Page 20 of The Duke’s Sharpshooter (The Duke’s Guard #14)

F laherty rode at an even pace, following the path he’d ridden to the meadow pond. Finding the Jones brothers, he realized they had not been that far behind him.

“You found her?” Samuel asked.

“Aye. Poor wee thing was sleeping in the reeds by the pond.”

Silas frowned. “She could have fallen in.”

Hadn’t Flaherty thought the same thing himself a short while ago? “God watches over lost lambs.”

The two men agreed, and Samuel informed Flaherty, “Our sons are just a mile or so behind us.”

“Let’s head back to Wyndmere Hall,” Silas said. “Her mum will be so happy you’ve found her, Flaherty.”

“That she will, Silas. Let’s find yer sons.”

A mile closer to home, they came upon the boys. Flaherty sensed the tension in the air before they reined in their horses. The boys were a short distance away, huddled together and staring at the ground. “What do you think they found?”

“What makes you think they found anything?” Silas asked.

Sanuel pitched his voice low. “Look at how rigid they’re standing.”

“Aye, they’ve found something,” Flaherty mumbled. “I don’t want to wake Maddy—one of ye dismount and find out.”

“Aye.” Samuel walked over to the boys. Soon he was leaning over, studying something on the ground. He shook his head and straightened. “I’ll tell Flaherty what you’ve found, then we’ll bury the poor thing. You and Stephen head on back to Wyndmere Hall.”

“What about Maddy?” his son Edwin asked.

Samuel smiled. “Flaherty found her sleeping by the pond.”

“I’m glad he did.”

He patted his son’s back. “Me too.” Samuel took one last look at the bedraggled pup, shook his head, turned, and heard a yip. “Well I’ll be.” He knelt and carefully lifted the injured animal into his arms. “We’ll take you back to our farm and fix you up.”

Edwin was staring at the puppy in his father’s arms. “We thought he was dead. He wasn’t moving, and the blood…”

Samuel untied the cloth wrapped around his neck. “Wrap this around his belly to stop the bleeding.”

Stephen rushed over to where they stood. “The puppy’s alive?”

“Aye, let Flaherty know. We’ll ask your mother to stitch him back up. I’m not making any promises.”

“I understand, Uncle Samuel. We probably won’t know if he’s damaged on the inside for a day or so.

” Stephen glanced over his shoulder at his cousin.

“The poor pup didn’t look like he was breathing, and we weren’t sure what to do if he was still alive and possibly dying.

Whatever attacked him hurt the poor thing.

I know he had to have suffered. Just look at him. ”

“He seems to be strong enough to make it home if someone carries him tucked inside their frockcoat.”

“I’ll do it,” Edwin called out as he walked toward his father. “I saw him first, so I should be the one to carry him home.”

“Sounds fair to me,” his cousin replied. “Keep him warm!”

Edwin nodded. “I will.”

Three-quarters of an hour later, the group rode out of the woods and onto the duke’s estate. Flaherty knew it was necessary to signal to the others that he and his search party had returned. But he didn’t want his loud whistle to wake the wee lass.

O’Malley saw him and hailed him. “Garahan had no luck finding the little lass. Neither did Eamon. We’ll need to…” He fell silent as Flaherty’s coat moved. “Is that who I think it is?”

Flaherty nodded. “The poor wee thing was curled up by the meadow pond. She was cold to the touch, but warmed up quick enough inside of me coat.”

O’Malley nodded to Garahan. “Find Temperance!”

Garahan ignored the order to ask, “Ye found her, Rory?”

“With the help of the fae and the Joneses,” Flaherty replied.

“What’s this?” Patrick asked.

“Ye can think I’m daft, I don’t mind. ’Tis the truth.”

Garahan ribbed him, “Feck, Flaherty, we already think ye’re daft.”

“Go and tell—” The words dried up on Flaherty’s tongue as Temperance ran toward him, her black-as-night hair slipping from its pins, an expression of hope-tinged fear on her lovely face. He dismounted and slowly walked toward her, meeting her halfway.

“Maddy?” The quiet rasp of her voice had the swell of emotion Flaherty had felt earlier by the meadow pond returning.

He swallowed against the lump in his throat to speak. “She scraped her knee, and it was bleeding. I wrapped it with me cravat. Poor cailín was chilled to the bone. We’d best get her in the house and into a hot bath.”

“Please wait, just a moment,” Temperance said. “I need to see her face.”

Flaherty knew better than to argue with a worried ma. “I don’t want the night air to give her a chill.”

