Authors: Mackenzie Morgan
“Congratulations! I understand you’ll have a new cousin before the end of the year.”
Kevin looked at Warren. “What are you talking about?”
“Oh, no,” Warren said. “I don’t suppose we can pretend I didn’t say anything, can we?”
Kevin shook his head. “Are you saying what I think you’re saying?”
Warren hesitated. “If you think I’m saying Laryn and Steve are expecting a baby, I guess so. Otherwise, no.”
A smile spread across Kevin’s face. “How do they feel about it?”
“I’m not sure how Laryn’s feeling right now, morning sickness and all,” Warren answered, “but Steve’s floating on air. He can hardly wait. He’s already talking about how they’re going to redo the room they use for their sketches to make a nursery out of it.”
Kevin’s smile widened. “They won’t need to do that. Once her brothers find out about the baby, they’ll add a nursery onto the house. When’s it due?”
Warren shook his head. “I’ve already said way more than I should have. I thought she’d told you. You’ll have to get the rest of it from them.”
“Come on,” Kevin teased. “You can tell me. I won’t let either one of them know you said a word.”
Again, Warren shook his head. “Landis is coming along nicely. We’ve only been working for four weeks and she’s already found her spark. She can’t do anything with it, but she’s found it.”
Kevin laughed. “The first time I found mine, I set fire to my blanket and pillow.”
Warren chuckled. “She didn’t have that much strength behind hers. It was just a spark, but it’s there. And I think she’s getting the hang of her outstretched hand. I set a pebble on top of another rock and today she was able to make it tumble off. It’s not much, but it’s a beginning.”
“You’re lucky. The first time I found mine, I sent a rock flying straight to Chris’s forehead. Left an ugly bruise.”
“Sounds like Chris had it rough. Glad I’m working with her, not you.” Warren shook his head. “Guess we should head back.”
“Do you have any idea how long it’s going to be before she can protect herself?” Kevin asked as they turned back towards the cave entrance.
“Anything I say right now would be a wild guess. Let me see how the next few months go. I may be able to give you a better answer then.”
When they reached the cave entrance, Warren looked at Kevin. “Don’t say anything about what I told you. This is their news. Let them be the ones to tell people.”
“I will, and I’ll act surprised when they tell me.”
Warren shook his head. “Don’t try to do that. Act natural and it’ll be fine. But until they tell people, keep it to yourself. Don’t even tell Chris, all right?”
Kevin sighed. “As long as she doesn’t wait too long.”
~ ~ ~ ~
Monday morning, Kevin picked up the three men whose wives and children would be arriving from Dresland that afternoon. The men were excited and nervous at the same time. They hadn’t seen their wives in months, and without knowing what they’d been through or how they’d been treated, they weren’t sure how to act. Finally one of them asked Kevin if he had any idea what time they’d arrive.
Kevin shook his head. “All Gov. Cranson said was he’d be here this afternoon.”
“Why don’t you go to the dining room and get some lunch?” Chris asked from his desk. “If Gov. Cranson comes while you’re gone, we’ll send one of the pages to get you. It might be the last bit of peace any of you get for a while.”
A couple of the men tried to smile, but Tyric frowned.
“Go on. At least have a mug of scog,” Chris urged. “I promise we’ll send for you as soon as he gets here. Waiting around isn’t going to help them get here any faster.”
After a few more minutes, the men gave up and filed out the door.
“Thank you,” Kevin said with a sigh after they left. “The tension was getting entirely too thick in here.”
Chris nodded. “Let’s wait until the governor’s gone back home before we send for them.”
“I agree. I’m not sure how those men will react. They may be grateful, but then again...”
Chris got up and went over to the governor’s office. As he opened the door, he looked at Joan and said, “Let us know when the governor’s gone back to Dresland. We’d rather not subject him to the reunion.”
“Don’t want him to catch blame for something he had nothing to do with?”
Chris nodded.
“I’ll send Petri over when he’s gone.”
Joan had barely gotten the words out of her mouth when the air shimmered and a tall man with jet black hair and a long black beard stepped out of the energy field with two women holding on to his shoulders and two children in his arms. He glanced around for a place to set the children down, but before he had a chance to move, Petri and Joan stepped up to help with the children. In the meantime, Chris slipped two chairs behind the women, pried their fingers off the man’s shoulders, and eased them onto the chairs. Relieved of his burdens, the man stepped back and took a deep breath.
