[2016] A Widow's Love

by Christian Michael

  Esme was, for the first time in a long time, finally comfortable in the presence of a man and she was glad for it. Kade was strong and dependable. He listened as she spoke and didn’t belittle her efforts to be independent in her life. He treated her with respect and, even better, he treated Sophie well. Not many men, especially men who had never been married before, would be willing to put up with another man’s child. Such willingness said good things of the man’s character. She was glad Kade was the man she was to marry.

  As the days passed on into weeks, Kade and Esme got to know one another more. They laughed together and shared many confidences. A deep friendship bloomed between the two of them and they were both content to be with each other, even in silence.

  One evening, a little over a month after Esme had arrived, Kade took her back to the creek where they had talked that first day after she had arrived. They left Sophie behind with Crystal. The child had bonded deeply with the elderly woman and the two were nearly inseparable. Everyone doted on her and looked out for her, from her soon-to-be uncle to the hired hands to the dogs that trailed after her wherever she went.

  When Kade and Esme arrived at the creek, it was a little before sunset and the skies were painted with hues of pinks and oranges. There was a cool breeze floating in the air. Kade was nervous; Esme picked up on it and quietly wandered why. This was one of the few outings where they were alone. Usually Sophie went with them. As Kade helped Esme off the horse, his hands lingered on her waist and he drew her closer to him.

  They stood like that for long moments, not quite touching, just looking at each other. Neither one said a word. After what seemed an eternity but was probably just a minute or two, Kade cleared his throat and turned to the creek. Taking Esme’s delicate hand in his own large grasp he led her over to the bank and leaned against a tree. He drew Esme closer to him, so that she was standing between his legs, and settled his hands on her waist. He had never been so forward with her before but she did not protest, indeed, she seemed to like his touch and that relieved Kade.

  He reached into his coat pocket and withdrew a small box.

  “Esme,” he said gently, releasing her, “These past few weeks with you have been wonderful and they have cemented in my mind the question of whether you were the one for me. I hope you feel the same way. I realize that when you came here, you had already accepted my marriage proposal but I feel we did not know each other then as we do now.”

  Kade took Esme’s hand in his as he took a deep breath and released it. “I have come to realize that you are exactly the kind of woman I have always wanted. I thank God that he brought us together so randomly. And I can’t wait to build a life with you and Sophia. Would you do me the honor of allowing me to take your hand in marriage?”

  Esme’s eyes filled with tears of joy and gratitude. Joy that the man before her was truly going to be hers alone and gratitude towards the Lord who had brought them together.

  She couldn’t form the words so she just nodded her head and smiled. Kade’s own smile grew as he watched her reaction. He knew what she was saying and feeling, with or without the words. He withdrew the small sapphire ring from its nesting place and slid it onto her finger.

  “When would you like to get married, Esme, love?” He asked gently.

  “Soon” was her laughing answer as she gazed down at her ring in quiet awe. Looking back up at Kade, she whispered, “I can’t believe you are going to be mine.”

  Kade caressed her cheek gently with a finger. “I was going to say the same thing about you.”

  He tilted her chin up and leaned closer, pausing questioningly, seeking permission. Esme smiled slightly and pushed up gently on tip toes in answer, closing the gap between their lips. She rested her hands on his strong chest and he wrapped one arm around her waist and cupped the back of her head with the other. It started as a gentle kiss but increased in intensity as passion rose. She stepped closer to him and her arms reached up to twine around his neck as she opened her mouth to accept him a little more deeply. Their tongues entwined and they stood pressed together as close as they could get.

  The sound of the horse’s whine broke into their consciousness and they pulled apart, staring at each other, breathing heavily. Kade started to apologize but Esme shook her head and smiled.

  “Don’t be sorry Kade. I enjoyed that kiss and if that is anything to judge by, I would say we are blessed and will enjoy all aspects of our marriage.”

