Mirisa bathed and dressed for the day. After checking the house, she finally found Mrs. Chauvin in the cellar checking the stock. The cellar was made with large river stones and was as big as the kitchen. The temperature was always cold and dry and the shelves built into the walls were filled with jars and pots of preserves along with herbs and plants hanging from the ceiling. The back of the cellar furthest from the door held meats that were ready to be used but most of the perishable meat was kept in the smoke house.
“May I speak to you?”
Mrs. Chauvin marked down her count before looking up at Mirisa. “Of course.” She noted the dark circles and worried that her health had drastically changed in such a short period of time. She came to them a very quiet and respectful young lady but had blossomed over the year very comfortable with her surroundings. “Would you like to go to my office?”
“No, here is fine.” She walked further into the room looking at the labels on the jars. Her favorite task since coming to the Plantation was learning how to grow food then put it up for the winter. “I want to know if it is possible for me to travel to Philadelphia.”
“Right now?”
She looked down as tears welled in her eyes and then wiped them on the back of her hand. “I can’t stay here any longer. I am having bad dreams and my emotions are out of control.”
“Shall I call for the doctor?”
Mirisa took in her breath as the memories of her mother being drugged filled her head. “No, no I don’t want any more herbs. I need to leave. The house is haunted and I think they are going to….I have to leave before I can’t.”
Mrs. Chauvin was aware of her mother’s medical problems and felt such compassion for this young woman who was trying to deal with so much energy that everyone in the household could feel it. She put down her clipboard and took her by the hand before she spoke. “I will check on passage north by steamship but after this storm I believe it may be a few days before I can secure same. Can you at least wait until Mr. Lanfear returns?”
“No.” The whisper was barely audible. “Is there somewhere else I can stay? Maybe the Ross’ will offer their hospitality or the Judge. Anywhere because I just can’t stay here. I can’t.” At this point she was in sobs bordering on hysteria. Mrs. Chauvin directed her up the stairs where they were met by Jasmine who exchanged glances with Mrs. Chauvin before being instructed to take her to her room.
Mrs. Chauvin fixed a tray of tea with sweet cakes made from the roots Mirisa had gathered. Before taking it up, she put a drop of elixir in the honey placing it on the tray. She carried it up and set it on the table next to the bed.
“I think you need to have something to eat for you have been working very hard and taking in very little nourishment. In the meantime, I will make arrangements for you to stay with the Judge and his wife until safe passage to Philadelphia can be secured.” She watched as Mirisa poured a cup of tea and put in honey. “I shall be sorry to see you leave for you have been a great guest.”
Mirisa started crying again and Mrs. Chauvin patted her on the hand smiling. “Eat something and I shall be back with good news soon.”
Mirisa ate everything on the plate then curled up on the bed with Simone’ falling into a deep sleep.
MIRISA WAS standing at the bottom of the mound again but this time there was a tall structure made of cloth blowing softly in the warm breeze. Mirisa looked to her left as the elderly woman smiled then released her hand and took off a small necklace. She placed it on Mirisa’s neck and pointed to the top of the mound. Mirisa looked at the necklace and wondered how she got it out of the box. Mirisa looked back and the elderly woman smiled as she leaned on the cane with the carvings. She slowly climbed the steps to the top and walked toward what appeared to be flaps that were pulled back allowing the smell of the burning sage to surround her like a cloak. Stepping forward Mirisa put her hand out into a thick red smoke but could not see anything before the sound of the drums began. The smoke lifted before her and she was standing in the center of the tents looking at him. He was wearing nothing but a loin cloth, a large knife on his side and red paint decorating his exquisite body which seems to glisten in the low light. If it wasn’t for his blue eyes, she would have doubted what her instincts were telling her for this is not how he had ever appeared whether in her dreams or as a spirit. He didn’t move and didn’t take his eyes off of her.
Mirisa turned in a circle but they were alone so she turned back to him. She reached out to touch him as his hand circled her wrist moving it to his chest over his heart. She felt the strength of his heartbeat which seemed to keep tempo with the drums or maybe it wasn’t drums she heard but his heartbeat. The flow of his veins seemed to surge through her hand and fill her body with a vibration making her knees suddenly buckle. He put his other arm around her holding her tight against himself as she rested her head against his chest trying to breath. The vibration was replaced with pain as the red smoke seemed to thicken around them and the tempo of the music changed.
He reached down and untied the small bag from around her neck. He emptied the objects at their feet then removed the necklace wrapping it around her wrist. He took out his knife and made a slice across his chest allowing the blood to run down between them then sliced her palm from the top to the bottom. As her blood ran down her arm and dropped at their feet he placed her hand over his heart and a blinding pain shot through her so violently that the scream reverberated within her head over and over. Her tears turned red, the smoke enveloped them and billowed out the top of the circle toward the moon. He held her close keeping her hand on his heart until she surrendered to him and he knew that his circle was complete as she collapsed. He removed the necklace from her wrist putting it back around her neck.
