I don't own HM or any of its characters! HA! Now you can't sue me! Take that you blood-sucking lawyers (no offense)!

Chapter 17: Letter from Grandma

Cliff jumped up when he heard the frantic voice. "Ann?" He looked around and was surprised to see Ann running down a small path that led down the side of the nearby mountain.

Throwing all his cares to the wind, Cliff ran to the running girl and embraced her.

Ann broke down then and there and started crying into his shoulder. Cliff could just barely hear her mumbling, "I was so worried!" and "I'm so sorry!" over her sounds of weeping.

They stayed like that for God knows how long until Ann finally exhausted herself and, in turn, fell asleep.

"Who do you think that man was?" Cliff asked on the slow ride home. Cliff and Gray were seated on Cliffgard while Doug and Ann, who was still sleeping, were on the other horse, Lightning. He was asking Doug, who rode beside them.

Doug sighed, "I don't know. I've never seen him before." Cliff shook his head, "Who would want to kidnap me?" Gray smirked, "The Goddess." He meant it as a joke, but Cliff wondered if there was any truth to that statement. No. She wouldn't go that far… would she? He thought about it for a few more moments and sighed. Yeah. If she could, she would. Being so caught up in his thoughts, he never saw the dark figure who stood from behind a nearby bush and ran back in the direction of the cabin…

Jack groaned as he peered up at the darkening sky. In the distance, dark gray, nearly black, clouds were heading towards the village. "Those don't look too good. Better get Thunder into the barn." He sighed and headed back to his farm, "Guess I'll find Karen later…"

He walked into his farm, locked Thunder in his pen, and walked into his house, only stopping to whistle for Taco.

He walked into his dark house and flicked the light switch. He turned around and was surprised to see someone jump at him…

The wind was picking up and dust was being blown everywhere. "This doesn't look good! Looks like a hurricane!" Doug yelled over the howling wind.

Doug, Gray, Cliff, and Ann were still on horseback racing through the meadow and in the direction of Green Ranch.

"This early?!" Gray yelled back, just barely over the wind. Doug was about to answer but cried out as a broken tree branch flew at his head. He just barely ducked the branch. "Yeah! Looks like a pretty bad one at that!" Rain began coming down in a torrent. "Come on! We have to hurry!" Doug cried out right before giving his horse a swift kick to speed it up. Gray did the same to Cliffgard and caught up to Doug easily.

They were nearing Jack's farm when the first piece of hail was hurtled from the dark clouds above. It was small, about the size of a marble, but when it hit Cliff in the back, he cried out. Gray looked back at him, "What?" Cliff grit his teeth and rubbed his back. "Hail!" Gray cursed loudly gaining glares from Cliff and his father.

"Hail!" Gray yelled to Doug. "It's beginning to hail!" Doug groaned, "We might not make it back to the ranch! Jack's farm! Go there!" Gray nodded and pulled Cliffgard's reigns to the left, causing the large horse to turn into Jack's farm.

Jack cried out and cursed loudly when the person, whoever he or she was, slammed into him, bringing them both to the floor. "Hey! What the—what is this?!" There was a momentary silence before laughter filled Jack's ears.

"Karen?!" Jack screeched. More laughter. Finally, Karen rolled off of Jack and stood up, not bothering to help Jack up. Jack groaned and rose to his feet.

"What are you doing?" He demanded after standing. Karen grinned, "Just having a little bit of fun!" Jack groaned and was about to reply when there was a loud 'BANG! BANG! BANG!' on his door.

Jack swung the door open and was surprised to see four people standing in the rain. Under closer scrutiny, Jack realized they were Doug, Gray, Ann, and Cliff.

He quickly stepped out of the way, letting the four walk in. "Why are you here?" He wondered aloud. Cliff spoke up, "We couldn't get back to the ranch. It's hailing!"

Jack's eyes widened, but before he could reply, Doug cleared his throat. "Jack, do you have a thick coat with a hood?" Jack nodded, "Yeah, but—"

"Get it on." Jack stared at him and shrugged, opening up a nearby box and pulling out an old coat that belonged to his grandfather. He put it on and turned to face Doug, "What are we—"

"We've got to lock up the barns!" Before Jack could reply, Doug continued. "Gray, Cliff, you two find something to board up those windows!" The two nodded and set out, looking around the room for something to place in front of the two windows in the house. "You move to the middle of the room! Away from the windows!" Doug commanded the two girls. They complied, not daring to disobey him.

"Come on, we don't have much time." Doug said once again to Jack before walking briskly out the door. Jack stared out after him. "What is going on?!" He cried before running out into the storm…

Cliff and Gray scrambled around the small house, looking for something, anything, to put in front of the windows. Finally, Gray found the lid for an old crate and some nails. He quickly grabbed Jack's hammer and, although it was a little bit big for the job, nailed the lid to one of the windows, successfully preventing any injury from shattering glass.

