Chapter 3 - Right Back Where We Started From…
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Bright sunshine greeted Rebecca as she slowly opened her eyes. The angry black sky had been replaced with one of a brilliant blue. Small fluffy white clouds floated serenely in the air above her.
Shielding her face from the blazing sun, she stared at her surroundings in a daze, unable to make sense of what had happened. Her head pounded and she massaged her temples moaning softly. As she became more coherent, a strange unease took hold of her.
"Oh Lord!" she murmured. "It's not possible?"
As if on cue above her in the sky, she heard the approaching thunderous roar of a large jet passing by. Blinking a couple of times, she tried to come to grips with what she knew had happened.
She was home.
Somehow, Michael was still wrapped around her chest and he began to whimper. Sitting up slowly, she smoothed a lock of chestnut hair off his forehead.
"Ssshhh baby…what's wrong?
He looked up at Rebecca. "Where's papa, momma?"
Rebecca froze. Turning and looking around, she replied, "Oh God! Ezra!"
Her mind screamed as she suddenly realized he was still in the past. She had returned to her century, but he remained in his…locked away from her by 145 years.
"No…" She whispered under her breath. "It can't end like this…not like this."
Silent tears blinded her as she hugged her son. How would she ever find her way back to the man she loved more than life itself" Brushing at the tears on her face she made a silent promise, she would find her way back to her love…no matter how long it took.
Heaving a deep sigh, she stood for a moment adjusting Michael on her hip; she began to look for Sarah and Mary. They needed to decide what to do and where to go. She already had a good idea on where to go.
It didn't take Rebecca long to locate her sister and Mary. Both of them were laying close by. Sarah was on her back with Rachel cooing and gurgling serenely on her chest. Mary and Billy also lay nearby, their arms wrapped protectively around each other.
Starting with Sarah, she touched one of her arms, trying to gently revive her. "Sarah…can you hear me? Wake up…so me some life."
Emitting a soft groan before her eyes fluttered open, Sarah stared up into her sister's face. "Rebecca is that you? Oh my head really hurts."
"Yeah, it's me. Try sitting up for me."
Her sister took a moment before doing what Rebecca suggested. Rubbing one side of her head, she managed to keep her arm around the baby. She moved her head left and right of her before saying quietly, "We've back, aren't we?"
Rebecca nodded. "Yes…we are. I'm gonna go check on Mary and Billy. Be right back."
"Okay."
Going over to Mary and Billy, she repeated the process again to awaken her friends.
Sitting down on a rock, Rebecca placed Michael in her lap. "We need to decide what we should do first."
Sarah rocked Rachel back and forward in her arms. "We must call Mom and Dad. We should let them know we are still alive."
Shaking her head, she replied, "Not yet. We don't want to give them a heart attack. What do you think would happen if we just showed up? I think we ought to call Emily. If she hasn't moved she could be here shortly."
"Who's Emily?" Mary asked in a quiet voice.
Turning to look at her friend, she noticed for the first time Mary face looked pale, her eyes wide.
"Are you alright?"
Mary offered her a wan smile. "I'm sorry…I guess I'm finding it hard at the moment. I'm missing Chris and wondering what's going to happen to us, wondering if we can ever find our way back?"
Rebecca sighed. "I know. I'm missing Ezra so badly it physically hurts, but we will find a way home. As to who Emily is…she's been my best friends since grade school and our bass player in band Gypsy Moon. We need to find some place where we can make a phone call. Phone booths were few and far between in our time, but if we can find some place where I can charge mine or if can find a phone I can get in touch with her.
Mary asked, "What is a phone?"
"Phones are a way of contacting people, businesses, or just friends. That's why I need to find one to contact Emily."
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After resting a bit, the weary and frightened women trudged toward the main road. Rebecca felt sure that showing up after being missing for four years was going to cause three kinds of hell with their family, friends and the authorities…not necessarily in that order. Still they had little choice. Luckily she had her knapsack with her phone and wallet inside. It was the only money they had and it was going to be desperately needed.
