Rhiannon by Vicki Grove Read Free Book Online

notions. Most times Mam fiercely objected to Granna’s pagan thinking on such matters. Rhia braced for Mam to say that it was indeed dire blasphemy to go on about the banshee, and that certainly even if the banshee had once existed, she was without doubt burning with the devil in these modern Christian days.
    But Mam merely sighed. “I will be staying the night with them, Mother, but only because they’ll need the nursing.” She rubbed her forehead with her fingertips, as she oft did when she was tired out. “Daisy will stay with the two of you.”
    Lucy, out of some catly sense of sympathy, ran to the pallet and began licking the wounds on the little girl’s arm and foot. Daisy smiled, then giggled at the touch. When Mam did not stop the cat, Rhiannon knew that Daisy was surely well healed. Mam held with animal spittle being of good use and soothing when a wound was almost mended, though dangerous when a festered place was still open or fiery-looking.
    â€œI’ll keep Daisy company down here tonight, Granna,” Rhiannon whispered.
    And so, with the cat between them, Daisy and Rhiannon slept beside the fire.
    Â 
Mam had not come home yet when Rhia awoke at dawn the next morning to the summon of the church bell down in Woethersly. The murderer hadn’t been found, then, and the laying of hands was indeed on for today. Seeing that Daisy still slumbered with Lucy curled about her feet, Rhia tiptoed outside and splashed her face at the brook, called good morning to Gramp astride the steeple of Bluffkerne Chapel, then hastened to fill a jug of the cold water to take to Ona’s cottage.
    Gramp followed and waited on the roof of that sad cot as Rhia quietly used her hip to push open the door. Ona and Primrose lay in a deep sleep and Mam was scooping ashes from the burned-out fire. She held up one hand to tell Rhia to put the jug within the door frame but not to come closer, then she finished her job and came out to join Rhia. They quietly closed the door and walked away from the cot and into the cool morning air.
    â€œThey’ve had a bad night and just gone off to merciful sleep,” Mam whispered. Her shoulders slumped and her voice was hoarse. “How’s Daisy?”
    â€œSleeping still.” Rhia moved behind Mam to rub her neck, then asked, “Shall I stand watch over Ona and Primrose while you get ready to go down the trail?”
    â€œI nay can leave the bluff today with these two in such a state, Rhia,” her mother said in a way that brooked no argument. “Take Daisy down with you. The exercise will work the stiffness from the new-grown skin on her little foot. And Jim won’t hear of being left behind. He’ll hobble along slow, but he may prove some help with Daisy. Also, unless I miss my guess, your grandmother will be eager for going as well. As long as you take your time, you’ll make a plenty capable band of four, with you in charge.”
    Rhia’s head nearly spun on her shoulders with all this. Mam couldn’t just ignore an order from the vicar to come lay hands, could she? And though Granna had spoken of Gimp Jim venturing the woods of late, could he travel on one leg and a stick clear down to Woethersly and then back up? And little Daisy, what of her childish step?
    Then she remembered Granna’s riddling talk about the “forgotten damned.” Would Daisy and Jim even be welcomed by the town? And if not, what might happen?
    Rhia quickly slammed the door of her mind on that last—too much to think about!
    â€œCrrrrrrrrrrrick.” Gramp eyed Rhia hard from his perch, telling her to buck up.
    Rhia took a deep breath. “Will you tell Granna that I’m to be in charge?”
    Mam smiled, but then, from within the cot, Primrose suddenly whimpered in her sleep.
    â€œForget the seed gathering for today,” Mam said quickly, hurrying back to her patients. “But see that Sal gets her breakfast before you