Chapter 6
Tawny
I’m such a baby. He said my food was delicious and I lost it.
I love to cook and try new recipes from the old cookbook I found in the library free bin.
Every time I tried something a little different, I was criticized and made fun of by Millard or the boys.
More than once the food ended up on the floor, and I had to make something different.
Getting a real compliment did something in my chest and I couldn’t stop the tears.
Gonna cry like a baby? I’ll give you something to cry about, Millard’s voice echoes in my head. The remembered slaps send a shiver over my body.
The three weeks I’ve been with Gerdie have been like living in a whole new world.
She loved having me cook and encouraged me to try new things.
Together we’d watch cooking shows on her TV.
She even gave me a notebook for the recipes I wanted to try.
We talked. We weeded her garden. Russett made me laugh and he and I would take long walks. I was free. Free like I’ve never been.
Being able to pursue something that interested me was... liberating. After splashing cold water on my face, I take a fortifying breath and head back to the table.
Gray looks up. “Thank you, Tawny, for cooking for us. It’s delicious. The best lasagna I’ve ever had.”
I struggle to accept the praise. Is this a trick? Is the ridicule still to come? Giving him a nod is the best I can do.
Once we’ve all eaten, he stands to collect the plates.
Oh no. I must have missed some signal. Before he makes a disparaging comment, I jump up. “I’ll clean.”
He shakes his head. “No. You cooked, clean-up is my job. I just want to clear the table so we can all talk. I’d like Gerdie to hear what we say. She might even want to record it on her phone, just in case.”
After he removes the plates, he offers coffee and retakes his seat.
“I don’t have a lot of supplies. I eat simple.
And I sure don’t have your talent for cooking.
What do you say, you spend a little time looking at what I do have and make a list of what supplies we’ll need for a couple weeks? We can run to town for supplies.
“No! I can’t go to town,” my words explode before I can stop them. “One of them might see me, or someone will tell them I was with you.” My voice is shacking and laced with fear.
“Not Cogburn. We’ll go to Grants Pass. Bigger town, more shops.” When I calm, he continues. “The cabin isn’t huge, but I think we could find a small dresser for your things. My clothes that aren’t in the closet are in the drawers under the bed.”
“Oh, I don’t have that much. Only what fit in my backpack.”
He glances at Gerdie, she nods. “Then we need to shop for clothes for you, too.”
“I don’t have any money.”
“Not an issue.”
I cross my arms and eye him skeptically.
“Tawny, let’s talk about the contract. Either one of us can backout before ninety days, which allows us to walk away with no entitlements from the other.”
“I’m not looking for a wife. You aren’t looking for a husband. But those ninety days give us time to figure out how to keep you safe. Being married to me, means your stepfather can’t take you against your will.”
I glance at Gerdie then back to him. Is this for real? Why? Why would he be so nice? For me, someone he doesn’t even know?
Gerdie reaches over and pats my hand. “Don’t think, just listen to what he has to say.”
“We’ll just cohabitate,” he continues. “I am not going to force myself on you or take advantage of you. But I will protect you from anyone who thinks they can just take you.
“We know our plan, but the world needs to believe that we are a happily married couple. So, we play the game. We get the license and get married at the courthouse. This protects you against your stepfamily. Meanwhile I have friends who can start investigating them. We might get lucky and find them a nice jail cell for the shit they’ve done. ”
“But that contract isn’t an official marriage certificate,” Gerdie cuts in. “It’s just a promise. If they contest it, you have no official rights.”
“That’s why we get married with a justice of the peace. With Gerdie as my witness, I promise I won’t take advantage of you, touch you, or hurt you. I won’t do anything to harm you. I’ll sure as hell keep you safe from them.”
“Why?”
“Why what?”
“Why do you care? Why would you do this? Why make such a sacrifice for me, someone you don’t know? What do you get?”
“I knew someone not so different than you who needed someone.”
Not a real explanation, but it’s enough for now. “Thank you.”
“Let’s both sign the contract and Gerdie can witness for us. She can take it to the office and file it for us, that way no one has to see us in town. Once we’re officially married, I want them, and the whole town, to know you are no longer on your own.
“Do you have a state ID?”
“Yes. Mom taught me how to drive and got me a license. They don’t know. I also carry my birth certificate in my backpack. Habit. Sometimes Mom and I had to leave places in a hurry.”
He smiles. Wow, that small gesture changes his whole demeanor. Resting face is intimidating. Smiling is like a fresh breeze.
“I know a sheriff from another town,” he continues.
“I’m going to reach out to him so we have a public official aware of what is going on.
We’ll get advice on how to take down your stepdad and stepbrothers.
At some point we’re going to go public and force their hand so that you are totally free to live your life the way you want.
You aren’t alone now. I’m going to help you get and keep your freedom. ”
He’s going to help. He believes me. I could finally have the life of my choosing. I can go wherever I want. Be who I want. My heart is racing and I clutch my hands together even tighter. Freedom. I may finally get free.
I watch him sign and date the document then take the pen he hands me.
With Gerdie as my witness, I promise. I won’t take advantage of you, touch you, or hurt you.
I believe him. I boldly write my own name and date. If this is a dream I don’t want to wake up.