Chapter 3
The smell of popcorn brought Scamp from his bed in the study. He sniffed his way around the room exploring each nook and cranny. He bounded up and down the stairs several times. Finally he plopped himself down the middle of the round rug. Laura laughed at him as she held another bowl for Tiffany, “It looks like Scampy’s found his spot.”
Barbara giggled at the dog, “Yeah, right in Mom’s way.”
Julie shook her head and laughed, “Nah, I can work around this mutt. We still have to make the wreaths, and the lights to hang.”
Laura pictured the tinsel, lights and wreaths hanging on the balcony rail. She could see all of them busy decorating it as her dad and uncle shouted encouragement. She remembered the night that she, Julie, and Tiffany had carved their initials on the fireplace mantle. Hank had made a pattern from the originals so he could copy them. Hank’s craftsmanship and love for his work showed throughout the lodge but especially in the family parlor.
Laura thought about Hank’s stubborn insistence on doing it like the original craftsmen. Now has she watched everyone having fun, she was glad that he didn’t listen to her.
She saw Julie sneaking some popcorn and giggled. Some things had changed in their lives but the three of them remained The Three Cavaliers. Despite all their recent troubles they hadn’t lost any of their love of life. They held firm to their belief in its magic. Laura’s rough book tour, Julie’s marriage breaking up, Tiffany’s new agency none of it had dampened their spirit. As long as they had each other they could take on any storm.
Tiffany looked up at everyone, she saw Barbara and Debbie eating some popcorn, “All right who’s been eating more than they’ve strung?”
That brought Laura out of her daydreaming. One by one they sheepishly raised their hands. Tiffany’s laughter filled the room, “Good that’s the way it’s supposed to be done.” She quipped.
Debbie ran her hand over the initials on the mantle, “Mom, were the three of you really rambunctious has Grandma says?”
Julie looked at her daughters and smiled, “No comment.”
Tiffany’s eyes sparkled, “Read Laura’s next novel and find out.”
Julie looked at her sister in surprise, “Laurie, you’re not going to write about us?”
“Yup, and I’m telling all I know.” Laura giggled,
Julie waved her finger at Laura, “And just how do you expect me to keep these two in line, once they read about our escapades.”
Barbara giggled and petted her mother on the shoulder, “You won’t have to worry about that Mom.”
Debbie laughed at them, “Babs, speak for yourself!”
Laura shook her head, “It’s based on us but it will be totally fiction.
Tiffany opened the popper, “Here’s another batch.”
Laura looked at the grandfather clock, “We can finish this tonight. It’s time to get the horses hitched up to the sleigh. Debbie, do you want to help?”
Debbie jumped up, “You bet I do!”
Barbara stood up, “We’ll put up the popcorn and grab some quilts.”
Julie looked at her little girls and saw herself and Laura. She felt better than she had in a long time but she wanted only one thing for Christmas and it would take a miracle for that. She stood up and stretched, “Bab’s you and Tiffy get the quilts, I’ll fix a thermos of hot coco.”
Laura and Debbie stopped to look at the sleigh which had been pulled out of the barn. Debbie ran her hands over the carvings and smooth sides. The sleigh was large with two long seats painted red and light blue. The seats were covered in rich black leather. The body of the sleigh was mounted on two large brass runners that curved into a spiral in the back. Debbie had only seen pictures of it in the family albums.
“Oh Aunt Laurie, Hank did a beautiful job.” Debbie said.
“Deb, the man is amazing. I don’t think the word impossible is in his vocabulary. “Laura agreed.
Debbie looked around at the lodge and its surroundings, “I can believe that, especially seeing what he’s done to this place.”
Laura smiled and hugged her niece, “Well you’ve only seen it when it was asleep, now it’s wide awake.”
Debbie began to cry, “Until today I had a hard time believing Mom’s stories.”
“Deb, this place is our legacy. Your Grandpa and Uncle Mike passed it to us and one day it will pass to you and your cousins.” Laura said.
“I wish I could remember them. I was just a baby when they passed on. I can feel their spirits all over this place but I would have like to have known them. They sound like special men, unlike my dad.” Debbie said.
Laura held tightly to her niece, “They were special at least in our eyes. I know for a fact your dad misses all of you. Your dad knows that he was wrong and wants to come home but he’s afraid that you don’t want him back.”
Debbie broke away from Laura with tears in her eyes, “That is stupid! Are all men that dumb?”
“Debbie, do you really want him back?” Laura asked.
Debbie leaned back against the sleigh, “There are times when I hate him and mom for what they’ve done to us. There are other times when I want us to all be together again. I know life isn’t fair but seeing Mom staring at his picture knowing she wants him to come back home, hurts like heck. I want my Dad too and so does Babs.”
