Virtual American Gothic - Third Season Episode Nine River's Edge By Rosebuck and Queribus NOT TO BE ARCHIVED TO A WEB PAGE WITHOUT THE AUTHOR'S PRIOR CONSENT. Special Guest Stars: Regina Taylor as Amaryllis John Collum as Master Buck ********************************************** Erosion at play, water lapping at the shore. The memory of the river running red haunting the sunrise. Merlyn cast a dark shadow behind her. Her ring cast one within her. Time flowed past with the water. Erosion of the land and the soul. *** "Good morning, Mrs. Bentley. It's a lovely day." Matt Crower put the chart down on his desk. "What can I do for you?" "That's exactly what I wanted to hear." Dora smiled. "As you have no doubt heard, I'm chairing the hospital fund-raiser. A Winter Festival." "I've seen the signs." Polite, static smile. "All the doctors not on duty are expected to do their part." "Ah. What would you like me to do, Mrs. Bentley?" Dora paused, eased into a smile. "You know those dunking booths..." "You did say, 'Winter Festival'." "We've been having lovely weather. No reason not to take advantage of it." "Doesn't seem much like a winter activity." "You Yankees have such a limited concept of winter. I can count on you?" "Mrs. Bentley, I really don't relish the thought of being plunged into cold water." "Oh, no, you misunderstood, Doctor. I just want you to run the booth. You'll have plenty of children volunteering for the privilege of a good wetting." "I see. I can even think of one who could use a little fun. Sure, Mrs. Bentley, I'd be happy to." *** A morning wasted in soul-searching, and nothing changed. The ring still bit into her finger, and nipped at her being. Where to turn to when she had failed her brother, rejected her mother? When family was an empty word? She sought the only form of acceptance she could claim. Ben. She could hear his humming in the bowels of the Sheriff's Department. The basement room, Records in black on the glass of the door. Time and space manipulated, Merlyn slid down the back of the row of file cabinets. Humming rippled through her unmaterialized body. Comfort in the wordless song. "You're in a good mood." Cold slice of Buck's voice through the warmth of Ben's. "I've got a right to be," contented reply. "Benjie came home with an A in math. He brought it up from a C. I've been working with him, nights." "Not the most exciting way to spend an evening, but family comes first." "How's Caleb doin'?" Merlyn leaned forward. "He's a bright boy," nonchalant, "I'm not concerned. Besides, that's what Crower's for. I handle the important stuff. The life lessons." A soft snort. "Yeah." The file cabinet shuddered as Buck slammed it shut. "I thought that new teacher was giving Caleb a little extra help?" Ben diverted. "She does seem to have a soft spot for us Buck men, doesn't she?" A snicker from Lucas that made Merlyn cringe. "He's growing up to be a fine boy." Dry, "More's the pity." A pause, and then Ben's chuckle, "Aw, Lucas." "That's better. Beginning to think you lost your sense of humor for good." The door closed behind Buck. Ben went back to humming. A green glow rose from the cabinet. It shook, forcing Ben to step back. File drawers opened and slammed shut. Reedy whisper, "Someone's at the door." "Oh, no." The green glow increased, Ben ducked his head. "I thought ya got past all that, Merly." Hand on his shoulder, ring hot through his shirt. He closed his eyes. Softly, "Merly, will you kindly stop this." Silence. He turned and opened his eyes. Black hair, black dress, and well-deep black eyes. Ben sighed. "It's just fine with you, isn't it?" she spat. "What he wants for Caleb?'' A rumble through the floor. "Don't rock the boat, Ben." Shattered light bulb, quaking walls. "You might fall over. Too late, you're drowning in Lucas' lies." "I never said that I want Caleb to turn out like Lucas." "You wouldn't do anything to stop it, would you?" "There ain't nothin' I *can* do to stop it. Caleb's got to do that himself. He's got to become his own man. I have faith in him. He's come a long way." "Spoutin' the party line, again, Ben? Why did I ever think you could be anything but Lucas' lackey?" Ben reached for her. "Listen, Merly, all this anger, it ain't helpin' anything." Dress and shoulders cold beneath his hands. "Caleb needs your love more than ever." Merlyn shook herself free of his touch. "Useless. That's all you've ever been." Ben winced. "I'm sorry for that, but you're not much good to Caleb, right now, yourself. Let's concentrate on getting you better." "You could always break my neck, as an act of mercy." "Merlyn!" Icy stare, eyes burning. "Too much of a coward, Ben? You always will be. Benjie better hope he never needs you to save him from Lucas. You'd just hand him over, wouldn't you? You'd give Lucas the knife and watch him slit Benjie's throat." Horrified, Ben backed into the door. The knob was sticky to the touch. Blood all over his shaking hand. Crumbling to the floor, green glow too bright to look at. "Please, God Almighty," whispered, shattering the moment. Merlyn vanished, leaving pain to fill the void. He struggled to his feet, tremors fading, but not forgotten. ****************** "I'm in charge of dunking people," Matt said through whole wheat and pastrami. "It sounds foolish to me." Loris blew on her soup. "Have you ever