The Messenger: Mortal Beloved Time Travel Romance, #1 (11 page)

O
ver the next week
, Elizabeth seemed to be doing better. The cramping stopped, her appetite picked up, and she slept like a stone. I wished I could say the same for myself.

I went to the barn to practice the Sa-Ta-Na-Ma chant in private. I was surprised to see Nathan wasn’t there. I hoped he was okay. He had seemed to be getting better, too.

I sat on the floor in a meditation position in front of Nathan’s stall, touched my fingers and chanted, “Sa. Ta. Na. Ma.” I thought about the words they translated to: Infinity. Life. Death. Rebirth.

Were Samuel and I chasing each other’s souls through different lifetimes? What about the death and rebirth part? Had we been together in other lives? If so, how come I didn’t remember him, especially now that he wasn’t showing up at the barn today, and I already missed him?

I kept hoping he would suddenly appear. Laugh at me. We could do some warriors, talk, and just hang out. But he never showed up that afternoon. Or the next day.

A couple of days later, I took Abigail’s book and went down toward the pasture where Samuel had exercised Nathan. They weren’t there.

I sat for a while, and paged through her book. Her handwriting was odd and there were little notes and scribbles. Nothing jumped out at me—maybe because I wasn’t really paying attention. I just wondered where Samuel was. Dusk arrived a little earlier, as autumn stretched its way toward winter. Since Elizabeth’s medical scare, I always left before it got dark.

I asked Elizabeth if I needed to visit Angeni for more herbs or medicines. (
Note to Self: invent better excuses to check on the guy you’re crushing on.
) But she said everything was good. Her baby was growing. She felt big, bulky, but healthy. She just longed for Jebediah to come home.

I practiced the Sa-Ta-Na-Ma chant at the barn, but I didn’t attempt anything new, or scary. It was bad enough that Samuel never joined me at all that week. Maybe he was mad at me, or tired of my anxiety, and all my ridiculous fears. I couldn’t really blame him. I think the chant was supposed to empty my mind, and raise my consciousness. But, how could I do that if every other thought on my brain was about Samuel?

I
woke
in the middle of the night from the clatter of rain pelting the roof. It seemed the heavens had opened, and rain fell sporadically the next day while Elizabeth taught school.

When the bell in the town commons clanged almost as loudly as the siren on a fire truck, Elizabeth, the school kids, and I jumped. There was news.

Elizabeth’s face turned white, and she bit her lip, but she held it together for the kids. “Children! School ends early today. We go to the commons and find your parents,” she said.

“Grab you coats and your hornbooks. Don’t forget to practice your letters,” I said.

“Easy for you to say,” Mary Smythe said. “You do not even talk like a proper, colonial lady.”

“Whatever, kiddo.” I wrapped a scarf around Mary’s scrawny neck and whispered, “Don’t think because I’m putting up with you now, that I’ll be doing that in high school. Got it?”

She frowned. “Got it.”

E
lizabeth
and I marched the kids down to the commons, and matched them all with their parents and guardians. The Reverend Wilkins was already preaching hell and damnation from the hanging platform above the ground as the crowd gathered tightly around him, anxiously waiting for the real news.

The skinny courier finally interrupted the Reverend. This time his news wasn’t as good. There had been a battle in Hatfield, Massachusetts. It was bad, and it was brutal. Many folks, both Native and colonists, had been killed, and for the most part, Hatfield had been destroyed. The residents who survived, escaped to Springfield where the local colonists sheltered them.

General Jebediah and the garrison’s men caught some action. A few men were wounded. Worse—one killed. The Reverend and the courier had visited that soldier’s home, and informed his family before this public announcement.

The crowd hushed as everyone glanced around to try and figure out who wasn’t there. Who had lost a husband, a father, a son? Who wouldn’t be coming home ever again? The women wrung their hands, their faces relaxing when they met glances of friends and neighbors.
That
son was spared.
That
husband would be coming home.

