Go Gently

by Nancy M Bell

  “Yes, that Daniel. Da knew the man wanted to marry me no matter what the gossips said. No respectable man would ask for me after the scandal of me running away and then turning up pregnant a few months later.” Bella’s face twisted in a grimace.

  “I’m glad you didn’t have anything to do with that man,” Laurel said.

  “At the time it seemed like the only path open to me was to agree to Da’s wishes and accept an arranged marriage with a homesteader in the wilds of Canada. That was your Grampa D’Arcy, dear.” She smiled at Laurel. “He was a good man and never held it against me that he got two for the price of one in the bargain.”

  “No wonder Dad was so angry. You should have told him right from the start,” Laurel declared.

  “What was I to tell him? Oh, by the way, your father is some mythical shape shifter who doesn’t even know of your existence? No, I let the hare sit and let him believe D’Arcy was his father. In every way that counted, he was. D’Arcy loved Colton and treated him as if he were his birth father. He was a good, kind, forgiving man and I couldn’t bring myself to break either of their hearts.”

  “You still should have told him when he was old enough to understand,” Laurel maintained stubbornly.

  “Perhaps you’re right, Laurel. I just didn’t have the courage. Just like I didn’t have the courage to stay here in Cornwall, or to tell Vear that somehow we had conceived a child together.”

  “He knows now,” Coll said.

  “How could he?” Bella gasped and her hand flew to her throat.

  ‘I told him last time I was here. He knows I’m his granddaughter and that Dad is his son,” Laurel said defiantly.

  “Oh, my stars.” Bella’s face crumpled up with tears.

  “Leave off, Bella. You knew it had to come out when you decided to come back here,” Sarie said.

  “I suppose I did.” She sniffed.

  Gwin Scawen moved from Aisling’s lap to sit on the edge of the table, his thin legs swinging as if dancing to a tune only he could hear. He cocked his head to the side for a moment and then jumped to his feet. “I’m off to keep company with the big black one, is there any message you wish me to carry to him?”

  “Please tell him I’m here,” Laurel said.

  “Tell him I plan to be where Treagle toils at the dark of the moon,” Bella said.

  “I will do that, Mistress Bella and Mistress Laurel.” He tipped his pointed hat to them in turn. “It warms the cockles of my heart to see you back on Cornish soil.” Gwin grinned at Aisling before vanishing with a soft sound of displaced air.

  Chapter Nine

  After the piskie left, the conversation turned to more mundane things. Sarie and Bella had their heads together speaking too low for Laurel to hear. Coll tugged on her hand to catch her attention and nodded toward the door. Laurel smiled and stood up at the same time he did. Aisling looked up in surprise and left off whatever she and Gort had been discussing.

  “Where are you going?”

  “Just outside, so Laurel can see the changes since she left,” Coll said.

  “To visit the horses,” Laurel said at the same time.

  Gort laughed and waved a hand toward the door. “It’s been a long time since you saw each other, go on with you and have a good natter in private.”

  Coll held the door out into the mudroom open for Laurel before following her out of the kitchen. He opened the outer door and followed her out, snibbing the latch firmly behind him. He took Laurel’s hand and they wandered down the well-worn path toward Sarie’s herb garden. There were still a few hardy patches of green among the rows. Laurel was content to walk through the familiar surroundings without speaking, noticing the minor changes since her last visit. Coll seemed equally happy to keep her company.

  “Are you going out with someone back home, other than that Chance chap?

  Coll’s sudden question startled Laurel out of her thoughts. She stopped walking and turned to face him. “No, not really,” she said slowly.

  “You sure? You said you’re just friends, but you’re always blethering on about Chance did this or Chance said that.” Coll’s face flushed a deep red.

  “Of course, I talk about him, he’s Carly’s brother so of course we end up doing things together. He’s like my brother.” Laurel decided not to mention the fact Chance wanted to be more than friends.

