Scarlett, a Summer Bride

by Hildie McQueen

  Her husband was the strangest man she’d ever been in contact with. It was apparent he didn’t care for her, nor did it seem he was inclined to allow her to feel anything for him as well. If asked, Scarlett would have to admit she didn’t care for him. As a matter of fact, Scarlett was pretty certain she didn’t like him either.

  It was certainly a strange situation. To live with someone, have intimacy, which she enjoyed, but not care for the person.

  She let out a long sigh. Not much could be done about it. If anything, she was lucky in having a beautiful home, freedom to do as she wished during the day and if nothing else, she would be taken care of if ever she got sick.

  At the last thought she giggled. Obviously, she’d not go at the clinic when ill since for some reason Emmett didn’t like her to go there.

  It was early evening when a wagon pulled up and Scarlett rushed to the door. Immediately she began smiling and waving as Aurora and Evan had arrived. Evan climbed down and assisted his wife and son.

  “Evan has to go see some patients that prefer he attend to them, so I asked to come along,” Aurora announced. “I hope it’s not a bother.”

  “Of course not. I am excited that you came. I was not looking forward to an evening alone.” Scarlett was tickled at the idea of spending the evening with her visitors.

  After seeing his family into the house, Evan excused himself and left.

  “Who is he treating?” Scarlett asked Aurora who set about getting her toddler settled onto a blanket with some wooden toys.

  Aurora’s eyes danced. “The women at the brothel. Emmett prefers not to and they asked that Evan continue to do monthly visits.”

  The dynamic between Aurora and her husband amazed Scarlett, as she wasn’t sure she’d be comfortable with Emmett treating prostitutes. “It doesn’t bother you that he goes there?”

  Her friend shrugged. “No, not really. Everyone should have medical treatment and the townsfolk are not very understanding of the working girls coming to the clinic.”

  Aurora’s son Elijah was beautiful with bright blue eyes and curly dark brown hair. Scarlett and Aurora sat on the floor and played with him.

  Emmett returned the next day to find his brother and family visiting. He was glad to see Evan. After witnessing the death of Josiah’s brother, he was grateful to spend time with Elias and now Evan.

  When he entered the house, Evan greeted him at the door and Emmett hugged him. It was comical to see Evan’s expression. “Something wrong with you?”

  “Can’t a man be happy to see his brother?”

  After shrugging, Evan stepped out blocking his way into the house. “How is your marriage going?”

  “Why do you ask? Is something wrong with Scarlett?” He attempted to peer around his brother.

  Evan shook his head. “No, nothing. She seems to be well. A bit quiet when I’m around, but she and Aurora seem to be catching up.”

  Laughter floated from the interior of the house. He couldn’t tell who it was as he’d never heard his wife laugh. It struck him as interesting when accepting the fact.

  “Let’s go to the clinic, I want to talk to you about something.” Emmett stepped away only to stop at Evan’s hand on his arm.

  “Aren’t you going to tell Scarlett you’ve returned?”

  Upon entering, he found both women on the floor playing with his nephew. Scarlett clapped and sang a short song as the boy danced in a circle. Her voice was lovely and her cheeks were flushed.

  Upon seeing him, she instantly stopped singing and stood. Smoothing her skirts, she assumed a blank expression. “Hello Emmett. I didn’t know you’d arrived.”

  He ignored the look between Evan and Aurora and went to where Scarlett stood and kissed her cheek. “I’ve only just gotten here. Evan and I are going to the clinic for a bit.” Emmett looked to Aurora. “How are you?”

  “I’m well. Glad to see you,” his sister-in-law lifted a brow, as if disapproving of something.

  Once outside the house, his brother remained quiet and Emmett didn’t care to hear whatever it was the man mulled about.

  “The others are coming early tomorrow. The women are giddy about the festival.”

  Emmett looked toward the center of town. “Is that what all the goings on are about? I saw they put up a stage in front of the hotel.”

  “Booths and banners are going to be set up too,” Evan commented. “You and Scarlett going?”

