AT
The House of Four Seasons
by Atonia Walpole
Part 3:
She had surprised him and he looked up still smiling when she released him. “Well, maybe it was a mutual invite.”
“It may have been.” Toni brushed the hair out of his eyes, smiled and stepped away to the glass doors that led out to the stone patio. She looked back over her shoulder, asking, “How could you remember me? You’re not supposed to remember anything that happens here when you go back.”
“I don’t know. Maybe because I was the messenger and not a season.” He got up and walked over, standing behind her. “Would you like to walk?”
“Yes, I would.” They left the patio and started for the path that led to the pond. “That must be it, you were the messenger.”
“I forget how beautiful and peaceful this place is,” he said, taking her hand as they walked.
“You’ve been here before and you remember.”
“I remember the house and the land, the feel of the place.”
“But not your companion?”
“No.”
Toni stopped and turned to him. “That’s what’s so unfair because if I asked you back again we would be starting over, but I would remember and I would know.”
“I have no control over that but I don’t see how I could forget you. I didn’t, you know.”
Toni shook her head, “It’s written in the papers, a season of love and that’s all you get.”
Cort looked into her eyes, “If that’s all there is then it has to be enough.”
She squeezed his hand and they continued on to the pond, passing by a bench and sitting in the grass, watching a flock of ducks that had settled in the water.
“I don’t know how much you know about me but it is possible to fall in love here, deeply in love, and have it all snatched away when the season ends. I do understand what this place is for and what it’s about but it doesn’t lessen the pain.” She picked up a small stone and rolled it around in her hand before tossing it in the water.
He lay back in the grass and stared at the sky, blinking his eyes. “I know about pain and loss.”
“I know you do. I wonder how you can bear to go back and live it again.”
“it’s what I am, it’s what I do.”
Toni lay down beside him in the grass on her side facing him. “I’ve often wondered if you became the marshal at the end of the movie and settled down, married some school marm and rebuilt Redemption.”
He smiled, “You’re a writer. You can make that happen.”
“Or maybe you went back to the church…?”
“Don’t write that one…”
“Why not?”
He sat up, “Because I failed.”
“You didn’t fail. You had no choice, Cort.”
“I did have a choice. I did. I valued my own life above others. That was my choice.”
“It’s called self preservation. You weren’t cut out for martyrdom.”
“No, I was not. My convictions weren’t real, weren’t strong enough. I was tryin’ to buy back my soul that I lost when I killed the priest. No amount of torture and abuse was goin’ to impress God after I did that. I didn’t have to participate in that gunfight. I wanted to live.”
“I’m glad you did,” Toni said quietly.
He turned quickly, “I should be dead. I should have died in the mission with Herod’s gun at my temple. I should have died at the mission defendin’ the children. I should have died in the street in Redemption.”
“But you didn’t and here you are in this quiet peaceful place with me, wishing you were dead.”
He stopped himself then, staring at her, he moistened his lips. “I’m sorry, ma’am. I didn’t mean to go off like that. I don’t bring that with me when I come here. I don’t know why…”
“It doesn’t matter why; you can talk to me about anything. I may do the same to you.”
Toni sat up and picked a stray blade of grass from his shirt. “You have to keep cleanin’ me up. I reckon I’m a mess.”
“My dusty, dirty preacher.”
“I’m not a preacher.”
“No, you aren’t and you aren’t what Herod said you were, either. You’re somewhere in between just like the rest of us. We all want to be better people. Maybe you’re better for recognizing your sins. Some of us never see them for what they are. I may be damned for associating and participating in this place of magic…I don’t know anymore. I don’t know what He’s got written in His books up there and neither do you.”
He grinned, “And here you are in this beautiful peaceful place talkin’ about being damned.”
Toni grinned back, “I’m as bad as you are.”
The ducks on the pond caught their attention, squawking and fluttering about. “It’s matin’ season,” he observed and turned to Toni.
“Such a lot of fuss they make about it,” she said, watching the ducks.
Cort smiled and dropped his head, picking the new grass blades from the ground.
