by Wendy Owens
“Now, Michael, he seems like a character. We haven’t met yet.” Rachel continued, interrupting Gabe’s memories.
“Michael is a tough one. I think I was angriest at him when I left. Over this past year, I’ve started realizing it wasn’t all his fault. I put him in a position he never asked to be. He was bound to let me down no matter how things ended up, it was inevitable.”
“I see.” Rachel replied, her words lingering in the air for a moment before she continued, “What’s that?”
Gabe watched as Rachel ran to a nearby set of stumps. He was unable to stop himself from smiling at the site of the tribute to his friends.
“Those are Raimie and Dina.” Gabe replied walking up to Rachel, who now was on her knees closely examining the newly discovered carvings.
“How many of these things are there?” she asked, not looking away from the masterpieces.
“Well, let’s see,” Gabe began. “You already saw Sophie, then there are these two, over by the mine is one of Haim, and in the forest there is one of Uri. Oh, and by the river to the north there’s Michael.”
“Seriously? You have to show them all to me. Please!” Rachel shrieked as she jumped to her feet. “These are amazing. Please?”
“Alright, alright.” Gabe gave in without much effort from Rachel, secretly thrilled his work was being appreciated at last.
Rachel slipped her arm around Gabe’s as if it were where it naturally belonged. They walked side by side, Gabe sharing his stories of a life long gone, one full of friends. This time he wasn’t angry when he spoke of them, it was with fondness he reminisced. When he told stories of Raimie, he felt overwhelmed with honor to have called him friend and regret that he had left his side. Had he stayed that night, perhaps he would not have fallen. He shook the sorrow loose, continuing with tales of Haim and their grand battles.
Rachel hung on Gabe’s every word; she had never known such exciting stories could exist except inside the books she loved to pour over. Even when the walk ended, the stories continued long into the night. Both were content that night in each other’s company, sharing stories of good times.
CHAPTER NINE
Gabe peered out from the shallow covered porch; the gray sky cast a darkness over the valley that blanketed the home like a sheet. He watched as the oversized rain drops fell across the dirt path in front of him, as if in slow motion.
“Penny for your thoughts?” Rachel said, stepping out behind him in her bare feet and handing him a tin cup filled with steaming black coffee.
“Sorry, a penny’s not enough.” Gabe replied shortly.
“Excuse me?” Rachel inquired, unsure what he meant, her arm still extended, grasping the hot beverage.
“Sorry, I was trying to be funny, guess that didn’t work.”
“Nope, you failed miserably. I wouldn’t quit your day job.” Rachel jested.
“Good to know.”
“So what are you looking so serious about out here?” Rachel pushed.
“My mind was just wandering, I suppose.” Gabe apologized, taking the cup from Rachel and pulling it up to his nose, breathing in deep.
“Wandering, huh?” Rachel continued to prod before taking a sip from her own cup.
“Actually, you want to know the truth?” Gabe asked, glancing over to Rachel.
“No, I asked because I really want you to lie to me. Of course I want to know the truth, you idiot!” Rachel scolded humorously.
“I was thinking of Uri.” Gabe said before looking back towards the forest.
“Itching to get rid of me?” Rachel teased.
“Of course not. Your cooking is too good to rush you out of here.” Gabe poked fun in return.
Rachel laughed before replying. “I haven’t known him as long as you, of course, but Uri has always given me the impression that he’s the type of guy that can handle himself. I don’t think you have cause to be too concerned. I’m sure he’s just being careful.”
Gabe was becoming more appreciative of Rachel’s presence with each day that passed. He thought back to when he had met her and wondered how he couldn’t have seen all her attributes then. Though they shared a sense of humor, a love of nature, and had similar creative interests, they differed extremely when it came to outlook. Gabe was always the one to instantly assume the worst, whereas Rachel’s glass never dipped below half full. Once again, he was grateful to have her perspective giving him hope, “I guess you’re right.”
