[2016] Widow Finds Love

by Christian Michael

  Bianca tossed her braid back over her shoulder, hoisted the basket higher and flounced off. Jonah stared after her in bemusement. She has a temper? Where did that come from? She’s been as quiet as a church mouse all this time.

  Jonah ran his fingers through his hair. She was right. He had advanced on her. He was the one who had set the boundary and broken it too. He knew why he was so upset and it had nothing to do with Bianca and everything to do with himself.

  He had grown up watching his Father drink away his life and his money. Frank would come home and beat his wife, every night. And Jane took it to protect her son. By the time he was fifteen, Jonah was bigger than Frank and his mom was still trying to protect him but Jonah had seen enough. One night, on Jonah’s sixteenth birthday, when Frank came home, Jonah was waiting for him on the porch with gun in hand.

  As usual, Frank hollered for Jane to meet him outside and Jane went to him. Neither of them saw Jonah. Without ceremony, the man raised his fist to strike his wife; it was like an obsessive routine for him. He did not need a reason nor did he need a cause. If Jane begged him to stop, Frank loved it even more. So Jane always remained silent as Frank became increasingly violent, trying to make her cry out for mercy. Without hesitation he would start with her face. When she was down he would kick her in the abdomen, when he was dissatisfied with that, he would use his walking stick on her legs and feet and arms.

  This time though, the second the man raised a fist; Jonah took aim and fired a warning shot just over his head. Frank froze. In his drunken state, he didn’t fully comprehend what the loud noise had been but Jane knew. She turned to Jonah and pleaded with him to stop and go inside. Jonah refused. Frank, when he heard Jane begging Jonah, turned her forcibly around to face him instead.

  “Beg for your son, will you?” Frank sneered. “But you won’t beg for me? Think you are too good for me? Think you can protect that boy from me?”

  Jane didn’t answer him. She knew any answer she gave would only result in more blows for her.

  Frank backhanded her without warning.

  Jonah let off another warning shot, deliberately aiming and successfully shattering the bottle of beer Frank still held in his hand. He stepped out of the shadows onto the candle-illuminated porch steps.

  “I am warning you, Frank” he said – he did not have respect enough for the man to call him father. “Touch her one more time and it will be the last thing you ever do.”

  “You’d kill your own Papa boy? For a worthless woman?”

  Jonah seethed with anger. “You’re not my Papa, not anymore and Mama is worth ten times what you are. You have two choices. You can leave and not come back or you can try to strike her again and I will kill you.”

  Frank, even in his drunken stupor knew enough to realize Jonah was dead serious and was not fool enough to risk his life. After long minutes he backed away and turned on his heel.

  But that was not the last Jonah heard of Frank.

  With Frank gone for the time being, Jonah was free to take the reins of the ranch in his own hands. He had been doing it already for over two years but everything had been overshadowed by Frank’s presence. The townspeople knew what kind of man Frank was and what he did to Jane and Jonah but they feared his temper too much to interfere directly. Whenever Jane was too sick and battered to take care of the home or to even cook, the women took turns helping her out. The men took Jonah under their wings and taught him the ropes about running his own ranch.

  With Frank gone, Jonah and Jane flourished. Within two years, Jonah was well on his way to settling all of his father’s gambling debts and building a new home for his mother. Jane did not like to stay in the ranch house because of the memories it held, so Jonah built a cottage for her behind the home. For his own part, he stayed in the main house and restored it so that it was like new. He made sure he wiped out all traces of Frank Cassidy.

  Three years after Frank left, Jonah woke up in the middle of the night to screams. He raced to the cottage with his shotgun in tow. When he reached the door, he saw Frank standing over his mother. Jane was bleeding heavily on the coverlet. When she saw Jonah she cried out to him to escape but Frank advanced on him before he could even register what he was seeing.

