by Rita Hestand
Helen came over several times, they sat and knitted together. Sally would often come with her. Trudy wasn't aware she knew how to knit but she picked up some of the yarn and needles and began as if she'd always done it. She didn't remember them, but they were so friendly to her, she loved visiting with them. Having other women might help her, she reasoned. She knew they were all expecting something from her, but she didn't know what.
"So how have you been?" Helen asked.
"Fine, thanks. I've been cooking for the boys here at the ranch. They really seem to enjoy my cooking. I'm glad I can do something. I feel a bit strange being here all the time. You know," she paused to think about what the doctor said, "The doc said we were married, but he doesn't sleep with me. Was things bad between us before I lost my memory?" she asked her.
"No, they were exceptionally good. That could account for you getting pregnant so soon."
"I don't think I've ever had a baby before." Trudy told her.
Helen looked blankly at her for a moment. "No, I don't think you have either, sugar."
"If he's my husband, why doesn't he kiss me?" Trudy asked her.
"Well, you've been through a lot, he probably doesn't want to rush you. Trudy," Helen laid down her knitting for a moment and stared at her. "You don't recall anything about him or the tornado?"
"No, nothing but waking up in some field."
"Weamer's field. He found you. Thank God." Helen told her. "I can't believe he took such good care of you and got you to the docs. Maybe we've all misjudged Mr. Weamer."
"I'd like to thank him again."
"Do you like living here?"
"Oh yes, I mean, I'm sure I will when they finish the house. It's almost done now, except for the front room."
"Can you tell me how I met my husband?" Trudy asked.
Helen looked uncomfortable. "I'm not sure I should. The doc said it is best if you remember on your own."
"Oh, did we have a long courtship?" she asked with a smile.
"No, you didn't."
"Why not?" Trudy frowned.
"He took one look at you, and he knew he had to marry you. It was the most romantic story I ever heard."
Trudy blushed, "Really. Love at first sight?"
"You could say that."
Helen watched her closely. She could tell her a few things, but nothing seemed to register with her, and Helen was a bit worried it never would. They talked back and forth all afternoon, but when Helen left Trudy knew she didn't know much more before asking her all those questions. It seemed everyone treated her with kid gloves, and she didn't quite understand why.
She was healthy, pregnant and had the most handsome husband a woman could want. Still, he hadn't even kissed her, in all this time. Didn't he love her?
Maybe he didn't really love her, maybe he wished she had died!
All sorts of morbid thought ran through her head.
That's when she went exploring through the house. It was noon and her husband was out in the pasture somewhere, most of the boys were with him.
She went into the bedroom next to his. It looked oddly familiar. She looked at all the new furniture Lance had ordered and laid across the bed for a while. Then she opened some drawers to see what might be there.
She found a stack of letter tied with a ribbon, and one that was loose. She took it out and read it slowly.
It was written to her.
Dear Trudy, my Sweetheart,
I've just come from Boston and am headed to the herd. I wanted to stop off and tell you all about the trip, but I figured I really should get to the herd. I can't wait to hold you in my arms again.
I don't want to keep you in the dark any longer. Priscilla was not a woman, she was a young girl of about sixteen, fourteen when she started writing to me. Her older sister helped her write the letters. They were bored and their parents were overly strict about boys, so they started writing letters to men who were interested in marriage.
Carol Collins was the young girls' real name. Her sister's name was Daisy. They were shocked when I showed up at their door.
They admitted they wrote the letters, and they were sorry for causing me such a time. I on the other hand was relieved I didn't have to face a crying lady. So, you can rest assured that Pricilla was nothing more than their imaginations running away with them. And I am forever yours my darling.
Please don't forget to wait for me at the gap. I can't wait to see you and hold you again in my arms.
Your loving husband, Lance.
Trudy reread it three times. Tears rolled down her cheeks. But there was so much that was a puzzle and she needed to know everything now. She saw her husband was truly in love with her and she needed to reassure him how she felt. But there were still so many questions.
