Her Independent Spirit

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Her Independent Spirit Page 11

by Zina Abbott


  “Who is it?”

  “Gus.”

  Louisa reached for her key on the dresser and let him in. Finding a bare spot in a corner, he dropped his trunk that he had gone back to retrieve after he escorted his new family home.

  “Gus, you don’t need to knock,” Louisa gently chided. “This is your room now, too. Just use your key.”

  Gus’s eyes locked onto the modest nightgown which failed to hide all of Louisa’s soft curves. He popped his neck as if he had a crick in it. “Vit baby you busy, maybe vant…privacy.”

  Louisa smiled as she closed the door behind him and turned the key. “I don’t need privacy, Gus. I’m your wife now. I just need to feed Sophie Ann, and then we can spend some time together, just the two of us.”

  Gus turned back toward the door. “Baby you feed. I go.”

  Louisa caught his arm to restrain him. He had spent many years denying the possibility that he could have a wife and family. He apparently had not yet adjusted to being a married man.

  He had not even kissed her yet. Not really. After Judge McLean had pronounced them husband and wife and told him to kiss his bride, he had awkwardly leaned over and given her a peck on the cheek. When Luther Caldwell began to loudly tease him, telling Gus he needed to give his wife a real kiss, Gus had responded by stretching to his full height and, jutting his chin out in stubborn defiance, he glared Luther into silence.

  But, this chance to have a family was too important to Louisa to assume the traditional submissive role expected of a wife. She realized that if she was going to help Gus get past his unease over their new family situation, she might have to take the lead at first. She would not allow their relationship to remain awkward and falter, leaving each of them unsure about how to approach the other.

  “No, Gus, please don’t go. She’s your daughter now, too. Stay while I feed her.”

  Gus slowly turned and looked around until his eyes settled on the chair next to the small table. He eased in the seat, never taking his eyes off Louisa as she jiggled an increasingly fussy Sophie Ann.

  Suddenly, Louisa clasped the baby tightly to one breast and jerked her free arm up to press the inside of her forearm against the other breast. “My milk just let down. I have to feed her now.”

  Louisa hurried to the bed, and settled the baby in the center before she climbed on top of the blankets next to Sophie Ann. She unbuttoned the front of her gown with her free hand. She turned on her side to face the baby, and scooted forward until Sophie Ann latched onto the exposed nipple. Once Sophie Ann settled into nursing, Louisa turned to see Gus staring at the two of them as if mesmerized at the scene.

  Louisa’s mind flashed back to a long-buried memory. Her mother, with blonde hair a few shades lighter than her own, often sat in a kitchen chair by the fire after supper dishes had been cleaned up, the front of her dress unbuttoned as she nursed Louisa’s baby brother. After what Louisa learned later were several miscarriages, the birth of her brother had brought much joy to their parents. Seven-year-old Louisa loved to sit at her mother’s feet and rock her own cloth dolly her mother had made for her. Every now and then she glanced up at her mother and baby brother, then for a few seconds, held her own dolly to her chest to imitate her mother.

  But, what Louisa remembered most was how each time she looked over at her father, he sat quietly in his chair, his pipe smoke swirling around his head and a smile of satisfaction lighting his face as he watched his wife nursing his youngest child. When she turned back to see her mother’s face, she often smiled back at him. There were seldom words spoken, but what they said with their eyes spoke volumes. To Louisa, those memories reminded her of the family closeness she had felt as a child up until sickness had claimed both her mother and little brother a year later.

  Sophie Ann was going to be their only child. She wanted Gus to also experience that sense of fatherly satisfaction she had witnessed in her own father.

  “Come closer, Gus.”

  Louisa watched as slowly Gus stood and removed his jacket and waistcoat. He kicked off his brogans before he walked over and looked down at his new wife and daughter on the bed. His eyes focused first on the working of the child’s cheek and jaw as she nursed. Then he watched Sophie Ann’s tiny hand as it rhythmically opened and closed, the fingertips gently raking Louisa’s breast.

  Louisa studied Gus’s face and smiled when his eyes lifted to meet hers. He appeared more relaxed than she ever remembered him being. She didn’t know if it was because of the soft glow of the lamp, or the flush of excitement left over from their wedding, but it appeared the frown lines that usually wrinkled Gus’s brow had disappeared. She hoped he felt as happy as she did.

  “Sit down, Gus.” Louisa reached over Sophie Ann and patted the mattress.

  Gus may never love her, but he cared enough about her baby that he had been willing to marry her so he could be Sophie Ann’s father. She felt that family closeness she had craved most of her life, but once feared was forever lost to her.

