“No, I cannot do that. I have to go now. I have to be home before dark.”
Lizzie walked up to Ali. There was a different kind of look on her face. It was a look of concern a determined look. Not the frail Lizzie she knew, but one that seemed to have great insight of everything that was going on. She cupped Ali’s face in her hands.
“Ali, you are my sweet angel. God has given you to me to show me what it is I must do. He sent you to save me, to give me hope, when I thought that I would die, but you are much more than that. It is for you that I must do this.”
Then she said words that Ali didn’t understand in a voice that was somehow very different. It was like she knew what the future held and she was determined not to change it.
“Now it is my turn to save you my sweet little angel. You will eventually understand. If I were to do what you’re asking me, you will cease to exist. What is happening here cannot be undone.”
“I don’t understand. If this is not my purpose to bring you back to the man you love than what is the meaning of all of this?” She cried out to Lizzie, but Lizzie was now gone, and her hands were holding onto the railing of the ship. She turned to face Captain Moreland.
“Why am I here? Why are you doing this to me? I thought I was to bring them together is that not what I am to do? If I am not here to reunite the Captain and Lizzie then what is it that I am to do? I want to go home.” She demanded. “I want to see Jeremiah. Send me home now.” She demanded.
“Not yet sweet Ali, your time here is still not done. There is still much more for you to see.”
LIZZIE WALKED AWAY from the ship as if she had never seen Ali. She only knew that everything she was doing was right. She, Charlie and Faith would be setting sail for Ireland.
She had a wonderful feeling that Mona was going to be alright too. Everything was working out just fine.
She heard a voice behind her and turned frightened at the sound of his voice. It was Masterson, she had to hide.
She ran into the stable doorway as she saw him walk by with another sailor. He didn’t see her.
“I need a ship.” She heard him say.
“When I find him I will slit his throat. He stole my life from me, and I will get my revenge.”
Lizzie was petrified. How was she going to get back to Charlie? She had to warn him and yet, she couldn’t believe what she heard. Would Masterson be so angry that he would kill Charlie?
Masterson and the sailor both laughed as they made a deal for one of the ships.
After the two men went into the saloon Lizzie hurried to her horse, and took off as fast as she could. She had to warn Charlie.
“I WILL FIND THIS IMPOSTOR, and when I do I will slit his throat Masterson told the sailor as they drank down a glass of beer. They say he is the Masked Raven, however I know better than that. I will end his life just the way he did my parents.”
“We have been friends a long time Masterson. You know that I am with you as is my crew. I was sorry to hear that you lost the Black Lady to the likes of Captain Moreland. We were all told you were dead, so imagine my surprise at seeing you here. I am glad to see you though” he said as he raised his glass.
“I am not sure what has happened to my ship or the likes of Captain Moreland.
That is another quest for another time. Right now I need to find this man pretending to be the Masked Raven.”
“There has been some rumor that someone saw the Carolina off the coast of Virginia not that long ago.”
“Well, finding my ship is not my priority at this time. Finding this man who is impersonating me is my primary goal.”
“Understood Captain, but if it is true about the Carolina than just maybe the impostor is running that ship? My crew and I are at your service though. We can be ready to leave in the morning.”
Chapter 18
“What is it I have to do?” she screamed at Captain Moreland as the ship sailed on the calm waters. “Why are you keeping me here? I want to go home. I already know that Lizzie doesn’t want Masterson to know where she is. She told me herself that I can’t change things. So why am I here if I am not to help the Captain find Lizzie?”
Captain Moreland shook his head. “I thought for sure you would have figured this entire thing out by now. You are not here for Masterson, or Lizzie, you are not here to change the things that have happened. You are here to view the things that transpired, and understand what all of it means to you. My dear you are here to save yourself, and for me to keep a promise I made to Angelina many years ago.
“This makes no sense to me at all.” She yelled at him.
“I tried with your mother, and your uncle C.J. years ago, but they were not as inquisitive as you are.
I was so hoping that you would figure it all out. You were my hope because you are a truth seeker.
“First of all I do not have an uncle, and if you did this to my mother why did she never tell me about all of this? How does keeping me captive here keep a promise you made to Angelina? You are a crazy old man, or ghost, or demon, whatever it is that you are. I do not wish to do anything more for you. I want to return to Jeremiah.”
“You are so close to the answers Ali. Don’t give up now. I see in you a strong woman, someone who wants the truth. Do you not want the truth? I need you to continue. I need you to find the answers, and know the truth. Granted doing this will set me free from my obligation, or curse as you would have it, but it will also set you free at the same time. You will have all the answers, and I will have kept my promise. Don’t give up now Ali.”
“There was a plea in his voice that was desperate. He didn't’ answer who this C.J. really was.
She did not have any uncle that she was aware of. Moreland was just a crazy old ghost who was keeping her captive. What was the secret though? One thing Moreland had right was the fact that she always tried to seek the truth. Obviously there was some secret mixed in all of this that needed to be revealed.
