Fallen Daughters: A Dark Romance

by Alta Hensley

  “No.”

  “Birdie…I find that hard to believe.”

  For a split second, Birdie thought of the Langstons—they had offered her a place to stay—but pushed that thought out of her head. “Even if I did, Pa would never allow it.”

  “He wouldn’t have a choice. Once I go to him and tell him that I will save his sorry ass, he will do exactly as I say. I will call the shots, and I will insist on leaving you completely alone. No contact.”

  She shook her head. “I’m sorry, I can’t leave him. He’d be all alone. I can’t just leave him like my mother did.”

  “Your mother’s dead. He killed her. Beat her to death, just like he will eventually do to you.”

  His words were like a punch to the gut. “That’s not true!” She could barely breathe. “Don’t say something so awful!”

  “You know it’s true. Painful, yes. But the truth.”

  “No, she just left one day. She was insane and didn’t know what she was doing.” Birdie paused and wrapped her arms around her body. “My pa didn’t kill her…” Even as she said the words, she knew she was lying. She had always known he killed her, but just didn’t want to face the harsh reality.

  Jeremiah pulled her into a hug and whispered, “All right. All right.” He pulled away to look into her eyes. “But we don’t want to risk having him hurt you any longer.”

  Tears threatened to fall, but Birdie had become a master at keeping them at bay. Crying solved nothing. Jeremiah must have seen the pain in her eyes, however, so his voice softened.

  “I will tell you the truth. I can’t love you like you deserve. Like a man loves a woman. But I can provide you a safe and secure life. But right now we need to figure out where to settle you in until I return. I promise you that I will do my best to make this all right by you.”

  She nodded. “There might be a place I can stay…”

  17

  Rem stood before the fire, resting an arm on the mantle he personally carved, thawing the ice that flowed in the veins of his hands. The stinging wind this evening had an extra bite, and he couldn’t help but worry about Birdie being cold in it. The only thing that helped ease the anxious ball in his stomach was the knowledge that no snow was falling, and not a single cloud in sight. He reached down and stoked the fire, stabbing at the wood like he wanted to do to Jedson Bluebell. Damn that man. It took all his might not to storm through the woods and beat the living tar out of Birdie’s pa and then pick her up effortlessly and carry her home—his home. But those were thoughts of a crazy man. He couldn’t go and rescue her and claim her for his own. That wasn’t the way things were done in these parts, and her pa could have the town folk up in arms if he wanted to.

  “She’s a fighter, son,” his ma said as she came up behind him and placed her hand on his shoulder. “She knows we are here. I made that much clear.”

  “She shouldn’t have left. I have half a mind to snatch her up and force her back here.”

  “That girl is one stubborn mule, I’m not so sure you wouldn’t have a fight on your hands.”

  Rem huffed. “Her pa is going to kill her one of these days. Birdie’s body is too frail to take the wholloping he gives her.”

  “I know. I was going to make up some of those biscuits she likes so much and bring them to her tomorrow. I found some old clothes in a chest that don’t fit me anymore. I’m sure she could find good use for them.”

  Rem spun around and glared at his ma. “I don’t want you going anywhere near the Bluebell homestead, ya hear. That man is dangerous.” He turned back toward the fire. “Birdie has no business staying there.”

  His ma squeezed his shoulder. “She really got to you I see. I haven’t seen you worry or care so much.”

  Rem turned to look at his ma. “Anyone with a heart would care.” He sighed and shrugged. “Ain’t much we can do I reckon.”

  “Hmmm,” his ma hummed. “No son of mine is a quitter. Since when did you lie down and not fight for what you believe in?”

  “I’ve always minded my own, Ma.”

  “The minute you carried that girl across your threshold, you stopped minding your own, and you damn well know it.”

  The knock on the door was welcomed. Rem didn’t like the way the conversation was headed, so he readily moved to open the door before his ma could. It wasn’t quite supper time yet, so it wasn’t too late for company, but he and his ma weren’t one for visits. When he opened the door to find Birdie standing next to an unfamiliar man, his heart stopped.

