Morgan is scraping and crawling along the hard, cold corridor like knives stabbing into flash. Morgan is in the deepest part of the shadows along those corridors, reaching and ever stumbling. "You think you won, my friends?" His voice was clawing, grating against the very soul of the inter-chamber of darkness. He picked and picked himself up and found his notebook on the hard, cold floor. "Think again," as he slumps against the corner of the shadows. "For I have just begun," as his eyes pierced red. He jumps through the pages, rolling back his head, laughing that shakes the very depths of your soul. Then turns and dissipates into the corridors with a trail of laughter whispering. "I see you, Mr. Wells."
* * * *
"Well, that's everything, Sheriff, and everyone, Wayne," said Mr. Grams, looking back at the empty field once known as Cracken, handing Sheriff Whitmore, and Downing the roster. "Yes, sir," Mr. Grams said, loading his wagon of the last of the tents. "We have built ourselves a mighty fine town down in New Downing. Just in the nick of time, look at this sky and those mountains here. I'd say we are in for one heck of a winter. Well, I better get this load back to town, or the misses be wondering where I'm at if you know what I mean?" he replied, tipping his hat.
"Thanks again, Mr. Grams," Wayne said, shaking his hand and watching him go down the road. "Well, boys?"
"Yes, Pa."
"Better hurry up with that and tie it down good," Pa said as the wind started to pick up a little more. "And before the rain starts in."
"Yes, Pa."
"Robert, have you seen EJ and Will?"
"They were in the barn bedding down the horses, Pa."
"Thanks, Robert."
"Well, Kollie," Wayne said, shaking his hand. You better get you and your boys home before it starts to blow any worse, or Renee will have my hide," he said, looking at the sky. It's going to be a dosey," Wayne whistled. We'll be over next week, me and the boys, and we'll see if we can help mend some of those fences for you," he replied.
"Thanks, Wayne," Kollie replies.
"Hey, that's what friends are for, Kollie," Wayne said, waving for the boys to come before it got any worse. "Pewee," Wayne said, looking outside, shaking his coat off at the front door.
"It's a nasty one out there," Pa said, standing by the fire to get warm. "Have the boys come in from the barn, dear?" he asked.
"A few minutes ago, dear, why?" Ma replies.
"Just checking, that's all," Pa said, looking outside the window again.
"Dinner will be ready in an hour or so, dear, if you want to wash up," she said as she leaned over to kiss him.
"Thanks, dear, man, I'd sure hate to be out in that storm," Pa said, looking out the window, watching the trees twist around and listening to the wind howl.
* * * *
"Come on, you old ornery good-for-nothing horse. We weathered more storms worse than this," Mary said, looking at the sky. "The boys are counting on me. Yah! Yah!" Mary rode hard down the road to find Doc Whitmore across the gully. "Wow, Noily!" Mary, seeing the river, has jumped its bank. "Come on, old girl, we got to get across," as she turned back, finds a little forge in the broken road. "Come on, girl, like your life depends on it. YAH! YAH!"
She jumped off the ditch bank, nearly missing as the horse's hind legs almost lost her grip, and started up the steep incline of the ravine. The rain poured hard on her back as she reached the farmhouse and leaped off the horse. "Doctor Whitmore!" Mary yelled, looking like a wet dog. "You got to come quick. It's Betty. We're stuck out in the storm, and she collapsed about half a mile up the road, Doc."
"What in tarnation was she doing out in the middle of this weather?" he said as he grabbed his coat and car keys.
"Sorry, Doc. The roads and phones are out," she said, heading towards the horse tied to the porch, soaking wet.
Kollie yells for the boys. "Let's go," he grabbed his bag and headed towards the barn with boys for the horses. Yelling orders to his boys, sending Frank off to Downing's for help and Mark off to New Downing for Doc Hatfield. Renee grabs all the quilts in the house and loads them in the wagon out in the barn; Peter hooks up the wagon. Mary and Renee are off in the wagon down the road, following her husband in the storm as it picks up strength. They all head down the road.
* * * *
Peggy and Donna were in the car with their grandmother, staring out the window at the storm. "Grandma, I am scared," Peggy said.
