Free The Magdalen by Marita Conlon-Mckenna Page A

they were old enough. In time he would purchase another boat: with two they could increase the size of their catch, and their profits. He was not going to let things drift like his father had done. The Doyles would never need the assistance of the parish ever again, if he had his way. He would not be beholden to anyone. The brothers were tough and hardy like himself, and although Esther irritated him at times, she was growing up into a fine-looking woman. Eddie Boylan and some of the local lads were mad about her. He’d make sure she made a good match when the time came, but for now he had to admit that she was a great help to their mother.
    But as for that poor simpleton of a sister, Nonie … He clenched his jaw. He wasn’t prepared to have his hard-earned money squandered away on the likes of her. His cash would not be frittered away by a pile of women.
    Not that he didn’t like women—well, girls. Give him a drink of porter and a bit of music and he was as good as the next man, swirling around the room, a piece of melting female flesh caught in his embrace, then dashing outside to the cool night air and, under the star-speckled sky, pulling Katie or Carmel or whatever her name was tight against him, ignoring giggled protests, covering their panting mouths with his, deep-kissing them till they moaned as he pressed them close, moulding hips and buttocks to his. Jasus, he was getting excited just thinking about it!
    There was work to be done. He had bought a few more sheep in Galway and had sailed them over to Inis Dil, one
of the islands, thinking that a summer there might fatten them up. The small island was uninhabited, covered in grass and clover; years ago a colony of wild goats had lived there, but now his few sheep had the place to themselves. Sheep couldn’t be trusted totally on their own, so as often as he could he’d go out to check on them. Young Tom had said that he would come along too.
    He watched as his younger brother came stumbling across the stones and seaweed in his rush to join him. The boat was a few yards off the shore, and Tom pulled off his shoes and socks as he waded out to clamber in.
    â€œEsther’s coming too!” Tom smiled, looking forward to an afternoon at sea that didn’t involve fishing.
    â€œWhere is she then?” growled Gerard, his humour changing.
    â€œShe’ll be along in a few minutes. She’s just finishing off the washing-up.”
    â€œI can’t wait for long, you know, the tide will turn, and there’s a bit of a wind brewing up. She’d better hurry on!” They both sat in the warm sunlight, waiting, as the boat rocked backwards and forwards. Tom scanned the foreshore for a sight of their sister. “I’m going!” Gerard shrugged. “We can’t be waiting all day for her! She can come again another time.” He began to start the engine, turning the boat seawards, the water churning as they left the beach behind.
    Esther called their names as she ran panting down the winding path, but knew that it was useless as her voice was lost under the noise of the engine. “Ger! Tom! Wait for me!” she shouted angrily as she watched their boat disappear in the distance. Why did her brothers always do
things like that to her? It wasn’t her fault that she’d got delayed. Nonie had managed to spill a jug of milk all over the kitchen floor, and she’d tried to mop it up before her mother discovered it.
    â€œThey can’t hear you!” came a voice from the bentover figure working on the dark brown boat at the water’s edge. “They’re too far out!”
    â€œOh, I know that!” She sighed. “I’m just annoyed with the both of them, that’s all!”
    â€œAre they off fishing? Is it the fishing you like then?”
    Esther burst out laughing. “I don’t care a divil about the fishing, it’s just that they’re gone over to Inis Dil. I like the