Page 27 of The Duke’s Sharpshooter (The Duke’s Guard #14)

F laherty escorted Temperance to the rear door of the building and held it open for her.

“I’m certain O’Malley has already spoken to Their Graces by now—’tis his job as the head of the duke’s guard to keep them informed.

But I don’t want Maddy to hear it from anyone else first. Can ye bring her over to the stables?

I’m certain Garahan will allow me a few more minutes before I head out to guard the perimeter. ”

Temperance brushed a kiss to his cheek and hurried down the hallway, calling for Maddy as she neared the kitchen.

“In here, Mum!” Her daughter’s smile was radiant, and her eyes sparkled.

“Have you already heard the news?”

Maddy pursed her lips and shook her head.

Temperance had a feeling that word had spread to the kitchens already, but she did not want to spoil her daughter’s mood.

Summoning all of the hope and happiness she’d felt when she accepted Flaherty’s offer, she knelt in front of her daughter, took hold of her hands, and asked, “Do you remember what you asked me earlier?”

Maddy frowned. “I asked you lots of things.”

“Flaherty would like to ask you something. He’s waiting by the stables.” Temperance straightened, caught the knowing look on Constance’s face, and smiled. “I need to borrow your helper for a short time. We’ll be back shortly.”

The cook waved them away. “Take all the time you need.”

Maddy caught on to the excitement and started to run, tugging her mother behind her. “Hurry, Mum. Just Flaherty needs me.”

To keep her daughter from tripping in her haste to get to her hero, Temperance scooped her up and carried her to the stables. “I think someone’s been feeding you boulders for breakfast. You’re heavier than you were.”

Maddy patted the side of her mother’s face. “Constance is always trying to feed me, even when I’m not hungry.”

“There they are, laddie,” Flaherty said to his gelding as he walked his horse over to meet Temperance and Maddy. “Thank ye for coming to speak to me. I only have a few minutes, or Garahan’ll be skinning a strip off me hide for being late to me patrol.”

Temperance shot him a worried look. “Will he really?”

“Nay, lass, it just feels like it when he uses his I-can-beat-ye-with-me-hands-tied-behind-me-back-blindfolded look.”

Maddy giggled. “Can he really?”

“Nay, I let him think he can.”

The little girl leaned toward Flaherty, who took her from her mother’s arms and held her on his hip. “Then what happens?”

He grinned. “I beat him!”

Maddy wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her cheek to his. “Mum said you wanted me.”

*

“That I do. Can I be yer da? I asked yer ma to marry me, and she said yes.”

Maddy squealed, kissed his cheek, and then eased back. As she looked into his eyes, her expression swiftly changed from ecstatic to thoughtful. “You’ll need to ask him.”

Confused, Flaherty glanced at Temperance, who shrugged and shook her head. Turning back to Maddy, he asked, “Him who?”

“My papa. Mum says he’s my guardian angel… He’s in Heaven.”

“Ah, mo chroí , she told me that too.” He met the intensity of Temperance’s look with one of certainty. “Will you help me ask him?”

Maddy nodded. “We have to kneel down and fold our hands.”

Flaherty set her down, told his horse to mind his manners, and let go of the reins. Well-mannered horse that he was, the gelding stood still. Maddy reached for his hand. Flaherty knelt and urged her to kneel beside him.

“Now fold your hands together like this,” she told him.

He mirrored the little girl’s movement, interlacing his fingers. “Since I’ve not been properly introduced to yer da, would you do the honors?”

She furrowed her brow, was silent for a few moments, then slowly smiled. “I will. Now close your eyes.”

He closed his eyes.

“And bow your head. No peeking until I say so!”

He bowed his head. “Aye, Maddy-lass.”

“Papa?” Her soft voice was reverent, as if she were used to praying. “I’m here with Just Flaherty. He rescued Mum once, and me twice, and wants to protect us and love us.” She paused and patted him on the shoulder. “Just Flaherty?”

“Aye?” he asked without opening his eyes, lest she remind him she’d said no peeking.

“Do you want to love us and protect us?”

“With all me heart and every bit of me strength.” She kissed his shoulder, and he vowed to move Heaven and Earth if Maddy or her ma asked him to.

“Papa, I had to check. Just Flaherty wants to love us and protect us, and I want him to…but only if you say so.”

How in the bloody hell did she expect her departed father to give his blessing? He had no idea how to navigate the hurt that would surely follow when the little girl’s request went unanswered. Dear Father in Heaven, help me!

