March 7: 11 Days Before the Festival
Sunny slept soundly and woke the next morning with the sun just beginning to slip over the sill of her bedroom window. She rolled onto her back and stretched, feeling restored and a sense of contentment she had not felt in a very long time. Her window was open, and a cool breeze drifted, lazily teasing the leaves in the trees and ruffling the sheer curtains. The sun was just beginning to rise and the sounds of wildlife outside reached her. Sunny heard Miggs whickering and the chickens in their coop cackling to one another. The soft, brown-eyed dairy cow Fiona kept in her small barn with Miggs was calling and she heard Fiona's voice, so the woman was already up and doing chores.
Sunny sat up and stuck her feet into her slippers; time to get ready for the day. She was not sure what Fiona had planned, but she already knew that Fiona went on her "rounds" to her patients in and around the town of Ballencoo. Sunny's chores were yet to be discussed; only that she was to help Fiona.
Sunny went into the bathroom, washed her face, and brushed her teeth. As she stood in the bathroom before the mirror, she thought of her mother. It seemed very strange that her mother, who had always kept in touch with Fiona, had never visited more than a few times since her mother, Colleen, had passed away. Sunny's mother often spoke to Fiona, having marathon conversations during Christmas and other holidays. She had even visited several times between the time she married and had become pregnant with Sunny.
They had all visited Fiona when Sunny was just a few months old, and again when she was three. Then oddly there was a long interval when Sunny's mother had not mentioned or spoken to Fiona. Then when Sunny was eleven years old, news came of Sunny's grandmother's death. Maire had traveled alone to Ireland for the funeral. Fiona and her mother had apparently mended their relationship and the weekly telephone calls resumed with Sunny being included in the calls. She had grown up only knowing that Fiona was a kind and loving woman who grew flowers and lived in a quaint cottage near the woods.
As Sunny grew older, she exchanged cards and letters and spoke to her great-aunt Fiona on the telephone even more than her mother. Fiona began to call Sunny on a regular basis, to catch up on things. Sunny sent cards, letters, pictures, and small pieces of artwork. If she had married, Fiona was going to let her, and Jason stay with her for a few days during their honeymoon before they went on to other parts of Europe.
All those plans had shattered into a million pieces. Sunny looked around, there was no Jason, no marriage, and no honeymoon. It did not seem so painful now that she was with Fiona. The gigantic mystery surrounding Fiona was still firmly in place. As she thought about it; the idea of Fiona being a homeopathic healer was no great terrible thing – it was, in fact, quite wonderful! After all the attempts to get at the secrets, Sunny decided she was not going to get much more information from Fiona. The woman had made some kind of solemn unbreakable vow to her mother, and she was not going to break her word.
"I guess I'll just have to try and find some other way!" Sunny whispered to her reflection and winked.
She dressed in jeans and a polo shirt and as she brushed her hair and pulled it up into a ponytail, she examined herself in the dresser mirror. She turned to the side and then examined her reflection from the back, patting her rear end and thinking it wasn't as big as she thought it was. That was when she saw a small dark brown horror in her window! She turned to the window, her heart hammering in her throat. Cautiously she moved to the window and then as she got closer, she reached out slowly to catch the curtains in her hand. Then jerked them back expecting to catch sight of --- what? There was nothing there!
Sunny felt stupid for being frightened by a trick of the light. She let the curtains fall back into place. She put her socks on and padded down the stairs to the kitchen. Fiona had left a pair of green rubber boots on the porch. She slipped them on and stamped her feet to make sure they were securely on her feet. Sunny took the stone path that led around to the side of the barn and the chicken coop. Fiona was coming out of the barn with a rake in one hand and a pitchfork in the other.
"Good morning my dear!"
"Hey Aunt Fiona, what do you want me to help you with?" Sunny asked by way of greeting.
"Well, if we combine forces, we can make short work of cleaning up the barn. We'll need to milk the cow, gather up eggs, and then we'll have a spot of breakfast." Fiona replied.
Sunny followed Fiona into the barn and Miggs whickered her greetings, and the soft-eyed brown cow raised her head and warbled a mournful cry. "Let's get the stall raked out and new straw down for Miggs, then we'll get the other stall for Ruthie."
Ruthie raised her head and pronounced a low, "Mawwww!"
Sunny took the rake and picked up the old straw and manure and tossed it into the waiting wheelbarrow, then helped Fiona spread an even layer of straw in the larger stall next to where Miggs was carefully observing their progress. When they were done, Fiona transferred Miggs into the newly cleaned stall and they went to work on the other stall across from where Ruthie was waiting. Then Fiona transferred Ruthie into her new spot.
"Come with me to the compost bins and we'll get rid of this wheelbarrow load before it draws any more flies."
Sunny rolled the wheelbarrow behind Fiona into the backyard nearest the garden area, well away from the house. There were three tall three-sided bins made of wood, it didn't smell as bad as Sunny imagined it would. Together with a pitchfork and shovel, they spread the straw and manure in a layer on both sides of the compost bins. When they were done, Fiona took a plank and slid it down to hold everything in place. When they finished that task, Fiona smiled over at Sunny. "What do you think so far?"
Sunny grinned as she leaned on the handle of her shovel, "Well, I'm glad you only have one horse and one cow!"
Fiona chuckled and nodded in agreement. "Let's see to the chickens, they're not quite as bad." She replied.
