Surrender

[macmillian]

Luke....'That sure is a handsom feller, Ms Jenny, has the look of his mother. Thanks Cassi, the coffe was excellent. I'll gather some more wood and you and Ms Jenny can sit and talk a little. How much water will you be needen from the brook? I'll fetch that too. Then I can go and rub down them horses.

"If you will excuse me, I'll get to work. Ladies" and I stand and walk away from the fire and into the woodlot near the thetered horses.

 

[landiek]

'That sure is a handsom feller, Ms Jenny, has the look of his mother. Thanks Cassi, the coffe was excellent. I'll gather some more wood and you and Ms Jenny can sit and talk a little. How much water will you be needen from the brook? I'll fetch that too. Then I can go and rub down them horses. "

A nod was most likely mistooken for the agreement of this strange to do chores. "Just a bucket."

"If you will excuse me, I'll get to work. Ladies"

Cassi was at a loss for words so she let Luke wander off and glanced back at Miz Jenny.

"Is there somethin wrong Miz Jenny?"

 

[icu1978]

"Well I's said yore under some powerful nerves. I's mentioned yore folks were kilt and the war bothered yore thinkin.. I's sorry to say sucha thing about you Miz Jenny.. I's just used them words ... I's powerfully sorree if it hurts yore feelings.. I was just tryin to make things patched. Sides me an Masser Alex ain't gonna be liein together fer a spell... not all white folks.. take a liking to havin nigger woman over a Lady such as yoreself." Cassi explained in hushed tones.

jenny took a breath and shook her head. " it's shame people can't just let love bloom between two people no matter the color of their skin.... and im sorry about it. i know you will sorely be missing his company inthe nights to come. and as for my state of mind cassi. i tell you i think you may have hit it pretty close to the head of the nail on that one... sometimes i do feel like i have slid of my rocker at least here lately i do."

"We's got to stay strong.. I's hear Injuns are powerfully mean folks." Cassi nodded as Luke was finishing up his second cup of coffee.

Luke....'That sure is a handsom feller, Ms Jenny, has the look of his mother."
noding her head and smiling to luke jenny looked down at the tiny little boy laying between her and cassi. he was a buetifull boy.
"Thanks Cassi, the coffe was excellent. I'll gather some more wood and you and Ms Jenny can sit and talk a little. How much water will you be needen from the brook? I'll fetch that too. Then I can go and rub down them horses.

jenny raised her head as luke started off witht he bucket." oh luke would you bring an extra bucket of water. i wanted to warm some for the baby. he is getting a little rash and i think a nice warm bath will help him sleep tonight."
"If you will excuse me, I'll get to work. Ladies" and I stand and walk away from the fire and into the woodlot near the thetered horses.


"Is there somethin wrong Miz Jenny?"
jenny looked at cassi. as sad smile on her face. " just missing my husband i reckon.. it's kinda scarey being alone with a baby.." at the look on cassi's face she knew what she was about to say andraised her hand " it's not that i am alone now cassi. but i can't go on living the rest of my life with you two. i have to make plans for when we reach the west. i need to find work and a home for david and myself..i decided that david and i wont live with my in laws."

looking at cassi she watched as several emotions passed the womans face. her eyes where the most expersive jenny had ever seen. she sat silently as cassi gathered her thoughts.

 

[CollegeRomantic]

"Ava, I am sure that you will be welcomed by our group. You are right, there is protection and greater saftey in numbers then either alone or in a small group." I gave Ava my best smile and knew that I was being honest with her.

This day was passing quickly, to quickly. I still hadn't done the work on the wagon I wanted to and now I was collecting more people and increasing my responsiblities.

"Well Ava, What do you think! Woukd you Like to come over and Join us at least for tonight. The women with me will enjoy having another lady to talk with." Having made my pitch to Ava, i was quiet and then I noticed that Julia and clayton were returning.

Ava paused for a moment, frowning a bit. She weighed the options in her mind. She would, of course, have to keep her letters from the rest of the group so that they wouldn't find out her real name. A woman as wealthy as Ava, travelling alone, would certain raise suspicions. She nodded, smiling at Alex. "Yes, I woud love to join you and your group. Whereabouts are you all located? I would like to bring my horse and posessions there as soon as possible, so as not to delay you."

She picked up her bag containing her diary and letters, clutching it close to her chest. She carefully placed it in her saddlebag, gathering the rest of her things and packing up, preparing to go to Alex's camp.

 

[rvplymates]

Clayton replies: "I don't know about going West, Miss Ava, I wasn't 'xac'ly planning to. See, me an' Amy, we were just enjoying the travellin' and after meetin' Miss Julia, I hope you don't mind me saying this ma'am [looks to Julia with a kindly look], the journey got just a whole lot more enjoyable."

