Fireflies

by P. S. Bartlett

  “So how are your folks?” Eli asked leaning up on his elbow to look at Teagan as she hopped up onto the flatbed of the wagon with him and sat.

  “Well, my ma has put me in charge of Ennis for most of the day from now on. She wants him watched over every waking hour to make sure he stays safe,” Teagan said, rolling her eyes.

  “Why wouldn’t he be safe? I don’t understand.”

  “See, that was my point of view as well but I surely didn’t speak it to my ma. She has the temper of a bull,” Teagan laughed. “I believe it is just in case anyone gets wind of what he did here and it starts some sort of panic.”

  “I’m still not sure I understand but I’m trying. Maybe she thinks people will come from all over and want him to touch them. Maybe she’s afraid they’d even try to take him,” Eli said now sitting up and fully engaged in their discussion.

  “I doubt that. She would not allow him to leave the house if she thought that way for the simple fact I certainly wouldn’t be able to stop a mob of people from taking him,” Teagan thought hard for a minute and realized she truly hadn’t looked at this as being as serious as it is. She knew that there were heaps of sick people in the world but she hadn’t thought beyond the boundaries of Plymouth.

  “Teagan, what if someone knew and they went into Wilkes-Barre and sent a telegraph to someone? How long do you think it would take before everyone in America knew?” Eli said in a fearsome tone.

  “Eli, stop it. You’re starting to frighten me,” Said Teagan as she ran to the barn to check on Ennis.

  “Teagan come back! I was just teasing you!” Eli shouted.

  Ennis was fine and was still playing with the kittens. Their mother had returned so he was now giving her equal attention. Teagan backed away and strutted back over to Eli and gave him a whack on the arm.

  “Well what was that for?” Eli said with a chuckle.

  Teagan folded her arms tightly in front of her and turned her back to him.

  “Awww, don’t be sore, Teag,” he said as he climbed down from the wagon and placed his hands on her shoulders. “Can I have one of those kisses you promised me now?”

  Teagan smiled and turned around to face him. “Naw, maybe later when you come to call. You had better get to town and help your da. I’ll see you tonight?” she asked.

  “Well sure. I’ll be around right after supper. Will that be all right?” Eli asked sounding very wounded and disappointed.

  “That will be perfect,” She said. “Ennis! Time to go home now!” she called towards the barn.

  “Coming!” he shouted back as he came running.

  “Goodbye, Eli!” said Ennis as Teagan took his hand and they made their way toward home.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Fagan had borrowed the carriage this evening to visit Mary and had just pulled away down the road as Eli arrived. They tipped their hats in passing like two young gentlemen and continued on their way in opposite directions. Eli had taken a full bath when he returned from his father’s blacksmith shop. His hair was clean and dabbed lightly with some of his father’s scented oil and he had combed it straight back away from his face. He wore a fresh clean shirt, bow tie and striped brown trousers. He even put on freshly laundered drawers. That accessory he would of course keep to himself. His suspenders matched his tie and he’d cleaned his shoes and donned a vest and boiler man cap.

  Eli stepped down from the carriage and marched up the front steps and knocked on the door. He hadn’t noticed Owen sitting in his old porch chair until he spoke.

  “Well good evenin’ Eli. Aren’t ya’ lookin’ fit?” said Owen, sitting with Ennis in his lap.

  Eli was startled and jumped a bit as he heard Owen speak but managed to reply thoughtfully. “Good evening Dr. Whelan, Ennis. I’m here to call for Teagan, sir.”

  “I certainly hope so, son. I was about to check the date and time as I thought we were late for church!” Owen teased.

  Eli smiled nervously but he was certainly in on the joke as he knew he hadn’t ever dressed this well, even for church.

  “Will Teagan be bringing Ennis along this evening Dr. Whelan?” Eli asked.

  “Did ya’ want Ennis along on yer first outin’ Eli?” Owen teased again.

  “Well, um actually, sir, I’d prefer if it were Teagan and me alone. N-n-not that it has to be sir, but…” Eli stuttered in which Owen found a great deal of charm and humor. He slid Ennis from his lap and rose from his chair and patted Eli hard on the shoulder.

