Chapter 21 - 'And Away...We Go!'

Chapter 21 - 'And Away...We Go!'
....A cave. That's it, thought Em: a nice, dark, cool bloody cave~! Way the heck somewhere out, out far from Pankhurst, and time machines and mad scientists....and Jack.
There was a cave! Em remembered...it was on Jethro and Homer's property, "Guano Acres" they'd named it and mined it to build their infernal incendiary devices....
'Alright, Em?'
The next days' bright sunny morning found Jack beside Emmeline in a train car heading west and away from Pankhurst...
Why did it always seem so nice to be leaving it behind?
Emmeline smiled at Jack, inching over to give him room.
'Won't be long, and you'll have your mandolin back.'
Oh, if only that would solve everything! Oh, for the carefree days of being kidnapped and held hostage by bloody Daryl... Em leaned her elbow on the window and stared at the river passing by. At least she and Daryl could converse, as...well, almost as friends would. As equals, more or less...even though he was well her senior. At least he wasn't this brash, eager boy; seemingly
so sure of himself regardless of consequences to others...
Jack at last settled back and took the hint and just gazed at scenery or read that morning's Courier, leaving Em's head free at last. He seemed to be just rather...in need of something to focus on. She feared she wasn't up to the job of being his all-in-all.
Well, best to discover that now than much later, she decided.
The train pulled southwesterly and the Coast Range became suddenly an astonishingly immense reality of gently rolling slopes like the haunches of some great beasts lying amongsts the fields. And just beyond, San Francisco, and Nob Hill House.
Possibly, she could work again for the library there! No reason why not...they always needed extra help, Mrs. Peel had told her.
Oh to see the old gang there again, and Manuel and Rosa! Em felt
more cheerful suddenly. She wouldn't have to run away to a cave after all. Not just yet anyway.
...Maybe when Jack was older...perhaps with age and experience he would at last settle into himself, and not be so...oh, she may as well admit it: needy. Em had spent too much of her young life under some man's thumb, how she ached now for some semblance of freedom...  Yes, surely they got along well enough when not living under the same roof. She realized then that she found life easier for her at Daryl's because, well, he wasn't about all that much. She, Rosa and Manuel had the run of the place, usually. Em sighed softly...yes, perhaps when Jack is older, like Daryl...
Em snapped out of her reverie suddenly with a small soft gasp.
'Em? Paper?' Jack enquired.
'Ah, thank you, Jack,' Em took a section, folded it and began to fan herself. Jack raised a brow, but returned to his reading. Diosa, what was she thinking?  No, no, no...not like Daryl. Daryl, or his residence, was really just a port in a storm right now. She did not plan upon staying there and living with...Daryl. Oh, my no. Josephina's prophecy be buggered.
Emmeline stole a glance at Jack, looking natty in his city clothes, derby at a rakish angle. He was a handsome man. Too bad he was such a kid still--and with a shifty hand on the tiller of Time...utterly mad, these Van Horns. Were Mr. Yeats and Aleister just as barmy 'neath the surface?
Jack caught her looking at him and grinned. Em smiled in return and took Jack's arm, sighing. Poor daft buggers all of them, her father encluded. So what did that make her? Jack was pleased by Em's attentions and kissed her cheek gently. Ah, Isis...help me, she pleaded silently, this isn't going to be easy...
                               . . . . .
'Emmelina! So here you are! It is good to see you!'
Amazingly, Rosa answered the door and ushered them inside. Em wasn't sure why she was so surprised to find the house still here and nothing changed, outwardly at least.
'It is so good to see you too, Rosa,' Em's eyes grew moist as she hugged her friend. 'I have missed you. Is Manuel still here?'
'Of course! He is out and about on errands at present, however.
Senor Jack, yes?' Rosa nodded to him. 'Do make yourselves at home; would you both care for some tea?'
They would. They followed Rosa into the kitchen, Emmeline taking her old stool at the counter. She patted the one beside her for Jack and he attempted a small smile as he sat, staring about him, as if expecting Daryl to pop out of the icebox or cupboard at any moment.
'So, is the master of the house at home?' Em asked tentatively.
Rosa poured their tea, and locked her gaze with Em's. 'But, I just informed you that Manuel was out!' She laughed, and snapped her fingers. Em smiled wide. How she had missed Rosa's easygoing humor. Taking her teacup, Rosa seated herself on Emmelina's other side. 'Don Diego was here, briefly....oh, last week, it was.'
Em and Jack exchanged glances. 'Truly? He is well?' Rosa nodded.
'Did he...mention me at all, or where he had been?' Em was oddly more anxious about Daryl than she cared to admit.
Rosa shook her head. 'Ah, no, he didn't share all that with me, you know; just the usual: allowance for household accounts, picking up messages...he often comes and goes for weeks, months at a time.' She sipped her tea. 'Ah, but I believe he did mention that if you came by, he left a note for you on his study desk.'
At last! She was anxious to read that note, but was somehow reluctant to do so around Jack. She acted casual and as though it wasn't important. 'Ah, I see. Well, when we, ah, left, I realized later that I still have some things here I wished to enquire after...?'
'But certainly! Mi casa es su casa,' Rosa winked. 'I have the key to the study, I'll just show you in, and unlock your bedroom door for you as well.'
Excellent, Rosa...thought Em...and just maybe we can have a wee chat without Jack hovering. 'I'll just have a look about, then. Jack? You could wait in the parlor, if that's more comfortable? I shan't be long.'
Jack nodded and kissed her hand in farewell, then stood and took his tea into the parlor, as Emmelina and Rosa headed to the back of the house and Daryl's study. 'I'll leave you to it, and go open up your bedroom,' Rosa told her as she opened both doors of the study for her.
Em entered gazing about marvelling that it was all really here, all still the same. It had indeed really happened...she had been living here, with Daryl, Rosa and Manuel...she briefly thought of Madame Yvanna and Mrs. Peel and the Library Ladies, and young Sophie, wondering how they all were faring. Then she looked to the big blond wood study desk and saw a sealed envelope upon it.
As she advanced toward it in the cool blue-tinged light from the rice paper shades, she felt as though the envelope was nearly a live thing. Her throat was suddenly dry and her pulse was up in anticipation. She reached a hand out for it and saw, written in a tight script on the front, the name: 'Josephina'.
Well, well. Em bit her lip, feeling altogether too clandestine all of a sudden. She took the envelope and slipped it into her skirt pocket, and exited the study, softly shutting the door. She quietly made her way upstairs to her old room, hoping that she could do so without alerting Jack to her footsteps.
As she stepped down the hallway, she saw her door was open and she slipped inside, exhaling at last. Everything looked just as she had left it! So far so good. The mandolin Daryl had given her was still sitting in the chair, looking lonesome, she thought. She went to the closet and found her old skirt and purple flowered shirt that he had bought for her in the marketplace in Mexico that day...  Reaching into her old skirt pocket, she found Josephina's bottle of oil. Em clasped it and unstoppered the top, relishing the scent with eyes closed. Diosa...how long ago and far away it all seemed now, her gypsy sister and friends, old Carlos and Esperanza...  Emmelina put some oil on her wrists, behind her ears, and then one last drop upon her third eye, where Axelis had touched her : 'The Jewel in the Lotus,' he'd said...
Em blinked her eyes open. What was that? Where did that memory come from? Axelis...the tall man, her father...and...she had a sister as well, a redhaired woman who looked strangely much like Emmelina herself...Ann-something...why couldn't Em recall now? And when and where had she met these people?
Reaching into her other skirt pocket, she both hoped for and feared what she may or may not find, but did--the artefact! But, Em frowned, hadn't she...brought that back with her when she and Jack timewalked back to Crowley Place? Oddly, she didn't recall having the thing when they had arrived in the parlor there. ...Forgotten in the strangeness of the moment? It was all very peculiar.
At last, Em sat upon her narrow bed and extracted the envelope, turning it over. It was sealed with some old-fashioned red sealing wax with an odd stamp sealed upon it which appeared to be a coat-of-arms of sorts. Couldn't quite make it out, but it looked to be a griffin or small dragon. Em stole a glance at the door, reached out and shut it. She then took out the note.
"Josephina," (it read):
"If you are reading this, then you have safely returned. I hope that you and Jack are well. Yes, I saw that you both had returned for me, and for that I am grateful and furious. You ought not to have done so. I wished nothing more from this life than to see you and Jack both home somewhere safely together." (Em sighed again, frustrated), "...However, should you ever have the need, this house remains a refuge for you, or you and Jack both, at any time. Please feel at home here, if ever you wish. Trust Rosa and Manuel to run the place with efficient expertise. I have returned to my duties in the Constitutionalist army but should you ever need to contact me..."
'--Emmeline?' It was Jack, he was in the hallway. Oh, bugger-all!
Em quickly stuffed the note back into the envelope and into her pocket.
'In here Jack!' Em called, as she stood and opened the door.
'I...was just wondering if everything's alright?' He poked his head within, eyebrows up enquiringly as he looked about her room. He noted with satisfaction the single bed...although mischief could be had elsewhere...
'Yes! Yes, fine! Just some last minute details...I'd already packed you see, except for a few articles...' And indeed Em's valise and carpetbag were still there upon the floor where she'd left them the night of the solstice. She couldn't recall now why she hadn't packed the clothes she'd arrived in...or had she? If so, why were they now in the closet? She rubbed her forehead
...too much to deal with just now...
'Shall I take these for you Em?' Jack made a move toward her bags.
'No!' Em started. 'That is, ah, not just yet Jack. Must we head back so soon, really? You haven't pressing business back in Pankhurst?'
'Noooo...not as such.' Jack had hoped this would be a quick pickup and headout, though. He didn't care much for hanging around Daryl's digs, tony though they were. He wanted Em out of here at last, and home, with him, as she ought to be.
'Well, it's just...I did hope to see Madame Yvanna as well whilst we're here. Oh, do let us just have lunch at her tea room Jack, please? It's just over on Russian Hill... Let's just leave all this until after lunch, what say?'
And so Jack was reluctantly persuaded and after assuring Rosa that they'd return soon, the two hailed a hansom to take them to Madame Yvanna's.
                          . . . .
'Eh, not much to it, is there?' Jack asked, looking narrowly at the front of Yvanna's cluttered shopfront.
Emmelina felt offended on her friend's behalf, although she herself had had the same idea of the place her first visit. 'Oh, it's different inside, come on...' She put an arm through Jack's and led him within.
Em was pleased to note the same welcoming delectable scents coming from the restaurant in back of the shop, as they entered and set the door's bell to ringing. As they headed for the counter in back, she was delighted to see Madame emerge through the beaded curtain to greet them.
'Eeeemeleeeena!' She called, arms open to Em, who hugged Yvanna and was crushed against her tall friend's bosom. 'And Chack,' she added somewhat less effusively. 'Come! You must take tea with me, no?' She slipped an arm through each of theirs and escorted them within the tea room proper, not too crowded, as lunchtime was nearly over.
They were ushered to a corner table surrounded by a sort of curving couch with comfortable cushions, upon which Madame seated herself between Emmelina and Jack; which pleased Em and annoyed Jack...(which was partly why Em found herself so pleased).
'Zo. You must tell me all you haff been up to, yes? But first, some food!' Madame clapped her hands and a waiter appeared from the swinging doors at one end of the room, and stood at attention beside their table. 'Zum wine, yes, or champagne?'
'Oh, just a glass of wine, perhaps...' Em looked at Jack, who shrugged, but was smiling, at least on one side of his face.
'Nonzenze. A bottle of ze riezling, Sergei, on ize, and zum oysters and artichokes to begin...merci.'
Em looked about her, grinning. 'It is so good to be back here, Yvanna, and so good to see you!' Em was surprised at how much she truly felt at ease and at home here. Maybe it was the good wholesome smells of freshly baked breads and roasted meats, '...And artichokes! Asparagus too?'
'Of courze! It is spring after all. Ze equinox is tomorrow.'
Madame was right. It was the 21st already...Em had been losing track of Time lately.
Their waiter, Sergei, reappeared bearing a bucket of 'ize' with  a mellow golden riesling nestled within. Opening the bottle he passed the cork to...Madame, who gestured then with a nod to Jack. Sergei offered the cork to monsieur, and Jack took an appreciative whiff and smiled.