Grandma put her arm around her as lightning flashed and the wind howled around them. "It's alright, sweetheart," Grandma said as she tried to comfort her granddaughters in the car. "If it makes you feel any better, Peggy," Grandam said, looking her straight in the eye. "Grandma is, too, a little," as she gains back some of her composers. "But Grandma won't let anything happen to you. You know that?" She said as she patted her hand, kissed her cheek, and leaned her against her side with Donna on the other.
Grandma stared out the window, seeing the storm-blackened skies and sleet coming down and hitting the windowpane. "I knew I should have called first, but no, I had to get in a hurry again," she said, looking down the road towards the direction of the farm. "Even though it was important," she patted the letter in her purse. "It would have kept for another day or so," she said, watching the weather outside. "Why couldn't that fool-hearted woman left well enough alone?" she said, holding her two grandchildren in the car. "Wanted them home for Thanksgiving, she did, and the state granted her request, and Danny, too, as long she behaved herself, not gone half-cocked as she done before. Pewee, as Grandma sits and stews about the letter in her purse, granting rights for them to come home. "They never seem to learn, do they, Peggy?" She whispers in her ear. "That Grandma's right," she said, kissing her on the head again.
"Who, Grandma?" Peggy said, looking up at her.
"Nobody, child, nobody," she said as they stared out the window at the storm.
* * * * *
Frank crossed the field down the road to the Downing farm, racing round the bend, "Yah! Yah!" He leaned against his horse to weather the storm as he rode, seeing the farmhouse ahead. He enters the farmyard, and the boys see him through the window as they race to the door to let him in. "My Pa says to come quick," Frank said, nearly out of breath to Wayne and the boys. "It's your grandmother; they're stuck out on the road somewhere and need our help."
Wayne looked at the sky, shaking his head as he grabbed his coat and hat. "Martha looks like we'll be late for supper," he said as he and the boys headed towards the barn for the wagon and the horses. Frank relayed the message to Martha and the girls and quickly warmed himself by the fire. Martha found him some dry clothes to wear, but he was already out the door with the boys heading down the road.
Julie and Anna shook their heads, looking out the window. "Gather all the extra quilts you can find, dear, and towels, and start heating the water," Ma replies.
"Yes, Ma." "Foolish boys," she said, looking out the window and sighing. "What was she thinking?" she asked as she watched the lightning strike the sky with a great, loud, big boom and flash of light.
* * * *
Riding through town as fast as he could, Mark leaped through wet fields and crossed the little stream to New Downing; just ahead, he saw Doc Hatfield through the window, smoking his pipe, reaching his doorstep. "Sorry, Doc," Mark said, grabbing his arm. "I was told to come getcha," Doc found his coat and hat.
"Not again?" Doc said, shaking his head, looked out the window.
"No, Doc, wrong person," Mark said and smiled. He's fine, I think?" And pushed Doc towards the door. It's his grandmother, I think. That's what they said, and all I knew, Doc, was that I was to come to get you. So's, you coming', or am I going to have to?"
"Alright, alright!" Doc said, rubbing his backside from the last time. I am coming, but if you wouldn't mind, I'll drive, son." Doc said as he hooked the horse up to the carriage outside around the back. Now then, hold on tight, son," he flicked the reins off the buggy.
They came to a hard gallop and were off to the races down the road. "Now, son, where I come from," Doc said, turning his head towards Mark and rubbing his backside. "We just don't trust up doctors like Thanksgiving turkeys―no-siry bob," he said as he flicked the reins on the horse and raced down the road. "We treat them with a little more respect." As he quickly turns around the bend, the wheel lifts off the ground, and Mark's face gets splattered with a little mud.
Doc flicked the reins again. "As I was saying, we Docs like a little respect now and again." Pushing hard and fast, he leaped guile with the buggy with a hard thud and a splash, soaking Mark to the bone on one side with water coming out of his boot while Doc kept talking. He flicked his wrist as the horse kept on going down the mud-filled road.
* * * *
Renee, Mary, and Peter pushed hard with Pa in the lead, seeing the car pointing to the falling tree blocking the way. "Grandma, Grandma!" Peggy and Donna point to the people down the road. "Look, Grandma, here they come." Grandma sighed with relief. Kollie nods to Mary, seeing the car as they draw closer.
Grandma rolls down the window. "It looks like I got myself into a pickle again, old friend," she said as she tried to laugh.
