Before We Leave E-Book

Mari Collier

• Herausgeber: Next Chapter
• Kategorie: Abenteuer, Thriller, Horror
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2022

Beschreibung

Antoinette is in danger.

After Red O'Neal delivers a beating to his half-brother Daniel for courting his sister Antoinette, she is sent to a convent until agreeing to marry an older, wealthier man.

But after Antoinette manages to send a letter to her betrothed Lorenz MacDonald about the danger, he rescues her. Soon after, a neighboring ranch is attacked by Comanche raiders, and Antoinette and her mother-in-law are caught in a fight for life and death.

Can their family survive the dangers of the violent Western frontier?

Leseprobe

Before We Leave

Chronicles of the Maca III

Mari Collier

Copyright (C) 2015 Mari Collier

Layout design and Copyright (C) 2021 by Next Chapter

Published 2021 by Next Chapter

Cover art by http://www.thecovercollection.com/

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the author's permission.

Lorenz and Antoinette: The Early Years 1869 to 1878

Chapter 1: A Family Divided

Daniel turned from the stallion he was breaking for his employer, Jeremiah “Red” O'Neal, with a wide smile on his face and his grey eyes alight with pleasure. “That is one fine horse…” The smile died as he saw the set look on Red's face. Daniel's sixth sense signaled danger and this time danger came from his employer and half-brother, if his white mother and MacDonald were to be believed. The Comanche raid when Daniel was eight had broken all ties with his white family.

When his Comanche family was captured by the U.S. Army, he was recognized as white and sent to a fort in Kansas. There he had taken the surname Hunter. He refused to acknowledge his white mother and that reputed stranger from a planet among the stars named as his father. He couldn't explain the two hearts his brother Lorenz, sister Margareatha, and possibly half-brother, Red, possessed while he did not. He simply ignored that fact.

Red stopped in front of the young man. “You stepped over the line, boy. Now you'll get a lesson.” Red drove his fist into the young man's stomach.

Daniel twisted his body out of the way, not sure why the attack was under way, but knowing his chances weren't good. He whirled back, his left coming up towards Red's chin. He missed by less than an inch, and felt a fist smash into his nose. Desperately, he swung into Red's rib cage driving the older man back. Red shrugged and dove in again, his fists slamming into Daniel one after another.

Neither Red nor Daniel heard Margareatha screaming. “Let him alone you barbarian, or I'll blow your head off, so help me God!”

It was the sharp thud alongside of his head that made Red step back and lower his fists. Then he saw her standing there, shotgun in hand. He spread his hands out. “Miss Lawrence, this is a private matter.”

“Private, be damned. He's my brother.” Her mind raked into his, scalding and scathing him with anger as she used mindspeak.

'And he's yours too, if you have wit enough to remember we have the same father. Do you want Mac pounding on your head like you've pounded his?' The shotgun remained pointed directly at his chest. The men at the corrals were shifting uneasily, not knowing whether to draw against a woman or let the boss play this one out on his own.

Red considered. Daniel was on the ground and bleeding from the nose and mouth. He had executed several well-placed kicks and knew there were broken ribs. Margareatha was right. Any more and he would have MacDonald as an adversary. Lorenz, he discounted as too young to be any more of a threat than Daniel. “Someone put him on a horse and get him out of here.”

“Wrong. They bring him to my house.” The shotgun never wavered. “He doesn't leave here until I say he's well enough to travel.”

Red glared at her. Both stood an even six feet and their gaze was level. “This is my ranch.”

“Just who do you think you are Red O'Neal? Your books can rot if that's your attitude.”

Red blanched. He needed her. There was no way he could explain to another bookkeeper the shipments of grain to nowhere on earth or the sudden disappearance of certain people within his businesses and the regular changing of gold and silver into currency.

“Very well, take him to Miss Lawrence's house.” He turned and walked away.

Margareatha did not appear in the office for almost a week. When she did, she flounced in and put both hands on her hips, her tall frame almost reaching to the top of the door and the sun flaming her red hair into a fiery glow around her head.

“Daniel's better, but it will be another week before the ribs heal enough that he can leave. Now suppose you enlighten us as to what you thought you were doing.”

Red threw down the pencil and looked up. He knew his efforts at the accounts were slow and clumsy compared to Margareatha's neat columns. “Margareatha, Daniel and Antoinette were planning on getting married. My mother has been crying for weeks and spending even more time on her knees in front of the Virgin's shrine than she has done previously. Her fingers are almost bleeding from the number of times she's said the rosary. What did you expect me to do? Tell Daniel he couldn't go near her again? They would have devised someway to disgrace us all.”

Margareatha regarded him with a look reserved for the insane. “You are totally mad. Antoinette doesn't give two whoops about Daniel. He's too crude and too poor.”

Red stood up. “I'm afraid you don't have the same information from Antoinette's private quarters as I do. Antoinette will be leaving for the convent in New Orleans within the next two days.”

