Chapter Three

Tara healed and grew stronger as time progressed.  She spent her days doing light jobs and keeping contact with Dennis via telephone and computer. With their father overseas, he’d taken on the role of head of family.  He’d also gotten annoyingly protective since the accident. It took a while, but he eventually loosed his grip to a tolerable level.

Although the peace and solitude was initially a welcome change from the hustle and bustle of Manhattan, it was wearing thin. Dennis did his best to come on the weekends, but work was demanding, and his visits were not as regular as Tara would have liked.  She longed for companionship; to have someone to talk to, laugh with, and even fight with.  She’d yet to venture into the small village in the heart of the valley five miles east.  She was content to explore her new home and ride Sugar to the country store to purchase any of the staples they might need.  She decided it was time to break up the monotony by exploring the nearby town.

Wearing a light gingham sundress and a broad rim straw hat, she headed toward the shed meant to house the field equipment, but now garaged her twenty-year-old mustang convertible.

Her face twisted in disgust at the bird droppings that covered the canvas top.  She brushed as much of the dried droppings off the car as she could with an old broom and tackled the rest with a water hose while hoping the ammonia in the droppings hadn’t damaged the finish; shuddering with revulsion the entire time.  There was something about bird droppings she found repulsive, which was odd considering she shoveled horse manure daily.  

Satisfied with her work, Tara eased herself into the driver’s seat and started down the drive. 

Her mare’s silken mane and tail flowed as her lean muscles worked to keep up with the convertible on her side of the paddock fence.  She reared and squealed as Tara turned onto the macadam road and picked up speed.  Then, with surprising aloofness, she returned to grazing.  

Taking one more glimpse at her mare in the rear-view mirror, Tara pondered what it must be like to be a horse.  How quickly and easily they fluctuated between being entertained and bored. She shook her head as memory of telepathically communicating with Sugar flashed through her mind.  She touched her forehead lightly to help shake the thoughts free, so she could focus more clearly on driving down the unfamiliar road toward an unfamiliar town.     

Enormous trees lined the winding and hilly road, giving it a stately air.  She longed to feel the full effects of the warm, fresh air coming through her opened window.   She decided her top was probably dry enough to lower. Noticing a narrow dirt road leading off into the trees, she eased her car onto it; making sure that she was far enough away from the main road to avoid any mishaps with cars zooming by.

For the most part, Tara enjoyed driving her retro vehicle, but this was a time when she’d have appreciated the convenience of mechanical automation.

As she stepped out of the car and she felt the familiarity of musty foliage beneath her feet, her thoughts flashed back to her accident.  Her body trembled as she peered up at the sky through the trees and remembered looking up into the sky from the depths of decay and rot filled well.

The sound of snapping branches caught her attention.  She turned to discover a beautiful deer standing completely still while it watched her warily, poised for flight at a moment’s notice.  She stilled her body and breathing as quietly as she could while her eyes locked with those of the statuesque creature.  To her dismay, their encounter was cut short when she unexpectedly let go a riotous sneeze that sent the deer flying into the depths of the foliage.

She didn’t notice the woman approach her while she fussed to set her nose aright until the sun’s rays created a shadowy outline of her.  As the woman moved to the left, Tara was able to get a clearer view.  She was about Tara’s height, but doubled her width and triple her age.  Flecks of gray topped off her sun kissed auburn hair that was worn in a long straight braid down the middle of her back, almost touching her waist.

“That’s a pretty car, lass,” The woman said with a distinct Irish brogue that bounced off the trees as she caressed the vehicle. “You’re a lucky young woman to be able to drive the likes of this.  It’s a convertible too. Imagine that.  I’ve never seen the likes of something this lovely in me whole life. Where are ya coming from?” she asked as she grabbed the other side of the canvas top and helped Tara secure it in place.

The enthusiasm of this stranger was infectious.

