Prologue The heat of the doctor’s office assaulted Matilda in a sharp contrast from the bitter winter gales that she had just forged through. The small bundle of life in her arms lay all too still, almost lifeless, as she approached the receptionist to announce her arrival. Fear constricted her chest, making each breath laborious as she peered into the pale, wax-like cheeks of the infant in her arms. Her sweet little Caitlin; how small and helpless she appeared in the layers of fabric that surrounded her. Just last night her screams of despair where so powerful that Matilda was hard pressed to remember that Caitlin was barely six months old. Matilda had named Caitlin after her cousin back in Ireland. She and her cousin Caitlin had been like sisters while growing up in the quaint countryside in county Cork. She recalled, with a smile, the laughter and joy that had filled her childhood years. Oh how she longed for the years gone by. Matilda and her dear cousin had lost contact when Caitlin moved to America with her husband, Tommy, five years earlier, but had acquired Caitlin’s address just before she and James started their journey to America. Her cousin was living in the hills of Pennsylvania; not far from Manhattan, actually. Matilda longed to contact her and let her know that they where close again and that she had a namesake, but James would have none of it while they where in such dire financial straits. His pride was a blessing in some ways and a curse in others. Anger for her present situation welled up and her smile was lost to an anguished contortion. Having had such a happy childhood herself, she had vowed that her babies would know the same. She did her best to shield young Nora from the poverty and hardships that filled their days since arriving in America. The trip had been long and hard, filled with false promises and hopes. She prayed for her family’s happiness and success in life and longed for financial security. Matilda and her husband, James, had only recently immigrated from Ireland. A proud man, when the promise of housing and a job at his uncle’s friend’s factory had not been fulfilled and their meager funds dwindled as he scrambled for shelter and work, he refused to seek help from any federally funded assistance program; leaving the family to survive on what was left of his meager wages from the job he had managed to secure at a local shoe factory; after his thirst had been quenched at the neighborhood bar, of course. The doctor’s fee was probably going to take most of the money she had available to her for the week’s supply of food and goods, but she could not risk ignoring her precious Caitlin’s health. Her daughter was seriously ill; there was no doubting that. A doctor was needed and that was all there was to it. She would deal with James and his old fashioned ideas of natural healing and how doctors are a waste of good money later. For now, she would focus on the little darling in her arms and believe that her prayers would be answered and they would be fine. A long sigh of frustration was released as she thought of her plight. “Mama, it’s cold out here, can I come in?” Matilda turned in response to the small voice belonging to her oldest daughter, Nora. Nora’s big brown eyes pleaded with want and a touch of fear; fear of what, maybe of loss? Children could be insightful and intuitive, especially in Matilda’s family lineage. Even though she had done her best to shield her eldest child, perhaps Nora sensed how serious their plight was. Nora’s bright strawberry blonde curls scattered around her face, glistening with the moisture of the melting snow. She was almost lost in a worn and faded blue wool jacket, a pair of bright multicolored, predominantly orange mittens with matching scarf, and a hat. They where a gift from Grandma Maloney. Grandma Maloney made a new set for everyone each Christmas. The family had grown to look forward to, and rely upon, Grandma Maloney’s contribution to their winter warmth. The wave of sadness that passed through Matilda was almost consuming as she wondered what the future held for her dear little Nora. “Yes darling, come in and sit down in that chair.” Matilda’s thick brogue was barely above a whisper as she directed her daughter to the empty corner of the room. With her free hand, Matilda helped Nora free herself from the constraints of her woollen outer wear, which was rapidly becoming heavily laden from the melting snow. Nora settled back into the chair and looked around the room with her brown, doe-like eyes. Three of the four walls where lined with chairs that where occupied by patients waiting to be seen. They seemingly paid no notice to the newcomers, each absorbed in their own misery and plight. A man with beady red-rimmed eyes looked distressfully from behind the handkerchief that was covering the majority of his face. His obvious misery caused Nora to shrink for fear of catching his ailment as her mother approached the nurse who had appeared behind the reception desk. “Excuse me, please. We have an appointment with the doctor.” Matilda’s voice was barely audible. “Name?” The nurse bellowed, without looking up. “McNevin, Matilda McNevin.” The nurse looked up, making a quick assessment of Matilda before she scowled with disdain and looked back down at the schedule book. “I have a Caitlin McNevin; no Matilda.” Matilda sighed, frustrated with the obvious prejudice that the nurse was emanating. Was it her