Fireflies Page 25

  “Indeed I was dear. Now, help me empty this tub and let’s get you girls off to bed. Yer ma is exhausted, too,” Sarah said as she began to bale the water from the tub. “Teagan you go on to bed now. Liffey and I will finish this.”

  “All right, Ma. Goodnight Lif. I’ll see you when you come to bed,” Teagan said as she headed off.

  Soon Sarah had closed everything up for the night and as Owen had, she checked all of the rooms on her way to bed. She quietly changed into her nightgown and crawled beneath the quilt next to Owen.

  It had felt like only minutes had passed when Owen awoke feeling startled by a strange bright light in the bedroom. He turned and saw Sarah sleeping quietly next to him and except for the light the room was black as pitch.

  The soft glow moved across the room from the door to the window only feet from his bedside. There, it began to spread and change until it took on the shape of a person, standing next to the bed. Owen felt fear build within in him until he could hear his own heart beat and his breathing became rapid and shallow. His body trembled so much that Sarah began to stir and awaken as well.

  “Owen! What is it?” Sarah asked as she turned towards him in the darkness.

  “I don’t know. Can you see this? Can you see this figure here?” he asked, leaning back away from the luminous form standing next to the bed.

  “Owen, you’re dreaming. Wake up,” Sarah said, taking him by the arm and shaking him.

  Just then, the light disappeared as quickly as it came. Owen slid back beneath the quilt and pulled Sarah close to him.

  “Sarah, I don’t think I was dreaming,” Owen said in a whisper.

  “Of course you were. I saw nothing but the blackness of night,” she sleepily replied.

  “Ya’ were dancing with fireflies tonight and yet yer’ going to question I saw a spirit next to me bed?” he asked in disbelief.

  “All I’m sayin’ Owen is I didn’t see a thing. Now please go back to sleep,” Sarah replied, nestling back into place.

  Owen lay awake for a while, looking about the room in the darkness and listening for any sounds that didn’t belong in the night. The sounds of the crickets and the bullfrog in the distance did not seem out of place and for a time, that was all he heard other than Sarah breathing. When he finally closed his eyes, he had accepted he had in fact seen a spirit – and not just any spirit – he believed he had seen his beloved Rachel.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Aside from the damp and heavy air, dawn came on Saturday morning as it always had. Sarah was up early making breakfast, the house stood so quiet you could hear nearly every rain drop as it hit the roof. Sarah wasn’t fond of the taste of coffee but she found herself drinking it anyway due to her heavy eyelids from her later than usual bed time and her middle of the night rude awakening from Owen. The idea of a spirit coming into their room as they slept didn’t seem so farfetched now, although it was still a bit unnerving. She supposed if she had actually seen it as Owen said he had, she’d be much more concerned.

  Oddly enough, the second person out of bed was Teagan. She rarely arose so early and when she shuffled into the kitchen and sat down at the table, Sarah’s motherly instincts could only assume something was wrong.

  “Good morning, Teagan, and what has ya’ up so early on a Saturday?”

  “I’ve been up for a bit Ma. I was having a terrible time sleeping with the thunder this morning. Normally I sleep much better when it rains but not today.”

  “Well since yer up, put on an apron and help yer ma.”

  “What are you trying to do, Ma, kill all of your children?” Teagan joked.

  “Oh, you’ll learn to cook or learn to starve!” Sarah laughed.

  Teagan followed her mother’s instructions and managed to make a large pot of oatmeal and didn’t burn it at all. She was quite proud of herself although she wondered if she’d ever feel as at home in the kitchen as other young women her age did. She highly doubted it and had expressed this thought to Eli while trying to convince him they’d need to have a maid once they married. Eli was so infatuated with Teagan, he’d promised her the moon and that too included a maid to keep it shiny.

  “So Ma, about our conversation last night, I don’t understand the whole rich and poor thing. I’m sorry, I mean I do understand it but I don’t think it was at all fair to you and your stable boy,” Teagan said while stirring the pot of oatmeal.

