She heard some rustling. “If ye’d like, ah could rub yer feet so ye can sleep.”
She felt apprehension, but then baby jumped around again, reminding her how tired she would be tomorrow. “Aye, ah’ll do whatever ah can to sleep.”
He found her feet and thumbs pressed against the arch of her foot. He rubbed circles and applied pressure. The movements calmed her. She found her mind slow. She fell asleep and dreamt she was giving birth, but it was to a horse. Her mind registered something before she fell into the dream world. A quiet whisper she could swear was just a part of her dream. “Don’t fret, lass. Ah’ll take care of ye.”
Siusan bouncedup and down with excitement. “Ah want to see a tide pool, and ah want to catch a fish. Can ah find some sea shells? Are there faeries in the ocean?”
“Hush wee’un,” Mazey said. She scooped some food onto a plate. Siusan ate it quickly, almost inhaling in her haste. “We’ll not get out of here any faster if ye choke on yer food. Now make sure ye chew what yer eating.”
Siusan chewed the bite in her mouth and then spooned the rest in as quickly as she could.
“Can we play with Faither too? Will he fish with us?” She bounced again up and down on the rock near the fire.
The morning sunshine was warm enough it should be comfortable, but she was still chilled. The sea air brought a nip in the air she wasn’t used to. “Ah’m sure he’ll join us soon, but for now we eat.”
“What’s he doing right now?”
Mazey sat next to the child and took her hand. “He’s setting up his bait lines so we can have fresh supper tonight. He likes to do that, so he’s having fun right now.”
Siusan seemed satisfied with the answer. “Faither needs more fun. He frowns too much, sometimes.”
“He has a lot of things to do. That’s a lot to worry about.” Mazey replied.
“Aye, but he frowns much less now ye’re here. Ah think he smiles a lot at ye too.” She said that so quickly Mazey almost forgot to feel embarrassed by the implication.
“Ah think it’s just cause ye are much happier.”
Siusan bit on her lip. Her eyes were far away. “Aye, ah’m happier because ah have ye too. And ye’re as nice as Mally. Ah miss her.”
“Let’s go look at the tide pools until yer faither gets back from setting his lines.” She took Siusan’s hand in hers and headed off toward the ocean, looking for crevices in rocks where sea critters would hide. The stones and sand of the beach were dark black, grey and brown. The water rumbled to shore rhythmically. Mazey found herself lost in the picturesque landscape, the scents and the feel of the breeze on her skin. Siusan enjoyed herself. She looked down at the ground for seashells and small creatures. Every rock was flipped to see what was underneath. Sometimes, squirmy things appeared under the rock and Siusan squealed and ran away, only to circle around again.
“Mazey look!“ Siusan squealed. Mazey ran over, fearing something hurt her. Between two large rocks, water filled a crevice in the ground. Inside were different sea creatures. Mazey and Siusan were both absolutely fascinated. They gazed into the pool at the bright-colored fish. Sea stars clung to rocks and beautiful spiky things sat in the water looking both beautiful and dangerous at the same time.
“Those one’s there, ye can eat,” Siusan said in an adult voice.
Mazey giggled. “Ye sound so cute when ye know something ah don’t.”
Siusan smiled back. “Ah have a loose tooth ye know!” She reached up and wiggled the tooth with her fingers, showing Mazey how loose it was.
“Ah remember when ah was little, ah lost my teeth. Ah was scared to pull them out. My maither helped me pull them out and then ah cried.”
“Does it hurt?” She already forgot about the tide pool. She was so engrossed in the conversation she missed the pink fish that showed up, but then darted back into a hiding place.
“Aye, it hurt a wee bit, but it was quick. Ah pulled the rest of them all by myself. Ah think ye are brave. Ye could probably pull yer own tooth.”
Siusan nodded excitedly. “Aye, ah think ah could.”
She wiggled the tooth back and forth for a minute before she discovered the tide pool again. “What’s that?”
Mazey looked down at the squishy body and long legs of something swimming. Its body was grey and purple with two eyes on either side of its head. “Ah dunno, ah’ve never seen one of those.”
“That’s an octopus,” Baile said from behind them. He walked barefoot through the rocks, his shirt long forgotten and his kilt blowing in the breeze. Sweat covered him and his muscles glistened—enticing and large.
“Ah’ve never seen one,” Mazey repeated absently.
Was it just her, or did she see him smile like he saw her looking? She squinted, trying to determine what he was thinking, but he turned his attention to Siusan and the look was gone.
“Are ye finding critters in the tide pool? Ah bet we catch some good ones tonight for supper. Would ye like to go look shells?” He put his hand out for his little girl and she took it excitedly.
