It was a one-sided fight on Martin’s part, she knew the rest. Her da went down after only a few knocks. Martin thinking it was over had shaken his head and spat on the ground where Bernie lay out cold before turning on his heel to stride back to the wagon. He’d indicated in a manner that was not up for discussion that Michael should follow. What Martin planned to come next he did not want an audience for. Neither man saw Paddy with his shirt sleeves rolled up as he bore down on Martin. The first he knew of it was the blows falling on his back. Though young, Paddy was thick set for his age and already a scrapper, he meant business.
Still and all Paddy was only thirteen, a boy. Martin held him at bay laughing at his audacity and letting him get a few punches in for the enjoyment of the crowd. It was when Paddy’s balled fist connected with the soft, fleshy part of his solar plexus that he saw red and punched him back. Paddy was staggering around with his hand over his mouth when Kathleen waded in determined that the brute Martin Donohue would not get a second blow in. She threw herself between him and her son wailing at them to stop because she was terrified that she might lose Paddy too if things went any further.
Martin sensed the energy of the gathered crowd had changed. He had overstepped the mark in hitting Paddy and he knew it. Michael too knew that it took all his father’s strength to walk away as Paddy through lips beginning to puff and fatten called after him that he hoped the Donohue’s burned in hell.
Rosa thought now of how Paddy had lost two teeth in that fight. Their loss would be a permanent reminder for him of what she had done and how he defended her not knowing she would betray them all by leaving.
Kitty on her way home from school had seen the whole fight unfold, and she raced across the turf ahead of her mammy who was helping Paddy along. Kathleen would tend her son first and then go back to fetch Bernie whose pride she knew would be more injured than his body when he came round. Wrenching open the wagon door, she’d clambered inside. “Jaysus Rosa what have you done?” She’d asked breathlessly flinging herself down on the mattress next to her sister and filling her in on what she had seen.
Rosa wrapped her arms around her middle and bent over with the sickness that assailed her at hearing it all. Taking deep breaths, she straightened knowing she could not sit there any longer doing nothing.
“What are you going to do?” Kitty asked staring up at her sister as getting up, she opened the wardrobe door and pulled out the only thing she truly treasured.
“I’m Michael’s girl in the white dress Kitty; I have to go.” Clutching the dress to her chest she closed the wardrobe and leaned down to kiss Kitty on her forehead. “Don’t tell Marmy I am after leaving will you?”
“Ah, don’t go, Rosa, please.”
It broke her heart to hear Kitty plead, but she held firm. “Sure what choice do I have Kitty? I’ll not hang around for Da to wake, and I love Michael more than my life.”
***
Rosa and Michael left Cherry Orchard under a veil of misty rain as darkness settled over the field. They had nothing but an auld brown case between them, and the small sum of money Michael had managed to stuff in his pocket.
“Sure their only the wages that are my due.” He had yelled at his da before Martin threw him out.
“You are no longer a Donohue boy. Run off with your little whore and good luck to you.”
Rosa could hear Margaret keening from inside the wagon. Her mammy did not know she was gone yet; she was too busy tending Paddy.
The greatest injury inflicted on Michael that afternoon was not his da’s final words to him but the sight of his brother hiding behind a nearby wagon. Tears streamed down his face as he silently begged his brother not to leave him.
They walked from the litter-strewn field with its sounds of children playing, laughter, songs being sung and always the hammering of tin that had for a brief while been home. Rosa thought that her heart should sing knowing that Michael was now hers, but it was too broken by not having the chance to say her goodbyes properly. Her mammy and Kitty, she knew in time would forgive her for her actions. Perhaps they’d even come to understand that she had no choice but to go wherever Michael went. That was what being in love did to you. As for her da and Paddy, male pride would stand in the way of any softening where she was concerned.
“I will do my best by you, Rosa. You won’t be sorry you came with me.”
