Chapter 17: Alone With the Book

Finding herself alone for the first time, she loved on Muffin, who seemed quite comfortable with the change in address and century. On the other hand, Maggie felt like Dorothy on a sea going version of the Wizard of Oz, and her mind was still playing a game of, "Will the real world please stand up."

Truth be told, she wasn’t as convinced as she’d lead them to believe that her life as Kate was just a fever enhanced story she’d written. She needed time to sort everything out. She needed time to read the story "she" wrote about her life as Kate, and if she was in a straight jacket, then someone else would have to turn the pages.

In direct violation of her doctor's orders, she reached for the book that she hoped held some answers.

Her hand trembled as she opened the book. She traced her finger along the title and thought, "Look Out Seattle. Why did Maggie, or why did ‘she’ select that phrase for this story? For that matter, how could she possibly write this story?"

From the bits and pieces that Candy and Biddie shared, she knew it was in essence a biography of Kate’s life in the 21st century, or at least parts of it. As Kate, 160 years in the future and as a devoted fan of Here Comes the Brides, she knew Maggie's world, all 54 episodes. But the television glass only works one way. So ... how could Maggie in 1866, real or special guest star, know about Kate and life in the 21st century?

Yes, she might have pulled an H.G. Wells and envisioned an accurate futuristic world, but that would not explain how she knew personal details about Kate’s life. Of course, if she, as Maggie, could remember writing this story, then she would have her answer. Unfortunately, that was a piece of the puzzle still missing.

Her head started to ache from the mental ping pong she’d been playing, bouncing between being Kate and being Maggie. A few appropriate lyrics from the Beatles song, The Walrus played in her head as she smiled rather than cry.

Finally, with nothing left to do but to do it, she dove into the only existence of Kate in this world, aside from what she as Kate could remember.

The first thing she found of interest was that the story started on Kate’s 13th birthday. In the life that Kate remembered, this was the day her life as Colton and as a boy ended, and Kate’s life began. But in Maggie's version there was no Colton, and no mention of events prior. It was as if Kate's life started the day she shared her stories with her parents, and informed them of her dream to be a writer. The transsexual element of her life appeared to have been omitted or erased

As she ventured further into the tale, she noted the many similarities between Maggie's version of her life and the one she remembered. Both Kate’s had kind, loving and supportive parents. Both Kate's excelled academically and struggled socially. Both Kate’s felt like ugly ducklings but obviously one Kate’s feelings went far deeper. At around 16, Maggie's Kate had the major glow up that genetic girls often have, while her twin had the best one that estrogen shots could create. It was here that the first reference to "the deep dark secret" was found. It said that Kate carried a deep dark secret in her heart, one she would have to live with forever and never share because if she did, the world would never look at her the same ever again.

Through 70 or so pages that constituted Kate’s life in the 21st century, modern conveniences included, this secret was mentioned throughout but the author never gave a single clue as to its nature. It was only when both Kate’s left to start a new life in Seattle working at a newspaper, that each had tried to leave their own "secret" behind. The parallel continued when both Kate’s were hunted, trapped and forced to face a difficult decision because of their secret. Only the Maggie that wrote the story knew her Kate’s secret, as illness had stopped her writing, at the same time the other Kate had stopped living.

Maggie sat the book down and fell back into her pillow with a heavy sigh. The story hadn’t really been much help at all. The two Kate’s shared many similarities but it was the last one they shared that saddened Maggie’s heart. She might have to accept the fact that she may never know how either girl's story ended.

As she lay there, feeling the gentle rolling of the ship and looking at the converted mule boat which would not be featured in the June 1866 edition of Ships Monthly, she decided that perhaps she needed to change course. If looking back at Kate’s life seemed to be, pardon the pun, a dead end, then maybe it was time to further explore Maggie's life, past, present and future.

The past lay in the trunk containing her diaries. The future included a walk on deck with the very handsome Joshua Bolt. She was definitely looking forward to her future. The present demanded two things of her.

First, she had to embrace her life and this world as Maggie. Kate had to take a backseat ... at least for now. The second demand was sleep, and that appeared to be nonnegotiable, as she felt drained once again. Sinking deeper into the pillow, her lashes batted a few times before her eyes finally gave in.

Suddenly, she sat up and her eyes went wide. A single thought had derailed her journey to slumberland. "Wait a minute!" she cried aloud. "The last time I went to sleep, I jumped from one life and one body to ... to ... being a 2026 guest star on a 1968 television show which takes place in 1866."

"Oh ... my ... God!" she said in disbelief. "Heavens to Sam Beckett, this isn’t Here Comes the Brides ... It’s Quantum Leap."

She had to laugh, especially considering the good doctor gender jumped in several episodes.

Looking from side to side she called out, "Al? ... Al?" but when he didn't answer she gave up the ghost and fell back into her pillow. Her last thought was, "Will I wake up someone else, someplace else or is this the leap home?"

