Grandma was hoping Nathaniel or Doc might know where Linda was, and they were willing not to expose her out in the open unless she had to. Betty knocked on the back of Nathaniel's house, and Granny came to the door with her scattergun and looked out the window. "Who is it?" she asked.
"It's me, Betty Stuart?" Betty replies.
"Can't be. She's gone, long gone. Now tell me the truth, or I'll fire this thing right in your face," Granny said.
"Now listen here, Granny. If you fire that thing, you just might not miss your toe this time."
"How would you know about that? I am 'asken's' ya?"
"Because I was there when you did it the first time."
Granny looked through the curtains, then opened the door, and says. "Betty, what on earth? What are you doing back down here?" she asked.
Betty looked at the shotgun. "Right now, trying not to get my head blown off."
"Heck, it's not even loaded. I think," Granny smiled. Granny sets the gun to the side, closes the door, and whispers, "You know you're not supposed to be here."
"Yes, I am not supposed to do a lot of things, and they will tell me that, and they have been telling me that for years. I just got something stuck in my craw, if you know what I mean."
Granny sighed, looking down at the hall where Ned was asleep. "Yeah, I do. He's going to miss that gal terribly. He's already like a sick pup. I tried to tell him there were more fish out there, but he only had eyes for that one. Go figure."
"You know you could always send him up there before they leave. We are not leaving for at least a week."
"No, It's best he gets over it with it now rather than later. Pour, kid. So why are you here, and I know you are not here to shoot the breeze with me?"
Betty nods. "I need to find where Linda Stuart is."
"Linda Stuart!" Nathaniel walks into the house and sees Betty jawing with Granny in the hall. He checks the house's windows and sides, ensuring the coast is clear. "Betty, what?" Nathaniel said, shocked, raking his hand through his hair. "What are you doing here? Have you gone completely out of your mind?"
"Sorry, you feel that way, Nathaniel," Betty said, standing up to him in the hallway. "I just felt I needed to do one last thing before I went." As Betty paced the floor, watching his eyes. "I need to see Linda and have her see her boys, if it is even possible, before we all go to parts unknown."
Nathaniel's eyes hit the ceiling, then back at the floor and back in his head: "You what?"
"You heard me! She needs to know they are all right. She has that right. It's not right to keep her wondering, scraping the bottom, as it were."
"She can't, and you know why?" he replied.
"Yes, because we all look like this," she said, pointing to her wood-elf self. Well, if Jayden had made it possible for Doc and the Mayor to see them who they were hiding, they and everyone else would know them. He can do it again just for her, right?
"Yes, but that was different. Their minds were ready to accept the impossible; hers may not be, and she is even a greater threat knowing it."
"Yes, I understand that, but right now, she will not go forward until either she has one of them back or both, which could take months or years or never. In the meantime, her daughters, as they are, will grow up without their mother. Right now, they are thinking they don't need her, but in time, they will. I doubt she will ever forgive them for what they have done, but she still loves them, for she is their mother."
Nathaniel paced the hallway, realizing she had a point in this regard, but convincing Jayden may be harder. Even the Downings themselves, for a moment, let her see her sons one more time, which may be more trouble than it is worth. Nathaniel paces and then decides on a course of action. Betty was unhappy with the idea, but it was better than nothing.
Nathaniel did not take any chances and grinned when Betty climbed on her horse. "Now then, you will just gallop right back to camp," Betty smiled wickedly. "Where else would I go dressed like this, like a wood elf?"
"Exactly!" Nathaniel whispers to the horse to take Betty straight back to camp. No matter how hard she tried to turn him or fall off the horse, she could not move until she was back at camp, falling on the ground in front of Jayden's tent. Hearing a message from the horse's mouth drops in Nathaniel's voice drops the message into his lap.
Normally, you would hear screaming inside the tent, but all you got was silence as Jayden cast the wall of silence around them that night. Jayden read the message from Nathaniel about Betty and his plan as he went through the roof. It was bad enough that she left camp alone in the first place to take a trip to New Downing. Then, to find out what she had in mind as, he looked across the tents.