“I could never be sorry for being with you.” Rosa rested her head on his shoulder and listened as he talked of cousins of his who had set up camp in County Donegal. So it was when the sun had risen to clear away the grey skies and clouds of the day before, she found herself seated on a bus and heading north of Dublin.
Rosa felt buffeted from the strangeness of everything by the warmth of her hand encased in Michael’s despite his silence. They sat that way as the bus huffed and puffed its way through the many villages and towns along the way. When it pulled into Donegal’s small but bustling station, Michael left her sitting on their case as he asked about as to where they might find his cousins. It didn’t take long for him to find out where they were, the locals always knew where it was the Travellers were camped at.
It was a long walk they set out on at the end of what had been a long day and a long night before. The bad weather was a memory, even if the bad times weren’t and the evening was warm. After all that time spent sitting on the bus, they agreed it was good to be moving. They had barely eaten since the day before, and both were existing on nothing but adrenaline and the need to get to where they had decided to go. Rosa’s stomach was in too many knots as to what kind of greeting they would get when they arrived at the camp to be thinking about food. She needn’t have worried though.
Dogs were sniffing around the edges of the cluster of wagons they saw as they rounded a bend in the lane. In the middle of it small fires burned, and the smell of cooking made both their stomachs growl. It was the dogs that alerted its occupants to their arrival. At first those strange faces with echoes of Michael in them who swarmed to meet them turned their attentions to Rosa with suspicion. Michael stood there with one arm protectively around her waist and told them their story and to her relief they listened without judgment.
They shared a meal that night with his first cousin, Willie and his wife Eileen along with their three littlies before Rosa was shown a wagon recently deserted in favour of work and lodgings in Donegal town. It was hers for so long as she had need of it, Michael could doss in with them, Willie said. Rosa gratefully accepted the armful of bedding that had been put together by Eileen and pushed the waves of unexpected homesickness away. She had never slept on her own in her whole life, and she felt lonely at the thought of it. This camp was to be hers and Michael’s home for the time being though, and she resolved to make it a happy one for both of them.
Chapter 18
An Irishman is never drunk so long as he can hold onto one blade of grass and not fall off the face of the earth – Irish Proverb
1965
“You’re pretty as a picture, just look at you with all that lovely fair hair. Where on earth did you get those dark eyebrows from?” Eileen, who had taken it upon herself to mother Rosa despite being only a few years older than her, added the finishing touches to the bouquet of daisies and red clover. She had fashioned it for her to carry up the aisle and satisfied she had it just so; she handed it to Rosa.
“My mam said I got my colouring from her mam’s auld granny.” Rosa admired the white and red wildflowers for a moment before holding the bouquet to her nose and inhaling. It smelled of spring.
“Ah, it's lovely Eileen thank you.”
Eileen smiled then turned her attention to the wee girl standing beside Rosa. She was a vision in white frills with her mad, red curls held back by a headband. “What’s that on your face, Maggie?” She sighed and produced a hanky, rubbed at the smear on her daughter’s face.
Rosa watched the scene and forgot her nerves for a moment as sadness replaced them that it wasn’t Kitty accompanying her up the a
isle today. Not that she hadn’t grown to love Maggie with her cheeky ways. It was just that she was such a poignant reminder of the family she had left behind because it wouldn’t be her da be giving her away while her mam sat proudly by in the aisle. It would be Willie with his arm linked through hers who would hand her over to Michael when the time came. The thought of Michael waiting at the church for her made her push the unhappiness aside as she resolved to look toward her future, not to her past.
She was wearing her white dress. She hadn’t worn it since leaving Cherry Orchard, and Michael had offered to buy her a new one for the occasion, but Rosa knew money was tight. Besides she told him, it was only right that she wore her white dress. Sure wasn’t she wearing it the day he fell in love with her? He hadn’t argued, putting the money toward matching gold bands for them both instead. Eileen had sewn her the loveliest veil of Irish lace, and as Willie bought the wagon round to take them to church, she let her pull it down over her face. It was time to go and meet her soon to be husband.
