Infinite Devotion (39 page)

He keeps his cool. “I had a man come last night looking for the finest horse we had, and you know there’s nothing better than him.”

I wonder if he’s lying to get me to pay more, so I turn and go to the corral I bought him from. Instead of seeing Ghost there, I see another familiar figure leaning against the stall, cleaning her fingernails. Cahir comes up behind me. “Oh, I see now, she’s working for you.” I lean against the side of the wall. “Oh, she’s good, Cahir. I never saw it coming. Had the plan right from the beginning, she did.”

She looks up, slightly interested.

“You’ve got to tell me your name. I need to know the name of a girl so clever and daring, who can pull one over on me.”

“Síofra,” Cahir says.

“Well, Síofra, I’d pay you handsomely if you hand my stallion back over.”

“He’s sold.” She swipes her hair away from her forehead, revealing a white scar.

Cahir says quickly, “But Síofra, you delivered him to the gent and know where he is, don’t you?”

She glances up, suddenly very interested. “You give me ten pounds, and I’ll go get him back for you.”

“Ten pounds! You’re already making his sale three times over!” I walk around in frustration. “I’ll give you five pounds if you tell me where he is, and I’ll go get him.”

“No sell,” Cahir says, “Ten or nothing.”

I kick the wall behind me. “Fine, ten, but I want him tonight, and I’m not paying until he’s back.”

Cahir and Síofra both agree, and Cahir goes to get Síofra’s horse, a beautiful, shining thoroughbred. She doesn’t need any assistance mounting and throws her dainty leg over to ride astride. I look away at her lower legs showing obscenely from under her skirt. She and Cahir laugh at seeing my modesty for her. She doesn’t seem to care in the slightest and gallops right out of the stables.

After some time, just sitting in Cahir’s office, I say, “You’re not worried about her at all?”

“Worried?” he scoffs. “She’s one of my best. She’ll steal the sugar out of your punch, she will.”

“Is she your sister?”

“No, not my sister.”

“Your wife, then?”

He laughs. “No, not my wife.” He changes the subject. “I’ve heard you’re running a whole racket from here to Tyrone. That true?”

“Might be.” I lean back in my chair.

“Well, I got a little problem with that, you see, since I work seven counties that include your three.”

I pause a moment. “Well, I’m always looking for a good horse thief.”

He laughs again. “I can see why too.”

“Look, I’ve brought together all the best men to unite against the English. We can’t make it on our own for long, but this way, the way I see it, we’ve got safety in numbers.”

“How does it work, though? You sticking your nose in everybody’s business? Dipping your hand in everyone’s pockets?”

“My men listen to me, but I let each one govern their own area. If you joined us, you can keep doing what you’re doing. We’ve just got each other’s backs is all.”

He thinks for a moment. “I might be interested.”

Our negotiations are interrupted by the sound of someone galloping into the stables. I go out the door to see the bless’d sight of Ghost standing there. I whistle, and he comes right up to me, pushing his roman nose into my chest.

“Ten pounds, thank you.” Síofra pants.

I walk back out and down the path a bit to where I left the money, since I don’t trust a soul there. When I walk back in, Cahir and Síofra are discussing something.

“Here ’tis, all ten in guineas and shillings.” I take Ghost’s reins and say, “Pleasure doing business with you both,” and lead Ghost toward the exit. “Oh, and as a reward for besting me, Síofra, I’m giving you back your noble steed.”

She laughs.

“Hold up, O’Hanlon!” I turn slightly to see Cahir getting on his fine animal. “We’re coming with you.” On the way up the path, Cahir yells to his man, “Keep things going, Mickey, until I get back. And don’t put a dirty finger on my liquor!”

Chapter 13

By nightfall, we reach the main cave, having picked up Berragh and Liddy along the way since we crossed their turf. Strong John and Kelly are sitting by a fire outside the cave when we approach. Strong John yells out, “Síofra!” and he comes running to her and picks her small frame up high in the air like a child. I don’t understand until John puts her down. “’Tis my big sister.”

