Nearly a week had past, before she was able to tell Jim of the dream. Everyone was back to his or her normal busy selves, and discussion of the suite dwindled, washing the pain of betrayal from their hearts. Thanks to the late spring rain, the valley grew greener with each shower, adding to the general over all beauty, of the progress being made.
It appeared the June opening date, was going to be meet. However, it was the summer fair's deadline, which had her up and about early this morning.
As Emma headed out the back door, to find Alex; she knew he’d be in the green houses. They’d been his pet project, since he first discovered them, shortly after finding the third house. He’d spent every free minute he could find, reconstruction them from the ground up. She thought they had been a total loss when he first found them. He proved they weren’t.
Jim had appeared at the door in the middle of one of their discussions. Obviously, wishing to speak to her, but he patiently waited until Alex finished telling her his plans.
Once he realized Jim was there, Alex asked if he knew how old Johnny had come up with such an ingenious, way of keeping the place warm during the winter months. She’d no idea what he was talking about, but Jim seemed to understand the question and for the next half hour, they discussed the pro's and con's, of heating the place with underground water pipes, that ran out of the hot springs, not too far away. When the conversation developed in to a more extensive one, on the usage of hot springs, she excused herself and took a seat out under a tall pine for shade. The June sun was already hot, but the extra glass didn't help matters. They followed suite not missing a beat, in the conversation, soon all three sat Indian style, comparing the advantages of heating this way.
When Alex took off, down the hill for the refreshments, Jim leaned close and whispered.
"I finally got you to myself." She knew he was kidding, and chuckled. "No really Emma." he continued on, very serious "I've been trying to talk to you for days, but that kid of yours won’t leave me alone with you, for even a minute."
She understood what he was saying. Kit had left for Salt Lake that morning, to prepare for his graduation. She’d be returning herself in a few days, then when she returned home, she’d be bringing the rest of the kids with her.
"So what's so important?" she whispered back "And why are we whispering?"
"I don't know why we’re whispering, now. I didn't want Alex to get the wrong idea, a minute ago." He was grinning at her, the way it always did, when she was in the room. "I just needed to talk to you." he went on with a twinkle in his eye.
Their time was up, Alex was returning with three sodas in hand. Taking back his place on the ground, he continued on right where he’d left off, not noticing the silent words passing between Jim and herself.
"So tell me, how did old Johnny know he could do what he did, to the place?"
"Oh” Jim looked up at him. “I guess he just stumbled on the idea."
He went on to recite bits and pieces of the story he’d told her the first night. How no one else wanted the land. Not even the Indians. They called it bad medicine land – due to all the hot springs. The settlers feared the land as well, because they feared it would blow up like the ships on the Mississippi. Therefore, he’d been able to buy it for ten cent an acre, if it hadn't been for Emme's Grandmother dying when she did, he wouldn't have had the funds to do so then. Suddenly she’d an idea, and had to do some research, so she quickly excused herself, and started the three quarter mile trek, back to the Big House.
She was just nearing the Plantation House, as it was becoming known, when Jim caught up with her. Wrapping his arm around her waist, he tugged her in the door of the third house, and pinned her to the wall. Staring straight into her eyes, so close he could’ve kissed her, he said through deep breaths "When can we talk?" She fought off the temptations gnawing at her lips, and told him, later that evening. With a wink, he agreed to meet her at the barn, and then released her, to go on her way. She hated to put him off, but needed to do this research, she’d have to tell him about it later.
She’d been tied up after dinner, when a couple of women from the party committee, showed up, and dragged her off to look at flowers for the Ball. It had required changing into a dress and heels, and driving all the way to Cedar, only to remember they didn't need the extra expense; after all she assured them, the green house's would be able to supply all the cut flowers they could use.
By the time she returned, later had turned into very late. She drove directly to the barn, not even stopping at the house to let anyone know where she was headed. She’d hoped someone would be on the front porch, as it seemed someone always was, but that wasn't to be the case.
When she arrived, all but one dimly lit light was off, and it was way in the back, of the barn. Near the big door, that led to the pasture. She wasn't crazy about the thought of walking in there alone, but Jim's truck was still there, he must be somewhere around.
