Reap (The Harvest Saga Book 1) (14 page)

The two exchanged a heated look before Ky relented. “Of course I will.
I’m
her best friend.” Tension and fear fueled our pace all the way back to the village, and into the center square where I sought out the council.

Families were gathered in front
of the main hall. Fear and anger molded each face. Mothers clutched their children, who held tight to their legs and waists. Fathers remained stoic, jaws clenched. Their houses were being ransacked as we walked into town. No doubt mine lay in shambles. Eyes widened as the three of us passed by. Kyan’s hand was at the small of my back. He didn’t guide me, but with that simple gesture, told the entire village that he stood with me.

Crew’s fingers were still clamped between my own. His palm was sweaty and I knew it wasn’t because of the unseasonable warmth hanging in the evening air. I knew what this means to him. To so publicly defy the Preston family would no doubt bring shame on his family, too. A shame, I was sure his father wouldn’t let him soon forget. His mother, I couldn’t read as well. She seemed almost kind, but I took her as a woman who wouldn’t cross her husband under any circumstance.

The gathered crowd parted like a body of water as we made our way toward the main hall. The Councilmen were gathered, in crisp suits, on the front porch of the seat of their power. Boredom hung on their countenances, until Councilman Preston’s eyes honed in on me. Like a hawk to its prey. He stood suddenly, stepped off the porch and rushed to stand in front of me. “The suspect has been found. Thank you Kyan and Crew for bringing her in to face the charges against her.” His voice boomed into the night. Charges?

“What charges?” The words left my mouth before I could even think about them.

“Murder, Concealment of a body, for starters.” He smirked. “You are aware that we have discovered the body of Luella Kelley, rotten in a shallow grave.”

“Of course I know you found her. But I didn’t murder her, and I certainly didn’t conceal her body or put her in a shallow grave. You did! You and your pet, Norris, killed her! You just weren’t smart enough to dig her deep enough!”

My entire body trembled with rage and I pulled away from Crew and Kyan. “You killed her!” I launched myself toward him, intending to remove his head from his body by force. I was jerked backwards by two sets of strong arms before I could connect. I wildly thrashed against them, mad as hell at their interference. “You’ll pay for what you’ve done.”

“How dare you accuse me of such things? I am a Councilman. An upstanding member of this village. I should see you beaten and then hanged.” His face reddened and contorted in rage as he spat the last word.

“I wish to have an immediate audience in front of the council.” I demanded.

The other councilmen had formed sort of a semi-circle around Mr. Preston and were staring at me, mouths agape. No one had ever challenged one of their own. The four other men looked at one another and nodded. From behind him four words cut through the tension hanging in the air that evening. “We grant your request.”

“What?” Preston turned to face them, stunned that they would entertain me at all. Of course, he would prefer that I hang and that he not have to stand and atone for his dark deeds. Lulu’s murder was most likely the last horrible offense he’d had a hand in, but I don’t know if it was even the worst. But, this would end here. Now.

The Councilmen fell away leading our party into the Main Hall and into the judgment room. Preston was livid. His entire being shook worse than mine, but he followed obediently. “As Councilman Preston is involved in such matters, he will not be consulted on any decisions made. As four of us remain, and it is an even number, we must ensure that no decision is nullified and so I ask that one Councilman remove himself from the decision making process as well.”

Councilman Regar stood up and moved aside. “I shall step aside from this decision, leaving three to determine the outcome.” His tall, thin body limped to the side of the room, where he found a chair, still intent to watch from beneath the bushy white eyebrows that match the hair remaining on his head. He clasped his hands over his thin stomach, leaned back against the wall in his seat and watched sharply.

“Very well. Please tell us why you have accused our peer of such a despicable crime, Abigail Kelley.” Councilman Ward asked before leaning forward to await my answer. His dark brown hair was evenly peppered with gray and he was short and rounded in the middle, where his dark brown suit stretched and puckered.

