Budding Magic

  Chapter Fifteen

  "That's different!" Vevila pointed out.

  "Whoa, Kingdom," Kellan called out.

  They could see a line across the land where the sunny afternoon had turned to night.

  "The flowers are all gone," Alana pointed to an area where the flowers were bright and vivid, but when they got to the line where day became night—they vanished.

  "Look at the trees," Kellan pointed to the leafless trees. "It's winter over there."

  Dara looked toward the dark and saw that the area was indeed dormant—just like in winter.

  "It's dark only because in winter it would be dark at this time of the day," Dara pointed out. "Everything over there is winter. Nothing looks like it would harm us if we were to cross."

  "Kingdom will bulk if there is anything dangerous," Alana mentioned.

  "Come on, Kingdom," Kellan coaxed the donkey.

  Kingdom paused when he reached the winter ground, but then continued on into the area. It was a true oddity when the wagon crossed from a warm sunny day—to a cold wintery night.

  "AAW-Eee, Awe-Eee," he danced with delight in the cool breeze.

  The sisters shivered and started reaching for blankets and cloaks. They continued on. The ride up until the crossing had been very enjoyable. They had sung songs, played see-what games, gossiped and laughed. Even Meifen had joined into the fun. Now they all sat around nervously, shivering in the cold.

  When they got hungry, they stopped and brought out the basket. They were in a small wooded area. In the summer it would have been fun to get out and romp around, stretching out their legs. Kellan had hoped to gather some strawberries, but there were none. She had added the sweet cream to the basket for nothing.

  "Katherine's family is about another hour away," Chet frowned looking around.

  "I'd be for moving along as soon as I use a tree," Alana mentioned staring around, her meat and bun laying uneaten in her lap.

  "I agree," Vevila said instantly.

  "I can eat while traveling," Rhoswen agreed.

  They repacked the basket and wandered to separate areas of the woods to do their business. They were all quick to get back to the wagon. The final trip to the weaver's household, Jay and Briana Flanagan, was relatively quiet. Nothing, like the boisterous start of that morning.

  Katherine was calmly sweeping off the front porch as if there wasn't a care in her world.

  Kellan watched Chet with amusement. She could tell by his bemused expression that Katherine was the most beautiful woman in the whole world for him.

  Indeed, he was gazing at her, watching her graceful movements as she swept the old porch. She was wearing an old work dress, but that didn't matter to him. Her shapely form was outlined as she bent to pick up the debris. Her hair was golden blond, long and luxuriant. He couldn't see her eyes, but he knew them to be a dusky blue, large and full with hidden amusements.

  "Chet?" She startled him out of his befuddlement.

  "Katherine!" Chet said jumping out of the wagon. He grabbed her up and kissed her. "I was worried about you."

  She stared back at him startled. He looked down at her and frowned. Her cheeks were bright pink. She was looking over at her father apprehensively.

  "What is it?" Chet asked her.

  "Well," she said shyly. "It's just that you've never kissed me before. I think it would have been more seemly to have maybe kissed me for the first time in private."

  "What?" He asked confused.

  He looked over at her father and quickly released her. He was feeling totally mystified as she walked away to stand by her mother. Jay's face was beat red, and he looked ready to punch Chet in the nose. This was not the side Chet wanted to be on with his future father-in-law. He had no doubt that Jay could whip his butt. Jay was tall and strong. He had a temper that matched his red head. His blue eyes flashed daggers into Chet's brain. Chet was at a loss for why he was so angry. He looked over toward Briana, Katherine's mother.

  He knew that Katherine got her coloring from her mother, but until that moment, he had not realized just how alike the two women were. Both, Mother and daughter were watching him with identical wearisome expressions.

  "What day is it?" Meifen asked them.

  "What?" Katherine asked confused, "Thursday, of course."

  "What month is this?" Kellan asked.

  "January," Briana frowned at them with concern. She eyed the Chinese man suspiciously. She knew that she had never seen him before. She recognized Aine's daughters, but couldn't quite put the face to the name.

