Subj: Grammar Story -- 19
Date: 7/19/00 5:05:47 PM Central Daylight Time
From: Beverly LaCroix

"Burke, what is it? You act as if you didn't know what had happened to Maggie Evans?" Victoria said.

"Of course I know what happened to her. It's just seeing it glaring at you brings it all back," Jeremiah said, caressing Victoria's hair.

"I hope they find her, and whomever kidnapped her. The sheriff is calling of the search. They've given her up for dead." Victoria said morosely.

"I know, and I'm sorry I spoilt our moment," Jeremiah said pulling Victoria to him.

"We don't have a moment anymore, Burke. I meant it when I said I do not want to see you again. I could never love a man who violated my body against my will. It's called rape, and it's dispicable. You've ruined my life, Burke." Vicki was close to hysterics when Jeremiah interrupted her.

"I have not ruined your life. You belong to me, and you will see me again over and over. Now, shush, and come here." Jeremiah said lovingly.

"You make me so mad. You don't hear a word I say. " Vicki said, getting angry again.

"Yes, I do." Jeremiah said.

"What are you doing?" Vicki said almost panicked, watching Burke exit the car.

"I'm leaving you alone, just like you passionately requested." Jeremiah said, closing the door.

"What about Barnabas?" Vicky said.

"What about him? Go see him, and maybe he'll fix your life for you, the one I ruined in one afternoon." Jeremiah said sarcastically.

Vicky roared off, and she didn't notice he had taken the newspaper with Maggie Evans picture on the front page.

Standing on the cliffs overlooking the breadth of the churning waves of the dark, mysterious Atlantic Ocean, and dangerous jagged rocks below, Jeremiah brushed his hair from his face, as the wind blew, and whipped its way through the forlorn Widows Hill, causing his long raven hair to blow wildly, but it was an unconscious gesture, he was focussed on the picture of the woman who looked like Josette. The widow's wailing brought Jeremiah out of his reverie, and he noticed where he was, and he felt a tug on his spirit, and it was a painful sensation. Oh no, he thought, and he quickly made his way from the area that seemed to toss him to and fro between times like the churning waves below, a sea of time he thought amused, hurrying away from the cliff. He could hear the widows calling him, moaning, mournful, and with despair, "come back, Jeremiah."

He needed to get to the cave below Widow's Hill that lead to the catacombs that would take him to the Old House, and if he wished, Collinwood. Waiting for the widows mournful wailing to cease, and the wind to die down, he made his way to the cave, and headed for the entrance of the Old House. Josette's agony and suffering, and finally the relief of death in his arms, came rushing back at him in a clear vision. All of a sudden he felt the need to hurry.

Finding the door that gave him entrance to the Old House, he heard a flute playing a very familiar song. "Sarah?" He said out loud. Stop it he thought, and the sound left as soon as it came. He wandered along, thinking the place had not changed at all for almost 200 years. He was going on a hunch, and he knew he was overdramaticizing, but what it would hurt, he thought when he heard the very clear sound of a music box that was very familiar to him. It had belonged to Josette.