by Paul Rice
The position of the mound was a good one and elevated them just enough so most of the farm could be seen from it, even the distant trees which marked the boundary, seemed to be closer. The farmhouse’s new wooden roof glowed in the sun like a flat brown mirror and if he looked hard enough, with eyes squinted, Ken could just about make out the main road in the far distance. He felt as though he could see everything from up there, almost. “It’s a fine spot. I could spend hours up here just looking at things – I’ll bet that Jane would love it as well?” A feeling of calmness unexpectedly washed over him. Ken flopped back against the soft grass and let the warmth of the early morning sun fall upon his face. Yeah, it was a good place to be and he wondered if he could really be bothered with any fishing.
He didn’t get much choice because, when he said that he was too lazy and felt like just lying in the sun, Red rolled over to him and then stood and dragged Ken to his feet. Ken felt himself lifted effortlessly by the arms, he had never felt such raw power before and it surprised him. Red looked down at him and said, “C’mon now, Kenny… we gotta go fishin’, we gotta fish, man, because we has’t kick Mike’s butt!” Ken grinned at him and looked for the man in question.
The big guy was already halfway across the field and jogging towards the lake. “Hey, you bloody cheat!” Ken shouted after him and hurriedly grabbed his own rod and the pack.
Red laughed like a lunatic and raced down the slope after Mike, whooping as he went. “I love’s it when you two gives each other the hard times, yessir I loves it a lot!” It wasn’t long before Mike was giving them another lesson in fishing, almost every cast saw him hooking into one of the big silver fish. Although they put most of them back, Red said that maybe they should keep a few. “The old place won’t mind none, we done a lot o’ good work on her over this last week or two, she can pay us for our work?” Ken and Mike looked at each other and set to the fishing with renewed vigour.
Jane, in the meantime, was having an interesting time, a very interesting time, indeed. She had driven into the sleepy little town and after picking up some newspapers, had gone for a quiet coffee in the small café across from Maggie’s shop. There were only two people in the café and she knew neither of the old men who sat at the counter nursing their own coffees. She bade them: “Good morning” and then took a seat over by the window. The young waitress, ‘Cindy’ it said on her name tag, wandered over to take Jane’s order.
“Yes ma’am, what can I get for you this fine morning?”
Jane ordered a large coffee. “And one of those house special muffins too, the chocolate one, please?” She grinned at Cindy.
Cindy grinned in acknowledgment of Jane’s fine choice. “Certainly ma’am, naughty but nice aren’t they, I’ll be right back!” She turned away to fetch the order. Jane spread her paper open and prepared to have an hour of doing nothing more than browsing the paper. Cindy bought the coffee and giant muffin across. Jane sat back, relaxed, sipped her drink and pinched off small pieces of the muffin as she perused the columns in the paper.
She had been there about half an hour when she observed the red Mazda, which Maggie drove, pull up to the front of the old woman’s shop across the street. The shopkeeper went around to the boot and extracted a bundle of bags and suitcases from the interior. Dumping them on the pavement, she went to the passenger door and opened it fully. Jane just caught a glimpse of some long smooth legs, shapely ones, before Maggie leant in and talked to the as yet unidentified passenger. Standing back, and whilst making an exaggerated gesture that consisted of a slight bow and a sweep of the arms, as if to welcome royalty, invited her unseen guest to get out. The passenger finally graced the pavement with her presence and stepped out from the car. She was tall and very, very pretty.
Jane guessed the girl must have stood at very nearly six feet tall – if she was an inch? Her tiny waist was wrapped in a thick red PVC belt, which only served to accentuate her hourglass figure. The white dress ended above her knees and rose to a small collar at the neck. As she moved to the rear of the car to collect her things, the girl looked across at the café window and allowed her eyes met Jane’s, she paused for a tiny moment, before smiling and turning away. Jane subconsciously raised a hand in a return ‘hello’ and then looked down at her hand in surprise. Shaking her head in bemusement at her own automatic reaction, she looked back across the street and watched as Maggie ushered the young lady into the shop, just catching the glimpse of a white tennis shoe and a swirl of long black hair as the girl followed the old woman inside. Finishing her drink, she paid her bill, tipped Cindy, and headed for the high street. She spent an hour browsing the shops and buying a few bits and pieces, which took her fancy along the way, then called in at the hardware store and spoke to the owner. “Morning Jack!” she said, as the door closed behind her.
