I Am Jessamine

They reached the city and slowly made their way to where Willy remembered was Grays’ trade warehouse, but before they got there a familiar voice called out to them and when they finally saw who it was they all felt a bit of relief. Mr. Tora was waving at them and they made their way over to him.

“Ye bes’ be headin’ down dis way an’ stayin’ to de alleys. Come wit’ me an’ I will shows ye.” And he turned his horse around and led the way. They followed in silence until they made their way to the back of the warehouse where there was a lovely big stable.

Mr. Tora seemed to be in a hurry and he quickly explained, “Come wit’ me up te de apartments above an’ I’ll be speakin’ den.”

They left the horses to the stable hands and Jess gave quick strict instructions regarding the horses and then ran to catch up with the men. Once in the apartment, Mr. Tora explained. “Der be many redcoats ‘bout today an’ I has a feelin’ you’s be da reason, so I be quick.” And he quickly left the room and went into another where they could hear desk drawers being opened and closed.

Nick and Willy removed the papers from their vests and went through everything quickly. Willy took all the banknote agreements with the account details and Nick took the land deeds. Scratching under the flap of his saddle bag Willy unpicked the stitching with the tip of his dagger and pulled out two carefully folded plastic waterproof bags. They placed the respective folders in each and then stuffed them back into their vests as Mr. Tora reappeared with their boarding papers and he stopped dead in his tracks.

“My good god, ye be Miss Jess.” And he stared open-mouthed at Jessie.

“What? You didn’t recognize me, Mr. Tora?” Jessie asked smiling at him.

“No, Miss Jessie, I did’na rec’anise ye at all.” He stared at Jessie and said, “ye be diffren’ Miss Jess. Summin’ inside be glowin like silver.”

Jessie didn’t know what to say so she just smiled and looked uncomfortable.

Handing papers to Nick and Willy he told them the names of the ships they would be boarding in a little while. Willy was to go down to the dock and board the Jade Mermaid and Nick and Jess had passage on the Ocean Breeze. A trunk had arrived for Willy with necessary items for his travels a few days before that had been sent from the Dranmore estate, but nothing for Jess and Nick, which they already knew. Mr. Tora told Nick that a crew member, named Caleb Rowan, from the O’Murchadha would be waiting for him in a little village called Hogsback about four miles north from Hook Head and he will have a horse, provisions, and a change of clothes for his travels back to Broch de Clisson. The crewman will accompany him on his journey as instructed by Captain Murphy.

They all looked at each other and it was Willy who finally said, “Well fuck me! Grayson knows exactly how to organize shit.” And they all burst out laughing. It was a stress breaker and they knew it. It was time to say goodbye to Willy and Jessie felt the muscles tightening in her throat. How was she going to say goodbye to the man who had helped raise her? How was she going to say goodbye to the man who had been with her all her life? How could she say goodbye to her very best friend? It felt like a death to Jess. She did not want to believe that it was all coming to an end. Here, in a year she never dreamed of, in a place she had never thought to visit. Time travel was for fiction writers, not for them to experience for real. But Jess also knew that Willy deserved to be right here in this era, in this century, and with the woman he had fallen so hopelessly in love with.

He knew what she was thinking and Jessie knew he felt overwhelmed as well so when she stepped over to him he simply opened his arms and folded her into his chest. He let her cry and then he wiped her tears away and kissed her on the forehead. “Please give my best to Beatrice and Maddie. Let Shawn know that I am so happy he survived and tell Mr. Barnes and Gibbs that I will miss them too. Don’t forget Constance and Lizzy. Please look after yourself and remember your promise to help create The House of Steele.” Jessie rambled and Willy smiled with his own unshed tears.

Willy had only one thing to say, “Never forget.” And he held her close one more time, released her and turned to shake Nicholas’ hand, patted him on the shoulder, and said, “See you around, son.” Turned around and walked out of the door and away from them. Jess looked at the doorway and then at Nick. “Best we get moving too, Jess.” Checking the passes again he turned to shake Mr. Tora’s hand and thank him for his trouble and time.

“No wurries, de Cap’n he knows ye be comin’. He’s a good man dat one.” Thanking him, Jessie squeezed his hand and then changed her mind and hugged him.

