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“Um, yes, sorry. Wyatt… your son Wyatt wanted to speak with you… about something,” I stammered through my shock.
She frowned. “He doesn’t like coming around when I’m with Zeke and Colt. Wyatt thinks anyone who is affected is an abomination that needs to be corrected.”
Her attention returned to the carousel, and she waved at the kids as they went past. Since she seemed in no hurry to move, I went over and stood beside her.
“Zeke is my husband, and Colt is my grandson. He’s Wyatt’s nephew,” Elmyra answered the questions I had been too afraid to ask. “Just because they’re sick doesn’t mean they’re not still part of the family.”
“It is remarkable you’ve been able to keep the family together,” I said, because it seemed like she was expecting me to say something.
“Well, I come from a remarkable family, and I don’t only mean the one I married into,” she boasted with a proud smile. “Have you ever heard of the Wonderous Wearghams?”
I shook my head shamefully. “No.”
“You’re young.” She tried to wave it off, but disappointment hardened her smile, and she turned her gaze back to her grandkids. “It was a huge travelling circus, with all kinds of acts and animals, and we went all over North America. I was one of the Wonderous Wearghams, and I was born at the tail end of the golden age of the circus.
“Even then, we toured all over, and I put on shows sometimes two-three times a night,” Elmyra went on. “My grandfather once outbid the Barnum & Bailey Circus for a rare white lion because he knew the importance of being the best, and he wouldn’t let anything stand in his way when he wanted something.
“My whole family worked in the circus, aunts and uncles and cousins and siblings, and I had a hand in all of it. Working from sun up until sun down,” she said, almost like she was bragging. “When the circus finally went under, and I knew that I’d have to settle down and get married, I looked for a family that had a legacy.”
She took a deep breath and regarded as much of the acreage as we could see from where we stood. “This ranch was built on the Loths’ blood, sweat, and tears, and when I married Zeke, I added my own.
“When Zeke got bit, most other women would’ve killed him, or at least left him to die.” She smiled lovingly at the old man zombie as he slowly rode by again, and he only stared blankly ahead with glassy eyes. “I married him in sickness and health, and I had already seen him through hell and high water. This lineage we’ve created with our kids, mine and Zeke’s family are tenacious, hardworking, and loyal. That's how we were able to keep our entire family together when so many others lost everyone.”
Elmyra was still smiling as she spoke, but her voice had a vehemence to it. Her love for her family and legacy bordered on zealotry. Or maybe it surpassed it completely.
“I bought this carousel when my first grandbaby was born, because I wanted them to feel connected to their legacy on both sides of the family,” she illuminated on her ownership of such an extravagant possession. “I let them ride with Zeke and Colt because they can never forget their connection to each other. Blood never betrays blood.”
Then she paused, long enough that I felt like she was waiting for a response, so I quietly said, “That’s very commendable of you.”
Elmyra turned and faced me. “I’m telling you this because while you’re here, I want you to feel like you’re almost part of the family, too. You are adding your blood, sweat, and tears to our legacy, and maybe someday, it can be your family, too.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, I have two sons without a wife, and five grandsons who will want one someday,” she said, so sweetly and so kindly, and my blood still ran cold. “I like you, Harlow. You’re clean, respectful, and you do what your told. It doesn’t hurt that you’re pretty enough that the boys will like you, too.”
“I-I’m only fourteen,” I reminded her uneasily.
“You’re too young,” Elmyra agreed, and she put a maternal hand on my shoulder. “My grandsons are still young, too. But in a few years, you might not be.”
I swallowed down my fear and nausea and forced myself to smile and say, “Thank you.” Because certainly from Elmyra’s point-of-view, she was giving me a wonderful gift, and I had to treat it as such instead of the sickening nightmare it truly was.
“But Wyatt is waiting on you,” I said, because I didn’t want to talk about marriage with her any longer.
“I best not keep him waiting then.” Elmyra called to her grandchildren, “Abel, Honora, Toby! Come on! It’s time to go in!”
With the flick of a large switch, Elmyra turned off the carousel. The three uninfected children clambered off and dashed toward the house, and she followed behind them more slowly.
“What about the others?” I asked, referring to the zombies still tied up to the ride.
“Oh, I’ll get them later.” She waved it off. “They like the fresh air, anyhow.”
I followed her and glanced back over my shoulder once. The little boy zombie was still flailing and growling, his wrists growing bloodier as he fought against his restraints.
30
Harlow
It had been a week since Elmyra had trusted me to serve the dinners, and for being a rustic ranch family meal, it was surprisingly formal. Nobody dressed up fancy or anything, but the men did shower and change out of their work clothes.
