Chapter Two
Ronan
“Someone ya know, boyo?”
I shook my head, brows still furrowed with a frown. I didn’t know anything about that tall fella, except that he’d made me uncomfortable in a way I hadn’t been in a long while.
“Nah.” I turned to my cousin and best mate, Darragh, tugging my cap. “Let’s get goin’. Ma’s gonna be awake frettin’ over us no doubt.”
“Aye. I’d be needin’ t’ stop at the chippy or somethin’ though. Starvin’, like.”
Though Darragh wasn’t my brother by blood, he was the next best thing.
His ma, my own ma’s sister, had passed giving birth to him.
No one knew who his da was. My aunt had taken his identity to the grave and when no one stepped up, my ma took Darragh in and raised him as her own, despite being pregnant with me and due only four months later.
We’d been wee pals ever since we’d known the meaning of the word, and whilst he drove hell into me some days, I wouldn’t be without him.
Darragh and I said our farewells to the group of fellas we’d convoyed to Appleby with.
They were a decent enough bunch and had shown us to the best pub in the village.
I was grateful, but they weren’t mates and that meant they weren’t to be trusted.
I just hoped we could find our way back to the hitching site in the dark without them.
“Not a bad first day, eh?” Darragh said, shoving his hands into his pockets as we strolled off into the night.
“Aye, quality wee place, like. Should be a belter o’ a weekend.”
A comfortable silence overcame us, both tired from the long journey we’d made to be here.
It was the first time either of us had had the opportunity to attend the famous Appleby Horse Fair, though Ma had told us endless tales of attending in her youth.
The fair had been on my bucket list since I was a wain.
Hailing from Galway on the Western side of Ireland, it had been an exhausting ten-hour road trip to get here, but it was already looking like it was going to be worthwhile.
Without really meaning to, my thoughts turned back to the handsome, tall drink of water who’d literally run into me outside of the pub. Worthwhile, for fucking sure.
I had long since come to the conclusion that my preferences in bed partners lay a little off to where they perhaps should.
It wasn’t something I advertised – that was a sure-fire way to get your head kicked in – and I tried my best to keep my eyes from wandering where they shouldn’t oughta have been…
but that itch was long overdue for a scratching.
Sharing a three-berth caravan with your ma and cousin was enough to put a cramp on anyone’s sex life, but I was good at getting creative with opportunities when they arose.
I was pretty sure Darragh and Ma knew about me and what I got up to whenever I stayed out until morning, but we never spoke of it. It was easier that way.
There were thousands of folks here, the chances of running into that fella again were slim, but I’d keep an eye open. He’d been subtle, but clear in his interest and it had been a wee while since someone had caught my attention so effortlessly.
Darragh and I ambled on back to the campsite, stopping for chips as requested.
We needn’t have worried about finding the place – it was loud, alive with raucous laughter and pumping music.
They’d even set up a roaring bonfire and Darragh and I stood beside it for a moment whilst we finished up our food, watching the sparks flying up into the night sky.
Ma would kill us if we took greasy chips inside the caravan.
“Ah, is it not yourself? I’d been wonderin’ when y’pair’d be back, now,” a familiar voice called over the noise and my head whipped up.
My ma approached, a tinnie of lager in hand. Looked like Darragh and I weren’t the only ones that had been celebrating tonight. I cast her a grin.
“Aye, just got back now, like.” I jerked my chin to the can. “Y’havin’ a wee party?”
Ma took a swig. “It’s Appleby Horse Fair, son. Be rude not to, now. How was the town?”
“Good, aye. Busy.” I nodded, shovelling in another mouthful of chips.
“Ya an’ Darragh behavin’ yaselves?”
I frowned with a laugh. “Aye, I’d be forgettin’ we’re wains, like.” That earnt me a slap on the back of the head, nearly knocking my cap flying. I snatched it just in time before shoving it back onto my head. “Oi!”
“Ya’d not be talkin’ t’ ya ma like that, y’wee fecker,” she retorted, chuckling. “Ya’ll always be a wain t’ me, doncha be forgettin’ that. Why, it was only yesterday I was wipin’ y’wee arse, now.”
Darragh spluttered, nearly choking on his food as he laughed.
I nudged him with my elbow. “Ya’d be shuttin’ it an’ all!”
Ma stole a chip from my tray with a grin, her eyes flitting over my shoulder.
“Mercy, that’d be wee Florence Carty. Jaysus, I’d not be seein’ her f’thirty year or more.”