Joan smiled at him. “Gov. Cranson, I presume?”
The man smiled and bowed his head slightly. “At your service, ma’am. Is Gov. Karl around?”
Joan tilted her head towards the closed door on the other side of the reception area. “He’s in his office.” She glanced at Chris. “Would you mind getting him?”
After Chris let Karl know Gov. Cranson was there, he slipped out of the governor’s office and headed back to his own to let Kevin know the governor had arrived with the first group. Twenty minutes later, Petri came in to let Chris know that Gov. Cranson had brought the remaining women and children and gone back home.
Meanwhile Joan had managed to get the children seated with their mothers. She looked at her list to be sure she had the right name and said, “I’ll start with Neisha and Shelley.” She looked up to see which woman matched that name. A relatively short and stout blond woman nodded and stood up. Her daughter looked to be about three years old and had slightly darker hair that fell in ringlets around her face. The woman reached down and gently took her daughter’s hand as the two of them followed Joan into Karl’s office.
As soon as Joan shut the door, Karl stepped in front of the other women and said, “If you’ll come with me, we have some refreshments for you.” Then he took them to Kevin’s office.
Cameryn and Elin had set out platters of snacks on the conference table along with plates and mugs. Pitchers of milk, water, and scog were set up on a separate table, along with the normal teas and coffee. Once the women and children were seated with refreshments, Kevin welcomed them home while Ariel slipped out of the office to go get their husbands.
As a joyful, and at times tearful, reunion was going on in Kevin’s office, Joan was explaining to Neisha that they hadn’t been able to find her husband yet.
Neisha shook her head. “He was killed during the attack.”
Joan took her hand. “I’m so sorry. I know it’s not much comfort, but the men who raided your village were caught two months ago. Some of them are dead, but the others are locked up for life.”
Neisha nodded and wiped away the tears filling her eyes. “Thank you. It does help to know they didn’t get away with it.”
“I haven’t had lunch yet,” Joan said as she stood up. “Would you like to join me in the dining hall? We can talk about what you want to do after we eat.”
~ ~ ~ ~
By the time Joan, Neisha, and her daughter, Shelley, had finished eating, Kevin had taken the men, their wives, and their children to their homes, or at least to the places where he’d picked up their husbands. Then he and Chris went down to the dining hall for a late lunch. When they walked in, Kevin spotted Joan seated with a woman and a little girl. He figured the woman was the one whose husband hadn’t been found, so he walked over to welcome her back to Camden, and offer to do anything he could to help her get settled.
After Kevin left to join Chris, Joan suggested taking their tea out on the patio. As soon as they walked outside, Shelley spotted the playground and the other children. She couldn’t take her eyes off of them, and when Joan and Neisha sat down at one of the outdoor tables, she leaned against her mother’s side and watched them play.
A few minutes later, Caitlyn noticed the new girl watching them and called Freida over to the sandbox where she was playing. When Freida leaned down to see what Caitlyn wanted, the little girl whispered, “See her? The new girl with Joan? I think she wants to play with us.”
Freida followed Caitlyn’s gaze and saw the child leaning against her mother as she watched them. “I’ll go see if her mother will let her join us for a while. Will you help her play in the sandbox if she can?”
Caitlyn smiled and nodded. “I’ll take good care of her.”
Freida patted Caitlyn’s back. “And I’ll hold you to that promise.”
As Freida approached the table where Joan and Neisha were seated, she said hello to Joan, then turned to Neisha. “My name’s Freida. I’m helping in the playground this afternoon. Do you think your daughter might like to join us for a little while? I promise we’ll take good care of her.”
Shelley’s eyes opened wide. She turned to her mother, grabbed her hand, and started pumping it up and down. “Please, can I? Please?”
Neisha wasn’t sure what to do, so she looked at Joan, who nodded and said, “It’s all right. We’ll be right here. You can keep your eye on her the whole time. She’ll be fine.”
Neisha looked down at her daughter and stroked the top of her head. “You be careful, Shelley. And do what they tell you, all right?” When Shelley nodded, Neisha smiled. “Go have fun. I’ll be right here if you need me.”
Shelley turned, grabbed Freida’s hand and pulled her towards the playground. Freida gave Neisha a quick grin and followed Shelley to the sandbox.
