The Watchman's Grace

by Craig Johnson

  “That’s not unusual to me Katy, since he is a noted solicitor in town,” Seamus remarked offhand.

  “Well Seamus, she then proceeded to ask me how we were dealing with the huge charge a Mr. Cunningham held over Meadow Farm. She was extremely worried we were in imminent danger of eviction!”

  Mr. Flaherty felt a hard lump choking his throat and nervously cleared it. He attempted to muster as full a reply as he could.

  “Katy, what Kelly said is true. When my father passed Meadow Farm on to me there was a large charge against the land, buildings and any household effects of value. He kept it all well hidden from our family, as there were no outward indications of financial distress.

  “You should also know I did not put one penny more on top of the outstanding balance! In fact, I economized any way I could to reduce a fair amount of the charge owing. Recently, with businesses across the land continuing to be deeply affected, my payments finally fell into arrears. This placed the mortgage held by Mr. Cunningham into a demand payment. All he has to do is give us twenty four hours’ notice before calling for payment in full.”

  Katy responded in firm fashion to Seamus’s confession. “I know what you now say is true; the debt was none of your making. Regardless, we are a partnership in every respect. So now that we’re in it, what choices do we have, if any? I suspect there are none.”

  Seamus moved his chair closer to Katy and released his hands. Then he stabbed a solitary right finger into the air, waving it in dramatic fashion. Meanwhile, Katy anxiously waited to hear what solutions he may propose.

  “With all my being I ask your forgiveness Katy. Sometimes a man can do the wrong things for the right intentions. I shall never abuse your confidence in such a manner again!

  “Unfortunately this whole affair leaves just one possible course of action, remarkable as it is. Out of thin air pompous Mr. Cunningham proposed I help him capture a Colored fugitive named Peter Harvey, collecting a large bounty in due course! Apparently he’s the close friend of a Major Stanley Thurston, who’s desperately pursuing Harvey.

  “Do you want to hear the strangest part? Cunningham appeared oddly assured in delivering his queer ultimatum. It’s as though he thinks I can gather intelligence on Harvey’s whereabouts through others I know in town. Naturally I told him he was daft in as many words. And that is where we left the issue. I imagine he expects me at his home in Newton House, Castlebar, groveling for heavenly mercy tomorrow.”

  Katy’s brows narrowed in complete comprehension. “There are many people primed to gather any means of advantage nowadays. Who could be blamed when facing sheer deprivation? My mind’s eye reasons someone spotted Peter Harvey approaching Castlebar or close to it. Trust me when I say that treacherous sounding Cunningham would not require assistance if he knew more exacting information!”

  Seamus took her words under careful contemplation. “That is where the situation leaves us. As you know, in one of our stone cottages we have been entrusted tonight with the safety of Peter Harvey. And we have never failed the network in the past.

  “Damn it all! If only that bastard Cunningham knew the truth of how close he is to capturing Peter! Katy, in the end we have but one decision to make. Either we sacrifice any shred of oath we made to maintain our material worth or be of noble conscious to help Peter onwards. Where does your voice lie on our dilemma?”

  Katy answered Seamus’s question with absolute conviction. “Ireland is more than a name to me, or green fields and windswept vistas. She symbolizes the latent potential of everything which could be made right if others were not so wrong!

  “Peter Harvey and Duncan Malloy are two of the finest men this country could produce. Above any advantage they could have achieved privately, they placed themselves in harm’s way for the greater dream. I say damn those who would stand in the way of progress for our greater good!

  “Oh, my good Seamus, it may not be this year or next, but there will come a day when the ripe seeds planted by reformers take root and sprout magnificent things. There’s really no personal choice in a decision which affects the liberty of all.

  “We shall see off Peter from the cottage to his next destination tomorrow morning with haste. That will leave us the balance of the day to fret about Cunningham. He may possess our land, though never our dignity!”

