An Unexpected Dilemma Bride

by Elliee Atkinson

  “Maybe he hasn’t hurt the babies?”

  “I haven’t seen him hurt Johnny or Bethany either. Doesn’t mean I’d trust him not to lose his temper with them when they’re alone.”

  Laura shuddered. “I’d hate to think of anything happening to those children. Any of them. Even the babies I haven’t met.”

  “You’ve never seen the babies?” Daryl asked suspiciously.

  “No, I haven’t. What are you thinking? You don’t think she’d make something like that up, do you? Having two extra children? No.” Laura shook her head. She couldn’t imagine Esther – or any woman for that matter - adding two children to her household. Who would do such a thing? And why? More children rarely attracted single men. Fewer children and you have a better chance. No children and you stand the best chance.

  “I don’t know, Laura. Just sending thoughts out there to see how they sound.”

  “Well, I don’t know where the children are,” Laura said firmly. “But I know Esther loves them. I saw her love for the other two earlier today. I am sure she is rarely in a good mood. Those poor children. I don’t know what I’d do if she was my mother. I’d be miserable, that’s for sure. That’s for certain.”

  “It doesn’t sound like you like her very much,” Daryl said, folding his arms over his chest again. She was impressed by the bulge of his arm muscles when he unintentionally flexed them. He had a deep voice that boomed when it needed to and was as smooth as silk on her ears. She was looking forward to hearing him call her affectionate terms. She just knew he would be eventually. He would call her “honey” and “sweetheart”. It made her heart flutter just thinking about it.

  He could tell she was thinking something flattering by the way she was looking at him. He lifted one side of his lips in a charming grin and rested one hand on the top of his hat. “So I reckon I should let you get on to your lunch date, ma’am?” He tipped his hat slightly. Her heart jumped in her chest.

  “I suppose so.” Laura didn’t really want to leave his presence. She wanted to stand there and talk to him for hours. Better yet, she wanted him to come to her house, eat cookies, and drink lemonade with her.

  However, she didn’t ask him. She knew it was important to him for Esther to be comfortable and happy. She felt it was her duty to help with that because Esther was trapped in a dangerous and miserable situation when all her own options were so open to her.

  “I’ll let you go then,” Daryl took a step back, still gazing at her. His thoughts were much the same as hers. He wouldn’t have minded just standing there, looking at her pretty face and listening to her voice all day.

  “All right.” Laura didn’t move.

  He took another step backwards and smiled at her. “Till later?”

  Laura nodded. “Yes, later.”

  He turned away and she called softly, “How much later? I mean, do you have a time in mind?”

  He turned back quickly and stepped over to stand next to her again. “I… I suppose I’ll be at the washing area on Friday.”

  Laura nodded.

  When she didn’t say anything, he leaned closer and murmured, “Do you have plans this evening?”

  Chills covered her arms and the hair on the back of her neck stood at attention. She tried to keep her composure as she shook her head. “What did you have in mind?”

  “I’m gonna make venison steak tonight. I have enough for four, but only two dinner guests besides myself.” He didn’t tell her the other two guests were her sister and Heath.

  “I like venison steak,” Laura breathed her response. He licked his lips.

  “I reckon you could have the other steak if you want to come by.”

  “I like the sound of that, Daryl.”

  “I’ll see you at seven?”

  “See you then.”

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  SURPRISE VISITOR

  SURPRISE VISITOR

  Daryl took a knife to the sides of the potato, stripping it of the outer layer and dropping it into a large pot of water. He was excited, thinking about his dinner plans with Laura. She had to be the sweetest, most beautiful woman he’d ever seen. He felt closer to her than he did the other women he had courted. They all doted on him and would agree with everything he said just for the sake of being with him. Laura didn’t seem like that type at all. She had a mind of her own and could be just as stubborn as he was.

  He picked up a towel and dried his hands, thinking about what he wanted to do to make his home look more inviting for a woman. She was elegant and beautiful. His home was rough and masculine. He looked around for a moment before shrugging with a grin. He was who he was and he had a feeling Laura didn’t want him to change that.