  "Do you remember coming to the spring fair?" Chet asked Katherine, feeling uptight. "You wore a pretty dress that was pink with silver flowers. You had the same flowers in your bonnet."

  "I haven't finished making that dress yet!" Katherine said angrily. "Just when did you see that material. Betty said that it was unique!"

  "We best be getting inside," Briana told them. "I think you need to be explaining things. All's not right, is it?"

  "No," Kellan told her, "definitely not."

  "Mind if I talk to you alone first, sir," Chet sighed.

  "That would probably be best," Jay told him sternly. "We'll just be out here for a while—taking care of the donkey."

  Chet sighed. It hadn't been fun requesting for Katherine's hand the first time, much less doing it all over again. What if he said no? What if she said no? He had originally purposed marriage at the end of the fair. It had been a very good day. He looked at the dismal landscape, that day was nothing like this wintery gloom.

  "I will wait with Kingdom," Meifen requested, "if that is acceptable to everyone."

  Kane looked at him surprised. He winked at her. He preferred to wait with Kingdom rather than be involved in the upcoming drama.

  Briana led the way into the house. She put on a new kettle of water. Her bones felt so cold. She felt as if this winter would never end.

  Kellan watched her speechlessly. She didn't even know where to begin. It seemed a little abrupt to start with their mama's death, but then that's where all this began. She waited until they were all settled around the table, each of them nursing their own cup of tea.

  "So, how long have you known Chet?" Katherine asked Kellan pointedly.

  Kellan pulled back startled. Alana laughed. Something about Alana's laugh melted the tension.

  "I just met him this very morning," Kellan told her. "I recognized him from the village, but we had never been officially introduced. He has grown up quite handsomely, hasn't he?"

  "Yes, he has," Katherine glared at her suspiciously.

  "He approached us to ask for our help in finding you," Vevila told her. "He was very worried."

  "Why was he worried about us?" Briana asked.

  "It seems that you were supposed to deliver some cloth to the village a few days ago," Kellan told her. "When you didn't arrive—Chet became worried."

  "He even tried to swim over the ocean to you," Kane laughed.

  "Ocean?" Briana and Katherine asked, wondering what was wrong with these girls.

  Kellan took a deep breath and launched into the story of what their parents had done to safeguard the Irish people. The more she told the story, the more incredulous it sounded. She was beginning to wonder if her parents had maybe overreacted to her mama's latest sightings.

  "So it looks like your area has been pushed back by six months," Kellan concluded. "It's June just an hour's ride from here."

  "That's daft," Katherine frowned at her. Kellan just shrugged.

  "Interesting," was all that Briana said.

  Jay came stomping into the house. His was furious. It was one thing to finally have to give consent to some young man to court his only daughter, quite another to see that young man kissing on her before they had even talked. That cock and bull story he had just spun was incredibly stupid. He would never consent for such a liar to marry his daughter. He was bitterly disappointed. He had liked Chet of all the other boys in the village. Now, he wondered, just where
would Katherine's intended come from. He worried as he gnawed on his lip.

  "Jay?" Briana called out. She quickly followed the sounds of his stomping feet.

  "I don't know how," Katherine eyed Kellan, "or even what, but if you dared to throw a wedge between my father and Chet—so help me!"

  Katherine fled the kitchen to find Chet talking with that strange Chinese man. She stopped to watch them. She really didn't know what to say to Chet. The story those girls told was just too ridiculous. If Chet was in on it with them, well then, maybe he wasn't the man for her.

  Sadly, she walked back into the house. She was startled by seeing the two littlest sisters waiting for her by the door. One had glowing vivid green eyes; the other had dark stormy blue eyes.

  "He pressed us," Vevila told her. "Strangers to him—to find you. He was worried to the point of being sick. When you find that what we have said is true, and you will find it so, remember that. My sister has other things to concern herself about. She doesn't need your waspish tongue following her around."

  "Just maybe—you aren't the woman for him!" Kane told her.

