The Crying Bridge

The Crying Bridge--Chapter 29

 When Gail had first grasped Del's hand, Del had felt nothing. She stood patiently, waiting for something to happen. It seemed a long time passed, but for all Del knew, it could have only been moments. She remembered a silly movie she'd seen years ago and nearly giggled. Almost hysterically, she thought, Who ya gonna call? Ghostbusters!

Then a feeling of calm settled over her and she felt a sort of tugging at her mind, not unpleasant but very unusual. And then there was nothing but Emma.

**********

The night was warm and breezy and filled with a silvery light, not from the moon but from everywhere. Del had never seen anything like it. She no longer felt the touch of Gail's hand and couldn't really see anything but that soft, silver light. Slowly, she became aware of the woman standing in front of her. Emma, she knew it was Emma. Emma was a bit taller than Del with a very womanly figure, though Del could tell she was barely more than a girl.

Emma looked at her expectantly. Del nodded at her and said, not with words, but with her mind, at least that's what if felt like, "I'm here, Emma. I'm here and I want to help you."

Emma smiled slightly. "I knew I could trust you," she said, though her lips never moved. "I have waited so long to find someone I could share my story with, someone who would understand."

"I will try," Del promised.

"My mother died when I was a very small girl. I barely remember her. My father raised me but he died when I was a teenager. I was alone and frightened. I had some money that he left me, but being so young I didn't know much of money, so I managed to find a job.

"There was a family in Stillman who needed help with household duties and with caring for several children. The reverend at the church my father and I attended introduced me to the man of the house and he hired me."

"Emmett," Del said. "Emmett Steinhurst."

"Yes," Emma said with distaste. "Emmett Steinhurst."

"What happened to you, Emma?" Del asked.

"At first, things went well," Emma said. "It was a lot of work, but I loved the children and they paid me fairly. They put me up at no cost, so I was able to save my wages. It was a good job, or so it seemed. I was with the family for a few months before things started to change.

"At first, I thought Emmett was just a very strict father. I witnessed him beating the children, particularly the two boys, repeatedly. I felt it wasn't my business and I didn't want to lose the work.

"And Emmett was always kind to me. He was always complimenting me on my work and buying me gifts. I really believed he simply appreciated the help I was to his wife, who was expecting their fifth child.

"My room was off the enclosed back porch, away from the rest of the house, and Emmett began making a habit of visiting me in the evenings after his wife and the children were in bed. He would bring me books and we would talk about them. Frankly, I enjoyed the company. I was very lonely.

"He began staying longer and longer. He would tell me how beautiful I was and what a lovely wife I would one day make. I was flattered by the attention from him. He was handsome and could be very charming. Now, you must understand that I knew very little of the ways between a man and a woman. It took me a long while to realize that what was happening was inappropriate and by that time, the damage was done.

Emma covered her face with her hands. "Oh, and God help me, I liked what he was doing! It started with simple touches but quickly led to passionate embraces and kissing. He told me that since his wife was with child, she wasn't able to tend to his needs, and that it was important for a man's needs to be satisfied. And he taught me how to do that for him, with my hands and my mouth and my body. The first time he made his way inside me, it was painful, but then it was glorious! And I knew I should be saying no to him, but I was so young and naïve and if felt so wonderful, I wanted him to do it, looked forward to him doing it!

"But then, I saw something...something that made me realize what Emmett was. It was a rainy day and I had thought to read a story to the children. I had gathered them all in the sitting room, but the oldest girl, who was thirteen, was missing. The missus was upstairs resting and I didn't know where Emmett was. I told the other children to wait while I went to find their sister.

"I searched the house but she wasn't there. I went out to the barn thinking maybe she'd gone out to pet the horses. The door was open a bit and I squeezed past. I heard noises in the loft, so I climbed the ladder. As I got nearer the top, I realized I knew those noises. I looked over the last rung of the ladder and saw Emmett with his oldest daughter, doing what he had been doing with me and I saw the look of pleasure on that child's face, along with a look of shame. It made me think my own face might look like that when Emmett was bringing that pleasure in me.

"I quietly climbed back down the ladder and went back into the house, telling the children I didn't know where their sister was. One of the younger girls suggested I look in the barn. She was only ten and the look on her face told me she had spent time in the barn with her father, as well.

"I knew enough to know a good, decent man would not do those things with his own children, so when Emmett came to my room that night, I told him I knew what he had done and that he must leave me alone, that I would not be with him like that anymore.

"This angered him and his anger excited him. He forced himself on me over and over, that night and from then on. Several weeks later, I knew I was carrying his child. I had enough money saved up, so I fled in the middle of the night and came here.

"I worked for the old woman in the big house and when my time came, she was here with me. I gave birth to my precious Caleb in the bedroom with her help. Emmett had not followed me and I thought we were safe. I felt badly about his own children, but I had a son to think about now.

"Somehow, news travelled that a young, unwed woman had given birth to a son. Emmett came for us.

"Emma, did he kill you?" Del asked, crying. "Did he kill Caleb?"

"He came here one night. I tried to protect my son!" Emma cried. "But he was a big man, so strong. He forced himself on me one last time while Caleb lay crying in his crib. Then Emmett took me to the bridge. I had Caleb at my breast, nursing him, trying to comfort him. Emmett tied the rope around my neck and the other end to the bridge. He pinned a note on my dress that he'd forced me to write, saying I was murdering my own son and taking my own life. He ripped Caleb from my arms and placed him on the ground. Then he pushed me, threw me, really, over the bridge."

Del was sobbing. "Emma, I am so sorry. What a terrible thing to happen. I am so very sorry for all you went through. But I still don't understand what you want from me!"

"Don't you see?" Emma asked. "I want the story told. I need my good name cleared and for the world to know the evil that Emmett Steinhurst was. And I want to know what happened to Caleb. Emmett said he would kill him, too, but I need to know for certain. I need to know that Caleb's soul is at rest. that he is in Heaven!"

"Emma, I will tell you're story, though I don't know who will believe me. But I don't know if I can find the answers you want about your son. And I am expecting my own baby now. This is my home, mine and Evan's and soon our child's. We need peace. We need you to move on."

"Promise that you will try. That's all I ask. I had a journal that I kept. It has everything that Emmett did to me, proof that he was a monster! Find my journal and I will not bother you anymore. I can't move on without knowing my son is at peace so I'm tied to this place until then but if you find the journal, if you're able to expose Emmett and his atrocities, I will not disturb you again."

"I promise," Del said. "I promise, Emma. But please tell me where the journal is! I don't know where to look! Emma!" But Emma was suddenly gone and Del was almost jerked back into the here and now.

Thanks so much for reading! Please Like, Comment, Vote and Follow me!