An Irish Tale

  “Now there’s my darling,” said Sean, his eyes beaming as he saw Meagan’s smiling face. He walked toward her quickly and kissed her cheek. “And this is where my dear sister Katie will be helpin’ us out,” Sean announced to Meagan. “The dear lass will be posted on the front porch to warn us of any intruders while we’re here discussin’ serious business.”

  “Serious business?” said Meagan. “Now what exactly would you be havin’ in mind, Sean Clendenan?”

  “The business of sweethearts is always serious business, my love. Now, Katie my girl,” he said turning to Katherine, “get out there on the porch and give us fair warning if there be anyone comin’ down the path.”

  ***

  Katherine had read only a few pages in her book, curled up in the old rocker on the porch, when she started to get a bit drowsy. Her mind was just beginning to fade into the dream world when she was suddenly brought to attention by a loud and angry voice.

  “I’ll do this and I’ll do it my way!” the voice demanded. “And I’ll be thankin’ you to pick up the pace a little. The village could be full of lawbreakers and you’d never get around to arrestin’ a single one.”

  Katherine recognized the voice after a few seconds. It was the awful Mrs. O’Hara, come to bother Sean about the money he owed her.

  “I’m comin’ as fast as necessary, Mrs. O’Hara,” answered the man walking behind her. “Don’t you be worryin’ about the lawbreakers of Blessington.”

  And it was Constable Murphy with her! Katherine panicked. Had he come to arrest Sean? Would they take him away and put him in jail?

  Within a minute, the two had come up to the porch and Katherine stood up to meet them. Mrs. O’Hara was a large woman, with gray, frizzy hair and a no-nonsense look in her eye.

  “Is there something you want?” Katherine asked cautiously.

  “It’s not you I care about, Missy. It’s your brother I’ll be wantin’ and I’ll be wantin’ him here and now with no delay. If I don’t get my money today from that wayward young man, mark my words—I’ll be squashin’ him like a bug, and then he’ll be goin’ to jail.”

  Katherine looked to Constable Murphy with a horrified face. “Constable! She can’t do that!”

  The constable shook his head calmly. “There’ll be no squashin’ here, Miss Katherine. Don’t worry. But Mrs. O’Hara here has a right to her money and that’s a fact.”

  “And it’s also a fact that Sean Clendenan is inside this house at this very moment,” said Mrs. O’Hara grandly. “I know it to be true because I have my spies and they’ve informed me that he was heading this way less than half an hour ago. So if you don’t mind fetching the boy, we’ve got some business to conduct with him.”

  Katherine gulped quietly. “Yes…of course. I’ll get him and bring him out here right away.”

  “And be quick about it,” demanded Mrs. O’Hara.

  Katherine dashed into the house and called Sean’s name quietly. Sean and Meagan were sitting at the kitchen table, their heads close together.

  “What is it now, Katie?” asked Sean, looking up with a pained expression.

  “It’s serious, Sean. Mrs. O’Hara is out there. She wants to see you right away and she’s got the constable with her.”

  “Oh, so she’s with the constable, is she?” replied Sean, a smirk crossing his face. “The old fool couldn’t manage to fight her own battles, I suppose. Well, I’ll see to both of them in just a minute.”

  “No Sean!” shouted Katherine. “It’s got to be now. Don’t you see? You could be arrested and taken off to jail.”

  “Now Katie,” replied Sean soothingly. “There’s no reason to get excited.”

  “Yes there is, Sean,” replied Katie, “because Constable Murphy says that the law’s on her side.”

  “So everybody’s against me, is that it?” Sean barked, rising quickly from the table. “Well, we’ll just see about that. It’ll take more than the two of ‘em to handle me.”

  “Sean! No!” said Meagan, reaching out for his arm. “Don’t you be doin’ anything foolish now!”

  “I’ll not be pushed around…” began Sean, when suddenly there was a noisy banging at the door and the shrill voice of Mrs. O’Hara could be plainly heard.

  “I know you’re in there, Sean. Now you come out right away or me and the law will be comin’ in to drag you out.”

  “Drag me out, is it?” roared Sean. “Well, I’ll show them a thing or two.”

