Chapter 15

Jareth stepped out of the bathroom after composing himself. He was not sorry for his lack of completion; tasting and hearing her had been well worth it. It was the look in her eyes when it had dawned on her that he was fading again, that had stung him the most. He looked into the kitchen to see she was not there. Frowning, he turned, looked to her sitting room, and found her there scowling at her computer.

Randy looked up as soon as she sensed him. She pouted and looked down over his attire. “The clothes didn’t stay?”

“I am afraid they are lying on the washroom’s floor as we speak.”

“I’ll pick them up in a bit. Come sit.”

He was puzzled at her tone. “I am sorry, little one.”

She snorted. “Don’t be. Especially about anything you did.” Her cheeks flushed slightly. “I have a plan, and you need to chip in here so I can make it happen.”

Giving her a curious look, he went to the chair next to her. “What is this plan?”

She nodded her head toward the monitor. “We’re going to go get that gypsy’s cup or whatever it is.”

He looked to see she had one of the charts with many colors on them on the screen. “We?”

She nodded. “Okay, mostly me, but you have to show me where.”

He raised both eyebrows as he turned back to look at her. “The idea that it would still be there after all the years is. . .outlandish.”

“Maybe, but we’ll never know if we don’t try, right?”

He could not argue with reasoning such as this. “How do you plan to get it?”

She frowned at him. “I have no clue, and I won’t until you tell me where it is.”

Glancing from her back to the map. “It is not far from where you sit, love; you do not need that chart to locate it.”

“It’s close to Maine? You traveled across the oceans, and it’s been right here all along?”

“Close to here.”

“No wonder pirate treasures are never found. There was no logic to hiding them!”

He laughed. “Quite the opposite. Logic would indicate one would choose the warm climate areas or exotic locales. I chose a route traveled by few. . .that is, in my years.”

She studied him a moment. “Okay, so, where is it then?”

“On an isle of the New Brunswick province.” He paused for a thought, knowing her to be the only other soul he had ever told of this.

“Grand Manan?”

“Yes.” He looked at her for a moment. “I did say I could not travel to it; I did not say it was far.”

Biting her lip, she looked at him excitedly. “This will be easier than I thought. I was picturing flights and boats, but that’s like fifty miles from here.”

“I do not know the precise distance. I am sure you know better.”

She spun in the chair and typed into the search bar. A site for the island came up. She pointed to it. “It’s there?”

Leaning over, he looked at the screen. “I cannot be certain. It has changed greatly.” He watched her open different screens. “Yes.” He pointed to the one. “That is the island.” The very same hole in the rock had been there all the years ago when he had last walked on the ground near to it.

She read a bit. “You do know it’s a tourist place now, with a campground and everything?”

“I am aware. I was quite upset to learn a ship began taking others to it in the year eighteen thirty-nine.”

She winced. “Do you think it’s been found?”

“I was not able to follow all news of this, only what my form allowed me by hearing.”

Turning back to the letter board, she brought up many pages, one after another “It doesn’t say anything about a find like that.” She brought up a drawing. “Where are we talking here?”

He squinted at the screen. “Again with the colors. . .” He studied the drawing and the pictures she had made visible on the screen. “It was not called as such then, but I believe it is between ‘hole-in-the-wall’ and ‘fish head,’” he said awkwardly. What odd names modern people gave to places. “I would have to study for a time to find the precise spot, but I feel fairly certain it is near to the third threshold of the rock that juts away from the land.”

Frowning, she looked at the map. “Is it buried?” He shook his head. “Then where is it?”

“Down the rock face, set far back in a deep chink that would be quite difficult to see if you were not looking for it.”

“Over the cliff, you mean?” She brought another picture to the screen.

“This is why I do not think you—”

She glared at him. “Don’t you dare say I can’t do it because I’m smaller than you or a girl or anything lame like that!”

His eyes widened. “I was going to point out that it was difficult for me to do so at the time I did.”

Chewing her lip, she considered what he said. “I’ll figure it out.”

“That is what I fear,” he said quietly. “I do not want harm to come to you—”

“I’m a big girl, Jareth. It’s my choice to make.”

He knew the tone and he knew this was not the time to attempt persuasion. “As you wish, Miranda.”

~

Jareth watched her from a distance for the hours that followed. He was uneasy with the thought of her attempting to go over the edge to the rock and retrieve items placed there long ago.

“I need a mental break.” She flicked off the computer and turned to look at him standing silently by the window. “Feel like going for a car ride?”

“You have somewhere to be?”

She stood and stretched. “No. I just thought we’d test your boundaries and see if they have changed at all in the last few days.”

“To what point?”

“Just to see if they have. And I need to get out of here to clear my head.”

