And then Jake was kneeling at Edith Rosewood’s side. When he had found her, she had been fighting two goners off, looking extremely pale and off balance. Ken had been dead just inside the doorway, his neck at an unnatural angle. The Gone didn’t even turn to acknowledge Jake, so intent were they on their prey. Jake’s knife did for one, while another villager nearly beheaded its friend with a hand held scythe. The villager was putting the point of his scythe through the creature’s sack as Edith fell to Ken’s side, crying hysterically. Jake bowed his head, his own eyes misting at the display. How would Beth react when she heard about HIS death? It wasn’t something he liked to think about, but given his job, it was something that was on his mind fairly constantly.
He was going to leave her to her grief when Trig began growling. Snapped out of his reverie, Jake readied his axe and looked to Trig, to see where the danger was coming from. To his surprise, he was growling at Edith. Edith looked up, too, first to Trig and then to Jake. Closing her eyes, still shuddering with tears, she lifted her dress just slightly. A chunk of flesh had been torn from her calf. In the moment, Jake had been horrified. In the dream, he only wondered if it had really looked so bad, if a human mouth could do that much damage.
“Trig, out,” said Jake softly. Trigger stopped growling and cocked his head at his partner. He was clearly unsure he should leave Jake alone with this danger. “Trig, go on. It’s OK,” Jake said again. With a little whine, Trig left the room.
“It had Ken, Jake,” Edith said softly. “I heard the bones snap, and I threw myself at it. The other one came in then, got my leg.”
“It’s alright, Edith. I know,” said Jake, sitting beside her.
Both of them were quiet for a moment, looking at Ken’s body. “If Ella’s alright, will you take care of her for me? We spoiled her, I know we did. She’s full of herself, but she’s a good girl, Jake. Deep down.”
“Of course she is. She’s your daughter. I’ll look after her as if she were my own,” Jake had said. They had both been silent for another moment. Then Jake said, “You know what I have to do. Do you want me to wait until…?”
“No. Oh, no,” she had said. “I’d rather die me. Please, Jake. Let me meet the Mother without the taint of Jezias”
The look in Edith’s eyes had been beautiful, thankful. He remembered that cornflower blue from his youth, the eyes she had given her daughter. As he raised his axe, Edith changed into Ella, her magenta eyes staring at him hungrily. His axe came down…
And he jerked upright in the bed, giving a loud, anguished scream. It took him a moment to realize he was in his own bed. He didn’t remember going there, which only proved how tired he’d been. Trig came in, ears up.
“It’s alright, buddy, it was just a dream,” Jake told him. Trig cocked his head at him, not really believing him. Then he padded up and put his front paws on the bed to lick Jake’s face.
Jake laughed, pushing the dog away. “You’d better not let Beth catch you up on the bed,” he warned his dog. “You know how she feels about it.” Trig gave a soft bark; yeah, he knew. Jake was also pretty sure Trig didn’t really care. He pulled off the covers and sat on the edge of the bed, trying to clear the cobwebs.
“Dad? You up?” came a voice from the hallway.
“Yeah, I am now. What time is it?”
“Not noon yet” said his son Seth, coming into the bedroom. Jake was always surprised by how much lie a man his son looked now. He had inherited his father’s height and lanky features, and the dark stubble on his face came straight from his side of the family, too. His face, though, reminded him of Beth. “You had some guy here about an hour ago trying to get you to go to something,” his son went on with a wry grin. “Ma chased him away. With your axe.”
Jake laughed; he knew Beth would do no such thing, which didn’t mean that whoever it was hadn’t been in danger. “Sit down, son, let’s talk,” he said, patting his hand on the bed.
Seth looked at his father warily. “Why, have I done something?”
“Not that I know of, unless you want to confess. Can’t a man talk with his son?”
“I guess. Though they usually have breakfast first,” said Seth, grudgingly.
“Oh, just sit down, kiddo. I wanted to talk to you about Abby Harper.”
Seth sat down and showed Jake his best innocent face. “What about her?”
Jake, who had seen his son’s innocent face at least once a week since the boy was six, was unconvinced. “Well, your mother seems to think you’ve shown more interest in her than you used to.”