  “It was accepted and encouraged as well as enforced Teagan. We didn’t question it because that was just how things were,” Sarah explained, knowing full well she had certainly not only questioned it but despised it as she had encouraged Ennis to do.

  “Not that I wish you’d have run off with him because that would be a foolish wish as we wouldn’t be here now having this talk,” Teagan smiled.

  “Everything works out the way it’s meant to be and I’ve not a regret in me life. Your da is the most generous, loving man any woman could hope to have fer a husband and I was lucky to catch him.”

  “Good morning, Ma.” said Brogan as he entered the kitchen. “How’s breakfast coming along ladies?”

  “Why I expect it is nearly finished,” said Sarah as she kissed him atop his head.

  “Shall I?” he asked.

  “Yes you shall.”

  Brogan set off on his morning rounds as always. So far the morning had been uneventful which gave Sarah a peaceful mind and grateful heart. Patrick was the first to arrive and take his seat, still rubbing the sleep from his eyes and yawning. Liffey bolted into the kitchen making apologies for oversleeping but Sarah expressed how thankful she was she was blessed with two daughters because she always had extra hands to depend on. Within a few minutes the Whelan family were all seated and enjoying their breakfast together, as the rain poured down above them.

  “Fagan, how did you find the Olsens last night?” inquired Owen.

  “They were all surprisingly well and supper was as always a treat, Da. Mr. Olsen is still not thirsty and was even quite cheerful and offered his services with the house. I told him I wasn’t sure what a grocer may be able to provide until he reminded me of his years in the mines and he could still swing a hammer with the best of them,” Fagan laughed which brought them all to laughter as well.

  “Good to hear!” said Owen.

  Owen was enjoying the exchanges between his children and decided to watch and listen for the remainder of the meal rather than engage himself. Their chatter was a welcome distraction from his thoughts of the night before and he looked forward to spending the day surrounded by his family. He was taking a well - deserved day off.

  Once everyone was finished, they all scattered about the house doing their chores. Teagan rushed through hers quickly so she could prepare for her lunch with Eli. He would be arriving at eleven o’clock and she was counting the minutes. She’d chosen the blue dress her mother had made for her. Liffey had repaired the small tear and it was as new again. She was worried about the rain but by ten thirty, the sky had cleared and the sun was shining again.

  Ennis was quiet this morning but did participate somewhat in the breakfast banter and he didn’t seem the least bit as tired as he had been. Owen asked him to come and chat when he finished his chores as he wanted to assess his son. He had questions for Ennis that he finally had the courage to ask and even more so to have the answers for. Teagan was on her way to town with Eli, Fagan had saddled Jack and headed out to mark off the land for his house, Liffey was making dough with Sarah to prepare the days baking and Brogan and Patrick were taking the animals out to graze. Connell made arrangements to call on Beatrice, and Fagan requested he bring both girls out to see where the house would be built and to please bring a packed lunch along.

  Ennis pounced down the stairs and caught Owen’s attention as he sat in his chair in the parlor reading.

  “Ennis me boy! Come and sit with yer da and let’s have a chat shall we?” Owen cheerfully asked.

  “Sure, Da!” Ennis said as he scampered to his father and climbe
d into his lap.

  “Would ya’ like to take a walk? The sun is shining and it would do yer old da good to be outdoors a bit,” Owen asked.

  “Oh yes, Da! Would it be too much to ask if we went to the Morgans today?” Ennis asked.

  “Well, son, I was thinkin’ we’d let the Morgans be today. How about we just walk until me legs wobble?” Owen suggested.

  “Well all right, Da. That will be fine I suppose,” Ennis smiled.

  Ennis climbed down from his father’s lap and they informed Sarah of their departure. They decided they’d just wander a bit down the road and stay out of the grass as the rain had been hard and they preferred not to muddy their shoes too much.

  “So Ennis, how are ya’ feelin’ son?” Owen asked.

  “I feel fine. Same as ever.”

  “I heard about all of the new things ya’ can do. How does that make ya’ feel, Ennis?”

