“And you’ve brought us company,” Kaitlyn said as they settled in on the overstuffed couch and chairs in the large, open living room.
“That I have. Kaitlyn, children, this is Sean Quinn. He’s here visiting Da and I for a few days, so I’m showing him the sights,” Ashling said.
“Ashling has a boyfriend, Ashling has a boyfriend,” two of the boys began singing. The other children giggled with delight and joined in the chant.
“That will do, children. Can’t you see you’re embarrassing our guests?” Kaitlyn said.
“Not at all, Kaitlyn. It will take a wee bit more than that to get me blushing. I suspect Mr. Quinn hasn’t blushed for many a year, himself. Am I right, Sean?” Ashling asked.
Sean enjoyed the beautiful, wide smile that Ashling turned his way. She had caused him to blush only that morning at breakfast and was now enjoying teasing him about it.
“I believe a man that’s not afraid to blush is a man in touch with his true inner feelings. Isn’t that bound to make him a better husband and father when those joyful days arrive?” he responded.
“Oh how I wish my Patrick could talk that way, Ashling. You’ve got a keeper there you do,” Kaitlyn said.
“I assure you he’s not mine to keep. Sean is the gentlemen that nearly ran into my Da’s store after having the accident on the highway. Have you not heard the gossip about that?” Ashling said.
“Aye, we’ve heard it all right. Well, he looks none the worse for wear, then does he?” Shandra, the eldest daughter said.”
“He’s doing well, all things considered,” Ashling said. Speaking of doing well, let’s set up shop and see how the lot of you are faring.”
“They’re all good as gold except for Kayla,” Kaitlyn said. “And she’s doing so much better that I can hardly work up the energy to worry about her.”
“Good to hear. I wish all my visits went so well. It’s a sign of what a fine mother you are, Kaitlyn,” Ashling said sincerely.
“More likely a sign they inherited their father’s iron constitution, but thanks for the kind words just the same,” Kaitlyn said.
Ashling smiled and turned her attention to the little girl, Kayla. “Can you sit very still on your mother’s lap, dearie?” she asked.
“Mommy said I can have a cookie if I’m good,” Kayla said.
“Well then you must get a lot of cookies since you’re such a fine young lass whenever I visit,” Ashling said, as she opened her old leather bag.
Ashling brought out a beautiful crystal for the examination of Kayla. It was sky-blue with flakes of white scattered through it. The crystal was about a half-inch thick and four inches tall and shaped similar to an arrowhead. She held it up against Kayla’s chest, directly over the heart.
For a few moments, nothing happened while Ashling held the crystal over Kayla’s heart and stared intently into the little girl’s eyes. Slowly, the crystal began to change color. Where there were only traces of white in the stone at first, now it was nearly half white.
Sean couldn’t help feeling a bit uneasy watching the strange crystal turning from mostly blue to nearly all white. He looked up at Ashling and saw that she was whispering something into Kayla’s ear, and the young girl almost seemed to be lost in a trance.
He didn’t know a lot about Naturopathic medicine, but he certainly hadn’t heard of anything like what he was witnessing now. A lot of questions were piling up that he would like to ask Ashling when they were alone again.
The crystal appeared to be glowing now, almost like it was turning white hot. A high-pitched wail seemed to be emanating from the glowing stone, which was now bright white, without a trace of blue.
Sean jumped when a ferocious growling and barking started up from behind the door about five feet to his right. That seemed to break the spell that the crystal had cast over the room, and the children began laughing at Sean’s sudden fright.
“You’re not afraid of a little doggy are you, mister,” one of the boys asked. Sean thought his name was Devin.
Sean jumped again when the ferocious barking was joined by the sound of something very large slamming into the door. He was sure that was no little doggy trying to tear that door apart.
“It’s the crystal’s song that sets him off,” Ashling said, smiling. “The pitch is so high that it doesn’t really grate on human ears, but animals are another matter.”
She pulled the crystal away from Kayla’s heart and the sound quickly died away. The glow faded as well, and within moments it was back to the original sky-blue color.
The barking and growling stopped but was immediately replaced by a whimpering sound that made it clear the family dog wanted to join the party. Sean wasn’t so sure he wanted to see the animal up close and personal.
The youngest boy, Duncan, hurried to the door and started to open it. Sean braced himself and tried to prepare for whatever might come through the door. It would probably be a man-hating Doberman if Sean’s luck with animals held. He didn’t mind most animals, but they had never really taken a shine to him over the years.
“Duncan! What did I tell you about Gorten while we have company?” Kaitlyn asked.
“To not let him out of his room,” the oldest girl, Jennie, said before Duncan could answer.
“Oh yeah,” Duncan said, grinning. “Sorry, Mother.”
Duncan started to close the partially open door, but before he could get it closed, a large, furry, gray head shoved its way into the opening. The head was soon followed by the largest body Sean had ever seen on a dog. The curly-haired dog, with a long bushy tail, was bounding toward him with his eyes bright with excitement and his long, red tongue lolling out of his open mouth. This dog was
