by L. E. Waters
“Well, I was thinking two shillings and six pence a month, and stretching from North Tyrone to Monaghan.”
Kelly gives a long whistle.
“The peasants aren’t going to be able to pay that a month, Redmond,” Berragh says.
“We’re not going to be collecting from the natives, Berragh. They already have our protection,” Art scoffs. “This one’s fit to mind mice at a crossroads.”
“Sure.” I nod. “Rob the Brits, charge the Scots, and give to the peasants.”
“So, we’re going to hand it all over to the peasants?” Bawn asks.
“Well, no, we need to keep some for our expenses, and need a hefty amount to acquire the spies we’re going to need. Plus the money for bribes. After all of that, we give it where we can.”
I look around at their compliant faces. “So, if I have everyone in agreement here, I’d like to make a toast. Raise your bottle and stand if you are with me!” I stand up and hold my bottle almost to the top of the cave. “To Ireland—to all that we hold dear and will fight to the death to get back!”
They all say together, “Sláinte!”
“Now with all these new recruits and collectors we’ll be adding, where are we going to go get so many horses and guns?” I say rhetorically.
“’Twould take us all weeks to get that many horses and weapons,” Ned says.
“I know just where to get them in one night,” I say as they appear doubtful. “Bawn, help me pick out something fancy.”
Chapter 10
The guards stop me at the garrison gates. “What’s your business here?” one asks, holding his musket at my chest.
I put my arms up and say, “I am a merchant and need safe passage with a fortune to the Newry ferry tonight.”
He replies without inflection, “Dismount, then, so we can check you for arms.”
I jump off and allow them to pat me down.
“All right, you can enter.”
“Whom can I speak to for an escort?”
“Lieutenant William Lucas,” he says, sitting back down on the wooden chair they left for the guards.
I leave Ghost with the guard at the door and bring my bag, heavy with coin, inside the large stone building.
“Direct me to Lieutenant William Lucas,” I say to a guard in the hall.
“I’ll take you to him, sir.”
Hearing the coin jingle as I walk down to the fourth room off the hall, Lucas is already on his feet when I enter.
“Sir, how can I be of service to you?” He eyes my fine black velvet coat with gold buttons over my black silk gold embroidered waistcoat.
I tip my velvet hat to him and say, “My good man, I have passage back to London tonight, and with the fortune I’m carrying, I’m in dire need of a large and heavily armed military escort. Of course, I will make it worth your while.”
His steel eyes flash at the promise. “Well, when you say it that way, how can I say no?”
I chuckle along. “This is but one of ten bags I have. I didn’t trust these roads with it all, so I will need to meet you and your men at the inn I’m staying at, say within the hour?”
“I think that can be arranged. At which inn are you staying, sir?”
“Ballymore.” I turn to leave. “Bring your best horses and weaponry.”
Two hours later, I sit in the tavern with my bags, full of ha’pennies, of course. The sound of many hoof beats stops outside the tavern door.
“Seany, boy, here we go.”
He smiles nervously with excitement.
A soldier opens the heavy wooden door for Lucas, and he steps into the low-ceilinged room with his high hat scraping the plaster. He stands in front of me with only one other man with him. “Sir, we are ready.”
“Oh, I think we have some time before my ferry.” I check my jeweled gold pocket watch. “Why don’t I buy you and your troops a pint?”
He sees the bottle of fine liquor I’m drinking from and sits beside me, sweeping his long tails of his coat. He motions his man to go out to bring his men in.
I turn to Sean. “Barkeep, bring me a glass for the good lieutenant here and a round for every man in uniform.” I notice Sean’s beading with sweat, and his face is turning red.
The men file in and find seats at the tables around the bar, all pleased with the offering of a free drink. I stand and hold my glass up. “Here's to a long life and a merry one. A quick death and an easy one. A pretty girl and an honest one. A cold pint—and another one!”
“Cheers!” they all say and throw back their pints.
