Chapters (71)
- Copyright Notice
- Dedication
- Part One
- One
- Two
- Three
- Four
- Five
- Six
- Seven
- Eight
- Nine
- Ten
- Eleven
- Part Two
- Twelve
- Thirteen
- Fourteen
- Fifteen
- Sixteen
- Seventeen
- Eighteen
- Nineteen
- Twenty
- Twenty-One
- Twenty-Two
- Twenty-Three
- Twenty-Four
- Twenty-Five
- Twenty-Six
- Twenty-Seven
- Twenty-Eight
- Twenty-Nine
- Thirty
- Thirty-One
- Thirty-Two
- Part Three
- Thirty-Three
- Thirty-Four
- Thirty-Five
- Thirty-Six
- Thirty-Seven
- Thirty-Eight
- Thirty-Nine
- Forty
- Forty-One
- Forty-Two
- Forty-Three
- Forty-Four
- Part Four
- Forty-Five
- Forty-Six
- Forty-Seven
- Forty-Eight
- Forty-Nine
- Fifty
- Fifty-One
- Fifty-Two
- Fifty-Three
- Part Five
- Fifty-Four
- Fifty-Five
- Fifty-Six
- Fifty-Seven
- Fifty-Eight
- Fifty-Nine
- Sixty
- Sixty-One
- Books by Barbara Taylor Bradford
- About the Author
- Newsletter Sign-up
Blackie watched her ample figure moving over to a large cupboard at the end of the kitchen. Although she was plump, he thought how graceful she was. And she certainly had a kind heart. She had often spoken to him about Conor, and when he had wondered out loud why he was in the Indian army she had explained it to him. “It’s the British army in India, with British officers and regular soldiers, but Indian soldiers as well. Mostly there ter keep the peace, I suspect. There’s always rumbling in India.”
Mrs. O’Rourke returned to the fireside carrying the suitcase. After placing it on a chair, she turned the key in the lock, opened the lid, then glanced at him. “Look inside, Blackie; it’s brand-new.”
“I can see that it’s as clean as a whistle. Perfect size for me. Thank ye.” He cleared his throat and stared at her. “Are ye sure ye want to part with this? It’s a grand suitcase. Ye might need it.”
“And where would I be agoing, I ask ye that, lad?” She looked up at the ceiling and went on, “And sure as God made little apples, Conor’ll never be needing it, not where he is.…” Her voice trailed off and Blackie noticed her black eyes were moist with tears.
He was about to comfort her, but before he could, she muttered, “Silly lad, agoing off like that, and not coming back ter me … having an accident with yer horse and dying on me … and in a foreign land.”
Shaking her head, pulling herself together, Cook closed the suitcase and gave Blackie the key. “It’s strong, well made.”
“Thanks a million, Cook. It’s a grand present, and I’ll treasure it. I can’t believe Conor never used this.” He lifted the suitcase off the chair and put it on the floor.
“He was a soldier,” she said, a hint of pride now echoing. “The British soldiers use kit bags, ye knows.”
“Of course. I’d forgotten!” Blackie exclaimed.
“I’m happy ye’ll be going ter Leeds,” she said. “Lots of opportunities there, so I understand. Fer a bright lad, ye’ll do well, Blackie, and especially since yer uncle Pat is there ter guide ye. He’s clever, but then all the Kennedys are.”
“Yes, I’m lucky, sure I am, having this chance to make my way in life.”
She nodded, sniffed and went over to one of the ovens, looked inside. “Oh, that’s awright, I thought me cake was burning.”
“I don’t smell anything,” Blackie said in a reassuring voice.
“No, a false alarm.” Walking back to him, sitting down at the table, Mary O’Rourke said, “But I do hope ye’ll come back to see us, Blackie. We’ll all miss ye.”