Stuart took the rose soap and washed the dirt and muck out of her hair.
He checked the buckets of water on the stove. Stuart thought they were warm enough now and brought one to the tub. She bent her head again and he rinsed the dirt and soap from her hair.
Then he took the other buckets from the stove and brought it to the tub.
“Please stand and I’ll rinse you and your hair.”
She rose and as he slowly poured the water over her, Genny ran her hands through her hair to get all the suds out.
When the last of the water was poured, Stuart put the bucket next to the tub and wrapped her hair in a towel from the table. He got another cloth and started to dry her body.
Genny reached for the towel.
But Stuart snatched it away.
“Let me. Please.”
He rubbed her body with the towel, except where her injuries were and then he patted them dry. He took the towel from her head and put it on the floor. Then he held his hand out for her to take, helped her out of the tub and finished drying her body.
Genny was sure now that she must have no effect on Stuart. He was seeing her naked and touching her all over and treating her like she was one of the children or cowboys. All business. No hint of desire evident in his ministrations. He was rejecting her again.
Nettie came in with clean clothes for Genny and put them on the table. “I thought you might need these,” she said. Then she turned and left to go back to the children.
Genny realized the dress was one she hadn’t seen before. A beautiful royal blue wool dress that buttoned up the front it had to be one of Martha’s.
“Before you dress I want to take care of these wounds. This first part will hurt but it’s necessary.”
“What are you going to do?”
“I want you to take another swig of this whiskey.”
She did and she coughed and made faces but she kept the burning liquid down. “Now what?”
“Sit at the table, please.”
She took a deep breath and sat.
Stuart took the whiskey and poured it generously over the wounds on her arms.
She hissed and stiffened, bracing against the sting. Just when Genny thought the worst was over, she felt the liquid poured on her back. She screamed. “Oh my God, Stuart. That hurts!”
“I’m sorry, sweetheart.” He put down the whiskey and wrapped her arms and her shoulder to cover the worst of the bites. Because the ones on her legs hadn’t broken the skin he left those alone.
When he was done he helped her stand and dress.
For some reason she couldn’t seem to manage it on her own.
“Stuart, the floor is movin’. I think I’m gonna be sick.”
He hurried her to the sink, where she threw up most of the liquor she’d consumed.
Then he wet a washcloth and let her cool her face and clean her mouth.
“Better?”
She nodded. “Yes. I don’t like whiskey. Keep that stuff away from me.”
“We only keep it around for medicinal purposes. Now, I want you to go up to bed for the rest of the day. We’ll see how you’re feeling tomorrow.”
“Thank you for taking care of me.”
“You’re my wife…”
“Please. Don’t. Just don’t say something you don’t mean.”
He took her arm and aided her walking to the bedroom.
She lay down on the bed and closed her eyes.
*****
Stuart stood there and relived the horror of the day. He’d never been as scared in his life as he was to see Genny go down in the pig pen. Billy, bawling his head off and Genny being attacked by the sows. He fired his gun air and one sow broke off the attack but the other one kept on. He ran past Billy, shot the thing dead, climbed the fence, picked Genny up and lifted her back over the fence to her feet. Everything happened so fast, his heart still pumped fiercely in his chest.
Stuart sighed. He needed to have a talk with Billy. With one last look at his wife, sleeping soundly, he turned and left the room.
Stuart walked down the hall with a heavy heart. He hated to discipline his son, but this time punishment was definitely in order.
He walked into the children’s room.
Billy was playing quietly in the corner.
Nettie must have cleaned him because he was in clean clothes. Stuart walked over to him and knelt beside him.
Billy looked up from his soldiers. “Is Genny gonna be okay?”
“Yes, she is and that’s no thanks to you. Do you realize you could have been killed? And Genny could have been killed, too?”
Billy’s eyes watered and before Stuart knew it his son was crying again.
He took the child into his arms and, so as not to wake Lucy, he carried him out into the hall.
“What did I tell you about the pigs?”
“To stay far back, that they’re mean and could hurt me.”
“That’s right, just like they hurt Genny today. I want you to go back into your room and stay there until you’re called for supper and you won’t get any dessert tonight. You are not allowed inside a pen or a stall without an adult with you. Do you understand?”
Billy nodded.
“All right. You can go play. Don’t wake up Lucy.”
Billy nodded, sniffling as he went.
Stuart didn’t know what he would do. He was falling in love with Genny and that simply could not happen. He refused. But, she’d risked her own life to save Billy, just like any mother would. How could he not love her?
And sleeping together without touching her was getting harder and harder. But he couldn’t face that kind of pain again. Never again.
CHAPTER 8
Genny awoke thirsty but more than that, her left arm felt like it was on fire. She made to grab and hold it but the movement hurt her shoulder. Pain throbbed with each heart beat. Something was wrong. The wound had hurt when she lay down but didn’t burn like this.
She got up from the bed and, with great effort, made her way toward the kitchen. Weakness caused her to lean on the wall as she walked down the hallway and then on the banister as she traversed the stairs on wobbly legs. When she reached the bottom, she realized that she couldn’t reach the kitchen without assistance.