“I live just up the road,” Tara said eagerly.  “I moved here in the beginning of summer and I’m only now getting out exploring the area because I had a terrible fall into an old abandoned well and was injured.  I converted my utility shed into a garage and the pigeons pooped all over my car, so I had to clean and wash it off and needed to wait for the top to dry before I could put the top down and enjoy the sunshine and warm breezes.” 

Tara couldn’t explain why she felt compelled to babble like that, but it just seemed the natural thing to do.

The woman nodded intently, her clear, but faded green eyes focused on Tara’s mouth as if absorbing and digesting each word spoken. Her head shook in rapid agreement and a slight groan of empathy escaped her when Tara reached the part about the pigeon poop all over her car. There was something about her that Tara immediately gravitated to. 

“Where are ya fixing to go?” she asked.  “In two blinks and a handshake you’re in and out of that wee town. I’m headed there myself to do me weekly food shopping. Perhaps ya wouldn’t mind me joining ya in this beauty?” 

“You’re on foot?” Tara asked incredulously.  

“I enjoy a good stretch of the legs, but this beauty is calling me to ride with ya,” the old woman explained.

“Absolutely,” Tara giggled, happy for the company. “I’d be delighted.”

“What a grand lilt of a voice ya have there, lass, ‘tis music to these old ears,” the woman said as she lowered her herself into the passenger’s seat. “We’re neighbors, ya know. ‘Tisn’t polite not to socialize, I know, but I keep to meself mostly. I’m Maggie O’Shea.”  

“What a coincidence. We have the same last name. I’m Tara O’Shea,” she said with surprise while studying Maggie’s aged face and physique that hinted of strength and power beneath her green tee shirt and loose faded jeans. There was a familiarity about her that she couldn’t place, but she was certain it would come to her in time.  “Are we ready?”

Maggie, who’d been studying Tara with knit brows as if to remember her as well, took a deep breath, presented a broad smile and said, “Indeed we are.”

****

Tara spent the day getting to know the area with Maggie as her guide. The two women where an unlikely looking couple, yet there was something about Maggie that Tara found delightful.  She felt an instantaneous trust and security with the woman. They shared stories about themselves, about people they knew, and places they’d been to. They compared likes and dislikes and discussed trusts and distrusts.

To Tara’s delight, Maggie had a passion for animals that surpassed her own. On a whim, she invited the old woman back to her house to meet Sugar.  It was an invitation Maggie readily accepted. As they approached the driveway, Sugar pranced at the edge of the paddock.

“That’s Sugar,” Tara smiled broadly as she pointed to the mare with pride.

“She’s a fine animal.  She’s such a strong love for ya.  Yes, yes... a strong love indeed.” Maggie said as she inspected the mare with her eyes. “She hurt her wither?”  she said more than asked and scowled.  “Ooooooeeeeee. That must have been painful!”                        

“Why would you say that?” Tara asked. 

Her surprise made her words sharper than she meant for them to sound.  She saw no indication in Sugar’s manner that would denote an injury anywhere on her body. Because she took such pride in the care she gave her mare, she was a little offended at the concept of an injury slipping past her.

If Maggie noticed the sharpness in Tara’s tone, she made no mention of it.

“Stop the car missy and let me get closer to the beauty,” Maggie’s said in a mannerism that was gentle, but firm. 

Tara pulled to a stop and they walked to the fence.  To her amazement, Sugar immediately went to Maggie; who scratched the mare’s head and rubbed her ears with zeal.  Sugar’s eyes closed as she reveled in the sensation.  Maggie stood back and looked directly at the mare. Neither one moved. Finally, the mare tossed her head high in the air and whinnied.   

“Where’s the gate?”  Maggie asked as she craned her head from side to side while searching for the entrance to the paddock. Without waiting for Tara’s response, she climbed the freshly whitewashed wooden fence with the ease and grace of a cat, dropped lightly to the other side, and strode up to the mare. 

Tara wasn’t as graceful.  She hitched her sundress up around her thighs to free her legs for climbing.  Her open toe sandals left her skin exposed to the weathered wood, necessitating caution against slivers.  She hung clumsily over the top rail and stared in wonder at the vision of this strange Irish woman and her lovely mare.

