Chapter 63: Shares

Thursday, June 3, 1971

There was light coming in around the drapes on the window in my small stateroom, when the opening of the door woke me. I looked up to see Jason, staring at the two girls sandwiching me in my berth. He saw my eyes were open, so he nodded at me with a silly grin, grabbed his bag, and headed for the small bathroom. Moments later, I heard the sound of the shower.

Jason seems to have grown up quite a bit in the last few days, under the excellent tutelage of Julie and Jenny.

As was becoming my habit, I scanned for the family. Kip was busy in the kitchen. Most of the adults were up and getting dressed, or were already in the Dining Car. Jason was the only teen stirring this early. I looked at the back of my left wrist to see what time it was.

“Damn! I have got to do something about getting me a watch!” I thought with exasperation for the umpteenth time.

I debated it for a moment, then scanned for Anna, Natalie, and Grace. They were up and getting ready to drive to Pueblo to catch the CIA jet back to Tennessee.

With my increasing abilities, it was not difficult to do; so I focused on Anna, and tapped her on her mental shoulder to let her know I was there.

“Good morning, Beautiful!” I thought to Anna.

“You always say that when you know I can’t get to you!” she thought back, laughing.

“What’s wrong?” I asked, sensing her melancholy mood.

“Oh. I always feel sad when I have to leave Twin Springs. Especially if I don’t have any idea of when I’ll be returning,” she thought back.

“Well, if it’s any consolation; I’ll be back there in a couple of weeks, for Sandy. And for Rose and Eve, remember?” I thought.

“Oh, yeah! I had forgotten,” her mood lightened immediately. “How long will you stay?”

“I don’t really know. Probably a week or so,” I replied.

“I’ll make sure you have accommodations reserved. Will the rest of your family be with you?” she asked.

“I don’t know. Some will, but I don’t know who yet. Can I let you know later today?” I asked her.

“Don’t worry about it. I’m just going to block out the whole Wagner Lodge for ten days. Just let me know as soon as you firm up your plans,” Anna said.

“Be sure you charge the rooms to me. Catherine is having an American Express card set up for me to use,” I told her.

“Oh my god! A hypersexual sixteen-year-old with a credit card!” she laughed out loud as she thought it. I laughed with her.

“You left out the part about his crush on his doctor!” I teased her back.

She paused, “We’ll see,” she said mysteriously.

Changing the subject, I asked, “Do you think Jaye and Buddy will be able to handle things if I take Sandy with us when we leave?”

“I’ll make sure Aunt Jaye brings in someone to help her. Any idea how long?”

“The only thing I know is that it will be less than nine months. Our son will be born there, at Twin Springs,” I replied.

“Oh yeah. The prophecy thing. Do you really believe it’s true?” Anna asked me.

“I do. I think that a lot of effort and energy has been expended to make everything happen to this point, including bringing me back forty years in time. That kind of evidence is hard to argue with,” I stated with a growing conviction.

“I see your point. It’s still hard to wrap my head around it though. Well, I’ve got to get the girls to the airport. You be careful out there, Michael. It’s not like here at the ranch. There will be people out there who are looking at you as a target. Not for your gifts, but because you are young, handsome, and rich,” she told me.

“I will. You be careful. Take care of the girls for me,” I thought sadly.

“You gonna be okay?” Anna asked gently.

” I still love her,” I thought. The sadness of my heart became apparent to Anna.

I quickly pushed the thought away and added, with as much happiness as I could manufacture on the spot, “And you know I love you, too!”

“Oh, Michael! Don’t do that to me. You know how I feel. But I’m twice your...”

“Stop that! I’ve already explained this to you once. I am more than twenty years older than you. Don’t make me have to spank that pretty ass of yours before I fuck it, the next time we’re together!”

“You wish!” she laughed. “What is it with you and my ass?”

“It’s one of the finest I’ve ever seen, in either life,” I told her.“Besides ... it’s your fantasy, not mine,” I reminded her.

“Oh!”

“Bye, Anna. I do love you,” I told her

I felt her absent-minded ‘goodbye’ as her mind drifted for a moment, to the fantasy I had referred to. I looked again at the back of my left wrist.

“Oh, well. I might as well get up, even if I don’t know what time it is,” I thought to myself.

Vickie and Nicky still hadn’t stirred when I got out of the shower. I dressed regretfully, wishing I was still at the ranch. Because there, clothes weren’t necessary.

“Oh well...” I thought as I headed for the Dining Car.

Catherine was seated at a booth with John and Sarah. It didn’t sound like they were discussing anything important.

