THE INHERITANCE - part eighteen

THE INHERITANCE – part eighteen………

Welcome home

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After sharing tea with Mrs. Anderson and Shevy, Kate looked at her watch and said, “Oh, good lord, Mo. It’s after four. We’d better hurry. I’m sure your family will be starving.”

Mo laughed and patted Kate’s hand. “Not to worry, mo chara. They eat when it’s ready and not a moment sooner. There’s been times when supper will be ready and they’re not. So, we compromise. They won’t miss a meal, but it’ll go on the table when I know they’re all home and ready to eat. Works out well enough for all concerned. But you do have a point. I want to pick some vegetables, herbs, and spices. Are you ready, then?”

“Definitely. Mrs. Anderson, thank you so much for the tea and company.” Kate placed her hand atop of Shevy’s and said, “Shevy, thank you for all your encouragement and once I’m in mo abhaile, I’d like to have you come share supper with me.”

“Oh, now look at her will you? Already adopting the Gaelic language. Kate, mo stor, I’d be more than pleased.”

As Kate and Mo left the B&B, Shevy looked at Mrs. Anderson and said, “Such a sweetie, now isn’t she?” Mrs. Anderson replied, “That she isl” “Yes, but I can see that she’s a side to her even she doesn’t know about. She’s just coming into herself. Watching her adjust will be very interesting, indeed.”

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The illusion spells that Kate and Mo put on Kate’s home were working well enough. Everything Bridget touched either fell apart or refused to break. Since there was no electricity, each time Bridget lit a candle, a strong breeze would blow it out. No matter how she tried to open the windows, they wouldn’t budge, making it necessary for Bridget to leave the front door open for light and air. Bridget wasn’t happy. “Twouldn’t be that bad if leavin’ the door open didn’t invite the rats and bugs inside.” She hated rats and bugs.

She was grateful that she was able to light a fire in the stove. “At least, I can have some tea. Praise the saints I bought some bottled water while I was in town. I’ll not be drinkin’ that rusty garage water she’s so fond of.” She put the kettle on to boil and unwrapped a small teacake she purchased at the bakery the day before.

She wasn’t happy and her mood kept getting sourer with each passing minute.

Bridget looked around at the cottage and smiled as an idea began to fester in her mind.

She grabbed her travel bag from the kitchen and tossed it in her car, then returned to the kitchen. Grabbing a piece of burning wood from the stove, she tossed it on the wooden counter and waited for the flame to spread. It didn’t! “What in the bloody blue blazes?”

She took another piece of burning wood, walked up the flight of stairs and tossed it on the bed. And waited. Nothing happened. “What the fook?”

Bridget smelled smoke but it was coming from outside. She ran to the door only to see small flames trying to build inside her car. Her car! Her beloved little ice-blue Bentley.

Looking around, she quickly found an old wooden bucket, ran to the water pump, and filled the bucket with the rusty water she so hated.

Kathleen and her husband, Daniel, danced with glee watching their niece run back and forth, filling and emptying the bucket until the flames were out.

Bridget sat on the front step, dirty, exhausted, and worn to a frazzle.

“Burn my house down, will you?” Kathleen said. You’ll learn I’m not to be trifled with. This house is for Kate!”

Daniel laughed. “Mo Ghra, she canna’ hear you. She canna’ hear either of us.”

Kathleen put her head on Daniel’s shoulder and sighed. “I know, mo ghra, but she agitates me to no end. Watchin’ her all these years! Sara should have takin’ a paddle to her behind at every turn.”

Daniel hugged his wife and said, “Let’s have some more fun.”

He walked to where Bridget sat leaning against the house and blew in her ear. She looked around. “No wind. Not even a fookin’ breeze. What the blazes was that?”

Thinking it might be a bug, she waved her hands around her head and untied her hair from the tail she’d made earlier.

Kathleen laughed at her husband. “Oh Daniel, what a wonderful idea. I’ve another!”

He looked at the mischievous look in Kathleen’s eyes. “And mo ghra, what do you have in mind?”

“Come, mo ghra.” She grabbed his hand and led him to one side of Bridget. “Walk about fifteen steps away and I’ll stand on the other side.”

Knowing his wife for so long, he suddenly realized what she was going to do. “Oh, mo ghra! Aren’t you the wicked one!”

Kathleen laughed. “Tis not me who’s wicked, my husband. Tis this livin’ breathin’ viper who’s hell-bent on destroying what we made together, and I’ll not be havin’ it.”

Daniel kissed his wife’s cheek and waited for her to walk to her designated spot.

“On the count of three, then, mo ghra. One, Two, Three ………”

Then at the same time, as loudly as their ghostly beings allowed, they screeched, moaned, groaned, and screeched again, until Bridget, now frightened out of her wits, slammed the cottage door, jumped in her little blue sports car, and drove as fast as she could away from Kate’s cottage.

“She can have the bloody thing! I’ll not be settin’ one pinky toe in the horrid place again.”

Bridget pulled up to Mo’s house and banged at the door.

Mo opened the door and said in a friendly way, “Why, if it isn’t Bridget! Would you like to come in and have some tea?”

Bridget looked at Kate and screamed, ‘NO. I WILL NOT BE HAVIN’ TEA!” She threw the cottage key at Kate’s face and continued to scream, “YOU CAN HAVE YOUR BLOODY WRECK OF A COTTAGE. IT SHOULD BE TORN DOWN. I DON’T WANT IT. I NEVER WANT TO SEE IT OR YOU AGAIN!”

Kate called after her, “Bridget, you don’t have to leave. You still have until four tomorrow afternoon at Mr. O'Malley’s office.”

Bridget refused to answer. In fact, she wouldn’t even acknowledge that Kate spoke. She just got in her car and drove away quickly.