Portriat
Chapter 10: Desperation

Jamie hoped he would be able to wipe away her tears. How he longed to bring joy and peace back into her life.

“I must find him. He must be alive.” Jamie thought

These thoughts so plagued him Jamie dismounted before the carriage could come to a full stop at their destination. He ran into the inn looking wildly around for the innkeeper. The only person he saw was an old man behind the counter.

“What can I get you, sir?” as the man.

“Are you the innkeeper who sent this letter?” asked Jamie tossing the letter on the counter.

“Aye sir, I did. Come I will take you to the poor man.”

Jamie followed the old man up the stairs. The man stopped long enough at Shawn’s door to knock. Receiving no reply, the innkeeper opened the door as Jamie rushed past him into the room.

Jamie did not know what to expect. The sight that met his eyes chilled him to the bone. Shawn lay on the bed half covered by a blanket, lying so still that he appeared to be dead.

“Mr. O’Malley,” Jamie whispered softly.

There was no response, so Jamie moved closer

“Shawn,” repeated Jamie placing his hand upon Shawn’s shoulder and shaking him. “Innkeeper, has a doctor been here to see this man?”

“He would not allow be to go for one. Mr. O’Malley paid me extra to leave him in peace. If I had known he was this sick….”

Jamie walked over to the innkeeper. “Then I will give you more to fetch one.”

“Meghann is that you,” Shawn whispered weakly from the bed.

He rolled upon his back attempting to see the people in the room. Jamie was started to see blood upon Shawn’s pillow. The source was very apparent as it trickled from Shawn’s mouth.

Jamie bet over him.

“It is I, Mr. O’Brien. Meghann sent me.”

With Jamie’s help Shown rose to a sitting position on the bed.

“I have been a fool.” Shawn coughed. “She has left me. All she wanted was my money.”

“Save your strength Shawn. I have sent for a doctor.”

“No”, Shawn almost screamed. “I will have none of those leaches around me. Take me home!”

“I must protest you are so ill.”

“I am dying and no doctor could prevent that now. Take me home.” Mr. O’Malley demanded.

Jamie threw up his hand in frustration.

“Innkeeper, I am changing my orders bring me some blankets and some wine. Better yet take them to my carriage.”

“Right away, sir!” the innkeeper said remembering the gold coins he had just acquired.

“Shawn do you think you can walk?” asked Jamie.

“No.”

Jamie reached down lifting Shawn’s light body from the bed. He carefully carried his burden to the carriage. The innkeeper arrived shortly with the requested articles.

“Thank you, my good man,” Jamie said handing him a few more coins.

“I thank you sir.”

“Thank his grateful sister,” Jamie corrected tipping his head towards Shawn. Once inside the carriage, Jamie called to the driver.

“Driver, take us to Market Street in New York City. There is a clapboard house at the end of the street. Make haste this man’s life depends on it!”

“It will take a day, sir. The horses can not move any faster,” the driver objected.

“Hang the horses, I will buy them from you. One hundred dollars apiece man. So, don’t spare them!” Jamie said.

The horses leapt forward settled down into a swift constant gait. Jamie opened a bottled of brandy.

“Here sir, drink some of this,” Jamie said.

“I have failed,” Shawn wailed. “I will never see my sister happy. I should have taken better care of myself.”

“You will rally,” encouraged Jamie. “You always have.”

As if in defiance Shawn’s spasm returned rendering him speechless. Shawn held a cloth to his mouth lowering it when the coughing subsided. The cloth was covered with blood.

“My mother had the disease I suffer from,” Shawn said sadly. “I watched her die from it as I am now. I recognize the final signs there is no hope.”

“A surgeon may be able to help you,” Jamie offered.

“Surgeons,” scoffed Shawn. “They will only bleed me more. The brandy sir, may I have some more?” Shawn implored finding it more difficult to speak.

“Shawn,” Jamie cried seeing his employer closing his eyes.

Jamie suddenly felt the pangs of grief. A man he had admired even regarded as a brother was slipping away. He could not prevent it. Jamie could relieve his mind of one worry.

Jamie decided to tell Shawn he planned to marry Meghann. When they reached the O’Malley’s home, Jamie carried Shawn into the house.

“He is still lives madam,” Jamie said in reply to Miss Murphy’s worried look. “I do not think it will be for long. Go for your mistress.”

