Shannon's Daughter Read Online Free PDF Page A

“This young woman is your daughter,
Michael?   Why, I was expecting a little
girl.   I’m so pleased to meet you, dear.   How are you enjoying your visit to
Ireland?”  
    “Frankly
it was pretty awful until Kenny got
here.   But now things are going along
much better.”   She cast a sideways glance
in his direction, her lips twitching irrepressibly, before going on sincerely.   “You might want to hurry and freshen up, Aunt
Eloise, while the bathroom’s free.   Once
the kids start lining up before supper, it’s every man for himself .”
    As
Kendall carried her bags upstairs, Eloise eyed the less than grand décor of the
farmhouse with something close to fear.   “Patrick suggested we take rooms in town, perhaps near Michael, but I
thought it would be more convenient if we stayed here.”   He noted the nervous quaver in her voice.
    “Don’t
worry, Mother.   It’s a bit rustic, but
everyone’s quite civilized.   Once you get
settled in, I’m sure you’ll manage.   You’ll have to get into the spirit of being a Shannon sooner or
later.”   Opening the door to the bedroom,
he led the way in.   “See, Aunt Adelaide
made sure you have everything you need, including a wash basin and a pitcher of
nice fresh well water.   As Peg said,
there’s only one bathroom, currently shared by the fifteen of us.”
    Eloise’s
dismayed gasp was exhaled in a resolute sigh.   “You seem to be enjoying yourself, dear.   How nice that you’ve formed a friendship with Michael
and his little girl.”
    He
grinned.   “I wouldn’t call her that to
her face.   Peg Shannon may look like an
adolescent girl, but beneath those braids, she’s far more intelligent than any
of her older cousins, and a great deal more fun to be with.   ”
    “That
may be the case, Kenny dear, but I hope you haven’t snubbed the others.   I’d hoped you’d find you had something in
common with Sean’s youngest, Jack, is it?   And what about the McGill girls?   You have been paying proper attention to them, I hope?   You are, after all, a guest in their home.”
    On any
other day, he would have bristled at his mother’s tone, but he recognized that
today, faced with meeting the Shannon clan, her insecurities were in control.   Propriety was all important to Eloise, as was
just the right blend of admiration and gratitude toward those who might improve
her previously tenuous social and financial standing.   He’d hope now that she and Patrick were
married she might start to relax and enjoy her new-found security.
    “Mother,
please don’t fret.   Everyone here is so
friendly, so hail-fellow-well-met, there’s no need to walk on eggshells.   Jack and I get along well enough, and as for Maeve
and Agnes, they’re just typical girls, although quite different sorts of
typical, as you’ll soon see.   All of the
Shannons are so bent on having a good time together, there’s no call to make a
fuss over any one of them.   Now why don’t
you freshen up and rest for a bit?   I
assume Patrick has been waylaid by Aunt Addie.   She’s been as excited as a child all day, waiting for him to get here.”
    “They’re
very close, only two years apart in age, I think.   Patrick says since she’s the baby, he’s
always watched out for her.   Losing her
husband last year and being left here with the farm, well I’m afraid Patrick feels called upon to step in and help her
decide how she’s going to manage on her own.”   During this sighing monologue, she’d slipped off her shoes and stretched
wearily on the bed.   “Kenny, dear, could
you dampen one of those little towels for me?   I’m afraid all this traveling has quite worn me down.”
    After
draping the towel gently over her eyes, he lowered the window shade and was
just about to make his escape when she stretched a languorous hand in his
general direction.   Patting the mattress,
she waved him closer.   “Sit with me for a
bit, please.   We don’t get