Sergei pours with a serious flourish and presents the table, voila!
And Madame proposed a toast:
 'To Emmeleena and Chack...and to Don Diego...May we all have the courage to face our futures with strength and spirit, and hopefully also with some laughter and song as well!'
Amidst 'Cheers!' and 'Salud!' they drank of the cool crisp golden
wine tasting of flowers and apples. 'This is excellent!' Jack
enthused.
Madame held her glass to the sunlight streaming through the lace curtains. 'It comes from a Sonoma vintner.' She drank in the wine and smiled like a cat. 'I enjoy California vines. Diego gave me a taste for them...'
A large tray loaded with silver serving dishes was borne their way then by the efficatious Sergei who presented the appetizers to Madame. She served them dates ala chevre', cold peeled shrimp, oysters on the half shell, a glimmering dish of caviar, artichokes and asparagus done to perfection with a basket of hot herb and onion rolls.
'Well, Diego certainly has a taste for Russian cuisine...' Emmelina was thinking that coming here had been a spur of the moment stroke of genius. Even Jack appeared to be dropping his guard somewhat. She had noticed that he had been rather prickly
since coming to Daryl's. 'This is wonderful, Yvanna!'
Just then soft strains of a violin could be heard inside the shop and stepping through the beaded curtain came a violinist who strolled to the small stage and took a seat, casually playing Mozart almost distractedly but beautifully.
Emmelina looked over at Jack, who had been intently appraising the violinist. He turned to her and smiled, raising his glass.
Em did likewise and Yvanna leaned back against her cushions.
'Pavel can play the wiolin in his sleep...' she commented between bites of date. She looked at Em then. 'Diego told me to expect your return.'
'You saw him?'
'Da. Last week, it was.' She picked up an asparagus stalk and twirled it in garlic butter, then snapped it's tip with her big strong teeth. She gave her head one slow shake, left, to right...
'He iz alright, but crazy now you know! Filled with the fire of revoluzion!' Yvanna flung a hand in the air, as if abandoning it to the wind. 'Iv he gets himzelf kilt, I shall never forgif him!'
Madame drank off her glass of wine.
Jack poured more for all. 'He is, not injured?'
Yvanna took her glass. 'Nyet, he is still in von piece! Uf, but for how long? Oh, he drives me to deestraction!' She sat up and clapped her hands once, twice! Summoning the solicitous Sergei,
'Tea, Sergei, speciba...' she ordered, and sighed, scooping
up the remaining caviar with a cracker. Madame certainly knew how to drown her sorrows...
Em discerned that Yvanna actually did care for Daryl, though. They had to be more than dear friends, she believed. And, she had to admit, she seconded Yvanna's wish for Daryl to remain in 'von piece.'
A large samovar was wheeled to the table with the accompaniment of Russian Tea Cakes, Emmelina's favorite. The violinist began playing what Em would call a gypsyish tune and as the strong tea took effect, she felt she could take heart and perhaps gain some control over her own life at last.
And she and Jack could still see each other, spend time together...if he still wished to be with her after all this. She regarded him, and felt torn. How she loved seeing him. Living with him, however, was rather somewhat different.
Jack felt her eyes upon him and his gaze shifted back from the musician. He smiled at her and Em noted a dusting of powdered sugar on his lower lip. How sweet it would be to lick that off...
'So...who is Anara?' Jack piped up suddenly.
Em sat up. That name sounded familiar...  To her surprise, Yvanna answered. 'Ah, you zaw the painting in ze parlor...' she sighed, 'yez...zhe is the luff of hiz life, Diego's...!' Again she flung an arm loftily in the air as if to dizmizz all zat. 'Zhe iz nuzzink but a dream within a dream...' she trailed off.
'"And all that we may see or seem is but a dream within a dream"'
quoth Jack. 'I saw the name plate upon the picture frame...who is she? She could be your sister, Em.' He looked at Madame then, 'After studying the portrait, I could tell that the woman was not Emmeline. I do apologize, Madame Yvanna, for my outburst the night of the solstice...' Madame waved it away, patting Jack's arm.
'That's just it...I believe she is my sister...in another, timeline.' Emmelina looked at Jack. She wasn't sure how Yvanna was taking all this but the wine had loosened her tongue. In vino veritas... But once again surprising them, Madame agreed.
'...Da, da, that is vat Diego says too. Mad, all of it. But, perhaps zumtimes I vonder...life is stranger than we know.' Yvanna poured herself more tea. 'Diego is an odd vun. An odd duck, as you say. But, in  Llrraaahssia, back home, I have zeen zum wery strange zings...' She nodded, her eyes wide. 'Zo, iv zat iz vat keeps Diego happy, zo be it! Ve all need our fantasies, nyet?'
                              . . . .
The sun was sinking over the hills surrounding the bay as Emmelina and Jack stood outside Yvanna's. Jack yawned. 'Sorry Em! All that good food and wine...it's rather later than I'd thought...'
'I know the feeling...' Em attempted to rally her mental briefs to present her 'case', as it were, to Jack.
'Shall we hail a hansom?' Jack stepped into the street, gaze searching.
'Actually...let's walk awhile, Jack...? There is always a later train...'Em didn't mention that only one of them would be returning then.  They fell in step together as they headed back over the hills. Em took Jack's arm and he smiled at her.
'You are fond of Madame Yvanna...' He began.
'Oh, yes, she helped me purchase my solstice gown,'...Now long since torn half to bits by the revolucion...well, there was a certain truth evident in that bit of metaphor; the revolucion was meant to tear apart class distinctions. That was what our own American revolution was about, in part.
'...and, I'm sure you miss her, and your friends here...' Jack continuted.
'I do, Jack, but...it's more than that.'
Ah. Jack knew it. Emmeline had been troubled ever since they had arrived back in Pankhurst.
'Pankhurst is no longer home to me. It seems, in fact, a  hostile territory meant to only be avoided.' Em's gaze was grim as she stared down the street, noting shops beginning to close for the day and grocers and the like rolling down their awnings.
Jack looked into the distance as well, not wanting to meet Em's gaze. 'You wish to return here?'
Em said nothing at first. Then, 'I thought I did...but, Jack, it goes far beyond that; I'm beginning to discover more all the time that begs answers to certain questions requiring closer investigation.'
'Indeed,' Jack inhaled sharply and looked about, anxious to distract himself from what he suspected was coming.
'Yes. In fact, now that the weather is fair, I'm considering a trip back east...well, southeast...'
They stopped. Jack regarded her. 'Truly? Why, Em you are a box of mysteries. What prompted this? Where would you go?'
Em sighed, and began walking slowly again, disengaging from Jack, who followed slowly as well. 'Lately some things have come to light that I wanted to take time to research even before the solstice...I simply hadn't time, what with all the...'
'--Right. What sort of things?'
