He led me to the nearest hotel saloon. “Oh, I shouldn’t go in there,” I whispered and stayed back.
He took my hands in his, and his face turned serious. “Amelia, it is no coincidence that you and I have been reunited today. It has been my intention all along.”
My eyes opened wide with disbelief. Perry Montgomery had returned to Savannah just to see me!
We sat at a table in the far corner and he ordered a mint julep for me and bourbon for him. The pretty saloon girl didn’t seem to think anything of us, barely making eye contact as she set the drinks down.
“Anything else?” she asked.
“I need a room for the night,” he said, smiling across at me.
I took a gulp of my drink; my throat was parched from the long day.
“Yes, sir. I’ll take care of that for you.”
He sat back, sipped on his drink, and stared at me. From my neck to my face a heated blush rose, and I bashfully looked away. He always had a way of drinking me in and gazing straight through me, right into my soul. I took another gulp and tried to relax, waiting for him to reveal all the details of how he came to Savannah to see me. But instead, he wanted to know what I was doing in Savannah.
“What were you doing alone at the train station? Do you know what just about happened to you?”
I didn’t know what to say. Should I confess the truth and reveal all the events that led me to escaping the walls of Sutton Hall? I asked myself. Or was a lie in order, just to save myself, and Perry Montgomery as well, from unnecessary grief?
I quickly decided to tell him half truths. I told him about the state of the plantation and my brother’s arrival, of course leaving out the details of our secret relationship and Daddy’s departure. I described Warren and revealed his marriage proposal, making that the reason I ran away.
“I can’t marry him; I don’t love him!” I cried.
“There, there, sweet Amelia. You don’t have to marry that man. You shouldn’t marry him,” he said in a hushed voice, reaching over and dabbing the tears off my cheeks with the tips of his fingers.
“I don’t?” I sniveled.
“My wife is long buried, my children are gone away with their grandparents, my plantation is no more. My intentions were to volunteer for the Confederate Army, but I couldn’t gather enough courage, I confess, and I am ashamed,” he said in a hushed voice. He leaned in close to whisper in my ear. “I feared that if I died in battle, I would never be with you. I love you, Amelia. I came back to Savannah to ask for your hand in marriage and to take you away. I’m leaving for Florida tomorrow, and I want you to come with me. Will you do me the honor and agree to be my wife?” he asked, placing a soft kiss on my lips.
Just when it seemed that no one cared for me anymore, there was Perry Montgomery, who began a lengthy private confession. For all the months that had passed, as his grief over his losses nearly consumed him, it was the thought of returning to ask for my hand in marriage that kept him from falling into the deepest despair.
I didn’t know what to think. I was speechless. Perry Montgomery loved me, loved me and wanted to marry me. I wasn’t sure if I’d heard it right.
Perry noticed my uncertainty, and before I could ask a barrage of questions, he quickly took my hands in his and looked deep into my eyes. “Marry me, Miss Amelia Arrington, and I will make you the happiest woman alive,” he implored. “This I promise you.”
“But Eugenia? Daddy? What will they say?” I stammered, unsure, confused. “We can’t go to her. She will not allow you and me to be married. She will think it’s sinful, as we are related,” I implored for him to understand.
“We’re only related by marriage.” he patted my hands and added reassuringly, “It’s all right. We won’t go to her. Your father isn’t here. We will go away without their consent. Without anyone’s consent. I am fine with that.”
“Eugenia will think it is improper, sinful, and wicked,” I said, recalling the night she forced me into the church and made me beg for mercy for being such a sinful, evil girl, just like my mother. Then, I instantly thought of Patrick, my beloved Patrick. Was there any hope for us at all? I asked myself as I looked deep into Perry’s eyes. Had there ever been a future for us? I wanted to think so in the worst way. But it wasn’t Patrick sitting there before me, begging me to run off with him. No, Patrick Garrett hated me, left me, cursed our love, or what I thought was love.