  “I’ll fetch her for ya’ son. Come with me,” Owen said as he opened the front door and lead Eli into the house. Ennis took Eli’s hand as Teagan had instructed him too right after supper and walked with him into the parlor.

  Most often, Eli and Teagan had spent their time together out of doors. Eli could count on one hand the number of times he’d actually been inside of the Whelan home and he was always impressed. There was a fine living in the medical field and although their home was comfortable and warm, it was well decorated and much larger than his home. Oil paintings, fine rugs and hand painted lamps were only a sampling of the esthetic beauty of the home. However for Eli, there was only one thing of beauty beneath this roof which interested him, and she was descending the stairs.

  Teagan too had taken a full bath and managed to convince Patrick to keep Ennis amused while she soaked; she’d then enlisted Liffey to help her with the rest. She was wearing a cream colored cotton day dress with small rose colored flowers and fastened from the waist up in the front with small brown buttons. It had a modest neckline trimmed with soft lace which wrapped from the bosom around to the back of the collar. The dress was Liffey’s and Teagan thought it the least offensive of the lot. However, wearing the bodice and bustle was still a painfully difficult experience for her, although it did accentuate her thin waist. She had turned and posed in the full length mirror as Liffey looked on and they’d laughed together at the sight of Teagan in such a style. They had also paused in admiration as well, since even Teagan had to admit that her hourglass was quite attractive. She’d even allowed Liffey to pin the matching bonnet on her head and pull up her hair.

  “My heart truly goes out to poor Eli this evening, Teagan,” Liffey said just before Teagan opened the bedroom door to greet Eli downstairs.

  “Eli? Why Eli?” Teagan frowned.

  “Because he is about to lose his heart forever and I fear you may not realize the scope and power of such a thing, as to hold a man’s heart in the palm of your hands,” Liffey said with a heavy sigh.

  “Liffey, I’m sure no woman fully understands the power she wields, since men rarely speak freely from their hearts. That is a woman’s quality. However should Eli hand me his heart and I am fully aware of it, I promise I will place it gently in my purse and try not to sit on it in the carriage,” Teagan said smartly, trying to lighten her sister’s melancholy mood. “Besides, Eli isn’t so easily slain. I’m sure he’ll be surprised but I doubt I’ll be bringing his heart home in my bag.”

  Eli swallowed hard as he stood in the parlor holding his cap in his hands. Teagan was a vision and he blinked several times to make sure he was undoubtedly looking at Teagan Whelan. The carefully placed steps, the perfect posture, the upswept hair and gloved hands mesmerized him as he endeavored to commit this moment to his memory and treasure it for all of his days.

  “Teagan,” was the only word he managed to produce for several seconds.

  “Hello, Eli. Fortunately we will not have Ennis along with us this evening as my da relieved me of my duty until sundown,” Teagan said plainly as she gave Eli a wink.

  “Well, shall we go?” Eli said as he had finally regained his composure and offered her his arm.

  “Eli, what’s that smell? Oh and you look absolutely scoured this evening. Is that a new hat you have there?” Teagan was in a devilish mood and she realized Eli was completely out of sorts. Although she felt a bit sorry for him, the obvious loss of his senses helped her to understand Liffey’s comment. She knew she was toying
with him but fortunately for her, she was much better than he at masking her own nervousness and she was swooning inside at how dapper he was this evening. It appeared Eli was more easily slain than she imagined.

  “Good evening, Da.” Teagan said as they stepped out on to the porch to leave.

  “Heaven’s to Betsy! Is that me Teagan or is it me Sarah?” said Owen as he rose quickly to his feet.

  “Oh Da, don’t be silly, you know it’s me,” said Teagan as she swayed her bustle slightly.

  “Ah Teagan, you are the picture of your mother the day we met. Oh Eli me boy. You have me condolences,” Said Owen taking a bow.

