The Farmer's Daughter: The Dragon Dream: Book One

by Robin Janney

  Judy nodded.

  The doctor left and the other three came around the curtain.

  “Oh my God,” whispered Craig Moore. The boyfriend? Judy wondered when that had happened. Did Aunt Maeve know?

  “Steady son,” said Angela’s father Philip, a hand on the other man’s shoulder.

  Angela’s eyes popped open. “Craig?”

  “I’m here, Angel.”

  The tall man came around the bed, presumably so the ill woman could see him.

  “Are you for real this time?” Angela’s hands struggled against her restraints, and Craig slipped a hand over one of hers.

  “I am.” His other hand brushed at long strands of unruly hair.

  Judy was certain she and Angela’s parents were forgotten by the normally aloof man. She looked over at the other two standing at the curtain’s edge holding hands.

  “Will you stay with me?” Angela begged. “Please?”

  Judy could see something in her patient’s body relax at this man’s touch. Her hands stopped pulling against the cloth securing her wrists to the railings, and her back rested against the raised bed. She doubted they were lovers yet, but the two definitely had a connection.

  “I will stay as long as I’m allowed,” Craig was saying. “And I’ll come back the instant I’m allowed. I promise.”

  “But I’m scared…”

  Judy didn’t blame her. Most of her hallucinations and flashbacks sounded terrifying.

  “We’ll figure something out,” Craig was saying. “Will you feel better if I tell you I’ll be praying for you even if you can’t see me?”

  “Do you mean it?” Angela’s voice hitched.

  “I do. How are you feeling?”

  “Awful. I feel better when you’re here.”

  The man chuckled. “Yeah, you look like you feel pretty rotten.”

  Tears began to fall from Angela’s eyes, and Judy moved a box of tissues within Craig’s reach. She looked at the clock, but there was still time before she had to bathe Angela with fresh water.

  “I bet you wouldn’t want to sketch me now. I’m not very pretty.”

  Craig wiped away Angela’s tears. “I said you were beautiful, Angel. Right now, you look sick, but I can still see your beauty.” His smile for her was wide. “Even with the oxygen tube around your face.”

  “Then why did you leave me New Year’s Eve? If I’m beautiful like your sketches, why didn’t you want me?”

  Craig blushed. He took a moment before answering her, still catching tears with a tissue. “Angel, honey, we talked about this. Don’t you remember?”

  “No.” Angela began to gasp like she was going to go into a flashback, but Judy was thankful it didn’t go that far. “Did we? No…oh no…someone raped you… that was real, that was real…I’m sorry, I forgot…”

  “It’s okay…it’s okay Angel…” It sounded as though Craig was close to tears as well. “Calm down, honey. If I have to tell you again, I will. You need to rest so your temperature can return to normal.”

  “I don’t understand why they don’t just let me die!” Angela strained against her restraints again.

  “Because they love you!” Craig told her emphatically. “All of them. I can hear it in their voices, Angela, I can see it in their actions. I don’t understand why you think they don’t love you.”

  “Because I killed their son!” Her hoarse voice was angry, her fevered eyes red from emotion. “Randy died, and it was my fault!”

  “No, honey…no. You didn’t kill anyone.” Philip moved to the other side of Angela, also slipping a hand into hers. He ran a hand over her damp hair. “Craig’s right, Angela. You need to listen to him. Your mother and I love you. We have never blamed you for the accident.”

  Maude continued to stand near the curtain, tears leaking from her eyes. Worry marred an otherwise pretty face.

  Angela stilled, but didn’t look at her father.

  “Do you love me too?” she asked Craig.

  “I do,” he answered without hesitation. “And I will tell you that every chance I get.”

  She nodded. “I’ll try then…I’ll try…”

  “That’s all we ask. Do you think you can rest?” Craig looked at the clock, no doubt worried about going over the time limit.

  “I don’t know. It’s so hot in here.” Her hands moved, and Judy was sure she’d be plucking at the covering if she could.