Margareatha smiled to herself and let the perfect revenge play out in her mind. She knew exactly what Antoinette was planning. Aloud, she said, “Suit yourself. I may return when Daniel is well enough to travel.” She spun on her heel and walked out, steadfastly refusing to let Red mindspeak to her. Red was blinded by his own male prejudices, she thought. Let him continue to delude himself.

Four weeks ago Antoinette had brought a letter addressed to Lorenz, pleading with her to mail it. Margareatha had done so. She remembered all too well the convent life that she had been confined to so long ago.

Chapter 2: Flight

For once the trunks were minimal when Antoinette traveled. Consuela would be her companion all the way to New Orleans and have control of the money. Red made sure that Antoinette's horse and saddle were securely kept under guard. Both he and the Senora heaved a sigh of relief when the stage rolled out of Wooden. Daniel was just barely able to sit up and the men had orders to shoot if he left within the week. Red was confident he'd covered every possibility. Right now, he needed Margareatha back at the books as he had another grain buying trip to complete before heading to Galveston to arrange the shipping to a South American warehouse.

They had been in the stage for four days before Antoinette began to be anxious. They were but two days away from Houston and the boat taking her to New Orleans. She had been praying to the Virgin, the Saints, and the Holy Trinity that Lorenz had received her letter in time. He should have, but where was he? She couldn't see him riding up and stopping the stage, and she certainly didn't want anyone to be injured. Consuela sat prim and perspiring in the summer heat, her dark clothes drawing in more heat. Antoinette dabbed daintily at her brow with her hanky as they bounced and jolted over the roads.

The driver pulled the horses into the stage stop as close to noon as possible. “Everybody out. You all have thirty minutes to eat while we get the horses changed.”

Antoinette stepped down and brushed the dust from her clothes and swallowed. A tall, young man was standing by the corrals with a saddled horse. He tugged at the front brim of his hat and walked the animal behind the wooden stable. “I believe I need to use the facilities,” she whispered to Consuela and noted the look of relief on the older woman's face.

Consuela tried to keep up with the long strides Antoinette was taking and failed. The outhouse for women was set off to the side and Antoinette scooted in first and locked the door. She hurriedly did what nature demanded, exited, and let Consuela in. She nodded at the other woman waiting and walked briskly to the back of the stable.

Lorenz smiled at her, his grey eyes glowing; the scar on his right cheek dragging the lip line upward, and her heart went to her throat. Strange, that was all he had to do, smile.

“Let's go.” He boosted her up onto the horse before swinging up behind her. He held his horse to a trot until they were over the rise and then kicked it into a gallop. They rode into a small, hidden gully and Lorenz collected two more horses; one carefully laden with camp goods, the second equipped with a regular saddle and bridle for her. She hooked her leg around the saddle horn as sitting astride would have shown too much leg. Later, when she had time to think, Antoinette would wonder how he knew to wait for her at that stage stop with the extra horses and equipment hidden away.

They rode steadily for an hour and then walked the horses. Lorenz seemed to be deep in thought, but his eyes kept searching the surrounding landscape. Finally as the sun began to set, he found a small, wooded area and they dismounted.

“I'm afraid this will be a grueling trip for y'all.” His concern showed in his eyes. “We'll have to keep a steady pace for days. I don't think anyone is following us, but we'll eat a cold supper tonight just in case.”

“Ah'm a Texan.” Antoinette smiled at him. “Were y'all able to bring me anything in the way of clothes?”

“I didn't have time to find anything for ladies.” He looked at her doubtfully. “I threw in an extra pair of my trousers and a shirt. Y'all can roll up the trousers. There's also a regular hat. It's a little beat up, but it will be better than that doodad on your head.”

Antoinette considered. “Ah believe ah'll try your clothes for the journey.”

Lorenz started to pull the saddles and turned back to her. “Uh, Antoinette, y'all aren't going to change your mind, are y'all?

She stared at him, disbelief spreading over her face. “Never! They were going to lock me away in that convent.” For one brief moment her drawl had disappeared. Then she smiled. “Besides, ah'm a marked woman now.”

“Antoinette, I won't do anything to hurt y'all, and I promise we will be married before…” Lorenz started to redden and turned to the horses, lips compressed. He'd promised himself that he would conduct himself as a gentleman in word and deed.

His resolve almost broke the sixth night after they'd eaten. Antoinette was bone weary from the days of riding, sleeping on the ground, and quickly prepared camp food. Her movements were listless and the laughter gone from her violet eyes. Lorenz took her in his arms to comfort her and suddenly she was holding him tightly and he was tasting her lips, the dusty cheeks, his tongue seeking hers, and his hands starting to move over her while he kept whispering, “I love y'all, Antoinette, Antoinette.”

He never knew how he managed to break away, but somehow he was walking rapidly uphill to the small crest above their camp.