  He hoped not, at least.

  A knock at the door drew his attention from the pot of potatoes. He looked at the door of the kitchen curiously. He wasn’t expecting anyone. The only person who ever stopped by was Heath. Or Johnny. Either one was fine with him.

  He went out into the main room and opened the door.

  Esther pushed her way in, holding each twin baby on her hips and with Johnny and Bethany directly behind her. She was bawling, nearly hysterical. Daryl grabbed the little boy from her side and then wrestled the other twin out of her hands.

  “What’s happening? Go sit down. Johnny, what’s going on? Esther…” He handed off one of the babies to Johnny, who carefully took the child and set him on his two-year-old feet. “Johnny, bring your brother and sister into the kitchen. I’m going to make you something to eat so I can have time to talk to your mother.” Daryl looked over at Esther. She had dropped down to the couch and had her hands pressed into her eyes. She was rocking forward and back, crying loudly.

  “Esther, please, calm yourself while I’m in the kitchen.” Daryl hurried the children, still carrying the second twin, into the kitchen. He gently set the baby girl on one of the chairs and pushed it in so that it was closer to the table. Johnny lifted his brother onto another chair before sitting beside the little boy. Bethany climbed into the fourth chair and stared at Daryl with wide innocent blue eyes.

  “Johnny, tell me what’s going on,” Daryl demanded, as he opened the icebox and took out a container of apple juice. “Why is your mother crying like that? What did your father do?”

  “I… I was just listening to them, that’s all. They didn’t know it.”

  Daryl shook his head. “You won’t get in any trouble. I need to know why your mother is here and why she brought all of you with her.”

  “She told Pa she was leaving him, that she was coming here to stay with you. She said you are gonna be our new pa. Is that true? I thought you said that wasn’t gonna happen. But Momma says it is.” Johnny sounded confused.

  Anger split through Daryl. He wanted to explode and tell the boy exactly what a liar his mother was. However, Esther was a troubled woman and he would only be adding insult to injury if he came down on the boy’s mother right to his face. He reined in his temper and shook his head.

  “I know it’s what your momma wants, but it isn’t true, Johnny, I’m sorry.” He was afraid the announcement was going to hurt Johnny but the boy took it in stride, nodding in a downhearted way.

  “I knew it. I was hoping but… well, you already told me you weren’t gonna be my pa, so I thought she was probably wrong.”

  “But why don’t you wanna be our pa, Daryl?” Bethany asked. His heart melted when he looked at the little girl, her dark hair pulled into two pigtails on the side of her head, her blue and red jumper reaching just below her knees, where the skirt ended with heavy lacing. She was pretty and had a sweet smile. He hated to break her heart.

  “You wouldn’t understand, Bethie,” Johnny responded before Daryl could say anything. “It’s adult stuff.”

  Daryl resisted the urge to smile. Johnny looked at him with a sober face. “Right, Mr. Daryl?”

  “That’s right. But Bethany, I do want you to know that if I could be your pa, I would be. But it’s not what’s going to happen.
I never told your momma I would be her husband. I don’t mind taking care of you and you’re always welcome in my home. But I can’t marry your momma.”

  “Cause she’s married to Pa.” Bethany sounded defeated. Daryl nodded.

  “That’s right, honey.”

  “And if she isn’t married to him anymore, would you be our pa?”

  Daryl wished the little girl wasn’t as smart as she was. Again, he shook his head, this time going over to where she was sitting and kneeling down in front of her. “I’m afraid not, honey. I… I don’t feel about your momma the way a husband should feel about his wife. That means I can’t be your pa, not really. I still care about you and I can treat you like my little girl. But right now, that really wouldn’t be a wise thing to do. I don’t want to make your pa mad at me. Then I might not be able to see you and your brothers and sister and take care of you. Make sure you’re all right. I like knowing you’re all right.”

  “I like it, too,” Bethany responded. He wasn’t sure she knew what she just said, but he smiled at her and ran two fingers down her soft cheek.

