The Bairn of Brianag

He moved his arm and put the banjo away; then took the reins from me. Loneliness overwhelmed me. Though I was now Robbie's wife, I felt as though he was farther away from me than when I had been at Gillean.

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It was quite late when we arrived at Fort Christopher and I was relieved to climb down from the wagon. Robbie found lodgings for us in a tavern at once; the landlady knew him. He saw me to the room and left Rabbit and me there, saying that he would go to the fort for news.

The landlady brought water and I bathed quickly behind a screen, and then dressed for supper. Robbie did not return. Our hostess brought our supper to the room. Rabbit returned the dishes. Robbie did not come. At last I went to bed.

The next morning I was awaked by the noise of horses and wagons in the street; it was light outside. I sent Rabbit out to see if Robbie was in the tavern; she returned to tell me that he was not. I sent for my breakfast. After I had eaten, I dressed and took Rabbit with me to walk about the village and perhaps visit with Mrs. Johnson, Madam Fletcher's friend and our hostess of last summer. We strolled slowly down the street, and as it had been already dark when we arrived the night before, I did not know which way to go for the Johnson's home.

We could see the fort above the village; I decided to go that way. Perhaps I would find Robbie along the way. Really, he was very inconsiderate, leaving me alone, without news. If I had not felt so ill, I would have burned with anger toward him. As it was, I wanted to see him, to talk to him, to learn what we were to do next.

The road was quiet, the early morning fervor having died down; I saw a horseman coming toward us and recognized the horse first, then the rider. "Kevin!" I said.

He leapt from the horse and strode to where I stood, enfolding me in his arms.

"Sister!" he said. "Can it be true? You and Robbie-married!"

I looked up at him as he released me. "Yes, Kevin, it is," I said.

He stared down at me, his blue eyes searching mine. "I received word while still in Orangeburg," he said. "I heard that you were on your way to Wateree, and I have come straight away, hoping to intercept you here."

"And so you have!" I said.