poverty or nation of origin that bothered this rude and self-important woman? She held the comment she longed to make about the nurse’s arrogance at bay, knowing it would not help the situation. “I am Matilda. My baby is Caitlin McNevin. She’s... she’s quite ill.” “Sit down. I’ll call you when the doctor can see you.” The nurse’s eyes never left the paperwork on her desk as she clipped her orders to Matilda; waiting until Matilda had settled in the chair next to Nora before looking up and briefly scanning the room. She smiled warmly at an elderly woman and nodded congenially at the man with the red rimmed eyes before scowling darkly when her eyes met Nora’s. Nora quickly hid her face in the sleeve of her mother’s coat. The nurse picked up a file and walked from behind the reception desk. “Mr. Roberts, follow me please.” The red-rimmed eyes of an elderly, oversized man squinted as he smiled in satisfaction while he heaved his weight out of his chair and stabilized his balance before following the nurse down the short corridor and into the examining room. Matilda settled in for the long wait. Her body felt exhausted and achy. She closed her eyes and allowed herself to drift off and reminisce about the happier times and the life she had led in Ireland. Matilda was reveling in memories of the warmth, gaiety and excitement that she experienced at the last festival she attended before they had foolishly left her beloved Ireland, the Feast of St. Michael, when her attention was yanked back toward the infant she held in her arms as the buxom nurse in crisp white attire, abruptly ordered them to follow her into the pediatric examination room. The nurse barely harbored a look of disdain for the haggard looking trio as they trailed behind her into the small, bright room. Nora gaped in awe at her surroundings; such bright and vivid colors! The wallpaper sported cartoon animals of all shapes and sizes. The table where her mother laid her sister was located in the center of the room, allowing the doctor freedom to move around it. A teddy bear mobile dangled above one end of the table, offering entertainment for small patients. Nora sucked the warm air into her lungs as her eyes opened even wider to view the tall man in a white jacket entering the room. Ignoring her, he walked briskly toward the table and immediately began to examine her baby sister, Caitlin. Matilda and the doctor spoke in hushed whispers. Nora sensed panic in the voice of her mother and concern in the voice of the doctor. “Will she be alright doctor?” pleaded Matilda. She wanted to know, yet was afraid of the answer. “Time will tell; time will tell. I am sorry you didn’t get her here at the first onset of the fever. We have seen cases, when treated early enough, where the patient escapes any repercussions to the body and grows up strong and healthy. But this child is barely breathing and her heart sounds weak. I will give you something to keep her comfortable and we will start her on an antibiotic and then we pray. That is the best I can do for you.” Nora grabbed the hem of her mother’s coat as she looked in the corner of the room at the two brilliantly glowing women standing in the corner. Their beautiful longs gowns shimmered of a pastel rainbow when they moved, yet appeared linen white when still. She tried to get her mother’s attention to point these beautiful ladies out, but to no avail. The women looked down at Nora with warm and friendly smiles. Their eyes twinkled with a starlight effect. The scent emanating from them was of a flower she had smelled long ago. It was the scent of honeysuckle; like what was growing outside her baby sister’s window. As they approached, the scent grew stronger. Nora looked down at the hems of their gowns and was amazed to note that they where a few inches above the floor. She could see no feet under their gowns and wondered how these ladies where able to float like that. They stopped in front of her and she experienced a warm, soothing feeling of comfort that she had never felt before. It was so peaceful and gentle. Nora’s head became light and it was difficult to focus as the glowing women continued on toward the baby on the table. The doctor and her mother remained deep in conversation; oblivious to the women picking up her sister. Oddly enough, Nora felt no urge to speak. She remained planted in one spot, dreamily watching the two women as they raised their arms, holding Caitlin high toward the ceiling. Her sister was silent and motionless. As the women lowered the infant, enormous glowing wings of brilliant gold appeared from behind their backs and enfolded the trio. It was difficult to know how long they remained like that. Nora seemed lost in time and space, mesmerized by the vision before her. Her mother and the doctor kept on talking. The glowing women lowered their wings and placed the small child back on the table and she moved slightly while a small whimper from her tiny lips immediately caught the attention of the doctor and her mother. They seemingly ignored the glowing ladies who stood quietly and watched as the doctor examined Caitlin one more time. He turned to her mother, pleased and surprised with his findings. Matilda began to cry and Nora reached up to comfort her teary eyed mother. She received a loving hug as her mother’s gentle voice in her ear whispered, “These are tears of joy, my darling. Your sister will be fine. Caitlin will be fine!” As they