The chickens in the coop were several varieties, red, white, and black and white speckled birds. A rather large, majestic rooster pranced and preened from his perch in the enclosed yard. He ruffled his black, iridescent yellow, green, and blue feathers and turned a baleful golden eye on them as they entered the enclosure. The hens emerged all heading for the large pan feeders. Fiona opened a small, shed door next to the coop. "Sunny here's where everything is stored; the feed is in this bin. Over on the wall, there's a small rake and a heavy dustpan. Rake out the debris from the floor and gather up the eggs. You'll find a basket to use in the coop. Fill up the feeders, and the water jug, when I finish milking Ruthie, we'll go in."
Sunny nodded and set about her chore. The hens continued to cluck softly in the wire enclosure, scratching the hard-packed dirt looking for insects. There were soft cedar shavings in the nest boxes and Sunny took a stiff brush and cleaned off the droppings that clung to the sides of the boxes where they joined the other debris on the floor.
She took a broom and swept up the floor of the coop. She used the large dustpan to capture everything destined for the compost pile. When she finished, she took the rounded bowl-shaped basket and began collecting the eggs. Some eggs were brown, others creamy white and the eggs from the speckled hens were grayish white with dark speckles. She exited the coop and set her basket on the shelf next to the feed bins. She opened the first bin and filled a small bucket with chicken feed.
As soon as the hens and the rooster heard the scrape of the bucket in the feed, they began to flap their wings and squawk loudly out in their enclosure. When she entered the large run, they scrabbled around her. "Ladies, please!" Sunny admonished her charges, "There's plenty for everyone!" While they ate at the metal feeders she went out and filled the water bucket at the pump that was nearby and refilled the waterer. When she had finished her tasks, she stood watching the hens eating and scratching in the well-packed dirt.
"Aren't you supposed to tell them all the latest gossip?"
Sunny spun around at the sound of the male voice and then recognized Hugh O'Donnell. She giggled like a nervous schoolgirl, "You startled me!"
Hugh smiled the smile lighting his mossy grey-green eyes with a boyish gleam. "Sorry 'bout that, you need help?"
"No, I just have to make a deposit over in the compost pile and then take these eggs in," Sunny replied dusting her hands off on the seat of her jeans. "And I think that's bees you're supposed to fill in on all the latest gossip,"
"Oh, silly me," Hugh said in mock chagrin.
"Hello, Hugh!" Called Fiona as she emerged from the barn with a pail of creamy milk, "You're just in time for breakfast!"
"Good!" Hugh called back. As Sunny stepped out of the chicken yard and latched the wire door Hugh stepped back out of the way and his injured leg buckled without warning. Sunny dipped in under his arm and provided support until he gained balance.
Hugh was surprised at the action but smiled down at her giving her a quick but thankful shoulder squeeze. She returned the gesture as she hugged his waist and then wordlessly stepped away. She handed her egg basket to Hugh and took her oversized dustpan of chicken droppings to the compost pile. Fiona paused, watching them together, then ducked her head and went inside with her bucket of milk.
Sunny returned to where Hugh waited for her at the chicken yard.
"I'm hungry!" she reported as she stored the rake and the pan in the shed.
Hugh handed her the basket of eggs. "Thank you." He said softly and ran a hand down his hip and upper leg.
She took the egg basket and smiled over at him. "Have you had breakfast?"
"No, just coffee," He replied.
"Why, it isn't proper for the young laird to skip breakfast!" Sunny replied.
Hugh chuckled softly. "Then I guess you need to feed me before I faint from hunger."
They strolled up the path to the kitchen steps. Fiona came out with a wash basin and put it on the porch with a towel. Fiona welcomed Hugh again with a hug and shooed him inside with a wave of her hand, "Coffee is brewing it'll be ready in a tic!"
Hugh stepped in after Fiona but waited at the door, watching Sunny as she pulled her green Wellington boots off and set them next to where Fiona had left hers.
"How do you like your eggs, Hugh?" Fiona asked.
Hugh watched as Sunny bent over the wash basin to wash her hands. The girl has curves in all the right places! "Yes." He answered.
Fiona turned from the stove and shook her head as she realized what had the man so distracted. She cleared her throat lightly, "Ahem, your eggs?"
Hugh looked blankly at Fiona for a second then grinned almost wolfishly as he realized he'd been caught ogling Sunny. Sunny poured the pan of water onto the flowers that grew around the porch and came into the kitchen. "I like mine sunny side up--- of course!"
"As do I," Hugh replied laughing at her pun, "Of course!
"Indeed!" Fiona murmured. She cooked eggs for them with crisp bacon and buttered toast. There were pots of amber-colored honey, blackberry jam, and fig preserves that Fiona used on her toast.
As they sat around the small wooden table in the kitchen, Hugh told them why he was visiting. "Well, I thought Sunny should begin her riding lessons," he told them as he sipped his second cup of coffee. "I have a sweet little mare that will be perfect to start on."
Sunny looked over at Fiona and then at Hugh, "I'm not sure…"
"Nonsense," Fiona responded. "I won't be needing you until later in the afternoon."
"You're sure, Aunt Fiona?" Sunny was anxious to begin helping Fiona in her apothecary, but she was also looking forward to being with Hugh.
"Absolutely," Fiona said, she looked over at Hugh, "You should ride toward the ruins at Thornegate. Show Sunny where the folk will be staying for the next few weeks."
Hugh nodded. "Good idea. There's already a small group setting up camp."
