Roommates

by Valerie Reyes

  “This should prove to be an interesting couple of weeks,” he thought to himself as he approvingly ran his eyes over the form of his new bride. To look at her, he could not see anything to be unhappy about. She was as pretty as a picture. However, living with someone filled him with dread, as it meant he would have to share the space, in this case with a stranger. Still, looking at her, he decided she just might be worth the hassle.

  He moved toward her and removed the apron he had been wearing to protect his dinner attire. Still, there were smudges on the cuffs of his sleeves, and the faintest splatters on his pants, not that he cared one way or the other. His parents were used to his disdain for tedious social customs. As he laid the apron over the back of a chair, he took Miriam’s hand and looked into her face.

  “You look stunning. I think you are perfect.”

  Miriam blushed at the compliment and felt her face and neck grow hot. Her nerves suddenly went haywire, and she found herself almost breathless, but she found strength in Kade’s hand and she leaned into his grasp. Kade, seeing her emotions teetering, pulled her hand through his arm and whispered as he led her out of their home and into the main house that she had nothing to worry about, he would be right there beside her.

  Chapter 5

  That first evening had been disastrous as far as Kade’s family was concerned. Miriam, though she tried hard to emulate the habits of the people surrounding her at the table, seemed to make one mistake after another. Not even into the main course, she was on the verge of tears. Kade, seeing her discomfort, made excuses for her about the long trip, and asked that they be excused. Geraldine had been gracious and sent plates after them, but all the meals afterward for two weeks, Kade made excuses for him and Miriam to eat in the studio. He did not let on to Miriam at first, but his father expressly demanded that he not see the young lady in his house again. Kade and Mister Walters had had a huge fight about it, unbeknownst to Miriam, and the result left little doubt in Kade’s mind that he needed to settle the plans he had started, which were to take on a painting job for a historical society in New York to paint landscapes of the West, starting in Colorado and ending in San Francisco.

  During his preparations, Miriam had little to say. The couple had found that being married was both incredible and terrible. Kade had no problem expressing his expectations of Miriam, which was that she stay out of his way as much as possible. During the first couple of days together, Miriam had convinced Kade to at least allow her to clean the studio, since he would not allow the staff to enter. He showed her where everything was supposed to go, and after she spent three entire days cleaning the studio, he was reluctant to admit that he could actually paint better with less interruption. However, beyond their nights together, Kade paid very little outward attention to Miriam, and she grew frustrated with his wishy-washy attitude and his complete lack of cleanliness beyond his own personal hygiene.

  During the days that Kade was planning their journey, Miriam found herself often wandering the gardens of the spacious home. She knew to steer clear of the main elements of Kade’s family, because she had no desire to come under the scrutiny she had experienced at that first dinner. She considered that many people would have been concerned about not eating with their in-laws, but Kade did not seem to care at all, so she adopted his attitude and had been content to eat their meals alone. Now, though, she craved attention and conversation.

  As the day neared for their departure to Denver, Miriam came upon Kade talking to a young man as she returned to the studio from one of her walks. She overheard Kade tell the young man that they would need to hire someone to cook for them, someone to drive their wagon, and someone to help him haul his equipment to the places the wagon would not go. The young man protested that this meant they would need two wagons, and the expense for that kind of venture would be three times the cost of a single wagon of just Kade, Miriam, and one hired hand to help with the wagon, team, and as added protection while out there roughing it. Kade raised his voice to the young man, but Miriam stepped in.

  “Kade, excuse me.” She raised apologetic eyes to the young man whom she did not recognize. “May I borrow my husband for just a moment, Mister..?”

  The man tipped his hat. "Mister Brown, ma’am. Certainly. I will wait back in the house, Kade.”

  Kade watched his friend and business partner walk away, and then he spun to Miriam. "Will you please tell me why you so rudely interrupted us?”

  Miriam cowered a little under his intense stare, but she felt she needed to speak her mind.