  “Hi, Rem…I’m sorry to bother you. This here…this here is Jeremiah.” Birdie stumbled over her words. “I was hoping we could talk to you.” The puffs of white air coming from her mouth and the way her body shivered against the elements almost had him seizing her into his arms and rushing her to the fire.

  Rem scanned Birdie quickly for any further injuries—feeling instantly relieved that she didn’t seem to be harmed—and then turned his attention to the man beside her. He didn’t recognize him, but something about the man made Rem feel he was not a threat to either Birdie or him and his ma. He was tall but not very broad shouldered. It didn’t appear the man did much heavy lifting. His features were soft but distinguished, and from the way he dressed, you could tell he possessed a fine amount of money. He was handsome, but not exactly manly. He wouldn’t survive a day as an icer.

  With a slight nod, Rem opened the door wider and moved out of the way, motioning for them to enter.

  “Well what do we got here?” his ma said as she wiped her hands on her apron. “Shut the door before the chill catches us all.” She ran over to an afghan slung across the back of a chair, grabbing it and covering Birdie’s shoulders with it. “You are nearly as frozen as the ice Rem chops at all day.”

  “Mr. Langston, Mrs. Langston,” Jeremiah said as he removed his hat and nodded at both. “Thank you for seeing us unannounced. My name is Jeremiah Banks, and I’m a friend of Birdie.”

  Rem signaled for them to sit down. “Why don’t you tell us what this is all about?” He looked at Birdie, whose big brown eyes skittered around, clearly nervous. Her busted lip looked better than last night, and her shiner hadn’t gotten any worse, both of which made him happy. Her shoulder length hair shone bright without all the mattes and tangles, giving Rem an odd sense of pride. This young lady sure did look different than the one he brought in last night from the storm. “Ma, why don’t you get some coffee started?”

  Jeremiah pulled out a chair for Birdie and then sat down beside her across from Rem at the head of the table. “Well, Birdie here has told me all about the kind act you and your ma did for her, and how you helped a woman in need. I’ve known Birdie since we were kids, and I know what type of man her pa is. Which is why we are here, hoping you can help us.”

  “Of course we’ll help Birdie,” Ma cut in, too focused on what was going on to start any coffee. She just stood beside Rem, stunned in place.

  Rem patted his ma’s hand, silently hushing her. “Go on. What is it you want?”

  “Jedson Bluebell got himself in a mighty mess. One that puts Birdie’s life in danger.”

  Fire erupted inside Rem’s gut, and he clenched his fists on top of the table. “What kind of danger?”

  “Nothing I can’t handle, but I need a place that Birdie can stay while I’m away taking care of business.” Jeremiah reached out and touched the shiner on Birdie’s face. “I don’t want her returning to her pa, as I’m sure you can understand why. So I was hoping that you could provide her safety under your roof until I can return and marry her.”

  A bullet to the heart would have been less painful. “Marry?” Rem asked, looking at Birdie for explanation, none of which she gave.

  Jeremiah nodded. “Yes. Birdie and I have come to an agreement, and we have decided that it is best for all involved for us to marry when I return. It’s complicated, and something I will allow Birdie to elaborate on more when I’m gone, but for now our focus needs to be on her wellbeing and safekeeping.” He paus
ed and studied Rem and then looked at Ma. “I would most certainly pay you for her keep.”

  Birdie looked up at Jeremiah with her mouth agape but said nothing.

  “We ain’t taking your money,” Rem snapped. Birdie turned to look at Rem and made eye contact for a mere second, quickly lowering her stare.

  Now it was his ma’s turn to pat his hand. “What Rem means is that we would be more than happy to let Birdie stay with us. As our friend and houseguest. No money is needed.”

  “How is Birdie in danger?” Rem asked, feeling the inferno grow in his inner depths.

  “Her pa did wrong by some very callous men. I worry that not only will they kill her pa, if I don’t fix this, but they may also go after Birdie. I think I can calm the waters when I throw enough money at it.”

  “And you think she will be safe with me and my ma?”

  “I do. I also think you can agree with me when I say that I don’t want her having any contact with her pa.”

  Rem nodded. “I can guarantee that much. Keeping her from her pa and keeping her safe.” He looked at Birdie again and studied how she never looked up once from the table. Her shoulders slumped as if the weight of the world rested there. He hated that they were speaking as if she weren’t even in the room. “Birdie?” She tentatively looked up to him. “Is this what you want?”

