Eamon rode to the Kavanagh cottage on a chestnut mare that evening. He sat stiffly, gripping the horse's sides tightly with his thighs.

Abbán, Tadhg's younger brother, peeked out of the doorway with wide eyes, then disappeared inside. Eamon smiled as Tadhg appeared in the doorway beside Abbán, a shocked look on his face.

"Faith, Eamon!" Tadhg exclaimed, stepping out to greet his friend. "What have you been doing now?"

"I bought a horse," Eamon said simply, his smile tightening. "Don't be asking me to get down - I don't think I can."

Tadhg laughed at Eamon's discomfort. "Just swing your leg over her back."

Eamon gritted his teeth. "I know how to get down, Tadhg. It's...just a long way from the ground."

Abbán reached out to stroke the mare's nose. "Can I ride her, Eamon?"

Eamon coughed. "If...if you're really wanting to."

Tadhg tried unsuccessfully to hide a snicker. "Of course he wants to! Come on, Eamon, be a good lad and let Abbán up."

Glaring at Tadhg, Eamon lifted his right leg and swung it over the mare's back, searching for the ground. When his toe touched the ground, he let his body down quickly, wiping an arm across his forehead. "Do you need help?" Eamon asked Abbán.

"Níl," Abbán said confidently, pulling himself into the saddle. He perched on the mare's back, sitting lightly in the saddle.

Eamon frowned up at Abbán, then glanced sidelong at Tadhg's smug face. "I forgot your family had a horse!"

Tadhg shrugged, still smirking. "Ours is just a nag, but she's fine for learning to ride."

Abbán pushed his heels into the mare's sides, urging her forward. Eamon tensed, but the mare seemed to understand the boy's signal, for she only walked forward a few paces. "She's a fine horse, Eamon," Abbán complimented.

Eamon grinned. "That's good. I hadn't the faintest idea whether she was fine or not."

Tadhg clapped Eamon on the shoulder sympathetically. "Poor Eamon! Well, she is fine. What are you going to use her for?"

"Going to Attymass, for one." Eamon watched Abbán riding the mare around the cottage from the corner of his eye.

"Oh-ho!" Tadhg crowed. "Going to see Orla, are you?"

"Not unless she asks to see me," Eamon said defensively. "I just thought it would be easier to get there next time we go."

Tadhg grinned. "Of course, of course." He was about to say more, but his younger sister Delma appeared in the yard. "Delma, look! Eamon's got himself a horse."

"Ooh!" Delma cooed, looking longingly at Abbán's seat on the mare. "May I ride her, Eamon?"

Eamon nodded mutely. Even Delma can ride? He felt overwhelmed - a highwayman had to know how to ride. Abbán slid off the horse and let his older sister climb up.

Eamon cleared his throat. "Tadhg, Catriona will laugh at me if I come home and can't ride the horse I bought. Help me."

Tadhg raised an eyebrow. "Since when do you care about what your aunt thinks?"

Now is not the time to be asking questions, Tadhg. Eamon shrugged, shifted his weight, and muttered, "Since she put me in charge of all our money."

Tadhg choked. "That would do it." He raised his voice. "Delma, finish your ride, then bring the mare back." He glanced sidelong at Eamon. "I could have Abbán teach you."

Eamon bumped Tadhg with his shoulder. "I'd rather have you teach me."

Delma rode up to them, blonde hair swishing around her shoulders. "Eamon, does Tadhg get to ride?"

Tadhg spoke before Eamon could.

"I'm going to teach Eamon how to ride. Go inside now." Delma slid off the mare and took Abbán inside. "All right, Eamon. Climb up," Tadhg ordered.

Eamon swallowed and pulled himself into the saddle. He immediately tightened his legs around the horse's middle. The mare took a few steps forward.

"There's your first mistake." Tadhg clicked his tongue and the mare flicked her ears at him. "You're telling her to go forward."

"I've not told her anything!" Eamon growled.

Tadhg shook his head, grinning at the ground. "Eamon," he said softly, "that's how you make the horse go forward." He sighed, furrowing his brow in thought. "I've got it!"

"What have you got?" Eamon muttered.

"Pretend that the horse is a girl."

Eamon smirked and replied, "It is a girl."

Tadhg choked back a laugh. "No, a real girl - a woman. When you meet a girl, what do you do first?"

"Compliment her?"

"Eh...I suppose," Tadhg shrugged, "but I was thinking you'd be learning her name first. So, what's her name - and don't be saying Orla!"

Eamon snorted. Not a chance. "Niamh," he said after a moment.

"Good. Now that you've met Niamh, you have to learn how to talk to her. Put your heels to her sides."

Eamon obeyed and Niamh obediently walked forward.

