Firebird (39 page)

‘You talk to Joe later, when you are alone in the lodge. Then you will be tied together for ever and no-one will set you apart.'

Llinos allowed Mint to dress her in the garments of an Indian maiden. Her hair was plaited and coloured feathers woven into it. A belt of polished stones was hung at her waist and ornaments around her neck.

The sound of drums echoed through the lodge and voices rose and fell with an easy, soothing rhythm. As Llinos was led into the clearing, she felt as though she had walked into a dream world.

Joe stood before her, magnificent in a feathered headdress. He was bare to the waist and his firm, golden body had been painted with strange symbols. He seemed remote, a stranger.

He smiled and he was her Joe again. She stood next to him. Tall as she'd become, she still reached only to just below his shoulder.

He took her hand. The ceremony had begun, now there was no turning back.

Maura placed the bowl on the table before drawing back the heavy curtains. She heard a groan from the bed and turned in concern to see Eynon trying to sit up.

‘No, don't, you have some broken bones and the doctor said you must keep still. It was bad enough you insisted on coming home so don't go being difficult on me now, will you?'

He sank back onto the stained pillows and Maura saw that his nose had been bleeding again. Whoever had given him a beating had been ruthlessly thorough.

She began to bathe his face with warm water and he squinted up at her through his swollen eyes. ‘Am I ever going to feel better, Maura? It's been almost a month since . . . since the accident.'

And a lifetime since Binnie had walked out on her. Maura bit her lip. He had left her flat as if the wedding had never taken place, how he must hate her. It had been something of a blessing when she had taken over from Celia-end-house; caring for Mr Eynon had taken her mind off her own problems.

‘You're getting better every day. Sure, you're young and strong, you'll mend well enough.' In spite of her cheerful words, she had reservations about his progress.

Eynon was weak. He still bore the bruises on his face and his broken nose had set crookedly. His ribs were slow to heal but it was the breaking of the big bone in his thigh that was causing the most trouble. Eynon had not been able to walk since the night of the beating. He was in constant pain, though he bore it gallantly.

Maura, who had harboured a sneaking impatience with Eynon's foppishness, now found herself with a new respect for him. He never complained and she rarely saw him low in spirits. She half smiled, they were two outcasts together, he despised as weak by the men of the town and she a scorned woman.

‘I think I'll try to come downstairs for a while today.' Eynon's voice startled her. ‘It's a little cold but the sun is shining and it's about time I faced the world again. You know, the only people I've seen these past weeks are Father Martin and you.' He caught her hand.

‘I don't say much but I do appreciate all you've done for me. You've stayed with me in spite of everything.'

‘Sure it works both ways, Mr Eynon. You've been good to me and the baby. I don't know what I would have done without you since Binnie walked out on me.'

‘He's a foolish man but he will come to his senses one day, you'll see.'

‘Maybe so, maybe not. And if he does, shall I want him?' She moved briskly round the room. ‘Now, let's see if we can get help to bring you downstairs, shall we?'

Later, as Maura put her daughter down for her afternoon nap, she paused to peer into the garden. Eynon was stretched on a chair with a footstool to support his legs. He was covered in several shawls against the chill. He looked over his book and caught her eye and smiled.

The creak of wheels on the lane attracted her attention and she moved nearer to the window. Down below, she could see Captain Savage with one of his men who was pushing the chair towards the gate.

She admired the captain. He had got his own back on the men responsible for the beating by luring them into the market place with false promises of work. And then, in front of everyone in the place, he had scared the life out of them by firing shot at their feet. How folks had laughed when the captain had made the men dance. One of the men had cried for mercy, blaming Philip Morton-Edwards for the attack on Eynon. But no-one gave credence to the words of such a scoundrel. No-one except Maura.

‘Come in, Lloyd, any news of Llinos?' Eynon's voice rose clearly to where Maura was standing.

