by Indiana Wake
Gina let out a sob once he was gone and managed to get to her feet. She felt her stomach, but she could feel the baby moving. Quickly she walked to the bucket with water she had pumped from the well. Taking a cloth, she cleaned the wound and went to the window. It was dark outside and she could use it as a mirror. There was a nasty gash on her cheek and her eye was beginning to swell.
What was she to do? Should she go out in the dark and see if she could find the Lazy T. Would the sisters help her? But what could they do? Feeling exhausted she went to her room and closed the door. Tomorrow was Thursday, she could speak to them on Sunday, but what would she say? Soon she fell asleep and it was morning before she knew it.
Mr. Epperson was already waiting for his breakfast. Quickly she cooked up some eggs and took it to him.
“You can go to church but what happens in this house is private, do you hear me?”
Gina dropped the plate with his eggs onto the table and gave him an angry glare. She half expected it to get her another beating, but he just looked away and ate his eggs. Then he was gone.
Gina milked the cow and collected today’s eggs and just as she was walking back to the kitchen she saw Susan and Ellie walking up to the house. Right then she did not want to see them and she thought about running back to the barn and hiding. Too late. Ellie let out a squeal of joy and came running over. Gina put on her best smile and tried to keep her damaged cheek away from the sisters. It was no use.
“What happened?” Susan asked.
“I fell,” Gina said without even thinking. Why had she said that?
Susan took her by the arm and rushed her to the house. There she sat her down and bathed the eye. “Fell did you?”
“Yes,” Gina said. “Maybe I am tired with the baby and all?
Gina sat there quietly while Susan cleaned up her wound again. Once she had done, she looked at Gina solemnly and said, “What is going on, Gina?” Before Gina could say anything to calm her down, Susan continued speaking, “Please tell me the truth. I knew something was wrong since the first time I met you, but I didn’t think it my place to ask anything of you at that time.” She paused a moment before continuing. “I care for you as a sister and I can no longer sit idly by. It is Mr. Epperson isn’t it? Please, just tell me.”
Gina looked at Susan whose face was full of worry and concerned. Tears sprang to her eyes and she dropped her head. What could she do? His words rang through her mind. “What happens in this house is private.”
“You can talk to us,” Susan said, “maybe we can help.”
It was as if the floodgates had been released and the words came spewing out of Gina. She told them all the problems she had been facing since the day she had arrived. Susan and Ellie held her hand and comforted her while the words came pouring out.
“You see Mr. Epperson isn’t a very tolerable man. He doesn’t like when I argue with him and sometimes his anger gets the best of him. He does try to control himself, but I irritate him so.
Susan looked at her, bewilderment on her face. “I had thought things weren’t good with you but not for a second did I think it was this bad. You are defending a man who abuses you and treats you worse than an animal. What on earth are you doing here living with this man? Why don’t you leave him and go back to your family?”
Sadly smiling and rubbing her belly, Gina looked at Susan with love. “I have a baby I need to think of. He may have his faults, but he is providing for my baby and me and giving us a home and his name. My family are all dead, I have a good friend, but I don’t want her to know of my problems. It would hurt her so.” Gina looked back down at her belly; this was the only family she really had left now.
“Gina, I don’t think things will be any easier for you after you get married to Mr. Epperson. Actually it might even get worse with him thinking you’re his property.” She said, placing her hand on top of Gina’s. “You have to think about the baby as well. Yes, he would provide a name, a house but he may also extend his abuse to your child. You must remember that.”
Gina felt a fear run through her at the words that Susan had said. What if it was true? It had been less than a week that she was living in this house with Mr. Epperson and she already felt like all her happiness, her will to live had been sucked away.
“I want to help in any way I can Gina, please let me do what I can. I am always here for you,” Susan whispered softly to which she nodded without raising her head.
But Gina knew there was nothing they could do. “If you would collect me for church on Sunday, that is all the help I need,” Gina said.
Susan and Ellie left the house and they knew something had to be done.
“We should have offered to give her a home,” Ellie said.
“I thought about it, but I think she is too proud at the moment. There is however someone who would help.”
The two sisters smiled for they knew Chaney would be only too pleased to help, but Susan was worried. How many more times could Gina be hit before she was hurt badly? Then a shiver ran down her spine and her hand went to her own much smaller belly. This had to be stopped; something could happen to the child. “I know what we must do,” she said and was almost running to get home.
Chapter 7
The following morning Gina was a little late getting up. All night she had wondered what she could do? How she could get away from here? All night she wanted to check the money in her petticoat, but she could not do it in the dark and when she woke the sun was already up and she rushed down to make breakfast.
Mr. Epperson ate his food and she returned to the kitchen to tidy up and eat her own in peace. The conversation with Susan kept going through her mind. What had Susan meant when she said she would help? Maybe they would let her stay there for a small amount of time, but then what?
She didn’t want Susan to confront Mr. Epperson in any way. After she was done with the dishes, she headed towards her room when Mr. Epperson called her from the living room.
“Yes?” she asked him thinking he might have another chore for her to do; instead he asked her to sit down. Gina sat down trying to calm herself, praying that Susan hadn’t said anything about their conversation to anyone.
