The Secrets of Springfields

Chapter 1-1

CHAPTER 1

Spring 1976

Richard looked at his wife, Amelia sitting in the back of their horse-drawn gypsy caravan. She looked so pale. All his medical knowledge combined with Amelia’s natural medicines hadn’t helped make her any better. Richard was so worried, Amelia and Elisha, their daughter were his life and he shook his head at the thought of losing either of them. He didn’t want to think that way. He thought only of getting to Springfields and his father. Richard’s father was a retired doctor, with connections in the city. If his father couldn’t help Amelia, he would know someone who could.

Richard had pulled off to the side of the road to give the horse a rest and also allow Elisha to stretch her legs. He entered the caravan to check on Amelia, who smiled up at him; the same smile Richard fell in love with over twelve years ago. Other than looking pale, Amelia hadn’t changed one bit in Richard’s eyes. She was still so beautiful. Even through her olive complexion you could see how pale she was. Her dark hair was looking very dull and those piercing blue eyes didn’t smile like they usually did. Richard shivered…

“Da, how is Mammy doing?” Elisha asked as she entered the back of the caravan.

“She isn’t very well, once we get to Springfields, Mammy can have plenty of rest. She’ll get better soon.” Richard hoped upon hope he was right.

“The horse has finished his feed, Da. Shall we get on our way now?” Elisha was so anxious about seeing Marjory.

“Yes, dear, I’ll hitch him up and we’ll be on our way.” Richard was as eager as Elisha to get to Springfields, though for a different reason.

As Richard was hitching the horse, he looked over at Elisha. She was picking daisies, but she wasn’t just picking them randomly, she was checking each one before picking them. Choosing the right flower for what she wanted, they had to have a thick stem, the bud had to be new, as she was making a daisy-chain for Marjory and it had to last until they got to Springfields. Richard knew she had the same gift as her mother, the ‘Knowing’ of plants. You can teach someone about plants and their healing powers, but you can’t teach the ‘Knowing’, as this is a gift from the spirit. Amelia had told Richard this when they had first met. He had watched Amelia on several occasions checking the plants before she picked them, going back to the same place each time for certain plants, knowing they would be the best. It always amazed him. When he had met Amelia he was in his last year of medical school. Richard smiled as his thinking went back in 12 years…

Bang, bang, the huge knocker at the front door went. Richard was in the middle of studying and wasn’t very pleased at being disturbed. In his anger he stamped down the hallway and threw the front door open with such a force he nearly knocked himself off his feet.

“What?”

There standing at the door was the most beautiful women he had ever seen; she stopped him dead in his tracks. He was embarrassed and flushed brilliant red.

“K-k-kind sir, would you like to buy some of my lucky heather, or some fresh herbs, I picked them myself just today?” Amelia looked very frightened and spoke very quickly; she hated doing the door knocking, as very rarely people greeted her with civility and here stood a very angry-looking man. Amelia was ready to run for it.

“Err um, sorry I thought you were someone else. Yes, I’d love to buy some of your lucky heather, as I could do with all the luck I can get at this moment. Please wait a moment.” Richard walked off to get some money. When he returned Amelia looked a bit more settled; she handed him the heather and in return he handed her a five pound note.

“Oh, that’s far too much,” Amelia handed the five pound note back to Richard.

“Please take it as an apology for my rudeness”

Amelia’s eyes were like saucers; she couldn’t believe it, a whole five pounds. That’s more than a whole day’s work.

“Many thanks, kind sir, may you have lots of luck in your life.”

Richard couldn’t stop looking at Amelia. Seeing this, Amelia gave a little smile and turned to go.

“Wait, may I know your name?”

Richard sounded very desperate. Amelia turned looking very shocked. “Have I done something wrong?”

“No, I... I... I would just like to know the name of my good luck charm.”

Richard couldn’t believe he had just said that, but he just knew he had to find out more about this lovely woman.

“I’m Amelia. Thank you once again for your kindness, but I must go now, good day.” and Amelia walked down the path. She wondered if this man was still watching her and as she got to the bottom of the path; she turned to look and there on the doorstep, he stood staring after her. She hurried down the road with a skip in her step, thinking what a good-looking man he was, and very gentle energies and she thought ‘I wonder why he needed luck, he looked like he had everything’ She ran back to the camp to tell her mother of her luck.

Richard couldn’t get back to his studying; all he could think of was Amelia. How old was she? Was she married or engaged? and lots of other silly things Richard had never bothered thinking before. He looked at himself in the mirror, “Sort yourself out man and get back to studying; you have an exam in three weeks.” He went back to his books, but he couldn’t focus on his studies and decided to go for a walk. Richard was just turning off the centre of the village when he came across another of the clan selling their wares.

“Buy some lucky heather kind sir?”

Richard said, “Thank you, but I’ve already bought some; can you tell me where you’re camping?” Richard didn’t know why he had asked.

“The farmer’s field on the right of the village,” Answered the young girl.

Richard thanked the young girl and went home. His stomach was telling him it was dinner time.