  “No, Sean!” screamed Meagan.

  “Come with me, Sean!” demanded Katherine, grabbing him by the arm. “There’s only one thing to do. Out the back window.”

  “I’ll not be sneakin’ out any back windows, not this time,” Sean objected. But Katherine managed to pull him back to the kitchen window.

  “We’re only buyin’ time until you can come up with the money, Sean. You can’t raise money if you’re sittin’ in jail. Come with me! I know somewhere to go where they’ll never find us.”

  Sean sighed loudly. “Oh, all right. We’ll take off now and fight those battles another day. Meagan, my dear, keep the forces of evil at bay as long as you can. We’ll be needin’ a head start.” Sean grabbed Meagan to give her a quick kiss and then, following Katherine, quickly climbed through the window and ran after her.

  Suddenly the front door flew open with a bang as Mrs. O’Hara pushed her way through it. “All right,” she demanded. “Times up and it’s up for good. I want my money, with interest, and I want it right now. Otherwise the constable will be taken Sean into custody this very day.” She paused, looked around the room and saw only the smiling Meagan, sitting quietly at the table.

  “So where is the rascal? I know he’s here,” growled Mrs. O’Hara as she walked quickly into the kitchen.

  “Now exactly who would you be lookin’ for?” asked Meagan in her sweetest voice.

  “I’m looking for that scoundrel of a boyfriend of yours as you well know. And it won’t do any good tryin’ to hide him because I’ve got the constable here with me.”

  “How pleasant,” said Meagan, smiling cheerfully. “Well, perhaps we can all sit here together and wait for him. He hasn’t arrived yet as you can see.”

  “That’s hogwash!” bellowed Mrs. O’Hara. “The little girl just told me he was here!”

  “Oh, do you mean Katherine? Yes, a lovely young girl,” said Meagan. “But I’m afraid she was mistaken. Sean isn’t here.”

  The constable stepped forward. “Now we don’t want any unnecessary trouble, Miss Meagan. Where’s the girl herself? Where’s Katherine?”

  “Ah, yes,” replied Meagan calmly. “I believe she did mention something about going for a nice walk.”

  “A nice walk, is it?” sneered Mrs. O’Hara. “Mind telling me which way she went?”

  “I’m afraid that I’m really not sure. I really wasn’t paying much attention, you see,” replied Meagan.

  “I’ll just bet you weren’t,” said Mrs. O’Hara, a broad smirk spreading over her face. “But never you mind, I think that open kitchen window tells us everything we need to know about Katherine and Sean! Come on, Constable. You’ve got a job to do.”

  Chapter 5: Sean and Shamus

  “For pity’s sake, Katie girl! Slow down! You’re going to kill us both. We’ve been running for three miles,” panted Sean, slowing to a stop with his hands on his hips.

  “But Sean! Mrs. O’Hara and the constable! They’re probably right on our heels!” replied Katherine, breathless, but determined to plunge further into the forest.

  Sean stood firm, shaking his head. “Katie, the old lady hasn’t run more than five feet at a stretch for twenty years and she’s not going to start now. As far as the constable, he’s no more likely to chase us than he is to miss his afternoon nap. Now I’m not sayin’ that it wasn’t a good idea to beat a hasty retreat given the circumstances, Katie, and I thank you for your assistance. But the danger is long past and here we are, somewhere in the middle of the deep woods, and I’ll
bet neither of us has a clue about where we are or how we get home from here,” Sean said, glancing around at the sparkling greenery around them.

  “But I do know where we are, Sean. At least I think I know.”

  “Oh, I see now, Katie. And where exactly would that be?”

  “You see, Sean, we haven’t just been running from old Mrs. O’Hara. We’ve been running to somewhere as well.”

  “In the middle of the woods, Katie, where there’s not another living soul around? Just what are we running to?”

  “We’re going to a place where you can get some help, Sean. Help in solving all your problems.”

  “All my problems, Katie? I don’t deny that I’m in a bit of a rough spot, but I’ll get out of it—just you wait and see.” Sean forced a smile and a hint of bravado in his voice. “Besides, the only one who could help me get out of my problems at the moment would be a rich banker with a short memory.”

