Chapter Six
Daniel returned to the house first, warmed up for a few minutes, then returned to the kitchen to wait for the search parties to show up. They came into the house in pairs, one sadder than the next, which just added to Daniel’s general malaise and his sense that this might be the worst Christmas in Kilcannon history.
Declan and Connor Mahoney stomped snow off their booted feet and grumbled about how they damn near went through the ice on the lake after Daniel had headed back home at Gramma’s insistence.
“Hope that dog didn’t,” Daniel said as he offered them a choice of eggnog or whiskey. No surprise, they both chose whiskey.
“That dog’s not in the lake, Uncle Daniel,” Connor assured him, his deep-blue eyes as serious and intense as he was. “And if he was, I’da made Declan jump in after him.”
His brother snorted and knocked back the whiskey. “And I’d have done it for you, Uncle D,” Declan said, giving a broad grin. “You know I’d do anything for you.”
Touched, Daniel patted their sturdy shoulders and ushered the young men into the living room, turning to the doorway to greet Ella and Darcy, who were still writhing in guilt. Or maybe giggling. Sometimes, even as grown women, he couldn’t tell. Of course, in his eyes, they were still little girls, although he knew neither of these thirty-year-olds was a girl anymore.
“I’m so sorry, Dad,” Darcy said, shoving bedraggled blond hair from her angelic face. Darcy had always been the most stunningly beautiful Kilcannon, and that was saying a lot with his kids. She had Annie’s fine features and her sweet smile.
And all Daniel wanted right then was to see that smile again. “Honey, stop berating yourself. Mistakes happen.”
She gave him a look. “Kilcannons don’t lose dogs.”
“A Mahoney did,” Ella said, hanging her head like a miserable hound. “I just want to die.”
“That would only make matters worse,” Daniel said, giving his niece a hug. “Gramma has notified the sheriff and fire department and, of course, she’ll post something on social media.”
They each gave a dry laugh. The fact that the oldest member of the family had the most active online presence never ceased to be amusing.
“So why don’t you two grab something to drink, go change, and let it go for Christmas Eve?” Daniel suggested. “Not everyone is back yet. Shane or Garrett or Liam could walk in here carrying that pup any minute.”
“My money’s on Shane,” Ella said.
Darcy looked over her shoulder, genuine worry in her eyes. “But where are they all? Didn’t Gramma Finnie call and tell them to come home?”
“I think so,” he said. “Go on, ladies. It’s time for you to have a little fun.”
But they moped out of the room just as Molly and Pru came up to the door, arm in arm, their heads close as they talked. Those two were something, he thought with a smile. Their relationship was pure and special and…different.
He opened the door to welcome them with a hug.
When he held Molly, he felt her shudder a little, as if the whole ordeal had been too much. He inched back as Pru slipped away to join the others.
“You okay, Moll?” Daniel asked, searching her face and not loving the unhappiness there.
“Sure, Dad. Just frustrated we didn’t find him and…” She swallowed and closed her eyes. “I miss Mom, too. She always knew the right thing to do or say.”
That punched his gut as he pulled her in for another hug. “If it’s any consolation, you have her heart and soul, Molly. She’s always watching you and sending you help from heaven.”
“Good, ’cause I’m going to need it.”
Daniel frowned, trying to figure out what was bothering her. And then he knew. All three of her brothers had found love in the last six months, and that had to have exposed a raw nerve that she was facing a life alone. She always seemed to embrace that, but tonight she seemed different.
He knew exactly what had to be done. Some matchmaking. But who could be good enough for his Molly? No mere mortal, that was for sure.
He kissed her forehead and nudged her toward the living room, hoping the family and Christmas, even this mess of a Christmas, would work its magic on her.
Then he returned to the kitchen door to stare out at the shadows of Waterford Farm. From here, he could see the kennels and outbuildings of the canine business and beyond to the classrooms, training pens, and toward the path that led to the lake, creek, and acres of woods, mud roads, and hills.
That dog was out there somewhere, and it damn near broke his heart to think about. He closed his eyes and pictured the tan and white face he’d examined late that afternoon, remembering the fear that darkened the pup’s eyes and the way he quivered even when being handled gently on the exam table. Poor Jack Frost.
When he opened his eyes, he saw a shadow move from behind the kennels, then two people emerge arm in arm. Was that Shane and Chloe? They held something between them, close to Chloe’s chest. Daniel’s heart kicked up, but as they stepped into the light from the porch, he could see it wasn’t a dog, but a…bunny?