Antoinette found herself blinking, her breath coming in and out of her mouth as she stood stunned, watching him move away from her. After a few moments, she followed him upward and found him sitting cross-legged, his arms crossed in front of him as he sat rocking back and forth. She could see his profile, so perfect, so clean in the moonlight, his face drawn taunt from pain. Should she approach him? She had no other clothes except her dress which she intended to put on the last day. She had listened to the servants' chatter in Spanish and remembered that they talked about the “blood.” That was frightening, but the married ones had spoken of it with a certain satisfaction. Obviously, there were things she didn't know. There was no bed, basin, or clean rags here.

Antoinette could not stand the agony stamped on his face and as she drew nearer she reached out her hand to touch his shoulder. “Lorenz?”

“Antoinette, go away.”

His words were sharp, and she turned on her heel, fled back to the camp, and pulled the thin cover over herself, a small smile playing on her face. It was a heady experience to discover just how much he loved and respected her. She knew they had by passed the town of Arles and it would be just a couple of days before they were at his ranch. Briefly, she wondered what Red was doing and decided sleep was better than needless worry.

* * *

Consuela realized Antoinette was gone when she walked into the restaurant portion of the stage stop. No one paid any attention to the excited voice of a middle-aged Mexican senora until she started screaming. Finally the driver confirmed that the young woman was gone. There were no spare men to send out on a search party and a schedule had to be kept.

Her attempt to telegraph Mr. O'Neal involved the same mindless fight against the prejudices of the white men running the telegraph office in the next town. Consuela finally prevailed by paying double the price of the regular telegram and was left short of funds.

It took another two days for the telegram to be delivered to the plantation turned ranch. One of the maids timidly knocked on his door. Red's satisfied mood shifted to absolute fury. Rapidly he wrote a note to sheriff in Wooden about an abducted female. He hurried to find his Mother, soothe her, and then it was time to confront Margareatha.

“Where are they?”

“You are shouting, and which 'they' do you mean?” Rita's face was bland; her copper eyes with the gold circle around the pupils were cloaked.

Red put his hands on the desk. “Daniel and Antoinette. Where did they go:”

“Daniel's in Wooden and leaving in the morning. He hasn't been able to ride until now. As for Antoinette, I have no idea. Isn't she safely locked away in that horrid convent?”

Red stared at her. “Then who took her?”

“Took? Red, no one 'takes' Antoinette. She does have a mind of her own.”

“I went into her mind when Consuela told me she was planning a wedding. I saw Daniel.”

“I believe you are mistaken.” She smiled. “You made an incorrect assumption and acted on it. Now you've alienated Daniel, Antoinette, and in all probability the entire MacDonald House.” Deliberately she used Mac's Thalian word for family.

“I'm telling you, I saw…” He hesitated and continued. “If it was Lorenz, there was no scar.”

“I'm sure she sees him as perfect. You did encourage them to correspond, remember?” She smiled in satisfaction, but a nagging doubt implanted itself. Daniel continued to insist that Antoinette loved him.

“You knew.” His accusation was laced with disbelief.

“I guessed.”

“He has abducted my sister, and I'll have the law on them.”

“You'll make a fool of yourself, Red.” Margareatha was shouting at his back. “She's nineteen and can prove it.”

Red turned back to face her. “She took her baptismal certificate? Did you tell her?”

Margareatha smiled. “No, I merely mentioned that proving who you are is sometimes a necessity in a strange locale.”

“Why? Why have you bothered to stay here?”

Her smile softened, but her eyes remained hard. “I stayed because I need a decent paying job, and you need me. You don't dare trust anyone else with these books and the Slavey grain accounts. You can't explain it rationally to anyone on Earth, and anyone dishonest enough to not want a reasonable explanation would try to rob you; however, I will not permit you to hurt someone in our family and then ship off a young girl to a nunnery like you are some medieval liege lord. This is 1869, not 1269.”

He glared at her, his copper eyes with the golden circle around the pupils almost in flames. “Just how do you think a young girl is going to handle the fact that my father isn't hers? What if she finds out we're half-brother and half-sister?

Margareatha's smile grew colder. “She'll handle it just fine. It might even make the Senora human in her mind.”

“Do you think I'll let Lorenz get away with this?” Rage laced his words.

“First you'd have to go through Mac. As it is, you already have a problem the next time you meet him. He has a very narrow view of anyone who attacks his House.”

Red stared at her for a moment and left. Words were useless. Worse, she could be right. Lorenz, he knew, he could still take, but Mac? Not a chance. The MacDonald's might decide this was a bad match and prevent an actual marriage, but his own actions were effectively blocked. There would be no telegram to Wooden or Arles. He pulled out a cigarillo and inhaled. Now he would need to console the Senora and hope that her weeping, praying, and incense burning didn't last for months. He'd write a note to Margareatha in the morning for her to transfer to Nevada. Books could be done from there, and the Senora would have one less thing to rail against.

