A/N: I'm starting to get frustrated with the alternate timeline. The next chapter will be the one before splitting. Can any of you readers out there please give me some feedback? Do you even like the story or are the clicks in the stats only a small peek in the story before you decide it is wasted time to read? Please give me a sign, even if it is only three words that there are some who enjoy the story.
Chapter 5 - Storm clouds
17th September 1815 - Hartford Police Station in the wee hours
MIKE
He heard the key in the lock - the nasty scratching of iron doors being opened. They would come and beat him again or whatever Hazard's mind came up with today. Mike tried to hide deeper, covering his naked body with his hands as best as possible, and started whispering pleading prayers again.
A warm hand touched him. Mike jerked away afraid.
"Mike? It's me, George. Let me help you."
George? Did they capture him too? He looked up in fear, this could be a trick. "George?" The man really did look like his friend. Desperately he grabbed George's lapel. George, get me out of here, please. They're coming. I wanna go home. I wanna be safe … please …" Mike hid in George's jacket like a scared boy. His friend felt familiar and comforting. George wasn't wearing his hunting clothes but fine things like for a wedding. Wedding … the word reminded him of something.
"Mike, what's wrong? Where are you in your mind? Nothing will happen to you. I promise. We are home, well nearly. We're in Hartford police station. You beat up some assholes and they locked you away to sober up. Calm down, okay? I'll stay with you. Here, I thought you might need your clothes."
Mike tried to understand what George was telling him. He inspected the clothes his friend offered. They were his. He had worn them at the wedding. The wedding of Wade and Clara. He had seen Diana. Oh, God, he had slept with a whore in the Old Barrel. Then a fight. Mike remembered. What had he done? He had betrayed her, himself, and even Wade's trust in him to behave by ending up in jail for doing the opposite of dealing with it like an adult. And Bastian. Oh no! He had hit him, maybe broken his nose. He was so pathetic. Mike had no idea how his friends could put up with him even for a single day.
"I'm sorry," he said, defeatedly.
"It's okay. Come, I'll help you get dressed."
George helped him into his shirt under hissings by Mike. His rib burned and stung with every breath.
"Are you injured? Should I ask for a doctor, though I haven't found any open wounds on you? These bruises on your cheek look older, I guess they go on Bastian's bill." George asked concernedly, offering Mike his vest.
Mike slid one arm in. "I deserved the punches from Bastian. The officers might have broken one of my ribs but it could've happened in the fight too."
"You wanna tell me why, of all the assholes in the world you searched for trouble with the Nelson Brothers?"
"I didn't search for trouble. They begged for it, storming into the girl's room where I was too, hitting her. What would you have done?"
"Hm, probably the same. Hope you didn't kill one of them." George said, closing the last button of Mike's vest.
"What now?" Mike asked, looking ashamed at his friend.
"Now we have a cozy night in the cell together. I wonder why we two never did this before," George joked. "You could trust me with what happened to you in Quebec that you didn't tell us about for a start."
Mike leaned on George, who brought an arm around him. Then he closed his eyes exhausted. "What happened in Quebec, huh? Nearly getting drowned by the Nelsons and being in a cell just took me back there. The alcohol did the rest for a perfect illusion."
Mike snuggled in George's arms, telling him how he was punished for the escape attempt. Beaten naked until he just wanted to die. Left alone freezing to death in an open prison cell in winter. Burned and branded like a cow and drowned afterward.
Mike cried for what he had lost; for what he had gone through; for what he didn't have anymore. Completely undone, he soon fell asleep in his friend's comfort for the rest of the night.
*** EST ***
WADE
Originally the Tanners had planned to stay the week. Wade was sad to say goodbye to Diana and Cole the day after the wedding. Marcus had told him he needed to be back at his business. Something that didn't have time had to be done.
Wade had felt a deep connection to his nephew. And even at only two years old, Cole's character was so like Mike's he sometimes forgot he was not talking to his Brother. Clara was crazy about Cole too. She would be a good mother.
