Chapter Three

The farmhouse kitchen was just as it always had been – flagstone floor, a large fireplace in one corner, and a cast-iron range with ovens in the opposite corner. The wooden beams of the ceiling had bunches of herbs hung upside down to dry, while a cabinet that held pots and pans sat against the long wall. Dishes and glassware were in a small alcove just to the left of the stove.

The hand-hewn table was in the middle of the room, and there sat an apparition that had no relation at all to the scene. A woman – one of the most beautiful Sharon had seen - was sitting there, with creamy porcelain skin, large summer sky blue eyes, and rose-colored lips and cheeks. Her dark blonde hair was elaborately put up, with a pink bow at the back. The apparition's dress was white polished cotton, with stripes of pink and blue flowers, the garment festooned with lace. There were pearl drops at her ears, and a magnificent triple row pearl necklace.

Even as Sharon was agog at the woman – who looked like the English ladies back in Ireland – she was startled to see her children. Tara was sitting on the woman's knees, playing with some biscuit dough, while Sean was next to her, working sums in his notebook.

"Mum look! I am making my name." Tara announced smiling happily when she saw her mother. Her blonde curls were loose around her face, while her dark blue eyes shone with happiness. "Miz Prisila is helping." Sharon now saw how Tara had worked the dough into the letters of her name.

"Good morning Mama." Sean looked up from his notebook, his copper-colored hair gleaming in the light coming through the windows. "I didn't finish my sums last night, but Miss Priscilla is helping me. She is ever so smart." Sharon had been glad to see love in son's blue eyes when he saw her, but now she saw admiration as he looked over at the woman seated at the table.

"Sharon lass sit down." Mother Flynn came bustling over, with a cup of tea, along with milk and sugar. She also brought oatcakes and jam made from berries grown in the kitchen garden. "You need to keep your strength up, as you are working way too hard." It was delivered with a contemptuous sniff, followed by several words in Gaelic. Sharon felt the all too familiar knot in her stomach start to form.

"Hello, I am so glad to meet the mother of these delightful children" The woman greeted her, with genuine warmth in her eyes. Sharon felt the knot loosen, as her children were praised. It made her even more curious as to who was sitting opposite her at the table.

"We didn't get the chance to meet yesterday, because I retired early." The woman laughed as she indicated her waist and Sharon realized that she was with child. "I am Nick's wife, Priscilla." She held out her hand, and Sharon took it, noting how soft and white it was, as well as the dazzling ruby and diamond ring and gold band. Once again, she thought of the ladies at the castle in Ireland.

"I am Sharon Flynn; Jimmy Callahan is my uncle. I have been taking care of the house for him." Sharon announced with pride and firmness – one of the things she liked about America is that everyone could be someone. "Thank you for keeping Sean and Tara busy; and helping Sean."

"Oh, I have enjoyed it so much." Priscilla replied with a smile, a dimple flashing in her chin. "I used to be a schoolteacher; that is how I came to Stockton and met Nick." She laughed, as her blue eyes lit up as Priscilla mentioned her husband. Sharon, even as she was surprised to hear that this woman had ever worked, wondered privately what it would be like to be married to a man who could cause such a reaction.

"Are you doing all right? With your condition?" Sharon remembered her manners, as she recalled what it was like to be that far along with a child. It touched her that Priscilla had even come to the wedding but took it as a sign of how high in their estimation the Barkley's held Uncle Jimmy.

"Thank you for your concern." Priscilla's smile was warm. "Actually, this time around things are easier; three times is the charm seems like." It took Sharon a minute to comprehend the remark.

"Tis not your first?" In truth Sharon thought Priscilla looked very young, in spite of her elegant and sophisticated clothes. She then wished she could take back the remark, as she realized how impolite it was of her to make such an observation.

"I have two boys; Thomas Henry is three, and Alden is a year-and-a-half." Priscilla laughed good naturedly, as she stroked Tara's blonde curls. "I am hoping for a girl, as they are lots of fun." Sharon noticed how her daughter smiled up at Priscilla and giggled. It made her wonder what it would be like to have children and really be able to enjoy just being a mother; not worry about everything else.

"You said that you were a teacher in Stockton? They have a school?" It was the thought of her children's well-being that stopped her from feeling sorry for herself. Her decision had been based in a large part on what her children needed; more than the Irish settlement could offer.

"Yes, there is the Stockton General School, which is open to children of all residents of Stockton. That is where I taught, and I now sit on the school board, along with Victoria, Rufus Morton – a local landowner, and Reverend Peterson." Priscilla replied, as she helped Tara to lay out the dough letters to spell her name.

Sharon was entranced at what Priscilla was doing – making a learning experience out of something so mundane. She would never have thought of that and could see how the woman must have been an excellent teacher. Even as she had the thought, Sharon recalled that Priscilla was not teaching anymore.

"Who is the teacher now? You said you were on the School Board?" Sharon wanted to get the answers. She hoped she was not coming across as too strident, in her quest.

"The School Board oversees the school – the curriculum, the teacher, and of course making sure the needs of the students are met." Priscilla did not seem to find anything amiss in her questions, Sharon noted. "The current teacher, Eugenia Lennox, is amazing. She graduated from Mount Holyoke, one of the oldest colleges for women in America. Eugenia taught for several years before marrying her husband, a professor of theology."

