by Stephy Smith
"No, that's the worst of it." Taking deep breaths, she milked the cow and made her way back to the cabin. Jessie carried the milk pail for her as they walked alongside each other. The awkward silence between them had left her speechless. How could she explain something she herself did not understand?
Grease from the bacon popped onto the hot surface of the stove. The sizzle of the eggs as she broke them into the hot skillet barely cut into the uncomfortable silence. The aroma of fresh baked bread filled the cabin. Sarah dished the meal onto two plates and then carried them to the table. Jessie poured milk for both of them, and then they ate their breakfast in silence.
Jessie shook his head. The blank expression on his face made Sarah think back on the first night the demons appeared to her. She didn't know if it was numbness that took over him or the shock of what just happened here roaming through her son's mind. Just like she had, she figured he was trying to reason out some kind of logic of the situation.
Sarah filled two buckets with water and headed up the hill. Jessie followed her with a couple more pails. He set one on the ground and opened the gate to the cemetery. Sarah poured the water on the rose bushes, knelt down on her knees, and yanked the weeds out of the ground with a revengeful violence. Tears flowed once more. She could feel her son's eyes staring at her. When she calmed a bit he softly said, "I think you should go stay at my house."
"I can't let these things chase me away from my home." The burning pain in her chest tightened.
"I don't want these things to take your life, Mother." His fingers traced the names and dates on the three crosses his mother carved for the dearly departed.
"Does Shining Moon know about these spirits?"
"No, I didn't tell him. He would think I was crazy. There's got to be a way to stop them, Jessie."
"Mother, Shining Moon is in love with you. He wouldn't think you were crazy." He paused. "This is going to be a long week isn't it?"
"I'm sorry, Jessie. I should've told you. I understand if you want to go home."
"Oh, no. I won't leave you here alone with those ghouls. You've been through more than I have. If you stay, I stay."
Renewed anger shot through her as she thought of the torment she was putting him through. The pain in her stomach knotted at the thought of what she was asking of him. Asking of all her sons.
Jessie and Sarah made their way back down the hill. Jessie looked at his grandma's cabin and pointed to indicate he was headed to the open door and windows. He walked into the dark, cool cabin. With a smile on her face, Sarah stood and watched from the entrance, as he reached for a wooden toy he played with as a child. The toy mysteriously moved beyond his reach. Attempting to pick the toy up again, the toy floated across the room to rest on the bureau. He glanced at his mother. Sarah shrugged her shoulders.
"That's something Daddy would do." She giggled.
Jessie walked out of the door, and the sounds of pots and pans rang out immediately. Ignoring them, Jessie and Sarah glanced at each other and continued with the daily chores. Sarah washed the laundry and Jessie worked on the barn.
Jessie glanced toward the ghost lights in the house, flickering. He shook his head and continued working, but he had turned his back to the cabin. Sarah kept a close watch on Jessie. She wasn't going to let anything happen to one of her children. Not from the living or the dead.
As the day dragged on, Sarah noticed the dark circles forming under Jessie's eyes. He kept wiping at his eyes and throwing water in his face. She knew he was worn out from the fight, hard labor around the farm, and worrying about her. The thought of the spirits coming again sent a shiver down her spine. Jessie needed some rest.
Sarah was finishing her nightly chores, "You need to wash up for supper, Jessie."
"Yes ma'am." Jessie drug his feet as he walked to the water trough in the front yard. He pumped some fresh water into a bucket and carried it in to her. He threw out the dirty dishwater and emptied the washtub turning it upside down to dry.
Sarah and Jessie sat down for supper. It was dark outside as Jessie glanced out the window. A kerosene lamp burned in the little cabin next door. Excusing himself, he went and extinguished the fire, secured the windows and door, then returned to his supper.
"It's a waste of time, Jessie." Sarah said without looking up.
Jessie looked out the window, again, toward the burning light, open windows and door. He shook his head.
"You better get some rest before they come back again."
"This happens every night?"
"Yes."