  “She hasn’t mentioned it. I suppose she is.”

  Evan frowned, but did not say anything else on the topic.

  Once inside the clinic, Emmett told Evan all about the shooting and about Josiah. “Do you think it was the Wilson’s?”

  “Who else could it be? They’ve been trouble since arriving. Not sure why they have to attack everyone who happens upon their land. It’s not like anything is clearly marked. It’s almost as if they are always looking for a fight.”

  “That’s what Blake said. Make sure everyone coming and going from your land doesn’t cross over,” Emmett said.

  They spent the rest of the afternoon discussing patients and the like. Emmett had always been thankful that Evan had discovered the love of medicine. He didn’t always agree with Evan’s more personable manner, especially treating the women in the saloon, but he supposed good people like his brother made up for the ones like him.

  The conversation at dinner flowed easily. He noticed more than once that Scarlett looked to him before speaking, as if afraid he’d not like her saying something. Aurora, however, did not allow for much silence, asking questions and commenting on whatever Scarlett said.

  “How many dresses have you made?” Aurora asked.

  A smile lingered on Scarlett’s lips. “So far, only four. I don’t sew fast, but I am enjoying spending time with Gemina, Fern and Isabel. They’ve all made more than I have. I’m going to learn to make shirts next.”

  He wasn’t aware of what she’d been meeting with the women about, but it was probably normal for women to seek one another’s company.

  “...Isabel said the family was grateful for the clothes to the point of tears. The little girls of course were ecstatic.” Emmett enjoyed the throaty sound of Scarlett’s voice and looked to her as she continued explaining whatever it was she and Aurora spoke of.

  She stopped mid-sentence. “Do you require anything?”

  Emmett cleared his throat. “No, thank you.”

  His sister-in-law spoke when the silence stretched out. “Scarlett are you planning to help out at the festival tomorrow? Lucille and I are going to work with Esther. She’s selling her beautiful skirts. I’m hoping to buy a couple before they all sell out.”

  “I haven’t decided if I’m attending or not.” His wife assumed the pleasant expression he now recognized as a way to keep people from knowing how she truly felt.

  “Are you going Emmett? You have to accompany Scarlett. It will be her first,” Aurora said leaning forward.

  He wasn’t sure what to think. After only just learning about it, he’d assumed Scarlett was attending. There really didn’t seem to be a need for men to go. “Scarlett you should go. It will be a good opportunity to get to know the townspeople.”

  At her nod, he wasn’t sure if she was pleased or not with his suggestion. For some reason her not asking that he come with her bothered him. At the same time, he wasn’t sure if she wanted his company.

  By mid afternoon the next day, Emmett felt as if he’d attended the festival by all the people coming and going through his home. The Hamiltons and their wives as well as Elias had stopped by. Finally everyone had left and he stood on the porch looking to the center of town.

  The sounds of conversations and music carried to where he was. It was soft, but enough to know there was plenty going on.

  He’d not seen Scarlett since early. She’d left while he’d gone to the clinic. A small boy had fallen and his parents brought him to be examined. The boy had left with a splinted arm and a wide smile at his souvenir.

&n
bsp; “Dr. Jones,” a young man raced towards him, face red with the exertion. “They sent me to fetch ya. Yer wife has been injured.”

  He didn’t ask any questions, but took off at a run toward the festival. A few moments later, he found Scarlett sitting under the mercantile awning with a wet cloth being held to the side of her face.

  Her eyes were closed, but when he neared, she opened them and her face flushed. “Why did they bother you? I’m fine, just got bumped.”

  Gemina Walker, the mercantile owner gave him a stern look. “She got more than bumped. Boys were playing with sticks and one of them hit her pretty hard.”

  “He didn’t mean to,” Scarlett added and then winced when the cloth was replaced with a fresh one. “I’m fine. Emmett, you can go. I’d like to remain for a bit.”

  Ignoring her reply, he neared and motioned for Gemina to pull the cloth away. Indeed, the side of her face was already turning purple and there was an angry bump at her temple.

