Chapter One

Chapter 1

May, 22^nd 1890

I’m home, I breathed into the cool Tennessee mountain air getting off the train. I’m home, I’m actually home! I felt like singing hallelujah on the top of my lungs, but then the people of Nashville might think I’ve gone mad since my four year absence. I could not wait to get home to see Dorothy or Dot as she likes me calling her. Dot was the town's herbalist, when I was a mere child I spent my summer's alternating between spending time with Dot and Will.

I looked around trying to find Will. I wrote a letter before I left saying when I’d arrive, and they replied that they would send Will to meet me. I wandered around looking; when I spotted him, the man of my dreams the one guy I could not wait to see again. He looked even more handsome than I remembered his sandy colored hair that was desperately in need of a cut and his wide built shoulders. He had not spotted me yet. Could it have really been fours long years since I saw his green eyes sparkle with concentration, watching him tame a wild mustang? I sighed as I neared him, the love of my life.

I tapped him on the shoulder, getting his attention; he grew at least five inches since I last saw him. He turned around and looked down upon me with those green eyes I remembered so well, the ones that always sparkled. Once he realized who tapped him, his face split into a brimming grin and his green eyes sparkled. “Lizzy!”

“Will!” He grabbed me into a big hug, and swung me around till I laughed. Oh, how I missed him. “I thought it would be forever, since I saw you again.”

“Oh, Lizzy I’m so glad you’re back!”

“Me too, Boston’s just not as grand as Tennessee.”

“You can say that again. Let’s go get your bags.” I did not want him to release me, but I had to let him, after all we were not officially courting, yet. We made our way to my bags and he picked them up with ease. As we walked back to the buggy, he caught me up on all that’s been going on since I left. It seemed strange all that happened and I missed out. I sighed; becoming a proper lady sometimes did not seem worth going away from my family and friends.

“Lizzy? Why the big sigh?”

“Oh, just being home seeing you and smelling the mountain air again. It was a contented sigh being home again.”

“Lizzy, how long have I known you?”

“Over ten years now why?”

“I’m pretty sure I would know the difference between your sighs, and that one was not a contented sigh. It was more like a heavyhearted sigh.”

“Oh all right you know me way too well, you’re telling me all about what’s happened in the four years I was gone, and I was thinking all the things I missed out on. I missed out on Maria and George’s wedding! Last I heard they were just sweet on each other, now their married. I bet there are new people here that know everybody and I don’t know anyone anymore. Who all has changed and has moved on? Who’s courting who? Who has had babies since I left? I would have known if I had not left to become a ‘proper lady’. Was it even worth it, going off to Boston to some snooty school just to know which fork to use when! I could have spent those four years doing something useful, like spending it with Dot!”

