I’ll Be Your Shoulder
When You Need Someone to Lean On
Be Your Shelter
When You Need Someone to See You Through
A few hours later Jennifer and Jonathan were laying in bed getting ready to go to sleep.
"Now I am even more confused. What’s real? We have all these memories of two lives. Which is the real life?" Jennifer said as she laid her head on Jonathan’s chest.
"I know. I’m just as confused. None of this makes any sense." Jonathan kissed the top of her head. "Let’s get some sleep maybe we’ll wake up in the 20th century again."
"I love you, Darling." Jennifer said as she closed her eyes.
" I love you too, Sweetheart." Jonathan said as he reached down and kissed his wife’s lips. It wasn’t long before they had both fallen into a deep sleep.
The sound of a rooster crowing awakened the sleepers with a jolt.
"Can you sleep in a dream?" Jennifer asked drowsily
"I don’t know, Darling." Jonathan answered as he pulled the blankets up over his face to hide from the intruding sunlight.
"Come on, Darling, I think I hear Jessie moving around, if she’s up already we might as well be too."
Jonathan groaned and rolled over. Jennifer tickled his side and whispered "If you get up now, I bet we can find an excuse to go to bed early tonight." She smiled.
"You’re such a fiend." Jonathan joked
"A fiend?" Jennifer giggled
"Yeah, a fiend, a manipulator."
"I’m not sure fiend and manipulator mean the same thing, Darling."
"Oh, well, you’re still a fiend." Jonathan said as he got up and pulled the blankets off the bed with him exposing Jennifer to the chilly early morning air.
"How’d you sleep last night?" Jennifer asked Jessica as she and Jonathan made their way into the outer room.
"Fine. I’ve made breakfast." Jessica smiled.
"Oh, yummy, I’m starving." Jennifer said as the trio sat down at the table and began eating.
"So, what do we do until court?" Jessica asked.
"Well, maybe we should find this century’s version of Serena Darlyn." Jonathan answered.
"I don’t think they had lawyers in this century, darling." Jennifer said.
"No, lawyers? This should be interesting."
The Harts arrived at the courthouse shortly before noon. Jessica and Freeway Junior accompanied them but were told they were not allowed inside. Jonathan and Jennifer went inside the courtroom and were taken aback by the primitiveness of the room. The furniture was simple unfinished wood tables and chairs with a taller table at the front. The curtains hanging at the windows had been painted with medieval horses and knights. The floors looked as if they had not been cleaned in years. Before they could collect their thoughts a horde of scraggily looking people came filing into the room. The people, dirty and dressed in rags sat down in the chairs at the back of the room. Some stood in the middle of the doorway. Two people emerged from the crowd and the Harts immediately knew who they were. Elizabeth and David Dray had arrived.
"Stand for His Highness the King!" A guard shouted from a door at the front of the room. Everyone stood as a man dressed in fancy robes entered the room and sat at the large table. "You may be seated!" The guard shouted.
Jonathan and Jennifer took a seat at one of smaller tables as did the Drays. Another guard came to the front of the room and pulled out a scroll and read from it.
***We are here to determine the true parents of the girl Jessikah Dray Hartley. Both sides shall present their cases and will follow the ruling of King Solomon’s court.***
"That must be King Solomon." Jennifer said pointing to the man at the larger table. "He’s not quite like I would’ve pictured him."
"SILENCE!" The second guard shouted. "Madam Elizabeth Dray shall speak first. Please come forward Madam."
Elizabeth walked to the front of the room and started to address the King. Jennifer scowled at her as she began to speak.
"Your Highness. I have come to ask for your mercy. My child was taken from me and I want her back. She is of my own flesh. Please let me take her home. I saw her outside just a minute ago. She looks just like me, if you saw her you’d know she is mine."
Jennifer grabbed Jonathan’s arm and angrily whispered in his ear "If she touched her, so help me…" Jonathan nodded his head and told her to shh.