“Would you prefer I stay. . .”

“How would I test the boundaries if you’re not with me, silly?”

He grinned. “Of course.” He walked over and gave her an earnest look. “Could I have your word that you will drive your automobile at an easy pace?”

“I’ll behave and not make you sick.” She laughed softly.

“Good, then.” He walked toward the door.

“So we’ll start with East Port and work our way back to Cutler.”

“As you wish.”

~

Jareth had told her as much, yet she was firmly insistent on trying each boundary he had spoken of. He watched her drive, thankful that she was keeping to her word and not sliding at each turn.

Both held their breath as they passed the location where his sword had been reclaimed. Truth be known, the harsh feelings regarding that locale were no longer foremost in his mind. Replacing the wretched memories of the gypsy witch were new warm ones of a first kiss with Miranda. Heat filled him as he remembered it was slightly more than a first kiss they had shared.

“You’re really quiet.” She glanced at him. “Is something bothering you?”

Jareth smiled and wished that he could reach out to her. “Nothing is wrong, little one. I find I have much to mull over. The past days have been one long series of discoveries.” She smiled for him. “My mind insists on rehashing much of it.”

“It’s been a ride, that’s for sure.” She looked at him with her tongue between her lips. “I’ve been wondering how I’m going to explain your suddenly appearing in my life from nowhere, once you’re visible all the time.” She shrugged. “Jody is determined you’re a cover model. . .”

“What is a cover model precisely?” He had tried to think of the possible meaning when he had overheard her friend’s excited words.

“This should be interesting to explain.” She glanced in the mirror. “I’m sure you guys read fiction, tales of great adventures people made up, right?”

“Yes, there were stories to read, even back then.” He turned more to watch her as she drove. She was quite skilled at doing more than one task at a time.

“Okay, so now there are many books to choose from. Thousands of authors. . . Anyway, the cover of the book is what usually draws a person to it.” She looked to see if he understood. He nodded. “So it only makes sense to put gorgeous, sexy men on books you want women to buy, right?” When he didn’t reply, she looked over at him again.

Jareth sat there and looked at her. “Do I look like these cover men?” He might be a ghost, but he still needed to know he was desirable.

Randy laughed and then fanned her face. “You are so much sexier than any of those men. You have a charisma they only fake, since you’re the real deal.”

“The real deal?” he asked softly, not willing to admit to her that he did, in fact, understand, but wished to hear her say it.

“Yeah. They dress up and pretend they’re rough, tough pirates, and they do look good, but you, honey...you just ooze charm and yummy sex appeal. You’re both dangerous and cuddly at the same time.”

Although he did not follow all the words she spoke, he did comprehend, from her tone, how she felt he appeared. He also understood from the way she had all but purred the word honey, how much he appealed to her alone, and for him that was even more essential. He smiled back at her and was content to sit and watch as she continued on.

~

She backed up her car for the third time and stopped. “You’re sure this invisible line is right here?”

He looked in the now dimming light to the grounds surrounding the road. “Yes.” He pointed to a small grouping of large trees. “I have not been permitted to pass farther than those in all the years I’ve been cursed.”

Randy studied the trees. “Get out.”

“Pardon?” He gave her a disbelieving look.

“Walk over to the trees and see what happens.”

“Ah.” He got out of the car, not that it was a hard task as he had no need to open any of its doors.

Moving cautiously toward the trees, he stopped just as he would have reached them and looked back at her. Taking a long breath he moved forward. It was as it had always been. Some force he could not see prohibited his moving any further.

Heading back, he got back into the car without formal display. “It is as I said, I cannot.”

“Huh.” She moved the car forward again and crept past the point she had just watched him try to cross. “Maybe my car is part of it?”

He frowned, once more muddled as to the reasons he did not know. “Which belongs to your person.”

“It’s my car, so, yeah, it belongs to me.”

“Miranda, I believe it is you. Therefore, as your car is your possession, I am allowed to stay inside of it.”

“Just sit tight.” Miranda put the car into park and opened the door. She stepped out slowly and then walked a few feet from the car. He still sat, or hovered, over the passenger seat. “Can you get out and stay here now that we’re over the line?”

Raising his hands in the air, he moved slowly to get out of the car. He became a blur and then suddenly wasn’t there!

Randy turned in a circle. “Jareth?” She ran over to the car and looked on the other side of it. He was gone. She even looked under it; no Jareth. She looked back to the tree and followed the invisible line from it until she saw him standing there with a very clear “I told you so” look on his face. She got back in the car and backed it up to where he was.

Jareth appeared beside her again. She sighed. “Yes, you were right.” She shook her head. “It’s just—”

“Weird.”

