Samuel (Samuel's Pride Series) (6 page)

Kennedy was on edge when her
seanmháthair’s
flight was called. She went as far as security would let her and watched as the
passengers came toward her. There were so many of them that she thought she’d
missed her when she suddenly appeared. It was all she could do not to run past
the gates and hug her. When she was standing before her, Kennedy burst into
tears.

“Come, child, doona make a scene. We’ll
go to the hotel and you’ll tell me about it.” Before she could tell her she
would love that, Kennedy was engulfed in a strong set of arms that nearly
choked the breath out of her. When she pulled back, she cried again, finding
her little brother and sister there as well. Her mother was standing just
behind them.

“You’ve all come? Oh you’ve no idea—I’ve
needed to see you so badly.” She hugged them all several times on the way to
the luggage terminal. “You didn’t bring Shamus, did you?”

“Nay, he’s back home. What there is left
of it. The mon has lost it all. Gambling he does, and that’s going to be the
death of our home.” Her mother hugged her tightly. “You’ve the right of it
coming here and getting out. He’d had you wedded and bedded by some mon that
would have left you in ruin without a penny to yer name.”

“I would have died first than to marry
Patrick Tailor. But I don’t understand; what do you mean he’s lost our home?” Her
mother told her in rapid Gaelic what Shamus had done and tried to do. Marry her
off was bad enough, but Kaitlin was engaged to someone she loved dearly. And
all for her brother’s love of money.

Kennedy looked at her
seanmháthair
.
The house that they’d grown up in had been in her family for generations…nine
if Kennedy had it right. And now Shamus had lost it all. She felt Mr. Payne
touch her mind again but didn’t answer him. She was too hurt and sad to deal
with him again. When they went to the hotel, they all settled into their rooms
well enough, and Kennedy ended up in her
seanmháthair’s
room resting on
the sofa. Kennedy could still feel Mr. Payne in the back of her mind, but she
was getting much better at ignoring him.

“You’re hurt, my dear, what’s happened?”
Kennedy sat up on the couch and looked at her
seanmháthair
as she
settled in the chair. “Tell me, and we’ll fix it together like we used to.”

“There’s no fixing this for me.” She
didn’t want to tell her favorite person in the entire world that a man she
hardly knew wanted to wed and bed her for no other reason than he said he was
supposed to. “I’m so glad you’re here.”

“Aye, I can tell. The sadness in your
eyes tells me you’re thrilled to death. Tell me, lass, and let me see if it can
be fixed or not.”

Kennedy told her everything, even some
of the things she knew that she’d never share with her mother or sister. Her
seanmháthair
never said much but asked a few questions. And when she was done, she looked at
her with concern in her eyes.

“You’ve a mind to run from this mon?” She
nodded, then shook her head. “Very clear you are about him, I can see. What do
you want from him, Kennedy? Love? He more than likely will after a fashion, but
not if you flee him.”

“He’s no desire to love me, only keep me
in a shell that will kill me. I don’t need a keeper,
Seanmháthair
, but
he thinks it’s in my best interest for him to be mine.” Kennedy started to cry
again. “I’ve been marked by him, and now…now he wants me to give up everything
I have.”

Her
seanmháthair
sat and looked
at her for a long time. Kennedy knew her well enough to know that she was
thinking. Dani Kennedy Buehler did not make rash decisions. When she stood up,
Kennedy felt disappointed. But her
seanmháthair
hugged her tightly.

“I have to think about this a bit more.”
Kennedy nodded. “You’ll sleep here, of course, and then in the morning, we’ll
go and see this man of yours.”

“Nay,
Seanmháthair
, I’ve no
desire to see him again.”
Seanmháthair
raised her hand. “I doona think
he’ll be thrilled to see me anyway. I’m supposed to be packing my things and
going back to his bed. I’ve no desire to go from the fire to the frying pan.”

“We’ll see.” Something about the way she
said it had Kennedy thinking she might have been better off not telling her
seanmháthair
what had happened. When she closed the door behind her to the bedroom, Kennedy
sat there for long moments trying to think what was going to happen in the
morning, and decided that she didn’t want to know. But when she stood up, her
seanmháthair
came to the door and opened it just enough to see her.

“You run and I’ll be sorely disappointed
in you, my child. This mon will think you a coward as well. Is that what you want?”

“He doesn’t want me.” Saying it aloud made
the pain more noticeable. “I’ll not have anyone in my life that feels that way.”