Chapter 3: The Welcome Home

Red's hope of MacDonald stopping the marriage matched Anna MacDonald's hopes. Almost one month ago, she had found the note Lorenz left on the table informing one and all that he had gone to claim his bride. In the note, he reminded them that he delayed the wedding only until Papa healed from the gunshot wound and operation. Every day she watched for him to reappear, praying that the young woman would refuse him on religious grounds. Miss O'Neal was Catholic and Catholics weren't permitted to wed Lutherans. Thank God Lorenz had been confirmed by Pastor Wentz two years ago. Surely they would come to their senses, and then Anna remembered what it was to be young and would fear for the worse. Whenever she kneaded the bread, it was with angry blows, and when she did the laundry, she pounded at the clothes in the tubs with a vigor unmatched by the younger Armeda Gonzales.

Anna was on the last tub of clothes when Mina appeared at the corner of the house, her darkening reddish-brown, sun-streaked curls as unruly as ever. “Mama, two people are coming. I think one is Lorenz.”

Anna straightened and smoothed the escaping wisps of white curls back from her face with wetted hands. “You stay here with Armeda and watch Roman for her.” She looked at the toddler playing on the blanket shaded by the eaves of the washhouse.

“Armeda,” she called to the young woman hanging clothes, “these things need to be pounded until they are clean.”

Rather than go through the gate, she cut through the house before going directly to the front porch. Two of them, Mina had said. Were they mad? Anna stopped in the kitchen and sipped at a cup of water from the bucket while looking out the window. She watched the riders draw nearer. She did not want them to see her outside waiting with hands on her hips and tapping a foot. Confrontation without warning would be more effective. She felt, however, she and Zeb would need to acquiesce to the wedding simply to keep a scandal from erupting. Zeb, Anna suspected, would offer complete support for a wedding, or a bedding. His attitude toward the necessity of the same religion did not match the fervor of hers or the beliefs of others; nor did his thoughts on the need for marriage match the beliefs of this world.

Anna moved away from the window and stood in the doorway between the kitchen and the main room until she heard them pull up and dismount. She strode out onto the porch without slamming the door behind her and looked into the faces of two handsome young adults coming up the steps and smiling at her.

“Mama, this is Miss Antoinette O'Neal, and she is going to be my wife. We need you and Papa to go with us to Arles and sign for me to get the marriage license.” His grey eyes were alive with love and determination, his arm wrapped around the young woman's shoulder, completely protecting her from the world. The young woman was about five foot four inches tall, and dressed in a traveling outfit of light, cotton fawn. Her black curls were crowned by that old hat of Lorenz's and set at a rakish angle that somehow added a bit of exotica to her appearance.

Anna felt her hand go to her throat as she looked helplessly at the young people. If she screamed and yelled, she would lose her son for the second time, and she could not bear the thought. Lorenz was still speaking with that strange, adult authority his voice.

“Antoinette, this is my mother, Mrs. Anna MacDonald.”

Antoinette gave a quick, precise curtsy and spoke with the proper courtesy as though there was nothing extraordinary in their arrival in dusty attire, or that her mother-in-law to be was almost as tall as Lorenz.

“Hello, Mrs. MacDonald. This is such a pleasure.” Her southern accent made each word sound as though sweetness and music were part of her core, and Anna's stomach twisted. This child/woman was a formidable opponent. Anna knew she was left with but one objection to their marriage.

Anna swallowed and said in a measured tone. “Miss O'Neal, du must be exhausted.” She turned to Lorenz, her fears propelling words from her mouth. “Du haven't ved yet? How long vere du…”

Lorenz stepped forward. “Mama, nothing happened. I promised you. Of course, we haven't married. It wouldn't be legal without a license. That's why we need to go to Arles, but right now Antoinette needs to get out of the sun and have a nice, cold drink of water.”

Anna stepped back and opened the door, her mind working rapidly. “The O'Neal's vill have the authorities notified.”

“Red won't. He doesn't want to put his sister or his mother through dealing with Southern customs and Union control. He has too many other things to worry about right now, and one of them is staying out of Papa's way. Even if he has contacted them, Antoinette is nineteen. She can legally wed.”

Anna frowned, not sure what Lorenz meant about staying out of Papa's way, but she persisted. “The county officials vill ask for proof that she is old enough before issuing a license.”

The young people preceded Anna into the room as Lorenz continued to speak. “Antoinette thought of that. She has her baptismal certificate with her.”

“The Catholic priest vill not marry du and Pastor Heidenstram von't be here again until November.”

Lorenz turned to her. “Mama, we'll have the Justice of Peace in Arles marry us.”

Anna fought the impatience in her voice. “Then Miss O'Neal vill not be able to go to Mass.” She saw Antoinette's eyes widen. Good, she thought.

“Ah didn't think of that.” Antoinette turned to Lorenz.

“Would y'all mind being married by a priest?”

Lorenz's eyes narrowed. “I reckon it doesn't matter that much. I can still take communion when der Pastor comes through.”

