Doctor Jenkins finished his examination, then gently re-covered Patrick Curry, a man he had known for years and considered a good friend. He turned to the anxious family and waved them away from the bed, before he said softly. "I'm sorry there's nothing more I can do. He's barely conscious, and I'm sure it won't be long now." He swallowed hard and added. "I'm so sorry, I wish it was better news." Then he'd left with a sad smile and another heartfelt apology.

So here they were, Bridie, James, Alexander and Kathleen sitting by Patrick Curry's bed, listening to his wheezing breathing. He'd always been strong, when Bridie and James had found it hard to know how to even make through the next day, struggling to mend their broken hearts, after their boys had been taken from them, and with every lost baby his daughter had lived through, he'd always been their anchor, their rock, their shelter.

But now to Bridie, he looked so small, so diminished, it was if she could see the life force being pulled out of him, and her heart ached. She smiled slightly, even through her grief though, at the memory of his joy, when they had been so blessed by their late additions.

James sighed beside her, and she clenched his hand tightly, pulling it tight onto her leg. Her other arm was wrapped round Kathleen, as Alexander held his wife's hand.

As they watched, Patrick stirred, and opened his eyes. After a moment, he turned his head to look over at them,recognition in his face for the first time in days, and his face broke into a weak smile as he said. "Ahh, my children, don't look so fretted, its time. I'm so tired and I'm ready to see my dearest Moira again. I'm so proud of you all."

Then his face relaxed, and he gave a final shuddering breath and was gone. Bridie whimpered, and leaning forward, gently closed the eyes of the man who'd been the only father she'd cared to count, as Kathleen began to cry softly.

Alexander, his voice thick with tears, cleared his throat and when the looked over at him, with a final squeeze on Kathleen's shoulder said gently. "I'll go tell the boys."

ASJ

Jed was sat on the couch, staring into space, when his Ma came in from the kitchen, carrying two plates of pie. His favourite cherry, because it was his birthday. He was so lost in his thoughts, that he didn't hear her and jumped slightly when she spoke. "You're looking awful sad for a boy turnin' seven."

He turned to her, and said quietly. "Its just..."

He trailed off, not able to find the words he needed, but she understood anyway, and gave him a sympathetic smile as she said. "Your Grandpa was weary and wanted to see your Grandma again...I know its hard, son. I miss him too." She paused, handed him one of the slices of pie as she added. "Now tuck into that, then when your Pa gets back with Hannibal, and your aunt and uncle, we'll have some cake... we got a gift for ya, that might help bring your sunshine back." She held up her hand and shook her head as he started to ask. "Eat your pie son, you'll find out soon enough. He started eating, then looked over at her, and with his mouth full said. "Best pie ever, Ma!"

She started eating her own, and they had barely finished, when the door flung open, and Hannibal came barrelling in, his Ma, Pa and uncle behind. "You better not have eaten all the pie, Jed!"

Bridie shook her head and stood. "Whist boy, you know, I always make enough to feed an army...or even just two hungry boys and their parents."

After the candles were blown out, and the cake eaten, Bridie handed Jed a small brightly wrapped package. He tore the paper off with enthusiasm, and gasped in excitement, as he spied a gleaming pocket knife, which he recognised it instantly, and he said with much excitement. "Grandpa Curry's!"

James laughed. "It's yours now, son. I got it all fixed, and cleaned up real nice for ya. Even got it inscribed, he leant over his son, and turned the knife over to reveal words engraved in neat copperplate. "Ar Ga Greine."

Jed looked at the words, recognising them as what his Ma often called him. He looked over at his Pa, who grinned and winked. "Well, so you are, 'cept when you're not, and his Ma laughed and added. "Like Mornings."

He looked between them, his face dropping a little,so his Ma pulled him into a hug. "Ahh Jed, we're just teasing ya boy. You're always our sunshine even when ya grumbling. Isn't that right James?"

Her husband nodded, and squeezed his son's shoulder. "Happy Birthday, son."

After storing the precious knife in his pants pocket, Jed looked over at his cousin, suddenly worried that he might be jealous, but Hannibal gave him a dimpled grin. "I got his pocket watch, Jed. Pa gave it me just before we walked over."

