Chapter 2
The next day, after a hearty breakfast, the work began. The farmers went to the fields while others packed hampers on their donkeys to go to the markets in Jamaica to sell their wares. The boats from the island were usually full to capacity.
Fishermen would go fishing and weavers would go to their stalls where they’d lay out vines, dried bamboo and palm leaves to begin their day.
The women, who did nothing but cook, began preparing each meal, one after the other.
Mondays and Wednesdays the Elders taught history in their village. This was the day that Gracie would make her big speech about reuniting the Rahjahs. She sat in the front of the class, taking in every word her great-grandmother spoke. She never got tired of hearing how the slaves on the Blue Mountain held off the British soldiers, preventing them from ever setting foot up the mountain. She also loved to hear about how they came to live on this tiny island outside of Jamaica. The island was founded by a Rahjah woman from Blue Mountain named Water, who thought the Blue Mountain was getting overcrowded. She bought the tiny island from the Jamaican government only months before she’d died.
When the class was over, Gracie didn’t move but engaged her great-grandparents in conversation.
From afar, Pamela, Mary and her daughter, Shaela, stood listening.
“She’s a brave little girl,” Mary said.
Pamela nodded. “She’s taking on a very big job.”
“Do you think they’ll allow her to go and visit the children on Jahyah Mountain?”
“I don’t know. The Elders have always been fair, and maybe I’m a little partial to those two because they’re my grandparents, but we’ll see.”
They heard Gracie laugh and knew the meeting was over. Jane motioned for Pamela to come to her. “I told little Gracie that we will have a meeting with the Elders of Jahyah Mountain to have this thing resolved, and reunite our people.” Jane looked at Gracie. “I thank you for bringing this to our attention, but as I said, wait for us to reach out to the Elders.”
Gracie nodded. “Yes, ma’am, but if I see them, is it all right to say hello?”
“Of course. It would be rude not to.”
That was all Gracie wanted to hear. “Of course, ma’am.”
“But Gracie?”
“Yes, ma’am?”
“I don’t want you to ride into their village and shout, hello, I’m here. You must wait to hear from us.” Jane and her husband Solomon laughed.
“Of course not, ma’am,” Gracie said and got to her feet.
“Thanks for taking the time to speak with her, Grangran and Grampa,” Pamela said.
Solomon held his wife’s hand as they got to their feet. “Pam, you must visit for tea soon,” Jane said, walking beside her husband to their cottage.
“Yes, Grangran.”
Gracie hugged her mother.
“Were you nervous?” Pamela asked.
“No. Is it okay if I go riding with Shaela?”
“Of course.”
As they walked down the mountain together, Pamela decided that she needed to be by herself. While Gracie, Shaela and Mary went home, she went to the stables to get her horse.
Pamela didn’t know how long her eyes had been closed when a shadow fell over her. She opened her eyes and focused on the tall figure in front of her. She noticed his very white shirt tucked into blue jeans, his milk chocolate complexion and his clean-shaven face. His intense brown eyes revealed featherlike laugh lines when a half smile formed on his beautiful and expressive mouth. She didn’t move.
“Do you always travel by yourself?”
“Do you always sneak up on unsuspecting women?”
As his gentle laugh rippled through the air his lips parted, showing white, crooked teeth in the upper front of his mouth. He held her gaze. “May I sit with you?”
“I don’t see why not. Where is your horse?”
“I walked.” He sat down, pulled his feet toward his chest and casually placed his elbows on his knees.
“From where?”
He smiled again. “You ask a lot of questions.”
“So do you.”
“Maybe I shouldn’t be here, but I’ve glimpsed you a few times and wanted to see you up close.”
“And now you have. Who are you?” she asked with an inquisitive look. She’d never seen him before and he certainly didn’t dress like a farmer or fisherman.
“I am from Jahyah Mountain.” He kept looking at her, wondering why she didn’t recognize him. Granted, it had been years since he’d seen her, but he sure had not forgotten her beautiful face or the distinctive freckles across her nose. “I love your freckles.”
She nodded and transferred her gaze to the open ocean. “Too much sun. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen anyone from Jahyah Mountain who is not actually living in my village.”
“I know. It’s a shame. It should never be, but we are human beings and we make mistakes.”
“You’re Saul?” she said coolly, observing him through lowered lashes.
He smiled. “You have me at a disadvantage. Am I famous or infamous?” He’d decided that the time wasn’t right to tell her that many years ago he’d had a crush on her. Still, he couldn’t remember her name.