“I was approached by Zander Preston. He asked for my hand in marriage and I refused. Councilman Preston then asked my aunt, Lulu, I mean, Luella Kelley if she would give her blessing on the union. She refused. After working one day shortly after these occurrences, I came home to find her missing. She never came home. Zander and the Councilman informed me that she had been sent to Olympus on official village business. He and his wife and son then tried to force me into the marriage agreement, as my aunt was not here to thwart their efforts. I feared the worse when I didn’t hear from her in such a time, but it wasn’t until...” My voice cracked. “It wasn’t until Kyan told me they found her body, that I knew she was dead. I didn’t kill her. I had no reason to do so. I loved her. But, the Councilman needed her out of the way. He needed her blessing for this marriage and knew he wasn’t going to get it. So, in my opinion, he got rid of the only thing blocking him: my aunt.”

I wiped the tears from my cheeks. “Be seated.”

“Councilman Preston. What say you to this accusation?”

Mr. Preston raised to his full height. His blonde-gray hair shone like a crown upon his head, glistening in the candle-light which was now mixed with the last light of day. He cleared his throat. “I did ask her aunt for permission for the two young people to wed. I will not deny it. But, I had nothing to do with her disappearance, death, or dishonorable burial. Nor is there any proof to that effect. I vehemently deny these charges against me. I am sorry for the young lady’s loss and for her grief, which seems to be overwhelming her and clouding her judgment, but I deny her accusation. I had no hand in this. It would seem that the young lady was the last to see the victim, Luella Kelley, alive.”

The three men before us looked at one another. They nodded, already knowing what they were going to say. I thought it was customary that they convened in private before issuing their decision.

Councilman Ward stood. “We will continue to investigate the murder of Luella Kelley. But, with no evidence to support your accusation, beyond the fact that the Councilman asked your aunt for her blessing in joining you with his son, we cannot in good faith say that he
is
indeed guilty of her murder.”

The air had been sucked out of my lungs. I couldn’t breathe. I fell on the hard wooden chair behind me. “You can’t be serious,” I muttered.

Ward continued. “We will get to the bottom of this, dear. And whomever is responsible for Luella Kelley’s death will be punished. Rest assured of that.” I nodded. What else could I do?

∞

I numbly walked from the
room, down the hall and onto the porch. Crew stood with his parents. His father looked at me with a sharp eye and his mother stared at the ground. Kyan’s hand found the small of my back again and he led me through the crowd, which once again parted for us. Councilman Ward stepped onto the porch, flanked by the other members and announced to the crowd the decision rendered. Gasps, a few claps and murmurs sounded out behind us. We were already on the way home.

“Kyan!”
Oh, no. Anyone but her, right now.
“Kyan, wait! You can’t go with her. Didn’t you just hear the council? She’s crazy! She accused a Councilman of murder!”

Paige rushed up to us and grabbed Kyan’s elbow, tearing his hand from my back. He shrugged away from her and I saw a flash in his brown eyes. “Get off, Paige. Not now.”

“But, you’re embarrassing me!” She brushed her black hair off her shoulder and pushed her lips out into a pout.
How disgusting? Does she think she’s cute?

“I can’t do this.” His words were low and deep. He pinched the bridge of his nose.

“What?” she asked. “I couldn’t hear you, baby.”

“I’m not your baby. I cannot do this!” he roared.

She shook her head and I stepped back from them. They obviously needed to have this argument in private and I didn’t want to cause them any trouble. I started to walk on toward my house. “Abigail Blue. You will wait.” He ordered. Kyan never used that tone of voice with me. I stopped dead in my tracks.

“Paige. I cannot do this. I can’t marry you. I don’t love you. I know you don’t love me, either. I’ll make the announcement tomorrow. I’m dissolving our betrothal.” His eyes darkened as if to invite her challenge.

“Dissolving our…? Because of her!” she screeched and pointed at me. Her face contorted with rage and she actually bared her teeth.

