The Crimson Hunt

by Smith, Victoria H.

  *

  I watched through my window every morning under the coverage of my quilt. The beauty of the farm brought my body peace and comfort. My unusual ease was probably more of their tricks to soothe me, something they put in my food or the air or something, but I didn’t care. I wasn’t going to pass up the relief it provided.

  Every morning, Giovanni would go into the barn. He carried metal pails and canisters alongside him. His strong arms allowed him to carry pails upon pails of dairy in and out everyday. He did this from early to midmorning. He never once stopped for a break.

  Midway through Giovanni’s tasks, Bernadetta would go to the chicken coop next to the barn and gather eggs. Her wicker baskets would be filled to the brim with the eggs she collected from their supply of chickens.

  Everyday, at the end of Bernadetta’s labor, Giovanni met her in front of the coop. This marked their daily exchange of a kiss and a hug. They remained with the other for only a few minutes, and I’d never seen a couple happier.

  After their exchange, Giovanni would go out into the areas of the farm beyond my sight. He returned later with sweat on his brow. He looked tired, but never unhappy. His smile shined as brilliant as Luca’s when he headed into the farmhouse for his midmorning meal. My own lunch would be set outside my door only after Giovanni left again. He was off into the distance until dinner. I would know the evening meal was close when the warm smells seeped into my room from the kitchen. The scents always started just before Giovanni came around the bend, home for the evening from a hard day’s work.

  As my days went by, I found their simple routine brought me happiness, even more so than the ambience of the farm. They valued what little they had and every moment they spent together. I found myself longing for the connection they had with one another, longing for the connection I felt I once briefly had with Luca. My respect for them grew daily. I didn’t want to be affected by them, but I couldn’t resist the warm feeling it gave me to watch them.

  Every day was like clockwork; every day was the same. Every day, but today.

  I sat on my usual spot of the patterned window seat, and watched through the glass, the quilt covering me. I saw Bernadetta and Giovanni make their usual rounds. They were such hard workers. They kept this place going all on their own. I never once witnessed any farmhands. They completed their morning tasks as usual. After they were done, Luca came into view.

  I immediately left from the window seat, not wanting to see him, but then I quickly realized it was dumb of me to rearrange the highlights of my pathetic day because of him. I went back to my seat and continued my gaze.

  Luca walked to the barn where Giovanni milked the cows with a brown velvet horse at his side

  This was the closest I’d ever been to a horse. She was so beautiful. I didn’t know if she was a she for sure, but I concluded that’s how I’d see her. Her long, luxurious mane flowed from her velvet skin, and she glistened in the light of the sun.

  Luca stroked her between her eyes with a gentle hand. His delicate touches reminded me of the day in the woods when he saved the fawn. He really was good with animals.

  He tied the velvet lady to the fence, then went into the barn, returning shortly with a bucket of suds and a garden hose. After placing the materials on the ground, he reached into the bucket. When he pulled out his hand, he held a dripping sponge covered in suds. He then slid the sponge over the velvet lady’s body in long strokes. After making sure she was completely covered, he rinsed her off with the garden hose, her velvet skin shining brightly upon completion. He dumped out the bucket and filled it again with clean water. When the bucket was filled about half way, he dipped the sponge in and brought it to her face. He took great care in being careful around her eyes, but she fought him anyway. Pulling her head away from the sponge, she shook water into his face.

  I brought my quilt to my face, smothering my rising laughter.

  She gave him an ornery look, and he gave her one right back, stroking her between the eyes.

  They had such a connection with one another, a deep connection. Luca’s interaction with her was different than his one with the fawn. It was like she and Luca really knew one another.

  Luca glanced down at his drenched, hunter green t-shirt, then pulled it off. He snapped it out with his wrist and hung it over the fence the velvet lady was tied to.

  I glanced away from the window. I couldn’t help the physical response my body elicited by seeing his. Despite all that happened, I was still completely aware of him. I couldn’t stop my attraction toward him, and I hated myself for it. Fighting my internal urges, I turned my attention back to the scene outside.

