Ten
Silvery dew of early morning clung to her closed eyelids as rain drops started to fall on her, soaking her damp clothes. Her dress was torn. Her cameo choker lost.
The morning sun streamed from behind the clouds, shining on her, reflecting on the silver bracelet her father had given her for her fifteenth birthday. A strong wind blew the trees around her as leaves fell on her but she still did not wake. The forest around her was ancient. The trees so tall their canopies shrouded the forest in darkness, except for the place where Bella lay. Her stead had abandoned her, rushing for home, willing to leave the person who had abducted him. He had only known the commands and the gentle hands of the man who owned him and the moment he could escape her, he did. He had tried numerous times to throw her off his back but she had clung on with tenancity but now Edward's stallion was safe back in the livery, his head in a feedbag and he did not think of the woman. She lay in the dirt as the birds screeched their morning calls as the wind blew, lifting her skirts and pushing her hair across her face.
Jacob held the reins of his horses securely as he sang, feeling happy. He felt good about his life and at that moment did not think he could be happier. A song came to his mind as his deep baritone voice resonated through the dense forest. He sat alone on the buckboard of his gypsy wagon and listened to the tinkling of the bells he had hung down the side of the canopy. The musical sound made him smile and he thought his wagon beautiful as he had recently painted it red and yellow and had asked his grandmother to make new curtains. He also had a new quilt made by his woman and he thought of her now, looking forward to meeting up with her soon and perhaps that night he hoped she would lay beneath the quilt with him. He thought of her dark eyes, black hair and willing kisses. He felt so happy, he started another song.
For an hour, he travelled, enjoying the brisk morning air as his companions followed behind him down the road in their colourful wagons. He smiled, enjoying the gypsy song but, suddenly his attention was drawn to a narrow winding track disappearing into the forest. Abruptly, he pulled his horses to a halt, squinting in the sunlight.
A flash of light had arrested his attention. He stared again then jumped from the buckboard, sprinting down the narrow road which had ended in a dense part of the forest. She was young and she was beautiful. Her body lay on its side and her left leg and right arm were crumpled under her body. She looked like a beautiful broken doll and Jacob sighed, knowing she must be dead. He wondered how she came to be here. He knelt beside her and gently lifted the dark hair from her face. She was so still that he did not expect to feel the even pulse at the base of her throat. He noticed the wounds on her forehead, the swelling and the beginning of purple and yellow bruising. The open red wound on her temple still weeped blood onto her cheeks. Gently he touched her skin. She was so cold but she was alive! He heard the calling of his name and he turned to see his friends and family, beckoning him to return to his wagon. He ignored them as he gently rolled her over to try to straighten her limbs. He could see that they were broken. He wanted to pull her elbow and knee back into its right place but he was afraid...afraid of hurting her. He would take her to his Aunt. She was a healer and he prayed that she could help. He rubbed his fingers across the gash on her forehead and noticed the trail of blood that had crossed her cheek and entered her mouth. She was so pale and he despaired that she would not live for long.
His family called his name again but he knew that he must act quickly. He lifted her into his arms, carrying her tenderly. She was so light in his arms and the task of climbing into his wagon was achieved quickly and easily and he laid her on his bed. He observed again the chill of her skin and the wetness of her clothing. Slowly he removed her garments and took a piece of dry clothing and rubbed her skin all over to bring some warmth back to her. He wanted to lay his body beside hers to bring life and warmth to her skin but the sudden appearance of his cousin at his wagon startled Jacob.
'Jacob...she is not dead?'
'No, Ruy...she is alive but she has broken limbs and is very ill. Call Aunt for me. I need her to set these limbs. I am not confident to do it'.
Ruy was younger than his cousin and he could not remember a time when he had ever not admired Jacob. He had always looked up to him...admired his strength and courage and now he felt so proud to see how kind Jacob was...how he had taken the injured woman to his wagon. Ruy had glimpsed her and noticed the beauty of her pale face. He felt sorry for her injuries and he now hurried to his Aunt. Her wagon was the second last one lined up along the dirt road. His friends and family asked him questions as he ran past them and he answered with all seriousness that Jacob had saved the woman and he must get the healer. Some shook their heads, not caring about another's injury but many were sympathetic and crowded around Jacob's wagon. Some took blankets and others rum, bandages and herbs.
The old woman rose from the back of her wagon and frowned at her young nephew. His words were hurried and excited as he told the story of the beautiful casualty in the wagon of his cousin and the urgent errand he had been given. Ruy stared at the face lined and wrinkled with the cares of years. He gazed into her questioning eyes...eyes that had not dimmed with the advancing time. She stared at him but did not speak. Ruy sensed there was no need for words as the healer sighed and turned to her bag of medicines and bandages.
Jacob smiled at her and kissed her cheek as she entered his wagon with Ruy beside her. The healer's eyes travelled over the young woman, noting she was covered with a quilt. Slowly she inspected the woman's head injuries, applying salve and bandages. Jacob and Ruy watched her as she started to pull the quilt from the woman. Frowning she noticed the young woman's nakedness.
'You can leave Ruy. Obviously Jacob has already seen the young woman's nakedness but let her have some dignity.'
Ruy turned, obeying the healer but part of him wanted to stay. He turned one more time before he jumped from the buckboard and saw the disapproving brown eyes of the healer holding him to account. He felt guilty as he landed on the ground and went to light a fire as he presumed they would be camped here for a while.
'Aunt...I believe her right arm and left leg are broken. Please show me where to set the bones'.
The healer stared at her nephew, noticing the tears in his eyes. She frowned as she ran her hands along Bella's right arm where the elbow lay in an awkward position. Likewise, she felt the knee area of her left leg.
'Find some strong sticks for splints'.
Jacob hurried to find the requests and returned to see the young woman moaning in pain as his Aunt knelt over her.
'Hurry, she is waking. We need to move the bones now before she fully wakes. Here turn the elbow this way and pull the knee back into place'.
Jacob breathed deeply afraid of what he had to do. He gulped and then stared at his Aunt. Her eyes were warm and encouraging.
'You can do it, Jacob. Just do it gently until you think it feels right and looks right'.
