Chapter 21 – The Ends of the Earth
Willa woke up with a start and bolted to sitting position on the bed. She looked around the room in confusion. She immediately recognized it as Walter's room. She felt queasy. Her head was fuzzy and filled with odd scattered fragments of reality and dreams. She remembered being drugged and standing in front of the priest with Costa. Did I marry him, she wondered. She remembered Timo signaling her to run and being very scared. She thought she knew that Shadrack was shot. She half remembered being carried by someone in cowboy boots or was it Walter? She didn't know how she came back to the Ends of the Earth. She rubbed her temples in frustration. She looked across the room and saw Leo asleep in a chair.
Willa jumped as she heard a voice say, "Back with the living?"
Willa turned to acknowledge Isabelle. "What happened in those woods, Willa? No one here seems to recall going to Shadrack Farms yesterday. But I know different. I know you were there. We found your clothes in the attic room. What did you see Willa? Who was there? Who shot Shadrack and Costa? Tell me what happened?"
Willa looked at Isabelle blankly, "Am I married?" Willa asked.
Isabelle looked sternly at Willa, "I ask the questions, tell me about last night."
Willa's clenched her hands into fists, "No, I need to know! Am I married to Costa? Am I married?"
Suddenly it dawned on Isabelle exactly what Willa was asking. Isabelle's face soften, "No. Oh Willa, no. You really don't remember do you?"
Willa sucked in a deep breath and let it back out. Shakily she ran her hand through her hair. "No, I don't really remember anything. Just floating through the woods and dancing with butterflies and fairies. They drugged me," Willa said with stunned amazement, "they actually drugged me!"
"We don't know what they gave you, but I wouldn't worry about it. Get some rest you have a busy day ahead of you. I'm sorry Willa, but Mrs. Farrell will be here later today to take you back to JuVee."
"Don't tell her that yet," Leo barked from across the room. "Willa, are you okay?"
Willa looked at Leo and said, "No." Then she jumped from the bed to the comfort of his arms. Once in his embrace, Willa began to cry. Isabelle quietly left the room to find and interrogate Walter. She heard Leo's deep voice trying to comfort Willa who surprisingly seemed somewhat hysterical; totally out of character for Willa.
"Walter, Walter!" Isabelle grouched as she shook his shoulder trying to rouse him from his sleep in the hammock. "I know you have something to do with Willa being here. The police are saying the crime scene was swept clean. What did you do this time?"
"Isabelle I'm a reformed man," Walter started, but was quickly interrupted by Isabelle.
"Don't Isabelle me! If I find out you took evidence again so help me, I'll shoot you myself."
Walter grabbed Isabelle and pulled her into the hammock, "Isabelle, would I do that?" he said as he slowly started to kiss her.