Ma clapped her hand on my back as she passed, and I watched her weaving through the crowds to greet her wee mate. They embraced one another, chatting animatedly and a smile curled at the corner of my lips. I turned back to Darragh.
“That’s me done in, like,” I said, lobbing my chip tray into a nearby pile of cans, bottles, and rubbish. “I’d be needin’ me bed. Y’comin’ or stayin’ out a wee while?”
Darragh chewed a mouthful before replying. “I’d be fancyin’ another wee tinnie, like.”
“Aye, fair. See ya in the morn… Oh, keep an eye on Ma, now.”
Darragh nodded. “Always.”
We bumped fists and I headed away into the dark.
My skin was on fire from the heat of standing beside the bonfire and the cool night air was welcome.
We’d parked up in a far corner where it was much darker and quieter and for that I was glad.
It had been a long day, and I was keen to get my head down and get a few hours of decent kip before Darragh and Ma got in.
My ma wasn’t so bad, but Darragh snored like a fucking freight train when he had a drink in him.
I clambered up into the caravan, not bothering to flick the lights.
It was dark, but my eyes adapted quickly, and I got to work peeling off my clothes.
I threw them down, including my hat and ran my hands through my hair a few times before climbing into my narrow bed.
It had cooled down a little since the sun had set but not enough.
Despite only wearing a pair of boxers, I grew sticky and clammy quickly and that precious sleep I had been hoping to catch up on soon began to look unlikely.
I tossed and turned, trying to get comfortable, whilst my mind returned to that handsome fella outside of the pub.
Other than being easy on the eyes, I wasn’t sure what had been so alluring about him, yet I couldn’t seem to keep my curiosity from burning a hole in my gut.
Undoubtedly someone around here would know him – everyone knew one another in the traveller community, and if they didn’t?
They would know someone who did. What could it hurt to ask around a wee bit, eh?
I was woken early by my ma clattering around and I scowled, scrubbing a hand down my face. I really needed to look into getting a gaff for myself…
“Ya up early f’bein’ off ya wee tits last night,” I shouted to her, taking my time to come to.
“Ah, that’s nothin’,” she replied, chuckling. “The fair is just beginnin’, aye?”
“Jaysus,” I muttered under my breath. “Me ma’s a wee wild party girl.”
“Used t’ be, though I’d not be likin’ y’cheek!”
With ears like a fucking bat, apparently… There was more clattering before a low groan drew my attention. Darragh stirred under his duvet at the opposite side of the caravan and when his face popped out, pale and marred with a frown, I laughed.
“Jaysus, Mary and Joseph – keep it down, aye?” he grumbled.
“Sore head, fella?” I asked with a smirk.
Darragh muttered something incomprehensible, rolling over to show me his back and I laughed again. Aye, he was in bits. More clattering, this time even louder came in response.
“Ah, sorry there, son. Ya ma bein’ too loud f’ya delicate wee head? Tell ya what, y’could always get ya own feckin’ gaff, now!”
A tea towel flew across the caravan, thrown with purpose. Darragh flinched, ducking down beneath his sheets. I heaved myself up out of bed, grabbing a pair of joggers and stepping into them.
“It’s too early f’this,” I sighed, casting my ma a grin. “I’m goin’ f’a piss.”
They were still arguing as I hopped down onto the grass, trainers instantly wet from the dew as I made my way across the camp. It was still early, but the sun was already beating down. It was going to be another belter of a day, that was for sure.
The camp was quiet, but there were signs of life. An older woman was stoking a fire, getting ready to cook up her breakfast. She needled me with a glare as I passed her by.
“Ya’d best be coverin’ up, now boy!” she shouted to me.
I shrugged and flipped her off, ignoring her muttering and bitching as I continued on across the camp to the jacks.
A quick piss and a splash of water later and I was making my way back across to the caravan, arriving outside just in time to see my ma jumping out of it.
“Ya’d be wantin’ breakfast, I take it?” she said, gathering together her ingredients. I leant over her, inspecting what was on offer.
“A wee bacon roll, is it? Bangin’.” I jerked my head towards the caravan. “Is himself up an’ about yet?”
Ma laughed. “Just about, like. A wee butty will help, f’sure.” She turned her face up into the sun, sucking in a deep lungful of air. “Ah, it’s grand t’ be back, son. Just grand.”
“Aye.” I smiled. “Lookin’ forward t’ seein’ what all the fuss it about when the fair kicks off tomorrow, like.”
“Ya’ll see.” Ma winked. “The nags are in y’blood, boyo. Just like mine. Once ya’ve experienced Appleby Horse Fair, ya’ll never want t’ miss out on it again.”