  “If you’re sure, then.” Coll released her hand and stepped closer, putting both arms around her waist. Her breath caught in her throat and she forgot to breathe, staring at the golden flecks in his hazel eyes. His lips brushed hers lightly, and when she didn’t object, he deepened the kiss. Laurel sighed when he lifted his head and she leaned her cheek on his chest. It wasn’t like she’d never kissed a guy, but none of those encounters had affected her this way. Coll’s heart sounded like a trip hammer in her ear and her own heart seemed to be racing.

  “C’mon, let’s go see the ponies.” Coll broke the silence. Laurel removed her arms from around his shoulders, surprised she didn’t remember putting them there in the first place.

  “Sure, I want to see Lamorna and all of them.”

  Coll caught her hand and stopped her as she moved away. “I really missed you, Laurel.” He pulled her into his arms and kissed her again. Her whole body felt flushed and she leaned into Coll to support her trembling legs. After a moment he lifted his head, and leaving an arm around her shoulders, walked beside her down to the pony field. Laurel couldn’t keep from smiling, she’d often thought about kissing Coll, but the reality far outshone her expectations.

  “I missed you too, Coll. More than I can say.”

  She rested her elbows on the top rail of the gate, close enough to Coll that her hip was in contact with his. A tiny thrill of an emotion she couldn’t quite name ran through her. Putting her fingers to her lips, she whistled shrilly. Coll jumped at the sound and tightened his arm around her shoulder.

  “I forgot you could whistle like that.” He grinned down at her.

  Laurel slipped her own arm about his waist and hooked her thumb in one of his belt loops. She’d seen the older girls at the rodeo do that and suddenly felt very grown up and daring.

  The four black ponies and the two big mares came galloping up the field and slid to a stop by the gate. Lamorna stuck her velvety nose into Laurel’s hand looking for a treat. She stroked the pony’s nose and straightened the thick forelock that fell over the large expressive eyes.

  “Hey, pretty mare. I don’t have anything for you right now. I promise I’ll come back later with some horse nuts for you.”

  She removed her arm from Coll’s waist and he released her as well and turned to lean a hip on the fence. She glanced at him and found him studying her with a thoughtful expression on his face. Bright blue eyes peering at her through the blonde hair falling over his forehead.

  “What’s it like, seeing your gramma again? Is she like you remember her?”

  “It’s great she’s here.” Laurel paused and frowned. “But it’s weird, too. I was so little when she left I don’t remember how she looked. I just remember bits of things, how she smelled of lavender, baking cookies with her…that kind of thing. I really hope I have a chance to get to know her.”

  Coll shook his head. “I can’t imagine not seeing my gramma every day.”

  “But Emily raised you. It would be more like how it would be if you could see your parents again. You probably don’t remember much about them, do you?”

  “No, not very much. Just unconnected flashes of things. I have to keep looking at the photos Gramma has of them to even be able to remember what they looked like.”

  “Sometimes life just sucks,” Laurel exclaimed and turned her gaze back to the horses.

  “Laurel! Coll!” Sarie’s voice carried clearly in the still air.

  “Coming,” Laurel called back.

  After one last caress of Lamorna’s neck, she started back to the house. Coll caught up to her and twined his fingers with hers. She smiled up at him and su
ddenly felt light as a feather.

  “How did you get to Bragg Creek to find out where your gramma was? I thought you said it was a fair drive from where you live.” A small frown furrowed Coll’s brow.

  “Chance took me,” she admitted.

  “Oh. Did your friend Carly go with you? You haven’t mentioned her.”

  “No. Just me and Chance. Why?” Laurel stopped walking and he halted beside her.

  “No reason…I guess I thought you’d take your girlfriend with you…” His voice trailed off and a deep flush darkened his fair complexion.

  “Are you jealous of Chance?” Laurel found the idea astounding. “I told you he’s only a friend. I’ve known him forever. He’s like my big brother or something, you idiot.” She punched him on the arm with her free hand.

  Coll let out a big sigh and the frown disappeared. “Good to know. I haven’t gone out with anyone since you left. Did you realize that?”

  “Ash told me. I haven’t dated anyone either, just so you know. Even if one of us did date someone else, it’s not like we made a pact or anything. You could have seen another girl while I was gone.” Laurel pointed out the obvious.

