Chapter 5

Benjamin and I explored my suite for about an hour, and then I took him for a walk around the estate. The Waters Estate appeared to take up most of the county, if what I could see was any indication. The centerline of the property seemed to run north and south for about a mile, ending at the bank of a small lake. There was a very well kept dock, two motor boats, a shaded hammock, and some recreational equipment scattered about, which I took to be there for Andrea's granddaughters once they recover from their ailment.

Benjamin entertained himself running along the water's edge and barking for no apparent reason, until he abruptly ran out of energy and wandered back to me for attention. I hauled him up onto the hammock with me, and we enjoyed the quiet, broken by an occasional fish jumping out in the water. I could see a long distance to the south, because the land sloped downhill for what seemed like miles and miles. All I could make out was more ranch land, and the odd live oak tree, with some mesquite throw in for good measure. It was very calming to me, and was the first real solitude I'd had since awakening in my old body. Ben seemed to sense my mood, laid his head across my stomach, and settled down for a nap.

The nap was short, because a golf cart came rambling up carrying Penny and a man that couldn't have been anything but armed security. Penney hopped out and approached us talking a mile a minute. "When I looked in and found your rooms empty, we decided to fan out and see where you wandered off to. This ranch is huge, and somebody getting lost seems like a weekly occurrence.

"This is Brendan, by the way. He is one Mrs. Waters' security specialists, and it was his idea to ride down here and see if the lake attracted you the way it does lots of our visitors. There is another golf cart on the way, and we'll leave it with you in case you two decided not to walk back to the house, but don't wander off without letting somebody know. Mrs. Waters is very security conscious and will have our heads if we 'lose' you..."

Penny was way too wound up for something this benign, and I wondered, again, just what has everyone so up tight. Rather than bring it up in front of a – well, another – stranger – I chose to say nothing about it, thank them for bringing the golf cart, and go back to enjoying the sunset. Benjamin seemed to concur and before we knew it, the sun had set and darkness replaced it.

Rather than take a chance on stepping on a rattle snake or other unsavory creature, Ben and I used the cart for the return trip. It seemed like the entire house was on edge when we strolled in, and to try and cover their discomfort, Cassandra organized getting the family to the dining room for supper.

Because they arrived ahead of everyone else, that was my first chance to meet Janet's daughter, Donna, and Cassandra's daughter, Lilly. Donna looked just as weak as Andrea, and Lilly wasn't far behind. It was obvious that whatever sickness troubled the Waters household, these two had it as bad, if not worse, than the others. Donna was taller, quite slim, with a womanly waist that would undoubtedly expand as soon as she had a child. I had a buddy in high school whose father used to describe it as, 'A set of hips just waiting to explode.' In the meantime she was slender with small breasts and high cheekbones.

Lilly was fair, medium height, slim but not rail thin, and had all the same characteristics of her mother. I was immediately drawn to her open expression and sincere smile. Lilly's figure was arriving at a slower, and more deliberate pace than Donna's, but showed much more promise for the long term. Donna would become rather hefty in her adult yeas, but Lilly was going to remain lithe and slender for most, if not all of her life. Both girls were dying to interrogate me and could hardly give each other a chance before jumping in with the next question.

"How old are you," Donna giggled as she asked? The dark circles around her eyes were at war with her sunny expression. Whatever they had was bad... "Where are you from? What grade are you in? Do you go to high school? Who is your favorite band? Do you like the Eagles? I love the Eagles. They are so cool..."

And on it went until Andrea swept in and declared, "Ladies. Carl has just arrived. He is here because we all need him to get better, and I will not have you badgering him like you're doing. Now settle down, act like ladies, and if you wish to ask Carl about himself, do so like young ladies with some manners and respect." That was the end of that. Both girls settled down immediately. I thought Andrea ruled that house like General Patton, and just as successfully.

Cassandra and Janet flanked Andrea on one side of the dining room table, with Donna, Lilly, and me on the other. Benjamin stayed beside me like he was born in a castle and raised in a mansion. Penny was nowhere to be seen. There was no visible evidence of inside-the-house security, but I felt it all around us. Some ... body, or some ... circumstances had these people spooked, and I knew I wouldn't feel satisfied about it until I understood everything.

Supper at the Waters mansion was superb. The cooks outdid themselves, and the servants glided in and out, keeping glasses filled, empty plates removed, and insuring that the dinner moved along conveniently. Supper conversation was mostly benign, general, and light. The Waters family carefully avoided anything too personal. I had no idea if it was out of respect for me, or from fear of annoying Andrea.

Once dessert was finished and the dishes cleared, Andrea inclined her head to the right and asked, "Carl, would you join me and my daughters in the library? We need to share some information with you, and I bet you have some questions for me." Janet led the way, and I discovered a wonderful room off the main entrance, filled floor to ceiling with bookshelves. The books seemed to range from science and politics, to fantasy and fiction.

Andrea cut off my examination of their taste in reading material. "Carl, we have a visitor arriving any minute. Dr. Jane is my oldest friend and a brilliant doctor. She searched for you. I guess what I mean is that she SEARCHED the medical fields for someone with your blood chemistry for several years, while the girls and I kept declining. Her determination to find someone capable of providing us with ... whatever it is ... that you seem to have in your blood, might save all five of us, and as desperate as we are for healing, you have to know how frightened we are that you will refuse to help us.

"I am terrified of what is coming, every time I look into the eyes of either one of my granddaughters and see the weakness, pain, and sickness on their faces. As scary as being sick is to me, living with the knowledge that those children are suffering is worse." She waited for me to reply, but I had no idea how one is supposed to answer that type of plea, so I smiled shyly and shut up.

Andrea wasn't about to play a waiting game. "Carl, Jane is coming and hoping to examine you, take some blood, and do other things to try to figure out what it is about your body chemistry that makes you a candidate to help us with our sickness. Please let her try..."

Her voice cracked when she said that, and since I was already convinced of her sincerity, I said, "Andrea I would never refuse to give you any help within my power. Whatever it is, whatever it takes, I will do my best for you."

She could see the truth in my face and hugged me tightly. When she moved in for the hug, she rubbed both of her impressive breasts against my chest and got the reaction she was hoping for. Mr. Johnson rose up and greeted her, as would be expected of any red-blooded, American boy. When she felt the stiffness pressing into her stomach, she ground against me for just an instant and smiled a wicked smile, with her back to her daughters. She and I knew what she was communicating, but the ladies were not privy to our unspoken conversation. Something told me that Cassandra had convinced Andrea that her tryst with me had beneficial health benefits beyond the obvious pleasure, and Andrea bought it hook, line, and sinker.