Turning to Ava, Clayton asks: "So, are you travelling with the big guy, Alex? Me an' Amy are having a great time right now and I don't know if we could stay with him for very long anyways; he seems like one of those 'men of action' and a little short with people who could maybe's be his friends...and anyway, guns make us both nervous." Clayton shudders a little at the mention of guns, but quickly composes himself.

"Sounds like you're both enjoying your food anyway...it's an ancient family recipe an' all that.." his wide smile let both women know that this perhaps might NOT be the case.

Grabbing the frying pan, he feeds Amy by hand with a little of the bacon and eggs at a time until she's full and he then eats the remaining half-portion of food himself.

"How 'bout you, Miss Julia? Did you have any plans for this mornin'?" he enquired.

Julia listened to Clayton as he supported most of her weight as she could not do it. She did not speak but listened to his story of abuse. When he helped her to rest against the big boulder she looked at him. He was a kind man and a strong one though he spoke in a manner that belaid his former conversation with Ava. She knew why. But with her he was most natural and trusting that she wasn't a bigot. She wondered how he knew.

It was not like her sto share her story of pain but because he had trusted her with his pain she relaxed and began to talk.

"My parents were from England and settled here in the South. I was born her and all my life I had people who loved me. Not only my family but the people who worked for us took care of me as if I was their own. To say I was spoiled is probably a understatement. My Father would buy slaves and free them as he felt that no man should own another and they were like family and I loved them all deeply. They lived in the plantation with us, you see. We had plenty of room, it was a huge plantation.

Well after 18 years of pure spoiling, my Father called me to the pallor and told me it was time for me to marry. Well being the spoiled brat that I was I argued with my Father. It became heated and I stormed out of the palor and went to my room. I did not talk to him for days and then it happened. The yankees came, they set the plantation on fire and I was the only one to get out of it

I mourned them all and gathered gold to get out of there before my betrove came to gather me up. I learned how to handle weapons and wandered the south in kind of a daze of pain for a little over a year. I was alone and that is how I wanted it. I wanted to wallow in my pain and that is exactly what I did. Then Alex and Cassie crossed my path and she was so much like Mary that for awhile I was happy. Alex and Cassie were lovers and I was like a third wheel on a wagon so I slipped away while they slept"

She stopped before she mentioned her love. That pain was just to much to

 

[macmillian]

"LUKE at the main camp"

Luke mad several trips from the wood to the fire pit in camp with fuel and each time he kept looking at Jenny and always witha smile. He picked up one of the buckets and went to the stream and returned with an almost full bucket of water. He set it ner the fire and went over to the horses.

Luke brushed each horse of the team with pine needles and then with a curry brush. After each one he took the horse out to the field, hobbled them and let them browse too.

After he finished with the team horses aai brought in the saddle horses and did the same to them. I then took each horse down to the brook to drink.

I worked for almost two hours when Cassi called me over to the fir pit and poured ne another cup of coffee. Cassi said that was the end of the pot and she would make a fresh pot to go with supper. I took the cup and thanked her. I sat down a minute to drink the coffee opposit Jenny. Luke kept looking at the girl (Not really a woman yet, but she was getting there)

""Thank you for the coffee, There's som hay across the road and I'm going over to cut some for the horses. Be back in a little.

 

[andygorn]

Julia and Clayton

Julia listened to Clayton as he supported most of her weight as she could not do it. She did not speak but listened to his story of abuse. When he helped her to rest against the big boulder she looked at him. He was a kind man and a strong one though he spoke in a manner that belaid his former conversation with Ava. She knew why. But with her he was most natural and trusting that she wasn't a bigot. She wondered how he knew.
It was not like her to share her story of pain but because he had trusted her with his pain she relaxed and began to talk.
"My parents were from England and settled here in the South. I was born her and all my life I had people who loved me. Not only my family but the people who worked for us took care of me as if I was their own. To say I was spoiled is probably a understatement. My Father would buy slaves and free them as he felt that no man should own another and they were like family and I loved them all deeply. They lived in the plantation with us, you see. We had plenty of room, it was a huge plantation.
Well after 18 years of pure spoiling, my Father called me to the pallor and told me it was time for me to marry. Well being the spoiled brat that I was I argued with my Father. It became heated and I stormed out of the palor and went to my room. I did not talk to him for days and then it happened. The yankees came, they set the plantation on fire and I was the only one to get out of it
I mourned them all and gathered gold to get out of there before my betrove came to gather me up. I learned how to handle weapons and wandered the south in kind of a daze of pain for a little over a year. I was alone and that is how I wanted it. I wanted to wallow in my pain and that is exactly what I did. Then Alex and Cassie crossed my path and she was so much like Mary that for awhile I was happy. Alex and Cassie were lovers and I was like a third wheel on a wagon so I slipped away while they slept"
She stopped before she mentioned her love. That pain was just to much to

Clayton sat and listended attentively as Julia recounted parts of her life;
a look of sheer horror crossed his face as she recalled the burning of her plantation and the death of her family...NOT because it brought back feelings of his mother (who he had always felt died suspiciously)....but because he couldn't imagine the horror that she had had to go through at such a young age.