“Ja, das ist true,” Anna conceded. “But do du vant to raise your kinder as Catholics?” She was still fighting to control her voice, her accent becoming heavier, the German words slipping into her English.

“I reckon we'll cross that bridge when it happens.” He smiled at them. “I'll go get us some of that spring water. You all rest a minute and get acquainted.”

“Der priest vill make du sign a paper dot du vill raise them Catholic,” Anna snapped the words out. Her words stopped Lorenz at the door and he turned back, a quizzical look in his eyes.

“Is that true, Antoinette?”

“Why, yes, ah do believe they need to have assurance that the children would be raised Catholic if y'all do not convert. Does that matter?”

Lorenz was looking at Antoinette and then at his mother. “Y'all knew this. Why did y'all wait until now to say something?” His grey eyes were darkening and his voice was almost an accusation.

Anna did not allow herself to smile or look satisfied, but felt she was winning. She knew Lorenz, MacDonald, and LouElla had spent long hours in that spaceship and she wasn't sure how much of their science and their philosophy he had absorbed. She was certain, however, that the beliefs of Catholicism were not compatible with Llewellyn's or his mother LouElla's beliefs, and she steadied her voice.

“I did not believe du vould just go off like du did, and I could not believe that Miss O'Neal vould discard her beliefs. I thought du two vould discuss religion in your letters.” Her words were not exactly a lie.

Antoinette stepped forward and laid a hand on Lorenz's arm and looked up at him. “Ah believe we can be married by the Justice of the Peace and then settle everything.” Her laugh tinkled into the stilled room. “After all, my penance wouldn't be more than a few extra Hail Marys.”

Lorenz bent and hugged her. “I'll get that water.” He spun around to head towards the kitchen when Anna's next objection stopped him.

“Ve are Lutherans. They vill consider him a heretic.” Anna was glaring at Antoinette. “The penance vill be far more than a few Hail Marys.”

“Mama, Antoinette is correct. We will need to discuss this between ourselves.” His eyes were like frozen water and his mouth was stiff. “Did y'all want us to leave?”

“Nein! This ist your home.”

Antoinette smiled at her. “Why thank y'all, Mother MacDonald. May ah call y'all that?” She did not wait for an answer, but continued.

“Lorenz and ah love each other, and he is right. We'll need to discuss this by ourselves, but more important, we do need to get married. Ah'm sure y'all see the wisdom of that.”

Anna could only stare at her. She knew that usually the woman ruled when it came to teaching religion and manners. MacDonald did not interfere with her raising Mina, nor did he object to Lorenz being confirmed. “I know vhat du are doing.”

“Of course, y'all do. Y'all are a very beautiful, intelligent woman, and according to Lorenz, y'all are married to a very powerful, intelligent man.”

Lorenz grinned at them both and grabbed the bucket in the kitchen. Anna heard Mina's delighted welcoming whoops and felt her world spinning. Antoinette broke the silence.

“Mother MacDonald, ah do not wish to be your enemy. Ah know Lorenz loves y'all dearly. Ah have a letter in my purse from Margareatha. Ah hope it will help explain the situation and why ah needed to run.” She removed one of the pieces of paper from her lady's handbag and extended it.

Anna took the proffered letter, but before looking at it, she tried one more time. “Your mother must be opposed to your marrying Lorenz.” She did not embellish her reasoning with information about Red's parentage.

“Why ah should imagine she's even more devastated than y'all.” Antoinette removed her hat and smoothed at her hair while Anna read rapidly.

Finally Anna looked up, her eyes wide, her voice almost a whisper. “Ist Daniel really all right?”

“Why, yes, he is. Margareatha somehow managed to circumvent all the people guarding me when she brought me this letter for y'all. She assured me he'd be fine. Ah can't imagine why Red thought ah was going to marry Daniel. Ah never, ever, let anyone think that. Ah'd managed to get away once before with the letter for Lorenz when ah found out they were shipping me to that covenant for refusing to marry that disgusting old man. Can y'all believe that? Why the very idea is disgraceful.”

Chapter 4: Wedding Plans

MacDonald tried to comfort Anna that night, but she would have none of it. “They are not thinking,” she whispered in German. “Can't you convince him this is madness?”

MacDonald smiled into the darkness and leaned down towards her. “Anna, my love, they wish to wed and to bed. Ye can see it in their eyes. Tis yere culture that says they must wed ere the latter.”

Anna put her lips together and turned over, offering a cold shoulder to MacDonald. He sighed and tried again.

“Anna, let me be yere counselor this eve. They are both set on this. The more we oppose a marriage, the more they twill insist. I dinna wish to lose our laddie. Let them wed and build their home here. They twill be close by. She has already surprised me with her stamina and insistence on staying out of the covenant. Most would assume she would willingly wed a rich, older man rather than risk what she did.” MacDonald admired a lassie that could look at his three hundred pounds of muscle set on six feet nine inches and not blanch or be struck dumb.

