A New Day On The Rise
On one of the hottest days in Summer, Miss. James is in the study boxing up the letters that Cecilia found in the trunk along with her mother's wedding dress.
Someone came into the house and headed into the kitchen. Freya went back to putting stuff in boxes to go to the Capital for the day.
As she was tying the boxes in a few strands of twine, crossing it over a few times and putting it into a bow and cutting off the extra parts Freya heard someone else come into the house.
"Hello Miss. James, have you seen Stefan? Oh, are you making up your gift for me for our wedding? You didn't have to do that my love." Mitchell said, wrapping his arms around her waist and pressing against her body.
Freya pulled his arms off her and walked around the table to put a label on the boxes. Mr. Myer tried to go back behind her again thinking it would be trying to be sweet. "I don't know where Stefan went. And if I knew I wouldn't tell you. And if you go near me again... I have scissors. Remember the last time I had something in my hands that was sharp?"
Mr. Myer looked at her shocked and took a few steps away from her.
"I'm looking for Stefan because he was having problems with this Alabama heat. I thought he was about to pass out from lack of water." He walked behind her and moved her hair from her neck and bent down like he was going to kiss her.
"Even if you are telling the truth which I highly doubt, I still won't tell you Mr. Myer. Now leave me be, I have things to do before tomorrow. I'm going to the Capital with Ayden, Nick, and Ceillia. And I still need to get a bath before night fall."
Mitchell ran his hand around her waist trying to get her closer to him.
The lady of the house pulled away more trying to leave the study with the boxes. He kept her there pulling her closer.
"Come on Miss. James let us have a little fun before we are married. Maybe we can try for a child before we say I do."
Freya took all her strength and got out of his grip before turning around and hitting him with one of the heavier boxes.
"If I won't kiss you before we marry then what makes you think I will do that?" She left the study and went up stairs to put the boxes in her room.
A little bit later, Freya was taking a long bath and washing her hair. She sat up and grabbed letters from the side of the bath. It was a new one the union soldier left in their spot.
“To my sweet southernfire,
I have made it back to my side of the war just fine. I might have to go to the capital of your state at some point, not sure when.. Then hopefully I'll get enough of a leave to take you away from here.. But you must let me do one thing before we leave. I wish to ask for your hand the right way.. To ask your father, hell I'll even ask Theodora if I have to.. I already know little Emma would let you marry me. I can't wait to have you in my arms again. To feel the burn of your kiss on my mouth once again. Oh how I miss it so.
Until we see each other again.
Love,
Johnothan A. Rosemen of the Union Army.
Ps. I know you were either laughing at the fact I wish to ask for your hand or rolling those big blue eyes at it. And you just huffed at me because I'm right. Now I must go. I love you my fire even if you are still laughing."
Freya folded the letter again and dropped it to the other side of her outside the bath while taking a drink of wine.
As she soaked in the bath Freya's mind wondered how it would be when Johnothan came to ask for her hand. He must do it soon. I'm sure Father has everything for the wedding to Mr. Myer all set. Even though we have not met with Pastor Camden yet. Keep putting it off.
And tomorrow I'm going to go to the records all where they have records of everything: deaths, births, marriages. Maybe I'll see if they have anything on Lavender Rose Myer.
Just then, the door opened up and the devil himself walked in with a bottle of whiskey and two glasses.
Miss. James quickly got a towel and covered herself. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN HERE? GET OUT!! I'M TAKING A BATH!" Mr. Myer sat on the edge of the tub, poured a glass of whiskey and drunk it in one shot.
"In a short time Miss. James, you and I will be husband and wife. I will own you and you best get used to it now. My first order to you as your soon to be husband is to kiss me right now." He said, trying to pull the towel away from her body.
Freya thought about it for a second and got close to him like she was going to follow an order. THEODORA! MR.MYER IS IN THE WASHROOM!! COME AND GET HIM PLEASE!!" Theodora came into the washroom, grabbed Mitchell by the ear and twisted it.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN THE ROOM WHILE THE LADY OF THE HOUSE IS TAKING A BATH? GET OUT AND STAY OUT. NEXT TIME I CATCH YOU NEAR HER AGAIN YOUR BACKSIDE WILL MEET THE END OF MY BROOM!!" Theodora tossed him out and shut the door, locking it as she did.
Freya stood up from the bath and started drying herself off. Theodora started draining the bath while walking around mumbling under her breath.
“Careful Theodora, the letters are on the floor. Can you put them someplace safe?” The house girl grabbed them and put them on the dresser.
Freya started to dress in a nightgown and started drying her hair really good. Theodora grabbed the towel from her. Then started drying Miss. James’s hair a little too roughly. “Theodora, can you not try to rip off my head? I've grown attached to it.”
