Chapter 7
JESSICA
The rest of the day passes quickly, and we spend the majority of it discussing the many conveyances that will be needed simply to move all the items Reggie has brought along, not only for himself but for his cousin Mr. Hayes, as well.
By the time we’re done, I have used several sheets of paper to write it all down.
As I have never traveled this way before, the sheer number of items required shocks me.
Pounds of necessities like flour, sugar, salt, beans, bacon, and other items just kept adding up to the point where I thought another wagon would have to be rented simply to cover all the food and the feed we’ll need.
After a while, it feels like they’re having the same conversation over and over, and I find my eyes wandering around the train, taking in the others sitting around us.
I wonder where they’re all going? Are they as misplaced as I am, or do they know the path they’re on?
It’s easy to spot the ones with families, but it’s also shocking to see how many are traveling alone.
A little girl, probably two or so, stands in the seat next to her mother, her eyes instantly finding mine.
She waves, and I wave back, wondering if I was ever so innocent that I saw no strangers.
For the most part, I keep quiet while the men talk unless asked a specific question.
Then, when who’s going to drive what transportation is mentioned, I see a whole other side of Reggie as he snarls at the men.
“Jessica is not driving one of the wagons. She can either ride next to me on the trail or walk with the other ladies if she wishes.”
“Reggie, I can drive a team so there’s no reason to pay another person when I am capable.”
“Jessica, you might weigh a buck twenty if you’re lucky, and you’re telling me you can control two oxen that weigh over a thousand pounds and a fully loaded wagon across mountains and rough terrain?
You can’t even lift their yokes to untether them in the evenings, let alone carry the water barrels or the fifty-pound feed bags. ”
“Mr. Kerns, I am not saying I can do all of that, but I can lead a team if you need me to. I am not objecting to simply riding along, but I know any added weight can be an issue in the wagons. Then, even though I don’t mind walking, the idea of doing that for several hundred miles isn’t something I want to do either.
And how would I ride beside you? I have no horse, and as far as I can tell, you only have Bells.
She would go lame trying to haul both of us that far. ”
He slams his hands down on the table, and I jump.
“Damnit! First of all, my name is REGGIE! Or Reginald, if you want to be politically correct, and I expect to be addressed as such from now on, wife. And if need be, I will buy you a damn horse. You can’t be expected to drive a wagon and then fix the majority of the meals and whatever else you think might need doing on a daily basis.
I am not saying you are not capable, Jessica.
I am simply saying you will not be driving any of the wagons, and that’s the end of this conversation! ”
Startled at his outburst, I don’t say another word, as I can tell his temper is only getting worse the more I try to reason with him.
I know he is well-to-do, but money is not endless, and he will need a lot of it to get his dream off the ground.
Buying me a horse is just foolish when I can simply take the place of one of the men he would have to hire for the trip.
Maybe once he has calmed down, he’ll see reason.
I will say I am glad to hear the conversations wind down, as I need to stretch my legs. I have not sat this long in years, and the constant rocking of the train cars and the heavy breakfast are making me oddly sleepy.
Colby pats me on the arm when he walks past me, and I know the moment he catches me alone, he’s going to have a million questions, but at least that shouldn’t be today.
Reaching out, I gather up the stationery sheets that Reggie had in one of his bags, while the men say their goodbyes.
Reggie holds his hand out for me when I try to scoot out of the booth on my own, and I hesitate to put mine in his.
When his much larger one engulfs mine as he lifts me up effortlessly, I can’t help but shiver slightly as a ripple crosses my shoulders.
“My heavens, Jessica, your hand is freezing. Why didn’t you say that you were cold? We would have shut the windows.”
“I was enjoying the fresh air, and I’m used to being either too hot or too cold.”
“From now on, Jess, speak up. There is no reason for you to be uncomfortable. Let’s go get cleaned up, it’s just about time for dinner.”
“Will we be taking it with the others?”
“No, not this evening … they have a card game with a few others in the back. Since they have plans, we will head to the main dining car. Their dinners were quite well-received when I traveled last time.”