"Is it the Thorne clan chieftain?" Fiona asked.
Hugh nodded. "Yes, Rainbow Wells and his family are trading their leatherwork."
"Truly his name is Rainbow?" Sunny asked smiling at the name and the mental images that came to mind.
Hugh chuckled, "Well, that's the name he calls himself to the outsiders. I don't know his true birth name. I don't think he'll ever tell me."
Fiona shook her head. "The folk can have four or five names," she replied, "They have their true birth name, a public name, a family name, and then even a nickname, but you never know truly what their real names are."
"I wonder if they know themselves?" Hugh asked aloud. "I've known Rainbow and his family for close to twenty years. Our family has always bought their saddles and tack from him."
"I suppose we don't really know anyone," Sunny said, thinking of the people she thought she had known so well and counted as friends, only to discover she had never known them at all.
Hugh caught the dark sad look that crossed Sunny's face and felt his sadness creep into his mind like a wounded creature. "Sometimes we are fooled by what we want to see or fail to see."
Sunny looked up at him and realized he understood exactly what she was thinking. She smiled and laid a hand on his arm and gave it a gentle squeeze. "Well, that's all behind us. On we go, right?"
Hugh grinned the shadows lifting the instant Sunny touched him. "Yes, on we go!"
"And on you both should go!" Fiona said shooing them out of her kitchen. "Go and have a good riding lesson."
They got up and left through the kitchen door. Sunny put her green boots on and followed Hugh around to the front. Tied and waiting near the gate were the horses. "Let me introduce you," Hugh said as they came up to the horses. "This is Payne's Grey."
The cob mare was a dark grey and white "pinto" with a creamy white mane and tail. Her "feathered" legs were also a creamy white. "Oh, Hugh, she's lovely!" Sunny murmured then looked aside at him, "And she's named for an artist's color?"
Hugh laughed, ducking his head slightly, "Well, I wish I could say yes, and impress you with my artistic knowledge; but she's named after an old friend of mine."
"Ah," Sunny responded as she came to stroke the mare's neck and silky mane. "And Payne's companion?"
Hugh lifted his chin to the other cob that was a bit larger and more muscular than Payne's Grey. "That fellow is called Domino. He is one of the purchases from the folk at last year's festival."
Hugh handed the reins of Payne's Grey to Sunny, and he adjusted the girth strap and the stirrup. "Let's get you mounted up, then we'll take it easy down the road for a bit until you get the feel of things."
Sunny came around to the left side of the mare, and stuck her foot into the stirrup, took a couple of bounces, and swung into the saddle. Hugh nodded in approval as she settled easily into the saddle and gathered up the reins loosely in her hands. He quickly adjusted the right stirrup and then stepped back. "Looks like you're a natural!"
"I haven't ridden in years, but I hope to be a quick study." She replied.
Hugh mounted Domino and stuck his cane into a sheath designed to hold a crop or some other device. "Shall we?"
They reined the horses around and set them on a slow walk. Hugh gave a few pointers, but essentially let Sunny get comfortable with the movement of the horse. Domino was eager to step up his pace, but Hugh held him firmly in check.
After a bit, Sunny on her own set Payne's Grey to a nice easy lope. She felt very comfortable and confident with Hugh next to her. Domino easily kept pace, he tossed and shook his shaggy head with the pale gray mare answering with a toss of her silky mane. They turned on a grassy trail and Sunny slowed once again to a walk. Hugh angled his mount next to Sunny, "Eager to romp through the field?"
Sunny grinned, "I'd like to, but ---,"
Hugh nodded and pointed out over the seemingly endless field. "It's all clear and clean from here to the Thornegate ruins. Don't worry I'll be right beside you if you need me."
Without further encouragement, Sunny lifted the reins, giving the signal to Payne's Grey to pick up the pace. The horse transitioned from trot to canter in a few heartbeats. Sunny felt as if she were about to take flight! It was a wonderful feeling! The mare thundered across the field with Hugh and his mount just a stride behind. The mare seemed to be enjoying herself as much as Sunny.
They crested a gentle swell and Sunny reined in. On the next crest was a great stack of old stone blocks that once was a castle. They were nearly completely covered by moss, ivy, and sapling trees. Not far away was a modern-looking silver and black travel trailer and a silver and black truck with a type of caravan built into it. There were four children of various ages and sexes playing soccer with a red and white soccer ball.
When the children spotted the horses on the hill, they stopped playing and waved. The adults came to the door of their trailer and waved too. Hugh waved and put his hand to cup around his mouth and yelled a "hello".
"Is that Rainbow?" Sunny asked.
"That's him," Hugh replied and grinned at her. "Ready to meet a chieftain?"
"I would, indeed!" She replied.
Almost immediately a shrill whistle issued back, and Hugh turned to Sunny, "We're to come down."
"What if he hadn't whistled?" She asked as they began to descend the hill.
"We would've gone on and let them be." He replied, "But Rainbow's never turned away potential business."
Sunny laughed and urged her mount to follow Hugh and Domino down to the trailer. As they got closer, the children swarmed up to greet them. The woman remained in the door of the trailer and Rainbow came out to first greet Hugh. He was a thin man with a shock of black-brown hair and a neat thin beard and mustache. His tanned face was broad and ruddy from exposure to the weather. He wore blue jeans and a red plaid cotton shirt with a worn leather vest that had shiny gold buttons on both sides of the opening. Apparently, it was more decorative than functional.
