“Well there’s a good motivation fer ya’ anyway! Son, I wish I had an easy answer but I have to tell ya’, seven children and twenty one years of marriage hasn’t changed a thing fer me where your Ma’s concerned,” Owen winked.
“Oh Da. I’d never even thought about you and Ma. Oh, it is time for bed now,” Fagan laughed as Owen put his arm over his son’s shoulder and they walked together toward the house.
“Fagan, I can tell ya’ this, Mary has given ya’ her most treasured and sacred gift a woman can give ya’ of herself. She’s placed her trust, her love and above all her honor on ya’. Don’t ya’ ever forget that. If you two choose to continue to – well ya’ know, until yer able to get married, you’ll have to be careful not to be bringing me grandchildren do ya’ understand? I don’t put stock in gossip but ya’ don’t want that kind of talk to hurt Mary or her family,” Owen said as he stopped and faced Fagan and addressed him directly, father to son.
“No, Da. I don’t understand. I’ll go into town in the morning and get my plans done for the house and I’ll tell Mary tomorrow to speak with her Ma about planning this wedding,” Fagan replied.
“Come along son and I’ll explain a little something to ya’ about self-control. I’ve delivered quite a few babies as result of this method but it will at least reduce your chances of conception, if it ain’t already too late. Abstinence is best but I’m a realist. Once a bear has had a taste of honey, he’ll take on a whole hive of bees to have it again. Men aren’t much different. As a Christian man, I shouldn’t even tell ya’ any of this but as a father who loves his son and a man of science, I’ll tell ya’ what I think is best,” Owen said quietly as they approached the back porch.
After a brief purely scientific explanation of what he meant, Owen patted his son on the back and said, “Welcome to manhood, son,” Owen opened the backdoor and they both stepped inside and said goodnight.
Fagan crept into the room and found his brothers asleep as always. He’d taken everything Owen said and figured anything was worth at least the effort if his father had suggested it. However his idea of getting this house built as soon as possible so he and Mary could get married was still the highest of his priorities. His lidded eyes signaled to him that he would easily find sleep and the satisfaction and contentment in his heart would as well. He’d exchanged the worry of doubting Mary’s love for the worry of keeping it forever but somehow, just knowing she had loved him all the while and had given all of herself to him made the new worries seem small and easily managed.
He’d get that house built for her and he’d do it in record time. He’d decided with the money he saved as well as his father’s offering to help him, he’d give Mr. Wilbur his notice and head straight into town to the architect’s office and pick up his plans. From there, he’d head to the lumber company and place his order. As his father had explained, he didn’t need to build the house of his dreams yet, just the house of his needs. He could always do as Owen had done and add on as his dreams and his family grew.
The next thought Fagan had accompanied the rumbling in his stomach when he smelled breakfast cooking. He leaped from his bed and began rushing about the room, putting himself together to get started on his busy day.
“Gee, Fagan, is the house on fire?” asked Connell as he dodged his brother at every turn, trying to get himself ready for work.
“No, but perhaps I am!” Fagan said flashing his brother a wide smile.
Fagan snapped his suspenders and danced a jig around the room as Connell and Brogan laughed.
“Fagan, you’ve turned simple overnight!” laughed Brogan. “I think I like you simple!”
“Boys, you’re looking at a man in love; a man who will soon no longer have to put up with your snoring and your smelly feet!” Fagan said as he slipped on his boots and stood up, placing his hands over his heart.
“Oh boy, Mary must have agreed to marry the big lummox,” said Connell to Brogan, giving him a nudge.
“Why yes indeed she has and soon, we’ll be living on the other end of this property in the arms of love,” Fagan exclaimed, as he grabbed Brogan and tried to dance him around the room.
“Cut it out you mad man!” shouted Brogan in laughter. “Let me at the wash basin, I need to make my morning rounds.”
“So you’ve gone and done it have you brother?” chuckled Connell.
“Done what?” Asked Fagan nervously, throwing Connell a suspicious glance and thinking of something completely different than what his brother had intended.
