Chapter 22

Chapter 22

Frank crossing the field downs the road to the Downing farm, racing round the bend “Yah! Yah!” As he leaned against his horse to weather the storm as he rides seeing the farmhouse just up ahead. Enters the farmyard, the boys seeing him through the window as they raced to the door to let him in. “My Pa says to come quick,” Frank said  nearly out of breath to Wayne and the boys, “it's your grandmother, their stuck out on the road somewhere and needs our help.”

Wayne looked at the sky shaking his head as he grabbed his coat and hat, “Martha looks like we'll be late for supper.” He said as he and the boys headed towards the barn for the wagon and the horses. Frank relay's the message to Martha and the girls and quickly warmed himself by the fire. As Martha finds him some dry clothes to wear, but he was already out the door with the boys heading down the road.

Julie, Anna shaking her head looking out the window, “gather all the extra quilts you can find dear and towels and start heating up the water,” Ma replied.

“Yes, Ma.”

“Foolish boys,” she said as she looked out the window and sighed. “What was she thinking?” As she watched the lightning strikes the sky with great loud big boom and flash of light.

Mark riding through town as fast as he could, leaped through wet fields, crossed the little stream to New Downing, just ahead he saw Doc Hatfield through the window smoking his pipe reaching his doorstep. “Sorry Doc,” Mark said grabbing his arm “I was told to come get ch'ya,” Doc finding his coat and his hat.

“Not again?” Doc said shaking his head looked out the window.

“No Doc wrong person,” Mark said and smiled, “he's fine, I think?” And pushed Doc towards the door, “it's his grandmother I think that's what they said and all I know Doc, was... I was to come to get ch'ya. So's you comen or am I going to have’ta?”

“Alright, alright!” Doc said rubbing his backside from the last time. “I am coming, but if you wouldn’t mind I'll drive son,”  Doc said as he hooked the horse up to the carriage outside around the back. “Now than hold on tight son,” as he flicked the reins of the buggy, they come to hard gallop and were off to the races down the road. “Now son where I come from,” Doc said turning his head towards Mark and rubbing his backside, “we just don't trust up Doctors like Thanksgiving turkeys no-siry bob,” he said as he flicked reins on the horse raced down the road. “We treat them with a little more respect.” As he does quick turn around the bend as the wheel lifted off the ground as Mark's face gets splattered with a little mud.

Doc flicked the reins again, “as I was saying we Docs like a little respect now and again.” Pushing hard and fast leaps a guile with the buggy with a hard thud and a splash soaking Mark to the bone on one side with water coming out of his boot while Doc just keeps on talking flicking the wrist as the horse keeps on going down the mud-filled road.

Rena, Marry, and Peter pushed hard with Pa in the lead seeing the car pointing to the falling tree blocking the way. “Grandma, Grandma!” Peggy and Dona pointing to the people down the road. “Look Grandma here they come.”

Grandma sighs with relief. Kollie nods to Mary seeing the car as they draw closer. Grandma rolls down the window. “Looks like I got myself into a pickle again old friend,” as she tries to laugh. 

“We noticed,” pointing to the car and the tree in front. “Well have you out in a jiffy,” Kollie said as he tries to look her over inside the car. “Betty I' m afraid will have to leave the car here for the night,” he said feeling the storm as the wind starts to grow even colder around them.

Betty nods and sighs, “Doc I am too weak to walk so what choice do I got?” She said as he helps her to the wagon.

“You could have stayed home,” he said as he tries to smile back.

“I can't,” she said patting to her purse with a frown. Doc Hatfield and Whitmore bundling up the girls in the wagons they all head back to the Downing farm. Martha finding dry cloths for everyone sitting them by the fire Betty hands Martha the letter to read. “Martha it came a few days ago whiles you folks were in Salt Lake,” she replied.

