Burke, Caitlin

> Maeve was en route to the barkeep for a bottle of beer when a slender hand grasped her arm. Caitlin Burke greeted her with a bright smile. Her blonde hair was mussed and she wore little more than her underpinnings; Maeve discerned by Caitlin’s appearance that upstairs was busy too, since the tavern madam insisted her doves show more decorum.
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> The eyebrows and lips of the gentleman on Caitlin’s arm—whom Maeve recognized as the town bank’s owner, and married father of three—formed impressively straight lines of annoyance when his trip upstairs was delayed for a chat with the beer-jugger.
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> Maeve replied, “Do not ye see me workin’ here?” She nodded at the tray in her hands.
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> “As if I’m not?” Caitlin laughed. “I just wanted to catch you before I forget: I’ve got a new word for you to learn today.”
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> “Oh, do ye?”
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> “Climax. It’s what writers often struggle with, women never have, and men experience too soon.” Caitlin winked at her client.
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> “I amn’t a writer,” Maeve said, her eyes narrowing. “When would I ever use tha’ word?”
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> “Look. Do you want to learn English or not?” Impishly, she added, “I’m just trying to help. Now repeat after me: climax.”
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> “How’s tha’ helpful? Tha’ isn’t a definition, it’s a riddle.”
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> “And your refusal to repeat it leads me to think you know very well what it means,” sang Caitlin. “Now who’d have taught you that, naughty woman? Davidson, perhaps?”
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> Through clenched teeth, Maeve said, “Climax.”
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> Chapter 1, Alight

## Biography

**Caitlin Siela Burke** (b. March 3, 1862) was an American prostitute who worked at the Tiff and Tawny Saloon in Redington, Arizona Territory. She was of Irish decent and grew up in a household that still spoke Gaeilge, allowing her to converse with immigrant Maeve MacKenna upon her arrival in Redington.

**Caitlin** took Maeve under her wing, teaching her English while treating her much like a younger sister. She even encouraged the girl to abandon her job at the saloon for the more lucrative position of prostitute, which Maeve always refused.

When **Caitlin'**s common-law husband, Rafaele Forino returned to town following the death of his father-figure, he was taken by the newcomer's appearance and the two entered an affair. Unaware that **Caitlin** was his wife, Maeve shared details about their relationship with **Caitlin** as a confidant. It was likely due to her rapport with Maeve that **Caitlin** spared her the embarrassment of exposing her to the truth; however she had no hesitation directly challenging Rafaele about his part in the dalliance when Maeve was not around.

As it became clear she was losing her husband, **Caitlin** swore she would not give up on their marriage until she died.

## Etymology

**Caitlin** (pronounced [ˈkatʲlʲiːnʲ]) is the Irish form of Cateline--the Old French form of Katherine--stemming from the Greek name Αἰκατερίνη (Aikaterine). The etymology is debated: it could derive from an earlier Greek name Ἑκατερινη (Hekaterine), itself from ἑκάτερος (hekateros) meaning "each of the two"; it could derive from the name of the goddess Hecate; it could be related to Greek αἰκία (aikia) meaning "torture"; or it could be from a Coptic name meaning "my consecration of your name". In the early Christian era it became associated with Greek καθαρός (katharos) meaning "pure", and the Latin spelling was changed from Katerina to Katharina to reflect this.

The name was borne by a semi-legendary 4th-century saint and martyr from Alexandria who was tortured on a spiked wheel. The saint was initially venerated in Syria, and returning crusaders introduced the name to Western Europe.

## References

1. ↑ Behind the Name: Caitlin
2. ↑ Behind the Name: Katherine