To Love A Wild Irishman

***Finnegan Callahan is the son of an Irishman. He loves rye whiskey, women and gambling though he always leaves his women a bit more bitter and his gambling companions much richer.  His take on life is that it is meant to be lived and live it he does—though he won’t be doing so much longer if those he owes debts to catch up to him. What Finnegan needs is a chest full of money which of course he thinks is simply wishful thinking—until he finds the treasure map.

***Cassandra Little has always lived a cautious life. Daughter to a wealthy family and a father active in the government, her every move is seen and judged by society. Cassandra says she is content but knows deep down that there has to be something more—and that is why when her best friend Finnegan shows up at her bedroom window in the early morning hours with a treasure map and a proposition, Cassandra is quick to agree.

***Their journey together will take Cassandra far from home. Outlaws, debt collectors, bounty hunters and angry politicians plague them every step of the way. Will Cassandra and Finnegan find the treasure they seek?  Take the journey with them as they discover who they really are, what really matters and that old friendships truly are the strongest foundations for true love.

Prologue: Hanged

“Rye whiskey, rye whiskey I need ya so bad

                My mouth is so dry; I’m a thirsyt ol’ lad

                Rye whiskey, rye whiskey you’re better than the rest

              Just now ya sound better than a big set of breasts.“

Finnegan tipped his empty flask and sent up a prayer to God to send him on a path to a brothel full of willing women and barrels of whiskey.

He’d run out of whiskey two days ago and Finnegan’s blood hadn’t been this pure since he’d begun drinking at the age of eleven. His mama had damn near had a fit but his pa had thought it was great fun and had encouraged it for his own twisted amusement.

That’s what happened when your papa was an Irishman. Finnegan was glad for his Irish heritage even though the Brits that had settled this fine country called America well over a hundred years ago still looked down on him for it.  It was because he was Irish that he had such luck with the women. His accent wasn’t as thick as his papa’s but it still drove the womenfolk crazy.  He had Irish charm and with just a “Hello pretty lass” and a wink they were falling all over him.

                Though it was also his Irish heritage that had him wandering through the middle of nowhere without a drop of whiskey left in his flask. He had inherited more than just good charms from his papa. He had also inherited a strong bond with the whiskey and a love of a good bet.

                One too many bets on a buggy race that had gone south had led to Finnegan being forced to leave the race just as soon as the thundering hooves and bouncing wheels had crossed the finish line. And he’d been forced to leave in a hurry.

                Amsten Texas had been such a nice town—but now it was off limits to the likes of Finnegan; just the same as a long list of towns before it.

                The sun was beginning to set and Finnegan could see the faint flickering of a campfire not too far off in the distance. Maybe they’d have some whiskey to spare. Finnegan had a canteen of water but that was strictly to avoid death by dehydration and he wasn’t quite far enough gone yet to find it appealing.

                He rode a bit closer and two old men came into view. Their heads snapped up and whipped around sharply when Finnegan’s faithful appaloosa gelding, Theo, let out a snort.

                “Who the hell are you?” One of the men demanded in a gravely voice.

              Finnegan slid from the saddle and winced as blood flow returned to his backside. He shook out his legs and grinned, “My name’s Finnegan, gentleman, and I was hoping ya might have a bit of space around your fire for me.”

                “Sure don’t,” the first man ground out. “Get on out of here now and be on your way.”

                “I mean ya both no harm,” Finnegan assured them. “I simply need a place to rest a while and perhaps a bit of whiskey if ya have some.”

                “We don’t cater to no Irishman,” the first man grumbled.

               The second studied Finnegan a moment, “I reckon we’ve got room to spare around our fire, LeRoy. Might as well let this man take it up.”

              The men shared a look and then the first man sighed and waved him over, “Alright then. You can hitch your horse over there.” He nodded toward a tree where two horses were already tied off and grazing. “We got some beans heated up and there’s a bottle of whisky in that sack yonder.”

                “Theo here won’t wander off, will ya boy?” Finnegan cooed to the best as he patted its neck. He grabbed is saddlebags, draped them over his shoulder and made his way to the fire. He settled himself down in the dirt and reached for the sack the man had indicated, “My stomach thanks ya, gentleman.”

                Finnegan pulled the cork from the bottle and laid the rim against his lips. As the warm liquid slid across his tongue and burned its way down his throat, Finnegan was convinced it was better than bedding an eager woman.

                “Irishman and their whiskey,” the first man snorted. “You better not rob from us, young’un.”

                Finnegan grinned, pulled off his hat and tossed it into the grass, “I don’t rob from friends, gentleman.”

                “Friends?”

                Finnegan raised the whiskey bottles in a salute. “The best of.”

---

                Poke. Poke. Poke.

                Finnegan grunted in his sleep and squirmed away from the tapping on his leg. “Knock it off, Theo,” he grumbled.

                “Hello, Finnegan.”

                Finnegan came to full alertness at the sound of that voice. A voice he would recognize anywhere.  It had a slow drawl and a quiet confidence that sent shivers down Finnegan’s spine. He kept his eyes closed as he responded, “Hello there, Dear Seamus. How are ya this fine morn?”

                “Not well at all, Finnegan. Though I reckon my day is suddenly looking a bit better now that I’ve caught up to you. I’ve been chasing you a while.”

                     Finnegan raised a brow, keeping his eyes closed as he did so, “I give your life purpose then, Dear Seamus. I’ll get up, ya close your eyes and count to ’round a hundred and I’ll give your life some more.”

                “Not this time, Finnegan.”

                Seamus snapped his fingers and Finnegan opened his eyes to see Seamus crouched before him. Finnegan looked beyond Seamus to see that the camp was empty. The men, Finnegan’s new whiskey bearing friends, were long gone and so was Theo. Then he noticed three of Seamus’s men heading his way with a length of rope.

                “What do ya plan on doin’ with that?” Finnagan asked calmly, while inside his heart thundered.  

                “Hanging you of course,” Seamus replied with a shrug. “For your crimes.”

                “If ya hang me then you’ll never get your money.”

                “You’re never gonna give me my money either way,” Seamus replied with a shrug as he grabbed Finnegan by the arm and jerked him to his feet.

                “I would say you’re right, Seamus. Money doesn’t seem to be growin’ on any trees nearby.”

                “No,” Seamus agreed. “But you’ll sure as hell hang from one.”

                Finnegan knew he had to escape. Seamus was a crazy son of a bitch and would kill him despite the fact that they shared blood.

                “Can I have just a wee sip o’ whiskey before ya send me to meet my maker?” he asked, hoping to buy some time.

                “No,” Seamus replied quite simply and then a sharp pain came to the back of Finnegan’s head and the world went black.

                A splash of water brought Finnegan back to consciousness and he jerked away, though he was careful to still his movements when he realized there was a rope around his neck connecting him to a thick tree limb and all that was keeping him from hanging to death was a rickety piece of wood balanced on top of five teetering stones beneath his feet.

                “I’d be careful how you move there, Finnegan,”  Seamus warned from atop a horse.

                 Finnegan realized they were alone. Seamus’s men appeared to be gone, “Thanks for the warnin’ there, Seamus. If ya don’t mind could ya leave my whiskey? I’ll need it when I get down.”

                “You aren’t getting down, Finnegan, and I’ve told you time and again I go by the name John now.”

               Finnegan heard thunder rumble in the distance and raindrops began plopping down on the dried ground. The board Finnegan was balanced precariously on shifted below the toes of his boots and he nearly fell, cursing as he caught himself at the last moment.

                “Leave my whiskey just the same,” he stated with a grin. “I’d be most obliged if ya would.”

                Seamus shook his head and took the half empty bottle from the saddlebags of his horse. He leaned down and set the whiskey on the ground. “You’re just like him , Finnegan. The drinking, the gambling, the women—”

                “Are ya havin’ difficulties with the women then?”

                Seamus growled and swiped his hand over his face.  “I’m doing you a favor.”

                “I think you and I may have different views on what a favor is, Dear Seamus.”

                Seamus just shook his head and rode away. Finnegan couldn’t blame him. He did owe the man more money than most folks made in a year. Of course Seamus was only one of many that Finnegan owed money to. Add to that list the men he had stolen from over the years and Finnegan was a man hated by many.

                The rain began to fall more steadily; the droplets pinging as they bounced off the whiskey bottle. Finnegan’s hair was soon plastered to his head and the board and rocks below him became increasingly slick, threatening to give way and send him to his death at any moment. Of all the ways for a fighting Irishman to go out this was certainly one of the worst.

Chapter One: Nether Regions, Impressive Mustaches and A Bad Time

Chapter One: Nether Regions, Impressive Mustaches and A Bad Time

                “But Mr. Finnegan, how did you get away?”

                Finnegan grinned at the eager child sitting at his feet, staring up at him with awe. He threw the boy a wink, “ ‘Twas quite simple.”

                “Simple?” the boy asked, his brow wrinkling up as he frowned.

                “Listen close, Luke, and I’ll tell ya how it was done,” Finnegan replied, lowering his voice so that Luke would lean closer in. “Ya see, boy, deep down in that cold soul of his Seamus likes me. He tied my hands in the front to give me a bit more of a chance. What he didn’t know was that I keep me a knife holstered in my britches.”

                “In your britches?”

                Finnegan laughed. “Yep. Right here.” He patted at the knife safely tucked beside his groin. “Not many men are too quick to go rifling through another man’s nether regions. I simply got my knife out, cut the rope ‘round my neck, freed my hands, hopped off my leg stand and took a big swallow o’ whiskey to help me forget my troubles.”

                “You’re amazing, Finnegan! I want to be just like you!” Luke exclaimed.

                  Finnegan laughed and patted the homeless boy on the hair,  “You’ll turn out just fine, boy, I’m sure of it.” 

                Finnegan smiled as the boy launched into a story of his own adventures. While Luke talked, Finnegan thought about the story he’d just told him. He still couldn’t believe Seamus had hanged him, though it shouldn’t surprise Finnegan. That ass was always nearly killing him and yet leaving him the smallest sliver of a chance to get out. Probably to clear the bastard’s own conscience when Finnegan finally did die from one of his stunts.

                Finnegan looked around the small town as he sat on the porch of the orphanage and listened to Luke. Finnegan always made it a point to stop at orphanages when he came to them and this one was one of his favorites. Finnegan loved children but Luke was the one he loved most. The eight year old didn’t deserve to be in this place with no family; then again none of the children did.

                He saw Theo standing down by the road, swishing his tail impatiently. Clearly the horse was ready to be on the move again.

                Finnegan hadn’t been completely honest with Luke about the day he’d nearly been hanged. He had cut himself loose but he hadn’t simply jumped down and went on his way….. There had been a bit more falling to the ground , having the breath knocked from his body and being sure he was going to die from the pain in his backside involved. He had been lying on the ground with his eyes closed, wishing he’d fallen close enough to his whiskey to reach it without moving when he’d felt something brush his face.

                At first it had scared him but then he’d heard the familiar sound of breath blowing out a nose irritably and he’d known it was Theo.  “Ah me faithful steed come to save me,” he’d mumbled as he’d used Theo to pull himself to his feet. “Faithful steed, my arse! Ya would have let me die up there, you flea-ridden beast.”

                Finnegan came back to the present when Luke tapped his arm. “Finnegan—I think those men are looking for you.”

                Finnegan followed Luke’s gaze and saw three men who turned their eyes in his direction at that exact moment,  “Shite!” Finnegan exclaimed. “Luke ya better be gettin’ yourself back inside now.”

                Luke nodded and dashed back inside the door as Finnegan stood and walked off the porch.  “Hello there, Morgan. How are ya this fine day?” Finnegan asked with a smile. If there was one thing Finnegan was good at it was faking smiles to ease tempers.

                “Not good, Finnegan,” Morgan snapped, rubbing his hand over his thick graying mustache. “Where is my money?”

                “I would assume it’s in your pocket. Unless of course you’re like me and don’t have a dime to your name,” Finnegan replied. He was pretty far up shit creek with no paddle just now but he chose not to panic.

                “Where’d you get that nice shiny gun?” Morgan asked as his two pals flanked Finnegan.

                “I uh.. I took it off a man who didn’t need it anymore.”

“Stole it you mean.” Morgan muttered.

“I prefer to call it borrowin’ with no intention o’ seekin’ permission or givin’ it back,” Finnegan countered. He jerked away when one of the men moved closer. Was he trying to sniff him?! “Have ya ever heard of a thing called personal space, gentlemen?”

“All you gotta do is give me my money, Finnegan, and you’ll never have to see my face again.”

“It isn’t your face sniffin’ at my hair, Morgan. Your pretty face gives my life so much joy.”

Morgan glared at him and glanced at one of the men beside him. Finnegan saw Morgan nod and then a fist was driven hard into his gut.

                Finnegan doubled over as his breath left in a rush. His vision blurred as he coughed and then rose back up with a winded chuckle, “You’re an abusive man, Morgan. I should really cut all ties with ya but I simply cannot stay away.”

                Morgan shook his head and his dark eyes flashed with temper. Finnegan thought of reminding Morgan that such anger was hazardous to a man’s health but he was in no hurry to have either of the tweedle brothers punch him again.

                “I’ll make a deal with you, Finnegan. You give me that shiny new borrowed gun of yours and that fine horse you have and I’ll call us even. You’ll never have to see my face again.”

                “Oh but, Morgan—“ Finnegan sighed. “—the sight of your handsome face is all that gets me through the long lonely days… and the nights of course.” Finnegan winked and then took another hard blow to the gut.

                “Shite!” he exclaimed breathlessly as he doubled over yet again. “I think ya got my liver. Good thing the whiskey got it first.”

                “Lawman heading this way,” Sir-Punches-A-lot warned.

              Finnegan straightened himself and glanced down the road to see that there was indeed a man walking there way with a glittering badge on his chest.

                “So what’ll it be, Finnegan? The gun and the horse and I’ll forgive your debt or will I be taking my payment in blood one night while you sleep.”

                “’Twill have to be blood,” Finnegan replied as he edged away from the men and took Theo’s reins. “I would give up me whiskey before I’d give up my Theo.”  Finnegan grinned. “Will ya watch me a while before ya kill me in my sleep, Morgan? Mayhap I’ll be dreaming of ya.”

                Rage contorted Morgan’s features but he quickly hardened his face when the lawman neared them. “Is there a problem here, gentlemen?” he demanded, his voice polite yet stern.

                “No of course not, lawman,” Morgan assured him. “We’re just settling some business.”

                “Whatever your business is you’ll have to settle it outside of my town. I don’t take too kindly to folks throwing punches within city limits.” The lawman turned his attention to Finnegan, “Would you like to press charges on these men?”

                For a split second, Finnegan thought of saying yes but thought better of it. “That won’t be necessary, sir.” He swung himself up into Theo’s saddle. “Truth be told I deserved to be punched.”

                Finnegan saw the relief on Morgan’s face and couldn’t help himself. Morgan already wanted him dead and having them locked up would buy him a bit of extra time to get away. “Then again, officer—“ Morgan’s eyes were hard as stones as they looked up at him. “Morgan and his friends here did assault me just outside an orphanage full of impressionable young folk. I fear teaching them that violence is the way to solve our problems could damage their wee little minds. They should see these men punished for their wrongdoin’s and it may just steer those fine young lads and lasses to walk down the path of righteousness instead of fallin’ into the trap of lawlessness that these three gentleman have found themselves lost in.”

                The lawman blinked several times and then nodded. “I reckon you’re right. Let’s get to the jail you three.” When one of the men, the sniffer of the group, appeared as if he was going to argue, the lawman pulled his gun and aimed it at his chest, “I said let’s get to the jail.”

                “Put the gun away, sheriff,” Morgan said calmly. “We’ll come.” Then he turned to Finnegan, “You better hope I never see you again, Finnegan, because if I do you’re a dead man.”

                “Your words of love always cause my wee heart to flutter like the beats of a butterfly’s wings,” Finnegan winked, laughing at the expression of rage on Morgan’s face.

                   Morgan’s cheeks flushed red and the air whooshed out of his nose so quickly that the hairs of his impressive mustache danced around above his lip. Deciding he’d pushed the other man quite far enough, Finnegan kicked Theo’s side and rode off on the beast, knowing he had to put a lot of distance between himself and Morgan.

                Finnegan sighed as he rubbed at his neck. One of these days he was going to wind up killed. He tended to not dwell on that fact of life since it took the joy right out of the days he had left but it was the truth. What he needed was a sack full of money to fall straight from heaven above and land in his lap—though that was a dream and nothing more. He simply had to work hard to stay one step ahead of Seamus and Morgan. They were the only two men that he owed money too that seemed to be actively tracking him down.

                Finnegan had been riding hard for hours when he saw the shack up ahead. It looked as good a place as any to hole up for the night but first Finnegan had to make sure he would be alone there.

                Leaving Theo a safe distance away, Finnegan crept through the darkness and toward the dilapidated old building. He saw a candle burning inside the single window and cursed under his breath. Someone lived here… probably the owner of that half-starved gray mare standing in the paddock.

                Finnegan would have to charm his way inside because it smelled as if a rainstorm was coming and he wanted a roof over his head before it showed up. He walked up to the door, pulled off his hat and ran a hand through his curly dark hair before knocking twice.

                As the door opened, Finnegan prepared his welcoming statement only to swallow his words back down when he found himself staring down the double barrel of a shotgun.

                  His eyes went crossed trying to focus on the gray metal and he somehow managed a shaky smile, “Have I come at a bad time?”

Chapter Two: Chess Games and Secrets

Chapter Two

                “Who the hell are you?” a voice demanded. It sounded as if it belonged to an old man. Finnegan glanced around the barrel of the gun and saw the man standing there in a white nightdress, his gray hair wild around his heavily wrinkled face and his yellowed eyes narrowed and fixed on Finnegan.

                “My name is Finnegan. I mean ya no harm. There seems to be a bit of a storm brewin’ and I was hopin’ ya might allow me to have a roof over my head before she hits.”

                The old man studied him intently before glancing over Finnegan’s shoulder and scanning the forest around them, “You alone?” he grunted.

                Finnegan nodded, “Just me and my horse Theo.”

                Several more tense seconds ticked by as Finnegan wondered if perhaps he’d be eating some shotgun lead. Finally the gun lowered and Finnegan was able to draw a breath, albeit a shaky one.

                “Now that I’ll need to change me britches—” he mumbled with a grimace. “—can I come in out of the approachin’ storm?”

                As if on cue thunder rumbled in the distance. The old man grunted, his paper thin lips pursing. “Yeah, I reckon,” he finally relented. “But if you try any bit of funny business I’ll give you another hole to shit out of, you hear me?” A bushy gray brow quirked up as he finished his threat.

                Finnegan fought back laughter at the colorful description and the images it brought to mind, “Yes, sir. No funny business. Ya have my word as an Irishman on that.”

                “Irishman,” the old man snorted but didn’t illustrate any further on what he thought of the people. “You can put your horse over under that lean-to so he stays dry.”

                Finnegan whistled for Theo and the horse trotted over. He removed his saddlebag and kissed the beasts cheek, “He’ll get under there on his own, won’t ya boy?”

                “Kissing horses…” the man grumbled. There were a few other words mumbled under his breath that Finnegan couldn’t make out enough to understand but he was fairly certain that he heard the word unnatural tossed in there. “You reckon you should tie him up at least? Lightning’s been known to scare critters.”

                “Not as much as it scares me,” Finnegan mumbled and then he yelped when a flash of it lit the sky. “Can I come in now then?” Without waiting for the old man to move, Finnegan slid past him and into the tiny shack.

                And shack truly was the word for this place. The single candle was all that lit the ten foot by ten foot interior. Wind blew in threw the drafty walls and blew the feed sack curtain wildly. Finnegan walked to the only chair he saw, a rickety chair that did not appear strong enough to support the weight of a field mouse. With a shrug, Finnegan sat down, wincing at the sound of creaking wood and waiting to be sent crashing onto the dirt floor, which, thankfully, did not happen.

                “Never seen a grown man so scared to death of a little thing like lightning before,” the man scoffed as he closed the door and then secured the shutters on the window. Rain began to fall, clanging loudly on the rusted tin roof.

                “Little thing?!” Finnegan demanded as he pulled his flask of whiskey from his pocket. “I’ll have ya know that there ain’t no such thing as a little bit o’ lightnin’. I’ll have ya know that there was once I time I was camped beneath a sycamore tree and a storm like this one here comin’ began. A blast a lightning came down from the heavens and blew that tree right in half!” Finnegan grunted as he put the flask to his lips. “I didn’t shite properly for a month afterward.”

                The old man’s eyes widened as Finnegan took a drink and then he threw his head back and laughed hoarsely until he was gasping for air. Finnegan worried the man’s lungs would give out but he continued to chuckle as he settled himself down on the edge of the bed and poked at the small fire in the stove.

                “You might just be alright, Irishman.”

                “And what do I call you?” Finnegan asked.

                “Murphy,” the man replied, holding out a bony, wrinkled, age-spotted hand.

               Finnegan quickly shook the offered hand and secured the cork in his flask,  “Pleasure meetin’ ya, Murphy. Do ya play cards? We could pass a bit of time while we wait out this storm.”

                “I ain’t much for cards,” Murphy admitted with a grumble.

                “Well, I’ll try not to hold that against ya.”

                “Do you play chess, Finnegan?” Murphy questioned.

                “Ahh chess. The thinking man’s game. Aye I play a wee bit.”

                Murphy suddenly seemed happy to have company as he set up a chess set on the tiny table in the corner. Finnegan sighed, then nearly jumped out of his skin when another flash of lightning lit the shack. He could think of better places to spend a stormy night than with an old man that appeared to be knocking on his headstone… then again he could certainly think of worse ways to spend a night as well…. Something Morgan was no doubt learning back in that jailhouse.

                Finnegan was hopeless at chess, (something Murphy seemed more than happy to tell him), but the game was good for passing the hours and soon the storm passed and exhaustion began to settle into Finnegan’s bones.

                “You seem like a good man, Finnegan,” Murphy stated as Finnegan laid out his bedroll on a tiny patch of open dirt floor beneath the window.

                “Do I now?” Finnegan asked, having never been told that before.

                “You seem the kind of man another man can trust with a secret.”

                Finnegan shifted uncomfortably. “I’m good with secrets,” he lied. Truthfully he couldn’t keep a secret to save his life. He simply never had been able to.

                “I’m an old man,” Murphy continued. Finnegan frowned as he sat down on his bed and took yet another sip from his flask. Was that the secret? If it was then it wasn’t a very good one. “I probably do not have much longer left to live.”  Again not much of a secret. Murphy wheezed a bit as he shuffled over to a shelf and pulled down a folded piece of leather, tied with strings.

                “What’s that there, Murphy?” Finnegan questioned, his interest piquing.

                “A map,” Murphy replied as he settled himself down in his chair. “A map to treasure.”

                “A treasure map?” Finnegan asked with doubt. Now he was an open minded man but treasure maps were a bit much for even him to believe.

                “Look for yourself,” Murphy grumbled, tossing it at him. “My whole life folks have laughed at me but it’s a damn treasure map. It’ll lead you to a lost shipment of gold.”

                Finnegan’s interest grew as took the bound leather and undid the ties. The flaps of folded leather fell open, revealing a folded piece of parchment. Finnegan’s hands were shaking as he carefully unfolded the parchment. Could this truly be a treasure map? And was this man truly giving it to him?

                Finnegan looked at the drawings, lines, letters and symbols covering this so called map. “Murphy, ya wouldn’t know how to read this here map would ya?”

                “I believe I’ve figured it out, Finnegan. It’s taken me all these years but I think I’ve finally figured it out—now that I’m too old to chase after it.”

                “Well now see here, Murphy. Alls ya gotta do is tell me how to read this map and I’ll certainly bring ya back your fair share.”

                Finnegan’s body was all but humming with excitement. A treasure map! He sent up a prayer of thanks to the Lord for answering his prayers. It wasn’t a sack full of money but it was the next best thing!

                Finnegan noticed that Murphy had suddenly grown quiet. He glanced up from the map and saw that the old man was slumped in the rickety old chair with his eyes closed.

                Had he fallen asleep? Finnegan laughed lightly. He had heard that the older a man got the more likely he was to simply nod off where he sat. Apparently the chess match had proven to be too much for the other man.

                Finnegan shoved himself to his feet and crossed the tiny shack. There was no way he was going to let Murphy fall asleep before he explained this map to Finnegan. Not now that Finnegan had caught the fever.

                He nudged Murphy’s shoulder and then Finnegan’s jaw dropped when Murphy simply fell sideways, tumbling out of the chair and onto the floor.

                “Uh… Murphy?” Finnegan whispered.  

                Shite ! Finnegan placed a shaking hand beneath Murphy’s nose and swallowed hard when he realized there was no breath washing over his fingers.

                “Well isn’t this just fine and dandy, ya ol’ bastard!” Finnegan grumbled before kicking the old man’s leg. Then he frowned. “Sorry about the wee kick there, Murphy. Ya don’t need to come back from the dead and kill me for it.”

                Finnegan grabbed a blanket from the bed and covered Murphy’s body. Finnegan might be scared of lightning but he was terrified of being in the same room as a dead body. He always imagined them rising back up from the dead and forcing him to join them….

                Finnegan shivered. He went back to his bed on the floor and moved the candle closer to study the map.

                Hours he sat there simply staring at the weathered parchment but no matter how long he looked, it simply didn’t make any sense to him. Finnegan found himself growing frustrated. It was as if someone had just placed a chest of gold right there in front of him and then told him he could not touch it.

                Finnegan had to touch it. He had to have it!

                He scratched at his thick hair and chewed on his bottom lip. He needed someone to help him figure this map out now that Murphy had gone to the great beyond. Finnegan cast a nervous glance in the man’s direction to ensure he wasn’t yet rising back from the grave and then looked back down at the map.

                Who could he trust to help him? Who could he trust with the truth about this map? And did he know anyone smart enough to possibly be able to figure out this confusing puzzle?

                Only one name came to Finnegan’s mind and when it did a smile curved his lips. He hadn’t seen Cassandra in five long years—not since his mama had died and Cassandra’s father had run him off for good.

                First thing in the morning Finnegan would bury old Murphy and then start on the long trip to Virginia and his best childhood friend, the one person he was certain he could trust and the one person he knew that was smart enough to figure out this map.

                Oh little Cass. He carefully folded the map and wrapped it safely in the leather bindings before sliding it into his pocket.

                He laid himself down without putting out the candle. He was not willing to be in the dark with a dead man. Drifting off to sleep, Finnegan thought about Cassandra. She’d been a freckle-faced fifteen year old girl the last time he’d seen her. She’d been tall for her age and full-figured. He’d thought her to be the most beautiful girl he’d ever laid his eyes on but as his papa had always said ‘an Irishman never settles down’.

                Honestly he couldn’t wait to see her again. And he wondered if she would remember that kiss they’d shared just before he’d ridden away five years before. He snorted as sleep claimed him. Of course she would remember. A lass never forgot a kiss from Finnegan Callahan.

Chapter Three: An Unexpected Visitor

Chapter Three: An Unexpected Visitor

               

One thousand. One thousand and one. One thousand and two. One thousand and….. “And this is where they are going to erect the statue in honor of your father. Isn’t it just the most perfect of places?”

                Cassandra’s count of the number of the raindrops falling upon her umbrella was interrupted by Aunt Alexandria’s excited exclamations.“Yes. Yes, it’s quite wonderful,” Cassandra replied distractedly.

                “Why are you not excited? Your father was elected to the senate! This is a proud time for him and for your family.”               

                Cassandra felt a twinge of guilt as she plastered a bright placating smile on her face, “Of course. I know that it is…. I’m just—”

                Before Cassandra could finish speaking, the wheels of a passing buggy on the cobblestone street splashed through a large puddle, sending water up onto the walkway and splattering the lady’s skirts. “Hey!” Cassandra exclaimed. “Why don’t you slow down?!”

                “Keep your voice down, Cassandra,” Aunt Alexandria gasped, but Cassandra was too angry to care about the scene she may cause.

                The buggy came to a stop and Cassandra quickly wished she was better at keeping her temper controlled and her mouth silenced. She bit her lip and wished the ground would swallow her up when a senior member of the congress turned to glare at her from atop the buggy.

                “Miss Little, I sincerely apologize,” he stated coolly. “I am late for a meeting and suppose I was driving just a bit too quickly.”

                “Uh…no apology necessary,” she mumbled pathetically. Why did he have to recognize her?! Her father was going to be more than a little angry and put off by her yelling at a fellow colleague. She was supposed to be a lady. A ‘well-bred, spit and polished, never spoke out of turn and never spoke any louder than a whisper’ lady.

                “Thank you for your understanding,” the old man tipped his head and Cassandra found herself marveled by his many chins. “Give your father my best, will you?”

                Cassandra could do little more than nod and the man clicked his tongue, flicked the reins and was gone.

                “You are going to be in some hot water, Cassandra,” Aunt Alexandria warned. “My brother will be very disappointed in the way you acted. Honsetly! Your mother and I taught you better than that.”

                “I am so very sorry, Aunt Alexandria. I do not know what came over me.”

                Alexandra waved her hand as the two women went on their way down the wet sidewalk toward the diner where they were meeting some other ladies for luncheon.      

                “It is those late nights you are spending lost in story books, dear child. Those are not reality and you will do well to remember that. There are no grand adventures in the life of a lady, Cassandra.”

                Cassandra simply nodded but inside she felt that spark of life fighting to keep from being snuffed out.

---

                “Marriage?!” Cassandra shouted in her father’s study that evening.

                 Her mother winced as her father shushed her, “Keep your voice down, Cassandra, and act like the lady you were raised to be,” he warned.

Cassandra let her head fall back and groaned as she stared at the ceiling, “I am not marrying Thomas Shelton.”

“And why not?” her mother, Isobel, questioned. “He has money, prestige, a good family name, land, two summer homes—”

Cassandra grunted, “Buck teeth, bad eyes and a fondness for all the scantily clad ladies down at the gentleman’s club.”

“Cassandra!” her father bellowed.          

“There are no scantily clad women at the gentleman’s club,” her mother argued. Cassandra saw her father shift uneasily in his chair and her mother’s hawk like gaze landed sharply on his face, “Are there, dear?”

“Of course there are, mother,” Cassandra replied dryly as her father struggled to suck down air. “It is a men’s club after all and what do men like more than scotch and cards?”

“Vincent Lawrence Little, you had better pray I do not discover you have been consorting with those women!”

Vincent sent Cassandra a look that was clearly a ‘thank-you for opening your big mouth kind of look’ and she smiled a very big ‘you’re welcome’. He then smiled consolingly at his wife. “Darling, you know I would never do anything to cause you to question my loyalty.”

“I will be in the bedroom,” Isobel stated coldly as she rose to her feet and smoothed out her dress. She pointed an elegant finger at her husband, “This conversation is not over.”

“Yes, dear,” Vincent mumbled.

After the door had clicked shut, Vincent whirled around and glared at Cassandra. “You little brat!” he exclaimed. His blue eyes widened when she stifled a laugh, “You honestly think this is humorous?”

“Yes,” Cassandra replied with a nod, her laughter filling the study.

Her father shook his head, “You know I would never be unfaithful to your mother. How dare you create such doubts in her mind.”

“She is no longer worried about my need to marry Thomas Shelton.”

Vincent’s shoulders drooped and he chuckled quietly. He smoothed his hand over his well groomed mustache and sighed, “You are twenty years old, Cassandra. It is time for you to be finding a suitable husband and becoming a wife.”

“I want more than that, daddy,” Cassandra whispered.

“There is no more than that.”

“What of adventure? Love? Romance? Fun?”

“Adventure is dangerous and my daughter will not take part in it,” Vincent warned. “Love and romance come with time. Very few marry for love, Cassandra.”

“The poor can.”

“Yes, but you were born privileged.”

“That would depend on your definition of privileged.”

“If you would simply accept your life, my daughter, you would not be nearly so miserable.”

                Cassandra stood from the high-backed chair and circled her father’s desk. She knew this conversation as going to go nowhere so it was best to end it now. “I’m tired.” She pressed a kiss to his smooth cheek. “I will see you in the morning, daddy.”

                “Are you still accompanying me to breakfast at the café?”

                “Of course I am,” Cassandra assured him. Every Saturday for as long as Cassandra could remember she and her father had eaten breakfast together at that tiny café. She would not stop now simply because she was frustrated with him.

---

                The next morning, Cassandra passed up frustration and entered complete and utter rage toward her father when she realized that he had used their breakfast as an excuse to force her to spend time with Thomas Shelton.

                “May I join you both?” the skinny, soft-spoken man asked as he stepped up to their table and adjusted his wire-rimmed glasses on his nose.

                “Actually we were—”

                “Of course you may,” Vincent smiled, interrupting his daughter and sending her a wink.

                Cassandra’s jaw hit the floor as her heart twisted. This was supposed to be their time together. For her father to turn such a beautiful tradition into this—it was too much.

                “I’ll be leaving now,” she snapped. She rose from the table and strode quickly from the café, ignoring the gasps and ogles sent in her direction and ignoring her own father hollering for her to return.

                Cassandra locked herself in her bedroom at home, ignoring her mother’s knocks and pleas to allow her in. She grunted, heaved, pulled and tugged until her massive wardrobe was in front of her door, which would prevent her father from entering.

                It did not matter to her if she was being immature or unreasonable. She felt hurt, angry and betrayed and that was all that mattered.

                Cassandra spent that entire day in her bedroom, lost in her thoughts and her story books. As night fell it seemed that everyone had finally given up on reasoning with her. They finally realized that she was neither going to let them in nor leave the room to speak with them.

                It was a relief as silence fell over the large white manor her family called home. Cassandra walked to her bedside table and opened the drawer. There stashed away from prying eyes was the diary she had kept as a child.

                She had stopped keeping that diary at seventeen and she hadn’t glanced in it since, finding that the last few entries were far too sad. Cassandra clutched the diary to her breast and walked back to her bed, settling down and folding her legs beneath her as she leaned against the dainty headboard.

                She took a deep breath and opened the diary to the last entry she had written. Tears filled her eyes as she read her own words.

Dear Diary,

                He’s not coming. My heart breaks apart in my chest, falling to millions of shattered pieces upon the polished, gleaming wood of my bedroom floor as I realize this to be fact. I meant nothing to him. Our friendship, all we shared, the kiss he stole (my first but no doubt his millionth), all meant nothing to that terrible rogue of a man.

                My every hope that my life could be different; my every idea that I would have a future that was full of adventure and true love, has now been dashed. My daddy was right. I should have known better than to trust an Irishman.

                “Aye, pretty lass, your face is far too beautiful a sight to be married by such a things as tears.”

                Cassandra gasped and her eyes flew to her open bedroom window to see a face, a pair of deep brown eyes, that she had never thought to see again peering at her.

                “Finnegan, you aren’t welcome here!” she spat as she rose to her feet, hurried across the room and slammed the shutters closed on his face.

Chapter Four

Chapter Four

"Wee little Cassandra, you certainly won't leave a man danglin' up here in a tree now will ya? Let me in pretty lass...."  

Cassandra laughed as she sat on the window seat and listened to Finnegan's pleas through the closed shutters.  

"If your papa catches me you'll be responsible for the bullet that he sends into me arse," Finnegan warned. "Cassandra, Cassandra, please let me in. You cannot say no to your dear friend Finn."  

"You had better be quiet," Cassandra warned as she opened the shutters and shook her finger warningly at him. "You're making enough noise to wake the entire house up."  

"You are a sight for sore eyes, Cass," Finnegan replied, his brown eyes sparkling as he smiled at her.  

Cassandra snorted. Finnegan always had been a charmer. "Come on in, Finnegan. You don't have to flatter me anymore."  

"If ya hadn't let me in soon—" Finnegan grunted as he climbed in through the window just as he'd done countless times when they'd been children. "—I was goin' to throttle ya."  

"I think you're forgetting that it was me who could always throttle you, Finnegan."  

"It's been a long time since then," Finnegan reminded her with a wink.  

"Five years and not even a letter from you. How have you been?"  

"Good o'course. How about you, Cass? I saw those tears streakin' down your pretty face. Ya never were much for crying."  

"It was nothing..." Cassandra replied quickly, her gaze going to the diary on the bed.  

She saw Finnegan follow her gaze and she tried to lunge for the diary but apparently the last five years had made him faster and he beat her to it. "Finnegan, don't you dare read that! That's private!"  

"Nothin' is private from your best friend," Finnegan countered, his eyes scanning the page.  

Cassandra knew the blood had rushed to her head and she was more than likely glowing with embarrassment. She wrapped her robe tighter around her nightdress and said a quick prayer of thanks that she had no used any names in that final entry....  

As Finnegan read, Cassandra studied him closely. The last five years had been good to the man, she would give him that. He was no longer that skinny seventeen year old boy that her father had run off five years ago. He still had thick curly black hair but it no longer seemed to swallow his entire head. His face was still too boyish to be considered rugged but that smile was still just as infectious. And his shoulders were much more broad, his hands a bit rougher and his hips lean.  

Finnegan finished his reading and laid the diary against his chest as he looked at her sadly. "My poor, sweet lass," he whispered and then before Cassandra could fight him off he swooped across the room and took her into his arms. Cassandra found herself crushed against his broad chest and her nose wrinkled.  

"Let me go, Finn! You smell like the backside of a hog!"  

If Finnegan heard her he gave no indication. "I'm sorry I broke your heart, my dear. Irishman don't settle down. You'll have to find a replacement for ol' Finnegan. Alas it won't be quite the same but—'  

"Finnegan—" Cassandra wiggled out of his grasp and took her diary with her. "—it wasn't about you."  

Finnegan grinned and sent her a wink. "Sure it was."  

"No," Cassandra shook her head and returned her diary to the drawer she'd taken it out of, though this time she engaged the lock to keep Finnegan from snooping more. "It really wasn't."  

"Whatever ya make yourself believe, Little Cass,"  

Cassandra grumbled under her breath. "You're not the only Irishman I know, Finnegan. It really wasn't about you."  

He grinned and it was clear that he didn't believe her. Instead of arguing more, Cassandra sat down on the bed and Finnegan took a rest on the window seat.  

"You haven't been back here in five years, Finnegan. I missed you."  

"Aye and I missed you," Finnegan replied with a tip of his head and Cassandra knew he was telling the truth. "Time slipped away from me I'm afraid and for that I apologize."  

"Have you been in trouble, Finn?"  

Finnegan grabbed a glass ball paperweight from  the windowsill and began tossing it up and down. "O' course not!" He flashed her the same grin he'd always used in the past when he was lying.  

"So why are you here in the middle of the night, Finn? I assume there's a good reason since you've not bothered to visit before."  

"Well I couldn't very well come durin' the day now could I? Your papa and that gun of his were real eager to put some shot into my backside the last time I was here."  

"Because he caught you kissing me in the hay loft," Cassandra reminded him.  

"And I broke your wee heart." Finnegan winked her way. "I could always give ya another kiss, Little Cass."   

"And I could always drive my knee into your Irish clover, Finn." The man winced and Cassandra laughed as she thought back to that night.  

Finnegan's mother had just been buried and she had found him crying in the hay loft, though he had denied that those were tears and insisted it was merely dust from the hay causing his eyes to water. Cassandra had comforted her best friend the best she knew how and then he had stolen a kiss—during which time her father had walked into the barn looking for his daughter, saw the kiss and ran Finnegan off under the threat of severe violence.  

And that had been that. Cassandra had missed her best friend. Finnegan was wild. He had liked his whiskey too much and his women more. He couldn't be trusted with a secret and he would lie through his teeth without batting an eye but he had been the one person Cassandra could talk openly to. He never judged her for anything she said and surprisingly if she told him something in confidence, he generally kept it to himself.  

"I was surprised you were still livin' here, Little Cass. I thought your papa would have long since married ya off to some rich bastard in a suit."  

"Well I'm still here and still very unmarried, though not for his lack of trying," Cassandra threw herself back on the bed and stared at the ceiling. "And I'm not Little Cass anymore, Finnegan. I'm no longer a fifteen year old girl."  

"Ya certainly are right about that. Ya grew up into a bonny lass indeed, Little Cass. I'm humbled that mine was the first kiss laid upon those lips."  

Cassandra blushed and waved her hand at him. The man was impossible. He had always been a sweet talker and a charmer. He simply couldn't help himself. "But it wasn't," she argued.  

"Whatever ya say," Finnegan replied comfortingly. "I need your help, Cass."  

"Ahh." Cassandra sat up. "The real reason why you've come."  

"Yes..." Finnegan gave her a guilty grin. "I have somethin' and I needed help. As I thought of who in this entire world I could trust there was only one face that came to my mind."  

"You don't have to sweet talk me, Finn. It's been five years but you're still my best friend. What do you need help with."  

Finnegan grabbed the sack that he'd brought in with him and slid a folded piece of leather from inside. "An old man gave this to me, Cass. It's a map."  

Finnegan joined her on the side of the bed as Cassandra took the aged leather from his hands and undid the tied, letting the flaps fall open. The parchment folded inside was stained from years of being opened and closed. It crinkled and was in threat of crumbling while Cassandra carefully unfolded it.  

"A map to where?" Cassandra asked as she studied the weathered parchment and the markings it was covered in.  

"I don't know where, but I do know that wherever it leads, there is a treasure."  

Cassandra rolled her eyes and turned her head to look at Finnegan. He was glowing with childlike excitement and rubbing his hands together. "Finn, a treasure map? You come back after all this time because of a treasure map?"  

"I came back because I can't read it and you're the smartest person I know."  

"Considering the circles you run in, I have to say that's not as much of a compliment as it sounds," Cassandra replied dryly.  

Finnegan's shoulders drooped. "Please, Cass?"  

"Alright, I'll look at it, but you have to shut up and leave me alone while I do." Finnegan nodded and Cassandra sighed as she looked back down at the parchment.  

---

Finnegan studied Cassandra's profile as she stared intently at the map on her legs. She was beautiful but then she'd been a beauty before. Wild golden curls framed her face. Her big green eyes were wider than he remembered and freckles dotted her cheeks and nose. Her body was hard to see in that oversized night dress and robe but Finnegan knew it was probably the perfect woman's body—her perfectionist papa wouldn't settle for anything less in his daughter.  

It did bother Finnegan to know he had broken her heart so long ago. He hadn't meant it—the kiss they'd shared in the barn hadn't been something he had planned. He'd been sad and hurting and Cassandra had—well she had been there. It was as simple as that.  

He knew now that he never should have used his best friend that way but there was no taking it back now. He was only glad that after such a long time apart, nothing seemed to have changed too drastically between them. She was already threatening his life and well-being and he was asking her for favors that he had no right to ask her for.

Finnegan smiled. Back to life as normal.  

It seemed forever that Cassandra studied that map and finally she raised her head. "It's the west, Finnegan. I'm guessing that this seal here means Montana. And these triangles here are mountains..."  

Suddenly she stopped speaking and Finnegan nearly throttled her. "Keep going!" 	

"No," Cassandra folded the map, laid it back in the leather bindings and secured it closed.  

"What are ya doing? Shite woman, I thought ya were gonna help me."  

"I am," Cassandra stood up and Finnegan stared up at her expectantly. "You're taking me with you."  

Finnegan was certain he must have heard the woman wrong. He shook his head forcefully. "I do not believe I will." Cassandra knew nothing of life outside the safety of her papa's little town and Finnegan had enough trouble keeping himself alive without adding her to the mix.  

"Then you can figure the map out for yourself," Cassandra replied, tossing the leather case down onto the soft mattress.  

"Why do ya want to come with me?" Finnegan questioned. "Ya aren't exactly made to live a life of wanderin', Cass. You're a soft and proper lady—"  

"Horse shit!" Cassandra snapped and Finnegan couldn't stop the laughter from bubbling up in his throat. There was a bit more of that fire and spirit he could remember.  

"Your papa will send the entire U.S. Army out to track us down." Finnegan reminded her.  

Cassandra's shoulders slumped and the broken and tired expression on her face made Finnegan's heart hurt more than the tears he'd seen on her face when he'd first climbed that tree and gazed in her window tonight.  

"Finn, please let me come with you. If you don't then my life will be over."  

"I think your being a wee bit dramatic," Finnegan mumbled but Cassandra shook her head.  

"I'm not. If I don't get out of here then he's going to make me marry Thomas Shelton. I've been fighting him and mama about it but I can only fight for so long....  My life will be nothing other than teas, luncheons, corsets and unhappiness until I finally die of boredom and old age."  

Finnegan rolled his eyes and stood. "Shite!" he exclaimed before shoving his hand through his hair. He needed Cassandra to read the map or he'd never find the treasure... and honestly he couldn't stand the thought of her marrying Thomas Shelton. While Finnegan didn't know the man, it was clear that Cassandra did not love him. Her papa must still be the same overbearing jackass that he'd always been.  

"Listen here, Little Cass, if I let ya come with me then ya gotta do as I say and mind me. And no complainin' along the way or I'll send ya straight back."  

"I won't complain, Finn, you have my word!"  

Finnegan grinned as a bright smile split Cassandra's face and she bounced up and down. "Alright then. Pack ya one small bag, make sure it can slip over a saddle horn."  

"I can't believe it! And Aunt Alexandria told me that adventures are only in story books. She claimed there could be no adventure in the life of a lady."  

"Well you're gonna prove her wrong." Finnegan replied.  

He watched her run behind her dressing curtain and a few moments later her robe and nightdress were tossed over the top. Finnegan flopped on his back on her bed and stared at the ceiling, hoping that letting her come along wouldn't prove to be a terrible mistake. Maybe it wouldn't. They were best friends after all and had shared a lot of fun times in the past. Now they would share this adventure together as well.  

---

Cassandra's hands were trembling as she finished buttoning her blouse. She had chosen to wear the only split riding skirt that she still owned since her father had gone through her wardrobe and tried to get rid of anything he didn't deem appropriate for a senator's daughter.  

She pulled her hair back, attempting to tame all the wild curls with pins and then stepped around the curtain to find Finnegan lying on the bed, sound asleep.  

She laughed to herself as she pulled on her ankle boots and laced them up. She had never been so excited in all her life. She was going to have an adventure! A real adventure! And she was going to take it with her best friend!  

Hours ago she had been devastated and reduced to tears and now she was so happy she could barely contain her squeals of delight. She knew once the adventure ended and she came home, her papa would probably still make her marry and live the life he deemed appropriate but at least she would have this adventure and this memory to get her through the rest of her uneventful life!  

Cassandra found a piece of paper and a pencil and quickly wrote her parents a note, explaining to them that she was taking an adventure and that they did not need to worry about her. She did not mention Finnegan's name, knowing that if her father saw that his heart would probably burst on the spot. She simply stated that she was with an old friend and would be safe.  

Once the letter was finished, she laid it on her pillow, packed a change of clothes and several other small belongings into a bag and then smacked the top of Finnegan's head. "Let's go!" she urged.  

Finnegan grumbled as he stood up and yawned. "I'm tired."  

"And you'll be dead if my father catches you in my bed."  

Finnegan grinned. "Ya have a point."  

Cassandra slipped out her window and down the tree with ease. She had done this more than a time or two over her lifetime. Finnegan followed behind her. He led her to some bushes at the edge of her father's property and a horse was waiting there.  

"Is that Theo?" Cassandra gasped, as she gazed at the impressive Appaloosa gelding.  

"Aye, it is," Finnegan agreed. "Best thing I ever stole."  

"My father misses this horse..."  

"That's funny. Theo hasn't mentioned your father a single time," Finnegan replied, kissing the horse on the nose.  

Cassandra just shook her head and then she groaned. "I forgot to move the wardrobe from in front of the door..."  

"I'll take care of it. You stay here and wait on me.... Can I steal me another kiss?" Finnegan teased.  

 Cassandra shook her head. "I will break your arm if you try."  

With a wince, Finnegan dashed away, scurried up the tree and was out of sight. Cassandra still could hardly believe she was doing this but she wasn't about to back out now.  

It took longer than Cassandra thought it should but Finnegan finally returned. He jumped on Theo, secured her bag to the saddle horn and then helped her up behind him.  

"I want my own horse soon," Cassandra whispered as they headed down the street.  

"We'll let Theo pick ya one. He is a jealous beast and will not tolerate travelin' with just any ol' horse."  

"Finn, you have issues," Cassandra said as she rolled her eyes.  

Finnegan looked over his shoulder and smiled back at her. "Yes and you wanted to ride with me. Doesn't say much for your frame of mind now does it?"  

Cassandra laughed lightly and wrapped her arms tight around his waist. "God be with me, Finnegan."  

"Naw, ya got me, Little Cass, and that's even better."

Chapter Five

Chapter Five

Vincent was up with the dawn and he attempted to roll over and steal a good morning kiss from his wife only to be met with a grunt and her back. It was going to be one of 

those mornings. Clearly she was still angry at him for going to the gentleman’s clubs with the women that worked there.

Vincent stood and rubbed his face roughly. He had never been unfaithful to his wife and he never would be... Damn Cassandra for putting such ideas into her mother's head.  

Speaking of Cassandra.......

Vincent stood from the bed, slid on his slippers and walked silently from his bedroom. He went down the winding staircase to the second floor and walked across the marble tiles to his daughter's doorway. She had had that ridiculous wardrobe of hers propped against the door yesterday but hopefully her temper would have eased enough to allow him in so they could speak.  

He had not planned on Thomas Shelton joining them at breakfast but he had taken advantage of a good situation when he had seen one. Why did that damned girl have to be so stubborn?  

He rapped his knuckles once against the door and let out a sigh, "Cassandra, let me in please. I would like to speak with you about yesterday." 	

Seconds ticked by with no answer from his daughter and no sound of movement from behind the door. Having had enough of this ridiculous childish display coming from his twenty year old daughter, Vincent grabbed the door handle, twisted and threw all of his weight against the door. He had expected the resistance from the wardrobe but was met with no resistance at all. Vincent went stumbling into the room as the door swung easily and he tumbled, his arms wind-milling until he fell upon the bed.  

The empty bed.  

The bed was made up and had not been slept in.  

Vincent's gaze flew around the room for any sign of what had become of his daughter. Had she been kidnapped? Was she being held ransom by some bandits wishing for a quick payday? Vincent would bring down the very fires of hell upon their heads if that was the case!  

Cassandra was gone.  

"Isobel!!!!" Vincent bellowed  

He saw the note lying on the bedside table and ran to it just as Isobel came barreling into the room with her night dress and silk robe swirling around her body, “What is going on?” she demanded.

Vincent opened his mouth to declare their daughter kidnapped but his jaw slammed back closed when he read the first line of his daughter's delicate handwriting,  

Dear Mother and Father,

You are both assuredly very angry and you have every right to be. I have run away which of course is a grievous act of childishness that I simply cannot see myself regretting.

"Vincent where is our daughter?" Isobel questioned, laying her hand on Vincent's shoulder. Instead of responding he simply held the note out to allow them both to read it at once.  

I cannot live this life that I was born into. I have no desire to be a proper lady, though mother and Aunt Alexandria have tried their very best and it is no fault of theirs that I did not turn out. I crave adventure, Father, I crave wide open spaces and wildness. 



I want to fall in love with a man who is passionate for me—mother please get the smelling salts and revive father. I want to have romance, adventure, passion and fun in my life and I will not experience those things in Virginia as a senator's daughter or Thomas Shelton's wife. 



Please do not worry for me. I am in good hands and will be just fine. I will contact you just as soon as I can so that you know I have not perished along the way. 



Please know that I do love you both very deeply. 



                                                                          

Your Wayward Daughter

Cassandra

Vincent felt himself beginning to shake violently with rage. How dare that little brat do this to them!! They had given her everything! She had been born with a silver spoon upon her lips and she simply spat it back at them!

"Vincent what's on the back?" Isobel questioned curiously. "I thought I saw something written on the back of the paper."  

Vincent frowned and turned the paper over. If he was in a rage before than he was frothing at the mouth when he finished reading what he found there,  

Hello to you both, Vincent and Miss Isobel. This is Finnegan, the fella you ran off five years ago for kissin’ your daughter in the barn loft. I know you’re probably worried about your wee daughter but I will keep her quite safe, I can assure you. I will give Little Cass the adventure and the passion she craves and return her to your home safe and sound in no time.

She grew up to be a beautiful girl, you should both be proud. Why I've never laid eyes on anything quite so lovely. Except perchance that time I was drunk off me arse and climbed the wrong window. Miss Isobel you are a vision in candlelight. I have to ask, do you still have that wee mole upon your arse cheek? A lovely little mole it was.

Well I must be going now, Little Cass is a waitin' on me down below. Don't be too cross with her. She has too much fire to be extinguished by the likes of society. 



                                                                

The Irish rogue currently alone with your innocent daughter

Finnegan Callahan

         "Kill him! I will kill him if he so much as touches my daughter!" Vincent bellowed. He'd run that good for nothing Irish bastard off five years ago when he realized the rogue had wicked intentions toward his daughter. He was not about to have that man fulfill those intentions now! "I have to go. I will have every lawman in this country looking for that bastard and our 

daughter .“

       "Yes dear," Isobel replied distractedly.  

Vincent frowned at his wife and saw her chewing on her lip as she covered her backside with her hand. "What are you doing?" he demanded.  

         "Do I truly have a mole on my backside?"  

---

Cassandra was tired--beyond tired--she was exhausted, though she did not dare utter a word of complaint. While she didn't truly believe that Finnegan would take her home if she complained, she was not willing to risk it. Not until they were far enough from her mother and father's home to make turning back impossible.  

She and Finnegan had ridden all through the night and it was now approaching mid-morning. She was clinging to him in order to remain upright, her stomach was rumbling terribly and her thighs were aching from gripping Theo for so many hours. Thankfully she was accustomed to riding astride at home or else she'd be in a lot of pain just now.  

"Finnegan, do we have anything to eat?"  There that was safe. She hadn't been whining or complaining, simply asking a question.  

"Nope. I haven't had a bite to eat in two days."  

"Two days?!" Cassandra demanded with horror. "I surely hope you do not intend for me to go two days without food!"  

"And lose that womanly figure?" Finnegan glanced over his shoulder, offered her his boyish grin and winked, "I wouldn't dream of that, Little Cass. Don't ya worry that pretty head none. I'll see that ya eat something proper soon."  

Cassandra saw the village in the distance. It was an unfamiliar place but then again she hadn't traveled much in her life other than to the big cities. Her father did not waste time conspiring with what he considered 

common folk. It had always driven Cassandra insane. “Is that where we’re going?”

"Yes. But ya will not be goin'. Ya will be staying in the woods with Theo."  

"Finnegan! I must attend to personal business and I need to go into town," she urged through gritted teeth.  

"'Fraid that cannot happen. A bush will serve your needs just fine," Finnegan replied, sounding just a bit too amused for Cassandra's liking.  

"Really?!" she demanded. "A bush? And when a caterpillar crawls up my backside, what then?"  

Finnegan laughed, though Cassandra didn't see this as a laughing matter. "Then he'll be the luckiest damn caterpillar this side o'the Mississippi."  

"Finnegan Callahan, I do not find this funny!"  

"Are ya complainin' then, Cassandra? Because it isn't too late for me to take ya right back to your father and your Thomas."  

Cassandra glared at the man which caused him to laugh harder. He was her ticket out and he damned well knew it, "Fine. I will relieve myself in a bush and keep myself company while you ride into town. Can I ask why I have to stay out of town?"  

"Because by now your father has surely alerted the whole of Virginia that ya are missing and running wild with an Irish rogue."  

"Don't be ridiculous. I left him a note telling him that I was leaving on an adventure but that I was fine and I would write him at my soonest opportunity," Cassandra countered. "Even if he does have someone looking for me it wouldn't matter. I am twenty years old and well old enough to be out without his permission."  

"Yes, I saw your wee little note," Finnegan said sheepishly as he dismounted Theo and took Cassandra by the waist to help her down as well. "Twas quite charming."  

"You saw it?" Cassandra questioned. Warning bells began ringing in her head so loudly they nearly deafened her. "Finn, what did you do?"  

"Nothin'," Finnegan replied quickly as he began to walk away toward the village. "I'll just leave Theo here with ya 'til I return—"  

Cassandra grabbed his arm and yanked him back—when had his arms grown so large and firm? "Finnegan, you better tell me what you did right now!" 	

Finnegan offered her his best charming grin and leaned in close allowing his breath to tease her neck, "How about a wee kiss before I leave?"  

Cassandra snorted and shoved him away, "You couldn't charm me five years ago and you can't do it now," she warned him, ignoring the fact that her neck was tingling and her stomach felt as if living creatures were flipping around inside. "Now what did you write because I know you wrote something." 	

Finnegan sighed with defeat and kicked the ground, "Ya always have been a kill joy. No fun at'all."  

Cassandra reached out and grabbed him by his thick curly hair, wrapping her fingers in it tightly and jerking him forward and down so their faces were even just as she had numerous times when they'd been younger, "Tell. Me. Now."  

Finnegan grinned, plopped a quick kiss upon her jaw and then pulled away from her grasp when her hand loosened in her shock, "I always have liked your rough ways, Little Cass. And I merely assured your father that his beautiful daughter would be well taken care of as she roamed the wilds with her Irish rogue." Cassandra covered her face with her hands. Her father would kill him—and her! There was a reason she had left Finnegan's name and the mention of Irish rogues out of her letter! "And I also inquired about that rather lovely mole on your dear mother's backside."  

"You what?!" Cassandra clenched her fists at her sides and stomped her foot. "When in the name of all that is Holy did you see my mother's backside?!"  

"'Bout seven years ago when I was drunk of me arse and thought I was climbin' in your window," Finnegan appeared lost in thought, "She didn't see me but I saw her." A smile played on his lips and Cassandra smacked his arm, "I highly doubt your family would approve of your brutish ways," he warned, "But I do." 	

Cassandra had no idea what to say to him so she remained silent and simply shook her head. The man was his own worst enemy and would end up dead one day. He was always doing things that were outrageous and risky. And she had chosen to run away with him.... What did that say about her?

"Just hurry in town, Finn," she mumbled as she sat down on a nearby rock and buried her face in her hands. She wasn't aware that Finnegan was still there until she felt something touch her knee and opened her eyes to see him laying his chin against it and looking up at her with sadness in his brown eyes.  

"Are ya okay, Little Cass? Jokin' aside now, I'm worried for ya." 	

She laid a gentle hand on his cheek, "I'm going to be fine. I had to run, Finn. They were trying to turn me into....."  

"Into what?"  

"Into my mother."  

"Well you'd have a pretty mole then," he offered teasingly. "You're perfect just the way you are, Cass, and don't ya ever let anyone tell ya differently."  

"Thanks, Finn." Cassandra smiled. Then she shoved his head off her knee and he nearly fell, "Now get to town and get me food. You know how grumpy I get when I'm hungry."  

Finnegan stood tall, then bowed deeply before walking off toward town whistling a quick tune. Cassandra shook her head and then laughed lightly when Theo loafed over and bumped her shoulder with his nose. "What have we gotten ourselves into, boy?"  

Theo's only response was a long snort and a shake of his flowing mane.

Chapter Six

Chapter Six

Finnegan crouched behind the untrimmed shrubbery and said a prayer of thanks for lazy gardeners. Had this been a well groomed hedge he'd never have managed to hide so thoroughly behind it.  

Now all he need was for the buxom beauty weeding her flower bed to call it quits for the morning. Finnegan had been crouched here for so long simply watching her that his legs had long since gone numb and his knees were beginning to talk to him... and by talk of course he meant scream obscenities and curse his soul to hell.  

Thankfully a babe's wail came from inside the tiny house and the woman sighed as she stood, pulled off her gloves, swiped her forearm across her sweaty brow and walked inside.  

Quickly Finnegan rose, shaking out his legs as he quickly entered her yard and prayed no one would see him. He took an apron from her line of drying clothes and carried it over to her garden. Wasting no time, Finnegan laid out the apron and filled it with cucumbers, tomatoes and strawberries.   

He saw a swatch of some satin fabric hanging from the line and he quickly tied up the apron to hold his stolen bounty and grabbed the satin as well. Cassandra wore no hat and while Finnegan did not either, his skin was tanned enough to be safe from the sun. Cassandra on the other hand was as white as the first snow in January. This would make a good head wrap to offer her a bit of protection.. as well as keep anyone from recognizing the senator's daughter.  

Finnegan had a good bit of food now but needed more. Cassandra was not accustomed to missing meals and he had vowed to take care of her.  

What had he been thinking?  

Finnegan did well to take care of himself and now he had another person to worry about; a person who meant more to him than any other person, (other than himself of course). That was exactly why he hadn't been able to tell her no. She was his best friend and the one person who stuck by him no matter how much of a lost cause he was—that and she knew how to read the damn map and had blackmailed him into agreeing she could come!  

Finnegan hid his stash behind the overgrown hedges and then decided he needed to find more food for his new travel partner.  

He walked down one of the rutted streets of this run down village and heard children playing, dogs barking and men hollering as they pounded nails. Women were hanging up clothes, chatting on porches and calling out for their children to 'be careful' or 'be back before supper'. Finnegan smiled. Sometimes family life seemed nice... and other times it seemed like a prison that would surely kill an Irishman such as himself. His father had been no good at such things and had drunk all their money away and never been faithful to Finnegan's mother... Finnegan would never marry. He was just like his father and had all of the man's Irish vices, but he would never put a woman through what his father had done to his mother.  

     Finnegan ducked to the side of a home when the scent of fresh baked pie reached his nose. It certainly smelled as if he and Cassandra would be eating well today.  

---

      "I cannot hunt the man or your daughter down, Vincent," Police Chief Braynard said wearily as he sat behind his desk.  

  "Why the devil not? He kidnapped my girl!" Vincent bellowed angrily. He could feel his pulse beating behind his temples and the pain in his head was increasing with every throb.  

      "According to that letter I read she went willingly enough," Chief Braynard replied with a shrug. "And my crew is pulled in enough directions trying to keep order these days. It's been hard since the war ended."  

       Vincent flared his nostrils and clenched his fist. The damn war had been over for well over a decade now, "My daughter would not simply run away willingly."  

       Chief Braynard chuckled but sobered quickly at the glare on Vincent's face. "Vincent, we have been friends longer than we've been government official and law keeper. Let's face facts. Cassandra has a wild spirit just like her father. It has been your stubbornness and your tenacious drive to achieve what you want that has gotten you where you are today. Cassandra has the same drive, old friend, it is simply steering her in a different direction."

     Vincent snorted. "Yes, directly into the bed of an Irishman!"  

        "Your hatred of all things Irish is getting old, Vincent. Just because your mother left your father for an Irishman and tore your family to pieces, nearly ruining your family name, does not mean that all the Irish are bad folks," Chief Braynard replied with exasperation. "Why I've been courting a lovely woman on and off recently that speaks with such a beautiful brogue that I find myself lulled into a peaceful trance every time she speaks."  

          "Good for you," Vincent snapped. "But how does that help my daughter?"  

          "Your daughter will be fine. She's a smart girl with a good head on her shoulders."  

         "If that was true than she would not have run away in the dead of night with the same man I caught her kissing in the barn loft five years ago!" Vincent winced when he realized he had just yelled that out in front of all the other men in the station. Looks were sent in his direction but quickly redirected when they met with his glare.  

          "Sounds like love, Vincent." 	

         "Go to hell, Braynard."  

         Braynard only laughed and waved his hand. "There is nothing I can do. If you want her found you'll have to search yourself."  

     "Then I suppose that's what I'll do. And I'll kill that Irish bastard if my daughter is not in the same condition she was in when he took her!"  

      "Don't threaten to kill folks in front of me, Vincent!" Chief Braynard warned. "You'll have me in an awkward spot if that bloke winds up dead."  

    "Well I wouldn't want to do that now would I?" Vincent intoned dryly. He placed his cap back on his head and strode from the station, squinting in the sunlight beaming down on the cobblestone streets. He would find Finnegan Callahan even if he had to hire it done and he would see that the man paid for taking away his daughter. There was no way that Cassandra had been of sound mind when she had agreed to leave with him! He must have drugged her or, even worse, seduced her.  

      Vincent shivered and then went on his way to find men who could help in the search for Cassandra.  

---

Finnegan was quite proud of his findings. Two pies, a rigged up sack full of fruits and veggies, a loaf of bread, the head scarf for Cassandra and even a bottle of whisky, for himself of course because he would never share his whiskey, not even with a pretty lass.  

He walked down the road swinging his prizes on his way back to Cassandra. He began to whistle a happy tune as he strolled but the tune became a little less happy and a lot more cautious as a tremor of unease passed over him.  

He forced himself to continue whistling and keep his head pointed straight even while his eyes scanned his surroundings. Someone was watching him. 	

Was it someone from town? Had Morgan and his men caught up to him already? Or perhaps Seamus was going to hang him again... oh the possibilities. Normally Finnegan would be feeling up to whatever trouble they brought along with them, after all it kept life interesting, but not when he had Cassandra to consider. He couldn't allow her to be caught in the crossfire. If that happened he'd never find his treasure.  

Finnegan continued walking and though he never could shake the feeling that there were eyes watching him from somewhere, he made it to Cassandra and Theo without incident and found them both looking alive and well—perhaps a bit bored.  

"Finnegan!" Cassandra said brightly as she stood from the rock she'd been sitting on. Finnegan felt himself taken aback by how beautiful she was. Her porcelain skin seemed to glow in the sunlight and her golden curls shimmered in the warm rays. She made his heart seem to swell up every time he laid eyes on her; so beautiful she was...... 	

Finnegan shook his head roughly and cursed himself a fool. Of all the ridiculous thoughts he had in a day thinking such things about Cassandra had to be the worst.  

"Hello, Little Cass. Did ya miss me terribly?" he inquired, his senses still focused on their surroundings. That feeling of being watched had faded some but he wasn't ready to relax just yet.  

"No, actually Theo is wonderful company. We were discussing current events and interesting things such as the weather and the effect the racing industry has had on horses everywhere..."  

"Aye that Theo has always been quite the talker," Finnegan laughed. "Now let's be on our way and find a nice wee place to camp so we can see to that stomach of yours."  

"Let's eat something here, Finn," Cassandra laid her hand over her stomach and winced which of course only made Finnegan look down at her body, and what a nice body it was. Large firm breasts beneath a pretty white blouse, a flat stomach and rounded hips that no doubt trailed down to mile long legs. Finnegan had known she'd be a beautiful woman and he had always had a fondness for women of all shapes and sizes....  

Again he cursed himself. This was not just any woman. This was Cassandra. He would not lay with her and run as he did with other women, she meant too much to him. So no matter how her desirable little body inspired him, he would not act on those feelings. She was his best friend and the only person in the world who truly liked him. 	

"I think t'would be best to be movin' on," Finnegan countered as he readjusted his cumbersome load of goodies.  

Cassandra frowned as she looked at the pies and then her eyes came back to his face. He could see the suspicion in her green eyes, "Where did you get those?" 	

"The village," Finnegan replied quickly as he approached Theo and set the pies on the ground, balancing the loaf of bread on top of them.  

"You hadn't eaten in two days, are you telling me you had money to buy all of that?" Cassandra demanded.

Finnegan flashed a grin and shook his head, "I never said a word about buyin' any of it."  

"You 

stole all of that?!“ Cassandra exclaimed. Finnegan shushed her as he glanced around them but she was beyond hearing him. “Finn, that could have been someone’s last bit of food! You can’t just go and steal whatever you want—”

"Little Cass, calm yourself," Finnegan cooed as he dropped the rest of his bounty on the ground and swept her into his arms. He had only meant to tease her and jar her from her bad mood with a bit of innocent flirting but holding her in his arms felt so good..... 	

"Finn, let me go," Cassandra growled as her body stiffened.  

Finnegan merely held her tighter and kissed the top of her golden curls, "Not until I know ya will not kill me."  

"Since I have no idea where we are it would probably be unwise of me to kill you," Cassandra informed him. 	

"Aye, but that does not mean ya will not do it. After all, ya did choose to run away in the night with me. That don't speak too highly for your decision makin' skills, Little Cass."  

Cassandra jerked and Finnegan released his hold, choosing to ignore the emptiness he felt without her close. He simply needed to bed a pretty lass, that was all. He'd been too long without one and his body was playing tricks on his mind. Cassandra was Cassandra. She was his best friend and the same girl he'd shoved into the cow pond countless times as children despite the fact that she'd complain about smelling like manure for a week afterward. She was not anyone for his body to be wanting.  

"So you stole all that?"  

"Borrowin' with no intention of seekin' permission or returnin'," Finnegan countered as he picked up a pie and held it under her nose. He saw her nostrils widen and her eyes slid closed as the smell of cinnamon and apples teased her senses, "Are ya sure you're angry at me for it, Cass? I can always take it back...." 			

"No!" she exclaimed quickly as she reached out and grabbed Finnegan's wrist. "I mean..." she let go of him and adjusted her skirt, "I am angry that you stole all of the food, Finn, but I'm more hungry than I am angry. Just promise me you won't steal anymore while we're together okay?" 	

Finnegan frowned, "I'm not much for makin' promises. Ya know that." 		

It was Cassandra's turn to frown, "Please? For me?"  

Finnegan sighed, "Fine. But ya better get real good at goin' hungry because money is a luxury I never have." 	

"Why?" Cassandra questioned, "And how are we going to eat this?" 	

"I'm unlucky I suppose and with our fingers." 	

"Our fingers? Truly?" Cassandra wrinkled her nose. Finnegan nodded as he smiled. Not a grin, not a smirk, but a true smile. She was adorable when you took her out of her comfort zone. She always had been. Cassandra shrugged and offered him a shaky smile of her own, "Oh well, I did say I wanted adventure didn't I?" 	

"Aye, ya did, Little Cass."  

Cassandra sighed, "How exciting," she muttered before breaking off a piece of crust and plopping it daintily into her mouth. 	

"Ya call that eatin' pie?" Finnegan demanded. "Ya gotta really get your hand in there!" He shoved his fingers in, pulled out a handful and shoved it into his mouth. Crumbs ran down his chin and his stomach rumbled loudly at the first sign of food heading its way after so many days without it. 	

"You look like an animal when you do that!" Cassandra scolded as she pinched an apple slice between her fingers and placed it between her lips. Juice dripped off her lips and ran down her chin and Finnegan felt his pants get a bit tighter when she moaned and sucked the apple into her mouth, clearly enjoying the flavors. He truly needed to find him a lass soon.  

He let out a growl and lunged for Cassandra as if preparing to bite her and she squealed and jumped away from him. Finnegan laughed, nearly choking on the giant bite of pie still in his cheek. He lunged again and this time Cassandra’s foot connected with his gut and sent him reeling backward with surprise.

"Damn, Cassandra! That hurt!" he muttered as he rubbed at his stomach. He was certain there'd be an imprint of her dainty foot there for years to come. 	

"Then stay away from me with your dirty mouth, Finnegan," Cassandra shot back. He saw her green eyes twinkling and felt his temper fade. "I'm not helpless you know. I had an Irishman that taught me how to fight." 	

Finnegan frowned, "I never taught you how to fight." 	

Cassandra winked, "I know, and you weren't my first kiss either. I told you I know other Irishmen."  

Finnegan wasn't sure what that uneasiness in his gut was all about. He didn't like the feeling as it made him feel a little angry and possessive which weren't emotions he was accustomed to. 	

"Who?" he asked quietly as Cassandra continued eating and seemed oblivious to his suffering. 	

"I can't tell you that, Finn," she winked. "I can't let you be the only one with secrets."

Chapter Seven

Chapter Seven

"Finn, is this honestly the best town for us to be stopping in?" Cassandra whispered as she warily eyed the large bearded man eyeing her from the dark shadows between two stone buildings. She wrapped her arms tighter around Finnegan's waist and he was laughing as he patted her hands and urged Theo past the imposing character.  

"Don't worry none, Little Cass. You're with ol' Finnegan here and I'll keep ya good and safe."  

"Somehow that doesn't make me feel any better."  

"I'm hurt," Finnegan turned his head and stuck out his lip, "Truly."

"You will survive," Cassandra replied, laughing lightly when his lip protruded further. "And if you continue to do that a bird will lose his bowels directly on that lip of yours."  

Finnegan laughed loudly as he turned back around to face front, "

‘Lose his bowels?’ “ he mocked. “Oh Little Cass, how I have missed ya.”

Cassandra felt her heart flutter a bit and frowned. Finnegan had caused her heart to flutter? She bit her lip and cursed herself a fool. Finnegan was her friend and nothing more. The man did not know how to be more. He was a heartbreak waiting to happen for any woman who dared give her heart to him. Cassandra would not be one of those women.  

