him. A flute, two or three violins, a guitar, another few whistles all joined Thomas. Someone from the Red Road even had a harp. She hadn’t heard a harp in years.
Katie watched them, her lips pressed together, so consumed by emotion she could hardly breathe.
“I know it isn’t the same as playing it yourself,” Joseph whispered into her ear. “But I wanted—we all wanted you to have something. They’ve been practicing for days. Red and Irish. Together.”
A sense of amazement joined her grief as she looked over those gathered around. There was no division along national lines, no repeat of the glares she’d seen between sides the first Sunday she’d been in Hope Springs. They were gathered together without threats, without angry words.
And they were playing the song that had, for her, always been the one unfailing source of peace in her life.
She looked up into Joseph’s dark eyes. “You taught them the tune?”
He gave a small nod. “I’ve heard you play it so many times I have it memorized. It fills my mind whenever my thoughts turn to you.”
Katie blinked back tears even as more fell down her cheeks. She leaned her head on his shoulder and turned her gaze to the musicians again. Their song washed over her like a calming wave. She found she could even smile as she listened.
Pain and heartache and death had ripped at the very fabric of this town. Healing was slow and difficult, but they were managing it. And so was she.
The tune came to a beautiful end. The gathering applauded. Katie offered a grateful smile to the musicians.
The music continued, with the Irish playing their traditional tunes and the Reds sharing songs they knew. The gathered townspeople mingled and mixed, crossing boundaries that had once been unscalable walls. Food appeared in abundance, both traditional Irish fare and dishes Katie had learned to make since arriving in America.
“Perhaps your Irish parties will become more general affairs now,” Joseph suggested. He looked uncertain, almost nervous. He lowered his voice and leaned close. “I hope hearing that song wasn’t painful for you. I—”
Katie set a single finger on his lips to stop his words. “I loved it. That you knew exactly the song, and took the time to arrange this . . .” She couldn’t find the words. “I loved it.” Katie locked her gaze with his, needing him to feel and see the depth of her feelings. “I love you, Joseph Archer.”
He kissed her quickly, once, then again, brushing a finger along the line of her jaw. “And I love you, Katie Macauley.”
He mangled her name in a way he hadn’t in many weeks, mispronouncing it even worse than he had when they first met. She gave him an exaggerated shudder.
“We need to do something about your unpronounceable name.” ’Twas a pointed remark, one accompanied by a look of such earnestness she knew on the instant he meant it as more than a jest.
“Perhaps I need a new one,” she suggested.
He whispered, his breath tickling the hair that hung loose over her ear. “There is no ‘perhaps’ about it, Katie. I mean to see to it you have a new last name, and I know exactly which one it ought to be.”
Her pulse leaped, pounding with excitement. She knew he loved her as much as she loved him, but, though they’d spoken the night before of always being together, he’d not specifically brought up the subject of marriage until now. Even having known that was his intention, hearing the words filled her heart to overflowing.
“You do realize,” she said, unable to hold back a smile, “if you change my name, you have to keep me.”
He pressed a kiss to her temple. “My darling, darling Katie.” He wrapped his arms around her and held her.
His embrace felt like home in a way nothing had in years. To love and be truly loved in return was a gift she’d only ever dreamed of. But she knew, sitting with Joseph, in the sanctuary of his home and his affection, that she had found the place where she belonged.
Katie sat in the comfort of his arms the rest of the day while the town worked at healing their wounds. There would be harder moments as the weeks and years rolled on. They had deeper conflicts that needed addressing. But there in Joseph Archer’s home, the very beginnings of a new day dawned.