by Dee Jones
"Did he tell you he stayed with you the entire time you were unconscious?" he asked her. She looked at the young man studying his emerald eyes, so much like her own.
"No he didn't, but I rather guessed it."
"Did he mention he would rather die than lose you?" Julia smiled, lowering the dark lashes across her eyes.
"That much he did tell me."
"What else did he tell you?"
"What are you getting at, Jeremy?" suspicion echoed in the young woman's voice, as she stared across at him.
"Did he tell you he loved you?"
"He mentioned something about it," she blushed.
"Before or after he made love to you?"
"He hasn't. Not yet anyway. He said we'd wait until I had my strength back, but to tell the truth Jeremy, I'm getting tired of waiting."
"You are?" He nearly exploded with laughter at hearing his sister's revelation.
"What's so funny?" Her anger was brief and quickly replaced by embarrassment when she saw her sibling's expression.
"I thought for sure it would be Daniel who surrendered first."
"I guess I'm just weak when it comes to my husband." Julia blushed scarlet, turning her attention back to the fields.
"Do you love him, sis?" Jeremy asked after a moment's silence. "I mean truly love him? Can you live the rest of your life, looking across the table at him and never regret it?" Julia leveled her gaze on her brother and smiled.
"Yes."
Jeremy's train left for New Jersey at three o'clock the next afternoon, but before he boarded he made his sister a promise to bring Malinda out for a visit before the snow fell.
Julia sat alone on the front porch aching for something to do. She hated doing nothing, she hated staring out at the empty fields, but most of all she hated being alone. She wanted Daniel to come home, but lunch was still two hours away and her mother was busy helping Mrs. Lester train a new maid. Even though everybody seemed to know exactly what she was doing, there didn't seem to be anyone around to talk to.
She looked up the dirt road and saw the image of a small black buggy nearing the house. She watched it for a full five minutes before the red hair of Margie Leonard became visible. Julia was excited and felt like running down to meet the woman, but knew it probably wouldn't do any good. Margie would be just like the others; she would argue and insist Julia stay quiet until hell froze over!
Margie stopped the carriage and lifted the blue wrapped bundle out of the seat next to her, then helped Maggie down from the buggy. They walked up the stairs as Louise came out the front door, greeting the woman with a warm smile and a hug and waiting as she hugged Julia.
“What brings you out this way?” she asked Margie as she sat in the chair next to Julia.
“I just wanted to visit for a while. I feel so cooped up at home with just the children to keep me occupied.”
“I know Julia is thankful for the company,” Louise smiled. “Maggie, would you like to help Mrs. Lester make some cookies?” she asked, knowing the two women would appreciate some time without being interrupted by a bored three year-old.
Maggie jumped up and down clapping her hands and eagerly followed the older woman into the house without so much as a glance back to her mother. Thompson arrived a few minutes later with a pitcher of lemonade and two glasses. He poured the sweet drinks and placed a plate of fresh cookies onto the table between the chairs then left the two alone again.
Julia had begun to resent the older man who watched her like a hawk. He was always there, giving her something, taking something away or pushing her back down in her rocking chair the minute she stood up. He was worse than what she heard prison wardens were like.
"I am so glad you came out," Julia told Margie after the butler left. "I've been bored to tears just sitting here." Margie laughed as she unwrapped her tiny son from his cocoon.
"I'll bet Daniel watches you constantly, huh?"
"Not really, he's been too busy helping build the new stables. But he does have his spies lurking around every corner," she snapped, glancing back toward the front door.
"Well, I'm here to keep you out of trouble and just to prove it, I brought a number of catalogues with me. The new dressmaker loaned me her newest books to bring out to you. I'm sure she's hoping for a very large order."
They spent the next forty minutes looking, comparing, joking and laughing over some of the new designs. They both admired one, a low cut neckline, off the shoulder gown of bright orange and black and agreed it would be perfect for the Halloween dance held every year at the local church. Julia relayed stories of the balls and parties she had attended in Boston, as she looked out across the fields again.
"It's so different here," she said almost in a wistful tone. "I thought I'd miss Boston more than I do."
"It's because of Daniel," Margie insisted, eagerly. "I'm quite certain he's kept your mind off everything except him." Julia blushed at the thought, than frowned slowly.
The sound of horse's hooves and the rattle of a carriage coming up the dirt road brought a premature halt to the conversation. The two women sat in silence as the small black trap approached, bringing a deeper frown to Julia's slender brows.
The dark hair woman stepped out of the carriage with the grace of an accomplished ballerina. Julia's frown turned into a determined setting to her jaw and her eyes narrowed slightly as she watched the woman wave, walking toward the porch.
"Who's that?" Margie whispered, eyeing the woman critically.
"Our neighbor, Sharon Farnsworth. She's taken over her parents’ property next to ours." The woman stepped up to the porch offering Julia a hug that appeared both friendly and endearing, but ignored Margie and the baby as though they didn't exist.
"I've wanted to come by so often since I heard about the fire," she said. Her lilting voice sounded like fingernails raking across a chalk board, irritating Julia with each syllable. "I've just been so dreadfully busy. I've had so much work to do it's had me nearly exhausted every waking moment."
