Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Heartsnow

The next dawn came gray and bleak, the autumn dew still clinging to the ground. The family had removed their final possessions from the building, and having Gram and Sheila harnessed, they set off on their six day trek for the city. Marcus was silent while they left. His back was straight as he guided the reins, but he had bags under his eyes. For all of his directions to get plenty of sleep, Madeline doubted he really did. She sighed and rested her head on his shoulder, the lulling motions of the wagon hypnotizing her.

An hour later Madeline was jarred awake by a jerk at her arm. The sun was shining now, and they had passed the town a while back. Sitting up a little groggily, Madeline looked to where her father was pointing.

The expanse of the Great Plains lied before them. With their wagon sitting on the top of a hill, there was really quite a beautiful view. The slightly browned weeds and grasses of the season were marbled across the Plains, and in the distance there was an abandoned cart with a broken wheel. A fine trail wound through the landscape, slightly overgrown from disuse. It spider-webbed at places, leading on to other small farm towns and villages, spread all over Cyster. Halen had seen the Plains before, and sighed still. Urging the two horses on, Marcus started them down the hill. Passing the broken cart Madeline spied a small family of hares staring at them wide eyed as they passed. Making little waves at the cute little creatures, Madeline saw twitch in the landscape. A fox was slinking up to the cart, not seven feet away and creeping closer. Quietly gasping Madeline hopped down from the cart. Reaching down for a stone she cocked her arm back, when the fox stumbled and yelped. The hares, now quite aware as to the fox’s presence, fled in a flurry of kicking feet. Seeing that his prey had eluded him, the fox glared in the direction of the wagon and trotted off. Laughing to herself, Madeline turned back to see Halen tucking his slingshot away.

“Good shot, son.” Marcus said watching the fox scurry away, and Halen grimaced.

“But I didn’t hit it father; my shot sped by its ear.” Halen was very accurate with his sling, and slight failures irked him.

“Well, it sure spooked him, that’s for sure.” Marcus said returning his attention to the road. Madeline dropped her rock and hopped back into the wagon.

A quick click got the horses moving again, and the cart was soon out of sight. The rest of the day went on uneventfully, stopping for lunch when they were tired and watering the horses when they could. When they stopped for camp at a clearing next to some pin-needle trees, stretching the kinks out of their tired legs and backs, Marcus went out into the forest to gather firewood. Madeline was assembling everyone’s bedding materials, and Halen was checking that the wagon was still in good shape.

Yawning, Madeline stretched again when she felt a jab at her side. Whipping around, she saw Halen armed with a stout stick with a mock look of surprise on his face. Glaring, Madeline picked up another stick that was on the ground and lunged at her brother. He deflected it and made a swipe of his own. She parried, and continued to dodge her brother’s attacks.

“I will get you this time, sister!” he said relentlessly poking and swiping with his mock blade.

“You my little brother, will only get tired!” she responded, and shifted her stance to begin her attack. Feigning a slipped footing she moved backwards to draw her brother in. He moved in, grinning and making a statement of his assured victory. Suddenly she slid to the left, cocking her stick to catch Halen’s feet. He tumbled over in a bunch and turned over, to find a shaft of wood an inch from his face.

“Assured victory, great duelist?” Madeline laughed and helped her brother up. “But you were much better that time, you will best me soon, I think.”

“I certainly hope so! Getting beat by your sister is never confidence building!” Halen answered tossing his stick away. He looked around for a moment. “Where is father, Madi? He has been away a while now.”

“I’m sure he will be right back, silly. Now help me finish up setting up camp! I’ve never seen a boy so lazy!”

This only formed another slew of childish insults being slung back and forth between the two, but it kept them occupied until after a great while Marcus did come back. They ate a small supper of dried meat and water, and settled for bed. Sleep came to them quickly. At least, to the children sleep opened its arms.

Marcus left the two children to get the camp ready as he went out to gather firewood. Walking into the slightly wooded area, he could not help his wandering mind. Am I right to do this thing? To leave the place where I spent so much time with her? To take the children away from their home? Hopping over a felled tree from some storm long gone, Marcus located a section of dead wood that was cast aside. Picking up a large section of bark, he gasped at what lay under it.

A little plant, with small, cloud-white blooms scattered over it rested beneath it.
“Heartsnow.” Marcus whispered to himself, sitting next to the plant. A fairly rare plant, they were Roselia’s favorite, and she had them bought specifically in their wedding, and Marcus had placed them…

Getting up from his bed, Marcus checked to see that his children were asleep in their rooms. Halen was sprawled awkwardly and snoring, but fast asleep. Madeline had her covers tucked up under her chin, a slight frown on her face as she slept. Satisfied, Marcus returned to his room to grab a small brown satchel and left the house.

Walking long past the river, past the bushes that bloomed pink in the summer, he arrived a very small hill, surrounded by a short white fence. Stepping in to the marked section, Marcus kneeled before a stone and mound. The stone read, “Here lays Roselia Kreil Brightwill, beautiful mother and blessing to all.” Opening his satchel, Marcus pulled out a group of dried flowers, which once had been covered with blooms of the most shimmering white. Now browned and withered, the plant was placed on the mound with great care.

“Rosie? I brought you your favorite today. I found them in town. Good old farmer Jenkins let me have them for free. You remember him don’t you? He always gives us those nice fruits at harvest and,” beginning to stutter a little with tears continued, “he always said you were the prettiest girl in town. I love you,” he sobbed collapsing onto the dirt of her grave, “but I have to leave you now. I’m going to the city, so I won’t get to see you again, I’m sorry! I’m sorry!”

After crying for a few more minutes, Marcus left the satchel and flowers and walked back to the house. Falling back onto his bed, he sobbed quietly into his pillow, emotions tearing at his heart like jackals…

Picking the plant from its roots, Marcus wrapped it in a spare piece of cloth he had with him. Tucking the cloth into his shirt he finished gathering wood and started back for the camp. The children, seeing him walk up, pulled him to the camp laughing about duels and sticks and smiling the whole while. He smiled too. Thank you for these beautiful gifts Rosie. He thought as he went back to camp. Thank you so much.