'Will she wake?'
The look of the healer was easily understood by Jacob as he knew he must act now. As he took Bella's elbow in his hands, tears filled his eyes as he turned her arm and felt the bones crack back into place. Then he took her knee but as he put pressure on the bones an agonising scream filled his wagon and he turned to see her awake, sitting up and staring at him with the wildness of one who did not know where she was. Her eyes travelled over them and at herself. Her arms flew over her body to cover her nakedness.
'Ruy', the healer screamed and the young man jumped into the wagon.
'Hold her down'.
'Jacob...do it now'.
The healer was obeyed as Ruy held Bella by the shoulders while the healer poured pain reliever down her throat. Bella coughed and spluttered as Jacob took her knee and pulled it back into place. Bella screamed and then fell unconscious.
They all sighed with relief and commenced to splint her leg and bind her broken arm. The healer checked the rest of her body and then realised that the young woman had two broken ribs. Ointment was applied to the midriff area and then Bella dressed in a long shirt of Jacob's. Ruy was instructed to take the young woman's wet clothes to the fire. As Ruy left he could not take the sight of the naked beauty of the woman from his eyes. He poked the fire and stirred the soup that he had made and settled himself before the fire. Presently, the healer and Jacob joined him and the others who were interested in the welfare of the woman. After a while, Jacob returned to his caravan and applied more ointment to the woman's wounds before they continued their journey. He sat beside her again, staring at her beauty marred by the wounds on her face. He adjusted the bandage on her head and he remembered how he had wiped the blood from her cheeks and the corners of her mouth. Her face was clean now but it was bruised. Her hair had been covered in blood but he had washed it as best as he could in the confines of his caravan. Her arm was bound and strapped to her body and her leg lay straight in the wooden splint and bound with cords. He sighed as he realised there was nothing more he could do for her. She still slept heavily from the tincture that his Aunt had given her and he suddenly worried that she may be in a coma. He touched her on the face and she mumbled. He smiled knowing that she only slept. He was astounded at the extent of her injuries and he was surprised that she had not died. He pulled the quilt over her and then lent towards her and laid a gentle kiss on her lips as he rose to continue his journey.
It was in the early afternoon when the troup of gypsies resumed the journey that they had had been halted to tend to Bella's injuries. He resumed his seat on the buckboard as he commanded his horses into motion. The road travelled the coastline, past steep cliffs and beaches but Jacob did not notice the beauty around him as his mind dwelt on Bella, wondering how she had come to be abandoned and injured. Had she been attacked? He turned his head to look at her many times as she lay asleep. She still had not woken.
Half an hour later the gypsies neared a coastal town, a shipping port where they stopped to confer about performing. Jacob jumped from the caravan and approached two of his company who wished to stay in the town that night. They said it was too late to continue and they had noticed the size of the town and the ships in the port. They had pulled their caravans on the town green before the harbour and many people stopped to stare at them, interested in their gaily coloured caravans. Jacob gazed around him and saw the sign of a doctor hanging on one of the buildings. He had an idea born on his anxiety for the woman.
'We move on to meet Victoria and her father as we promised but I wish to see if the doctor can look at the woman. You could perform a few dances, if you wish'.
The others listened to him and obeyed him as he was the next in line as leader of their company. As the men picked up their violins and the women started to dance, Jacob knocked on the door of the doctor's residence. Jacob stood for a long time before the door was opened by a child who stared at him. He addressed his request but the answer disappointed him.
'Father and Mother are away. My Aunt is here. She has just arrived from Boston. She is a nurse.'
The nurse came to the door and listened to Jacob's request and accepted his gold coin payment. She was old but he hoped she could reassure him that what he had done was right. Jacob felt uncomfortable, like he had betrayed his Aunt by wanting another to look at the woman. But he shook away his thoughts and he knew he wanted to be sure that the limbs were set correctly and if anyone in the town knew the woman he had found. He imagined her family would be worried about her. The nurse lifted the quilt from Bella's body to inspect the broken ribs, arm and leg. She inspected the cuts on Bella's face, the pallor of her skin and the temperature on her forehead. She shook her head and left the caravan, returning with some sleeping draught and ointment for the wounds.
'You have done well. You have set her bones right but I would like my brother to look at her. He will be back in a week. You can leave her with me.'
Jacob gazed into the grey eyes of the old woman and suddenly he realised that he did not want to do that. He must leave this town in the hour. He told her he would stop to see another doctor in the next town.
'Do you know her?'
The woman stared at him and he explained how he had found her.
'No, I have just arrived on a ship from Boston this morning. I do not know her. I do not live here. Where did you say you found her?'
Jacob told her that it was in the forest on the road before the fork to Charlotte Town.
'She may come from either of these towns. I do not know. You could ask the Sheriff.'
As she left his caravan, Bella started to moan.
'Best give her some of that medicine I gave you. She will be in pain for a long time until all those bones heal. It will also bring down her fever'.
Jacob thanked her as he did as she had told him and then he gathered the company together to finish the twenty mile journey to the next town. Jacob realised that they would arrive late in the evening and he imagined the chagrin of Victoria to have been kept waiting but suddenly he shrugged off the thought.
The caravans turned off the town green and followed the cobbled road out of town. Several children in front of a tavern ran into the street, hoping the decorated caravans would stop to perform but became disappointed when they moved on. Jacob smiled as he waved at the children thinking how darkly beautiful the young girls were, like the young woman in his caravan. A sudden thought to stop and ask the young girls if they knew the woman filled his mind but as soon as that thought had come it was replaced with the thoughts of the angst of the leader of his company and his daughter who would hold Jacob to account for his lateness. Instead of stopping he encouraged his horses to go faster as the sun started to set. His eyes strayed to the back of his caravan where the woman lay, hidden in his quilt and he visualized her fragile beauty, suddenly wishing to kiss her pale lips. For hours he thought only of her. Who was she? What had happened to her?