A blast of warmth hit him in the heart and spread to his limbs, shocking him to the core, as a feeling of peace seeped into his very soul. He nearly opened his eyes, but he’d given his word, and he would keep it.

“Thank you, Papa! Open your eyes, Just Flaherty!”

He did as the little girl bade him.

“Did you hear what he said?”

“Nay,” he answered, “but I felt as if the warmth of the sun was pressing on me heart and soul a moment ago…and then peace filled me.”

“My husband just gave his daughter and you his blessing,” Temperance rasped. “I felt the same warmth you experienced, Rory.”

He held his women in his arms and breathed slowly as he thanked God for the miracle that they’d all witnessed. “I promise to protect the both of ye with me life, and if the Lord takes me first, ye’ll have yer da and me—two guardian angels—watching over ye.”

“Flaherty! Move yer arse!” shouted.

“Language, ye bloody eedjit !” Flaherty’s gelding nudged him between his shoulder blades. “Well now, if me horse is poking me in the back, I’d best be going. Promise me the two of ye won’t be getting into any trouble while I’m guarding the perimeter.”

“We promise—don’t we, Mum?”

“We promise, Rory.”

“Can I still call you Just Flaherty when you marry my mum?”

“Aye, mo chroí .” He kissed Maddy’s forehead, and Temperance’s cheek, slowly stood, and helped them to their feet. “Off with the two of ye now. I’ve work.”

Temperance held out her hand to Maddy while Flaherty vaulted into the saddle. “Be safe, Rory.”

“I will, lass.”

“Bye, Just Flaherty!”

“Bye, wee cailín .” He urged his horse forward and rode toward the front of the building.

At the bend in the drive, he turned and waved to them.

“God, thank ye for me latest blessing, and thank Maddy’s da for me and tell him ’twill be me mission in life, and an honor, to love and protect his wife and daughter. ”

Picking up the pace, Flaherty scanned both sides of the road, seeking anything out of the ordinary that would indicate trouble lurking nearby.

As he rode past the section of meadow on both sides of the road, he added to his prayer, hoping Maddy’s father was still listening.

“Just so ye know, should anything happen to me, I’ve three brothers, four Garahan cousins, and eight O’Malley cousins who will stand in me stead and protect Temperance and Maddy with their lives. ”

The warmth returned, more intense than the first time. Flaherty had his answer. As he continued on his patrol, all was right with his world.

The dense forest was up ahead on the left.

He slipped his rifle off his shoulder, ready to fire off a warning shot or return fire.

Flaherty never worried that any sharpshooter would be able to shoot him before he got a bead on the gunman first. His O’Malley cousins in America had sent Kentucky long rifles to Patrick O’Malley as a gift when they first learned they had pledged their lives to protecting the duke and his family.

No other rifle that he’d ever possessed was as accurate at four hundred yards.

His thoughts drifted to the woman he would marry instead of the densely wooded area.

He heard the shot before he spotted the sharpshooter.

Pain seared his cheek, momentarily distracting him.

Just as suddenly the pain receded, and he felt a sudden urge to duck.

He did, and a second shot whistled past, missing him.

He concentrated on the direction the shots were coming from and fired.

The grunt of pain told him he’d hit his target.

Loading his rifle quickly, he took aim and fired again.

The resounding crack and thud that followed had him racing toward the broken limb and the man who had fallen with it.

Flaherty dismounted and muttered a curse.

The nick to his face wasn’t serious, but would be if it got infected.

He grabbed hold of the saddle as thoughts of Temperance and Maddy filled his mind.

Would they worry about him every time he went on patrol?

Would his being injured, even slightly, cause them to change their mind?

The slash of pain surprised him and had him wondering why the graze to his cheek bothered him now, when it hadn’t until he’d shot his attacker off his perch.

The answer surfaced—the intensity of the moment had passed.

He recognized the feeling. It had happened before when he’d been clubbed or stabbed fighting to protect his duke and his family.

’Twas part of his make-up to stand his ground, even when injured, until the threat had been contained. Then pain would make itself known.

Flaherty walked over to the prone man. He swiped at the blood that trickled from his wound. Frustrated and angry, he growled, “Who in the bloody hell sent ye?”

The man had a hand clamped around his upper arm, but it didn’t do much to stop the bleeding. Flaherty nudged him with toe of his boot, but did not receive the reaction he expected.

The man who’d had the bollocks to shoot at him glared. “Wasn’t worth it.”

“Getting shot, or getting caught?”

“I’ll tell you, if you help me bind my arm. I can’t manage it one-handed.”

“Where’s yer knife?”

The man surprised Flaherty by chuckling. “There’s one in my left boot.”