"I'm surprised you had the chance to stop by, considering how much you have to do." Julia hoped her voice sounded friendlier than she felt.
"I wanted to check on you and...well to be completely honest, Daniel's been helping me find some horses. He's been such a jewel to go out of his way for me like this. I just don't know what I'd do without him."
"Yes he is a wonderful man, but don't worry about him going out of his way. He does it for everybody."
"Really? Well, that must be dreadful on you. I mean, if he pays as much attention to the rest of his clients as he has with me, you must never get a chance to see him. I don't think I could handle having my new husband running all over God's green earth, working himself into a frazzle for other people and ignoring me. When do you get a chance to see him?"
"Actually, I see him quite often and he's always home at night," Julia said, a slight blush tinting her already pink cheeks. "That is the most important time after all."
"I should say so," Sharon smiled, her eyes cold and icy, her tone warm and cheerful. If ever there were an odder display of emotions this woman certainly reined superior.
"Well dear," Sharon said, after a brief pause to eye Margie and her baby, venom etched in her dark eyes. "I really should be going. I must find that husband of yours and see what he's found out for me. You do know where he is, don't you?" The underline insinuation echoed through the afternoon air, like thunder before the storm.
"He's at the stables, helping with the new construction."
"Excellent. I'll go there and talk to him. You're looking quite well, by the way. I hope your little accident hasn't left you any permanent scares?"
"No, Sharon. I'm quite fit indeed."
"Good, I'd hate to think you were injured worse than Daniel lets on. Heavens, what does this make now; three accidents for you? I must say dear, it would appear you've been living under a bad star wouldn't it? Well, I really must be going. Do take care of yourself and for heaven’s sake get in out o
f this sun. It's dreadful on your skin."
Julia and Margie watched as the woman slithered off the porch and disappeared down the path leading to the stables.
"What a unique person," Margie said, with a snort. "Almost like a python; interesting to look at, so long as it's locked away." Julia laughed at the description, feeling less than irritated with Margie on her side.
"She's not so bad once you get to know her."
"How long have you known her?"
"All our lives."
"Ah, I see; bosom buddies, right?"
"Sure, like Cane and Able." They laughed with the similarity until Harrison woke and began to whimper.
"So tell me, where did your little vixen come from? The Bermuda triangle?" Margie glanced back in the direction the woman had disappeared, expecting her to poke her head around the corner of the house and yell, 'boo'.
"New York, I think. Her family moved away right after her sister Heather died. She came home the morning of my father's funeral."
"Excellent timing," Margie added. The two women fell into a silence tormented by thoughts of the past until Harrison's whimper turned into a full blown bellowing cry. Julia watched the woman unbutton her bodice and remove her breast, turning her son to her nipple and begin to suckle him.
"What's it like to be a mother?" she asked, her attention darted away when she realized she was staring.
"It's hard to describe. It's somewhere between heaven and paradise. Very little sleep and lots of laughs."
"You're very lucky. I don't think I'd make a very good mother."
"Why? I think you'd be wonderful."
"I don't know very much about children. I'd probably do everything wrong."
"Oh Julia, that's silly. I've never known anyone who's totally prepared to be a parent. It's not something you can take a class on, after all. It's just something that comes with experience. Take Maggie, for example. The first three weeks of her life, I paced the floor wondering why she didn't cry and when she finally did, I wondered why she wouldn't stop. Now with Harrison, I've gotten to the point that I can tell when he's hungry and when he's in need of changing. It's just something you pick up as you go along."
"If you say so."
"Have you and Daniel discussed having a family?" Julia blushed at the idea. Having children would first mean having sex and they hadn't gone far enough down that path to attempt it. In fact, Daniel had barely touched her since the night of the fire. He came to bed tired and exhausted, he kissed her good-night and then fell promptly asleep. She'd have more passion lying with a dead goat.
"We haven't really thought much about it," she replied, softly.
"Well, you'd better start thinking about it. You've been married what, two months now? If I know Daniel, you're probably already pregnant. If I were you I'd start making some plans."
"I'm not pregnant Margie," Julia insisted with such confidence that the young red-head frowned, looking at Julia through narrowed eyes.
"How can you be so certain? Unless you've been using some of those methods, I've heard about; you do realize contraception is illegal, don't you?"
"I'm aware of that fact and no, we haven't used any method."
"Then how..."
"Because I'm still a virgin," Julia nearly choked on the words. She couldn't believe she just blurted it out like that. She looked at the woman now, hoping to read her expression.
"Daniel hasn't taken you to his bed yet?" Margie's red hair spilled across her brow and she eagerly brushed it away, waiting for her friend's answer. Julia stiffened. She'd come this far and she did need somebody to talk to. Perhaps it wasn't so bad; after all, Margie was a friend of Daniel's, perhaps she could help Julia find a way around her shyness.
"We agreed not to consummate the marriage," Julia lowered her lashes, at the shocked look the other woman gave her. "He didn't marry me for love; he married me for the stables. My father had a condition to his will. The only way Daniel could have them, was to marry me. I just couldn't sleep with a man my father bought for me."