Cassandra had only ever given her heart to one man and that man had broken it. An Irishman and someone Finnegan knew well.... If Finnegan knew he would probably pitch a fit and so Cassandra kept her secret to herself. Finnegan was her friend. They laughed together, talked together, knew one another and could even finish sentences for the other at times. But it had been five long years and Cassandra was surprised by the new feelings that Finnegan stirred within her.  

She had seen him as a brother of sorts when they'd been children but sitting on Theo it certainly didn't feel like her brother that she had her arms around.  

Cassandra shook her head again. It was simply fatigue playing tricks on her. They had been riding for two days and she had not been sleeping well in the wilderness at night in fear that some wild creature would appear and eat her face.  

While this 

town, (and she used that word loosely), was quite rough looking with its ancient stone buildings, scary men, nearly nude women and unkempt streets, it would offer a true bed with walls around her as she slept and hopefully a locking door. A good night of rest would certainly make her feel better and help her to get over these addle minded ideas about Finnegan.

"I just want to make it out of here alive, Finn," Cassandra informed him, flinching when  a set of swinging wooden doors to their right burst open , revealing a brightly lit bar full of rowdy men, dust and the strong stench of beer and whiskey. Two men tumbled out of those doors, rolling in dirt road as they delivered punch after punch to one another. Blood was pouring from the smaller of the two men's noses and Cassandra found herself both horrified and awed by their display.  

"Ah this is my kind of place, Little Cass. Whiskey, beer, brawlin', gamblin' and very friendly ladies who aren't ashamed of them assets the Lord bestowed upon them."  

Cassandra followed Finnegan's gaze and rolled her eyes when she saw the women leaning over the balcony, "Are they why we're here?"  

"No, we're here to make money but those fine beauties up there are certainly an added bonus." Finnegan waved and shot the ladies a grin and then swooned as they giggled alluringly.  

Cassandra shifted behind Finnegan as she wondered what that ache was in her middle. It couldn't be disappointment could it? Disappointment that Finnegan would look at women like that...?

 Cassandra knew then that she was going completely daft. Finnegan had every right to look at those women. Cassandra had no hold over him. He was a grown man and not her man..... Besides those women were beautiful and even Cassandra was having a hard time looking away.  

She wondered if her breasts would look equally as voluptuous if she tightened up her corset and practiced leaning the way that they did.

"How are you planning on making money here, Finnegan?" Cassandra inquired as Finnegan pulled Theo to a stop outside a rickety wooden building hat appeared to be nearing its death.  

"A bit of gamblin', Little Cass. 'Tis how every Irishman makes his money."  

"Not all of them, Finnegan," Cass countered, "There are other ways to get money."  

"I've done enough thievin' for now. I'd hate to set a bad example for your impressionable eyes," Finnegan winked as he hopped down and lifted Cass off as well. When her body brushed against his, Cassandra felt her breath catch but Finnegan appeared unaffected as he simply sat her on her feet and then turned away from her to grab the sacks that were hanging on the saddle horn.

Cassandra forced herself to breathe and push aside those ridiculous feelings. She was a twenty year old woman and a smart, well-educated woman at that; plenty intelligent enough to know that Finnegan was a great friend who would fail miserably at being anything more than that.   

"I'll get ya settled in at the hotel and then I will work on getting us our money," Finnegan said as he led her toward the building he'd hitched Theo in front of.  

"How much money are we going to need?" Cassandra questioned, not even bothering to argue about staying in the room while Finnegan went out. Yes she wanted adventure but this town was a bit too much of a.... well... 

good thing. Cassandra had no desire to be shot, stabbed, beaten or tortured just yet and this looked like just the kind of town to get all four in.

"Enough for train tickets west."  

"Train?" Cassandra asked with a bit of disappointment.  

"Yes, are ya unhappy about that then?" Finnegan asked with what sounded like irritation. Cassandra glared at his back. How dare he get irritated with her!  

"I wanted adventure, Finnegan. Not a train ride."  

He turned to her and flashed that grin that no doubt turned many women's knees to mere mush beneath their bodies, "Aye but this won't be just any ol' train ride. This will be a train ride with your dear friend Finn and I think we both know that alone will make it an adventure."  

Cassandra rolled her eyes and remained quiet. Finnegan led her inside and up to a counter where a fat old man with thick white sideburns and a bulbous nose was sound asleep in a chair.  

"Hello?" Finnegan called politely. The man did not stir. "Sir, the lady and I would like a room for the night."  

"Two," Cassandra countered and Finnegan shook his head. 	

"I'll do well to pay for one. Don't worry, Little Cass, we've been asleep beneath the stars two nights now and I've not taken advantage of ya."  

"Yes, I know, and you snore more loudly than ten hogs and I'd like to get some rest."  

Finnegan laughed and patted the counter top that the man was still sleeping soundly behind, "Hey, sir, we need two rooms!"  

Still the man did not respond and Cassandra shook her head, "He must sleep as hard as you do, Finn."  

"You're a regular ol' comedian tonight, aren't ya,  Little Cass?"  Finnegan questioned with a grunt. He then launched himself over the counter and began playing with the key hanging on the wall as if searching for just the ones he wanted.  

"What are you doing?!" Cassandra hissed.  

"Getting keys."  

"You're not allowed to do that," Cassandra warned. "Just poke him and wake him up and he'll give us our keys."  

Finnegan rolled his eyes toward the ceiling, "The woman says she wants adventure and then insists on followin' rules.... Me thinks she's a wee bit confused."  

"Would you just wake the man up?" Cassandra demanded, though her laughter took the edge of her words.  

"Alright, alright," Finnegan mumbled with a wave of his hand. He stepped closer to the old man in the chair and tapped his shoulder.

"Sir, we need—" Finnegan stopped speaking when the man leaned to the side and then continued in that direction before tumbling into a motionless heap on the floor with a rather impressive and resounding thud.  

"Holy shite!" Finnegan screamed before lunching himself back across the counter and throwing his body behind Cassandra.  

"What are you doing?!" Cassandra demanded.  

"That man is dead!" Finnegan shot back.  

"Oh my....." Cassandra bit her lip, leaning forward so she could see the man on the floor and realized that Finnegan was right. She frowned. "Why are you hiding then?"  

"Because he's 

dead !“ Finnegan replied pointedly as if he worried for her sanity.

Cassandra laughed, "Really? You are still afraid of dead things?"  

"I'm not afraid," Finnegan countered, though he made no attempt to move closer to the man's body.  

"Yes you are. You've been afraid of anything dead ever since that time Seamus threw that dead squirrel at you that turned out to not be dead and it attacked your face....." 	

"Ya just mentioned a horrific moment in my past and Seamus all in the same sentence, Cassandra. Are ya tryin' to piss me off then?"  

"Might be," Cassandra laughed. "Now go get us keys, scaredy pants." She knew there was no one to tell about this man's passing until morning. The undertaker was not in his shop this late at night and there was no law to speak of in this town.  

"No. I won't go back over there around that man." 	

Cassandra snorted, "Then go get a blanket to cover him with and I'll get the keys."  

Finnegan nodded and disappeared through the door to the back of the hotel. Cassandra pushed open the gate and stepped behind the counter. She swallowed hard as she edged around the dead man. She felt really bad that there was nothing they could do for him until morning.... But then again if folks did know he was dead they may close down the hotel and she really wanted a bed beneath her tonight.  

Cassandra chose the keys to rooms eight and nine and was just walking back around the counter when Finnegan reappeared with a blanket. He tossed it at Cassandra and she rolled her eyes before covering the old man.  

She handed Finnegan the key to room eight and he nodded, "You get on up to the room and I'll see to winnin' us some money."  

"You better not blow what little money you do get on those women we saw earlier," Cassandra warned. 	

"I would never do a thing like that," Finnegan countered with a wink that told Cassandra he was lying.  

"I mean it, Finnegan. We need money."  

"I know. I know." Finnegan waved his hand. He grabbed her shoulders, pulled her closer and plopped a loud kiss to her cheek. "Ya worry too much, Little Cass. Now get on to bed and we'll leave out in the morn....." Finnegan glanced at the counter that the dead man lay behind. "And should he awaken and eat ya in your sleep please know that ya were the best friend this man ever had."  

"How touching," Cassandra rolled her eyes and hugged Finnegan close. She placed her lips close to his ear, "And you remember that if you blow all our money on whores and whiskey your best friend is going to string you up by your family jewels and feed you to rabid dogs."  

Finnegan winced, "Such a beautiful image ya can paint with those delicate words spoken from your lovely mouth."  

"I'm serious, Finn."  

"As am I," Finnegan assured her. "Now I shall see ya in the morn. Go get rest, Little Cass, ya look a fright."  

Finnegan placed the sacks he had carried in into Cassandra's hand and then he left leaving her alone. She made her way up a narrow staircase and down a dimly lit hall to room nine. She tried to ignore the sounds of coupling that she could hear behind a few of the doors and tried even harder to ignore the smell of stale sweat and urine.  

Finnegan sure knew how to pick places that were the least appealing they could possibly be.  

It wasn't until she was in her tiny bedroom complete with broken dresser, a wardrobe missing one door and peeling floral wall paper that she realized exactly how exhausted she was.  

She collapsed onto the bed, ignoring the various stains and odors and closed her eyes. She might be a rich man's daughter but that did not mean she'd turn her nose up at a night in a real bed—even if that bed appeared to have been the sight of quite a few rather unsavory events.  

As she drifted off to sleep Cassandra could not help but wonder what her father and mother were doing tonight; she hoped they were not too worried about her.  

But as she lost her hold on alertness and sleep claimed her it was Finnegan on her mind as she envisioned him in the arms of those whores they'd seen before and her gut twisted with jealousy and hurt. She had no time to further investigate those feelings before sleep declared her its own.

Chapter Eight

Chapter Eight

Finnegan groaned as he slowly began to gain consciousness. The sunlight against his closed eyelids told him that it was no longer night and the soft body wrapped in his arms told him that it had been a good night indeed.  

He buried his face into a mess of wild curls and froze.  

Curls?

Soft body?

A good night?

Shite! It better not of been 

that good a night. This bare body he was holding had better not belong to Cassandra…… He had no memory of much of anything from the night before and he could only imagine what this would do to her. Hell a simple kiss had had her heartbroken for years… if they had lain together…..

Finnegan barely opened one eye and breathed out a huge sigh of relief when the curls his face turned out to be snuggled against were dark brown instead of bright gold.  

Finnegan pulled himself away from the woman in his arms and flopped onto his back, nearly falling from the tiny bed. Once he righted himself and felt assured that his heart was not going to burst, Finnegan took in his surroundings.  

It appeared he was in a hotel room. That was good at least because it meant he was still in the town he had left Cassandra in.... he hoped.  

Finnegan pushed himself to his feet as his head swam. He never did get headaches after a night of heavy drinking but the dizziness was nearly just as bad. 	

What had happened last night? He remembered the dead man and then sending Cassandra up to the rooms while he headed to the saloon to see about making some quick money.

He remembered that he'd been doing good. The money had been coming his way quickly, the whiskey had been pouring, the beer mugs were clanking and the women were hanging off his arms..... Then it all became a blank.  

Finnegan quickly pulled on his pants and then reached in the pockets—empty!  

He ran to his vest and checked the inside pocket, breathing a sigh of relief when he felt the leather bound map and then his heart falling when he realized that's all that was there.  

He had no money.  

He had told Cassandra not to worry and assured her that he'd take care of her and get the money for the train but he had failed.

They needed that train ride. To go all the way to Montana by horseback would take months and the odds of them being caught by her father, who was no doubt searching high and low for his little girl were very very good.  

Finnegan shook his head and ran his hand through his hair. He'd just have to go out again tonight and do a better job at keeping what he won.  

A knock on his door had his head whipping around and the woman in the bed moaning as she woke. "Who is it?" Finnegan called out as he motioned for the rather beautiful woman to get out of his bed.  

"The Virgin Mary, you idiot, who do you think it is?" Cassandra's voice came from the other side of the door. "Let me in."  

"Just a moment there, Little Cass. I'd hate for ya to see me in all my glory and ruin ya for any man who tries to win your heart in the future." The woman currently pulling on her petticoat and corset rolled her eyes and Finnegan glared at her. "Do I owe ya money?" he whispered.  

"No, sugar, you paid up last night." Finnegan saw the predatory gleam in her brown eyes and knew that he'd paid a pretty penny. Dammit! Cassandra was going to skin him alive.  

"Go out the window now," he urged the whore and she laughed.  

"I don't think so."  

"Finnegan Callahan, I know you have a woman in there! I heard you both grunting like a couple of wild boars in the night. She better be one of those real cheap rides."  

"Cassandra, such language comin' from such a pretty mouth. Is that how ya speak to your mother and father then?" Finnegan scolded as he pointed toward the window and glared at the woman who was now fully dressed, (barely covered any more than she had been nude) and once again lounging on his bed.  

"Finnegan, open this door."  

Finnegan hung his head and went to the door. He pulled it open and kept his eyes on the floor as Cassandra entered the room.  

"You blew every bit of money you made didn't you, Finnegan?" Cassandra asked with a deadly calm in her voice.  

"Aye," Finnegan whispered.  

"On 

her ?“ Cassandra demanded.

"Not just me. A few of my friends as well," the helpful woman on the bed informed them both. "And he bought rounds for the saloon. Your man is quite generous."  

"He's 

not my man,“ Cassandra replied and the sadness in her voice had Finnegan raising his gaze to look at her. What Finnegan saw on her face sent him reeling backward.

Disappointment.  

He had disappointed Cassandra. The look on her face was one he had seen countless times on countless other faces but never hers. Disgust, disappointment and sadness. Finnegan was surprised by how much it hurt to have Cassandra looking at him with those emotions.  

"Little Cass, I 

am sorry….“ Finnegan began.

"I'll see you around," the whore stated as she slid from the room.  

Finnegan ignored her and took a step toward Cassandra, "Little Cass, speak to me."  

"I'd rather not," Cassandra replied, her gaze looking determinately past him instead of at him. "I will get us the money we need for the train. How foolish I was to think that Finnegan Callahan would have grown up into a man in the last five years. How foolish I was to think that he might really be someone who knew how to keep a promise he gave. It appears I was very very wrong."  

"Does that surprise ya then?"  

Both Finnegan and Cassandra's heads whipped around to face the doorway to the room as the new voice entered the conversation. Finnegan stared in shock at Seamus standing in the doorway looking trail worn and a bit sheepish. Seamus speaking the way Seamus had spoken while growing up... not trying to hide his accent and Irish roots.  

Then Finnegan's shock turned to complete and utter disbelief when Cassandra cried out Seamus's name, laughed happily and jumped into his arms.  

---

Cassandra had no explanation for exactly why she felt so hurt and betrayed by Finnegan's actions. She had known deep down that the man would win money and then proceed to lose it all before the night was out. That was Finnegan. It was how he was. He never had known when to quit. Seeing that woman in Finnegan's bed had hurt in ways that it shouldn't have hurt. 	

Truthfully that was what had Cassandra the most upset. It made no sense but she felt as if Finnegan had betrayed her with that woman.  

She had been rather enjoying putting him in his place, though fighting back her own tears had been getting harder, when she had heard that voice come from behind her. The voice she hadn't heard in a little over five long years. 	

Seamus Callahan.  

Finnegan's older brother and the man she had given her heart to so long ago when he had stolen her first kiss and then ridden off into the night vowing that he would return to her as soon as he was able.  

Cassandra let out a happy bark of laughter as she leapt into Seamus' arms and he held her tightly, spinning her around several times before setting her back on her feet, "I did miss ya, Cassandra."  

"Truly?" Cassandra asked as she looked up at his handsome face. He nodded, his green/blue eyes looking wary.  

"Yes, truly."  

Cassandra's smile turned into a frown and she swung her hand, her palm falling sharply upon his cheek, "That is for stealing a kiss like a common thief and riding off into the night." She swung again and caught his other cheek, "And that is for breaking my heart and having the nerve to act as if you missed me!"  

Silence reigned for several long moments as Seamus rubbed at his welted cheeks. Then he held up his hands. "I apologize, Cassandra. I never meant to hurt you." Cassandra frowned. Where was his Irish accent? It had been there moments ago and now it was gone. He seemed to notice her confusion, "I've worked hard since I've been gone to get rid of my heritage," he informed her. "And I go by the name of John now."  

"John?" Cassandra snorted. Where were the fond feelings she had once had for this man? She had thought herself in love but the sight of him merely angered her.

"Yes."  

"I refuse to call you by anything other than the name your mother gave to you, Seamus. She was a good woman and does not deserve for you to disrespect her so."  

"I...."  

Finnegan interrupted Seamus when he stepped forward and scratched at his hair. His brow was screwed up and it was clear he was thinking very very hard about something. "Little Cass, are ya honestly tellin' me that your journal was about this sack o'shit and not about me?"   

"Yes, I told you that," Cassandra stated with irritation.  

"So ya both agree that I'm a sack o'shit then?" Seamus demanded his accent once again becoming pronounced.  

"Yes we do," Finnegan and Cassandra replied in unison.  

"What the hell are ya doin' here?" Finnegan added angrily. "Are ya ready to have your ass handed to ya then, dear Seamus?"  

"And what exactly are ya gonna hand my ass to me for, Finnegan?"  

"For hurtin' my Little Cass!" Finnegan replied, his fists clenching tightly as he stepped forward. Cassandra was touched, a bit, but more than that she was simply irritated. While Finnegan claimed he was ready to brawl to defend her heart the truth was that when it came to Seamus, he and Finnegan had 

always been ready to beat each other to bloody pulps. Finnegan was merely using her as an excuse.

"Boys...." she began but it was no use.  

"How could ya do that to her, Seamus?! How could ya kiss her and make her promises and then run off and forget about her?"  

"You kissed her just the same as I did, Finnegan," Seamus reminded him, once again losing his Irish accent. Cassandra pinched her nose between her fingers and simply watched them. Both men were just under six feet tall and they were nose to nose just now, yelling loudly and appearing ready to kill one another. It was quite like old times.  

"That's where you're wrong, Dear Seamus! I never once made the woman a single promise! And I did not leave cuz I wanted to because I didn't. I would have stayed right there and kissed her every day she'd have let me but I could not because her papa ran me off....."  

"You would have....?" Cassandra asked quietly.  

Finnegan merely glanced her way and then met his brother's gaze once again, "I might be one hell of a screw up, Dear Seamus, but I would never hurt Cassandra on purpose. Not for all the whiskey, money or women this world has to offer. You had no right to do what ya did to her!"  

"I know that!" Seamus bellowed. "But I had my damned reasons, Finnegan! Just the same as you have yours for acting the way you do!"  

"Seamus, why are you even here?" Cassandra demanded as she pushed the two brother's apart. She really did not want them coming to blows, especially not over her.

 It amazed her that she wasn't reduced to tears by the sight of Seamus after all this time.... And yet Finnegan lying with that whore had filled her with a sadness and disappointment so deep that it still stung. Perhaps that was something she needed to examine further.  

"I'm here because Finnegan owes me money and I intend to collect it. I've been following you for days."  

"So I was bein' watched," Finnegan grumbled. "Nice to know I wasn't going soft minded."  

"It's hard to get much softer than mush," Cassandra informed him and he stuck his tongue out at her before crossing his arms over his chest and pouting much like a child. "How much money does he owe you, Seamus?"  

"Two-thousand dollars," Seamus growled, his eyes flashing with temper as he sized up his brother. Cassandra sighed. Neither Seamus nor Finnegan were high-tempered alone but when you put them both together it was like mixing dynamite with open flame.... Things tended to go bang rather quickly.  

"Why in the name of all that is holy would you loan Finnegan that much money?!" Cassandra demanded. "You know how he is with money!"  

"I'm standing right here, Little Cass. If ya have somethin' to say then feel free to speak it into my good ear. Don't be worried about hurtin' my feelin's. I'm a wee bit tougher than I look," Finnegan mumbled, clearly angry.  

"I thought that he would finally get something right. He seemed certain he could win the race he was entering," Seamus replied.  

"Finnegan, you have to pay Seamus back."  

"No I don't," Finnegan argued stubbornly. "Why if it hadn't been for the knife I had hidden in me trousers I'd be a dead man now and Seamus' hands would be the ones that killed me. He wanted me dead more than he wanted his money."

Cassandra frowned and Seamus swallowed hard, "What are you talking about?" Cassandra demanded, her eyes narrowing.  

"He hanged me!" Finnegan sounded much like a child taunting another as he smiled smugly at his brother, "Twice! And that was just a fraction of what the man had done to me in the last few years."  

"You hanged your brother?!" Cassandra exclaimed as she rounded on Seamus. "How could you do something like that?! Finnegan is a damned good man! No good with money, a secret or a promise perhaps but the best damn friend I've ever had. To think that you hanged him--"  

"Twice," Finnegan chimed in from behind her.  

"And you..." Cassandra turned and stuck her finger under Finnegan's nose. "You will figure out some way to pay your brother back and make money for the train ride. And you will stop blowing what little money you do manage to get on whores and whiskey!"  

"Not a damn thing about you has changed has it, Finnegan?" Seamus snorted and just like that the brothers were once again at each other's throats.  

Cassandra knew that neither was listening to the other as they yelled  

and she also knew it would only be a matter of time before fists began to fly. After trying, and failing, to get their attention she finally threw her hands in the air and headed for the door.

"Hey, Little Cass, where ya goin'?" Finnegan questioned.  

"Out," Cassandra snapped without looking at either of them. "I've had about all I can stand of Callahan men today."  

She stormed out the hall and down the narrow staircase, entering the lobby just in time to see three men carrying the large dead hotel clerk out the door. Cassandra found herself laughing lightly when she remembered Finnegan's fear the night before and then knew for certain she would go to hell upon death. She should not find humor in anything surrounding a man's death.  

As she stepped into the sunlight outside, Cassandra's thoughts were jumbled. Seamus was back but those feelings she had felt for him for so long were nowhere to be found. Finnegan was defending her an claiming that if not for her father running him off he would have stayed by her side... did he mean that? Or was he simply saying it to anger his brother? And what if he did mean it? What did it mean? 	

Cassandra shook her head. She didn't need to worry about that just now. Just now she needed to find money for a train ride. Cassandra saw a diner across the road with a help wanted sign on the door and headed that way. It wouldn't pay enough for a train ticket but it would certainly give her some money to bet at the poker table and she'd prove to Finnegan that his lessons in gambling had paid off—and unlike him she knew enough to quit while she was ahead.

Chapter Nine

Chapter Nine

"So what are ya really back for, Seamus? Do you intend on killin' me or are ya hopin' to win Cassandra's heart?" Finnegan questioned once the two men were alone. He couldn't explain that boiling in his blood or the twist in his gut at the thought of his brother wooing Cassandra.  

"I'm back because I want my damn money, Finnegan. I have no interest in having Cassandra as any more than a friend."  

"Well why not?" Finnegan questioned with a frown. "She certainly seemed smitten with ya."  

"My reasons are my own," Seamus replied simply without meeting his eyes.  

"Where are your men then? Ya know the ones that like to hit me upon the head with heavy objects?" Finnegan asked as he sat down on the edge of the bed. He should know better than to allow himself to relax around Seamus but he was too emotionally confused just now to keep a guard up.  

Cassandra... .Little Cass... Even bedding another woman hadn't done away with the budding feelings he was beginning to have for her. Feelings he couldn't allow himself to have! He would only hurt her. He was no good for a woman like Cassandra.  

"Gone," Seamus replied, snapping Finnegan from his thoughts. "I sent them away a few days ago when I realized you had Cassandra with you. I wasn't going to cause you harm right there before her eyes. Why are you traveling together? Her father can't be happy about that."  

"Whether he is or he isn't, I can't be for certain. She ran away in the night with me in search of an adventure," Finnegan replied. He wasn't about to tell a man he owed so much money to that he was following a treasure map to a lost shipment of gold—even if that man 

was his brother.

"You haven't taken her innocence have you?"  

Finnegan glared at the judgmental tone in his brother's voice, "Honestly, Dear Seamus, if you're having so much trouble with the ladies I happen to know a few in town who would be happy to help ya out. There'll be no need for ya to worry about me any longer."  

"This isn't about you, Finnegan. Cassandra is a good girl and deserves better than the likes of you. You are no different than that 

bastard that raised us and you’ll hurt her just the same as he hurt our mother.“

Finnegan felt his temper flare. He stood up, jerked his shirt on and shrugged on his vest. With more gusto than necessary he yanked on his boots before grabbing up his gun belt, "That 

bastard was our father and whether you want to admit it or not he did the best he could just the same as I do.“

"Ha! If that's your best then I would hate to see you putting forth no effort!" Seamus bellowed with laughter.  

Finnegan just shook his head, cinched on his gun belt and headed for the door, "If I put forth too much effort, Dear Seamus, I would make the rest of you men appear to be standin' still."  

"Where are you going? I want my damn money, Finnegan." Seamus grumbled.  

Finnegan grinned, despite the anger boiling in his blood and shrugged a shoulder, "Me thinks it quite clear by now that I have no money. Perhaps if ya follow me 'round enough I may drop a coin or two for you to sniff out."  

"Where are you going?" Seamus asked again as he followed Finnegan into the hallway.  

"To find whiskey," Finnegan lied.  

"Whiskey? Truly? You bring an innocent girl like Cassandra to a place like this and then you simply let her wonder the streets alone?"  

"Cassandra is no girl and she's tougher than ya give her credit for," Finnegan argued, leaping down the staircase and avoiding more than half the steps. Of course he was going to go check on Cassandra. He might be immature and a bit wild but he wasn't completely insensitive and without common sense. He knew this town could pose a threat to Cassandra and he had every intention of protecting her. He would not allow any harm to come to the woman.  

"What are your intentions with her, Finnegan?"  

"I don't see how that's any of your concern, Dear Seamus. We may be brothers by blood but that's as far as it goes. Ya have tried to kill me more times than I can count over the last few years and I have no love left for you."  

"I never really tried to kill you, Finnegan," Seamus argued, grabbed his arm and spinning Finnegan around to face him. "If I had wanted you dead then you would have been dead. I was only trying to teach you a lesson."  

"Well from now on then how about we agree to no more favors or lessons then, huh?" Finnegan patted Seamus on the back and then continued on his way out into the sun.  

All his life he'd been hearing how he was no good and quite honestly he was getting sick of listening to it.  

---

"Little Cass, are ya done? Truly? I was beginnin' to fear I would die of boredom before you finished." Finnegan whimpered as Cassandra stepped out of the diner a few hours before sunset that evening.  

"It's called employment, Finn," Cassandra replied.

 Finnegan noticed her glancing around and he shook his head. "If you're lookin' for your lover man he's at the hotel standin' guard over my things to ensure I do not leave before he has his money."  

"I can't believe the two of you," Cassandra scolded. "You're brothers and you shouldn't be trying to kill one another over money."  

Finnegan grinned and put his arm around her shoulders, "Aye, I would agree with ya there, Little Cass. Why don't ya go have this gem of a conversation with the man who's put a rope 'round me neck twice while I take your earnin's to the saloon and get us a bit of travelin' money?"

"I don't think so," Cassandra shook her head.  

"Surely ya did not make enough in one day to cover two train tickets?" Finnegan questioned. He noticed that Cassandra was leading him toward the saloon and already the men were eyeing her as if she were meat at the market. Finnegan felt his defenses rise.  

"No, of course not," Cassandra smiled. "I'm going to win enough money for our tickets."  

"Surely not!" Finnegan exclaimed as he dug in his heels and jerked her to a stop. "I cannot allow ya to go in there and gamble."  

Temper flashed in Cassandra's green eyes and Finnegan groaned inwardly. He'd just made the dangerous mistake of telling Cassandra Little what he would and would not allow, "You are not my keeper nor are you my father, Finnegan Callahan, and I will not allow you to act as if you are either."  

"I am your friend, Cassandra, and I am responsible for ya for as long as we're on this journey together," Finnegan argued, though he had no true idea where this protective side was coming from or how to be responsible for anyone else. Hell he couldn't even be responsible for himself!  

Cassandra surprised him when she burst into laughter and then threw her arms around his neck and hugged him close. She pulled away just enough so she could look up into his eyes, keeping her arms locked around him, "Oh Finn, you know you are my best friend and I love you as much as any friend has ever loved another but this responsible, rule abiding, control taking image you are attempting to uphold right now is utterly ridiculous and not you in the least." Finnegan wanted to argue but she was right. "I came with you for adventure and what better way to start on that adventure than to play a bit of poker and show the men that I was taught by the best Irishman there is?"  

Finnegan felt his chest swell with pride, "Aye, Little Cass, I did teach ya good," he grinned, "Or are ya talkin' 'bout dear Seamus again seein' as how he  seems to have taught ya a few things as well."  

"Seamus might have taught me how to fight and how to kiss but an even better Irishman taught me how to place a bet and let it ride."  

"Well come along then," Finnegan grinned as he took her arm in the crook of his and led her toward the saloon. "Show me just how well those lessons paid off."  

The moment they stepped inside the dusty, brightly lit, loud saloon that smelled of sweat, whiskey and men in need of baths, Finnegan had more of those doubts. Cassandra could really get hurt in a place like this....

Since when did he worry about 'could be' situations or what 'might happen'? He had never in his life thought before doing something. He found that over analyzing situations simply created problems that weren't there to begin with.  

A bit of whiskey ought to fix that just fine.  

Finnegan released his hold on Cassandra and headed up to the bar. He was aware of her making her way to a back table as he sat on a stool and patted the scarred up bar top, "You back again?" the bartender asked with a grunt. Finnegan saw a group of ladies dressed in corsets and split skirts waving and smirking at him from the far wall where an old man was playing piano. The ladies were clearly the 

working variety and their long legs were on nearly full display.

Finnegan recognized the woman who had woken up his bed that morning and he wondered if those were the 'friends' she'd been talking about. Shit, it was no wonder he'd woken up with no money... he was lucky they hadn't stolen his clothes and gun belt as well.  

Finnegan grinned as the bartender slid a shot of whiskey and a mug of beer in front of him, those women were worth the price. Holy hell, he'd have to see if he couldn't steal a few coins while he was here to cover having them again. It was a long train ride they were getting ready to take and Finnegan wanted to have all the fun he could before they boarded.  

"You sure are a brave man to let your woman come in a place like this," a man acknowledged as he sidled up next to Finnegan at the bar.

Finnegan glanced across the saloon and saw Cassandra standing beside a poker table deep in debate with the men seated at it. He could only imagine what was being said and how thoroughly Cassandra was putting them in their place. They'd be in for one hell of a surprise when she sat down and began to play. If there was one thing that Finnegan had taught the girl that had taken hold really well, it was poker.  

"She's not a woman who belongs to any man," Finnegan informed the man before taking a swig of beer. "And those men'll get the surprise of their lives when Little Cass empties their pockets for them at that there table."  

---

Cassandra was aware of Finnegan sidling up to the bar and she wondered how he planned on paying for those drinks he had just ordered. Deciding that was none of her concern, she made her way through the loud and boisterous crowd of men to a back poker table.  

The dealer and the men playing all looked at her with varying emotions. Some simply seemed surprised or shocked to see a lady in a place like this and others appeared hungry, lustful and leering. One man had a scar over his eye and cheek. He was sitting but it was clear he was nearly seven feet tall and he had a powerful, broad build. He licked his lips as his eyes wandered up and down the length of Cassandra's body.  

Cassandra felt herself shiver with fear but she kept her face unaffected by the emotion and smiled at the dealer, "Deal me in, please."  

"Please? Aww, did you hear that fellas? The woman has manners and a sense of humor," the man with the scarred face sneered as his eyes settled on her breasts.  

Cassandra felt her cheeks flush and pulled the two dollars she had made for the day from her pocket. Only seventy-five cents of that was from the diner and the other dollar twenty five were tips from satisfied customers, "I see no reason why manners would be a laughing matter, gentlemen, and I can assure you that I am not attempting to be humorous in the least. I came to play." 	

The men all laughed, except for scar face. He simply sneered at her and licked his lips as his eyes traveled down to the juncture between her thighs. Cassandra snapped her fingers in his face and his eyes instantly went up to meet her gaze, their nearly black depths flashing with temper, "You'd do well to keep those eyes on your cards instead of on my body, sir. I can assure you that the thoughts you are entertaining about my body are dreams you will never see fulfilled. And I'm quite good at poker so you'll need to pay attention."  

Cassandra took a seat, laid her money on the table for the dealer and pulled her pile of chips toward her. She knew these five men thought her a joke and that was just fine with her. She would teach them all that Cassandra Little knew a thing or two about poker.  

Winning the first hand had the men sitting up a bit straighter and eyeing her with something other than amusement. They appeared a bit more concerned. When Cassandra went on to win four of the next six hands, the men began to grumble. It was clear they did not like losing to a woman.  

"I think she's cheating," a thin man with a bushy beard grumbled.  

Cassandra shook her head. “You wouldn’t dare say such a thing to a man for fear he’d blow your head off. What makes you think that I will not do the same?”

The man shifted as the other men laughed at him and Cassandra smiled sweetly. It was a bluff of course seeing as how she had no gun but the bluff worked and they went back to playing cards.  

Cassandra couldn't help but see Finnegan from the corner of her eye as he slowly meandered back and forth throughout the crowded saloon. He had a woman hanging off of each arm and he was still sipping at a mug of beer. His face was bright with laughter and his brown eyes were twinkling so brightly she could see them from here....  Jealousy shot through her like a bolt of lightning and she hated it. Maybe a trip with Finnegan had been a bad idea.  

Then his eyes met hers and his smile grew. He winked in her direction and Cassandra felt her heart get a bit lighter. Of course then the man ruined that good mood by plopping a big wet kiss on the whore to his left.  

Cassandra grumbled under her breath and turned her attention back to the game. When her winnings approached fifty dollars Cassandra knew it was time to quit for the night. She was beginning to get tired and Finnegan had already disappeared from the saloon. She figured he'd taken a woman back to the hotel and honestly the thought of that was distracting her from the poker.  

She stood as the dealer was readying to hand out new cards and shook her head, "I believe I'm going to call it a night."  

"You can't do that!" the skinny, bearded man exclaimed. "You gotta give us some kind of chance to win our money back."  

"No thanks, boys," Cassandra replied with a wink as she collected her winnings from the dealer and placed them in the pocket of her split riding skirt. "A true gambler has to know when to call it a night and walk away."  

"I'll be sure to watch you walk away, pretty thing," one of the men chuckled. Cassandra was a bit taken aback by the obvious flirtation but the man seemed good-natured enough so she simply laughed it off. Then her spine tingled with unease and she realized that the man with the scarred face was staring at her with nothing but pure lust and rage.  

Cassandra kept her back ramrod straight and her steps even as she walked from the saloon. She would not let this man know she was afraid of him. Her family had raised her to be strong and never show fear. Her father certainly never showed fear and Cassandra would not either.  

She stepped outside and realized that over the last few hours darkness had fallen. Small torches and gas lanterns cast glows over the streets in places. However the dark shadows simply appeared darker and they seemed to be reaching for her—taunting her.  

Cassandra felt another shiver run down her spine and then suddenly she felt an arm wrap around her from behind and a hand clamped roughly over her mouth. She was frozen with shock as the hand cut off her breath and she felt herself being dragged toward a dark alley beside the saloon.  

Panic was her first instinct but then she swallowed it down. Seamus had taught her how to protect herself. Yes, it had been years ago but she could still remember the basics.  

Cassandra gathered her wits and then slammed her foot down hard on the toes of her attacker's boots. He grunted and his hand dug painfully into her upper arm. Cassandra could feel his breath on her neck and so she leaned her head forward and then swung it back. She heard a crack, followed by loud cursing as his grip on her broke and she leapt from his arms.  

Cassandra turned to see the man with the scarred face holding onto his bleeding nose with one hand while he glared at her wish sheer hatred, "I'm going to have you," he growled.  

Cassandra simply shook her head, "No, you will not."  

Scar face lunged at her but Cassandra side-stepped him. She had hoped that the alcohol she could smell on his breath would be slowing his reflexes but she was mistaken. He spun and grabbed her arm, throwing her against a pile of chopped wood. 	

Cassandra cried out in pain when her ribs and hipbone struck sharply against the unforgiving wood. The man's body fell upon her and Cassandra shoved him for all she was worth which merely made him chuckle darkly.  

Scar Face reached up and grabbed her breast roughly through her dress. Cassandra bit down on her tongue sharply and then jerked her leg, catching his manhood solidly with her knee. He fell backward with a sharp cry of pain and Cassandra gathered up a piece of the chopped wood and swung for all she was worth, catching his temple.  

Scar face fell unconscious to the alley floor. Cassandra looked around but no one was around to see what had happened. She was trembling and shaking. Tears filled her eyes and she swallowed hard as she fought them.  

Cassandra felt as if she were somehow separated from her body as she strode to the hotel and made her way past the new old man sitting behind the counter. She went up the stairs, not really thinking of where she was heading as she went to room eight and threw open the unlocked door.  

Her eyes took in the sight of Finnegan unclothed in the bed with a whore from the saloon giggling atop him.  

"Little Cass!" Finnegan exclaimed with shock as he tossed the woman aside and jumped from the bed, pulling the sheet with him to hide his nakedness. "What in the name of Jesus Almighty happened to ya?"  

"Do not pretend as if you care, Finnegan Callahan!" Cassandra exclaimed, her voice very near to hysterics. "You have your whore and your whiskey—" Cassandra snorted as she pointed to the nearly empty bottle of the stuff beside the bed. "—that is all that has ever truly mattered to you."  

"Little Cass, I..." Finnegan began, his brown eyes looking truly hurt and pained from her words.  

Cassandra didn't care. Her ribs were hurting with every breath, her hip bone was throbbing, her mouth was surely bruised from the scarred man's rough hands and her heart was still racing from the close call, "Don't worry yourself, Finnegan. I know the kind of man you are and choose to be your friend despite it. You should consider yourself damn lucky for that. I have the money for the train tickets. I suggest you hurry and finish up with your 

friend there and get some rest. We’re leaving at daybreak.“

Cassandra turned on her heel and stomped from the room, slamming the door on Finnegan's hurt and confused face.  

She tore her clothes from herself once she was locked inside her room and used the water in the basin to wipe the man's touch from her skin the best she could. Then she curled beneath the covers and closed her eyes, trying to still her swirling mind enough to sleep.  

Finnegan had left her alone in a saloon full of dangerous men so he could go drink whiskey and bed a whore..... Cassandra loved Finnegan. He was her best friend despite all his faults but she could not count on him any longer. It was clear that while he had changed in appearance, turning from a boy to a man while he'd been away, his mind was still much the same.  

Cassandra would be getting a gun tomorrow and this adventure was going to be hers to take them on. Finnegan could either listen to her or forget about his treasure.

Chapter Ten

Chapter Ten

Finnegan rammed his fingers through his hair when he glanced out the window and saw that the dawn was beginning to brighten up the sky to the east. He'd spent the whole night awake and pacing.  

After Cassandra had burst into his room and then fled again, Finnegan had forced the whore to leave and had tried desperately to get Cassandra to allow him into her room. His knocks had gone unanswered. 	

Finnegan hated himself for what he'd allowed to happen. Cassandra had clearly been given a hard time and Finnegan hadn't been there to protect her. What was wrong with him? His father had raised him a certain way and Finnegan had worked hard to be the Irishman that his father claimed all Irishman were.....

So why did he feel so damned pathetic, worthless and downright bad for what had happened last night? Hell the saloon had been Cassandra's idea! She'd seemed confident that she could handle things and had even told him to stop attempting to be a man he wasn't by trying to protect her.....Now she was angry because he had done what she'd asked him to...

Finnegan was confused. Who was he? What kind of man allowed his best friend, who happened to be a lady, to be left alone in a saloon to fend for herself? The answer to that was simple; an Irishman. His father had taught him well what an Irishman was. An Irishman loved whiskey, poker, bedding women and taking nothing seriously. He looked out for himself and himself alone. That was an Irishman.  Cassandra should understand that since she had known Finnegan since just after he'd learned to walk.  

Finnegan heard a knock on his door and ran to it. He jerked it open eagerly, hoping to see Cassandra standing before him only to run directly into Seamus's angry fist.  

Finnegan went stumbling backward as his head exploded with pain. He felt blood pouring down his chin from his lip and as he fell down on his backside on the bed he touched his mouth gingerly to find that his lip was  

already beginning to swell and it was split wide open.

"Good mornin' to ya as well, Dear Seamus."  

"Don't ya 'dear Seamus' me ya worthless sack o'shit!" Seamus bellowed.

"Are ya suddenly Irish again then?" Finnegan forced himself to grin as he stood. Then he launched at his brother, tackling the other man to the ground and punching him hard in the jaw.  

They rolled around in the floor a bit and then Finnegan froze at Seamus's next words, "Congratulations, Finnegan. You are finally exactly like the man you always aspired to be. Cassandra was damn near raped and brutalized but you had your whore and your whiskey so you could not have cared less. Nice way to show your best friend how much you truly don't care about her. At least now her eyes will be open to the bastard that you really are."  

"She was nearly raped?" Finnegan whispered feeling an anger inside of him like he'd never felt before.... And a guilt.  

His Little Cass should have never had to face something like that. Finnegan had just assumed those men had given her a hard time about leaving. He'd never once imagined they'd actually laid angry hands on her or tried to take what wasn't theirs to take. Instead of voicing any of that he shook his head. "It wasn't my fault. I'm only an Irishman." Finnegan countered as he fell away from Seamus and leaned panting against the side of the bed.  

"That's horseshit and you know it," Seamus exclaimed as he shoved himself to his feet and glared down at Finnegan. "We share the same damn blood, Finnegan. You've used that as an excuse your whole life just the same as 

he did. When he drank and gambled away our money for the month and we ended up hungry ‘I can’t help it ya see cuz I’m an Irishman.’ When he’d break his vows to our mother and have her in tears ‘I don’t mean it lassie, I’m an Irishman and cannot help meself’. Every bad thing he ever did was because he was an Irishman! That’s nothing but a lie, Finnegan, and you damn well know it. I’m just as much an Irishman as you but you don’t see me doing the things you do and getting in trouble. Cassandra trusted you and whether she asked for your help in keeping her safe or not you know as well as I do that any decent man, Irish or not, would have stayed there and saw that she got back safely. Your faults have nothing to do with your heritage, Finnegan. You do these things because you’re an immature, childish, fool-headed jackass who doesn’t care about anybody but himself.“

With those parting words of insight, Seamus strode from Finnegan's room and slammed the door behind him. Finnegan leapt to his feet. There was no way the bastard was gonna leave that easily! Finnegan burst from the room and down the staircase. He managed to catch Seamus in the entryway of the ramshackle hotel.  

"How did you know that Cassandra had nearly been...." Finnegan couldn't even finish the sentence. The thought of any man taking advantage of any woman was sickening but to think that someone had nearly done that to Cassandra? It was too much. "..attacked?" Finnegan finished. "Did she tell you?"  

"No," Seamus shook his head and rubbed his face. His brown eyes were studying Finnegan carefully as if attempting to figure out what he was thinking. "Cassandra won't open her door and let me in this morning."  

"Then how do you know what happened?" Finnegan asked with a frown.  

It was Seamus' turn to shift and appear uncomfortable, "It wasn't hard. I went to the saloon this morning to question the bartender and there was a man there talking about Cassandra."  

"Talking how? About how thoroughly she whooped his ass at the poker table?" Finnegan asked with pride.  

"No," Seamus tone was sharp. "About how he had nearly had his way with her in the alley but she had managed to get away from him. And how he could not wait to have another chance."  

"Did ya whoop him soundly then?" Finnegan demanded.  

"No."  

"Well why the hell not?"  

"Because he had a group of men with him, Finnegan. What was I to do? Take on them all? Cassandra is okay and he did not succeed....."  

"Such a brave and noble man ya are, Dear Seamus," Finnegan smiled as he put his arm around his brother's shoulders. "So quick to say such mean and hurtful words toward your own brother dearest when ye yourself are a coward which is something no man will ever utter about me."  

"I'm no coward, Finnegan!"  

"Sure ya are! Without your blood thirsty, dim witted men standing behind you wielding their heavy objects to bash in men's brains, you are too chicken to do much of anything."  

Seamus yanked away from Finnegan and glared at him. Finnegan found this opportunity one in a million. Never before had he been the brother willing to take a stand and Seamus the one backing down. "Stop insulting me, Finnegan. What was I to do? It was four against one."  

Finnegan flapped his arms like chicken wings and uttered a few clucks which had Seamus in such a temper, smoke was nearly billowing from his ears. Finnegan shook his head and patted his older brother on the cheek, "Ya were supposed to call on your Irish roots, Dear Seamus, and have yourself a nice wee brawl. About the same as I am going to have right now."  

---

Seamus stood there in stunned silence as he watched Finnegan quickly stride from the hotel and turn out of sight.  

Was he honestly going to go fight those men?

He was going to go fight for Cassandra's honor?

Or had he simply seen an opportunity for a brawl and taken it? It was probably the latter. Finnegan only cared about Finnegan and wouldn't risk his boyish face to angry fists just for someone else.  

Then again he had seemed shocked and angered by learning that Seamus hadn't jumped in and come to blows with those men. But truly; one against four very large and angry looking men hadn't been his idea of a fair fight. He had only wanted to come get Cassandra and get her the hell out of this town and away from these people. What had Finnegan even been thinking by bringing her here?! That question was easy to answer—the man hadn't been thinking. He never did. 	

Just like he wasn't thinking now and was going to end up killed at the saloon.  

Seamus thought of just letting him go... after all it wouldn't be any less than Finnegan deserved.... But then again the man was blood and if anyone was going to kill him it would be Seamus himself. Seamus would not allow anyone else to take that honor.  

He let out a grumble, kicked the bowed floorboards (which startled the sleeping man behind the counter and caused him to snort as he came to alertness) and then ran out the door after his younger brother wondering why God cursed him with such a burden.

---

Finnegan had a smile on his face and a bounce in his step as he entered the saloon. It was quiet with only the bartender cleaning up behind the bar, a woman in a matronly dress sweeping the floor and four men with beers at a back table sitting beside a piano where a scantily dressed 

lady played a tune.

"Can I get me a beer then, sir?" Finnegan questioned as he sidled up to the bar.  

"I suppose," the bartender grunted. "I had a few people complain that they were robbed last night," the bartender added as he wiped out a glass with a rag. "You wouldn't know anything about that would you, Irishman?"  

Finnegan shook his head and his grin grew, "O'course not. Terrible thing to have happen to a man," he lied. He'd made a small fortune picking men's pockets last night. The bartender grunted again, filled the mug with beer from the tap and slid it to Finnegan without a word.  

Finnegan took a drink and then stood and headed toward the back table just as Seamus came in. Finnegan waved Seamus over with a smile and then turned his attention to the four men at the table. Two were rather skinny and small, they wouldn't be much trouble. There was one that seemed tall (though he was sitting so it was impossible to judge just how tall), but he was lean and he also appeared to be hard of seeing as he squinted and felt around for things on the table—a brawl with a blind man—Finnegan had done worse things.  

His eyes went to the fourth man and he knew he'd found the guilty culprit. The fourth man was huge. Tall and broad and thick with muscle. He had old scars on his face that proved in had an accident had some point in his life—he also had a welted head, a swollen nose, a black eye and a split lip. Finnegan found himself laughing.  

"Hey now, what happened to your face?" Finnegan asked with a broad grin.  

Four heads slowly turned his way and eight eyes—well truly six because the tall lean man seemed to think he was standing a few feet to the left—instantly locked on him, "Excuse me?" smashed face questioned between clenched teeth.  

"Your face," Finnegan replied, leaning in closer to take in the damage better. Damn his little Cass packed a wallop. "It looks as if ya pissed off a wall and it simply threw itself at that nose of yours."  

"You got a whole lotta nerve," the big man growled as he stood slowly. 	

"He was in brawl!" one of the short men threw out.  

"Yeah... against seven men!" the other added.  

"Giants of men!" blind man helped.  

Finnegan laughed. "Holy shite! Seven giants? Ya hear that, Dear Seamus? This man fought seven giants and won—then he lost to a little lass in the alley."  

The big man froze and clenched his fists, "Who are you?"  

Finnegan moved a bit closer to one of the short men and shrugged, "The more important question would be who do you think ya are? Little Cass certainly taught ya a lesson or two—possibly three by the looks of that eye."   

"I don't know who you two are but unless you want to be swallowing teeth I'd advise you to quit talkin' and get to leavin'."

"You heard the man, Finnegan," Seamus urged.  

Finnegan grinned, "Sure, I'll leave." But not until he'd made it clear that Cassandra was off limits and touching any woman without her permission would end with more scars on his pretty face. "But first, have ya tried the beer here?" Finnegan took a swig and then held up his mug. "It's quite good."  

The big man lunged for him but Finnegan sidestepped him and then brought the heavy mug down on the head of one of the short men who had been standing to come at him as well. Finnegan turned and ran into the scarred man's fist which sent him sprawling backward.  

He caught himself on the edge of the piano, the woman playing it let out a cry of shock and Finnegan smiled a painful smile, winced at his welted cheek and then kissed her painted lips quickly before jumping back into the fight.  

Punches were thrown, tables were smashed, chairs were broken. Finnegan and the scarred man were rolling around on the floor and Finnegan took a painful punch to the gut. He hooked his feet in the bigger man's middle and then shoved him back with all the strength he had.  

The scarred man went flying backward and landed on a table, buckling the wood. The bartender was cursing and yelling threats but no one was listening.  

The second short man, (the first was unconscious), came at Finnegan then and Finnegan swung out his leg successfully taking the man's legs out from underneath him and sending him crashing down on top of the scarred man.  

As the two of them were busy untangling themselves Finnegan looked for Seamus and saw him against the wall being punched time after time by the blind man. Seamus was dodging some of the blows but not all of them, "Are ya havin' trouble with the vision impaired one then, Dear Seamus?" Finnegan asked with amusement as he pulled himself to his feet and delivered a sound kick to the short man's chin as the man came at him again.  

The short man stood still for several moments and then swayed on his feet as his eyes rolled back before his body toppled to the floor like a felled tree—err sapling.

"How am I supposed to fight with a blind man, Finnegan?" Seamus demanded. "I can't hit him if he can't even see it coming!"  

Finnegan laughed loudly when the blind man delivered a jaw cracking punch to Seamus' face, "Well ya better do something!" 	

Finnegan felt a hand on his shoulder and turned to see that big man had risen and was preparing to knock him for a loop. With wide eyed shock, Finnegan ducked down and the big man's momentum threw him off balance as his fist missed its mark. The big man went stumbling, his arms wind-milling through the air and he ran smack into the blind man, sending them both crashing into the wall.  

"You're welcome, Seamus. He looked like he was getting the better of ya," Finnegan teased as he swiped a bit of blood from his lip.  

"Get the hell out of here now!" the bartender bellowed as he raised a shot gun.  

Finnegan and Seamus both raised their arms, “We’re leavin’!” Finnegan assured him. “This is a mighty fine establishment ya have here, sir, mighty fine indeed.”

Finnegan was surprised when he heard Seamus fighting back laughter.

“Just go,” the bartender grumbled with exasperation. Finnegan tipped his head, grabbed the big man’s beer off the table, downed it quickly and then headed out the door with Seamus following closely behind him.

“That was….” Seamus paused. “Fun,” he finished with a grin.

Finnegan laughed. “Scares me greatly that you taught Little Cass how to fight! Ya couldn’t even take a blind man.”

Seamus glared at him, “How do you punch a man that can’t see you!?”

“A mite bit easier than one that can,” Finnegan informed him and then he wrapped his arm around Seamus’ shoulders, “’Bout what ya said earlier, you’re right. I’m just an immature jackass and I’ll try my best to be better. But don’t ya ever talk to me like that again. Ya can hang me, ya can chase me all over the country, but don’t ya ever speak to me like that.”

“I’m older than you, Finnegan. I’m allowed to speak to you however I like,” Seamus countered. “Tell me the truth, did you do this for Cassandra or because you wanted to fight?”

Finnegan glanced down at his white shirt now thoroughly stained with dirt, blood and beer. He put a hand on his welted cheek and wiped a bit of blood from his nose, “I did that for Little Cass. You might not believe it but I’d die to protect that lass…” Finnegan grinned as he shrugged. “Of course gettin’ to kick a little ass gets a man’s blood pumpin’ real fine in the mornin’. Now let’s go get the woman so we can get out of here before the big man and his friends have time to recover.”

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Eleven

Cassandra felt as if she had been run over by a runaway stagecoach. Her hip was killing her and her ribs ached with every breath from smacking against the woodpile. Her arm ached from being jerked around and her face felt raw. Add to that her sheer exhaustion caused by nightmares keeping her up all night and Cassandra had never felt worse in all her life.

She was beginning to think she had made a mistake in leaving home. Should she simply return back to her mother and father and beg their forgiveness? The sunlight streaming through the window and hitting her face told her that it was already later than she had wanted to sleep but she couldn’t seem to force herself from the bed.

She hoped Seamus had finally realized she wasn’t going to talk to him and left town. She didn’t want to see him. He had broken her heart years ago and instead of coming back to her or even sending her letters he had spent all his time trying to kill her best friend, his little brother, Finnegan.

Cassandra groaned and pulled the stiff covers over her head as she thought of Finnegan. His boyish good looks, dimples, stubble, deep brown eyes and thick curly hair….. The man was undeniably charming and had a way about him that simply drew people in—but he wasn’t the man she had thought he would be.

Whether he would admit it now or not he had hated his father as a child. So many evenings he had confided in Cassandra about the way the man made his mother suffer and the way he caused them to go hungry so often and he would carry on about how he didn’t understand why the man was the way he was.

’ It’s because I’m Irish!’ his father would assure them all as if that made up for everything.. and now Finnegan was exactly the same and no doubt using the exact same excuse for all his bad decisions.

A knock came to her door and Cassandra rolled her eyes. Seamus was relentless. Why did the man act as if he cared now after so long without a word?

“Go away,” she called out, keeping her covers pulled over her head.

“Little Cass, please let me in. Ya can’t say no to your ol’ pal, Finn.”

Cassandra smiled and then cursed herself. She should hate him. He had abandoned her for a painted whore and she’d nearly been raped because of it…. He was immature, impulsive and never knew when to walk away from things that were bad for him. So why then did that smile continue to try to pull at her lips just knowing he was outside her room… knowing he was standing there with that infectious smile made her heart swell and she hated herself for it.

Apparently she was just as addicted to Finnegan as he was to whiskey and whores. She was in for one hell of a long road of heartache because whether he deserved it or not, Cassandra had faith in Finnegan.

“Go away, Finn. I’ll be out shortly and we’ll leave.”

“Little Cass, Little Cass, let me in,” he plead in a sing song voice.

Cassandra smiled and pulled her blankets tighter around her, “Not by the hairs on my chinny chin chin.”

“Are ya sportin’ a beard now, Cass?” Finnegan teased.

Cassandra heard something scraping against the lock of her door, “Finn, what are you doing?” she demanded and then she heard her door open.

“I picked your lock, o’course,” Finnegan’s voice was in the room now and Cassandra heard the door close once again. “Will ya look at me please, Little Cass? Ya paint a fine picture of the morn and I’d love to see it.”

“Stop trying to charm me, Finn. I’m not one of your women.”

“Aye,” Finn sounded thoughtful and his voice was close now. If Cassandra had to guess she would say he was bent low beside her bed. “You are so much more than that, Cassandra.”

Cassandra’s breath hitched and she was sure her heart skipped a beat. Finnegan had sounded so sincere, so sure that he meant what he said. Gone had been the teasing tone that was nearly always in his voice. She lowered her covers and spared a glance at him.

He was on his knees beside the bed with his face buried in his hands. His shoulders were slumped and his hair was a mess. Cassandra was certain she smelled beer heavy on his clothes and she knew those splattered stains on his sleeves were blood.

“Finn, what happened to you?” she demanded.

Finnegan’s head snapped up and his eyes narrowed. Cassandra could hardly breathe when his hand reached out and caressed her welted mouth.

What were these feelings?  

This shortness of breath, this heat in her blood, this tingling in her stomach.... Was this desire? And why was she feeling it for Finnegan? Her best friend. The man she'd been ready to throttle just last night.  

"Did he strike you, Little Cass?" Finnegan asked, his voice deeper and more gruff than she'd ever heard it before. His eyes, like liquid pools of chocolate, were locked on her mouth and Cassandra felt her tongue dart out across it and Finnegan's eyes darkened at the sight.  

"N..No.." she stammered as she pulled away, putting some distance between them. She had to shake off these feelings. She could not lose her heart and soul to Finnegan. It was then that she noticed the state of his face. His lip was split and still oozing blood, his nose had obviously been bleeding and his jaw was welted. She glanced at his knuckles and saw that they were bloody and cracked.  

"You've been fighting?!" she demanded angrily as she leapt to her feet wearing only her thin satin chemise and bloomers. She couldn't believe him! Not even her telling him off had gotten through to the man. He'd spent the rest of the night drinking, (if the smell of him were any indication), brawling and probably laying with all the whores he could get his hands on!  

"Aye, I..." Finnegan started looking taken aback by her sudden temper, though she didn't miss the way his eyes roamed over her body. She quickly grabbed up her blanket and wrapped it around herself though not before Finnegan's eyes landed on her arm. "Those bruises!" he exclaimed.

"A man accosted me after I had left the saloon last night but do not trouble yourself with worries about me, Finnegan. I dare say I gave him worse than I got."  

"And I gave him a bit more," Finnegan grinned. That got her attention.  

"You fought with him? With that man?"  

"Aye." Finnegan walked across the room and grabbed the washbasin full of her wash water from the night before. "And three of his friends." Finnegan tossed the water out the window and feminine curses floated up from the street. Finnegan flushed and grinned. "Sorry about that, lass!"  

Cassandra covered her mouth with her hand as Finnegan was called several not nice terms and he pulled his head back inside and closed the shutters just before a shoe bounced off of them.  

"Dump a little water on a woman's head and she suddenly forgets all about bein' a lady," he mumbled as he placed the basin back onto the stand and poured a little fresh water in from the pitcher.  

"Here, let me," Cassandra said when she saw him wetting a rag. She dropped the blanket, forgetting her sudden modesty. Finnegan was her best friend and had seen her in her night clothes many many times when he'd snuck in through her bedroom window late at night. 	

She took the rag from his hands and began gently cleaning his face, rolling her eyes every time he winced, "Finn, how did you really get these?"  

"I ran in to a couple of fists," Finnegan replied. "One of them my brother's."  

"Seamus?" Cassandra demanded. "So trying to kill you wasn't enough?"  

"I deserved this punch, Little Cass," he replied quietly. "And then Seamus told me he'd heard the man who attacked you braggin' about it at the saloon this mornin' so I went in and had a wee little chat with him."  

"A wee little one, huh?" Cassandra teased and Finnegan nodded. "You didn't have to do that, Finn."	

"I did. I'll not ever leave ya alone again, Cass. No one will ever hurt ya. I'll protect you as if you were the queen of England and I the royal guard. As if you are the babe and I the caring mother. As if...."  

"I get it, Finn," Cassandra exclaimed as she dropped the rag into the basin and laid her fingertips over his lips to silence him.  

Again Finnegan's eyes went to her mouth and darkened. Cassandra felt those strange and yet thrilling sensations course through her once again. She 

needed something and yet wasn’t sure what that something was. She knew enough what happened between a man and a woman but she had never experienced it for herself… were these feelings part of that? Sure she had kissed both Seamus and Finnegan once before but she’d been a girl then and hadn’t had the kind of reaction that just Finnegan’s closeness was giving her now.

Finnegan took her wrist gently and removed her hand from his mouth with something akin to regret and pain in his brown eyes. "Cass, please tell me that ya are no longer angry with me? I never want ya to be disappointed in me. I'll do my very best to never see that look in your beautiful green eyes again."  

"My eyes are beautiful?" Cassandra whispered rather stupidly and then she cursed herself when Finnegan grinned. Cassandra  took a step back and shook her head, "I can never stay mad at you. You're my best friend."  

Finnegan shook his head then and seemed to be snapping out of some sort of daze. He grinned and pulled Cassandra into his arms, crushing her tightly against him, "Yes your very best friend."  

"Finn, that hurts," Cassandra winced when he put pressure on her ribs.  

"What hurts?" Finnegan questioned suspiciously as he pulled away.  

"My ribs."  

"I thought ya said he did not strike ya?"  

"He didn't," Cassandra snapped, not liking the way Finnegan was so damn protectively suspicious. "He threw me into a woodpile."  

Finnegan's brow screwed up when he frowned, "Threw ya into a woodpile?"

"Yes. Just after I stomped his foot and broke his nose."  

Finnegan laughed then and shook his head, "Oh, Little Cass, ya are somethin' else. Shall I kiss your wounds then and make them all better?" he asked with a coy wink.  

Cassandra snorted and smacked his arm, "Do it and I'll black your other eye."  

"I have a black eye?" Finnegan seemed horrified by that prospect as he rushed toward a mirror. "Truly?"  

"No, you vain man," Cassandra assured him with exasperation. "You have no black eyes."  

"Thank the Lord," Finnegan muttered as he took in his reflection. "Though I do have a rather nasty welt and this swollen lip won't do at all for kissin' the lasses."  

Cassandra rolled her eyes. "I'm sure the lasses will be glad for the break," she assured him with a snort.  

"I need to test out this lip on a pretty lass. Would you be willin' to make the sacrifice?" Finnegan asked as he leaned closer and Cassandra once again found her breath catching in her chest. His warm breath washed over her face and she could feel the heat from his skin. Knowing she should turn away and yet somehow unable to Cassandra found herself leaning toward him as her eyes slipped closed.  

"What the hell are you doing?!" Seamus' angry voice demanded and Cassandra and Finnegan were quickly jumping apart. Cassandra went scrambling for a blanket to hide her current state of undress from Seamus. Strange that she felt so comfortable with Finnegan like that but the thought of Seamus seeing her horrified her.  

"Have ya ever thought of knocking then, Seamus?" Finnegan demanded, putting his body between Seamus and Cassandra as she covered herself.  

"I did knock," Seamus replied dryly. "You were simply too distracted to hear it." 	

"Sorry about that," Cassandra replied, hoping to save some face with the other man. "I was tending to Finnegan's face..." she got a look at Seamus'. "But yours looks just as bad!" Cassandra winced at his black eye and swollen bottom lip. The Callahan brothers were certainly looking a little worse for wear but somehow both of them were just as handsome as they'd always been.  

"I don't know, Little Cass, I think he got it a little worse." Finnegan amended.  

"Yeah well, I thought we were leaving today," Seamus grumbled.  

"

We aren’t leaving anywhere.“ Finnegan countered. “Cassandra and I are. Now let me go get Theo ready then, Cass, and we’ll be on our way.”

Finnegan left the room quickly, patting Seamus on the backside as he went and causing the sterner of the two men to grunt and grumble.  

"You deserve everything he does to you, Seamus. I still can't believe you tried to kill him." Cassandra scolded.  

"I never truly tried to kill him, Cassandra," Seamus argued as he went to the mirror and glanced at his reflection. Cassandra frowned while his back was turned. She had once fancied herself in love with Seamus and yet his presence in her room did not make her body heat the way Finnegan's had and she didn't automatically smile at the sound of his voice the way she did when she heard Finnegan's.

And then there was the way Seamus looked at her. It was different from Finnegan. There were times that Cassandra saw deeper emotions in Finnegan's eyes when he gazed at her. Emotions that frightened and confused her because they were in the eyes of her best friend. But with Seamus.... There was a fondness there as if he were looking at an old friend, but nothing more.  

"To hear him tell the story it sounds a lot like you did," Cassandra countered.  

"Yes well he was so busy taking money from people he couldn't pay and laying with women he didn't need to lay with that it was only going to be a matter of time before he died anyway," Seamus turned and fixed her with a stern gaze, "Don't fall in love with him, Cassandra. That would be like falling in love with a dead man."  

Cassandra's nostrils flared as she glared at Seamus, "He can change, Seamus. He's a good man deep down and he simply needs someone to help him realize that."  

"Your undying faith in him is both endearing and pathetic," Seamus snorted.  

"I'd rather be pathetic than a bastard, Seamus, and that is exactly what you are. Putting a rope around your brother's neck over money?! Not to mention the way you kissed me, promised you'd return for me and then simply stayed gone!"  

Seamus swallowed hard, shook his head and stepped away from her, "I had my reasons for that, Cassandra, though I do apologize for hurting you. The kiss meant nothing and I didn't realize that it meant more to you."  

Cassandra felt as if she'd been slapped. Why in the world had she once seen this man as someone she loved? He was truly the backend of a mule. "You can be on your way, Seamus, and stop worrying about Finnegan and I. We are perfectly capable of finding that treasure and we do not need your help to do it."  

"Treasure?" Seamus's voice was low and predatory. "What treasure?"  

Cassandra swallowed hard. Shit! She had just told Seamus about Finnegan's treasure.... Finnegan wouldn't forgive her for this. Not for a really long time. Hell, he had 

trusted her to keep the secret.

"It is none of your concern," Cassandra snapped as she pointed to the door. "Now get out."  

Seamus shook his head and closed the door so they were alone together in complete privacy, "My brother owes me two thousand dollars, Cassandra. If there's a treasure I demand to know about it and I demand to know now."

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Twelve

"I still can't believe ya told him about our treasure, Cass. Our treasure! Now we have to share it with a man who'd like to see me dead!" Finnegan grumbled as Cass rode behind him on Theo with Seamus several paces away on his roan mare.  

"He doesn't want you dead, Finn, at least I don't think he does." Finnegan could hear the frown in Cassandra's voice. "He only wants his money. And I have apologized fifteen times since yesterday for spilling your secret. I told him to let us go and you would pay him that two-thousand out of what you find but he said no."  

"He doesn't trust me then?" Finnegan asked and Cassandra snorted.  

"No one in their right mind trusts you with money, Finnegan."  

Finnegan turned his head and poked out his lip, "That hurts, Little Cass."	

Cassandra laughed and Finnegan was struck by how beautiful the sound was and the way her green eyes sparkled with her happiness. "I've been told a time or two that the truth does," she replied, poking Finnegan's lip back in place.  

Finnegan turned away from her quickly and tried hard to fight back the want and need that her touch seemed to create in him. It sure as the world didn't help to have her so close to him on Theo. Her thighs rubbed his hips and her breasts occasionally bumped against his back.  

Damn these feelings!  

This was his Little Cass. He loved her more than anyone else in the entire world and he needed her—he realized that now. He'd missed her those five years he'd been away and never again would he be able to go that long without the sight of her smile or the sound of her laugh... even the sharpness as she scolded him. Yes he loved her but was he 

in love with her…?

Of course not. He couldn't be. He didn't fall in love. He was too much like his father. He'd been told that more times than he could count so there had to be truth in the statement. Cassandra was far too good for a man like him and Finnegan would do well to remember that.  

But that did not mean he was willing to let her friendship go just to save himself the torment of being around a woman he could not have. Cassandra was his soul mate—not romantically perhaps since Finnegan would never dare be so sappy—but as a friend. She understood him and never judged him harshly (unless she was horribly shaken up from a near death experience) and she stood by him unconditionally.  

Finnegan loved her dearly.  

Even if she did have a big mouth.  

And even if it was her fault that Seamus was now riding along with them.  

So much for having fun. Now Finnegan would have to be on the lookout for Seamus' men to show up at any time and try to put a bullet in him or slip another rope around his neck.  

"Are you truly angry with me, Finn?" Cassandra whispered as she lay her chin on his shoulder. "I did not mean to tell him and I knew that if I did not agree he could come then he would simply follow us."  

"Aye, you're right there. He most certainly would have done that," Finnegan agreed. "He'd been followin' us a while. Like a hound. A stinky, slobberin', clumsy, worthless......"  

"Finn! That's enough," Cassandra scolded. "Perhaps he's only grumpy because he needs his belly scratched. I hear hounds enjoy that."  

Finnegan laughed loudly and Seamus turned his gaze in their direction though Finnegan knew he couldn't hear what was being said. "Go rub his tummy then, Little Cass. Perhaps he'll give ya another kiss."  

Finnegan wiggled his brows and Cassandra blushed red as she laughed, “Perhaps you could rub his tummy, Finnegan. It might make him forget just how badly he wants to see you dead.”

“I would rather he hanged me,” Finnegan replied honestly. “And no, Little Cass, I’m not truly mad at ya. I don’t think I can stay made at ya any more than you can at me. I am a wee bit proud however that I kept a secret longer than you did.”

“Alright, you two, there’s the town where we’ll have to buy our tickets and board the train,” Seamus interrupted their fun. Finnegan again cursed the fact that his brother had come along.

“Finn, Harrisonburg is a fairly large city. My father comes here quite often,” Cassandra warned.

Finnegan pulled Theo to a stop and rubbed at his chin thoughtfully, “Seamus, you go on into town then and buy our tickets. I’ll stay here with Little Cass.”

“I don’t think so, Finnegan,” Seamus shook his head. “The moment I’m gone you will be too and then I’ll have to hunt you down again.”

“Aye, but we’ve discussed before that chasin’ me is what gives your life purpose, Dear Seamus.”

Cassandra rolled her eyes and smacked Finnegan's arm. "Seamus, we won't go anywhere."  

“Sorry, Cassandra, but I don’t trust Finnegan to stay and I sure as hell don’t trust him to go alone with the money and come back with tickets. That town has four saloons and two brothels before he’d reach the station. We’ll all go together,” Seamus argued.

Finnegan wanted to argue but Cassandra spoke up first. “Finnegan would be just fine going and getting our tickets and you’d do well to stop thinking so badly of him,” she snapped. Finnegan filled with pride until she leaned her head to the other side and whispered for only him to hear, “You would be okay wouldn’t you?”

Finnegan sighed. Hell he couldn’t blame them. If he were them he wouldn’t trust him with money either…. He didn’t very well trust himself, “Aye, Little Cass, I would be just fine.”

"No, I won't allow that," Seamus stated sternly. "I won't let the man who owes me that kind of money simply walk away. I know how hard Finnegan can be to track down sometimes."  

“What if there is someone there that will recognize me and tell my father? I would hate to have him hunt me down and try to force me back home,” Cassandra pointed out.

“Yes, well, you need to be back home as it is. It was pure foolishness to leave in the first place,” Seamus assured her.

“Foolishness to leave or to leave with Finnegan?” Cassandra snapped. Finnegan loved her temper—at least when it wasn’t directed at him.

“You already know the answer to that,” Seamus stated pointedly as he glared at Finnegan.

“It’s alright then, Little Cass,” Finnegan soothed when he felt her stiffen behind him. The faith she had in him both amazed him and scared him. He truly didn’t want to let her down and yet no one had ever had faith in him before so he wasn’t sure how to not let her down.

Cassandra shook her head, “He’s being unreasonable.”

Finnegan patted her hand, which was resting on his stomach, “Aye, that’s Seamus’ middle name. Seamus ‘Unreasonable Arse’ Callahan. He cannot help himself, Little Cass. He cannot stand to be apart from me. I give his life purpose and meanin’ and I am what he wakes up for every morn’. Why without me he would simply curl up and…..”

“That’s enough, Finnegan,” Seamus grunted. “Now let’s go get our tickets.”

“Boys, we still haven’t figured out how I’m going to go unrecognized. You know my father; do you honestly believe he’s not looking for me?”

Finnegan glanced back at her and that satin scarf that was around her hair. He grinned as an idea came to him, “Don’t ya worry none, Little Cass. Ol’ Finn will have ya fixed up in a hurry.”

---

Cassandra stood there feeling one million times a fool. And quite warm as well—far too hot.  

"How does that feel then, Little Cass?" Finnegan's voice questioned.  

Cassandra had to turn her entire body to the side to see him through the tiny gap he’d left in the satin for her eyes. In her opinion he seemed far too amused, “Unbearably warm and quite ridiculous.”

"Well bear it," Seamus said with a shrug. "For once my brother had a relatively good idea."  

"Good?!" Cassandra snapped. Her entire head and face were all wrapped up in this satin cloth! She couldn't breathe, could hardly see and looked as if she were some foreign diplomat. "And what do we tell those that question why my face is covered?"  

"That you suffer an allergy to the sun and if not kept covered you break out in terrible boils and bumps," Finnegan replied, adjusting the fabric.  

Cassandra considered biting his fingers but neither of them had had a real bath in many days of traveling and she decided she didn't want his fingers in her mouth, "Boils and bumps? Truly?" Cassandra mumbled.  

