�Rory!� A six-year-old girl with light brown hair and blue eyes ran up to a blonde boy of 12 years. �You�re back!�
�Hello, Julie. You can let go of me now, thank ye.� He carefully disentangled himself. �I wasn�t gone that long, now was I?�
She stared up at him hopefully. �Will ye take me tae the ruins today? I wanna see Tara, and Ballyhara, and-�
�Slow down, Julie. I can hardly keep up with ye.� He smiled gently. �Anyway, can�t ye wait until some other day?�
She tugged on his sleeve, pleading. �Please, Rory! It�s a nice day, the nicest day in a long time, and it�s not that far!�
He sighed and nodded. �All right. Can ye ride behind me on Tir na nOg?�
She nodded eagerly and hugged him again. �Oh, thank ye, Rory! You�re the most wonderful brother!�
�All right, Julie. Come along now.� He walked with her over to a brown horse and helped her up to sit behind him. �Hold on.� He replied as they set off for the ruins. He helped her off of the horse again when they finally came to the broken down group of buildings that had once been a town. �Are ye happy now?�
She nodded excitedly. �Oh, yes! Can we go up into the tower too?�
�Ach, there�s no ladder, girl!� Rory replied, following her through the ruins. He stopped as she pointed out to the lane.
�Rory, look there! Is that Sir Morland?�
He nodded solemnly. �Aye, Julie. Off tae take his new family tae their new home, no doubt.� Rory frowned and turned away. �Protestant heathen.�
She stared at him blankly. �What�s wrong with Protestants?�
�They�re heathen, that�s all ye need tae know.� He said quietly, patting her head. "Now come on, it�s time tae go back.�
�But we just got here!�
He walked over to the horse and helped her up again. �Don�t pout. I didn�t have tae bring ye a'tall.�
She grinned and hugged her brother�s neck. �Thank ya for bringing me, Rory! You�re the best brother ever!�
He laughed softly and patted one of her hands. �Just remember that from now on, an� we�ll get along just dandy.�
They rode along until they came to the cottage where they lived. A nine year old brown haired boy looked up as they got off the horse. �Rory! Where�d ye go?�
Rory pointed to Julie dismissively. �Took �er tae Ballyhara.�
The boy frowned. �Her? Why didn�t ye take me?�
Rory sighed and patted Julie�s head affectionately. �Only two people can fit on the horse, Sean. She asked me tae take her, I did.�
Sean pouted. �She�s not even old enough to go up there yet. The ghosts donnae like little girls.� He responded, attempting to make faces to scare Julie.
�Whist, Sean.� Rory muttered, walking past. �No ghosts will bother her as long as she�s with me.�
Julie smiled triumphantly at Sean, who promptly stuck his tongue out at her. She turned and mimicked him before following Rory inside.
April 21, 1896
Julie snuck down a set of stairs as she heard a door slam, and then paused to listen to the conversation in the next room. Sean was arguing with Da again. �I agree with Rory! Ye should let us go!�
�I�m your father and I say no! You�ll understand why someday.�
Julie frowned and quietly walked outside, catching sight of Rory�s blonde hair on the top of a hill and following. It was already obvious he was going towards Ballyhara. She followed behind and smiled as she saw him walk into an old stable in the ruins. She ran to catch up, pushing open the door. �Rory!� She stopped as she saw a man with fiery red hair blocking her way. Rory quickly stepped forward as the man reached into his jacket and there was a small flash of silver. �It�s all right Malloy. She�s me sister.�
The man�s eyes flashed angrily. �She shouldnae be here, Morgan. Take her home.� He turned to Julie and scowled at her. �Go on with ye!�
She took a step back and Rory grabbed her hand, quickly pulling her outside. �What�re ye doin� here, Julie?�
�I-I-I� I followed ya.� She looked at the ground guiltily.