  “Are you saying that because you did go out with someone when you were home?” His jaw clenched and he looked away from her.

  “No, you jackass! I just said I didn’t.”

  Coll’s face contorted in a strange rictus and it took Laurel a moment to realize he was trying not to laugh.

  “What’s so funny?”

  “Jackass,” he spluttered, half speaking and half laughing. “Jackass,” he said again and pulled her close again. “Come on, we’d better get a move on, the others are waiting for us.

  Laurel let him steer her onto the path through the vegetable garden that led to the back door. What’s so funny about with jackass? Dad says that all the time.

  The mood was sombre when they entered the kitchen. Sarie sat across from Bella with a worried frown on her face. Bella’s expression reminded Laurel of her dad when he had his mind set on something and nothing short of a stampede would make him budge. What are they arguing about? She released Coll’s hand and slid into the chair beside Aisling. “What’s up?” she whispered.

  Bella plans to hike out to Nanjizal when the tide is out and use that narrow cleft in the rock as a portal. Sarie thinks she should wait and see if Vear Du contacts her first. She’s worried that Bella will get lost or maybe end up in the wrong place on the other side,” Ash whispered back.

  “What do you think? Can Gwin go with her as a guide?”

  “Maybe…he’s so scared of the ‘big un’s’ as he calls them, I’m not sure he’ll do it, no matter how much he cares for your gramma.”

  Laurel shifted forward on her chair and Vear Du’s talisman dug into her buttock. She reached back and pulled it from the back pocket of her jeans. It sparkled momentarily in the overhead light.

  “You shouldn’t chance it, Bella. Not without some idea of where you’re going. And, if you don’t find him, do you have a plan to get yourself back to this side?” Sarie continued the argument.

  “I don’t have a plan, but I’m sure I can find Vear and he’ll know how to get back. You just worry too much, Sarie. Just like when we were young,” Bella said belligerently.

  “Just look how that turned out,” Sarie shot back.

  “It turned out pretty well, if you ask me.” Bella tipped her chin in Laurel’s direction.

  “But not without a lot of pain and heartbreak. You’re still just a stubborn and hard headed as you were when we were young. How can you be so blind?” Sarie’s face was set in stern lines.

  “You could have my talisman that Vear Du gave me up on the Cheesewring. It got us in and out of the caverns under Glastonbury Tor.” Laurel dangled the cowrie shell attached to the leather cord from her fingers. “I think it will work for you as well as did for me.”

  Sarie and Bella turned their attention to her, the argument momentarily forgotten.

  “It might work.” Sarie looked thoughtful. “You’re both of the same bloodline, although it’s strongest in Laurel as she carries both your blood and Vear’s.”

  “Can I hold it, Laurel?” Bella held out her hand palm up.

  She reached across and placed the item in Gramma Bella’s hand. The air shimmered over it and the thong appeared to twist itself around her fingers. “It might just work,” Bella whispered.

  “But what if it doesn’t?” Sarie persisted.

  “It’s the best chance I’ve got. Don’t forget he’ll be looking for me, too. I bet he’s just standing there waiting for me when I step though.”

  “Is there some way to find out what will happen?” Gort spoke for the first time in a long while.

  “I don’t think so—,” Bella began.

  “Yes, there just might be. Gort, you’re a genius,” Sarie interrupted her.

  “How?” Coll sounded dubious.

  Laurel grinned, he was always the last one to come around and acknowledge that the magic was real.

  “I can perform a Teinmlaide…” she paused for a moment, “It’s not too long after Samhain and Alban Arthuran is coming soon. It might give us some idea of what to expect and how much of a chance there is of Bella succeeding in meeting up with Vear.”

  “What is that? A Ten…” Aisling stumbled over the strange word. Her eyes sparkled with interest and anticipation. She loved learning about magic and esoteric things.

  “It’s a ritual where a person prepares themselves and asks a question. The answer is given by symbols or sigils in the language of the ogham,” Sarie replied.

  “Can we watch?” Gort wanted to know.

