Page 69 of A New World for the Irish Daughter

She was wearing the dress she’d sewn from the forest-green silk the Browns had given her so long ago, and she’d dabbed lavender water behind her ears.

Was she being ridiculous, going to so much effort? Maybe Brendan hadn’t meant it the way that she’d thought—hoped—he had, with his eyes so warm and full of promise. Maybe he just wanted to see her again… as afriend. Always as a friend.

Well, Maggie thought wryly as she fixed her hair for a third time, there was only one way to find out.

Biscuit let out one warning bark before Brendan gave his familiar rat-a-tat-tat and Sheetka, anticipating his arrival, flew to the door first.

“Ah, my angel!” Brendan greeted the girl, swinging her up into his arms while she laughed, a clear, pure sound, and then setting her solidly down on her feet. “And look at this brute! Enormous, and he’s probably not even finished growing.”

Maggie laughed as Biscuit bounded up to him.

“He’s got paws like dinner plates,” Brendan marveled as he crouched down to fondle the dog’s ears.

“His name is Biscuit, and he’s been a good companion.”

“I’m glad.” Brendan straightened, and once again their gazes met and she saw so much warmth in his that her insides fluttered with hope, with anticipation. Shehadn’tbeen wrong. She was almost sure of it. “It’s so good to be here,” he told her as he took off his hat and coat. “I can’t even tell you.”

“It’s good to have you back.” Maggie’s cheeks were warm as she stirred the stew on the stove. She felt shy in a way she hadn’t with this man in years. Shy and yet happy. “Your journey sounded very difficult,” she continued. “I can’t even imagine.”

“I suppose it was foolish to go in winter,” Brendan admitted. “But I wanted to be back for the spring, when the miners started coming.”

“And so they have.” She smiled at him, and he smiled back, and then they both laughed self-consciously, Brendan ducking his head while Maggie pressed her hands to her hot cheeks.

“I don’t know why I’m so tongue-tied,” she confessed, and he laughed softly.

“Me, neither.”

The moment spun out again, and then Brendan took a step toward her. Maggie lowered her hands from her cheeks, herheart feeling as if it was tumbling over at the intent look on his face.

“Maggie…” he began, and she caught her breath. She felt as if she were teetering on the most wonderful precipice, poised on her tiptoes, arms outstretched, ready to fly. “I wanted to—” Brendan began, only to fall silent as Biscuit began to growl, and then a few seconds later there was a loud hammering on the cabin door.

Maggie and Brendan exchanged startled, wary glances, and then Maggie reached for her pistol as Brendan went to the door.

“Who is it?” he asked gruffly, without undoing the latch.

“I’m looking for Margaret O’Halloran,” a voice said from behind the door. “I have news about her father and brother.”

CHAPTER 35

Brendan undid the latch and flung open the door while Maggie slid her pistol back into her skirt pocket, her fingers still curled around it just in case.

A man stood looming in the doorway, dressed in the fur-lined coat and beaded mukluks of a native.

“May I come in?” he asked. His English was stilted, but precise.

“Yes, of course.” Brendan stepped aside and the man came in.

He had a broad, brown face, his hair cut short, unlike the Tlingit, and Maggie realized he must be from one of the other tribes further north, maybe Inuit or Aleut. She’d seen a few of them around Juneau, usually only stopping briefly to trade. They traveled by dogsled and their teams of dogs were often tied up in front of the trading post, looking both exhausted and ferocious.

“You’ve come a long way,” Brendan guessed, and the man gave a brief nod. His gaze traveled around the cabin, taking in the comfortable scene and resting briefly on Sheetka, but he said nothing.

“Would you like some coffee? Something to eat?” Maggie ventured. She wanted to ask him about Danny and Da, but she sensed the man would get to it in his own time.

“Coffee,” he said simply, and sat down at the table.

Maggie went to fetch him a cup.

“What do you know of the O’Hallorans?” Brendan asked once he was seated and had taken a sip of the hot brew.