Rory sighed and brushed back his pale blonde hair. �Come on, Julie. Let�s go on home.�
She nodded meekly and started to follow him, looking back nervously at the stables. �Rory� did that man� did he have a gun?�
Rory stopped and looked at her solemnly, kneeling beside her. �Can ya promise me somethin�, aroon? It�s very important tae me.� He waited until she nodded before going on. �Promise me ye won�t tell Da or the others about this. . . and that ye won�t follow me like that again. I�ll be only too happy tae take ye somewhere with me, but there are some places ye best stay out of.�
She nodded gravely. �I promise, Rory.�
He smiled and ruffled her hair. �That�s my girl. I knew I could count on ya.� He stood back up and they walked the rest of the way back to the cottage in silence. Sean ran up from around the side of the house. �Rory! Did ye go? What happened?� He paused as he saw Julie. �What�re you doin� with him?�
�Can�t I walk with me little sister?� Rory replied, winking at her.
�You can�t go anywhere with her! Why didn�t ye take me and leave her tae play with Patrick?� Sean glared at Julie and crossed his arms over his chest.
�Ara be whist, Sean.� Rory took Julie�s hand and walked to the door, throwing a casual comment over his shoulder before walking in, �There�s always next time.�
Their mother was waiting by the door when they came in. �Where have ye been?!�
Julie smiled at her. �It�s all right, I�ve been with Rory.�
Her mother sighed and pointed to the door. �Choirs, Juliana.� Julie nodded and walked outside, stopping to listen at the door as her mother started talking again. �You went to that meeting, didn�t ye? After ye were told not tae go. . . and tae take your sister! Really, Rory!�
�Nothing will happen to Julie.� Rory replied in an uncharacteristically soft voice.
�If she follows ye again and your meeting is interrupted by English soldiers? What then?� Her mother�s voice was starting to rise in anger.
�She promised she wouldn�t follow me again.� Rory responded shortly.
�Oh, so nae I can be relieved I�m only loosing one child instead o' two?� Her voice was filled with sarcasm, but was lowered to a pleading tone once again. �Please, can�t ye see you�re no' changing anything this way?�
There was a single moment of dead silence before Rory finally answered with one sharp, brief statement, �My duty is tae Ireland.� Julie drew back around the edge of the house as she heard the close of a door that ended the conversation for good. It would have been over anyway, Rory had made his point clear: Ireland came first.
March 17, 1900: St Patrick�s Day
�St. Patrick�s Day is my favorite day!�
Julie looked at her 11-year-old brother skeptically. �Go on with ye, Patrick. Ye say that every holiday.�
He smiled at her. �Oh, but I mean it this time! Everything is so much more fun on St. Patrick�s Day!� He paused as they walked up the lane towards the cottage. �I wish Sean and Rory were here. They�ve been gone a long time.�
�Oh, don�t pout. They�ll be back soon enough. They just had tae go somewhere on business. If we�re lucky, they may even be back tonight.� She quickened her pace as they got closer to the house, eager to be home.
�Can I stay up and wait for them? Please?�
She frowned at him as best she could. �No. Da wouldn�t like that. Anyway, what if they don�t come back until tomorrow?�
He sighed and moped as they walked into the house. �I�m no' tired.�
�Go tae bed anyway.� She said, fighting a smile. He grumbled for a while, but before long both were in bed. Not long after, Julie was startled out of sleep by a sound. She stood up and crept into the living room where she saw Sean supporting a much larger Rory. �What happened?!�
Sean motioned for her to be quiet. �Come help me, will ye?� Julie quickly scampered over and helped Sean carry Rory towards the room he shared with Sean. �Thank ye. Are mum an� da here?�
Julie shook her head meekly. �No, they aren�t back yet.�
Sean sighed as they laid Rory on one of the beds. �There was a brawl� Rory took a bullet in the arm.�
�It�s all right Julie aroon, I�ll be fine.� Rory said gently, hoping to reassure her.
She looked at him doubtfully, noticing a fair amount of blood being lost. �We should get a doctor.�
Sean quickly grabbed her arm. �No, no doctors!�
�But-� She pointed to Rory�s arm helplessly.
�Ach, it�s not a problem. Sean�s right.� Rory managed a weak smile.
Sean looked at her for a moment. �If I get the things ya�ll need, can ye take care of his arm?�
�Aye, I think so.� She looked at Rory�s left arm doubtfully.