  Kade laughed. He was very glad Esme was frank and open and as passionate, it seemed, as he. “Yes, I would say you are right. But I think it will be wise to proceed with caution from here on out until the day of our marriage, hmm?”

  Esme blushed but nodded her agreement. She had always enjoyed the marital act and had wondered what it would be like with Kade. She was glad to know that the attraction between them was strong. She looked forward to their wedding night with anticipation.

  “Kade?” She said haltingly, “Let’s not wait too long for the wedding, okay?”

  Kade didn’t say anything. But he couldn’t stop smiling all the way home. I am a lucky man, indeed. As they rode, Kade held Esme tightly. He could help but bury his face in her neck occasionally and kiss it. He delighted in her reaction to him. She covered his hands on her waist with hers and leaned her head back onto his shoulder. Whenever he was distracted, focusing on the road, she would brush her lips against his neck to draw his attention back to her. ‘Tit for tat’, she thought laughingly. I am going to have fun married to this man.

  When they reached home, both of them reluctantly pulled apart. They had to behave with proper decorum, they were still unwed, after all.

  When Crystal caught sight of Esme’s ring, she practically crowed with delight and Philip slapped Kade on the back in hearty congratulations. Kade told them that they would be married as soon as he could get it arranged with the preacher and Crystal immediately started planning what they would do.

  The next morning, Kade, Crystal, Sophie and Esme headed into town to buy things the ladies would need. Esme had only come with a carpet bag which held two dresses for herself and three for Sophie along with toiletries and some toys for the child.

  Upon Kade’s insistence and the seamstresses delight, a charge account was opened in the clothing store for the women. Kade realized that Esme was uncomfortable accepting the generosity and pulled her aside to reassure her.

  “Kade,” she began, “this is too much! We’re not married yet.”

  “I know love, but we will be. Let me spoil you and Sophie. What is mine is yours and I have more than enough to last us several lifetimes, by the grace of God. Besides, Esme, I trust you. I know you won’t go overboard but I also want you to spend lavishly for today. We only get to be married once, you know.”

  When Kade kept cutting down her protests, Esme gave in. She had never had the opportunity to indulge in finery and she didn’t want Kade to think she was going to use him for his money. But he seemed to know her heart and he trusted her.

  They set up a whole new wardrobe for herself and Sophie. As the wife of one of the richest men in a growing city, she would be attending many society functions over time so Kade insisted that she spoil herself to make all the other women jealous. Esme just laughed at his silliness and allowed him to dote on her and her – now their- daughter.

  Two weeks later, the wedding day dawned bright and early. The house was abuzz with life and visitors as neighbors came from all over to wish them luck and offer their congratulations. Women came bearing food and to ooh and ah over Esme and Sophie. The men gathered in the other side of the house to rib Kade about his last minutes of bachelorhood. Sophie, who was coming out of her shell more and more with each passing day, played rambunctiously with the other children.

  The whole day was a day of festivities and laughter. The preacher and his wife came to the house at ten that morning and the ceremony was held in the yard under a makeshift gazebo. There in the sight of all of their family and friends, Kade Scott an
d Esme Higgins pledged to love and honor one another all their lives through all the good and all the bad. When the pastor declared them man and wife, Kade swept Esme off her feet and kissed her soundly to boisterous applause and scandalized –but indulgent – laughter.

  The day swept on in the same fashion and as dusk settled, the guests began to leave. Philip, Crystal and Sophie would be staying with a neighbor for the night to give the two newlyweds some much appreciated privacy.

  That evening, as they crossed the threshold into their new room as man and wife for the first time, a veil of intimacy seemed to surround them. They were caught up in each other and oblivious to all else. Through touches and kisses they learned more about each other and drew closer together in an intimacy neither had imagined or experienced before. The love that was already developing between them deepened into so much more until they felt as if all of them, heart, body and soul were entwined to such a degree it was impossible to know where one began and the other ended.

