Marriage of Necessity

~10~ Fish Fry

"Will he harm her?" I ask after a few moments of peaceful silence. My mind cannot leave my poor friend. I feel so out of sorts about this.

He turns and looks at me, studying my face. Then he shrugs and stares straight ahead again.

"She'll probably get his belt for that."

"You CAN'T be serious," I say, completely and utterly appalled.

Matthew looks at me and clears his throat. Then he pulls on the reigns and makes the horses stop.

"Junior, you run on up ahead with Remi and Jamie to the lake. A fish fry for Sunday dinner sounds right tasty, ya reckon?"

Junior's face lights up.

"Sure does pa!" He says as he jumps out and helps Remi and Jamie down.

"They will ruin their clothes!" I gasp in horror. Matthew nods.

"Stop at the house first and change," he hollers after them.

Junior lifts his hand in the air, acknowledging him, and continues running with his brother and sister.

Once they're up ahead, he gets the team moving again.

"He won't beat her, if that's what yur askin'."

"But he will hurt her?"

Matthew shrugs. "Spankins hurt, Miss."

I shake my head angrily. "It ain't right. We're grown woman, being treated like children. It ain't right at all. The very first time I see you doing something I don't deem acceptable, I'll be taking a horse whip to ya."

He cocks one eyebrow, and turns to look at me. This time I'm completely positive he has an amused expression. He's even on the verge of a smirk.

"Yur Pa ever spank ya, Miz Brennan?"

"Of course"

He shakes his head. "He didn't do it as often as he shoulda'. That mouth on you is gonna' be enough to make my hand tuckered."

"Well, I'll keep the horse whip handy myself, Mr. Olton. Since apparently you men feel it proper to whip us with them."

"I've never used a horse whip on anyone before, Miz Brennan."

"Ever use your belt on your wife?"

He's quiet for such a long time, I think I've pulled him out of the almost good mood he was in.

"Once," he finally says.

"Why?"

"She went swimming without me knowin' where she was and almost drowned. She got caught in a trap I had set for catfish, and couldn't get outta' it."

"How'd ya know where she was?"

"The lake was her favorite spot too," he says in such a sad voice, I'm almost feeling his pain.

"Done talkin' bout her," he says curtly.

"You need to talk about her more," I snap.

He turns and looks at me, his eyes starting to blaze hotter than the sun beating down on my back right now.

"And ya need'ta mind yur mouth, before I take ya over my knee today after all."

"So I have to just say 'yes sir' or 'no sir', or I get spanked? I don't know, Mr. Olton, sounds to me you like your power a little too much."

He shakes his head angrily and grips the reigns tighter.

"Your children deserve to be able to talk about their mama. Don't let her memory die because it's too painful for you. You have to keep her memory alive, so her legacy lives on through your children."