Clayton (naively) thought that -with them being able to go off to war at a young age- men were, sort of, supposed to be able to cope with things like death, but such tragedy should not have befallen such a tender young woman as Julia.

When Julia had finished talking, he could see the pain welling up in her eyes, so he didn't push things:
Instead he just let her rest onto him and gently held her in his strong arms reassuringly, desperately hoping to be able to take at least a little of her pain away; the pain that she should never have had to bear...

Finally, after a couple of minutes of quiet, speaking softly, he said:
"I'd have sure liked to been on your plantation...begging your pardon, Miss, but your family sound very enlightened; I think it would have been an honor to be in your household an' I'm sure the people who your father set free would have felt the same, too.
"I think that no-one has any right to make anyone else their slave and your father sounds like a fine and admirable man and a credit to humanity.
"I wish I could have met your father, but -if you don't mind me saying so- I think that I can also see some of his fine qualities in yourself as well....very few white women travelling alone would have been so willing to let a black man and his dog help them..."

Clayton felt slightly embarrassed at his openness with this woman who he hardly knew (yet, somehow, it felt like he'd known her for ages)...her easy manner and readiness to listen was both charming and disarming.
Clearing his throat, he said: "Perhaps I have said too much, Miss Julia...I'm sorry if I have offended you..." and he turned his head down in shame, for a moment unable to look at her...

 

[macmillian]

Ava paused for a moment, frowning a bit. She weighed the options in her mind. She would, of course, have to keep her letters from the rest of the group so that they wouldn't find out her real name. A woman as wealthy as Ava, travelling alone, would certain raise suspicions. She nodded, smiling at Alex. "Yes, I woud love to join you and your group. Whereabouts are you all located? I would like to bring my horse and posessions there as soon as possible, so as not to delay you."

She picked up her bag containing her diary and letters, clutching it close to her chest. She carefully placed it in her saddlebag, gathering the rest of her things and packing up, preparing to go to Alex's camp.

Alex...."I must be seeing things, I thought that I saw Miss Julia and Clayton coming this way. O hhhhH Well. Ava, Do you have all your things............


"They are just a short distance away. If you are ready, we can go right now. I do not see the others, I'll comback later. Come-on, need a leg up, or would you like to walk?

 

[landiek]

" just missing my husband i reckon.. it's kinda scarey being alone with a baby.." Miz Jenny admitted " it's not that i am alone now cassi. but i can't go on living the rest of my life with you two. i have to make plans for when we reach the west. i need to find work and a home for david and myself..i decided that david and i wont live with my in laws."

"Well I's reckon yore ole enough to make those choices, but it never hurts to have family." Cassi replied recalling how many times children cried for grandmas and grandpas after they went back home.