The Wilmingtons, except for his father, were all gathered in the yard to say goodbye to Diana and her family. His father was so unbelievably stubborn; Wade hadn't thought it possible. He also wondered a bit why Marcus had suddenly taken such an interest in Cole, but saw it as a good thing.
"Have a safe journey home, sister," Wade told Diana, kissing her on her cheek and a short hug.
"Take care of your family, brother. And keep an eye on him," Diana said, meeting his gaze meaningfully.
Wade knew she was talking about Mike. He would check on him as soon as the Tanners left. He had worried all night about Mike. He hadn't gotten any message from George yet. He'd have to ride to Hartford to convince himself that everyone was okay.
The carriage left the yard and Wade and Clara waved hands until they were out of sight.
He turned to his beautiful wife. "Clara, would you excuse me for the morning? I have to check on Mike. I'm worried about him."
"Did you feel something through the Triad connection?" she asked bluntly.
"I should have known you knew about the connection."
"Of course I know. But it takes no fancy magic like that to see how hurt Mike was yesterday to meet Diana. I'll accompany you."
Wade was dumbstruck, staring at her. She gave him a cheeky smile. "What? Forgot that you married me yesterday? In good and in bad times I'll be at your side, remember? You knew you would have to share your life with me from now on, even your friends. Mike is my friend too. Let's check on him." Then she turned toward the house. "I'll get dressed in my riding clothes. It's a perfect day for a ride, honey, don't you think so?"
*** EST ***
DIANA
Diana was in disbelief at how perfectly Marcus could play his role as the caring father. She wondered when he would show his true ugly face, not just to her but also to Cole.
She thought back to yesterday when she had seen Mike standing next to Wade during the ceremony. Her heart had beaten so hard, it felt as if it would burst free from her chest. Later when she ran into him, he had been so caught off guard, so hurt. Could it be that he still loved her even if there was no way for them to be together anymore? It had been the right choice to write to him. Maybe she should have found better words of solace for him. Or maybe better words to let him know that she still loved him fiercely. But would that have done anything good? She had to think about Cole now.
Suspiciously she watched Marcus reading to him. She had seen through Marcus' charade. He was jealous of Mike. Jealous even though nothing had happened. When he had married her, Marcus thought he only had to compete with a dead man. But now he had seen Mike very alive and by God, he looked forbidding, good, and dangerous. Diana was sure she was the only one who read his bitter expression for what it was - a badly broken heart.
Mike's words came to mind, '... I found nothing the way it should have been'. She should be with him. Cole should be with him. Should she run away from what was her life now? What life could Mike offer her and Cole when they would have to run away?
It was senseless to think about this now. She had to make sure Cole wouldn't fall for Marcus' farce of being the nice Daddy. She didn't know why but she didn't want Marcus to be with Cole too long. He was hers. The only part of Mike she had and she would not allow Marcus to take him away from her.
*** EST ***
MIKE
He slowly woke. He felt sore and hungover. What had happened? He opened his eyes and found himself in George's embrace and them both in a cell. He remembered. George had told him they were in Hartford in jail. Slowly the memories came back to his foggy mind. He rose from the uncomfortable position on the floor and rubbed his eyes. George woke up too by his movements.
"Hey, part. You okay?" George asked.
Mike only harrumphed approvingly and tried to get up but failed miserably. Hissing in pain, he felt his rib hurting so damn much it was like someone had stabbed him. "Argh. Daingead!"
George was at his side instantly. "Easy. Sure you don't want to see a doctor?"
"Aye, sure!" he answered, pissed. "It's nothing a quack could make any better."
George raised a brow but didn't comment on Mike's bad mood. "How about I'm gonna try to get us a ride out of here? I could use a hot coffee and a Summers' breakfast, what do you say?"
Mike held his rib in pain. "That would be like heaven at the moment. Let's go home."
George shouted for Hector, who came yawning full-heartedly. "Good Morning, troublemakers. Hope you had a cozy night." He grabbed the bars, studying Mike for a moment. "I see you calmed down, Campbell, You are a handful when drunk, you know? You can be glad I'm a forgiving person so you don't have to worry about the pretty shiner you gave me."