Dear Sir or Madam: It is upon our information and records that have been given and requested and have been made that you may be granted accordance to within this statue 1470 to have your children Peggy Stuart, Dona Stuart and Danny Stuart return to you by within provocation statue 1470 by November 10th ... with full visitation rights within said parties. Regarding EJ Stuart provocation and visitation and recommendation from said parties be restored and granted as of Oct 17th ... with supervision only statue 1841 within rights of the Foster Parent or Guardian and with State Board of Health Mrs. Jennings no later than November 1st... Please feel free to contact me regarding this matter if you have further questions arise Mr. C. Barns.

State Board of Family Service

Mrs. Barbra Jennings

State Board of Health.

“They want us to do what?” Martha said as she passed the letter to Wayne to read looking outside at the storm and down the road. “They got to be joking?” Martha said as she reads it again, “but that's in two days,” Martha replied watching the girls and Danny playing with Sam in the corner of the room. And I thought Mr. Wells was EJ’s caseworker. Who is this Barns character?” 

“I know dear, I know,” Grandma said.

Grandma helping Martha pack Danny's suitcase on his little bed down the hall. “It will be ok Martha,” Grandma said trying to put a positive spin on the situation. “He still will get come and visit EJ,” she said as she tries to smile “and he won't be that far from you,” Grandma replied.

“I know,” Martha said as she wiped the tears from her eyes, “it's just not the same.”

“Look the holidays are coming and things are improving a little,” Grandma said as she puts her arm around her.

“Martha nods “yes you are right Grandma she does seem to…” swallowing hard, “have changed,” as looked down the road. “Are you sure we are not making a mistake?” Martha sighs. “After all they have been fooled before, and once they think we aren’t looking they do something, knowing just like the times before they’ll get away with it.”

“You know what Mrs. Jennings said Martha,” as Grandma tries to reassure herself as well.

“I know, I know the holidays make a difference and we must give her a chance.”

“Yes, easier said,” Grandma said looking out the window down the road. Martha gives them each a hug before wiping her tears and watches Grandma take them all back home. Her farm was empty it seems again as she looked at the house, minus one little boy looking back one more time “I do hope he's going to be alright?” She replies softly to herself.

* * *

 

Linda inside the house pacing back and forth on the carpet with Mrs. Jennings sitting on the couch watching the clock tick by. “Linda please stop worrying they'll be here she promised,” Mrs. Jennings said looking at the clock.

“I know, but it’s been a long time since they been home.” Linda replied as she looks out the window wondering “where are they?” Double checking everything is ready when her children get here. Eyeing Jim out in the yard yes he promised her and things have gotten better as Linda looks towards Mrs. Jennings on the couch. Linda smiles as she sees the car pull up to the driveway and her children inside.  Yells for joy “their home!” As she wipes a tear from her eye running to the door to great them. “My angels are home,” she said.

“Mama, Mama,” Peggy and Dona racing up the stairs of the house into her mother's arms kissing her on the cheek, Linda picked up each child holding them to her with tears running down her cheeks. “Oh how I missed you all,” she said as she embracing them at the door. “Welcome home.” Linda picks up Danny in her arms carries him into the house. “Yes you are finally home my little boy,” she whispers in his ears and kisses him on the head then closed the door behind her. “I have won at last!!!

Mrs. Jennings setting down the ground rules before leaving looking at Jim and Linda. “Now then the Downing's have kept their word,” watching the children play among themselves down the hall. “I expect you to keep yours,” she said looking at the two of them

“But...?” Linda replied.

“No... Buts Linda,” Mrs. Jennings said staring down at her, “he stays where he is at for now. No more of this foolishness either.” She said looking at the reports in the file. “For now you have all you can handle, we will be watching,” she said as she stands. “Now then give me a hug before I go, I do have other children to see,” as she wipes a tear from her eye, “and you sir,” looking at Jim. “No more, and don't you dare mess things up. I worked hard to get this woman this far,” she replied.

“Yes, Ma’am,”  Jim said peering down the hall than out the window. “I'll try,” as he sighs.

“Not to worry Barbra he won't,” Linda said giving her husband a stern look walked her to the car.