"Well, it's only fair." Betty tries to pleaded her case for Linda's sake.
In the end, there was a compromise as the wagons left the camp for supplies. Two boys and Aunty M were driving one wagon, and Captain Tweed was driving the second wagon, with their boys hidden under the seat compartments. Nathaniel led the way into town with his people, who were planning on staying to live in New Downing.
The Mayor and Nathaniel's men met them on the road, welcoming the group to their new home with celebration banners as he strikes up the band for them. It was a grand celebration as he told everyone white lies that the new arrivals coming in were from out of town from across the state, looking for a place to call their own, some from Canada, some as far away as England across the sea. The mayor looked up towards the camp where Jayden was. If they only knew how far as he glanced at his wife.
The mayor shook hands with everyone, picking up children and handing out candy as they all squealed with delight. Nobody noticed, as one wagon stopped long enough for two boys, an aunt, and their father. Then they slipped out, heading towards an old farmhouse down the road. Pa carried EJ and Aunty M carried Danny inside the house as they waited for Nathaniel to bring Linda to the house.
Nathaniel slowly made his way through the crowd, searching for Linda and seeing her sitting in the corner alone. She watched the people go by with her soldiers by her side, unmoving. Betty was right; her life stood still as she waited for something to happen. Nathaniel walked over and put his arm around her. Whispered in her ear; she watched her eyes light up like a Christmas tree as tears formed in her eyes. "Is it really true?"
Nathaniel nods as they enter her cottage; he looks her straight in the eye. "Are you sure you're ready and willing to believe anything is possible?" he asked her. Linda nods her head with tears as it breaks her heart, now knowing she can only see them.
Nathaniel summons his staff, and as he opens a gate with a flash of bright light, they enter the old farmhouse by the road. Linda looked around the room and saw her boys sitting together beside Aunty M and Wayne. Linda was overwhelmed as she looked at her sons sitting there, rushed over, and fell to her knees next to them. EJ did not shirk back for the first time as he let her touch him. But it was not enough for Linda to see them. As she tried to take Danny off the couch to hold him, he screamed for his Pa, reaching out to Wayne.
Linda didn't understand why he was screaming like a frightened child, for she was his mother. Wayne quietly takes Danny and strokes Danny's head with his right hand. She held him in her arms, and tears fell from her cheek. Linda could tell something was wrong as she looked at both boys. They didn't feel the same as they did to her. Yet they were her sons as she looked into their eyes. Except for EJ's, something was missing, as if a part of him was missing somehow.
It was hard for Linda as she watched Wayne and Aunty M leave with the boys. Linda nearly had to be restrained as she watched Nathaniel open a gate outside the farm to a small camp on the other side. Wayne picked up EJ in his arms, and Aunty M carried Danny as they slowly walked inside the gate as it closed. Her boys were gone. Linda fell to the ground, sobbing for them, knowing she could not be with them.
Linda screams back at Nathaniel. "Why can't I go with them?" she asked.
Nathaniel puts an arm around her, said, "because your heart and your destiny point here, not with them." Nathaniel's words echoed in her ears, a soft whisper amidst the chaos of her thoughts. The room smelled of stale air, mingled with the faint scent of her nervous anticipation. Outside, the afternoon sun cast long shadows on the worn wooden floor, illuminating the dust particles dancing in its rays.
As she listened, the weight of the decision settled heavily on her shoulders, pressing down like an invisible burden. The sound of her own heartbeat filled her ears, a rhythmic thumping that matched the uncertainty in her chest. The walls seemed to close in around her, suffocating her with the weight of her choices.
She closed her eyes, envisioning the scene that awaited her at home. The silence enveloped her, thick and heavy, pressing against her eardrums like a suffocating blanket. The distant sound of her daughter's laughter, a soft melody that floated through the air, broken only by their constant bickering and fighting. The familiar scent of her husband's aftershave mingled with the savory aroma of dinner cooking on the stove, creating a comforting yet overpowering atmosphere that clung to the air, almost suffocating her. The mixture of scents danced in her nostrils, triggering memories of failed culinary attempts, causing her nose to twitch slightly.
