Fiona patted Keelin's hand lightly.
"It's good to get emotional about this stuff. My girls. All together. And each one of you a picture," Fiona said, turning to smile at them all. Morgan couldn't help but smile back, feeling her heart fill with love and light from this tremendous group of women before her. Aislinn reached out a hand and pulled her to her side, wrapping an arm around her.
"How'd things go with Patrick?" Keelin asked and the other women whipped their heads around to look at Morgan.
"What happened?"
Keelin filled them in quickly as Morgan tried to figure out what to say.
"We fought. It was bad. I said some mean stuff. He stormed off. I texted an apology last night, but he never responded." Morgan shrugged, trying to blow the whole thing off.
"Well, that's right stupid of him," Cait said furiously.
"No, it's fine. Let us figure this out, Cait," Morgan pleaded.
"Fine, but I can still think he's stupid," Cait grumbled.
"What was he really mad about, Morgan?" Aislinn asked.
Morgan sighed and sat at the table, propping her arms on it and resting her head in her hands.
"That I didn't call him when my van broke down. Like I need him to rescue me," she scoffed.
The women all simultaneously rolled their eyes.
"I told Flynn not to call him," Keelin said with a sigh.
They all collectively shook their heads in disgust at men.
"So that was what the fight was about?" Aislinn prodded.
"Yes. That and that he kept calling me his girlfriend. Saying that a girlfriend would have called him. I told him that I didn't realize he was my boyfriend and he blew his lid!" Morgan said indignantly, looking around at the women and waiting for them to agree with her.
"Ohhhh, hmm. Maybe he's not so stupid," Cait amended, slicing a glare at Morgan.
"What?" Morgan said, turning to Aislinn with her mouth open.
"Well, you see, it's just that you've been acting like you are in a relationship. And Patrick's mooned after you for months now. It probably hurt him a lot to hear you dismiss him like that," Aislinn said soothingly, running her hand over her arm.
"He never said! He never told me that's what we were!" Morgan said desperately, pleading her case.
"Alright, ladies, back off," Fiona said. "This is Morgan's first real relationship. Might I remind you about your first boyfriends, Cait and Aislinn?" Her steely gaze pinned each of the women and they both blushed, looking down at the ground and muttering.
"Sorry, Morgan. I get it. First love is messy. You guys will work through," Cait said amenably.
"Everyone keeps saying first love! How do I even know if it's really love?" she asked.
"Did he make you so angry you wanted to scream but then you felt like throwing up when he walked away?" Keelin asked.
"Yes," Morgan whispered.
"Do you light up when you see him and look forward to telling him things?" Cait asked.
"Yes," Morgan whispered.
"Does it feel right…in here?" Keelin asked, placing her hands on her heart.
"Yes," Morgan whispered again.
"Then congratulations, my dear, welcome to your first love," Cait said wryly.
"You were a hot mess with yours," Aislinn said to Cait.
Cait immediately shot her nose in the air.
"I most certainly was not."
"Are you kidding me? You made him mixed tapes with Forever Love written across them." Aislinn burst out laughing as Cait blushed.
"Alright, girls, enough. Let's head down to the races," Fiona ordered and the women all stood as one.
Fiona came around and wrapped her arm through Morgan's, looking up with her kind, all-knowing eyes.
"You'll be just fine, my dear. Let it go for today and enjoy yourself."
"I think that I might be able to do that now. Thanks," Morgan said, feeling lighter. It helped to talk with friends about her problems. It was another new experience for her, and it felt normal. For once, she felt normal.
"Wait up," she called to the women ahead and they stopped, laughing and gesturing for her and Fiona to hurry up.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
"It's so festive!" Morgan exclaimed as they made their way to the harbor. Musicians were set up in chairs right on the boardwalk, playing a lively lilting tune that made Morgan want to tap her feet. Children raced in packs, urging each other to go faster along the boardwalk. It was a cacophony of color and motion and Morgan found herself enjoying it, instead of shirking away from the crowd like she would have in the past. She'd never been much of a joiner and it made her feel good to walk into this beautiful chaos of fun with the women at her side.