The tall man looked up and pushed his spectacles up onto his grey head. “Hi Jane, why goodness me, it’s so very good to see you, and what a fine day it is today too – what can I get you?” Jack had become a firm favourite with Jane and they had put a lot of business his way over the last few weeks. He was honest and dependable, if Jack said that something would be in tomorrow then it would be. Jane liked that.
She said, “Well, I don’t suppose those boots for young Dwayne have come in yet have they?” Jane had kidded Red about drawing around people’s feet for good luck, really she had been trying to get his foot size in order get him some decent boots made so that she could get him out of those awful baseball shoes. And so, after a short discussion on the merits of ‘foot drawing’ Jane had managed to get Mike to distract him whilst she took the measurements of the huge outline she had sketched around Red’s bare feet as he had stood on the porch.
Jack looked at her and smiled. “They came in yesterday, one day early, too. Old Fred said he ain’t never seen a pair as large, said he got to size sixteen and stopped counting…” He reached under the counter and pulled out a large box. Lifting the lid, Jack pulled the paper apart and took the boots out. “Fred makes ‘em all by hand, every stitch by himself, he said that if there are any problems then just get ‘em back to me and he’ll sort it all out?” Jack placed the boots on the counter.
Jane looked at the heavy black objects. “Canoes” was the first thing which came into her mind – the boots were enormous and exuded an obvious, handmade quality. “Wow, they’re quite something else aren’t they, Frank?” She smiled and gave him the outstanding balance. Jane was also looking for some picture frames but he didn’t have quite what she wanted, so she made her farewells and lugged the boots back to the car.
She never made it all the way – Maggie hailed her from across the street: “Hi Jane, do you fancy a coffee, my dear?” When she used that term, it always reminded Jane of George… in fact, come to think of it, Maggie just reminded her of George, period.
Jane nodded and said, “OK, hun, I’m on the way!” She looked both ways, crossed the empty street and headed over to Maggie’s pace. Entering the store, she found Maggie tidying one of the shelves at the far end of the shop. The old woman rose to her feet, walking nimbly around the scattered goods as they lay on the floor, and came over to greet her.
Taking her warmly by the hand, Maggie said: “Hi there! I saw you walking along with that big box and figured you may need some refreshment?” She smiled, reached over and flipped the sign on the door over so that the ‘Closed – back in 5 minutes!’ side was on display to the outside world. Maggie turned back from the door and beckoned Jane through to the house. Once through the store and into the cosy sitting room, Jane took her usual seat over by the window and waited for Maggie whilst she fussed with the kettle. With their drinks in hand the two women sat and swapped gossip for a while.
Jane could see Maggie had something on her mind, she looked agitated. Eventually, she gave the older woman the opportunity to speak of her troubles. “So,” she said. “Who’s your new guest, Maggie? I saw you and a very lovely young lady this morning whilst I was in the café…” She
motioned in the direction of the coffee shop with her head.
Maggie smiled with relief. “Oh, you saw us did you, well… you don’t miss much do you, my dear?”
The old woman laughed when Jane said, “Well, one could hardly miss that beautiful young lady, now could they, Maggie?”
Maggie then went on to explain that the girl Jane had seen was one of her granddaughters and that she had: “Come to stay for a while as there has been a mite of trouble back home so, well, you know?”
Jane didn’t press her on what sort of trouble, the old woman looked a little perturbed and so Jane decided to leave it. “It’s probably nothing anyway?” She thought. Then she said, “Perhaps you could bring her to the farm, Maggie – Red would love the company, I just know he would… does your granddaughter have a boyfriend?” The words simply popped out of her mouth before she could stop them. Jane felt like kicking herself. “Mike would give me such a lot of stick!” She thought.