“You asked for Mary’s hand. Gee Fagan I think Brogan’s right, you have turned simple over night,” Connell replied, when it suddenly occurred to him what Fagan was thinking. “Wait just a minute now Fagan, did you…”
“I’ve gotta’ run boys! Breakfast is waiting,” he said throwing Connell a wink on his way out the door.
“Well I’ll be hog tied,” Connell mumbled.
“Well I’ll be hog tied too if I don’t round up these kids!” said Brogan, pulling on his shoes and running out of the room behind Fagan.
Down the hall, Liffey and Teagan were up and getting dressed as well.
“Teagan, you’re wearing a dress today?” asked Liffey, as she watched Teagan struggling with her corset.
“Please help me and don’t make it too tight. I’m so hungry this morning I could eat a horse. I’m dressing just in case Ma takes pity on me and lets me come to town with her,” Teagan groaned as Liffey obliged and helped her into her clothes.
“Teagan, did you say your prayers last night?” Liffey asked. “I know I sure did. I prayed all of the Olsens were free of danger and today would be a perfect day with no more troubles.”
“I prayed Mrs. Olsen would take a broom to Mr. Olsen while he slept,” said Teagan smartly as she laced her shoes.
“Teagan!”
“Oh Liffey, I’m not serious. Well, I’m not altogether kidding either. I did pray last night though. I prayed for Fagan and Mary and for Ennis especially, that whatever has a hold of him just disappears and moves on so all of our lives can just be normal again and no, I didn’t ask for selfish reasons ‘cause I know that’s what you were thinking,” Teagan said, standing in the mirror straightening her bustle.
“Oh Teagan how could you think such a thing? I know you love Ennis and you only wish for him to be free to just be a child again. This week has been so trying for everyone.”
The familiar knock came at their door and Teagan opened it and waited for Brogan to speak.
“What?” Brogan said, seeing his sister’s expression of knowing what’s coming next.
“Well? Aren’t you going to tell us breakfast is ready?” Teagan asked.
“Breakfast is ready and Fagan’s turned simple,” Brogan stated as he took off to the next door to wake Patrick and Ennis.
The door was ajar so he tapped lightly and stepped inside. Patrick was on all fours looking under the beds.
“What ya’ looking for, Patrick?” Brogan asked.
“That stupid house mouse. He kept me up half the night scratching. I wish we had a cat.”
“We’ll have one soon!” shouted Ennis, as he ran past Brogan out of the room and down the stairs to the kitchen, where he found his mother and his sisters setting the table for breakfast.
“Teagan!” Ennis shouted. “Can we please go and see my kitten today? That pesky house mouse was scratching all night long and I know if we had a cat, we wouldn’t have a house mouse.” Ennis said as he hopped into his seat.
“Ennis, Eli and I told you it will be weeks before we can bring the kitten home and then it will be months after that before he’ll be big enough to catch a house mouse.”
“What about the cat staying in the barn?” Sarah said as she kissed Ennis on top of his head.
“Well, the house mouse is in my room Ma, not in the barn,” Ennis replied softly.
“Well when you bring him home for good, as long as he hasn’t any fleas and has a good temperament, I see no reason why he shoul
dn’t live in the house like the rest of us,” Sarah answered kindly.
Liffey and Teagan nearly dropped their respective platters of food and turned their eyes to each other. They didn’t dare question their mother’s change of heart and were pleased with this softer version of her.
“Fagan, please wait for your da and fer the grace!” ordered Sarah, sounding more like herself as she pulled a half eaten biscuit from his hand and sat it down on his plate.
“Ma, I need to get to the Wilburs’ early and give my notice,” Fagan said, as everyone in the room froze and looked at him in surprise.
“What are you all staring at?” Fagan asked.
“Give yer notice?” Sarah asked.
“Yes, Ma. I’ll be getting started on my house as soon as I can now,” he replied.
Owen and the rest of the children began filing into the room and took their seats at the table.
“Hey Ennis, can you say the grace please so I can eat and be on my way?” asked Fagan.
