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The Tessarae Inn |
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The Son Also Rises CHAPTER 9 Todd arranged the pencils and pens on his desk again. The world would be a much better place if people would just act the way they were supposed to. You make a deal. You stick to it. You honor your debts. So why the hell was Ethan Dawes sitting in his office looking around like he was a tax assessor tallying the worth of everything in sight. “This is not what I expected from you. Not at all. You’ve been living on the other side of the castle wall all this time?” Ethan hadn’t changed much. He was still tall with a wiry build and thick dark brown hair that showed no hint of gray. And his dishwater green eyes were still world weary. “What do you want, Ethan?” “Not enough it seems.” “Don’t let the nice surroundings fool you. You know what I am capable of. The money only gives me a wider range of options.” Ethan nodded once. “Same ungrateful bastard, I see. I have come to do you a favor though you seem not to have appreciated considerations given in the past.” “Again. What do you want, Ethan?” “Tell me about the money, Manning.” “I have some.” “Plenty of it as best I can spy. I guess it is good that she did not know.” “But now you know and I am getting the sense that it changes things.” “Are you now?” For a minute time froze.
He was back on that rocky beach with water lapping at his legs that was
so cold it had turned the rocks into ice. He didn’t know how long he had been
there—could have been minutes, hours or days.
Severe pain that threatened to make his mind go blank radiated from every
inch of his body and there was a searing fire in his back so intense he felt he
was one step away from being incinerated. When he opened his eyes, a man was
squatting in front of him. His hair was brown and his eyes were dishwater green
and tired and there was a gun in his hand. Todd instantly sensed that the man
was debating whether to put him out of his misery or not.
He had looked up at Ethan and said I’m all right.
Ethan had said Are you now? “Are you planning on seeing Sean?” “Sean?” “Peter. We call him Sean. It suits him better.” “I suspect it suits you better. As long as you can assure me my nephew is in good hands then I don’t want to bring him false expectations. There is nothing at home for him any longer.” “Then why are you here?” “Saw Patrick Mahoney at the pub a week or so ago. He raised some concerns about Peter…Sean’s reception here. I owed it to my father to come check for myself.” “I can’t see your father thinking that was a good idea. He and I had an agreement. We all had an agreement.” “Did you ever wonder how he was living? I look around this place and I have to ask myself if you ever spent so much as one moment wondering if he needed anything.” “Why would I do that, Ethan? I left him to her and under your protection. He is your blood as well as mine. Was I supposed to think you wouldn’t do right by him?” “What about my father? Did you ever ask yourself if he needed anything?” “You pulled me off of that damn beach for your own reasons. You didn’t let me die for your own reasons. I did my part. I got well enough to get up and get out of there. I kept my word. You never heard a thing from me in ten years and I never said one word to anyone about any of it until Mahoney brought that kid to my doorstep. Now who’s the one who broke the bargain?” “Patrick Mahoney says…” “I don’t give a damn about anything Patrick Mahoney has to say. And I don’t want you anywhere near Sean. You broke your word and I will deal with the fallout but that’s my limit.” Ethan stood up and stared at him for a minute. “Is a cold reality, Todd Manning. You choose your path through it and take the fate it brings. I thought you would have learned that by now.” “Guess I’m just a slow learner. What’s your excuse?” Ethan glared at him for a few seconds then turned on his heels and walked out of the office. For a long time Todd stared at the door and tried to ignore the sense of dread that seemed to careen into his consciousness from out of nowhere. ====== Blair pulled up a little on the reins of the stallion and let Sean gallop in front of her. She wanted to watch him ride. He was so good it almost took her breath away. He had changed a lot in the last few weeks but it had all been relative until today. Today she saw an absolute change, a full throttle smile, and genuine laughter. She had finally found a key to unlock some part of his steely resolve. He loved horses and he rode like