Here's chapter 1. I hope you like it.

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1865

Eabha sighed. There wasn't a lot for her to do in the tent, and she always avoided leaving it if possible. The men around Hell on Wheels made her skin crawl. It wasn't that they were poor and unclean; as an immigrant herself, she was used to it. But the way most of them stared at her, like they were dogs staring at a fresh piece of meat…she hated it.

"Eabha!" Catrina whispered sharply. "Come away from there."

She stepped back from the tent flap and walked over to her mother.

"When's Papa coming back?"

"He's working extra today. We should consider ourselves lucky for it."

The girl scoffed at this.

"Why? Because that brute's making him work his skin off?"

"You know it's not like that, child. The men around here are dangerous! Mr. Gundersen's the only reason we're allowed to tent near the middle of town, away from all the other workers."

"Why are we in danger? Isn't there a whole tent of women down the path?"

"Yes, but people are always looking for other troubles in these parts. We're just trying to keep you safe."

Just then, Brendan finally walked in.

"Papa!" Eabha exclaimed, throwing her arms around his middle.

"Hello there, my girl."

Catrina stepped forward, and after greeting her husband with a kiss, she spoke.

"Why're you back so early, Brendan? I thought you had extra work."

Brendan frowned to himself before answering.

"I thought the same. But the Swede told me to go home, that I'd overworked enough as it is."

"But he's the one who…"

"I know, I know. It's just his way of pushing me even further into debt than I already am."

"He can't do that, can he?" Eabha asked innocently.

"What can I do about it, lass?"

The family stood in silence for a moment. Just then, there was a light tapping on the tent flap.

"Malloye!" the familiar foreign-sounding voice called out. "A word."

Brendan sighed to himself before opening the entrance. Thor Gundersen stepped inside, reaching up to take off his hat. His head nearly touched the top of the tent.

"Mr. Malloye, I've come to discuss your current debts. I'm very worried."

"Sir, it's like I told you. I'm still behind, and I thought I was working late—"

"That is the same as what you told me last week, and several weeks before. Perhaps if you didn't spend most of your earnings at the saloon, you would not have sunken this deep."

Brendan looked down in shame as Eabha backed up and sat on her cot.

"I've been lenient with you, but my patience is starting to thin."

"I understand, sir. But if I could just have more time…"

Thor started tuning out, and his gaze eventually fell on Eabha. The girl nearly squirmed in her seat as the head of security stared at her, the look in his eyes suddenly becoming more intense. After Brendan had stopped talking, Thor looked back at him, straightening up.

"Well, Mr. Malloye," he said, "If you were to come to my train car tomorrow, after you finish your work, perhaps we could come to some sort of arrangement."

Though uncertain, Brendan nodded.

"All right, I'll be there."

Thor put his hat back on.

"Good. I wish you a good night." He turned to Catrina and Eabha, bowing slightly. "Ladies."

Though he addressed them both, he gaze was pointed directly at Eabha. But before she had time to worry, the Swede was gone. Brendan let out a breath, and he looked at his family with slight worry.

OOOOOOOOOOOO

Thor sat at his desk later that night. He was trying to concentrate on the paperwork in front of him, but his mind kept drifting back to the lovely young lady in Malloye's tent. He had seen her on several occasions. She was much younger than the whores in town, probably fifteen or so. He was surprised at the feelings brought up within him merely by glancing at the girl. The more he saw her, the more a dormant part of him wanted to possess her. Even his former wife didn't hold a candle to this one's prettiness.

The recurring problem with Brendan and his debts had given him an idea, and the very thought of it made his heart beat a little faster.

Miss Malloye, I think we will be seeing more of each other.

OOOOOOOOOOOO

"Come in, Malloye."

Brendan slowly walked into the train car, finding the Swede at his desk.

"Please, sit."

After the Irishman obeyed, Thor sat up in his chair, folding his hands in front of him. A few moments passed before he spoke again.

"I'll get right to it. I am willing to forgive all of your debts, and under the right circumstances, you will never have to pay me another cent."

