“A thespian?” he asked.
She pointed at him. “That’s it! Athespian,” she mimicked his accent with a grin.
“My uncle is Baron Winning,” he said to the theatrical young waif.
“Oh!” Her lips formed a smallO. “We are neighbours, then! Would you like to play with me?”
Gabriel gazed at Mary, warmth at her open and immediate friendship spreading through his chest. Who was this young girl to so willingly accept him despite his half-Scottish blood, to smile so freely and guilelessly at him without rancour? The other children of the nearby village sneered at him or spoke about him behind their hands when he passed, but this little girl, so warm, so inviting, not only accepted him, but seemed to like him.
“I would,” he replied. “But what about your toe?”
Without thinking, he poked at the injured appendage, and the waif yelped in pain.
“Ach! I’m sorry, Mary. I didn’t mean te—”
“I’m well enough,” she said, her voice wavering.
Thick tears formed in her eyes and streamed silently down her cheeks. Gabe’s stomach knotted. He felt awful for having caused her more pain.
He wanted to help, but didn’t know what to do, then an idea occurred to him. Picking up his conch shell, he held it out to her.
“Here,” he offered. “Have this.”
“Thank you!” Mary wiped at her tears with the back of her wrist. “What is it?”
“It’s a conch shell. My father gave it to me, but he’s given me other things, too. This one can be yours.”
He turned the pink shell over in his hands, and the waif’s eyes widened as she saw its opalescent interior.
“It’s beautiful,” she breathed. “It’s treasure!”
Gabe laughed. “See, here?” He pointed at the tip. “You can blow in it, and it will make a loud noise.”
The lass pressed her mouth to the hole and blew. A weak, awkwardhonkcame out the other end, and Mary laughed delightedly.
Gabe’s chest warmed at the sound and he easily returned her smile. “Would you like to see my secret spot?”
Her smile turned uncertain and the realization of what he had said made him laugh. His head fell back and loud peals of laughter erupted from deep within his narrow chest.
“I’m…sorry…” he said between chuckled gasps, “that is not…what…I meant.”
Another sweet smile broke over her lips. “You are very handsome when you laugh. I think I love you.”
Gabe’s stomach buzzed like a swarm of flying ants at her words, but he didn’t know why. He took the feeling to be something good, so he kept his smile. “Thank you. But what I meant to say was that I have a secret spot that I go to in the forest. It’s very pretty and I thought you would like to see it.”
“Yes!”
“But first, we should get you back home and call a doctor for your toe.”