“Nettie. Nettie!”
The older woman came running out of the kitchen with a dish towel in her hand.
“Goodness gracious, Genny. What are you doing out of bed?”
“I was thirsty but something is wrong with my arm and back. They burn, more than they did and I feel so weak.”
“Oh dear. Let’s get you to the kitchen and take a look.”
She helped Genny to a chair.
“Unbutton your dress and we’ll see what’s happening with your wounds.”
Genny did as instructed and completely undressed from the waist up so Nettie could see the bandages.
While she was doing that Nettie closed and locked the kitchen door to the outside.
“Well, what do you see?” Genny asked once Nettie had peeled back the bandages.
“Your wounds are an angry red and may be getting infected. I can’t really tell but I think we need to send someone to Elko for the doctor. I’ll go get Stuart.
“Why is the kitchen door locked?” A gravelly male voice sounded from the entry to the hall behind her.
Nettie held up her hand. “You stop right there and don’t come a bit closer, Joseph MacDonnell.”
Her back to Joe, Genny turned and looked at him over her shoulder.
“I’m sorry, Joe.”
“It’s all right. What the heck happened to you?”
“I had a fight with a pig and the pig won.”
Nettie tsked. “She saved Billy’s life after he got into the pig pen. She needs a doctor. Can you ride to town and get him, or at least tell him what happened and that I think the bites are becoming infected. Pigs are such dirty animals.”
Genny agreed. She didn’t care if she ever ate pork again.
>
“I’ll be as quick as I can.” Joe hurried back the way he came.
A few minutes later, Stuart charged into the kitchen.
“What’s this about Joe getting the doctor? Let me see your injuries.”
Genny let go of the chemise she’d held up when Joe was there.
Stuart examined the wounds.
“Well, what do they look like?” she asked. “Nettie said she thought they might be infected.”
“She’s right. I have to wash them again. Then I’ll rewrap you.”
“No whiskey…ri…right?” She couldn’t stop the tremor in her voice, much to her dismay.
“Right. The whiskey has done whatever it can do. But I’m using lye soap to clean them this time.” He pressed a hand to her shoulder. “You might wish for the whiskey.”
He began cleaning her wounds, and Genny thought she would prefer the liquor, inside her anyway. Stuart scrubbed the bites vigorously with hot water and lye soap.
She sat quietly in pain, tears rolling down her cheeks.
When he was done, he broke off a bit of the aloe plant that Nettie kept on the kitchen windowsill and spread the liquid from the plant on the wounds.
“I should have done that before, but now that ought to hold you until the doctor gets here which should be about four hours. That’s long enough for you to go back upstairs and get more rest.”
Dashing a hand over her cheeks, she took a deep breath. “I don’t need more rest. I’m bored.”
He chuckled. “You and Billy both.”
She turned to check his expression. “What did you do to him?”
He frowned. “Confined him to his room and took away his dessert. I wanted to spank him but I don’t think that method would do any good. This way may make him think about it before he does it again.”
“Who’s taking care of Lucy?”
“Nettie and me. So far, she’s been content to play in her crib and babble at Billy.”
This mental picture made Genny smile. She did so love those kids. Her heart pounded when she remembered seeing Billy in the pen.
“Genny. Genny.” Stuart snapped his fingers in front of her face.
She closed her eyes and shook her head to clear it. “I’m sorry, I was remembering Billy…I…I was so frightened.”
“Don’t think about it. Thanks to you, he’s unharmed.” He added softly, “Thank you again for saving my son.”
His raspy words put a lump in her throat. She looked up at him. “He’s my son, too.”
He closed his eyes and nodded. “Now, more so than ever.”
Genny took Stuart’s hand and squeezed. “Don’t think about what might have been. Nothing happened to him. He’s fine.”
“But you’re not. You were injured and when I saw you…”
She watched as Nettie left them alone.
Again, she squeezed his hand. “Stuart, I’m fine. I’ll have some ugly scars, but I don’t care about them. And I know they won’t bother you. Looking at my body is apparently not something you like to do.”
His eyes widened and he stared. “What?! I love looking at your body. It drives me to distraction.”
“It didn’t distract you when you were bathing me after my tumble in the pig sty.”
Stuart shook his head, and then locked his gaze with hers. “That was different. You were injured. Of course, I’d look at you differently, but make no mistake, I believe you have a beautiful body.”
“But not enough to make me your wife.”
“Genny, let’s concentrate on getting you better. Those pig bites can be dangerous and—”
“You’re changing the subject like you do every time we discuss our marriage.”
“There’s nothing to discuss. I told you on the day you arrived that I don’t want more children.”
“Yes, just before we married. Not really much of a choice at that time was there?”
“Would you have changed your mind?”
“I don’t know. I might have,” a wretched knot formed in her stomach. “But you didn’t give me a choice. You betrayed me, Stuart.”
He ignored her outrage and brushed a stray lock of her hair behind her ear. “You wouldn’t have. As soon as you learned about Lucy and Billy, you were mine.”
