ANAMCHARA

Katelyn was blessed with a mane of flaming red hair which was also a bit of a curse for it aptly warned suitable suitors of her fiery temper. “That temper of yours may cost you your soulmate,” warned Seamus more than once. The prescience of his statement can be debated, but for Katelyn it seems too true. Katelyn Doneghan, a sturdy woman, was born of hardy Irish stock. Her father, Seamus raised her to know the ways of the world, its harshness, its cruelty; but he also instilled in her an understanding that love abounds in all creatures great and small.

Katelyn, carrying her book of the week, “Reincarnation and Redemption”, approached the old barn built by her father, nestled into the hillside with a grand view of Village Killan creeping slowly higher and higher into the foothills across the valley. The summer sun dipped below a mountainous western horizon, plunging her valley into twilight. It was the dawn of night; that time of day nocturnal creatures come to life. “And so, it begins, again,” she muttered to herself pulling open the heavy barn door. This was the time of every day Katelyn reserved for reading.

As if on cue, as she entered the barn, she heard, “Who, who, who,” floating down from his old rafter perch. Katelyn knew her adoptive barn owl was asking no question. “Who, who, who.” The owl repeated. She smiled and teasingly whispered to herself, soft as the gentle evening breeze, “Who indeedy, Travis McReedy.” Not who, what. Watching her favorite barn owl take flight into the night in pursuit of his next meal. “What will you have Travis?” she wondered to herself silently, making an educated guess what might be on tonight’s menu. What will you have Mr. McReedy? A field mouse, a shrew, a gopher, a ravenous fruit bat? So many delicacies to choose from. Perhaps tonight a tender rabbit? We shall see won’t we?

The real Travis McReedy had been the one true love of her life. Childhood sweethearts could not have been more devoted to each other. From the gangling youth covered in freckles grew a most handsome, tall, muscular man with hair as thick and almost as red as her own. They were married in 1914 when the air was heavy with the scent of heather. Katelyn’s temper flared whenever they fought as lovers do. Sometimes like cats and dogs and other times like two alley cats. They were that much alike.

Fortunately, often, their arguments were of the more esoteric type. Their favorite discussions involved their shared belief in reincarnation. Travis held that she would likely return to the mortal world as a red-tailed fox to perfect her uncanny cleverness and creativity. Katelyn hoped he would return as a barn owl because he was insistent on bringing her fresh rabbits for the stew pot. “But why a barn owl?” he wondered. “The face of a barn owl is framed in the shape of a heart. A barn owl has the face of love, Mr Mcreedy,” she said, kissing him gently. Your widows peak and your pointed beard resemble the shape of a barn owl’s face. I love you for that if nothing else, she teased. Their frequent arguments were playful and loving. Their life together appeared to be destined to a happily ever after scenario until World War I broke out. Suddenly, everything changed.

The war to end all wars also ended their relationship. Poor Katelyn always regretted that their last words to each other had been heated and unkind. The temper her hair color belied was echoed in Travis’ personality. They did argue as lovers always do but his decision to enlist tore them asunder. “It will be too late to fight when the Enemy is at your door.” Travis quoted a popular recruitment poster to justify his decision. She told him to, “Go to war then, or go to hell, what would be the difference?” He turned and left without another word. She lamented the prescience of her father's warning, "your temper will cost you your soulmate." In less than a month, Travis was buried in the place he died with hundreds of his fellow soldiers.

Her life became routine after Travis left. She would rise early to do her chores. She cooked and cleaned and planned and preened as if he still were near. Then as the sun was setting, she’d go to the barn to read. On one such typical evening, shortly after the war was done, a rabbit fell at her feet from the rafters above. Startled, she looked up and to her amazement, her familiar large barn owl swooped to the ground and stood as if frozen looking up at her. As their eyes met, Katelyn was acutely aware that the heart shape frame of its face was unusually pronounced. The owl held her gaze for what seemed an eternity and then walked slowly closer to her. Expecting the bird to retrieve its prey, she was touched deep in her heart when she felt soft feathers nuzzle her ankle. Her hope was rewarded that night. Her Travis had returned as she knew he would. And nightly he brings her fresh rabbit. Then he hunts again for his own supper.

Scoff if you will. In this world of cynical disbelievers, Katelyn Doneghan stands alone, redeemed in hope that love is eternal. Her Anamchara (the Gaelic word for soulmate) will someday frolic with a red-tailed fox.