  Katherine's mouth dropped open, startled. She snapped it shut. It was easy to feel insecure around the O'Byrne sisters. Even little Vevila had a way about her that made people snap to, and Kane was just out and out scary sometimes. She had heard about Kane getting into fights with the bigger kids—and winning. Kellan, she thought, was just out-and-out frick'n gorgeous. Why would Chet notice her own vague blond, blue-eyed looks after seeing Kellan's vivacious dark beauty? She looked down confused.

  "Your father has decided to take Charger out for a jaunt to see this seasonal change," Briana told her daughter. "He wants to get to that area quickly."

  Katherine looked at her startled. Charger hadn't been broken yet and wasn't in the least bit charitable to any rider. They guessed that at one time someone had ridden him, he seemed to understand commands, but that time was long past. He was so named for his tendency to charge at anyone who came near him.

  "He won't get there quickly with a broken back," she said sarcastically.

  "I know," was Briana's reply as she walked back to the kitchen.

  They knew there was no stopping Jay when he decided on something, like buying that horse to begin with. It was just plain mean.

  Jay sighed as he approached the barnyard carrying the lantern. At least, the bloody horse couldn't run very far, the yard was small. Charger was the only horse that they owned who could get to the spot before night fell on the other side, if there was really a difference, and not these people's imaginings. Jay should have listened to Briana and left the beast in the village barnyard. He just felt bad for the horse. Someone had just tossed it aside, as if it was trash. That just wasn't right, and no one else wanted the animal.

  Alana followed Jay out to the barn. She was curious about Charger. She hadn't met a horse yet that she couldn't soothe, or ride. She wondered what was wrong with him. She watched as Jay approached the yard. Charger was instantly on guard. Alana could tell that he had been badly abused. She could also tell that he was quite ready to hurt this human if he came into his pasture.

  Jay was startled as the little redhead ran ahead of him toward the yard. He broke out in a sweat as he watched the girl climb up on the railing. He began to run. He was afraid to yell at her, afraid of startling her, and of her falling into the pasture.

  "Miss," he grabbed her arm when arriving at the fence. "You need to climb off of there—now."

  She turned and looked at him. The light from the lantern lit up her face. He was startled to see flecks of violet floating within her blue gaze. Until then he had not noticed any oddness about her, none of the peculiarities rumored about the O'Byrne's. He was surprised to find himself afraid. He pulled his thoughts together. This child was just that—a child.

  "Charger doesn't like people much," he told her. "He can hurt you real bad if you fall in there."

  "Hurt you, too," Alana told him. "I'm Alana, one of the twins."

  She had seen the fear in his eyes regarding her and respected him for his restraint. It was really distressing when people just went nuts and ran away from her.

  "Horses like me," she told him. "He will tell me what is wrong, and then maybe, you could ride him. If not, it would be best to leave him be for now. He is quite put out and very ready to make you go away—forever."

  He flinched at her words. He had seen Chargers behavior, but had not wanted to admit that Charger could seriously damage him. He watched in still silence as she made clicky noises towards the big horse and held out her hand. He reared back. Jay held his breath. She clicked some more and the horse hesitantly made his way towards the fence. He pulled back, and then took the needed step to smell her hand. She scratched his nose after he was done sniffing her hand.

  Alana didn't really understand this type of communication. It wasn't with words, but she could feel a link form and could simply understand what Charger needed—and what he feared.

  "He has a very sensitive mouth," she told Jay softly, all the time stroking his nose. "His previous owner was mean. He used to pull hard on the rein just to have the bit bite into his gums."

  She nodded to the horse. Jay was surprised when Charger allowed her to show Jay his gums. He cringed when he saw the scaring. He hadn't known that a bit could even inflict that much damage.

  "The previous owner had a special bit made for his horses," Alana told him. "The nerves in his mouth are a mess. He will probably never be able to handle the feel of a bit. A hackamore is just as useless, he is over sensitized around his nose."

  "Then how will I control him?" He asked perplexed. He didn't like the idea of inflicting pain, but he liked the idea of a useless horse even less.

