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
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“Good morning, lads,” a male voice said, and added, “I’m Harry Walton, Jane’s husband.” A thin, gray-haired man came into the room, and went around shaking their hands. He, too, had a careworn face, but his demeanor was pleasant, even welcoming. “And ye are a posse, that’s a fact.”
Patrick said, “We wanted to come with Finn because we’d heard the Ham Shank was dangerous.”
“Aye, it is that,” Harry agreed, nodding his head vehemently. “That’s why we haven’t let her go outside since she got here.”
“Because of the way she looks,” Jane cut in, grimacing. “What a face she’s got, different ter anything we’ve ever seen. Some man might hit her, or grab her, hurt her in some way. They’re easily roused up around the Ham Shank.”
Jack, frowning, asked, “She’s that ugly, is she?”
“I wouldn’t say that,” Harry muttered. “Just different ter most women we see every day.”
“Ye are goin’ ter take her away with ye today, I hope. Whisk her off to Upper Armley, like Tommy said in his message,” Jane said, sounding anxious.
“Yes, that’s what I want to do,” Patrick said, deciding to take charge, wishing to leave swiftly, get away from the Ham Shank, more than ever.
“We’ll go and get her,” Harry said, and taking his wife’s arm, he led her out of the room.
Blackie said under his breath, “This room is sparkling clean, and the windows and the white lace curtains are pristine, sure and they are. As for the Waltons, they seem like nice folk, friendly.”
“I think so too,” Finn agreed. “And mebbe younger than we think. Jane is Tommy’s cousin of some kind, so he said.”
“Moira must be ugly the way they spoke,” Blackie said, staring at Finn. “Even so, that doesn’t matter. She needs looking after, getting to safety. And we’ll do that, Finn. I swear on the heads of the Blessed Saints I’ll do that, and ye all will. Correct?”
“Absolutely,” Patrick answered at once. “That was the reason we came here—” He stopped speaking as Jane returned, holding the arm of Moira. “This is Moira Aherne, Mr. Kennedy.” She gave the girl a small push.
Moira walked across the floor toward him, her face serious.
Patrick was stunned by her looks and quite speechless when she drew to a standstill in front of him. She stretched out her hand to him, and said, “I’m very glad to meet you.”
Patrick took her hand, cool to the touch, and managed to return her greeting. “And I’m happy to meet you too, Moira.”