by Jessica Loft
“Did he hurt you?” Carol asked, tears welling in her eyes.
“It…wasn’t pleasant,” Maryann admitted. Her knee and wrist were aching again, both of them bruised and swollen. Carefully, she pulled the tin out from her pillowcase and applied the salve, immediately alleviating the pain.
“Where did you get that?” Carol asked, pointing to the tin.
Maryann settled back into the pillow and told Carol the story of her day. For the first in months, Maryann had a reason to smile.
~
The next morning Maryann was up before the rooster crowed, excited to be going back to the market. During the night she’d had soft, wonderful dreams about William’s face and his kind touch. She hoped that he would be there again, and that she could find a way to repay him for his kindness.
“What are you so chipper about?”
Mabel’s voice stopped Maryann in her tracks. She had buttered a biscuit for a quick breakfast, and she hadn’t noticed that her body was swaying back in forth in a light manner. She stilled immediately, and turned around.
“What? Nothing. Just happy to help Husband is all. He deserves the rest,” she replied, not feeling guilty about the lie.
Mabel grunted as she looked the younger up and down, searching for something, though she didn’t know what. When she found nothing, she pulled out a piece of paper from her robe and a folded twenty-dollar bill.
“Husband’s cough has worsened and my fever has spiked. We need real medicine from the pharmacy. I wrote the names of it down on the paper. If you can’t find them just ask the salesgirl for help and she’ll get them for you. Bring back the receipt and change as well,” Mabel instructed.
Maryann took the slip of paper and money and tucked them into the pocket on her dress, promising to bring back the medicine. Again Mabel looked over the girl, feeling as if there was something different about her. As if she were happier somehow.
“You like being Husband’s whore, do you?”
The question was so sudden and harsh it left Maryann with a loss for words. Shame colored her cheeks a bright red, but she said nothing, only bowing her head.
“Is that why you’re happier? Because you want to be a thing?”
Maryann shook her head rapidly, feeling suddenly frightened.
“No. No I’m sorry, I’m just, I’m just truly happy to help you and Husband I swear.”
Mabel’s mouth moved up in a disgusted sneer as she backed away.
“Go. And don’t forget the medicine.”
CHAPTER 5
“Dude, are you sure she’s even coming today?” Todd asked, lounging in the folding chair under William’s tent. He was still half asleep, but William had been up and alert as soon as his alarm went off. Even now Todd watched his friend pace tirelessly back and forth and the entrance of the tent, looking at the empty stall across from him.
“No man, I’m not. But if she does come I want you to talk to her okay?” William quipped. He was moody and jittery. Ever since he saw the bruises on Maryann’s leg he hadn’t been able to stop thinking about her. There was something bad going on in her life, and if he could guess he would say that it had something to do with that ‘husband’ of hers.
Todd was a state police officer, though in his street clothes he looked like any other Coloradoan that preferred mountain trails to city streets. William had called him last night and asked him to come to the market with him the next day. He knew it was a long shot, but everything inside of William was screaming at him to save the beautiful woman.
His heart fluttered when he saw the truck finally pull up and into the stall. Through the windshield he could see that it wasn’t the old man, but Maryann. He watched as she hopped down from the truck. When her feet hit the ground, her injured knee buckled, and she nearly fell. Quickly she steadied herself, and began to unload the bushels of vegetables and fruits. Not able to wait, William jogged over to help her. When she saw him coming over her smile lit up her entire face, and he immediately smiled back.
“You came back,” he observed as he took two baskets from the truck. She nodded her head, her cute smile still spread wide across her cheeks.
“Yes, Hus-I mean Raymond and Mabel are still sick, so they allowed me to come back. Thank you for the salve. It’s helped with the pain so much.”
“I’m glad it helped,” William replied earnestly. Satisfaction spread through him as the knowledge that he had helped, even just a little bit, settled into his heart. When they were done setting up the baskets, William offered to buy her breakfast.
From across the way and unnoticed, Todd stared at the young girl that his friend was talking to. She limped on her one side, and even though William was being friendly, she still involuntarily shrunk away from him anytime he got closer than a foot to her. He guessed her age to be somewhere around twenty-six, twenty-seven, but in truth she looked much older, as if heavy worries weighed on that small frame of hers.
When William came back, Todd excused himself to use the restroom. Instead of heading to the line of port-o-potties though, he circled around and snuck behind the truck, studying it. It was a late model Chevy, probably an 85 or an 87. Taking out his cellphone, he snapped a picture of license plate number, making a mental note to run the plates on Monday. Something told him in his gut that his friend William was on to something.