tried to say no to Dora ---?" "Not recently." "Well then. Besides, she's right, every kid in town is trying to be first in line to fall in the water. I thought Caleb might get a kick out of it." "Where's this going to be?" "Right at that lovely bend where the meadow reaches down to the river's edge." "The current runs fast there." She shut her eyes, images of white bone bobbing on the dark flood. "My mother never let us go there. She said. . ." "There will be netting and all kinds of safety gear." "She said it was a moving tomb." Loris continued to sip her soup as if nothing remarkable had been said. "Why would she say that. . . .?" "My great-great-grandmother Amaryllis drowned there." "Maybe Caleb shouldn't . . ." "Maybe not." "You don't have to go, I'll try to get switched with Louis, he's working the soda stand." "I want to go." She probed at the contents of her soup bowl. "I'd like to actually see the place, at your side, to revision it as it were." "You could be my good luck charm?" Matt smiled. Loris smiled back. *** BJ looked in from the hall, watching the menfolk without their knowledge. "I think the piece goes there." The rocket on the kitchen table grew with steady application. Benjie's quiet laughter and soft voice filled the empty spaces of the room. A little healing for Ben's heart. "What's wrong, Dad?" Deep breath, "Oh, ya know, us adults, always got something to worry about." Shy grin. "Girl trouble." "You think, huh?" "Get her something. Flowers, or chocolates. That'll fix whatever's wrong." Ben reached over, tousled his son's hair. "Don't always work that way. It gets more complicated as you get older." Benjie groaned. "Tell me about it." Surprised, "Yeah?" Benjie looked away. "Nothin'." "Well, when you want to talk about it..." BJ smiled. Progress was being made. *** Victoria Madison squared her shoulders and watched the Temple boy. The class was over and as usual he was slowly picking up his books and papers, glancing her way shyly between each movement. "Caleb?" "Yes, Ma'am?" Bright eyes shining. "I wonder if I could ask you a favor." "You can ask me anything, Ma'am." "You're so impulsive, Caleb." "You're my teacher, aren't you?" The boy insisted. "You want to help me and I want to help you." Ms Madison's eyes softened. It wasn't a real smile. It was sadder than that. Her eyes could go all soft and tired, like an old picture .. . .in a locket. "What do you know about poetry?" "Not a whole lot." Caleb admitted. "The Winter Festival has asked our class to recite something at the ceremonies and I thought you might like to help me pick it out." "I'd like that a lot, Ma'am." "I've marked some places in this book, see what you think might be appropriate." Caleb picked up the heavy text. Selected Works of William Shakespeare. He opened it to a page of heavy iambic pentameter. "If you can help me with some of the words, I'll sure give it a try." "I know we could find something perfect, you and I, together." "Together, yes, Ma'am." He watched the pale light pick out the highlights in Ms Madison's fair hair. "What does Œincarnadine mean?" "Red. Red as flowing blood." Her voice was crisp and brittle, her thoughts and glance far away. Like a statue in the brilliant white daylight. *** Ache, deep in the center of everything. Spreading out from her, and in and through the ring. And underneath, soft and sweet, the siren's call of the river's flowing current. There, on the edge of time, Merlyn felt a sense of forgotten power. Red flowing from her hand, blood upon the water. No doubts, no inner turmoil, just purpose. Strength in the knowledge of her own goodness. She smiled at the memory, closing her eyes, wishing to step back through time. ...Splashes in the water. Black as the night. A hand dark as the water reaches up to nothingness. Long black strands of thick hair sinking beneath the surface... But the water shone with the brightness of the afternoon sun. No one in the river. Voices behind her, people with eyes sightless to her form. A couple, laughing, putting down a picnic basket. "It's such a beautiful day." "It feels more like spring, than winter." "And we had such a cold fall. Well, I'm not going to question it, just enjoy it." Clink of glass, red, red wine poured. "I want to be alone," Merlyn whispered. Bright sun she couldn't feel. The woman's face turned up to it. They were warm, and she was cold. "Oh, goodness gracious! Where did that wind come from?" "It's like an arctic blast!" Red wine spilled, spreading out along the blanket. "It wasn't such a good day for this, after all." Hurried packing, rush to the car. Shiver with every step. Warmth from the ring. Strength, and power, and warmth. Warmth for the dead. For the damned. Wine spreading through the grass, blood upon the water. Merlyn bent over, dipping her finger into the water, and from her spread the cold within her heart. The river froze. Merlyn was finally warm, the ring aglow on her finger. ... Splashes in the water. Black night. A figure tall, hulking. His white skin a beacon in the dark. Pushes into the water, white hands pushing. Splashes. Fingers, slender, clutching. Too weak. One dark arm falls aside. Stillness in the water. Moonlight on the arc of wet throat. Breathless. Sinking into cold water. Thick white hand grasps the lifeless arm. Long hair floating still upon the surface. A