The Devil is a Gentleman

3

The nightmare of being drug into the darkness by the red eyed shadow has me tossing in my sleep again. This time I feel less afraid, though, almost at peace with my fate. I don’t know what is different about this time, but the embrace isn’t as menacing. It feels as if I am being held by loving arms, those that don’t want to live without me. Instead of fighting the fall into nothingness, I just let it take over.

I wake up calm and relaxed. No cold sweat, no scream caught in my throat, just at ease as I open my eyes. The last time I had the nightmare I woke up feeling like I was dying. This time however I feel like I beat it. I beat the darkness by just giving in to it. I have no idea what it is supposed to mean but I feel like today is going to be a great day. I hop out of bed and over to the trunk and pull out a clean dress. I walk down the stairs and around back to the wash bin. Thankfully, on Saturday mornings, Mama gets up early and takes a bath and then she gets the tub filled again for me and Connor to use. I wash up quickly and throw on my clean clothes. Then I run to the coop and gather the eggs for the day and head in to help Mama get breakfast ready.

“Good morning honey. Will you run over to Nash’s and fetch your brother and a pitcher of milk please? Here take these eggs for Nash too.” I nod taking the basket of eggs from her and heading out the door. I almost skip to Nash’s door before I knock. “Good morning Liz. Are you here for some milk or for Connor?” he chuckles warmly. “I actually need both please. And I brought you some eggs too.” I smile holding the basket out. “Ok come on in and I’ll go get your brother. Him and James decided they wanted to sleep in the tree house.”

I follow him in and set the eggs out on his counter. The empty pitcher Mama sends back daily is sitting on the counter full for our use. I smile, loving how in sync our neighbors all seem to be. Before I can get lost in thinking about our little community, the back door opens and in hops Connor and James. James instantly blushes. He has had a crush on me for a few years now, but I have had to explain that six years is a big difference in age for us. He says he ain’t giving up though. Behind the boys Walks Nash with a little lead rope on baby Hope. “She seems to be adjusting well.” I say as they come in. “Yea this little brother of yours is doing a pretty good job at taking care of her. she seems happy.” He says patting Connor on the back.

“Thanks Mr. Nash! I am still so glad I get to help her!” he smiles proudly taking her lead rope. “Well, thanks for the milk Nash.” I say grabbing the pitcher. “Come on Connor we need to help Mama finish breakfast.” He nods and we both wave goodbye to Nash and James, before heading back over to our house. When we walk in, I am hit with the smell of bacon and eggs. I turn the corner to see a bigger spread than I have seen in a long time. “Mama, what’s the occasion?” I ask, walking to take over mixing pancake batter for her. “We are having company for breakfast and I figure it won’t hurt to make a good impression.”

“Yea? Who is joining us?” I ask pouring a couple pancakes into the skillet. “Luke is coming today and after breakfast we are all going to head over to the church for a town meeting.” I freeze mid pour. “Oh. Uhm. Okay. Do you need me to help do anything else?” I ask not knowing how else to respond. She looks at me. “Actually hon, yes, will you please run down the road to Elis’s fruit stand and get some fruits to cut with our meal? Just some oranges and berries and maybe apples… actually check the apple tree out behind Nash’s before you go asking for some. And take Elis a basket of eggs too. Ask her if she needs anything else for her troubles.” I nod taking in all of the instructions and head for the door.

I skip down the road happily, humming a tune to myself that we learned in Sunday school. I get lost in my own little world as I get to Elis’s house and knock. She opens the door with a huge smile already plastered on her face. “Oh good morning sweet Liz! Are those eggs for me?” I look down and then lift the basket. “Yes Mrs. Ellis. Um… do you have any berries and oranges right now by chance?” she nods, “Oh of course! Come on in let’s get those eggs out of your basket and fill it back up with goodies. “I smile back following her inside.