The thought of her being big next to the giant is laughable. “You’re related to her? I never knew you even had a sister, and a horse thief, at that. You never thought to mention that?”

“Well, Síofra told me not to, and what she says, I do.” He smiles and lowers his voice. “She’s in league with the fairies, you know.”

Síofra gives a bewitching smile.

Cahir pushes through us all and sits by the fire. Kelly takes the cork out of the jug they’re drinking from and pours him a cup, which he accepts with a nod of thanks. We all sit, and Cahir says, “So, let’s get down to business. Where are we going to get our hands on some first-rate horses?”

I reply, “If it’s horses you want, I have an idea.”

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

We blow the signal to gather, and everyone shows within thirty minutes with their recruits in tow. I give a count and whistle at the total of twenty-nine men, but realize I’m missing one of my leaders.

“Hogan, have you seen Art?” I ask.

“Nope, haven’t seen him for a couple of days.”

Would he actually disband because of our fight?

I try to shake it off so I can focus on the task at hand. “Everyone fill your pockets with shot, each take a musket, pistol, and sword. Remember all we’ve taught you and keep your ears perked for my commands.”

They nod anxiously, and Kelly yells with his sword held high and grey-blue eyes sparking, “Well, let’s go, then!”

Cahir’s riding next to me and asks, “Where we headed, then?”

“I got the hard word that there’s a militia setting up their fortification in Banbridge. Their defenses are down, and it’s a good time to take what we want.”

“You’re going after the militia?”

“I think I’m addicted to it,” I reply with a grin.

I shush my men and have them walk their horses to keep the noise down. We come upon the half-built fort at the time of the changing of the guards. I get to see without even sneaking up how many sentries we have to worry about. One man guards each entrance to the stables. I go back to tell my men and pick twelve of my best to go gag and bind each man. “The trick here is to walk slowly and silently behind him while one man puts the muzzle to his head. The other silences him so as not to alert the others. Once you’ve got your man down, I want one man to make a single owl hoot. When I hear six hoots, I’ll bring nineteen more men down to get the horses. The rest of you will stay and hold our horses and fire from here if we get any attention.”

With the sound of a shadow, the twelve men move down upon the stables. I hear the first hoot, and the five follow closely. I motion for the next group to follow me down just as quietly, and we find eighteen horses within. They each take one while Cahir and I follow with our muskets raised behind them. When we reach the safety of the woods, I look at Kelly, who has blood streaming from his nose.

“What happened to you?”

“Our sentry put up a little fight, gave me a nasty wipe, and broke my nose, he did,” Kelly says, trying to feel the bones.

We take to the main road, and our herd leaves a cloud of dust behind. Cahir rides up beside me and says as he takes the lead, “We’re headed to the fair at Ballybay.”

’Tis Strong John who notices the patrol gaining on us from behind, and I know they can overtake us since we’re hampered by the extra horses.

I scream, “Halt!” They slide to an abrupt stop. “Form a semicircle!” The men file into place with the quickness of trained militia. “Wait until my command to shoot!” I put my horse in the center and hold my breath as the patrol stops, aware of our unexpected formation.

“Surrender and no one will get hurt!” their commander yells.

“No! No surrender! We’re all prepared to fight to the end!” I move Ghost forward a bit and say, “You’re outmanned and outgunned two to one! Surrender to us!”

Their commander steps his horse over to another officer, and he comes forward under a white flag.

I turn to my men. “Be ready if this is a trap.” Ghost prances out to meet him halfway.

“You have the upper hand here, there is no doubt. If you give every one of those stolen horses back, then we will have no bloodshed here tonight.”

“I can agree to giving you back all the horses.” His face widens in a smug grin as I say this. “At a guinea a piece, that is.”

His face falls, and anger distorts his features. “You’re selling the militia back its own horses?”