The door closed without a word, and
Kennedy sat down. There was no hope for it. She’d have to see Mr. Payne in the
morning, and her
seanmháthair
would be there to witness her humiliations
as well. Burrowing deep into the couch, Kennedy let the tears flow. She’d have been
better off marrying old man Tailor when she’d been told to. At least he wanted
her somewhat.

The dream of her da’s death came to her
again that night. And when that one ended, the one where her brother beat her
followed. The pain of what he’d done to her body was nothing compared to the
betrayal she felt from him. But hurt her physically he had.

Broken bones were the most of it, but he’d
beaten her with her da’s belt, the buckle of it tearing into her skin so deeply
in places that they’d had to stitch them closed. Walking had been difficult
with all the lashes on her legs. Even when she’d left the hospital, she’d still
been in pain, broken ribs not quite healed and her head still concussed. Kennedy,
in a word, had been a mess. The only way for her to be able to travel had been
by boat and with a nurse by her side. She had much to be grateful for from her
seanmháthair
.

But the men in her life, all of them, including
her da, had wanted so much from her. All of them were set to hurt her and make
her do as they said no matter what she wanted. Kennedy lay there after the
dreams woke her and cried more in the darkness. When sleep finally claimed her,
she knew that she’d look awful in the morning.

Chapter 6

“Sir, there’s a miss on the phone. She
wishes to speak to you.” Samuel was still trying to find Kennedy, and he didn’t
have time for calls. “She said that she is Miss Kennedy’s grandmother.”

Samuel had the call transferred to his
office. When he picked up the handset, he waited for several seconds before he
pushed the button to answer the call. He had no idea why she’d be calling him,
but he had a feeling she was going to tell him that Kennedy had come to her.

After saying hello and his name, the
woman launched into why she called. “I’ve a mind to see you, young man. Today.
This morning if it would suit you.”

He had a feeling that even if it didn’t
suit she’d come anyway. “I’m free for the rest of the day. I’m…is Kennedy with
you?”

“She is. I have listened to her side of
this sordid tale and would like to hear your side. Do you love her?”

“No. I don’t want her even to be in my
life, but I’ve taken her as my mate and I expect her to come here. When will
she be able to fly back?” The woman laughed. “I assure you that I’m serious in
this.”

“Aye, I’ve no doubt that you are. But
you’ll learn that I am a great deal less intimated by you than she is. And
Kennedy isn’t intimidated at all.” Her laughter reminded him of Kennedy and he
realized how little he’d heard it. There was a great deal of her he’d heard
little about, and she’d blocked him somehow.

“I asked her to come here today, and she’s
disobeyed me. How do I protect her if she won’t listen to me?” He felt foolish
saying this to Kennedy’s grandmother, but she only hummed at him. “And now she’s
in Ireland.”

“Nay, she’s here with me. We only just
arrived last night. Her mother and siblings are with me as well.” She sighed
heavily, and he waited for her to speak. “Her brother means to hurt her. He’ll
come for her because he believes her to be his only hope of getting out of the
debt that he’s in. He’s nearly lost their home, my home, and the rest of the family’s
because of his greed.”

Samuel looked down at the notes he’d
taken this morning when Jimmy had called him. “He’s in debt for more than the
land and house is worth, did you know that? As of right now, he’s nearly
seventy million dollars in debt. The house and the land surrounding it is less
than that.”

“I’ve known for some time that he was
gambling away the family money but thought he’d stop. But when he hurt my
granddaughter so badly that she nearly died, I decided to let him do what he
would so long as she was safe. I sent her to the United States for her freedom,
Samuel Payne, not to be mated to an overbearing mon that would stifle what she
is.” Samuel started to deny what she was saying, but she continued before he
could. “I’ve had you looked into as well. I’ve a good deal more influence and
money than you, so I was able to work faster. You’re a person who gets things
done. Well, so am I. I’d like to make a deal with you. A partnership, so to
speak. Are you willing to listen to an old woman?”

“What do you want from me?” She laughed
again. “Kennedy is my mate, and there is nothing you can do about that. I’ll
have her.”

“You’ll have her if I allow it.” The
steel there made his lion curl up inside of him. He’d never had that happen
before, and Samuel was suddenly very afraid that she’d do just what she said. He
had no idea why, but the thought of being without Kennedy in his life suddenly
didn’t feel right.