“Don’t you know by now, I’m always right.” Rachel added. She had turned out to be a total surprise for Gabe. She was only supposed to be there a few days and now months had passed. Not only had Rachel made herself indispensable by helping with all the chores, she also filled a void he didn’t even know he had. She would share stories about her home, family, and friends, as well as listen to his tales. It was a level of engagement that he hadn’t known since his days at Rampart. Part of him didn’t want her to go. He was worried about his friend, but with Uri’s return would come Rachel’s exit.
“Are you hungry? I can cook some eggs and heat up some biscuits I made yesterday.” Rachel offered.
“Sounds delicious.” Gabe replied with a smile and lick of the lips. The two turned and walked back into the modest cabin.
Gabe took a seat at the table, watching as Rachel worked. Her skirt hugged her at her waist and clung tight at her backside before it fell loose to the floor. She moved gracefully and he enjoyed the show.
“Can I ask you something kind of personal?” Gabe inquired cautiously.
“Hmm… let’s see. You’ve opened your home to me, I think the least I can do is answer one personal question. Make it a good one though,” Rachel answered continuing with her work.
“You have been the most helpful house guest in the world. I think I’ve gained at least ten pounds from your cooking.” Gabe exaggerated with his praise.
“Well, thank you.” Rachel chimed in a jolly tone, thrilled her efforts were recognized. “Is there a question in there?”
“You know this whole thing with the prophecy?” Gabe asked.
“What part?” Rachel asked, cracking an egg gently onto the skillet.
“The part about you giving birth to the prophet.” Gabe continued.
“What about it?”
“Well, doesn’t it bother you? I mean you haven’t even had the kid and they are already telling you he or she is probably doomed.” Gabe couldn’t hide his annoyance at the prophecy.
“I don’t really think about it.”
“What? How can you say you don’t think about it? Doesn’t it make you think about life and what you’re going to do?”
Rachel laughed slightly, placing the cooked eggs onto a rugged plate. “Gabe, I’m twenty-three. There is so much about life I don’t know yet. What I do know is, one day I want to fall in love. I want to grow old with someone. I might want to raise kids with that person. I don’t know when that will be, but I know it’s something I can see in my future. If I live my life afraid to do anything because of some prophecy, am I really living my life? I mean, it seems like if I did that, I would be giving up any chance of happiness I could have.”
“Seriously? You could bring a child into the world, knowing it’s doomed?” Gabe argued.
“I don’t know what you want to hear from me. I hope the prophecy isn’t true, that there’s a way around it all. If someday I do fall in love and we do have a child, I know I’ll love them. The world changes every day, and all I can do is try to find some joy and happiness in all the craziness. Maybe I’ll never be a mom, I don’t know, but I do know I can’t be afraid of it.” Rachel replied, dropping the warm biscuits on the plate and placing it in front of Gabe.
“Wow, you amaze me.” Gabe said in complete and utter astonishment to Rachel’s response. “I can’t imagine living like that, you’re not even worried. It must be so freeing.”
“What good does worrying do? Does it change the outcome?” Rachel added.
“Well no, but how does
one not worry when the stakes are so high?” Gabe argued.
“The stakes don’t matter to me. I live my life how it makes me happy, that’s all that matters. Everything else has a way of working itself out.” Rachel added, taking a seat across from Gabe with her plate.
“I envy you.” Gabe muttered.
As the two ate, they talked about what Gabe had missed in the world while being so secluded. Rachel shared invaluable information such as who had won the super bowl, and who the new presidential candidates were. Gabe wasn’t deeply invested in this information, but it was nice to know what was happening in a world that seemed to be passing him by.
“So, what’s on the agenda today?” Rachel inquired once their plates were empty, the conversation winding down.
“Honestly? I know it must seem like all I do is work, but I tend to take the day off when it rains.”
“What? You take a day off? I don’t believe it.” Rachel gasped before giggling.
