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

just realized was there. Sean stared at her a moment longer while she waited patiently.

Finally, he nodded and said, “I could use a walk to work off that dessert. I’m happy to stroll on the beach with a beautiful woman, but I have to ask you where we have met before,” Sean said.

“Oh, I’m that forgettable, am I, Sean?” she asked with that teasing smile.

“Actually, just the opposite is true. You are literally the girl of my dreams.”

“There goes that silver-tongue of yours again, Sean. You were always quick with the compliments.”

He smiled at what felt like a familiar reference, and said, “No, I think you actually are the girl of my dreams. I’ve been seeing your face in my dreams for months now. May I ask your name?”

“It’s Ashling, Ashling Cahir,” she said, giving him a sincere, lovely smile.

* * *

Ashling took off her high-heeled shoes and carried them as they walked out onto the soft, warm sand. The sun was sitting low over the calm waters of the ocean while seagulls swooped down over the waves, seeking a tasty morsel for dinner.

Sean and Ashling walked in silence, neither of them quite sure how to begin a difficult conversation. For the moment he was content to walk in silence. With this beautiful woman beside him, Sean felt his recent worries slipping away.

After a few minutes passed, she stopped and turned toward him. “Sean, I know things have been difficult for you recently. I was sure that after a month or two you would forget all about your visit to our beloved Rundimahair,” she said.

A confused look crossed Sean’s face, as he said, “That does sound familiar, but I can’t say I recall where I’ve heard the name before.”

Ashling smiled at him and said, “You’ve been dreaming of it almost nightly over the past month.”

His brow furrowed as he studied her beautiful face and warm smile. “I…yes, I have had some strange dreams about a quaint little village, but I don’t know where or even what it is. I don’t even know if it exists in the real world.”

“Not everyone’s reality is the same, Sean. Rundimahair exists, and you spent a fair bit of time there. True, it is that our fair town exists in a slightly different place than you’re used to, but it exists right enough.”

He was quiet for a moment, while he gazed intently into her beautiful green eyes. She seemed satisfied to let him work through his confusion.

Finally, he said, “If that’s true, then why don’t I remember it other than these confusing dreams?”

“Until now, you only recalled me vaguely in your dreams, but I’m real enough, am I not?” she said, with a twinkle in her eye.

He nodded and said, “But if I knew you so well and spent so much time in your little town, why do I only recall it in occasional dreams?”

She could clearly see the confusion and frustration on his face. Ashling felt guilt creep in regarding the way they’d handled Sean’s unexpected visit to Rundimahair. She sighed deeply as she stepped forward and gently touched her hands to his temples.

Sean didn’t flinch or back away because this felt familiar and very comforting. Suddenly, images of an old, beautiful Irish town began playing through his mind. Instantly, he knew he’d been there before.

While she held her hands gently to his temples, all the memories of his time in Rundimahair came rushing back. He remembered the accident and waking up in Eamon and Ashling’s beautiful old home. Sean slowly began to recall all the good people he met during his stay in their lovely town.

Memories of strange occurrences were also becoming clear in his mind. Other memories of flying dragon-like creatures and little people digging in the back yard were still somewhat muddled.

She finally took her hands off his head and said, “I’m as sorry as a girl can be that things turned out the way they did, Sean. Normally, if I erase dangerous memories, there would be no trace left behind to trouble you.”

“But for some reason, I could still recall some of it in my dreams,” Sean said, feeling surprisingly calm. “Actually, I could only recall your face in the beginning. Then other images showed up. Lately, it has all faded except for the image of your smiling face and sparkling green eyes.”

“Sure and true, you’re still a silver-tongued devil, Sean. I think you recall my face because it was the last thing you saw before I erased your memories and sent you home.”

“Or because I truly didn’t want to forget you, Ashling.”

She started to give him a sarcastic response, but she saw the sincerity in his eyes. Ashling also remembered that he could no longer speak anything but the truth.

“Since your flattering tongue can no longer speak anything but the truth, I’ll take that as a fine and honest compliment, Sean.”

He suddenly gripped her arm and asked, “How did you know about that? That just started happening this morning.”

“I’ve been staying in touch through your subconscious since you left us, Sean.”

“You’ve been spying on me?” he asked incredulously, as he let go of her and took a step back.

“Actually, I’ve been keeping you safe, Sean. I wanted to be sure you readjusted to your life without any long-term side effects troubling you.”

“So, you’ve been watching me for all of these months?” he asked with a furrowed brow.

“Not in the way you seem to be thinking, Sean. I kept a loose connection between our subconscious thoughts and feelings. If it felt as though you were having some sort of difficulty, then I’d connect our mind tracks together to be sure you were fine and dandy.”

“You seem to think that rummaging around inside someone’s mind is just a normal, everyday occurrence, Ashling. Most folks I know wouldn’t feel very comfortable if they knew you were peeking into their private thoughts.”

“It’s not like that, Sean. I only peek in if I feel you struggling with the after-effects of your time