  “It’s the fever, Angel.”

  “If I go to sleep, will you promise not to leave?”

  “I can’t make that promise. As long as you’re in this room, there’s a time limit. It’s almost up. And I still have a store to run, and a dog to mind. But I promise to be here as often as I can.” He pressed a kiss to her forehead.

  “Okay…okay…” Angela’s eyes fluttered shut.

  “Is it going to be like this every time?” Craig asked, looking over at her father once it seemed the ill woman was going to rest.

  “Probably,” replied Philip. “It might even be worse. When she was younger, she’d relive the accident during these fevers.”

  Judy cleared her throat and looked pointedly at the clock above the doorway. She’d let them find out on their own that there were worse things Angela was reliving during this fever.

  “It’s time to step out,” said the patient’s mother, her hand over her mouth.

  The trio left, and Judy sighed. Angela didn’t stir when she uncovered her to remove the compresses. But as soon as Judy touched her with a fresh rag, dripping with cool water, the other woman’s cries began again, and the aide’s heart sank once more.

  P hilip watched as his daughter’s boyfriend slumped into a chair in the waiting area. He sat across from him, but Maude stood looking at the two a moment.

  “What happened on New Year’s Eve?” his wife asked, her tone accusing.

  “Nothing,” answered Craig, looking away from them both. “That’s kind of the problem.”

  “Easy Maude,” Philip warned. To Craig he said, “As long as there was consent, we won’t hold it against either of you. We remember what it was like to be young and in love.” He gave his wife a steady look.

  Maude sighed and sat next to her husband. “That’s why I’m worried, Philip. I don’t want her making any more mistakes than I did. But you’re right, if there was consent I won’t make a big deal out of anything. I’ll never understand why you keep stressing that, as if I’d disagree somehow. Okay then, what didn’t happen?”

  Craig sighed, looking down at his hands. “We didn’t have sex. I kissed her, went farther than I was ready to and left her with no explanation. My friend Kevin doubles as my therapist and he thinks it might have triggered memories of my abuse.”

  “Oh Craig,” Maude’s sigh was different this time. “And you didn’t get it explained until she was feverish?”

  He nodded.

  For several minutes, there was no other sound other than the tapping of Maude’s shoe on the hospital floor. “I’m going to call Mother,” the frustrated woman declared at last, fixing an eye on her husband. “We’re going to need her for the long haul.” She stood and walked away.

  Philip chuckled. “I think that’s her way of saying I should talk to you anyway.”

  “Yeah, I got that message too,” agreed Craig, looking up. “You’re not quite as upset as I thought you’d be.” He smiled crookedly. “I mean, you’re not half as upset as we were about it.”

  “Is that why the two of you weren’t talking until this morning?”

  The younger man nodded.

  “If my wife knew everything I do, she’d be even more upset than she is now. We want our daughter to wait until marriage before giving herself, but as I said…as long as there’s consent, what the two of you do is none of our business.” Leaning forward in his seat, Philip lowered his voice. “Please tell me she’s mentioned a boy named Derek…”

  Craig nodded. “Ah, yeah. I’ve wanted to ask you if you knew how severe the attack was. I get the feeling An
gela told me a soft version.”

  “You probably got the same glossed over version I did, Craig. I didn’t even see my daughter that night until after she’d changed her clothes. Her friend Michelle’s the one who came out of the Double Dip for them. Angela must have thrown her dress away because it didn’t come home with her. I know Derek bit her neck hard enough to draw blood and I saw scratches, so I don’t know why she tries claiming ‘it wasn’t that bad’…her words to me. Angela claims she left him hurting and didn’t want me to do the entire angry father thing. He left the area before I could confront him regardless of any promise. Not hunting that boy down and putting him in the morgue has been one of the biggest challenges of my life.”

  “And Maude has no idea?”