It didn't take them long to reach the original road where she and Sarah had first arrived. From there, they continued to walk for another two hours until they reached the main road of the highway. Thankfully, it was a rare day where it wasn't hot, but they found the walking was a bit rough.
They had been at it for about an hour when an older pickup truck stopped ahead of them. Mary and Billy had been finding most of the vehicles to be intimidating as they zipped by them on the road, but when this one pulled over, Rebecca quickly approached it.
An elderly man leaned out the driver's side door saying, "You ladies seem to be in need of a ride…my wife and I are on our way to Albuquerque…can we offer you a lift that far?"
Rebecca smiled. "We would really appreciate that."
"Well then, just hop in the back and we'll be on our way."
Rebecca, Sarah, Mary and the children crawled into the truck bed, settling themselves in for the ride. As they rode along, Rebecca leaned over to her friend, "You been really quiet since this all began…are you alright?"
"You know I've always tried to imagine the kind of world you and Sarah came from, but I guess my imagination didn't do justice to what I've seen so far. I'm certain that this is only the tip of the iceberg…am I right?"
"Yes, when we reach Albuquerque I'm sure you'll think you have landed on another planet. I wish there was a way for me to prepare you, but…"
Mary gave a half-hearted smile. "Don't worry, Billy and I will be fine as long as we have you and Sarah to help us through all of this."
After a long drive they finally arrive in the outskirts of Albuquerque. The elderly couple found a fast food restaurant that thankfully had a working phone booth. Thanking them as they drove away, Rebecca decided they needed to get something to eat then give Emily a call.
The group took their time eating and relaxing…letting Billy and Michael decompress from everything that happened so far. While her sister and friends were finishing up their meal, Rebecca went out to make her call. She really hoped her friend still lived in the city or at the very least; she still had the same number.
The phone rang four times before the well-remembered voice picked up. "Hello."
"Hi Emily…bettca can't guess who this is?"
There was a long pause before she said, "Who the hell is this? It's not funny whoever it is!"
"It's me…Rebecca…your best friend. I've come home."
"Rebecca was my best friend in the world and I don't find this a bit funny."
"It really is me Em. What can I do to prove it to you?"
She waited for her friend to remember her voice. "I'm not trying to be funny. Don't you recognize me? Sarah and I really need your help…please."
The phone line crackled a bit then she said, "Rebecca and I knew everything about each other. Let me ask you some questions."
"Okay… ask away."
"How did we meet?"
"We met in the 5th grade."
"Who did we date in High School?"
"We dated a pair of twins, named Jack and Jerry Hawkins."
Stopping the conversation again for a moment, Emily then said, "You could've found this stuff out…who did you lose your virginity to?"
Rebecca snorted. "When you knew me, I was still a virgin. As funny as this may sound, I was saving myself for marriage."
Emily made a strange noise before quietly saying, "It's not possible. Is it really you Bec?"
Tearing up a little, she replied, "It sure is Em. Sarah is with me too. We have quite a story to tell you. Can you come pick us up?"
"Oh God! I can't believe it's you. Where are you?"
"We are in Albuquerque, not far from the Hyatt Regency on University Blvd. Are you still living in the city?"
"No, I live in Santa Fe now, I have something I can't get out of today, but once I get myself ready, I will be right there. Look for me tomorrow morning."
"We are going to check into the hotel and clean up, ask for Rebecca Standish at the desk. I can't wait to see you."
"Me too! I can't wait to hear your story."
As the two old friends disconnected, she swipe a few tears from her face as she came inside the restaurant.
Sarah looked up from rocking Rachel. "Was she there?"
Rebecca nodded. "She was and once she takes care of a few things, she's coming to pick us up. She's living in Santa Fe now. I told her we are going to be at the Hyatt across the street. We will get ourselves a room and clean up then wait for Emily. Let's go."
As the group walked towards the hotel, Sarah glanced at her sister. "Do you have enough money on you to pay for a room?"
