Love Letters

By Toni and Donna

"The post is here!" Flannery called out. She had been watching for the rider to drop it off in the box located on the main road from an upstairs window. "Can I go get it, mum?” she asked Charity, who was taking a break from her work with the horses to come in and play with her twin daughters.

Charity laughed. "Of course, dear," she said with a grin. After all, most of the time, the mail was addressed to Flannery anyway!

And this time it was no different. It was yet another letter from Michael Collins; first, he inquired after her health, and then mentioned that he had some time off on Tuesday afternoon, and was looking forward to visiting with his grand-niece's family for a little while. The leprechaun could not help a smile; Tuesday was tomorrow!

She danced a little reel right there on the spot, and then ran back upstairs. "Good news, mum! Himself is going to be coming to the house for supper tomorrow!"

Charity was, of course, very happy to hear that, and her happiness was echoed by all the members of the household. To this end, when a tall figure was spotted riding toward the farm, everything was ready - even the twins, trying their hardest to stay nice and clean for Uncle Michael!

Since the Big Fella had been appointed Edan's Post Master General, they had not seen very much of him. He spent most of his time traveling from place to place, trying to find the best and fastest way for mail to be delivered from one corner of Edan to the other. So it was with welcome relief that he arrived at the farm. He was greeted warmly as usual by everyone, kissing Charity and fussing over the sixteen month old twins, remarking how big they were getting as he held each little one up in the air and pretended amazement as he studied them, which always brought squeals of laughter and excitement, at being up so high! Then, he turned to Flannery, and his dark blue eyes regarded her warmly, as he smiled, "Hello, Flannery. I hope you're well."

"Aye, sir, I am," she said as she dropped a respectful curtsey. "And yerself?"

"All right, although just a wee bit on the tired side. But my job's an important one, and I can't shirk it, so I'll just have to make do with times like this. Which are more precious to me than you would think." His gaze was on her, but he didn't elaborate further. Then the twins distracted him, and he paid attention to them, as he concentrated as usual on what they were telling him.

Flannery smiled at him as she watched him play with the twins, then rushed off to check on dinner. She had made a pot roast with Yorkshire Pudding and a berry tart for the occasion, knowing that he really liked it!

When the meal was over, he praised the cook for it, smiling at the blush he saw on her cheeks as he did so. It was a nice evening, so he called on the leprechaun to share a usual after-dinner custom with him. "Could I interest you in a walk, Flannery? I need to walk off some of this full feeling before I get too heavy for my horse!"

Flannery looked over at Charity, who assured her that she could take care of the twins for the rest of the evening. The Woman of the House, as her great uncle Michael liked to call Charity, smiled as the petite Leprechaun went to the Big Fella’s side. She was not even five foot high, and here he was, well over six feet tall!

But that never seemed to faze him, and soon, the two were strolling a familiar path around a lake nearby. As they walked, Michael asked, "So, how have you and your sisters been? I haven't had the chance to catch up with you in awhile." He always liked to hear how the leprechaun community was doing; it fascinated him!

Flannery threw back her head and laughed. "Aren't they all havin' a grand time of it? Nickel is drivin' her man Dani to drink with all her 'fetch me this, and fetch me that.. and while yer there.. do this as well!'. And isn't me cousin Niamh goin' to be tying the knot with His Worship soon enough?"

The tall man smiled; he liked to hear tales of families. "And the Pontibees with their Leprechaun lasses? How are they?"

His little friend chuckled, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Aren't they giving the boys that *caught* them a run for the money? And don't they have all three eating out of their hands? Tis talk of weddings fer them all in the near future though." Suddenly the smile on Flannery's face faded and she frowned slightly.

A small frown knitted the man's handsome features as well. "Flannery? What is it?" he asked, concerned.

She sighed softly. "Hasn't there been talk as well of marryin' some of us leprechaun lasses to the lads that crossed over to this new land with Mary and Seamus?"

His eyebrows raised; he hadn't thought this particular custom would still be followed, of arranged marriages, here in their new world. "I see," he said thoughtfully. "And what do your sisters think of this?"

"Some of us are more fer it than the others," she said, chewing her bottom lip. "Aren't they a useless bunch? Always going after mischief and havin' too much of the Creature taken all the time!"

He thought about this for a long moment, as they continued their walk in companionable silence. Then the tall human asked, "Have they promised all of you as of yet?" He could feel the color rise in his cheeks at being so bold with the young woman, but he had to know.

"Not all," Flannery said firmly. "But not from a lack of tryin'! Didn't I tell Queen Mary herself that I'm too busy with the wee ones here to take on a husband who is just as much of a child as those precious little darlin's are?"

Another long silence, and Michael found himself breathing a sigh of relief. Still, needing to hear more, he prompted, "And your Queen? Is she content to let you remain free, until your heart ties you to another?"

"For the moment," Flannery said in a soft whisper. She hesitated and then reached out, placing her small hand into his. “As long as I don’t take forever and a day going about it!”

He felt himself color a bit more, but he didn't let go, or make her do the same. He'd given the matter a great deal of thought, when he'd realized what was happening to him, over the weeks and months that he'd carried on a correspondence. Grateful for the darkness that hid his blush, he asked her softly, "And if...well, if she knew of someone that was interested in walkin' out with you, even though he might not be of your own kind?" One of his biggest concerns was they thought of him, a big, not exactly graceful human, paired with someone who was as graceful in her actions as a feather upon the breeze.

"She might jest go fer it," Flannery said, lifting her chin up to him. "I know I surely would."

The big man swallowed, but the night gave him courage, and he stopped their walk. He stood before her, and raised his hand to touch her sweet face, his fingers more delicate on her cheek than he'd thought he could make them. "In that case, Flannery me little darlin’, I would be honored indeed if you would do me the honor of walkin' out with me." And, just to prove that he truly was serious about it, he leaned down and ghosted his lips over hers; just a brush of a kiss, which she could accept or reject, as she wished. He wondered if she could tell his heart was beating faster.

As his lips touched hers, Flannery reached up and pulled his head even closer to hers, holding it there while he kissed her so that he knew she wanted it as much as he did. When the sweet kiss finally ended, she looked up at him with shining eyes. "I would love to be seen walkin' out with such as ye," she said with a smile.