“I’ll listen to you, but I’d like to
know if Kennedy is all right. Last night she was distraught when I spoke to her,
and now…now she’s blocked me. I don’t know how she’s done it, but I can no
longer reach out to her.”

“She’s resting now, though I will tell
you that’s it’s not a restful one. Nightmares haunt her, and she is looking
like it. Only just an hour ago I think she fell into an exhaustive sleep. She will
not be in the best of humor today.” Samuel nearly pointed out that she’d not
been since he’d met her but didn’t think she’d find the humor in it.

“I’ll bring her today with me, but you’ll
keep a civil tongue in your mouth or so help me I’ll make your life a living
hell. I dinna live this long without a few tricks up my sleeve.” He believed
her. “Your lovely mother; will she be there as well?”

“If you’d like.” Samuel wanted to ask
her about the house and how much it meant to Kennedy, but Mrs. Buehler told him
she’d be there within the hour. Samuel hung up the phone and tried to think
what the hell he’d just gotten himself into. He went in search for his mom to
tell her what was going on.

“You think she’s going to tell you to
leave her alone?” Samuel thought that she could try, but he didn’t think it
would work. “I feel badly for poor Kennedy. She’s been through some tough
times.”

He nearly pointed out that he had too
since taking her as his mate, but again kept his mouth shut. They entered the
kitchen together to let the staff know what was going on. As soon as they had
things moving in the right direction, Samuel went back to his office. He was
thinking he needed to gird his loins.

They arrived by limo within the hour. The
driver handed them all out, and his breath caught when he saw Kennedy. She did
look terrible, and his lion wanted him to go to her and comfort her. He doubted
his beast had been paying attention if he thought that his mate would allow him
to comfort her for any reason. Kennedy just didn’t strike him as the hugging
sort of person. When a second car pulled up behind the limo, he saw his friend
Jimmy get out, along with two men he vaguely knew.

“Mrs. Buehler asked for a team of
lawyers, and I brought the best.” Jimmy hugged him to him with a hardy pat on
the back. “I got to see your mate. Christ, you weren’t kidding when you said
she was beautiful.”

Jimmy had joined them for dinner last
night. Kennedy had made the roast and left instructions on how to finish it up
before leaving. It was as delicious as he’d thought it would be, and Jimmy had
begged him to allow him to move in. And the homemade bread she’d made them was
better than he’d ever tasted.

“I would like to say that my
granddaughter has told me a great many things since yesterday. All of them I
believe, but I’d like to hear what you have to say about this affair.” Mrs.
Buehler nodded in his direction as she continued. “You said you doona want her?
Then why do you demand that she come here to be with you?”

“She’s my mate.” His mom snorted and he
flushed. “I know that that sounds like a stupid reason, but she’s supposed to
balance me. Make me whole. While I felt as if I was doing fine before, I don’t
want her running into things halfcocked and getting herself hurt. I can protect
her, but not when she’s not here.”

“I see.” He doubted that she could see
it at all but wisely kept his mouth shut. “You do know that her brother means
to marry her off to another man. And when he does, he’s a plan to have her get
with child by any means possible, including finding someone to do the deed for
her husband if need be. Tailor won’t leave her his riches if she doesn’t give
him a child.”

Kennedy stood up, but before she could
say anything her grandmother raised her hand. Kennedy didn’t look as if she was
going to sit down, but when she finally did, she turned her back on the room
and stared into the fireplace. He wished he could hide away so easily.

“I’ve asked Mr. Burger to bring a lawyer
to go over the contract that I’ve had my attorney draw up before leaving. He
had it delivered to me this morn with your name on it if you’re willing to
abide by it.” Samuel took the sheaf of papers and sat down and started to read
them. He looked at Mrs. Buehler when he got to the second page.

“It says here that I’ll inherit the
properties and manor when I marry Kennedy.” Kennedy didn’t say anything, but he
could see her back stiffen. “I thought they belonged to your grandson.”

“Nay, they belong to me as of last
evening. And as soon as you wed Kennedy, I’ll sign them over to you. All of it.”
Samuel continued to read, and when he finished it, one of the lawyers cleared
his throat.

“I’ve read over the contract, Mr. Payne,
and it’s very much in your favor. When you marry Kennedy and consummate the
marriage, you’ll own it all. There is also a yearly stipend that comes with the
land that we can discuss once you’ve decided that you’ll abide by the rules.” He
handed him another group of pages. “They’re all outlined there. Ms. Buehler will
also sign off on this one as her name isn’t required for the estate and
properties.”

