AGAINST ALL ODDS Chapter 1

ONE

1857



         “Take it back!”  He had his fists raised as he ducked, danced around, and swung, at his opponent, and kept out of the way of his opponent’s fists while he threw a few punches.

         Bystanders gathered around as the two stood at loggerheads with each other. 

         “I will not.  The master carpenter said your work is flawed, and won’t hire you for any reason.”

         “I’ll show him whose work is flawed.  I’m a better carpenter than most of them he favors including Boyd Malone.”

         “You tell ’em,” came from the crowd.

         He looked up to see the crowd formed around them, and felt a punch in his gut.  He turned his attention back to his opponent.  “For one thing, I’ve done more than he has.  I’ve fixed pieces for half the people in the village and have had no complaints.”

         “I’m only telling you what he said.  He said your work is bad, and you’ll never work in his district if he has any say over it.”

         “He’ll eat his words.”

         “If you can’t find work, Mhairie won’t be marrying you if you have no way to provide for her.”

         “Says who?”  He jabbed him, caught him in the shoulder, and swung him around.

         His opponent came back with a jab of his own to the side of his nose.  He felt the blood trickle down, as he landed a blow to his ribs.  “I’ll provide for her well enough when we get to America.”

         “The master says he’ll stop anyone from hiring you, because not only is your work flawed, but you’re quick to use your fists as an answer to all your trouble.  He said he can’t use a person like that.”

         A woman made her way through the crowd who cheered them on.  Some of them quieted as they saw the look on her face.

         She took in the scene before her, hands on her hips.

         He lowered his fists for half a second, long enough for his opponent to land another blow along his ribs.  “I don’t use my fists for the answer to everything.”

         “No, then what are you doing now, tell me Duncan MacGregor?”

         Duncan took his eye off his opponent for a moment as he turned to see her coming at them.  It was enough for his opponent to land another blow to his ribs.  “Mhairie.”

         Duncan turned his attention back to his opponent, and landed another blow to his nose, while he was clipped under the chin, which threw his head back.  “Mhairie, I’ll not have anyone telling me my work is flawed.  It’s top rate, and I’ve been told so by many people.”

         “Yeah,” came answers from the crowd.

         “See, what did I tell you?”

         “Yes, but not the ones prepared to pay you for your work,” his opponent said.

         “Instead of fighting about your work, why not put your hands where they will do the most good,” Mhairie said.

         “And what would that be?” Duncan asked.

         “The Laird has ordered everyone in the village to the kelp fields,” Mhairie said.

         “Kelp!”  Duncan spat and it came out blood from the number of blows landed on his face and nose.  “He pays us 30 pence while he gets £2 a ton.  How does he expect a man to earn a living on what he gives us?”

         “If you would lay your fists down long enough to do some work, you would have the money you need,” Mhairie said.

         Duncan laid his fists by his sides, and his opponent did the same.  “Mhairie, I work hard, and everyone in this village knows it, and I spend my extra time working with wood, making or repairing tables, chairs, anything that needs doing.  The little I get from that isn’t even a day’s wage.”

         “That may be Duncan MacGregor, but if you didn’t squander what little you get on a tank you would have more.”

         “It ain’t manly not to have a tank now and again.  It lifts the spirits,” Duncan said.

         “Aye, and your fists.  I hear you brawling in the pub, and it’s always the same thing you fight over, your work,” Mhairie said.

         “Sometimes I fight over you, Mhairie.”

         “Me, and what do you expect from me?”

         Duncan looked at his opponent for a moment before he turned back to her.  “I’ll be asking your father for you tonight.”

         “I won’t have you.”

         Duncan looked defeated by her words, and then saw the gleam in her eyes.  “You will, and I’ll make right by you.”

         “Not if you use your fists to answer all your problems.  Look at the two of you, fighting over what, me or what I heard from the master?”

         “What did you hear from the master?”

         “I heard him tell you how you took a table to him for his inspection and he said the wood was poor quality, and so was your work.  It would break to pieces with no trouble at all.”

         “When did you hear him tell me that?”

         “He didn’t tell you, he told Boyd.  I had gone looking for you.”

         “He lies!  It took four of us to bring that table into his workshop, Gordon M’Crie, Bret Campbell, Boyd Malone, and me.  There was no way that table would fall apart in a breeze.”  He raised his fists again.

         “So you would fight me now, would you?”

         Duncan wanted to punch something, but he would never lay a hand on Mhairie.  “No, I won’t fight you Mhairie.  You came looking for me, why?”

         “You had promised.”

         “To fix your mother’s best chair.  I’m sorry, Mhairie, I forgot.  I had just completed the table and wanted the master’s opinion on it.”

         “And you got it.  I also came to find Hamish, not expecting to find him in the middle of a brawl with you, to tell him mother has supper about on the table, and no doubt yours does too.”

         “You will marry me, though, won’t you Mhairie?”

         Hamish stood by, interested in the answer.

         Mhairie looked at them, bruised and bleeding, and shook her head.  “Not if you don’t change your ways, Duncan MacGregor.  You can talk with father, but if I say no, it won’t happen.”

         He stepped toward her to lay his hands on her shoulder.  “If I promise not to fight?”

         “Can the birds stop their singing?  Can the sun stop shining?”

         “She has you there Duncan,” Hamish said.