triumphal grunt. Ring wrenched from dead finger. Ripples. Stillness. The black water empty... Merlyn clutched the ring, and it's warmth, close to her body. *** Ms Madison locked up her classroom and walked briskly to her car. Caleb carrying the big volume of Shakespeare right behind her. She was shivering, you could see the chill on her skin. "I have never seen the climate change so dramatically, rapid as an eyeblink." "Things can turn like that," Caleb snapped the finger of his free hand. "It's Trinity Weather." He set her book in the trunk and stripped off his sweatjacket. "You'd better put this on." Ms Madison held the grey fleece in her hands. "All you have is a bicycle." "Yeah, but I pedal real fast, keeps me warm." Caleb grinned and then said real fast before he could stop himself, "And you're a lady." He was afraid she would treat him like a child. Return the scrap of cloth. She threw his jacket around her shoulders. "Thank you." The temperature was dropping so fast, her words came out in icy puffs. "Orphans of the storm." "That's us." Caleb agreed, swinging his leg over his bike. "Except. . ." "What?" "I ain't really an orphan." Their eyes met for a moment before the boy pedaled off. *** Cold, empty halls of a place that once held so much warmth. Even in her ghostly state, Judith shivered. This building, here in the middle of Goat Town, had been a refuge for the children abandoned by fate and the people of Trinity. She could see them all, again. Laughing and playing. Learning to let go of the darkness they all knew far too well. The memories rushed past her, like the children on the way to the playground. Her own little girl calling her, "Momma," running to her. Judith leaned over, scooped her up in her arms. Shared laughter too sweet for here and now. The power of memory faded, and the present kicked back into gear. Faith pushing back the pain. Faith and knowledge. Judith climbed the stairs, crossed over into the art room. A hand laid against the drawers, and she knew their contents. And what was missing. Telltale signs of her own foolishness. Judith bowed her head, heard a low whistle. She turned. The walls of the room were freshly painted, children's pictures pinned up. Lucas Buck leaned against the door frame, his deputy's hat in his hands. Smiling, charming, thoroughly at ease. "Ma'am, you are a sight to be seen." Oh, the warmth in his voice, the sincerity in his eyes, the soft deference in his tone. She was the only woman in the world. And for that moment, he was the only man. Memory overcoming judgment. Her gently whispered reply returning to her lips, "I'm a married woman." Softness replaced by equally seductive assurance, "Now that has got to be the biggest shame on God's green earth, you married to a man like Gage Temple. He doesn't have the capacity to understand his own luck." "You should leave my husband out of this." Grinning, "That's my intention, ma'am." She caught her breath in encore, and shook herself out of the spell of memory. Spell of something, anyway. She was alone. Blessedly, alone. ********************* Ben Jr. tugged on his father's hand, pulling him out the front door. "Look, I told you it was snowing!" "It wasn't in the forecast." Ben stared at the tiny flakes accumulating at rapid speed. Over an inch on the ground, and more coming. All while they were making and eating dinner. "Boy, it's cold." Benjie began to pack a snowball. Hard work with so little to use. Scrapes of green grass amongst the white. Ben fought back dream images of frozen crows. Icicled gingerbread and eaves along the rows of old homes. He shivered. Ain't nothin' like that. Just a normal snow. Thud! Snowball to the side of his face. Wet cold in his ear. Sheepish, "Sorry. Aimed too high." Ben sighed with exasperation. He wiped at the snow. Beyond Benjie, blacker than the dusk, Merlyn watched. He tightened his mouth. Closed down his feelings. Turned his back on her dark spirit. Second's thought. Spun around again with the offer of hope. She was gone. Too late. "C'mon, Benjie, this is a hot chocolate night." "Aw, Dad, can't I stay some more." Quick glance into the empty darkness. "Sure." Warmth in the kitchen. Set the kettle on, pulled the box out of the cupboard. "Glad to see you didn't yell at him." Jump, spilled packet all over the counter. "Jesus, BJ, you could give a body some warning!" BJ pulled herself up on the counter. "Wasn't sure I should." Look away. "I'm sorry." "So am I. You OK?" Look back. "You have snow in your ear." "Believe me, that ain't news." "You've been doing a good job with him. Helping him with his homework, and building that rocket, and such." Warm, surprised smile. "Thanks." "It's about time you got your priorities straight." Big sigh. Business as usual. Beneath the attic window, the desolate wastes of Goat Town were masked by snow. It fell in a steady rhythm. Judith watched it, the crease of worry on her brow. She sighed, and looked around the room. A dark, crowded space tucked under the eaves. Memories in abundance. The old armoire standing by the door. Sentinel before her purchase of the house. Door swinging open, revealing it's secrets. Flowers upon the breeze, airy cloth too delicate for words. Her dress. "You've got to celebrate, ma'am. This is a huge achievement, opening this place for all the children who need help," the