Page 17 of A Wanderer's Redemption
“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 herewhile 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 inourroom 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!”