  “I overheard you, and I know bits and pieces, really, but I know your father is cutting your living allowance to half of what it is now. I know we cannot afford to take on so many people for this trip. Besides, I can cook. I can drive a wagon. I think I am even strong enough to help carry whatever equipment you can’t.”

  Miriam stood with her hands on Kade’s broad chest, and she looked imploringly into his eyes. "I truly believe we only need one additional person with us, and we may find we won’t need him either.”

  Kade grew impatient with Miriam. Of course, he knew she was used to hard work, but he felt she should not have to cook or pick up or help in any way. He also felt that the idea of her driving their wagon west was ludicrous and the basis for any myriad of jokes. What would his friends think if they ever found out his wife had worked like one of their servants? It was bad enough and infuriating to him when she insisted on picking up around the studio all the time. Still, she was right. His father was still so angry over his abrupt marriage that he had not just threatened to cut his allowance in half, he had done it already. As Kade considered this, and that he had not made Miriam aware of it, he suddenly felt like her idea might have merit after all.

  He took a deep breath, and held her hands to his chest as he leaned down and kissed her full on the mouth, the same way he did that took her breath away and made her weak in the knees. When he pulled away, leaving her dazed and barely able to focus, he smiled at her.

  “You may be right. We can at least begin the journey that way. It will be an adventure! Then when we get the first couple paintings paid for, we can hire on the extra hands and allow you to enjoy the trip without all that work.”

  Miriam frowned inwardly, but realized it was only the second real concession he had made since they married, and she would take it. With any luck, along their journey maybe he would understand why she was so eager to help, and how much satisfaction she found in putting her hands to work.

  She forced a smile and leaned her head against his chest. "Thank you, Kade.”

  Chapter 6

  Less than a week later, the pair found themselves in Denver with a wagon waiting at the train station. Their hired hand, John, an elderly black man who had come highly recommended by friends of the family, met them and immediately helped load the luggage and equipment from the train onto the covered wagon. Once the wagon was loaded, while Miriam expected they would be right on their way into the mountains, Kade insisted they stay in town overnight to enjoy a hot meal and an actual bed. Miriam had her reservations, but she did not want to argue in front of John, so she indicated to John the two bags they would need and, after he set them back on the boardwalk, she went to pick them up.

  Kade immediately intervened in a harsh whisper. "What do you think you are doing?”

  Confused, Miriam looked up at him. "Just getting our bags, of course.”

  Kade glanced around the platform and looked back at Miriam. “That is why we hired John. Now leave it!”

  Miriam turned red at Kade’s rebuke, and turned apologetically to John, who acted like he had seen and heard nothing. He merely moved to the bags himself and then stood holding them waiting for Kade to lead the way. The entire way to the hotel, Miriam felt like she would die of embarrassment. There was no reason she and Kade could not have carried their own bags. It was completely ridiculous to have John following behind when surely he had other things more important to be doing with the team of horses or the wag
on full of their costly belongings. The feeling of disappointment in Kade lasted through dinner and into the night when she crawled under the covers and, for the first time since their wedding night, she turned her back on Kade and forcefully ignored his attempts at love making.

  The following morning, John was already waiting outside the hotel to put the bags on the waiting wagon. Miriam waited for Kade to indicate where she should sit, not wanting to cause more trouble, but wondering if he would remember his deal with her. As he stood squinting into the early morning sun, she could not help allowing her anger and frustration with him to melt away. There was a great deal she did not understand about the man, but she found that she truly did care for him, and she wanted nothing more than to make him happy.

  Kade felt her gaze and he met it. After tossing and turning all night, not understanding why Miriam had refused him, it had occurred to him that in the morning he should let her have her way from time to time. He held out his hand and helped her up to the driver's seat, then he nodded to John to sit at the back of the wagon while he climbed up beside his wife.