sound of reason, patient and tenacious. "I can't accept a dress as a gift, Lucas. It's too personal." "You don't have to tell him. I know I won't. And it's not like he'll get you one himself. You should look nice on opening day, for the children's sake." "How much did it cost?" "Now, that's money better spent on supplies, don't you think?" Handsome as sin. "How much did it cost, Lucas?" "You are the stubbornnest woman." Colder, but, still, something there. She could see it. She knew she could. Nothing there. Back to the present. She knelt down. Bottom drawer opened at her request. Pictures from her past. Charcoal and pencil strokes of her life. Merlyn, sunny as a summer's day, playing tea with her doll. Lucas. So many, too many, of Lucas. A first attempt of a later, better picture. The words the same, a banner across the top, "Illusion of Free Will." She held it up, to see it better in the fading light. Merlyn, behind her shoulder, saw it perfectly. "I used to think that it wasn't your fault. That you watched over us with love. I found you, again, after I died. And you were everything I ever remembered. It was all an illusion. You never protected me from anything." "Merlyn! I have been so worried about you." "You lie as well as he does." Soft, "You need more time, don't you?" Face twisted with pain, confusion, "I wanted to believe, Momma. You helped me with Caleb. You were at my side. But none of it was true. You never loved me." "My darling little girl. I loved you all my life. All my death, too." "You cared more about Lucas than you ever did Caleb and me!" Tears in her eyes, "Love comes in many forms." "He raped you, Momma! How can you ever forgive him for that?" "I don't know." Clear blue eyes facing the truth. "Maybe the hate wore itself out. Maybe loving his son drove it out." Anger running through Merlyn like poison. "I feel like a fool, Momma. I tried to find you some justice, and you're still in love with your own murderer!" "Oh, my dear, I never learned how to stop loving, once I started. It's a lot easier than fighting him. You have a chance of winning." Judith stood, holding out a hand circled with light. Merlyn pulled the green of the ring behind her back. "If Lucas died tomorrow, would you still love Caleb, with that demon part of him?" "He'd still be Caleb. Somewhere." "Yes." Merlyn's eyes widened. "Oh, no, you can't believe there is anything inside Lucas worth saving. He's evil through and through. Oh, Momma, won't you ever learn?" Tearing away from her mother's reach, she ran out, passing through the window, into the dark night. Snow falling in the silent aftermath. *** "All right, Dr. Crower," Dora bustled forward, clipboard in hand. Matt turned from the nurse's station. "You can give hay rides, can't you? It's too cold for the dunking booth." "Yeah, sure. I don't see why not." Checked off. "That's if the weather's good, otherwise it might be sleigh rides. Think you can handle that?" "Actually, yes. I drove a sleigh once. Up in Massachusetts." Look down, softly under breath, "Our first Christmas together." "Thank God. At least that's one thing covered. I'm going to have to rethink the whole Festival if the weather keeps up this way." "It'll be a real Winter Festival." Roguish smile. Sweet laugh. "It always was." She leaned over the counter, handing an envelope to the nurse on duty. "But one thing won't change. The nurses still get to come to the Festival without working on it. Here are your comp tickets, dear." Aside to Matt, "We all know who does the real work around here." *** Tap on the shoulder. Ben looked up from his typing. "Hi, Rita." Swift glance about, no one around. She held out an envelope. "I've got tickets for three for the Winter Festival, Saturday. I thought that Ben Jr. would like to go." "I'm sure he would. That would be great." He stood. "Good," uncomfortable. Lucas Buck leaning against the wall. Rita gave Ben a quick peck. Eyes on the sheriff. Ben wrapped his arms around her. Swallowed her in his embrace. Kiss deep with passion, longing. Stop for air. Rita brushed back her hair. Breathless, "You used to be such a simple man, Ben." Pulled her coat around her. "And I used to be such a simple woman." Sad eyes. "Times change." "They sure do." She walked to door, turned to wave goodbye. Ben nodded back. Lucas winked. *** Lucas stood in Dora's front hall, holding out a large box tied with a pink ribbon. She eyed it with a trace of suspicion. Brushed the snow off the shoulders of her coat. "Always nice to find you here when I come home." She hung the coat up on the old-fashioned rack. "I must talk to the maid about letting in strangers while I'm away." "It hasn't been that long, Dora." Again, he proffered the gift. Amused tolerance in the slow, graceful opening of the box. "How exquisite." She held the fur muff up into the light. Silver fox, like her hair. "I thought it might come in handy." "Pun unintended, I hope." Pause. "What is it you want, Lucas?" "Nothing," innocent as a newborn babe. "I've missed you." Eased his arm around her waist. Moved her towards the parlor. "How's the Festival going?" "Ah," with understanding. "Spit it out, Lucas." "I was just thinking, seeing as how the weather has taken a chill, that you could have ice skating. It would be a real treat. Who knows how long it will be 'til the next time the