Read Online Fields of Home by Marita Conlon-Mckenna - Free Book Online Page B

Sarah finally, adjusting her bonnet.
    With great reluctance, Peggy stood up from the park bench where they were sitting, realising that this was probably the very last time that she would spend her day off with her friend.
    Sarah busied herself cooking a meal once they got back to the apartment. James and John were both there, and they were full of excitement telling Peggy of their future plans.
    ‘We’ve enough put by to buy acres and acres,’ said James proudly, ‘and, God willing, John and I will build a fine house of wood for all of us.’
    ‘We’ll have to clear the land, break the soil. It’ll all be new,’ John joined in. ‘Imagine, Peggy, we won’t be tenants like we’d be back home, we’ll own our own land. What we claim will be ours! This is surely a greatland of opportunity for Irishmen and Irishwomen.’
    Peggy helped Sarah drain the potatoes and slice the boiled beef. Then they all pulled up their chairs, and said Grace before they began to eat.
    The food was good but Peggy couldn’t eat. She tried to smile as she listened to all the exciting plans.
    ‘When are you going?’ she asked finally.
    The others were silent for a few seconds.
    ‘We have things to organise,’ James explained. ‘Horses and a wagon to buy, business to wind up here, but all going well we plan to leave within the next two to three weeks. We must go while the weather is good so we’ll be settled by winter.’
    They talked on and on for hours. Peggy was very reluctant to leave, aware that she could not guarantee another Sunday off before they departed. But Sarah was getting sleepy, her eyes closing heavily.
    ‘Sarah! You must go to bed,’ said John. ‘You’ve a long day’s work tomorrow.’
    ‘Oh, I’m sorry,’ sighed Sarah. ‘I’m such bad company. At the moment I seem to be tired and sleepy all the time.’
    Peggy stood up. ‘I should be getting back to Rushton. I’ve stayed far too late.’ She tried to hide the sadness in her voice. ‘I’d best be going, Sarah, I have a long walk home. Luckily, it’s a grand night.’
    ‘When will I see you again?’ asked her friend.
    Peggy considered. ‘I’m not sure, but I’ll be bound to get an hour or two off or a half-day soon. I’ll come and see you before you go, I promise.’
    As she bade them goodbye, she noticed that James had disappeared. She was surprised to find him waiting below, outside on the street, with the delivery cart he and John used for work and one of the horses.
    ‘Let me drive you home, Peggy!’ he said, helping her up on the front seat beside him.
    They drove through the almost deserted city. James was silent, lost in his own thoughts. He was the quieter of the two brothers, more serious and reserved than John. As they drove through the dark countryside he began to tell Peggy about his dreams of the prairies and plains, of the rolling blue skies, of fields of wheat and corn, of the herds of buffalo and of the log cabin they would build. ‘There’ll be a polished wood floor and a kitchen where the sun will shine through all day long,’ he said excitedly, ‘and a stove for cooking and warmth, and store cupboards to hold provisions that will last for months – they say the winters are hard there and you can be snowed in – and a fine, big, solid, wooden table for family and folks to sit and eat and talk at.’
    ‘It sounds lovely,’ said Peggy dreamily.
    ‘Come winter, there’ll be a blazing log fire and some comfortable chairs close by, and a table to hold a lampand shelves for books.’
    He had slowed the horse down so it was almost walking. Peggy could feel his grey-blue eyes staring at her – lucky it was too dark for him to notice her blush. James was handsome, with a narrow face and kind eyes. His hair was jet black like Sarah’s, and always seemed to need a trim. He was tall and rangy and kind of clumsy. He was a hard worker, his hands rough and calloused from heavy labouring. She had known him since they had sailed on the