The Wolf and the Lamb

Next Step

I cleaned up the small table as John when to check the post he had received. Anna groggily changed her clothes. I began to brush Anna's hair when John returned. He waved the letter around, "Sadie Adler wants us to meet her in Valentine if we can" he says. The name of my Old Friend brings a smile to my face. John kisses me and we laugh. 

The day passes slowly, I help with milking the cows and caring for the horses. Anna switches between myself and John, helping whoever she finds needs it. I finish my chores early and return to our cabin, a paper placed on the front step with a note attached. 

Mrs. Milton, Jim mentioned you liked to read to the girl. While not much, this may provide some new readings. ~Abe 

I picked up the paper before getting that night's dinner started. Abe was dense, but I knew he meant well. The beef cooked on the stove while the other pot warmed up, curiosity got the better of me as I picked up the news paper. 

John and I had talked about buying our own land, but never made any advancements toward it. On the third page of the paper an article advertised a plot of land outside of Blackwater. Beecher's Hope. While nothing much to look at, the land was selling for a cheap price.I left the paper turned to the article on the table. I had purposely placed it near where John sat with the hope that he would also be interested in the land.

I was just setting the table when John and Anna entered the cabin. They both took their seats at the table and Anna began telling her twisted tales of the day's adventures. The evening continued as normal, we finished eating, I cleaned the table, Anna read a bit, and then we tucked her into bed. I pulled back the sheets of John and I's bed then changed into my nightgown. I turned and noticed John looking at the paper. The dim lantern light didn't provide much for reading.

I gently trailed my hands down his shoulders. Resting my chin on his head I felt him sigh. "Everything alright" I asked softly. He sat the paper down and touched one of my hands, "What did you think of that" he asked quietly "Of that land." I moved and sat on his lap, my arm wrapped around his neck to keep myself balanced. He looks at me, his expression unreadable. "I thought it could be somethin to think about" I finally answered. "And how do you think we'd afford it?" He asked. His tone was heading towards annoyed. "I've heard of loans from the banks. It's just a thought" I answered. His eyes narrowed as he looked at me, "You do remember who we are right? There is no way we'd be gettin a loan from anyone" John lightly growled. I stood up, "It was just a thought" I growled back. "A stupid one" he replied standing to face me. "No, it was one for our future, for the future of our daughter." I responded "Maybe you like workin for someone else John, but I've got a dream of our own house, a ranch where we could raise our daughter. It isn't stupid to believe in something like that." Tears welled up in my eyes, I was angry enough to cry. John looked down at me before returning to the table again. I shook my head and moved to our bed. 

I crawled over to my side of the bed against the wall. Curling up under the blankets, the tears finally spilled over my eyes and I let out a shaky breath. I closed my eyes and didn't notice I had fallen asleep. I woke up to the dark cabin, someone was trying to carefully move beside me. "Com'ere" he whispered. I rolled over and he wrapped his arms around me, "I'm sorry Edith..." there was sincerity in his voice. "I-I know you want a nice place of our own, I do too. I just... I don't know. We've been here for so long I'm just unsure what'll happen if we leave." I placed my arm around his shoulders, tangling my fingers in his hair. "John, whatever happens next we'll face it together." I whispered. 

He placed a gentle kiss on my lips before pulling away. He touched my cheek and even in the dark I knew he was smiling. I pulled him back in, kissing him, I moved so that I was straddling him. His lips moved from mine and down my neck. One of his hands covered my mouth as he nipped at my shoulder.

The sun softly kissed my cheeks as our curtains danced in the wind from the open window. I groaned as I sat up, the cabin empty. I peeked out and caught a glimpse of John carrying a bucket of feed and Anna skipping behind him. It would suffice to say that last night was a release we both had needed. I still felt his hands as they explored my body, the feeling of his lips on mine to keep us both quiet. 

I got out of the bed and began to change, as I pulled on a soft pink top I noticed a clearly intentional mark left behind on my shoulder. "John" I whisper as I covered his branding up. I stepped out into the bright sun, my eyes squinting at the brightness. "Mama!" Anna called. She ran up to me with a big smile on her face, "Mama, Duncan is going to let me ride his Pony!" she exclaimed excitedly. I smiled at the bundle of energy, "That's great sweetheart! Let's go check on that and I'll take you riding" I said as Anna took my hand.

~~~

On the porch of the Gedde's house John asked for advice. He wanted to buy that land for Edith, for Anna. Mr. Gedde's, while unsure of how to help, offers assistance in gaining a loan. "When you go to the bank in Blackwater ask for Ansel Atherton" he told John with a pat on the back.