New home

[Lovely]

June 30, Year 1


The old estate wasn't much to look at, the glass caked over with dust and what paint there was weathered off the wood leaving a pale grey behind. An upper porch with an old wooden rocker sat in a frozen memory, the floor beneath decayed and rotting. The weather hadn't been kind to the place and the apathy of the town even less kind. The surrounds of the inner property were gated off regally with an imported wrought iron, believed to be from the German homeland the previous owner had come to the town from, and over it hung untended vines that seemed like alien creatures scaling the walls... whether to get in or to escape, however, could not discerned. These too were in disrepair, overgrown and gone to seed. Everitt slowed the team and pulled the brake, motioning a hand for her approval. "Welcome to your new home," he said softly.

Her face was set in a composed expression, though her eyes widened slightly as they cast off what was left. The place must have once been something to behold. Her expression became meloncholy as she thought of what a pity it was, that this place had fallen into such vast disrepair. "Which room will be the master suite?" She asked softly as she leaned to him, a hand resting lightly on his arm. "The one with the balcony, on the second floor?" She gave him a slight smile. "I think I might enjoy the view from there." She licked her lips, not wanting to be rude for asking. "How much is left after purchasing the land and all? With there be enough to put it back into proper repair?"

"Enough for paint and nails," he grinned. "Wood will need to come in from the mill up north. Get the boys down here tomorrow to get measurements and see what all we need. The bank may even have the prints from when the place was built. Said he wanted his family to have all the comforts of his plantation home out in Virginia when he moved them out here. He was the old preacher here before Gully."

"A preacher afforded this?" She shook her head. "It looks as though it was once.. an impressive place... I have seen the plantations in Virginia... and this does them justice.. though a bit smaller."

"Impressive family. His son was some fancy man out east somewhere... doctor or lawyer... a teacher of some kind. Sent them money every other month until one day... all dried up. Some say it was due to the slavery act. Some say he fell out with his family. No one knows for sure, but the preachers' wife died soon after, with him to follow summer before last. Place hasn't been looked at since. Guessin' he married his daughters away or they died as well. They kept to themselves for the most part," he shrugged. "And that's about all there is to know. Got a new preacher now... without a family, save us lot."

"Your brothers... none of them are married, are they?"

"None... officially," he smirked. "Not a one... least not yet." He slipped off the bench and reached up to help her down. "Ready for the inside tour?"

Her hands rested on his shoulders as his hands held her waist, once on solid ground she frowned, looking and pulling away from him. "Of course, yes a tour would be in order."

"And that meant what exactly.... that look? Did I say something wrong?"

"What look? Did I give a look?" she pretended as if nothing was amiss. "Would your family be coming to live with us, since none are married.. officially..?" The last word may have seemed slightly more enunciated than the others.

"Entirely up to them, Liza... they have Daddy's house to cover them if they want, but it's true we'll need help here." He gave her a look of his own. "You asked about my brothers, Liza. Not me. Consider, Gully is married to his faith and Rory is married to his office if you can call either union warm and inviting."

[Lovely]

She looked off over the grounds and nodded slowly. "Gully's would be the most comforting and fufilling of the two, I'm sure. This place.. is large.. would seem too empty with just the two of us." She looked sideways at Everitt. "Not that you couldn't keep me entertained and.. all... " She blushed and sighed. "Back East.. there were always people, relatives, social gatherings.. always someone about." Folding her hands and holding them behind her, she looked to the ground. "Since.. I have been here... I have been alone. I do not miss very much about 'home'... but I have been, very lonely."

"Times do change, but so do the people, Miss Liza. Don't know that folks around here would rightly know what to do with a social function beyond the traveling shows that come through and the plays the children put on. Now that you have a parlor, it only seems right to fill it with guests, now."

"Not what I meant.. but thank you."

He grinned. "I'll see to it that you're not lonely for as long as I can be right here. But this is a big place," he looked up and noted the clouds threatening another summer storm. "Let's go see about our room, Mrs. Carlisle."

She sighed and nodded, taking his arm and leaning gently against him. "If I close my eyes, I can imagine how it will look, all fixed up."

"Hopefully you'll be able to wake up in the morning and see it the same way," he said softly, kissing her cheek.

She nodded, her eyes moving over the house and grounds as they walked toward the doors. "A bit of hard work and I won't have to imagine.."

The gate swung noisily on a dusty hinge and didn't latch on its own as they passed through. There were beds laid out for fancy flowers, though none bloomed and stones in a variety of colors framing each barren patch, also painted over in dust. The path to the main door led to three steps up to a main porch that bent around to the shady side of the house. Each step creaked in protest.

She raised a brow at the creaking and then smiled. "That could keep one awake at night." She said as the boards creaked under her. She had watched the bare flower beds as they passed them, her mind's eye seeing them full and lush with planting she could do. "How soon do you think the work will be able to be done?"