CHAPTER 6
Just like the day before, Maryann’s trailer sold out, this time even earlier than before. Maryann loved being able to interact with people again, and found them very easy to talk to. Some of the women who weren’t able to get their quilts even asked her if she could take orders in advance, along with a deposit.
“You’re the new talk of the town in these parts,” William said, visiting her again for the tenth time that day. He loved the way she smiled when he talked to her. Sitting down across from her, he handed her a gyro and a glass bottle of root beer, her eyes lighting up as she took the offered soft drink.
“I haven’t had soda in years,” she explained, taking a long pull of the caramel colored carbonation.
“Oh? Why not?”
Maryann shrugged her shoulders, again pulling away from his questions.
“I just um, you know, it’s unhealthy,” she answered doggedly, pushing the straw back into her mouth.
“Well tell me something about you,” William asked.
“Me?” She laughed.
“Why?”
“Because I think you’re a very interesting person,” he replied.
“But, you don’t even know me,” Maryann said.
William chuckled and nodded his head.
“Yeah, that’s why I’m asking you questions.”
“Okay, okay,” Maryann giggled.
“Umm, I live a little differently than most people,” she explained.
“We have electricity and tractors and stuff, but where I’m from, there’s no cell phones, no televisions, no internet.”
“Wow,” William remarked.
“Did you grow up there?”
Maryann shook her head, and explained how and why she voluntarily left the ‘real’ world.
William was fascinated by her story, and her strength. It took a lot to change one’s life so drastically, and he told her so.
“So, do you still like living out there?”
Lowering her head, Maryann shrugged her shoulders, again drawing into herself. She had thoughts of leaving for a while now, especially now with all the new changes in Husband’s house. But she had nowhere to go, and no skills other than being a housewife to get a job outside of the compound.
“Sometimes I dream of a different life,” she admitted softly.
They talked longer, and it wasn’t until Maryann looked up at the sun did she realize that the market had emptied long ago. Gasping, she stood up and started gathering the baskets. She had no idea how long pharmacies stayed open anymore, and if she missed picking up Husband’s medicine she knew she’d be in a world of trouble.
“What’s wrong
?” William asked, caught off guard by how upset she was.
“It’s so late, I should have kept track of the time. Have to get back. Oh, where do you think there’s a pharmacy? I have- the medicine, I have to get it.” Two fat tears rolled down her cheeks as she began to tremble.
Unable to stop himself, William grabbed her arms and pulled her into his chest, running a calming hand down her back.
“It’s alright,” he soothed, his voice gentle.
“Now, what is it that you need? Maybe I can help.”
Taking a deep, steadying breath, Maryann pulled out the note and the rolled up twenty and handed it to William. He read it quickly and nodded his head.
“This is easy. There’s a Walgreen’s less than a mile from here. We can go pick up the medicine and have you on your way home in ten minutes,” he promised.
Together they hopped in the truck, William in the driver’s side, and they took off down the rode. Just like he said there was the bright red sign of the Walgreen’s glowing from their parking lot. Getting out first, William helped her down from the truck and, with her hand in his, he lead her into the large drug store to find the medicine.
William found it easily and took it to the register. The girl rung them up, but when Maryann tried to hand her the twenty, William waved her off and handed the sales girl his own money. She didn’t care who was paying for it as long as it was getting paid for. The bored girl plucked the twenty out William’s hand and gave him the change and the receipt.
“I need to pay for it,” Maryann insisted as they walked out of the drugstore.
“If I don’t have the receipt and change I could”- she paused, her eyes pleading William to not make her say it.
“You could what?” He asked, staring right back at her.
“I could get into a lot of trouble,” she admitted, feeling ashamed.
William took the bag from her hand and dropped in the receipt and the change before handing it back to her. When she took it, he braced his hands on her shoulders, and got down to her eye level.
“I know we just met Maryann, but I promise you. You can trust me. I can feel that something bad is going on. What is it?”
Several emotions boiled up at once as William asked her the seemingly simple question. She wanted to trust him. Hell, she wanted to run away with him. He was so kind and patient, not at all like the man Husband had become. But if Husband found out somehow that she had even talked to another man she knew she’d be in a world of hurt.
The look on Maryann’s face was more than enough to affirm William’s worries. She wouldn’t talk about it, not yet at least, but he was determined to win her trust. He wasn’t sure what it was about her but he had been drawn to her immediately. Gently, he pulled her close and placed a soft kiss on her forehead. He felt her tremble, and wished he could kiss more than just the innocent spot atop her head.
“You go on home, I don’t want you to be late,” he told her, letting go.
“You have my card, honey. When you decide it’s time to leave, you call me. I’ll come running.”
CHAPTER 7
“Where the hell have you been?” Husband thundered as she walked into his and Mabel’s bedroom.