“If I don’t succeed in this than what happens?” she asked him.
“Then this quest will continue on, and I will be forced to wait again for another generation. You see the truth has to be revealed for this all to end.”
“Ok than who is this C.J. that you talk about?”
“He is your uncle, your mother’s twin brother.”
“My mother doesn’t have a twin brother. She is an only child. You must be mistaken.”
“No Ali, I am not mistaken. You will see.”
The next thing she knew she was standing on a high rock overlooking the ocean. Turning around she saw a small cabin. Smoke was coming from the chimney and a beautiful woman with long dark curls was running out to someone at the corral next to the barn.
Chapter 19
Lizzie road up to the front of the cabin, she was out of breath, fearful and trembling as she dismounted from her horse. The door opened and Faith came running out as fast as her little legs could go.
“Mama” she cried, as Lizzie picked her baby up off the ground and held her tight.
“She heard you coming down the road I think.” Mona said as she walked out. “I couldn’t get her to settle down in bed. I guess she just missed her mama.”
Charlie walked out of the barn and came up behind Lizzie. He could tell that something was wrong, but he didn’t say a word. He figured she would tell him what was wrong later when they were alone.
Charlie put his open arm around Lizzie’s waist and kissed her. He was just glad she was home safe and sound. Faith chimed in. “Me too papa.”
Meaning she wanted a kiss too. He picked her up and kissed her forehead.
“You know what Charlie I think just maybe once we get to Ireland everything will be just fine.”
There was no way she would tell him what she did. Sending a letter to Matthew was tempting fate. Hoping that Mary would not intercept any of her words and that Matthew would indeed burn her letter once he read it. She didn’t write her name, but that didn’t mean that Mary wouldn’t figure it out.
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She was frightened about having seen Masterson in town, but she realized that maybe it was best that she keep that a secret. Right now there was no way she could tell Charlie about it. All she could hope for was that they would be on that ship for Ireland as soon as possible. Masterson would never look for them there. She was sure of it.
Charlie had packed the wagon and they were almost ready to leave. It was a sad time for both Lizzie and Mona. Lizzie would miss her surrogate mother. Faith didn’t understand that she would not be seeing her Nana anymore.
Charlie had arranged to sell their wagon and horse to the livery stable in town, and the few items they took all fit in a couple duffel bags that Lizzie had neatly packed tight. When they arrived in Ireland they would have nothing but his grandmother’s farm. He had already notified several of his parents relatives that they were coming back home.
The ride in was total silence. Lizzie tried to hide her tears but Charlie knew that leaving Mona was not an easy thing for her. Charlie took care of the selling their wagon and horse to the town stableman. That gave them a little money to survive on once they reached Ireland. He hid the money in his duffel, and the three of them walked to the ship and checked in.
They were ushered unto the lower deck with several other families and told which area was assigned to them.
Charlie would work on the ship with the other men as that was part of the deal.
It would be the open ocean ahead of them and America behind them. Lizzie was apprehensive about the journey, but she knew that they had to do this. Lizzie was young the last time she made this kind of trip.
She was worried for Faith remembering the babies who died from strange fevers along the voyage. She was going to keep her as safe as possible, but it didn’t mean she wasn’t worried.
She was surprised that there were several families heading back to Ireland. Dreams of America crushed under the guise of servitude. It was nice to know that she and Charlie were not the only ones who came with grand hopes of a new life that were crushed by reality. Lizzie quickly made friends with several of the women.
Chapter 20
“Papa the young child yelled out. Mama needs you right now.”
“Tell her I will be there as soon as I have this horse settled in the barn.”
“Alright but she is going to be mad.”
“I will be right there.” He yelled back.
It was Charlie. Ali was sure of it. He was a bit older but it was Charlie.
Where was she at though? Did they not go to Ireland, or was she now in Ireland?
“Charlie!” She screamed from the door. Charlie face turned white as he saw his wife holding on to the doorway. Charlie rushed to the house.
“It’s the baby,” she cried.
“It’s too soon Lizzie” he answered her.
“Too soon or not the baby is coming.” She screamed.
This time Captain Moreland was standing next to her as they watched the scene unfold.
“Ten years have gone by, and Lizzie has already lost two children, one while she was aboard the ship to Ireland, and one several years ago. They were not sure she would ever have another child, so they had been so excited when she found out she was pregnant again” He said.
They watched in silence as Charlie frantically tried to help his wife. He did not want to lose another child, or Lizzie. He tried to remember everything the doctor had told him he needed to do. If he elevated her feet just maybe the contractions would stop, but he knew that she was bleeding too much. He knew he had to get the doctor now, or he would lose them both.
Ali stood by the bedside wishing she could help Lizzie when suddenly Lizzie spoke to her.
“You are here to take my baby aren’t you?” she asked seeing Ali standing at the foot of the bed, but this time Ali was silent she didn’t say a word. She just stood watching.
“Stop it Lizzie, you will not talk that way.” Charlie responded thinking that Lizzie was delirious.
