Wise Woman Homage

by Elaine Gugin Maddex

  “Our pleasure. Good night, Tessy.”

  “Good night, Dotty, dear.” The line went silent and Tessy hung up the phone.

  Tessy drank her milk, smiled and thought of her wedding in Ladyslipper. She’d had to make several trips into Regina for things she couldn’t purchase in town. And, lately, she’d been hearing grumblings from neighbours having to travel for items they needed to pick up. Tessy feared Ladyslipper would become one of those dwindling prairie communities. Before they’d left on their honeymoon, she took a little stroll downtown. She recited a wee new beginnings and prosperity chant while sprinkling herbs outside existing businesses and, especially, empty homes and storefronts. “Blessed be!” she whispered as she envisioned Connie’s new quilting shop. And, now, with Kyle and Susan embarking on a new relationship! She loved when her charms and the Universe connected as one and manifestations appeared.

  Tessy finished her milk and thought she was tired enough to try sleep again. She crawled into bed and thought about how uncertain Dotty and Bert must feel about their future. There has to be a satisfactory solution, for the good of all was her last thought before she slipped into a pleasant sleep. She would contemplate this situation a great deal before they returned home.

  13

  An Irish Handfasting with a Scottish Twist

  The morning of the handfasting came early with the shrill of the rooster. The kitchen was bustling, the bathrooms had line-ups, and hangovers were tended to with traditional Irish cures.

  Tessy was relieved she hadn’t had any nightmares, and was feeling quite refreshed. She was already up and going when she looked over at Marshall who was awake but still sitting on the edge of the bed. She smiled, walked over and placed her arm around his tired shoulders. He pulled her close laying his sleepy head into her midriff.

  “So, are ye ready for a handfastin’, Dr. Tayse?” she quipped.

  “Guess I had better be. Wouldn’t want those angry masses out there after me!”

  Tessy laughed, leaned down and kissed the top of his head. She stepped over to the window to watch her family prepare the area for the ceremony. “Many hands make light work,” she mused. It reminded her of a colony of ants all scurrying and working together to accomplish a task. She was truly blessed.

  They headed down to the kitchen for a quick bite before checking on the final details and dressing for the ceremony. Surprisingly, Marshall mentioned to Tessy that he wanted to get ready down at the bunkhouse. Tessy was curious, but said she was fine with that. He was obviously up to something.

  It was to be a lovely day, no rain expected. It was a good thing the service was scheduled for the morning. By the afternoon, it would be extremely muggy and warm.

  Tessy’s gown was one traditionally fitting for a handfasting. It was made of the finest Irish linen in a rich forest green accented with shimmering cream cording throughout. It was long, hooded with a lace-up bodice and long bell sleeves that reached her hemline. When she stepped into it she looked like a Druid priestess. She stood and gazed at her reflection in the mirror. She felt the rush of dozens of gifted ancestral Haggerty’s running through her soul. There were flashes of history from Medieval to Victorian to Modern. She staggered, reached for her head and stumbled to the edge of the bed. It took a minute, but her head finally cleared. She reached for a glass of water on the nightstand and sipped it.

  “Mam, what is it ye’re trying to tell me?” She glanced over and spied the amulet. She retrieved it and placed it around her neck to complete her ensemble. It was like the necklace was designed for the dress or, perhaps, the dress for it. The dress had been handed down to her. It had been the dress her Mam wore on the day of her joyous handfasting to her father, which had been handed down from her mother. Tessy was brought back to reality by a knock at the door. It was Mary. Keenan was ready to accompany her down. She opened the door to see Keenan standing there. Then bagpipes began to play outside. Tessy was surprised! This was something she was not expecting.

  Keenan looked at his sister and smiled, “Well now, ye clean up mighty good for a wee girl that used to spend most of her time cleanin’ stables and climbin’ trees.” He quickly turned his head to rub a tear from his eye.

  Tessy chuckled and put her arms around him. She kissed him on the cheek and replied, “Keenan O’Connor, I pray ye never change.”

  “Too late for that, I fear,” he chuckled and took her arm.

