My lungs were on fire.
Maybe I should just drop it and run on empty handed. I shook my shoulders and let the sack fall from my arms, the bundle bounced across the valley into the ravine. No matter, with it I'd be caught, without it, at least I have a chance.
Come on, Rapunzel. Run!
I pumped my legs and swung my arms with each stride. Faster.
A wolf howled as the full moon took her rightful place in the night sky.
Time's up.
I could see the tree line yards away, beckoning me to safety. If I could only get among the trees and hide until the beast gave up.
A roar filled the valley. The castle shook, the earth quaked.
It was all over. What had I been thinking? Of course he wouldn't let me escape.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
1978
Then, Mr. Jenkins, it wasn’t too long before Gretta catapulted me into modern society.
What was that clamor outside my tower? It felt like an earthquake. Though, it had been centuries since there had been an earthquake around these parts. Well, at least in the 165 years I’d been living in Paradise Valley, I’d never experienced a single one. What was going on?
I flew from bed and raced to the window, not bothering to scramble for my slippers or slip into my robe. I ducked beneath the window and peered over the sill, hiding my body. Not that anyone could see me way up in the tower, but still.
What on earth?
I gazed down to the parkway in front of the castle. Big trucks filled the space between the front door and the side garden. Men in blue uniforms pushed wheeled carts and hauled heavy boxes and building supplies.
What was happening? I raced to my armoire and grabbed my robe. I pulled it on and cinched it around my waist. Would I dare go down and talk to people before I formally dressed? Not that people ever did formally dress these days, but old habits died hard.
But, no matter what was going on, there was no way I could wait to find out what was happening down below. I hurried back to the window. Maybe I could get another clue before I investigated further.
A uniformed man strained against the weight of his cart as he pulled a man-sized box up the slight incline. It was as tall as a man and wide as a doorway. How would he maneuver that box into the house?
Oh, and look. Next came a television. That was interesting. Maybe I could watch some of those programs I’d read about. But who ordered all of this and why? Did Gretta think she had free rein over my money, too? Surely Father hadn’t signed half of that over to her, as well.
I ran down the stairs as fast as my feet could carry me without tripping over each other. “Gretta?” Where was that witch? I hadn’t spoken to her since the day I’d banished her from my presence, the day Luke died. I marched right into the library after the workman with the TV. Surely Gretta would be in there.
I hurried to the back porch. Maybe she was washing. No, not there. Was she hiding from me? That was very possible. If I were her, I’d hide too. “Gretta!” I put my head in the kitchen. No Gretta, but there was a new yellow refrigerator where the old icebox had been. The man who’d been wheeling the cart unwound a cord and plugged it into the wall.
That new electricity Gretta had insisted on getting a year ago—a lot of good it had done us, but it was nice to flip a switch. The light made things a lot easier, but it simply wasn't necessary.
I stepped back into the hallway. “Gretta!”
I saw the walking stick first as it lead the way around the corner. A shaky form soon came along behind it. I hadn’t seen much of her in recent years. She’d kept to herself since Luke died. And I’d locked her from my tower, so no more morning water ritual or conversations through a bolted door.
“What are you going on about?” Gretta seemed older, if that were possible. More frail, even. It looked like Gretta had stopped taking her vitamins.
“What am I going on about? Would you care to explain the meaning of all this?” I gestured to the servicemen and delivery people. “What is going on?”
Gretta sighed. “I'll tell you what’s going on, dearie. I’m bringing us into the next generation. We're also getting plumbing, and you will love it.”
“We already have plumbing. We’ve had running water in the kitchen for three years.”
“I'm talking about full plumbing—a commode, a shower, and a bath. Running water in the bathroom on both levels, and in your tower.”
“Are you serious? How could two women need so much extravagance?”
“Why don't you just close that judgmental mouth of yours and open your mind a little bit.” She shook her head in disgust.
“Hold it right there, old lady. How dare you insult me or change my life in anyway without my permission? I was perfectly happy—well, we'll call it satisfied—with the way things were, and you had to go and change everything?” What nerve. Besides, I liked my morning rituals. I wouldn’t let modern conveniences rob me of that single hold on the past.