Travels in Eire #20

Cailin was awakened by a knock at the door.

“Hey, girlie, are you awake in there?” It was Darren's voice.

Cailin jumped out of the bed and opened the door just a crack and could see Darren's smiling face turn into a chuckle as he saw her.

“Was last night too much for you?” he asked.

Cailin blushed telling Darren that she was just enjoying the comfort of the bed more then usual.

“Give me a few minutes to shower and dress and I'll be ready,” she whispered to Darren, thinking it was earlier than it really was.

“Better get a move on if we are going to do any sightseeing today. I don't have all day, you know,” he kidded her. “Breakfast will be ready when you are. Mum is off to work and Da is doing the cooking, so don't rush.”

Cailin showered quickly and pulled her long curly hair back so she was ready faster than usual. Jeans and a sweater were the fashion of the day since this was the windy Connemara Coast. After a quick check to make sure her room was not looking messy, she headed to the kitchen.

Philip turned from the stove to give Cailin a hearty welcome and handed her a plate piled will eggs, toast and Irish bacon. “Eat up lassie, you'll need that to hold you for the day that Darren has planned.”

“And what all would that be, Darren?” Cailin turned to Darren for an answer.

“Cailin you know that saying 'for me to know and for you to find out', well that's what you are in for.” Darren was holding back on his plans for the day, but had obviously shared with his Da.

“Guess I'll be the one to be surprised,” Cailin said in between bites of breakfast.

As Cailin and Darren finished eating, they headed out for a day traveling around the Connemara Coast. They headed west passing Rosslare, and turned north to Maum Cross and the Quiet Man Bridge. Many years earlier an American movie, The Quiet Man, had been filmed in this area and film sites were noted along the roads. At the intersection for Maum Cross they turned west toward Clifden. It was a beautiful ride through the countryside with rivers and streams meandering alongside with them as they drove. Cailin asked Darren several times to stop so she could take some pictures, realizing that she could never really capture the beauty of this land.

As they drove, Cailin realized that nothing had been said about the events of the night before. Maybe Darren was too drunk to remember? Maybe it really didn't mean anything to him. It was this sort of behavior in men that Cailin had come to despise, and why she had been so cautious with any men that she had met here in Ireland, or back in the States for that matter.

As they entered Clifden Darren didn’t stop in town but followed some signs pointing to Sky Road. The road was narrow and winding and Cailin was happy for the fact that she was not driving. As it passed the houses and buildings, the area opened up to hills on one side and an inlet from the ocean on the other. Darren followed the sign that said “upper” Sky Road as they climbed along the edge of the hillside. Cailin saw some horses in a corral and asked Darren to stop.

“Cailin, not horses, but Connemara ponies,” Darren gently corrected her. “Notice how they have a different look. And these young ones seem to be quite friendly, but watch out for the mare, she will be very protective of them.”

The white mare stood on a slight rise on the ground. She was incredible and looked majestic standing there. Not the beauty of a thoroughbred, but strong and sturdy. Cailin had heard about the Connemara ponies. They were working horses for the local farmers. Their legs were muscular and strong. Slightly shorter than most, but they stood with pride. There was a movement to keep the lineage pure. The younger ponies slowly moved to the fence, and welcomed some rubs on the nose, but were quickly shooed away by the mare.

As Cailin turned to head back to the car, Darren was right there facing her. He put his hands on her shoulders and started to pull her toward him. This time Cailin was not so easily manipulated. She had not been drinking and her defenses were not weakened.

“Wait a minute there boyo!” she stopped him in his tracks. “This may sound strange, but what exactly is going on here? Are you just using me while I’m here?” There was a bit of accusatory tone to her question.

Darren suddenly backed away, stunned. “Umm…. I don’t know what you mean,” he nervously responded.

“You darn well do know what I’m talking about, and I’m not about to be used just for your enjoyment,” Cailin was getting a little annoyed.

Darren looked at the ground as if he would find an answer in the rocks and pebbles under his feet. Suddenly this secure and confident man was stumbling to find words to explain himself. “Okay, I guess I had better fess up here. Cailin, I found you attractive since the beginning, but realized with you from America and the situation with my brother, I needed to keep this a friendship. Obviously, since last night after the pub, that has all changed. I’m not quite sure what happened, but I’m not thinking that friendship is going to be enough for me. You are a very special woman, and I feel very connected to you,” Darren finished again staring at the ground as if he was afraid to have their eyes meet.

“Darren, thank you, for being honest and forthright about this. I do like you too. Probably more that I should. And I’m not sure what is going to happen. At some point I’m going to have to return home. But for now, let’s enjoy this day together and this special connection,” she pulled Darren close and gave him a kiss on the cheek in hopes of allaying his concerns. As she pulled back a little he put his arms around her and pulled her close into another kiss. It was then, as Cailin returned that kiss that she realized how strong her feelings were for this man.