  As they made their way Tessy leaned in close and asked about the bagpipes. Keenan smiled and said, “That’s something ye’d have to talk to your husband about!”

  When they reached the area where the ceremony was taking place Tessy giggled with delight and shook her head. It was a sight she wasn’t expecting. There was Marshall Tayse, wearing a kilt and looking way beyond handsome! Being of Scottish decent on his mother’s side, he wore their family tartan. He looked rather festive and was grinning from ear to ear.

  By the time Tessy reached him she was glowing with pride. Marshall winked, flashed one of his tantalizing, broad smiles, took her hand and kissed it. She beamed up into his mesmerizing, blue eyes and winked back!

  Henna, one of Tessy’s lovely nieces would perform the service. She was the High Priestess in the area. She smiled at the couple and out over the assembled guests.

  “Welcome to you all on this joyous occasion! We have gathered here today to celebrate and witness the joining of Marshall Allan Tayse and Tessy Margaret McGuigan. As in a traditional marriage, handfasting is a bond to be entered into only after considerable thought and reflection. With this understanding, Marshall and Tessy have come to exchange vows and share with you the joy of this celebration. However, unlike traditional marriage where it would be asked, at this point, ‘who gives the bride’ it is our belief that a woman is not property to be bought and sold, given and taken. Therefore, I now simply ask if she comes of her own free will and if she has her family’s blessing.” Henna turned to Tessy. “Tessy McGuigan, is this to be true?”

  Tessy smiled and answered, “Aye, it is true.”

  Henna then asked Marshall if he, too, was here of his own free will.

  “Yes, it is true.”

  Henna faced the bride and groom.

  “So, as ye both seek to enter this ceremony, I now ask ye to please join hands in such a way to create the infinity symbol.” After they followed her instructions she continued with the ritual while gently binding their hands with the decorative cord.

  “Do ye Marshall Tayse take Tessy McGuigan to be your wife? To be her faithful friend, her life partner and one true love? Do ye promise to love, cherish, honour and respect her, comfort and protect her from harm, while growing with her in mind and spirit?”

  Marshall gazed into Tessy’s Irish eyes, “I earnestly do.”

  “Do ye Tessy McGuigan take Marshall Tayse to be your husband? To be his faithful friend, his life partner and one true love? Do ye promise to love, cherish, honour and respect him, comfort and protect him from harm, while growing with him in mind and spirit?”

  Tessy returned the loving gaze, “I earnestly do.”

  Henna continued, “As this is a marriage of equals, Marshall and Tessy would now like to declare their wedding pledge to one another.”

  Tessy and Marshall agreed beforehand to recite the same pledge, which happened to be very similar to the one that Tessy had delivered at their wedding in Ladyslipper.

  They each proclaimed:

  You cannot possess me, for I belong to myself,

  But while we both wish it, I give you that which is mine to give.

  You cannot command me, for I am a free person,

  But I shall serve you in those ways you require.

  And the honeycomb will taste sweeter coming from my hand.

  I pledge to you that yours will be the name I cry aloud in the night.

  And the eyes into which I smile in the morning.

  I pledge to you the first bite from my meat,

  And the first drink from my cup.

&nbs
p; I pledge to you my living and dying, equally in your care,

  And tell no strangers our grievances.

  This is my wedding vow to you.

  As Henna untethered their hands. “Since Marshall and Tessy have already completed the giving and receiving of rings in an earlier ceremony it is my pleasure on behalf of all those present and by the strength of your own love, I pronounce ye husband and wife. May your love so endure that its flame remains a guiding light unto eternity. Blessed Be.”

  As Marshall leaned down to kiss his bride the yard erupted in a cacophony of cheers and claps. Marshall turned toward the guests, smiled and raised his hand to quiet them. He took Tessy’s hand and announced to all, “I would like to incorporate a couple of my old family traditions. So… if you will be so kind as to humour me for a few minutes more.” Tessy looked at him in puzzlement. As with the kilt and bagpipes, this was not something she was expecting.

