“Siobhan good to see you, I spend half my time pushing my stick in between youngsters in this hall. At least we never have to worry about things like that with you.”
Siobhan wondered afterwards how words spoken so softly could cut so deeply. Being plain never really bothered Siobhan though, truth be told the last thing she needed in her life was another man. Another boss, another owner. Life for Siobhan Lynch was going nowhere fast. But, the people who knew her, really knew her, understood that Siobhan was something special. A friend to all and enemy of none, she had a kind heart and a quick, witty disposition that had earned her the respect of every man she had ever worked beside. She held her own in conversation, and knew more about politics and current affairs than most.
It was a warm July night the first time she saw him. He strolled into Kaddegans dance hall in Skibbereen accompanied by his cousins the O’Maras. Ann O’Mara waved to Siobhan and beckoned her over.
“Evening Siobhan great to see you. Let me introduce you to my cousin Tommy O’Malley all the way from County Clare. He’s down for the weekend. I was just telling him all about your theory on the separation of church and state, he was interested in talking to you.”
Siobhan looked up into his wide, brown eyes and smiled, he was too tall and too thin and had the same red hair as she did. His hair was beautifully straight though and cut longer than the other men she knew, it gently licked his collar as he moved. She decided that she liked that, it showed a strong character, a leader not a follower. He smiled warmly at her and nodded towards her.
“A pleasure to meet you Siobhan Lynch, a pleasure indeed.”
“And you Tommy, any relation or friend of the O’Maras is automatically a friend of mine.”
“Would you like a dance Siobhan? I’m not much of a mover, but I’m a trier and sure that’s half the battle,” he grinned impishly at her.
“Well God loves a trier Tommy, so I’ll have to agree to at least one.” They danced together for an hour and Siobhan finally understood the pleasure felt in having a warm body next to her own, and the giddiness of the girls after the dance had ended. They sat then and talked of the church, and what it would mean for the country if all major decisions were not based on church doctrine. They laughed easily together and Tommy told her that he had no family left back in Kilvarna in County Clare, his parents had passed on and he was an only child. He ran the family farm and was also Headmaster of the local boys’ school. He talked passionately of his love for Shakespeare and the romantic poets. Siobhan listened, smiling as his hands moved when he talked and his face lit up, his eyes animated and merry. Time flew by and she was saddened when the dance ended.
Her father was waiting outside the dance hall for her and her two sisters. He walked stiff as a poker ahead of them up the road as always. In case he would be forced to make conversation with them, acknowledged Siobhan bitterly. Tommy had asked her father’s permission to walk Siobhan home; her father had looked surprised and narrowed his eyes, but agreed with a curt nod of his head. If he had known he would eventually lose his daughter to this man, he might have thought twice about it. Siobhan shook Tommy’s hand at the front door, while her sisters stood by the window looking out and giggling loudly. When he said he would meet her at the dance hall the next Friday. She smiled at him and patted his hand.
“We’ll see,” she said. The next Friday she walked through the fields picking weeds and waved her sisters off.
“Ah come on Siobhan,” her youngest sister Nelly called to her as they made their way up the path.
“No, I’m grand, you girls go ahead. Make sure and be home by eleven. Try not to disgrace the family’s good name while you’re out.”
Nellie snorted at her.
“And what good name would that be? Sure you’d have to have a reputation first before you could ruin it.”
Siobhan raised her eyes to heaven. Nelly would be a problem, she was sure of that much. Highly strung and with a penchant for the bad boys of the town, she was a disaster. But, Siobhan loved her fiercely and envied her love of life and easy laughter, so like their mother. So easily broken. An hour later she was walking through the fields when she spotted the figure riding an old black bicycle towards her. She crossed her arms and frowned. Tommy pulled up on the bike, rested his arm on the wall and grinned at her.
“Well Siobhan, you sure know how to dent a man’s ego. Did you forget about me so quickly?”