“Drink up, Lucas! We’ve got a while before we have to leave, and a bird with one wing can't fly,” I say, refilling his up to the brim.
“As long as you’ll have another with me,” Lucas says.
“This bottle’s dry.” I motion for Sean. “Barkeep, bring me another one.”
Sean comes and fills up my glass with a new bottle, and as soon as I take a swig, I turn to talk to Lucas, and Sean replaces my full glass with a less full glass. Lucas is already one glass in and hardly notices when I turn around with a much lower glass.
“Another round for the boys!” Which gets them to cheer, and Lucas seems in too good of a mood to object.
“Lucas, here I am refilling my fourth glass, and you haven’t finished your second!” I go to refill his.
“I better not, considering I am on duty tonight.” He puts his glass down and begins buttoning his coat.
“You look like a man who can hold his liquor. Come on, just one more.” I refill it anyway.
“Well, it would be a shame to let fine scotch go to waste.”
I order another round for the troops before Lucas lays down the line of no more drinking.
I say, “Right you are, we best be going. I’ll have my man bring my monies out while you get your men in order.”
I clap my hands, and Ned comes out to load my saddlebags. We all mount and start off toward Newry. I can tell the drinks have some effect on the men by their rowdy voices and the way they’re riding rather slumped in their saddles. Even though Lucas had four, he seems relatively unaffected by it.
I fill the air between Lucas and me. “In the past, I have always made this journey with a few of my men and my flintlock, but with this O’Hanlon around, I couldn’t risk it.”
“O’Hanlon will be swinging at the end of my rope by the finish of the month.”
“Oh, but I’ve heard he is very resourceful. Always one step ahead of the militia.”
“O’Hanlon’s a common thief, a lowlife Irish peasant. The smartest one couldn’t even count your guineas. To say he can outsmart the militia is ridiculous.” He spits. “Beyond the pale, my man, beyond the pale.”
“What is your plan for catching the highwayman, then?”
“No plan. Put enough money on him, someone’s bound to bring his head in.”
“You really think the people will turn on him? I’ve heard his people are loyal in the extreme.”
“The more he steals, the more his bounty will be. It’s only a matter of time before one of his henchmen gets greedy, and I’ll sit back and wait.”
“You’re not afraid of him at all?”
“What’s there to be afraid of?” He laughs.
We come to the last stretch of road in the woods before the ferry. I pull Ghost to stop, and the men halt behind me. “Lieutenant Lucas and his troops! I thank you greatly for your escort, and we seem to have picked a good night. Will you all shoot a volley into the air for celebration of smooth passage?”
I shoot my musket off, and the men fire, hooting and hollering. This is the signal, and suddenly men on both sides of the woods come streaming out. The soldiers have fired and are drunkenly trying to reload when they all put their hands up, seeing the many muskets pointing at them. Lucas tries to pull his pistol out, but I have mine up behind his head and say, “Lucas, throw your pistol down.”
He sneers and drops the pistol.
“Everyone else, drop your muskets and your pistols. Now! Al
l of you, or you’ll get a bullet!”
I bend my head to Ned and say, “Collect the guns and ammunition.” I go around to face Lucas and see his ugly grin. “Allow me to introduce myself, Lieutenant. I’m the lowlife Irish peasant who has just ambushed you and your men without even one shot. Now everyone dismount with your hands in the air.” I point to Hogan and Strong John and say, “You two get the horses.” I look back at Lucas and say, “Now strip down.”
Lucas stares. I bring the gun up to his forehead and hiss, “Just give me a reason, Sasanach.”
He slowly begins unbuttoning his decorated coat, peels down his pants, and pulls off his boots, never taking his cold, steel-grey eyes away from mine. “Just a word of warning, Lucas. If you dig a grave for others you may fall into it yourself.”
He cocks his head away from me and lets fly out his pursed lips, “Goddamn Paddy.”
