A Walk on the Water - Page 5/186

Today was the beginning of something new for her; it was during this walk that she would meet an unexpected ally. She walked for what seemed like hours, as the rain started to come down in sheets. The blood mixing with the rain caused her a great deal of pain, more pain than any fourteen-year-old girl should have to endure. Alannah dropped to her knees, looked up at the sky and started cursing.

A young man came upon this scene; he saw the red on her back and thought that the young woman he was looking upon was a poor servant that had angered her master. He felt sorry for her, so he listened to her for a moment. As the words this woman was saying rang in his ears, he instantly knew he had not come across come servant girl, but the daughter of the Governor. He felt a bit awkward as he stood there listening to this young woman bear her anger out on the Lord. He knew that he should not be eavesdropping on someone else's prayers, yet as the son of Father Patrick McGhee, he was in tuned to others pain. His father was teaching him to take over the Parish someday; so he stood there not wanting to intrude on her private time. Just as he was about to turn around and leave, they young woman stood up and started walking once again. This was his chance to act as though he did not happen upon her dismal scene just a moment ago, so he too started walking in the same direction in which he started.

Alannah got off her knees and began walking further down the path, she came to the shoreline where she sat on the rocks, took off her sandals and dangled her feet in the water. She did not want to go home just yet, her feelings were still hurt and she still felt betrayed by her father, and those feelings are not washed away with the rain. She took a deep breath and sighed, the sound of the waves crashing up on the shore was soothing, when she heard footsteps behind her she turned and saw a young man, roughly her age walking along the path towards her. 'At least he has an umbrella,' she thought.

As Timothie approached her, he noticed that her watching him. He smiled and waved at her cautiously, knowing what he had seen moments ago. He watched for her reaction, and he was hopeful as she waved back. When he got close enough he said hello, and he used his umbrella to shield her from any further rain. Alannah smiled at the simple gesture, although it didn't do much good for she was already soaked to the bone.