  Frank slashed at Jonah and the boy felt a searing pain stretch across his belly. In shock, the boy struggled to get his hands up and fight the man off. Frank with the element of surprise on his side had the upper hand. He used the blunt edge of the knife to bash Jonah’s head. Jonah barely managed to fight him off. But Frank wasn’t interested in killing Jonah. He wanted him to suffer.

  “Think you’ve seen the last of me boy? Think again. No one crosses Frank Cassidy and gets away with it.”

  Jonah couldn’t answer. Frank hauled him up with surprising strength and pinned him against the wall.

  “Look!” He said, pointing at Jane. “Look what you did to your mother boy. She’s dying because of you because you went and tried to interfere in our marriage. I used to be just like you, boy. Strong and hard working. We had a good marriage back then, Jane and I. But then you were born and you took her away from me. She had no time for me anymore. Well, I showed her.”

  Frank turned his head to look at Jane. “Here that Janey girl? You never should have chosen this scrawny kid over me.”

  Jane could only groan weakly in anguish.

  He turned back to Jonah and pressed the tip of the knife into his face.

  “You are more like me then you know, boy. When you get married, I will be waiting. I will take away from you everyone you love, just like you did to me.”

  Frank hit him over the head one more time and Jonah sank into unconsciousness.

  When he woke, Frank was long gone. And so was Jane.

  Jonah never forgot Frank’s threat. He tried to have him hunted down but no one was able to trace him. He would be tempted to believe Frank was dead and gone were it not for the occasional posts he received from the man. The short letters always made it clear that Frank was keeping tabs on his son and reminded him of his threat.

  But there was no way he could or would explain all of that to Bianca. No, it was far better to keep her at a distance. It was safer for her and safer for him. All he needed was a housekeeper, nothing more, nothing less. No matter how beautiful or tempting she was.

  Bianca was ashamed. Jonah had made it clear beyond a doubt that he wanted nothing to do with her. Over the past month, as they had spent more time together, she had fanned a spark of hope in her heart that perhaps Jonah wanted her to be more than just a servant.

  Once when he had gone to the market, he happily came back with a small green hair ribbon for her. And their conversations in the kitchen as he ate his breakfast had become far easier and relaxed. She had even started to take her meals with him. They had laughed and joked together. He had asked about her life as if he genuinely cared.

  She told him about the deaths of her parents and sister. He too told her that his mother was gone and that he never saw his father. She sensed that there was something he was keeping back, but it was obvious he didn’t want to discuss it, so she never asked him anymore about it.

  Bianca’s mind was running in over-drive. She kept thinking about the kiss and Jonah’s reaction afterwards.

  Well no matter. What’s done is done and I am not going to wallow over it.

  That was an amazing kiss though. Who knew such a simple thing could produce such a reaction.

  No. No. Don’t even think about it Bianca. He made it clear he viewed it as a mistake. Just swallow your pride and keep your head down.

  Curse that stupid basket!

  Thank God for that basket!

  He did say that he had been thinking about kissing me for a while though. So he is attracted to me. He is holding back, but why? We’re already married. It’s not like it’s improper for a man to kiss his own wife for Pete’s sake!

  He’s a puzzle, that one. He’s the one who wanted a maid and now he admits that he is attracted to me and then
he pulls away.

  Bianca realized that this was just the opportunity she had to seize if she ever wanted a chance at making a real marriage out of this. She knew they could be friends because there was such an easy rapport between them already. He had pushed her away but she was not going to let him keep her in a corner. Friendship could always become something more. I just have to make him see it – and want it. But how do I do that?

  As she stood in front of the mirror that night, she took a long hard look at herself. She had never been one to primp and obsess over her appearance. God knows, growing up, that was a luxury she did not have. But now, she did. She had money of her own. And Jonah had given her money as well to spend on herself in addition to what he gave her for the household expenses.

  She always went shopping on Fridays and spent the day in town; after buying what she needed for the house, she was usually at the bookstore devouring dime novels. Bianca made up her mind. Tomorrow would be different. Tomorrow she was going to go into town and spend a sizeable amount of money on herself for once.

