"Where are we going?" Alfonso smiled and continued deep into the forest.
"We want the painters to do their thing so that we don't disturb when we are at the house...so we are going to my secret place."
He too didn't know what he was doing, he had been selfish about this beauty, he had never even taken Melanie here but here he was taking Helena. It was different though, Melanie hadn't wanted the house repainted. She didn't love fruits for dessert. She had not stared out the window the first day she got here. Melanie was not calm, she was talkative and funny which meant parties was where she belonged.
But Helena, Helena was calm and sweet, she seemed to fit in nature perfectly. She liked quiet and the music of crickets and birds. She had not told him that but her nature said it all to him.
"Are the painters going to paint the walls off-white?"
"I told them to use cream, the one we bought yesterday then the off-white for your room, the balconies and the bathrooms."
She nodded picking up a flower to stick it on her blonde locks. He opened branches in front of them then turned to lift a log up then opened a line of reeds revealing the secret heaven to her too. She gasped looking at the stream cascading swiftly as it sparkled under the sun.
There was a rose bush on one of the banks leaning on a huge boulder which was partially dipped in the water. A few trees interlocked on the top giving shade at some parts and sparkle to the revealed parts.
As if on cue a bevy of butterflies flew around some settling on flowers while others tried to settle in the water. The grass was greener on the far bank and more flowers seemed to grow, but he had never crossed to that side. He had never gone beyond the trees that closed that part. He had just been to the stream and back to his house. But then he was only younger then.
"What is behind those trees on the other side of the stream?"
"I have never been there, to be honest I came here twice when I was only a child. I was afraid it would not be as magical as it used to be but it seems like it got better."
"Let us cross over." She whispered and he nodded pulling her towards a tree branch that lay across the stream. They slowly moved across and she ran through the lawn towards the trees and stopped abruptly when she realised she had left him behind.
He jogged towards her and led the way. He stepped into another world of mystery and turned back to see her reaching up for a flower tangled on a tree branch. It was a rare flower, a dark rose with patches of red and streaks of white. There were more where he was watching but she had not seen that.
"You have to see this," he said to her and she beckoned for him to come, with her hand.
"Will you be able to get that for me..."
"There are more this side..." He leaned into the tree and grabbed the flower for her. She held the rose in her finger following behind Alfonso.
"Let us go then." She jogged behind him and her jaw dropped when she saw the scene Alfonso revealed to her. There were more of dark roses and some were red with streaks of black.
A steamed waterfall fell into a wide plunge pool and the water arose as vapour but falling back on them as a bitingly cold shower. He felt the water with his hands and when he pulled back he could not feel his fingers. It was freezing cold in there.
She sat on the lawn playing with a rose she had picked.
"I prefer you place the one you are holding instead of the one on your head" she shook her head at him and he sighed removing his shoes then socks. He started removing his jacket.
"Wait are you going to... Uhm I'm sorry..." Her cheeks flushed and he sighed shaking his head, "I mean if you want a swim you may but... I'm sorry, sir...continue, I mean you can do what you want... Not that I want to see you... I'm sorry, I'm going to be quiet now...
But..."
He tried not to let the smile escape as he tore off his shirt and slowly removed his trousers. His tie hung loosely on a tree branch.
"I love the quiet... Of this place I mean."
She nodded at his divorced outburst. He seemed to be really divorced from what was happening.
"Sing me the song." He said looking too comfortable in his jockey white underwear.
She bowed her head down and did not question. She let him continue.
"The one you sung... At night sitting at that log at the back of the house, sing me the song. I want you to do me a favour. Sing me the song everyday from today until..."
"Sir..."
"Your vow... The guardians of this marriage want you to sing it ... Sing the song... The song about the sad woman." He sounded desperate to hear her sing the song. Too desperate for her comfort. As desperate as a soul would be when it clings onto the body of a dying individual using a thread. She seemed confused but obediently cleared her voice to sing the song but halted a bit,
"I'm not so much of a good but I'll do it sir. The poor soul sat sighing by a sycamore tree, sing all a green willow. Her hand on her bosom her head on her knee. Sing willow willow willow,"
He felt the water with his toes before dipping the whole foot in the water. He let out an almost inaudible groan as he sunk in shoulder deep.
