A Bride Worth Billions Read online

  “I’m going out. I’ll expect this place cleaned up and dinner on the table when I return.” With his pudgy finger pointed directly at my face and his breath hot he said. “Not a word of this to anyone. What happens in our house is not to travel beyond these walls.”

  When I heard Mert’s horse go down the gravel road I got up and composed myself. I picked up my clip from the floor and managed a slight smile as I placed it back in my hair. I wasn’t religious but at that moment I believed in angels. My Grandmother had reached out to me at the perfect time. I had brought biscuits from my Mother, which were still edible, and some soup that she had left over in her kettle. I took a quick sniff of the stuff and deemed it good enough for Mert flander’s dinner. Getting to the stream was easy from my new home so I put on my boots and started walking. I needed to shake off the feeling of having been touched by my husband.

  Henry was sitting on our flat rock when I arrived. Comparison between my friend and my husband wasn’t even possible. Henry had always been gentle and understanding while Mert was course and intimidating. Were friends meant to be one way and husbands another? It would be nice if a husband could be a friend also but that didn’t seem possible.

  “Thinking about jumping. There’s something wrong if you think you’re day has been worse than mine. What’s wrong did someone die?” I asked sarcastically.

  Henry didn’t answer my question; he kept looking out at the mountains. I scurried up the side of the cliff and sat down.

  “Someone did die today. My brother Daniel started out having a cough last week after our fiasco at the river. We didn’t think much of it because the water was freezing and thought that was the cause. He had the influenza that so many people are dying from; it’s from Russia I think but I have no idea how it got here.”

  “I can’t believe I thought I had it rough warding off my ancient husband in the bedroom. I’m so sorry Henry. You were especially close to Daniel so it must be a difficult blow.”

  “He was only 16 and we shared a bunk. There wasn’t a soul who could beat me in wrestling besides Daniel. We never really hurt one another; it was just horsing around. If I keep losing the people I care about, I’ll end up alone,” Henry said as he held back tears.

  “Did someone else die Henry?”

  “No. I lost you but in a different way. We both know that we can’t continue being friends. People would start talking because you’re a married woman now. Damn it Faith. I lost my chance with you because I settled for just being your friend.”

  “Henry, you’re upset and you aren’t thinking clear. You never told me you felt anything more than just friendship for me. How the hell was I supposed to know when you never made advances towards me?”

  “I was afraid of getting turned down and losing your friendship.”

  “Too late now Henry. You lost me anyway and now I have to spend my life with that troll. I’m sorry about your brother Henry but I have to get home to my husband.”

  Angry and confused I ran home to my ugly dusty ranch house. In the back of my mind, I was thinking about Daniel Stanich and his life cut short by influenza. I was worried about my parents and the cough they both had. They had never been stellar parents but they were all I had left after just losing my best friend. I would be forced to rely on Mert Flanders, my husband. The trip to the stream was supposed to refresh me and help put matters in perspective but it had done the opposite. I took a deep breath before entering the house.

  “I thought you were hiding in the bedroom when I got home waiting to surprise me. Eating alone is no way to start a marriage but I survived. I’ve been a bachelor for enough time to know how to serve up my own grub.”

  Mert was especially dirty and had probably been down by the rocks where he expected to strike it rich.

  “I didn’t expect to be so long Mert. I’m sorry and it won’t happen again.”

  “Your entire family is letting me down today. Your father was going to meet me at the mine at some point today and he didn’t show. I had plans to share a cut of my loot with him. I’m thinking I was hoodwinked and he was just trying to pawn off his useless daughter and then use the fact that you’re my wife to get rich.”

  “My father intended to meet you today Mert; I’m certain he wouldn’t go back on his word. I think we should take a ride and check on him and my Mother. They were both coughing and there are people in the county dying of influenza.”

  “I haven’t heard of anyone dying. Who died?” Mert asked.