  The next morning, even as they cooked breakfast and spoke of the mundane, the veil did not disappear. They continued to indulge in each other, physically and emotionally, without restriction throughout the day. Each of them thanked the Lord who had brought them together as they prayed and laughed and loved and talked.

  Even after Philip, Crystal and Sophie arrived home that evening, the connection between Kade and Esme continued to deepen and the bond between them only matured as the days turned into weeks.

  ***

  Two months after their wedding, the glass bubble was shattered in the middle of the night by Sophie’s screams. Her heart in her throat, Esme jumped out of bed and pulled on a wrapper as she ran out of the room, Kade on her heels. They opened the door to find Sophie’s bed empty and the window shattered.

  Shouts and gunfire resounded outside followed by Crystal’s horrified screams and the barking of the dogs. Kade and Esme rushed out the door just in time to see a lone man riding off into the night on a horse with Sophie screaming for her mama and papa.

  “Sophie!” Esme screamed as she ran out, trying in vain to catch up with the horse.

  Kade pulled her back and pushed her to Crystal. “Go inside now, both of you,” he said, gesturing to the hired hands and Philip, “we will go run him down.”

  “Bring her back to me Kade,” Esme sobbed as she clung to him.

  Kade kissed her forehead. “I will sweetheart. That bastard won’t get away with our little girl, whoever he is!” As he was still speaking, Philip came up with the horses. Kade mounted and the men all followed him as he set out.

  A badly shaken Crystal held tightly to a sobbing Esme as they both made their way back inside the house. Crystal made some tea and they both sipped it as they silently prayed for the safety of the men and Sophie and the capture of the kidnapper. Neither said a word. What was there to say, after all?

  As the hours passed, some of the neighboring women, whose husbands had ridden out with Kade and the men came over to sit with Crystal and Esme. No one talked much. Each woman understood the power of silent camaraderie and Esme was grateful for it.

  When dawn began to touch the night sky, the sound of horses’ hooves could be heard in the distance. Esme and Crystal ran out on to the porch with hopeful hearts, followed closely by the other women. But the party of men who came over the ridge was not a victorious one.

  Kade didn’t say a word as he dismounted. He walked over to Esme and gathered her shaking body in his arms and just held her. Both were crying silently. Crystal gazed imploringly at Philip but he could only shake his head. The other men departed silently, one by one to the bunk house and the neighbors also departed with their husbands in silence.

  Philip whispered to Crystal, “We searched everywhere for them but the man just seemed to disappear into thin air. I don’t understand it. We were hot on their heels.”

  “Kade,” Esme whispered, “What do we do now?”

  “All we can do, honey, is pray and wait. Philip will go and tell the sheriff about what happened and a watch will be spread throughout town. If that man is anywhere nearby – and I can’t imagine that he’s not – we will find him.

  Crystal cleared her throat. “In that case, Philip, hurry quickly and inform the sheriff. You two,” she said to Kade and Esme, “try to get some sleep. You’ve been up all night and only the Lord knows what we need to do now. Go rest as we wait for word from the lawmen.”

  Kade nodded wearily and guided Esme inside to their room. They knew sleep was far out of reach but at least they could lie down and rest and comfort each other. With every hour that passed, they continued to pray and wait.

  Life around the ranch went about normally that day. The hands did the work they needed to do, same as every other day. Within the house, food was cooked but none was consumed. Everyone was sick with worry.

  The sheriff came by to get something that belonged to Sophie so that the bloodhounds could try to get her scent to track her down. Esme gave them Sophie’s favorite rag doll.

  Two days passed by without any word or trace of Sophia. On the third day, something arrived in the form of a post. It was brief and to the point.

  ‘Esme, I have Sophie. You denied me when you ran out on me and now I will deny you your daughter. Unless you leave that bastard you now call a husband and come back home with me, you will never see your daughter again. Get on the train to go back on Thursday and I will meet you at home with Sophie. If you don’t, she dies.

  S. Marsh’

  “Marsh?” Kade said, after reading the card. “Isn’t he the man who was harassing you when you saw my ad?”

