by June Tate
Brad drove up the Avenue and parked the jeep outside the Cowherds Inn, on the edge of the common, which was now commandeered by the American forces. He stopped the jeep, turned off the engine, turned towards Rusty, took her into his arms and kissed her until neither of them could breathe.
Gasping for air, Rusty said, ‘Bloody hell! Well, that was almost worth waiting so long for!’
‘What do you mean . . . almost?’ Brad asked, slightly put out.
‘What I meant was it was a long time coming! Sooner would have been better.’
‘We need to talk, Rusty,’ he said.
‘No, Brad, we don’t. All you need to ask yourself is this: can you forget I was a prostitute, or will it be for ever between us? It’s as simple as that. Do you love me enough to let it go?’
He gazed at her with admiration. ‘Oh, Rusty, how simple you make life sound, you see life so clearly. Is it really that easy?’
‘That’s up to you, Brad. I gave that life up for you – for us. Now it’s up to you to decide if we have a future or not.’
He looked into the brown eyes that challenged him. Eyes that were honest, with nothing more to hide . . . and were full of hope. How could he resist? Why would he even want to? He cupped her face in his hands and kissed her gently.
‘I see a great future ahead of us, Rusty darling. Come on, let’s celebrate! We’ll see what they’ve got on the menu in the dining room,’ and he climbed out of the car, collected her from the passenger side, and with a broad grin put his arm round her and walked towards the entrance.
Rusty was almost too afraid to breathe. Could this really be happening? Did Brad really mean what he said? When he had time to think, would he still be of the same mind? All these thoughts tumbled through her mind, but she pushed them aside as they walked into the dining room. The man she adored was with her again, she’d just take each day as it came . . . but with everything crossed!
Adam Procter was not so happy. It had been several days now since Jenny had packed her bag and driven away. He had no idea where she was, and when he went to his club to seek out some company he’d had to field questions about his wife.
‘She’s well, thank you. Jenny’s really busy at the moment; you know how involved she’s become with various committees.’
So far, no one knew she’d gone or the reason behind her leaving – and he planned to keep it that way.
He’d hired a housekeeper, an older woman who didn’t ask questions, and a nurse who came in twice a day to change his dressings and see he took his medicine. He was able to fend for himself, other than that. He was well able to dress himself and give himself a good wash down. When his wound was healed, then he’d be able to take a bath. But with every day that passed his bitterness grew. How could Jenny turn her back on all they had built together to run off with a bloody Yank? What sort of man was he, this cowboy who had tempted his wife so strongly that she’d turned her back on him? His curiosity grew and grew until he had to meet this man himself. He remembered that Jenny had spoken about an American doing work at the stables . . . What had she called him? A horse whisperer – that was it. He’d go to the stables tomorrow and see if he couldn’t arrange a meeting with this fellow. Perhaps then he could settle the matter once and for all and put a stop to this ridiculous nonsense!
Chad had a day’s leave and was helping Beth settle a new mare which had been brought in to the stable by its owner who was no longer able to care for it. The mare was in foal and unsettled by the change. Beth had been concerned that the mare would be stressed enough to endanger the foal she was carrying, and Chad said he would help her settle down. He was in the stable working with the animal when Adam Procter arrived, having been given a lift by a friend.
Chad heard the man talking to Beth. He could hardly miss the loud and imperious tone of the voice as the stranger asked about the horse whisperer he’d heard about. He guessed immediately the identity of the speaker and walked out of the stable, closing the door behind him.
Walking up to the man, Chad said, ‘I believe it’s me you’re looking for. I’m Chad Maxwell, and if I’m not mistaken you are Captain Procter.’
Adam could hardly hide his surprise when he looked at the American. He was much younger than he expected; he also appeared to be very calm, considering he was facing the husband of his lover! But before he could say anything, it was Chad that spoke.
‘Captain Procter, I think we need to sit down and talk, man to man.’ He looked at Beth who was standing by, looking more than a little perturbed. ‘May we use your kitchen?’ Chad asked her.