"We noticed," he said, pointing to the car and the tree in front. We'll have you out in an instant," Kollie said as he tried to look her over inside the car. Betty, I'm afraid I will have to leave the car here for the night," he said, feeling the storm as the wind started to grow even colder around them.
Betty nodded and sighed. "Doc, I am too weak to walk, so what choice do I have?" she said as he helped her to the wagon.
"You could have stayed home," he said as he tried to smile back.
"I can't," she said, patting her purse with a frown. Doc Hatfield and Whitmore bundled up the girls in the wagons. They all headed back to the Downing farm. Martha found dry clothes for everyone and sat them by the fire. Betty handed Martha the letter to read. "Martha, it came a few days ago while you folks were in Salt Lake," she replied.
Dear Sir or Madam:
It is upon our information and records that have been given and requested. You may be granted, in accordance with this statute 1470, to have your children Peggy Stuart, Donna Stuart, and Danny Stuart return to you within provocation statute 1470 by November 10th with full visitation rights within said parties. Regarding EJ Stuart's provocation, visitation, and recommendation from said parties, it should be restored and granted as of October 17th…with supervision only statute 1841 within the rights of the Foster Parent or Guardian and with the State Board of Health. Mrs. Jennings by November 1st. Please feel free to contact me regarding this matter if further questions arise.
-Mr. C. Barns. State Board of Family Service.-
-Mrs. Barbra Jennings State Board of Health.-
"They want us to do what?" Martha said as she passed the letter to Wayne to read, looking outside at the storm and down the road. "They got to be joking?" Martha said as she read it again, "but that's in two days," Martha replied, watching the girls and Danny playing with Sam in the corner of the room. "And I thought Mr. Wells was EJ's caseworker. Who is this Barnes character?"
"I know, dear, I know," Grandma said.
Grandma is helping Martha pack Danny's suitcase on his little bed down the hall. "It will be ok, Martha," Grandma said, trying to put a positive spin on the situation. "He still will come and visit EJ," she said as she tried to smiled, "and he won't be that far from you," Grandma replies.
"I know," Martha said as she wiped the tears from her eyes, "it's just not the same."
"Look, the holidays are coming, and things are improving a little," Grandma said as she put her arm around Martha. Martha nodded.
"Yes, you are right, Grandma. She does seem to be" swallowing hard, "having changed," she said as she looked down the road. "Are you sure we are not making a mistake?" Martha sighs. After all, they have been fooled before, and once they think we aren't looking, they do something, knowing that just like the times before, they'll get away with it.
"You know what, Mrs. Jennings said Martha," as Grandma also tried to reassured herself.
"I know the holidays make a difference, and we must give her a chance."
"Yes, easier said," Grandma said, looking out the window down the road. Martha hugs them each before wiping her tears and watches Grandma take them back home.
It seemed that her farm was empty again as she looked at the house, minus one little boy looking back one more time. "I do hope he's going to be alright," she replied softly.
* * * *
Linda was inside the house pacing back and forth on the carpet with Mrs. Jennings sitting on the couch watching the clock tick by. "Linda, please stop worrying, they'll be here, she promised," Mrs. Jennings said, looking at the clock.
"I know, but it's been a long time since they've been home," Linda replied as she looked out the window, wondering. "Where are they?" Double-check that everything is ready when her children get here. Eyeing Jim out in the yard―Yes, he promised her, and things have improved as Linda looks towards Mrs. Jennings on the couch. Linda smiles as she sees the car pull up to the driveway and her children inside, yelling for joy. "They're home!" As she wipes a tear from her eye, running to the door to greet them, "My angels are home," she said.
"Mama, Mama." Peggy and Donna raced up the house's stairs into her mother's arms, kissing her on the cheek.
Linda picked up each child, holding them with tears running down her cheeks. "Oh, how I missed you all," she said as she embraced them at the door. Welcome home." Linda picked up Danny in her arms and carried him into the house. Yes, you are finally home, my little boy," she whispered in his ears, kissing him on the head, then closing the door behind her. I have won at last!"
Ms. Jennings set down the ground rules before leaving, looking at Jim and Linda. "Now then, the Downing's have kept their word," she said, watching the children play among themselves down the hall. "I expect you to keep yours," she said, looking at the two of them.
"But―?" Linda replies.
"No buts, Linda," Ms. Jennings said, staring down at her.
