Do You Know What Love Is?

The only word on the telegram Mrs. Branson had received from Rory was, "Come." She had packed her bag, closed up the house and been on the train the next morning. All of these years later she still received a payment deposited directly to her bank account from Tom's father. She strongly suspected the man had forgotten all about her and his son. Some clerk shuffling papers in a bank made the payments automatically. Whatever the case, she had sufficient funds to be able to go when one of her boys called. After eight years Rory was her unofficial nephew and as close to her as if he were her own child.

When she got off the train a man approached her and identified himself as Mr. Lonogan. It wasn't long and they had set off for Ballybunion.

"How long do you plan on being in these parts?" Mr. Lonogan asked her by way of making conversation and of course getting a little information.

"As long as Rory wants me here I suppose," Mrs. Branson answered. "When one of my boys calls me, I go."

"Are you his Mam then?

"No, I'm his Auntie."

"Oh I see. A girl arrived yesterday from Yorkshire. A Miss Drake."

Mrs. Branson didn't reply.

"Folks around here are most anxious about our young doctor. We were without one for over a year. Right now he's the only one for two towns and almost twenty miles in every direction. We wouldn't want a family crisis to cause him to leave."

"I don't think you have to worry about that," Mrs. Branson replied. "Rory said in his last letter how much he likes it here. He's a country boy at heart even though he was raised in the city."

"Good to know," Mr. Lonogan said. "Everyone is right fond of Dr. Lester. That horse of his is a legend in these parts. Not a family he's been to doesn't have a story or two about that animal."

Mr. Lonogan kept Mrs. Branson amused with stories of Realta's exploits the rest of the way to Rory's cottage.

"Now you watch yourself or that horse will have your hat in a second if you don't keep it under lock and key," he said as he dropped Mrs. Branson off.

"I'll keep that in mind," Mrs. Branson said. "Now how much do I owe you?"

"The ride is on the house. I'm just hoping you find everything in order. Cheerio."

Mrs. Branson took her bag up the walk. She looked out at the view from the front yard. "It's a lovely spot. No wonder he likes it here so much," she thought. Just the sight from the front of the cottage made her feel less apprehensive. She was worried about what she was going to walk into. The waiting room looked busy so she went around to the back of the cottage and entered the kitchen. A bouncing four-month-old puppy came flying to meet her yapping like mad.

"Harry stop it," Rory called from the hallway. He walked through to see Mrs. Branson. "Welcome and thank you for coming." He kissed her on the cheek.

"Rory, what's wrong. Why did you send for me?"

"Colleen Drake is here. It's a long story. I need you here to act as chaperone. We're expecting her mother in a few days. I can't explain right now. Colleen is about somewhere. She was going to make tea for you. I'll be done around five or so. Make yourself at home. Pick whatever room you want upstairs. The stairs are through here."

"I'll make do," Mrs. Branson replied. "You best get back to your business."

Once Rory headed back to work Mrs. Branson looked around the kitchen. There was a tray of scones waiting to go in the oven and the tea things were laid out. She looked out the back door and noticed the notorious horse Mr. Lonogan had told her about wasn't in the paddock. She made her way upstairs and picked out a room that looked out towards the ocean. She went back down and was just getting out a hoe to take care of some of the weeds in the vacant flowerbeds around the cottage when Colleen came down the lane riding bareback.

"Hello. You must be Mrs. Branson," she called with a smile. "I've just been to pick some blackberries for our tea. It took forever. This horse of Rory's is so naughty I had to tether him on the other side of the bush to stop him from steeling the basket."

"Hello, and you must be Colleen. Come in child and tell me why you're here and what's going on. Rory gave me a terrible fright when he sent for me."

Colleen handed her basket down to Mrs. Branson and then put Realta in his pen. She locked the gate securely then removed his bridle. "I'm not giving him the chance to get up to anything," she told Mrs. Branson. "Rory is too soft hearted with animals. He lets them get away with everything."

The women went in the house. Colleen put the berries on to cook to make a jelly to go with the scones. She offered Mrs. Branson a cup of tea. Colleen had a worried look that bellied her friendly attitude. Once they were seated at the table Mrs. Branson gently reminded her that she needed some type of explanation as to what was going on.

"My parents and I had a terrible row. They were insisting I marry a man in the village. He wasn't a kind man. I got terribly upset and ran off. All I could think of was how much I wanted to see Rory. I came straight here."

"Running off was foolish, dear." Mrs. Branson wasn't trying to be cruel but she did think running away from home was no answer. Colleen was avoiding telling her something that much was obvious.

"I couldn't see any other way," Colleen said.

"How old are you?"

"Nineteen."

"Well, I'm here now, we'll get this settled. Where did you stay last night?"