  The next morning, Bianca was a nervous ball of energy. A plan had formed in her mind overnight and she had set a goal for herself. Christmas was a month away and it was the season for miracles. This year, she wanted her miracle to be one Jonah Cassidy. It was a huge gamble and she had never done anything like this before. If she failed, she didn’t know how she would face Jonah day in and out but if she succeeded, the rewards were worth far more than the risk.

  Over breakfast, she told Jonah that she was going to be in town for the day as usual. He just nodded. She caught his gaze on her lips several times over the meal and she had to fight to hide her smile. I just may have more than a glimmer of a chance at getting my Christmas miracle.

  Jonah for his part forced himself to focus on his meal. The food was delicious as usual but he couldn’t help thinking about the woman sitting across from him. Half of him wanted to reach out to her and pull her into him – physically and emotionally – but the other half of him remembered Frank’s threat. He would not dare put Bianca in danger.

  The week after his wedding, he had received another post from Frank and it contained only one line: “She’s a pretty little bird, Jonah. Reminds me of your mother.”

  Since then, Jonah had kept his eyes and ears open for any sign of Frank. Despite the fact that neither hide nor hair of him had been seen for years now, Frank had still managed to find out about Bianca. As the weeks passed though without any messages or signs of Frank, Jonah allowed himself to relax.

  All night, Jonah had tossed and turned in his bed. That kiss was on his mind, and the woman behind it. Bianca filled a void he didn’t know had existed. A void he was reluctant to acknowledge even now. As busy as he was with the ranch, he now always made time for the meals that he used to skip, simply because it gave him an excuse to be near her.

  She was refreshing. As beautiful as she was, her head was not filled with vanity like the other women he had come across in his life. She was practical to the core, but she was caring as well. He enjoyed talking to her and getting to know her. He didn’t even mind telling her about himself at times. When she had told him about her family, it took all of his might not to pull her into his arms and comfort her. He had only allowed himself to hold her hand.

  He knew she was attracted to him and he wished he could act on that and make this marriage real. But he did not dare take it past the easy friendship they enjoyed. He was relieved that, even though he had behaved terribly after their kiss yesterday, she still treated him the same as she always had. He couldn’t stop thinking about that kiss and imagining what it would have been like to freely kiss her every day. At least she would be in town for the rest of the day. He told himself that out of sight would be out of mind. If only he could really believe it.

  Jonah waved Bianca off as she left that morning. Once in town, Bianca carefully considered her choices. Her wardrobe was in desperate need of an update so she started there. She wanted a couple of ready-made dresses to use while the rest of her clothes could be stitched so she went to the one shop in town that boasted ready-made dresses.

  She was the only person in the store when she entered it. A surprisingly young girl, who couldn’t have been much older than she, greeted her eagerly.

  “Welcome, ma’am, my name is Cissy. How can I help you today?”

  “Hello Cissy, please call me Bianca. I am in need of some ready-made dresses and I am going to have to get them a bit more stitched in places, is the seamstress available?”

  “I am the seamstress, honey! This here is my store and I can definitely outfit you in style.”

  As she spoke, Cissy brought out a tape measure and pins and led Bianca to the back room where she stripped to her chemise and stood on the pedestal while Cissy took her measurements.

  Cissy was a talker and this became evident from the beginning of their conversation. Bianca learned that she was new in town and had set up shop only a month ago. Everyone here went to Madame Lenora though because she was the familiar face around town. To date, Bianca was Cissy’s first customer. She hoped that if Bianca were pleased with her services then she wouldn’t mind telling people she got her clothes from Cissy so that perhaps some brave souls would be willing to risk Madame Lenora’s wrath and visit her store.

  Bianca was charmed by Cissy’s openness and warmth. When Cissy asked, unabashedly, why Bianca was still wearing styles that had gone out of fashion years before, Bianca explained to her that she was newly married and she wanted to attract her husband’s attention a little more which was why she wanted to update her clothes.

