Prairie Fire

by Djuna Shellam

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Acknowledgements

  PROLOGUE

  ONE - Prairie Fire

  TWO - Prairie & Fiona

  THREE - The Movie Colony

  FOUR - Baby Talk

  FIVE - Sit Down Dinner

  SIX - Wonder Woman

  SEVEN - Operation Prairie

  EIGHT - Battles

  NINE - Evil Lurks

  TEN - No Sleep

  ELEVEN - Roomies

  TWELVE - All in the Family

  THIRTEEN - Sharing Is Caring

  FOURTEEN - The Last Dance

  FIFTEEN - Dawn Breaks

  SIXTEEN - The Eagle Has Landed

  SEVENTEEN - Crossing Lines

  EIGHTEEN - No Baby, Baby

  NINETEEN - 20 Years

  TWENTY - House on a Hill

  TWENTY-ONE - 1978

  TWENTY-TWO - The Package

  TWENTY-THREE - Tick Tock

  TWENTY-FOUR - Em & Fiona Part 1

  TWENTY-FIVE - Em and Fiona Part 2

  TWENTY-SIX - A New Start

  TWENTY-SEVEN - Truly, Deeply, Sorry

  TWENTY-EIGHT - In the Blink of an Eye

  EPILOGUE

  Etc.

  PLAY LIST

  Coming Soon...

  Prairie Fire

  The Em Suite—Book Three

  Djuna Shellam

  Copyright © 2016 Djuna Shellam

  Published by Magnhild Press

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.

  This is a work of fiction where the characters and events are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead is purely coincidental.

  License Notes:

  This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  ~~~~~~~~~~~

  Acknowledgements

  This installment of The Em Suite has been a long time coming. Through the process, many of my friends, and even people I didn’t know personally, were immensely helpful. Whether it was to help me with historical context or details, or just listening to me go on and on about my project, I could not have finished this without them. You know who you are, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

  There was one person in particular who made all of my books possible, and without her incredible insight, encouragement and support through the years, I would never have continued writing. Before Prairie Fire was finished, my greatest, and most ardent fan, passed away. I miss her everyday, and will for the rest of my life. Though she is not physically on this planet, she’s still with me, giving me her two cents whenever I need it. I dedicate this and every book to come to her.

  PROLOGUE

  “What she needs is Anne Bancroft to come in here and kick her ass,” he whispered. “That’s what.”

  Just out of ear shot, standing across the hallway, physical therapists Dan Waits and Trish Claven spoke in hushed tones outside of the door to Em Martín’s hospital room.

  “What the hell are you talking about?” she whispered back, confused. “Who’s Anne Ban…” Trish shrugged. She really didn’t know.

  Dan scoffed. “Helen Keller in there,” he said with a condescending hushed tone, pointing at Em.

  “What the fu…?” Trish looked at Em and then Dan, her face showing she was not following his thought process at all.

  “She needs a miracle worker, Trish.” Dan scoffed, using air quotes around miracle worker. He was clearly frustrated.

  Trish scrunched her face up, still not getting the reference.

  “God… Okay…” He began to speak slowly, still whispering, “Em is Helen Keller, the fucking little deaf and blind monster, right? And she needs somebody… like… Annie Sullivan—Anne Bancroft in The Miracle Worker—to come in here and get her shit straight. Right?”

  Still confused, Trish whispered, “But, Em’s not blind or deaf…”

  “Oh my god… it’s… she’s…” Exasperated, Dan sighed heavily. Sometimes he could just not believe how dense Trish could be. “Trish… I’m saying she needs a miracle worker, y’know, like in the movie. And it’s not me, or you, or anyone else in this goddamned hospital. Ugh, never mind. She’s hopeless no matter what.” He directed his attention from Trish back to Em, staring into her room with contempt. “I’m getting sick and tired of the abuse I get from her. Sick of cleaning up the food she throws at me every goddamned day I work with her, sick of the dead eyes staring at me.

