Notes/Warnings: No violence, no sex – pretty tame really but its all leading somewhere, I promise.
J.D. awoke with a start. He thought he heard someone call his name but there he was alone in his room. He closed his eyes and drifted back into deep sleep and back into his dream.
He was riding his horse in the hills behind the town. It was a beautiful sunny day. All the wildflowers were in full bloom and the air was full of butterflies and birds darting about. He breathed deeply – he felt so happy!
He looked across the field of flowers and saw another rider standing still, watching and waiting. He thought he could hear his name again, drifting on the breeze and, thinking it might be the rider ahead calling him, decided to go up and greet the stranger. As his horse stepped closer he heard his name again but this time it sounded like singing. As he strained to hear better he caught the sounds of music and realised that he’d been able to hear the music all along.
He looked again to where the stranger still sat upon the horse. Funny how they’re in shadow in all this sunshine. The bemused man nudged his horse into a trot and then a canter but the stranger still waited at the far edge of the field, no closer than before.
J.D. we’re waiting for you, the strange voice said/sang to him but no matter how fast he made his horse gallop the stranger remained out of reach.
Wake up J.D.! We ain’t gonna wait all day! J.D. looked harder, putting his hand up to shield his eyes from the sun now shining in his eyes. For the first time he noticed a second rider coming towards him. The rider’s silouhette looked familiar and J.D. raised his arm to wave at the figure.
Let’s go for a ride the second rider seemed to say.
The music got louder and louder.
J.D. woke up for a second time, the music still ringing in his ears.
"What the hell?" J.D. was confused, still only half awake, "A dream?"
He looked out his window, it was nearly dawn. By the time the young man was fully awake he was also fully dressed and heading out the door.
+ + + + + + +
Vin was saddling his horse when J.D. walked into the livery stable.
"Yer up early J.D." the tracker commented.
"Couldn’t sleep" J.D. replied as he began saddling his own horse.
"Bad dreams"
"Not ‘xactly. Weird, more like." He looked at Tanner who was just finishing and getting ready to mount, "You were in it" he told him.
Vin looked steadily down at J.D., he could feel a tingling sensation run up and down his spine.
"We were out in the hills and you were way ahead waiting for me, I think. I waved but you jes’ sat there, watching and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t catch up." J.D.’s eyes clouded as he remembered the unsettling feeling he’d had.
Vin’s horse stamped its feet, eager to be off.
"Let’s go then"
"Go where?" J.D. asked, suddenly confused again.
"Out ridin"
They rode out of town and didn’t stop until they reached a quiet field nestled amongst the rocky hills.
"I don’t remember this spot" J.D. said as he looked about. A strange feeling began in his stomach and, as the sun rose over the hills to light up the narrow valley, he gasped in surprised and recognition.
"This is the field I dreamt about!"
It was true, and as the sun hit the ground at his feet then travelled along the field he could see the wildflowers in all their glory. His mouth gaped in awe at the beautiful scene before him.
"Its even better than my dream," he looked across to Vin who was sitting quietly – watching J.D. The tracker closed his eyes and lifted his face to the early morning sun
"Vin? What is it?"
"Shhh! J.D. Listen," he whispered back. So J.D. listened, to the music from his dream. His eyes snapped open and he looked about nervously to see if the stranger was also going to appear. But there was no one else so he looked again at Vin. He’d never seen the other man with such a peaceful expression.
"Vin?"
Vin stayed silent, listening, then he nudged his horse forward and slowly made his way through the wildflowers. J.D. followed, mystified by the field, the music and his friend. He thought he should probably feel nervous but he didn’t. Things like this were not normal – at least not what J.D. Dunne considered normal.
As they reached the far side of the field and continued further along the hidden valley, J.D. noticed that the music he had been hearing traces of before was now much louder – no longer in his head but all around them.
"Someone’s playin’ a fiddle" he said out loud. The music invited them on through the bushes and past the large rocks that now littered the valley floor. They stopped at the base of a path that disappeared up the side of the hill.
"You go ahead J.D. I’ll follow" J.D. almost jumped when Vin finally spoke.
"I wish I knew what was goin’ on?" He asked, "this is weird, and I hate weird!" J.D. repeated in an unconscious imitation of Buck.
Vin just smiled and assured the young man that there was nothing to worry about.
"Get up there J.D. Ain’t nothin’ bad gonna happen"
J.D. gave the tracker a final, puzzled look then urged his horse up the path. About half way up the hill J.D. had to leave his horse behind, tied to a lone tree, as the path had all but petered out amongst some huge boulders.