"Madam Jenipher Hartley, please rise and state your case." The guard announced.
Jennifer walked slowly up to the King’s table. "Sir, I can’t claim that Jessica looks just like me. She doesn’t. I did not give birth to her. I love her, she is my daughter just as much as she would be if I had. My husband and I think the world of her and she loves us. She is happy with us and I don’t know how we ever lived before she came into our lives." Jennifer was crying by the time she finished. When she sat down in her seat Jonathan pulled her into a hug.
I’ll Be There To Carry You
I’ll Be The Rock that will Be Strong For You
The One That Will Hold On to You
"Thank you both for your testimonies, now we will take a break as I review the case." King Solomon spoke.
"But, we haven’t finished!" David stood up and yelled.
The guard spoke "Silence! Court will take a recess until tomorrow morning when King Solomon will give his decision."
King Solomon and his guards promptly left the room as everyone stood and prepared to leave.
David and Elizabeth walked over to where the Harts were standing. "You will not get my child!" Elizabeth spat.
Jonathan and Jennifer didn’t answer her, they just walked past her and outside. When they didn’t see Jessica or Freeway they began to panic.
"She did something to them. Oh, Darling what are we going to do."
"Sweetheart, don’t worry, she probably just took Junior for a walk."
Elizabeth and David walked past them and sneered. "Where’s the girl?" David said.
"As if you don’t know!" Jennifer lunged for David as if to hit him.
"Darling, hitting him isn’t going to change a thing."
"Yes, it will!" She lunged again as Jonathan held her back and the Drays ran off.
"Now, look, they’ve got Jessica and Junior and we’ll never find them!" Jennifer said.
"Let’s just sit here for a bit, I’m sure they’ll come back. You know Junior he can’t sit still for very long." Jonathan motioned for Jennifer to sit down on the stoop.
Minutes turned into hours and finally Jonathan acquiesced that something must have happened.
"Come on, let’s go ask around. Someone had to have seen something." Jonathan said.
When You Feel that Rain Falling Down
When There’s Nobody Else Around
I’ll Be
Jonathan and Jennifer had been walking around town for what seemed like forever. It was starting to get dark and they still had found no sign of Jessica or Freeway. They had asked every merchant and layperson they came across. They even questioned the guards who had been at the courthouse. No one knew anything. Jennifer and Jonathan were starting to get extremely worried.
"What are we going to do?" Jennifer whispered.
"We’re going to go get something to eat."
"I’m not hungry."
"Eat anyway. You need to keep up your strength if we’re going to figure all this out."
Jessica sat silently in a bright room. There was a plush carpet on the floor and the chairs were made of velvet. When those men had grabbed her and Freeway from behind she was sure they were in trouble, but now she wasn’t so sure. She was extremely confused. They had separated her from Freeway when they brought her to this room. Her imagination was going wild imagining what they could be doing to him. She was startled out of her reverie when the large oak door to her left opened. Freeway came bounding in and jumped on her lap. It was obvious that someone had decided Freeway was in need of a bath. He smelled of lilacs and soap. Jessica was so involved in her reunion with Freeway that she didn’t notice the regal man who had also come into the room. When she did notice him standing there watching her she jumped.
"Don’t be afraid. I mean you no harm."
"Then why did you kidnap me?"
"It’s a test."
"A test?" Jessica asked, perplexed.
"Yes, my name is Solomon. I have decided there is only one way to judge a true parent."
"How’s that?" Jessica said unimpressed.
"By putting their child in danger."
"Please tell me I’m not the child." Jessica said frightened.
"You are, but don’t worry, it is only a perceived danger. You will stay here as my guest while the Hartleys and the Drays wonder where you are and what has happened to you."
"Isn’t that awfully cruel?"
"Maybe, but would you prefer I do as my predecessors did and simply hand you over to the Drays because they are your blood?"
"I guess not, but isn’t there another way?"