“Why not?” The younger man looked at
Mrs. Buehler, then at Kennedy. “Why isn’t her name required on the contract?”

“Because I’m a female and I canna
inherit so long as I have a brother or a husband. It’s the way that it was set
up when the land was purchased.” Kennedy moved to the window when she stood up,
and he could see how hurt she was. “If my father had had all girls, one of us
would have had to marry or all the lands would revert back to the county. And
since I have two brothers of age, they can take it from me or, in this case,
you if you decide to marry me.”

Samuel looked over the contract again. It
was a good deal for him. He’d be the laird of the manor, and she’d be his lady.
And all for something that was going to happen anyway. Even the rules he’d been
given were things that he’d already decided on. Caring for her family, making
sure her brother and sister were educated and wed to proper spouses. He was to
provide for her mother as well, giving her an allowance to spend as she wanted,
as well as a home she could call her own. He must also care for the houses and
the adjoining farms. There was a part about horses, but that had been taken out,
and he asked about it now.

“Shamus sold them to come here to get
Ms. Kennedy.” The other lawyer stood up and handed another handful of papers to
him. “I’ve done as Lady Buehler has asked and found the buyer for them, but I’m
afraid that several of them have been destroyed. The man who’d bought them wasn’t
happy to find that they were not of the quality that he’d been promised.”

~~~

Kennedy stared out the window at
nothing. Snow was coming down now, and its pretty flakes hit the window and
melted almost immediately. She thought that by this evening her little home
would be covered in snow and she’d have to dig it out. Laughing slightly,
knowing that she wasn’t going to get to go back, she squeezed her eyes shut
against the pain.

“Kennedy?” She turned to look at Mr. Burger.
“I think they need you, love. You should go back over so you can hear your
fate.”

“I know what it is already, sir. It’s
just a different mon who’s going to hurt me.” He shook his head, and she
nodded. “Aye, we both know that he’s no desire to have me any more than I do
him. If he doesn’t sign the contract, he’s a bigger fool than I thought.”

“Samuel’s no fool, but he might surprise
you when it comes to taking care of what’s his.” Kennedy looked out the window
again. That was the problem really, she didn’t want to be his or anyone’s. When
her
seanmháthair
said her name and asked her to look at her; she had no
choice. Kennedy respected her
seanmháthair
more than anyone she knew,
but Kennedy didn’t want this and had told her so.

“You do this, make me do this, and I’ll
not forgive you.” The Gaelic she’d spoken wasn’t loud, but she heard her all
the same. “I doona want this, and neither does he.”

“He’s signed the contract, my darling.
And the judge here is going to wed you before Shamus can get to you.”
Seanmháthair
brushed her fingers against her cheek. “You’ll see. He’ll come to love you as
much as I do.”

Kennedy watched as Samuel signed his
name to the contract. He looked at her, and she could see the determination in
his eyes as well as the steel that he would use to crush her. When everything
was witnessed and signed off on as well, Kennedy felt her heart break even
more. The deed was done, and she was as good as wed.

“I’ve a ring that I’d like for you to
use if you don’t have one from your own mother.” Samuel shook his head at his
seanmháthair
question, but continued to look at her. “It’s been in my family for
generations, seven back from the time we became the owners of Rose Manor.”

Kennedy knew the ring. Her
seanmháthair
had worn it all her life and the matching one, her grandda’s, hung around her
neck on a gold chain. She handed this to Samuel as well. He stared at them both,
and when he read what was inside her grandda’s ring, he looked at her again.

“You were named for him.” She nodded and
stood up to go back to the couch. But he asked her what her
seanmháthair’s
ring said.

“‘Tis Irish.
Beidh mé grá agat go dtí
an foircinn am agus go deo níos mó tar éis.
It means
I will love you
until the ends of time and forever more after.”
When he didn’t ask her
anything else, she sat down. It was something her grandda had said to her
seanmháthair
all her life. And her da to her mom as well.

“The wedding will take place today, if
possible.” Kennedy turned around to see how that was even possible. But Samuel
had it all arranged. “I’ve contacted a friend of mine, and he’s agreed to do
the ceremony for us. The license was taken care of yesterday. All it needs is
Kennedy’s signature.”