'Well...family things, Jack. Information I'd gleaned from Daryl and elsewhere. Why, for instance, did my mother go to live with the Pages as a young girl, and leave her home? I want to investigate this Welsh Prince Madoc as well...'
'You wish to head back to the South, now?'
'...I was contemplating just that, yes. To try to track down the Pages, and any Bowens still left in Mobile...' Em looked at Jack then. 'I know it's rather a surprise, as well as probably a great disappointment to you, Jack.' She put a hand on his arm.
Jack had somehow rather anticipated something of the sort, knowing Em, skittish filly that she was... He sighed in turn. 'Ah, Em...' He patted her hand. 'I can't blame you. I've tied myself in knots trying to understand my own family mysteries.
And, well...the way things have been of late, with these odd bursts of unhinged time jaunts from out of the blue, I really cannot account for them, and actually...I was planning upon  putting heads together with Aleister and Yeats, when he returns to see if we could discover why this was happening now...'
'So, it's not the usual sort of...behavior, in time travel, these bursts?'
'No, it isn't. Something seems out of control, to us at least. There may be a method to the madness somewhere. Or someone else may have a hand on the controls of Chronos and we know not whom.'
Emmeline wondered about that, and if her odd 'dreams' had something to do with it. Well, at least Jack seemed inured to her changes of mind. 'Actually, until I leave, now that Daryl is not here, it would aid my investigations greatly if I could stay there awhile and look about the house.'
Jack grimaced to himself. Yes, he feared as much. Well, at least, as she said, Daryl was not here. 'I see.'
They walked in silence awhile. 'Yes. But I don't plan to remain there and live with Daryl; I still do not trust him, not really.
Although I feel I've gotten to know him a little.'
'Something I've never been able to do.' Jack sounded rather put-out.
'Jack, could that be your prerogative? It isn't as though he has never made himself available to you, especially recently.'
Jack made a low growl.
'Jack...Daryl wishes nothing more than to know you better, to somehow hold onto what little family he has left. Something I would think you both have in common.' She sighed, looking down. 'He also wants nothing more than for us to be together, you and I. He is no threat to you.'
Jack clenched his teeth, thinking that for most of his life he had considered Daryl just that: a threat. His uncle certainly hadn't done much in the way of good for his parents. But he refrained from replying.
'I'm not sure exactly what my plans are, beyond this. But, I hope to be able to see you, as much as possible, Jack. You are dear to me, you know.' She stopped then and made him face her.
Jack just looked at his shoes. 'Emmeline...you are more than dear to me. You know how I feel.' He gazed into her eyes then, with determination mingled with slight pain and disappointment. He sighed, looked about. 'I don't know what we might make of our relationship...what with all the timebursts, and, oh, everything else! Daryl, etcetera...' he put a hand to his forehead, blinking. 'I hardly know what to think! But, I'll always love you, Em. You'll always have a place with me, wherever I am. But...well, possibly, I might just make my exit from Pankhurst as well...'
It was Emmeline's turn for surprise. 'Jack, truly?! What prompted this?'
'Well, I might have to return to my lab back in Massachusetts to furthur probe this investigation into the timebursts. And, well, Crowley Place is near to being refurbished. It wouldn't take much more to get it in shape for sale.'
This was a monkey wrench in Em's plans. She and Jack would then be on separate coasts. Quite a distance, if one hadn't the wherewithall of timetravel. 'We would be so...far from one another...'
'Oh, Em, it would take probably a year, or maybe less to get the place ready for sale. Nothing so immediate. Maybe...well, perhaps by then we'll both have things sorted to our mutual satisfaction. Time, again. You know--time to think. Time to at last find some answers.'
Em strolled on, pondering Jack's own surprising news. Jack, hands in pockets, walked beside her. 'Well, then! Yes, I can see how having to deal with two properties could be a challenge.'
'Exactly. I'd like to collar Daryl sometime and get some answers from him about the Massachusetts place. Oh, it's 'mine' I know, but dash it all, I don't want the thing!'
'Possibly he gave it to you for a very good reason, Jack. But, yes, do speak with him, calmly and reasonably and maybe the two of you will find some common ground.'
Another short growl from Jack.
'Well! Here we are at the trolley stop!' Em smiled tentatively, facing Jack. She took his hand. 'You're disappointed in me, aren't you?'
Jack closed his eyes, briefly, then looked at Em. A slight grin ghosted his mouth as he gathered her into his embrace, and stroked her hair. 'You, are not a disappointment. Ever. If I had never met you, Em, that would be disappointing indeed.' He kissed her lips once, softly, gently.
'Thank you, Jack. I think perhaps we just have tried to accomplish too many challenging endeavors all at once, and then, to have so many variables send us reeling off-course...' Em was interrupted as Jack kissed her again. '...but, we'll always be together, won't we, Jack? I'd like to think that, somehow, in some way, we will be...' she returned his kiss and as the sun set behind them, a golden glow surrounded the two, as if gilding their embrace in radiance.
'Well, I guess I'll be off then. Good journey, Em.' Jack tried to seem robustly eager for departure. 'Do let me know when you'll be leaving for the South.'
'Of course! Oh, it won't be for awhile yet...I want time to investigate Daryl's first. I will be seeing you before I go...? When will you leave for the east?'
'Not sure. Depends on Yeats. No idea of his whereabouts or plans at present. I'll be in touch.'
Em couldn't blame him for not wanting a long drawn-out farewell. They'd had so many already...'Jack, dear--do take care! I so hope our plans won't entail having to rescue one another for a change!' She smiled.
Jack leapt upon the trolley step, and leaned over for a goodbye kiss. 'I'll be careful. And you will stay out of trouble, Em!' He kissed her once, and held her cheek in his hand until the trolley bell clanged and it started off back down the hillside. 'Adieu, Em, adiosa!' He held his hand up in a farewell salute.
'Take care, Jack!' She blew him a kiss goodbye, and watched as the trolley continued it's way down to the Embarcadero and ferry terminal. Well, that actually went better than she had hoped, Em thought to herself, feeling both pleased and bereft.
Em forced her gaze away from Jack's retreating figure, and turned instead to admire the sunset. And so a new chapter seemed to be beginning for them both...separate yet together, still. She bit the inside of her cheek in thought; she didn't really hold Jack to any promises this time. She wasn't such a naiive kid to think that he would be waiting for her, always. If he found another, she'd have to accept that. But, for her, Jack would always have a special place in her heart. She did love the mad man...but it simply was never the right Time.
Emmelina set her steps back toward Nob Hill house and the mysteries that awaited her there.
                           . . . . .