Lizzie went silent and closed her eyes.
“What is wrong with mama?” Faith asked her father.
“Mama needs to rest Faith; I need you to stay with her though. I am going to ride into town as quickly as I can and get the doctor.”
“I will stay with her papa.” She said obediently
Charlie ran out the door and saddled the fastest horse he had and headed out.
Ali sat next to Lizzie on the bed. It was obvious that Lizzie was no longer seeing her.
“I don’t know why I am here” she said to the Captain who stood silent beside her. “Is this how life is supposed to be?
No one ever ends up with the person they are meant to be with? I was so sure that she belonged with Masterson. Just like my mother belonged with my father, but that didn’t work either. My father just walked out on us and never came back.”
“Are you sure Ali? Things are almost never as they seem.”
“What I have seen is a lonely old man who was, and is still in love with Lizzie, and he is now a grumpy old ghost that lives in my house constantly haunting me.”
She was keeping her fingers crossed that this baby would somehow make it, but from what she was seeing, well things didn’t look good.
Ali and Captain Moreland watched in silence as the doctor did everything in his power to save Lizzie and Charlie’s son but it was just too soon, and the baby wasn’t breathing.
“I am sorry Charlie, it was just too soon.” The doctor said as he patted Charlie on the shoulder. “The baby did not have a chance, but if Lizzie rests she should be alright. Do not let her get out of bed and do anything though.”
Charlie walked out of the house. This was the third time that his chance at being a real father was grasped from his hand. He wanted to scream out at God, but his voice was silent. The doctor came up behind him.
“I will check in on both of you next week. It was just too much for her body Charlie, I am truly sorry.” The doctor said as he got ready to leave.
“Be happy Charlie, you have a beautiful daughter. Cherish her and don’t dwell on this loss.
Move on, give Lizzie some time, and maybe later she will be able to carry another child. You should wait a while though give her body time to recuperate.”
Charlie had heard that before. He decided that this was it. He could not go through the loss of another child. Deep down he knew that Faith would be all that they would have, and he would do his best at being a good father to her. He couldn’t take the chance of losing Lizzie because of his selfish desire of wanting a child of his own.
The three of them stood at the edge of the cliff overlooking the water as Charlie, Lizzie and Faith placed a small bouquet of flowers on the grave. Charles Jefferson McPherson -Donahue was carved on the wooden headstone.
Charles Jefferson, the initials C.J. that was strange she thought. Didn’t the Captain say that she had an uncle C.J.? This couldn’t be a coincidence. There had to be more to this story.
Chapter 21
Jeremiah sat next to Aunt Pearl’s bedside. She was old and frail and he knew that she had been through a lot in her lifetime. He had been told that her family had deserted her, and called her crazy all because she could see things that they could not see. He understood her though because he too saw these things. Maybe not to the extent that she did, but he did see the Captain. Aunt Pearl knew much more about what was going on in the spirit world than he did. She knew the trials that these people had faced almost a century ago. Some of it the ghosts told her and some of it he figured she lived through.
“My mother was very young when she became a cook at Ravenswood Manor. Did you know that Jeremiah? My mother raised us by herself. It was difficult for her. You see she had an affair and became pregnant. She told us that our father had returned to the manor for a while before heading off to England to attend school. He didn’t know that my mother was pregnant at the time.
When my twin brother and I were born it was a time of upheaval. The Wentworth family had taken over the manor. All of
the Ravenswood’s were presumed dead.”
“My father did eventually return, but he was married to someone else by that time. He tried to be a father to us when he found out, but it was really too late for that. My brother and I were shunned by his new wife who made things even more difficult for the two of us. When I started seeing these ghostly apparitions well my mother had me committed. They were sure at first it was because I was upset about my father, but that wasn’t the truth.”
She started dozing off to sleep.
“Aunt Pearl?” he tried to wake her up but she was fast asleep. He stood to stretch his legs. She had some old pictures sitting on her dresser. There was one of the Captain and his great grandmother Mary.
There was one of someone he assumed was her mother along with her and her brother at a very young age. Then he looked closer at the one picture she had sitting back behind the others.
He was sure it was his grandfather Matthew. Why would Pearl have a picture of his grandfather on her dresser? That surely did not make any sense to him.
Mollie walked in to check on Pearl.
“Mollie do you know why Aunt Pearl would have a picture of my grandfather on her dresser?”
Mollie looked at him. She was not sure how she could tell him the reason. This was something Pearl should tell him not her.
“Maybe you should ask Aunt Pearl when she wakes up.”
Just then Jeremiah’s phone rang. It was Eddie.
“Is something wrong?”
“Ali is calling out for you, and it seems to be upsetting the captain. You better get here quick”
Chapter 22
Aunt Pearl awoke from her sleep.
“Mollie!” she yells from her bed as she sits up.
“Pearl what’s wrong, for gosh sakes you scared me to death.”
“We have to get to Ravenswood Manor now. I have to be there. It’s Ali, we must go now.”
Ali's Journey Home Page 8