“Not because of her. Because of you. I don’t love you. I can’t spend the rest of my life listening to your voice. I hate it!” He paced.
Word. It was a horrific voice to have to listen to. I couldn’t imagine hearing it for the rest of my days.

“Look. You need to find someone who loves you and wants to be with you. I’m not that guy. I’m sorry. I tried to be. I know our parents want this, but I don’t and we’ll both be miserable if we go through with this. This has nothing to do with Abby. But the fact that my best friend on this planet embarrasses you, tells me that I shouldn’t be with you. She
will
always be a part of my life, regardless of who I choose to spend it with. My future wife, will have to accept our friendship. It’s as simple as that.” He stopped in front of her. “I’m sorry. I’ll talk to your parents and mine and then announce it tomorrow. I’ll take the blame. You won’t be shamed for this.”

Smack! Her open hand connected with his cheek. “The hell I won’t. I hate you, Kyan Marx!” And with that, she turned and stomped away. We both watched her retreat but stood quiet and still for a few moments. Could this day possibly get any worse?

Life passed in a blur
for the next several hours and days. Friday evening swooped in like a thief in the night, having stolen the time it seemed it would take to get here. All teams had converged in the center of the orchard, plucking the last of the succulent fruit from the boughs. The smell of sweet apples and crisp leaves floated gently on the cool breeze. Days were now shortening and darkness came quickly in the evenings now.

I pulled the last apple that I could see from a branch above me and settled back into my spot where a large limb meets its lifeline, the backbone, and strength of the tree itself. The fruit itself this year was huge. My hand wouldn’t even fit around it. I remember in scant years when I could easily wrap all my fingers around it and touch my palm on the other side. Those years had been dry and I had been smaller then than now, so I could imagine just how difficult it had been.

Swirls of red, light and bright green streak down the side of the shiny orb, the stem attached still held tight to one leaf for dear life–its last attempt to cling to its mother.

I hadn’t seen Zander or his horrible family since the day of the hearing before the Council. Nor had I seen Norris and both of those facts had made the rest of the week just barely tolerable for me. The council had ordered her body exhumed to further the investigation into her death. They had banned the Preston’s or Norris from being present during the examination, and during the re-interment. After Lulu was examined, she was laid to rest properly. As was customary, I wasn’t allowed to be present while she was interred.

I had a feeling that as Lulu was once again committed to the earth, the secrets surrounding her death had died and been buried as well. When I was given permission, I visited her grave and placed a small bouquet of the remaining wildflowers on top of the earthen mound that now blanketed her. She always loved wildflowers, especially the bright bluish-purple ones that grew tall, whose edges were jagged and uneven. She said those were the strongest and in a world full of weeds, one had to be strong to survive. To avoid being smothered, they had to have deep roots with which to draw up water from the ground.

Crew’s hand fell upon my own pulling me back to reality, grounding me. I needed it. I needed him. I knew he was leaving soon. Tomorrow would be our harvest festival and then he would be sent home, his help no longer required by our village, by the Greaters that brought him here. I wasn’t sure I would be able to stand seeing him go. Eyes of molten honey bore into me. I wondered if he felt the same way. Not that it really mattered. The Greaters, in one way or another, dictated every move we made, everything we did in our lives, however short or long they might be.

He took the last apple, placed it gently into the top of the almost overflowing bushel and hoisted it up, walking it to the bed of the rusty pickup, filled to the brim with the last of our crop. Cheers, sighs, and laughs of relief filled the air as the tension that had filled our days recently floats away on the clouds that race gently across the evening sky. They were bright orange and yellow, illuminated by the sun against a dull blue-gray sky.

Kyan approached and gave me his hand. I leapt from my perch above. “Finally,” he breathed.

I nodded. “It’s been quite a harvest this year.”

“I’ve never seen the crop produce so much or such big fruit in my life.”

“I know. The apples are enormous.”

