Who: Delia, Jericho and Lizzy What: Lizzy’s Unwell When: Assorted Dates in October 1950 & then 1920 Where: Around Zion and Wells’s Ranch Rating: Low Status: Complete
----------------------------- Monday before return to 1920 -----------------------------
The small waif of a hand raises, “Ms. Delia.” Lizzy Wells said, her forehead beaded with sweat and her dark skin looking a little pale. “Can I be excused, please?”
--
Delia adored all the children that lived at Zion, she had seen most of them grow up from infants and most of them were now old enough for school, one of the other duties that she performed in the carnival and that she enjoyed. Of course there were a few - particularly the boys - who mostly wanted to play and joke around, but young Lizzy was one of the kids who took things seriously and was a very bright pupil.
When she saw Lizzy’s hand raised and she asked to be excused, Delia walked over from one of the other students to see what the matter was. She didn’t have to get too close to see that Lizzy was not looking well at all and she gave a small smile. “Of course. Go back to your tent and get some sleep.” Hopefully whatever bug she had picked up, it wasn’t too bad.
----------------------------- Thursday before return to 1920 -----------------------------
Kieran had been by and given him some medication for her and looked her over. The young Wells girl had a fever and seemed to be exhibiting most symptoms of the flu, though the doctor wasn’t sure that’s what was really going on- it was his best lead at the time. And it seemed that other things had been on his mind. Jericho had thanked him. Ben and Willis and the rest of the 10in1 had covered for him during the day shows, bringing him at least one meal a day as he couldn’t bring himself to leave his daughters side.
Jericho sat by Lizzy’s bed, changing out the damp cloth on her forehead which seemed to help her as she shivered but was still warm to the touch. “Baby girl, it’s okay. I’m here. Ain’t goin’ anywhere.” He said softly, taking her hand in his.
--
Delia didn’t think much of it when Lizzy didn’t show up for school the day after leaving early because she was feeling unwell, sometimes a day of rest was all that the body needed, when it stretched to two days she began to grow concerned. But when Jericho didn’t show up for breakfast or lunch on Thursday she really began to worry, it was most unlike Mr Wells to miss any meal, let alone two in a row!
After the crowds had left and nearly everyone had eaten Delia heaped a tray with piles of food, and made some chicken soup especially for Lizzy, hopefully it would make her feel better. With the trays in hand she walked to the Well’s tent. “Hello, anybody home?” She asked.
--
Jericho recognized the voice and looked down at Lizzy (who was in and out of sleep) before he got up and stepped out from the partition to see the head cook in the doorway of the tent. “Ms. Delia.” He greeted, moving to her with an offer to relieve her of her load and placed it on the small table so she didn’t have to stand there with her arms full. “Evenin’, sorry Elizabeth missed school this afternoon. I was meanin’ ta call ya but-” He looked back in the direction of the sleeping girl. “Been a bit… preoccupied.”
--
Delia knew the look on Jericho’s face as soon as he stepped out of the partition, it was the look that all parents had when caring for a sick child, the tiredness and worry was obvious to her although it might go unnoticed by others. When he took the tray and placed it on the table she wiped her slightly sweaty hands on her apron before shaking her head a bit at his apology. “You don’t have to apologise Jericho, you’re doing what any good parent would do.” She had forgotten the countless times she had done it herself for her own children, all those years ago.
Looking in the same direction around his impressive frame, her expression softened. “How is she? Still got that fever?”
--
He nodded slowly, “Kieran’s given her some medicine, which is helpin, but she’s still in an out of it mostly.” Jericho moved back to the partition and looked through it at the sleeping girl. “She’s out right now.” He added in a hushed tone.
The big man looked tired, worn, as if he hadn’t slept in days. His eyes were red and dry from hours of just watching his baby suffer and not bein able to do anything to help her. Jericho tried to keep his mind from the last time he’d felt as helpless, to his Nora. His fist clenched slightly at the stray thought, he was not going to lose his little girl.
--
She nodded, glad that Kieran had come by to check on Lizzy, but sometimes there were illnesses that even he couldn’t help with and the only thing that helped was time. The fever would break eventually, it was just a matter of when and sometimes fevers could last for days. Much to the sadness of those giving care. “Sometimes… sleep can be good, just not for those sitting by watching.”