His inquiring mind, so full of the mysterious, elfin beauty of Bella, he almost forgot the meeting in the next town. It was dark now and the lanterns on the caravans gave them light to travel and the full moon had risen. Jacob saw the caravan pulled up at the side of the road. A fire had been lit and Jacob could see two people there. He pulled his horses to a sudden stop as Victoria ran to him, climbing up beside him, kissing him. Smiling nervously, he wondered the outcome of having a woman in his bed. He suddenly realised he had completely forgotten Victoria when he had wished to save the young beauty. Victoria frowned at him.
'You are so late, Jacob. Father and I were worried. What happened?'
Jacob started to answer as Victoria turned her head to gaze through the tasselled curtains to see the woman stirring, moving the quilt. The light of the lantern inside the caravan highlighted the beauty of Bella's face, even with a large bandage on her head.
'Jacob!' Victoria screamed in his ear, 'you have a woman in your bed!' She started to hit him.
'Stop it woman!' Jacob yelled. 'She is injured. I found her on the road.'
'It is not your business to help strangers. She is not gypsy, is she?' Victoria fumed at him. 'Why is she injured?' 'What happened to her?' 'Why do you have her?' 'She could be in someone else's caravan'.
Jacob's ire rose at her interrogation. She was not his wife...yes, his lover but he had not done anything wrong except help the woman and he resented Victoria's insinuations.
'I had to help her.'
'You will remove her now!' Victoria commanded him as she climbed into the caravan, shaking Bella, noticing her closed eyes...the pallor of her face and the fever on her brow. She pulled back the quilt to see the splints and bandages but the truth did not appease her rage. She gasped in outrage.
'She is wearing your shirt. The one I made for you! How? Why? Was she naked? Did you undress her?'
The inquisition was infuriating Jacob.
'Yes, I undressed her. She was cold and so ill. She still is'.
'I can see she is injured but she must go!' Victoria demanded.
His anger surprised her. 'She will go when I say she goes. This is my caravan! She is too damaged to move. I say she stays here.'
Jealous rage simmered dangerously as Victoria turned to face the ocean beside the winding road. She wanted her own way and she was determined to get it. The fiery anger of her ancestral heritage ran strongly in her personality as she loved Jacob passionately, wanting to become his wife and bear his children. She had idolised him since they were children and it had been almost understood that they would marry. Since puberty she had wanted him to love her but he had not seemed that interested until recently. It was true that she was only sixteen but that did not deter from her abilities to be a good wife. She had learnt to care for infants, to cook, clean and she had proven to him that she could satisfy him in the lusts of his body. He had taken her to be his lover last spring but she was disappointed that she had not become with child yet. She had hoped that that reason may prompt him to marry her. She had brought up the subject with him but he had ignored her until she persisted, then he had told her that she was too young to marry. That made her more furious as she was not too young to bed and she did not think that fair. She thought that she would just have to try harder to bear his child so every opportunity she had she had encouraged him to lie with her.
Her dark eyes blazed as jet as she looked back at Bella, groaning in her sleep. Jacob pulled his horses to a stop and climbed into the back of the caravan beside Bella. With hate in her heart, Victoria watched him. His hand tenderly caressed the woman's brow as he felt her temperature and she heard him curse. She saw him take the medicine from his shelf, pouring an amount into a cup. Victoria fumed as Jacob gently lifted the woman's head to carefully pour the contents into her mouth. He looked like an old hen clucking over her chicks and Victoria struggled to control her temper.
'Where did she live? You should have left her there.'
Jacob ignored her although he gazed in her direction. He laid Bella back on the pillows after giving her a few sips of water and then pulled the quilt over her.
'That is my quilt. I don't want her to use it!'
Her words were venomous and Jacob sighed at her attitude. He rummaged around at the storage compartment in his caravan and pulled out an old quilt his mother had made for him. It was faded but it was still warm and gave him fond memories. He gently removed Victoria's quilt from around Bella, placing his own on her. He crawled to the front of the caravan, taking the quilt with him.
'Have it then'.
He threw it at her and it landed all over her and then tumbled to the dirt road. She screamed with fury as she jumped to the road, taking the quilt into her arms. She noticed her father's caravan had stopped also and she rushed to it, unable to stay with Jacob any longer and he was glad of it. He continued his journey in silence as he pondered how he could care for the woman...he would have to carry her to the river to be washed and for private reasons and he wondered when she woke how she would cope with this. In fact he looked forward to her waking and then she could tell him who she was and where she lived. At the present moment, it all seemed such a hard task but he vowed to take her to her home when she woke.
Eleven
Twilight gathered around them like an enfolding cloak and the fires were lit to prepare the evening meal. He had parked his caravan away from the others and then he sought out his cousin, Ruy.
'How is your patient?'
'Very ill. Ruy, I want you to do a favour for me. Victoria is furious with me for having the woman with me. Can you keep an eye on her? Can you sit on the buckboard and guard her. I will bring some dinner over for you.'
Jacob's nephew nodded his head and took his place as guard, watching Jacob as he walked towards the fire. The women were cooking. A vegetable broth had been simmering for hours and Jacob meant to take some to his patient. He knew she needed nourishment and she should be waking soon. He meant to change her bandage dressings, feed her and then give her the medicine from the woman in the town. It seemed stronger than his Aunt's medicine. He did not know what it was but it certainly eased her suffering. As he approached the women, he saw Victoria gaze at him and he witnessed the fire in her eyes. He did not care that she was angry with him but it bothered him that all thoughts of her had left his mind since he had found the woman. He thought he had loved Victoria and he considered that he still did. He had grown up with her. Altough she was five years younger than him, he had enjoyed her company except for her bad temper. This he hated about her, especially now as she exhibited no caring or empathy for another. Jacob was a gentle man and he had been told he was too soft, 'like a woman', his friends had said but he did not worry about it. He was who he was. His Aunt said he was like his mother. A gentle woman who had spoken softly, cared for all and it had been a great loss to the company when she had died giving birth to Jacob. Jacob's father had gone a bit crazy then and left the company and no one ever knew what happened to him. That made Jacob sad as he would have liked to have known his father, as he had lost his mother but his Aunt and the others had raised him. That was why he had grown up with Victoria. Her mother and father had been kind to him and it had always been understood that they would marry. He acknowledged that Victoria that prompted him many times lately and even Victoria's father had mentioned it, but something held Jacob back. He did not know why. He wondered if Victoria would get pregnant. He expected it as they had lain together since spring but summer had gone and it was now autumn and no sign of a child.