         Another man stepped from the crowd of interested bystanders.  “And you wonder why I won’t hire you.”

         Duncan looked from Mhairie to the newcomer.  “Master MacDuff, I didn’t see you.”

         “Obviously.  You stand here with your fists raised because I said your work is faulty, as I’ve told anyone who would hire you, and here you are doing what you do best.”

         “My work is good, and I’ll prove it to you, and everyone in this village,” Duncan said.

         “You have a long way to go to prove you can use the tools of the trade to make a table that will stand on strong sturdy legs.”

         “There was nothing wrong with the legs on that table I brought you today.”

         “There was everything wrong with it; you are just too blind to see it.  Now, I am not going to argue with you, I have my own supper to see to.”

         He walked away, and the crowd dissipated as the three stared after them.  All the fight was gone out of Duncan, yet he wanted to swing at something, instead he picked up a rock and threw it down the middle of the street to land at the far end.

         “Being angry never helped a situation,” Mhairie said.

         “No, my work is good, and I’ll not have Morton MacDuff destroying all my chances of making a living with my hands.”

         “From the looks of things he’s already done it,” another man said.

         Duncan looked around to see one man alone in the street, all the other bystanders gone their way.  “I’ve seen your work Boyd Malone, and it can’t stand a candle to mine.”

         “Aye, because it’s better.”

         Duncan ran up to him his fists raised for another brawl.  “I’m thinking you changed the table I brought to him today with one of your own.”

         Boyd laughed.  “The master has seen me work.  I have no need to change a table you made for one of my own.”

         “I’m sure under the master’s eye, you do your best.  Anyone would, but what about when he’s not got his eye on you.  I’ve seen what you can do, Boyd Malone, and it stands far worse than anything I’ve made, and even you know it.”

         “What I know is that the master will not endorse you, no matter how good, or in this case, bad your work is.”

         Mhairie stepped forward.  “Duncan, please.  Isn’t one brawl bad enough for one day, must you start another on the heels of the other?”

         Duncan looked at her and saw the look on her face.

         “Not only is your work bad, but it looks like you’re about to lose your girl too,” Boyd said.

         Duncan’s face grew dark as he took a swing at Boyd, who easily stepped away from the punch that would have landed on the side of his nose.

         “I can tell you one thing, Duncan, I won’t wed you if you can’t keep your fists and your temper in check,” Mhairie said.

         “I’ll marry you, Mhairie Kavanagh before we sail for America.  And when I do, nothing and no one will interfere in our lives.”

         “Like I said, I’ll not wed someone who can’t keep his fists at his sides.”

         “You’ve been my girl since, well, since forever.  Everybody knows we’re going to be wed.”

         “Then everyone will soon learn I’m not going to wed you, so when you see father tonight I’ll have already talked to him myself.  And as for you Hamish Kavanagh, I’ll likely disown the fact of knowing you, if you keep up your fighting.”

         They stood in the middle of the dirt street.  Duncan stared at her, and she stared back.

         “Aw Mhairie, have a heart,” Duncan said.

         “I won’t marry you Duncan MacGregor, and that’s final.  Not until you stop fighting.”

         “I guess that means I have a chance, since you’ll never stop fighting,” Boyd said.

         “You stay away from my girl, Boyd Malone, or I’ll finish with you.”

         “You’ll not fight anyone anymore today, or I’ll never speak to you again,” Mhairie said.

         “You will.  What will Reverend Mulhaney say when you don’t speak with me during service?”

         “Serve you right.  Besides I’m sure he’ll understand.”

         “I don’t know.  I heard Reverend Mulhaney was a boxer at one time,” Duncan said.

         “Aye, I heard the tale too.  He used to tell it to us in class,” Hamish said.

         “And that gives you the right to stand in the middle of the street brawling like hooligans?”

         “I was thinking about going in the ring to get the passage money for us to go to America,” Duncan said.

         “The ring is one thing, brawling in the street is another matter altogether.”

         “So I have your blessing to go in the ring then, Mhairie?” Duncan said.

         “I didn’t say anything about my blessing.  You’ll go ahead and do what you like without it anyway.”

         “I’ve used my fists all my life Mhairie.”

         “Yes, and look at what it’s got you?”

         “You will marry me, say you will Mhairie.”

         “I’ll say no such thing, except to tell Hamish supper’s almost on the table, and mother isn’t going to like to find you’ve been brawling again, and like as not your mother is about to put supper on the table for you as well.”

         “Can I call for you later, Mhairie?”

         “I already told you I won’t see you anymore.”

         “Come on Mhairie.  If I promise to keep my fighting to the ring, will you?”

         “Like that will ever happen.  Duncan MacGregor, you would rather swing first and then ask questions.  You will never see reason, and I don’t know why I would consider being your girl, or for that matter, your wife.”

         “You will, though, Mhairie.”

         She gave him a smile before she turned in the direction of their home.  “Come on Hamish, mother no doubt will shout you down when she sees you.”

         Hamish walked beside her, while Duncan watched them before he headed to his own home.  He looked at his bruised fists, and felt his swollen cheekbones.  He was certain there would be a shiner when he looked in the mirror.  He also knew his ribs had taken a beating.  It was all right though.  He knew Mhairie would see him, despite what she said.  He walked in the house to find his mother in the kitchen about to put supper on the table.