folks get the chance." "It's too dangerous." "The river is frozen solid. Trust me." "That's a loaded phrase." Steady gaze, measure the man. "You promise me, no one will get hurt?" Held up his hand. "Scout's honor." "Somehow, I doubt you were ever a scout." Raised eyebrows. Steady gaze, measure the woman. "I promise, no one will get hurt." *** The bleakness of Goat Town was welcome. Merlyn felt at home amongst the dirty streets, broken-down buildings. She shone with her anger. Bright and clear and black. Beautiful and sleek. Like the crow shivering on the railing to an abandoned storefront. She could feel its bewilderment at the sudden change in climate. But she felt no desire to soothe it, as once she might have tried. Another presence, the crow unaware. Merlyn silent, no warning offered. Pounce, blur of tiger-stripes. Cat's claws dug in deep. Merlyn watched, her eyes drilling into the cat. Frenzied claws and teeth. Blood spurted, staining the snow in great trails. Crow ripped to shreds. Feline howl. Blood on the snow. ...A black woman, dignity in face and form, standing by the river's edge. Tall white man grabs her, spins her about. "You thought you could leave me, Amy? I own you. Body and soul." She pulls her arm away. Calm grace. "I can tell everyone you were trying to escape. I can do anything to you I want." Harsh face, lined with more than age. Proud, she lifts her hand. A ring upon her finger. White stone. "You can't touch me." Too calm, too sure of herself. "You've been holding out on me, Amy, and I don't like that. My, it's pretty. But don't you be thinkin' it'll save you from me. You've never been as strong as I am, with or without that thing. Give it to me." Lunges for her. Black night. Black water... Blood on the snow. Merlyn gasped. The cat gone, disappointed with the little remains of the crow. Merlyn stared at her hand. Red stone glowed in the night. ******************************** Booths went up quickly in the brisk air. Dora Bentley laid out her plans. Hot cider and crullers near the sycamores, lines laid to the public toilets for electricity. Guylines tied tight near the sleigh rides. The wind could gust up off the frozen river. Everything dusted already with snow. "Careful, where you step!" Another workman nearly slid on the frosty grass. Dora punched in a number on her cell phone. Ms Madison hadn't left for school yet. Good. "There'll be some changes in the poem the children recite. No, not length. I think the best poem for our festival would be 'Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening.' Yes, Robert Frost." Waved the men with propane heating units over to the cruller stand. "I know you wanted Shakespeare. But it's snowing out and this is simply more appropriate. It would be nice for the parents, too. It's a more familiar poem." The skating booth with its little landing had to be managed next. She rang off. *** Caleb leafed through Robert Frost's poems. "They're nice, Miz Madison. I think I read these before. My. . .Doctor Matt has this book." "I just wanted more for you. Something to stretch the understanding." "There's lots in here. I like that road less traveled one. You know anybody who's gone down that second road? That rough road into the woods? They ever make it back to tell what they found?" "I don't think the poem quite explains what that road is, Caleb. It's different for everybody." Her fragile body bent a little closer to the desk, her arms supporting her a little stiffer. "We're not doing that poem, Caleb." "I know, it's too sad, I think. Cause it's a hard road, Ma'am, and I believe I've been a ways on it myself. Do you think both woods in those poems are the same?" Ms Madison reached out and clasped the boy's hand. Her fingers were cold. He rubbed her skin a bit to warm her up. "The woods are lovely, dark and deep. But I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep," She stopped reciting. Couldn't or wouldn't go on. Caleb finished it. "And miles to go before I sleep." "I'd like to hear you say that last verse, all by yourself, Caleb. I think you understand the poem better than I do. You understand it's heart." "For a Yankee poem, it's all right." He wished he knew what he'd done to nearly make his teacher cry. "That was a joke, Ma'am." *** "You look as happy as a pig takin' a shower. What's eatin' you?" Rifled through Ben's paper work. Crumbled report, tossed in the garbage. "Not that hot date with Rita, I hope?" "Lucas, I needed that!" Firmly, "No, you didn't." Heave a sigh, "Everything's just fine, Lucas. I'm lookin' forward to goin' to the Winter Festival with Rita and Ben Jr." Shifted his seat. "It'll be fun." "Quite a family affair, eh, Ben?" Bitten lip, no answer. Lucas ambled away, coffee in hand. Sly glance at his boss, slipped open his top desk drawer. Merlyn's picture. Only photo he had of her. Can't even tell about the neck from this angle. Chalk line a little disconcerting. Drawer shut. Yell to the back, "Floyd, we get any faxes in today?" "Nope, not a one. Nobody ever sends us anythin'." *** Rolling the round white ball to watch it grow fatter. "Caleb, this'll be the base. You want a snowman or a snowwoman?" "Frosty was a man, wasn't he?" "To all reports." Matt stretched out his tongue to catch a snowflake. "You know how to make snow angels?" "I think I've had my fill of angels." "You