  "He's smart," Alana told him. "Use a harness without a bit. He will respond well to that. He's a good horse. He wants to be ridden and appreciated. He desperately wants a special friend again."

  "I don't know," Jay told her.

  "Where's your saddle and harnesses?" She asked.

  She patted the horse and then followed Jay into the small barn. Jay nodded towards the wall which held the horse gear. He watched with interest as she unbuckled all the mouth and nose straps and connected the rein directly to the throat lash, just under the crown piece.

  "That will just flip over his ears," Jay mentioned.

  "If you pull it," she told him as she picked up the leathers. "That is why I'm riding out with you. A gentle direction is all that he will need. Later, if he decides to run away with you, let him—no damage done. It will be worth it to have a horse, and a friend."

  He just shrugged and followed her out, carrying the saddle. He couldn't see her getting the gear on him to begin with. He was apprehensive when she first climbed over the fence and approached Charger. He relaxed when he realized not only was Charger not going to charge at her, but was actually excited for her attention.

  Alana had no trouble getting the straps on him once she had shown him that there were no tight circles, or metal bars. She modified her original design with a loop so she could attach the rein without intruding on the throat lash. Nothing was touching his face.

  He was so excited that she had to give him a slap to get him to settle down so she could finish buckling the saddle. She easily pulled herself up into the saddle. She tested the leads with the horse to make sure he understood what she wanted. She nodded to Jay when she was ready for him to mount in back of her. She hadn't adjusted the stirrups so they would still be adjusted for the last rider, who had been Jay.

  He eyed her and Charger nervously.

  "Friend," she was saying gently to Charger while patting his long neck. She impressed the feelings of how good it would be to have such a friend as Jay. She felt Charger accept the impression. She sighed with relief. Jay would not ever be hurt by Charger. Today would be the beginning of a great friendship between the horse and the man.

  Jay put his foot into the stirrup. He was surprised when Charger just turned to star
e at him. He used the saddle horn and pulled himself on up behind her.

  "Let's go," she told Charger without pulling on the reins.

  He shot out. Alana gave him his freedom, laughing into the exhilaration of the ride. He was mighty fast. She could feel the wind whipping at her hair. She imagined that Jay was probably eating some of it.

  Jay had his arms wrapped around her hanging onto the saddle horn. He didn't really notice her hair hitting him. He was much taller than she was. He was very glad that she was so small. He had never ridden like this before and didn't know what to do with his hands. When he found his rhythm, he let go of the horn and just let his hands dangle into his lap, letting his waist roll with the gallop—just as Alana was.

  Charger had a smooth gallop. From time to time Alana gently pulled on the leads to slow him down so that they could see this or that. They could see the change in the sky for quite a while before actually arriving on the spot. Alana could feel Jay stiffen fearfully behind her. His fear was transferring to Charger.

  "You need to take a deep breath and relax," she told him. "Charger can feel your fear and will start responding fearfully himself. We already passed this way earlier. It is strange, but not harmful.

  Jay realized that her words were true. He could feel Charger's gallop become agitated. Gone was the glory and pure exuberance of the run, leaving a tense stride. He reminded himself of how the earlier run had felt. He thought about the horse's strength and momentum—the freedom. Charger responded by steadying out his stride and galloping onward.

  Charger slowed on his own as he approached the changed area. He came to a dead stop at the edge of the season. Jay handed Alana down before descending himself. Alana stayed back with Charger as Jay checked out the area.

  Jay had a hard time taking in what his eyes were seeing. He had to touch the ground on both sides before he could really believe that their story was true. He walked over to a strawberry bush. It was lush with unpicked berries. He wished he had a basket. Briana would have loved to have some of these fresh berries.

  "You can always bring your wagon and visit the village," Alana told him seeing his wistful expression. "Stop here on your way."

  "This is just wrong," he told her. "Why hasn't Keegan come out to talk to us about this? Why all the secrecy?"

  Alana stared at him appalled. Of course! They wouldn't know, being pulled back in time.

  "Papa died a couple of months ago," Alana told him. She felt the tears well up in her eyes. She had thought she was finished with her grieving.