Siobhan pursed her lips and crinkled her nose trying to hide the smile. “I wasn’t sure you’d come back, so I thought I’d get on with some weeding. There’s lots of work to be done around here.”
He nodded down at her taking in her sweaty face and frowned.
“And is there no one to help you with it, Siobhan? Your sisters are all at the hall without you?”
She shrugged at him and wiped her arm across her brow. “They like dancing more than me and I don’t mind the work.” Tommy began to take off his tweed jacket and loosened his tie. “And what do you think you’re doing Tommy O’Malley?” She asked him raising her eyebrows.
“Well, I reckon those hands of yours could do with a break. I’m not afraid of hard work Siobhan, so now we’ve established that, we might as well get started. The quicker we get it done, the quicker we have time for a dance before I go.”
“You want to dance in the field, do you Tommy?” He looked up from dragging a big ragwort weed out of the ground.
“T’is as good a place as any, stars lightin’ up the sky for us and I can hold a tune so that’s the music sorted,” he winked at her and turned his back making his way over to the next crop of yellow weeds. Siobhan narrowed her eyes and smiled at his back.
Right lad, let’s see what you’re made of; the proof of the pudding, is in the eating. For the next three hours they worked side by side in relative silence. Siobhan stole little glances at his bent shape as he worked, his arms were strong and sinewy, his shoulders broad and taut. He wasn’t conventionally handsome but the more she looked at him the more she liked what she saw. Tommy worked solidly and only paused to go to the basket on the front of his bike and bring back two bottles of ginger ale. Opening them both he handed her one and nodded at her.
“Sláinte,” he said as he raised his bottle to hers and clinked them together.
“Sláinte,” she replied brushing her hair from her forehead. They stood together as the night sky darkened and stars began to pop up over their heads. Siobhan drained the bottle and began to move towards another weed patch.
“We’ll stop now, Siobhan,” he said. Siobhan put her hands on her hips and raised an eyebrow at him.
“Oh will we now? And who made you the Bossman, Tommy?”
He put down his bottle, grinned at her and turned over his palms. Siobhan breathed in sharply.
“Oh Tommy, why didn’t you tell me?” She took his hands in hers and turned them over, blistered and bleeding in places, they were curled in on themselves.
“I wanted to help you,” he said simply.
“Come on into the house, you need to clean them and put on some cream or the weeds will have you itching like a mangy dog by tomorrow morning.”
“I think I’m already there Siobhan,” he answered dryly rubbing his hands together. Siobhan turned from him and fought to hold in the laughter threatening to bubble to the surface. They walked side-by-side back to the house and Siobhan sat him in a chair in the kitchen as she wandered around looking for the rubbing alcohol and cream. As she sat in front of him she put his hands on her knees and turned them over. Her hands shook as she cleaned and dressed his wounds.
“You have nice hands Tommy, t’is a pity to ruin them just to do a good turn for a friend of your cousins.” Tommy looked into her eyes and shook his head.
“It wasn’t for the O’Maras I was doin’ it. It was for you Siobhan.”
She frowned slightly and stood up.
“My father will be back soon Tommy. You’re in his chair.”
Tommy stood and walked towards her
smiling softly.
“Is that so? Well I better be off then. It was nice seeing you again and I’m down again next weekend. Will we be pulling weeds or dancing? Just so I know whether to wear a tie or not?” Siobhan laughed and shook her head biting her bottom lip.
“I think I’ll give you a break Bossman, those hands aren’t made for the West Cork weeds.” She opened the door and held onto the frame as he moved through it, stopping for a moment as he passed her to put his cap back on.
“I’ll look forward to it.” He tipped his cap and mounted his bicycle. She watched him as he cycled off down the lane and around the corner, until he disappeared out of sight. Siobhan put some water on the stove and started to make a cup of tea. A few minutes later she heard a knock at the door and opened it to find a breathless Tommy standing in front of her.
“I forgot something Siobhan.” She looked over at the table for his jacket.
“What did you forget?”
“I forgot to ask you if I could kiss you. May I kiss you Siobhan?”
