Chapters (71)
- Copyright Notice
- Dedication
- Part One
- One
- Two
- Three
- Four
- Five
- Six
- Seven
- Eight
- Nine
- Ten
- Eleven
- Part Two
- Twelve
- Thirteen
- Fourteen
- Fifteen
- Sixteen
- Seventeen
- Eighteen
- Nineteen
- Twenty
- Twenty-One
- Twenty-Two
- Twenty-Three
- Twenty-Four
- Twenty-Five
- Twenty-Six
- Twenty-Seven
- Twenty-Eight
- Twenty-Nine
- Thirty
- Thirty-One
- Thirty-Two
- Part Three
- Thirty-Three
- Thirty-Four
- Thirty-Five
- Thirty-Six
- Thirty-Seven
- Thirty-Eight
- Thirty-Nine
- Forty
- Forty-One
- Forty-Two
- Forty-Three
- Forty-Four
- Part Four
- Forty-Five
- Forty-Six
- Forty-Seven
- Forty-Eight
- Forty-Nine
- Fifty
- Fifty-One
- Fifty-Two
- Fifty-Three
- Part Five
- Fifty-Four
- Fifty-Five
- Fifty-Six
- Fifty-Seven
- Fifty-Eight
- Fifty-Nine
- Sixty
- Sixty-One
- Books by Barbara Taylor Bradford
- About the Author
- Newsletter Sign-up
Blackie agreed and went over to the small table in a corner of the cottage. He took out four knives and forks and two large serving spoons to set four places. The table was small, but they could sit there comfortably, and were not too squashed together.
Within a few minutes, there was a light knock on the door. It opened immediately and his twin cousins came into the cottage. Both looked cold and had red cheeks from the wind. They were only a few years older than Blackie and just as thin.
“Hello, Mrs. O’Malley,” Siobhan said with a bright smile. “Oh, it’s lovely and warm in here.”
“’Tis indeed,” she answered, and looked across at Michael. “Hello, lad, ye look nithered.”
“Good evening, Mrs. O’Malley,” Michael said. “And it is icy out there. And it’s already May.”
“Never cast a clout ’til May’s out,” Mrs. O’Malley said, and went on, “Take yer coats off and come and get warm. I hope ye can stay to eat something. Ye both look as if ye need a hot meal.”
“That would be nice, so kind,” Siobhan said. “If you’ve enough food to spare.”
“I do indeed.”
“Thank you.” Michael flashed her a warm smile, and then helped his sister to wriggle out of her topcoat, before taking off his own.
“We’re having rabbit pie,” Blackie announced. “A real treat. I watched Mrs. Martha making ’em, and they’ll be very tasty.”
Four
The rabbit pie was delicious. There wasn’t much talking done as they ate. The four of them were relishing the meal, the best any of them had eaten in the past few months. All had managed to exist on meager servings of vegetables mainly and, occasionally, a small portion of fish with a chunk of bread, a piece of bacon or a scrape of dripping. Food was scarce and they were hungry most of the time.
Once the first pie had been well and truly demolished, Mrs. O’Malley pushed back her chair and stood. Her eyes swept over them, and she smiled. “I see ye liked the first pie, so I think we should try the second.”
When no one answered her, just looked astonished more than anything else, she remarked, “I did make two pies, ye knows.”
Blackie spoke up. “Are ye sure, Mrs. Martha? Don’t ye want to keep the other one for tomorrow?”
She shook her head. “I’m having a serving, so why not finish it among us? Michael? Siobhan? How about the two of ye?”
Michael said, “Thank you, Mrs. O’Malley, I’d love a bit more; I would that.”
Mrs. O’Malley smiled, obviously pleased. Turning to his sister, she raised a brow. “And Siobhan, will ye take a piece?”