"Yes truly," Finnegan grinned and kissed her forehead through the satin. Cassandra felt all arguments die on her tongue as her heart fluttered. The gesture was so genuine, so innocent and so simple that it stole her breath. Finnegan turned away from her and grabbed Theo's reins. "We'll walk the rest of the way on foot. Bouncin' 'round on Theo's back might just jar your headdress loose."  

"Come on then," Seamus snapped as he shoved between them with his mare. Cassandra bit back a curse and had a moment of hatred for her big mouth which is what had led to Seamus coming along. Finnegan had been so angry and had gone hours without speaking to her. Then he'd shrugged and said that Seamus would have followed them either way because Seamus' whole life was harassing Finnegan. Cassandra didn't feel sorry for Finnegan but that didn't make Seamus' actions any less terrible.  

The three of them made their way into Harrisonburg with Finnegan singing a happy tune about rye whiskey and willing women.  Cassandra wished he'd be quiet seeing as how his singing was doing nothing other than drawing more eyes in their direction which of course meant more people staring in shock at her 

costume .

Thankfully they made it to the train depot without anyone asking any questions and Cassandra stepped up to the counter. The short, balding man behind the counter looked up from his reading and his blue eyes widened behind his wire rimmed glasses.  

"I know she looks frightenin' but my Gretchen here has an allergy to the sun," Finnegan spoke up quickly. "You should see what she looks like beneath this scarf after steppin' into the sun just yesterday," Finnegan shivered, "It's not a pretty sight."  

Cassandra scowled beneath her cover and elbowed Finnegan in the gut as she reached in her skirt pocket for money. Finnegan grunted, laughed under his breath and rubbed at his side, "We need three tickets for Montana, sir," Cassandra politely requested. 	

"Yes.. of course.." the man looked at the train schedule and nodded, "That'll be seventy-five dollars and your train leaves in two hours."  

Cassandra handed him the money and moments later he was placing three tickets into Cassandra's hand. She glanced at them and frowned, "This is three tickets but only two rooms."  

"Yes..." the man frowned and adjusted his glasses on his nose, "Space is limited, miss, and I assumed you'd like to ride with your husband," he motioned toward Finnegan.  

Before Cassandra could speak, Finnegan laughed and put his arm around her shoulders. "Of course she does. We're newlyweds and Gretchen here is a wee bit shy."  

"Alright then," the man seemed eager to have them gone. "I hope you have an enjoyable trip."  

Finnegan was still smiling ear to ear as they made their way back out onto the crowded streets of the big town, "Gretchen?" Cassandra demanded as she rounded on Finnegan. "Gretchen was the best name you could come up with?!"  

Finnegan rubbed his chin thoughtfully, "I should have picked Winifred. Ya look more like a Winifred."

"Look at this." Seamus thrust a paper under Cassandra's nose. Her eyes widened when she saw a picture of herself sketched onto it. It was a poster declaring her missing and offering a.... holy hell!

"Five-thousand dollars for your safe return?!" Finnegan swallowed hard. "Shite, Little Cass, are ya homesick? Should I take ya back then?"  

Cassandra crumpled the paper and tossed it down, "You wouldn't do that to me..." she frowned. "Would you?"  

Finnegan sighed, appeared a bit hurt and then grinned as he placed his arm around her shoulders, "O' course I wouldn't. I need you to find my treasure."  

Cassandra felt her heart twist a bit. The treasure...that was the only reasons she was even here with Finnegan. The only reason he had come back to her. She thought of that map and wondered just how mad Finnegan was going to be when he realized that other than knowing it was Montana she had no idea how to read it.  

"That's a lot of money, Cassandra," Seamus stated thoughtfully. "You should really go on home."  

"No," Cassandra snapped. "And don't you even think about contacting my father either, Seamus Callahan, because without me there is no treasure, there is no gold and you'll be right back to chasing Finnegan all over the country."  

"Calm down then, Little Cass," Finnegan soothed. "No one is going to turn ya in." Cassandra heard a warning tone in his voice and glanced at him to see that he was glaring quite threateningly at his older brother. Cassandra smiled—she had a protector against Seamus—even if he was only protecting her so he could get gold.  

"We have two hours, gentlemen, and I for one would like to get a bath, clean clothes and a good meal before we leave," she spoke up.  

"Sounds good to me too," Finnegan agreed. "There's a bathhouse just down the road and you can give me some money and I'll go pick ya out some clothes."  

"You?" Cassandra frowned.  

"Don't ya trust me?" Finnegan asked.  

Cassandra sighed. She trusted Finnegan to pick her out clothes because as long as they were clean she did not care what they looked like. Her blouse and split skirt were stiff and dirty and in desperate need of a good washing. What she wasn't sure about was placing money in his hand. Would he come back with clothes or would he return with a bottle of whiskey and a few new lip paint stains smeared across his cheek? 	

She would never know unless she gave him the chance.  

Cassandra placed several dollars in Finnegan's hand. "Make sure to get some clothes for yourself as well," she urged. He was still wearing his beer and blood stained clothes and he smelled much like a brewery.  

"And me?" Seamus asked.  

"You chose to come with us despite our urge to go on alone," Cassandra reminded him, "You can purchase your own clothes if you need them."  

With that Cassandra turned on her heel and headed for the bathhouse. She was faintly aware of Finnegan speaking to Seamus just before he burst out laughing.  

---

"Wow, this is a nice train," Seamus stated as they walked through the passenger cars to their bedrooms.  

"Here we are, my wife," Finnegan teased with a wink as he grabbed the crook of Cassandra's arm and she rolled her eyes. "This is our room."  

"Mines right across the hall," Seamus noted.  

Cassandra allowed Finnegan to lead her into their bedroom and instantly she realized they had a problem. "There is only one bed...." she mumbled.  

One very tiny bed.  

Finnegan winked. "Of course. Husbands and wives tend to share beds."  

"Only we're not truly husband and wife." Cassandra reminded him.  

"Well I'll certainly not be sleepin' on the floor. If ya choose to sleep in the bed with me I can assure you that I'll be on me best behavior," Finnegan vowed as he made a big show of crossing his heart.  

Cassandra rolled her eyes and yanked her satin scarf from her head, happy to finally be rid of it. "You had better."  

"We have shared a bed before, Little Cass," Finnegan reminded her.  

Cassandra snorted. That had been years and years ago. Long before Cassandra had begun to have such confusing and conflicting emotions, urges and feelings where Finnegan was concerned, "Yes well, you had better be good, Finnegan Callahan. Remember well that I know how to fight now and you will regret it if you're not."  

"I may regret it more if I am," Finnegan countered with a wicked grin and a wink that had Cassandra's knees weakening.  

The train lurched and jerked as it began its journey down the track. "Yes, well, I believe I'll go to the day car and see what everyone is up to. Might as well make a few friends since this train will be home for the next week or so," Quickly Cassandra left the bedroom with Finnegan laughing as he flopped down on the bed.  

She slid the door closed and then took a few moments in the hall for her breathing to even out. Why was she feeling these things? It was truly foolish and she needed to do her best to set these feelings aside!  

She adjusted the rather pretty light tan leather split skirt that Finnegan had chosen for her. It had roses and vines embroidered up the legs and was quite beautiful. He had chosen a cream colored blouse that came off her shoulders and revealed her collarbones. She had even taken the time to style her hair up in a fancy chignon and apply a bit of perfume. It felt nice to do those things after so much time without even having a proper bath.  

Cassandra made her way through their sleeping car as well as the next one. The halls were crowded and many times she found herself pressed against doorways and walls to allow others to pass. She reached the day car. A car with bench seats and tables for playing cards, conversing, reading, knitting—just being around others instead of cooped up in the tiny rooms. There were three day cars on this crowded train that would make several stops between here and Montana.  

Cassandra was about to take a seat beside the window and watch the scenery as it became more and more mountainous but a familiar voice froze her in her tracks.  

The speaker's back was to her but she knew that voice and that figure. Shit! 	

Cassandra fled the day car unseen and dashed back to her and Finnegan's room. She slid the door open and leapt inside before slamming the door closed behind her. Finnegan had been asleep but upon her sudden intrusion he jumped from the bed and his hand went for his gun.  

"Cassandra!" he exclaimed as he relaxed his hand and shoved it through his thick curly hair. "What in the name of the Holy Mother has ya runnin' 'round so?"  

"We have a problem, Finnegan," Cassandra whispered, her heart still thundering against her ribs.  

"What?" he asked with a frown.  

"In the day car...."  

"Are we playin' twenty questions then?" Finnegan inquired. He clicked his tongue and placed a finger on his chin, "Was it a vegetable?"  

"This is no laughing matter, Finn," Cassandra took a deep breath. "Daddy's on the train."

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Thirteen

Cassandra stared at Finnegan with dumbfounded shock when the daft man burst out laughing. He laughed so hard that he covered his stomach with one hand and leaned against the wall with the other.  

"What is so funny?" Cassandra demanded.  

"My luck," Finnegan chortled. "So much for the luck o'the Irish then."  

Cassandra snorted as she crossed her arms over her chest, "Yes well your bad luck is going to cause me to be shipped straight back home, be kept under lock and key and then married off to Thomas Shelton at my father's earliest convenience."  

"Relax, Little Cass," Finnegan cooed as he managed to contain his laughter. He slid an arm around her shoulders and pulled her close, "Do ya really think I'd let ya be taken away from me now? We're a team you and I and I need ya."  

Cassandra wanted to scream for two reasons. One, because Finnegan did not seem to realize how serious of a situation this really was and two, because she hated that Finnegan's only interest in her was her ability to find the treasure he so desperately wanted. She wished he could feel the same pull and confusing longing for her that she seemed to be feeling for him lately.  

Damn heart! Cassandra had never been good at turning the thing off and thinking with her mind instead.  

"And just what is your plan, you brilliant man?" she inquired, while batting her lashes and granting him an overly sweet smile.  

"Plan for what? And why in the world would anyone use brilliant in a sentence about Finnegan?" Seamus' voice came from the open door. Cassandra and Finnegan both jumped and spun around. It was clear that neither had heard the door slide open.  

"Ya need to learn to knock, Dear Seamus," Finnegan warned. "And don't ya even pretend as if ya did because I would have heard ya."  

Seamus shrugged and leaned against the door frame, "You're right. I did not. Why is Cassandra scared to death and nearly shaking from her shoes?"  

Cassandra knew she had no choice but to tell him and so she sighed, "My father is on this train."  

Seamus' eyes widened a fraction, "And why would your father be heading to Montana?"  

"This train stops many times before then," Cassandra reminded him, still painfully aware of Finnegan's arm around her shoulders. "He is heading west in search of me no doubt."  

"You have him worried about you, Cassandra. That is not right in the least definition of the word," Seamus scolded. "You will go to him now and let him know you are safe and sound...."  

"No, I won't."  

"And why not?"  

Cassandra rolled her eyes, "Because he will make me return home."  

"That would be for the best," Seamus replied quite seriously. "This world is a dangerous place and the further west you travel the more dangerous it will become. A lady such as yourself has no business out here and certainly no business running around with a man like Finnegan."  

"Hey!" Finnegan called out.  

"Seamus, you don't understand. If I return to him and he drags me home then I'll be forced to live a life I do not want. I'll be turned into a society wife. Luncheons, teas, stuffy dances and marriage to Thomas Shelton. I want none of those things."  

"The Shelton's are a respectable family. You could do worse." Seamus' eyes fell on Finnegan and Cassandra felt Finnegan's grip tighten yet more and turn almost possessive. That was...

interesting .

"Yes but I could do better," Cassandra countered, leaning against Finnegan. 

What was she doing!?!? And why wasn’t Finnegan pulling away? Probably because he was a shameless flirt who acted this way with every woman that came within five yards of him so she truly shouldn’t be letting herself think it meant more.

Seamus' lips formed a thin line and he fixed her with a stern gaze, "Cassandra, you need to go home. No treasure is worth death and you could very well die out here. And even if you do not you will never find a respectable husband should you return home, not after running around the country with a man like Finnegan. My brother is not known for caring if a woman is innocent."  

"That's enough insults for the morn', dear Seamus. Ya don't want to use them up too quickly and run out of ones to serve me for supper. Little Cass does not want to go home and you will not make the lass do what she does not wish to do."  

"It is what she needs to do. And don't pretend you truly care, Finnegan. We all know the only reason you are fighting so hard to keep her with you is so you have someone to read your treasure map."  

Cassandra wasn't sure what reaction she expected Finnegan to have to Seamus' words but she knew that the reaction he had wasn't it.  

Before Cassandra could say a word, Finnegan launched himself at his brother and tackled the man to the ground. The two of them became a tangle of fists and legs on the narrow space in the room. Cassandra was forced to leap onto the bed to avoid becoming tangled up with them as well.  

She glanced at the door and saw and old man and woman staring at them with shock. Cassandra forced a polite smile, "You know those Irishman and their tempers," she offered. When the old couple continued to stare and Finnegan and Seamus continued to fight, Cassandra sighed, "Brothers will fight from time to time I suppose." 

‘Or every day if they are these brothers’ she added silently.

Still the old man and woman stared in horror at the scene and finally Cassandra had  had enough. "Oh bug off you two!" she exclaimed at them and they hastily made their retreat while sputtering about how rude the youth of today had become.  

Cassandra hopped across the bed and swung herself into the water closet where she filled a tiny pitcher with water. She stepped back into the room and proceeded to dump said water directly on the combative brothers.  

Finnegan and Seamus broke apart with very different reactions. Seamus was sputtering, bloodied and cursing while Finnegan was slightly winded yet otherwise unharmed and laughing cheerfully.  

He leapt to his feet, grabbed Cassandra around the waist and plopped a noisy kiss to her lips, leaving her in stunned silence while he seemed unaffected. "I love a good brawl now and then!" he exclaimed as he watched Seamus pull himself to his feet.  

"What the hell was that for?!" Seamus demanded.  

"Your mouth, Dear Seamus. Ya ran it just a wee bit too much about me and Cassandra and I felt I should silence it."  

"You honestly think that this is best for her, Finnegan? You think that running around in danger with you is what's best for a proper lady? Or is simply what is best for you and your greed and gambling spirit?"  

"I'm standing here, Seamus. Do not talk about me as if I were not," Cassandra snapped.  

"Yes, I think this is what is best for Little Cass," Finnegan replied, his arm still around her waist. Cassandra's lips were still tingling from his thoughtless and sloppy kiss and she cursed them to the fiery pits of Hell. "She is a woman with spirit and a love of adventure and she will not have that back in Virginia as Thomas Shelton's wife. They will stifle her spirit and kill that spark that burns within her and that would be a crime the likes o'which have never been matched."  

Cassandra was touched beyond words by the sudden passion in Finnegan's voice as he spoke so beautifully about her but Seamus spoke again before she could. "And you believe that you can keep her safe? 

You ?“ he spat.

"Yes o'course. I would not have agreed to let her come otherwise. Though I think our Little Cass has proven that she's plenty capable of takin' care of herself," Finnegan winked at his brother, "A bit more capable than you it would seem."  

Cassandra stifled a laugh as Seamus swiped blood from his mouth. At the rate it was going the man's lip was never going to heal, "That's enough. I'm going to go tell Vincent Little exactly where his daughter is."  

Seamus turned to leave and Cassandra panicked. She had no real explanation or excuse for why she did what she did next but before she could stop herself she had leapt forward and brought the water pitcher down hard on the back of Seamus' head.  

His body crumpled unconscious to the ground and Cassandra stared at Finnegan with horror. "What did I do?"  

"T'would seem ya killed the lad," Finnegan replied with a grave nod. 	

Tears filled Cassandra's eyes. "No I didn't! Please tell me I didn't!"  

Finnegan laughed and hugged her tight. "Ya did not kill him, though I daresay he'll wish he were dead when he feels that headache he's bound to wake up with. Now he'll want you dead instead of me."  

"I had to do it though, Finn. I couldn't let him go to papa," Cassandra gasped as she clung to Finnegan's clean black shirt and breathed in his scent. She had always found his scent to be comforting even when they'd been children. He was her Finn and she was in love with him. To deny that fact, even to herself, was a waste of time.  

"I would have done it if you hadn't," Finnegan assured her. "Now let's get him tucked away in his room before the great beast awakens."  

Finnegan grabbed Seamus under his arms and hoisted the man up though his legs were dragging the ground. "Check the hall," Finnegan urged.  

Cassandra peeked into the hall but thankfully a bit of good luck seemed to have finally decided to come their way and the hall was deserted. She dashed across it and tried to open Seamus' door but it was locked.  

Cursing her misfortune she slipped back to Finnegan. "I'll have to check his pockets," she informed him. She quickly checked his shirt pockets but there was no key.  

Of course the key simply 

had to be in the man’s pants. Gingerly she reached in and fished around for the key while trying her hardest to ignore the fact that she was mere inches from his manhood as she did so.

"Are ya enjoyin' yourself then, Little Cass?" Finnegan teased which of course earned him a glare.  

"Haha!" Cassandra exclaimed victoriously as she pulled out the key. Finnegan winked at her and Cassandra felt the thrill of exhilaration that comes with doing something you are not supposed to do course through her.  

She dashed back across the hall and opened the door to Seamus' room. Finnegan was hot on her heels, dragging Seamus' body with him. Cassandra watched him place Seamus on the bed and then Finnegan shocked her when he began tearing strips from the bed sheet.  

"What are you doing?" she demanded.  

"Tyin' him up," Finnegan replied quickly.  

Cassandra saw him make short work of hog-tying his brother before placing a gag in his mouth to keep him quiet. He also removed all of Seamus weapons and slid them under the mattress where Seamus could not hope to reach them.  

"You're just going to leave him like this?!" Cassandra demanded.  

"I see no other choice until your father is off the train. Seamus is a greedy bastard, much more than even I, and he'll not hesitate before turnin' ya in to get his five thousand dollars."  

"He seemed merely concerned about my welfare," Cassandra countered. "He never mentioned the money."  

"If ya believe that he was worried about ya and not the money then ya aren't as smart as I thought ya were, Little Cass."  

"And what of you?" Cassandra snapped. "You are not worried about me simply your treasure map and how to read it."  

Finnegan shook his head. "Ya honestly believe that?" he asked quietly. Then he sighed. "I'm starvin' . We'll have to disguise ourselves if we're to go get a bite to eat. Can't have your papa recognizin' us."  

Cassandra was glad he changed the subject. She didn't want Finnegan knowing how much he truly meant to her or how badly her heart would break without him. She followed him back to their room and Finnegan glanced around, "Ya can wear your head wrap once again and remain quiet. No matter how ya change your voice it won't be good enough to fool your papa."  

"And what about you, Finnegan? How will you disguise yourself?"  

"I'll just have to..." Before Finnegan could finish speaking the train jostled violently on the track and Cassandra lost her balance. She flew forward and nearly crashed into the wall but a body was suddenly between her and the hard landing she'd been heading toward.  

Cassandra crashed into Finnegan's chest and the momentum knocked him off balance as well, though he twisted his body, wrapped his arms tight around her and fell onto the bed with her body held firmly atop him.  

Cassandra froze. She could not move, could not breathe, could not think. She could feel every inch of Finnegan's long, lean body pressed against her own and his face was mere inches from hers.  

His warm breath teased her skin and her lips tingled with the need to close those last few inches of space and press against his firm mouth. She gazed into Finnegan's eyes and became lost in the tenderness she saw there along with the passion.  

Was there a chance that Finnegan would not break her heart? That they could have a future as more than just friends on an adventure?  

Cassandra had to decide quickly if it was worth the risk to find out. She had to decide before Finnegan pushed her away.  

Giving in to her impulsive nature and wasting no more time second guessing herself, Cassandra lowered her lips to Finnegan's and kissed him tenderly.  

At first Finnegan's lips remained tight and unresponsive and Cassandra was about to break down with disappointment and regret but then his  hands moved to her hair, burying his fingers in her thick blond curls, and his lips responded with an intensity that shocked her.  

The kiss was far from the innocent kiss they had shared as little more than children in that barn all those years ago. This kiss was full of an adult passion and hunger the caused Cassandra to tingle clear to her core. A need rose within her for more. Finnegan nipped at her lip and when she gasped in surprise he used that opportunity to deepen the kiss, sliding his tongue inside her mouth and lapping lazily at her own.  

Cassandra had no idea what kind of kiss this was but she wanted more of it! Her own hand, which wasn't bracing her up, went to his cheek and caressed his gently. He moaned deep in his throat and then surged upward, flipping her onto her back and bracing himself over her.  

Cassandra could feel his arousal pressing against her thigh as he continued his assault on her mouth. Their tongues warred together, teasing, tasting and fighting for dominance.  

When Finnegan finally pulled his mouth away, Cassandra gasped for breath and whimpered for him to keep going. Finnegan's brown eyes looked deep into hers for several seconds and then they filled with regret and pain and he tore himself away from her, shoving his hand through his thick hair roughly.  

"I'll be...." He cleared his throat and removed the huskiness that had been in his voice, "I'll be goin' to get what I need to disguise myself now. You should stay here until I get back." With that Finnegan practically ran from the room leaving Cassandra there still unable to breathe, burning with desire and wondering what in the hell had just happened.

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fourteen

Shite!

What had just happened?

Finnegan pulled his pin from his pocket and picked the lock of an empty room after he'd knocked to ensure no one was currently using it. He had seen the gentleman leave this room just moments before and it was his hope that he'd find a suitable disguise among his belongings.  

Finnegan slipped into the room and pulled the door closed behind him. He flopped down on the tidy bed and covered his face with his hands, needing a few moments to compose himself and think.  

For most of his life Finnegan had cared about only a few things and those were himself, whiskey, gambling and bedding as many pretty women as he could find. Then he'd made the decision to go to his childhood friend for help and now his entire world was turned upside down.  

Hell he was still at half-mast in his pants after that kiss Little Cass had snuck upon him. His only intention had been to break her fall because he had not wanted her injured and somehow that had gotten turned into him nearly tearing her new clothes from her sleek little body and ravaging her...

Finnegan shook his head and leapt from the bed. Not Cassandra. He could not do that to her! Finnegan wasn't a good enough man for her. Cassandra would be the settling down forever type and there were still too many trails to ride, too many poker games to play, races to bet on and pretty women to bed for Finnegan to even think about settling down.  

"We're Irishmen, my boy! 'Tis in our blood to care only for what makes us happy and not for others. Drink, rut, brawl and laugh that is our motto and a fine and dandy one at that!" 

Finnegan could hear his father’s words in his head and he tried to repeat them but out loud but they no longer sounded right on his tongue.

Whiskey. What he needed was whiskey. Finnegan slid open a compartment and found luggage. He pulled it down and began rifling through it and he nearly cried out with joy when he found the small bottle of clear, bubbly goodness.  

"Rye whiskey, how I love you," he whispered before taking a big long swig. He welcomed the instant sensation of numbness it lay upon his lips and tongue and then the burn as the liquid worked its way down.  

He slid the cork back in the bottle and then dropped it into his pocket. Feeling much more like himself now that he'd had a drink, Finnegan once again began going through the luggage to find a suitable disguise to wear to lunch with Vincent Little.  

Could he simply have their meal sent to their room? Yes he could. But then where would be the fun in that?

---

Cassandra shuffled along behind Finnegan with her head down and trusting him not to cause her to collide with anything. This scarf around her head made seeing much difficult in these close quarters of the hall and it also made breathing uncomfortable. She had no idea how those women from the eastern world wore garments like these daily. It would drive her batty!

Finnegan looked just as ridiculous as she did though no one would realize it if they did not know how he looked at any other time. 	His wild and unruly dark hair had been slicked back on his head with enough grease to fry fifty chickens. He had found quite a dapper suite and waistcoat somewhere on this train and even had a cane with silver handle draped over his arm. A golden pocket watch chain draped over his flat stomach and a pair of wire rimmed spectacles sat low on his nose.  

She knew her father would not recognize him. The last time Vincent Little had seen Finnegan Callahan he'd had more hair than head and a skinny boyish figure. Finnegan certainly had a man's body now as was made evident by the muscles she could feel beneath her hand as she gripped his upper arm, and his hair lay slick and neat.  

"You look a fool, Finn," Cassandra whispered. "Where did you find those spectacles?"  

"In a suitcase, Gretchen dear, and remember to call me Gregory," Finnegan replied, any hint of his Irish accent completely hidden.  

Cassandra sighed. While it was exciting to be on a secret mission of sorts, (even if it was simply to get a meal), she wished he'd picked a better name for her than 

Gretchen . She was trying to look on the bright side of things instead of the bad.

The bad was that she was awfully close to being caught by her father, Seamus was tied up and no doubt mad as hell in his room and Finnegan had chosen to pretend as if their earth shattering kiss, (from which she still felt a bit heated and off kilter), had never happened.  

But the good was that she was truly having that adventure and it had her head spinning just knowing they were finally doing things that were on-edge and (while not necessarily dangerous), still very risky, Finnegan had come back and hadn't run away from her all together and they were sharing a bed tonight.  She knew the man had felt something in that kiss and she knew it had scared him. He might be able to pretend it hadn't happened now in the daylight on this crowded train but he wouldn't find that so easy tonight when they were all alone and curled up together in the dark.  

Cassandra wiped her sweaty palms on her skirt while inside she felt nearly giddy with the knowledge that she had power—sure it was power over a skirt-chasing, whiskey guzzling, gambler but power was power and she would take it any way she could after feeling so powerless most of her life as Vincent Little's daughter.  

"There's your papa now." Finnegan's voice floated to her ears and Cassandra's gaze instantly found her father as they stepped into the dining car. Cassandra felt nervousness begin to eat away at her stomach and then she nearly  cried out with disbelief when Finnegan took them on a path directly to her very tall, very large, very imposing father.  

"Good evening, sir," Finnegan said with a tip of his head. "May my wife and I join you at your table?"  

Vincent glanced around the dining car and Cassandra knew he was seeing the several empty tables but Finnegan flashed a charming smile and her father seemed just as affected by it as everyone else who had ever seen it.  

"Of course," he waved his hand toward the empty side of the booth. "Have a seat, both of you."

Cassandra slid into the seat first and Finnegan took his place beside her. She saw her father study Finnegan a moment as a crease formed on his brow, "Do I know you?" Vincent asked.  

Finnegan pretended to study her father a moment and then shook his head quite slowly as if he were deep in thought. "I do not believe so, though I must say you seem familiar to me as well."

Seconds ticked by and Cassandra found herself growing nervous. Finnegan looked nothing like the boy her father had run off five years before but what if Vincent had recognized him anyway? And what in the world was Finnegan hoping to accomplish by testing fate enough to sit at the same table with the man?!  Cassandra's worries were eased when her father again spoke, "Have you ever been to the capital?"  

"Several times," Finnegan replied with a triumphant laugh. "That must be why we are so familiar to one another. My name is Gregory Peters, sir, and this is my wife Gretchen."  

"A pleasure to meet you both," Vincent greeted as he reached across the table and shook Finnegan's offered hand. Cassandra kept her hands folded in her lap and merely tipped her head. It was very important that she did not speak.  

Vincent gave her a curious glance but then turned back to Finnegan and the two became lost in a conversation about politics and current events. Cassandra was amazed that Finnegan knew about such things but he seemed every bit the educated gentleman as he spoke to her father as an equal.  

Finn never failed to surprise her.  

Cassandra took that time to study her father. He looked tired and had rings around his eyes. She felt a moment of guilt but pushed it aside. Her father had put all of this worry upon himself. She had left him a letter telling him that she was quite fine and in capable hands. But in true Vincent Little fashion he had decided to chase after her and steal back all of his control and power that she had taken simply by slipping out the window in the dead of night.  

A serving man brought out a tray and sat three steaming bowls of soup on the table as well as a plate of freshly baked bread. Cassandra felt her stomach roar to life with hunger and then realized that she could not eat. Not with this annoying contraption over her face.  

"I do not mean to be rude by asking this, so please take no offense, but, why does your wife keep her face covered so? I daresay she'll have difficulty eating as such," Vincent inquired.  

Finnegan let out a great sigh. "My Gretchen has an allergy to the sun and it would seem that the allure of feeling it on her skin proved to be too much for her to resist two days ago. The rash and boils it caused on her beautiful alabaster complexion are quite a sad sight to behold. For the sake of the other passengers on this train she is keeping them covered and she will eat later in our room."  

Cassandra glared at him. Eat later? She was starving!  

"I'm sorry to hear that, ma'am," her father offered though she noticed he moved a bit further away as he did so. Boils and sores.. she'd show Finnegan boils and sores!  

As he and her father went back to discussing the current economy while sipping their soup and scotch, Cassandra decided to have a little fun with her best friend. Below the table, she placed her hand upon his thigh and applied the slightest pressure.  

The spoon jumped in Finnegan's hand and soup ran down his chin. Offering a quick apology as he coughed and swiped at the mess with his napkin, Finnegan shook his leg as if hoping to shake off her hand.... Not going to happen.  

Feeling emboldened by his obvious response to her touch and the sheer naughtiness of doing this directly under her father's nose, Cassandra moved her hand higher until she was only about an inch from his groin and that particular bit of his anatomy that had been pressed against her thigh just over an hour ago.  

She barely suppressed a laugh when his voice became a squeak on the word finances. He cleared his throat and shook his head at a questioning glance from her father. "I apologize. I had a rather exciting day at the races not too long ago and my voice is still recovering."

Vincent chuckled. "I understand completely."  

Cassandra frowned. He did? She had no idea that her father was a fan of horse racing and she knew her mother did not either. That was a handy piece of information she would have to tuck away for later use.  

Cassandra raised her hand just a bit higher and let her fingertips brush over the bulge in his trousers. A blush stained her cheeks though it was hidden by her head wrap. Finnegan's nostrils flared, his jaw tightened and his grip on the spoon in his hand turned his knuckles white but he did not miss a single beat in the conversation he was continuing to have with her father.  

"So, where are you and your wife heading if you do not mind me asking?" her father finally questioned. Cassandra gave up on her teasing of Finnegan and sat back in her seat feeling like a child. Unable to speak or eat as the adults discussed their business.  

"California is our final destination," Finnegan replied.  

Vincent looked at Cassandra doubtfully. "There's a lot of sun out there."  

"Northern California," Finnegan amended. "Close to Oregon. We're going to set up a homestead in those thick woods. I hear it is a good place for a man to start a new life and a new life is what I would like to have."  

"Are you in some kind of trouble?"  

"No, nothing like that of course," Finnegan placed his bowl to his lips to drink down the last of his broth and Cassandra barely fought the childlike urge to tip his bowl up and cause him to spill his meal upon his lap. "I am merely tired of the political grind and wish to have a simpler existence."  

"I would go stir crazy without the grind," Vincent admitted with a chuckle. "I will give you one year tops before you are scurrying back for the hustle and bustle of the city."  

Finnegan laughed, "You may be right, sir!" 	

Her father waved his hand. "Call me Vincent."  

"Vincent," Finnegan tipped his head. "Where are you heading to?"  

Cassandra saw her father's expression change then. He looked a bit sad but a lot angry. "My daughter has been kidnapped and I am trying to find her."  

"Kidnapped!" Finnegan exclaimed with shocked horror. "That is quite terrible, sir! How old is your daughter?"  

"Twenty and innocent as they come."  

"Who are her kidnappers, Vincent? Did you go to the authorities?"  

"Her 

kidnapper is an Irishman that means to do away with her virtue and break her heart.“

"Breaking hearts is what Irishmen are good at," Finnegan said sadly and Cassandra did not miss the way he emphasized those words. Was he trying to tell her something? "Did this man ask for a ransom?"  

"No. He somehow convinced my daughter that leaving with him is what she wanted. That is why the authorities would not help me. They say she is old enough to make her own decisions. But I am determined to find her and I have reason to believe they may head west. I am on my way to Tennessee and will work my way back on horseback searching."  

"We will be in Tennessee by mid-morning tomorrow," Finnegan noted. "What does your daughter look like? My wife and I will keep an eye out for her during our travels."  

"Tall," Vincent replied suddenly appearing thoughtful. "Beautiful green eyes—"  

"Are they like emeralds?" Finnegan questioned. "Those are always the prettiest eyes." Cassandra blushed again behind the satin.  

"Yes, they are like emeralds, just like her mothers," Vincent nodded. "She has a head full of long blond curls and freckles litter her face. She'll be with a man who, the last I saw him, had a skinny build, thick dark curls that swallow his head and the most annoying Irish accent my ears have ever heard."  

"Irish accents do grate upon the nerves," Finnegan agreed and Cassandra once again found herself stifling laughter. "Well Vincent, I do hope you find your daughter safe and sound and we will keep our eyes open for any sign of her ourselves. I must be getting my wife back to our quarters now so that she may quiet that growling in her stomach."  

"Of course." Vincent stood as Finnegan did and Finnegan offered Cassandra his hand to help her up. She accepted the assistance and then took her place beside him with her arm through the crook of his, "Thank you, Gregory, for the conversation and Mrs. Peters I am dreadfully sorry about your... condition."  

Cassandra tipped her head, Finnegan, gathered up her food, bid her father farewell one last time and then they headed back toward their room.  

Once they were inside and the door was closed, Cassandra pulled her head wrap off. "Gretchen Peters covered in sores and boils?!" she exclaimed. "Was that really the best you could come up with for my secret identity?"  

"Are we spies then, Little Cass?" Finnegan questioned with amusement, his voice once more the voice she loved so dearly even if she did want to strangle the man. "Perhaps ya would like to go back out and tell your lovin' father that you're the daughter he's searchin' for so hard."  

Cassandra glared at him. "Haha. Yes and you can tell him that you are that skinny Irish boy with big hair and an annoying voice."  

Finnegan laughed. "Ya love me voice, Little Cass."  

Cassandra shrugged. It was the truth and she would not deny it, nor would she confirm it aloud and cause his big Irish ego to grow any larger. "Was there a reason you risked so much to sit at his table?" she questioned as she sat down on the tiny sofa across from the bed and Finnegan handed her the bowl of soup.  

He sat on the edge of the bed and their knees were touching. Quickly he moved down a bit and then grinned at her. "Do not pretend that ya didn't enjoy the bit of danger. I saw the sparkle of rebellion in your eyes."  

"My beautiful emerald eyes?" Cassandra teased before taking a sip of her soup.  

"'Tis no denying you're a beautiful lass," Finnegan replied. Cassandra's heart skipped several beats but she focused on her soup and working hard to keep her hands from shaking. "And a sinfully evil one! What was that about, you puttin' your devil hands all over me like that at dinner? And directly in front of your father?"  

Cassandra blushed but refused to look away from him. "Do not pretend that you didn't enjoy it, Finn," she challenged. "And it was not directly in front of my father, it was under the table. He could not see a thing."  

Finnegan scoffed, "Enjoy it hell!" he exclaimed. "I damn near choked to death on a boiled carrot!"  

Cassandra burst out laughing and nearly choked on a carrot of her own. As she coughed and sputtered, Finnegan took the bowl to keep her from sloshing it over the sides, set it on the table and then sat beside her and patted her back. "Ya did well out there, Little Cass, I was proud of ya. Ya acted every bit the meek and mild mannered wife."  

Cassandra wiped at her watering eyes. "I will 

not be a meek and mild mannered wife, Finn,“ she warned, though why she was warning him of that she had no idea. She would never be Finnegan’s wife—she wasn’t sure she would even want to be. A man like Finnegan could never be faithful. Could he?

"Thomas Shelton will want a meek and mild wife," Finnegan reminded her, his tone was teasing but nothing else about him was teasing just now. Their thighs were pressed flush together, his breath was washing over her cheek and his hand, which moments ago had been patting her mid back, was now rubbing her back gently and moving lower.  

"I won't marry Thomas Shelton," Cassandra countered, her voice a bit strained as his nearness was leaving her breathless.  

"No ya won't," Finnegan agreed.  

Cassandra heard the words and the conviction in them and she sat there struggling to understand what they meant. Did he simply mean that he knew she would not marry a man like Thomas or did his words have more meaning than that....?

Before Cassandra could ask, Finnegan scooped her up, pulled her across his lap and silenced all her thoughts when his hungry lips crashed down hard on her unsuspecting mouth.

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Fifteen

Finnegan had no idea why he was doing what he was doing but Cassandra was a temptation that he simply couldn't resist. Finnegan had never had the ability to resist temptation and honestly the fact that he had gone this long without giving in to his urges where she was concerned was commendable.  

Now he was done resisting.  

He pushed all doubts from his mind, ignored the voices in his head that told him it was wrong and that he was bound to hurt Cassandra, and simply kissed her with everything he had.  

The kiss caused him to feel dizzy and off balance. Never had he kissed a lass and felt this way. He had fallen in love with Cassandra when he'd been but a boy and life had forced them apart—all the women in between had simply been for fun but he knew Cass would be different. For him to continue to lie and say he was not in love with her would have been a foolish waste of time and while Finnegan was many things he was no fool.  

This was 

his Little Cass. He had no idea if he could be what she needed, if he could even be good for her, but he was a selfish bastard who damn sure wanted the chance to try.

A little moan came from her back of her throat and Finnegan pulled her closer, desperate to have more of her--all of her.  

He reached a hand around her head and buried his fingers in her thick blond curls. Quickly he found the pins that held them back and loosed them all, allowing her soft curls to tumble down her back finally free of their restraints.  

Finnegan continued to hungrily devour her mouth. A mouth that could make him feel ten feet tall and bulletproof one instant and tear him down to the ground in the next. A mouth that defended him and believed in him but yet wasn't afraid to call him out on his nonsense when need be.  Yes this was his Little Cass and she wouldn't be marrying any man if that man was not him—not that Finnegan wanted marriage. He still did not know for certain he could be a faithful man and he wouldn't go breaking vows the way his father had.  

All thoughts were driven from Finnegan's mind when Cassandra moaned his name against his mouth and turned herself in his arms, straddling him with her long legs.  

Finnegan felt her push herself up against his arousal and he tore his mouth from hers. They were both panting and Cassandra's cheeks were flushed quite nicely. "We need to be stoppin' this now, Little Cass, unless you're real sure and certain ya want to lose that innocence of yours here tonight. There won't be no stoppin' me once this goes any farther. I've longed to have you for far too long."  

Cassandra's green eyes widened with surprise as she stared at him. "You have?" she whispered, a blush coloring her cheeks and spreading down her neck. She pulled off the spectacles he had stolen and sat them aside.  

"Aye," Finnegan caressed her cheek gently. "I have."  

Cassandra's tongue shot out across her bottom lip and Finnegan was about to lower his mouth back to hers when she wiggled on his lap, rubbing her groin against the hard ridge of his arousal. Finnegan's jaw locked and his one handed grip on the back of her head tightened.  

"Finnegan?" Cassandra asked with a small frown as a crease formed in her brow.  

"Yes?" Finnegan managed to hiss through clenched teeth.  

"Why do you have two bulges?"  

Finnegan wiggled his brows and smiled wickedly. "Double the pleasure for the pretty lasses."  

Cassandra snorted and rolled her eyes. "Finnegan...."  

"It's me knife, Little Cass," Finnegan assured her he nuzzled her long neck. "I keep a knife in the front of me trousers just in case. It's gotten me out of more than a few tight spots." He moved his lips to her ear. "Can we get back to the kissing then, Little Cass?"  

"I was wondering when you would," Cassandra replied breathlessly.  

Finnegan could not believe that his luck was finally changing. He was on his way to get a treasure that would get those he owed money to off his back and make him a rich man and he had Cassandra in his arms. Finnegan Callahan may have the luck of the Irish after all.  

He moved his lips back to Cassandra's and felt the softness of her mouth. Eagerly he deepened the kiss, tangling their tongues and drinking in her sweetness. He placed one hand upon her waist and slowly slid it up, her throaty moans encouraging him as his thumb brushed against her breast.  

Cassandra stiffened and then shuddered, her body sinking deeper against his own. Finnegan cupped her firm breast in his hand, hating the layers of clothing that were separating their bodies. He longed to feel her skin against his.  

He felt himself twitch in his pants when Cassandra's lips moved away from his and began to brush against his neck. Her teeth grazed his skin and Finnegan trembled. He threw his head back and simply let her devour him, knowing she was enjoying his honest reactions to her touch.  

He moaned out her name and felt her smile.  

Then the passionate atmosphere inside their room was shattered when they heard a pounding from across the hall.  

"Finnegan Callahan! Cassandra Little! You had better come untie me now!"  

Finnegan cursed, pulled Cassandra off of him and leapt to his feet. "And here I thought that luck may just be on my side for once," Finnegan muttered with a groan as he adjusted his uncomfortably tight pants.  

Cassandra was slumped on the tiny sofa, breathing hard and eyeing him hungrily. Finnegan nearly forgot about Seamus until the man yelled again.  

"Shite!" Finnegan exclaimed with frustration. He held up his finger, "Just stay right there, right like that and I will be back as quick as a flash. I simply have to gag our good friend and comrade a bit better."  

Cassandra only nodded and Finnegan forced himself from the room, closing the door behind him. He pulled the key to Seamus' room from his pocket and unlocked the door. His brother glared at him angrily from the bed where he was still hog tied. Clearly he had used his shoulder to move his gag down and yell for them.  

"It is approachin' bed time, Dear Seamus," Finnegan scolded with a click of his tongue. "Do ya want to wake the sleeping passengers?"  

"I want you and Cassandra to untie me."  

"We are Gregory and Gretchen Peters, Dear Seamus, and we cannot untie ya because ya have already proven we can't trust ya."  

"Finnagen, I will kill you good this time when I get loose—" Seamus stopped talking suddenly and he frowned as he tilted his head and studied Finnegan.

"Do ya like lookin' at me then, Dear Seamus? I shall get ya a picture to keep and ya can stare at it to keep ya occupied on those long lonely nights."  

Seamus simply rolled his eyes. "Why are you all dressed up like that and why do you look like a man who was just spending time with a woman?"  

"I know ya have trouble with the ladies, Seamus, but jealousy truly doesn't suit you. Grumpiness is your best feature," Finnegan was in no hurry to tell Seamus what he'd been doing in the other room but it seemed he didn't need to. His brother was a lot of things but stupid was not one of them.  

"What are you and Cassandra doing over there alone?!" he demanded. "Finnegan you better not have taken that girl's innocence!"  

"She's not a girl, Seamus, and her innocence is not anythin' for you to be concernin' yourself with. Now let me get this gag back in place...."  

Finnegan attempted to get close to Seamus and the man snapped his teeth at him! Finnegan shook his head. Seamus was hog-tied, lying on his side in a bed completely helpless but still unwilling to admit that this time, (with Cassandra's help), Finnegan had gotten the better of him.  

"Finnegan, she deserves better than you and I won't stand for you using her this way. She isn't one of your saloon whores!"  

Finnegan felt his temper rise, "I know that, brother. Now lay there like a good little prisoner—"  

Seamus cut him off, "You'll break her heart, Finnegan. Her heart will shatter just like mama's did every time papa found his pleasures with another woman."  

And there it was. That sensitive nerve inside Finnegan's own heart. Could he be a faithful man? Could he be a man different from what his papa had been?  

"Let me tell ya this, dear Seamus," Finnegan began, every ounce of good nature gone from his voice. "I don't know what the future holds for me and Little Cass. I don't even know what tomorrow holds. But I can tell ya this, her heart will never break because I am unfaithful to her. As long as she'll have me then I'll have only her."  

Seamus' eyes widened in surprise and Finnegan used his brother's moment of shock to his advantage and put the fabric tight around his mouth, tying it off behind his head.  

Seamus' brown eyes were angry when Finnegan looked into them once again. Finnegan grinned and poked his brother's nose, "If ya be good I will bring ya some bread after a while and allow ya to relieve yourself. Cassandra's papa is leavin' this train tomorrow mornin' and your mouth will no longer be such a threat."  

Rage contorted Seamus' features but Finnegan simply patted his head and walked out, whistling a tune and sliding the door closed behind him. He locked it tight and then looked at the closed door to his and Cassandra's room.  

He might have spoken boldly to his brother but Finnegan was scared. What if he did hurt Cassandra? He knew that if walked back in that room now they would bed each other and he was not ready for that and he knew Cassandra wasn't either. Each of them needed time.  

She needed time to understand if it was truly Finnegan she was drawn to or the adventure and Finnegan needed time to come to terms with this sudden change of heart he was experiencing. It was as if he'd slid into a new pair of boots and it would take them some time to fit just right.  

Letting out a breath he slid the door open a bit and saw Cassandra finishing up her dinner. "He should keep quiet a while now," Finnegan stated when her wide green eyes turned to gaze at him. Finnegan could see the yearning in her eyes and he felt it as well but he forced himself to toss her the key which she caught against her chest. "If he hollers just give him another whack with a pitcher. That seemed to work good last time."  

"And where are you going?" Cassandra asked, her voice tight.  

"He'll be needing food," Finnegan replied nodding his head back toward Seamus' room. "And I'd like to learn where your papa's room is so we can avoid it until tomorrow afternoon."  It was a lie but a necessary one. Finnegan could not come back to this room until Cassandra was asleep.  

"Should I wait up for you?" Cassandra asked with a tilt of her head and he knew she was judging his reaction.  

"Get ya some rest, Gretchen. You'll have plenty o'nights still to take advantage of me."  

Cassandra offered him a weak smile as he grabbed the spectacles and cane from the table beside the door and then, like the coward he was, he made a run for it.

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Sixteen

Cassandra waited over an hour for Finnegan to return. She felt confused and she was hurt. She had been certain that she and Finnegan had been preparing to share something special and then man had had to tend to Seamus and he'd come back different...changed.  It was almost as if he was scared of her and regretting what they'd shared and perhaps even what he'd said.  

Did she believe the words he'd said while consumed with passion? Yes she did. She had a feeling Finnegan was being more honest in those quiet moments than he had ever been before in his life. So why then was he gone now?  

Seamus could probably answer that.

Cassandra felt her temper flare and her jaw tighten. Seamus had probably said something to Finnegan to make the man put distance back between them and Cassandra was going to find out exactly what it was.  

Quietly she slid open the door and peeked down the hall. Darkness had fallen heavily outside and most of the train seemed to be sleeping so thankfully the hall was deserted. She slid the key into Seamus' lock and quickly opened the door before slipping in and closing it behind her.  

She turned and very nearly laughed at the angry expression on his face. It made him look every bit an annoyed child. "Honestly, Seamus, you brought this upon yourself. If you would have simply agreed to not go to my father then we never would have had to tie you up so."  

Seamus' response was what sounded like a muffled curse behind his gag and a glare.  

"I'm going to ungag you now because I have a question I need you to answer and I am no good at deciphering grunts." Cassandra stepped to him and put her hand on the fabric around his mouth. "Do you promise not to scream?"  

Seamus rolled his eyes as he nodded and Cassandra quickly untied the cloth. Seamus took several deep breaths of fresh air threw his mouth and licked his dry lips. "Why don't you untie me now too?"  

"No." Cassandra perched herself down on the tiny sofa across from the bed. "I cannot trust you to not tell my father I'm on this train."  

"But you trust Finnegan?" Seamus sighed as he adjusted his hog-tied body so he could see her more easily, "I am merely trying to do what is best and safest for you. Finnegan is doing what is best for him and his treasure."  

Cassandra winced when Seamus hit that nerve. That was the one sensitive area that Cassandra had when it came to her relationship with Finnegan. Was she here because he truly wanted to spend time with her or was it only because he thought she could read a treasure map that she could not truly read. She supposed she would find out the answer to that question when they reached Montana and Finnegan learned the truth.  

"You can say what you want, Seamus, and I will pay it no mind," Cassandra replied, picking a bit of string off her blouse. "Your opinion matters little when Finnegan has allowed me to walk free and has you hog-tied, gagged and locked away."  

"Don't let him take advantage of you, Cassandra," Seamus warned. "Finnegan might act as if he cares about you but what he cares about is bedding lasses, money and whiskey and when he looks at you he sees two of those things. You're a pretty lass he can add to his list and you're leading him to treasure. At the end of all this you'll be left behind and Finnegan will go on about his life as if you never existed."  

Cassandra called on all the years of schooling she'd had in training her emotions to keep a straight face and not let Seamus see how badly his words had hurt her. She smoothed out her skirt, crossed her hands on her lap and simply offered him a smile. "For someone who has spent the last few years of his life chasing his brother you certainly do not seem to know him well at all. Finnegan is a good man, yes he has vices that hold him back at times, but he has a good heart and would not take advantage of anyone in the way you are suggesting he is taking advantage of me."

Cassandra sat up a bit straighter and looked down her nose at the man, “And who’s to say I am not the one taking advantage of Finnegan. If you are going to make such wild assumptions then what keeps you from warning your brother that I am merely using him to have an adventure of my own and will leave him in the end for my pampered life back in the city?”

"You need to go back to that life now," Seamus warned. "He's going to get you killed. Has he told you how many people want his blood because he has stolen from them or bedded their wives and daughters? Finnegan has more people that want him dead than want him breathing and it's only a matter of time before they catch him and you end up caught in the crossfire."  

"Why do you have so much hatred for your brother?" Cassandra questioned sadly.  

Seamus let out a growl of exasperation, "It is not hatred but an observance of the facts. Finnegan is the same man our father was with the same vices, the same weaknesses and he will hurt you just the same as our father hurt our mother if you continue with this foolish infatuation you have with him. I will go with you to talk to your father and I will insist that he doesn't punish you or make you marry Thomas Shelton. That should take away your reason for acting as if you are a child this last week or two. On top of that I'll get five thousand dollars and I'll forget all about Finnegan's debt so you won't have to worry that he'll meet his end from me."  

Cassandra shook her head as she stood up. Her clenched fists were held down to her sides as she stared down at the man she could not believe she had once fancied herself in love with. Finnegan had been right. Seamus cared only about money and he was willing to sacrifice her happiness to get it. She had been such a foolish girl to not realize which of the Callahan brothers truly cared about her.

"I am not going home, Seamus Callahan, and you would do well to realize that so that we can avoid being forced to leave you tied up on this train for the entire week. I only came in here to ask you what you said to Finnegan when he came in here earlier."  

"I told him to leave you be and not use you the way our papa used our mama. Since he's not with you now I suppose my talk with him worked better than my talk with you."  

"You are going to stop saying such things to your brother!" Cassandra snapped angrily. "Finnegan is 

not the man your father was and if you knew him at all then you would know that to be the truth. Any similarities between the two of them were created and fueled by the judgments of you and others like you.“

"How do you have that figured?" Seamus questioned with irritation.  

"If every time you did good there was someone whispering in your ear that you were a bad person would you not eventually stop attempting to be good and simply be what the world seemed to expect you to become? Finnegan hears nothing from those around him other than he is a bad person and is going to fail. Finnegan is going to succeed at this. He is going to get his treasure and he is going to get me."

Seamus shook his head. "He is going to hurt you, Cassandra."  

"He is not the one who abandoned me by choice all those years ago and never came back. He is not the one who would see me back under my father's thumb simply so he can have quick easy money. I was going to leave your gag out but I don't believe you've learned your lesson quite yet."  

Seamus opened his mouth to speak but Cassandra filled it with the cloth as she tied it back around his mouth, "I'm sure you are in need of relieving yourself however it simply would not be proper for a lady such as myself, as tender and helpless as you seem to find me, to help you do such a thing and your brother is far too irresponsible and uncaring to help, so I daresay you will be slightly smelly come morning."  

Cassandra patted Seamus on the cheek while he glared and let out muffled expletives from behind his gag and then she turned and left the room with her split skirt swishing loudly.  

Cassandra let out a sigh as she stood in the quiet hall. If Seamus had indeed said those things to Finnegan then she was sure she would find the man somewhere surrounded by whiskey, gambling and probably women. She wondered if there would be such a place on a train and then laughed lightly.  

This was a train full of men. Of course there would be such a place. She was certain it would be in one of the day cars however she would have to be careful. Her father might also be wandering the train or taking advantage of the gambling.  

Cassandra walked back into their room and quickly went about putting her cover back over her head and face. Determined to find Finnegan and save him from himself she set back out to look for him.  

---

Finnegan laughed as he tossed down his winning hand and grabbed the glass in front of him, "Ya should have known better than to go against an Irishman," he winked at other two men at the table playing poker. They grumbled and shook their heads which only made Finnegan laugh more before taking a swig of his whiskey.  

He had quite a bit of whiskey warming his blood, numbing his mind and doing away with all the serious thoughts and doubts he'd had buzzing around in his brain. Now his only thoughts were about these cards he was playing and all this money he was winning.  

He was certain there was some reason he shouldn't be so freely speaking and carrying on but hell, he couldn't remember anymore what that was. Cassandra was no doubt sound asleep and Finnegan was going to have some fun.  

"You're probably cheating," one of the men grumbled.  

Finnegan laughed as the pretty little woman who'd been keeping them supplied with drinks for the last hour came sauntering back to the table. "My feet are feelin' awfully tired," she purred in Finnegan's ear. "How about I sit right here on your knee? I've been told I'm real good luck."  

Finnegan's first instinct was to say 

‘o’course pretty lass’ and welcome her onto his lap but even in his whiskey warmed state an image of Cassandra came to his mind and he feigned heartbreak as he blocked her with his arm, “I have to say no to you, pretty lass. My Little Cass would not like that overly much, don’t ya know, and she is a bit tougher than you. I’d hate to see a bruise marring that pretty skin of your cheek.”

"You're a taken man?" the woman stuck out her lip. "If you were mine I certainly wouldn't be leaving you sit here without kiss for luck."  

Finnegan flashed her a grin and winked. "Ya can give me a kiss if ya feel so inclined."  

She smiled and was bringing her lips to his when Finnegan turned his head and she caught his cheek. "Thank ya, lass," he said with finality, hoping she'd realize she wasn't getting any more from him. She seemed to understand the message and turned her attention to another man at the table.  

Finnegan picked up his cards and saw he had a pair of aces already and none of the middle cards had even been turned up yet. It was going to be another good hand. Perhaps the kiss on the cheek had been good luck after all.  

He made eye contact with the woman and they shared a wink. Finnegan continued with the poker and the drinking and could not believe the way his luck was going. Usually by now it would have turned south but his pile of chips simply continued to grow as he downed shot after shot of whiskey.  

He sang, he laughed, he joked and was having an amazing time when suddenly a dark shadow loomed over the table. "Finnegan Callahan?"  

Finnegan turned his head and looked up, blinking several times as he tried to focus on the face so high above him. "Who might you be?" he asked.  

"Your lunch date," the man growled.

Finnegan’s eyes widened before he laughed. “Well hello there, Vincent. Ya look a little different in this lightin’ as it adds a lovely glow to your cheeks.”

"Where is my daughter?"  

Finnegan feigned ignorance as he began collecting his winnings. He frowned and wrinkled his brow in thought. "Who?"  

Finnegan was no longer looking at Vincent but he could hear the man's breath whoosh out of his nose with rage and suddenly Finnegan was spun around and lifted up by the collar of his shirt. "

Gretchen Peters ,“ Vincent spoke smoothly with a cold anger that had Finnegan trembling. This was not going to end well—Finnegan was going to be hurting by the time this encounter reached its conclusion.

He realized that the other men at the table and his 

lucky woman seemed to have cleared out and taken cover at the far end of the car.

Traitors.

"Ahh yes," Finnegan grinned, hoping to do away with some of the bigger man's anger. It appeared he'd have better luck felling a tree with only his thoughts. "My dear Gretchen is asleep in my bed where I left her."  

Finnegan did not even have time to draw another breath before Vincent's meaty fist slammed down into his face and the world went black.  

---

Cassandra gasped from her hiding place behind the chair when her father hauled Finnegan up by his collar. She had managed to get into this car unseen by those preoccupied at the poker table nearly an hour ago. Instead of bothering Finnegan who had seemed to be on a winning streak, she had laid back and observed him with the intent of stopping him should it seem his luck was fading.  

She had felt her heart drop when that loose woman had attempted to sit upon and then kiss Finnegan but had felt her heart grow wings and nearly burst from her chest in the next instant when Finnegan had shot down the overzealous woman's advances.  

Cassandra had no way of knowing of course if he'd denied the other woman because he'd been thinking of her but she chose to believe that was the case. In her head she imagined sticking her tongue out at Seamus and saying something very grown up and proper such as 

‘take that’ .

She had continued to watch Finnegan and had been torn between the urge to join him and the urge to simply observe. She worried that if she joined him she might throw him of the winning streak he was on and so she hadn't.  

Then she'd seen her father. Vincent Little had clearly only been looking for something interesting to do with his time and he had entered this day car before freezing in his tracks. His gaze had instantly become fixated on Finnegan who had long since lost his glasses and had run his hand through his hair so many times that it was once again getting a bit messy despite all the grease.  

Cassandra had no idea what to do and it was as if she were frozen in place as her father confronted Finnegan.  

Finnegan was clearly goofy drunk. He could barely stand on his own and seemed to have no comprehension of the danger he was in. He continued to laugh and wink and goad her father until Cassandra was covering her eyes, peeking through her fingers and moaning against her hands.  

Then those final words left Finnegan's mouth, "My dear Gretchen is asleep in my bed where I left her."  

Cassandra let out a strangled cry when her father's fist came down hard on Finnegan's face and Finnegan went limp as he slumped to the floor. Her father appeared ready to kick Finnegan and Cassandra sprang up from her hiding spot and cried for him to stop as she tore off her head wrap.  

"Cassandra Little!" her father bellowed. His voice was a tangled mixture of anger, disappointment and relief.

Cassandra rolled her eyes at him and ran to Finnegan. The woman who had been attempting to be his good luck charm had also dashed to him and Cassandra sent her scampering away with naught but a possessive glance.

"Father, how dare you strike him!" she exclaimed as she fell to her knees and pulled Finnegan's head into her lap. He moaned and his eyelids fluttered but they did not open.  

"You're defending him?! This man that all but kidnapped you from your home in the dead of night," Vincent bellowed.  

"Please, papa, have some sense!" Cassandra declared with exasperation and then she winced and bit her lip when she realized how disrespectfully she had just spoken to her father.  

His eyes widened in surprise as he stared down at her. "Do you have something more to say on the subject, Cassandra?"  

Cassandra felt Finnegan stir in her arms and when his cheek nuzzled her breasts she felt her entire body tighten and respond to the contact. Her gaze flew to his face to find that his eyes were still closed but his lips were curved slightly.  

Cassandra swallowed hard and forced herself to focus on her father. "Papa, Finnegan did not force me to go anywhere. Have I not always told you how I crave adventure?"  

"This adventure is not safe!" Vincent countered passionately.  

"I am perfectly safe!" Cassandra shot back. "Regardless of how delicate and innocent you believe me to be—" 	

"You had better still be innocent. That bastard's life depends on it."  

"You will not speak about Finnegan that way," Cassandra warned, cradling Finnegan's head more gently. "I am plenty capable of fending for myself and I have Finnegan to help look out for me."  

Vincent sneered. "The man who is currently unconscious and helpless in your lap?"	

"I do not believe he is as unconscious or helpless as you believe."  

"He had better be!" Vincent declared. "Or he will lose that head he's rubbing against your breast!"  

Cassandra's face reddened with embarrassment and Finnegan's throat bobbed as he swallowed hard and then made a big show of moaning and pretending he was just coming to.  

"Have I died and gone to heaven then?" he whispered as he looked up at Cassandra's face.  

She rolled her eyes. "No, but you just may if you continue to lie on my lap this way in front of my father."  

Finnegan moved nothing but his eyes as he turned his gaze to her father and offered a smile. "Good evenin' then, Mr. Little."  

"Get off my daughter, Finnegan, and get to your feet."  

"I find I'm quite comfortable right where I am," Finnegan countered, seeming to be in no hurry to appease her father.

Cassandra shook her head as her father clenched her fists and stepped forward. She grabbed Finnegan's shoulders and shoved him upward as she climbed to her feet. "I'm not quite certain I can stand on my own, Little Cass. It seems I drank a bit more than I meant to this evenin'."  

"And this man is going to keep you safe?" Vincent sneered.  

"Lord sakes, no!" Finnegan laughed as he struggled to his feet, weaved slightly and leaned against Cassandra for support. She grunted under his weight as he put an arm over her shoulders and she put her arm around his waist, "She protects me. Little Cass is mean and nasty when need be and knows how to handle herself."  

"Papa," Cassandra pleaded. "Go home and let me have my adventure. Let me have the life 

I want just as you worked hard to have the life you wanted. I love mama but I don’t want that life. I don’t want to be married so a rich government man and be expected to be perfect at all times or cause him embarrassment. I want to be allowed to be me and while you might not like Finnegan, he doesn’t want to change me.“

Vincent was quiet a moment and then he shook his head and let out a sigh. "I cannot simply allow you to continue with this, Cassandra. Your mother is worried and I will be in an early grave wondering if you are safe. Come home with me and perhaps we can talk about you continuing a 

friendship with the Irish boy.“

"I'm a grown woman, papa," Cassandra reminded him. "You cannot force me home."  

"I can and I will," Vincent warned as he took a step forward.  

Cassandra was surprised when Finnegan pulled away from her support and stepped in front of her. "Ya would really do that to Little Cass? What are your plans? To tie her up, toss her over your giant shoulder and take her back home kickin' and screamin'?"  

"If that will get her away from you then yes," Vincent spat. "And another thing, why did you look upon my wife's backside? You better have a good explanation for knowing about that mole!"  

"Ah yes, that lovely mole," Finnegan lamented and Cassandra groaned as she covered her face with her hand. This was not going to end well. "Truth is I was seeking out Little Cass's window but I'd had a bit too many sips o'whiskey and climbed the wrong trellis."  

"You made a habit of climbing into my daughter's bedroom window at night?"  

Cassandra could hear the barely contained urge to kill in her father's voice but if Finnegan noticed he gave no sign as he sighed longingly. "Nearly every night."

Cassandra's eyes widened and she barely managed to jump out of the way before all hell broke loose.

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Seventeen

Finnegan ducked quickly, managing to dodge an angry blow from Vincent Little. With little thought to what he was doing, Finnegan moved Cassandra out of the way and stood toe to toe with the big angry man.  

Finnegan couldn't help but laugh as he sidestepped and dodged a number of punches while Cassandra yelled at her father to stop.  

"Hold still and fight me like a man!" Vincent panted as Finnegan spun around Vincent and the older, fatter man nearly fell as he turned to face him again.  

"I won't hit ya, Vinnie. T'would break poor Cass's heart to see her man knock her papa on his fat arse."  

"Finnegan!" Cassandra scolded. "Papa, stop this nonsense!"  

Finnegan laughed and even began to whistle a little tune, thoroughly enjoying himself as Vincent swung and he sidestepped yet again. He reached out and swiped a bit of sweat from Vincent's temple. "Ya should calm down, Vincent. You have worked up a nice sheen of sweat there."  

Vincent huffed and then stopped suddenly. He turned his back to Finnegan and leaned against the poker table. Finnegan could hear Cassandra telling him to come but he just couldn't resist getting one more jab at the older man.  

He laid his hand on Vincent's heaving back and clicked his tongue. "Do not feel bad then, Vinnie. I'll be an old man one day myself and no longer be quite so quick on me feet."  

"Finnegan, that's enough," Cassandra hissed as she grabbed his arm and tried to tug him back.  

Vincent froze and then, before Finnegan knew it was coming, the man spun and brought his hand, (and the whiskey bottle he had grabbed from the table), down upon Finnegan's head.  

Finnegan was faintly aware of Cassandra cursing as he slumped to the floor and the train car went black.  

---

Cassandra rushed to Finnegan and curses flew from her mouth when she saw the blood oozing from the cut on his temple.  

"Cassandra Little! You are not to ever speak that way!"  

"Dammit, papa, why can't you see that I'm not your baby girl any longer? I am a grown woman with a need to have my own life free of societies expectations." Cassandra knelt beside the Irishman and shook Finnegan's shoulder gently but the man seemed to be out cold.  

Before anyone else could say anything three train attendants came bursting into the car looking more than ready to fight, "Alright! What exactly is going on here?!" The tallest and oldest of them bellowed.  

"These three are fighting and causing one hell of a ruckus," one of the card players replied.  

"We don't allow fighting on this train," another of the attendants said as he rubbed at his tired eyes. His clothes were slightly disheveled and it was clear he'd been sleeping before the fight had started.

"Sirs, I apologize," Cassandra spoke softly hoping to appease them. It would seem that her father had suddenly forgotten how to speak as he lowered his head sheepishly. "It was a simple misunderstanding and I can assure it won't happen again."  

"I know it won't," the tall attendant replied with a snort. He crossed his long arms over his skinny chest. "The driver is stopping the train and the three of you are off it. We'll allow you ten minutes to get your belongings and whatever is still on this train is ours."  

"Do you not find that to be a bit harsh of a punishment?!" Cassandra demanded incredulously.  

"No. This train has never allowed fighting and therefore has become the safest train running from here to the west. Any disobedience is met with the strictest penalties. You have ten minutes." The man flipped open his watch, "And your time starts now."  

"Let's go, Cassandra," Vincent urged.  

"No, I won't leave Finnegan lying here helpless," she replied. 	

"Well you will have to because he is out cold," her father countered.  

"Your time is counting down," the tall man with the watch warned.  

Cassandra glared at him. Thanks to her father and Finnegan she was being booted off a train in the middle of nowhere in the middle of the night! As badly as she hoped this was all a bad dream, she knew it wasn't. Now how was she going to wake Finnegan up?  

Cassandra glanced up at the table and saw a half-finished bottle of whiskey. She grabbed it and held it under Finnegan's nose. She saw his nostrils flair and then his eyelids began to flutter as he gained consciousness.  

His brown eyes locked with hers when they opened and then he glanced over at the bottle and tried to reach for it. Cassandra shook her head and put it back up on the table. "I don't think so, Finn. You've had quite enough for tonight. Thanks to you and my father acting like an angry ogre and a mischievous leprechaun, we've been kicked off the train and have ten minutes—"

"Eight," came the attendant's dry voice.

Cassandra rolled her eyes. "Eight minutes to get our belongings before they throw us out on our backsides."  

"Did you just call me a leprechaun then, Little Cass?" Finnegan questioned quietly. "That's hurtful."  

"You will be fine," Cassandra assured him. She stood up then and held out her hand. Finnegan took it and she helped him to his feet. Instantly he grabbed the table for support with one hand and grabbed his head with the other.  

"I feel as if a mortar round burst in me head," he moaned.  

"I wish I'd killed you," Vincent growled.  

"Papa..."Cassandra warned and Vincent raised his hands and took a step back.  

"You now have seven minutes," the man with the watch intoned. "I would suggest you move with haste."  

Cassandra took Finnegan by the hand and began to lead him toward their passenger car and bedroom. He stumbled and nearly fell multiple times and it was all Cassandra could do to get him to their door.  

"Stand here, Finn," she said as she leaned him against the wall.  

"O'course, Little Cass. You only need ask and your will shall be done. You are my—"  

Cassandra had been sliding open the door when Finnegan's voice trailed off and she realized he was sliding sideways, unconscious and she jumped forward and attempted to catch him.  

Unfortunately the man was half a foot taller than her and a considerable amount heavier and she couldn't support his weight so the two of them fell into a heap on the floor. Cassandra was thankful that her father had gone on to his room in the second passenger car and they were alone in this hall.  

Cassandra tried to shove Finnegan off but he was nothing but dead weight on top of her. "I had to give my heart to an Irishman," she mumbled.  

With a grunt Cassandra slid from beneath him and went into their room. Quickly she gathered up their belongings, stuffing them into the sack. She knew that Finnegan had the treasure map tucked into his clothes and so with one last glance to ensure she had everything else, Cassandra slid the door closed as she stepped back into the hall.  

Now she had to get to the car where Theo was put up. But how was she supposed to do that with an unconscious Finnegan? Her worries were eased when she realized Finnegan was awake once again and standing against the wall.  

"Your papa did a number on my head, Little Cass," he moaned. Cassandra could see the pain in his brown eyes but she felt no sympathy for him.  

"You and your big mouth deserved it," she informed him. "Now let's go get Theo."  

It wasn't until Cassandra, Finnegan and her father were standing out in the dark and watching the train pull away and leave them behind that Cassandra remembered the third member of her and Finnegan's treasure hunting party was still locked in his room.  

"Oh dear! Finnegan, we forgot Seamus!"  

Finnegan laughed as he patting Theo's neck lovingly. "Well won't he be right pissed off then."  

"Seamus?" Vincent asked as he studied Theo carefully. "Your brother Seamus?"  

Finnegan cooed against Theo's ear and then nodded. "Aye, my brother."  

"That is my horse...."  Vincent whispered. "You stole my damned horse!"  

"Papa—" Cassandra intercepted him as he lunged for Theo's reins. "Is that really important just now? I am with Finnegan so Theo is in my care."

"I suppose you're right," Vincent grumbled as he rubbed at his face. "And why is Seamus going to be angry?"  

"Cuz he's tied up in his room," Finnegan replied with a grin and a wink in Cassandra's direction.  

"You tied a man in his room!?" Vincent demanded of Cassandra.  

"Yes," she replied weakly.  

"Why?"  

"He would not listen to me and do as I wanted," Cassandra replied sheepishly as she picked at an invisible stain on her skirt.  

"And yet you want me to see you as a grown adult woman who can think for herself? You want me to believe you mature when you are tying up men in their rooms simply because they will not do your bidding?"  

"Yes," Cassandra replied, glaring at Finnegan who was laughing at this point.  

Vincent shook his head and with a grunt he swung himself into the saddle of his large chestnut gelding. "I have nothing else to say to you other than this, Cassandra," he sighed. "You have a choice to make. You can either choose to come home with me now and your mother and I will take your desires in life into consideration or you can continue on this foolish adventure of yours with this worthless, no-good, joke of a man and bid your home farewell for good."  

"Papa, you don't mean that...." Cassandra whispered but Vincent hardened his jaw and looked in her eyes with sadness.  

"I do mean it, Cassandra. Make your choice."  

Tears filled Cassandra's eyes but she held them back. She glanced at Finnegan and he was glaring angrily at her father. "Why would ya want Little Cass to make such a choice? Can ya not see that she needs this kind of life? What do ya wish for her? To stifle her spirit? To turn her into little more than a gigglin', mindless ninny of a woman who looks pretty but is good for little else?"  

"Of course not!" Vincent snapped. "But you cannot keep her safe out here."  

"I would never let harm come to Cassandra. Not now, not ever again."  

"Again?" Vincent growled his gaze snapping back to Cassandra. "You've been harmed once?"  

Cassandra's head was spinning. God she was so tired of men trying to dictate her life! Seamus, her father, every man she ever came in contact with.... Everyone accept Finnegan.  

"I choose Finnegan, papa."  

"You do?!" Both Finnegan and Vincent demanded with surprise as they turned to look at her.  

Cassandra nodded and raised her chin. "Yes. He is the only person in this whole world who does not seek to change me or have me be something I am not. I gave him my word that I would help him on this quest he is on and I mean to keep my word. When we're done perhaps we'll have another adventure or perhaps I shall go and have adventures of my own. It is my sincere hope that it was merely your anger speaking moments ago and I will still have a place to call home with you and mama when I come to spend time with you both."  

"Are you certain that's your choice?" her father asked, his eyes not meeting hers.  

"Yes," Cassandra replied, her heart twisting painfully.  

"Then I..." Vincent's voice broke. "I wash my hands of you. Enjoy your adventure." With that he turned and galloped off the way they had come, clearly heading for home.  

Cassandra had always prided herself on her strength, her toughness if you will, but just now she felt anything but strong. Her father, the man she had grown up admiring and adoring had just turned his back on her simply because she would not do his bidding and live the life he wished her to live.  

She wrapped her arms around herself and broke down in tears.  

---

Whatever drunkenness might have still been flowing in Finnegan's veins faded when Vincent Little rode away. Cassandra had just denied her father and stood up for him...hell the crazy lass had chosen 

him!

No one had ever had that kind of faith in him before. Only his Little Cass.  

Damn but that made him prouder than ever and scared the shite out of him all at the same time.  

What if he let her down?  

What if he caused her to regret her choice?  

The next sound Finnegan heard was the sound of Cassandra's quiet, heart-wrenching sobs and they shot through Finnegan's aching head like a bullet.  

Quickly he dropped Theo's reins and went to her. He stepped behind her, wrapped his arms tight around her waist and pulled her soft body into his chest. Finnegan buried his face in her thick golden curls which were hanging down her back and murmured softly against her skin.  

At first Cassandra stiffened and Finnegan knew it was because she did not like appearing weak but then she let out yet another sob and leaned her body back, sinking into his arms.

"I'm sorry I got ya into this mess, Little Cass," Finnegan whispered as she began to quiet. "Ya do not need to be so loyal to me. I can take ya back to your papa if ya wish. I do not like knowin' ya are so sad."  