"He stays where he is at for now. No more of this foolishness either," she said, looking at the files' reports. "For now, you have all you can manage; we will be watching," she said as she stood. "Now then, give me a hug before I go; I do have other children to see," as she wipes a tear from her eye. "And you, sir," looking at Jim. "No more, and don't you dare mess things up. I worked hard to get this woman this far," she replied.
"Yes, ma'am," Jim said, peering down the hall, then out the window. "I'll try," as he sighed.
"Not to worry, Barbra; he won't," Linda said, giving her husband a stern look. Then, she walked her to the car.
"Oh, Linda, before I forget, I think it might be a good idea if you spend Thanksgiving with Downings this year. That way, you could spend more time with your other son. Of course, that means you, sir, better be on your best behavior," Ms. Jennings replies.
Jim's eyes widen. "You want me to what?" His voice grated into half a stern, looking at
Mrs. Jennings. "That's right, dear. You heard me. Just a couple of hours is not going to kill you," Jim said, looking straight at her as if she had fallen out of a tree. And you, too, Linda, now then I really should be off," she said, leaving them standing there.
* * * *
"Let's see," Martha, Aunty M., counting chairs and plates at the table. "I do believe that's everyone," Martha replies.
"Ma?" Julie said, setting the last of the napkins. "Grandma said she was on her way and would be here within the hour."
"Thanks, Julie, Aunty M. Did you set a place for Steve and his wife?" Martha asked.
"Yes, Martha, stop worrying," she said as she stirred the gravy again. Martha watched her family busy themselves around the house.
"I just love the holidays," she said as she smelled the turkey and set the rolls to cool. She sighed.
"Those pies look so good, Ma," Robert said, sticking his finger in one and testing the sweet drippings on the side of the crust.
"Alright now," she said as she swatted his hand and smiled. Go tell your brothers it's almost time to wash up," she replied.
"Ok, Ma," he said.
Martha looked out the window, seeing everyone arriving on schedule. She took off her apron and opened the door for Grandma, Richard, and the aunts. "Come in, come in," Martha said quickly as she gave everyone a hug. "Wayne's out in the barn, Richard," she said after kissing him on the cheek. If you want to tell him that you are here," she said.
"Thanks, ma'am," Richard said, looking around the farm. "It feels good to be back," he said as he took a deep breath.
"Richard, mind helping me with this other table?" Wayne asked.
"Yes, sir, I thought it was big enough," Richard said, looking at the second table.
"So did I, Richard, so did I," Wayne said as he laughed, looking towards the house. But you know women," he shook his head. It's never big enough."
"Now then, that's better," Ma said as the boys cleared the room for the other table. Ma smiles, looking around the room; everyone laughs as if she said something funny. "Well," Martha said as she giggled at herself, patting her stomach. "I do have a house to fill," with a little color in her cheeks.
"Yes, dear," Pa said and kissed her on the cheek.
"Ma, Steve just called. He says he's running a little late," Julie said.
"Thanks, Julie," Ma said, crushing the ice for the punch.
"Is there Anything else I can do, Ma?" Anna asked, looking around the room, and then set the rolls on the table.
"Just tell the boys to wash up, dear," as she carves up the turkeys and sets the dressing on the table.
Two more cars pull into the farm, Steve's, and Martha yells for Wayne, "Oh my. "Dear, it looks like we have more guests coming," she said worriedly.
"Who, dear?" Wayne asked.
"Didn't I tell you? I invited EJ's folks here, too, this year," Ma replies.
"You did what?" he said as she left him standing there.
"Come in, come in," as Martha waved to Steve and everyone, "don't be shy; we won't bite," she said as Danny rushed to Martha, Ted, and Sam at the door.
Steve gave them all a little push towards the door with a final glance at Jim. "Remember the best behavior," he whispered, then waved back to Martha at the door.
Wayne is trying not to panic. He watches them come closer to the house and crosses his fingers at the same time.
"Come on, dear," Linda said, giving Jim a little tug. "A couple of hours isn't going to hurt," she said, watching him swallow hard.
"Yes, dear," he said, grumbling, following them all inside, watching Wayne swallowing hard.
EJ, flying down the stairs to greet Danny, his grandmother, and Steve at the door, stopped abruptly, seeing his father and Steve instead in the doorway. His eyes went wide with fear as their eyes locked. Pa, watching EJ at the foot of the stairs, stood right next to him. "It's alright, son," he whispered. I am not leaving your side for an instant; we talked about this," he said.