  “Da, I’m being truthful when I tell you I feel the same as always. I know you all wonder all the time what will happen to me. I know you’re all afraid for me but like I told you last night, soon everything will be as it was.”

  Owen had noted the changes in the way Ennis expressed himself. He seemed to have aged years in just the last week. He was losing his silly childish charm and spoke more as an adult than a child of six years.

  “When Ennis? When and how is this all going to come to an end?” Owen asked through a pained expression.

  “They want to go. They all want to go back, but there’s still something they need to do Da.”

  “Well what might that be Ennis? Maybe we can help them,” Owen asked, stopping in his tracks and looking down into Ennis’ green eyes.

  “They want to thank you, Da,” Ennis said plainly.

  “Thank me? Why I haven’t done a thing and I don’t even know who they are,” Owen replied, kneeling down in front of Ennis and taking his hands.

  “Oh but you do, Da. You do,” Ennis explained. “I don’t know how but when I hear them, like yesterday in the Morgans barn, they all say you’re the one.”

  “I don’t understand Ennis but can ya’ tell me this? Can ya’ tell me…where did they all come from and why?” Owen began to plead.

  “I don’t know. All I know is they’ve always been here. Well, at least as long as I can remember but the morning I found the bird by the barn, was the first time one of them had the courage to step forward.”

  “Ennis, was that bird dead?”

  “Why Da?”

  “I need to know is all Ennis. Healing is one thing but reviving something that died is another.”

  “You revived me, Da. They said I was dead too but you helped save me.”

  “Yes me boy but that was different. I simply got ya’ breathing again is all. I used techniques of modern medicine to get you breathing, not spirits,” Owen said, nervously awaiting his son’s response.

  “Da, I saw the bird lying there on the ground. I was so sad I began to pray for the bird. I prayed the bird would fly away to heaven. It couldn’t have been there for more than a few minutes as when I picked it up, it was still soft and its eyes were open. That’s when he stepped forward and the breeze of air came across my face and when I looked down, the bird was moving in my hands. I just opened them and it flew away.”

  “Oh, Ennis, you see? It’s very different from how you came into this world. There was no angel there to breathe life into you,” Owen remarked, trying in vain to make sense.

  “Oh yes, Da. Oh yes there was. The lady was there and she breathed the life back into me the same as you did,” Ennis explained with exuberance.

  “And all of the rest?”

  “They followed her because she followed you,” Ennis said. “Tomorrow, everything will be clear.”

  “Ennis, do you know the angel’s name? The lady one?”

  “Yes Da. Her name is Rachel and she said she is your mother.”

  Owen felt as if all of the blood had drained from his body. If he hadn’t already been on his knees, he would have surely fallen to the ground. He lowered his head and a deep sadness engulfed him.

  “Da! Don’t be sad! She doesn’t want you to be sad, Da! She said she was sorry so many others had followed her but she had no control over them and she made them promise to leave if she helped them see you,” Ennis said as he put his hands on his father’s shoulders to comfort him.

  “Oh Ennis this is all just far too much for yer old da to grasp,” Owen cried as Ennis tried to help him to his feet. “It’s getting late son. We better be gettin’ back to the house before yer ma starts to worry.”

  “Alright Da. Tomorrow I promise.”

  “Tomorrow,” Owen sighed.

  “Yes, at church.”

  “Why at church Ennis?” Owen stopped in his tracks again and asked.

  “Because they want to be released to go back forever and they need everyone’s help to get there, Da.”

  “Well what do we have to do to get them there?”

  “We have to open the curtain again but that takes a lot of energy; energy they don’t have,” Ennis said somberly.

  “Open what curtain Ennis?”

  “The curtain that opened to let them in. We have to open it again to let them out,” Ennis said softly, looking at his feet.

  “Ennis, they got in when you were born you said. You can’t be born again,” Owen said, not realizing what he was saying until the words had escaped his lips.

  Ennis squeezed his father’s hand tightly. “It will be alright Da. I will be born again.”

  “Well I’m not gonna let this happen I can tell ya’ that! You’re not some bird lying in the dirt!” Owen shouted as Ennis began to cry.

