“Sarah, I can fix the kidneys, and anything else inside that’s broke,” I said softly. Leah heard me and stared up at me incredulously, mouth hanging open in shock. “Leah, look at me. Don’t I look a little different than last year?” I saw the men and babies were still in the corner. “Hey, everyone,” I said brightly, “why don’t you go out and get some fresh air? And send some of it in here, too, please.”
“All right,” popped up Jenny, “here it comes.” She stood in the doorway, turned and sucked in air from the outside, then turned around and blew it into the house. “Is that better?” she asked.
“Yes, that’s enough for now. Thank you. Would you go help your father outside? I think he has some weeds he wants you to pull.” No matter what else needed to be done around our place, there were always weeds to pull. Jenny was still young and eager enough that she would do anything I asked. I appreciated it for now because I knew it wouldn’t—well, probably wouldn’t—last.
Wallace and Julian picked up on my request for privacy and walked outside. Judah had fallen back asleep and Wallace took Leo from me. James moved away from the wall. He had stayed apart from the group of men, me, and the children, and left Sarah and Leah to their ministrations with Jody. He didn’t look too good.
“Here.” I handed him the rest of the milk that Leah hadn’t drunk. “When was the last time you had something to eat?”
“I ate half a sandwich wrap a couple hours ago on the way in. I’ll be okay. Dani, what did you mean when you said you could fix Jody’s kidneys or anything else inside of him that was broken?”
Sarah was seated on the floor, holding Jody’s hand. “Yes, what did you mean? And why did he call you Dani? Is that your name?”
“Yes, but I prefer Evie,” I said softly. I immediately changed the subject. “Remember that little blue bottle I told you was more precious than diamonds or gold? Well, Master Simon had given me an overdose of it, and that’s what rewound my whole body chemistry, essentially making me grow younger. I was supposed to have just a few drops to mend my broken back and fractured skull, but Simon said I accidentally drank too much. It fixed everything that was broken, all right, but made my body about forty years younger, and evidently acted like a fertility drug, too. We can give a little to Jody. I’m pretty sure it will seek out and repair any damaged organs. I don’t know if it will make him younger at the same time, though.” I turned to Sarah. “You might want to take a drop or two for yourself, just in case.”
Sarah patted Jody’s hand and stood up, walked to the hearth and pulled out a stone, or rather a stone façade. I had told her to put it in a safe place and she had. I didn’t even know about her little secret stash spot. “Here,” she said, “you do the dosing.”
I took the bottle and turned it around, examining it closely for the first time. It was made from perfectly cut glass or some jewel—cobalt glass, probably. I pulled out the stopper and saw it had a glass rod attached; perfect for use as a dropper. I pushed the top back in and knelt next to Jody. He did look better, but resembled a wrecked car with a new paint job. I just hoped Master Simon’s magical Fountain of Youth elixir would put his engine and transmission back in good working order. “Ready?” I asked.
Jody opened one eye and asked, “Yer not gonna stick any more needles in me, are ye?”
“No, I hadn’t planned on it. Why? Do you want a few more?” I asked in jest.
“hmph,” he replied weakly. “No, although I dinna think I could do anythin’ to stop ye if ye did. This isna gonna give me gas, is it? I’m feelin’,” he shifted his position, “a bit uncomfortable.” Jody had regained lots of color, but his breathing was still shallow. He was twitching, which I took as a good sign—he was able to move unassisted.
“Here, open up,” I said.
I administered three drops, then watched him. I couldn’t see any difference. “You’re still a big man, no matter how much blood you lost or had put back into you. Here, take two more.”
There were no immediate results, and I didn’t know what I was looking for. “Sarah, if he gets five, you need two, no, three. At least you can tell me what’s going on. I’m pretty sure this isn’t poison.” Jody glared at me. That was another good sign—he could give me ‘the look.’
Sarah leaned towards me, stuck out her tongue, and let me give her three drops. “What I meant to say is that Simon apparently uses this stuff all the time to stay young. Ugh, I’m glad he didn’t have a larger bottle when he accidentally overdosed me. I’d hate to wind up as a baby again.”