  Gus slowly sat down on the bed behind Sophie Ann. He reached over to gently graze his fingers across the baby’s cheek. Louisa thought her heart would burst as she witnessed this tender gesture toward her child—their child, now.

  “Gus, there are not enough words to tell to you how happy I am that you are willing to be Sophie Ann’s papa.”

  Gus turned until his eyes settled on Louisa. He spoke so softly she barely heard him. “Nein. Ich danke dich. Ich liebe Sophie Ann.” I thank you. I love Sophie Ann.

  Overcome with emotion, Louisa squeezed her eyes shut and sucked in her breath. “I couldn’t ask for a better father for her than you.”

  Gus loved her daughter and she loved Gus. She now had far more than in the past five years she had ever dared allow herself to wish for. It was enough. Contentment settled over her.

  “Schön. Schön.” The softly spoken words rumbled deep in Gus’s throat.

  Yes, Sophie Ann was a beautiful baby, and Louisa felt so thrilled that Gus thought so. Then she realized that he no longer looked at the baby. He spoke those words while his eyes intently studied her face.

  Louisa looked away in embarrassment.

  Was Gus telling her he thought she was beautiful? Many of the customers at the Blue Feather used to tell her she was pretty. Those men had been more concerned about how she could satisfy them than offering her an honest compliment. And, that had been before she had put on the extra weight from having the baby. Surely Gus realized he had already given her so much. He shouldn’t feel the need to flatter her.

  Gus reached his hand over and tenderly cupped Louisa’s cheek. “Not only Sophie Ann. Ich liebe dich, Luise.”

  It took a few seconds for Gus’s words to sink in. Once they did, her eyes locked with his, striving to see through them into his heart. Did he mean what he just said? Did he love her? Or, had he said the words to be kind, because that is what a husband should say to his wife?

  Louisa felt her breath catch. She sat up and tugged her gown together, her face only a foot from Gus’s as Sophie Ann lay sleepily between them. Yes, she saw it. Behind the stern mask he wore, the truth of his feelings deep in his soul radiated outward through his eyes. This stubborn German who found it so hard to speak what was in his heart or express any kind of emotion other than anger or annoyance did love her.

  Gus loved her.

  She had no idea how many more times he might tell her of his love. She would have to see his love in other ways, like him bringing her a rocking chair—or taking a bullet meant for her. But, even if he never said it again, she knew. Gus loved her. Her heart surged with joy.

  Louisa reached up and covered the back of his hand that had not left her cheek with her own. With tears shimmering in her eyes, she rolled her head to kiss his palm.

  “Oh, Gus, I love you, too,” she whispered. “You have no idea how much.”

  Louisa closed her eyes in anticipation as Gus leaned over Sophie Ann, careful not to crush the baby. His kiss, gentle, but full of promise, l
ingered on her lips and sent shivers of pleasure coursing through her.

  Slowly, she opened her eyes to find Gus drinking in her face with his eyes. The light blue of his irises no longer reminded her of the ice that came off Lake Lundy each winter to be stored and used to keep food and drink cool throughout the summer. They now smoldered with adoration, and desire.

  And then…he smiled. Gus, who hardly ever smiled, now smiled at her.

  Louisa glanced down at Sophie Ann and then looked over at this man before her, still marveling that he was now her husband. As much as Louisa loved being Sophie Ann’s mother, she now longed with all her being to become a wife—Gus’s wife—in every respect.

  Louisa lifted Sophie Ann to her shoulder and began to pat her back. “Gus, when I finish burping her, I’m going to put Sophie Ann down in her own bed. Then I want more than anything to come back to this bed with you. Just with you. Ya?”

  The smile on Gus’s face widened as he leaned forward and wrapped his hand behind her neck. He gently pulled her toward him once more, embracing both her and their daughter as he once again kissed her, this time longer and deeper. His body trembling, he released his hold and leaned back, devouring her face with his eyes.

  His throaty voice answered with the one word she knew promised the fulfillment of all her dreams.

  “Ya.”

  Author’s Note

  The May Lundy mine, named after the oldest daughter of O. J. Lundy, was discovered in late summer of 1879 and proved to be the most productive mine on Mount Scowden and vicinity. Due to its success, the owners built a mill they named after the mine close to Lundy along Mill Creek. The mine was advertised for sale in 1883. The local newspaper, the Homer Index, on November 3, 1883 announced that the May Lundy Company, Limited, formed by a number of wealthy English and Scotch gentlemen, was purchased and incorporated in London.

  The sale wasn’t finalized until four years later.

