Doves Migration (42 page)

Lucas Brown, standing outside a hotel room in Buffalo, New York took
a deep breath before knocking softly, hearing a man’s voice call from
behind the door.

“Mandy girl, times a wastin’, lass. Better be getting yerself up and
ready, Montgomery’s already here.”
Lucas knew he was at the right door hearing the male’s voice having an
Irish brogue, and his daughter being referred to as Mandy. Bracing himself
to meet the man who had stolen his daughter from him, Lucas held his
breath as the door swung open.
Immediately Gilbert’s smile faded as he saw the stranger standing
where he thought Montgomery would be. “Can I help you?” Gilbert asked
politely.
Eyeing the rugged man before him, Lucas said, “Yes, Mr. O’Flaherty
you can. May I come in please? I’m Lucas Brown, your father-in-law.”
Stepping aside, allowing Lucas access into the room, he immediately
extended his hand. “Pleasure to meet ya, sir. I’ve heard a lot about ya from
yer daughter.”
Taking his hand in his, Lucas, said, “Is that right? I unfortunately can’t
say the same since my daughter never spoke a word of you to me.”
“Aye.” Gilbert nervously gestured toward a chair for Lucas to take then
added. “Beggin’ yer pardon sir, but how did ya know where we were?”
From behind the closed door, both men turned when Miranda called
out, “Darling, please tell Montgomery I’ll be out directly.”
Gilbert, hearing his wife speak, and ready to tell her that her father was
there, stopped when Lucas said in a hushed voice, “Please Mr. O’Flaherty,
let us have a few minutes to get acquainted.”
Nodding, Gilbert awkwardly took a seat beside Lucas and said, “Sir,
under the circumstances, perhaps ya should call me Gilbert.”
Not responding to Gilbert’s request, Lucas said, “In answer to your
first question, Mr. O’Flaherty, Alfred Honeycutt was kind enough to inform
me that the two of you were here. From what I understand, my daughter
was too ill to travel on the train. Is that right?”
Noting that Lucas had still called him by his last name, Gilbert said,
“Aye. The motion of the train made her a wee sick, so I thought it best to
stay here in Buffalo for a spell.”
Rather enjoying seeing the man before him, feeling uncomfortable
trying to explain that not only had he stolen his daughter from him, but had
impregnated her as well, Lucas applied more pressure to his son-in-law. To
see if what he had heard about this man from Alfred was true, he cleverly
goaded him by saying, “Is that right? How peculiar, as I recall Miranda has
a strong constitution and never has a train made her ill before.”
Clearing his throat and rubbing his hand through his hair before
answering, Gilbert said, “Well, I wouldn’t be knowin’ about that, sir, but I
do agree Miranda is a strong-willed lass.”
“Indeed. How clever of you Mr. O’Flaherty, to remind me of my own
daughter’s character.”
“Look sir, we seem to be getting off on the wrong foot here . . . I meant
no disrespect, obviously ya know yer daughter far better than me.
Considerin’ everythin’ that has happened, and if I were in yer shoes, I’d be
ticked off. But I can tell ya sir, no man could love yer daughter as much as
I love Miranda. As soon as I’m able, I’ll do right by her. But I’ll be
damned, if I’m going to sit here and let ya or any other man try to make me
feel as if I’m not good enough for my wife. Cause I am. I make Miranda
happy and I’ll keep on makin’ her happy with my last dyin’ breath.”
Immediately, Lucas erupted in laughter, and hearing the familiar sound
of her father’s voice Miranda--brushing her hair in the other room-dropped her hairbrush. “Papa?” she whispered. The blood drained from her
cheeks, she tiptoed to the closed door and listened intently all the while
trembling.
“Well your reputation supersedes you, lad. You’re every bit as
independent and stubborn as Alfred said you were and it’s clear to me that
you love my daughter as much as I’ve heard.”
Dumfounded by Lucas, remark Gilbert sat speechless across from him,
trying to size him up, as Lucas had just done to him.
Glancing at his son-in-law, Lucas said, seriously, “I apologize, Gilbert,
for putting you through that, but I had to be certain you truly loved my
daughter as I had heard from Alfred. Which by the way, he’s your greatest
ally and coming from a man like him, that’s quite a feat.”
“I have no qualms with Mr. Honeycutt, he’s a rightly kind man. Decent
and honorable and I owe him a lot.”
“Yes. Well since we both seem to agree on another point, and since if I
know my daughter, she is probably listening at the door by now. Let me get
directly to the point as to why I wanted to speak with you before being
reunited with Miranda.”
