She bent her head down to his chest to listen for a heartbeat. A minute later, she sighed in relief; her Felix was still alive. Izzy stood up, took Felix's limp arms into her own hands, and began to drag him toward Avonlea like a wheelbarrow. It was a very slow, tedious process for her, since he was so heavy and she wasn't as strong as he was. While she walked down the road, Felix in tow, she said, "You can wake up any moment now, Felix. I'm getting tired of dragging your limp body around. Please wake up.
"You know, I wonder what we'd be doing right now if you didn't get kidnaped. I'm sure we'd be seeing Gus back to Halifax and Arthur back to Charlottetown--"
"And plannin' your weddin'," added a voice. Izzy turned to the side to see who it was. She saw a rather large woman in her late fifties standing on the side of the road. She had on several layers of clothes, a lot of them tattered and worn out. Izzy had no clue as to the woman's identity.
"Who are you?"she wanted to know.
"Peg Bowen. Everyone around here calls me 'The Witch of Avonlea.' Even ol' Felix here used to."
"You know Felix, Miss Bowen?"
"I have since he was a young'un. Good heavens, he's become a handsome deuce."
"I'm Izzy Pettibone."
"I know who ya are, girl. I may not visit Avonlea as much, but I know all about the goin's-on, even about you two gettin' engaged. Tell ya what. I'll carry Felix, and you can follow me. I've got me own place not too far from here, up in the woods a ways. You can stay with me for the night."
Izzy had her doubts about this, but suddenly she felt at peace about going with Peg, almost as if it was Providential. "Sure, Miss Bowen." Izzy gently set Felix's body on the ground and waited for Peg to come get him. A minute later, they headed into the woods.
* * * * *
Peg got a fire going in her small woodstove while Izzy sat next to Felix, who was still unconscious and lying in Peg's bed. Izzy had told Miss Bowen the entire story in great detail. She wasn't surprised that Rupert Gillis was Felix's captor. She told Izzy, "The Gillis men never gave a tinker's damn about anyone but themselves anyway. I'm glad they got Rupert as soon as they did. He won't be botherin' you and Felix no more."
"I sincerely hope not," Izzy remarked.
"You know, if he doesn't wake up soon, you've gotta take him to the doctor, so he can get fixed up."
"That's where we were headed when you found us."
"Well, if he ain't right as rain by tomorrow, I'll take you two to the doctor first thing."
"Thanks, Miss Bowen."
A few hours later, Peg decided to go to bed, while Izzy sat up with Felix for a little while longer. It wasn't that long before she was asleep herself, her hand clasped into Felix's. Half an hour after she fell asleep, Felix squeezed her hand tightly and slowly opened his eyes. "Iz?" he whispered.
He leaned toward her and tried to shake her awake. "Iz," he whispered again.
It took her a few seconds to awaken. "Wh--what?" she said, sleepily. She looked up and blinked her eyes several times to focus them. Afterward, she softly cried out, "Felix! You're awake."
"Yeah, finally. Where are we?"
"Peg Bowen's shack. She found us on the way home and took us in."
"Peg Bowen?!"
"Ssssh. She's asleep, and yes, she took us in. However, I still want you to go see Dr. Snow tomorrow to make sure you're fine."
"Yes, mommy," Felix said jokingly.
Izzy giggled quietly. "You're so cute, Felix King. Have I told you lately how much I love you?"
"Yeah, you have, but tell me again."
"I love you so much, it's nearly lethal. Not lethal enough to kill me, but I'm sure you know what I mean."
"Yeah. You know how much I love you? My love for you extends all the way to the ends of the earth."
"Is that all? Oh well; that suits me fine."
"Good, 'cause that's all you're getting, Izzy Pettibone, and that's all you're going to get after you become Izzy King."
"That's all the love I wanted in the first place, Felix."
"Fine. Be that way." By now, Felix and Izzy were laughing. A couple of minutes later, they stopped, and Felix took Izzy into his arms. He kissed her lightly on the nape of her neck. Then he reached up and took her hair out of the bun she had it in all day, making her long, curly brown hair flow freely. He took his fingers and started to comb through her long mane.
"Hard to believe that seven years ago my hair was only to my chin," Izzy remarked.
"I still remember that. I also remember the first time I saw you with long hair. I thought it was so beautiful. But you know what? You're more beautiful now."
"Thank you. You're more handsome now yourself."
"Thanks."
"What do you think we'd be doing today if we weren't out here?"
"Planning our wedding, seeing Gus and Arthur off. I'd be at work; you'd be with Cecily all day. I think our day, except for making wedding plans, would be 'the usual.'"
