Bryan Gallagher couldn’t help but let a sigh of relief escape him as Lily Patterson walked away from their table.

“We shouldn’t be do’n this here,” Sean’s voice hissed to him.

“They just gonna think that we’re plan’n a roundup or something,” Colum told him. “Quit worrying about it.”

“We’ve had too many close calls, we need to watch our backs,” another man said.

“We need to stay calm and focus on what we’re do’n,” Bryan said. Colum looked over at his brother. He had always been the calming force in the years they’d been doing this. Even during the famine when they’d been not much older than Molly, he’d been the one that pulled everyone together. They were nearly ready to go again. After months of planning and gathering it was down to this, the most important part.

“Colum and I are going to Dellwood tomorrow,” Bryan said, reverting back to Gaelic and using the alternate word for the town. They had come up with a system where they used other words for towns that couldn’t be translated into Gaelic so that no one who over heard could know what they were talking about.

“People that need to know will think we’re going to Eagle Bend,” Colum said, using the English name of the town for the same purpose – to throw off anyone who may be listening. The planning continued for the next few hours until the saloon was almost empty. Lily watched the group as her and Joseph started to clean up. The men, about 10 to 12 in number raised their glasses in what appeared to be a toast.

“Erin Go Bragh,” they all said in unison. Joseph stopped sweeping.

“What’s that mean?” he asked Lily quietly. She shook her head as confused as he was.

“I’ve no idea,” she answered. They started gathering their things and brought their glasses to the bar. She noticed that while they had been drinking most of the night, not one appeared to be less than a little un-sober. It was almost as if they’d been careful about it. The men that came up tipped their hats to her and made little comments some with Irish accents, some without. Bryan was the last to come up, the black ledger she’d noticed earlier tucked carefully under his arm.

“Getting ready for an auction?” Lily asked him.

“What? Oh, yes, something to that effect,” he said. “I was wondering if I could impose on you a favor?”

“Of course, Cher,” Lily said, still wiping glasses. “What is it?”

“Colum and I need to leave town for a day or so tomorrow. I was wondering if you wouldn’t mind checking in on Molly now and then while we’re gone. She’s been so busy working on the school I’m sure she’ll hardly notice we’re gone. Aside from that, I think her and JD had some sort of falling out and heaven knows she won’t discuss the matter with her da,” he said. Lily smiled at him.

“I would be glad to,” she said. He looked up and offered her a tired smile.

“I’ve treated you horribly,” he stated matter of factly. “I’m very sorry, I know you mean a great deal to Molly.” Lily placed a hand on his arm.

“There’s no need to apologize. You were watching out for your daughter. Molly’s come to mean a great deal to me as well,” she said squeezing his arm. He patted her hand, took it and kissed the top of it. It was a gesture of friendship and affection.

“Take care of her for me,” he said, giving her hand a squeeze before turning to leave.

“What was that all about?” Joseph asked from behind her. Lily shook her head.

“I don’t really know,” she said before returning to her glasses.

“How long are you going to be gone?” Molly asked her father the next morning. He was saddling Nicholas getting ready to ride out with Colum.

“Only for the day, we’ll be back tomorrow,” he said.

“How far away is Eagle Bend?” she asked.

“Not far, Dearheart,” Colum’s voice said from behind her. “You passed through it when you first arrived on your way into town.”

“Lily will be around if you need anything. Remember to lock the door tonight,” Bryan said, kissing her goodbye before mounting his horse. Colum did the same.

“May the winds be with you,” Molly said, using the old blessing. Bryan blew her a kiss before the two rode out.

“How many times have I lied to her since we’ve been here?” Bryan asked out loud.

“You’re taking care of your family, and your country. We’ve all sacrificed for many years,” Colum said. “Patrick would be proud of us, so would Kathleen.” Bryan didn’t answer but rode off ahead of his brother. They had been doing this for so many years. He was tired of the hiding, the secrets and the lying. He wanted it all to just stop, to just end. He knew deep down that it would be only be over when his precious Ireland was finally free and that day seemed a long way off.