turned to leave the room, Nora looked back for one more view of the two beautiful glowing women, but saw no one. They had left as quietly as they had arrived. She made no mention of them to her mother and as time passed by, the beautiful glowing ladies became a faded memory. ~ One month later, while checking on the peacefully sleeping infant, Matilda peered into the room to discover a bright glowing woman bent over Caitlin’s crib. The woman’s billowing dress rippled with the colors of a pastel rainbow as she slowly passed her hands over the infant. She reminded Matilda of an angel from one of the fairy tales her mother had entertained her with during her childhood. Not feeling compelled to enter the room, she dreamily returned to her bed for the most complete and deepest rest she had experienced in years. When she awoke in the morning, Matilda recalled her dream and smiled. ONE The brilliant sun glistened off the morning dew of the roof top of the old nineteenth century, Pennsylvania estate house. Caitlin had risen early to survey the damage the years of neglect had done to the structure. Although the weathered exterior cried out for paint and there where random spots where the wood along the awnings appeared as if it would crumble to the touch, as well as several windows that where broken and those that where not appeared to be crammed into the wall at an angle, the structure itself was still solid and sound. Caitlin held her head to the side and at an angle, as she viewed her dream house. Catching herself at this, she gave a slight chuckle. Purchasing this charming estate house only a few short weeks ago was a dream come true for her and she was not at all deterred by the immense work that needed to be done. Her friend, Arthur, had assured her that the structure, although needing much work, was basically sound. She was young and healthy and full of excitement and fully intended to take pleasure out of giving this fabulous old beauty a face lift! The shrill whinny of her chestnut mare, Emma, caught her attention and she whirled around just in time to move out of the way of the racing beast. I really must do something about the fencing here, she thought. Emma pranced proudly around her, rutting the soft moist ground with her hoof marks Spring was everywhere. The mountains were streaming the excess water from the melted snow down to the valley below. It appeared her house was in direct line and the ground stayed soft and moist as a result. Caitlin reached up to pat Emma’s muzzle as the mare gently shoved her owner off into the direction of the barn. It was feeding time and Emma new that if she did not prompt Caitlin out of her daze there may be no breakfast! Caitlin had a way of drifting off for long periods of time, with little recall of what had occurred or of the time that had passed. After having been with Caitlin for six years, Emma had become familiar with this and simply remained persistent in her efforts to regain Caitlin’s attention, especially now that she was no longer in a stable and could not rely on others to step in when Caitlin stepped out! The pungent smell of old cow manure that commingled with fresh horse manure flew at Caitlin as she entered the old barn. The stable had long been torn down, leaving only the dairy barn for shelter. The far corner had been cleaned and converted to accommodate Emma, but the major portion of the barn was still in dire need of cleaning and renovating. Bales of precariously balanced hay peeked down from the loft. The tiny mouse skirting across the floor produced a startled squeal from Caitlin and she jumped back, shuddering. But Emma never flinched from the drama before her. The mare had grown accustomed to the response her mistress always had at the appearance of little things scurrying around her. She impatiently nudged her feed bucket in an attempt to bring Caitlin back to what was priority; breakfast! Caitlin’s body trembled. She had always had an unexplainable fear of mice and snakes. She was unable to control her reactions when one was in sight. Her friend Sally had offered repeatedly to treat these fears with hypnosis, but she had never taken the time. As her heart struggled to regain a steady beat, she thought that perhaps it was time to give Sally a call and take her up on her offer. As she scooped the grain into Emma’s feeding bucket, a quick flash of something moving caught the corner of her eye. Chills covered her body as she looked around and could find nothing there. “Again!”, she moaned out loud. “I’m so tired of this, when will it end?” Caitlin had seen things through the corner of her eye most of her life and although mice and snakes unnerved her, these chance sightings were little more than an annoyance. She returned to the task of feeding her mare and then wandered slowly back to the house. Today was the day she was going to go into the village to take a look around. Caitlin had moved into the house over a month ago but had not yet ventured into the small village that rested in the heart of the valley, five miles east. She had been content to and explore her new home; riding Emma to the country store one mile away to purchase any of the staples she might need. Caitlin was a tall girl of Irish descent. Long firelight curls hugged her face and fell well below her shoulders in wild abandonment. Her large, finely muscled frame afforded her the strength to accomplish daunting tasks that most women would