A Path Toward Home (The Annals of Avonea) (8 page)

“How did you hear?”

“Mammy May came and told me that Silas was dressed all fancy like, and carrying a bouquet of flowers. She thought he looked to be in the courting mood.”

“Indeed, but I refused him of course.” responded Regan.

“But why? Silas is very nice, strong, and handsome.”

“I don’t like him and I never will!”

Mrs. Monroe lowered her voice into a whisper that could barely be heard.

“Is that really a reason, or are you still waiting on a certain proposal?”

“Yes, but he never seems to notice me,” Reagan replied whispering. “He was paying more attention to you know who than to me.”

“Do not worry, she will be gone soon,” Mrs. Monroe replied.

Constance wondered if they were talking about Drinian. She did notice that Reagan never took her eyes off him. But was Constance the one they were talking about?

“What if she persuades him to love her, then what will I do?” Reagan whispered.

“Be patient Reagan, I highly doubt that would happen.”

“You never know, though,” Reagan replied.

“I finished the carrots,” Constance said, taking the bowel of chopped carrots to Mrs. Monroe.

“Thank you, Constance,” Mrs. Monroe replied, taking the bowl from her.

“How many days will it take for you to get to your destination, Constance?” Mrs. Monroe asked?

“Um... well we first have to get to Moolow which will take at least a day. I don't really know how long after that. Drinian and Woodphere have it all sorted out, which route we are taking.”

“So have you known Drinian for a long time?” Reagan asked.

“Actually no, I met him only three days ago.”

“And do you enjoy each other’s company?”

“How is that any of your business?” Constance asked, with one eye-brow raised.

“I was asking you a question, why is it so personal?”

“Reagan! She obviously does not want to discuss it, she is our guest and we need to treat her like one.” Mrs. Monroe responded with a lecturing tone to her voice.

Rosella burst in the door and broke the silence, “Mama, guess what! Pete caught a bullfrog down by the river!”

“Good for him, be sure to congratulate him for me,” Mrs. Monroe replied.

“I will! Can I tell Razelle, or is he sleeping?”

“He's resting right now, but you can tell him later at supper.”

And with that Rosella dashed back outside.

“I've never seen anyone so excited, about catching a bullfrog,” Constance said, smiling.

“They have the grandest time trying to catch bullfrogs. Pete is the first one to catch one this year, so he will get quite a bit of attention from the other children.”

For the next hour they finished preparing the wonderful supper. By the time Drinian and Woodphere arrived, the meal was sitting hot on the table.

“My, what are you trying to do to me, make me gain five more pounds?” Woodphere sighed, as he gazed at the table before him.

“We make sure you do not leave hungry,” Mrs. Monroe laughed

“Is Warrick back from work yet?” Drinian asked.

“No, he hasn't been getting back until late after supper. So we do not have to wait for him.”

They all sat down with Mrs. Monroe sitting at the head of table. Lilly, Constance, and Rosella were to her right, and Reagan, Drinian, and Razelle to her left. Woodphere sat facing Mrs. Monroe at the opposite end of the table. Constance’s heart was stirred as she saw Drinian and Reagan join hands for the mealtime prayer. Reagan had not said anything but her eyes were doing plenty of talking.

They all closed their eyes while Woodphere spoke a blessing on the food before them. Pleasant conversation then accompanied the tasty meal.

Reagan

After supper they went to the sitting room. It contained a large fireplace, two rocking chairs, a small wooden stand, and a worn sofa. Soon Warrick arrived and heartily greeted the guests. He was a man in his early forties with a brown beard and kept an enormous pipe in his mouth. He reminded Constance of Pa from the Little House on the Prairie books.

When it was bedtime she climbed to the attic with Roselle and Mr. and Mrs. Monroe. Constance assumed the thin mattress she was lying on was filled goose feathers, but for some reason she could not get comfortable. She tried counting sheep, but at two hundred she was still wide awake.

Constance arose from her mattress and climbed down the ladder quietly, making sure not to awaken Woodphere, Drinian, and Razelle, who were sleeping downstairs. She stepped outside, but to her surprise she was not alone.

“Reagan! You startled me,” Constance exclaimed, as she stepped from the doorway.

