Beyond the Cliffs of Kerry (13 page)

"Don't be stupid,” said Bran. “If they’d seen us, they would be searching the house right now.”

Paddy turned to Father Etienne, "You see, we are not only breaking curfew, but there are four of us which is unlawful assembly."

Bran moved over to Father Etienne and said quietly, "I would like to talk to you privately."

Father Etienne nodded and followed Bran the back of the cottage near a badly decaying barn. Three walls of the rickety structure remained, and several chickens scattered about clucking and scolding. The wind howled through the structure, snapping their cloaks, and Father Etienne looked up apprehensively at the walls.

Bran looked up for a moment too then said abruptly, "I want you to marry Darcy and me right away."

Father Etienne frowned and sat down on the stone foundation. "What’s the hurry?”

"I love her,” Bran said, gruffly, pushing hair from face. “I want her to be my wife, of course."

 
"Of course, of course," the priest echoed. "Darcy has consented?"

"Why wouldn't she?" asked Bran defensively.

Father Etienne studied this large raw-boned man. He had rugged good looks, sharp blue eyes, but he lacked polish and intellect. "You know, Bran," he said smiling and crossing his arms, "we've never really had a chance to get to know one another.

I was born in the American Colonies. Tell me about your experience there."

"What is it you want to know?" asked Bran, shifting impatiently from one foot to the other.

"Oh, I don't know," said Father Etienne, as he paused to think. "To whom were you bound for your indentured service?"

"I was sold," Bran said sharply, "if that's what you mean, to the East India Company. They have a contract with the king to buy prisoners for labor in the
New World
."

Father Etienne saw the man’s fists clench. He continued, "What sort of labor did you do?"

"Shipbuilding, they treated us like dogs, working us twenty hours a day and fed us less food than what I had during The Hunger. They used whips if we didn't move fast enough. Sometimes they locked us in a hole, but I was smart I learned ways to avoid it."

Father Etienne stroked his beard and nodded. “I see. They hated you at first, but then learned to respect you.”

 
Bran's eyes narrowed and he said, "I vowed when my servitude was up, I would never be enslaved again, and the only way to be assured of that is to have money and power."

"You'll not get rich in Kilkerry,” said Father Etienne.

"You'd be surprised. If you have brains and a plan, anything is possible. I have what it takes."

Father Etienne could see that Bran was impressed with his own bravado. He decided to stoke the fire.

"From the first time we met, Bran, I knew that there was something different about you."

A proud smile flickered around Bran’s lips. "Of course I’m different. I have plans. This village is filled with fools. I know that I am different and so is Darcy. That's exactly why Darcy is the only suitable mate for me in this pathetic--" Bran stopped and his nostrils flared. “You son of a bitch,” he snarled. "Don’t think you can stop me.”

Father Etienne's eyebrows shot up. "Ah, blind ambition."

"Call it what you want. No one will stand in my way, not even a priest."

Father Etienne chuckled and stood up. "You have never met a Jesuit."

*
     
*
    
*

Major Russell examined his playing cards and let out a puff of smoke. His black, polished boots rested carelessly on the top of the table, and his jacket was slung over the back of his chair. Several other officers were playing cards with him in front of a fire in the O'Hearn cottage. A regular stood guard outside the door.

The cottage no longer resembled a home. It had the cold, bare look of headquarters. It was the epitome of British military efficiency. Sitting across from the fireplace was a highly polished mahogany desk with papers stacked neatly, a few barrels and crates and some muskets propped in a corner.

Major Russell yawned and threw a card down. He was bored and so were his men. Even the drinking and whoring began to bore them. A few instances of rape had been brought to his attention, but this did not disturb him. He understood the men were trying to entertain themselves. To his knowledge, the town of
Kilkerry
was completely law abiding. He speculated that there may be a few Catholic rituals in practice, but for the most part, he had not witnessed any outbursts or unlawful assembly. He believed that the people were too stupid to be capable of any conspiracy.

Suddenly, the door swung open and the guard informed Major Russell that there was a villager to see him. He looked at his officers and they shrugged their shoulders.

Bran Moynahan stepped into the room. Several of the officers jumped to their feet, intimidated by the man’s size, but Major Russell did not move a muscle. His boots remained on the table as he scrutinized Bran. "What do you want?"

Bran removed his cloak, hanging it on a peg. Completely astonished with this gesture of audacity, Russell removed his boots from the table and looked Bran up and down. “Please make yourself at home. May we offer you some tea?”

The men snickered and Bran said, "If you want your promotion, you will treat me with respect, Russell. I have information."

Major Russell's eyes narrowed and he looked at the officers. "Get out," he ordered. The soldiers picked up their jackets and muskets and left the cottage. Turning to Bran he demanded, "Who are you?"