“I haven’t even poured me coffee yet boy slow down!” laughed Owen.
Connell took his seat and looked at Fagan and shook his head.
“Connell, just forget about it please,” Fagan said under his breath.
“Okay! Okay! Now we can have grace and get this glorious day started!” Owen said as he sat down his cup of coffee and they all joined hands.
Suddenly it occurred to Fagan he had told Ennis to say the grace. The thought of all of them joining hands with him, knowing what he could do sent a shiver up his spine and he suddenly let go of Connell and Liffey’s hands and jumped up from the table.
“Fagan what on Earth?” shouted Sarah.
“Ma, Fagan’s turned simple over night!” Brogan blurted out, as Connell burst into laughter and Patrick and the rest sat shocked with their chins at their chests.
“Really, Brogan!” Sarah said.
“Fagan, please sit down and stop disruptin’ the table boy!” said Owen. “Ennis, please continue.”
Fagan sat down slowly and Connell and Liffey, who were both anxious to know what caused Fagan’s sudden outburst, held tightly onto him.
“Good morning, God. Please bless this food we are about to receive. Amen,” was all Ennis said.
Fagan had drawn a deep breath as Ennis spoke and released a heavy sigh as they said amen.
“Teagan, how about that kitten? Can we go?” Ennis asked.
Everyone followed Fagan’s sigh as they all seemed to have something on their minds this morning, although not all as obvious as Fagan.
“Ma, can I take him to see the kitten?” Teagan asked.
“Yes but by all means, to Eli’s and straight back,” Sarah replied.
Fagan’s breakfast disappeared into his belly so fast that everyone looked twice at his plate when he stood and asked to be excused. With his parents’ blessing, he rushed from the table and headed out to give his notice.
“Ennis, as soon as we’re done our chores, we’ll head over to Eli’s, all right?” Teagan asked hiding the disappointment that she wasn’t invited to town.
“Yes!” he exclaimed, leaping from the table to start his chores along with his brothers. Owen and Connell walked to the front door and put on their hats.
Sarah walked them out and touched Owen on the arm before he stepped away.
“I’ll meet you at the corner restaurant while I’m in town today and we can have lunch. Perhaps you’ll tell me about Fagan?” she asked affirmatively.
Owen removed his hat and gave Sarah a peck on the cheek and said, “As always dear, we can’t get anything past ya’.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
“Brogan, Liffey and Patrick, please finish up so we can get in to the store before noon. I want to have lunch with your father today,” Sarah said as she excused herself to change into her shopping clothes.
“I told you, Lif,” Teagan frowned, once her mother was upstairs out of sight.
“Don’t worry Teagan. You and Ennis will have a good day together and I’ll have Ma pick up some of that licorice you like,” Liffey said as she rushed the boys off to wash up and harness Molly to the wagon.
“Thank you, Liffey. I know we’ll be fine. I’ll just go and fetch Ennis and head on over to the Morgans.’ Enjoy your trip to town,” Teagan said as she went upstairs to change into her fence-climbing clothes and to find Ennis.
“Ennis, are you done cleaning up your room?” Teagan said as she pushed open the door.
“Almost. Here look,” he said as he held out his hands to reveal the little house mouse, sitting between them.
“Ennis! You caught him!” Teagan shouted.
“No Teagan, I called him and he just came running over and climbed into my hand. He’s not so bad. We’ll take him with us and turn him loose in the field. I think that’s why he scratches so much because he’s trying to find a way out.”
“Oh my. Well, give me a minute to change and we’ll be on our way,” Teagan said as she headed to her room.
“We’re leaving now, Teagan!” her mother shouted up the stairs.
“All right, Ma. I’ll see you in a few hours.”
Teagan heard the door close and she and Ennis were on their way down the stairs with the mouse and out the back door to the Morgans.’ Once they were about halfway there, Ennis decided they’d gone far enough and sat the little mouse down in the grass and they watched it hop away.
“He’s much happier now.” Ennis said, smiling up at his sister.
“Ennis, how do you know he’s happy now?”