Pausing to clear his throat, he said, “Gilbert, I don’t know if Miranda
told you or not, but when I married her mother, Catherine Mason, I was not
a wealthy man. I married into wealth.”
Standing up, obviously angered by what Lucas was implying, Gilbert
said, “Well if that’s what ya think I’ve done . . .”
Chuckling, and raising his arms at seeing the fiery temper Alfred had
spoken of, Lucas said, “Sit down Gilbert, and let me finish, please. I think
you owe me that much.”
Respectfully, Gilbert sat down while Lucas continued. “Alfred was
right again, you do have a temper, which I’m not opposed to, mind you. As
a matter of fact, I’ve been know from time to time to be a might stubborn
myself, if provoked. As Miranda’s father, I’d like to imagine that’s what
attracted her to you in the first place . . .”
Clearing his throat, again feeling suddenly very sentimental, Lucas
said, “That’s neither here nor there--my point was--whatever your
intentions were, the fact remains, Miranda comes from a wealthy family.
And, as the sole heir, and being a woman, her holdings when I pass will
automatically resort to you. Now Gilbert, what you do with them after I’m
dead I’ll have little say in the matter. You can let them all resort back to the
government, which would pain me deeply, but obviously there won’t be a
damn thing I can do about it. So, I was hoping that today I might persuade
you to please consider for Miranda’s sake, and take her back to Virginia
where she belongs, rather than begin a new life for both of you in San
Francisco. This isn’t a gift, Gilbert, there’s not much left of my holdings
but the land. And by God, I’m just too old and I no longer have the drive or
the heart to work it properly. So what I’m proposing is that you build a life
for you and my daughter on the land of her birth. There is over fivehundred acres that need to be worked, and by God I’m asking--no, I’m
begging you--to raise my grandchildren on the land of their ancestors.”
Gilbert’s eyes locked onto Lucas while Miranda stood breathless,
waiting for his reply.
“Mandy told me her family home was now an orphanage. I won’t be
havin’ me wife tend to other children or live under another man’s roof.”
“I can abide by that, besides, Glenbrook needs to remain a school.
What I had in mind is . . . That is if you agree, of course, is you and I pick
out a fine location to build a new home for you and your family. One that is
solely yours and hers. Maybe alongside the brook that travels along the
backside of the property. As a child, Miranda and Elise used to sneak down
there and catch pollywogs . . .” Recalling his daughter as a little girl, his
eyes welled up and he looked pleadingly at Gilbert.
“Fine, Mr. Brown I’ll work yer land and build a home for Mandy and
the wee ones, but not because I want it for meself, but for her.”
“Thank you, Gilbert, and please call me Lucas, son.” Gripping his
hand, Lucas shook it heartily and then called out, “Missy, come on out of
there and give your father a hug.”
Without any further prompting, Miranda ran to her father, tears running
down her cheeks. “Oh Papa. I love you. I’m so sorry I’ve hurt you.”
Kissing and hugging him excitedly, she glanced at Gilbert and whispered,
“Thank you.”
As Lucas pulled away from her, he said, “Let me get a look at you.”
Seeing she was indeed carrying a child as he had been informed by Alfred,
he softly said to her, “My, but being married and in the family way suits
you my dear. I’ve never seen you look more beautiful. And don’t be frettin’
none about hurting me, seems to me we’ve all been hurtin’ long enough.
After I found out what you had done, and after getting over the anger and
shock, it occurred to me, Miranda, what an incredibly brave and strongwilled woman I had raised. Fearing I had lost you too, when I heard you
were here with your husband, I came at once. And the whole way here, I
didn’t know how I was going to be able to tell you just how much I love
you and how proud I am of you. But seeing you now, obviously happier
than you’ve ever been, it suddenly occurred to me, words aren’t what
matters. What truly is important is showing you. Not only do I have my
daughter back thanks to your fine husband, I have a son, and soon a
grandson who deserves some happiness as well. And by God, his papa and
I are going to make damn sure he gets it. Isn’t that right, son?” Lucas
glanced at Gilbert for confirmation that he would allow him into their lives.
“Aye, sir.”
Overcome with joy, Miranda smiled through her tears. “Grandson? Just
how are you and Gilbert so certain this baby is going to be a boy?”
“A father just knows these things, daughter.”
Immediately, Miranda and Gilbert laughed hearing Lucas say that and
once finding out Gilbert had said the same thing after realizing out she was
expecting, Lucas said, “Ah, so another thing we see eye to eye on, Gilbert.”
