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The Weaver's Daughter, Page Three |
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Day followed day.......still Bowman didnae appear. Maire's traitorous mind would wander, causin her ta wonder about his chosen one. Then she would give herself a mental shake and get back ta work. She supposed the sun was shinin, but she didnae notice. Her heart was a stone in her breast, her limbs leaden, but she went through the expected motions, tryin desperately ta keep up the appearance of 'normal'.......whatever that maight be. |
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"Hush, now," Fionna soothed. "Hush child.......tell me what is grievin ye so." Fionna continued to rock the sobbin girl, but she had a feelin she knew what ailed her daughter, fer sure, didn't she know a broken heart when she saw it? She wasnae deaf ta the talk in the village, fer all she didnae get out much. Her Maire had set her cap fer that young Bowman, or rather, Maire's heart had, fer Maire herself didnae yet realize it. From what she knew o' the lad, Fionna was nae displeased. He was a good lad, quiet, worked a lot and had come from a good family, although his people had all long since gone ta Tir 'n Og. |
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One day the others ran fer cover as a storm broke with nae warnin, drenchin all and threatenin worse with lightnin.
"Maire!" the others called when she didnae run fer cover with them. |
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"Ma, I'm such a fool!" The hot tears didnae stop as Maire choked out the words.
"I was thinkin.......oh Ma, I was thinkin such thoughts! He smiles and me heart turns over......and I've nae right atall ta even smile back at him, fer isn't he a man who can have any lass he chooses? I'm a daft, silly fool, I am. None ta blame fer me foolishness but meself. As if that's nae enough, look at me cryin over somethin I niver had and niver will. I must be happy fer her, whoever she is, fer some lass hereabouts has won his heart and he's makin a fine home fer her. At least, that's what I heard taday in the fields." Maire poured out her heart, dryin her face with her mothair's apron as she talked, just as she had as a wee lass. Wise Fionna said nothin, keepin her own counsel and only holdin her dear one close, givin her the comfort of her love. |
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She jumped at the sound o' her name, lookin startled at the storm, then dashed fer safety as one wakin from a dream. Reachin the others as they huddled in a 'meadow hut' constructed fer just such emergencies, she found that her legs were shakin and her body wouldnae cease shiverin.
"Maire, ye're drenched through!" Rose, ever the nurturer, wrapped her own shawl around her quiverin friend. "We must get ye home, lass, fer sure ye'll catch the augue!"
Maire stared, uncomprehending, at Rose's worried countenance. She heard the words only distantly, but something of the young woman's concern penetrated the fog that bound Maire in a mindless limbo. With an effort, she reached fer her sanity and pulled herself tagether enough ta answer. |
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"What will be, will be," Fionna thought ta herself. She knew her daughter and the handsome Bowman had been eyein each other since the threshin. She knew, too, that he was said ta be turnin his cottage inta a wonder. And she felt sure in her heart that 'twould be fer her Maire, but she didnae say anything, nae yet. Everything ta its own time......after all, she couldnae be sure, now could she? But yet, her heart was quiet. In her long years filled with both joy and mayhap more than her share o' heartbreak and sorrow, she had learned ta trust her heart's knowin. |
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"I'll be fine, dear, really. Thank ye......ye're right, I'll go on ta home fer a bit. Keep yer shawl, Rose, ye may need it, and tisnae far ta home." Maire gave the other girl a quick hug and, takin up her basket, headed fer home. She meant ta walk bravely, normally, but ta those watchin, she seemed ta trudge, her shoulders bent as though carryin a load far too heavy.
Rose stared after her, a worried frown on her face. The storm had passed as quickly as it had come, but Rose knew Maire was in less danger from the weather than she was from the ill within. Nae fer the first time, she wondered who indaid was the object of Bowman's recent industry, fer she, too, had thought his eyes - and heart - had been cast in Maire's direction. No other lass in the village seemed ta have taken his fancy, though several had shamelessly tried. She ought ta give him a piece o' her mind, she should, fer hurtin a gentle soul like Maire - but though she was mad enough at him ta tell him what she thought, he had a reputation fer nae welcomin others inta his business. Though he'd niver been known ta fight or ta cause ill will, still there was somethin in the way he could look at a body that would freeze yer blood. 'Twas a warnin, of sorts, that he wouldnae stand fer havin certain lines crossed. Rose sighed deeply, then gathered her shawl and basket and went back out ta work. |
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Once the cryin had subsided, Fionna looked deep inta Maire's eyes.
"Ye know now what ye must do?"
"Aye, Ma. I do." Maire took a deep breath and stood, squarin her shoulders as she gained her feet. She kissed the older woman and went ta wash and store her harvest. |
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By the time she returned ta the fields the next day, Maire had herself in hand. She wouldnae let any see her shame, for so she thought it. She wore a gay smile and kept her head up and her shoulders back, bein sure ta laugh at the antics of the youngsters. None must know her heart was broken, nor that her soul felt empty. Aye, none must know........she deluded herself that she was hidin her broken heart, but such things are hard ta hide. |
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continued |
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Music: The End of the World |
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