Maggie gazed steadily into Sugar’s eyes while neither of them moved.  Next, the old woman held her broad hand just above the mare and slowly passed it over the animal’s muscular body.   She stopped at the whither and turned to Tara.

“‘Tis mighty painful here still, lass,” she said. “Why did ya say she wasn’t hurt?  She’s plenty sore here. She says she hurt it when she pulled you and your brother out of that big hole ya fell into a while back and it hasn’t finished healing. It must’ve been mighty sore.  That’s a lot of weight for a horse her size to pull on.  Ya sure are lucky to have such love and loyalty from this beauty.”

Tara dropped to the ground with a thud. Her knees buckled beneath her and she lost her balance, falling forward like a rag doll beneath the mare’s stomach.  This brought rolling laughter from Maggie. Her bright eyes watered from the intensity of it.  Realizing what a sight she was, Tara joined in. It felt good to laugh.  

When their laughter was spent, Tara rolled out from beneath her steadfast mare and asked while she stood and brushed debris from her dress, “How did you know Sugar was hurt?”

“I got the gift, honey. I got the gift, but ya have it too.  Here,” Maggie said as she reached for Tara’s hand, “look at that hand.  Can’t ya see?  Ya heal, lass. You’re a seer and a healer.  ‘Tis easy to see.”

Tara was almost overwhelmed with confusion. What was Maggie talking about?  She wasn’t a healer. She wasn’t a seer. Heck, she was barely a woman! What did it mean anyway?  She knew what a healer was, but what was a seer?  She closed her eyes and placed her fingers to her temples.  Her head felt like hammers were let loose inside it. She saw visions of the accident at the well, followed by a fleeting glimpse of the cloaked man from her dreams. 

A frustrated groan escaped her lips.

“Are your memories hurting ya?” Maggie asked gently.  “Not to worry, ‘tis normal.  It’ll get easier as ya open up to the flow.  Just relax now, Maggie’s here.  Relax...  relax.” 

Maggie moved closer to Tara and placed a large and weathered hand on the small of her back and the other on her forehead. The roughness of her calluses didn’t interfere with the waves of energy that flowed through Tara, leaving a sensation of peace and tranquility in their wake.

Feeling at peace and safe with her new-found friend, Tara opened up to Maggie.

“Sometimes I think I’m going crazy,” she began.  “I see things, really strange and weird things.  I see people who aren’t really there!  They just show up and then, pouf, they’re gone.   For crying out loud I even sometimes hear my horse talking.”

“Now don’t go getting all riled,” Maggie said as she removed her hands and straightened her back. “I just got ya relaxed.  Nothing’s going on here that isn’t normal. ‘Tis the way of our kind, that’s all.”

“I can’t begin to tell you how unnerving it is to have someone just appear in front of you.   Just like that,” Tara said as she snapped her fingers for emphasis, “from out of nowhere.”

“That will stop when ya get a better grip on your gifts.  I remember when I was your age and it happened to me,” Maggie said with a chuckle. “Luckily I had me ma to explain it all.  Don’t ya have anyone?”  When Tara shook her head, she sighed and shrugged her shoulders. “I’ll tell ya what.  Why don’t I spend a little time with ya and show ya what I know?  Would ya like that?”

“If I learn what you know, will the surprises stop? Will the fear end?” Tara asked with a voice that was full of hope.

Maggie wished she could be positive that learning would be all Tara needed, but until she better understood the girl’s abilities and gifts, she really couldn’t be certain.

“Most likely things will calm down for ya,” Maggie said with less conviction than she liked.  There was something about this girl that she couldn’t put her finger on and hoped would come to light as time passed.  Whatever it was, she suspected turmoil and danger accompanied it.

“I think I’ve met my savior,” Tara said softly. 

The relief in Tara’s voice touched Maggie’s heart. She reached over and lightly pinched Tara’s cheek before moving to Sugar and gently caressing her neck. 