  Marshall reached into his pocket and pulled out a small piece of the Matheson tartan and pinned it on Tessy. He loudly called out, “Now, this is not to show that you belong to me, I know way better than that!” The crowd laughed. “This is to welcome you into my family,” and he kissed her.

  He then looked over at Keenan and nodded his head. Keenan reached behind a tree, brought out a broom and carried it over to him. Marshall cleared his throat and announced, “Next, is the tradition of jumping over the broom. This symbolizes the daily routines of marriage and to show you, Tessy, my love, that I expect to sweep the floor just as often as you!”

  He waited for the crowd to quiet and grabbed Tessy’s hand. They flashed a smile at one another and jumped. Again, the yard erupted. The bagpipes started up and the party began!

  14

  A Breath of Fresh Air

  The rest of the big day was filled with wonderful food, plenty of good drink and hours of joyous celebration. After supper Tessy managed to whisk Keenan away long enough to share the information she had received regarding Agnes.

  “So now that ye have this information what do ye plan on doin’ with it?” Keenan questioned.

  “Well, I plan on findin’ Agnes and get to the bottom of all this. And ye’re comin’ with me!”

  “Not in this lifetime! And ye’re not near big enough to make me!” Keenan shook his head and held up his hands.

  Tessy scowled at him, “Keenan, we were meant to do this together and ye know it. We were left the amulet and ring. It is now up to us to bring them out of hiding.”

  “Well, I’m beginning to think we should just get rid of them. Surely, one of our relatives have had twins by now!”

  “Ye know darn well they’d have to be Gifted, too. That brings the odds down a mite. When Marshall and I head back to Dublin, before our flight home, I think ye should meet us there and we can check this out.”

  “We don’t even know if she’s still kickin’.”

  “I know. That’s the first thing we should check out in the morning. The partying should be all over by then.”

  “Aye, most everyone who’s able to pick their head up off their pillow will be leaving tomorrow. I suppose we could make a couple of phone calls.” Keenan surrendered.

  “Grand, that’s what I thought. Now, I’m going to track down Marie and ask her a few more questions. What are you plannin’ on doing?”

  “Well, while ye doin’ that, I’m goin’ for a whisky!”

  Tessy chuckled and shook her head as she watched her brother make his way to the bar. Tessy found Marie and learned that Marie had a friend who was a rookie Garda back then. His name was Patrick Donnelly and was at the scene of her parents’ accident all those years ago. He was now an inspector at one of the Cork stations. Tessy decided to track down Inspector Donnelly and see if he could remember anything of that fateful night on the cliffs of Sheep’s Head Way. Tessy, once again, hugged and thanked Marie. She decided to let it go for the rest of the day and enjoy the remaining of this, otherwise, perfect celebration.

  Around midnight people started trailing off to their tents and other sleeping arrangements. Marshall sighed and put his arm around his bride as they said their good evenings.

  “Well, sweetheart, I’m beat. Shall we?” He bowed and swooshed his arm in front of Tessy towards the house.

  “Aye. A fine plan, love.” And they, too, retired for the night.

  It had been a very long day and it did not take them many minutes to drift off. It was a good thing Tessy prepared herself beforehand. She had tucked her dream pouch under her pillow and the dream journal beside the bed. Soon she was in another realm. Her mother was having tea and she motioned for Tessy to sit. This filled Tessy’s heart for she had often wished she could have sat and had a cup of tea with her mother and chat about nothing at all. However, tonight, her mother had more than nothing to discuss with her. She let Tessy know that she and her Da attended her handfasting today and how pleased she was knowing that Marshall was such a fine man.

  She also conveyed it was not just Dermot that has been watching over her but she and her Da have been with her constantly. She cautioned Tessy that she should always trust her own intuition as she had been taught. Then she said something extremely odd. She told Tessy that before she leaves Ireland to listen for the cry of the Banshee, for once it is heard, it means the end of a long Haggerty torment. Her mother smiled tenderly, touched Tessy’s hand and disappeared.