  Without considering what my husband would think, I answered honestly. “Daniel Stanich. He was the brother of my friend Henry.”

  “When did you see Henry?”

  “Uh – today.”

  “Were you with Henry while you were neglecting me on our first night of marriage?”

  “We go to the same place sometimes.”

  “You bitch. You gossiped about our time spent in the bedroom earlier. You shared out marital secrets with another man.”

  I didn’t see what was coming next. Mert raised his open hand and slapped me across the face. I ended up on the other side of the room.

  “Get in the wagon and we’ll go check on your parents. Put a hat on before we leave and if there are any questions say you fell across the hearth. I wasn’t wrong because you made me raise my hand to you but I’m in no mood to explain myself.” He placed his hat on top of his greasy hair. “If I ever see you spending time with Henry Stanich or any other man there’ll be hell to pay. Do you hear me?” Mert wagged his fat finger in front of my face.

  “I hear you Mert.”

  I said one thing but thought another.

  Lay a hand on me again – ever and I’ll gouge your eyes with a hot poker.

  Not a word was spoken on the rough ride to my parent’s house. Mert pulled his cowboy hat low so we had no eye contact. The winter had left deep cuts in the terrain and it was difficult to navigate in the evening. As we got close to the Slyker ranch, I could hear my father’s black mutt Barney howling. The animal lived in the barn but often slept on the front porch of the main house. I felt it in my bones that something was amiss and hopped out of the wagon before Mert had come to a complete stop. I charged in the front door to find no one in the kitchen so I ran to the bedroom, from where I heard a faint cry for help.

  “Mother!” I saw my Mother laying on the bed next to my Father with blood spread around her mouth. My Father was not moving and his head lay limp to one side. “Mert, I need you to fly into town as fast as you can get that wagon to travel. Get me any doctor you can find.”

  My Mother had been spitting up blood and my father was dead. I opened the shutters in the house to let in the cool breeze because my Mother was burning up. She was delirious and they had probably been in their current state for hours.

  “Keep your mother cool and comfortable. I’ll never make it to town with the condition of these roads. The sun has gone to bed and I‘m sure any doctor with sense has also called it quits for the night. There’s nothing we can do but wait til the sickness takes your Mother as it did your Father. You know that people die at the drop of a hat here in the west; just ask your pal Henry. I guess this means that I’m really stuck with you now. Your father has tools and such that he won’t be needing any longer; I’ll be out in the barn loading anything that’ll fit into my wagon. Those dairy cows and chickens won’t go to waste; you can start bringing em home tomorrow. I didn’t expect much of a dowry but one seems to have fallen in my lap.”

  I cleaned my Mother’s face and tried to cool her with damp clothes. I was married to a man with no character and now I was forced to sit alone with my dead Father and dying Mother. I should have been spitting mad but I wasn’t going to let Mert get the best of me. I was going to handle my parent’s death with grace. I had new resolve and I was going to transform my anger into grit.

  I had my mother’s head in my lap as my Mother drew her last breath. I couldn’t afford an undertaker or a fancy box to bury my parents. I had to swallow my pride and as
k Mert for help. If he could help to put two pine boxes together, I could put the to rest on their property as they would have wanted.

  “I see your Mother has passed. It’s time to lay them beside each other. I’ll leave you to say a prayer if you believe in that sort of thing. Tomorrow we’ll come, collect the rest of their things, and then set this old house on fire. It’s best because we don’t want it left standing; it’s got the influenza germs.”

  “No Mert. No. I’ll stay here tonight. I don’t go to church much; I’ve never been to be honest. I do however believe that we should respect the dead. I intend to give them a proper burial. If we leave the house to sit vacant for a cold Denver winter, all the germs will be gone and then we can decide what to do with it.”

  “If you want to stay here with two dead people go ahead. Sleep here and maybe you’ll come to your senses. You can’t make pine boxes by yourself; certainly not without tools and I took em all. You also can’t dig holes deep enough to bury em. I’ll expect dinner on time tomorrow night and every night after that so don’t get any funny ideas.”