Maggie smiled broadly, “The sun is down, the moon is out, and I feel like howling!  Take me home, lass.  We’ll start your lessons the day after tomorrow.”

****

Tara listened to the grandfather clock in the corner chime the hour. It was five a.m. and the sun was just peeking over the horizon. The tiled kitchen floor felt cool against her bare feet as she made her way to the coffee maker. Her senses heightened to the aroma of freshly brewed coffee while her movements were slow and deliberate as she filled her mug with the rich, dark liquid.  Mornings were always special to her.  It was a time when she could be alone with her thoughts uninterrupted while most of the world still slumbered. Getting up at this hour was a habit she acquired while living in Manhattan. Now it was no longer necessary to rise so early to catch the peace and tranquility of the day, but the habit was a solid one that she chose not to abandon.

Not long after she had finished pouring her second cup of coffee the telephone rang. Its shrill ring startled her and she knocked over a nearby floor plant while getting up.

“What a mess!”  She shouted to on one in particular as she rushed to grab the receiver out of its cradle. “Hello?” Her frustration when she answered was distinct.

“What’s the matter?” Dennis asked, immediately on the alert.  He was accustomed to a bright and bubbly response on the mornings he telephoned.

“My clumsy butt tripped over a plant on my way to answer the phone,” Tara said in a soothing tone.

At the youthful age of twenty-two Dennis managed to make junior partner in the graphics company he’d worked in since he participated in a school internship program at the age of sixteen. Between the pressures of his new position, and the self-imposed pressure of being head of the family while their father was away, his cup was full. She didn’t want to create unnecessary anxiety.

“I worry about you being by yourself.  I thought maybe we should get you a dog or something. One that’s trained,” he mused.

“What about dad’s allergies?” Tara asked. 

“It’s called Claritin,” Dennis said with amusement. “Besides, he’s gone more than he’s home.  He’ll manage.”

“I suppose it would be nice to have a household pet.  Sugar’s great, but she can’t come in at night and snuggle,” Tara mused.  “Yes, a dog would be fantastic.  Maybe a cat... or… what about both?  Would a dog and cat get along together in the same house?”

The more she talked about getting a dog and a cat. The more she liked the idea.

“From watch dog to animal farm,” Dennis chuckled.

“Now you sound like Mitch,” Tara said in a tone that belied her displeasure.

“Speaking of Mitch, he called the other day,” Dennis said, choosing to ignore his sister’s change in attitude.  “You won’t believe it.  He fell in love with this chick he met at school.” There was hesitancy in his voice when he added, “It sounds pretty serious.” 

“No kidding!” she said louder and with more enthusiasm than intended while she worked at covering the myriad of emotions that were raging within her. “He always did like the girls.  What makes you think it’s serious?”

“He’s thinking of proposing,” Dennis replied.

Flashes of memory of Mitch flew before her.  She recalled his kisses, his hugs, and his silly habit of eating the crust of the sandwich first and creating a small circle to pop into his mouth.  He made eating a simple sandwich a ritualistic experience.  He used to laugh and say it stemmed back to his childhood days, but he never went further with the explanation.

“Good for him,” she said with false enthusiasm that she prayed he wouldn’t recognize.

“You’re pretty cool about it,” Dennis said with relief.

“Mitch and I have been over for some time,” Tara explained. I have no reason to be anything else.”

The pitch of Tara’s voice sounded slightly higher than normal to her. Did Dennis believe her?  Better yet, did she believe herself?  Was she really over Mitch?

“I thought you two might get back together, but I guess I was wrong,” Dennis admitted. “It’s good you’re over him.  He’s my friend but he’s not all that.” He took a deep breath and changed the subject, “So, what’s on your agenda today? Are you planning anything fun and interesting?”

As much as he enjoyed visiting his sister’s home, he often wondered how she kept herself from going crazy with the constant quiet and isolation. It was such a drastic change from the hustle and bustle of Manhattan. He’d be out of his mind by now.