Reaching up Delia put a hand on a broad shoulder. “But you need to eat something, can’t be strong for her if you’re not strong yourself.” A hearty meal would help build up his strength, although he needed more mental strength now than physical. “I’ll sit with her if you’d like me to.” Jericho needed a break, if only for a short time.
--
Jericho looked over to the table, he hadn’t even really registered she’d brought food. “Uh, thank you kindly, Ms. Delia.” He nodded, looking back at Lizzy a moment before the woman reassured him with a look and he felt okay with walking away and eating something.
He hadn’t realized how hungry he’d been until he started to eat, and once he finished, he joined Delia next to his daughter, bringing a second chair to her other side. As he sat, he felt the girls cheek with the back of his hand as her eyes flickered open a moment and smiled at the large man. “It’s gon be okay baby girl.” He said holding her hand. Lizzy nodded, her eyes heavy as she drifted back off to sleep. Jericho sat there with Delia a long while until a moment when his eyes just grew heavy and he ended up slouching slightly in his chair as sleep took him, still watching over his daughter.
--
Delia continued to sit there, even after Jericho's eyes had slid shut and he drifted into sleep. She had told the rouse-abouts that she might be gone for several hours and they knew what to do for dinner anyway.
She ended up taking one of the children's novels off the small bookshelf and started reading it as father and daughter slept in front of her.
----------------------------- Saturday during the return to 1920 -----------------------------
They’d had a day’s notice of the time jump attempt. Word had come down that the tear down would be a lot more intensive, many of the tents themselves would be pulled down to help ease the stress of returning home. Strange as it was, it was the resident vampires that gave up their time to watch over Lizzy while everyone else had to work. Their wagon wouldn’t need any special treatment and they couldn’t help tear down anything else due to the sun. Jericho had asked in desperation and hadn’t thought they’d say yes. However, when the time came to hunker down for the teleportation, Jericho made sure to fetch his girl- the look the female vampire had when she looked at the girl… he couldn’t tell if she was being overly caring or wanted to eat her and he wasn’t inclined to find out.
He was a little surprised when Delia showed up at the car, he assumed she’d always stayed with Louis or Abby or Kristoph during the teleportations, but she was there. “Evening, Ms. Delia.” He said with a small nod as he held the young girl in his arms. Deftly, he opened the back door to the car, in the front seat two roustabouts were already seated, he’d arranged to take the backseat earlier in the day so Lizzy could lay down. “After you.” He said, letting her get in first before he slid Elizabeth in and followed, letting the girl lay across their laps.
--
Delia had been with Zion for so long that she knew the routine for tear down almost as well as she knew her own kitchen, it too having to get a partial teardown for the teleport. Hopefully they'd actually get back to 1920 this time, not that she hadn't enjoyed this glimpse into the future but she was homesick in a way.
"Good evening Jericho." She could see that Jericho was surprised that she had decided to join them for the jump. While she would probably say she was worried about Lizzy and wanted to make sure her best student was alright, in honesty she enjoyed Jericho's company just as much. The girl weighed next to nothing as she lay partially on Delia's lap, as if by instinct her hand went down to Lizzy's forehead to see if the temperature had gone down, she was still warm but not as hot as she had been. "It's going to be alright." She said softly, partly to Lizzy but also to reassure herself and Jericho that they'd get back home safely.
--
It wasn’t as late as the jumps normally were, but it was still almost midnight and Jericho was feeling the long day and hard labor in even his strong muscles. He reached down and pulled a blanket from the floor he’d stashed earlier, it was light enough to not make Lizzy’s fever worse, but still make her comfortable. Once he made sure that Lizzy was comfortable, Jericho was finally able to relax a moment. “It will be good ta be back home.” He commented with a nod. “Maybe that’s what ya need baby girl.” Jericho had convinced himself that going back to 1920 would make her better. She’d just turned ten a couple months prior and had gone most of that time without any illnesses at all. To now be so ill… so suddenly… What was Jericho to think?
--
Jericho was right in that regard, it would be good to be home after spending most of the year in the future. While she was thankful for several of the people who had joined Zion during this time and the glimpses they had gotten, she - like many others she guessed - was looking forward to it, even if she knew that the next few decades weren’t going to be the easiest. “Less traffic and pollution, I think we’re all going to be glad.” She looked down at Lizzy and then over at Jericho, offering him a small smile as everyone settled in the car, waiting for the teleportation to begin. Hopefully this time they would make it back and not land in 1930 or 40!
