Chapter 10

The orange/blue flame climbed upwards and made a little puffing noise in the process. Barbara pulled back the little fuse she had used to light it and then dropped it in the water filled vase next to the black, polished, marble, stone. She remembered how Shannon used to actually get excited and clap when she did that. She was only about four, the last time she had done that, and it had been at the grave of Barbara’s grandfather. Now they were at the headstone of Shannon’s own father.

Barbara had always, and only, called it a headstone. It was in a cemetery. It was even a nice memorial but, it was only that. Barbara could not call it a grave because there was nothing underneath. That was true of the majority of those that had been killed in the war. Even the slain, with intact bodies, were just dumped in holes on other worlds. The Colonial Government had been too broke to ship them back home.

Barbara went to a knee in front of the stone and bowed her head. She placed a hand on the marble and quietly said, “I’m sorry baby. I miss you.”

Shannon was standing a few feet back. She had been crying a good deal today but, not since they reached the cemetery. She was also not as remorseful as her mother. She crossed her arms and, did sound respectful enough when she said, “you know I miss him too, Mom.”

What did you say to something like that? All Barbara could say, as she knelt at the stone, was, “I know you do sweetheart.” Barbara actually managed a silent laugh before she went on, “I remember how you two used to play. Every time your father looked at you, I could see the love and excitement in his eyes. You were his world.”

Then Shannon drolly said, “when we go to grandpa’s and uncle Eric’s graves are you going to tell them how you’re tucking tail and running?” Then she lashed out hard with, “and while we’re here, why don’t we tell dad too.”

Barbara did not raise her voice. Her mood did not even change, “I know it’s going to hurt Shannon but, I’m doing this for you.”

“No you’re not Mom,” Shannon replied with scorn. “You’re just scared.”

“Yes,” Barbara’s voice did raise this time, “I’m scared that my daughter is going to get killed. Shannon you’ve almost been murdered twice, in a months time. One of those times was in our own home. Don’t you get it?”

“Oh I get it Mom,” Shannon shot back. “You’re the one that can’t deal with it.” The teenager spun on her heels and began stomping back towards the car. Then she turned around and came back.

Barbara took a deep breath and, while still kneeling at the stone, she asked her daughter, “I guess you thought of one more name to call me.”

Shannon snorted but, in a hostile sort of way. Then she made it absolutely clear, “trust me, I have lots of names I haven’t called you yet. Not what I came back to say though.”

“Spit it out Shannon,” Barbara commanded in a vain attempt to just get it over with. She expected a certain amount of venting and sooner was much better than later here.

“You know what Mom? You got it all backwards here. In fact, you always have,” Shannon told her. Barbara opened her mouth but Shannon would not stop, “and don’t tell me that crap about how I’ll see things differently when I have kids of my own. Won’t happen here Mom. You see, this isn’t Memorial day. This is FAMILY DAY Mom. Yet, every year, we come right back out here and light these stupid torches that the next rain storm is going to come right by and put out.”

That had not been what Barbara had expected her Daughter to say. The only thing that Barbara could think of in return was, “Shannon, this is all that’s left of our family. We are all that’s left of our family.”

“You see,” Shannon said, “that’s what you’re missing here. Even my teacher, at school, was smart enough to know what this holiday is for and trust me, that woman ain‘t got the brains that god gave a Snark. This day is for the living, mother dear.”

Barbara collected herself, stood back up, and then smoothed out her skirt. She tried to be proper as she said, “ok Shannon. Your point’s made. So, what do you want to do? We are the Reilly clan. Let‘s spend this day together.”

Shannon snarled and said, “I had wanted to spend it with our family but you had to drag me out here. Apparently, it’s the last Family Day I’m ever going to get to do that.” Now when the teen turned and stomped off, she did not come back.

Some one else wandered up from the other direction. Barbara had known he was there the whole time. He had been fooling around at another grave, probably of someone he did not even know, just waiting. Barbara thought it wise of him. She actually thanked the man as he walked up and then she politely nodded, “Conner.”

The man pointed up the hill, to where the Shannon had almost reached Barbara’s car, and he said, “she’ll come to understand one day. She’s a bright lassie. I see great things in her future,” Conner had to add the addendum, “with the proper training and environment of course.”

Barbara crossed her arms and replied as civil as she could be, “somehow I think that our ideas, on what that means, are incompatible.”

Conner stopped, studied the woman with a smile, and then said, “I can see why Ian was taken with you. You’re a strong woman of good stock.”

Barbara just got this part out of the way, “the answer to that is also, still, no Conner.”

The man laughed and told her, “how is it that our peoples can come from the same homeland, be of the same stock, and yet we be so completely different?”

Barbara’s eyes narrowed and she smugly replied, “because you come from a line of criminals and I don’t. It really is that simple Conner.”

Conner took that with a grain of salt and he replied, “ah but what’s a criminal darling? The strong make the laws and they can make them anything they want them to be. What’s a poor man supposed to do then? Do you call the patriots, back in the homeland, that fought the Yankee bastards that wanted to enslave us, criminals? I bet the Yankee’s do.”

The real question in Barbara’s mind was, did this guy really believe he was some kind of philosopher? She suspected that he did and was not really sure which was worse. If he was just shooting her a line then it was nothing more than bluster. If he actually believed all of his crap then that probably made him dangerous. Barbara more than suspected the truth of the matter. Conner was very dangerous.

Still resolute, Barbara told the man, “I know at least two of your brothers that disagree.”

As always, he was more than ready with a comeback, “and both of them enjoy my protection.” He then reached out and tapped the stone, “or at least one of them did before he went and got all patriotic, for the wrong cause.” Then Conner quickly changed the subject with a formal bow, “oh and you’re welcome by the way.”

“I didn’t ask for your help,” Barbara told him.

“No you didn’t,” Conner replied, “but, I think you’re glad to have gotten it anyway. If not, Barbara me dear, we’d have been lighting a flame for Shannon today too.”

“No Conner,” Barbara told him, “that’s not the point. The point is that you did that for your reasons. I don’t owe you a damn thing.”

“Very true Barbara,” the man conceded, “yet, why is it that, I get the feeling this is about to change.” When she said nothing he pointed out, “you were the one that called me lass.”

Barbara swallowed her pride, “I can’t get a Colonial exit visa and none of the foreign consulates will even to talk to me without one.”

Conner took that very lightly, “is that all? I couldn’t imagine you, of all people, having a problem like that. You being so tight with the Governor and all.”

Barbara’s jaw tightened and she looked him in the eye, “shall we stop dancing around this Conner. I know damn well you’re the reason why.”

He shrugged, “see what I mean about all of that law non sense. Exactly what has it got you girl? You’re playing by their rules and how’s that working out?” When she tried lashing out he raised a finger, “don’t even try that on me. You’re forgetting Barbara, I know who you really are.”

When Barbara could not reply, Conner lightened up and told her, “all you have to do is come home girl. Your people and mine, we might have walked on different paths but, we’re all still Canadians. That’s why I let you marry my brother. Now that you’re raising his child, you’re still welcome girl. You’ve hit a spot of trouble and we’re the only ones that can protect you. That’s what the family is for.”