“The latter.”
“Am I banished forever?” His brown eyes were hooded.
“I don’t think so. Just today two Elders spoke to a little girl about you and the people of Jahyah Mountain.”
“Were they trying to decide my fate? And on whose side was the little girl?”
“She wants to meet your children.”
“What’s my fate to be?” His voice held a hint of laughter.
“Hard to say. You know how Elders are. They have to talk and reason everything to death before they come to a conclusion that they know they’ll make from the start.”
He threw back his head and a peal of laugher escaped his throat. She found his crooked teeth fascinating and beautiful.
“The little girl is yours?”
“Yes.”
“I’d love to meet her.” He peered into her face.
“I don’t think you and I are supposed to have met yet.”
He shook his head. “Yet? Well, I don’t think we can unmeet each other.”
“Why haven’t I seen you before? I mean, I come here all the time, but...”
“I’ve never wanted to be seen before. I’m not always good company for anyone.” He got up and extended his hand to her.
She looked at his outstretched hand and shrugged, then allowed him to pull her to her feet. “You’re moody, unapproachable sometimes?”
“I have a feeling that you know my entire life story.”
“Not really.” She slid her hand from his and walked towards her horse. “It was a pleasure meeting you.” She was wearing a dress and had forgotten to wear the long, loose fitting pants under it.
“I’ll turn so you can get on your horse,” he said, turning away from her with a crooked smile.
Pamela pushed her sandal-clad foot into the stirrup and pulled herself onto the back of her horse.
He turned when he heard the horse’s hooves thunder away from him. “I don’t know your name,” he said haltingly, softly. He leaned against the coconut tree and prayed that they were not first cousins.
At supper, Pamela was quite preoccupied. She kept seeing Saul’s face in her mind’s eye, especially his crooked teeth. His mouth was so beautiful that just that imperfection made him even more handsome. She’d become as curious about him as her daughter. Well, maybe not. Her daughter wasn’t interested in knowing about Saul; she was interested in knowing about his children.
“Where’d you go this evening?” Mary asked, sitting beside Pamela.
“Down to the beach. I needed to clear my head.”
“Remember, we have a guest after dinner. Your cottage or mine?”
“Mine’s all right.” She turned to Myah. “Are we still on for tea after supper?”
“Of course.”
“We haven’t talked in such a long time,” Pamela said.
Tim, who was sitting not too far away from Pamela, coughed.
“Sorry, Tim, do you want to be included?”
He smiled and nodded.
Unconsciously Pamela kept looking at Myah to see if there was any resemblance to her brother. Then she remembered she hadn’t told Saul her name.
When the main meal was finished, the three women and Tim picked up their desserts and walked to Pamela’s cottage to have tea.
While Mary, Tim and Myah settled on cushions in the living room, Pamela prepared a herbal blend in her tiny kitchen. Even though there was a community kitchen, each cottage had its own personal kitchen equipped with a small Dutch stove with oven and a chimney to carry smoke from the house.
“Do you need any help?” Mary called.
Pamela walked in with a tray and placed it on the center table. “No, it’s ready.” She filled each cup.
Mary brought the cup to her face and inhaled. “Mmmm. This smells wonderful.” She added a teaspoon of honey.
“I’m so glad you invited me,” Myah said leaning into her cushion.
“Me, too. It’s been too long.” Pamela took a sip of her tea and came straight to the point. “Today my daughter spoke with two of the Elders about the rift between our people, and I can’t help but wonder why it took a little girl to do this.” She quickly looked at Myah in an apologetic manner. “I don’t mean to pry. If you...”
“No, it’s all right. No one has really asked me about Jahyah Mountain in a very long time. It’s as if it’s taboo. I loved living there until my brother’s woman came.” She ate and sipped, then talked.
“Saul and I were very close, and the first thing Raquel did after a month of moving in was tell him that my husband and I should leave the house. As a geologist who visited many different countries, he brought material from almost every country he traveled: marble, satin, brass. We helped him build the house. When it was finished it was as big as four normal cottages in one. He said his job required so much concentration that working on the house was his way of relaxing. Every time he went away he brought back something for everyone. Raquel stopped him from giving away the things he’d brought back, so he stopped bringing things back after the house became cluttered with stuff they didn’t really need.