Gray turned around, only to fins Cliff trying to push a nearby cabinet over the other window, but the large cabinet was not moving at all. "Cliff, the cabinet, it's screwed to the wall!" Karen cried when she noticed him.

Cliff looked behind the cabinet and groaned. "Great! Now what?" Gray grunted, "Come on, if we all push it, maybe we can break the screws or something." Cliff shrugged and motioned for the girls to help.

The four began pushing and pulling on the cabinet and, slowly but surely, it began to move, despite the screws.

After a few minutes, the cabinet had been placed in front of the window and they all sat down on the nearby couch. All of them except Karen, who was staring into the familiar hole in the wall where the bottle of wine and the note from her grandmother had been…

Jack finally caught up to Doug once he had entered the livestock barn, where Thunder and, surprisingly to Jack, Cliffgard and Lightning were. Doug didn't give him a chance to ask anything though.

"Okay, if you didn't know, it looks like there is a big hurricane heading this way and we need to lock up the barn and chicken coop. I believe that your grandfather kept some supplies around here… ah! Here they are!" He said picking up some boards and such from behind a feed box.

"Okay, first we'll board up the windows. Then we'll lock up the barn. After that, we'll head over to the chicken coop if the weather isn't too bad! You don't have any chickens, so it won't kill us to leave it as it is, but we'll try anyway." Doug said right before setting off to board up one of the nearby windows. Jack nodded and moved to the other window, wood planks in his hand…

Karen moved forward to the hole in wall, oblivious to the stares of the others. Inside the hole was a yellowed envelope. Nothing special about it, but it seemed like it was beckoning Karen to it.

She reached into the hole and pulled the envelope out. She looked at the letter and saw her name written neatly on the front of the envelope… right next to Jack's name…

She tore the envelope open and opened up the piece of paper to read the note.

My dearest Karen,

This is your grandmother, Eve.

Before reading this letter, please fetch Jack, the younger one, not the Jack you know now. I wish for you both to read this.

Karen's eye's widened and her breath came in and out in short bursts. "Impossible… how did she know…?"

Ann stood up from the couch. "Karen? Are you okay? What's going—" She was interrupted as Karen ran past her and out of the house leaving the others calling after her…

Jack watched in surprise as Karen burst from his house. "Jack!!!" She screamed as she ran towards him, oblivious of the rain and hail.

"Karen?!" Jack cried as he ran towards her. When he reached her, he ripped the coat off of himself and wrapped it around her to protect her from the stinging hail. "What are you—come on! Back in the house!" Jack commanded before grabbing Karen and leading her back towards the house, Doug trailing behind.

"Karen! What were you—" Ann asked when the three entered the house again. Karen didn't answer, but, instead, turned to Jack holding the note up to his face. "Read the first few lines." She ordered.

Jack complied and his eyes widened. "What in the… where did this come from?" Karen pointed at the hole in the wall. "I just found it in there!" Jack frowned, "I'm sure there was nothing else in there…" Karen put her hands on her hips, "You were wrong!"

Ann cleared her throat, "What are you two talking about?" Karen looked at her and said, "I'll tell you later." She turned back to Jack, "What do you make of it?" Jack thought about it for a moment. Finally he said, "I don't know. How could your grandmother know about me? And why would she write us a letter?"

"I don't know! That's why we should read it!" Jack nodded and began reading the letter out loud.

"My dearest Karen,

This is your grandmother, Eve.

Before reading this letter, please fetch Jack, the younger one, not the Jack you know now. I wish for you both to read this.

I'm sure that you are wondering why or even how I know about Jack, seeing how he won't be coming along for a few more years at least. Well, I got some help from Jack's grandfather!

For the last year now, Jack, the elder one, has been sick. A year ago, he was diagnosed with a deteriorating disease that doesn't even have a name yet. The doctors have said that he'll live for a while longer, at least five years, but he's already began thinking about who will take over his farm when he's gone. He made a decision to ask his grandson. He's confident that he'll accept the offer."

"How'd he know? I hadn't even talked to him for years!" Jack wondered aloud.

"Karen, I hope that you got my first present. If you don't know already, it is my secret recipe on making the wine that many have fallen in love with. I'm sure that your father has ended up messing up the recipe somehow and plunged the vineyard into the ground. I'm sure that you will be able to bring it back up. You always did take after me!

If you are wondering the reason that I gave it to Jack for safekeeping, I did it just so you and Jack would have a chance to get to know each other. I never got my chance with Jack the elder so I wanted you to have a chance with his grandson. Low and conceited, I know, but my heart is in the right place! I promise!

Jack will be writing the remainder of the letter.

Dear Jack,

I don't have much to say to you, my grandson, other than take good care of my farm. I know you can do it. You always took after me and I hope that will help you in your journey to riches! Well, riches as far as farming is concerned. Do not forget me."

"Never happening, Gramps." Jack said quietly.

"Even more so, never forget your roots. Your spiritual roots."