Chapter 20 - This Old House Is Getting Old

Chapter 20 - This Old House Is Getting Old
A week had passed since their return, and Emmeline was still acclimating to Crowley House.
 As was Jack...things were somewhat different now, after his last mad dash across time, unsanctioned. Yeats had roundly chastised him for his recrudesce, and then after this excoriation, seemed to give up. He in fact, avoided Jack, and oddly, Aleister was giving him the same cool treatment. This was worse than any overt punishment.
'Al, a moment?' Jack had cornered Aleister at last out on the veranda where he sat with Alice in lap and coffee hard by. Jack joined him in the other chair and Alice leapt from Al's lap and tail high, stalked off the porch. The men watched her exit.
'I rather feel as though everyone here has Alice's opinion of my company,' Jack began.
Al frowned slightly but said nothing, just sipped his cool coffee.
'You know it wasn't I who instigated this last disappearance of Em...sending her off to Mexico with Daryl in the midst of revolution was not on my to-do list.' Jack tried a light touch.
Al sighed, leaning back in his chair. 'Of course not Jack, that's not it at all...' Aleister hadn't wanted to delve into Jack's...idiosycrasies right now.
He, himself had decided to give up along with Yeats at instilling any sense of prudence? --Responsibility? --Conscience? --in Jack.
 'You do realize that you were beyond all reach of any of us for nearly 3 entire months, Jack? If I had gone missing that long, how would you be taking it?' Al had heard the entire story from Em and actually it had been she and Daryl who had saved Jack's irritating arse...
Jack was quiet. Sighing at last, he spoke, '...Not well, Al. Not well at all.'
'Exactly!' Al huffed, figuring he had the right. He shook his head slowly, staring at the porch floorboards. 'If we had any sort of partnership, if you had any regard for our friedship at all...' Al ran out of steam; 'Oh, bugger it...you've heard it all before, Jack.' Aleister stood then. 'I'm off to town.
Diana and I are having dinner together. I'll be back late, if at all.'
Jack watched the doctor head to the barn and ready the trap for Boreson. He chewed the inside of his mouth in anxiety over Aleister's vilification. Of course Jack would be going crazy were Al to disappear for months... And the fact that it had not been Jack's intention to vanish for any length of time didn't really mitigate matters much.
Yeats had since vanished, himself, but that was Yeat's prerogative, being the Head. Although Jack acknowledged his friends' reasons for their actions, still he couldn't help feeling rather abandoned.
Even Emmeline seemed to have distanced herself from him somewhat of late...she would take herself off on her bike or ride Pancho into the hills for most of the day, return at dusk and spend time with him and Al, (if Al was about), cooking dinner together and dining with them, only to retire early to her Indigo lair. He hadn't been asked to join her.
Since her disappearance at the solstice, things weren't quite the same as before. Naturally, Jack knew she was upset by the whole thing, and especially losing three months' time...but he didn't know what it would take to restore the warm feelings they had between them before this latest debacle. Time, he hoped, would heal the rift.
Jack stared down the road watching Boreson's dust as Al departed for town. Soon they turned the corner and were gone from sight. He supposed Em might show up at some point ...he sighed, hanging his head. What was on her mind? Did she also blame him for her troubles? How could he penetrate her barriers? What did she require of him?
Quien sabe?
                          . . . .
Emmeline and Pancho were heading back to Crowley Place. It was nearing sunset. When she would head out upon her excursions she  wouldn't venture into town; certainly not eager to reacquaint herself with the migraine that was Pankhurst, but instead she would wander the back roads and trails that led to the river along the valley floor or up and into the hills...
She sneezed. Yes, it was spring alright. Pollen was wild about.
Earlier she'd tied her kerchief about her nose and mouth, looking a proper bandita, but it was just too hot for that precaution now. She had thought about visiting Jethro and Homer, but was oddly reluctant to do so now; not because she didn't wish to see her old pals, but she felt newly restrained by her committment to Jack. (Was she 'committed' to Jack? As in committed to an institution?) She sighed wearily...she had felt that Jack would wish to accompany her on such a jaunt and that he would feel slighted if she'd gone there alone. Em did not cotton to such restrictions, as Homer would put it.
Pancho was plodding abit but she knew when they were closer to home base he would pick up steam. As hungry as she was, she wasn't feeling all that steamed-up about returning to Crowley House however. Having had a few days upon which to ponder her situation, Emmeline found herself with mixed emotions.
She simply no longer felt at home in Pankhurst.
Having been removed from there for so long and undergone so much of late, both she and Pankhurst had changed; the past
was long gone. She was also starting to recall certain things about Jack's character that she had conveniently forgotten when away from his daily presence...headstrong, arrogant, a certain great part of him seemed to be removed from being able to relate to others. He was a law unto himself and had functioned as such for too long.
Much like Daryl, she decided, as she headed round the bend and could now view the town in the distance below. She pulled up to a halt, Pancho snorted and shook his head, eager for the barn and oats. Yes, they would both be taken care of here, but,
Em knew she'd have to reciprocate in kind. Oh, she'd been busy enough in the kitchen, cooking, cleaning, lending a hand to whatever would need doing about the house and grounds, but...
But she knew Jack would expect something more. Soon. Now, in fact. Her fault, she knew. How to put that genie back in the bottle? She loved Jack, still. But she knew she wasn't ready to live with him.
She sighed again, nudging Pancho into a walk. The odd thing was, she had to admit, having had this notion for a few days now...aside from Villa Encantata in Mexico, she felt more at home in San Francisco at Daryl's place now, rather than here. She knew, with the revolution ongoing, it wasn't safe to return south of the border. But...
...could she return, possibly, to Nob Hill House?
                           . . . .
The dusk closed round Crowley Place with a soft cloak of darkness pricked by a few diamond points of starfire as early
celestial bodies made their appearance upon the stage of night. Jack and Emmeline were doing dishes together in the kitchen. Em had wanted to talk to him and was ruminating anxiously over how she wished to broach certain subjects as she distractedly dried a dish.
'It looks pretty dry,' Jack noted.
'Hm? Ah, well, could use some rain, yes...'
'The dish. It's been dry for some time now,' Jack smiled wanly.
'Oh.' Em set put it away with the others. 'Well, I'm ready for a little after dinner brandy in the parlor, Jack, how about you?'
Jack agreed, surprised that Em would suggest not only brandy but a tete-a-tete with him alone. He knew Em enjoyed the taste of certain wines with dinner, but she was rarely much for strong spirits.
They repaired to the parlor, grown dark now, the curtains still open to the pallid indigo light outside. Em lighted a couple of candles whilst Jack poured two cut glass snifters of cognac for them. Emmeline had come to prefer the soft gold of candlelight
to the glare of electricity here at the house now. But it would come in handy in summer when candles burned hot.
'Cheers, Em,' Jack handed her a glass, sitting on the middle cushion of the sofa, whilst Emmeline was near the fireside on the end. Friendly, yet not insistent or crowding her space, he thought. She had seemed rather aloof of late and Jack was hoping to discern why. He put a tentative arm along the back of the sofa behind Em.
'Salud.' Em sipped slowly, wishing to make it last. She wasn't sure how to go about this... 'So, Jack...I've been thinking...'
'Yes?'
'About, about Daryl's house in San Francisco.'
'Have you?' This was a surprise to Jack.
'Well, haven't you? I mean, supposedly Daryl is still in Mexico, in the midst of revolucion! I just would feel more at ease if I knew how things are now, with the place...and Rosa and Manuel,of course. We all became rather close friends you know...'
'Is that's what's on your mind? Well, sure Em, we can go anytime you like.'
Hm. Emmeline wasn't so sure about this new 'we' stuff. Oh, how she longed for just afew days of peace and time to herself to think, on her own! At least with Daryl he pretty much left her to her own devices; just kept an eagle eye upon her from his aerie as it were...she now felt she could 'handle' Daryl, they could come to a mutual understanding. But, Jack...
Jack would never understand her need to be alone. This was a major consideration...and until life together with Jack was put into practice, it had not become a glaring problem. Until now.
Oh, dear...
 When she'd stayed here before, it hadn't been for long and she'd been so busy fixing up her room and all...but she did recall now that she'd had misgivings even then. How could she have forgotten...?
Best let him come then. 'Um, sure, Jack, we could, ah, take the train...'
'When would you wish to go Em?'
'Well, how about tomorrow?'
That soon? Jack wondered, but... 'Sure. Why not?' May as well get this little jaunt out of the way and then Em might feel more settled here, he decided. 'I'll see if Al could drive us to the station, or maybe even Casey...yes, that might be best. I'll just go call on him now then, shall I?'
Em agreed to let him go, Casey didn't live that far off Crowley Lane, and Em wanted to make a list of things she wanted to pick up when she was there. Such as her mandolin, for sure and certain! She felt more upbeat now than she had in days.
She wasn't back where she belonged, but it was a start.
She was headed in the right direction at least. And perhaps the train trip would give her time to speak to Jack about things.
Humming to herself, Emmeline headed upstairs to pack.
                       ......

