New Life

It was late in the morning when Cordia awoke. Will was no longer next to her, but she could hear him outside. The fire was blazing, and she knew he must have gotten up to tend it and possibly find something to eat. She was suddenly aware that she was famished. She was also aware that she was still undressed, which brought back memories of the night before, bringing a smile to her face. She hurried to pull on her clothes before rushing outdoors to find her husband, and hopefully, an outhouse.
She didn’t see Will until after she had finished using the only facility they had available. He was on the other side of the house, chopping wood, and for a moment, she paused to consider how different her life had become since she had watched him perform the same task just the day before. As she approached, he put the ax down and walked toward her, smiling broadly.
“Good morning, Cordia,” he said embracing her and kissing her on the forehead.
She had not put her coat on before she had come out, and she felt much warmer now, wrapped in his arms. “Good morning. You’re up bright and early, aren’t you?”
Will glanced up at the sun. “It’s almost noon, love,” he replied. “You slept in. But, we went to bed pretty late last night and,” he added with a sly smile, “I think I may have worn you out.”
She hit him gently on the arm, laughing. “I think you just might have,” she agreed. He leaned down to kiss her, and she brought her mouth up to meet his. After a few moments he finally released her, and she could not help but smile at him. Despite the events of the day before, she could not believe she was standing there next to him, at last. As her stomach began to rumble, she remembered just how hungry she was. “Do we have anything to eat?” she asked.
“Yes, got a rabbit this morning. Brought a few other things from the farm. Let me finish up this last cord of wood, and we’ll get it on the fire.”
Cordia was relieved that he was willing to help her as she had never cooked over an open fire before. “All right,” she agreed. “Is there something I can do to help you?” she asked.
“No,” he replied, “just go inside where it’s warm.”
She kissed him again before she turned and walked back to the cabin. She glanced around the small space, trying to determine if there was anything she could do to put herself to good use. It seemed that Will had recently repaired much of the chinking in the log timbers that made up the exterior of the house. The fireplace also showed signs of recent repair. Despite the fact that the house had not been lived in for years, it was very clean, and Cordia could see just how much Will loved this place.
The bed needed straightening, but Cordia realized the sheets would have to be washed. If there had been any question in Will’s mind as to whether or not he was her first, there could be none now. She was pondering just how one did the laundry out here when she heard him at the door behind her. “That was fast,” she said turning to smile at him.
He was carrying the rabbit, which was skinned, and set it down next to the fireplace. “I was almost finished when you came out,” he replied. He could see that she was puzzling over the sheets so he crossed over to where she stood. “What’s the matter?” he asked.
Cordia could feel her face flushing. “How do you wash the clothes?” she asked.
He saw the problem and couldn’t help but laugh just a bit. “Well, Ma and Jules used to get water from the well and use the wash basin, which is hangin’ on the wall over there. You think you’re up for that?” he asked, realizing Cordia had probably never had to do the laundry ever before in her life.
“Do you think that I am not capable of fulfilling my wifely duties?” she asked, turning to look at him, a sly smile on her face.
“Oh, I have no doubt that you are fully capable of that, my dear. Or else, we wouldn’t have this problem now, would we?” he asked, leaning over to kiss her.
Once he released her, she walked over to the wall and pulled the basin down. It was heavier than she had expected, and she almost dropped it. He moved as if he was going to help her but could see by her expression that she wanted to do this herself. Despite its weight, she managed to get it outside. She knew that the well in the front of the yard was dry, so she glanced around and saw a second one in the back of the house. She was confused, however, with how to get the water from the well to the basin. Will opened the door, handing her another bucket, a bar of lye soap, and the sheets.
“I was just coming to get that,” she said, matter-of-factly.
“I’m sure you were,” he replied, smirking.
“Hmm,” she said, placing the sheet in the washbasin, tossing in the soap and taking the bucket over to the well. Being a frontier wife was harder than she had expected.
* * *
It was all Isaac could do to keep from yelling to wake Jane up. He had flown up the stairs, faster than he had moved in years. She was still asleep, and he didn’t want to startle her, but she needed to know what he had found immediately. “Jane,” he said, sitting down on the edge of the bed and shaking her gently.
Jane began to stir, her snoring growing louder before finally ceasing. Her eyes fluttered, and when they finally opened, she realized that she had slept too long and that she needed to get up. Cordia was still missing.
Isaac placed his hand gently on his wife’s shoulder. “It’s all right, Jane,” he said in as calm a voice as possible. “I found a note from Cordia. She’s fine.”
Jane couldn’t believe her ears. “A note?” she repeated. “Let me see!” She took the paper from his hands and read it over, her face turning from shock, to surprise, to rage.
Dear Daddy,
I am so sorry for worrying you, but I could not risk putting this note anywhere that Carey Adams may look to find it. I have left town tonight with Will Tucker. I love him. I have never loved Carey Adams. I broke off my engagement to Carey earlier today, and he came here tonight to attack me. Will saved me, but we fear that Carey will do his best to seek vengeance. I’m not sure where we are going, but you will hear from me soon, I promise. Do not worry about me. I am safe and sound with Will.
All my love,
Cordia
“That scoundrel!” Jane shouted. “We need to find him immediately so that Sheriff Dickerson can put him behind bars.”
Isaac nodded, “I know, darling, but he’s gone. He stopped by the house earlier to say he was riding out of town. Said he was going to look for Cordia. But I’m wondering now if that’s true. Union cavalry is in town, and I’m wondering if he didn’t just disappear, afraid he’d get himself into trouble with the Northern soldiers. Or maybe he thought he’d be found out.”
“But what if he does go look for Cordia? What then?” Jane implored, still afraid that her daughter might be in danger.
“I’ll ride over to the Adams Farm in a bit and see if they have any idea where Will might’ve gone. I also need to go alert the sheriff that we were lookin’ for the wrong fellow.”
“All right,” Jane agreed, leaning back against the headboard, only slightly more relieved than she had been the night before. “Where did you find that letter, anyway?” she asked.
A guilty look flashed across Isaac’s face. “Well, you weren’t awake to get me breakfast, so I may have had a cookie, or two.”
“Isaac Pike,” Jane declared. “Thank goodness your daughter knows about your sweet tooth or else we may have never figured out what happened to her.”