She put the letter back in the drawer and went to the closet.
She saw dresses in there, and suddenly something flashed in her head. She remember some of them. Then it happened.
She spotted the beautiful blue lace dress, and everything began to fit in her mind. Flashes of the dress in the window, in St. Louis.
"Oh my God, I remember, I saw it in St. Louis. Oh, and I bought it with my last monies too. Why did I buy it? Oh, my God, to impress my new boss!"
She pulled the dress out of the closet and stared at it, her fingers running over the beautiful lace.
Her mouth hung open as she plopped in the rocking chair and stared at it. She took a train ride, yes, she was going to work for a rancher… Lance?
She stood up. "And as I got off the platform of the train, there he was, bigger than life, and he pulled me into his arms and kissed me!" she smiled. "Oh, it was romantic."
She grabbed her chest, and a smile broke over her face. Her mouth flew open again, the church filled with anxious people. And he said, "repeat my words." And she did. And they were married.
She sat back down, stunned. She remembered his kisses, soft warm, inviting kisses that made her body flush.
And while he stood naked in front of her, she told him, "I'm the cook!"
She began to laugh, and then to cry. How could she have forgotten so many wonderful things.
It was a hilarious coming together. And her mind seemed to clear, and she remembered it all. But all she could do was sit there and smile, and cry.
She looked down at her belly now and smiled, rubbing her tummy. "It's gonna be alright now, sweetheart, I remember it all." She told her baby.
She went to sleep sitting there, holding the dress with one hand and her belly with another.
Lance came in that evening and was going through the house looking for her.
"Trudy, where are you?"
She didn't answer.
Suddenly he went to his bedroom and when he came out, he spotted her, sitting there with the dress in her hand and smiling in blissful sleep.
"Trudy, are you alright?" he asked touching her arm.
She opened her eyes and smiled. "I'm very alright."
"Good, I've got to help Chico with supper, I'll be back, just wanted to check on you and make sure everything was alright." He chattered.
She smiled.
He was about to leave when she blurted it out at him, "I remember—"
He was moving out of the room when her words hit him, and he turned and ran back to her side. "You remember?"
"Everything… " She nodded with a smile.
"How… I mean what made you remember?"
"I found the letter you wrote about the girls. I read it; hope you don't mind. Then I got to prowling in the closet and I found this dress."
He looked down at the blue dress, "Your wedding dress?"
"Yes," she cried.
"Oh sweetheart," he smiled and pulled her up out of the chair gently, wrapped his arms around her and hugged and kissed her.
"That dress caused us to get married."
"No, sweetheart. I fell in love with you the minute I saw you." He smiled and kissed her tenderly.
"Oh Lance, how could I ever
forget someone like you?" She asked kissing him all over his face, his ear, his neck. She couldn’t get enough of her handsome husband.
"Do you remember the day it happened?" He asked pulling away to look into her face.
"A little. I remember going to ask Chico if everything was alright. I remembered you said the sky got green. I looked around and then everything went black."
"God, I wished I been here to protect you."
She pulled away from him long enough to smile into his face, "God took care of me, and the baby."
"Yes, he did." Lance picked her up in his arms.
"Aren't I too heavy now?"
"No," he laughed, "You feel wonderful in my arms. I'm not sure I can let you go ever again." He told her. "You don't know how much I've missed you, us."
She looked up into his handsome face, kicked his hat off his head and smiled, "After supper, and after we've talked with the boys a while on the porch. I want you to come to bed with me."
"But honey, your eight months pregnant, should we?"
"Making love won't hurt him."
"You think it's a boy?"
She smiled, and kissed his chin, "I figure I'll have to have some boys first, then a couple of girls."
He laughed and twirled her around in his arms. He sat down in the rocker with her and kissed her thoroughly. His lips melted softly with her own, and she moaned the pleasure it brought her. "I'm not sure I can wait that long to be with you."
She giggled. "Maybe you should close the door."