Sean nodded, not seeming to notice. �Good girl.� He muttered before leaving the room. Julie hated that, it sounded like something you said to a dog. She sat beside Rory, tense and somewhat frightened. After a while Sean produced some clean rags, water, their mother�s sewing kit, and a bottle of whiskey.
She raised an eyebrow and pointed to the bottle. �What�s that for?�
�You�ve never had a bullet taken out, have ye?�
�Neither have you.� She said pointedly.
He scowled. �I still know it still hurts eejit, and anyway, ye have to poor it on the wound to disinfect it. Now could ya start? An� do try tae hurry.� He added, glancing out the window.
She looked down at the bullet wound and closed her eyes for a minute before swallowing her fear and trying to dig out the bullet. Rory, thankfully, grit his teeth and never made a sound, not even when she cleaned the wound off after the bullet was taken out. She sighed in relief when she finally finished by bandaging his arm, but before she could announce that she was done, Sean cursed, throwing a cigarette he had been smoking to the ground and stepping on it before stalking out the door. Julie walked towards the window and looked out cautiously, biting her lip when she saw two English soldiers in uniform.
�Keep them outside, Sean.� She thought, glancing around the room and grabbing everything with blood on it, rushing out the back way. She quickly hid the rags under the hay and threw the water out, refilling the basin with clean water. Rory sat up, wincing slightly, as she walked back into the room. �What�re ye doin�?�
�Quiet.� She whispered, pushing him back down and pulling the blankets up far enough to cover the bandage on his arm. �Now, be sick.� She muttered, placing a damp cloth on his forehead and sitting in a nearby chair. She froze as she saw a blood stained piece of cloth that she had missed. She quickly grabbed it as the doorknob turned and the two soldiers burst into the room. The first politely removed his hat and nodded at Julie while the second pointed to Rory. �Is there something wrong with him?�
�I told ye he�s no' well!� Sean yelled viciously as he followed them in, glaring.
Julie fought off a smile as a thought occurred to her. �He�s terribly sick.� She lied, then covered her mouth with the cloth and coughed as violently as she could. �It�s very contagious.� She finished, letting the red stains show as she brought her hands back down to her lap.
The soldiers exchanged alarmed glances at the sight of the blood on the white cloth and started to back out of the room, both fearing catching some horrible disease. �No need questioning a sick man.� The first said nervously. �He obviously couldn�t have committed any crime.�
The second nodded his agreement. �Uh, right�. Do forgive us.� He muttered before all but running out the door.
When the sound of retreating hoof beats was heard, Sean finally let his surprise show and Rory laughed feebly. �I never knew I had such a good liar for a sister, did ye Sean?�
Sean shook his head but smiled as well. �That was some first-rate prevarication. Bleedin� deadly, Julie.�
She frowned at both of them and put her hands on her hips. �What did ye do?�
Sean looked at Rory as he tried to think up an answer. �Ah, you know how the English are, they don�t need an excuse.�
�You�re wasting your time, Sean.� Rory said, looking in Julie�s direction. �She already knows about the Fenian Brotherhood.�
She nodded firmed and crossed her arms over her chest. �Ye still have no' answered my question.�
Rory sighed and shook his head. �The less ye know, the better. Now, go tae bed and don�t mention a word o' this tae anyone.�
�I won�t, I won�t.� She muttered sourly, annoyed that secrets were being kept from her, but going back to her own room as told.
June 11, 1902
Julie walked into the front room of her family�s cottage as her two oldest brothers were conferring in the corner. �Ye can try it if ye like, but she won�t do it.� Rory remarked casually.
She cleared her throat to announce her presence. �What are ye scheming now?�
�There�s a meeting here tonight.� Sean started, �Mum will be helpin' Da since Sir Morland is havin' that party, an' Patrick we don�t have tae worry about. So could ye stand guard?�
She narrowed her eyes at him and crossed her arms over her chest. �I�ll no' have any part in that group. Besides, I already told Da I�d be helpin' him.�
�Eejit.� Sean muttered, glaring at her sourly.
