When his voice began to falter, unable to reach the higher end of the scale, hers appeared, soaring higher and fitting itself in with the song. Surprised, he abandoned his efforts to sing and gave himself over to his instrument. Despite knowing her for most of his life, Daniel had never realized that Kate had such a lovely voice. He had heard her singing childhood ditties and rhymes, but that was a far cry from this.
After the song was done he found himself staring at her, sitting scant inches away. “I didn’t know you could sing,” he marveled.
She seemed to shine with vitality, and as she replied Daniel realized that her face was barely a foot from his own. She was leaning toward him with excitement as she replied, “There’s probably a lot you don’t know about me.”
His eyes seemed to be memorizing her face, studying the details as she spoke, the turn of her nose, the red curl that had crept in front of her left cheek—the rosy pink of her lips. Without being aware of a conscious decision, he leaned forward and kissed her quickly; as he did her eyes flew wide, and he found himself startled by their emerald flash.
He pulled away immediately, “Oh gods! I’m sorry Cat! I don’t know what I was…”
Catherine Sayer reached out with one hand, and taking firm hold of his thick black hair she pulled his head back in toward her own.
Time seemed to freeze, and when Daniel became aware of it again it was merely as a byproduct of the steady pounding in his ears. His heart was beating so strongly in his chest that it was drowning out all other sounds. A sudden flash of light encompassed his mind, illuminating the world around him in a fashion he had never experienced before. For a moment he could sense everything. He saw the tree branches swaying behind him in the wind, he felt the squirrels running through their tops, he even saw the rabbit sneaking quietly into the back garden to nibble at their prized vegetables. He also felt Brenda Sayer standing at the window, watching them with obvious interest, and that snapped him from his reverie.
Pulling back again he felt the world collapse around him, returning to its normal state. Kate watched him curiously, and she seemed to be breathing hard, as though they had just been running.
For that matter, so was he.
I love you! The words almost jumped from his lips, but he caught himself before they could escape. “I—I think your mother is watching us,” he said instead. Idiot, she would think you’re crazy if you had said something like that so soon.
A flash of annoyance passed over Kate’s face, but it couldn’t last in the afterglow of youthful excitement. She laughed instead, “I should have known she’d be spying on us.”
The ground seemed to shift underneath Daniel, and his stomach twisted. The world flashed with the same odd sensations of being able to see things that his eyes couldn’t possibly see. A wave of nausea rose from his stomach, threatening to make him lose his breakfast.
“I’d better go,” he told Kate hurriedly.
She frowned, “You don’t have to go yet. I don’t think Mother will be mad, she’s just nosy.” She reached out to put her hand on his arm.
The ground rolled again as Daniel stood, making the world swim. “I forgot something. I need to get home.” He pulled away and started down the porch steps.
“Surely it can wait a few more minutes?”
He was already jogging, “I’m sorry. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
She watched him in confusion. Glancing back she realized the cittern was still sitting on the bench where he had left it, the empty case on the ground nearby. She turned and shouted, “You forgot your instrument!” but he was already out of sight.
Her mother stepped out onto the porch a moment later. “Where’s Daniel?” she asked.
“He just left,” said her daughter in a puzzled voice.
“He forgot his mother’s yarn,” said Brenda.
“And the cittern,” noted Kate sadly.
Brenda Sayer patted her daughter’s back comfortingly. “Don’t worry, sweetie. That just means he’ll have good reason to come back soon.”
Chapter 5
Daniel made it almost a hundred yards before he threw up in the bushes to one side of the trail. The world seemed to spin around him, and now and then he would experience new flashes of hyperawareness.
What’s wrong with me?
He had been sick before, but he’d never felt anything like this. Kneeling in the underbrush, he retched until his stomach was utterly empty. Once it finally relaxed, he moved a few feet away before rolling over to lie in the grass. Things seemed normal now. His heart was no longer pounding, and the flashes, or hallucinations, or whatever it had been, seemed to have stopped.
Daniel waited another five or ten minutes before rising to his feet again. He considered returning for his cittern but he worried that he’d have to explain his odd behavior. Admitting that his first reaction after kissing her had been to vomit—he couldn’t see any way in which that could be construed positively.
Remembering the kiss made his heart speed up again, but this time it was simple excitement. Never in his wildest dreams had he imagined the result of his visiting the Sayers being something like this. She kissed me back!
The memory of her lips sent shivers through him, and he had to force his thoughts back to more ordinary paths.
When he got home, his mother wasted no time interrogating him. “You came back awfully soon.”
“You only sent me to get yarn,” he said defensively.
“And where is it?” she asked.
“Uhh…”
“You left the cittern too, didn’t you?” she commented. “Were you in that big a hurry to get back to your chores?”
“I think I’m coming down sick,” he told her. “I got nauseous shortly after I got there. That’s why I came back so suddenly.”
“Did you throw up?”
Daniel nodded.
Helen put her hand on his forehead. “You don’t feel feverish. Did she make you that nervous?”