I asked if I could join them and bid them good morning. I had barely gotten seated before Beth appeared asking me what I’d like to drink.

“Good morning, Beth,” I said to her cheerfully. I suddenly remembered that Beth was leery of me. She still remembered a couple of run-in’s she had with the old Michael. I scanned her now, and discovered that the old Michael had hit on her inappropriately a number of times. The last time had been just before the accident.

As she left to get my coffee, I debated about what to do about Beth.

The train lurched as we were coupled to the new eastbound that would take us to Newark.

“Did you sleep well?” Sarah asked me.

“I sure did. I always sleep well on trains,” I replied.

“When have you ever slept on a train?” John asked.

Catherine looked at me with an alarmed expression as I realized my goof.

“I don’t remember, but I’m sure that if I did, I slept well,” I laughed as I tried to pass it off as a joke.

“You’re going to have to learn to be more careful than that,” Catherine thought to me.

“I know. I’m sorry,” I thought back.

“Well, I wouldn’t worry about it now. It’s water under the bridge,” Catherine thought to me.

I scanned John and Sarah. John had let it go, but Sarah was thinking that maybe it was a subconscious recollection, and my memory might be coming back.

So I asked Catherine out loud, “Do you think that could be something from before?”

“I don’t know. Maybe we should ask Anna about it the next time you see her,” she replied

“Good idea,” said Sarah.

Then Sarah changed subjects and asked me, “Michael, do you know if Julie spent the night with Jason?”

“Why do you ask?”

“I don’t know. Just worried I guess. She seems to be so enamored with Jason and he’ll be going back to Tapato soon. I just don’t want to see her hurt I guess,” Sarah replied.

“Well that brings up another question. But before I get to it. Let me fill you in on what I’ve been able to find out. Jason did spend the night with Julie. And with Jenny too,” I told their parents.

“Both?” Sarah asked with alarm.

“I was as surprised as you are, to tell you the truth. So I scanned them to see what was going on,” I said sympathetically. “Anyway, what I discovered, was that neither Julie or Jenny are in love with Jason. Julie is just enjoying the freedom to express her sexual nature. Jason just happens to be a warm and compassionate person that was willing to accept her lead, as he discovered his own sexual side, as well. She and Jenny evidently discussed it, and Julie decided she could make both Jason and Jenny happy by sharing Jason with Jenny.”

“Well, I don’t know...” Sarah said, turning to look at her husband.

“The other side of the coin, is that neither of the girls has fallen in love with me, either. Again, I believe it’s because of what you did in allowing them the freedom to choose. Once they had experienced sex, they realized it’s just another part, admittedly a very fun part, of growing up. Jason has helped them realize that they don’t have to fall head over heels in love with every guy that comes along, just to satisfy their biological urges.”

“Really?” Sarah asked. “You think that what we did helped them that much?”

“Sarah, I believe Michael is correct in his evaluation. I’ve noticed that both of the girls have seemed more mature in the last couple of weeks. You should keep an eye on them, but I’d be willing to wager that they will be talking to you about it soon,” John said.

“Which brings up my next point ... but, I need to ask you a couple of questions. First; where are we with the emancipation?”

The train began to move forward, slowly gaining speed.

“Jeff is bringing the petition and some other papers for you to sign when he meets us tomorrow. Other than getting your driver’s license changed to show your Tennessee address, getting your educational status verified, and a few other miscellaneous details, we will submit your petition and then wait for the hearing date which is June twenty-second,” John informed us.

“Do I have to be there for the hearing?” I asked.

“I don’t know. I wouldn’t think so. This is being heard by a Blount County Juvenile Court Judge. I know of him, but I have never been before him with a case. My office will present the petition as soon as I get back, and his office will study it. Then he will issue the ruling either for or against, or request additional information. I don’t expect a refusal, given the nature of the request and the sealed documents submitted by the FBI. But, you never know,” John said.

“Thank you. I am depending on you to guide me, so just let me know what I need to do next,” I told him.

“Why did you want to know about being there for the hearing?” John asked me.

“I’ll be in Colorado,” I told him. Before he could ask anything else, I turned to Catherine and asked, “Who owns this train?”

“WHAT?” Catherine exclaimed, surprised at my question.

I grinned. I don’t surprise her very often.

“Who owns the Rowena, and the other two cars?” I repeated.

“Well, I guess that would be Liz and me. Our father left them to us as part of his estate. I don’t know if Greg changed anything or not, but they weren’t mentioned in his will or anything,” she supplied.