he was born on one. He sensed that she was not as close as before and slowed down until she closed the distance. “Want to stop for a while?” she shouted. He nodded and then slowed to a trot. She pointed to the gazebo ahead that was a favorite stopping point for riders on this trail and he smiled then headed in that direction. Sean patted the cheek of his horse, which whinnied then snorted loudly. “This is a mighty fine horse indeed.” “He’s one of my favorites, Viking.” “I like his name too. I used to think my mother was a Viking, you know.” “No, tell me about it.” He glanced away and stared off into the distance. “Don’t want to talk of her right now.” Blair sighed. She and Sean always took two steps forward then one step back. “That’s fine. You don’t have to but, Sean, I know how hard it can be to have to carry memories alone in your heart. Sometimes it can help to share them. If you ever want to talk about her then I’ll listen.” Sean nodded but he didn’t say anything else. Blair pulled the sandwiches and the canteen from her saddlebag then followed Sean up the stairs and into the gazebo. She unwrapped a sandwich and handed it to him then opened one for herself. Sean seemed to be hungry. He wolfed down one sandwich then accepted another one. Blair stretched out her legs on the bench seat and leaned against the railing and stared out at the landscape as she ate. The sandwiches were good. Plus there’s something about even the simplest food eaten in such a beautiful setting that seemed to make it seem special. “Do you have a mother still?” Blair swung her head toward Sean. She and Sean had been sitting in silence for what felt like such a long time that the sound of his voice had startled her. “Yes,” Blair said finally. “She is the sweetest woman alive but she’s not typical. I love her very much.” He frowned then focused his gaze on her. “What you mean ‘not typical’?” How could she explain this to him in the most straightforward way? “It’s like she got to a point in her mind and just stopped growing.” “Daft?” “No, not daft. She’s just young in her mind and always will be.” Sean furrowed his brow then tapped the railing with his fingers. Finally, he said, “Can I meet her sometime?” “I would like that and she would like it too. She’ll like you.” Sean smiled then looked off into the distance again. Blair followed his gaze. The scenery was really beautiful on this trail and it was nice to just stop sometimes and take measure of nature’s beauty, her bounty and her peacefulness—especially the peacefulness. Sean seemed to understand that. When you live so much of your life in the midst of turmoil then peace is like a gift. “I saw a book once,” said Sean after a long pause. “It had this pretty picture of a Viking Queen with red hair like fire and dressed in armor. I thought it were my mum at first. She was really strong and tall like the picture. I was really little then though. Still whenever she came that’s the way she looked to me.” “Whenever she came? Was she away a lot?” His eyes grew big and then he looked away. “I saw her often enough.” “I was much older than you before I even met my mama for the first time.” He turned toward her with curious eyes. “For real?” “Yeah. I was an orphan. Well, like an orphan I guess but I didn’t know it wasn’t true for a long time. I never had a real home until I grew up.” “Where did you stay then?” “I stayed with different people but I moved from place to place. I never stayed too long at any one place.” “Why? Because those people didn’t want you to stay?” She tried to ignore the sudden sharp pain in her chest that felt as if someone had plunged a dagger into her heart, accidentally or not. “I guess not,” she said softly. “When I was real little I remember me mum being around a lot but I think I mixed up my wishing with what was real. Me mum came when she could--once or twice a year but I knew she was my mum and she was out there somewhere.” “That makes a difference.” Sean looked down at his hands and picked at his right thumb. “At first, I thought I wouldn’t miss her like I do and I were ashamed. But I do. I miss most believing she is out there somewhere and may be coming to get me soon. But she’s not.” Blair gasped. Sean wasn’t happy after all. He wanted to go home to a mother who was not waiting for him. To a mother that may have never been there waiting for him. Still she understood. Hadn’t she spent years pining away for a father who, if he knew she existed, didn’t give a damn? Sometimes it was the fantasy that lived in your heart, not reality that hurt you the most.
