Bonfire Of The Heart
At
The House of Four Seasons
by Atonia
Part 3
“Sir, there’s a man in the water.”
“Are you sure,”
“Yes sir.”
The Captain pulled out his glass and had a look, “Upon my word.” Orders were called out and a boat was lowered.
He would have been all right had he not hit his head on the rocks and been knocked unconscious. Miraculously a piece of the broken boat came up underneath him and brought him to the surface.
He was pulled into the wooden boat and rowed back to the ship.
“Pullings, would you get Dr. Mautrin please.”
Captain Jack Aubrey watched as they brought him on deck, half drowned by the looks of it and a rather bloody looking head. Where had he come from?
“Ah Stephen, would you see what can be done for this man, he’s just been fished from the sea.”
“It looks as though his boat may have capsized or something sir, he was holding on to this.” Bonden held up the scrap of blue wood.
He was taken below to Dr. Mautrin’s sick bay where his wound was cleaned and dressed, his clothes removed and he was dressed in a cotton gown and covered with a sheet.
“I’ve given him something to help get rid of the seawater, so time will tell.” Mautrin washed the blood from his hands as Aubrey looked on. “He’s healthy and in good shape, much better than I’ve ever known you to be I might add, he should recover quickly, some bruising and a cut on his forehead.”
Jack knew who he was, but how he came to be floating in the sea… “I should like to be informed when he wakes I’d like to talk to him.”
Below decks in the Surprise Terry was vomiting up seawater. Stephen wiped his face and helped him to lay back on the bed. He sent a boy for the Captain.
Terry came too, sick to his stomach and with a raging headache, his whole body ached. He had no idea where he was.
“Ah, Terrance Thorne I believe,” Jack addressed him.
Terry opened his eyes at the familiar voice, “Jack?”
“Yes and how fortunate for you, tell me how did you come to be in the sea?”
“Oh God,” Terry closed his eyes, “Toni.”
“I’m sorry?”
“Toni…”
“At the house of Four Seasons, is that where you came from?”
“Yes, we were by the lighthouse and a wave came up knocked me in the water, I guess I hit my head I don’t remember.”
“When was this?”
Terry looked at him,” I don’t know where I am, Jack, or what day or time. It was the morning after the storm.”
“That would have been yesterday, there was a terrible blow. Toni was with you?”
“Yeah, she was on the rocks but not out as far as the lighthouse. She should be okay.”
“I rather doubt that…well we shall take you home.” He smiled down at Terry and patted his hand.
Jack went back up on deck to relay orders for a new direction.
Terry threw up some more of the sea and lay back again, awake now, his mind was on Toni and what she must be going through. He wished there was a way to let her know he was alive, but in this nineteenth century vessel there wouldn’t be such a thing as a ship to shore phone or anything else. There was nothing he could do.
After giving orders, Jack went to his cabin and after a look over his shoulder he dug down in his sea chest and pulled out the Blackberry, with a little smile he sent a text message to Toni’s computer: Terry found alive bringing him home, JA.
Max was standing on Toni’s balcony, they were taking shifts sitting with her and he had the first shift. It was almost too much for him seeing her like that. He’d held her in his arms rocking her, kissing her softly on the cheek, and then tucked her in the bed and walked out on the balcony. It had only been a week since he was here with her. It wasn’t his season, he had no rights here, but he loved her and it was hard for him.
He heard a noise in the room and stepped back in the door, it was John. He joined him on the balcony.
“I couldn’t sleep,” he said running his hand through his hair.
“I can well understand that.”
“I feel so helpless…Terry has to be found, Max.”
“Yes…for Toni’s sake and for all of us.”
Bud couldn’t sleep either he’d been down in the kitchen for a glass of milk and wandered back into Toni’s room. Max and John were on the balcony quietly talking and he went over to the bed and kissed Toni on the forehead, “It’s gonna be all right kitten, we’ll find him.” He stood up and wandered around her room and then into her workroom.
Something flashing on her computer screen caught his attention.
“Hey guys, anybody know anything about computers?” he asked walking out on the balcony.
Max turned, “Why?”
“She’s got a message notice flashing.”
Max and John looked at each other and made for her work room. Max sat down and played with it until he got her messages up. “She’s got a password…any ideas?”
They tried several different suggestions; Max sighed and typed in house, “Bingo.”
“Well I’ll be damned…”
“Aubrey…”
“How in the hell did he send a message?”