�Leave 'er alone.� Rory growled, then turned back to Julie. �It�s just a meetin�. No one will get hurt, so will ye just give a signal of some sort if ye come back with Da?�
She nodded hesitantly, casting her eyes to the floor. �Just this once. Now if ye�ll excuse me, I should go.� She brushed past them both and left on her way to Sir Morland�s house. After an hour or two of helping set up for the party, there wasn�t much she could do and she ended up wandering through the large house on her own. She stopped as she heard a song being played on a violin and stopped outside of a door to listen for a while, lingering until a few minutes after the song ended. She started to walk down the hall again, but bumped into the violin player as he walked through the door.
�I�m sorry.� They both muttered at the same time, simultaneously picking up the sheet music he had dropped and bumping heads in the process, followed by more apologies. Julie smiled despite her sore forehead. �That was a very beautiful song."
�I didn�t know anyone was listening.� He responded shyly in a strange accent, and then held out a hand. �I�m Quatre Rowden.�
�Juliana Morgan.� She smiled politely as she shook hands with him and stared for a moment. He was handsome, but sweet looking, with blonde hair and innocent blue-green eyes. She cast her eyes back down quickly.
�You must be Jame�s daughter!� He exclaimed, his smile spreading to his eyes. �I always wanted to meet you. You must be the only person around my age for fifteen miles!�
�Don�t ye have friends here?�
He shook his head and the corners of his mouth dropped once again. �No. Only my older sister, Katy, the tutor, and the servants. There�s a party sometimes, but even then there�s not much of a chance to talk. Everyone is so formal.�
�Oh.� She commented softly, looking away once again.
He stared at the floor meekly. �I was going to go outside. Would you like to come along?�
She nodded silently and the two of them walked to the stables to the west of the house where he picked up a glove and walked towards a hawk. �This is Sandrock.� He put on the glove and let the bird climb onto his arm, running his hand over its feathers. �He won�t hurt you.� He added gently, motioning for her to walk closer.
She stepped up beside him, slightly surprised. �Ye have a pet hawk?�
He nodded. �I�ve had him since he was little. He was probably feeling neglected though. I haven�t had much time to come out here because of the party.�
She stared at the ground once again. �I-I should go. People will probably start tae show up soon an' I donnae want tae trouble ye any longer.�
�No, please.� He touched her arm softly, biting his lip as he tried to think of a way to keep her stay. �Please don�t go. I could show you the library.�
She smiled at him gratefully and nodded. �I�d like that, if ye donnae mind.� He offered his arm and they walked back into the mansion and finally into the library. Julie looked at the rows of books and the gothic windows in awe. �It�s beautiful! There are so many books!�
Quatre grinned, glad to see that she liked the room. �It�s my favorite place . . . and no one else ever comes here so I can be alone.�
They both turned at the sound of a door shutting and saw her father standing there. �Juliana, I need your help with something. As for you, Mr. Rowden, shouldn�t you be getting ready for the party?�
Quatre blushed slightly, as if he had been caught doing something wrong, but nodded. �Yes, I guess I should go. It was nice to meet you Julie.�
She managed a polite curtsy for her father�s sake and a small but joyful smile for Quatre. �It was my pleasure.�
Her father watched Quatre leave the room, his eyes bright with amusement and turned to Julie. �Now, would ya mind helping Bridget with the roses? I�ll be here late, so after that you should go home and tell the boys not to wait up.�
She nodded obediently. �Yes, Da.�
He kissed her forehead and winked at her. �That�s my girl.�
She smiled at him and left, helping the maid place vases of fresh flowers around the house like she was told. After setting down the last vase, she excused herself and started walking down the hall to leave, but ran into someone. Once again, simultaneous apologies were exchanged. Julie laughed as she realized she had just bumped into Quatre again. �Ye look nice.� She said, and he did. Of course, he had before, but he was even more handsome in the formal suit.