         “I see you been in a brawl again.  Who was it this time?”

         “Hamish.  He said Master MacDuff was telling everyone around the village my work is poor, and Mhairie said she won’t have me.”

         “I’ve heard the same as well, and as for Mhairie, she’s a strong-minded girl, I’d think about what is important to you, your fists, or wanting to wed her, besides you won’t without her father’s blessing on the matter.”

         “Mum, I’ve known her since she was a babe.  You’ve always known we would marry, so have her folks.”

         “That’s the way of it, but her father has to give his blessing on it before you can say your vows, and if she’s of another mind, you’ll have to convince her.”

         “Boyd Malone thinks to have her.”

         “You know that will never happen.  Mhairie has never looked at him.”

         “I know, but still.”

         “She’s a mind of her own.  Sounds like you need to make it right between the two of you.”

         “I told her I would speak with her father tonight.”

         “And what will you do for work?” his father said.

         Duncan looked up to see his father come from the living room.  “I’ll get work.  Morton MacDuff isn’t the only carpenter in town.”

         “No, but he is the master, and if he tells people your work isn’t good, no one will hire you.  It’s best if you go to the fishery or the mill.”

         “I’ve been to both, and I’ve not been hired on.  I’m thinking of going in the ring.”

         “The ring, and where will you find someone to pay you for boxing here?  You would have to go to the big city for that, and there’s no time.  The Laird is making it hard on all of us, and threatening eviction if the rents aren’t paid,” his mother said.

         “I heard there’s a meeting at the Kavanagh’s this even.”

         “Yes, right after we eat,” his father said.

         “And it’s ready to put on the table, get cleaned up; I don’t want to see blood at my table.  Have you seen Kennan and Kenzzie or your sister?”

         “Not since morning.”

         “I saw you down at the shipping office earlier,” his father said.

         “I’ve been thinking about getting hired on to pay for my part of the passage.”

         “That won’t be necessary.  A way’s been found for us to leave.”

         “What way?” Duncan said.

         “It’ll all come out at the meeting.  Now do as your mother said, or we’ll all eat cold supper.”

         The door slammed as Kennan and Kenzzie came through the door.  “You should see Hamish,” Kennan said.

         “Get cleaned up, and sit down to eat,” their mother said.

         “Mhairie said she’ll not talk with you again,” Kenzzie said.

         “You heard your mother, get cleaned up,” their father said.

         “She’ll talk to me, I’ve no worry,” Duncan said.

         “Your sister’s late to the table again,” their mother said.

         “Ailsa is at the railway yard,” Kenzzie said.

         “What is she doing there?” her father said.

         “She found some work,” Kennan said.

         “Work, doing what?” their mother said.

         “Cleaning out the cars,” Kenzzie said.

         “Well now, at least someone here is working,” their father said.

         “I’ll leave some soup for her,” their mother said.

         “I looked for work today,” Duncan said.

         Kennan sat down at the table.  “Looks like it by the shiner on your eye.  Looks a lot like Hamish’s.”

         “Boys,” their father said.

         They headed for the washbasin.  “Master MacDuff will rue the day he came against me.”

         “You be careful with talk like that,” their father said.

         “I’m going to prove my work is good, not only to him, but everyone else as well.”

         The boys sat at the table, and Duncan waited while their bowls were filled.  “I’m tired of cabbage soup all the time.”

         “We’re all tired of it, but it’s all we can get on the wages we’re given,” their father said.

         “You should be grateful we have this,” their mother said.

         “It doesn’t do much for the hole in my belly,” Duncan said.

         “Or anyone else’s, but things are about to change,” their father said.

         “When are we leaving for America?”

         “We’ll be talking about that at the meeting tonight,” their father said.

         “Let’s just ask the Lord’s blessing on the food,” their mother said.

         “Father, we thank you for the food You provided, and ask Your blessing on it as we eat it, amen,” their father said.

         “Amen,” everyone echoed.

         “So where did you look for work?” their father said.

         “Everywhere.  The mill, the baker’s.”

         “The baker’s?  What would you do there?  You can’t bake,” Kennan said.

         “I can clean up,” Duncan said.

         “Rightly so,” their father said.

         “What about you boys.  Where were you today?” their mother said.

         “We went to the fishery, the mill, even asked work of the storekeeper,” Kennan said.

         “I see you weren’t able to come away with a job,” Duncan said.

         “No, but we saw the brawl you were into with Hamish,” Kenzzie said.

         “The Laird wants the kelp burned tonight, that will give us a little bit each,” their father said.

         “Mhairie was saying something about it when she came to get Hamish for supper.”

         “It won’t be enough to buy food or pay the rent,” their mother said.

         “That’s why we’re having this meeting.  Everyone here is on the verge of starvation.  The Laird don’t care about no one except his own pockets.  It wasn’t always that way, but since the potato famine, things have changed.  We’ll be talking about how soon we can leave for America,” their father said.

         “I just hope it’s not a paupers dream,” their mother said.

         “We’ll find work.  Honest work,” their father said.

         “I told Mhairie we would be wed before we go to America,” Duncan said.

         “That will be up to Reverend Mulhaney, and her father,” their father said.

         “Will there be even time for a wedding before we leave?” their mother said.

         “We’ll find out all about it tonight,” their father said.

         “Who all is going to be at the meeting?” Duncan said.