"My name's Moynahan. I've just returned from the Colonies where I was bound to the East India Company. When my seven years was up, I agreed for a price, to return to
County
Kerry
and expose a smuggling operation for the East India Company. It’s an agreement with the Crown."

The major's eyes narrowed and he leaned forward. "Prove it.”

Bran produced signed papers from Russell’s commanding officer ordering him to cooperate fully with Moynahan. Russell looked up from the paper and ran his eyes over Bran.

Bran sniffed and lifted his chin. He felt a surge of power. "The Crown needs wool to clothe their troops during the war in
America
. The French are stealing this wool for
their
troops, right here in British waters."

"Here on the shores of Kilkerry?"

"Aye."

"How often?"

"Every few months."

It took a moment for Russell to absorb the news then he stood up and put his jacket on. "When is the next shipment?"

“In a few nights.”

“You will take me to their meeting place," he demanded.

“I will,” said Bran, already mentally counting his money.

Chapter 11

It was a warm, cloudless morning, as Darcy returned from the pastures to discuss spring shearing with Keenan. Around the clock she worked on the farm, picking up extra chores and doing her best to attend to Teila and the children. Ever since she delivered her baby, Teila could not get out of bed, and she had grown frail. She had developed a persistent cough, which sapped every bit of strength from her frail body. Although her skin had always been pale, it now looked transparent.
 

"I don't think that we should delay the shearing any longer," Keenan said. "I know Teila wanted to help, but she is not strong enough. “ The furrows on Keenan's face had grown deeper lately. Darcy and Bridget O’Hearn worked around the clock to nurse Teila, help in the fields and tend to the children.

Today, Teila sat by the open door while Bridget attended to their midday meal. She watched Darcy and Keenan discuss shearing, and she was pleased to see how strong Darcy had become. Liam had beaten Darcy physically, but he hadn't touched her spirit, and she emerged from the ordeal even stronger.

For hours on end, Darcy labored in the fields, and the springtime sun turned her skin a golden brown. She rose before the sun and went to bed long after it had set. Teila suspected that Darcy was trying to avoid the iron grip of Bran.

There was no doubt in Teila’s mind that he was determined to own Darcy and display her as a prize trophy. She had approached Darcy about it several times, only to be shut out with a curt reply. She had been irritable lately, and Teila guessed that her independent spirit was starting to rebel.

She knew that one day, with or without Bran, Darcy would leave Kilkerry and find her way in the world. Although she would be heartbroken, she knew Darcy must go.

Teila was content with the fact that she herself, would go no farther than the abbey churchyard. She sighed and lay back, closing her eyes. She could see the green hills bathed in sunlight and the ever present abbey. When opened her eyes once more, she saw Bran striding up the road. Teila noted his broad shoulders and thick blonde hair. He had animal magnetism, but he seemed to lack character, and she certainly did not trust him.

Darcy started down the road to meet him. He reached Darcy and put her face in his hands, kissing her possessively.

"Why are you here at this time of the day, Bran?" Darcy asked.

"Michael told me yesterday that the French vessel will be here soon."

Darcy's stomach jumped. She realized now that the courtship had drawn to a close and marriage was about to occur. The sunshine, which had seemed so warm and comforting a moment ago, now felt stifling and hot. She licked her dry lips and said, "When will it be here?"

"Tomorrow night, darlin', " said Bran as he kissed her forehead. He was pleased with himself. Everything was going as planned, and soon he would have money, power and a beautiful wife on his arm.

From Darcy's standpoint, it was her chance to escape Kilkerry and travel the world. The man for whom she had waited had returned, promising her a new life, yet she could not understand why she felt so empty.

"I've spoken with Father Etienne already,” Bran stated. “He has agreed to marry us, but he insists that you speak with him tonight. Then he will marry us in the morning." He pulled her chin up, kissed her and murmured, "The whole world will know tomorrow that you belong to me."

Darcy packed for the journey all the time wrestling with her doubts. Everyone was quiet that evening around the dinner table, feeling Darcy’s anxiety. Even the small children sensed that there was something wrong. Darcy picked at her food and almost fell off her chair when there was a knock on the door.

She stopped, took a breath, and opened it. It was Father Etienne. "I'd rather not talk here,” Darcy said. “Let's go outside."

They walked to the back of the cottage and seated themselves on a stone wall in the moonlight. Father Etienne was the first to speak. "I wanted to see you for several reasons tonight. First of all I want to offer my best wishes. Bran's return was an answer to my prayers, Darcy."

"It was?" she said, surprised.

He nodded. "It was always my secret torment that I had awakened your mind only to leave you alone and isolated in a world devoid of books and education. Now you can escape. Bran can take you to
Paris
or
New York
, places where you can continue your learning. He can take charge of everything in your life, while you only have to worry about enriching your mind."

Darcy tried to make sense of this sudden turn of events, and she said suspiciously, "I thought that you were going to talk me out of marrying him."