Without a word, Aggie scooped up the little girls and guided a protesting Jamie back to her cabin as the grieving family headed for the dusty road.
“This has gone on long enough,” Molly stated flatly., gesturing for Andrew to follow her into the kitchen. “Time to talk. Rosemarie, take the baby and go to Aggie.”
Andrew sat glumly at the rough kitchen table as Molly made tea and sliced bread, sausage, and cheese. How unlike the times they’d shared a simple meal before his capture. He desperately regretted reproaching her for marrying the master before having a chance to reconcile.
Sarah poured steaming tea and placed a full plate before him. “Time to talk. What are we to do? We loved and needed each other once. Now I am a widow, a mother with children to protect, and a farm to run. I was made to marry our master, though I admit, it was not against my will. Thinking you dead, I feared my fate with no protection. This is a hard place to be a bondswoman with no one to defend me. I truly grieved you, but did what I had to do. Even the reverend insisted I marry Wharton. What are we to do? Now I have children to consider, Jamie is yours by birthright, though Wharton accepted him. The girls are truly Wharton’s.”
Andrew broke in. “We were truly married. I am your one true husband. I’ve never stopped loving you. All I could think of was escaping and getting back. I feared for you every hour I was gone.”
Just then, Rosemarie rushed in. “Make haste! Aggie sent me.! It’s Bartles!”
Molly blazed with resentment at Andrew’s reproach of her. Through no fault on either part she’d been left in peril. Assured by those who in authority that Andrew would not have survived his brutal Indian attack, decisions were made on her behalf. At their direction she’d accepted her fate and been married to Master Wharton. Had she tried to refuse, she faced serious consequences. Marriageable women were scarce in Jamestown. Though she truly grieved her lost husband, she was a pragmatist and worked to accommodate her marriage.
Providentially, she found her life fulfilling. Thrust into marriage and motherhood, her situation was much improved. She’d come to Jamestown with Andrew a pauper and virtual slave and in a few short years found herself a wealthy landowner, farmer, and mother. Her days were long and rigorous. With the help of Will and another bondsman, Perkins, she managed the farm and began harvesting the timber on her five-hundred acres. Young Jamie was fascinated as he busied himself with everything going on at the farmstead.
Aggie supervised Lizzie Perkins, Molly’s bondswoman in the house and at the weaving with the little girls at her knee. The farmstead ran like a well-oiled machine. There wasn’t a moment of the day that Molly could call her own. She was no longer the callow girl who’d come to Jamestown with Andrew. Had she wanted to marry, she could have had her pick of men. Grateful for her improved circumstances, she had no intention of submitting to the demands of a husband and the likelihood of having a string of babies. She gloried in her life.
Inversely, Andrew’s lot in life was far worse. Enslaved by the Indians, he’d been traded a time or two. He’d been relegated to work among the women, suffering constant abuse and humiliation. His life was a misery.. Scarred and scorned, he was the lowesst of the low. He yearned for the good times as an indentured servant with Molly.
Andrew slept most of the next forty-eight hours, only waking long enough to tend his needs and ask after the baby. With Rosemarie in attendance, the baby had little need of anyone else. Ecstatic at her reprieve, she’d barely relinquish her hold on the baby, sleeping on a pallet by its cradle. The little girls were delighted at the acquisition of the baby, vying for the chance to kiss its pink cheeks and rub its blond fuzzy head.
Even Jamie wasn’t too proud to hold it, being thoroughly tired of girls. The children insisted it was their brother, though Molly kept reminding them they didn’t know whose baby it was. “That man gave us this baby.” Addie insisted. “When Pap gave us a puppy we got to keep it. We didn’t have a baby.”
“No Addie, That’s not the way it works with babies. This baby may have a mother who’s looking for it, right now.” Molly explained.
“That’s not fair. She can just get another one. We need this one.” Addie insisted.
The baby quickly plumped up with regular feedings. The childrens’ hand-me-downs were put to good use. Rosemarie fairly doted on it, lavishing on it all the love she meant for her lost baby.
Late on the afternoon of the second day, Andrew woke and wandered through looking for Molly, encountering Rosemarie nursing the baby. He asked after Molly.
“Mistress Wharton stepped across to see Mistress Bartles.”
“No, I am looking for my wife Molly, not Mistress Wharton.” He explained.
“The only Molly I’ve met is Mistress Molly Wharton. I just came after the baby got here.” she answered.