Cassi knew that Miz Jenny would find the solitary life not so easy. Yet one never knew what the Lord above had in the works.
~~~~~~~~~~~~

""Thank you for the coffee, There's som hay across the road and I'm going over to cut some for the horses. Be back in a little."

"Yore sure about that?" Cassi asked as she noticed him rise.

His nod was an answer then she explained. "I's reckon it sounds like a powerful good idea, buts them long strands also has thistles, and good hiding for smaller animals. Yore moving might stir up another pheasant .. or something I's can cook up ."

 

[icu1978]

jenny fell silent as luke came strolling back into camp. he had carried anough wood in and even that water for the baby was warming by the fire. she watched him sit across from her and drink another cup of coffee.

looking looking down at the baby now sleeping soundly she smiled.
when luke got up talking about hay jenny looked to where he was indicating.
she would have volenteered to go along but was unwilling to leave the baby.
she watched as cassi followed luke to where he was headed for hay.
laughing she watched as he went stomping into the tall dry grass.

 

[DJ_Wordplay]

Kansas Jack


"Shall we get started?"

Jack nodded after finishing what had been real fine stew. He allowed himself a smile at his good fortune. Not 12 hours since he'd murdered a man in cold blood, he'd found himself a pretty little gal who cook a fine meal and would be his ticket onto a real proper wagon train.

"Absolutely ma'am. No time like the present"

Kansas put went back to the spot where he'd dropped his waist coat and put it back on. He strapped his pistols back on as well and watched as Isabelle threw her gear back into the wagon.

Phooeee, he thought, admiring her form again. It sure was nice to hear that she wasn't just heading out west to meet with some tea-drinkin' fellow educated tenderfoot. The two of them may just have to become good friends.

Jack gathered his various gear and brought them back to the place where he'd left TS. He mounted up and rode back towards the wagon.

"Tell you what Miss Bailey. I got my Trusty Steed here and I just can't leave him in the road. Considerin' how it might not be proper for the two of us to be sharin' a wagon, I figger I'll ride alongside till we get into town. Help me get the jump on any savages that might be aside anyways" Jack said this last bit while patting his rifle. Truth be told, running across some of the injuns might be a bit of a help. There was still a small bounty on some of them.

 

[CollegeRomantic]

Ava smiled, nodding. "I have everything I need. I beg your pardon, but was there a... well, a one armed man that passed by here? Perhaps dressed as a soldier? He came upon my tent last night in the storm and I wanted to know if he was still around..." She looked around awkwardly, not wanting Alex to think she was some kind of soiled dove. She mounted her horse gracefully, riding normally instead of sidesaddle, like most women did. Ava had little use for trivialities of stereotypical womanhood. That was probably the reason she was still unmarried.

Shaking her head to rid herself of those thoughts, she turned again to Alex. "Where did you say your camp was again?"

 

[rvplymates]

Clayton sat and listended attentively as Julia recounted parts of her life;
a look of sheer horror crossed his face as she recalled the burning of her plantation and the death of her family...NOT because it brought back feelings of his mother (who he had always felt died suspiciously)....but because he couldn't imagine the horror that she had had to go through at such a young age.

Clayton (naively) thought that -with them being able to go off to war at a young age- men were, sort of, supposed to be able to cope with things like death, but such tragedy should not have befallen such a tender young woman as Julia.

When Julia had finished talking, he could see the pain welling up in her eyes, so he didn't push things:
Instead he just let her rest onto him and gently held her in his strong arms reassuringly, desperately hoping to be able to take at least a little of her pain away; the pain that she should never have had to bear...

Finally, after a couple of minutes of quiet, speaking softly, he said:
"I'd have sure liked to been on your plantation...begging your pardon, Miss, but your family sound very enlightened; I think it would have been an honor to be in your household an' I'm sure the people who your father set free would have felt the same, too.
"I think that no-one has any right to make anyone else their slave and your father sounds like a fine and admirable man and a credit to humanity.
"I wish I could have met your father, but -if you don't mind me saying so- I think that I can also see some of his fine qualities in yourself as well....very few white women travelling alone would have been so willing to let a black man and his dog help them..."

Clayton felt slightly embarrassed at his openness with this woman who he hardly knew (yet, somehow, it felt like he'd known her for ages)...her easy manner and readiness to listen was both charming and disarming.
Clearing his throat, he said: "Perhaps I have said too much, Miss Julia...I'm sorry if I have offended you..." and he turned his head down in shame, for a moment unable to look at her...

As Julia finished, she found herself in Clayton's warm strong muscular arms. She rested there, her eyes filled with tears for her dead family. She listened to his comforting words. The pain of her loss seemed to melt as he spoke of her family with great respect. It seemed natural to slip her arms around this stranger as he too had suffered because of war. She laid her cheek on his chest as his monalog continued to comfort her.

Years of surpression made him ashamed by his boldness and he turned his face and hung it down in shame. Julia put her hands on his face as she spoke to him.