--
“Able to see kin again.” He greatly missed his family and longed to see them again. Jericho rested a hand on Lizzy’s knee while the other reached out and rested on Delia’s. “Been meanin’ ta thank you for all you’ve done for us of recent.” He often felt lost raising a little girl and being a single father. There had been plenty of female role models for Elizabeth, but when it came to the hard stuff, the day to day stuff, that was all him. For the first time, he didn’t feel alone in it. “I know ya din have to.”
--
Delia didn’t really have family now, there were cousins and other relatives back in England but that was it. While she didn’t want to think of it, she was happy that Jericho and Lizzy (and pretty much everyone else) would be able to communicate with their families, and she expected that there would be a lot of mail waiting for them there as well. His hand felt heavy and warm as it rested on hers but definitely not unwelcomed, it was grounding in a way and it made her feel safe. “It’s no problem at all.” She said. “I worry about all my pupils but Lizzy, she’s amongst the best I have. I’ve never seen an illness like this, although I think the worst of it has gone.” Or that was the hope at least.
Delia had been right. Mid-day the following day, Lizzy’s fever broke. She’d once again been watched over by the vampire cousins while Jericho helped put everything up. He’d made sure that when his tent was put up, he situated Lizzy’s bed and then retrieved her so she could rest in a place familiar to her. While Jericho had been helping to put up the other larger tents, one of the other kids in Zion came up to him and pulled on his trousers to get his attention. A whisper in his ear later and he was handing the remainder of his job off to another capable fella as he sprinted back to his tent, passing the cookhouse on his way.
--
The cookhouse was one of the first things that was put back up, after all everyone working hard to get Zion back together had to eat. Although most of the cooking and storage areas had remained standing, it was the serving and seating that had gotten packed up and stored for the teleport. Delia had just finished putting out another lot of chairs around one of the tables when she saw Jericho running past, she saw one of the cookhouse staff and told them she’d be back in a few minutes and briskly walked off in the direction of the Wells’s tent.
--
Lizzy was standing in their tent, looking quite confused as everything was still packed up and he’d not even put the furniture in the right place. Jericho dropped to his knees and embraced his daughter. “Baby girl.” He said, holding her. He could tell she felt cooler, considerably so.
“Pa? What’s going on?” She asked softly.
“Oh, darlin’ we’re back home… back in our time… you got real sick, but you’re okay now.” He reached up and brushed a hand through her hair, pausing a moment as a leaf pulled free. Jericho shook it off, must have gotten there in all the moving around earlier.
--
She definitely wasn’t as fast and by the time Delia had gotten to the tent and had let herself into the main area, Jericho was embracing his daughter. The fever had broken and surprisingly Lizzy was up on her feet, she couldn’t help but smile at the sight in front of her. “Oh my stars!” She said, maybe Jericho was right and all Lizzy needed was to be back in their own time.
--
Jericho turned and looked at Delia, his eyes full of happiness. Getting to his feet, he grabbed the three chairs and moved them to the center of the room, sitting Lizzy down in one as he sat in the other, leaving the third for Delia. “How are you feeling, baby girl?” He asked, taking her hands in his.
Lizzy nodded. “Confused, but okay.” She replied. “A bit heavy.” a hand slipped free of her father’s and moved to itch her hair, pulling another leaf.
“But the fevers broke, and you’re up and about.” He said, reassuring her. “So, whatever else is goin’ on, we’ll deal with.”
--
When the other two had sat down on their own chairs Delia joined them, pulling her own back a bit so she wasn’t as close to the father and daughter. She was so relieved that Lizzy had gotten over the fever and although there was that look on the girl’s face that conveyed some tiredness that still remained as well as the confusion, “You picked up a very bad fever Lizzy, but you’re looking much better already.” She noticed the leaf that came from the young Wells’s hair, it wasn’t just sitting there as if she had fallen there, she didn’t think there were any trees around in most of Zion’s grounds. Could it be?
-- “You should thank Ms. Delia.” Jericho said. “She helped a lot while you were sick… made you soup… made sure I din forget ta eat.” He smiled to the woman. He was very appreciative of her company over the previous days, one of which he’d woken after falling asleep next to the girl with a blanket over his shoulders.