Toni looked out over the pond. It looked so different in spring, no snow and ice, no sound of blades on the ice. She thought about John and knew if she’d called him back for winter and he’d come without the recognition in his eyes for her it would have killed her inside. She thought about the man beside her, so very different and yet there was something about him, something very warm and real. He was light but he was also dark. He’d touched places inside of her that needed touching.
“You’re miles away. What are you thinkin’ about?” he asked, leaning on his elbow.
She turned to him, “Lost and found.”
“I hope I’m found.”
Toni lay down beside him, “I believe you are.”
He lowered his lips to hers, softly kissing her then pulled back, staring into her eyes.
Toni finally asked him, “What do you see?”
“I’m afraid to hope.”
“That I’ll love you?” She reached up and touched his tanned, softly-bearded cheek. “Don’t be afraid.”
He lay down beside her, smiled softly and closed his eyes.
Part 4:
The ducks woke them a while later and Toni looked up at the sky. The sun had moved and she was hungry. She turned her head to see Cort awake.
“Hungry?”
“I thought you’d never wake up. I could eat.”
“Let’s go see what the house has prepared for us, a feast, no doubt.” Toni stood up beside him and they walked hand in hand back to the house.
The house was beginning to wonder. It was nearly 3:00 but when they came hand in hand into the kitchen all was right again. A meal of pork loin and roasted root vegetables was on the kitchen island with fresh rolls and butter, all served buffet style. A pitcher of Iced tea and two glasses sat on the counter.
“Wow, a feast is right! I’m ready for this.” Cort picked up a plate and began filling it.
“The food is always good, better than what I cook.”
“I bet you cook good,” he said, buttering a roll.
“I have a few things, but it seems I always do a better job here. Part of the magic, I guess.”
“I’m not opposed to a little magic in the kitchen,” he remarked, taking a seat at the table.
“Did you see the dessert?”
“No, what is it?”
“Lemon meringue pie.”
Cort smiled and tucked into his dinner.
“I can’t eat another bite.” Cort pushed his plate away and took a drink of his tea.
“I know. I’m full to the brim. Anything special you’d like to do this afternoon?” she asked, elbows on the table.
“I can’t think of anythin’ unless you’d like to walk off some of this meal.”
“I can do that. Normally I’d want a nap but I already took that. Why did you let me sleep?”
“I don’t know. You looked so pretty and peaceful. I didn’t want to disturb it,” he smiled sweetly.
Toni was beginning to love those smiles. They were rare with him.
They ended up walking down by the ocean. The tide was out and they walked for quite a ways along the shore. Cort loved the ocean. Coming from a dry land-locked place he felt he could watch it for hours.
“It’s never the same,” he said from the rock where he was sitting just above Toni.
“I know. I love it and the sound of the waves and the salt water smell.” She lay her head against his knee and it wasn’t long until she felt his hand on her head, finger combing her wind-tossed hair.
He looked up at the sky, commenting, “We should start back. Looks like some clouds rollin’ in and we got a good walk ahead of us.”
Toni stood up. She would have been quite happy sitting there with his hand in her hair. He glanced at her shyly and took her hand.
Later he kissed her softly goodnight and went to his own room. She went to hers and slept soundly.
A week passed. They spent their time riding, weather permitting, walking and reading sometimes to each other. She would look up from the page and find him looking at her. He would smile slightly and go back to his book. During this time he held her hand, kissed her softly and occasionally hugged her to him. He had not taken her to bed. Toni was beginning to wonder about that collar he didn’t wear. Could it be…invisible?
For his part Cort was getting to know her. Where he came from a man didn’t just jump into bed with a lady without so much as a howdy-do. There was never any doubt in his mind but that she was a lady. Of course it didn’t help that when riding his eyes would focus on her thighs spread across the saddle. He knew she watched him, too. He just hoped he wasn’t too much of a disappointment to her.
Toni would watch his eyes. Some days they reflected the sky and some days the gray green sea. They were remarkable. She also noticed how his shirts fit across his shoulders and the way he wore his jeans. She was becoming intensely aware of him. It was the day they got caught in the rain running from the stables to the house that she brought things to a head. They ran dripping into the kitchen and she looked up at him, saying she thought she might go for a soak in the tub.