"Please don't call me Miss Julia, Julia is my name and I want you to call me that. Don't be ashamed of careing. There is little enough of that in this new world we find ourself in. The color of your skin does not make you any different then me"

He had looked up and her eyes captured his in sincerity.

 

[andygorn]

As Julia finished, she found herself in Clayton's warm strong muscular arms. She rested there, her eyes filled with tears for her dead family. She listened to his comforting words. The pain of her loss seemed to melt as he spoke of her family with great respect. It seemed natural to slip her arms around this stranger as he too had suffered because of war. She laid her cheek on his chest as his monalog continued to comfort her.

Years of surpression made him ashamed by his boldness and he turned his face and hung it down in shame. Julia put her hands on his face as she spoke to him.

"Please don't call me Miss Julia, Julia is my name and I want you to call me that. Don't be ashamed of careing. There is little enough of that in this new world we find ourself in. The color of your skin does not make you any different then me"

He had looked up and her eyes captured his in sincerity.

Looking down in to her gorgeous eyes and beautiful face, he said:
"Sorry, Miss...I mean Julia...maybe my road's been hard, too, and I just got caught up in being a slave again..."

Clayton had blushed as soon as he felt her lithe arms wrap around him and his blushes increased even further as he felt her soft hands gently touch his face...even though he was almost totally inexperienced with women, he thought that her touch was of reassurance (rather than of anything else).

Julia's look and words told him that here was a woman who was prepared to give people a chance; one who would look deeper than the colour of a person's skin and who would try to get to see the person inside...a very refreshing change from the bigotry and race-hate that still lingered in these parts of the country.

Reassured by Julia's attitude, he gave her one of his big beaming smiles once again and added:
"But you're really helping to show me that not all people are like the ones who used to call themselves my 'masters' and that there is still room for people to care about each other, even after such a horrific war as our country's been through."

The feeling of the warmth of a woman's body against his own (apart from that of his mother when he was a child) had only happened once before and Clayton remembered this event as if it happened only yesterday:
Lucille, the landowner's daughter, had blackmailed him into bed by saying that -if he didn't- she would say that he had stolen money. His attempts to arouse her had been fumbling at best, and she'd ordered him out of her bedroom, callously mocking him...of course, she had told her father that he'd stolen money from her anyway and he'd been beaten to within an inch of his life...

Unaccustomed to being held by a woman, he felt his arousal stir a little within his loins but he suppressed this with an effort of will, as this was a lovely young woman who -perhaps- might need his help, not some saloon doxy doing it for money.

From her position -cradled in his arms looking up at him, with her fingers still lightly touching his face- he found that he could stroke his fingers gently, slowly, through her very soft hair and (still thinking that she might need rest) he began to hum a lullaby from his childhood to her, hoping that it might relax her further.
The sound of the water in the river added an extra, soothing, quality to his tune as he felt the weight of her lean into him and the soft curves of her body mould themselves against him.

 

[rvplymates]

Julia smiled at his words.

"It is true Clayton, not all people are like the bastards that held you captive. The color of your skin does not make you a lesser person or man. You are gentle and careing and I am lucky you came when you did. I had been in so much pain from my loss that I had forgotten to eat. God knows for how long. I have lost time somehow"

She did not tell him of her loss love, the pain of that was still too raw.

As she spoke she relaxed even more in his arms. She had no fear of him as she looked at him. His eyes seemed to soften as he held her and hummed a tune that was similar to the one her dark skinned sister had sang to her. She had a sensation of coming home as her body melted into his. The running water of the river seemed to be lolling her into a peaceful frame of mind. She closed her eyes and the warmth from his body gave her peace. She slipped into sleep something she needed very badly.

 

[macmillian]

Ava smiled, nodding. "I have everything I need. I beg your pardon, but was there a... well, a one armed man that passed by here? Perhaps dressed as a soldier? He came upon my tent last night in the storm and I wanted to know if he was still around..." She looked around awkwardly, not wanting Alex to think she was some kind of soiled dove. She mounted her horse gracefully, riding normally instead of sidesaddle, like most women did. Ava had little use for trivialities of stereotypical womanhood. That was probably the reason she was still unmarried.

Shaking her head to rid herself of those thoughts, she turned again to Alex. "Where did you say your camp was again?"

"Mam, It is about a quarter mile to the west. If you like, I will lead out."

I walked off, heading west. we crossed the small glen and entered the woods and traveled along a well worn path. In no time at all we came to another open field with a wagon and horses and smoke rising from a fire.

We approached the fire and Jenny was tending the fire, adding a little fuel to keep the coals hot. I assisted Ava off her horse and led her into the camp sight and introduced her to Jenny and David.

I asked where Cassi and Luke were and she pointed across the road at the field of dried grass and I could see two people moving around.

"Ava, you have arrived. I take your things and set them here and then I will care for your horse." As I led her horse away, Ava had sat down next to Jenny and it look like they were talking. That was a good sign.