“Oh Linda before I forget, I think it might be a good idea if you spend Thanksgiving with Downing's this year. That way you could spend more time with your other son. Of course, that means you, sir, better be on your best behavior,” Mrs. Jennings replied.

Jim's eyes widen, “You want me to what?” His voice grated into half a gruff looking at Mrs. Jennings?

“That's right dear, you heard me, just a couple of hours is not going to kill ya.” Jim looking straight at her as if she fell out of a tree, “and you too Linda, now then I really should be off,” she said leaving them standing there.

* * *

 

“Let's see,” Martha, Aunty M counting chairs and plates at the table, “I do believe that's everyone one,” Martha replies.

“Ma?” Julie said setting the last of the napkins, “Grandma said that she was on her way and would be here within the hour.”

“Thanks, Julie, Aunty M you did set a place for Steve and his wife?” Martha asked.

“Yes Martha, stop worrying,” she said as she stirs the gravy one more time.

Martha watching her family busy themselves around the house. “I just love the holidays,” she said as she smells the turkey sets the rolls to cool as she sighs.

“Those pies look so good Ma,” Robert said sticking his finger in one testing the sweet drippings on the side of the crust.

“Alright now,” she said as she swats his hand and smiles, “go tell your brothers it's almost time to wash up,” she replied.

“Ok Ma,” he said.

Martha looking out the window seeing everyone arriving on schedule taking off her apron opened the door for Grandma and Richard and the aunts.

“Come in, come in,” as Martha quickly gives everyone a hug, “Wayne's out in the barn Richard,” she said after giving him a kiss on the cheek, “if you want to tell him that you are here.”

“Thanks, Ma’am,” Richard said looking around the farm, “it feels good to be back,” he said as he takes a deep breath,

“Richard mind helping me with this other table?” Wayne asked.

“Yes sir I thought it was big enough,” Richard said looking at the second table.

“So did I, Richard so did I,” Wayne said as he laughed looking towards the house, “but you know women,” as he shakes his head “It's never big enough.”

“Now then that's better,” Ma said as boys clear the room for the other table Ma smiles looking around the room everyone laughed as if she said something funny. “Well,” Martha said as she giggles at herself patting her stomach, “I do have a house to fill,” with a little color in her cheeks.

“Yes dear,” Pa said and kisses her on the cheek.

“Ma, Steve just called says he running a little bit late,” Julie said.

“Thanks, Julie,” as Ma crushed up the ice for the punch.

“Anything else I can do Ma?” Anna asked looking around the room setting the rolls on the table.

“Just tell the boys to wash up dear,” as she carves up the turkeys sets the dressing on the table. Two more car's pull into the farm Steve's and “Oh my” and Martha yells for Wayne.” Dear, it looks like we have more guests coming,” she said with a worried look.

“Who dear?” Wayne asked.

“Didn't I tell you? I invited EJ's folks down here too this year,” Ma replied.

“You what?” He said as she leaves him standing there.

“Come in, come in,” as Martha waves to Steve and everyone, “don't be shy we won't bite.” She said as Danny rushed to Martha, Ted, and Sam at the door. Steve giving them all a little push towards the door with finial glance to Jim.

“Remember the best behavior,” he whispered then waves back to Martha at the door. Wayne trying not to panic watching them come closer too the house and crossing his fingers at the same time.

“Come on dear,” Linda said giving Jim a little tug. “A couple of hours isn’t going too hurt,” she said watching him swallow hard.

“Yes dear,” he said grumbling following them all inside watching Wayne swallowing hard.

EJ flying down the stairs to greet Danny and his grandmother and Steve at the door stop with sudden halt seeing his father and Steve instead in the doorway. His eyes go wide with fear as their eyes lock. Pa watching EJ at the foot of the stairs stands right next to him. “Its alright son,” as he whispered, “I am not leaving your side for an instant we talked about this,” he said.

EJ trying not too shows any fear in his voice. “I know Pa, but this wasn't on the menu as I recall,” he replied.

“No son,” Pa said looks at Ma in the corner of his eye and back at Steve, “it wasn't.”