  “No. My wife seriously thinks they’d been sleeping together the entire time and I don’t know why she can’t see it. I really don’t, because Angela wasn’t that good at hiding it until after she’d gone off to college.” The older man sighed in frustration. “But Maude and I agreed a long time ago to let me keep any secrets Angela tells me. It’s caused strain a few times, but she loves Angela and wants what’s best for her. We understand why, but I’m the one with the closer bond.”

  “I’ve noticed.” Craig’s eyes darted over his shoulder, and he cleared his throat. “Your wife’s coming back.”

  Philip nodded, and they both leaned back in their seats.

  “Did you boys have a nice chat?” asked Maude returning to her seat.

  “We did,” said Philip. He met Craig’s eye. “I plan on getting to know you better, Craig. But as it is right now, I think you and I are on the same page.”

  “I think so too.”

  37

  “C

  raig?” Maude’s gentle touch on his shoulder woke him from a fitful slumber. He lifted his head from the foot of Angela’s hospital bed and looked around. Apparently, he wasn’t as young as he used to be.

  “Yeah?” He straightened and looked at Angela. For a change, it looked like she was sleeping peacefully. Her fingers were curled in his even though she was still tied down.

  “Why don’t you let Philip take you home, so you can rest in your own bed? You won’t do Angela any good if you make yourself sick.”

  He nodded. “How’s she doing?”

  “Her fever has dropped to 102. Miles thinks the worst is over,” answered Philip.

  “Still a long haul ahead of us,” sighed Pearl. The older woman had arrived late yesterday afternoon and was now returning with Angela’s parents. When had they left for the night? He wasn’t sure he remembered, just knew he had to stay with her like he’d promised.

  Craig stood to his feet, slid the folding chair against the wall. “That we do. A ride home would be great.”

  “Come on then,” said Philip.

  Craig followed the other man, rubbing at his eyes.

  “Would you like to know the real reason Miles asked us to call Pearl this early?” asked Philip as they walked through the waiting area and toward the elevators.

  “Because he’s sweet on her?” At Evans’s last visit yesterday afternoon, he’d been quite pleased to see Angela’s grandmother.

  Philip laughed. “He’s not very subtle, even when Angela’s sick. Miles moved to the area shortly before Angela’s third trip through the ice and he was the one on ER duty that night. After the initial danger was over, he took notice of Pearl and has been hooked ever since. My mother-in-law is sweet on him too, but thinks he’s too young for her.”

  They stepped into the elevator.

  “The ten years between me and Angela bothers me sometimes,” Craig admitted as the elevator began its drop.

  “It shouldn’t. Ten years isn’t that much. My mother was older than the man I knew as my father, by almost ten years and they were together until his death.” Philip sighed as the doors opened again and they stepped out into the foyer. “I keep expecting Angela to say something about recognizing you from the accident. These fevers loosen her tongue and she can say everything she can’t otherwise. I wish I had remembered that before she mentioned Derek, but perhaps it was for the best.”

  “Perhaps.” The morning sunlight blinded Craig as they walked out into the crisp January morning. “The more I think about the accident, I’m not sure she saw me. I don’t think I ever even saw her eyes, and I think I’d have remembered that shade of blue.”

  Philip made a noncommittal sound as they crossed the parking lot to the truck.

  “She might recognize my friend Kevin when they meet. He talked to her directly, trying to calm her. I’ll have to warn him.” Craig sighed as he climbed into the passenger side of Philip’s truck. He watched the world move around him as Philip began the trip to Tyler’s Grove. “I’m going to marry your daughter, Philip. As soon as she’s well enough to say yes.”

  There was a merry chuckle on the other side of the cab. “I can’t say I’m surprised to hear you say so.”

  “No, I imagine not.”

  “I’ve had a good feeling about you ever since Thanksgiving. Inviting you took more courage than you know. The last young man Angela invited to our table, ended up dying on his way home.”

  “I didn’t know that.”

  “No, she doesn’t talk about it much. Spider was just a friend, I think, his death never seemed to hurt her like Randy’s did. A few years older, and a rough biker, he was one of the few boys to treat her with respect back then.”