Laura took Debbie back into her arms, “You don’t hate them. Deb, what you felt was just all of that hurt coming out of your hard shell. You may get your wish this Christmas. I sent Ric an invitation and this morning before Tiffy woke up and your mom called, I got a telegram from him and he’s coming. You can tell Bab’s but not your mom or Tiffy. I want this to be our little secret.”
Debbie starting crying again but this time with tears of joy, “Aunt Laurie, Hank isn’t only one up here that can work miracles.”
Laura smiled, “Well I like to think it’s the love that the three of you have for each other that helped.”
“Come on and get Lightfoot and Midnight hitched to this sleigh!” Debbie said.
As they enter the barn the horses snorted and whinnied. Lightfoot was a silver colored Clydesdale while Midnight was a beautiful black Morgan. They were work horses just like Hank’s Morgan horses and they were ready to get out of the barn. They reared excitedly has Laura took the harnesses of their hooks.
“Easy Gals, looks like you’re ready for some exercise.” Laura said as she took an apple from her pocket.
Laura slung the harnesses over her shoulders and opened the stalls. The horses trotted out of the barn and stopped in front of the sleigh. Laura took a pocket knife from her pocket and cut an apple in half. She handed the apple halves to Debbie and smiled, “Here’s the secret to feeding an apple to a horse. Hold them in the palm of your hand with your fingers curved downward.”
The two horses started chewing on the apples getting juice all over Debbie’s fingers and palms. Debbie watched closely as Laura placed the harnesses over the horses’ necks. She tightened the bits and fed the lines back to the sleigh. The harnesses were lined with polished brass sleigh bells. As Laura tightened the belly straps, the horses shook their heads and whinnied. The jingling sleigh bells echoed brightly off the buildings. Debbie and Laura stepped back for a good look.
“It looks like an old Currier and Ives painting.” Debbie said.
Laura chucked, “It’s like riding a bicycle. Once you learn how to do it you never forget how it’s done. I wonder what’s keeping everyone.”
“Mom and Tiffy are making sure they have everything.” Barbara said as she joined them.
“Come on Babs let’s get the saws and cutters so we can gather the stuff to make the wreaths.” Debbie said.
“A good idea, I know a good holly grove. Just wait until you see The Fairy’s Meadow.” Laura said.
Barbara looked up at the sky, “You think the weather will hold for another day?”
Laura sniffed the air, “Nope. That Northeaster will be here later today.”
Barbara sighed, “That was my guess too. It‘s going to be a monster one too.”
Debbie and Barbara went into the tool shed as Laura closed the barn door. She could feel the air getting colder but her experience told her that they still had plenty of time before the snow started to fall again. She spotted Julie and Tiffany coming out of the lodge and smiled, “Well, you two have something in mind for me but Debbie, Babs and I will have something for you two.”
Barbara placed the saws in the back of the sleigh and ran to Laura and gave her a tight hug, “Thanks Aunt Laurie.” She whispered.
“Well, and what was that hug for?” Tiffany asked.
“Oh that was for her just being Aunt Laurie.” Barbara said.
Tiffany laughed, “Well once you been victimized by one of our pranks you’ll feel like killing her.”
Tiffany set the quilts in the sleigh, “Laurie, where did you find all of Mom’s and Aunt Mary’s patchwork quilts?”
Laura laughed and pointed that the top of the lodge, “They were up in an old cedar chest in the attic. I was surprised that they were in excellent condition. I guess our moms were right. Cedar does preserve everything.”
“Cousin Tiffy, they are really beautiful. It’s a shame to use them.” Debbie said.
Julie rolled her eyes, “Don’t let your grandma hear you say that!”
Tiffany shook her head, “Or your grand-auntie either!”
Laura giggled, “Oh I can hear Aunt Peg now. Lands sake, we didn’t spend all that time quilting just to make look pretties! Your grandma and grand-auntie are old fashion New Englanders.”
Tiffany nodded, “They are practical, common sensed and good hostesses.”
They wrapped themselves up in the quilts. When everyone was ready Laura gently popped the reins against the horses’ backs. The horses started trotting down the snow-covered trail.
They hadn’t gone far when Debbie and Barbara started an off key version of the 12 Days of Christmas. The others quickly joined in each taking a different day.
As the sleigh traveled down the path, they occasionally saw deer feeding in the distance. Snow Birds flew out of their path. Occasionally snow dropped off an over head branch covering them with a light dusting of snow. From the way they trotted Laura could tell that the horses were enjoying the trip as much as they were.
