Page 29 of The Secret of Drulea Cottage
Briony frowned. “What? I did na know that.”
“Aye, that’s why she sits so close to the front every week. She’s much too proud to admit it, but I overheard her and Dr. Sherwin talking about it once on my way home from the market…”
Briony drowned out Adaira’s gossip as her eyes drifted back to the blond merchant, finding that he was looking her way once more.
Something sparked in his eyes that gave her the courage to rise from her seat and step toward him.I’ve never been very good at making amends, but maybe—
“I seek Mistress Fairborn. Where may I find her?”
That voice…Briony spun toward the sound like a magnet.There’s something about that voice.Briony couldn’t quite put her finger on it.
A man stood off to her left with Donal McGuff. He was of average height and build with black hair and pale skin. There was a strange beauty to him that both attracted and repelled Briony as soon as she saw him. He reminded her of the ocean, screaming of danger yet also of something more. Something that Briony’s soul yearned for.
His clothing was simple and a little oversized. Shoes donned his feet, unusual for natives at this time of year but normal enough for foreigners.
He hadn’t seen her yet.Which feeling should I trust, the one telling me to run away or the one telling me to talk to him?
Deciding to follow the second instinct, Briony strode over. As she got closer, the man turned in her direction so swiftly that it was as if he already knew who was approaching. Briony drew in a quick breath of surprise when she glimpsed his black eyes. They were all too familiar, but she couldn’t remember where she’d seen them before.
“Ah, here she is. Mistress Fairborn, this man has been looking fer you,” Donal said and excused himself. He seemed strangely happy to leave, especially considering how cordial he tended to be with visitors.
“Hello, Mistress Fairborn. ’Tis a pleasure to see you again,” the man greeted with a warm smile.
“Again?I don’ recall meeting you, Mr.…?”
“Niall Moreland, but please call me Niall. I’m most grieved that you don’ remember me. I suppose ’twas a long time ago, but the memory fer me is quite clear. We were only wee bairns then. ’Twas about this time o’ year too. Surely you recall that day, though, fer ’twas the day you saved my life.”
Briony gasped as raw pain filled her mind. Memories began to emerge, overcoming her attempts to thwart them…
*
While on an errand for her mother, eight-year-old Briony heard an earsplitting cry.
’Tis coming from the beach!
She scurried down to the shore to see what was happening and was horrified at what she found: a wee lad crouched against the rocks, naked but for a gray piece of clothing wrapped around his waist. Half a dozen bairns stood taunting and throwing rocks at him as he wailed. Briony recognized them all—Alastair Oliver, St. John and Gareth Peterson, Elspet Milligan, Adaira Stubbins, and Ewan Sherwin.
“Stop! Stop!” she shouted, but they couldn’t hear her over the boy’s cries.
Briony darted her eyes about, hoping she would see an adult who could fix this, but no one was there. She garnered up her courage and dashed toward the group.
Just as she reached them, though, a foot shot out in front of her, causing her face to collide with the hard sand.
More laughter ensued, but this time, it was directed at her. Briony pushed herself up from the ground and scowled at the other children. “Leave him alone!”
“Make us!” bellowed Alastair Oliver, the one she was sure had tripped her.
She glared up at him.He has always been rude to me, but now he’s picking on a stranger? That’s just too far.
Briony shoved him, knocking the taller boy to the ground. Then she stumbled closer to the wee lad, who was trembling in fear. She grabbed his arm and ran a few steps, but the other children chased them.
There’s no way to outrun them. Unless…
Briony stopped in front of some rocks and spun around, watching as the others drew nearer. She glanced at the young boy; he was roughly her age, but he seemed younger because of his terror.
“Can you make a run fer it while I distract them?”
The boy raised his eyes, black as night, to hers for a moment and nodded. “Aye, thank you.” His voice sounded hoarse, as though he hadn’t spoken in a long time.
