Coming Full Circle (a closed thread)

[slowandeasy]

“ OVER HERE, HANK!” He heard Charles call from the other side of the train depot. As the cousin he barely knew approached him and held out his hand he listened to him continue. “Welcome back to Columbus. Got your letter but you never did tell me what brings you back home after all these years.”

Henry gave Charles a weak smile of recognition as his hand was pumped vigorously and an arm went around his shoulder giving him an uncomfortable feeling. It had been forty five years since he’d last seen his cousin and he never did feel very close to him anyway. Charles on the other hand seemed to think that they should be the best of friends.

“Looks like you could use a drink or two.” Charles continued, as he looked Henry up and down noticing his dusty disheveled appearance “I reckon it was one hell of a trip. There’s a place across the street where we can sit down and talk over a cold beer.”

Henry wasn’t much of a drinker, but he accepted Harry’s offer with a tired nod. It had been one hell of a trip alright. Damn near 1000 miles he’d come in the last two days Clear from Columbus Nebraska to Columbus Ohio. 1000 dusty god forsaken miles. The last time he’d .made this trip was forty years ago. He had been sixteen, full of piss and vinegar, hell bent on carving out a new life somewhere out “west” It wasn’t a thing a young man would forget, that first trip.

From one town named Columbus to another town named Columbus. He couldn’t remember why he had picked that particular town to stop at He had intended to push on further, maybe north to Colorado or Wyoming. But it was so damn green there and the rich black soil beckoned And there was land for free. For anyone who was willing to work it. So he stopped and he worked it, lying about his age so he could get title to a piece of land and then more land until he had well over 500 acres of rich green land. He tilled the dark green grass under and planted oats and corn and raised cattle and hogs chickens and sheep. He built a house and barn and sheds from lumber he cut from trees from a wooded area along the Platte River and ten years later at twenty six he had everything he wanted and needed including a wife who would soon become the mother of his first child

As for the rest of his personal the saga, he didn’t even want to think about right now. Instead he let the cool beer slip down his dusty throat and said under his breath “I reckon I’ve come full circle”

What’s that?” Charles asked impatiently. When Henry stared at him with a far away look on his face He continued. “Never mind just tell me what got you all fired up to come home in such a rush.”

The truth be told he knew exactly why Henry had traveled all that way from Columbus, Nebraska to Columbus Ohio. In fact just about everybody in both towns knew what the occasion was. In Nebraska they knew because Henry made his intensions known after church services one bright Sunday morning three months ago. Whoever didn’t actually hear him say it heard it later as the gossip spread around town.

The folks who found out in Ohio, either read in the local paper or heard about the ad in the local paper that Henry had placed, advertising for a woman to join him as his wife on his farm in Nebraska. The add was short and to the point The folks who had known Henry expected it to be and the ones who didn’t had a good laugh about it. What Charles and the rest of them didn’t know was if in fact he had found his bride to be , who she was.
“Well…I suppose you’re gonna tell me you got an answer to that damn-fool ad you placed three months ago and came here to take your new bride back to Nebraska ”

“Yep.” Henry said. Matter of fact you hit the nail right on the head. He watched Harry suck in his breath as if he couldn’t believe what he heard When he figured the poor man recovered he continued. “Maybe you could help me find her, She only gave me a box number no address and I thought I’d surprise her by coming earlier than I planned.”

Charles was all ears now that he’d been invited into the event that had the town buzzing.
“Tell me her name Hank.” He said excitedly. Is she someone we went to school with way back when? Maybe some poor widow? She got any kids? Maybe she’s a gal who got tired of her good for nothing husband and can’t wait to get out of town, or maybe she’s still got one and wants to leave anyway”

Henry waited for his cousin to run out of steam and then said. “Nope You’re dead wrong.”

“Well… Tell me then, damn it, she must have a name, Tell me her name maybe I know her.”

“I’ll do better than that” Henry said a s he reached into his suit pocket and pulled out a worn envelope. Her name’s Rebecka Jane and here’s her picture. Harry‘s face turned pasty white as he took one look at the picture, Henry had shoved across the table. He pushed it back as if he didn’t want to see what he was seeing.

Henry watched Harry’s reaction and got an uneasy feeling in his gut. He tried to make a joke of it. “She too pretty for you Charles? Maybe you’re wishing it was you she was wanting to marry, instead of me When Charles’ expression didn’t change he scowled. You know something about Rebecka Jane I don’t?”

“Well?” he said getting impatient when Charles didn’t respond.

She’s…That woman… She,s…He began stuttering. And then finished up real quick. Shes a dancer over at the Roaring Twenties.”

Henry breathed a sigh of relief Is that al,l gals gotta make a living right”
But that’s.. a …You know…a WHORE-HOUSE.! Charles spit out the words as if they had put a bad taste in his mouth.

Are you saying Rebecka Jane’s a whore! Henry shot back. Can you prove it!”

With all the effort he could muster Charles mumbled “Look Henry I’ve been up to her room above the bar myself more than a few times. Ten dollars will get you an hour of the wildest fuckin’ a man could want and thirty five will get you the same all night long. If I’m not mistaken she’s dancing tonight, Having said a whole lot more than maybe he should have Charles got up, turned his back on Henry and walked away like he was a total stranger.

“When’s the show start?” Henry asked the bartender.

“Twenty minutes mister, this your first time here?”

“First and last” Henry muttered

“Give it at chance mister First one’s on the house on account of our new. At least stay to watch Rebecka Jane dance, You won’t regret it.
Henry only grunted and settled into his seat at the bar. thirty minutes later his free drink was still untouched on the bar and the show was over. Henry had seen enough He knew by just watching her dance Rebecka Jane wasn’t the woman he wanted for his wife and the mother of his children.

The train heading west wouldn’t be leaving for two days. He’d find a cheap hotel for the night, Walk out to the family farm bright and early in the morning before anyone was up and around. He doubted that anyone would recognize him anyway It had been forty years after all.

 

[Lady_Kit]

The morning air was still and heavy as Alice waved off the departing form of her father, the Reverend James Winters. She smiled as he turned out of their drive and disappeared. The hazy morning sunshine was the precursor to a bright summer day that looked to be a real scorcher. Alice grinned up at the white-hot orb glad to know that hot as it might get, at least she would not have to endure it in the sour company of her father. Alice had been left behind, as usual. She knew that Father meant her to feel punished by the slight, but Alice felt only relief. The trip to Cincinnati would be long, hot and unpleasant. Her father was attending a convention of the Nazarene Church, an event that promised to be mostly made up of sanctimonious speeches and calls for a firm hand in the congregations. Father would fit right in. Alice would be bored to tears. Instead, she was being left home, because, as she was often reminded, “…she was a blemish on the spotless record of a Christian life,” set by Reverend Winters. As punishments went, hers was not unpleasant. This time.

Except for the Ice Cream Social later today, an event that all members of the Ladies Auxiliary must attend, her time was her own until Father returned to their farm on the outskirts of Columbus in three days. Since she’d learned of her punishment Alice had carefully planned her precious time. This morning, she’d get her chores done quickly, and then she was going to the old Wilson place. Her excuse, if seen by anyone, was that she was looking for early berries. Unsaid was her desire for a cooling swim in a secluded spot she knew of along the river.

The sun was midway between dawn and high noon when Alice stopped on the graveled riverbank. She dropped her berry bucket, and the small basket holding a towel and scrap of scented soap. Alice shed her worn dress dress, and cotton slip, folding both carefully and placing them on top of the basket. Though old and worn, the garments were of good quality, and Alice did her best to take care of them. Most of her clothing came from the charity boxes, the cast offs of the Columbus ladies who brought boxes and bags of their discards to the church to be distributed to the poor. Well, she was poor in ways they’d never understand and if she outfitted herself first from the boxes, who could naysay her?

Cool water rose up around her as Alice waded into the river. The water was clear and calm; Alice sighed when she reached shoulder depth and ducked beneath the surface to wet her long blonde hair. For the next hour she floated and swam, reveling in the buoyancy of the water and freedom from her ill-fitting clothes. The refreshing water made her feel like a dryad frolicking in a hidden pool, a comparison that would not occur to any who knew her. All too soon, she had to climb from the water. Slowly Alice waded to the bank, the water sliding down her body across full breasts and well-rounded hips; she dressed quickly, tugging at her cotton slip where it stuck to still damp skin. She squeezed the water from her hair, finger combed it free of the worst tangles, and pinned it back into its normal sensible bun. Now returned to her normal conservative appearance she gathered her possessions and turned to the path that would lead back to the Winter farm, her mind already on her afternoon duties with the Ladies Auxiliary.

 

[slowandeasy]

Henry Wilson

The sun hadn’t come up yet when Henry jumped out of bed, something about today made him feel anxious. There was a feeling in the air that it might even rain yet he had felt it before and then suffered through another dry and dusty day, Another dry day, part of a dry month that followed a dry season. How many years had it been he wondered since the dry spell had began. He thought of his farm in Nebraska. The green grass that everyone had taken for granted started turning brown three years ago Rivers and streams, ponds and lakes, any thing that held water soon were reduced to either a trickle of water or a stagnant mud-hole.

Henry had either been smart or lucky or maybe some of both when he bought that section down by the platte. He moved his livestock down where the swampy ground struggled to keep the grass green and the river ran clear and plentiful in spite of the scorching sun. No use in trying to plant anything he had figured. If anything did sprout in the dusty soil the hot southwest wind would blow it clear into Iowa, along with the precious topsoil he turned over. Best to leave it lay he had figured.