“Lightfoot and Midnight are very happy.” Barbara said.
Tiffany nodded, “They’re work horses, Babs. They’re not happy just staying in the barn.”
“I feel the same way about School.” Barbara replied.
Debbie started singing Jingle bells. Soon everyone was singing it with gusto. On the last chorus they were interrupted by the honking of a wild goose.
Julie laughed, “Everyone’s a critic!”
Laura started chuckling, “Maybe he just wanted to join in the fun.”
Tiffany doubled over in laugher, “It wouldn’t have been so bad, except he was the only one on key.”
They all burst out laughing. At last they approached a curve in the trail. As the sleigh rounded the curve, the meadow slowly came into view. Laura stopped the sleigh and tied the straps. The meadow was spread out majestically before them. The snow glistened in the afternoon sunlight. The meadow seemed to cast an enchanted spell over them.
Debbie looked awestruck at the meadow, “No wonder it’s called The Fairy’s Meadow. If I was a fairy, this is the place I would make my home.”
Barbara nodded her head in agreement, “This is a magical place.”
Tiffany broke off some pine branches and placed them at the entrance of the meadow.
Barbara looked at her second cousin, “What is that far?”
“That’s to let the fairy queen know that we’ve come in peace.” Tiffany explained.
Laura nodded, “Now we must wait for her permission to enter the meadow.”
The wind picked up and as the tree limbs danced in it they heard a musical sound. Laura nodded to the others, “We have her permission.”
Debbie walked forward slowly and wondered “What really caused that sound?”
Debbie thought she heard impish laughter echoing across the meadow.
As they slowly walked deeper into the meadow, the enchantment became stronger. Tiffany took Debbie’s and Julie’s hand. Laura and Barbara joined with them to form a circle. Tiffany looked at her cousin, “Laura, you speak Fairlian.”
Laura began to sing in a language that musical. Tiffany and Julie joined her singing in English.
“We come in peace this Christmas time,”
“To gather the sacred Yule holly, mistletoe and pine,”
“To fashion mystic circles of love,”
“In honor of the holy child from above,”
“Whose love brings men and fairies from afar,”
“To this sacred place under his holy star,”
"Though we have journeyed far and wide;"
"Through the raging storms from all sides;"
"On this day we honor haven's great gift;"
"In this most sacred place our spirits lift;"
"Come and join our sacred song;"
"Free from all care and wrong;"
“That was beautiful and I could hear them singing with us.” Debbie said.
Something about the meadow made them all want to believe in fairies, elves, dwarfs and other mystical creatures. The meadow seemed to be a place where trouble was banned. They felt safe and protected within it boundaries.
Laura brought out the tools and divided them out. Tiffany took a pair of cutters from Laura, “Julie and I will gather some mistletoe down by the creek.”
Debbie looked at Laura, “Aunt Laurie, Babs and I will go with you.”
Laura smiled at her nieces, “Ok we meet back here. I want everyone to be careful.”
Laura knew that Tiffany and Julie were up to something but being an old prankster she decided to just wait and see what would happen. When they reached a holly grove, she showed the girls how to cut it without losing many of the berries. She cut some pine boughs and tied them together. Barbara saw some mistletoe growing on a low maple branch. She carefully cut it off. She saw more near by and walked over and cut it too.
“I see that you girls are doing just fine with your cutting. Just cut no more than we need. Babs, you’re doing it just right by cutting just the mistletoe.” Laura said,
Debbie tied some holly boughs together and looked at her aunt, “Aunt Laurie, that song was beautiful. Did you write it?”
Laura shook her head, “No, your Grandpa did. The Fairlian words I sang are actually Gaelic. I found a Gaelic dictionary and translated dad’s words.”
Debbie smiled, “You did a good job. How did you learn to pronounce the words?”
Laura tied up a group of Mistletoe limbs together, “My tutor at the time, Caitlin O`Toole. She taught me to speak it. It wasn’t easy but she was patient and encouraged me the whole time.”
Debbie hummed the fairy tune as she continued cutting. Though she had a hard practical nature, she sensed the unseen presences that made the meadow their home.
Barbara, however, found it hard to believe in magic and enchantments. But she too sensed that the meadow was a special place. Whether it was the work of impish forest spirits or just being way from Logan Harbor, she didn’t know.
She looked at her Aunt, “Aunt Laurie, are the three of you Wiccans?”
Laura laughed, “No, we’re not involved in Wicca. We do believe in magic that is found everyone’s life. Do I believe in The Fairy Queen? I was raised on this mountain and this meadow it is the only place I’ve never been hurt at. Someone was protecting me and I believe it was her majesty.”
