Page 21 of Over Verdant Irish Hills

He rubbed his stubbled chin. “She’s a desperate woman, Bets.”

A headache was starting at the base of her skull. “I thought we’d neutralized Tom and Mary when we managed to win over enough people on the county council. We got our museum approved and the new hotel. Kathleen’s sculpture. We were supposed to be cruising. And yet here we are, back to where we started with her trying to stop me on my own land.”

More artists would be coming in soon. She shivered. She couldn’t bear the thought of Mary hurting anyone.

“We aren’t back to the beginning of things,” Donal said, coming over to stand in front of her. “You have the entire town and then some on your side. Still, don’t be reckless, Bets. Mary is a lone wolf, but wolves are dangerous. I say this as a friend.”

“I hate anyone thinking the answer is to give in to her.” She kicked at the ground. “Maybe I’ve become more Irish than I knew. I’m in a rage over roses being destroyed on my land.”

“Land is more than dirt, and roses are more than flowers, Bets. They represent everything good in the world. Home. The magic of nature come to life. We Irish have never had much, but we’ve always had our land and our roses. You wouldn’t be the first to go to war over them.”

Fatigue folded over her like a cold blanket. “Another battle in the long war with Mary. Liam thinks I should stop fighting. I got so angry I almost said something I’d have regretted. I don’t know what I’m going to do, but I can’t stop fighting her. I can’t, Donal.”

“No one is asking you to,” he said, cracking his neck. “Not even Liam, I suspect. Bets, I’ve never seen him so upset as he was this morning when we met him with our shovels.”

And he’d known her son since he was born. “I owe him an apology. Linc too. He’s mad at me for coming back.”

He made a face. “No, Bets. He’s angry at the situation, and you can’t blame him for that. I would have been too, in his place.”

“Would you?” She shook her head.

Donal’s brows rose before falling over his wide forehead. “He probably thinks it’ll save you a world of hurt if you stop fighting with Mary.”

“Is this when I say I’m old and cynical? Nothing is going to stop Mary from striking at me. Not even if I turn the other cheek like Liam wants.”

“I figure you have to do what you can live with.” He nodded to the garden. “She’ll destroy these if she can too.”

Her heart broke clean through. “I know that.”

“You could ask a few people who care about you to sit in a lawn chair with a shotgun and protect them for you.” He smiled sadly. “I’d be the first to volunteer.”

He’d been with her from the beginning, fighting Mary’s every move to destroy the new arts center as well as her roses. Mary had even tried to use his sheep for her own ends. “That seems like overkill, doesn’t it?”

“Not to an Irishman.” He blew out an aggrieved breath. “Will you tell Linc about what I said? I figure the roses are your concern. But he’s your man now. You should tell him. He’ll want to help. And you should know… I’m meeting him for drinks at the pub later.”

She rubbed the bridge of her nose. “I’m glad. Thanks for coming by, Donal. Will you send Linc over when you’re finished at the pub?”

He smiled. “Might be a long night. He mentioned something about wanting to enjoy our company before Dad and I leave for France tomorrow. Would you prefer for us to stay, Bets?”

“Guarding roses with shotguns?” She shook her head. “No, Donal. I want you to go back to France for me and have a blast.”

“You should go back too.” He studied her face. “Were you happy there, Bets?”

Tears filled her eyes, alarming her. “Yes, I was.”

“Linc too, I hope.”

She brushed at the tears as they slipped down her cheeks. “Yes, Linc too.”

But he wasn’t now, and neither was she. Mary had ruined it but good, damn her. Worse, Bets had a sinking feeling that Liam and Linc were right, and she’d let Mary ruin it. Suddenly she remembered how Linc had told her that there was no force on earth that could drag him away from her once they came together. At the time she’d agreed, but she’d let her feud with Mary wrench her away from Paris, and she’d hurt Linc in the process.

“I’ll go easy on him tonight, Bets, and if need be, I’ll drop him off at your house.” He kissed her cheek. “You get some rest.”

The last thing she wanted was rest. “You’re a good man, Donal O’Dwyer.”

“One more thing…” He shifted on his feet. “Sorcha visited me and told me you and Linc were meant. It made me understand why we didn’t make it. We weren’t meant. Plain and simple.”

Her throat hurt. “I’m glad she visited you and told you.”

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