Mike looked up, the man had a deep violet black eye. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hit you."
Hector waved him off, looking at George. "You keep an eye on your friend. Next time he does something like this he will see the judge for sure, got me?"
Geoge nodded at the man. "Don't worry. I will."
The policeman opened the door and let them go without any problems.
Outside Mike asked Geroge about it. "You know the police guy?"
"Yeah, well sometimes it comes in handy that I lose money at the poker tables, don't you think?"
They arrived at the Summers' newspaper office twenty minutes later and entered through the backdoor. Eva Summers was already up, preparing breakfast. She turned when George entered with Mike looking like he had been in a cage fight.
"Geez, Mike! What happened?" She stopped working and hurried to them, taking Mike's cheeks in her hands to inspect the damage on him. "We worried about you all night. Where have you two been all this time?" she asked scoldingly.
Mike felt unworthy of Bastian's mother's worry and hoped she didn't know that he probably had broken her son's nose. "'m sorry, Eva. Is Bastian awake?"
"I think not. He was waiting for you half the night. I heard him walking through the house until 4 in the morning." She ushered them to the dining table and had two steaming cups of coffee in front of them before they had time to get settled. "I'll make you a proper breakfast and you'll feel better soon." She turned to George. "Will you stay for lunch with us, George?"
"Yes, thank you, Mrs. Summers."
"I told you to call me Eva, my dear."
"Yes, Eva. I'd love to stay for lunch," George smiled brightly at her.
After their breakfast Mike excused himself to his room. His ribs hurt so badly and the comfort of his bed was very alluring.
Not long after he had retreated to his room, George knocked and entered with his crafter bag in hand. "Let me at least bandage your ribs. You'll sleep way better then."
Mike nodded and sat up in bed, taking his shirt off. He had taken it off so often lately in the presence of his brothers that he hardly felt any shame anymore.
"It's your left side?" George asked.
Mike nodded and let George take a closer look. George pushed here and there until he nodded, satisfied, and started to wrap a bandage tight to stabilize the broken bones. "It will heal. It will only hurt badly for a while."
"People say that to me a lot," Mike answered, depressed.
He had wounds on his body and his heart, even on his soul, which hadn't healed in over a year.
"Did you ever think about covering these burn marks with a tattoo?"
"No, do you do tattoos now?"
"No, but I have a friend from the US Navy who learned to do them. He does a great job. How about a protection symbol. I'll show you. It would cover the burning."
"hmm. I'll think about it."
George grabbed a piece of paper from the little table in Mike's room. With a coal pencil he started scribbling the image he had in mind. "It would look like this. I saved Wade's ass with this. It's an anti possession symbol." He handed Mike the paper.
"Thank you, George. Let me rest now. My headache is killing me."
"Okay. I'll see if I can help Eva."
*** EST ***
BASTIAN
Bastian woke in the late morning. He heard George talking with his mother downstairs. He needed to talk to George. He hoped he'd found Campbell yesterday and they'd rather have stayed with George than here. Bastian knew Mike hadn't meant to hurt him on purpose. He got up and studied his swollen nose in the mirror. "Man, Campbell. You have a mean hook," Bastian told his reflection.
He went downstairs. His mother didn't know that Mike was to blame for his nose. He had told everyone except for Wade and George that he had stumbled and hit his nose on a stone bench at the Wilmingtons.
"Good morning, Mother," Bastian said, giving his mother a quick kiss on her cheek.
"Good morning, my dear. George and Mike came home earlier. Mike looks horribly. I think he got into a fight. Will you check in on him later? He went to bed. George is helping Robert in the printing room."
"Of course, Mother. Good he is home."
After breakfast Bastian went to the printing room. George looked up from setting the letters of the new page. "Bastian, you missed quite a trip."
He came closer to his friend and started helping him. The boys had been taught the business since they were young by his father. He had always enjoyed the boys around and now had good helping hands in them. "Tell me what exactly did I miss."
"Hm, do you want to hear about Mike having a sexlife again or how he managed to get us locked up in Hartford jail for the night?"