“I’m sure I can find some chores if you prefer.” Gabe joked.
“Oh no, please, a day off sounds delightful to my body.” Rachel insisted, reaching up and rubbing her shoulder as if she were in pain.
“I have some spare wood on the front porch; I was thinking I would work on building another chair.” Gabe added.
“Of course.” Rachel replied, gathering the empty plates and carrying them to the soapy bucket used as a makeshift sink.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Gabe chimed back.
“I don’t think you know how to be idle.” Rachel answered.
“Hey, I find woodworking relaxing.” Gabe defended.
“Whatever you say.” Rachel replied with a smile.
“I’m serious!”
“Gabe, I think you figured out a long time ago that being alone completely with your thoughts and no distractions can be a tough thing. There’s no shame in admitting that.” Rachel explained.
She was right. He learned to work himself to the point of exhaustion and then at night, when his head would hit the pillow, he would slip into unconsciousness without his thoughts drifting to Rampart or Baal. He didn’t want to get into this discussion with her though. She didn’t need to know about the demons that haunted his thoughts. “Well, it’s not like it matters. With your mouth around I would never have much time to be alone with my thoughts.”
“Hey!” Rachel shouted in a gleeful squeal, scooping a handful of sudsy water from the bucket into her hand and flinging it in Gabe’s direction.
“I’m just kidding.” Gabe laughed, shielding himself from the onslaught of splashing bubbles.
“How about we have a game day.” Rachel suggested.
“Game day?”
“Yeah, one of my favorite things growing up was playing board games all day long with my brother.” Rachel explained.
“I don’t know where you think we are, but there is a bit of a shortage of board games around here.” Gabe said, turning and settling onto a pile of bedding.
“I know silly, we will have to make up our own games.” Rachel answered.
“This is your way to get me to play seven minutes in heaven, isn’t it?” Gabe asked sarcastically, a huge mischievous grin across his face. “Sorry, to disappoint you, it’s not going to happen.”
“You wish.” Rachel answered, drying her hands and flopping down next to him. “I am sure we can use our imagination to come up with some fun games.”
“If you say so.” Gabe relented, not wanting to reveal the idea actually intrigued him.
CHAPTER TEN
“Pst! Wake up.” Gabe felt himself softly shaken as he heard the voice. Startled, Gabe jumped up in an instant, taking an offensive posture.
“Shhh! Jesus man, it’s me, Uri. You’re going to wake Rachel up, be quiet. Follow me.” Uri whispered, motioning towards the front door.
Gabe struggled to process the idea that his missing friend was somehow now here in front of him. He had expected him to only be gone for a matter of days when Rachel was first left in his care. Now that months had passed, there was a part of Gabe that thought perhaps Uri had met an untimely end, yet here he was. Without a word, Gabe followed his friend outside of the cabin. The two reached the edge of the clearing where Gabe wasted no time in punching Uri’s arm.
“Ouch! What was that for?” Uri groaned as he tried to rub away the sting.
“A few days?” Gabe snapped. “Uri, it’s been months!”
“I know, I’m sorry.”
“When you didn’t come back, I don’t know, I thought— Jesus, I thought you were dead.” Gabe continued, finding it difficult to control his volume. He had not verbally spoken of his fear that Uri’s delay had been due to his early demise until that moment. Hearing himself say it, he realized just how much his friend still meant to him.
“Please, you know they can’t kill me.” Uri jokingly replied.
“It’s not funny man. I don’t even know what I would have done with Rachel had you not come back.”
“Sorry, I didn’t realize it had been so bad having her here. I didn’t mean for it to take so long.” Uri apologized.
“No — I mean— it’s not been bad.” Gabe replied. He paused a moment as he considered just how enjoyable it had been having Rachel as a guest. “All I meant was that it’s not safe for her to stay here forever. I knew that and I wasn’t sure what I should do if you didn’t come back. She has actually been pretty great.”