‘Of course. Help yourself to tea or coffee.’ She walked away and left them together.
Once in the kitchen, Chad filled the kettle and plugged it in. ‘Tea or coffee?’ he asked.
‘Neither, thank you! This isn’t a bloody social call. I’ve come to talk about my wife!’
Chad calmly sat down. ‘Of course you have. Right, shoot!’
Adam looked at him in astonishment. ‘Is that all you have to say? You Yanks really do take the cake! You steal my wife away from a marriage of nineteen happy years and sit there and say . . . shoot! This is serious stuff, not one of your Hollywood films. You are about to ruin her life, and I won’t let you get away with it!’
‘I can understand your anger, Captain, but I have to question you about your marriage being happy. It wasn’t – at least, not for the latter years.’
‘What the hell do you know about it?’
‘I know that when I met your wife she was happy. After all, she was free to be her own person, do the things that really interested her – for once.’
‘That is very presumptuous of you.’
‘Not really. Your wife is a free spirit whose character had been swamped by living with you. She had completely lost her identity. Now, happily, she knows who she is and what she wants out of life. Fortunately for me, she wants to come to Wyoming.’
‘What rubbish! Jenny has no idea what she wants.’
‘Have you ever asked her?’
Adam became flustered. ‘Of course not, she’s my wife; I know what’s best for her.’
Chad raised his eyebrows in surprise, then frowned. ‘There you have the crux of your problem, Captain Procter. Her needs are secondary to your own. You have no idea what sort of woman you married.’
‘Of course I do! Good God, man! I have been married to her long enough.’
‘Then tell me this. What’s her favourite flower?’
Adam didn’t hesitate. ‘She’s a gardener, so she loves all sorts of flowers.’
‘Wrong! The poppy is her favourite. What’s her ambition?’
Here the man was completely flummoxed.
‘You didn’t know she had one did you? She wants to ride out with her favourite horse and camp beneath the stars.’
‘Jenny would hate that! She likes her creature comforts.’
Chad just shook his head. ‘I feel so sorry for you, sir. You have been married to the most wonderful woman for nineteen years, and yet you don’t know or understand her – and what’s more, you have never even tried. That takes tremendous arrogance. You don’t deserve such a woman!’
‘And you do?’
‘Probably not, if I’m honest. I didn’t plan to fall in love with Jenny or she with me, it just happened, but let me tell you, I feel the luckiest guy on this planet. Believe me, I won’t waste a moment of the time that we are together, no siree!’
Adam looked at Chad with contempt. ‘You really think she’s coming to live with you, don’t you? Well, let me put you in the picture, my young friend; Jenny has just been carried away by the moment, as so many other women in wartime have. I was away, and you, a younger man, paid her some attention, which was flattering to an older woman. She loves her home, her garden – being my wife. As soon as you go away, she’ll come to her senses. This, this . . . thing with you will pass in time, and we will get over it and move on.’
‘That’s up to Jenny. I give you my word that I w
on’t push her either way. It will be totally up to her, but I have to warn you, Captain Procter, you will be the loser, because I know what makes Jenny tick, and sadly, you have no idea!’ He rose from the chair. ‘Forgive me, but I have an unhappy mare to see to.’
Adam glared at the American. ‘I suppose you think you can understand the human spirit as well as you can understand a sick animal?’
‘I’m amazed that you even recognize the fact of a human spirit. Maybe there’s hope for you yet, Captain, but sadly not with your own wife! You left that far too late!’
Adam sat in the kitchen chair, fuming. How dare this whippersnapper tell him he didn’t understand his own wife! Well, one thing he was certain of was this young man was definitely not Jenny’s type at all! That much he did know. Let her have her moment of madness. He’d shortly be back with his company, but the American must soon be sent to Europe; when eventually the war was over, time would sort them out. She’d be happy to come home. He could wait.