Jack winced slightly but continued.

"I hear from your father that you are struggling. Please do not lose sight of God, Jack. He loves you more than you can believe. I know that you are hurting so much because of your mother and grandmother—so am I—but that's no reason to give up.

Remember. He'll be with you always. Until the end of the world, He's still there. Don't ever forget that, my grandson.

Until we meet again, which I'm sure will be Heaven, good-bye and God bless,

Jack and Eve

PS. Take good care of Karen."

An uncomfortable silence filled the air. The sound of wind rushing and wood groaning broke the silence. "The storm's here." Doug said quietly.

The next few hours passed in relative silence. Jack and Karen were pondering the letter. The others were in prayer for the safety of the village. It hadn't had any warning after all.

After a while, the prayer broke up and Karen looked at them. "What were you doing?"

"We were praying." Ann blurted out. Karen nodded but then her eyes widened. "You're all… Christians?" Ann slapped her forehead for giving out such information that would lead to questions, but she nodded slowly. Karen sighed, "Great. This can't be happening… I can't believe you all! Don't you remember the Goddess? Have you forgotten what she has done for you?!" Karen demanded. Gray stepped forward, "What has she done for us, Karen? What has she done for you? The only thing she does is hide. The Goddess has never revealed herself to us before."

Karen narrowed her eyes. "That's because she speaks through Pastor Brown! She chooses not to talk to us directly!"

"Why?" Karen nearly choked. "Why?! Why should she?" Gray crossed his arms across his chest, "If she's so great and loving, she should make that known to us, right?" Karen was about to reply but Ann cut her off, "She doesn't! If she did, we would have never made Popuri see the truth! She's a Christian now because of God's love!

"If the Goddess loved us, than it should have taken more than that! God's love changed her because there was no love in her before! God has changed us all in some way or form! I've never seen the Goddess do something like that! The only thing any of us got from worshipping the Goddess was emptiness!

"But when we came to Christ… we're all changed! I've been finally able to forgive! Gray has overcome his fears! Popuri has been changed in so many ways, I won't even try to name them all off! How can nothing do that?!

"Come on, Karen! Wake up! The Goddess is a fake! She promised us a great life and we don't have it! She promised us riches and we're struggling! She promised Popuri Jack's love and he's sleeping with y—" She stopped, her eyes wide. She put a hand over her mouth as realization struck.

Karen stumbled back and hit Jack who was just getting up from his position on the floor.

Cliff rose also. "What did you just say?" He demanded, eyes shining with anger. Ann didn't answer. "Ann!" She looked up at him. "Um… nothing! It was a slip of the tongue!" She lied. Cliff looked into her eyes and they told him everything he needed to know.

He whirled to face Jack, a look of anger and betrayal on his face. "Jack? How could you do this? To me? To her? I trusted you! I trusted you to treat her with respect! Not to sleep with her!" Jack didn't answer, but just looked at the floor.

"Cliff, I…" He finally managed, but that was all he could say before Karen interjected. "Shut up, Cliff! You aren't my protector! I don't answer to you! What I do with Jack is none of your business! And more over, I convinced Jack to sleep with me!" Cliff fell silent but anyone could see that there was a battle raging in his head.

Ann came over and laid a hand on his shoulder, but Cliff just shrugged it off. "Please… I need to be alone." Cliff walked over to a dark corner in the room and sat on the floor. Ann looked at him for a few seconds and followed. She sat down next to him, seemingly oblivious to his request.

Cliff looked up at her and said, "I thought I said—"

"That's the last thing you need, Cliff. Now, I know how you feel. Somewhat anyway! You just want to keep it bottled up inside of you and hope that it will go away in time. Well, guess what? It won't. It'll just grow worse and worse until it turns to hatred.

"Popuri and I used to be best friends. Did you know that? After what happened to Gray, my feelings for her changed from sisterly love to hatred. Keeping it bottled up inside of you won't help." Cliff looked up at her and sighed. "I know, it's just… I…" Cliff felt like such a hypocrite. He had gone through the same thing with Ann! He sighed once more, "You're right…"

Cliff smiled and got up. He helped Ann up also. He looked at Karen and Jack. "I… I'm sorry. You're right; it's not my place to butt in. It's just… I don't want either of you to be hurt…"

Karen's mouth nearly dropped. How in the world? What's up with the sudden change? She wondered. Out loud, she simply said, "You'd better be sorry!" Jack put a hand on her shoulder but she didn't stop. "From now on, keep out!" She spun around, looking for somewhere to go that was away from Cliff, but she had to just settle for leaving her back turned to him.

Silence ensued and lasted for another hour or two until Doug finally announced, "The storm's letting up. I'll go see if it's okay." He walked outside and came back in seconds later. "It's fine."

One by one, the others filed out, leaving only Cliff and Jack in the house…

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So? What'd you think? You know how to reach me!

R&R!

God Bless always!

--Ben