Chapter 17 - A Tale of Two Timelines

Definitely after midnight. Daryl assessed the position of the crescent moon. All was

fairly still about them, no coyotes tonight. He'd watched, tending the fire as

Emmeline fell asleep. He caught himself dozing off a couple of times. Only to be

expected; he hadn't slept the night before, just stayed up all night with his tribe

going over plans, then headed out with the dawn.

He knew it'd be a rough go trying to stay awake until they were outof sight of Popo.

Damned big mountain, that. Not easy to hide from. Daryl hadn't even looked to the

skies much, preferring the ostrich response to impending threat. If I just don't see

IT, IT won't bother me...

Unfortunately, this attitude seldom did one any practical good.
Leaning against a rock and covered with his serape, Daryl didn't even notice when

his head finally fell to his chest and Morpheus got the drop on him.

...Dark and silent, an ovoid shadow hovered over the two sleeping figures. A second

later, it disappered, and so had they.

. . . . .

Emmelina found herself in a strange place... Oddly, it appeared to be both an

early-Victorian house and a passenger ship. One moment, she was entering the house,

and then found herself on board a ferry, of sorts, although she could discern

nothing outside the windows but a grey fog.

From behind, she spotted someone who seemed somewhat familiar to her, a tall man

seated before what appeared to be a control panel. Feeling her gaze upon him, he

turned. It was He! Her...father.

Sm
iling, he rose and came to greet her. 'At last, Little One! You have come!' He

spoke to her in her head, taking her shoulders with one arm and walking with her

down a smooth hallway. 'We will be there soon.' Steering her into a room full of

windows, a screen slid back from the portals and the grey view changed, revealing
a wide blue sea. Emmelina stared below her, much intrigued, and somehow not alarmed

by all this strangeness. She viewed islands rising out of the blue expanse with tall

mountains. 'Do you recognize this place?' His voice asked.

Yes, Em thought. This looks like the place of my dreams...

. . . . .

Without knowing how she had arrived, Emmelina became aware suddenly that she was

seated upon a stone bench overlooking the water. Around the balcony where she sat

she noted two women approaching, a tall woman with dark hair and a shorter, younger

girl with hair much like her own. Oh, of course, she knew these people...why

couldn't she recall their names...?

Thelene. The name appeared in her head at last, that was the tall woman's name. They

were smiling as they drew near to her. 'Anara' the younger woman spoke in her mind.

They regarded each other; Em wonderingly, the other girl with kind eyes upon her.

Thelene took one arm, Anara the other and they walked with Em down the wide stairway

to the beach.

There was a slight breeze as they walked along the waterfront. Emmelina felt

completely at home and at ease in their company, although she felt a nagging thought

that there was something odd about all this, but she wasn't sure exactly what.

Then she noticed the Tall Man in the distance, gazing out to sea; his long

strawberry hair blew behind him in the wind. He turned to them, smiling. 'Here are

my girls.' His gaze welcomed them. The tall woman, Thelene, turned to Emmelina then.

'Your father, Axelis. And, this is your sister, Anara, Emmeline...'

Em stared, questioningly. Indeed, the girl looked much like herself. Only...she

seemed almost of a different race somehow. Her skin was nearly translucent--it

seemed to glow, much as the man, her father's, did. And her eyes...they were

mesmerizing. They seemed to be much larger than most peoples'. A deep, cobalt blue

with large irises that nearly filled the area, with just a small space of white on

either side. She radiated an energy that seemed to stir the air about her.

They seemed to sense that Em was struggling to understand the situation. 'Come,'

Thelene took her arm softly, and Emmeline immediately felt a soothing sense of ease

descend upon her, calming her. They walked together out upon a promontory jutting

into the water and at the end of the pier-like structure, sat upon benches together,

with only Anara at her eye level.

Anara seemed to know her thoughts. 'I'm so pleased to meet you like this, sister.

This is our first meeting, in this frequency.'
She took Em's hand, and Em felt a current of energy from her, a sortof thrumming, as

if she could feel her heartbeat. Or purr.

'Anara...my sister...'Em looked at her, wonderingly. 'How...?'

'Anara is your sister, in another Timeline.'Thelene looked into her eyes, willing

her to understand. Em felt her mind expand and accept a torrent of information in an

instant. She couldn't process it immediately, but felt it being stored, as if on

file for later. 'She is your Future Self.'

Her father took her hand in his large one, long fingers, spatulate on the ends. Em

found herself thinking what an incredible musician he would make...'Would that we

could be together my daughters and get to know one another as we should! That will

come, at another meeting. I long to tell you our plans, our hopes. But, we are

risking much just for this short encounter.'

'We haven't much Time...' Thelene turned to her. 'But we wished to meet together

like this, before the Nexus.'

Yes, the Nexus. Em had forgotten. 'The Nexus...is imminent?'

They nodded. 'It Will Be. And it will be soon. Have no fear. You have lived for this

beginning. It is your destiny.' Her father took her in his arms, held her gently.

'Know that we are all so very proud of you, and of all that you have withstood thus

far!
And our love is ever with you.' He looked at her then, eyes full of compassion and

gentleness. 'Most importantly, know that it is all for a good reason, a great and

miraculous plan for all of earth's people. The age of ignorance, and greed, is

nearly at an end. A new age is dawning. And you are helping to bring it about.'

'I?' Em asked. 'How?'

He nodded slightly. 'Just be yourself. You will know what to do when the Time comes.

It is knowledge you hold within.' He touched the space betwixt her eyebrows. 'I have

left with you, a legacy, my daughter. The Jewel in the Lotus.'

'Do not be afraid, sister,' Anara smiled. 'I am ever with you. Anytime you wish, I

will hear your call.'

'Yes, Emmeline,'Thelene turned to her, 'Do not fear. It will be a change, and it

will be different, but it won't be anything you cannot handle. You were made for

this...you can easily flow with whatever timeline claims you. Do not fight it. Relax

into it, and
think of us, here. You can always return here. Feel us here with you, store that

feeling within. We are imprinting you now with our key signatures. That will be your

lifeline mooring you here to us.'

'Wherever we travel, we're never apart.' Anara placed her hand upon Em's, then

looked back down the beach. 'He comes.'

Em noticed then another familiar figure, heading their way. Daryl.
Oddly, he did not seem out of place here. Anara rose and went to meet him. Em

watched as her sister approached Daryl, looking like a sliver of sunlight glowing

beside his dark, disheveled person, still wearing his serape and wide brimmed hat.

The two embraced, and held one another close for some time.
--Interesting.

'Let us give them their time together...'Thelene and Axelis arose, she taking Em's

arm, while her father placed a hand lightly upon her shoulder, and they strolled

back down the strand.

'For a first meeting, we've done well, my daughter. You must return now.' Axelis

absently stroked her hair. 'But, soon, we may speak together of our mission and it's

importance. And, with Time, you will remember, how and why you volunteered for it.'

He smiled down at her, 'For,to be sure, you did indeed. In Time, you will

remember...'

'Remember us.' Thelene spoke deep within her mind, 'Remember...
remember...'
. . . . .

Midday. Already? Daryl cursed himself for having fallen asleep. He roused Emmelina,

and they broke camp, double-time.

'Andele! We're outa here, now!' Daryl barked at her from his horse as Em tied her

boots. Daryl shook his head, 'I don't even know how I fell asleep...'he muttered,

'...too late now...'

Em mounted and they were off over the hills. 'We'll stop when we get to a creek.

Sorry, but we really haven't time for breakfast, here...' he handed Emmelina some

dried fruit and deer jerky. 'Water ok?'

Em nodded. She felt drugged, lethargic. Bleary-eyed, she tried to rally in the heat

of noontime. How had she slept so late? She never slept 'til noon, unless she'd been

late to bed. As they trotted along, the motion seemed to jog her foggy mind.

Snatches of weird dreams would flash through Em's brainscape...a pink Victorian

house with white trim...no, it was a ferry boat cabin on the inside...how odd...and

then it was gone... Em shook herself as they crested the mesa, and gazed over the

valley before them.

