The Cornelius Saga Series Box Set 2

by Tanya R. Taylor

  “I guess so.” She turned around as a hint that he let her out of the dress.

  Stephen willingly unbuttoned her dress. It had a vertical row of large, off-white buttons evenly spaced two inches apart.

  After she disrobed, he kissed the nape of her neck. “So sweet,” he whispered.

  She turned around and looked lovingly into his eyes – the man she trusted with her heart and life. She could sense his aching desire for her, yet again, and knew that one day she would completely surrender to him in body and soul.

  Stephen pressed his lips against hers, then eagerly captured her delicate tongue. For a while, she feared the fervency of his kiss might detach it from its hyoid bone. He caressed the side of her face while reluctantly pulling away, then took her by the hand and led her into the bedroom they would share for the first time that night… in that town.

  After an unforgettable romantic interlude which lasted for more than an hour, Matilda and Stephen lay awake, wrapped in each other’s arms.

  “I honestly don’t know what I would do without you,” Stephen said.

  Matilda heard a slight crack in his voice. She looked at him. The light of the moon had served as her lamplight. “Are you crying, Stephen?” She wiped away the tears that just escaped from his eyes. “Why the tears?”

  “Matilda, please promise me that you would not use your gift anymore. Please, promise me that.”

  She leaned up slightly. “How can you possibly ask that of me? Are you asking me to deny myself?”

  “By no means,” he quickly responded. “I just...”

  “What, Stephen?”

  “I know that in spite of how you were raised, you are not a very religious person, but from the church we passed on our way here, it’s obvious that these folks around here are, just as the people were where we came from. I don’t want anything to happen. That’s all I am saying,” he explained.

  “I understand your concern, and I assure you nothing will happen.” She lay down again and sighed.

  “What’s wrong?” Stephen asked.

  “Probably everything.”

  He leaned up this time. “What do you mean?”

  “If I was born a normal child, I wouldn’t be here right now. I would still be at home in Mizpah with my family and they would not be ashamed of who I am.”

  “Your family is not ashamed of you, Matilda. How can you say that?”

  “Yes, they are. If they weren’t, my mother would not have sent me away.”

  “She sent you away for your own good. It had nothing to do with being ashamed of you.”

  “How would she know if this, where we are now, is good? Me, going off and leaving the only place I ever knew. How would she or anyone else know if this is for my good, Stephen?” She shook her head vehemently. “No, it has everything to do with pride – concealing the imperfections in order to make the problem go away. Keeping a good image in the community at the cost of losing a child, possibly for forever.”

  Stephen knew her heart was breaking and she had convinced herself of nothing more than a lie. He figured it was probably the only way she could deal with the pain of missing them so badly.

  He held her head to his chest and felt the sobbing she had so desperately tried to restrain. His firm, but gentle grip only slackened when they both fell asleep.

  In a dream… later that night

  “Hand me Sophia!” Matilda told Carlotta who was sitting near the bedroom window, combing the doll’s long, brown hair.

  “I’m combing her hair. Wait your turn!” Carlotta replied sharply.

  At the tender age of nine, Matilda didn’t take kindly to Carlotta being unruly, especially since she was only seven and they repeatedly heard their mother speak of the importance of respecting their elders.

  Seated on the floor with her legs crossed, Matilda said, “Well, if you don’t hand it over, I’ll just take it!”

  Carlotta held on to the doll tightly, prepared to put up a fight if Matilda thought she was girl enough to take it away from her, but instead, something totally unexpected happened. She soon felt the doll escaping her firm grip, then rising slowly, but surely into the air above her hands. When she glanced Matilda’s way, she realized she was just sitting there staring at the doll with a serious gaze; her lips puckered tightly and a hand slightly raised.

  The doll gradually glided through the air, making its way across the room to Matilda, who then reached up and grabbed it.

  Carlotta screamed, then ran out of the room to get their parents.