"A squeaky mouse will keep the larger rats away from the door," he mused, bouncing gently on the step and moving to another spot to test the weakness and find the source of the squeak. "This stuff out here? Good coat of paint and a cleaning all over... at least three days with everyone we have." He mused a moment. "Course, now... there's the girls, too, but I don't know if any of them fancy raising a brush to raisin'... well... you know what I mean."

"I certainly do not." She raised an eyebrow at him, the slight smile giving her away.

He chuckled and took her arm. "Lyin' like that likely get us both struck in our tracks," he whispered, thunder rolling closer now as he escorted her inside. The large front doors were double, each with an etched oval inset of thick glass, allowing the light to pour in. The hall inside was wooden floored, stained dark and heavily waxed, reflecting a warm glow throughout the entry. Much of the furnishings had been left and sheeted over, waiting for family members who never came to claim them and cart them away. The bank sold them with the property 'as is' to do as she pleased.

She glanced back as the thunder rolled and scooted closer to Everitt. She still had a slight fear and a dislike of the storms. Her eyes then found themselves wandering over the inside ofr the house, it seemed much better preserved than the outside had been. "Everitt... has all this.. been left?"

"Fraid so. We can take it all down to the church if you want it outta your way an' all."

[Lovely]

She shook her head and laced her fingers with his, walking slowly from room to room. Lifting covers here and there to view what was underneath. "Such a shame.." She whispered, shaking her head. "I hardly think we could afford to furnish this entire place... I think we should.. keep some things... at least till we can get our own. I have what is at the house...but that could barely fill this room."

"Well miss Liza... it's all yours... came with the place, so looks like you done furnished it all and didn't know. Best to keep the covers on until the work's done, but let's have a little look and see what you think... all warmed up and all." He stepped to a settee and pulled the cover from it, revealing another lost moment in time as if they'd set foot in a colonial palace.

Elizabeth smiled and ran her hand over the sette, she shook her head again. "Quite a find you have here... Also very lucky for it to be here when it was needed."

"When needed?" He grinned, taking her hand to rest on it for a test.

"Well.. " She looked at him. "Kind of the same way.. you were there.. right when I needed you."

"Ahh.. call it Carlisle luck or what have you. We each have some kind of ... whatever you'd call it that way. Have a seat, don't be shy."

"How do you figure? Your luck, being there when I needed you?" She smoothed her skirt as she eased down next to him.

"Definitely... my luck," he said, resting her other hand with his on her knee. "Miss Liza, you don't like storms much, do you?"

"No.. no I don't." She answered softly, licking her lips, nervously. Her fingers tightened around his as the thunder rumbled closer.

He held her closer, sliding his hand behind her back to nestle her in his arm. "Only a summer storm. Should pass right on by," he said.

She let a soft skittish laugh escape as she cringed into his chest. "Do you have any idea how many times.. I've hidden under the blankets till they've passed?"

"Nothing to be afraid of, it's only a little storm. Besides, I do know that the roof is sound... well as long as the wind don't carry it off," he said, glancing up the stairs. It was an unusual place to be a home for such a small family but be that size and extend to an upper level. It was almost as large as the hotel in town it seemed.

"You.." She glanced up. "The roof won't come off will it?" She looked worried enough, that it might, her hand tightening in his.

He grinned. "Not likely, unless a twister comes through. Not wet enough, but certainly hot enough. Nah.. just a little storm. So you want to check that room out or don't ya? Whole place is still filled with all these things..."

[Lovely]

Her fingers clenched his, her breath shallow as the thunder rumbled outside. "You promise the roof won't come off?" She whispered, her eyes on the ceiling above them. Slowly she nodded. "Yes.. the room."

He held her tighter, "I promise. The winds not even really blowin', just rumbling skies. Doubt we'll even really see rain from it."

She dragged her eyes from the ceiling, acting almost as if she expected it to fly away any moment. Her gaze slowly came to rest on his face, a small nervous smile, hinting at her lips. "The.. the tour? Please.. talk to me.. about anything, distact me.. I.." She blushed, it was silly to be so frightened, but she couldn't help it, couldn't keep her heart from racing or her hands from shaking.

"Distract you? Alright then," he nodded, bending to scoop her at the knees and lift her to his arms if she wasn't too nervous to bend.

"What are you doing?" She sounded surprised and wiggled her legs as he lifted her into his arms.

"Shhh.. distracting you," he grinned and moved to the stairs to go up. "There's a little bit of a lot of history in this here place, miss Liza. Hardwoods from out East, cloth from overseas, even fine silk, I'm told, hand polished brass and silver and even some pieces of marble said to have been kissed by the Pope himself."

"Really? And.. it all came with the property?" She shook her head, leaning to look around, a bit more interested. Her arms wrapped firmly around his shoulders, she kissed his cheek softly. "Thank you."

