Chapter 7 #2
“Gentlemen, I am not an object to be fought over, especially since I belong to neither of you. I appreciate the gesture you are both making on my account, but I am a grown woman who can make her own choices. Colby, Reggie did what he had to so I could be here right now. Yes, there may have been other options, but at the time, we couldn’t think of any.
If anything, we both owe him for taking such a risk, as it is not just my name at stake here.
We will keep this farce up until it is no longer needed, no matter how long that takes.
Colby, I thank you for coming to check on me, but I can take care of myself.
If Mr. Kerns had made me uncomfortable in any way, I would have found other accommodations on my own.
Even if that meant sleeping on a cold, hard seat in the back.
Now, let’s put all of this behind us and move on, as we will be working together for years to come. ”
Colby steps back, wringing his hat in his hands. I can tell this is not the answer he wanted from me, but at the moment, it’s all I have. Reggie has not said another word, but I swear I can feel him standing close. Colby walks past us to the door, then looks back at me.
“For what it’s worth Jessie, I am sorry I put you in this predicament. As your friend, all you need to do is ask, and I will find a way to send you back home.”
“Thank you, Colby. I appreciate your concern, but you need not worry about me. Things will work out. This is just another bump in the road.”
He looks at me, then at Reggie, something passing in his eyes before he walks out the door.
Closing my eyes, I take a deep breath before turning to face Reggie.
He is still standing in the same place, glaring down at me.
His eyes look over my face, and I have no idea what he finds, but I literally witness his body relax.
“I forgot Bells’ sugar cubes and had to come back to get them.”
“You don’t owe me any explanations, Reggie. This is your room so you can come and go as you please.”
“You shouldn’t open the door when I am not here.”
“I thought it was you and that you had forgotten your key. I will ask who it is from now on.”
When he doesn’t move or turn to leave, I suddenly notice how very alone we are and how close he is standing.
“You are not that to me, Jess.”
“What?”
“A mark on my bedpost, I would never do that to you.”
“I appreciate that Reggie, I really do, but this whole situation has put me in a predicament I am not sure I can escape from unscathed. Colby is right. When this farce is over, I will be the one most affected. I’ll follow you to St. George, Utah, but when it comes time to tell the others that this is not real, and it will come, it might be best if I leave before I have to live in a town with my head down for the rest of my life.
A wife … your future wife, would never tolerate me in her home, even if nothing ever happened between us.
I know I wouldn’t if the tables were turned.
“I am sorry Jessica, I never meant for this to happen.”
“Out of all of us, you are the least at fault, Reggie.”
“Then why do I feel like the villain, and why do I feel like you are mine to protect and take care of when I have only known you for a short time? When I saw him in here with you, I reacted like a jealous husband.”
“It’s true, you did overreact slightly but as for your other concerns, I am your employee, so in a way, I am yours to protect, so maybe that is where those feelings come from.
It’s been a trying day, Reggie. Go check on Bells, then …
pick me up for dinner, but remember you have been warned ahead of time when they turn us away. ”
He reaches up, rubbing his calloused thumb along my cheek. “Earlier, I saw a moment of weakness that you tried to hide from all of us. You project yourself as someone who is so strong all the time, so what caused you to let go of that single tear?”
I move away, and he lets me go, as I look around at everything but him.
“In a world where I have nothing else, my feelings and emotions are mine alone, Reggie. We should all be allowed a moment to wish for something, even if it is simply out of reach. Now, if you would excuse me, I think I will lie down for half an hour or so, the rocking of the train has made me a little nauseous.”
I don’t wait for his answer, I simply walk around him and grab the curtain, pulling it closed between us. Standing there for a moment, I wonder how he is going to react to me walking off, only to let out the breath I was unconsciously holding when I hear the door close.
Falling face-first on the bed, I lay there with my arms slung over each side, completely overwhelmed by all the nonsense that has happened since I’ve stepped on this train.
The look on Reggie’s face when he saw me standing there with Colby will always haunt me.
He acted like a man scorned, a reaction I was not prepared for, as I am just the maid.
I wonder how far that conversation would have gone if I had not been present.
For a moment, I allow myself to wish that I was something I am not … Wife material.