Chapter 6

A few days later, breakfast had just been finished and the family was getting ready to start their day. Jarrod, Heath, and Jack Ryan were in the billiard room going over the books for the Ranch. Victoria, Audra, and Kathleen Ryan were preparing to go visit the orphanage; they were still worrying about what would happen to the children if they couldn't find a new priest to come and take over for Father Anthony. There was a temporary caregiver there, but arrangements were being made to transfer the children to different places.

"Where's Nick? We need to look over this together, Heath. I can never read his chicken scratch. Is this a five?" Jarrod was exasperated. His younger brother was not a good record keeper.

"I think so; he went upstairs to get something from his room. He'll be here in a minute." Heath replied calmly. He knew neither one of his brothers enjoyed the monthly accounting.

Nick was upstairs avoiding the meeting with Jarrod. He hated paperwork and the monthly accounting. He knew it was necessary, but boy, the counselor could be aggravating! His thoughts went back to when he had returned home.

He had been dreading the dinner with company, but then he saw her, Rhianna O'Brien. She was beautiful and had totally captured his heart. He had tried to talk to her at dinner and then again, after dinner. She was pleasant, but would not be drawn into extended conversation. Nick was content to let her be and enjoyed just watching her. He especially loved listening to her speak. She spoke with the melodious lilt that is distinctive of southern Ireland. He frowned. The problem was he hadn't seen her since. No one seemed to have, but he couldn't ask too many questions without revealing his feelings and he wasn't ready to do that yet.

With a sigh, he headed downstairs. He couldn't avoid the monthly meeting forever. As he got to the bottom of the stairs there came a loud, persistent knocking at the door; he went to answer it.

Before him stood Rhianna O'Brien. She was in a uniform and looked angry, very angry.

"Well, we meet again." In spite of her obvious anger, Nick attempted to be his most charming self.

"Where is your brother?" Rhianna demanded.

"Which one? I have three. And what the hell are you wearing?" Nick was confused.

"WHERE IS JARROD?" Rhianna was not to be diverted from her mission.

"He's in the billiard room and you didn't answer my question." Nick replied.

"I am wearing a uniform; I would think a former army officer would recognize one when he saw it! Now, Barkley, are you going to get out of my way or do I have to move you?" In spite of all Nick's efforts, Rhianna's anger had not abated one bit.

Nick stepped aside and let her into the house. He watched with astonishment as she stormed past him and headed directly to the billiard room.

"Heath these numbers don't make sense. According to last month's tally we had many more head of cattle and the month before as well, so what I want to know is..." Jarrod stopped speaking abruptly as he spied an angry Rhianna bearing down on him.

"Jarrod Barkley, Why are you sending telegrams to Ireland asking about me? Did you know about this, Jack?" Rhianna was demanding answers.

Victoria, Audra, and Kathleen heard the shouting coming from the billiard room. Kathleen said, "That sounds like Rhianna." The women went in to see what was going on. They saw everyone looking at Jack expectantly.

"No, I didn't." Jack answered her immediately though he looked at Jarrod.

Rhianna nodded though she still looked dangerous. She addressed Jarrod. "I know you want answers to your questions and I would love to give them to you, but I can't. If you keep sending these telegrams you will jeopardize everything I have worked for."

Rhianna threw the telegrams on the desk in front of Jarrod.

"How did you get these? Telegrams are supposed to be private." Jarrod was getting angrier.

"My people in Ireland intercepted them there and will continue to do so; you are endangering countless lives." Rhianna was determined he would stop.

"How am I endangering lives, Miss O'Brien?" Jarrod was determined to get answers to his questions.

At this question Rhianna moved toward the massive fireplace. Jack watched as she started to pace. He knew how her mind worked and that

she was really struggling with this. He knew she wanted to tell them. "Tell them, Rhianna."

Rhianna acted as if she hadn't heard a word that had been said.

"Rhianna?" When she didn't react he spoke the one word he knew she would respond to. "General?"

At that one word Rhianna snapped her head up glared at Jack. She was furious.

"Damn it, Jack; you just couldn't resist, could you?" Rhianna's anger increased even more.