"You two were in jail? Are you both alright?" Bastian asked, concerned.
George chuckled, "Yeah, more or less. And I would have thought you'd ask about his visit to the brothel of the Old Barrel first."
Now it was Bastian who chuckled. "I always thought it not a good idea to have a brothel in a place called Old Barrel." They both laughed at the joke until Bastian got serious again. "Why did you spend the night in jail?"
"Actually I only accompanied Mike there. He got into a fight with the Nelson Brothers."
"Are you serious? You two are real troublemakers."
George looked hurt, "I didn't have any part in that yesterday. Actually I helped calm the waves. It was our luck that I knew the policeman."
*** EST ***
WADE
He loved that woman. She was vibrant, wild, beautiful, and adventurous. Wade had trouble keeping up to Clara as she rode ahead. On the other hand she was friendly, caring, and forgiving.
"Come on Wade, you'll be beaten by your wife!" Clara shouted back at him. He didn't mind giving her the feeling of having the upper hand in their relationship. He knew she would never do anything to hurt him.
Clara made it to Hartford first and was already off her mount when Wade, out of breath, pulled the reins of his stallion. "Congratulations, my love. What do you want as a prize?"
She beamed at him in joy. "I already have my prize. Let's check on your brothers."
They were at the Summers' for about an hour now. Enough time for George to tell them everything that had happened after Mike left.
Wade blamed himself. He should have taken Mike's concerns more seriously. His friend had begged him to take Bastian or George as his best man but Wade hadn't listened. It would have been better for Mike if he had not been forced to play a part at the wedding.
Bastian suddenly got up. "I'll go and wake him up. He deserves to have at least a short uncomfortable night for my nose."
George was about to get up too to stop Bastian but Wade held him back. "It's okay. Bastian has already forgiven Mike. Don't worry."
George sighed, "He needs something to do that isn't connected to her or his time in prison. Any good ideas?"
"I'll think about it, George," said Wade. But honestly he had no idea what to do about Mike's obvious depression. He wanted his Brother back. The always happy soul who cared for others more than for his own good. He knew this man was somewhere hidden behind all this hurt and pain.
He knew it would probably take some time to overcome all these bad things that had happened to him but he would not let him down - no matter what. His frustration over the topic didn't stay unnoticed by Clara because she reached for his hand and squeezed it supportingly. He smiled at her gesture. "I'm sorry, honey. I should have time for you the day after our wedding and not dragged you here to deal with this difficult problem with Mike."
She added her other hand on Wade's. "Don't worry. There is no problem with Mike. He is just hurt and feels alone. We will not give up to show him that he is not."
*** EST ***
MIKE
Mike heard the other's voices in the kitchen. He was ashamed to look into their eyes. He just stared at the wall of his room and stayed in bed hiding in his covers until he heard the door slowly opening.
"Mike, are you awake?" came Bastian's voice from the door.
Mike tried to sit without hissing in pain from his rib. He had to at least apologize for his outburst yesterday. "I'm so sorry, Bastian. I don't know what got into me yesterday. Please forgive me."
Bastian looked at him for a split second before he entered the room and closed the door behind him. "My nose isn't broken, how is your jaw?"
It doesn't hurt nearly as bad as my ribs. So I guess it is also not broken."
"I shouldn't have let you provoke me like that. You told all of us that you didn't want to be at the wedding for exactly this reason and I still acted stupidly."
Mike looked at his friend ruefully. "So are we good?"
"Sure." Bastian came over, taking a seat next to Mike. "Wade and Clara came. They were concerned about you."
Mike let out a frustrated breath. "I only bring trouble to all of you. How can you put up with me? I wish I had never gone to the Beltane with you that night."
"You don't know, if you wouldn't have ended the same way. God has a plan for all of us. We'll figure yours out - together." Bastian pulled Mike into a sideways hug that made him hiss in pain.
"Ouch," Mike complained.
"Sorry, you know love hurts."
Mike grinned weakly at him.
"Come on, let's go see the others. They all came for you. You should at least show up," Bastian advised.
