Page 73 of The Missing Sister

‘Yes, ’tis good for morale for us to gather together,andhave the men scouting for the women for a change. Though I’d not trust them to cook for us,’ Hannah chuckled.

After they’d eaten, the women, sixteen of them in all, listened to their local captains talk on various subjects, which covered everything from how their knitting needles should be clacking away in any spare time they had as the lads were in need of socks, scarves and jumpers, to being shown a Webley revolver and a rifle. Mary Walsh of the Kilbrittain brigade gave a demonstration on how to load and fire them, explaining the different ammunitions, as well as safe cleaning procedures. There was also a call for the women to renew their efforts to fundraise.

‘I’m hardly going to be holding a tea party in the middle of our village asking the locals to support our efforts, am I?’ countered Florence acerbically. ‘I’d be under arrest before we’d have time to clear away the cups!’

‘No, Florence, you’re right, but ask all the women you trust to ask the womentheytrust in their villages to give anything they can to support our brave fellows.’

‘We need support too, so!’ piped up another woman. ‘What with all the laundry coming my way, I’m going through bars of soap like a babe hungry for her milk!’

‘And food...’

‘And wool!’

‘We’ll just have to do what we can, girls,’ said Hannah. ‘Our lads are depending on us and we won’t let them down, will we?’

A rousing cheer came up in the barn before it was quickly hushed, and everyone lay down on straw pallets and huddled under blankets, as it was bitingly cold. Nuala’s feet were half frozen as the rain lashed down on the roof. Thinking of how Finn and his comrades had to endure this night after night, sometimes after hours of marching or lying in a sodden ditch waiting for the enemy to approach, she felt awed by their bravery.

Once the last woman had left after breakfast the following morning, Hannah, Nuala and their mother washed out the pots.

‘I’d say that was a grand thing you organised, Nuala,’ said Eileen.

‘It was,’ Hannah agreed. ‘Everyone went away with a new fire in their bellies.’

‘I’m away out to feed the pigs,’ Eileen announced. ‘You girls sit down now and warm up after your night outside.’

‘Thank you, Mammy.’

The two sisters sat listening to the crackling of the fire for a while, before Hannah spoke.

‘Now so, whilst no one else is around, I wanted to tell you something. But you have to swear to keep it a secret.’

‘I will of course, Hannah. What is it?’

‘Do you remember Ryan, Finn’s friend from Kinsale, who came to your wedding?’

‘I remember him dancing with you, yes. Why?’

‘I’ve been seeing a bit of him since then, due to him working at the post office along the road from the dressmaker’s shop. He took his civil service exams and was meant to travel to England, but then when the Easter Rising happened, he decided he shouldn’t go.’

‘You dark horse, you. You’ve said nothing,’ Nuala smiled.

‘Because there’s been nothing to tell. We’ve been on walks in our lunch hours, and met up sometimes after work, when I’ve not been away taking messages, but then...’

‘Yes?’ Nuala could sense her sister’s excitement.

‘Last Wednesday on our half-day, he took me for a long walk along the strand and...’

‘Ah, stop with the suspense, woman! What?’

‘He proposed!’

‘Holy Mary, Mother of God! Now thatisnews! And...?’

‘I said yes. Oh Nuala.’ Hannah reached across and squeezed her sister’s hands. ‘I’m so happy I’m fit to burst!’

‘And I’m so happyforyou, sister! ’Tis wonderful news, and exactly what the family needs just now.’

‘Maybe, but you know what Daddy’s like about these things. Ryan’s homeplace is in Kinsale, so he won’t know the family.’