Seth shrugged. “I guess….she’s Tommy’s little sister, I see her when I see him.”
“Oh. Well, I’m sure that must be it. I’ll be sure to tell Abby’s father it was nothing.”
“Her dad knows? How? I haven’t even told Ab…..” Seth trailed off, looking chagrined. “You haven’t been home long enough to talk to Abby’s dad.”
“Sure haven’t.”
“That was a dirty trick.”
“Nah, I’m way older than dirt. Dirt learned that trick from me.” Jake clapped a hand on his son’s shoulder. He then gripped his arm experimentally. “Sweet Mother of the Mountains, is this muscle I’m feeling?”
Seth shrugged his arm away, looking slightly embarrassed. “Come on, Dad, cut it out.”
Jake nodded. “Does Tommy know you think of Abby this way?”
“Of course not! I haven’t decided I want to do anything yet. She’s Tommy’s sister. It would weird him out.”
Jake nodded. “Fair enough, kiddo. Sounds like you’ve at least thought this through. But do me a favor? If you decide to do anything about it, let me know. I’ll talk to her Dad about it. He owes me a favor or seven. I’ll use a couple to make sure he doesn’t take his hatchet after you.”
“It’s rud, Dad. I’ll talk to him myself before I do anything.”
“If that’s the way you want to handle it ,” said Jake, adding, “’It’s rud’ means ‘That’s OK,’ right?”
Seth barked a laugh. “You are so old, Dad.” Trig gave a bark and leaned against Seth. It was clear that he agreed with the younger Larkin. In return for siding with Seth, he was owed an ear scratch, which Seth promptly gave.
“Both of you shut up,” said Jake. “Where’s your mother?”
Seth’s face got darker. “At the Harper’s, actually. It’s Tommy’s grandma. She’s… well, Tommy’s dad thinks she hears the call of Lord Jezias.”
Jake was taken aback. Mother Harper’s health had been fragile of late, but still, the thought of her no longer being there shook him to his core. Of its own, his mind flashed back to when he was a child, and Mother Harper had given him and Tom sweet cakes and made him promise not to tell his own mother. “I’d better get dressed, then. Go to the Harpers, pay my respects.”
Seth nodded, and both stood up. “What about that man that was here earlier? I think it was the Kenoshan.”
“Damn,” he said softly, and then mentally cursed himself with something hotter for using profanity in front of his son. “I forgot all about him.”
“Do you want me to go the Harpers and tell them you’ll be over after?”
Jake thought about it, but only for a moment. “No. Mother Harper’s journey comes first. If the council don’t like it, or the Kenoshan for that matter, they can whine to each other about how irresponsible I am.”
“Yes, sir. I’ll grab your coat.”
Chapter 3
“I’m not sure I believe you, Paulson.”
“It’s true. I haven’t heard another name for it.”
“Ha! Wish I could see it! Though I suppose not every town can have a creative name. The real question is, will your cover hold?”
“Absolutely. The two towns apparently are pretty icy to each other, despite being “allies.” Rivals is probably a better word. People here don’t know most of the people there, so no one has questioned me.”
“Good. Once you have a target, let us know. Sooner would be better, but I und
erstand the weather is complicating things.”
“Careful, Jeffries. You’re going to make me think you care. Honestly, I have it narrowed down to a couple places. You’ll have your target tonight.”
The Harpers were a farming family, and like most farming families, they lived in one of the large buildings of the school complex. Tom Harper’s spread wasn’t terribly far, about ten acres to the south of the Ruins on Aspen Mountain. The piggies had cleared runs through the trees, so that people who rarely saw snow could come and have the opportunity to experience skiing. These days, though, those clear swaths were utilized to plant hay. This time of year, the fields were snow covered and quiet. But come spring, Tom would be planting like a mad fiend. Tom didn’t actually grow anything that would go on a plate, but the hay he grew was invaluable to those who did. The high mountain wind was a constant threat to agriculture in Aspen Vale, especially in the important planting and harvesting seasons. Most farmers protected their crops by using haystacks as windbreaks. The hay also gave the Aspenites something to trade to the Ranchers after the harvest had come in; cows needed to eat something in the winter. The Harpers used the winter months to bunch the hay they had grown last year into bales, and then stored it in the old Ice Arena. Part of that Arena had been turned into a couple of apartments, where the Harpers lived alongside the Martinez’s, another hay farming family.