  “But that’s just what we’ve come all this way into the woods for, Sean,” said Katherine, a smile crossing her face.

  “To visit a banker? In the deep, dark woods?”

  “Better than a banker, Sean. Someone who can lend you money and not give a second thought about it.”

  “Well, Katie dear, if I weren’t looking right at you standing there, I’d say you were dreaming. There’s not a soul in Blessington that’s going to be lending me money in my present situation.”

  “There is, Sean. A man named Shamus. He’s a bit strange, I’ll grant you, but he’s got loads of money and he lives right around here…somewhere. I think he’s close by, but I’m not exactly sure.” Katherine’s voice trailed off slightly as she scanned the woods in front of them.

  “Now, Katie, I don’t mean to be discouragin’ you since you’ve obviously got my best interests at heart here and you’re trying to be helpful but…well, Katie, all I’m sayin’ is that maybe the strain of all this has been a little too much for you and you’re getting a bit daft in the head—just temporarily you know.”

  “No, Sean, I know it sounds crazy but we must find Leprechaun’s Glen. You see, it’s never in the same place twice.”

  “Leprechaun’s Glen?” Sean rolled his eyes and shook his head sadly. “Then it is true, Katie my lass, you’ve truly lost your mind. I’m just hopin’ it’ll come back to you once we can get you back home and into your bed for a nice, quiet rest.”

  “Going back home means you going off to jail, Sean, unless we can come up with some money to pay your debts,” announced Katherine firmly. “And that’s why I’m looking for Leprechaun’s Glen. I’ve been there before and I’ve talked to one of them, a strange little man by the name of Shamus.”

  “So now you’ve been talkin’ to the little people? Ah, Katie, it’s worse than I thought, much worse than I thought,” said Sean, shaking his head sadly and reaching for Katherine’s hand. “Now you just come along with me, Katie and we’ll find our way out of this forest and find some nice quiet place where you can lie down.”

  Suddenly, a voice came out of nowhere in particular: “Now, that’s a strange thing to say, seein’ as you’re already standin’ in the middle of one of the nicest and quietest places in all of Ireland.”

  Sean’s expression grew wary and he quickly turned his head to find where the voice was coming from. “’Tis indeed a lovely place to be having a chat,” said Sean, “but I’d feel a lot happier if I could see the person I was chattin’ with.”

  “That’s easy enough to arrange,” said the voice. And with a quick flash of light slightly to the left of where Sean was staring, there appeared a strange little man. He was less than four feet tall with a yellow cap, shiny red pants and a green jacket.

  “Shamus McGee, at your service,” said the little man, bowing low to the ground.

  Chapter 6: Striking a Bargain

  “Lovely,” said Sean to himself. “So now we’re both daft.”

  “Shamus!” said Katherine excitedly. “I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to find Leprechaun’s Glen again.”

  “Well, missy, you didn’t exactly find it. I found you because I was lookin’ out for you and your brother,” replied Shamus, walking quickly toward them.

  “So, am I dreaming?” said Sean, looking back and forth between Katherine and Shamus. “What’s going on here?”

  “No, you’re not dreaming,” said Katherine, smiling broadly. “I told you why we came this far into the woods.”

  “Katie dear,” said Sean, gulping loudly. “I think we’re both seein’ things. What’s worse…we seem to be both seein’ the same thing.”

  “All right, all right,” said Shamus. “It’s time that we all get over the big surprise and get down to business. Every Irishman believes in the little people in his heart, Sean. It’s time that you started listening to your heart.”

  “I’ve been listening to my heart and that’s the trouble,” moaned Sean. “I borrowed some money from old Mrs. O’Hara to buy Meagan O’Malley the sweetest little engagement ring you’ve ever seen in your life. But I had other debts to settle as well, and now I’ve been laid off from me job in town so I can’t pay all the money back to the old hag.”

  “Ah, a true romantic,” said Shamus, a dreamy expression in his voice. “That’s the sort of mortal that melts the heart of a leprechaun. But you’ve got to use your head, boy. If you’ve lost your job, sell the ring back and give Mrs. O’Hara her money.”

