by C.P. Murphy
Chapter Three
Amelia sat on the edge of the sofa in the sitting-room as she waited for her father to join her. He had sent a message telling her he would like a word and she hoped that he would tell her that the horrible nightmare was over. The front door squeaked as it opened and Amelia jumped to her feet. Henry walked into the room and right away reached to embrace her but she stood with her arms crossed. She was still angry at him for what he was putting her through, but glancing at his concerned eyes made her wonder how long she could stay upset with him. “What is it you want to talk about?” She questioned as her arms dropped and played with the trim on her apron.
“You’ve been quiet,” Henry stated. He knew that she was upset about his decision but figured that she was over it. “Is there something wrong?”
She cocked her head and looked at him while he took a seat in the arm chair. He was a man who healed the ill but perhaps he was maddening himself, she thought. He couldn’t have forgotten the torture he was putting her through. “Yes, this whole engagement is wrong. I can’t believe I have to tell you that.”
Henry placed his forehead in his hand. He could feel the heat from inside his body rush to the surface of his face. It was foolish to think that she wasn’t going to continue fighting for her freedom. He was desperate to give it to her but it would cost him his if he did. Again he made himself act as if he was behind the Samuels and Van Martin union. “Amelia, we aren’t going to get into that again. Are we? Don’t you realize that I’m trying to do what is best for you?”
Appalled, Amelia answered, “Best for me? You can’t think that Thomas is best for me.”
Henry stood and faced the window. “The Van Martins are the wealthiest family in the village. You will never have to go without the things you desire, ever again.”
“Except love, Father,” Amelia snapped. Recalling her conversation with Thomas, she knew that it wasn’t in her future. “You forgot love.”
Henry could never forget about love. It didn’t seem too long before when he fought for the love of his life. Henry thought he would put none of his children through a forced marriage but his mistakes had changed all of that. “Why don’t you believe me when I say you will love him?”
“Why won’t you allow me to marry someone I love?” It was an endless battle, she knew, but Amelia had to keep trying.
Henry looked shocked at what she said. He wondered if it were possible for her to love someone without him knowing about it. “Do you have feelings for someone?”
Amelia shook her head. “Oh but Father, there are new people moving here all the time. Perhaps I will meet someone.”
Henry thought of the rumors he’s heard floating around Millersport about a stranger walking the streets. Realizing that he was changing the topic, he felt an importance to tell her about it. “That reminds me,” he started. “I heard there was a stranger around and want you to be aware.”
Amelia laughed which caused her father to turn around to face her again. Emma mustn’t have been the only one alarmed by Patrick’s presence. “His name is Patrick Buchanan,” she announced to him.
Surprise came over Henry. His face gave away his concern and he could hear her telling him how she met the man. “You shouldn’t have talked to him.”
“He isn’t bad, I’m the one who bumped into him,” Amelia responded. Then she wondered why he had changed the subject and thought that maybe he was coming around. “Father, does this mean you’ll allow me to find my mate?”
Henry stared at her for a moment as he tried to get back on track. She was a wild fire that couldn’t be put out without trouble, a trait she inherited from her mother. He remembered how feisty his wife had been at Amelia’s age. “I’ve given my word to the Van Martins, Amelia.” He wished that she could have the opportunity, but it was too late to back down now.
She stood and huffed as she straightened her apron. It was just another battle lost with him but she would still not give up. “You asked what was bothering me and I’ve told you,” Amelia growled. “If you don’t mind, I have laundry to do.” She stormed out of the room and began her chores. It was the first time in her life she walked away from him without his permission but it didn’t matter. There could be no consequences harsher than what he already done to her.
After finishing all of her duties, she went for a walk to clear her mind. Amelia left her house and started north and then turned towards the west. The outskirts of the village contained miles of farming areas and she knew that Thomas or anyone else that would ask her about her courtship wouldn’t find her out there.
There was a slight wind blowing from the trees and onto her face as she walked but it felt delightful to her. Between the cool air and many things on her mind, she hadn’t realized how far she had traveled. When she looked around to determine where she was, she knew she was over two miles from home. The land she stood on had been vacant for five years since the owner moved away. Amelia saw the back of someone’s head and thought that the owner had returned. Her instincts told her to welcome him back to Millersport and continued to walk in his direction.
Patrick was busy preparing his new gained land to plant trees on it. He glanced around and knew that he paid a decent lay for the property he hadn’t even seen before purchasing. Kneeling down, he dug his hand into the soil and was happy to feel the moisture in the ground. As he stood and dusted his hands off, he turned and saw the girl he had met in the village coming his way.