  Seamus’s head nodded with emphatic vigor while a broad smile lit his face. He was reminded once again why he took Katy’s hand all those years ago. His fond admiration of her deep integrity would always remain so.

  “Every fiber in my body takes heart with your opinion! As you say, we will remain masters of our own principles. And so it shall be! Alas, we should retire for the night Katy. After all, tomorrow brings so much to the fore.”

  Seamus and Katy Flaherty decided that evening to face this serious threat as a united front. Those timeless qualities of mutual resolution and hardy spirit would continue to be their arsenal against challenging foes. They retired for the evening in firm agreement on their future course of action.

  As nighttime signaled an end to the day’s pursuits, inhabitants of Meadow Farm lay resting before another testing day ahead. However, not everyone remained in their respective quarters while Seamus and Katy held their private discussion. One young man did stir as he awoke from a bout of fitful rest. To help relieve his restless energy, he had come downstairs to find some biscuits and read in the study.

  Just as he came towards the kitchen, Riley froze in his tracks. He heard an intense discussion occurring at this late hour. Puzzled by the unusual occurrence, he came closer to hear what was being discussed.

  While eavesdropping, this eldest Flaherty son learned a remarkable story. What he heard filled him with primal anger coupled with acute vulnerability, two emotions completely foreign to the pleasurable life he had known. Riley struggled to grasp the startling situation which held his life at Meadow Farm in certain peril.

  Try as he may to reconcile all he heard, it was beyond his reason to ponder the situation in a clearer practicality. Riley Flaherty was angered beyond belief to hear his father had left the family in such a precarious financial situation. To him, there was no explanation good enough to warrant such a predicament. To Riley, the head of Meadow Farm took responsibility for dealing with every eventuality that arose decisively.

  Adding more ire to their eldest son’s frustrations, his parents would seem to jeopardize their lot for the safety of a Colored fugitive. Riley had not the foggiest idea who this Peter Harvey represented. Regardless, his parents had a way to save generations of traditional heritage, yet refused to act accordingly.

  Riley had seen firsthand the devastating effects of forced eviction on a number of friends’ families. Their suffering was ingrained into his burgeoning conscious. Once the bony finger of destitution pointed your way, nothing could save your lot.

  Suffice it to say, Riley Flaherty was of a completely different opinion than his parents. As their eldest son, he viewed it a moral obligation to rescue the fate of their family from such dereliction of duty. He determined then and there to take decisive action and save the Flaherty legacy at Meadow Farm. Making sure he remained undetected, Riley stole his way back upstairs.

  Taking a crude pencil from his bedroom desk, Riley wrote from exacting memory the names of Mr. Cunningham and Major Stanley Thurston. Beside Cunningham’s name he wrote his home address. Finally, he waited for sounds of his parents ascending the stairs to their room. When their door closed firm, he went downstairs and out the unlocked back entrance.

  Moonlight exposed his quiet escape as he raced through the night on top of a faithful steed. Riley’s emotions continued to dictate extreme action as he rode towards the residence of Mr. Cunningham in Castlebar. He knew there was little time to waste; for once Peter Harvey had left Meadow Farm there would be no reward to collect. If that were to transpire, the Flahertys would be made destitute, his future inheritance los
t for all time.

  During his frantic ride, Riley felt the isolation of evening as he spotted just one lone horseman going in the direction of Ballyhaunis. Later, on approaching the town limits, Riley realized it would take some time to locate Newton House in dark of night, with no assistance to avail.

  Reflecting further, Riley wondered if Cunningham would be at his residence. Perhaps other matters took him out of town for the evening? Palms sweating with dread, Riley Flaherty rode onwards in a desperate attempt to save his family’s future.

  It was almost half an hour later and young Riley still had not located Newton House. He was now walking aimlessly through Castlebar’s business district with the aid of a lighted torch. Peering at every building for clues, he happened across a posted notice for property let. In bold letters was the name Mr. William Cunningham. Enquiries were to be forwarded to his home address of Newton House, 55 Old Market Lane.