“All right,” he’d said, brushing his wet hair out of his face.
“I was wondering if you’d…like to join me?”
He stood still with his hands in his pockets, staring into her eyes for so long she thought she had gone too far. She blushed and dropped her head.
“I’d be honored to,” he answered.
He followed her upstairs into her bathroom where the big soaking tub awaited with warm-scented water. The house had provided candles and soft music. It was, after all, about time these two found each other.
Toni began pulling off her clothes. Cort hesitated a moment and then followed, removing his shirt, his boots and his jeans. Toni didn’t avert her eyes. He was beautiful. She nestled against him in the warm water. There was just enough oil to make their bodies glide together.
He put his hands on her shoulders, resting his chin on her head. He drew his hands slowly down her arms to her fingers where he touched each one before bringing his hands back up the insides of her arms. He touched her breasts, cupping them in his hands and kneading gently, rubbing his thumbs across her hard nipples. His hands slid to her waist and down the outside of her legs until he came to her ankles then continued up to the inside of her thighs. It was exquisite. Toni moaned when he drew his hands to her slit and up over her belly.
He brushed the hair away and kissed the back of her neck, drawing his lips to her ear. “I think we’ve soaked long enough,” he whispered.
She didn’t know how they got to the bed but damp towels in the floor said he must have dried her before laying her down on the spread. He covered her with kisses before his weight covered her, driving them until they cried out together and clung to each other.
He moved and lay beside her, threading his fingers through hers. “There ain’t much in this world that I’ve loved and less that’s loved me.”
Toni felt the tears starting. “I love you.”
“I know, and I love you.” He kissed her fingers.
There was no going back, no separate bedrooms. She slept in his bed or he in hers. Toni knew very well what was happening but she couldn’t stop it. She felt as though she were on a train and couldn’t get off until it reached its destination. She didn’t want to get off. She loved him and Cort loved her.
Sometimes as the weeks sped past he would ride out by himself to an outcropping of rocks and sit thinking about his love for Toni. He’d never known such love before, he was sure of it. Past trips to the house left no memory of his companion but he thought he would never get over Toni. They could wipe her out of his memory but deep in his soul he would know he would feel her. He prayed over it and cried alone in his frustration.
The days were getting longer and Toni knew what was coming. She tried to put it out of her mind but it was there. She wouldn’t talk to Cort about it. She’d been there before when John left. It was going to be bad for both of them.
He left as he’d come, dressed in his preacher's suit. Toni walked with him up to the stables in silence. He kissed her one last time with tears running down his cheeks then mounted his horse. He took Calla with him and left Toni sobbing in the stables.
When she was able to get up and walk back to the house, she felt anger building inside of her with every step. She walked in the back door and sent lunch flying off the island to the four corners of the room. She paced through the house and when she found Cort’s door would not open for her, she kicked the door until it moved on its hinges.
“How can you keep doing this?! Are you amused? What kind of magic is this? I hate it, I hate you! You’re not a house of love, you’re a house of torture! How many times can you break a heart and expect it to come together again? I won’t stand for it any more, I won’t!” She slid down the wall in the hallway and cried.
“I’m going to stop it, you know. I’m going to shut you down. You won’t do this again, not to me. I’m leaving and I won’t ever be back! I hope you rot down to your rotten foundation! Fuck you, house!” she cried out and went into her room, slamming the door.
The house shuddered and went silent. Shut down the House of Four Seasons? Never. It couldn’t be done…could she? She was very powerful, more so than she knew…she had the magic now. Something would have to be done, but what? What could be done…there must be a way.
Down in the kitchen the house cleaned up the broken dishes and the food splattered on the walls. Silently the hinges on the door to Cort’s room were repaired. She must not leave…must not close down the house, stop the love. No…there had to be a way…
Epilogue
Toni woke from a fitful sleep, feeling headachy and feverish. The house had provided her usual coffee tray but as she poured her coffee she felt a changed atmosphere in the house, something was different. She walked to her balcony to drink her coffee, looking out to the sea. Nothing seemed amiss and yet there was something different.
