‘Solving what I perceived to be a problem by taking decisive action,’ she snapped, her voice trembling as she repeated his own words back to him. ‘Trying to do the right thing even though I’m not sure you deserve it.’ She paused, deliberately dredging up the most hurtful thing she could. ‘But I’ll do it for Adrienne rather than for you.’ She stabbed a finger at a spot on the map. ‘Murphy’s fence. That piece of land will give access to the main road from his land.’ Those beautiful new bifold doors from his kitchen-diner windows looked out over Murphy’s land. It was probably that very view that might be spoiled.
‘Yes, but it’s our land.’
‘Only until midnight.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘Niamh’s twelve today. You said the fence went up when she was born. You have never challenged Murphy’s right to ownership of that land, which he’s claimed by putting up the fence. In law, after twelve years, like squatters’ rights, it becomes his because you’ve never challenged it.’
Conor moved quickly and came to stand by her side to study the map. ‘Say that again.’
She flinched at his casual closeness. He’d dressed up for the evening in a crisp blue cotton shirt that highlighted those deep-blue eyes of his and she could smell the familiar aftershave that she’d smelled on his pillows when she’d shared his bed. She tamped down the sudden hollow longing.
‘In law, if someone claims land and it goes unchallenged, i.e. you don’t make them remove the fence, it becomes theirs.’
‘But he can’t.’
‘He can unless you insist the fence is taken down tonight.’
Conor frowned. ‘But Murphy’s away. He’s gone to County Antrim to the sheep auction.’
Hannah thought for a moment. ‘Then we need to take the fence down. Without damaging it.’ She looked at her watch. ‘Tonight. By taking the fence down, you are challenging the right of it being there. That should stand up in a court of law. If you damage it, he could make a complaint against you, but the imperative is to get it down.’
Conor turned and looked out of the window.
‘In this weather? In the middle of the Orchard Party?’
‘Yes.’
Chapter Twenty-Seven
‘Everything all right?’ said Jason, appearing at the window.
Conor jumped. ‘Where did you come from?’
‘Lookout.’ Jason lifted his shoulders in a cheerful, unrepentant shrug.
‘We need a plan,’ said Hannah. ‘Jason, are you in?’
‘What, taking the fence down?’
‘You were listening?’ asked Conor.
‘I might have been. Sounds like we need a bit of a crew pulling together.’
Hannah nodded, thoughtfully. ‘But we don’t want to spoil Adrienne’s party.’
‘If a few of us sneaked out, she wouldn’t notice.’
‘Excuse me,’ interrupted Conor. ‘This is my family’s problem the two of you are talking about.’
‘Yes,’ said Hannah, ‘And they’re celebrating a birthday as well as it being Adrienne’s big night. No one will miss us, but they’d miss all of you.’
‘Not me.’
‘The great Conor Byrne.’
‘There’ll be nothing great if Murphy gets his way. I’d never forgive myself. Besides, the party will be over in an hour.’