  “Mattie did something to the doll! She made it fly!” Matilda heard her younger sister squealing. It was the first time Carlotta had seen what she could do with her mind.

  Their mother and father dashed into the room.

  “Matilda! What have you done to your sister?” their father asked. Peter Curry was a tall, handsome man with narrow features.

  “Are you doing things again that your father and I told you not to do, Mattie?” Joy asked.

  Carlotta was standing between her parents, sucking her thumb.

  “She wouldn’t give me the doll, so I took it!” Matilda angrily replied.

  “You took it how?” her mother asked.

  “The way she takes everything when she’s too lazy to get up and get it,” Peter commented. “You see, this is why we can’t take her anywhere now — not even to church. We have to keep her cooped up here all the time like we don’t even have another daughter.”

  “It’s for her own good; you know that,” Joy reminded him.

  “And how long is this supposed to go on? How long are we supposed to keep our daughter hidden away?”

  “Until she learns to control it better, Peter. Until we finally get through to her that doing things openly like what she did in this room could be dangerous.”

  “Well, you’d better hope she can do a better job controlling it soon because there’s no way we are going on like this. Letting her outside at night to get into the fresh air cannot work for much longer and she needs to interact with other children aside from her own siblings.”

  “You’re telling me something I already know, Peter. In time, everything will fall into place.”

  He abruptly the room. Joy stooped down to Carlotta’s level. “Carrie, you are not to mention a word of what you saw, okay? It’s very important that you obey me.”

  “Yes, Mother.” The child nodded.

  “I mean it, Carlotta. You know what happens to disobedient children, right?”

  “They are punished.”

  “Yes indeed.” She looked at Matilda. “I don’t want you ever doing that to your sister again. You hear me?”

  “Yes, Mother,” Matilda answered. She knew her mother only had to say it once as in those days her father believed in punishment by switch and each of the girls had a taste of that.

  “I’m sorry.” Matilda told Carlotta who was still standing at the door with their mother.

  “You don’t have to be afraid,” Joy said to her youngest. “Mattie will not do it again and she definitely won’t ever do anything to hurt you.”

  “You promise?” The girl sought confirmation from her mother.

  “I promise,” Matilda said.

  Joy smiled, patted Carlotta on the head and left the room.

  Matilda walked over to her sister. “I’ll never do anything like that again, Carrie… unless you want me to.”

  Carlotta had a puzzled expression on her face.

  “Kidding!” Matilda laughed.

  The dream shifted to a couple of weeks later as she and Carlotta were outside in the yard after nightfall.

  Agatha and Betty were inside helping their mother with Christmas decorations.

  “Can you move it… with your mind?” Carlotta asked while looking at the overturned wash tub at the side of the house.

  Matilda nodded.

  “Well, do it then!”

  “You won’t tell Mother or Father?”

  “I promise I won’t!” Carlotta replied eage
rly.

  Matilda’s focus was then on the wooden tub that her mother kept on some blocks. She zeroed in on the rim and imagined sliding her hands underneath it in order to lift it. Then seconds later, she imagined she was holding it and lifting it – and in reality, the tub slowly moved and was beginning its gradual suspension inches above the blocks where it once sat – then a foot higher it went, then two, then three. Carlotta looked on in sheer amazement. The more deeply Matilda focused, the higher the tub rose.

  Suddenly, Stephen awoke by what he thought was a jounce, and to his horror, found the bed they were lying in suspended in mid-air. Looking up in the dark room, he was certain the ceiling was only three feet above them-if that. Unsure of what was happening, he immediately started shaking Matilda.

  “Matilda, wake up!” he cried. “Wake up!”

  The instant she woke up, she had a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. “What… what’s wrong?” she asked tiredly.

  “Look around you. The bed’s not on the floor!” Stephen was clearly terrified.

  Matilda quickly came to her senses when she realized their plight.