Chapter 18: Maggie Takes the Helm

When "Maggie" awoke, the first two things she noticed was that she was still Maggie and ... that no matter how much soap and perfume you use, a mule boat will always smell like a mule boat. Chucking her Quantum Leap theory in the rubbish bin, she accepted that, at least for now, she was home.

She also noticed that she was no longer alone. The hold of the ship, which had been converted into dormitory style living quarters for the brides, was now bustling with activity. Some of the girls were sitting on their beds writing, reading or sewing, while others were gathered in groups talking. One girl with beautiful brown hair was staring into a hand mirror using her free hand to position her hair in different styles.

Maggie tried to remember her name, but couldn’t. To Kate, the young woman was a nameless background cast member. To Maggie, she was a friend that she'd spent the last six months with. Relegating Kate to her place as a silent observer, she tried to relax her mind, and allow Maggie to be Maggie. What felt like a cool breeze on a hot summer day washed over her. Suddenly, she was calm, confident, and Maggie.

"Becky," the young woman turned at the sound of her name. " You really should wear your hair up like that. It looks so beautiful that way."

Becky smiled, "Thanks Maggie I've been wanting to try something different."
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Rachel, hearing the conversation, shouted, "Hey everyone Maggie’s awake!"

Suddenly her bed was surrounded once again, but this time she was prepared to receive them. Faces that had been nameless to her the first time she saw them, now had names, stories and shared memories. The more she engaged everyone, the more comfortable she became.

"Well hello sleepyhead." Candy slipped into the gaggle of girls. "You’ve been sleeping most of the day. Doctor Mike checked on you a few times and Joshua came by once."

Maggie blushed as her Seattle sorority sisters giggled and teased her playfully.

Candy frowned as she spied the uneaten bowl of soup. "Maggie," she gently scolded her. "You really should eat something. If you want I could try to heat up some of the stew we had for supper."

Biddie, who was standing back a bit from Candy, shook her head and then made a face as she stuck out her tongue."

Maggie noted the zero star rating. "Thanks Candy, I know I should eat, but I’m just not hungry yet. Maybe ... I’ll feel more like eating after we go walking with Joshua and Jeremy. I’m sure the sea air will do wonders for my appetite.." She added with a giggle.

""Your appetite for Joshua Bolt," Rachel had to state the obvious, which brought another round of laughter and gentle teasing.

*"Ladies ... ladies," Candy quickly quieted the room. "Miss O’Malley and I have gentleman callers this evening, and we would greatly appreciate any assistance you might wish to offer with our preparations."

The girls hesitated a moment as they looked side to side and then smiles slowly peeked before growing wide. Suddenly 99 girls mobilized themselves into a beauty brigade and Maggie marveled at the teamwork and love shown by her friends and shipmates.

The first order of business was dropping the quilt down across the entrance to the hold. Established before they left the dock at New Bedford, this was the signal that no boys were allowed.

The next thing Maggie noticed was several girls dragging a large wooden wash tub across the floor. Immediately thereafter, began a bucket brigade of hot water led by Biddie, who informed her that it was a good thing they expected to make Seattle tomorrow, as this was nearly the last of the fresh water.

Anne, the former Southern Belle, brought a small bottle over to her. "Doesn’t it smell wonderful? My daddy got this all the way from Paris, France. It was one of the few things that survived the trip from South Carolina "

Maggie inhaled the lilac and rose petal fragrance with a dreamy smile. "Ohhhhh ... that’s really nice. It’s going to smell amazing on you."

Anne giggled and pointed toward the wooden tub, "It’s not for me honey child. It’s for your bath."

Maggie’s eyes went wide as she saw several of the girls hanging quilts around the tub and Biddie standing nearby with brush,soap and towels in hand.

She looked to Candy for a reprieve but received only the harsh truth, "You’ve been bedridden and fevered for nearly two weeks and ... you’re going walking with Joshua in a few hours. You NEED a bath."

Candy's logic and her own body odor were inescapable. When her ship sister offered her a hand she took it gratefully and without further protest. It was fortunate that Candy was stronger than she looked and Anne was still nearby as the fever and two week bedstay had robbed Maggie of her sea legs. Her knees buckled with her first step, but they collected her before she hit the deck.

The girls easily returned the lightweight to her upright position. Once sure she was alright, they offered a pair of arms to lean on as they walked her to the tub.

"Thank you," Maggie said to her helpers. She raised her voice and said to everyone in earshot, "Thank you all for the bath, and all you've done for me while I was sick."

As she slipped between the quilts, Biddie smiled and said, "If you need anything at all, we'll be nearby."

Looking at the round wooden tub, soap and scrub brush, Maggie got her first taste of real life in the 1860’s ... at least aboard ship.