Anna's thoughts were dark. It had been a point of contention between them. MacDonald had advocated taking Lorenz to a high-class brothel for his “first bedding.” She had vehemently protested such sinful behavior, and MacDonald had relented. Why hadn't the woman wed the wealthy man of her own faith? Antoinette's twinkling laugh at the dinner table came back to haunt her.

“La, they had me all engaged to this sixty-year-old man. Why he didn't even have all of his own hair left on top and the most repulsive, stained mustache y'all would evah want to see.” Anna wanted to believe it was the bald head and stained mustache that repulsed Antoinette, but somehow suspected it was more than that.

They all planned to leave for Arles within four days. Anna and Antoinette had taken a rushed trip into Schmidt's Corner to purchase enough chambray and linen to make the needed undergarments and dresses. Anna had also managed to cut down an old dress for Antoinette and Lorenz had hired Armeda to wash, iron, and perform other duties for his fiancée. Both young people were discussing plans as to where their first house would be located on the property and who should be hired to complete it.

Two nights before they left, they were all seated at the kitchen table relaxing after the chore of washing up the dishes when Antoinette smiled sweetly and asked, “Is there a suitable hotel in Arles to spend the night after being married?”

Lorenz looked puzzled, Anna's eyes widened, MacDonald sat his coffee cup down and looked at Anna before replying. “That twould depend upon what ye mean by suitable.”

“I would like a certain amount of privacy and decent quarters with clean linens.”

The amused look in MacDonald's brown eyes grew and the left corner of his mouth tugged. “I fear the hotel in Arles is like too many others in the small towns of this land. Ye twill nay find the lavish accommodations available such as in Hays City, Sedalia, Saint Louis, or San Antonio.”

Antoinette set her cup down. “Then I believe that all we should do in Arles is get the license and wait for your Pastor, isn't that what y'all call him, to arrive in November. That's only about two months away. Y'all did say it took about ten days to go to Arles and back, didn't y'all? That means it would be just six weeks. We do need to find someone in Arles to design a house and order the materials. Heaven knows when they would deliver everything or how long the building takes.”

“Why the wait?” demanded Lorenz, his face flushing and the grey eyes beginning to glint. Neither he nor Antoinette noticed the look of satisfaction on Anna's face.

Antoinette remained grave. “I do not wish to spend my wedding night in some non-descript hotel with dirty sheets and a bunch of carpet baggers listening; nor, do I wish to spend it out under the stars. The alternative is to wait and have the wedding here where we will be living until our house is built.”

Lorenz looked at her and realized this soft, petite woman was as determined as his mother and a bile taste rose in his mouth. He'd waited for this a long year's time while Papa healed and now it would be wait again.

“Why don't y'all and Mama just pack the things we'll need? We'll get a room towards the back and Papa and Mama can get the room next to us. Hell, I'll even pay for a d…uh, sorry, Toni, Mama. I'll pay for a room in-between the two or rent the whole floor if it makes everybody feel better. Arles isn't going to be crowded this time of year.”

Anna was speechless. MacDonald's tried unsuccessfully to keep the silent laughter from shaking his shoulders. The laddie twas ready for his first bedding and nay they could say twould stop it. It twould be best, he thought, to let Lorenz have his way. He looked at his wife.

“I believe Lorenz has offered a solution.” Laughter edged his words. “Tis an expensive one, but one we can all live with. Now, ere we go to bed, here tis something to consider. It may be best to be wed by the Justice of Peace in Arles as I am nay certain the Pastor twill marry ye when he arrives.”

“Why ever would he refuse?”

“Ye are Catholic and ye dinna have yere parents' approval.”

“I am nineteen.” Indignation rose in Antoinette's voice. “Wouldn't I just be required to sign a paper saying that I agree to raise them as Lutherans? It seems such a simple matter for two people in love.”

MacDonald smiled inwardly as he noted how quickly Antoinette could switch from a thick drawling, helpless Southern lady's voice to a voice laced with decision. He looked at Anna standing by the door.

“Nein, I mean no. Der Pastor vould have to believe that du are converting by studying to show that du are sincere in vhat du say before he vould agree. There vould be no paper to sign.”

“Well, how do y'all expect me to study if everything is in German? Ah can't think of a better way to discourage someone.”

“We twill buy the King James Bible while we are in Arles. That tis a simple matter. Do ye nay agree, Anna?”

Anna's eyes had brightened and she bit her tongue to keep from saying Deutsch was the better translation and much clearer. “Ja, and I can help her. So can my brother Kasper until he goes back to Austin for the next session of the Texas legislature.”

“He twas elected and needs to go. The Reconstruction Act requirements must be implemented ere Texas can rejoin the Union. I am nay certain all those nay-reconstructed rebels who are part the Texas legislature wish to do so.”

Antoinette was wide-eyed. When did men let women hear their political views? This family was a family and they had accepted her as member. She stood.

“Ah do believe ah'll turn in now.”

Anna remained at the doorway. Her mind was still on the last conversation.