He must have felt me stiffen up under the hand that he has not removed from the small of my back since we started walking back through the many train cars.
“What’s wrong, Jess?”
“Is that a good idea?”
“What?”
“Eating with others? Taking a meal in our room is fine with me.” Then I realize I have called it our room, and I know my face has turned blood red.
Reggie reaches around me, unlocking the door to the room, his immense size instantly surrounding me, and I must fight the urge to step back closer to the heat that seems to radiate off him. The door swings open, and I practically run in, trying to put some space between us.
“How long will you need to get cleaned up?”
I motion to the dress that I have on, “This is the only good dress I own, and it’s not suitable for where you are eating. I know you won’t listen to reason, but I don’t mind having my dinner here while you go on to the dining car. If anyone asks, you can simply tell them I am not feeling well.”
“Are we going to argue about everything?”
I put my head down, embarrassed, and slightly humiliated, then I hear him sigh.
“Jess, … ah hell … look, I will not keep repeating myself. You’re right, I have no right to tell you what to do.
You do what you want from this point on, okay?
I think we both need a break for a minute, so I am going to check on Bells.
I’ll probably be about an hour. When I am done, I’ll stop back by.
If you are still convinced that being seen in public with me is too much of a trial, I will leave you alone, and you can stay in here for the rest of the trip. ”
Before I can say it is nothing personal, the door is shutting behind him.
I sit weakly on the closest bed, wondering how my life got so out of control in just a couple of days and how to deal with this going forward, when I hear a knock on the door.
Jumping up, I open the door before thinking about who might be on the other side.
“That was quick. Did you forget your key?” Only to find Colby standing there with his hat in hand.
Looking around, I quickly pull him into the room.
“What are you doing here?”
“You tell me what the hell you’re doing in here? Are those his bags in the corner? I can’t believe you have stayed in here with him, ALONE!”
“Colby, I have no idea why this is upsetting you, but you have no ties to me, and this is none of your business. I have enough problems without adding you to them.”
“Jessie, you are in this mess because of me. Did you really marry that man?”
“No, Colby … it’s all just a ruse until we leave the train. I don’t know why he didn’t tell you guys differently at breakfast this morning.”
“Jessie, what about on the wagon trail? Are you suddenly just going to become the maid again? People have already seen you two together. How are you planning on explaining your sudden demotion from wife to maid when asked?”
“I don’t know Colby; things got out of hand before I could think anything through.”
“Has he threatened you? I didn’t care for the way he spoke to you today at all.”
“No Colby, he has been a perfect gentleman, and more than nice, honestly. If I did know any better, I would almost think he cares.”
“Dear wife, although I am not happy to see you in our room with another man, I am glad you are at least standing up for me in my absence.”
The sound of Reggie’s voice has both of us turning toward the doorway, and if I could crawl under something, I would, as there is no hiding his apparent anger. Shockingly, Colby puts himself between Reggie and me protectively.
“Mr. Kerns Jessie was not doing anything inappropriate, but as her friend, I felt like I needed to speak to her to make sure she was not being compromised in any way.”
“As you said Colby, you were the one who put her in this spot. If you truly cared as you have proclaimed, you would have checked on her yesterday. What did you think had happened to her?”
Colby puffs up … his own anger, quickly getting out of control. “I thought you talked to the conductor and got her a room. One of her own. I never dreamed you would bring her here to shack up with you like some harlot.”
“What did you just call her?”
The deep growl that comes out of Reggie as he says that makes me realize this is getting out of hand. Swiftly, I dart around Colby, placing myself directly between them, and I can tell by the twitch in Reggie’s jaw that he is barely holding himself back.
“I didn’t call her anything, Mr. Kerns. I simply stated a fact. Men with money can escape anything, but Jessie does not have that privilege if this gets out. Jessie is a good worker and a good woman, and I don’t want her to be just another notch on some rich man’s bedpost.”
By this time, I have a hand on each of their chests, pushing them apart as they both tower over me.
“STOP IT, both of you!”
They both look down at me at the same time.