two are going to catch influenza out there." Loris, wrapped in a white quilt, leaned on the porch railing. "Not with our flu shots, one of the benefits of being in a doctor's family." Blue Crown Vic rolled slowly to a halt in front of the boarding house yard. "Don't worry, Loris. This is what winter is supposed to be. It's a pity we don't have any skates, Caleb, there's nothing like flying across the ice." "If the ice is safe enough," Loris added. That fast current carrying her kin away to death. Not Caleb, too. "Skatin' on the Trinity River!!" Caleb sighed. Ran to the Sheriff's car. Leaned in the window. "Ya want to help us make a snowman? We gonna put Frosty right by the front steps." Lucas glanced at Loris shivering. Baleful look in her eye. "You already got a Mrs. Frosty up on the porch. I think I'll pass. Nice and toasty warm in the car. Wanta take a drive?" "Nah, we're already cold and wet, can't get any worse." Two sets of hands pushing the middle section of the snowman together. Lucas' eyes even colder watching them work. "We got coal for the buttons?" "And a carrot for his nose." Matt nodded. "This is a Crower family special." Quick glance at the darkness inside the dark blue car. Just a slight smile of pride, just a small gotcha-lucas-buck. Caleb looked back at the car, too. Seeing the emptiness. "Sure you don't want to play? You can't work all the time." "Freezing to death ain't playing. But listening to you up on the dais, reciting Robert Frost, now, that I would be proud to hear." The boy drifted from the snowman towards his father's voice. "It's kinda a short poem. And I only say a little bit of it alone." "There are no small parts." Lucas grinned. "So, should I pick you up early to try out your new skates? Olympic models, fast as wings." Caleb's eyes lit up. "I'd offer to drive the whole. . . family, but you're going to be busy, aren't you, Harvard? Trinity finally found something you can drive. Don't worry, I'll bring the boy home in time for supper." "Would it be all right?" Caleb asked, torn as usual. "I can keep him safe on the ice." Buck's eyes met Loris' family fear. "The boy has been wanting to skate. Thank you, Sheriff." "All right!" Caleb smiled at Matt and started rolling a ball for the Snowman's head. "Drop him by the sleighrides when you're done. Two hours should be plenty long enough." Loris added. "Good thing it's a short poem." Buck gunned up the Crown Vic. *** Hush of evening in the garden beside the Buck mansion. Green smothered by white. No imprint left in the snow by ghostly feet. Pristine. Judith closed her eyes. The garden sparkled with the twinkle of white lights strung through the green of bush and limb. "Oh, Lucas, it's beautiful!" breathless wonder as she turned about. The dress he gave her lifting with her movement. The pattern, a cloud of petals around her. He smiled. His uniform turned a gray mist in the dusk. She stopped in front of him, simple joy on her face. He brushed her hair away from her cheek. Touch leaving a shock of pleasure. "Things should be special for a first kiss." She shook her head, drawing away. "Someone else's." He grasped her arms, pulling her closer. Again, she shook her head. "You can't." "I must." He captured her mouth with his own. Tremble of her lips, her only movement. He lifted his head, breathing rapid, a look of surprise, almost fear. "Judith----" Withdrawal. He straightened, cool, confident. "We'll have to work on that." She stepped away. Steadied her breathing, brushed her skirt flat. Restrained, "I was wrong to come here. It won't happen again." Eyes falling away from his intensity. Whispered, "This has got to stop." She sidestepped his reaching hand. Fled from the enchantment of garden stars. Turnaround at the gate. "Stay away from me," cool determination in her voice. The beginning of the end. "You know," Lucas said from his porch. Judith's eyes popped open. Snow lightly swirled around her. "This whole mess is your fault." Wry and dubious, "What do you mean?" "Merly's neck problems, my ring, Caleb's identity crisis, everything, even the snow, wouldn't have been a concern if you had been reasonable. We could've been raising our son together, right now, if you hadn't been so stubborn." Handsome as sin. "Is that a lie you want to believe?" "It's your responsibility. Protecting that pure goodness of yours is at the heart of so much pain. Were you too busy harmonizing with angelic choirs to wonder what was going on down here? No wonder your daughter hates you so much. And you haven't learned a thing, have you? You're still too damned stubborn. For a smart woman, you can be such a fool." He turned on his heel and entered his house. She touched her locket. Something odd. Flip open the little oval of gold. Smiling faces, happy family. Herself, Caleb, and Lucas. Confused eyes flitted over the garden and towards the cold, lit windows of the house. Whispered steel, "Be careful what you ask for, Lucas Buck." *** Deep, amongst the tall spindles of metal, skeletons of wood. Tomorrow's Festival in the throws of birth. Eerie in the midnight. Merlyn huddled by the shore of the river. Mesmerized by the depths of the blood red stone. Warmth, from without. She looked up. Snow melted around her. Spit and crackle of a fire. Amy, crouched, stirring the ember, firelight like bronze upon her skin. She