"The ghosts were calling your name and wanted you to burn Grandma's cabin and the cemetery. Why do they want you to do that?"
"I don't know. I haven't given it much thought because I couldn't…I won't ever destroy either place."
"Those things probably would if they could."
Jessie grabbed the bristle-less broom, Sarah grabbed a quilt from her bed and snuggled down into the rocker near the fireplace. They waited for the ghosts to visit.
Once again, the ghost made their appearance, their calls, and laughter filling the air. The fight was on as Jessie swung blindly, batting at the dark mist figures, hitting and slicing through, as the calls and laughter grew louder and louder. Sarah and Jessie collapsed when the ghosts disappeared.
Later that morning Sarah woke to find Jessie flat on his back, on the middle of the kitchen table, fast asleep, his broom handle resting across his chest. She quietly left the cabin, did the morning chores, and started breakfast.
Jessie woke with a start, the broom handle clenched in his hand, Sarah braced herself for the blow Jessie was prepared to dole out. He shook his head and glanced around. His arms reared back as if he were going to swing it.
"Good morning, Mother. Sorry, I forgot where I was."
"Good morning, Jessie. I know. Some mornings I would love to forget where I am."
There was no need in asking if the other had any sleep. They both knew the answer.
"I think we're beating them down some." Jessie wiped his eyes.
Laughter echoed through the cabin, this time it was Sarah. "And what would make you think that? At first they seemed to dwindle, but then they came back stronger." She tried to keep a straight face.
Jessie smiled, "My muscles ache. A few of the spirits left, but it seems they only stepped out for reinforcement."
"I don't think those came back. I wonder why the broom quit working."
The rest of the week produced the same fight night after night. Jessie's face lit up when he saw Cord on Saturday. "Welcome, Cord. Good to see you." Jessie extended his hand. Cord took it and then hugged and kissed Sarah on the cheek.
Chapter Seven
Shining Moon waited on the hill until Sarah disappeared into the cabin. Jessie glanced back and then ran up to meet him. The boys gave their word they would keep him informed as to what was bothering Sweet Sarah. He had never kept his love for her a secret from them. They didn't seem surprised when he had told them he planned on marrying her someday.
Jessie's breath was slightly labored when he stopped beside Shining Moon.
"How is she?"
"It is not what you think! She doesn't want you to know, so you cannot tell her I have told you this." Jessie held eye contact with Shining Moon.
"Go on."
"There are ghosts, Shining Moon. She thinks you will see her as a crazy woman."
Shining Moon felt his eyes grow wide as he quickly gazed down the hill at the cabin. His chest failed to rise at his loss of breath. The muscles in his neck tightened. He curled his fingers into a fist. An audible groan rumbled in his throat as he pushed the air from his lungs to draw in another deep breath. The thunder of his heart echoed in his ears as if a storm were pounding its way across the Kansas prairie.
"We all have guardian angels and spirit guides. Why would she think I wouldn't accept hers as well?" Sweet Sarah knew of his beliefs. Or he thought she did. She had sat beside him when he discussed them with her mother. He coul
d not understand why she would want to hide this from him. It was a bad thing for her to lock away and try to conquer on her own. Did she not understand he was a shaman, a doctor for his own people?
Had Sweet Sarah lost her faith in him, even though she had relied on him and even prompted him to administer to her own mother? She had trusted him to care for one of the most valued people in her life, and now that it was Sarah who needed help, was he suddenly not good enough for her? Jessie's words pulled him from his thoughts, and he turned his gaze to the young man.
"These are not guardian angels or spirit guides. These are pure evil, tormenting spirits that lash out and destroy everything they get near. Shining Moon, Mother says the bad ghost will not let her stay in Grandma's cabin with the good spirits." Jessie glared at him with honesty in his eyes.
"Then I must go to her. The evil spirits cannot control her unless she lets them."
"I have tried to tell her she should have come to you. She refuses. When Cord and I get the chance, we will try to get her to let you come."
"Why does she not come to me?" His heart tightened in his chest. He drew in a long breath. She should trust him enough to know there was nothing in this world to lessen his feelings for her.