  “And, further fucking more,” he continued, “I’m sick to death of the phone calls from Colonel Baverstock every goddamned day, reaming me a new asshole—all because of her. Aren’t you? I know, you don’t get the calls, you’re just a first year, but you work with her. Look at her. Laying there, staring at the ceiling like a fucking zombie. All the nurses despise her…”

  “Well, I don’t think that’s true… is it?” Trish knew the nurses were frustrated with her, but despise Em? That seemed a little extreme to her.

  “Ugh,” Dan scoffed. “What’s the use,” he said in a hushed tone, but louder than a whisper, almost hoping Em would hear him. “She’s the Base Commander’s little pet project so it doesn’t matter. We’re all screwed unless they get someone in here who knows how to deal with that, that… monster. I sure don’t.” He thought for a moment. “She belongs in a psych ward, not physical therapy. Fuck!” he hissed. “I am never going to get my promotion as long as she’s here!” He continued to glare into the hospital room.

  “Gah! Fuck it. I’m out of here.” Dan turned on his heel and stormed down the hallway, leaving Trish standing by herself. She took one last look into Em’s room, shook her head out of frustration, then turned and walked the opposite way from Dan.

  ONE

  Prairie Fire

  1.1—1996

  The airport bustled with travelers going to and fro while Prairie, on one of the pay phone with Fiona, watched with mild interest. Located in the middle of the terminal, each of the numerous pay phones was in use, creating a murmured dissonance that mixed with the continuous garbled announcements over the airport PA system.

  “Where are you now?” Fiona asked as she prepared lunch, holding the phone receiver with her shoulder, allowing use of both hands. Monday Morning faded out, followed by Warm Ways which had begun to play softly in the background. The occasional snap and pop of the Fleetwood Mac album spinning on the turntable was testament it had been played at least a thousand times in the twenty years since Fiona first bought it.

  “What?” Prairie asked, trying to hear over yet another unintelligible announcement.

  “Where are you?” Fiona asked again, speaking slightly louder, debating whether to turn the stereo down even lower.

  “SEATAC,” Prairie replied, holding the pay phone receiver as close to her ear as she could physically manage. The flight announcement over the loudspeaker was loud and distorted, making it difficult for her to hear Fiona. “Seattle. My flight leaves in an hour.”

  “Oh, okay,” Fiona answered, understanding the hearing difficulty.

  “I have a week off before pre-season prep really gets started, Fi, so… I’m going to Missoula to spend about three days with the family.”

  “Oh, sounds good,” Fiona continued to slice carrots while keeping an eye on her toddler son who was playing on the living room
floor, surrounded by a mélange of toys.

  “But after that,” Prairie hesitated. “I, um, wanted to come to The City and see you guys for a couple days. If, you know, you’re not busy, or…”

  “Of course. Don’t be daft. You know you’re welcome anytime, Prair. Just let me know when you plan to come ‘round so we’re not out and about.” Fiona’s slight English accent emerged when Prairie least expected it—and it always made Prairie’s heart skip a little.

  “Okay, Fi. Um…” Prairie wanted to say more, say I love you, but couldn’t. Ever. “Okay. I better go. See you… soon.”

  “Tara.”

  Prairie hung up the receiver and took a visual survey of the busy airport, watching people going to and from their terminals. Bemused, she quickly divided them into the hustling class and the strolling class. Prairie slumped a little thinking about Fiona. Why was it always so awkward with her after a long absence?

  She sighed.

  The truth was, she knew why. They’d known each other for twenty years, but the first year and a half seemed to color the years that followed, no matter how much time had gone by. It always seemed to take a day or two to get back to a comfortable place; but by then, Prairie had to leave again. If only she had stopped loving her, Prairie thought. That would have made things so much easier. Prairie shrugged with resignation. Probably not. She sighed and checked her watch. Prairie looked to her left, then her right. She sighed again, slung the strap for her carry on bag over her shoulder and headed for a terminal to the right, joining the strolling class.

