Paint a Pretty Rainbow Part 8b
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Jared …..
It was mid-spring, a time for the land to renew itself after winter. The snow had long since disappeared, and the grass was a rich lush green. The trees, no longer bare, were resplendent and lush with new leaves, strong and shiny. The spring bloom of wild flowers had fought their way through the earth, seeking out the warm sunlight. Clumps of yellows, oranges and reds burst forth adorning the hedgerows and grassy slopes of the valley, their colours glowing in the light eager to greet the world.
Jared sat in almost the same spot as he had previously, but this time he was cross-legged mimicking Jensen, his body loose and relaxed. It had rained, and Jared was soaked, but he hadn't cared, just turned his face up toward the sky, letting the rain pound his skin. The shower had passed as quickly as it had arrived, and Jared had closed his eyes letting the spring sunshine dry and warm him.
Jared let his mind wander, urging forward his memories. This time, he didn’t see the severe lines and angles of a design in his head. Gone were his blueprints and plans for the perfect city. Instead, all he could see in his mind’s eye was Jensen and his beauty. He wiggled his shoulders, relaxing even more, conjuring up memories. He strained, cocking his head to one side, listening, and could almost hear the clink clink sound of Jensen’s horses’ tack as they moved up and down the field, strong and solid. Jared imagined Jensen walking behind the horses encouraging them on in his soft voice, and the occasional whistle. Jared turned his face into the gentle breeze, convinced he could hear Jensen whispering to him, teasing him, and laughing with him.
Sinking down into a lazy slouch, Jared took a deep breath focussing on the fresh clean air breathing it in, and letting it soak into his being. Relaxing, he let the sounds of the valley surround him, let them caress and soothe him. Jared heard the river as it danced and skipped over the small stones and rocks winding its way through the renewed greenness of the valley. Jared could almost smell the wild flowers, and hear the rustle of the trees as the spring breeze whipped at their foliage.
High above his head, Jared could hear the shrill mournful sound of an eagle echoing around the valley as the bird frolicked and hovered amongst the warm air currents. Opening his eyes, Jared squinted up into the sunlight until he spotted the bird. Brave, strong and beautiful, the eagle soared high in the sky before seeming to hang motionless in the sky, head down and wings out-stretched ready to swoop down on some unsuspecting prey on the ground.
Jared turned away from the bird, and stared down at the small circle of stones he had made. He squinted, some of the blue waxy colour remained, and Jared fingered the charred, fire-curled paper. Once his dream city, carefully designed and drawn, but now just a pile of wet ashes where the rain had doused the flames of his small fire. Jared glanced down at the amulet clutched in his hand. His link to Jensen, and the memories of the best two days of his life, forged in his heart forever. He ran a finger over the intricate design. He shuddered as the pain of loneliness swept through his body, making his belly churn, and his heart ache with longing.
A lot had happened in the months since the party. His mother was in Washington, happy, with her new husband, and David was gone. The guilt for hurting a good man still troubled Jared, but deep down, he knew he couldn't stay with David when he was in love with someone else. It wouldn't be fair to either of them, and he liked David too much to live a lie. So Jared determined to remain alone, instead concentrating and channelling all his efforts into his work, desperate to fill the gaping hole Jensen had left. He ignored the little voice in head, and told himself he was happy. Some days, Jared even believed his own lies. But in truth, misery was his constant companion, threatening to choke him. Two days ago, it had become too much, and Jared had found himself on the company jet heading to where he had left his heart, needing to see the valley just one more time. After today, Jared had decided never to come back to place again, but for now, for today only, he allowed himself to soak up the warm memories of his short time with Jensen.
He stared down into the valley again, clasping the amulet tightly in his hand. The sun was warm against his skin, and Jared looked up to see a rainbow curling over the valley. He had the insane urge to make a wish, and bit hard on his lips, resisting the temptation. Tears stung at his eyes, and Jared sniffed. "I miss you," he whispered, as he closed his eyes again, conjuring up a smiling Jensen in his mind's eye.
"That was a good thing you did."
Jared started, and opened his eyes to find Joe staring down at him, a smile on his face. "I thought I was alone."
Joe smiled. "My grandfather has always told me that you can never be lonely in this place."
Jared nodded, and stared back into the distance. "I guess."
"Like I said, it was a good thing you did."
Jared shrugged, looping the amulet back around his neck. "No biggie."
Joe sat down next to Jared. "You don't strike me as an eco friendly kinda guy."
"People change."
Joe nodded. "Yeah, that they do."