"A good day to you master O'Donnell."
"And to you," returned Hugh. He did not dismount but turned slightly in the saddle and nodded to Sunny. "Allow me to introduce you to the Dannan's great niece, Siobhan O'Neil."
Sunny noted the formal and unusual way Hugh introduced her to the man, referring to Fiona as 'the Dannan' but did not comment on it. She simply smiled warmly when Rainbow's closed expression shifted to her and looked her over with solemn brown eyes. He stepped over to Sunny and inclined his head. "An honor; Miss O'Neil. I trust the Dannan is well?"
"Thank you, sir. Yes, she is doing very well. I will let her know you asked of her." Sunny replied.
Rainbow nodded and looked back to Hugh. "You will be staying to visit?"
"The Dannan thought it would be good to bring Sunny over to see the ruins," Hugh replied. He still did not make any move to dismount. Sunny glanced up to the doorway of the trailer where the woman was still standing, waiting for some signal from her husband.
Rainbow glanced back to Sunny. "Aye, you can stake the horses here."
Hugh nodded and retrieved his cane. He glanced over to Sunny and gave her the slightest nod to dismount. Rainbow came around, gathering up the reins of Sunny's mount, and held the mare still as she swung down to the ground. Her thighs and bottom were beginning to feel tender, so walking to the ruins would help keep her muscles from getting too sore.
The children curiously gathered around closer to their father to study the newcomer. Rainbow looked to either side and saw his children keenly looking over their new visitor. A solemn-eyed girl tugged on her father's sleeve, "Papa can we go to the ruins with them?"
Rainbow smiled down at his child then looked over at Sunny, "This is Willow, her brother is Ash." Both children looked at one another and then together looked at Sunny.
The smallest girl who was hugging a well-worn and well-loved rag doll pushed forward, "They are twins!"
Sunny smiled. "Oh, yes, so they are!"
"I am Poppy I am six!"
"The youngest of my girls," Rainbow responded. "That one over there eating grass is the youngest boy, Buck."
The toddler was sitting in the knee-high grass chewing on a blade of bright green grass watching the damselflies flit around him. Sunny grinned and then appearing next to Hugh and waiting to take Domino, was nearly a duplicate of Rainbow, with the same eyes, and solemn demeanor. "And my eldest; Fox."
Hugh handed over the reins to the boy and he quietly led the horse out into the grassy field then came back to collect Sunny's mare. He looked over at Sunny under a fringe of hair that fell over his face in a silky cascade of brown hair. His eyes were a rich mahogany brown and took in everything.
"This is my good wife, Lily." Rainbow stepped to one side as his wife came up beside him.
Sunny smiled at the woman, "A pleasure to meet you and your family."
The woman studied her closely for a long time then smiled back extending her hand to Sunny. "Welcome to the Thorne Clan."
"Come I will show you the ruins," Willow said quietly to Sunny, "They are magical, you know."
"Aye," Poppy said, her tone and expression gravely serious, "They say there are haints that wander the ruins."
Hugh chuckled, "Well maybe we'll see one and catch him by his toe, eh Poppy?"
Poppy giggled, grabbed Hugh's hand, and pulled him toward the ruins with Ash and Fox following leisurely behind.
"They're the will-o-the-wisps," Willow said softly for Sunny's ears only. She lightly touched Sunny's arm, "I'll show you the place where they come from, Sunny."
The Thornegate ruins were tall jumbles of stone covered over by hundreds of years of moss, dirt, and other vegetation. Sunny stood in front of what Hugh identified as the remnant of the Eastern castle tower. Rising a good eight to ten feet among the larger stones was a stately Rowan tree. Other Rowan trees were growing in what must have been the courtyard. Sunny picked carefully over the stones and listened to Willow recount several strange and mysterious sights of lights in the ruins.
Sunny stood in the center of what had been the courtyard and began to visualize what the structure must have looked like. "It must have been lovely in its day," she said softly.
Hugh came to stand across from her. "There have been odd lights sighted around here," he told her. "I've seen a few myself over the years."
"What do you think they are?" Sunny asked.
Hugh chuckled and shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know."
"Da says they are natural things and to leave them be," Fox replied as he and Ash jumped down from the crumbling stone staircase that rose into the air and tumbled into a cascade of stones and dirt on the other side.
"Aye, and when we sees 'em," Poppy responded, "we leaves 'em be!"
"Seems rather a sad sort of place," Sunny said as she moved further into where the castle would have been. She sat down on one of the moss-covered stones and was suddenly overcome by a sudden wave of dizziness. She turned to look over her shoulder when she saw the face of a young woman with bright blue eyes staring at her from the dense clump of underbrush. "Help us, please!"
Sunny closed her eyes and felt the world lurch around her. Hugh was at her side, his moss green eyes dark with worry as he sat down next to her. "Sunny? What's wrong?"
Sunny looked up at him and blinked in confusion. "What?"
"Are you, all right?" He asked her again, "You look very pale."
She shook her head, mostly to clear her mind and to clear away the image she had seen. "I'm fine; just felt a little woozy for a second."
"Probably these moldy old stones," Hugh murmured, his eyes still roaming over her face in a worried manner. "Let's get you out of here, shall we?"
She took his hand and together they strolled out of the ruins, emerging into the sunshine. Sunny drew a deep breath and smiled up at Hugh, who was still looking grey with worry. "Depressing sort of place, isn't it?"
