Chapter Two
Two days later
“Ashes to ashes, dust to dust…”
This was all so wrong. It couldn’t be happening, but yet here she stood in front of a small pine box covered with wild daisies. A warm and sunny morning was not the kind of day to be burying a loved one. How had this happened? Why hadn’t she insisted her aunt see a doctor? She should have ignored Jed’s threat of a thrashing and went for the doctor herself. Pneumonia had killed her aunt and it was all her fault.
Oh, Aunt Hedy, I’m going to miss you.
Overwhelmed with sorrow, Josephine expelled a sob. The pressure on her upper arm increased, reminding her of the man who stood beside her. Anguish filled her soul, but she remained quiet.
The preacher bowed his head, indicating that the service had come to an end. Josephine turned and was surprised as several townspeople openly ignored Jed and offered their condolences mainly to her. She smiled weakly at the kindness offered. It may be a little too late, but she appreciated the thought. Being the daughter of a painted lady didn’t make her all that popular with the decent folk.
“Come on, girl. Ain’t no need to be standing around doin’ nothin’. Time’s a-wastin’. I got work waitin’ at the ranch.”
Josephine jerked out of Jed’s hold and moved on ahead. The man was as mean as they came. She had taken an instant dislike to him from the moment she met him nearly ten years ago at her aunt’s wedding and her opinion hadn’t changed. In fact it had gotten worse. He still possessed that sinister look about him and a nasty temper. She would have liked to avoid the man altogether, but since her mother worked at the local saloon, Josephine had spent most of her childhood with Hedy.
She enjoyed those times, but things had changed drastically when Jed took over the household. He set up rules and expected them to be followed. It seemed that laughter was no longer allowed and she often wished she could stay at home alone.
On the morning of her tenth birthday Josephine got an extra pat on the shoulder from her mother along with the promise of as many licorice sticks she wanted once she came home from school. Josephine remembered how excited she’d been and couldn’t wait for the dismissal bell to ring. She raced to Aunt Hedy’s and didn’t stray from the door, glancing up and down the dusty road, but her mother never showed up.
Later that day Hedy had surprised her with a homemade birthday cake and insisted on taking her to the general store. Despite Jed’s warning, she bought Josephine a bag of licorice sticks and had gotten a beating for being disobedient. Josephine had cried as she held onto Hedy’s legs, refusing to let go, which resulted in Jed dragging her away and locking her in her room.
In all the years Josephine had lived with them, she’d never heard Jed utter a kind word to his wife. All he knew how to do was give orders and use the back of his hand if those orders weren’t carried out fast enough to suit him. Hedy made her promise to hide whenever Jed was mad. It was a man’s right to discipline his wife and the sooner she accepted it the better off she’d be.
“Jed, both you and Josephine are welcome to come to the church. The town got together and prepared some meals for you to take home.”
Shaken from her woolgathering, Josephine felt her heart swell at the thoughtfulness extended from Mrs. Clancy. Cooking was so far from her mind right now. She’d rather lie in bed and cry for the woman who had treated her as if she were her own daughter. Cry because the woman who had given birth to her didn’t want her.
“Got no time for socializin’, ma’am.” Jed brushed past the woman and caught Josephine’s arm once again. “The girl has chores pilin’ up. She’s gotta earn her keep. Ain’t that right?” He gave her a shake.
Josephine grew lightheaded. The pressure on her arm increased, threatening to break a bone. “Yes, yes, I do have things to catch up on but thank you for the kind offer, Mrs. Clancy.”
Reaching the wagon, Jed gave her a shove. “Climb on up, girl.”
“For heaven’s sake, Jed, must you be so rough? Honestly, you can’t expect this young girl to keep house right now. She needs time to grieve.”
Josephine swallowed hard. Mrs. Clancy’s pleading tone broke through her dismal thoughts. Her kindness brought a fresh bout of tears to her eyes but apparent heartburn for Jed. She watched his face turn red with rage.
“Listen here, old woman, go to yer husband where ya belong and keep yer nose out of my business. I’m tellin’ ya fer the last time.”
The entire wagon shook as he took his place in the driver seat. Cursing beneath his breath, he cracked the horse’s hind end with the reins. Josephine nearly lost her seat as the wagon lunged forward. Oh, how she wished she could take a whip to this miscreant of a man.
Unable to resist, Josephine glanced over her shoulder and watched as the town grew smaller and smaller. Bile rose in her throat, threatening to choke her. She had no other family left except the man sitting next to her, a man who scared the bejesus out of her. Unable to help herself, she expelled a loud sob.
“Quit wailin’ or I’ll take a strap to ya.”