"Plenty. One the day you and I drove to the canyon, I withdrew a bunch of money from the bank. To this day I still know why I did it, but I guess as it turns out I'm glad I did."
As they entered into the hotel for the first time Rebecca suddenly noticed all the strange looks she and the group were getting. Why had she not thought of this before… their clothing was making their group stand out. Still, there was not much she could do about it now…they just endured the odd looks, checked in and went to their room.
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Their tired little band entered their suite, taking a long look around. It was large and could accommodate all of them comfortably.
Rebecca put Michael on the floor as he and Billy back to explore their strange new environment. Sarah placed Rachel on the bed surrounding her with a bunch of bed pillows. Kissing her daughter's forehead she stretched out beside her, quickly falling asleep.
Collapsing wearily in a chair, Rebecca watched as Mary began to look around investigating the bathroom, and the rest of the place. Finally she sat down in a nearby chair looking over at Rebecca.
"So what now? Mary asked.
"Emily will be arriving early tomorrow morning, so for the rest of today we will rest up, eat and relax. Then after Em gets here we need to get some new clothes for all of us. We've already started to attract attention with our current attire."
Looking at the TV in the room, Rebecca said, "It's been awhile… I want to see what's going on in the world." As she turned on the set, she sat back down going through the different channels, pausing then moving on.
Mary leaned forward, staring at the brightly colored box in from of her. "What is this?" she asked in a near whisper.
"It's called television or TV for short. It's a way to view people, places and news stories from all over the world or just here locally. It's also for entertainment."
Billy and Michael came back into the room staring at it; mesmerized by the sights and sounds it was putting forth. Mary too seemed taken in by everything it was displaying.
Rebecca finally settled on watching some local news before the national and international news. The kids stretched out on the rug watching with great fascination. It didn't take her long to back them away as the boys were too close to the screen.
Mary was equally interested. "This is being reported around the world?"
"For the most part, yes…this century is much more complicated than the 19th century. I wish I could explain it all, but it might take me a lifetime to explain and still you wouldn't understand."
As they continued to watch, Rebecca changed the channel again, landing on a music video station. At that moment, they began to play one of Gypsy Moon's videos.
"Oh my…one of our music videos." She gazed at the video as a host of memories flooded her head, taking her back to when it was recoded.
"That is your band?" Mary asked.
"Yes…there is Emily, my best friend, JoJo, Kristy, Lindsey, myself and Sarah. That was one of our first big hits. That takes me back."
Mary looked at her friend. "So explain what a music video is to me."
Taking her time, Rebecca tried to explain it was a way of displaying a group's music for people to hear and enjoy it. Also for them to purchase. Mary nodded her head as if she understood, but Rebecca wasn't really sure if she truly did.
As the day wore one, the group ordered food to be delivered to their room. Afterwards, the children were put down for the night as Rebecca, Sarah and Mary chose a place to sleep for the night. It had been a long and trying day…tomorrow, Rebecca felt would be another.
Eventually, she let her exhausted mind shut down, and drift off to sleep. Her last conscious thought was of Ezra and if she would ever see him again.
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Ezra approached her out of the mist…putting out his hand to take hers.
'I miss you Becca…I'll wait for you, my darlin girl, and our son. Please find your way home to me. I love you so much.'
'I love you too Ezra. Michael and I miss you so much. I promise I will do everything in my power to find my way back.
Ezra…Ezra?'
Rebecca reached out toward her husband only to see his figure recede into the mist.
'Please don't leave me Ezra! No! No! NO!'
Rebecca bolted upright in the bed, clutching at the air in front of her. Raising a shaking hand to her face, she could feel tears coursing down her cheeks. Carefully so she wouldn't wake anyone, she got up and quietly entered the bathroom shutting the door.
Flipping on the light, she turned on the faucet, splashing cold water on her face. Reaching for a towel, she caught sight of her face in the mirror. Her eyes were red and puffy from crying.
"Oh God…" she whispered, "how I miss you Ezra. How will I make it without you?"