"No, now be still. Sarah will be come and take you to your room. Dinner will be served shortly." After saying that Solomon walked out of the room.
And When You’re There With No One There To Hold
I’ll Be the Arms That Reach For You
Jonathan pounded loudly on the Dray’s front door. One of the street vendors had told them where the Drays lived.
"Who’s there?" David called from within.
"It’s Jonathan Hart" Jonathan said and then added "ley" after realizing his error.
David swung open the door and said nastily "What do you want?"
Jonathan pushed his way inside the house and said "I want my daughter, now where is she?"
"What are you talking about?" Elizabeth said from her chair by the fire.
Hoping to find some compassion in the heart of Jessica’s birth mother Jennifer said softly "Jessica is missing."
"You’ve lost her and you think you should be the ones to take of her?" Elizabeth shouted. "How incompetent are you?"
"We need to find her. She could be hurt." Jennifer said.
"Let us know when you find her." David said
"Don’t you want to help us look?" Jonathan asked.
"Why? You’re the ones who’ve lost her."
"Maybe we should look here first." Jonathan said.
"Be my guest. She’s not here."
Jonathan and Jennifer went room by room looking for Jessica. They even searched for dog hairs hoping that if Jessica had been here and they were hiding her Freeway would have left that unconscious clue. They found nothing. After once more asking the Drays to join them in their search the Harts left.
"What do we do now?" Jennifer asked. "I seem to be saying that a lot lately, don’t I."
"It’s alright Darling. I think our first step would be to contact the authorities. There has to be a constable or something around here to keep order."
Jessica had just laid her head down on the pillow to try to fall asleep. She was afraid to think about what would happen to her. What if this was really a dream like Mama and Papa thought. Would she wake up and have to go live with that world’s Elizabeth. The thought made her shudder. She was beginning to doubt either reality and that frightened her even more then having to live with Elizabeth Drayton. What if both were dreams and she was neither Jessikah Hartley or Jessica Drayton…or was it Jessica Hart? She wasn’t even certain of that anymore. All that she was sure of was that in every reality she wanted to be with the people she considered her Mama and Papa. She hoped beyond hope that somehow this was the reality and the other life was just a dream. In this place she knew she at least had a chance to have her wish come true. In the other place, she wasn’t so sure.
"Jessikah?" The maid, Abigail walked into the room quietly. "Are you asleep, child?"
"No, I’m awake." She replied
"I was thinking maybe you would like to take a nice warm bath?"
"No thanks. I think I’ll just go to sleep"
"Alright, child. That’s good, sleep well." Abigail left the room silently as Jessica crawled under her covers and tried to fall asleep.
And When You Feel Your Faith Is Running Low
I’ll Be There to Believe In You
"I’m sorry Mr. Hartley, but there’s nothing we can do tonight. It will have to wait until morning." Jonathan and Jennifer had managed to find one of the King’s guards making his rounds.
"Are you sure you’re not really from the 21st century?" Jonathan asked snidely.
"Excuse me?"
"Nothing," He paused then continued "Surely, there must be something we can do tonight. She could be hurt or in danger."
"I will see what I can do. Follow me." The guard led the Harts through town and then stopped in front of a large stone castle. "Wait out here, I will be with you shortly."
The guard went inside the castle and disappeared behind the doors.
"Where do you think we are?" Jonathan asked.
"Probably King Solomon’s castle. He is a King’s Guard after all."
The guard entered the drawing room silently and bowed to Solomon who was sitting in a chair watching a fire in the fireplace slowly die away.
"The Hartley’s are outside. They wish for us to make a search for their daughter."
"Really? Are the Dray’s with them?"
"No sir."
"Tell them you will send a search party. Invite them in and bring them to me. Do not allow them to join the search. Also, send for the Dray’s, I want to see their reactions as well."
"Yes sir, what shall we do with the girl?"
"Let her sleep for now, but post a guard outside her door so she doesn’t get out before I wish her to."
