“I can make some biscuits and heat up the leftover beef from last night if you’d like.”
“Make it quick!” Millicent gave her a glare before she marched out of the kitchen.
A heavy sigh slipped out, and Georgie’s shoulders sagged. This was going to be much harder than she had imagined. She made the noon meal only to have Millicent insist she wasn’t hungry. Taggart and Stookey were happy to eat it at least. They usually ate in the bunkhouse, but all the men were out chasing down cattle and moving them to different pastures.
After she cleaned the dishes, she decided to put her new clothes away. Her heart sang in anticipation of opening all the packages. She hummed as she climbed the stairs and went into Parker’s room. Her humming stopped as she stood there with her mouth hung open. Everything was gone. Immediately she went to the wardrobe and opened it but it was almost empty. She went into her room and opened that wardrobe. It contained two puritan looking dresses with aprons and her underthings. Her scratchy nightgown was there too. She pulled out the two dresses. They were identical, both brown and made with cheap cloth. They didn’t have any adornments on them. There were two buttons in the back. They were also long sleeved. What was going on? Parker’s mother must be mad in the head. Much madder than Parker had explained.
Should she confront the crazy lady or just let it be? Her first instinct was to throw the dresses at the bat crazy, woman but she decided that remaining calm would be the best bet. Millicent thought of her as a maid, not her son’s wife. Did it make a difference? She’d be doing all the work anyway. But it was maddening that the woman thought she could do this.
She still had the dress she was wearing. She’d have to hide it and find the other clothes. If she ignored the old lady, would that be for the best or would it make things worse? Why hadn’t Parker stayed a few days longer?
She put the dresses back and closed the door to the wardrobe. She jumped when she realized that Millicent was in the room. She held a big knife in one hand and a crop in the other.
Georgie took a few steps back and took a deep breath. She’d stared down armies before but Millicent scared her. “What are you doing?” She tried to sound casual.
“Teaching you your place. Since you are of no use to me, you being a fake O’Rourke, you’ll be my maid. I have certain expectations. One is that you wear your uniform. Put it on!” She took a menacing step toward Georgie.
The crazed look in her eye convinced Georgie to go along with it. “Sure, I can do that.” Maybe she could find something to hit Millicent with but there wasn’t anything in the bedroom. She took out one of the brown dresses and put it on with Millicent staring at her the whole time. She was no Southern lady.
“Hand me the dress you’re wearing!”
Georgie hesitated before she handed her dress over. Millicent was going too far. But how to get the drop on her? Georgie would have to wait for an opportunity.
“Now the kitchen floor needs scrubbing before you chop wood and then make dinner. A decent dinner this time.” Millicent smirked as she pretended to stab Georgie with the knife.
Swallowing hard, Georgie nodded and walked out of the room and down the stairs, fully aware of the threat of being stabbed at any time.
“Taggart, make sure she does the work we talked about. Use the crop I gave you on her. Do remember she is my son’s wife so while you may beat her you can’t touch her in a personal way. Got it?”
“Yes, ma’am.” Taggart grinned as he eyed Georgie.
Georgie gasped. The gleam in Taggart’s eyes didn’t bode well for her. Stookey had to be around somewhere. He’d protect her. She didn’t dare ask where he was. Instead, she went into the kitchen, rolled up her sleeves, filled a bucket with hot water, and added soap flakes to it. She got down on her hands and knees and scrubbed the wooden floor. It wasn’t anything she hadn’t done during the war. If Millicent thought to make her leave, she had another thought coming.
An hour later, Georgie was finished. After standing and stretching, she dumped the dirty water outside and poured herself a glass of cool water.
“Thank you,” Taggart laughed as he took the glass from her and drank it down. “No water for you. You’d best get to chopping the wood.”
Georgie gave him her best glare and turned to go out the door when she felt the searing pain of the crop against her shoulder. The hurt took her breath away but she quickly recovered and walked outside. Her only satisfaction was she hadn’t screamed.
