Chapter 11

Rhianna took a deep breath. "I've missed being outdoors. It feels good to be outside in the air."

"Are you warm enough? I can give you my coat…" Nick was worried she might get chilled.

"No, this shawl is very warm." Rhianna said.

Rhianna walked farther into the pasture while Nick watched her. She gave a low whistle. Nick suddenly realized she had left her hair down. It fell to her waist and was flowing freely. She had put on the silvery grey dress Victoria and Audra had given her and with the blue-grey shawl made a pretty sight. A sudden wind kicked up and Nick's heart almost stopped. She stood alone in the pasture with the wind blowing, her face turned to the heavens as her shawl gently rippled. Her beautiful red hair danced in the wind and Nick thought he had never beheld a more beautiful sight.

Brady came running over to her, stopped in front of her and shook his head. Nick heard Rhianna speak the most beautiful words he had ever heard and he couldn't understand any of them. The words she spoke were musical; it was as if the horse could understand every word. Brady calmed and she caressed his head. She gave him the treat. After he was finished he looked at her. Rhianna spoke to him again.

"Now, then, Brady. I'll be riding you again soon, not to worry. But until then, let him ride you. He's…a friend. Understand?" Rhianna looked at her horse earnestly.

Brady looked at her and then suddenly reared up on his hind legs. Nick tensed thinking the horse would trample her. She stood her ground and when Brady landed well back of her she laughed. "Don't you be showing off, now! Let him ride you."

Brady stood there and finally shook his head, turned, and ran off.

Rhianna returned to where Nick was waiting. She still wouldn't look at him. "He likes to think he's the boss. He'll let you ride him now, though it may not be easy."

Nick nodded, awestruck at what he had seen. She had a gift with horses he had never seen before.

"What was the language you spoke? It's beautiful." Nick was curious.

"It's Irish Gaelic or Gaelige." Rhianna's voice faded away.

They stood for a long time looking into the night. Nick wasn't sure what to say so he just watched her and waited.

"Who told you?" Rhianna finally broke the silence.

"Kathleen told me after I asked her," Nick admitted.

"How did you know to ask?" Rhianna asked, confused.

"We first realized how ill you were when you became delirious. You kept calling Liam 'Galen'. You begged him to help you find her. Later, I asked Kathleen, don't be mad at her." Nick explained quickly.

Rhianna thought for a moment. "What did she tell you?"

"She told me Katie was your daughter and she had died in Ireland. She told me the rest of the story was yours to tell. I promised her I wouldn't tell anyone else." Nick spoke quietly.

Rhianna nodded and grew silent again. "She told you she 'died'?"

"Yes." Nick waited.

Rhianna spoke with sudden anger and bitterness, "That makes it sound like she was warm in her bed surrounded by her loved ones; ill with diphtheria or influenza or pneumonia. Dying peacefully with an angel to carry her home." As suddenly as her anger had appeared it gave way to heartbreaking sorrow. "I wish that was how it had happened."

Rhianna grew silent again, lost in the past. Nick wanted to know, but was afraid to push. He stood there and waited for her to continue.

Rhianna spoke quietly, "She didn't die peacefully. She was killed and she was alone and scared."

"What about her father?" Nick was curious but also afraid to hear the answer.

"He died in battle." Rhianna thoughts drifted back to Ireland and his death.

"He was your husband?" Nick asked, interrupting her recollections.

"Yes." Rhianna nodded her head.

"You must have loved him very much," Nick commented.

"No, I never loved him." Rhianna shook her head, though not unkindly.

Nick looked at her astounded. He knew some people married without love, but his experience had been with parents who loved each other fiercely and had passed that feeling on to their children. Nick couldn't imagine marrying someone he did not love.

Rhianna finally looked at Nick. She could see he didn't understand. She explained in a matter-of-fact way. "Padraic came to us. He had something we desperately wanted. I could give him something he needed. He proposed a deal. I controlled one army and the cavalry and he controlled the other army. He would give me complete control over all forces and in exchange he would get the Catholic wife he needed."