*********************************************************
Luke & Cassi and the Field..................

Luke went stomping into the field while Cassi slipped off to the left to do her thing. I took the sickle and cut som grass and moved and cut some more, moving around the field, hoping I was drivig some small towards her.

I heard a cry of victory, and Cassy Came out of the brush holding high two of the largest Pheasants I have ever seen. Cassi also had the biggest grin I have ever seen on a negro. I just had to smile back and waved my left arm and sickle too.

We saw Alex return to camp with another horse and rider, so we collected the grass I cut and we headed back. By the time we arrived back in camp, Alex had taken care of the new guests horse and turned it out with the rest.

Luke....I stopped dead in my tracks as I saw Ava sitting on a log by the fire.
I approached and took of my hat and slightly stammered

LUKE...."Go...good afternoon AVA ......a long pause. I did't expect to see you again. Sorry I didn't say bye this morning, but I didn't want to wake you. It was a late night as it was........ I've Got to take care of the horses, excuse me ladies" I turned and half walked and half ran over to the picket line.

Alex...."Look's like you saw a ghost there Luke. Settle down...Everything is ok....Ava said she will join us and I am asking you now......LUKE....Join our company, join us, we need good men to travel with"

Luke...."Ha, Good man, you mean a one armed man.......I work, I pull my own load.........I take no charity.....Do you hear me!

Alex...."luke, look around, the horses have been taken care of, you cut some hay and I saw that pile of wood by the fire, You did that. You work and you'll work hard. I don't give out charity. I offer a helping hand......"

Luke....I'll think about it. OK Let you know at supper." I turned and walked out into the meadow with the grazing horses. My old mare was looking a lot better with the rest and some grain. She came over to me, but I had nothing to give to her. I would have to find her a treat. She was a good horse.

 

[CollegeRomantic]

Ava smiled, her eyes a little apprehensive. "It's no problem Mr. Harrold, I understand the need for expedience." Feeling a blush rise in her cheeks, she turned to Jenny, her hand extended. "Hello Miss, my name is Ava Be-- Chaimberlain. And you are?" Ave felt the same bubbling feeling of being out of place as she had at the other camp. The doubts about her venture stuck with her, rising again from where she had buried them. She hoped no one would find her out, find out her real identity. It wasn't as if her wealth would cause harm to anyone, but it would be better for her if she got to where she was going undetected.

 

[icu1978]

jenny took ava's offered hand adn gently shook it.
" nice to meet mam.. im jenny this here little guy is my son david. he is a little over a monthe old now." she had been talking to ava but her eyes had followed luke. somthign was odd about his behavior towards ava. she seen luke and alex talking but could not make out what was being said. only that luke appeared to be upset. smiling she released ava's hand and gently picked up the baby. " if you'll excuse us mam.. make your self at home we have hot coffe if you want any." getting up jenny followed luke into the pasture where he stoped by his little mare.

walking slowly until she was standing next to him. smiling up at him. " are you ok luke? you seemed... a slight pause... a little disturbed when you seen miss ava sitting in camp." shifting the baby to her shoulder where he continued to doze contintedly. " i hope that you dont mind me saying so.. but seeing as how alex is inviting people to join our little group i just wanted to say.. well i hope that you are joining us as well.. i find that your a very kind person. i think i would sleep better at night knowing that two kind strong men where watching out for us."

leaving him then to his thoughts she returned to camp where alex and cassi where sitting talking with ava. approaching silently she stoped and stood next to alex. seeing that they where involved in conversation she turned and took the baby into her tent. laying him on her pallet she wondered back out to the fire. picking up the full bucket of warm water. some of the water sloshing out onto her feet and the ground as she carried it back to her tent.

once inside she sat down and bathing the baby quickly to keep him from catcing a chill. as soon as she had finished she unbuttoned her blouse exposing her breast. while she let the baby suckle from her she sat the bucket outside the tent. once little david had eaten enough to hold off his cry's she layed him down and rediampered him and dressed him in a little gown and wraped him in a clean blanket. once that was done she picked him up crading him in her arms as he once again took to her breast. making little sucking noises and small grunts as he ate.

she was so tired but she refused to let herself close her eyes. knowing that if she did she would fall asleep and then she would have yet another restless night tonight.

 

[landiek]

Cassi came moving out of the brush with not one but two large pheasants. She had snapped their necks so quickly that no one heard them cry. Cassi was beaming at her catch as she rushed out of the brush and over to the camp preparing to clean the feathers off for a late night meal.

Cassi moved straight to the cooking area with her birds not even looking at Alex. Yet she took a quick glance at the new woman in their group. Cassi took a deep breathe and reminded herself of the vow to protect thee lives of the group. Her desire for Masser Alex had to die at least for now.

Cassi started to boil a large kettle of water as she pulled out some of the feathers and slit the neck hoping to drain enough of the bird's blood to cook it. Yet roasting it on the open fire was sounding better and better after she cleaned the skin.