Daryl slowed to a walk finally and drank from his canteen, muttering to himself all

the while. '...half a damn day, wasted!
How could I have let it happen...?' he spat, removed his hat and ran a hand through

his hair, replaced it and stared at Em. 'You get enough sleep?'

She assumed he was being sarcastic, and sighed. 'I can't imagine why I slept so

late...really, Daryl, I rarely do sleep in...'

'I know.' A short sigh. Daryl looked down. 'Sorry. I'm just, it's frustrating! Lost

half a day, and we haven't time to waste! I wanted to get past the tracks up ahead,

before now...' he motioned west where they were headed toward a rail line. Em could

now make out the dark crease in the land below them delineating the train route.

'Well, no help for it. At least there's no trains...at the moment...'

They headed down into the valley. Daryl glancing behind and all around them. Now

that they were over the ridge, Popo had become hidden from view. His shoulders

seemed to relax more, Em noted, following; and she detected the smell of his

cigarillo on the wind...

As they neared the tracks, however, Daryl pulled up. ''Ho...' He leaned forward over

the saddlehorn. 'See that? That's why we're not seeing any trains...'

Emmeline noticed then that something about the track seemed amiss. Looked like a

blast area with darkened patches of burnt track and twisted rail. 'Sabotage?' Em

enquired.

'Yep. Dynamited, methinks.' He looked all around them. 'Doesn't seem that fresh

though, I don't think the rebels are still around. But, just the same, we should get

moving...'

They nudged their mounts away from the rail line, heading ever westward. 'I don't

begrudge the revolutionaries their battle...but I don't want us to get caught in the

middle of things. Even the pacificos are being harassed...it wouldn't do for us

to...hel-lo.'
He pulled up. 'Blast.'

Em looked where Daryl was gazing, noticing a dust cloud on the horizon. 'What is

it?'

'Someone's coming. We'll have to take cover, til they go by.' He nodded toward some

large boulders surrounded by low trees and brush just ahead.

They had just reached the safety of their concealment when they could make out a

wagon approaching. 'Looks like a work crew, maybe, to fix the track...' Daryl

frowned. 'Dammit. They're probably not going to leave any time soon...' This day

wasn't going at all the way Daryl had planned.

'Can't we sneak off, once they're...busy?'

Daryl shook his head. 'I don't know...maybe.' He sighed, then sat down. 'S'all we

can try to do though. Meanwhile, just stay low and keep quiet.'

The wagon pulled up alongside the broken track and now they could see that only a

few men were moving about, while the rest sat immobile within the wagon. Then

Emmeline saw why. The men inside the wagon were tied up, or handcuffed to the wagon

slats. 'They're prisoners!'she whispered to Daryl.

He nodded. 'Yep. Being used for work detail, poor devils...'

'Can't we...do something?' Em asked.

Daryl looked at her like she'd lost her mind. 'What are you talkin'? They're

jailbirds! Drunks, thieves, killers...!'

'--Jack!' Em gasped.

Open-mouthed, Daryl narrowed his gaze toward the wagon. 'No...it can't be...'

'It's him. I know it.' Em was adamant. 'Oh, Daryl, I knew it!'

'Shhh! Quiet, nena! What do you mean, you knew?'He whispered harshly, glaring at

her.

'Carmen, she read the cards for me, I had asked about Jack. She said he

was...imprisoned.' Em nodded, sagely. 'Look, Daryl, it IS him!' She sighed. 'He came

after me.'

Daryl had to admit the tall fellow with dark hair in a black hat and a red bandana

certainly looked like Jack. 'I'll be right back. Don't move!'

'Where...what---!' Em turned, but Daryl was gone. She saw him sneaking through the

brush closer to the wagon. The men were hustled out now and, under the close watch

of their jailers who were heavily armed, freed and handed large hammers and other

implements and herded to the blast area.

Definatley Jack. Oh, Jack...how could this be happening? It was all Em could do not

to run to him. How could they get him out of this? Meanwhile, Daryl was edging his

way back to her.

'Okay, here's what we're going to do. When the crew works it's way up to that big

rock there, see, just where the track turns that corner? That's where you will be

hiding, behind that rock. Meanwhile, I'm going to create a diversion, back at the

wagon, alright? When these goons investigate, you grab Jack, and the both of you

vamanos, got it? Don't look back, just go.'

'And you?'

'I'll catch up. Don't worry. Just do your bit, now--go!' he pushed Emmeline over to

the rocks ahead.

As luck would have it, Jack was at the head of the gang, and his overseer was closer

to the middle, having the men knock out the damaged parts to be replaced. Emmeline

crept up behind the big rock, hardly daring to breathe as she watched Jack banging

away with a big hammer trying to loosen the damaged rail. There was no one near the

wagon now. Suddenly, there came a series of loud pop! pop! pops!--and several large

rocks sailed into the wagon at the same time.

'Quien vive?!' The jailers ran back to the wagon, and while everyone was staring

that way, Emmeline reached out and grabbed Jack's arm, dragging him behind the rock.

As she hustled them away, Daryl popped out of some brush beside them, startling

them. 'Give me your hat, and kerchief! Quick!' Daryl grabbed Jack's hat, while he

unwound his bandana. He turned to head back to the tracks. 'Wait!' Em rasped, 'What

are you--?'

Jack had been missed. The jailer who had been closest to Jack, had returned with

another and they were asking the men what had happened to the man in the dark

sombrero with the rojo bandana...

'GO! NOW!!' Daryl pushed them both toward the horses. 'Andele!'
And, sticking Jack's hat on his head he tied the scarf 'round his neck and picked up

the hammer, headed back around the edge of the rock.

'C'mon, Em.' They took the horses and quietly as they could, edged away from the

area. Jack knew there was nothing they could do, now, just the two of them...right

now he had to get Emmeline out of here, somewhere safe. What the hell was she doing

here, anyway? Well, now wasn't the time for a chat...

They crept down into an arroyo and then mounted, riding quickly and quietly from the

scene, as the sounds of ringing hammers and men's voices faded. When they could hear

them no longer, Jack finally stopped, Em beside him.

'Fireworks,' he said. 'I wondered where the fireworks came from!'
He looked at Em, dismounted, and helped her down. They embraced like two people just

saved from drowning. 'Emmelina...' Jack hid his face in her hair. 'Migods...I can't

believe it's you, here! How did this happen?' He looked at her then, unbelieving.

Emmeline regarded him. 'I...I, hardly know, myself, darling! Oh, Jack, is it really

you?' They held each other tightly. 'It's been crazy, Jack...' Em led him over to

some rocks where they sat together at last, and just gazed at one another for

awhile.

'What happened, Em? How did you get here? Damn Daryl...!' Jack frowned back from

whence they'd come.

'Daryl...!' Em realized what he'd done. 'Oh, Jack, we can't leave him here!'

'We can't?' Jack asked.

'Of course not! Jack, he just saved your life! Substituted himself as prisoner for

your freedom!' Em couldn't believe Jack's callousness.

'Yes...but,' Jack stared at the ground, 'Wasn't it his doing, taking you away, back

here, back to Mexico? I don't see the heroics in that...'

Jack didn't understand. 'It's not like that. That isn't what happened, and Daryl

isn't to blame!' Emmelina gave Jack the short version of what had happened. 'Neither

of us knows how we got here! When I, disappeared, from the ball, I found myself here

in Mexico, or rather, over there,' she waved vaguely in the direction they'd come,

'and in the middle of gunfire! There was a battle raging all around me! Suddenly,

Daryl came pounding up on a horse and took me out of there!' Em was still trying to

piece together the puzzle of events leading up to now, herself. She sighed,

smoothing her hair out of her face, 'We've just been trying to get back to

California. Back home. We were going to the coast to take a ship heading north.'

Jack said nothing, stared at her. 'I can't believe you're really here. How?' He

shook his head.

'How did YOU get here?' Em regarded him closely. 'And what were you doing in jail?'

Jack gave Em the short version. 'They think I'm a spy for the US government.'

'What's your scentence?'

Jack took a deep breath. 'Execution. Eventually. Death by firing squad.'

Emmeline shot Jack a pained look. 'We can't leave Daryl here. I know how you feel

about him, Jack, but...he doesn't deserve this! He sacrificed himself for you!'

Emmeline wasn't going to leave Daryl to such a fate. 'Just like Sydney Carton!' She

gasped in realization.