Jacob felt uncomfortable as she gazed at him. He poured three bowls of soup, one for the woman, one for Ruy and one for himself. He took a loaf of bread and strode off to his caravan. Ruy greeted him and they sat together on the buckboard and shared their meal. While Jacob was eating, he was beckoned by the other men to the performance they were about to give. Several townspeople had gathered to see them and Jacob sighed as he took his violin from his caravan and joined the men while the women formed a group before them. They were dressed in colours of vibrant red, orange and purple...bells on their ankles, wrists and huge earrings in their ears. They hair was long and dark brown, brushed and held in place by a scarf on the forehead. They were beautiful. Victoria was there among them. She had wished for Jacob's eyes on her so she joined the other dancers for the evening performance in the town of Baltsa. The moon shone brightly as the music began. It was wild, vibrantly exciting. They played two songs but Jacob's attention was not on his music and constantly his eyes strayed to his caravan. He noticed all the townspeople standing around, enjoying the performance but his mind was elsewhere. He gazed at the women dancing and noticed Victoria staring at him...she smiled but he frowned and looked away. Victoria's mind was not focused on her performance. Instead her eyes stayed on Jacob, demanding him to look at her. Victoria had hoped to capture his heart this night with the seductiveness of her moves but, when she noticed his lack of attention, her jealous fury controlled her. Rejection burned her soul and her lips trembled. Tears formed in her eyes and her steps faltered. She fell heavily to the ground. The other women danced around her, telling her to get up but she raised her head to look for Jacob. She wanted him to help her, to show that he cared but he was gone, leaving the other gypsy men to finish the performance.
He hurried to join Ruy still seated on the buckboard. Jacob ate the remainder of his soup and bread, then parted his curtains to gaze at his patient. He could see the flush on her cheeks and she began to groan. He took her cooled soup into his hands and climbed in to sit beside her. He despaired as he felt the fever that consumed her. She was burning. He took his tinder and lit his lantern hanging from the roof of his caravan but the sudden light brought the woman's hands to cover her eyes and she cried with pain. He diminished the light and took a cloth, wet it in a bowl and covered her forehead. He poured her medicine and lifted her shoulders to give her the draught from the doctor. He knew she was awake and suffering but she had not spoken. He did not know what to say. She tried to open her eyes but the dim light was still obviously painful as she squinted and then closed them again.
'If you can hear me...eat this soup'.
He lifted her shoulders again and she opened her mouth and sipped at the soup. He kept on feeding her until half the meat and vegetable soup was gone. He tried to give her some softened bread but she started to cough. A coughing spasm controlled her as she vomited the soup and the medicine he had given her. She groaned in pain and he tried to soothe her with kind words. He removed the soiled sheet and wiped her mouth.
'I am sorry' she mumbled but she still did not open her eyes. Her body was alive with pain. He could see the evidence of suffering on her beautiful features but he despaired that she would be able to keep down the medicine she needed. He spoke soothingly to her and then started to sing a lullaby. He did not know what else to do. Her face was pale. Bruises covered her brow, her cheeks and her neck. She seemed so fragile and so vulnerable. Her black hair covered the pillow and she shut her eyes tightly as a spasm of pain controlled her. She felt nauseous and tried to control the fear that held her. She felt the pain in her left knee and right arm. Also her forehead was filled with a headache that dominated the pain in her limbs. She felt hot and then cold as perspiration broke out on her skin. She vomited again but she had nothing in her stomach to bring up. Jacob held a bowl for her as she empited the bile from the bottom of her stomach. He gave her some sips of water and then thought to put some diluted medicine in the water. She managed to drink a small amount with the pain reliever she needed. He cleaned her clothes again and wiped her mouth. As she turned her head on the pillow to face the gentle voice she had listened to, she tried to open her eyes. The light was dim but she managed to open her eyes as she took Jacob's hand in hers.
'Thank you'.
These simple words and the depth of beauty and vulnerability in her eyes struck Jacob to his core. Amidst her pain and suffering, she managed a smile and Jacob could find no words to speak.
'Please...sing', she said as she closed her eyes again and as his voice drifted to the end of a gypsy lullaby he noticed her even breathing and that her fever had lessened. He tidied the mess around him and made sure she was comfortable. He brightened his lantern but hid it behind a curtain to save her eyes and then he just sat there staring at her. The colour of her eyes had amazed him...they were more beautiful than he could have imagined. He did not know how long he sat there. His eyes fell heavy in sleep until she stirred, moaning, turning from the light as terror held her and her mind floundered in agonising pain. Her fever returned and she felt so hot, as if she was on fire. Her head ached so much and although she knew the man was beside her, she could not open her eyes. Nausea covered her body in waves of retching foulness. Suddenly, a voice yelled, searing her head with torture as she became afraid, not knowing who these people were. The kind man had lulled her disquiet but the screeching woman, terrified her.
'Are you making love to her Jacob? You cannot touch her. You are mine. Remember that you will regret this, Jacob!' the female voice said. 'You cannot treat me in this fashion!' Victoria continued to threaten as her voice ended on a whining wail.
Stunned, Jacob stared at Victoria suddenly behind him, raining blows on his back while he held her at bay.
'You are a fool, Victoria' he said as he turned her around and held her arms to stop her punches. He glanced to Bella and saw her fear.
'Do not be afraid!' he told her, 'you are safe!'
Bella hid from them both, using the quilt as her shield and protection. He felt her forehead again and he knew her fever was more intense than before. He could see her body shaking and her teeth chattering. His fear for her motivated his words.
'Victoria, get my Aunt!' Jacob ordered but she ignored him, snarling in Bella's direction. 'Victoria!' he yelled at her again but she only spat at Bella.
'Move!' he told her forcibly, trying to lower his voice.
Jacob took a cloth and dipped it into his water flask and covered Bella's forehead. She could feel the coolness seep into her burning brow and she was grateful. Jacob jumped from his caravan as he threatened Victoria.
