Coming Home to Aurelius

Standing in front of the huge sprawling ranch, twenty two years old Alexis quaked.
She'd wanted to come back here for years, but she'd never wanted to come under such circumstances.
Stumbling slightly as her heel snagged in the gravel, she walked up to the main door and knocked.
The door swung open almost immediately as the housekeeper, Bertha flung herself into Alexis's slight arms crying stormily.
"Control yourself woman! You'll knock the poor child down!" came a deep voice as Bertha was pulled of Alexis. She looked up to see an older, slightly wearier ranch foreman, Joe, who was also Bertha's husband.
He gently tugged Alexis into the house as Bertha, still sniffling led her to the huge living room, "You might want to go freshen up child, the visitors'll start coming in a while."
Alexis had still not spoken a word, locked in her own misery. She carried one of her bags to her old room, which she saw had been readied for her arrival and headed for the shower.
She stood under the stream of hot water, immobile as the tears finally came, mingling with the water. She'd been left her uncle's ranch, Aurelius.
Because he was dead.
Dead.
Her body started trembling despite the hot water as she sank to the floor. She sat like that till the water turned cold when she pulled herself up.
Much as she wanted to be alone, she had a duty to her uncle, to Bertha, Joe, the ranch hands.
She sifted through her bag and pulled out a black sheath dress. The only black clothing in her bag.
But she needed something darker.
Something that would drown out the light. Slipping into the dress, she dragged a comb through her wet red hair and walked down to the living room barefeet.
Bertha had been right. The visitors had already started to arrive. Mrs. Whitter, Mrs.Lane and her old friend Anna Lane (Mrs. Lane’s daughter) were waiting for her.
The moment they saw her, their eyes softened. Mrs. Whitter, who was the leading lady of the close knit society, stood up and embraced her, "It’s been long since we saw you Alexis, but your letters and gifts have been so constant that everyone considers you family. Its terribly sad that you had to come under such circumstances."
Alexis nodded, thankful that none of her neighbors were falsely emotive.
What they said they meant.
Anna stood up to hug Alexis. Anna was the first close friend the reclusive Alexis had ever made, and even after Alexis had been forced to stop coming, Anna had remained the closest friend she'd ever had.
Neither said a word.
They both knew they'd talk.
There was time enough for that.
Mrs. Lane, who was a huge woman with a gay nature, was subdued but greeted her warmly, "Its so good to see you darling. But your uncle's death isn't the time or the reason we'd have chosen for your homecoming."
Alexis nodded, her alabaster skin, paler due to grief, her hazel eyes devoid of any warmth or feeling.
Thankfully, these women weren't the kind to make inane small talk to intrude upon one's grief. With brief instructions to take care of herself and that they'd be back in the morning to take her to the funeral service, they left. Alexis sat staring at the crystal bowl on the coffee table that held a single perfect lilly.
She cried.

Half an hour later, Bertha entered with guests, three of the owners of the neighboring ranches to find Alexis asleep with tear tracks on her cheeks.
Before the men could beat a retreat, she woke and offered them a brave smile, "Please, have a seat. I was a little tired so I dozed off." She knew the two older men by sight; they'd been her Uncle's best friends, John Carmichael and William Lane.
The last, a strikingly handsome man, well over 6 feet tall with black hair and blue eyes followed them with a hostile expression on his face.
The two older men who knew her as a child and had over the years maintained steady correspondence with the slip of a girl hugged her and offered words of condolence.
John turned to introduce Alexis to the young man, "Alexis this is my son Oscar. He was away in school the last time you visited."
Alexis extended her hand, Oscar took it in his briefly and let go as if she were contaminated.
William spoke, "When are your parents arriving?"
Alexis sat and poured out tea as she answered," They’re stuck in Australia. Apparently, there was a terror alert and they suspected one of the passenger's was suspicious so the flight was grounded indefinitely. They switched flights. They should be here by night if all goes well."
John cleared his throat, "It must be hard for you and your family to come back here under such circumstances."
Alexis's face turned to stone, "It was an accident. No one's fault. Mom was scared because Grandpa had died when he fell of his horse. My fall, was an accident. She needn't have kept me away for so long."
William cut in, "Don't blame your mother darling. Can you imagine how hard it must have been for her?"
Alexis smiled sadly, "I don't blame her."
For the first time since he'd entered the room, Oscar spoke in a deadly voice," And what an occasion you chose to come back." Alexis froze at his tone while John sent his son a warning look.
But Oscar continued heedless, "You never visited him, the only time he saw you was when he went to London to visit. You didn't give a damn. And you come now. And stake claim to his land without turning a hair. Just because you made a fortune of his death. How can you have been so heartless when he loved you so much?"
"That's enough Oscar. Don't make judgments about things you don't know anything about." shouted John at his glowering son.