"Rory's been a perfect gentleman." Colleen broke out in a huge smile of adoration. "I'm staying with Mrs. MacDiarmid in the next cottage up the road." She got up to stir the berries, then took the pot off the heat and put them through a strainer. The scones went into the oven.

"You're fond of him then?" Mrs. Branson's eyes narrowed slightly.

"Very. More than fond actually," Colleen blushed profusely.

"I think I'll go outside and work off some of the kinks from the train," Mrs. Branson said. There was obviously more going on than Colleen was letting on. She knew the look of a young girl in love. She would wait for Rory to get the real story out of him. "At least this one isn't from an aristocratic family," she thought to herself. "What is it with my boys and Protestants?"

When Rory came through finally they had scones and the blackberry jelly Colleen had made. The way the two young people were gazing at each other Mrs. Branson knew there was something more going on. She was waiting to get Rory alone for a full explanation.

They walked Colleen back to Mrs. MacDiarmid's that evening and then continued along the road towards the village for an evening walk.

"All right, Rory, out with it. What's really going on?" Mrs. Branson asked him.

Rory sighed and told Mrs. Branson the whole story. She had heard enough of the dirt of his own life that he didn't leave anything out.

"The poor girl," she said, "but are you sure marrying her is the right decision. I can't see folks around these parts accepting an English, Protestant as your wife."

"She's going to convert. We've already talked to the priest. We can be married in six weeks. She doesn't need her parent's permission, but we would like it. I'm kicking myself for not speaking up sooner. It might have prevented all of this."

"It might have and it might not. There's no use second-guessing yourself now. How do you think her family is going to take the news?"

"I don't know. They want her married. That much is obvious. I thought I knew them. They were so understanding with me, but not with her."

"It's different when it's your own and with a girl."

"I'm hoping her mother will be happy with the news."

"And if she's not?"

Rory just shrugged. "We'll cross that bridge when we come to it. I won't let her go back and be forced to marry that man. I think the town's people will accept her. We'll have a big wedding in the church and have the local busy bodies arrange everything. The one thing about the country folk is they love to be in each other's business. It will give them something to talk about all winter."

"You're going to have to be careful of your reputation."

"That's why you're here, Auntie," Rory said with a twinkle in his eye.

"When are you planning to announce your engagement?"

"As soon as her mother arrives. We'll tell them we had a lover's quarrel and broke things off before I left England. She reconsidered and came to find me. They shouldn't question the story."

"The town's people are worried you'll leave."

"No fear of that. I like it here and I'm doing something that's needed."

"Let's just hope her mother is understanding. I don't want you getting hurt."

"I've been hurt before."

"That's what worries me."

The day Mrs. Drake was due to arrive Rory had rearranged his office hours so that he could be at the train to meet her. An hour before he was set to leave there was a message there had been an accident at a local farm and could he come immediately. Rory had arranged to borrow Mrs. MacDiarmid's cart. It was arranged Mrs. Branson would go in his place and Colleen would wait for her mother at Rory's cottage. Mrs. Drake would be staying at Rory's as well.

"It's a good thing I've got so many chickens," Rory had told Mrs. Branson. "Colleen can stay at Mrs. MacDiarmid's as long as she likes." In fact Rory had at least thirty hens and they were producing so many eggs Mrs. Branson was at a bit of a loss as to what to do with them all. Colleen had proven a great source of knowledge in the kitchen as she was used to country life and had a knack for thinking of ways to use what was on hand. She had taken Mrs. Branson berry picking the day before and put up preserves for the winter.

"Mrs. MacDiarmid told me there are wild cranberries close by, they call them bilberries. I'll have to find some of them as well," she happily informed Mrs. Branson. "Once I get on to things, I'm sure I can trade away the eggs and things we get too much of or sell them. Rory and I won't have any problems."

Mrs. Branson arrived a few minutes before the train pulled into the station. She wasn't looking forward to the meeting later today with Mrs. Drake and her daughter. She would have liked to say a few things about forcing a girl to marry a man who had forced himself on her but planned to keep her own counsel. The best thing right now was for Colleen to stay with Rory. Hopefully, she would patch the holes that Mrs. Branson suspected he still had in his heart.

Mrs. Drake stepped off the train looking haggard and worn. The worry hadn't been easy on her and the trip had taken its toll.

"Mrs. Branson, where is Colleen? Is she safe?"

"Colleen is fine," Mrs. Branson replied. "She's at Rory's preparing something to eat for your arrival. Rory would have come himself but there was an emergency. He's had her staying with a neighbor. She's well looked after."

"Oh thank heavens. We were so worried when she ran off."

"At least she had the good sense to go straight to Rory and stay out of trouble."

"She seems to have no sense these days."

"Did any of us at nineteen?"

"I already had her by then and another on the way."

"Things will work out," Mrs. Branson said. "Rory has a lovely cottage with a view of the ocean. He's doing quite well."