Her heart ached, torn between love for her sons and the fear of the impending storm that awaited them, a heavy weight that settled in her chest. As her fingertips gently pressed against her temples, she felt a brief sense of relief, the coolness of her skin against her warm flesh, a physical reminder that she was present at this moment. The weight of her daughters' disdain and hostility loomed heavy in her mind, their resentful eyes piercing her soul like sharp daggers. But an undeniable force, like a magnetic pull, urged her forward, beckoning her back to her boys.
It was a bittersweet realization that they now belonged to a world that she could only visit, a world barred to her husband and daughters. With a heavy sigh, she accepted the impossible, knowing that it was the only way to see her sons again. The burden on her shoulders lightened, replaced by a glimmer of hope that flickered in her heart, like a small flame struggling to stay alive. This was her last chance, a fragile thread connecting her to her beloved boys.
Linda stood mesmerized; her eyes fixated on the once majestic gate that had been a product of a magical wonder. As it vanished into thin air, a sense of wonder and disbelief washed over her. A faint whisper accompanied the scene, almost like a sigh, as if the gate had never existed. The absence of the gate left a void, a void that made Linda wonder where her boys were.
With a heavy heart, Linda nodded, acknowledging the boy's grandmother's wisdom. She knew that her boys, EJ and Danny, would return home intermittently, but their presence would never be the same. The Downings had adopted them, and though Linda understood the necessity of change, it weighed on her.
As she contemplated her next move, Linda's fingers traced the rough texture of the ground beneath her. The earth felt cool and slightly damp, a stark contrast to the warmth of the fading sunlight on her face. It was as if nature itself was urging her to embrace the inevitable change that lay ahead.
"Nathaniel," Linda finally spoke, her voice carrying a mixture of reluctance and acceptance. The words escaped her lips, filled with a heavy burden of emotions. Reluctance, as the idea of going home weighed on her, for it meant facing her husband Jim and the violent beast that lived within him. Acceptance, as she knew deep down that she had no choice but to confront the hate, radiated from her two daughters Peggy and Donna. The air hung with a heavy silence, broken only by the distant chirping of birds, their songs serving as a stark contrast to the tension in the atmosphere. The scent of nature filled her nostrils, a mixture of dew-kissed grass and fragrant blossoms, as if trying to offer a moment of respite from the impending turmoil. Linda's heart pounded in her chest, her palms sweaty with anxiety, as she mustered the strength to utter the words that would set their course. "I believe it's time for us to return home."
Nathaniel, ever the supportive man that he was, extended his hand to help Linda up from the ground. Their fingers intertwined, creating a sense of unity and reassurance. A shared laughter escaped their lips, a sound that echoed through the air, filled with both joy and uncertainty.
"And what about my soldiers?" Nathaniel playfully questions, his voice a gentle melody in the fading daylight. The words hung in the air, mingling with the soft rustling of leaves and the distant rumble of a passing car. "Those I am keeping for a while. It will be nice to have a real man in the house." Linda thought of that now empty bedroom, doing nothing except collecting cobwebs. Nathaniel laughed and put his arm around her as they walked back to town, watching the wagons leave for camp.
By the time Linda was ready to leave for home. Nathaniel prepared his two soldiers for battle to guard Linda and her family. They did not throw caution into the wind and prepared themselves well for anything, including an escape plan for all of them. Nathaniel would place protective barriers around the place, adding to her protection, plus a maid who could stand up to Linda and the girls. She was the orneriest old cuss alive for her age. She could make a cow give sour milk just by looking at her the wrong way. Yet she had a gentle side to when the mood suited her.
The main reason he was sticking her with Linda was besides cooking and cleaning and helping her run the household. She would stick to Linda like glue, like a bee on a honeypot. So, no matter where Linda went, Aggie would be with her to protect her, for she was lethal in her magic skills and next to him was good with small knives and small weapons. Plus, she likes to improvise. It is one of her special qualities, not to mention she won't sit idly by watching fireflies when there are things that need to be done.