Jack ran his hands through his hair, and shook his head. 'Let me think...Oh, Em, I

wasn't going to let him take the fall...but at the moment, I don't think we really

have the upper hand in this!
Just the two of us, no weapons, other than Daryl's rifle... We're going to need

help.' Jack was wishing he had a clearer head, he hadn't slept a wink in the jail

cell. 'We have some time still. They won't be anxious to be rid of him as long as

they can use him for manual labor awhile...'

'That won't be forever.' Em sighed.

'No. Don't fret, Em, at least now we're back together again. We're a team, right?'

Em nodded. 'Okay, then. It'll be alright. We'll figure something out, darlin'...'

Jack put an arm around her, held her close.

Surely they could think of something to get Daryl out of this spot. But what?

At the moment, Em was fresh out of options.

. . . .

Chapter 19 - Que Sera Sera or:

Chapter 19 - Que Sera Sera or:
 The Future's Not Ours To See

'It's Crowley House!'
'It's also past midnight.'
Emmeline and Jack found themselves deposited in the yard. Jack was amazed, but not unduely; he dismounted and put a finger to his lips to warn Em to stay quiet.
Too late. Dylan came barking and bounding their way in a flash.
Jack knelt down and called softly to him. 'Dylan! Good boy...good watchpup!' He patted Dylan and calmed him. 'Hopefully...we didn't awaken anyone...' Jack recalled his clandestine escapade and hoped that they could all discuss it in the morning without having too much recrimination heaped upon his head.
After settling the horses and turning them out to pasture with Boreson and Trotsky, the two weary travellers headed into the back door as noiselessly as possible and crept up the stairs to their rooms.
Emmeline had a moment of hesitation...until Jack opened the door to her Indigo Room for her and they entered.
'It's all ready for you, luv...you need a good night's rest, and frankly, so do I. We'll sort it all out in the morning, alright?'
'That's fine, Jack. I'm so tired and confused...I can hardly think...'
'Restup darlin'.' He hugged her and kissed her forehead. 'We're here, we're safe. That's the main thing. Daryl will be fine, I bet you. So, no worries?'
Em smiled up at Jack. 'Thank you, Jack.' He tilted her chin up and kissed her gently.
'I'll see you come morning.' He lit a candle, softly shut her door, and headed downstairs to his 2nd floor bedroom.
Lord and Lady, Em's head was whirling. She was too tired to think about what had just happened or wonder about it. Bed, or rather, futon, was all she could think of now. She fell down in a heap upon it, and barely had time to shimmy off her outer clothes and blow out the candle before she herself was out like a light.
                                . . . . .
With the morning came also a new reality.
Emmeline awoke and slowly opened her eyes. Not easy, she was still grimey with dust from the road. She rubbed them open and dared a look round. Oh, thank all the gods, she WAS actually at Crowley House, and in her Indigo Room. Just this much reassurance was keenly appreciated by her. A bed to sleep on was keenly appreciated...as was a roof over her head and absence of bullets directed her way. Etcetera.
She was, in fact, so bowled over by this sudden return to 'normalcy' that she resolved she'd had enough with anything even remotely otherwise.
Slowly she creakily arose to sitting position. Diosa, but she felt 100 years old...everything felt bruised, pulled, scraped or otherwise misused greatly. She supposed she was lucky to have only this much to reckon with.
She slipped the comforter off and beheld very little blood, so that was a good thing. No fearsome wounds...she didn't think Jack was too badly off either...hadn't really had a chance to check, had they?
Her eyes closed again of their own accord and she wove abit but forced them open again. She was too curious to sleep just now. Her stomach growled. She couldn't recall when she'd eaten much, the gypsy camp perhaps? She discerned muffled noises of people moving about the floors below. She fleetingly wondered how Jack was faring with Yeats...she certainly hadn't asked him to come after her, but, well, how could she fault his devotion? Still, she felt a powerful urge to smack him soundly for causing her such worry.  She smiled...suppose Jack had felt the same way, regarding her safety. But neither she or Daryl had planned their sudden 'departure'.
What could the time be...? She moaned softly as she stood...realizing a futon on a tatami mat was really quite a ways to manage a standing position from, and
shuffled to the windows. Closed her eyes again, goodness it was bright! Squinting at the great outdoors she took in all the lovely greenery. Trees already leafed-out, flowers blooming, and just look at the blossoms on the fruit trees!
Hm. Em was taken aback. But...it was just the winter solstice, mere days ago, wasn't it?
Curiouser and curiouser.
                          . . . . .
'Ah, here she is, our Persephone returned!' Aleister met Emmeline at the kitchen's swinging doors with a hearty greeting and clasped her forearms in his warm grip. 'How are you, my dear? Here, do have a seat! Tea?'
Em took a seat at the breakfast table, gazing out at the pasture beyond where Pancho and Jack's horse were grazing contently with Trotsky and another palimino-colored horse unknown to her. 'Thank you, doctor...Aleister!' she amended, smiling at him as he poured hot tea. 'Ohhh...that smells divine! Oh, for some real strong tea!' She sipped gratefully, closing her eyes and savoring the moment. It had been too long.
 In fact...just how long HAD it been?
'We've some carrot-ginger muffins...'Al opened the oven where they were keeping warm, '...applesauce...' he began hauling out the tucker for her, '...or I could do some eggs, eh?'
'This is all I need, thank you, Aleister!' The muffins smelled divine. Yeats's
cooking, no doubt, it smacked of Alice's touch, Em recalled Yeats and Alice had spent time together cooking. Em sighed...what a long strange trip it had been.
'Has Jack been down yet?' She inquired.
Aleister didn't answer immediately, but poured coffee for himself and joined her at table. 'Ah, yes. He and Yeats are hashing out some things in the study...'he took a sip. 'But, how are you, dear girl? You look well, although you still could use some feeding-up, lass.' Al frowned her way.
Em studied the horses outside and mused upon Al's obvious prevarication.
She wondered what things Jack and Yeats were hashing out. She rather thought that it was Jack's hash that Yeats was settling, rather.
'I'm alright, thank you, Aleister. Just need some rest and sleep. I'll feel like eating something more soon enough...' She smiled. And sighed. 'It has been...rather a whirlwind of late.'
Al regarded her narrowly. 'I'll just give you a quick check-up, then, when you're up for it. Plenty of time. Don't fash yourself now, lass.' He patted her hand tentatively, '...you've much to catch up on.'
They discerned voices approaching from the front of the house and Jack and Yeats found them then. 'Emmeline, my dear, how fare you?' Yeats put a gentle hand upon her shoulder.
Em smiled and reached up, touching his hand. 'I am well, now, thank you! It seems as though I've been away for ages!'
A heavy quiescence suddenly settled about them all. Yeats shot a look at Jack from under his heavy brows that bespoke volumes. Jack looked solemn. Aleister
tried his best to enforce a visage of calm neutrality. Yeats cleared his throat at last. 'Have you breakfasted? Good. Let us take our tea to the veranda, shall we? The morning is fair and mild.'
As they poured more tea and coffee all around, Em and Jack took rather longer to do so and allowed Al and Yeats to preceed them outside.
 'How are you Em? Sleep alright?' Jack was putting a good face on things, but she could tell he was troubled by something.
'Like a stone, for once!' She gazed at him searchingly. 'And you, Jack?'
'Out like a lamp.' He put an arm about her and kissed her forehead. 'We made it Em, we're safe here now, and I believe we'll not be leaving again anytime soon unless it's of our own volition!'
'Oh, Jack,' she shook her head, 'you've no idea how much I wish that were true!' She put her arm about his waist and together they stepped out onto the porch and took a seat upon the wicker settee between Aleister and Yeats.
They all sat together companionably enough, but with a sharp undercurrent of slight edginess made palpable by their quiet. A meadowlark called and Em was aware of the busyness of nature: bees buzzed about, hummingbirds darted, she fancied she could even hear buds blossoming.
'Everything seems so alive!' She exclaimed, setting her tea upon the wicker table next to her. 'So much green! And daffodills already?'
Yeats inhaled forcibly. 'Yes. It is. There are. Such is the way of all nature, come Spring.'
A pause. Jack leaned forward, sighing softly, his elbows on his knees, and hands clasped before him, as if to get a grip on himself. 'Emmeline...ah, apparently, we were gone for some time, actually.'
'Oh.' Em wasn't sure she was ready for this, but...it was only something she
had intuited, known, really...she just hadn't wished to bring it to the forefront of her reality. 'I...see.' She trembled slightly as she clasped her teacup and took a cold sip. 'Just when are we now?'
The men looked at one another. Then Jack answered. 'It's March, Em.'