“Honestly, right now she’s probably safer here than anywhere else. I’ve had a tracker I couldn’t shake. There was no way I could come back to the valley until I knew I had lost him.” Uri explained.
“What? Are you sure—”
“I got rid of him, don’t worry. I’m not an idiot.” Uri defended himself.
Gabe didn’t respond. The thought that Rachel would be leaving him washed over his thoughts. The idea consumed him with a sadness he had not felt in a long time. He thought when the time came to say goodbye to her, that it would be a relief. Instead, all he could think about was how empty his life would be again. “Does this mean you’re back to get Rachel?”
“That’s what we need to talk about.” Uri began. “Haim and I have searched everywhere for a safe house that had not been compromised. I talked to Michael and —”
“You what?” Gabe snapped, surprised by his own reaction.
“Calm down. He didn’t even know I was bringing Rachel to you.” Uri explained.
“He didn’t?”
“No, and boy was he pissed when he found out.”
“Really?” Gabe wondered if Michael loathed him so much for abandoning the cause that he wanted Gabe to have no involvement. “He hates me that much?”
“What? What the hell are you talking about? He went on about how you made your decision and we needed to respect that. I tried to explain, it’s not like I was asking you to be the protector or anything, just keep an eye on the girl while I tried to find a place.” Uri defended himself.
“And?” Gabe urged. “What did Michael say?”
“After thoroughly reaming me for being a selfish bastard you mean? He wanted me to come back here and take Rachel to Iron Gate.” Uri added.
“What? No, that can’t be. There is no way Iron Gate is safe for her. Not after what happened with Rampart.” Gabe protested.
“That’s what I tried to tell him, but he wouldn’t listen. Told me it wasn’t fair to you to keep dragging you into this stuff and do what he says.” Uri grunted, clearly unhappy with his leader’s instructions.
Gabe felt conflicted by the swelling of emotions he found himself dealing with. He had always assumed that he had disappointed Michael when he left Rampart. It had never crossed his mind that his mentor felt the way Uri described. On the other hand, his heart felt heavy with worry for Rachel. He couldn’t tell Uri that he wanted her to stay because she filled him with joy. More than that though, he could not allow her to leave the valley if it likely meant her death.
“You’re going to have to tell
Michael that doesn’t work for me. Rachel is safer here with me, so that is where she will stay until you find somewhere more suitable.” Gabe insisted.
“What? I thought—” Uri stuttered. “Okay, now I am confused. What is going on? I thought you didn’t even want her here.”
“I didn’t, but that doesn’t mean I want to send her to her death.” Gabe snapped.
Uri hesitated for a moment staring at his friend. “Michael doesn’t want you in danger. He won’t allow this.”
“Well, Michael doesn’t control me anymore. You can tell him I know full well the danger this puts me in and I am willingly accepting it. She’s staying here with me and that’s that!” Gabe growled, growing more agitated at the idea of Rachel being in danger.
Uri’s look of confusion gave way to a devilish grin as his eyebrows lifted slowly.
“What?” Gabe asked, puzzled by his friends expression.
“Oh it’s cool, I get it.” Uri snickered in reply.
“You get what?”
“You like her.”
“Of course I like her, she’s a nice girl.”
Uri leaned in close, “No, you know what I mean. You really like her.”
“What?” Gabe protested. “That is ridiculous.”
“I know this look, the smitten Gabe look.” Uri boasted triumphantly at his deductive skills.
“Shut up, you don’t know what you’re talking about.” Gabe turned to walk away from his friend who was frustrating him.
“Have you kissed her yet?” Uri prodded.
“You’re insane.” Gabe added, stopping and turning to face his friend again. “I owe her, that’s it.”
“What do you mean you owe her?”
Gabe sighed, the details that led to his injuries were long buried in his mind and rehashing them seemed less than appealing. “I had to run some errands and got into a fight while I was gone. Rachel patched me up and took care of me. That’s all.”