Chapter 14

CHAPTER 14

" C ome, take a walk with me outside." John appeared at Muireall's side and placed a hand at her elbow. She took the hand he offered to help her up and followed closely behind him as they left their charges inside the station master's old home. The bright afternoon sun had finally lowered to just over the tree line on the western horizon. But as much as she longed for an end to this endless day, she did not look forward to the night.

"What are we goin' to do with them?" Muireall whispered the question as Jude pulled the door shut behind them.

He sighed. "I am not quite sure. There is no one in this area to enforce law and order, and we cannot leave them tied up forever."

A chill ran up Muireall's spine, and she stepped closer to Jude. The thought of those men loose again…still, she did not enjoy sharing the cabin with them either.

Jude rubbed the top of her arm. "I know. But I will not let them harm you ever again."

She turned wide eyes upon her husband at the sound of those adamant words. "Ye forgive me?"

"Forgive you? Whatever for?"

In contrast to his raised brows, hers lowered. "For leavin' ye."

Jude gave her a pointed look and took her hand into his. "You were angry. And rightfully so. Anyway, I walked away myself in the cave. Remember?" He smiled and squeezed her hand. "But the real question is, do you forgive me for betraying your trust?"

Muireall leaned into him and pushed onto her toes to kiss his cheek. "Of course, I do." It seemed, after all, that they had both learned a great deal about honesty over the past couple of days. How different would their circumstances be now if they had only been truthful with one another from the beginning?

Muireall sighed and dropped her head against Jude's chest. "There is one more thing that I need to be honest with ye about."

"There is?" The words rumbled through his ribs and against her forehead.

"Aye. The reason I wanted to find me sister is 'cause I was havin' the same nightmare over an' over. She was walkin' through the woods, an' a man attacked her."

Jude pulled back and looked into her face. "And you were concerned about her safety."

Muireall nodded as emotions from the assault and the past few weeks flooded through her. Tears rolled down her cheeks. "The nightmares would not stop, an' there was this constant feelin' that somethin' bad was to happen. When Petunia passed an' didna need me anymore…." She squeezed her eyes shut. "But it happened exactly how it happened today when Rollinson leapt from that tree. Somehow, the dreams were tellin' me what was to happen to me, not to her."

Jude pulled her close and rubbed her hair. "Shhh. All is well now. You are safe. I do not know what we will do, but they will never hurt you again. Not if I have anything to do with it."

Muireall turned her face to his. "Ye mean, ye dinnae think I should be institutionalized?"

Jude let out a hearty chuckle that she could feel in her bones and brought a smile to her face. "No, darlin', I do not think you are crazed. There are some things in life which we simply cannot explain." He paused. "Such as this, right now, with you in my arms. Who would have thought that I of all people could find someone to care for me?"

The love that reflected in his face, even with one eye, was enough to steal her breath away. "Jude, I more than care for ye." She rubbed her thumb over the bandage on his arm. "I dinnae know what I would have done if somethin' had happened to ye. An' not 'cause I would have been hopelessly lost on me own. I truly am sorry for leavin' ye."

"Do not give it another thought."

Jude kissed her then. His lips pressed to hers in a gesture that told that all was forgotten between them, and finally, they could move forward. Muireall melted into the embrace, into the strength of her husband and all that the kiss promised. When he pulled back, a smile lifted her cheeks.

"And if you still wish to find your sister," he said, "I will be more than glad to help you do so."

"What about yer father's place? Do ye wish to see it?"

Jude frowned and glanced across the meadow, in the direction they had headed earlier. "That man was never my father. He was only some swindler who pulled the wool over my mother's eyes. I want nothing to do with his ill-gotten worldly goods. I have a heavenly Father and I have you, and that is all I need." The corners of his mouth tipped up. "I only want to continue on the journey He has for us, whatever it is."

Muireall leaned into him, nestling her head against his shoulder. "Me too." In her heart, she knew that meant finding her sister and embracing family in the middle of this wilderness. But suddenly, she was not scared of the prospect. Instead, only joy and hope abounded as she looked out across the landscape, bathed in light but otherwise indistinguishable.