  She looked back down at the table as if she were drowning in shame.

  “Look at me.” She quickly obeyed. Her brown eyes so big, so sad, so scared. “Is this what you want?”

  Birdie looked at Jeremiah for him to speak, when he didn’t, she whispered, “It’s what needs to happen. My pa has done some awful things.” Her voice hitched. “If he knew this was the plan, and I was here, he would beat me until I died. He is a bad man.”

  Ma got up and wrapped her arms around Birdie’s small frame, kissing her gently on the forehead. “Yes, he is, child. But we ain’t going to let him hurt you again.”

  “I don’t want to put you both out, but I have nowhere else to go. I swear I will earn my keep. I’m a hard worker and will do whatever you say,” Birdie said…actually damn near pleaded.

  “Hush now, girl,” Ma chastised. “You ain’t putting no one out. Rem and I offered our home to you even before we heard of this whole mess.”

  “How long are you going to be gone?” Rem asked, fighting back the urge to go hug Birdie himself and reassure her that no one will harm her again.

  “Hard to say, but I can rest easy knowing you both will watch over her until I return.”

  Rem stood and extended his hand. “I give you my word that she will be cared for and watched over.”

  Jeremiah studied Rem for a moment, looked over at Birdie, then back at Rem before speaking. “I feel I need to clarify some things to you. From one man to another. I plan on marrying Birdie.”

  “You said that.”

  “I plan on marrying Birdie, but not for the reasons you think. I don’t love her…well at least not like a man loves a woman.”

  Rem studied the man before him, not grasping what he meant.

  Jeremiah cleared his throat. “My interests are with another, but marriage isn’t an option.” He cleared his throat again, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. “What I’m trying to say, Rem, is that if you got feelings for the girl—”

  “What makes you think I got feelings?” Rem interrupted, embarrassed to be called out like this in front of the women, and not being able to even cast a look at Birdie.

  “Plain as day,” his traitorous ma interjected.

  “I’m concerned about a sweet girl who has been handed a raw deal in life.”

  Jeremiah nodded and smirked, kicking at something imaginary beneath him. “Fair enough. Well…let’s just say if the day came you ever decided that you did indeed care for the girl more than just as charity, I wouldn’t mind if you wanted to take my place in offering her a hand in marriage.”

  Jeremiah’s words punched Rem in the gut harder than his delicate hands could have delivered. “Mister, I’m not sure what you are getting at. I sure as hell don’t know all that is going on. But the one thing I know is that this scared girl needs a strong man to watch over her. If you are sayin’ that you aren’t that man—”

  “I’m sayin’ that you may be better at the job. That’s all,” Jeremiah interrupted. “But rest assured, Mr. Langston, if you don’t step up and do right by her, I sure as hell will.”

  Rem clinched his fist, not liking the tone Jeremiah was taking. “You do your business, and I will watch over Birdie—”

  “Wait!” Ma interrupted. “It’s not a bad idea at all that you marry Birdie.” She put up her hands when both Birdie and Rem went to protest. “Now, before you all start fighting me on this, it really is the only way. It ain’t proper to have an unwed woman living here. Some will find it sinful. And the bigger issue is Birdie’s pa. The minute he finds out that his daughter is living here, he will come and demand her to return home. He has every right to do so.”

  “Unless she belongs to you as your wife,” Jeremiah added. “He’d have no claim on her anymore.”

  “And tomorrow is the Valentine’s Dove Festival. Several couples are finding their mate tomorrow, as is tradition.”

  Rem knew of this festival, and always found it to be no concern of his. Once a year, the community gathered around the church, and single women were matched up with single men to be wed under the dove arch. It was believed that being united on Valentine’s Day, as was the day so many birds found their mates for the upcoming breeding season, was a sure way to guarantee a long and healthy marriage. The union was to be blessed, and any new marriage formed on this day would be prosperous.

  “So you think I should take Birdie to the festival and marry her?” Even though the idea was ridiculous, and he wondered if his ma had lost her mind, he couldn’t necessarily object to the idea.