Molly watched her father and uncle ride off until they were no longer in sight. Something didn’t feel right. They had gone off before but something about this time seemed different somehow. Maybe it had to do with KC’s verdict. Molly had been in the courtroom for as much of the trial as she could be, knowing her father didn’t approve. She had gripped Lily’s hand for support before the judge said KC was cleared of the charges against her after he’d announced her true identity in the courtroom.

She had been an emotional mess for the past few days between the trial, JD being angry with her for reasons she still didn’t understand and Mr. Tanner’s sudden affection toward her. She tried to lose herself in the work she needed to do in getting the school up and running. Now there was this sudden trip her father and uncle needed to take. She walked back inside to clean up the breakfast dishes before going to the church again.

Mr. Sanchez had been kind to her in helping her get things set up and making repairs were done that would be needed to insure the church would be safe for the children. She was still cautious around him and noticed how quiet he seemed to be. She knew he missed Cheyenne terribly and she wondered where she was and what could have taken her away for so long.

She walked the short distance to the church and noticed that Mae along with her brother and several other children were outside. When they were around she would give them all little tasks to help her. They all seemed to be excited about going to school even though some of them didn’t quite know what it meant. They caught sight of her and ran giggling into a line blocking the stairs into the church. Their faces had expressions of a secret just dying to come out. Molly smiled and hurried her steps toward them.

“What is this about?” she asked, trying to be stern.

“There’s a surprise but Mr. Sanchez says it’s not ready yet,” Mae’s brother, a little boy of about eight named Kevin said.

“What sort of surprise?” Molly asked.

“He said we can’t tell,” Violet, Mrs. Potter’s daughter said. Billy Travis came out from the church and ran down the stairs.

“Okay, he said now,” he announced to the group.

“You have to close your eyes,” little Mae announced importantly. Molly laughed and then complied allowing the children to lead her up the stairs and in the church. She felt herself being led down the aisle.

“Now you can open them,” Billy said. Molly did and her hands flew to her mouth in genuine surprise. Sitting off to the side of the altar was the grandest desk she had ever seen. It was dark wood with a roll top and several drawers on either side. It had a shine to it as though it had recently been repainted.

“Where in the world did this come from?” Molly asked, walking up to it.

“Mr. Sanchez found it,” Violet said. “He said a teacher needs a desk. Do you like it?”

“The dean of my university didn’t have as grand a desk to work on,” Molly replied. A pounding of a hammer to wood began outside in the back and Molly knew it was Mr. Sanchez working. “I need to thank him,” she said. “Run along back outside, I’ll be there in a moment,” she said.

The children obeyed, proud of themselves for finishing the important task they’d been given. Molly went out the back door to where Josiah was working on a ladder on the side of the church. He looked down at her as she approached.

“The children showed me the desk,” she said. He came down the ladder. “They said you were the one responsible for it. Wherever did it come from?”

“The bank was going to break it up once they got a new one here. I told them I’d take it for the school. It just needed some repair and a coat of varnish,” he answered simply.

“It’s beautiful,” Molly said. “You are a man of impeccable taste, Mr. Sanchez,” she said to him.

“I try my best,” he said, moving to climb back up the ladder. Molly watched him for a moment wishing she could stop being afraid of him. Images of a night not long ago threatened to assault her memory again. She turned to walk away toward the children. She’d allow herself to play a little today.

Vin Tanner watched as several children led Molly Gallagher up the steps of the church and inside. He knew about the desk that Josiah had saved from the bank. It was in bad shape but he said he wanted to repair it for the school. Somehow he talked Ezra into paying for part of the supplies he’d need for the repairs. A few minutes later, she came around the side of the church toward the children. He watched as they began to play. People were going about their morning business but he wasn’t paying them any attention. All of his focus was on Molly. He didn’t hear the usual banter among JD and Buck as they approached him.