EJ tried not to show any fear in his voice. "I know, Pa, but this wasn't on the menu, as I recall," he replied.
"No, son," Pa said, looking at Ma out of the corner of his eye and back at Steve. It wasn't."
EJ slowly backs away from the door, nodding to his father with his eyes. EJ stands firmly next to his Pa and whispers, "Ok, Pa, but I am not leaving your side," taking his hand. Pa nods,
"Agreed," looking at EJ and smiling and trying not to smirk and sigh.
Linda took Jim's hand with a worried look, and his mother took his coat. "Make yourself at home," she said while watching everyone with his eyes.
Wayne leaned over to Steve, whispering, "Did you have something to do with this?" Wayne asked, watching EJ and his parents.
Steve shakes his head. "No, I found out myself this morning," he said, looking towards his mother across the room, busying herself with her sisters in the kitchen.
"I see," Wayne said, rubbing his head. "I wonder," as he whispered something in the air to himself like half a payer. Wayne casually walked over to his wife in the kitchen to taste the turkey. "Martha, dear, is there something you want to tell me?" Wayne asked, watching all the people in the dining room.
"What, dear?" she asked with a smile, plating the last of the turkey and handing him the platter. I just thought it would be nice to have a nice family Thanksgiving, dear, that's all," she replied.
"But?" Wayne replied with a strangled voice.
"But what, dear?" she asked as she turned― "Oh, that?" Looking at EJ's folks in the living room. "It's not going to kill you, dear, they wouldn't dare," she said, giving him a questioning look and not at all that comfortable with the idea herself. "Now then, please see to our guests, dear; I don't want to keep them waiting," she said, leaving him standing there.
Martha looks around the table down the rows at this large group and sighs, "Oh, I hope Mrs. Jennings is right." She shakes her head and looks at EJ, sitting with worried faces beside Pa and his brothers. She looked across the room with his folks on the other side of the room.
Martha tries to smile and make the best of it. Clicking the glass with her butter knife brings her little family to order. She tries to stand with a little help from Wayne. "Thanks, dear," she said as she patted her stomach. "Oh my," she smiled. "Normally, I would let my husband do the toast," she said as she looked down at him. But I wanted to do it this year." She pats him on the cheek with a smile, and he nods.
"Yes, dear," he said as they all laughed. He knew who actually ran things in the family, and he wouldn't have it any other way.
"Now, with that being said." Ma smiled at her family with a tear in her eye and looked at each of them. "It has been quite a year," looking at EJ and his folks and little Danny sitting beside them. "We have all have come a long way," as she dots her eye with her napkin. "And some further than others," looking straight at Linda and the girls. "I just wanted to say thank you and welcome to our little farm one and all as we close this season with new hope and wonder." Raising her glass, "And to less mischief, if it can be helped,"
Martha smiles, knowing full well and her boys as she looks them straight in the eye, it will be unavoidable that we will deal with it when it comes. Everyone raises their glass at the table to toast to the strange new beginnings of another year of the Downing Farm.
Aunty M. nods to Betty, looking towards EJ's folks. "I still think there's something very wrong, Betty," Aunty M. said as she looked out the window as the shadow passed by the house. Betty nods in agreement and sighs, looking at Jim and Linda. The coldness runs up and down her spine to the point that it almost fills the room, even though the fire is roaring in the fireplace.
Jim and Linda Stuart, watching with eyes locked on the Downings across the table on the far side of the room and one little boy smiling as if nothing was wrong, looking at his aunts and Grandma. "What, Grandma, what?" Danny replies.
"Nothing, Danny," Grandma said, leaning over to kiss his head, "eat your turkey," and sighs.
* * * *
Morgan watched through the window of the Downing Farm, his eyes pierced red, knowing that his Dark Prince waits for a new rebirth as they search for the prize foretold, and he reigns once more over the light. "For what is hidden behind the looking glass, the boy inside must find. For it is the way out, or he will be forever trapped in the corridors of time." Morgan laughs as he nods to Margaret as she looks down the road. Not even she is aware of her own destiny or why Morgan and his master Hess want to make certain that her own prophecy doesn't come to pass.
Book 3: What's Behind the Looking Glass Series?
(The Coming of the Storm) was published in Winter 2024.