"I don't know. Pride maybe. I don't understand females. That's why I have remained single." Jessie glanced down the hill. "We'll call on you. Cord and I will meet you up here to fill you in. Hopefully, he can convince her we need guidance on this matter. Until then, all I can ask is that you wait to go to her."
A knot formed in Shining Moon's stomach. If he had to wait, he didn't know how long that would be. But for now, it was all he had to go on. He would prepare his herbs for whatever ceremony he would have to perform when it was time. The longer it took to send for him, the harder it would be to rid the place of the spirits.
Shining Moon watched the retreating form of Jessie until he passed through the door of Sweet Sarah's cabin. He then turned to his horse, and with a small hand signal the stallion fell in behind him as he walked. His mind tuned into his surroundings, even though his gaze was on the ground.
A lone dove cooed in the distance. The evening sun was floating close to the horizon. Fresh prairie air carried the sweet aroma of clover. Shining Moon drew in a deep breath. He had to remain grounded to the earth as he thought about the condition his Sweet Sarah was in.
She had to be in some kind of denial as to her situation. For one reason or another, she may believe she could still beat this thing on her own. At least she had reached out to her sons, and that was a big step. This was the typical reaction of others he had known when they had spirits haunting them. But, this time, it seemed different. The whole affair had an uneasy feel about it. A feel he couldn't quite grasp.
After several miles of walking, he jumped on his horse's back and headed to the village.
****
Sarah took the reins from Cord, and led the young brown horse to the stall next to Jessie's horse. The boys fed the horses, slopped the hogs, and milked the cow. Sarah gathered the eggs and started supper for the three of them. Jessie filled Cord in on repairs he had made to the barn as they ate pork stew.
The weather was nice and cool outside, and the three of them retired to the porch to finish their tea. The door and windows flew open on Grandma's cabin, and the sound of a fiddle and harmonica floated throughout the area as the shadows took their dancing to the walls. Cord jumped up and headed to the tiny cabin with Jessie and Sarah close on his heels.
Entering the cabin, Cord turned to Sarah and Jessie. His fist doubled up and his elbows bent, poised to fight. "There's no one in here."
"No, there's not," Sarah said as she searched Cord's confused face.
Cord turned his attention back to the cabin, and then looked back at Sarah and Jessie. "That's a pretty good trick. How did you pull this one off?" Cord smiled, shaking his head. "Oh boy, y'all are good."
Jessie and Sarah glanced at each other. Sarah spoke up, "Cord, we didn't do it. It is the ghosts."
The smile left Cord's face, and the amusement left his serious eyes. "You have ghosts?" Cord shook his head.
Sarah turned, strolled back to the porch, and took her seat as she listened to the music. Cord and Jessie followed. A couple of hours later the music stopped, the dancers disappeared, the door and windows shut, and the lights faded into nothingness.
The sun had set, and the three retired to Sarah's cabin. Jessie took his broom stick. Sarah sat in the rocker after handing Cord an extra blanket. "What's this for?"
"We're going into battle. You better get some sleep." Jessie settled into the straight back chair, and Sarah closed her eyes, trying to sleep in the rocker.
"You can lie on one of the beds or the table if you would like." Jessie smiled at Cord.
"You two are worrying me." Heavy lines creased Cord's forehead. "What are we fighting?"
"Bad ghosts, they'll be here soon. Get some rest." Sarah said. Jessie was already asleep in his chair. Cord shook his head and closed his eyes. Sarah stood guard for a few minutes before she fell asleep.
At once Cord's powerful legs propelled him toward the open door. One of the ghosts swooped down so fast he failed to see the door close. With a loud thud, Cord hit the door. The blow knocked him on his backside with blood oozing from his nose. He grabbed his mother's riding crop and swatted at the dark, fingery tentacles grasping at him.
He jumped from the floor and swung wildly through the dark masses swarming around his head. Jessie jabbed at others with the spirit broom handle. Sarah strained to get the door open. It seemed to be stuck. She rattled it back and forth. The shutters on the windows slammed shut.