"Yeah. I'm sure your parents have wired Olivia and Jasper and Sara by now--wherever she is. Cecily's probably written Peter to inform him. Maybe she'll write Andrew as well. Gus will probably pass on the news to Father and Muriel when he arrives in Halifax, and they'll write Morgan and Aunt Lillian. Then they'll show up in Avonlea, wondering what I've gotten myself into, except for Aunt Lillian; she'd be beside herself, saying, 'It's about time Isolde married that young man.'"
"And Muriel would go nuts. So would your father. He'd be wondering what happened to his little girl."
"True. But you know what's important, Felix?" She turned to look her fiancé in the eyes and added, "Our happiness is the most important thing. When everyone sees how happy we are together and that we're doing the right thing, they'll forget about the little things."
"You're right. They'll be happy that we're happy."
"Exactly. Have you thought of a date yet?"
"How about April?"
"Oh, that would be lovely! I was thinking of having a spring wedding anyway. Providence is definitely on our side."
"Yeah. What about wedding vows? Should we do the traditional vows, or should we write our own?"
"I think we should write our own. The traditional vows are fine, but I think it'd be so romantic if we wrote our own."
"Great. Do you think I should wear a wedding ring?"
"I don't know, Felix. It's up to you, really."
"I know, Iz. I just wanted to know what you thought of men wearing wedding rings, that's all."
"I think it's sweet. It's shows that we're joined together as husband and wife."
"Thanks, 'cause I had been debating it for a while. I want to wear one, but I wasn't sure if you'd like it. I suppose I got my answer."
"Yeah." Izzy let out a long yawn before adding, "I suppose we should go back to sleep. We've got a ways to go yet."
"True. Good night, Iz."
"Good night, Felix."
* * * * *
It was nearly nine in the morning when Felix and Izzy finally arrived in Avonlea. As they crossed the covered bridge, Cecily was coming out of the telegraph office. She looked down the street in utter amazement. She ran toward them with a gigantic smile on her face. Felix and Izzy saw Cecily running toward them, and they began to run toward her. When the three met, they shared a hug. "I told you I'd find him, Cecily," Izzy told her best friend.
"Yes, you did," she said. "Where's Prince?"
"Long story. Meet me at my house for lunch and I'll tell you. We have to see Dr. Snow first."
"Sure thing. Should I tell Mother and Father and the others, Felix?"
"Yeah," he replied. "Just don't tell them we had to see Dr. Snow first; Mother would have a fit."
"I'll tell them. See you two later."
"See you, Cess," Felix and Izzy said simultaneously.
* * * * *
"Well, I don't see anything wrong with you, Felix, considering your head got bashed three times. It's a miracle you're even alive to tell about it. The angels were definitely watching out for you."
Felix and Izzy were in Dr. Snow's office...again. He had just finished examining Felix's head and gave a very good prognosis.
"Seems almost Providential that you survived all this," the doctor continued. "I mean, not anyone would have survived something like that."
"Yeah," Izzy agreed.
"Now, are you feeling alright, Izzy? You were also knocked out, from what I understand."
"I was, but I'm okay. Somehow I managed to wake up before Felix."
"Uh-huh. Well, I'm going to examine you just to make sure."
Dr. Snow checked her out as well. She had no lumps or bumps on her head, and she responded correctly to the reflex test. "Well," he said, "both of you are fine. Nothing seems to have gone wrong; everything's as it should be. You two are the picture of health."
"Thanks, Doctor," Izzy said.
With that, Felix and Izzy paid him what they could and left. They decided to go to their own homes first until lunch, so they could get freshened up. They gave each other a quick kiss as they left the doctor's office and went their separate ways.
* * * * *
Felicity sat in the parlor at the King farmhouse at the desk working on her sign language lesson for the day. She heard the door open and slam and nearly jumped out of her seat. She got up and went to the foyer and was very surprised to see Felix standing there. "Felix! You're home!" she cried.
"Yes, I am," he told her.
They hugged, and Felix went upstairs to get cleaned up. An hour later, he went to meet Izzy and Cecily for lunch, where they told Cecily about what happened. After Cecily got off work, and after Felix and Izzy visited her there for a while, they returned to King Farm for supper, where Felix and Izzy repeated their story. Nearly everyone was horrified at what the young couple went through, especially because Felix was knocked out three times.
Janet was especially distressed, being a mother. "Oh, Felix. I cannot believe it! Rupert Gillis better get what he deserves, I tell you. I also hope whoever took Prince and who knocked you and Izzy out on the road get it too."
"I'm sure they will, Mother," Felix reassured her.
"In any case, dear, I'm glad you're home."
"So am I."