But Alexis was backing away.
Her eyes grew wide with terror.
With a soft cry she ran out of the door and into the open where it rained.
She ran till she reached the low hill, which was the last reach of the home ground.
Beyond that, it was a wild ranch land.
Drenched to the skin, she sat there shivering, her back against an old wooden shed. For how long she didn't know. They wouldn't search for her here. She knew that much. In that, there was comfort.
A faint sound of a flute reached her ears.
It was a familiar sound.
A sound she'd loved as a child.
It was the sound of the flute that she'd gifted to Golden Falcon, a native Indian, who'd worked on this land as long as she remembered. He was remote, but he was well liked.
He'd made that tune for Alexis. As if on queue, he arrived on horse back. It was amazing how silent and obedient the horse was.
Sliding onto the grass next to her, the old man said in a gravely voice, "You have come. And you are blaming yourself."
That's how it had always been. You didn't waste time on introduction or anything.
"He was on his way to the airport so he could see me. He died because of me. If I hadn't fallen off that damn horse all those years back, mom wouldn't have insisted that Uncle should visit us in England. He wouldn't have been in that car day before. He wouldn't have died. And I didn't visit. Initially I was too young to protest, but then it became a habit. I'm twenty one, i could have come. But I was so afraid that mom would fall ill from her panic attacks again."
GF (Short for Golden Falcon) heard her out and then spoke, "You are being foolish. You cannot blame yourself for something that was destined. Don't mourn Alexis, celebrate a life well lived. It doesn't bode well to wallow in one's misery."
Alexis moaned, "I stayed away all these years and now I'm here to claim his property."
GF cut in harshly, "Those are not your words or your ideas. Who said this to you?" Alexis shook her head, "No one important."
"Then you should be getting back home. You'll be ill." Alexis nodded and scrambled to her feet, "I'll see you tomorrow" and unsteadily started walking towards the house.

"You can come out now." said Gf in the general direction of the shed. Oscar Carmichael stepped out, "You knew I was there."
GF nodded, "Why else did I let her sit and speak instead of rushing her back to the house. You disappoint me. But I still have hope that you know what to do."
With that, he rode away into the night.
Cursing himself, Oscar hurried down to the house and nearly tripped over something on the ground.
Bending down her found himself staring into Alexis's pale face.
Acting swiftly, he picked her up and ran to the house as fast as he could.
The girl couldn't weigh more than 100 pounds but he couldn't drag her like a sack of feed. Inside he was greeted by dismayed and frantic cries from Bertha, Joe, the house maids and his own father and other ranch hands who'd been called in to search for Alexis. They all looked at him as if he'd committed some felony.
To some extent this was true, but the look on his father's face cut him to the core.
By now, he'd carried Alexis to her room and left Bertha and others to strip her of her wet clothes and warm her.
Reaching the drawing room, he heard his father speaking to someone. Upon entering, he found an elderly distinguished couple. The lady was slight with delicate features and auburn hair that had greyed a little.
Her husband was nearly as tall as him, had grey eyes and black hair with generous grey.
They had to be the Knightlys, Alexis's parents.
His father was spared the task of introducing his errant son to the visitors, when a drained Alexis appeared at his shoulder in a warm dressing gown and rushed clumsily to her parents.
Her mother, Patricia, said," Sweetie, John said you were ill, why're you out of your bed?"
Hugging her father, Alexis spoke, "Nothing happened mom, I just sort of panicked and blundered into the rain. I'm just a little cold nothing else."
Throwing a grim look at his son, John said, "We'll get going now. You folks have had a rough time, let us know if we can be of any help." Peyton, Alexis's father shook his hand warmly and said, "You've already done enough. Organizing the funeral. . . . ." Shaking away all that John walked out with his son, whose eyes Alexis noticed didn't look all that harsh anymore.