Boredom overtook him and had driven him into town. He had joined the church because he wasn’t much of a drinker and would rather put his money into the collection plate than some saloon owners pocket. Mostly he was wanting some human contact. It had been so long since Mary and the baby died.

His reminiscing was interrupted by lightning in the west. But then as he watched for more the sun rose in the east and brought with it a clear sky. “Heat lightning, Henry said to himself, just heat lightning.”

There was a pan of lukewarm water on the dresser and he took his razor from his bag and quickly shaved, figuring why waste the fresh haircut he had gotten before he left Nebraska by going out with a two days growth of whiskers. He went to the closet where he had hung his clothes. As he slipped his pants and shirt on he wished he had brought along a pair of overalls. The new suit he had bought at the haberdashery before he left was roomy enough but he just didn’t feel comfortable in it The vest and tie made it even more bothersome. He thought for a moment about just rolling up his shirt sleeves and leaving the rest behind but realized they’d be gone when he came back at noon. Shrugging his shoulders he finished dressing and went out to greet the morning.

It was a short walk to the homestead and he took his time. Even though it was hot in Ohio, things were a lot greener, and Henry began to actually enjoy himself forgetting about last nights events. Instead his mind wandered back to when he was a child. He smiled to himself when he thought about his most favorite place, the river. It should be to his left just beyond a big chestnut tree. The tree was gone but its jagged stump too stubborn to rot, told Henry that he was heading in the right direction. Eagerly he approached the river, and smiled when he saw it glistening in the sunlight, clear as the day he had last swam here.

Beyond the next bend, the swimming hole, and the path to the Reverend Winters homestead. Henry chuckled to himself remembering back to when he and his cousin had tempted each other to venture up that path. They teased each other that they were sure to go to hell if the Reverend ever caught them on his property. He remembered Pa didn’t have much time for the Reverend and whenever he saw him coming towards their place with his Sunday suit on and his bible under his arm, he got his gun out and ran him off. Henry wondered if the Reverend were still around or maybe his kin. A far as he could remember the man had a wife but no children, then again, he remembered a baby girl with blonde hair. Henry had gone to a church social and the Reverends wife had a baby with her.

His pondering was interrupted by the splashing of water around the bend. He grinned remembering how he used to sneak up on an otter or a flock of wild ducks. He crouched down and pushed himself slowly through a tangle of willows and tag-alders. Slowly he peered out from between the branches towards the place the sound had come from.

“Oh! My God!” he said under his breath and then clamped his hand over his mouth sure that he had been heard. The object of his emotional outburst was not an otter or a flock of ducks, but a woman bathing naked in the river barely ten feet from where he crouched. He remained still hoping she wouldn’t notice him, trying not to stare afraid she might even feel his presence. But he just couldn’t pull his eyes away from her, even though she was waist deep with her back to him, her long blonde hair flowing down to her waist and the lather from the soap she was using clouding up the water around her hips and legs.

The spell was broken when she moved towards the shore and Henry tore his gaze away from her He looked carefully behind him for a way to safely back up without making any noise. He moved one foot and then the other slowly backwards, not wanting to get caught invading this poor womans privacy. When he was almost through the underbrush, he looked back towards the water. The woman had turned half facing him and was bending over, stepping quickly into a slip that clung to her wet full hips When she stood up, pulling the cloth up at the same time, her large breasts reluctantly slid under the cloth. He found himself unable to move again as he watched the round full softness of each breast strain against the cloth and the presence of two firm nipples jutting outwards as she deftly transformed her long hair into a smooth bun at the top of her head.

When she bent to retrieve the rest of her clothes, Henry felt able to move. He stood up and turned and ran. Feeling like he hadn’t drawn a full breath of air since he had first seen her,he became dizzy, yet he kept on running, hoping if she heard him she would think it was a deer startled from its bed. His head was full of images of her bathing naked, of Rebecka Jane dancing half naked at the Roaring Twenties, of his wife on their honeymoon night.

Exhausted he stopped. It felt like his body was burning up. He stripped off his jacket, vest and tie. Unbuttoning his shirt, he dropped it on the ground. A small pool of water caught his attention, a backwater from the river. He knelt beside it and cupping his hands brought fresh water to his parched lips. Handful after handful he dashed over his face his shoulders his chest until his body glistened with wetness. His breathing became normal and he smoothed back his hair and stood. He was about to bend over to pick up his clothes when he heard a noise, the sound of running feet. He looked up to see a path. Disappearing around a bend was the woman who he had watched in the river. Had she seen him he wasn’t sure. He knew now that he had gotten turned around and the path he was looking down was the one to Reverend Winters homestead.

 

[Lady_Kit]

Alice Winters

Alice dropped to the top step on the porch; heart pounding in her chest, breath coming in great gulps and blue eyes watching the path leading from the river. After a moment, her breathing returned to its normal pace. But the throbbing of her heart continued; what at first was from exertion now came from fear. Alice felt as if her heart might jump from her chest after the incident near the river. An image of the shirtless man she’s seen was burned into her mind, and in her heart was the fear that he might have seen her as well.

“Oh, Dear Lord,” she whispered. “What have I done?” Only moments before Alice had stood on a nearby spot naked as the day she was born, in broad daylight, and almost within sight of the path near which the stranger knelt!

Her stomach churned as she watched a dizzying array of possible outcomes play in her mind. The man telling her Father…or worse, the man not telling Father and blackmailing Alice with the knowledge…no, worse than that, the man telling the members of the congregation, before telling her Father. Her thoughtless actions could have very bad repercussions; ugly, painful repercussions. Alice quickly put those thoughts away.

It was entirely possible that he saw nothing. He must have come from the direction of town, in which case he would not have passed the spot where Alice rose from the river. It was a brisk walk from town, and a hot day. He may have just needed to refresh himself and had stopped to do so there on the bank.

“After the way I ran away, he probably thinks that some bumpkins live here.” Alice said aloud, doing her best to convince herself that this was not the catastrophe she feared.

She reexamined her mental image. Alice had only gotten a glimpse of his face, seen that it was rugged but clean-shaven. His hair was black, like coal, and with the same flashes of light that could be seen in a lump of stove fuel. He didn’t look familiar; but Columbus was a growing town. To be honest, what Alice most clearly recalled were broad shoulders and a strong back. That image was no less dizzying than the others, but nausea was not the feeling it created. She shook her head, reminding herself that it was thoughts like years ago that put her in her present situation.

Where, Alice wondered, was the stranger going? The Wilson place was deserted; he could only have been coming here. Even if he were lost, he’d still come to their farm at the end of the path. She stared down the trail as she sat on the step. If he was coming here, then where was he? Shouldn’t he have arrived by now? Unless he had turned back to town because he had seen her. She trembled at the thought but had no time to dwell on it further. Stranger or no, she still had duies to attend to this afternoon.

Later, standing in the shade outside the church, Alice scanned the crowd attending the Social. She was looking for “the stranger” as she’d started to call him. Of the men present, some were the right height but none had quite the breadth of shoulder to be him. Alice was surprised to feel more disappointed than relived. Did she want to meet this man?

Alice smiled and spoke, passed out scoops of ice cream, and fulfilled her role as the Reverends’ daughter. She’d been her fathers hostess in these things for so long that she knew her lines by heart. After a while her mind drifted until a female voice called her back to the present.

“Alice, there is someone I want you to meet. It’s Charles’ cousin, from out west.”

 

[slowandeasy]

Henry Wilson

grrrrrrrr!!!! again

 

[slowandeasy]

Henry Wilson

Dressing quickly Henry assessed the situation the best he could under the circumstances. The many changes he had to deal with in the last twenty-four hours certainly had complicated his life. He was used to change being farmer and depending on the fickleness of the land and the weather. These latest changes had nothing to do with planting and raising livestock but Henry was sure he could meet these latest challenges. To be sure he had run away from a challenging situation just a while ago, and one might think that his decision not to confront Rebecka Jane at the Roaring Twentys last night, might be considered cowardice, but now it was if he had to make some sort of stand. Just what he intended to do he wasn’t rightly sure. One thing was certain though, he wasn’t about to put his tail between his legs and run for Nebraska.

He wasn’t anywhere close to being presentable if he were to be seen backing town looking like a half drowned rat, he needed a place to clean up get the dirt and grime off his face and hands restore his clothes to some semblance of respectability. Then maybe he might just spend a few more days in Columbus. He had enough money to even be a little bit frivolous, something he wasn’t prone to be but for some strange reason he felt in that kind of mood.


Finding his way back to the Wilson homestead headed back into town. A fork in the road led to Charley and Ediths farm and his disposition brightened when he thought of Edith. He remembered her from his childhood and they had been neighbors and friends. Why she married his cousin Charley he didn’t understand. But none of that really mattered. What mattered was that she would be happy to help him get respectable.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

“There you are.” Edith said smiling Just as good as new.” She straightened his tie and tucked a clean handkerchief into his breast pocket




Henry smiled back, he certainly felt like a new man thanks to Edith,

She had greeted him enthusiastically when she had seen him coming up the path and recognized him. Seeing his condition and knowing him not to be much of a talker she asked no questions but went right to work on his suit after he had stripped down to his waist as she had directed him. She handed him a bar of soap and told him to head for the rain barrel behind the house. “Shed those shoes too and I’ll put a shine on them while we wait for your shirt to dry”.

