Wherever they went, Morgan was sure not to follow. For the first time since Emma met him, he kept his mouth shut in fears of being dumped in the manure pit again. Humiliated, his ego and pride are tarnished. His face is full of rage, but his spineless back keeps him from saying anything.
To be his taunting self, Jimmy would appear out of nowhere and stomp his foot hard on the hardwood floors, causing the boy to practically jump out of his skin. His snaggletooth grin would spread wide and his thunderous laughter could be heard by anyone within the camp boundaries.
A part of Emma, a small part, felt sorry for Morgan at first. He can't help the fact that he is an over-sexed teenage boy. The sensible part of her soon took over, remembering what a jerk he is. The sight of him being tormented makes her feel like a spider that has just caught her first fly of the day. It's delightful!
She somehow adores that her fiance is following suit with this torment, though she is not sure why he is. Morgan must have said something to irritate him. When Jimmy isn't jolting the boy with his scare tactics, Davy is sending him a glare of absolute death. Wherever he walks, Morgan feels his burning gaze piercing into his inner core. Emma has watched it from afar. Davy's head will slowly follow the direction the boy is walking, not once looking away. His ominous frown shows great discontent by his mere presence on this earth. Once and a while, Jones will point his index and middle fingers to his eyes and then point an accusing finger to the boy. This is quickly followed by the same finger making a slicing motion across his throat. I'm watching ye, ye are dead.
Unseasonably chilly for July, the air is cool even in midday. It doesn't feel like summer as bone-chilling air moves down from the Arctic. Cooler and wetter than a normal summer, Davy constantly grumbles about being cold and reminds Emma that she 'lied' about the weather- another reason for his foul mood. She informs him if she does not look like an almanac, then she must not be one. To be honest, this is the coldest summer she can remember.
Despite the coolness, Emma still works up a sweat moving the cattle to a new pasture. She takes respite in the shade of a large sugar maple. The wind picks up slightly and she shivers because of it. From where she sits on the hill, she can see the horses out in the pasture, their heads low in the grass to fill their bellies. They have some of her favorite horse breeds here; Arabians, Mustangs, Gypsy-Vanners and Norwegian Fjords to name a few. Her Godfather, G, started a rescue program for abandoned horses a few years back. These animals now live comfortably in vast green pastures, being cared for by the children of the camp during the summers.
Pollen falls softly from the trembling aspens, creating a soft saffron glow on the surrounding vegetation. The air smells sweet of budding wildflowers. Forget-me-nots bloom indiscreetly. Most people will miss the tiny blue and pink flowers, but their slight beauty always catches Emma's eye. Cherry and apple blossoms hang heavy on the trees, giving the branches a drooped appearance. All the rain that has fallen recently gave the plants the vitality they needed after a hard winter. Emma looks up and sighs happily, not a cloud in the sky. She catches brief glimpses of the blueness through the branches above as the wind dances through the leaves. The whistling sound of a magnolia warbler announcing his territory and he is then followed by the fluttery song of a purple finch. This is paradise. Again, a cool breeze causes her to shiver.
"Someone walk over your grave?" She turns to the sound of Morgan's voice. It's the first time he's spoken to her since he was reprimanded. He stands with his arms folded, a scowling grimace on his face.
"What do you want? Did you get your chores finished?" She leans her head back on the tree and closes her eyes. Out of all the employees, he is the only one she has to check on regularly.
"Call off your dogs, Emma Grace." He growls in a low voice. His dark brown eyes never leave her.
"I beg your pardon?" Emma opens her eyes and tilts her head towards him. She does not appreciate his insolent tone. He has never showed her much respect, but this seems to be lower than normal.
"You know what I mean." He runs a hand through his golden hair, and then folds his arms again.
"No, I'm afraid I don't."
"Let me rephrase it for you then. Call off your monsters!"
Instantly angered, her eyes widen and fix on him. "Watch it." She threatens with a low tone. "No one calls my fiance and friends 'monsters'".