Mike sighed defeated. Bastian was right. He had to focus on what he had - people who cared about him. He had to focus on keeping them safe and not bring more trouble to them with things he couldn't change anyway.
*** EST ***
22nd September 1815 - Wilmington Farm
WADE
Prescilla entered the hallway. "Samantha, go and get Wade's rain jacket. It's going to rain, my hip is aching much worse today."
Wade turned to his mother. For God's sake, he was twenty-four, married and had taken over the farm business for nearly a year and still his mother ordered him to take a jacket with him as if he was a school boy. He was not made of sugar - it was only a bit of water. What could possibly happen from a little rain. "Mother, I can decide for myself if I need a jacket."
Clara came into the hall too and smirked amusedly over them bumping heads. She stepped closer to him and whispered into his ear. "Come honey, do your mother the favor and take it with you. I'll repay you later for keeping peace in the house." She placed a kiss onto his cheek with a passionate twinkle in her eyes that washed Wade's annoyance away in an instant.
Without a word to his mother he took the jacket from Samantha's hands. "I'll take that as a promise, my love," he whispered back.
"Don't be too late for dinner, you know I put a lot of effort in the preparations for the autumn equinox," Clara reminded him.
*** EST ***
WADE
An hour later all four friends were gathered in the printing room where they usually did their research. It had been quiet for a while in the supernatural world and Wade had a bad feeling. He asked for a meeting today to see if the others had heard anything. Mike and Bastian had gotten back only yesterday from a trip south to one of their contacts, but they also had no news concerning any hunts.
Later that day they would ride home to the farm to have dinner with Clara.
Mr. Summers entered through the front door, dripping wet and leaving a puddle where he stood. Of course Mother had been right and it had started raining. To his shame he had to admit he was grateful he had taken the rain coat with him because it looked like the end of the world outside.
"Uagh. What damn lousy weather today. I haven't seen this much water falling from the sky in my whole life," Robert said. "If it keeps falling, like this it's going to be a bad harvest." He hung his still dripping coat on the rack and came over. "What are you up to, boys?"
"Ah, nothing special, dad. You haven't any news about something weird going on do you?" Bastian said.
"You mean weirder than this monsoon? No. Sorry. We should make preparations so that our cellar will not get flooded if it keeps raining."
Mike got up, he was restless since the wedding and his breakdown, "I'll take care of that Robert. You better get dry clothes on you. We don't want you to get a cold."
"You sound like Eva sometimes," Robert said, giving Mike a thoughtful look while they both stood at the clothes rack, one dripping wet the other preparing to head out. Robert stopped Mike before he walked through the door. "Be careful, son." Mike gave him a smile.
Wade hadn't seen him smiling for quite a while. Maybe this was all Mike needed to find his balance again - the feeling to belong somewhere; a bit of affection from someone he looked up to. Wade was grateful that the Summers had taken Mike in like he was their own son. He wished his parents were friendlier to him. He knew his father's words had hurt Mike more than he admitted.
He had grown up with Wade. Mike had thought they accepted him as the good soul that he was. Though Wade was sure Mike had never believed that Henry Wilmington would give him his daughter's hand all too willingly, it had never crossed Wade's mind that his father thought this low of his best friend and Brother.
He had talked to his father before the wedding, telling him Mike would be his best man. Henry had berated Wade about that idea, had talked himself into a rage so badly that Wade feared his father would suffer a new heart attack. In the end Henry had not even shown up that day, even when Clara asked him to come out with them his father had said 'no' though he never denied his new daughter a plea.
"I'll be with you in a minute, Mike," Bastian said, ripping Wade out of his memory.
Wade had to fix this, only he had no idea how to do it.
„George, Wade, would you help me with the paper packages while those two are outside?"
„Of course, Robert," Wade answered.
*** EST ***
MIKE
They were drenched in less than a minute from the deluge pouring down on them. Mike even considered not changing before they went to the Farm or he'd have to change twice. He was nervous about the feast Clara had invited them to. He knew she meant well but he felt like he was being led to the slaughter. He was sure the topic would be Diana at some point during the evening and he didn't want to speak about her.