She shook it off. It was probably her own anger the night before still hanging around in the air. She couldn’t remember when she’d ever been so angry and upset. She finished her coffee and pulled out her overnight bag, tossing in the few things she’d brought with her. Once she was dressed, she went downstairs to find Millie. The sooner she could be out of the house, the better!
Millie, however, was not to be found. She went outside, calling her all around the back of the house, looking in her usual sleeping spots. Back inside she began checking room by room. She was in the living room when she heard the powerful motor and went to the door.
Max Skinner parked his bike next to the walkway in the front garden.
“Max, what are you doing here?”
“Hello, Toni. It’s the first day of summer, of course.”
“I never called you. I don't intend to stay. I’m leaving today.”
He stepped up on the front porch. “You can’t leave. I just got here.” He looked at her a moment and then hugged her, kissing her lovingly.
“Max,” she pulled back looking up at him, “there’s been a mistake. I’m sorry.”
“I don’t think so…you aren’t glad to see me?”
“Well…of course I am. It’s just that…I’m leaving. I’m through with this place. I can’t do this anymore.” She pulled away from the familiar embrace and the familiar scent of Max. Oh, why did he have to show up? She couldn’t go through that again! The house must be crazy.
Max couldn’t quite comprehend. “I thought…I thought we loved each other.”
Toni turned. “What do you mean?”
“Last summer was wonderful. I thought we…”
“What do you remember?” she walked to him.
“Dancing under the stars with you. You had a white rose in your hair. I put it there.”
“Max…you aren’t supposed to remember.”
“Oh, well, I do. I’m sorry. I know we had a rough beginning but, oh, Toni…”
The sound of a vehicle brought them back to the door. A dark blue SUV pulled up in the drive and two men got out. Toni gave a little moan and rushed out the door, stopping on the walk.
“Good morning, fair lady,” Maximus smiled, taking her into his arms and hugging. “Are you well?”
“I’m not sure…” Her eyes went past him to the man standing still at the end of the walk.
“Go on,” Maximus said to her softly, “He’s waiting.”
Toni ran to the end of the walk where she was caught up in John Biebe’s arms and swung around. He kissed her long and thoroughly.
“John, oh, John!” She searched his eyes and saw the recognition there.
“Hey, sweetheart,” he said, kissing her again.
“What’s going on, John?” she asked, her lips still tingling.
“I don’t know. I thought you did.”
Maximus went inside the house, finding Max standing in the middle of the living room. “Hello, Max,” he said, greeting his brother.
“What are you doing here? This is my season?”
“I have no idea but I think all will be revealed shortly.”
Max walked to the door and saw Toni and John together on the walk. “This might get a bit sticky.”
John and Toni came inside and Toni looked to Maximus for an explanation. He spread his hands.
“I don’t know, Toni, something has changed. What did you do?”
Toni ran her hand through her hair and moved away from John toward the fireplace. “I went on a rant last night. Cort had just left and I got angry and told this place what I thought about playing with emotions. I said some pretty dreadful things; I threatened to shut it down.”
“I see. Perhaps it listened. The magic has changed.”
“How would we know?” she asked.
“It’s pretty obvious, I’d say,” Max stated.
“You’re all here except Jack.” Toni looked from one to the other.
“You never invited Jack, as I remember. He was sent by the previous owner to clean up the mess John left.” Maximus rubbed his chin.
“What mess?” John asked.
“The mess that was Toni.” Maximus looked at him sternly. “She was an emotional wreck after you left.”
John met Toni’s eyes and moved over, standing behind her with his hands on her waist. “I’m sorry, but I had no control over that. Maybe I handled it badly but I couldn’t help falling in love. Magic or no magic, it happened.”
“It happened to all of us,” Max said quietly.
“You’ve had no communication from the house?” Maximus asked Toni.
“No, except I felt a difference this morning, something I couldn’t quite identify.”
“Have you checked your computer?” Max asked. “I’ll go have a look.” He ran up the stairs.