ASJ

Kathleen entered her son's room, relieved to see him still in his bed where he was supposed to be. He was sprawled on his back, a book resting on his chest. She peered at the title. "St George and the Dragon." It wasn't his usual taste of story, so she figured it was a book he'd chosen to read to his cousin, who was confined to bed with a bad cold, and who according to his mother was proving hard to convince to stay there.

She gently removed the book, and placed it on the small table next to the bed, and kissed her son's forehead gently. He woke, and murmured softly ."Love you Ma." Before he fell back into sleep with a smile on his face.

When she returned to the living area, her husband had just finished reading the paper as she entered, he put it heavily down on the couch with a sigh. He still managed to smile at her, as she came over to sit next to him, and tossed the paper onto the floor, before he put his arm round her tightly. "I don't agree with ownin' men. Katie, and I see why there's a fight going on. But we're caught in the middle, and I gotta tell you sweetheart, I'm scared, more for the boys then us. They're so young."

Kathleen shared his fears, and sometimes her heart ached with just what kind of dangerous world her son and nephew were growing up into, and she said softly. "We can't control what's happening around us Alexander. But we can shower the boys with love, and keep them safe, for as long as there is blood flowing in our veins."

Alexander pulled her even closer and kissed her gently, before saying. "And that's of course just what we'll continue doing Katie." He paused and then added with firmness. "God Willing, this madness will be over before it destroys us all, and it'll feel like it never was."

Kathleen said softly with a glance up at where their boy slept "God willing you're right, Alexander."

August 21 1863

Jed stirred sleepily, as his Ma nudged him hard and said urgently. "Get up, son..."

"But Ma, its not even dawn."

He started to complain in earnest, but then as he awoke more fully, and took in her expression, he instead quickly did as he told. As he climbed out of bed, she passed him his clothes and said. "We have to get to your aunt and uncle's quick...we don't have much time. Your Pa's already there."

Jed pulled on the clothes, not forgetting to put his pocket knife in his pants, he never went anywhere without it. Jed felt his Ma's panic. He didn't really understand it, but it was so rare a thing, that he felt his own rising in response to it, and a chill went through him, and his throat was suddenly dry. He coughed in an attempt to clear it. As he finished dressing, his Ma pulled him into a hug. "I'm sorry, I know I'm scaring you, but its real important you come quickly,"

Jed nodded, unable to speak round the lump in his throat, he'd never seen his ma like this before. Unprotesting, he allowed her to tug him hard down the stairs to their living area, and together they quickly left the cabin. They arrived at the Heyes cabin, to be met by an equally puzzled Hannibal, his very worried parents, and his Pa, looking pale and tense.

Jed looked over at the hill behind them, and saw a line of men on horses, and realised why the adults were so afraid, as in last couple of years, the appearance of soldiers often seemed to herald something bad. Both he and Hannibal opened their mouths to say something, but his Pa shook his head. "Don't ask any questions we haven't the time. You're just to make a run for that cornfield yonder, and stay there till its safe..."

Hannibal looked over at his own father, who said fiercely. "He's right, now is not the time to be asking anything Hannibal, just do as your uncle says, and make sure neither you or Jed move."

Hannibal's Pa rarely didn't answer any question he asked, so his son swallowed hard, understanding that this was something serious. With a final look up at the shadowy figures against the rising sun, he took his cousin's hand and said fiercely. "We better do as they say Jed..."

Jed tilted his chin up and his eyes blazed. "No! I wanna know what's happening. I'm not going anywhere, and you won't make me go."

His Ma whirled on him, furious, and slapped him hard on the face as she yelled. "BOY! Just do what ya told!" Almost as soon as the slap had landed, the brief stunned silence was broken by James' startled "Bridget!"

Jed's lower lip started to quiver, and he clasped his stinging cheek, just as his Ma's eyes filled with tears and she paled. She quickly pulled him into a tight hug, rocking him in a way she hadn't since he was very young as she murmured. "Ahh, my child, I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Forgive me my darlin' boy." She stopped for a moment as tears clogged her throat, before after a cough, she continued. "Please,Jed, just do as we say. You know we love you so very much, we wouldn't be asking this if it wasn't important. You have to listen, and do what you're told, without fussing. Whatever you hear, don't you dare move from that field. You understand? Not until you're sure its safe."

Jed felt tears start to fall, as she held him tightly murmuring 'ar tiodhlac luachmhor.' over and over for several minutes, until his Pa cleared his throat and said gently. "Bridie, they have to go...or..." He didn't say anything else, but his wife nodded, tears rolling down her cheeks.