“Still got that concealer, Jess.” And when she nodded he held his hand out and she took the small tube, which resembled a lipstick tube, out of her pocket and handed it to him. Tilting her head he pushed the concealer up and applied some to her scar and then with his fingers he concealed her scar. Jess shoved the tube back in her pocket and looked up at Mr. Tora who had the most amusing expression on his face. “Rouge to conceal the scar.” Jess pointed at her face and Mr. Tora merely nodded with wide eyes and open-mouthed.

It was around three o’clock when Jess and Nick arrived at the Ocean Breeze and showed their papers to an oriental Captain Cho who was only too happy to be taking them with him on his fishing route and dropping them off at the westernmost side of Ballyteige Bay. Ocean Breeze will then do a u-turn and drop anchor in the bay on the east side, as they normally do, offload their catch that is left over after selling half in Dublin, from the hold, and then begin again the following day. By three thirty they were underway and as they moved out of the harbor they saw the Jade Mermaid in the distance heading in the opposite direction and Jess could swear she saw Willy standing up on the poop deck.

“How long will it take us to get to Hook Head once we get ashore at Ballyteige Bay?” Jess asked while absentmindedly rolling up the rope they had with them.

“I am not sure. It all depends on the weather and how fast we can move to the cliffs.” Nick looked at his sister and knew what she was going to ask next, so instead of waiting for her to build up the courage, he decided to tell her what she needed to know.

“Listen to me, Jessie. Once we get to the caves we will have to move quite quickly. For some reason, the portal doesn’t stay open for long. I don’t know what it is about time travelers that make them able to time travel. It could be genetic, or it could be that person’s energy at a specific time or it could even be who or what they are going to on the other side. It is still a mystery to me and anyone else that I know that has traveled. For example, I desperately wanted to get to mom and find out how much money I could make. It was a burning desire, but that has changed and that is why I think if I traveled back I would never be able to return here. Willy has found love and peace with Beatrice so I think he would have trouble as well. You, on the other hand, are single-minded and you know what your plans are. You planned to come and save me and help me. You know? Do right? And then go back and finish Rancliff, so I truly believe you will get through. I don’t doubt it for a second.” He looked over the side of the little fishing boat and stared at the sea for a while before continuing. “The thing is, Rancliff has his cronies at each of the travel sites, but I don’t think there will be one at the cave. It is too out of the way, but, believe it or not, it’s only like twenty miles or so from the ranch as the crow flies and you will find your way if you stick to the beaches. The shore that runs along the bottom section of the ranch, well that will be how you get onto home ground. That’s one option. “

Jessie listened to Nick and began feeling those awful pangs of loss and lack and her heart began constricting again. This was it. She knew in her heart she would not return even if she could. She did not belong in this era. Nick was born here and so were Willy and Genevieve so they all had a familiar connection. Jess knew it was going to be hard and an awful struggle, but she would make it. As Willy had said to her to never forget, she knew she never would. Not in a million years.

“Do you still have your dagger in your boot?” he asked softly looking around them and when she nodded he said, “Good. When you travel we will make sure it is lashed to your hand so should you have any surprises you will at least have that to defend yourself with.” Nick put his hand on her shoulder and Jess turned to look at him and she could see everything she was feeling reflected back at her in his eyes. No words were needed. They understood each other perfectly.

“Do you still remember where I told you all my personal papers were?” and she nodded not trusting herself to speak. “Jess, the jump is going to happen very fast.”

“Nick, I get it. I am struggling here knowing I will never see any of you again and by the time I reach the ranch I am hoping it would all have sunk in because you do realize by the time I get home you will all have been long gone?” and saying it out loud brought a sob up from her throat and she had to turn away and look out to the ocean and the shore that she could see.

