Murphy's Law (Molly Murphy Mysteries, #1)

"I'm sorry to do this to you," I said, releasing him and rewrapping my shawl around me, "but Kathleen couldn't travel with us. She sent me with the children so that they'd get to you safe and sound."

"She couldn't travel?" He looked confused. He looked the typical Irish country boy-- round, innocent-looking face, short and stocky, probably not too quick on the uptake. I'd danced with enough clodhopping boys at home who looked just like him. "But I sent her the ticket. She must have got it."

"She left it at home in Ireland, by mistake," Young Seamus said. "She had to go back for it and she'll be coming on another boat."

"She did what?" The father looked at me, completely confused now.

I took his arm. "It's freezing out here. Let's get the children onto the ferry and I'll explain."

"Come on, young Bridie. It's time you hugged your father," he said, and swept her up into his arms. She allowed herself to be hugged and kissed, then he held her in one arm and took the bundle in the other as we walked toward the waiting ferry

boat. We must have looked just like a family.

Ten

As soon as the ship was under way, we found ourselves a corner of the cabin, out of the icy blast of wind. I tapped the children on the shoulder. "If you go and look out of that window over there, you'll get your first real view of New York City where we're going to live. See if you can count how many floors there are to those skyscrapers."

Seamus was looking at me questioningly as the two children pushed their way through the crowd. I took a deep breath. This wasn't going to be easy. How do you break such news to a person?

"About Kathleen," I began. "That wasn't true--she didn't leave her ticket behind. She just told the children that to explain why she wasn't traveling with us. She gave her ticket to me so that I could come in her place."

"Why would she do that?" He still looked completely bewildered, and now a little suspicious.

"They wouldn't let her travel, Seamus.

She had to have a medical exam and they found out that she had TB--CONSUMPTION. They don't let anyone with consumption into America."

Now he looked really shocked. "Consumption? But--but most people die from that, don't they?"

I nodded. "She's gone home to her family in county Derry, Seamus. That's why she wanted to make sure that the children got to you safely."

A tear had squeezed itself out of the side of his eye. He wiped at it with his sleeve. "I'd have gone back to her if she'd told me. I'll still go back to be with her. I don't mind taking the risk. She shouldn't have to suffer and die alone."

"Don't be silly. What good would that be? What would happen to the children if their mother dies and their father is hanged?" I touched his arm. Even though he was a stranger I'd just met, I felt that I knew him. "Miracles do happen, Seamus.

Maybe the Blessed Mother or one of the saints will cure Kathleen and she'll be able to come and join you."

"I'm thinking you're one of the saints yourself," he said. "Coming all this way to bring my children to me."

I had to smile at this. My old mother in heaven would be having a good laugh too, no doubt. "Nowhere near a saint, I'm afraid. My journey here suited the both of us. I was on the

run from the police, just like you were. I had to leave Ireland in a hurry. Meeting

Kathleen was a godsend for me."

"So those English bastards were onto you, too?" he snapped. "Pardon my language, miss, but just thinking of them brings out the worst in me."

"My name's Molly," I said. "Molly Murphy."

He held out his hand. "Pleased to make your acquaintance, Molly Murphy. And I'm most grateful for what you've done for my family."

I started laughing. "Anyone watching us will wonder what's going on. A married couple with two children and we're shaking hands like two strangers."

He laughed, too, then the smile faded. "My poor Kathleen. If only there was some way ... if only we could think of some way."

"Maybe a way will present itself," I said, although I couldn't see how. "Maybe Ireland will get home rule. Maybe we'll chase out the English once and for all."

"Amen to that," he said. "If I thought there was any chance of that, I'd be on the boat tomorrow, raring to fight!"

"Your young ones need you now," I reminded him. "You'll have to be mother and father to them."

A worried look crossed his face. "I've no experience of raising children. What will I do? You'll come back with us for tonight, will you? It's nothing fancy. I've been living with my cousin and his family until Kathleen got here. I'd been saving for a place of our own but I wanted her to help choose it. It's very important to a woman to choose her own home."

I looked at him kindly. Kathleen certainly hadn't married for looks, but there was no denying that her man had a good heart.

"Of course I'll come back with you. I've nowhere else to go," I said.

"Thank you. That's grand. I'm feeling it's not going to be easy for the children. I'll have to tell them the truth, won't I?"