Southern Discomfort (4 page)

She slowly pushed
the blankets back and stood up. She had wanted to lay the blankets
back when she saw the blood stains on the sheets. Her hand flew to
her mouth covering it up in her shock. Tears were pricking her eyes.

Nathaniel moved
forward to see what was disturbing her. No wonder she had cried so.
He had spilt a lot of her blood. He wrapped his arms around her.
“I'm sorry, darling, but it didn't hurt at all this morning, did
it?”

She remained
silent. She was still in shock.

“Emily? Look at
me.”

She slowly turned
and looked at him. She was very pale at the moment.

“Sit down,
darling.” He helped her to sit. She wasn't worried about him seeing
her body anymore, she was too worried about the blood.

Emily hung her
head and looked down. She had blood in between her legs too. She
wanted to wash up now. After a bit she looked up at him and nodded.
He helped her to her feet and over the washing table. She started
right in washing herself. He talked to her as she worked.

“You can lay
out your hairbrush or whatever else you need there. Don't be shy
about it, darling.” He got dressed as she cleaned her most intimate
area. The amount of blood had shocked him too. He had never been with
a virgin before. If he had then he would have been obligated to marry
her. He was a gentleman and she was his wife. He was responsible for
her in every way now.

Emily was
finished and had picked up the bowl of bloody water and was walking
with it to the window.

He stopped her
and took the bowl from her. “No one cares to see my naked form at
the window, but yours only I get to see. Either let me do it or wait
until after you are dressed.”

She nodded again.
She went to her trunk and opened it. He was curious about what she
had in there. Her dress yesterday and the presents had all said that
she had money but the lightness of the trunk said it wasn't that
full. He walked toward her and peeked inside. He just saw some
clothes in there. She removed a pretty dark blue dress that was
simple but of the finest of cloths. She got out fresh underthings
too.

He watched her
dress so he would know how to get her things off her later. Once she
was dressed she got out a brush and did her hair. He just stood there
watching her. She tied a matching ribbon in her hair. She looked
lovely. This would have been a good dress to wear to church.

“What are you
planning on wearing to church tomorrow?” he asked strictly again.

She knelt down
and pulled out a green dress that was pretty but very serious. A
perfect choice for church. He nodded his approval and she packed it
away again. He took her hand and led her down to breakfast. She was
shaking again. He would make her feel at home here. She was the best
thing that had ever happened to him.

Everyone else was
already up and at the table. They all stared as the newlyweds walked
down the stairs hand in hand.

Emily blushed
because these were married folks who knew what had happened between
them last night. Emily said, her good mornings without meeting
anyone's eye.

Nathaniel pulled
out her chair for her. She was a little sore from all of their love
making. Her face was still blushed. She kept her head down. Nathaniel
was filling his plate as she timidly reached for a piece of toast.
She spread a bit of marmalade on it and took a bite. She chewed
slowly and listened to the others talk.

A few minutes
later she raised her head and looked at the people who were talking
even though she didn't say anything. She was warming up to them.

After breakfast
the men went out to do chores. Emily admitted that she had a bit of
laundry to do. Bessie offered to help her. Emily was beet red again.

The two women
went out to the pond with their laundry and went to work. Emily tried
to hide the fact that she was washing her virgin blood out of the
sheets. She had a lot of scrubbing to do with that. She hung the
sheets on the clothes line and then she washed her husbands things,
then her own.

Bessie talked to
her explaining this and that. She and her sister hadn't been married
for a year yet either. This ranch life was new to them too but they
had grown up on a farm.

“That's nice.
Two sisters marrying two brothers.” Emily smiled at Bessie, who was
being so kind to her.

“The only sad
thing was that Nathaniel didn't have anyone, but now he does. Now we
are complete.” Bessie said this as if they had waited years and
years for her to show up.

Emily was
starting to feel very welcome here.

Katie was ringing
a bell.

“We have a bit
of time before the men get here. I'll show you around.” Bessie
linked her arms in Emily's and showed her the chicken coop and the
barn and the stable.

The men rode into
the stable and got down from their horses.

Emily blushed as
she saw Nathaniel again.

His eyes were on
her too. He went to her and offered her his hand again. Bessie moved
over to Charles too. They talked and walked into the house.

Edward hurried in
to his wife, too.

Emily and
Nathaniel walked in slowly as they stared at each other. Emily was
surprised that he somehow looked better today in his work clothes
than he did yesterday in his Sunday clothes.

“You look
prettier than I remembered.” Nathaniel's words had her blushing
again. “A blushing bride. Now I know where that saying comes from.”
He brought her to the table and sat proudly next to her.

The family talked
as they always did and Emily just listened. Everyone was starting to
feel more comfortable with everyone else.

Nathaniel liked
not being the odd one out anymore. He held Emily's hand whenever he
could. He loved her already.

It was Saturday
that meant the whole family had to have their bath. The idea of just
bathing on Saturday scared Emily a little. She had bathed practically
every other day back home. The servants had brought in a tub and then
buckets of water. She wondered what form bath time would take on
here.

Emily helped
clean away the supper dishes. She was surprised when Katie and Edward
walked off hand in hand with a towel and their pajamas. They went out
the kitchen door. First coming back an hour later.

Then Bessie and
Charles took off hand in hand.

Emily was sitting
in the parlor area reading a book as was Nathaniel. She peeked at him
again and again. He was really an especially good looking man. She
was glad that he wasn't old. That had been her biggest worry, but she
never dreamed that he would be practically perfect.

Nathaniel peeked
up at her too only he was better at hiding it. Men just had more
practice at these things. She was blushing again. He wondered what
she was thinking about, hoping it was about him. He liked the idea of
being married. Why any man would fight against this, was just plum
crazy.