On impulse, he threw an arm around her shoulders and hugged her to him. "Aye, but no more of that - for either of us!" He turned to look over his shoulder and frowned. "Let me gather up Rainbow's brood and we'll be on our way."
He left Sunny and quickly walked back to the entrance of the castle ruins and called to the children. Sunny noted that his usual pronounced limp was barely noticeable as he walked away. He had to call out a few more times before Poppy ran out with Ash and Fox chasing after her. Willow strolled out at a more leisurely pace, gathering wildflowers as she walked.
As Hugh rejoined Sunny, she saw his limp begin to grow steadily more pronounced. He sighed heavily and offered her his arm as he tucked his walking cane close to his side. After a few steps, the limp gradually faded away again. They walked slowly back to the camp. The other children had already moved on to other activities, and Willow wandered off into the field to gather more flowers.
"Hugh, have the O'Donnell family always lived at Thornegate?"
"No, we're newcomers. My great-great-great grandfather purchased the land and built his Thornegate about 1784 give or take." He answered. "Now your family, the Dannan clan; they've been here since well before St. Patrick drove the serpents from Ireland."
Sunny giggled at his comment and Hugh mirrored her smile. He wanted so much to kiss her mouth; it was so tempting! The reaction she had on him was disturbing and exciting at the same time. He was surprised at himself and the fact that he had no control over his body. He was glad they reached the camp! Rainbow and his wife had brought out refreshments and were waiting to serve when they walked into the camp.
"Come and have a spot to drink!" Rainbow announced.
Lily poured a pale bronze liquid into small squat glasses, handed one to Hugh and Rainbow then handed Sunny her glass. When Lily had poured her own glass, Rainbow held up his glass in a toast. "To friends; old and new!"
They drank. The liquid was mellow as it went down, and as it hit Sunny's stomach, the warmth spread all through her body. She took another small sip and looked over at Lily, "This is delicious! It sure packs a nice punch!"
Lily laughed, her dark eyes twinkling merrily, "Aye, it is good for what ails you."
Rainbow drained his glass and daubed his mouth with a fingertip. He looked over at Hugh, "So you plan on bargaining with the Burke brothers?"
"Maybe so," Hugh responded. "I know they will have a good string of ponies and several brood mares for me to look over."
"To introduce your Greystoke to?" Rainbow asked with a chuckle.
"That's my hope," Hugh replied, "Whitey Burke told me last year that he hoped to be bringing back an old line. He hinted that maybe we'd see a Fury horse this year. Something special."
"I have heard as much," Rainbow said then glanced over at Sunny. "Will you be looking for a ride as well Miss O'Neil?"
"Oh, I'd love to have a horse of my own, but they are a huge expense," Sunny replied.
Hugh smiled at her then looked to Rainbow, "Sunny's welcome to any of my horses. I thought Payne's Grey would be the best mount, to begin with."
Rainbow nodded, he took in the soft doe-eyed look Hugh had for Sunny and glanced at his own woman. Lily was just as observant and as she caught Rainbow's look, she gave him a small smile. He shifted into a more comfortable position in his camp chair, "Aye, she's a gentle ladies mount. She's one of Tully's suggestions, isn't she?"
Hugh laughed merrily, "Right you are!" he replied taking another sip from his glass, "Tully's found me several fine horses! I don't know how he manages it."
Rainbow and his wife exchanged significant looks that Sunny saw flash between them. "I've heard so much about Tully, I hope to meet him soon."
"Aye, you'll meet up with Tully soon enough," Rainbow replied. "He'll arrive before the festival and be here to tend the horses about Ballencoo."
"He just has a way with every horse he encounters," Hugh told Sunny, "I'd never have anyone else touch my animals."
"A lot of people feel that way," Rainbow replied.
Hugh squinted up at the sun as it filtered through the grove of trees the trailer was parked under. "I'd best get you back to Laurel Cottage, Fiona will be looking for you." He reached out and patted Sunny's knee. Hugh regretted the touch almost immediately, for he had to stop and fight his body and keep from embarrassing himself. What was happening to him?
As she got to her feet, she felt her muscles protest and she groaned, "Oh my gosh! I'm rusting up!"
Hugh deliberately ran a hand down his injured thigh and felt the stab of pain shoot into his knee and ankle. That had the desired effect and chased the pleasurable throb in his groin away.
Seeing his obvious discomfort, Rainbow stepped over and helped Hugh to his feet and covered the assist with a handshake and a friendly slap to Hugh's shoulder. "Do not forget to visit me for your new saddles."
Hugh nodded and clasped Rainbow's shoulder. "No, I won't, my friend!"
"You'll be sore for a few days until you get used to riding," Lily told Sunny as they moved toward where the horses waited with the boys. "Please give the Dannan my best."
"I will," Sunny said and turned to Lily, "Thank you for your hospitality."
Fox and Ash brought up the horses and as Sunny mounted Fox leaned in and gave her a boost as her leg muscles protested the movement. She settled gingerly into the saddle; her thigh muscles were no better than her calves. Hugh angled a concerned look her way, "You going to make it back?"
Sunny made a face and then laughed at her predicament. "Oh sure, no pain no gain!"
Hugh returned a lopsided grin and bid farewell to Rainbow and Lily. They all waved as Sunny, and Hugh turned their horses back the way they had come.
"You will be better by the afternoon," Hugh told her as they rode along the trail.