"Yes your highness." The guard bowed and began to leave the room.
"One more thing, after a few hours come back here and announce that you’ve found Jessikah’s body. Have one of your guards slip out the back with the dog and when you return be sure to have him dirty to make it seem more believable."
"Of course, sir." The guard bowed once again and left.
Solomon kneeled down in front of the fire and clasped his hands. "Dear Lord," he prayed "Please, lead me in the right path. Show me the way that is best for this child. Do not allow her to slip through your strong and capable fingers." Solomon sat back in his chair and watched the fire a little longer while he awaited the Hartley’s arrival.
When All You Find Are Lies
I’ll Be the Truth You Need
The guard led the Hartley’s to the King’s drawing room. He had given them the King’s message and the troops were already preparing for the search.
"His Highness, King Solomon, May I present Jonathan and Jenipher Hartley." The guard announced as they entered the room.
"Thank you, Micah." Micah bowed and left to join the "search".
"Good evening Mr. Hart, Madam Hart."
"Hello." Jonathan and Jennifer both said.
"Please, have a seat. The Drays should be arriving shortly."
"The Drays?"
"Yes, I have sent for them."
"Oh." Jennifer sighed as she looked worriedly at Jonathan.
Jonathan and Jennifer had been sitting in silence for a while when another guard entered the drawing room and announced the arrival of Elizabeth and David Dray.
Elizabeth and David both bowed when they entered the room and saw King Solomon sitting in a chair by the fire.
"Have they found Jessikah yet?" Elizabeth asked feigning concern.
"No, but my guards are very capable they will find her shortly. I am sure of it. Please have a seat."
The room seemed to be quite crowded and stuffy. There were still empty seats around the room and the wind blew loudly from the windows echoing across the wooden floors. Jonathan and Jennifer sat quietly on a fancy, velvet covered bench. Jonathan linked his fingers with Jennifer and she laid her head softly on his shoulder. Elizabeth and David were sitting in two high back chairs side by side. They were both restless and were continually playing with their fingers or the strings on their clothing. King Solomon remained in his position in front of the fire. From his vantage point he could see both couples and he was watching them carefully from the corners of his eyes. All of the room’s occupants jumped slightly when commotion outside interrupted the silence. The doors to the drawing room were thrown open and a rather disheveled Freeway came bounding in followed by Micah and another guard.
When You Need Someone to Run To
You Can Run to Me
"Junior!" Jennifer exclaimed happily as she stood up and ran to pick Freeway up. She held him in her arms and said "I’ve missed you so much, are you hurt?" She cooed over Freeway and hugged him tight. "Where’s Jessica?" she asked.
"What’s going on?" Jonathan asked as he noticed the stern looks on the faces of the guards. He stood and walked to stand beside Jennifer and Freeway. Solomon remained seated, watching the events before him carefully. Elizabeth and David rose from their seats and walked to stand a few feet away from the Harts.
"I am afraid I bring sad news." Micah addressed Solomon.
"Proceed." Solomon said.
"We have found the girl." Micah was stonefaced as he spoke.
"That’s wonderful!" Jennifer said happily until she noticed that no one else in the room was smiling. "Wait, where is she? If you’ve found her why isn’t she here with you?" Jennifer stood with Freeway in her arms. Jonathan put his arms around her shoulder as they waited for Micah to answer.
Micah was not happy to give this news. Even if it was a lie, he knew what losing a child could do to a family. It wasn’t too long ago he had lost a little brother to the Fever. He knew that this girl would eventually be brought back to life, so to speak, but it still broke his heart to give this news.
"She is dead." The room fell silent as everyone tried to take in the information. . It was seemed like forever before a primal scream shattered the unbearable silence.
"NOOOOOOO!" Jennifer screamed. Her scream shook the walls as she fell to the ground. Jonathan knelt down and pulled her into his arms. He rocked her back and forth and they both cried for the daughter they had lost way too soon.