"It's a shore pleasure to meet you Mis Ava. I's hopes yore keen on Pheasant.. it's gonna be served later iffin I's get all these feathers out. I's stsill has some stew iffin yore hungree right now." Cassi offered

 

[andygorn]

Julia smiled at his words.
"It is true Clayton, not all people are like the bastards that held you captive. The color of your skin does not make you a lesser person or man. You are gentle and careing and I am lucky you came when you did. I had been in so much pain from my loss that I had forgotten to eat. God knows for how long. I have lost time somehow"

She did not tell him of her loss love, the pain of that was still too raw.

As she spoke she relaxed even more in his arms. She had no fear of him as she looked at him. His eyes seemed to soften as he held her and hummed a tune that was similar to the one her dark skinned sister had sang to her. She had a sensation of coming home as her body melted into his. The running water of the river seemed to be lolling her into a peaceful frame of mind. She closed her eyes and the warmth from his body gave her peace. She slipped into sleep something she needed very badly.

Clayton felt Julia go limp in his arms as sleep finally took her...he hadn't had the time to thank her for her kind words whilst she was awake, so he whispered them to her whilst she was asleep, hoping that she might hear them: "You've got a long life ahead of you, princess...you just take all the time that you need."

Giving a soft whistle, Amy came trotting over, her tiny tail wagging excitedly at her 'dad' as he beckoned her forward, smiling at the little face before him. She settled down into the crook of his legs and was soon stirring in her own slumber.

With his arms around both of their soft, warm bodies, Clayton felt like it was the first time in a long while that he'd been at peace during the day.
Clayton stroked his fingers through Amy's fur at the same time that he stroked Julia's hair. Looking down to watch them sleep, he saw the rise and fall of both of their chests...each was attractive in their own way.
It felt like an age since he'd had such a long conversation with anyone, let alone been physically close to anyone as beautiful as Julia.

If he was truly honest with himself, Clayton really enjoyed the feeling of this wonderful woman being close to him and he hoped that they'd be able to talk some more and could be friends.
Perhaps, he and Amy might prefer to travel with her a while? He'd never thought about having another travelling companion before and -although there were plenty of brigands around- he thought that perhaps Julia might be someone who might wish to travel with him and Amy?

 

[CollegeRomantic]

Ava could not keep her mouth from twisting wryly for a moment. She watched as Jenny went off to follow Luke, a bit of a cynical smile on her lips. She turned then to Cassi, her well bred smile back on her face. "Well Miss Cassi, I would feel just terrible if I did not help you with the evening's meal. If there is anything I can do, please, allow me to help." She smiled again at Cassi, while at the back of her mind she wondered if she had wandered into a group of individuals who still wished the practice of slavery to go on.

She turned to Alex, indicating the direction that Luke had taken off to, and Jenny soon after him. "Is that the direction that I could possibly find a creek or river to wash up in? I am afraid I do not know this area as well as I should..." She thought again of her letters suddenly, wondering if they would ever be sent. At least she no longer had to worry about the bank business, as that would be taken care of when she got to the Territory. "Also Mr. Franks... is there a place in the town we reach next where I might mail some letters? They are of utmost importance...."

 

[landiek]

Cassi shrugged off Ava's offer and set to work on defeathering those birds. It wasn't in hre nature to have more help then she needed. Cassi couldn't help but notice that this woman was different from Miz Jenny and Miz Julia.

A learned child was what she was. Cassi surmised watching her walk over to Masser Alex. Then she felt that tug of jealousy wriggle in her belly.

"Nope.. yore not making me fuss over nothin." Cassi told herself then started tugging out feathers with ease.

 

[icu1978]

coming out of the tent with her shirt once again in place and a koo'ing david in her arms jenny walked over to sit beside cassi. placing david in the little swing that cassi had made she sat with her back straight.
she seen the look that cassi had cast toward alex and the new woman ava but knew that what ever cassi was thinking or even feeling she would keep to herself. with a sigh she plucked up the almost empty coffe pot and dumping went about making fresh coffee knowing that alex and luke both seemed to enjoy the dark brew.

when that was done she looked at cassi still plucking the phesants.
" cassi would you keep an ear open for the baby i am going to go dump out that bucket of water i used to bathe him?"

cassi looked up at her and then to david who was laying wide eyed in his swing. smiling she agreed to keep an eye on him for the short amount of time it would take for jenny to do what she needed to do.
walking away feeling comftorable leaving david in cassi's care she headed to her tent to retreave the bucket. walking a few feet away she dumped it over spilling the water out on the ground.

once it was empty she carried the bucket to the brook to rinse it out. when she felt that it was clean enough she filled it with fresh water and carried it back to the fire to let it warm. thinking that cassi might enjoy a warm spnge bath tonight when she went to her tent.

sitting back down beside cassi jenny quickly and with out asking snatched up the other bird and began pulling the feathers out. she missed doing house hold work and it was comforting to her. cassi gave her a look but said nothing as jenny continued working. she had learned that with cassi it was always better to just start doing instead of asking if there was anything to be done. cassi was a strong proud woman and she hardly ever agree's to let anyone help.