Lizzy looked between the two with a smile. “Thank you Ms. Delia.” She said, beaming a little despite her fatigue. It wasn’t a secret among those who knew Lizzy- well those Lizzy tended to work with… okay Fitz and Beth, that she secretly hoped her father would find someone and often mentioned that Ms. Delia would make a good match. As she smiled a white daisy bloomed in her hair above her ear.
Jericho’s eyes narrowed at the flower. “Oh my girl.” He placed a hand over his mouth. It was clear to him then what had been happening, she wasn’t as pure elemental as he was- while his own wasn’t pure metal, his parents had both had elementals trailing back years in their bloodlines, but Nora hadn’t been one. So, Jericho had assumed she’d have already started to show signs- all of his siblings had by the time they were her age. But he’d never taken Nora into consideration, that things might have been more subtle. Or that by not helping her explore the possibility, maybe he’d been hindering her and preventing her from becoming who she was.
--
Although Delia wouldn’t admit it, she was enjoying the times that she was spending with Jericho, from him helping out with the dishes in the kitchen to more recently, making sure that the big man ate regularly as he cared for his sick daughter. Lizzy was very lucky to have a father who pretty much worshipped the ground that she walked on and would do anything for her, but she also knew their history and that they only had each other.
“It was my pleasure.” She smiled, also noticing the small daisy appear and bloom in Lizzy’s hair. Living in Zion which had exposed her to so many things that she had never seen before or expected Delia already knew what it was. Turning her head towards Jericho she said, still smiling, “A little earth… it all makes so much sense now!” Lizzy was so peaceful and focused on her father that it shouldn’t have come as a surprise, but it did.
--
“Like your memaw.” Jericho chuckled as Lizzy reached up and brushed her fingers over the flower. “And your Auntie. We can visit ‘em if you like.” Her brow furrowed. “We’re outside’a Tulsa, jus a car ride away from Lotsee.”
Lizzy grinned wide and asked, “Really?”
Jericho nodded. “Really.” The young girl practically launched at her father and wrapped her arms around his neck. The big man looked over at Delia with a smile that seemed to ask ‘can you believe this?’
--
Watching the interaction between father and daughter was heartwarming, her own sadness forgotten at that moment, she just knew that as soon as Lizzy was feeling all better that the two of them would borrow a car and visit the rest of the Wells’s family, No doubt they would be as excited to hear and see Lizzy’s exciting news. She nodded at Jericho, the warm smile never leaving her face, But she knew that she couldn’t stay there all day. “I better head back, make sure they haven’t destroyed the kitchen on me. I’ll see you both for dinner?”
--
As Delia got up and started to leave, Lizzy whispered something in Jericho’s ear. He whispered something back and this exchange happened while Delia stepped out of the tent.
A moment after the woman had cleared the opening flaps, Jericho stepped through and placed a hand on her arm to stop her. “I jus wanted ta thank you.” He said with a nod. “Look, I know it’s not my place ta ask really or anythin’.” He rubbed his neck as he spoke, sounding a bit anxious. “I know you dun really got no family round here, and you been there for Lizzy these past few days… and all you do for us ‘round here.” Jericho cleared his throat. “We was wonderin’ if you might wanna come with us ta visit kin. There’s horses ta ride and fresh country air. Someone else ta cook for ya.” He raised a hand as if ready to dismiss the idea. “An’ if ya dun wanna, no feelin’ll be hurt, I assure ya.”
--
She stopped as soon as she felt the large hand on her arm and turned to look up at Jericho as he thanked her for her help with Lizzy. Delia wanted to say that it was no problem at all, but then he continued to speak, she swore she could see a hint of a blush as he cleared his throat and asked if she wanted to come with them, that brought a big smile to her face. “I’d like that. You just let me know when.”
----------------------------- Thursday 15th October 1920 -----------------------------
Monday the three had gotten in one of the cars and headed to Lotsee. They stopped in town before heading out to the ranch. While in town Jericho was met by a mix of friendly greetings from a couple old friends, but more looks of disgust or avoidance from others who knew him and his family of ‘mixed blood’. Jericho tried not to pay it any mind and hurry with the supply purchase, as to not let Lizzy see the hate some people held. Once they arrived at the ranch however, the three were greeted with open arms.