took a bag from the pocket of her long skirt. Herbs tossed into the flames. Sweet smell rose with the smoke. Firelight catching on the milk white stone of the ring. Merlyn unwound herself. Moved forward, closer to the warmth, to the woman. "So, this is where you've gotten to. Get up, woman, and get back to where you're supposed to be." Amy stood, facing the man with his harsh face, and towering frame. Sandy hair reddish in the fire's glow. Impatience edged with anger, "Amaryllis, I am warning you, I am not in the mood for this tonight." He sniffed the air. "That smell better mean good things for me. I spent a heap of good money for you, because I knew as soon as I laid eyes on you, you had the arts. You reeked of it. I own you, Amy, and that means I own what you own, including what you know. Now, I've been patient, but I've reached my limit. You are going to do as I say. I want what's mine." Amy shook her head, and walked to the edge of the water. "Master Buck, you have no power over me. I am done with this place." Merly raced to Amy's side. "Run, run, he's going to kill you!" Amy turned and smiled at Merlyn. The fire exploded. Duck from the flying embers. Merlyn opened her eyes. Alone at the river's edge. ********************** Slosh of snow on grass. Sounds of laughter and excitement. Ben hesitated below the banner proclaiming the "Annual Winter Festival." Rita tugged at his elbow. "C'mon, Ben." "Cool, Dad. You want to play snowshoe volleyball with me?" "What?" bewildered. "See, over there." Benjie pointed. "Well, that's one way to do it, I guess." Looked pretty silly to Ben. "What about that snow sculpture contest, over there?" "Aw, Dad." Ben wasn't paying attention. There were icicles on every booth. He swallowed. Selena Coombs walked by, pregnancy wrapped up in a long white fur. Ben couldn't tear his eyes away. *** Above her rose the place of her mothers hopes and dreams. Dead and empty in the middle of Goat Town. Like Merlyn, herself. "Merly!" Amy's voice. Search about, no one there. "Leave me alone! I can't do anything for you. Don't you understand? I can't stop it," Merlyn's words more hopeless than helpless. Warmth of the fire. Merlyn turned. Across the street, Amy knelt. Fire on the sidewalk, river behind her. Merlyn felt the rush of time, images flashing past her. Sensation of a tunnel, connecting her to the dead of long ago. Amy reached into her pocket. Shiny and bright, the ring Merlyn knew too well. Amy slipped it on. Hands over flame, unharmed. Ring glowing white. Merlyn felt the ring on her finger warm. Red glow bathing her in its light. "Merly!" Amy called again. She looked up. Directly into Merlyn's eyes. "I can help you, if you let me." *** Ben handed his son a few bucks. "Just get the cider and donuts. For three." "Gotcha." Off he went. Harness bells tinkled behind Ben. He turned, not sure what he expected. Matt and Loris sat in a horse-drawn sleigh, trimmed in gold. Blankets strewn on the seats. "Wait...wait...I know this...Bells on bob-tails ring, making spirits...bright, oh what fun...it is to...it is to...I know this." Matt laughed, looking happy. Loris chuckled in return, wrapped her arms around him. "You've brought joy to this place, Matt Crower." "All by my little lonesome? I don't think so. But you are having a good time, aren't you?" "Indeed I am, sir. And I thank you." A golden sleigh, a golden carriage...the white bright horses brushed by Ben's whirling mind. Oh, this was *too* weird. *** "Help me? How can you help me? You can't help yourself." Cross the street, step into the fire's glow. Watch the river flow behind the other woman. "The ring." Amy held her hand for Merlyn to see. Earnest and hopeful, "It harnesses the power within oneself and helps to channel it. Good or bad. But my death tainted it. And the years of Buck use has made it worse. It's no longer neutral. But you can change that. You have the potential to use it for good. To make the right choices." Merlyn pulled back. "I can't! I'm not strong enough." "We can be strong together." Anger, fear, "It's eating me alive!" "You're not alive, Merly." "Don't you think I know that!" Break away. Escape from the pain. *** Ben was searching frantically for his son. The hot cider stand was crowded, but he could easily tell that Benjie wasn't where he was supposed to be. Jogged past the snowshoed volleyball players, on to the pie-eating contest. A juggler bumped into him. Balls rolling in the snow. Shied away from an alligator carved out of ice. "There you are! I told you to come on back with the cider." He took the plastic tray from his sons hands. Look about. "Where did Rita go? Benjie, I wish you hadn't run off. Actin' like a four- year-old." "I saw a friend. I thought we came here to have fun." Felt like the world crowding in on him. A crow flew to the edge of a nearby booth. Shaking snowflakes off it's wings. "This ain't my kind of fun!" "Ben! Look what I found." Rita, bun undone, hair about her shoulders. Looking free and happy. Womanly. She held out a blood red rose. "Dora couldn't cancel the order, so they're selling them, anyway. It looks pretty in the snow, don't you think?" Feeling of panic. "You didn't smell it, did you?" "Of course I did. It's heavenly." "Nothin' heavenly about it." Ben saw Lucas strolling by with Caleb at his side. Mock salute to his deputy, Buck's