DISASTER LEGACY
Disaster Legacy follows the struggles and challenges of the journey leading Sean McChesney-Dalton from Ireland to North America in the 19th century. The adventurer survives seafaring pirate attacks, the murder of his father and attempted killing of his /mother. Dealing with a dysfunctional Uncle Liam's family from childhood, Sean narrowly escapes a hanging sentence as a young man. His Uncle Liam is instrumental in having the young family member charged for alleged terrorism and plotting to sink a visiting American merchant ship. Sean's girlfriend with ties to the New Republicans (IRA predecessors) helps the young adventurer escape eventually making his way to Canada.
Arriving at York Factory aboard the merchant ship Disaster, Sean carves out a career before marrying a First Nation woman and accepting an assignment to develop Canada's Hudson Bay Company prairie trading posts. Intrigue and suspense follow as the seaman turned successful business executive is selected by Hudson Bay executives to organize the first North American Great Lakes shipping company. He faces turmoil after the death of his native wife forcing the newly appointed executive to assume sole care of an infant daughter.
Sean is instrumental in helping defuse a Métis insurrection threat after discovering American ships smuggling arms to the rebels mixed with manufactured goods owned by his family's Irish firm. The details force Sean to reveal an unscrupulous partnership between his uncle Liam and the American shipping firm owned by his American stepfather's family firm. Death threats and family turmoil result when Sean successfully uncovers and helps destroy the illegal international arms syndicate involving his family. Returning to Ireland with his infant daughter he learns of a son born out of wedlock to his former girlfriend after escaping from Ireland. Challenges continue after discovering the mother of his son and his mother presumed a victim of brother Liam are struggling to retain family ownership of the crumbling family industrial empire.
DISASTER LEGACY
(Chapter 1 excerpt) BECOMING SOLE HEIR
The sea along the Irish coast near Wexford is often picturesque with a gentle swell kissing the shore. At times like this, it was wild and angry frothing like a mad animal. Today the waves pounded the shore, sending spray almost half way up the rocky embankment reflecting the storm lashing shipping in the Irish Sea. Only a single fishing boat was on the horizon, rising and falling in the giant swells. Struggling to stay afloat Kathleen tried to make the horse swim against the waves. Clinging to the saddle until finally losing her grip, she rose to the top of each wave before disappearing into the next trough until the sea carried her out of sight.
Sitting motionless astride his horse, the man watched the woman disappear. "Liam will be pleased," he spoke aloud.
The killer dressed in black with a scarf covering most of his face turned his mount from the edge of the cliff as a single gunshot rang out. Lurching forward violently from the the bullet striking him in the chest the man fell landing on his back. His eyes stared towards the sky in the classic pose of the dead.
Carrying a new American Winchester rifle another man dressed in a tailored, dark brown English riding suit rode up to the fallen man and dismounted. Slightly built with a thin face, small brown moustache, thinning sandy colored hair, and a straight mirthless line for a mouth, he walked over to the body. Making certain his shiny riding boots were not soiled, he pushed the dead man's body over the edge. Smiling as the body slid down embankment into the sea Liam McChesney felt a thrill of excitement. Arranging for the death of his sister after disposing of her husband meant becoming sole heir to the McChesney fortune. Negotiating a partnership in the newly organized arms smuggling cartel with Lord Argyle would soon be possible.
With Kathleen in the sea floating a long way from shore, Liam rode to the office of the local constabulary to report the details of his sister’s drowning. Taking credit for killing the New Republican assassin responsible for her death found the officer in charge sympathetic assuring Liam thesearch to recover her body would begin as soon as weather allowed.
Arriving at McChesney Wexford Estate, Liam went directly into the main house where his pregnant wife was laboring over the huge stove preparing the noonday meal for the large staff.
"Kathleen has been killed by the New Republicans and her body lost to the sea. I want her child brought to the barn and bedded down in the loft above the horses."
"But he is only a baby not yet fourteen months old," the woman said evidently distressed .
"Do as you are told woman or must I teach you again not to disobey my orders?" he asked.
Her condition would not stop a beating if she continued to protest.Doris McChesney went to Kathleen's room and brought the child to the loft above the horse stalls. The bed already leveled and lined with swaddling clothes made of rags pressed out in the hay. Climbing into the loft Liam continued to outline plans for the baby while his wife prepared the makeshift bed for more warmth and comfort.
"You shall find a young girl from among your household workers making her responsible for feeding, bathing and caring for the child until he is old enough to work for his keep as a stable hand," he began.
"The girl will have to be at his side every hour of every day for years," she pointed out.
"Then find one of the farmer's daughters disgraced after having a child out of wedlock. Offer lodging, food and a room in the loft for both her and the illegitimate child. Tell her for the independence of living on her own we will provide employment until Kathleen's bastard son is old enough," he decided.
"Shall we then send your father to the hay loft to visit with his only grandson?" she asked.
"You will have him brought to Kathleen's room when my father visits. The old man will believe we hired a nursemaid to care for the child," he replied glaring at her angrily.
"Eventually the child will be old enough to speak for himself and tell his grandfather of his uncle’s mistreatment," she said again satisfaction of defying her husband evident.
"By then you will have given me a son to become master of McChesney estate. I guarantee our son will not have to compete with the child fathered by my sister's farm boy lover," he replied.
"What if our child is born a girl?"
"Then you will have babies until you produce a son."