Nathaniel only wished he felt sorry for those poor girls of hers and their father when Aggie stepped in. He grinned, thinking about it and how her husband Jim would go through the roof when Aggie walked into their life. He quickly loaded Linda's car. The Mayor and Doc came over to give her a hug. "Don't be a stranger," as they wave goodbye to her with the three passengers heading home.
Doc's face had a worried look as he watched her go up the road, wondering what kind of reception she would get, feeling the letters still in his vest pocket from Betty. Doc kicks the dirt as rocks fly in the front in the dirt. Doc walked back to his makeshift hospital, where he found Kollie and Renee waiting for him. The hospital is now empty for now, thank goodness, as they all sit around the table.
The Mayor, Doc, and Nathaniel with the Whitmore's, Kollie, unfold a copy of the map of the town and the farming areas. Circled in red are the dying fields and trees. The creek bed has now dwindled down to almost nothing. It is becoming harder to obtain the goods because they are being bought out of town and shipped instead of being made locally, and their prices are also skyrocketing due to the shortage.
The mayor rubbed his chin as he glanced at his friends with a new pair of eyes when he said. "Mayor, Jayden told me to come and fix this problem for you, and that's what we're going to do. The only problem is that it is so vast that we cannot heal all of it now because it is not the entire problem. In time, we hope it will come back slowly; as the saying goes, 'You cut the head of the snake, the rest will fall away.' We know who the snake is, but right now, it seems we can't cut off his head, but we think we can slow him down a bit. With these," Kollie replies.
The mayor saw a large mortar of white bricks in the back of a wagon. Kollie explained and said. "By placing these at certain spots, they become a cornerstone that will shield your town from the poison of Morgan, which will provide a protective barrier. That Morgan and his foes cannot cross as long as your people remain true and are pure in heart. If they change while inside the barrier and tip the scales towards the darker side, then the barrier breaks. Leaving you to find this person or persons before it will restore the barrier."
The mayor understands, picking up one cornerstone; he could feel the energy just from holding it. Nathaniel marked the places on the map where each cornerstone needs to be placed on the map. He wished he could have given this kind of protection to everyone. Even the town of Springfield before it died, leaving his people without a home. But wishing and knowing are two different things. For something has to happen before you're ready to accept them.
Like Linda, she wasn't ready to go home until she saw her boys together one last time before she could move on. Doc and the Mayor had to find out for themselves that their friends were gone and were alright before they could accept what was about to happen, as they looked at the cornerstones on the wagon.
There is a time and a place in time for things, as Nathaniel looks at his friends far and wide down the road and around the table. This time is for my friends. As he nods and points at the map. "If we each load four wagons and take four men each, we could have them in place in two hours, I reckon. Then you can do whatever you need to do, my friend. That way, nobody will know except us during the celebration."
The mayor laughed as he slapped Nathaniel on the back. "And to think I was going to have nothing to worry about today," he laughed.
The mayor has a knack for keeping things quiet, whispering to the watchmen to follow Nathaniel out the door quietly and then heading for the podium with a couple of magicians by his side. They are called wizards, and their wives watch the people's backs, making sure nothing goes wrong, while the people inside the celebration remain oblivious to their surroundings. As they placed each cornerstone around the outskirts of town, they saw rainbow colors forming in the sky.
Small teardrops glistened on their cheeks, sparkling like diamonds in the sunlight, as the mayor welcomed each one to his town with a deep sense of gratitude and joy. Freshly bloomed flowers filled the air with a sweet scent, gently perfuming the scene. The mayor spoke with such sincerity and warmth that his words deeply touched everyone present. As he spoke, his eyes locked with theirs, brimming with compassion and understanding. The mayor's heartfelt welcome embraced them like a comforting embrace, making them feel as though they had finally found their true safe haven. Alongside him, his wife stood, radiating pure joy that could be felt in the air. Her touch was gentle and comforting, wrapping around them like a warm blanket, as she tucked them in at night, filling their hearts with a sense of belonging and love.