"He was off with those Lords and Ladies for so long, I'm still surprised he's in the country. I keep thinking he will tire of it and go back to the city."

"He loves the country. He has you to thank for that. He's happy as a lark as a country doctor."

"Rory was always too bright for a farm hand, but he's good boy."

"He's no boy anymore."

"I suppose you're right," Mrs. Drake replied.

Colleen came out to the front of the house to meet them when they pulled up.

"Hello, Mummy," she said a bit sheepishly.

"Colleen," her mother said as she got down from the cart and wrapped her daughter in a hug. "I'm so relieved to see you are alright."

"I'm fine, Mummy. Rory is making sure I'm taken care of. He isn't back yet."

"I'll just go return the cart," Mrs. Branson said.

"I have the tea ready," Colleen replied.

"I'll be back in a minute," Mrs. Branson told them.

Colleen took her mother's bag.

"You'll be staying here with Rory and Mrs. Branson. Come in the kitchen. Isn't it pretty here?"

"It's lovely," Mrs. Drake paused. "Colleen, I want us to leave for England tomorrow. Your father isn't finished with the harvest there is still lots to do."

"No, Mummy! I'm staying here with Rory. I'm not going back."

"Colleen, don't be ridiculous. You can't stay here with Rory. You've imposed on him long enough."

"I'm staying here and marrying Rory. You can't make me leave. I won't!" Colleen's eyes were snapping in anger at her mother. She stamped her foot in defiance.

"You're being childish," Mrs. Drake said. "This isn't some kind of childish fantasy where you marry your charming prince. Real life isn't like that. He's a doctor and you're a farm girl. He won't marry you."

"He asked me and I've said yes," Colleen replied. "Why wouldn't he want to marry me?"

Just then Mrs. Branson came rushing back to the yard. She had spotted the mother and daughter having what looked like a heated discussion from the neighbors. She had gotten back as quickly as she could.

"Ladies, there is no sense in arguing in the yard for all the country side to watch. Let's go in the kitchen," Mrs. Branson said.

The women entered the kitchen and hung up their coats and hats to let the air clear for a moment.

"Did you know about all this?" Mrs. Drake asked looking at Mrs. Branson.

"Rory told me everything the day I arrived. He's determined to marry Colleen, so he says."

"Colleen, how are you going to associate with those fancy friends of his? You know he's stayed with Lord and Lady Grantham more than once. You can't go there. How can you be a proper wife to him?"

"Mummy, Rory doesn't live in a fancy house. This is a cottage by the sea with chickens and a dog. He lives in the country. If his fancy friends come to visit, we'll make do."

"And what about the people in the town? The doctor's wife is someone to be looked up to. Do you think they'll accept a milkmaid from Yorkshire? One that lifted her skirts for a boy in the barn?"

"Mummy, I didn't," Colleen almost screamed. She jumped up and bolted out the door.

"That was a terrible thing to say," Mrs. Branson rebuffed Colleen's mother before she got her coat and headed out to find the girl. She could just see Colleen's bright blonde hair moving through the rolling dunes towards the beach. The clouds were starting to gather and it looked like it would rain at any second. Mrs. Branson hurried after her.

"Colleen, come back," she called. Colleen just kept running. Mrs. Branson could hear the sobs across the dunes. By the time Mrs. Branson found the girl almost half an hour had passed. The rain had let go and was coming down in driving sheets.

"I didn't, I didn't," she sobbed as Mrs. Branson held her.

"There, there, of course you didn't," she said. "You'll be a fine wife for my boy. Come now we have to go back in where it's warm."

Colleen finally got to her feet and headed back to the house. She was trembling uncontrollably by the time she got back. Mrs. Branson got her out of her wet cloths and dressed her in one of her own nightgowns. She wrapped the girl in a blanket and was toweling her hair when her mother finally put in an appearance.

"I'm sorry," Mrs. Drake said quietly. "I was taking my own problems out on you and I shouldn't have."

"I didn't, Mummy. Why can't you believe me? Robbie forced me. It was awful."

Colleen's teeth were still chattering. The kettle finally came to a boil and Mrs. Branson moved to make some tea. She set a cup in front of Colleen and took out her own hair so it would dry.

Mrs. Drake finally spoke. "Your father… cheated on me. I saw him in the barn with the other woman. She was pretty and well dressed and everything I'm not." She paused for a moment. "I was with your father before I should have been. I got pregnant and we were married soon after. My life has been hard with too much work and not enough time to think about hair and dresses and looking pretty. I'm sorry I doubted you."

"I only accepted Robbie because I didn't want to be a burden," Colleen said. "I loved Rory the whole time, but I though he didn't like me. I want to marry him and be a good wife. He loves me too."

"Do you even know what love is?" Mrs. Drake asked her daughter.

"Maybe the question is, Do you?" Colleen replied.