  “Yes. It’s high time you got yourself a wife, and Birdie here would make a fine one indeed.”

  “But…” Birdie squeaked. For the first time, Rem looked at her, wondering if he was staring at his future bride. And once again, he found it odd that he didn’t flinch at the idea in the slightest. “I can’t ask Rem to marry me just to save me from my pa.”

  “It would guarantee that you’d be safe and not have to return to him. And you deserve a man who can actually love a woman as a man should,” Jeremiah added.

  “And the Valentine’s Dove Festival is the best excuse. You don’t have to plan for a preacher, a day, or arrange a wedding. It is all done in one group setting tomorrow. So soon that Jedson won’t even get wind of it until it’s too late and you two are wed. It would be perfect.” Anna Mae clapped her hands, and Rem couldn’t help but smile at her enthusiasm. He couldn’t remember the last time he had seen her so happy.

  Rem didn’t say anything but studied Birdie and the way that she looked at Anna Mae, Jeremiah, and then very slowly at Rem. She really was beautiful, and he wouldn’t mind staring at her pretty face for the rest of his life. And they were right, Jedson Bluebell would have every right to storm through his door and demand his daughter. But if Birdie were to become his wife, then Jedson would never be able to touch her again. That alone was reason enough to marry Birdie.

  “Well, Birdie, what do you think?”

  She looked up at him wide-eyed and her mouth fell open but nothing came out.

  “Boy!” His ma came near and smacked him on the back of his head. “That ain’t no proper way to ask a lady’s hand in marriage.”

  Rem chuckled. He knelt down so he was eye level with Birdie and reached for her hand. “Birdie Bluebell, I know this isn’t exactly what either of us had in mind when we woke up this morning, but I have to admit I kind of like the idea. It would make me very happy if you would agree to attend the Valentine’s Dove Festival with me and become my wife.” He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed the tiny yet rough skin from all her hard labor as a Bluebell. “But I won’t force you. The choice is all yours.”
>
  Tears filled her eyes but didn’t fall. Birdie swallowed hard and nodded. “Yes, Rem. Yes, I will attend the festival with you.” She smiled and closed her eyes as she took a deep breath. “And, yes, I will marry you.”

  Ma clapped her hands and patted both of them on the back. “Welcome to the family, Birdie girl. I finally got myself a daughter.”

  Jeremiah walked over to Rem and shook his hand. “Thank you, sir. Birdie was right about you both being good people.” He took a deep breath and looked over at Birdie looking up at him. “I really need to be going. I want to catch the next train, and I still need to conduct some business with her pa.”

  Birdie shot out of her chair in surprise. “You’re leaving now?”

  Jeremiah nodded and turned to Birdie and smiled. “You be good now and allow these kind folks to watch over you. I don’t want to hear of any Bluebell stubbornness, ya hear? Congratulations. You will make a beautiful wife.” He softly stroked her hair and gave a quick peck to her cheek. He smiled and winked and then turned to walk out the door.

  “Safe travels, Jeremiah. Birdie will be safe. I hope the same for you,” Rem called out, readying himself for the drastic turn to his straight and narrow life. Readying himself to become Birdie’s husband, forever.

  18

  The Valentine’s Dove Festival went by in a blur for Birdie. Women and men soon became united in a quick but sweet ceremony, finished off with the releasing of several dozen or so white doves. Rem and Birdie were one of those couples, and when the doves fluttered above her, Birdie Bluebell was now and forever Birdie Langston.

  They had remained long enough to receive the well-wishes, the advice from the elders of the town on how to have a proper marriage, and a personal blessing from the town’s preacher. But Birdie was extremely grateful when her new husband placed his palm on her lower back and led her home.

  The fire crackled, and a warmth exuded from both the hearth and her heart like nothing Birdie had ever come close to experiencing. Yet she felt so cold. So very cold as shivers ran over her body. Birdie sat in her chair, staring at the boots she wore that didn’t belong to her—worn down by treds of another. She looked down at the fabric of the dress she wore—noticing the intricate stitch hemmed by another. She sat in the small room of a home—lived by another. Everything about her now—belonged to another. Including her. She now belonged to Rem Langston. What did that mean?