  She smiled as Kade handed her the reins. She twitched the reins lightly and the horses began to trot out of town. While Kade looked at a map of the surrounding area, Miriam sat in silence, enjoying the view of the mountains they were riding toward. The sun behind her, the mountains before her were cast in brilliant light illuminating red rock formations, incredible evergreen forests, and further into the range, she could see snow-capped giants and smooth granite faces.

  She glanced sideways at Kade after a while. "How far do we go today?”

  Kade showed Miriam the map and showed her the trail they were on, which was highly trafficked.

  “We will remain on this trail until we get over the first pass. Then we will pass through a small mining town, where we will head north on a different trail. This trail we will follow north for a few days before heading west again.”

  Miriam looked at the trails Kade was indicating. Concern colored her voice. “Those look barely better than footpaths. Are we certain we can take the wagon through some of those?”

  Kade shrugged nonchalantly. "The miners in town said if their heavy wagons could make the trails, ours could. Now, once we start heading west again, that is where their knowledge ended. So we will be living an adventure.”

  Miriam felt worry settle in the pit of her stomach, but she didn’t want to argue with Kade again, so she turned her attention back to the trail.

  Later that evening, Miriam indicated to Kade that they should set up camp for the night. They had successfully cleared the first pass, but the map indicated the next pass was steep and could be treacherous, something Miriam didn’t want them to travel in the dusk. Kade assented, and Miriam found a level place to pull the wagon off the trail. Kade helped her down from the wagon, then wandered off.

  Two hours later, after Miriam and John had set up a tent for John, unhitched the horses, and gotten dinner ready, Kade sauntered back. He grinned happily as he saw all that had been accomplished and took a seat on a log next to the roaring fire John had built. Miriam, completely irritated that Kade had disappeared before seeing if there was anything he could have done to help, said that to Kade.

  Kade leaned back. "Help? Help with what? I insisted on hiring help so you wouldn’t have to do all those things. Now you are mad at me because I was not here to help you? You have to make up your mind, woman.”

  Miriam stood over Kade with his plate of food in her hand, every fiber of her being raised to serve her husband, but she gripped the plate tightly and then turned on her heel. She moved around the fire and sat down in a huff, her blue eyes flashing.

  John saw the argument coming so he decided to collect more wood for the fire and disappeared without a word, though he silently wished the young woman luck arguing with the spoiled rich kid. Miriam watched John leave, then turned her gaze back to Kade, who was staring at her.

  “Don't I get dinner?” Kade asked, heat in his voice, as he knew what her answer was likely to be.

  “It is right there in the pot. The dishes are in the sideboard of the wagon. There is water in the bag hanging above it. You are a grown man; I figured you would like to get your own food for once.”

  Kade glared at Miriam, but saw the stubbornness settle in her posture. She was not going to get him his dinner. Well, he thought, he wasn’t hungry anyway, and he could be just as resolved as she could. He lowered himself off the log and laid his head on it to look up at the growing night and the distant stars. How dare she treat him this way? The more he thought about it, the angrier he grew. Suddenly, he sat up, and growled across the campsite.

  “Get me my dinner, woman!”

  Miriam heard the anger in his voice, and if they were still in the studio she would have caved. However, out here, with only John, and she was fairly certain the old man was already up to his ears with Kade’s ineptitude with even the simplest tasks, she knew he would not aid Kade. There was no one else to hear them fight, and no one for Kade to throw a successful tantrum with to get his way. So Miriam simply ignored Kade and took another bite of her own dinner, making a show of enjoying it. She smiled as she took a bite, and another, and then a long drink of water. She glanced up from her plate to see Kade standing with his hands on his hips. She swore she could see smoke coming from his ears and nostrils, but she refused to back down. When Kade marched over to her and stood over her, she raised her eyebrows at him.

  “See? Your legs work just fine. Now they can carry you the ten steps to the wagon so you can get your dinner.”