  Craig shook his head. “There is so much I don’t know about her.”

  “Get used to it,” the other man advised. “Maude and I’ve been married for almost twenty years, and I’m still learning how much I don’t know about her. Woman never ceases to amaze me. You’ll never know everything about our daughter, and she’ll never know everything about you. It’s a lifelong journey, son. I hope you’re ready for it.”

  “As ready as I’ll ever be.” He cleared his throat. “I want to help your daughter, but I need to run a few things by you.”

  Philip nodded. “You want to talk now, or after you’ve slept some more?”

  “Later. Can you come back and pick me up about…” He checked the time. It was still early. “About three?”

  “I can do that.”

  38

  T he Dragon Queen had lost her power, and she roared in impotent rage at the knight. She shrank before him, sparks flying in every direction as her dragonish form melted away in a haze of putrid yellow smoke. When the air cleared, a scrawny child stood before him. She huddled in fear, her rags slipping around her bony form as she waited to be killed.

  But the knight’s thoughts were far from killing her. The Dragon Queen was defeated. That was enough. He sheathed his sword and turned away from the emaciated girl, his heart intent on finding his Angel.

  The last he had seen of her, the Beast had been carrying her feverish body through the remnants of an abandoned town. He stepped, and the dream shifted around him…this dream did that a lot since Angel had first appeared.

  He was standing on top of a tall building. The surrounding city was broken and filthy. A hot wind blew, papers flying around him. If this was where the dream had shifted to, then she was here somewhere.

  “Angel!” he called, the wind carrying his voice away. Cruel laughter filled the air.

  He searched the roof, finally finding her in a corner beneath a pile of leaves and refuse.

  “Oh my sweet Angel.” He knelt by her side. He had to be gentle, he knew her body was still broken from the abuse of the Beast. “It’s me, Angel. Don’t be afraid.”

  She shifted, seeking him even though she could no longer see. “Jeremiah?”

  “Yes Angel, it’s Jeremiah.” He helped her sit up, and for once was glad she could no longer see. His face must reflect the horror and anger he felt at the newest damage done to her.

  Her wings, her beautiful white wings, had been clipped off a foot from her back. They had stolen her freedom. She would never fly again.

  “Hold me?” she asked, her
voice thick with longing.

  Embracing her, he whispered his promise. “For the rest of my life.”

  The wind shifted and gusted as the Beast landed yards away from them on the roof. Sulfur filled the air as he stretched his wide leathery wings in mockery.

  “What a touching sight,” he snarled. His tongue tasted the air. The Beast twisted his name. “Jeremiah.”

  Angel flinched in his arms, and the knight too was afraid. If he let go of her…the Beast would take her again.

  I have not given you the spirit of fear, whispered a new voice. It was gentle, but powerful. The wind stilled. I have given you the spirit of love, power and a sound mind.

  The Beast looked around in fear and anger, even as the knight felt Angel relax in his arms. Apparently, they had all heard the same voice.

  “Do you think your return to the knighthood changes anything?” the Beast mocked, his bravado regained.

  “Yes. It changes everything.” He felt his Angel stir. “Angel?”

  “Help me to my feet,” she whispered.

  He helped her to her feet and stood by her side. His arm wrapped around her.

  The Beast took a step back, clearly put off by their united stand. Its face twisted in anger. “I will have you! We had a deal! You are mine.”

  “Deals can be changed,” said the Angel, her voice a low growl. She took off running towards the Beast at a breakneck speed, her hands stretched out in front of her.

  “Angel, no!” But there was no stopping her.

  The Beast didn’t know what hit him and the two were carried over the edge of the roof.

  “Angel!” he cried again, running after them. But the knight knew it was useless. She had no wings left to fly. If the Beast didn’t carry her away again, Angel would die from the fall. He had just reached the edge of the building himself when lightning flashed much as it had at her first appearance in the dream. He leaned over the edge of the parapet, spying the Beast sprawled on the ground; dead or alive the knight didn’t know because it was the Angel who held his attention.