He didn’t notice that Vin no longer followed.
+ + + + + + +
The music had softened and was lightly encouraging as J.D. scrambled up the last few rocks before reaching the top of the hill. He was puffed and sweaty as he pulled himself over the edge of one particularly large flat-topped rock and didn’t, at first, notice the figure sitting there. He wiped the sweat from his face then jumped when a voice spoke.
"Some climb, ain’t it?"
J.D. whirled around to see the strange woman who’d arrived in town just before the stage coach robbery. He’d heard all about her from Buck but, like Josiah, hadn’t actually spoken to her. Until now.
"Miss Macloud! What’re ya doin’ here?" He licked his lips nervously, "Are you … are you the stranger from my dream?"
She smiled at him, "You have nice dreams J.D." she said, confirming his suspicions. It dawned on him then that they were the only two on the rock and looked back down the path for Vin.
"Don’t worry J.D. Vin’s nearby. You’re safe here with me"
"Am I still dreamin’?" he asked, things like this just didn’t happen. Did they?
"You’re wide awake J.D."
"Would ya mind tellin’ me what’s going on then?"
"Look J.D." Tel said and spread her arms out before her, "What do you see?"
J.D. looked to where the woman indicated and caught his breath. Below them lay the valley he’d just ridden through, beyond that he could see other valleys and hills – even further off he could glimpse the plains rolling out to the horizon.
"I didn’t realise we were so high. Its like ya can see the whole world from here" The still rising sun shone brightly and warmly onto his face and he closed his eyes. As soon as he did a flash of something familiar came into his vision.
"Wow!" What was that?" he said opening his eyes again.
"Close your eyes J.D. and look. I have something to show you"
J.D. was confused, again, but did as he was told. This is stupid, sitting on a rock with my eyes closed, looking? How can I look with my eyes … oh my God!
Tel watched as confusion then annoyance, closely followed by wonder flitted across his face. She picked up the violin from where she’d carefully laid it only minutes before, fiddle indeed! And began to play a new tune that reached out to the waiting man beside her and delivered the message he was here to receive.
She glanced across to where Vin now sat on a rock close by.
Just be. The words whispered into his mind.
+ + + + + + +
The images that swam through J.D.’s mind were as confused as he was but slowly he began to make sense out of the jumble. He could see buildings, a street busy with people bustling along them. Four Corners. He knew it was the same town though it looked so big. As he relaxed he realised that now he could see the faces passing by as if he was actually standing in the street himself. He didn’t recognise any of the people but they all seemed to know him. Hang on a minute! They can see me as if I AM really here. He was seriously confused now and no longer certain if he was really sitting on a rock in the hills or back in town. His stomach started to churn as panic threatened to grip him. The music grew louder then holding him steady, giving him strength and he heard Tel’s voice, You’re safe J.D. You’re there and here at the same time. The woman’s voice in his head soothed him and he continued looking down the street nodding to those people who greeted him. He was just starting to feel comfortable with the situation when he turned a corner and bumped straight into ….
J.D. woke from his trance with a start. It was all a dream, he thought with relief, that was really … The sun was higher over head now and beat down on the young man, its warmth finally getting through to his befuddled mind. The music had stopped and J.D. saw that it was now Vin sitting with him on the rock.
"It wasn’t a dream, was it?" he asked tentatively.
"Nope" Vin smiled, "Not this time."
"You won’t believe what I saw Vin. It was Four Corners but it was bigger and there was more people, and I saw …."
"I think yer s’pposed to keep it t’yerself J.D." Vin interrupted him.
"But it was …. And he was …"
Vin held his hand up to stop him talking. From behind, J.D. heard Tel say,
"What you saw was the future J.D. and your place in it. Don’t think so much ‘bout what you saw, think about how you felt. You’ll eventually forget what you saw anyway but you’ll always have that feeling. Keep it in your heart J.D. Keep it safe and what you saw will come true."
"Is that all?"
"That’s all there is J.D. It’s a small thing but very important and when you come to a time when there are many paths to choose from, it will help you stay on the right one."
"I don’t understand, I’m not sure ‘bout what I felt"
"You have to think about it, work it out – but don’t fret ‘bout it. You’ll understand at the right time. For now, its part of you so, till that one day comes, keep it safe"
J.D. looked to Vin for help in understanding what he’d seen and felt, he wasn’t used to actually thinking about his feelings.