"For sakes alive! What's going on here?" Cord yelled when the ghosts shrieked overhead. He covered his ears and Sarah pulled on the door. This time it opened, and she stood back from the doorway before it slammed shut again. Jessie was swinging his broom handle like a wild man.
"Where did these creatures come from?" Cord dodged a black mass. His eyes were wide and burned with intense fury. The ghosts swarmed and plunged at the warriors who bravely stood to defend the cabin.
"Mother's been fighting them since Grandma died. She doesn't know where they came from. The day ghosts in Grandma's cabin aren't bad... just annoying at times." Jessie's body swayed to the side as one of the malicious spirits flew by his head.
"This isn't doing any good. The crop is going through them." Cord's voice was panicked as he took another swing.
Cord arched his back and winced. When he turned to charge his attacker, Sarah noticed the four rips in the material of his shirt and droplets of blood oozing from his skin. She crinkled her eyes and held in her gasp.
When one of the ghosts would head for the door, Sarah tried hard to jerk it open and shoo the grotesque creature from the swarm. She was still unable to pull the door open. The three worked tirelessly, trying to encourage the ghost to leave. Right before daybreak, the ghost left.
Cord wiped his brow. "I haven't worked this hard since...never."
Jessie agreed. "At least you have help, last week it was me and Mother."
Cord turned to Sarah. "I think you should stay at my house. Jessie and I can take care of this."
"No, I'm not letting these monsters take over my house." Sarah stomped her foot and placed her fisted hands on her hips. Why was it that everyone wanted her to leave her home? Didn't they understand she wasn't going anywhere? This was her place, and she was keeping it no matter what she had to do.
"I told her the same thing. You better get some sleep, we have work to do in a few hours." Jessie told Cord as he put away the broomstick.
Sarah had taken her place in the rocking chair near the fireplace and listened to her sons.
"Jess, how long has Mother been doing this?"
"Since Grandma's funeral. She said the ghosts showed up after Liz, Carolyn and Will left."
"When Mother showed up at my house, I thought she was a ghost. She looked bad. I was worried about her."
Sarah's heart sank to the pit of her stomach. What had she put her sons through by showing up at their farms? Other than being weak, she hadn't looked in the mirror much since the ghosts had arrived. She didn't have to, for she knew she would probably look ragged. She choked back the sob welling in her throat. Her muscles had tensed, and the blood pounded in her temples.
"You should have seen her when she showed up at my house, Cord. Her eyes were sunken, and she had dark circles under them. She was pale and skinny. You could see every bone in her body. I thought she was sick. I made her go to bed."
"She didn't look much better when she got to my house. I knew something was wrong. This wasn't what I was thinking. I thought she was coming there to die."
The way Jessie and Cord talked, they thought she was on her deathbed. There were days after her battle with the beasts that she had wished she had been. What type of mother was she to let her sons suffer? She, herself, had endured many hours sitting beside her mother's frail body. Days went by when she thought her mother would make it through the night. On those nights, Sarah would make hourly trips to the little cabin to check on her mother. She knew the heartache she felt, and now she was putting her sons through the same thing.
With a pat on the back, Jessie told Cord, "Better get some sleep. The daytime ghosts at Grandma's are at least tolerable. They are easy to ignore."
"Jess," Cord rolled his eyes, "what have we gotten into?" Cord settled down on the table.
She fell asleep as soon as the young men started snoring. Her conscience bothered her to the point that she didn't need much sleep while her sons were around.
Sarah was the first one to wake. She quietly slipped out to do morning chores. Sitting on the porch letting the boys sleep in, she watched the door and windows on her mother's cabin open. Her mind focused on the conversation her sons had the night before. Aware of the smell of fire inside her own cabin, she rose and went inside to fix breakfast. The boys had already made coffee and offered her a cup.
"Good morning, boys. Did you two really think I was on my death bed when I went to your houses?" Her words broke up as she swallowed the lump in her throat. One hand clenched around the hot cup and the other fisted in her apron.