A gentle knock on the door startled her. Straighten up, she opened it.
Mary was waiting outside. "I saw you weren't in bed and the light was on the bathroom. Are you alright?"
"I had a dream that woke me…so I came in here to wash my face."
She nodded. "As tired as I am, I'm having trouble sleep too. I fell asleep for a bit, but my thoughts keep going round and round…trying to come to grips with our situation. Now I know how you must have felt when you first arrived in Four Corners."
Sighing, Rebecca returned to her bed. Crawling back until the blanket, she said, "It was rough for awhile especially after I learned where we were…so I know this can't be easy on you."
Mary sighed as well. "I'm missing Chris so bad. Do you think we will ever find our way back? As wondrous as this century appears to be, I just want to get back home."
Rebecca teared up. "Even though this is where I am from, I want to go back as well. My life is there now…Ezra is there. We will find a way home?"
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The next morning after eating breakfast, Rebecca, Sarah and Mary gathered around the table in the room discussing how they needed to find a way back.
"Maybe we should wait until Emily gets here, then we can decide what to do after that. Right now we haven't a clue how to get back to our loved ones."
A knock at the door interrupted their chat. The sisters glanced at each other as Sarah walked over to the hotel room door. She slowly opened it.
It was Emily.
She hadn't changed in the four years that they were gone. She was still the raving beauty that made every man fall all over themselves to get her attention. Her long ebony hair was pulled back into a ponytail and her deep green eyes seemed to stare right through you.
She took one look at Sarah and threw her arms around her. "I missed you."
Rebecca got to her feet waiting for friend. She could feel tears welling up in her eyes.
Turning loose of Sarah, Emily saw her best friend and moved toward her. The two of them embraced each other. "Oh my God, Bec…I can't believe it's you. We all thought you were dead." She whispered.
"Nope…still alive and kicking!"
Tears streamed down both their faces finding it hard to stop hugging each other.
Michael toddled over, pulling at her mother's dress. "Momma…what wrong?"
Looking down at the little boy, Emily was stunned. "Momma?"
Leaning down, Rebecca picked him up perching him on her hip. "Nothing's wrong sweetie. I'm just real happy to see an old friend."
Smiling at her friend, she said, "Emily, I'd like for you to meet my son…Michael. Michael, this is my very best friend Emily Scott."
Smiling at her, he said, "Emanie?"
"Close enough." She giggled. Setting him back on the rug, he wobbled back over to Billy. The two of them went back to watching TV.
Emily seemed to be struggling with her new information before getting out, "But how…when…what happened?"
Putting her arm around her friend, she led her over to a large couch in the other room.
"Have a seat Em…I have a lot to explain to you. I know you have a million questions and I will tell you about all of it."
Taking a deep sigh she began, "On the afternoon of June 23, I made Sarah take a drive with me away from the city to a little spot I found…"
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Over the next three hours, Rebecca, along with Sarah, tried to explain what happened to them on that sunny afternoon in June. From the storm that sent them to 1876 to falling in love with two men, marrying and having children with them.
Rebecca was very thorough, trying to remember everything she and Sarah had been through living in Four Corners. Even how they still performed music.
"So that's our story Em. I know it may be a lot to swallow, but every bit of it is true."
Emily sat in stunned silence, trying to digest everything the sisters told her. It was a lot to take in.
Finally, she looked at her best friend. "Incredible…absolutely incredible. If I didn't know you so well, I'd swear you were lying, but how do you think it happened?"
Shrugging her shoulders, Rebecca sighed a little. "Sarah and I thought about it for some time when it first happened, but I have to admit the more we thought about it the more we felt we were going crazy. After a time we both thought it had to do with that canyon. That strange storm, how fast it came up, the wind, the lightning. I felt that it opened a portal between our time and the 19th century. I suppose it acts like a key, unlocks the doors…creating a passage. When you're close enough to that area it sucks you in. Of course, this is pure speculation on my part, but as this happened both times to us…"
Shaking her head, she said, "Utterly fantastic! I bet you're glad to be home."