Temperance met his gaze, but did not argue with him. She scooted up close to him. He could see the pulse beating wildly at the base of her throat. Intrigued, he wondered if she was reacting to her daughter being found, or to being so close to him.

“Can you shift the edge of your frockcoat, just a tiny bit?”

Flaherty did as she asked. “See? Safe and sound, although a bit dirtier than when she left, I’m thinking.”

Temperance tucked the edge of his coat around her daughter, then placed her hand on Flaherty’s arm, lifted onto her toes, and brushed a kiss to his whiskered cheek.

“Thank you. From the bottom of my heart. I was devastated when I woke to find her gone. I need to find out why she left, and what she was thinking. Would you help me speak to her? She listens to you.”

“I’d be happy to, but I think it may have had to do with the faerie.”

“Faerie?”

“We’ll talk later. The poor lamb needs a long soak in a hot, soapy tub.”

“With rose petals,” Temperance said. “Her Grace let Maddy have some in her bath. It’s a luxury we have never had before. She loves the scent.”

“Rose petals it is,” Flaherty rumbled. They walked to the back of the building, and he held the door for her. “After ye.”

As soon as they entered, they were mobbed.

“Oh, thank Heavens!” Constance pressed her cheek to Flaherty’s as she hugged him, careful not to squish the child in his arms. “I’ll serve the meat pies and stew I’ve been cooking shortly.

” She stared at his hands and frowned. “You have blood and dirt on you. Where is Maddy hurt?”

“It’s not serious,” Flaherty assured her. “She scraped her knee. I wrapped it up.”

Constance pressed her lips together. “I’ll direct the footmen to fetch the copper tub and set it up down here.

It’s closer to the kitchen, and we can get the little darling in the tub faster.

” As if she realized she had taken over, Constance ducked her head and faced Temperance. “If that is all right with you.”

Temperance smiled. “Of course it is. Thank you.”

Flaherty noticed some of the heaviness that had settled on Temperance’s face had lifted. “Don’t forget the rose petals.”

Constance laughed. “We won’t. Everyone knows how much the little moppet loves them.”

A short time later, all of the men who had gathered to search for the little girl returned to their homes with the fervent thanks of Temperance, Flaherty, and Their Graces. Each man carried a basket filled with meat pies, scones, and teacakes as a thank you.

After Flaherty had given his report, the duke pointed out that he had dirt and blood on his shirt.

He knew the duke did not want to upset his wife.

It was one thing to hear that the wee lass had scraped her knee and another altogether if Her Grace noticed the evidence on Flaherty’s shirt.

He returned to the outbuilding where he bunked and washed his face where the little one had patted it with her dirty hands.

Flaherty never minded a bit of dirt—he’d grown up on a farm.

He smiled, thinking how angelic she looked fast asleep bundled in his arms. At one point she started moving until she freed one arm, touched his face, and sighed.

Not quite awake, but enough that she was assured she had not been dreaming. She was safe in his arms.

A few seconds later, fear of what could have happened had he not heard the whisper on the wind grabbed him by the bollocks.

“Lord, ’tis Flaherty—Rory, in case Ye’re thinking it might be Seamus.

Although he was the brother most recently in trouble.

” He paused, for a moment losing his concentration.

“Thank ye, Lord, for asking the fae to whisper on the wind telling me where to look, and for sending yer angels to watch over Maddy until I could get to her. I promise to protect and watch over her and her ma for their rest of me life.”

His mind wandered to Sussex. He had to ask Garahan if his wife had received a letter from her sister-in-law Melinda lately. Married to James, the eldest of the Garahans, Melinda usually had the most recent family news and liked to share it.

One day, Flaherty thought, they’d all have the chance to be together again, if only for a little while.

But the duke’s family would have to be gathered together in one spot—most likely Wyndmere Hall, the largest of His Grace’s properties.

Needing to scrub the fear and what-ifs from his brain, Flaherty started thinking about a reason to gather together.

He’d have to ask Patrick what he thought and if he had any notion as to what would be a good reason.

Entering through the side door, he walked toward Humphries. “Thank you for helping to organize the men while Garahan and I were in the village. Ye’re the best of us, Humphries.”

The older man’s lips twitched. “Always happy to be of service. I believe there are two lovely ladies waiting for you in the kitchen.”

Flaherty grinned. “Are they now?”

“They’re quite the pair. Makes a man contemplate his future.”

Flaherty shook his head. “Wasn’t I just thinking that?”

The butler chuckled. “I wouldn’t know, but if I were you, I wouldn’t waste time talking to me.”