  “Can’t you show an ounce of decency? I just lost my parents.”

  Mert sneered. “They weren’t my parents. Don’t get any ideas about running off Faith. I’m all you have left and I’m your husband.”

  Mert stormed out leaving me shivering in my house with my dead parents.

  I slept on the floor next to my parent’s bed where I felt sorry for myself for a couple of hours. I would get the useless feelings out of the way and start anew in the morning. I realized that I had only one life and I sure as hell wasn’t going to let Mert Flanders ruin it. I was able to withstand his bullying and fight back. First, I had to get my parents respectfully taken care of. I needed help; I needed Henry Stanich.

  The cold in my parent’s house was only going to keep them preserved for a short while. I woke up and splashed cold water on my face. I would douse myself in the frigid waters of the stream to remove the germs from my body. I covered their bodies with a checkered blanket that was large enough to cover them both. I had only one day to get them taken care of. Then it was back to being Mrs. Mert Flanders and I would cross that bridge when I got there.

  First, it was off to the stream to see if I still had a loyal friend in Henry Stanich. I threw on by blue coat, boots and strode to the river. I spotted Henry wading in the stream with his fishing pole.

  “Are they biting?”

  “No luck. It’s not always about catching fish. The currents make me feel alive and like all of my trouble can be washed away.” Henry was wearing waders and a grey cowboy hat.

  “I think we need to clear the air Henry because I need a friend and I have to know if I can still call you one.”

  Henry stood facing the stream so I was unable to read his expression. Finally, he turned and I saw a smile on his face. I breathed a sigh of relief.

  “What the hell Faith. Your face.”

  “I fell on the hearth. One of the obstacles of my new home I guess.”

  Henry looked at me and shook his head in disbelief. I knew he wouldn’t fall for the rouse.

  “I want the truth Faith. Did that monster lay a finger on you?”

  “I was not home for dinner and accidentally told him I was with you. He hit me but never again Henry and that’s for sure.”

  Henry was visibly agitated. He threw down his pole and splashed out of the water.

  “Is that all he did Faith. Did he force to have sex?”

  “No. Not yet but it’s only a matter of time before he makes his limp penis work. I had almost forgotten about the bruise on my face because if seems like nothing when compared to.”

  Henry interrupted. “Compared to what. What could be worse unless someone died?”

  “You sound like I did before I realized your brother had died. My parents succumbed to influenza.”

  “Oh God. When?”

  “Last night it was horrible my father had already died when I found them and my Mother was coughing up blood. They’re still back at the house; at least their bodies are. That’s the reason I’m here. I need you’re help getting them respectfully buried cuz Mert refused to help.”

  “Loyalty is my middle name Faith. Well not really but you get what I mean.”

  “What is you middle name Henry?”

  He laughed. “You’re veering off topic. I’m guessing you need help with some boxes and digging a hole. If that’s the case; you’ve got your man.”

  “I don’t know what I’d do without you Henry. You’ve never let me down.”

  “There are enough pine trees to make boxes for the entire city but we needn’t fell a single tree cuz I’ve got a ton of boards ready to go in my barn. I’ve gotten good at woodworking. Didn’t you wonder why I was always whittling? I plan to be a carpenter.”

  “I never thought to ask. It seems you’re a man with plans for the future.”

  “Yup. I have a lot of plans but sometimes a man has to be patient for his dreams to come true.” Henry smiled.

  We went back to the barn on the Stanich ranch, which was a place I had never been. The family had six boys and had still managed to keep it tidy. Henry and I spent time picking our boards that were suitable for building a pine box. I watched as a smoothed the surfaces of the wood, which was admittedly enjoyable. I never thought a man working could appear sensual. It was a lot more pleasing than being clobbered by a fat man on a dusty bed. The work was strenuous and Henry was hot so he removed his thick wool shirt. I noticed his angular muscles and the way they moved with each push and pull of the rasp.