“No, Jessie,” Nick held her, “don’t think like that. We will be alive and well and doing all the things we always said we would do. I will make everything right that I did wrong, mom will fix things properly with Rourke and be good parents to Gem and I promise you faithfully, I will be the best big brother he ever had. Willy will do everything he promised to do. He will make a success of the trade business and Beatrice and Maddie will get their House of Steele. Jess, you did this! You make everyone want to be better than they are. Benjamin will make a fine artist. Marie-Louise is so pretty she will probably end up marrying a prince. I actually think mom is hoping that will happen.” And they both laughed at that because it was probably true. “Grayson will make a massive success once he’s got control of his lands and he will do right by Gem. I believe he has already made Gem his heir.” Nick turned her around and looked into her eyes, “Somewhere, somehow I will make sure you get to see all that we have accomplished. I will, Jess. I will find a way.” And he pulled her into his arms and held her tightly, “Feel me, Jessie. Feel my love for you. I am proud and honored to be your brother and I will be eternally grateful for all you sacrificed for me. I never meant for you to be hurt or scarred or find the love of your life and then spend only a short time with him and then have to leave again. It hurts me, Jessie. I wish it weren’t so, but it is. You, Faerie princess, will be forever remembered for breezing into our lives, turning everything on its head, shaking it up, and letting it all fall exactly where it was all meant to be in the first place.”

“Thank you, brother. I will never forget any of you. My own life is forever changed and I will never be the same again, but I will carry on. I have to finish what I set out to do and I always knew I would go back and never allow my circumstances, no matter how good, to change that.” Reaching into her breast pocket she pulled out the brooch her father had given her. It was a solid silver circle and it was carved, molded, and engraved with leaves, blooms, and vines and in the center, a pair of butterfly wings, and across the wings, on a banner, was the beautifully engraved words ’Numquam Obliviscar’ which was ‘Never Forget’ in Latin. Taking off her neck scarf, she carefully and gently wrapped the brooch and then lovingly held it close before handing it to her brother. “Please make sure Grayson gets this?” she asked with a sob and Nick took it gently and pushed it safely into his vest pocket. “I will make sure, baby.” This time he held her and let her cry. It broke his heart hearing her sob into his chest, but it would be good for her to cry it out now so that she would have her wits about her later.

“Nicky, I have to tell you something and I need to know that I can trust you implicitly to keep the secret. Can I trust you, Nick?” Jessie looked up at her brother and he raised his eyebrows at her.

“Jessie, I will never be disloyal to you or any of our friends and family. Never. You have my solemn oath on that.” He looked slightly offended, but Jess was pretty sure he understood.

Taking a deep breath she asked, “Do you know who Gem really is?”

Frowning he looked at her and narrowed his eyes, “Who is he, Jessie?”

“Remember I told you about the survivors of the other ship that was attacked? Well, one of the survivors was Gem.” She stood by the railing and watched as they drew closer to land. Time was running out.

“Yes, I remember,” Nick said slowly.

“He told us he was on the ship on his way to Barbados to go and live with his aunt Felicity, whom he hardly knew because his mother had died and his father did not want to be bothered with him as he was too busy to care for him. Anyway, before Gem became Jermaine Kellie O’Cleirigh his name was Germaine William Rancliff.” Jess watched her brother’s face and tried to gauge the emotions running through him.

Finally, he stood up and took a deep breath, “So, he knows who his own father is, but still wanted to be with a completely different family? Jesus!” he rubbed his hand across his forehead. “So Rancliff thinks the kid went down with the ship?” he turned and leaned his elbow on the rail and looked at Jessie’s profile.

“Yes, he knows who his father is and he told us how he was treated by Rancliff and Daniels. Rancliff sent Daniels to question everyone on the O’Murchadha about the attack and not once was anyone asked about Gem. The crew stayed silent about the boy, anyway.” Jess said without looking at her brother.

“I see. Well, Jessie, there is not much anyone can do about it now. Germaine William Rancliff died on that ship. Your parents have a son named Jermaine and strangely enough, he resembles our mother and not Rourke. That crazy hair of his reminds me of her, anyway. Have you ever seen our mother first thing in the morning?” he asked and they laughed together. Jess began to feel very relieved. “She will love him as her own, Jessie. I will be there for him as will Grayson. Not to mention Benjamin and Marie-Louise, they love that kid already. He is a part of a family that has more honor and loyalty than Rancliff could ever dream of. The secret will be safe with me. Have no concern about that.” And he hugged her around the shoulders and then kissed her on the head. “I’m gonna miss you, brat.” And Jess heard his voice thick with emotion.