She thought about his words a moment and then slumped her shoulders in defeat. “I do want children but if I can’t have my own…even if I could have my own, I still want to be their mother. You’re right. As soon as I met them, I was a goner. But that doesn’t change the fact you didn’t give me a choice.”
“Come now, you go upstairs. I’ll bring the doctor to you when he gets here.”
Genny started out of the kitchen, then she turned back. “Someday you’ll love me and regret all this time we’ve missed when we could have been together.”
He remained stoic, her words seeming not to penetrate. “You may be right, but for now this is the way we live.”
She nodded and left.
He found her attractive. Her body drove him to distraction. Genny smiled. She could work with that, couldn’t she? Or should she bother. He’d rejected her so many times, she wasn’t sure she could take much more.
Later, the doctor showed up and looked at her wounds.
“It’s a good thing Stuart scrubbed the bites. Pigs are dirty creatures. In the mean time I’m putting a new antiseptic on your bandages to help you heal.” The doctor poured a yellow liquid on the cloths.
She hoped it would help. It certainly stung enough, though nothing like the whiskey, for which she was grateful.
“All right. Can I perform my chores? I’m bored staying in bed,” said Genny.
The doctor nodded. “You shouldn’t have any problems working other than soreness. And the pain will be around for a while.”
“Thanks, Doc,” said Stuart.
“Any time. I just wish you all lived closer to town,” the doctor said, teasing Stuart.
“So do I in these situations, Doc. Believe me,” agreed Stuart.
*****
It was November 29th. Where had the time gone? Christmas would be here before she knew it. She’d been knitting and sewing for a couple of weeks now and had most of her presents done. Genny had used material from Martha’s dresses and other clothes. She’d made matching shirts for Stuart and Billy, a pillow for Nettie and knitted scarves or socks for everyone else.
Stuart came back from town with the mail. There was a letter from Katie. Genny slit open the envelope with a knife and took out the two sheets of paper.
November 10, 1890
Dear Genny and Julia,
Sorry for the same letter, but it’s just easier this way. I wanted to let you know that I arrived safely in Charlottesville, Virginia. My husband’s vineyard is a small ways from town, so I don’t know when you’ll receive this letter. We were married the same day I arrived and, well, I’m now Katie O’Malley. His home is large, but rather run-down and I’m working like crazy to clean up the place. It could be so beautiful.
His mother is a complete pain. The woman uses a wheel chair because she says she can’t walk, though I’ve caught her at least once getting around without the chair. She is mean and vile, and no matter how hard I try to be nice, she’s ugly to me. I’ll keep trying, though right now I’m kind of tired. But as my mother use to say, a smile can always brighten a situation. I’m smiling as I write this letter to you, hoping things will improve.
My husband, is a nice looking handsome man, but he has secrets. Like he’s a widower. Not that it would have made any difference, I just would have liked to have known in advance. And he’s not very open about what happened to his first wife. His mother tells me she was cheating on him, but I don’t know if that’s true or not. He hasn’t told me about her. He’s closed off.
There is so much potential here. If he would just open up to me and trust me, we could make this place into a magnificent home that sold great bottles of wine. I’m trying not to get discouraged, but tonight, I’m feeling low. A dinner party
where my mother-in-law screamed out that my husband’s wife was cheating on him and I’ll cheat too. I was mortified. And then the old bitty wanted me to put her to bed. If I wasn’t a good Christian woman, I would have smothered her.
The weather in Virginia is cold this time of year, but it’s not miserable like in Massachusetts. I’m hoping that my next letter will tell you that I’m blissfully happy, expecting my first child and that things couldn’t be better. But for now, keep me in your prayers, like I keep you in mine.
Please write and tell me how you are. I hope that your situation has been better than mine. I miss you all so much, I can hardly stand it.
Much Love,
Katie
Genny put the letter down. It sounded like Katie had a terrible situation. By comparison, Genny’s was just a matter of getting Stuart to acknowledge her. At least she had her sort of mother-in-law, Nettie, on her side.
*****
December 18, 1890
Ten days after the pig incident and Genny was no closer to getting Stuart to bed her. He was kind and treated her well. Goodness, except for sleeping together, they might as well have been siblings not man and wife.
She didn’t know what to do and set the dish cloth on the counter.
“How do I get him to love me? I love his children and I could love him if he’d let me.”
“There’s no letting you,” scoffed Nettie. “You already love him. Though I don’t know why. He’s done nothing but keep you at bay”
Genny nodded vigorously and pointed at Nettie. “Exactly. And every time I think we might be getting closer, he takes two steps back. Except for sleeping in the same bed, we don’t see each other. I don’t know what to do.” Her eyes filled with tears and she turned to look out the kitchen window, so Nettie wouldn’t see. How could Nettie see that she loved Stuart and he didn’t see it?
Nettie walked over to where Genny leaned against the counter. She took Genny’s hands and squeezed them. “Sometimes all we can do is love them and hope they come home. Stuart hasn’t had a lot of time to grieve. Not for the woman he knew or for who he’s finding out she was. I loved my daughter, but she wasn’t a strong person. She needed a strong man to care for her and found that in Stuart.”
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