         “Most everybody.  Us, the Kavanagh’s, M’Crie’s, and Dempster’s, Malone’s, and others are putting a plan together tonight to arrange when we can leave,” their father said.

         “I just hope we won’t be facing something even worse in America,” their mother said.

         “It can’t be any worse than it is here,” Duncan said.

         “Aye, with only cabbage soup with little else in it to eat, it’s a wonder we haven’t starved to death before now,” their mother said.

         “Can I be excused?  I want to see Mhairie.  I told her I would be by this even,” Duncan said.

         “Just mind what she told you,” Kennan said.

         “She’ll mind what I tell her.”

         “That’s up to her father,” their father said.

         “He’ll give the blessing.  May I?”

         “Yes, just mind your ways.  I don’t want no trouble between us and the Kavanagh’s,” their father said.

         “I’ll mind my ways, father.”  Duncan hurried out the door as Ailsa entered.  “Cabbage soup again.”

         “I’m getting so sick of cabbage soup.  Where are you off to in such a hurry?”

         “See Mhairie.”

         “I heard she’s not talking to you after the brawl you were in.”

         “It’ll be fine.”

         “I hope so.  I really like Mhairie, and would like to see her part of the family.”

         “Go in and see what other news is happening.”

         “What?”

         “Mum and dad will tell you.”  He left her and headed across the village to the Kavanagh home.

         Hamish opened the door to him.  “She’s still not of a mind to talk to you.  Did you hear?”

         “The plans to leave; father just mentioned it, seems everyone is getting together tonight.”

         “Mhairie’s not happy about it.  She doesn’t want to leave.”

         “She’ll have no choice.  If she won’t speak to me, can I speak with your father?”

         “Of course, he’s been expecting you for a while now.”

         “You don’t hold that brawl against me do you?”

         “Of course not, father’s not too happy about it though, and Mhairie’s still in a temper.”

         “She’s always in a temper of one sort or another.”

         “I am not.  I just don’t like to see you brawling all the time.  You’ll get into some real trouble by it one day,” Mhairie said.

         “I thought you weren’t going to speak to me.”

         “Just defending myself, I can do that, can’t I?”

         “I’m going to speak to your father about us.  I’d like to see us wed before we leave.”

         “I don’t know.”

         Hamish left them alone as they stood in front of the house.  “Mhairie, you know I love you.  You’re all I think about, and with our leaving for America, things will be better for us, you’ll see.”

         “You better come in, people will wonder, and by now Hamish has told father you want to talk to him.”

         “Just say you’ll marry me before we leave.”

         “Talk to father, and then we’ll talk about it.”

         “All right.”  They went into the house and her father met him as he walked in.  “Mr. Kavanagh, sir.”

         “Come sit down, my boy.  I hear you have a piece on your mind.”

         Duncan looked at Mhairie and Hamish, who waited for what he had to say, her mother came from the kitchen as well.  His mouth was suddenly dry, but he knew his heart.  “Mr. Kavanagh, I’d like your blessing for me and Mhairie to wed.”

         “Mhairie talked to me when she come in for supper.  I’d like to hear your side of things.”

         Duncan looked across at Mhairie, who looked ready to defend her actions.  “It’s this way Mr. Kavanagh.  The master has been saying how my work is poor, and I know it isn’t.  I work hard with my hands and I know I can earn a living with them.”

         He looked thoughtful.  “What do you think about your work?”

         “Well sir, it’s like I was telling Hamish.”

         “While you were brawling with him,” Mhairie said.

         “Mhairie, this is not the time for you to interrupt, this is between Duncan and I.  You can have your piece later,” her father said.

         “I’m sorry father.”

         “As I was saying, I told Hamish my work is top grade.  I’ve been fixing furniture for most of the villagers here and about.  I’ve been told how good it is, and with Master MacDuff telling me the table I made was not worth the legs it has to stand on, well sir, it’s just not true.  I tested the table out before I took it up to him.  If there’s something wrong with the table, then either it’s been tampered with, or it was changed for another.”

         “You didn’t give it into his hands?” Mr. Kavanagh said.

         “He wasn’t there when I delivered it.  I gave it to one of his apprentices who said he would see he would get it.”

         “That’s your trouble then.  I’ve seen your work.  It is good.  I can try to have a talk with him.  Was it the table with the fancy carving in the legs?”

         “Yes.  I’m working on the chairs for it.”

         “What about other work?”

         “I’ve done what I could.  I go to the fishery, the mill, even to the storekeepers but no one is hiring.”

         “Times are bad right now, for everybody.  The only thing we can rely on is what we make from the kelp.”

         “And that isn’t enough to get a tank with.”

         “Aye, I know it, and what’s this I hear about boxing?  Mhairie was telling me you’re thinking about the ring?”

         “I know I can do it, with the right training.”

         “A man can get killed in the ring.”

         “Not with proper training, but my main focus is my carpentry work, even if I don’t pursue the ring.  It was just a thought to how to get some money.”

         “If you want training, I’m sure Reverend Mulhaney could give you lessons.”

         “I’m sure he could, I haven’t asked him, because I only gave it a thought for the first time today.”

         “It would be a better use of your hands if you have to brawl.  I know it’s easy to brawl.  Tensions are high right now.  We have threats from the Laird, and the government.”

         “What about the government?”