“Du love him so much du vould give up your religion?” This time she bit her tongue to keep from saying false religion.

“We rarely went to mass at a church. Periodically, the priest would arrive at our house and father would always find something else to do. Even before father had the fit of apoplexy and couldn't move or talk anymore, Mother spent most of her time on her knees in front of the Virgin's Shrine praying for more children. Just how they were to have more children when they weren't even speaking to each other was never explained. My parents didn't have a marriage. You all do. I've seen that in the short time I've been here. I don't want to have a marriage and be alone.”

She moved towards the door for the last trip to the outhouse and Anna stepped aside. “Du are very wise.”

“Thank y'all, Mother MacDonald, but ah'm sure ah have much more to learn.”

Chapter 5: Marriage

The hotel room was dark except for the half-hearted glow of a turned down lamp, and Antoinette was fussing about the bed, her hair, fiddling with her buttons, flitting towards the window, and then jerking away from it. Finally she spoke, her voice slightly exasperated. “Aren't y'all supposed to leave and let me undress?”

Lorenz smiled, his grey eyes sparkling. He was sitting on the edge of the bed, pulling off his boots. “I reckon that depends on the couple.” His voice dropped to an almost gravely rasp as he stood.

“I'd rather stay and help y'all.”

Antoinette's eyes opened wider as did her mouth. She couldn't say someone will hear us as Lorenz had rented the whole floor and the elder MacDonald's and Mina were at the other end.

Lorenz walked over to her and put his arms around her and pulled her close. “It's all right, honey. I'll help y'all.” He could feel the heat rising and his right thigh tingling. It would, he hoped, be a very long night.

His father had been very explicit about techniques and pressure points. What most men assumed was straightforward was evidently an art to Thalians. In his rush, he forgot the first time, but by the second he blessed his father. Antoinette was moaning and straining against him.

As her last shudder subsided, Antoinette closed her eyes, her thoughts jumbled, and fear stalked her mind. What was Lorenz going to say? Would he leave her? Her body had betrayed her. She must have behaved exactly like one of those women people talked about. Surely Lorenz would think he had married a loose woman and never treat her like a queen again, and now she could feel something escaping from her inmost being. Oh fiddlesticks, it couldn't be. It wasn't time.

Lorenz was slumped over her whispering, “Antoinette, Toni, my sweetheart, my love,” and she knew she had to move or the sheet and mattress would be forever ruined.

Antoinette took a deep breath and said stiffly, “Y'all will have to move now. I need to take care of something.” Her heart was racing. What would he say?

“Huh, oh, yeah, sorry,” he mumbled and rolled over to watch her. “I reckon you're right. We both need to clean up.” He remembered Papa's admonition. He had brought in an extra basin when he rented the whole floor. He also made sure the ewer and basins were clean and the ewer full of clean water before retiring. “I forgot I must be pretty heavy. I didn't hurt y'all, did I?” His voice was full of anxiety and concern.

Antoinette stood and wrapped her robe around her and moved towards the washstand. She stared with surprise at the stain on the washcloth and the water turning a different shade in the half light. How did she tell Lorenz about this?

She heard his steps behind her and his arms slipped around her and held her tight. “What's wrong, honey? Y'all haven't said anything. Did I hurt y'all? I didn't mean to. I've just been waiting so long; ever since I saw you in Saint Louis three years ago when we were sixteen.”

Antoinette closed her eyes. She had to say something, anything, but women didn't talk to men about these things, did they? Anna's words came back to her. “Men and vomen in a good marriage talk about everything. Sometimes it takes years, but in the end, they know there is no one else.” Her throat felt constricted and she found herself whispering, “No, no, ah'm fine. Ah think ah just need some rest.”

He picked her up and carried her to the bed. “That's all right, Toni. We've got the rest of our lives.”

He crawled in beside her and drew her close, smelling the faint perfume of her sweat and it was good. There's the morning, he thought to himself.

Morning did not go as he planned. He awoke after the first light of dawn. Muted sunlight slipped through the windows lighting the dark corners, and he reached for her. At first she slipped willing into his arms, and then something changed.

“Ah think ah need to rest a bit more, if y'all don't mind.” The whisper was almost choked, urgent, and he could feel her drawing away from him.

Lorenz was baffled, but did not argue. “All right, I'll go have breakfast and then come back.” He didn't use the porcelain chamber pot, but went down the stairs and out the back. Lorenz felt Antoinette would shudder in disgust if she saw his leavings.

When he returned to the front of the hotel, he headed to the restaurant with the word EATS painted across the front. As he walked in, he saw his parents and Mina already seated at one of the tables eating. He drew up a chair and greeted them. “Good morning.”

MacDonald raised his eyebrows and Anna's smile was still fixed. This wasn't like he planned, but he was young and he was hungry. He motioned to the waiter.

“I'll have an order of hash browns and gravy with a slab of ham, if y'all have it, and coffee.”