Beth saw Adam Procter leave the stable and wait at the gate to be picked up. She wandered over to the stable and seeing Chad asked, ‘Everything all right?’
He shrugged. ‘As far as I’m concerned, but I don’t think the Captain would agree.’ He smiled at her. ‘Don’t worry, Beth, no blood was drawn!’
She chuckled and walked away, thinking that no two men could be more different than Jenny’s husband and her lover. She had no doubt about which man she preferred.
An hour later, Jenny arrived at the stables to help out. She soon found Chad and watched him work with the mare, who by now seemed more settled. She saw Chad feel the swollen stomach of the animal, talking softly as he did so. Then, with a final pat and stroke of the animal’s mane, he left the stable. Seeing Jenny waiting, he took her into his arms and kissed her.
‘How’s my girl?’
‘Fine, and how are you?’
‘I’m real good. I had a visit from your husband today; we sat and chatted.’
Jenny looked shattered. ‘Oh my God!’
‘It’s OK, honey, we sat and talked in a civilized manner.’
She didn’t know what to say for a moment. ‘And what happened?’
‘The captain told me that in time you would go back to him. He inferred this was just a moment of madness on your part and you would get over it.’
‘Do you believe that, Chad?’
‘Not for one moment, but he does. Poor man, he doesn’t know you at all after all these years, and that’s partly your fault, Jenny.’
‘Whatever do you mean?’
‘You let him take you over without a fight. You should have stood your ground, been the person that I know you are deep down. You let him swamp you with his own personality.’
She gave a wry smile. ‘But when we were first married he was very much my hero. He was determined, sure of himself; I admired him immensely.’
‘And now, all these years later?’
‘I suppose, anything for a quiet life. You get into a routine and just go with the flow. My God, that sounds so weak, doesn’t it?’
‘You said it honey, not me.’
‘Then when he went away, I was free to do the things I wanted . . . and then of course I met you.’ She gazed fondly at him. ‘Then I wanted even more.’
Pulling her into his arms, Chad kissed her softly. ‘I’ve finished here. I still have until late tonight and I want to make love to you, so why don’t we go back to the flat and there we can be alone?’ He held her even closer until she could feel his arousal. His hand gently caressed her backside, and she couldn’t concentrate.
‘Let’s go,’ she managed to whisper. And they left the stables.
Nineteen
Gunter Reinhardt was beside himself with excitement. Today he was to see his son for the very first time and Sarah, the mother of his baby and the woman he intended to marry, come what may!
Ethel Brown the farmer’s wife was to accompany Sarah and baby Hans on the train, which was a great relief to him. The kindness of strangers, thought Gunter as he waited. After all, the Browns hardly knew him apart from the time he’d worked for them, but they had taken Sarah into their home when her own family had disowned her. How could he ever repay such kindness?
He was ushered into a small common room by one of the British soldiers on duty and told to wait. He tried to sit patiently, but before long he was pacing the small room until he heard the door open and there stood Sarah with a small bundle in her arms. She stood, smiling at him, with tears streaming down her face.
He stepped forward. ‘Liebling!’ He carefully took her and her baby into his arms, kissing her first and then looking down at his firstborn. ‘Mein Gott! Is this really our son?’
‘Yes, Gunter darling, this is Hans.’ She handed the baby over to him. ‘I think he looks a lot like you.’
He gazed at the baby, taking in every small detail. He gently held the baby’s hand and was overcome when the tiny fingers closed around one of his. He looked up at Sarah with tears brimming his eyes. ‘Did you see that?’ He carefully placed the baby on his shoulder, breathing in the scent of him. ‘He’s wonderful. And how are you, my liebling?’
‘I’m fine. The Browns are wonderful to us both. I help Ethel in the house; we get along very well.’ He voice broke. ‘Oh Gunter, I thought I’d never see you again.’
He caught hold of her hand. ‘We are a family, Sarah. No one will ever come between us. No matter what, or how long it takes, we will be together after the war, I promise!’ The baby gurgled. ‘There! You see, little Hans totally agrees with me.’