He found Molly watching the children at play in the backyard. “Whose children are those?” he asked.
“They are mine. After you were gone, we all thought you were dead. I found I was to have your child. To save me from trouble, James Wharton married me. You know what can happen to a bondswoman found with child. Jamie is your child, though James Wharton gave him his name.” she paused.
“You married Wharton! How could you marry Wharton? Why didn’t you wait? You didn’t even give me the chance to get back! How could you marry so soon?” he demanded of her.
Will and Aggie walked up, having seen them in conversation. It was clear Andrew was overwrought. Will addressed Andrew. “Hold your peace, man. Wharton saved her by the marrying. She could have been punished or sold to another. She was fortunate he offered. She’d have been foolish to refuse. Your capture left her in a grave situation.”
Molly spoke. “I’ll thank you to compose yourself. Will, can you put him up? Come children!” With that, she left them, stalking to the house.
James Andrew Wharton made his appearance seven months later, a hearty little fellow. His parents and Will and Aggie Bartles purely doted on him. Molly was amused that she’d ever thought James or Aggie stern, especially as they coddled and spoke nonsense to Jamie. Molly and Aggie enjoyed their new status as free citizens and were active in church.
James Wharton lost some of his austere persona with the happiness of his marriage. Molly’s relationship with him blossomed as she had leisure to spoil him, a luxury she and Andrew had never enjoyed. She was surprised to find him a skilled and generous lover with none of the urgency she’d experienced with Andrew. Before Jamie was a year old, she was pregnant again. James was ecstatic to see his family increasing. He engaged a young bondswoman woman to help Molly as soon as he could. James had expanded his acreage and engaged another man soon after they married.
Molly gave birth to a girl she named for Addie then little Hannah the next year. She teased James that he’d tricked saying he wouldn’t be a virile husband then landed her two babies in a year. He added rooms as the family grew, including one for Josie, the bondswoman. The children called Addie and Will grandparents. The family truly thrived.
The four years Molly shared with James were precious, all the more because she knew she wouldn’t have him with her forever. One evening after supper, he took her hand. “Mollygirl, I am old. When I work hard, it pains my chest. I want you to know, you are the best part of my life. I have my affairs in order. I will engage another man to ease my labor, but I won’t be with you much longer.”
Molly wept softly in his arms. “I will always love you, dearest.”
He began spending his days around the house with Molly as the bondsman worked the farm. Two months later, Molly went to wake him for breakfast and found he’d left left. She’d lost two husbands before she was twenty-five.
She grieved James as Will Bartles helped her learn to run the farm along with the two bondsman, though not a day passed that she didn’t think of his strength and kindness. One morning as she hung clothes on the line, a man in buckskins came running from the woods. She was gathering her little ones to run when she heard a familiar voice calling, “Molly! Molly!”
Aggie and Molly sat down with Bartles at the day’s end telling her troubling situation.
“Molly, if I had money, I’d gladly buy your bond. We hardly have two pennies to rub together. I’ll talk to Master Wharton for you. He’s a fair man. Losing two bondsmen has left him in a dire situation as well. I will speak to him now.” With that, he left the women, and strode to Master Barton’s house on his mission. In an hour or so he was back. “Molly, Master Wharton wants to speak with you. Aggie, come with us as witness.”
Molly felt panicked, not prepared to deal with her fate so soon. She had no idea what awaited her as she walked in his back door. Master Wharton greeted them.
“Come in the front room. This is no talk for the kitchen.” Though she’d cleaned it every day since her arrival, Molly felt she was seeing the room for the first time with its golden pine walls, large fireplace, table and chairs, and bench. A large quilt covered-bed filled one corner. She’d swept and scrubbed the pine floor with lye-water till it was white-bleached. Even though it had never been her home, it had become familiar and dear, especially since she and Andrew had so recently occupied the small bedroom off the kitchen. It was certainly the most comfortable dwelling she’d ever lived in.
“Let’s get straight to our business.” Molly felt a sense of doom at his terse demeanor. Battles has explained your situation. You know mine. We have to assume Andrew is dead. I have to engage another bondsman or a couple. My cash stores are depleted. A woman in your position is in peril. I have two offers to buy your bond, both single men. There is the possibility, but no promise you might be offered marriage, though of course, neither man is aware of your condition. I cannot guess how that might change their offers.