"Cider anyone?" Keelin asked.
"I'll have one," Morgan said impulsively. She could see Cait considering it.
Fiona nodded at Cait.
"You're due any moment. A cider won't harm the babe."
Cait grinned and nodded at Keelin.
"None for you though, Keelin," Fiona said and Keelin's face fell.
"I know, I know," she grumbled.
"I'll go with her," Aislinn said.
Morgan found herself scanning the crowd, trying to catch a glimpse of Patrick's tall frame.
"He's on Flynn's boat," Cait said dryly and Morgan jumped.
"I wasn't looking for him," she protested and then remembered who she was talking to.
"Uh huh," Cait said, but with a smile to take the bite out of her words.
Morgan found herself hypnotized by the sight of Patrick as he worked at tying flags to Flynn's racing boat. His arm muscles rippled as he moved and she sighed just watching him.
"You'll work it out," Fiona murmured at her side and Morgan tore herself away from looking at him.
"Cider!" Keelin called as she came back with a bottle of Bulmer's for Morgan.
"Thanks," Morgan said, lifting the bottle and taking a long pull from it. She stopped and then glanced at the girls. "Um, I'm going to need food."
"Fresh scones right there," Aislinn said, gesturing to a booth.
"I'll come with, I'm always hungry," Cait grumbled and meandered with her to the booth where they both purchased cinnamon raisin scones with sweet cream. They perched on a low wall to eat.
"This is nice," Morgan said, gesturing to the festivity around them.
"It is. The pub will be hopping later, so good for business."
"Where's Shane?" Morgan asked.
"The men are all going on Flynn's boat. Going to enjoy themselves a fast ride across the water," Cait said with a sigh.
"Envy them?"
"Aye, I love it. Whipping across the water with the wind in your hair and sun beating down on you…it's the best. You can't grow up on the water and not feel it in your bones," Cait said and bit into her scone.
"Do you think Patrick and I will be okay?" Morgan asked, her stomach still a ball of nerves at the possibility of losing him.
"Aye, he really does care about you. You'll work through this. Most couples I know have a good fight every now and again. It clears the air. And, making up is fun." Cait winked at her and then winced.
"What was that?" Morgan asked, alarmed.
"Just a twinge, nothing major. I suspect I'll be going later today or tomorrow," Cait said matter-of-factly.
"Oh God, what do you want me to do?" Morgan asked, jumping up and hovering over Cait. Cait laughed at her and waved her to sit.
"Nothing. Shane knows. And am I not sitting next to one of the greatest natural healers this world has known?" Cait gestured to where Fiona stood.
Immediately, the ball of nerves in her stomach soothed.
"I've never seen her work. What's it like?"
"It's an experience. I've only been with her once and quite by accident. It's almost like magic. You can see the sickness leaving too…almost like a blur of gray or a flash of light. It is enough to make you believe in pretty much anything," Cait mused, squinting at the harbor. "Ah, they're getting ready to
go."
"Come on, girls," Aislinn called and Morgan turned, hauling Cait up by her hand.
"Promise me you'll tell me if you need help," Morgan whispered.
Cait waved her away.
"I'll be fine."
Chapter Twenty-Eight
The women picked their way through the crowd to where the entrance to Flynn's dock was roped off. One of Flynn's crew, and a man that Morgan had worked with before, nodding to them and held the rope up, allowing them front-row access to the boat races.
"Oh look!" Morgan cried and pointed to where Flynn's boat, decked out in flags and streamers, lined up next to ten other boats. Their men all ranged around the boat in varying positions. Morgan jumped as Cait let out a wolf whistle that had all the men turning. They waved as their ladies cheered for them.
Morgan felt her heart lift when Patrick waved. She waved back, hoping that he could see the smile on her face.
Hoping that he knew how much she cared about him.
The women linked arms as the announcer shouted over the loudspeaker.