All three women exchanged glances.
"Well…yes and no." replied Sarah. "Yes because we can let our family and friends know what happened to us…and no because we want to go back. We just have to figure out how."
"Go back?" Emily sputtered. "Why?"
"Our lives are there…our husbands." Rebecca replies.
"But Bec, you are from this time…you were born here."
"I know I was and there was a time I would have been grateful to return home, but Emily you have to understand…I love Ezra, we're married…we have a son together. He is the love of my life and I have to find a way back to him."
Emily nodded her understanding. "I do understand, but you might never be able to find a way back. You'd better start thinking along those lines or you'll go crazy."
A stubborn look crossed her face. "There is a way back…I know there is. And I'm gonna find it."
"Well until you do, what do you plan on doing now?"
"Sarah and I have talked it over and if it's at all possible…we want to get the band back together. Think the others are available and would they be willing to hitch up again, knowing that it would only be for a short time…until we can find our way home."
Emily chewed on her lip slightly. "It will probably take a little doing, but I think it's possible. When ya'll disappeared we looked everywhere for you. Lindsey, JoJo and Kristy were just heartsick and Jack…well he just about came unglue."
Rebecca nodded. "Well we want to see all of them as soon as possible, but first, Sarah and I need to our folks and our brothers."
Sarah agreed.
"I can understand that. Your folks didn't understand when you and Sarah couldn't be found. Your father was sick for a while, and they refused to hold a funeral because they didn't believe ya'll were dead."
Rebecca got a pained look on her face. "How are our folks now? Have you seen them recently?"
"I saw them this past Christmas. Since my folks are gone, they've treated me like their own. I think having me around helped ease their pain alittle. Both of them are doing fine. I honestly don't know how they will react when ya'll show up."
"That was the reason we called you first. We don't want to upset them by just showing up. We thought you might be able to sort of ease the way in for us." Sarah replied.
Emily smiled gently. "That is probably a good idea."
"Good." Rebecca smiled back. "The other thing we need to do is purchase some new clothes. Currently what we have on is already drawing too much attention and we want to keep a low profile."
"I agree. We don't want some paparazzi discovering the two of you and plastering it all over the internet or the news before your parents find out."
Mary asked, "So what is the paparazzi?"
Sarah turned to Mary. "The paparazzi usually are freelance photographers who pursue celebrities to sell pictures for money. Unfortunately, there are a lot of them out there."
"I get the impression just from the little I've seen on the…" she struggled with the word for a moment. "television, some things get a great deal of attention. Am I correct?"
Emily nodded. "Yes and not all of the news is newsworthy. So we just need to be careful and not attract a lot of attention. When ya'll disappeared, it was talked about for weeks. If you suddenly reappeared it would be a HUGE news story."
Sarah sighed. "Oh great!"
"Let's go do our shopping quickly in one of those big box store where we can get lost before heading for North Carolina. I want to see Mom and Dad." Rebecca nodded.
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Laura Dannon stared out her kitchen window as she went about washing the breakfast dishes. She could hear the gentle tinkle of piano keys emanating from the study as her husband Jake worked on a new song. A smile crossed her face as it had been some time since she heard the sound of music in their house…ever since the disappear of their daughters, Rebecca and Sarah.
It had been four years since she had been told that her two children had turned up missing in the New Mexico countryside. Four years and not a day went by that she didn't think of her girls. She refused to believe they were dead…she would have felt it in her heart.
Drying her hands on a towel, she walked into the study watching her husband writing a few notes on a sheet of paper. Her husband had taken the disappearance of their daughters badly. He had always been close to their girls. When they both developed the same love of music that their father had, he had been elated.
While he loved all four of their children equally, he was thrilled to have two of them that he could share his music with.
When his girls because musicians, forming a band he did all he could to support them. No man could have been prouder when they became famous. He kept a scrap book containing every picture, news article and magazine that he could find.
Laura heard a gentle knock on the front door, turning her attention away from her husband. Walking away from the study entrance, she approached the living room and opened the front door.