His face reddened slightly and his eyes dropped down to the floor. �Thank you.�
There was a moment of uncomfortable silence before Julie finally spoke and turned to leave. �I should go.�
Quatre faltered, but managed to stutter out a jumbled sentence. �Wait . . um . . . can I talk to you again? I mean . . . I�d understand if you didn�t want to, but would you visit again?�
She smiled genuinely and nodded at him. �I will that. Good bye, Quatre.�
His eyes lit up briefly and he waved at her. �Good bye, Juliana.�
She left the house and walked all the way down the lane almost floating on the air. She started to walk into the cottage when she reached it, but stopped when she heard raised voices and realized that she�d forgotten about the meeting. She could hear Sean now. �I will no' have any part in it.�
Julie frowned at the statement, knowing that whatever was being planned this time must be bad. A few more words were exchanged before the same gruff man she�d run into as a child walked out and rode away. She took a deep breath and walked in cautiously, eyeing both of her brothers. �I thought ye said no one would be hurt.�
�And no one has!� Sean snapped at her.
Rory managed a small smile that didn�t quite reach his eyes. �Ye really must learn no' tae listen behind doors.�
She cast her eyes down shamefully. �Sorry.�
�Not tae worry.� He replied, pushing her towards the stairs. �Now, get tae sleep, an� don�t be worryin� about what ye heard. It�s none o' your concern.�
She looked at him doubtfully but nodded. �All right.�
July 18, 1902
�Juliana!�
Julie turned as she heard her name being called and watched as Quatre�s dappled gray trotted towards her. She smiled broadly as he brought the horse to a stop next to her. �Hello.�
�Where were you going?� He asked breathlessly, rubbing the horse�s neck.
She turned and pointed to the hill she had been walking towards. �Tae the ruins at Ballyhara, then maybe tae Tara.�
�Really?� He smiled brightly at her. �I�ve always wanted to go there and get a closer look. I could give you a ride . . . if you don�t mind my company, that is.�
She bit her lip, realizing that Rory and Sean would both be furious if she accepted his offer. She smiled up at him as he offered a hand. �Not a'tall. I�d love tae have someone tae talk tae.� She took his hand and mounted the horse behind him, telling him the story of Ballyhara as they rode towards the ruins. He helped her off of the horse once they reached the old town and looked around at the buildings. �Some of these buildings must have been very beautiful at one time. I always thought so from far away, but now I can see for myself. Although Sir Morland wouldn�t be happy if he knew I was here.�
�Your father?�
�Step father.� He corrected shortly, his voice taking on an almost angry tone for a moment. He quickly took the conversation in a slightly different and more casual direction. �He says my sister is getting to be an old maid at 20, but she disagrees.� His grinned at her, humor in his voice. �She has a gift for scaring off unwanted men. She says she�ll teach me the same.�
Julie raised an eyebrow. �Why would ye need tae know how tae scare unwanted men away? Are ye overly protective of her?�
His face turned a light shade of pink. �No. I meant girls. That�s what the parties have been for, you see, to set up Katy and I. We don�t like the idea much. Or some of the candidates.�
�Like who?� Julie asked, a conspiratorial smile on her face.
He sighed, much less amused with the subject. �For me, they�re absolutely set on Miss Bradfield.�
Julie blinked in shock. �Holly Bradfield?! The one with the long blonde hair an' pale blue eyes, tall an' slender?�
He nodded and rolled his eyes upward. �That�s the one. Do you know her?�
Julie looked away quickly, her heart sinking a little. �I�ve seen her a few times. She�s very pretty.�
�Yeah.� He said quietly, his face hiding his thoughts.
�There�s the tower!� She pointed to a tall stone structure, glad for a change of subject.
He stared up at it curiously. �Is climbing that rope the only way to get in?�
�I think so. You can go up if ye want. I cannae promise that it will be very interesting, but I�ve heard ye can see a long way from up there.� She waited, and when he didn�t answer added, �Of course, it�s almost dark an' we should probably part ways.�
He looked startled for a moment. �Did you hear that?�
Julie froze, listening closely and hearing voices and recognizing the lower, gravelly voice. She pointed to the rope. �Up there, I think they�re coming this way.�
He nodded and quickly climbed the rope and made his way into the tower, helping her in behind him. A few seconds later two men passed by. �Do you know them?� Quatre whispered when the men were once again a good distance away.