„MIKE, WE NEED MORE SANDBAGS!" Bastian shouted at him.
The rain was so loud he only understood Bastian because he knew what their job was outside. He turned to the shed where more prepared sandbags lay. The water already began to collect from small rivulets to little creeks flowing into the yard from the plasterwork of the street. No one was outside today if it wasn't necessary.
The young men were provided with a bowl of hot broth afterward which they gladly accepted. Their clothes hung over the rack to dry. There was no way they would have dried quickly. Mike sat sheltered with a warm blanket near the fireplace in the kitchen, brooding about the coming evening.
*** EST ***
BASTIAN
Wade entered the room. „Gentlemen, we should ride now. The rain lessened a bit, it might be our only chance to get more or less dry to Wilmington Farm."
Eva took him by the arm, „Bastian, I would prefer you would stay the night at the Wilmingtons. I don't want you out at night in this weather."
„Mother, Mike wouldn't want that. It is a wonder that he even accepted the invitation."
„Tell him I said so, he listens to you. If you don't promise me that you'll stay there I will be worried sick all night about you two."
„Okay mother. I promise. We'll see you tomorrow."
Bastian closed his coat and grabbed his hat. He saw his mother turning to Mike now. They were only two paces away so that he heard every word they exchanged.
„… please, my dear. It is no big deal. You would do me a favor if you stay at the Wilmingtons tonight."
„Eva, don't make me promise you something like that. You know how I feel about that. Mr. Wilmington hates me. I only go today because Clara begged me to come."
„Mike, please. You wouldn't allow your Brothers out there in that weather. You are not the only protector here. So please make sure you stay there if the weather doesn't get better."
„Eva, you fight unfair."
Bastian saw his mother's pleading gaze and knew she had Mike where she wanted him. He would not deny her the request.
*** EST ***
WADE
They rode along the tree-lined road toward the main house of Wilmington Farm. Wade couldn't wait to get into warmth again. Clara had been overly excited to have them over as guests. He would have Samantha prepare the guest rooms for Bastian, George, and Mike. It was too long since he had them all under his roof. Maybe tonight would make a difference and Mike and his father would finally bury the hatchet. There was nothing to fight about anymore. Diana was married, no one even assumed that Cole wasn't Marcus' son, and though completely drunk, Mike had found some solace in the arms of a whore. It was a start. Maybe his friend would start living again soon.
Gabe waited for them on the veranda to take their horses into the barn when they arrived. „Good evening, Gentlemen. Mrs. Wilmington sent me to wait for you."
„Good evening, Gabe," Wade said and handed him the reins of his horse. „Thank you."
They headed inside and got changed first, before they met the others in the salon.
„Wade, Darling, you are just in time," Clara came over to greet everyone with a bright smile on her lips.
„Hello, my Love," Wade said, giving Clara a kiss. He turned to his parents, already at the table. Wade was glad Clara had managed to get his father out of his room to join them; he had no idea how she had managed that.
The evening went well without even once talking about Diana. Clara had made sure Mike and Henry didn't sit close enough to each other to talk and also on the same side of the table, so that they had little chance to see each other.
After dinner his father and mother retreated to their rooms and they started playing cards and talking about politics, the coming harvest for the farm, and the Brotherhood business.
Clara won the poker game triumphantly smiling and George couldn't stop wondering how he got played off by a woman. It amused Mike who knew how cunning Clara was at games.
They headed to bed an hour past midnight and Wade was satisfied how the evening had gone. He grabbed his wife around her waist, pulling her close, „You did good, Mrs. Wilmington. I think you have earned a reward."
She smiled at him. „Yes, I think I have. How about we guide our guests to their rooms and you can reward me then? I have to have a word with Mike before he retreats to his room."
*** EST ***
MIKE
Clara and Wade brought them to the upper level where they had let the guest rooms be prepared. Wade had changed the rooms in the house completely. Mike was grateful that he was not placed in Diana's old room, though still unsure if he should have better slept with the horses than stay in the house where he was sure he would not get any shut-eye.