***
The sky was dotted with cotton wool clouds like fat sheep grazing on a field of blue as Willie helped Rosa down from the wagon outside the church. The building loomed tall and austere, and Rosa’s stomach fluttered at the sight of it as Eileen faffed about with the skirt of her dress for a moment. Satisfied she had it just so, she bent down to speak to her daughter.
“Now then Miss Maggie, don’t say a word when you get inside that church.” She held up her hand to silence her daughter whose mouth had opened to protest. “I know what you are going to say and if your brother pokes his tongue out at you or something like, ignore him alright? I’ll sort him out with a clip round the ear so I will if he misbehaves, don’t you be worrying about that.”
Satisfied justice would be meted out appropriately, Maggie closed her mouth and nodded.
“Just follow Rosa’s lead. Do you understand me?”
“Yes, Mammy.”
“She’ll be grand, Eileen,” Rosa said.
“I’d give you a hug, but I don’t want to crease your dress.” Eileen took her hand instead and gave it a squeeze. “Ah look I’m already crying and I haven’t even got inside the church yet.”
“Thank you, Eileen, for everything.”
Eileen gave her one last smile before running up the steps of the church to claim her seat.
“Come on then with you. Let’s go and get you wed before you change your mind.” Willie grinned and held his arm out for her. “Walk behind us wee Maggie like Mammy said, that’s a good girl.”
As Rosa entered those old stone walls and saw Michael through her lacy haze, she wanted to run up the aisle to meet him. She was glad she had Willie setting the correct pace as she glided alongside him doing her best to look demure. At last they reached the altar, and she was opposite where her lovely man stood with his hands clasped in front of him, his cousin Aidan at his side. The Priest began to intone the service and Rosa thought how very lucky she was. He was so tall and proud in the suit he had borrowed from Willie. Aidan gave the Priest their rings, and he blessed them before Michael took Rosa’s ring and placed it on her thumb.
“Take this ring as a sign of my love and fidelity.” His voice was strong and certain as he moved the gold band to her index finger. “In the name of the Father.” He placed it on her middle finger. “And of the Son.” At last he slid it on to where it belonged, her ring finger. “And of the Holy Spirt. Amen.”
Rosa repeated the ritual and the prayers were spoken. The rest of the service was a blur as Rosa waited for the Priest to give his final blessing so that Michael could lift her veil and kiss her.
The congregation, made up of the members of their new family clapped as he did just that.
“Ah, but you’re beautiful Mrs. Donohue.” Michael took his new wife’s hand and led her outside into the afternoon sunlight.
***
Rosa could feel her cheeks glowing as Michael led her by the hand down the lane toward the darkened camp. It wasn’t just because of the unaccustomed effects of the alcohol she’d consumed that evening. Glancing back over her shoulder she could see the lime-washed pub perched on the hill overlooking the bay. An orange moon illuminated it and she knew she owed her flushed cheeks in part to the bawdy send-off they’d just had. Even from this distance she could hear the strains of music and laughter. It made her smile, the pub had been standing room only as the wedding celebrations had gotten underway late that afternoon. Her voice was hoarse from shouting to be heard over the music, and her feet ached from all the dancing she’d done. It had been a magical day and a magical night she thought.
Michael was setting a fast pace and by the time they reached the camp she was breathing heavily. His reasons for this made her stomach flutter with anticipatory nerves. The auld wagon Aidan had given them as a wedding gift was set back from the others. Under the moonlight, she could see its flaking paint and sagging bow top. It was furnished with the bare necessities Eileen had helped Rosa scrape together, but it was theirs and Rosa wouldn’t have cared if it were a mud hut.