Later that night Alexis tossed in her bed sleeplessly. She was still feeling a little weak. As she stood up to fetch a glass of water from her dresser, she heard sobs from her parent's room thorough the connecting door. "It's all my fault. Its all my fault. I shouldn't have kept her away from here. But I couldn't shake off the fear. . . . . ."
Alexis had heard enough. She knocked on her parent’s room and within minutes her father let her in.
She ran to her mother and cried holding her, "It was no one's fault." Peyton could do little but to hold his two most loved ones in his embrace.
He'd loved his brother in law like he would have his own older brother. His death had hit him hard. But he had to be strong, because both the women were fighting bigger demons than just Alan's death. It was in that attitude that they all fell asleep.
Huddled in the bed with Alexis in the middle holding each parents hand like they used to when Alexis was younger and used to creep into her parent's room after a nightmare.
Only if this could be a nightmare.

The service had ended and the entire congregation had headed over to the ranch for lunch.
Alexis had asked to be allowed to stay back. Her eyes clouded over with tears. Her heels dug into the soft ground.
She couldn't bring herself to read the inscription on the tombstone. She sank down to her knees letting the dam break, clutching the grass next to the freshly dug earth. Sobs wracked her slight frame as she let the misery pour out.
Her tears fell onto the loose earth over the grave seeping perhaps to where her uncle lay.
Alexis let out a startled gasp as a warm hand rested on her shoulder. Getting up, she turned to look into a starched shirt front. Raising her eyes, she found herself staring into the eyes of Oscar Carmichael. Tensing, she turned and started walking away, not certain that she'd be able to remain civil if she stayed in his presence.
"Miss. Knightly We need to talk."
Gnashing her teeth together, Alexis spun on her mud caked heel, her warm eyes flashing, a vision of feminine indignation, "No. I'll do the talking because you said more than enough last night. You are an insensitive, short sighted, and presumptuous oaf. I don't ever want to see you again. That's all."
With a fake smile, she walked away as fast as she could and peeled away in her car, leaving Oscar in a daze.
Oscar stood stewing.
No one had ever spoken to him in such a dismissive manner. He didn't know whether to be angry or amazed. He was just going to concentrate on being apologetic for now.
He'd been a complete bastard yesterday. But he'd come across so many capricious women that he'd immediately put Alexis into their category.
But that was in no way justification enough for what he'd said. He cringed as he recalled his venomous words and what he'd subsequently heard passing between GF and Alexis.
He'd also been surprised that Alexis hadn't told anyone about his behavior, because her parents were very nice to him.
But his own father had reported his misdeeds to his mother who'd been up in arms. Consequently several lady friends were informed and they'd all had words of advice for him.
The usually calm and genteel women of the land could make the bravest man cower when they put their mind to it.
Backing out and driving down to Aurelius, a small smile played on his handsome lips as he remembered how alluring Alexis had looked when she'd spun around to face him.
He finally believed the cliché that women did look beautiful when they were angry.
With a grim laugh, Oscar shook his head to clear these thoughts. The turn off to the ranch was coming up. There was work to be done.

Back at the ranch, Alexis was encountering a wake of a different kind. Everyone was reminiscising about the good old times they'd had with Alan Whitford.
Alexis's mother finished telling a funny story about when Alan had tied her to a pole using the belt of her dress.
She laughed with the other as she finished the story and then looked shocked that she'd laughed at her brother's wake. Mrs. Whitter, immediately put a hand on her knee and said, "In this land, we don't believe in shedding tears for people like Alan. They led lives that are to be celebrated, the laughter they'd liked to be spread. Don't shed tears for him honey. He'd had a good life. Let’s rejoice in that."
Alexis, standing in a corner with Anna felt infinitely comforted by these words.
Anna, who noticed the calm that dawned on her friend's face, squeezed her hand.
Alexis turned, "Even if we haven't met in the past years, you still know me inside out don't you?"
Anna smiled, "Your letters were more descriptive of your feelings than you yourself are. You hide too much."
Alexis let her body sag as she closed her eyes and listened to the low soothing hum of voices.
She was lost in her thoughts when a shadow fell across her, opening her eyes, she found Oscar staring down at her with great tenderness. Ignore the look, she instructed herself.
Her jaw hardened and she turned and quickly went and sat with Mrs. Whitter where she knew he wouldn't come.
Even as the older ladies fussed over her apparent thinness and discussed how much they'd liked the various gifts she'd sent them over the years, she could feel a pair of eyes trained on her every move.
It made her jittery.
Soon Alexis was surrounded by a group of old friends, acquaintances. Within a span of 15 minutes, she had her entire week planned out for her.
Anna thankfully stayed by her side, as if instinctively knowing that emotionally, Alexis was still very week. Although she allowed herself to be steered to meet people, she carefully avoided going anywhere near where Oscar was.