As cautiously as she could, with heels on, she entered the large red building and called his name. There was no response, but the other door stood completely open. Doing her best not to step in anything, she made her way to the other side of the barn, and called his name again.
Suddenly there was a noise behind her in the barn, but before she could turn. Two strong hands gripped about her waist. The scream was passing her lips, before she heard Jim say "You looking for me." Good thing his arms were around her, or her heels, wouldn’t have been the only thing covered with cow chips.
When she awoke, he’d gentle laid her on a pile of fresh mowed hay, and had his jacket wrapped about her chest and arms, he sat crossed legged right next to her, with his head hung low in his hands. The moment she moved, he looked up at her, she thought she could see moisture slipping from his eyes, but refrained from saying so. Wetting her lips, she asked "How long have I been here?"
Again, he lowered his head and whispered something, she didn't hear, it obviously wasn’t intended for her ears, and then responded “About fifteen minutes. I'll never do that again, you gave me such a fright, girl."
"I've never fainted before" she stated, sitting up, pushing his jacket off. A cool breeze, slithered up her back, the zipper on her dress was undone. When she reached, back to make sure, He simple said, "First thing you do, when someone passes out, loosen their clothing. Sorry, I really didn't—"
"It's Ok Jim, I know." she reassured him "Although, I've never passes out before, at least not from fright." She remembered her former boss’s wedding. That night the cause was champagne.
He looked so pitiful. She couldn't help but want to comfort him. "The least you could do is zip it back up." She said with a wink of the eye.
When he regained his composure, He lifted his head and said, “I've never known a girl, so set to destroy me."
"What do you mean?"
He didn't let her turn to look at him, he just simple held on, and nuzzled his nose deep into her hair. She let her guard down, and allowed herself to be a woman. Softly she kissed, his forearm, and relaxed back against his broad chest. He released his shoulder grip and replaced it with one around her waist. She knew it wasn't right, but it felt so good, just to be held. Neither of them spoke, for the longest of time, and then he lifted his head off her shoulder and released her waist. The moment was over, but she enjoyed it, more than she could say.
Swiftly she pulled herself to her feet. On wobbly knees, she walked to the back door. She was sure he got the message. She stopped just short of passing through it. There she stood, arms folded close to her chest, she wouldn't have admitted it, but it was to hold on to the warmth, she’d just encountered. He followed a minute later, stretching his arm above her to lean against the barn door. All though there was nothing out there to look at, at least she wasn't staring into his deep eyes. "This has just—”
"I know." he said, squeezing her shoulder. "I feel the same thing, it’s like magic." quickly she spun around
"That's it, I've been trying to put my finger on the right word." realizing she was once again looking deep into his eyes, she quickly turned back.
"You can't hide from me. I mean we have to work together every day. How are we going to handle this?" She’d no way of answering him. He leaned forward and whispered. "Ok, we'll pretend it doesn't exist, for a while longer." he straightened back up. "Now.” he said in a normal tone "how about if we compare notes, about what we have seen."
Pulling away from his grasp she said, "I can't think straight, right now." she’d again turned to look him squarely in the eyes, "Can’t we have this talk, another time. I –" his eyes were soft, and they distracted her thoughts, again, "I've got to get out of here."
"Emma, don't run from me."
She wasn't running, just moving as fast as she could, in heels. Whirling around at the opposite door, she discovered, he hadn't moved a step towards her. The distance gave her the space to think clearly.
"I'm not running from you. I told you before, it's me I fear." With that, she continued on to the car, then home.
The next afternoon, as she sat on the porch swing, watching out across the ever-greening land. A group of cars caught her eye as they pulled off the main road, and headed towards the big house. At first she thought, perhaps they were a group of people from town, but as they crossed the arched bridge. She recognized one of the cars. It was her older brother Bobs.
Panic, flooded every pore, as she raced for the phone, exclaiming at the top of her lungs as she passed through the living room, continuing on to her office. Within the time it took for them to drive from the bridge to the front gate, she’d had Mr. B. on the line.
