Chapter Four
I stood there nervously waiting to see if there would be any recognition from Jesse. His gaze turned to my direction but his eyes remained blank but interested.
"Hello, what is your name?" he asked pleasantly.
"Suze...uh I mean Susannah," I said nervously. My heart was thumping at a few hundred miles. Jesse didn't recognise me. I was here all by myself with no one to talk to. No reminders of my life back in my time. I was stuck. I hoped there wouldn't be any ghosts around to mediate. That would really screw up my plans.
This was around the time I began to panic. I was just about to run out the door when Mrs de Silva put an arm around my shoulder. "Come on sweetie, let me show you to your room."
"Thank you Mrs de Silva," I said feeling quite stupid. "Please, call me Mary-Anne. It's much easier. Now this is your room on the left. Ricardo made you a special bed this time since you found it so hard to sleep on the other mattress. Oh look there's Elizabeth."
I was thinking over how alike old time Susannah and present day Suze seemed to be. Wouldn't sleep on a mattress? That sounded like me since I would never ever go camping. Imagine all the bugs and the rock hard ground. I shuddered at the thought of it.
As I peered into the room, sure enough there was a sullen form lying on the four poster bed clutching a small object. "She's been like that for a few days, the poor thing. I know exactly what it's like to get your heart broken by a careless, selfish man. When I was young there was this man..."
I tuned her out as I was beginning to feel overwhelmed by the amount Mrs de Silva, wait, please-call-me-Mary-Anne could talk. Every little thing she spotted brought up the current events of the family, the town, anything. But I suppose that's what happens when there is not much to do except cook, clean and clean some more. If only these women came to my time. They'd probably ditch their husbands, throw down their hair and become Vegas showgirls, their lives were so dreary and monotonous.
"Do you want to get settled while I make lunch, sweety?" Mary-Anne asked. "Um sure," I said dragging my skirt off a nail in the carpet. As soon as Mary-Anne left I walked to my bed and plopped onto it face first muttering, "Life sucks."
I heard stirring from the other side of the room and I turned my head to see Elizabeth staring at me. She had the same fair looks as Connie and Mary- Anne but her skin tone was darker. "What did you say?" she asked when she saw me looking.
"Nothing," I said, aware that sucks was probably not part of olden day vocabulary.
"No I heard you say something," Elizabeth persisted. I was not in the mood for this. Some sulky teenager who had been dumped by her boyfriend and wouldn't talk all week wants to know what I'm saying?
"Look I didn't say anything, okay? Leave me alone," I had a few other choice words I would have liked to say but somehow I don't think she would have taken too kindly to them. She was reminding me of Kelly which was putting me into an even worse mood. Partly because Kelly can do that to you and partly because once again I was being reminded of what I had to do- alone.
"Fine, you witch." I nearly laughed then. Witch? And Elizabeth probably thought she had said something that would shock me.
We were interrupted from this little slinging match by a door banging outside. Seconds later there were footsteps on the porch and the entrance door banged. Mr de Silva's voice filtered through the wall. "We've lost the foal." He sounded way angry. I was planning my escape from Elizabeth but an angry Ricardo de Silva might be worse.
Something shimmered by the door so I turned my head and promptly screamed. There standing in front of me was the ghost of the foal.
~*~*~*~*~*~
At lunchtime Elizabeth was shooting me dirty looks. She hadn't been too impressed when I had screamed at thin air but I think I had a right to. I knew I was a mediator but how the hell was I supposed to mediate a horse? It wasn't like it was Mr Ed and could talk and say, "My mumma kicked me and I want her put down," or anything like that. Not only had I been through a time warp, I'd been through a mediator warp?
I was kind of hoping someone up there would make life easier so I wouldn't be seeing dead people and I could get on with finding my way out of here. They must have had a very sick sense of humour.
"More bread, darling?" Mary-Anne said holding out the plate. "No thanks Mrs de- I mean Mary-Anne. Can I go- be excused?" Seriously this manners thing was really starting to piss me off.