When the last of the guests had left, Anna, promised she'd stay over once her term as a part time journalist in Florida ended. She'd to head back this evening for two more weeks.
Alexis found her mother curled up on the bed with her father stroking her hair.
He beckoned her into the room, indicating that she should be silent. Tip toeing in, she slowly sank into the bed and put her own head on her father's other knee.
Peyton spoke softly, "Your mother had another panic attack when the guests left. I called her doctor. He said it’s the proximity to all the memories. He wants me to take her on a holiday somewhere. I was thinking about opening the house in Tuscany. Your mother agreed, though a little reluctantly."
Winny shifted her weight slightly and looked up at her father's face that suddenly looked older because of all the strain.
She knew that her father and her Uncle had been as good as blood brothers.
She smiled up at him, "Mom and I've really added to your grief haven't we. I think it’s a good idea dad. She needs out. It'll do her good." Peyton smiled down at his only child. He used to say that God had given him two angels, "What about you sweetie? Don't you need out?" Alexis thought for a moment, "I want to stay here for a while. Mom and I spoke about it this morning. We ironed out all that we’ve been skipping around for so long. It'll be good for me to get away from all the publicity that followed the book release."
Peyton laughed silently, "You have to face the consequences of writing a good book. But yes, this will good for you. Do you want some essentials moved over here?"
Alan's face popped up in my mind and Alexis said, "I want all my stuff from New York moved here."
Peyton looked closely into his baby's face, what he saw reassured him and he nodded.
Kissing her mother's forehead and her father's palm, Alexis sidled off the bed and into her room.

Standing at the window in her room, Winny looked at the fields stretching out endlessly ahead of her. She reminded herself of what Mrs. Whitter had said, to be happy because her Uncle had had a full life.
But his death was so unnecessary.
She fought the tears that threatened again.
Changing into an oversized t-shirt, she slipped into the bed.
She was asleep before her head hit the pillows, every cell in her body was exhausted.

Alexis was walking down a narrow path.
She could hear a car's engine whirring ahead of her. It seemed close, but no longer how fast she walked, it never came into view.
The road was lined by tall tropical trees and there were hedges of wildflowers that she didn't recognize.
The whirring grew louder.
Fuelled, Alexis broke into a run.
Somehow she seemed to be moving in the same spot. T
he scenery wasn't changing, but the sound of the car was roaring in her ears, hurting her head.
It seemed as if the road was a treadmill.
She was sweating by now.
Suddenly the invisible chains broke and she shot forward.
Rounding around the bend, she'd just seen the back of a car, when there was an almighty crash and she was blinded by a powerful flash of light as she fell to the ground, scraping her hands and knees, screams resounding in her ears.

