A knock sounded at the door. In her half-awake state, Eithne thought for just a moment that he’d come back. She shook her head to clear it and said, “Come in.”
The door opened. Myrna stood there holding a single candle, the only source of light in the darkness. Eithne watched as her sister approached, placing the candle on the bedside table and climbing into the bed with her.
“I thought I’d sleep here tonight,” Myrna said after a moment. “I ken ye have nightmares sometimes. Do ye remember how we used to share a bed whenever I had bad dreams? Ye looked like ye could do with the company.”
Finally, for the first time since he left, Eithne allowed herself to break down. “It isnaefair,Myrna,” she wept. “We’ve lost everything. Mammy, Daddy, Killian, Neal…they’re all gone. Why did Ivor have to leave me as well?”
“Hush now,” Myrna whispered, sounding older than her years as she pulled Eithne closer. “Come now. It’s not so bad. Let me take care of ye for awhile.”
And though Myrna was younger, though it had always been Eithne’s job to take care of her, now Eithne allowed their roles to reverse. She buried her head in her sister’s chest, enjoying the comforting embrace of Myrna’s arms around her, and began to weep.
The sun was rising when Eithne’s tears finally started to slow, peeking over the horizon in the cold way it did in the latter half of the year. The rain had finally lessened, and the sisters lay awake, bidding farewell to the previous day.
Eithne sniffed. “Do ye think he made it to the next town safely?”
“Aye, of course, he did,” Myrna replied. She must be exhausted, but she still sounded bright. Eithne could not fathom what she had done to deserve such a wonderful sister.
“Ye’ve been awake all night because of me,” Eithne muttered. In the tiny amount of light from the window – the candle had long since died – she could only just make out Myrna’s outline. “I’m sorry.”
“Dinnae be sorry,” Myrna insisted. “Lord kens ye’ve done the same thing for me many times. I’m just happy that I was able to help ye, even if it was only in some small way.”
The sisters lay in silence, huddled in each other’s arms. No doubt they were both lost in memories of the family they’d never see again, and now Eithne’s memories were all confused about the man who had saved her from despair.
“Do ye ken?” Myrna said as the morning light finally broke through, bathing the two exhausted girls in its weak early rays. “That our uncle really wants me to be wed to Gregor?”
“Gregor?CousinGregor?” Eithne asked, pleased with the distraction. She rolled to face Myrna. “Nay!”
“Aye,” Myrna giggled. “He mentioned it just the other day.”
“Good God above! And what did young Jonah have to say about all of this?” Eithne teased.
Even in the dim light, it was easy to see the blush on Myrna’s cheeks. “I dinnae ken what ye mean,” she said innocently.
“Ye’re fooling naebody,” Eithne told her but hugged her to show it was more than alright. “Dinnae worry about keeping it a secret, Myrna. I’m just glad one of us is happy.”
Myrna smiled. “It happened fast, but…I do love him, Eithne.”
“I ken,” Eithne said, and she really did. “Ye deserve love, me wee hen.”
“Cluck, cluck,” Myrna said softly, and the two girls started to giggle as the sun finished bringing in the rest of the day.
Chapter Twenty-Two
The Orphanage
“Thank ye for the sweeties, Mrs. MacRyver,” Callum said politely. The older woman ruffled his hair and told them both to take care.
“We will,” Ivor promised. He was glad that he’d been able to keep his promise to revisit the woman who had saved his life. They’d only stayed there overnight, but Callum and his pup seemed to charm everyone they met. As they left now, the young boy was carrying more sweetmeats than any one child had a right to.
Once the woman went back inside, he hoisted the boy up on the horse in front of them, and they began to ride. Ivor was still struggling to adjust to sleeping alone – he’d slept terribly last night – but he outwardly looked perfectly fine. He had to keep a strong face for Callum, at least.
I wonder if Eithne was able to rest. I hope so.
“Where to next?” Callum asked enthusiastically.
I shouldnae have brought him. This is nae life for a young lad.
And yet, he couldn’t picture leaving him behind. It would be like abandoning his sister all over again. Maybe it would have been better to allow Eithne to continue looking for a family for him, but…Ivor had let down Iona. He wouldn’t let Callum down as well.
