Chapter 9
The conversation with Theresa and Lucy was the longest time that Fillis had ever seen her boys be civil with one another. That was one thing this silly contest had going for it. They still argued, but their exchanges didn’t devolve into shouting matches. Not with those pretty women around.
Fillis was still worried as she watched the boys talk and flirt with Lucy and her friend. Joel clearly enjoyed the banter, and it made Fillis happy to see him laugh and interact with other people. It was a lot better than seeing that haunted look in his eyes when he was grieving over his wife and children.
Jesse was another worry entirely. While Joel enjoyed the entertainment of flirting, there was something more going on with her rebel boy. Joel was clueless, but Fillis could see that Jesse had feelings for that girl. He’d been inexperienced with women when he went off to war, and Fillis knew he’d never been in love. Her protective mama-bear instincts kicked in, and she decided to check on this Lucy woman. It must be hard enough for Jesse to be enamored of a living woman, which meant he could never be with her. Fillis wanted to make sure Lucy never did anything to hurt him.
After the boys finished their lunch break with the girls, Fillis stuck around to watch Lucy after Joel and Jesse went their separate ways.
Fillis followed Lucy as she worked her shift at the tavern. She eyed her critically as she waited on her customers. Lucy was soft-spoken and friendly and was especially good with children. Knowing Jesse, that was one of the things that drew him to her.
Fillis learned that Lucy was a student when she saw her taking brief study breaks during her shift. Lucy was a hard worker, as she managed to juggle work and school.
It was one thing to be nice when others were around, but the real test was how people behaved when they thought no one was watching. Fillis followed Lucy down the street when she left the tavern to run a quick errand. Out on the street, a man in his forties or so was walking and missed the curb. He fell awkwardly onto the ground and his pants slipped down a bit, revealing a bit of his underwear. Lucy watched the man carefully, just long enough to make sure he was all right. When he looked up to see if anyone had noticed his misstep, Lucy quickly busied herself with her cell phone so the man wouldn’t feel embarrassed that she saw him fall. Fillis shook her head and laughed. Lucy was a sweet girl, that was for sure.
Poor Jesse was the thought that ran through Fillis’s head all day. His heart never stood a chance. The woman was perfect for him. If Fillis had to pick from a lineup of women for her favorite cowboy, she would have zeroed in on Lucy right away. While Joel liked his women sassy and bold, Jesse had always preferred the softer, gentler type. They didn’t come any softer and sweeter than Lucy. Even her appearance was gentle, with her long, brown hair and warm brown eyes.
It made Fillis sad as she watched Lucy and thought of Jesse. They would have made a wonderful couple. It was so easy to imagine them falling in love, getting married, and having babies. Jesse wanted to have children so badly, and he would have been the most wonderful father. But he had been robbed of that chance just like Joel. Joel had been a devoted, loving daddy, but he hadn’t gotten the chance to raise his children. War was such a wretched thing!
Fillis deliberately chose not to have children when she was alive. She was a lesbian and had no interest in marrying a man, but it was more than that. She was a slave, which meant her children could be sold away from her at any time. She knew she could never have survived a loss like that. She ended up feeling like a mother anyway, since she practically raised her master’s children.
When the little ones arrived, three in all, she found it impossible to hate them. They were beautiful children, and she loved the two boys and little girl like they were her own. She felt a kinship with Joel, having lost her babies the day she had to run away, the same way Joel had when he went to war and never returned.
Fillis wondered if Lucy could have loved Jesse if he were alive. Worry clutched her heart when she thought about the bet her boys had made. Joel obviously had no idea how Jesse felt about the girl, which was probably a good thing. Joel was a good man at heart, but oh lord, how he hated Jesse! There was no telling what he would do if he knew about Jesse’s feelings for Lucy.
Fillis dreaded to think what would happen when Lucy finally made her choice. If she picked Jesse, Joel would get over it. He’d be humiliated in front of his most hated enemy, but then it would be over. But Jesse would be heartbroken if she chose Joel.
Like any good mother, Fillis could tell how Jesse was feeling just by looking at him. Lucy was harder to read, and she seemed to genuinely like both men. Fillis wasn’t sure who she was going to choose. If the boys had to make this dumb bet, Fillis was glad they chose Lucy. A lesser woman might have enjoyed their attention too much, egging them on to fight over her. Lucy was a classy girl and a peacemaker at heart. Who knows? Maybe she could help them get along.
Fillis chuckled at the thought. It would be a miracle if those boys stopped fighting. Not even death had been able to stop them so far.