"Oh Finn..." she sighed. She turned his arms and Finnegan found himself breathless as he looked down into her beautiful green eyes lit up in the moonlight. "I chose you because I wanted to choose you. If I wanted to go with my papa then I would have. And besides, if I leave then who will read your treasure map?"  

Finnegan frowned, he had nearly forgotten about that map. He saw something flicker across Cassandra's face. Unease? Doubt? Guilt? 

Something . He was not sure what the emotion was and just as quickly as it had come it had also gone leaving Finnegan no time to study it more carefully.

"I've never had anyone choose me when given the option of somethin' else," Finnegan replied honestly. "I'll have to be sure to give ya the adventure of a lifetime."  

Cassandra's lips curved into a slow smile and then she rose on her toes and kissed his lips. The kiss was fast and gentle and it left Finnegan wanting more—so much more.  

It was then that thunder rumbled in the distance and Finnegan felt fear in his gut. "We should get to town," he said quickly.  

Cassandra laughed and the sound was a nice sound after the tears she had cried. "Are you still afraid of thunder?!" she exclaimed.  

The laughter was not so nice when it was directed at him and his fear, "O'course not, but poor Theo begins to shake and shiver somethin' awful."  

Cassandra looked at Theo and Finnegan followed her gaze to see the gelding grazing calmly and simply swishing his tail when another loud rumble of thunder filled the air. Finnegan let out a squeak and jumped while glancing up at the sky.  

"Okay then, Finn," Cassandra soothed. "Let's get 

Theo to some cover before he injures himself in his fear. Do you have any idea where we are?“

"Not a clue," Finnegan replied. Lightning lit the sky and the following crack of thunder was so loud and booming that Finnegan felt his teeth knock together. He leapt for Cassandra and cowered behind her.  

"My brave protector," she muttered dryly. Rain droplets began to plop almost lazily upon them and the dry ground upon which they stood.  

"Let's head into the woods," Finnegan replied, choosing to ignore her sarcasm. "We'll have some protection from the rain there and we'll follow the train tracks once the light o'dawn shines for us to see by."  

Finnegan got into Theo's saddle and lifted Cassandra up behind him. He felt his heart swell when her arms wrapped around his waist and her head rested against his back. As scared as he was of the thunder and the storm it couldn't erase the love he felt in his heart for this woman who seemed to believe in him no matter how many reasons he gave her not to.  

---

They did manage to find an abandoned shack that would serve to keep them a bit dryer. The storm was raging outside and each roll of thunder had Finnegan tensing and muttering curses under his breath.  

While Finnegan settled Theo down on the far side of the shack, Cassandra spread the single bedroll she had managed to grab from the train. It occurred to her, as she looked down at their makeshift bed upon the moldy wooden planks of wood, that she and Finnegan would be sharing that tiny amount of fabric tonight.  

Excitement and apprehension both swirled in her belly as she stole a glance at the Irishman. He was feeding Theo a handful of oats from the saddlebag and Cassandra took a moment to study the man while lightning flashed around them.  

It was easy to see that when it came to manly good looks that made women's knees weak, Seamus had been the blessed brother, but Finnegan had something else. He had a boyish charm and a face and smile that simply drew people in. You could practically see his goodness in the light of his smile and when he winked and grinned that devilish grin of his you knew that there was more than that sweet innocence inside the man.  

He rose to his full height, just barely six feet, and rolled his broad shoulders before cracking the knuckles of his hands. Hands that were big and long fingered, perfect for dealing out cards, and palming them as well. She was certain those hands were very good at many other things—things  

that she trembled with anticipation just thinking about.

Then Finnegan turned and his eyes squeezed shut as his hand went to his head. His legs weaved dangerously beneath him.  

Cassandra ran forward and caught him around his waist, helping to hold him stead as he caught his bearings. "Did you truly drink that much?!" she demanded.  

"No," Finnegan replied weakly. "T'would seem your dear papa packs a healthy wallop."  

Cassandra looked at the bloody welt on Finnegan's head and sighed, "I believe it was the whiskey bottle he held in his hand."  

"Yes that could be," Finnegan winked but Cassandra could tell it was half-hearted. The man needed to lie down and rest. Anger coursed through her toward her father for hurting Finnegan so badly yet, then again, Finnegan had been asking for it.  

"The bleeding has stopped," Cassandra offered. She was worried about Finnegan but there was nothing to be done for him now. Head injuries were funny things at times and dangerous as well. She could only hope that rest would heal whatever damage had been done.  

"He only beat me cuz I wouldn't hit him back, ya know. I could have very easily wiped the floor with his fat arse but chose not to cuz I thought that might bother ya," Finnegan assured her as Cassandra led him toward the bed.  

"Yes I know," she soothed. "Thank you for not hitting my father."  

"I'll deck him in his throat next time."  

"There won't be a next time," Cassandra warned. She helped Finnegan to lie down and then lay down in the dark beside him. They both were lying on their sides and Finnegan pulled Cassandra closer, causing the back of her body to be pulled tight against the front of his.  

"Goodnight then, Little Cass."  

"Goodnight Finn."  

Cassandra wanted him badly but it was clear the man was in pain and not feeling himself. She contended herself to merely lie against him, feeling safe and warm as she listened to his steady breathing.  

It was not long before he was snoring lightly and Cassandra knew that were his head not pounding this night would not have been so lacking in excitement. She could not help but smile. It may very well be the last good night of rest she had for a while.  

As she drifted off to sleep Cassandra could not help but wonder about her father and she found herself praying that he was somewhere just as safe and dry.

Chapter eighteen

Chapter Eighteen

Finnegan and Cassandra followed the railroad tracks the next morning and they rode into the west Tennessee town of Hitchen just after midday.  

"A real bed!" Cassandra exclaimed with a sigh as she wrapped her arms tighter around Finnegan's waist and he guided Theo toward the livery at the edge of town. "And a warm bath!" she added.  

"And can I join ya then on this bed and bath adventure?" Finnegan asked, throwing a wick grin her way as he glanced over his shoulder.  

Cassandra trembled. "Yes of course—that is if you think you're ready for that much adventure."  

Finnegan threw his head back and laughed. "I was born ready for that kind of adventure, Little Cass."  

"Just how many women have you had those adventures with, Finnegan?" Cassandra asked before she could stop herself. Damn her impulsive nature and mouth that tended to ask questions she didn't truly want the answer to.  

Finnegan shook his head. "I could sooner count the stars in the sky," he lamented. "Though they are distant and cold. Any adventure with you will surely burn like the sun itself."  

Cassandra couldn't stop the happy smile that curled her lips. Finnegan slid from the saddle and helped her down as well, their bodies brushing together and filling Cassandra with an awareness so intense that it made even her hair tingle.  

"Go to the hotel over there, it looks to be a good one. Rent us a room and order a bath. I'll see to Theo, get us some supper and join ya just as quickly as I can," Finnegan urged.  

"Don't keep me waiting too long, Finn," Cassandra warned.  

Finnegan kissed her brow tenderly, causing her heart to ache. It was good to see him feeling more himself and she was happy that blow to his head hadn't caused any lasting damage. "I would not dream of keepin' ya waitin', Little Cass."  

Cassandra laughed lightly and then headed toward the hotel. She rented a room from the smiling elderly woman behind the counter and glanced into the adjoining restaurant. There was a stage that was empty just now but a sign beside the entryway stated there would be music beginning at eight that night. It was only two now and she would enjoy a night of music and dancing with Finnegan. She would have to ask him to accompany her.  

But first..... A bath and alone time with Finnegan. Cassandra knew well what happened between men and women. She had male cousins and had often heard her father and the men that came to visit him laughing and discussing their night time encounters over crystal glasses of scotch.  

She knew the 

mechanics of what went on but she yearned to know more. She yearned to feel more of the heat and the hunger that mere kisses from Finnegan seemed to cause in her.

She made her way up a brightly lit staircase and down a wide hall to room 10-B. Cassandra used her key to unlock the door and stepped into the nicest hotel she'd seen so far on their journey. It was much better than that run down one they'd stayed in before and it certainly looked better than a moldy shack or a pile of dirt and pine needles.  

The bed was larger than most hotel beds and there was a large copper tub in the corner along with a changing screen and a ceramic water pitcher. The wardrobe, dresser and mirror were all dark mahogany and the carpet was soft and green beneath her feet.  

Cassandra kicked off her shoes and let down her hair before throwing herself onto the bed and staring at the ceiling. She could not stop the moan that slipped past her lips at the feel of the soft feather tick mattress beneath her.  It had been too long since she had lay upon a true bed.  

She counted the minutes ticking by on the fancy grandfather clock in the corner and wondered what was taking Finnegan so long. A knock on the door had Cassandra leaping to her feet quickly and trying hard to fight back the nerves swirling in her gut.  

She was not even certain what the nerves were born from. She wanted Finnegan and was sure of her decision to give her innocence to him and yet still she felt that swirling in her gut and shakiness in her hands.  

"Who is it?" she asked, hoping her voice sounded casual but knowing that Finnegan would hear the tremble in her words.  

'We've got your water, ma'am."  

Cassandra sighed with disappointment and disengaged to lock on the door. Four women came into the room with large buckets of steaming water. They poured them into the copper tub. "I will bring you up a spare bucket for rinsing," one of the women said before leaving the room with the others.  

Cassandra looked at the clock. She had been at the hotel nearly thirty minutes! Where was Finnegan with their supper?

She walked quietly to the window and glanced out at the street below. Cassandra's eyes widened at what she saw. Finnegan! Finnegan was with a group of men in an alley across the street and they were all standing, crouched or seated upon crates around a barrel.  

They were concentrating very hard on whatever it was they were doing, however, Cassandra had no idea what 

that was. What she was certain of was that he appeared to be in no hurry to come back to her and he had no supper.

Cassandra slid back into her shoes and headed out the door of their room. She met the woman with water in the hall. "I will be back momentarily," she assured the maid. "Just leave the water in the room. Thank you."  

Cassandra left the hotel and strode across the street. She entered the alley and was stopped by a dirty, travel worn man with red hair and broken teeth. "This isn't the place for a lady such as yourself."  

Cassandra tossed her hair over her shoulder and met his gaze. "I can assure you that a lady, such as myself, can go anywhere that she very well pleases."  

The man sneered and bent a little closer to Cassandra. She curled her nose as the horrible scent of his breath washed over her face. "Well aren't you a cheeky one?" he whispered. Cassandra felt his hand grip her lower arm. "I like them with a bit of fire. Why don't we find a more private place to continue our little talk?"  

Cassandra rolled her eyes. "How about you remove your hand from my arm before I quite simply break it off and shove it up your...."  

"Such a lady you are, Little Cass." Finnegan suddenly appeared between Cassandra and her charming suitor. He looked down and saw that the man still had his hand on Cassandra's arm and Cassandra was surprised by the jealousy and anger that flashed over Finnegan's face. "You can remove your hand from her now. She's not the type o' woman you'd be interested in. This one spends more time usin' her mind than spreadin' her legs."  

"I've got no need for a thinking woman," the man laughed as he released his hold on Cassandra and took a step back. "Is she yours?"  

"Yes," Finnegan replied quickly, though Cassandra noticed he didn't look at her when he said it. She crossed her arms over her chest and glared angrily at him. The man certainly seemed to know he was in trouble.  

The red-haired man patted him on the back and laughed heartily. "Good luck with that." Then he tipped his hat to Cassandra. "Have a good day, ma'am."  

Cassandra smiled sweetly and batted her lashes. "Fall off a cliff."  

The man was still laughing as he walked off down the street and Cassandra walked further into the alley. Finnegan caught her by the hand and spun her around. "I see no need to stay here any longer, Little Cass. Let's head back to the hotel now and..."  

"And what, Finnegan?" Cassandra snapped, causing that flirtatious smile to disappear from his face. "What have you been doing?"  

She caught sight of the dice and the money on the barrel and she whirled around and smacked him hard on the chest. "Gambling?!" she exclaimed.  

"Shh..." Finnegan put his finger to his lips and looked around at the numerous eyes on them. "Keep your voice down, Cass. Come now, let's leave...."  

"You've been gambling!?"

"Just a bit of fun," Finnegan shrugged. "Now let's go have a bit more."  

Cassandra knew that he'd see her hurt and she hated him all the more for it. Of course she hated him the most for the simple truth that she could not hate him... no matter how badly he may deserve it.  

"Will this always come before me, Finn?" she asked quietly.  

Finnegan's face fell and he swallowed hard as his brown eyes reddened. "Ya come second to nothin', love...."  

"Don't!" Cassandra held up her hand. "Don't 

love me. Where is your watch?“

"My watch?" Finnegan questioned with confusion.	

"Your pocket watch that you stole from the train."  

"Oh.." Finnegan shifted his feet as he tried to lead her from the alley and Cassandra allowed herself to be pulled onto the street but no further. "I lost it."  

"And your money?"  

"Yeah and it too."  

"Are those your spectacles?" Cassandra demanded as another man left the alley with a big grin on his face and wire rimmed spectacles on his nose.  

"Yes," Finnegan whispered. He took her hands in his and offered a smile, though Cassandra could tell it was only half-hearted. "Ya know I'm only an Irishman, Little Cass. I cannot pass up the chance for a good bet."  

Cassandra snorted. "And Theo? Tell me do we still have a horse or did you gamble him away as well?"  

Finnegan grumbled and dropped her hands. "Ya know I would not do that."

"What about me? Did you bet me as well as everything else you had?"  

"Cassandra, you're being ridiculous!" Finnegan said as he laid his hand over her cheek. "Twas only a bit of gamblin'."  

"You were supposed to be with me. Just like on the train when you ran and ended up drunk and caught by my father. I obviously cannot compete with the allure of whiskey and gambling, Finnegan, and I will not try. Good luck finding your treasure without me."  

---

Finnegan stood there in stunned silence and watched Cassandra walk away.  

What had just happened?  

Finnegan whirled around twice to ensure he was still in the real world and hadn't somehow fallen asleep and woken up someplace else.  

Hell he hadn't meant to hurt Cassandra! He'd simply been on his way to the diner, seen the dice being rolled and decided he had to have a go with them. He hadn't meant to get so caught up, hadn't meant to lose everything he had, hadn't meant to make his Little Cass cry.....

Shite! Finnegan shoved his hand through his hair and clenched his fists. Hurting Cassandra made him feel like a monster. He had no idea that she would see things this way. He hadn't known that she would feel as if she didn't matter—or at least didn't matter as much as gambling.  

Finnegan had a weakness for the bet, that was certainly the truth, but a bigger truth was the weakness he had for her.  

While he still had no idea if he could make her happy in the long run, he did know that he needed her in the now.  

With renewed determination, Finnegan strode toward the hotel that Cassandra had disappeared inside of.  Cassandra came second to nothing. Not to whores, not to gambling, not to whiskey and not to treasure and it was time Finnegan proved that to her once and for all.

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Nineteen

Cassandra was fuming with anger and also disappointment as she stripped from her shoes and dress and stood before the full length, gilded mirror in her underclothes. What did whiskey and gambling have that she did not?  

She would be damned if she knew.  

She was a beautiful woman, she'd heard it enough in her life to know it must be true. Her aunt and mother had let her know many times that she had the type of body that many men desired. She was long and soft with curves in all the right places so why did Finnegan seem to find her so easy to resist at times?  

Snorting at her own foolishness, Cassandra was about to strip from her underclothes when a knock came upon the door. "Little Cass, Little Cass, let me in," Finnegan called from the other side.  

I'm in no mood for your games, Finnegan," Cassandra warned, cursing the smile that tried desperately to curve her lips. Apparently her resolve was weak when it came to Finnegan Callahan.  

"I'll simply pick the lock again if ya refuse, Little Cass. I need to speak with ya and this is my room too, remember."  

Cassandra could hear the determination in his voice and knew that he was speaking the truth. If she did not simply open the door then he would pick the lock.  

Cassandra rolled her eyes and stomped to the door. She threw it open feeling angry and aggravated. "What could you possibly have to say—" Cassandra's voice was cut off when she saw the hunger on Finnegan's face. Gone was any boyish charm and in its place was the look of a man who knew what he wanted and had that desire in his sights.  

"Not a thing," he whispered, his voice deep and almost pained.  

Cassandra was going to reply but Finnegan leapt upon her then and she lost all ties with both sense and reason. Their lips joined in a fiery union that stole Cassandra's breath and had Finnegan growling in the back of his throat as he kicked backward and closed the door behind him.  

Cassandra knew she should push him away. She knew what this kiss was going to lead to and after his stunt in the alley she knew she shouldn't give in to him. Not when he had proven out there what really mattered to him.......

Finnegan's hand traveled gently up her waist and Cassandra lost her train of thought, lost all ability to think, as his thumb brushed against her breast through her thin underclothes.  

Instantly her body tightened and it was clear that Finnegan noticed as he ran his thumb across her swollen breast and hard peaked nipple and his mouth curved into a smile against hers. "Little Cass..." he whispered as his mouth moved to her ear, "Ya are the best thing that's ever happened to an Irishman like me.  I want to kiss ya," his lips went to her neck. "Taste ya," his tongue flicked against her heated skin and Cassandra would have fallen if not for his strong arms closing tight around her waist.  

"I won't come second to gambling," she somehow managed to whisper, though her voice sounded throaty and not quite her own.

 Finnegan raised the hand that was not caressing her breast and sending her into mindless oblivion, and laid it gently against her cheek. "You come second to nothin', Little Cass. I am not a perfect man and have many flaws but please don't ya ever believe that anythin' means more to me than you. I'll do my best to be a better man for ya, Cassandra. I'll try harder than I've ever tried at anything else."

"I know you will, Finn," Cassandra replied. She should push him away. It was too soon for this step with him, too soon to lose her innocence and the very last bits of her heart and soul to a man who knew nothing about commitment but she could not.  

Finnegan was flawed. He was a gambler, a drifter and a drunkard most of the time. But he was also her Finn. He made her laugh, made her feel warm and safe when he was near her and his kiss lit her body on fire. He was her best friend, always there when she needed him (barring one or two drunken mistakes) and he seemed so sincere, so earnest, so sure that what he was saying was the truth that she was unable to voice her fears of his failure out loud.  

"I love ya, Little Cass," Finnegan whispered, his brown eyes appearing timid and fearful even as his thumb continued to stroke her breast. "I have loved ya since I was but a boy. I don't want to be my father. I need ya, Little Cass. I need ya to help me be a better man."  

Tears filled Cassandra's eyes as she gazed up at this man who was staring at her with so much love it made her heart hurt. Would he fail her? Probably. But he was sincere now in this moment and that was enough for her—or at least she hoped it was.  

"I love you too, Finn," Cassandra laid her hand upon his cheek and he leaned into her touch. "I believe in you."  

Finnegan's eyes lit with fire once again and his lips sought hers in a fiery kiss that had her wondering if the curtain would succumb to flames. Cassandra felt herself being led backward toward the bed and then Finnegan was pulling her shift from her shoulder and his lips were burning a path across her skin.  

Cassandra began fumbling with the buttons of his waistcoat, desperate to feel his skin against her own. Yearning to run her fingers across the hard planes of his chest.  

Their moans and ragged breaths began to intertwine becoming a beautiful melody that played in the burning air of the room.  

Cassandra wasn't sure how it happened but soon she found herself falling back on the bed, free of her underclothes. Finnegan's brown eyes raked across her body, darkening to nearly black as he seemed to feast upon the mere sight of her.  

"So beautiful ye are, Little Cass," he whispered, his accent becoming more pronounced in his lust and passion.  

Cassandra could not speak and so she simply reached for him and he obliged, though instead of kissing her lips, his mouth found her breast.  

Cassandra cried out from both the shock and the pleasure of the sudden assault. She buried her fingers in his thick dark curls and he suckled, nipped, licked and kissed her swollen aching breasts until Cassandra was whimpering beneath him and begging him for more.  

She could feel a heat building in her core, a need for him that grew stronger with every stroke of his fingertips against her thigh and his mouth against her skin.  

Cassandra stiffened and then shuddered and arched against the bed when Finnegan's finger found her aching wetness.  

"Perfect," he whispered against her ear as his lips moved back up.  

"Please, Finnegan... I need you." Cassandra pleaded.  

Finnegan stood straight and Cassandra watched him through heavy lidded eyes as he slid from his clothes and tossed them aside. She took in the sight of his naked body and swallowed hard.  

He was magnificent. Long, lean legs, tapered hips, wide chest and broad shoulders. His stomach was leanly muscled and a light dusting of hair covered his chest before creating a trail down his flat stomach to his.....

Cassandra's eyes widened. Nervousness managed to break through her passion. That particular part of his anatomy was long, hard and thick.... She knew where it was supposed to go but she had no idea 

how it would go there.

Finnegan knelt upon the bed and kissed her tenderly. He straddled her waist, nestling his throbbing arousal against the blond curls between her thighs. "I'll go easy on ya, Little Cass," he whispered as he braced his elbows on either side of her head and then kissed her again. "I've never been with an innocent woman."

Cassandra felt her heart melt at his admission and the awe his voice held. She was suddenly glad that she had saved her innocence and that she had it to give now to Finnegan.  

"Take me, Finn," she managed to whisper, her voice trembling as his lips caressed her collarbone. Then she gasped as she felt him sliding himself inside of her.  She felt an instant of pain that had her biting her lip hard but the pain was short lived and faded quickly as he buried himself deep within her core and kissing her lips, urging them open and lapping tenderly at her tongue.  

"God ya feel so good," he gasped as he pulled his mouth from hers and rested their brows together. "I love ya."  

"I love you too," Cassandra murmured against his skin. Then he began to move and Cassandra once again lost the ability to speak. 	

She was carried higher and higher and soon she and Finnegan were sent tumbling over the edge of passion together and their cries of rapture bounced off the walls of their fancy hotel room.  

Finnegan collapsed on the bed beside her and pulled her body against his. "I won't let ya down again, Little Cass. I'll be the man ya need and never..."  

Cassandra put her fingers to his lips to silence him as she looked into his eyes, "Don't make promises that you might be able to keep, Finnegan. I love you and I accept you as you are. Just keep your promise that you'll try your very best and that's all I ask."  

"I promise, Little Cass," he vowed.  

Cassandra's body felt different. Her core was still tingling and her limbs felt heavy. She felt very sated and satisfied as she lay there curled up in Finnegan's strong arms. She was a true woman now, no longer innocent, no longer considered a girl in any way and while she had no idea what her future would hold with Finnegan she was glad that she had taken this step with him and not anyone else.  

She knew he truly believed himself when he said he could change and she hoped he could. She knew that he did love her and for her, for now, that was enough. She supposed the true test of his devotion would come when he learned she truly had no idea what that map said other than it being Montana.  

Cassandra knew she should tell him the truth now but she just couldn't. She was enjoying this too much to risk pushing him away just now.  

"Are ya sleepy then, Little Cass? Was I a bit too much for ya?" Finnegan questioned teasingly.  

Cassandra lifted her head from his heart and gave him a dry look. "Not even a bit," she replied but then her traitorous body betrayed her when she yawned loudly.  

Finnegan's smile was tender as he smoothed her hair and laid her head back against his chest, "Rest now."  

"There is a dance tonight, Finn, downstairs and I really would like to go," Cassandra whispered sleepily. Her eyes were getting harder and harder to hold open.  

"For all my talents, I'm not much of a dancer but if you can stand the embarrassment I'd be glad to go with ya and even give ya a couple of spins 'round the floor."  

"Somehow I think I'll live through the snickers and stares," Cassandra replied with a smile.  

Finnegan kissed her hair. "Then rest. I saw the same sign you did and it doesn't start for at least a couple more hours. Ya have plenty of time to get ya a bit of shut-eye. I'm a hard man to keep up with, Little Cass, and ya will need all the sleep ya can get."  

"So humble," Cassandra mumbled. 	

"Nope, I've never been that."  

"I'm going to sleep now, Finn." Cassandra snuggled closer to him and Finnegan held her tighter.  

"I'll be holdin' ya when ya wake up. Rest well." 	

With those words echoing in her mind, Cassandra closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep, wishing she had as much faith in the man as she kept telling him she did.  

---

"You really can't dance, can you?" Cassandra asked with a laugh as Finnegan trampled on her feet for the tenth time during a single song.  

"I told ya I couldn't," Finnegan replied with a grin. "I'll never lie to ya."  

The song ended and Cassandra took him by the hand and led him to an empty table. "I'm starving," she informed him.  

Finnegan motioned for a server and ordered up two of that night's specials. He saw the way the server raised his nose at the two of them sitting there and almost said something but Cassandra's foot cause his shin beneath the table and he silenced himself.  

"What was that for?" Finnegan demanded once the man was gone.  

"You were about to run that overactive mouth of yours and cause us to be kicked out and I'd rather like to continue enjoying the music and sleep in a real bed all night."  

"Did ya not see the way he looked at us?" Finnegan demanded.  

"We are a bit underdressed, Finn," Cassandra reminded him. Finnegan was wearing only the white dress shirt that had been beneath his waist coat and jacket, as well as the gray trousers. Cassandra had most of her hair loose and was in the outfit he had purchased for her before they had gotten on the train. In his opinion she looked more beautiful than any other woman here but he could see how she may seemed underdressed when compared with the dresses and gowns the other women were wearing.  

"You have to learn how to control that mouth of yours, Finnegan, or we'll end up in trouble everywhere we go."  

"I've always ended up that way, Little Cass," Finnegan countered with a grin. "Trouble and Finnegan Callahan go hand in hand."  

"Yes, well, a real bed and Cassandra Little go hand in hand so see that I get what I want," Cassandra replied smiling sweetly.  

Finnegan winked her way. "I'll do my best, pretty lass."  

Their food arrived moments later and they ate while they talked, joked and laughed together. Finnegan could not remember a time he had felt so content. While he would like to have a bottle of whiskey to make the evening perfect, he didn't feel compelled to rush out and find one. He simply wanted to enjoy Cassandra's laughter and her sparkling green eyes. She was glowing from the night of fun and he was eager to give her more nights like these.  

Of course she was also glowing because of what they had shared earlier... That hadn't been Finnegan's intention. He had gone to the room with every intention of simply speaking to her, telling her how he felt and leaving no doubts in her mind, but when she had thrown open that door and he had seen her standing there with her hair loose and flowing and her sheer underclothes ...... He had been lost.   

She had given him the gift of her innocence and he was going to do his best to be a good man for her. Or at least a better man than his father had been.  

"Are ya ready to dance again, Little Cass?"  

"Finn, my toes are still throbbing from yours stomping all over them, you clumsy oaf."  

"I'll find me another pretty lass to dance with then," Finnegan stood and feigned hurt. "I'm sure there are more than a few."  

"And I will find me a handsome lad to dance with who will not crush my toes," Cassandra assured him with a bat of her lashes.  

Finnegan saw a good bet to be wagered. "I'll bet you a foot rub that I can find a dancing partner before you."  

"A foot rub?" Cassandra asked with a snort as she stood. "Do you like foot rubs, Finnegan?"  

"I like it when you rub anything of mine, Little Cass," Finnegan grinned wickedly. "And I remember the way you used to moan when I'd rub your feet before."  

"I was ten, if I recall, and you had had me running through the woods for my life the entire day," Cassandra reminded him as a blush colored her cheeks. "My feet were quite sore."  

"Are ya sayin' you're not up for the challenge then?" Finnegan dared, knowing that the Cassandra from the past could never pass up a good dare. It seemed that time had not changed that trait.  

"Of course I am. I will have a man eating from the palm of my hand long before you've managed to get a woman to even agree to dance with you."  

"Ha! We shall see, lass. We shall see." With one last devilish grin, Finnegan began meandering through the crowd. He was not truly interested in dancing with another woman but he loved seeing Cassandra's eyes light up with fire at the idea of proving herself.  

So long she had been held down and held back by her father's expectations and wishes for her future but Finnegan had known the passion that burned inside of her. He had seen it as a child and now he had felt it as a man. He was eager to allow Cassandra to win this bet and then enjoy the spirited excitement that would follow... no doubt right up to their bedroom.  

Finnegan saw Cassandra conversing with a gentleman across the room and grinned. She was going to win judging by the smile on the man's face. Finnegan felt no jealousy. This was all in fun and it would be Finnegan that enjoyed her happiness at her victory later.  

Finnegan walked up to the bar and tapped it. "What can I get you, sir?" a pretty little bar maid asked as she sauntered over.  

"A shot of whiskey if ya don't mind, pretty lass."  

She gave him a flirtatious smile as she handed him his whiskey. Finnegan smiled in return but his attention was not on her. He downed his shot and directed his gaze back to Cassandra who was now twirling around the dance floor with her gentleman.  

Finnegan was about to interrupt the dancing duo and steal back his lovely lass when a voice behind him froze him in his tracks,  

"Well hello there, Finnegan. You got a hell of a lot of nerve still breathing air."

Chapter twenty

Chapter Twenty

"I believe it would be, '

you’ve got a hell of a lot of nerve,’ but grammar never was your best talent was it?“ Finnegan questioned as he turned to face a man who had sworn he would kill Finnegan if he ever saw him again.

Ezekiel Thompson.  

Shite

.

 It would seem that Ezekiel was just as big, ugly and nasty as Finnegan had remembered. The man stood nearly seven feet tall and had enough layers of muscle and fat on his damn body to hibernate through an arctic winter and still wake up big enough to eat small children. And his face, with all those pock marks and bumps would be what those children's nightmares would have been made of.  

"You getting smart with me, you little Irish bastard?" Ezekiel growled.  

"No o'course not," Finnegan shook his head and grinned as he grabbed a toothpick from the counter and stuck it between his teeth. "I wouldn't rub your lack of intelligence in your face, Pretty Zeke."  Finnegan winked. "Tell me, where is your dear sister these days?"  

"How dare you even think about her!" Ezekiel bellowed and he lunged at Finnegan, who easily sidestepped the bigger man. Ezekiel turned and raised his fist but suddenly Cassandra was between the two of them.  

Finnegan's eyes widened when Ezekiel went for the punch anyhow and Finnegan grabbed Cassandra, shoving her sideways and taking the hit square on the jaw.  

It was as if a bolt of lightning had exploded inside his head. The room blasted with light and stars as he weaved on his feet and fell back, barely managing to grab the bar and hold himself up.  

"You nearly hit me, you great oaf!" Cassandra's voice snapped somewhere around him. Finnegan blinked hard, hoping to clear the spots from his vision. He reached for Cassandra, or at least the blurry image he suspected was Cassandra, and she wrapped her arm around him to help him stand straight.  

"It would have been your own fault for jumping in between two men fighting!" Ezekiel countered.  

Finnegan saw red and lunged at the bigger man. If that punch had hit his Little Cass it very likely could have killed her. Ezekiel had always been an idiot but he was certainly going to pay for that mistake.  

Finnegan leapt upon him and punched for all he was worth but if the oak tree of a man felt it then it didn't show. Finnegan swallowed hard as he felt himself caught up in Ezekiel's arms and then he was flying through the air.

"Shite!!" Finnegan yelled just before he crashed into a table, which shattered beneath him and he was sent slamming into the ground.  

The air left his lungs in a rush and he could hear chaos around him as the fancy crowd panicked, cried out and took off away from the fight. He could also hear Cassandra calling his name and then he became aware of her crouching over him. "Finn?" her sweet voice whispered. "Finn, are you okay?"  

"Never better," Finnegan whispered. He winced at the pain he felt upon taking a breath. Perhaps breathing wasn't quite so important and he could get by without it.  

"Good, because they are coming to kick us out as we speak and I am going to kill you myself just as soon as we get outside for getting us thrown out of here!" Cassandra warned.  

"Such lovin' words ya speak to me, Little Cass. How is a man to control himself?"  

"I'm gonna kill you, Finnegan Callahan!" Ezekiel warned as he strode toward them.

"I'm hearin' a lot of that tonight," Finnegan mumbled. He pushed himself into a sitting position and guarded Cassandra with his arm and shoulder.  

"Can we at least take this outside then and away from the lady?" Finnegan demanded. "If ya come close to hurtin' her again, Pretty Zeke, It'll be you that's doin' the dyin'." 	

"Nobody is going to be killing anybody," another voice chimed in. Finnegan turned his gaze to the right and saw the three lawmen standing there staring back down at him, "Do we have a problem here?" the one bearing a sheriff's badge asked. 	

"Of course not," Finnegan replied quickly as Cassandra helped him to his feet. "I tripped and fell into this good man's fist and sadly the table took the brunt of the accident."  

"I'm sure," the sheriff drawled. "Now, Ezekiel here is known for causing trouble so who might the two of you be?"  

"Name's Finnegan," Finnegan bowed deeply, though he regretted it when his head swam. "And..uh. this is Cassandra. My..."  

"His wife," Cassandra spoke quickly stepping in front of Finnegan.  

Finnegan couldn't explain the emotion he felt at hearing her call herself his wife. It made him feel tough and strong yet soft and weak all at the same time.  

Cassandra cast imploring eyes at the lawmen and batted her pretty lashes. "Sheriff, I apologize for the disturbance. My husband has had a bit too much to drink tonight and he simply loses all decency when he does so. I'm truly sorry for the mess but since no one has been harmed, other than my oaf of a husband, please allow me to take him up to bed...."  

The sheriff shifted his feet and seemed more than a little swayed. Before he could speak however another voice was filling the room. "No!" The hotel clerk shouted as he stormed over. "I want money for the damage done here tonight and for the interruption to the evening."  

"We don't have any money to give," Cassandra replied. "Please we are just starting out and heading west to settle. We have no money to pay for any of this damage."  

 Finnegan noticed that Ezekiel was trying to edge away. He reached out and caught the other man by the arm, stopping him in his tracks.  

"Then put these two men in jail until I get my money!" The hotel clerk demanded with a snort as he crossed his arms over his thin chest.  

"I'm sensin' a flaw in your logic," Finnegan spoke up. "How am I to get ya your money if I'm locked in a cell?"

"I'm sure your little woman will figure something out," Ezekiel snorted. Finnegan wanted to knock him for a loop, or at least try to once again, but the lawman was grabbing him then and slapping cuffs on his wrists.  

"Finnegan!" Cassandra exclaimed. "Please, sirs, this man attacked my husband! I understand that Finnegan should have simply walked away but..."  

"Save it, miss," the sheriff snapped as one of the deputies went about cuffing Ezekiel. "We're going to let these two cool off until morning and then we'll see about getting Mr. Wilson's money to him."  

"And what am I to do? Am I still permitted to stay upstairs in my room?" Cassandra demanded with an indignant snort. 	

"I suppose," Mr. Wilson grumbled after a sharp glance from the sheriff.  

Finnegan met Cassandra's eyes and he could see her disappointment and annoyance. He hung his head as he was lead from the hotel with Ezekiel behind him. He had just got done vowing to Cassandra that he would be a good man, one she could count on, and now look at him! He was going to jail.  

He and Ezekiel were tossed into cells next to one another and Finnegan slumped down on his cot. Hell, he wouldn't be surprised if she took off in the night with Theo and the map and found the treasure herself. Hell, he sure hadn't done anything to help her so far on this journey... All he'd managed to do was get her into trouble and get into trouble himself.  

---

Cassandra strode to the jailhouse nearly an hour after Finnegan and that massive brute had been taken inside.  

"Miss you can't be coming in here," one of the deputies warned with a frown. "It isn't the proper place for a lady to be spending her time."  

"Where I spend my time is of no concern to you," Cassandra snapped, rising to her full height and sticking up her nose as she'd seen countless other society ladies do when they expected to be listened to. "I will go and speak with Finnegan now so if you'd be so kind as to show me the way..."  

"The sheriff won't like that," the deputy swallowed hard.  

"Yes, well, he is not here."  

"Well alright but.... I still don't think this is a good idea," the deputy noted.  

Cassandra was led through another locked door and into a hall with iron bars on either side. The cells were mostly empty, only a few sleeping men here and there and the floor plan was more open than she had thought it would be. There were only a handful of very large cells instead of many small ones.  

She saw Finnegan then. He was on his back with one arm over his face and one behind his head. The giant brute of a man he had been fighting with  was in the cell next to him with two other sleeping men. Ezekiel was awake however and staring with hatred at Finn.  

"Finnegan," Cassandra called as she walked up to his bars.  

Finnegan leapt to his feet and rushed to her. His brown eyes were full of apology. "I'm so sorry, Little Cass!"  

Cassandra held up her hand, "Save it, Finn, because I do not want to hear it. I understand why you went at him after he nearly hit me but tell me, please, why did he come after you in the first place?"  

"Jealousy over my boyish good looks o'course," Finnegan replied with a shaky grin.  

"Don't lie to me," Cassandra snapped. "I'm debating very hard on whether to try to get the one hundred dollars that the hotel clerk is demanding is your half of what is owed, or simply leave you in here to rot while Theo and I head off in search of treasure."  

"Oh you most certainly want to take me with ya," Finnegan assured her and Cassandra felt her hand twitch with the urge to smack him even as she fought back a smile.  

"Then tell me what you did to deserve his attack."  

"What makes you think I deserved it?" Finnegan questioned with a frown and this time Cassandra found herself unable to stop her laugh.  

"Because you always deserve it, Finn. Now tell me!"  

"I'll tell you what he did," the brute grumbled. Finnegan's eyes widened but the man continued before Finnegan could speak, "He took my sister's innocence is what he did! Told her all these pretty little words about love and then left her just as soon as he'd deflowered her."  

Cassandra felt her blood run cold. She thought back to the love that she and Finnegan had made only hours before and the way he had whispered that he'd never before had an innocent woman. Had he been misleading her?

"That's a damned lie and I won't stand for it!" Finnegan raged as he pushed away from the bars and strode toward the bars on the other side of his cell where the brute was lounging, "Your sister was no innocent girl, Pretty Zeke, and someone had gotten to that flower long before me....."  

Cassandra swallowed hard. "Did you tell her that you loved her?"  

"I..." Finnegan wouldn't meet her eyes. "I don't remember."  

"You can remember that she was not a virgin but you cannot remember if you said you loved her?" Cassandra could sense the deputy and the other men in the jail hanging onto the conversation's every word and it was only that fact that kept her from allowing her tears to fall.  

Finnegan rubbed his neck and stepped closer to her. "I told her... but it didn't mean anything!" he assured her quickly.  

Cassandra felt her dinner turn violently in her stomach and threaten to make a reappearance. "So you only told her you loved her in order to get into her bed? Is it so easy for a man to lie about such things?"  

"Of course it is!" Finnegan exclaimed and then his brown eyes widened and he shook his head, "No, no, no, no, don't ya do that!" he begged as he went to the bars and Cassandra took several steps back, "Little Cass, ya know that what we share is different."  

"Do I?" Cassandra whispered.  

"Don't you?" Finnegan asked seeming confused.  

Without saying anything further, Cassandra turned on her heel and all but ran from the jailhouse and away from Finnegan who seemed to have no idea how badly he could cut her to the core.  

---

Finnegan felt...deflated. It was as if everything inside of him had somehow been sucked out. He fell upon his cot and buried his face in his hands.  

"I hate ya, Zeke."  

"You deserve it, Finnegan. My sister cried for weeks over you. You told her that you loved her and she gave you her innocence and then you just took off!"

"I did not take the girl's innocence!" Finnegan shouted. "I would not do that. I may be a lot of things but I'm not that! She knew what we had was just for fun and just for that one night and she was fine with that. There had been at least one man there before me and many more if her impressive array of skills were any indication."  

A resounding laughter filled the jail from the other men and Ezekial's face reddened. "I should have killed you the minute I saw you in the hotel."  

"Yeah," Finnegan flopped onto his back and stared at the wooden ceiling above his head. "Yeah, ya should have."  

The door to the hall opened but the footsteps were too heavy to be Cassandra's and so Finnegan did not even bother to glance away from the ceiling. He hated himself in this moment. Dear Lord what he shared with Cassandra was special and what he had shared with Ezekial's sister, Mona, had been nothing! She had known it was only for the night... 

Shite! She had approached him and offered it! And yes he may have mumbled an ‘I love you’ during the thralls of passion but it had meant nothing and Mona had laughed about it.

But then Ezekial had barged in and caught them in the act and while Finnegan had been fleeing out the window, Mona had been telling her brother dearest all types of falsehoods simply to save her own hide.  

Finnegan sighed. Cassandra only needed time to cool off. She would come around. Surely she knew how much he loved her--how much he needed her--didn't she?

Finnegan realized the footsteps had stopped outside his cell and then he cursed when he heard the damned voice he'd hoped he would never have to hear again, "Well what do we have here, brother?  I saw Cassandra storm out of here. I didn't think it would take her long to realize what a mistake you are."  

"Shite," Finnegan mumbled as he sat up and looked at Seamus's smug expression.  "My day could get no worse."  

He was going to kill whoever had determined that Irishmen were lucky.

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-One

"Here is your damned money," Cassandra ground out as she slammed the one hundred dollars that she'd spent four hours at the gambling hall earning into Mr. Wilson's hand. "Now I am exhausted and I am more than ready to get out of this God forsaken town and be on my way. In order for that to happen I have to get Finnegan out of jail so you are going to come down there with me immediately and let them know you have your money."  

"Girl, it is two in the morning," Mr. Wilson mumbled as he adjusted the night cap on his graying hair. "I am going back to sleep."  

Cassandra shook her head. Did he think that she didn't know what time it was? She had just spent four hours in a gambling hall being jeered at, leered at, fondled and breathed upon in order to win enough money to get Finnegan out of jail seeing as how they had only had five dollars left to their names.  

She grabbed his arm to stop him from turning. "You 

will come with me now.“

Begrudgingly, and because Cassandra left him little choice, Mr. Wilson fastened his robe, slid on his night shoes and made his way down the deserted boardwalk with Cassandra leading the way.  

She knocked on the jailhouse door and it was several long moments before it was yanked open by a very disgruntled looking sheriff. "What are you doing here?" he demanded as he adjusted his gun belt and rubbed at his face.  

"Mr. Wilson has something he would like to tell you," Cassandra replied.  

She motioned for Mr. Wilson to speak and the man glared at her for a moment before turning his gaze to the sheriff. "She paid for the Irishman's half of the damages," he spat. "Now if you'll be so kind as to let me return to my bed!" he exclaimed at Cassandra.  

Cassandra tipped her head. "Goodnight sir."  

Mr. Wilson stormed away and Cassandra turned back to the sheriff. "I trust you'll be letting Finnegan go now?"  

"No, ma'am, I'm afraid that's not possible."  

Cassandra's fists tightened at her sides. "And why is that?" she hissed through clenched teeth.  

"You don't have to defend him or protect him anymore, miss," the sheriff replied as he pulled her inside and closed the door.  

Cassandra stared at the daft man. "What are you talking about?"  

"I know he kidnapped you. I saw the paper. You are safe now," he smiled at her and Cassandra simply stood there dumbfounded.  

"What paper are you talking about? Finnegan did 

not kidnap me!“

"Quit protecting him, Cassandra," Cassandra's spine stiffened when she heard that voice and she turned to see a man who probably wanted to throttle her step out from behind a shelf. "You heard the sheriff; you're safe now."  

"Seamus Callahan, how did you escape the train? I assumed you'd be halfway through Kansas by now," Cassandra spoke, trying hard to not let her nerves show in her voice. She was far too tired for her act to be very believable however and the amusement in Seamus' eyes told her as much.  

"I thought you said your name was Jonathon," the sheriff spoke up with a frown.  

"Oh he didn't tell you?" Cassandra asked. "This is Finnegan's brother."  

"Yes, and the last time I saw my brother and Cassandra they were tying me up on a train and leaving me locked in a room."  

"How did you get out?" Cassandra asked while the sheriff was clearly still trying to process what he was hearing.

"A couple of the train attendants remembered that I boarded the train with you and Finnegan. They decided to check up on me to see if I needed to be booted as well and....." he spread his arms wide, "Here I am."  

"I wish I could say I missed you..." Cassandra shrugged. "Just so you know we didn't leave you there on purpose. We were fairly rushed to get our belongings, Finnegan was barely conscious and my father was..."  

"Your father?" the sheriff finally spoke again. "The same man that said you were kidnapped? You've seen him recently?"  

"Yes!" Cassandra declared with exasperation. "I have 

not been kidnapped. I left of my own free will but my father would not accept that and created these ridiculous accusations that Finnegan had kidnapped me. Now if you’ll please allow him to leave since I have paid his money to Mr. Wilson, I would very much like to be able to get a bit of sleep before leaving at dawn.“

"You're sure you haven't been kidnapped?" the sheriff questioned slowly and Cassandra turned her gaze to Seamus.  

"She hasn't been kidnapped," he assured the sheriff. "She simply has no sense."  

Cassandra rolled her eyes but the sheriff sighed. "Alright, go get your husband..."  

"Husband?!" Seamus demanded.  

"Or whoever the hell he is to you..." the sheriff amended with exasperation. "I'm tired, it's late and I don't have time to try to understand you people. Get him and be gone first thing in the morning. I don't want y'all around here anymore."  

"Yes sir," Cassandra replied happily. She had no intentions of coming back.  

She followed the sheriff back into the cell block with Seamus striding along behind her. Finnegan was face down on the cot with his arms over his head while Ezekiel told him all the ways he was going to kill him. "And then I'm gonna rip your rip your Irish head off, pull down my pants and take a big ol'...."  

"Colorful," Cassandra muttered dryly. Finnegan leapt to his feet at the sound of her voice and rushed to the bars.  

Cassandra was taken aback when he dropped to his knees and reached through the bars to grab her hips, his hands clutching at her with near desperation as his brown eyes filled with tears. Cassandra had never in her life seen Finnegan look so broken and it broke her own heart to see it.  

"Cassandra, please, listen to me. Somehow this got all messed up and turned 'round. Mona, that's Pretty Zeke's sister, I met her close to three years ago or so and I haven't seen her since. I was gamblin' at the hall down the road a ways and she approached me. We drank, we gambled and then she invited me back to the hotel. Both of us knew it was only for the night and neither wanted it to be any longer than that. I'd had too much whiskey, I'll admit to that, and I did let the words 'I love ya' slip past my lips--" Finnegan shook his head, "But it didn't mean nothin', Cass. She laughed at my empty admission and I laughed as well. Then her brother, Pretty Zeke, he came burstin' into the room with his gun drawn. I scrambled for my clothes and leapt out the window and I never saw the lass again. She told Zeke all sorts of lies to spare her image with her brother. Please tell me that ya believe me, Little Cass. I never told a lass those words just to get her in bed and until I said them to you I never meant them before. I love ya. Deep down, one hundred and twenty percent, with all my heart, I'll wither up and die without ya, love ya! And what we shared was something more than I've ever shared with any other woman. Ya have no idea what you do to me, Cassandra."  

Cassandra swallowed hard as she looked down at him, "Finnegan...."  

Finnegan pushed himself to stand and swiped at his face. "I understand. I'm not good enough for ya, Cass, and I understand ya not bein' able to forgive me. I'm no good. A no good Irishman. Just get me out of here and I'll get ya home safe. I won't pressure ya for nothin' more."  

"You're free to go," the sheriff spoke up as Cassandra simply stood there and in shock. "The woman done paid your fine."  

"Y..You did?" Finnegan stammered.  

"Yes, I did. I spent four hours in a smoke filled gambling hall to earn enough money to do so," Cassandra replied as the sheriff unlocked Finnegan's cell door.  

Cassandra wasn't sure exactly what she was feeling as Finnegan burst from the cell, threw his arms around her and spun her around and around before plopping a noisy kiss on her lips. "I knew ya believed in me and had faith in me, Little Cass. I wish I was not such a fool of a man. I wish I did not say the wrong things at all the wrong times and I wish I did not have a past that caused ya hurt. I was with many women before you but there will never be another. You are all I want."  

Cassandra took a moment to let her thoughts swirl as he sat her back on her feet and looked down at her, obviously expecting her to say something. "So you say you love and I am all you want?"  

"Yes," Finnegan nodded roughly.  

Cassandra breathed deeply and smiled a little half-smile. "Prove it."  

"Oh I will, Little Cass," Finnegan promised as he pulled her close.  

"That's enough of that," the sheriff grumbled. "Now I want the two of you out of my town at first light. There's a stagecoach leaving heading west and a train heading east. You can pick which way you go just so long as you make sure you go."  

"Yes sir!" Finnegan assured him. "Now let's get back to the hotel, Little Cass. I'll slip up the back way and Mr. Wilson will never know I was around."  

Cassandra shook her head and with Finnegan's hand firmly in hers they started back down the hall. "Just like that you're going to forgive him?!" Ezekiel demanded. "He's a bastard! A man who steals innocence from women and then rides off into the sunset...."  

Cassandra whirled around. She had heard enough. She had heard enough bad about Finnegan. It was time to put this big giant oaf of a man in his place. "I met your sister, by the way--

Pretty Zeke , was it? It wasn’t hard to find her, I simply asked some men at the gambling hall if they knew Ezekiel’s sister. They knew her quite well actually.“

"What the hell are you trying to say?!" Ezekiel growled as he gripped the bars tightly in his hands.  

Cassandra was aware of the sheriff fighting back laughter, Seamus shaking his head and Finnegan holding her hand tightly.  

"What I am trying to say is that your little Mona is not as innocent as you make her out to be. When I saw her last night she was working quite well at entertaining five..." Cassandra put her finger to her chin, "Or was it six men? Turns out she's been a favorite at the gambling halls for a good eight years now. Of course there was a bit of distension among them all when she admitted to me that Finnegan got a free ride while they end up being charged ten dollars an hour for her company."  

Ezekiel bellowed with rage and threw himself at the bars. Finnegan tugged Cassandra toward the door. "That's enough pokin' the lion with a stick, Little Cass. Let's be gettin' on our way now!"  

Ezekiel could still be heard ranting and raging even once the trio was standing alone outside with the jail closed up tightly behind them.  

"I see you've made a good impact in yet another town," Seamus muttered dryly as the sheriff glared at them from the window.  

Cassandra rounded on Seamus. "Let me get some things clear with you, Seamus! My father accepted the fact that I am going to be going my own way and doing as I wish now that I am grown. There is no longer a reward to return me home and you will do well to stop attempting to talk me into it."

"Okay. I won't. But I will say is that you are a worse fool than I thought you were by giving your heart to Finnegan. He's just like our father. A worthless, no account...."  

Seamus' words were cut off when Cassandra's fist connected sharply with his jaw. Finnegan laughed loudly as Seamus stumbled backward with shock in his eyes. He rubbed at his welting jaw and Cassandra fought back a laugh as well. "Finnegan is my damned Irishman, no matter how big a fool he is. If you are going to be coming with us then you will not be permitted to say one more bad thing about him."  

Seamus glared at her but finally nodded slowly. "Fine. He'll let you down without me having to do a thing anyhow."  

Cassandra raised her fist again and laughed when Seamus flinched, "I'll let that one slide since this is all new to you. Now come along, men. We need a bit of rest before heading west at dawn. I'm eager to get to Montana."  

Cassandra and Finnegan broke apart from Seamus and Finnegan put his arm around her waist and pulled her close to him. "I truly don't deserve ya," he whispered.  

"No, you truly don't, Finn. But I cannot get truly mad at you over something that is in the past. However, as much as I have stuck up for you, you had better not pay me back by making a fool of me."  

"I won't, Little Cass," his lips brushed her ear and Cassandra felt her knees weaken. Damn her for being so helpless when it came to this man. She was devoted hopelessly to him and God help her but she had faith in him. He might be everything the world said was wrong in a man and be bound to hurt her, but Lord have mercy, he was worth it.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Two

Riding a stagecoach was not quite the adventure that Cassandra had had in mind upon leaving her home all those weeks ago, however, some 

would consider being sandwiched between two bickering old ladies while a young boy digs for treasure in his nose across from you and a skinny, sunken-faced man leers from the corner, an adventure in itself.

Cassandra tried to sit up a little straighter to ease the tension in her back and shoulders as she shifted upon the thinly padded seat. She envied Finnegan who was riding alongside the stage on Theo. Seamus was inside the stage with Cassandra and Cassandra could feel him watching her as they rode.  

Between his watching, the skinny man's leering, the boy's nose picking and the two women's constant bickering, Cassandra was growing extremely close to going stark raving mad!

She had been cooped up in this stage for five days and the only relief she got was when the stage stopped in the evenings at whatever stage town or house they reached that day. Finnegan had insisted on the two of them posing as husband and wife so that they could continue to share a room and the memories of their nights together managed to bring a ghost of a smile to Cassandra's face.  

She realized with disgust that leering man smiled back... clearly he thought he was the reason for her good humor. His hand reached out toward her knee and Cassandra was fully prepared to smack him away when Seamus' hand grabbed the man's wrist and tossed his arm to the side.  

"You might want to watch yourself. My brother is a jealous man and won't take too kindly to you pawing all over his woman," Seamus warned.  

Cassandra nearly laughed at the idea of Finnegan being jealous. The man was so sure of himself and his abilities that Cassandra knew there was little chance he would be jealous of any other man—especially one that looked like skinny man across the way.  

"She smiled at me first," skinny man quickly spoke up. The bickering women had quieted and were completely enthralled in the new turn of events inside the stage. Clearly they thought perhaps there may be a fight.  

The young boy had even paused in his exploration of his right nostril and was staring at Seamus with shock. Seamus hadn't spoken much in the five days they'd been with the stage. Cassandra knew they'd be leaving the stage soon because it wasn't heading north the way they needed and she would be glad to be away from all these people.  

"I can assure you that I did not," Cassandra countered, her gaze going out the window. She saw Finnegan on Theo a short distance from the stage. He was whistling a tune, though the sound of it could scarcely be heard over the horses hooves and the creaking of the stage coaches wheels.  

She longed to be on that horse with him. To be riding carefree with the wind in her hair and Finnegan's strong body against hers.... But Cassandra knew that Finnegan was right when he said they needed to take it easy on Theo for a while. Truthfully she needed her own horse but hadn't had the money for one yet.  

Finnegan had been willing to allow her to ride Theo while he rode in the crowded stage but Seamus had been adamantly against that and Cassandra had chosen not to go to war over the issue. Seamus had insisted that stage coach roads could be dangerous places and Cassandra was safer inside. When Finnegan had seemed to agree, Cassandra had given up.  

The sun was getting lower in the horizon and Cassandra nearly cried out with relief when the stage coach began to slow and then stopped completely. She moved the dainty curtains aside and saw the large three story manor house they had pulled in front of.  

It looked as if they had reached home for the night.  

Cassandra was all too happy to flee from the tight confines of the stage coach, though her legs were stiff and sore from lack of use. She very nearly fell coming down the stage steps until a strong pair of arms wrapped around her waist and hoisted her down.

"I saved your life, Little Cass," Finnegan teased in her ear as he pulled her to the side so the other passengers could exit the stage coach.  

"My life was not in danger, Finn," Cassandra replied breathlessly. Why did the man insist on holding her so closely?  

"Your backside then," Finnegan amended as he buried his nose in her hair. "I saved your deliciously round arse from quite a nasty bruise,"  

Cassandra could feel him smiling against her head and she rolled her eyes, pulled from his grasp and adjusted her blouse. "My 

backside would have been just fine.“

"Her new man would have caught her," Seamus agreed as he came to stand beside them with his arms crossed over his broad chest.  

Finnegan frowned. "New man?"  

"It's nothing!" Cassandra exclaimed. "Shall we get our belongings and go introduce ourselves to our host?"  

"Little Cass, ya had better just tell me now what Dear Seamus is talkin' about. I won't be sharin' ya with no one else."  

Cassandra was surprised by the possessiveness and jealousy in Finnegan's voice. She hadn't realized Finnegan had it in him to be either of those things. She was certain he had never been that way with any other woman, his carefree nature would not have allowed it, so to know that she brought those things out in him--that he cared about her more--it made her heart swell just a bit.  

"There is no other man, Finn," Cassandra assured him.  

"Sure there is," Seamus countered, earning him a glare from Cassandra. He simply grinned. "Why the man has been staring at her all day."  

Finnegan seemed thoughtful and then burst into laughter.

"What's so funny?" Cassandra demanded.  

"My competition! Tell me, Little Cass, is it the little lad or the malnourished gent who is glarin' over at us?"  

Cassandra saw the skinny man was indeed glaring even as their hosts for the night introduced themselves to he and the young boy. "There was one other man on the stage coach with me," Cassandra replied vaguely as she let her gaze pass over Seamus.  

"Dear Seamus then?" Finnegan asked and instead of sounding jealous he seemed quite amused. "Now I know you're lyin', Cassandra."  

"And how do you know that?" Cassandra demanded with a stomp.  

Finnegan poked her nose, "Because Seamus here has a bit of a problem with the ladies and I know he doesn't take to starin' at one for an entire day."  

"That's enough about me and my lady troubles," Seamus snapped as he took Cassandra's small suitcase from the stage hand.  

"So ya admit there are troubles then?" Finnegan teased, flashing Cassandra a grin and a wink. She rolled her eyes. Would these two never cease to aggravate each other so?  

"Nice to meet you folks," a woman who seemed just past middle aged greeted with a stern glance as they made their way toward her and her husband. "This is our home and will be your home for the night." Her gaze went to the guns on Finnegan and Seamus' hips. "No guns in the house, they all have to be checked with me and I lock them in the cabinet. The horse can be stabled over there in the barn for the night but you're responsible for feeding him yourself from the feed buckets that are there and rubbing him down. I don't much care for doing those things myself. Men and women can only share rooms if they're husbands and wives. Dinner is at eight, breakfast at six, if you're late then you don't eat, it's as simple as that."  

Cassandra and Finnegan shared a look and Cassandra fought back a laugh. This woman certainly didn't seem to be worried about appearing too accommodating.  

"I don't much like the thought of not having my gun, ma'am," Seamus countered with a shake of his head.  

The woman looked up at him, her eyes scanning him over the top of her beak-like nose. She scoffed. "I don't much care what you like much the thought of, sir. Those are my rules. If those are not acceptable guidelines for the night than you are more than welcome to sleep beneath the stars and go without food. I daresay you may be seeing things more my way when this storm that is approaching rears its head."  

Seamus appeared ready to argue once again and Cassandra could see the sturdily built woman's even more sturdily built husband heading their way. She sunk her elbow deep into Seamus' gut to silence him. "My brother-in-law will be more than happy to give his gun up for the night to keep from angering our hosts, won't you, 

Seamus ?“

Seamus rubbed at his stomach and glared down at her. Finnegan laughed loudly before swinging forward and planting a noisy kiss on the older woman's soft cheek. "Well I for one will me more than happy to abide by the rules of such a beautiful lass," he winked. "O'course you can have my gun just so long as ya promise to keep me safe with it."  

The woman blushed and became visibly flustered as Finnegan unhooked his gun belt and laid it in the her hands. "We'll have no more of that, Irishman," she smiled. "You're a bunch of charming little devils from across that ocean aren't you?"  

Cassandra rolled her eyes as Finnegan put his arms around the woman's shoulders and her husband glared at him. "We try to be, ma'am. Now would ya happen to have a pretty name to match those pretty blue eyes?"  

"Her name is Mrs. Hammonds and you can get your hands off her now," the husband, apparently named Mr. Hammonds, grumbled.  

Finnegan sighed and released his hold on their host, bowing deeply as he backed away. "Alas, I arrived too late to win the heart of the pretty lass," he took Cassandra's hand and squeezed it tenderly. "I suppose ya will be stuck with me a bit longer, Little Cass."  

"Lucky me," Cassandra replied, batting her lashes up at him and earning a broad grin from his lips in the process. That grin faded quickly when thunder rumbled in the distance.  

"That barn over there for the horse?" he asked Mrs. Hammonds quickly with a bit of a higher pitch in his words.  

"Yes, that's correct," she replied as she fussed with her gray streaked hair. Her husband led her away toward the two women who had also been on the stagecoach as Finnegan led Theo toward the barn.  

"You're still afraid of storms?" Seamus questioned, his amusement of that fact plain to hear in his scathing tone.  

"No o'course not!" Finnegan waved his hand. "It's Theo. The poor beast starts knockin' in the knees and gets all beside himself over the smallest...." Finnegan squeaked when lightning lit up the distant, darkening sky. "....show of turbulence."  

"In other words, yes he is still afraid of storms," Cassandra teased. "Now if you men will excuse me I'm going to go inside and see about our accommodations for the night."  

Cassandra was caught off guard when Finnegan grabbed her arm and pulled her close. His lips danced across her cheek, to her temple and landed upon her ear. "I love ya, Little Cass."  

Cassandra felt her heart pound, skip, stutter and thud against her chest. She turned her head and caught his lips beneath her lightly. Keeping her mouth brushing against his, Cassandra smiled. "Almost as much as you love Mrs. Hammonds?"  

Cassandra felt his lips curve beneath hers and she turned and began to walk away, waving her hand as she did so. "Take care of Theo, Finn. I don't want him to be scared."

Cassandra was led into the tidy home and escorted by Mr. Hammond to the second story and the door that led to her bedroom for the night. She thanked him politely, received a grunt in response and then entered the room, closing the door behind her.  

The room was nice. It was plain, simple, very unfussy, but it was clean, tidy and smelled pleasant. The furniture was heavy and darker than she liked and the curtains were thick and floral but it would do just fine.  

Setting down her small suitcase on the bed, Cassandra found herself flopping down on her back beside it, moaning with pleasure at finally being able to stretch out and relax after so many cramped up hours in that bouncing stage coach.  

While she lay there Cassandra found her mind going to Finnegan just as it always seemed to when she let it wander. She knew it was foolish to think him completely changed after only five days away from that town and that jail but that is exactly what Cassandra found herself believing.  

She knew that he loved her. It was evident in the way his eyes lit up every time they fell upon her. It was plain to feel each and every time his lips brushed hers or his hands lingered upon her skin. He was still a shameless flirt as had been evidenced just outside with their hostess and Cassandra knew he still kept whiskey stowed away to warm his blood. Cassandra knew that he truly believed he believed he could be good for her and so Cassandra was going to believe that too.  

Until Finnegan gave her a good reason to believe she should have no faith in him she was going to have more faith in him than any other person had in anything else.  

"Such a sight for sore eyes ya are, Little Cass. Ya look like an angel all sprawled upon the bed that way."  

Cassandra smiled and responded without opening her eyes. "Is Theo all taken care of? I would hate for him to be scared and all alone."  

Cassandra heard the door close. Finnegan's footsteps crossed the room and then the bed dipped as he came down upon it. Cassandra felt her arms yearn to reach out for him but she remained still and unmoving even as he stretched his body out long beside hers and nuzzled at her neck.  

"Aye, 'twould be a shame for him to be lonely and scared. Luckily there is a little mare who can keep him warm and safe and make him forget all about the storm ragin' outside his window."  

Cassandra felt her breath catch in her chest, becoming trapped in her lungs as Finnegan's fingers traced the length of her torso, dancing over the soft mounds of her breasts. As if on cue a crash of thunder shook the windowpanes and a bolt of lightning lit the ever darkening room. Rain began to pour down upon roof and Cassandra couldn't help but laugh lightly at the way Finnegan jumped and cursed under his breath.  

"You poor thing," Cassandra teased as she sat up and looked down at him. He looked miserable and afraid as his brown eyes gazed into hers.  

"Why does it have to be thunder and lightnin'?" he questioned pitifully.  

Cassandra stood and went to the saddlebags he had placed upon the floor. She was very much aware of Finnegan's watchful gaze as she rifled through them and found the bottle of whiskey she had known was tucked away.  

Finnegan's brown eyes lit up as she held it up and gave it a little shake. "Will this help settle your nerves, Irishman?"  

"It just might," he admitted, throwing his feet over the edge of the bed.  

Cassandra knelt back down and fished out the deck of cards that had been with the whiskey. "What about these? Will these help?"  

Finnegan leapt to his feet and bounded across the room, pulling Cassandra into his arms as he spun her around and hugged her tight. "Aye, Little Cass, those'll do just the trick! An angel is what ya are!"  

Cassandra rolled her eyes as she pulled from his arms. "Let's play a little then while we wait for the storm to pass and dinner to be ready," Cassandra added, covering her growling stomach with her hand.  

It had been Cassandra's hope that with Finnegan frightened of the storm and sipping at his whiskey, she might just stand a chance at truly besting him but whatever bad luck had plagued the man in his past when it came to the cards seemed to have left him.  

It didn't take long before Cassandra was down to nothing but her underclothes... Finnegan was a fan of losing an article of clothing each time you lost a hand--but he swore it was only because he was playing with her.  

"Finnegan, I'm not comfortable like this!" Cassandra hissed as she glanced at the locked door and heard footsteps pass on down the hall.  

"Are ya scared someone might see your bloomers then, Little Cass?" Finnegan waggled his brows. "Quite a nice set of bloomers they are."  

"And you've had enough whiskey in the last hour that you're seeing three pairs I am sure," Cassandra countered vaguely. "Now rather than continue this game and reach the inevitable conclusion that we can both see coming, I say that I redress myself and we head downstairs. Supper should be ready soon."  

"I'd rather like to see the conclusion of the game though," Finnegan countered. "I must say it's not often I find myself on such a winning streak. It must be the high stakes of this game."  

"High stakes?" Cassandra snorted.  

"Oh aye," Finnegan leaned forward and the kiss he pressed to her lips was long, slow and liquid. Cassandra could feel the burn of alcohol as his tongue slipped into her mouth. He pulled away and rested his brow against hers as she tried desperately to catch her stolen breath. "A glimpse of ya out of those underclothes, a chance to graze my fingers across that bare skin, those are the highest stakes of all and some I'm not willin' to lose against."  

"Well aren't you a charming devil?" Cassandra whispered with a raise of her brow.  

"I've been told so a time or two," Finnegan admitted, his lips brushing her temple. "It's the Irishman in me, don't ya know?"  

Cassandra was seconds away from giving in to Finnegan as he continued to leave trails of kisses across her face but a knock on the door had her leaping from the bed. "Supper will be ready in ten minutes!" Mrs. Hammond's clipped voice called. "If you're not there I won't keep it warm for you."  

"Isn't she a ray of sunshine?" Finnegan mumbled. He stood from the bed with a sigh and picked Cassandra's skirt up from the floor. "Ya were saved by the dinner bell, Little Cass, but ya will not find yourself so lucky tonight."  

Cassandra smiled and fixed him with a challenging gaze. "You must really think you're something special, Finn."  

Finn winked, "Ya know I am, Little Cass, ya know I am."

---

A couple of hours later Cassandra found herself elbow deep in sudsy water as she listened to Finnegan, the Hammonds, and the two bickering old ladies from the stage coach, laugh, drink and gamble to their heart's content.  

To say she was irritated would have been an understatement. Aggravated was not a strong enough word. Livid. Yes livid seemed to suit her mood just fine.  

So much for thinking she and Finn would have a passionate night. He had so much whiskey in his blood now that she would not allow him to make love to her... not when he would wake up in the morning with no memory of what had happened between them.  

It was her own fault, she knew, and that was what made it worse. She had gotten him started with the drinking and gambling and it had been her, when Mrs. Hammonds had sat down so snootily at the table and began laying down her dining rules, who had encouraged Finnegan to loosen the woman up....  

Which had led to everyone in the house loosening up quite nicely. Seamus was gone, claiming that watching Finnegan make such a fool of everyone in the house was too much for him to handle though Cassandra had a feeling he had only been trying to get out of dish duty.

Finally finished with the supper dishes, Cassandra dried her hands on Mrs. Hammonds' borrowed apron and stepped out into the dining room. She couldn't help but smile when she saw Finnegan at the center of attention at the table.  

The drunken din that was three cackling older ladies and two rowdy men (Mr. Hammond included) was quite comical to behold. Finnegan was landing kisses to all the ladies cheeks and hanging on Mr. Hammonds as they played hand after hand of poker.  

Cassandra glanced at the elegant clock in the hall and realized it was nearing eleven. She was tired but it was very clear Finnegan would not be calling it a night anytime soon. He was currently regaling his audience with a loud, and very off-key, Irish song.  

Without a word, Cassandra slipped out into the night. She wanted to get a bit of fresh air, relax in the cool breeze now that the storm and rain had passed and quickly check on Theo before heading to bed herself.  

The air was nice and the breeze felt good as it teased at her thick golden curls which had fallen loose from the chignon she'd had them styled in.  

Cassandra grabbed the kerosene lantern from the porch and headed out across the yard toward the barn.  

It was dark and she was a bit intimidated by the oppressive night around her which was why at first she assumed she'd been hearing things when she heard the thud from within the dark, foreboding barn.  

Cassandra's heart quickened its pace but she refused to allow her fear to get the better of her. Another thud sounded inside the barn, this accompanied by male voices. There were men in the barn? Who?  

Another mumble filled the night and Cassandra gasped. That was Seamus. She was nearly certain. What was Seamus doing in a dark barn, at night, with another man?

Cassandra stepped into the barn holding the lantern high. "Seamus? Seamus, are you in here?"  

Curses filled the air, the sound of shuffling from a nearby stall and then Seamus came stumbling out of the stall. There was straw in his dark hair and he was adjusting his pants.  

"What....what are you doing?" Cassandra whispered, her eyes widening with shock when another man stepped out of the same stall.  

Both men were flushed, covered in straw and looking quite sheepish and afraid. Cassandra couldn't speak. Couldn't breathe. Couldn't form a single coherent thought. Her face reddened with embarrassment and she turned to run away only to have Seamus' hand close tightly around her forearm and hold her in place.  

"I can't let you run back in there like that, Cassandra," he warned.  

Cassandra stared up at him with shock and was growing a bit nervous. Seamus seemed desperate as he stared down at her, his expression hard. The other man was cursing and shoving his hand through his hair as he paced back and forth.  

"I.. .I won't tell anyone," Cassandra promised. "I won't tell anyone that you were out here with...with him."  

Just when it seemed that Seamus might be willing to let her go, Finnegan's laughter filled the night. "I was right all along, Dear Seamus! 'Twould seem ya do have trouble with the lasses!"

Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter Twenty-Three

"Finnegan, what are you doing out here?!" Cassandra demanded with a hiss.  

Finnegan couldn't seem to keep from laughing as he stared at his brother and his brother's...

friend . He’d always had his suspicions that Seamus wasn’t exactly a ladies man but to find his brother dearest in such a compromising situation with another man was more than Finnegan could have ever asked for.

It wasn't often he got the upper hand with his older brother but he certainly had it now.  

"Finnegan, what are you doing out here?!" Cassandra snapped again, jerking her arm which, Finnegan realized, Seamus was holding tightly.  

"Ya can let go of her now, Dear Seamus," Finnegan warned, his temper rising a bit at the sight of Seamus' strong fingers closed so tightly around Cassandra's pale skin. "And, Little Cass, ya didn't truly believe I'd let ya just wander out into the night without comin' to keep an eye on ya, did ya?"  

"I assumed you were too far gone in the whiskey to realize I was missing," Cassandra replied as she rubbed at her arm which Seamus had finally seen fit to release.  

Finnegan shook his head, took her hand and pulled her toward him, gazing at her abused skin in the lantern light. "I was puttin' on that I was bit drunker than I am, Cassandra. I told ya once I would never get so drunk as to forget what's most important to me, did I not?" He tweaked her nose and took the lantern from her, holding it up and turning his attention to his brother and his brother's...

friend . Finnegan snickered.

"Shut your mouth, Finnegan."  

"I didn't say a word, Seamus."  

"But you're about to."  

"Are ya a mind reader now then?"  

"Finnegan, that's enough," Cassandra spoke up. "This is Seamus' private business and it isn't any business of ours. We're going to go inside now and pretend as if we never saw anything."  

"Like hell we are!" Finnegan scoffed. "All these years of that bastard judgin' every move I make and tryin' to kill me and he's been meetin' fellas in barns!"  

Finnegan heard Cassandra squeak and a glance at her face told him she was embarrassed beyond speech. Finnegan laughed. He laughed long and he laughed hard. He laughed until he was bent over, laying the lantern on the ground and slapping at his legs.  

"Who the hell are these two?" the man that had been in the stall with Seamus demanded. He was a handsome enough man, if you liked to dwell on the looks of rougher sex. It was hard to make out the details of his complexion in only the low lantern light but he seemed a tanned man with golden hair about the same color as Cassandra's and eyes that were light in color. His jaw line was sharp, his cheekbones high and his brow strong.  

Seamus had good taste at least.  

"That is my...." Seamus began quickly but Finnegan jumped forward and held out his hand to the blond man.  

"Name's Finnegan Callahan," Finnegan smiled broadly. "This here is my older brother, and the rather dull one out of us actually, but seein' as how I'm taken by this vision of loveliness currently standin' here speechless--" Finnegan tipped his head toward Cassandra, "--ya shall have to content yourself with Dear Seamus."  