All at once I went from wishing that Patrick and I could run away together and live as lovers to becoming Perry Montgomery’s wife and running off with him instead. After all the years I had dreamed of him and had written about my infatuation with the most handsome man in Savannah in my journal, never once did I consider those dreams would ever come true.
My predicament certainly left me with no other choice, and after being forsaken by Patrick and madder than ever at him, wishing I’d never laid eyes on him, I was, in fact, joyful and relieved.
“I will marry you.”
We wasted no time and went to the justice of the peace. It didn’t matter that I hadn’t a proper wedding dress or even a clean dress, for that matter. It didn’t concern me that my hair was unkempt and there was no wedding ring, nor was there an impending celebration. All that mattered to me then was I no longer needed Patrick Arrington to make me happy and that I was away from the lustful eyes of Warren Stone and far from the rage of my evil stepmother.
I floated from one dream to another. It felt surreal when the justice of the peace pronounced us man and wife and Perry embraced me and kissed me. I hadn’t a chance to catch my breath or to catch up to the reality of what was happening before we were up in the hotel room, alone, preparing for our first night together.
At that moment my mind caught up with the day’s traumatic events, leaving me trembling with anxiety. Perry came half undressed, lifted me, and gently placed me on the bed. I tried not to let him see my fear, but he felt me quiver with each kiss he placed on my neck as he worked the buttons of my dress.
“I will be gentle. You have no idea how long I have waited for this night, how I’ve played this dream over and over in my mind,” he murmured. “You don’t have to do a thing, just let me love you. Allow me to properly consummate our marriage.”
I closed my eyes, trying to fight the panic that was setting in. I continued to see Patrick’s face flashing in my mind. I felt as if I were betraying him. As much as I wanted to share myself with Perry, it was Patrick who consumed me as I reacted to the lustful kisses. Finally, I surrendered to his affections.
“It will only hurt for a moment,” he assured me. My hands gripped into his bare back, trying to contain my screams of pain. He pressed his lips firmly onto mine, muffling my agonized moans.
“Oh, Amelia, you excite me. You are, my lovely flower, oh…” he groaned, and though I feared what was about to happen next, I couldn’t stop it. Then, it was over. Perry lay beside me catching his breath. I rolled over to my side and began to sob.
“It’s all right. It was difficult for Myrna the first time as well.” He snuggled up against me. “Soon you will come to enjoy it. It only hurts the first time or two,” he assured me, then turned me over and kissed me. I stared up into his dreamy eyes, knowing he was sincere.
“I love you. I wouldn’t do anything to hurt you. You believe me, don’t you?”
I nodded yes. I did want to be with him; I wanted his love. I hadn’t regretted our becoming man and wife and having him love me as a husband should.
Perry fell asleep and I sat up and watched him for a while. He slept peacefully with a natural smile. It was difficult to fathom all that had occurred, and I was too emotionally and physically exhausted to go over it in my mind any longer. Instead, I eased down under the covers, nuzzled close to him, and said a silent goodbye to Patrick, the only other man who would always have a secret place in my heart, even if he never loved me at all.
~ ~ ~
~ Twenty-six ~
The morning sun shone through the dusty window
and onto my face. I had been sleeping soundly all night, dreaming only of happy days to come for Perry and me.
I stretched and finally opened my eyes and smiled to myself. I was Mrs. Perry Montgomery! Perry wanted me, needed me, longed for me, and would forever love me. The day seemed just a little brighter because he loved me.
I rolled over and noticed he wasn’t in bed. He had scribbled a quick note to me, left on his pillow.
Amelia,
I had to run an important errand. I should be back before you rise. If not, dress and wait for me.
Perry
I glanced over at the clock. It read eleven. I jumped out of bed and began to freshen up. There was water in the pitcher and a bar of soap lying on a cloth beside it. I washed my face, and as I was patting dry, there was a rap on the door, followed by the voice of the saloon girl.