Henry started to protest, but when she began to eye his pants he shut his mouth real quick. He headed for the rain barrel and washed his upper body thoroughly.
Back in the house he caught a flour sack towel Edith threw his way he wiped himself dry while he watched her iron the shirt she had just washed his jacket, vest and tie.lay on the table neatly pressed. Henry grabbed his shoes I’ll polish them myself thank you.

Suit yourself Hank she shrugged her shoulders they still call you Hank don’t they?

Henry said quietly “Most folks now know me as Henry, but I guess Hank’s alright too if it suits you.”

Edith smiled Hank it is then If your intent is to shine your own shoes I’ll fetch something to eat. Made some peach cobbler for the Ice Cream Social this afternoon. You going?

Didn’t know there was one Henry replied. Charles going? It was the first time he had thought to ask about Charles.

Edith blushed, maybe she hadn’t been thinking too much about Charles either.

“Charles ain’t much for ice cream socials” she said quietly. “More than likely he’ll spend the day playing poker.

Henry put down his newly polished shoes and watched Edith spoon up a generous portion of peach Cobbler. He discovered himself feeling relieved that Charles was occupied for the day.

He saw Edith’s face light up when he took a spoonful and smacked his lips in approval. "I'll be more than happy to accompany you to that Ice Cream Social just for the chance to get seconds"

-----------------------------------------------

“Alice, there is someone I want you to meet. It’s Charles’ cousin, from out west.”

Henry heard Edith say , he was starting to regret that he had gone to the social. It seemed every woman he saw was looking at him as if they knew something he didn't know, amybe it ws his immagination but he couldn't help but feel strange. He had held his gaze low avoiding eye contact but now as revealed who he was, any chance at avoiding questions was gone.

He looked up, the woman named Alice was facing away from him, but turned as Edith said her name. Even before he looked in her eyes he knew. She was the woman who he had seen bathing in the river. He sucked in his breath determined not to let her discover his secret. Maybe she didn't even know, probably not ,but he wasn't about to give her any clue by his behavior. He cleared his throat and said simply "Pleased to meet you Alice... Winters is it?" He had seen no ring on her hand and he had guessed that she was the Reverends daughter

 

[Lady_Kit]

Alice Winters

“Alice, there is someone I want you to meet. It’s Charles’ cousin, from out west.”

Alice turned, and frowned as she watched her friend Edith move slowly across the grass lawn. That baby must surly be ready to come at any moment, Alice thought as Edith puffed to a stop before her.

"Pleased to meet you Alice...Winters is it?"

A man spoke, an introduction to which she should respond, but at the moment all her attention was upon Edith. She gestured for a chair to be brought and placed in the shade.

“Winters…yes. My father is the Reverend James Winters.”

Alice answered absently as she ushered Edith to a seat. The man too looked at Edith, as if noticing for the first time that she was not well. Could he not have noticed that the woman was in the last stages of pregnancy? Men!

“Edith! Do not say that you came all this way for ice cream? I would have brought you some myself before the day was over rather than have you walking about in this heat. I do believe you have taken leave of your senses.”

Alice looked again at the dark-haired cousin. Ah, that was the reason. Edith was playing at matchmaker. Would the woman never learn? Alice knew Edith meant well, but Father would never consent to marriage; not when Alice made such a capable cook, housekeeper and secretary. The cousin stood quietly, seeming to view a distant scene away from the chatter and heat. His eyes darkened with pain, though he hid it quickly. Alice wondered at the source.

“Oh!! Oh, Alice. I believe you’re right. I should not be here this afternoon. Could I impose upon you to assist Cousin Henry in getting me home?”

Alice momentarily suspected a plot to bring her together with Cousin Henry, but Edith seemed in genuine discomfort. Now, she was glad he was here to help get Edith home.

------------------------------------------

An hour later Edith was settled in her own bed and resting comfortably. Her husband, Charles, had returned home and Alice was ready to go home herself.

“I can assure you, Mr. Wilson, I can see myself home.”

Alice could hear the irritaiton in her voice. Henry had done nothing to deserve it, except that he and Charles were cousins. At the moment, Alice had little use for Henrys cousin.

“Miss Winters, I must insist that you allow me to escort you home.”

There was nothing Henry could do to force his company on her Alice knew that. But his tone said that it would be best if she’d do as he wanted, and on a deep level, she responded to his will. Alice shook in the heat, and her eyes were drawin to the face of this man who suddenly made her shake as if she'd just been touched by a cold breeze in the heat of summer. She’d scarcely noticed him while she worried about Edith. Now, his face came into focus; all strong sharp lines, a bold face full of pride and assurance. Fine lines and weathered skin gave him the look of a man who spent more time out of doors than in, his blue eyes stood out sharply against the tanned color of his skin but where hers were the blue of a summer storm, his were like a cold winter sky. And above those eyes...black hair that glinted in the afternoon light. Suddenly, Alice realized that he was the man from the road; she’d been blind not to have seen it sooner.

“Yes, of course, Mr. Wilson. If it’s no trouble.”

She hadn’t meant to agree, but they’d come so far already, having walked and argued at the same time. Alice should have insisted he return, shouldn’t have agreed to his company at all, but she wanted to know why he'd been on the road to her house. It was improper while Father was gone. What would people think?

Alice found that she didn’t care. Her life was set in its path, she’d never have a home or family of her own. She should savor this moment and the company of a handsome man. It might never come again. She smiled up at Henry, determined to enjoy the rest of their walk.

“Tell me, Mr. Wilson. What brings you to Ohio?”

 

[slowandeasy]

Henry

Henry paused before answering, concerned that she knew more than she let on. Surely by now everyone in town knew who he was and what he was here for. Yet she was Reverend Winter's daughter, perhaps the women she socialized with refrained from talking to her about such a delicate subject.

Her smile and the tone of her voice suggested she didn’t, and it was in her eyes too, as if a storm there that he had seen earlier when she was protesting his company had passed. He had noticed the storm because she reacted to his request without the usual pretense that some women would use to get attention or to challenge a man’s authority, but instead was purely an attempt to reject his company. For Henry it had become a challenge. And he had been enjoying the anticipation of where this storm would lead.

Her question was honest and direct, and he owed her a direct and honest answer. His voice was clear and unemotional. “I came to Ohio to take home a bride.” He saw the storm clouds in her eyes gather and her body stiffen.
He laughed a short unconscious laugh. “I’m sorry Miss Winters it’s not quite like that.” Edith’s matchmaking attempts were quite obvious weren’t they?

The storm did not pass as Alice stopped dead in her tracks and faced him.
“Then Mr. Wilson, before we go any further, an explanation is in order.”

“That nearby tree and a mound of soft green grass looks like a good place to take care of this.” Henry said and he pointed in that direction He took off his jacket and spread it out on the ground. “Sit” he said firmly. “This may take some time”

It didn’t take as long as he had figured, as Alice immediately sat, smoothing her dress over her crossed legs. She gave him her full attention not interrupting him by asking pointless questions or telling him to be more specific.

He kneeled beside her and started his explanation with the day he decided to put an ad in the paper for a wife and finished by revealing that the woman who answered the ad was not the kind of woman he was looking for. In between he found it easy to tell her every detail even though he realized he was exposing to her his foolishness.

“Of course there is more of who I am and what my intentions are but I’m sure you aren’t interested. All that you really need to know is that I have no intentions towards you about marriage or going to Nebraska with me. My only intention at this time is to get you safely home.”

Alice seemed to be satisfied with Henry’s story, for when he rose and held out his hand to help her up, she took it graciously. She brought his jacket up along with her and handed it to him. He thanked her and waited while she stepped onto the path.

Henry followed behind for a while, lost in his own thoughts. Now that the idea had entered his mind he wondered if Alice would make a good wife. To be sure she had many of the qualities he was looking for. He smiled appreciatively at her hips as she walked ahead of him She’d have no problem with childbirth, and her full breasts, that he had observed that very morning as she dressed after her bath in the river, would provide ample milk for his children.

Why then was he not more interested in her. He certainly had been aroused while he had watched her bathe in the river. What had changed make him feel differently now. Edith’s matchmaking had turned him off he had to admit. Somehow the idea of someone else deciding for him seemed cold and impersonal. Right now if he were to define their relationship he would compare it with the way he felt about Edith.She had made him feel at home, even she was a comparative stranger having not seen her since he left for the West when he was sixteen. Somehow he trusted both of them more than anyone else in town, including his cousin Charles.

Alice looked back sensing that Henry had fallen behind. She smiled “We’re almost there. Henry”

Somewhere along the way a barrier between them had dissolved, evaporated in the cool breeze and quiet woods. Henry smiled back as he quickened his step and came alongside of her. For a while they talked about Edith and her condition. Alice was concerned and Henry promised her that he would stay the night with her and Charles. Charles would be of no help at all they agreed. "You come for me if the baby comes in the night Henry." Alice said firmly.

Henry promised. The conversation turned back the pages of time as Alice talked about her childhood and when Henry told her about leaving Columbus those many years ago. Alice laughed and tossed her head. The sunlight caught in her hair and he had a vision of it wet and falling around her bare shoulders when Henry said quickly. "Do you remember me?", not sure himself if he even remembered her.

"Im' sure I was just a babe she said, a coquetish grin on her face. besides I'd have had no interest in a boy ten years older than me."
Henry smiled back "I suppose not."

