Amelia's Story

by C.P. Murphy

  Chapter Ten

  Anna just passed the window when she saw Thomas walking up to the house. Knowing what kind of man he was, she knew that her sister wouldn’t be happy to know he was coming to call on her. “Amelia,” she whispered to her sister sitting in an arm chair working on her needle point, “Thomas is coming. Go slip out the back door and I’ll tell him you aren’t home.”

  Amelia quickly jumped up and left her needle point where it fell. Thomas Van Martin sure had a nerve to call on her after how he behaved. “Thank you,” she whispered back and then took off towards the kitchen and went out the back door. She tiptoed around the house and then leaned against the side to listen to what excuse he had to be there.

  Anna opened the door almost immediately after he knocked. “My father isn’t home,” she said to him knowing that Thomas wasn’t there to see him.

  Thomas smiled at the young girl and took notice of how grown up she was becoming. “I know; he has sent me here to see Amelia. Where is she?” He tried to peek his head in the door to find his blushing bride-to-be but Anna shut it on him. He placed his foot down by the door so she couldn’t close it.

  “She isn’t home,” Anna stated. She didn’t want to tell him where Amelia was because she knew that fibbing wasn’t one of her strong suites. “I don’t know, she said she would be back soon and then she left,” Anna lied when she heard him ask where he could find Amelia.

  Thomas felt that Anna was playing games with him. He didn’t believe a thing the girl was saying. “Are you telling me she left and didn’t tell you where she would be?”

  “That is right,” Anna fibbed as her body twitched. She hoped that he would believe her and then go away.

  Amelia stood and listened to every word being said, unaware that a garter snake was just inches away from her shoe. She glanced down and saw it slivering towards her and let out a scream.

  Thomas was about to buy into Anna’s story when he heard the scream from the side of the house. Anna heard it too and the two of them ran outside to see what was wrong. Amelia, feeling foolish for blowing their cover, grabbed flowers to make it look as if she was picking them. The screech from her voice had made the snake squirm away; she only wished that Thomas would do the same.

  “Amelia, what are you doing?” Anna asked. It came across as concern but inside she was furious that Amelia had ruined their cover.

  Amelia looked at the others and said, “A snake,” and at that moment she forgot if she was talking about the one in the garden or the six foot man in front of her. As soon as she said the words, she noticed her tomboyish sister bending over to pick up the snake that didn’t get too far away. “Oh Anna, you put that dirty snake down right now.”

  Thomas was amused. He stood there watching the girls as if they were his entertainment. Anna held the snake and walked a few yards away to release it. She came back, wiping her hands off, when Thomas realized that he should be alone with Amelia. He turned to his fiancée and said, “Come, let’s go inside. You can give me a drink, something sweet perhaps.”

  Amelia squeezed the flowers were in her hand. She knew it wasn’t polite to have a gentleman caller in the house when her father wasn’t around. “My father isn’t home, Thomas. It wouldn’t be appropriate.” Anna nodded her head, agreeing with her sister.

  Thomas was no fool and knew that they didn’t want him around but their tactics wouldn’t work with him. “On the contrary, your father is the one who sent me here to see you. He said given our soon to be marriage, it was fine to sit with you inside away from the sun.” Thomas could tell that Anna would stay by her sister’s side and was positive that Amelia filled the girl’s head about him. He didn’t care; he had a way of making whatever she said into a lie. “Oh and Anna, he told me that if you were here that you should go call on a friend and leave us.”

  Anna gasped. She didn’t want to leave Amelia alone with Thomas and could tell by the look on her sister’s face she didn’t want to be alone with him either. “I apologize to you Thomas but Amelia and I don’t believe you.”

  Thomas was getting angry. He knew that Amelia had a stubborn streak but was seeing that the younger girl was just as stubborn if not more. He looked at the girl and said, “Do I need to go tell your father you are not listening to the message he sent?”

  Amelia heard all she cared for. She couldn’t understand why her father would allow Thomas in the house when he wasn’t there. Amelia was glad that Anna was being supportive of her but didn’t want her to get in trouble either. She already knew what Thomas was like and would have her guards up. “Go ahead, Anna. I don’t want to see you get strapped by Father.”

  “Are you sure?” Anna asked.

  Amelia was about to answer her but Thomas cut her off, “You know it only takes a few minutes to walk to his store. Shall I go tell him?”

  Not wanting to get punished, Anna turned towards Amelia and said, “All right but I’ll be back soon to help prepare dinner.” She gave her sister a hug and then dashed off. She glanced back and saw that Amelia was showing Thomas into the house. Her first thought was to hide around the outside of the house, to be there for Amelia in case she needed her, but the thought of her father catching her made her continue walking away.

  After shutting the door behind him, Thomas asked, “So what about that drink I asked for?” Though, he couldn't care less about the drink. All he cared about was being alone with her.

  Amelia was disgusted and shocked about his visit and wished that she wasn’t home when he called upon her. “I have nothing sweet. You know how things are with the tariffs on trade.” She lied again knowing she had sugar locked away in the dining room.

  “Then get me a drink of water and you will have to be my sweet,” he said to her as he placed a kiss upon her lips.

  Amelia pushed him away from her and wiped her mouth off. She was getting used to his behavior but still couldn’t stand it. “I told you to never do that again,” she pointed to the sitting-room and continued, “Go sit down and I’ll be right back with your water.”