"Sure, I'll save some cake for you," she called as I walked back to my room. As I entered the door again I caught my skirt on the nail again. I very nearly screamed with frustration.
~*~*~*~*~*~
I trudged wearily to my room after the fun excitement of dancing after dinner. I swear my hoop skirt was still swishing. I had opted out of singing around the piano saying I was tired. Pretty soon I'd have to do these things since they'd think I was being antisocial. Jesse hadn't been there since he'd been out with his dad trying to pick some new cattle after our neighbours had heard about the foal and offered us two in sympathy. Why you would do that I do not know. The mystery of the cowfolk.
I was feeling pretty snoozy when I entered my room but not so snoozy I missed what was on the bed. The little foal was curled up on my bed sleeply soundly. "This is not happening," I muttered as I stomped over to the bed.
"Right, little chap. You are not staying here. This is my bed, mine." The foal opened it's eyes and blinked at me. I hoped against hope Elizabeth wouldn't come in and see me yelling at the bed. More fuel for her fire of dislike against me. I tried pushing the thing but it was heavy for a little thing.
Eventually I gave up and looked in the closet to see what I had for choice of night wear. Not much it turned out. A few skimpy little see though things. Pass. One cotton nightdress with bunnies that would have only covered my butt by an inch. Definite pass. One checked thing that was slightly see though but decent a length. It would have to do. I pulled it out and my gaze fell on my choice of wear for tomorrow. Let's see there was a hoop skirt, a hoop skirt and oh yes. A hoop skirt. I closed the closet and waddled over the bathroom. If you had seen me in this skirt you would have known why.
I got changed and returned to my room. Or Elizabeth's. To me it didn't matter. I decided my options were a) sleep on the floor and look like a right jackass since there was nothing on my bed or b) try and swap beds with Elizabeth. Mine was flat and lumpy. Elizabeth's was a picture of glamour with filmy curtains/ Why couldn't I have gotten that considering the total non-coverage of my night wear? I decided I'd go for a, my reason? That I liked sleeping on the floor occasionally. Lame I know, but what else could I say?
I took the spare sheets from the end of my bed (in case I got cold during the night) and made a temporary bed. I snatched the pillow (the horse can't get everything!) and went to sleep. The night was moonless and the swishing of the plants outside lulled me to sleep.
~*~*~*~*~*~
There were screams all around. A frantic voice in the background was telling everyone to stay calm. I felt cold, clammy arms grip me and lift me, high, high, higher. Get your filthy hands off me, I wanted to say but the words didn't come out. Stop it! But once again all that come out was silence. Voices in the background were saying, "She's lost a lot of blood from a gunshot wound. We need urgent assistance." I woke up from the blackness but could only see through hazy eyes filled with fog. There was red rivers pouring down my body, it felt sticky but warm. I looked down at my shoulder and there was a gaping hole filled with blood and I had to stop myself from gagging. It hurt, it hurt....
I woke up with a jolt and looked around. I was still on the floor in Jesse's house and that had just been a dream but I knew it wasn't. I had felt the connection. For a short while I had been there. This combined with all the crap that was my life began to get to me.
I started crying quietly into my pillow. If anyone heard me they'd think I was homesick. I mean why else would I be crying? It wouldn't be because I'm not in my proper time but if I was I would be dying of a gunshot wound? Also that in this time my only contact with the outside world (or should I say time?) didn't even recognise me? And that the ghost of a dead horse was the reason I was sleeping on the floor? I had to face facts. I either had to do this on my own or else I would never get out of here.
While I was thinking these self-pitying thoughts I heard creaks coming from outside the room. I tensed and stopped crying wiping the tears from my eyes. The door creaked open and I heard someone enter the room, padding lightly to my bed. I felt someone kneel down and place their hand on my shoulder. I tried to scream thinking maybe someone was coming to kill me and then someone place a hand on my mouth...
Author Note: The fluff factor hasn't been high yet but it's coming!