         “The government has made some changes we’ll be talking about.  Are you going to be here?”

         “I intend to, but first I would like your answer please about Mhairie and me.”

         He was thoughtful again as he looked between Duncan and Mhairie.  “She had a conversation with me when she come in for supper.  She said she would never wed you as long as you use your fist to take care of all your problems.”

         “Only when someone makes me angry.”

         “Then that must be a lot.  How can I trust that you won’t hit Mhairie with that kind of temper?”

         “I would never hit Mhairie, she calms me, and makes me see things better.”

         “Aye, I’ve seen it.  Okay, you have my blessing.”

         “Thank you Mr. Kavanagh.  I promise you, you won’t regret it.”

         “I know I won’t.  I just wanted to make double sure.”

         “And I’ll do my best to provide a good home for her.”

         “It won’t be here, with money scarce for everyone.  That’s why we’re having the meeting tonight, but that’s another matter.  I know you’re a good hard worker, and I can see you have a head on your shoulders when you’re not trying to get it knocked off with your brawling.”

         “I’ve told Mhairie I would stop my brawling.”

         “Like that will ever happen,” Mhairie said.

         “Mhairie, this is between Duncan and me.  I need your silence until we’re through.”

         “I’m sorry father.”

         “Now as I was saying.  I’ve seen you work hard, and I know here in Scotland money is scarce for us.  The Laird is paying next to nothing for wages and still expecting his rents on time.  Everyone here is doing all they can, but we can’t wait around forever.  The potato famine a few years back broke the back of Scotland.  Sir Edward Pine Coffin has had the duty of distributing food to the poor, and that took the heart out of us asking for handouts from the government when our own Laird won’t see to his tenants.”

         “I know I have done and will do what I can, but I’d like to do it with Mhairie by my side.”

         “Aye.  You have my blessing, but now you need to convince her of your good intent.”

         “I’ll do my best, if I have your leave to walk out with her before the meeting.  I’d like to sit in on it with you.”

         “Hamish will go with you, just to make sure everything is proper.”

         “Thank you.  I won’t let you down or Mhairie either.”

         “I know you won’t.  There’s kelp burning tonight.”

         “Aye, and I’ll be there, there’s no doubt, but it won’t put near enough in my pocket.”

         “Or anyone else’s.”

         “I would like to be wed before we leave for America.”

         “You’ll have to talk with the minister about that.  I’m sure he’s going to have his time pretty much full between now and the sailing.”

         “I’ll talk to him tomorrow.”

         “Don’t be gone too long, the meeting will be within the hour, and then we have the kelp to see to.”

         Mhairie grabbed her shawl and preceded him outside, with Hamish bringing up the rear.  “You wanted to talk, I’m listening.”

         “I’m sorry Mhairie, but you know how it is when someone gets my ire up, and Hamish here said Master MacDuff said my work was bad, when I know it isn’t.”

         “If you know it isn’t, why do you let him make you angry?  It’s always the same with you, Duncan MacGregor.  You use your fists before your brains.  I won’t abide it.”

         “Your father has given his blessing.”

         “I know it, but I don’t know if I want to wed you.  How do I know you’ll never turn your fists on me?  You almost did this afternoon.”

         “She has you there,” Hamish said.

         “But I didn’t Mhairie, and I never would.  You have a way with keeping me in my proper place.  You take all the fight out of me.”

         “I wish you would think about it before you are so quick to use your fists.”

         “I want to be wed before we leave for America.”

         “We don’t know when that will be.”

         “It’ll be soon, or we wouldn’t be having this meeting.”

         “There’s too much to think about,” Mhairie said.

         “I want us to start our new life together in a new place.  I know it will be hard, it always is when new stuff is going on, but with you Mhairie, I know it can work.”

         “Besides, who’s going to keep you out of trouble if I don’t see to it myself?”

         “I can learn to box good and proper if you like?”

         “It’s not what I like, Duncan MacGregor.  It’s what you like.  What you’re comfortable with.  You’ve been brawling since I’ve known you.  I don’t reckon you’ll ever change, and to beat up on Hamish, well, it’s downright uncalled for.  Promise me you won’t do it again, or I won’t wed you.”

         “Aw Mhairie, you know I can’t make a promise like that.”

         “Promise me, or I won’t wed you.”

         Duncan thought about all the times his fists had taken a mind of their own.  It wouldn’t be an easy thing not to hit out when someone said a wrong thing, but for Mhairie, anything was possible.  “All right, Mhairie.  I give you my promise.”

         “And the first time you get into a brawl with Hamish, or anyone else, our engagement is at an end, and that goes for you too Hamish.  I don’t ever want to hear you starting a brawl with Duncan.”

         “Aye, Mhairie,” Hamish said.

         “Was there something else on your mind then?”

         “Just that I’d like the vows said before we leave.  I told your father I’d talk with the minister tomorrow.  I’d like you to come with me,” Duncan said.

         “If we go early, I have to watch the Carlyle children in mid-morning.”

         “And I have to see what work I can find.”

         “If you’re so good with your fists, why don’t you see what you can do with your hands?  Put them to proper use.”

         “I can do carpentry work, but the master doesn’t want anything to do with me.”

         “There are other carpenters in Inverness.”

         “Aye, but the word of MacDuff is law where carpentry goes, and he knows it, and has used it against me.  If I can’t get work from him, or have him endorse me, you know I won’t be hired by anyone else.  You heard him when he come on us earlier.”

