The Ram 32

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Christmas has arrived, the anniversary of briony and Daphne's first meeting. Just a brief chapter describing some items of progress in their lives and a brief cameo of Daphne's family history.

The Welsh Mountain Ram 32.

Briony... Betrayed wife and mother.
Sion... Her eight-year-old son.
Ellairy... Her nine-month--old daughter.
Arfon... Brionys’ abusive and unfaithful husband.
Dave Cadwalloder... Welsh bachelor hill-farmer.
Jenny and Lassie... Daves’ sheepdog bitches.
Laddie... Daves’ sheepdog.
Jessica and Pansy... Daves’ sows.
Angel... Daves’ mare.
Gabriella (Gabby)... Angels’ foal (Gift to Sion.)
Elsbeth... Briony’s sister.
Daphne... Daves’ ‘girlfriend’
Cledwyn... Farmer further down the valley (Neighbour.)
Blodwen... Cledwyn’s daughter.
Rachel... Daphne’s TV friend.
Shirley... Rachels’ GG wife.
Fajita... The maid.
James & Tara... Rachel’s teenaged children (16 & 15)
Billy and Janet... Manager and accountant at Daphne’s club.
Terry... New Zealand Shepherd.
Wendy Blodwens best friend at school. Also Dave’s friend.
Jane Policewoman at Machynlleth.
Jack Davies Sergeant North Wales Police.
Joyce Blodwen’s Partner.

The Ram 32.

They Sat down to lunch that afternoon, more than a dozen people around the large family table with just a few days to go to Christmas. It took the combined efforts of Daphne, Briony, Blodwen, Joyce and Shirley to prepare the meal and they used it as a ‘dry run’ to practice for Christmas day. After working out the best way to divide up their labours the guests sat down to dinner. After the meal Daphne prepared a little surprise for Briony.

Firstly she made a brief speech where she reminded everybody that the day was the anniversary of her first meeting Briony, in a snowdrift, in a car, in a coma. Finally, with tears in her eyes she walked to the other end of the table, went down on one knee and begged Briony to marry her. She produced an engagement ring that stunned everybody as Briony sat speechless. While Briony continued gaping, Daphne explained.

“This is one three rings; all three are Sapphires, all are nearly three hundred years old and all are from India. One of my ancestors served with Clive of India and he brought them back when he’d served his indentures as a supply clerk out there. He was promoted to a quartermaster on one of Clive’s expeditions and knew a good deal when he saw one. Apparently some Indian Rajah or whatever was down on his luck ... just lost an important battle and was buying protection. My ancestor was able to offer him a disguise as an administrator in the Army baggage train and he made it to Calcutta. The prince, or whatever he was, gave him four rings but one’s been lost back in the mists of our family history. Now there are only three. There’s one for each generational female, Grandmother, mother and wife. If there were four generations, then the fourth used to be lent to the oldest daughter until the oldest son got wed. Now there are only three, this one counts as the grandmother’s ring but it goes to Briony because they are handed down in turn whenever the matriarch dies. At the moment there is no matriarch."

Daphne paused and wondered if she sounded as though she was bragging. Then she decided she might as well tell all.

"The missing ‘daughter’ ring passed out of the family after the first generation because she gave it to her daughter instead of returning it to her father when her brother got wed. Ever since that first blunder, the women in the family have made a pact. The rings pass through the custody of the eldest or only son to the wife and daughter then back when the grandmother dies. My mother and grandmother are dead and there are no women in the line so the cycle has to start again because I am the only male survivor.”

Briony’s jaw was still working soundlessly as she nervously twisted the ring and held it up to the light. She had never seen such a brilliant, corn-flower blue. For want of something to say Briony spoke of the ring’s design.

“It’s very unusual, normally Sapphires are set amidst a cluster of diamonds; this one is a solitaire.”

“Mmmm, yes,” Daphne agreed, “I’ve never realised that before. You’re right love; I suppose that’s how they were set in India all those years ago. I think they’re so striking, they don’t need diamonds to enhance their colour.”
So saying, Daphne took Briony’s hand and held it to the light.

“Look, the sapphire and Briony’s eyes are almost a match.”

“Are the others solitaires?” Briony asked.

“Yes.”