"Oh, I hope so!" Sunny exclaimed. "I've really enjoyed myself this morning!"
"I'm glad," Hugh murmured, "So have I."
"So, after you drop me off," Sunny asked, "What will you be doing?"
Hugh shrugged his shoulders lightly. "I'll do a little paperwork in the office. I have a prospective buyer coming to look at one of my drum lads."
"Those are much larger horses aren't they ---sort of like Cobs on steroids?"
Hugh laughed. "Well, yes I guess you could say that!" He sobered as he assessed her form as they rode back to Laurel Cottage. "You game for another lesson tomorrow?"
"Oh yes!" she said leaning forward to pat the mare's neck, "I would like to very much --- unless of course, you have other things ---"
"I'll be back at the same time tomorrow, Sunny."
"With Payne's Grey?"
"No," Hugh said, "You've done so well today; I think I'll bring over Bella Rouge; she's a bit more of a challenge."
The cottage came into view and the time together was nearly at an end. Hugh felt his leg begin to twinge and he massaged the top of his thigh absently to ease off the dull throb. Why it would begin just as he was about to leave Sunny was puzzling to him. He always felt so good when she was with him.
Fiona was already preparing to be on her route when they came into the courtyard in front of the cottage. She smiled and waved her welcome. "So how did it go?"
"Great!" Sunny responded, "Rainbow and his family send a 'howdy' your way, Aunt Fiona."
Fiona smiled. "You get their cheerful elixir? It will warm you head to toe!"
"Aye!" Hugh replied with a mischievous grin, "It is always a welcome repast for me, only they only give you a taste; never more than it takes to have a wee toast."
"Any more of the stuff, and I would have never made it back!" Sunny declared rolling her eyes heavenward. "It sure packs a wallop!"
Hugh dismounted and came around to help Sunny. "It'll be easier if you throw your leg over and let me catch you on your slide down."
She did as he instructed, feeling the muscles in her thighs and back begin to protest. Hugh's hands slid up to her waist and she braced her hands on his shoulders as she leaned forward and slid from the saddle. Hugh gently set her down, the action brought her very close to him. Having her close was even more intoxicating than Rainbow's liquor! He wanted so much to kiss her and feel her body melting into his.
Before his body could respond and betray him completely, he stepped away reluctantly and busied himself with the reins of his mount. Domino was beginning to pick up on his riders' tension and began to paw the cobblestones in Fiona's drive.
"Sunny, fetch the basket for me in the hall, and bring a few of those throw pillows from the parlor, I think you'll need them."
Sunny nodded and waved to Hugh, "I'll see you tomorrow morning Hugh."
He nodded and raised his hand in farewell. "See you tomorrow."
Sunny went inside the cottage and Fiona angled a curious look at Hugh. "Everything went well?"
"Aye," Hugh said with a sigh.
Fiona smiled and patted Hugh's arm gently. Hugh glanced down at Fiona and gave her a lopsided grin. He chuckled softly, "Sorry old sot, eh?"
"Nae!" Fiona admonished. "You're a fine young man, Hugh!"
"Thank you, Aunt Fiona," Hugh replied and hugged her. "I'll see you tomorrow!"
Hugh mounted and was off. The grey and white mare trotted off beside Domino, head held up and neck arched proudly. Sunny returned in time to see him leaving; she waved again, and Hugh lifted his free hand to wave back.
Fiona got into the cart and Sunny followed. She sat gingerly on the pillows, "Hugh said I was going to be sore."
Fiona pulled her knapsack up and opened it. She drew out a small crockery jar and pulled the lid off and held it toward Sunny, "Take about two or three of these little morsels, chew them up good and they'll set you right."
Sunny sniffed the jar and then looked suspiciously at the contents of the jar. They were marble-sized green and tan balls with a sort of minty smell mingling with the pleasant aroma of rosemary and honey. "They don't look so appetizing," Sunny murmured as she hit the side of the jar with the heel of her hand to loosen the sticky marbles.
"But they are beautiful in what they will do for you," Fiona replied.
Sunny took two of the balls, popped them into her mouth, and chewed thoughtfully. The honey and mint masked the flavor of whatever else was mixed in. "Hmm, they don't taste half bad either!" She took a third and chewed that one.
"On we go, Miggsy!" Fiona called to her horse. The cart rolled out and they were on their way. "You should be feeling relief in a short while."
Sunny nodded, unconvinced of the power contained in the small marbles of stickiness. "I really enjoyed my ride. Hugh is great to be with."
"And what did you make of the ruins?" Fiona asked.
Sunny frowned and remembered what she had seen. "You know, it was the oddest thing," she told Fiona. "I was sitting there on the stones and suddenly; I heard someone say – Help us, please!"
"Did you recognize the voice?" Fiona asked.
"No," Sunny said in a far-off voice, "Not really; she sounded desperate and the impression I got of her was she was very pale and had the most amazing blue eyes!"
Fiona nodded. "The will-o-the-wisps."
"That's what Rainbow's children said," Sunny replied. "Funny, all the children seemed to just accept it as commonplace. I found the place very sad and disturbing."
"Echoes of the past," Fiona told her. "Thornegate; the original castle, had a sad and forlorn existence."
Sunny nodded sadly, then turned her face into the golden sunshine and smiled. "But we are blessed with this wonderful sunshiny day!"
"Aye," Fiona replied and lifted the reins higher, "On we go, Miggsy!"