“What’s he so caught up in?” JD asked Buck after he’d called out a greeting that his friend didn’t acknowledge. Buck’s comment fell deaf on JD’s ears as he focused his gaze on what had gripped Vin’s attention. Molly was playing near the church with some of the town’s children and Vin’s gaze never seemed to waver from her.

JD hadn’t spoken to her in several days, not since he’d left her standing in the street after thinking there had been someone else that she was involved with. Only he’d thought that man was a thousand miles away, now he knew the truth. That man was here all along and what was worse was that he was his friend. He became angry, angry at himself for being such a fool and angry at Vin for doing this to him. He walked faster ahead of Buck toward Vin stepping directly in front of him cutting off his line of vision to Molly.

“Something interesting?” JD asked sarcastically. Buck caught up to the two, realizing a fight was about to break out and not knowing why.

“Just watching the kids play,” Vin said, trying not to sound defensive.

“Looks like you were watching more than the kids,” JD retorted back.

“JD, what’s going on?” Buck asked, trying to step in between the two. Chris was across the street when he noticed the confrontation that was brewing and started walking across toward the three men.

“I couldn’t figure it out, what I’d done,” JD said not allowing either of the confused men to get a word in edge wise. Chris came up to them. JD was almost nose to nose with Vin, he stepped between them facing JD.

“What the hell is going on?” he asked. Molly and the children came in his line of vision and his own question was answered. Buck stepped in and put his hand on JD’s arm to move him away. JD shook him off and turned to walk away Buck following him. “Are you going to tell me what’s going on with you?” Chris asked Vin after Buck and JD had walked away.

“It ain’t anyone’s business,” Vin said, a little too defensively before walking away. Chris blew out a breath of frustration as he watched his friend walk away. He would need to talk to him later before this got any more out of hand.

Molly had played with the children before they were each called away by their respective parents. Something about being around children made her feel lighter but there was work to be done now. She had written Emily and had gotten her to ship books the school in Charlottetown wasn’t using any more that she could use here. The people whose children would be attending the school didn’t have much money to spend on things like books and slates. Mrs. Potter donated what she could and Judge Travis was working out a budget she could work off of but for the time being she needed to be thrifty. Emily had sent her friend two boxes full of books and supplies some from her father’s store.

Molly got a hammer from her father’s tools to open the crates with and walked to the back of the house where she’d had the boxes brought. One was there the other appeared to be underneath the back porch. She pulled that one out and used the claw end of the hammer to open the box. Brushing the packing shavings aside she reached in and felt something cold and metal. Removing more of the shavings she looked in the box and her heart nearly stopped beating.

Inside was a shotgun much like her father’s. Carefully Molly moved it aside to see another gun like it. Molly gripped the sides of the box her mind trying to piece together what she was seeing. Her father had told her that he was storing some things for Colum under the porch and to take care not to get them and her things mixed up. Was this what he was talking about? But what would Colum need with all these guns and why was the box marked “tools”? In an almost panic like state Molly grabbed the planks she had torn off the top of the box and started to hammer them back into place in spite of her shaking hands.

AJ Cinders watched as Molly Gallagher walked from the churchyard to the house her and her father were living in. She went inside and came back out again with a hammer. AJ had watched the young woman for the past few days. During the trial she was there almost everyday. She’d heard that when the men that were partnered with KC had escaped from the jail, Molly was inside and had briefly been held hostage by them. She had also heard that Molly defended KC’s actions in letting the men escape, saying the woman saved her life by doing so. AJ watched her disappear behind the house and followed her. AJ watched as Molly used a hammer to open a wooden crate. From where she was, she couldn’t make out the girl’s face but something had upset her. Her back stiffened and AJ watched as she quickly struggled with shaking hands to recover the box. Something inside that box wasn’t what Molly had expected and AJ meant to find out what it was.