“I just know,” he shrugged.
“Ennis, have you grown tired of all of this yet?” Teagan asked, taking his hand and walking on.
“Not at all. I have found though every day that passes and everything and everyone I feel, leaves something on me.”
“Leaves something on you? What do you mean by that?”
“Well, like the bird. Sometimes, I feel as if I could just spread my wings and fly. Then yesterday with Mr. Olsen, I understand when people are sad inside and why they turn angry and bitter.”
“Well, what about the people who you don’t heal, you know the people who you just get feelings from?”
“Well, the best way I can tell you is inside of me, I feel what they are feeling and I understand them and what makes them feel like they do. Can I tell you something?” Ennis asked. “Right now, while I’m holding your hand, I can feel you’re not angry at me anymore and I can feel all of the love you have for Eli. I know what love feels like to you but the mushy things are ick!”
“That’s amazing, Ennis, and it doesn’t affect you at all?” she asked with a chuckle.
“Not at all. It makes me feel stronger really. Even the bad things like yesterday. I am a little worried about one thing though Teagan, I’m afraid I’m taking something from the people I touch or feel. How can they give so much to me and not lose something?”
“I don’t know Ennis. Maybe what they give you, they have plenty of and they can spare it. Besides, I think you’re giving them a lot back,” Teagan said. “Truly Ennis, there has to be something about all of this that bothers you?”
“Why? Why does there have to be anything bad about it?”
“Because as Pastor Lincoln says, Ennis, we have to take the good with the bad.”
“The only bad in the world is created by people, Teagan. Everything else is good.”
“That makes good sense, Ennis. Maybe you should give the sermon this Sunday and let Pastor Lincoln take a rest,” Teagan laughed.
She was beginning to become completely comfortable and even curious about Ennis’ gifts. In less than a week, he had brought about profound changes in all of their lives but beneath all of it, she felt they had just scratched the surface. She noticed while she was holding his hand, a slight vibration and warmth radiated from it. It startled her at first but it was so slight and soothing she hadn’t obeyed her first reflex to let him go. She liked the feeling as it gave her a sense of calm and security.
&nb
sp; “Ennis, do you believe I’ll get to go to medical school next year?” Teagan asked, although not quite sure why she had.
“Absolutely, Teagan. You’re going to be a doctor,” he replied.
“How can you be so sure?” she asked as they approached the fence.
“I can feel it. I feel you sitting in a big classroom and I feel you working with Da and Connell,” Ennis replied.
“You can feel all of this really?” Teagan asked, unfazed by his response.
“Oh yes. I can feel as much as people allow. I even felt Da on that ship. It wasn’t at all clear at first what he was thinking about the other night but now, I think I could feel as far as Ireland.”
“Ennis do you see it or just feel it?”
“I don’t see pictures like a book. I just know.”
“Okay Ennis, how about you see your way under this fence and let’s go see those kittens alright?” Teagan said, as she climbed over and onto the Morgans’ land.
Teagan sat on the floor of the barn with Ennis, as he cuddled and petted the kittens, giving equal amounts of affection to all five. Teagan held their mother in her lap and stroked her soft coat as she listened to Ennis talk about the dreams he was having and how sweet and lovely they’d been recently.
They had seen Mrs. Morgan and Willie only briefly when they arrived and knocked on the kitchen door to announce their visit. She was as always joyful and pleasant and had even offered them each a glass of her homemade lemonade which they’d gratefully accepted after all of the walking and talking on their way there. She had mentioned Eli was again working with his father and Mr. Morgan had commented on what a skilled worker Eli had turned out to be. She’d also mentioned Eli had come home early the night before and told her Teagan was off visiting and had forgotten their engagement, which she and her mother had yet to discuss. Teagan made a brief apology but had asked Mrs. Morgan to please give Eli her regrets and to assure him her invitation to dinner that evening at five o’clock still stood.
Sarah and Liffey strolled through Mr. Olsen’s dry goods store as Patrick and Brogan sat in the wagon outside, talking to a couple of school mates.
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