“I was disappointed and ashamed that he’d allowed her to come in and destroy our relationship, so we came here. She was like a hurricane or a tornado in the village. Unfortunately he didn’t realize or see what she was really doing until the children came. She didn’t want to share them, not even with him. When he would come home from a long trip the children would run into his arms and she would pull them from him and slap their faces, telling them their father was tired. His greatest joy was seeing and being with his children. She was jealous of the attention he gave to them.” She took a deep breath and looked away from her friends.
Mary and Pamela gasped and put their hands to their cheeks. “He was that in love and blinded by her?” Pamela asked.
“He was bewitched by her. Some said she gave him something to drink or eat that caused him to change completely. She’d brought her own herbs from her country and wouldn’t allow anyone to help her plant or reap them. She kept them in clay pots in her kitchen.” Myah took a cleansing breath. “You have no idea how long I’ve wanted to talk about that. I really miss my brother.”
“But it’s been years since she left. Why haven’t you gone back to speak with him?” Pamela asked.
“I don’t know. I suppose I’m still waiting for him to come and apologize again. I’m waiting for him to tell me how much he’s missed me. He knows where I am.”
“You said again. Did he ever come here?” Pamela asked.
“Yes, once.”
“He must be so embarrassed.”
“We’re all Rahjahs, Pam, we always forgive.”
“Apparently not, since you’re here and he’s not.”
“It’s hard for me to go back to Jahyah Mountain knowing that I left because of her.” She began crying.
“You weren’t the only one who left and came here.” Pamela moved closer to Myah and hugged her. “I’m sorry you still feel this way.”
“No. It’s been a long time since I’ve felt this good. Thank you for inviting me over. I try to stay busy so as not to give myself time to think about it all.”
“Gracie would love to meet your brother’s children.”
“Really?” Myah said, laughing. “I could take her to meet them but I suppose the Elders have to mend fences, right?”
“You know it. Frankly, I think a few of us should just go over with fruit and vegetables and make nice, but traditions hold us back, I suppose. So we’ll let them do their thing.” Pamela looked at Myah. “It’s still your home. You can go there any time you wish without the Elders’ permission.”
“I know, but...”
“Pride,” Mary said.
Myah nodded.
“Why do you think the children think Saul is an ogre?” Pamela asked.
Myah laughed so hard she fell back on her cushion. “The poor man.”
Pamela covered her face with her hands. That was not exactly how she’d wanted to ask the question.
“Is that what they say?” Myah said.
She nodded.
“He’s taken to brooding, but he’s not afraid to speak his mind. He’s bold and intelligent and gentle and resourceful...”
Pamela and Mary watched Myah talk about her brother. She positively beamed.
“Now I know why you’re still so hurt. You really love your brother.”
Myah blushed. “I miss seeing my niece and nephew, and he doesn’t even know my daughter. I miss my parents, too.”
“Then we must put some fire under the Elders to bring peace back to our people,” Mary said.
For the first time since they’d sat down, Tim spoke. “You know the Elders, they go at their own pace. That’s why they live so long, but if someone were to keep talking to their grandparents...” He looked over at Pamela.
She shook her head. “No, not me. Plus, I think Gracie will bug them if they don’t go fast enough.”
It was getting late and tomorrow was another work day.
Outside, Gracie and Shaela, Mary’s daughter, were sitting with Isha, Myah’s daughter.
“You followed me?” Myah said, scooping up her four-year-old.
“Miss Maud said I could follow you,” she told her mother.
“Next time we’ll walk together.”
They both waved and walked the few yards to their home.
“Okay, ladies,” Pamela said to her daughter and Shaela. “Bedtime.”
On Jahyah Mountain, Saul thought about Pamela’s beautiful face and prayed once again that if they were related, they were fifth or sixth cousins.
He’d sent his children to the circle for supper, but had remained in his home to brew himself some tea. He didn’t feel like being with anyone.
Of course that didn’t sit well with his mother, who’d sent his supper to him. She didn’t want him to begin brooding again, and a sure sign of him brooding was not eating. He sat by the window and ate.
After the children had gone to bed, he took a second cup of tea and walked down the mountainside to sit in the cool night air. He closed his eyes and saw Pamela’s face and relived each word she’d uttered. He’d noted her skepticism and her boldness. It had been such a long time since he’d given a woman a second look that he’d forgotten how bewitching women could be, this one more than others.
He thought of his sister and wondered if the woman he’d met on the beach knew her. He wondered if they were friends and if Myah had told her anything of him. He flinched at the thought. The first thing he’d do when he saw her again would be to ask her name.