  Luca pulled out a treat from his jean pocket and fed it to the beautiful animal. She received it, nudging his face with her own. The two cared deeply for one another and anyone could have seen that.

  As if sensing my gaze on him, he suddenly looked up toward the window—my window. His eyes stared deep into mine even from the distance, a smile complementing his already beautiful features. Slowly raising his hand, he waved at me.

  I tore away from the window and went to my large bed. Sitting down, I wrapped the quit tightly around me. I still didn’t know if I was ready to face him.

  It wasn’t until the next morning, when I opened my door to receive my breakfast, I knew I had to try. There, in the hallway, were all three of my easels … and my paint set from home.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  The sun woke me up again that morning. I inhaled a breath, grasped the quilt tightly, and rose up from my bed. I sat in the sunshine for a moment, glancing down at my attire. Before today, I’d just been wearing the fresh nightgown and undergarments placed by my doorway every morning with my food. I would shower, then change into the fresh set. The dirty set of clothes I placed outside the door would always return clean, so I didn’t worry about wearing anything else. But today …. I wonder?

  I went to the white wooden dresser in the corner and opened one of the drawers. Inside, were many articles of clothing. They were all in my size and all items I would have normally worn. I wondered if this was Luca’s doing. I put him out of my mind. I didn’t want to be confused by anymore of his actions. I grabbed an orange-colored plaid, button-up shirt with three quarter length sleeves and a pair of jeans. I slipped them on, then slid into a pair of sneakers from the drawer lined with shoes.

  I didn’t know where I would go, but maybe a brief walk through the land would give me the much-needed confidence I desired to talk to Luca again.

  I went to my door. Taking in one last deep breath, I unlocked the latch. Sliding through a crack of the door, I made it into the empty hallway. I didn’t bother to sneak this time with quiet steps. There didn’t seem to be a point to that anymore.

  I reached the final step at the bottom of the well. With a quick muster of confidence, I pushed the screen door open and stepped outside.

  The fall air took me into its arms as I walked the wide farmland of various greens and yellows. Walking with no direction in mind, I came across a small lake. Distracted by the beautiful glisten of the water, I slipped off my shoes and stepped in just at the bank. Bending down, I ran my fingers across the line of the water and waves formed from my fingertips. I smiled as a blue-feathered bird with a black beak landed on the surface of the water near my hand. I expected the creature to fly away, but it didn’t. In fact, it grew closer. Opening my hand, I stood quite still. It was a long shot thinking it would come any closer, but I wanted the bird to know it was safe. I wasn’t a threat.

  Pushing my hand further underneath the surface, the bird did come closer. It now sat on the water hovering over my skin. Joining my free hand to the other, I cupped the water underneath the bird with both hands. I stood and the bird stayed stationary within my palms. I just watched the animal for a moment, the water in my palms slowly dripping from my hands. Things were so simple for such small creatures. So very simple.

  Raising my hands, the bird flew off into the sun. I watched until it dis
appeared in the horizon.

  Turning back, I slipped back on my shoes, then continued my journey.

  As I stepped, the smell of the fall air took me in again. The soft earth welcomed my steps. I almost forgot how good it felt during this season. Being here, in this natural place, brought out the beauty of fall even more.

  My feet leading the way, I passed an old storage shed, and made my way toward a vast amount of trees in the distance. The trees were short, indicating some kind of orchard, maybe? The trail of red apples started early at my continued pace. My suspicions were spot on. I quickened my strides, wanting to get there sooner. I didn’t have to walk very far before the objects of my desire surrounded me.

  There were so many fruit trees and various fruit bushes. Pears and apples present everywhere. They were all amazing, but the goose bumps formed when I saw the red berry bush. The delicious, sweet smell sent my thoughts to the past. This was the time when I felt the most complete, the time when I was with my family.