They rushed back into the bedroom to tell Toni. She lay on her back sleeping with her hair spread out on the pillow.
“I’m afraid it’s going to take Prince Charming to wake her,”
“I think you’re right Max, and that ain’t any of us right now.”
“It’s going to be Terry.” John walked out on the balcony staring out to sea straining his eyes for any glimpse of a ship.
Bud joined him, “He could be anywhere out there.”
John began telling him about the first visit he made here with Toni, and how he had left her on this balcony, and what a heart wrenching thing it was. He told him about the path the sun made to the cliff, and Aubrey’s ship followed it.
Bud noticed John’s eyes glistening and he put his hand on his shoulder, John turned and hugged him.
Max had no idea whether she could hear him or not but he held her hand and told her Jack had found Terry and was bringing him home, everything was going to be all right.
Meanwhile Terry was up and taking nourishment in the Captain’s cabin. Jack had several conversations with him and found he liked him; they had a common ground with Terry’s military background and training. Jack also surmised Terry was fearless, which may or may not have got him into his present situation. He would have made a good officer he thought.
“Well the house has its limitations; perhaps the danger was not sensed until it was too late. I know the waters in that area well; the sea churns and creates its own magic. You would have done well to listen to Toni, she may have been warned.”
“I realize that now, it was the tone of her voice that stopped me before the wave hit.”
“Hmm, well you should get some sleep my good man, we should be there in the morning.”
Home, all Terry wanted was to get home to Toni hold her in his arms and hope to repair whatever damage he had caused. It hurt him down to his soul that he caused her grief.
All three were on the balcony as dawn broke through the sky watching the speck on the horizon become a ship.
“Looks like he’s got full sail and a good wind behind him,” John observed, “I’d say within a couple of hours.”
“Come…on…Aubrey,” Max said quietly.
The house prepared a breakfast for the men and the coffeepot kept itself full through the night. They were all tired, worried and anxious for Jack to arrive with Terry.
“I don’t know where she’s gone in her mind, you know, I’m worried, nothing to eat or drink for the last twenty four hours, it ain’t good.” Bud remarked.
“I hope and pray Terry can break the spell of whatever is holding her.”
“You think it’s a spell?”
“I don’t know, John, her color is good it’s like she’s just asleep.”
“You’re thinking about Sleeping Beauty aren’t you, Max?”
“She is.”
After breakfast they went out on the bluff to watch the ship approach.
Terry admired and respected Jack, his command of his ship was total. He stood on the deck listening to him bark out orders and men scurry about bringing down sails, guiding the ship directly for the bluff. He tilted his head puzzling over the three figures he could make out on the edge of the cliff.
“Could I have a look through your glass, Jack?”
Jack turned and handed him the glass, he’d already had a look; her seasons were there but she was not in sight. They anchored a little way from shore and a boat was lowered. Terry went down into the boat and Jack hesitated a moment and followed him. It might be well for him to see what exactly was going on in the house.
By the time the boat reached shore his brothers were there to greet him.
“I’m fine, a little waterlogged but fine, where’s Toni.”
“She’s in the house Terry.” John answered.
They walked with him to the house giving a hand up the cliff path and explained what they found when they got there and her present state.
The house breathed a sigh of relief; it had worked…the big magic. It sent warm love around Terry as he entered the door. Jack was also given a big house hug for responding to something he was totally unaware he had responded to.
Jack hung back listening to his brothers conversations, their worry and love not lost on him. Toni had chosen her seasons well and he was impressed. He smiled slightly as he entered the house and waited downstairs while Terry, Max, John and Bud went up to Toni.
“I’m not sure I want to witness this,” Bud said as they reached the top of the stairs.
“Come across the hall, let’s give him a few minutes, if it don’t work we’ll drag his ass outta there and beat the shit out of him,” John headed for his room and the rest followed.
Terry entered her room and closed the door quietly behind him. He felt tears start in his eyes and a pain in his heart. His voice barely a whisper, “Toni…oh god…Toni,” he sat down on the side of her bed, took her hands, touched her face took her in his arms and kissed her softly on the lips. A tear fell from his eye onto hers and she moved slightly in his arms, he took her face in his hand and kissed her again…she kissed him back.
The house had informed her in her sleep that he was alive and calmed her fears, all was needed was his loving kiss. The house had known something was going to happen to Terry, and had charmed him hoping to ward off disaster. Had the charm worked, was it the boat fragment that saved him or the house’s big magic? No one will ever know.