Berragh lunges toward him and I throw my arm up to stay him. “What would you expect out of a pig but a grunt?” I point to Berragh and Liddy. “Take their clothes and bind their hands behind their backs.”
When all is done and my men are mounted again, I say to Lucas, “The smile on my face will linger the whole night, since I’ll be imagining you walking your troops back to that garrison in your undergarments.” My men start laughing. “But better yet”—my voice rises—“the part I look forward to most is when you get to tell them who did this to you!”
I give a kick to Ghost and lead the way back to our hideout. The excitement and pride we all feel puts a charge in the air, and none of us gets to sleep until dawn due to each man’s retelling of the fantastic story.
∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞
I go the next day to meet Muirin at our usual time. I can’t wait to tell her what we did the night before. She’s already sitting on her rock in the clearing. Every time I think I remember her well, but each time I see her again, she looks more beautiful. I trot up and say, “Still alive!”
She laughs, but I can tell something’s on her mind.
“What is it?” I say, jumping from my horse and sitting next to her on the rock.
She draws her legs up under her long skirt and rests her arms on top of her knees. “My father sent a letter that he’s returning early. His business affair fell through, and he’ll be back by the end of the week.”
“I don’t understand, what does that change?”
She appears like she’s about to cry. “I won’t be able to meet you out here when he comes back. He always comes riding with me. If I tell him I want to go alone, he’ll follow me for sure.”
I can’t believe this great day could’ve been destroyed so fast. I try to think quickly. “Well, so we can’t meet here. We can meet other places. I can climb that tree, you can go into town on an errand, and I can send you letters. We will find a way.” I try to bring my hand under her chin to lift it up, and she flinches at my first touch. But I keep my hand on her chin regardless, and as soon as she relaxes and looks into my eyes, I draw in for a kiss. ’Twas just as sweet as I imagined, all until her warm tears hit my cheek.
“Muirin, I’m blazing sorry. I shouldn’t have—”
“No, it’s not that,” she interrupts. “You don’t understand. I’m a prisoner once my father’s home. I’m not allowed to leave unless he chaperones me. My tutors live in our house, there are servants to run errands, and he receives the messengers before anyone. None of those things will work.”
“What about the tree?” I say, half-serious, but she laughs through her tears.
“Father will shoot you out like a pheasant.” She wipes her tears away, pulling back the sides of her face.
I take a deep breath, and we sit there with the wind softly blowing. The grey sky only makes the hay turn gold in opposition.
“Muirin, then there is only one thing to do.” I turn to her and look in her swollen reddened eyes. “You’ll just have to marry me.”
She laughs hard. “You have to be joking! I’ve known you all of two weeks!”
“Are you laughing at my proposal? And I thought you were a kind lass.”
“You are serious?” She stops laughing.
“Of course, I’m serious. I’ve a ring back in a hole near Tandragee.”
She laughs again and beams.
“Okay, then, listen.” I take her hand and cover it with my other hand. “I know this is quick and unexpected, and I would have liked to keep courting you for months, but if it’s true you won’t be able to see me or write to me, and I know your father would never agree to you seeing me, then this is what we must do.”
She’s quiet, so I press further.
“I have plenty of money to get you a nice cottage with a farm near my folks, and I can be with you every day. You wouldn’t need a thing. You’d be free to go wherever you want, when you wanted to. Instead of being in this stone cage.”
She stares back up at the huge house, looking cold in its own shadow. “When would this happen?”
“Anytime—three days, two days, one day, or right this brave second.”
“I’d need to get my things and write a letter explaining this to Father.”
“Pick a day. I’ll come for you with a cart, and I’ll take you to your very own cottage.”
She lifts her face up to the sun and smiles a crooked smile. “Tomorrow, then. Can you get a cottage by tomorrow?”
“I can get a castle by tomorrow if it’s what you wanted,” I say as I squeeze her hand.
“No, a cottage is more than enough.” She gives me a kiss on my cheek and walks to her horse.