He smiled slightly. “Hey, I’ve got to stay. All the leaders do. Why don’t you go home with Laney or hang out with Crew and I’ll catch up with you later.” Laney was busy packing, her ankle still swollen and bruised. She was able to walk but not climb, so her job there was safer and would help her heal more quickly. She giggled with Mary, a girl from Coal, with hair that matched her region’s namesake. It was so black that it looked nearly blue in places. She was a very tall girl, nearly as tall as Kyan, and very pretty. Her lips were pouty and pink. Mary was loud and fun and reminded me a lot of Laney, so the two had become fast friends.

“I’ll be fine, Ky.”

He nodded. He left to meet up with the team leaders, who clapped him on the back and shoulder, and laughed heartily alongside him. He looked light, happy. I hadn’t seen him smile in too long. The past couple of weeks had been hard on everyone. But, that was what made Kyan so great. He never complained.

Crew returned. He’d been partnered with me for the remainder of the harvest. Kyan’s doing, of course, but I was thankful to have met him and to have been able to spend time with him in any capacity.

I ached for his kisses. I just wanted to feel the strength of his lips on mine one more time before he was taken away. As if he could read my thoughts, he clasped his hand in mine and pulled me away. We didn’t speak, but walked together quickly toward our spot. People left the orchards and we passed Paige and her friend Dawn. Both sneered and whispered to one another, but there was no confrontation and for that small reprieve, I was thankful.

We passed a few others, two girls from Wheat and one from Dairy. All were friendly, smiled and greeted us giddily before resuming their conversations of what to wear to the Harvest Festival celebration tomorrow. Laney insisted that I wear the green gown that she’d let me borrow for dinner at the Preston’s. Though I hated even thinking their name, the gown was beautiful and would be perfect. I had nothing else that would remotely be appropriate.

Lulu might have something in her closet, but I hadn’t been able to bring myself to even step foot into her room. I didn’t want to disturb her things. I knew Laney slept in there when she stayed with me, when we thought she was in Olympus, but now that she was gone, I just didn’t want to be the one messing up the way she left things. It was her house after all. Without her there, I felt like an intruder.

Tall hay brushed against my jeans and tickled the tips of my fingers as we cut through a field. My heart pounded in my chest. Anticipation hung thick in the air. I just hoped he wanted the same thing I did. Time with him. Kissing him. Memorizing his face; the curve of his jaw and the strong angle of his nose. The way his lips felt against mine, the pressure of his large hands on the small of my back. We topped the last small knoll and the swans bobbed gently in the water just ahead of us. We didn’t make it to them.

He stopped abruptly and reeled me in. “Tell me I can kiss you,” he whispered against my lips. His breath was sweet and minty and I couldn’t wait to taste him.

“Yes.” I barely got word out before he crashed into me. His lips swept over mine baptizing me in their soft strength. I could feel his tongue brush my lips and parted my own, granting him access. We all but molded to one another.

When we parted, both of us gasped for breath. He pulled me along the trail, past the swans, past the games with decaying teddy bears, beyond the fun house full of contorted images and bad memories, and even further still. We ran by the spot where our bonfire had taken place.

He pulled me quickly, glancing over at me and smiling from time to time. We stopped at what once was a small train station and he backed me against the wooden wall, now rough from age and weather.  Our lips and hands quickly found each other again. “I love to feel you against me,” he heatedly whispered, before pushing my hair aside and kissing the spot just under my ear.

It was divine and I couldn’t believe the sound that escaped my throat when he continued down to the spot where my shoulder and neck connect. His hands kept me pushed completely against him, enveloped in all that was Crew. I ran my hands through his sable hair, reveling in its softness against my fingertips. We kissed like this for what seemed like hours before he finally pulled back. Darkness had fallen. His eyes found mine, almost glowing from within, they were so bright and golden.

“We should get back. It’s getting late.”

“I don’t want to leave.” I admitted.