The courier plowed ahead with the rest of his news. He looked exhausted, and I think he just wanted to get his job done. Patience Donaldson, the pastor’s wife who had been kidnapped was still in King Philip’s custody. Her release had not yet been negotiated, although rumor had it, she was still alive. Again, we were cautioned that King Philip was a monster. We must be on the lookout for his spies and avoid danger at all costs.

The crowd dispersed, muttering amongst themselves. I saw Tobias walk off with the courier and Reverend Wilkins. He seemed to hang on their words. Angeni stood alone; Samuel had not accompanied her to the commons.

“I’m going to walk Angeni home,” I told Elizabeth, knowing full well she could do that by herself. “If that’s okay by you?”

“That is a good, kind deed that you do,” Elizabeth replied.

“Thanks. I’m nice like that.” Especially when I had ulterior motives.

“
Y
ou do not have
to do this, Madeline,” Angeni said as I held her arm and guided her around some puddles, and muddy sinkholes, on the way back to her home.

“Yes I do.” I definitely had to question her about Samuel’s whereabouts. In a kind and gentle fashion.

“Have you practiced the chant since last I saw you?” she asked.

“Yes.”

“Have you done anything a little scary or dangerous?”

“No,” I replied.

“Why not?”

“Because….” What could I say here? Because I don’t voluntarily visit the scary and dangerous places. Because I’m terrified to feel that way.
Maybe I don’t want to feel at all.
“I’m scared.”

“I am no stranger to fear,” Angeni said. “It can paralyze a person. We can work on that.” She squeezed my hand.

“Really?” I asked.

“Really,” she promised. “Messengers still have fear. They learn to travel in spite of it.”

We reached her hut and I knew Samuel wasn’t there. His energy wasn’t here.

“You seem sad. Do you want to tell me?” she asked.

“Yes. No. Yes. Is Samuel still here at the garrison?”

“Of course. He is with that injured horse,” she said. “I think he might have healed that animal. Brought him back from the brink of death. Samuel has a healer’s touch.”

Angeni thinks I can be a Messenger. Angeni believes Samuel is a Healer.
This was the best news that I had heard in what seemed like forever.

“Where is he?”

“Peek outside the gates,” she said. “Go. Now.”

I
practically bolted
for the garrison’s gates. I caught a couple of irritated glares from the colonists, but I didn’t care. As luck would have it, the two guards had the huge, wooden doors open a several feet, their eyes riveted as they watched some commotion happening outside.

That commotion was Nathan galloping in circles around the fort’s steep walls, while Samuel rode him bareback.

“Samuel!” I yelled as they flew past the gates. He looked at me, his face flushed from the exertion of riding and guiding Nathan. He broke into a huge smile.

He slowed Nathan down to a canter. They turned, and trotted back toward me. “Abigail!” Samuel said. “Nathan is almost completely healed. Do you see how strong he is?”

“I saw! He’s strong, and beautiful, and I am so happy!” I practically skipped outside, but a guard pushed his way in front and blocked me.

“No one’s allowed to leave the garrison right now, Miss,” he said.

Now was not the time to be holding me back. “But I just want to—”

“No one, Miss,” the guard insisted.

I pointed to Samuel who had dismounted from the horse, and walked toward me. “But
he’s
outside.”

“He is exercising the General’s horse,” the guard explained, like I was an idiot. Right, most of the colonists still believed me to be an idiot ever since the Endicott attack. “Besides, he is a Native. You know the rules for Natives are different than the rules for colonists. You best move back inside and head home.” The guard started to close the large gates directly in front of Samuel and me.

Separating me from him.

His mistake. I poked the guard hard on his shoulder. “That guy’s my friend,” I pointed to Samuel. “He just spent hundreds of hours nursing General Jebediah Ballard’s horse back to health. And you want me to stay here and not talk to him—why?”

“I already answered that question, Miss.”

Samuel was just steps away, and I knew he was listening in on this conversation.

We stood yards from each other. Nathan grazed on some yellowing grass and waited patiently. Samuel stared straight into my eyes. He was beautiful, strong, and I felt honored to know him in any lifetime.

“No worries, Miss Abigail,” Samuel said.

