Cailín (Lass) (Anam Céile Chronicles) (8 page)

Remained
there standing dumbfounded, me head swimming amidst me thoughts as he and me
brother carried on with their chitchat.  I be pulled out of it when I heard
Donovan’s voice in reply to me brother’s polite query.

“. . . just
grand with me!” momentarily he glanced me way with a simple smile. 

Be that
smile intended fer me, or be he just courteously trying to include me in the
conversation?
  

“. . . slight
more than a year now with me apprenticeship, and I be enjoying each day of it!”

“Wonderful
that be fer you, Donovan!” me brother remarked considerately.  “’Tis glad I be
to hear of it!”

I stared
at him persistently, too bemused to utter a single word, even though I wished I
were the one he carried on with.  After what seemed a gazillion seconds, he
turned to me smiling and said, “And it certainly be me pleasure seein’ you
again, Aislinn.” 

I
gasped silently. 

He
remembered me name!
  
Odd ‘tis though, how his eyes keep
drifting down when he speaks to me.   Perhaps he may be shy.  Just another
thing which makes him all the more irresistible!

 
“Supposin’
I shall be comin’ to your farm more frequently now that the lambs be droppin’
as the rain!” he continued on.

I had
to think hard to compel me mouth to speak without uttering some downright
foolhardy gibberish like always I be managing to!  Striving to focus upon the
proper words fer a polite discourse such as this, I said, “That be true.  And
it be me favourite time of year, too!” 

 
“I have
a feeling all the more so this year . . . be keeping me eyes peeled fer
you
,
Donovan!”  
I be doing quite well so far!  Wonder whether he caught me
flirtation?  

So
utterly transparent I feel when near him!  Not possible it be that he be so
oblivious to me desire fer him.  The depths of me feelings must surely be
engraved all over me face, carved out in me eyes.  Blind he would have to be
not to see, not to feel the heat emanating from me, reaching out to him.  Surely,
even an ordinary lass as I must appear lovelier saturated with this much love
and desire.

As we
parted ways, me eyes were glued to every move his body made.  I be engulfed in
an onslaught of indescribable feelings and sensations that never before had I
felt!

When he
no longer be in sight, I turned to me brother and bombarded him with a barrage
of questions.  “Riordan!  Not aware I be that you have acquaintance with
Donovan
! 
You must tell me all you know of him!” 

He
looked at with me surprise, as this be the first he had seen this side of his younger
sister.

Without
allowing him the chance to reply, I continued on me quizzing fervidly.  “How
long you be knowin’ him?  Be he a decent lad?  Be he courtin’ a lass?  From which
family does he come?” 

With so
many things I aspired to know, all the enquiries I ejected at once.

Upon
the last question exiting me lips, Riordan briskly turned his head to me.  He
appeared somewhat stunned.  “You don’t know?”

“Know
what
?”

T
he next
summer, an extended visit I had at the home of me cousin, Deirdre.  ‘Twas she
who had more than a year past, persuaded me to dream of this lad I now adored,
and the consequential demise of the stalwart girl I once be so sure of. 

Yet
now, I looked at her differently, through the glossed over eyes of a dreamy
young lass, a girl trying clumsily to find her way to the world of womanhood.  
As we sat there upon a stone wall bordering her family’s pasture chatting, I
observed her, in a naïve attempt to identify what ‘twas made her so charming
and eye-catching to the lads.

But, having
long vowed to never care fer things of that nature, oblivious I be to it.  I
struggled to figure out what ‘twas about her that gave her that charismatic
appeal.  Studying her, the most strikingly obvious feature be the lush blonde
hair that swept past her shoulder blades.  I knew the lads nary did fail to take
notice of it, and never did she miss a chance to work her magic in flaunting
it.

I
suppose it does have some sort of appeal to it.  Oh, who I be kidding?  ‘Tis
gorgeous!  And far removed from me scarcely shoulder-length unruly mass of
carroty frizz!  Oh, if only I should be so blessed, to have comely locks!  No
doubt, Donovan would look twice at me then!
 
Golden it never
will be, but perhaps she knows of some tricks to tame it, and whatever ‘tis a
lass is supposed to do with her mane! 

Looking
further, I noticed her pretty face, with its manicured brows, and full lips and
delicate neck.  Her well-formed figure clad in close-fitting attire, hinting at
her blossoming womanhood.  One could easily see she took care in her
appearance, though without having to make much effort.

“Deirdre,
how is it you make yer hair behave so?” I enquired hesitantly.

“Well,
never do I retire to bed with it wet from the bath.  I brush through it, until
it is dry, and that helps it to shine,” she answered proudly.  Suddenly
remembering who had made this unusual query, she declared bafflingly, “Hold!  Since
when do
you
have concern for such things?”

Not
entirely certain just how much I should divulge, I spoke in me most nonchalant
manner.  “Oh, still I do not,” I fibbed, tossing me hand toward me hair
casually, “’tis only that I be weary of battling its muddle.”  I smiled to
meself, thinking I sounded sufficiently convincing.  Unfortunately, though,
fool her I did not.

A
skeptical look she cast toward me.  “
That
I do not believe.  For I know
you would just as soon as hack it all off than to be troubled in dealing with
it,” Deirdre rationalized.  “Thus, pray tell, cousin, why the sudden interest?”

I
contemplated fer a moment, whether I divulge me kept secret, or tell another
fib to keep her at bay?  Hastily, I decided to keep her in the dark, at least
fer the time being. 