Blowing out a breath, she smiled at him for saying that word. “It’s not like any of the rest of it is normal, but, yeah, weird.”

“I feel I have had my fill of car rides this day, little one.” She looked back to him and then nodded and turned the wheel to head toward home.

Randy glanced over at him a few times. “Okay, this long silence thing is starting to bug me.”

“I am sorry.” He turned to look back at her.

“Don’t apologize for everything. You can’t always do or say the right thing, Jareth. You’ll drive yourself crazy trying. Just tell me what’s wrong.”

“I am feeling”—he lifted his hands and then dropped them—“unrest. For each day we have shared to this point of time, it seems there is one more oddity or question added to the whole.”

She felt sorry for him. She was used to weird or screwed-up things; he was a little out of his comfort zone with everything so new. “It hasn’t been all bad, though, right? I mean you keep becoming...solid. Sorry, it’s the only word I can think of. And you just crossed over a boundary that you’ve been stuck behind for two hundred and forty-eight years. And, hey, let’s not forget I can see and hear you!” She glanced at him quickly. “We found your sword...you got to try the shower and the Internet.” She grinned at him. “I’d say you’re doing pretty cool stuff for someone who is from your time.”

“I concede all of that is true, and I am thankful for each piece of it. I am just baffled with the why of it.” He looked out the window. “Why, after this many years have passed, can you see me? Do not take that poorly; I do not mean it is wrong. I am just lost to the reason, and they nag at me, Miranda.”

His tone was so serious, she didn’t know what to say to him to fix it for him. “I know. I don’t why it’s happening. All I do know is I am really glad it’s happening now. I was pretty close to rock bottom when you reappeared in my life after a long absence.”

“I tried to keep my distance, little one. I failed,” he said softly.

“Why did you want to keep your distance?” She asked it quietly, almost afraid to hear the answer.

“I seem to have a fondness for you, ever since the first time I saw you as a small one. I have watched too many come into my awareness and then pass”—he looked over at her for a moment—“I could not take that with you, so I sought to keep apart from you and save myself that the pain.” He turned back and looked out the window. “I did not foresee how strongly I would crave you at this time.”

She pulled by her driveway and turned off the car before she answered him. “That is one of the sweetest things I’ve ever heard, Jareth.”

“I was not wanting to sweet-talk you, Miranda. I was just speaking the way of it.” He studied her.

“I know.” She opened the door. “Let’s go in the house. I’m so tired from thinking too much today.”

“I could take my leave and let you seek rest—”

“Will you stop trying to leave?” She shook her head and went into the house. The man was constantly apologizing and being so damn understanding, it was driving her nuts. Polite was a great thing, but she was finding out that there was such a thing as too polite.

Jareth came up behind her silently. “I have upset you again.”

Randy sighed and looked down at the floor. “I understand that you are from a different time, Jareth. I get it. I know things are vastly different now, but you constantly apologize and are so accepting of everything I say that it’s driving me nuts!” She turned and looked up at him. “You are...were...a pirate. Did you ever politely ask to take over a ship? I somehow doubt it.” She growled in frustration, trying to explain this to him. “It’s great to be nice to people, but don’t let it keep you from being who you are.”

“No, I did not politely ask for things when I was on my ship. I treat you as a lady should be treated and nothing less.”

She moaned and shook her head. “I get that. Times have changed, really changed. Sure, it’s great to be polite to a lady and open doors and all that, but”—she looked up at him for a moment—“I just feel like you’re not being who you really are inside with me half the time. Am I wrong?”

“I was much of the time alone, before the curse. I had my ship and crew and for the most part would take part in conversing with them. But I was the captain of my ship, and to maintain control I could not be...too friendly. Do you understand?”

“Kind of. Just do me a favor. Say what’s on your mind; don’t stop to check each word, okay? I certainly don’t.”

He frowned at her. “I will try. Now let me ask what is troubling you. You seemed more than fine on our journey and before that, as well, and now you seem…distressed.”

She smiled at him. They’d have to work on that polite topic some more another time. “I’m just frustrated and tired.” She rubbed her hands down her face. “I’m going to grab a bath; do you want me to put on one of the pirate movies or anything for you before I do?”

“I will be fine. Go have your bath and settle down some.” He brushed near to her hair and bent to place a soft kiss over her mouth. She was smiling at him when he lifted his head. “I will be in your room if you seek me.”

“I’ll be up soon.”

Giving a defeated sigh, she watched him go up the stairs. Okay, she’d overreacted a little...fine, a lot, but it was driving her mad! She wanted to hold him and touch him or even smack him when he needed it.

Having him right there all the time, right in her reach, was like putting a race car driver in a brand-new, never-driven model of a car and telling him to just sit there and not drive!