She looked at him and cocked her head to one side, drinking him in.
“Yes. Yes you may Tommy.”
He moved in front of her and removed his cap twisting it in his hands. He kissed her lightly on the cheek and then threw his cap on the floor and cupped her face between his fingers. Siobhan kept her eyes open as he moved his lips onto hers. They felt cool and soft and she opened her mouth slightly as he increased the pace. She put her arms on his shoulders pulling him into her. He broke the kiss and stared at her softly.
“I’ll see you next weekend Siobhan. I’ll look forward to it all week.”
All she could do was nod, as she closed the door behind him. Leaning against the door she touched her hand to her lips. She grinned as she traced her fingers across her mouth where his lips had been seconds earlier. For the next four months Tommy arrived down into Skibbereen early on Friday evening and they went dancing. They talked non-stop about the future, making plans and dreaming of being together forever. Siobhan fell in love. It was that simple, no huge gestures of love, no grandiose instant sexual gratification, and no need for anything, except the mutual love and respect that grew and flourished when two kindred souls found their other halves.
When Ann Cassidy walked passed Tommy at the dance hall one night Siobhan didn’t miss the flirtatious wink she threw in his direction. Tommy simply tipped his hat to her respectfully and turned back to Siobhan smiling at her.
She felt like sticking her tongue out when Ann Cassidy’s face darkened and she looked Siobhan up and down in disgust before she turned and walked away.
The following weekend Siobhan stood in front of the mirror and assessed the damage. There was no way she could go out tonight to meet Tommy. Her father had come home the night before in his blackest mood yet. He had beaten the living daylights out of her, and Nelly and Maggie had got a couple of punches too, their bruises not as obvious as hers though. She touched her hand to her lip and winced with pain and sighed, pinching her eyes closed tightly. He was breaking them all, breaking them into little shells, just like he had done to their mammy. He usually went for the arms, the ribs or other hidden places where it didn’t draw attention to the abuse, but so violent was his rage the night before that he didn’t seem to care anymore.
“I’ll tell Tommy that you won’t see him this weekend,” Maggie said as she sat on the end of the bed and rubbed Siobhan’s feet.
“I’m sure he won’t miss me,” replied Siobhan feeling close to tears.
“Ah Siobhan, sure the lad is stone mad about you,” Nelly interjected.
“Hmmp,” said Siobhan as she turned her face to the wall. She tried to sleep but spent the next few drowsy hours waiting for the girls to come home. She closed her eyes and pretended to make snoring noises when she heard them fall through the door laughing. Father was away at the cattle sales for the weekend and they had free rein of the house.
“Siobhan,” Nelly whispered.
“Are you awake?” Maggie shook her leg.
“No. Go to bed girls.”
“Don’t you want to hear about Tommy and Ann Cassidy then?” Nelly said raising her voice.
Siobhan closed her eyes and breathed in through her nose. So that was it then, he hadn’t missed her at all then.
“Sit up Siobhan and listen to this,” Maggie said, as she helped her up and picked up a hairbrush. Maggie manoeuvred onto the bed and sat behind her. She lifted up Siobhan’s hair and began to brush it softly. Nelly brought over three steaming mugs of coco and sat at Siobhan’s feet as she began the tale.
“Well. The dance was nearly over and all the boys were taken, so we went outside for a cigarette. Now don’t look at me like that Siobhan! T’was only the one each we had and daddy is away so he won’t even find out.” Siobhan nodded and sipped her coco. Ah let them have that for heaven’s sake. They have so little as it is. She smiled at Nelly to let her know she wasn’t cross with her. Nelly continued enthusiastically.
“And when we were out there, Tommy came out with Ann Cassidy and they moved off over to the crop of trees at the back of the hall.”
Siobhan felt her heart sink into her stomach. She knew what was coming next. She knew why the boys and girls went behind the dance hall. She had heard all about it, many a girl had lost her virtue to a lad behind the halls across Ireland.
“Go on,” she said not wanting to hear the words.