There was more than enough chopped wood piled against the house. This chore was punishment. She looked for a pair of gloves as she picked up the axe. There weren’t any. For a moment, she thought to use the axe on Taggart but he carried a sidearm. There wasn’t any choice but to do the work.
It wasn’t the first time she’d chopped wood but the calluses she’d built up had disappeared and it was going to hurt like hell. She put a log on the chopping block, raised the axe, and cut the wood in half. Then she needed to cut the two halves into new halves. She chopped for well over an hour she figured, according to the position of the sun. Now she had to stack it. It wasn’t the work that made her mad, though. It was Taggart watching her that did. He was the lowest type of man.
“Where is Stookey?” she asked.
“He’ll be gone by tomorrow. Mrs. Eastman fired him.” Taggart smiled smugly as though he found great pleasure in Stookey’s misfortune.
She made sure to keep her expression unchanged. Taggart would get no satisfaction from her. She walked to the water pump and washed her hands. She cupped water in her hand and drank some. She jumped at the excruciating sting that assaulted her other shoulder. Closing her eyes, she tried to breathe through her pain. She straightened up nice and tall, lifted her chin a bit, and walked inside.
She found some beans that had soaked overnight, perhaps left by the cowboy who had cooked their dinner, and now they were soft enough to cook. She went down into the root cellar. The door to the root cellar was a panel in the floor of the large pantry. There wasn’t much down there just lamp oil and a few lamps. She frowned as her eyes adjusted to the dark. Parker would know better than to allow the root cellar to be empty. She’d have to get canning anything and everything. Why weren’t they prepared for an Indian attack or a tornado? Union Soldiers would certainly be enough of a reason to fill it to the brim.
The panel fell closed and she was sent into pitch darkness. She went to the steps and tried to push the panel up. She heard Taggart laugh. What was wrong with him? The dark had been her friend more than once, so she didn’t care. She sat down and prayed for a while. She prayed for all the people who were homeless and all the folks who had lost loved ones. She prayed for Parker’s safety and for Millicent’s madness to go away. If only she had an escape plan. Between Millicent and Taggart, she could very well be dead by the time Parker returned.
If he really loved her, he wouldn’t have left her with his mother and Taggart. It was a very poor choice and he’d had to have known it.
“Who is going to cook dinner? You Taggart? Do you know how to cook?” Millicent screeched.
Instantly, the panel was opened. Georgie acted as though nothing was amiss. She climbed out and put more wood in the cook stove. She then put the beans on the top of it and after that, she walked out the door.
A smile tugged at her lips when she heard Taggart cursing to keep up with her. She opened the door to the smokehouse that she had found while exploring earlier and used the sharp knife inside of it to cut off a hunk of pork. She put the knife back down, careful to keep her movements casual, as though the knife were of no consequence, but it was wonderful to know where one was kept. Then she hurried to the house, set the pork on the counter, and after grabbing a basket, she hurried back outside.
She took a moment to pull more weeds before she pulled up an onion and two carrots. Some creeping plants off to one side yielded a lot of green beans. She took a moment to wipe the perspiration from her brow before going back inside to make dinner.
; Taggart sat at the small table looking bored. Well, too bad. He’d probably thought it would be fun to guard her, but he was finding out differently.
Her feet hurt, but she didn’t sit to snap off the ends of the beans. Back in Tennessee, they ate the whole thing if they were even lucky enough to find green beans. She had planted a garden in the woods, out of sight. It didn’t matter which army came, they always pillaged for food. In the woods, so many animals had ravaged her garden but she’d been able to feed herself and many of the freedmen, though their meals had been very meager.
Everything went into the pot, and she stirred it. Then she got busy making corn bread. Tomorrow she’d need to gather eggs and find out if there was a milk cow nearby. They were nearly out of both. There were more than enough chores to do that chopping unneeded wood was just crazy.
