by Tonia Brown
Bowing set out with a new group of eggheads to find a cure for the virus. They invited Mr. Theo to stay on as a permanent guest at the university, to which my mentor refused. There was no way he would let them trap him like some lab rat. I could’ve told them that. He did agree to remain for a few months, allowing them to drain as much blood as they could during that time. In fact, we both stayed. Doctor Bowing needed an assistant that understood the virus first hand, and I had nothing better to do. I learned a lot under him. And the more I learned, the more I wanted to learn.
Also, there was the thing about my blood. As it turned out, Doc Bowden used Mr. Theo’s blood to save me back when my insides went all wrong. A transfusion, they called it. Without it, I wouldn’t have had enough blood to survive the surgery, much less recover. I guess that’s why I healed so quickly. Gill explained the whole thing to Doctor Bowing before she left for Iron Station. The way I understood things, I didn’t have the same amount of antivirus in my blood as my mentor, but apparently it was enough to keep the virus from killing me, should I ever contract it.
I hoped to never find out.
When three months had passed, Mr. Theo announced his intentions to move along. I knew it was coming, though I wasn’t prepared for it. Nothing could’ve prepared me for that moment. I found him on the bench outside of the university’s lab, lounging in the setting sun like a napping cat. I joined him, neither of us speaking for a good five minutes, maybe more.
“I don’t know if I can get used to this,” he said. “I feel like I should be on watch so you can take a turn at relaxing.”
“I know what you mean,” I said.
We both laughed. I wanted to cry. Quiet took us again, for a little while.
“I’m leaving in the morning,” he finally said.
“I know,” I said.
“You aren’t going with me,” he said.
I wasn’t sure if this was a statement or a command. It was correct on both accounts. “No. I’m not.”
“Good, girl.” He patted my knee. “You’ve got a good thing here. Bowing knows how smart you are. He’s gonna teach you a lot. Maybe you’ll be one of them scientists. Who knows? Maybe you’ll be the one to find the cure.”
“Maybe.” I wiped at my eyes. “Mab and Stretch will want to say goodbye.”
“I’ve already talked to them.” Mr. Theo took something from his pocket and held it out to me. “I want you to have this.” A small wooden cross dangled from a silver chain. “I made one like it for Darlene, a long time ago. I lost it when I lost her. Buried her with it in the backyard where …” his voice caught in his throat.
I grabbed his hand. “It’s beautiful.”
He undid the clasp and placed it around my neck. “It ain’t fancy, but sometimes the best things are the simple things.”
“I love it,” I said, holding it up between us.
He stood and stretched. “I should start packing.”
No. This was happening too fast. I couldn’t let him go. I got to my feet. “I want to come with you.”
“No you don’t.”
“I do. You don’t know what I want.”
“You’re right about that. I have no idea what a young lady wants. And I shouldn’t know. I’m not your father, Sam. I never was.”
My mouth fell open a bit in shock.
He reached up and closed it, cupping my face in his big hand. “I ain’t your papa, but I love you like you’re mine. You know that?”
I nodded, the tears flowing free.
“I can’t stay here, darlin’,” he said. “You also know that.”
“I know,” I said.
“And you can’t come with me. Not this time. You have a life here. Live it.”
“Don’t leave me, sir. Stay just a little longer.”
“I’ve stayed long enough. This place is starting to wear on me.”
I knew that much. Mr. Theo couldn’t put down roots if his life depended on it. God made him a rambling man when He took his family away from him. “Then at least stay for dinner. Please?”
Mr. Theo hung his head at my plea. He drew a deep breath, then scooped me up by the shoulder and pulled me to him. “I never could refuse a pretty girl. What’s for eats?”
We spent the evening with Mab and Stretch, laughing and teasing and sharing stories for the last time. Mr. Theo told us that he had his fill of the Badlands, and wasn’t sure where he was headed next. Just that he needed to feel the wind in his hair and the earth under his feet. Mab and Stretch announced their engagement and intent to marry in the fall. Mab also gave her horse to Mr. Theo, as a show of gratitude for keeping Stretch alive in the ring, and on the contingency that he would come back and visit, at least for the wedding. He agreed with some reluctance, though he refused when Stretch asked him to be the best man at the wedding. I had no news or presents to share, just moments of laughter and love. And sorrow.
Great, great sorrow.
Mr. Theo was gone the next morning. He was never much for long goodbyes. I was mad at him at first, then I realized if he had stuck around to let me see him off, he might’ve never left. He needed to go. This wasn’t his place. It wasn’t really mine either, but I could make it mine. I was always able to adapt. Theophilus Jackson came from a different place and a different time.
I never saw him again.
He never returned for any of his promised visits, though I guess even at the time we all knew he wouldn’t come back. I have no idea what became of him. I heard stories that he headed far north and started trapping revs again in the ice and snow. I heard he slipped down south and set up a trappin’ business cleaning up South America. I also heard the legendary Theophilus Jackson was traveling Europe, teaching folks the ways of the skin trade and rescuing the innocent from despair.
That’s how I would always remember him. As the man who rescued me from myself. As the man rescued the world from disaster. As a legend I would tell my adopted children.
I would never let the world forget him.