I stood there nervously waiting to see if there would be any recognition from Jesse. His gaze turned to my direction but his eyes remained blank but interested.
"Hello, what is your name?" he asked pleasantly.
"Suze...uh I mean Susannah," I said nervously. My heart was thumping at a few hundred miles. Jesse didn't recognise me. I was here all by myself with no one to talk to. No reminders of my life back in my time. I was stuck. I hoped there wouldn't be any ghosts around to mediate. That would really screw up my plans.
This was around the time I began to panic. I was just about to run out the door when Mrs de Silva put an arm around my shoulder. "Come on sweetie, let me show you to your room."
"Thank you Mrs de Silva," I said feeling quite stupid. "Please, call me Mary-Anne. It's much easier. Now this is your room on the left. Ricardo made you a special bed this time since you found it so hard to sleep on the other mattress. Oh look there's Elizabeth."
I was thinking over how alike old time Susannah and present day Suze seemed to be. Wouldn't sleep on a mattress? That sounded like me since I would never ever go camping. Imagine all the bugs and the rock hard ground. I shuddered at the thought of it.
As I peered into the room, sure enough there was a sullen form lying on the four poster bed clutching a small object. "She's been like that for a few days, the poor thing. I know exactly what it's like to get your heart broken by a careless, selfish man. When I was young there was this man..."
I tuned her out as I was beginning to feel overwhelmed by the amount Mrs de Silva, wait, please-call-me-Mary-Anne could talk. Every little thing she spotted brought up the current events of the family, the town, anything. But I suppose that's what happens when there is not much to do except cook, clean and clean some more. If only these women came to my time. They'd probably ditch their husbands, throw down their hair and become Vegas showgirls, their lives were so dreary and monotonous.
"Do you want to get settled while I make lunch, sweety?" Mary-Anne asked. "Um sure," I said dragging my skirt off a nail in the carpet. As soon as Mary-Anne left I walked to my bed and plopped onto it face first muttering, "Life sucks."
I heard stirring from the other side of the room and I turned my head to see Elizabeth staring at me. She had the same fair looks as Connie and Mary- Anne but her skin tone was darker. "What did you say?" she asked when she saw me looking.
"Nothing," I said, aware that sucks was probably not part of olden day vocabulary.
"No I heard you say something," Elizabeth persisted. I was not in the mood for this. Some sulky teenager who had been dumped by her boyfriend and wouldn't talk all week wants to know what I'm saying?
"Look I didn't say anything, okay? Leave me alone," I had a few other choice words I would have liked to say but somehow I don't think she would have taken too kindly to them. She was reminding me of Kelly which was putting me into an even worse mood. Partly because Kelly can do that to you and partly because once again I was being reminded of what I had to do- alone.
"Fine, you witch." I nearly laughed then. Witch? And Elizabeth probably thought she had said something that would shock me.
We were interrupted from this little slinging match by a door banging outside. Seconds later there were footsteps on the porch and the entrance door banged. Mr de Silva's voice filtered through the wall. "We've lost the foal." He sounded way angry. I was planning my escape from Elizabeth but an angry Ricardo de Silva might be worse.
Something shimmered by the door so I turned my head and promptly screamed. There standing in front of me was the ghost of the foal.
~*~*~*~*~*~
At lunchtime Elizabeth was shooting me dirty looks. She hadn't been too impressed when I had screamed at thin air but I think I had a right to. I knew I was a mediator but how the hell was I supposed to mediate a horse? It wasn't like it was Mr Ed and could talk and say, "My mumma kicked me and I want her put down," or anything like that. Not only had I been through a time warp, I'd been through a mediator warp?
I was kind of hoping someone up there would make life easier so I wouldn't be seeing dead people and I could get on with finding my way out of here. They must have had a very sick sense of humour.
"More bread, darling?" Mary-Anne said holding out the plate. "No thanks Mrs de- I mean Mary-Anne. Can I go- be excused?" Seriously this manners thing was really starting to piss me off.
