Cailín (Lass) (Anam Céile Chronicles) Read Online Free Page A

woefully, fer me, it would not last.
    Not yet
taken over by the British lords, a modest, yet respectable amount of land me
family possessed on which we farmed a herd of sheep.  Riordan, me older
brother, worked the farm with me father, Quinlan. 
    And I,
being the lass, had to assist me mother, Meara, in the duties of the
household.  Though, much rather would I have been to be of value in the out of
doors, tending to the animals.  Contrarily, the few times had I the occasion
entrusted to me, nary a time did I not reap me father’s sullenness, as hinder
not could I me wanderlust to frolic along dreamily to wherever ‘twas the wind
were to blow me.
    Our
home ‘twas built of grey stone doubled walls packed with an earthen core to
provide insulation and exposed wooden roof timbers rising from the inner face
of the walls providing a tobhta, a ledge at the wall head.  The timbers
were sheltered with a dense thatch of turf covered by reed over which an
outside layer of moss and lichen would grow.  ‘Twas essential the roof have
sufficient sturdiness to resist the strong winds delivered by the Atlantic. 
    All the
floor was of packed earth and in the central area, there be a hearth fer the
fire, the unmistakable aroma of peat turves ever burning to keep warm the
abode.  Four windows only there were.  A modest area to each end there be, one
where me parents would sleep, the other fer me brother and meself.
    Although
in reality we were far from it, still our fellow countrymen we were regarded as
being moderately prosperous, since we were fortunate enough to hold a separate
dwelling in which to keep our animals.  Other than the out of doors, that was me
most favoured place to pass the time.

Chapter Three
     

     
    ‘ T was upon the twelfth
anniversary of me birth that things began to take a unexpected course.  ‘Til
then, reasonably happy I had been in me simple, carefree life.  However, me
mother and father informed me that a young lady I be now, and certain things
expected of me there would be. 
    Of
course, substantially more duties I be given to complete.  However, bothered me
this hardly did.  I preferred to keep busy.  What did perturb me was the
lecture I received from me father that night before retiring to bed.
    Haphazardly—
as was his way— me father started in, “Now, daughter, ‘tis the time to stop all
yer imprudent childish behaviours and time you start acting as a proper young
lass if you’ll ever be wantin’ to acquire a suitable fellow fer a husband.”
    “Well,
‘tis no matter to me whether I do not snag a husband, besides!” I daringly
countered.  “Fac ‘tis, I would truly prefer not to ever marry at all. 
Then there be nobody to be tellin’ me what I may and may not do, and be
expectin’ me to keep his abode fixed up and always be cookin’ fer him.  Rather
I would use me time keepin’ meself happy, than some chap .” 
    Me mother’s eyes widened as she shook her head silently, apparently anticipating
me father’s reaction to me blatant dissent.
    Needless
to say, delighted to be hearing this he was not!  “Oh, you do, do you?  Well, I’ll
be damned if I’ll be afflicted by yer presence in me house fer the rest of me
days!  Learn yer place, Muzzy !  ‘Tis yer duty as a lass to relieve yer
family of the burden of you in a timely manner by securing a husband who shall
assume the responsibility of you!” 
    Me
mother, on the other hand, looked on me regretfully, blue as the soft light
that shone about her.
    His
frequent reminder of me burden to them stung at me.  Nonetheless, wear it upon
me face I did not, as I smugly resumed.  “Father, surely ‘tis not me intention
to hold me burden upon you.  Go out on me own I will, as soon as you’ll allow
it.”
    “And
just how’re you supposin’ to fend fer yerself, then, lassie?” he chortled
mockingly.
    “Play
me fiddle I will, perhaps travel with a steppin’ troop.” I came back over-confidently,
whilst perfectly