"Hear that, Liza? Storm's almost over already," he nodded as he brought her in the main room and set her to her feet over the threshhold.

She immediately stepped closer to him, her hands wrapping around his arm as she curled to his shoulder, not convinced to come out of hiding yet. "Is it?" Her voice asked timidly.

He nodded, curling his arm about her and walking her into the center of the room. "Wind's dyin' down and the thunder's quiet, see? You can see the edge of blue already," he pointed through the window, the curtain pulled to the side and looking out onto the balcony. Below them at the bottom of the hill, just the edge of town was visible and above it, the sky was still grey but clearing quickly. "Summer storms... they don't last long. The natives call for 'em though. Now that's a sight... them singing for their rain spirits."

She shook her head, shying from the window after a hasty glance. "Why would anyone want such storms?"

He chuckled, but tried to silence himself and not offend. "Not an easy place to be in a desert, ma'am. We have our stores and our traders... what have they got but the land they were born on, hm? It's how they live," he said quietly.

[Lovely]

She nodded, watching him, a fright still showing in her eyes, but along with it was a warmth of understanding. "I had not considered it that way..." She sighed, folding her hands in front of her as she regarded him from a few feet away.

"Like our granddad... he'd a prayed for rain if it'd done him any good when the blights came... killed off the food and started killing us, too. If the land's all you have, you respect it and the laws that govern it... those aren't my laws," he said, shaking his head and moving to the covered bed. "They're not all savages, you know." He added the last, looking at her pointedly.

"I would not know... I've never met any... " She looked away at his pointed gaze as if shamed that he had to say that to her. "I'm sorry, for my unenlightened comment."

"Not you, Liza... it's Kingswell.. I can tell what he'd think and he'd likely take down any of them as look at them. I want you to learn the difference between him and me, Elizabeth... he's a god fearing man, I'm sure, but out here, that really doesn't mean much. Not even Gully would tell you different. It's a different place out here."

She nodded still not looking at him. "I am aware... that it is.. a whole different world out here. I know that you and mister Kingswell are not alike... and I've chosen the one, I think is the better man."

He pulled the cover away to reveal the treasure here, handcarved hardwoods from the northeast comprising the frame and a thickly filled feather mattress lining the box. A netting had been rolled back around the posts that was used to keep the summer pests away at night. He reached up to unroll it, letting the vapor-sheer cloth cascade around the bed. "I talk too much some days, Liza. If you still think I'm the better choice after I say what's on my mind, then I'm much obliged.... much," he grinned and nodded to the glass for her to look outside. "See... nothing to worry about now." The dark clouds had rolled east, painting a nearly black backdrop on the late sky. Over the town ushered a double rainbow in the low sunlight.

With a soft sigh she stepped next to him at the side of the bed, her hand on his arm. "Everitt... that you tell me what is on your mind, is part of what makes me think you are the better man." Her voice soft, full of adoration, one that was building with each moment she spent with him. She was much more impressed with the man before her, than the sight through the window. She blushed darkly and leaned to whisper in his ear. "I am.. supposed to be your wife... shouldn't you be... teaching me about.. keeping your bed warm?"

He turned from his smoothing of the netting as she uttered her compliments, not being sure how to respond.. He grinned,"Well I do declare... Missus Carlisle... if I didn't know better, I'd think you were leading me on just now."

"N-no.. not leading you on... If it doesn't please you.. then I'll not ask again." She swallowed and looked nervously away, thinking she'd been much too bold and misread him, that he did not want such things with her.

He pitched a little whispering hiss to get her attention and nodded her closer. "Psst... got a secret just for you..."

She looked cautiously at him and leaned closer as her spoke low. "Yes?" Her soft whisper inquired.

"You please me just as you are Liza," he said gently, tipping her chin up.

[Lovely]

She chewed her lip, her face lifted though her eyes averted for a moment longer. The bright green eyes came to his and searched gently. "You.." She sighed softly, nodding her head.

"Happy to be the better man... the one of your choice," he nodded, speaking plainly, watching the glow in her eyes and letting his hand float away to brush the rose of her cheek with a feathery fingertip. His eyes glimmered briefly as if a well-disguised hunger lurked, his mind in obvious and constant motion and pushing it out of plain view.

"I'm sorry... that it all had to end up this way.. with Kingswell coming and us.. not just happening as it would... but because I begged for your help... You know how much it means to me.. that you were willing and all you've done.. don't you?"

"If I hadn't been on hand, I hate to think who might be holdin' ya now," he grinned, taking her hand and pulling her gently closer.

"We know who would be.." A slight tremor ran through her. She moved closer to him, curling easily into him. "I do prefer you holding me.."

He nodded, tilting as he did to take liberty of brushing her lips a moment with his own.