Jericho’s family was quite large, with most of the kids living at home in the main house or on the land in one of the houses that had been built for their own growing family. His grandparents had owned a pretty large area of land, so his siblings who had stayed could live close without still being on top of one another. Of course Eden was living in the family home still and greeted his brother heartily along with Lizzy and Delia having missed them. The Well’s parents treated Delia as one of their own and were quite hospitable to their guest.
They were only planning on staying a few days, wanting to get back to the carnival before the weekend when the best money was made, but Jericho felt a sense of security with his family close by. Every night the entire family joined for supper, even those living in their own homes. Jericho’s mother cooked meals that the man had grown up with and was in heaven. Lizzy’s Aunt helped her during the day with her gifts a bit while Jericho helped his father and brothers with the cattle, occasionally catching Delia watching him from the porch with the other women. He was sure the family was asking her all sorts of questions about him, Lizzy, the carnival, herself, them… as a them.
One evening, before the sun was down, after the cattle had been brought in again, Jericho met Delia by gate as he secured it shut. “We got a bit a time ‘fore dinner. Come on, I wanna show ya sumthin.” He said, holding out a hand for hers.
--
Delia had heard quite a bit about the Well’s family from both Jericho and Lizzy, but even with the warnings that it was ‘quite a big family’, she still didn’t know what to expect. Some of the others lived in their own places on the ranch but worked together and ate together which was something that Delia hadn’t seen in many families. Usually the children grew into adults and left to make their own space in the world, so many of the Well’s seemed to be happy working the farm together and it did make her wonder why Jericho had left to join Zion even though she knew it was because he earned better money at the carnival that he often sent home.
She often sat with the Wells’s women as the men were out on the farm, a few times she wanted to get up and help out in the kitchen but was often ushered away by Jericho’s mother, telling her that she was a guest and ‘guests dun do the cookin’. There were a lot of questions thrown at her and she answered them as truthfully as she could, that she was just Lizzy’s teacher and a friend to father and daughter, nothing more.
Needing to get away from the women and their questions she walked towards where the men had been working and watched them for a while before Jericho came to meet her. “This better not be something that’ll get your sisters’ chins a wagin’.” She chuckled as she placed a hand into his, interested to see what it was he wanted to show her.
--
“‘Fraid not much’ll stop that.” He chuckled as he led her over to where the horses had been tied up, two had been left out (per Jericho’s request when his brothers took the rest back). “You good with ridin?” He asked, as he pulled the stirrup down from one of the saddles and held a hand out to her.
--
That meant that the rest of the family would be thinking they went off somewhere alone to ‘roll in the hay’ so to speak. “I hope Lizzy doesn’t listen to this… gossip.” Delia said, looking at the two horses that were still tied up and knowing what was going to be asked before Jericho even said it. “It’s been quite a while.” She said as she shook her head at the offered hand, she could probably do this with her eyes closed. Her foot in the stirrup, hand gripping the horn of the saddle before giving a little jump and with practised ease swung her other leg over until she was sitting in the saddle. “But it’s hard to forget.”
--
Lizzy knew better. He was there to help her if she needed it, and checked to make sure everything was secure one more time before he got up on his own horse and lead her around the cattle pens and along the treeline near the meadows.
“Ya know, my grandfather was the one who bought this land. Took him years to get all of it, but eventually he did. Pa always said he was the most well respected man in Lotsee.” Jericho said as they rode. “First he wanted ta grow crop, but the land just didn’t take to it. That’s when he switched to cattle. My daddy added sheep and goats when we was young.” He turned onto a small path that cut into the wooded area which seemed a bit strange in the plains of Oklahoma. “These woods weren’t here at first either. Ma ma actually helped make it happen. We was gettin’ a lot of folk tryin’ ta come onto the land after my folks got together, didn’t take kindly to a respectable white man marryin’ a mixed woman. So, she brought the trees ta help keep our business private from others.” The woods were quite dense for how small of an area they actually took up. Once inside it was quite easy to see how one could get lost if they strayed from the path- even those familiar with the area. Of course all the Well’s kids had their own ways of finding their way out if they got lost.