Jared waved his hand in the air. "And I think all this beauty deserves to be protected by someone who really cares about it." Jared shrugged again. "Call it my gift to the Arapaho. And don't worry the Contract is airtight. No-one will ever take the land away from your people. The land now belongs to the Arapaho forever."
"That's one hell of gift. And I'm guessing the land is worth a lot of dollars."
"A few."
"What about all your fancy plans for a new township?"
"Found somewhere else that kept my Board of Directors happy, and off my back. And it will probably cost the company less than here. They're happy, and work starts next month."
"Thank you seems kinda lame."
Jared smiled. "Thank you is just fine. And I know you and your people will look after this piece of land. This beteen bitto’owu." Jared cocked his head to one side. "Did I say it right? Sacred Land?"
Joe nodded. "I promise we'll look after the land. Protect the bieteii.
"Told you before, I don't believe it ghosts."
"If you say so," Joe smiled, and nudged Jared. "This is for you. From my grandfather."
Jared frowned, but accepted the parcel. "You didn't need to bring me a gift."
"My grandfather insisted.
Jared glanced around. "Just where is your grandfather?"
"Oh, just around," Joe shrugged, and grinned. "Don't worry, he left his tomahawk at home."
Jared snorted, and looked down at the brown paper wrapped parcel. "Why did he give me a gift?"
Joe chuckled. "Said he saw you in town earlier, and that you were the one. Said he knew you would get it back to its rightful owner."
Jared frowned. "What?"
"I know, kinda crazy huh? But as usual my grandfather was being mysterious, but pretty insistent that you got the gift."
Jared frowned again, but carefully unwrapped the gift. He stared down at a Journal. Leather bound with yellowing pages. It was old, very old, Jared guessed as he traced the familiar design on the front cover. His heart thudded, his mouth was suddenly dry, and he looked sideways at Joe. He knew before he asked the question, but he asked anyway. "Where did he get it?"
"My grandfather says it has been in his family for years. For safekeeping. Waiting for the right person to come along. And I'm guessing, you're the right person."
"Me?"
"Yeah, don't ask me why because I'm not sure," Joe cocked his head to one side. "But I have this weird feeling its something to do with your amulet."
"This," Jared automatically reached for, and closed his fingers around the amulet. "Just a trinket I picked up in town."
Joe shook his head. "I've only seen one like it before, apart from the one on the front of that there Journal."
Jared splayed his fingers over the design on the front of the Journal. "Yeah?" Jared swallowed, not able to keep the quiver from his voice.
Joe grinned. "Hangs around my grandfather's neck. It's been passed down the generations." Joe waved at the horizon. "It belonged to a holy man who lived with his family in the shadows of those mountains. I think, if I remember rightly, he was also the first one to call this area beteen bitto’owu."
Jared's heart was suddenly pounding again. "Yeah," he managed to say again.
"Dancing Waters. That was his name. My great great … don't know how many greats actually, but he's an ancestor of mine. My grandfather tells lots of stories about him, passed down through the years, but the main one seems to be about this area. Dancing Waters had a special connection, loved this piece of land especially for some reason. Never left his home in the foot of the mountains, and spent his days watching over the land around here." Joe shrugged. "No-one really knows why. Just that it was important to him. I guess that's why it's so important to my grandfather. May be, the love for this bit of land was passed down through his ancestors too."
Jared stared at Joe, stunned into silence, not able to think of anything to say. His heart was thudding still, and he gulped.
Joe nodded toward the Journal. "That was passed down too."
"And he wants me to have it?" Jared finally managed to squeak.
"Yeah, he was pretty specific and very insistent. The amulet and the Journal were always a pair. That is, until the right person came along. The Journal would then go to this person, and the amulet would stay with Dancing Waters' descendants, my family. So we could continue to watch over this valley, protect it." Joe shrugged. "I always thought it was just one of my grandfather's stories, but now I'm not so sure."
Jared nodded, and looked down at the Journal.
"You don’t seem too surprised."
Jared squinted at Joe, and shrugged. "I guess."
Joe smiled, and got to his feet. "This place has always had a magical air about it, and I don't know why, but I have the weird feeling that the Journal is in the right hands." He chuckled. "Now I sound like my grandfather."
"Thank you," Jared whispered, stroking his fingers over the design.
Joe patted Jared's shoulder. "Like you said, no thanks needed." He turned to leave. "Do you need a ride back to town?"
Jared shook his head. "No, I'm gonna stay here a bit longer. Watch the sun go down."