  She shut her eyes tightly and focused on the bed itself. “Just be quiet,” she said. Stephen’s panicked behavior was interrupting her concentration.

  He felt his heart in his mouth the entire time as he fought for composure, but Matilda seemed more relaxed. As she gained control of her thoughts and quietly concentrated, she was able to calmly and gently bring the bed down.

  Stephen sprung up out of bed the moment it hit the floor, and he quickly went to light the nearby lantern. “My God! What happened, Matilda? Did you cause that? Were you dreaming?”

  Matilda sat up slowly, unsure of the reaction her confession might bring. “I was.”

  Stephen sighed. “Has this ever happened to you before?”

  “You mean… the bed?”

  “Yes. Yes!”

  “Never.” She shook her head. “I… I don’t know why...” Then she remembered something. “Wait, I was dreaming of when Carrie and I were children – when she asked me to cause our mother’s wash tub to levitate. That must’ve been why our bed did the same thing. Maybe the emotions attached to the memory were strong enough to enter my reality.”

  Stephen was bewildered. “What?”

  “I’m sorry, Stephen. I certainly didn’t mean to cause you such stress.”

  He returned to bed and held her. “There’s no need for you to apologize. You did nothing wrong.”

  “You are too nice, you know?”

  “It’s not that,” he said. “You cannot be blamed for something you had no control of. Should I tell you not to dream?”

  She grimaced.

  “Exactly my point, my love. We’re in this together. I may not understand some things, but I know one thing for sure – that I love you.”

  She brought his hand to her lips and kissed the top of it.

  A few hours remained until dawn and neither of them managed to get back to sleep.

  6

  _________________

  The next day, George and Stephen started out on their trip to town. George had suggested Buster join them while the younger children, tag along with their mother and Matilda.

  The women and children climbed into a separate carriage and started their tour downtown. Scarface Jack, Ann’s occasional yardman was their chauffeur. Tall and lean with straggly, blonde hair, he had been branded “Scarface” due to the long scar that stretched from just below his left eye all the way down to his chin. He had earned it in a fight over some woman who was playing the field.

  Matilda had a good feeling as they traveled about, stopping at various stores, as well as the farmer’s market. Ruth was dressed in her favorite peach, sleeveless dress and Bradley wore brown, knee-length shorts and a white, linen shirt.

  There were at least ten vendors on site at the local farmer’s market and each had their share of customers. “What’s your favorite fruit?” Matilda asked Ruth, who had walked with her the entire time.

  “I like apples,” Ruth said.

  “And what’s your brothers’ favorite?”

  “Brad likes oranges and Buster doesn’t like fruits at all.”

  “None at all?” Matilda asked.

  Smiling, the girl shook her head.

  Matilda turned to the bubbly young lady at the stall and purchased two bags full of apples and oranges, and handed them to Ruth. “These are for you and the oranges are for your brother.”

  “Why, thanks, Miss Matilda.” Ruth skipped over to give Bradley his. He was standing a few feet away from his mother, who was busy chatting with one of the vendors.

  “Matilda!” Ann called. “Please come here. I’d like for you to meet someone.”

  Matilda hastily heeded the call.

  “This is Daisy Hopkins,” Ann told her. “She heads our church’s Sunday School Department. Daisy, this is my new neighbor and friend, Matilda Curry. Isn’t she lovely?”

  “Indeed she is. Very pleased to meet you, Matilda,” Daisy said. Middle-aged with streaks of gray around her hairline, Daisy stood at six feet tall and was firmly built.

  “The pleasure’s all mine,” Matilda replied.

  “Do you have any children that I may invite you to bring out to Sunday School tomorrow?” Daisy asked.

  “I’m afraid not,” Ann answered for Matilda. “I’m sure she will meet the perfect gentleman in good time and all of that will be possible.”

  Matilda forced a smile.

  “Well then, be sure to come to me for all your fresh produce. I see you purchased something from Francene over there,” Daisy now spoke in a lowered voice.

