Coincidence or Fate

Tales from the Kingdom of Tyndall #6

“Well, Remy,” I said out loud to no one, “another day’s work.” I had just finished my work for the day, the light of day was gone, meaning work was done. I had been working the area of my land I had deemed the flattest, hoping to be able to get it to a condition that would allow for farming. Step one was removing the large rocks, a grueling process.

As I came near my log cabin, which was nearing completion, I heard a rustle in the woods. I went to investigate, and was shocked at what I saw. There, lying on the forest floor, was a woman. It took me a long time to react. I should have been immediately kneeling down by her and seeing if she was okay.

But my mind was distracting me. What is this girl doing out here? How did she get here? Who is she?

Finally, I pushed those thoughts away and my instincts kicked in. I got down on the ground and called to her, “Hey, are you alright. Can you hear me?” With no response and no movement from her at all, I carefully rolled her over onto her back. I brushed her hair back from her face and received the second shock of the day.

I know this girl. I hadn’t forgotten that blonde hair and beautiful face. It was her, the woman who I had saved from getting crushed by a falling tree. Josephine, that was her name. What in all the kingdom, was she doing out here? After lightly tapping her, and then a little harder, and still no response, I started to worry that she was dead. Unsure of what else to do, I scooped her up in my arms and carried her back to the cabin.

I set her down on my cot and lit a couple of candles to cast some light in the cabin. The candles made shadows dance on the wooden walls and temporary canvas roof as I placed a candle next to the cot. I examined her as she lay there. No obvious injuries, but she was in rough shape. She was covered in dirt and her skin color seemed not right.

With no other ideas, I placed my hand just below her chest and went still. To my absolute relief, I felt my hand raise ever so slightly. She was breathing, shallow, but breathing. I was no doctor, and worse, I didn’t even know if there was a doctor on the island. All I could think of to do was to make her as comfortable as possible.

I readjusted the pillow under her head and pulled my one blanket over her. Satisfied, I sat back against the opposite wall and waited. I leaned my head back against the hard wooden logs and let out a sigh. I was in over my head here. I really had no idea what to do. All I could do was wait. Wait and hope she made it through the night.

As I sat there, feeling helpless, my mind drifted back to that day when I had first seen her. Aside from her beauty which I obviously noticed, she had looked unsure of herself, lost. Maybe she was lost. Could she still be lost, is that how she ended up here?

This question and others assaulted my mind as I watched her sleep. As I sat there I slowly drifted off to sleep. I woke some time later, but it didn’t feel like it had been that long. I looked over at the cot, and her eyes fluttered open for a second. I quickly sprang to the cot. Her head was rolling back and forth, her lips barely moving. But it was enough. I quickly retrieved my water skin and, using my left hand to support her head, I slowly tipped the water skin with my other hand. It only lasted a moment, but that moment of her being alert and taking water gave me hope.

The rest of the night passed by much the same. With me falling asleep only to wake a little while later. My mind was on high alert, and would not let me fall into a deep sleep. And a good thing, that. For I was able to help Josephine to small tastes of water a few more times throughout the night.

As the morning light began to flood the small cabin, my eyes struggled to stay closed against the brightness. But then, remembering the situation, they shot open despite it. And I heard a small voice say, “Hello.”

“Yes, I am here,” I replied, containing my emotions at the sound of her voice. I again raised her head and brought the water skin to her lips, and she took the biggest drink she had taken thus far.

“Thank you,” was all she managed to say before she drifted off to sleep again.

But she didn’t need to say anything else. In fact, no words were needed at all. I had no idea what the circumstances were that brought this young woman to be in my care. But here she was. No matter the reason why or how it happened, it was now my responsibility to nurse her back to health.

At this moment it had nothing to do with who she was, or who I was.

It didn’t matter that we had met once before, or that I had thought she was beautiful. Didn’t matter if this was a coincidence or if it could be fate that she ended up at my cabin. All that mattered right now was that she had stumbled onto my land and was in desperate need of my help. And I would do everything in my power to help her.

I almost laughed at the realization that she was the first person to visit me; Lord Remington’s first guest. I couldn’t have my first guest die on me, now could I. As I leaned back against the wall of my cabin again, two words came back to me. Coincidence and fate. Perhaps I will never know which one of these brought Josephine here. But either way, something told me that my life had just changed, and hopefully for the better.

Read More From The Kingdom of Tyndall: Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5