laneys.info Beware of Yankees, drunks, and loose women.

Brilliant sunlight showered the surrounding forest with warmth as Father Andrew and Raulin Dunham drove the large wagons towards their 'surprise'. Full of kids of all ages, Mason perched on the side wall as the heavy wheels rumbled towards their destination which wasn't too far south of town. These orphans had all lost at least one family member and the cleric had grabbed the gravedigger to help him on this special day.

Steel-grey eyes turned as the large, older man whose red hair was fading in streaks of grey. "Son, sit down with the others before you get jolted out." Being much larger the man's intimidating gaze demanded respect and Mason complied as he crouched back into the crowd of young faces around him.

"Where do you think they're taking us," Amelia asked, her blonde curls bouncing with the wagon's motions.

"Not sure, but I saw the large baskets that the Father put under their seats," Bron, an older son of a tailor informed. He was always trying to get into things he shouldn't and Mason knew one day that would get him into trouble.

Amelia's brown eyes brightened, "A picnic?"

Bron shrugged his shoulders. "I guess." Many others peered over each other and it didn't take long for Mason to feel something in the air. An excitement that grew with each passing moment and he suddenly felt more alive than he had in a long time as the shadow of the large trees around them gave way to a large open area. He nearly stood and noticed the large lake that opened up before them.

"He told you to sit down," Bron reached for his leg and tried to pull Mason back into the hunched group, but the agile boy leaped from over the low wall and landed nimbly as Raulin reined the horses to the right and pulled on them to park the wagon behind the first that Father Andrew drove. "Hey," the boy yelled as Mason sprinted towards the inviting water, shedding his clothes as he ran.

"Mason, wait," Father Andrew yelled.

Diving off of the low sloped, grassy bank he flew into the lake as if finally coming home after a long journey. Into the murky water, he swam ever deeper. Overjoyed at the feeling that the large body gave him, he felt the pulse of the life within and immersed himself in it. He found himself laughing, but that joy soon turned to alarm as his lungs quickly filled. Suddenly, survival kicked in and the young boy struggled for air as he pushed his body towards the surface. It was so far away, he thought as he struggled for the light.

Soon, he couldn't push any longer as his body just stopped.

Oddly, he didn't feel any different as his eyes watched the brighter surface slowly fade from view. Was this the end, he thought?

'No.' Her voice was so soothing. Like the mother he had never known. 'I could be throught of that way, I guess,' she chuckled.

Brown eyes turned to look as the darkness around him slowly brightened. Bluish light surrounded the female whose long, dark hair swirled and pirouetted around the beautiful face and kind, blue eyes. 'Am I dead?'

She shook her head and smiled, her white, silky dress flowed around her and reminded him of the large clouds that he loved to watch so much. 'Far from it, my darling.'

'Are you one of Arhus's champions?'

'No, but I know him well.' She chuckled, neared him as she placed his head softly in her hands and kissed him on the forehead, then backed. 'I look forward to our moments together though. Not many in these lands talk to me.' She winked and drifted backwards from him and soon, her brilliance evanesced into black.

* * *

He awoke to the warmth of the sun as he lay underneath a scratchy, woolen robe. Brown eyes squinted in the bright light as they focused and noticed Father Andrew sitting to his right, face in his hands.

"What happened," he asked quietly and prompted the older priest to lower his hands and gaze at him in surprise, then scoop up Mason into his embrace.

"I thought we lost you, boy," the priest sobbed.

"No, sir." He nervously glanced to the other children who quietly mulled around the wagons, then look at them as Mister Dunham's large body straightened. He was a bit embarrassed suddenly and wondered where the lady in the water went.

Andrew backed, still keeping Mason near. "Don't ever do that again. Do you understand me?" Mason wasn't sure what it was he was promising, but promptly nodded his agreement. "You've never learned how to swim. You..." Tears streamed down the ruddy cheeks as the priest swallowed hard and sniffed. "Stay near the bank next time. Understand?"

"Yes, sir."