“I’m sorry,” Reagan replied, not sounding too sympathetic.

“What are you doing out here, I thought you went home?” Constance asked.

“I was admiring the stars. What are you doing out here?”

“I can't sleep; I thought maybe the fresh air may do me some good.”

There was an awkward silence as both girls stood staring up at the stars.

“Are you going to keep in contact with Drinian in the future?” Reagan asked randomly.

“Why do you want to know?”

“Constance, let me get straight to the point! Do you have affections for Drinian?”

“What?” Constance replied, quite alarmed.

“Do you like Drinian?” Reagan asked, her eyes piercing through Constance.

“Well, of course I like Drinian; he's a very good friend.”

“No, I mean do you like him more than a friend?”

 Constance did not reply, but only put her head down, and stared at the ground.

“You do know that he and I are going to be married.”

“You’re engaged?” Constance asked, confused.

“No, but I know he will ask me any day now and I want to make sure you’re not going to interfere.

“You don’t have to worry about that happening!”

“Good! Don’t let me catch you flirting with him either. You must promise me that nothing will deepen in your relationship with each other.”

“I can't promise that Reagan, for who knows the future. I may marry Drinian, and you may marry a pauper, for all I know!” Constance replied bitterly.

“You may wear fancy clothes, but that doesn’t mean Drinian will fall in love with you!”

“Reagan, I didn't mean it as harsh as it sounded. I meant you should not count on marrying Drinian because you aren't the only girl in the world who likes him. You shouldn’t wait all your life for a proposal from one man.”

“You are trying to spite me, because you’re from that other world!” Reagan shouted, and started walking away.

“Wait Reagan, I don't want this conversation to end this way. Please can we at least part on friendly terms?”

Reagan stopped. “That won’t happen until you promise me that you won't ever care for Drinian.”

“I still can't promise that.”

“Then I have nothing more to say!”

Constance watched Reagan stalk away.
Now they would never be friends.
She sat wearily down on the step and hung her head.

How could anyone be so selfish
?

“Constance what are you doing out here?” came Drinian's voice from behind her.

“I can't sleep, and it seems that nobody can. Reagan was here a moment ago too,” Constance replied looking up at him.

“What's the matter?” Drinian asked, as he sat down beside Constance. It was obvious that something was troubling her.

“Nothing, really.”

“You can tell me. I’ve only known you three days but, I definitely know when you’re upset, especially when you’re mad at someone,” Drinian said, smiling.

“If I tell you we might get into another argument.”

“I do not think so. Our personalities may clash sometimes, but that doesn't mean you can't tell me what’s on your mind,” Drinian said, looking into Constance’s eyes.

Constance sighed and replied, “It's Reagan, we don't get along at all and she simply hates me.”

“What?” Drinian asked, his eyebrows raised.

“It’s just that we’re not on very good terms right now.”

“About what?”

“I can't tell, but let’s say, we had no small argument.”

“It wasn't as bad as our squabble was it?”

“No, but it was pretty bad.”

“If my guess is correct, Reagan was not nice to you either.”

“We were both acted horribly toward each other.”

“Well the only thing you can do is apologize.”

“I did, but I don't think it was good enough for her.”

“Sleep on it. Do not worry about the problem tonight. It may appear to be big now, but when you wake up in the morning it may seem like nothing.”

“Good advice! Did you learn it from Woodphere?”

“Yes, I did. I’m trying gain as much wisdom as possible before I become King.”

“Well goodnight, I'll see you in the morning Drinian,” Constance said getting up from the steps.

“Sleep well,” Drinian replied.

***************

 The next morning, Constance was up bright and early, ready to help with breakfast.

“How did you sleep Constance?” Mrs. Monroe asked, as she stirred the steaming hot oatmeal while Constance was climbing down the ladder.

“Very well, when I wasn’t thinking about Reagan,” Constance said, as she picked up the stack of dishes that sat on the table.

“Reagan?” Mrs. Monroe asked, lifting her head and turning to Constance.

“Yes, I'm afraid were not getting along very well.”

“Ah, is it because of Drinian?”

“Yes. Since I didn't know she liked Drinian so much, I said a few thing I shouldn’t have,” Constance sighed, as she arranged the plates around the table.