Once she has picked out all of the best fruits to go with breakfast she leans over and gives me a hug. “If ya’ll need anything else you be sure to let me know, okay?” I return her hug, “Yes Mrs. Elis. And you too! Is there anything else that we could do for you?” she reaches up scratching her chin, looking like she’s thinking bout the things she has to get done. “Hmmm. Actually… what are you and your little brother doing after the meeting today?” I shrug. “I don’t think Mama has any plans for us. What can we do for you?” she claps her hands together and leans in with her hand on my shoulder. “Well, if you guys don’t mind, I could use some extra hands in the orchard picking fruits? I’ll even let you guys each pick some of your favorites to take home.” I smile thinking of how nice a fresh peach sounds right now with the warm weather. “Absolutely! Want me to have Thomas come too?” She claps excitedly. “Oh sure! The more the merrier! After the meeting just meet me over here, okay?”

“Yea. I will see you in a bit Mrs. Elis!” I say as I head out her front door to rush back home. When I get home, Mama has all the food laid out in the center of the dining table. She has Connor setting out the plates and silverware. “Oh, thank goodness get that big white bowl and wash off the fruits then put everything in together. Cut the bigger ones up and you can put the different berries in whole.”

“Okay Mama. Oh! Before I forget, are we doing anything after the meeting? Mrs. Elis said she could use some help in her orchards.” Mom’s face lights up. “Yes! Of course. Go and help and take your brother too. You guys be sure to bring home some extra grapes for me please.” She says giggling a bit. “Sure mom.” I say setting the finished fruit salad down on the table. Stepping back, I look over the whole spread and can’t help but smile that we are able to do something like this once in a while. “Okay all set Mama. When will Luke be here?” just as I finish my sentence there is a knock at the door. “Perfect timing.” Mama says. “Now go answer the door hon.” I skip over to the door and open it up.

“Good morning!” I chirp happily to this mysterious man that has come to save our town. “My morning is wonderful now that I have seen you.” He says bending down to almost bow. He then pulls a bouquet of roses out from behind his back. “Wow.” I say as I put my hand over my mouth. “For you.” He says pulling a rose out of the bunch. I step back waving him in the door and I hear Mama gasp at the sight of the flowers. “I thought I might bring some flowers to adorn the table with since you were so kind as to prepare this meal. Do you have a vase?” he asks, walking over to Mama. She spins around and pulls open a cupboard grabbing her favorite crystal vase. She fills it with some water and sets it on the table. Luke settles the roses into the jar and then turns back to me and shoots me a wink.

I blush and smell the rose that he handed me personally. I walk up to my room and put the rose in a small vase on my table and then headed back down to join everyone for breakfast. “hey there George.” I hear as I turn the corner for the dining room. I walk in as Papa is sitting down and sipping on his coffee. Once we all are seated, we bow our heads and Connor offers to bless the meal. We all say our prayer and start loading our plates. As we begin eating the flow of conversation just seems to come easily.

“So… Luke. With as much as you have already done and are planning to do, how old are you?” Papa asks. “I am 20. I started my major traveling at age 16. Luckily, I was born to do this kind of work, so I caught on quickly.” He smiles. “Wow! Liz is 16! How exciting would it be to live a life on the road at such a young age without the fear of going broke?” I look down hoping mom wasn’t asking me directly. Luke comes to the rescue by talking of his travels. After a bit talking about the various places that he has been and famous people he has met we get on the subject of family.

“Are you married? And what of your parents?” Mama asks sounding more than concerned. Luke just shrugs. My parents aren’t around anymore. And as for a wife, I just having found anyone suitable to my liking quite yet.” He says, glancing my direction. I shove a piece of orange in my mouth to avoid making any sort of comment, but Mama just can’t contain herself. “Oh! Well, our Liz is a single young lady with great manners. Ain’t that right Liz?” she laughs swatting her napkin my way. I just roll my eyes, “May I be excused? I’d like to invite Thomas to help at Elis’s before we head to the church.” I look over at Papa who shot Mama a look at her last comment. Without looking away from her he says, “Go on ahead Dear. We will see you at the church.”

I jump up from my chair and take my plate over to the wash basin and scrub it clean before setting it to the side. I walk over and kiss Mama and Papa both on the cheek and then rough up Connor’s hair. Luke nods my way and I nod back, saying a silent “Bye.” Once I am outside in the warm sunshine my previous excitement comes back for the day ahead. I rush over to Thomas who is brushing his horse out before getting the stable mucked. “Need a hand?” I ask. He nods and hands me the brush so he can go shovel out the stall. “You’re awfully chipper this morning.”