Alexis woke with a start, drenched in cold sweat.
It was just a dream. But she recognized the car. It'd been her uncle's. Dragging her weary body to the bathroom, she tried to banish the screams from her head.
Bathed and slightly refreshed, she dressed in a pair of ratty old jeans and a black sweatshirt.
Tying her hair in a messy ponytail she headed down to the drawing room. Her parents were there with Oscar Carmichael.
Patricia was saying, "She intends to stay here, so its very nice of you to offer to help."
Alexis's temper flared as she entered the room with a smile on her face merely for her parent's sake. "Morning mom,dad! Aren't you guys at least going to have breakfast."
Peyton looked at his daughter, "Alex, you've met Oscar? He came here to enquire after you since you were so ill the other night." Casting a poisonous look that her parents missed in their preoccupation with their final check before departure, Alexis replied, "Isn't that out of character? Mom are you sure you won't eat breakfast?"
Patricia put a hand on her daughter's cheek," We’re sure honey." Each parent fussed and cosseted her before they finally drove off for the airport.
Alexis returned to the house only to find that Oscar hadn't left.
Bertha was standing with a scared expression on her face as if fearing what Alexis would say or do.
Deep breath, she reminded herself, deep breath.
"Mr. Carmichael, thank you for enquiring after my health. As you see, I'm perfectly fine, all limbs functioning. The door's that way. Or Bertha can show you out. Goodday."
And she flounced off in high dudgeon.
The nerve of the man, first he insults her, and then he has the guts to stand there to get her to talk to him.
Alexis was stewing in the study when Joe came in with a knock on the door, "Alex, your uncle's lawyer Mr. Harris is here to discuss your uncles will, some of the ranch hands wish to speak with you and Mr. Oscar refused to leave." Sighing deeply, Alexis replied, "Send Mr. Harris in and then I'll talk to the boys."

Having signed the deeds of the house, Alexis sat back as Mr. Harris cleared his throat, "Ms. Knightly, while your uncle left you all his earthly possessions, he left a portion of his money to the ranch hands. Out of his total liquid assets of 35million dollars, he bequeathed 5 million to his ranch hands and one million to Bertha and Joe. "
Alexis nodded, "I know. So what's the glitch."
Mr. Harris smiled, "Well as a lawyer I'm supposed to give you the chance to contest the gift."
A horrified look dawned on Alexis's face, "I'm not going to challenge Uncle's will. I don't want the money. And Uncle Alan had very dedicated workers, they deserve it."
Mr. Harris smiled, "I was hoping you'd say that. And lastly, this letter was left to me by your uncle, to be given to you in case of his death. I'll leave you to pursue it alone."
Taking the envelop with trembling hands, Alexis thanked the old lawyer politely.

Outside meanwhile, 5 ranch hands stood shamefaced.
They'd all thought she was some city girl trying to take away their due.
They didn't case bout themselves, but the older men who'd worked the land since her uncle's time deserved it.
But from the conversation they'd overheard, they'd been wrong, the older rancher's had been correct in their assumption of her, Alexis, was almost a mirror image of her Uncle.
Alexis got up to call the ranch hands in, only to find a deserted hall. Padding down to the kitchen, she found Joe,-Where're the boys! Thought they wanted to talk.
With a pacific expression, Joe replied, "Work's started. They probably wanted to meet the new mistress. You'll see them in the evening." Suddenly, a thought popped into her head, "Bertha, if it’s not too much trouble, perhaps we could law out dinner in the garden today. You know, then I could meet the men."
Smiling down at her, for her initiative, even when she was so frail, Bertha assured her that she'd take care of it and shooed her out with instructions to rest.

Peeking into the drawing room on her way upstairs, she was glad to find it empty.
Before she turned away, she found a note propped against the porcelain vase.
She didn't want to read anything that monster had left her.
But curiosity won as she hurried over to the table and snatched up the letter. It read-Don't try to avoid me. We will talk soon. M.C.
Alexis trembled with ire.
The nerve of that man. Instead of apology she found a hard nosed bossy note.
She chuckled ironically that he hadn't mentioned a day, date, time and venue.
Pig.
Back in her room, Alexis noticed the letter that the lawyer had given her, still clutched in her hand.
On top, was simply written, To Alexis.
She put the letter into her bag, to scared to open it.
To open it was to confirm he was dead. And she didn't want to do that.
She couldn't bury the man who'd been a friend, a mentor, her closest relative.
Her only family apart from her parents.
Trembling slightly she sank into the bed. Curling up into a ball, she fell asleep weeping as the pain pierced her heart.
_____________________________________

You guys rock. The comments on the epilogue made me soooooooo happy I nearly wept like Winny did when she saw the house. That story's grown on me. I typed in Winny instead of Alexis a few times!

As usual, please leave comments! And since I twist the story as I write please keep telling me what you want to read!

Thanks!