Tara proceeded to go into great detail about her new friend, Maggie.  Dennis listened intently.  He was pleased to hear she found a friend out there in no man’s land and he encouraged her to cultivate it. He didn’t feel comfortable with her being so isolated and alone. A friend nearby was good, not matter what the age difference.

She was placing the receiver in the cradle when Maggie entered without waiting for an invitation. Oddly, Tara wasn’t offended by her new friend’s familiarity and accepted it as part of her eccentricity.  She was just thankful she’d decided to slip into a light cotton dress before coming downstairs and wasn’t caught wearing her robe and slippers.

“All ready for the big day?”  Maggie asked enthusiastically.

“I’m excited and a little nervous.  Just what am I going to be learning?” Tara replied.

“The basics, love. Just the basics and then you’re on your own,” The old woman bellowed over her shoulder as she led Tara into the living room.

It occurred to Tara that Maggie knew her way around her house as well as she did.  She made a mental note to ask if Maggie had visited her grandmother in the past.

The two positioned themselves in on opposite ends of the antique sofa that had only recently been delivered from the furniture restorer.  Maggie reached into a bag she brought with her and pulled out a white candle, oil, matches, a bag of dried leaves, sticks of incense and an incense holder.  

When everything was carefully arranged on the coffee table Maggie turned to Tara and said, “These are the basics for the first step to the gift. I want ya to pay close attention to what I’m saying and doing.”

Tara nodded, unable to take her eyes off the spread before her.

 “Now,” Maggie continued, “we start with this white candle. Ya shouldn’t meditate with anything but white in the beginning.  The colors bring different energy. That’s all ya need to know about it for now. We can do colors another time.  Just remember. Use only white candles.  Got that?”

Tara nodded again.

Maggie grabbed Tara’s hands and gently pressed the candle in her palm while she dabbed a little oil in Tara’s other palm and then guided her hands into action.

“Good,” Maggie said with satisfaction. Now, I want ya to take this candle and hold it carefully while ya rub some oil on it.  That will make it burn longer. Ya start in the middle an’ work your way to the ends.  Like this, see?” 

Maggie’s large, calloused hands where remarkably gentle and dexterous as they directed her eager pupil.

When they finished with the candle, the old woman secured it in a holder and moved toward the bag of dried leaves.

“This is called sage, ‘tis for balancing the energies,” she explained. “The Indians like to lay claim on it but we been using it back in the old country since the beginning of time. Ya can grow it in the garden.  Now stand before me nice and straight with your arms out to your sides.”

Tara obediently followed Maggie’s instructions as she watched the old woman pull a few sage leaves from the bag, light them and then blow out the flame.  The leaves billowed smoke, while emitting a pungent aroma that resembled marijuana. Tara coughed as Maggie waived the sage around her body, did the same to herself, and then waved it around the room. She snuffed the remaining lit sage in an ashtray and then lit the incense.  The smooth aroma of the incense curled and intertwined with the pungent aroma of the sage, creating an exotic blend.  The room felt still and warm. It was as if a blanket of security covered the entire space.  The songs of birds flittered through the open window, accentuating the sense of peace pouring though her.

“Now we’re ready,” Maggie said as she straightened her back. “Sit back nice and straight.  Rest your hands on your thighs, nice and peaceful.  Now close your eyes and make your mind as still as ya can.  Don’t control the thoughts.  Just let them flow in and out and stay that way until I say stop. Got it?”

Tara didn’t respond. She was afraid that if she moved a muscle she would break the magic in the room.  Time stood still while the aromatic essence in the room filled her nostrils. Her head felt heavier and heavier while her body experienced a floating sensation like when she had entered the clouds and met Liam.  Liam... she hadn’t thought of that experience in a while.

She was floating through the clouds.  She felt light and free.  Wisps of clouds prevented her from seeing below, but she was certain if she could she would find the earth a very small ball off in the distance. 