He opened the door for them, and Chloe looked up. “This might be more appropriate for Easter, Dr. K,” she said. “Shane has caught us a rabbit, but no dog.”
Shane rolled his eyes. “I tried to tell her they’re wild and free all over Waterford, but she’d have no part of letting it go. We now have a bunny.”
“I thought Christian would like him,” Chloe said. “But we didn’t see the dog anywhere. Sorry.”
Daniel managed not to react with how wretched he felt. Little Jack Frost was out there, running around, not frozen, not in the lake, not lost in the woods. “Maybe Liam or Garrett found him. Go show Christian his new pet.”
“That he will promptly put back in the wild tomorrow,” Shane added.
“When that raccoon is not around,” Chloe said.
Shane sighed. “Fine. Don’t we have a bunny cage down in the ATV shed, Dad? I could have sworn we had one.”
“Sure do.”
“I’ll get it,” Shane said. “You go tell Christian he now has Saint Nick, the Christmas bunny.”
Daniel gave a soft laugh as they went off, standing sentry at the door again, waiting for the rest of his family to return. Behind him, he heard the occasional bout of laughter and chatter from the living room, the bark of a dog, and Christian’s squeal of delight.
From the driveway, he saw a flashlight moving quickly as if being carried by someone running, then stopping and…kissing.
He caught a glimpse of reddish-blond hair and knew it was Garrett and Jessie, who looked very happy to be together, but didn’t have a dog with them. He watched them walk and stop and kiss again, a little more desperate than he’d expect after hunting for a lost dog on Christmas Eve. More like one of them had been lost and then found.
Garrett put his hand on Jessie’s face and stroked her cheek, saying something that made her laugh and wrap her arms around his neck for another kiss. Daniel told himself he shouldn’t watch, but he couldn’t stop, remembering those years with Annie, when kissing was all they ever wanted to do.
“I’m doing my best,” he whispered to his absent wife. “I got Jessie to stay when Garrett wanted her to leave. Put Shane and Chloe on the same project. Steered Liam back to Andi. I’m working on all of them, Annie girl.”
No one answered him, of course, but the young couple in the drive finally tore themselves apart and came to the kitchen door.
“No luck?” he asked as he let them in.
“Forget the lost dog,” Jessie said, dropping her head on Garrett’s shoulder. “I nearly lost a man.”
Daniel drew back from his son, blinking in surprise. “You got lost in the southern woods? You know that area like the back of your hand.”
“Well, apparently my hand was all turned around,” Garrett said sheepishly. “But…” He gave Jessie a smile. “Someone braved the dark and found me.” He nuzzled her closer, their down jackets scratching against each other. “Found me and saved me.”
“Oh boy.” Jessie smiled, but rolled her eyes at Daniel. “He’s making it sound more dramatic than it was. I had a flashlight and a big mouth. But I’m really sorry we didn’t find the dog, Dr. K.”
“Well, thanks to both of you for looking.” He helped Jessie out of her jacket and whispered, “You earned a Jameson’s before church.”
“At least one.” She laughed, putting her arm around Garrett to head into the living room, leaving Daniel to look for one more son.
Why hadn’t Liam called? He took out his own phone, but didn’t see a message or missed call.
“Everyone but Liam and Andi?” Gramma Finnie asked, joining him in the kitchen.
“Did you talk to him or get a response to your text?” Daniel asked.
She shook her head, but both of them turned at the sound of a dog barking. Gramma gasped softly, echoing the skip of Daniel’s heart. Was that…
Jag came bounding forward, barking furiously. Daniel threw open the door just as Shane came up from the shed, dragging a rabbit cage.
“Where’s Liam?” Shane asked.
“He’s not answering my texts,” Gramma said.
Jag barked again and again, bringing everyone from the living room.
“He’s pulling a Lassie,” Garrett suggested.
Daniel nodded in full agreement. “He knows where Liam is.”
“Let’s go!”
In seconds, his sons and nephews poured out of the house, not one of them bothering to stop for a jacket, though a few grabbed flashlights. All of them followed Jag into the night, this time on a hunt for their missing brother.
“What the hell else could go wrong?” Daniel whispered to Gramma Finnie. “They say trouble comes in threes.”
“Irish don’t say that.” She handed him a shot glass. “We say the best is yet to come.”
If only that were true, Daniel thought, tossing back the shot. If only the best days weren’t behind him.