Dream Writing - Feorh Swamp Part 3

Fear froze me inside and out. Men I could fight. I already saw them as a threat, but seeing a woman as dangerous was like seeing a rabid turtle. I simply didn't know how to react.

"You okay, hun? Watch the handrail. It's needed fixin' for quite sometime now. Of course with everything else around here falling apart Lord knows if Cam will ever get that fixed." The woman tossed the knife and towel on a counter somewhere in the room from which she came and put her hands on her hips. "Where are my manners? My name is Sheyla Carter. I'm Cross' mom. Can I get you a drink?"

I couldn't take it anymore. That was enough to tip me over, and my body decided it was going to do the only thing it was sure to do that day. I scrambled toward the railing at the edge of the porch and threw up. I really hate beer. I haven't drank a single drop of the stuff since. When I finally finished and turned back around Mrs. Carter was standing behind me. She held a glass of water and a towel in her hands and concern on her face.

"Are you alright, dear? Did you hit your head last night?" She reached up and felt my head gingerly. I raised mine as well and managed not to back away from her well-meaning gesture. "I don't think so. I am just a little hung over is all."

Mrs. Carter's lips tightened and her concern drew deeper as she folded her arms together. "You shouldn't be drinkin' at your age. You could get hurt, or lost, or attacked by men less noble than my own. Thank God, Cross found you when he did. Now what's your name, girl? I am gonna have to tell your folks what happened up here. It's the only way you'll understand the consequences of your actions."

Looked up from the water in my glass and felt the full brunt of her worry. "I'm sorry. My name is Leslie Bayn. My father, Richard and I just moved here. He married Mrs. Farren up in Cort. I was down here trying to make some new friends and I guess I got a little out of hand. I'm very sorry." I gazed back down at my cup as I felt her take in the information and reevaluate what to do with me.

"Cross! Cam! Come 'round back for a minute."

The two men crunched their way around the side to the porch side and up the steps. Cam Carter was much like his son except that he was taller and had hair bleached blond by time and the sun. Both looked at me with the same void-like black eyes, one with that damn smirk and the other with a grim frown.

Mrs. Carter took the hand that held the towel and pulled me forward. "This is Leslie Bayn. Her father is the one who just moved into town and married the widowed Farren woman. Leslie, this is my son Cross and my husband Cam."

Both looked at me as if I had sprouted another head. Mr. Carter was the one to recover first.

"Nice to meet you Leslie. Hope you are feeling alright this morning."

I took his calloused hand and shook it gently. It was rough but warm. "I am feeling much better, Mr. Carter. I am sorry for the trouble, by the way. I was told no one was out here."

"That'd be more of a reason not to come out here alone, girlie. I am glad you didn't get hurt. Could have fallen into a lot of trouble, not knowin' the area and such." He leaned back against the handrail and only just managed not to fall when the wood began to creak and splinter.

"I gotta fix that thing," he said giving it a shake with his hand. Mrs. Carter looked at me and smiled a little knowing grin which I gratefully returned.

"You said that last week, dad." Cross seemed to finally come out of his daze and was now avoiding looking at me at all. That reminded me.

"Thank you Cross for helping me. I didn't mean to faint. You just scared me to death with the blood and all." He looked up at me and then at his mother who was once again crossing her arms.

"Crossroads Carter! Were you sneaking food at night again?" The scowled turned Cross into a bumbling little boy.

"But Mom! I had a craving! I had to get something or I was gonna feel sick. Besides, I wouldn't have found her roaming around if I hadn't."

"We will talk about this later, young man." Mrs. Carter turned to me. "How about we get some food in you and then Cross with drive you back into town."

I looked at Cross, downtrodden but recovering, Mr. Carter smiling warmly, and back to Mrs. Carter. "I am a bit hungry, but I can't eat raw meat."

Mrs. Carter threw back her head and let out a hardy laugh. "Neither can I, dear. I can barely watch them do it and I've been in love with Cam for twenty-eight years. I love to kiss him, but he has to brush his teeth after every meal. Don't worry, this ain't Rome. You can eat whatever you like."

Still laughing she guided me inside toward the room she had come from. The kitchen was white and filled with light from windows all along the outside walls. A small table sat in the far corner and on it sat fried ham, bacon, and waffles along with a pitcher of milk, a plate of cheese, and various fruits and vegetables. I was sat with my back to the window. Mr. and Mrs. Carter on either end and Cross in front of me. Mrs. Carter said a quick prayer and then offered me the plate of waffles.

"I am so glad to finally have someone else to eat my cooking. I worry I'm gonna get rusty. How does it taste?"

I barely got a piece into my mouth before I found myself almost choking on the rest of the waffle. "Wif gate!" I managed to muffle out. I was hungry and Mrs. Carter was far from rusty in my book. She flopped a few more waffles onto my plate and smiled widely.

"Well I do love to cook. It's the main reason I never let Cam talk me into that raw foods, Anopsology stuff. You come over any time you want and I'll cook you up a mess of food."