  “You stay in here with your brother while I go talk to your momma, okay? Johnny, there’s some cookies in that cupboard right there. Get some out for you and your siblings.”

  “Okay, thank you, Mr. Daryl.”

  Daryl nodded, stood up straight and went to the door. He pulled it open and looked into the main room. Esther was still sitting on the couch with her hands over her face, but her sobs were much quieter now. She was sniffing and dabbing at her mouth and nose with a kerchief she held clutched in her fingers. Her hair was pulled back in a ravaged braid, strands flying out all through it and around her forehead and face. Her hair was naturally a deep chocolate brown color. In the last few years, Daryl had begun to see the grey streaks coming out. It was the stress causing this for the young woman, he figured. She was much too young for grey hair.

  He took a few steps away from the kitchen door, closing the door behind him. If she heard him, she didn’t indicate she did. She kept her hands covering her face and rocking forward and back, grunting and trying not to cry.

  “Esther, what’s happened to make you come here? Johnny says you want to stay here. Please talk to me and tell me what’s happened today to make you come?”

  Esther dropped her hands for a moment, looking up at him. When their eyes met, her face crumbled into a mass of pain and she covered it again. “Oh, Daryl, I can’t bear to be with that man another day! I am so miserable with him! He doesn’t love me at all. I don’t want to be unhappy for the rest of my life! That’s why I came here. You make me happy. You…”

  “Esther, wait…” Just as Daryl was cutting her off, he nearly jumped out of his skin when someone began to pound on the door.

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  A MISERABLE PLACE TO LIVE

  A MISERABLE PLACE TO LIVE

  Daryl turned his eyes to Esther. She had pulled her hands away from her terrified face and she was staring at the door. Her eyes moved slowly to Daryl. “I didn’t know he would come here, Daryl, I swear!” she hissed.

  He shook his head, trying not to be angry with the woman. “What have you pulled me into, Esther?” he asked in a low voice. “I don’t want to fight your husband. I’m not in love with you. I’m not going to marry you and you can’t stay here.”

  James pounded on the door again. “Esther! I know you’re in there! Come out now! I’ll break down this door.”

  Daryl took a few steps toward the front door. Esther jumped to her feet, holding out both hands pleadingly. “Don’t open the door, Daryl. Please! We need somewhere safe to stay.”

  Daryl put his hand on the door knob. “You are safe here whether he’s out there or in here. I don’t want him busting my door down. I’ll take care of this. But you can’t stay here. You can’t be my wife. It isn’t going to happen, Esther.”

  “But you might change your mind,” her voice became almost child-like. “You are the only one who cares about me, Daryl.”

  Daryl shook his head. “That’s not true. Plenty of people would care about you if you let them. You isolate yourself and never ask for help. There’s nothing wrong with asking for help. It doesn’t make you a charity case. It makes you the recipient of someone else’s good will. Then, when you get a chance to do something for someone, you’ve passed along that good will.”

  The entire door shook when James beat on it again. “Esther!” He shrieked her name several times.

  “He’s going to kill me,” Esther hissed, looking at the closed door with such fear it amazed Daryl.

  “No,” he said, firmly. “He’s not.”

  Before she could speak another word, he yanked the door open. James practically fell on top of him. He’d been leaning against the door.

  “Daryl Parker!” James shrieked, holding up one finger and shaking it in Daryl’s face. “We gotta talk. I know what you’re doin! You ain’t takin’ my wife and kids, ya hear?”

  Daryl shook his head. “I’m not trying to do that, James. You need to sit down. I’ll get you some coffee.”

  “I’m not drinking your coffee!” James shrieked in Daryl’s face. Daryl grimaced. The smell of alcohol coming from James was pungent. “I’m taking my wife and kids and I’m going home.”