Jessie suddenly realized she would be returning to the ranch an orphan and her gut twisted, but she took a deep breath and knew she would be okay. As long as her family was safe and sound and Rancliff got what was coming to him. She prayed silently for Willy that he managed to accomplish what he was setting out to do. It would be a major coup for them and a massive loss for Rancliff.

Captain Cho came to them and said that they would be within rowing distance in a short while and that was there anything they needed before they disembarked. Thanking him profusely Jess and Nick prepared to leave with their rope and just their wits.

As they were preparing to lower the little boat a crew member shouted “Sails”. Everyone looked up and just on the horizon white sails could be seen. Nick ran forward and asked the captain if he could use his spyglass to check the vessel. Quickly handing the spyglass back he ran to Jess, “It’s his ship!”

“Captain, how fast can your men row?” asked Nick with a look of concern on his face.

“Oh, no wolly meester. We be gone ’fore zat ship make see me even.” The captain replied with a cheesy grin while nodding his head.

“I fucken hope so.” Mumbled Nick so only Jess heard. “Rancliff knows of the caves here so he may just become suspicious. If we can get the boat around that bend over there,” and Nick pointed to where he was referring “we will be out of sight, but that means the crew will have to either wait overnight for the return of the Ocean Breeze or row themselves across the bay.”

The boat was already in the water and hidden from view by the fishing ship. Scrambling down the rope they jumped into the little boat and got moving. Nick grabbed an oar and Jess grabbed the other spare oar and they went at it with gusto. Nick kept looking, but Jess didn’t want to. She was only focused on getting to the shore.

When they were just before the cresting waves Nick shouted to Jess, “We are going to have to jump and swim. You okay with that?”

Jess looked at him and nodded even though she knew the water was bloody cold. Turning to the two crewmen he told them, “We’re going to swim in. Turn around and go back as fast as you can.”

Jess and Nick stood up and jumped off either side of the boat. As Jess hit the water she thought her heart would stop. It was freezing cold and her jaw locked, but she struck out heading towards the breakers. By the time she could see sand Jess thought she would turn into an ice block and sink. She was growing tired and felt heavy, but she pushed herself harder. She had lost sight of Nick, but she knew he was there. She could feel him.

Eventually, after what felt like days, Jess felt ground beneath her feet and a wave smacked her from behind and sent her forward and her feet caught rocks. Thank god for the boots, she thought with a frozen brain and chattering teeth. The rest of her was not so lucky as she got driven into rocks just below the surface. Her arm hit painfully against a rock and she sucked in water and choked and coughed. Then her left leg got caught and the knee got badly knocked. Jess wanted to scream in agony and frustration.

Finally, Jess crawled onto the sand as waves crashed against her from behind. She was gasping and choking coughing up seawater. She felt a hand grab her arm and haul her to her feet and force her to run along the shore and then Nick pushed her down behind rocks and sat beside her. They were both out of breath and shivering uncontrollably.

Talking through chattering teeth Nick said, “The crew must have made it back in record time because Ocean Breeze already did a u-turn and is headed to the east side of the bay.” Jessie was relieved to hear it but wondered how much was seen and if Rancliff and his crew were curious.

“Did you see where Rancliffs ship was?” Jess could barely move her lips.

“Still a ways off, but if we move now he will see us. Jesus, I am freezing!” and he began smacking his arms and legs.

“We have to take our clothes off.” Jess shivered and shook.

“W-What?” asked Nick staring at her.

“Twenty-first-century survival, Nicky. That dude that did all that outdoors shit, remember him? Didn’t he always say remove your clothes to get warm?” Jess stood bent behind the boulder and started stomping her feet.

“He did a television show, Jessie. I am bloody sure the crew had a set of warm and dry clothing for him. I don’t buy into all that crap.” Nick was shaking so badly that he nearly fell over.

Jess removed her long coat and lay it over a rock and then her vest. She bent over and began trying to undo the buckles and buttons on her boots with frozen fingers. Once they were off, she began jumping on the spot and smacking her arms back to life and then she bent over and ran fast on the spot. She started to feel better. Standing up she stood with straight legs and began jumping on the spot. Rolling her head and stretching her neck from side to side Jess flexed her shoulders. If anyone had been watching they would have thought she was getting ready to get into a boxing ring.