"Five, four, three, two, one!" they all yelled together and began screaming like banshees at the end of the dock. The boats took off from the starting line, racing towards a boat far out in the ocean that Morgan could barely see. Flynn's boat was the easiest to track with the brightly colored streamers fluttering in the wind behind it.
"How far out is it?" Morgan asked.
"It's a mile out and back," Fiona said. "Nothing too bad. They'll move the boat in later so the smaller boats and sailboats can have a go at it."
Morgan squinted as the boats became tiny dots on the horizon while the crowd behind them screamed and cheered.
"What do they win?"
"Mostly bragging rights. And a nice championship cup that Flynn will likely be drinking out of later at the pub," Aislinn said.
Morgan watched as the tiny dots rounded the boat on the horizon.
"They're coming back."
The cheers increased in intensity and Morgan found herself caught up in the energy of the crowd as they all screamed for Flynn's boat to cross the finish line first.
"He's in front!" Keelin screamed and jumped up and down, waving her hands in the air.
"Yes! Yes!" Morgan found herself screaming as Flynn crossed the finish line first, the men in the boat jumping and cheering. The women exploded on the dock, screaming and laughing as they hugged each other and jumped up and down.
"Oh, oh I'm so glad they won." Morgan laughed, holding a hand to her pounding heart.
"This was the best race as all those boats have side bets. They talk it up in the pub for months before the race every year, threatening each other and betting against each other. It's great fun for them," Cait said, laughing and waving again at the boat.
"Who'd you bet on?" Morgan asked, knowing Cait.
"Flynn, of course."
Morgan laughed and watched as Flynn pulled his boat close to the others out in the water.
"Come on, ladies, they'll talk like that for a bit. I have to use the toilet," Cait said, pointing down at her belly. Fiona watched her carefully and nodded, signaling for the women to all go at once.
Morgan cast one last glance over her shoulder, her eyes searching for Patrick. He stood with his back to her, talking with a man on another boat. Sighing, Morgan followed the ladies down the dock, wanting to stay close to Cait.
Not that she knew how to heal, Morgan scoffed at herself. But, she'd help in any way that she could if Cait suddenly went into labor.
Morgan hurried to catch up with the women as they walked down the boardwalk to the road that led into town. She tensed for a moment as she saw them stop and talk to Agatha and the rest of Patrick's family. Aileen waved to her and Morgan forced herself to relax.
"Hi," Morgan said, coming to stand by Fiona's side.
"Morgan! Hello," Agatha said, giving Morgan a quick squeeze.
"Morgan gave me one of your table runners; I never knew that you did such exquisite work," Fiona said to Agatha.
"Your first sale," Morgan said shyly to Agatha.
"Morgan! You didn't have to do that. And, thank you, Fiona, I'm so glad that you like it."
"I suspect you'll be a wild success if you sell at Aislinn's gallery," Fiona observed.
"I certainly hope so. I have to say, I'm so excited! It's been years that I've been doing this in between looking after children. I'd be right happy to make a success of it now that I have all this free time."
"Here come the boys," Aileen said and they all turned to see Flynn leading the group of men down the dock.
Morgan felt her stomach twinge a bit. It sure was a fine-looking group.
"Lord and isn't that a handsome group of men," Fiona observed.
"Mmmhmm," the women all said in unison and then burst into laughter.
"I really need to use the toilet," Cait said, looking pained.
"Yes, let's go on up to the pub. We'll see the men there shortly," Fiona said briskly and the three of them began to follow Cait who had started to hurry up the road.
"I'll be just a moment," Morgan called, glancing back to where the men were surrounded by villagers congratulating them. Patrick's family moved towards him so they all formed a huge ring of people around the men. She was hoping that she could get a moment with Patrick to congratulate him, to ease the dull ache that was stuck in her stomach.
And the feeling of impending doom hit Morgan so hard, she almost doubled over from it, wheezing in pain. She gasped, whipping her head around.
Further up the hill, a car, traveling much too fast for a town packed with festival-goers, pulled out onto the wrong side of the street.