  Teagan laughed at her father’s good humor and kissed him lightly on the cheek and Eli gave him a solid handshake, as they set off for the carriage.

  Once he had seated Teagan, she turned and asked him where they were going. Eli said he wanted to take her for a ride and show her something very special to him. They had already been traveling for about twenty minutes when Teagan reached over and took Eli’s hand since he had not yet taken hers. She had looked at him many times as they rode along, chatting about their day and she shared her adventure with Liffey as she tried on all of her dresses. She’d even mentioned to Eli how she wished Liffey would find someone of her own.

  “Are you sure you should be doing that Teagan?” Eli asked nervously.

  “Doing what?” Teagan asked innocently.

  Eli looked down at their hands wound together and replied, “this,” while raising their joined hands in the air.

  “Oh Eli, it’s still me under all of this fabric you know. Besides, neither of us has ever courted before and I don’t know any more than you do what we can and cannot do. Well, I have a pretty good idea of what we cannot do but I don’t think holding hands is breaking any laws.”

  “Here it is, Teagan,” Eli beamed as he stopped the carriage next to a beautiful flat meadow.

  “What’s this?” Teagan asked.

  “This is my land,” Eli replied proudly.

  “Your land?” Teagan asked.

  Eli hopped down from the carriage and swiftly walked around to help Teagan down from her seat. Teagan placed her hands on his shoulders as he lifted her at the waist and lowered her carefully to the ground in front of him but didn’t let go except to remove the cap from his head and toss it into the carriage.

  “This is mine, Teagan. I bought it today,” Eli said, turning to look at the wide open meadow and then back to look at her.

  “Oh, Eli. It’s practically Heaven,” She said as she smiled up at him, sliding her hands from his shoulders, down under his arms and around his slim waist.

  “I want us to live here someday,” he said as he pulled her in close to him until they were pressed lightly together in an embrace.

  “Someday…” Teagan said as she pressed her cheek to his chest.

  “I’ll be eighteen in two months. Soon I’ll have enough money saved to put a house here for us. Then by next summer, I can open my own shop and…”

  Teagan loosened her arms from around him and backed away slowly, taking him by the hands.

  “Eli, I can start medical school next fall. I’ll be seventeen in October and I want you to know now I may not be ready to marry you until I’m out of school,” Teagan said sadly as she knew now Eli was set on marrying her as soon as he could. She felt he’d marry her today had this land already had a house built on it.

  “I’ll wait, Teagan. I’ll wait. I know there’s no one else for me and if I have to wait until you finish your schooling, I will. Just promise me you’ll wait too and nothing will change once you go away,” Eli said pulling her back into his arms and holding tightly onto her.

  “Nothing will change, Eli. Now let’s stop all of this worrisome talk and take a walk on your land,” she said as she pulled back and took his hand.

  Together they stood at the edge of the road lifted their right foot and stepped down simultaneously into the grass where Eli’s land began. He could not contain his joy as he picked her up in his arms filling the evening air with laughter. She clung to his neck and tossed back her head and he began to spin her around and around.

  “How about that kiss now?” Eli said as he stopped spinning, still holding her up in his arms, her feet dangling a foot off of the grass.

  “Yes, how about that kiss?” she replied as he covered her mouth with his and kissed her with every passionate thought he’d ever had of her. He pushed and pulled at her lips for what seemed like an eternity and then moved to kiss her cheeks, her nose, her eyes and back again. He never wanted to let go as he’d never felt anything so overpowering. He could feel the strength draining from his body as he slowly lowered her to the ground but continued to seek out kiss after kiss and she received them with equal zeal, pushing and pulling as well. Eli’s hands pressed against her back as she pulled at her clean white gloves and tossed them to ground so she could touch Eli’s face. His full lips felt like pillows of velvet against hers and although she had reached such a fevered level of excitement she could barely stay on her feet, she held onto his neck, as her naked hands could not let go of the warm feeling of his bare skin against hers.

  “Oh, Teagan, I love you. I love you more than life,” Eli said loudly as he kissed the supple flesh beneath her ear which she obliged him by tilting her head and then tossing it back to offer him her smooth pink throat and the small bit of her exposed collarbone, which he devoured until he’d nearly encircled her whole neck.