I watch her get on and lift up in her saddle as she rides away with a secret look back. I sit in the field for a moment and wonder what I’ve just done—if ’twas the right thing to do for her—but then I think of the alternative and, honestly, it isn’t even an option. I whistle and jump on Ghost and race toward town to find a place as bless’d as she.
Chapter 11
That night, I put three months’ rent down on a tenant farm for Muirin, and I head to the tavern for supper. As soon as I sit, Sean comes over to me. “I heard all about what you and your boys pulled off.” He shakes his head. “You guys are something else!” He slides me a mug.
“Couldn’t have done it without you, Sean.”
He laughs. “I can’t believe Lucas didn’t notice your drink disappearing! ’Twas some trick! I could hardly keep from laughing. Had to lower my head under the bar, I did, so no one would notice.”
“Can you get me a plate of whatever your Ma made?”
“Sure thing, Redmond, on the house.”
“Oh, no, I haven’t given you your cut yet.” I slide a small pouch over to him.
“I’d have done it without this, but ’twill go to some use.” He starts to go for the food but turns. “Nearly forgot, you have a gentleman who’s waiting for you in the snug.”
I turn and look into the small room off the bar and see a man with his back to everyone in a red uniform. I pick up my mug, walk over, and sit with my back to the bar also. The man turns, gives a faint smile, and says with a thick Scottish brogue, “Heard about your exploits last night.”
“Oh, news travels fast within the garrison.” I grin.
“No, was there to see Lucas limp in half-dressed with all his sorry men lagging behind him.”
I laugh heartily. “Alister, what I would have paid to see that.”
“Not a good move, Redmond. Lucas wanted you before, but now he’s waged war.” He shakes his head. “He had a whole list of bandits prior, but after yesterday, he’s set his sights on you.”
I shrug my shoulders. “I’ll take my chances. The man didn’t impress me.”
“Well, I’ve come here to warn you. Lucas has gotten Ormonde to pay for thirty of the best mercenaries to come Tory hunting for the next three months.”
I whistle. “Good to know, thanks for telling me.”
“Let it be said by me, lay low the next three months and go bury your money somewhere deep.”
“But I bank my treasure in the hearts of my people. No safer place, I tell you. I see with many eyes and hear with many ears.”
“Well, still, lay low. Be careful not to bolt your door with a boiled carrot. And stay away from the garrison for damn sure.”
Sean brings over my plate with warm bread in a basket and fills up Alister’s drink.
“I’d like to give a toast!” I hand the bottle over to Sean to drink from. “A toast to faithful arms, clever companions, and discreet spies.”
Sean takes a sip. “Don’t know if I fit into any of that, but I’m honored, truly honored.” Then he walks back to the bar.
I push a three-pound bag of shillings under the table to Alister. He takes it and puts it inside his coat covertly. “I’ll be sure to share this with the clerk.”
“You’re one of my best intelligencers. Whatever you need, I can get you.”
“This is fine.” He gets up to leave. “You know they’ve paid almost as much for hunting Tories as they have for killing wolves!”
“Oh, no, now you got me sympathetic for the wolves.”
He smiles wide, showing his deep dimple, walks out, and puts his hat on after he gets out the door.
∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞
I wait early morn outside Muirin’s house. I see she’s arguing with a few women inside. I’m about to open the door to see what they’re doing to her, but she opens the door with tears streaming down her face. When she sees me with the cart, she smiles and runs into my arms.
I hug her tight and say, “You sit right here while I go inside and get your things.”
“They’re all right there by the door.” She fumbles for something to grab as she climbs up to the seat.
I open the beautifully carved door, that I have no doubt some poor miserable Irishman got paid nothing for, and see a stack of chests, crates, and bags. As soon as I bend down for a chest, someone grabs my arm hard by the elbow. I turn around, ready to punch the guy who put his hands on me, but see ’tis a large woman in plainclothes with a dirty work apron on.