April 3, 1784

" I f either of you show your face around here again, we will not be so forgiving."

Rollinson shot Jude a glare but turned and walked away.

"You will not see us again," Hodges reassured him.

Jude gave the man a nod and stepped back beside his wife. He whispered a silent prayer for the men he and Muireall had decided to send on their way with a small pack of supplies and a knife. Though there was no perfect solution, it seemed the right thing to do. Keeping their gun minimized the risk of an ambush, and it seemed inhumane to take any course of action besides letting them go free. Although, Jude had been sorely attempted to leave them tied up with only a knife left somewhere out of reach. After all, they had attacked his wife.

Muireall slipped her hand into his and leaned against him as the two troublemakers went on their way. "How are we to be sure that they will not return?"

Jude smiled down at her. "If they do, it will be to find that treasure, not us. Especially since they know we will not hesitate to shoot. We can only pray they choose to return to the fort and turn their lives around."

Muireall nodded, and he held Sugar's reins while she mounted. Between nervousness at sleeping so close to the men who had attacked her and eagerness to reach her sister, it was clear she had barely slept the night before. But the dark rims under her eyes were the only indication, for she sat tall, her focus fixed on the direction in which he led the mare.

It was a miracle to behold, how God had brought them together and seen them through the past ten days, even through their own follies and sins. He supposed it was much like the grace they had shown Rollinson and Hodges. And after all the grace Jude had received in his life, he was not sure he could do anything but offer it in return.

A head of Muireall, Jude stopped as he topped the rise. He turned to her, a broad grin evident on his face, even in spite of her diminished sight. She drew in a quick breath and slipped from the saddle as fast as she could with her layers of petticoats and broken arm.

As she joined her husband, her hand flew to her mouth. There, at the bottom of the valley, was a cabin with what appeared to be two dark-headed adults and two children out in the clearing. From the distance, they were only specks. But in her heart, she knew. She took off downhill as fast as she could safely manage, guarding her arm in case she fell.

"Muireall," John called after her, his voice laced with the sound of laughter.

Muireall could not help the grin that caused her own cheeks to ache as she scurried forth.

As soon as she broke into the clearing where the home sat, she called out to her sister. "Margaret!" Everyone whipped toward the crazed person who ran toward them. But one woman started running in her direction, a hand going to her mouth.

Muireall's feet did not stop until she crashed into her sister. She wrapped her good arm around the body that she knew so well and wept. Though her sister's figure had filled out with motherhood, there was an unmistakable comfort and familiarity in her hug.

After a few moments, Margaret pulled back and held her at arm's length. Her eyes were misted and her brown hair braided over her shoulder. "What happened? How did ye find us?"

Muireall smiled and swiped her own tears away. "'Tis a long story. Me arm is broken, but I am well, an' it will heal."

"Broken?" Margaret's eyes widened, and she looked Muireall over. But then her gaze softened. "Ye are well, truly?"

Muireall nodded, and her tears welled again. "Never better."

"That is good to hear." Iain's familiar voice drifted to her as he approached, a toddler in tow and a young boy at his side, both spitting images of their father with black hair and bright blue eyes.

She offered them all a smile before she turned back to her sister. "My, how ye have been blessed."

Margaret dropped her hands down to Muireall's and gave them a squeeze. "Verra," she replied in a quiet voice, tight with emotion. "An' ye?" She tipped her head to indicate behind Muireall.

She turned to find Jude and Sugar just entering the clearing. Her husband had convinced the mare into a choppy trot with him running alongside her as they attempted to catch up. Both were out of breath as they approached.

"Margaret, this is me husband, Jude."

Her sister's eyebrows shot up, but her smile was wide and genuine.

Jude swept his hat from his head and extended his hand. "It is nice to meet you, ma'am. Your sister has been very much looking forward to this reunion."

Muireall's heart was about to burst with happiness as she took in their joyful, smiling faces. Four years ago, she never would have imagined that this would be the happiest moment of her life, here, back in the wilderness. It did not matter that she could not see beyond Jude's strong profile or Margaret's broad grin, for she was surrounded by loved ones who would walk with her on her journey. And with them by her side, and the Holy Spirit in her heart, she was home.