"Ya think ya see ya self loving an old, rough outlaw like myself?"
"No....I see myself loving a broken man who just needs a little bit of love."
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Gwendolyn Washington was born into a wealthy Australian family, all she knew was being higher cl...
"but if I sit in the rain maybe I can drown in something other than my own thoughts" ~ j.w
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"You are set to marry Beau Gray in exactly two weeks." Cheyenne Washington announced to her daughter with a smug smile playing on her bright painted lips; Gwendolyn opened her mouth to protest but Cheyenne cuts her off with a flick of her wrist towards the staircase. "No buts Gwendolyn! It's settled. Now go off and get yourself ready, they will be here shortly."
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Gwen couldn't believe her mother's words as they continued to flood her mind. Set to marry Beau Gray? She thought as she smoothed out the front of her green colored gown. She could hear hushed voices from outside of her door and growing curious Gwen took small steps towards the wooden door and pressed her ear up against it.
"They're marrying her off to Beau!"I hear Jacob's hushed voice and the sound of footsteps pacing back and forth. "Mr. Jacob—"Fredrick's voice floated from under the door. "No Fredrick...this—this is terrible. Mother is only doing this to get back at Catherine Braithewaite. They hate the Grays and mother marrying off her only daughter to Leigh Grays nephew will surely cause a feud."
Gwen stepped back from her door as she clutched the fabric of her dress in her fingers. This is only part of Mother's sick plan. Gwen was disgusted with her mother, marrying her off just to get back at the Braithewaites. Soft knocks sounded from her door and her brother voice called out from outside of it. "Gwen?"
She hesitated for a moment, just staring at the closed door. The night of the dinner party, Jacob had scolded her about hanging out with Arthur, said he didn't trust or like him. Her small gloved hand wrapped around the brass knob before slowly turning it and pulling it open. "Yes?"she asked in a quiet tone as her green eyes locked onto his dark ones.
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Gwendolyn
"Mother says Sheriff Gray and Beau have arrived."Jacob utters in a quiet tone pulling his eyes away from mine. I just let out a sigh with a slight nod stepping out of my room. Hearing the clicking sound of the door closing, I leave my hand on the knob for a few more minutes. "Jacob....I don't want to marry Beau Gray." I feel his hand grab ahold of mine that laid on the door knob. "I know Gwen."he muttered as he linked our arms and together we descended down the staircase.
I grew nervous every step we took. The close to the parlor we got, my heart thumped heavily against my chest. This isn't what I dreamt of when I pictured myself getting married. My fingers gripped the fabric of Jacob's tuxedo coat until they turned white. As we neared the bottom of the stairs that's when I saw Sheriff Leigh Gray and Beau standing by the front door. Beau was dressed nicely, Sheriff Gray wore his usual attire, his sheriff badge glinted in the light.
"Hello Sheriff Gray and Beau." Jacob greeted as he outstretched his hand for a handshake. "Hello Jacob and Gwendolyn."Beau greeted with a smile as he stretched his hand out towards me. I gave him a small smile to be polite and placed my hand in his. "You look quite beautiful Miss Gwendolyn." Beau placed a soft kiss on my knuckles.
"Shall we?"mother questioned with a smile as she motioned towards the dining area. They thought having dinner would cause me to grow close to Beau. But...I know I never would. "We shall."Leigh Gray replied as he and Beau followed after my mother and father. "Gwen."Jacob whispered as he grabbed my elbow, stopping me from walking away. "Give it ten minutes....drink a glass or two, make small talk for a minute and then excuse yourself and meet me out at the stables. I've already let father and mother know I will be absent from dinner." He doesn't say much else he just gives me a slight head nod before disappearing towards the kitchen area.
What did he have planned? And so late at night. I walked nervously into the dining area where I sat in the empty spot across from Beau and next to my mother. "Sit up straight Gwendolyn."my mother ordered with a snap of her fingers, I let out a sigh as I sat up straighter plastering a fake smile on my lips. Just ten minutes. I could make up an excuse to leave...right?
As mother and father conversed with Leigh Gray I sat looking down at the bubbly liquid in my glass wondering how I'd ended up here. I took a small glance over at father's pocket watch that sat open on the table; 8:37pm the watch read and I knew it was time to excuse myself. I cleared my throat catching everyone's attention. "Mother...father I do believe I'm not feeling well. I need to go lie down."I lied as I stood to my feet, I thanked Sheriff Gray and Beau for coming before leaving the dining area.
I could hear mother apologizing profusely to Sheriff Gray and his nephew as I left the room. I'm sure they have better things to do anyways than to sit and have a lousy dinner with my parents. I let a scowl form on my lips at the thought of mother conversing with the Grays about marrying me off to one of their kin. The nerve of her...arranging for me to marry some boy from a wealthy family. All because they're greedy and money hungry people.
Jacob was sitting inside one of the wagons, waiting by the time I had arrived to the stables. Finn was stood next to the wagon and greeted me when his green eyes locked with mine. "Good evening Miss Gwendolyn, Mr. Jacob has set up an evening ride into the city for the two of you."Finn announced as he helped me up into the wagon, in the empty spot beside Jacob. I thanked Finn and settled comfortably beside my brother.
Jacob clicked the horses forward pulling the wagon out of the stable, and started down the path leading out of the gates to the Manor. "Don't worry Gwen...mother and father are too engrossed with Sheriff Gray to notice."he assured me but as I swallowed the nervous lump that formed in my throat I couldn't help but crane my neck to look back over my shoulder. The only sight I saw was the moonlight illuminating the Manor, mother and father were nowhere to be seen. I felt my shoulders relax as I looked back ahead.
"I know you don't want to marry Beau Gray....Beau wants to marry Penelope."Jacob speaks up after a moment of silence as we ride to our destination. He doesn't even glance my way, he keeps his eyes trained in front of him at the horse. My mouth falls agape and I turn my head to look at him, Penelope is sweet on Beau Gray?! "Since when?"I question in a demanding tone, how have I been so oblivious?
He just shrugged as he continued to look ahead. "Gwen...why else would she stop coming around? Sure...we were sweet on one another but Beau is the one she wants to be with. She told me last week, that's why I didn't join you for dinner. So we have to stop this wedding mother has arranged. You don't want to marry Beau and Penelope does, so why not kill two birds with one stone?" I sit and ponder Jacob's words as they replay through my head. Stop the wedding mother has arranged for me? A mischievous smirk tugs at the corner of my lips as my eyes lock onto my brothers. "This would surely upset mother and father....so what do we do?"
Authors Note:
I think someone from Arthur's past will come back into the picture and just so happens to know the Washington siblings *wink wink*
