Past Meets Present

Alex was awake, showered and dressed before the sun came up. She was surprised to still hear hushed voices emitting from the dining room. Wondering if Nelly had slept at all she quietly made her way down the stairs. She knew that nothing would be open at this hour so she decided to have a cup of coffee with her hostess and whoever else might be in the kitchen. She passed a small group of men sitting at the large dining room table who were going over cleanup plans while eating eggs, bacon, and hash browns. She waved a hand in response to their greeting and entered the well lit kitchen where she found Nelly bustling about making biscuits and other breakfast foods.

“Mornin’, Nelly” taking her usual seat, Nelly quickly brought over a cup of coffee and sat down with her cup in hand. “Did you get any sleep?”

“I tried but I just couldn’t, my mind kept going back to that poor Mr. Quint. You know I’ve said all along that he was a nice fellow, just misunderstood.” Alex smiled at this remark for she had heard the exact opposite come out of Nelly’s mouth. “He’s just trying to make this world a better place. I think if he had a good woman in his life he would be in a much better shape. How about you?” Alex spit her coffee out across the table. “You’re right; you and Will are much better suited for each other. I’m sure somebody will come to mind…” Alex didn’t bother answering but allowed the widow to prattle on; she found the endless chatter amusing.

Giving her thanks for the early morning coffee, Alex headed out the door in the direction of Trumper’s. After she left the upper end of town she stepped into a completely different looking environment then what usually greeted her. Smoke spiraled up from smoldering fires, glass and debris littered the street, and the usual traffic flow was non-existent. A few police cars and fire trucks were still on hand finishing up business. Already some of the shop owners and early risers of the community were beginning repairs. Although devastating, the raid would probably bring the neighborhood even closer together.

She found Will helping Mr. Trumper clean up the ruined produce. Without asking, she grabbed a broom and dust pan and started sweeping up the leafy mess on the walk that used to be a display of lettuce and cabbage. The owner looked up and smiled in appreciation. The place was cleaned up and ready for business by its usual opening time. Mr. Trumper sent the two young people away to get a bite to eat.

Strolling into Al’s Diner which had remarkably escaped damage thanks to a mysterious young man named Stan; they took a seat at a booth by the window. After placing their order and some polite chit-chat Alex began to disclose the conversation she had with the two “heroes” back at Nelly’s. “When I asked them if they knew anything about a box or key that their friend might have left in my bags they shook their heads no but suggested I check with the local lock smith. You don’t know where I could find him do you?”

“Yeah, that would be Mr. Keys. I can take you by there when I make deliveries. Did they say what they wanted with this old man?”

“No, just said he was a friend of theirs who was missing and they were trying to retrace his steps. The only reason they linked me and him together was because dear Miss. Nelly made an offhand remark that I was a real cowgirl type, complete with saddle bags and boots. Seems this guy they’re looking for is the one who returned my things but they didn’t know anything about a box.”

“Could be they weren’t telling the whole truth, just like you weren’t” remarked Will before taking another bite of egg. Alex looked out the window at a loss for words. She had disclosed bits and pieces of her past to her new friend but had left out little details like she was born in 1886 or that she had some nightmarish encounters in the forest that he loved so much.

After breakfast they returned to the produce stand to pack up the van for deliveries. Mr. Trumper was determined to run business as usual. They were in the neighborhood of the Hotel Grande when Will directed Alex to the locksmith a few doors down and agreed to meet her there after he finished delivering to the hotel.

The little store smelled of metal and the constant hum came from a machine sitting at the end of the counter. Keys of various shapes, sizes, and colors hung from hooks that lined the walls. In the center of the store were two short aisles containing door knobs and locks. “Can I help you?” A slight man with large glasses came out of a back room. He was bald with a thin moustache lining his even thinner lips.

“I was wondering if you could tell me anything about this,” she produced the key from its hiding spot beneath her shirt and slipped the cord over her head handing it to the clerk.

