Tethered Souls

by Jessica McCrory

  Who was to say she even came back? It could be that they were in fact never meant to be, and they will all stay trapped in this stationary hell for all of eternity because she doesn’t even remember anything about him.

  “Dammit!” He yelled and jammed the shovel into the ground. She had to come back, and if she didn’t, then he would find a way to go and drag her back here himself. He couldn’t go another two hundred years without her.

  Content with his new plan he went back to shoveling out the stalls. He turned when he heard his sister running from the house.

  “She’s coming Aengus!”

  He turned to see Myria standing wide-eyed and grinning in the entry to the barn. “She just called me and made a reservation!” She squealed with delight and clapped her hands.

  “She called?” He stood up straight and cursed himself for not being the one who answered the phone, oh to hear her sweet voice again.

  They had been using the house their parents had left to them as a bed and breakfast in order to bring in income to change with the times. It had also provided them with a perfect opportunity to house her when she did come back. He knew that having her here would be safer than having her staying somewhere else. Myria had protected the house from Caipre so he wouldn’t be able to physically enter to harm her.

  “Well not Aine personally, but the reservation has been made!” She repeated and jumped again, clapping her hands together. “Isn’t this just absolutely positively wonderful!”

  He grinned at his sister’s excitement. She had always been lovely to him, a ray of sunshine in his life since the day she was born. He was so grateful to her for what she had done and he knew he could never repay her.

  “It is. As long as everything goes as it should.”

  “Oh don’t be such a downer Aengus, it really doesn’t suit you.” But she smiled. “Everything will be wonderful Aengus. You’ll see!”

  “What are we talking about?” Sheamus Finley wrapped his arm around Myria’s waist and placed a quick kiss on her cheek. He watched as his sister beamed at the man who had once been just a boy following her through the woods. He had quickly grown into their closest friend and eventually he had courted Myria. It wasn’t long before she had admitted that she had fallen for him as well.

  Love looked good on his sister, and he was incredibly grateful that she had found it. Especially after all these years. Sheamus was one of the few people who they had entrusted with their secret.

  “She is coming Sheamus!” Myria grabbed his face and gave him a loud kiss.

  “Aine?”

  “Yes, you idiot, who else would I be this excited about?” Myria laughed and poked Sheamus in the chest.

  “That is wonderful Aengus!” At the somber look, Aengus held, Sheamus looked back at Myria. “Did I miss something?”

  “Oh don’t mind him Sheamus, he’s just being the worrier that we all know and love. You wait, when she gets here, he will be acting like a fool.”

  “That is something I can’t wait to see,” Sheamus grinned at Aengus.

  He was happy, beyond thrilled at the thought of seeing her again. But now it seemed as though everything he had ever worried about was coming quickly and in the forefront of his mind, and he feared above all that Caipre would find a way to get to her before she got back to him.

  Chapter Three

  Dallas

  The gallery was a small space in downtown Dallas. Still, it made her so happy to walk in and see her creations covering the walls. She had always painted scenes from her dreams, it seemed the best way for her to cope with them was to have them out in the open. She had never painted anything staged, only what came from her mind and because of that her small group of followers had decided to nickname her paintings ‘dreamscapes’.

  Abby stopped in front of the painting of a small girl standing in the center of a large garden. So much of her heart had gone into this one. The gentle uplift of the little girls’ mouth showed a stolen moment in gardens she probably had no business being in, and still she was so open, so unreserved. Abby longed to feel that way.

  “Miss Kelly?”

  “Yes?” Abby turned to face her assistant. Only two years shy of her own twenty-six, Molly stood about four inches shorter than Abby’s five-seven. The large framed glasses she wore seemed to drown her face and she never had a hair out of place. She was the best assistant Abby could have asked for, and in ways, was her only friend. Abby supposed that was a bit pathetic, but she had a difficult time trusting people enough to let them into her life.

  “Your guests are beginning to arrive and Annie would like to speak with you as well.”

  “Thanks, Molly. Did you get the flight information for me?”

  “Yes, Miss. I booked you an open-ended stay at a small bed and breakfast about three hours outside of Dublin, in the countryside just as you asked. I also purchased you the one-way ticket you asked for.”

  Abby smiled down at the printed confirmation Molly had handed her. She was going to Ireland! She suddenly couldn’t wait to get home and get her bags packed. The night couldn’t be over soon enough.

  “Abigail! There you are!” She smiled at the sound of her agent’s voice. Annie was tall and gorgeous with the personality and ego to match it.

  “Hi, Annie. I was just going to come look for you.”

  “Oh sure, you were darling.” She winked at her and then turned her attention to Molly. “Give us a moment will you Sharon?”

  “It’s Molly.” Abby corrected, feeling sorry for the sweet girl.

  “Yes, yes. Molly.” She waved her hand in dismissal and Abby nearly snorted when she saw Molly roll her eyes when she thought neither of them was looking.

  When Molly turned to walk away, Annie pulled Abby off to the side. “What is this I hear about a vacation?”

  Abby sighed. Not even five minutes since she got the confirmation and here came the guilt trip.

  “Uh yes, I’m going to Ireland.”

