Chapter Nine
Slowly, Prudence’s eyes fluttered open to an unknown room.
She tried to move, but her limbs felt heavy and unresponsive.
She realized she was in someone else’s bedroom, and her body felt like it had been glued to the mattress.
Panic surged through her as she remembered the events of the day.
Her heart raced as she took a deep breath and braced herself for a scream.
“You’re awake.” Hubert’s soothing voice immediately stopped her from screaming.
Blinking, she searched the room, finding him much closer than expected.
“What are you doing?”
Hubert chuckled. “Well, you see, there’s this pretty lady who had a hard day. Then she fell asleep in my arms. I wasn’t ready to let her go, so I brought her to bed.”
“Your wife might not approve,” she scowled, crinkling up her nose to tease him.
“I would hope that she understood. I wanted her to feel safe and not to wake up alone after her traumatic day.”
Prudence sniffled, turning her face away. She still needed to tell him the truth.
“No crying, wife. I know what happened, and when you’re ready, we’ll talk about it. All I need to know is whether you want to stay. Things are different now, I imagine.”
“What do you mean, do I want to stay?” She fought against the weight pressing down on her, trying to sit up. The trapped feeling made it difficult, but she persisted.
With a sudden movement, Hubert shifted and let go of her, causing Prudence to hit her head against the wall as she sat up. They were now close enough to kiss if she chose to, but there were more pressing matters at hand that needed to be addressed first.
“Sorry about that, Pru. I didn’t mean to pin you down.”
She rubbed her head as she looked at him. “What did you mean if I want to stay? You’re going to send me away!”
“Away? Why would I send you away?”
She pulled her knees up to her chest, trying to choose her words carefully.
“Whenever I disappointed my father, he would make me leave. It could be just to my bedroom, or out of the house entirely. On rare occasions, he would even threaten to kick me out onto the streets and force me to fend for myself.”
Tucking his arm around her shoulders, he pulled her in closer to his chest. Truly, she enjoyed it when he cuddled her, and wholeheartedly thought it should happen more often. It was what had spurred her desire to talk to him about their sleeping arrangements.
“Do you want to talk about what I learned about myself today?” he asked softly.
Prudence’s fingers worked the edge of the blanket, and she nodded into his shoulder. For now, he was quite chatty, and she didn’t want to interrupt him or discourage him from talking. Especially if it didn’t end with sending her away.
“I missed you today. I didn’t enjoy being so far away and not having you with me.” His finger came up, lifting her chin so that she had to meet his steady gaze. “I never want to be without you.”
A spark of joy ignited in her chest. It wasn’t quite the love declaration she had been hoping for, but it was close enough. Unable to resist any longer, she leaned in and pressed her lips awkwardly against his.
His fingers slid up her neck, so he could cup the back of her head.
Pulling her closer so their mouths moved together.
A wave of pleasure washed over her, causing her toes to curl and her hands to grip his shirt, unwilling to let go even when he pulled away.
Something was stirring inside her. There was warmth building in her belly and a desire to be closer than she already was.
When he finally broke the kiss, they both turned their heads, gasping for air.
Laughter followed as they fell back against the pillows.
“I think we have the kissing part down.” Hubert let out a wheezing breath.
“And the loving part, too.” There, she’d admitted it. Somewhere along the way in the last two weeks, she had fallen in love with this gentle, awkward man, and one day he would fall in love with her too. “I still need to tell you something.”
“What is it?” He pulled her closer, wrapping his arms around her.
“There was a letter in my father’s case. Someone saw us in Omaha and sent him a letter. Papa demanded I go home with him and was furious. I thought he was going to hurt one of the men.” The entire event had made her numb. “He said that our marriage was a farce.”
“Oh my, sweet girl. He wanted to hurt you. I read the letter that you found. Emily gave it to me. Your father wanted to shame you and wasn’t afraid to do so.
I don’t know how Jeffrey Crumb plays into that, but Pru, I need you to promise me you won’t talk about who wrote that letter.
At least not until after Amanda delivers her baby. ”
“I promise.” It was an easy enough promise to keep. She didn’t understand, but she trusted Hubert to have a reason.
“Good girl.” He brushed his lips against her hair. “I’m sorry that you lost your father, but I am so thankful that you didn’t get in that coach trying to keep everyone safe.”
“I froze, and I never want to feel like that again.”
“Then we should talk to the Masters. I know Jackson is teaching his wife ways to defend herself. Perhaps she can share those skills with you. Or he might even set up a class for all the women in town. That might not be a bad idea.”
“Everyone has their own story to tell. Isn’t that what you told me at our first dinner?” She tried to remember what his exact words were, but the haze of the day clouded her memory.
“Everyone in this town has a story or is currently writing theirs. As individuals and as couples, they must do the work. And we make sure that everyone has the support they need.”
“You’re a good man, Hubert Fitzgerald.”
“And you are the best part of my day, Prudence Fitzgerald.”
“That is wonderful to hear. You’re going to have to let me up again, and then we’ll talk about what’s next once I get back.”
“What’s next, and where are you going?”
“I need to run out back, and I’m moving in here at night. We can keep separate spaces if you insist, but I’d like to sleep in your arms. I am your wife, after all.” Looking over her shoulder, she wiggled her eyebrows and then dashed out of the bedroom.
Hubert was deep in thought about what she had said as he descended the stairs. While there were tasks that still required his attention, if Prudence was well enough to tease him, then it must be safe for him to move around downstairs. He had no intention of leaving the boarding house, though.
“How is she?” Silas called from the dining room when Hubert came into sight.
“It’s been a long day. She’ll be all right.” Pouring himself a cup of coffee, and grabbing a scone from the sideboard, he settled in across the table from his friend, shaking his head. “She thought I was going to send her away.”
“I remember thinking Mama H. was going to turn me out if I disappointed her. It’s something about the way we attach to people. Charlie never worried about her sending him away, but remember when my da used to lose his temper? He’d threaten to send me away to one of those orphanages.”
“Why didn’t you ever say so?” Hubert’s father would have had plenty to say on that subject.
“What was I going to say? My father didn’t love me enough, and I didn’t think anyone else ever could?” Silas’s voice was quiet, but before Hubert could speak, another voice chimed in.
“Sometimes the idea of him sending me away seemed like a blessing. It would be less painful than kneeling on rice and repeating Bible verses until I lost my voice, among other things.” Prudence’s hands gently gripped Hubert’s shoulders, and he could tell that she was sharing a moment with Silas.
They were communicating without words, their eyes locked in understanding.
“I know we haven’t really gotten to know each other, Prudence, but Hubert is the best guy I know for handling things with compassion and care.” He shot Hubert a wink. “Even when he’s uncoordinated and awkward.”
“Hey!” Hubert protested, taking a bite of the scone.
“He seems to have God on his side,” she replied, ignoring his interjection completely. “I’m finding myself attached to him.”
“That’s good to hear. Now, I’m going to warn you both that everyone is overly concerned, and you have about twenty minutes before they all start flooding the boarding house. Go take your evening walk.”
Hubert took the dismissal for what it was and stood, catching Prudence’s hand in his and heading for the back door.
“Uh, Hubert, go the other way. Maybe head to the east side of the church to view the sunset tonight,” Silas called out.
Shifting their direction, he grabbed her cloak from the peg before they ran out the door and down the steps like school kids greeting the first day of break.
“Um, Hubert.” Prudence tugged at his hand.
“Yes, wife?” He pulled her to stand in front of him as the sun was just touching the horizon.
“Now is probably a good time to tell you I love you.”
“I suspected that was what this feeling was. I love you, too.”
Everything was going to work out. They just had to take it one moment at a time.