Amelia rushed up to her mother, Sylvia, “Look what I’ve earned today!” showing her the five pound note.

“How? What happened?” asked Sylvia!

Amelia sat down and told her the story.

“What a generous young man, and from what you tell me a very handsome one too?” Sylvia enquired with a tilt of her eyebrow.

“Well I suppose he was okay. What I found strange, Mammy, was he felt he needed a lot of luck. He lives in a big house and obviously isn’t short of money, why would he need a lot of luck, Mammy?”

“Looks can be deceiving, Amelia. What we consider lucky, like you earning five pounds from one house,” Sylvia laughed, “Would be just a little bit of money to someone else. We all judge luck differently.”

Amelia nodded in agreement.

“This’ll keep us going for a few days, well done” said Sylvia.

Amelia handed her mother the money and went off to find her friends. She would boast a bit about how much she had earned today. That night both Amelia and Richard thought about each other, wondering what each was doing.

The following day was much like any other day for Amelia: picking herbs, making potions, and selling them. As for Richard he was finding it very hard to concentrate on his studying, so decided to go for a walk. Before long he found himself on the edge of Dowell’s big field, not knowing how he’d got there, or what he was going to do. He stood for what seemed ages watching the clan, when a young man approached him. “Can I help you, sir?”

Richard was startled “Err sorry, no, I was just walking to clear my head and found myself here.”

“Well, everything happens for a reason, would you like a drink before heading back? It’s a very hot day.”

The word ‘yes’ was out of his mouth before he even thought about it and he was walking with this young man into the traveller’s camp. Richard had no idea what he was going to do if he met Amelia; all he knew was he had to see her. The young man sat Richard in a makeshift chair and offered him a large cup of water. He drank it down all at once not realising how thirsty he had been. He thanked the young man and said he had to be on his way and started to walk back to the road, when he heard female laughter. He looked in the direction of where the laughter was coming from and it was then he noticed Amelia. He couldn’t help staring. She was even more beautiful than he had first thought. As the sun hit her hair it shone like coal - and those piercing blue eyes. He knew he had to see more of Amelia.

Richard didn’t know the young man who had given him the water was also looking at Amelia with very fond affection, but he noticed the way Richard was looking at her, and didn’t like it one bit. The young man stepped forward, “Would you like me to show you the way back to the road?”

Richard was shaken from his daydream, “No I’m fine, thank you. I’ll find my own way.”

Amelia, who had heard the men talking, looked over and was shocked to see her kind gentleman talking with Donny. She watched as Richard started walking towards the road, she slipped through the trees and watched him as he walked away from the camp. Richard had a funny feeling someone was watching him and he turned. Amelia was well hidden amongst the trees, so Richard didn’t see her. He shrugged his shoulders and set off for home, he had walked some metres before he got confused wondering which way he came in from, he stood at looking around. Amelia stepped out from the trees, “You look lost.” Asked Amelia as they both stared at one another.

Richard said “Yes. I feel a bit silly as I don’t remember which way I came in. Can you show me the way?”

“Err sure,” Amelia said very nervously.

Donny was standing in the trees watching them and ran back to the camp to tell Sylvia what had happened.

As Amelia skipped back into the camp her mother was waiting for her.

“Where have you been?”

Shocked, Amelia replied, “Walking.”

“With who?” said her mother, sounding very angry.

Amelia was shocked at the intensity of her mother’s voice; she had never heard her mother speak this way before.

“You were with that man from the village. I know, Donny told me all about it.”

“What did Donny tell you?” Amelia was getting angry herself now, not at her mother, but at Donny for being such a child, running back to her mother to tell tales. Sylvia told her daughter what Donny had said.

Amelia was not pleased. “I just wanted to thank him again for his generosity. He wasn’t sure which way he had come in so I walked with him to the road.” Amelia was very unsure as to why her mother was as angry as she was; usually she was a very helpful and generous woman and had taught Amelia to be the same. “What’s wrong Mammy? This isn’t like you”

“You stay away from the village folk, they’re not like us and don’t understand our ways, you could get yourself into a lot of trouble, heed my words, child.”

Whilst Amelia would never do anything to upset her mother or go against her teachings, Amelia was a little upset, as she rather liked Richard. He seemed strong, caring, and very handsome and she liked the way he looked at her and how gentle his voice was. Amelia nodded at her mother and walked away to find Donny.

As she walked round to where Donny’s family were camped, she noticed Donny standing with his back to her talking to some of the other young men of the camp. As Amelia walked up to Donny, she picked up a stone and threw it at him. Luckily one of the other men saw what was happening and pushed Donny aside. By the time Donny was back on his feet Amelia was at his side, looking like the devil.

“Are you spying on me now Donny?” Amelia asked angrily.

“I-I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Donny looked down at his feet; the other men sniggered and walked away. Donny had told them he and Amelia were dating, which of course was a lie; It was only Donny’s fantasy. Amelia was so angry she could hardly speak, but then reason stepped in and Amelia started questioning herself as to why she was so furious.