  He cupped her face and looked into her eyes. Her vision was clear, her breathing normal. As usual, her expression neutral. “Do you feel dizzy?”

  “No.”

  “Short of breath?”

  “No.”

  “Other than it hurting where you were hit, do you have a headache?”

  She shook her head. “No.”

  Scarlett leaned back, not far, but enough that he noticed. His proximity seemed to make her uncomfortable and she looked past him, not making eye contact.

  “You may remain if you wish, but I’ll be here to take you home whenever you’re ready.”

  A couple hours later, the sun was beginning to set and the music continued. A fiddler, accompanied by a man with a guitar played lively songs that people danced to.

  Both his brothers had been dragged to dance by their wives and so had the other three women who had brought their husbands. Marcus Hamilton was the only one who seemed to be enjoying himself, as the man liked to dance. Marcus’ wife Wilhelmina laughed loudly when he swung her around.

  It took a while to find Scarlett, she stood next to Esther’s empty booth, her arms crossed and eyes locked to the couples dancing.

  The bruising was not as noticeable from where he stood admiring how beautiful she was. Elegant and distant, at least to him, other people didn’t seem to find her so.

  Sheriff Blake neared Scarlett and they spoke for a few moments. She smiled at whatever the man said. They seemed comfortable and continued talking, seeming not to run out of subjects.

  When the sheriff looked away, she gazed toward where Emmett stood and then back to the dance floor.

  He knew it would make her happy if he danced with her and yet his feet refused to move. Each step toward her and every action that would bring them closer would give her power over him. No matter what, he couldn’t bring himself to accept that any woman was loyal.

  His mother had not been faithful to his father, not that his father was much better. Both had lovers ever since he was old enough to discern what happened. For most of his life, Emmett had been aware of the dysfunction of his parent’s marriage.

  The reason he’d moved so far from his home of Boston and “polite” society was to get away from the reminder of the farce people chose to live in.

  Everything was not real. Whether an engagement or a marriage, both could be dissolved by a whim.

  Emmett had first hand knowledge. He’d lost not only his fiancée, but also any chance of a relationship with his father in one fell swoop.

  After leaving Boston, he’d not once looked back. His trust had not only been broken, but then the woman he loved had further brought Emmett to hatred when suggesting an affair after she’d married his father.

  It was not fair to Scarlett, and if he could go back he would have found a way for her to marry someone else.

  She and Blake for example, he considered as he watched them continue speaking, seeming to have found a subject that brought a few smiles from Scarlett.

  At the same time, just thinking it, Emmett stepped off the sidewalk and made his way to where his wife was.

  Scarlett followed his progress, and she assumed a pleasant expression.

  The sheriff grinned. “I’ve been trying to convince your wife to dance with me, but she refuses.”

  “As she should,” Emmett replied shaking his head. “I hear you have two left feet.”

  He looked to Scarlett. “I’m not much better.”

  “It’s fine. My head is beginning to throb. I prefer we go home.” Scarlett looked toward the dancing area. “Here come Esther and Elias now.”

  Upon nearing, Elias looked to him and studied him for a moment. “I was hoping to see you dance.” His mouth twitched, as both knew Emmett was a horrible dancer.

  In response Emmett narrowed his eyes. “I bet you were.”

  Although the day had been enjoyable, she was exhausted and now Scarlett couldn’t sleep.

  The realization she didn’t want to be married to Emmett shook her. It had been a huge mistake.

  Things were not going to change between them and it was wearing on her.

  She tried her best to get comfortable in the bed, but a huge boulder had set on her chest and made it impossible. Emmett slept soundly as usual with his back to her.

  That day, not only had she realized how awful her relationship with Emmett was, but also how little he cared about her. Yes, he’d intimated they’d never be in love. However, a friendship at least would have been better than this constant stoic standoff.