As movement slowed down, the clouds slowly dispersed, and she found herself standing in an enormous field of colorful flowers and tall grass that reached mid-calf.  The aromatic blending of flowers of all varieties created a scent that was nothing short of wonderful while the grass tickled her legs.  She breathed in freely while looking down at the hem of her dress.  Its hem settled about an inch above the top of the grass, leaving her calf and bare feet exposed to be caressed and tickled by the softness of thick blades of emerald green. 

Liam stood before her with his hand outstretched, beckoning her to approach. She did so willingly.

The sensation she experienced all around her was one of love and happiness.  Everything was bright and cheerful.  She neither saw nor felt a speck of darkness.  Surprisingly, the absence of dark didn’t bother her eyes like one might think.  Her surroundings were bright but not exceeding her level of tolerance.

“Greetings.  You are welcome and loved,” said Liam as she moved next to him.

“Where am I?” she asked.

“You are in a space-time that parallels your own,” he replied.

“It’s so bright and happy,” she mused.

“This is true,” he said. “Where there is Light, darkness cannot abide.”

“Is this where we go when we die?” she asked. “Where is everyone?”

“The location one goes to upon exiting their body vehicle is not always the same for each soul.  This location is what you might consider an anteroom should it be in your home.  From here one can move in a variety of directions,” he explained.

She looked around her but saw only flowers and grass.

“Where is everyone?” she asked.

“Do you wish to see humans?” he asked patiently.

She nodded.

“Do you have a particular sight you wish to see, or shall I select one for you?” he continued.

“Surprise me,” she giggled.

“Very well,” he said as he waived his hand in the air and their surroundings began to swirl.

They remained in a field, but the flowers were fewer in number and far less vibrant.  The velvety grass grew coarse against her tender flesh.  The sky was hazy, and the clouds were thick and laden with an impending storm.  The sun’s rays struggled to twist and weave around their massive bulk with minimal success.

To Tara’s surprise and amazement, a woman who looked to be about twenty and a woman who was clearly approaching middle age appeared before her.  Dressed in period clothing of the late eighteen hundred, they were picking wildflowers without giving her a speck of notice. It was as if she wasn’t even there, yet she could clearly feel the ground beneath her feet and the moistness in the air.

“They cannot see you,” Liam explained, as if knowing her thoughts.

Taken aback by the fact that she’d said nothing, Tara could only nod.  She wanted to know more about why they couldn’t see her, but her thoughts and her tongue wouldn’t coordinate.  She was positive he was able to know her thoughts but since he didn’t volunteer any more information, she focused on the scene before her.

As the younger of the two women stood up to stretch her back Tara gasped.   She was looking at her identical twin!  Except for the difference in clothing and hair style there was nothing to differentiate one from the other. 

The woman looked directly at Tara with knit brows.

“What is it, lass?” asked the middle-aged woman.

“I feel eyes on me,” replied the younger woman.

The middle-aged woman stood up and peered in Tara’s direction.

“’Tis probably best to head back to me cottage.  Those dang shadow people are sneaky.  We have what we need,” she said briskly.

The younger woman looked long and hard at Tara for a bit longer before heaving a sigh, picking up her basket, and following her companion across the field.

“Who are they?” Tara asked.  “She looks just like me.”

She turned to where Liam had been standing to await his reply only to find him no longer there.  She had no idea where she was or how to leave.   Panic filled her.  Would she be stuck in this space-time plateau?

“Liam!” she called.  “Liam, come back!”

Unsure what to do, she ran across the field in the direction the two women had gone.  She had almost caught up with them when she stopped short.  The view before her was so amazingly spectacular that she forgot all else while she admired acres and acres of garden.   Along the far edge of it she could see an orchard hosting a variety of fruit trees.  With science at his disposal, she was aware of no agriculture farmer able to produce a harvest as healthy and abundant as what lay before her.  It was impressively breathtaking.

Tara stood watching as the women carefully picked their way through the carefully tended garden toward a quaint looking cottage on the farthest end.  It was too far away for Tara to make out much more than its shape and color, but she inherently knew it was well kept and inviting.

