Wishes on the Wind by Elaine Barbieri Page A

face as he considered his wife's brimming eyes. He slid his arm around her shoulders. "I can see you meant well, and perhaps you've done well, dear. Who can tell?" Looking back at David, he continued. "Perhaps you're both right. I may have overreacted, but I do want you to remember that everyone in the valley has a sad story to tell if you'll listen to it. They're a crafty lot down there, and I don't want you to be taken in by them, or to go out of your way to try to court them, either. On the whole, they're not worth your effort."
        "Martin, that's a terrible thing to say!"
        "As far as the girl goes, she can remain in our employ as long as she does her job well. And, I appreciate the effort you took to try to help but, Letty" Pausing to press a light kiss to his wife's cheek, Martin Lang continued softly, "Next time, speak to me first, will you?"
        Letty smiled tremulously. "Yes, dear."
        Waiting only until the study door closed behind his wife a few minutes later, Martin turned to David with a frown.
        "What do you really think of all this, David?"
        Still stewing at the girl's sharp departing glance, David responded with uncharacteristic hesitation and an uncertain shrug.
        "Uncle Martin, there are some times when I think it would be best if I didn't think at all."
        "I'll not have a sister of mine workin' for them black-hearted Protestants! You'll not go back to that house, Meg! I'll not abide it!"
        "Sean, please!" Meghan darted a worried glance at the kitchen doorway where she expected her uncle to appear at any moment. She had waited for Sean to come home from his shift at the mine, her apprehension growing at the thought of his reaction to the position she had accepted that morning.
        "I thought you'd be glad that I'll be able to earn money toward our keep here. It may keep Uncle's mumbling down so Ma can have a little peace."
        "You'd work for them just to keep Uncle Timothy quiet?"
        "Father Matthew says it's a good opportunity for me. He says I'll learn a lot from working there."
        "Oh, is that what he says?" Sean gave a bitter laugh. "What'll you learn? How to cheat decent, honest men out of a fair wage, and to work them like slaves until they're ready to drop and they've not a thought left in their heads except to go down to the pub and drink away their cares? Aye, that's valuable fare, all right."
        Meghan felt a familiar despair. "Sean, things aren't as black as you paint them."
        "Are they not, Meg?" His handsome young face a familiar mask of anguish, Sean took her slender shoulders between his hands. "Look at me. What do you see?"
        Meghan's throat tightened. "I see my brother, Sean. And he's a fine-looking, decent young man, just like Ma says."
        "Is that so? I'll tell you what them Langs see. They see nothin' at all! They look through me and my like as if we don't exist, because to them we don't, Meg. We're just the kind that take the coal out of their mines so they can buy their fine clothes and live in their fine houses and eat all that rich food, while some down here in the valley go about without a change of clothes and lie abed at night with their stomachs rumblin' from hunger."
        "Sean"
        "And it'll be no different with you, Meg. They'll look at you and not see you, except to complain when somethin' ain't right or done on time. And I'll speak my mind, no matter Uncle Timothy's objections to the contrary. Them damned Langs've taken my father and brothers from me, but they'll not steal my right to speak my thoughts. I'll not stay silent for anyone!"
        "Not even for me, Sean?" Her soft plea halting Sean's angry tirade, Meghan continued. "Please try to understand. I want to take this position for Ma. I can't do anything else to help her, and we both know she won't be lasting…" Unable to finish, Meg shook her head. "I'm not a child anymore. It's time I carry my own