“It isn’t, no. It’s our dance, you see, but we don’t mind sharing it occasionally. You’d be Brie’s Yank.” He offered a big, work-roughened hand. “I’m Murphy Muldoon.”

“Of the rose-trampling cows.”

Murphy winced. “Christ, she’ll never forget it. And didn’t I replace every last bush? You’d think the cows had stepped on her firstborn.” He looked down at Con for support. The dog sat, tilted his head, and kept his own counsel. “You’ve settled into Blackthorn, then?”

“Yes. I’m trying to get a feel for the area.” Gray glanced around again. “I guess I crossed over onto your land.”

“We don’t shoot trespassers often these days,” Murphy said easily.

“Glad to hear it.” Gray studied his companion again. There was something solid here, he thought, and easily approachable. “I was in the village pub last night, O’Malley’s, had a beer with a man named Rooney.”

“You mean you bought him a pint.” Murphy grinned.

“Two.” Gray grinned back. “He earned them, with the payment of village gossip.”

“Some of which was probably truth.” Murphy took out a cigarette, offered one.

After shaking his head, Gray tucked his hands in his pockets. He only smoked when he was writing. “I believe your name was mentioned.”

“I won’t doubt you.”

“What young Murphy is missing,” Gray began in such a deadly mimic of Rooney that Murphy snorted with laughter, “is a good wife and strong sons to be working the land with him. He’s after perfection, is Murphy, so he’s spending his nights alone in a cold bed.”

“This from Rooney who spends most of his nights in the pub complaining that his wife drives him to drink.”

“He did mention that.” Gray eased into the question he was most interested in. “And that since the jackeen had snapped Maggie out from under your nose, you’d be courting her younger sister before long.”

“Brie?” Murphy shook his head as he expelled smoke. “It’d be like cuddling my baby sister.” He smiled still, but his eyes were sharp on Gray’s. “Is that what you wanted to know, Mr. Thane?”

“Gray. Yes, that’s what I wanted to know.”

“Then I’ll tell you the way’s clear there. But mind your step. I’m protective of my sisters.” Satisfied his point was made, Murphy took another comfortable drag. “You’re welcome to come back to the house for a cup of tea.”

“I appreciate the offer, but I’ll take a raincheck. There are things I need to get done today.”

“Well, then, I’ll let you get to them. I enjoy your books,” he said in such an offhand way that Gray was doubly complimented. “There’s a bookstore in Galway you may like to visit if you travel that way.”

“I intend to.”

“You’ll find it then. Give my best to Brianna, will you? And you might mention that I’ve not a scone left in my pantry.” His grin flashed. ” ’Twill make her feel sorry for me.”

After whistling for the dog who fell into place beside him, he walked away with the easy grace of a man crossing his own land.

It was mid-afternoon when Brianna returned home, frazzled, drained, and tense. She was grateful to find no trace of Gray but for a note hastily scrawled and left on her kitchen table.

Maggie called. Murphy’s out of scones.

An odd message, she thought. Why would Maggie call to tell her Murphy wanted scones? With a sigh Brianna set the note aside. Automatically she put on the kettle for tea before setting out the ingredients she needed to go with the free-range chicken she’d found—like a prize—at the market.

Then she sighed, gave in. Sitting down again, she folded her arms on the table, laid her head on them. She didn’t weep. Tears wouldn’t help, wouldn’t change anything. It had been one of Maeve’s bad days, full of snipes and complaints and accusations. Maybe the bad days were harder now, because over the last year or so there had been nearly as many good ones.

Maeve loved her little house, whether or not she ever admitted to it. She was fond of Lottie Sullivan, the retired nurse Brianna and Maggie had hired as her companion. Though the devil would never be able to drag that simple truth from Maeve’s lips. She had found as much contentment as Brianna imagined she was capable of.

But Maeve never forgot, never, that Brianna was responsible for nearly every bite of bread their mother enjoyed. And Maeve could never seem to stop resenting that.

This had been one of the days when Maeve had paid her younger daughter back by finding fault with everything. With the added strain of the letters Brianna had found, she was simply exhausted.

She closed her eyes and indulged herself for a moment by wishing. She wished her mother could be happy. She wished Maeve could recapture whatever joy and pleasure she’d had in her youth. She wished, oh, she wished most of all that she could love her mother with an open and generous heart instead of with cold duty and dragging despair.

And she wished for family, for her home to be filled with love and voices and laughter. Not simply for the transient guests who came and went, but for permanence.

And, Brianna thought, if wishes were pennies, we’d all be as rich as Midas. She pushed back from the table, knowing the fatigue and depression would fade once she began to work.

Gray would have a fine roast chicken for dinner, stuffed with herbed bread and ladled with rich gravy.

And Murphy, bless him, would have his scones.

CHAPTER FOUR

In a matter of days Brianna had grown accustomed to Gray’s routine and adjusted her schedule accordingly. He liked to eat, rarely missing a meal—though she soon discovered he had little respect for timetables. She understood he was hungry when he began to haunt her kitchen. Whatever the time, she fixed him a plate. And had to admit she appreciated watching him enjoy her cooking.

Most days he went out on what she thought of as his rambles. If he asked, she gave him directions, or made suggestions on some sight he might like to see. But usually he set out with a map, a notebook, and a camera.

She saw to his rooms when he was out. Anyone who tidies up after another begins to learn things. Brianna discovered Grayson Thane was neat enough when it came to what belonged to her. Her good guest towels were never tossed on the floor in a damp heap; there were never any wet rings on her furniture from a forgotten glass or cup. But he had a careless disregard for what he owned. He might scrape off his boots before he came in out of the mud and onto her floors. Yet he never cleaned the expensive leather or bothered to polish them.