They fell silent for a while, Henry looking ahead for the house and outbuildings. "Look! Alice." he said. suddenly “There’s the path to the river. The Wilson homestead is just beyond the Chestnut tree, near the old swimming hole. We used to swim naked down there when we were kids, You ever do that...!" He suddenly realized he was talking like a young boy, but he went on anyway. "Charles and me used to, but We were always afraid to come up this path for fear the Reverend would chase us off."

 

[Lady_Kit]

Alice

“Good thing for you he didn’t. Father frowns on swimming, he says that for men and women to see each other scantily clothed and wet leads to impure thoughts.”

Alice could attest to that herself and blushed prettily as her own impure thoughts from the morning bounced around in her head.

“He’d have tanned your hides if he caught you.”

Her comment drew a rude noise from Henry; one of those sounds that Alice associated exclusively with men. A non-specific noise that covered many emotions, most of them understood only by other men.

His mouth quirked up at one corner.

“While the cats away..." the old adage trailed off his tongue. Alice was charmed by that half smile and unprepared for his next statement.

"I figured that the safest time to skinny dip was when the Reverend was away. The very best time was during the Nazarene convention. Wouldn’t you agree?”

Alice looked at him in shock, too stunned to answer. And then, too soon it seemed, they stood before her porch. He smiled and took her hand.

“It has been a pleasure to meet you, Miss Winters. Good evening.”

---------------------------------------------------------------------

The pounding on the front door roused Alice from a light sleep. It seemed she slept with one eye open these nights, ready to jump from her bed to answer the door, to greet every situation from birth to death. Tonight she expected birth, planned for it before she retired.

Quickly dressed, Alice answered the door. As expected it was one of Edith’s oldest boys. Labors had started in earnest. Henry had sent for the doctor, the mid-wife, and Alice; so the young man informed her as the walked into the night. Alice was glad that Henry had been thorough.

Henry greeted Alice with a look of profound relief and the question that Alice had long dreaded hearing.

“You know anything about delivering babies?”

“No. Do you? And shall I take that question to mean that no one else is coming?”

 

[slowandeasy]

Henry

“That’s right, looks like we got a job to do.” Henry answered.

Now that Alice was here his confidence returned, and the situation didn’t seem so dire as it had been when Charles had returned from town and told him that the Dr and the midwife were nowhere to be found. Word was that they were clean across the county attending to another birthing and wouldn’t be back until morning. Things had suddenly gotten worse when Charles who had decided to have a drink or two before he returned home stumbled into the bedroom to see how Edith was doing and came out, a look of shock on his face. “Hank! He had screeched. “She just wet the goddamned bed!”

Henry had shook his head and sent Charles to the hall closet for some clean sheets and towels. Then when he returned Henry told him to go to the kitchen, start a fire in the wood cook stove, make some coffee and fill the copper laundry tub with fresh clean water and put that on the stove too. Charles stumbled off muttering something about it being a damn hot night for a roaring fire in the stove

Henry could see he had his hands full. Edith’s two younger girls were staying in town with friends and he was thankful for that, things were complicated enough without them being underfoot. He was glad Edith’s oldest son Adam had been home, able to fetch Alice when the time arrived and he had trusted him to do what was asked of him He had just finished changing Edith’s bedding, reassuring her that everything would be ok even though he wasn’t sure and wanted instead to give her hell for going and getting herself pregnant at forty seven, when he heard the sound of hurried footsteps in the hall. Instead he had wiped her brow softly with a wet cloth and asked her about the pains. “The babies coming,” she had told him between labored breaths. “They come real fast for me.”

“The Dr. here yet?” She had asked and Henry shook his head no and quickly said “But Alice is here I just heard her come in the door and…He wanted to say he would deliver the child but didn’t know how she would take it. Would she trust him enough to put her life and the baby’s in his hands.

Much to his relief Edith had reached up and took his hand. “And you’re here Hank, you’ll help too won't you?

“Of course Edith, Of course.” He had replied. With Alice’s help, he could do this thing.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Now Alice knew too there would be no Dr. and no midwife. It was up to the two of them to bring this child into the world.

“Get us a pan of hot soapy water” he told Adam, then go keep your Pa company. We’ll holler if we need you.” He rolled up his sleeves opened up the top of his shirt and without reaching out unbuttoned the cuffs on Alice’s blouse. As he rolled her sleeves up he looked in her eyes and said quietly. “We’re in this together Alice. Like a team of horses we must pull as one.”

When he and Alice had washed and Adam had left, Henry moved to one side of the narrow bed. He motioned Alice toward the other. He took Edith’s hand and spoke to them both in as quiet and calm voice as possible. “I’m just a farmer but I know a little about the birthing process. Helped many a lamb, calf, or colt come into this world. I’m guessing a human baby isn’t that much different. I’m not saying this to brag, only to help you understand that I know that I know how it should go, and you can trust me.”

“Edith, you know what you have to do, you’ve done this before.” He turned to her and smiled softly.

“Alice, whether you’ve done this before or not don’t matter. Tonight we’re going to do it my way O.K.?” Alice nodded, her eyes glowing in anticipation.

Edith raised her legs letting her nightgown side up over her thighs and hips. Her nakedness went unnoticed as both Alice’s and Henry’s attention was drawn to the broad expanse of her belly and the baby that lay inside.

Edith drew in her breath and held it as the pain of contraction over took her. Almost instantaneously another contraction began. “Hold it back” Henry cautioned. He took Alice’s hands “You must find the babies head, It’s important to know that the baby’s head is coming out first. Your hands are smaller than mine.” As he spoke he guided Alice’s hands. He continued speaking to keep her from becoming fearful. "You know Alice, only a woman knows whether her touch brings pain or pleasure.to another woman here." He eased her hands toward Ediths Vagina. Most men don’t even care, they think they know how a woman feels but how can they, they’re not built the same. So don’t be afraid of hurting Edith think of how you would feel, what kind of touch you would want. He felt Alice’s hands
relax and heard her draw in her breath as her fingers disappeared inside.

“I feel the baby’s head.” She whispered as if she were sharing a secret. And Henry saw the excitement in her eyes again.

“Good, now reach further, make sure there is no cord around the baby’s neck.” He heard Alice sigh in relief and knew there wasn’t.

O.K. he said it’s up to you Edith, time to push”.

 

[Lady_Kit]

Alice

He had Alice in position and was assured that the babe was ready as well. Henry instructed Edith to bear down with the next contraction. Alice felt the hot wet head of the unborn infant push against her fingers. She nearly jerked them back in surprise. This was Ediths’ baby, and Alice was responsible for brining it into to the world. No, that wasn’t quite right. What had Henry said? “Like a team of horses we must pull as one.” She glanced at him and he smiled encouragingly. Henry seemed confident in her ability to know what must be done, but Alice did not share his feelings. She had never even attended a birth, her father thought it inappropriate. She must tell Henry immediately; surely he would do a better job of this than Alice. The fear of her inexperience must have shown, yet, Henry thought her capable. It was something of a revelation. Before she could consider it further another contraction and loud moan from Edith broke her reverie.

“The babe knows its way into the world, Alice it just needs a little guidance from you to help complete the journey.”

Henrys’ quiet direction had a soothing effect on Alice, and she began to understand her role in this miraculous event. She smiled, silently thanking him for knowing just what to say.

“Of course, just a bit of guidance.”

She thought of what she must do and squared her shoulders in preparation as a long and painful contraction overcame Edith.

“That’s it, Edith…Oh Edith..the head…I can see the head!”

Alice helped the baby twist a little, making it easier for first one shoulder and then the other to spring free. The rest of the wrinkled little body quickly followed. Edith gave a hearty sigh and collapsed against the pillows. Henry stepped forward and deftly dealt with the cord while Alice cleaned the red little face the new arrival. Soon the stimulation was enough to provoke a yell of protest and they all laughed with relief at the welcome sound.

Exhausted as she was, the new mother held out her arms for her child, and Alice gently surrendered the babe. Edith looked at the infant intently, loving it completely in that moment. Alice watched quietly. “It truly is a miracle,” she thought and she wondered if she would ever know the same joy.

“Isn’t it the most beautiful thing you’ve ever seen?” Edith asked of no one in particular. Alice heard Henry agree and she gave her own affirmative response, not knowing that when Henry responded he was looking not at the newborn, but at Alice.

“Hank! The doctors here! He’s commin right…behind…me.”

Charles stopped in the doorway, his face gone a pasty white as he beheld the sight of his wife. The bedclothes still showed the evidence of the birth; to the inexperienced it must have looked more like a life ending event than that of a new life begun. The often-intoxicated Charles immediately sobered.

“Sweet Jesus,” he whispered, his voice gone raw with fear. “Edith? Honey, are you ok?” Charles brushed past Alice and Henry, going straight to the head of the bed to kneel next to his wife. “Edith, I, I….” that he wanted to say something was evident, that he was unable to do so, just as clear. Edith understood the message nevertheless and she raised one hand to softly touch his concerned face.

“shhh…we’re fine. Hank knew just what to do.” She smiled at the cousin who would now become a family hero, and at her dear friend Alice. “And he knew just who to call for help.”

Henry blushed, embarrassed by the gratitude shining from the eyes of Edith and Charles.

“Well, we’d best get the doctor in to take a look now that he’s here. Alice? You might help Edith….”

“Yes, Henry, I’ll help Edith tidy herself before the doctor comes in to see her. Why don’t you and Charles go see what you can find in the kitchen? I’m sure we could all use some coffee and a bite to eat. Especially the little one, and that's best done in privacy so Edith can get her rest. So Shoo!”