Gunter looked up as one of the soldiers on guard came in with a tray of tea. ‘I thought your wife might need this after her long journey.’
Sarah smiled at the soldier. ‘Thank you, that’s so kind of you.’
He man shrugged. ‘I have a baby myself, haven’t seen him for several months.’ He smiled and nodded at Gunter, then left them alone.
‘What a nice gesture,’ Sarah remarked. ‘They obviously treat you well here.’
Gunter just nodded. He didn’t tell her about the few sentries who treated the prisoners like dirt, who told them the only good German was a dead one. Of the insults he himself had suffered when it was known he had a child by an English girl – from his own kind, as well as from the guards. It was only a small nucleus of the men guarding them who treated them badly, but enough to make living there unpleasant.
The afternoon passed all too soon, and Sarah was told her time was up. With a voice choked with emotion she asked, ‘When will I see you again?’
‘I have no idea. This visit, I’m afraid, will not be repeated. I was fortunate to be allowed to see you and the baby at all. Never mind, liebling, we will write all the time, and one day we’ll put all this behind us. You must be strong for our son.’ He stood and held them both in his arms, kissing first the baby, then Sarah. ‘Remember that I love you both, more than life itself.’
Sarah, too full of emotion for words, left the room to join Ethel Brown and journey home.
Gunter walked back to his room in a daze. There was joy after seeing his child and Sarah, but such sadness as he faced the fact that he might not see them again until the child was no longer a baby. He would miss seeing his son progress so much, but at least he had today. No one could take that away from him.
One of the other German prisoners put his head round the door. Seeing Gunter standing there, lost in thought, the man stepped inside. ‘I hear you saw your bastard child today.’
Gunter hit him, sending him reeling into the corridor. He then shut the door.
Adam Procter had only another week left before he returned to his regiment. He had phoned Beth at the stables to ask for Jenny’s address, as he had to see her to make arrangements before he left. Beth wouldn’t give the address to him without Jenny’s permission, but she said she would pass on the message, which she did – and Jenny had called her husband and arranged to go to the house to see him.
As she drove up the d
rive, she looked at her garden with a certain longing. She loved working in it when she’d been living there, and although it was tidy to a point, it was obvious to her that it needed someone who really cared about it. She drew up in front of the house, got out of the car and walked to the door. Here she paused; she had her own key, but it didn’t seem right to just walk in, so she rang the bell.
Adam opened the door. He looked better she expected, and she was pleased. She had felt guilty leaving him when she did, but it had been his choice to get someone else in to look after his needs.
‘Hello, Adam. You’re looking well,’ she said.
‘Yes, well, no one is indispensable,’ was his terse reply, and she knew that this meeting was going to be difficult.
They went into the sitting room. Adam went to the table in the window where the drinks were kept. ‘Can I get you something?’ he asked.
‘Not for me, thanks.’ She watched as he poured himself a large gin and tonic and guessed it wasn’t the first one that day – and she waited.
‘I’m due to join my regiment next week, so I thought we ought to discuss a few things.’
‘Like what?’
Financial arrangements – after all, I am still your husband, and I must provide for you financially – and then there’s the house.’
‘What about the house?’
‘I certainly don’t want it left empty when I’m away. I don’t want to sell it, and I certainly wouldn’t dream of letting it to strangers.’
‘So what are you suggesting?’
‘That you move back in when I’m gone. It’s been your home for many years, and I’m sure you wouldn’t like to see it empty and neglected.’
‘No, of course not!’
Adam was delighted. He hoped that once again residing in her home and seeing to the garden, which was her pride and joy, might eventually persuade Jenny that she had made a terrible mistake, wanting to leave.
‘Good, I’m pleased you agree. It will also put a stop to any rumours that we’ve parted. I’ve certainly not told anyone, and I would appreciate it if you were discreet. I do not want to be the centre of local gossip. I will, of course, make a monthly payment into your account.’