Tara squeaked with excitement and begged to see the other rings. Daphne smiled self-consciously and asked everybody to wait. She returned from a secret location with a box that was designed to hold four rings but now only held two; the third ring being where it belonged on Briony’s finger. The fourth ring seemingly lost forever. Naturally Tara was the most curious and the most blunt as she asked.

“What are they worth?”

“Tara!” Shirley scolded her mildly. “It’s bad manners to ask questions like that.”

Tara smiled wanly and shrugged.

"Sorry Auntie Daph."

“It doesn’t matter Shirl’. The truth is I don’t know. They’d be worth a lot more if the fourth one ever turned up but I suppose the stone has been reset in some ghastly modern cluster ring or something. It’s not often you see colour gems as solitaires.”

“It’s not often you see sapphires that big Daph!” Blodwen giggled. “Each one is a bloody rock!! I remember now. I saw that particular ring on your Nan’s finger when I was young.”

“Why are they different shapes?” Sion asked.

“To identify them.” Daphne explained. “Round, oval, marquise and baguette. That way each woman knows which ring is hers as they pass up and down the generations. Sadly, the baguette is the one that’s missing.”

“What’s baguette?” Sion persisted.

“It’s oblong darling.” Daphne indulged him. “See the shape in the box where it was supposed to lie when not needed.”

By now everybody was inspecting the beautiful rings and trying them on; except Terry and James who simply sat unnoticed, finishing off the mince pies. Eventually, the curiosity died down and Daphne returned the two remaining rings to her secret safe and they decided to go for a walk to work off the feast. Daphne led them along her favourite walk along the edge of the plantation where she had planted several edging rows of deciduous trees to disguise the dark monotony of the mono-cultured pine forests. Briony had never come that way before and as the party reached the top of the ridge she looked back thoughtfully at the woods while most of the others scanned the panorama that stretched beyond Plynlimmon. As she pondered the occurrence of the younger oak, ash and sycamore clusters she turned to Daphne.

“How did they get there? They’re quite young trees. Younger than the coniferous plantations”

Daphne looked at the ground self-consciously.

“Well; I have a confession to make. I planted them just before Dad died. I always hated those regimented lines of pine trees. I did it to break up the boring patterns of the plantations. Once dad was too old to object or protest, I sneaked up during what little time I had free and planted the deciduous stuff in varied clusters and random patterns; just like a natural forest. Why? Don’t you like it?”

“They look a bit stark; sort of grey and sterile.”

Daphne smiled uncomprehendingly.

“That’s cos it’s mid-winter. All the trees are brown and bare. Come up here in late spring, these clusters are beautiful green glades. I used to come up here lots when I was worried about the farm. At one time I thought I was going to give up but I came up here and the place was so beautiful I felt I owed it to my family. The trouble was, at the time there was no family to leave it to, the family ended with me and I couldn’t ever see my way through to marriage and children; you know the tranny stuff and the transgender transsexual add-ons. I was about to give it all up and run away to Machynlleth.”

Briony grinned. She wanted to burst out laughing at the thought of ‘Running away to Machynlleth.’

“Not much ambition then; not London, or Australia or America.”

Daphne frowned slightly.

“I was just turned twenty Bri’; I had rarely been outside Wales, my dad had just died. I was frightened, lonely and confused. My only friend Blodwen had just come out to me as a lesbian so I felt I’d lost my best friend and prospective bride. All I could see stretching away ahead of me was the farm, the farm, the farm; that and my transgenderism. It wasn’t easy you know, turning the farm around. Machynlleth looked like heaven on Earth to me at that time. Maybe you’re right, maybe my horizons were pretty narrow back then, but it was all I was.”

Briony apologised softly and reached up to kiss her. The kiss turned into something more tactile and they ended up hugging each other desperately. Briony seeking reassurance and security in Daphne’s arms, Daphne holding her future hopes of family and fulfilment in Briony. The others suddenly realised the passion going on at their backs and all turned to applaud. Daphne and Briony separated red-faced and self-conscious. The single tear in Daphne’s eye betrayed the depth of her emotion.

“I’m just so happy!” She choked.

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Comments

Lovely Chapter

joannebarbarella's picture

Love and sapphires from the past with a story to them.

I'm glad you continued the series,

Joanne

The Ram 32

Love those rings

    Stanman
May Your Light Forever Shine