“Yes ‘um,” Henry replied and flashed her a boyish grin as he clamped an arm around his cousin's shoulders and lead him from the room. Alice wasn’t sure but she thought she heard Henry say something about bossy women before the door closed behind them.

It wasn't until later, when the doctor had gone, and Charles and Edith were having a few quiet moments that an tired but curious Alice got to ask the question she'd held at bay since she arrived.

"This wasn't your first birth. Was it Henry?"

 

[slowandeasy]

Henry

It was only after Henry had wrapped his hands around the hot cup of coffee Adam had set in front of him that he was able to finally relax and ponder the tramatic event that had just taken place.
The tension left his body as he took a hearty sip and gave Adam a silent nod of approval.

“How unlike his father Adam was.” He thought. “there was no doubt that he was a Wilson, tall,dark, with brooding eyes, That stoic look that seemed cold and impersonal until you got to know him. In the short time he and Henry had been together a sense of comradre had developed, and Henry had observed traits that his Mother ,Edith, had undoubtely instilled in him. If Henry had had a son he could have asked for little more than what he saw in Adam.

That thought brought a surge of emotions to the surface that he had been holding in check. Memories from the past that,brought on by the fact that he had helped bring a new life into the world, threatened to overwhelm him. Memories that he had harbored deep inside so many years and felt he needed to keep hidden.It was Alices hands that had guided the baby toward its first breath, yet he knew deep inside that it had been his presence and guidance that had helped make the event a joyful one. The event he was remembering from years ago hadn’t been so joyful, had changed his whole life and now threatened to bring him to tears. Instead of giving in, however, he drew in his breath and concentrated on the present. Adam had excused himself and went to bed.

Henry poured a panfull of hot watter from the kettle on the stove.when Alice entered the room. He avoided her eyes, barely looked up and instead turned toward the cupboard where he stacked the dishes Adam had washed earlier. He listened to the sounds, the splashing of water the rubbing of skin against skin and then the soft rustle of cloth. A pause and then the sound of buttons being fastened. A picture in his mind of her small but strong hands unrolling her sleeves, bringing the collar of her blouse together covering the tight chemise below it hiding the gentle curve of her breasts beneath the cloth. Another sound, a brushing sound an he imagined her putting up her long golden hair.

It had been down when she arrived earlier with Adam. He supposed she had not taken the time to put it up, concerned only with being by Ediths side. He had noticed it right away, but concentrating on the emergency he was facing had not thought about it much either.

Untill that moment when she had handed the baby to Edith. The lantern light as she straightened up and faced him chased the shadows behind her. Her eyes were alive with a look Henry found innocently yearning, not necessarily directed towards him but a pouring out as if she wanted to share some special feeling. It had to do with the baby, and he felt it too but the vision of her standing there like that overshadowed the child. He had heard the word “beautiful' from the background and for him it was beautiful, the sight of this woman who for one brief moment he had felt so close to, so intensly connected with, that he said the word outloud, not realizing himself that he had more than just thought it, felt it.

Now as he heard the chair move and the rustle of cloth as Alice sat down, Henry found it safe to turn towards her. Knowing that the vision he had now seen twice, once in the river this morning and then in Edith’s bedroom would be gone and in its place would be the Reverend's Daughter. With her hair up and her manner proper, it would be easy for him to conceal his emotions. He brought her a cup of coffee and sat down across from her.

Her voice broke the silence that lay between them like a warm blanket. "This wasn't your first birth. Was it Henry?"

He was relieved yet surprised at what she said, He had thought she might have wanted to talk about the baby in the room next to them. It was a boy,even though neither her or Edith had made any remark about that. He supposed it was a mans way, to consider it of great importance to have a son. And Charles, well he already had two sons and three daughters maybe to him it was just another baby.

The question wasn’t witout merit He could see by the intense look of curiousity in her eyes that she needed him to start from the beginning if she were to understand. And it was obvious that she prefered to go gently into unknown water.

Henry needed this also, he felt he owed her an explanation. And if he went slowly himself he would avoid what he feared most, loosing control. “No.” he said simply This is not the first time.” He took a sip of coffee to wet his throat and prepare himself for an unpleasant journey into the past. He smiled trying to put as much warmth into his voice as possible and yet approach the subject in an objective manner and began.

He watched her eyes as he spoke, Telling her about his marriage to Mary, how they both wanted children and how happy they were when she became pregnant. That was thirty years ago. Doctors were scarce as hens teeth in Nebraska.There was one in Columbia less than twenty miles from their farm. He had said what if he isn’t here when the baby comes. Mary told him not to worry.After all he had helped more than one life begin. A calf or two, several lambs, colts and piglets, a human baby would be not much different she said, he could do it if he had to.

Henry paused realizing that it would be impossibel to keep from holding back the inevitable,wondering if Alice were ready for this. He sensed that her womans intuition told her where the story was going. He could see in her eyes that she could handle it, so he came right to the point.

“I lost them both." He said evenly as he could. "I thought I had it all figured out. I thought I knew what to do. But everything went wrong. The Doctor was late. The baby was coming backwards. I knew I had to turn it around bring the head out first or it would die before it was born. Maybe it was dead already, when I reached deep inside trying to ignore Mary’s cries of pain and turned its body around. Mary lost a lot of blood. Her body fell silent too I couldn’t bring her around and when the doctor arrived she was dead also. The doctor said it wasn’t my fault that even his skilled hands might not have saved them. But I can’t help feeling that I could have done more.”

Henry’s head fell into his outstreached hands, unable any longer to face Alice. He didn’t want to feel her blame or even her pity. He heard her give a gasp of disbelief and then felt her hands reach out and cup his. When he was able to look up again, he saw only warmth and compassion. He felt as of a load had been lifted off his back and He smiled, relieved of this burden he had carried so many years.

They sat there saying nothing but sharing everything.

“Some more coffee?” Alice said softly and rose to get the pot. The storm that his story had brought on slipped into the distance, as they sipped in silence.

Henry surprised even himself when he broke the silence. “Tell me about yourself, Alice.” he said abruptly He sincerelywanted to know more about this woman who seemed to accept him for what he was and he needed to hear her voice, to bring him away from that terrible experience

 

[Lady_Kit]

Alice was stunned at Henrys revelation. Part of her had expected something of the like. She knew from Edith that he was a widower. But this…to have lost both wife and child in one moment, to carry the guilt and pain of that night for so many years, to be so utterly alone in his grief. She knew he’d kept it to himself, the pain of that loss. He was that kind of man; strong, stoic, dependable. No matter what the doctor may have said, Alice was sure that Henry would feel the guilt of those deaths. He was the husband, the father, the protector; it was his job to keep his family safe and on that night he failed.

An unfamiliar feeling of connection blossomed inside her and with it a rush of carnal excitement that she thought herself to old to experience. She wanted to comfort the tortured soul before her, but not in the way she was accustomed to offer solace to the parishioners of her fathers church. Alice struggled with the desire to kneel next to Henrys chair and pull him against her breast, to warm his heart with the heat of her own flesh. Instead she wrapped her hands around his and tried to offer what comfort she could when his tortured eyes met hers across the table. After a moment he smiled, and Alice thought his gaze seemed a bit less sad.

Time slowed and something passed silently between them as they sat in the comfortable kitchen. Alice reluctantly withdrew her hands and swallowed the growing lump in her throat. For all her adult life she had longed for the kind of companionship that she sensed a man like Henry would offer. Rather than betray her need Alice retreated to polite behavior.

“Some more coffee?”

She filled their cups and was returning the pot to the stove when Henry spoke.

“Tell me about yourself, Alice.”

The request shouldn’t have been unexpected. Henry had just revealed much about his own life to her. But his interest surprised her; Alice had grown accustomed to being a shadow on the wall of her fathers’ life. People seldom cared what her own was like. To her dismay, she found herself unable to think of a single interesting thing to say about herself.

“There isn’t much to tell, really. I look after my fathers home, help with the ladies auxiliary, do the work of the church. My father has implemented several programs to help the poor in our community. He does wonderful things for the local orphanage, why just last year he…”

“That’s very nice, Alice,” Henry said without apologizing for his interruption, “but I asked about you, not your father.” Alice blushed prettily before making another attempt at responding to his request.

“I suppose I hardly know what to say. You know that I live with my father, I take care of him, I have since we lost my mother.” Alice smiled sadly, thinking of her mothers’ sunny disposition and the way their home had always seemed filled with happiness and laughter while she lived. Alice longed for that in her own home, had dreamed of sharing the joy and tears of marriage in the way she once saw her parents do. Before her mother died, and in a way, so had her father. Reverend Winters was not the same after the loss of his wife.

“I cook and sew, as all women do. I’ve no babies of my own to tend to, of course, but I sometimes help at the orphanage.” Alice thought of the small lonely children who lived in the local home. They asked for so little, a warm hug, a willing lap. She wondered, not for the first time, if she would ever have her own little ones to love.

“You’ve never wed?” It was a reasonable question, most women her age had a husband, or if not, were a widow.

“No, I thought to wed once but…”

“But?” Henry asked softly.

“But my father didn’t approve. In the end, the young man lacked…that is we didn’t.”

Alice rose again from the table, her movements reflecting her agitation. The subject was a sensitive one, something she never discussed. The humiliation was too great. She had allowed herself to be compromised by Alexander Montgomery. She’d been a foolish girl and it was just as well that her father had stopped her from marrying the tinker from New York.