“Did something happen here with Cort?” Maximus asked Toni.
Toni looked down at John’s hands around her waist. “Yes.”
“Perhaps you are right, Toni, perhaps it is time to stop this nonsense.” Maximus walked to the door and turned as Max came down the stairs.
“Here’s your answer. I printed it out. Part of it I can’t read. It’s written in Latin.”
“is your education wanting?” Maximus smiled, taking a sheet of paper from him.
Max looked over his glasses at Maximus and handed the rest of the papers to Toni.
Toni quickly read the papers then looked up. “It basically says that I can specify if I want a season to remember should I call them back again. The four seasons will continue on as before. It asks that I stay.”
“That’s more like it, “Max said, adding, “You will stay?”
Toni leaned back into John, whose arms tightened around her. “It’s your decision, Toni.”
Toni closed her eyes. “I need to think, to consider what this means to me.”
“Will you walk with me?” Maximus asked.
“Yes, yes, I would like that, Maximus.”
Maximus led her away from the house to a path through the woods. “I thought you might be able to think a little more clearly away from the house.”
“Thank you.” She took his hand. “I have missed you, Maximus. You are so wise. What did the paper say that you read?”
“Whatever your decision today it will be made part of the original papers for the house. I should imagine they will be altered magically. There will no going back, you do understand that? If you decide to stay, you will not be able to leave.”
“What do you mean?”
“What I mean, Toni, is that your life will be divided into quadrants. Four seasons. All your needs will be provided for as they are now. You will be able to leave the grounds for a specified amount of time, twenty four hours, but you must return.”
“I would live here forever?” She walked away from him and turned. “I could have John?”
“For a season. He is your winter if you so desire.”
“Only for a season…Cort said sometimes that was enough if that’s all we can have.”
“You would, of course, still have the option of inviting someone new for a season,” he smiled, taking her hands. “You wouldn’t, for instance, be stuck with me for fall.”
“Being stuck with you is not a bad idea.” She looked into his eyes, remembering their time together.
She lay her head on his chest. “It would be a strange way to live, wouldn’t it, four loves a year? I have nothing to go back to Boston for, no job, my rent is paid until August. There are only a few things I would want from my house. I could still write from here.”
“You could, yes.”
“Could I take you out with me, I mean away from here for the twenty four hour period if I wanted to?”
“I don’t see why not. Of course you would have to be careful, some of the brothers are highly recognizable.”
“Like you.”
“Like Jack. He was the one I was thinking about but there are others.”
“I think I’ve made my decision. I’m going to stay.”
Maximus lifted her chin and kissed her.
“Well you two have been gone long enough!" Max greeted them at the door.
“There were important things to consider, Max,” Maximus told him.
Toni moved into the living room. “I’ve decided to stay,” she smiled at her loves.
“Brilliant,” Max clapped. “I am glad, love.”
Maximus addressed John. “I don’t think we have much time left. We’re going to have to be leaving. Now that she has made her decision we are eating into Max’s time.”
John looked down at Toni and took her hand, leading her out of the living room.
“Where are we going?” she asked.
“Someplace with a little privacy,” he answered. Looking about, he led her into the pantry and shut the door.
She giggled as he pressed her against the wall and took his time claiming her lips again. “The time will pass quickly,” he said, “and I will be here the first day of winter to claim you again.”
“I think this is the right thing for me to do. I’d rather have you for a season than not at all. I love you so, John.”
Max banged on the pantry door. “It’s not your season, John!”
“He’s right, you know. It’s hot as hell in here,” John grinned, releasing her and opening the door. “Keep your shorts on, Max, she’s coming.”
A quick kiss goodbye and Maximus and John left the way they had come, with John driving. Max closed the door and took her in his arms. “Hi, Toni.”
ON TO THE FALL OF MY HEART
BACK TO A SECOND SPRING, PART 1
BACK TO FALL, PART 1
BACK TO SUMMER, PART 1
BACK TO SPRING, PART 1
BACK TO WINTER
BACK TO BEGINNINGS
BACK TO LIBRISCROWE