“Can you hear anything?” John asked from his doorway.
Bud with his ear against the door, “She’s talking, both talking and crying I think. Do we go in?”
“Leave them alone for now; we’ll get all this sorted out later. What happened to Jack?” Max asked.
“He’s downstairs, might as well go keep him company,” John led the way.
Jack’s head came up quickly at the sound of footsteps on the stair and he stood up and walked out from the living room, “What news?”
“She’s awake and talking, that’s all we know.” John answered.
“I thought it best to leave them for awhile,” Max moved over to the fireplace looked down at the cat and moved back to a chair.
“I’m sure that’s wise, well then my work is done.” Jack moved to the doorway.
“I think I’d hang around for awhile, Captain, she may want to see you…thank you and all.” Bud said leaning on the stair banister.
A little while later Terry came down the stairs, “She’s getting dressed and will be down in a minute.”
“She’s okay?” asked Bud.
He smiled slightly, “Yes.”
“You worked your magic, Terry,” John said, “we’re grateful for that.”
“Thank all of you for coming and looking after her, she’s going to be…wonderful.”
They all knew exactly what he meant, including Jack.
“Um Jack, she wants to see you for a minute if you don’t mind.”
“Not at all, Terry, should I go up?” Terry nodded.
Max got up and walked over taking Terry by the arm and leading him into the kitchen.
“I know you’re basking in the afterglow right now, Terry but I have one thing to say; if you ever do anything like this again I’ll knock the bloody hell out of you. It’s not her job to chase after you and keep you out of trouble; it’s your job to look after her.”
Terry took a breath, “I understand completely, Max, I’m sorry…you have no idea how this has affected me.”
“I won’t be alone, Terry.”
“You don’t have to worry…not ever again.”
“Jack, come in,” Toni said rising from her dressing table where she had been brushing her hair.
Jack came over took her hand and kissed it. “How good to see you.”
“It’s good to see you too, sorry about the circumstances.”
“Yes well, it was very fortunate that I was in these waters at all, in fact I’m not quite sure…”
“Won’t you have a seat?”
“You have quite recovered?”
“Yes, magic at work I guess. I wanted to thank you for saving Terry’s life…I can’t imagine…I couldn’t be without him.”
“You love him very much I gather. Hmm, and to think I tried to dissuade you from him.”
“That’s before the magic changed, it’s different now.”
“So I’ve been told. I must say you have made good choices for your seasons. I wish you every happiness, Toni.”
“Thank you, Jack, they’re forever you know.”
“Hmm, yes…well should one ever fall out of favor…” he smiled.
“You would be my first choice,” she smiled back.
He stood, “Well I should be on my way…should you ever need me I’ll be out there somewhere and I’ll come to your aid.”
“Thank you, it’s a comfort to know you’re there.” She walked him to her door and touched his arm, he stopped and turned and kissed her lips and then he went downstairs, said his good-bye’s and walked down the cliff path.
He thought about her as he walked down the path, he had his chance, he could have had her…now forever. Part of him regretted it. He turned and looked out to sea at his ship that awaited him, but there was his maiden fair, he’d made his choice he reached the shore and waited for his boat to come for him.
Toni came down the stairs with a big smile; there were all her loves at once. It was almost too much as she went from one to the other bestowing kisses and hugs. “I want you all to know how much I love you, each and every one, thank you for coming to my rescue, again Max,” she smiled, “ it means a lot to me.”
“Damsel’s in distress is not my line love; you’re going to have to do better.” He smiled and looked over his glasses.
Terry stood back and watched her, his eyes so full sometimes he had to look away, he let his brother’s have their say, he could wait.
“You gave us a scare, Toni,” Bud hugged her.
John came up to her and took her hand leading her into the kitchen, his arms went around her and he kissed her, “Don’t ever scare me like that again Toni, I love you too much.” He stepped back, “I know it’s not my season and I shouldn’t have you in here, but dammit.”
“John, I love you too but you’d better go now,” she kissed him softly.
After his brothers left, Terry went to find Toni; she was on the stone terrace
with her arms wrapped around her. She felt him come up behind her and she closed
her eyes leaning against him. His arms went around her, holding her close. It
was enough for the moment that he was here that she could feel him against her,
his breath on her neck…later she would take him inside of her and her love would
burst upon him and drown him…because he could take it.