  Riley’s spirits were heightened by his chance discovery. Dashing madly to his waiting horse, he set off to this exact location. Riley recalled passing that same street only ten minutes before.

  As he quietly dismounted, Riley walked down the fashionable residential street to a large Georgian townhouse, whose exacting symmetry complemented a style of high fashion. Riley was convinced beyond any doubt of his desperate response to the potential ruin of Flaherty fortunes. Despite lacking his parents’ acknowledgement, Riley felt truly justified in such a bold undertaking.

  Whether due to night chill or quaking nerves, Riley stood shaking before the painted brown door. Finally, he took hold of its smartly decorated brass knocker. Breathing deeply, he rapped it with some force to garner the attention of any occupants inside. His first series of strikes were unanswered. Pausing for a moment, he tried again. Riley nearly jumped from his own skin when the large door opened to reveal an irritated occupant.

  *****

  Equipped with only bare essentials, Major Thurston’s men prepared for an evening’s rest under chilly night sky. But this was a small matter compared to the outcome of tonight’s efforts. Their best lead in the pursuit of Peter Harvey, who they came clear across the country to pursue, had expired in a frustrating, unprovoked murder.

  Every officer sensed Thurston was close to losing all pretense of goodwill in this harrowing chase. What they found even more appalling was the limitless capacity he exhibited for indiscriminate bloodletting. One could never tell if they stood in his good graces from one moment to the next. Thurston’s unpredictable whim made each one vulnerable in this all-consuming quest.

  After their exhausting incident at Tommy O’Reilly’s, the officers expected to snatch a few moments of light rest. Their superior officer held other ideas. If anything, these recent events fed a more manic obsession within him.

  What Thurston kept to himself was an ultimatum telegraphed in code just hours before boarding at Broadstone Station. His handler in London made clear in no uncertain terms that a negative result would be unacceptable. They wanted to dispense of the whole affair immediately.

  Alas, there was more to follow. If they could not achieve such an outcome, those deemed accountable would suffer most dearly. With that veiled threat in mind Thurston could waste no time on idle rest.

  As the men readied their crude site for retiring, Thurston walked directly in amongst them. No one could distinguish the true desperation in his temperament during the thick of evening. Yet each officer could recognize the deep conviction within his voice. Placing himself amongst his officers, Thurston attempted to deliver a masterful rallying speech.

  “Seargent Wilson, Officers Murray and Patterson, please allow me a little more of your time before a few hours rest. We have faced bitter disappointment tonight, but it must not allow us to concede a premature defeat.

  “Remember the murder of our fellow officer Roland Winston-Hall. The man we seek is fully responsible for that heinous deed. So the efforts we expend to find that villain will not subside until he stands to account. Roland Winston-Hall was an officer who died in defense of our legal rights to govern this land in the true spirit of our Realm. He gave his life fulfilling duty and responsibility, making it imperative we honor his memory.

  “Tonight I believe we were hours away from a successful conclusion to this chase. Years of natural instinct acquired in various positions of rank made me dismiss Tommy O’Reilly’s hollow denials. Why you may ask?

  “Compare the integrity of O’Reilly versus Samuel McGee. It is a great shame we do not have more men of McGee’s character working with us! Do you honestly think he would compromise his family, knowing we were going to provide him safe passage? I cannot say much to vouch for O’Reilly, but I have proof of his name and this town printed by McGee’s very hand.

  “So believe me when I say Peter Harvey is still on the Island. All it takes is for us to find one more solid lead to track him down. We know he cannot be too far gone. Before first light I will ride back to Sligo and visit the local constabulary. When I return, prepare to move out at once. Know full well Harvey must not leave the Island! Or we all shall pay a horrible price indeed.”

  Officer Murray became somewhat unhinged with the veiled warning just spoken. “Major Thurston, we have collectively spent every ounce of energy on this pursuit! Not one of us can be blamed for halfhearted effort. We have gone to every extreme to track Harvey down. There’s no room to lay blame at our feet.