  “It might be a good idea for you to just sit and sober up with some coffee before you take her home, James.” Daryl raised the volume of his voice and used the firmest tone he could. He grasped James’ arm and shoved him toward one of the chairs. He was slightly bigger than James and not in the least bit drunk. If anything happened, Daryl didn’t want to hurt James too badly. The best thing to do was sober him up. Then at least if they got physical, James might stand a better chance.

  Daryl watched him stumble with a sneer. Not much better of a chance.

  “Don’t push me around!” James bellowed, but dropped into the chair near the couch his wife was standing in front of. Esther slowly lowered herself to the couch again, staring at James. She moved her eyes back and forth between Daryl and James, wondering what would happen next.

  “This is what’s going to happen, James,” Daryl said, standing in front of them both, his fists on his hips. “Are you listening? James? Do you hear me? Listen up.”

  “I’m listening, I’m listening.” James bobbed his head several times and slurred his words. “Go on, go on.”

  “I’m going to go in the kitchen and get some coffee. You are going to drink it, James. I’m going to give you a half hour to sober yourself. Then, if I feel you are safe, I’m going to take the children with me to pick up a friend I’m having dinner with. And you two are going to talk. Do you understand?”

  “I ain’t got nothin’ to say to him, Daryl!” Esther cried out. Daryl gave her a stern look.

  “You will talk to him, Esther. He is the father of your children and you need to see if you can work this out without too many people getting hurt.”

  “Nobody’s gonna get hurt!” James yelled. He turned to lean forward, looking at Esther with an accusatory face. “What you been sayin’, woman? You been goin’ around tellin’ people I’m beatin’ on ya? That what you been doin’, woman? Why I oughta…”

  “You oughta nothing!” Daryl stepped forward when it looked like James was going to stand up. He put one hand on the man’s shoulder and firmly pushed him back down to a sitting position. “You ain’t gonna do nothing! You got that, friend? You sit right there and don’t you move until I come back with the coffee. You got that?”

  “I got it, I got it!” James agreed but continued to stare menacingly at his wife. Daryl watched him for a moment before deciding it was safe to go get the coffee from the kitchen. He looked over to the door to the kitchen when it opened slightly and a small hand poked out. It was holding a mug of steaming brown liquid. The hand belonged to Johnny.

  Daryl felt like he’d been punched in the gut. He felt an overwhelming fatherly affection for the boy and wished for a moment that he could be Johnny’s dad. However, as lon
g as James was living, that wouldn’t happen. In addition, as long as he had no interest in marrying or having a family with Esther, it was even less likely to happen.

  He crossed the room quickly and took the cup, murmuring, “Thank you, son.” He hoped Johnny heard him. He knew it would mean something for him to call him son.

  He brought the cup back and handed it to James, who looked up at him, astonished. “How’d you do that so fast?”

  “I have helpers. I’m going into the kitchen. If you need a refill, you holler at me. In the meantime, you two need to talk to each other. You have some things you need to work out. Wouldn’t you agree?”

  “I ain’t gonna work out anything with him, Daryl,” Esther said the words but her voice was so weak, he knew she didn’t mean them. She looked like a meek little mouse and the grey dress she was wearing didn’t make her look any stronger. He felt sorry for her.

  “You have to do something, Esther. You can’t stay here.” He looked at James. “I’ll probably tell you again later, James, because you are so drunk you probably won’t remember. But she and the children can’t stay here. Not only do I not have enough room, I am not interested in taking your wife away from you. If she wants to be away from you, it isn’t because of my encouragement.”

  “Why then?” James asked, staring up at him. “Why?”

  “That’s a question you will have to ask her. I can’t fix your problems. I’m taking the children and I’m going to pick up my friend. You two stay put or go back to your house. When I return, if you aren’t here, I’ll come over and bring the children.” Without waiting for a response from them and feeling satisfied to see James drinking the coffee and being quiet, Daryl went to the kitchen door. Before he opened it, Johnny did and ushered his brother and sisters through it into the main room. Daryl could tell he’d given the children instructions to be very quiet and tip-toe around their father. None of them said anything to James or Esther. They went directly to the front door and out onto the porch in near silence.