“She ain’t alone, she’s got me!” George Paulsen declared, coming up to them.
Gran fixed him with a withering gaze. “Having you for company is not something I would think she would be anxious to brag on!” she snapped.
Paulsen flushed angrily. “Listen here, old woman …”
Old Bob started forward protectively, but Evelyn was too quick for him. She moved right up against George Paulsen, the index fingers of both hands aimed at him like the barrels of guns.
“Don’t you mess with me, George,” she hissed. “Don’t you even think about it. You haven’t the iron. Now, you listen to me. You can stay with Enid or not-that’s between you and her. But if I hear one more story about you striking that woman or any of her children, if I see one bruise on any of them that I don’t like the looks of, if I so much as see you raise a threatening hand against them, you will think that God must have reached down out of heaven and squashed you like a bug. Do you understand me, sir?”
George Paulsen flinched as her fingers slowly extended to touch his chest.
“And don’t you believe for one minute that you can hide anything from me, George,” she continued softly. “Even if you think I won’t find out, I will. I’ll come affer you, no matter how fast or how far you try to run from me.” She lifted her fingers away. “You remember that.”
For a moment Old Bob thought George Paulsen would strike Evelyn. But he must have seen something in her face or found something in his own heart that told him it would be a mistake. He tried to speak, failed, shot a venomous look at Enid, and stalked away.
There were a lot of people staring now. Evelyn ignored them, was oblivious of them. She turned back to Enid Scott and Bennett, gave Enid a reassuring nod and Bennett a smile. “You come by for ice cream, little one,” she invited. “Nest and I would love to have you any time. Bring your mother with you when you do.”
“Mrs. Freemark,” Enid Scott tried, but was unable to continue.
Evelyn met her gaze, her own steady and fixed. “My name is Evelyn. That’s what all my friends call me. You think on what I’ve said, Enid. I’ll be looking in on you.”
She walked back to Old Bob then, took his arm in hers, and turned him back toward the river. “Shame to waste a nice day like this standing about in the heat. Why don’t we go sit out by the river and wait for Nest.”
He stared at her. “You amaze me, Evelyn,” he told her, not bothering to hide the astonishment in his voice. “You really do.”
A faint smile played at the corners of her mouth, a hint of mischievousness that appeared and faded all at once. “Now and then, Robert,” she replied softly. “Now and then.”
CHAPTER 22
Though he had not admitted it to Nest Freemark, John Ross had met O’olish Amaneh before. It was O’olish Amaneh who had given him his limp.
“Your old life is finished, my brave knight-errant,” the Lady had whispered that night in the Fairy Glen as she held him to her, accepting the pledge of his faith, taking the measure of his strength. All about them, the fairies darted in the blackness of the water and the cool of the shadows, rippling with the sound of her voice in his ear. “Now, for as long as I deem it necessary, you belong to me. You will care for and be faithful to no other. You will forsake your home. You will forsake your family and your friends. Do you understand?”
“Yes,” he had said.
“You will be asked to sacrifice, of your body and your soul, of your heart and your mind, in this world and the world to come. Your sacrifice will be great, but it will be necessary. Do you understand?”
“Yes,” he had said once more.
“I brought you to me, John Ross. Now I send you back again. Leave this country and return to your home. It is there that you are needed to do battle in my service. I am the light and the way, the road you must travel and the life you must lead. Go now, and be at peace.”