  "Oh sweetie," he pulled her into a hug. "We didn't know, or if we did, we forgot."

  He felt so much like her own papa, that she started crying. Her heart gave and the tears fell. No one had held her like this since her papa had died.

  "Mama died too," she sobbed into his shoulder, "when little Haley was born. That's what set all this off. They had been working on this for a long time. I don't know why they kept it a secret. The more we find, the more we realize how much work they did to do all this."

  Jay had a hard time not to break into tears himself. His heart ached for the girl, ached for the loss of a friend—for Keegan was a friend from childhood. They had played many pranks together. He had been the best man at Keegan's wedding, and him his. Aine had been the beauty who Keegan had fallen madly in love with. It was sad just how far their paths had separated. They hadn't really romped around together since their bachelor days.

  They had both become too entrenched in their own little worlds to realize that they were no longer close. Jay thought about him sometimes, but never really felt the need to go see him. He figured it must have been that way with Keegan as well. Now he wondered, considering all the stress he must have been under to have been a party to all this magic.

  "How did he die?" Keegan couldn't help but ask.

  "Some drifters were trying to spear a sow," Alana told him, "and speared him instead. They said he was dead before he even hit the ground."

  Jay was suddenly, unreasonably furious.

  "Are you okay?" Alana asked him concerned.

  "Me?" He asked confused.

  "Yes, you seem to be pressing my arm kind of tight," she told him.

  "Oh, I'm so sorry," he immediately released her arm.

  "Another curse mama initiated was that anyone hurting us would be rewarded three-fold what they had done," Alana surprised him by saying. "We didn't know if that meant unintentional damage. I guess we know now, otherwise you would have one really bad smarting arm."

  "I'm very sorry," Jay told her remorsefully. "I was so angry to hear about your father. Were they brought to justice?"

  "Mothers kind of justice," Alana told him.

  Alana noticed his shiver and laughed to herself. He didn't ask how, and she didn't volunteer the information. Some things were probably better left in ignorance.

  "Are you satisfied?" She asked him.

  "Yes," Jay told her feeling aggrieved. There was just too much wrong. "When we get back, I would like more details. I'm sorry to say that I was only listening to part of what Chet was rambling on about."

  "Even Chet is having problems believing what he already knows to be true," Alana told him. "How could he possibly tell a convincing story?"

  "He couldn't," Jay told her chagrinned. "I was very close to popping him in the mouth."

  "He already purposed to your daughter," Alana told him. "The whole village knows that she accepted."

  "Why pull the seasons back?" He pondered. "Why not spring ahead?"

  She shivered. Why indeed?

  On the way back, Alana had Jay in charge of the reins. At first he was very insecure with the idea of controlling a horse in this manner. After a while, he realized that he didn't need to control Charger, that they were building up trust and a new partnership. He really liked this horse. He felt a lot better about him, now that Charger wasn't trying to kill him.

  Everyone was waiting for them on the porch. It hadn't taken them very long to ride to the edge. Jay could see by Briana's eyes that she had been told of Keegan and Aine's death. They were red rimmed. She was a tough lady. It took an awful lot to make her cry. He felt sad for all of them. They had lost some good souls.

  "The story is true," Jay told Briana and Katherine. "We have lost the time it seems."

  "Why would they do this to us?" Briana said angrily. "Why do it at all?"

  "Food," Jay answered thoughtfully thinking of those lush berries. "If they believed that we would go through a famine, how better to serve our people than to have a year round growing operation. We will be harvesting while everyone else is dormant. That's definitely going to give us an advantage."

  "I don't think it's worth losing six months of my life," Katherine said angrily thinking of her wasted dress. "Like mother said—why us?"

  "Rhoswen!" Alana frowned. "Are you okay?"

  "She's been staring out like that for the last few minutes," Katherine shrugged. "Daydreaming I suppose."

  "She's not daydreaming," Kellan said irritably. "She's tranced."

  Kellan walked over and sat down below her, but not touching her.

  "Rhoswen," she called. Rhoswen didn't respond. "Rhoswen," she called louder.