“I am, I am. Well we spotted them and I thought, that little miss is up to something, didn’t I say that Maggie?”
“You did indeed,” Maggie agreed.
“So we followed him. Real quiet like. And we heard Tommy say, “What do you have to tell me about Siobhan, Ann?” Nelly took a gulp of her coco and sighed with satisfaction.
“Jesus Nelly, don’t leave me hanging.” Siobhan said exasperated. Maggie had stopped brushing and grabbed Siobhan’s shoulders.
“I’ll tell the rest Nelly. Well…. she stands in front of him and says, “Tommy, you are a nice man and I’d hate for you to end up stuck with Siobhan Lynch because you think you have no other options. You’re a headmaster Tommy and many girls would love to be a teacher’s wife. I’m just saying there are other girls who have an interest if you get my meaning. And she took his hand and put it on her tit.”
“Maggie!” Siobhan turned to face her, a look of surprise on her face.
Even Nelly looked shocked and spluttered coco down her chin. Maggie laughed and shook her head.
“Okay, okay, her BREAST! Jesus! She put his hand on her breast.”
Siobhan was raging. Ann Cassidy the little madam!
“And what did he do?” Siobhan asked in a whisper.
Maggie’s face lit up with a smile.
“He took her hand off and stepped away from her. And then he said, “Thank you kindly Ann for your interest, but there is only one girl for me and that is Siobhan Lynch. And Ann goes, all indignant like, ‘So you’re choosing her over me?! You know the family are poor Tommy, and Siobhan is no beauty.’ And Tommy says to her, ‘Siobhan is the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen,’ and then he recited something to her. Siobhan leaned forward.
“What Maggie? What did he say?” Maggie touched Siobhan’s face softly and whispered,
“He said...
Doubt that the stars are fire,
Doubt that the sun doth move his aides,
Doubt truth to be a liar,
But never doubt I love.”
Siobhan dipped her head and smiled.
“What does it mean Siobhan?” Nelly whispered biting her tongue between her teeth.
“It’s from Shakespeare, Nelly. It means Tommy O’Malley loves our Siobhan forever,” Maggie said softly, and the three of them lay back on the bed as quietness consumed each of them. After a minute Nelly burst out laughing slapping Siobhan on the leg so hard she jumped.
“I forgot to tell you the best bit! Ann Cassidy slapped Tommy’s face, called him an eejit and a fool and stalked off.”
Si
obhan and Maggie laughed and Maggie tickled Siobhan before growing serious.
“Will you go with him Siobhan, if he asks you to?” Siobhan looked into her sister’s eyes and saw the mixture of love, fear and sadness within them.
“I don’t know Maggie, I don’t know. I don’t want to leave you girls here.”
Nelly shot up suddenly. “You bloody will go Siobhan. If he asks, then you go. You get as far from here and from father as possible. Maggie and I will be grand. This is your one chance, don’t end up like our mammy.”
Siobhan rubbed Nelly’s hand.
“Mammy drowned, Nelly.”
Maggie reared up on her.
“Oh stop it, Siobhan! The hell she did! We all know what happened to her. Mammy didn’t drown, she walked into the sea. Mammy left us alone because she couldn’t live with him anymore. He killed her as sure as if he had stuck a knife into her back, and he’ll kill all of us too. We need to leave girls, and soon.”
Siobhan was horrified when Nelly covered her face with a blanket and began to cry quietly.
“Nelly, Nelly love. Hush now, it’ll be all right. It’ll be all right.”
Maggie stepped off Siobhan’s bed and walked over to her own bed, she turned to Siobhan and spoke to her in a serious tone.
“You leave with him Siobhan. You leave here and you don’t look back.”
She climbed into bed and turned away from Siobhan and Nelly. Siobhan blew out the candle and rocked Nelly back and forth until they both fell asleep. She could hear Maggie’s gentle weeping and her heart broke for her pain. They had to escape soon, before he ended them all.
Rían: (The O'Malleys Book 3) Page 13