I have grown fond of both you and Andrew over the past months. I loathe the idea of your falling into peril. Though I am an fifty-seven years old and you but a girl, I offer you marriage. I realize you cannot expect the comfort a young man could give you, but offer I marriage if you desire it. I would welcome your child as my own. I had never thought to know the joy of a wife and children again after losing my family. You can take some time to think before giving me your decision.
Molly had come in expecting to learn she’d be cast out, not offered marriage. Even though she’d had little time to grieve Andrew’s loss, she knew she needed Master Wharton’s protection. This was a time for reason, not emotion. The welfare of her child was her main consideration.
“I’d be honored to be your wife.” She answered.
Wharton nodded. “I’ll ask the minister to announce the banns. Battles, can Molly reside with you till our marriage? I want no gossip.”
“Certainly, Master Wharton. We’d be honored.” He and Aggie were beaming.
“And call me James. You are a free man now.” He directed.
“Yes indeed, James. My name is Will. “The men shook hands heartily and James embraced Aggie. He turned to Molly. “I won’t kiss you till after we wed. James, make sure there is no gossip on my wife’s good name.” With that, he took both Molly’s hands in his. “I will keep out of the house while you are about your duties until we marry.”
Bud and I are not the best at commemorating special days. Despite this, we are coming up on fifty-five years so I guess things have somehow worked out.
One year, I was feeling appreciative of our relationship and bought Bud a really beautiful card. I left the card with a box of chocolates, the memento he’d really appreciate, on his bedside table where he’d see it as he came home from his nightshift.
It happened to be my day off, so I waited for his reaction. He came in carrying a bag of Valentine treats a co-worker had gifted the staff. His cheeks were puffed out with candy, so he was obviously enjoying the holiday.
In a few minutes he came back up front with his box of chocolates under his arm and settled in his recliner to enjoy the news. When I went back to check, I noticed he’d never even opened his card. I was infuriated.
“Where’s my valentine?” I demanded.
With his mouth full of candy, he replied. “I didn’t know it was Valentine’s Day.”
My grandma was in the hospital. We had a houseful of company and we didn’t go to Miss Laura Mae’s house for several days. I was happy to be sitting on her top step with a biscuit again.
“Well, I ain’t seen y’all in a month of Sundays,” she said “Where you been?”
“Right there at the house,” answered Mother. “I’m so tired I can hardly wiggle. Bill’s mama thought she was having a heart attack and they kept her in the hospital overnight. It turns out it was just a hernia. She was doing fine but they still kept her overnight for tests. They were supposed to let her out the next morning. You know how Dr. Hawkins is. You can’t go to see him without him wanting to keep you overnight for tests. Anyway, she was sleeping and the nurse came to check on her. Miz Swain thought she was seeing a ghost and got all upset, convinced she was dying. She had the nurse call Bill to call all the kids in. You know she has seven.
Anyway, all the kids and in-laws came flocking in to the house along with all their kids. There was no need to all pile in at the house and stay all that time. They all live within ten miles of us. I don’t know what good they thought they were doing, anyway. Next thing, her two brothers and their wives showed up. Somebody called her step-brother from way down in South Louisana and told him it might be his last chance to see her. They couldn’t have been close. They hadn’t seen each other in more than twenty years.” Mother complained.
“Lordy, was she really that sick? That sounds like a mess.” Miss Laura Mae offered.
“No, nothing was bad wrong. She’s just the superstitious type and was convinced it was a sign she was going to die. Anyway, the whole bunch hung around the rest of the night and visited the next day, like it was their last chance to see each other. They made a bunch of long distance phone calls, which I know they’ll never pay for, ate up my week’s supply of groceries, drank up all my coffee, and even used up all the toilet paper. Even after she got out of the hospital, they kept right on visiting. The kids were running in and out banging the doors, screaming and yelling like a bunch of heathens. I stayed behind them with the broom and mop, but it was hopeless. It was horrible. I thought they never would go home. I am so tired, I could sleep for a week. We are out groceries. I don’t even have any dry beans left. We’ll be eating biscuits and gravy till payday.” Mother sighed.
“You know, my mother had a stroke last summer. They didn’t know if she’d make it. She lives out in Texas. I wanted to go, but we talked about it and Bill decided we really didn’t have the money. I didn’t get to go for three months. It’s strange how when it’s the man, it is so different. It makes me mad all over we didn’t go when Mama was sick. I could have missed my last chance then. Why are men so selfish?”