During the drive home Maryann rehearsed her story over and over until it felt natural. She got caught up talking to the women who wanted to place orders, there were so many after all, and it kept her late at the market. As proof she showed him the long list of names and phone numbers she’d made on the back of Mabel’s medicine list.
Husband still looked unhappy, but he believed her. Or at least he seemed to. When he asked for the medicine she obediently handed over the bag, jingling with the change. Looking satisfied, he dismissed her and instructed that she get the truck and trailer loaded for the final day of the market.
The next morning, thinking she’d be again going to the market in Husband’s place, she nearly ran into his chest as she came up the basement stairs. The surprise and the thud of flesh knocked her backwards, nearly sending her careening down the rigid stone steps. With surprising speed Husband’s hand shot out and caught her already bruised wrist, saving her from possible broken bones.
“Careful girl,” he murmured, steadying her.
Maryann mumbled her thanks and apologies, and asked if she could get him anything before she left. Her wrist felt as if it was on fire, but she didn’t dare pull away from him.
“No, I’m feeling better now. I will go today, see if I can get some more orders for quilts, maybe even look for my new wife.” Husband chuckled at the last part, finally letting go of Maryann’s wrist. As she swayed, he caught a whiff of something odd, pungent. Grabbing her wrist again, he brought it up to his nose and inhaled. It smelled of menthol and something else, something flowery almost.
“What are you wearing?” He asked, his eyes suspicious.
Maryann willed her heartbeat to remain calm as she pretended to not understand what he was talking about it.
“Don’t play with me girl,” he snarled.
“What’s this on your wrist?”
“J-just a bit of mint leaf and chili powder salve,” she sputtered out, hoping he’d believe her.
“I had some bruises from when y- I had some bruises and they were making it hard to carry the baskets. I mixed in some chili powder and mint leaf into some petroleum jelly to help with the pain.”
Husband grunted, taking another sniff.
“Does it work?” He asked.
Maryann took a steadying breath and nodded her head.
“Not as well as I’d hoped, but it’s better than nothing.”
He looked at her for what Maryann felt was hours. Finally, he leaned close, tightening his grip on her wrist enough to make her flinch.
“If you don’t want bruises,” he replied softly.
“Then don’t make me angry.”
Releasing her arm, he instructed her to start getting breakfast ready for the family. Having nothing else to say to her, he left the house. Maryann released a large breath of air as she felt the fear begin to drain from her body. That was way too close. She’d have to be more careful.
~
For the next four weeks Maryann struggled to get used to her new way of life. Quickly it became not only Husband, but also the other wives and most of the children that began treating her poorly as well. The only ones who refused to be anything other than kind to her were Carol and her two children. Since she was no longer a wife, she began going out to the fields every day to work as the men did.
In her dress she plowed, pulled, and planted; acquiring sunburns and blisters all over her exposed skin. Mabel only made a field lunch for Husband, so Maryann went without. She’d had a small figure before, but now she looked unhealthily so. At night, she would be left alone to clean up after the entire family. It had previously been a chore all the wives would do together, making it quick and easy work.
However, now that she had to do it alone, it was long and tiresome, especially after the long days of working in the field. After she was almost caught with William’s salve, she’d been more careful to only wear it at night when she was certain that Husband wasn’t coming down to lie with her, and was sure to wash it off first thing in the morning before she went upstairs to the kitchen.
Ever since he’d disowned her as a wife, Husband’s ‘lovemaking’ had become harsh, painful, and much more frequent. To Maryann it felt as if he’d liked being able to hurt her more than he ever liked trying to bring her pleasure. Sometimes he’d say the dirtiest things to her, and call her terrible names. One night, he’d gotten so out of control that he’d beat her backside with his belt until it was full of welts, just because he said he could now.
Most nights after he was done he would take a swig or two of his whiskey bottle, which he reached for more often than ever, and would go back upstairs. From what she’d heard from Carol, he was sweet and loving as he ever was to her and the other wives, and Maryann wondered how someone could switch personalities so quickly as he
did. After he’d leave, Maryann would light her little lantern and pull the small tin out from hiding. It was the only thing she had to take the sting of her bruises away, and because Husband had become so rough she had new ones often. After just four weeks, the tin was already nearly empty, and she worried what she would do once it was all gone.
Sometimes before she fell asleep, she’d hold William’s card and stare at the numbers printed on the small paper. She’d done it so many times now that she saw the seven numbers when she closed her eyes, when she was in the fields, and even when she was beneath Husband. If she concentrated hard enough, she could see his vivid green eyes looking at her, telling her everything was going to be all right. It had been four weeks since she’d seen him, but something told her that she was not forgotten.
