Once Upon A Time ~ Book 1

Chapter 98 - The Stranger's Home

Emma drove her car up a driveway to a beautiful, huge house where Jefferson lived. She pulled in next to the stone steps to the front door and Jefferson and Emma stepped out of the car.
"Wow, this is your house? Looks more like a hotel." said Emma, gazing up at the house. "You must have a huge family."
"Nope, it's just me." said Jefferson limping to the steps.
"Here, wait." Emma sat back in the car and turned off the engine, then she went around and helped him up the steps.

Emma stood by the fire in his decorative, beautiful living room with ornaments and furniture so unique.
He then walked into the room a tray of tea in his hands. "There we go." he put it down on the coffee table. "I thought you might want to warm up for your search. It's cold out there." he began to pour the tea.
"That is kind of you. But I think I should get back to it."
He held out the cup of tea. "I know. That's why I brought this." he picked up a map from the coffee table. "I'm a bit if an amateur cartographer. Mapping the area is a hobby." he unrolled the map and laid it out on top of the grand piano.
Emma drank from her tea and looked at the map.
"Maybe this will help you track down your dog."
"Wow." she examined the map.
"What's his name?"
"Spot."
He smiled. "Cute."
"Well, Route six runs the boundary of the forest." she took another sip of her tea. "So, if I just follow that, I should.......be able to........" she fell against the piano, feeling light headed.
"Something wrong?" he looked at her concerned.
Emma's eyes flickered shut, her head spun. "I'm just feeling a little......."
She fell back and Jefferson stepped closer, catching her.
"Let me help you." he lifted her up.
"..........dizzy." Emma panted, struggling for air.
"Let's just lie you down here." he dragged her to the couch and lay her down. "There you go."
Emma cup was still in her hand, dangling from her finger tips above the carpet. Her eyes flickered as she struggled to keep them open.
"Let me get you some air." he walked to the door.
Emma saw watched him, her eye sight blurring. "Your limp......." she said in realisation.
He stopped. "Oh." he turned his head to her. "That." he smiled. He then walked back to her and stared down at her as she attempted to sit up. "I guess you caught me."
Emma's head spun like crazy and she dropped the tea cup on the carpet. "Who are you?........" she said her voice drifting, then her eyes finally shut and her head fell back against the red qnd black pillows on the couch.
Jefferson beamed, staring down at her unconscious body.

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The market was set up in the courtyard in the town. Peasants sold food, cloths and toys.
Grace ran towards a market with toys, dolls and soft teddys.
"Come!" called the old, frail woman with crooked, yellow teeth and long grey hair beneath a shawl selling the toys to the people crowded around the markets.
Grace looked at a fluffy white rabbit, holding it gently.
"Wouldn't this make the perfect guest for our tea parties?" she said smiling as her father walked towards her. "Can I have him? Please?" she hugged the teddy.
Jefferson looked up at the old woman on the other side of the stall. "Excuse me, how much for the rabbit?"
"That cost one silver." she answered, her voice muffled and difficult to understand.
Jefferson reached for the money in his coat pocket and counted it. He scoffed. "Would you take it for eight coppers? That's.......all I have."
"Well, you are a good father. You're last coppers for your little girl's happiness, huh?" she chuckled.
They smiled and Jefferson held out the coins. "Thank you."
"Oh, I dido not say I accept."
His face fell.
"Alas, I cannot take less than one silver. The economy....." she grunted and took the rabbit from Grace. ".......you understand?"
People behind them complained and attempted to rush them.
"It's okay, Papa. Come on, people are waiting." said Grace.
Jefferson held out the coins again. "I will not take no as an answer."
"Papa, please. I don't need it."
He put his arm around her. "Come on, sweetie."
The old, crippled woman limped away to the wagon nearby, the white rabbit still in her arms. She stepped in front of a mirror hanging by the door of the wagon. The man in the mirror appeared, the Genie.
"Well, that was awfully cruel. You could have at least let the girl have her toy." he said to the old woman.
"Where's the fun in that? Hmm?" said the old woman, Regina's voice speaking rather than the muffled voice. Then her face changed to Regina's beneath the shawl, smiling maliciously. She then laughed, showing her rotten teeth as she turned back.

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Emma moaned through the fabric tied over her mouth, as her green-grey eyes flickered open. She looked around Jefferson's living room, still lying back on the couch, by the fire lit next to her. Her hands were tyed and her feet were duck-taped. She looked around for a useful resource and saw the white teacup on the cream carpet. She grabbed the red pillow next to her with her teeth around the fabric and lay it on top of the cup. She then sat up, stamping on the pillow, shattering the cup beneath it. She kicked away the pillow fell onto the carpet, taking a piece of the broken glass with her hands tied around her back. She cut the fabric tying her hands, then pulled it from around her mouth and pulling the ducktape from her leather boots.
She got to her feet and walked to the window, looking out into the dark forest, then attempted to open it. She tried each window, but she couldn't open them. Then she spotted a telescope sitting up by the window. She peeked through and saw through the other end, the Sherif's station. She moved it a little and then saw a clear view of her empty, lit office.
She stepped away and looked up as a scrapping sound caught her attention.
She sneaked to the door and opened it gently, peeking through, into the hall, as the scrapping continued. At the other end of the hall, in another room, Jefferson stood, in dim light, shaping something on rough stone. Emma watched then saw as he held them up at an angle by the light, silver, shiny, sharp scissors in his hands.

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Jefferson stood in his cottage, cutting one last loss end of the white, tattered rabbit he had made. He put the scissors down and walked to Grace who sat by the fire, at her little table with her teddys, serving tea for them. He placed the rabbit down next to her and sat down.
"I know it's not the same as what you wanted." he said.
"I love it, Papa." said Grace.
He smiled.
"Thank you."
He sighed as Grace pretended to pour some tea and take a sip from her tiny cup. "Mmm! That is really good. Don't you think so, Mr. Tortoise?" Grace said to her teddy, petting the soft tortoise. "Papa, do you like your Tea?"
Jefferson looked at up at her, out of his daze. "Grace, I want you to go to the neighbour's for the rest of the day. There's work I have to do."
"Can't I come with you? I like being with you in the forest."
"I'm not going to the forest, sweetie."
"This has to do with the Queen's visit, doesn't it?"
He leaned back a little.
"Whatever she wants you to do, don't do it!"
He got to his feet. "Grace, I have to. I want you to have what you need." he went down on his honkers next to her and pit his arms around her.
"All I need is you, Papa. Please stay."
He lifted her up. "Come here. I know." he carried her to the door. "I'm sorry, baby. I have to go." he let her down.
"Just promise me you'll come back. You have to promise."
He took her cloak and wrapped it around her shoulders. "Of course."
"For our tea party. Promise?"
"I promise. I won't miss it for the world." he looked into her eyes and smiled. He kissed her head and opened the door. "Go." he pulled up her hood and watched her as she ran towards a family by the woods. They talked to her and put their arms around her, open-hearted.
Jefferson then walked to a wooden trunk ans pulled a blanket off it, unlocking it and taking out of it a leather, circular box.