  “Yes, I heard about that. But a one-way ticket? We have a contract.” She smiled, but Abby sensed the irritation in her voice.

  “I understand that Annie, I’m not disappearing and there’s nothing that says I can’t work from somewhere else. I plan on sending you paintings as I finish them, just because I’m on vacation doesn’t mean I won't still be painting, it happens to also be a hobby for me.”

  “Well, that’s good then...” She interrupted

  “Annie, I need this, if you need me before I get back then just go through Molly, she will know all the details as to how to get ahold of me.”

  “As long as you aren’t running off to marry some silly Irish fellow never to return.” Annie laughed, but Abby sensed the worry beneath it. Worry that she may lose her most profitable client.

  “Yeah, because my luck is that good.” Abby smiled and she saw the defeat in Annie’s eyes.

  “Very well. How about we start greeting guests?”

  Abby made her rounds greeting each guest who came in. She shook hands with so many people she began to lose count and by the end of the night, she had managed to sell eighteen paintings. She was sad to see it go, but the little girl painting was the first to go, she hadn’t even had a chance to see who bought it. Abby knew that whoever it had been could probably spend years contemplating the feeling of the painting and not even come close. But that was the nature of her world, she sold her heart to the highest bidder.

  She was wrapping up for the evening and gathering her things when she turned to stand face to face with Emit.

  “Nice haul Gail?”

  “Emit. What are you doing here?” She looked over at Molly who stood wide-eyed and was shaking her head.

  “I told you I was coming by. Sell quite a bit? I’ve never understood why you paint the same stuff over and over again.” He looked around, annoyed. He had never appreciated her work, which was only one of the many reasons they hadn’t made it as a couple.

  “There you are!” Annie came up from behind her and put her ar
m around Emit, “I’m so glad you could make it! Abigail, can you believe his name was on the not welcome list!” She threw her head back and laughed. “As if Emit here wouldn’t be welcome anywhere he wanted to go.” Annie had always fawned over Emit. Even when he and Abby had been dating, Annie hung all over him whenever he was around. At first it had irritated Abby, but eventually, when she realized they weren’t going to work, she wished Emit had felt the same way for Annie as she clearly did about him. Then maybe they could have run off together and all of Abby’s problems would have been solved.

  Abby nearly rolled her eyes when Emit smiled down at Annie. “Emit, why don’t you take Annie out for a celebration drink?” Abby hoped that maybe she could get both of them off her back in one swoop.

  Annie’s eyes lit up at the offer. “Oh, that would be lovely!”

  Emit glared at Abby, clearly not amused by the game she was playing. “Why don’t you join us?”

  “Oh, she can’t, an early flight right?” Annie interrupted and winked at Abby.

  “An early flight? Where are you going?” Emit shrugged Annie off of his arm and moved closer to Abby.

  There was a strange look in his eyes and Abby found herself wishing she could shrink away into the crowd of caterers who were packing up.

  “Miss Kelly?” Saved by the assistant, Abby turned and smiled at Molly.

  “Yes, Molly?”

  “It's time for your eleven o clock conference call? With that buyer in Tokyo?”

  “Tokyo buyer?” Annie asked confused. “I didn’t know we were working with someone?” Concern was back in her voice that Abby was selling behind her back, cutting her out of the commission.

  “Yes, I hadn’t told you yet because the buyer contacted me directly and I wanted to make sure I had a solid grasp of it before I got your hopes up.” She lied smoothly.

  “Oh okay, well that is perfect! Yet another reason for that celebration drink tonight, right Emit?” Annie reattached herself onto his arm and Abby took the opportunity to leave with her assistant.

  Once they were in the parking lot, Abby pulled Molly into a large hug. “You are just the best assistant ever, you know that?”

  Molly smiled sheepishly, “It looked like you needed an out.”

  “Buyer in Tokyo? That’s genius!” Abby laughed. “Why don’t you come with me?”

  “Excuse me, Miss?”

  “Oh goodness won't you just call me Abby already!” Abby exclaimed. “Why don’t you come with me to Ireland?” She didn’t know why she offered it, but she knew that the poor girl could use a vacation. She couldn’t remember her taking one in the two years she had been working for her.

  Molly blushed and for a moment Abby thought she might take her up on the offer. “Thank you so much for the offer, Abby. I already made plans to go to my parents for the week, though.”

  “Oh, okay.” Surprisingly disappointed, Abby was at least grateful she was taking a break after all and calling her by name rather than Miss.

  “I hadn’t told you only because I was planning on working from there so I wouldn’t need to take any vacation, I though it would be okay since you weren’t going to be here either.”

  “Molly it's fine! In fact, if you would like, why don’t you stay there as long as you want? I will let you know when I plan to be back that way you can spend some time with them.” She pulled her in for another hug and then released her. “I will miss you. You are probably the only person I will miss.” She laughed and pulled out her keys.

  “Thank you, Abby.”

  As Abby climbed into her car, she was too excited to notice the dark figure watching her from the shadows.