======= “Where is your mother?” “That’s what I keep trying to tell you. She took him riding and left me home all alone.” “She didn’t ask you to go with her, Starr?” “Yeah, but I said no and she went anyway.” “Okay, well I’m sure she’ll be home soon.” “What are you talking about? Are you even listening to me?” “Yeah, sure. Tell me again.” Starr narrowed her eyes. “This is important, Daddy.” Todd looked down at her and for the first time he could see the level of fury in Starr’s eyes. He squatted in front of her and looked at her directly. “Tell me again, Starr.” Starr put her hands on her hips and leaned forward. “Look, I called over to Llanfair and Aunt Viki is home. I want you to take Sean back over there today and then tell mommy to stay away from him.” “I can’t tell your mother what to do.” “You do it all the time.” Todd grunted and then stood up. “I’ll see what I can do, Starr.” “This is important to me, Daddy. I think I’ve been real patient but he can’t have her. She’s MY mother.” Starr was right about that. He regretted the day he let Blair talk him into letting Sean stay. There was no way Starr was ever going to accept Sean and she was also right about Blair being way too interested in that kid. Now Ethan Dawes was running around Llanview and nothing good could come of it. Taking Sean back to Viki’s though wouldn’t be enough. He needed to figure out a way to cut his ties to Ireland, once and for all. “Are you listening to me, Dad-d-d-d-d-y? I WANT him gone.” “Yeah, Starr. I hear you.” “Good, I’ll give you until tomorrow. I do not want him to go with us to the school pageant. Understand? I’ve been good enough about all of this.” “We’ll see, Starr.” “Not good enough.” Todd exhaled and turned toward the patio. Ethan was staring at him through the French doors. He turned around quickly. “Starr, go upstairs and play with your brother.” “But…” “NOW.” Starr froze for a second then looked at him with hurt eyes. “Did you hear me? And don’t come down here again until I call you.” Starr ran out of the living room and up the stairs. He listened until he heard her footsteps overhead then walked to the patio doors and opened them. “How did you get past my security system?” Ethan tilted his head to the right and shook it. “You’ve forgotten everything?” He hadn’t forgotten anything. Not one rotten thing. “Tell me what you came to say.” “I was hoping to catch a glimpse of him.” “He’s out with my wife.” “That your daughter. The one you came back for.” “Yes.” “Her mother must be quite beautiful.” “What is this about, Ethan?” Ethan walked over to the bar and poured himself a drink. He drained his glass then grabbed it and the bottle and walked over to the sofa where he plopped down. “I was on my way back because I am no longer sure you deserve any consideration but it’s for the boy. Mahoney suspects that Sean-Ryan knows where the boy is and may be coming to get him.” Todd studied him for a minute. “Why would Sean-Ryan care? What the hell would he want with Sean?” “He’s his last connection to Katherine.” “So what, all of a sudden Sean-Ryan cared about Katherine?” “Cared about her? Hated her? Whichever, he’s not about to let her win even in death.” “That doesn’t make a lot of sense, Ethan.” Ethan poured himself another drink then drained the glass again. “Logical or not, you know what the boy represents to him. He was part of it too.” Damn Katherine. He didn’t want Sean-Ryan McGill anywhere near his life—near his family. He balled his fist and then rubbed his forehead with it. Hadn’t Padgett told him there was nothing to worry about from Sean-Ryan? The man supposedly never made mistakes so had he been lying to him or what? Why lie? Of course, in fairness, Padgett didn’t have all the information. He didn’t know the truth about Sean’s paternity. “What does Sean-Ryan have to gain out of this?” Ethan leaned back against the sofa and put his feet on the coffee table. “When the boy was with Mahoney, Sean-Ryan had some control over him because August Moon controlled Mahoney but now he doesn’t. He is not about to let Katherine’s son find the good life because in some small way that means she won. You can bet your knickers on that.” What the hell? This whole situation was like an infected wound and he couldn’t seem to stop the bleeding. And it all came back to Sean. He never should have let that kid get anywhere near his family. Never. He glanced over at Ethan, who was now lighting a cigar, and tried to squelch the mounting sense of rage that was beginning to do battle with his reason. He had to find a way to end this. Soon.
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The Son Also Rises FAN FICTION SLIDESHOWS
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