"Slow down Emma, tell me what's happening." His fatherly tone always left her feeling somehow better, even when he couldn't make thing all right. This time, he simply had to remind her, that the court date wasn't set until, August. Hanging up the phone, she suddenly realized, they were there to check the place out. Well if they wanted to see, who could best run it, then that was what they’d see. She proclaimed to the group that had gathered outside her office “If they want to see how we treat our guest’s, then that’s what we’ll give them”.
For the next two days, these people were treated like VIP's, they were wined and dined, taken on personalized tours of the place, taught to ride, and even feasted on the fine brook trout, from the rainbow colored lake, but not a word of the suite was discussed.
To an outsider stopping by, it may have appeared, there was a great family reunion under way, but to her it was back breaking work, not to through them off the land. More than once, she found herself with tongue in check, fighting the hurtful word that lay waiting, on the tip of her tongue.
By Sunday afternoon, when the last of the car's had driven off, she simple dropped into the large chair in front of the fire place, and started to cry so hard, that even Beth couldn't console her. If there was anything to be grateful for, it was that Kit was in Salt Lake. He didn't witness her “feet kissing” attempt, to show them who was the boss, she knew he despised her peacekeeping missions. Now, she felt more like an ass kisser then peacekeeper, what else was she to do? In the old days, she could’ve drawn a gun and chased them off her land, but in this day, not everyone used guns, to solve their problems. The more she mulled it over in her head, the larger her headache got.
By dark, when it appeared everyone had stopped trying to comfort her, and gone to bed. A shadowed figure on the front porch startled her. Quickly moving to the curtain to get a better look, she recognized Jim's slight outline sitting in the porch swing.
She hadn't seen him all weekend. In fact she hadn't seen him since their talk at the barn. It was understandable that he stayed clear of the place, over the weekend, but what was he doing on the front porch, at this time of the night, she thought, as she stepped out into the cool evening air.
"I understand you need Me." his deep clear words sprung to her ears.
"Who called? Beth." she asked treading a bit closer, but he only shook his head.
"I just know." he responded, not looking up at her. He was working on the mind reading thing. "Looks like you need me more." she remarked, about the way his hair was uncombed and his face needed a shave. When his piercing blue eyes meet hers, she knew she’d guessed right. "What is it?" She questioned lowering herself to his feet, and looking up into his troubled face. "Tell me, what can I do?"
"Oh Emma," he responded pulling her face against his leg. "Sara –" His voice broke and he began to weep openly in front of her. His whole body was trembling. Quickly climbing onto the swing, to cradle him in her arms, where he wept like a baby into her chest. Then as his sobs, diminished, he managed to tell her about the accident, but it had occurred nearly a month ago, why had he waited so long to react?
"They just called me the other day, the doctor said that her Grandmother was killed, and since there wasn't going to be anyone there, to help her, she would—" again his voice trailed off into nothing. "They wouldn't let me raise her, they said it wasn't right. Now they want to send her here, and I don't even know her." he looked up at her, his eyes red and puffed, "I haven't even gotten a picture, in two years. I don't even know what she looks like."
"It'll be ok. I promise we'll find a way to care for her."
"She can't walk. I mean the doctor said she could, if she would. She was driving though, and she thinks it's her fault."
"Oh, Jim." she could feel his pain, the thought of having a child, that someone took away, was difficult in the first place, but now they were asking him to do the impossible, become a father overnight. Wrap a child, that doesn't know him, into his arms, and kiss and make it better.
They sat there silently, for quite some time. Then suddenly, he sprang up and walked to the porch railing. Where he stood silently, looking out over the slumbering valley. When she joined him, he quickly swept her to him, with his arms wrapped tightly around her. When she tensed, he bent close and whispered to her "Remember Emma, hugs don't count. Besides I'm here to cheer you up.”
"I made such a fool of myself this weekend." She sighed looking down at the small flowers growing at the edge of the porch.
"It didn't look that way to me." He offered
"Well then, I felt like a fool. Running those guy's all over the place, wiping their noses."