  "Shake her," Briana stood to do just that.

  "No!" Kane shouted.

  Kane started to move in her way, but was too late. As soon as Briana touched her, she was pulled into trance with Rhoswen.

  "What's going on?" Jay asked harshly.

  "Your wife must have some O'Byrne blood," Meifen stated. "Otherwise she would not have been so drawn in. She is in trance with the girl. What Rhoswen is knowing, so is she."

  "Pull her out!" Jay ordered as he stood up.

  This time they all blocked his way.

  "It hurts to be pulled out like that," Alana told him. "Really hurts!"

  "They will be okay," Kellan told him. "Just let it run its way."

  "But what is it?" Katherine asked, concerned for her mother.

  "Rhoswen's strong
est gift is intuition," Vevila told them. "Something about this day has brought it on. It could be very important, or it could be about a swarm of butterflies. We never know. Sometimes she tells us about it, but most times she needs to think on it awhile."

  "Well," Kellan said staring at Briana, "she won't have time to think on it this time, not alone anyway."

  "How long will they be like that?" Chet asked curiously.

  "Usually just a few minutes," Kellan told him. "The visions, or whatever, are fast. The mind processing could take some time."

  "You really don't know, do you?" Katherine asked surprised.

  "No," Kellan stared at her. "Why would I? I've never been so tranced. Dara was once, trapped into one of Rhoswen's things. She told us about it of course."

  "What was it like?" Katherine asked Alana.

  "I'm Alana," she smirked, "not Dara."

  "Oh," Katherine said disappointed.

  "What I can tell you is that it interrupted our twin link," Alana told her. "Not much can do that."

  "They are coming out of it," Chet told them.

  Rhoswen and Briana suddenly realized that everyone was staring intently at them. Rhoswen just sighed, she was used to it. Briana stared at Jay, stood, and then swiftly ran out of the room.

  "Processing time?" Kane asked curiously.

  "Please let her be," Rhoswen surprised them all by saying when Jay rose to go after her. He looked around confused, but sat back down.

  "Here," Meifen handed her a cup. "I always seem to be giving this to you girls."

  "Kaliton—sweet—thanks" Rhoswen said taking a sip.

  "Are you going to tell us about it?" Vevila asked sarcastically, "or go off thinking about it?"

  "No point in that is there," Rhoswen answered and then sighed. "It's about why mama chose this area to winterize, and why at this time—with these people. I think Briana needs to explain it."

  "She can't do that while crying in her room—now can she?" Katherine glared at them.

  "Then we will wait," Rhoswen told her firmly. "I'm hungry. Do we have anymore of that pecan pie?"

  "I don't know," Kellan stared at her. "How much did you eat?"

  "Just a couple of pieces," Rhoswen said defensively, "Chet had some, too."

  "It's gone," Chet said defensively. "I was nervous."

  "Scared more like," Jay said with narrowed eyes. "You might as well know, my little Katherine. You and Chet here are engaged to be married. The whole village knows about it. I apparently gave him permission to ask for your hand, and apparently—you accepted."

  "But I never," Katherine exclaimed.

  "Yes," Kellan told her laughing, "you did—right after the dance. Everyone clapped and applauded. You showed everyone your ring."

  "My ring?" She said looking at her bare finger.

  "Her ring," Chet said forlornly.

  They all stared at her empty hand.

  "The box!" Rhoswen and Alana said excitedly and ran from the room.

  They came back in carrying a rather large hat box.

  "We put the note in here," Alana told them.

  They put the box on the floor. Rhoswen blindly reached inside. Her face grimaced as she pulled out a fish.

  "The one that got away," Kellan laughed.

  "What is this about?" Jay asked them.

  "There is a note that our great-grandfather wrote," Kellan explained as Alana and Rhoswen dug around in the box. "It was meant to return all stolen monies—English taxes—back to the Irish. But when it was removed from a bank box, the meaning became obscure and it started bringing in any object stolen. I don't really know why they are digging around with it now."