buckle under. Yet, for all her strength and power, she managed to retain an air of femininity that brought men flocking when she was near. She was once described as being very charismatic; not only to the male gender, but in general. People either gravitated toward her, or they remained distant and in awe. There seemed no in between. Caitlin had the type of personality that made her easy to get along with. Those who did not where generally controlling and frustrated at the lack of response they got from her. She sported a ‘live and let live’ philosophy that most control freaks found unappealing. Mitch was one of those control freaks. Caitlin had met him through a colleague of hers about two years ago. His solid, muscled body drew her attention long before he had crossed the room. Mitch’s bulk was fluid and graceful beneath his white linen shirt. His rolled sleeves exposed broad strong forearms, coated with thick dark curls. When he shook her hand in greeting, she felt him struggle to maintain an easy pressure; as if at any moment he could squeeze the life force out of her. The chemistry between them was undeniable and they quickly fell into a passionate affair that lasted about eighteen months. Eventually, Mitch began to place demands on Caitlin that she found undesirable and she slowly to pulled back. The more she pulled back, the stronger Mitch tried to hold on. It was not long before the relationship soured and the two went their separate ways. Unable to accept this, Mitch has made persistent efforts to reunite. Unfortunately, their romance may have ended but their work relationship had not and he was now telephoning her about their most recent project. Caitlin held her stomach with one hand as she verified it was him on her caller ID and raised the receiver with the other. She found her conversations with Mitch more and more unsettling as time went by. She often pondered over the fascination of how someone can be so incredibly wrapped up and taken by an individual one day, and the next day be completely repulsed by even the sound of their voice. Taking a deep breath in resignation, Caitlin answered flatly, “ Hello Mitch.” “Well, I see you at least have caller ID out there in no man’s land. How interesting. And what other modern amenities might we find? A sink? A toilet? Running water?” There was no denying the sarcasm in Mitch’s voice. “Okay,” she sighed, “You got your dig in for the day. So, what’s up. Did I leave something out of the envelope I expressed?” “No, the drawings where fine. You’re a true artist.” Caitlin was lulled into a false sense of easiness by Mitch’s flattery, until he continued. “I was just sitting here thinking about the great time we had last year in the mountains at Charlie’s cabin. Do you remember?” Caitlin remained silent. She should have known that Mitch would not stop with a simple complement. He was so bent on getting his own way that he sometimes acted like an obsessed man. And, since it was Caitlin who ended the relationship and not Mitch, he was determined to get her back. Of course she remembered. It was wild and sensual. She often thought back on that time. But it was time to move on and make new memories. What was the point in this conversation? She was just about to ask when he broke the silence. “Hello? Caitlin? Are you there?” “Yes I’m here and yes I remember. What’s your point?” Her tone was a little more brisk than she had intended. “I just thought it might be nice to take another trip back there. Just you and me, like the last time. Or we can take William and Hilary if you insist.” There was something in Mitch’s voice that made Caitlin leery. His words where friendly enough, but there seemed like there was a hidden motive behind them. Until now, she had looked at Mitch as annoying, but harmless. But now, she just did not know. The feeling she was experiencing was one of fearful apprehension; something she could neither justify or explain. A cool breeze came from out of nowhere, causing Caitlin to shiver uncontrollably. She glanced around in time to catch the curtains flowing in the living room, even though the windows and doors were tightly closed. The right side of her body shriveled, taking most of the chill, while the left remained relaxed. She made a mental note to check the windows for proper insulation before the cold weather set in. “No thanks Mitch. I have a lot to do here before I go back to work full swing. And besides, I’m privileged enough to be able to enjoy the beautiful country side right in my own home. I don’t need to climb to a mountain top to do it! But you go ahead and go... it will do you good, I’m sure.” Caitlin responded warily. The chills where still plaguing her right side. Where was that breeze coming from? “Well”, Mitch sighed, obviously aggravated with being turned down again. “I guess I will be the judge of how beautiful your countryside is myself. Even though you haven’t paid me the courtesy of an invitation since you moved in, William has asked me to drive out with him for the weekend so that we can go over the Wiley account. It seems he needs my input. So, we can pick up on this conversation again later:” Caitlin’s stomach contracted as Mitch’s words assaulted her ears. He sounded like a cat baiting his mouse. How frustrating! Well, she sighed, there was nothing she could do about it. She should have known better than to start a relationship with a business partner. Now she had to pay the