Promised Land Read Free Page A

you want me to bury them for you?’
    She nodded, not trusting herself to speak. In situations like this she realized just how alone she was, and was grateful for the good neighbours.
    ‘I’ll wait till the sergeant has seen them, so don’t be worrying yourself, Ella.’ He reached for her hand clumsily and gave it a squeeze. She didn’t draw away.
    When she was about fifteen she’d had the biggest crush ever on Sean, following him around and finding excuses to visit Flanagan’s farm whenever she could. Sean had pretended not to notice despite some fierce slagging by his two older brothers. Now the boot was on the other foot, and he somehow or other always seemed to be over at their place. He had a sturdy build, with broad shoulders, and long legs and body, making even her feel small when she stood beside him. His straight dark hair was in sore need of a good cut, his eyes were a hazel-brown colour, his face strong and almost handsome. She supposed he was good-looking compared to most of the men she knew, with a quiet reserved manner that made him easy to talk to. Her father liked and respected him, and she knew he held her father in high regard too. She was still mad about him and was glad that it was now being returned, the two of them often attending the local dances and parish socials together. When Sean escorted her home in the moonlight, his kisses almost made her weak.
    ‘Is it all right if I call over later Ella, after tea?’
    ‘I’ll be going to the hospital.’
    ‘Then I’ll drive you! My da won’t mind me driving you to see Martin.’
    She nodded, pleased. Sean had brought her to the hospital a few times. Twice on the way home he had pulled the old Ford Prefect into a quiet spot off the lake road and courted her. She had been glad of his kisses and his hands pulling her close to him. She had responded as eagerly as he had and returned home red-faced and swollen-mouthed, glad that her father was not there to witness her passion.
    At the rate things were going one night she would end up bringing him inside, and up the stairs to her bedroom.
    ‘Sean Flanagan fancies you like mad,’ said her younger cousin Slaney.
    ‘Sean Flanagan wants a wife and a farm of his own ,’ murmured Marianne, ‘and you’d be a great match.’
    ‘And you have him if that’s what suits you Ella love,’ added her aunt.
    Ella blushed, glad that men couldn’t read women’s minds. She wasn’t stupid and knew that it was high time she made a match and settled down. She was twenty-one and with her father sick, the farm would need a man about the place. The Kennedys and their farm were no doubt already the talk of the place.
    ‘See you later then Ella, pet.’
    She watched as he crossed back over the hedge. He’d called her pet. She wanted to run after him and fling her arms around him but instead began to walk.
    Honest to God she was like a bitch in heat with all the dogs after her, what with her father sick and the running of the farm to be sorted out. Every local bachelor was coming out of the woodwork considering her a good prospect. Men she didn’t give a toss about like John Mannion, who’d insisted on giving her a lift home from the village last week and was a skinny galoot of a fellow, and Tim Murphy, who made her laugh with his jokes, and Kevin O’Leary, all seemed to have become obsessed with her father’s welfare of late and were always enquiring about him. As far as she was concerned there was only one man in her mind and that was Sean Flanagan; none of the rest of them were even a patch on him.
    Her head full of such considerations, she made her way back down to the outhouse. She’d fetch a bucket and some disinfectant back up to the hill field and wash the sheep’s cuts and grazes. She didn’t want the animal getting sick on her. What if the dogs came back tonight? Maybe she should sit up in the field keeping watch, or move the sheep to the small paddock at the back of the house. She should have asked