Fiona stopped and visited four cottages in and around the village of Ballencoo. Each time they stopped; she introduced Sunny to her clients. Sunny smiled and conversed with them, and they moved on to the next cottage.
On the return trip, back to Laurel cottage, the tenderness Sunny was feeling at the end of her first riding lesson was just a memory. "You're going to have to show me how to make those sticky chews, Aunt Fiona! They're a wonder!"
"Aye," Fiona replied with an indulgent smile. "They are ugly as homemade soap, but they do wonders for sore stiff muscles."
Miggs' hooves clattered over the cobbles in the little courtyard of Laurel cottage and headed automatically to the barn. Sunny climbed down from the cart and took the bag Fiona handed over to her. Together they settled Miggs down in her stall and went inside to prepare afternoon tea.
The afternoon sun was well behind the thick growth of trees of the Ballencoo forest and Sunny was watching the shadows and golden light shift and jump as though they were playing a game of 'tag'. She sipped her tea and sighed. "It's wonderful here, so peaceful and tranquil."
Almost as the words left Sunny's mouth, there was a squabble in the henhouse. "Until the broody hens start to fuss!" Fiona muttered.
"You think they're all right?" Sunny asked, leaning forward to see past the flower beds. As she did, she spotted a large grey shape on the far side of the chicken pen. "Aunt Fiona, it's a wolf!"
Fiona turned just in time to see the large animal lope off into the cover of the forest beyond the fence line. "Looks like the first of the Doyle clan has arrived."
"They have wolves as pets?" Sunny asked incredulously.
Fiona chuckled. "They're big wolfhounds," She replied, putting her cup and saucer on the tray. "They're giant creatures but really lovely animals with a sweet disposition."
Sunny looked over at the hen house again then shook her head in disbelief, "Whew! That one looked as big as a horse!"
Fiona got to her feet and began loading up the tray she had brought out with the tea, "Come along, and I'll show you the recipe for those sticky chews. We can make up a few batches to have on hand if we have all the ingredients."
"Okay," Sunny replied, picking up the odd items that wouldn't fit on the tray. She followed Fiona back to the house and looked again to the woods behind the cottage fence. "Wonder what'll show up next?"
The Evening
Sunny bathed. It seemed that her day was idyllic in many ways. The lifestyle of her Aunt Fiona and the residents of Ballencoo was slow-paced and flowed with a sense of tranquility and peace that was unheard of in the modern bustling cities of the world. It was what many people searched for and never found. Sunny never thought she would be one of those people who would yearn for a simple, quiet lifestyle. With just a few days with Fiona, she felt a sense of peace. Everything that had happened to her seemed to belong to someone else.
As Sunny sat in her lavender-scented bath, dipping the sea sponge in the water, and letting it flow over her back and shoulders, she began to wonder what the next few days would hold for her. Sunny gazed up at her oil lamp where it sat in the sconce made for it. It was a steady golden glow like warm sunlight. She leaned back and sank further into the warm silky bath water and thought about the people she had met that day.
They would come from miles around to congregate at Thornegate and in and around Ballencoo. These travelers intrigued her. Their painted wagons, unusual culture, and traditions were both mysterious and a little frightening. Sunny had never been one to pry or delve into private lives, but these people were different, she wanted to know everything she could discover about these people, particularly those that would camp in the woods of Ballencoo.
She pulled the plug from the large iron tub, got out of the water, and began to dry herself with a large fluffy towel. She glanced out the bathroom window and saw softly glowing lights that strung out in an uneven bobbing line in the woods behind Laurel Cottage. At first, Sunny was concerned, but as she watched the lights move deeper into the woods, she surmised that it must be the first of the folk to arrive.
In just a few weeks or so, the festival would draw more of the folk to Ballencoo. She was looking forward to the festival and wondered whether Sean Calhoun, her train friend would be coming. She hoped he would remember and come to visit. She wanted Aunt Fiona to meet him. She stuck her feet into her slippers and padded down the hall to Aunt Fiona's room. Fiona was sitting up in bed reading.
"I saw lights in the woods behind the cottage," Sunny said, "I guess more of the folk have arrived."
Fiona closed her book on her finger to hold her place and nodded, "Aye, they travel under the cover of night. Years of conditioning to avoid the looks and stares from townspeople."
"I don't understand, after all this time, how people still be prejudiced?" Sunny asked as she leaned against the door jam. "It's just so silly."
"Silly it may be," Fiona responded, "But there are people who will never accept the folk or their culture."
Sunny sighed lightly and rolled her eyes heavenward, then looked down the hall as she heard loud knocking at the front door.
Fiona laid her book aside, "Wonder who it could be at this hour?" She got up and pulled on her robe and slid her feet into her slippers. She picked up the lamp by her bedside and went downstairs with Sunny close behind, to see who was calling.
Fiona swung the door open and held her lamp high to cast the light out into the yard. There standing on her stoop was a tall barrel-chested man with heavily muscled arms and neck. His eyes were dark pools with thick steel-grey eyebrows that were drawn down in pain and a bristling black and silvery-grey mustache that covered most of his tightly pressed lips. "Fiona, I've got myself into a bit of a scrape!" He held up his forearm, which was bloody and wrapped with a blue bandana.
"Come in Tully!" Fiona exclaimed. She handed the lamp to Sunny and grabbed Tully's good arm steering him toward the kitchen.
Tully stepped in and looked at Sunny, "This must be your great-niece!"
