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cannibalized for their spare parts. There were bicycles and parts of bicycles and junk of every description; in the corner where Matthew had his workbench there was an electric heater.
    Matthew looked up from the TV set.
    â€œSo this is what you do? Repair TV’s?” Declan leaned on the end of the workbench.
    Matthew nodded and waved a hand around the cluttered garage. “I fix things.”
    â€œPeople too? Do you fix people too? You fixed me right enough, dragging me over the top of the world and setting me down in your British Prison Columbia. You’re the great pair of fixers, you and my aunt!”
    â€œWe made a bargain. Your sentence expires in just over three months. When the time comes, you are free to go. I will pay your way as I promised.”
    â€œThree months! You sure sucked me in with all that talk of six months. I see now the pair of you had it all planned. ‘Make it after Christmas.’” Declan mimicked his aunt.
    â€œA bargain is a bargain.”
    â€œI’m beginning to regret it. How can I trust you? Didn’t you have me kidnapped? And any man who would leave poor Ireland to solve her own troubles is not a man to be trusted.”
    â€œIn Ireland they kill one another. Killing solves nothing, Declan. Blood begets more blood.”
    â€œSwear an oath on the death of my da!”
    Matthew sighed and raised his big hand. “I swear on the death of my brother Liam, your da.”
    â€œThat you’ll pay my way back home after Christmas.”
    â€œHome after Christmas.” Matthew turned back to the TV set.

Chapter Twelve
    Pender was a small school. Mr. Taylor, the principal, said they would start him in grade nine and arrange for his records to be sent from Ireland.
    â€œDon’t bother,” said Declan. “I won’t be here long.”
    â€œWhere will you be?” Mr. Taylor was a stern man with piercing blue eyes and a way of tilting his head slightly to one side when he asked a question.
    â€œBack home.”
    â€œIreland is still your home? But I understood you have no relatives living there.”
    â€œNo relatives, but Ireland is my country and the Irish are my people.”
    Mr. Taylor studied the form on his desk. “You are now living with your aunt and uncle in Otter Harbour?”
    â€œUntil Christmas.”
    Mr. Taylor smiled. “Give us a try. I think you will like it here, Declan.”
    Declan scowled. “Will there be anything else?”
    Mr. Taylor placed the form in his desk tray. “That’s everything. Let me know if there’s any way I can help you settle in.”
    â€œThanks, but I’ve no intention of settling in to anything British.” He got up and grasped the knob of the door. “Especially your British Conundrum Columbia!” He did not wait for a reply, but closed the door behind him, and wandered down to the school cafeteria where he saw Ana chattering with two girls.
    She saw him and came over. “I’m sorry I lost my temper yesterday, Declan.” She smiled. “Kate is right; she’s always telling me I shouldn’t poke my nose into other people’s business.”
    Declan shrugged his shoulders.
    Ana introduced him to her friends. Declan nodded at them both briefly and went to buy a sandwich. When he got back, the trio had grown into a group, all girls, gathered around Ana’s end of the table. As he hovered at the edge he heard, “ . . . really good-looking, but . . . “
    â€œBut what, Leah?” Ana’s voice.
    â€œWell, he’s awfully serious.”
    â€œSo what’s so bad about serious?” Ana again. “It’s better than some of these clowns who never stop grinning and smirking.”
    â€œAnd he acts kinda . . . stuck up, don’t you think?”
    â€œNo, I don’t think, Leah. He’s just . . . shy. It will take a while for him to get used to things here.”
    They saw him and started