price. “And where are you staying?” She blurted out coldly; frustration filling her words. “What kind of a question is that? Don’t you have room in that big house? How many bedrooms are there, anyway? Oh yes, eight, correct? And you would be so rude as to make me stay in a motel, out in God know’s where?” There was a chuckle in the undertone of his voice. He had managed to get to her and was savoring every minute of her irritation. The chill that covered Caitlin’s right side became an unbearable freezing ache. She wheeled around to get a sweeping view of her surroundings. It was approaching summer, yet this cold felt like winter! As her eyes swept the room in search of the source of the draft, she stopped, motionless, as if the cold had frozen her solid. Not even her eyelids would move as she looked directly into the eyes of an elderly man dressed in a flannel shirt and denim jeans. His large brown, clouded eyes scowled, yet she did not feel frightened; for she knew the scowl was meant for Mitch and not her. She did not know why she knew; she just knew. When Caitlin finally blinked her eyes, the old man was gone. She regained her faculties and snipped at Mitch, “I have to go. Stay where you like.” Caitlin slammed the receiver back into the cradle. The breeze had stopped and her body was warm again. What had just happened? Who was that man and where had he come from” And better yet, where did he go? Her mind was racing. Her legs were feeling weak and shaky as she ran frantically around the house, checking all of the windows and locks. She opened closet doors and pounded on the walls in them, listening for a hollow sound. Sometimes these old houses had hidden rooms. Maybe this house had a hidden room and this man was living in it! The remainder of her day was spent searching for the mystery man. After combing the entire house, attic and cellar, she proceeded to investigate the outbuildings. Her nearest neighbor was quite a distance away and there had been no signs of anyone coming up the driveway. This man had to be on the property somewhere. But where? It was dusk before her search was interrupted by William’s Cherokee bouncing down the drive with Mitch cursing his indignation loudly. Emma raced up to greet them, kicking her heels with wild delight. William smiled affectionately. He enjoyed the beauty of this magnificent beast. The setting sun created shadows that bounced off the Emma’s powerful muscles as she flexed them proudly. She was a beautiful sight. William leapt out of the jeep and began stroking Emma’s neck as she pushed him off balance with her nose. Laughingly he put a little more swing behind his stokes, understanding her commands completely. He often joked that she was half human. Mitch got out of the vehicle more cautiously than William. He was not fond of animals, particularly ones that were larger than he was; not to mention the fact that this one was more than a little strange. Whoever heard of a horse that wandered around free like a dog? This was one of the little quirks about Caitlin that drove Mitch crazy. She insisted on treating her animals like they where people. He was about to make a sarcastic remark when he saw Caitlin running toward them down the drive. “William!” She squealed with delight as she flew into his arms. The muscles in Mitch’s face hardened as he stood in the background watching. She’s never greeted me like that, he mused. “Hey sis!” He laughed. “Damn girl, you’re sure getting skinny! What have you been doing, eating grass with Emma?” “Oh, yes, I noticed just this morning that my clothes are getting a little loose. But, you know how hard it is for me to keep the weight on and on top of that I’ve been pretty preoccupied around here. I keep forgetting to eat. For the last few days I’ve been keeping Emma’s feeding schedule, since she’s so good about reminding me. So when I feed her, I feed me. It works!” “So, does that mean that we all have grain for dinner?” Mitch growled, barely able to contain his hostility. When he was away from Caitlin, he missed her unbearably. But, when he would find himself in her presence he could not hold down the hostility he felt over her rejection of him.. Which, of course, made things worse between them. It was a vicious cycle. William turned towards Mitch, with Caitlin still cradled in his arms, and quietly, but in an authoritative manner, stated, “We will behave like adults this weekend, all of us. Let’s try our best to get along. The Wiley project is due on the first and we are no way near being ready for presentation... so... let’s get this monkey off our backs and get back to enjoying life!” Caitlin and Mitch had been glowering at each other while William was working at keeping the piece. Suddenly, Caitlin let out a long groan. “Oh no! I am so sorry! I can’t believe this!” “What?” William asked smugly, as if he already knew the answer. “I got involved with something this morning and I don’t know where the time went! I never made it to town like I had planned and I have zip for dinner! Oh, God, how could I be so stupid. I’m so sorry.” Caitlin pulled away from William in despair. This was a common reaction for her when she was upset with something she had done. More than once, William had joked about it with Caitlin, telling her that she needed no critics because she was critical enough. William winked at Mitch as he reached into the back seat of the Cherokee and produced Chinese take out. He held