Dominic felt the pain as though he had been shot. His hand instantly went to his chest and his heart was racing so fast that it brought back all those nights on the trail when life hung in the balance. He knew she had been in his dreams and then he felt an unnatural anxiety come over his entire body. Maybe he had been partaking too much in the whisky tonight. He looked up at the moon which was a slight shade of red and getting redder as he watched. A chill ran down him like a spirit had stepped on his grave.
Mirisa fell out of the bed clutching her hand. Mrs. Chauvin, who had been burning sage to ward off unwanted spirits, rushed to her side. There was blood everywhere and she was hysterical. Jasmine came running in with Miss Minnie who immediately grabbed her hand.
“Get the black tar quickly or she will bleed out.”
Jasmine ran down to the kitchen and returned with an old glass jar handing it to Mrs. Chauvin. They opened her hand as she screamed over and over again. They finally got her hand bandaged as Jasmine changed the bedding so they could lay her back down. She settled into a restless state but was no longer mumbling.
“I have never seen such a powerful guide to the other world.”
Jasmine was chanting in her native language as she rocked back and forth. They sat with her until they were sure she would sleep then left leaving the door ajar. Simone’ climbed up under her arm as Conrad sat down on the bed. He bent over, picked up her hand and turned it over. He kissed her palm as she stirred then told her to sleep.
The barge steered toward the dock just before dawn and set plank. The dock area was alive and busy as usual in the early morning hours waiting for supplies to arrive but the night life of Under the Hill had retired with the exception of a few drunks. The tavern’s wagon was sitting next to the Dock Master’s shack as was the one from the Dry Goods Store. Next to the dock were three large wagons with armed Union troops waiting to unload the ammunition and supplies.
Captain McPharson was talking to the dock master when he spotted his friends leading their horses off the boat. He excused himself and walked toward them offering his hand.
“Well I’ll be damn. I had hoped that I would run into you but this storm has kept me up at the encampment. What are you doing on the barge?”
Dominic s
hook his hand. “We had business in New Orleans and this was the easiest way home.”
“True. The roads south are in such a state from the heavy rains. I have several units out there that will hopefully make it back. I forgot how much mud you have in Mississippi.”
“Where are you staying?”
“You know I always stay with the men though after this week a warm bath, good whisky and a great cigar would probably be welcomed.”
Dominic handed him a cigar which made him smile as he bit off the end and lit it. They had not only gone through VMI together but had spent five years out west assigned to the same territory. He was a lifer who was promoted when the war started but he held his close friendships more valuable than his career.
“Are you aware of the situation with my niece?”
“Yes. Please accept my condolences.” He shuffled uneasily. “I received a directive to detain Colonel Smith should he still be in the area but we have had no word of his having been sited. The rest of his unit has been sent back to headquarters for review but we both know that it will be labeled an unfortunate accident of wartime.”
“Colonel Smith and I shall cross paths again.”
Captain McPharson nodded in acknowledgement as one of his men advised that they were starting to unload the crates.
“Gentlemen, we need to catch up sometime.”
They dismounted in front of the tavern. Meeks retrieved his mail from the front desk then sat down opposite Dominic with a quizzical look. “When did you cut yourself?”
Dominic looked down at his shirt that had a line of dried blood across it. He opened his shirt to reveal a red swollen mark across his chest. He touched it and winced. “I don’t know.”
“It’s awfully puffy for being unaware of doing it.” James spread butter on his bread then smiled. “I tell you Dominic, your mind is not exactly sharp lately. Maybe we need to replace you with someone who can concentrate on details.”
He buttoned his shirt and picked up his coffee. James was probably right, he really was having trouble concentrating or carrying out anything without getting distracted. They sat and talked for a few hours before deciding it was time to enjoy the softness of their beds.
DOMINIC mounted his horse and headed for the Plantation. The damage from the storm was greater than he thought it would be. There were hundreds of workers along the highway either cutting up downed trees or working on the homes. As he headed down the road to the house, he assessed the damage but it appeared all of his workers were busy fixing the main house. He handed the reins of his horse to a young boy and went into the house. Mrs. Chauvin was walking across the foyer with an arm full of invitations and was surprised to see him.
“Good morning Mr. Lanfear. I did not expect you home with the lower roads still impassable.” She handed the invitations to a courier waiting next to the door who put them in his satchel, nodded to Dominic and then left to deliver them.
“We took the barge back.” He threw his hat on the chair in the library and removed his holster, folded it up and put it in the desk drawer. He flipped through the stack of mail then decided to deal with it later.
“Shall I have lunch served?”
“No, I ate at the tavern.” He took a box of cigars out of the cabinet and asked her to send them to Captain McPharson. He then took one out of his humidor, lit it and walked out on the veranda. The air was cool and the river seemed to be receding.
“Has an assessment been done of the damage?”
“Yes. A copy of it is on my desk.”
“I want to talk to Charles when he gets a moment.”