“I slept good.” I say shrugging. He just laughs and goes back to shoveling. We continue to work in peaceful silence for about 30 minutes before we finish all the work with the horses. We head around back to wash up and I take the opportunity to bring up going to Elis’s. “Hey Mrs. Elis said she needs some extra hands in the orchard after the town meeting. You want to come?” Thomas smiles widely, “Absolutely I do! Picking fruit with my best friend AND getting to snack on some peaches? I’d never say no to that!” I laugh flicking water from the wash basin at him. Before he can get me back, I take off around the stable to run for the church.

Not looking where I am going as I run watching for him chasing me, I bump into something solid and start to fall down on my behind. I look up as I fall just in time to see none other than Luke catching me before I can hit the ground. His hands wrap around my waist holding me against him. This is the first time I have really been this close to him and as I gasp, I am hit with the sweetest musk of a smell that I have ever encountered. I look up into his eyes noticing how dark brown they really are.

I hear Thomas turn the corner and slide to avoid hitting us both. I turn around and reach to help him up, but it seems as if Luke doesn’t want to let me go. I try to turn again and this time his grip loosens with his hands sliding carefully off of my waist. “Are you okay Thomas?” I ask as I pull him to his feet. I turn to Luke who is still watching me closely, “Sorry Lucas. I didn’t see you as I rushed around the corner.” He tips his hat at Tom. And then smiles at me, “It’s quite alright Elizabeth. I am glad I caught you before you fell. Were you on your way to the church?” I nod smiling slightly.

“Okay well let’s all walk together then, shall we?” he asks looking between Tom and I. Tom shrugs and I nod. Then Luke bends his elbow out, “Allow me to escort you?” I nod again trying to hide my blush and reach up, holding onto his arm with my hand. I hear Thomas huff under his breath, but he steps up to match our pace on my other side. We all make some small talk, and it seems that Tom and Luke get along well. As we near the church I can feel Luke starting to drop his arm. “I need to go talk to Pastor Lyle before the meeting starts. Please excuse me?” he leans down and kisses my cheek.

As he walks away, I feel myself blushing again. Thomas clears his throat, pulling me from my bubble. “What was that all about?” he asks nodding towards Luke as we walk inside to get seated. I shrug, “Honestly I don’t really know. But, he seems very nice, doesn’t he?” he just shrugs back at me and we sit down in our usual place. Luckily as neighbors his parents and mine always sit together. We both get comfortable in our pew as the other townsfolk start to file in and take their seats.

Mama and Papa come in pulling Connor along. He seems like he doesn’t want to be here but when he sees me and Thomas he lights up. He let’s go of Mama’s hand and rushes to sit between Tom and I. I pat him on the head and turn to smile at my parents in greeting. After a few more minutes the church is filled up and Pastor Lyle walks up on the alter. “Hello my fellow Graysonians! It’s time for our weekly town meeting to make sure that everything is in proper order with everyone. We also have a guest this week who is very interested in talking to everyone, so we will start there. “Mr. Jehoan? If you’d please.” He steps back from the small podium to allow Luke some space.

“Hello everyone. I believe I have met most of you over the last couple days, but for those who don’t know me I am Lucas Jehoan. I have been travelling for a few years now trying to help small towns and small businesses get back on their feet after the depression we all survived. I have been purchasing businesses and allowing the prior owners to keep running it if they please, so I am not trying to uproot anyone. Most choose to take the amount I offer and live a more luxurious life though. I know this sounds too good to be true but I promise I am not here to scam you all. All I want is whatever is best for everyone. If you all as a town wish to sell the mines and surrounding properties, I will try to work with any price and do my best to be sure everyone is pleased.

“You all are more than welcome to still continue your lives as usual for as long as you need to, to decide whether you want to move on to better things or keep yourselves rooted here. There is no pressure in any way but I would like to find ways to help this town rather quickly before I continue my quest in the next town.” He stops talking and looks around the room as chatter erupts amongst everybody. Some are whispering about how this seems unreal while others are daydreaming out loud on what they would do if they could leave this town. I already heard his pitch the other night and I really am not sure how I feel about it all. I love my small-town life with my loving family, friends, and neighbors. A part of me still wonders how it would be to travel, though. Suddenly, I turn my focus over to my family as I hear Mama mention the idea of travelling also.