  “You can’t stop it, Da! They have to go! If they don’t go, I’ll be that bird anyway but there won’t be a single person alive or dead who can save me. Not even you,” the small boy shouted.

  “There’s no way Ennis. I’ll not put ya’ in any danger!” Owen growled as he swept Ennis into his arms. “We’ll not go tomorrow. We’ll just not go! We’ll stay at home and we’ll pray together.”

  “You can’t stop it Da!” Ennis shouted as he tried to fight his way out of his father’s arms.

  “Patrick, stop!” called a familiar voice from out of the breeze, as Owen’s hat flew from his head and he froze where he stood.

  “Rachel?” Owen said as he sat Ennis down and turned slowly in a circle, looking in every direction.

  “Yes, Patrick, It’s me,” she replied.

  The wind started to blow at nearly gale force as Owen again scooped Ennis into his arms and began running toward the house. His fear of the unknown and the force of the wind carried him quickly until they were almost at the front porch. Ennis began shouting to his father to stop and to please put him down.

  “No, Ennis. You’ll not be used for this purpose!” Owen turned and looked back at the sky which was turning darker by the second. The storm which had passed through in the early morning hours paled in comparison, to the one which was looming now.

  “If you want to take someone, take me! Leave this child alone and go!” Owen screamed at the sky.

  “Da! Please don’t do this! We have to help them! We have to!” Ennis shouted as he again fought to escape his father’s arms.

  “Owen! What on earth is happening out here!” cried Sarah, as she sprang out the front door onto the porch, with Liffey following her.

  “Get back in the house! They’re tryin’ ta’ take him!”

  “Ma! Help me Ma!” Ennis cried. “He doesn’t understand! They won’t hurt me!”

  A crash of lightening followed almost immediately by the sound of thunder boomed above them, as a hard pouring rain began to fall. It was as dark as midnight when Sarah rushed down the porch steps to try and pry Ennis from Owen’s arms.

  “Give him to me Owen! I’ll take him in the house!” Sarah begged.

  “It won’t matter, Ma!” Ennis shouted.

  “Please, Owen! We’re getting soaked out here and the light
nin’!” Sarah cried again as she struggled with Owen to pry Ennis from his arms.

  Finally, Owen relented and handed Ennis to his wife. Sarah scrambled up the steps and into the house while Liffey ran to find a blanket to wrap him in. Owen stood grounded at the bottom of the porch steps in the soaking downpour. His hands reached up slowly and covered his face in despair. The rain beat down on him so fiercely it stung his skin through his shirt and he wrapped his arms across his chest and embraced himself.

  “Da! Please come inside!” called Brogan from the porch. “Please Da!”

  Owen could only think of saving Ennis and releasing him from this curse which bound him to another world. He shouted loudly at the storm and at the God who he believed brought it upon them. He raised his fists in the air and gave the heavens a list of all of his efforts throughout his life to be a good man and abide by the word of God and yet here he stood feeling as if it was all for nothing if he lost his son.

  “Have I not served ya’?! Have I not given ya’ everything I have ta’ praise ya’?! Why? Why do ya’ give me this in return? How can my faith be tested when I’ve never in me life questioned ya’?!” Owen screamed.

  “Da! Please come in the house!” Now it was Connell who was standing on the porch as well as Patrick and Brogan. He had arrived from bringing Mary and Beatrice home after their lunch with Fagan, just before the storm hit and had just put the horse and carriage away when he heard the ruckus.

  Connell raced down the porch steps and slid in the mud, falling into his father and grabbing hold of him. Connell wrapped his arms around Owen’s waist and began to pull at him, dragging him to the steps of the porch.

  “Let’s go, Da! I’ll not take no for an answer!” Connell shouted as he took his father’s face in his hands and spoke directly into his eyes.

  “You have six other children Da and we’d like to be seen as well. Please, don’t do this. Together we can help Ennis and we’ll get through this,” Connell pleaded, on the verge of tears.

  “Patrick, no harm will come to Ennis. I swear it to you son,” came Rachel’s voice again through the rain.