What is she talking about?
Tully quickly unties her. “Y’alright?” he asks, and she nods.
“I’m fine. I want Keenan here, though, and immediately. I have to tell him everything.”
She pulls her phone out of her pocket, then freezes. She gasps. All anger flees her, and she points a trembling finger to Father Finn. “Oh, Tully.”
Tully and I turn. Father Finn’s slumped over, the rope that’s bound him to the chair the only thing holding him up. Tully drops to one knee.
“Father?”
But I know before he inspects that it’s far worse than it seems.
“Ah, Father,” Tully says sadly, his dark eyes cloudy and troubled. “Oh, God. I didn’t save all of you, did I?”
He lifts Father Finn’s chin. That’s when I see a bloody wound by his neck. Tully takes his pulse, and shakes his head. Maeve falls to her knees and buries her face in her hands.
I stand, frozen, in place.
“What happened?” I whisper. “Tully?”
“Stray bullet,” he says, his voice choked with emotion. “Caught him during the fight, it seems.” He drops Father Finn’s wrist. “He likely died immediately.”
“Keenan,” Maeve says in the phone, not bothering to mask her weeping. She sniffs. “Come to the parsonage, please. Bring your brothers.”
She hangs up the phone, holds Father Finn’s limp hand, and holds it to her cheek as she weeps.
“He’ll join Seamus now, God rest his soul. The citizens of Ballyhock will never forget all he’s done for them. And the McCarthy Clan will give him a proper burial as well.”
I feel cold and scared as I watch them mourn his loss. Right here in front of me, a man who impacted the life of every citizen in Ballyhock lost his life.
The rain stops, bringing with it a sort of calm after the storm. Keenan comes, and Tully holds my hand. I’ve never seen a grown man cry, but now I see several. It’s a sight I hope I never have to see again.
The years of hardship when these men earned their spurs seem to fade like sandcastles to the tides, their years of hardness erased as they take his body to be laid to rest.
“I’ll tell you everything,” Maeve says, her eyes growing misty, and her face more tired than I’ve ever seen her. “Is everyone safe at home?”
“Aye,” Keenan says. “There was an attack, but Carson caught it in a text string he’d been monitoring online. They knew exactly when and where we’d be under attack. He had no time to tell us, but he and Cormac handled it properly.”
She nods.
“Tully, how did you know to come here?” Keenan asks. Tully fills him in.
“Thank you, brother,” Keenan says, clapping Tully on the shoulder. “I know you’re down on yourself for not saving both of them. But know this, Tully. If you hadn’t acted fast, my mother’s life would’ve been endangered as well. We lost a McCarthy today, God rest his soul. But Mum’s safe because of you.”
The return to the McCarthy family home is a somber tone. Wordlessly, Tully slips his hand into mine and squeezes. I hold his hand and squeeze back. He bends and kisses my cheek. We’re good. We’re back together. I was silly and foolish to ever push him away.
“Don’t go, lass,” he whispers in my ear. “We need you.” He swallows hard. “I need you, baby or no, McKenna.”
And I know now… I need him, too. His fierce, unbridled protection. His loyalty. His love.
God, his love.
The staff in hushed whispers ushers the men of the Clan inside the large home, and Sebastian’s called. We watch as they lay a clean sheet over the body, and Keenan makes the sign of the cross over the sheet. Every man and woman—I swear, it’s every single one of members and their significant others—drop their heads. I’ve never been a praying woman, but it seems the right time.
I close my eyes and swallow the lump in my throat. I didn’t know Father Finn well, but he’s a veritable fortress here in Ballyhock.
Maeve cries quietly beside Keenan. He turns to her to embrace her, and she falls into his arms and weeps. Megan wipes tears beside Carson, and even bold, fearless Lachlan swipes a hand across his eyes.
“Bloody hell,” Tully says, his own voice choked with emotion. Aileen steps forward, her eyes bright with unshed tears, and lifts her voice in song. I’ve been told she sings like an angel, but I’ve never heard her myself. The words she sings now are in Gaelic. The tune is haunting, her voice melodic and otherworldly. She lifts her voice and we watch her.
'Sé mo Shéasar, gile mear
Suan gan séan ní bhfuair mé féin…
I know this song well, Mo Ghile Mear, and know the words she sings.
The sleep is over, dream is done
To the west where fire sets…
Finally, she rests her hand on the sheet and bows her head. We leave in somber silence.