Girl in the Hay

Girl in the Hay — page 3 — Table of Contents Chapter One 6 Chapter Two 12 Chapter Three 25 Chapter Four 36 Chapter Five 51 Chapter Six 65 Chapter Seven 71 Epilogue 83 5

Girl in the Hay — page 4 — Chapter One The caterwauling cries of a woman in distress carried down the stairs in shrill vibrations Mrs Walker was upset about something and she wanted everyone to know about it Sam O Neill got up and looked around the small enclave attached to the kitchen that served as his family’s dining area His sister Julia wiped her hands on her apron pausing from her work preparing the Walkers next meal You go look Sam said No you go Last time I went up there she nearly bit my head off They hate when I’m up there They say it looks bad to have a child working as the help Then maybe they shouldn’t have hired the poor Irish family that’s got three of them 6

Girl in the Hay — page 5 — she said smiling conspiratorially Sam laughed as he headed toward the stairs leading up to the main portion of the house No need child his mother called from the top of the stairwell I’ve already checked on her The Walkers son’s been drafted Sam’s eyes widened Levi the Walkers only son was about the same age as Sam’s brother Patrick And ever since the riot just a short carriage ride from the Walkers Baltimore home Sam feared his brother would be drafted This was the closest the draft had hit That’s unfortunate I guess his sister said from the kitchen though there was no conviction in her voice Not for him his mother said her Irish accent intensifying with her disdain It’ll just be some poor fellow going instead of Levi They’ll pay someone off I s’pose Pay someone off Sam asked Rich people can get out of the war by paying a fee or paying some poor soul to go instead of them Julia said 7

Girl in the Hay — page 6 — The shrill sounds from above became dull murmurs Then the stairs creaked again Sam’s father’s tall gangly frame appeared on the stairwell part by part feet legs torso then his balding head sparse tufts of red hair sprouting haphazardly above kind eyes crinkled at the edges with age and laughter My word that woman’s scream carries he said attempting a smile Julia would you mind taking Sam with you to the market Probably best if you got a little help anyway Sure she said looking at Sam Sam met her eyes and saw something Worry Anger He couldn’t quite put his finger on it And don't forget the cream and eggs their father added Julia nodded silently dodging Sam’s eyes this time as she made her way to the door Wait up Sam said grabbing his hat and pulling it over his head Is everything all right he asked as they walked toward the market Sure Julia said absently Doesn’t seem like it Sorry she said shaking her head as if 8

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