  When the bushes displayed the green buds on my Mom’s planted fruit bushes, I used to get so excited. The red would soon follow and my Dad and I would pick them. We’d pick so many raspberries I was practically sick with a full belly before we could get them inside.

  Mom would make all kinds of things with them; preserves, jellies, pies. The smells surrounded the house, and my Dad would read me a story by the warm fireplace while the food cooked. I would watch the embers in the fire, nestled in my Dad’s arms. I always fell asleep in his warm embrace before I could even eat the delectables my mom labored on throughout the day. Mom never knew, but Dad would always let me eat a slice of raspberry pie for breakfast the next morning.

  I reached in and ate a berry. Tears filled my eyes. The taste was the same, but my surroundings were far from home. When the thicket of the realization surrounded me, my body grew heavy. So heavy, I felt on the brink of collapsing from the ache.

  “Hello, dear, happy to see you out and about. Can you hand me that bucket down there?”

  I quickly wiped the tears from my eyes. I didn’t want to give any of them signs of vulnerability.

  Bernadetta’s voice came from above me. She picked dark mulberries from the tree next to the raspberry bush. There didn’t seem to be any harm in helping her. I grabbed the bucket located next to the tree, then cautiously climbed up the ladder to hand it to her.

  “Thank you, dear.” She smiled, her bright honey-brown eyes so alluring.

  I rested there, watching her for a while. She wasn’t standing on the ladder as I was. She was within the branches of the tree. She was so natural up there, her movements so fluid. Her agility reminded me of Luca’s when he saved the fawn.

  She glanced down at me periodically before she spoke again. “I can tell your mind is wandering, my dear.”

  I stared at her, my mouth fighting the cowardice to speak. “Am I in danger here?” My voice was strained from not speaking for days, and the fear caught up in my throat didn’t help, either.

  She looked down at me again, smiling. “No, you are not, my child. I told you, if we wanted to harm you, we would have already done so.”

  My thoughts went back to the train yard. My body was injured from what I thought was beyond repair. I’d been so near death. I didn’t think I would make it back. They healed me and continued to take care of me, but I didn’t know why.

  Bernadetta glanced my way again, a kindness shining from her face. The breeze carried the soft brown strands that had fallen from her bun across her cheeks. “We are not keeping you here, my dear. You can leave anytime you wish.”

  Why hadn’t I thought to leave before? I guessed I just assumed there must be something more to this beautiful place, them keeping me here with their trickery. Were my assumptions not correct after all? Perhaps, I stayed for another reason. I looked up at her. “I need to know.” I swallowed hard. “I need to know more.”

  Bernadetta made her way down the tree and to the ladder with her full basket in hand. I followed suit. When we were both on the ground, she gestured over to a wooden bench near an apple tree. She placed her basket down beside the bench. “It is not my duty to tell all to you, my child, but I will explain what I can.”

  I figured it was best to take what she could give me. But where would I begin? I forced myself to look into her eyes. “Are you really Luca’s parents?”

  My question of their relation to Luca didn’t just stem from their physical differences from him. True, the couple had different eye coloring, were shorter in height, and had dissimilar facial features from Luca. That didn’t raise my question, though. In actuality, despite Giovanni and Bernadetta’s accents, Luca did speak the exact same way they did. He even carried himself very similar to the couple. What had me question their relation was just a general feeling they gave off and he gave off separately. They just seemed so different from him, not in a bad way, just different. Like the couple was from a different world than he was.

  “He is not biologically ours, but he is our son.”

  What did she mean by that? Did they adopt him? Were there adoptions in other worlds? My dismay must have been evident, because she proceeded to explain.

  “Luca was brought to us. He was chosen for us. He is ours,” she said.

  I still didn’t understand what she was getting at. I decided to move on. “Are you—” I wanted to say human, but that seemed rude. “Are you from where he is?”

  Bernadetta smiled a soft smile and grabbed my hand.