  1.2—Big Sky

  Perched on a metal stool on the far side of the stainless prep table in her parents’ commercial kitchen, Prairie quietly observed her mother, Jane, prepare an array of dishes. Prairie always loved watching her parents when they cooked, admiring their precision and dedication to their craft.

  “I’m sorry the timing of your trip is so…” Jane began, but was interrupted.

  “Sucky?” Prairie said, finishing her mom’s sentence.

  Jane laughed as she stirred a sauce on the large, six burner Wolf stove. “I guess that’s an apt description. Now if you had come a week earlier or even a few days later…”

  “Mom, I told you,” Prairie replied with a hint of frustration in her voice, “I’m not in charge of when I can take off. The season and pre-season dictate pretty much everything in my life.”

  “I’m not criticizing…”

  “Oh, I know. I’m sorry,” Prairie said with contrition. “I’m just disappointed is all. I really wanted to see everyone. But it’s not a completely wasted trip—at least you and Pops are here,” Prairie added, truly grateful.

  Still, she was disappointed. Prairie was hoping to see four of her six siblings who lived near her parents in Missoula. Skyler, one of her younger brothers, lived in Seattle, but she never saw him. They were never close growing up, so seeing each other was never a priority. Prairie and her younger sister Autumn hadn’t seen each other in years, but had always been like oil and water. After college, Autumn had moved to Italy with her boyfriend, and had only been home twice in all those years—both times while Prairie was away. The other four siblings, two older and two younger, who Prairie loved dearly, had always been her best friends while growing up.

  “Pops should be back any time now,” Jane said, focused on her cooking. “He’s meeting with a prospective client who wants Pops to teach cooking classes. If he likes Pops’ proposal, it could be an excellent contract.”

  “That’s pretty cool. I totally see Pops teaching.” Prairie sighed heavily. “Man, it’s unbelievable everyone is gone. When has that ever happened before?” Prairie asked.

  “Never.”

  Prairie huffed.

  “The twins travel a lot since they started their survival business,” Jane explained, “giving seminars all over the country almost every weekend. It’s amazing how successful their business has gotten. This one just happened to be a ten-day… I don’t know… thingy.” Jane threw her hands up. “I don’t know what they call them, but they were pretty excited about it. They’ve only ever done weekend classes.”

  “Where are they?” Prairie inquired.

  Jane raised her eyes to the ceiling, trying to remember. “I want to say Tennessee… or… I just don’t know. Someplace in the South.”

  “Huh. Cool.”

  “You know Auggie’s been working on getting his doctorate,” Jane began. She pulled a tray of baked squabs out of the oven and set them on the stainless prep table. “Every three months or so he has to go down to Florida to the university for a week of classes.”

  “Yeah, that’s awesome. Except for the part where this is the week he went.” Prairie sighed wistfully. “I got a letter from Christy last week,” Prairie offered brightly. “She’s thinking of coming home on leave for her birthday. Says she really loves Germany, but misses Big Sky—a lot.”

  “We must have gotten the same letter,” Jane chuckled. “Our little Christmas a doctor. Of all the things I thought my kids would be… and you,” Jane said looking at Prairie with pride. “Big league baseball trainer. Who’da thunk it?”

  “Assistant trainer, but still. Someday. It’s where I always wanted to be,” Prairie smiled everytime she thought of how great it was to actually achieve her lifelong dream of working for a major league sports team. “Even when it wasn’t done,” she said, almost to herself.

  Fascinated by what her mother was doing, Prairie asked, “What exactly are you making, Mom?” Prairie noted her mother was preparing six different plates with the squabs, with different sauces, sides and platings.

  Jane looked up from the plate she was working on. “Oh, I’m just…” She wiped her hands on her chef’s apron. “I want to create something new and unusual but with a traditional foundation. I’ve been getting a little bored with my menu, so I thought I’d experiment a little.” She quickly finished plating the last dish. “What do you think?”