Brendan sat up at his. He could hardly believe what he was hearing.

"Sir, I can't even begin to thank you—"

"This will be the case under one condition…and one condition alone."

Looking down for a moment, Brendan took a small breath.

"And what's that, sir?"

Thor leaned forward a bit, planning his words carefully.

"Your young daughter, how old is she?"

"Um…just turned sixteen."

"Ah, such a ripe age. Well, your debt will be cleared and forgotten in exchange for her hand in marriage."

Brendan's eyes went wide; he did not expect that kind of an ultimatum. The initial thought of having to marry his darling girl off to a man he detested made his stomach churn in disgust. But the possibility of keeping the tent in such a safe spot weighed heavily on him mind. Reading his face, the Swede spoke again.

"Rest assured, I'll treat her with the utmost care. She will have to live by my rules, of course, but no harm of any kind will come to her."

The other man considered this. Eabha would be very well protected with the head of security as her husband. Nobody would dare touch her. And he, along with Catrina, would still be able to live a safe distance away from the other men. After spending a little while longer thinking about it, he slowly looked up at Thor.

Eabha…forgive me, sweetheart, but this is for the best.

"Very well, sir."

Thor smiled upon hearing the answer. He didn't expect Brendan to agree so quickly, but he was delighted nonetheless.

"Good decision, Malloye." He stood, and Brendan followed suit a few seconds later. "Shall we shake on it?"

The Swede extended his large hand, and after a moment, the Irishman took it.

"Well then, you will inform the young lady, and we shall make plans in the upcoming days?"

"Right, that's fine."

"Wonderful. I wish you a good night."

As Brendan nodded and left the train car, he could barely feel his feet moving. He dreaded having to tell his child the cost of her safety.

OOOOOOOOOOO

"What did he say?"

Catrina followed her husband as he walked into the tent, sitting next to him on their cot. He stared blankly ahead while Eabha settled down on his other side of him. After a moment, Brendan took the hands of his family and spoke.

"We came to this country to survive," he began shakily, "and we will. The two of you are my whole life, and I would sell my soul to the devil to keep you safe and away from harm. If anything happened to either of you, I could never forgive myself."

Eabha blinked nervously as her father continued.

"The Swede said he'd forgive my debts and let us tent here for nothing, under one condition, a condition I very reluctantly accepted."

"What was it?" Catrina asked gently.

"Before I tell you, please know that it ensures the safety of all of us." He glanced at his daughter. "Particularly you, lassie."

Me? Why me?

Brendan took another breath before concluding.

"His condition was that Eabha becomes his wife."

Before anyone had a chance to react, he turned to Eabha and took both her hands.

"I'm so sorry, sweetheart."

The girl couldn't hear him. Her mind was trapped in a numb void with only her father's words echoing in her ears.

I…I have to marry him? But…

She finally found her voice.

"Papa, you…you were just teasing about accepting, right?"

The saddened look on his face only made the horrid truth stand out even more.

"I…Papa, he scares me! You won't truly make me marry him, will you?"

Catrina got up and walked to her daughter, putting her arms around her quaking form.

"He's not going to hurt you, Eabha," Brendan said. "He gave me his word of honor that you'd be safe with him."

But she was beyond listening. Vivid memories flashed past her eyes, and she saw every time the Swede had leered at her for a second or two whenever he walked by. It made her skin crawl.

"No," the girl sobbed. "Please, Papa! Please don't make me!"

Brendan could only look at his weeping daughter, wishing only to bounce her on his knees until she laughed, as he would always do when she was a child. But he knew it wouldn't do any good with this.

Catrina stared at her husband, not knowing what to think. She knew Brendan did what he did out of love for his family and his desire to keep them safe. At the same time, she felt for Eabha. In fact, she'd noticed the Swede looking at her in an immoral way on many occasions. But she trusted her spouse. For as long as she'd known him, he had been an honorable man who devoted himself to his loved ones.

Oh, Brendan…I trust you. It's him I don't trust.

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Let me know what you think.