"Don't you think they deserve to know?" Jack's loyalties were being divided.

"Of course they deserve to know! However, I don't always have the luxury of doing what I want to do. There is too much at stake here, Jack; I won't risk his life too." Rhianna let her anger and fear have full reign.

Jack replied heatedly, "You won't endanger him if you tell them something to ease their mind. And what's more…"

"That will be enough, Colonel." Rhianna cut him off, speaking sharply. Jack knew when she called him by rank it was time to back off. Rhianna looked at the Barkleys. They looked shocked at what they had just heard.

"General?! But you're a woman. The war is over. Women don't fight, and they don't become generals! And since when does MY assistant foreman listen to YOU since I'm his boss!" Nick was flabbergasted. What happened to the woman he met the other night?

Rhianna stood in front of Nick Barkley and rose to her full height. With all her military bearing she spoke to him in her commanding tone, though he towered over her. "YOUR war may be over, Barkley, but ours is not. I am the commanding General of the Army. I AM the Army."

Then she turned quickly to Jarrod trying to speak calmly though she was full of fear, "You are endangering lives because if the enemy finds out I have left Ireland, they will hunt down my men. They will find out where I am, figure out why I left, and people will die. Then they will come after me."

"I think you are grossly overestimating your own importance, Miss O'Brien. You must be afraid for your life, after all." Jarrod shot back.

"It's GENERAL O'Brien, Counselor. I am not at all concerned about my life, but about my men. You shouldn't speak of things you know nothing about!" Rhianna retorted.

"Well, GENERAL, maybe I could speak more accurately if you would bother to tell us what you are doing here at all!" Jarrod was almost as angry as Rhianna.

Rhianna took a deep breath. Jack was right. She owed them some kind of explanation. In a slightly calmer voice she continued, "I came here to make sure it was safe. That I hadn't been followed and I could trust you. As for the rest, I can't tell you."

Victoria spoke up, "I think we understand. There will be no more telegrams, Jarrod."

As Jarrod nodded his agreement, Nick suddenly exploded. "What?! We understand nothing, Mother! How do we even know she is telling the truth? We know nothing about her, really and…"

Rhianna turned quickly and came face to face with Nick. She was enraged and there was fire in her eyes.

"Are you calling me a liar, Barkley?" Rhianna was no longer shouting. Her voice was low and had an edge to it that was dangerous.

Jack started edging toward the door thinking, "Now Nick's done it. You never, never, NEVER question the integrity of an O'Brien, especially this O'Brien."

Rhianna continued heatedly, "I am a direct descendant of Brian Boru, the High King of Ireland. I am a member of one of the oldest and most respected families in all of Ireland. I am the Commanding General of the Army!"

"Rhianna…" Jack tried to get her attention.

"Don't EVER question my integrity, Barkley!" Rhianna continued.

"Rhianna!" Jack tried again.

"And let tell you one more thing..."

"GENERAL!" Jack bellowed.

"WHAT?!" Rhianna turned to see Jack standing with an Army Lieutenant. She suddenly got very still and paled, but she recovered quickly.

"Lieutenant?" Rhianna addressed him briskly. She was once again in complete control.

The Lieutenant quickly saluted. "General, I have a message from the Major."

Rhianna shot a quick look of terror at Jack. "Give the message to the Colonel."

"Yes, General." The Lieutenant gave Jack the message and then stood at attention waiting for his commander to dismiss him.

Rhianna waited and said a silent prayer while Jack read the dispatch.

"Jack?" Rhianna couldn't take her eyes off her subordinate.

He folded the note, handed it to her, and said, "I think you should read it."

Rhianna slowly unfolded the note keeping her eyes on Jack before reading it. When she finished she looked at Kathleen. She spoke just above a whisper, "They got him out."

Kathleen couldn't believe what she was hearing. Jack came over and took his wife in his arms and said, "He's safe."

Rhianna continued, "Lieutenant, What is the rest of the message?"

The Lieutenant looked uneasy. "General, The Major says this: At Heath's favorite time of day, the favorite book will be read two one three."

Rhianna nodded her understanding. Then she turned to Jarrod and Victoria.

"Now I can tell you the rest."