"Finnegan, stop, please."  

Something in Seamus' voice penetrated the amusement and drink clouding Finnegan's mind. Now it was true that Finnegan was not as drunk as he had let on inside; he merely had been having a good time and getting everyone else going, but he had had enough to drink that his good sense wasn't entirely sharpened. But Seamus' tone made him pause.  

The man sounded.... Afraid.  

It was an emotion that Finnegan had never before heard come from his brother. Seamus was never afraid. Seamus was overly confident, a constant hard ass, an unflappable stick in the mud most would say.  

Seamus didn't show fear. He didn't look at his brother with desperation. He certainly 

never begged Finnegan for anything…..

"Shite," Finnegan muttered.  

"Finnegan, you cannot tell anyone what you all have learned tonight," Seamus insisted. "My life would be over if the wrong people found out. Not only would I lose their respect but there are people who think men like me, and like Calvin, should be dead."	

"His name is Calvin?" Finnegan asked, his gaze once again going back to the blond man.  

"Yes."  

"And how long have ya known Calvin?"

"Does it matter?" Seamus grumbled, pinching his nose between his fingers.  

"It matters to me," Finnegan replied with a tilt of his head. "Tell me, Calvin, how long have ya known Seamus?"  

"About an hour, Finnegan!" Seamus snapped. "We've known one another for about an hour."  

Finnegan whistled and laughed lightly. "Fast movers then! Even I take the time to buy a lass a drink first... but then again Calvin here is not a lass so perhaps the same rules do not apply."  

"Finnegan, leave them alone!" Cassandra found her voice. "This is no business of ours so let's leave the two of them be."  

"I have only one more question," Finnegan countered, stepping back and wrapping an arm around Cassandra's shoulders.

"I am sure they would like to avoid playing twenty questions with you, Finn. Let's let them finish..." Cassandra paled, flushed bright red and swallowed hard. "... their business and we will be getting to bed. Breakfast is served quite early here and we'll be getting back on the road."  

"Let him ask what he's going to ask, Cassandra," Seamus grumbled. "If he doesn't get it out now then it'll just end up coming out later."  

Finnegan flashed a smile and leaned closer to Seamus. "Thank ya, Dear Seamus. My question is this--" Finnegan removed his arm from Cassandra and studied her thoughtfully before turning his gaze back to Seamus. "Just how bad a kisser was our Little Cass that day in the barn to have sent ya high-tailin' it the other way and findin' your fun with lads instead of lasses?"  

Finnegan barely managed to dodge the fist that Seamus sent plowing toward his face. He laughed, hopped around his brother and winked at Calvin. "He's gettin' a bit slow in his old age, Calvin, but I trust ya will still find him up for a round or two."  

Calvin blushed, the color in his cheeks evident even in the low light. Seamus roared and launched himself at Finnegan once again. The two brothers went down hard in the dirt and become a tangle of fists and feet as Finnegan simply attempted to avoid being pummeled. He had no urge to hit Seamus back and was laughing too violently to make any attempt at defending himself.  

"That's enough!" Finnegan and Seamus fell apart and their heads whipped around at the sound of the angry voice booming in the night.  

Mr. Hammonds stood there with a lantern in his hand and a shot gun over the crook of his arm. "What the hell's going on here?" he demanded.  

"Just a bit of a brotherly spat," Finnegan replied with a smile as he stood up, swiped dirt of his backside and offered a regal bow.

Mr. Hammonds shook his head, "Be that as it may, it's time to be getting to bed now. Calvin, good to see you made it home from town tonight. Your mama was feeling a bit under the weather and done went to bed but I'm sure she'll be happy to see you in the morning."  

"Yes pa," Calvin mumbled and then he quickly skirted around the group and high-tailed it into the house.  

"I'm going to bed," Seamus snapped. He looked at Cassandra and then Finnegan. "This is over, right?"  

Finnegan opened his mouth to speak but Cassandra's hand clamped itself firmly over his lips. "Yes. Yes this is over."  

Seamus' gaze turned appreciative and then he too made a beeline for the house. "You two as well. Time for bed," Mr. Hammonds warned Finnegan and Cassandra with a nod.  

Finnegan was going to offer a goodnight but Cassandra's hand still forced his silence as she nodded and led him toward the house. They stumbled up the steps with Cassandra refusing to release her hold until they were locked inside their bedroom.  

"Oh my Lord!" she exclaimed with a flourish as she threw her hands in the air and strode toward the window. "That is the last time I go wandering out to a barn at night!"  

Finnegan flopped down on the bed and began to pull off his boots. "What were ya wanderin' 'round in the night for?"  

"I was checking on Theo," Cassandra replied, glancing outside. "I wanted to spend some time with someone that wasn't three sheets to the wind."  

"Clearly I'm not as drunk as you thought I was," Finnegan countered. He stood and walked to her, taking her into his arms. He loved the way her back pressed against his chest and her head rested at the crook of his neck. Nothing in his life--not whiskey, not other women, not even a good bet--had ever made him feel as strong. "I was worried 'bout ya, Little Cass. That malnourished gent disappeared 'round the same time as you did and I feared he was comin' after ya."  

"You were worried he would hurt me?" Cassandra sounded almost amused.

Finnegan snorted. "O'course not. I was concerned that ya would kill the lad should he try to touch ya. I love ya, Little Cass, but I fear ya wouldn't do well in a prison. They would make ya raise your skirts and do your business in a pot in the corner. T'would be a nightmare to a lass such as yourself."  

"My hero," Cassandra teased breathlessly.  

Finnegan's lips curved against the skin of her neck as he brushed his mouth against her. "I'm no hero, Cassandra, but I am yours."

She trembled against him but he could tell there was something else on her mind. "I'm not sure what to think of what we learned about Seamus tonight..." she whispered.  

Finnegan laughed lightly. "Ya turned him off to women, Little Cass. We already covered that bit outside."  

Cassandra pulled from his arms, turned on her heel and stomped her foot as she glared up at him. "I  am not that bad a kisser."  

"And I'm thankful for my sake," Finnegan winked. He attempted to swoop her back into his arms but she sidestepped him.  

"But other men?" she demanded seeming puzzled. "I hadn't.. I mean I had 

heard that there were men that enjoyed the company of men over women but I never imagined I’d meet one…“

"Oh, aye, I'd say you've met more than one," Finnegan assured her. "It's not the kind of thing they advertise, Little Cass. Folks tend to get a bit uptight 'bout things they have no understandin' of."  

Finnegan attempted to steal a kiss but Cassandra was lost in her thoughts as she turned away from him and breezed across the room. Finnegan sighed and slumped down into the rocking chair. He put his elbow on his knee and laid his chin in his hand as he watched her pace.  

"This can't change anything in our relationship with Seamus."  

"O'course not. I still hate him just as much now as I did before."  

"We can't treat him any differently just because we know his secret," she continued on, seemingly without hearing him.  

"I'll still treat him like the pain in the arse he is," Finnegan snickered at his own joke though he was certain that a sheltered lady like Cassandra would not catch on.  

"Seamus is a good man just a confused one. He probably thinks no one will accept him if they know...."  

Cassandra continued to ramble on and on. Finnegan found himself dozing against his hand and finally after busting his own nose with his palm, Finnegan had had enough of pretending to listen. He stood up, pulled off his clothes and slid into the bed without Cassandra even pausing in her pacing and rambling.  

"And furthermore...."  

"Cassandra?" Finnegan spoke loudly, snapping Cassandra from her monologue. She seemed puzzled and startled when her eyes fell on him in the bed with the covers over his chest and his hands behind his head.  

"What?"  

"I can think of a hundred and one better things to do with those deliciously sweet lips of yours than speak of my brother. Why don't ya get your delectable round arse into this bed and I can show ya one or two of them?"  

"I'm still angry at you over leaving me to do dish duty while you drank and had fun," Cassandra reminded him, though she was sliding from her clothes as she did so.  

"I know ya are but dishes have never been a talent of mine. Ya'd have had to wash 'em twice had I been helpin' ya."

"You always have excuses to keep from working. I find it quite convenient." Cassandra killed the lamp as she headed toward the bed and Finnegan found his eyes watching the sway of her sultry silhouette.  

"I know one bit of work I'll never try to get out of," Finnegan assured her as she climbed into the bed.  

"And what's that?" she questioned, her voice becoming breathless when his fingertips grazed her collarbone.  

"Showin' ya what a treasure ya are to a worthless ol' Irishman like me."  

---

The next morning dawned much too early for Cassandra's liking. Finnegan had kept her up until only a few hours before dawn and then her mind had been too busy racing with thoughts of Seamus for her to find sleep long after Finnegan had been snoring beside her.  

A man who laid with men. It was scandalous! And yet somehow it helped her feel a bit better about herself. Seamus hadn't simply abandoned her because she had meant nothing to him. He had abandoned her because she hadn't had a pecker between her legs; there wasn't much she could do about that.  

Cassandra moaned when she heard Mrs. Hammond's voice angrily bellowing down the halls. "Get out of bed and get ready to eat and get out of my house!"  

"Me thinks her head must be painin' her this morn,"  Finnegan spoke up sleepily.  

"Probably all that help a certain Irishman gave her to unwind last night," Cassandra muttered dryly.  

"Ya told me to help them relax, Little Cass, and I have no choice but to do as ya ask of me."  

Cassandra rolled her eyes and laughed lightly. "So obedient." She laughed harder when Finnegan flopped out his tongue and panted several times. "Let's get down to breakfast. There's nothing much worse than cold eggs."  

Cassandra and Finnegan made their way into the dining room once they had dressed and found the two old ladies from the stage with their heads laying on the table as they moaned in pain. Mr. Hammonds glared at Finnegan and Mrs. Hammonds tossed down a platter of ham before wincing at the sound.  

The skinny man from the stage and the nose picking child with him were simply looking at the entire scene with curiosity and amusement.  

"The stage leaves in one hour," the driver of the stage warned, poking his head inside the door and then slipping back out.  

"My head feels as if there are a million tiny men with hammers beating away inside of it," one of the old women whimpered.  

"I find the best cure for the mornin' after headache is a sip o'whiskey," Finnegan offered which earned him sharp glances and sharper retorts.  

Cassandra began filling her plate, glancing up when Seamus stepped into the room. He would not meet her gaze and he appeared sheepish and embarrassed as he took seat in the empty chair beside Finnegan.  

"Good mornin', Dear Seamus," Finnegan greeted brightly.  

"Yeah," Seamus grunted in response.  

Cassandra could tell that Finnegan was about to say something more and she shoved a biscuit in his mouth to silence him. "They taste quite good don't they?" she inquired pointedly.  

Finnegan grinned and began to chew, crumbs tumbling down his chin and across his shirt.  

Breakfast was quiet and somber as they all began to dine. Footsteps drew Cassandra's attention back to the entryway as Calvin stepped inside. She saw his blue eyes dart straight to Seamus. A blush colored Calvin's cheeks and Seamus' lips curved slightly before he buried his face back in his food.  

Calvin's shoulders slumped a little as he headed toward the only free seat which was on the other side of the table and two chairs down from Seamus. Finnegan seemed to notice the dilemma and he stood quickly. "Here ya go, Calvin, take my seat."  

"Why would he want your seat?" Mr. Hammonds demanded as Calvin paused with his hand on the back of the chair he'd been pulling out. "There's a perfectly good chair right here."

Finnegan's brown eyes lit with amusement and Cassandra covered her face, knowing the man was about to say something that would cause an outburst. Seamus began to stand but Finnegan put his hand on his shoulder. "I know that there is a chair right there and I'd like to sit in it. My brother and I don't exactly love one another at the best o' times and after the punch he threw at me last night I don't want to sit beside him and attempt to eat my lovely meal that Mrs. Hammonds spent so long makin'"  

"I ruin your appetite now?" Seamus demanded quietly.  

Finnegan patted him on the head. "Don't take offense, Dear Seamus. Ya've always ruined my appetite."  

"Do what you want as long as you stop talking!" Mrs. Hammonds snapped.  

Cassandra could see the happiness in Calvin's face as he switched chairs with Finnegan. She couldn't miss the way that Seamus shifted in his chair as well and the blush that lit up his stubble covered cheeks was endearing...

Finnegan flashed her a grin and wink and she fell even more in love with the man. She was proud of him. He had managed to keep his mouth shut and do something nice for his brother all in one morning.  

---

"I need to talk to you both," Seamus caught Cassandra and Finnegan on the way to the barn and followed them both inside.  

"We're gettin' ready to leave, Seamus," Finnegan replied. "I'm only gettin' Theo and that mare of yours ready so we can follow the stage out..."  

"I know--" Seamus shifted his feet. "But I need to talk to you both about something before we leave."  

"What's going on, Seamus?" Cassandra questioned warily when Calvin walked into the barn as well with a sack over his shoulder and a hat clutched in his hand.  

"No, no no!" Finnegan shook his head and held up his hand. "No, we won't have someone else comin' along with us!"  

"Finnegan, you don't really have a choice," Seamus countered. "I'm coming and he's made the choice to come with me."  

"Ya told him 'bout..." Finnegan clenched his fists and lowered his voice. "Ya told him 'bout what we're after then?"  

"Yes," Seamus replied without apology.  

"Seamus, you had no right to do that!" Cassandra scolded. "Not without talking to us first. This is Finnegan's treasure...."  

"

Our treasure,“ Finnegan amended, taking her hand.

Cassandra swallowed hard. A treasure that she had no earthly idea how to find and yet hadn't managed to tell either of her companions that just yet.  

"It's not something we're going to be sharing with everyone that decides to follow along," Cassandra warned. She did not want anyone else staking their future on a treasure that was only going to lead to disappointments when it was realized that they couldn't find it.  

"He'll share my take with me," Seamus assured them both, throwing back his shoulders.  

"I'm not coming along for the money," Calvin added, sounding very much like a heart sick child as he gazed at Seamus.  

That was enough to tug at Cassandra's heartstrings but Finnegan snorted. "Yeah right! Everyone is here for the money! I'm here because I have debts, Cassandra is here to lead us to the money and Seamus wants to collect a pretty fortune. That is why it's called a treasure hunt," he snapped.  

Cassandra felt her spine stiffen, "Is that still all this is about, Finn? Money?"  

Finnegan gave her a look that made it clear he feared for her sanity and then he shook his head, "Don't ya go puttin' words in my mouth that were never there."  

"I don't have to, Finnegan. You say plenty without my help," Cassandra snapped. "I have no problem with Calvin coming along and sharing in Seamus' portion of the treasure. And since I'm here to lead you to your money so you can pay your debts I believe my opinion should be held in high regard."  

"Don't do this, Little Cass...." Finnegan begged.  

"I'm doing nothing. I'm merely agreeing with what you said. This is a treasure hunt, we want money and having an extra set of eyes and pair of hands can only prove to be useful."  

"I have two horses and some supplies I'll be bringing as well," Calvin spoke up.  

"Good. I'll no longer have to share a horse with Finnegan. I daresay that will give him more room to haul his treasure."  

"Cassandra...." Finnegan tried to speak but Cassandra did not want to hear it. She was tired of hearing of this treasure--a treasure that was the only reason her best friend had even bothered to come looking for after all this time--a treasure that she was lying to them all about--a treasure that was eating away at her conscience with every day that she didn't tell them the truth! But she couldn't! Not now. What if Finnegan turned his back on her over the lie? This treasure meant so much to him and Cassandra still wasn't convinced that she meant more.  

"The stage is leaving in mere minutes, Finn, and I'm not willing to be left behind." With that Cassandra turned and walked from the barn, not looking back at the men she'd left standing there.

---

Finnegan watched her go and felt his heart hurting.  

"Shite!" he exclaimed, kicking at a pile of straw on the ground. Damn that stubborn, spoiled woman and damn himself for saying something he hadn't meant! Didn't she realize by now that she was so much more to him than treasure or money?  

"You handled that well," Seamus muttered dryly.  

Finnegan glared at his brother. "You invited yourself along for this journey and now you're bringin' a friend--there won't be nobody else. If this Calvin doesn't work out then you had best keep your mouth shut with your other men and not say a damned word about this treasure to anyone else."  

"Okay," Seamus agreed quickly and the unexpected response was enough to have Finnegan simply staring and blinking for several moments.  

"Well good then." He turned to Calvin. "And what did ya tell your mother and father was the reason for your sudden journey? Not the company I take it," he said looking back and forth between the men.  

"No," Calvin shrugged. "I never have been one to stay around home for long. They're used to it."  

Finnegan heard the coach driver hollering for everyone and he sighed. There would be no making up with Cassandra until tonight at least. They would only be with the stage for a few more days and Finnegan would be happy when they got away from it. He wanted to have more time with Cassandra and less time separated by all the people around them.  

"Well alright then," Finnegan nodded. "And Seamus?"  

"What?" Seamus asked.  

"If you're gonna give the man a kiss I'd do it now. That malnourished gent in the stage seems the jealous type."

Chapter Twenty-Four

Chapter Twenty-Four

"Surely ya aren't still angry at me?"  

Cassandra rolled her eyes as she shifted in the stage coach seat and tried desperately to ignore the constant rambling of Finnegan in her ear.  

"Little Cass, Little Cass give me a grin. Ya cannot stay mad at your best pal Finn."  

Cassandra tried desperately to disguise the short bark of laughter that left her chest as a cough but the amusement in Finnegan's voice when he spoke again let her know that she had failed.  "Ya know I love ya, Little Cass. Ya cannot stay angry at me forever for one foolish slip of my tongue. Ya know I have no control over the damned thing and it's gotten me in more trouble than a little. Ya know I....."  

"Oh for the love of God would you simply tell the man you are no longer angry at him so he will cease speaking! He has not stopped for hours!"  

"Yes, it's nearly as annoying as the two you bickering for five days straight was!" Cassandra snapped back at the elderly woman causing her to lay her hand over her abundant bosom and gasp while her companion covered her over nourished belly and declared how horrid Cassandra and her friends were.  

Cassandra was fighting laughter with a fierce desperation as she turned and fixed her gaze on Finnegan. He seemed unflustered by the tension in the stage coach as he sat across from her and smiled imploringly. "Please say ya aren't angry."  

Cassandra sighed. It was no use even pretending to be angry at the giant buffoon. He hadn't truly done anything wrong... it was her own guilt over her dishonesty causing her to take what he'd said as something more than it was.  

"I'm not angry at you, Finn."  

"Glad you both got that worked out," Skinny man grumbled.  

"Me too," Finnegan agreed. He reached across the space separating his knees from Cassandra's and took her hands. "Ya know ya mean more to me than--" he paused and glanced around. "--than anythin' else."  

Cassandra looked into her eyes and found that she believed him. Suddenly she felt very foolish and cruel for keeping this secret about the map from him. Finnegan wouldn't simply turn his back on her. He loved her. She claimed to have faith in him but was not doing very well in proving that. The map and the treasure might be what had brought him back to her but it wasn't what would keep them together. Besides, Finnegan was resourceful and she was learning to be as well. They would figure the map out together or find someone else who could.  

"Finn, there's something really important I need to talk to you about as soon as we have some time alone, okay?"  

Finnegan dropped to his knees, elbowing skinny man's leg in the process, and rested his head on her knee. "Are ya alright?"  

"I'm fine, I promise." Cassandra glanced at the grumbling patrons inside the stage coach. "But you won't be in a matter of moments if you don't stop angering everyone."  

"I don't know how you've managed to stay cooped up in here for all these days." Finnegan shook his head. "The company is dreadful."  

"Finnegan!" Cassandra snapped but before she could further scold him cries of alarm came from the driver and shot gunner up front and Seamus' voice was filling the air,  

"What do you folks want?"  

Finnegan's entire demeanor changed. His body stiffened as he moved to the window, practically laying across the lap of the former bickering women as the stage came to a jerking halt.  

Cassandra grabbed the sidewall to keep from falling and Finnegan cursed. "Shite! This could be trouble."  

"Trouble?" Cassandra's eyes widened. "What kind of trouble?"  

Finnegan wouldn't meet her gaze and then the conversation began outside the stage. "You might as well put those guns down," an unfamiliar male voice advised. "We're not here to rob or harm any innocent folks. We're looking for someone."  

"Who are you looking for?" Seamus questioned, sounding calm and composed as if he were simply talking about the weather with a man at the local feed store. Finnegan on the other hand was sweating bullets, cursing under his breath and his knees were knocking together.  

"We're looking for a man named Finnegan Callahan."  

"Finn?" Cassandra whispered. He just kept his gaze on the floor of the stage.  

"What do you want with Finnegan and what makes you think he's with us?" Seamus inquired.   

"We saw him this morning so we know he's with you," the stranger replied. "Now, Finnegan, you can either come on out willingly or we can take you by force which might end with that pretty little woman you have getting hurt. We'd all hate for that to happen so why don't you come on out?"  

"Finn, what are you doing?!" Cassandra hissed as Finnegan began to slide off his gun belt.  

"I'm goin', Little Cass."  

"You can't just go! Who are these men, Finnegan?" Cassandra demanded, grabbing his arm. "What do they want?"  

Finnegan flashed a smile, albeit a bit of a shaky one and leaned toward her. He hugged her neck, kissed her ear and then stood straight, causing Cassandra to wince when she felt a tug in her hair.  

"I love ya, Little Cass, and I'll be back by bed time."  

He took the leather bound map from his shirt and sat it and his gun belt in her lap. Cassandra sat there in a state of shock as Finnegan opened the door. She was momentarily blinded by the sun as it came pouring into the stage and when her eyes adjusted Finnegan was gone.  

"Finnegan, there you are."  

Cassandra threw back the curtain just in time to see a man land a breath stealing punch to Finnegan's gut. Letting out a cry of rage Cassandra shoved the map into the waistband of her skirt and burst from the stage leaving the gun belt lying in the seat. She strode to the man with the angry fists and shoved him roughly.  

"You won't hit him!" she warned.  

Laughter surrounded her and Cassandra realized that she'd just bitten off quite a bit more than she could chew when she saw the six other men on horseback around them. Seamus was off to the side glaring at her, Calvin was watching Seamus as if waiting for some word on what to do and the stage driver and shot gunner appeared ready to run at the first available moment.  

"Aren't you a feisty one?" the man Cassandra had shoved jeered as he grabbed her arm and tugged her.  

"Aye, she is, but ya would not want her. Damn pain in the arse is what she truly is," Finnegan assured him, shoving his body between them and breaking the man's hold on Cassandra.  

Cassandra clenched her fists at her sides and stood her ground, looking around until she found the man who was sitting a bit taller in his saddle than the others. "Are you in charge?"  

The man tipped his sweat-stained brown hat. "Most of the time."  

"What do you want with this man?" she questioned, finding that her years of training in masking her emotions were coming in quite handy just now. Inside she was scared very nearly to death for her man but outside she was cool, calm and collected.... All except for that rattling sound coming from her skirts which she suspected were her kneecaps.  

"Well, ma'am, since you've asked so politely, we are what you might call human retrieval experts."  

Cassandra crossed her arms under her breasts. "Bounty hunters?"  

"Some would call us that," the man nodded. "It seems that Finnegan here made some bets with a good associate of ours and then didn't hold up his end of the financial arrangement. Now our associate would like to have a sit down chat to discuss how best to deal with the situation."  

Cassandra stared hard at Finnegan and he averted his gaze as he flushed with shame. Cassandra knew that if Finnegan left with these men he would die. They would take him to their 

associate and she would never see the man she loved again.

"I will match whatever you're being paid," Cassandra blustered. "What 

are you being paid?“

"More than you can match," the leader of the men assured her. "And we have to be going now."  

Cassandra watched as Finnegan's hands were cuffed behind his back. "'Twill be fine, Little Cass. It's just a chat they wish to have," Finnegan assured her. "Just a chat."  

"Finn...." Cassandra couldn't believe this was happening! Just like that, with no warning, Finnegan was going to be gone. Cassandra felt her heart rip in half. She could not lose him. She could not lose the big-mouthed, slightly annoying, hyperactive, flirtatious, shiftless, drink loving, sticky-fingered man that she loved with all her heart.  

"Don't ya worry your pretty heart, love. I'll come back to ya," Finnegan promised, a charming smile lighting up his face and causing his brown eyes to sparkle. Cassandra found herself believing him--or wanting to believe him so badly that she simply had no choice.  

"Why don't we take her too?" one of the men on horseback asked as he leered at Cassandra, his beady eyes raking up and down her body. "She looks like she could be fun."  

"No fun at all that one," Finnegan shook his head. "Gretchen there has had a bit too much fun in her time, if ya know what I mean. Though the cream the doctor ordered was supposed to clear up the rash...."  

"We've got no time or supplies for bringing a woman along," the boss cut Finnegan off as the man who had been interested made a face of disgust and backed his horse up a few paces. Cassandra didn't know whether to kiss Finnegan or punch him in his throat.  

"Let's go men. Sorry to have alarmed you fine folks," the leader of the group tipped his head. "We'll be on our way now."  

Cassandra stood there with no other option but to watch a rope be tied to Finnegan's neck and him be led away on foot. He was whistling a song and appeared to be taking a leisurely stroll but Cassandra knew this was no laughing matter.  

Finnegan Callahan could very well end up dead.  

"Seamus!" she exclaimed, rushing over to the horse Seamus was sitting on. "Do something!"  

"Do what?" Seamus snapped. "There are seven well trained men with guns, Cassandra. Anything I do will only end with a lot of people dead. Finnegan brought this on himself."

"How can you say that?!" Cassandra demanded angrily.  

Seamus snorted. "How can you still defend him? The man nearly let you be violated because he was lost in whiskey and a willing woman. He lies, he cheats, he steals and he drinks and gambles away any money he might have. I told you when this all started that Finnegan was no good for you and that he was going to wind up dead. I was right."  

Cassandra felt as if the air had been knocked from her lungs. Seamus was serious. He wasn't going to help his brother. "You're a monster... you're worse than your father was, worse than Finnegan has ever thought of being! At least they are honest about their vices and flaws. You attempt to seem a good man but are unwilling to do anything now. That is your 

brother !“

"Yes and if he would quit taking money from people he cannot pay then he wouldn't be in this mess. Cassandra, there is nothing I can do. I won't die rushing in to save his life when he's only going to be in this same exact mess in no time. This is normal for Finnegan and that's why I warned you away from him. A life with him is no life. He'll always be running and you'll always be wondering if this is the time that the bastard's luck is finally going to run out."  

Cassandra was having none of that! Seamus was wrong. The stage driver called for her to get back on but she ran to Theo who was tied to the back instead. Finnegan had tied the horse there and gotten in the stage with her to beg her forgiveness that morning.  

Cassandra untied a snorting Theo's ropes and was about to mount him to take off after Finnegan when Seamus was suddenly beside her and grabbing her arm. "You won't go anywhere near those men," he growled low and deep.  

Cassandra tried to jerk her arm away but he held her tight. "Someone has to help, Finn!" she insisted. Theo let out a whinny, yanked his head and pulled the lead rope from Cassandra's hand. She watched in desperation as the horse took off into the woods, galloping out of sight and into the trees.  

Tears filled her eyes. She'd lost her man and her horse!  

"Come on now and get inside," Seamus urged, leading her toward the door. Cassandra's movements were stiff and jerking. She allowed herself to be sat down on the bench seat and leaned against the wall.  

Tears broke loose and slipped down her cheeks but she didn't care. Finnegan was gone. Theo was gone. No one was going to help her get either of them back.  

She clutched at her skirts and simply prayed. Prayed that Finnegan would be resourceful enough to get himself out of the mess that he'd found himself in. Prayed that he hadn't only been telling her what she wanted to hear when he had said he'd be back before bed.  

Damnation, it was painful to love a wild Irishman.  

---

Finnegan sat on the rock that was his bed and listened to the sound of the men holding him captive preparing for slumber. His neck was raw and hurting from the rope that was around it and his shoulders and arms were aching from being tied behind him all day.  

At least he was a fit man because he'd been on his feet, following along behind horses all day and a lesser man might have sore calves. Finnegan's calves were fine.... It was his knees that were killing him.  

He had learned from catching snippets of conversation throughout the day that it was a man named Martin Timpleton that had ordered these men to find him. Finnegan vaguely remembered old Martin. He'd been  at a horse race that Finnegan had found himself placing bets on. Of course the whiskey that Finnegan had spent the morning all but bathing in had clouded his better judgment and he had taken money from Martin Timpleton to place some bets that he assured the man would pay out richly.  

Finnegan had been wrong.  

But at least he knew his life wasn't in danger. At least not at the moment. Martin would want him alive, not dead. A dead man could not pay you back. However Finnegan's well being was still up in the air because a severely beaten and bloodied man 

could pay you back.

"Check those cuffs on his wrists and make sure that rope is secure on that tree," the lead man, who the others called Van, ordered.  

"Such accommodatin' folks ya are," Finnegan smiled at the short, skinny man that came over to obey Van's command.  

Finnegan winced as the rope around his neck was tightened a bit and his arms jerked. "He's secure."  

"Good. I'll bed down close to him but he ain't going anywhere. Let's all get some sleep men; it's been a long day."  

Finnegan grinned at Van as the other man stretched out a bedroll. "Quit staring at me. It makes me uncomfortable."  

"I can't help but stare at such an attractive paintin' of what a man should be," Finnegan replied thoughtfully. "Ya truly are a masterpiece."  

"Keep talking like that and I'll break your damn jaw."  

"I'm merely statin' truths," Finnegan batted his lashes, "If ya feel eyes on ya tonight that'd just be me takin' in the beauty. If I catch ya smilin' mayhap I'll know you're thinkin' o' me too."  

"Stupid, Irishman. Quit running that mouth and go to sleep. You're gonna have a long trip on foot tomorrow, you arrogant bastard."  

Finnegan laughed quietly and curled up on his rock. His shoulder ached against the cold stone and the rough fibers of the rope chaffed into his skin but he settled down none the less and waited.  

Waiting games were always the hardest to play but he could play them well. Especially if they would lead to him being back with Cassandra where he belonged. He was done with the bets on horse races, buggy races and all speed competitions in general. Just simple poker games for him from here on out and always with his Little Cass by his side to keep him thinking straight.  

He knew now that the life he'd been leading before he'd found that treasure map and gone back to his best friend would have ended with him dead. He would not have made it very much longer and he would have died alone without a single person who knew or cared that he was no longer around.  

Now he had Little Cass and he would not let her down. He was not going to die today; he was not going to die for a very long time until they were old and gray and terrorizing all the other old folks at the church socials.  

Yes, he was an Irishman. He could not keep a secret, talked too much and had a knack for getting into trouble. He loved to gamble, he loved his whiskey and he loved flirting with a pretty lass but the simple truth was that he loved Cassandra more. All he wanted was to get away from these rather ignorant and foul-smelling captors of his and get back to her. She was no doubt worried sick about him though he had told her not to worry.  

This wasn't the first time Finnegan had been caught and while he hoped it was, there was a good chance that it wouldn't be the last. He knew well how to get away when the time was right.  

Seconds ticked by, becoming minutes which in turn became hours. Darkness closed in tightly around the camp, the firelight began to wane and moonlight lit up the start speckled sky.  

Owls hooted, sticks popped and cracked as critters moved about the forest on their nighttime prowls. Still Finnegan waited. He waited until the only sounds within the camp were the heavy breaths, snores and grunts of slumbering men.   

Only then did he slip the hair pin from his palm into his fingers. Finnegan was grateful that Cassandra had vain tendencies when it came to her hair and had had plenty tucked within her curls so she did not notice the loss of this one.  

Biting his tongue and glancing over his shoulder Finnegan fumbled around with the lock. Sweat trickled between his shoulder blades and down his temple. Twice he nearly dropped the pin from his damp fingers but somehow managed to regain his hold at the last instant each time.  

Grinning with his victory once the chains fell away, Finnegan rubbed at his tender wrists. Then he reached into the front of his pants and pulled the knife from the sheath at his groin.  

Glancing around at the slumbering men, Finnegan cut the rope from the tree though he left it around his neck. It was dark and he was trembling with far too much excitement to be using a knife around such a delicate area.  

Finnegan sent up a prayer of thanks for men who slept too deeply as he stood up from the rock and let the blood flow return to his legs. He rubbed at his backside and rolled his shoulders.  

Now it would have been simple enough now that he had his freedom to simply leave but where would the fun in that be?  

Instead, Finnegan skipped through the camp scooping up boots as he went. He hid six pairs of the boots in the bushes but kept one that was the same size he wore. After changing boots, Finnegan went about his next task--rifling through saddlebags.  

He found a good haul. Several whiskey bottles, a small sack of coins, two fancy pocket watches, a good deal of paper money and lots of tobacco and rolling papers. Finnegan didn't smoke but he figured he could sell them to someone along the way that did and besides, he knew that it would truly piss these men right off when they woke up shoeless, without their belongings and could not even find a bit of tobacco to soothe their nerves.  

Finnegan loaded everything into one set of nice saddlebags and a sack; now to find a suitable horse. He was stepping around one of the slumbering men when the man grunted.  "What's going on?"  

Finnegan froze. He turned a wary glance to the man and then breathed a sigh of relief when he realized that the mustached fella was still much more asleep than awake. "Nothin' at all there, little one. Get ya some rest now. Sleep peaceful."  

"Are you a leprechaun?"  

Finnegan nearly snorted with laughter. "Yes," he nodded. "Yes, me thinks you're right. I'm a jolly wee leprechaun hunting lucky charms. Sleep now and dream of women with facial hair to rival yours and all the hairy babes ya will rock to sleep at night."  

The man blew out a breath through his nose, causing the wispy hairs of his mustache to dance wildly above his lip. He mumbled something about the leprechauns lack of green clothing and then relaxed back upon his bedroll and resumed his snoring.  

"Shite, that was close," Finnegan mumbled. He walked to the horses hitched beneath a large oak and looked them over to find one he wanted.  

A snorting breath against his neck had his lips curving in a smile. "Hello there, Theo. Ya better be alone because if Little Cass came with ya I'll whoop her beautiful arse myself."  

Finnegan waited for a response from Cassandra but none came and he breathed a sigh of relief. At least the woman had had the good sense to believe he'd get out of this mess and come back to her without putting herself in danger.  

Finnegan unhitched all seven horses, took off their saddles and swatted their asses, sending the beasts running off into the woods. The sounds of the hooves in the dirt had several of the men stirring. Finnegan gathered up his goodies and leapt onto Theo's back.  

"Stop!" Van hollered.  

Finnegan laughed, "I'll have to decline that invitation," he said with a shake of his head, "I'll see you gents later!"  

With a whoop and a laugh Finnegan rode off into the night leaving seven horseless, shoeless and rather angry men behind him.  

---

"That's it, Seamus. I'm going to go find Finnegan."  

"No you're not, Cassandra," Seamus replied calmly and remained sitting in the arm chair directly in front of the door of the little hotel room they'd rented for the night. Today had been their last day on the stagecoach. The driver had made it clear he didn't want anyone riding along who would bring trouble with them.

"Seamus, the man is your brother. Maybe you 

should try to make sure he’s okay,“ Calvin spoke up from where he stood beside the window looking out at the night. The two of them had been keeping Cassandra prisoner in this room all evening but it seemed as if she had finally begun to bring Calvin over to her side.

"What should I do?" Seamus demanded. "Go riding off to who knows where after seven armed men by myself?"  

"No, of course not!" Cassandra replied. "I'll be with you."  

"Yes and then if by some miracle we find Finnegan alive and well he'll try to kick my ass for allowing you anywhere near danger."  

"Oh please! Finnegan isn't nearly that protective."  

"He is of you. Clearly you haven't seen the way he looks at you."  

Cassandra felt her heart pound. "I thought you didn't approve of him and I."  

"I don't," Seamus assured her quickly. "But that doesn't change the fact that the man is in love with you. There's nothing I can do for Finnegan and this mess he got himself in. We cannot go to the law to have them help us save a man who is wanted by rich men because of gambling debts. I doubt they'd be interested in his plight."  

Cassandra stomped her foot. "We have to do 

something! I love him, Seamus, and I will not see him pay for the man he was in the past while I stand by and do nothing!“

"It's not the man he was in the past, Cassandra, he's still the same man. You're his new high, don't you see that? You've taken the place of the whiskey, the gambling and the 

women for now and you’re something new and exciting… but soon the fun will wear off for him, he’ll grow bored and he’ll be right back to doing things that will lead to him being in the same exact spot he is now.“

"You're wrong about him," Cassandra insisted, sticking out her chin and wishing she felt as certain as she sounded. Seamus seemed to know where her weakness lie in her heart and he seemed to enjoy poking those weaknesses every chance he got.  

"No, I'm not."  

"Why do you hate him so badly, Seamus?" Cassandra asked sadly. "Why do you have so much resentment and bitterness toward your brother?"  

"I'm not bitter," Seamus growled, averting his gaze.  

Cassandra looked at Calvin who was watching Seamus with curiosity and then she looked once again at Seamus as something snapped into place. A small piece of why Seamus was the way he was when it came to Finnegan.  

"It's because he can be who he is and you can't, isn't it?"  

"What?" Seamus snapped. He snorted and shook his head. "I don't know what the hell you're talking about."  

"Yes you do. Finnegan is flawed, I will agree with that completely. He drinks too much, he gambles too much, he flirts too much and he never knows when to shut his mouth. There are a million annoying things that he does every single day but he is who he is and does not have to put on false pretenses--you hate him for that because you live in a false pretense everyday."  

"Cassandra, this has nothing to do with me--"  

"Yes it does. You need to grow up, Seamus. Be a real man."  

"I am a real man--was that an insult because of what you now know about me?" his gaze darted to Calvin and then returned to her.  

Cassandra threw her head back with a groan and crossed her arms over her chest. "No, you great idiot. Do you think it matters to me one way or the other who you want to spend your time with? When I say to be a real man I mean to stop being such a sniveling child.  

Seamus was silent for a long while. Calvin was twirling a coin between his fingers  and acting as if he wanted to be anywhere but there and listening to the conversation going on between the two of them. Finally Seamus sighed. "Cassandra, Finnegan will be fine. He probably isn't even with those men anymore."  

"So you won't go after him? Your feelings toward him run that deep?"  

"It has nothing to do with my feelings and all to do with the way things are. I won't risk your safety or Calvin's safety just to go save a man who will end up in another mess tomorrow." He slumped down in the chair, stretched his legs out and pulled his hat low. "Now I'd advise you get some rest."  

Cassandra stared at Seamus and wondered why in the world she ever fancied herself in love with him. He was cold, cruel, mean and hard-hearted. How could he and Finnegan have come from the same parents? Finnegan might be a lot of things but he was none of the things that Seamus was.  

Cassandra knew that Seamus would not let her out the door but there was a ledge outside the window that would wrap around to the ladder in the alley which would take her to the ground three stories below. All that stood between her and that ledge was little Calvin and Calvin was staring at Seamus as if wondering if he'd made a good choice in coming along.  

Cassandra grabbed Finnegan's gun belt off the bed and strode to the window. Calvin raised a brow as his blue eyes looked at her curiously. She pulled Finnegan's gun and pointed it at him. "Move."  

Calvin's eyes widened and he hopped out of the way. Cassandra threw open the shutter and scrambled out the window, ignoring Seamus' exclamations for her stop. It wasn't until she was on that tiny ledge in the dark with the wind whipping her skirts that Cassandra paused to wonder what in the world she was doing.  

She did not much care for heights and all it would take was one slip on her way to that ladder and she would find herself becoming worm food. But Finnegan was worth the risk. She had to help him. She wasn't sure what she would do but she had to do 

something .

"Dammit, Cassandra, you're going to get yourself killed!"  

"Yes, but since you do not risk yourself for the welfare of anyone else I know you will not come out to stop me."  

The string of curses that left Seamus' lips had Cassandra biting back laughter and then she squeaked when she realized that he was indeed coming out the window after her.  

Cassandra began to move more quickly, scooting along the edge toward the corner. Once her foot slipped and she cried out as she nearly fell. She managed to regain her balance and reached the ladder without any further trouble--unless you counted Seamus rounding the corner after her as no trouble.

She had no idea what she would do once they were both on the ground. Seamus was sure to toss her over his shoulder and once again make her his prisoner but she was beyond reason just now. That impulsive nature of hers did not heed to rhyme or reason.  

Cassandra tossed Finnegan's gun belt over her shoulder and then cursed her skirts as they became tangled around her legs, hindering her progress down the ladder. Cassandra slipped and fell the last five feet to the ground, landing on her backside with a tooth-chattering thud that stole her breath.  

She was struggling to regain her bearings when Seamus' hand grabbed her shoulders and hauled her to her feet. "What the hell were you thinking?!" he demanded.  

"I'm thinking that I am going to save the man I love!" Cassandra snapped back, jerking away from his hold just as Calvin rounded the corner, clearly having used the hotel door.  

"Cassandra..."  

"No! You might not like Finnegan, you might not think he matters or is worth any amount of effort but I love him! I know he's a good man, a man worth any effort! I won't stand by and do nothing knowing that he could be facing death. I am going to save my best friend!"  

"There's no need to save me, Little Cass, seein as how I'm safe and sound."  

Cassandra whirled around as a cry of shock, relief and happiness burst from her mouth. She ran three steps and threw herself into Finnegan's arms. He held her tightly, his lips curving against her neck as he smiled. "I love ya, Little Cass. To hear ya sayin' such things about me makes me want to be the man ya believe I am," he whispered for only her to hear.  

Cassandra was surprised by the tears she could feel on her cheeks. She was not the crying type but now seemed a good time. She had truly believed that Finnegan was going to die and she would never see him again.  

They stayed that way for a long time but finally Seamus' throat clearing and Calvin's shifting feet had them pulling apart. Cassandra got a good look at him then. There was still a rope around his neck and his clothes were dirtier than they had been. He stunk like the backside of a hog and he looked exhausted.  

But he also had saddlebags and a sack loaded with things and Cassandra could see the bottle of whiskey hanging out of that sack. She glared at him and her fist connected solidly with his gut.  

"What the devil was that for?" he gasped as he rubbed at the abused flesh.  

"For scaring me nearly to death! I thought you were going to die, Finnegan!"  

"I told ya I'd be back, Little Cass. I don't plan on dyin' anytime soon."  

"Well now that you're back and can control your woman I'm going to bed," Seamus grumbled. He walked off around the corner with Calvin following along behind him.  

"Finn, what happened?" Cassandra asked, picking at his frayed sleeve.  

"I'm sorry ya were so worried about me. It's quite a tale but can we tell it inside, in the bed? My legs are feelin' a bit wore out."  

"Finn, your brother kept me locked up in the room. I was a prisoner," Cassandra informed him as he grabbed up the saddlebags and sack and they walked together toward the hotel door.  

"I'll thank him later."  

"Thank him?!" Cassandra demanded. "I was trying to come help you and he refused to let me! He was a monster about it."  

"I wouldn't want ya in danger for me, Little Cass, and Seamus knows that. That and he's a bit of a coward when it comes to rushin' into danger. He's used to havin' several strong men behind him--" Finnegan snickered, "In more than one way it would seem."  

Cassandra flushed bright red and tried to shake that image from her mind. "That's enough of that," she warned. "Thank God you're alive, Finn. I don't know what I'd have done if I'd lost you."  

"You won't lose me, Little Cass. It'll take more than a couple of rich man's thugs to take me away."  

"Finnegan, please promise you won't gamble your way into any more debts like those."  

"Promise that you will stick around to keep me thinkin' straight and I can promise ya I won't do it again."  

"How many more men are there out there that you owe money to?"  

"That'll come after me?" Finnegan grinned sheepishly as they climbed the stairs toward the bedroom. "Only a few. But that won't be a problem once we have the treasure, Little Cass. I am going to pay my debts and change my ways. I don't feel the urges I once felt any longer. My only urge now is to be with you."  

Seamus' words about Cassandra only being Finnegan's temporary high replayed themselves in her mind but she forced them away.  

"I can't wait to hear about what happened to you today, but Finn?"  

"Yes?"  

"If you ever scare me like that again I will kill you myself."

Chapter Twenty-Five

Chapter Twenty-Five

"Rye whiskey, rye whiskey, I don't need ya no more

Y'ave lost your appeal; it's Little Cass I adore 


She's got a sweet round arse and nice, shapely hips

Drunkenness follows a mere kiss to her lips"

"Finnegan!" Cassandra exclaimed, blushing bright red as Finnegan filled the morning with his new song.  

"I think it's rather creative," Calvin chuckled.  

"Don't encourage him. He already thinks far too highly of himself," Cassandra muttered. She sent Calvin a glare and rolled her eyes when Seamus laughed as well and Finnegan began a new verse, this one discussing her golden hair and mile long legs.  

It had been one week since Finnegan had been taken by those men and managed to escape. They had left that town at first light and traveled hard to put a lot of distance between them and anyone who might still be after Finnegan.  

One week of traveling hard north with four good horses and they were now going through north west Kansas. It would still be another month at least before they reached Montana, longer if they wanted their horses to be worth anything once they arrived, but Cassandra was in no hurry. Seamus and Finnegan were getting along somewhat better lately and Cassandra knew that the more time passed without Finnegan getting in trouble the more Seamus would realize he'd been wrong.  

Cassandra desperately wanted Finnegan to prove his brother, and her father, and everyone else who doubted him, wrong.  

"Finnegan, I'm quite certain that no one here other than you cares to hear about my physical attributes."  

"And such eye pleasin' physical attributes they are," Finnegan winked.  

"I do believe the woman is about to smack you, Finnegan," Calvin warned.

 Cassandra fought back a smile as she looked at the man she was riding beside. She liked Calvin. Over the last week she'd gotten to know him better as he'd come out of his shell a bit. He was a terribly shy man and the way they had met had had him uncomfortable around her for a long while but finally he was warming up to her.  

"Aye, she knows I enjoy it when she gets a bit rough."  

"Finnegan! You're being vulgar!" Cassandra exclaimed.  

"And the blush on your cheeks along with the twitchin' of your lips tell me that you're enjoyin' my vulgarity, Little Cass." Finnegan patted Theo's neck and then glanced at Calvin. "You should make up a song about your lover, Calvin. They tend to appreciate that kind of thing."  

"No," Seamus shook his head. "No, we don't."  

"You just admitted he was your lover," Finnegan said with a laugh as Calvin stared with shock at Seamus. "Are ya done pretendin' he's only a friend who shares your bedroll now?"  

Cassandra sighed. "Finn, leave them alone..."  

Ya know I can't do that," Finnegan shook his head. "It's not everyday your older and rather grumpy brother falls in love."

"Finnegan, that's enough." Seamus shook his head as he spared a glance at Calvin.  

Finnegan remained silent for several long seconds but Cassandra knew it would not last.  

"Seamus, Dear Seamus, Calvin loves ya so

Your smile sends his heart aflutter, your touch makes him glow

I don't understand it since you're such an ass

But his eyes gaze at you the way mine do Little Cass."

"Aww, Finn, that was actually really sweet," Cassandra admitted.  

"Sweet?" Seamus snorted, "He called me an ass."  

"If the shoe fits....." Cassandra let the rest of her comment hang and laughter from all three men filled the air.  

"Here I can make up another verse from Seamus' point of view." Finnegan sat up straighter.  

"

Calvin, my Calvin, ya make me so weak

You're soft spoken and gentle and timid and meek

Your eyes are like the ocean so deep and so blue

My love is............." 


 

The peace of the midday was suddenly shattered when a gunshot cracked in the hot summer air. Cassandra let out a scream at the deafening sound and then another cry of terror left her lips when she saw Calvin clutching his chest just below his right shoulder and bright red blood oozed out between his fingers.

"Calvin!" Seamus bellowed, jumping from his horse and catching the other man as he tumbled from the saddle.  

"Little Cass, put your head down," Finnegan ordered as he held his gun in his hand and circled around her, his eyes scanning the trees. Cassandra didn't know what to do. She realized with a hard swallow that she had heard that bullet whistle past her head. She had been less than inches from dying.  Calvin might die....

But who had been shooting at them?!  

"Oh shit!"  A man came running onto the small trail they'd been riding on through the woods and his brown eyes were wide with horror as he stared at Calvin lying bloody in Seamus' arms. "Did I shoot him?!"  

"Aye, ya did, and ya better get to explainin' your reasons rather quickly," Finnegan replied, keeping his gun trained on the man. Cassandra had never seen Finnegan appear the way he appeared now. Gone was any trace of good humor in his voice or his eyes. Gone was his easy going posture.  

He looked almost like a grown up.  

"I was shooting at a deer! I didn't realized y'all were on the other side of it and my bullet missed." The man blanched and covered his mouth with his hand. "Is he gonna be alright?"  

Seamus left Calvin sitting up in the dirt, still holding his chest and looking very much in pain and pale. Seamus surged to his feet, pulled his gun and strode toward the trembling shooter. "You better hope to God he's gonna be alright because if he dies due to you being careless I won't have mercy on you. I'll....."  

"Seamus," Calvin spoke up weakly, "It was an accident and as long as y'all get me to a doc, I'm gonna be fine. Quit scaring the man."  

Cassandra remained frozen on her mare's back. She had almost died. That was all that kept playing itself through her mind. It was different than when that man had attacked her in the alley. That time she'd been able to defend herself; she had stood a chance. Today she would have died without even knowing it was coming.

Seamus went back to Calvin and helped the man to his feet. Finnegan dismounted Theo and holstered his gun. Cassandra frowned when he pulled a bottle of whiskey from his saddlebag and walked to the trembling stranger.  

"Have ya a drink, it'll help settle your nerves," Finnegan urged, uncorking the bottle and holding it out. Cassandra could still see the anger coming off of Finnegan in waves and she wondered what he was up to.  

The stranger took the bottle in a shaking hand and quickly gulped down three big swallows. "Thank you," he gasped as he wiped his mouth. "I am real sorry...."  

Finnegan nodded and then without warning he delivered a bone-crunching punch to the heavy-set man's jaw. The man's legs crumpled and he went down hard in the dirt, shattering the bottle in his hands and sending whiskey splattering across the dirt and leaves.  

"Finnegan!" Cassandra exclaimed as Finnegan cursed and shook his hand. She realized two of his knuckles were bleeding.  

The stranger moaned and rose to his knees. Finnegan grabbed another bottle of whiskey, the last of them that he had, and held it out to the bleeding man. "Take ya another drink, it'll help with the pain." This time the man didn't take the bottle. Instead he stared up at Finnegan with fear. Cassandra was certain it was the first time anyone had looked at Finn with that particular emotion. Finnegan glared down at him. "Ya better be glad a punch to the jaw is all I gave ya. That bullet ya carelessly sent flyin' nearly hit my Little Cass." Finnegan's voice was tight. "Ya'd be gettin' worse than a punch had ya taken that lass away from me."  

"I'm.... I'm sorry," the man had tears in his eyes. "I didn't mean to hurt anybody."  

Finnegan held out his hand and helped the man to his feet. "O'course ya didn't."  

"Finnegan, Calvin needs a doctor," Seamus reminded everyone. "The bullet is still in there."  

"Y..you can bring him this way. There's a bigger trail, I have a cart parked on it that he can ride in and there's a small town less than an hour north. The doc there is real good..."

"Let's go," Seamus ordered. Calvin had a arm around Seamus' shoulders and Seamus was supporting most of the other man's weight. "Finnegan, you'll have to lead our horses."  

"I'll need a kiss as payment. Tell me, does Calvin kiss as well as Little Cass?"  

Seamus' eyes darted to the stranger and then back to Finnegan, "I wouldn't know," he ground out. Finnegan laughed heartily and then hopped on Theo and took the reins of both Seamus and Calvin's horses from Seamus' hand.  

They took off through the woods slowly and still Cassandra remained on her mare, rooted to the spot as she tried to comprehend what had just happened. Finnegan looked back and realized she hadn't moved. He flashed her a comforting smile and waved for her to join him. "Come along then, Little Cass. We'll get to rest our backs against a true bed tonight."  

---

"How is he?" Cassandra demanded the moment Finnegan stepped into their hotel room that afternoon. He took a moment to simply take in the sight of her. Her skin was pink from the scrubbing she had given it and her freckles were more pronounced. Her golden curls were damp as they draped over her shoulders and the new pink high necked blouse she had purchased at the store in town to go with her new dark brown slip-riding skirt.  

"Ya look beautiful, Little Cass," Finnegan whispered.  

"Finn! How is he?"  

"Fine, Cassandra." Finnegan walked to the tub full of cold water and began to pull off his clothes. His shirt was covered in Calvin's blood and Finnegan suspected there would be no saving it. He was tired. He had almost lost Cassandra--he could remember the panic he'd felt when the sound of that shot had echoed against the trees.  

He could remember seeing Calvin fall and being 

relieved that it wasn’t Cassandra tumbling from her saddle. He could remember calculating just how closely that bullet had come from slamming into the temple of the woman he loved. Cassandra was the only reason Finnegan was even alive, the only reason he gave a damn about trying to be a better man–if he lost her…

"Are you sure?" Cassandra asked as she sat upon the bed and chewed her fingernails.  

Finnegan sighed as he finished undressing. "Shite!" he exclaimed when he slid into the cold bathwater. "Yes I'm sure. I helped Seamus and the doctor see to him and now he and Seamus are at the docs restin'. It'll be a couple o' weeks before he's well enough to continue travelin'."  

Finnegan glanced at Cassandra when she didn't say anything more and felt his worry grow. Something was very wrong with his Little Cass. She hadn't spoken more than ten words since Calvin had been shot. She hadn't responded to his touch when he had kissed her brow upon leaving her in the hotel earlier and she seemed in a constant state of near sleep as she simply stared into nothing.  

Finnegan quickly scrubbed the dirt and sweat from a week on the trails from his body as well as Calvin's blood from his arms and hands. The soap burned his swollen and busted knuckles. Finnegan had never been one to simply throw punches. He tended to try to talk his way out of trouble or simply run away from it but when it came to Cassandra, and anyone who threatened her, hurt her or mistreated her, Finnegan had no control over his fists. Tom Ores swollen lips and broken tooth were a testament to that.  

Finnegan rinsed the soap from his hair and rose from the tub. Normally Cassandra's eyes would have been unable to leave him as he stood there dripping water on the thin, frayed carpet, but today she simply stared at the wall seeming a million miles away.  

Quickly Finnegan slid into the new pants she had picked up for him and he went to her. He dropped to his knees in front of her where she sat upon the bed and he laid his chin on her leg. "My, Little Cass, I'm worried for ya. Are ya alright?"  

She met his gaze and the fear and uncertainty in her green eyes broke Finnegan's heart. That wasn't his Cassandra.  

"No, no I'm not..." she whispered.  

He reached up his hand and slid her damp curls behind her ear. "Talk to me, lass."  

"I nearly died, Finn. I nearly died and there wouldn't have been anything I could have done to protect myself."  

Finnegan shivered at the thought. "Aye, I know that. But ya did not die. Ya are alive and well and so is Calvin."

"This time," Cassandra said tightly. "We are fine this time."  

"This time is all that counts, Little Cass," Finnegan assured her. "Life is meant to be lived in the moment. Ya can't be worryin' 'bout what almost happened or what might happen later."  

"I don't know if I can, Finn..." Cassandra sniffed back a tear and Finnegan felt his heart aching for her. Cassandra was not a weak woman. She was not a woman who cried easily or spent time doubting herself. She was head-strong, stubborn and impulsive. To see her so unsure, to see her spirit so close to broken, it tore him up inside.  

"Of course ya can. You are Cassandra Little. There's not a single lass any tougher than you," he insisted, forcing a smile that she would know was forced. Finnegan couldn't mask his feelings and mislead Cassandra anymore than she could him. They knew each other far too well.  

"Maybe, I made a mistake."  

"A mistake?"  

Cassandra looked away from him and swallowed hard. "Maybe I should have gone home."  

Finnegan felt as if he'd been punched in the gut. "Ya regret choosin' me?"  

"Yes...No... I don't know! Finnegan, I love you but maybe this life isn't for me.... Maybe I need stability."  

Finnegan stood up and took several steps backward. "Maybe ya need Thomas Shelton? Maybe ya need a life as a congressmen's daughter and the wife of a lawyer who sees you as nothin' more than a pretty trophy upon his arm? Perhaps ya need brunches and luncheons and all that high-class society instead of simply bein' the wife of a poor Irishman who loves ya?"  

"Finnegan, dammit, don't make this about you! I'm scared!" Cassandra exclaimed, jumping to her feet.  

Finnegan shook his head. "Why are ya so scared, Little Cass? Today was an accident, I understand it rattled ya but this just isn't like you to be so blindly frightened."  

"It's not blind fear, Finn! I've nearly been violated once...."  

"Yes, and I'll never forgive myself for that but it's in the past and ya took care of him well enough."  

"That's not all, Finn. Not only was  I nearly violated but my father nearly killed you, those men nearly killed you and wanted to do worse to me, I was nearly shot today, I watched someone I care about be shot..." Cassandra wiped her face and shook her head. "I'm scared of dying, Finn."  

"Little Cass--" Finnegan took her hands in his. "--I'm not too fond of the idea myself. And I can promise ya here and now that I'll do everythin' I can to make sure ya don't die until you're old, gray and can no longer lift your own skirts to relieve yourself."  

"No jokes, Finnegan."  

Finnegan was disappointed when his wit didn't seem to help her mood. "I need this treasure, Cassandra. I 

need that money. It’s all I’ve thought about for a long long time.“

"

All you’ve thought about?“ Cassandra snapped.

Finnegan sighed. "Why are ya always doin' that?"  

"Doing what?"  

"Turnin' 'round everythin' I say and puttin' words in my mouth!" Finnegan exclaimed, tossing his hands in the air.  

"I'm not, Finnegan! You just said that the treasure is all you've thought about for a long long time and that you 

need it. Those were your words, Finn. How am I supposed to take them?“

"Well how am I supposed to take you tellin' me that choosin me was a mistake?" Finnegan countered. "I have done everythin' I can to prove to ya that I love ya. I haven't been this clear headed and low on whiskey in my blood since I was little more than a boy. I haven't even been tempted to lay with any other woman but you. I haven't been gamblin like I used to and I have pockets full of cash that I've been usin' to keep ya fed and clothed to prove it. What more do ya want from me, Cassandra?"  

"I want to forget about this treasure and settle down somewhere. Today was enough. I've had enough adventure."  

Finnegan shoved his hand through his hair and paced the room. "Shite! You are one spoiled, selfish woman! Ya promised me ya'd help me find my treasure."  

"And you promised I'd come second to nothing!" Cassandra snapped with tears streaming down her cheeks.  

Her tears tore Finnegan's heart to pieces but the woman wanted too much! He had changed himself completely and it wasn't enough.  

'

We’re Irishman my boy. We are who we are and to try to be anythin’ different will only leave us miserable.’ Finnegan heard his father’s words in his mind. Those were the words he had said when Finnegan had confronted him at the age of eight. Finnegan’s mama had been crying because his father had once again been unfaithful to her and also lost all the money they’d had to feed the family that month. Finnegan had been so angry at the man but his father had laughed about it and told Finnegan those words.

Finnegan shook his head. He didn't want to be that man! He didn't want to be his father! He wanted to be the man that Little Cass said he could be. He wanted to be her man. He wanted her more than 

anything .

"Little Cass, the most important thing in this world to me is you. Surely ya know that? But I have to have that treasure for us to have a future. If I don't have the treasure, I can't pay off me debts and I will never know peace."  

Cassandra met his gaze and in a voice so quiet it strained his ears to listen she told him something that he was certain must have been a joke. "Finnegan, I can't read the map."

Chapter Twenty-Six

Chapter Twenty-Six

Finnegan blinked. He frowned and tilted his head. He studied Cassandra closely. He wanted to look into her green eyes but she seemed to determined to keep her eyes on the floor now that she'd spouted a truth that couldn't possibly be true.  

"Come again, then?" he urged.  

"I said, I can't read the map. I never could. The seal tells me it's Montana but I couldn't tell you where in Montana it is," Cassandra whispered.  

Finnegan took several steps back and sat down hard in the arm chair beside the door. "Why on earth did ya tell me that ya could?"  

Cassandra shrugged as she flopped down on the edge of the bed. "Because, I wanted an adventure. I wanted a way out of my life and I knew that you would not give me the chance to come with you unless I could read your map."  

Finnegan's first instinct was to scoff and tell her she was wrong about that. He wanted to get angry and be upset but then he realized that she was right. Back then, what seemed so long ago now, Finnegan would have left her behind. He wouldn't have brought Cassandra with him had he felt like she had nothing to offer him. He was a different man now; had been a different man for quite a while.  

With a sigh, Finnegan rose and went to sit beside her on the bed. "Little Cass, I want a life with ya. You're my best friend and I love ya more than I've ever loved anyone or 

anythin’ else. We’ll figure out the map. We’ll show it to Calvin and Seamus and between the four of us mayhap we’ll learn to read it. All I know is that I have to have the treasure to have the future with ya that I want and I have to have ya with me. I know that today scared ya a bit but it was a fluke, Little Cass. An accident.“

Cassandra stared hard at him a moment as if she were very confused. "That's it?" she whispered.  

"What's it?" Finnegan asked, leaning closer to nuzzle her neck. She tasted so sweet and he truly could not get enough of her. She made him feel lighter, higher, better than any bet or whiskey ever had.  

He felt her tremble but she pulled away from him and put her hand on his forehead to stop him from following her neck. "You aren't angry?"  

"Angry? No, I feel no anger toward ya. I understand why ya misled me back then and ya had good reason to. Just don't leave me now, Little Cass. We've come this far together, let's finish this adventure. We'll figure the map out. Without your help I never would have known it was Montana that the piece of parchment was pointin' me toward."  

Cassandra nodded as she sat up straighter and dried her face. "I'm with you, Finn. I don't want a life without you. I'm sorry I panicked that way."  

"Well ya can make it up to by removin your hand from my brow," Finnegan wiggled his eyebrows. "And allowing me to continue explorin' that beautiful neck of yours."  

Cassandra smiled, a sight that made Finnegan's heart swell and she moved her hand from his head. Finnegan was about to continue his feast when a sudden thought made him pause. "Can I ask ya one more thing then?"  

"If you must.." Cassandra winked. "Though I'd much rather have you exploring my neck than using that Irish gift of gab."  

Finnegan tilted his head. "I understand why ya misled me that first night. I understand that ya wanted to come with me and feared I would not bring ya along if ya did not know how to read the map--and you were probably right to think so back then..."  

"What's your question, Finn?"  

"Why did it take ya this long to tell me the truth? It's been two months at least since then. Why are ya just now tellin me ya can't read the map?"  

Cassandra shifted uncomfortably and licked her lips. When her green eyes averted their gaze from his, Finnegan suddenly knew he was not going to like her answer. "Does it matter?" she questioned, sounding almost annoyed.  

Finnegan took her hand gently. "Aye, it does."  

"I was...afraid."  

"Afraid?"  

"I thought that you would no longer want me if I couldn't read your map. I thought that you would change your mind about me if I wasn't helping you find your treasure."  

---

Cassandra regretted her words instantly. Finnegan's tan complexion paled. His eyes reddened and his jaw dropped. He rose to his feet slowly, looking more broken than she had ever seen a man look.  

"So that's what ya really think of me then?"  

"Finn..."  

"Don't." He held up his hand to silence her. "Don't call me Finn. Only my best friend ever called me that."  

Cassandra's heart fell to her feet. "Finnegan, I am your best friend. I'm more than that. I love you and I want to spend my life with you..."  

"But ya don't believe me a good man. Ya don't have faith in me. That was just a load of malarkey you were feedin' me." he spat, taking several steps away from her. Cassandra nearly cried out in pain as his eyes shot daggers into her even as a tear slipped down his right cheek.  

"Finnegan, what are you talking about? Of course I have faith in you."  

"Don't lie to me! Ya know I always thought I was a good judge of character. It comes with gamblin'; ya learn to read 'tween the lines when folks speak to ya. Ya really had me fooled, Cassandra Little. Ya slipped past my defenses somehow. Ya made a worthless ol' Irishman who was content with who he was truly think he could be somethin' better."  

"Finn..."

"But ya didn't mean a damned word of it!" Finnegan snapped, cutting her off. He grabbed the shirt she had purchased for him to wear off the chair.  

"Of course I did! Finnegan, how can you think I didn't?! Look how many times I've stuck up for you; to Seamus and to my own father!"

"All for the sake of the adventure ya so desperately wanted to have. To get out of a marriage to Thomas Shelton. To get out of a life like your mother's. Actions speak louder than words, Cassandra Little, and your actions were to lie to me."  

"I thought you said you weren't angry over the map?"  

"Aye, I'm not." Finnegan walked to the saddlebags and yanked the leather bound parcel out of them. He tossed it carelessly and Cassandra caught it against her chest. "Keep it. I no longer need that treasure."  

Cassandra had never seen Finnegan this way. He seemed cold, angry and hurt.... What had she done to him?!

"But I thought you said we needed it... for our future?" she whispered, somehow managing to form words around the lump in her throat.  

"We have no future, Cassandra. Go get your treasure, have your adventure or go home and go back to your life. It does not matter to me. I'm a selfish bastard; you can ask anyone and they'll tell ya it's the truth. I can't be trusted. I only care about meself. I only care about money."  

"Finnegan..." Cassandra reached for him but he yanked away.  

"Do ya..." his voice cracked as tears spilled from his brown eyes and he wiped them away viciously. "Do ya have any idea what y'ave done to me? I worked so hard to be the man that ya led me to believe ya thought I was. I wanted to be the man ya deserved and I was damn close to gettin' there. Shite, I passed up a gaming hall, a saloon, a brothel and a dice game in an alley on my way to ya just today and wasn't a bit tempted to stop at any of them because I knew my Little Cass would need me. I did 

everythin ’ I could do to prove to ya that I loved ya. I changed my ways completely and I did it all for you; all because my Little Cass had faith in me. She believed in me. She saw something in me that no one else did….“

"Finnegan, I do," Cassandra insisted, her voice little more than a broken whisper through the broken-hearted tears streaming down her face.  

"Lies. O'course I shouldn't be surprised that the daughter of a politician would be good at them. Ya don't think me a good man. Ya don't think me someone ya can trust or have faith in. If ya did then you would have told me about that map when we were confessin' our love to one another, or a million other times y'ave had a chance to in the weeks it's been since."  

Cassandra had nothing to say. She didn't know what to say. He wouldn't listen to her; he'd made that clear. And why should he? She had told him a million times about the faith she had in him and yet she had not trusted him enough to tell him the truth... she was everything he said and he had every right to hate her.  

"I could forgive ya just about anything, Cassandra Little, just as y'ave forgiven me but I cannot forgive this. I won't spend my life tryin' desperately to convince the woman I love that I'm someone worth lovin' in return."  

Finnegan slid on his boots, threw the saddlebags over his shoulder and walked to the door. Without even a backward glance he opened the door, stepped into the hall and closed the door behind him.  

The clicking of that door sliding into place resounded throughout the tiny room. Cassandra stood there a moment, feeling numb; cold. Then slowly the nothingness faded and pain took its place.  

Cassandra's body convulsed in wracking sobs as she fell to her knees, wrapped her arms around herself and wept her grief.

---

Finnegan had never felt so broken, so hurt, so lost.... Not even when his mother had died. At least when that sweet angel of a woman had died he had had his Little Cass to turn to. He had had her warm arms to hold him, her soothing words to offer him comfort, her soft lips to kiss....  

What was a man to do when the one person you thought you could always count on turned out to be the one who dealt you the most crippling blow?  

He was to get insanely drunk...that's what he was to do.  

Finnegan made a beeline for the saloon. It was a rickety old building, not looking as if it wouldn't stand up to much more than a light breeze. Knowing he no longer had anything to lose and had lost his only reason to be a good man, Finnegan sidled up to the bar to forget all about the past two months and get back to being the man his father had always taught him he was....

He knew his father had been right. He was just like the man and Cassandra, his Little Cass, the only person in the world who had ever claimed to see him differently, had let him know today that all the words she'd spouted had been lies.  

"I'll be havin' me a whiskey then, good sir!" Finnegan said, laying coins down on the bar. The bartender filled a shot glass with whiskey and Finnegan grabbed his arm when he went to move away. "Just be leavin' me the bottle."  

---

Seamus stood up from Calvin's bedside and stretched out his aching back and legs, working out the cramps in his muscles that too long in that tiny chair had caused.  

Calvin was asleep and peaceful. He would need plenty of rest to recover from all the blood he had lost and it would be several weeks before his wound was healed enough for him to be riding hard once again toward Montana. The bullet had gotten lodged against his shoulder blade and it had taken quite a bit of work to get it out.  

Seamus felt his stomach roll when he remembered the blood, Calvin's cries of pain, the desperation that he had felt upon thinking the man he loved was going to die....

Loved?  

Seamus nearly sat back down hard when the truth of his feelings hit him. Slowly he walked to the window and glanced outside. He loved Calvin.  

True they had only known one another a week but his feelings were real. Never had Seamus been in love. He'd spent his life trying to be the perfect example of what he'd been told a man should be. Strong. Brave. Tough. Steady. Stern. Powerful. He had wanted to hide his true nature; hide that what he desired was something thought to be an abomination.  

But there was that feeling in his heart and it couldn't be denied. He was in love with Calvin. Finnegan, with all his jokes, had somehow seen that and known before Seamus had.  

Seamus walked back to the bed and pressed a tender kiss to Calvin's brow. The man moaned quietly but did not wake and for that Seamus was glad. He wouldn't want Calvin to see the tears in his eyes.  

Seamus stepped out the back door of the docs that led to an alley and he stood there against the wall for a time simply collecting his thoughts which had turned to Finnegan.  

Cassandra had been right. A lot of Seamus' contempt for his brother had stemmed from Finnegan being accepted for who he was--a drunkard, bed-hopping, gambling, fool--while Seamus could never get the same acceptance for who he was. But it had been more. Seamus had seen his father every time he had looked at Finnegan. Their father had hated Seamus--had known there was something 

off about him as he had said many times. Their father had been a monster who had hurt their mother over and over and over again.

And Seamus had thought Finnegan just like him. For a while Finnegan had been. But then Cassandra had come back into their lives.  

Seamus had seen something in the last week with the help of a few long talks with Calvin. Finnegan was a different man now and he truly loved Cassandra. It seemed that his wayward younger brother had grown up--hell the man had been the one to hold it together and remain strong while Calvin had been screaming in pain, bleeding, lying on the doctor table and Seamus had been losing his mind with fear.   

Seamus knew that he and Finnegan would always be very different men but the fact remained that they were family. Seamus was no longer only riding along in hopes of getting a portion of that treasure; he now was there because he wanted to be with his little brother.  

"Seamus!"  

Seamus turned his head and saw Tom Ore, swollen mouth, broken tooth and guilty eyes, walking down the alley toward him.  

Seamus' first instinct was to give the man another punch but he fought it back. Shooting Calvin had truly been an accident and while Seamus didn't appreciate the man being so careless, he was sure Finnegan had already taught the man a lesson in that.  

"What do you want?" Seamus questioned.  

"To apologize... again." Tom replied, wringing his meaty hands.  

"You've already done that at least twenty times. I done told you I forgive you, what more do you want?"

"To make amends somehow. How about I treat you and your friends to dinner tonight at the diner and just as soon as Calvin in there is fit to leave the docs y'all can come stay at my house with my wife and me? She's a damn good cook and we've got the extra room...."  

"That won't be necessary," Seamus assured him.  

"Well come on now." Tom stomped his foot and his belly jiggled. "I insist that you at least let me buy y'all supper for tonight."  

Seamus was about to deny the offer yet again when his stomach growled. Deciding that a free meal couldn't hurt he nodded. "Alright. I'll have to go get my brother and Cassandra."  

"You do that. I'm real happy you're letting me do this for ya!" Tom's chins wagged as he spoke animatedly. "I'll just head to the diner and be there a waiting on ya!"  

Seamus watched the big man waddle away and peeked back in through the window. Calvin was still out cold so he would just have to bring something back for him.  

With a sigh Seamus headed toward the hotel hoping his brother and Cassandra wouldn't be too upset that he was interrupting their alone time.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Cassandra had no idea what to do. Finnegan had been gone for two hours. She had run out of tears though not out of pain. Her eyes were burning, her throat was raw and she had a pounding in her temples.  

She had to find Finnegan. She was certain he hadn't really left town--surely he wouldn't do that to her. He wouldn't just abandon her. Then she remembered the hurt in his voice, the tears in his eyes, the way he had truly seemed broken and fear clutched at her already pain-filled heart.  

There was a chance that he had done just that.  

He needed to listen to her. She had to find a way to convince him that she did love him. He was what she wanted. He was all she wanted. It killed her inside to know she had hurt him so badly. She hadn't realized that her faith in him had meant that much. She hadn't realized just how deeply he had believed every word she had ever said about him being good.  