  “So what happens if we cannot apprehend Peter Harvey before he leaves the Island? Who will answer for the blood of Roland Winston-Hall? And who will be brought to bear for the seemingly impossible task of not silencing this Common Man Movement?”

  Major Thurston wasted no time in his response. Surprisingly, his tone now mellowed to that of collegial understanding.

  “To each officer assembled here tonight, know I look upon you as my loyal brothers in arms. Therefore, you should know our service does not go unnoticed. Before we left Dublin I received a special telegram. Due to the good will of our Honorable Lord Stanton, there will be a reward of one thousand pounds sterling for capturing Peter Harvey. That magnificent sum should be incentive enough to successfully conclude our search!

  “Furthermore, Lord Stanton is highly incensed at Roland Winston-Hall’s murder, being a great supporter of the Realm’s ambitions. He does not want this murder to go unpunished, and will hold no limits to see that justice is carried out. Thus the extenuating circumstances behind his reward.

  “Lord Stanton requests we keep the nature of his generosity to ourselves. Personally, as caretakers of a great history going back hundreds of years, I feel his gesture unwarranted. For when we accepted our responsibilities as officers, rewards came from upholding the strong values of our great Empire.”

  Thurston thrust a darting glance towards the face of each officer assembled. Not a single one looked away from his quick summation of their verve. Satisfied his tiny detail of officers was in agreement, he carried on.

  “Do you all realize what’s at stake here? If we let this one dirty deed go unpunished, it may become open season on the whole Force charged with protecting civility in Ireland! Roland’s life will be lost among many as thousands of scoundrels sense an opportunity for anarchy.

  “Hell no, I will not have it, my superiors will not hear it, and the Crown will not take it! We carry our papers each day to uphold the honor of this Realm. An attack of such nature against any agent of the British Security Forces will never go unpunished. Many went before you in defense of our Crown at great personal peril. Lord Stanton knows more than most the value of lives lost for a valiant cause shall not be forgotten!

  “Our journey to Sligo was just the beginning. Our goal remains an utmost priority. Do not fret over a petty obstacle like O’Reilly. As Lord Stanton assures me, this detail of officers shall have a “wide degree of tolerance” in regards to its activities on this matter.”

  At that point Seargent Wilson was moved to
question the limits of Thurston’s implied immunities. “Major Thurston. I appreciate all you have said. Roland’s murder has heightened the danger to good order. But how far does our discretion go in dealing with the capture of Peter Harvey? To what constraints will we be bound in upholding the integrity of Ireland?”

  Every officer knew the intended meaning of Wilson’s words. He was asking the degree of force allowable for capturing Peter Harvey. Taking a brief pause for effect, Thurston replied in an unwavering voice.

  “To each and every gentleman gathered here tonight. Make no mistake concerning what I am about to say. As members of the Security Force it is our mission to uphold every law under this Realm. We now hunt a murderer who threatens that very responsibility. Therefore, we have broad powers in our search to apprehend Peter Harvey. Achieving success is of vital concern.

  “Never forget the primary objective of our lengthy surveillance. By not eliminating Duncan Malloy their movement lives on. Harvey is the only person to have witnessed our failed attempt. If ever word spread to the general public, we would be dealing with a potential revolt of unknown proportions!

  “Capturing Harvey not only prevents this, though sends a clear message to this Common Man Movement to halt their public rallies. It would definitely cool the heels of these agitators. And thus go a long way to easing their threat to the Crown.

  “In other words Seargent Wilson, if we don’t use all at our disposal to apprehend Harvey, we will take full responsibility for the negative consequences. I may not be a fervently religious man, though heaven help us all if that ever comes to pass! Now is everybody perfectly clear on where we stand?”

  Silence greeted Thurston’s moving response. “Well then, if there are any officers present that cannot bring their ardor commensurate to the dignity of our mission, I will accept their resignation in confidence. Does everyone understand the nature of my offer?”