"The fresh streams ran by her and murmured her moans. Sing willow, willow, willow. Her salt tears fell from her and softened the stones. Sing willow, willow, willow, willow. I called my love false love-"
"You should come in," she shook her head and sat on a log projecting into the river. Her feet immersed in the water and she almost squealed as the water stung her toes but did not stutter in the song.
"I called my love false love, but what said he then? Sing willow, willow, willow. If I court more women, you'll couch with more men-"
"That's disturbing. That man is ill mannered...come in the water." He invited as if her coming in the water would solve the problem in the song.
"Yes the man was crazy. But I'm not getting in the water Mr Diego. So the song..." The situation was still awkward but at least they were conversing.
"Willow, sing willow, willow, willow. Sing all a green willow must be my garland. Let nobody blame him, his scorn I approve. Sing willow, willow, willow."
"Who taught you the song?"
"My mother... She heard it from a Shakespearean play- Othello." She said nostalgia hitting her face.
"Tragedy?" She nodded and plunged in the pool screaming as she sunk.
"It's about a young girl who feels abandoned by her husband," she said again as if in nostalgia emerging from the water.
He hadn't abandoned her. Why would she sing that song. He had never even showed her any scorn, why would people blame him. That song was indeed disturbing. He cleared his throat to get the thought out of his system.
"When are you turning twenty seven?" He questioned keeping the distance between them wide.
"I did.., since the first day of February."
"We have to get back." Alfonso said and a shiver ran down to Helena's spine as she stepped out of the river. Her dress clung threateningly to her pale skin as she started to leave. Her hair stuck onto her shoulders in tangled thin locks. She let out a moan before she hugged her arms instinctively.
This was the last time she listened to orders from Sir Diego. A cold breeze stung her skin like a swam of untamed bees and goosebumps built up on her gentle skin. She spun around to find Alfonso on the ground his head lifeless on the ground while he clutched his abdomen. Panic struck her and a mixture of emotions struck her- oh it was confusion. Fear, relax, confusion, confusion, confusion.
"Sir Diego....?" She ventured.
Silence.
"Are you okay?"
Silence.
A whimper escaped from his lips- a painful whimper and she was lost for words. What had her father gotten her into now?
She walked towards him kneeling next to him. He shook him and he responded with whimpers.
"Should I call for a doctor?"
Alfonso grunted nodding helplessly. She ran a few metres before stopping abruptly. She jogged back and helped him up. He let out a muffled protest but then later hung his arms around her neck and allowed her to pull him up.
"Doc... Doctor... Foster... Ugh! Call..."
"Shh... I'll look for the number in the directory..."
******
Muscles pulled apart on his abdomen as he tried to obtain balance from her and clutch himself at the same time. Her breath was breaking now and then forming gasps which he thought were a way to get energy.
"Indigestion?"
He tried to gasp an agreement but the sharp pain hit the muscles on his abdomen till he swore he was sweating. He grunted in pain holding onto her desperately as they both staggered towards the house. Her hip was jerked to the side to give him a place to rest. She helped him swim across the lack and they staggered together as they went towards the house. She tripped and they both fell. She arose looking at him as he grabbed the grass below him in a fist.
He coughed out blood, as if someone had just kicked him in the abdomen.
Poison? He shook his head, Helena had had the same meal as him. She wouldn't poison him or would she?
"Jordan!" Helena shouted to the cowboy as soon as the house came to view.
"Shh... You'll be fine... I promise you all will be fine..." They fell together again it this time Helena recovered quickly and pulled him up to lay his arm on her shoulder again. He was barely conscious now and his breathing was rasped and seemed to be chocked by blood.
"Jordan!" He grabbed her sleeve to support himself as he felt as if he was now slipping. Thank heavens she was not frantic.
Spotting them Jordan dropped the horse feed and ran towards them. "Take him into the house..." She screamed before Jordan was close to them.
"Take him in...I'll saddle the horse to St Peter's... I'll come with a few paramedics who will take him to a hospital," Alfonso caught her arm before she managed to run.
"It's... it's not... You don't know the place," He coughed more blood and she broke her hand from him and found a saddled horse. Probably belonging to one of the painters. The horse sprang into life and raced towards the south.
** ** **
So...Alfonso, God I wonder what is wrong.
Enjoy...coz I am enjoying.
I write for you...Read for me