And then she had all but spit in his face upon admitting her reasons for not telling him the truth about the map sooner. She'd been a fool! The man didn't even care about the treasure! He had give her the map and that alone proved that her reasons had been misguided.  

Finnegan loved her. He loved the real her. The stubborn-headed, strong-willed, impulsive woman who did not care for the restraints that society wished to place upon her. Finnegan Callahan was the one person who had 

never seemed to want her to be anything different.

Meanwhile he 

had changed. He had grown up so much in the last month or so. He had become the man that Cassandra had always known he could be.

Dear God she had to find him! She had to make this right.  

 Cassandra splashed a bit of water on her face to clean away her tears, stuffed the map pouch into the deep pocket of her skirt and headed out the door.  

She ran into Seamus in the hall and his eyes narrowed. "Why have you been crying? Where's Finnegan?"  

"Why do you always assume that Finnegan is the cause for everything bad that ever happens!?" Cassandra exclaimed.  

Seamus' eyes widened and he held up his hands. "I didn't think that!" he insisted. "I just figured if he knew someone had made you cry then he was probably at the jail for kicking their ass."  

Cassandra bit her lip to keep from bursting into tears once again. "Yes, well, he'd have to kick my ass I'm afraid."  

"Your ass?" Seamus was clearly confused. "I don't understand."  

"I've been lying to him about the map. I know it's Montana but I don't know anything else... I told him the truth tonight."  

"And he abandoned you?" Seamus shook his head, "That bastard. I thought he was better than that."  

"He is, you great oaf! That's not why he's not here and I'm a mess."  

"Then what is it?"  

"Not only did I tell him the truth about the map but I also told him why it took me so long to tell him. I told him that I thought the treasure would mean more to him than me. That he would change his mind about being with me if he knew the truth...."

"You foolish woman," Seamus clicked his tongue.  

Cassandra smacked his chest and glared up at him. "Me foolish? Aren't you the one who was telling me that very thing over and over to convince me to leave and go home?"  

Seamus appeared sheepish as he swallowed hard. "That was before."  

"Before what?"  

"Before I realized that my brother really does love you. That you are more to him than just a fun time. That you had changed him for the better and clearly been the best thing to ever happen to him."  

Cassandra felt fresh tears burn her eyes and slide down her cheeks. "Thanks for making me feel better!" she spat bitterly. "Oh Seamus, I have to make things right!"  

"Everything will be fine, Cassandra."  

"No it won't! You didn't see him, Seamus. He said the only reason he tried so hard to be a better man was because I had so much faith in him--when I told him the truth I took that away. He said he's a man just like your father and he's done pretending to be different."  

Seamus sighed and rubbed his face. "Horseshit. He's not our father."  

Cassandra clutched at Seamus' shirt front. "I'm worried about what he might do..." She didn't add that she was more terrified by who he would do it with. If he was unfaithful--it would break her.  

"Go back to your room, Cassandra," Seamus urged gently. "I'll go find Finnegan and see if I can't talk some sense into him."  

"Don't be angry with him, Seamus. It is my fault he is hurting. I was in the wrong."  

"Maybe, but he still shouldn't have just stormed out like that. The two of you have a bond that's damn special from what I can tell and he's just going to throw it away because of one argument?"  

Cassandra stared at him with shock. "Who are you and what have you done with Seamus?"  

"I am still Seamus, I'm just seeing things a bit more clearly nowadays. Now go on to the room and I'll go find Finnegan."  

"No, I won't wait in there any longer. I'll come with you to find him."  

"Are you sure?" Seamus asked with uncertainty.  

Cassandra swallowed hard, knowing well that she might find Finnegan in a  situation that would tear her heart into shreds that were so tattered they would not be able to be mended. "I'm sure."  

Seamus studied her a moment before nodding and leading her down the hall and the narrow staircase. As they stepped out into the darkening evening neither had to ask where they were going to find Finnegan. Both of them knew where the man would be.  

"You really shouldn't come in here..." Seamus warned as they stepped onto the porch of the rickety saloon.  

"I'm coming," Cassandra stated stubbornly.  

"Fine, but stay close to me. Can you do that much?"  

Cassandra rolled her eyes and nodded. "Fine."  

Her heart was pounding as they stepped inside. The dust in the air made her nose itch, the brightness of the kerosene lamps hurt her eyes momentarily and the smell of stale sweat, whiskey and beer got hung in the back of her throat.  

She had suspected to have to search the upstairs room to find her man but the instant they entered the saloon he was easy to spot.  

Finnegan was sprawled on his back on the bar, twirling an empty whiskey bottle in his hand as he waved the other hand animatedly and spoke to a rather bored looking woman sitting on a stool beside him. It was clear from her attire, or lack thereof, that she was at the saloon for entertainment purposes.  

Was Finnegan planning on using her? Cassandra clenched her fists. Over her dead body would that woman be touching her Irishman!  

She strode forward several steps, but stopped when Finnegan's voice reached her ears. "So beautiful she is." Who was he talking about?  

"I know. You've said so a million times. Are we going upstairs anytime soon?" the bored woman questioned, tapping her nails on the bar.  

Finnegan's head flopped to the side and he wore an exaggerated frown. "Upstairs?" his voice was slurred and Cassandra suspected he had been the one to finish off the bottle of whiskey he was twirling. "There's a upstairs?"  

"Yes, and you paid me good money to go upstairs but so far all you've done is talk about another woman."  

"Cassandra. Little Cass. Eyes like emeralds, that one, and skin like silk."  

"Yes I know and wild golden curls, mile long legs and a nice arse. You've told me several times. You told the entire saloon during your little song and dance routine."  

"Well ya don't have to get moody about it," Finnegan snapped, his free hand waving absently.  

"Are we going upstairs or not?" the woman demanded impatiently.  

"Shall we flip a coin then? Heads it's a no and tails it's a...." Finnegan frowned and glanced at the bartender who seemed ready to knock him off the bar. "How do ya say no in Spanish?"  

"No."  

Finnegan grinned sloppily. "Well that's real simple then, isn't it?"  

The woman rose to her feet and smoothed out her rather short skirt that revealed her shins and ankles. "Why on earth did you pay good money for me if you're not going to take me upstairs? I won't offer you a refund."  

Finnegan clicked his tongue and stared up at the tin plated ceiling. "I only wanted someone to talk to."  

"Talk?" the woman was clearly confused and Cassandra, while still heartbroken to know she had hurt Finnegan so badly, felt her heart heal just a bit at his denial of her request.  

"Aye. I have no one to talk to." Finnegan sat his whiskey bottle on his flat stomach and sighed. "My brother hates me, my Little Cass thinks me worthless and I have not a single friend in the world." He turned his gaze to the woman once more. "Will you be my friend?"  

"No."  

Finnegan's eyes widened and then he blew out a breath, slapping his lips together in quite an immature fashion that forced Cassandra hide her laughter behind her hand. "Well piss off then. No better'n the rest of 'em ya aren't. I got all the friends I need." Finnegan held up his whiskey bottle. "My whiskey won't leave me." Finnegan frowned when he shook the empty bottle. He brought it to his lips and not a single drop was left to roll out onto his waiting tongue.  

Finnegan let his arm fall to the side and dropped the bottle which went rolling across the dusty floor. "That's enough!" the bartender bellowed. "Get out of my saloon."  

"Ya can't kick me out. I have no where else to go," Finnegan countered.  

The bartender grabbed up a shot gun from under the bar and aimed it at Finnegan. "I'll shoot you right in your Irish ass if you don't get up and get out of here now!"  

"No, please! Please don't shoot him," Cassandra rushed forward with Seamus cursing behind her.  

Finnegan sat up and spun around upon hearing her voice. In his drunken state he was not nearly as well balanced as usual and he tumbled sideways, landing in a heap of tangled arms and legs upon the floor of the saloon.  

"Finnegan!" Cassandra exclaimed. She ran to him and tried to help him up but he slapped her arm away.  

"I'll not be needin' any help from the likes of you. You're a killer of hope. A crusher of dreams. A pretty little harpy in a forest of lies."  

"Finn...."  

"Speak not, devil woman!" Finnegan cried, holding out his arms and overlapping his fingers to form a cross. Cassandra sighed and he pushed himself to his feet grabbing the bar to steady himself. "Ya broke me," he added quietly.  

Cassandra glanced around at the saloon full of people watching the rather embarrassing scene. "Finn, let's go back to the hotel so we can talk, okay?"  

"There's nothin' to talk about," Finnegan countered, weaving on his feet. "Ya broke me. I can't even gamble! I have no desire to! And look at that beautiful lass that wanted to take me upstairs? I could not even tell her yes because all I want is you! All I have left in the world is me whiskey... and my bottle is now empty."  

Seamus stepped forward. "Finnegan, you're truly making me wonder if idiocy runs in our family. Would you just come on with us now and sober up?"  

"I'm not drunk, Dear Seamus! I'm just slightly unsober. And I'll not be goin' anywhere with ya." Finnegan scoffed. "Don't even act as if ya care."  

"I do care, Finnegan, or I wouldn't be in here putting up with your drunk, ignorant backside telling me that I don't care and making a terrible scene. Now get your ass out that door and we're going to the hotel."  

"Ya care about me?" Finnegan whispered, his brown eyes widening as he studied his brother. "Ya truly care?"  

Seamus shifted his feet and shrugged awkwardly. "Well, sure I do. You're my brother."  

"Oh, Dear Seamus!" Finnegan stumbled forward and threw himself into Seamus' arms hugging the man for all he was worth. Cassandra nearly laughed at the awkward scene until Finnegan's next words cut her right to the core. "Little Cass does not love me, Dear Seamus. She sees me as no different a man than our father.'  

"Finnegan, you know that's not true," Seamus countered.  

"Why don't ya love me, Little Cass?" Finnegan asked, his voice broken and tired as he pulled away from Seamus and turned to face her. "Why don't ya have more faith in me than to think I'd turn my back on ya over a stupid map? Why do ya still think me a man who will let ya down after all I've done to try to prove I'm different?"  

"Oh Finn...."  

"And ya can answer those questions first thing in the morn," Finnegan added before his legs gave out and he fell to the saloon floor with a thud.  

"That's a shame," the woman at the bar stated.  

Cassandra glanced at her and frowned. "What is?"  

"He's one handsome man. I was really hoping he would take me upstairs. He's a lot nicer to look at than most of the trash that walks in here. It could have been a fun ride."  

Cassandra felt her temper flare. "You might as well forget about him, honey, because he's my damned Irishman and I don't share."

Cassandra turned away from her and saw Seamus hoisting Finnegan up. She ran forward to get on the other side of the unconscious man and together they headed toward the door. "Can I punch him one good time for this in the morning?" Seamus asked.  

"No," Cassandra smiled. "Don't you see? Finnegan could have done anything he wanted tonight. He could have gambled away all our money. He could have laid with every willing woman in town. He could have simply taken off and abandoned us here. He didn't do any of those things. I'll make this right with him in the morning, I swear I will, and everything is going to be just fine."  

"I believe he really is growing up on us, Cassandra."  

"Now I only have to convince him that he's wrong about how I feel," Cassandra whispered sadly, struggling under the dead weight of Finnegan's body.  

"I'm sure he'll be more open to listening now that he got this out of his system," Seamus assured her.  

They managed to carry, (in a method very similar to dragging), Finnegan up the staircase and both of them breathed a sigh of relief once they had him in the bed. Cassandra pulled off his boots and covered him with a blanket.  

"He'll be out until morning. Come to the diner and eat supper with me," Seamus insisted.  

"I shouldn't leave him..." Cassandra bit her lip. "Why don't you just bring me something back.

"He'll be fine. The man has enough whiskey in his blood to knock out a buffalo. That and I don't want to go by myself."  

"Why?"  

"Because Tom Ore is the one treating us to the meal. Don't make me sit through supper alone with him."  

Cassandra sighed and pressed a kiss to Finnegan's brow. "Fine," she said, standing straight once again. "I'd like to see just what his face looks like now that he's cleaned the blood from it."  

Seamus chuckled as he opened the door and let her walk through. "His lip is pretty swollen but the best part is the whistling sound he makes when air passes through that new gap in his teeth."  

Cassandra glanced back at Finnegan lying in the bed. Her heart ached to know how badly she had hurt him. She loved that man with all her heart and just as soon as he woke up she was going to convince him of that--whether he was willing to listen or not.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Sunlight shone on Finnegan's eyelids and he groaned lightly. He did not want to wake up when his dreams had been so pleasant. He'd dreamt of him and his Little Cass all curled up together. He'd dreamed of tasting her, touching her and seeing that undying devotion in her eyes that could make any man believe himself capable of moving mountains.  

But the morning light let him know it had been exactly only that. A dream. His Little Cass did not have such a devotion to him. She doubted him just as the rest of the world doubted him--just as he doubted himself.  

Finnegan heard a soft feminine moan and froze. "Shite," he whispered. There was a body curled up to him. A woman's body. "Shite. Shite. Shite."  

What had he done?! The last thing he remembered was walking into that saloon with the intention of getting wobbly legged drunk. Clearly he had succeeded because he was in a bed, with a woman and he was....

Finnegan glanced down. The woman was completely hidden beneath the covers but he could tell that he still wore his shirt and a quick twitch of his leg told him his pants were on as well.  

Thank the Lord!  

But who was he in the bed with? Surely he had not gotten so drunk that he'd brought a woman to the hotel. Shite! He could forget about any future he might have still been dreaming about with Cassandra.  

Finnegan had to get out of the bed, slip out of the room and run like hell that's all there was to it. A woman tended to get very grumpy when she woke up in your bed and you couldn't even remember her name.  

Finnegan tensed, preparing to sit up. "Finn? Are you awake?"  

Relief flowed through Finnegan like whiskey from a bottle. It was his Little Cass all curled up to him that way beneath the blanket. He hadn't been unfaithful! Just to be sure he tossed the blanket aside and there she was in her underclothes looking up at him sleepily. Her green eyes were swollen, probably from the tears she'd cried the night before, and her face was pale and tired.  

"How did I get here?" Finnegan whispered. He clicked his dry tongue against the roof of his mouth and wondered exactly how much he had managed to drink the night before.  

"Seamus and I carried you here," Cassandra replied. "Don't you remember anything?"  

"No," Finnegan sat up as Cassandra moved off of him and pulled her knees into her chest.

"Finn, we need to talk."  

"Can I get some water first?" he questioned. He got to his feet, swayed a bit as his head swam and then headed for the water pitcher. Cassandra was abnormally silent as he poured a glass and took several long swallows.  

Finnegan wasn't sure he wanted to talk. He wasn't sure his heart could take it. Cassandra did not seem to realize the power she held over him and just how badly her doubts had ripped him apart.  

"Can I talk now?" Cassandra asked quietly. Finnegan kept his back to her and nodded. "Finn, this got all turned around and I'm not sure how to but I want to fix it." Finnegan heard the rustling of the bed sheets as she rose from the bed and then her footsteps approached him.  

When her arms slid around his waist and her face pressed against his back, Finnegan felt his resolve falter. God, this woman was everything to him.  

"Finn, I love you. I have always loved you. You were always my best friend. The one person who never wanted to change me. The one person who liked me just the way I was. And Finn, I 

do have faith in you. Surely you know that? I think you are a strong, caring, warm, generous man full of life and spirit. I don’t want to lose you, Finn. Please…..“ her voice broke. “Please, tell me I haven’t lost you.”

Finnegan sighed as he pulled her arms off him, turned around and laid his hands gently upon her cheeks. He tilted her head back so he could look down into those emerald green eyes of hers and he smiled. "My Little Cass, ya haven't lost me. I love ya with all my heart. I'm sorry I walked out on ya instead of stayin' and hearin' ya out."  

"And I'm sorry I didn't tell you the truth about the map sooner. "

"I don't care about that damned map. I just want ya to believe in me. I 

need ya to believe in me.“

Cassandra rose on her toes and kissed him gently. "I do, Finn. Especially after last night."  

"Last night? What exactly happened last night?"  

Cassandra moved away from him and walked to the bed .She sat down on the edge and laughed lightly. "You paid a woman at the saloon for her services."  

Finnegan was confused. "Shite... and you're happy about that?"  

"Yes. You see all you wanted from her was for her to talk to you. You asked her to be your friend and refused her many requests to go upstairs."  

"Well o'course I did!" Finnegan let out a laugh that was a bit too loud in his relief.  

"And you didn't gamble all our money away either."  

"Thank the Lord. Though my father just rolled over in his grave to hear my happiness that I didn't sleep with a willin' woman or partake in a poker game."  

"Yes, well I think anytime you can cause your father to roll over in his grave it's a good thing," Cassandra replied.  

Finnegan laughed. "Well let's see if I can't do it some more then." Finnegan swallowed hard and walked to the bed. His hands were shaking and his weaving had nothing to do with drink and everything to do with nervousness.  

"Finn, what's wrong?" Cassandra questioned, clearly concerned.  

Finnegan wiped the sweat off his brow and dropped to one knee. Shite, he never in his life thought he'd be doing something like this.  

"Cassandra Little, it's no secret to anyone that knows me that I don't deserve ya. I lie, I cheat, I steal, I have a million and one vices that I'm not sure at all I won't give in to from time to time. There's a lot of people who would like to see me dead and even more who'd like to kill me themselves. But when I'm with ya I forget about all that. When I'm with ya I feel a peace and a fulfillment that no whiskey, or bet, or other woman has ever made me feel before. Ya are the very best thing to have ever happened to a man like me and I want to spend my life provin' to ya that I'm worth the many times you've stood up for me. I want to spend my life provin' that I'm a man ya can trust and count on. Marry me, Little Cass."  

Cassandra's jaw dropped and her eyes widened. She stared at him and said nothing. Finnegan shifted awkwardly. "Won't ya say somethin' then?" Her silence stretched on. "I'd settle for a no at this point just to hear ya say 

somethin .“

"Finn... I don't know what to say... Last night you walked out on me and now all of a sudden you want to marry me?"  

Finnegan swallowed hard and forced a smile to his face. "It's not a sudden decision, Cassandra. I've known I wanted to marry ya ever since....' Finnegan paused. "Since the train. Since ya planted that kiss on me and I realized it was useless for me to try to fight how I felt for ya. Last night I was hurt and I handled it badly. But ya know how deeply I love ya, Little Cass. Surely ya can see the difference you've made in my life... Marry me? Please?"  

"Finnegan..."  

"Y'ave got me beggin for ya,"  

Cassandra studied him a moment longer and then he saw that spark in her green eyes--that impulsive spark that he loved. Her face lit up with her smile and she threw herself into his arms, causing them both to tumble backward.  

"Yes!" she exclaimed, dropping kisses all over his face. "Yes I'll marry you, Finn." Finnegan laughed as her lips continued planting sloppy, erratic kisses on him. Nothing was safe from her lips. His brow, his eyes, his nose, his cheeks, his chin; finally Finnegan grabbed her cheeks gently and pulled her lips directly to his.  

They kissed long and slow there on the hotel room floor, neither of them pushing for more and neither wanting to stop.  

Finnegan could not believe it. Perhaps the Irish really were lucky. There had only been one other time he'd considered settling down and that had been just before Cassandra's father had run him off all those years ago. This woman was the only woman he'd ever wanted for longer than a night. She was his one and only. His true love. His mama had always told him he'd find that person someday and no matter how many times his father had laughed at that, Finnegan had remembered.  

He was going to be a married man. He still wasn't sure just how much faith Cassandra had in him--though she must have quite a bit to have stayed with him this long after all he'd put her through. Finnegan was certain that he could be a good husband to her. He would love her always and never be unfaithful--that was a leap and a bound above what Finnegan had seen a husband be while growing up.   

"Finn?" Cassandra pulled away and snuggled up against his chest.  

Finnegan put his hand behind his head and relaxed against the floor. "What?"

"We have to set some rules before we get married."  

"Rules?" Finnegan was amused. "Are ya already turnin' into an ol' nag then?"  

"Ha. Ha." Cassandra swatted his stomach and he feigned hurt. "I'm serious, Finnegan. I don't want a repeat of last night. You darn near killed me storming out of here like that. I had no idea what you were doing at that saloon."  

Finnegan shook his head. "Neither did I. But luckily I was a good lad."  He tweaked her nose when she glared up at him. "Now what kind of rules did ya have in mind? I'll warn ya, though I'm sure ya remember, that I never was good at followin' them."  

"You'll follow these," Cassandra assured him sternly.  

"Bossy old bat, aren't ya?"

"Actually last night you called me a pretty harpy."  

"Well I had the harpy part right at least."  

"If you're fond at all of your Irish jewels then you'll be quiet and let me lay down the rules." Finnegan made a big show of zipping his lips and Cassandra laughed. "Okay, rule one is we no longer keep anything from each other. We can only have the truth between us okay?"  

"I've always been painfully honest, Little Cass. Has gotten me into more trouble than a little. I promise I'll not keep a single thing from ya."  

"Rule number two is that we have to always remember that we love one another and assume the best instead of the worst."  

"That one seems easy enough," Finnegan agreed. He had a feeling these rules were to make her feel better about the lack of faith she had shown in him by keeping her secret. While it still stung to think about, Finnegan knew he had overreacted. It was amazing what a night of hard drinking and some morning light upon your face could reveal to a man.  

"And last, but not least, no more walking out," her words were pointed and Finnegan winced. "If we're angry we don't walk out on one another. We work it out because we love one another which refers back to rule number two."  

"I have heard your terms and I find them acceptable. Ya know that Seamus is goin' to have a fit and a half when we tell him we're gettin' married."  

"Oh that's right! You don't remember do you?" Cassandra asked with an impish grin as she sat up.  

Finnegan sat up as well feeling more than a little suspicious. "I don't remember what?"  

"Seamus came to the saloon with me to find you last night and the most amazing thing happened."  

"He sprouted wings out his arse and learned to fly?"  

Cassandra snorted with laughter. "No, it's even better than that!"  

"Not much better than winged arses, Little Cass."  

"Oh this is. You hugged your brother, Finnegan. A nice, big, warm, brotherly type of hug."  

Finnegan gagged. "You lie!"  

"I would never!" Cassandra assured him. "You hugged him because he..." she batted her long lashes. "This is the best part--he told you that he cared about you."  

"Well shite!" Finnegan shoved himself to his feet. "Here we were havin' a jolly time of kissin and talkin 'bout how in love we are and ya had to go and ruin it by sayin somethin like that!"  

"I thought it was real sweet," Cassandra replied taking his outstretched hand and allowing him to help her to her feet. "He said he cared about you and you hugged him."  

Finnegan shook his head. "Well did the bastard at least hug me back?"  

’ “Kind of.” Cassandra frowned. “Though you might want to be careful when we see him this morning. He’s pretty eager to punch you for getting so drunk.”

"Aww.. Well let's go pay a visit to Dear Seamus then. I'm always eager to make his day a wee bit brighter."  

Finnegan helped Cassandra dress though it took a while longer than it should have because his lips kept finding their way to her neck and slowing progress.  

As they stepped out into the morning sunshine Cassandra looked up at him and smiled. "When are we going to get married?"  

"Whenever ya would like to."  

"Today"  

"Today?" Finnegan nearly choked on his shock. "Ya want to do it today?"  

"Is there a reason to wait? You're the one who asked me to marry you, Finn. Are you having doubts?"  

"Doubts?" Finnegan shook his head. "Certainly not. I am only concerned about your family..."  

"They won't approve of me marrying you today, tomorrow or thirty years from now. In a perfect world I would have them with me when I marry but this world isn't perfect and I'm going to do it without them. I would like to become your wife today... Calvin is going to need to stay at the docs a while and it'll give us plenty of alone time at the hotel to grow accustomed to married life."  

She winked and Finnegan was lost. "Today it is then." He kissed her lightly and put his arm around her shoulders. "Now Dear Seamus' head will explode for certain."  

---

"Married?!" Seamus demanded, his voice booming in the tiny bedroom at the docs. "You're getting married?!"  

"Aye," Finnegan grinned and pulled Cassandra closer beside him, "Today."  

"Well I think it's great," Calvin spoke up from where he sat in the bed all propped up against the wall. "It's easy to see that you love one another."  

"Cassandra, can I talk to you outside for a moment?" Seamus growled.  

"I don't why we'd need to talk," Cassandra snapped. She didn't want to hear what Seamus had to say because she could tell by the look on his face that it wouldn't be anything good.  

"It's alright, Little Cass, go hear what the man has to say. I'll stay here and keep young Calvin company. Ya better hurry back though, Dear Seamus, before he realizes he picked the wrong brother."  

"No, Calvin, you picked the right brother," Cassandra stated dryly.  

"That's right," Finnegan nodded. "Little Cass is a jealous woman and she'd likely have shot you in the arse for takin' her soon to be husband."  

"I might have thanked him," Cassandra countered and Finnegan stuck his tongue out at her. She was marrying such a grown, mature man.  

"Go ahead then," Finnegan waved toward the door, "Calvin and I will find something to do," Finnegan pulled a deck of cards from a drawer in the nightstand. "Won't we Calvin?"  

Calvin nodded. "Sounds good to me."  

"Cassandra?" Seamus motioned out the back door and Cassandra sighed and accompanied him out into the mid-morning sunlight.

"Let's get this over with, Seamus. You tell me all the reasons I shouldn't marry him and then I'll tell you that I'm doing it anyway and you'll get angry and I'll get angry and then I'll still go ahead and do whatever I want proving your entire speech and anger were pointless."  

Seamus stared hard at her a moment and then shook his head. "It's not that I don't think you should get married. I can see how much my brother loves you and how much you love my brother."  

Cassandra frowned. "Then what's the problem?"  

"I think you're rushing into things because of last night."  

Cassandra blinked. "What?"  

"I think he asked you to marry him to prove to you that you could trust him not because he truly wants to get married. And I feel like you said yes just to prove to him that you had faith in him."  

"Why you son of a--"  

"So I'm wrong?"  

"Yes you're wrong!"  

"So you honestly think that Finnegan just magically wants to get married after the fight y'all had last night? After how bad you claim you hurt him? And you honestly want to marry a man who you honestly thought was being unfaithful to you at that saloon while you cried alone?"  

Cassandra bit her lip. "Why are you doing this?"  

"Because I don't want to see you or my brother be hurt because y'all rushed into something you didn't really want."  

"Seamus, you've known me a long time. Have I ever done anything that I didn't want to do? I want to marry Finnegan. I love him and there is not a single other man in the world I could ever love as much. So why not get married? And if we've already decided we want to get married then why wait?"  


"So you saying yes had nothing to do with feeling guilty about hurting him last night?"  

"No!" Cassandra insisted, though now she was doubting herself a bit. Was that why she said yes? An image of Finnegan's smiling face came to her mind and she felt her own lips curved. No, that wasn't why she had said yes. She had said yes because she loved the man.  

"And you're sure he didn't ask you only to prove you could have faith in him?"  

"So what if proving himself was part of the reason he asked? Finnegan loves me and I am more certain of that fact than I am of anything else. I appreciate that you're attempting to look out for us in your own twisted way but, Seamus, your worries are unfounded."  

"I think marrying him might be a mistake, Cassandra, at least right now."  

"Well it's a mistake that I'd be happy to make a thousand times," Cassandra insisted. "Finnegan and I are getting married, Seamus. I would like to do it here since Calvin cannot get up and about just yet. I thought that maybe, after all that talk last night of how you were seeing things differently and cared about your brother, you might stand up with us."  

Seamus sighed and rubbed his face. He stared down the alley. "You do know that there are men after him, right? You remember that?"  

"Yes, I remember. They want money. I'll make sure they get their money. Either from this treasure or some other way, they will get their money.'  

"What if they come after you to get to him?"  

Cassandra swallowed hard. She hadn't thought of that. "Finnegan, won't let that happen. And I'm not exactly helpless myself."  

"Sounds like you've thought this through."  

"Seamus, I've wanted to marry Finnegan for a while now. I was only waiting on him to ask."  

"Fine. Fine, go ahead and marry the damn man, I don't care. But I'll be standing there waiting with a big 'I told you so'  if something goes wrong."  

Cassandra patted him on the arm. "I would expect nothing less."  

---

"If anyone has any reason why these two should not be wed then please speak now or forever hold your peace," the town sheriff, who had a license to marry the townsfolk offered.  

Cassandra threw a sharp glance at Seamus when his mouth began to open and he snapped it shut with a growl and took a step back, folding his hands in front of him.  

As Cassandra and Finnegan shared their vows, she couldn't help but notice how truly happy Finnegan seemed. His brown eyes were shining, his face was glowing as he vowed his undying, eternal love to her.  

Cassandra made those same vows right back to him knowing that she meant every word. Did she think that a life with him would be easy? No, she didn't. But what was the point of living if all you cared about was it being easy? If the easy path was what Cassandra wanted she would have stayed home, married Thomas Shelton, become her mother...  

That wasn't what she wanted at all. Cassandra wanted Finn. She wanted crazy. She wanted wild and adventurous (as long as bullets weren't flying), she wanted to travel, to roam, to laugh, to love.... She wanted her Irishman.  

And as their vows were finished and Finnegan's warm lips caressed her own Cassandra's heart soared as she realized he was now hers forever.  

"Finnegan, what in the world are you doing?!" Cassandra exclaimed as he scooped her up into his arms and carried her toward the door.  

"Carryin' my new wife to bed, Little Cass. I'm eager to get started on that wedding night."  

"Food, Finnegan. I'd like to have food." Cassandra insisted, her stomach grumbling.  

"Taken care of, love."  

Finnegan refused to answer her questioning on what he meant and when he carried her into their room she realized what he'd meant. Candles lit the room, casting an orange glow and shadows across the wooden walls. Food was spread out on the bed. Chicken, biscuits, grapes, cheese and a bottle of wine.  

"Finnegan, when did you have time to arrange this?"  

"I talked to the doc while ya were out talkin' to Seamus. I wanted tonight to be special for ya.'  

Cassandra smiled before kissing him gently. She was certain that Finnegan had never bothered to do something like this for any other woman. He would not have bothered with such shows of affection and caring.  

"I love it, Finn. Thank you for all of this." 	

Finnegan set her on her feet and smoothed his knuckles across her cheek. "Thank ya for marryin' me, Cassandra. Y'ave made me a happy man today."  

"Maybe I can make you a happier man tonight," she teased, wiggling her eyebrows and resting her hands low on his abdomen.  

His throat bobbed. "Shite, Little Cass, do ya have any idea what ya do to me?"  

Cassandra smiled. "I probably have a good idea," she breathed against his neck.  

Finnegan's body tightened and he swallowed hard. "Ya better be gettin' to tendin' to your stomach now. When I get ya in my arms in that bed I'll not be lettin' ya out for a good long time."  

"I'm gonna hold you to that, Irishman."  

Finnegan winked. "I won't let ya down."

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Chapter Twenty-Nine

"Did you two lovebirds finally decide to come up for air?" Calvin questioned with amusement as Finnegan and Cassandra stepped into the doc's house two days later.  

"Even a man as amazin' with lovin' skills as me has to eat sometimes," Finnegan replied.  

Cassandra rolled her eyes and pulled out of her husband's arms. Her husband. She loved how those words sounded together whenever she thought them. "We wanted to come check on you, Calvin. You look a lot better than the last time I saw you."  

"I'm feeling quite a bit better too. I was up and about a bit this morning. Of course when Seamus found out I'd gone out without him there to help me he got a bit upset."

"Get used to that if ya have any plans o'bein' with him forever. Seamus 'a bit upset' Callahan is what my mama should have named him."  

Seamus was shaking his head as he stepped into the room and leaned against the door frame. "Yeah, and she named you Finnegan 'doesn't have a lick of sense' Callahan."  

"I must have some sense, Dear Seamus," Finnegan winked used his hands to motion up and down Cassandra's body. "Look at the wife I got for myself."

Cassandra ignored the bickering brothers as she sat down on the edge of Calvin's bed and laid her hand over his shoulder. "It doesn't feel hot. That's a good thing."  

"Yeah," Calvin shifted and sat up a bit straighter. "The doc said I was real lucky that no infection ever set in."  

"Yeah, damn lucky," Seamus agreed. He pulled off his hat and ran his hand through his dark hair. "Are you feeling up to going and getting some lunch?" .  

Cassandra smiled brightly when she saw the way Calvin's face lit up when he gazed up at Seamus. Young love was such a beautiful thing. "Sure. It was my shoulder that was shot, not my legs."  

"Yeah but you lost a lot of blood and we have to make sure you don't do too much too quick," Seamus reminded him. "You might feel good right now but you overdo yourself and it'll set you back for days." Calvin grumbled a bit at this but didn't bother to argue. Even he seemed to have learned that arguing with Seamus was much like beating your head against a wall.   

"Finnegan and I will wait outside a moment while Seamus helps you get up and ready for lunch," Cassandra said as she stood up from the bed.  

"If Seamus enjoys the taste of Calvin's neck as much as I enjoy the taste of yours it may take longer than a moment, Little Cass," Finnegan winked. Cassandra felt her face glow red. Calvin laughed while Seamus simply shifted his feet. Cassandra took Finnegan's hand and dragged him out the door before he could say anything further about what happened behind closed doors.  

---

"Hello."  

Cassandra looked up from her soup when Thomas Ore's voice came from beside their table. His voice was easy enough to recognize with that missing front tooth.  She cast a quick glance at Seamus and saw his hand tighten around his spoon.  

"Well hello there, ol' Tom," Finnegan greeted brightly. "Ya don't have a gun with ya do ya then?"  

Tom's cheeks reddened. "No.. uh... I don't have a gun with me."

"That's good. I've only seen ya use one once but that's plenty enough times to know I don't want to be 'round when ya got one in your hand." Cassandra rolled her eyes and stomped on Finnegan's foot under the table.  

Tom's lip trembled and he quickly turned his gaze toward Calvin. "Nice to see you up and around."  

"It's nice to be up and around," Calvin agreed. "I'll be back to one hundred percent in no time."  

"Can I sit down and talk to you all a moment?" Tom questioned.  

"No," Seamus grumbled.  

"Of course you can," Cassandra amended, sending Seamus a sharp glance. Poor Tom Ore had apologized a hundred times for the accident that had nearly taken Calvin's life. It was time for Seamus to ease up on the man a bit. She didn't expect for them to be the best of friends but a bit less hostility would satisfy her just fine.

Tom gave her a grateful smile and took a set beside Finnegan. "I'll just get straight to it so I don't take up too much of your mealtime," Tom began.  

"Ya look like ya could use a bit to eat yourself," Finnegan stated, patting Tom's impressive stomach.  

"I'm fine," Tom assured him quickly. He turned his attention to Cassandra. "I know you all are headed to Montana."  

"How do you know that?" Seamus demanded, tossing his spoon down.  

"I told him, Dear Seamus. No harm in the man knowin' where we're movin' to settle down," Finnegan replied with a grin.  

Cassandra rolled her eyes. "Continue please, Tom."  

"Right. Well my family owns a freight company. About ten miles west of here we have a train that's going to be heading out tomorrow and it'll be making several stops before it makes it's last stop up in Montana. It won't be all that comfortable because you'll have to ride in a freight car but it'll sure cut that journey down and Calvin won't have to wait weeks. He can finish healing up a bit while you travel."  

Seamus shook his head. "Thanks for the offer but...."  

"Don't be so quick to turn him down," Calvin interrupted.  

"Yeah, this is something we should consider a bit before we simply turn it down," Cassandra agreed.  

"We have horses and supplies, Tom. I'll not be leavin' Theo behind. That'd be like leavin' behind half my heart," Finnegan informed the other man while putting his arm around his shoulders.  

Tom seemed a bit nervous about the contact, clearly he still remembered Finnegan's flying fist of fury. "That won't be a problem. We'll make room in one of the cars for the horses and in another car for all of you."  

"Why would you want to do that?" Seamus questioned skeptically.  

"Because I feel I owe it to you all. I nearly killed Calvin and I could have easily killed Cassandra--" Cassandra saw Finnegan's face pale considerably. "--all because I was being careless. Allow me to offer you this bit of help if for no other reason than to clear my conscience."

The four of them looked at one another for a moment. "Just how long will it take to reach Montana if we choose to ride on your train?" Cassandra asked.  

"With the stops the train has to make, probably about two weeks, maybe a few days less or a couple days more." Tom shrugged "It all depends on unloading and loading times."  

"I think we should do this," Calvin offered. He quickly continued when Seamus turned a disbelieving gaze his way, "It'll cut our time by more than half getting to Montana, we won't be wearing out the horses and it'll give me time to heal up enough so you'll quit mother henning me death."  

"I don't mother hen you," Seamus muttered.  

"Cluck cluck," Finnegan flapped his arms and laughed heartily.  

"Fine I won't give a damn anymore about how you feel," Seamus growled.  

"Uh-oh, Calvin, ya have some major arse kissin' to do when the two of ya get alone. I do believe y'ave hurt Dear Seamus's overly sensitive feelin's," Finnegan teased before taking a bite of a biscuit.  

Tom frowned as he glanced at Calvin and Seamus in turn. Cassandra could practically see the light come on in the big man's brain as he took in the sight of Calvin eyeing Seamus guiltily. Honestly it had taken the oaf long enough to realize that Seamus and Calvin were more than friends. A person would have thought he'd have figured it out immediately based solely off of Seamus' reaction to Calvin being shot.  

"I tend to agree with young Calvin on this one," Finnegan added. "While I know it's not quite the adventure Little Cass was hopin' for, I do believe it'll be the quickest and safest way to get us up to Montana."  

"I think so too," Cassandra agreed. It was true she liked the idea of adventure but this would save them so much time and given Calvin's need to let his wound heal, this was their best option.  

"Does it matter what I think?" Seamus grumbled.  

"Do you have a good reason why we shouldn't take the train?" Cassandra questioned. "Other than the fact that you simply don't like the man offering the ride to us?" she added when he opened his mouth.  

Seamus glared at her a moment and than slammed his jaw closed. Cassandra turned to Tom. "It's settled then. We'll take you up on your offer."  

---

"Oh this is real nice and homey," Finnegan said. He whistled as he climbed up into the freight car. He turned to help Cassandra up and she took his hand.   

She glanced around the dirty, dusty metal box that they were going to be living in for the next couple of weeks and frowned. "Home sweet train,' she mumbled.  

"Don't forget that you're one of the ones that wanted to do this," Seamus reminded her as he hoisted Calvin up into the train. The wagon ride to the train this morning had clearly been painful for the man. Every bump the wagon wheels had struck had jarred him and had him moaning with pain.  

"I know it's not much," Tom admitted from the ground. "But we've put some extra blankets and pillows in there and there's plenty of food and water."  

Cassandra frowned, "What about...personal issues?" she whispered.  

Tom's brow furrowed in confusion. "Sorry?"  

"I think the lass is referrin' to relievin' herself," Finnegan was clearly amused as he put his arm around Cassandra's shoulders and pointed to two buckets in the far left corner at the back of the car. "That would be your new water closet, love."  

Cassandra swallowed hard as her cheeks flamed red, "Buckets?"  

"At least ya will no longer have to fear a twig or bug crawlin' up your backside when ya squat beside a bush,' Finnegan countered.  

Cassandra gasped and smacked his arm roughly. "Finnegan Callahan! I cannot believe I married you!"  

Finnegan pulled her into his arms and tipped her down, laying his brow against hers. "I cannot believe ya did, either, but I'm glad just the same."

"You said you wanted adventure, Cassandra," Calvin laughed. "You gotta be careful what you ask for.'  

Cassandra sighed and cast another glance at those horrible buckets. "I'll keep that in mind," she muttered.  

"The train will be stopping quite a few times as well, ma'am, if you can... well.." Tom's face reddened. "If you can hold it."

Cassandra glared at the three idiots she was traveling with as they all laughed quite heartily. At least they found all of this amusing. She pulled herself from Finnegan's arms and adjusted her blouse. "Might as well start getting this place organized and make it home since that's what it's going to be a while."  

Tom bid them all goodbye and walked away. "I hate trains," Seamus grumbled.  

"Why?" Calvin asked.  

"Probably because the last time Seamus was on one he spent his time bound and gagged," Finnegan replied with a wink.

"Bound and gagged?" Calvin questioned skeptically.  

Finnegan nodded sadly. "Aye, he tends to run his mouth a bit and it gets him in trouble at times."

"Finnegan, you better learn how to shut your damn mouth or you'll be the one bound and gagged on this train," Seamus warned.  

Finnegan waggled his eyebrows. "Promises, promises."

Chapter Thirty

Chapter Thirty

"Seamus tells me there's a problem with the map," Calvin said as he took a seat beside Cassandra on the blanket draped crate . She had been awake for hours, though it was the middle of the night, trying desperately to make sense of this map. Both Seamus and Finnegan were sound asleep and she had thought that Calvin was as well so she told him so.  

"Couldn't sleep," he replied. "Every time I move it jars my shoulder."  

"I'm sorry," Cassandra whispered sympathetically. "The doctor did send you with laudanum."  

Calvin shivered. "I hate the way it makes me feel. I turn into a mindless, brainless, bumbling idiot every time I take it."  

"So it turns you into Finn?" Cassandra asked with a smile and Calvin laughed quietly.  

"Seamus told me that neither you nor Finnegan knows how to read the map," Calvin said, glancing at the parchment in Cassandra's hands. "He also says you haven't let him see it."  

"Finnegan didn't want him to before because he thought I already knew how to read it. The brothers have a few issues between them if you hadn't noticed."  

Calvin rolled his eyes, "I noticed. You'd think they'd get over it. It seems like they aren't happy unless they're pissing the other one off."  

Cassandra nodded and threw her head back with a groan. "Annoying isn't it," she gasped. "They've 

always been like that; even when we were kids.“

"Would you let me take a look at it and see if I can figure it out?" Calvin asked, holding his hands out for the map.  

Cassandra shrugged. 'Sure." She handed it to him. "Maybe you'll see something I don't because as far as I can tell it's just a bunch of scribbled nonsense."  

"I've been to Montana once so maybe I'll recognize something," Calvin agreed.  

Cassandra sat back and leaned against the wall, wrapping her arms around herself and moving the kerosene lantern closer to Calvin to give him added light. He stared at the map a long time without saying something and Cassandra felt her hopes fall. She knew that she and Finn needed this money. True her father had enough money to pay Finnegan's debts so that they could begin a new life but she knew that would never happen. Her father hated Finnegan too much to help and even if he was willing Finnegan would never accept a hand out from the man.  

"Cassandra?" the sound of Calvin's voice startled Cassandra out of her thoughts.  

"What?" she asked.  

"Look at this...."  

Calvin held the map out and Cassandra moved closer to him. He pointed to some squiggly lines that Cassandra had noticed before but not been able to identify. "What about them?"  

"I know where that is.... Or at least I think I do. It's the first checkpoint on the map so maybe if we go there we'll be able to figure out what that circle by that rock is..."  

Cassandra felt her heart begin to race. "What is it, Calvin?"  

"It's some old stone fences; basically just rocks stacked on top of rocks. They are crooked and uneven and there are four rows of them just like on the map."

Cassandra frowned, 'Fences?" She looked at the squiggles, tilting her head in various directions, she even tried crossing her eyes, but nothing about them resembled fences to her. "Are you sure?"  

"I'm eighty percent sure," Calvin nodded with excitement.  

"Well that's eighty percent more to go on than we've had so far." Cassandra took the map and folded it gently. She wrapped it back in its leather binding and threw her arms around Calvin's neck. "You are a genius!" she exclaimed before kissing his cheek.  

A deep blush colored Calvin's face. "I wouldn't have known what they were if I hadn't seen them before."  

Cassandra jumped to her feet and ran to Finnegan. She dropped to her knees and shook him roughly. "I'll not be needin' none of your services tonight, I'm a married man..." he mumbled sleepily.  

"Good to know, Finn," Cassandra replied with a roll of her eyes. "Now wake up, you big idiot, this is important!"  

Finnegan's brown eyes flew open and he looked at her nervously. "Uh.. My dream.." he batted his lashes. "What did I say?"  

"You told me to hurry and put my clothes back on before your wife returned," Cassandra lied.  

Finnegan's face paled. "It was completely innocent I promise ya..."  

Cassandra let out a breath of annoyance and shook her head. "I'm lying. You told me you didn't need my services because you were married. Had you said the other I would have smacked you in the head."  

"Of course that's what I said." Finnegan smiled and used his elbows to push himself up. "Now what is so important you interrupted my dream about... nothing interesting whatsoever?"  

Cassandra held up the leather bound map. "Calvin can read it."  

"He can?"

"You can?" Seamus' voice spoke up.  

"Yes he can!" Cassandra exclaimed. Did they honestly think she would make that up?  

"What was he doing looking at the map?" Finnegan questioned.  

"I was looking at it and trying desperately to see something I hadn't noticed before. Calvin woke up and asked if he could take a look and I'm very glad that he did. He says that he is eighty percent sure that he knows where our first checkpoint is." Cassandra couldn't erase the happy smile that seemed permanently etched upon her face.   

"Young Calvin!" Finnegan leapt from his makeshift bed and ran to Calvin, hugging the man as tightly as he could without hurting him. "Ya have made me a happy man!" Finnegan plopped a kiss to his cheek which had Calvin stuttering and blushing deeply .

"Quit assaulting the man," Seamus grumbled, standing up more slowly and stretching his arms above his head.  

"He doesn't seem to mind, Dear Seamus," Finnegan countered, keeping one arm around Calvin's shoulders. "Could it be he's realizin' he chose the wrong brother?"  

"Finnegan..." Seamus warned.  

"Sorry, Finnegan. I like the brother I picked just fine," Calvin said with a chuckle.  

Cassandra crossed her arms over her chest, cocked her hip to the side and rolled her eyes. "I wish I could say the same."  

Finnegan laid his hand over his heart and feigned despair. "I'm hurt...

truly. “

Cassandra went to him and pulled him to his feet. "You'll be okay," she assured him.  

"So where is the first checkpoint at?" Seamus questioned, taking a seat beside Calvin.  

Calvin leaned closer to Seamus and Seamus' arm snaked around his shoulders. "It's in the south of Montana, near St. Peirre. They look like nothing but squiggles on that map but I'm pretty sure they're those stone fences."  

"Fences?" Finnegan frowned.  

"Yeah. Basically hand-stacked rocks is all they are but a lot of people come to look at them. They're really really old."  

"Well so is our dear granny but folks don't come from far and wide to gaze upon her," Finnegan countered.  

"Finnegan, our granny is dead," Seamus reminded him.  

Finnegan shrugged. "All the more reason not to gaze upon her."  

"I think we should all try to get some rest," Cassandra urged. "We have a long time aboard this train and we'll need to be well rested to stand the confinement."  

No one voiced any arguments. Seamus and Calvin laid together in their makeshift bed with Calvin resting on Seamus' chest to save his shoulder from the hard floor of the jerking train.  

Cassandra curled up to Finnegan as he twirled her golden curls between his fingers. "I'm so happy Calvin could read that part of the map, Finn. We might just get our treasure, and our new life together, after all."  

"Your gettin' a new life either way, Little Cass. Even if I have to get a..." Finnegan gulped. "...A 

job to pay the debts I owe, they will be paid.“

Cassandra smiled up at him. "Just how much money do you owe people?"  

"All people?" he questioned sheepishly. "Or people who will come after me for their money?"  

Cassandra sighed as she shook her head and rested it back against his heart. "People who will come after you I suppose."  

"Well ya already know about the debt I owe Seamus and that Timpleton character that sent his thugs after me. I owe Seamus two thousand dollars which I didn't borrow all at once by the way. He's addin' up a lifetime of loans when he reaches that number."  

"And Timpleton?" Cassandra urged him to continue.  

"About five hundred."  

Cassandra swallowed hard. 'Are there others?"  

"Aye. Two others. Marion Westbridge, a slick ol' lad who loaned me two-hundred dollars for some buggy race bets and another hundred he lost on a bet that I might have purposely altered the outcome of."

"Finn..." Cassandra sighed and felt him wince.  

"I know I let ya down when ya hear these things, Cass. I can promise ya now that I'm a changed man and won't be placin' any more bets I can't back myself."  

Cassandra would rather he didn't place any at all but she knew it was going to be a one step at a time process. "And who's the other man."  

Finnegan grumbled, a very strange sound to hear come from the man, and his hold on her tensed. "Morgan. A man I loathe more than Seamus loathes me."  

"Seamus doesn't loathe you."  

"Yes I do," came Seamus' muffled response.  

Cassandra ignored him. "How much money do you owe Morgan?"  

"Only three hundred dollars which is not even enough to buy the man's silver studded boots, I can promise ya that. No, I don't think payin' Morgan his money would make the man leave me be. It's deeper than that with  him--more personal."  

"Why?"  

"His uh...' Finnegan shifted uncomfortably.  

"No secrets, Finn," Cassandra reminded him.  

"His wife found herself rather fond of me and in a night of wild drunken abandon I may have crossed several boundaries with her that Morgan did not find acceptable."  

"You bedded his wife?"  

"Yes, that would be correct."  

"Oh, Finn...."

"Don't say my name with such hurt in your voice, Little Cass. That happened years ago. Long before we came back into each other's lives and long before I knew a man like myself could ever get a woman as good as you."  

"Always the charmer," Cassandra noted.  

Finnegan squeezed her tighter and kissed her hair. "I'll never 

charm another woman again, Cassandra. You are all I want in this world. Surely ya know that?“

"I know, Finn," Cassandra assured him, pressing a kiss to his jaw. "So this Morgan, will he try to hurt you?"  

"He's tried before," Finnegan said without any hint of worry in his voice. "But I'm sure he's gettin' tired of chasin' me. I wasn't the only man his wife took a likin' to. She was a wild cat that one. Full of fire....."  

"Finnegan?"  

"Aye?"  

"If you speak of her again I'll rip out your tongue."  

Cassandra felt Finnegan smile against her head and his hand caressed her waist. "Speak of who, love? Speak of who?"

Chapter Thirty-One

Chapter Thirty-One

"Seamus, have you seen Finnegan?" Cassandra questioned as she stepped into the small diner. This was the final town the freight train the had been on for nearly two weeks would be stopping at before the final two day journey into Montana. It was also the longest stop they had taken. Due to an error in a shipping order, they would not be leaving this large, bustling town until midday the next day.  

"No," Seamus frowned and laid his fork back onto his pie plate. "I thought he was with you."  

Cassandra shook her head, "I haven't seen him in hours. He left to tell the hotel staff I needed a hot bath and that was the last I saw of him."  

"I smell you got your bath," Calvin grinned as he breathed deeply.  

Cassandra rolled her eyes as she sat down, "I'll have you know that you don't smell any more pleasant than I did." She grabbed up Seamus' fork and stabbed Seamus' pie, breaking off a large chunk, "We need to find Finn."  

"Did you check the saloons and the gambling halls? This town has more than a few," Seamus stated as he yanked his plate closer to him kept his arms around it protectively.  

Cassandra scowled around her mouthful of pie and then poked Seamus' arm roughly with the stolen fork. "Seamus..."  

"Words of habit," he growled, jerking the fork from her hand. "I'm sure he's fine. Probably doing charity somewhere."  

Calvin nodded. "Yeah, he's probably helping old ladies cross the street or feeding the hungry..."  

"Calvin, I like you, don't make me hurt you," Cassandra warned. She flopped back against her chair and dropped her arms into her lap. As badly as she wanted to insist that both of these men were wrong and there was no way Finnegan was anywhere near a saloon, gaming hall or back alley gambling foray, she could not.  

Dear God she still didn't have the faith in the man that she should.  

"I'm going to go find him. He shouldn't have been gone this long. What if that Timpleton fellow or those others, Morgan or...."  

"Okay, okay," Seamus pushed back his chair and stood. "Calvin and I will help you look for him."  

"Thank you. It would be decent of you." Cassandra stood up and smoothed out her newly washed tan split riding skirt with flower embroidery that Finnegan had gotten for her so long ago on their first train adventure.  

The trio made their way outside. It was early evening and the sun was beginning to hang low in the sky. "I'll check the saloons," Seamus offered.  

"No!" Cassandra grabbed his arm and yanked him back.  

"Why not?"  

"There's not many other places he could be." Calvin shrugged. "He's been gone for hours, right?"  

"Yeah, Cassandra, I'm sure he's not been shopping this whole time," Seamus added.  

"Both of you stop!" Cassandra snapped. "I know that Finnegan hasn't always been perfect in the past but I won't jump to conclusion on where he is. There are three dozen other places in this town, easily, and we will check all of them before we step into any saloons or gaming halls."  

"Why?" Seamus sighed. "It's a waste of time."  

Cassandra squared her shoulders and hardened her jaw,  "Because I won't think the worst of my husband. I promised." She saw Seamus' eyes soften a bit and she laid her hand on his arm. "I know he's not perfect, Seamus, but I won't believe the worst of him. I can't live through seeing that hurt in his eyes again."  

"Alright, fine." Seamus looked up and down the bustling main street. "Let's get to looking then. This could take a while."  

After nearly an hour of searching, Cassandra was losing hope. Perhaps she should simply admit that there was a chance that Seamus was correct and check the places that contained Finnegan's vices... She would rather believe that he was in one of those than believe that one of the men he owed money to had gotten their hands on him.  

"Wait," Calvin pointed toward a large wooden building at the very edge of town. The wooden fence surrounding the large yard bore the name 'Saving Graces Orphanage'.  

"Why are we looking at an orphanage?" Seamus questioned with a raise of his brow, "You thinking about adopting?"  

Calvin's face flushed red. "No, but look on the porch. Isn't that Finnegan?"  

Cassandra's gaze went straight to the porch and the large group of children currently surrounding her husband. His arms were waving and he seemed to be telling a tale of some kind. "What in the world is he doing?" she whispered.

"Making you a mommy," Seamus offered.  

Cassandra glared at him. She let her feet carry her to the orphanage and Finnegan gave a sheepish grin when he saw the three of them stepping up to the porch. "Finn, what are you doing?" Cassandra asked awkwardly as at least fifteen children with tattered clothes and dirt streaked faced turned to look at her.  

"Makin' friends, Little Cass. Why aren't ya still enjoyin' your bath?" Finnegan asked as a little girl hugged his leg tight and he patted her braided hair gently.  

Cassandra felt her heart swell at the sight. Finnegan with children. It was something that Cassandra had never once imagined. He had never made it seem as if he cared one way or the other about children; so why was he spending his afternoon entertaining an entire orphanage full?

"Finn, you've been gone for hours."  

"I have?" Finnegan frowned. "It doesn't feel as if I've been here that long."  

"Mr. Finnegan?" a boy with big blond curls and a gap between his front teeth tugged on Finnegan's sleeve. He appeared to around eight years old or so if Cassandra were to guess. "Who are these people?"  

"The beautiful vision of loveliness you see before ya is my wife, Cassandra. Ya probably can't believe she'd marry a man like me--"  

"I can't," Seamus interjected.

"--but she did and I'm grateful."  

"And who are those men?" the boy asked, pointing to Seamus and Calvin.  

"The scowling gent is my brother Seamus, and that fresh-faced young man beside him is Calvin. For some reason Calvin chooses to spend his time around that grumpy man who came from the same loins I came from."  

"Loins?" the girl hugging Finnegan's leg questioned, looking up at him with a frown.  

Finnegan laughed. "We have the same mama, princess, the same mama."  

"Finn, what are you doing here?" Cassandra asked, noting that all the girls were clutching what seemed to be brand new corn husk stuffed dolls and the boys were holding tiny burlap sacks and sucking on candy.  

"Were ya worried about me then?" Finnegan teased.  

"Yes, actually, I was." Cassandra gave him a pointed look. "Not everyone is as fond of you as I am."  

Finnegan appeared truly apologetic. "I didn't mean to stay here this long, Little Cass. I didn't worry ya on purpose."  

"I know you didn't, Finn." Cassandra laid her hand on his arm and gave him a reassuring smile.

Finnegan shrugged. "I have a habit of stoppin' by orphanages but this is the first I've seen in a while."   

 Cassandra looked around at the children, all appearing to be ten years old or younger. "So what have you all and Mr. Finnegan been doing?"  

Seamus snorted. "Mr. Finnegan?"  

"Seamus..." Cassandra warned.  

"Mr. Finnegan helped us make these dolls," the little girl still wrapped tightly around Finnegan's leg held up her doll for Cassandra to see more closely. It had a black thread mouth and nose and button eyes.  

"You helped make all those?" Cassandra demanded with surprise as she looked at all the dolls.  

Finnegan shrugged and seemed embarrassed which was something Cassandra hadn't seen him be very often. "They're not hard to make, Cass. Just a bit of material, thread, some corn husk to stuff them with and a couple of buttons."  

"And he bought us candy!" a red-haired boy with freckles exclaimed.  

Cassandra turned her gaze to Finnegan and tilted her head. "You used part of our traveling money to help these kids make dolls and buy them candy?"

Finnegan gave a nervous smile, "Are ya mad at me?" Will ya be mad at me if I say yes? Because that could very well impact my response to that question."   

Cassandra threw a glare back at Seamus and after sticking her tongue out at him she stated a very clear and quite mature, 'I told you so,' before looking back at her husband. "Finn, I love you." Cassandra threw her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly. The little girl released her hold on his leg and giggled as she took several steps back.  

"Well I love ya too," Finnegan patted her back gently several times. "What did I do right?"  

"You are an amazing man, Finnegan Callahan and don't you dare listen to anyone else who might try to tell you differently."  

"Did ya hear that, Dear Seamus?" Finnegan laughed lightly, clearly trying to brush off the compliment.

"Yeah, I heard it. This was damn nice of you, Finnegan."  

"You said a bad word!" one of the little girls exclaimed, causing Seamus to flush and appear flustered for a moment.  

"Shame on ya, Seamus, for usin' such language 'round such impressionable young lads and lasses," Finnegan scolded with a laugh.

An elderly woman with a wrinkled face and stark white hair stepped out onto the porch, "Children, it's time for supper now. You've got to be coming in."  

"But we want to play with Mr. Finnegan!" the boy with curly blond hair insisted.  

The old woman fixed him with a stern glare. "It is time for supper. If you do not do as I ask there will be no supper for you."  

The children all made their way into the building, some more begrudgingly than others. "I appreciate what you did for the children here today, sir," the woman smiled warmly at Finnegan. "It is not often that we have someone as charitable and kind as you that comes along."  

Seamus coughed loudly but Cassandra glanced his way sharply and he said nothing. Finnegan put his arm around the woman and kissed her cheek, causing her to blush and stutter several times. "It's my pleasure, ma'am, to come and spend time with lads and lasses like the ones you have here. Those children are a clear sign that the woman caring for them must be a saint."  

"Oh, I don't know about that..." the woman gasped as she fussed with her skirts. 	

Finnegan grinned and released his hold on the woman before moving to stand beside Cassandra. "We'll be on our way now, ma'am. Thank you for allowin' me to stay a while."  

"Thank you for coming, sir. Be sure to come back whenever you find yourself passing through."  

Finnegan led Cassandra toward the road. A voice caused them to turn and look back. "Goodbye, Mr. Finnegan! I love you!" Cassandra smiled when she realized it was the little girl who had been attached to Finnegan's leg on the porch.  

"I love ya too, lass," Finnegan called with a warm smile and a wink which caused the girl to giggle loudly and blush.  

As Finnegan led her back toward the hotel, Cassandra let herself think about this turn of events with Finnegan. Everyone, including herself, had assumed he was either at the saloon, or the gaming hall or losing everything he had in a back alley dice match. But instead the man had been at an orphanage giving children candy and helping them to make dolls.  

Her husband was turning out to be the best man she knew and never again would Cassandra doubt him for even a single second.

"Hey, Finnegan?" Seamus spoke up. "I never knew you were so talented at making dolls. Do you think you could make me one?"  

Before Cassandra could scold him, Finnegan was grinning and wrapping his arm tight around a grumbling Seamus' shoulders. "Do ya have a soft spot for dolls then, dear Seamus? Seein' as how ya care for me so deeply I suppose I could make ya one just so long as ya promise to cuddle it real close at night."  

"Get the hell off me, Finnegan," Seamus warned gruffly.  

"So tell me true," Finnegan said once he and Cassandra were alone together in their hotel room. "How many saloons did ya check for me before ya found me where I was?"  

"None," Cassandra replied honestly. "Seamus wanted to but I insisted we had to check everywhere in the town that wasn't a saloon or gambling institution first."  

A wide smile split Finnegan's face. "Thank ya, Little Cass. Thank ya for havin' faith."  

"I do have faith in you, Finnegan. Now explain what in the world you were doing at an orphanage."

Finnegan slid off his boots and undid his gun belt. "I have always enjoyed spendin' time with the kids in those places. They don't get many people comin' to pay 'em any mind."  

Cassandra couldn't help her wandering eyes as Finnegan slid out of the rest of his trail worn clothes and slipped into her cold bathwater. "So you like children?" she asked, forcing herself to turn her back to him with the excuse that she was getting him clean clothes from his saddlebags.  

"O'course I do. Why wouldn't I?"  

"I don't know." Cassandra shrugged. "I've just never heard you talk about them."  

"I am fond of children, Little Cass, and in a few years I'll be expectin' a whole house full of them."  

Cassandra could hear the teasing in his tone. "Really?" she turned and placed her hands on her hips. "An entire houseful?"  

"That's right," Finnegan nodded as he went about scrubbing the dirt from himself.  

"And just how are you going to be having this houseful of children with, Finn?"  

Finnegan poured a pitcher of water over his head and then stood up quickly. Cassandra watched droplets of water rolling down his body and all the hard lines and contours. "I'd like to adopt one or two but of course I'd like to have a few of my own as well. There is but one woman I'll be havin' children with, Cassandra." He stepped from the bath and Cassandra cursed the power he held over her as she found it impossible to speak or even move. "Why don't ya come on over here now and I'll be showin' ya how I plan to get those children."  

Cassandra would be damned if she could tell the man no. After all, she was fairly certain he had already gotten a good start on those children.

Chapter Thirty-Two

Chapter Thirty-Two

"This is it?" Finnegan looked around at the stone walls and frowned, "These are the great old things that folks come from near and far to look upon?"  

"I never said they were anything fancy," Calvin replied.

"Well we certainly can't call ya a liar than can we?" Finnegan grinned and hopped off the wall. "Now let's have a look at that map shall we?"  

He stepped closed to Cassandra as she pulled the leather bound map from her saddlebag and spread it open on the ground. The four treasure hunters studied it carefully.  

"The next point is this," Cassandra pointed at a spot on the map that appeared to be a big blob with a circle beside it that had a tail.  

"What the hell is that then?" Finnegan questioned, hoping that either Cassandra or Calvin would have an idea.  

"I have no idea," Calvin finally admitted.  

Cassandra snorted when Finnegan looked at her. "Do you honestly think I know? It's a circle with a tail beside a blob! You should have picked a mapmaker with more artistic skills."  

"Well isn't that just fine and dandy." Finnegan strode away from the group and climbed back onto one of the stone fences. He looked in every direction for anything that resembled what was on the map but saw nothing.  

"Maybe we can just figure out where this last landmark is and get to the treasure from there. I don't know why we would have to visit each landmark," Cassandra offered.  

"There is a key to the treasure at each landmark, Little Cass, it says so on the back of the map," Finnegan replied. He saw her flip the map over and study the back before she fixed him with an accusatory glare.  

"Why didn't you tell me this was back here?"

Finnegan shrugged. "Why didn't ya look?"  

Cassandra looked quite like she wanted to throttle him. "So we have to find a key. A real key or a clue? What is the key?"  

"The treasure is a lost shipment of gold." Finnegan jumped from the stones and walked toward her, staying far enough away to avoid a slap or punch. She look mad enough to do either. "They ship gold in lockboxes so it would make sense that they are real keys."  

"Can I see that?" Seamus asked, holding his hand out for the map. Cassandra placed it in his hands and he studied the next landmark closely for a moment before laughing lowly and turning his gaze to Finnegan. "You should know what the circle with a tail is, Finnegan. You've had one wrapped around your neck more than once."  

Finnegan grinned. "Dear Seamus, ya need to have your eyes checked. There is no way that picture is a set of milky feminine thighs."  

"Finn, divorces are becoming easier all the time," Cassandra warned, though Finnegan could see the amusement sparkling in her green eyes.  

Seamus shook his head. "A noose, Finnegan. It's a noose."  

Finnegan stepped a bit closer and studied the picture. "You're right! Wow! Those are two words I never thought I'd be speakin' to ya, Seamus."  

Cassandra snapped her fingers. "Focus please."  

Finnegan kissed her cheek, she was rather testy lately. "Alright then, it's a noose and a.... blob. Blobby noose? Noosey blob? Hang blob? Hanging blob?"  

"It could be a rock," Calvin suggested.  

"The Hanging Rock?" Finnegan tested that on his tongue and then he laughed, jumped forward and kissed Calvin square in the mouth.

"Finnegan!" Seamus roared.  

Calvin flushed bright red and stammered while Finnegan laughed loudly and dodged Seamus' fist.  

"Boys!" Cassandra stepped in between the three men and shook her head. "Can the three of you please act your ages for even ten minutes?"  

Finnegan gave her a sheepish grin and shoved his hand through his thick dark curls. "Sure can, love. Sorry to irritate ya so. Are ya feelin' okay? Ya seem a bit...on edge." Seamus and Calvin nodded their agreement.  

"I'm fine," Cassandra spat. "I'm simply tired, nauseous, a bit dizzy and irritated beyond belief that the three of you are acting like children! I'm not nearly old enough to be the mother of three obnoxious grown men babies!"  

Finnegan was worried. He took Cassandra in his arms and kissed her brow gently, checking her for fever. "Little Cass, if rest is what you're needin' we can take ya into town and settle ya down and then we'll come back out find the key. There's no need for ya to be overdoin' yourself...."  

Her eyes met his and he saw them soften. She laid her hand on his cheek and he shamelessly leaned into her touch. "Finn, I'm fine. Just try to behave, okay?"   

Finnegan nodded and made a big show of crossing his heart. "Best behavior."

"Alright. If I were a key where would I hide?" Calvin spoke out loud as he glanced around. "Hopefully it wasn't hidden anywhere too obvious or there's a good chance somebody already picked it up."

The four of them split up and began searching for a key. They had nothing to dig with and no idea where to dig so they simply had to hope it wasn't buried in the ground. Finnegan searched through some of the scattered stones, looking under them and finding nothing but creepy crawlies.  

"What about in there?" Calvin pointed to a large maple tree that stood not far from the first fence. It was clear from the massive trunk of the tree that it had been there a long long time. And at the base of the tree was an opening. It was dark and overgrown with grass and impossible to see inside of.  

"Reach in there and find out," Finnegan urged.  

Calvin shook his head. "I'm not reaching in there."  

"Me either," Seamus agreed. "There's no telling what's hiding back in that hole."  

Finnegan certainly didn't want to reach in. He glanced at Cassandra and she rolled her eyes. "Are you serious!?" she demanded.

Finnegan swallowed hard. "No, o'course not. I'll reach in and see what I can find," he winced. "If something bites my hand off just know that'll be five less fingers I have to touch your....."  

"Finn!" Cassandra flushed red and shook her head.  

Finnegan sighed. Time to do what he had to do to find the key. He had to find all four keys if he wanted to have the entire treasure and pay off the debts he had while starting a new life with Cassandra.  

Finnegan dropped to his knees and peered into the hole. It truly was as black as night, blacker than night honestly. Finnegan took a deep breath and stuck one shaking hand inside.  

Something brushed against his hand and he let out a scream and yanked his hand back out. He heard Seamus and Calvin laughing and could feel Cassandra's eyes burning holes in his back. With a heaving sigh Finnegan placed his arm back in the hole and once again began to search.  

He found what felt like leaves and sticks littering the bottom of the hole and began to dig in them for anything that felt like a key.  

He was getting over his nervousness about having his hand in a dark, terror-filled hole when something slithered over his finger. With a yell that deafened even him, Finnegan yanked out his hand and leapt away from the hole.  

"Damn the key, damn the treasure, damn the whole damn thing!" he exclaimed, hopping up and down and wiping his hand on his pants.  

"What in the world is wrong with you?" Cassandra demanded.  

Finnegan pointed a shaking finger at the hole. "There's something 

slithering in there!“

"A snake?" Seamus questioned skeptically.  

"Snake or centipede or millipede, does it really matter? It's slithering on my hand and I can't see it!"  

"Finnegan, put your hand back in that hole and find that key now," Cassandra snapped.  

Finnegan shook his head. "Lass, your brain has gone soft! I'm not reachin' back in that hole and no threat or amount of money could make me."  

"Seamus? Calvin?" Cassandra looked at the other men.  

"Nope," they spoke in unison.  

Cassandra rolled her eyes. "Fine, I'll do it myself."  

Finnegan was biting his nails as Cassandra knelt beside the hole and stuck her arm inside. She had a look of concentration on her face as she felt around and then he saw her green eyes light up just before she pulled her arm out and he saw the black key clutched in her hand.  

"Got it," she stated, holding out the key. "It was hanging on the backside of the hole."  

"Little Cass, I love ya!" Finnegan exclaimed as he wrapped her in his arms and spun her around and around.

"Yes I know. Now put me down before I lose my breakfast on you," she warned.  

Finnegan sat her down quickly and looked at his brother and Calvin. "Thanks to my amazing wife here finding that key all that is left to do is get to town for some rest and ask around a bit about this Hanging Rock."  

"Do I have to do the asking or can I trust that you big, strong, brave men can handle at least that much?" Cassandra asked dryly as they all mounted their horses.  

Finnegan didn't like the increasingly pale quality to her skin but he didn't want to draw attention to that just now. He would ensure she got some rest and perhaps a visit from a doctor to make sure there wasn't anything serious wrong with her. It wasn't like his little Cass to be so tired, so grumpy or so pale. "I think we can handle that much, Little Cass," he promised gently. "Y'ave earned ya some rest."  

---

Finnegan knocked on the door to Seamus and Calvin's room and waited a solid two minutes before it was opened by a disheveled looking Seamus. "Were ya a bit busy then, Dear Seamus? Y'ave only been here ten minutes, could ya not wait?"  

"What do you want, Finnegan?" Seamus grumbled.  

Finnegan laughed. "When ya finish here with that good looking man y'ave got I'll let the two of ya handle findin' out where that Hanging Rock is."  

"You're not going to help?" Seamus questioned.

"I'll be busy with Little Cass." Finnegan waggled his eyebrows.  

"Finnegan, is something wrong?" Seamus' voice became very serious. Finnegan sighed, so much for hiding his worry. Apparently his brother had sensed it despite his attempts to keep it to himself.  

"Somethin' is wrong with Cassandra," Finnegan admitted. "I'm worried that she's sick and I'm going to try to talk her into lettin' the doc in town have a look at her."  

"You better find me and let me know what he says," Seamus warned.  

"I will. Now ya get back in there to your man and have fun," Finnegan winked just before Seamus slammed the door in his face.  

Finnegan made his way back down the hall to the room he was sharing with Cassandra. He found her sound asleep on top of the covers on the bed. She had not even taken her shoes off and his worry grew.  

"Cassandra?" he whispered as he sat down on the bed and smoothed her golden curls from her face.  

She moaned and didn't not open her eyes. "Please not now, Finn. I'm so tired.." she whimpered.  

Finnegan shook his head. "I think I'll last a night without, Little Cass. Right now I'm concerned for ya,"  

Her green eyes opened then and she looked up at him with a crease between her eyes. "Concerned for me? Why?"  

Finnegan lay down beside her and pulled her against him. "Because ya haven't been yourself, love. Y'ave been more tired than usual, run down, complainin' of bein' sick to your stomach, ya look as pale as a ghost and those rings around your eyes are darker than any bruise I've ever seen."  

"Gee, Finn, why can't you always tell me how beautiful I am? I find it quite flattering," Cassandra dryly intoned.  

Finnegan poked her nose. "Ya know I think ya the most beautiful woman in the world," he assured her. "But I think somethin's wrong and I want ya to let me go fetch the doc so he can..."  

"Finnegan, there's no need for the doc," Cassandra stated assuredly as she pushed out of his arms and sat up.  

"I know ya can be stubborn, Little Cass, but I won't stand for ya to be sick and not go to the doc. I love ya and..."  

"Finnegan, I know what's wrong with me," she bit her lip and searched his eyes but he had no idea what she was searching them for.  

"Is it a bug, Little Cass? Are ya sick?"  

Cassandra laughed lightly. "Well there is something inside of me, Finn, but it's not a bug."  