“Has someone been coming over to the house?” he asked raising his eyebrows.
She was a little relieved knowing that he only wanted to know if there had been people visiting. “Yes, I told you about the sisters who visit me sometimes, Susan and Ellie. They live down the dirt path on a ranch.” She replied trying to sound as normal as she could. She found his sudden interest disconcerting.
“And what do you talk about in all these visits that they make?” he asked, even more interested.
She looked him in the eye. “Oh you know, they ask how I’m doing. They like to know about the baby and just female gossip, you probably wouldn’t be interested in,” she rolled her eyes trying to sound like it wasn’t as interesting.
He didn’t look as if he believed her and a cold feeling settled in her stomach. Under his gaze, she felt uncomfortable so she tried excusing herself and stood up to leave. But the second she stood up so did Mr. Epperson. This definitely wasn’t going to end well, she thought.
She smiled at him. “Is something the matter?” she asked, but as soon as those words had left her mouth, he grabbed her by the arm and pulled her towards him. Gina knew all too well what was going to follow but tried keeping her calm as she struggled to free herself from his grasp.
“Have you been spreading vile lies about me, girl?” he thundered. “Have you been telling your little friends what a bad, mean man I am?”
“No of course not,” Gina stuttered.
“Tell me,” he shouted.
Gina tried to pull away and her arm came loose. She stumbled backward and he caught hold of her again. This time, he shook her.
“Tell me or pay the consequences,” he shouted.
Gina gritted her teeth; she would not betray her friends. “Like I said we talk about babies and clothes and cooking. No
w let me go.”
At this, he lost his patience and slapped her hard on the face.
Gina tried pushing him away which lead to another slap and another. He had never hit her quite as many times as he did that day and Gina only assumed that someone had said something to him. Her thoughts went back to her conversation with Susan. She regretted ever having opened her mouth.
The attack seemed to go on for an age, fear, pain and shame rained down on her along with his blows. With one last shove, he pushed her hard and she fell to the ground bumping her hip so hard she let out a grunt of pain. Before she could do anything, he took one last look at her. Every instinct in Gina’s body told her to cower, but she would not. Straightening her back she held his gaze, like a coward he lowered his eyes and walked away. The sound of the door slamming told her he was gone. She would be safe, at least for the day. But this last incident had made up her mind. There was no way she could stay here. It was time to make a decision. She had to leave him. Quickly she went to her room and ripped open her hem. The money there made her heart sing with love. It was not much, but it was something. Should she go home or should she try the Lazy T?
As she gathered together her meager possessions, she heard a knock on the door. Fear spiraled through her. Could he be back?
Chapter 8
As she waited, the knocking came again. Should she hide? Her face was red and bruised. What would people think? Then she realized it would be Susan and Ellie so she raced down the stairs happy to see her friends. Maybe she could go with them and she would be safe for the night.
As she pulled open the door, a handsome man stood there. It took a few seconds for her to realize that it was the man from town, Chaney.
“Miss, are you hurt?” Chaney asked as he crossed the threshold and reached out to touch her.
Gina felt herself cowering away from him and had to fight back the tears that threatened to flow down her face. “I am fine, Sir. What can I do for you?”
Chaney stood there for a second and ran a hand through his thick brown hair. As he did, it caught the light and reflected back at her. There was a concern in his deep blue eyes and she could see the battle for control as it was fought on his face. “Miss, we met in the mercantile if you remember. I have friends; two really good friends who I asked to look in on you. I have been concerned about what they said. Now I know I’m in the wrong. They told me to wait and see what happened but… But Ma’am has he hit you?”
Gina found the words spilling from her before she could stop them. “Yes,” she said and then she put her hands to her mouth to try and stop the flow, but she could not. She told her who she was and out poured all her frustration, out came her fear for her child and then the frustration that she could not stay here. At last she was sobbing and Chaney pulled her into his arms and let her sob against his shoulder.
“Do not worry, Gina,” he said as he stroked her hair. “Do not worry, you are safe now and he will never hit you again.”
When she stopped crying Chaney helped her to the kitchen. He brought her a glass of water. Handing it to her, he said, “Drink this. I think you’ve overexerted yourself. You need your strength with the baby coming and all.”
Gina looked up at him. Here was a man who was caring and considerate. He was compassionate and had showed more kindness in a moment than her future husband had in all this time.
Tears filled her eyes and Chaney, seeing them, panicked. “Is everything ok? Does it hurt anywhere? Should I go get the doctor?”
Gina shook her head. “No, I’m fine. Thank you for making sure I was alright. You didn’t have to. You can go now I really am alright.”
Chaney looked at the woman in front of him. Did she really expect him to leave her when she was in such a fragile state? “There is no need to thank me. I just hope you are fine.”
She smiled and it lit up her entire face. Chaney couldn’t help but notice how pretty she was. Her blonde hair seemed to have lost a little of its shine, but her eyes shone with the brightness of the sun, as she smiled at him. It radiated inside him and he responded with a smile of his own.