'Keep away from her. If you harm her, you will be sorry!'
'Ruy, watch her'. His nephew raised his head from his pillow and blanket on the ground beside the caravan and watched Victoria who stared at Jacob in disbelief as he disappeared into the darkness. Victoria glanced back at Bella and made a gypsy sign of cursing, then added her own words of warning.
'He is my man. You may be ill but you will not have him. I will kill you first...you are not gypsy. You are not worthy to be in the bed of the man I love!'
The venom she had heard in Jacob's words had stunned Victoria and she felt a gaping well of sadness filling her heart as she realised Jacob did not love her. She stumbled away, unrequited love burning into her soul.
As Jacob hurried to his Aunt's caravan a sudden pang of guilt scorched his conscience as he realised the depth of the anger that he had felt at Victoria's attack and insinuations. He felt strange as until now he had been reasonably happy with her. He examined his feelings, not being able to understand his reasons or motives. Possessed with concern for Bella, he hurried to his Aunt's caravan with an urgent request.
'I need medicine...now! The woman's fever is intense. What should I do? She is hot and then cold. She is shaking and her teeth chattering. I beg you, Aunt, help me!'
The old woman stared at her nephew with her dark brooding eyes as she rubbed her wrinkled hand across her chin, showing a grimace of disapproval by the pursing of her lips.
'You should not meddle in another's business. You should have left her. Her kin would have found her. It is not our way, Jacob, you know that!'
'It is not wrong to help someone, Aunt. She would have died!'
The shrug of the old woman's shoulders stated her consideration of the matter. She sighed deeply as she took a jar from her closet and commenced to prepare a potion. Jacob watched her and how she prepared the herbs, heated the mixture and then blended it all together with some liquid. He had studied herb lore under the tutelage of his Aunt, the most learned herbalist in the family and he was grateful for what she taught him and how she had cared for him when his parents had died. But now he could not think. He should know the herbs to use but his mind was blank. His fear for the woman expelled all logic as he panicked. He tried to stay calm but he did not feel confident to mix the medicine for her.
As the old woman's dark eyes held him to account, he had to defend himself.
'You saw her that day, Aunt. I could not leave her! She would have died.'
'You could have left her in that town.'
The old gypsy's words struck Jacob to the root of his guilt as he knew that she spoke the truth. He did not answer her but he knew that it was too late to return the woman now. She was too ill. She may die. He told himself when she recovered and she had her full senses, she would tell him who she was and where she lived, if not in the town with the doctor, then another. The old woman remained silent, observing her nephew through the corner of her eye as she continued to grind the medicine and add liquid to make it drinkable.
'Be wary. She will cause trouble!' the old woman warned as she handed him the medicine but her words were ignored as Jacob hurried to his caravan. He noticed Ruy sitting on the buckboard, rubbing his eyes, sleepily. Jacob patted his nephew's shoulder in thanks as he climbed into the caravan to sit beside the woman.
Bella's eyes were closed but she heard him, wondering who he was. She had caught a hazy imagine of him before and she remembered his accepted his help as he held the cup to her lips and, as she drank of the bitter tasting medicine, he told her to relax.
Deep...soothing...gentle, his voice held her in a state of peace that she did not understand, like he held her in some kind of magical trance. Gently, he placed the cool cloth on her forehead touching her cheek telling her not to be afraid...he would care for her. She listened to his quiet voice like balm to her wounds as she tried to seize control on the terror as it careered through her mind, stabbing pains of exquisite agony. Like a heavy fog, the pain enfolded and dominated her as she became one with her suffering. Uncontrollable tears poured from her eyes, down her cheeks and he despaired to see her pain. Suddenly, miraculously, the pain eased, then mysteriously disappeared, blown into oblivion. She continued to cry...this time, tears of relief as he held her hand, whispering reassurance to her.
Eventually sleep claimed her while Jacob sat with her, holding her hand, unable to take his eyes from her. A spell held him, one he had not known in the past. His vivid imagination created scenarios of who she could be. Was she an angel fallen from heaven? Or a mermaid cursed to live on the land? He laughed at that ridiculous thought. Had he not always been told he had an overactive imagination?
Eventually, his eyelids grew heavy as he lay down beside her, still holding her hand. Jacob slept until her cries of pain aroused him and he gave her more of the medicine. He was relieved to notice her fever was lessening and she fell asleep again.
In the twilight of dawn, he woke beside her. He stared at her as she finally opened her eyes fully and gazed at him. He knew her fever had broken. Her eyes were brown with flecks of gold when you gazed into them. They stunned him and he could not speak. Fear filled her mind as she pulled the quilt around her. He gestured that she needed to drink by holding up the flask of water. She accepted his hand on her neck as he held her up to drink. She sipped the water and smiled at him as she whispered her thanks. He smiled at her too and spoke comfort to her. The sound of his voice seemed to be her saviour but she did not know the man sitting beside her. The voice she knew startled her.
'Do not fear me. I will not hurt you'.
Then she connected the voice to the man. He was handsome. His features even and finely chiselled. His dark brown eyes...full and gentle. His mouth seemed to be set in concentration or nervousness as a muscle twitched near his nose. His hair was also dark and worn long, tied at the nape of his neck.
She continued to stare at him and even though she knew he had been the one to help her, she was afraid. She lifted the quilt to run her eyes over herself and she saw that she was wearing a man's shirt and she felt confused.
'Where are my clothes? This is a man's shirt.'
The question startled him as he had been staring at her and it was the first time she had spoken to him. He turned from her and rummaged in the shelf on the side of his caravan and produced some women's clothes neatly folded. He handed them to her.
'If you wish to dress I will have to help you'.
She stared at him in disbelief.
'Are there no women here?'
'Yes, but...'
'Because you have already seen me naked, have you not? So it doesn't matter if you see me again. Is that it?'
He was stunned at her words. She started to rise up from the mattress but her head started to swim and she felt faint. She fell back on the mattress. Her stomach felt sick. Her head started to ache and the pain in her leg and elbow returned.
'Perhaps, I shall wear this shirt for a while' she said as tears formed in her eyes.
'Is this your shirt?'
'Yes.'