  “Can I help?” Aisling chimed in.

  “How do you perform the ritual?” Laurel leaned forward.

  Coll sat back in his chair and shook his head. Sarie made him uncomfortable sometimes, the air shimmered and felt heavy with unseen power whenever she did magic.

  “First off, Gort, yes you can watch the ritual, but you must remain silent and promise never to break the circle I cast. No, Aisling, there is nothing you can do to help during the actual ritual, but you can help me prepare my tools if you like. You too, Laurel, if you want to.”

  “What about me, what should I do?” Bella leaned across and took Sarie’s hand.

  “You, my dear, may sit outside the circle and hold the thought of you and Vear Du together in the other worlds.”

  “I can do that,” she agreed. “How soon can it be done?”

  “The day after tomorrow. I need to prepare myself and the tools I require must be charged with my intent. Don’t frown at me, Bella. The new moon is still a few days away. You can’t go until then anyway.”

  “Come with me, girls. We can start by assembling the things we will need.”

  Laurel and Aisling hurried to follow her out into the mud room where Sarie opened a door Laurel had never noticed before. They crowded in behind Sarie. The room was redolent with the tang of drying herbs, bunches of which hung from the beams of the ceiling. Sarie opened a drawer in a small chest and pulled out a leather bag, along with a short knife with an ornately carved handle. She laid the items on the work bench by the long window and added a bottle of water marked Water from the White Lady’s Spring. A bundle of herbs wrapped with red thread came next. Sarie paused beside a cabinet filled with small drawers, each one labelled with the name of a tree.

  “Let me see, which is best…” Sarie muttered as if talking to herself. “Birch perhaps, for new beginnings? No, I don’t think so. Yew for rebirth? No, no, that doesn’t feel right either.” She opened the drawers of each wood she mentioned and ran her fingers down the staves enclosed there. “Oak, maybe, for protection, or Holly to be the best in a fight…ahhh, here we are. Ash, I think, yes, Ash will do. Inner and outer worlds linked.” She withdrew two staves from the drawer marked with a straight vertical line with five short horizontal lines sticking out from it on the right side of the vertical line.

  She appeared to have
forgotten that Laurel and Aisling were with her, all her attention focused inward. Opening a tall cupboard, she pulled out a cloak embroidered with sigils and signs Laurel didn’t recognize. Sarie shook the creases from the cloak and hung it so the light from the setting sun shone on it. Next, she pulled a loose gown of the same material from the cupboard and hung it beside the cloak. The last item she added to the pile on the table was a brass bowl, shining with the patina of long use. Nodding her head, she turned back to the two girls.

  “There, that will do for now. I’ll explain what everything is for when the time comes. For now, let’s go back and join the others for a cuppa.”

  Laurel would rather have asked about the symbols on the cloak. Something about them intrigued her, as if she should know what they meant. She trailed after the others into the kitchen where Sarie was putting the kettle on the hob to make tea.

  Chapter Ten

  After everyone else had left, Laurel and her grandmother stayed in the kitchen while Sarie went to her room. “I need some time alone to prepare for the Tienmlaida tomorrow,” she explained.

  “Are you excited about seeing Vear Du again?” Laurel asked.

  “Excited and scared,” Bella admitted. “But let’s talk about you, my little love. It’s so wonderful to see you again. The last time I saw you, you were still a little girl.”

  “I remember you, though. You used to let me help bake cookies and you’d tell me the names of all the flowers in the garden.”

  “Do you, now?” Bella smiled. “I wasn’t sure you’d recall anything at all. You were only…what…six years old when I left?”

  “I was six. I remember asking where you were and Mom and Dad said you’d gone away and couldn’t come back. I thought you had gone to heaven because that’s what they said about Snooksie, my cat, when she died. I never knew you were still alive until I came over here and found the letters you wrote to Sarie.”

  “Is your father still as dead set against me as he was?” A hopeful light shone in Bella’s eyes.

  “He won’t even mention your name. I didn’t tell him I was going to Bragg Creek to look for you, or he would’ve grounded me. Mom knew, though,” Laurel said.