  Henry looked at me and smiled. “Are you watching me work?”

  “What you’re doing seems to be a one-person job, otherwise I’d help,” I said as I blushed.

  “Not really. I have extra tools and you’re welcome to work beside me. It’s easy when you get the hang of it. Stand behind me and put your arms over mine so you can mimic my rhythm.”

  I put my arms over his and I moved as he slowly sanded the wood. Henry turned around so we were face to face alone in the barn. He dropped the rasp and didn’t have to say a word to convince me because the time and place were right; Henry was right for me and I for him. We fell into the sawdust and he tugged at my dress deliberately but not forcefully as Mert had. With each tug of fabric, he revealed a piece of my skin that had never been seen by a man before. He gently kissed and caressed it as if it was a precious gift I was giving him. With me naked, I undressed Henry. I removed his suspenders and his light cotton shirt before forcing his trousers down around his ankles.

  He rubbed my inner thighs and moved up into my crotch. I felt things that I didn’t know possible. He began kissing me from my ankles past my knees and lingered in a part of my body I hardly knew existed. The tempo of our movement quickened as he grew rock hard and pressed himself against me until he moved inside me. Our rhythms in unison, he released inside of me. I forgot where I was but not whom I was with or what I had done.

  “Today started as one of the worst in my life Henry but has turned out to be my best. You’ve been here all along but I’m seeing you for the first time.”

  “Faith, I think I’ve always loved you. It took losing you to know how much.”

  “We have a problem then because I love you too Henry Stanich but I’m married to Mert Flanders.”

  “I spoke of patience Faith. Give me time and I’ll figure it out. In the meantime, how are you going to hold off Mert? I don’t want that man laying a hand on you again in anger or sexually; ugh, I can’t imagine it.”

  “If he finds out I’ve even run into you accidentally, he’ll hurt us both. He’s an angry man with a temper Henry. I’ve seen it in his eyes and I never want to see it up close again.”

  We finished the boxes, which took twice as long as it should have as we played and ended up in the sawdust several times. We managed to bury my parents as the sun was about to set. After a final kiss, I left Henry to make dinner for my husband. Henry and I agreed to meet at our flat roc
k in the mornings when Mert left for the mine. He had to pass the Stanich ranch on the way so Henry would know the days I could get away. Henry would come up with a way for us to be together and it was up to me to avoid Mert Flanders in the bedroom.

  Weeks passed and I had managed to see Henry only a handful of times. It was hard work keeping up with chores at the ranch but even harder work staying away from my husband. He passed out on most nights after a few too many at the saloon and I feigned sickness on a few occasions. The biggest problem was concealing my joy on the days when I managed to see Henry. We would meet at our rock and sneak away to either my parent’s vacant home or Henry’s barn.

  I began to worry when I no longer had to fake feeling sick because I was. It had been two months since I was first with Henry and I was pregnant. My schedule had never been interrupted before so I was certain of my condition. I was making breakfast for Mert when he commented on my lethargy.

  “Have you gotten to the bottom of why you feel sick and look so pale? A young woman like yourself has no excuse. I’d say you’re pregnant if I didn’t know better. That would mean you’re running around with some other guy, which you’re not; right?”

  “No. Going to the mine today?”

  “I am. I’m going in deep with the crew in a couple of days, which means I want to arrange for a special night before I go. My little problem is fixed and it’s about time we live as husband and wife. We have to get started on kids. I’ll need the help in the mines and nothing does the work like a blood relative.”

  “You expect babies to be picking up a chisel?”

  “No but as kids they’ll be handy cuz they can crawl into small spaces.”

  My problems were mounting. Seeing Henry today was more urgent than ever.

  Henry was soaking up the morning sun when I arrived.

  “I was just dreaming of you Red.” Henry perked up when I sat down next to him. “Has Mert done something cuz you aren’t your usual cheerful self?”