Page 44 of The Missing Sister

‘Ellie said that they were tortured in the outhouse at the Hurley farm, then led out with their hands tied behind their backs. She said... she said that neither man could hardly stand up. They forced Pat to wave a Union Jack.’ Hannah spat out the words. ‘I’ve been told they’re held at Bandon Barracks, but I’ll be betting they’ll be moved off fast to Cork City, before the volunteers launch a full ambush to rescue them.’

‘I’d say you’re right, daughter,’ said Eileen. ‘Are the other brigades alerted?’

‘I don’t know, Mammy, but I’m sure I’ll be hearing later on.’ Hannah shovelled some now cold potatoes and cabbage into her mouth. ‘And Nuala, I’ve news for you.’

‘What?’

‘I’ve had Lady Fitzgerald’s maid into the shop this morning. She was asking whether you’d go up to the Big House this afternoon to mind her son Philip? His nurse has left unexpectedly.’

The whole family stared at Hannah in disbelief. Eventually, Nuala managed to speak.

‘Ah, Hannah, after what you’ve just told me, Argideen House is not the place I’d be choosing to spend my time. And besides, why me? I’ve only gone up there to help out at a dinner or a shoot sometimes, and I’ve never even met the son.’

‘Lady Fitzgerald has heard that you were training to be a nurse before the hostilities started. Someone recommended you.’

‘To be sure, I can’t be going up there,’ Nuala replied adamantly. ‘I’ve sheets and clothes on the line, and who will make our tea?’

There was another silence, then her father looked up at her.

‘I think you should go, daughter. The fact they’ll have you inside their home means we’re not suspected.’

‘I... Daddy! No, please, I can’t. Mammy, tell him!’

Eileen gave a shrug. Decisions like this were her husband’s only.

‘I’m with Daddy,’ said Fergus. ‘I think you should go. You’d never know what you’ll be hearing when you’re there.’

Nuala glared round at her family. ‘’Tis nothing less than sending me across enemy lines.’

‘Now, Nuala, Sir Reginald might be a British Protestant who hosts the enemy, but I’d say he’s a fair man whose family have lived in Ireland a long time,’ Daniel replied. ‘’Tis easy in these situations to tar everyone with the same brush. You all know I’m an Irish republican through and through and I want the British out, but fair play to Sir Reginald, he’s decent enough, given his kind. His father gave mine our land at a good price, and Sir Reginald handed me that extra acre for next to nothing.’

Nuala looked at her father and knew there was no argument to be brooked. Daddy’s word was law. She gave a curt nod to indicate her compliance, and began to eat.

‘What time am I meant to be there?’ she asked.

‘As soon as you can,’ said Hannah.

‘Go and clean yourself up and put on your best cotton dress,’ Mammy ordered her after she’d finished her lunch.

Giving a heavy sigh of displeasure, Nuala did as she was told.

With her mother now in charge of the laundry and the cooking, Nuala wheeled her bicycle out of the barn to join Hannah on her journey towards Timoleague.

‘What will the brigade do without Tom Hales in charge of them?’ she asked her sister.

‘I’d say they’ll have Charlie Hurley replacing him as commandant,’ Hannah said as they cycled downhill, following the lane at the bottom which ran beside the Argideen River, then heading along towards Inchybridge, where they would part.

‘And my Finn?’ Nuala whispered. ‘Any news of him?’

‘I heard he’s with Charlie Hurley at a safehouse, so you’re not to be worrying. Now then, I’m off back to the shop. Good luck to you at the Big House, sister.’

With a wave, Hannah cycled off, while Nuala headed reluctantly in the direction of Argideen House.

The narrow track ran alongside the railway line, which in turn ran alongside the river. The birds were singing and the sun was playing through the branches of the thick forest that surrounded her. She passed the special spot where she and Finn used to meet in secret and, stepping off her bicycle, she wheeled it into the woody interior and parked it against an old oak tree. Sitting down under its protective leaves, in the very place where Finn had first kissed her, Nuala took a few seconds to herself.

She’d first set eyes on Finnbar Casey at a Gaelic football match, when he’d been playing on the same team as Fergus. He’d been sixteen to her fourteen, and hadn’t given her a second glance. But she had been hypnotised by this tall, dark-haired boy, who’d run with such grace, skilfully dodging his opponents as he kicked the ball into the goal. He had an easy laugh and kind blue eyes, and he’d stayed firmly in her memory, even after he’d gone off to complete his teacher training. They’d met again at a wedding a year ago, after he had taken up a position as teacher at the local school. Dancing together in theceilidh, he had taken her hand in his, and she had known. At eighteen and twenty, the age gap hadn’t mattered anymore. And that had been that. The wedding was set for August – only a few weeks’ time.

‘I’d always imagined we’d wed in a free Ireland...’ Finn had said the last time they’d met.