EJ slowly backs away from the door nodding to his father with his eyes. Then stands firmly next too his Pa whispers, “Ok Pa, but I' am not leaving your side,” taking his hand.

Pa nods, “agreed,” looking at EJ and smiles and tried not to smirk and sighs.

Linda taking Jim's hand coming in with a worried look on her face, and his mother taking his coat “make your self at home,” she said while watching everyone with his eyes.

Wayne leaned over to Steve whispering in his ear. “Did you have something to do with this?” Wayne asked watching EJ and his parents.

Steve shakes his head. “No, found out myself this morning,” as he looked towards his mother across the room, busying herself with her sisters in the kitchen.

“I see,” Wayne said rubbing the back of his head. “I wonder,” as he whispers something in the air to himself like half a payer. Wayne casually walked over to his wife in the kitchen to taste the turkey. “Martha dear is there something you would like to tell me?” Wayne asked watching all the people in the dining room.

“What dear?” She asked with a smile, plating the last of the turkey handing him the platter. “I just thought it would be nice to have a nice family Thanksgiving dear that's all,” she replied.

“But?” Wayne replies with a strangled voice.

“But what dear?” She asked as she turns... “Oh, that?” Looking EJ's folks in the living room, “it's not going to kill you dear, besides they wouldn't dare,” she said giving him questioning look and not at all that comfortable with the idea herself. “Now then please see to our guest’s dear, I don't want to keep them waiting,” she said leaving him standing there.

Martha looking around the table down the rows at this large group and sighs. “Oh, I hope Mrs. Jennings is right,” shaking her head looking at EJ sitting next to Pa and his brothers with worried faces. She looked across the room with his folks on the other side of the room. Martha tries to smile and make the best of it. Clicking the glass with her butter knife brings her little family to order, tries to stand with a little help from Wayne. “Thanks dear,” as she patted her stomach “oh my,” and smiles; “normally I would let my husband do the toast,” she said as she looks down at him, “but I wanted to do it this year,” pats him on the cheek with a smile and he nods.

“Yes dear,” he said as they all laughed. Knowing who actually runs things in the family, and he wouldn’t have it any other way.

“Now with that being said,” Ma smiles at her family with a tear in her eye looks at each one of them. “It has been quite a year,” looking at EJ and his folks and little Danny sitting beside them. “We have all have come a long way,” as she dots her eye with her napkin “and some further than others,” looking straight at Linda and the girls. “I just wanted to say thank you and welcome to our little farm one and all, as we close this season with new hope, and wonder.” Rising her glass, “and to less mischief, if it can be helped,” as Martha smiles, knowing full well and her boys as she looked them straight in the eye it will be unavoidable that we will deal with it when it comes. Everyone raise their glass at the table too toast to the new strange beginnings of another year of the Downing Farm.

Aunty M nods too Betty looking towards EJ's folks. “I still think there's something very wrong Betty,” Aunty M said as she looked out the window as the shadow passes by the house. Betty nods in agreement and sighs looking at Jim and Linda as the coldness runs up and down her spine to the point that almost feels the room even thou the fire was roaring in the fireplace.

Jim and Linda Stuart watching with eyes locked on the Downing's across the table on the far side of the room and one little boy smiling as if nothing was wrong, looking at his aunts and Grandma.

“What Grandma, what?” Danny replies.

“Nothing Danny,” Grandma said leans over kiss his head, “eat your turkey,” and sighs.

Morgan watched through the window of the Downing Farm, his eyes pierced red knowing that his Dark Prince awaits for a new rebirth as they search for the prize foretold and he reigns once more over the light, “for what is hidden behind the looking glass, the boy inside must find. For it is the way out or he will be forever trapped in the corridors of time,”

Morgan laughed as he nods to Margaret as she too looks down the road. For not even she is aware of her own destiny or why Morgan and his master Hess wants to make certain that her own prophecy doesn’t come to pass. 

Book 3

What's Behind The Looking Glass? (The Coming of the Storm)