“Honey, that’s why I never married agin after Floyd died. Most men think they own their women, an’ women don’t need to do nuthin’ but tend to them, the younguns, an’ the house an’ garden. I wasn’t much past forty and still had a couple of younguns to raise when Floyd died, but it was a lot easier for me to take in ironin’, sew for the public, babysit, or sit with the elderly or the sick than have to answer to another man. Now, don’t get me wrong. They’s a’plenty o’ good men out there, but they do that one bad thing. They just keep on a’breathing in an’ breathin’ out.”
They both laughed till tears were running down their faces.
My grandparent’s wedding picture, though this is not their story. I am posting an extra story today as an early Christmas gift.
The situation Joe had most dreaded had come to a head at Anya’s most vulnerable time. Making a run for it with two little ones and a newborn would be futile. He’d just have to face this situation straight on. No one was going to hurt Anya and rip his family apart after they’d struggled so hard to be together.
Seeing Anya’s joy in Rose Anya was bittersweet, knowing what he’d have to tell her, but he could let her have this day unmarred. Emma had left a pot of soup bubbling on the hearth. Joe decided to do nothing but necessary chores and store up the joy of this day. When Anya wasn’t holding Rose Anya, he was. The little ones played happily in the warmth of family.
Joe didn’t allow himself to think of the preacher and sheriff’s impending visit. The sheriff didn’t wait a few days, just showed up with the preacher the next morning, probably to avoid the problem of having to pursue them. Joe greeted them gruffly. The sheriff was a definite threat, and Joe had never known kindness, only judgment from church folk.
“I know why you are here. I ain’t gonna let you make trouble for us. My wife just gave birth to an early baby and she ain’t strong
“We need to talk to her. I just need the preacher to say if she’s the same woman you married. We won’t take much of your time.” The sheriff stood his ground.
The preacher rocked back and forth with his hands clasped behind him. “Lord knows we hate to bother you, but the sheriff says this has got to be done. I’d be obliged if we could get it over with so I can get back to town. I got a couple that wants marrying.”
Grudgingly, Joe showed them in. “Anya, this here is the sheriff and the preacher what married us. I know you remember him, even though you was so sick.”
Anya’s eyes widened in fear, taking the situation in. “Why shore I do. A woman don’t fergit her weddin’. Welcome preacher. I cain’t git up cause I’m nursing my baby. She’s a mite early an’ I don’t want to jostle her. She ain’t strong an’ needs to nurse.”
“Why shore, Ma’am. Good to see you again. That baby is a tiny little thing. I wouldn’t want to unsettle her. It’s good to see things working out so good for you.” Anya took heart from his kind words.
The sheriff took his cue. “Ma’am, I’m sorry I had to bother you, but I needed to git the preacher to identify you. I am glad ever’thing worked out so good. Joe, you take care of this fine woman an’ that purty, little baby. I got to be going.”
“Sheriff, if you can wait a few minutes, this little one needs christening. It’s a long trip to town an’ I can git the job done as long as I’m here,” the preacher addressed the sheriff.
“Why shore. I’ll just wait outside.” He left them alone.
The preacher faced Joe and Anya. “I don’t know how I done it, but I realized after y’all left that night I never gave you a certificate. I’d like to marry you again an’ make sure ever’thing’s right before I christen that baby if that’s alright with you. I disremember the date, but you can help with that. Then we can git that little feller taken care of. The Lord wouldn’t want me to leave a job half-done.”
I just love doing these. It delights me to see how other writers think. I hope you will want to finish this story.
Jennifer and Jerome had been married for five years and not been able to conceive. Because they were Jewish, as a part of their genetic workup before starting infertility treatment, they learned that Jennifer carried a recessive gene for Tays-Sachs Disease, a fatal degenerative of the brain and spinal cord. Jerome did not carry the gene. They were relieved to learn their children would not be affected.
During a rough patch in their marriage, Jennifer had a brief affair with a coworker in her Baton Rouge office. She ended the affair, confided her indiscretion to Jerome, and they decided to reconcile and go ahead with infertility treatment. Following a negative pregnancy test, Jennifer had invitro fertilization. In days, Jennifer’s pregnancy was confirmed. Upon ultrasound, the doctor was concerned her fetus was larger expected. Follow up lab confirmed the fetus was positive for Tay-Sachs Disease, Her pregnancy had resulted from her affair. Finish the story.
Nutsrok 