“I am,” she said. “Thank you. But you needn’t stay any longer Mr. Epperson won’t be back for a long while.”
He shook his head and anger colored his cheeks. “I can’t just leave.” He could see the marks on her face that indicated where she had been hit. He knew that Mr. Epperson wouldn’t be bothered with how she was and it brought a rage inside him like none he had ever known. How any man could even dream of raising a hand to any woman, let alone someone as gentle and sweet as her, he couldn’t figure out.
“I will be well soon enough. No need to trouble yourself.”
“It is no trouble at all,” he smiled at her. “Now do tell me more about yourself. You don’t have our accent so I guess you’re not from around here?” And with that they spent the next couple of hours talking and he soon had her laughing, making jokes and having a splendid time.
The day was drawing on and Gina looked nervously at the fading sun. “You have to leave,” she said. She wanted to tell him that she was going to the Lazy T. Wanted him to take her but she knew it would not be right.
“I’m not leaving you here. I’m taking you away from here,” he said and his eyes seemed to calm her.
“I can’t,” Gina said. “What will he say, what will he do? He threatened to ruin my reputation.” Then her hands went to her stomach and the bulge that grew bigger day by day. “I need a man to look after my child and without him I fear… I fear we may not survive.”
“You cannot stay here,” Chaney said.
Gina nodded. “I know.”
“Then come with me to my friends. You can stay there as long as you want. They will look after you, they won’t judge and they will see that you are safe. However, they may be mad at me for not waiting.” He winked at her and Gina found a genuine smile on her face for the first time since she had arrived.
“I doubt that,” she said.
“You don’t know them. I will be in trouble for meddling,” he said.
“I have been so foolish,” Gina said, “now my reputation is in tatters.”
“No, it isn’t. No one around here likes Bill Epperson and no one will believe a word he says. Susan and Ellie know you have separate rooms; the only one whose reputation will suffer will be his. Come let us get you to safety.”
Quickly Chaney took her bags and carried them to a waiting buckboard. He lifted them up as if they weighed nothing and then went with her back to the house. Finding a pen and paper, she wrote a note.
Dear Mr. Epperson,
Things have not worked out between us. Your behavior has been most unsuitable and I am leaving. Consider our betrothal over and understand I will always put the life of my child first.
Yours sincerely,
Gina McMaken.
Chaney escorted her to the buckboard and helped her up.
“I hope the rough ride won’t give you any problems,” he said.
“I will be fine. Do you think he will cause trouble?”
Chaney jumped onto the seat and took off the brake. He clucked at the big bay horses and turned his intense blue eyes towards her. “Part of me hopes he does,” he said and then he looked forward over the ears of the team and steered them over to the track.
Chapter 9
The ten-minute drive to the Lazy T was completed in silence. Gina felt bruised and battered but most of all she was exhausted. What was she to do now? The last thing she wanted was to have a child born out of wedlock, but at least it would be healthy, it would be safe. At least she hoped so.
Chaney pulled the buckboard up in front of a big, two-story home. It was beautiful and looked like a sanctuary, but she knew there was a long road ahead. As Chaney set the brake, the two sisters came running out of the house. The look of horror on Ellie’s face would have been comical if the situation was not so dire, but Susan was under control.
“Chaney, it seems like a strange time for a visit?” Susan s
aid. Then she turned to Gina. There was a smile on her face that felt like a welcome. “Come on in my dear,” she said.
Chaney helped Gina down and kept hold of her hand as he guided her up the steps to the house. It sent little tingles of electricity up her arm but most of all it made her feel safe. Chaney led her gently into the house but once inside Susan blocked his passage.
“Perhaps you should see to the horses,” Susan said while Ellie fussed around Gina.
“But there are things I need to tell you,” Chaney tried to explain.
“No, I think we get the picture. Don’t worry, Gina is safe now, look after your team.”
Chaney could see that Susan meant business. He squeezed Gina’s hand. “Do not worry you are safe here.” Then he hesitated. Gina got the impression he was thinking of kissing her and what surprised her most was that she didn’t mind.
“Chaney,” Susan said.
Chaney nodded and turned on his heels before racing from the house.
When Chaney had gone Gina felt less sure. Up until now he had taken control and all had been fine. But what would these sisters say? What would their husbands say? Was she safe here? After all she was betrothed to a man and he had the right to come here and claim her.
“Stop those nasty thoughts,” Susan said. “Ellie will get you some stew and cake and we will clean up those wounds. Then Chaney can bring in your cases and we can settle you into a room.”
“I do not know what to say,” Gina managed.
Ellie engulfed her in a big hug, and soon Susan joined in. Tears fell from Gina’s eyes and she sobbed quietly as the two sisters embraced her.
“You are going to tell us all about it and we are going to apologize. Chaney told us it wasn’t safe to leave you there. We believed you would be all right for a week or two. Looking at your face it seems that Bill Epperson lost his temper yet again.”
Ellie nodded and then she told the sisters what happened. It all came out of her once again. Her worry about having a child out of wedlock. At this, the two sisters shared a glance and smiled. Soon she had told them everything and a fresh round of hugs ensued.