While Shelley made new friends and played with the toys in the sandbox, Neisha and Joan discussed the future. “I can’t say I’m thrilled with the idea of going back home,” Neisha said. “I still have nightmares about that night, and if I try to live there again, I don’t think they’ll ever go away.”
Joan nodded. “Is there some other place you’d like to live? I know it’s hard being on your own, but we can help.”
“I appreciate that, and everything you’ve already done. My daughter won’t grow up as a slave. I already owe you far more than I can ever repay.” As fresh tears threatened to fall, Neisha took a deep breath. “My parents live in a small town in Klamynth. I guess we could go there, at least for a while, but I’m not looking forward to it.” Neisha let out a long slow sigh. “I know that sounds horrible, but I know what my mother’s like. She’ll have a parade of men lined up so I can find a new husband. I’m not ready for that.”
“You don’t have to go anywhere you don’t want to. You and your daughter are welcome to stay in Milhaven as long as you like.”
Neisha shook her head. “We don’t have any money. I can’t afford a room at an inn.”
“Not at the inn, in a house. One of the residents of Milhaven has a large house, much larger than one person needs, so she lets people stay with her in exchange for helping out around the house. You don’t object to a little housework, do you?”
Neisha frowned. “How many people would I be cleaning up after?”
Joan shook her head. “It’s not like that. The women who live there share the chores. Freida, the woman who asked if Shelley could play with the other children, lives there. She was a slave too, as were some of the others, including the lady who owns the house. Give it a try. If you don’t like it, we’ll move you in with someone else while you figure out your next move. And this way you’ll have time to adjust, time to think. You’re on your own now, with a daughter to raise. You don’t want to make any hasty decisions.”
Neisha nodded slowly. “I’d like that, time to think about the future, make a few decisions without being pressured or rushed. Are you sure it’ll be all right for me to stay there without paying anything? We’d have to eat there, too.”
Joan nodded. “I’m sure.”
As she said that, Doreen walked out of the dining hall with a large mug of scog. She was in an old tunic, loose leggings, and boots. Her hair was tied back with string and she had dirt on her forehead. Her clothes and boots were muddy, but there was a big smile on her face.
Joan laughed and tilted her head towards Doreen. “There’s your hostess now.” She motioned for Doreen to join them.
After Doreen sat down, she said, “Hi, I’m Doreen, and unless I’m mistaken, you’re my new guest. Nice to meet you.” When she held out her hand to Neisha, she noticed the dirt on it, so she wiped it on her tunic and tried again.
Neisha grinned as she took Doreen’s hand and shook it. “You’re not what I expected.”
“Let me guess, some little old lady in a skirt and frilly top holding a tea cup just so.” Doreen pinched her thumb and forefinger together and held her pinkie finger up in the air.
Joan and Neisha burst out laughing as Neisha nodded. “Sort of,” she said between chuckles.
“Not me,” Doreen said. “And not any of the other women who live with me, although Nan would come closer to that image than any of the others.” She glanced around. “I thought someone said you have a child?”
Neisha nodded towards the sandbox where her daughter and Caitlyn were hard at work on the sand castle they were building. “She’s the one with all the curls.”
“The one with Caitlyn?” Doreen asked, looking at Joan.
Joan nodded.
“She’s adorable,” Doreen said. “Were the two of you in the dungeons? I know I’ve seen her before.”
“We were in a dungeon at one point, but not for long. You may have been there, I’m not sure. I was still in shock from seeing my husband killed. It was all I could do to look after Shelley at that point.”
Doreen nodded. “And speaking of Shelley, I hate to say this, but I was hesitant to let anyone with a child move in. I’m scared to death of them, not actually of them, but more of what can happen to them. I know how I am, and if she gets hurt, it’s going to be my fault, whether it is or not.” She waved her hand towards herself. “As you can see, I don’t spend my day sitting in the parlor doing ladylike things. I’m used to working with and around men. I build things. I keep books. I managed my father’s fishing boats, which I helped design and build by the way, and I’m talking about seafaring boats, not little river boats. I have tools all over the place, tools that can hurt a curious little girl. I couldn’t stand it if she got hurt because she got too close to something I was working on. So I have to ask, are you going to be responsible for keeping your daughter safe? And away from any construction that’s going on? And my tool shed? And my office? And the kitchen unless you’re with her? I get sick on my stomach thinking about a child and boiling water.”