“No! Mom, I’ve known Kate since we were kids,” protested Daniel somewhat dishonestly.
“Go lay down then,” she told him.
“I already feel better,” he said unsteadily. “I promised Dad I’d clean out the barn when I got home.”
“Lay down,” she commanded. “There’ll be time for that later.
***
Two days later and Daniel was still in bed. He had developed a fever not long after taking his mother’s advice. It had broken now, but he was left feeling washed out and exhausted. The only bright side to the whole thing was that his mother always made chicken soup when he was ill.
It’s a shame I have to be sick to get it, though. It would probably taste even better if I was well, he thought.
Voices in the other room alerted him to the presence of an extra person in the house. Seconds later his mother ducked her head in, giving him a knowing smile. “You have a visitor, Daniel.”
She was gone before he could ask who it was, but shortly afterward the door opened again and Kate entered, carrying a tray with more of his mother’s soup. “I came to bring back your cittern,” she announced, “but your mother told me you haven’t been well.”
Daniel would rather not have had her see him in his current condition. He could well imagine what his appearance must be like. “It came on suddenly,” he said, making a futile attempt to comb his hair with one hand.
“It isn’t your fault,” she reassured him. “Did you hear the news?”
He shook his head.
“The day you came to visit—that afternoon a warden appeared in Colne,” she spoke in hushed tones, as though the very topic might summon a warden to their location.
“Appeared?”
“Well, he rode through the village. They say he stopped every so often and just stared around him, like he was looking for something,” she elaborated.
“Someone,” observed Daniel. “It’s always a ‘somebody’ they’re looking for.”
“He didn’t take anyone though,”
she added. “According to Alice Hayes, he stayed for close to an hour, riding up and down the streets, but then he just left.”
“What did he look like?” asked Daniel. It had been years since one of the wardens had even entered Colne and many of the younger people had never seen one.
Kate handed him the soup and a spoon while she warmed to her subject. “I wasn’t there of course, but Alice told Momma that he had brown hair and eyes. He was dressed in heavy leathers, sort of like hunting clothes, but they were cut differently.”
She went on to describe the strange designs tooled in the leather and the obvious craftsmanship that had gone into its stitching. “The seams were hard to spot, she said, and what’s more his sword was brown.”
“Brown?”
“Alice’s husband, Tom, actually went out to address the rider, but when he approached him the man drew his sword. That’s when she saw it,” explained Kate. “She said it didn’t even look metal; if anything, it appeared to be a dark brown wood, polished and sanded to a blade-like form.”
“Bizarre,” commented Daniel. “Was Mr. Hayes hurt?”
“No, he backed away immediately, and the warden put his sword away. The warden never said a word,” she concluded.
Daniel wondered idly if they could have been looking for him. He was young after all, as most of those they took were. He had also definitely thought some sinful thoughts that morning. His cheeks flushed as he remembered their kiss. He looked away then, worried she might somehow read his mind if he looked into those green eyes again.
They talked some more before she finally stood to leave. “I’d better get home.”
He was sad to see her go, but he couldn’t think of the right words to express himself. “Alright,” was his best reply.
She stopped, “The other day, when you left…”
“It wasn’t you,” he responded immediately. “I mean, it wasn’t that. I just didn’t want you to see me getting ill.”
Kate let out her breath suddenly, as if she had been holding it, “I’m relieved. So it wasn’t—bad?”
“No!” he blurted out with a bit too much emphasis. “That was wonderful!” His face flushed again.
“Thank you,” she said calmly, and bending over, she deposited a quick kiss on his forehead before leaving.
He stared at the door for a long time after she left, smiling and lost in thought.
Chapter 6
Daniel was able to resume his normal work the next day, and just two days after that his mother suggested he make another trip to visit the Sayers. He was beginning to suspect she had an ulterior motive. She had made no secret of her approval of Catherine in general.
“Mom, I know what you’re trying to do here,” he told her.
“I still need the yarn, Daniel, don’t try to blame me if you were distracted,” she countered.
He raised one eyebrow and stared back boldly, “I’m sure that’s your real reason.”
“Do you not want to go?” she asked suddenly. “I’m sure your father wouldn’t mind having you around today. You did so well cleaning out the barn yesterday.”
He surrendered the debate immediately. Best not to complain of my good fortune, he thought.
***
The trail up from the river to Kate’s house was on a gradual incline. The ground was rocky, and either side of the path was covered with a thick, scrubby underbrush, and small trees competing with intermittent bushes.
Daniel was so caught in his thoughts, considering what he would say to Kate when he saw her again, that he almost missed the sound of shifting soil and moving branches behind him. Stopping suddenly, he looked back to see a man staring at him from the back of a tall horse.
Daniel froze.
He didn’t recognize the man at all, and his strange clothing pegged him as a warden, although Daniel had never seen one before. He struggled with his instincts; his fear was urging him to run. In the thick brush a runner should have an advantage over a man on horseback, but something told Daniel that it would be a bad idea.