"Are you sure your father bought him? I've known Daniel for a long time and I know there isn't a man alive - or dead - who could force him into doing something he doesn't want to do. Has Daniel told you he doesn't want you?"
"No, in fact he told me he loved me."
"Well then, what's the problem? Start making some babies."
"But he hasn't said it since the night of the fire. He barely speaks to me now. It's been two weeks and he hasn't once touched me. I don't think he wants me anymore."
"That's hogwash. I was here the night he brought you back from the swimming hole; I know how much anguish the man went through thinking you would die. He does want you Julia, don't ever doubt that."
"Then why hasn't he done something? He just comes home, bathes and goes to bed. He doesn't touch me or...anything. He treats me like a helpless invalid. He keeps me locked away in this damn house until I'm quite certain I'll go insane." Julia was angry now for the way she was being treated and angry because she was allowing it to happen. Margie chuckled laying the baby across her shoulder, patting his back.
"Then perhaps it's time you showed him you're not helpless or an invalid," she suggested, eying Julia with a strange glint in her ivy green eyes.
"How?"
"If you're serious Julia I'll help you. When Daniel comes home this evening he'll know just how recovered you really are." Julia thought about this for a few minutes. She did want to be with Daniel, she did want something more than just a good-night kiss and a warm chest to curl up to. With a determined gleam in her eyes and a stubborn set to her chin, Julia made her decision.
"What would I have to do?"
"The first thing you have to do is get him home. When does he usually come up from the trenches?"
"Not until dark, but he does come up for lunch."
"No, not lunch, there isn't enough time. This is going to take several hours to plan out. Tell me what he does when he comes up for the night."
"Well he eats and then he talks with my mother for a while before he goes upstairs."
"What time is it when he goes up?" Margie covered Harrison up and handed him to Julia before pulling her bodice shut and began making notes on a sheet of paper from the catalogues she had brought with her. They plotted out every sorted detail, down to the very second Julia would lose her virginity.
When lunch time rolled around Julia found herself ready to back out of the whole scheme. Her nerves were a jumbled mass of jitters and she had even begun biting her nails - which Margie had to remind her to stop more than a dozen times.
The sound of a woman's lilting laughter echoed through the air and both Julia and Margie turned in the direction it had come from. They were both startled to see Daniel and Sharon walking casually toward the house. The woman's arm was tucked securely inside Daniel's, a smile curled his full lips as he laughed easily with the woman. They passed by the porch without noticing the women watching them in silence. Daniel accepted the kiss on his cheek before helping Sharon into her carriage and waving as she rode away. He stood there for several seconds before he turned around and headed back to the house.
"Well hello there Mrs. Leonard," he said cheerfully, stepping up to the porch. He leaned over and kissed the woman's cheek glancing down at the baby who had just finished nursing for the second time that morning. "How's that godson of mine, doing?"
"He's just fine, thank you for asking."
"You're welcome," he answered with a frown. "Why so formal?"
"I don't know what you mean."
"Liar," Daniel accused, turning to Julia and leaned down to her, blocking her view from the redhead. "Is everything alright?" he asked quietly.
"Of course, why do you ask?" Daniel's frown increased and he narrowed his eyes on the woman.
"What the hell's going on?" his voice was filled with concern and sharp with curiosity. "I feel like I just entered the lion's den with a pork chop around my neck."
"Did you have a nice visit
with Miss. Farnsworth?" Julia asked, avoiding the man's eyes.
"We were able to settle some business, if that’s what you mean. I helped her get a couple of work horses from Spencer over in Graves County and she's agreed to buy one of our stallions and a mare for breeding purposes." Daniel eyed his wife with a steady gaze. "Is that what's bothering you? That she came here to talk to me? She told me she saw you before she came to the stables. Did she say something to upset you?"
It was Julia’s turn to frown now. She didn't know what was bothering her, but she didn't like the way the woman had been hanging on to her husband, nor did she like the fact that he accepted her kiss.
"Of course not and she did stop by here before she went to the stables. That's how she knew where to find you. I'm just glad you were able to help her."
"Julia," he said, his tone filled with suspicion and his eyes assuring her he didn't believe a word she said. Julia smiled, lowering her dark lashes over her eyes.
"Your lunch is ready if you're hungry?" Daniel sighed, knowing he wasn't going to get anything more out of her. She was back to being stubborn and just as aggravating as she always was.
"I have to wash up first." He leaned down and kissed her gently, glancing across his shoulder to the redhead pretending not to pay any attention to them. “Where’s Maggie?”
“Inside helping Mrs. Lester with the baking.”
"Has Julia invited you to stay for lunch, Margie?"
"Of course and I'm delighted. Julia and I have some things to discuss."
"Oh?" The look on Julia's face warned her friend to keep quiet, but the tone of her voice revealed nothing of the sudden explosion of nerves erupting inside her.
"Margie brought out some catalogues from the dressmaker. I thought I'd order a few dresses if you didn't mind?"