  “If this is what love feels like Eli, then yes, it truly is love I have for you and only you. I do love you Eli. I do!” she replied as he found her mouth again and stayed there until he opened his eyes and realized the sun was close to setting.

  “I curse you sun!” Eli shouted, shaking his fist at the horizon.

  His arms wrapped around Teagan one last time as he lifted her back into the carriage. Thankfully his horse needed little guidance on the way back to the Whelans’ as most of the ride consisted of more of the same passionate declarations and several mishaps of misplaced hands which although she was usually very modest, a few times she pretended not to notice until she was afraid he’d think her too fast.

  Once the Whelan home came into view, Teagan pulled herself together and placed her gloves back on her hands. Eli had returned her how he had found her but he had most certainly found so much more of her this evening than he’d ever imagined. As he helped her down from her seat, she saw Liffey standing on the front porch waiting for her. She shook Eli’s hand and he climbed back up into the carriage and in a moment was on his way.

  Teagan was still quite lightheaded and hadn’t yet regained her composure completely as she glided up the porch steps under her sister’s prying gaze.

  “Well?” asked Liffey.

  Teagan reached down and took her purse strings in her hands and pulled them tightly, giving her sister a smile.

  “Goodnight, Liffey,” was Teagan’s reply as she sweetly kissed her sister’s cheek and floated into the house.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Teagan walked through the parlor past her parents and began her ascent of the stairs when she heard her mother’s voice calling to her.

  “Teagan? Teagan? Teagan!” Sarah called out, surprised at her daughter’s sudden hearing loss.

  “Oh Ma! I’m sorry! I didn’t hear you,” she said as she turned and started back down.

  “How was your evening dear?” Sarah inquired, looking up from her sewing.

  “It was lovely, Ma,” Teagan said dreamily with a sigh.

  “We couldn’t tell,” Owen said, peeking up from his newspaper.

  “Would you like to share anything dear?” Sarah asked.

  “Share?” replied Teagan as her mind flew back into Eli’s passionate kisses and her own and felt her face grow warm.

  “Yes dear. Where did you go?” Sarah asked.

  “Eli has purchased a lovely plot of land just south of here by about twenty minutes. Not far at all. He took me there to show it to me,�
� Teagan replied, relieved this inquiry would not involve her having to divulge any other details or so she thought.

  “Has he made any plans for this land?” Sarah asked, continuing this line of questioning quite insistently.

  “Well, yes. He told me he plans to build his house there soon,” Teagan replied as she turned back towards the stairs in an effort to deter her mother from further questioning.

  “Teagan?” inquired Sarah, “Did Eli already give you his promise and intentions?”

  Teagan stood with her back turned for a moment. She had not thought Eli’s words a promise but more a wish or a goal. She recognized she had been so caught up in the romance of the evening she hadn’t even realized she had in fact agreed to Eli’s eager suggestion if not by her words then certainly by her actions and her confession of love for him.

  “I think so, Ma. I mean to say, yes. However I do not yet consider this any sort of engagement or contract between us although I have no intention of courting anyone but Eli indefinitely,” Teagan replied in hopes this would close the discussion and allow her to finally get out of these uncomfortable clothes and get to bed.

  “Wait, Teagan, I’ll come up and help you out of your dress and we can chat alone,” said Sarah as she sat her sewing aside and gave Owen a look as if to say ‘the rest is between mother and daughter’ and she followed Teagan upstairs to her room.

  Liffey came in from the porch and walked into the parlor. She sat on the sofa waiting for her father to notice her. After a few moments, she released a heavy sigh. Owen looked up from his reading and acknowledged her but lowered his eyes again and went back to the news.

  “Fagan is home. I just saw him pulling around to the barn,” she spoke but her father’s only response was a nod.

  “Da?” Liffey asked quietly. “Am I altogether ugly?”

  “What?” Owen said as she finally had his full attention.

  “I said am I…”