“Amelia,” he greeted her. “What brings you so far from the village?”
Amelia didn’t expect to see Patrick there but wasn’t surprised. She should have known that the land’s owner had not returned. Then she realized that he must have purchased the land from the previous owner which would explain why the land agent in the village had never spoken about the stranger. “I’m sorry if I’m disturbing you,” she explained her presence. “I was out for a stroll and didn’t realize how far I’ve walked.”
Patrick thought she looked elegant in her soft pink dress that clung tight to her hips and then dropped to the ground. The dress tied right below her bust line and Patrick looked away so he wouldn’t offend her. The capote on her head shaded her face from the midday sun. He peered in and looked at her blue eyes but they seemed to be glazed and glossy. Patrick wondered if it was him; maybe she feared him the way he sensed the other people in the village had. “Listen,” he began, “I know that you don’t know me but I promise I’m harmless. You need not be afraid.”
“Oh, I’m not,” Amelia assured him. She could tell that he was an intelligent man and must’ve noticed how the residents of Millersport behave around unknown men.
“I thought,” Patrick started but didn’t finish. If she wasn’t afraid of him, he wondered what was troubling her. He didn’t want her to think he was interfering, so he didn’t ask. Instead, seeing her remove her bonnet, he changed the subject and offered her a rest. “You’ve come a long way,” he said. “Why don’t you sit awhile?” Patrick sat down under a tree, expecting her to lean against the oak so not to dirty her dress but she flopped down beside him. His thoughts of her confused him; she seemed so refined but yet also carefree.
He offered his canteen and Amelia accepted without hesitation. The water felt refreshing going down her dry throat. “Thank you,” she said as she handed it back.
Patrick looked at her. There was no doubt in his mind she was beautiful. Engaged or not, he saw no harm in talking to her. “I know little about the people of this area but where I came from engaged couples spend a lot of time together. I’m surprised to see you alone.”
Just then she cried; a cry she had wanted to get out for days. She felt so helpless and couldn’t help crying in front of him. “Oh, I apologize for my behavior.” Amelia just wanted to let all of her emotions out and hoped it would make her feel better.
Stiffing up a little, Patrick was feeling uncomfortable with the way she sobbed but wanted her to know that it was all right. “Now, now,” he started. “It’s
fine. It can’t be that bad. What is troubling you?” He didn’t think that she would open and tell him but couldn’t hold off asking anymore.
Amelia wiped her eyes and looked at the man who was being so kind to her, kind like how her father used to be before he turned her life upside down. She didn’t give it much thought; she blurted it out. “You see; my father is forcing me to marry Thomas Van Martin. I’ll never love him and worse yet, I’ll never be able to find someone I can love.”
Patrick listened with intent as she went on about how she had tried to get out of the marriage but was unsuccessful every time. “I’m sorry to hear that. Does this man, Thomas, love you?” He was feeling that the girl was tugging at his heart- strings but he forced himself to be rid those ideas.
Amelia broke down more, “No, which makes it even worse. How can I grow to love someone who doesn’t even love me?”
Patrick was bold and put his arm around her shoulders and let her lean against him as she sobbed. He meant no harm in it and hoped that she would understand. It didn’t seem to bother her; she differed from anyone he had ever met before. He didn’t want her to be afraid of him but also couldn’t figure out why she was so comfortable around someone she just met. This arranged marriage of hers was interfering with her sanity. She leaned over and rested her head against his chest and soon after his shirt became wet from her tears. “I’m not sure I’m the person you should talk to about this, it’s not of my funeral but, I want you to know that we can talk anytime you would like.”
Amelia sat up and wiped the tears from her eyes. Patrick reached behind him and pulled a hanky out of his back pocket and she used it to clean up her face. “There is no one to talk to. Emma seems to be on my father’s side and she was the one person who I could ever talk to.” She realized what she was doing, crying in front of someone who had no right to know such things about her. “Oh, Patrick, I’m so sorry. Look at me, I’m very inappropriate.”
Patrick grinned. He wondered how long it would take her to realize that she had been spilling her personal life onto him. “As I told you, it’s fine. I don’t mind as long as you are all right with it.”