Josephine lost what hold she had on her temper. “Is that all you have to say? My aunt, your wife, just got buried. Have you no compassion at all?”
His hand seemed to come out of nowhere, striking her across the face with a stinging blow. “I ain’t gonna tolerate yer sass like Hedy did. Get that into yer head and I ain’t about to explain myself to you or anyone else. My feelings are my own.”
Josephine could have argued that point. The man had no heart, so how could he claim to have feelings? Cradling her cheek, she scooted across the seat as far away from him as she could without falling off.
They got back to the rundown shamble of a house with Josephine feeling sick to her stomach. It felt as if there were a dozen butterflies knotting her insides. She jumped from the wagon intent on hiding in her room for the rest of the day.
“Git movin’ and put on some coffee,” Jed shouted. “Somethin’ decent to eat too.”
Josephine hurried into the house and banged the door so hard behind her, it rattled on its hinges. She tore the bonnet from her head and tossed it across the kitchen. All the man knew how to do was give orders.
While the coffee brewed she slammed plates on the table, not caring if they broke. Some were chipped anyway and since Aunt Hedy was no longer here she couldn’t care less. She was absolutely appalled by his lackadaisical behavior. Just like that. It didn’t matter that he had just buried his wife, he didn’t care. What a heartless, soulless man.
She slapped a couple of ham sandwiches together and set them on the table just as Jed stomped into the kitchen. They exchanged glares then Josephine picked up the dented coffeepot and filled his cup.
Without a word, he pulled out a chair and sat down. Aside from the disgusting noises Jed made while eating and slurping his coffee, he remained aloof.
When Jed went outside to smoke a cigar, she placed a pot of water on the stove to heat while she cleaned up the dishes. Now that she didn’t have Hedy to accompany her to the creek she’d have to bathe in her room.
Josephine carried the pot to her room and stripped down to her undergarments. A simple dab of the washcloth here and there didn’t do it for her, but she had no other choice. This would be her way of life from now on.
* * *
Panic began to set in more and more each day. Each of Jed’s attentions grew bolder than the last. Countless times Josephine caught him eying her chest when he thought she wasn’t looking and whenever she’d bend over she could almost feel the heat of his stare.
Things couldn’t go on this way indefinitely. She had to escape and her first thought was to confide in Mrs. Clancy. But since Jed only went into town once or twice a month she had to remain vigilant and wait.
As it turned out the opportunity to speak with the woman had presented itself that afternoon. Josephine had been absolutely thrilled when Mrs. Clancy stopped by for a visit. She set her mending aside and they both sat on the porch sipping tea and chatting amicably.
Just when she was about to broach the subject about Jed’s behavior, he suddenly appeared from behind the house with a rifle in hand and ordered Mrs. Clancy off his property. In good conscience Josephine couldn’t knowingly place the woman in danger. The only person she could rely on was herself.
Unable to concentrate, Josephine set aside the pants she’d been mending and went to her room. She opened the only window and moved to the bed. Sitting down, she undid the top two buttons of her dress. A slight breeze blew over her heated skin and she sighed.
Suddenly, a loud bang startled her. With trembling fingers, she secured the buttons once again and listened. She held her breath as steps reverberated in the kitchen and then became louder.
On impulse, she raced to the door, turned the lock, and stepped backward. The doorknob rattled.
“Josephine, open this door.”
One hand flew to her throat. “What do you want?” The door crashed open and she screamed, “What do you think you’re doing?”
“As long as yer living in my house there’ll be no locked doors.” He looked her up and down. “Ya ain’t so snippy anymore, are ya? It’s about time ya showed me some respect.” His eyes darkened and, as he closed the distance between them, the smell of whiskey on his breath grew stronger.
His gaze dropped to her chest and he licked his lips. The rotten bastard had the nerve to openly gawk at her. He reached out his hand and she shrank back, but not fast enough.
He twisted her arm behind her back. “You be about eighteen by now, ain’t that right?”
Josephine swallowed the lump of hysteria that had risen in her throat. “Yes, this past month. Please, let me go. I’m sorry I locked the door. I won’t do it again.”
“Ya got that right.” He squeezed her breast and snickered when she yelped in pain. “I’m a lonely man and yer just ripe for fucking.”
“What you’re suggesting is immoral and highly inappropriate. Your wife, my aunt, is most likely rolling over in her grave.”
He cracked a heinous smile. “I ain’t about to lose any sleep over it. Things are gonna change around here. If you want a roof over yer head and food in yer belly then be prepared to pay a price.” He shoved her so hard she fell to the floor in a heap.