She turned her head away from him as she cried. His hand touched her shoulder but she refused to turn to him.
'Are you in pain? Would you like some more medicine?'
She did not speak but nodded her head.
Jacob took more of his Aunt's medicine and gave to her. He did not think that the doctor's medicine was working. It had put her into deep sleep but did nothing for the fever. He slipped his arm under her shoulder and lifted her head. She sipped the medicine.
'Are you hungry?'
She shook her head and turned from him again.
'I will be back soon' he said as he left her and walked into the forest, seeking to be alone as he needed time to think. He stared at the beauty of the elm and the oak trees...tall and majestic as their canopy blocked out the sky. He rubbed his hands on the smooth silver grey bark and he swore he could feel the life beneath it. He felt as one with the forest and at that moment he remembered the forests of his homeland and suddenly wished to see his land again. He pondered how this woman had suddenly come into his life and he felt an ominous feeling that his life would never be the same again. After a while he returned to her side but she lay with her eyes closed and he thought she slept. He thought it remarkable how she resembled the other women in his travelling company of performers...her dark hair...brown skin but her eyes were the most intriguing eyes he had ever seen. He took out his violin and rubbed oil into the wood, caressing it almost like it was a loved one. He did love his music. He wanted to play for her but he did not want to wake her. He stared at her bruises that were becoming more colourful as time passed. Yellow surrounded her eyes and a dark brown bruise travelled along her forehead. Purple rang along the curve of her neck and here he traced the line with the softness of his finger. She jumped, startled and turned to stare at him. Her colour of her eyes turned almost black as she seemed annoyed by the expression on her face.
'Who are you? You are a stranger to me. Do you know me?'
Suddenly the words that had just passed her lips brought realisation to her mind.
'Who am I?'
Twelve
Her hands began to shake as tears formed in her eyes, running across her cheeks. Jacob stared at her helpless expression as he tried to smile reassurance but he knew he could not help her.
'My name is Jacob. I am a gypsy, a wanderer, a performer. I am sorry, sweet one. I do not know who you are. You are not one of us. You remember nothing?'
'Nothing...I...I...how can this be...why am I here with you?'
A gaping hole of loss stretched into an abyss of helplessness. She stared at him and the vulnerability evident in her sad eyes and the trembling of her lips as she started to cry again, made him want to hold her close and tell her that everything would be alright but he remained silent, not knowing what to say.
'If you do not know me, how did I get to be here?'
'I found you, injured on the road. I saved your life!' he told her proudly, trying to justify his actions.
'I am grateful but where did you find me? Can you take me back there?'
Her words brought a certain discomfort to his mind as Jacob studied his motives, realising he did not want to take her back but he had told himself he would.
'Do you remember where you lived? I found you in the forest between Charlottetown or Denali. Do they sound familiar to you?'
Her blank expression worried him as he could not travel to the towns he had mentioned. His group of performers were a long way from that locality now but he felt sad because of the fear in her eyes.
'Yes, I will take you back,' he said, feeling a weight lift from his shoulders.
'Why did you remove my clothes?'
The fear had returned to her eyes again and he wanted to protect her from all harm and worry.
'Your clothes were soaked. I do not know how long you lay on the road or what happened to you. You were very cold. You have been so ill because of it and the injuries you suffered. Your clothes are washed and clean now!'
She frowned, feeling uncomfortable, knowing she had been naked...for how long?
Suddenly, with the worry, the pain returned...stabbing, jolting agony, traversing her head, destroying all logic as she struggled to keep her sanity. Crippling nausea and vertigo were also her companions as salty tears of despair thundered down her cheeks as he offered his scarf.
'Relax...you will not get better if you worry so'.
Tenderness filled his heart for her as his lips lightly touched the bruises on her forehead.
She did not understand why he had kissed her forehead but he also started to sing and she remembered the lullaby from hazy memories. She closed her eyes. She sighed as she told herself to be calm as Jacob's voice lulled her to sleep and the pain in her head and body disappeared. She felt warm, comfortable and safe. She reached out and took his hand. She held it to her cheek and that action stunned Jacob. He realised that she trusted him and he felt happy that he was helping her. He could see that she was asleep but she still held his hand tightly. He watched her as she slept until Ruy poked his head into the caravan.
'We must go, Jacob...to the next town.'
He nodded his head in confirmation as he slowly tried to remove his hand. She clung to him and then sighed as his hand left the warmth of hers and the softness of her skin. He had never felt skin like hers. She snuffled in her sleep and her lip pouted and moved like she was a baby sucking her mother's nipple and he was moved beyond words. The more he was with her...the more he knew that he could not let her go.
The journey lasted for one hour through a forest that was dark and cold. The gypsy songs had wrung out loud early in the journey but the dark, damp and pungent air of the forest quelled the usual lively spirits of the gypsies. Many were from the old country and remembered the stories of the inhabitants of the forests...the werewolves and witches. Jacob had been born in America, far from his homeland steeped in the old traditions and he preferred to believe what he could see. He did not believe in such nonsense but he also had grown quiet as the still air and the oppressiveness of the forest overwhelmed him. He could not wait to feel the breeze on his shoulder and the sun on his face. He gazed around him and then suddenly startled as a scream wrent through the air. He turned his head to see the woman tossing on the mattress. He pulled his horses to a stop and as he was the last caravan he watched the others move off without him and he did not like to be in this position. He climbed in beside her and she was holding her stomach.
'What is wrong?'
She looked embarrassed but did not answer him.
'Were you dreaming?'
'Yes...I had a bad dream...did I scream?'
'Yes...are you alright now?' he asked but she shook her head.
'I need to go'
His puzzled expression surprised her.
'I need to relieve myself'.
'Oh' he said and realised his stupidity.
He reached for his bedpan at the end of his caravan and she cringed.
'No, I cannot use that...here'.
'Can you hang on?'
She nodded her head in embarrassment as she watched him leave the caravan. Jacob jumped to the ground and looked around him. The trees were so old and their trunks huge and gnarled. Many branches lay on the forest floor from recent storms so several of these Jacob gathered together. He quickly dug a whole with his spade from the side of his caravan and placed the logs across it. As he entered his caravan he saw her trying to rise to her knees...balancing on her good leg and arm, pulling her leg in the splint behind her. He admired her courage.