“Fine. 
Really, Ma said I must begin to have a care fer me appearance as I be the age
of a young lady since this past year.  And if I do not take it upon meself,
she
shall
, and God knows how outlandish
that
could turn out to be!”  I
pleaded to her, “So, I thought to come to you, the most
álainn
lass I
know!” 

Naturally,
upon hearing this, she did not balk!

Without
effort to conceal her smug grin, Deirdre spoke eagerly, “Of course I shall help
you!  Oh, this
shall
be absolutely sensational!  I have waited purely
forever
to get my hands upon you!”  Then, with a thoughtful expression, “Better we
start off straightaway.  ‘Tis oodles of work we have to do!” her voice surged
with its fervor.

Oh no,
what ordeal have I gotten meself into?  She’ll probably torment me whilst
determinedly fraught to completely transmute me into something never I shall
be!   I hope she does not hold extraordinary expectations.  Never will I be as
beautiful as she.  Yet, if only I could hold some measure of beauty, just
enough to capture his favour …

“Ready?”

“I
suppose. Tell me what it is you’ll do to me?”

“First,
we shall wash your hair, so I can work it fresh, and show you what you should be
doing to manage it nicely.”

“Fine
then, let’s be on with it so we may be over with it all the sooner,” I said,
making no pretense as to how I truly felt about it all.

Deirdre
seemed disappointed at me blatant absence of enthusiasm fer her generous assistance
and perhaps, even a bit wounded.  “Well, for me to truly accomplish something
with you, a hurried task it will not be, that I can tell you.  It will entail
the
whole
of the day for this undertaking.  Yet, I assure you, you will
be speechless at your transformation.  So, are you willing or not, Aislinn?”

“Oh I
be
,
most willing, Deirdre.  I know if anybody can succeed in doing whatever is
earthly possible to be done with me, it be
you
.”  I assumed me nicest
face, and vowed to keep me displeasure with this endeavour to meself.  I truly be
grateful to have her expertise in this area.  I reminded meself of the very
reason that led me to ask this of her and motioned her to proceed. 

 She
brought me to the wash basin and poured pails of cool water over me bent head. 
Seemingly, utterly unsuspecting I be as to me lot, fer she whipped an egg in a
wooden bowl and commenced to rub it into me hair!  Feeling its slimy goo
running into me ears and down me neck, I grimaced, silently swearing there be
no way I was ever going to subject meself to this by me own hands!

“And
why ever be it necessary to put
that
monstrosity in me hair?”

“Egg is
absolutely splendid for adding lustre to hair!” Deirdre beamed. “You should do
this weekly if you are able.  I do.”  She seemed far too honoured by the use of
this repelling tactic.

“And
how on earth did you ever look at the thing that came from a chicken’s arse and
think, ‘Hmm, I bet if I rubbed that into me hair, it would become more gorgeous
than already ‘tis.’”  I mimicked her in a higher tone than me own.

Me
taunting did not please her.  Nevertheless, she continued on, disregarding me. 
“Come, you will need to go sit in the sun for an hour now, to stimulate it to
work its magic.”

“Delightful! 
So now you are baking me.  Will you be trying to eat
me
next, then?”

“Don’t
be daft!” Deirdre scolded.  “Now, Aislinn, you must be earnest in this!”

“Oh…,”
I said, whispering in me most concerned tone.  “Might I insult the egg if I do
not?” I tittered.  Making fun be the only way I could possibly enjoy doing
something such as this.

She
only frowned at me. 

I
suppose I had better mind meself if I wanted her help.
 
Otherwise,
it promised to be an uncomfortably long day!

We
remained there, waiting fer that goo to bake into me hair, in indefinite
silence thereafter.  The minutes seemed to lag as I be forced to inhale the
putrid stench of the egg roasting into me hair, contradicting and twisting me
perpetually hungry belly. 

When,
at last, I could bear no more, I appealed to her vanity once again.  “Deirdre,”
I started carefully, “may I ask in what manner you conduct yerself when wishing
to spur the interest of a fella?”

Her
eyes instantaneously revitalized.  “I knew it!  You have been rapt by someone
special!”  Deirdre jumped up, clapping her hands together excitedly.  “Oh,
Aislinn, please tell me of him!  Do share everything with me!”

Glued
to the wall where I sat, I simply gaped at her, marveling how she be able to
see right through me so easily.  Or, perhaps, ‘twas just that which she wanted
to see.  But then, ‘twas not as if it were not true.  Only, I not be set to
disclose me precious secret just yet. 

Then
again, it had been more than a year I had kept it all to meself.  Perhaps it be
time to finally share me secret with someone.  And who better than me
experienced and love obsessed elder cousin?  After all, if I was to elicit her
help, I may as well actually absorb all Deirdre had to offer.

Me
newly defeated expression betrayed me.  Whether prepared I be or not, there be
no turning back now, fer persist she would with her probing until she wrung
every last bit of information out of me!  I attempted to organise me thoughts
on how to convey all that had happened with me since the night he first had
floated his way into me head through me dreams, and then revealed the reality
of his presence in all unlikely places as me father’s barn.

Glancing
her way, I saw her face fixed in anticipation as she held her hands tightly
clasped together, impatiently awaiting the salacious account she so craved.  Undoubtedly
she would be disappointed with me lacklustre childish infatuation.  Thinking
back then, there really not be much to tell, or at least not anything of
substance that had actually
happened
, aside from me perpetual
obsessions.