Chapter 1

The balmy ocean air blew salty sea spray into Aurora O'Moore's eager face. After almost a month at sea, she was seeing her first site of land. Her first site of her new home. The tall, graceful figure of the Statue of Liberty rose imposingly before the harbor mouth leading to New York City and American soil. All around the large ship were smaller fishing ships or tugboats, carefully staying out of the ship's way. Aurora's gray-green eyes shone with excitement as she thought about the new life that awaited her in this magnificent city.

Aurora was a slender Irish/English girl who drew attention by her pixie face, freckled button nose, ready smile, and red-gold hair. Her mother had past on the trait of bright auburn hair with golden highlights, while her father had past on his picture window gray-green eyes. Her grandmother always say that Rory showed the world her heart, not on her sleeves, but in her eyes. It was one of the many things Rory wished were different. She could never lie or keep a wrong secret. Her eyes always got in the way. Now this graceful sixteen-year-old stood at the railing of the large ship Virgin Mary, her eyes taking in everything.

Three hours later, the ship was docked, and the passengers were given permission to disembark. Rory held her bags with a white-handed grip. She had heard stories of people who would steal a person's bag right from their hands. Being a newbie and a foreigner to boot, she didn't want to be taken advantage of. Another hour was taken getting through customs and health inspectors. Soon, Rory found herself outside staring at the long lines of buildings that lined the streets. New York was the biggest city that she had ever been to, except for her brief stay in Dublin while getting passage on the ship.

"Extry! Extry! Read all a'out it!" Rory's attention was drawn from staring at the buildings and busy streets to a young boy on the corner.

He was taller then Rory who only stood at 5'3". He had piercing blue eyes and dirty blonde hair that hung in his eyes. His stance was proud, haughty, and defiant. Under his right arm was a bundle of newspapers while his left hand held one out to show the passersby. Rory scrambled around, feeling her pockets till she found the little piece of paper that held an address on it. Being what the New Yorkers' called 'newsies,' maybe this boy could help her. Just to be sure, she pulled out a few pennies to buy a paper from him as collateral.

"'cuse me, lad. 'ow much for one of ye's papers?" Her rich Irish brogue made the boy stop and stare before he understood what she was asking.

"Only a penny, miss." He smiled once he understood that she wanted to buy his pape.

Rory pressed a copper coin in his hand and thanked him for the paper. As he was turning away to continue hawking headlines, she placed a soft hand on his arm.

"Sorry to bother ye again, but maybe ye can help me. Me brother's livin' at this address, yet, unfortunately, I donna know where it be or which way ta go." Her eyes stared beseechingly into his, begging for the help she so desperately needed. "'e's a newsie like ye are. Maybe ye knows 'im."

The boy had his full attention on her now. He stared at the paper in her hand, reading the address and thinking where this place could be.

"'e lives in 'hattan, miss." At her look of complete bewilderment, the boy gave a sigh and switched his papers to rest in his left arm. His right was held out for take. "Dat's Jacky Boy's territory, but I'se 'll take ya there. It be getting' dark soon, and no lady should be out hera in da dark."

Rory looked incredulously between his arm and dirty face. Could she trust this boy? Impatiently, the boy grabbed her arm and started moving her down the street.

"'Urry up already! If ya dilly dally to long, then I ain't takin' youse at all!" Rory didn't fight against his grasp as she fought to hang onto her bags while they hurried along at a very fast pace. It wasn't long before the docks and the ships were left far behind the pair as they made their way deeper and deeper into the dimming interior of Brooklyn territory.

Hey all! It's Jockey! Hope you all enjoy this little fic of mine. I've had it sitting on my computer for several months and I'm just now starting to finish it up. Don't forget to review!