"Ya gotta work it out for yerself J.D. That’s part of it"
The younger man sighed with the frustration of not knowing it all straight away. Tel stood and picked up her violin.
"C’mon, time to go" and as the men stood as well she stepped forward and jumped off the rock. The men froze.
"Did she just …?" J.D. couldn’t believe his eyes, they were so far up. They both looked over the edge and could see Tel walking down the path towards the horses, laughing.
"I thought we were much higher up" J.D. said, surprised. He looked around him, still able to see the valleys and plains in the distance.
"This must be the strangest day of my life" he mumbled to himself. Even Vin was shaking his head in amazement – the view looking out was totally different to the one looking down. How does she do that? he wondered to himself. He straightened up, looked at J.D. then he too jumped off the edge to the path below.
"C’mon J.D. times a’wasting" he called out to the astounded youth.
+ + + + + + +
The three riders headed back to town. No one spoke as each reflected on the morning just gone. They stopped after awhile by a stream to let the horses drink their fill.
"Y’know, I’m already startin’ to forget what I saw up there" J.D. said to no one in particular. Then he asked Tel, "Will I forget everythin’ ‘bout this?"
"Most of it – some of it will stay with you, the important bits. But you won’t remember why, they’ll just be there, inside you waiting for the right time"
"What good will it do me to forget?"
"Got you thinking’ didn’t it?" J.D. nodded.
"That’s the good it done then. You got to think, work it out. Means nothing if you don’t work for it yourself"
J.D. didn’t look convinced but Tel would say no more.
"Someone’s comin" Vin said abruptly, and a few minutes later a wagon, surrounded by five riders, came over the hill.
"Hey! That’s Buck and Chris and everyone" J.D. waved to the group riding in.
"Quite a gatherin" Tel commented as J.D. walked forward to greet the newcomers.
The wagon pulled to a stop at some nearby trees and the men dismounted to help the women down. Casie Wells jumped down by herself and ran over to J.D.
"Hey J.D.! What’re ya doin’ out here?"
"Been out ridin’. Jus’ headin’ back to town. What’re y’all doin?"
"Havin’ a picnic!" Casie’s eyes gleamed with excitement.
"And this looks as good a place as any, lil’ darlin" Buck said to the girl as he walked passed leading his latest lady friend down to the stream, "We were wonderin’ where ya were J.D. Been off wanderin’ the hills with Vin?" he asked over his shoulder.
Vin walked over to the wagon to help with the unloading.
"Ya got enough food here for an army" he roughly noted.
"Just enough for us then" Chris said as he handed one of the baskets over, "Enjoy ya ride?"
"It was interestin" Vin replied, smiling.
"Mr Tanner" Ezra greeted, "Am I to believe that we will be enjoying your lugubrious presence at our soiree in the sunshine?"
Vin frowned at the gambler before answering gruffly, "Yep"
Ezra raised one eyebrow, "As monosyllabic as ever I see Mr Tanner?"
Vin turned backed towards him and smiled again, "Yep!"
"Not everyone has quite the gift of the gab as you Ezra" a woman’s voice said from behind him.
"Some quite less so my dear Loren" Ezra answered, "Please allow me to assist you" he added as she reached into the wagon and picked up the case she’d brought.
"A guitar?" he said, "I wasn’t aware that you played."
"On occasion – and what better occasion than this?" she stated.
The group spent the next few hours chatting, eating and generally relaxing, enjoying one of the few days where they could all be together without worrying about ‘bad guys’.
"I do believe that now would be a suitable time to partake in some light entertainment," Ezra announced reaching for the guitar, "Would you oblige us Miss O’Neill?"
"Certainly Mr Standish, I’d be delighted"
"Tel’s got a fiddle" J.D. informed the group. They all looked to Tel who’d retreated to the stream bank where she sat quietly talking to Vin.
"An’ Vin’s gotten real good with his harmonica" Buck stated.
"Let the music begin" Josiah declared before calling down to the stream, "Your musical talents are required!"
The two rejoined the group and looked inquiringly at the happy faces. Loren’s fingers gently strummed the strings of the guitar inviting her friend to join in. Tel fetched her violin from her horse’s saddle and the pair began to play a popular song that soon had numerous feet twitching and hands clapping. Without a break they went into another number even more lively and were soon joined by the sounds of the harmonica. The rest of the group could not resist the lively music any longer. Buck and his ladyfriend were the first to jump up and start dancing. As they whirled around in each other’s arms, Mary Travis hauled Chris to his feet and they too began to dance. Shortly all the couples were up and their laughter, mixed with the music, rang through the hills.
