O'hara's Choice - Leon Uris [108]
The rest need not be recorded, nor could be, over the din and shouts of “hurrah” and orchestra playing “A Mighty Fortress” and the black Pilgrims and Indians whooping.
Amanda was shocked, barely able to come to her feet to receive a clout of an embrace she’d never known from her father, and Daisy was up and the rafters rang . . .
For they are jolly good fellows,
For they are jolly good fellows . . .
Maybe Amanda would pull Glen Constable to his feet! Maybe! Come on, dammit!
With a last gasp of rationality, Amanda realized that this was pinnacle Horace Kerr stuff, boxing her in, and it was Horace who jerked Glen to his feet.
Hip-Hip Hooray
Hip-Hip Hooray
Hip-Hip Hooray
The commodores and commoners of the Kerr clan returned to their lesser domains in the next few days. But what gaiety it had been!
“Great fun!”
“Really great fun!”
They caught their trains and boats with bubbling hints of major occasions to come . . . a cornerstone for the college . . . a merger with Constable . . . maybe a royal wedding . . . heady stuff.
Daisy had watched Emily’s every blink and she had held up rather well, particularly at her teas, but when departure after departure took place, she began to show signs of weird behavior, warning of a coming attack.
Since Horace was preparing to sail to Immigrant Reef, Daisy decided to accompany Emily back to Baltimore, settle her in, and return to Newport.
House empty except for Amanda? Glen Constable needed very little convincing to remain at Tobermory and keep Amanda company while Horace made his sail.
Having drained all his milk of human kindness, Horace set out on a rough-water run with himself at the helm.
• 33 •
UNCLE BEN
The Next Day—Ben Boone’s Cottage
Ben wondered whose uninvited horse was hitched to his post. He stepped up on his porch and ran directly into Amanda Kerr, fuming with tenacity.
“I would have called you by phone, but our switchboard has an operator on it and I wish to speak privately.”
“I see. It’s chilly out here. You should have waited inside. It’s open.”
“I’d rather not take that liberty.”
“Come in.”
A fire had been laid. Ben set a match to it and rustled up tea. The tea took the chill off.
“I hear your father is sailing to Immigrant Reef.”
“Yes.”
“Nasty business this time of year.”
“I must see Zach,” she said abruptly.
“I thought you two split up?”
“We have, but something unforeseen has come up.”
“Well, you can’t see him. He is confined to quarters. He’s persona non grata.”
Amanda closed her eyes and hit each word, hard. “I . . . must . . . see . . . him.”
“About what?”
“It’s a personal problem about that day at the casino.”
“Oh, that problem. Sorry.”
She insisted, yet again, switching, trying to change her tone. Ben wore no mischievous twinkle this day. He was a sudden, abrupt character she did not know.
“Zach said if I ever got into trouble, I could come to you. You could be trusted.”
“I am his commanding officer, not his uncle Ben.”
“Will you hear me out?”
“Lady, that boy was one punch away from a summary court-martial. Just count his luck, this time.”
Amanda set the beggar in her aside and spoke up with clarity. “I love him!” she said.
“You don’t get it, Miss Kerr. Lieutenant O’Hara is a very gifted young officer. Do you have any idea what he is doing?”
“No, none.”
“The man is working on sensitive material, highly confidential matters. If you really loved him, then you’d leave him alone. He has a big career ahead.”
She stared at the fire, which was popping now. “Sometimes,” she said wistfully, “I wish he was dealing in something other than blood and death.”
“That is right amiable of you. I am from a hillbilly family who ran a station on the underground railroad to help slaves escape. My kin were strung up for it. I know you want to create that perfect world of love and peace for one and all, but it doesn’t work that way. It never has. Thank God we have men like Zach to defend us. Now please leave.”
Amanda stuffed it and stood to go, but