  Matilda looked back awkwardly to where she was referring.

  “Her fruits are never as fresh as mine. She’s not a good Christian either, you know? She’s something of a trollop. If you ask anyone around here, they’d tell you...”

  Ann was nodding.

  “Has six children with three different men! Imagine that!” Daisy continued.

  “I understand,” Matilda said. What she wanted was to tell the meddling woman to mind her own business, but she knew it wasn’t a good move. Definitely too early to make enemies.

  When they finally left the market, Matilda was relieved. That Daisy Hopkins woman had already managed to boil her blood, as she found people repulsive who dared to judge so harshly. The fact that she had been judged all of her life stood as the primary reason for her disgust.

  Sitting next to her in the carriage, Ruth asked, “Are you all right, Miss Matilda?”

  Matilda had no idea she had been wearing her emotions on her sleeve and she immediately attempted to compose herself. “Yes, I am, sweet child,” she replied. “Why do you ask?”

  “No reason, I guess.”

  Matilda smiled and lifted Ruth’s chin. “You’re such a considerate child. I hope one day when I have a daughter of my own that she’ll be just like you.”

  “What a lovely thing to say!” Ann remarked. “And Ruth’s observant as well. Quite an observant child.”

  Matilda nodded, then looked out of the window as they headed for the eastern side of town.

  * * *

  A few hours later, Stephen returned home and the smell of supper cooking immediately greeted him. He hung his hat on the rack and tiredly walked into the kitchen.

  “How did it go?” Matilda asked, at the stove.

  He pulled out a chair at the kitchen table and plonked himself down. “Quite well, I suppose. George took me around and introduced me to some of his buddies at the dock and at a pub they frequent. Met this guy, Russ – somebody. Kind of a loud mouth, but I guess he’s okay.”

  Matilda smiled.

  “George even managed to get me a job at the factory out east.”

  “That’s great!” Matilda said excitedly. “Second day here and you’ve already landed a job. What type of factory is it?”

  “It’s a coat factory. Didn’t know they had any factories in this town. Uncle John never
mentioned it.”

  Matilda was now scooping up their servings of peas soup and dumpling, an old recipe she had learned from her late Grandma Edna.

  “Looks delicious,” Stephen said.

  “After landing a good job, you don’t look so thrilled.” Matilda rested down the pot spoon.

  He rubbed the back of his neck. “I don’t know… there’s something kind of bugging me about Buster.”

  “Buster? Ann’s boy?”

  Stephen nodded.

  “He just seemed so distant today; barely spoke a single word for hours. I tried to engage in conversation with him, but it was nothing like how it was when I first met him.”

  “You just met him, Stephen.”

  “I know, but I mean… he was a bit friendlier, it seems, when we first got to the house yesterday for supper. It was only when George showed up that I noticed the difference.”

  “I noticed it too, but with all the children,” Matilda noted.

  “I wonder what makes them uneasy.” A frown appeared at the top of his forehead.

  With eyebrows arched, Matilda reached for a couple of glasses from the cupboard. “I don’t know if uneasy is the appropriate word for what the children might be feeling. Maybe they were taught to respect adults and being quiet around them is the way they show that respect.”

  “It wasn’t quite that way with us though. I kind of got the impression that Buster had something strong on his mind. Anyway,” he sighed, “maybe it’s nothing. Maybe he’s just a shy boy.”

  “Yes, that’s probably it.” Matilda set the food on the table and pulled a chair out for herself. “You know, I think we’re going to settle nicely into this town, after all. We might even like it. As much as I miss my mother and sisters, maybe this is where you and I were meant to start our life together. I believe you were right about that.”

  Stephen reached across the table and caressed her slender hand. “Do you believe in fate?” He saw the sparkle in her eyes.

  “You know I do.”

  “You and I together here and now, and what lies in our future are precisely what’s meant to be. Just shows that we can face anything together – no matter what.”