  “Never in a million years,” said Sean firmly. “Besides, I couldn’t if I wanted to. You see…I’ve temporarily misplaced the ring so I can’t lay my hands on it. Now eventually it’ll turn up but…”

  “But by then you will have been thrown in jail, Sean, “Katherine interrupted, “and you won’t even be able to look for it.”

  “Yes, that might be true,” said Sean thoughtfully. “But I don’t see what anybody can do about that.”

  “Sean! Don’t you see?” demanded Katherine. “Shamus can give you the money to pay back Mrs. O’Malley so you won’t have to go to jail!”

  “Hold on, little miss,” interrupted Shamus. “Yes, I can give your brother the money he needs to pay back the loan. But just because I can, doesn’t mean I will. There are a few things I’ll be wantin’ in return.”

  “But I thought leprechauns could make anything they wanted by magic,” Katherine said, her eyes opening wide.

  “Now miss Katherine, I’ve already told you that there’s a limit to the powers of leprechauns, just like there is for everybody else. Sure, I can put me hands on the gold that your brother will be needin’, but I just might want something for myself in return.”

  Sean looked puzzled. “But what could I possibly have that you might want?”

  “Oh, it’d be none of your worldly possessions, Sean, of which you clearly have very few. No, it’s your talents I’ll be a-borrowing.”

  “My talents?” asked Sean.

  “What talents?” Katherine chimed in. “He doesn’t have any talents!”

  “Now wait a minute…” began Sean.

  “Oh, but I think he does,” said Shamus, looking over to Katherine. “Didn’t you tell me that your brother has a sensitive heart?”

  “Yes, I did but…”

  “There’s no need for the ‘buts,’ little miss,” interrupted Shamus. “The boy’s a true romantic and has a sensitive heart. That’s clear enough to anyone.”

  “Now wait just a minute, Mister…” began Sean.

  “McGee…Shamus McGee, your humble servant.” Shamus bowed low, his hat sweeping the ground.

  “I’m not sure why you’d be knowin’ all these things about me and I’m not sure why they’re any of your business, even if they’re true,” said Sean, his brow furrowing.

  “As far as that goes,” said Shamus, “every young Irishman has a romantic heart. And what that has to do with me will be clear in just a minute. Now Sean, my boy, I’m told that you’re in love with a certain Meagan McCormack. Would that be the case?”

  Sean looked over to
his sister suspiciously and then returned his gaze to Shamus. “Well, as a matter of fact, it would be true. Meagan and I are…”

  “Yes, you’ll be gettin’ married soon I suppose,” said Shamus.

  “We haven’t actually…”

  “Of course you haven’t chosen the date yet,” continued Shamus, “but I’m sure she’s your heart’s delight and you’re hers as well.”

  “Well, yes, I suppose…”

  “There’ll be no supposin’ about it young man. Now then, a young fellow—an Irishman yet—with a fine, sensitive soul like yours—who finds himself in love is going to want to express it. Am I right?” asked Shamus eagerly.

  “Yes, but…”

  “And am I right in supposin’ that a fine young fellow like you has taken pen to paper and written your sweetheart a poem telling her of your earnest feelings for herself?”

  “As a matter of fact, I have written a poem or two for my sweetheart, but I don’t know what that has to do with…”

  “Aha!” proclaimed Shamus triumphantly. “I thought so. The boy’s a poet and make no mistake about it! Would you favor us with a few verses?”

  Sean hesitated. “Well, no…I don’t think so. It’s a bit personal, you know. I just don’t see why you should care about my poems.”

  “And I’ll be happy to tell you, lad. You see there’s a little matter on which I could be needin’ some poetic advice,” said Shamus.

  “Poetic advice? What does that mean?” asked Katherine. “I thought you were going to help Sean.”

  “And help him I will,” said Shamus impatiently. “It’s just that I’ll be needing a little help myself along the way.”

  “Help with writing poem?” asked Sean, a puzzled look crossing his face. “You need me to help you write a poem?”

  “Well, not to put too fine a face on it, lad, I’ll be needin’ you to write a poem for me.”

  “You want Sean to write a poem for you?” asked Katherine, crossing her arms against her chest. “Why can’t you just do it yourself?”