Nick watched her and then followed suit and eventually the two of them were behind the massive rocks doing jumps and on the spot running, stretching out their legs and side stretches. They were building their core heat and then actually began to feel better.

By now the light had completely faded and they put their boots back on but continued hopping and running. Their hair was almost dry and they had managed to squish a lot of water out of their boots. The leather was like some sort of wet suit where the moisture between leather and skin warmed considerably and they both felt much better.

Looking out from behind the rock they could see the white sails were off to the east heading towards Dublin, so they put their vests and long coats back on, with much hissing between the teeth, and started walking towards the slope that would take them up to the top of Hook Head.

It was one hell of a hike and both Nick and Jess were absolutely shattered when they were barely halfway up. They took turns carrying the wet rope and were trying really hard to conserve the little bit of water that they had in flasks strapped to their belts.

Taking a thirty-minute break was almost as deadly as hiking because their muscles wanted to seize up, so while they took a break they both kept moving a little bit. They were both now wet with perspiration and heaving and puffing like steam trains. Finally, they moved off again, but they had slowed down dramatically and they both suffered from cramping and sore feet. Jess was convinced she would remove her boots and her skin would stay behind in her socks.

Finally, like manna from heaven, they reached the top and both of them dropped like bricks onto the flat land. “Oh my god, I am never hiking again in my life. Ever!” gasped Jessie out loud.

“Ditto! This shit is for the birds, I reckon. We will give it another thirty minutes and then we have to go again. We need to get to the tip most of the head and then it’s scaling down time.” Coughing and spluttering like old cars they laughed at each other.

“And here I thought I was fit. I am so glad to be doing this with you right now. Such fun making memories.” And they laughed some more.

“On a serious note, though, Jess,” Nick sobered and lay on his stomach looking out at the land that lay before them, “will you be able to finish what we all started here?”

Jessie lay sucking in deep breaths and his question brought her back to her reality and she closed her eyes. “Yes, I will. It has to be done and that bastard must feel what it is like to have it all taken away just like the people he lied about and lied to. How many families has he ruined? How many lives have been lost due to him? Daniels is in Longmore, probably even hanged by now for his crimes, and his personal assassin, Valeria Brossard, aka La Rue is now out of the picture, so who else is there? Is there anyone else?” she looked over at her brother and she could see he was thinking hard.

“No, there is no one else who was as close as those two. Daniels kept the show running when Valeria and Rancliff traveled to the twenty-first, but they would never stay long. One month at the longest and then they would be back again.” He sat up and rubbed his face.

“Then all that is left is for me to organize a small crew to do what I have to do to finish him.” Said Jess with a determined edge to her voice.

“Well, here is your best choice for getting back to the ranch. I promised I would never bug him again to fetch me, but because it is you I don’t think it counts. Once you arrive back at the cave you will see four really big rocks near the pool, you will find a black knapsack between the third and fourth rocks. It will be covered in brown netting, but inside you will find a Glock nine millimeter all nicely loaded and ready to use. A sat phone with a portable solar battery, water, and dehydrated food packs. There will also be flares in case of emergencies. On that sat phone is only one number. It is the number for the ranchhand’s office. Spence Raize usually answers and he’s your man. He has helped dad often with the big stuff.” Nick scratched his head vigorously and stood up with a bit of effort. “He has a brother, Hopper Raize, who is seriously brilliant at par-cor and you will need him. You can take whatever I have in my accounts and share it between the two because they will need to take a vacation for a while after your final bit of work. You can decide that for yourself.”

Jessie was getting in the zone now and she knew all she had to do to finally bring Rancliff down once and for all. She stood up and bounced up and down to get her blood flowing again. “Are you going to be able to make it the last four miles back to that little village?”

“Yeah, I’ll be alright. If there are any questions I will just say my horse spooked and threw me. Besides, that bloke I am supposed to meet will have what I need. Don’t worry about me, Jessie. I told you, somehow some way I will manage to get word to you. I swear I will.” And he reached out and ruffled her curly head of hair.