Maggie shook her head, and said, “Well, no… she doesn’t, and that’s half the problem you see. I’m afraid that she punched a boy who, ah… what shall we say – a boy who became a little bit too promiscuous?” She was interrupted by a silken voice that spoke from behind the half open kitchen door.
“Yes, well just because I look nice, doesn’t mean I taste nice, does it? That boy tried to lick my face, grandma!” The door swung fully open and in stepped Maggie’s granddaughter. She stood in the doorway and grinned at them. Jane smiled up at her and instantly knew that this was one of those moments, a predetermined… or at the very least, a hoped for… moment. One George and the Council had been waiting on for so long. The girl’s eyes locked onto Jane’s and there was an understanding in them, a deep knowledge. It showed and Jane saw it. She rose to her feet and placed the coffee cup on the sideboard to her left. The girl stayed where she was and watched as Jane made her way across to her. As Jane neared, the girl stepped forward and extended her hand. She did indeed stand at very nearly six feet tall and as they touched, Jane felt the strangest of sensations go through her. It was a feeling of recognition – almost déjà vu – but not quite, it couldn’t be as Jane had never seen her before. “It couldn’t be, could it – she reminds me of…” As she was trying to get her thoughts back in to order, trying to remember who it was the girl reminded her of, Jane heard the girl speak again.
“Hi Jane; it’s nice to meet you, oh by the way, I’m Tori.” Jane was sure she’d heard the phrase somewhere else. The firm cool grip of Tori’s hand stayed where it was as she looked right into Jane. Those deep brown eyes looked straight into her. They stood, linked, and stared at each other. “So, you’re Jane, are you – you look just like I had imagined?” She released Jane’s hand and turned to Maggie.
The old woman said, “Oh, I told Tori that we had some new people in town, you know me, the old gossip that I am?” She looked up meekly at them. Jane smiled but never swallowed the ‘feeble old woman’ ploy. Maggie was one smart old bird and Jane felt the sensation of predetermined events wash over her again. Feeling slightly overcome, she headed for the safety of her previous position and flopped back into the chair by the window. Maggie made them all another drink and the three women talked for a while. Tori made polite small talk and sat with those long legs crossed at the knees, her dangling left foot swinging slowly. She never took her eyes of their guest. It left Jane with the distinct impression she was being cross examined by a pair of specialists.
After an hour… it could have been longer, but Jane seemed to have lost track of the time… she decided she had best be getting back. “The boys will be sending out a search party for me at this rate!” She said lightly, and rose to her feet. Tori stood and took the empty cup from her. Placing it on the side, she turned back to Jane and then unexpectedly embraced her. It was then that Jane decided Tori was far from being ‘just a girl’. She had strength in her and smelt of flowers. “Wild flowers…” Jane thought, as the thick black hair brushed against her face. “It’s definitely wild flowers, and she smells of nature too, and of clear blue sky, no, not the sky – it’s clear and it’s blue but, it… it’s the ocean. She smells of the ocean!” The thoughts raced through her mind as they touched again and Tori’s scent filled Jane’s head. That fresh, natural aroma washed over her and Jane felt herself falling into it. Falling into the wild, blue depths of the ocean, falling… as she began to feel as though there would be no stopping herself, and that she would fall forever, Tori suddenly released the embrace and left her standing there, almost swaying. It was quite extraordinary and Jane had to blink, twice, before her tumbling thoughts came back into some semblance of order.
She swallowed and said, “Well… it’s been a pleasure, folks, but I really must be going, please promise you’ll come and see us on the farm, you won’t recognise the place, Maggie. Tori, you must come too – both of you. Please, anytime you want?” They smiled and agreed. Following Jane, the two women headed for the sitting room door and then back out into the shop. She was about to step onto the pavement when Maggie’s voice stopped her.