  In 1884, those in charge of the May Lundy Mine and Mill stopped paying their workers in early July. The company businesses charged at the local stores. On August 21, 1884, the mine and mill were attached and closed down to satisfy a claim of over $12,000 by Rosenwald, Coblentz and Company. Other creditors followed their lead. By the end of the day, other creditors had submitted claims totaling over $20,000. Undersheriff Wilcox closed down the mine at noon, and the mill at nine o’clock that night. He assigned men at both the mine and the mill to prevent further work until the debts were satisfied.

  The mine was not worked in 1885 or 1886. It was worked by lessees in 1887 and 1888. It was bought and sold several times and worked on and off in the following years. In spite of there still being sufficient gold, due to production costs, what was originally the May Lundy Mine never achieved the success it enjoyed prior to its closure in August, 1884.

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  ZINA ABBOTT is the pen name used by Robyn Echols for her historical novels.

  Except for the first year of her life, Robyn Echols has lived in California. She started her young life in San Diego and has had gradually moved northward. She has been writing since she was in junior high school.

  After working several jobs, including that of being a rural carrier and union steward for the California Rural Letter Carriers' Association, Robyn has spent years learning and teaching family history topics. She enjoys focusing on history from a genealogist's perspective by seeking out the details of everyday life in the past. Several of her family history articles have been published in genealogy magazines.

  Robyn resides with her husband in California near the "Gateway to Yosemite." When she is not piecing together novel plots and characters, she enjoys piecing together quilt blocks.

  Website: www.zinaabbott.homestead.com

  Eastern Sierra BRIDES 1884

  BIG MEADOWS VALENTINE

  Some men left the civilized settlements of the east to risk life and limb in the lawless gold and silver mines of California and Nevada for wealth. Beth Dodd left behind her little sister and the civilized farming region of southern Ohio that she loved to travel to those same gold and silver regions in search for her scalawag of a husband who deserted her. In Lundy, Beth finds rancher named Val Caldwell with a heart bigger than all the gold in the Mono County mountains of the eastern Sierra-Nevada. She stays, knowing she has a responsibility to settle affairs with her husband. But, having lost almost everything she valued due to the decisions forced upon her first by her father and then by her husband, can she ever again trust a man to have any degree of influence or control over her life?

  Bitter over laws that favor men over women and determined to start a new life for herself and her sister on her own terms and through her own efforts, Beth resists the attraction she feels towards Val. Can Val make any headway in his quest to persuade Beth to consider a future with him someday?

  A RESURRECTED HEART

  Gold miners are pouring into Lundy, California for the Resurrection Day celebration. Val Caldwell drives a herd of cattle up from Big Meadows to Lundy—and he can’t wait to see Beth Dodd, the woman he hopes to marry.

  Beth unexpectedly finds she must convince the new miners that, though she is a widow, she expects to be treated with respect—and she holds her own amongst the roughest of the bunch with the help of her derringer and her pa’s hunting knife.

  A woman of many talents, Beth receives a frantic request from the madam at the Blue Feather to help with the birth of a prostitute’s baby—an experience that calls up emotions from her own past, and reveals her own heart’s desire—something she’s tried to forget.

  Val, anxious to convince Beth to marry him, is willing to help her any way he can. But, just how much will the independent woman be able to give of herself after the pain of her first marriage? Can Beth ever trust him enough to give him the love of A RESURRECTED HEART?

  COMING NEXT!

  HAUNTED BY LOVE

  Hazel Jessup arrives by stagecoach in Bridgeport late at night following a long, stormy October day of travel. Hiram Leavitt’s inn is already full of travelers stranded by the storm. Without telling Hazel, he puts her in a room where he knows she will probably meet Sarah—a specter of the woman who once slept in the very same room. That night, Hazel finds she has two visitors: the fatherly gentleman who is her travel escort—and Sarah. Afterward, she will never be the same.

  Luther Caldwell prepares to leave Bridgeport with a wagonload of supplies for the mining town of Lundy when Hiram Leavitt begs him to take young Hazel with him to reunite her with her sister. The open bench seat of a wagon is no way for a girl to travel, especially in the cold, stormy weather, but he agrees. He discovers pretty Hazel is not nearly as young as he was led to believe. What’s more, unlike his future sister-in-law, she laughs at his jokes and shares her own fanciful tale about an encounter with a ghost.

  Once Luther realizes who Hazel’s sister is, and knowing she’s no longer in Lundy, he turns the wagon in the opposite direction and develops a plan. This is one delivery—and practical joke—he looks forward to making. But, joke or no joke, unbelievable ghost story or not, Luther is dead serious about winning the heart of the young woman sitting next to him no matter who might haunt him once he makes his intentions known.

 

 

 


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