  Prairie carefully examined the assortment and exclaimed with a look of ‘what do I know?’ “I think they’re all amazing, but…” she laughed, “you know me, Mom. You know I consider anything that’s more than a bowl of cereal with milk a masterpiece and basically mind-blowing.”

  Jane put her hands on her hips and shook her head with amusement. “Where, oh, where did Pops and I get you kids?” she said, amused by the fact that none of her children could boil water without burning it.

  “From the punkin’ patch?” Prairie said quickly and winked.

  ‘From the punkin’ patch’ was an ongoing family joke, and the automatic response to “how are you ours” type questions from her parents. Prairie’s brother Birch started it when he was barely six. He and his twin brother Lake were engaged in a raucous battle of Army when their dad, Mike, an avowed pacifist asked, “Where did I get you boys?” After Birch’s innocent answer, it remained a family meme that endured through the years.

  1.3—Jane's favorite

  “The punkin’ patch… Yeah, I’ll say,” Jane retorted with a sly grin.

  Jane and Prairie laughed out loud, happy to be together after so long. Prairie hadn’t been home since the Christmas before last, which was too long between visits as far as Jane was concerned. Jane loved all her children, but Prairie, her eldest daughter, held a special place in her heart. Perhaps it was because Prairie was her first girl, or was so similar to Jane, that she was special. That Prairie was gay and had known since she was young certainly had something to do with it.

  Jane would never forget the day Prairie came to her at the age of eight and asked, nearly in tears, “Mommy, am I a creep?” When Prairie explained that her best friend Nancy had called her a creep because Prairie asked her to be her girlfriend, Jane wasn’t surprised. Afterwards, Prairie’s friend ran away from her and refused to talk to Prairie ever again. Soon, all the kids in Prairie’s class were calling her a creep. It nearly broke Jane’s heart. After many sleepless nights, long discussions and contemplation, Jane and Prairie’s father, Mike, agree
d that being gay or straight had less to do with nurturing, and everything to do with nature. As the years marched on, their six out of seven straight kids were proof enough to them they were right.

  Jane and Mike made a vow to never let Prairie think she was alone when it came to her sexuality. Several trips to the principal’s office and meetings with other parents seemed to lessen the teasing and ostracizing by her classmates, but it wasn’t long before Prairie began to suppress her likes and loves, keeping them to herself.

  All through school, Prairie kept her distance from other girls, preferring to pal around with the boys who always thought of Prairie as one of them. Not particularly masculine looking or blatantly butch, Prairie was the cool girl who didn’t scream about everything, loved sports, and enjoyed doing the same things guys liked to do. She also had an all-American look about her the boys felt comfortable being around, but that didn’t compel them to fall in love with her.

  Jane always felt a deep sadness for Prairie, knowing she was purposefully closing her heart off so she wouldn’t get hurt. Nothing she or Mike said ever convinced Prairie to put herself out there again. Until Prairie left for college and then the Air Force, she remained purposefully unattached.

  Jane pulled up a metal stool and sat next to Prairie. “When Pops comes back we’ll do a tasting.” She looked at her watch. “He should be home any minute now.” She seemed excited, hoping at least one of the dishes would be interesting enough to put on her menu.

  “Yum! Hurry home, Pops!” Prairie exclaimed.

  “So…” Jane directed her focus to Prairie, having finished with her experiment. “Tell me all about your life in the big city. I haven’t had a good update in ages,” Jane asked as she looked lovingly at her eldest daughter.

  Physically, Prairie reminded Jane of herself, except for the flaming red hair. Though in recent years, Prairie’s hair had become closer to salt amidst the generous sprinkling of red pepper. Jane’s hair was cut in a bob and was for all intents and purposes white, but when she was younger, it was dark auburn with brilliant red highlights. They shared the same facial features: the pert little nose, freckles, big blue eyes and dimples. Their bodies were also similar. Stocky little bodies, though Prairie was more blessed in bra size, and they were the exact same height—five foot six.