'Let me help you', he said.
'No', she said.
He saw the stubbourness on her face and the determination in her eyes.
'Let me help you to the ground at least'.
She stared at him but she agreed as she helped her to the buckboard and then he jumped to the ground. He put his arms out to help her and he lifted her into his arms. She felt so light...she was tiny but he could also see that she was strong. He thought her too skinny as she had lost much weight since he had found her that morning, one week ago...she had hardly eaten in that time. Her face was close to his and she stared into his eyes and then looked around them. She followed his gaze to the improvisation he had made for her and she smiled. He lifted her to the ground and she hobbled to the timber. He turned to the caravan and then returned with two damp cloths for her and as he did he wondered how he would get around these problems of her bathing and private moments. Until now he had bathed her with a cloth when she had been feverish but then she had been almost unconscious...now she was awake and alert and there was sternness in her eyes and an air of accountability about her. Suddenly he felt like she was a queen and he was her servant but strangely he did not seem to mind. He stood there staring at her and she frowned.
'Jacob...turn your back. I need to go!'
Her words were said with some desperation and he turned on his heels and walked around the other side of the caravan and he imagined how hard it would be for her with a broken leg, arm and ribs. He heard her cries of pain but he could not come to her aid. After several minutes she rose to her feet putting all her weight on one leg. She cleaned herself and washed her hands with the other wet cloth he had given her, returning her clothes to modesty and she thought about his thoughtfulness. Suddenly a feeling of fear travelled along her skin. She felt cold although sweat ran down her back. She turned around her to stare into the trees. She could feel eyes upon her and the flesh on her neck started to almost crawl as a deep foreboding filled her mind. She heard a loud growl behind her...then another. As she started to move, she saw an animal running to her. She screamed. Within a second, Jacob stood between her and the wolf. Another lurked under the tree. She tried to balance on her good leg but fell to the ground. She stared from her protector to the savage animal and she watched Jacob pull the knife from his boot with a deft movement. The wolf snarled and curled his lips back over his teeth. His stance and his attitude were menacing. Jacob's hand was poised to throw his dagger but a strange feeling filled his being. He stared at the animal and the wolf stared at him. The snarling stopped and the wolf relaxed his pose. Jacob stared into the wolf's golden eyes and he felt riveted to the spot. His hand was still raised to throw the death blow but he remained as a statue as the stare continued. Bella looked on in disbelief from the wolf to Jacob and she was suddenly not afraid. Jacob knew Bella was behind him and he wanted to go to her but he was held as if in a trance. He felt no malice from the wolf...he saw the wolf drop to his haunches and whimper. Jacob could not believe his eyes. He replaced the knife in his boot keeping his eyes on the wolf as it rose to his feet and turned to the other wolf behind the tree. He barked at the other wolf and then Jacob and Bella stared in awe as several wolves came out from where they were and followed the alpha wolf into the forest. Nothing had ever happened like this to Jacob in his entire life. He did not believe in the supernatural and now this had happened. Why? What was his connection with a pack of wild animals that had humbled themselves before him? He did not know. He did not understand. He turned to Bella suddenly where she sat on the ground as stunned as him. He lifted her into his arms and carried her to his caravan. As she lay on his quilt, she stared at him, wondering who he really was. He was a stranger to her but he was becoming so familiar. He looked wild and savage himself as his dark hair fell into his dark eyes. His savageness was replaced with a warm smile and the gaze he gave her, warmed her heart.
'Are you alright?'
She nodded her head but he could see from the look in her eyes and the frown on her brow that she was in pain. He laid her back in bed, gave her water and medicine and told her to sleep. He took hold of the reins and set his horses into motion. He tried to concentrate on the road, to scan the forest around him but his mind kept straying to the memory of the incident with the wolves. He had to talk to his aunt. He pondered his connection to the wolf pack and he could find no answer.
The forest gave way to pasture land and then a large river flowed along the road. They followed the road until the river diverted into four streams and then the last stream into a pond that then continued on into another stream. Bella woke to another blinding pain in her head. She felt so confused. She pressed her hands to her temples and she started to cry. She breathed deeply, trying to control the pain. She had medicine constantly but it did not stop the pain for long. She was worried. She tried to be calm but the pain in her chest, arm and leg was there also. She managed to settle her breathing as her chest hurt. She remembered that Jacob had said her ribs were broken. What had happened to her? Why had the gypsy found her? She had no memory of before waking to so much pain in this gypsy's caravan. She tried not to be afraid but the uncertainty of her circumstances and the pain was wearing on her nerves. She started to cry louder.
Jacob turned to see Bella curled into a ball as she sobbed. He pulled his horses to a stop beside the pond and then climbed into sit beside her. He rubbed his hands across her forehead and told her he was there to help her. He tried the medicine again that the doctor in the town had given him as he remembered it had been effective in taking away her pain although she seemed to sleep for a long time. He thought that he must give more of it to her so her body could recouperate. He raised her shoulders and helped her drink the medicine. She pulled a face as the bitterness travelled down her throat. Pity for her filled his heart as he smiled and kissed her cheek. She stared at him but she was not surprised. She was becoming used to his tenderness although she had only been with him a week. She smiled at him and he became overwhelmed by the beauty of her face and the depth and loveliness of her eyes. He drew close to her and kissed her but the action was witnessed by another.
'Jacob, you are a liar! She is your lover! You have been using me and you have broken my heart. You will be sorry! Where have you been? Your caravan has taken so long to catch up to us. We are camped now and you have only just arrived. You stopped to be with her!'
The vengeful gypsy woman jumped into the caravan, trying to hit him. He moved forward to take Victoria by the arms while he kept one eye on Bella who tried to avoid their thrashing arms and legs. He noticed her agony and yelled at Victoria.
'Shrew...get out of here! Your screaming is hurting her more than she already suffers. She is not my lover as you insinuate. I felt sorry for her. She is in so much pain. Please go Victoria'.
His words chilled her heart, spiralling her jealous rage. 'You will regret this, Jacob. No man treats Victoria de Consuela this way!'