While they spoke the night had worn away. Dawn was fast approaching. Alice owed him the last of the story, but couldn’t face him while she told it. She stood looking out at window at the lightening sky, facing the coming day alone as she had for so long. To cover her discomfort Alice began to prepare breakfast for the family. As she placed a large iron skillet on the stove she turned to Henry. The pain of her failed engagement and embarrassment about her lost virtue was plainly written on her face.

“The wedding never happened, Henry. My father paid the young man to leave.”

With that, Alice turned her attention back to the family breakfast; the set of her shoulders clearly indicating that the subject was closed.

 

[slowandeasy]

Henry

Except for the sounds of Alice preparing breakfast, a thick blanket of silence filled the room. Not a cold isolating blanket like the early morning fog that had gathered outside during the night but a warm connecting blanket that warded off loneliness and dispelled fear.

Henry welcomed it without reservation just as he would the comfort of a warm spring rain or the beauty of a green plant breaking through the fertile earth. As if he were watching a glowing sunset he would be content to revel in it’s beauty for as long as it remained in sight. It was in this comfort and beauty that he gathered strength, the strength to persevere regardless of what lay ahead.

As he watched Alice from behind a familiar yearning began again in his loins, but this time he felt something more than physical arousal, the way he had felt as he had watched her bathe in the river yesterday morning. He saw a strong independent woman in spite of her fathers attempts to make her a subserviant vessel to pour his contempt for the sins of mankind into. Henry had the feeling that it had been dificult for her to speak of her past, her shame and her dispair. The words and feelings hadn’t come easy and he felt a need to comfort her just as she had comforted him, but her bodys posture, as she went on with the task of preparing for another day revealed that she didn’t need his comfort.

There was another reason for keeping his distance. His ego still stung from the discovery that Rebecka Jane had made a fool of him. Up until now only his cousin Charles and Alice were aware of just how foolish he had been. Alice would protect his secret if he didn’t ruffle her feathers

As for Charles, he would keep his mouth shut, as he had plainly admitted to Henry his involvement with the woman of the night and apeared to want to forget the whole incident. Besides that he was now preoccupied with the birth of a another son and would be staying home acting like a good father should at least until Henry was on the train heading for Nebraska. The whole messy ordeal would soon be history here in Ohio and there would be only his bruised ego to deal with.

The sound of feet hitting the floor and the rustle of cloth drew his attention to the bedroom.

“Sounds like someones up and more than likely wanting breakfast.” Alice said, and after dishing up a plate of bacon and eggs and pouring a tall glass of milk,she headed for the bedroom. She no more than closed the door when Charles appeared in the doorway, looking like it was him that had given birth and not his wife. He rubbed the sleep out of his eyes.

"Alice says I have to fetch my own grub and I reckon that you aint going to help me either." He said good naturedly as he went to the stove and poured himself a cup of coffee. He poured one for Henry too and sat down across the table from him. “I’m beholding to you Henry, More than likely you saved the life of my baby and Ediths too.”

He might have gone on in his usual way but Henry held up his hand. “Don’t forget Alice” he admonished him as if he were a child. “It was her that delivered your child.”

“I know.” Charles replied it’s just that you’ll probably be leaving for Nebraska tomorrow and I didn’t want to miss the chance of expressing my gratitude.”

“Consider it done then, Charles, now let’s eat.”

“One more thing I gotta tell you Henry, before you go into town.” Charles lowered his gaze to his coffee cup. When I was in town looking for the doc, I stopped at the saloon,had a drink or two, you know, just to wet my whistle.”

Henry glanced towards the bedroom door somehow he knew this conversation was not meant for Alice or Ediths ears. “Get on with it for Gods sake,Charles.” he said sharply.

"Well… folks was asking about you wanting to know if you had met your woman and wondering if you were tying the knot here or in Nebraska. Like maybe they wanted to be there when you left to see the mysterious bride to be.”

Suddenly Henry was no longer hungry. “So, did you tell anyone about…her.” He had lowered his voice to a whisper.

“No, Henry, honest, I didn’t, I only told them maybe they should come around and see for themselves.”

Henry threw up his hands and pushed back his chair “I think I need some fresh air.” he said as he turned to head for the door. He stopped dead in his tracks when he saw Edith in the bedroom doorway and Alice right behind her with the baby cradled in her arms.

"It appears you need a wife too." Edith chortled, her eyes sparkling, She turned to Alice who appeared to be amused by this turn of events Also.”What do you think Alice, can we find a wife for Henry before tomorrow afternoon?

Henry shrugged his shoulders, The situation had gone from akward to ridiculous.

 

[Lady_Kit]

Charles looked none too ready to face the day when he reached for the breakfast plate that was en route to Edith. To his surprise, his gesture was met with a frown and sharp word from Alice.

“You have not recently given birth Charles so you can fetch your own breakfast, but I left coffee ready on the stove to give you a start.”

The next thing Charles saw was the worn paint of the bedroom door as it closed in his face. Between the closing of the door and the next step Alice was a changed woman, and offered a broad smile to her friend and the new baby.

"Good Morning, my Dears. I’ve brought breakfast."

A beaming Edith smiled back from the bed and gently rocked the newborn resting in her arms.

“And a good thing too! One of us has just finished and the other is starving. I suppose you’ve not slept a wink? No of course not, you’ve been seeing to breakfast for the boys and me. Well, you just make Charles fend for himself! Its time he learned to appreciate what he has instead of flitting around that woman at the Roaring Twenties.”

Alice gasped, surprised to learn that Edith knew all about the scandalous behavior of her husband.

“Don’t be so shocked Alice. I’ve known all along, and to tell the truth it was a relief, and Rebecka Jane’s a nice enough girl, clean and so forth. You’ll understand when you wed and get with child. Not that I want this to continue, no such thing, but at the time it suited us both. Charles will have to fend for himself for a few days, and when I’m able to do for him again, he’ll recall why he wed me. Charles isn’t a strong man in some ways, but he’s my man and he suits me.”

Edith looked knowingly at her friend, and smiled slightly at Alices’ back. “But he wouldn’t suit you at all. You need someone strong and honest; someone you can trust.”

Without another word, Edith gently handed the new child over to Alice and tucked into her breakfast.

“I’m going to do it Edith.” Alice announced as she gazed into the face of the sleeping infant. “I’m going to leave Columbus before my father returns.”

She waited with downcast eyes for the criticism she deserved, but instead there was only silence, and when she looked at Edith she saw that the new mother both wept and smiled.

“I’ll miss you Alice, but you must do this. It is your only hope for happiness. Do you have a plan?”

Quickly Alice outlined her thoughts to Edith; she would use the funds left to her by her mother, an inheritance about which her father knew nothing. The original amount was larger than it was when Alice discovered it, but it was not enough to keep her forever, she would have to work, at what she did not yet know. But, she was putting her mothers gift to the right use. With the small box of bills and coins her mother hid in Alices’ room she left a note that read, “to give you choices,” and written in her mothers hand. Today Alice was making a choice; she would buy a train ticket to Cincinnati on the excuse that her father had sent for her, and then make other connections to travel west until she found the right place to stop.

Henry and Charles were in a heated discussion when Alice followed Edith into the kitchen.

"It appears you need a wife too. What do you think Alice, can we find a wife for Henry before tomorrow afternoon?”

“I expect that the prospect of that is as good as for finding someone strong and honest to escort me out of Columbus on tomorrows train.”

Alice tried to be flip, but her voice seemed breathless to hear ears. She waited anxiously for a response from Henry, hoping that he would understand and help her escape her father while she still had a chance at life.

 

[slowandeasy]

Behind Alice’s bold words Henry heard a plaintive cry for help. He could have ignored it, but he couldn’t push aside the realization that she was asking for a portion of that warm blanket that he had contemplated about earlier, the security of his presence as she shut the door to the past. He knew he owed it to her to protect her from her sense of failure just as she had done when she helped him deliver Edith’s baby.

He looked to Edith, then to Charles, confirming with his eyes that they were witnesses to what he had to say. He had no idea how much of his conversation with Charles the women had heard or What Edith and Alice had talked about in the bedroom, but if there were any secrets that the four of them hadn’t shared it didn’t matter because he was determined to say what he had to say.

He looked deep into Alice’s eyes to assure her that what he was about to say was honest and sincere. “I came here to take Rebecca Jane back to Nebraska with me. As you know that's not going to happen. So be it. Tomorrow I'll be leaving on the train. the weather is right for planting and it looks like we might get some rain this season so I am anxious to leave. I'll have to swallow my pride when I leave as I expect there will be folks looking for my bride, and when I get home, from folks expecting the same. Alice, I understand your need to find a path of your own, away from the control of your father, and nothing would please me more than to have your arm in mine as we board the train, folks would assume that it’s you that I came to take home as my bride and I can leave without ridicule but I will not be a part of your plan to leave in this manner."

His eyes never left her’s and he saw the peaceful blue change to a storm brewing but she met his gaze boldly as if to say she would do this thing without him. She was about to speak when he raised his hand and continued. “Wait, I need to explain. Your father will return and finding you gone. He will inquire about the circumstances. If you sneak off, rumors will fly like a plague of locusts and he will never know the truth. He will never forgive you and you will never forgive yourself. However I have a plan that might serve two purposes.”

He turned to Edith, and saw her grinning in delight. “No Edith, I have no intentions of marrying Alice, as much as you would love to see that happen. There was a moment of silence and then a strange grin appeared on his face as he added. “But we could pretend.

Three faces looked at him as if he was crazy and he himself wondered where this idea had come from.