"I can't go anywhere without that gargoyle jumping out at me!" He walks towards her and begins to pace in front of her. His hand flexes into a fist and quickly releases. Emma recognizes the signs of potential violence and remains quiet. "He doesn't deserve a hot chick like Montana! I don't know what the hell she sees in him."
Continuing calmly, she feels the need to defend her friend. "Let me point out all the mistakes you made in that previous statement." She pauses to take a deep breath, "One, you do not in any way refer to Jimmy as a gargoyle. He is a human being and your elder. You will treat him with respect, despite whatever lessons you were not taught as a child. Do not interrupt me!" She raises her hand as he tries to butt in. "Two. You do not refer to a higher level employee as a 'hot chick'. She is a woman, not an object. We all took those sexual harassment courses when we were hired. If you care for her at all, you will treat her with respect. And third, it is not for you to know what she sees in Jimmy. That is none of your business. However, I would think that a woman like Montana would be attracted to maturity and wisdom. Two qualities you are deeply in lack of." She leans back against the tree and closes her eyes again in a futile attempt to make him go away.
He paces and the sound of his feet dragging through the grass annoys her greatly. Why won't he go away?
"And what about yours? Huh?" He finally asks in a snarling tone.
"What about mine?" Her eyes snap open.
"Tell him to lay off me. I don't need him glaring at me with those creepy eyes of his."
Strike two. "Watch it."
He looks down at her and snickers at her defensiveness. "Freak."
She jumps to her feet and storm over to him. "Excuse me? Did you just refer to me as a freak?"
He spreads his arms wide. "I call it as I see it. No one in their right mind would have the hots for that." He forms a look of disgust on his face.
Remembering her authority and position, she bites my tongue despite wanting to tear into his smug little face with her finger nails. "I suggest you check your attitude at the door. You forget who you speak to."
"Oh! I'm sorry! I forgot that I was speaking to Emma Grace! Little miss perfect!"
"Despite what you think of me, you have to respect me. When G isn't around, I'm your boss."
"You know, you get away with a lot of shit around here just because you are his God daughter. If it wasn't for you, I wouldn't have those two assholes on my case!" He points an accusing finger in her face and she slaps it away with great force.
"I worked hard to get where I am. Don't you dare accuse me of being a favorite! They are on your case because you are being such an immature little prick!"
"Why don't you just fuck off, you fat bitch!" He screams into her face.
A loud crash comes from the surrounding woods and a black form envelopes Emma's body and pulls her away from the confrontation. It takes her a few seconds to focus and realize that Davy is standing in between them. She cannot see Davy's expression, but from where she stands, she can see the color drain from Morgan's face. Another commotion comes from the trees and Niko appears out of the shadows, his eyes intensely fixed on Morgan and his superior. Emma watches as his hand reaches for his belt. A little flicker of metallic light reveals a hidden knife.
Next to stumble on the scene is G with a few campers and counselors. Davy must have overheard the argument and left in a fury, to which they all followed. Upon seeing Davy's face, G's jaw drops and a protective hand reaches behind and stops the rest from moving forward.
Davy shifts slightly in his spot. His body is a tense and unmovable force, the anger flows from him like poison. "Ye...do NOT speak to her that way!" His voice quivers with ferocity, his body shaking to control the ire within that is fighting to escape. "I do not know who taught ye to behave in such a manner, but I will NOT tolerate it with my fiancee!" His vicious eyes burn through Morgan with an icy fire filled with rage and hatred. "So help me God, I will snap your neck in two and no one will EVER find your body!"
Morgan stands slack-jawed, unable to verbalize in his moment of fear. He doesn't know whether he should prepare for a possible blow or just a verbal assault. It's fight or flight. It seems as if he would choose fight until G interrupts.