After a short while they came out of the wood into a clearing, there was probably another quarter acre of wood until the edge of the land. The clearing sat about ten feet across in an awkward circular shape. In the center was a tree that held a wooden fort. The fort was actually quite large, having once housed five kids- three of which were growing boys. While it wouldn’t hold all the siblings as adults, one or two of them could still fit. It was open at the top, a gap in the tree allowed for a view of the sky. There were walls for safety with a few openings to allow many ways in. Some of his nieces and nephews clearly used it themselves. Each opening and the top had a tarp that was tied off which could be let down or across in case of the rain. There was also a chest at the top with some toys, trinkets and other ‘treasures’.
He stopped at a wooden post and dismounted from the horse and tied it up before helping Delia off her horse. Jericho then went over and used the hand pump that drew water up for the trough.
--
Many years had passed since she had ridden a horse but it all came back to her as she took the reins and followed Jericho towards the woods. It was interesting to hear about how his grandfather had bought the land and tried other things before settling on cattle, although she wasn’t a real country girl she had learned enough to know that sometimes the land is just not fertile enough for crops but perfect for cattle, this was obviously one of those areas. It also made her frown a bit to hear the reason why the woods were planted, to keep the prying eyes of neighbors away.
Although she could’ve dismounted just fine, she let Jericho help anyway, smoothing down her shirt and trousers. Dresses and skirts were things that Delia refused to wear most of the time, especially working in a kitchen or out somewhere like this, trying to do anything was always hindered by the fabric, she did have a few dresses for better wear, although they had just hung up in her closet for months if not years. “This is where you’d all escape to if you got into trouble?” She asked, picturing it as the hideaway for children when they were unhappy, or had ‘wanted to run away from home’.
--
“Or wanted ta cause it.” He laughed, leading her over to the tree. “Ma set aside this area for us, and we all built ourselves a place ta play. When we weren’t workin’ of course.” Jericho easily reached up and pulled down the rope ladder that normally had required one of the kids to climb the tree to do and held it steady for Delia. “I remember Eden and me would come out here many nights an’ talk. Well, complain morealess ‘bout all the stuff with Pa. Dun get me wrong, man’s great an’ I wouldn’t give up anythin’ ‘bout growin’ up here, but at the time he pushed us pretty hard cuz we took after him. So, we had ta be perfect.” Once she was in the tree, he moved around to the other side and just lifted himself up into the larger opening. Once upon a time he’d have to scale the tree, but being tall had it’s luxuries, even if it did get him stares. “So, Eden and me, we’d come here an’ do anythin’ but mess with metal. ‘Least until we got smart.” He gestured to some of the areas of the tree that had metal animals of varying quality and space where metal had been wrapped around a branch in a growing intricacy of detail.
--
Again Delia was glad that she was wearing trousers as she climbed the rope ladder up to the platform above, sitting cross legged as Jericho pulled himself up. All the time listening silently as he spoke about the times that he had Eden had come here to talk, or complain. Even when Eden was at Zion she could see that closeness between the two brothers, it was something she had never had, then again she hadn’t been raised on a ranch where working the land was their education. She looked around at the metal animals and where the lines of metal wrapped around one of the branches. “It’s beautiful. I’m afraid that I’m just a plain old human. Sometimes I feel so out of place when I see all the different kinds of people at Zion, but it’s home to me and most of them are nice.” Of course there were a few exceptions, though she knew that everyone had bad days now and then.
--
“If anythin’ bein’ different from everyone else, makes ya just like we are.” He chuckled. She wasn’t the only human- or non-gifted human in Zion, but she was the one with the most prevalent position. “An’ ‘sides you’re foolin’ if your tellin me that what you manage ta do in the cookhouse with so little for so many isn’t a gift all it’s own.” Jericho laughed, sitting beside her, his legs out in front of him as he propped himself up on his hands. He didn’t quite fit in the old house, his feet hung out the opening when he wasn’t set right against the wall. “An’ everythin’ ya do for the kids.” He shook his head softly as he took his hat off and set it aside, his hair still pulled back from the day at work to help keep it from getting caked in grim, dust and dirt. “Anyone makes you feel bad about ‘just bein’ human’ can take it up with me.”