For the remainder of the afternoon, traveling plans were made for their
trip back to Virginia including Montgomery, who had agreed to work with
Gilbert--not just as an employee but as a trusted friend. With Lucas having
already scheduled to meet Michael in Fairfax on business, he would travel
ahead by rail while the other three would go by coach for Miranda’s sake.
Gilbert, agreeing to the location Lucas had described by the brook--rather
fond of the thought that his own child would be playing where his mother
had as a child--it was agreed Lucas would begin the construction on their
new home before their arrival. Settling on late November, giving them able
time to make the trip by not pushing Miranda in her delicate condition,
Lucas set off for Fairfax with a smile on his face and at last peace in his
heart.

Anne, watching her cousin as she and Rupert took a walk through the
gardens, sighed. “Oh Annabelle, are you certain Felicity isn't homesick?
She’s so sullen, not the least bit happy, although she does make a brave
attempt for appearance sake.”

“She’s just having a rough pregnancy and with her and Benjamin’s
home still not completed, I’m sure that adds to her worries.”
Shaking her head, Anne said, “After years of not having been blessed
with a child, and now that she and Benjamin actually are going to have a
family, you would think Felicity would be bubbling over with enthusiasm.
However, it’s just the opposite. Why, she was more excited picking out
gifts for Elise and Joshua’s twins then picking out something for her own
child. It was Benjamin who purchased what meager things they have for
that poor little thing, and heaven knows the baby could come anytime
now.”
Annabelle, wanting desperately to change the subject, said, “Speaking
of Elise and Joshua, did you receive a photograph of them in the post?”
Smiling proudly, Anne said, “Indeed I did. Wasn’t that so kind of them
to send one along to Edward and me? It tickles me to think Elise has two
little ones to contend with. I was just telling Edward this very morning,
seeing how proudly Joshua was holding his little daughter, Sarah Tess, and
Elise smiling as only she can while holding her little son, Andrew Michael,
just how fortunate they truly are. When I think how she could have
miscarried after her dreadful fall down those stairs, I shudder.”
“Yes, they were very fortunate indeed...” Annabelle’s voice trailed off
recalling the letter she had received from Elise, following her accident and
how Joshua, who had blamed himself never left her side.
For months, Elise had been cooped up in the house, only occasionally
going to the Honeycutt’s or her and Joshua’s parents’ home for dinner.
Bored and miserable from her condition, having grown exceptionally large
with child, Elise had insisted Joshua stay home with her more. This was
impossible since he had been called upon to help his college buddy,
William Maxwell Evarts to defend the president, Andrew Johnson, from
impeachment.
Outraged by Joshua’s lack of tentativeness when he was leaving for the
office, Elise reaching to grab his arm, lost her footing, and rolled down the
stairs, knocking herself unconscious. Grief stricken and blaming himself
for her accident, Joshua stayed by her side for the duration of her
pregnancy, turning over all his findings to his father and Tad, who was an
apprentice at his father’s law firm.
Anne, clearing her throat, noticing Annabelle lost in her own thoughts,
said, “Were you thinking of Elise and Joshua, or your babe?”
“Both I suppose,” Annabelle said, smiling rubbing her protruding
stomach. “How ironic that all four of us--Elise, Miranda, Felicity and I-will be new mothers at the same time. I just hope that we all will be able to
accept motherhood and our new life as well as Elise and Joshua seem to
have adjusted. Earlier, when I read Elise’s letter and she wrote, ‘Well at last
my Joshua and I’ve not only weathered the storm through a war by our
love, but we’ve finally learned how to bind that love through daily life as
man and wife’. I couldn’t help but wonder if all of us will be as lucky as
Elise and Joshua are.”
“Why Annabelle, I’m shocked! Never have I heard you speak so
negatively. Surely you aren’t suggesting you and Rupert are having
problems . . .”
“Oh no. Rupert and I couldn’t be happier, despite Lavinia constantly
being under foot.”
“Which reminds me... Just how long are we to be graced with her
company? I know she just returned from the winter in London, but must
she remain here the entire summer?”
As Annabelle and Anne continued their conversation, Rupert and
Felicity had taken a seat amongst the rose bushes her late aunt had planted.
Feeling the child growing inside her, feeling a kick to her ribs, she winced.
Just as she had when the child’s father had impregnated her.
Realizing Rupert was watching her, she smiled and softly said, “I’ve
longed for the spring to finally come so I could come here. Auntie Gwen
loved her roses.” Felicity said, nostalgically. Suddenly feeling as if her aunt
were near her, recalling how often the two of them had come to this very
spot, Felicity thought,
Oh Auntie Gwen I need you so. What am I to do?