it proudly before Caitlin while they all smiled. At that moment, Emma interrupted to remind them that, at feeding time, she came first. They all laughed and Caitlin told her brother and ex-lover to go to the house while she followed Emma to the barn, assuring them that she would not be long. As the men entered the old estate house, a bitter chill swept over Mitch. It was the feeling of winter in late spring; a feeling that permeated his bones, making him more than a little uneasy. He surveyed the small entrance way, looking for the source of the draft, but found nothing. Caitlin must be positioned on the hillside where there is a cross current or something, he mused, as he entered the living room. TWO Mitch had woken up with a stiffness throughout his body. His sleep had been choppy and uncomfortable and his every muscle ached. He had experienced a cold chill throughout his body all through the night. He scowled as he entered the room where Caitlin and William where already sitting enjoying their morning coffee. The early morning sun shining through the French doors of the breakfast nook brought out the charm of the old estate home. Caitlin was working on restoring the woodwork to the original look and had discovered a method of repairing and cleaning the wallpaper from a “how to” show on public access television. She beamed proudly at her handiwork as Mitch surveyed the surroundings. Knowing that Mitch was not appreciative of anything that was old, she doubted that he would appreciate her efforts or see the value in the restored rooms. “There’s coffee in the kitchen,” Caitlin announced brightly, “and some croissants with butter and jam. If you want oatmeal or eggs, help yourself.” Caitlin observed Mitch as he quietly turned toward the kitchen. His strong muscular body rippled when he walked and his unruly curls where in need of a good combing; although there where signs of an attempt by him to bring some semblance of order to them by possibly running his fingers through them. His pants where crisply creased and his Armani shirt gleamed of newness. He was indeed a contrast to this old house with its faded wallpaper and worn wooden floors. William’s violent coughing seized Caitlin’s attention. She paused briefly in confusion as she looked into his face. Her brother’s eyes where watering and his cheeks where a bright red trimmed in white. His thin lips, that peered out beneath his strawberry blonde mustache, where turning a deep purple. He was choking on his food! She raced behind him and began the Heimlich maneuver, giving thanks to Nora for insisting she take CPR in high school. The food was dislodged and William slowly returned to his natural state, feeling a little sheepish that such a thing had happened. Mitch, who had returned to see what all the commotion was about, stood before William with coffee in one hand and croissant in the other. “Are you alright man?” William responded with a wave of his hand and a meek smile as he held up the magazine he had been flipping through. Mitch laughed hysterically when William pointed to a full page picture of a nude woman. Shaking his head, he snatched up the magazine and walked out onto the patio to view it more fully. The wicker chair moaned under his bulk as he eased himself down. “It serves you right, William.” Caitlin scowled, as she went about cleaning up the dishes. “Didn’t you see enough of that when you where dating Susan?” “I’m in shock that she would do that,” William mused, “She was such a prude when we where together. What the hell happened?” “That was three years ago, brother dear. A lot can happen to a person to change them in three years. Besides, I said it then and I still say it. I think the prude thing was a show for you and you alone.” “Well,” chuckled Mitch from the patio, “there’s nothing prudish about the chick now. Damn William, are those real?” “I guess,” William grumbled, a little put out to have this hulk of a man out on the patio drooling over the woman he once loved. The woman he still loved; or at least he thought he did. “I’m going to take a quick walk outside. Does anybody want to join me?” Caitlin and Mitch joined in a simultaneous “I will”. The two stopped and looked at each other before they gave a quick chuckle and followed William outside. It’s a shame Mitch has to be such an idiot, Caitlin mused, there are times when he can be so cute. If only he would drop the control thing.’ Caitlin walked contentedly behind the two men, observing the drastic contrast between them. Mitch, with his dark hair and incredible brawn and William, fair and slender. The trio decided to investigate the old logging trail that wandered up the west side of the wooded hillside. Caitlin had been curious about it since she had first arrived but the realtor had been firm with her warnings about the perils that awaited anyone who ventured down the path. Although Caitlin felt the realtor was being a little dramatic, she was still wary about exploring the path alone. If there was really an abundance of lifeless trees and sliding boulders, as the woman had stressed, it would be irresponsible not to travel in pairs; just incase of an injury. So, she had waited for William to arrive before exploring the forbidden territory. Caitlin found it hard to believe that the path could be in such a condition, since the property bordered on State land. Didn’t they take better care of the land than that? Surely the realtor was