“Spence will come and pick you up himself. He will never get any of the others to do it for him. There will be a place where you will meet and only Spence will know where it is. Leave the cave and turn immediately left and head down behind the cave entrance. That will keep you out of the line of view of anyone watching the place. Obviously, all safety protocols will stay the same. You remember those?” He looked at her as they started walking the last few hundred yards to the cliff edge on the tip of Hook Head.

“Yes, I do. Carry on?” Jess said as they walked on and she concentrated solely on what he was saying not on the things her heart wanted to concentrate on.

“Right then, you follow the path down to the bottom of the track, and where it forks you will take the right fork. Yes, it will appear that it is taking you away from the road, but that’s the idea. About a mile down the road you will find a small cabin about a hundred yards off the road. The entrance is marked by a broken fence post that has the number five in roman numerals engraved on it. Give Spence about two hours to get to your location after you call him, so you need to lay low until then. The cabin has got the bare essentials, but it does have a shower and you will find a change of clothes there. Use whatever you can.” He turned to face her as they got to the lip of the cliff, “After that, the rest is up to you.”

Jess stopped and looked down as did Nick. “I will go down with you because it will be nothing to get myself back up again. It’s not that far. Just out of the way. This is what is called a ‘travel from’ place and not a ‘travel to’ so we won’t be bumping into anyone.’ And he laughed a nervous laugh.

“Relax Nick I am going to be just fine. This may be the only time I ever time travel, but we have been doing crazy shit for years and I am kinda enjoying the rush again. Is there anything I need to know about the target that you can think of that will stump me?” Jess asked as he tied the rope around a nearby rock.

“Standard surveillance CCTVs and alarms. Easily deactivated and trashed. Do you still have that virus thing on a memory stick? Remember the one we used for that heist in Venice when we scored all that ice?” How easy was it to slip back into their old way of life, thought Jess, using the old lingo?

“Yes, actually I do still have it. That is quite a good idea and I still have all the gear for slipping through air vents and shit.” Patting her on the shoulder Jess looked down, picked up the rope, and moved backward, and then she started climbing down to the cave entrance.

Jess landed easily on the lip of the opening to the cave and she heard it, the humming and soft chatter. It sounded like hundreds of people were down in the cave and they were all mumbling and talking and some were humming. Then the singing started and again Jess thought it sounded like a choir.

When Nick landed beside her he tilted his head slightly. “That’s new.” He said softly.

“What’s that?” asked Jess feeling super sensitive now.

“That singing. It sounds like a choir.” He said looking into the cave.

“I heard it when I traveled with dad and Willy. I thought my ears were playing tricks on me.” Jess said and didn’t notice how Nick gazed at her with amazement.

“Jessie,” Nick said softly, “You are quite literally leaving your footprint in the sands of time.”

Looking up at her brother Jess frowned, “What do you mean?”

“I have heard it said that only those who make a real difference get to hear the angels singing for them.” He was staring at her with tears in his eyes.

“Yeah, well, brother dear, you’re hearing them too aren’t you?” Jessie went to him and hugged him really hard and sobbed into his chest. “Please pack my beautiful sword away in my chest and when Gem is of age give it to him for me? Tell everyone that I love them and I will never forget and when you see Gray give him the brooch and tell him ’Go Deo’.” Nick held her tight and cried with her and kissed her on the forehead. “Somehow. Some way, Jessie.”

They held each other a while longer and then Jess pulled away and sniffed and wiped her eyes and said in a voice that sounded braver and surer than she actually felt, “Right, let’s do this.”

They walked further into the cave and the humming, chatter, and singing became a little louder. As they rounded a bend Jess saw a light green glow and as they got closer she heard the water. It was in a circular pool and swirling slightly. “It knows when a time traveler is around, but I have never seen it glowing this green before,” Nick said breathlessly.

“What do I do?” asked Jess in a small voice.

“You think of home and the ranch. The house, the cattle, and the horses. Your thoughts will take you there, Jessie. I know you will be just fine, brat.” And they hugged for the last time and they were both in tears again, but through her tears, Jessie smiled bravely and signed ‘I love you’ turned toward the pool and without a backward glance she was drawn in hypnotically not only by the humming, chatter, but mostly the singing, and she jumped.

Twenty-first Century – Kellie’s Heart