“Why not?” asked Jody. “Food brought to ye when ye squalled, no chores to do, no worries…”
“Sitting in poopy diapers, teething, going through puberty again… Uh, no thanks. Hey, you must be feeling better. You’re talking and making dumb jokes again.”
Sarah suddenly jumped and squealed for no apparent reason, or at least any reason that I could see. Then I saw the glimmer in Jody’s eyes and his hand moved.
“Oh, like that, is it?” I asked. “Sarah, don’t let him do too much too soon. I think he needs to rest for a while for the juice to work.
Sarah asked Jody, “Would you rather get back in our bed?” He seemed stronger already and could probably walk to it, although he’d need help.
Jody settled back into the impromptu bed on the floor. “No, I’ll bide fine here. Let the lad take the bed. He looks like he's lost a lot of blood, too. Are ye ailin', lad?" he asked, his voice now stronger and very concerned.
"No and yes, or yes and no," James answered, befuddled, shaking his head slightly, as if it would help clarify his thoughts. Leah started to speak for him, but he stopped her with a glance. He continued, slowly and with determination. "No, I'm not ailin', and I have not been wounded either, but, yes, I lost a lot of blood. I lost it in the same way Leah just did, but I think I lost more. At least, she doesn't look as bad as I feel." He sighed, then looked longingly at the bed. “I think I will take you up on the offer of the bed, though.”
James moved gingerly from his slumped position against the wall towards the overstuffed bed, holding onto the table and chair back on the way. He clutched the post at the head of the bed, and gently lowered himself, emitting an audible, “aww,” as he laid back, his feet still on the ground.
“Don’t worry about the boots,” said Sarah. He lifted his feet and swung his body around, placing his slightly dusty shoes at the foot of the bed.
Leah came over and urged him to sit up a little. “Let me get the pillow under your head.”
He grinned at her, remembering the pillow fights they had had. “Not this time,” she whispered. She knew what he was thinking by the grin on his face. “I’ll get you when you’re not expecting it,” she added, as she adjusted his neck and shoulders.
"Would you like a bite to eat first?" Sarah was back and had a plate with a tortilla wrapped around a thick slice of cheese.
James rolled over onto his side and precariously placed the plate on the straw-filled mattress. He sniffed it in anticipation, then took a big, oversized bite, as if he didn't get anything to eat now, he'd never get another chance at sustenance again. He chewed slowly and thoroughly, his eyes closed, alone in his little world of bliss, consuming the flour and lard wrapped chunk of enzymed cow fat.
"Don't mind him," Leah remarked, as she headed to a kitchen chair. "It's been a while since he’s had much to eat, and besides the loss of blood, it's been a long walk. That and he's handled quite a few other stresses.”
Leah looked longingly at the food and wondered if it would be rude to ask for something for herself. Well, if she were home with her parents back in Arizona, she’d ask. “Can I have…? Oh, thank you," she said when she saw that Sarah had prepared one for her, too. It felt like she was finally where she belonged—with home and family, a simply glorious sensation.
“How are you feeling, Sarah?” I asked, as I put my hand on her forehead. I couldn’t see any physical changes in her and didn’t know if I would. Jody was slumbering, a smile of pe
ace stretched across his stubble-bearded face. “Do you have numb tongue or chills? Do you feel stronger or younger? I know I didn’t feel any changes as they occurred. But then again, I had amnesia back then. I still can’t figure that one out.”
Sarah was only half listening to me babble about possible side effects and the memory loss that had accompanied my ingestion of the Fountain of Youth water. She looked away from her spouse who, only moments ago, was inches from death. She looked towards the three of us. “I think I’ll just lie down next to my husband and take a nap with him,” she said with a beatific smile on her face. “Thank you,” she said, and nodded to Leah, “and thank you,” she said looking at me, “for having such a wonderful, thoughtful daughter. We have lots to talk about…but, later. Now I’m getting tired, too.”
***59 Who Are You?
Leah was glowing with happiness, but also pale. “Leah, why don’t you lie down next to your husband? You look like you could use a nap, too.”
She shoved the last bite of sandwich into her mouth, gave me a chipmunk-cheeked smile of gratitude, and made her way towards James, testing each step—as if she had blisters on her soles—grasping the footboard to steady herself. Once on the other side of the bed, she rolled in next to him, emitting a contented moan.