"Emily…what a wonderful surprise. I wasn't expecting to see you. Come on inside." She hugged the young woman.
Smiling, Emily hugged her back. "Well I'm here because I have a special surprise."
Pointing toward the corner of the house, she said, "Come on out."
Puzzled, Laura stepped out onto the porch.
Coming around the side of the house walked Rebecca and Sarah. There were a few others with them, but all she saw were her two girls.
"Oh my God!" she whispered as she ran toward them. Throwing her arms around both girls, she began to sob uncontrollable.
Rebecca and Sarah hugged their mother tightly too crying with her.
Confused by Rebecca's emotions, Michael held onto Mary's leg as she also held Rachel in her arms for Sarah. She wiped a few tears from her own eyes at the emotional reunion.
"Where? How?" Laura asked in a choked voice.
Trying to control her own emotions, Rebecca said, "It's a long story Mom. Let's go inside and see Dad and then we can explain."
"Is Daddy in the house?" Sarah asked.
Still brushing away her tears, Laura replied, "He's in the study, working on some new music. It's the first time in four years he's attempting to write something. When you girls vanished, it broke his heart. Come on."
Following the group into the living room, she had them sit down going to get their father.
Taking a deep breath, she opened the door to the study again. Smiling, Laura said, "I need you to come into the living room."
Glancing up from his writing, he gave his wife a puzzled look. "What's wrong Laura. You seem agitated."
"Just come with me for a minute Jake…please."
Sighing, her husband stood and followed her out of the room.
"So what is this about…" he stopped in the middle of his sentence. Staring into the living room he saw his daughters - Rebecca and Sarah. He thought for a moment he was losing his mind.
Walking toward them as if in a fog, Jake could feel tears roll down his face as he put his arms around both of his daughters.
Rebecca was shocked by her father's appearance. In the four years that she and Sarah had been gone, he had ages significantly. His auburn hair was now snow white and his once youthful face was aged and lined.
Jake held onto his girls, afraid to let them go. He began to wonder if this was a dream and would he suddenly wake up and find out they were still gone.
"I can't believe you're really here. I always knew both of you were out there somewhere, but a part of me felt I may never see you again."
"We're here Daddy…we're here!" Sarah cried. "And we have so much to tell you."
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Rebecca placed Michael gently on the bed pulling the covers over him. Brushing a lock of his hair off his face, she kissed him softly and closed the door behind her. She gave a tired sigh as she sat down near her mother in the living room.
I still can't believe everything you and Sarah have told me. It seems almost unbelievable." Her mother looked at her as she spoke.
"I know it does Mom, but it's all true." Turning her head, she asked, "Is Sarah feeding Rachel?"
Laura nodded. "She's in her old bedroom taking care of her. Your father left to give your brothers a call…to tell them the news. I'm sure they will be as shocked as we were." Her mother half smiled. "So let me get this information straight…both you and Sarah are married in the past…you to a man named Ezra Standish and Michael is your beautiful little boy. Sarah to Vin Tanner and Rachel is their daughter…is that right?"
"That's right Mom. Michael and Rachel are your grandchildren. I know this is a lot to take in, but I hope you and Dad will love them also."
"Oh honey, you know we will, but…" her mother got to her feet pacing a bit. "I suppose I'm still trying to understand why you and Sarah want to go back. You're home now...you're not stuck in the God Forsaken past. Why on earth do you want to return there?"
Gazing up at her Mom, she sighed. "Because…my heart is there…Ezra my husband, Michael's father is there…does that make any sense to you?"
"But what if you aren't able to find a way back Rebecca? What if you are stuck here permanently?"
Rebecca stood up shaking her head. "That spot in the New Mexico desert sent us back into the past…that same place somehow returned us. It would seem that spot is the key. Sarah and I love both of you, but our hearts belong to two men 145 years in the past. I know this might be hard to understand, but we belong there now with them. And whether they find us or we find them, one day we will be together again…I can promise you that."