�I�ve seen one o' them.� She said, pointing to the red head just before he walked out of view. �I don�t like him much.�
Quatre grabbed Julie�s arm, pointing off to the horizon. �Look, there�s smoke.�
�That�s-� She bit her lip to keep herself from finishing the statement, hoping that the location she had in mind was wrong. �Let�s go back.�
The scurried down the rope and Quatre mounted his horse again. �Ye should go alone. I can run for help.� Julie said nervously.
He shook his head and offered a hand. �It�s getting dark, we should stay together.�
She nodded and climbed up behind him. He dug his heels into the mare�s sides, his thoughts too frantic to worry about being gentle, and the horse half-reared before taking off in the direction of the mansion at a full gallop. Julie grimaced and wrapped her arms around Quatre�s waist to keep from falling off, hoping that no one would see the scene. He reigned the horse in as they rode over the last hill and saw the mansion covered in fire. He hurried to the ground and started to run towards the house but Julie caught his arm and pulled him back as she saw a figure on a horse. �Don�t move.� She whispered slowly, praying the mysterious person wouldn�t see them.
Quatre froze obediently, but she could feel him starting to shake. She watched the man until he rode off down the lane. She sighed in relief and wrapped her arms around Quatre tightly. �Are ye gonna be okay?�
He nodded weakly, looking towards the fire and straining his eyes for a moment, as if hoping to see someone had survived. She watched the light of the fire flicker across his features for no small span of time before his eyes finally welled up with tears and his shoulders slumped down. �What will I do?�
�Ye can no' stay here.� She said gently, wrapping an arm around him. �They could go after ye if ye did.�
�What about you?� He looked up at her, the tears finally brimming over and making tracks down his pale cheeks. �If you�re with me, then you�re in danger too.�
She squeezed his hand. �It doesnae matter. They won�t find us. Ye have other family here, right? Ye could go there.�
He shook his head forlornly. �Sir Morland�s relatives. My family was back in America, and I�m not even sure where they are.� He looked up at her hopefully. �I could go back to America, that�s what I could do. I could go home.�
She sighed and looked away, at war with herself and knowing that Rory would kill her if she even gave a second thought to what she was considering. �Quatre . . . . Ye can�t go alone. I . . . I can go with ye.�
�Julie.� He looked at her sadly. �You have family here, I can�t ask you to go.�
�Well, ye don�t have tae. I insist. I won�t have ye tramping across an ocean all by yourself. My family can get along just fine without me.�
He smiled gratefully through the tears. �Thank you, Juliana.�
She nodded a little and helped him to stand. �Then let�s stop by my house before we go so I can take care o' some things.�
The both mounted the poor mare again and rode to the cottage where Julie snuck in quietly and came back out a few minutes later with a small bag. She sent him a small smile and once again took her place behind Quatre as they rode towards Galway.
When they finally arrived there after quite a few stops they were quickly directed to a place where they could buy tickets for a ship to America. Julie patted the horse�s neck and looked at Quatre. �And her?�
He sighed and shrugged a little. �I hate to part with Boreas . . . but we can�t very well take her with us. We�ll just have to sell her. You can do that and I�ll check on the tickets.�
Julie nodded and pulled on the horse�s reigns gently. Boreas followed her obediently until she found someone willing to buy her. After some bargaining Julie managed to sell her for a good price, and was most proud to get a violin thrown in on the deal. She met Quatre at a pub by the harbor. He produced their tickets and she produced the results of her bargaining. Quatre smiled as his eyes fell on the violin. �How did you manage to do that? The money alone is probably worth more than Boreas after the trip here.�
Julie smiled and winked at him. �I was doin' business with an Englishman. I�m Irish, Quatre, I have the gift of the blarney.�
He looked down at the table, the smile leaving his face once again. �You don�t have to go with me.� He looked towards the harbor where the ship they would take was docked. �This is your home, you don�t have to leave it for me.�
She reached across the table and squeezed his hand. �An' miss this chance? �my America! my new-found land.�� She quoted, regretting the statement for a moment and hoping he had never read that specific poem by Donne, but when he showed no signs of surprise she smiled once again. �Ye�re my friend, Quatre. Where ye go, I will follow.� The corners of his mouth slowly turned up into a smile and she looked at the harbor at the boat that carried her future with it, her fears slowly melting away with that sweet smile.