Expecting The Unexpected (Chp 4)

Authors Note: I would strongly suggest you read chapters 1, 2 & 3 first if you have not already, or else you will be lost. Chapters 1, 2 & 3 can be found in my portfolio (Richard T. Clark )



Not long after Séamus, Treasa and Connell's departure from the Briens' the wind had really begun to pick up. Starting in gusts, by midday it had finally settled on a constant twenty miles per hour; the wind ripped at the clothing of the travelers relentlessly. The sky had remained virtually clear through the morning; it was not until the sun was high overhead that the storm clouds began to materialize in the distance. Rolling hills scattered the land in every direction along with small pockets of trees and shrubs. Side by side they walked on, Séamus on Treasa's left carrying Connell. They had been trading off carrying him between one and other in order to give each other intermissions, the infant becoming progressively more restless as they traveled.

Treasa swept her hair back from her face as the wind persistently blew it forward again. Her arms once more free of Connell had regained some life, but her calves had been protesting every step for the last two miles, and she knew they had at least another twenty still to cover. She thought back to this time yesterday; she had just started preparing lunch, completely unaware that in less than a quarter of an hour her life would be changed forever. Treasa could remember hearing the door open and turning around expecting to see Séamus. Instead seeing the soldier that had constantly stared at her making her feel uneasy the last time she had gone into town. She had been going to deliver good news to Séamus over lunch, but alternatively woke up on the bed receiving bad news from Séamus.

They reached the bottom of a knoll near a grouping of oaks and Séamus turned to her, breathing heavily. “You want to take a break, have something to eat?”

She nodded in consent.

They sat down beneath the canopy of the trees; Séamus laid Connell down in the grass next to himself and Treasa. She removed the pack from her back and started searching through it for some of the food she had stowed away. She moved aside some clothes, and laid eyes on an old wooden doll. It surprised her; in her haste back at the cabin she didn't even remember packing it, but was grateful she had. It had been a gift from her father when she was a little girl, maybe six or seven; she had always hoped to give it to her own daughter one day.

The presence of the doll shifted her thoughts to her father. He had not approved of Séamus initially, and in truth this was what drew her to Séamus in the beginning, her fathers disapproval. Treasa's father had intended for her to marry the son of an affluent merchant, who had gone to work for his father and was due to inherit the business. Treasa knew her mother must have played a large role in her father's improved attitude towards Séamus since the wedding. Despite writing them the letter, it still sadden her that she wouldn't be able to see them one last time. Along with her goodbyes and a factual account of why they were leaving she had told them the news in the letter. She had refrained from telling Aidan and Mary; Séamus deserved to be the next to know.

Treasa located some of the food she had packed. She pulled out some pieces of smoked pike caught from the stream near their former home two days ago along with a few biscuits, and set about unwrapping them. She looked up to pass Séamus a share and saw him withdraw a folded newspaper clipping from his pocket. He took the food from Treasa before unfolding the paper and studying it for a few moments.

“The soonest ship for America leaves out of Queenstown three days' from now.” He lowered the clipping from his line of sight. “We'll have to make it; the next one after that doesn't depart for two and a half weeks.”

Treasa swallowed the bite of biscuit already in her mouth before asking, “Will we be able to take the rail from Kilkenny?”

“Can't afford it. Even if we could, it'd be too high profile.” He refolded the clipping and returned it to his pocket.

“That's a long way to go on foot in only three days time.”

“I know, but we've no other choice.”

After Treasa finished eating she picked up a fussy Connell and started to feed him. She was not at all pleased at the prospect of continuing this pace to avoid their pursuers, but he was right- there was no alternative. Séamus had eaten most of his lunch before he spoke again. To Treasa he seemed to be lost in thought.

“Aidan didn't have much money to spare; he couldn't buy very many of the flock.” His voice contained just a hint of frustration.

Treasa stole a look at Séamus; his face was difficult to read. Connell lay contently in her arms suckling.

“After our fares we'll only have enough for about a week worth of food and lodging. If-” Séamus shook his head, and then said with conviction, “When we reach America we'll need to find work quickly.”

“They say there's plenty of factory jobs there. Mary had word from the McKibbens; Sháuna found work in a factory and Liam's gone to work on his brother's farm. They seem to have found work fast enough.”

“There's a mass rebellion underway in the southern part of the country; or so Aidan told me. No telling what effect that'll have on the manufacturing industry. I'm not sure how much the north exports to the south.”