Her hands were a bloody mess and they pained her, so she nearly cried in relief when she discovered a basket in the pantry with medical supplies. She took the basket and set it on the table. After she pulled out a roll of cloth bandages and set it next to the basket she hunted for some salve. There wasn’t any. She gently wrapped her blisters. It didn’t help much, but it would give them a bit of protection.
She stood to return the basket when Taggart grabbed her arm, hard. “I don’t ever want to see scissors in your hand again. You ask for permission. Got it?”
The grip he had on her arm hurt and she could picture the bruise he’d leave on her. “I got it.”
“The table needs to be set, Georgia!” Millicent called from the front room.
There was simply no end. Georgie walked into the dining room and began to set the table but Millicent came in and proceeded to show her the errors of her ways.
“Only two plates, one for me and one for Mr. Taggart.”
“And Mr. Stookey? Where is he going to eat?”
Millicent shrugged her shoulders. “In the bunk house, I suppose. You can bring him one bowl. As for you, you’re to eat in the kitchen as your station in life dictates.”
“My station? I’m your son’s wife and an O’Rourke. I do believe I have some relations in Texas. I’ll need to get in touch with them. But never mind, I’d rather eat alone.” She turned and immediately felt the leather thongs of the crop bite into her neck and under her chin. She almost doubled over. Millicent had used every bit of her strength.
When Georgie touched her neck, she encountered wetness and when she lowered her hand, blood was on her fingers. There was no way she’d stay. Perhaps Stookey could help her. Her body shook as she walked back into the kitchen.
After serving Millicent and Taggart their meal, she stole into Parker’s study and sat behind his desk. She looked for something to write with. She found parchment paper and ink. She dipped the quill she’d also found and wrote her husband a letter.
Dear Husband
I hope all is well with you. Other arrangements need to be made here at the house. Your mother took away my clothes and left me with a maid’s clothing. She has Taggart guard me as I do chore after chore. I had to chop wood today. We already had plenty of wood. Taggart hit me twice with the crop and your mother hit me on my neck and under my chin, drawing blood. I’m hoping I won’t be left with scars. I’m happy to do chores but not when I’m whipped.
Stookey has been fired. I have no one to defend me. I hope you receive this letter because I’m pinning all my hope on you.
Your Faithful Wife
Georgie
She hurriedly put everything back where it was and tucked the sealed letter in her apron pocket. Then she snuck back into the kitchen. Could she possibly take the crop away from Taggart? Her heart sunk. He’d been a soldier, and he’d punish her if he even knew she was considering it. She hurried into the dining room and gave them both seconds before she brought Stookey his meal.
She gasped loudly. He was curled up into a ball on a bunk. She put the food on the table and then went to his side. “Mr. Stookey? Oh, Stookey, what have they done to you?” She only saw half of his face but his eye was swollen closed. Blood had dried around his nose and mouth. Even his neck had bruises on it. She touched his back and he cried out in pain.
Tears filled her eyes. “I’m so sorry about this. I’m going to slip a letter I want posted into your saddlebag. Then I’m going to get a few supplies to help you to feel better. I’ll be right back.”
Enraged, she ran to the house, intent on confronting Taggart, but he stood at the door waiting for her.
“You are not to leave this house without my permission! Get in here. I’m going to make sure you never forget to ask.”
“Taggart, please I need to tend to Stookey. He’s in a bad way.”
Taggart laughed at her. “You need to worry about yourself. Lean over the table!”
She shook her head and took a step back. “No.”
“Oh yes.” He grabbed her and pushed her down onto the table. “If you move, I’ll make it so you can’t walk.”
He took out the crop and hit her over and over. There wasn’t a place he missed. Her back, bottom, and thighs were lashed. She couldn’t help but cry out and scream, even though it was useless. No one would rescue her. She sobbed and just when she thought she was going to pass out, he stopped. He shoved her off the table and she hit the floor hard. Then he we walked out, leaving her where she had fallen.