exaggerating. More than likely she had been getting her kicks trying to scare the city folk. The morning sun had barely penetrated the thick foliage along the path. The trees overhead created a covering that allowed the sun to peek sparingly through them. The ground was moist from the morning dew, still thick on the ground. Caitlin’s feet sunk into soft ground, layered with compost from fallen leaves and branches. There where animal droppings along the path, which she assumed were from the deer that came out each morning to graze. Loud crunching came up behind her and she turned to see Emma casually following along. Caitlin smiled at her mare. She was such good company that Caitlin had to remind herself that this was a horse and not a human. Noticing that Emma was in full tack, Caitlin shrugged at her negligence. She had been almost in saddle for an early morning ride when William had called her in need of his breakfast. She had fully intended to return to Emma for that ride, but obviously forgot. But, Emma seemed not to mind and Caitlin would make sure to remove it as soon as they returned to the house. As they approached a small clearing, William pointed out a wooden structure that resembled a tiny house. As they made their way closer, they recognized it to be an old well house. Delighted with their discovery, Caitlin ran on ahead, with Emma not far behind. It was obvious, by the amount of decay to the wood and the plant life that had grown around the structure that the well had not been used in a long time. “Be careful Caitlin!”, William called, “You don’t know how sound that thing is. And with all this junk on the ground, there’s no telling what you’re stepping on.” Before William had finished his warning, a loud crack echoed off the hillside, the ground opened up, and Caitlin disappeared. The only sign that she had been there was the small patch of her torn shirt that had caught on the wood as she fell through. Emma reared, squealing loudly while backing up quickly to free herself from harm’s way. William raced, panic stricken, toward the gaping hole in the ground that contained his sister while Mitch froze in his tracks, completely taken aback by the scene before him. Staring in disbelief, visions of Caitlin flashed before Mitch. He saw her laughing at the fountain last spring, completely immersed in the brutally cold water as she squealed with delight. He thought of her soft pale skin as she lay beneath him, soft pillows framing her childlike face. He remembered her racing through the fields on Emma, her long curls flowing in wild abandonment. William’s bellowing cries brought Mitch back to reality and immediately into motion. He plunged forward. “Caitlin! God, I can’t see her! My God! Oh God!” William turned to Mitch frantically, “Mitch, run back and call for help! Call 911. Call 9-1-1 and hurry!” Caitlin’s mare would have been hard pressed to keep up with Mitch as he pushed his sculpted body into action while William collapsed into a ball on the ground. ~ Caitlin stroked Emma’s neck while she watched Mitch stare into the leaves of the trees. How fascinating! The trees where acting as a movie screen and there she was in full view. She saw herself in that cold fountain. She recalled fondly how he had tried to coax Mitch into the water with her, trying to convince him that it was not as cold as it really was, but he would not take the bait. Then they where making love. Mitch’s incredible body was covering hers. She always felt so small when she was in his arms. And then, oh the freedom of wings underneath her body as she and Emma raced through the fields. It gave her a feeling of wild abandonment. William’s tormented cry caught Caitlin’s attention and waves of sympathy filled her. She longed to reach out and comfort him, but her body would not obey. Suddenly very cold, she snuggled Emma for warmth as she watched her brother agonize at what had just happened. As Mitch flew past her, his muscles working at optimum. She drew a deep breath of despair as she saw her brother fall to the ground, seemingly lifeless. “Oh Emma,” she cried, “I have to help him, but I can’t move. I don’t understand it!” To her surprise, as she looked into Emma’s eye words formed in her mind and she knew they where the words of Emma. She felt waves of energy penetrating her forehead as she and Emma communicated. “You are out of your body mistress, you must return before you can help your brother. Go back to your body. I will help to pull you out. I have a rope on my saddle. Do you remember? Go back now and we will help you.” Suddenly, the world was a flash of light. Bright colors of the rainbow flew by in tiny flecks. Caitlin was reminded of driving through an intense snow storm, except the snow was colored. Pain shot throughout her rib cage as she gasped for air. ~ A small cry escaped Caitlin’s lips that causing William to raise his head. “Caitlin honey, are you okay?” He cried out as he cautiously crawled closer toward the edge of the hole. A loud crack shot out beneath him and he backed up quickly. At that point Emma was behind William, pushing his back with her nose and working her hoofs into the ground. William turned to her and she threw her head toward the rope fastened on the side of the saddle. He stared at it blindly, unable to think clearly. Emma whinnied and tossed her head more aggressively. William finally got the message and reached for the rope. He tied one end around his waist