“There's a rebellion going on?!” She looked startled at the news.

“Just in the south. The ship ports in New York, well away from any of the unrest.”

Treasa could tell Séamus wasn't as confident as he was trying to sound.

Séamus stood and gathered up his things; Treasa followed suit. She handed Connell off for a moment, and tied her hair back with some difficulty, the wind still blowing strongly. Séamus offered to carry Connell for a while longer to which Treasa declined. The four month old now content with a full stomach, fell asleep in his mother's arms shortly after they were again on their way; she had noticed expectantly, his eye lids becoming heavier and heavier. Séamus navigated their way and changed course every so often when he spotted something in the distance. Treasa could tell he was deliberately avoiding all settlements and signs of civilization.

With the exception of transferring Connell between them it was well into late afternoon before they took another break. If Treasa thought her legs were in pain the first time they had stopped, it was nothing compared to the shooting pains and constant fire she now experienced as they sat down at the base of a hill to help block the wind. The clouds now covered two thirds of the sky continually threatening a down pour. In the distance a well traveled road wound out of sight into the southwest. Had there been travelers upon the road at the time they would have appeared to be the size of insects against the horizon. A small creek 20 yards from where Treasa sat sent sounds of rippling water on the winds.

Séamus went to refill their water supply at the side of the creek leaving Treasa to rest against the trunk of a tree while she fed Connell. Séamus had been more quiet than usual all day as they walked. Treasa could tell their dangerous quagmire and the fear of being captured had been weighing heavily on his mind. She was reluctant to burden him with something else, the time just wasn't right she had kept telling herself. However, she knew the time wouldn't be 'right' anytime soon; their situation would hardly be even so much as stable for some time still. She made up her mind. She was resolute that Séamus would know before she took so much as another step towards their destination.

Séamus returned from the creek and knelt down opposite Treasa. He pulled one of the packs to himself and set about searching through it for something to eat. He shifted things around and found some of the biscuits wrapped in old newspaper pages. He unwrapped them, passed one to Treasa and kept one for himself before returning them to the bag. He stood up and walked clear of the trees. Treasa watched him staring at the road in the distance while he ate. After a couple of minutes he walked back over and sat down facing her.

“I think we're near six miles out.”

Treasa could hear the fatigue in his voice.

“We should be able to follow the road from here so long as we keep our distance and hold it just barely in our sight.”

“Séamus,”

He cut her off, “We don't have to leave yet. It's better if we wait until after night fall anyway.”

“Séamus, I-”

“I know it might rain, but I don't think it's a good idea to push on now. With fewer people about after dark hopefully we'll be able to avoid being seen.” He had misinterpreted what she was going to say again.

“No it's not that. It's, I'm-” She wanted to choose her words carefully, but nothing was coming to mind suitable in her opinion. She decided just to lay it all on the line, “I'm pregnant.”

It took a moment for what Treasa had just said to register for Séamus. Stunned scarcely came close to describing the look on his face when it did. “Are, are you sure?” His blue-gray eyes were focused unblinkingly on her.

“Quite.” she replied.

“How far?” His voice was in little more than a whisper.

“Two months or so, honey.” For the first time in the last day her voice was full of warmth and to a degree happiness. She waited for Séamus' reaction; nearly a full minute passed before he said anything.

“Well I,” he paused. “I suppose it could've happened at a better time.” Then he smiled. “but I'm still glad it did.” He spoke once more, more so to himself than to Treasa, “I'm going to be a father again.”

They waited there beneath the trees until sunset having considerably more lighthearted conversations than they had been capable of recently. They even started discussing possible names for the new baby, they both agreed they wanted a girl this time, and focused more intently on female name. Treasa was very set on naming the baby after her grandmother if it was a girl, though she hadn't mentioned it was her grandmothers names when she suggested it to Séamus who was less than fond of it. She decided she would have to convince him that he really did like the name if it turned out to be girl.

It was entirely dark when they reached Kilkenny, to their advantage the moon had not yet risen. The streets Séamus chose where virtually deserted, though by far not the most direct route. They turned another corner and ahead of them was a massive limestone cathedral with a round tower nearly one hundred feet high silhouetted against the stars; tombstones were scattered across the field in front of the massive building. Both Séamus and Treasa crossed themselves as they entered the graveyard in front of the cathedral.



Authors Note: Chapter 5 is now available if you would like to read it. It can be found in my portfolio (Richard T. Clark ), or here: http://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1254495