“Dot? The town's herbalist?”
"Yes, if you did not realize, I spent quite a bit of time with Dot during the summers. I learned a lot being in her presence."
"I know you tried to sample your 'concoctions' on me once before."
"Oh, it did no harm to you now did it? If I recall it helped you."
"Not really, and by the way just putting grass into boiling water is not considered a poultice. Now the closer we are to Nashville's hotel the closer you are to your family and Dot." He flicked the reins and yelled to the horses to go. We started off down the road leading to Whispering Hills and the life I left four years ago.

~~~~~~~~~~~

We arrived at the Hotel we were staying in till we head out for Whispering Hills in the morning. Since Whispering Hills is such a small town we are not known by most people in Tennessee. Whispering Hills is far from Nashville where my train left me. So Will decided we would get separate hotel rooms for the night and head off in the morning. I had no objections to this since I get even more time alone with Will.

Will checked us in the hotel, I had a room upstairs and he had one downstairs. He gave me some time to freshen up then we were going to meet up for supper. I walked up to my room; it was pleasant enough not at all like my room at home, but it will do for one night. It had a nice four poster canopy bed, a nice writing desk in the corner. The room had a lovely window with a great view of Nashville’s mountains. Next to the bed was an elegant pitcher and washbowl filled with warm water all ready. I selected one of my new dresses I had purchased in Boston thinking Will will like it. The dress was made of fine light green velvet, with bustles in the back; it had puffy sleeves with a bodice that fit perfectly. It was hard putting it on with no maid helping with buttoning up the back, but I made do. I pulled out my hair pins and shook out my black straight hair. Oh, how I wish for golden curly hair, but God made with plain black straight hair for a reason so I shall rejoice for my hair. I quickly re-pinned my hair in a fashionable hair-do I saw in Boston. I pulled the gloves that match my dress from my trunk and the green hat I selected to complete my assemble. I looked at my self in the wall mirror and concluded I looked presentable enough.

I hurried to meet Will in the dining room. I walked into the lobby to wait for him. I chose I nice embroidered settee to wait for him. I chose this time to observe the people around me. The lobby was large enough for several chairs and sofas and settees to be placed in here. It was pretty crowded; there was a couple in the corner that looked to be having a very intimate conversation. I looked away quickly to give them some privacy. There were several men that looked like they were waiting for someone, probably a certain female someone. I sighed; I wonder if Will looked like that waiting for me at the train station. What I had not realized when I was daydreaming was a rough looking man was walking up to me. I had never seen him before, so I was a little frightened.

“Excuse me ma’am, but I was sitting over there” He pointed to a corner close to me. “Wondering what a pretty little lady like you was doing over here all alone.”

“Sir, I am waiting for someone he will be here soon.”

“Well, what kind of man is he to make you wait.”

“Well Sir, I actually chose to wait for him here.”

“Well why don’t I entertain you while you’re waiting? We can have some fun.” He came closer to me, close enough I could smell the whisky on his breath. He kept coming closer, I felt like I was going to pass out with the strength of the smell. “Come here, little missy, I can make you forget about the little buddy you’re waiting for.” He made a grab for me and I screamed as I stumbled away from him. “Now, little lady no need to fight I won’t do anything you don’t want.” He kept trying to grab me. Why wasn’t anyone trying to help me?

“Stop, stop. Please stop!” I cried.

“Come on now, you know you want this.”

“No I most certainly do not!” I struggled to get out of his grip. Where was Will? He grabbed my upper arm really tight and pulled me into the dining room where unfortunately no one was in. He slammed me into the wall. Great, now I’m trapped and I can’t get free. He leaned in trying to kiss me and I tried to break free from his grasp. It was no use he was much stronger than me. I maneuvered my head where he kissed the wall just in time. He shouted out a bunch on curses so foul I never had heard anyone use any of those words. “Now lady, I won’t stop till I get what I want.”

I screamed again hoping to get someone’s attention! He smelled strongly of whiskey and cigar smoke. I tried with all my might to wrench free of his grasp. I continued to struggle out of his grasp. Every time I struggled he tightened his grip on my uppers arms. It felt like he was going to break right through my arms with his hands.

What felt like hours of struggling to break free, someone finally came to my rescue. It was the hotel manager. Thank You Lord! Caught off guard my attacker swung around to face the hotel manager. I had my opportunity to get free. I raised my foot as high as I could in the dress I was wearing and stomped with all my force on his foot. He yelped and cursed and shot daggers at me as I ran away. Before he had a chance to come after me again the hotel manager grabbed him and slammed him into the wall.

“Now, Mister I don’t take highly to men assaultin’ women in the way you were doin’ to this little lady here. So I think its time for you to leave on your own will or I will have to escort you to the county jail. It’s your choice Mister.” Obviously my attacker wanted to go to jail for he struggled to get of the man’s grip towards me. “I see, ya want to spend a night in jail. I would not have chosen that but it’s your decision. Come on scoundrel.”

The hotel manager pushed my attacker out of the room leaving me alone in the room. I was visibly shaky. I had not experienced anything like that in my life, and do not plan to experience it again. I rubbed my arms where his grip was the worst on my arms. I winced at the pain. I had not moved from my spot since I got away from my attacker. I heard someone enter from the kitchen door. I look up to a lady approach me. She has a sweet enough face, kind eyes. “Hello little lady, Henry asked me to make ya up a tray of some food and some tea to calm ya down.” She was she was carrying a tray of delicious looking food.

“Where’s, where’s Will?”

“Oh, the nice looking man that’s travelin’ with you?”

“Yes”

“Well I don’t rightly know, for sure. I saw ‘im leave about an hour ago sayin’ he’d be back in a little while. I reckon Henry’ll tell ‘im what happened. Now don’t fret little lady, your man will be back soon enough so you just eat and wait for ‘im.”

“Thanks” I replied blushing. She handed me the tray. Then she started to leave but I called her back. There was something that was still bothering me about the horrible incident.

“Yes, miss?”

“I, I, I was wondering what happen to the man that, that, that attacked me.”

“Well, Henry, the hotel manager, took ‘im to the county jail, and I reckon he’ll stay for a night or two, depending on how long they want to keep the rascal.”

“Thank you so much, I don’t think I could ever forgive you and Mr. Henry for all you all have done for me.”

“Now do not get all sentimental on me, I just did what I had to for a fellow lady.” She left then and I was left alone. I tried to get the image of that man out of my head but I could not. It felt like he would be etched into my memory forever. Lord, why did this have to happen to me? Lord, help me get him out of my mind!

It felt like hours till I heard someone enter in the dining room, when in fact it was just a couple of minutes. I looked up to see Will enter the room. I jumped up and ran into his embrace. “Oh, Will, it was so terrifying! I thought I would never get away from him!” I released Will and looked him in his green eyes. “Will, what took you so long? I was waiting for you!”

“Sorry, I feel terrible about what happened, Henry told me about it. If I knew that was going to happen, I would never have checked on the horses. Can you ever forgive me Lizzy?”

“I suppose in time I could forgive you, but not now I’m too angry at that man you had the nerve to attack me!”

“Don’t worry, Henry told me the sheriff is gonna keep that man in there for a day or two. You’ll be safe.”

“Well I don’t rightly feel safe but I’ll have to take your word on it now won’t I”

That night in my room I was afraid to blow out the candles. I know I was acting like a little child, but until you experience such a thing you won’t know. I kept seeing his face in my mind, I slept little that night. When I was ready I did not leave my room instead I waited with my bags ready in my room for Will. By noon we were on our way to Whispering Hills the only place I will ever feel safe again.

Hope ya'll like the first chapter. God bless!