“I’m happy for Nathan and proud of you, Samuel. You’re gifted, truly a healer.”

“As you are a Messenger.” He walked back to Nathan.

I needed to be with him. I needed to see his face up close, talk with him, and feel his energy. When? How?

The guards were closing the gates. A guard said to Samuel, “You give us some kind of signal or holler when you’re done with the horse, boy.”

“Yes, sir.” Samuel turned to me. “Miss Abigail?”

My breath caught in my throat.

“Yes?”

“Expect a message. Soon.”

I
had
a hard time sleeping that night. Images of Samuel and Nathan raced through my brain. Samuel riding on Nathan’s back, his leg muscles defined, his face proud, his hair flying, as he guided the horse he brought back from death’s door. The horse he healed.

I also saw images of Nathan. His black mane bounced off his chestnut coat that rippled from the exertion as he galloped around the garrison’s walls, seemingly happy to be strong again.

Sometime during the black of night, the wolves howled. No matter how many times I heard them, they always sounded eerie and gave me the shivers. They were most likely hunting. But not Nathan, thank God, as Samuel would be looking out for him, keeping him safe. I knew from my work with animal rescue that horses were nature’s most magnificent and desired prey.

I finally gave up on sleep and sat on the floor, my back against the wall and chanted silently, “Sa. Ta. Na. Ma. Sa. Ta. Na Ma.” I shut my eyes, touching my thumbs to my fingers, and thought about souls who chased each other for infinity.

What compelled them? What drove them? Love. Hate. Recognizing your soul mate. Could those souls ever find peace? Really be together? Exhausted, I rested my head against the wall.

A
noise woke me
. It sounded like a pebble bounced off the outside of the wall next to my head. I opened my eyes. Another pebble smacked the house. Five in all. I pressed my ear against the wall.

“I have a message for you,” Samuel whispered, muffled from the outside. I shoved back a giggle, as I didn’t want to wake Elizabeth.

“Be quiet,” I said and heard Elizabeth snore lightly from her sleeping quarters.

“Hurry. I need to show you something.”

I
snuck
out of the house. It was nearly, pitch black outside. Just hints of the moon above us, but not yet the promise of sunrise. Samuel crouched in the bushes outside the house. “What are you doing?” I whispered.

He stood. “I have a surprise for you.” He grabbed my hand. “Do you trust me?”

I had never trusted anyone more. “Yes.”

“Then come with me,” he said, dropped my hand and off we ran.

T
he guard
that night at the garrison’s gates was Daniel. He did not stop us or lecture me. He unlatched the gates, and allowed Samuel to silently lead both Nathan and myself out through a narrow opening.

“Thank you, Daniel,” Samuel whispered, as we stood outside the garrison’s safety.

“You healed Nathan. Maybe you can heal her, too.” Daniel nodded at us before he shut the very tall gates and latched them with several indiscrete
thunks
.

Wow. What a difference in attitude. No preaching, lecturing; just kindness. “What do you want to show me?” I asked Samuel.

He pointed to a large tree trunk nearby. “Watch this.” He hopped onto the trunk, and then jumped onto Nathan’s back.

“He looks so much stronger,” I said in hushed tones.

“As do you,” Samuel held out his hand to me from high above the ground.

“No, no.” I shook my head, ’cause I realized what he wanted me to do. “I haven’t been on a horse in years. Let alone at night without a saddle and wearing a granny skirt.”

“We do not have the luxury of time.”

“I can’t jump that high. And if I did, I’d probably kick Nathan, and hurt him, and ruin all the great work you’ve done.”

“Messengers need to be trained. Messengers need to travel despite their fears.” He pointed to the sawed-off trunk. “It is close to the ground. Climb it, grab my hand, and I will help you up.”

I hesitated.

“Do you trust me?”

Nathan blew through his lips. Samuel shushed him.

Once again, I was the only one late for this party. I made my decision. “I trust you.” I climbed onto the trunk and balanced there. He and Nathan circled, then edged close to me.

Samuel leaned down, his arm outstretched, his palm open. “Take my hand.”