"You mean kissing butt." He said with a half-witted chuckle.
"Call it what you want, I thought I had them eating out of my hand, and really they had me jumping through hoops."
"It looked like you were all enjoying yourselves, to me."
"Where were you?" she puzzled turning to look up at him.
"Oh, here and there but trust me, you were never out of sight."
The thought sent a chill up her back “When you say never out of your sight –”
"Of course not." he answered her question even before she’d finished it.
"See, you did it again." amazement filled her face, How did he keep doing that.
"I tell you, I can’t read your mind, but your face is another story, every time I see it."
"So you thought we were amusing ha?" she asked turning to look back out across the valley.
"I said you looked like a family enjoying themselves. It almost had me wondering, why I was so afraid they might hurt you." When she didn't argue his comment, he went on to ask, "Would they hurt you?"
"God no –” she again pulled loose enough to look at him "They just expect more than I can give."
"Like what?" he asked stoking her burning checks.
"Like the land, I wanted to divided it up with them, but before I can even get it moving through the courts, they file this stupid suite, wanting all of it." she responded shifting her weight around him, so she could walk back to the swing. "I never intended to keep it all, Mr. B. said I’d have to run it for a year or two, before the court would even consider breaking the tradition." she finished sitting down. "But, what can I do to help you, with Sara? Do you need money to get her here?"
"I'll need a couple days off."
"Anything you want, it’s yours."
"That's a pretty broad description, are you sure you have that to offer." she thought he meant concerning Sara, until he drew her close enough, she could feel his hot breath on her nose. By then she’d no time to react, before he pressed his sweet lips to hers. Even though she didn't want to pull away, that was exactly what she did.
She didn't see him again until after she’d returned from Kit's graduation. She’d spent most the week in Salt Lake, with hopes that with the extra time, she’d be able to convince Mike to come along as well. The only thing that happened was the two of them were fighting constantly.
"Poor Kit, it should’ve been the best time of his life, and all he got to hear, was the two of us going at each other’s throat." she told Beth, when asked how the week had gone.
"Why can't he just admit here is where you’re going to be?" Beth asked, stepping back to the kitchen counter, to chop carrots.
"If I knew that, I'd have the war won." She remarked, while filling the sugar container.
"By the way, Jim's back." Beth added as if that may make everything all right.
"How’s Sara?"
"He's not said much, but Jesse called yesterday, and asked if you were back yet." Jesse, often called, but she just felt as if she’d better check in on her, this time.
"Did she say, there was anything, we could help with."
"Kid's"
"Oh, I get it, if Sara knows she's not the only one around, she may feel better."
"Exactly, I guess Jimmy –” she paused with a puzzled look on her face. “Is that his name?"
Emma bobbed her head to agree, and Beth continued on, "He came home too, but he doesn't know her much better, since Jim raised him."
"That poor girl" Emma remarked, as she spooned the sweetener into her tea. "I'll make up a basket of fruit. Then have them take it over. The kids may just be what she needs."
That was just what she did. As soon as she was able to convince Shelly Jesse needed the help, Shelly was more than willing to make the trip, Crystal and Jason went along to keep her company.
By dark, when the trio hadn't returned, Emma, decided to check on them. To her surprise, Kit's Geo was parked out front, along with Shelly's Honda, and from the crowd on the front porch, it looked like the poor girl, wouldn’t be friend poor for long.
Slipping around the side of the house, so not to disturb the smaller group on the front porch, she watched carefully the larger group under the large front tree. There she could see, Kit and Shelly, along with Beth's girls and even Jakes oldest boy huddled around the poor little thing in a wheel chair, and another boy she only thought looked familiar, Crystal was on the porch with a couple of other boys and a very dark haired girl.
She’d just cleared the porch, walking on to the back door. When Jim grabbed hold of her arm, she hadn't seen him there. She nearly gave him away, with a scream – but he covered her mouth first. While whispering, "It's just me"
By the time, her heart returned, to its slower pace. He held her tightly against him, facing the front of the house, when he bowed the small bush he could see the group, under the tree.
