Page 27 of The Secret of Drulea Cottage
To most, it was nothing more than an outcrop just past Drulea Cottage, but to Briony, it was a secret haven. The stones there sat in a strange formation, almost making a perfect circle.
My own barrier from the rest o’ the world.
The only way in was through a single gap between two stones, a spot just barely wide enough for a grown person. It led to a large cliff that offered a beautiful view of the sea. Many people would have been nervous to be on a ledge so high up, especially since sharp rocks jutted from the water just below, but Briony liked to sit right on the cliff’s edge where the wind blew freely on her face.
Almost there. Just a wee bit farther—
“Mistress Briony! I’m so glad to see you!” a high voice piped up.
Briony stopped in her tracks, just in time to keep from falling on young Fergus McGuff. She bent down to almost his level and raised an eyebrow at him, but the boy just smiled at her like she was the best part of his day.
Briony forced her lips up, hoping he wouldn’t notice her red eyes. “How are you, Fergus?”
“I’ve been wanting to tell you something, but I could na find you! Where have you been?”
Guilt pricked at her conscience.I’ve been so focused on Santiago that I did na realize I’ve been neglecting poor Fergus. I’m sure his mum is happy about that, but I hate the thought that he was looking fer me and could na find me!
“I’m so sorry! I’ve been busy trying to help one o’ the visitors with his recovery. Have you met Mr. Mendes?”
Fergus’s sullenness melted into understanding. “Oh, yeah! The one with the broken leg? He’s so nice! He gave me some candy when I met him. Don’ say anything to Mum though!”
Briony’s grin became real as she listened to the child. He always had that effect on her. He was just so funny she couldn’t help being in a good mood around him.
“But, Fergus, what did you want to tell me?”
Fergus’s eyes widened. “Right! ’Tis very important, Mistress Briony!” He leaned in close to her ear. “Mr. Gully is a girl!”
Briony chuckled as the boy drew back. “What? How did you find that out?”
“‘Twas na me—Hannah found out! There were eggs on her…” Fergus trailed off and looked around at everything except Briony.
“Fergus, where were the eggs?”
The boy tapped his foot on the ground, his face as red as a tomato. “They were on Hannah’s koad.”
Briony burst out laughing. “Fergus, what happened when she found it?”
“She screamed, and I came in with Mum, and then Mum screamed. ’Twas so funny!” Fergus’s entire face lit up as he told the story.
The two of them laughed together, Fergus in remembrance and Briony at the thought of Mistress McGuff screaming.
But then Fergus’s countenance darkened. “I got in a lot o’ trouble. I mean, a lot! And Mum got rid o’ Mr. Gully!”
Briony rubbed Fergus’s head in sympathy. She had to fight not to laugh again, but she held it together for the boy’s sake.
Fergus suddenly glanced up the hill. “I better get going, or Mum will be mad again. I’ll tell her I saw you!”
Briony waved her hands back and forth. “Nay, nay! You don’ need to mention me.”
Fergus looked slightly confused, but he nodded in agreement. “All right! Goodbye, Mistress Briony!”
The little boy sprinted up the path toward his house, and Briony beamed as she watched him depart. She stood there for a moment, feeling much better, but then she remembered where she had been going and, more importantly, why. As soon as she did, sadness billowed up within her again and she couldn’t reach the outcrop fast enough.
Once Briony got to her destination, she dangled her feet off the ledge and looked out at the vast sea.It looks so tranquil today. If only the rest o’ my life could be like that. Why did Santiago push me away? Was it truly because he thought I don’ trust him?
Briony tossed a pebble over the side and watched it splash.
Perhaps he’s right. Perhaps I’ve closed myself off too much fer him to truly know me. Fer anyone to know me.