Llinos. The very name brought the bright colour to Maura's cheeks. It was all Llinos's fault that Binnie had deserted his wife and child. She opened the window wider, aware that she was eavesdropping, but she could not help herself.

‘Not a word from her, can you believe it?' Lloyd Savage spoke harshly. ‘Well, I've washed my hands of her, Llinos is no longer my daughter.'

‘You don't mean it, Lloyd,' Eynon said, but the captain was in no mood to listen.

‘She's made her bed and she can lie on it. The gossips are saying she's run off with Binnie Dundee.'

‘She hasn't run off with Binnie,' Eynon said, ‘she's gone to find Joe.'

‘You know that and I know that but to the towns-folk it looks like a wonderful scandal. In any case, if she comes home with the half-breed her name will be dragged further into the mud.'

‘Don't be so hard on her, Lloyd.' Eynon spoke gently. ‘She is young and impulsive. She's in love but she won't do anything improper, I understand Llinos well enough to know that much.'

‘Aye, perhaps you're right but it doesn't help matters, does it? She could be murdered out there in that foreign country for all we know.'

‘The Americans are very much like us,' Eynon said placatingly. ‘Many of them are descended from English stock.'

‘Aye but then there's the native American Indians. When I was in the war I heard tales about them that would make your blood run cold.'

There was silence for a moment and then Eynon spoke. ‘How's the sale of earthenware these days?'

‘Very good,' Lloyd replied. ‘I'm selling my products on a regular basis while your father's men waste their time trying to make porcelain that won't shatter in the ovens.'

‘Ah, but the porcelain that survives the firing brings in a great deal of money, at least that's what my dear father claims.'

‘I'd prefer a steady profit and a regular market,' Lloyd said. ‘What about you, what are your plans for the future? Have you got any?'

‘I'm going to recover my strength before I do anything,' Eynon said. ‘I think Georgina has marriage in mind' – Maura heard Eynon chuckle – ‘and that's where it will stay, in her mind!'

‘Well, I don't know why you don't give it some serious thought, you can't spend the rest of your life pining for my daughter.'

‘I know. But I love her, Lloyd, and while she's free there's hope.' Quietly, Maura closed the window and stood for a moment looking down at her sleeping daughter.

‘Your father may have been led astray by Llinos Savage, my lovely.' She spoke bitterly. ‘She is the devil in disguise, trapping all the men who come her way but your mammy will get her own back, one day, you'll see.'

It was quiet in the lodge. Llinos had been undressed, and flowers strewn over the bed she would share with Joe. She sat upright, staring into the brazier, trying to draw comfort from the brightness of the flames.

The plains had never seemed more alien to her than they did now. The strange sounds of creatures in the foliage and the low thud of the drums emphasized the fact that she was far from home.

Joe was enjoying a pipe with the men. Soon he would come into the lodge and he would expect her to be ready for him. There had been no opportunity to talk to him alone. From the time the strangely dressed Indian chief had conducted the ceremony, bride and groom had been surrounded by people.

She heard a rustle in the grass and Joe entered the lodge. He stood looking down at her for a long moment and then he fell onto his knees beside her.

‘Llinos, my love.' He bent and kissed her mouth and she leaned against him, weak with love and desire. His mouth seemed to possess her, to draw her into a world where there was no logic, just emotion and sensation.

He touched her breast lightly and she drew away in panic.

‘Hush, it's all right, I won't hurt you, my little Firebird.'

‘Joe, we must talk.' She spoke desperately. He sat back on his heels.

‘Have you some terrible confession to make?' He was teasing her and she shook her head.

‘You know I haven't, Joe, but . . .'

He pressed her back against the softness of the shawls and skins that made up their bed. ‘I love you, Llinos, I want you so much it hurts.'

‘Please, Joe, listen to me.' She pressed her hands to his cheeks. ‘I want to wait, Joe, until we get home. I want to be married properly before we . . . I want a church blessing and I want my father to be there. Oh, Joe, I'm sorry!' She felt tears burn her eyes, she was failing Joe, disappointing him. He rose and moved away from her and stood for a long moment, staring out through the entrance to the lodge into the night.

