Southern Discomfort by Rachel Burns

Emily was
going to miss them when they left tomorrow morning. They had wanted
to set off at daybreak.
    All three of the
women wished that they could have stayed a day longer, thus
postponing their Wednesday spankings.
    Everyone sang
happy birthday to Emily, making her feel important and like she
really did belong here.
    Her aunt gave her
a beautiful necklace that had belonged to her mother. Her uncle gave
her a tin of her favorite lemon candy. The others hadn't known that
is would be her birthday. They hadn't had a chance to get her
anything.
    Emily didn't
mind. Her stomach was still in knots as she worried about her aunt
and uncle. She felt so responsible for all of this chaos.

    Victor Wellington
pulled the bell to his pretty little bride's house. Today was the
day. He could care less about the wedding. If she had wanted to plan
a party and the such then she should have done it in advance. He
would take her with him as she was.
    His lawyer was
standing behind him, holding the contract that he had made with her
father. He had been ensured that it was binding.
    The door opened
and a plump maid stared at him with her jaw dropped.
    “I have come to
collect my wife.” He pushed his way into the door.
    “She isn't
here,” the woman protested.
    He ignored her
and looked around. He ran up the stairs and looked behind every door.
She wasn't there.
    “Where is my
bride?” he demanded, grabbing onto the maid by her arm.
    The maid had
heard bad things about this man. She was very afraid of him. The
truth spilled out of her. “Miss Emily took off almost a month ago.
Mr. and Mrs. Stuart left to look for her. They aren't back yet.”
    Victor let go of
the woman and stormed out of the house. His lawyer followed him out.
They talked and discussed what they could do. They decided to have
the house watched, day and night.

    The Tate
household was up earlier than normal. Katie was packing enough food
for them to eat so they wouldn't have to buy anything at the station
or on the train. She would think of something that she could add and
hurry off to pack it.
    Bessie had really
taken to aunt Vicky, who made her feel like she was her real niece.
She looked for her kind of attention. She had never thought that
someone like her would have such fine relations.
    Edmund was
talking to Edward about the ranch and how glad he was that their
Emily had such a lovely home. Edmund had a way about him that made
everyone like him, even strict Edward did.
    Charles helped
Nathaniel pack their wagon. Both men thought it was funny that such
fine people would ride in a wagon to the train station. They had
proven that they weren't too fine to do anything for their Emily.
    Emily tried so
hard not to sob when then left. She stood next to Nathaniel and waved
happily. Once they were out of sight she buried her face in his chest
and cried her heart out, while he held her and whispered that they
could come back anytime. He told her that they would visit Boston
too.
    He held her until
she had settled down some, kissing her often. He felt sorry for her.
They had been like parents to her. Nathaniel missed his parents too.
He promised her that she would see them again.
    Emily went into
the house to help with chores once she had herself under control.
Today was Wednesday and that was something that wasn't easy to forget
in the Tate house. She sure didn't want to do anything to make her
husband mad today.

Chapter 9 Quality Time

    Emily was
nervously waiting. Charles was upstairs with Bessie. It was almost
her turn. Edward was already finished with Katie.
    Today she was
sitting at the table, instead of pretending to be busy. She heard
Charles coming down the stairs and going to the door. He said nothing
to her, and she didn't even turn her head to look at him.
    Her heart was
beating like mad as she waited for her husband.
    He had been
clear. If he had to do it then he would do it once a week, just like
the others. Once again she wished that that snake and her