He nearly said he was sorry, but, well...he was, but was it altogether his fault? Sighing, he had to admit he'd gotten the ball rolling, as it were.
'We...we 'lost' the rest of December, January and February?'
Jack hung his head. 'I'm sorry, Em.'
Emmeline didn't know what to think. Her decision upon waking to have no more wild peregrinations throughout time and space unless she instigated them herself was jolted into a new frantic resolve. However, whatever it took, she was well and truly done with all that!
'I believe I shall have a stroll about the grounds.' She set her teacup down shakily and smoothed her skirts as she stood. The gentlemen arose also.
But no one tried to stop her as she went down the porch steps.
'...I...could, come with, Em?' Jack ventured.
'I think not, Jack.' Em paused, her head turned sideways, but not looking at him. 'Thank you.'
And she took herself off. For a change.
                              . . . . .
She meandered awhile, and yes, it was assuredly spring here now. No longer the bare trees of winter, they were fluffy with new growth; spring green all about and it even smelled like a new season.
Time marches on, it is said, thought Emmeline. She wouldn't even mind a quick march, but oh, not a leap, a rush, an instantaneous fling into spring and  directly after winter solstice--March! It simply wasn't done. At this rate, she would be in her 30's before the year was out...
She'd no idea whither she was wandering  but wound up beside the pasture fence feeding Trotsky and Pancho and the other two equines some mulberry leaves and admonishing them not to fight over them. She was fond of her old Pancho; it hadn't been the time or place before to get to know him, but, though not a gorgeous horse by any means, he was hale and hearty and she rather liked his brown and white patches. 'You're a wild Indian horse, a Gypsy horse, aren't you Panchito?' He recognized his name and raised his head to blow into her nose, as she did with him and he snorted his appreciation of the gesture then returned to his grazing.
Silent tears fell from Em's eyes not for any particular reason. She felt a sense of deep loss, but she was somehow also rather removed from things. Maybe
a part of her simply refused to acknowledge what was happening to her. She felt her life was somehow beyond her control...it wasn't a good feeling. She hated it in fact. She bit her lip and dashed the tears away with her hand, getting horse spit on her face instead.
She turned and leaned against the fence, regarding Crowley House. A houseful of men who treated people like chess pieces and time like a game of darts. What would it take to hit the bullseye? Em wondered about that. What was the bloody point?! She snorted. She supposed they all had their reasons for escaping what was a hellish future but did they have to drag her out of her 'paradise' as Daryl had termed this century? What of no womens' voting rights, or the harassment of unionizing workers...what of racism and crooked politicians right here in this time and place? She chewed her lip, frowning. She had to admit, that even with all that, from the abominable picture Daryl had painted she decided she would rather be here than there.
What would it take to get back the Time she'd lost, though?
                                    . . . .
'She's alright, you think...?' Jack asked Aleister for the third time that day. They were in Al's basement lab working on perfecting their new biodiesel formula.
Aleister sighed as he poured a beakerful of thick fluid into a largish
tin. 'She will be.' He screwed the cap on tightly, set the can into a carrier filled with similar containers and removed his goggles to atop his head. 'Young women are resiliant.' Al sat upon a high stool at last, taking off his gloves. 'However...she is no doubt concerned about losing a certain percentage of her youth, not to be recovered.'
'It's only afew months!'
'Thus far.' Al gave Jack a hard look. Took the goggles off and scratched his head.'Not to mention having had no control over her life, ever since we showed up.'
Jack folded his arms and regarded Aleister. 'You are remarkably
empathetic suddenly, doctor.'
Al just sighed and shook his head. Jack could be a right nob at times. A good friend, a good man, but...obtuse, for a self-styled 'genius'...
A flash of calico fur invaded the space between the two suddenly.
'Alice!' Aleister smiled delightedly, petting the purring Alice who had hopped up on the counter top and rubbed her head beneath his chin.
'That reminds me...where is Dylan?'
'With Emmeline, no doubt...she seems to prefer the company of four-legged creatures.' Couldn't fault her for that, Al opined sagely to himself. 'You could do with a bit of airing yourself.'
'Fine. I can take a hint.'
'Do.'
Jack betook himself off leaving Al and Alice their 'alone' time. He headed up the basement stairs, at a loss still. Aleister had been rather cool to him since his return from his delinquent departure to Mexico. Yeats had given him the impression that he'd like to have Jack beheaded, skull shrunken and nailed to the study wall. Nothing  harsh.
As he reached the ground floor, he noticed through the windows that it was nearing sunset. Where was Em? Alone time was one thing, but...
He headed out upon the front porch staring off in all directions. Then he saw her, coming from behind the barn, Dylan leaping about her. She was smiling and holding up a stick which he snapped at, twisting himself about with wild acrobatics in his enthusiasm. Her long red curls shown in the golden sunset behind her, adding a halo effect.
Gods she was lovely. Jack looked down. Did she blame him for this...this loss of Time?
He strode out to her, hands in pockets and Dylan gave a short bark his way and rushed toward him. Em glanced at him, biting her lip, but she wasn't joining in with Dylan's excitement to see Jack. As he neared, she turned, in fact, and leaned upon the corral fence, staring at the horses.
'Time to feed the herd,' Jack said standing beside her.
'The stocky palomino...he's new.' Em deigned to notice Jack's presence.
'That's Aleister's new Halflinger, Boreson. He's a good horse, Amish trained. Does well with a cart or saddle. Gentle, good natured. A right palfrey he is.' Jack went to the barn and began pitching hay into the corral, the horses whinnying as they approached.
 Jack returned and stood with the pitchfork next to Em.
'So.' She nodded at Daryl's horse. 'You've a pair of bays now. They're a good match.'
Jack slowly shook his head. 'I don't know what to call him. He seems to be sound. Have to give him a going over, get Al out here to see to them.'
'They're Gypsy horses. We got them from friends of Daryl's.'
'Gypsies know good horseflesh.'
The wind stilled as the sun sank behind the trees and hills and the only sounds were the munching and grinding of horseteeth on hay.
  "'Home is the sailor, home from the sea...and the hunter home from the hill.'" quoth Jack from Stevenson/Housman suddenly.
Em frowned at that as she regarded the peach colored clouds. '"I wasted Time and now Time doth waste me."' She turned around then and looked at Jack, leaning back against the fence.
'Shakespeare. Serious stuff, Em.'
'I should hope so, Jack.'
He leaned the pitchfork against the side of the barn. 'Let's walk?' He put an arm at her back and gestured them forward. She suddenly recalled her old dancing master; he would say the man leading the dance is suggesting a move while the woman may follow or not, as she wishes...
  Did Em still wish to follow Jack in this pas de deux?  As he bent to pick up a stick to toss to Dylan, she eyed the pitchfork and Jack's backside. An evil thought brought a smile to her lips, which she quickly hid as she tossed Dylan pinecones to chase as they walked to the side of the house where Jack had planted last year's garden.
'This is the garden, or will be...not too late for planting yet.' He looked hopefully at Em.
'Have to till it all up, fertilize abit...usually string peas along there,' he pointed along a fenceline, 'and I have poppies planted all along the border...' He called Dylan out of the garden. 'Have to put up chicken wire along the bottom, and dig deep to keep Dylan out.He'll need training. But, it will be extra protection against rabbits...what do you like to plant, Em?'
Em had to admit she was softening abit, thinking about a garden. At last. How she'd missed her old garden at Alice's! Well, Jack had that much in common with his...with Daryl, anyway.
 'Oh, everything! Onions, garlic, carrots, tomatoes of course! And potatoes, artichokes...finiky lot those...' Em sauntered slowly about the garden.
'I've never tried...they don't like it too hot do they? Grow mostly along the coast.'
'Bit hit or miss. Herbs...cilantro, mint, oregano, catnip and rosemary...medicinal herbs. Most herbs are, really.'
'I can smell them already.' Jack strode along behind her, hands in pockets. A low rumble was heard then. Not thunder, but Jack's stomach. 'Ah, haven't eaten since breakfast, I guess! Been down in the lab with Al working on making fuel from vegetable oil.'
'Like you made for Woody's?' Em looked his way at last.
'That's the stuff.' He reached a tentative hand toward her. 'You up for some dinner yet?'
If you can't beat 'em...thought Em...then again, beating them sounded good too.
Oh, why not. Em was tired of going round in circles trying to figure out the future. Stick to the here and now.
'I'm starving, Jack.'
She took his hand.
'Let's eat.'
                              . . . .