         “What about the Laird?”

         “I’ve gone to him a few times, but he only turns me away, says there’s the kelp to see to if I want work.”

         “You’re helping with it tonight aren’t you?”

         “Aye, I want to find the fare for the trip to America, though dad did say a way has been found for us to leave.”

         “I was hoping to have a good dowry before I was wed, but if you want to marry so quickly I won’t have hardly anything put by for it.”

         “Then you will wed me, Mhairie?”

         “Yes, I’ll wed you.  I have to.  Someone has to keep you out of trouble, besides, I love you.”

         “Tell me you never once considered Boyd Malone.”

         “Never.”

         “It’s good then.  I’m going to the mill tomorrow and see if they need anyone for the day.  If I can get hired for the day, there’s a good chance I’ll get another day, and another.  Otherwise, I’m going to see about working my passage to America.  I know some has hired on as part of the crew for their passage money.  If I can do that, it will be good for us.”

         “It’s getting late.”

         “Yes, and there’s the meeting soon about the passage to America, and I want to be there.”

         “You know the Laird is against it.”

         “Only because he’s losing his tenants.  Nobody will be left to work the kelp, or the farms.”

         “He could burn us out,” Hamish said.

         “There was a report of it in the north,” Mhairie said.

         “I heard, and I wouldn’t put it past the Laird to use the same tactics on us,” Duncan said.

         “I know, but he won’t stop us,” Mhairie said.

         “As long as he doesn’t get wind of the meeting tonight,” Hamish said.

         “It’s only us, and you, and the M’Crie’s, Dempster’s, and Abernethy’s, oh and the Malone’s,” Duncan said.

         “The Carlyle’s are also joining us, so are the Abercrombie’s, the Callaghan’s, the Campbell’s, and the Dunlevy’s,” Hamish said.

         They walked into the house with the meeting already started.  Duncan found a seat by his father.

         “…the recent killing,” Mr. Dunlevy said.

         “What did I miss?” Duncan said.

         “There was a killing on Culloden Moor.  They found the body this morning.  A man was brutally beaten to death,” Mr. Dunlevy said.

         “What have the authorities done about it?” Mr. Callaghan said.

         “They are questioning everyone who knew him, and then they’ll question everyone else as they get any kind of leads.  So far from what I’ve heard, there haven’t been any,” Mr. Dunlevy said.

         “They found the body this morning.  Do they know how long he’s been dead?” Mr. Abercrombie said.

         “Within the last day.  His family saw him at the noon hour yesterday,” Mr. Dunlevy said.

         “Who was it?” Duncan said.

         “Mr. MacCardle,” Mr. Dunlevy said.

         It was quiet in the room with the news of the murder, and who it was.

         “Mr. MacCardle was a fine man,” Mr. Carlyle said.

         “A man of integrity,” Mr. M’Crie said.

         “Aye, there was none better on the fishing vessels.  He knew the ropes better than most,” Mr. Abernethy said.

         “And he was brutally beaten on the moor?” Duncan said.

         “That’s the word I have from the authorities.  I was visited because I worked with him,” Mr. Dunlevy said.

         “I hope they find whoever did it before we leave for America,” Mrs. Kavanagh said.

         “I hope he doesn’t come with us.  I would hate to think we’ll be on a boat with a killer,” Mrs. MacGregor said.

         “And that brings us to why we are all here.  The Majestic leaves on Friday next week from Glasgow.  We have to be there by eight in the morning,” Mr. Carlyle said.

         “But that’s impossible.  We’ll never have the money we need for passage,” Mr. Abercrombie said.

         “And if we don’t go, the Laird will burn us out, we’ll have to go,” Mr. Dempster said.

         “Somebody should burn him out,” Mr. M’Crie said.

         “Poor wages, can’t give us enough to take care of our families.  His ancestors took better care of their tenants than he does,” Mr. Callaghan said.

         “Talking against the Laird won’t change the facts.  He ordered the boat to come get us for next week,” Mr. Carlyle said.

         Papers were handed around.  “What’s this?” Mr. Dempster said.

         “That Morgan is what is allowed for us to take with us,” Mr. Carlyle said.  “You’ll notice we can’t take more than we can carry on our backs and in our hands, in other words, gentlemen and ladies,” he tipped his hat at the women present.  “Is our clothes, and a few essentials and nothing more.  As you can see a small parcel is five shillings, it goes up from there.  Passage is going to be hard enough to come by.”

         “You said it’s what we can carry.  Each of us, correct?” Mrs. Carlyle said.

         “That’s right,” Mr. Carlyle said.

         “Then I see no reason why we can’t take some comforts with us,” Mrs. Carlyle said.

         “The reason is it will cost us more and you and I both know we don’t have anything extra, so get that notion out of your head.  We’ll all of us be allowed only so much and no more.  The fees start at five shillings, there won’t be extra comforts for any of us,” Mr. Carlyle said.

         “It does say here we have to supply our bedding,” Mr. MacGregor said.

         “Yes, and we also have to provide our dishes and pots to cook with.  We’ll be doing our own cooking,” Mrs. Dunlevy said.

         “Nothing more, every item will be checked, the more we bring with us, the more our passage will cost.”

         “As it is, 20 guineas per person is going to be hard to come by,” Mr. MacGregor said.