"Okay," Joe said. "And thank you again."
Jared nodded. "Just look after the land for me." For Jensen, echoed in his head.
"We will, and I know one day I'll inherit the amulet and its responsibilities for this valley."
Jared smiled. "Then I'm absolutely certain that it'll be in safe hands."
Joe grinned, pleased. "Oh yeah, one last thing. My grandfather told me to give you a message. Now let me get this right," Joe squinted, and tilted his head to one side.
Jared listened to the words, spoken he guessed, in Arapaho. "I have no idea what you just said."
"Love between two people is the most powerful force in all the sky and earth." Joe grinned again, and put his hand up. "And before you ask, I'm just the mailman, and have no idea why he wanted me to deliver such a message to a complete stranger. I gave up trying to work out my grandfather years ago."
Jared laughed. "Okay." He touched the amulet again. "Thank your grandfather for the gift and the message."
"I will, and stay safe Jared," Joe waved, and jogged up the valley side.
Jared stared out across the valley, his fingers still on the amulet, his thoughts and mind filled with Jensen and their love. "I hope you're safe and happy," Jared whispered. He looked down at the Journal, almost too afraid to open it, instinctively knowing who it belonged to. He took a deep breath, and opened the Journal. Tears blurred his vision as he read the introduction, written in a bold script:
"Today I did the hardest and easiest thing in the world. Today I left my beloved sons, Caleb and Jensen, behind in Winchester. I have my Sarah with me, but my heart aches with the knowledge that I will never see them again. The boys are strong, and have each other, and Dancing Waters assures me that they will be safe, that his magic is good magic, and that he and his people will watch over the valley for all eternity. I believe him, he has become a good friend. I know in my heart, and hope and pray that Caleb and Jensen are happy, safe from what is becoming a cruel world. I wish them only love and peace.
Sarah and I have decided to settle close by, not able to bear to be too far away, and I intend to keep this Journal for my sons in the hope that may be some day I will be able to leave it for them, so they know their mother and I were happy, and have never regretted, once, our decision."
Ethan Ackles
30th July 1812
"Oh my God," Jared flicked through the Journal - the pages recorded every detail of Ethan and Sarah's life, outside of Winchester. An old faded photograph stuck to one of the pages showed a man, a woman and a frowning Indian, who looked like he wanted to run away. Jared smiled immediately knowing who they were.
Jared slumped back onto the grass, staring up at the fading rainbow. "Jensen if you can hear me. I thought you'd like to know that your Ma and Pa stayed close to you," he whispered. Jared closed his eyes, his hand resting on the amulet, and even though he knew it was stupid, willed Jensen to know and to hear that his parents had stayed close.
A few hours later……..
Jared woke with a start. Shifting slightly, he groaned as his body reminded he had fallen asleep on the hard ground. The back of his shirt and jeans felt damp, and he shivered. "Note to self yet again," Jared mumbled. "Do not fall asleep on the ground." He pulled himself up into a sitting position rubbing at his eyes, trying to remember without success what had dragged him from his sleep.
Jared felt strange, and he squeezed his eyes closed against the prickly sensation that seemed to be sweeping through his body, somewhere between pain and pleasure. The sound of blood rushing through his veins pounded his ear drums, and his heart hammered loudly. Jared cautiously rolled his shoulders, moving his head from side to side slowly, rubbing absently at his belly in a soothing motion. Opening his eyes, Jared glanced around - the dawn was fighting with the darkness of night to break over the valley, making the sky an eerie black/grey colour. Silence surrounded him, and the sensation made Jared shudder, and he instinctively clutched at his amulet. It was hot against his palm, and Jared frowned as he glanced down into the valley.
Jared jumped to his feet, ignoring his aching body. "Oh my God, he mumbled watching transfixed as the veil of grey/whitish mist covering the bottom of the valley slowly rose up into the air snaking up the sides, creeping toward him. He looked into the distance, and squinted. His mouth was suddenly dry, and Jared swallowed - he could see lights, luminescent yellow in the dimness of the dawn breaking over the township. Mouth still open in shock, Jared looked down at the wisps of mist curling around his feet. The amulet was still hot in his hand, and his skin prickled. Jared shivered as the stinging sensation swept through his entire body. A dog barking somewhere below him jolted him out of his stupor, and without a second thought, Jared grabbed the Journal stuffing it into his bag. He swung his bag over his head, settling it across his body, and raced in the direction of the bridge he knew was hidden in a swathe of mist.
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