A tourist, Morgan thought numbly, opening her mouth to scream.
The compact sedan clipped the front of a truck and Morgan watched in horror as the combination of speed and the leverage of the truck sent the car flying into the air.
Everything slowed for Morgan as she heard the screams around her, from her, everywhere, as the pounding of her heart amplified a thousand times in her ears.
The car seemed to hang suspended for an instant, before it came crashing down on Cait who had hurried ahead of the group to get to the restroom.
"Cait!" Morgan choked.
Fiona and Aislinn turned to her instantly and screamed, "Morgan!"
And everything froze.
chapter twenty-nine
Morgan found herself on her knees, choking on sobs, not understanding what was happening.
Fiona's body was frozen, with her arm outstretched to Morgan, pleading with her to do something. Keelin was kneeling by the car where Cait's upper body stuck out from the fender. A pool of blood shone wetly around Cait's shoulders, the red bloodstains bright against the white of her shirt. Aislinn's face was frozen in a scream of terror as she stepped towards Cait and turned towards Morgan at the same time.
"What's happening?" Morgan screamed into the silence and the frozen bodies, her eyes unable to move from Cait's fallen form.
Morgan stood up and whirled, seeing the faces of the villagers, of the men. Shane's face was crushed in absolute devastation. It hurt for her to even look at him. And Patrick…her heart twisted and she tried to move forward but bumped into a wall of sorts.
"Help me! Somebody help her. What is happening?" Morgan screamed, banging her fists against the clear wall that stopped her movement, tears coursing down her face. Her breath came in ragged gasps and she tried to think. If only she could just think, she could figure this out.
"What will you do, Morgan?" A voice like whiskey wrapped around her and Morgan straightened, a shiver running down her back.
"Mother?" Morgan asked, a part of her knowing it wasn't her mother in this time, but her mother from ages ago. She turned.
Grace O'Malley stood before her, looking coolly lovely in a regal dress of red and gold, her dark hair curling wildly around her head, thick jewels at her throat. She was every inch the Warrior Queen and her eyes pierced Morgan with a fierceness that she
felt to her very core.
"Stop this. You did this to her! Make it better. Take it back," Morgan pleaded, her anger ripping through her.
Grace drew herself up and scoffed at Morgan.
"I most certainly did not do this. You think that I would hurt one of my own?"
Morgan froze, anger from this life and lives past building deep in her core.
"Yes. You hurt me," Morgan shrieked, anguish pouring from her. "You left me. You just left."
Morgan choked as she struggled to breathe through the emotion that wrapped her lungs, fear for Cait and anger at Grace making her struggle to function.
"I had to leave, child. It was my time. I've never stopped loving you. Just because I was gone from your life, it doesn't break that bond. I've followed your soul for centuries. I'll always love you. You are mine," Grace said simply, her beautiful eyes full of kindness and understanding.
A sweeping rush of love and light filled Morgan, and a heaviness lifted off her soul, for just a moment.
"Then what! What is this? Why did this happen?" Morgan panted out, wiping her tears away, her eyes drawn to where Cait lay pinned beneath the car, her face terrifyingly devoid of expression.
"I can't say why it happened. All I can tell you is that it is through my love that I’m able to give you this chance," Grace said as she swept her arm around to the frozen scene surrounding them.
"What chance? What do you mean?" Morgan begged, knowing that the longer she argued, the less time Cait probably had.
"Why for you to save her, of course. You can lift the car from her," Grace said simply.
Morgan looked at her in horror.
"But, I can't! Everyone's watching! The whole town will know about me." Morgan whirled to look at Patrick's handsome face, contorted in a silent scream. "Patrick will know. I didn't get a chance to tell him about me," she sobbed out, caught in indecision.
"What will happen if they find out?" Grace tilted her head, compassion crossing her strong face. She took Morgan's hand, their matching scars seeming to burn together. Heat pulsed against her palm.
"They'll hate me! They'll run me out of town. I'll be all alone again," Morgan sobbed.
Wild Irish Rebel Page 15