He laughed at her threats as she hurried away, pain gripping her heart, jealous tears blinding her eyes.
His words worried Bella...he seemed so attached to her. She gathered the woman had been Jacob's lover but now he was spurning her. Bella wondered why. She did not want to think that it was because of her...she did not even know him...she did not know these people, not even herself. She stared at him as he came to sit beside her again. Her mind started to wander and she felt foggy. Her pain started to recede but she managed to speak.
'I have no name?'
Pensively, he stared at her then smiled broadly.
'May I call you Isabella?'
Bella stared at him and a feeling tugged in her mind but she felt no connection to the name. Perhaps she knew someone named Isabella?
'Why Isabella?' she asked as she felt the drug taking her further into numbness and a relief from pain.
'You have my mother's eyes...the same color as hers. She died five years ago and she was beautiful as you'. He continued to speak of the mother he had loved but Bella did not hear the rest of his words as the strong drug took away her pain and consciousness.
He grew worried as the day wore on and she was still asleep. Several times he stopped his caravan and sat beside her for a while to see if she was still breathing. She was alive but she had been asleep for six hours. The rest of the troupe were well ahead of him but he did not care. Their destination was a town another twenty miles and he knew he would make it before dark. He sighed as he took the reins again and urged his horses forward.
The sun had set as he pulled up alongside the other caravans and the performance had already begun. The women danced on the town green and the men played their violins. The music was vibrant and the audience applauded but Jacob had no desire to join them. He closed his eyes and listened to the sole violin as it played its haunting melody as Ruy played with an excellance that astounded Jacob. The boy was so talented. He had a rare gift. Jacob had always thought that he could make the instrument almost sing but in the whole troupe there was no-one like Ruy. Lolita sang to his accompaniment and her beautiful voice brought a hush to the crowd as they listened intently. Bella had woken and also listened. The music soothed her soul and entered her hazy consciousness like she was a part of it. It seemed to her as if her gut recognised the sounds of the gypsy violin like it was her past.
'Am I gypsy too? Do I belong to another troupe of performers? Who am I?'
These thoughts frustrated Bella more than helped her. Even though the music soothed her, it brought forth a whole range of questions she could not answer. Jacob had said that he did not know her. He had found her between two towns. She wished he had left her in one of them. Someone may have claimed her...she must belong to someone...some family. Was she an orphan? Did she have no-one? Suddenly, she raised her arm and stared at the bracelet on her wrist. She stared at the gold and the precious stones. This item appeared to be valuable but she could not remember it. Who had given it to her? She raised her other arm and tried to remove it from her wrist but this action brought pains into her broken arm and her chest. She groaned but continued her action and finally the bracelet was held in her fingers. She inspected it. It was a single band of gold with blue stones. Inside she could see some figures. She squinted to make out the writing. Engraved in the gold, she read 'To my daughter, love Pappa'. She was someone's daughter! She had a father! She held the bracelet to her heart and then tried to return it to her wrist but the action brought forth a shrill cry of pain. She had moved her arm and her broken elbow thumped with pain. It felt like someone stuck a knife into it. She tried to expel her breath and breathe deeply but her chest hurt even more. She groaned and cried and suddenly Jacob was beside her with concern covering his face. He took her hand in his but she pulled away from him feeling awkward and comfortable not wanting or needing his affection. She saw his crestfallen look and she felt guilty as he had only ever been kind but the more she dwelt on her amnesia, the more she became afraid.
She did not belong here...knowing these were not her people...they did not really want her. What did he want anyway? Why was he so kind? He had kissed her before. Did he lust for her? He had not tried to touch her but what would the situation be like when she was better. She wanted to get away. Suddenly she did not feel confident of these people like she had before. The woman Victoria had cursed her. How would the others react when she came out to join them when she was better? Haziness filled her mind and she cursed the medicine that he had been giving her. She knew he was trying to help her but she needed her wits about her not this lack of ability to focus. Was he drugging her on purpose? Suddenly, she had a terrible thought that he may have touched her when she slept. She would not know. He had kissed her. What else had he done? She kept her eyes shut as she did not want to face him. She did not want to see his look of concern and caring. Did he mean it? She did not know and there was nothing she could do about it. She was vulnerable and she felt it. She knew he slept beside her and suddenly she did not like it. Now the drug was starting to wear off, panic filled her mind and she wanted to run. She felt hot and sick. She needed to get up. She needed to leave. She opened her eyes and he witnessed the panic there. She knew she needed someone to take care of her but she worried about the intentions of this gypsy. He seemed so devoted to her...more than a casual caring for her welfare. The seriousness of his glance and the way his eyes watched her when he thought she was sleeping, made her uneasy.
The past week became a hazy, distorted form of images as she tried to remember what happened between the times she slept. He was staring at her again and she closed her eyes to the intensity of his gaze. She felt his hand on her forehead and she opened her eyes to stare at him. The brilliance of her eyes heavy with unshed tears startled him and the seriousness of her look worried him. Suddenly, she seemed different and he spoke the thoughts on his mind.
'I want you for my woman, Isabella. Marry me? You are only young...perhaps sixteen or seventeen...I am only young too but I am mature. I have grown up strong. I can offer you much. I love you. I will always protect you. What do you say...become the wife of a gypsy?'
Panic seized her as she struggled to rise. 'My clothes, where are my clothes? I have to go!' she said frantically, not knowing where to go or how to get there.
'You cannot go!' he told her, 'you are still injured. Stay with me until you are better and if you do not love me by then, I will take you to where I found you!'
As he spoke the words to her he doubted that he would be able to take her back to the coastal town. He frowned, knowing they were hundreds of miles away. He told himself if in one year she had not regained her memory he would try to find her family. Suddenly this thought tore at his heart strings as he longed to hold her in his arms. She turned away from him and felt drowsy again from the drug he had given her before. Her thoughts drifted away into sleep. As he noticed she slept, he took the reins again and followed the troupe until her cries of pain again stopped his travel. He saw a large pond with a rushing current and many old elms along its bank. He pulled his horses to a stop and climbed in beside her.