  "We changed it," Rhoswen said pulling out a chicken. "What is with all this livestock!" That was the third chicken she had pulled out of the box.

  "I hope you can use some more chickens," Kane said as she gathered them up and put them outside.

  "We changed it to read, or lost to all time," Alana continued.

  "The song you sang said, lost forever in time," Vevila told them.

  "Well we didn't want the stuff that would be found the next day," Rhoswen said defensively, "now did we."

  "That would be very annoying to someone," Kane realized.

  "I don't know why you want any of this stuff at all!" Vevila told her after she pulled out another chicken. "Why don't you just dump the box over?"

  "Good idea," Rhoswen said as she dumped the box over and sat it on its side. "It seems heftier than it was earlier."

  They watched in amazement as a little lamb climbed out.

  "It's so cute," Katherine exclaimed picking it up. "May I have it?"

  "Why not?" Alana shrugged, "As long as my other sisters agree."

  They all shrugged watching the box.

  "I think you're going to have to tip it," Kellan told Alana.

  "Can you help," Alana asked her. "It's too heavy."

  Kellan, Alana, and Rhoswen lifted the box at an angle. A flood of items came out. Chet was looking through it for the ring and gave a startled exclamation. A small boy of around three climbed out of the box.

  "Oh dear," Rhoswen said appalled.

  "Now what have you done?" Kellan asked.

  "I found it!" Chet said triumphantly holding up the ring.

  No one was looking at him. They were studying the little boy.

  "Lost forever in time?" Vevila asked.

  "Someone has lost a little boy," Rhoswen said with wonder.

  The little boy started crying. He was babbling incoherently.

  "Oh dear," Rhoswen said again.

  Briana swept in and picked up the little boy, cuddling him close. She had been watching with amusement as the girls were pulling things out of that box. Her amusement vanished at the sight of the lost little boy. Some mother had lost her child, the worst nightmare for any mother to face. They would have to find her.

  She set the boy down on the counter and handed him a cookie. He looked up startled and grinned.

  "I don't think he knows yet that he's lost," Vevila noticed. "His clothes are strange. Where could he have been lost from?"

  Jay watched Briana with concern. They knew nothing about the child. Her eyes caught his. If he could keep a foul horse, she could keep a lost child. His eyes widened with understanding—until this child's natural parents were found—Briana was keeping him. He scratched his head and then started biting his nails.

  "Mama," Katherine called out to her, "are you okay now?"

  "Yes," Briana answered quietly, still holding the child. He had apparently fallen asleep in her arms. She carried him into the bedroom. He was still sleeping as she put him down and covered him up. He was muttering what seemed to be a call for his mother. Briana's heart wept. She tightened her heart strings and returned to the room.

  "Do you wish to tell them about it?" Rhoswen asked her.

  She pressed her eyes tightly closed. "It was because of that damn horse."

  "What?" Jay asked, surprised by her tone.

  "It killed you—in May—their May," she told him angrily. "Our land wasn't originally planned to be offset, that was to be eastward of here. Aine saw an alternate possibility and took it, resetting time and giving us a different possibility. As long as you don't die during our May, I'll be very happy for the change."

  "Should we put the horse down?" Katherine asked.

  "No," Rhoswen and Kane shouted out.

  "Yes! Absolutely," Briana exclaimed.

  "That would just be wrong!" Alana said angrily, "murder in fact."

  "Justifiable," Briana argued.

  "No," Alana argued with her. "The path has been changed. Charger and Jay now have an understanding. Charger will not hurt him."

  "How can you be sure?" Briana argued heatedly. "I'm not willing to risk it!"

  "But I am," Jay told her. "I will not kill him!"

  "There's no need for that," Rhoswen told her. "You saw—that possibility is now impossible."

  "How can you say that?" Briana asked he
r. "We both saw that horse kill my husband!"

  "Yes," Rhoswen agreed, "last April down by the grove. That area is now June. April is gone from there, so also is that possibility."

  "This is just too confusing," Briana held her head.