"You might have to coax her a little bit. Do it again and make this noise." Tadhg pursed his lips and made a noise that sounded like a kiss.

Eamon raised an eyebrow. "Your example is falling apart, Tadhg."

Tadhg glared at Eamon and huffed. "Just do it, Eamon."

Eamon obeyed, making the kissing noise. Niamh swiveled her ears toward him and continued walking forward. Tadhg called, "Take the reins!"

Eamon grabbed the reigns at the same time Tadhg called, "Gently!" Eamon adjusted his grip on the reins. "Pull her right." Eamon tugged the reins to the right and Niamh turned her head to the right, changing the direction of her walk. She sped up and trotted towards the cottage. "Left, Eamon, left!" Tadhg yelled.

"I know what left is!" Eamon snapped, pulling frantically at the reins to avoid the cottage. He turned back to Tadhg, pulling the reins to slow Niamh.

"Let me ride her," Tadhg begged. Eamon nodded and slid out of the saddle.

Tadhg mounted hurriedly, a hungry look on his face. He clicked his tongue and pressed his heels into Niamh's sides. The mare took off at a fast pace, Tadhg bent low over her neck.

Eamon stared after Tadhg, his mouth hanging open. Tadhg rode around the cottage at a gallop, grinning wildly. He skidded to a stop in front of Eamon and slid off.

"You try! Make her go as fast as you can!" Tadhg's cheeks were flushed with pleasure.

Eamon shook his head doubtfully. "I'll try." He pulled himself into the saddle and clucked to Niamh, who leaped forward. Eamon clenched his legs and gritted his teeth, nearly letting go of the reins. The wind ruffled his hair and assaulted his eyes. He had to fight his instinct, forcing himself to keep his eyes open.

The jolting of Niamh's gallop was unfamiliar to Eamon, who found himself thrown off balance. He grabbed at the reins and was surprised at how fast Niamh turned. This put him further off balance, and he slid out of the saddle, landing in the grass with a thud that knocked the wind out of him.

"Ugh..." Eamon groaned breathlessly, staring up at the sky. He gripped the ground with his fingers, willing everything to stop jouncing.

Tadhg bent over Eamon's head, his face upside down. "You're all right?"

Eamon squinted at Tadhg and shook his head. "No," he rasped slowly. "Are you sure you're not a saint and I'm not dead?"

Tadhg smirked, prodding Eamon in the shoulder with his foot. "You're not dead and I'm no saint."

Eamon sat up slowly, gasping at the uncomfortable feeling in his stomach. "I wish I were dead."

Tadhg pulled him to his feet, propelling him towards Niamh. "You've got to get on again, Eamon."

Eamon winced and shook his head, but Tadhg was practically lifting him into the saddle. Eamon had time for one panicked glance at Tadhg before his friend slapped Niamh on her flank.

This time, Eamon copied Tadhg and bent lower over Niamh's neck. When he had gotten his breath back, he stared in shock as the ground flew by beneath him. Is this real? Eamon felt a thrill of excitement rush through him. He turned Niamh's head, guiding her back to where Tadhg was waiting.

Tadhg grinned up at him. "She's wonderful, isn't she?"

"Tá," Eamon gasped breathlessly, a grin of his own appearing. "Tadhg, I've never gone so fast in my life!"

Tadhg snickered. "That's because you can't run as fast as a horse, Eamon." He stroked Niamh's neck gently. "Do you feel better about riding her now?"

Eamon nodded. "I'll be getting better at it. Go raibh maith agat." He took the reins and rode away from the Kavanagh cottage.

***

Eamon pushed Niamh into a canter as he neared home. Catriona appeared in the doorway and started out to meet him. Eamon grinned and dug his heels into Niamh's sides.

"You found a horse!" Catriona called joyfully, stopping as Eamon reined in beside her. "She's lovely, Eamon! What a beautiful chestnut coat!"

Eamon nodded. "I named her Niamh. It suits her, don't you think?"

"Sure, it does! 'Bright,' just like her coat." Catriona rubbed Niamh's nose, blinking rapidly. "It makes me think of when your uncle was still alive." She swallowed once and smiled bravely.

"I can go out and look for work," Eamon said thoughtfully. "Then we'll have more money and everything will be like it was before." He dismounted and asked, "I'm thinking you'll be wanting to ride her?"

Catriona nodded, then shook her head. "I'd like to, but it can wait. Come inside and eat supper." She walked alongside Eamon as he led Niamh to the tumbled-down building where the Gallagher family kept their few animals.

"I'll build the wall back up tomorrow," Eamon decided. He hesitated, then slipped his arm reassuringly around Catriona's shoulders. It felt right, like something Tadhg would do to his mother. "While I'm doing that, you can ride Niamh to your heart's content."

***

Niamh (pronounced Neev)- Bright

Níl - No