Charles whether he realized it or not caught a little bit of the logic of Henrys plan, and spoke up. “Why not, We’ll make it a ripsnorting occasion.”

“You mean we should spread the word that Alice is the woman you came for, and as soon as you get to Nebraska you plan on marrying her in your hometown church.”

“That’s right Edith, the more people who know about this momentous occasion the better.” Henry concluded. "When the Reverend returns He’ll be spitting tacks knowing his only daughter up and eloped. But as everybody in town has the same story there won’t be any gossip about the circumstances and when he hears that story he’ll cool off. And forgive her.

“And what would that story be.” Alice asked.

Henry could see the lightning strike in her eyes and spoke quickly not waiting for the thunder to follow. “That Alice had snared the most handsome charming and richest man in all of Nebraska.” The thunder did not follow or maybe it was so far off that he didn’t hear it.

Edith grinned, “I’ll bakes some peach cobbler and the children will tell the neighbors to join us tomorrow at the train station with a dish to pass.”

“Whooeeee!” Charles exclaimed. “we’re gonna have the biggest damn party this town has ever seen.

“And then we’ll take a collection for the happy couple and before they leave Henry will secretly give it all to the church. That’ll take the wind out of the Reverends sanctimonious sails.” Edith added.

“Hold your horses.” You two, Alice hasn’t had her say. Henry cautioned.

He stepped towards her and gently took the baby from her arms. He looked down at the bundle of softness in his arms and then up to Edith. “Have you decided on a name for this little one yet.” he asked. Edith smiled “If you don’t mind we’d like to name him after you, Henry she replied and Charles nodded his assent.

“I’d like that.” Henry responded blinking away a subconscious tear. Quickly he turned back to Alice and taking her arm led her towards the door. “I think we both need some fresh air.” Outside he led her to the front porch swing and motioned for her to sit down.

“I guess I got a bit carried away in there.” He said as he sat on a nearby railing. “If you don’t think this will work just let me know and I’ll forget the whole crazy idea, but before you decide I need to tell you that once the train leaves and we’re on it. the pretending is over. We’ll stay together for as long a train ride you intend to take. But not as man and wife. My intentions toward you are honorable. I won’t in anyway compromise your virtue. Nor will I abandon you, but will allow you to leave when and where you want.”

 

[Lady_Kit]

“I declare, Henry, I hardly know what to say.”

It was the truth. Alice felt confused and, now that she’d taken this huge step, frightened.

“Truth is I never thought I’d leave this town. To do so in this manner is…well, it’s a bit unsettling.”

Alice rose from the swing, feeling restless in spite of her sleepless night and began to pace the small porch. Henry rose to meet her at one end of the back and forth path she followed.

“Yes, I can see that you are unsettled. Perhaps a walk would do us both good?”

He extended an arm to Alice and after she took it, led her down the steps. They walked in companionable silence. And it seemed natural to Alice that they didn’t speak. Not a word about the trip from Ohio, her father, or even the new baby. Just the sound of their steps and the dry grasses along the path. Henry pushed aside a branch to reveal a grassy spot on the riverbank and invited Alice to sit. Alice sighed in pleasure at the cool beauty of the scene as she leaned against a conveniently located tree trunk.

“We really should speak about tomorrow.” Henry said as he settled down beside her.

“Yes, we…should,” an unexpected yawn broke her sentence, forcing her to mutter the last word from behind her hand. Alice smiled in spite of her embarrassment. To her surprise, Henry returned the grin and joined her against the rough bark backrest.

“I think we can put off the discussion for a few minutes, though. What do you say we just sit for a little while?

Alice?

Alice?”

Henry would have to wait for an answer to his question. Alice slept, her body leaned trustingly against his. After a few moments of slow soft breaths, Alice dreamed.

When Alexander smiled at her Alice felt the familiar melting of her heart. When he pressed his body to hers, other regions of her flesh seemed just as hot and liquid. The heat in his gaze echoed the fire Alice felt and the sheltered pastors daughter eagerly pressed her lips to those of her lover. His kisses were intense, growing feverish as they trailed from Alice’s lips to her jaw and down to the line of her throat. Alice let her head fall back, closed her eyes and reveled in the touch of Alexanders hands.

Her long blonde hair fell in a soft wave over the arm of the front parlor sofa. The light shining through the lace curtains painted a delicate web of shadows on her face. A pattern repeated on her breasts when bared by Alexanders clever hands. “Lovely,” he whispered and Alice felt her nipple harden when kissed by his breath. Instinctively she offered the peach colored bud to his lips, moaning when it was captured and suckled. Alice stroked her fingers through his hair, pressing his mouth tighter against her aching breasts. Her body yearned for him, to be his completely. She pulled his face up, ready to agree to his needs in order to satisfy her own. His face was close, his breath mingling with her own.

“Alexander…” she sighed and opened her eyes to see not the gentle brown eyed features of her first lover, but the weathered face and blue eyes of Henry Wilson.

Alice startled, then feeling the tree at her back realized that she’d gone to sleep and dreamt of…well, dreamt of things she shouldn’t. While asleep, she’d leaned closer to Henry, and now she slanted a gaze at his face. His face was relaxed, apparently the long night had caught up to him as well.

The chance to look at him while unobserved was too good to resist. Alice studied Henrys face. In sleep, he seemed younger, but no less attractive for it. Some dream of his own turned his lips up into a small smile. The urge to trace her finger along those lips was surprisingly strong, but Alice pushed it down determinedly. Henry had clearly defined the terms of their arrangement. He expected her to leave in due time, but for the moment she could enjoy the firm warmth of his shoulder against hers and the pleasure of his company. Henry made a noise in his sleep, a muttered string of sounds that might have been words. Alice couldn't make them out, and thought it wrong to listen to him talk in his sleep, but she couldn't help but wonder what Henry dreamed about.

 

[slowandeasy]

Looking down at Alice’s sleeping face, Henry’s heart went out to her. She looked so innocent, so vulnerable. He felt a need to protect her. To pull her into his arms and comfort her. He knew that if she were awake she would undoubtedly resent his closeness regardless of his intentions. He wanted to follow his heart, but he realized he had made the conditions; conditions that he knew would be difficult to adhere to but would be necessary in order for them to travel together and maintain their respect for each others situation. He surprised himself by thinking it could be different; that the warm blanket of companionship that they shared could develop into something more if they wove in a layer of physical intimacy; created a pattern of gentleness and patience, filled it’s interior with huge handfuls of tenderness, comfort and unconditional love; stitched in bright colors of laughter playfulness and imagination.

He laughed to himself so as not to wake Alice with his rather strange observation, an observation that he fully realized emerged from a very distant part of his past. A part of his past that he had left behind many years ago when he walked away from the graveyard where Mary and his newborn son were buried. He would never love again he told himself then and for all those years he believed that to be true. Even when he advertised for a wife he doubted if he would love the woman who answered his ad. But he wanted a son even if it came from a loveless marriage. Even now when he felt so close to this woman who slept next to him. Even though when he saw her in the river naked in the sunshine and he desired her it was without love. No, his mind and his heart would not allow him to love again.

He sighed and with all this on his mind he still fell asleep.


He saw her hands, and the light from a long tapered candle With one hand holding it at the base and the other guarding the flame she held it out away from her, moving it from side to side as if she were searching for something or someone. Her body was still wrapped in a veil of darkness, but he knew the hands. They were Mary’s soft, gentle hands .He had held those hands when he had proposed to her, he knew them well.

As the light flickered he saw the sparkle of a ring on her left hand and his heart rose in his throat. The realization that this was their wedding night brought her out of the darkness and silhouetted in the glow of the fireplace he watched her turn to him, smile and softly blow out the candle she no longer needed. She was beautiful, even more beautiful than he had imagined. The light of the fire and her love for him shone brightly in her dark eyes. The gossamer nightgown she wore revealed petite softly rounded breasts accented by dark eager nipples. Instinctively he lowered his gaze and let out a low moan as she shifted her weight and a shaft of light from the fireplace feathered it’s way through a nest of downy hair between her thighs. His heart fluttered and his desire for her began to rise. He moved towards her slowly as if he were afraid she might become startled, move away from the light of the fireplace, and disappear into the darkness. To his delight she backed closer to the warmth and light of the fire and turned in a circle revealing more of what he had waited so patiently for. He moved closer and taking the candle from her hand placed it on the table behind them. Another half turn and she faced away from him He reached out and pulled the pins from her dark hair. As it fell around her shoulders the firelight tumbled with it He caught his breath as her hands rose to brush it aside and untie the cord that held her gown. He watched it flutter to the floor. His eyes moved upwards slowly taking in her naked beauty as she turned back to him and held out her hands. He came to her and held her for a moment In one swift motion his robe was on the floor and he stepped from it and into her arms. Words of love he whispered to her as he led her to the wedding bed. Words of love that he had never thought he could or would say.

A soft breeze had come up and Alice’s hair had brushed Henrys cheek and nose, causing him to wake up suddenly. Instead of the warmth of Mary’s body he discovered the presence of Alice laying quietly beside him. His startled eyes met hers and feeling guilty he turned beet red. “I’m” sorry, really sorry.” He said. “I didn’t mean for this to happen.”

He tried to get to his feet, but still numb with sleep staggered causing him to bump awkwardly against her. “Oh god Mary. I’m sorry.” Again, and then he got even redder Finally on his feet, he moved away from her, unable to explain, much less decide what he was sorry for. He took a deep breath perhaps if she could leave this behind he could too, After all, it was just a dream and a bit of clumsiness and a slip of the tongue.