  Tessy opened her eyes, reached over and grabbed her pen and journal. She wrote with great care. She knew many things about the Banshee, most of which weren’t that welcoming! She finished and decided to tackle the rest of this mystery in the morning. Still, she couldn’t sleep. She remembered the only other time she heard the shriek of the Banshee. It was on the night of her parents’ accident. She did some deep breathing and, eventually, returned to sleep.

  ***

  Tessy slept through the morning call of the rooster. It was Marshall’s rustling that finally awakened her. He smiled at her.

  “Good morning, sleepyhead.”

  “Mornin’, love,” Tessy chuckled.

  “Had another rough night, didn’t you?”

  “Aye. Mother came. She told me to listen for the cry of the Banshee.”

  “Oooh… even I know that can’t be a good thing! Did she say anything else?”

  Tessy rustled herself out of bed and kissed her husband on the way to the washroom. “She also said she was very pleased with ye,” she called over her shoulder as she shut the door.

  “Of course she is! What’s not to like?” Marshall loudly chuckled. “But, thank you anyway, Mother O’Connor!” Marshall announced into the air. When Tessy returned, she gave him a quirky smile, rolled her eyes and shook her head at him. They dressed and went down to breakfast.

  When Tessy discussed her dream with Keenan they decided that there might be an end in sight to this mystery. They made a few of phone calls, first, to some hospitals in Dublin and then a call enquiring about Inspector Donnelly.

  This was the day they had set aside to visit Cork and Kinsale; however, with all the phone calls they were running behind.

  “Why don’t we go on ahead and tour Cork today,” said Marshall, “Then instead of making it back to the farm, we can stay over in Kinsale and see it tomorrow.

  “Grand idea, love!”

  Tessy was looking forward to seeing Cork and hopefully, stopping at the Garda Station to track down Inspector Donnelly and have a few words with him. They ran upstairs to pack an overnight bag then went out to the backyard to say good-bye to the remaining relatives. After more hugs and a few happy tears, they jumped in the car and were off. By late morning they were climbing the St. Ann’s Shandon clock tower to ring the famous Shandon bells. Their next stop was the Shandon Craft Centre, which use to be The Butter Exchange. They wandered, took pictures and relished their time together. Tessy mentioned she was getting hungry and suggested they head down to Paul Street, which is Cork’s equivalent to Dublin’s Temple Bar. Marshall was certainly game for that! They found a gre
at little pub with an outdoor deck and sat and watched the local vendors and vacationers bartering over goods.

  Tessy took a deep breath. This had been the first day in the last few that felt like she was on a holiday. She was grateful for the past couple of days visiting with family and friends. They were wonderful. However, between not sleeping well, and all the celebratory events, she was exhausted. Marshall smiled at her and picked up her hand, “Bushed, honey?”

  “Aye. I believe I am a bit weary.”

  “Well, soon we’ll be on our way enjoying more of our holiday and you can rest. The only place we should be at a specific time is for our reservations at the Ballyseede Castle in Tralee and that’s not for a few days yet. The remainder of our time is just that… our time.”

  “Aye. I’m looking forward to our regal experience! It was so thoughtful of the kids and Dotty and Bert to give us three nights’ at a castle for a wedding present. Now, if I could only get this mystery resolved, I’d be a mite better off.”

  “Honey, would you like to stop off at the police… rather, Garda station next?”

  “Oh, love, that would be grand! Hopefully, Inspector Donnelly can shed some light on the matter.” Tessy was quite excited about talking to the inspector. She realized the mystery was draining her energy. She felt plagued by this mystery and needed to solve it once and for all. Hopefully, with the help of the Inspector, that would be accomplished. A good cleanse and grounding wouldn’t hurt either! She would take care of that tonight when they got landed.

  They finished up lunch and headed straight to the Garda station. Soon they were ushered to Inspector Donnelly’s office. Introductions were made and the inspector invited them to sit. He was a very pleasant man and Tessy immediately felt at ease with him.

  The inspector spoke first, “Ms. McGuigan, I understand you are the daughter of Garret and Teagan O’Connor? I am sorry for your loss.”