  I didn’t retract, feeling her kindness, but I couldn’t look at her.

  “Yes, dear. We are.” She pushed my hair away from my eyes, and my unsteady stare went back to her. “I know with a heart already consumed with so much hurt it is hard for you to be whole again, but you must not lose hope.”

  My eyes watered. There was hurt. So much so, I didn’t think I would ever be able to come back from it. Her words were a reminder of the pain and struggles I couldn’t release. I hated letting out my emotions through tears, but the intense force of them could no longer be contained. As soon as they started, her arms brought me into a hug as if I were one of her own. Kindness flowed from her touch. I felt at home there, and finally recognized she was of no danger to me. I continued to weep into her chest, my anxiety gratefully fading away.

  She rubbed my back. “You have both made so many sacrifices for one another. You must not let faith leave your heart just yet.”

  What sacrifices could she have meant? I knew she wouldn’t tell me. I had to find him if I wanted to know.

  She released me from her embrace, and grabbed a berry from her bucket. “Do not ignore the truth.” She handed the berry to me.

  I stared at it for a long moment, turning it with my fingers.

  She picked up her basket, and then made her way back toward the mulberry tree.

  I was left with my thoughts, still battling the decision I would soon have to make.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Don’t ignore the truth. The words replayed themselves over and over in my head. I heard them in my dreams so many times, yet I still didn’t know what they meant.

  I gave up trying to sleep. My mind wandered too badly. I put on a pair of shorts and a soft sweater over my tank top, then made the journey outside to clear my racing thoughts.

  When I stepped outside, the cool breeze flowed through my hair. The lake came into view, and my pace hesitated at the sound of movement. Hiding behind the tall grass, I could see him through the blades of the prairie foliage.

  Luca stood in the shallow end of the lake, his eyes intent on the stars. He looked angelic in the moonlight, at peace with his surroundings. His chest bare, the light of the moon shined off his beautiful body. I noticed he didn’t even bother to roll up his jeans. He just stood there in the ankle deep water with his strong arms crossed over his chest.

  I watched him and pulled my sweater in closer with my fingers. I didn’t know if it was him or the elements that made the nerves under my skin tingle. I ignored the
cause. I didn’t want to know the answer.

  I could have journeyed elsewhere—he hadn’t spotted me—but I couldn’t break my stride. I made my way out to him and the ripples from the lake created themselves at my ankles.

  He turned toward me, not looking at all surprised. I wondered if he knew I was there the whole time, but waited for me to come to him. Come to him when I was ready ….

  I stopped several feet away from him. His eyes bored into every inch of my body, and my breathing picked up. I swallowed hard. “Can I talk to you?”

  My request surprised him. His eyes flicked questioningly, but then a half smile appeared. “Yes, of course.”

  I ventured closer, maintaining his gaze. I knew if I could only look into his eyes, I’d know the truth. They always spoke more than words ever did with him. They never lied about how he truly felt. I stopped a foot away from him. “What are you doing out here?” I really did want to know, and the delay allowed me time to properly formulate what I really wanted to say.

  He glanced back to the sky. “I am not sure exactly, but when I come out here,” he said, bringing his gaze back to me, “I do not feel so far away from home.”

  His answer made me feel connected with him in a way I hadn’t thought possible again. He searched for home, just as I was. I swallowed hard, no longer fighting the delay. “Will you answer honestly to anything I ask you?” I kept my manner stoic. He didn’t need to read my emotions this evening. I was done giving into him.

  “I will tell you anything you want to know.”

  I paused for just a moment, trying to build the confidence I knew I had. “Did you—” God this was so hard. “Is what Gemini said true? Did you set me up?”

  “No. No, I did not.”

  His gaze went deep, and his eyes revealed the truth with no waver or falter about them.

  The answer took me by surprise. I thought I could handle the other answer, but this one …. This one hurt even more, because now I didn’t know what to think. I prepared to hate him. I didn’t prepare for this. “Why did Gemini think you had?”