The Protector (part 2)

by Charlotte Lewis

first thing I felt was the warmth. I was lying somewhere soft and warm. I pointedly kept my eyes closed as consciousness began to seep through to my brain. My body was telling me to go back to sleep, however my brain had other ideas. It fired off questions in my head.

Where was I? How long had I lain here? Was Emalaya alright?

Finally my brain won, as it always did, and I opened my eyes, and my senses. I was lying in a small comfortable cot. Beside it there was another cot where my sister lay, her steady breathing reassuring me she was alright.

The room we were in was small and sparsely furnished, containing only the two cots, a table and a chair. On the table there was a low burning lantern. It gave off little light, but from the glow emanating from the curtained window, I guessed it was day.

Decisively I stood up, groaning slightly as I felt the soar-ness in my muscles and the sting of my cuts. I rubbed my eyes and forced my feet to move toward the door.

I left the room and my sleeping sister, coming into a short hall that led out into a sweet little kitchen. Wonderful aromas assailed me, and I realized how hungry I was.

I followed my nose to the kitchen and was greeted by the sight of a plump middle aged woman working at the stove. I coughed slightly. She turned to look at me, a smile ascending on her kindly features.

“Ah there ya are love, good to see yer up ‘n about eh?”

I nodded

“d’yer have a name then love?” she asked

I tried to talk but it came out as a dry croak.

“Oh dear, how silly of meh, sit down thar and Ill get yer some water.”

I sat in the indicated chair and smiled as she came back with water.

“Thar ya go. Sip at it though love, to fast ‘n yer might feel sick.”

I nodded in acknowledgement.

“ While yer at it I ‘spose yer wondering where you are eh? Well my husband found you on the
shore, He’s a sea fisherman ya see. He tells me ye were near gone by the time he got to yer. He and ol’ Roola brought yer back here. Ye both were unconscious so I just put ya in my sons’ old room. I tried to clean yer wounds best I could, ye’ve both got some nasty gashes.”

I nodded and looked down at my legs which were all cut up from our mad dash to the ocean.

“Yer feelin any better love?”

“Yes thank you” I replied my voice coming out a little gravely but for the most part clear.

“Ah so yer can talk naw. So d’yer have a name?”

“Yes, I'm called Kari, and my sister is named Emalaya”

“So how did yer come to get so cut up?”

I felt my face darken as the memories of the massacre flashed through my mind. I was saved from having to answer, when Emalaya stumbled out bleary eyed and swaying on her feet.

“Water” she croaked I gave her what was left in my glass and she took it gratefully.

“So what is your name?” I asked the woman

“I'm Netta, Netta pickets. My husband is Jenson Pickets. Yer both look in the need fer bathin. Ill set two baths and then we’ll eat yes?”

Emalaya and I nodded eagerly. Netta showed me to one bathroom, where I took a nice long bath. She had laid out a homely dress. It differed from my usual pants and tunic, but it was comfortable and easy to move in. My sister came out dressed in something quite similar.

“These where my daughter Rosemary’s.” Netta said, refearing to the dresses.

She had already set out food, which we fell upon like hungry dogs. The food was excellent. There were grated roots fried into pancakes and roasted bird, with good bread and cheese.

“How long were we asleep?” I asked between bites

“Oh about a day and a half” My sister and I looked at each other startled.

“Thank you for letting us stay so long" Emalaya said. I nodded in agreement.

“Oh tis nothing love, ya can stay as long as yer like. I'm assumin ye have no other place to go”
She said with a shrewd look at the both of us.

“You would be correct.”

“Mmm, well ‘til ya figure it out, yer welcome here. Though ya’r sayin ye have no family t’all to speak of?”

A shadow crossed my sisters face and I saw her fight back tears.

“Never mind love, in any case ya both can stay as long as ya like.”

From that point on Netta never pressed that matter, and I was grateful for that.

We helped her around the house all day, learning how to cook and cleaning the house from top to bottom. She talked and talked. She told us of her two sons one of which was married and lived nearby. The other was a journeyman for the metalworking trade, and he only dropped by once or twice a year.

Her daughter was married as well, though she lived farther away in capital, and worked with her husband among books.

Later that evening Janson came home, he had a loud welcoming presence and seemed pleased that My sister and I were awake and well. The dog Roola was lean and playful often jumping up on us and generally being hyper.

We sat down to dinner, which Emalaya and I had helped make. It was over all a pleasant evening. Janson told stories of his youth, and Netta told hers. Between the two of them one didn’t have to say a word, which made it easier on Both Emalaya and I.

We spent a few lovely days there. Cleaning, cooking, eating, and talking. I didn’t have time to dwell on my family and Roola, Netta and Janson’s infectious personalities it was easy to allow yourself to be happy.

On the fifth evening we were all sitting down to dinner, when we heard a loud pounding on the door. Netta and Janson exchanged a worried look.

Netta took us to the back room.

“Just in case loves.” She explained to us in a whisper.

“kin I help yer?” We could hear Janson say to the person at the door.

“Where is she?” a gruff voice answered

“She who sir? My wife?”

“No stupid. Where is the girl?”

“I'm sure I have no idea what yer talking ‘bout.”

“Don’t Play me fer stupid old fool!” The man’s voice shouted back “Now, where is she?!”

“I'm sure I-” Janson stopped short, and we heard a hefty thump, undoubtedly the man’s fist hitting Janson’s face.

“Come out, come out where ever you are.” The man called out in a gruff sing song voice. We heard the footsteps as he got closer

“Shy now, are we? Well no worries darlin, I will find you.”