Jake and Seth skied up to the door of the old building. The storm had finally quit, though the sky above them was still iron gray and the wind occasionally would blow the lose powder into their faces. Jake knocked on the door and unraveled his scarf. Almost immediately, Hernando Martinez opened the door. “Hey, Captain, I heard you were back,” said Hernando. He was a swarthy man; skin the color of rich clay, with a long drooping mustache. He was one of Jake’s Scouts, technically, but he hadn’t actually gone out on a patrol in years.
“Yeah, I’m back, Marty. How’s Mother Harper?”
“Not good, Captain,” said Martinez. When they had first met, Jake had referred to him by his birth name. But memories of the Black Dog War remained in the Townships, and a lot of men with Marty’s coloring took nicknames that didn’t remind people of their heritage. It didn’t so much matter to the people in Aspen Vale proper, but as a hay farmer the Martinez family did a lot of business with the Ranch. “She can’t get out of bed anymore,” he continued, lowering his voice. “At least she still has all her wits; that’s a blessing. My old man was living in the past when he made his journey. Hopefully Lord Jezias let loose his mind when they met.”
“I’m sure he did. Can we come in?”
Marty smacked himself in the forehead. “Sorry, Captain! Both of you get in out of the snow. Your wife is already in with the Harpers.”
“I had a feeling she might be,” said Jake, letting his son slip past him and shutting the door. They hung their skis up on the nearby rack, and then headed towards the door of the Harper’s apartment. Even in the full light of day, this hallway was always dim; at night, it was generally pitch black. To their left, the bales of hay that the Harpers and Martinezes had made seemed an impenetrable wall of dry grass, ready to go whenever the ground thawed enough to let the town plant. A crude sign hung in front of it; a flame with an X through it. Those that lived in the Arena knew better, of course, but every winter there was some idiot who would bring a torch in. Thankfully, there had never been an accident. Tom’s father had wisely put in a handrail all along the hallway, so that you could navigate in the dark if you had need.
Francesca Harper and Sara Hernandez were standing in the hall outside the Harper place, talking softly. Fran saw the two coming, and did her best to give them a smile. Tom had married Hernando’s sister Francesca the same year that Marty had married Tom’s sister Sara. Fran had been a beauty in her youth, and Tom had been the envy of the valley. She had put on a lot of weight, her face was lined, and her once shimmering black hair had gone prematurely gray. She also didn’t look like she had gotten much sleep lately. But her smile was still the same, even if it was a bit forced.
Jake wrapped the woman in a hug. “Hey, Fran. I just heard from Seth. How’re you and Tom holding up?”
Fran gave him a sad smile. “I’m doing alright, I guess, all things considered. Tom…. Tom isn’t taking it too well.”
Jake closed his eyes and nodded. “Can I see her? She was kind to me when I was a child.”
“She was kind to all of us. I told Tom when we were dating; I might not have given him the time of day if I hadn’t known I might get Mother Harper as my mother in law.”
Jake smiled and gave a small chuckle. He had heard Fran tell that joke before, but it seemed more poignant now. Seth, for his part, was silently staring at his feet. Both of Jake’s parents had died before he was born, and Beth’s parents had passed when he was too young to remember. This might be his first encounter with the Decree of Lord Jezias, “All must die.” Jake thought he was handling it rather well, all things considered. “Is she well enough to see me?” he asked.
“Yeah, I’m sure she’ll be happy to see you. So will Tom; he could use a friend,” said Fran.
“Of course. He was there for me, when my parents made the journey.” Jake gave Fran’s shoulder a squeeze, and then he and Seth entered the apartment. It was quite a bit smaller than Jake’s home, but then, the Harpers never had to host meetings of the entire Scout force of Aspen Vale. Beth was sitting in the living room, talking with Little Tommy and Abbey. Seth peeled off to sit with them, while Jake moved down the hall to Mother Harper’s room.
