Visitor from Dublin



While the boys were gone Murdock was busy. He was in Johnny's room, he was searching the drawers. He didn't bother with leaving things neat. He left a mess, but who cares he thought, the boy is messy anyway. A smile lit his face, as his hand found what he sought.



Eoin O'Halloran was riding towards the ranch house. He was impressed with the land, it held a beauty about it. He thought of his homeland, and the beauty of Ireland. The gentle rolling hills of green clover. The air that was fresh and sweet, and a sky as blue as Deirdres' eyes. By the shore, the sea beat at the cliffs, the roar of the ocean drown out the seabirds calls. His thinkin place. The thatched cottages in their own way was as beatiful as the fine houses he had seen in his travels. He loved it. He would return soon, and not leave again its shores until the Banshee called.



He dismounted at the hitching post and tied his horse. He took the case he carried from the horse and moved to the door. He knocked on the front door and waited.



The door was opened, and Murdock looked at the man in front of him. Into the blue eyes, he took in the appearence and for some reason remembered back in time when he traveled from Scotland. Clothing was similar."Yes may I help you. I am Murdock Lancer." A smile lite the young mans lips, as his eyes took in the older man.



"I am Eoin O'Halloran. We are distant cousins. I have traveled a long way to see your family."



"You are from my mothers side, the Irish side?"



"Yes, just as good as the Scot side of yourself."



"I didn't mean to imply it wasn't. Come in." He led the young man inside.



Scott was nibbling on an apple, and watching his brother swim about. The younger man was diving ever once in awhile. He disappeared and Scott watched when he didn't come back up Scott got worried, he moved over to the water, and called out. No reply. His heart beating fast, he started to pull off his boots, when His brother burst out of the water right in front of him, and splashed him.



"That wasn't funny Johnny." Scott sat back down.Picked up his apple, now all dirty and threw if away. "I thought you were drowning."



" Me?" The young man appeared to be thinking."I guess it's possible with all the holes I have had put in me. I guess I had better get out."Scott turned to grab a sandwich from his saddle bag, as his brother Slipped a wiggling fish down the back of his half buttoned shirt. Scott jumped to his feet and danced about, trying to get rid of it, as his brother roared with laughter. He finally unbuttoned his shirt and the fish flopped to the ground, its mouth gasping for air. Scott turned to his brother in his underwear, and smiled evilly. Johnny turned and backed up, still smiling.



"Now you are going to get it, little brother. He took off after the shorter man, who was off running. The afternoons peacefulness was shattered by the laughter of the two brothers. A mother duck and her young were heading to the water, hearing the noise and seeing the two humans, she quacked loudly and turned around and headed back where she had come from, her little babies following.



Eoin sat in a chair with a cup of coffee in one hand and a plate of sandwiches in the other. "Now Eoin, tell me why you have traveled so far. I haven't heard from my mothers people since I was a teenager."



"Well Murdock, I came because of a legacy. You mother was of a clan that did not forget her, even though she married your father, and left Ireland. Do you know much about the legend of the family?"

"Nothing at all, mother talked about it with my brother, Seamus, he was always wanting to know, but I thought it was silly." The young mans eyes began to burn.



"They are not silly! Not at all. It is a true legend, and it is in our blood. The traditions are as important as the legend. Murdock do you have children? Your own flesh and blood?"



"Why yes I do, two boys. Ungrateful boys, one has a firy temper, and fights for underdogs, and one is cool, and had manners and breeding but is mean to me, his father. I know what is best, they don't."



"So you have a coolheaded leader, and a firy warrior?" Murdock nodded his head.



"I never thought of that way, but yes. I guess they would fit in one of your myths."



"Good it is just what I am seeking."



"Now what about this inheritance you mentioned? What did I inherite? "



"You didn't inherite anything Murdock, it's your sons, that will. You forgot something. Remember when you visited the family at Conchobar castle? You got into a fight with your uncle Dara, and you crippled him. A cousin of ours, says you stabbed him in the back. A necklace of Emeralds vanished that day too." Murdocks' look turned cold, and his face reddened.



"Are you saying I did it? I didn't. I wouldn't have hurt Dara. I don't steal either!"



"The clan elder disowned you personally because of it. But not your sons. Because your mother asked it from her father, and because he loved her so he agreed." Murdock grew quiet on the outside, as he thought how he could borrow the inheritance, after all his sons didn't need it.



At that moment the front door opened and the two brothers came in smiling and talking. Blue eyes took in the two, and liked what he saw. Yes, he may have found just what he had been told to bring back.



Contin...