  Esme was trembling in anger and fear. She nodded. “He was a mean drunk of a man. There were times when he would force himself into our home to live with me, even though I made it very clear I wanted nothing to do with him. Once I caught him raise a fist to strike Sophie because she was humming a lullaby! I can’t imagine my baby in that monster’s grasp! Oh Kade, what will we do?”

  Kade smiled grimly. “The man has showed his hand, Esme. It’s quite simple. You will leave me to go back to your old town, just as he demanded.”

  “What?!” Esme gasped in shock. “I’m not leaving you. There must be another way!”

  Philip stepped in, “I see what you mean. This Marsh man, whoever he is, is going to be at that station one way or another to see if Esme will get on that train on Thursday. When he shows up, we will capture him and get Sophia back.”

  Kade nodded in agreement as understanding dawned on Esme.

  “If it’ll get Sophie back,” Kade said, “I am willing to try it.”

  “As am I.” Esme seconded.

  On Thursday morning, Esme and Kade went to the station. Philip, the sheriff and other townsmen wandered nearby keeping a lookout for Marsh. As the train blew its final call, Esme and Kade made a show of saying goodbye. Esme boarded the train and sat down, as if to leave.

  Everyone was on high alert, looking for Marsh.

  Suddenly, dogs began to bark as they caught a familiar scent and shouts filled the air. Esme got up to look, in anticipation, but was struck by a heavy blow from behind. As she crumpled to the ground, the train began to pull out from the station.

  Philip was the first to see Sophia wandering the street after the dogs caught her scent. His shout attracted Kade’s attention and he quickly spotted Sophia as well. Kade ran to his daughter and swept her up in his arms, checking her for bruises. His anger soared when he caught sight of a black eye, swollen cheeks and cut lips. When I get my hands on that man, I will kill him!

  Philip caught up with them and he swore under his breath when he saw the state the poor little girl was in. The sheriff and the deputy came over in short order. “We couldn’t find the guy who took her. No one has seen him.”

  Kade just nodded. He was just glad Sophia and Esme were safe. Esme. Where is she?

  Kade turned around to find Esme and was startled to discover the train had left while they were so distracted. No matter. She must have g
otten off when she heard the commotion. Where did she go?

  He asked Philip and the Sheriff if either one had seen Esme but both had not, they searched the station as he had as if realizing for the first time Esme was not there.

  Kade’s heart sank. “We played right into that Monster’s hands.”

  “He doesn’t care about Sophie. He only wants Esme. He must have left Sophie on her own knowing we would find her and boarded the train while waiting for Esme. He would have known Esme would never abandon her daughter. Now they are both gone.”

  Philip just stared at his brother in shock as comprehension dawned. The sheriff said he would send a telegram to the next several stations ahead to be on the lookout for Marsh and Esme but warned them that it would only have a chance of being effective if the train arrived after the telegram.

  “And another train won’t pass through here until Monday.” Philip said morosely.

  But a plan was already forming in Kade’s mind. “I will follow them on horseback. It’ll be faster than waiting until Monday. Besides, there’s no guarantee that Marsh is headed back to his old town. He could decide to stop anywhere.”

  “Or get on another train heading somewhere completely different.” Philip pointed out.

  Kade nodded despairingly. “I know, but what other chance do I have? If I wait till Monday, I may miss her entirely. Take Sophia home, Philip. I will set out from here and follow the tracks.”

  Philip nodded and hugged his brother. “I’ll stop by the medical store and see if they have anything to put on her swelling. If Grandma sees her like this, she might have an attack!”

  Kade nodded. Once Philip left, Kade made his way to the bank to get some money for the road. No telling how much he needed or how long he would be gone. Once the transaction was done, he headed to the general store to get a gear and clothing to protect him from the cold nights and any rainy days. Finally, he stopped at the market and stocked up on dried meats, breads, butter and water to keep him on his journey. He also did not know when he would come across a boarding home or inn to stay or eat.