She felt foolish though she had to admit to herself that she felt much better talking to someone who didn’t have a say. “I’m fine as long as I have not bothered you.” Then for the first time she inspected him. He had dark brown eyes and thick wavy hair that matched. His hair wasn’t like other men’s; it was longer and came together to form a small pigtail in the back. Amelia stared at his upper body in the same way that her brothers have stared at candy sticks in the general store. Just as they would long to touch the confectionary treats, she longed to touch Patrick’s skin. She moistened her lips and batted her eyes as she avoided making eye contact with him. Then the thought of him realizing what she was thinking, caused her to blush. She had to regain her control before she made a complete fool of herself. She didn’t want to get caught staring at him so she jumped up and prepared to walk back home.
“No, no. I wouldn’t do that. I told you it was fine. You are not a bother at all; in fact I dare say I enjoy the company.” Patrick told her she could stop by and visit him anytime she wanted as she stood up and dusted herself off. “I would offer you a ride home on my horse but am afraid it wouldn’t be proper.”
Amelia understood, though a ride would be nice considering she had never meant to walk so far. “Oh, thank you but you are right. I don’t think my father would understand.”
He wanted to see her again but yet didn’t want to push himself onto her. He knew it was wrong to speak in a relaxed way to a lady already spoken for but he said, “You know, Amelia, that if you ever feel you want to get away again, you can come here anytime you want.” The thought of her leaving put an emptiness inside of him that was as unexplainable as the longing he felt for her. Amelia nodded her head and thanked him as she started her journey back home.
Her entire body overheated from her extra-long journey. The ascending stairs seemed never ending but Amelia was hopeful for an afternoon nap. She entered the bedroom she shared with Anna, removed her shoes, and then fell back onto her bed. Her eyelids grew heavy and were just about to shut when she heard her sister Minnie calling her name from the hallway below. “I’m up here,” she whimpered. She sat up but not before Minnie had seen her lying down.
“I’m sorry,” Minnie told her. “I didn’t realize that you were resting.”
Wiping her eyes and yawning, Amelia replied, “It's fine. I was just a little tired from a long walk. You’re not interrupting.” Minnie was most like herself, Amelia thought, always kind to others feelings. “What brings you by?”
“Father,” was her one-word answer.
Amelia sighed. She should have known that Minnie wouldn’t call upon her on her own will. Ever since she married, the younger girl spent most of her time running her own household and when she wasn’t with her husband Philip, she had her own circle of friends. She didn’t visit unless there was a family get-together. Her thoughts returned to Minnie’s answer. Amelia wasn’t surprised that her father would have someone else try to talk sense into her and Minnie would do whatever he asked. “I already told Father what was bothering me and to be quite honest, you will not change my mind either.”
Minnie sat on the bed and thought about what to say. She had heard the news of Amelia’s engagement but unlike their brother David, she saw nothing wrong with the situation. “You should be happy that someone like Thomas wants you for a wife,” she informed.
“Happy? Don’t fool me,” Amelia snapped. “He doesn’t love me and I’m not his object to want.” She felt bad for snipping the way she had but Amelia could tell that Minnie had called on her because their father asked her to. Other than that, she had nothing else to say. They were both quiet for a while, confirming Amelia’s thoughts about Minnie’s visit. “I will never forgive him for what he is putting me through.”
Minnie’s mouth gaped as she jumped and faced Amelia. “Take that back, Amelia Samuels, right now!” Her father couldn’t do any wrong, Minnie thought, and didn’t deserve Amelia’s harsh words.
“No,” she laid her head back on the pillow and felt the tears build up in her eyes again. It hurt her to say such things though she wasn’t willing to admit that to her sister.
“You are not the only person who has ever been forced into marriage,” Minnie pleaded with Amelia to understand. “You’d be surprised to know who was.”
Amelia sat up again, curiosity held her. “Who was?”
Minnie faced Amelia and sat down on Anna’s bed. She bit her lip, lowered her head, and wished that she had said nothing. Millersport was full of gossip and what she had overheard herself was a little more than Amelia should know. Looking anywhere except at Amelia, she answered, “That doesn’t matter and you know it. You shouldn’t blame Father for trying to do what is best for your welfare.”
Amelia knew better than to believe Minnie. If there was someone they both knew with a prearranged marriage, she would have given a direct answer. There was no doubt in Amelia’s mind that her sister was trying to make their father out to be a perfect man. “Well Minnie, since this isn’t a social visit, I walked far today and wanted to get rest.”
Minnie felt bad for letting her sister believe that she didn’t care about her but Amelia’s harsh words against their father had made Minnie keep her feelings to herself. “Fine. Good day.” She didn’t wait to allow Amelia to wish her farewell.
“You too,” Amelia called out as she heard Minnie run down the stairs. She rolled to her side and let her eyes close the way they’ve been wanting to.