Michael climbed the stoop and opened the doors with a flourish. “Welcome to your new home Mrs Donohue.” He ducked his head and went inside. It was dark despite the moonlight, and Rosa waited at the entrance while he fumbled around for the moment it took him to light the lamp. As it flared to life and illuminated his face, she saw the hungry look in his eyes. For the first time since they had left Cherry Orchard, she felt self-conscious under his gaze. Sensing her shyness he took both her hands and pulled her inside toward him kicking the door shut at the same time. “I love you. Don’t be frightened.” She felt his breath on her hair reassuring her, and as he stepped back from her and unzipped her dress, her eyes met his wide and trusting. He lifted the dress over her head and helped her out of her undergarments until she stood naked before him. “You’re lovely, so you are.” She felt beautiful under his gaze.
She watched him take his shirt off and unbuckle his trousers. So often, she had wondered what lay beneath those clothes of his, and now she reached out tentatively to stroke his finely muscled chest with its smattering of dark hair. He groaned and moved toward her, his mouth finding hers. There was a passion in their kissing that they had shied away from in the past for fear of where it might lead. This time they let go tumbling down on top of the pile of bedding. He stroked and caressed her with a skilled hand learned from where she didn’t know until she was desperate for more. Reading her mind, he rolled on top of her and entered her slowly. She gasped.
“Are you alright?” He asked his eyes tender. “Does it hurt?”
“A little but don’t stop.”
“It will be better next time I promise.” He kissed her and as his rhythm increased Rosa’s body relaxed into his as she looked up at his face in wonder.
Afterwards, she lay with her hand resting on her new husband’s chest feeling the beat of his heart slow.
“I love you, Michael. Today has been the best day of my life.”
Michael snored softly. It was the contented snore of a satiated man. She smiled and kissed him softly on his lips before pressing her body close to his and draping a proprietary arm around him.
In the morning when she woke she felt Michael hard and urgent next to her and he kept his promise because this time it was wonderful.
***
“Are you happy?” Rosa asked Michael. He was collapsed on top of her panting, and she smoothed the hair back from his damp forehead. Outside their wagon, she could hear the sounds of the morning but she did not want to get up and greet them just yet.
“I am the happiest I have ever been Missus.” He said raising his head and grinning at her. He rolled off her and onto his back tossing the blankets aside. “Now then, I’ve got to get up. There’s work to be done and as much as I’d love to, I can’t lie in bed with you all day, you wanton woman.” As he stood, he frowned. “I hope young Tom’s feeling better today.”
“Sure it’s just a bit of a cold Michael he’ll be fine.�
� Rosa watched him as he dressed. She knew despite his joking words prior to mentioning Tom that his heart still ached for his brother. Though he rarely spoke of Tyson these days, she would catch him from time to time staring at Tom, Willie and Eileen’s oldest boy. He was close in age to Tyson, and she could see the pain in his eyes. In her naivety, she wished for a little one of their own for him to dangle from his knee and make silly faces at. Despite the practice they’d been getting in where the baby making was concerned, her monthly had arrived on time for these past three months they’d been married. It wasn’t just Tyson either, she knew he worried about his mammy left to fend off Martin’s fists on her own. There was nothing he could do about that, he would tell her she was his family now.
Rosa thought that they would stay as they were. It was a good life they were leading travelling around the North with Michael’s kind kinfolk who had welcomed them in so and made them part of their family. The shadows of those they had left behind at Cherry Orchard still stretched long and wide though, and lately Michael had begun to make noises about travelling somewhere different by themselves.
“I’ll get up and put the tea on,” Rosa said getting out of the warm bed with reluctance and setting about her morning routines.
Michael’s reasoning she knew for wanting to move on was his need to put more distance between them and the memory of the stricken face of his little brother, the day they left Cherry Orchard. Rosa didn’t have the heart to tell him that it wouldn’t change a thing. She knew that no matter how far from Ireland’s shores they travelled, Tyson would always be right there with him in his heart just like Kitty, Joe and even Paddy would be in hers. Just the other night he had come home from the pub with a sway in his step and an excited inflection in his words that she hadn’t heard in a long while.
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