“Mrs. Montgomery?” she called, however, she didn’t wait for my reply and eased the door open.
I wasn’t dressed, and I snatched the bed sheet to shield my nakedness.
“I’m terribly sorry for disturbing you.”
“What is it? Can’t you see I’m dressing?” I snapped. It was rude of her to barge in without permission.
“It’s Mr. Montgomery,” she said.
“What about him!”
“He’s. . . he’s . . .” she stammered.
I was becoming irritated. “He’s what?”
“He’s been killed.”
Instantly the room started spinning and I fell to the floor, passing out from the shock.
I must have been out for some time. I woke dressed and lying in the bed of the same hotel room, with the saloon girl applying a cool cloth to the bump on my head.
In a flash I tried rise, but she guided me back down. “Easy. Don’t get up just yet. Here, take a sip of cider,” she said and eased the glass to my lips.
I pushed it away. “Where is my husband?”
Her face was forlorn and full of pity for me.
“His body is at the undertaker’s.”
I would have never thought I had a tear left to shed after the harrowing days I’d recently endured, but they flowed continuously, saturating the pillow beneath my throbbing head. I went from light sobbing to full-blown bawling.
The girl hushed me, trying to calm me down, but I ordered her to go away. “Leave me alone!”
She didn’t take my callousness personally. “If you need me, I will be down in the saloon.”
As soon as she was gone, I got up out of the bed. I was emotionally numb. I felt dizzy and stumbled to the closet, barely managing to hold myself up from falling. As if in some kind of trance, I pulled out Perry’s travel bag and lifted it onto the bed. I unlatched the buckles and went through his belongings. Right away I found what I was looking for. The day was turning late; already the sun was near setting. I needed to hurry. I found the saloon girl behind the bar.
“What are you doing. You should be resting!”
“The undertaker, where can I find him?”
“The funeral parlor is a block down. But Mrs. Montgomery, you shouldn’t…”
I interrupted her. “How much for the room?”
“The room?” She was clearly distraught.
“How much do I owe the hotel for the room?” I snapped.
“One dollar,” she replied flatly.
I handed her the dollar, then said in a kinder tone, “Thank you for your help. I’m sorry for my discourtesy.”
“I understand,” she said and patted my hand and added, “I’m sorry for your loss.”
Little did she realize how many losses I’d had in my life.
I proceeded over to the funeral parlor with Perry’s bag in hand, fighting the sudden urge to simply crawl up on a desolate street corner and die. Instead of succumbing to the reality of my situation and drowning in despair, I made my way into the parlor where I was greeted by the undertaker.
“My husband . . . Mr. Montgomery. He is here?” I choked.
The frail old man, who was several inches shorter than I, nodded and somberly led me toward the back room. Before opening the curtain to the door, he turned and said, “Haven’t had a chance to prepare him yet.”
I swallowed the lump forming in my throat and nodded in understanding. “How was he killed?”
“The man who brought him in told me your husband got into a skirmish with some soldiers who had been after him. Shot him dead before he had a chance.”
The undertaker moved the curtain aside, and before he led me in, he informed me, “You will be legally identifying the body, since you’re his wife.”
After enduring the agonizing formality of identifying Perry, showing the undertaker our marriage license, and signing the required document, he left me alone with Perry.
“Take your time.”
Although the marriage was brief, barely a moment in time, the love I felt for Perry was overwhelming, and I instantly fell apart when I stood beside him and took his cold, lifeless hand in mine. He was still wearing his blood-soaked suit. His lids were closed, his usually happy expression now stone cold, his natural smile permanently erased from his face.
I sobbed uncontrollably and placed my head on his chest. I didn’t care if I got his blood on me; in fact I wanted it. “Why couldn’t we have had more time, even one more day?“ I moaned. “This is all so unfair. I love you, Perry. I have loved you for so long. Now you’ve been taken away from me, and for what reason?”
