Space Croppers AU

Effra Casts the Spell…

Part 1

"I could put a spell on you if I put my mind to it," Effra shouted at Don after he rejected her proposal.

Don spread his arms wide, "Go ahead," he said. "Now if you'll excuse me…" He strode into the Jupiter… and right into Judy, who was watching from the hatch. "Judy! How long have you been there?" Don asked.

"Ever since she came up to you," she responded.

"So you, uh, heard the whole thing?"

Judy nodded and smiled gratefully. "Don, I don't mean to be… paranoid… but… what if she does cast a spell on you?"

Don chuckled. "Ah, come on, Judy. You don't believe in that stuff, do you?"

"I don't know. You've heard of witches on Earth."

He placed his hands on either side of her face and looked directly into her eyes… Oh, how he loved those eyes… "Judy, nothing, and I mean nothing, could ever take me away from you." He kissed her on the nose and let her go. "I have to check on the pipeline. Don't worry. They'll be gone soon and, if we're lucky… Smith will leave with them."

She gave him an exasperated look and let him go.

When Effra returned to camp, she found Smith romancing her mother. Just the person she needed to see. She walked up to them and Smith couldn't contain his happiness. He stood and proclaimed, "Effra, you shall be the first to know. Your mother and I are going to be married."

Effra eyed her mother and said, "Are ya now. I have ta say that I'm kinda surprised."

"Just someone to ease the boredom now and again," Sybilla stated.

"Well, Ma, I think he needs to give us a payment… sort of a 'good faith' promise that he's serious about comin' with us."

"But I've already given you things, what more could you want?" Dr. Smith asked.

She strode directly up to him and said, "A lock of Don's hair."

"Whatever for?" he asked.

"That's my business." She glanced at her mother and added, "Ma wouldn't take too kindly ta ya if ya's… romancin' her just to get back ta Earth, now, would she."

He was quite indignant. "Indeed… Zachary Smith is a man of character!"

"Oh, I know all about ya'r character, Zachary. I'm sure Ma would be interested ta know…"

Smith cut her off with an oily smile. "Now, Effra, don't be hasty." He pointed an index finger at her in acknowledgment. "I'm sure I can fulfill your request." -- 'Somehow,' he added to himself.

"Bring it tonight. I need ta have it before the crops get hungry."

At lunch with the family that afternoon, Smith announced his intention to wed Sybilla and travel through the heavens with her.

"Right, Smith. I won't believe it until I see it," Don stated.

"Bah, Major! Your cold military mind has no capacity for romance. You would never understand true love," Smith retorted.

"Oh, I wouldn't say that, Dr. Smith," Judy commented as her eyes sparkled at Don. "But I think you're making a terrible mistake."

"Oh, my dear, I assure you that I have found my soul mate and will be in the throws of ecstasy."

"The only thing you've found, Smith, is a ticket back to Earth, or so you think," Don said.

"Dr. Smith, you can't go with them. Suppose they don't take you back to Earth?" Will asked.

"Now, now, my boy. Sybilla will do everything in her power to make me happy. I'm sure of that."

"I don't know, Dr. Smith, " Will grumbled, "They weren't too friendly to us."

"And we might never see you again," Penny added.

"Oh, my dear, dear friends... You all shall miss me, shan't you?" Dr. Smith exclaimed.

"Don't count me in that group, Smith. I'll be the one throwing the party after you take off," Don said.

Judy kicked him under the table and he turned to her and added, "I'm just being honest."

Both John and Maureen were concerned, although John admitted to himself that he wouldn't mind seeing Smith gone for good. Maureen, on the other hand, suspected that he was in for much more than he bargained for, and she hated to see anyone, including Smith, in that sort of predicament.

"Dr. Smith, don't you think you're being a bit… rash? You've only known her for one day!" Maureen commented.

"One day of bliss, madam, the first of many," Smith responded.

"Smith, I don't think you know what you're doing." John stated.

"I am a man who knows his own mind, professor. You will be singing a different tune when I send a rescue party to take you all back to Earth… even you, Major."

"Like I said, Smith, I'll believe it when I see it," Don repeated.

Smith left the table to pack his bags, and both Will and Penny spoke in unison. "We can't let him go, Dad!"

"Dr. Smith is an adult and can make his own decision," John replied. "Whom he chooses to marry is something I cannot interfere with."

If he only knew… Don reached for Judy's hand under the table. Their opposite hands touched their chests where a pendant hung around their necks close to their hearts. Before lifting off, they had traded charms engraved with the other's name. Don wore half a heart with Judy's name, and Judy the other half with Don's. The charms represented their promise to wed when Judy was ready. Don had never taken his off from the day she had given it to him. She had been afraid to wear hers in full view of her parents for fear that they would object. Once she had adopted her turtleneck mode of dress she wore her necklace without fail. She was still, however, hesitant to speak to her parents about their intentions.

"As long as he thinks he's going back to Earth, they'll be no dissuading him," Maureen told her children.

Smith had almost completed packing when Will approached him in his cabin. "Dr. Smith?"

"William! Have you come to offer me your congratulations?" Smith replied.

"No, Dr. Smith. I don't want you to go. I don't think they're going to take you back to Earth. Besides, once you're with them, who's going to protect you?"

"Oh, the innocence of youth... I won't need protection, William. Sybilla and I are in love..."

"Dr. Smith…"

"Now, William, enough." He bent down in front of Will and said, "I know you will miss me, but we will see each other again, I promise. Now, I must make haste. My love awaits." He stood and left to procure his small payment for the trip.

Smith found Don engrossed in a book and tip-toed behind him, scissors in hand. He reached out to clip a curl from the top of his head, but before he could snip, Don swung around and grabbed his hand. "What are you up to?" Don asked. "Decided to become a barber?"

"Oh, uh, just a… just a snip as a remembrance, Major. I meant you no harm," Smith stammered.

"Effra put you up to this, didn't she?" He took the scissors from Smith and clipped a lock himself. "Here. Give it to Effra with my regards. No spell she could cast would ever take me away from Judy." He handed both the scissors and hair to Smith.

Smith bowed to him. "I bid you 'adieu,' Major. Although we have had our differences, I…"

Don had no patience for his farewell. "Forget it, Smith… They'll toss you out like yesterday's garbage, and then you'll be begging us to take you back." Don replied.

Smith narrowed his eyes. "Trust me, Major… you will eat your words."

Sybilla approached her daughter to ask what she planned to do with Don's hair. "Well, Ma, you've got your romancin' and I want mine," Effra answered.

"The plants will not be satisfied with only five meals, and Zachary is coming with us, whether you like it or not," Sybilla told her.

"I'm only thinkin' about tonight, Ma. You might want ta do the same about that Zachary. He'll be more trouble than he's worth."

"I'll decide who comes and who stays, young lady. Have your fun, but in the morning, your young man is plant food, just like the rest of them!"

"Sure Ma… Sure."

To be continued...