         “Twenty guineas is impossible,” Mr. Abercrombie said.

         “Aye, and the Laird knows it, he gets paid £2 per ton of kelp ash, while he pays 30 pence per ton per person,” Mr. M’Crie said.

         “The key is it’s per person.  Even our wee ones can work, that way we’ll get more for the fare,” Mr. Kavanagh said.

         “Still, it’s a lot of money, and I don’t know anyone here who has near that much in his pocket,” Mrs. Kavanagh said.

         “There’s the Poor Law Board for the money we need,” Mr. M’Crie said.

         “Aye, that’ll be a burr in the Laird’s bonnet if he has to pay us to leave,” Mr. Dunlevy said.

         “And if he burns us out before we leave, out of pure spite, as has happened before, we won’t have anywhere to go, or any employment to get there,” Mr. Campbell said.

         “I have the papers for the application to the Poor Law Board.  It’s our only means of passage,” Mr. Dunlevy said.

         “I was thinking about working for passage,” Duncan said.

         “It’s been done before, there is the possibility,” Mr. Carlyle said.

         “As we’ll be leaving on Thursday next week, the medical examiner will be here on Wednesday to make sure we are all fit for travel,” Mr. Dunlevy said.

         “And if we aren’t?” Mr. Campbell said.

         “Then we won’t be allowed passage,” Mr. Dunlevy said.

         “And the Laird will burn us out regardless, if he’s a mind,” Mr. Campbell said.

         “Why are you so certain the Laird will burn us out?” Mrs. Kavanagh said.

         “I heard some talk in the pub,” Mr. Campbell said.

         “I heard the same,” Mr. Abercrombie said.

         “It won’t be the first time,” Mr. M’Crie said.

         “And if anyone is left behind it’ll be bad for him,” Mr. Abernethy said.

         “Just like Mr. MacCardle,” Mr. Dempster said.

         “I’d like to have a go at him,” Mr. Abernethy said.

         “Violence never solved anything,” Mr. MacGregor said.

         “You should talk to your son.  He’s always got his fists raised in the air,” Mr. Campbell said.

         “It never went past a few bruises, and I had just as many by the time the brawl was done with,” Duncan said.

         “Aye, and more often than not it was followed by a tank in the pub,” Hamish said.

         “There is nothing wrong with a tank now and again,” Duncan said.

         “With your temper, it’s a wonder you can get any work at all,” Mr. Abernethy said.

         “When did this conversation turn towards my employment?  I’m not the only one in this room with a temper.  I’ve seen you in a row or two Mr. Abernethy, and what about last week when the Laird’s man came for the rents.  I saw a bit of violence from you, Mr. M’Crie,” Duncan said.

         “I have five mouths to feed, and no wages to feed them.  Of course I got a bit angry,” Mr. M’Crie said.

         “We’ve all gotten a bit violent of late,” Mr. Dunlevy said.  “I know I got into a shouting match just yesterday.”

         “A shouting match isn’t your fists though, Alistair.  I’ve never seen you raise your fist over anything,” Mr. MacGregor said.

         “Okay, let’s get back to the subject.  We don’t need to get off on a tangent and start a brawl over something not worth our notice,” Mr. Carlyle said.

         “I agree.  We were talking about when and how we are leaving,” Mr. MacGregor said.

         “We will need to leave the village by daybreak on Thursday to make it to Glasgow in time,” Mr. Dempster said.

         “I hear, father, that they’ll pay a full shilling per pound of herring at the fishery,” Kenzzie said.

         “Aye, if you have a boat and can go out and get it, and with Mr. MacCardle dead, there’s no one to pay that amount,” Mr. Kavanagh said.

         “It’s 30 pence a day if you work in the fishery,” Mr. Callaghan said.

         “Why don’t you boys see what you can do about getting jobs at the fishery in the morning,” Mr. MacGregor said.

         “I’d still like to know who killed him,” Mr. Abercrombie said.

         A sudden pounding on the door made everyone jump.  Mr. M’Crie was the closest by and opened it.  The man pushed his way in.  “The Laird has decreed if you don’t burn the kelp tonight he’ll burn all of you out in the morning, and this meeting of yours will come to naught.”

         “You’ve had your say, now get out of my house while I still have a roof over my head,” Mr. Kavanagh said.

         “The Laird wants to see fires on the shore in an hour’s time, no more,” the man said.

         “I heard you, we all have, now out,” Mr. Kavanagh said.

         “One hour or the burning starts at sunup,” the man said.

         He left and everyone looked at each other, before they filed out of the house and headed for the shore.

         It was daybreak before anyone saw their bed, those that could.  All able-bodied men found their way to the fishery, the mill, and shipping office.

         The morning was almost spent when Duncan called for Mhairie and they went to see the Reverend.

         He opened the door to them.  “I heard you wanted to see me.  Come in.”

         “We want to be wed before we sail for America,” Duncan said.

         “Getting down to business before the preliminaries are said?”

         “I’m sorry.  But we’re feeling strained by time,” Duncan said.

         “I can understand that, but never forget proper manners, no matter what the situation is.”

         “You heard about Mr. MacCardle?” Mhairie said.

         “Yes, ghastly business.  They say he was dead for several hours before he was found,” Reverend Mulhaney said.