“I will send word for him. I believe he is with the men putting a new roof of the tobacco barn. Also, the chicken pens were destroyed.”
He smiled because they were running all around the gardens. “I think it’s time to relocate them closer to the barn though they seemed to be quite happy running free.”
“Yes sir.”
He turned as she waited to be excused. “Where is Mirisa?”
“She’s in her room.” He took his watch out of his pocket as she shifted her eyes. “She’s been working hard since the storm and I believe she might have come down with a cold.”
“What is she doing working?” His impatience was becoming obvious and she had no idea how to respond for she knew any answer would be wrong. He waited before continuing. “She is a guest here not part of the staff.”
“I think it has helped her to adjust to be part of the household especially since….”
“I apologize. I didn’t take into consideration that she would be alone in a house that was not hers or that I would be absent so much. Please tell her I wish to see her when she feels up to coming down.”
“Yes sir.”
They had been up with her most of the night afraid the effect of the journey would turn out like those who tried before her. Despite having been raised with the rituals and healers, Mrs. Chauvin knew that returning from the beyond was far more difficult than getting there especially when the past and the future were combined into the present. She had heard stories of guides not releasing someone following a journey but they were unclear why Conrad would not do so unless there was more to do. All attempts to contact him had failed.
She went up to Mirisa’s room and Simone’ slipped out when she opened the door. Jasmine was sitting next to the bed mending a slip and Mirisa appeared to be sleeping quietly. She walked over and felt her head for a fever then bent over and unwrapped the bandage slowly so as not to wake her. The cut was already healed which meant he was still here. She spoke directly to Conrad pleading for him to release her so that she could fulfill her own destiny whatever that might be.
She straightened the bed sheets and stood. Dominic watched from the doorway. He looked from Mrs. Chauvin to Jasmine. “Please leave us.” They both nodded and closed the door as they left. He stood there for a while watching her. Dominic knew the first day he opened the door to find Mrs. Chauvin on his doorstep that she came for a purpose and he knew she was a known healer as was his cook. It was hard to have been raised in a predominately New Orleans French family and not be very familiar with the healers and their form of dark medicine. His father had forbidden the use of healers but he had never asked why nor did he think his father would have said. He thought about the stories of his ancestors and the fact that Conrad’s name had not only been uttered by Mrs. Chauvin but Mirisa as well knew the name.
He sat down on the bed and picked up Mirisa’s hand. Conrad sat on the window sill watching him. He wondered if Dominic had the strength to admit his love for her or whether his stubbornness would once again shut down any feelings he had. Would he be willing to fight for her and for his own future?
It was a long night in which Dominic never left her bedside except to step out onto the porch. Mrs. Chauvin would come in to check her temperature or to bring in a tray for him but there was no conversation between them. Dominic sat and mulled over what he knew about Conrad who was rumored an opportunist or hired killer. His partner was Sesquasi, the brother of his Indian wife. The two brothers, Jacob and Conrad, inherited the Plantation after the rest of the family was massacred while returning from a buying trip. Jacob remained on the Plantation raising a large family including Dominic’s grandfather while nothing was known about Conrad’s life.
Coming to terms with Garnett’s infatuation with Mirisa was easy compared to the notion that not only did she believe the house was haunted but it had consumed her to the point that she lay there unresponsive. He finally decided it was time to get the doctor for she probably had come down with malaria or another malady.
Mrs. Chauvin came out onto the porch where he was sitting with his eyes closed. She turned quietly when he asked her what she needed.
“Would you like dinner brought up?”
“No. I want you to send for the doctor.”
“I don’t…”
“I really don’t want to hear anymore. I don’t believe in the stories or that spirits are livi
ng in this house. I want the doctor called immediately. Send Jasmine up to sit with her and call me when the doctor arrives.” He stood up and started for the door.
“Dominic, he will not release her…”
Dominic spun around and looked at her as though she were out of her mind. He opened his shirt and she saw the raw scar that ran from one side to the other. “I really thought it was a bizaar dream or the stress from the last few weeks.” By this time he was so agitated that she backed up a few steps. His voice rose louder but she knew that he wasn’t addressing her. “Tell that bastard if he doesn’t release her now that I will come get her.”
The room turned so cold that she knew that Dominic’s challenge had peaked Conrad. It was the devil challenging the devil with Mirisa caught in the middle unable to break away. Dominic at this point pushed past Mrs. Chauvin to Mirisa’s bedside. He picked up her hand and carefully put it over his heart. “Tell him to release her now.” He said softly but the anger in his grey eyes made them even colder.
Conrad smiled as he walked over and placed his hand over hers causing Dominic to feel the same crushing heaviness that he felt last night as well as the dreams. “I will always be there for her if you fail Dominic.”
Dominic felt her body relax and he laid her hand across her stomach. She looked so lost, so beautiful and so young. He sat next to her as the morning wore on and then her eyes fluttered finally opening. “Where am I?”
The Visitor 1862 Page 13