“Don’t move,” said the stranger, riding closer.
He spoke! Daniel’s terror only increased as the man drew near, and when he went so far as to actually dismount, he knew that his life was over.
The warden stared at him intently, as if his eyes could see through to bare Daniel’s soul, and then he circled him, slowly. After a minute he sighed, “I guess it wasn’t you.”
Daniel let his breath out in quiet relief. His heart felt as if it might leap from his chest, and his legs were weak from unused adrenaline.
“Are there more farms that way?” asked the warden, pointing to the west, in the direction of Daniel’s home.
“Yessir,” Daniel responded immediately, though he felt a sudden shame. What if he’s looking for Mom or Dad, or Seth? Seth’s family lived that direction too.
The warden remounted and turned back, pointing his horse in that direction. Without a goodbye or thanks, he rode away leaving Daniel staring after him. He didn’t move until the rider was gone from sight, and then he began running.
He considered running home, but that was the direction the rider had gone, and he didn’t want to encounter the dangerous outsider again. Instead he ran for the Sayer house, one thought foremost in his mind. Kate!
He arrived at their door panting and out of breath. Brenda Sayer opened at his third knock.
“Oh, Daniel! What a pleasant surprise,” she said before seeing the look on his face. “What’s wrong? Come inside.”
She guided him by the arm and shut the door after him.
“You look as though you’ve seen a ghost, Daniel.”
He nodded, struggling to find the words. “A warden,” he said finally, and then the story came tumbling out in a rush. The aftereffects of his fear were evident as he talked, and he felt a strong urge to sit down on the floor, but they were still standing in the hallway.
As he finished, she stepped forward and put her arms around him. “You must have been terrified. I can’t imagine what that was like.”
He felt awkward at first, unused to being hugged by anyone other than his parents, but Brenda’s warmth and concern comforted him, and after a moment he relaxed and returned the gesture. The smell of her hair was soothing.
After a long minute she was still holding him, and he began to wonder when she’d let go. He lifted his head from her shoulder, but she squeezed him tighter. “It’s alright, Daniel. It’s just a hug. Sometimes people need the touch of another human being. Don’t be ashamed. You’ve just had a terrible shock.”
Something rang false in her words, but he couldn’t deny that he liked the embrace. His shoulders loosened and he put his head back on her shoulder. She felt warm against him, and as his mind wandered, he became more aware of the soft feel of her body. She was roughly the same height as her daughter, and her figure was more fully developed.
Fool! She’s Kate’s mother! Don’t think about that.
Despite his best effort he began to develop a reaction common among fifteen year old males. Fearful that she would notice he tried again to pull away from her, but Brenda held him closely. It almost seemed as if she was deliberately pressing against him.
She’s going to notice. His heart was pounding in his ears now, and he knew that his life would be over. She’ll never let me court her daughter if she feels that…
He pushed her away, more forcefully this time. “I’m sorry, Mrs. Sayer. I really need to get that yarn and get home. Dad’s waiting for me today.” The last part was a lie, but he felt as though he needed to give a reason for his desire to escape quickly.
She nodded, letting him go. “That’s fine, Daniel. I’ll fetch the yarn for you.” Stepping away she looked back for a second, “You really have grown.” Her eyes drifted down as she said it, and then she was gone.
Was she looking at—no! That wasn’t possible. He had known Kate’s mother for just as long as he’d known Kate. She was practically a second mother to him.
&nb
sp; “Daniel, look at this for a second. I’m not sure which your mother would prefer,” Brenda’s voice echoed down the hallway, coming from her bedroom.
Without a second thought he walked down the hall and into her room. She closed the door behind him.
He turned to face her, suspicious now. “Where’s the yarn?”
She was giving him a strange look, as though she were hungry. “Hold me one more time.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” he responded nervously.
“I know what you must think,” she said, her eyes pleading. “I’m just lonely, though. It’s been years since Brian was here.” She was even closer now. “You’ve gotten so tall. Just hold me a moment, let me pretend. There’s no harm in it.”
The sadness in her eyes surprised him, and he felt sorry for her somehow. The previous hug hadn’t been unpleasant, just embarrassing. He let her put her arms around him and he returned the embrace lightly, hoping he could avoid the same reaction he had had before.
The more he tried to avoid the thought, the worse his condition became.
He was startled when he felt her release a deep breath against his neck, the air sending a tingle along his spine. One of her arms was sliding around the back of his waist. Somehow her hand had gotten under the bottom of his tunic, and her fingers were on his skin, sliding along the edge of his trousers. He started to pull away again, but she tightened her arms.
“Be still, Daniel. Just a minute, then if you wish, I’ll let you go.”
He stood transfixed. Her hand had reached a place it should never have been. Paralyzed he knew he should run, he should escape. She was kneeling in front of him now.
What is she doing?!
Minutes passed while shame and lust warred within him, but he remained utterly still. The world became hazy, and a new sensation grew, until it felt as though the world would explode. Then it did.