laughing at her own thoughts jenny plucked plucked the birds feathers out.
working beside cassi in silence. david laying near them soon was drifting off into a deep sleep. having been bathed and fed jenny knew he would sleep well tonight.looking up she watched as luke walked back towards them along with ava and alex. jenny wasn't sure about the new people but she was willing to like anyone as long as they posed no threats to her infant son or to her friends.

 

[rvplymates]

Clayton felt Julia go limp in his arms as sleep finally took her...he hadn't had the time to thank her for her kind words whilst she was awake, so he whispered them to her whilst she was asleep, hoping that she might hear them: "You've got a long life ahead of you, princess...you just take all the time that you need."

Giving a soft whistle, Amy came trotting over, her tiny tail wagging excitedly at her 'dad' as he beckoned her forward, smiling at the little face before him. She settled down into the crook of his legs and was soon stirring in her own slumber.

With his arms around both of their soft, warm bodies, Clayton felt like it was the first time in a long while that he'd been at peace during the day.
Clayton stroked his fingers through Amy's fur at the same time that he stroked Julia's hair. Looking down to watch them sleep, he saw the rise and fall of both of their chests...each was attractive in their own way.
It felt like an age since he'd had such a long conversation with anyone, let alone been physically close to anyone as beautiful as Julia.

If he was truly honest with himself, Clayton really enjoyed the feeling of this wonderful woman being close to him and he hoped that they'd be able to talk some more and could be friends.
Perhaps, he and Amy might prefer to travel with her a while? He'd never thought about having another travelling companion before and -although there were plenty of brigands around- he thought that perhaps Julia might be someone who might wish to travel with him and Amy?

A soft smile appeared on Julia's sleeping face as though his assurance was all she needed to be happy. Her sleep was deep and dreamless, comforting and blissful. As she awoke, several hours later with her arms around Clayton and still in the twilight of sleep she murmered softly.

"O'Shien"

As she came slowly to full awakening, she opened her eyes to see the strong body of Clayton close to her face. Her cheek rested on his chest and her body moved in her sleep onto his. She was not alarmed as she felt great comfort and trust in this man who was a stranger. As she slowly pulled away from him, she could feel his hands steadying her in case she should collapse without his strength. As she sat up she gave him the first smile he had seen from her, a smile that had not been on her face since her love was killed.

"How long have I been sleeping, Clayton"

She felt stronger but knew she still was not up to par. She was dependent on Clayton and did not feel shamed by it. It was not often she felt this way, not even with O'Shien had she felt this security until mid way in their relationship.

Her eyes softened as she looked at Clayton.

 

[andygorn]

A soft smile appeared on Julia's sleeping face as though his assurance was all she needed to be happy. Her sleep was deep and dreamless, comforting and blissful. As she awoke, several hours later with her arms around Clayton and still in the twilight of sleep she murmered softly.
"O'Shien"
As she came slowly to full awakening, she opened her eyes to see the strong body of Clayton close to her face. Her cheek rested on his chest and her body moved in her sleep onto his. She was not alarmed as she felt great comfort and trust in this man who was a stranger. As she slowly pulled away from him, she could feel his hands steadying her in case she should collapse without his strength. As she sat up she gave him the first smile he had seen from her, a smile that had not been on her face since her love was killed.
"How long have I been sleeping, Clayton"
She felt stronger but knew she still was not up to par. She was dependent on Clayton and did not feel shamed by it. It was not often she felt this way, not even with O'Shien had she felt this security until mid way in their relationship.
Her eyes softened as she looked at Clayton

It had been great to have Julia by his side as he listened to the sounds of both her and Amy sleeping.
Time had passed by so quickly that he didn't know how long they'd been there, he guessed it was maybe midday by the position of the sun in the sky.
As she stirred awake, Julia had muttered a name ('O'Shien?' perhaps?)...it could have been just a made-up word, or perhaps a name from her past...either way, he hadn't heard her mention the word before and he knew not to trouble her with it.

He was looking straight into her gorgeous eyes when she awoke; she had been snuggled into his chest all the time whilst she rested.
Sensing that -perhaps- she was still not yet over her tiredness, Clayton gently settled his hands on her shoulders to steady her as she sat up on the rock.

As she sat upright, Julia gave him a smile...it was the first smile she'd given since he met her -the smile he'd known was hiding away all along- and even in the sunshine it seemed to light up the day.
"How long have I been sleeping, Clayton?" she asked, as her gaze softened and she became accustomed to daylight once more.
Smiling back at her, he replied: "I don't know; from the sun, it looks a bit like noon, but I guess I just never found the time to get a watch."
He smiled at his own, very lame, half-pun...and he saw the ghost of a smile cross her lips.
"Hey, was that maybe's two smiles in one mornin'?" he joked softly, hoping to see a third from her.
Suddenly remembering that she still might be feeling a bit groggy, he asked: "How you doin' Julia?" looking for any signs of discomfort in her face.