The musician’s kept playing number after number until all were exhausted. The dancer’s fell to the ground and the music came to a stop.
Only music can bring such simple release thought Tel as she looked at each of the exhausted dancers.
But the day wasn’t over yet as the guitar strummed on with a new tune unknown to those gathered around.
"That sounds like a challenge to me" Tel said to Loren as she came to stand before her. She stood there a moment listening to the complex tune as it grew faster, repeating itself over and over then she lifted the violin once more and rested it on her shoulder.
The first notes she played were so soft as to be almost inaudible. It was a slow melody, in contrast to the guitar, that gradually grew stronger and stronger until it seemed the two instruments were duelling for the attention of the listeners. Then suddenly the violin stopped. The listeners held their breaths in anticipation, waiting. They didn’t wait long as the bow was once again lifted and the violin began to sing – so fast this time that the bow and the arm lifting it almost disappeared in a blur of movement.
The violin sang louder now, drowning out the guitar as the music was lifted and carried in the slight breeze. Tel’s fingers flew across the fingerboard as she played on totally entranced herself by the music and the spell it created in the air around. The music eventually slowed growing deep and mournful, and the guitar took up the lead continually repeating its own song. Then it too grew soft and the two instruments gently teased each other with sound as they faded out and the music stopped.
In the silence that followed each person gathered by the stream – player and listener alike, felt the echo of the music in their hearts, their minds and in their souls.
+ + + + + + +
On the ride back to town Nathan found himself riding in the rear alongside Tel, with Vin and J.D. just ahead engrossed in conversation – well, J.D. was engrossed and Vin was doing his best to listen.
"Ya pretty good with that fiddle Miss Macloud" Nathan said politely.
"Thank you Mr Jackson"
"Where’d ya learn to play like that?"
"Picked most of it up myself – from listening"
"Listenin’?" he asked.
"To the world turn Mr Jackson"
Nathan peered at the woman, the world turn?
"Birds singing, the breeze through the trees and the grass, animals calling, people – laughing, loving, hurting, dying … I could go on but I think you get my point"
"Y’hear music in all that?"
"Sure – they’re the sounds of life, Mr Jackson, the music of creation"
Nathan laughed, "Ya should be talkin’ to Josiah"
"I will be Mr Jackson, I will be"
"Why are ya here, Miss Macloud?"
"To deliver a message Mr Jackson"
"Who to?"
"To whoever will listen. Your gettin’ yours right now"
"I am?"
Nathan pulled his horse to a halt and Tel paused beside him. Ahead, Vin had turned around to see why they’d stopped but he continued on as J.D. pulled his attention back to their conversation.
Maybe Vin should be The Listener too Tel thought as she watched J.D. start talking again and
waited quietly for the healer to sort through what she’d said to him so far.
"So, ya tellin’ me I gotta listen to the world turn too? How do I do that?"
"Close your eyes Nathan, what do you hear?"
"The horse’s hooves, the saddles creaking. Can hear ‘em breathin’ too". He leant forward to put his hand on the chest of his horse, "This one sounds congested" he noted.
"You’re a natural Nathan – what else?"
Nathan frowned in concentration, "The breeze in the trees, jus’ like ya said, and birds. J.D. talkin’, he sounds worried ‘bout somethin’. There’s somethin’ else too but I don’t know what it is."
He opened his eyes and looked at Tel.
"What does it sound like?"
"A low humming, comes an’ goes. There I can here it agin. Sounds almost like … your fiddle playin’!"
"A natural! Most people go through life never having heard that sound"
"So what is it?"
"The sounds of life Nathan. It holds us all together, connects us all – us, the trees and plants, the animals, the rocks, the earth – everything is connected by that sound."
"The sound of life … and the sound of life makes the world turn."
They were slowly catching up to the other riders, J.D. was bending Buck’s ear now. Vin had stopped and was waiting for them.
"Vin can hear it too, cain’t he?" Nathan realised, knowing that explained so much about the man’s nature.
"Yes, he hears it too." Tel flicked her horse’s reigns slightly and the animal picked up its pace to a trot. She paused slightly when she reached the waiting tracker and Nathan heard them share a few words. Vin lifted his hat to his friend following, turned his horse away, dug his heels in and took off over the hill, Tel following close behind.
Nathan kept at the same pace a little back from the rest of the group while he pondered the notion of connections and listened as the world turned.
Island of the Living [Next]
