Part fifteen: The black bear

Fresh Fish

 “Prince, watch out for the black bears that are fishing,” said Timothy O’Leary, the good leprechaun-cobbler. ”They will be hungry.”

He had slept soundly throughout the entire night and was pleasantly surprised to see Prince sitting on the hearth and Kelly still asleep, with her head on his shoulder.

“Everything is going exactly as I planned. They are growing closer.”

Prince had stayed awake long into the night. He had decided not to awaken Timothy or Kelly unless there was an emergency.

“Black bears? That‘s funny!” thought Kelly. “The only black bears in Ireland came into the country from somewhere else and they are with the circus. Maybe one escaped?”

Prince realized Timothy was probably up to mischief, but mischief of a good kind. It was only Timothy’s way of drawing Kelly closer to him.

“Don’t worry, my love” said Prince gently, playing along with Timothy’s joke and winking at Kelly. “I will take good care of you.”

“Perfect,” thought Timothy. “Prince is taking on his rightful role as a protector and assuming responsibility for Kelly.” 

Kelly, not about to be intimidated by a mischievous leprechaun, decided it was time to play Timothy’s game by his rules.

“I think I heard the green dragon roaring early this morning,” she said to Timothy, but immediately felt sorry, as she watched him cringe. Timothy obviously had an encounter with green dragons or he would not have been so frightened.

“Maybe it was a black bear,” she said, with a grin.

Just then, Ambrose barked at something moving in the water.

“Is it that green dragon?” wondered Timothy, not wanting to look at whatever it was.

Prince climbed down the ladder and plucked a fish out of the water.

“Maybe it’s this fish you heard, Kelly?” he said, smiling and admiring her courage.

“Breakfast right at our door step, Timothy,” he said. “Can you fillet a fish?”

“Certainly,” replied Timothy, who was obviously relieved.

Kelly decided to let the men bake the fish and clean up later.

“I see a boat! “