“I would if I could. She has gone out in search of a doctor. Here let me help you with the bed cloths.”

“How long has she been gone?” inquired Jamie laying Shawn on the bed.

“Soon after we learned about Shawn,” Betty explained.

“Which way did she travel? I will go for her,” offered Jamie.

“The south road, we got word the doctor was the Harper farm. She should be almost upon us.”

Jamie ran back to the coach ordering the drive to follow the south road. An hour of travel did not yield a carriage let alone Meghann.

Jamie finally decided he had no other recourse, but to return to the O’Malley home. There he was relieved to behold Meghann staring out of the window.

On seeing him she disappeared from the window rushing through the door right into Jamie’s arms. He held her gently as she wept.

“He is dying,” she lamented. “He is sending me away. I can not bear to leave him, but how can I defy him?” She wept even more.

“Sending you away? Where?”

Meghann made no response, other than to pull away. She cried even louder, “He is dying.

“Yes,” Jamie said kindly.

This kind admission had her back into his arms.

She pilled away a few moments later.

“Your coat,” she said mournfully, attempting to wipe her tears from his lapels.

“Why is Shawn sending you away?” Jamie repeated his question.

“He can not bear to see me suffer. My suffering is little compared to Shawn’s pain.”

Meghann burst once more into tears. Suddenly, Jamie understood why Shawn was sending Meghann away. The sight of Shawn’s pain as well as his death would crush this angel.

“Where are you going? Jamie pressed.

“I am to stay with Betty’s family,” Meghann said between tears.

“When do you leave?” Jamie asked.

“Tomorrow, Shawn would have me go sooner, but I will spend one last night by his side,” her voice trembled with grief.

Jamie simply held her. “I must go to my brother,” she said pulling from his embrace.

“May I stay with you?” he pleaded. “I wish to speak to your brother.”

“No!” Meghann declared. “I would like to be alone with him.”

“Certainly, I understand.”

Meghann kissed him before disappearing into the house. Bewildered and heart sick Jamie walked back to the inn going upstairs to his room. It is not often a man has the misfortune to lose a friend and his love in the same day.

Meghann’s tear stained face haunted him until he resolved to bring happiness to Shawn’s last hours. He would then devote his life to Meghann. So, resolved, Jamie presented himself at the O’Malley home first thing in the morning. Miss Murphy was surprised to see him

“Has your mistress left already?”

“She has, Mr. O’Brien,” Miss Murphy replied.

“And Shawn?”

“His condition is unchanged. The doctor has given him a week to live.”

Jamie did not wait for Miss Murphy to deny him admittance as he pushed his way into the room with Miss Murphy’s lamentations ringing in his ear

“Good morning, sir,” Jamie declared.

“What are you doing here,” Shawn wheezed. “Why are you not at the bank?”

“Since you will not let your sister attended you, I have taken it upon myself to fill the position. I have already arranged for Finch to run the bank and Adam to assist. They will report here on a daily basis until this matter is resolved with either your good health or your,” Jamie stopped himself. “If it comes to that? At present I wish to set your mind at ease and inform you I have asked for Meghann’s hand in marriage.”

Shawn lapsed into a spasm. Jamie wonders if his request had been unwanted news. At last Shaw spoke.

“Has she accepted you?”

“I did not ask her yet, but feel certain she will accept my proposal,” Jamie said.

“I will give you her hand, but I have one condition. You shall not marry until I am dead. On the day you lay me in my grave you may have her and no sooner” Shawn said.

“To link my happiness with your death, would be a poor legacy. I could not do it.” Jamie declared.

“Jamie, this is my final wish. Marry Meghann on that day and no other. I have written this in my will. If my last wish is not obeyed, my sister is disinherited and the bank will revert to Mr. Finch. I have long expected your attachment to my sister,” Shawn said with greater strength then he had when Jamie first arrived.

“Then I will ask Meghann to prepare to remember you only as her loving brother. You may do what you will with the bank. No material gain would entice me to consent to these conditions,” Jamie said.

“Then would you do it for me?” Shawn pleaded.

“I will leave the matter this way,” Jamie began. “If Meghann consents so will I. I will act in accordance to her wishes.”

“So be it,” Shawn sighed.

Shawn’s strength left him. He way back upon his pillow closing his eyes. Thinking that Shawn had fallen asleep Jamie left the room.

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