  Unable to sleep, she slipped from the bed and went to the kitchen. Upon boiling water, she made tea and sat in the front room. There were embers still in the hearth and she added a log that quickly began burning. Scarlett lowered to the floor, the tea forgotten and pulled her legs up to her chest.

  There had to be a way to leave, to disappear and perhaps go further west. Although her life was not horrible there in Laurel, at the same time a deep ache within her chest had set up residence.

  The pain was a constant reminder of the hollowness of her marriage. Perhaps, it was possible to be happier alone.

  Chapter Ten

  Two days later, Emmett walked in from the clinic and went directly to the bedroom. Thankfully Scarlett wasn’t at home because he was a bloody mess. After getting a clean shirt and pants, he went back outside and removed his clothes.

  It took two buckets of water to get most of the blood washed off. Hopefully Scarlett would wash them soon so they’d not be too stained.

  Another gunshot wound, but this time accidental. Thankfully the patient would recover quickly.

  Emmett went back inside and to the kitchen. Scarlett had not started dinner. She was usually home at the end of his day. This day she must have been detained at whatever activities she did.

  In actuality, it was good that he’d have a few minutes of quiet alone. He went to the window and peered out.

  Unfortunately, he’d planned to feed the patient and now he would have to figure something out if Scarlett didn’t return soon.

  An hour later, she’d yet to appear and Emmett became annoyed. He went to check on the patient, who was asleep. Next he went to Gladys’ home and she offered to bring the injured man food.

  Tampering down his temper, Emmett reminded himself it was not like Scarlett to be absent so long. Surely there was a good reason for her lateness.

  Emmett decided to go to the mercantile and fetch his wife. This time he’d not admonish her, but he would tell her not to take so long to return home in the evenings. Along the way, he considered what his life would be like without Scarlett. He’d grown used to her presence and company in the evenings although admittedly, they didn’t converse much.

  “What can I get for you Dr. Jones?” George Walker called out from behind the counter when he entered the dim space. The mercantile was empty of customers. The only person inside was the mercantile owner.

  “I’m looking for Scarlett. She’s not home and I thought she’d be here.” He was almost embarrassed
at not knowing where his wife was and if she usually went elsewhere on Mondays. Truth be told, he knew very little of her routine.

  George shrugged. “I haven’t seen her today, but that doesn’t mean anything. Perhaps she’s over at the seamstress shop. Gemina went there earlier, but she’s home now cooking.”

  He thanked the man and went across the street. It was beginning to get harder to hide his annoyance when he found the shop closed.

  Somehow, Emmett managed to school his expression when finally going to the seamstresses’ house. An older woman answered the door.

  “We haven’t seen Scarlett since this afternoon,” the woman said with an airy voice. She looked over her right shoulder. “Fern do you know where Scarlett went after leaving?“

  He’d met Fern a couple times. The young quiet woman was a good friend for Scarlett as they’d bonded since arriving together to Laurel. She looked up at him, lines of worry etched on her pretty face.

  “Goodness, when Scarlett left several hours ago, she said she was going home to start supper,” Fern said.

  The young woman tapped her lips with her pointer finger in thought. “She’s probably over at Isabel Ward’s home, if she’s not at the mercantile with Gemina.”

  By the time he left Isabel Ward’s home and the church, his ire was replaced with worry.

  Had his wife decided to leave for some reason? Certainly she’d not been unhappy. Not that he’d asked her much about her feelings.

  Emmett looked down the almost deserted main street. The only sounds were the tinny piano music coming from the saloon. It was the only place he’d not stopped by or peered into.

  Where is Scarlett?

  He trudged home. If she wasn’t home by then, he wasn’t sure what to do next.

  Upon entering the house, the aroma of food struck him and he hurried to the kitchen. Scarlett was cooking, her back to him.

  With a loud sniff, she lifted a handkerchief to her nose and blew hard. A sob racked her and she wiped tears away with the back of her hand. Then she proceeded to stir something in a large pot.

  “Scarlett? What’s the matter?” Emmett went to her, but didn’t touch her. “Did someone hurt you?”