  The vision of Jay being killed was one which she would never forget! How could such a thing have actually happened? Why was there no memory? How could such pain be simply vanished? She must have grieved terribly.

  "That is why I usually take time to sort out what I suddenly know," Rhoswen told her. "It is not always as it seems."

  "Do what you want with the bloody horse," she muttered walking out of the room. "You will anyway."

  Katherine watched as her mother left the room.

  "I'm tired," Kane complained. "Maybe everyone is. People make more sense come morning."

  "There's just one more thing," Chet said reaching for the ring.

  "No, wait," Rhoswen stalled him.

  "Now what?" He looked at her annoyed. It had taken a lot of courage to make the move.

  She pulled him away. Katherine knew what he was about to do, and didn't know if she should be annoyed with Rhoswen, or thankful.

  "There's a strong possibility that her memory will be connected to the ring," Rhoswen told him, "memory could be—lost forever in time—just as other things."

  "That's good though," he said happily. "She will remember the fair."

  "She will also remember her father getting killed," she reminded him.

  "Oh!" His face turned pale. "Maybe, I should buy a different ring."

  "Let her choose," Rhoswen told him. "She might say no this time, considering all the stress of the moment. Do you really want to choose this moment?"

  "I just don't know," he frowned.

  "Maybe, you should talk to me!" They looked up to find Katherine glaring at both of them.

  "You sure you want to do this?" Rhoswen asked out loud.

  "Positive," he said, looking into his beloveds fiery eyes.

  "On your head be it," Rhoswen said walking away. "Love is stupid."

  "Definitely," Kane agreed watching the two idiots.

  "I am going to ask you—again—to be my wife," he told her, "but Rhoswen said that your memories may be attached to the ring. I can get you a new ring."

  "But I want to remember that moment," she told him confused.

  "She says you will also remember the last six months," he said concerned, "even your father's death."

  "Oh!" She said startled. "Maybe I need to know. Maybe there are other things that need to be remembered."

  "Are you strong enough?" Vevila asked her. "Don't get your back up—this is important. You just saw your mother. She saw what was. Life is not a game! Are you strong enough?"

  Chet wanted to tell Vevila to just shut-up! He looked over at her to scold her, to tell her that this was none of her business. He got caught up into her fathomless green eyes, and realized that she was not just idly making trouble. He looked deeply into Katherine's blue eyes. Was she strong enough, or could the memory break her? Did he even know what he was asking of her?

  Katherine was irritated by Vevila's interference. This was between Chet and herself. She, too, was going to tell her to leave it alone, when she also was caught inside her gaze. There wasn't any mischief there, only a deep seated concern for herself. She felt touched, and surprised.

  She looked into Chet's eyes and knew that she loved him. She knew that she had loved him for a very long time. She remembered the first time he had mistakenly hit her with a mud ball. It had gotten her pretty yellow dress all dirty. He had been very sorry—and very cute. She had been eight at the time. No matter what pain, she didn't want to miss one second of time with him. She would not let her memory of that time slip by because she was either too weak, or a coward.

  "I want to marry you," she told him. "I want to have your children. I want to share every memory with you—no matter the pain. I will wear my ring, now!"

  "My daughter has always known her own mind," Jay said, his eyes suspiciously bright.

  "Just like her papa," Briana told him slipping her arm into his. He kissed her hand.

  He slipped the ring onto her finger. They were unprepared for her groan and sudden faint. They called her, but she was lost to her memories.

  "Don't be concerned," Rhoswen told them after she had been placed on the sofa. "Six months doesn't seem like much time, but there would have to be a cazillion thoughts going on in the brain during that time. She should be okay."

  "Should be?" Chet said with great concern.

  "This was her choice," Kellan told him, "and her right!"

  "I'm going to bed now," Kane informed them. She had gotten her favorite blanket and cuddled up by the fireplace. "The one good thing about winter—a nice toasty fire." With that comment—she was out.

  The others soon followed suit. Meifen made his way out the door to sleep in the wagon beside Kingdom. He was more comfortable sleeping outside then in a stranger's house—even if it was a little damp.

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