Clara stopped him in the upper hallway, pulling at his sleeve. „Mike, can I talk to you for a moment?"
The others were joking at Bastian's door about something. Mike felt uncertain. Did he do something wrong today? He had tried his best to keep peace this evening. "Aye, what is it, Clara?"
„I know there is probably never the right time but I thought it best to wait a bit after what happened at the wedding. Diana trusted me with a letter for you. I don't want to keep it any longer. Here."
Clara held a letter with his name on it toward him. He stared at it before he reluctantly he took it, feeling his heart beating faster in his chest. He didn't know what to say and just kept staring at the envelope.
„Take your time. You don't have to read it now. Good night, Mike."
Mike nodded and entered the room. Leaning on the closed door, he let out a long held sigh. The room was quiet, only the neverending rain was still pelting down on the roof of the veranda. Mike went to the window, staring outside with the letter in hand. The weather mirrored his soul. He hated having his heart drowned in the rain of tears. He didn't want to read whatever was in this letter. He just wanted to forget.
Crushing the envelope in his fist, he felt the tears running down his cheeks unbidden even before he had opened it. If he hadn't promised Eva he would stay here tonight, he would have left long ago. First thing in the morning he would ride home no matter what his friends said.
Mike couldn't think about sleep. He didn't even try. First he paced the room, then he stared for nearly an hour outside the window. He was driven back and forth to break his promise and just leave. He heard the clock in the hallway banging two o'clock. He headed to his bag. Mike needed something to calm his nerves. All too soon the flask of Whisky was empty and he could no longer resist knowing what Diana had wanted to tell him. He ripped the envelope open and unfolded the paper inside.
Dear Mike,
I'm truly sorry how this all ended for us. I wish I had waited for you, really. But as things are I can not turn back the clock. The only thing I can do is wish you the best and to move on without me.
I want you to be happy again. To find love again. I don't know if I'll be able to say this all to you at the wedding. So I wrote it down, maybe I didn't even find the right words on paper.
I hope you can forgive me for being so fainthearted not to say these words to you myself.
You will always be my first love, no one can take that away from me.
My soul will always be with you.
Diana
That was everything? What had he thought she would tell him? Move on without her? Was it this easy for her? Angrily, he crushed the paper into a ball but regretted it instantly. Carefully he brushed the paper straight again and pulled his diary from his bag to secure Diana's words in a safe place. He thought for a moment to write a passage in the book but decided against it, only storing it away again. He would sneak out as soon as the first light of day hit the area.
He made it until six in the morning before he strapped his bag on and headed out. He met Samantha sneaking out of Georges' room in the wee hours. He gave her a smile and a sign to understand that they both wouldn't talk about meeting in the hallway in the morning.
Mike made it outside without another encounter. While hurrying to the stables he saw the wind had increased overnight. The branches of the orchard were shaken heavily by the wind. He should hurry back to Hartford. He glanced to the south western direction where a massive dark storm front was chased toward the area. The hues of light already on the horizon looked strange. He glanced back to the dark clouds behind him. If he didn't know better he could swear he had seen something big had been whirled around by the wind in the far distance. He should hurry.
Inside the barn Mike turned to the stall where his horse was. He didn't even open the stall door, when he noticed Wotan dancing uneasily. „Ho, buddy. It's okay. It is just a little storm out there. Easy." Mike tried to calm his horse without much luck. The other horses in the stable began getting nervous too. Something was wrong here.
Suddenly there was a crack that rushed through the roof logs, Mike felt the power of natures force pulling on the whole stable. The wood creaked under the onslaught of the storm outside. Thunder and lightning struck somewhere nearby. Then a loud crack made the horses whine and neigh in their stalls and Mike jumped a step back from the entrance. „What the hell…" just in time to not get hit by the huge tree branch that broke from the old oak outside, crashing through the roof, which came down in a mighty roar.
He was too late; the storm was already there. Rain, dirt, leaves, small wood parts and god knows what else hit Mike. He'd never felt such a force of destruction thrown at him before.
TBC
A/N: Please let me know your thoughts.