She sighed sweetly, her lips clinging lightly to his. She smiled softly up at him after they parted, the blush fading to a light rose in her cheeks. She reached to curl her fingers with his. "The house is very nice, thank you... Do you like it though? It is to be our home... and I don't want you making it all for me to be happy... I want this for both of us."

He smiled briefly, a hint of Carlisle gleam beaming in the corner of his eye at the moment. "Not how I'd meant it to turn out exactly, but I reckon it'll do. Shoulda been me takin' care of it all for you... us... like I wanted, Liza. Not right, you using your money like this. But... seein' as the alternative was letting that ol' codger steal you away, I'll make it up to you." The smile returned, soft and warm. "I'm not feeling right about those 'lessons' just yet, but don't think a second that I don't have ideas."

She squeezed his hand as he spoke of making things up to her and shook her head. "Everitt... you more than make up for any of that... just by doing all the things you've done... besides rightly the money would.. should have been yours if we were all proper done up.." She closed her eyes a moment and sighed. "As for the lessons and all else..." Her eyes opened, sparkling emerald hues gazing into his. "I want to make you happy."

He reached to his pocket and grinned. "Good woman wouldn't deprive a man of the simple things, would she?" He pulled out a cigar from the pocket and nodded to the balcony. "But I'm willin' t'compromise, if it's alright?"

She shook her head at the cigar a small smile showing as she chuckled. "Of course."

"Come out there with me... usually a cool breeze after a storm," he beckoned, a sudden sweet shyness to his grin.

"You're sure that the storm is all gone?" She leaned as if looking outside to see. Elizabeth moved slowly and cautiously behind him and out onto the balcony.

[Lovely]

The afternoon sun was lowering beyond the hills, setting the edge of the retreating clouds alight to the east, a glow like angry fireflies pulsing within, but too far for the thunder to reach them now. "I'm sure that storms passed, but you might have another one brewing."

Her head jerked sharply to the east thinking he saw some clouds and then moved so her gaze was on him, curious. "Another one?" Her eyebrow raised. The breeze caught the wisps of hair that found their way loose from her pins. Tugging lighly and blowing them like tiny streaks of fire in the air around her face.

He deposited the unlit cigar safely on the rail and stepped closer, nodding. "Distant rolling thunder," he said, holding her hands and pulling them to his lip then to his chest where his heart fluttered gently. "Rolls louder when you're here, Liza."

Her fingers curled gently, feeling his heart beat under her palms. She stared for a moment, at her hands on his chest, awed at what she felt. She met his eyes again, one of her hands sliding up to his cheek. Her fingers brushed lightly over his face, tracing the lines on his cheek, jaw and his lips as she gazed warmly into his eyes. Slowly she took his hand and brought it to rest over her chest, so he could feel the way her heart fluttered and jumped, and sped up. He set her all a flutter, and made her think of things no proper lady should be thinking.

The hungry expression flashed through his gaze again, but he held it back, glancing away with a heated sigh and chuckle, a blush rushing over his own sun-leathered cheek as he slowly pulled his hand from her chest as if being shown the scene her heart played out. "I declare," he grinned and watched her eyes, his hand floating up to nestle her in his arm.

She smiled softly stepping into him and slowly pulling her gaze from his as she rested her head against his chest. Her one hand remained lightly over his heart, the other arm sliding around his waist as she cuddled herself to him. Feeling safer in his arms, than she ever had anywhere else.

The breezes did come up, cool and refreshing, pushing the heat away from the balcony gently. He rubbed her arm as he looked out over the horizon, watching the dancing flashes as the sky slowly darkened. The next small gust licked coldly around the corner and he pulled her close against the sudden chill. Apparently another storm was coming but this one was only bringing a touch of evening rain. Her closeness warmed something in his spirit more than he'd let on. He held her there, finding himself tipping her chin up to him again without a word, the beginnings of her first lesson in keeping him warm...

She let her eyes slide shut as her lips brushed his. She accepted his attention and returned the affection tenderly. Her lips parting of their own accord as she felt like she was melting under his lips. The kiss deepened by her slight urging as she rose up on tip toes to reach him better. She felt as though she was tingling as her arm slid around his neck.

His lips tugged on hers softly, the ruggedness of his features softening as he told her more secrets with his touch. He held his hand over hers on his neck, his other resting on the back of her head, entwining gently with her hair.

The soft sound of delight was lost into the kiss as she pressed against him, reaching up and wrapping around him. Her breath came slightly heavier, she savoured the feel and the taste of his mouth on hers. The light breeze chilled her again, she she shivered clinging more tightly to him, her kisses slowly growing more passionate.

He'd promised to convince her that she was his. With each moment of her touch, he became more convinced of it himself. He parted from her lips, whispering her name to her ear and holding her cheek hotly to his own, content to listen to her breath in his ear for the moment.