A large black steed came racing up the long drive to the left of the cottage.  The women waived their greeting and picked up speed to meet him.  The three disappeared into the little cottage just before the scene faded away and Tara found herself once again in a field of brilliant flowers and tall emerald grass.  She welcomed the softness of the blades against her skin once again.

Liam appeared before her and bowed slightly.

“What did I just see?” she asked earnestly.

“You have only to remember, dear one,” he replied.  “It is all within you.”

“Time’s up,” Maggie whispered so she wouldn’t startle her.

“Already?  It seems like we only just started,” Tara exclaimed as she did her best to subdue the urge to complain about being dragged back to reality so abruptly.

Maggie chuckled, “That’s normal but we were quiet for almost an hour.”

“Really?” Tara asked with wonder. “That’s so incredible.”

Her words drawled with satisfaction as she stretched her body in a cat-like manner. Still feeling the effects of the meditation, Tara’s body was slow to respond and move about.

The room felt chillier than when they began so Tara walked to the window to close it.  She was shocked to see the position of the sun in the sky.  It backed Maggie’s claim of their meditation length.

“I saw something very odd in my meditation,” Tara said.

“Truly?” Maggie asked.  “Would ya like to tell me?”

“It was very strange, almost like a dream,” Tara began.  “First, I was with my spirit guide, Liam.  We were in this beautiful field of flowers.  Their colors were incredibly vibrant, and their scent was magnificent.   I asked him about it and he said it was like what we would refer to as an anteroom.  It led to many places.”

“Aye, I know that place well,” Maggie said with a nod of her head and a warm, knowing smile.

“Then he asked me if I wanted to see more,” Tara continued.  “Of course, I did.  That’s when it got weird.”

“How so?” Maggie asked.

“Well, he me… at least I think he took me… however it happened, the field of flowers grew far less vibrant and sparser.  The grass became brittle and sharp on my bare skin – similar to the feel of our fields here.  Out of the blue two women appeared.  They were dressed like they dressed in the late eighteen hundred and were searching through the field and selecting flowers to put in their basket.”

“That doesn’t sound so odd,” Maggie mused.  “I do that meself on a regular basis.”

“No, it wasn’t that.  It was the younger of the two women.  She looked just like me!  It was like I was looking into a mirror or something,” Tara explained. “Do you think they were real, or did I make them up?”

Maggie thought for a moment and then said, “I’m not exactly sure, lass.  There’s something about what ya saw that feels mighty familiar.  It’s like I’ve seen it meself in a dream and then forgotten it.”

“There’s more.  I followed them across the field to a quaint cottage that had an incredibly gigantic garden.  It was the size of five football fields.  What was even more impressive was the size and health of the plants growing in it,” Tara said passionately.  “It had to have been my imagination.  No one produces vegetables like that these days.”

“Ah, but they did at one time,” Maggie said.  “I wonder if ya went back in time a bit.”

“But, I saw me there,” Tara said. 

“True, ya did,” Maggie sighed, “that I cannot explain. It feels to me that what ya saw was real, but I cannot make sense of why ya would put yourself in the mix.  The mind is a powerful mysterious thing.  Perhaps the reason or the message will come clear in time.”

“Do you think it was a message?”  Tara asked.  Being unfamiliar with meditation she had no idea what to expect but she certainly hadn’t expected a vision of this nature and the possibility of this vision being a message of some sort.

“’Tis not uncommon to receive messages that we cannot decipher right way when we go into meditation,” Maggie explained.

Tara giggled, “The woman with my double spoke like you.”

“Did she now?” Maggie smiled.

Maggie stayed for a late morning tea and shared some of the area gossip. Tara wasn’t in a hurry for her to leave. She found the old woman unique and charming.  When she finally did depart Tara wandered back into the parlor and stretched out on the sofa.  She wasn’t accustomed to napping but the excitement of entertaining and the relaxation of deep meditation left her in need of one. She drifted off into a deep sleep and remained there until it was almost dinner time.