Katie had visited Ardara a couple times before and it would make a decent base. Éamonn kept correspondence with Father Byrne. He might harbor lingering guilt over having married her to Lochlann in the first place, but he had acted kind and helpful to them since. Keeping an ear to the ground, he heard that the hubbub had died considerably after their hasty exit the previous autumn.
Which meant they might get back on the road after the baby was born.
Would she have a boy or a girl? Éamonn was certain it would be a boy, but of course, a husband would want a son to carry on his name. Turlough had suggested the name, Brian. She hadn’t cared for the name before, but Turlough’s wishes were gospel. What if she had a girl? Brianna, perhaps? Such a clumsy name. Maybe Brid. She would have to get out of the habit of swearing to Brid, she thought with a giggle.
“And what’s so funny, a chroi? Am I tickling you?” His strong hands moved to her waist, where she was hyper-ticklish.
“No, don’t stop, it feels much too good.”
The last six months had been a mixture of joy and tension. They lived well enough on the income from the leather shop where Ruari and Éamonn both worked. Katie ran the household and even helped make woolen pieces to sell in the shop—hats and mittens, or horse blankets. She had no great skill with needlework, but she wove well enough if she used gloves against the harsh wool. Katie insisted Éamonn give up on the gambling, after all the trouble they had gone through from using his Fae-gift. If he used it to sell leather goods, Katie didn’t know. Ruari was content to live with them, and never acted like a third wheel, going out every few nights on his own to give them time alone.
She wasn’t certain if Éamonn ever sought out the stone circle on the hill above town. If he did, he never mentioned it. Katie wouldn’t like the Fae to have any special interest in their child. She fingered the iron pin she had asked the blacksmith to make. The child would wear the pin at all times for protection.
Deirdre and Ciaran were fading from their memories with each passing day. If she never saw her sister—or indeed, her parents—again, she counted it a blessing. Ruari and Éamonn were all the family she needed.
And of course, the child. Her hope for the future. Perhaps it would be a better world for her son Brian, or her daughter Brid. All a parent could do was their best for their child. It was all anyone could do, in the end.
AUTHOR’S NOTE
Travelers are called many names. Tinkers, minkiers, gypsies, pavies, paddies, pikeys. They are itinerant ethnic groups in Ireland and Scotland, with a long tradition of customs. They speak English but have their own languages such as Shelta, Gammon or Cant. Ethnically, they are not related to the Romani gypsy tribes from Eastern Europe, though the two groups have some cultural things in common. Their origins are shrouded in the mists of time, but they have been a separate group for probably at least a thousand years, according to DNA testing evidence. Their numbers were greatly increased during the Great Hunger of the 1840s when many folks lost their homes.
Within the community, marriages are often arranged. It is considered a duty for the young lady to agree to the match, under the assumption she is not wise enough to choose a proper match at her age. However, the bride is allowed to refuse a match. Just like in non-Traveler society, however, an abusive father can bring more pressure to agree to a match, as our characters do in this story.
The MacCrimmons were indeed pipers to the MacLeod on Skye. And there was a Donald MacCrimmon who participated in the Jacobite rising and killed in a raid. Beyond that, I have created the details of the MacCrimmon brothers to fit the story.
ABOUT CHRISTY NICHOLAS
Christy Nicholas, also known as Green Dragon, has her hands in many crafts, including digital art, beaded jewelry, writing, and photography. In real life, she’s a CPA, but having grown up with art all around her (her mother, grandmother and great-grandmother are/were all artists), it sort of infected her, as it were. She loves to draw and to create things. She says it’s more of an obsession than a hobby. She likes looking up into the sky and seeing a beautiful sunset, or seeing a fragrant blossom or a dramatic seaside. She takes a picture or creates a piece of jewelry as her way of sharing this serenity, this joy, this beauty with others. Sometimes this sharing requires explanation – and thus she writes. Combine this love of beauty with a bit of financial sense and you get an art business. She does local art and craft shows, as well as sending her art to various science fiction conventions throughout the country and abroad.
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Get in touch with Christy Nicholas:
Website (http://www.greendragonartist.com)
Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/greendragon9)
Facebook GreenDragonAuthor (http://www.facebook.com/greendragonauthor)
LinkedIn (http://www.linkedin.com/in/greendragon9)
Tirgearr Publishing (http://www.tirgearrpublishing.com/authors/Nicholas_Christy)
OTHER BOOKS BY CHRISTY NICHOLAS
DRUID’S BROOCH SERIES
LEGACY OF HUNGER, #1
Published: October 2015
ISBN: 9781311528575
It’s 1846, and Valentia is bored with the life of a spinster on her father’s prosperous Ohio farm. She is haunted by dreams about Ireland, so vows to travel to find her grandmother’s family and a long-lost family heirloom. On the way, she loses many precious things, but gains far more than she imagined.
LEGACY OF TRUTH, #2
Published: July 2016
ISBN: 9781310151149
Gifted with a magical brooch, passed down in her family for generations, Esme finds herself isolated and ill in an unfamiliar land. Her sister plots to steal the family heirloom from her in order to exploit the magical powers for her own gain, and Esme must battle for survival of herself and those she loves.
ALSO BY CHRISTY
THE HIDDEN GUIDES
Do you find yourself drawn to the magic of the Emerald Isle or Scotland? Would you like to see places beyond the typical tourist traps? Come, join me on a journey through the mists of legend, into the hidden places of mystery. Immerse yourself in the legends and myths, the history that has made this island precious in the hearts and minds of millions. Along with the tales and history, there is practical information on planning your trip, budgeting your costs, and finding the best places to while away the magical hours of your holiday.
IRELAND: MYTHICAL, MAGICAL, MYSTICAL
A Guide to Hidden Ireland
Released: June 2013
ISBN: 9781301520725
The Mythical Facet – History and Myth-tery
The Magical Facet – The Fair Folk
The Mystical Facet – Gods and Saints
The Personal Facet – Friendly Folk
The Musical Facet – A Song and Dance
The Stunning Facet – Photo opportunities
The Tasty Facet – Irish Fare
The Practical Facet – How do I…?
The Frugal Facet – Budgets, Discounts, and Deals
The Hidden Facet – Undiscovered Places
SCOTLAND: STUNNING, STRANGE, SECRET
A Guide to Hidden Scotland
Released: November 2014
ISBN: 9781311036391
History and Myth
Superstitions and Beliefs
Gods and Saints
Highland Hospitality
Ceilidhs and Flings
Stunning Shots
Haggis and Cullen Skink
Plans and Mechanics
Discounts and Deals
Hidden Gems
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