He brushed his lips over mine and the scruff now emerging along his jaw raked lightly along my skin. “I don’t want to leave either.” His eyes locked on my own. I knew he meant more than just leaving here tonight. He didn’t want to leave Orchard. Maybe he didn’t want to leave me. But, the Greaters never asked us what we wanted. Only what we could give them. They didn’t care that Crew and I wanted to be with one another.

It dawned on me. I was falling hard for Crew Cole and I couldn’t let that happen. I stepped back and my fingertips found my lips swollen from his attentions. “I think we should go.”

“Don’t.” He ordered.

“Don’t what?” I stepped back further.

He stepped forward to mitigate my retreat. “Don’t pull away from me. Not now. I don’t know how much longer I have left here. I want to spend it with you.”

I nodded. “I want that, too. I just hate to think of you leaving.” Tears flooded my eyes and then overflowed. I couldn’t help it. I felt so alone in this world and Crew was now the only thing that made me feel remotely human.

“Don’t think of it. We still have tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow,” I tried to smile.  He pulled me in for a hug and then clasped my hand within his and we walked back toward my cabin. We found it empty. Kyan, Crew, and I had cleaned it and restored it after it had been ransacked. Crew built and lit the fire, while I lit all of the candles and oil lamps. A few of the candles in wrought iron sconces along the wall needed replaced, so I found the extras and tried to busy myself. I knew he had to leave. The Preston’s and his parents would definitely object to his staying here.

As I lit the last candle along the wall in my bedroom, warm, strong hands fall on my waist and pulled me backwards. My back collided with Crew’s warm chest. He tucked his head into the crook of my shoulder and sighed. The rough stubble along his jaw scratched me deliciously. “I have to go. They’ll know where I am and I don’t want to cause any trouble for you.”

“I know.” I tried to memorize how his arms felt wrapped tightly around me, how his warm breath tickled my ear. His scent. He smelled like spice, exotic and male, even after having worked outside all day in the orchard, he smelled divine.

I spun around, still in his arms and kissed him long and urgently on the lips before releasing him and stepping back. “Go. Before I decide to tie you up and keep you here.”

He grinned. “Maybe I’d like that.”

“You would. Trust me. I would personally see to your comfort and entertainment.” I smirked.

Crew growled, prowling forward, “How am I supposed to leave now?”

I shrugged nonchalantly and smiled at him. “One foot in front of the other.”

His eyes narrowed into tight slits and before he could move, I ran for it, laughing as I sprinted away. His arms caught me as I grasped for front door. Turning me around, Crew pushed me up against the wood. His knee parted mine and we were pressed flush against one another, molded together. He kissed me hard, hungrily before finally releasing me slowly. I wasn’t sure if my bones had turned to mush, but was wobbling on my feet.

He stepped back, shrugged nonchalantly and said, “Guess I’ll see you tomorrow,” as if nothing had ever happened.

I giggled. “Touché, Crew!”

Laughing, he jumped off the porch and into the darkness beyond. As he crested the small hill, he yelled, “Kyan is going to check on you soon.”

“He always does.” I yelled back.

I thought I heard him mutter something, but couldn’t make it out as he had disappeared into the obsidian.

∞

Faithfully, an hour later, a
knock sounded at the door before Kyan eased it open and stepped inside. I’d made a pie on the woodstove yesterday and put some meat and vegetables into a pot leaving it to roast today while I was working. When Crew was here, I didn’t notice any smell other than his spice. But, once he left, I realized how good the house smelled. The rich, smokiness of the cooked meat lingered. We rarely had beef, but with the festival, several cows had been slaughtered and each family was given a small portion as a reward for their hard work during harvest.

Kyan sniffed the air, long and deep and moaned. His hair was wet and shiny. “It smells so good in here. Mom smoked our meat to preserve it. This is so much better. This is how you enjoy a reward.”

“I didn’t get much because it’s just me. So, I thought I’d make a roast. There are more veggies than meat, but it smells good. I made bread.”

He laughed. “You never could eat roast without it.”