“Reagan is very determined to have Drinian. She is my younger sister, and I've tried to help guide her in making decisions. However, when it comes to Drinian I can't persuade her that he may love someone else.”

 Suddenly Reagan appeared in the doorway.

“Hello, Ann,” Reagan greeted, as she walked in.

Constance looked over at Reagan who turned quickly away.

“Hello Reagan,” Constance said quietly.

Reagan did not reply.

“Reagan are you going to say good morning to our guest?” Mrs. Monroe asked.

“I have nothing to say to her, since she seemingly has no respect for other people,” Reagan replied, walking over to the stove.

“Reagan, I sincerely apologize. I didn't mean what I said last night, or at least not all of it.

“The oatmeal's done now. Constance would you please go outside and call in the men and Rosella. I do believe they are by the pond.”

Mrs. Monroe gave Constance a look as if to say that she wanted to talk to Reagan alone.

She quietly left the house, and went down to the pond. She was dying to know what Mrs. Monroe and Reagan were talking about, but this time she linger to listen outside the door.

***************

They soon came back to the house to find Mrs. Monroe and Reagan had the meal on the table and ready to eat. They were all seated and eating heartily when an unexpected visitor appeared at the door. There stood a tall muscular young man, about six foot four inches, with shaggy black hair and dark blue eyes.

“Silas, what are you doing here?” Mrs. Monroe asked, while holding Lilly in her lap.

“Hello Silas,” Drinian greeted.

“Hello Your Majesty, Mr. Monroe, Mrs. Monroe. I am so sorry to be intruding on your breakfast, but I have some news to tell you,” Silas replied in a deep voice

“That’s alright, have you had your breakfast yet?” Mrs. Monroe asked.

“No I have not, but I do not want to impose.”

“You are no bother at all, please sit down.” Mr. Monroe insisted.

“Here Silas, you may have my seat,” Reagan offered her seat, which was right beside Constance.

Silas cheerfully sat down beside Constance, as Mrs. Monroe scooped out a warm bowl of oatmeal for him.

“So Silas, why have you come?” Mrs. Monroe asked.

Silas was paying no attention to Mrs. Monroe, for his eyes were feasting on Constance. Silas had never seen such a beautiful young women. Her face and complexion were so delicate, yet her eyes were dark and mysterious.

“Silas!” Mr. Monroe exclaimed.

“Yes sir?”

“I said, why have you come?”

“Oh... I um... wanted you to know that my father is digging a new well.

“Yes, but I already know that.”

“Oh ... he wants you to know that … you can have as much water as you can use,” Silas finished, with his eyes focused on Constance.

“That is very kind of him, tell him thank you,” Mr. Monroe replied.

“Oh, yes sir.”

Constance was becoming quite annoyed with Silas’s persistent gawking. She wished she had a pie in front of her to throw in his face. That would not be ladylike, but maybe that would keep him from staring.

“Here you are Silas,” Mrs. Monroe said, handing him the bowl of oatmeal.

“Thank you.”

Drinian noticed Silas’s obvious fascination with Constance, and for some reason, he did not like it at all.

“Oh, Silas I believe you have not met Constance,” Reagan said, with a mischievous smirk on her face.

“I believe I have not had the honor. I'm Silas O’Neal,” he said, smiling.

“Nice to meet you, I'm Constance Jones,” Constance replied, looking up at Silas.

“Constance is traveling with me to see Moolow,” Drinian said.

“Really, how fortunate,” Silas replied.

“How long shall you be staying here at the Kallies, Constance?”

“I'm not quite sure. Drinian how long do we plan on staying?”

“We’re going to leave before sun-up tomorrow.”

“It is a shame that you cannot stay longer.”

“So, how is your crop looking, Silas? Do you expect the harvest to be plentiful?” Mr. Monroe asked.

 Silas took a large bite of oatmeal, and swallowing replied, “My father says the crops look very good for so early in the season. I do believe we may even be able to harvest two separate crops this year,” Silas replied.

“Do tell Constance what crops you grow, Silas,” Reagan said.

“I grow mainly wheat, along with cotton and beans.”

“Really, that is interesting,” Constance replied.

Soon everyone had finished breakfast, and excused themselves to do chores and visit.