"Kathleen’s baby will live the way you wish, but it will not work."
"Just do as you are told and leave the rest to me," he said.
This exciting historical adventure novel follows adventures and romantic exploits the 9th century McChesney family dynasty from Ireland to North America ....available in print edition at COLES BOOKS in the New Sudbury Shopping Center
Arriving at York Factory aboard the merchant ship Disaster, Sean carves out a career before marrying a First Nation woman and accepting an assignment to develop Canada's Hudson Bay Company prairie trading posts. Intrigue and suspense follow as the seaman turned successful business executive is selected by Hudson Bay executives to organize the first North American Great Lakes shipping company. He faces turmoil after the death of his native wife forcing the newly appointed executive to assume sole care of an infant daughter.
Sean is instrumental in helping defuse a Métis insurrection threat after discovering American ships smuggling arms to the rebels mixed with manufactured goods owned by his family's Irish firm. The details force Sean to reveal an unscrupulous partnership between his uncle Liam and the American shipping firm owned by his American stepfather's family firm. Death threats and family turmoil result when Sean successfully uncovers and helps destroy the illegal international arms syndicate involving his family. Returning to Ireland with his infant daughter he learns of a son born out of wedlock to his former girlfriend after escaping from Ireland. Challenges continue after discovering the mother of his son and his mother presumed a victim of brother Liam are struggling to retain family ownership of the crumbling family industrial empire.
DISASTER LEGACY
(Chapter 1 excerpt) BECOMING SOLE HEIR
The sea along the Irish coast near Wexford is often picturesque with a gentle swell kissing the shore. At times like this, it was wild and angry frothing like a mad animal. Today the waves pounded the shore, sending spray almost half way up the rocky embankment reflecting the storm lashing shipping in the Irish Sea. Only a single fishing boat was on the horizon, rising and falling in the giant swells. Struggling to stay afloat Kathleen tried to make the horse swim against the waves. Clinging to the saddle until finally losing her grip, she rose to the top of each wave before disappearing into the next trough until the sea carried her out of sight.
Sitting motionless astride his horse, the man watched the woman disappear. "Liam will be pleased," he spoke aloud.
The killer dressed in black with a scarf covering most of his face turned his mount from the edge of the cliff as a single gunshot rang out. Lurching forward violently from the the bullet striking him in the chest the man fell landing on his back. His eyes stared towards the sky in the classic pose of the dead.
Carrying a new American Winchester rifle another man dressed in a tailored, dark brown English riding suit rode up to the fallen man and dismounted. Slightly built with a thin face, small brown moustache, thinning sandy colored hair, and a straight mirthless line for a mouth, he walked over to the body. Making certain his shiny riding boots were not soiled, he pushed the dead man's body over the edge. Smiling as the body slid down embankment into the sea Liam McChesney felt a thrill of excitement. Arranging for the death of his sister after disposing of her husband meant becoming sole heir to the McChesney fortune. Negotiating a partnership in the newly organized arms smuggling cartel with Lord Argyle would soon be possible.
With Kathleen in the sea floating a long way from shore, Liam rode to the office of the local constabulary to report the details of his sister’s drowning. Taking credit for killing the New Republican assassin responsible for her death found the officer in charge sympathetic assuring Liam thesearch to recover her body would begin as soon as weather allowed.
Arriving at McChesney Wexford Estate, Liam went directly into the main house where his pregnant wife was laboring over the huge stove preparing the noonday meal for the large staff.
"Kathleen has been killed by the New Republicans and her body lost to the sea. I want her child brought to the barn and bedded down in the loft above the horses."
"But he is only a baby not yet fourteen months old," the woman said evidently distressed .
"Do as you are told woman or must I teach you again not to disobey my orders?" he asked.
Her condition would not stop a beating if she continued to protest.Doris McChesney went to Kathleen's room and brought the child to the loft above the horse stalls. The bed already leveled and lined with swaddling clothes made of rags pressed out in the hay. Climbing into the loft Liam continued to outline plans for the baby while his wife prepared the makeshift bed for more warmth and comfort.
"You shall find a young girl from among your household workers making her responsible for feeding, bathing and caring for the child until he is old enough to work for his keep as a stable hand," he began.
"The girl will have to be at his side every hour of every day for years," she pointed out.
"Then find one of the farmer's daughters disgraced after having a child out of wedlock. Offer lodging, food and a room in the loft for both her and the illegitimate child. Tell her for the independence of living on her own we will provide employment until Kathleen's bastard son is old enough," he decided.
"Shall we then send your father to the hay loft to visit with his only grandson?" she asked.
"You will have him brought to Kathleen's room when my father visits. The old man will believe we hired a nursemaid to care for the child," he replied glaring at her angrily.
"Eventually the child will be old enough to speak for himself and tell his grandfather of his uncle’s mistreatment," she said again satisfaction of defying her husband evident.
"By then you will have given me a son to become master of McChesney estate. I guarantee our son will not have to compete with the child fathered by my sister's farm boy lover," he replied.
"What if our child is born a girl?"
"Then you will have babies until you produce a son."
"Kathleen’s baby will live the way you wish, but it will not work."
"Just do as you are told and leave the rest to me," he said.
This exciting historical adventure novel follows adventures and romantic exploits the 9th century McChesney family dynasty from Ireland to North America ....available in print edition at COLES BOOKS in the New Sudbury Shopping Center