The family finished supper, and Felix walked Izzy home. After he left, she went up to her room and wrote in her diary:
January 3, 1915
Felix and I finally came home today. Despite the fact he got his head bashed three times, he's alright.When I found him, it was after he got knocked out the second time; he was semi-conscious, and his head was hurting him a great deal. We had to stop several times on the way home so he could rest. We kept talking to each other in order to keep him awake. I didn't want him going into a coma. However, when we stopped where the road toward Carmody met the road linking Avonlea and Markdale, both of us got knocked unconscious.
It was near dark when I woke up. Prince (Felix's horse--I borrowed it) was missing; I suppose whoever knocked us out took it. I hope they someone finds it and returns it soon.
When I came to, Felix was still unconscious. Since Prince was gone, and I wasn't strong enough to carry him, I had to drag him like a wheelbarrow along the road. The good part was along the way, I met up with a woman named Peg Bowen. She was nice enough to take us in for the night. She seems like a very intelligent, pleasant woman.
Later that night, Felix finally came to. We sat up and talked for a while. We discussed some wedding details--we want an April wedding, Felix wants to wear a wedding ring, and we're going to write our own vows. We still have other things to discuss (like who's going to be in the wedding). We're waiting for Sara to come home; I want her to be a bridesmaid. I'd also like Dora to be one (if she ever comes home). Plus, I'm going to ask Cecily to be my maid of honor. I wonder who Felix is going to ask to be his best man; I'm sure if Elbert was home and still alive, he'd ask him. Oh well; I suppose I'll find out soon enough. For now, good night.
--Izzy Pettibone (to be known as Izzy King in April), Age 19
* * * * *
(Two days later)
Felix decided to leave for the White Sands early that morning. He was driving by the train station at approximately eight-thirty that day. He stopped for a moment, though, when he thought he saw someone sitting on the platform alone. The person was a woman in her early twenties, with blonde hair. She was also extremely thin and was wearing a large, black hat with a black winter coat. Suddenly, Felix realized that he saw his favorite cousin sitting there. "Sara!"
She jumped up and ran over toward Felix. It was indeed Sara Stanley he saw sitting there. "Felix!" she exclaimed. When they met, they gave each other a big hug. "Oh, I missed you so much!"
"I missed you too! How come you didn't telephone us? Where's your luggage?"
"My luggage is inside. I was going to telephone, but I was so thrilled to be back home here in Avonlea that I forgot. I am extremely sorry."
"I forgive you, Sara. Listen, I'm going to telephone the hotel and explain the situation to Mr. Tremayne. Then I'll load your luggage into the sleigh and take you back to my house so you can get settled in. God knows you're probably exhausted from the long trip."
"Yes, I am. Thanks so much, Felix."
He telephoned the White Sands and explained everything to Simon Tremayne. Simon decided to switch his shift with someone else's, so Felix would end up working a night shift later so he could spend the day with Sara. After he loaded up Sara's things into the sleigh, the two of them got in and headed to King Farm. When they entered the house, they surprised everyone there.
"Sara Stanley! Gracious Providence, girl! When did you get here?" Alec exclaimed.
"Just a little while ago. Hello, Uncle Alec." They exchanged hugs.
"Why didn't you call us, Sara dear?" Janet wanted to know.
"I would've, Aunt Janet, but I was so thrilled to be home that I forgot. I'm sorry."
"Oh, I'll have to telephone your aunt Hetty after school and let her know you're home." Janet gave Sara a hug, as did Felicity and Eliza. The men brought in Sara's things and took them upstairs, and Felix and Sara decided to go see Izzy and Cecily. On their way, Felix asked his favorite cousin, "How's school been going?"
"Very well. I'm extremely pleased with how I'm doing. I'm almost homesick for it, but it's not too bad because I'm here at home."
When they arrived at the telegraph office, Felix and Sara went in to look for Cecily. Her boss said that she wasn't there; she was at Izzy's delivering a telegram. Felix had a bad feeling about it, so he and Sara rushed out of the office and went to Izzy's house. Later he knocked on the door of the house. No answer. "Izzy! It's Felix; are you there?" he called. Still no answer. He decided to let himself in, with Sara right behind him. They went into the parlor and found Cecily and Izzy sitting on the sofa. Izzy was crying and holding a crumpled piece of paper in her right hand, and Cecily had her right arm around her trying to comfort her as best she could. Felix saw this and rushed over to Izzy's side. He put his arms around her lovingly and asked, "Iz? What is it?"
"It's Morgan," she blurted out. "He...he..." Izzy could finish her sentence; she just sobbed uncontrollably in Felix's arms.
"Morgan was executed by the Germans last night," Cecily explained. "Amanda, the other girl I work with, got the telegram during her late shift, but she didn't want to wake Izzy up in the middle of the night, so she saved it for me to give to her now."
"Unbelieveable," was all Felix could say.
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