Rundimahair: A new hero for a new adventure by Larry Forkner (summer books .TXT) 📗

dear, Ashling. She’ll fix whatever ails you and have you fit as a fiddle in no time, she will.”

“Speaking of healing,” Ashling said, interrupting Mrs. O’Leary’s long-winded praise. I’ve brought you another month’s supply of your tonic. I’m fairly certain that you won’t be needing anymore when this bottle is gone.”

“And you’re that sure that I’m going to be as well as I can be after this month’s dosing? If that’s so, then I suppose I should be grateful that I’m still on my feet and walking about, even if each step I take pains me something awful.”

“We should all be as fit as you are, Mrs. O’Leary,” Ashling said, laughing. Your color is better than it’s been in months.”

“Oh and speaking of color, did you bring my other bottle of . . . medicine?”

“Are you sure you need it? Your hair is as fiery red as I ever remember seeing it.”

“There you go telling secrets in front of your fine young beau,” Mrs. O’Leary said. “Is it a sin of vanity if I want my hair to stay the same color it was when the good Lord sent me into this world of trouble and strife?”

Sean laughed and said, “It would be a tremendous loss to the world if your fiery mane was toned down in the slightest, Mrs. O’Leary. Whatever has to be done to maintain the natural beauty you were born with is an essential duty.”

“Oh my, my. Strong, handsome and a silver- tongued rascal along with it. You’re a lucky girl to have found a man such as this,” Mrs. O’Leary said to Ashling.

“I’ll grant you the silver-tongued devil part of that. However, as I explained, Sean’s not my beau, Mrs. O’Leary.”

“So you say, dear. So you say.”

“Be off with you. If you don’t stop, I’ll give your hair potion to Mrs. Flannery,” Ashling said.

“And why would you be doing such a terrible thing to a dear old lady like her, Ashling? It’s not dignified for a woman as senior as her to be trying to turn back the clock. Besides, her gray hair suits her personality to a tee.”

“She’s at least twenty years younger than you,” Ashling replied, smiling.

“Be careful, dear. This is how vicious rumors get started. I was no more than a glint in my dear father’s eye on Annabelle Flannery’s wedding day.”

“So you say. So you say,” Ashling said. “Now, if I can get you to be still for a few minutes, I’ll check to be sure you’re as well as you seem to be.”

“I’ll be as still as stone, I will,” Mrs. O’Leary said.

For the next few minutes, Ashling examined Mrs. O’Leary. It was nothing like anything Sean had ever seen before. She held a clear crystal about the size of a golf ball up against Mrs. O’Leary’s chest, while she touched her forehead for about thirty seconds. Ashling’s long, slender fingers repeated the process, moving to her patient’s eyes, chin, temple and the base of her throat.

“All is well and you’re sure to outlive us all,” Ashling said when she’d completed her strange exam. “Finish the potion I gave you, and I’ll be back to check on you next month.”

“And will you be bringing Sean with you again?” Mrs. O’Leary asked hopefully.

“I’m sure Mr. Quinn will be long gone back to the real world and making money hand over fist by next month.”

Something in her tone bothered Sean. It almost sounded like Ashling was condemning him for being a successful businessman. After pondering her words for a few moments, Sean decided he was being too sensitive. She probably didn’t mean anything negative at all. Most likely it was just a passing comment.

Over the next hour they visited four other families, and each home was a delight to walk through. Sean felt like he was on a tour of homes from the original 13 colonies. They all seemed to be classically historic, in the age of the homes and the design.

The last home they visited was a two-story with one large dormer dominating the front roofline. The limestone walkway, leading to the front porch, was lined by brightly colored lilies, daffodils and daisies. Sean wondered again how they could have flowers blooming in February.

A wildly excited group of young children opened the door and ran out to greet Sean and Ashling before they were halfway to the front porch. There were five children that looked to range in age from two up to eleven or twelve. They were all neatly dressed and very well groomed. They each wore a bright smile as they rushed toward Ashling.

“Ashling,” the older girl called out just as she embraced her in a warm hug. “What took you so long to get here?”

“Nothing but the usual, Jennie dear. Perhaps I should come to your house first next month.”

“But then we wouldn’t have anything to look forward to all morning,” one of the boys said.

“That’s a true quandary, Devin,” Ashling said. “Perhaps you’re right; I should stay with my usual schedule.”

Ashling swooped up the youngest child, a fair-haired beauty with a pleasing patch of freckles across her button nose. Sean was instantly taken with all the well-mannered, pleasant children. He was already looking forward to meeting the parents.

“Top of the morning to you,” a young woman called out from the doorway as she stepped onto the porch. “I see the children are making the usual nuisance of themselves.”

“The darlings couldn’t be a bother if they tried, Kaitlyn. “I see Kayla is the picture of health again,” Ashling said, nodding toward the toddler she was holding.

“Yes, and it’s all thanks to you and your magic healing arts, Ashling. She’s been as slow as a late dinner to get her energy back, but since your last visit her recovery was nothing short of remarkable,” Kaitlyn said.

Sean smiled listening to the colorful speech and phrases the young woman, Kaitlyn, used. He was beginning to feel like he was on the coast of Ireland instead of Oregon. She wasn’t as beautiful