“Me? Good? Jesus, woman, are you high?”
But still, her praise warms me, and I can’t say I don’t like it.
“Right, then,” she says, changing the subject. “We talk to Tiernan. Now?”
“Aye,” I say, my voice hardening. I need this boy to know how serious this is. “Now.”
“Tiernan.” She calls to him. He walks ahead of us with his hands stuffed into his pockets. He looks from me to her, and I swear he already looks guilty. “Come here a moment, will you?”
We’re ten minutes from the shops. We may need to talk more later, but I want to get to the bottom of this now.
“Fiona,” I call out. “We need to talk to Tiernan for a few moments privately. When we get into town, reckon we’ll get a treat at the bakery? They’ve bought out Lickety Splits and sell ice cream now.”
Her eyes go wide. “Oh, aye, thanks!” she says. I take some money out of my wallet and hand it to her. She takes it gratefully.
“Brilliant. Haven’t had ice cream in ages. Thank you, Nolan.” She pockets the money and goes a few paces ahead of us.
“Is that safe?” Sheena asks.
“Aye, lass. Lachlan and Tully are behind us anyhow.”
“Are they?” she swivels around, and her eyes go wide. “Jesus, I’m losing my touch.”
Tiernan approaches us as Fiona walks away.
“What is it?” Tiernan asks, and I swear he looks a bit guilty. He watches me apprehensively.
I like this boy. He’s on the cusp of breaking into manhood, tall and lanky and thin, with his sister’s red hair and freckles. But he’s got the look of a boy that’s seen too much in his tender years. I feel for him. It’s something he shares with the men of The Clan.
Sheena clears her throat. "The time for hiding is over. We can't do this anymore, Tiernan. Can't you see? We've enemies at our back. The hounds of hell, as it were."
He looks at her in confusion, frowning. "I don't know what you mean."
"First off, I was wrong. I thought the McCarthys were responsible for dad's death.” I can tell that it costs her to admit this. She’s a proud woman who thought her intentions purposeful. “I know now that they weren't. All this time, I was wrong." She stares at him, with a stern expression that would rival mam’s. Something stirs and me. She'd make a good mum herself. "So it's time you tell us the truth, Tiernan. We know more than you think we know. Tell us what job you’ve been doing.”
Tiernan's normally guarded expression falls for a moment, and for the first time, I don't see a boy on the verge of manhood, but a boy who's afraid of losing everything.
“What do you know?" he asks.
“No, Tiernan. You tell us." She brooks no argument, and he finally caves.
He swallows before he speaks. "I worked for the O’Gregors for a time. They paid me well to make deliveries. I worked at night mostly... sometimes at school. I didn't ask what they had me deliver and they didn't tell me, but I could imagine."
Sheena winces. “Oh, Tiernan. You're here under the protection of the McCarthys. For God’s sake, they’re offering us protection, and with your connections to the O’Gregors they could think you a spy."
His eyes narrow on her. "And you're any better? Your job is on the up and up, is it?"
She frowns and looks away before answering him. She clears her throat and speaks without looking at me or Tiernan. "I was. I came here on purpose. I wanted to find out everything I could, you see. I told you I was convinced they were guilty of a crime they didn't commit."
"Now what?" Tiernan asks. He looks sharply at me, his body tight and rigid with his arms across his chest. “We leave? Go home? We aren't welcome there anymore either, and you know it."
“Who said that, lad?” I ask. “Your sister’s got a job here. Part of our promise to her is to keep you safe.” I shrug. “It wasn’t smart, getting involved with the likes of the O’Gregors. But I did one worse, heading into their territory and causing trouble. But mark me, Tiernan.” I frown at him. I want him to feel the full weight of my words as well. “It was dangerous being errand boy for them. You need to know how risky that was, and promise your sister and me you won’t do such a thing again.”
His eyes flash at me, storm clouds of anger that look just like his sister’s. The Hurstons have fire in their blood, that much is true. But I won’t be intimidated by him, and I’ll have him listen. I won’t be put off by his hostility, either.
“You can glare at me all you want. But the fact remains, you did something dangerous and foolish, and if you’re going to be a man of integrity, you’ll own that.”