Her face dimpled, and she nodded. “Thank you, Blackie. And you look smart. I like your smart white shirt.”

He nodded, as Finn said, “That frock matches yer blue eyes; right nice ye are, Sarah.” She was wearing a dress with a deep flounce, its gathered bodice trimmed with lace, modeled on the latest look.

There were a few chuckles all around, and then Finn opened up. “We heard Andy was in a real terrible accident. Do ye knows anything about it?”

Sarah nodded, her face suddenly sad, and both men noticed she had paled. They gave her a moment, as she seemed about to cry, struggling not to do so.

Taking a deep breath, Sarah swallowed her emotions, and said, “He was, yes, and I went with his mam to see him on Thursday. He’s in a bad way, but I don’t think … he’s going … to die.” Her voice trembled on her last words.

Blackie reached out and squeezed her arm reassuringly. Finn asked, “Is he badly hurt then?”

“Yes,” Sarah answered. “He got trampled on by one of the two horses. The carriage wheels damaged one of his arms and part of a leg—”

“Oh, I hope he’ll be able to dance again!” Finn exclaimed, staring at Sarah in alarm.

“His mam thinks so. His leg and arm are both in casts, plaster of paris, and the doctor told us he’s badly bruised, but nothing else. Nothing hurt inside him.”

“That’s good news,” Blackie said. “How long will he be in hospital?”

“They don’t know, but probably a few weeks. He was a bit out of it on Thursday, drugged. Because of the pain,” Sarah explained.

“When did it happen?” Finn probed.

“On Monday of this last week. His mam went every day, and she asked me to go with her on Thursday.”

“So it’s gonna be a long haul?” Finn asked in a questioning tone.

“It is, and then he will have to go to a special hospital for recuperation. That’ll be a few weeks too. Poor Andy, he’s going to be out of action for ages.”

“All the girls are going to miss him, don’t ye think, Sarah?” Blackie asked.

“I do. He loves to dance, and especially with me.”

“I can’t say I blame him,” Blackie said gallantly, his dark eyes smiling down at her.

Finn frowned slightly, and staring at Sarah, he asked, “Were ye goin’ with him then … courting?”

“Not exactly,” Sarah responded at once. “But it was heading in that direction. We’d grown to like each other a lot.”

Blackie exclaimed, “No wonder ye are so upset! Mind ye, most people who know him would be, I’m sure of that; I swear on the heads of the Blessed Saints.”

“You’re correct,” Sarah answered. “People have been trying to get to see him all week.”