  Cissy was delighted. She even offered to act as Bianca’s companion for the day so that she could get everything she needed, from underclothes to hats. Bianca accepted and the two became fast friends.

  Cissy clothed Bianca in styles that suited her personality perfectly, not over the top but still alluring. Bianca was very pleased with the selection. The girl even advised her, rather frankly, on how to attract Jonah’s attention. She had been married before, when she was sixteen, but was now a widow at twenty-two as her husband had died in a freak accident involving a horse. She had enjoyed the marriage bed and when she discovered that Bianca had not, she was not a little surprised. She advised Bianca plainly.

  By the time Bianca arrived home that evening, her head was spinning with all that she had learned. She was nervous to be forward with Jonah but she also knew she could not continue being a timid bird or she might lose her chance to win him over.

  In her first week, quite by accident, Bianca had discovered that Jonah’s room had a window with a direct view into her own bedroom in the cottage. Since then, she had been diligent to close the curtains whenever she changed her clothes or got dressed in the morning. That night though, she was feeling emboldened by the conversation she had with Cissy. So she decided to leave the curtains open while she prepared for bed.

  Jonah returned from his bath late that night. The day had been exceptionally long, as he had been making the last of the preparations to ready the fields for the coming winter. Now he was ready for bed. As he toweled his hair dry, he sat on the bed. His eyes were drawn to a flicker of light coming from the cottage. As his mind registered what he was seeing, he froze in shock.

  Bianca was brushing her hair in the candlelight. She was wearing nothing more than a thin petticoat and the light from the candle illuminated her body, contouring it for his imagination. Jonah swallowed hard. He could not tear his gaze away as he watched her. He was mesmerized by her actions as she finished brushing her hair and then rubbed something, lotion he assumed, on her arms and legs. Bianca climbed into bed and blew out the candle so that the room was engulfed in darkness. Jonah sat, dumbly staring at her window for a few more minutes before snapping out of his trance.

  The next morning, Bianca put on one of the dresses Cissy had created. The fit was tighter and the cut was a little lower than what she was accustomed to but she knew it flattered her very well. When Jonah wa
lked in that morning, he was floored. Bianca could tell that he was flustered and it pleased her immensely. She had seen him watching her the previous night and his attention that day satisfied the woman in her. He didn’t say anything, but then he didn’t need to. His gaze was heated each time it settled on her. Bianca simply could not help but feel giddy.

  She forced herself to act natural and carry on a conversation with Jonah. When he commented on her dress, she told him it was new and that she had thought it was time to update her wardrobe. Jonah just nodded but she knew he liked the dress. His eyes kept taking in the entire length of her appreciatively.

  Jonah had a hard time making his mind work that morning. He kept thinking about the vision of her he had glimpsed the previous night. And unlike her previous outfits, the dress she had on today emphasized all of her womanly charms in a manner that he could not help but enjoy. There was nothing overt or immodest about the dress but it somehow managed to cling to her in all of the right places, emphasizing all of the right curves.

  Over the next two weeks, they drew closer together and the attraction between them strengthened until it was tangible. Bianca had begun decorating the house for Christmas. For the first time since he had been without his mother, Jonah had a tree in his house. At first he had been uncomfortable but now he had to admit that he rather enjoyed it. There was a feeling of anticipation in the air. And hope. He couldn’t remember the last time he had felt so lighthearted.

  When he saw the bare floor under the tree, he had felt guilty and had gone out and bought several presents for Bianca. When she saw all the beautifully packaged gifts her eyes had lit up with sheer joy.

  “Are those for me?”

  “Yes, ma’am, but you’re not allowed to even touch them until Christmas morning, do you hear?”

  Bianca laughed with glee, “Okay, but I expect the same follow through from you mister!”

  “Why? Did you buy me something too?” Jonah asked curiously.