         “With tempers that flared at the meeting last night it could be any number of us who did it, and that alone is scary, especially as all of us are planning to leave next week,” Mhairie said.

         “And you want to be wed before you leave.  Come into my office and we’ll have a talk about this.  I take it your father gave his blessing or you wouldn’t be here.”

         “Yes, last night before the meeting,” Mhairie said.

         “Being wed is a great responsibility, and you’re only fifteen.”

         “But Reverend, women get wed at fifteen all the time,” Mhairie said.

         “I know it.  Don’t I marry them?  The boat leaves from Glasgow next Friday.  There isn’t enough time for me to get the license and do the ceremony before then.  You’ll have to be married after we’ve set sail, and how are you set for wedding clothes and the ring?  I know how important both are to your parents.”

         “When times and wages were good, I got a dress kilt and I have a ring.  It belonged to my grandmother, God rest her soul.”

         “And you Mhairie how are you set for this wedding you want to have?”

         “Mother has been working on a dress for some time now.  She has her mother’s wedding gown and her own, and she’s taking from both to make one for me, but that’s all I know.  She won’t let me see it.”

         “Okay, so you have your ring and the clothes.  Now what will you do in America?  You will need work.”

         “There’s always carpentry.  I’ll do what I can to find that kind of work.  I also thought I would go in the ring,” Duncan said.

         “Boxing sounds admiral, but it can be a deadly sport.  I know; I’ve had my head busted a few times in the ring.  I also know you have a tendency to brawl, but brawling and boxing are two different things, and if you’re going to give your attention to boxing, you won’t have time for any other kind of work, even if you try, it will interfere with it.  I suggest you stick with your trade.  Carpentry is much more honorable.”

         “Do you know how it is in America?  They have a different kind of government than we have here,” Duncan said.

         “Aye, the government is different.  They have a president who is elected every few years, and they have other governing bodies like we have parliament.  I was reading just last week how James Buchanan has just been elected their new president.  He’s got a struggle on his hands.  If you think we have it bad here, with the potato famine and low wages, they have been fighting a slavery issue for quite a while, and I fear it’s going to explode soon.  If President Buchanan doesn’t get the brunt of it, the next president will.”

         “What about work and wages?” Duncan said.

         “You’re going to find work and wages are the same wherever you go.  If you’re not part of the upper class of society, it’s going to be hard no matter where you go.  You have to be willing to fight for what you want, and not with your fists, with your mind, your hands, and your will to survive.”

         “I’ve got that,” Duncan said.

         “Do you?  I’ve seen a lot of fist action, a lot of talk, but your mind has to be the one that dictates.  Get yourself apprenticed to a good carpenter when you reach America, and pay attention to what he tells you, and you will go a long ways, and don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t, just don’t use your fists in the telling, let your actions do the talking.”

         “I’ll certainly give it my best.  I told Mhairie I wouldn’t use my fists for fighting anymore.”

         “That will be a hard promise to keep.  Probably the hardest one you ever made, seeing as you’ve used your fists all your life.  Now, then, another part of marriage is the spiritual side.  It takes more than saying ‘I do’ to make a marriage.  You have to have commitment to each other and to God.  Without God, nothing will work.”

         “I come to services when I can,” Duncan said.

         “It’s not just services.  You have to make God a center part of your life.  It won’t be about Mhairie, though you will have committed to her, it won’t be your job, though you will need it to survive, it’s God, and God alone who will make your marriage work.”

         “How can God make a marriage work?”

         “You need to put all your problems, all your cares, all your worries, your whole life into His hands to see it through, and He will lift your burden and give you ways you never thought of to do your work.”

         “But I have my hands to do the work,” Duncan said.

         “If all you have are your hands, you have nothing.  Put God in your hands and see what happens.”

         “I already do,” Mhairie said.

         “Do you Mhairie?  I heard a tale yesterday about you not wanting to wed Duncan because of his brawling.  You can’t change a man overnight, nor can you expect to.  You made him promise you he never will.  As I said, it will be the hardest promise he ever made, even the one he wants to make to you as your husband will not compare to that promise.  I know he wants to keep it too.  I can see it in his eyes and I know it’s a burden on his heart.  Don’t judge him too fiercely, and you’ll be a lot happier.”

         Mhairie hung her head at his rebuke.  “I’ll do my best.”

         “I know you will.  All right I can see you have your life cut out for you.  I’ll get the license, but we’ll have to see the wedding done when we sail next week.”

         “You’re going to America too?” Mhairie said.

         “Aye, I’m going too.  I won’t have a parish when everyone leaves, and I can see what the new country holds for me.”

         Duncan stood to his feet along with Mhairie, and held out his hand.  “Thank you Reverend.  You’ve given me a lot to think about.”

         “I hope I have given you both a lot to think about.  Marriage isn’t something to go into blindly hoping it will work.  It takes lots of effort and a strong belief in God as well.”

         When they left Reverend Mulhaney, Duncan turned to her.  “I still have to see if I can get work at the mill.  I’ve been to the fishery, but they have all they need for today.”

         “I’m sorry I was a bit hard on you.”

         “It’s all right Mhairie.  I have to stop using my fists and do what Reverend Mulhaney said.  I want our marriage to work in every way.  I’m going to do my best when we get to America to see us out of poverty and into a decent living.  I know I can do it.”

         “I know you can too.”