Stepping towards her he started to reach out and take her hand. Then feeling awkward again he stepped back. “Its late.” he said, quickly when in fact he had no idea of how long they had been asleep. "And you still haven’t answered my question." He hadn’t meant to be so short with her. but he was beginning to have some doubts about this arrangement he had proposed.

 

[Lady_Kit]

Alice surveyed her room, looking at the tidy space where she’d grow up with damp eyes. The worn wood floor cooled her bare feet as it had done for all the hot Ohio summers of her life. A lamp with a shade decorated by pink roses gave barely enough light to finish her packing. Mama told Alice it wouldn’t give enough light, but the roses were too much to resist. Alice never admitted that the dim light made homework impossible, by the time it was an issue Alice was doing her homework at the side of Mamas bed and the sick room was always well lit. The bit of wind from the open window that ruffled her thin gown was a relief; the room was always too hot or too cold. The gown she wore would be the last item packed in the morning. A small space was left in her carpetbag for the garment and her toiletries. Most of her things would be left behind. If she were really a departing bride she could rely upon her family to send her hope chest, mamas carefully packed china, and the linens that Grandmother made to the home Alice would be making in the West. Instead she was leaving like a boarder skipping out on the rent.

Her blue eyes were haunted with guilt, fear and sadness. And glistened with more than a few tears. Alice was terrified that her father would return before she could depart, but deeply saddened that she might never see him again. She was pained to abandon her father after all these years; Alice had promised to look after him.

“Please understand, Mama.”

Alice whispered in the quiet of her room. When the vow was made neither could imagine that the good Reverend would be so changed by the death of his wife. Mama didn’t answer, but in her heart Alice knew she was doing the right thing. She folded clothing and the bits of her life into the small trunk that would accompany her on her journey. The task kept her hands busy, but left her mind too idle to keep her thoughts from going back to the riverbank.

Henrys assurance that he would treat her with respect she did not question. It was clear that he, like her father, never got over the loss of his first wife. Alice cringed as she recalled the pain in his voice as he begged forgiveness of his dead wife for innocently sleeping next to Alice. Perhaps that was his reason for a marriage contract now, rather than one of love. His reasons didn’t matter in the end, their deal was set, and they would both abide it. All would be well, Henry was a man of honor. She had told him so as she accepted his offer of assistance and terms for their journey.

“…once the train leaves and we’re on it, the pretending is over. We’ll stay together for as long a train ride you intend to take. But not as man and wife. My intentions toward you are honorable. I won’t in anyway compromise your virtue. Nor will I abandon you, but will allow you to leave when and where you want.”

“I will trust to your word Henry and you may trust to mine. I’ll cause you no worry and as little bother as possible.”

She meant it sincerely, and would remove herself from his presence as soon as possible. It was clear by his reaction that he had no interest in her as anything more than a way to save his own reputation. Just as she saw him only as a way to achieve her own goal of a life away from her father. Didn’t she?

 

[slowandeasy]

Henry’s pleasure upon hearing Alice’s acceptance of his assistance and the terms for their journey to Nebraska together was still showing in his face when they returned to the kitchen where Edith and Charles were expectantly waiting. The look of satisfaction on his face and the way he held the door while a composed and determined Alice entered ahead of him, caused Edith to run to her friend and throw her arms around her. No words were exchanged but Henry knew that Edith approved and of course Charles was ecstatic when he too discovered what the outcome had been. Adam who was sitting at the table holding young Henry seemed pleased too. A whirlwind of excitement came to life when each of them realized there was much to do to in preparation for the grand exit that was to take place tomorrow morning. Edith would take care of the food and Charles would see if he could talk one of the local bars into providing a keg of beer and of course there would be the usual homemade wine that folks liked to contribute for an occasion like this.

Edith’s two young girls had just walked in and they were filled in on the details of what had, and what was going to transpire.

“You got some packing to do.” Edith said to Alice “And for Gods sake get some rest, you been up all night taking care of me it’s time for me to do something for you.

Alice who was already in the pantry looking for the ingredients to make a cake turned to face her “But… you just had a baby Edith Your the one who needs some rest.”

“I am aware of that, and I will, soon as I make a list of things I need from town and the names of some friends who will get together enough food for everyone. Adam will see to it, so it gets done right. She reached up for a sugar bowl in the back of a top shelf and pulled out a wad of tattered one dollar bills, and peeled several off for Adam to pay for things in town.

Henry stepped over and took her hand making her return the money to the container. “I’ll take care of that.” he said quietly. He turned to Charles. I saw you had a nice looking bunch of chickens out back. Would you consider selling me about twenty, butchering them up this afternoon and having the girls fry them up for tomorrow.” He dug out his pocketbook and removed a twenty dollar bill. When Charles reached for it he jerked it away and handed it to Edith. “Egg money.” he said quietly to an embarrassed Charles. Edith siled and added it to her bowl.

Alice stood for a minute not knowing what to do. Henry took her hand and led her to the door. “I’ll walk you home.” he said firmly “There’s not a whole lot we can do here and I have a few things to take care of in town, and Edith is right you need to rest up for the big day tomorrow.”






Later in town Henry stopped at the haberdashery and picked out a new suit and tie for tomorrow He had packed little else for the trip here except a couple changes of underwear and his grooming gear. “You’re sure one lucky man to be taking Alice Winters for your wife Mr. Wilson”. The tailor said as he took Henry’s measurements to make the necessary alterations. She’s a beautiful woman and loves children, a hard worker too, I’m sure she will be a great help on your ranch in Nebraska.

Henry never thought of his farm as a ranch but by Ohio standards maybe it was. Now that the tailor had brought up the subject he thought again about how things were going in his absence. The neighbors were keeping an eye on his livestock and He’d hired a woman to give his house a thorough cleaning while he was gone, bring in some flowers make it look nice for his new wife. If she could find any, things had been so dry when he left, that he doubted any of his flowers in the garden were blooming.

When the tailor didn’t get any response from Henry he changed the subject to the weather. “Looks like it might rain’ he nodded toward the window to the west and Henry followed his gaze to notice for the first time that dark ominous clouds had began to gather. “I heard this morning it had been raining for two days out west. Those folks out there sure needed it’ the tailor added “bet it was good for your ranch.”

Henry smiled “Yes we sure needed it bad it could rain for a week and still not be enough.”

“I hope it don’t rain on your picnic tomorrow though, most everybody in town plans on being there.”

The truth be known Henry wasn’t all that excited about the event planned for his departure Now all he thought about how as soon as the rain stopped back home he needed to get into the fields and start planting. There was still time to get something to grow this season.

When the tailor had finished measuring, Henry told him he’d be back to pick up his suit later, he had some other business to take care of.

The rain had began when he stepped outside and Henry knew he’d be soaking wet by the time he got to the Roaring Twenties. Somehow that didn’t seem to matter. And he welcomed each drop that hit face.
It was late afternoon and he was hoping to catch Rebecka Jane before she went on stage. He was sure she had heard about him and Alice leaving town together and felt he had some explaining to do. The rain had put him in a good mood and he smiled softly at her she let him into her dressing room. She was smiling too so the conversation was pleasant and comfortable to begin with.

“I’m happy for you and Alice.” she said softly after they had discussed the fact that what each of them had wrote had been wishful thinking, that neither one had really loved the other and that …well maybe it just wasn’t meant to be.

It caught her by surprise and she looked at him curiously when he told her about the arrangement Alice and he had made. “So, you don’t love her either.” She said sadly I had thought maybe you would be good for each other, Is it about her past?…She’s not like me, it was just a simple mistake. She started to cry.

Henry put his arm around her to comfort her,. help her understand. “No it’s not like that it’s just …”

“What is it Henry?” she looked up into his face. “What kind of woman are you looking for?” Henry watched her eyes change as if some revelation had entered her mind. “You can’t bring Mary back you know that and if you don’t let go of that fact you’ll never love again.”

“I know” Henry said his voice almost a whisper as if he didn’t want to admit to the truth, even to himself. He got up slowly. He wished for a moment he hadn’t told her about the charade Alice and him were playing tomorrow. “Alice just needs to get out of town away from her father I’ll help her do that and maybe if her father thinks she is going to be married he will forgive her for leaving.”

Rebecka shrugged her shoulders and wiped the tears from her eyes. Maybe you’re right Henry she said, “anyway, it’s none of my concern what you two have arranged.” She looked at the clock above her dressing table. “I go one in ten minutes. And I’ve got to get ready.” She stood on her tiptoes and kissed Henry on the cheek “good luck Henry and give my best to Alice too.”


It had rained all night but stopped raining long enough for the picnic to be a pleasant affair. Henry was content to let Charles do most of the talking and stayed mostly in the background, along with Alice who seemed a little overpowered by all the attention too. The crowd didn’t seem to mind and left them alone after a while and even though the morning seemed to go on forever to their relief, the train pulled into the station across from the park and they gathered up their luggage and started toward it.

“Wait a minute you two.” Charles hollered to them just as they began to board the train. They turned to see the crowd watching them. “As we won’t be in Nebraska to see the wedding. How about a little preview? For instance …Henry you may now kiss the bride…”

Henry started to protest saying it wasn’t proper yet as they weren’t officially married, but his efforts were drowned out by the clapping and hooting from the crowd. He shrugged his shoulders and setting down their baggage, pulled Alice into his arms and without thinking of the ramifications of such a bold move kissed her lips full and hard while he clasped her body tightly against his.