Finnegan studied her face as he struggled to understand her meaning. His gaze went to her stomach and then back to her face and she nodded. "How many did you say you would like to have?"  

Finnegan forgot how to breathe momentarily. His eyes became locked on Cassandra's stomach and imagined the life that was now growing inside. Swallowing hard he looked into Cassandra's eyes once again. "Y....you're with child?"

Chapter Thirty-three

Chapter Thirty-Three

"Yes, Finn. Yes, we're going to have a baby."  

Finnegan simply sat there. He couldn't move, couldn't breathe, couldn't think beyond the single word flashing in his head, 'Baby'.  

Shite.  

A baby? His baby. Little Cass's baby. A father. He was going to be a father?! Surely there was some unspoken law about a man like him having children wasn't there? It was one thing to talk about having them one day and a complete other to be told there was one on the way and growing inside your wife.  

Finnegan was faintly aware of Cassandra speaking but he had no idea what it was she said. He sat there and stared at the wall as his brain shut down from the overload.  

It wasn't until darkness was falling outside and the shadows were stretching across the room that Finnegan snapped from his daze. Cassandra was curled up on the bed, sound asleep. Finnegan rose to his feet, covered her with a spare blanket and left the room. He didn't even have to think about where he was going; his feet simply carried him down the road to the most rickety saloon the town had to offer.  

He stepped inside and breathed in the scent of sweat, dust, dirt, beer and whiskey. Finnegan went to the bar and tapped the scarred wood, "What'll it be, sir?" the bartender questioned as he stepped over. "Beer or whiskey?"  

"Whisk....." Finnegan stopped. His body burned for just a taste of the stuff but he couldn't; he had a child coming. "Just a beer."  

Finnegan took his beer and weaved his way through the tables full of people until he found an empty one toward the back and sat down. He stared down into the amber liquid and wondered what in the hell he was going to do.  

"Finnegan, what are you doing here?"  

Finnegan looked up at the sound of Seamus' voice and forced a smile before taking a drink of the beer in his glass. "Relaxin', Dear Seamus. You should try it sometime."  

Seamus grumbled and pulled out an empty chair. "Calvin figured out where the Hanging Rock is," Seamus informed him.  

"Good... good." Finnegan replied, though his mind was far too distracted to care about what Seamus was saying.  

"Finnegan, what the hell is wrong with you?"

Finnegan tilted his head as he looked at his older brother. "What makes ya think there's anythin' wrong with me?"  

"Because you're sitting alone in a saloon with a poker game going on less than ten feet away which you're not playing and you're nursing a mug of beer. I've never once seen you with beer--it's always been whiskey."  

Finnegan tipped his glass back and forth and watched the liquid inside slosh around. "Yeah, well, I didn't want the distraction. I simply wanted to think."  

"Think?" Seamus sounded amused. "It's a little too late to start doing that isn't it? You've lived this long without thinking so why start now?"  

"I think more than ya think I do, brother. For example, me thinks you're a jackass."  

"Yeah I probably am," Seamus agreed, surprising Finnegan. "Now what's wrong? Did the doc say something bad about Cassandra? Is it bad news?"  

"Not bad news just 

suprisin’ news it is. And the doc was never there.“

Seamus frowned. "But I thought she was sick and you were going to make her let a doctor take a look at her"  

"Aye, I was. But ya see, Little Cass insisted that she knew what was wrong with her and then she made sure I knew as well."  

Seamus seemed more than a little suspicious as he leaned forward. "What's wrong with her, Finnegan?"

Finnegan took another swig of his beer, swiped his shirt sleeve across his mouth and forced a humorless grin. "A wee little Irishman is growin' in her belly."  

"Shite," Seamus' Irish accent came out a moment in his shock and he downed a big swig of beer. "What were you thinking?" he demanded, his accent disappearing just as quickly as it had appeared.  

"Clearly I wasn't," Finnegan replied, leaning back in his chair. "I lose all control of myself with that lass. She drives me wild and I...."  

"I don't need to know the details, Finnegan," Seamus snapped. Finnegan attempted a mischievous grin but he simply couldn't muster the energy it required. "Why aren't you happy, Finnegan?" Seamus questioned suddenly.  

"I am happy. I'm a cornucopia of glee, Dear Seamus."  

Seamus studied Finnegan thoughtfully a moment and then shook his head. "I thought you wanted children? You seemed to like them well enough at the orphanage."  

"I do like children," Finnegan assured him. "And I did want children."  

"You did want them? You don't want them now?"  

Finnegan shoved his mug of beer away, crossed his arms on the tabletop and threw his head down upon them, "Would ya want me for a father then, Seamus? Shite! Sayin' you want to have children and findin' out one's comin' are two completely different things."  

Seamus was quiet for a long moment and Finnegan finally peeked up at him through his lashes. "What did you say to Cassandra when she told you?"  

Finnegan winced. "Nothin',"  

"Nothing?"  

"I just sat there and stared."  

"What was her reaction to your reactions?"

"I have no idea," Finnegan admitted. "By the time I snapped out of my daze she was sound asleep. Her cheeks were dry, I checked."  

Seamus snarled. "So she didn't cry but I'm sure you hurt you, you great idiot."  

"And you're familiar with the softer sex then are ya, Seamus?"  

"You know I'm not nearly as familiar with them as you are, Finnegan, but even I know that when a woman tells her 

husband that she’s carrying his child, she would like him to show her some form of excitement.“

Finnegan groaned. "I know."  

"Finnegan, I think you were real thoughtless to get her with child just now. You have no home, nowhere to live and you still have men that want you dead until you find this treasure and pay them back..."  

Finnegan rolled his eyes and buried his face back in his arms. "I can always count on my brother. This wee chat has been so helpful."  

"I'm not done yet," Seamus snapped. "Now you're my damn brother and I know we've never been real close but you're better than this. You love that woman and she loves you. You might have been a worthless sack of shit for a long time but you've changed, Finnegan."

Finnegan had no idea what to say to that. What did you say when your hard ass of an older brother who had tried to kill you more than once suddenly told you that you weren't quite as worthless as he had always said you were?

"Since I've finally got you speechless and you don't have anything to say I'll continue speaking. I think you're going to be a real good father. You've proven that you're a man who is capable of being a good husband and being a father will be no different. Cassandra loves you and your children will love you. It might not be the best time to be having a child but the two of you will figure it out. If there's one thing that I do know about you, Finnegan, it's that you have a way of always getting yourself out of sticky situations and coming out the other side smelling like a rose. Everything's gonna be just fine."  

"Are ya sayin' ya believe me to have a pleasant scent?"  

"Dammit, Finnegan, I'm trying to be nice and you're being a jackass!"  

"I can't help myself, Dear Seamus. But I do thank ya for havin' faith in me. I'll admit it feels a bit odd to know my brother believes in me..."  

"Don't get carried away now, Finnegan, I never said that. I just don't think you'll be too bad of a father."  

Finnegan grinned, rose from his seat and rounded the table. He put his arms around Seamus' neck from behind and hugged him tight. "Too late to take it back now, Dear Seamus. I'm going to be a father!"  

Seamus chuckled before shoving Finnegan off of him. "Yes, you are. Now get up there and make sure your wife knows you're happy about it as well."  

Finnegan felt as if a weight had been lifted off his shoulders as he skipped from the saloon and out into the fresh air. Darkness had fallen but this town was still bustling. He tipped his head and politely greeted those he passed. A father. He was going to be a father. While he still wasn't completely sure he knew how to be a good father, Seamus' words had made him realize that he had changed and just maybe he stood half a chance of being better than what he had had as a father.  

Finnegan stepped into the hotel room and found kerosene lights burning as Cassandra sat on the edge of the bed. "I thought ya were restin'?" he stated.  

"I was, but now I'm sitting here wondering just how I want to begin killing you," Cassandra replied with an overly sweet smile.  

Finnegan winced. "Ya wouldn't want to kill the father of your wee child then would ya?"  

"Where did you go, Finn? Are you that upset over the thought of having a child? After the orphanage and our conversation that night I would have thought you'd be excited,"  

Cassandra was clearly a little hurt and Finnegan quickly went to the bed and dropped to his knees between her legs. "Little Cass, I'm sorry I didn't have the reaction that ya had hoped I would. I was scared, lass."  

"Scared?" Cassandra laid her hand on his cheek. "Scared of what?"  

"Of being a father. Of havin' a little human that'll be expectin' me to take care of it. I do well to take care of myself, Cass."  

"Oh, Finn, you don't have to worry about that," Cassandra insisted with a smile. "I'll take care of both of you."  

Finnegan laughed and looked into her green eyes that gazed at him with such dedication and love it made him feel capable of anything. "I know ya will, Little Cass. I love ya."  

"I love you too," Cassandra kissed his brow. "You are happy, aren't you?"  

Finnegan bent his head and kissed her stomach through her pale blue blouse, "I'm happy, Cassandra. I'll be the best father I can be and while I can't promise to give you and the little lad the life that ya had growin' up, I will do all I can to keep ya both happy."

"Finn, I don't want that kind of life for me or for our child. My parents are good people and they loved me but our children won't be raised by nannies and they won't be pushed to become something they have no desire to become. All I want for me and for our children is you, just the way you are."  

"Are ya up for continuin' on the treasure hunt, Cass? If ya are too tired we can..."  

"I've come this far, I'm not going to stop now," Cassandra countered. "Besides, if I'm not there who will reach into the scary dark holes?"  

"You're right," Finnegan grinned. "We need ya." Finnegan rose up and let his lips dance across her neck. "Are ya still real tired, Little Cass, or do ya feel a bit better?"  

"I'm still really tired," Cassandra admitted. Finnegan was about to cease his feasting on her soft skin but she buried her fingers in his dark curls and held him in place against her neck. "But I'm not quite that tired."  

Finnegan smiled against her pulse, "We no longer have to work on that first child but perhaps a bit of practice for when it's time to make the second?"  

Cassandra snorted. Finnegan grabbed her hips and her laughter filled the small hotel room as he tossed her gently back onto the bed and got to work on the practicing.

---

"So there really is a Hanging Rock?" Cassandra asked the next morning as she, Finnegan, Calvin and Seamus sat in the hotel diner and ate their breakfast.  

"Yeah, it's about a three day ride north of here," Calvin replied.  

"And do they really hang people there?" Finnegan questioned.

"How else would it get that name, Finnegan?" Seamus grumbled. "I think it's pretty clear what they do there."  

"According to the men I talked to there hasn't been anyone hanged there in over a decade but that did use to be a fairly popular hanging place," Calvin stated and Cassandra smiled as she took a drink of her lemonade. Calvin  seemed to be quite good at playing peacemaker between the brothers when he chose to. Perhaps she would just leave that job up to him from now on.  

"Well I say we eat, stock up on supplies and head out as quickly as we can," Cassandra urged.  

"Cassandra, are you certain it's okay for you to ride in your condition?" Seamus asked warily.  

Cassandra glared at Finnegan. "You told him already?!" she demanded.  

Finnegan grinned sheepishly and shoved a big bite of eggs into his mouth. "Can't talk with my mouth full."  

Cassandra turned her gaze to Seamus who shifted in his seat. "I found him at the saloon and he...."

"The saloon?!" Cassandra shoved her chair back and stood. "Instead of staying and talking to me last night you ran off to the saloon? Just how much whiskey did you drink before becoming a father didn't sound bad to you and you came crawling back to our room?"

"None!" Finnegan insisted as he stood up and glanced around them.

Cassandra knew that people were looking but couldn't seem to find it in herself to care. "You expect me to believe that you went to the saloon and you didn't drink a bit of whiskey?"  

"Yeah, that's exactly what I expect ya to believe because it's what I say happened and ya said ya would believe me from now on. Did ya smell any whiskey on my breath last night?"  

The answer to that was no now that she took a moment to think back but she was too far in now to simply back up. "I wasn't exactly smelling for it," she snapped.  

"I drank less than half a mug o'beer, Seamus and I spoke a bit and then I came back to you. I simply needed to do a bit of thinkin' and I didn't walk out on ya either. When I left, you were sound asleep."  

"He's telling the truth about the saloon, Cassandra," Seamus came to his defense in a very strange and foreign turn of events. "I found him all alone at a back table and he seemed lost in thought. The last I had heard he was going to get a doctor for you so I was worried he'd gotten bad news and I checked on him."  

Cassandra bit her lip and cleared her throat when she realized she'd greatly overreacted. It was the babe in her belly! It had taken her impulsive nature and kicked it up ten notches while throwing in a snappy temper just for fun. "Okay then," Cassandra sheepishly sat back down and wished everyone would go back to their meals.  

"I'll be goin' and gettin' the horses ready," Finnegan muttered.  

"I'll come with you," Seamus agreed. "You two stay here and finish your breakfast," he added, tipping his head at Calvin and Cassandra.  

"Finn?" Cassandra called out before Finnegan could walk out the door. He turned with a questioning glance. "I'm sorry," she offered.  

A bright smile lit his face and made her heart swell. Then his next words had her heart dropping. "Don't worry, Little Cass. You'll get your payback when a little miniature me comes screamin' out of ya."  

Finnegan and Seamus left then and Cassandra picked up her lemonade and took a long deep swallow as Calvin stared at her with amusement.  

"Calvin?"  

"Yes?"  

"I'm in a lot of trouble."  

"Yep."

Chapter Thirty-Four

Chapter Thirty-Four

"Seamus, tell me, have you ever hanged your brother at a nice historic place like this?" Cassandra questioned dryly as the quartet sat on their horses and stared at the ten foot boulder and massive oak surrounding by smaller rocks and boulders.  

"Nope. I always hanged him where I found him and Finnegan never did bother with getting around anything that had 'Hanging' in the title," Seamus replied.  

"Well I do have a little bit o'sense then, don't I?" Finnegan grinned.  

He slid from his saddle and helped Cassandra from her horse. While Cassandra did not 

need the help, she took it anyway. Finnegan had been doting on her even more than usual since learning she was carrying their child and what woman didn’t like a little extra doting?

"You've gotta have some sense," Calvin agreed. "You did marry Cassandra after all."  

Cassandra rolled her eyes. "Calvin, you can stop trying to get on my good side. You can't have my cinnamon candy. It's mine."  

"I just want one piece!" Calvin explained holding up one finger to emphasize his point and apparently make her aware of how many 'one' was.  

"I said no."  

"Ya better stop butterin' up and tryin' to take the lass's candy," Finnegan warned, clearly very amused by the ongoing battle between Cassandra and Calvin over cinnamon sticks. "She won't even share with me and I'm her husband."  

"She gave me one," Seamus spoke up. "But I 

was her first kiss after all. A woman tends not to forget something like that and keeps a special place in her heart for that man.“

Both Calvin and Finnegan turned accusing glances full of hurt in Cassandra's direction. She threw her hands in the air and strode toward the rock and away from them all. "I didn't give him the damn candy! His Irish blood showed itself and he stole it while I was sleeping. I boxed his ears good for it too."  

Cassandra turned her attention to the Hanging Rock but she didn't miss Calvin saying. "Why didn't you steal one for me?"  

She rolled her eyes as she looked up into the branches of the oak far above her head. Cinnamon candy had never been something Cassandra had liked until recently. She had heard that some women got cravings for certain foods while carrying a child and she suspected that is what was happening with her. She had kept it in her saddlebags but after Seamus had stolen a piece from there she had begun keeping it in a pouch in her pocket and shared with no one; no matter how much they begged and pleaded.  

"Why do they call it the Hangin' Rock then?" Finnegan came to stand beside her. "Ya can't very well hang folks from a rock."  

"No," Seamus agreed. "But it looks to me like you have to climb up the rocks in order to reach the branch in that tree that you would hang folks by."  

"Then by that logic it should be the Climbin' Rock. I just don't see how ya would get a name like Hangin' Rock for a rock that ya can't even hang folks from."  

"Maybe because it sounded better than Hanging Tree?" Calvin offered.  

"Yeah, you have plenty of hanging trees all over the country but they would have had the one and only hanging rock," Seamus agreed.  

Finnegan scratched at his stubble covered jaw. "Aye, but the rock doesn't do the hangin' does it?"  

"Oh my dear merciful God in heaven, does it matter what we call a rock, boys? Really?" Cassandra snapped, having had enough of their bickering.  

Finnegan put his arm around her shoulders and kissed her temple tenderly. "O'course not, my snappy love. Now we'll just have to figure out where to find the key..."  

"How about I string you up, Finnegan? Just for old time sake? You'd have a pretty good view from up there," Seamus offered.  

"I don't think so, Seamus Callahan. I'm still very upset with you for doing that once or twice or however many times you did it!" Cassandra warned, pointing her finger at him threateningly. She was aware of Finnegan sticking his tongue out at his brother from behind her and she sent her elbow into his stomach.  

Finnegan's breath left his mouth in a rush and he doubled over, clutching his tender abdomen. "What was that for?"  

"For being a child,' Cassandra replied with a wave of her hand as she began turning over small rocks at the base of the big ones.  

"If that's the way you're gonna punish our babes then perhaps ya should leave that part up to me."

Cassandra glanced at him over her shoulder, batting her lashes sweetly. "Of course I won't do that to our children, Finnegan. They will be children and as such I will expect them to be immature and childish."  

"Well, shite, woman! Y'ave known me all your life so ya should expect it from me too!"

Cassandra laughed because he was right; she did expect it from him. But that didn't mean she could let him get away with it all the time. She reached for a larger rock and was going to turn it over when two strong arms wrapped around her middle and pulled her back.  

"I don't think ya will, Little Cass. Now that might be a tough wee Irishman ya have in that belly but we'll take care just the same," Finnegan breathed into her ear. Cassandra could tell by the tone in his gentle voice that he wasn't going to listen to any argument she might try to give him.  

"Fine. I suppose you won't let me climb up there either?" she questioned, tilting her head toward the large Hanging Rock.

"Such a smart woman ya are, Cass." Finnegan kissed her cheek gently. "Now have ya a seat and let us brawny men handle findin' this key."  

Cassandra sighed as she sat down on one of the boulders and laid her hands in her lap. "Oh yes, just so long as there are no dead bodies, no thunder, no lightning, no dark holes, nothing that slithers or has more than four legs and nothing that is the in the rodent family because, for some unknown reason, they make Calvin squeal and climb up Seamus like a raccoon escaping a hound, then I'm sure you brawny men will handle things just fine."  

Calvin flushed. "I don't squeal."  

"Aye," Finnegan put an arm around the embarrassed man. "Ya do."  

Cassandra watched the men begin their searching. Tipping over the medium sized boulders and climbing up onto the rocks to look high and low for any sight of the key. She laughed when Finnegan began scampering up the tree, checking for holes where the key could be hidden.  

After nearly an hour of watching them search, Cassandra began to lose feeling to her backside. She shifted on the boulder and froze when it felt as if the rock shifted with her.  

That was strange.  

Cassandra shifted to the left and felt it again. Quickly she stood and turned to look down at the rock. She swiped away some of the dirt and her eyes widened. It appeared that part of the rock was separate from the rest. It certainly did not appear to be a natural occurrence.  

She glanced at the men but they were lost in their own worlds searching for the key so she let them look. The last thing she wanted was to have them all crowded around her and bickering over whatever came to their minds to bicker over.  

Cassandra began pushing at the odd piece of rock and she found that it would turn and twist just a bit. Using her fingernail Cassandra pried into the crack in the rock and after a bit of maneuvering the top piece slid off to reveal a hole inside and a burlap sack. Cassandra sat the chunk of rock aside and picked up the sack. She poured the contents into her hand and smiled at the iron key.  

Standing up straight, Cassandra turned and held up the key. "Boys?" she called.  

Calvin looked up from his search of a pile of small boulders, Seamus glanced down from the very top of the Hanging Rock and Finnegan from nearly the very top of the old oak. "What do ya have there, Little Cass?" he called down.  

"The key. Of course if you brawny men would like me to put it back so you can be the ones to find it...."  

"No, no, no..." Calvin quickly dashed to her and took her key from her hand. "I have no problem in admitted a woman is better than me."  

Cassandra was aware of Finnegan scampering down the tree and when Calvin winked at her and kissed her cheek Cassandra heard Finnegan cursing. Cassandra gasped at the anger on his face as he reached the ground and stomped toward them. She wasn't sure what to make of this side of Finnegan. She'd seen glances of it before; glances of this jealous, overly protective, chest beating man that lived inside him at times but it was rare and odd and just didn't look right on him.  

"Uh..." Calvin took several uncertain steps back and glanced toward Seamus who was busy trying to get back down the rocks without falling and snapping his neck.  

Suddenly Finnegan's face split in a wide grin and his brown eyes sparkled. "How could ya, Calvin? I thought we shared somethin' special. Now ya are goin' 'round kissin' everybody?"  

Calvin laughed weakly. "So you're not really mad?"  

"Naw, o'course not," Finnegan put his arm around Cassandra and she had a sneaking suspicion that if they were dogs he would have just peed upon her leg.  

With a roll of her eyes she pulled away from him and went to Calvin. She took the key from his hand just as Seamus approached. Cassandra dropped the key into the sack and placed the sack in her saddlebags where the first key was also safely stored.  

"If you're all quite done marking your territory on me I would like to get to town. That sign we passed says there is one not too far from here and it has been three nights since I have slept in a real bed."  

"Oh, Little Cass, the ladylike poetry that flows from your soft lips is enough to steal away any lads heart," Finnegan lamented as he helped her up onto the saddle of her mare.  

"Yes, but there is only one heart I'm interested in and the owner of it would do well to remember that and not beat his chest and piss on my leg when other men come near."  

"Especially when those men are only romantically interested in someone with a bit more hair on their chest than Cassandra has to offer," Seamus agreed with a chuckle.  

Finnegan clicked his tongue and tilted his head at his brother. "I thought all ya stole in that barn was a wee kiss, Seamus. Ya have no way of knowin' just how much chair the lass has on that chest o'hers. Why it's enough to nearly weave a blanket."  

Cassandra snorted and kicked Finnegan in the back, shoving him toward Theo who began to nose around his pants pockets.  

Finnegan reached in his pocket, pulled out a treat and held it to the geldings nose. "I mean, 'tis the smoothest chest ya have ever laid your eyes on with a pair of full round breasts that...."  

"Finnegan Callahan!!" Cassandra exclaimed. A bright red flush of embarrassment lit her cheeks and traveled down her neck. "If you do not get on that horse and lead me to that town right now I will be forced to cut off your Irish clover and place it in a little shadow box to adorn our mantle as we grow old!"  

Finnegan sighed even as he winced. "More poetry from those feminine lips."  

"Finnegan, maybe you should quit before she kills you," Calvin warned.  

Finnegan laps and hopped onto Theo's back. "I never have known when to stop, Young Calvin. If I was a man who quit when he was losin' I'd have never ended up makin' Little Cass's everyday more complete by bein' here beside her."  

Cassandra laughed. "Finnegan, you better stop before I have to wash the bullshit off my skirt."

Chapter Thirty-Five

Chapter Thirty-Five

"Dancin'?" Finnegan grinned and kissed Cassandra's nose. "Did ya not get your feet stomped on enough times the last time I twirled ya 'round a dance floor?"  

Cassandra shook her head and Finnegan felt his heart swell when she snuggled closer against his bare chest. It was truly amazing what this woman had done to him, for him, in their lives. As children she had always been there for him. Truly that was why he had been so quick to open up to her and bare his soul when his mother had died. If he was being honest with himself, which he was more than willing to be now, it hadn't only been her presence during his weakness that had had him kissing her that night in the loft. It had been her. He'd loved her then but life, her father, his own insecurities and foolish beliefs had come between them.  

Never would Finnegan let anything come between them again. He'd been blind, deaf, dumb and soft headed to live the way he had for so long. To spend his time doing whatever, whenever just so long as it brought him pleasure...and even when those things constantly put his life in danger. Truth was he hadn't cared. It wasn't that he'd been depressed or brooding; on the contrary Finnegan loved life and he had loved that life but he knew now that life had been empty.  

Little Cass had given his life meaning and as long as he had her beside him he would be the man she deserved. It wasn't always easy. His legs had to be forced to walk past a good game of dice in a back alley. His hands twitched and itched to roll those tiny carved pieces of wood and his eyes and brain begged to run through the odds and place a few bets. Hell when he had seen a buggy race about to take place two days before he had nearly broken away from his traveling companions and gone straight to it... Only Cassandra and the thought of that babe in her belly had kept him sitting strong in the saddle.  

And then there was the urge for whiskey. God, he wanted it terribly. He put a brave face on for Cassandra and did not let her know how badly he missed it but he had not had a sip in weeks--not since the night he and Cassandra had gotten into that fight and he'd ended up in the saloon. At times the thirst seemed to be in his blood and swimming beneath his skin....  

In those times he would take Cassandra in his arms and let his addiction for her overpower the need for that whiskey. He was finding that it did get easier the more days that passed but he knew it would be something he struggled with a long time. That urge for gambling, betting and whiskey... but Finnegan knew they were things he needed to stay away from. He had learned the hard way that he did not know when to stop and even the smallest taste of his vices had him losing control.  

Cassandra would become his only vice. She was already his biggest vice; his greatest addiction. Her touch, her laughter, her big green eyes, her wit, her kiss, her scent and her devotion were the only things he 

had to have. He had learned he could live with the whisky and the bets but he could not live without his Little Cass and he prayed that he would never, ever, have to.

He pulled her closer in the soft bed and kissed her golden curls. "Aye, Little Cass, we can go dancin' tonight."  

Cassandra raised her head and glanced over toward the clock on the wall. "We should be getting ready then. We'll have to get something to eat before the dance begins."  

"Is my little lad hungry?" Finnegan asked with a grin as he laid her hand over her stomach.  

"I don't know about your little lad but your wife sure is," Cassandra replied dryly.  

Finnegan nodded and slid from the bed. He took her hand in his and helped her up as well, pulling her bare body flush against his. Despite the love they'd just made, Finnegan felt his body heating anew and tingling with pleasure at the feel of her skin pressed against his.

"Do ya have any idea of what ya do to me, Cassandra?" he whispered as he pressed his brow to hers.  

Cassandra kissed him tenderly and nodded as she pulled her lips away. "Yes, I do."  

Finnegan quickly moved away from her and found her clothes. If he continued to hold her that way then he was going to forget all about dinner and dancing and he had to see to her stomach. It wouldn't do for his Little Cass to be hungry.

"This dance is going to be fun," Cassandra spoke excitedly as he helped her dress. Finnegan knew she did not 

need his help but it gave him an excuse to touch her, to let his fingers dance across her soft skin, and he didn’t think she minded it at all. “I have never been to a dance outside before.”

"Never?"  

"No, my father would have forbade that and my mother would have let me know that a proper lady does not dance with her feet in the dirt.'  

"Aye, perhaps in your father's circles a proper lady would not. But you are not a proper lady and for that I thank the Lord above. A proper lady would never be strong enough put up with a man like me."  

"You are quite lucky, Finn," Cassandra teased.  

Finnegan didn't even try to deny it. "Aye, I am." He tweaked her nose, dressed himself quickly and led her from the room.  

Finnegan and Cassandra took a seat in the hotel diner and waited on their food to be brought out. Finnegan kept feeling a tingle on his spine as if someone was watching them but whenever he looked around he could not see anyone familiar.  

"You seem tense, Finn,' Cassandra noted. "What's wrong?"  

Finnegan smiled comfortingly. "Just thinkin' 'bout this dancin' we're about to do and hopin' I don't break your feet."  

"My feet will be fine," Cassandra assured him with a roll of her eyes.  

"Aye, you're right. Ya have big, sturdy feet. Tough and hardy feet. They...."  

"Finnegan?" Cassandra snapped with temper and amusement sparking in her green eyes,  

"Yes?"  

"That's enough about my feet."  

---

Cassandra laughed happily as Finnegan spun her around and around, not paying any attention to the music, the dance they were supposed to be doing or the eyes of everyone else staring at them.  

That was one of the things she loved the most about Finnegan. He simply 

lived and did whatever made him happy without worrying about what anyone else would think. She was the wife of a wild Irishman and she wouldn’t have it any other way. He annoyed her to no end, he often spoke without truly thinking, he never knew when to stop speaking and she often wanted to strangle him but he was the other half of her soul, her best friend and having him beside her made her life feel complete somehow.

"Finn, I need a break!" Cassandra exclaimed with a laugh as a song ended and she wiped a bit of sweat from her brow. The summer air was still hot despite it being night.  

Finnegan nodded and led her out of the circle of dancers. He found a table with a few empty places and settled her down in one. "I'm a hard man to keep up with, Little Cass. Ya should not feel bad that ya are tired while I am still fresh and ready for more."  

Cassandra rolled her eyes. "Under normal circumstances I can keep up with you just fine, Finnegan. Have you forgotten that I am currently baking a tiny Irish lad or lass inside of me?"  

"I'll never forget that," Finnegan assured her. He kissed her temple. "Would ya like me to head to the refreshments table and bring ya back somethin' to drink?"  

"Yes," Cassandra replied quickly. Finnegan nodded and stepped away. "And Finn?" she called. He turned and gave her questioning glance. "If they've got any snacks could you bring me one of those as well?"  

"Anything for ya, love."  

Cassandra watched Finnegan until he faded into the crowd and she laughed every time he bowed deeply to a woman or kissed her cheek as he offered a polite denial for her dancing invitation. There would never come a day that Finnegan wasn't kissing nearly every woman he met but Cassandra didn't care. She knew how much that man loved her.  

She sat there watching the people dancing, chatting and enjoying the peaceful night and the music in the glow of the fire and the lanterns. While the night was hot there was a nice breeze blowing and it danced across her heated cheeks, cooling them nicely.  

"Good evening, ma'am."  

Cassandra turned her head to see a man standing behind her. He was holding his derby hat in his hands and clutching at it, appearing almost nervous. Cassandra moved her gaze from his fancy, tailored suit to his face. He was a middle aged gentleman with handsome features, slicked back dark hair littered with gray and a heavy gray mustache.  

"Good evening," Cassandra replied politely.  

The lines around his dark eyes deepened as he smiled. "Would you like to dance with me?"

Cassandra considered it for a moment simply because she did not want to hurt this man's feelings. She knew that Finnegan wouldn't care if she danced with him but she was terribly tired. "I'm afraid I'll have to pass, sir," she said regretfully. "I do appreciate the offer but my husband has danced me until I've dropped already tonight."  

"Husband?" Something flickered in his dark eyes and Cassandra wondered why her words would have piqued his interest.  

"Yes, my husband," she replied pointedly. "And he will be back in a moment."  

He put his hat back on his head and took a small step back as he tipped his head. "Sorry, ma'am, I didn't realize he was your husband. I hope I didn't offend you."  

"No, not at all, sir. I thank you for the offer," Cassandra replied in a very polite way as she turned her head back to the front and scanned the crowd. She knew the polite way to dismiss someone; that was a lesson  her mother and aunt had insured that she learn well.  

"I truly wish you could spare me one dance,"  the man lamented.  

"I am sorry, sir. I'm simply too tired," Cassandra replied, her voice a bit tighter than it had been before as her patience waned. Where was Finnegan with her drink? 	

The man's boots dragged across the dirt as he stepped forward and Cassandra could feel the heat of his body nearly pressing against her back. "It seems I'm always too late to dance with the pretty ones," his voice was predatory and had lost its charm.  

With a roll of her eyes and her good nature and politeness fully overdrawn, Cassandra glanced back at him and smiled brightly while batting her lashes. "Then I suppose you'll have to dance with an ugly one."  

She had expected the man to be insulted, possibly huff and puff a bit the way those rich fancy types tended to do and then scamper off to mope and sulk over the unfairness of life. Instead his low chuckle, so close to her ear that she felt the warmth of his breath, caused her blood to run cold. "I'll just watch the pretty one dance from the shadows."  

Cassandra sat there frozen in her chair long after the man had left and she did not draw an easy breath until Finnegan returned to the table and flopped down beside her, laying a noise kiss to her cheek and holding out the drink he had gotten for her. "A wee bit of hydration for a tired lass."  

Cassandra swallowed hard and forced a smile to her face as she took the offered glass of lemonade from his hand. She wasn't going to tell him about that man. Knowing Finnegan he would either laugh it off and tease her mercilessly about it or he would go off in search of the man, it would come to blows and Cassandra would once again find herself gambling for bail money. When it came to his random bursts of possessive jealousness over her, he truly was unpredictable.  

"Did you have to travel far to get my lemonade?"  

"No," Finnegan frowned and ran his hand through his sweaty dark curls. "Just across the way," he pointed to indicate where the refreshments were located.  

Cassandra took a drink of the lemonade, savoring the coolness of it as it washed over her tongue and down her throat. "You seemed to be gone quite a long time for simply a trip to over there."

"Aye, I saw Seamus and Calvin."  

Cassandra felt a pang of guilt in her heart. Seamus and Calvin had not come to the dance with them and Cassandra knew it was because they could not dance with one another. Cassandra could not see why. She supposed some people were simply not open to seeing anything different from which they were accustomed; the small minded bigots.  

"Why were they here?"  

"To let us know they think they may have learned the next location on the map..."  

Cassandra placed her hand firmly over his mouth and shook her head. "Not tonight, Finnegan. I want a map free night."

Finnegan took her wrist gently and nodded. "Your wish is my command then, love. Are ya up for dancin' with me once again or will I be forced to find another lass to woo with my impressive skill."  

Cassandra snorted. "Finnegan, don't threaten these poor women with words like those. Not a single one of them deserve something as horrid as that."  

"And you do?" Finnegan was grinning and Cassandra found it to be an infectious sight that had her smiling with him and forgetting all about the man who had been so odd and made her feel so uncomfortable.  

Cassandra nodded and let out a long suffering sigh. "I was a very naughty woman in a past life."  

Finnegan waggled his eyelids. "Ya have my permission to be a naughty one in this one as well, Little Cass."  

Cassandra rolled her eyes before pressing a lingering kiss to his lips that had his eyes slipping closed and him moaning in protest when she pulled away. "I bet I do, Finn. I bet I do."

Chapter Thirty-Six

Chapter Thirty-Six

"Where's Cassandra?" Seamus questioned as Finnegan sat down at the table in the diner the following morning for breakfast.  

Finnegan eyed the food on both Seamus and Calvin's plates. "She was tired and sleepin' sound so I decided to let her rest. She's snappy enough when she's well rested, I'd hate to see her if I wake her up."  

"How late did you keep her up last night?" Calvin took a bite of his scrambled eggs. "It isn't like her to sleep so late."  

Finnegan flashed a grin and raised his brow as he stole a chunk of sausage from Seamus' plate and earned himself one of Seamus' infamous glares. "Are ya askin' how long we stayed at the dance? Are ya curious about what time we went to bed or what time we fell asleep?"  

"Finnegan, do you have to turn everything into a joke?" Seamus demanded, pulling his plate closer to himself and circling it protectively with his arms. "Is she sick or something?"  

"No, only tired. I want to give her a day or two here to rest and sleep in comfortable beds before we move on. Gotta see to my wife and child and their contentment."  

"That's real thoughtful of you, Finnegan," Calvin noted.  

"Aye, that's me. Finnegan 'Thoughtful' Callahan," Finnegan eyed the remainder of Seamus' sausage woefully. "But truthfully I'm doin' it more for me than I for her. That woman is gettin' harder to deal with everyday and I'm hopin' that a day or two of rest might ease that temper she's developed."  

"Sorry to break your heart but I think it's gonna be nine more long months before you might start to see any change in her mood, Finnegan," Seamus laughed and tossed the source of Finnegan's desires across the table and Finnegan happily plopped the sausage into his mouth. "And then she'll be dealing with you in miniature form so the chances of you ever knowing peace again are pretty slim."  

Finnegan stuck out his tongue and wiped his hands on his pants. "Are ya both okay with restin' here a day or so?"  

Calvin tipped his head. "Anything for Cassandra." Seamus nodded his agreement.  

Finnegan clicked his tongue. "I'll tell her ya have such devotion. It will be sure to brighten up her mood.... Or cause her to lose her lunch."  

Seamus shook his head. "If looking at your face every damn day hasn't caused her to vomit then nothing will."  

Finnegan scoffed. "I'm beautiful, Dear Seamus, or at least that's what my Young Calvin tells me." Finnegan winked at Calvin and the other man stuttered as Seamus frowned at him.  

"You told Finnegan he was beautiful?"  

Calvin opened his mouth to speak but Finnegan beat him to it. "O'course he did! I've always told ya I was the good lookin' brother, Dear Seamus. Calvin finds himself admirin' my sparklin' eyes and manly physique often during the day. It broke his wee heart when I had to let him go because of my love for Little Cass. It just did not feel right to keep lyin' so..."  

"How in the hell does Cassandra put up with you?!" Seamus growled while Calvin laughed loudly.  

Finnegan leaned back in his chair and stretched his legs out, crossing his ankles. He put his hands behind his head and smiled. "She's an angel, Dear Seamus. An angel without a lick o'common sense."  

---

Cassandra stirred beneath the soft blankets and reached for Finnegan but found nothing but empty space where he had been last night. Frowning, she opened her eyes and realized she was completely alone in their hotel room and sunlight was streaming through the window.   

Cassandra sighed and stretched, turning to the other side and snuggling against her pillow. The clock might say it was nearly ten in the morning but she was in no hurry to leave the cocoon of warmth this bed provided. It was amazing just how tired carrying a child made a woman.  

There was a knock on the door and she groaned with displeasure. "Who is it?" she called out.  

"Mr. Callahan asked that you be brought a tray of breakfast and water for a bath at this time," a woman replied.  

Cassandra smiled. Finnegan was always doing things to spoil her. She loved that while most thought him a selfish man she knew that the true him was a generous and caring soul.  

Cassandra threw her feet over the bed and stood up, stretching her arms over her head and shuffling slowly to the door in her nightdress. She opened it with a smile, eager to fill her rumbling stomach and a hand was clamped over her mouth before she could let out a single exclamation at the realization that the maid was shoved against the back wall of the hall and three men had taken her place.  

Recognition dawned in her mind when she recognized the man who had been asking her to dance and then whispered in her ear the night before. It was his hand clamped over her mouth and he smiled coldly as he pushed her into the room.  

"If you tell a soul that we're up here with her we'll kill you," a second man, very tall and broad growled in warning to the maid. She had tears in her eyes as she nodded and then ran off down the hall. The two other men came into the room and closed the door behind them.  

Cassandra fell backward onto the bed when her legs struck against it and the man removed his hand from her mouth and smiled with amusement down at her. "Hello there pretty girl. Tell me, can I have that dance now?"  

"No, but you can have my knee in your groin," Cassandra spat as she sat up and met his gaze full force. She was not going to be intimidated or bullied by this man and his thugs.  

The man chuckled and rubbed his hand over his thick gray mustache as his dark eyes sparked with amusement. "Finnegan sure picked a feisty one, I will give the bastard that much."  

Cassandra froze and studied him carefully. "You know Finnegan?"  

"Oh, yes." The mustached man motioned for the biggest of his thugs to come closer and the man came to stand directly beside the bed. "He and I go way back."  

Cassandra swallowed hard as she folded her hands in her lap to camouflage their shaking. "Who are you?"  

"Oh we'll have plenty of time to talk later, pretty girl. Just now we have to be leaving."  

"I think you just need to leave now and I might be persuaded not to tell my husband and brother-in-law about this incident." Cassandra shook her head, "I'm not going anywhere with you."  

The mustached man laughed heartily and his two thugs chuckled quietly as well. "Oh, pretty girl, what makes you think I'm giving you a choice?"  

Before Cassandra could speak, the thug beside the bed moved suddenly and something large crashed against the back of Cassandra's head causing the entire world to turn black.  

---

"I'll be goin' and checkin' on my bride now. By now she's had breakfast and a bath and will be a brand new woman."  

"You arranged for breakfast in bed and a warm bath?" Calvin questioned, sounding quite impressed.  

"Aye, I did."  

"Wow," Calvin shot a glance at Seamus, "Too bad that isn't a Callahan trait that all of you have."  

"I told ya you picked the wrong brother, Young Calvin," Finnegan teased. "And now I'm off to see the lucky woman and let you two get to discussin' Seamus' failin's as a lovin' man."  

Finnegan was laughing as he walked away with Seamus' loud grumbles and expletives ringing in his ears.  

He stepped into the hotel and a wink and a 'hey there, pretty lass',  to the young maid Finnegan had made Cassandra's breakfast and bath arrangements earned him a sniffle, a gasp and her back as she scampered away from him.  

Finnegan frowned at that strange reaction. It certainly wasn't the type of reaction he was accustomed to getting from pretty lasses. Finnegan shrugged it off and hurried up the steps to where he knew Cassandra would be waiting.  

With any luck she may still be in that bath and he would have the chance to look upon her soft, pale skin dripping with water.  

Finnegan hastened his steps and tapped lightly on the door before opening it and stepping inside. Instantly he froze. Something was very wrong.  

The washbasin he'd asked to be brought up and filled was not here, there was no tray for breakfast, his belongings, and Cassandra's were missing, and last, but most certainly not least, his Little Cass was nowhere to be seen.  

"Cassandra?" he called, though he had no idea why when he knew she was not here to answer him. Finnegan's heart raced. Where was she? Had she left him? Finnegan scolded himself for even thinking that. Perhaps he'd come into the wrong room.  

He glanced back at the number on the door, 2A. He was in the right room so where was his wife? Finnegan had never been the panicking sort and so he wasn't going to panic now. That maid downstairs might know something, after all she hadn't done what Finnegan had asked of her and she had seemed quite upset at the sight of him.  

Maybe she knew where Cassandra was.  

Finnegan was about to turn and go find her again when the piece of paper lying upon the messy bed caught his attention.  

His hands did begin to shake and his heart began to pound when he realized it was a letter. A goodbye letter? Had she left him? But why would she??? He had not done a thing. Surely she couldn't have! She knew that losing her would kill him and his Cass would never hurt him that way....

Finnegan walked stiff legged to the bed and picked up the paper. His blood ran cold as he read the words written there and he realized he had been wrong. Cassandra had not left him...no, it was much much much worse than that.  

Finnegan,

Hello old friend! It has certainly been a while since we have seen one another. I hadn't expected to see you up here in Montana while I was taking care of some business but we always have had a way of running into one another at unpredictable times haven't we? 


You often say that you dream about me, Finnegan, and while you speak in jest I am speaking in earnest when I say I do dream of you. I dream of finally seeing you pay for what you did to my life. Not only the money you stole but for your other, much more serious, transgressions. 


You are probably wondering where your wife is. I can say that she is alive and well... perhaps not completely well, I am sure that when she wakes up her head will be hurting her terribly.

You stay right there in town where you are, Finnegan, and when I am ready to accept the money you owe you me I will send you word on where you can send it. For now I am going to simply spend some time with the pretty girl you somehow managed to talk into marrying you. 


Don't worry, Finnegan, I will treat her just as you treated my Theresa and return her to you in the shape that you returned Theresa to me.

						Until I write again, 


							Morgan

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Chapter Thirty-Seven

"Dammit! I'll kill that bastard, Seamus! If that son of a bitch lays a single hand on my Little Cass I'll fuckin' kill him myself!"  

Seamus swallowed hard and tried to think of something comforting to say but no words would come. He and Calvin had been in their room when Finnegan had come bursting in moments before and shoved Morgan's note into Seamus' chest. Comforting his younger brother wasn't something Seamus had any practice doing and honestly he was too full of anger and worry for Cassandra to be any help to Finnegan.  

Calvin gasped and Seamus' eyes widened when Finnegan sent his fist plowing through the plaster wall. Never had Seamus seen Finnegan like this. Even at his angriest, Finnegan had still always kept that annoying wit and sense of humor--both those things seemed to have vanished just now.  

"Shite! That hurt!" Finnegan grumbled as he shook his bleeding hand.  

"Finnegan, will Morgan hurt her?" Seamus demanded, his blood running cold at the thought.  

Finnegan sat down hard on the edge of the bed and buried his face in his hands. "I don't know. I just don't know."  

Seamus wasn't used to his brother being this way. Punching walls, yelling, cursing and now appearing broken. "Finnegan, we'll figure this out..." Seamus offered, knowing his words would hold real no comfort. He felt Calvin's hand on his back and leaned into the other man's touch, thankful that he had him in his life.  

Finnegan looked up at Seamus and Seamus swallowed hard. Finnegan was... broken. His brown eyes were dead and red rimmed, his face was pale, his lips thin and dry. The light that had always been inside him, the good nature that had always drawn people in, was gone.  

"I did this, Seamus," Finnegan's voice cracked as he spoke. "Because of me Cassandra is alone with a man who plans on forcin' her just to get back at me.." Finnegan buried his face once again in his hands and his shoulders heaved as he sobbed.  

"I'll go find the law in this town and tell them what's going on," Calvin offered. Seamus nodded and Calvin kissed his brow tenderly before leaving the room.  

Seamus walked to the bed and sat down beside his crying brother. "Finnegan, Cassandra is tough, you know that. I'm sure she'll be able to figure something out..."  

"She shouldn't have to!" Finnegan bellowed as he stood. Seamus sat there in a state of shock as Finnegan's rage and sorrow boiled over. The man quite simply seemed to lose it. Nothing in the room was safe from his rampage. The pictures, the water pitcher, the clock, the vase full of wild flowers; it wasn't until Finnegan's fist slammed into the bed post with a crunching of bone that he stopped and fell to his knees upon the floor.  

Seamus wanted to help him so he moved to stand but Finnegan held up the hand that was not swelling and covered in blood, "My Little Cass and our unborn babe are in the hands of a monster and it's because of me. Ya were right, Dear Seamus, her papa was right. Cassandra was a million times a fool to fall for a man like me. I don't deserve that lass."  

Seamus shook his head. "No, you don't!" he snapped. "Not acting like this. Now, dammit, you're Finnegan Callahan. You are the wiliest bastard I know. How many tight spots have you gotten yourself out of? Hell I've tried to kill you more than a few times and you've always found a way out of it. I'm sure you've outsmarted this Morgan character more than a time or two as well and you'll do it again. You just have to pull your self together and figure this out, Finnegan."  

Finnegan blinked several times as he stared at him. Seamus wondered what was going on in Finnegan's mind. Seamus himself was pissed. He was pissed that Finnegan's past had caused this to happen to Cassandra, he was pissed that this Morgan had ridden in and taken her from right under their noses and he was pissed that once again Finnegan was making him say nice things about him.  

"They couldn't have gotten too far, right?" Finnegan questioned.  

Seamus nodded. "That's right. They had to have taken her sometime between you leaving for breakfast and coming back so they can't be too far away."  

"Morgan always was a jackass," Finnegan sniffed and wiped his tear streaked face on his shirt sleeve. "He may even still be in town thinkin' he's too smart to get caught."  

Seamus stood up and held out his hand, taking Finnegan's good hand and helping him stand. "We'll find her, Finnegan. And if he's touched her...."  

"I'll kill him." Finnegan's voice was cold, detached and deadly serious.  

Seamus frowned doubtfully. "Have you ever killed anyone, Finnegan?"  

"No," Finnegan replied honestly. "But there is a first time for everythin', Dear Seamus, and I'll end his life if he's hurt my wife or child."  

Seamus nodded, knowing that he would have his brother's back if it came to that. How strange. Two brothers, so very different, and at odds with one another their entire lives so far, suddenly united and almost....

friends . If he weren’t so worried about Cassandra, Seamus might have taken the time to ponder just how unlikely and unnatural that was.

"Seamus?"  

"What?"  

"My hand hurts."  

Seamus looked down at Finnegan's hand which was bleeding quite badly from the knuckles and covered in lacerations from his rampage against every glass and ceramic object the room had to offer. It was already swelling quite badly and Seamus knew that Finnegan wasn't lying. It had to hurt something fierce.  

"Let's get you to the doc, get it tended to and then find our Cassandra."

---

"I'm sorry, but we've searched the town. This man and woman you're after aren't here," the town deputy, a thin, watery-eyed man with balding hair, stated as he slid his hands in his pockets and rocked back on his heels. "They must have done left town."  

Seamus fought the urge to grab the man up by the collar because honestly he wasn't that good of a fighter. He had the temper but not the talent. Finnegan was the brother with a talent for fighting however he didn't usually have the temper or the urge.... After Finnegan's display in the bedroom this morning, Seamus didn't think that would be a problem when it came to Morgan.  

"He can't have gotten too far," Seamus urged. "Can't you..."  

"My jurisdiction ends at the edge of town," the deputy quickly spoke up. "I don't have the authority to chase him down."  

Seamus was glad that Finnegan was still gone in a search of the town, having chosen not to give up when the deputy had. If Finnegan were here the deputies lack of interest in Cassandra's welfare would have probably ended with his younger brother in jail.  

"Is there anyone else around who might have a bit more authority than you?"  

The deputy shrugged and scratched at his jaw. "We don't have much law out here. There's a U.S. Marshall that makes it through here every couple of months."  

"And when was he here last?" Seamus ground out between clenched jaws.  

"He just rode out about a week ago. I'm real sorry about your woman but I have other duties to be getting to and we've done looked everywhere...."  

"Then get to them. We'll have to muddle through without your immense support and assistance."  

The deputy walked away and Seamus glanced up and down the road. Damn this! If Finnegan hadn't been such a worthless jackass all those years..... Seamus shook his head. It wouldn't do Cassandra any good to have him and Finnegan fighting over Finnegan's past. What's done was done and all that could be done about it now was to work together to try to find her before it was too late.  

---

Finnegan had never felt so helpless in his life. His Little Cass was gone. He had searched this small town from top to bottom. He had barged into homes, scared old women, nearly gotten himself shot and searched every cellar, attic and room of every single building in and just outside of town.  

Darkness was falling and she was not here. He had lost an entire day. Morgan had had his wife for nearly twelve hours. Finnegan hated himself. He hated what he had been because if he hadn't been that person his Cassandra would be safe, sound and here with him now.  

He clenched his hand tightly, the one that wasn't broken and cut into lots of bloody ribbons. The doctor had let him know what a fool he'd been for attacking the hotel room with his fist. Finnegan didn't care, all he cared about was now in Morgan's hands.  

Finnegan wanted to leave town and go chasing after Morgan but he had no idea where the other man had gone or which direction to go in to find him. Seamus had been right when he'd said that Finnegan had gotten away from Morgan plenty of times but that has always been more dumb luck than cunning, and it didn't seem like luck was going to be on his side for this one. Damn whoever had claimed there was such a thing as 'luck of the Irish' straight to hell!

As if to further Finnegan's belief that the situation was hopeless the darkening sky suddenly let loose in a steady downpour of cold, fat raindrops and thunder rumbled in the distance.  

Finnegan tried hard to dig up that fear of storms he'd had since he'd been a child but all he was able to dig up was the sound of Cassandra's voice teasing him mercilessly over the fear and his heart broke anew.  

Finnegan didn't like feeling this way. It was a completely new and unpleasant way to live with all this fear, anger and helplessness swirling inside of him.  

"Finnegan, come on in out of the rain," Calvin called from the boardwalk that connected the hotel, diner and a few stores. Finnegan shook his head. He wanted to keep looking. To stop now seemed as if he were giving up.  

Seamus shook his head. "Dammit, Finnegan, get in out of that rain! Cassandra isn't in town and we can't leave to go looking for her with no idea where they took her. All that's left to do is wait until Morgan sends word just like he said he would."  

"Shite, Seamus!" Finnegan exclaimed as he shoved his hand through his wet hair and blinked the cold droplets of rain from his eyes. "What am I to do 'til then? Sit and twiddle my thumbs a bit? Perhaps watch a bit of grass grow?"

 Seamus yanked off his hat and growled impatiently. "Finnegan, I'm not any more happy about all this than you are but staying out there and getting struck by lightning isn't gonna solve a damn thing."  

Thunder banged and a bolt of lightning struck very near to where Finnegan was standing as the wind kicked up and the raindrops fell with more urgency.  

Ahh, there was the fear he remembered. With the threat of imminent death hanging over him Finnegan found himself running for shelter. Seamus and Calvin attempted to get him to come to the diner for food but how could he eat when he didn't know if Cassandra was going hungry?

He denied their invitation and then their offer to provide him company for a while. All Finnegan wanted was to be alone.  He stepped into the hotel and requested a new room. He didn't want to be forced to stay in the room he'd shared with Little Cass; the room she'd been in before she'd been stolen away from him.  

He settled himself on the edge of his new bed and stared at the storm raging outside the window. He was safe from the storm and soon he would be dry but he would never again be okay or that fun loving man he'd been before unless Cassandra made it back to him unscathed. His hands shook and his throat burned with the thirst for whiskey. Just a few shots and he knew that at least some of his worry and hurt would fade. Just one little bottle would make everything seem a little better.... But it would be nothing but lies and Finnegan would not give in to that temptation of weakness. Whiskey had helped cause this and he'd be damned before he let another drop of that damned venom pass over his lips again.  

Another bolt of lightning lit up the dark sky and Finnegan prayed that wherever Cassandra was tonight she was warm and she was safe. Dear Lord please let her be safe and untouched; or better yet let him awaken and learn that today had been nothing but a dream.

Chapter Thirty-Eight

Chapter Thirty-Eight

Cassandra had never been so thoroughly irritated in her life. This Morgan and his two large-bodied, small-brained pals had quickly destroyed her nerves and they were currently gnawing on the very last one.  

All she had heard all day was how they were going to 'have fun with her' and 'make Finnegan pay'. Morgan had gone on and on about how Finnegan had stolen his wife away from him and how his heart had broken, blah, blah blah. Honestly, her first time being kidnapped and it was by a moping little crybaby?  

Cassandra 

had been frightened when she’d first awakened and realized she was bound and gagged and tossed over the butt of a horse riding through one of the rare thick forests that this landscape offered. She had been frightened when she’d seen the rickety and rather spooky looking cabin that they were now residing in. She had been frightened when the biggest of Morgan’s men had sniffed at her hair the first time but now?

Now she was irritated, her hand was tied to the brass bed post, her wrist was sore, her head was pounding from the blow she'd taken and her body hurt terribly from being jostled against that horse for so many hours. Morgan's incessant vocal autobiography was not helping her in the least.  

"Would you please cease speaking?!" she exclaimed. "My head is already pounding from the whack you gave my skull and your whining is only worsening my pain!"

"You'll watch how you speak to me," Morgan warned. "And it wasn't I that hit you in the head; it was Nick and he wasn't supposed to. I was fully prepared to use chloroform," Morgan pointed to a glass jar and rag on the small table beside the front door. "But he hit you before I was ready."  

Cassandra turned to glare at Nick, the taller of the two soft minded thugs that Morgan apparently kept with him at all times. "Oh yes, the 

sniffer .“

Nick shrugged. "I like to smell things."  

"What am I doing here?" Cassandra demanded as rain pounded on the roof and a storm raged in the distance. "If you're going to violate me in an attempt to pay Finnegan back then I wish you get it over with already so that I may return to town and a bed that does not smell of mildew and mold."  

Of course Cassandra was bluffing. The though of being violated filled her with fear and caused her stomach to clench violently but she wasn't going to let these men know that because she had a feeling Morgan was bluffing as well. She did not truly believe that he had any intention of forcing her to lay with him or anyone else. They had been sitting in this cabin for hours and so far all Morgan had done was lament about the unfairness of his life.  

"Are you eager to be bedded?" Morgan sneered, as he sat down upon a rickety chair that creaked and sagged beneath him.  

Cassandra hid her shiver the best she could. "I simply do not see what bedding me will solve."  

"It will show Finnegan exactly how it feels to have someone take what is his!" Morgan exclaimed, clenching his fists tightly on the arms of the dusty chair.  

"From what I have heard Finnegan did not 

take a thing; it was freely given to him,“ Cassandra countered. Nick and Ben chuckled quietly but stopped the second Morgan glared at them.

"Finnegan knew she was my wife and he simply did not care. He took her and then he threw it in my face so I would know she preferred him over me."  

Cassandra made a mental note to kick Finnegan directly in the backside whenever she figured a way out of this and made it back to him. She loved her husband but at times he was truly more trouble than he was worth.... So perhaps that wasn't true; Finnegan was worth every bit of the trouble or else she wouldn't have married him. But he still deserved one good swat for what he'd done with Morgan's wife.  

"Finnegan is an ass. If you're looking for an argument from me on that account then you are going to be waiting a long while," Cassandra replied dryly as she shifted on the mattress and wished she weren't tied to this bed. It truly smelled of critter droppings.   

"I will pay him back for what he did...." Morgan didn't sound entirely sure of himself and Cassandra knew the man was no rapist. He might be a loan shark that had a bit of an obsession with Finnegan Callahan but he was not a man who forced a woman to lay with him and Cassandra doubted that the two men with him were either. None of these men frightened her the way that man in the ally all those months ago had and she truly did not believe they were like him.  

Cassandra met Morgan's dark eyes and shook her head, "What makes you think that laying with me will teach Finnegan any kind of lesson?"  

"You're his wife," Morgan snapped. "Are you not?"  

"I am," Cassandra tipped her head in acknowledgment. "But you know Finnegan, do you honestly think that he's worried about me right now? Finnegan does not care about anyone except Finnegan and I'm sure he's having a good old time now that his nagging wife is missing and he can enjoy the saloon and the women without worrying about hearing what I have to say about it."  

Morgan frowned. "But you're married...."  

"Because my father caught him stealing a kiss in the barn and my father is a very old fashioned man. It was either Finnegan marry me or taste lead from my father's shotgun. Finnegan chose marriage."  

'Nice try, pretty one," Morgan laughed lightly and leaned back in his chair causing it to creak loudly. Cassandra bit her lip and waited on the chair to collapse to the floor. "I know you're lying."  

"I would never lie to you," Cassandra countered, crossing her legs and offering a smile that was sweet enough to have her teeth aching.  

"Yes you would." Morgan smoothed out his trouser leg. "I saw the way you danced together last night. I saw the way he leaned into you when he spoke and the smile on his face. The untamable Irishman has been tamed and I now have his master."  

Cassandra snorted with laughter. "His master? That has a nice ring to it, I will admit that, but you're wrong. Finnegan won't care that you've taken me. He's not prone to jealousy or to protective urges. He can always find another woman to replace me. If you really wanted to upset him then you should have taken his horse."  

"Nice try," Morgan shook his head and stood up. "But I won't fall for it. The note I left for the man will ensure that he is beside himself with worry. I'm sure it's all quite new for Finnegan."  

Cassandra didn't remember a letter but then again she'd been unconscious for quite a while. She watched Morgan begin to rifle through Finnegan's saddlebags and glared at the spiteful man. "What kind of letter did you leave there?"  

"Oh it was a great one alright," Nick growled, his breath washing over Cassandra's neck and causing her to shrink away from him. "All about how he was going to have to pay for your release and how Morgan was going to make sure he takes good care of you just like Finnegan did Theresa."  

Cassandra rolled her eyes, placed her hand on Nick's chest and shoved him back. The big man teetered on the edge of the bed a moment before falling quite unceremoniously onto his backside upon the floor. Cassandra smiled down at him as he glared up at her from the dirt. "He can't make good on that promise," she assured him.

Morgan glanced up from the saddlebags and frowned. "Oh really? What makes you so sure?"  

Cassandra tilted her head and smiled. "Finnegan treated Theresa to something she willingly spread her legs and asked for. I am not like your wife. If you want to lay with me you'd better be ready for a fight. I would rather gnaw my own arm off and make a run for it than allow you or your soft-brained friends here to touch me, Morgan. The three of you disgust me."  

Morgan laughed. "Finnegan did good with you! No wonder you were able to make him settle down. Every man likes a woman who can keep him on his toes and I have no doubt that you are able to do just that for Finnegan."  

"So, since we already know you 

aren’t going to be forcing me, exactly how long do I have to stay here in your wonderful company.“

"You're right," Morgan sighed as he moved to her saddlebags and she tensed. The map and the keys were all in there. If she lost those Finn would strangle her for sure. "I'm not going to force you and neither will my friends here. We may not be what society deems favorable but we aren't purely evil."  

Cassandra threw her free hand in the air and spun her wrist. "Lucky me."  

Morgan laughed with amusement. Cassandra decided that he wasn't that bad of a man. Truly he just seemed sad and lonely and more than a little pissed at Finnegan which he had good reason to be. "Tomorrow I'll send word back to that town on how much money I want and where Finnegan can leave it. Just as soon as I have my money, he will have you back."  

Cassandra sighed and lowered her head in defeat. Great. Her freedom now rested in how quickly Finnegan Callahan could come up with whatever amount of money Morgan deemed his pain and suffering worth. With Finnegan's track record of paying debts she'd probably be tied to this bed until she was old and gray and carrying on conversations with the family of rats that seemed to be living in the cupboards.  

"What's this?" Morgan demanded as he pulled out the leather bound map.  

"Nothing," Cassandra replied and then cursed herself when she realized she'd replied much too quickly.  

Morgan grinned at her, ran his hand over his thick mustache and opened the leather bindings. His large friends huddled close to him as they all studied it closely in the lamp light.   

"Is this a map?" Morgan questioned.

Rain pounded outside and began to leak through what was left of the cabins roof in several places. Cassandra moved out of the way of a particular leak after a drop plopped onto her cheek.  "Yes."  

"A map to what?"  

"A lost shipment of whiskey. You know Irishman and their whiskey." Cassandra batted her lashes and Morgan laughed more loudly.  

"I like you, pretty one. I'd like you more if I knew your name and you would tell me the truth about this little map."  

"My name is Cassandra Callahan, that is a map to a lost shipment of gold and I truly would appreciate it if one of you fine gentleman would untie me."  

"Gold?" Morgan's dark eyes twinkled with interest. "And why would we untie you?"  

Cassandra knew she had to do this right. Play on Morgan's kindness and figure out a way to escape these men and get back to Finnegan. If Finnegan could escape an entire gang on his own then Cassandra could escape the three Musketeers.   

"Morgan, I have not been allowed to relieve myself all day. A woman in my condition..."  

Morgan stood suddenly and folded up the map before placing it in the waistband of his pants. "Condition?"  

Cassandra nodded, letting her messy golden curls fall across her face. She laid her free hand over her stomach and met his gaze. "I'm with child."  

"Well, well, well...." Morgan tapped his chin and a predatory grin lit up his face. "I'll have to be sure to ask for a bit more money from Finnegan since I'm holding both his wife and his child captive."  

"I appreciate your concern for my bladder," Cassandra intoned dryly. "May I please be allowed to relieve myself without having to soil this lovely bed?"  

Morgan nodded, waving his hand. "Ben, take her to the outhouse behind the cabin and don't you let her escape," Morgan warned. "I'll stay here and see if I can't figure out this map."  

Cassandra waited impatiently as the rope was untied from the bed and Ben held the end firmly in his hand. He motioned for her to stand and Cassandra did so slowly, allowing the blood flow to return to her legs.  

Morgan and Nick stood at the table with one leg that was crooked and caused the table to wiggle and wobble whenever you touched it. They spread the map across the dusty surface and moved a lamp closer. Ben tugged on the rope and Cassandra nearly tripped over her own feet.  

"Hurry up," he grunted. Those were the first words that Cassandra had heard him speak. Apparently Ben wasn't much of a talker.  

Cassandra let him lead her to the door and then she feigned lightheadedness and stumbled sideways, banging her hip against the small table beside the door and falling across the top of it.  

"Are you alright?!" Morgan demanded with true concern in his voice. Cassandra nodded slowly, gripped the chloroform and rag in her hand and slid off the table, dropping them into the pocket of her nightdress without anyone being the wiser. Her heart pounded knowing she was getting away with something but she was careful to show nothing but fatigue on her face.  

"I'm just fine," Cassandra replied quietly, holding out her hand to stop him as he attempted to move closer, probably to examine her. "I have a head injury and have not been given any food all day...."  

"Go out and take care of your private business and I will have something ready for you to eat when you return," Morgan promised.  

Cassandra laid her hand over her stomach. "Your concern is overwhelming."  

"Yes well--" Morgan straightened up and walked back to the table, "--your dead body won't fetch nearly as much money now will it?"  

Cassandra didn't reply to that. Instead she allowed Ben to lead her out the door and into the rain soaked night. The droplets quickly began to soak Cassandra's nightdress and she knew the white fabric would be rendered see through in no time. So much for maintaining any shred of modesty.  

"There," Ben pointed at an outhouse that looked quite like a nightmare. The only light to see by out here was the kerosene lantern hanging on the back wall of the cabin and Cassandra did not like this darkness... not one bit. But she wasn't going to back out of her plans now. Finnegan was probably going crazy without her and she had to get back to him.  

"Can you turn your head?" she demanded of Ben as she stepped toward the outhouse. She knew that closing the door was not an option. If she did that then she wouldn't be able to see a thing.  

He nodded, released his hold on the rope and turned his back, crossing his arms over his massive chest. Cassandra stepped into the outhouse and relieved herself quickly, she hadn't been lying about needing to. She shoved her soaked curls from her face then reached in her pocket and pulled out the bottle. She faked a loud sneeze to cover up the sound of the cork popping out of the bottle and quickly poured a bit onto the rag, while being careful to hold her breath and not breathe the pungently sweet chemical herself.  

"Hurry up," Ben grunted.  

Cassandra's hands were shaking as she quickly dropped the bottle back into her pocket, "You can't rush these things! Perhaps if you weren't listening to me...."  

Ben simply shook his head and Cassandra stood. She took a deep breath to still her nerves, counted silently to three and leapt forward. She wrapped her legs around Ben's middle and her arms went around his neck. Before he could yell out, Cassandra put the rag doused in Chloroform to his nose and mouth and held it there with all her might.  

The rain muffled the sound as he swung and fought against her, clutching for her arms. He was strong but Cassandra had desperation on her side. She 

had to hang on, there simply was no other choice. She knew there would be bruises on her arms from his hands but it was only a matter of seconds before he began to stumble and his struggles weakened.

He fell to the ground and still Cassandra kept her grip on him. It wasn't until he stilled completely and she was satisfied he was unconscious that Cassandra released her hold.  

"Well that was fun," she whispered. She bent down and removed Ben's gun from his holster. She checked to ensure it was loaded and swallowed hard. She prayed hard that she wouldn't actually have to shoot anyone.  

Cassandra made her way back to the house, her heart racing and her legs trembling. She peeked through the stained window and saw that Morgan and Nick both had their backs to the door and seemed completely enthralled in the map they were studying.  

Cassandra placed her hand on the door handle, counted to three and then threw it open. "Alright you two, put your hands up!"  

The men turned, their hands instantly going toward their guns. Cassandra cocked the heavy revolver in her hand and shook her head. "Don't make me kill anyone. I'd hate to have that on my conscience."  

Morgan and Nick slowly raised their hands. Morgan glanced behind her. "Where is Ben?"  

"Taking a nap," Cassandra shrugged. "Now both of you remove your gun belts and toss them aside." She put her finger on the trigger of the revolver and clicked her tongue. "Do it slowly, won't you?"  

Cassandra watched in shock as both Morgan and Nick removed their gun belts and tossed them aside, "Now what?" Morgan asked quietly. "I have been nothing but nice to you, remember that."  

Cassandra snorted. "Yes, barging into my room, bashing my head in, tying me up, tossing me over a horse, tying me to a moldy bed, threatening me all day, forcing me to listen to your sob stories and holding me for ransom was such a 

nice thing for you to do!“

Morgan winced. "Well when you say it like that...."  

"Nick, take that bit of rope over there and tie Morgan up in that chair," Cassandra ordered.  

Nick looked at his boss questioningly but when Cassandra took a step forward and aimed the gun at Morgan's chest, Morgan quickly nodded, "Do what she wants!"  

Nick quickly tied Morgan to the chair, securing his arms and his legs. Cassandra waited until Nick was done before pulling out the chloroform soaked rag and holding it out.  

"What am I gonna do with that?"  

"You're the sniffer so sniff it," Cassandra replied. Nick shook his head. "Either sniff it or I'll shoot you," Cassandra warned, feigning boredom.  

Nick took the rag and sniffed it lightly once. Cassandra shook her head. "I'll count to three. One...Two..."  

"No, don't!" Nick exclaimed. He placed the rag over his mouth and nose and began to breathe deeply. It only took seconds before he was falling to the floor. Cassandra held the rag over his face several more seconds, even after he appeared unconscious, just to be sure.  

"My turn?" Morgan asked as she sat the gun down and once again poured some Chloroform on her rag.  

"You know it is," Cassandra replied with a nod. "And I'm only going to warn you once to leave Finnegan and I alone from now on. We have every intention of paying you the money that is owed you and my word is good. But if you ever come after us again I won't be so merciful."  

"Finnegan got a woman who's better at getting out of trouble than he is," Morgan mumbled.  

"I'm no damsel in distress. My Irishman has taught me a thing or two," Cassandra agreed. She tipped her head and pressed the rag to his face. "Now breathe."  

Once all three men were unconscious, Cassandra quickly gathered up the map and saddlebags, picked up Ben's gun, just in case, and set off into the night with a kerosene lantern held high.  

It was wet, it was dark and she had no real idea how to get back to the main road but she wasn't going to simply sit at the cabin and wait for her kidnappers to wake back up. She had to get back to town and back to Finnegan. All she wanted in the world was to feel him holding her.... Her nerves were on edge, her heart was racing and her head ached terribly. She needed her husband.

Chapter Thirty-Nine

Chapter Thirty-Nine

Finnegan stood and threw the pillow across the room, breaking the picture on the wall as it fell to the floor and shattered across the gleaming hardwood.  

He couldn't do this! The storm had lessened outside, now only a slow and steady rain, and it was hard dark, going on eleven o'clock at night. Finnegan could not sit here doing nothing while Cassandra could be being harmed. Sitting here twiddling his thumbs was simply not an option.  

Finnegan adjusted his gun belt and strode toward the door. He jerked it open to find Seamus and Calvin standing in the hall. "We heard something break...." Seamus stated glancing over Finnegan's shoulder and into the room.  

"Aye, that would be the picture that was hangin' on the wall there. For a nice hotel this place could certainly use some tougher nails."  

"Where are you going, Finnegan?" Calvin questioned hesitantly.  

Finnegan sighed. These two acted as if he had lost his mind, which he had, but he didn't like being treated as if he had. "I'm goin' to go and find Cassandra. Sittin' here all night is not somethin' I can do."  

"Finnegan, it's dark, it's raining..."  

"I don't give a flyin' fuck, Seamus. Now ya will either get outta my way or ya will force me to make ya."  

Seamus shook his head and stepped aside. Finnegan wasted no time in rushing down the hall, taking the steps three at a time and bursting out onto the boardwalk. The air was heavy and thick with the recent storm and it was hot and muggy.  

Finnegan's boots squished and slid across the mud as he strode down the street toward the livery. He had mud splashed up to his knees by the time he entered the large barn. He saw the stable hand sound asleep on a back stool but it didn't matter. Finnegan knew where Theo was.  

He went to the stall and the gelding snorted a greeting. "Hey there, Theo."  

Finnegan opened the door, grabbed the horses reins and pulled him out of the stall. He led Theo outside and placed a hand on either side of his face, pressing his brow to the gelding's brow. "I need ya to help me, Theo. We have to find, Little Cass. They took her and ya have to help me find her. Can ya help me, Theo?"  

Theo snorted and tossed his head up and down in a nod. Finnegan kissed the beast's nose and patted his neck. "Let's go then, Theo."  

It took a little doing to get up on the horses back with his broken hand but Finnegan managed it and he let Theo have his head and the gelding stood still a moment before taking off down the road seeming to have a clear idea of where he was going.  

It didn't take long for the slow steady rain to soak through Finnegan's clothes and plaster his dark curls to his head. It also didn't take long for Seamus and Calvin to catch up with him.  

"Where are we going?" Seamus asked after a while as Theo led them off the road and into the trees.  

"Theo is takin' us to Cassandra," Finnegan replied.  

"Finnegan, you've lost your mind..."  

"You're free to go on back to town then, Seamus," Finnegan snapped.

Silence fell over the trio and time clicked on. The rain stopped, frogs began filling the night with their sound and still Theo walked on.  

Finnegan sat up straighter and came more alert when Theo's ears pricked forward and he heard movement up ahead.  

"What was that?" Calvin whispered.  

Finnegan saw the lantern light approaching. It was swinging back and forth and illuminating a white figure. Finnegan felt an instant of fear but it vanished quickly when the figure spoke and held the light higher.

"Who's there? I have a gun."

"Little Cass!" Finnegan exclaimed as he leapt from Theo's back and ran to her.  

"Finn?" The lantern was sat upon the forest floor, saddlebags were dropped and Cassandra picked up the skirts of her nightdress and ran for him. She let out a loud cry of happiness as she leapt into Finnegan's arms and he held her tightly against him.  