  Thomas decided that he should apologize to Amelia for the way their picnic turned out. He knew that he didn’t think he was wrong but yet felt he should at least let her think that he respected her. He took a seat on the sofa and put his arm up on the back, leaving a spot for her to sit next to him. When she returned, he thanked her for the glass and motioned for her to sit, but she sat in the arm chair. Thomas was becoming very impatient and couldn’t wait to marry her so she would have no choice but to get close to him.

  Amelia would no sooner want to sit next to him on the sofa than she would a wild bear. “So what are you doing here?”

  “I told you, your father sent me,” he reminded her. It was all a lie. He saw Henry in his store but her father didn’t ask for him to pay her an unsupervised visit. “And,” he continued. “I want to tell you I’m sorry for what happened between us the other day.”

  “You are not,” Amelia snipped at him. She was far too angry about his behavior, angry for her father’s lie about protection, and she was angry that he allowed Thomas in the house.

  Thomas thought she was correct and perhaps she already knew him well. He felt he had every right to behave the way he did. He was apologizing, so she learned to trust him again. He couldn’t show her off to all the villagers if she never agreed to be around him. He started to lie. “I let my emotions for you carry me away and I’m sincere in my apology.”

  She couldn’t believe a word out of his mouth. “You told me last week you didn’t love me and that you were doing me a favor by marrying me. What emotions?”

  “Okay, that is true but the more I thought about our union, the more smitten on you I became.”

  Amelia shook her head. She would never accept his apologies, no matter what his reasons were. She changed the subject and find out why he was calling on her. “Why did my father send you here?”

  He had to think of something she would believe. Thomas knew that he was already stretching the trut
h and was afraid that she wouldn’t buy anymore of his stories. He told her what her father told him not to say. “Oh yes, I almost forgot. Your father bought us a wedding gift.”

  Amelia’s stomach turned. The thought receiving gifts to marry him made her sick. “What do you mean? I haven’t heard about this.”

  Thomas chuckled; she hadn’t heard yet. “He told me he would tell you more about it later but said it was fine for me to come over and share the excitement with you.”

  She groaned so low he couldn’t hear her. What was her father up to? She wondered. Thomas looked at her with enthusiasm but she wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of talking about it. As far as she was concerned, their visit was over. “Well thank you for telling me. I have to get our meal ready for this evening so if you don’t mind,” she left the rest unsaid hoping he would get the hint as she pointed towards the door.

  Though he didn’t want to leave yet, Thomas thought it was for the best. He didn’t want Henry to arrive home and see him there.

  Amelia walked towards the front door and he followed behind. Before she could open the door, Thomas grabbed her waist and pulled her next to him. Amelia tried to get free of him but he had her in an awkward position. He was embracing her when she demanded, “Thomas I told you no. Now let go of me.” He let go but not before putting his disgusting mouth on hers and leaving it there for what seemed an eternity. As soon as he showed the slightest easement, she pushed him away and told him to get out.

  Thomas was happy with himself. Every time he tasted her lips he wanted more, and he knew that soon he would have that opportunity. Once she was his wife, he’d taste her nonstop. “I’ll be seeing you soon then,” he said to her and didn’t wait to hear her reply.

  Amelia watched him walk down the street and prayed that he wouldn’t return. When he was out of sight she cried. She wished that she could feel kisses from someone who loved her. Thanks to Thomas and her father that would never happen. She wiped the tears from her face and took a bath to rid the scent of him off of her.

  Later that day while taking a walk, she passed the church and noticed that Reverend Mayer was inside. The front door was open and she could see him walking through the pews and it appeared as if he were placing something on the seats. She went inside and see what he was up to. “Hello,” she said when she stepped inside. Reverend Mayer looked her way and was surprised to see he had company. “Amelia dear, hello,” he answered. “What brings you by today?”

  Amelia sat down in one pew and he sat next to her. She thought for a moment about what her father would think but then decided that she needed to tell someone how she felt and the Reverend was the only person, besides Patrick, told him everything. She told him how uncomfortable Thomas had made her feel and how everyone seemed to think that he was a charming man. The only part she failed to tell him was meeting Patrick and the times they’ve spent together. She told him, “I don’t wish to marry him.”

  His reply surprised her. Mayer felt for her and her story and understood why she would feel that way but it was his job to teach the lessons in the bible so he said to her, “My child, you know the commandments, honor thy mother and father.” She looked at him with a pout and he continued to explain to her, “You must obey your father. I’m sure he has your welfare in mind and only wants to see you settle down with the right man.”

  “I’m obeying him,” she remarked. “But, I don’t like it and feel so trapped.”

  The Reverend reached over and patted her on the shoulders. “Parents have been prearranging their children’s marriages for many years. What your father is doing is nothing more than clearing your way to a bright future. Have patience young one; soon you’ll see that everything will be fine.” He then tapped her knee and told her he must return to work and saw her out.

  Realizing that everyone saw things the way her father did, Amelia finished her walk and again went straight to her bedroom. She lied across the bed and took a deep breath. She was losing the war and was running out of soldiers to stand behind her. Feeling exhausted, she closed her eyes and went to sleep for an afternoon nap.