Hannibal was folded into a tight hug by his parents as his Ma whispered. "You and Jed look after each other, if we can't. Promise me."

Hannibal nodded fiercely, and said firmly. "Promise, Ma."

She gave him a small smile that though showed her worry, still reached her eyes, as she looked at him with some pride. "You're a good boy, Hannibal. I know you'll do your best." She kissed him and said quietly. "Don't look back, whatever you hear, for Lord's sake don't look back."

As Jed turned to his Pa, James rested both his hands on his son's shoulders as he said. "I love you, boy, never forget that."

Bridie came up behind them, and wrapped her arms round them both as she said. "Love you, Jedediah. Remember that."

Then they were being shoved down the hill, Hannibal dragging Jed behind him, just as there was a sound like thunder. Jed slowed, but Hannibal tightened his grip and pulled them headlong towards the field as he gasped. "Don't look, back. Jed...just don't look back."

ASJ

As the sound of gunfire and screams reached the boys, who'd hidden in the cornfield James had told them to, Jed rolled away from Hannibal, clambered to his feet to see what was happening, obviously intending to fly up the hill, but his cousin tackled him to the ground, and lay on top of him. His two years extra growth gave him an advantage, and despite Jed's fierce struggling, he couldn't pull free, even as he continued to try. "Let me go, Heyes!"

Though it had been years, since he'd not been able to say his cousin's name, Jed still used Heyes by preference, but Hannibal ignored his pleas, and simply tightened his grip, hissing. "We promised, Jed, we promised. Now stay still!"

Jed reluctantly relaxed, but Hannibal not entirely trusting him, didn't move from where he lay pinioning his cousin, and they stayed like that for hours. Eventually after the heavy sound of retreating hooves, an eerie silence settled over the area, as smoke plumed into the cloudless sky, shrouding the sun.

Jed no longer willing to wait, now there was no more sounds coming from around them, wriggled out from under his cousin, fierce determination lending him strength. Once on his feet, he began to run down the hill back to their homes, as Hannibal followed hard on his heels. He was as desperate as his cousin to see what had happened, and fearing the worst, he wanted to make sure they found out together.

ASJ

Jed reached the edge of their homesteads, and easily spied the prone forms of his folks, and his aunt and uncle, lying close together outside the shell of the Heyes cabin, and skidded to a halt. He could see his own home, also blackened and burned across the river that flowed between them. The usually clear, fast flowing water, cloudy and sluggish.

The acrid smell of smoke was making his eyes burn, and clogging his throat. A whimper escaped him as Hannibal skidded to a stop behind him. He stepped forward and shook his cousin off as he tried to grab his shirt. He ran to the prone forms, and fell to his knees by his Ma, trying not to look at the pooling blood on her once pristine blue dress. His Pa was half on top of her on his back, a rifle had fallen to the ground by them. He had obviously been trying to protect her to the end.

Jed's eyes blurred, and he began to sob so hard, he couldn't breathe, as Hannibal fell to his knees next to his own folks, who were lain in much the same positions, and soon his own keening wail, was added to the sounds of his cousin's heart broken sobbing.

ASJ

They buried their families in two graves, close together, as deep as they could manage.

After they laid the last stone on top of the newly dug flattened soil, hoping that would prevent any animals from disturbing them, Jed turned to his cousin and asked. "Think we coulda helped them if we'd not been hid?"

Hannibal turned to face him, and laid his hands on his shoulders. "No, Jed... we'd just have died with them, and I ain't sure they'd have forgiven us for that."

Jed with a lingering look at the graves, sniffed, and felt for his pocket knife. Tracing the words engraved there, he knew Heyes was right, both about them dying had they tried to prevent this, and what his folks would have felt about that. Suddenly, rather than angry he was grateful to Heyes, for stopping him from running down the hill. He tried to speak, to tell him so, but his throat tightened at the memory of his last sight of his parents, and no words would come. So he simply put his own hands on his cousin's forearms, hoping to convey his agreement, and tightened his grip briefly, before he allowed Heyes to steer him away from the wreckage of their lives, as numbness settled in on him, making everything seem grey and cold, despite the heat of the day.

Translation notes:

Ar Ga Greine- Our ray of sunshine

Ar Tiodhlac Luachmhor - Our precious gift.