They were both soaked to the bone and they were also both shaking, Finnegan realized. The shaking had nothing to do with the rain and everything to do with the relief... the end of the fear that his Little Cass would be dead when he found her.  

"Little Cass, I'm so sorry I didn't keep ya safe," he whispered against her ear as he held her trembling body close.  

"It was terrible, Finn. The three of them were terrible." Cassandra clung to him tightly and Finnegan clung to her right back. "I swore I was going to give you a good swat when I saw you for doing what you did with Morgan's wife but I can't hit you, Finn. I'm too happy to see you to even think about being angry."  

"Did they hurt ya?"  

"No," Cassandra kept her head pressed tight against his heart, "They told me what they wrote in that letter but he was just bluffing, Finn. He didn't touch me that way."  

Finnegan nearly cried out with the relief he felt at hearing those words. His Cassandra had not been violated; she hadn't been harmed. She was safe. She was sound. She was in his arms... but how?

"How did ya get away?"  

Cassandra pulled away and pushed her wet curls from her face. "I'm tougher than I look."  

"I know that more than anybody, Little Cass," Finnegan let his knuckles trace her cheek, unable to simply stand there and not touch his beautiful wife.  

"They had Chloroform..."  

"They used that on ya?" Finnegan demanded, his eyes instantly falling to her stomach.

"That could kill the baby," Seamus spoke up.  

"No!" Cassandra assured them quickly, obviously noting Finnegan's near panic. Shite but he needed to get a handle on his emotions. "No, they didn't use it. Morgan was going to but Nick hit me in the head and knocked me out before he could."  

Finnegan raised his hand to Cassandra's head and felt the welt as she winced beneath his touch. "I'll kill the bastards!'  

"Finn.... Are you okay?"  

"No, he's not," Calvin spoke up. "He's been a raging, crazy man all day. He broke his hand..."  

"Shite, Calvin! Thank ya for bein' so helpful there but ya can close your mouth now!" Finnegan exclaimed.  

Cassandra's eyes had narrowed and she grabbed his right arm and brought his bandaged hand up to look at it. Even in the dark it was plain to see that he was bleeding through the bandages the doctor had wrapped around it. Cassandra looked up at him with shock, "What did you do to your hand?!"  

"It wasn't my fault," he countered. "The bedpost looked at me with the wrong tone o'voice and left me no choice."  

"Looked with wrong tone of voice?" Cassandra whispered.  

"Ask him what the vases, windows, pictures, pitchers and wash basins did," Calvin added with amusement.  

Finnegan threw the man a grin that surely had to have made Seamus proud. "Y'ave been quite helpful, Young Calvin, but ya can find somethin' else to do with your mouth now."  

"Finnegan, what does it look like under that bandage?" Cassandra demanded, anger flashing in her green eyes.  

"Swollen, bruised, a stitch here and there...."  

"Why did you do that?!"  

"What else was I to do with myself then? Ya were gone, Little Cass, and that note...." Finnegan shivered. "I'll never let another thing happen to ya. From now on ya don't leave my side."  

"That's hardly logical, Finnegan," Cassandra scolded. "And besides I made it out okay." She slid herself back into his arms and rested her head against his chest.  

"With Chloroform, right?" Seamus asked.  

"That's right."  

"You Chloroformed three grown men?" Calvin sounded impressed and Finnegan had to admit that beneath all the anger that Morgan had dared take his wife, he was impressed too. His Little Cass was truly something else.  

"Yes," Cassandra replied. "Well actually no, I made one of them Chloroform himself. Finnegan, they know about the map..."  

Finnegan blinked several times, "What?"  

"The treasure map, Finn. They found it and they know what it is."  

Finnegan sighed when he realized what she was talking about. He'd forgotten all about that damned map and the treasure it led to. All he'd been able to think about was Cassandra and wanting her back safely in his arms.  

"I don't care," he replied honestly.  

"Finn, I told them to stop but I don't think Morgan is going to. We have to find that treasure and pay the man his...."  

Finnegan shook his head, "No. No, this treasure hunt is over."  

Cassandra pulled away and stared up at him with confusion. "What are you talking about? It's not over! We're not there yet."  

"We're as close as we're goin' to get, Little Cass. I'll not be riskin' your life or the life of our babe any longer just for a bit of gold."  

Cassandra shook her head. "But your debts...."  

"We'll go back east, I'll find work, pay them off and then take ya wherever ya want to go but until then there's no more adventures, Cass."  

"Damn, Finnegan, that sounded almost like an adult statement coming out of your mouth," Seamus stated.  

Cassandra snorted. "Yeah, a bossy adult. Finnegan, I know what this treasure means to you. We can't let this stop us...."  

Finnegan put his good hand under her chin and held her gently. "Not a single thing in this world means more to me than you and our child," he assured her. "Ya damn well ought to know that by now, love."  

Finnegan walked around her and went to the saddlebags. Using the light from the kerosene lantern, Finnegan found the map and the keys and shoved them in his pocket. He secured his saddlebags to Theo and tossed Cassandra's to Seamus. "Take her back to town."  

"I don't think so!" Cassandra exclaimed, grabbing Finnegan's arm and spinning him around. "What are you doing?"  

"I'm givin' Morgan the map and the key. I'm gonna tell him to leave us be and he can have the treasure."  

"You're what?!" Three voices cried out in unison.  

Finnegan rolled his eyes and pulled himself up onto Theo. "Never thought I'd see the day that I was thinkin' more clearly than anyone else."  

"Finnegan, that treasure isn't just yours," Seamus grumbled. "You were going to pay me back with it too."  

"And y'ad be willin' to keep Cassandra in harms way just to ensure ya get your treasure, Seamus?" Finnegan demanded.  

Seamus clenched his fists tight on the reins and let out a strained sigh. "No."  

Cassandra stared at him wide-eyed. "You're really going to give up the treasure and all that gold, Finn?"  

Finnegan smiled down at her and shook his head. "As far as I can see, Little Cass, I already found the treasure."  

Her face lit up with her smile and Finnegan felt his heart beat faster. "I love you, Finnegan Callahan."  

"Aye, well, what's not to love?" Finnegan teased.

"But you're not going alone. If you're going to go give them the map and keys then we're all coming."  

"I don't..."  

Cassandra pointed her finger at his face and his jaw slammed shut at the sight of her angry glare. "Don't think that just because you're being all grown up and mature now you can boss me around. I think I've proven I can take care of myself and I 

am coming with you.“

Finnegan studied her a moment and then sighed with defeat. He reached out his good hand, "Alright then, get on up here ya damn stubborn-headed, strong-willed pain in me arse."  

---

"Hello, Morgan. Are ya wakin' up then?"  

Morgan's eyes fluttered open as he moaned. Finnegan stood there with his arms over his chest and watched the man coming to consciousness.  

"Nick? Ben?"  

"They'll be sleepin' for a good long time," Finnegan promised. "My Little Cass is rather fond of that Chloroform."  

Finnegan smiled as he remembered the sight of Cassandra giving both men another dose of the drug as they'd begun to come awake. She'd had such a devilish grin on her face and Finnegan knew he'd be amused by that memory for years to come.  

"What do you want, Finnegan? Your woman is with you so why did you come back here?"  

"To give ya somethin' Morgan. Y'ave been such a sweet spot in my life for so long now that I find this hard..."  

"Go to hell, Finnegan," Morgan growled, his dark eyes becoming more focused by the second as the drug left his system.

"I deserve that. I deserve anythin' ya do to me for what I did with your wife, Morgan. I have no good excuse for how I acted back then. I've changed now for what it's worth to ya." Finnegan moved closer and grabbed Morgan by the shirt collar. The older man's breathing became harsher with both fear and anger. "Let me warn ya of somethin' right now, ya little bastard. If ya ever dare lay your hands on my wife again I'll be killin' ya. If ya wanna hurt me then hurt me but be a damned man and don't hide behind my wife and child. Is that clear to ya?"  

"Yeah.. Yeah it's clear... Who the hell are you? You seem different," Morgan whispered, his mustache twitching.  

"I am different. It's about time I grew up, don't ya think?" Finnegan tweaked Morgan's nose. "Don't worry though, Morgan, I'll never forget what we've shared."  

"Finnegan, we should probably hurry up. I don't want to have to dose those two again.. It might really hurt them," Cassandra spoke up, biting her lip as she glanced at the two unconscious men on the dirt floor of the cabin.  

Finnegan nodded. He pulled the map and keys from his pocket and tossed them on the table beside Morgan. "That's a real treasure map, Morgan. It'll lead ya to a lost shipment of gold. We've gotten ya the first two keys and the next landmark is Devil Fork Creek beside the second tine of the fork; there will be another key there. Ya will have to figure out the rest for yourself. Four chests of gold should more than make up for any debt I owe to you and I had better not ever see your face again."  

"Is this a joke?" Morgan snorted.  

Finnegan stood up straight and shook his head. "It's no joke, Morgan. Take it and forget about me."  

Morgan glanced at Cassandra and then to Seamus and Calvin before swallowing hard and turning his gaze back to Finnegan. "If this turns out to be a trick I'll come for you, Finnegan."  

"I'll dream of ya 'til then, Morgan."  

Morgan looked over at the map on the table. "And Morgan?" Finnegan called. Morgan turned his head and Finnegan swung out with his good hand clenched into a fist and caught the other man hard across the jaw. "Don't ya ever even think of layin' hands on my wife again, cuz just as soon as she'd done kickin' your arse I'll be comin' in to kick what's left."  

"Can we go now, Finn?" Cassandra whispered. "I'm tired..."  

Finnegan nodded and put his arm around her shoulders. "Which one of them hit you?" he asked, glancing at the men on the ground.  

"That one," Cassandra pointed to the giant that liked to sniff.  

Finnegan nodded, pulled back his foot and kicked the bastard in the back of the head, "Finnegan!" Cassandra exclaimed as Seamus and Calvin chuckled.  

"Just makin' sure he's asleep, Little Cass."  

Cassandra rolled her eyes and pulled him toward the door. "Take me back to town, Finn. I need a hot bath, a big meal and a warm bed."  

"What about a lovin' husband? Is there a place on that list for him?"  

Cassandra smiled and kissed his jaw. "I could probably fit you in somewhere."

Chapter Forty

Chapter Forty

"Shite, Cassandra, have ya gone completely daft?!" Finnegan demanded.  

Two days had passed since Morgan had taken Cassandra and they had been laying low in town simply recovering from the stress and fear they'd lived through. They hadn't seen a single sign of Morgan, Nick or Ben and Cassandra knew that the three men had not been in town because Seamus and Calvin had been on high alert for them under strict orders from Finnegan.  

"No, Finnegan, I am not daft. We cannot avoid the situation forever."  

"I think we can and I think we can do it quite nicely," Finnegan countered as he flopped down on the bed. "Runnin' from problems is somethin' I'm rather good at."  

Cassandra rolled her eyes and slapped his legs off the bed, though it was too late to save the bedspread from the mud that had been on the bottom of his boots. "What are you so afraid of?"  

"Bein' shot, hanged, burned at the stake."  

"My father will not burn you at the stake!"  

"Ah, you're right, Little Cass, that t'would be too much work for the man. More than likely he'll simply strangle the life from me with his big, meaty hands."

Cassandra laughed and sat down on the bed, laying her hand over Finnegan's cheek. "Oh my big strong man, don't you worry, I'll protect you."  

"I don't see why we have to tell him anythin''" Finnegan countered. "The man disowned you."  

"Because I fell in love with you! I don't blame him," Cassandra replied causing Finnegan to laugh and pulled her down on top of him.  

"Aye, I don't blame him either. But do we have to go visit?"  

"Finn, I want this. I want my mother and father to see how happy I am, to see that I made a good choice and to know that they're going to be grandparents."  

Finnegan winced. "Do we have to tell them all in one visit that I not only married ya but that I got ya with child too?"  

"Yes," Cassandra assured him as she sat back up.  

"Alright then, it's your father. His apoplexy will be on your conscience."  

"Oh give me a break!" Cassandra exclaimed. "He's not going to drop dead, Finnegan, and he's not going to kill you either. Now we are going to go back to my parents because that's what I want to do. At least for a short visit. I will send them a telegram and..."

"No!" Finnegan leapt to his feet and stared at her with earnest. "Don't send them a telegram!"

Cassandra shook her head, pinched her nose between her fingers and frowned. "Why not?"  

"I'll go with ya to your parents and I'll face your father like a man but don't warn him I'm comin'," Finnegan replied. "If ya do that it'll give him time to assemble the troops and have the gallows ready."  

---

"Have ya lost your mind, Finnegan?" Seamus demanded in the diner that day as the group met for lunch. "Isobel will break down and Vincent will kill you."  

"Thank ya for the support," Finnegan mumbled, shoving away his plate of food.  

"Good grief!" Cassandra exclaimed, stealing a chunk of potatoes from Finnegan's plate. "No one is going to kill anyone."  

"He did seem rather eager to knock my head from my shoulders, Little Cass," Finnegan reminded her. "And that was before I married ya and put a little Irishman into your belly."  

"How about we don't use those exact words when we tell him I'm with child, Finn? Because if you say it like that he will more than likely drop you dead with nothing but a look."  

Finnegan sunk down lower in his chair. "Shite."  

"Are you coming with us, Seamus?" Cassandra asked.  

"No," Seamus shook his head. "I have to get the men back together and get back to work."  

"Bounty huntin'?" Finnegan shook his head. "You're gonna go back to doin' that?"  

"Yeah."  

"Young Calvin, are ya goin' to be bounty huntin' with him?"  

Calvin rubbed his neck and shrugged. "I haven't been asked yet."  

Seamus rolled his eyes at Calvin's sad expression. "Well hell fire, Calvin, I figured you done knew I wanted you to come with me. Especially after the talk we had just the other day..."  

"What talk was that?" Cassandra asked when Seamus quickly fell silent.  

"A private one," Seamus grumbled.  

Finnegan grinned and leaned in close to Calvin, "Did he tell ya he loved ya, Calvin, and that he wants to be with ya for the rest of his days?"  

The blush on Calvin's cheeks told Cassandra that Finnegan had guessed correctly. "Seamus, Calvin, that's wonderful!" she exclaimed.  

"Yeah well let's just let it stay between us if you don't mind,"  Seamus warned as he glanced around the diner to ensure that no one was listening to them.  

"Finnegan, aren't you happy for your brother?" Cassandra asked as she poked her elbow into his ribs.  

Finnegan winced and rubbed at his side. "Course I am. And I feel a wee bit sorry for him and a bit better about my own situation."  

"Why is that?" Seamus asked with a sigh.  

"Because I might have to face Vincent Little and tell him I married his daughter but you're goin' to have to face Mr. and Mrs. No Fun at All, a.k.a. Calvin's parents, and tell them that you're runnin' off with their son. Makes my plight seem not so bad when ya think about it."  

---

"I changed my mind. I don't want to do this," Cassandra gasped as they stood on the cobblestone street only two blocks from her family's townhouse where they stayed during the summer months.  

"Oh no, ya don't get to chicken out now ya little coward!" Finnegan scolded. "Ya made me come all the way here, we spent weeks on a train and ya made fun of me every time I mentioned bein' the least wee bit nervous. Now you're gonna march up to that door, ring the bell and tell daddy you've brought his son-in-law and grandchild for a visit."  

Cassandra laid her hand over her stomach and paled considerably. Finnegan almost gave in to her fears--

almost .

"But Finn..."  

"Don't ya Finn me, love. Now let's go."  

Finnegan looped his arm through Cassandra's and led her down the street in a motion that was more similar to dragging than to walking.  

"Are ya really that scared?" Finnegan demanded with disbelief. "You are Cassandra Callahan! You're smarter than any other woman or man I know, ya find hidden keys no one else can find and ya single handedly defeated three men who wished ya harm..."  

"We probably shouldn't tell my parents about that," Cassandra whispered. "I doubt that would change my father's opinion of you for the better."  

"Ya have a point there," Finnegan admitted.  

"Okay." Cassandra took a deep breath as they stopped in front of the gate that led to her parent's home. "You're right, Finn. I have nothing to worry about. I am a grown woman, tough, strong and smart and I have a good husband who loves me. They will see that...."  

"Aye, they'll see it and then put a bullet in it," Finnegan swallowed hard and winced.  

Cassandra glanced at his hand which was still tightly encased in bandages and braces but nearly healed, "What will we say happened to your hand?"  

"Broke it assistin' a little ol' lady across the street," he replied, nearly laughing at the exasperated look Cassandra gave him, "What? Those stagecoaches stop for no one!"  

"Maybe they won't ask," Cassandra muttered.  

"Ya don't think they'd believe me?"  

"Finn?"  

"Yes, love?"  

"Stop talking."  

"Of course, love."  

Cassandra took a shaky breath and stepped up the stone steps to the ornate front door of her family's townhouse. Swallowing hard, she reached out and banged the brass knocker three times.  

Cassandra was shaking with nervousness. Strange that she could go through what she had gone through and remain strong and stoic but the thought of facing her mother and father just now and telling them what she was going to tell them had her knees knocking and her heart racing.   

Finnegan's hand slid into hers and squeezed it tight and Cassandra felt a bit of her fear fade. Knowing she had him on her side was reassuring--except for the fact that he was bound to say something to make everything worse. It was just Finnegan's way.  

Footsteps sounded on the marble floors inside and Cassandra recognized them as her father's. The door opened and she found herself looking into her father's shocked eyes.  

"Cassandra?" he whispered.  

"Hi, papa," Cassandra tried to keep her voice from shaking.  

Vincent's angry eyes turned to Finnegan. "You?!"

Finnegan grinned and before Cassandra could stop him he was hammering the nails into his coffin, "Hello dad."

Chapter Forty-One

Chapter Forty-One

"You have a lot of nerve showing your face here, Irishman!" Vincent bellowed.  

Cassandra saw Finnegan's eyes light with mischievousness and she quickly clamped her hand over his mouth before he could say anything to further anger her father. It seemed the man lived to poke sticks at lions. "Papa, can we come in?"  

"I thought I made my thoughts clear on your 

relationship with this man the last time we spoke,“ Vincent hissed, never taking his blue eyes off of Finnegan.

"Father, please..." If he heard her he gave no indication as he reached out and grabbed Finnegan by the shirt collar. Finnegan jerked Cassandra's hand from his mouth and gently pushed her back. She rolled her eyes when she realized her father seemed ready to punch Finnegan and her husband had simply been moving her out of harms way.  

"I remember just how hard ya punch, Vinnie, and I'd rather not feel that again," Finnegan grinned. "Perhaps we should simply let the memory of that last punch tide us over, shall we?"  

Just when Cassandra was certain that her father was going to loosen a few of Finnegan's teeth, her mother's voice filled the air. "Vincent Lawrence Little, you had been let those children in this instant. I have been far too long without seeing my daughter and this home is just as much mine as it is yours."  

Vincent growled and released his hold on Finnegan before stepping back and making room for his wife. "Hello mother," Cassandra offered.  

"Hello, Mrs. Little. Lovely to see ya again," Finnegan added as he adjusted his shirt.  

Cassandra saw a blush color her mother's cheeks as she glanced at Finnegan. Cassandra was certain her mother didn't realize what she was doing as her hand went around to rest on her backside. "Won't you both come in? We were just preparing to sit down to dinner and you know Anya always makes more than is needed."  

"Thank you, mother," Cassandra whispered. She wasn't sure why she was let down by the less than enthusiastic welcome. She shouldn't have expected her mother to squeal or throw her arms around her or kiss her hysterically. Isobel Little was the picture of poise at nearly all times. That was what had been expected of Cassandra. To become a perfectly styled, poised, ladylike, warm, charming woman.  

It seemed that the apple did sometimes fall far from the tree...or in Cassandra's case a terrible wind had come and blown the apple to the hill where it proceeded to roll off, be picked up by a hungry squirrel and carried off to the little squirrel colony.  

"Dinner sounds just about right then, doesn't it, love?" Finnegan asked as he put his hand on the small Cassandra's back and urged her forward.  

"Love?" Vincent sounded as if he nearly choked on the word.  

"Yes, dear, he said love and he was referring to our daughter. Does that surprise you somehow? I would think it would be obvious that the boy loves our daughter. I see no other reason that he would be here and putting up with your glares," Isobel stated quite elegantly. Her mother even knew how to insult with poise.  

"I'm quite used to the glares, ma'am," Finnegan assured Isobel with a wink. "My brother, Seamus, he glares so much his face is stuck that way. Our mother tried to warn him but he's a stubborn lad."  

Isobel's gaze softened as she led them into the house and toward the formal dining room. "Yes, your mother was always such a wonderful woman. We have truly missed her since she passed."  

"Aye," Finnegan whispered tightly.  

Cassandra glanced at him and saw the sadness in his brown eyes. She looped her arm through his to offer him what support she could and he stooped down and pressed his lips to her hair.  

"That's enough of that!" Vincent exclaimed. Cassandra and Finnegan whirled around to face him standing behind them. "Now I can't take back what you might have done with my daughter while you had your little 

adventure ,“ Vincent shivered, clearly not happy with the images in his mind, “But I will not condone such behavior under my own roof. You will keep your hands off of her….”

"Honestly, father? Finnegan can kiss my head anytime he likes."  

"I like to kiss a wee bit more than that..." Cassandra sent her elbow hard into Finnegan's middle and he let out a 'oomph' as he doubled over and still managed to laugh quietly.  

"Cassandra, I do not care what your mother says, you are welcome to stay but this man needs to leave," Vincent's voice was no longer angry or loud, it had acquired that quiet calm that told Cassandra the storm was approaching it's maximum velocity.  

"Father, if he goes, I go. Finnegan has every right to kiss me, hold my hand and be wherever I am."  

"And why is that?" Vincent ground out, his jaw popping.  

Cassandra shifted her feet and glanced down at Finnegan who was still doubled over and staring up at her, clearly waiting for her to tell the big man the news.... How so very nice of him.  

"Finnegan and I are...." Cassandra swallowed hard, squared her shoulders and met her father's gaze. "We're married, daddy. Finnegan is my husband."

"Way to soften the blow, love..." Finnegan whispered but his words were nearly lost when Vincent yelled with rage and Isobel quickly came around them put her hands on her husband's chest.  

"Calm down, Vincent. This is not the end of the world. Please breathe, your face is nearly as red as the dress Hallie Profitt wore to church last Sunday."  

Cassandra stood there on shaking knees as Finnegan rose back to his full height and draped an arm over her shoulders. "Vincent, Isobel, I know ya don't like me much but I can promise ya that...."  

"Don't speak to me," Vincent cut him off. "You will leave my home and we will get started on the annulment proceedings first thing in the morning."  

"No we damn well won't," Cassandra snapped, finding that her fear was fading and irritation was taking it's place.  

"How many times have we talked about how you should speak, Cassandra?!" Her mother exclaimed placing her hand over her heart and staring at Cassandra with wide eyes. "A lady of your upbringing should never say such words as those! This heathen Irishman has had a bad influence on you, dear, and has made you no better than he is! Now I wanted to be welcoming because of my fondness for his late mother but your father was right. You cannot be with him."  

"Hey now," Finnegan stepped forward. "Ya won't speak to her that way. If ya have a problem with me then that's just fine but Cassandra is one hell of a fine lass. She's tough, strong, kind, lovin', forgivin', witty, smart and has just about the biggest heart of any person, lad or lass, that I have ever met. Hell she has to be made of some impressive stuff to put up with a man like me. This lass has saved me in more ways than one and I love her. I won't be leavin' her side unless she herself tells me to."  

Cassandra smiled at her husband as she fell even more in love with him. No wisecracks, no jokes, he had just told her parents that he loved her and that she was good despite falling short of what they had expected. His words should not surprise her. Finnegan was the one person in the entire world who had ever seen Cassandra, just as she was, and never asked her to change or be anything different.  However it was still nice to hear someone tell her parents so.  

"You will be leaving, Finnegan. There will be an annulment and Cassandra will marry someone with my approval..."  

"We can't get an annulment," Cassandra spoke up.  

"And why is that?" Vincent demanded. "They are simple enough."  

Cassandra realized her father was clueless but her mother on the other hand seemed to be realizing the truth as her gaze went to Cassandra's stomach. "Because, father, I.... I'm...."  

Finnegan grinned and patted Vincent's shoulder. "You're gonna be a grandpa."  

Cassandra saw her father's face pale considerably as his mouth worked up and down though no words came out. Isobel squeaked, tears filled her green eyes and she turned on her heel and fled from the room.  

Cassandra sighed and led Finnegan to the table. Her father was still standing there muttering and staring as Cassandra dished out a plate for herself and for Finnegan.  

"Should we get the smellin' salts then?" Finnegan questioned, glancing at the big man.  

"I think those only help someone who has lost consciousness," Cassandra replied. "Eat your dinner, Finn. There's no point letting it go to waste."  

"You're cold hearted, Little Cass," Finnegan teased with a wink. "Aren't ya goin' to go check on your poor mother?"  

"My poor mother will be just fine. She needs a day or two to come to terms and then she'll be knitting booties."  

"B..bb...baby?" Vincent mumbled after several long, silent moments of nothing but chewing. "There's gonna b..be a b..baby?"  

Cassandra took a sip of water and nodded. "Yes, father." She waved her hand. "Come eat, I know you're hungry."  

"You've...you've 

laid with that man?“

Cassandra rolled her eyes as Finnegan moved his chair a little further down the table and away from Vincent. "That 

is how babies are made, father.“

Vincent's face suddenly flushed blood red, he let out a cry of despair and then fell, quite limply, to the floor causing the table to shake.  

"Daddy!" Cassandra jumped to her feet and ran to him. "Oh what have I done?"  

"Twould seem ya killed him," Finnegan replied sadly.  

"Finnegan, either be quiet or help!" Cassandra exclaimed as she knelt beside her unconscious father and fanned his face.  

Finnegan sighed and walked over with a glass of water in his hand. Before Cassandra could ask what he was going to do he poured the water over Vincent's face.  

Cassandra gasped as her father came too. He was spitting and sputtering and rubbing at his face as he sat up and looked around. His eyes fell on Cassandra and then rose to Finnegan.  

"Oh God.." he muttered. "It wasn't a dream, was it?"  

"'Fraid not," Finnegan replied.  

Vincent pushed himself to his feet and Finnegan helped Cassandra up as they stood hand in hand and faced down the angry man.  

He glanced at them both in turn and then down at their joined hands before letting out a sigh. "I think what your mother and I both need is time," he finally spoke, water dripping from his mustache. "You are welcome to stay here.."  

"We have a hotel in town we're staying at," Cassandra quickly reassured him and it was clear that her father was relieved by that news.  

"We love you, Cassandra. I believe you've made a terrible mistake but we can talk later."  

"Father, Finn is..."  

Vincent held up his hand. "Later. I cannot take anymore information tonight." He turned to Finnegan, "You had better not hurt my daughter."  

"Never," Finnegan agreed. "But can ya talk to her 'bout hurtin' me? That's a violent little lass ya raised there, sir."  

Vincent rolled his eyes and strode from the room without another word.  

"Well that went well," Finnegan stated brightly.  

Cassandra snorted and threw a bit of mashed potatoes at him. They plopped loudly against his cheek and Cassandra gasped. "Finn, I'm sorry!" she exclaimed as she fought back laughter.  

Finnegan merely fixed her with a look that let her know she was in trouble and soon the dining room was a mess of airborne potatoes and peas. Finnegan chased her around and around the table as their laughter filled the air.  

Cassandra cried out when she slipped on some peas and nearly fell but Finnegan's strong arms caught her around the middle and pulled her close to him. She became lost in his eyes and the passion that he could always stir inside of her. Just as her eyes slid closed and she was moving her mouth toward his, mashed potatoes were suddenly dropped upon her head and falling over her face and down her front.  

"Sorry, there Little Cass. Though I must say ya look quite delicious."  

"Finnegan!" Cassandra exclaimed. He laid down the serving bowl and the war of food was back on.  

Laughter filled the dining room.  

"What the hell are you doing?!" Cassandra and Finnegan froze and turned to look at Vincent and Isobel who were standing in the doorway.  

Cassandra tried to tip her head respectfully but a large clump of potatoes slid from her head and plopped against the marble floor. "Hello," she whispered, her lips twitching with suppressed laughter.  

"Sorry 'bout the mess. My mama always did say I ate like a wild animal," Finnegan added, picking smashed peas off the front of his shirt and tossing them on the splattered floor.

"Get out," Vincent growled.  

Cassandra glanced at Finnegan and he took her hand and led her quickly back down the short hall. As they headed out the door, their laughter once again filled the night.  

"Can you believe this?!" Vincent demanded.  

Isobel glanced around at the mess and sighed. "It was quite unladylike of Cassandra to partake in such a thing," she admitted. Then she smiled at her husband. "But I have never seen her quite so happy."

Chapter Forty-Two

Chapter Forty-Two

"Dealing Faro in a saloon? That's how you're going to earn money to pay off your debts?" Cassandra questioned doubtfully.  

Finnegan nodded as he led her to the hotel bed and they sat down beside one another."Yes. There's no gamblin' involved in dealin' and they've offered to pay me ten dollars a night. Faro is played three nights a week so that's thirty dollars a week or one hundred and twenty a month! I'll have my remainin' debts paid off in no time."  

"Why so much?" Cassandra demanded. "Why would you be paid so much money just for dealing cards?"  

Finnegan shifted on the mattress and shoved his hand through his dark curls. "Well that'd be cuz a lot of men are killed doin' it but that..."

"No," Cassandra shook her head and stood. "No, you won't be doing that. You were offered a job at the livery..."  

"Shoveling horse manure for fifteen dollars a month?" Finnegan snorted and shook his head. "I'll not be doin' that, love."  

"Finnegan, I don't want you doing a job that could end with you getting killed."  

"Then don't ask me to shovel manure for pennies, Little Cass." Finnegan took her hand in his and pressed a tender kiss to her knuckles. "I promise ya I won't be killed, Cassandra. This is a gentleman's club in the east, not a dirty saloon out in the west. Guns are checked at the door and men simply don't shoot other men here. It wouldn't be proper."  

"So a job that could get you killed in a place where I am not allowed to come surrounded by poker, whiskey and lots of scantily clad, attention seeking women?" Cassandra pulled her hand away and went to the window.  

Finnegan watched her as she crossed her arms over her belly, which was just starting to round a bit beneath her skirts. Her chin quivered and he knew she was fighting back tears. She might as well have smacked him with her words.  

They had been here nearly a month. Finnegan had been doing odd jobs here and there to earn money but had yet to find a suitable job due to his lack of skills at any trade. His father-in-law could have helped him but had refused... the man was just now beginning to stop threatening to kill Finnegan every time him and Cassandra went to the house for dinner.  

Truly her parents were coming around. Isobel had even taken Cassandra out shopping for clothing and bedding for the babe. Finnegan had been the picture of devotions for months now but clearly Cassandra still doubted him.  

That hurt. Deeply.  

"I'm takin' the job at the club, Little Cass, and I'll clean horse manure for pennies on my off days. I have debts to pay and a wife and child to provide for and I'll not allow your doubts and worries that I'll betray you keep me from doing either."  Finnegan strode out the door and down the hotel steps. He walked out into the sun and glanced up and down the crowded city streets.  

Truly Finnegan loved living in a place like this. A place where there was always something happening. His brother dreamed of ranch life but to Finnegan that sounded like a nightmare and thankfully Cassandra didn't want that kind of life either. There had only ever been one horse Finnegan had been fond of caring for and that horse was at Cassandra's parents house.  

Finnegan's only complaint about this place was that it was in the east.... He wanted to live further west. Truly California was where he wanted to go but he had a lot of money to earn before he could ever take his family that far.  

Finnegan made his way to the gentleman's club. The sun was beginning to set and he was due to start work. It had been a long time since he'd been in a place like this. He could smell the whiskey and the perfume of the working ladies.  

Of course there was that stirring of thirst at the first instant he smelled the whiskey but he was able to ignore it easily. He no longer craved it the way he once had. Nearly losing Cassandra to Morgan had put a lot of things into perspective for Finnegan and he'd realized just how bad the whiskey had been for him.  

A man who did not know when to stop had no business drinking temptation in a bottle.  

Finnegan was led to the Faro table by the man who had approached him earlier in the day about the job. He tipped his hat to the dealer who had had the earlier shift before sliding into the chair for himself.  

This was a new position for him. Finnegan had only ever been a Faro player never a Faro dealer. In all honestly Faro had never been his preferred game. There was far too much crooked dealing involved in Faro but Finnegan was going to make certain not to be a cheat.  

As several men sat down to play a game, Finnegan settled himself into the dealers chair and got to work.  

---

Cassandra was feigning sleep when she heard Finnegan let himself into their hotel room at only a couple of hours before dawn. Her heart ached. She wanted to have faith that everything would be fine but Finnegan had taken a job around every one of his vices--he was bound to give in to at least one of them.  

The sound of Finnegan pulling off his boots and sliding from his clothes reached her ears and Cassandra tensed as he climbed into the bed and slipped under the covers. She felt him move in close to her and wrap his arm around her middle, pulling her body against his.  

"I know ya are fakin', Little Cass. Ya snore when ya sleep."  

"I do not!" Cassandra denied as she rolled over and lay on her side facing him.  

"Aye," he slid his knuckle across her cheek moving her hair from her face. "Ya do. Have ya been awake all night?"  

"Yes," Cassandra admitted. "Finn..."  

"Would ya like to go have a talk with the owner of the club, Cassandra? Perhaps a wee chat with the bartender? I can assure ya that I did nothin' all night that would have broken your heart. I drank two beers, dealt close to a thousand hands o'cards and refused the advances of one of the women. I explained to all the women that worked there that I was not the other dealers and that I was a married man who actually loved his harpy of a wife and would not be betrayin' her."  

"Finnegan..." Cassandra felt guilt rip at her heart. "Please try to see this from my point of view!"  

"I can't get my head that far up my ass," Finnegan countered and Cassandra rolled her eyes.  

"Don't be mean, Finn," she warned. "Those things ruled your life for so long and you've done so good for a long time now but you've avoided those things... now you're going to be around them all the time."  

"Can I promise that I'll never come crawlin' home drunk off me arse? No, I can't promise that. Can I promise that I'll never take part in a hand or two of cards myself? No, I can't promise that either. But what I can promise ya right now is that I'll never again touch whiskey and I'll never betray ya, Cass. Since we admitted what we mean to one another there's not been any other woman than you and ya damn well know that. And whiskey nearly caused me to lose you more than once, I won't be makin' that mistake again, love."  

Cassandra felt no more than two inches tall as she lay there in the dark with her husband. He had done everything a man could possibly do to prove he was changed. She could smell the lack of whiskey on his breath and she knew he hadn't betrayed her with any other woman. Why did she keep having these doubts about him? Why did she keep letting her own insecurities come between her and Finnegan?

"I'm sorry, Finn. It's not you doing anything wrong, it's me. I just worry that I won't be enough to keep you... "

"Stop that," Finnegan scolded. "Ya are not an insecure woman and you'll stop actin' like one now. Ya know damn well how beautiful, smart and witty ya are. Ya know how much I love ya. Ya don't act this way with any other person and I don't know why ya let yourself have these doubts when you're up here in this room alone. Nothin' is goin' to come between us, Little Cass. Whether ya like it or not you're stuck with me."  

Cassandra smiled with tears in her eyes. "Lucky me," she teased dryly.  

Finnegan kissed her nose. "Aye, I agree. Ya did get very lucky when ya got me."  

"Well don't you think you got a little bit lucky yourself?" Cassandra questioned.  

"Oh aye," Finnegan nodded. "Finally a bit of the luck o'the Irish was thrown my way. And all I had to do to find it was sneak into a lass's window in the night while her parents were sleepin'."  

---

"Finnegan, Cassandra, we have something we'd like to talk to the two of you about," Isobel said over dinner nearly three weeks later.  Cassandra glanced up from her soup  and fought back a yawn.  

She was bored stiff.  

Nearly two months they had been living in the hotel and Cassandra hated it. Not the hotel, or Finnegan, but every other part of her life here in the city! Her parents had extended their stay, Finnegan was always working, either at the gentleman's club or the livery, which meant Cassandra was spending nearly all her time with her mother.  

Cassandra loved her mother but only in small doses. It was clear that Isobel was loving the attention. Cassandra was more the daughter she wanted now than she ever had been before. They did luncheons with the ladies, planned dinners, dances and parties, sewed and knitted until their fingers were sore and gossiped over tea with all the other busy bodies in town.  

This was the exact life that Cassandra had been running so hard from and now it was her life. To say she was miserable would have been an understatement....

But she did her best to hide that from Finnegan. She was proud of him. Proud of how hard of a worker he was and how much stronger he had gotten at ignoring his old vices. He seemed happy here and happy with his job at he gentleman's club and Cassandra didn't want to take that away from him.  

"Cassandra, are you listening?" Isobel questioned with a touch of impatience.  

Cassandra shook her head to clear her thoughts and sat up straighter. "I'm sorry, mother. I've had a bit of trouble focusing lately."  

Finnegan leaned in close to her and his breath washed over her ear causing her to tremble and grip her spoon more tightly. "Are ya alright, Little Cass?"  

"I'm fine, Finn," she lied. "What were you saying, mother?"  

Isobel shared a look with her husband but Vincent simply shrugged and took a bite of his fresh baked roll.  

"Your father and I want to let you know that we are sorry for how judgmental and harsh we were when we first learned you were married. Finnegan, we were unfair to you and it was truly wrong of us. You are a good man and you are taking good care of our Cassandra. You have settled her down quite nicely. Never did I think she would become the lady I raised her to be but she is closer to that woman now than ever before. I have had so much fun being able to spend all this time with her lately."  

Finnegan frowned as he met Cassandra's gaze and she saw him mouth the word, 

‘Shite’ , before sinking down a bit in his chair. Cassandra ignored him and granted her mother a polished smile. “Thank you both for admitting you were wrong about Finnegan. I always knew he was a good man.”

"Good might be an exaggeration," Vincent grumbled, "But he is decent. I'll admit that I've been keeping an eye on him and had others doing so as well...."  

"Father!" Cassandra exclaimed, throwing her head back and letting out a disgusted groan. She shook out her hair and then glared back at him. "Must you always be so stubborn and hard headed about things?"  

"Reminds me of someone else I know," Finnegan whispered and Cassandra fought the urge to push his face down into his soup and hold him there until he stopped kicking.  

"Bottom line is, despite hoping against hope that I would catch him doing something, 

anything , to prove to you that you had made a mistake, I found nothing. He works harder than most men and even at the gentlemen’s club there has been no behavior that even a father-in-law could find questionable. No women, only slight beer drinking and when he does gamble he does so in moderation and stops if the cards are not going his way.“ Vincent sent Finnegan an angry stare, “You’ve done nothing!” he accused.

"Sorry to let ya down, Vinny," Finnegan replied with a smile but Cassandra saw past the smile. Finnegan's brown eyes seemed duller today somehow. Was he not as happy as he kept putting on?

Isobel cleared her throat, "In light of us coming to terms with your marriage and our own mistakes we have realized that we never gave you a wedding present."  

"We didn't expect one," Cassandra assured her  

Isobel waved her hand. "Of course we have to give you one. Your father and I have three homes and we hardly believe we need that many. Since Finnegan already has a job here and you, Cassandra,  are settling in with the ladies so nicely, we have discussed things and would like to sign the deed to this townhouse over to the two of you. You'll have the cook, the maids and there is plenty of room for the baby...."  

Cassandra didn't know what to say as her mother continued speaking of how wonderful this house would be for her and Finnegan. All she kept thinking was that she was smothering here with this life. She didn't want to be a little society wife! This was not the life she wanted. She knew that they couldn't live on horseback with a baby but surely there was something else--something more? She just didn't know what that would be.  

"Little Cass, what do ya think of the offer?" Finnegan questioned quietly.  

"It's not an offer," Vincent countered. "It's a gift."  

"Uh... Well I thank ya then," Finnegan tipped his head. "I can honestly say I never pictured myself with a home quite like this one."  

Cassandra wanted to cry out, she wanted to scream. Didn't anyone realize how miserable she was? How unhappy? Of course they didn't... Cassandra had always been very good at hiding how she really felt.  

"Good! We'll begin the paperwork tomorrow," Isobel happily continued. "And we have another surprise! I have been very busing planning a party for this Saturday. A party to celebrate your marriage."  

"Oh mother, you didn't have to do that...." Cassandra assured her.  

"I wanted to. You are my only daughter, Cassandra, and since I was not permitted to be at your wedding, I would like to at least offer you this party."  

Cassandra nodded and went back to eating her soup. This party was not for her, it was for her mother. It was to show her society friends that Cassandra was married and hopefully impress them with a lavish affair that would make them forget the man that Cassandra married had no real money of his own....  

God, Cassandra hated it here!

---

"Little Cass, Little Cass, let me in. Ya can't say no to your best pal Finn," Finnegan sang quietly as he slid close to his wife in the bed that night and pulled her back against his chest.  

"What are you talking about?" Cassandra asked sleepily. "You're in the bed aren't you and I highly doubt you're ready to go in 

there again so quickly.“

Finnegan laughed against her hair as he snuggled closer to her bare body. "It's your mind I'm hopin' to be inside of, love."  

"My mind?"  

"Aye." Finnegan knew there was something wrong with Cassandra and he had a suspicion from the conversation at dinner that he knew exactly what it was troubling his wife. Shame filled him at not noticing before.

"There's nothing wrong, Finn....."  

"Don't do that." Finnegan pulled her closer and nipped at her bare shoulder. "Ya cannot lie to Ol' Finn. Or at least I won't let ya anymore. I'm gonna pay closer attention to every word ya say from here on out."  

"Why do you think I'm lying?" Cassandra questioned vaguely.  

"I saw how sad ya were at dinner and I heard what your mama said. Talk to me, Little Cass."  

Cassandra sighed and pulled from his arms. She rose from the bed, wrapping the sheet around her body as she stepped to the window and looked outside. "I'm not happy, Finn.'  

Finnegan stood and went to her, wrapping his arms tight around her from behind and resting his hands on her slightly rounded stomach where his child was nestled warmly. "Aye, we already have covered that and know that ya are sad; I believe I mentioned that. Now tell me why."  

"Finn, I don't want to ruin this for you. You love it here...."  

"And what on God's green earth gave ya that impression?" Finnegan demanded with a laugh. "Aye, I simply cannot get enough cleaning horse manure and turnin' a deaf ear to the drunken lads accusin' me of cheatin' while I deal out a game of Faro...."

"Are you cheating?" Cassandra questioned, glancing over her shoulder at him.  

Finnegan scoffed and feigned hurt. "O'course not! That's how men get themselves killed and I can't afford to be goin' and doin' that now, can I?"

"So... so you're not happy?" Cassandra whispered.  

Finnegan sighed. "I am tryin' so hard to be what you're expectin' of me, Cass. I'm workin' me arse off to pay off the debts, be a hard workin' man and stay on the straight and narrow..."  

"Finnegan, I never expected you to be unhappy," Cassandra countered. "I want you to be happy!'  

"What about you, Little Cass? Why aren't ya happy?"  

"My whole life I wanted to be different from my mother, aunt and all the other society women. I never wanted to be what they wanted me to be and now..."  

"Now you're the luncheon queen?" Finnegan offered.  

"Yes."  

"Ya know what my dream is, Little Cass?"  

"Tell me," Cassandra replied, spinning in his arms so she could look up at his face.  

Finnegan looked down into those green eyes and smiled. "My dream is you and I in California. I want to open our own pub. Whiskey, gambling, music, entertainment. We'll run it together, side by side."  

"And our child?" Cassandra asked with a smile.  

"Would learn the ins and outs of runnin' a business wouldn't they? We'd keep the pub safe. Guns checked at the door and no soiled doves allowed. Sure we'd have a few women to serve drinks and provide conversation but nothin' else."  

"Finn, that sounds amazing," Cassandra eyes lit up. "Truly, I couldn't imagine anything more wonderful." Then she frowned and Finnegan hated that sight. "But that life would take a lot of money to get started."  

"If only we had a treasure," Finnegan lamented teasingly.  

"We would have a treasure if you hadn't given our map away."  

"Aye, well the well bein' of my wife and child meant more to me than that bit of gold. Was I wrong to care then?"  

"Of course not." Cassandra laid her head against his heart. "You great big chicken."  

"Cluck cluck."  

"So we both want that life in California but we lack the money..." Cassandra bit her lip and Finnegan could practically hear the gears a turning in her head.  

"What are ya thinkin' on so hard?"  

"As soon as the paperwork is done we will be the owners of a townhouse... a townhouse worth quite a pretty chunk of money."

"You want to sell your parent's townhouse?" Finnegan was shocked.  

"It wouldn't be their townhouse any longer," Cassandra countered. "It would be ours."  

Finnegan laughed and led her back toward the bed. "Ya are an evil woman, Cassandra Callahan."  

Her eyes narrowed. "How am I evil? It will be your idea as far as my parents are concerned, you no account Irishman."  

Finnegan laughed. "Is that how it'll be then?"

"That's exactly how it will be."  

"Should we announce our plans at our wedding party?" Finnegan asked.

Cassandra bit back her laugher as they stretched out together beneath the thick blankets. "Oh that would be priceless."  

"Ya want to be a rebel, Little Cass? Let this ol' Irishman show ya how that's done."  

"They'll disown me all over again." Cassandra's eyes glittered with mischief.  

"You'll be banned from all society luncheons from here on."  

"Do you really think so?" Cassandra gasped hopefully.  

Finnegan's laughter rang out. "Aye, I'd say it's a given."  

"Finn?"  

"Yes?"  

"Let's do it."

Chapter Forty-Three

Chapter Forty-Three

Cassandra was amazed each and every time she stepped into one of her mother's parties. They were always so elegant and grand. Each and every decoration was flawlessly placed down to the very last candlestick and soup spoon. The dance hall had been transformed into a palace--or at least it resembled one with draping white fabric hanging from the ceiling and crystal chandeliers sparkling in the candle light.  

Every guest was dressed like royalty. Silk dresses, full petticoats and dapper suits. Their hair was styled nicely and the low din of polite conversations filled the large room.  

Cassandra glanced around for Finnegan but didn't see him anywhere. As a matter of fact her father seemed to have disappeared as well. Cassandra prayed murder was not involved in their sudden disappearance. She and Finnegan hadn't yet told her parents of their plans but perhaps her father had learned to read minds?

Cassandra had done her very best to avoid the limelight this evening. Her mother, ever the gracious host, had kept all the guests quite entertained with stories, laughter and the full band she had hired.  

Cassandra had had just about all she could take of the 

grandness . What was wrong with simple dresses, split skirts, trousers and chambray shirts, dancing out under the stars with the dirt as your dance floor and a few men with banjos, guitars and fiddles as your musical guide? She tried to imagine her mother at a dance such as that and the image was laughable. Her mother would probably die before she’d let herself be seen acting like such a heathen .

It was time to find Finnegan, spill the beans about their plans, get herself disowned and get the hell out of this so-called good time. But where was her husband?

Cassandra slipped down a back hall and up the staircase without being noticed. Truly for a party that was supposed to be about her and Finnegan, no one seemed to care one way or the other if they were there.  

She walked past closed door after closed door listening for any sound that might indicate her father was cleaning up a murder scene. She was about to turn down yet another hall when a door opened behind her. "Psst.. Little Cass?"  

Cassandra turned and saw Finnegan poking his head out the doorway. He looked quite sheepish and she knew he was up to something. "Finnegan, what are you doing?"  

"Can ya come here and talk to me, Cass?" Finnegan whispered, casting a furtive glance back down the hall.  

Cassandra frowned and walked to the door. When she saw Finnegan's appearance below the neck her jaw dropped and she stopped instantly. "Where are your clothes?"  

A flush covered his skin, from his cheeks, to his neck and clear down to her toes. Cassandra knew because she could see every inch of him as she stood there buck naked.  

"My clothes are with the gent that won them off me," Finnegan replied. "Can we talk about it in here?" he urged, waving her in the room.  

Cassandra frowned. "I better not find a woman in there."  

"The lass already jumped out the window." Finnegan winked. "She was a bit daft and forgot that we were three stories off the ground."  

"Finnegan...."  

"There's not a lass, Cassandra, and ya damn well know that or you'd be floggin' me by now. Now get in here!"  

Cassandra stepped into the room and stole a glance at Finnegan's round and toned backside. "I'm not complaining about the view..."  

"It is a nice one, isn't it?" Finnegan agreed.  

Cassandra rolled her eyes and refused to stroke his ego any further by responding. "But where are your clothes and how did someone 

win them off of you?“

"Well there was this game of poker don't ya know and..."  

Cassandra sighed and flopped down in a chair. "Poker?"  

"Now don't sound so disappointed in me, Little Cass! We didn't start out playin' for money and your papa was right there with me playin' himself! He's the one that took me to the game!"  

Cassandra nodded. "Go on..."  

Finnegan grabbed the pillow to cover his nakedness and waved his arm. "We were playin' with nothin' but chips, just havin' a bit of fun, when another man says, 'poker ain't poker without a bit of a wager', and even you have to agree that he was right..."  

Cassandra bit the inside of her cheek, desperately fighting the laughter that was wanting to burst forth as Finnegan attempted to explain himself while wearing nothing but a pillow.  "I assume we'll be getting to the part about you losing your clothes soon?"

"Ya can't rush a good story," Finnegan informed her. He shoved his hand through his hair. "Well I didn't have nothin' to wager other than the fancy suit your parents lent me to wear which included the nice shiny shoes..."  

"Maybe that should have been a sign that you weren't supposed to bet," Cassandra offered.  

Finnegan snorted. "I had four eights! Ya don't just get four eights and then fold your cards and not take a bet! Hell I never imagined I could be beat!"  

"But you were?"  

"Yes," Finnegan's face fell. "By a bastard with four tens. Swear to God, Cass, I think the bloke was cheatin'!"  

Cassandra stared hard at her husband for several long moments and then found she could no longer hold back her amusement. Laughter bubbled up and burst from her mouth. She laughed so hard that tears were soon streaming down her face as she gasped for breath.

"I'm glad ya find this so funny, love," Finnegan mumbled.  

"Come on, Finn!" Cassandra gasped as she fought desperately to calm herself. "Surely even you must see the humor in the situation."  

"Yes, yes. Funny. Funny. Ha. Ha. Can we sneak out the back way and get to the hotel so I may put some clothes on. I may feel more free to laugh about my misfortunes when I'm wearin' a pair of pants!"  

"Finn," Cassandra sobered up the best she could and fixed him with the most serious gaze she could muster. "There is no way out of this dance hall without passing through the main room. You have to walk through there to get to the front door and the back door."  

Finnegan paled. "Are ya tellin' me that I'll have to walk through that crowd down there to get out of this place?"  

Cassandra snickered. "That's exactly what I'm telling you."  

"Little Cass, I beg of ya," Finnegan dropped to his knees in front of her which only caused her to being laughing again. "Please, love, go to the hotel and bring me back a change of clothes!"  

"No." Cassandra shook her head.

"What do you mean no?" Finnegan demanded with shock as he rose back to his feet and threw the pillow.  

Cassandra found herself eye level with Finnegan Jr. and so she quickly jumped to her feet to even the playing field a bit. "I won't go get you clothes, Finn. You gambled your clothes and you lost. This will serve as a powerful reminder not to do so again."  

"Or to marry a more carin' woman next time," Finnegan mumbled.  

"Come on then, Finnegan. Let's go get you some clothes. This should liven up the party going on down there."  

"But you're wearin' such a pretty white dress, Cass, and while my physique is certainly somethin' to behold I'll certainly feel a bit out of place walkin' beside ya. Perhaps ya should lose your dress as well..."  

"I don't think so." Cassandra rolled her eyes. She walked to the bed and pulled off a sheet. "Here you go, Finn. It's a toga party."  

Finnegan was trying to act mad but Cassandra could see the amusement in his brown eyes as he wrapped the sheet around his waist and tied it tight. Cassandra liked the look. His tanned skin and toned muscles contrasted nicely with the crisp white sheet. She wasn't so sure she wanted those other society ladies to see him looking so delicious. Then again he had just lost the clothes off his back in a poker game... Cassandra was fairly certain that no other woman would put up with the man.

"Alright then, ya devil woman, let's get this over with," Finnegan said.  

Cassandra led him into the hall and his bare feet slapped against the tile floor. Cassandra heard the sound of the dance hall as they approached it and she saw Finnegan throw his shoulders back, hold his head high and develop a bit of a strut as he walked beside her.  

Cassandra was biting back laughter as they entered the room and it only took a moment for them to be noticed and several seconds after that the room had fallen completely silent as everyone turned to stare at them.  

The sound of her mother's footsteps echoed loudly in the shocked room as Isobel came to stand in front of them. She was blushing furiously and glancing around at the guests with embarrassment. "What is going on?" she whispered, her clipped tone making it very clear that she was very angry.  

"This is a great party, mama Isobel," Finnegan replied with a tip of his head. "It knocked my socks right off."  

Cassandra snorted with laughter. "And a few other articles of clothing," she added. She saw her father covering his own laughter with his hand as he stood beside the refreshments table.  

"Why are you...without clothing?" Isobel demanded.  

"Irishmen will be Irishmen." Finnegan shrugged. "It's a bit cold in here, ma'am."  

"Cassandra, after all your father and I have done to show acceptance to this man this is how he repays us? By embarrassing me so in front of the entire town?!"  

"Yes. Yes, this is exactly what he does," Cassandra nodded. "He doesn't belong here, mother, I know that, and do you know what? Neither do I. Finnegan and I are going to be selling the townhouse and moving out to California to start our own saloon..."  

"Pub," Finnegan corrected.  

"Yes, our own pub," Cassandra agreed, moving closer to Finnegan as he slipped an arm around her shoulders. God the man smelled good and his warm, bare skin was one heck of a temptation. She wondered what would happen if she were to simply press a kiss to his bare chest? She assumed the entire place would simply burst into flames.  

"That townhouse was a gift!" Isobel exclaimed, seeming to forget her poise momentarily.  

"Yes and it was a wonderful gift, mother, and will provide us with more than enough money for us to get started on the life we truly want."  

"And my grandchild?"  

"Ya are welcome to come see the lad or lass anytime ya please," Finnegan assured her.  

"In California?" Vincent demanded, stepping up to the argument.  

"Yes, father. In California." Cassandra replied. "And from now on don't take my husband to poker games. He finds them quite easily enough on his own."  

Vincent stuttered several times and took a step back. "Both of you get out of here. Cassandra, you are miserable here and he's, well he's nude. Get him dressed and do what you want with your life. Cassandra, I love you, dearly, but you make horrible choices. I hope that you'll be happy though I doubt in the long run that you will."  

"That's it?" Cassandra stared up at her father. "You're not going to disown me or tear us apart in front of everyone while you have your chance?"  

His eyes softened. "Of course not. I love you and your mother loves you. This man seems to make you happy for now and we're all entitled to mistakes if that turns out that's what he is. Go and have fun, live your life however it makes you happy and when you need us you know where we are."  

Cassandra nodded though she knew there would never come a day when she asked her parents for help. They didn't seem to understand that Finnegan wasn't simply a faze she was going through. He was the love of her life and she would never regret choosing him or choosing the life she wanted.  

"Get him out of here, Cassandra," Isobel pointed toward the doors as murmurs began filling the room. "And I will do what I can to salvage our reputations."  

Cassandra rolled her eyes. "Honestly, mother are you that worried about what these people think of you? Of our family?"  

"Yes, I am. All a woman has in this day and time is her reputation, Cassandra."  

Cassandra shook her head. "Well I plan on living life to the fullest, however I please, and not worrying about what a single person in this world thinks of me for doing so."  

Finnegan raised his hand a little and grinned. "I really am cold."  

"Finnegan, it's early fall, you'll be fine."  

"Easy for you to say, love. You're not the one that's naked."  

"And who's fault is that?"  

"Mine, I suppose, but I'd be more than happy to take your clothes off."  

Vincent cleared his throat loudly. "Finnegan, stop talking.  Now, you had better take good care of my daughter and grandchild. And no more gambling your clothes away."  

"Oh, I'd never gamble me own clothes," Finnegan assured Vincent. "I gambled that fancy suit that you gave me so in truth I gambled away your clothes."  

Vincent's face turned a darker shade of red and his jaw popped. "Cassandra, please take him out of here now."  

Cassandra nodded and headed toward the door while her mother tried hard to make light of the turn of events with the crowd. She was reaching out to open the door when it swung outward and she found herself staring at Seamus and Calvin as they stepped inside.  

"Dear Seamus! Young Calvin! What are ya both doin' here?" Finnegan asked with a happy smile.  

Cassandra smiled as well. It was nice to see Finnegan be 

happy to see his brother after the state their relationship had been in for most of their lives thus far.

Seamus frowned as he looked Finnegan up and down. "Why am I not surprised to see you like this? Shouldn't walking into a place this fancy and finding a man dressed in nothing but a sheet surprise a person?"  

"Aye, it should, but then I'd say y'ave seen your fair share of men in sheets," Finnegan teased with a wink. Cassandra rolled her eyes and smacked his bare stomach sharply while Seamus flushed.  

"This is the first time I have walked into a fancy party and not been the one that was underdressed," Calvin mused with a laugh. He crossed his arms over his chest as he tilted his head and admired Finnegan. "Maybe I picked the wrong brother after all."  

"What?!" Seamus exclaimed. Finnegan and Cassandra clung to each other as they laughed and Calvin attempted to assure Seamus that he had only been joking.  

"Perhaps we should take this outside," Cassandra urged when she saw the sharp glance her mother sent her from across the room. She led the three men outside and the four of them stood under the bright kerosene lamps.  

"As happy as I am to see my brother and his young love, what brings ya both this way? Ya look like y'ave been ridin' hard," Finnegan stated.  

Cassandra realized he was right. Their clothes were trail worn and dirty and their skin had a nice coating of dirt on it as well.

"It took us a while to find you both. We went to the Little's main house first and the servants told us that they were here," Seamus replied.  

"But why did you need to find us? Is there trouble?" Cassandra questioned, praying that it was anything but trouble.  

Seamus shook his head and Calvin smiled. "Why don't y'all come to the hotel with us. We've got one hell of a surprise for you."

Chapter Forty-Four

Chapter Forty-Four

"Okay, now that Finnegan is dressed and we're away from the party, what kind of surprise do you have for us?" Cassandra asked as she and Finnegan stood inside the hotel room that Seamus and Calvin had rented.  

Seamus smirked at Calvin and then turned his gaze back to Cassandra. "You see those sacks over there?"  

Cassandra nodded, glancing at the three rather large burlap sacks in the corner. "I do have eyes."  

"Well then use those eyes and go look in them," Calvin urged.  

Cassandra frowned and wondered why he and Seamus were being so vague. Finnegan on the other hand eagerly walked to the three burlap sacks and pulled one open.  

"Holy shite!" he exclaimed. He opened the second and then the third and Cassandra saw him begin shaking as he stuttered and stood slowly.  

"What is it?" Cassandra asked cautiously.  

"Go see for yourself," Seamus urged.  

Cassandra's legs were stiff with uncertainty as she walked over to Finnegan and  looked down at the bags resting at his feet. Cassandra's mouth went dry and her heart stuttered several beats.  

Gold.  

Three sacks full of nothing but gold coins.  

"Where in the world did you find all of this?" Cassandra whispered. Finnegan still didn't appear to be in any condition to speak. He had crouched back down and was touching the golden coins delicately, as if they would disappear beneath his fingertips.  

"We relieved Morgan of it," Seamus replied.  

"His pack mule seemed grateful," Calvin added.  

"You what?" Finnegan demanded as he stood straight and turned to face them. "The damn bastard saw ya with me that night. Now y'ave taken his damn treasure and he'll be right back after me again..."  

"No, he won't, Finnegan," Seamus snapped. "I'm not that careless. I had a few of my men do the work and Calvin and I stayed out of sight."  

"That's the treasure?" Cassandra gasped. "It really was there?"  

"Yeah, it really was there," Seamus leaned against the wall and crossed his arms over his chest. "Four chests of gold."  

"Where's the rest of it?" Finnegan questioned, looking over all the bags. "There had to be more than that."   

"The rest of it is mine and Calvin's. This is yours."  

"Wait now, ya weren't supposed to take that much! Ya must have taken half at least!"  

"Yep, exactly half," Seamus agreed. "And you're damn lucky I brought you any of it. Honestly the only reason I did is because I like Cassandra and she's carrying my niece or nephew. You gave up the treasure, Finnegan, don't forget that."  

Finnegan opened his mouth, clearly prepared to argue further and Cassandra clamped her hand over his lips. "Finnegan, he's right. He didn't have to bring us any of the treasure and he's giving us half! Between the sale of the townhouse and this gold, we're set for the rest of our lives. Don't you realize that?"  

Finnegan swallowed hard and looked down at her. He nodded slightly and Cassandra pulled her hand from his mouth. "Little Cass, this is... I can pay my debts, even my debt to Morgan, we can go to California, we can start our pub and we can live in comfort and never have to worry 'bout a thing...."  

"I know!" Cassandra bit her lip and then threw her arms around Finnegan as they both laughed and let the realization of what had just happened sink in. They were rich. Filthy rich. Rich beyond even the wildest of the dreams they'd had.  

Cassandra pulled away from Finnegan and hugged Seamus and Calvin in turn. "Thank you both! Thank you so much!"  

"If not for you we never would have gotten as far as we had, Cassandra. If not for you I'd still be trying to kill Finnegan and he'd be riding around with a map and no idea how to get to where it was leading him. This treasure is more yours than anyone else's."  

"And yet ya only saw fit to give us half.." Finnegan grumbled.  

"Ignore him." Cassandra sent a glare to Finnegan. "This is just amazing..." Cassandra walked back over to the burlap sacks and simply stared down at them in wonder.  

"What is this about a pub in California?" Calvin asked.  

"That's what me and Little Cass are going to do. We're movin' to California and we're gonna start out own pub."  

Cassandra walked to the bed and sat down on the edge. "We can really do this now, Finn. We can have our dream life..."  

Finnegan crouched down in front of her and rested his chin against her leg as he looked up into her eyes. "Any life spent with ya by my side is a dream life, Cass. Thank ya for takin' a chance on a man like me."  

Cassandra smiled and laid her hand against his cheek. "Thank you for proving me right and being worth the chance."  

"You got room in your traveling party for two more?" Seamus asked. "Calvin and I were thinking of headed west ourselves."  

"Of course!" Cassandra stood and went to them. "You should come with us and settle down there with us..."  

"Uh.. Little Cass? My dream life doesn't include wakin' up to my brother every morn,"  

"Be quiet, Finn. Your dream life is about what I want."  

"Is that what it is then?" Finnegan demanded with a laugh.  

Cassandra smiled sweetly and nodded. "Of course it is, love. If I'm not kept happy then I'll make sure you're miserable."  

Finnegan snorted. "Maybe I'm the one that picked the wrong partner. Young Calvin is seemin' a much better choice."  

"No," Seamus shook his head and glanced at Calvin before looking back at his brother. "He's even harder to please than Cassandra."  

"Come on, Calvin," Cassandra looped her arm through his. "We'll let them fight amongst themselves over who has the worst life while we go get something to eat."  

"You wanna be seen with me?" Calvin questioned. "I'm filthy and you look real pretty."  

Cassandra glanced own at the fancy white dress adorned with crystals and lace that her mother had insisted she wear tonight. She nodded as she smiled up at Calvin. "I'm sure. I was just seen at a high society party with Finnegan as he wore nothing but a sheet. I think my reputation will survive being seen with a dirty man."  

"A woman gets a bit of money and she forgets all about the man who stood by her when she didn't have a thing," Finnegan lamented sadly.  

Cassandra smiled and blew him a kiss. "You're welcome to join us. I'm sure Calvin is willing to share."  

---

Finnegan sat in the restaurant while his brother, Calvin and Cassandra spoke about California but his mind wasn't on what they were saying.  

Instead he kept thinking about that stormy night so long ago when he'd stumbled upon Murphy's shack and the old man had given him that treasure map before falling over dead.  

Finnegan had wanted that treasure so desperately, the thirst for that gold had been as wild in his blood as the thirst for whiskey and an easy, willing woman. He'd been fighting to outrun more than one person who wanted him dead and he hadn't cared. He had simply wanted more. More gold, more whiskey, more women, more bets, more gambles, more, more, more.....

The only reason he had even considered going to find Cassandra was because he had known she was smart and educated and he had thought that his best friend would tell him what he wanted to know and then send him on his way.  

Thank the Lord that he'd been wrong.  

Little Cass was now all he craved, all he desired, all he truly needed in the entire world. It was amazing to him, in this moment, to realize just how he had changed; how 

she had changed him.

He had given up every single thing that he had thought he couldn't live without and he'd been happier than he'd ever been in his life. Who would have thought that the Lord would repay him by allowing him to have his wife and his treasure and a future that including building a dream with the woman he loved and the family they were creating?

"Finn, are you listening?" Cassandra asked with concern in her voice as she leaned toward him.  

Finnegan pulled himself from his thoughts and squeezed her hand under the table. "I was daydreamin' I suppose," he replied. "What were ya sayin'?"  

"Calvin and Seamus were saying that they'd like to come to California with us. They would help us build the pub and they want to buy some land and see about setting up a ranch."  

Finnegan shivered. "Ya want to spend the rest of your life shoveling up horse manure?"  

Seamus frowned. "As opposed to running off drunks and watching grown men make fools of themselves at gambling tables?"  

Finnegan winked. "I'll be makin' money off of every fool that steps inside."  

Cassandra smiled as she leaned into him and Finnegan slid his arm around her shoulder. "This is great! The four amigos are together again," the happiness in her voice was infectious.  

"When are we leaving?" Seamus questioned.  

Finnegan shrugged. "Well we should probably square things away here and rest a bit and...."  

"There should be a train leaving west in the morning," Cassandra spoke up quickly. "I think first thing in the morning sounds just right."  

"I don't believe I've meant a more impulsive woman then the one you got yourself," Calvin mused to Finnegan.  

Finnegan grinned. "And a good thing that is too. A woman who thought before she made important decisions would have never wanted to come along on a treasure hunt with a man like me."

Epilogue

Epilogue

Two Years Later

"Mama, daddy said he needs another case of whiskey brought upstairs."  

Cassandra nodded at her son Luke's request and tousled his blond hair. "Will you sit here and add up these numbers I was working on?"  

"Aw, mama, do I have to?" Luke whined, kicking at the floor.  

"Yes you do," Cassandra kissed his hair and pointed at Marie sound asleep in her cradle beside the desk. "Keep an eye on your sister."  

"Yes, mama," Luke mumbled as he sat down at the chair and picked up the abandoned pencil.  

Cassandra gazed at both of her children a moment. Marie was one and a half years old now and the spitting image of her father with curly dark hair and a smile that drew people in. Luke was ten years old and Cassandra and Finnegan had adopted him on their journey to California under Finnegan's orders. The boy had been in an orphanage and had known Finnegan upon sight. Finnegan had apparently spent a lot of time with the boy and had always longed to see him have a real home; a real family.  

Cassandra still could barely believe that some had once considered Finnegan to be a bad man unworthy of respect or love. Already they were in talks with another orphanage and looking into having a five year old girl named Abigail join their family. Cassandra smiled, she loved her life.  

Cassandra hefted up a small case of whiskey and headed up the stairs. She entered the brightly lit, spacious pub and simply admired for a moment what she and Finnegan had built, with the help of Seamus and Calvin of course.  

A well lit stage was on the back wall where a beautiful woman in an elegant red dress was currently singing to the tune an elderly man played on the piano and men crowded around to watch her. The poker tables, dice tables and Faro tables were all made of dark cherry wood with elegant green felt tops. The bar was thirty feet long and also solid dark cherry and brightly colored bottles of different whiskey's shone brightly in the kerosene lights all around the massive mirror.  

The tables were full of men, women and even some children relaxing their way through their Saturday evening. Finnegan and Cassandra had worked hard to ensure that their pub would be a safe place that anyone could come and enjoy music, dancing and cards without fear of guns fights or brawls. All weapons were checked at the door and there were limits to just how drunk they allowed their patrons to get before they would have to leave and finish their night elsewhere.

 "Here you go, Finn. Luke said you need whiskey," Cassandra said as she stepped behind the bar.  

Finnegan's brown eyes lit up when they fell upon her and Cassandra's heart swelled. Even after all this time the love that Finnegan had for her was plain to see. "I was just tellin' Lewis how good ya are at poker, Little Cass, and he don't seem to believe me. He's accused me of simply doin' what Irishman do best and tellin' tales."  

"Is that right?" Cassandra smiled as she sat the case of whiskey on the bar. She smoothed out her black skirt and tapped her chin. "How about we plan on a game a little later tonight and I'll prove the Irishman right?"  

Lewis rubbed his gray whiskered cheek and chuckled. "Maybe I just bit off a bit more than I can chew."  

"I guarantee ya did, Old Lewis," Finnegan nodded, pouring a few shots of whiskey and sending them sliding down the bar to the waiting customers.  

"Finn, I need to get back downstairs and finish the expense reports I was doing. I told Luke to practice his numbers with them but if I know our son, and I do, I'm sure he's drawing pictures of trains or cattle or..."  

"Serving ladies?" Finnegan grinned and Cassandra rolled her eyes when one of their serving ladies chose that moment to walk past.  

"Yes, serving ladies. I was sad to see Sonya go," Cassandra lied which only made Finnegan laugh.  

"Oh yes, ya looked real sorry to see her go as ya tossed her outta here by her corset strings."  

"Well we were very clear about the rules! She shouldn't have flashed 

those–“ Cassandra emphasized her breasts through her red blouse, “–for the entire pub to see!”

Lewis choked on his beer as he laughed. "Too bad I was at home that night!"

"Ya had better be happy ya were home! I doubt Martha would have taken too kindly to havin' her lovely husband admirin' those fine breasts that Sonya so willingly displayed."  

"Finnegan?" Cassandra snapped.  

"Yes, love?"  

"Speak of Sonya or her breasts again and I will ensure that we are forced to adopt all our children from here on out."  

Finnegan winced with a grin. "Of course, love."  

Cassandra kissed Finnegan's cheek and then made her way back to the cellar where sure enough Luke was drawing pictures instead of practicing his numbers. "What are you drawing?" Cassandra asked as she came to stand behind him.  

"Sorry, mama. I know I'm supposed to be practicing numbers but those are really big numbers!"  

"I know they are," Cassandra assured him gently. "I'm not upset. I'll simply make sure your tutor knows you need extra math sessions next week."  

Luke slumped in his chair. "Yes ma'am."  

"Now what are you drawing? It looks like the pub."  

"It is!" Luke replied, holding up the piece of paper.  

Cassandra smiled as she looked at the drawing of the outside of the 'Pot O'Gold'. Luke was truly a very gifted artist and he had every detail perfect, even down to the gilding on the upstairs balcony.  

"Can I frame this and hang it behind the bar?"    

"You think it's that good?"  

"Of course I do," Cassandra kissed his hair. "Your grandma and grandpa will be coming to visit soon. You should get a few of your drawings together and let them take them east with them. I'm sure there would be some people very interested in buying them."  

"You really think so?!" Luke gasped, his blue eyes lighting up.  

"I wouldn't say so if I didn't," Cassandra assured him.  

Marie stirred in her cradle and Cassandra quickly went to her and lifted her into her arms. "Hello mommy's princess," she whispered to the tired girl as Marie curled up against her.  

"My niece looks tired."

Cassandra smiled as she turned and saw Seamus and Calvin stepping into the cellar. "She'll get wound up soon enough now that you're here."  

"Uncle Seamus! Uncle Calvin!" Luke ran forward and hugged both men tightly and they returned the gesture.  

"Finnegan tells us there's going to be quite the poker match between you and Lewis later," Seamus told Cassandra as he stepped forward and held his arms out for Marie.  

Cassandra placed the now smiling baby into Seamus' arms and nodded. "Oh yes, Finnegan just loves getting me into those kinds of situations."  

"Because he knows you'll always win," Calvin assured her.  

Cassandra sighed and decided the numbers could wait until morning. "Well let's get up there and prove Finnegan right shall we?"  

The group entered the pub and Cassandra burst out laughing at what they found. Finnegan was now on stage singing along with, Lillian, the woman in the red dress, and sounding twenty times more terrible.

The crowd however was cheering as Finnegan made up songs about rye whiskey and then his eyes found her and a flush covered her cheeks when the next verse began discussing her mile long legs and luscious breasts.  

As Cassandra ran for the stage to silence her brain addled husband she couldn't help but laugh. It was certainly an adventure to love a wild Irishman.