Katrina

Chapter Nineteen

They had almost reached home. Patrick, had decided to take the shortest route through the fields, Katrina hanging onto his arm tightly.

It was quite dark, with only the pale light from the crescent of the moon appearing through the cloudy night sky.

Though it was difficult to see much in front of them, it was lucky that Patrick knew his way from Myra's place blindfolded, so was able to move swiftly.

Katrina could see their cottage in sight and felt relief flood through her.

Just as she thought they were safe, three figures seem to appear out of nowhere blocking their path.

Despite the darkness, Katrina could make out one of their faces, one she recognised as O'Rourke, and he had a pistol pointed at them

"What the hell do you think you are doing O'Rourke?" Patrick demanded

"Shut up!" O'Rourke snapped, he was glancing around him nervously

"Just my luck to run into a traitorous scum like you O’Malley, maybe its time I took care of you once and for all," he cocked the pistol

"No!" Katrina exclaimed, now standing in front of Patrick to protect him

One of O'Rourke's companions nudged him, "We don't have time for this, the soldiers will be on us, we have to get away from here" he hissed urgently

"Why are the soldiers after you?" Patrick demanded as he pulled the reluctant Katrina out of the line of fire, and made her stand behind him.

"Unlike you we don't support the English bastards, we want to get rid of them, and the only way to do that is to shoot them!" O'Rourke replied

"So that's the shooting we heard?" Patrick realised, then glared "All your gonna get for the trouble is hanged, a lot of good you will be then" he sneered.

"Better doing that than licking their arses, and taking their money like you did," O'Rourke snarled

"I did what I had to do to survive, it doesn't mean I liked it" Patrick returned

The sound of shouting and of horses hooves in the near distance, made O'Rourke jerk his head in the direction they were coming from, then turn back to Patrick, aiming the gun closer to his face

"Go on then, shoot me now, and once they hear the gunshot, you will have them down on you on no time, you stupid Bugger," Patrick growled angrily

"He is right, we have to get going.. Now!" O'Rourke's companion insisted

"You are not going to get very far," Patrick said, "They have horses, you don't"

"I suppose you want us to give ourselves up?" O'Rourke sneered, "Like they are going to show us mercy after us killing one of their soldiers.. I don't think so, we will take our chances"

"You don't stand a chance unless you listen to me," Patrick hissed, "Now you can let me help you"

O'Rourke squinted back at him uncertainly, "Why would you help us?" he demanded

"Because despite what you think of me, I have no wish to see my fellow Irish men shot like dogs by the English, I do know where my loyalty lies when it comes down to it" Patrick replied

"My place is only a few yards from here, you can go hide in the barn, and I will distract the soldiers.. It will give you a better chance to get away"

"How do we know we can trust you?" O'Rourke remained uncertain

"You will just have to, it's either that, or getting caught.. Your choice" Patrick stated

"Lets do what he says, he is right" O'Rourke's other companion now spoke up, looking more jittery by the moment

Knowing that the soldiers were almost upon them, O'Rourke reluctantly lowered his gun,

"You betray us, and I will make sure I put a bullet through you, before I die," he warned

Patrick hurriedly led them to the barn, and told them to hide well, then he ordered Katrina to go into the cottage, as the sound of the soldiers approaching got nearer.

Taking a deep breath, Patrick attempted to look calmer than he felt, as the sergeant leading the patrol drew his horse to a halt in front of him

"Can I help you officer?" he enquired

"We are looking for three men, they opened fire and shot one of us and wounded another. We are sure they came in this direction" The sergeant said, glancing around him

"Well I am just here with the wife, tending to my animals.. I haven't seen anyone" Patrick replied.

"Well we will have to search just in case they are hiding" The sergeant said

"I can assure you, you would be wasting your time searching here, they are probably elsewhere, and getting farther away while you are wasting your time chatting here with me.

"Why should I believe you?" The sergeant demanded, "If you are hiding them you will be hanged along with them.. You do realise that?"

"Only too well," Patrick replied, "Which so I am not stupid enough to let them hide out here…. I see from your uniform you must be from the 95th regiment.. Good soldiers, I fought along side you lot, not so long ago in Spain" he then said

"Oh yes?" The Sergeant looked mildly interested,

Yes, I was a sergeant myself ," Patrick replied, "I remember the tough times, the last thing you need is some crackpot Irishmen taking shots at you, after you fought in battles like Waterloo." he said with feigned sympathy

His plan worked.

Exchanging some bittersweet memories of the Peninsular war, convinced the sergeant that Patrick was a comrade in arms, and unlikely to be hiding the fugitives. So he ordered his men to turn and go in a different direction, feeling sure Patrick had told the truth

Katrina had been watching it from inside the cottage through the window, it was only when the soldiers had disappeared, she came running out.

"Have they gone, what did you tell them?" she asked anxiously

"Ack now, We just swapped a few old war stories," Patrick replied jovially to allay Katrina's fears, “It seem to do the trick"

"I was so scared they were going to start searching the place, I can't believe you stuck out your neck like that for O'Rourke, epically after all he has said and done" Katrina frowned

"Me neither," Patrick’s tone became a little grim, "But I don't think I could live with the death of a another Irishman's blood on my hands at the expense of the English, even if it is a bugger like O'Rourke"

"Wait here," he then ordered Katrina, and then went over to the barn, opening the door

O'Rourke and his men had hidden themselves in the pile of hay. They slowly and cautiously appeared as Patrick entered.

"The soldiers are gone, just make sure you are gone also by the morning, and I hope you never question my loyalty again O'Rourke" he told him coolly, before turning and leaving them staring after him.

Then they turned to look at each other, with open relief on their faces, realising they were indeed safe.