I knew she was young and in good shape, but she had also donated more than the usual one pint of blood to her new kin—her body needed recharging, too. I didn’t know who had benefited from James’s blood transfusion, but that story could wait. They were both going to be here for quite a while. God willing. There would be time for narratives and revelations later.
I had written the letter to James only last week—or so it seemed. I sent it with Mac Donaldson when he went to the newly renamed port of Washington. “Send it on the next ship sailing to London. Make sure the captain knows that it’s for Lord Anthony Melbourne, care of Mrs. White’s Chocolate House.” Hopefully a British title still held some sway, and a bribe wasn’t needed on this end to insure its delivery. I was certain he’d get one on the other end—or at least, I hoped he believed he would. We still didn’t have any hard currency, and bribing with what little we had wouldn’t impress a ship’s captain.
We didn’t have proper sealing wax either, so I added a dollop of some of Sarah’s best beeswax, and imprinted the Pegasus side of my pendant into it. I didn’t know for sure whether Julian’s brother Anthony belonged to ‘The Club’ or not. I didn’t ask Julian about it because I didn’t want him involved in my plan. There might be possible repercussions for him or his family, either right away or further on down the line, generations into the future. However, I was sure that someone at The Club would know who Lord Anthony Melbourne was and would forward the double-sealed letter to him out of a sense of honor.
‘Please keep this in your safe at your London home with the attached note,’ I wrote on the outside letter. ‘It has to do with your family. Your integrity comes with the highest recommendation. I trust my instructions will be followed. Evie Pomeroy-Hart.’
So, apparently the letter made it—or will make it, I reminded myself. The week or two that had passed since I sent it hadn’t even been long enough for the ship to leave port, much less to arrive in England. I’ll have to make sure to keep up with the letter writing, too, no matter what happens. I’ll need to put substance to my good intentions so I don’t ruin this whole timeline thing-a-majigger. I’ll ask James and Leah later how many letters they received so I can make sure to write at least that many. I’d rather err on the side of having written too many letters than not enough. Some of them are sure to be lost over the years and over the water to England.
Now, the question is, when I write, do I refer to their presence here in this timeline or not?
That’s too much to think about now. All of a sudden, I’m tired. I want to lie down, too. I think I hear that family tree calling me, telling me that I deserve a break, too—come spend some time in my shade.
Ӂ ӁӁ
My little spontaneous nap was refreshing, although a bit hard on my lower spine. At least when I slept flat on my back, I was less likely to leak milk. When I relaxed and curled up on my side, the pressure of one heavy breast on top of the other was enough to start lactation. It seemed as if I was always stained, crusty, and heavily perfumed with eau de body odor. Ugh. I’ve never cared about riches or material goods as a rule, but a change of clothing would be nice—one outfit to wear and one to wash. Maybe we’ll have a bumper corn crop this year, with a few bushels left over to barter for a bolt or two of cloth.
I was distracted from musing about an expanded wardrobe by rustling noises coming from inside the house. It sounded as if my daughter and new son-in-law were up and about. I peeked through the open doorway and saw Leah seated, bent over James, stroking his forehead, smiling with the love and devotion of a woman who was proud of her man.
“Come on outside so we don’t wake Jody and Sarah. I want to get caught up with what’s been going on with you two.”
Leah stood back while James swung his feet over the side of the bed and carefully tested his legs before he stood, keeping one hand on the bedpost. The two moseyed to the doorway, blinking away the brightness of the afternoon sun, then helped each other sit on the porch bench, like an old married couple.
“Is that a wedding ring I see on your finger, little girl?”
“Yes, it is.” James leaned over and kissed his weak but radiant bride on her rosy cheek. “She’s Mrs. Melbourne. Now, what kind of place do you have here? We didn’t get much of a chance to look around on the way in. The view from lying down in the back of the wagon was, ahem, limited.” James craned his neck and surveyed the yard from the bench. “Looks like a nice spread, no matter which century you’re in.”