--
That made Delia laugh as well, maybe working the most basics of foods into delicious meals was some kind of magic that she had perfected over the years. “Cooking magic. I’ll have to remember that one.” Although she wouldn’t be giving her secrets away, even those others who helped usually just followed the recipes and Delia’s instructions. She just hoped that everything wasn’t falling apart because she had taken a few days off, they’d find that out when they got back to Zion. “Thank you. But I think most of them know that if they say anything bad that they might end up with something unexpected in their meal.” She was smirking as she looked over at Jericho sitting beside her. “And the kids… I wish they were all as serious about their studies as Lizzy, she’s a real pleasure to teach.” Delia couldn’t say it enough, Jericho had done a wonderful job raising her into a kind and wonderful girl.
--
Her being earth made sense now. She was grounded like he was, determined. But she was also graceful and into the softer creative arts than he was with her sewing. Plants and flowers versus ore and minerals he assumed. But it never surprised him to hear how dedicated she was to something. She tended to hold onto those things she enjoyed and excel at them without much prodding from him. Maybe it was because she felt she had to because he was alone in raising her. He often wondered if he were placing pressure on her without intending to.
Beyond the canopy of the trees, the sun began to set, casting a cascade of oranges and reds over the sky followed by purples and blue as the stars started to show themselves. “You don’t give yourself enough credit.” He placed a hand on her arm. “I’m not the only one who see’s it.” Jericho looked around a moment and reached up to one of the closer branches that had a crude line of metal wrapped around it. He pinched and a bit of the metal came away in his hand. He worked it a bit, as he spoke. “I dun talk much with the others in the carnival outside the 10in1, but some of the times I talked with the other parents, they all say the same thing.” He reached up and pinched off a little bit of a bronze bit of metal before he reached for her hand. “None a’us could do our jobs without Ms. Delia an’ there ain’t no one we trust more ta teach our kids their learnin’.” His hands ran over her wrist, metal finding it’s final shape as he fit it to her wrist, leaving the back open so the bracelet could be removed. In the center of the bangle was a small apple shaped hole, the bronze piece acting at the leaf.
--
Delia was enjoying the changing colors of the sky above them, it was so much different out here in the countryside, especially after so many months in cities where buildings and pollution often distorted the beauty of nature. There was nothing but the sounds of birds and rustling of leaves and undergrowth as critters darted around in the twilight searching for food or whatever it was they were after. She watched him work the metal as he spoke about what the other parents had said to him, while she knew how important her job as a teacher was, it seemed like the children were more open to saying thank you for her hard work than their parents were, to her face at least. Sometimes a bit of acknowledgement of a job well done was appreciated, she got more of that from the kitchen and hearing a ’lovely meal Ms Delia was much more common.
Her eyebrows creased together as Jericho took her arm in one of his hands. “It would be nice if they told me that themselves, but thank you.” She said before realising what he was actually doing, she looked down at the beautiful bracelet that now adorned her wrist, not too tightly but snug enough that it wouldn’t slide too much. “I… it’s beautiful.”
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“Now, you’ll have a reminder of how much you’re appreciated.” His hand lingered on hers. Her would be the first to admit the bangle was a little crude, maybe he’d make a nicer one once he had his real tools, but it honestly wasn’t a bad job. He was better at the bigger, gruffer shows of metal bending, but loved to create with it and had grown quite capable from the time he’d first tried to make a metal bird for the tree they were in. “I hope I’m not bein too forward in wonderin if maybe-” He reached up and rubbed his neck, feeling awkward again. A blonde strand fell loose from his dark hair and glistened like gold in the moonlight. “I could keep helpin you with dishes after dinner.” No, that’s not what he actually wanted to ask. “An’ maybe, if it’s not too much trouble-”
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“Thank you Jericho.” The metal was smooth against her skin and after running her other hand over it to discover that it didn’t have any sharp edges that would cut or scratch her, she didn’t at all mind if it was still a bit… crude, it was beautiful and made from the heart. Of course it was the thought that counted and she would wear it proudly, a gift from an appreciative parent… and a very handsome man. She smiled as once again he got a bit flustered trying to ask a question, although she already had an idea of what he was going to ask. “Yes.” She said, cutting him off as he stumbled over his words. “I’d like that very much.”
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He nodded. “Good… me too.”
They laid down, his calves hanging out of the opening of the fort as the two of them watched the stars in the sky quietly together. It was nice. It was comfortable. For the first time in a week, Jericho felt at peace.