“Where’s Katie?” asked Beth as Seth came in.
“She’s playing over at the Browns,” said Seth, saving Jake the embarrassment of admitting he didn’t know. He slipped into the hallway without saying anything, hoping his wife wouldn’t see the color that had risen to his cheeks.
The warm air hit him full in the face as he opened the door. The hearth was going full blast, and the room smelled of wood smoke and sweat. A large, hulking figure got up from the bedside as he entered the room. Tom Harper had never been a small man, but he had run a bit to fat in the last several years. Still, Jake knew that good strong muscle still lay under the extra weight. His friend’s bright red beard looked frazzled, and one look at his eyes told Jake that the big man hadn’t slept in quite a while. It was important to always keep a vigil on a loved one about to make the journey, but Tom had probably done more than his fair share. Next to the fireplace was a bundle of wooden staves wrapped in cloth; torches. A roll of twine was on the nightstand next to the bed, along with…. Jake quickly averted his eyes from what else he saw there. Clearly, the Harpers expected Mother Harper to go sooner than later.
“I knew you’d make it in time,” said Tom, his voice husky and spent.
Jake crossed the room and gave the man a hug, which was returned with force. “I came as soon as I heard,” he said to his big friend. “How are you holding up?”
Tom gave a bitter laugh. “About as well as you’d expect. Last winter my boy, this season my mother. Lord Jezias has it in for me, I think.”
“Don’t say things like that. Lord Jezias is near, and he’ll hear,” came a stern voice. Both men turned to the figure in the bed, where the voice had come from. Mother Harper had always been a plump, matronly woman, but the flesh had melted off of her frame since Jake had last seen her. Her gray curls were matted to her head, and she looked nearly as tired as her son did. But when she smiled at Jake, there was no mistaking the twinkle in her eyes; it was the same twinkle she had had when giving the children of Aspen Vale cookies and sweet cakes and anything else she had happened to bake. He could close his eyes and hear her voice as he had as child. “I got up this morning, and thought, ‘I bet someone is going to want a sweet cake today,’ and lo and behold, here you are!” she had always said as she handed out her treats.
When she spoke, the memory of those days seemed all the more real to Jake. “I’m afraid I didn’t bake anything today, Jacob,” she said, smiling all the while.<
br />
“That’s OK, Mother Harper. If anything, I should bake something for you.”
“Well, it IS your turn, but I can’t imagine an important man like Scout Captain has much time to practice his baking. Maybe you can talk Beth into it. Some popovers, maybe. I’ve always loved popovers.”
“I’ll ask her. But fair warning, she never gets them to puff up right,” Jake confided.
“She needs to get the pan hotter, probably.” The old woman turned to Tom. “Mind if Jake keeps the vigil for a while, son? I would like to talk to him alone.”
Tom looked to Jake for a minute, and then nodded. “Sure, Ma,” he said in a rumbling baritone. “Jake, you’ll come get me if her time... if anything happens?”
“Of course. Go rest your eyes, Tom,” said Jake. Tom nodded again and stumbled out of the room.
As the door closed behind him, Mother Harper gave a sigh of relief. “Thank you, Jake. That fool boy hasn’t left my side in two days. Anytime someone else asks to keep the Vigil, he shoos them out of the room.”
“He loves you, Mother Harper. He wants all the time he has left with you.”
“And I love him, but Mother be merciful, I wouldn’t mind at least some peace and quiet as I go. And besides, the fool boy needs to sleep.”
Jake chuckled. Some things never changed. Mother Harper had always called Tom “that fool boy,” and it didn’t look like she was going to stop this side of her journey. And Tom had spent his teenage years earning that title, so Jake didn’t feel too terribly bad for him. “That fool boy DOES need some sleep,” he agreed.
Mother Harper nodded. “On the bright side, it gave me and him some time to talk. I didn’t know he’d spent all these years thinking that I really thought him simple. It made me feel like a bad mother, truth to tell. But I told him that if he had spent all his time not seeing how proud I was of him, than he needed to stop being such a fool of a boy.”
Aspen Vale: A Tale of the Gone Page 5