"Morgan! In my office! Now!" G's voice now overflows with rage. Usually calm and collected, no one has ever seen him so angered. A finger snaps in the direction he wants Morgan to travel. Wanting to be anywhere but here, the delinquent slips away still feeling the burn of Davy's glare in the back of his head.
Emma reaches up to slowly place her hand on Jones' shoulder. His chest heaves as his breath tries to decelerate. He nods to Niko, who sheathes the knife immediately and follows behind the crowd. Turning to Emma, his expression softens as he examines her face for distress.
"Easy. Breathe easy." She whispers to him as he bends down to envelope her in his arms. They surround her, crushing her in his embrace. She looks over to see G one final time. She sends him a nod to tell him everything is fine here.
"No one speaks to ye like that..." Davy whispers to her. "No one. He was going to strike ye, but I stopped him in time."
"I'm okay, sweetheart." She whispers, now shaking in his arms. She had not realized that Morgan was reaching to hit her. In her anger, she did not see it. She places a soft kiss on his cheek. "Thank you."
An emergency meeting was held for all counselors immediately afterward. Everyone had heard G tear into Morgan for his behavior, firing him and telling him to get on the next flight home. G had never let anyone go before.
Jimmy and Niko attended this meeting as well, to take the place of Emma whom Davy would not allow to attend. Upon their entering the room, G's frazzled expression became darker. Unfortunately for Niko, the meeting turned on him for carrying a knife.
"We all do, G." He explains quietly. "The three of us. It's just what we were taught."
Jimmy interrupts, feeling that Niko is only digging himself into a deeper hole and dragging them down with him. "Ye see, sir. We come from a different blood. We were raised to defend and protect the honor of our cap'n. We were trained to give our lives for his welfare, sir. His honor, if impugned, must be upheld. His life, must be protected no matter what the cost to ours. Niko here was only acting as I had taught him. He was taught as I was, as Davy was. Now that the matter has been solved, it shan't happen again." He gives a respectful nod to G.
Taking a cleansing breath, G closes his blue eyes to gather his patience. "Under no circumstance, at any time, are weapons allowed on these premises. If you want to be here, they have to go. Otherwise," he pauses to consider his words carefully despite considering these men friends, "I will have no choice but to call the police."
So it was agreed that the men would no longer carry their knives on property. The risk to the children took precedence over their devotion to protect Jones.
Later that day, when they both are calmed, Davy and Emma are pulled into G's office together. It is their turn to be informed of the events, though Montana and Karine had already told Emma everything. Davy repeats the same speech Jimmy delivered about the knife, reluctantly showing the one he carries as well. He also points out that they aren't just for threatening- however handy they are in this type of situation- they are really meant for cutting rigging and lines.
They sit in silence as G keeps his face near his tented fingers. He gives a nod, considering everything that occurred today. "Granted they are useful on a ship, Davy, you are no longer on the Genesis. I will have to ask you to keep the knife at home just like the other two. I consider you a dear friend, don't force me to get the law involved. I have to protect the children first. "
Davy rises to his feet and gives a slight bow in agreement. "I must apologize for my actions. I let my rage take a hold of me before I had a chance to think."
G's blue eyes flicker from Davy over to Emma. Another nod. "No need. I would probably do the same thing if someone were speaking to my wife in the same manner." His thoughts divert to his wife Sam, a woman who many people didn't want him to marry because she is aboriginal. Many times he has fought for their right to be together, to keep her good name in tact. He leaves the thought and looks directly at Davy, leaning forward for a thorough examination of Jones' face. "You love her, don't you?"
Davy looks over to his fiancee and smiles softly. "Yes. I'd protect her no matter the cost."
"Well, we've seen that today, haven't we?" G gives a chuckle. "Remind me not to get on your bad side, my friend." He extends his hand to end the meeting. They shake firmly in agreement. As Davy leads Emma out the door, G calls to him one more time. "Jones. Do me one favor?"
Davy stops in his tracks. "Anything."
"Continue to take care of her for me."