Leah stood up for a better view, then suddenly reached out and grasped the porch post to keep from reeling. “I’m okay, I’m okay,” she blurted out when she saw the scowl of concern on her husband’s face.
James plopped back down on the bench he had half-risen from, pale and breathless with fear at her near fall. “Sit back down—you’re not ready to be up and about.” He closed his eyes and composed himself before speaking again. “Sorry. It’s just that you scared me. You don’t realize how much energy there is in blood until it’s gone, or rather depleted…”
The babbles of babies and tall people drifted their way, giving him the opportunity to change the subject and lighten the mood. “Hey, why don’t we go lie down under that tree—with your siblings, are they?”
“Oh, and isn’t that Uncle Julian next to that oversized playpen? Wow, I have at least two little brothers and, hopefully, a sister?” Leah asked.
I watched my middle-est daughter approach the house with grasshopper form and speed, bouncing all over the yard. “Jenny, would you go get that old quilt from the barn and bring it over here, please? We want to make our guests comfortable now, don’t we?”
“Yes, Mommy,” she chirped, then did a barefoot pirouette and sprinted to the barn. Obviously the heat didn’t bother young people as much as it did adults.
“Mommy?” Leah asked, her unblinking eyes wide in shock, her legs weak again. She clutched the porch post closer, but it wasn’t enough. “Uh, I think you’re right. I’d better sit down before I fall down.”
James rose to join her, then led her by her elbow to the base of the big tree, affording her a good view of her new siblings. He leaned his back against the trunk for support, planted his feet firmly for further stability, and helped lower her to a seated position. “There, now that’s better.”
“Okay, now you, too—down here,” she said, patting the ground next to her. “I don’t want you falling down, either.”
“Yes, dear, anything you say, dear,” he replied with mock sarcasm and a smile. Their journey was over, and so apparently were all the crises. They could finally relax.
She spread her skirt down and around her, tucking the fullness under her knees. “How did you get one that old?” Leah said, referring to J
enny. “You sure work fast, Mom.”
“Mom? Is she your mother, too?” asked Jenny, who had just popped up beside Leah.
“Jesus, you scared me!” Leah exclaimed without thinking. She didn’t know what else to add, so just played the frightened dame, fanning herself with her hand to delay an answer, hoping to appear as if she was fighting a case of the ‘vapors.’
“Are you okay?” Jenny asked with an exaggerated frown of concern. Leah nodded, her lips tightly pressed together to keep from gasping in shock.
Jenny’s smile returned and she repeated her question. “Okay, so is she your mother, too?” The little girl was relentless.
Leah took a deep breath then grinned ear to ear as she realized she had an answer—a truthful answer—for her little sister. “I lost my mother almost a year ago. She looked a lot like your mommy. Is it okay if I call her Mom, too? I mean, it would make me feel better if I could.”
“Okay. I’m adopted. You can be adopted, too. He’s my father,” she said, pointing to the tall, good looking man coming up the path with a basket full of big, red tomatoes. “He can ‘dopt you, too, if you want. Then you’ll be my big sister!”
“Okay, I’ll let your father adopt me, too,” Leah said, conveniently leaving out that she didn’t need to be adopted by her mother—‘Mommy’ already was her mother.
“Hey!” Jenny blurted out, obviously just coming to a grand conclusion. “Do you know why you’re here? I do.”
Leah decided to play along with her game rather than explain that she knew—or at least, had a good idea—why. “Why am I here?” she asked, totally enthralled with the girl. The little blond bubble of energy was an absolute joy.
“Because I prayed for you,” Jenny said succinctly. “I prayed for a mother and father, and I got them. The little brothers and sister were just extra. I didn’t know I wanted them, really—at least that many—until I saw them. Then I wanted them real bad. But I always wanted a big sister. I thought that God had given me so much after I got Mommy and Daddy and the babies that it was okay that I didn’t get a big sister, but now you’re here and you’re my sister and we can do stuff together and you can help me with the babies and pulling weeds and we can fix each other’s hair, but really…” Jenny paused for a breath after her long explanation. Now she was pondering, trying to figure out whether she should say anything else to her brand new family member. “I didn’t expect you to be so big and old. Do you have a baby yet?”
Aye, I am a Fairy Page 50