‘Joe, please don't be angry with me.'

He came to her and took her in his arms as though she was a child and cradled her gently.

‘I've waited this long for you, I can wait a little longer.' He touched his finger to the tip of her nose. ‘But only a little longer, mind. Do you know what you are asking of me?'

She closed her eyes in gratitude. ‘I am asking it of myself, too. I love you, Joe.'

‘I know.'

She spent her wedding night wrapped in her husband's arms and when she woke in the morning he was there, smiling down at her.

‘You snore.' He pulled at her hair and she swung away from him.

‘I do not!'

‘Yes, you do. I lay awake all night listening to you. Like a buffalo in pain, you were.'

She scrambled to her knees and aimed a playful blow at him. He caught her wrist and drew her close.

‘You look so beautiful, my Firebird, with your eyes flashing and your hair tumbled. How can I resist you?'

Mint came into the lodge, carrying a large bowl of beans and a freshly baked loaf.

‘I see you are behaving like a couple of children, not like the old married couple you are.' She sounded severe but her dark eyes were bright with laughter.

‘Eat, you need to keep up your strength.' She looked up at him as Joe stood beside her, towering over her. He put his hands on her shoulders and looked into her face.

‘I know, son, you will be leaving soon.'

‘Will you come with us?'

Mint shook her head. ‘I want to live out my old age here and have my bones buried under the mountains.'

‘That day is a long time off, Mother.' Joe kissed her cheek. ‘You run about the place like a young squaw.'

‘I could not live in the coldness of your country, Joe. But you will make a name for yourself, you and Firebird. And your name will echo back to your people in America. So when you leave, son, it will be with my blessing.'

The days passed in a haze of happiness. Llinos knew that Joe's patience would not last for ever. He was a young, strong man and he needed a good wife. What made it worse was that she wanted Joe as much as he wanted her. A week after the wedding, she asked Joe if they could go home.

They were sitting at the perimeter of the clearing, away from the firelight. Binnie was spread out on the floor beside them, hands under his head as he looked up at the stars.

‘You go home if you like,' he said. ‘I'm staying here, in America.'

‘Binnie, you can't mean it.' Llinos leaned over him and prodded his thin chest. ‘You wouldn't know how to make a living out here.'

‘I don't mean here,' Binnie said. ‘I'll come with you and Joe to the coast and I'll find work in Troy.'

‘Joe, tell him, he must come with us.' Joe shook his head and remained silent.

‘Binnie, I couldn't bear to think of you out here on your own.' Llinos spoke heatedly.

‘Perhaps I'm meant to be alone,' Binnie said mildly. ‘I didn't make much of a success at being a husband and father, did I? Anyway, America is full of opportunity for a young man and I am still young, Llinos.'

‘I know you are. Oh, Binnie, think about it again when we get to the port. I'll bet you won't be able to watch Joe and me sailing for home without you.'

‘We'll see.'

The wagon in which Llinos had ridden over the long tracts of virgin American soil had lain idle for months. One of the wheels needed attention and part of the boarding at the side had come loose.

Joe looked at it for a long time and then set to work. Llinos stood watching him until Mint took her arm and led her away.

‘Your man will not disappear if you take your eyes off him for a minute, child! Come and see what your friend Binnie has done for us. Everyone is in the clearing behind the lodge, there is so much excitement, I think it calls for another celebration.'

Towards the edge of the stockade, a crowd of braves and squaws were standing in a circle, even one of the old chiefs had been tempted from his pipe and his lodge.

Binnie had been at work for several days, and now the results of his labour were evident in the strong lines of the stone kiln.

‘Binnie! You clever old thing, you. That's the finest oven I've ever seen.'

‘Aye, not bad, is it? I've had to chip the rocks into some sort of shape and I've bound them together with clay from the river. See how neatly my fires fit in around the edge.'