"Now, here?"
"Well, it is a bedroom." She chuckled.
He got to his feet, with her in his arms and locked the door, then he carried her to the bed.
"Don't be shocked when you see how big I am." She told him with a grin.
"Don't be shocked when you see how fast I take you!" he grinned.
They heard voices coming down the hall, he put his finger to her lips.
It was George and Chico, but when George tried to open the door, he made a muffled laugh, "I think maybe they are busy."
Chico laughed, "You think she's alright now?"
"I'm pretty sure of it." George told him with a laugh.
They both laughed together as Lance and Trudy shed their clothes, got under the covers and made love. Lance was very gentle with her, and he caressed her belly with kisses and hugs. He barely got a good look at her magnificent pregnant body before he kissed her into submission. She moaned when his hands went over her. He laid his head gently on her stomach, "Hey little fella. I'm gonna make love to mama, you don't mind do ya?"
He made a comical face as though he heard the answer.
"What did he say?" she giggled as his hands found her breasts and massaged them gently.
"He said go ahead, love was good for him too."
"Oh Lance, I love you so—"
"Sweetheart, we may not get any supper tonight."
"That's okay, there's always tomorrow." She grinned.
Soft moans echoed down the hallway, and love filled their house again. But now Lance knew the precious gift he'd been given, and he valued her more than his own life now. He smiled to himself as he kissed the rose tip of her breast, he had loved her the first time he set eyes upon her, and each day grew more precious with her. He could hardly wait to make her his once more, but there was no rush now, he wanted to savor every precious moment they had together, for the rest of his life.
The End
About the Author
Author Rita Hestand brings you Wandering Heart, a sensual Romance that warms the heart, a story of family. A story of love and romance, where two opposite kinds of people meet and fall in love.
Rita is the mother of two, the grandmother of seven, and great grandmother of three. She has dabbled in writing since her teens. Rita feels romance is something the world needs more of and spreading it around is her pleasure.
Rita's Other Books
The Travers Brothers Series
Chief Cook and Bottle Washer
Courting Abby
Hannah's Man
Along Came Love
Avalanche of the Heart
The Amory's
Heart of the Wild
Sweeter Than Wine
Mail Order Nanny
The McKay's
Raining in my Heart
Ring of Fire
Twelfth of Never
Stand by Me
The Red River Valley Brides:
Heart of a Lady
Dancing the Preacherman
Last Bride, Last Man
Winning the Lady
Maggie's Dreams
Brides of the West Series
Heart of a Family
Delivering the Bride
Heart of a Woman
Wanted: Bride
This Side of Forever
Shotgun Bride
A Love as Big as Texas
Heart of a Captive
Wherever My Heart Roams
In the Arms of an Angel
Bride of Shenandoah
Falling for the Bride
An Unexpected Welcome
A Desperado's Bride
The Filly and the Gambler
The Lady Train
Comes a Hero
The Western Serial Killer Series
Better Off Without Her
Good Day for a Hanging
Bad Day for a Killing
Ghost of Victor Frank
The Dream Catcher Series:
Beyond the Dream Catcher
Just One Kiss
Ask No Tomorrows
A Promised Heart
Be Free My Heart
Teach Me Your Love
My Captured Heart
Finding Her
Guilty as Sin
Stolen Hearts
Stay with Me
The Connor's
Cinderella Nanny
Guarding Red Riding Hood
Finding the Fairy Tale
Saving Sleeping Beauty
A Beauty finds the Beast
Cowboy Lovin' Series
Broken Hearted
His to Hold
All My Yesterdays
Singles:
Historicals:
Always Remember
Jodi's Journey
Love Rules
New Series coming
The Armstrong's:
Forever in Love
A Rebel's Love
Remember Me
Plunder My Heart
Suspicions of the Heart, Strictly Business, Wandering Heart, Nick's Baby, Pretend Mom, and Heart of the Wild, with more to come. Also see my line of children's books and short stories, along with my teen and new adult novels.