Before the house girl could say sorry they heard a loud thump and even louder swearing. “FATHER!!” Freya quickly unlocked the door and ran down the stairs three at a time. She got to Mr. James’s study out of breath.
“Where are they Freya Elizabeth? Where are my cigars? I know you have been hiding them and throwing them out. I put some up on my bookshelf and now they are gone.” Miss. James sat down and caught her breath while running her fingers through her hair.
“What was that loud thump? I thought you keeled over father. And if you keep smoking those blasted things you will.”
Before William could yell at his daughter, Mr. Myer came in to watch them fight. “Oh don’t stop on the count of me.” He said putting his hands in his pockets. Freya glared at him to make him leave. (Still need to learn how to perfect that look.) “This is a family matter, best you go take a long walk, maybe into a lake or something.” Freya says leaving the room going back to the bathroom.
William cleared his throat and tried to follow his daughter up the stairs. “Sir If I may say so, your daughter has a temper about her. And She needs to be punished for it. Maybe she can be told she isn’t allowed to go into the city tomorrow or something. Maybe sell her horse Cinnamon. I mean the girl needs to learn a lesson one way or the other.”
Later on that evening the three of them were having dinner without talking at all. Miss. James tried to hurry her dinner as fast as possible so she could finish getting ready for the next day. “I’m finished father. I have things to do in the city tomorrow so I’ll be gone by the time you wake up. Just thought you should know. Cinnamon needs to be brushed really good. Maybe a few apples as well. Since she is going to have a little one soon.” Freya gets up and takes her dishes to the kitchen.
As she walked back through, Mr. James cleared his throat.
“Freya, I don’t think you should go into the city. You are to stay here and take care of Cinnamon yourself and you will learn to cook and clean tomorrow. When you marry at the end of the summer you will know how to do both. Plus you will learn to watch your tongue with Mitchell here. I don’t care for it much either. “
Freya huffed, got up from the table and ran up the stairs.
“Father used to love that I was so sharp tongued. Said it reminded him of mother. She was just the same. But as soon as Mr. Myer came here I have to start acting like the perfect daughter, sweet and all that. I am not a thing to be owned like Mr. Myer thinks. I’m a person.” Freya said to herself, reaching her room.
She went to bed early with her clothes hanging up for the next day out. Her boxes were also ready for the next day.
Before going to sleep, Miss. James locked her bedroom door.
Around four a.m the next day, the lady of the house woke up, got dressed in pants and a shirt then grabbed the boxes on her desk. She got down to the front door and picked up her shoes without making any sound.
The lady of the house unlocked the front door and grabbed her bag, putting it around herself. As she opened the door it gave a creaking sound loud enough to wake the dead. Theodora came out of the kitchen with a large wooden spoon in hand. “Where do you think you are going, young lady? I was told by your father you were to spend the day with me learning to cook.”
The lady of the house picked up her boxes and fixed her bag. “Great, not you too. Please tell me you aren’t on their side. Come on, please let me go Theodora. I have to go into the Capital. I am going to get my mother's dresses fixed for myself and do a few other things I need to do. Please understand, I need a day to myself.”
Theodora opened the door for Freya and waved her out. Have fun and do what you need to do. I’ll just tell your father you went to the city for some things for me. And as for Mr. Myer, well he can go dunk his head into the outhouse for all I care.”
Freya put her boxes on the table outside and gave the house girl a hug and kiss on the cheek. “NOW GO ON GET NOW!!!” Freya laughed, grabbed her boxes and headed to the barn.
She grabbed half a dozen apples from the tree for Cinnamon. “You know, if you keep taking apples from that tree it will be balder than the sheep we just sheared.” Eric said, cleaning one of the stalls.
The lady of the house gave a couple apples to her horse then grabbed a saddle. “Hi my girl, how are we this morning? You want to go to Ayden’s and hang out with those horses for the day? Nathaniel will take care of you. If you are nice Emma will braid your mane and put flowers in it.” Cinnamon nibbled on Freya’s hair being playful.
Miss. James got her horse all saddled and jumped on her. “Eric, can you please put those boxes in the carry-on bag and attach it to the saddle for me?” Eric rubbed his eyes and nodded his head. The stable boy did as he was asked to do and opened the padlock for her.
“Thank you Eric, see you tonight, probably hopefully when you are more awake.“ The stable boy blinked his eyes a few times.
“What do I tell your father or what’s his name if they come asking?” Freya and Cinnamon walked out of the stables. “Don’t worry your mama has that covered Eric. And please watch out for Stefan. Bye Eric, go back to bed for a while.”
Eric waved goodbye to Freya, still trying to wake up. “Bye Miss. Freya. Don’t get too much into trouble.”
As Cinnamon broke into a run towards Ayden's, Freya looked back at her house hoping she didn’t cause her father or anyone else pain.
She turned around, bent down and galloped into the new day that awaited her.
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