  Chapter Four

  Ireland

  The flight was long, but when Abby’s feet touched the floor of the Dublin airport, she couldn’t even feel the exhaustion. She stood inside the baggage claim and watched as all the people rushed to their destinations. She had always loved airports for one reason: stories. Everyone had them, and yet, each person was so wrapped up in their own that they rarely, if ever, stopped to realize that they weren’t the only person in the world. That right now, at this exact moment, someone else was wrapped up in his or her own crisis. Abby had always loved stories. She had once tried her hand at being a writer, but realized very quickly, that she didn’t have a love for words. Rather she loved the picture that the words made up. She had decided to stick with the painting and it had turned out to be the better of her life choices.

  She was in Ireland! She couldn’t believe that she had finally taken the vacation she had wanted to take ever since she could remember! For the foreseeable future, she would be lounging in a relaxing B&B painting at her leisure and exploring the land that had been in her dreams her entire life.

  Abby took a deep breath and watched as everyone’s luggage began to come around on the belt. A couple stood on the opposite side of the baggage carousel holding each other and smiling. She sighed, what would it be like to have someone look at her like that? She wondered. Who knew? Maybe Annie had been on to something and she would find herself a nice Irishman while she was here. Abby snorted and had the elderly couple standing next to her moving slightly away. Yeah, because that was likely. She smiled reassuringly at them and moved closer as she saw her suitcase emerge.

  She grabbed her suitcase as it came around and then searched for the bag that held her travel easel. She would need to pick up a frame for her canvases, and made a mental note to ask her driver to stop somewhere.

  It always seemed like an eternity passed before you were able to find all of your luggage. She finally spotted it and reached forward, missing it by an inch. A handsome man, Abby estimated in his mid-forties, grabbed it off the belt and offered it to her.

  “This what you are looking for?” His voice was deep and when he spoke something in the tone had alarms going off in Abby’s head.

  “Yes thank you.” She grabbed for it, but he pulled it just out of reach.

  “American?” He asked making her nervous. “Is this your first trip to Ireland?”

  “Yes and yes. Now if I could please have my bag, my driver should be here soon.” Something in his eyes made her nervous and she suddenly had flashbacks to all of the news stories she had always tried to avoid reading. She could see the headlines now ‘American missing on her first solo trip across seas’. Except in her story, there would be no CIA trained father to come to her rescue.

  He leaned forward and smiled at her. “Welcome to Ireland. Hopefully, I will be seeing you soon.” He handed her the bag and she gratefully grasped it. She turned and nearly ran over the man standing behind her.

  “Miss Kelly?” The Irish inflection on her name had her smiling, relief washing over her.

  “Abby.” She smiled, “and you must be Sheamus.”

  He stood about 3 inches above her and was thin. The top of his curly red hair lay flat as if he had been wearing a ball cap. He smiled back at her and she saw large dimples at his cheeks. Unlike the man who had grabbed her easel, his eyes were kind and she felt completely at ease around him.

  “I am Miss. I am so happy to meet you. Let me help you with those.” He grabbed her bags with such ease that she was impressed. She knew from experience how heavy her paints could be. “Are you alright Miss Abby?”

  “Just Abby, please. Yes, I am, just this guy made me a little uncomfortable.” She turned to gesture at him, but he was gone. “Guess his bags came as well.”

  “You will be safe with me Abby, I promise.” He smiled at her and she somehow knew that he was right. Although they had just met, she felt she could trust him and that she would be safe with him.

  She followed him out to the passenger pick up in front of the airport and watched as he loaded her belongings into a small car. “So how long have you worked for the B&B?”

  “About fifteen years now.”

  She was surprised by his answer since he didn’t look a day over twenty-five.

  He must have noted the surprised look on her face because
he added, “I was young when I started.”

  “How are the owners?” She had known from research that they were brother and sister, and although there were no pictures, she knew that they were about her age.

  “They are wonderful people. Very fair to work for and two of the most loyal, trustworthy people you will ever meet.”

  “They sound great.” She smiled out the window and watched as they began to trade the buildings of Dublin for the greenery of the countryside. It was even more magnificent than she could have ever believed, even with her dreams. “How long of a drive is it?”

  “About three hours Miss.”

  “Please, just call me Abby. I am so excited to be here! I have seriously been planning this trip for years and finally I am here!” She let out a little squeal and clapped her hands together, all the discomfort from the baggage claim gone. “I’m sorry,” She blushed when she noticed he had looked over at her. “I haven’t had a vacation in so long and it is definitely needed.”

  “No need to apologize at all Abby. What do you do for a living?”

  “I’m an artist, I mostly paint landscapes but every now and then I do portraits.”

  “That is wonderful, you will surely find inspiration for your landscapes while you are here.”

  She smiled absently and looked out the window again. She didn’t mention that Ireland’s landscape was all that she had ever painted even though she had never been here before. She hoped that she could discover the reason behind her dreams while she was here, maybe have a bit of an adventure exploring what they meant. Surely there had to be some explanation for it all.

  “Sheamus do you believe in magic?” It was out of her mouth before she could stop it. After all, how else could she explain all of her strange dreams? It had to be some sort of magic that she had seen Ireland without ever stepping foot on its lovely soil.