long black coat flaring. Caleb in a green striped sweater. "That's it. We are *out* of here." "We just got here! I'm not going!" Benjie stalked off. Ben couldn't grab him with the tray still in his hand. "Get back here, young man!" *** Merlyn ran into the street. Ignored the approaching car, the slick pavement. Blaze of green, her hand alight. "Why is it everyone always wants something from me? Why can't anyone want me, just for me!" Amy stood. Concern, "Caleb does, Ben does." "No they don't, not anymore!" Merly cried. She raised her hand. Green glow enveloping the car. It swerved, skidding on the ice. Rammed into a telephone pole. "Use the ring to save yourself ," Amy insisted. Merlyn approached the car. Peered in the window. Herself in the front seat, head bleeding at the temple, by the hairline. "It's too late for salvation," voice dead. *** "What is with you? Relax, Ben, and have a good time. Come skating with me." Sweet smile. Rosy cheeks. "No. I...I can't. Not skatin'." "Oh, Ben, I haven't skated since, well, since I can't remember." Coaxing, "I think it would be awfully romantic." "The ice, it'll crack, you'll fall in, you'll die. I can't watch that again." "What are you talking about, Ben?" puzzled. A step away. The river was clearly frozen. Ben could see several skaters from where he stood. It looked perfectly safe. But he knew better. He could see the cracks run around his footprints. He could still hear the words from his dream... "You have to choose." "I can't!" "Sure you can! The question is-- Which one do you really want? This should be an interesting decision, ladies, pay attention." "Buck, help me," Ben cried. "We could pull them both to safety." A huge crack split the ice between Ben and the Sheriff. "Looks like that's not an option, Benjie." Buck smiled. "Besides, this little dilemma is illuminating. For all four of us."... He had to chose. He placed the tray on nearest flat surface, one of the booths. "Rita." Grabbed her shoulders, looked her in the eye. "I can't do this no more. It's over. We can't see each other, anymore." "What? Why not? I thought you cared about me!" "I do. I really do. You are a terrific woman. But I just...there's someone I just can't forget." Pull away. Voice shaking, "I can't believe this. After everything you put me through. I really think I could love you." Swallow back the tears. "How could you, Ben?" Deep gasping breaths, like a man saved from drowning. "I'm sorry, Rita. I truly am. I never meant to hurt you. But I haven't been fair to you." "Barbara Joy is dead, and you still love her! How does that work, Ben? How do you love a dead woman?" Good question. "Some things just are." It wasn't really an answer. But it was all he had. "I gotta go find Benjie." He left her crying in the snow. Lucas came up behind her. Offered a hanky. "Ya win some, ya lose some." Leaned over, in her ear, "Boom!" ********************* Merlyn stared at the girl in the car. It wasn't really herself. Some pretty girl with red hair she'd never seen. Once, long ago, she could remember being tucked into bed. Mamma's golden hair falling beside her face, brushing her cheek. "Will God forgive Daddy?" Kiss on the forehead. "Dearest, it's never too late for salvation." Merlyn passed the green glow of the ring over the bleeding wound. Let loose of her anger with a deep sigh. Watched the girl's eyes flutter, the wound heal. Damage undone. She flexed her hand, tremors from the effort. Merlyn looked over. Amy was gone. But she could see Ben crouched behind a booth. Shredding a rose, watching the petals fall to the snow. The river frozen behind him. She rubbed her fingers free of the phantom pain. Crossed the street, and crossed through to Ben's side. "Ben? Can you forgive me?" "Merly!" He held her so tight, he thought he might break her. "I want to be with you, Merly. You. Nobody else." "I want that, too." He lifted her hand, the one with the ring. Kissed her palm. "We'll find a way through this. Somehow." She nodded. Saw him with understanding eyes. As she had done long before. A man of hope, if not a lot of courage. But, maybe, just enough. *** "Well, Lucas! May I have a word with you?" Took him aside, out of Caleb's earshot. "Dora. Wonderful job this year. I'm having a splendid time." "Are you?" Strained smile. "That's the last favor I'm doing for you." Amused, "What's the problem, Dora? Nobody fell through the ice. I told you no one would get hurt." She gestured to Rita sitting forlornly on a log. Not bothering to lace up her skates. "There are all kinds of hurt, Lucas. Rita Barber didn't deserve that little scene." "You think I had something to do with that?" surprised innocence. "My deputy's love life is his own business." "Lucas, never question my intelligence. But, don't worry, personal favors are excluded. If you ever need a back rub, just...whistle." Lucas grinned. "You're a stubborn woman, Dora." Ambled over to Caleb. Whistled Dixie as he laced up his son's skates. END DISCLAIMER: Any story/episode appearing that states it is part of Virtual AG-Season Three is based upon the Television show, "American Gothic", which is the property of Shaun Cassidy, Renaissance Productions, and CBS (apparently). The characters added to support this concept, and the storylines, are the property of the writers acknowledged as such. PLEASE, DON'T SUE US!!