Moving was near impossible, but she did it. She stood and besides the excruciating agony caused by her injuries, she was dizzy. How far was the nearest neighbor? Where was the nearest town? Why hadn’t she asked Parker before he’d left? She needed to find her relations. They lived South of Fort Worth, but she didn’t know exactly where Fort Worth was. She hobbled into Parker’s study and locked the door. It took a long time but she managed to jam a chair under the doorknob.
The beautiful amber color of the whiskey on the sideboard called to her. She poured herself a little and drank it down. It burned a bit, but it eased her pain some. She poured much more into a glass and carried the glass and decanter to the sofa, setting both on one of the side tables. She grabbed the blanket that hung over the back of the sofa. Everything she did brought more hurt. Next, she made sure the window shutters were secured on the inside.
Taking a few more swigs of the whiskey, she took off her dreadful maid’s dress. She had to get all her clothes off or they would stick to the blood, and getting them off after that would be too much to bear. Her stomach churned as she forced herself to drink more whiskey, but it was helping with the pain. Finally, she lay on her stomach and slept.
Chapter Four
For two days, Taggart and Millicent tried to get her out of the study. She didn’t bother to answer them. At one point, she heard Millicent ask Taggart if Georgia was dead. They even broke the window but the shutters wouldn’t allow entrance. The house was superbly made. The only things she lacked were food and water. She found bottles of whiskey in a closet but no food. It didn’t matter. She wasn’t very hungry anyway.
She wanted to laugh, but she knew if she started she’d grow hysterical and never stop. She had survived the Union Army and stood her ground with the Confederates and every other person who thought they could take advantage of her. Then when the Yankees burned the house, she’d survived that too. Unfortunately, she’d been the only surviving member of her family that awful day.
With God’s help, she had made it through and was able to help others in need. Now here she was being hunted by a crazy woman and her henchman. She rubbed her hand across the mahogany desk. Parker must have had some inkling of what he left her to face. She sat in his chair and dropped her face in her hands. The motion brought on a surge of throbbing and stinging, and she let out a whimper. But pain was the least of her worries. Soon she’d need food.
Her search for a weapon had been futile. Who didn’t keep a gun in their desk drawer? She prayed that Stookey was able to heal up and get her letter to Parker. She really had no idea where her husband was. The more she thought about it, the more she feared that she’d displea
sed him the night before he left. It added up. He hadn’t even said goodbye to her. It didn’t make any sense that he’d leave her with Taggart. He’d seen the way the man looked at her when they’d come upon them along the journey here.
The betrayal sliced her heart. He obviously didn’t love her, so why say he did? Had he thought she’d be able to handle his mother? He didn’t seem to even know how mad his mother really was. There hadn’t been a single visitor paying Millicent a social call during the four or so days Georgie had been there.
It was growing dark outside. She waited until she heard two bedroom doors close. Now would be the time to grab some food and water. Then she’d search the study for a map. Her head had been too fuzzy from the spirits she drank to do it earlier.
Not daring to light a lamp, she tiptoed out to the hall and then on to the kitchen. As quietly as she could she gathered provisions to last her a few weeks. Then she took the pitcher of water. Carefully she returned to the study. She locked the door and shoved the chair under the doorknob again. She went to the sideboard to sort her bounty when she heard Taggart clear his throat.
She whirled around and faced him. He was well hidden in the shadows. Fear coursed through her, and her body trembled.
“You sure thought you had me outwitted. You made me look like a buffoon who couldn’t handle a slip of a woman. I’m so tempted to show you who’s in charge but Mrs. Eastman wouldn’t like it. I have a good job here and I plan to keep it as long as possible. I do have some sad news for you. Stookey died and he wasn’t able to pass along your letter. Poor Stookey, he didn’t know how to mind his own business.”
She felt the blood drain from her face. “He’s dead?” Her heart thumped painfully against her chest. She inched her way toward the door.
“Where do you think you’re going?” The amusement in his voice angered her.
Tattered Hearts: Mail Order Brides of Spring Water Book One Page 5