“Don’t forget young Dwayne’s boots, my dear!” Jane turned and took the offered bag from her outstretched hand. Maggie smiled and Jane said, “Thanks Maggie, I don’t know where my thoughts were?” As she stepped out onto the street, she heard the sound of two things, the doorbell and Tori’s voice, they both tinkled in her ear as the two women smiled at her again said their goodbyes.
It wasn’t until she was halfway home that Jane suddenly realised something – she had never even told Maggie what was in the bag, yet the woman had known it was boots, boots for Red.
Jane drove the rest of the way home in silence and deep thought.
Chapter 25 - Boots and Dreams
As she pulled onto the driveway, Jane was just in time to see the men ambling through the rickety old gate from the fields behind the farmhouse. She waved at them, then reversed the truck and parked it in the barn next to their home on wheels. Gathering the few bags of shopping, and the boots, she slammed the door closed with her foot and headed over to meet them. Upon seeing her, Red broke into a grin and ran across. “Hi there, Jane – where’ve you been all day? We’ve been having the time o’ our lives, ma’am. We got fish too, lots of ‘em. Whatchoo got there, want me to give you a hand, here lemme carry them… I got lots o’ room under my arms?” Surrendering to his torrent of good intentions, Jane passed him the bag containing the boots. Red tucked it under his arm and then made his way indoors whilst still chatting away as he walked. She unpacked the few things she had purchased, whilst Red stood over by the sink and cleaned the fish he had caught. “Can we have these fer supper tonight, ma’am – they’s best when they’re just caught!” He held up the large, white fleshed fish.
Jane smiled and agreed. “Yeah sure, honey, do you like them fried?” Red said he did and then went to get cleaned up in his shower. Jane took the fish and placed some cling film over the dish, which Red had placed them into. Mike and Ken entered the Kitchen and asked how Jane’s day had been? As she lay out the mugs for a drink, Jane told them all about it and the strange meeting she’d had with Maggie’s guest. When she had finished, Mike looked at her and then back to Ken again, there was a strange look on his face, a look full of questions.
Ken shrugged and said, “I guess it’s another one of George’s plans, huh?”
Jane said, “You know what – I do think you’re right but I also think that this whole new way in which we’re approaching the problem, well, I think that it’s new for George’s lot as well. I keep feeling as though pieces are falling into place?” She shrugged.
“Learning as they go… is that what you mean, Jane?” Mike said, and nodded in understanding. “Yeah, that would fit, wouldn’t it?” He looked at her again. Jane said that it was exactly what she had meant.
“It’s almost as though the moment when I was shot became a catalyst or something? I mean, look at that thing they gave us, the medal or whatever it is, why did they do that? When George abou
t mentioned me seeing my Dad, well… you should have seen his face! That looked as though it totally freaked them out, and he also said that everything has changed for them, although I’m no really sure what he meant by that – changed?” She looked at Ken who was standing and staring at her.
He said, quietly: “Yes, that’s almost exactly what I was thinking this morning. This whole situation is beyond weird, it’s like they’ve paused the whole planet, the one we’re on, and are waiting to see what happens next with Red?” He took a seat. “The medal is something else though – I know that it says ‘For Sacrifice’ on it, but whose sacrifice, the ones we’ve already made or…” He left the final words unsaid.
Mike changed the subject. “And what’s with old Maggie and this girl… Tori… didn’t you say her name was, why did you get that feeling about her and what the hell is with Maggie making you feel like she’s George’s sister – this is getting deep, really deep!” He closed his eyes and ran his hands over his face, stopping at the temples to rub them softly. “Whew!” He blew out a long exasperated breath and then sat down next to Ken in the old rocking chair. Mike leaned back and closed his eyes again. His actions brought silence with them and they sat and contemplated things for a while. The only sound was a gentle creaking from Mike’s seat.
In typical fashion it was Ken who dragged them away from the abyss. “Right, this is getting us nowhere, so I vote that we have some food and a nice couple of cold ones… or three… and not necessarily in that order, either!” He stood and made his way to the fridge. “Beers all round yeah, people?” His motivation helped them and they all agreed.