  Kade quickly leaned down to grab Miriam by the shoulders, and Miriam instinctively leaned away. A look Kade had never seen flashed across her face. Kade immediately pulled his hands back and, standing upright, folded his hands behind his back. Seeing Miriam suddenly pale and unable to make eye contact scared Kade. He had never hurt her, and never would, but he saw her react in fear. Suddenly, Kade felt anger at himself. He was so upset that she would not help him that he had been about to pick her up. He felt like he had wanted to shake some sense into her, but now all he felt was shame and anger directed at himself. While Miriam struggled to regain her composure, a single tear escaping and sliding down her cheek, Kade forced himself to turn away.

  Quietly, he found a plate and fork, and he helped himself to the dinner Miriam had prepared. He retook his seat on the log opposite Miriam in sullen silence. When John returned an hour later, his arms full of wood for the fire, he found Kade asleep, leaning against a log, and Miriam already asleep in the wagon. John fed the fire, and then went into his tent for a moment. He came out with a single rough blanket, which he draped over Kade’s body before he helped himself to dinner and then retired for the night as well.

  Chapter 7

  The following day, Miriam asked John to drive over the steep incline of the next pass. She was experienced with horses and buggies, but not with rough trails and inclines. She was so nervous about it, when they started up the incline, she asked to be let off the wagon. Instead, she climbed into the saddle of one of the spare horses, and followed from behind. With every spray of loose rocks that caused the wagon horses to slip, or caused the wagon wheels to loose traction, Miriam held her breath and bit her lip.

  Kade, meanwhile, sat next to John completely oblivious to Miriam’s discomfort. The young couple had made up in the middle of the night, after Kade woke up with knots in his back and legs, and feeling every twig and pebble that he had fallen asleep on. He had climbed into the wagon and curled up beside Miriam, who woke up instantly and in a sleepy daze smiled at Kade.

  “I am sorry, "she said simply, and kissed him.

  “Me too,” Kade whispered in reply, and kissing her back, the two got lost in each other’s embrace.

  The morning had been full of flirting and quick kisses as Miriam and John did the bulk of the packing. Kade did attempt to help, but ended up throwing his hands up in frustration when he realized everything he did, Miriam or John went behind to re
do and fix. His good mood turned sour as he again felt frustration with himself, and he turned sullen as they all headed toward the pass.

  His mood had not improved, so he and John sat in silence as John navigated the horses and wagon up the steep trail. Kade went over in his head again and again the things he had done that morning. He was trying to be helpful. Yet he seemed to make more work. He suddenly realized he was at a huge disadvantage out there. He knew nothing beyond his painting. He could not start a fire. He could not make a meal. And as that morning proved, he could not do even the most menial of tasks. He was a complete burden on John and Miriam. With that realization, Kade felt a sudden depression settle on him.

  Once the three travelers reached the top of the pass, John stopped the wagon to let the horses rest for the even more dangerous trek down the other side. Kade gazed upon the view from the top of the pass and was inspired to pull out his sketchbook. As he climbed into the back of the wagon to retrieve his pencils and book, Miriam rode up.

  From her saddle, she called out, "Is this not the most incredible view? Both in front of us and even behind us!”

  Kade had not taken in the view from behind them, so he pushed aside the flap at the back of the wagon and looked out. Sure enough. He could see the pass they had crossed the day before, and beyond that, he could see Denver, and then the plains spreading out before the mountain range. He felt as though he were an eagle flying high over the Earth, and the sensation suddenly caused him to be overcome with emotion. He realized he was just a speck on a huge planet, and he needed to leave his mark. He looked down at his sketchbook and looked at Miriam.

  As the two met gazes, they seemed to read each other’s minds.

  Kade would make his mark with the paintings he did of all the incredible places they traveled to. However, he would also make his mark by learning to be more self-sufficient so he could better complement the hard work his wife did to make sure they were successful in their travels. Miriam at the same time realized she would make her mark by being more understanding of her husband’s current limitations, but she could help him learn to become a better and more independent man, and by sharing his interests and talents with him.