"Why did he need a Catholic wife?" Nick had no idea of the religious conflict occurring in other parts of the world.

"Remember those penal laws I told you about?" Rhianna reminded him of their early conversation.

Nick nodded.

"One I didn't tell you about says Catholics cannot marry Protestants. Protestants cannot convert. Even though it's no longer against the law, the feeling of distrust between the two groups goes deeper than you can possibly imagine."

"He was in love with a Protestant?" Nick began to see the ramifications.

"Yes. They already had several children. They had been careful to hide his identity, but they were afraid their secret was about to be revealed. They were right. If it had been proven, they would have been in grave danger, especially the children. He needed to get married to a Catholic; it was a marriage of convenience."

"And Katie?" Nick asked tentatively.

"I'm a devout Catholic. I insisted the marriage be consummated for the church. It was the only time we were together." Rhianna said quietly.

"What was her name?" Nick asked.

"I named her after my sisters. Her name was Catriona Mary Colleen, but I always called her Katie." Rhianna became withdrawn once more.

"It's a beautiful name." Nick tried to bring Rhianna back to the present.

Rhianna crossed her arms as if she was cold and looked out into the night. She took a deep breath. She knew the next part would be difficult to tell. Once again refusing to meet Nick's eyes, she continued, "My brothers found her. They think I don't know what happened to her, but I know."

Nick looked at Rhianna. She was beginning to tremble, though not from the cold. She looked very sad.

"Rhianna, you don't have to tell me if you don't want to. You don't owe me anything. I…" Nick started to speak.

She put a shaking hand up to stop him. "I want to tell you. It's just…I've never spoken of it, not to anyone." Rhianna took a ragged breath. She started speaking again her voice trembling just above a whisper.

"She was in the meadow…we don't know why she was there. There were seven of them. They were enemy soldiers who were riding through the area. They saw her and they knew who she was. They surrounded her. They had swords. Then they ran her through."

"Oh, God, Rhianna…" Nick was horrified at what he was hearing.

"That's not all. They…butchered her there in the meadow. My brothers found her piece by piece. The…pieces were scattered all over the meadow. My brothers…'gathered' her…remains and Liam brought them to a safe place so we could bury her with the sacrament. Galen rode all night to get to my camp; he knew he should be the one to tell me. He didn't know I already knew. He came in and looked at me and as gently as he could, he told me my darling girl was…was…" Rhianna's voice finally faltered and gave out.

Nick took a step towards Rhianna. He intended to comfort her, but she immediately took several steps back and put shaking hands up to stop him.

"Don't, Barkley. Just don't." Rhianna spoke abruptly as if needing to protect herself from him.

Nick stopped.

Rhianna finally looked at him. She had tears on her face. She turned to walk away from him. Then she stopped. In a shaky voice she started speaking. "Thank you for the kneeling bench. It's beautiful and I love it. I will treasure it all my days."

Rhianna turned back and looked Nick in the eyes. "Thank you, Nick." Then she turned and ran into the house.

Nick stayed outside. He walked over to the corral fence overwhelmed by what he had heard. He wanted some time to think about it all before he went back inside to the family.

After a while Heath came out and stood next to Nick. "Rhianna ran in a while ago. She seemed upset. I think she's been crying."

"She has." Nick acknowledged.

"Everything ok?" Heath asked.

Nick wasn't sure how to respond.

Heath pushed, "You two have a fight?"

"No. She just wanted to thank me for her Christmas present." Nick skirted the issue.

"She doesn't seem to be the only one who's upset." Heath remarked.

"I can't tell you about it, Heath." Nick replied.

"OK. I just want you to know whatever you need, I'm here for you big brother." Heath wanted to make sure Nick knew he had support.

"Thanks, Heath." Nick was grateful for Heath's concern.

The two brothers stood there each lost in thought for a while. Eventually, they went inside for a drink before heading up to bed.

Later, Nick passed Rhianna's room, his heart aching for her. He couldn't help but to pause for a moment and put his hand on the door before continuing on to his own room. He said his own prayer that night before going to sleep.