"Sure, I'll save some cake for you," she called as I walked back to my room. As I entered the door again I caught my skirt on the nail again. I very nearly screamed with frustration.
~*~*~*~*~*~
I trudged wearily to my room after the fun excitement of dancing after dinner. I swear my hoop skirt was still swishing. I had opted out of singing around the piano saying I was tired. Pretty soon I'd have to do these things since they'd think I was being antisocial. Jesse hadn't been there since he'd been out with his dad trying to pick some new cattle after our neighbours had heard about the foal and offered us two in sympathy. Why you would do that I do not know. The mystery of the cowfolk.
I was feeling pretty snoozy when I entered my room but not so snoozy I missed what was on the bed. The little foal was curled up on my bed sleeply soundly. "This is not happening," I muttered as I stomped over to the bed.
"Right, little chap. You are not staying here. This is my bed, mine." The foal opened it's eyes and blinked at me. I hoped against hope Elizabeth wouldn't come in and see me yelling at the bed. More fuel for her fire of dislike against me. I tried pushing the thing but it was heavy for a little thing.
Eventually I gave up and looked in the closet to see what I had for choice of night wear. Not much it turned out. A few skimpy little see though things. Pass. One cotton nightdress with bunnies that would have only covered my butt by an inch. Definite pass. One checked thing that was slightly see though but decent a length. It would have to do. I pulled it out and my gaze fell on my choice of wear for tomorrow. Let's see there was a hoop skirt, a hoop skirt and oh yes. A hoop skirt. I closed the closet and waddled over the bathroom. If you had seen me in this skirt you would have known why.
I got changed and returned to my room. Or Elizabeth's. To me it didn't matter. I decided my options were a) sleep on the floor and look like a right jackass since there was nothing on my bed or b) try and swap beds with Elizabeth. Mine was flat and lumpy. Elizabeth's was a picture of glamour with filmy curtains/ Why couldn't I have gotten that considering the total non-coverage of my night wear? I decided I'd go for a, my reason? That I liked sleeping on the floor occasionally. Lame I know, but what else could I say?
I took the spare sheets from the end of my bed (in case I got cold during the night) and made a temporary bed. I snatched the pillow (the horse can't get everything!) and went to sleep. The night was moonless and the swishing of the plants outside lulled me to sleep.
~*~*~*~*~*~
There were screams all around. A frantic voice in the background was telling everyone to stay calm. I felt cold, clammy arms grip me and lift me, high, high, higher. Get your filthy hands off me, I wanted to say but the words didn't come out. Stop it! But once again all that come out was silence. Voices in the background were saying, "She's lost a lot of blood from a gunshot wound. We need urgent assistance." I woke up from the blackness but could only see through hazy eyes filled with fog. There was red rivers pouring down my body, it felt sticky but warm. I looked down at my shoulder and there was a gaping hole filled with blood and I had to stop myself from gagging. It hurt, it hurt....
I woke up with a jolt and looked around. I was still on the floor in Jesse's house and that had just been a dream but I knew it wasn't. I had felt the connection. For a short while I had been there. This combined with all the crap that was my life began to get to me.
I started crying quietly into my pillow. If anyone heard me they'd think I was homesick. I mean why else would I be crying? It wouldn't be because I'm not in my proper time but if I was I would be dying of a gunshot wound? Also that in this time my only contact with the outside world (or should I say time?) didn't even recognise me? And that the ghost of a dead horse was the reason I was sleeping on the floor? I had to face facts. I either had to do this on my own or else I would never get out of here.
While I was thinking these self-pitying thoughts I heard creaks coming from outside the room. I tensed and stopped crying wiping the tears from my eyes. The door creaked open and I heard someone enter the room, padding lightly to my bed. I felt someone kneel down and place their hand on my shoulder. I tried to scream thinking maybe someone was coming to kill me and then someone place a hand on my mouth...
Author Note: The fluff factor hasn't been high yet but it's coming!