“I can believe that it was God or your guardian angel but not a fairy. Maybe I’ve lost my childhood imagination.”
Debbie looked at her sister, “I’m just two years older than you. When it comes to being practical well, I inherited my common sense from Grandma Still when I was entering the meadow I heard impish laughter. I can believe in the spirits of the forest. Elves, spites, and fairies must love this mountain for some reason. I think it’s because they are welcomed here. They must have instilled it in Mom, Aunt Tiffy and Aunt Laura, the belief in life’s magic. They must have also played a part in making Aunt Laura love this place so much that she practically owns the whole mountain.”
Laura hugged Barbara, “Whatever you believe about this place it still gives you a sense of peace.”
They gathered more holly, pine and mistletoe. Barbara looked at the pile of mistletoe then she turned to Laura, “Do you think it’s enough?”
Laura giggled as she shook her head, “No where near enough that balcony is huge. We’re going to need a lot more. I hope Julie and Tiffany are having as much luck as we are.”
Barbara hugged Laura tightly, “Thanks for inviting Dad. Mom is going to be very happy.”
“What about you?” Laura asked.
“I’ve cried every night for all of us. I’m ready for him to come home.” Barbara said.
Meanwhile, Tiffany and Julie had gathered quite a bit of mistletoe but they still hadn’t found a huge limb. Suddenly Julie stopped and pointed at an oak limb half way up the tree. Tiffany looked at her cousin, “You’ve got to be kidding!”
Julie started laughing and pointed at Tiffany, “Tiffy, remember this was your idea.”
Tiffany threw her hands up in the air, “Don’t remind me, cousin.”
Julie shrugged her shoulders, “Well I was always more of a tomboy so I’ll climb up there.”
Julie tied the cutters to her jeans then pulled herself up to the first branch. Slowly she climbed up to the limb. To her surprise the limb was wide enough for her to crawl out on. She made it to the branch of mistletoe and carefully cut it. She let it fall to the ground then dropped the cutters. She turned and saw that crawling back wasn’t a good idea. So she straddled the limb and slowly worked her way back to the trunk.
When she reached the ground, she had a big grin on her face. Tiffany held up the mistletoe in triumphant, “She’s going to kill us.”
“Yeah but it’s going worth it.” Tiffany giggled.
Tiffany thought for a moment then snapped her fingers, “We’ll hang it above the family parlor door.”
Julie picked up the cutters, “Good idea, let’s wait until everyone’s here so our sister in laws can help.”
They collected some pine and holly and carried it all back to the sleigh. They hid the huge limb under the back seat of the sleigh. They leaned against the sleigh and waited on the others. They hummed the fairy song.
“Queen Shea, please bring Ric home to me and the girls.” Julie thought.
Soon they heard Laura and the girls coming down the trail. Julie reached down and picked up a handful of snow and formed it into a ball. She grinned as she looked at Tiffany.
Tiffany made her own snowball and waited. Julie and Tiffany threw their snowballs as Laura and the girls emerged from the woods. “It is everyone for themselves,” they shouted has scattered.
Laura dropped the branches she was carrying, “In coming! Duct and cover!” She shouted
The three of them took off in different directions. The snowballs flew fast and furious for several minutes then Laura started to build a snowman. The others joined in.
The Snowman stood proudly in the center of the meadow. As they looked around they could see the mess they had made of the meadow. Laura took a piece of pine, holly and mistletoe and tied them together. She placed the small bow on the snowman. The wind rustled and it began to snow.
Debbie looked at her mom, cousin and aunt, “Is all forgiven?”
Julie nodded and smile, “Yup, let’s get the sleigh loaded up and head for home.”
With all of them pitching in it didn’t take long to load the sleigh. As Julie climbed back into the sleigh, a single leaf of mistletoe landed on her head. Julie looked at the meadow and smiled at the others.
“Julie, it’s just a coincidence.” Tiffany said gently.
Barbara looked at them, “What does it mean?”
“It means that a lost love will soon return.” Julie explained.
Julie carefully placed the leaf in her pocket and looked at the meadow one last time, “Thank Ye, Your highness.” She thought.
A gentle laugh rang out as the sleigh disappeared down the trail.
The trip back to the Lodge was just as fun and before they were ready they were ready they were back in front of the barn. Laura noticed Peggy Vane’s SUV parked next to Julie’s Van. The Backdoor flew open and Peggy stood on the steps with her hands on her hips, “Land sakes, when will you three grow up.” She shouted.
Tiffany laughed, “Just when we thought we could escape the scolding.”
The Fairy Meadow's Hymn
By
Delbert McGill
(c) November 2004 by Delbert McGill
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