He wondered about
her again. He knew what he how was profiting from their marriage, but
what was she getting out of it?

Nathaniel
promised himself not to ask, her but it was getting harder not to
think about different possibilities. He pieced together what he did
know. She had come from money, or she had spend her last dime to make
it look that way. Her father was dead. A mother wasn't mentioned. She
was so extremely shy, that she couldn't have been around a lot of
people.

His brother had
been right, she was a mystery. Tongues would be wagging tomorrow
after church. He hoped that they only talked nicely about her. The
thought of someone hurting her made him tense up with worry. He would
defend her.

Bessie and
Charles came back in and went up to bed with a quick goodnight.

Nathaniel stood
up, reaching his hand out in front of Emily.

She looked up at
him and hesitated. She bit her lip as she reached out to him.

He stifled a
chuckle, she was being brave again.

Nathaniel led her
out the garden door. He had picked up a towel that had been laid out
for them and slung it over his shoulder. He had never bathed with a
woman before. She had never bathed with a man either, of that he was
certain. He was the only man she had ever seen before. He loved her
sweet innocence.

She was worried
and scared. He had said they would make love every night. It would be
dark soon. Where was he taking her? He stopped at the pond. He was
grinning at her. She wondered what he was up too.

“This is where
we bath.” He pointed to the pond. He watched her waiting to see how
she would react.

She looked around
uncertain. Anyone could see them she thought. “Is this really
safe?”

“Emily, if you
are with me then you are safe.” He was using his accent against her
again. She wondered if he knew what effect it had on her?

Emily shyly began
to undress. She was beet red and looked around a lot.

Nathaniel was
undressing too. He watched his shy little wife undress. She moved
close to the edge of the water. She had already removed everything
but her corset and her knickers. Nathaniel watched her shyly look
around again before she removed her corset and threw it over to her
little pile. She stepped out of her knickers and threw them too. Then
she darted into the water.

Nathaniel bowed
his head and laughed. Then he joined his wife in the water. He swam
over to the rock where the soap was hidden. He took it back to his
wife. “Should I help you wash your hair?”

She turned to him
unsure. Her breasts were visible under the water.

Nathaniel
couldn't help himself. He was staring.

She followed his
gazed and then covered herself with her hands.

“We talked
about this already. I want to see you.” He swam closer to her and
laid his hands on her breasts. “You are very beautiful. Don't deny
me the sight of you.” He kissed her deeply drawing her closer to
him

After a long
kiss, that left them both wanting more, he pushed her over to the
side of the pond as he continued to kiss her, as he carefully laid
her down on the bank, running is hands all over her body. He loved
the soft feel of her.

She was very
nervous again and shaking. He had his hands all over her. His hands
were rough on her soft skin. He laid down on top of her again. She
could feel a hardness against her leg. He stuck his finger inside of
her again then he entered her. She cried out again, surprised at how
quickly he could do that.

He thrust into
her rougher than yesterday, but she didn't mind anymore. She was even
making soft noises. He smiled at himself, she was enjoying him. He
was sure enjoying her.

She laid her
hands on his shoulders as he rocked in and out of her. It felt so
good to be with him this way. She was glad that she married him.

He fell on top of
her again, panting loudly. He was so out of breath from their long
love-making that he couldn't speak, just yet. But he felt a need to
thank her for being his wife, and for being so perfect. He kissed her
face to show his gratitude.

Nathaniel pulled
out as she whimpered. Emily reached out to his wet shoulders, trying
to grab hold of him, and trying to hold him in place.

Nathaniel grinned
at her and moved back into the water, pulling her with him. He took
the soap and washed her all over as she sighed in pleasure. He gave
her the soap and watched her wash her long dark hair.

“Will you wash
me now?” he asked her uncertain.

She shyly moved
to him and ran the soap over his body. Her face was red with
embarrassment, but she smiled as she washed him. She liked to touch
him.

He took the soap
from her and washed his hair. He ducked his head back into the water.
She looked at his strong chest. He really was very strong.

He got out of the
water and beckoned for her to come to him. She slowly did. The water
ran from her body. He felt himself getting ready to take her again.
“Come here, Emily.” He waited with a hand held out to her.

“I think we
forgot our pajamas,” she whispered in his ear.

He laughed again.
“We are the last ones. The others are in bed already they won't see
us.”

He took her hand
and pulled her close to him. He dried her off and then himself. “You
sure are pretty.”

She blushed and
hung her head, trying to hide the smile of pleasure on her face.

Nathaniel brought
her into the house along with their clothes. He laid their things on
the chair and he laid her down in bed. He went around to his side and
wrapped his arms around her. He gave her a kiss good night and both
settled in to sleep, as if they had never slept apart from each
other.

Emily thought
about what had all happened the last couple of days. She wouldn't go
so far as to say that she loved her husband but she did like him. She
also liked being with him, as a husband and wife can only be with
each other.

She had a good
feeling about her marriage.

She
woke up before he did. Nathaniel's arms were still wrapped around
her. Should she get up and start getting ready for church? She wanted
to look especially nice today. She didn't want to embarrass him in
any way. Her shyness was already a problem. She had been an
embarrassment to him on Friday. They had all been shocked because she
had behaved so badly.

“Emily,
is something wrong?”

He
startled her. She hadn't noticed that he had woken up. She looked up
at him, looking him in the eyes. “I'm a little worried,” she
admitted.

“About
what?” His words dripped with concern. He didn't like the idea that
his little wife had problems.

“I'm
worried that I will do something to embarrass you at church.”

“Why
would you do something that would embarrass me?” He was thoroughly
confused.