I went talking to him, even reminiscing about how he had me smitten with him. I told him every secret I ever wrote about him, and although his lust frightened me, how I longed for it as well. I held his cold hand, not ever wanting to leave him, and I asked for his forgiveness.
“I’m so sorry I have to leave, Perry. Rest in peace, my love. Wait for me in heaven,” I whispered and placed one last farewell kiss on his lips.
The undertaker was sitting in a chair near the front door reading a newspaper. He stood when I came out.
“I have some of Mr. Montgomery’s things for you,” he said, going over to his desk.
“I suppose he was on his way to give this to you. Here is the receipt if you want to sell it, perhaps to pay for the burial.”
I gazed down at the gold wedding band, and it was all I could do to keep from bawling all over again.
“That won’t be necessary. Here is fifty dollars. I’m certain that will cover all the expenses. I want my husband buried on the farthest side of the cemetery, overlooking the river. Place his belongings inside the casket,” I instructed.
“Certainly, Mrs. Montgomery.”
I slipped the gold band on my finger, staring down at it with tear-filled eyes, wishing Perry were alive.
Without any fear and without allowing myself to crumble and die along with Perry, I decided to fulfill our dream and travel to Florida with the help of what was left of Perry’s money. He had hundreds of dollars, enough money to sustain me for some time.
I didn’t anticipate the obstacles and hardships that would come my way. I focused on the then and now, for if I were to foresee even a glimpse of the future, it would only put fear in me, possibly enough to stop me from wanting to live another day.
This time, as I made my way to the train station, I was much more cautious, and I looked around, making sure I wasn’t again leaving myself open to any harassment.
Darkness had fallen over the city; only the faint glow from tall gas lampposts along the walk allowed enough light for me to see where I was going. The station was not far, and I assured myself that I could make it there safely and without incident.
When passing the saloon, I could see the saloon girl inside, waiting on tables. I stopped for a brief moment and considered if I had enough time to thank her again. But I needed to hurry to the station and purchase my ticket to leave Savannah as soon as possible. I should never have stopped looking for the danger that seemed to follow me.
Without warning, a man came out from the shadows, covered my mouth to stifle my screams,
and dragged me away. I dug my heels down, grabbed onto his arms, and desperately tried to pull them down, but he was much too strong. My hands flailed widely, and I reached behind me to scratch at his face.
“Stop it!” he commanded. I immediately stopped. We were beside a hitching post, and he untied the reins to the horse.“I’m taking you back.”
I stood defiant. My trembling was no longer from fear but from pure anger.
“I won’t go back with you. I hate you. I hate Eugenia. Go away, leave me!”
In an instant, Warren grabbed me, threw me up onto his horse, and jumped into the saddle. He held me by the waist and kicked the horse into a full gallop, taking me back to Sutton Hall.
To my horror, I realized my wedding ring had fallen off my finger while I was fighting Warren off.
“You can’t do this!” I shouted. He said nothing. “I won’t stay. I will run off again.”
The more he ignored me, the more enraged I became. Without anticipating the fall I would endure, I slammed my elbow up into his face, causing him to instantly release his grip. Luckily, I landed on my side, unscathed, and quickly got to my feet and ran blindly into the woods.
“Amelia!” he called as he led his horse after me into the woods.
I ran on without looking back - jumping logs, ducking branches, crossing muddy puddles, just to get away. Warren was able to track me and caught up the instant I tripped over a rock, falling hard onto the ground. He leapt off his horse, took hold of me, and shook me violently. “You stop acting like a fool. You’re going to get yourself killed!”
“It would be better that way. I would rather be dead than with the likes of you!” I spat and slapped his face.
He forcefully grabbed my wrists and twisted them behind my back, causing me to cry out.
“Come, let’s go. It’s for your own good,” he said. “I have been sick with worry. Thought I wouldn’t find you. The city is no place for a young lady such as yourself.”
Box Set: The ArringtonTrilogy Page 22