and the other onto the horn of Emma’s saddle. To William’s recollection, Emma had no training for what he was about to ask of her and he prayed for help. He prayed to the beautiful Angels his sister Nora used to tell him about when he was a little boy. “Please, if you are really there watching over my Caitlin, please help me. Please.” He fought back the tears as he buried his face in Emma’s neck who was impatiently working the ground and tossing her head. William made the sign of the cross over his chest, took a deep breath, and began to slowly feel his way down into the depths of the well. It was dark and foul smelling from an abundance of decay. The jagged edges made an easy grip for him as he inched his way down deeper. A soft breeze floated past him, carrying with it the sweet scent of honeysuckle. The refreshing difference gave him a boost of energy and optimism as he proceeded downward, calling for Caitlin as he did. “Help me,” Caitlin’s moan was barely above a whisper. The pain in her chest prevented her from drawing enough air into her lungs for her to cry out much above a whisper. She could only hope that her brother could hear her. The rank smell in the bottom of the well was making her stomach queasy. She moved her hand and it nudged the remains of a raccoon that had met its fate here, not fortunate enough to have rescue. She shuddered with repulsion when she realized what she was touching and quickly pulled back her hand. It seemed like eternity before William reached Caitlin. He growled with disgust as he kicked the decayed remains of the raccoon aside and knelt beside his sister’s body. She seemed so frail and lifeless. He cradled her head in his arms and whispered gently, “I’m here honey, I’m here. I’ll get you out.” William tried to remember how he had learned to tie a rescue noose in scouts. Damn, how was it done? He began playing with the rope, panic mounting. Suddenly a calm swept his body and his hands just began maneuvering the rope around his sister and then himself. It was as if they had a life of their own. He lifted her gently to him, wincing with the cries that escaped her pale lips, and commanded Emma to start backing up. To his surprise, Emma smoothly and steadily worked the rope, leaving little for William to do except cradle his sister as they gently where pulled to the top. Amazing, William thought, Emma is pulling us with the grace and power of two big draft horses! Again, the beautiful soothing scent of honeysuckle swept past him. The sound of his Cherokee coming up the path got clearer as Emma continued to pull William and Caitlin to safety. Leaves and mud flew as Mitch screeched the vehicle to a quick stop and leapt out from it. He rushed to help Emma during the final stages of the pull. As William and Caitlin came into sight, Mitch reached forward and grasped Caitlin beneath the arms. He lifted her high, like a tiny child, and lowered her gently to the ground. Mitch then turned to William and lifted him out with equal ease. Beads of sweat coated Mitch’s face and his breathing was labored. He had not stopped to think about what he was doing. He had just kicked his body into gear and done what needed to be done. Now, as he rested for the first time since the nightmare began, his muscles cried out from the strain. He had heard of situations where people had used super human strength and where even able to lift things like cars up in a crisis and he had just experienced that ability now. Mitch fell back onto the soft moist ground ignoring the tiny leaves and twigs that pierced through his clothing. William bent over Caitlin, nervously. Her face had a pale grayish appearance and her lips where a faint purple-blue. He feared that if she did not get help immediately, they would lose her. “Did you call for help?” He barked, a little more gruffly than intended. Mitch let the tone of William’s voice slide, since he too was tense, and answered briefly, “Yes, they should be here any minute. Should we take her to the house? I don’t know. What do you do in a situation like this? Should we move her, or wait?’ “How hard was it to get the jeep up here? Can they make it?” William looked anxiously at the muddy path. “Not easily, I was sliding in this slimy shit a lot.” Mitch shook his head. He doubted the ambulance would be able to get up the hill. They would be foolish to try. William was having the same thoughts. “Then, let’s take her back to the house. I don’t want to risk them getting stuck coming in here. Come on, help me get her into the back of the jeep. Lower the back seat, will you?” Mitch rose to his feet and did as asked. He no longer had the speed or the power in his body and it felt like he was pumping lead through his veins as he struggled with each movement. Mitch completed his task while William pulled a blanket from the back of the Jeep and spread it onto the ground, near Caitlin. “Let’s carry her in this Mitch. Maybe it will help to balance her weight and not jog her as much. Help me get her on . Here, you take that side.” They eased Caitlin onto the blanket. As the two men wrapped her tightly, their hands brushed and William grabbed Mitch by the wrist in a firm hold. Their eyes met. William’s expression of gratitude and friendship caused a lump to form in Mitch’s throat and he muttered quietly “Come on buddy, On the count of three”. William released Mitch, nodded and they carefully moved Caitlin into the back of the Cherokee .