“What if I can’t do this?” I was terrible with heights, and not all that great with taking chances.

In the near distance a man said, “What kind of guard are you, Daniel? It appears this gate is not properly closed.”

“Now,” Samuel insisted, his fingers reaching for and grazing my own.

I grabbed his hand, took a leap of faith and jumped toward him. He pulled me onto Nathan’s back, and I landed directly behind him. I was fine. I was okay. In one piece—not broken.

“I knew you could do it,” he said.

“Well then you have more faith in me than I do.”

“Maybe it is time for you to have faith in yourself.” He nudged Nathan with his knee. I clutched his waist tightly. We rode off slow and quiet at first, until we passed hearing distance from the garrison’s walls.

H
onestly I couldn’t see much
. It was dark and I held onto Samuel, my arms wrapped around his waist. We weren’t in the cornfields. We seemed to be heading toward the ocean. I smelled salt air. Heard the crashing of the ocean waves on the Atlantic shore in the distance. I hadn’t been on a horse since the day of our accident. The day Mama disappeared. This was terrifying. This was exhilarating.

“Ready?” Samuel asked.

My cheek rested against his back. I couldn’t believe I was this high up in the air, still alive, and not having a panic attack. “Yes,” I said.

“Good,” Samuel said. “We do not have much time.” He leaned forward, and murmured into Nathan’s ear. He broke into a cantor and then a gallop. I hugged Samuel as hard as I could. We flew across the land, Nathan carrying us to our destination.

The wind whipped my face, and pushed my white cap off my head. My hair flew free behind me. “Do we have to go this fast?” I asked as my eyes teared from the wind.

“Yes,” he said. “Why?”

“If I fall, I’d die,” I said. “If I live, I’m in heaven.” I decided to put my fears on hold for the moment. I’d let God, the universe, and that inner voice that guides each and every one of us, just have at it. But, I still clung to Samuel for dear life.

W
e survived our crazy run
, arrived at our mysterious destination, a place close to the ocean. Nearby the waves slapped the sand and shoreline. What were we doing out here in the wilderness in the night, under a thick cloud cover that only specks of moonlight peeked through?

Samuel dismounted. Held my waist and lifted me off Nathan. I wobbled a bit when my feet landed on the earth. He steadied me, his hands on my shoulders.

“I’m good,” I said.

“You are better than good,” he replied. “You will get used to this.”

“Get used to what?” I asked.
Breaking out of prison otherwise known as the garrison? Racing across a wild land in the dark of night, on the back of a beautiful horse? Holding tightly to the most honest, and handsome guy I’d ever met?

“Traveling,” he said. “Traveling quickly and without advance warning.”

Oh. Got it. We were out here so he could teach me to time travel. More mentoring. More lessons. What was I thinking? He just wanted to be nice, and helpful, and help me heal. Daniel basically stated that when we snuck out through the gates.

“Are you thirsty?” he asked

I shook my head. “I’m fine,” I said.
I’m in shock,
I thought.

Samuel gave Nathan some water from a flask he had packed. I thought he would tie him to a tree. But he rubbed his neck, whispered into his ear, and let Nathan wander, untethered. He trusted that the horse was so attached to him, that he would not leave us.

I wished I had the confidence that Samuel had.

He walked a couple of yards away from me, placed a blanket on the ground, and sat on it. “Come here.”

“Isn’t it super dangerous to be out here?”

“Yes. But, I need to show you something.” He patted the blanket.

I sat down next to him. My teeth were chattering, and I shivered. Maybe it was the cold, maybe just all my adrenaline. “This better be great.”

“It is better than great.” He reached behind him, grabbed another blanket, and wrapped it around both our shoulders.

Our arms touched, as we sat, leaning into each other. It felt natural to be with him. It felt normal to lean my head on his shoulder. Strands of my hair blew across my face, and he tucked them back behind my ears. That felt delicious.

Maybe someday I would learn to become a Messenger. But right now, I wished on all the stars hidden up behind the clouds that covered the sky, and every Sa-Ta-Na-Ma chant ever said, that Samuel and I could be together. For real.