"Her husband spent the last five years of his life at the University of Heidelberg in Germany. While there she studied the German system of education, which is very progressive, especially in regard to young children." Priscilla went on to talk about what that meant, finishing up with "Eugenia, after being widowed moved to Stockton to be near her son and his family. She had lots of time on her hands though, so was glad to take the position of teacher."

"The school sounds wonderful." Sharon in truth was awestruck at what she was hearing. It reaffirmed her decision was the right one, even without the other issues of her life. She looked down at her plate and saw the oatcake; suddenly the knot was gone from her stomach, and she felt hungry.

"You are very interested in the school." Priscilla looked at her closely, and Sharon belatedly realized that for all of the woman's soft elegance, she was no one's fool. It caused Priscilla to rise even higher in her estimation.

"At the beginning of July, I, along with my children and Mother Flynn" Sharon indicated the tall grey-haired woman with the green shawl, by the oven. "We are moving to Stockton, as I am taking over management of the Sunnyside Café."

"How exciting! I knew the Morgan's were looking for someone to help out; Julia's health has not been good." Priscilla replied, and Sharon nodded her head. She went onto explain that since her Uncle Jimmy was getting married, his wife would not want another woman in the kitchen. Another family in the settlement knew the Morgan's and had recommended Sharon for the position.

"Well your children will love the school, and once you are settled, we will have you all out to the ranch." Priscilla declared enthusiastically. "I completely understand why you want a change." She laughed and gave Sharon a knowing wink.

"Your dress is so pretty." Sharon changed the subject, not wanting Priscilla to elaborate any more. In truth the thought of wearing something so fetching, while being with child, was making Sharon envious. Her pregnancies, being back-to-back, had been spent in almost thread bare cotton dresses.

"Sharon, thank you. One of the benefits of Stockton is that we have an amazing dress shop – Penny Rose. It was originally owned by Heath's wife Sarah; you know Heath, Nick's brother?" Priscilla paused and tilted her head, almost as if she were waiting for Sharon's reaction.

In reply Sharon inclined her head, trying not to look too interested. Finally, maybe some details about Heath's wife. To distract attention, Sharon broke off a piece of the oatcake, and buttered it, before putting the preserves on it.

"Heath's wife and her mother started it; Sarah's mother is the Penny and is the most amazing seamstress. Just over a year ago though, she married our Sheriff, Fred Madden." Priscilla explained, going to tell how the business had been sold to a French-Canadian woman, Eloise Figueiredo. "She actually worked under Charles Worth in Paris." Even Sharon knew about Charles Worth – she had been a lady's maid at the castle before leaving Ireland. However, right now she was more interested in Sarah, Heath's wife.

"I saw Heath last night at the party" Sharon left it at that; "Did his wife not accompanying him? I will say that I was busy in the kitchen." That sounded plausible; after all she had not met Priscilla last night. Yes, Priscilla had retired early, but maybe Heath's wife had also.

"No Sarah didn't come with us. She has business interests in San Francisco." Priscilla replied, suddenly looking over at Sean's sums. "Do you have somewhere to live in Stockton? If not we can certainly help you." Sharon noted how guarded Priscilla's eyes were. Clearly something was off with Heath and his wife, but Sharon could see that she would not find out today. Further she was not sure if she wanted to know, based on her interaction with Heath last night.

"The Morgan's found a nice townhome for us, and are offsetting some of the rent. But thank you." Sharon rushed to reassure Priscilla, not wanting to come across as a charity case. "It is getting late, and school will be starting soon." Sharon hurriedly finished her oatcake and jumped up, not having touched her tea.

"You haven't even had any of your tea, and I know that you have a long day ahead of you." Priscilla lifted Tara from her lap, and stood up, looking even more of a vision in her dress and jewelry. Sharon could see that her daughter regarded her as princess from one of her books. "May I walk the children to school? I would love the exercise."

Sharon became aware of Mother Flynn in the corner, standing up very straight, her thin lips pursed disapprovingly. She knew that her mother-in-law was not in favor of her decisions, but Sharon had persevered. Now, after talking to Priscilla she knew was doing the right thing for her children; Paul would never have managed anything at all for them if he was still alive.

"Only Sean goes to school. It is run by our Parish Priest, who doesn't see the need for girls to go to school." Sharon looked Mother Flynn right in the eye, not caring what she thought. "In his opinion girls only need to learn cooking, sewing, and basic housekeeping, so as to be good wives and mothers." She had been lucky enough to escape that trap because of the Sasannach (*); she wanted as much if not more for her children.

"Well then, can Tara and I walk Sean to school, and afterwards spend the morning together? I am sure we can come up with some interesting things to do." Priscilla either had not noticed Sharon's reaction or was being polite and ignoring it; either way Sharon was touched.

"Oh of course and thank you." Sharon replied, truly grateful because she knew she had a lot of work ahead of her to get ready for the wedding festivities. Having the children taken care of, and giving Mother Flynn a break, was truly a blessing. She said a silent Hail Mary in thanksgiving; yes, her life was hard but not as hard as it had been when her husband was alive.

*Sasannach – the Gaelic term for the English in Ireland.