The waiter nodded and dashed to the kitchen in a show of unnecessary importance. There weren't that many townsmen in the place and business was slow after the cattle drives. Most of the townspeople of Arles might hold the MacDonald family in contempt as damn Yankees, but he knew MacDonald always left a sizeable tip.

Mina stopped eating long enough to ask. “Where's Miss Antoinette?” She was thrilled at the idea of another sister. Maybe there would be babies before long. After all, Uncle Martin and Aunt Brigetta had one baby, and they'd only been married for two years. “Should I go up and help her?”

“Nein, Mina,” admonished Anna.

“Uh, she's still sleeping.” Lorenz figured it wasn't exactly a lie. He'd have to get Papa alone. If he used mindspeak here, Mama would know and raise a fuss. Right now it was another thing he didn't care to explain to Antoinette. What the hell went wrong?

The waiter hurried in with Lorenz's coffee. “I'll be right back with your vittles.” He rushed back to the kitchen. Two of the drummers at the other table rose and left.

Lorenz sat glumly staring at the wall, and MacDonald looked at Anna and inclined his head toward Lorenz. She shrugged and continued eating. The waiter returned with his food in less than ten minutes and he fell to, scooping up the hot food and gulping the scalding coffee.

Finally Mama and Mina rose. “Should I check in on Miss,” she hesitated, “on Antoinette?”

Light came back into Lorenz's eyes. “Would you, Mama?”

She nodded. “Vhen do ve leave?”

“We plan on going to the lumber yard and see about house plans,” replied Lorenz. “If Clifford will do business with us, that is. We could be ready to leave before noon.”

Anna nodded, and held firmly onto Mina's hand as she led the way upstairs.

'Tis something amiss?' Papa's mind entered his and Lorenz continued to eat as he answered with mindspeak.

'Yeah, and I don't know what it is. Everything was fine last night, and now this morning she, well, she's acting like everything is wrong.'

MacDonald finished his coffee and spoke aloud, “Mayhap we should check the horses ere we go back up. Twill give yere mither some time to freshen up.”

Lorenz nodded and sopped up the last of the gravy. “Let's go.”

Anna marched up the stairs and deposited Mina in their room. “Du are eight and du vill vait here vhile I go talk with Antoinette.”

Mina could think of all sorts of reasons why she shouldn't, but knew Mama would be angry if she argued. She decided to be very quiet and maybe she would hear something.

Antoinette's voice quavered when she answered Anna's knock. “Who is it?”

“Antoinette, it is your mother-in-law. May I come in?” She heard the key turn the lock and the door swung open to reveal a very distressed Antoinette.

“Oh, Mother MacDonald, thank goodness. I don't know what to do and you are the only other gentlewoman around. Please, come in. Hurry, please, I want to shut this door.”

Anna stepped into the room and heard the door click behind her. It was difficult to believe that Lorenz would have hurt this woman. She took a deep breath and turned to face her new daughter-in-law. She never got her question out.

“Oh, Mother MacDonald, what am I to do? I've started the curse. Is it a punishment? It shouldn't have. I counted. I don't even have anything with me and ah can't, can't do that with Lorenz now, can I? The sheet is ruined.” Her words rushed out in a torrent.

Anna blinked her eyes and shook her head. “Ach, is that all? I have some scissors in my bag. Ve'll cut up the good part of the sheet and use some safety pins.” She smiled at Antoinette. “It's not a punishment. It's a common thing to happen to a new bride. Du should be all finished by the time ve reach home. Vait here. I'll the scissors and pins go get.”

Anna hurried to their room. Why, she wondered, was she helping this woman who stole her son? Other people, however, Anna had to admit, would say Lorenz had stolen Antoinette. She realized that Antoinette had closed the door to her previous life and now depended upon them. Anna could not forget how abandoned she felt when the Comanche had taken her away from all that she knew.

Anna entered the room to find Mina hastily backing away from the wall. “Ve are too far avay to have been heard,” she said firmly and opened her bag to extract the scissors and safety pins.

“May I go see Miss Antoinette now?”

“Nein.” Anna turned to leave, but saw the crestfallen look on her daughter's face. “Du are not old enough. This is about vomen things. Soon enough du vill be a voman. Then I vill tell du, I promise.”

Back in the other room Anna handed the scissors and pins to Antoinette and began to reassure her. “Ve'll leave for the ranch by this afternoon. It vill take almost five days to get there. Du vill be done, or almost so. Things vill be fine between du and Lorenz. Du vill have to tell him though, or he von't know.”

Antoinette didn't stop plying the scissors as she asked, “How can I do that? My goodness, I couldn't even talk to my own mother. It was Consuela who showed me how to do things when, ah, well y'all know what ah mean.” Antoinette's cheeks had turned a light pink. She finished the last snip and looked up.

“This sheet is ruined. Ah am so sorry.”

Anna shook her head. “Du vill learn to talk with each other. As for the sheet, ve vill buy material for more. I go now, and if du like, Mina and I vill join du at your breakfast.”