“Yes, and if that’s not agreeable, I will shoot dead every member of your patrol.” I keep my face still.

He looks at my well-disciplined men and juts his chin out. “A guinea per horse, agreed.”

“And I want your patrol to retire a thousand yards with no threat of reprisal.”

He takes in a deep breath, puffing out his chest. “You drive a hard bargain, outlaw, but agreed.” He walks his horse over and counts out eighteen guineas from his purse. We have nine unarmed men bring the horses to my position, as he has nine come to take the horses.

“You’ll hang someday, O’Hanlon, and you’ll see my face in the crowd.”

“Something to look forward to, then, Commander.”

I canter back to my men. We wait until they fall back, and we take to the woods and celebrate into the night.

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

The next morning, I go back to our farm, anticipating Muirin running out the door to see me as I come down the hill, only to be surprised to see Art’s horse in one of the paddocks. When I open the door, they’re laughing together as she’s making supper and he’s sitting by the fire.

“Good to see you, Redmond,” he says.

Muirin comes running to me with her hands covered in flour and gives me a tight hug. “You were gone for three days! Thank God Art came to check in on me.”

I glance over to him, and he gives me a little grin. “Art, so this is where you were last night. You mustn’t have heard the call?”

“’Twas a call last night? No we didn’t hear a thing, did we, Muirin?”

“Art came by yesterday looking for you, and I begged him to stay for supper since I didn’t want to have another supper by myself.”

“What about my Ma and Da? They’re only three houses away.”

“I went to them the first two nights, and I thought you were coming home anyway.”

“Well, we could have used you, Art, but we managed all right.” I go and sit in the smaller chair by the fire.

“Oh, tell us all about it, Redmond, while I finish this soup.”

She’s so rattled by my story, I forget all about the anger I feel for Art. After supper, I realize my worries are foolish, and I thank Art for looking after her for me. He leaves soon after.

It becomes a strange agreement, but whenever I have to go on the road or travel to talk to my spies, Art will come and stay with Muirin. It makes it easier for me to leave, and I do feel more comfortable knowing someone is there to protect her. I try not to think too hard about what
his
reasons are for doing it; I just push it from my mind.

I walk into the tavern and say, “Sean, how you been?”

“Where’ve you been, Redmond? Better than three months since I’ve last seen you. And what’s this I hear about you being married?”

“Sure it’s all true and ’tis the reason why I haven’t been here for long.”

He chuckles. “Well, good to see you back, but I have some good news and some bad news.”

“Your man Alister came a week ago and wanted me to tell you that the mercenaries were being recalled.”

“That’s great news, Sean. Not one of my men was caught.”

“Sure, but here’s the bad news. St. John and three of the other bigwigs around Armagh are putting in their own money into tracking you down.”

I scoff. “St. John can buy a whole army and they’ll never get their hands on me.”

“Alister says it like some kind of game to St. John, like you’re one of his game animals. He’s telling folks all around here how he and his son are going out every night searching these woods for you, and they won’t stop until they smoke you out.”

“Well, what can I do about that?”

He clears his throat and lowers his voice, even though we’re alone at the bar. “Maybe you just might want to get the hunter before the hunter gets you.”

I sigh. “I’ve had my chance before, but it might come down to that. Thanks for the information, Seany.” I hand him two pouches.

“One’s for you and the other’s for Alister, if you see him first. Actually, I should give you another to have on hand so when he comes to you, you can give him something from me.”

“Thank you, Redmond, but the other bad news I have to tell you is that they’ve put a bounty on your head: thirty pounds for you and twenty for each of your men.”

“Well,” I say as I walk out, “then I just have to be sure to give everyone I know more than that so there’s no incentive.”

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

No one’s in the main cave this time of the day. I blow the whistle ten long times and then again five minutes later. Strong John, Ned, and Liddy are there first, followed by Kelly, Cahir, and Síofra, and Galloping Hogan comes last.