Walking over to the counter he brought forth a magnifying class and studied the ornate key for a few moments. “Yes, I know this key. A fellow came in here a few years back with a bar of gold and wanted me to make a key out of it. I told him that pure gold would be too soft but offered to put a gold plate on it. Where did you get this?”

“A gift.” she said offhandedly. “Can you tell me the name of this man?”

“Can’t forget it – Jake Small. Strange fellow, wore boots with spurs on them and a big cowboy hat – looked like something out of a western.”

Alex felt her knees go weak and she heard a hight pitched ringing in her ears, the room spiraled around her and she collapsed onto the concrete floor.

“Alex!” Will ran into the store where he found the girl laying on the floor the clerk knelling next to her patting her cheeks. “What happened?”

“No idea, I was talking to her and the next thing I know she fainted.”

The fog began to clear and she could hear the two men talking above her. Slowly the blackness began to leave and her senses began to function again. She could feel the cold hard floor beneath her and smell the metal of the keys and there was a familiar scent as well – tomatoes and onions. “Will?” She opened her eyes and the blurry faces before her began to clear.

“I’m here.” Came the familiar voice, “just take it easy.” She sat still for a few more moments and then with the aid of the men got back to her feet. “What happened?”

Alex thought for a moment until she remembered what happened, her heart began to thump loudly in her chest. “Small, Jake Small, where is he? What did he say?”

Will looked puzzled as did Mr. Keys but the little man quickly spoke up registering the urgency in the girl’s voice. “Last I heard he was going to Antipodes Island. Said something about trying to stay out of trouble. But that was a few years back, who knows where he is now.”

Retrieving the key from the counter she place it around her neck once more. Thanking the clerk she quickly left the shop, her mind reeling from the news.

“Alex, what’s going on?” Will pulled her to a stop on the sidewalk.

“How do I get to Antipodes Island?” her eyes had turned into a cloudy gray color and she had a crazed look on her face.

“By ship, of course, but what is this about?”concern causing his deep voice to sound husky.

“I’ll explain later. Where’s the docks, I’ve got to get passage on a ship.” She looked around the street in the hopes that the ship yard would be in view.

“Listen, how about I take you back to Nelly’s?” before she could protest Will continued with his plan. “I’ll take care of getting you a ship; I’ve got connections that I can call on.”

Alex reluctantly agreed and rode in silence, while Will stole worried glances at her. Once she was dropped off at the bed ‘n’ breakfast she took the steps two at a time to her room ignoring the greetings that assaulted her upon entering the still busy establishment. Sensing that something was amiss, Nelly excused herself from her crowded parlor and followed the girl to her room. “Come in, Nelly, I know it’s you.” Nelly entered the room to find Alex hastily packing her belongings.

“Are you leaving us, dear?”

“I’m afraid so, Nelly. I just received some disturbing news in regards to some old business of mine and I need to follow up on it.”

“Well, you’ll need some luggage if you’re going to take all of this with you.” The kind lady quickly left the room and soon returned with a suitcase. “Here, this should do.”

Alex tried to decline the offer but Nelly wouldn’t here of it and began placing clothes into the piece of luggage. Reaching into her saddle bag she retrieved the little pouch of gold, “Here, I think there’s enough in there to settle up the bill and then some.”

Offended, the little round woman pushed the money bag away, “Get that out of my face, I’ll not have one shilling from you.” Not wishing to hurt the woman’s feelings she did as she was told.

“Nelly, I’m afraid I’m leaving Will with a lot of questions, if he should ask…”the girl looked down at her boots struggling with the guilt that tugged at her conscience.

“Of course, dear, I’ll explain everything to him once you’re gone. Are you sure you want to leave everything behind to pursue your ‘buisness’?”

It was an innocent question but Alex knew what "everything" was referring to and didn’t wish to answer, much less think about what she would be leaving behind. Nelly quietly left the room so that Alex could be alone with her thoughts. The usually cheery woman walked slowly to her own room, tears running unchecked down her cheeks.