"Isn't she beautiful?" he whispered barely above his breath. Emma could barely see her from where she stood, but answered affirmative any way. She wasn't about to pop his bubble, by telling him that parents always thought, their children were the best looking things on the earth.
The longer she stood there though, the more she began to see what he meant. At first, the girls long blond hair was all she could see, but when Kit moved the chair closer to the house, she was able to see the beauty.
Large almond shaped blue eyes, that were twinkling at that moment, studied Kit's face intensely, with a warm smile, and rosy checks, that lied about the health of the sweet thing. Her complexion was whipped strawberry cream, the high check bone hinted at her the small frame, captured in the wheel chair.
Jim stood clutching her tightly, not saying a word.
"Is that Jimmy?" she moved the bush to point out the figured she’d thought familiar,
"Yes." he responded, with an air of distaste "I don't know what that college has planted in his head, look at those clothes."
"What's wrong with him?" she puzzled
"I forget you’re from the city, where it's ok, for kids to belong to local posses, and where they wear their hanky around their heads."
"Be patient, he comes from good stock, I'm sure it'll show." she hoped, her answer would easy his mind. "So tell me, where's my lost child."
"In the house with Mom." he answered stepping back to free her. "I hope your right. He worries me, and the way he keeps hanging on Shelly, should worry you."
She leaned forward again to see if she’d anything to worry about, but from where she stood, the hold he had on her daughter, looked no different from anything she’d seen before.
"Shelly knows what she's looking for, if he doesn't meet her standards, he'll know soon enough."
"Like her Mom, Ha?" He said with a wink, as she continued towards the back door.
Inside Jesse was busy entertaining Jason, with a hot batch of cookies and punch. Even thought he was only a couple years younger than the rest, it was just enough to make him an outsider.
"Mom, we're watching the game." he exclaimed, the moment she stepped in, then he trotted off, so as not to miss the game. Jesse took a seat at the kitchen table and asked, "So did you manage to convince him to move?" catching her off guard.
"And I thought, I could get you to tell me, what's been going on around here." she said with a chuckle.
"That didn't answer the question." Jim's voice rang from the door. "Is he?"
"No," her voice showed the frustration she felt, as she looked down at her hands, and twisted the band on her finger. "I don't know what it's going to take to get him here."
"Why worry?" he remarked taking a seat across the table from her with his hot cup of coffee. "If he's not smart enough to know, what he's throwing away. He's stupid enough to lose it."
"James!" Jesse nearly shouted at him, "You know what it's like when people go their different ways, she doesn't need any one telling her how to handle it."
"We're not going our separate ways!" she attempted to clarify the situation "He just won't come down." Who was she trying to convince, them? They could see it from the outside, and even if she couldn't, they could see a separation occurring, but the battle did manage to change the subject.
After Jesse told how Jimmy had come home, to help with his little sister, Jim again, said that he was worried about the way he’d been hanging on Shelly. She knew that he was a bit partial for Shelly, but found it difficult to think, he would actually watch out for her, and not his own son.
"Maybe it’s right," Jesse added her two cents, "Maybe it's the right blood mix."
Blood Mix, just the sound of the words sent Emma’s heart racing. However, the way Jesse grabbed her mouth, and hung her head, caused Emma to worry even more.
"Mom" Jim exclaimed, throwing his mother a look of disgust.
"My God – what are you talking about?" Emma had risen to her feet.
"It's alright, Emma." Jim stood as well, "Mom has this stupid story, she's always talking about and she’s told it so many times, she's began to believe it."
It was more the way he said the word, then what he actually said that eased her mind and allowed her to sit down. "What kind of a story?" she asked, looking over at Jesse, but it was Jim that continued "The legend, it says when the right people get together, then peace will once again be returned to the earth."
"Married… that's what you meant, by blood mixing."
"The birth of a child," Jesse corrected her. "That's the only way blood should be mixed."
"Like I said it's silly." Jim stated
"Makes sense to me, I mean, I wish it could be that easy to insure peace, I'd marry them off tonight believe me, Shelly would whip him into shape."