“Gotta get that girl outta here before they realize where she’s gone,” he confirmed with a nod. “Doc set her arm, but she won’t be up to fightin’ anyone off for a while.”

“Okay, well if Patrick doesn’t want to go with her, then I guess Peg goes.”

“I can’t just leave ye here,” Patrick interrupted again.

“I’ll not leave ye to take care of that whore.” Peg’s comment was quiet but resolute.

“Mum—”

“Ye’ve made yer bed, son.”

“Jesus Christ,” he said softly, running his hands through his hair.

“We’ve got contacts on another steamer that leaves at the end of the week,” Charlie chimed in. “Whoever stays back can leave on that one. It’s only four days difference.”

“It’s settled then, Patrick and the woman—” Peg said.

“Her name is Moira,” Patrick corrected quietly.

Peg paused and turned to look at Patrick.

“I don’t care if her name is the fuckin’ Virgin Mary!” she yelled at him, finally losing what little composure she had left. “How could ye? I taught ye better than that! Ye think it’s okay to be fuckin’ other woman while yer wife’s home in yer bed?” She reached out and slapped him across the face. “How could ye do that to Amy? Amy, who’s been nothin’ but good to ye! Dealin’ with yer travelin’ from home and leavin’ her here more often than not! She’s waited on ye! She’s done nothin’ that other girls were doin’ because she was waitin’ on yer sorry arse to come home to her, and what do ye do? Tell me, Patrick Gallagher! Say it! What did ye do to her?”

“Enough.” My words were quiet, but they rang out like a gunshot through the room. “You don’t need to stick up for me, though I love you for it. This isn’t getting anything done, and we need to plan.”

Peg had angry tears rolling down her cheeks, and Patrick looked like his world had just ended. I realized that they were hurting with the cool detachment that I’d developed throughout my childhood. It was all too much on the tail of Robbie’s death. They looked so overwhelmed.

I felt bad for them, but that was pretty much the extent of my emotional reaction.

“So Patrick and—” I cleared my throat and glanced at Patrick, who was looking at me with a stricken expression. “Moira will take the first steamer, Peg and I will come at the end of the week.”

“I’ll stay behind and go with them,” Doc spoke up for the first time. “Girl in there doesn’t need me for the trip, and you all need to get back home with that steamer. Don’t feel right leavin’ them here alone.”

Ham watched him for a minute and then nodded. “You’ll stay with the women.”

“If there’s an open spot, then Amy can go with ye on the first one,” Peg argued.

“Not going to happen,” I answered flatly. There was no way in hell that I was going anywhere with Patrick and that woman.

“I can—” Patrick began to speak again.

“No.” I stared him down until he gave in with a defeated nod. We weren’t going to get anywhere if we continued on about who went with who. The plan was set—Patrick and Moira on one and Peg and I on the other. The end.

“Okay, is there anything else we need to go over?” I asked Ham. I had work in an hour and I wasn’t even sure how I’d get my clean clothes out of the bedroom Moira was sleeping in. I couldn’t believe that I was still going to work as if my life as I’d known it was gone. Then I brushed that thought away. I was fine and I needed the money.

“Pack light, only things you can carry. Leave everything else in the house as-is. Trip to North Carolina will be rough, so make sure you bring some pain relievers and shit with you. Maybe some Dramamine.”

“We’re going to North Carolina?”

“Just stoppin’ there. We’ll ride the bikes to Oregon.”

I nodded and stood from the table, done with the conversation.

I’d never been to Oregon.

Chapter 34

Amy

“Are ye ever goin’ to speak to me?” Patrick asked quietly from the couch as I walked in from work that night.

Charlie and Vera had walked me to Dillon’s and had stayed for my entire shift to keep watch. It had seemed a bit overboard, but I didn’t really mind it. They’d gone out of their way to act as if everything was normal, and I’d been grateful for the reprieve. We’d all agreed that mentioning anything out of the ordinary wasn’t a good idea since we weren’t sure who was looking for Moira.

It had been fucking wonderful to pretend she didn’t exist for a few hours.

Unfortunately, the minute I’d walked through my front door, reality intruded.

“What do you want me to say?” I asked tiredly, taking off my coat and hanging it on the hook by the door. I needed to remember to take it with me when we left.

“I don’t know, Amy. Somet'in’. Fuckin’ hit me. Yell at me. Anyt’in.’ ”

“I can yell if you want, but I’m not sure it would do any good. Would that make you feel better?” I walked around the couch and sat in the chair next to it as Patrick ran his hands over his face.

“It was before we got married,” he said softly.

“She’s not that pregnant,” I replied flatly.

“I’m not lyin.’ It was before I’d even proposed to ye.”