"Aye," Fiona muttered. "Come on man, 'afore you bleed on me carpets!"
Tully chuckled, "Tis only a wee scratch!" He looked at Sunny over his shoulder as Fiona urged him down the hall to the kitchen, "You're the image of yer great-granddam!"
"So, I've been told," Sunny replied following them to the kitchen. Fiona reached up to the lamps overhead and turned a small little key beneath each of the three lamps drawing up the lighted wicks. They began to glow bright warm light that spilled light down to illuminate the area where she was to examine Tully's wound.
Fiona collected her medical box, opened it up, and sent Sunny for the bag she took with her on her rounds. When Sunny had returned, Fiona had pulled the bandana off and was sluicing the wound to get a better look at the damage done. She looked up at Tully accusingly, "A knife fight? And at your age?"
"Nae," Tully replied, "It was not like that at all!"
Sunny handed the bag to Fiona who rummaged through it and brought out a squat brown bottle with a hinged top. She examined Tully and opened the bottle and poured a bit onto a pad of cloth. "This is going to sting, but it'll stop the blood flow."
As she applied the pad, Tully hissed and spouted a line of utterances that Sunny could not understand, but felt he was cursing a blue streak.
The blood stopped welling in the wound and Fiona nodded appreciatively. "It will need some stitching up."
"How did it happen?" Sunny wanted to know.
"I'd like to know that too!" Fiona said sharply, her green eyes sparkling with vexation.
"Well," Tully began, "I wasn't the one who was fighting; it was a pair of young bucks who had drawn their blades. I was only trying to get them to settle it without fighting."
Fiona pulled a flat leather wallet from her bag and opened it. There were several threaded needles, with blue, red, and green threads. She pulled the one with the blue thread. She took a small blue bottle from the needle wallet and with a clean pad of cloth she swabbed the wound and then proceeded to stitch the six-inch gash together.
An insistent knock at the door brought Fiona's head up from her work. "Sunny find out who that is."
"It will be Rainbow," Tully replied. "Checkin' on me no doubt."
"That's his job as head of the clan," Fiona replied. "Sunny, make sure they leave their weapons outside! I'll not have them in my house!"
Sunny nodded and took the lamp and went to the front door. She opened it holding the lamp high as Fiona had done. Standing there on the stoop was Rainbow and another man.
Rainbow sketched a curt bow. "G'evening Miss, I was wondering how Tully was."
"Aunt Fiona is stitching his arm up now," Sunny replied. She stepped back, "Please come in. Aunt Fiona's asked that if you are carrying any, to leave your weapons outside."
Rainbow hesitated then nodded. He unbuckled his belt that held his dagger. All the men carried such knives and daggers. He turned and handed the belt to the man standing in the shadows. He said something sharply to the man who turned and went to stand with Tully's wagon and the horses that were waiting in the small courtyard. Rainbow stepped inside and nodded to Sunny once more.
Sunny closed the door and then walked to the kitchen with Rainbow following a few paces behind.
As they got to the kitchen, Tully threw a sheepish smile at Rainbow. "It is what I get for trying to keep the peace."
"I know you are his friend, but you can't protect him, Tully," Rainbow told him. He looked over at Fiona and he nodded to her, respectively. "I'm thankful you know the healing arts, my continued thanks to the Dannan."
"Well, he isn't here to defend his name is he," Tully replied.
Rainbow frowned at Tully then looked around to spot Sunny standing at the door of the kitchen watching them with wide curious eyes. He switched over to Gaelic. Fiona finished her work and began to bandage the wound. When she had finished, she cleaned up the area where she had been working on Tully's forearm and went over to Sunny, "I know you're tired my dear, why don't you go on up to bed everything is fine now."
Sunny frowned first at Rainbow and Tully and then at her great Aunt, "Why do I get the feeling that you're sending me off to bed like a little child?"
"You should let the girl stay, Fiona!" Tully called. "She's going to have to know what's going on soon enough."
Fiona looked conflicted then she shook her head in the negative. "Nae, there will be time enough for all that." She looked at Sunny, "I'm not dismissing you to your room like a child – I think that right now isn't a good time to be introducing you to the more unpleasant side of things here in Ballencoo."
Sunny looked over Fiona's shoulder and caught Tully's shrug of acquiescence to Fiona's decision. Sunny looked at Fiona and smiled. "All right then, I'll go, but you really must tell me what's going on here."
"I will," Fiona replied, "At the right time and place; I promise."
Sunny turned and went upstairs and closed her bedroom door. She went to the window and looked out into the backyard. Beyond the tamed area of Fiona's yard, Sunny spotted odd lantern light moving through the forest. She could hear horses and the murmur of voices. She watched until the lights and sounds faded off and disappeared into the dark shadows of the forest.
She could hear voices downstairs; sometimes they were raised but immediately fell to a near whisper. Sunny grinned; probably Aunt Fiona was shushing the speaker to lower their voice in her home. She was tempted to sneak down the back stairs to listen, but they were speaking in a language she did not understand and would not be able to learn anything of interest.
She climbed back into bed and within a few minutes her eyes began to droop. Her second day in Ballencoo and already there was a mystery! She smiled and drifted off to sleep.
Fiona turned away from Sunny's closed bedroom door and nodded in satisfaction. She still had the power of persuasion! It was a talent most of the Danann women had at their command. She picked up her lamp and headed back downstairs to the kitchen. There was an impromptu clan meeting and there was news that had her worried!