A/N - Set during the American Civil War; Quinn is from the South forced into an arranged marriage, Mercedes is her freed slave, Santana comes from NYC to marry a man she's never met to escape crippling poverty. Santana and Quinn dislike each other from the first moment they meet but can they save each other when the harsh brutalities of war come to their doorsteps with their husbands off fighting and no one else to turn to for help. Does this grudging respect they finally develop turn into something more or is it just loneliness.
Rating may change later. Posted under a previous pen name before. I am not using that account anymore.
Chapter 2 The Long Journey Home
May, 1860
Santana Maria Lopez sat in the hot, dirty coach car dripping sweat, wiping grime off her face and feeling disgusting. It was hot and she was hungry and thirsty. She had spent endless hours on the train ride from New York City to Ohio. Then she faced more endless hours in a buck back wagon with her new husband whom she had never met before. She had no idea where she was but the rocking motion of the train made her tired and nauseous at the same time. Looking out the window and watching the scenery wiz by made it worse. She closed her eyes and groaned trying to quell the growing nausea while thinking about the home she left behind.
Being married to a man she didn't know let alone love wasn't ideal but it was still better than the grueling poverty and slow starvation she faced in New York City. No matter how many hours she worked in that horrible sweatshop, she still didn't make enough to stave off the constant hunger that gnawed at her insides every single night. During the day she could stay busy enough to avoid it but at night, alone in the dark, hunger was her constant companion.
Her father worked when he could get it and drank himself into unconsciousness every night. He was angry and hostile and she had a hard time avoiding the repercussions of his anger and loneliness anymore. Santana thought it was because she was growing up and looking more and more like her dead mother. It reminded him of everything he lost by coming to America.
The sweatshop was dangerous work and she saw her countrywomen grow old before their time. Santana had watched children lose limbs and old ladies die from heat exhaustion. She was damned if she would lose her looks and even her life in that factory. She'd take her chances in the wilds of Ohio.
One of the few women who could read in her slum neighborhood, although she kept that fact well hidden, she had jumped at the advertisement for brides to help settle Ohio. Sam Evans had seemed safe and she felt compassion for his two motherless children. She had been a motherless child and she understood their grief and sorrow. She couldn't love this stranger but she could be a help to him on his land and in his home and in return she would be safe and fed. Santana Lopez understood there were not a whole lot of options open to a single, uneducated, poor woman of color in New York City in the year 1860. Her life was barely better than that of a slave down South and maybe worse, at least they got fed.
She jumped in alarm when she felt someone kick her leg, "You girl, you can't be on this car, blacks should ride in the cattle car." Looking up in alarm she saw a very large man glaring at her. He was standing in the aisle in front of her and it was clear he was not going away.
Santana Lopez was a woman with a fiery temper and her mouth had caused her a lot of problems in the past but this was different, she was all alone in a strange place and this man looked dangerous. She looked around trying to find a sympathetic ally and could see no one that she could bank on helping her, "I'm not black. I'm from New York City, I was born there. I'm just very brown from working in the sun." She lied as politely as possible, not willing to try to explain the diffence between black and Hispanic to this ignoramous.
"Listen girl, get your black ass up and get it to the cattle car so white men can sit down. I ain't standing all the way to Ohio." He said belligerently, looking ready to force her if necessary.
She looked around desperately and saw everyone avert their eyes, well that explained why no one sat next to her the whole trip, they thought she was black. That was just great; she was in real trouble now. Santana sighed but refused to get up, "I am not black and I paid full price for this ticket same as everyone else and I'm not riding in the cattle car." She said through clenched teeth, "My ass is as white as yours." She muttered under her breath so no one could hear her, "And probably a damn sight cleaner as well." She heard a choked laugh turn into a cough and quickly looked at the seat behind her and saw two men wearing plain clothes and black hats. The young man had twinkling brown eyes and he appeared to find the situation rather amusing or at least the Latina's answer.
The older stern and unsmiling man stood up and looked at the angry bigot, then at Santana before standing between them speaking to the man, "There seems to be some mistake sir, I have been riding behind this woman since Buffalo. I believe her to be telling the truth. My name sir is the Reverend Abraham Rountree and this is my son Henry," He said pointing to the merry young man, "If thee would like to sit I pray thee to take my seat next to my son and I will ride the rest of the way to Ohio next to the young woman." Her turned for the first time and addressed Santana directly, "If that would be acceptable to thee young lady?" He said gruffly but politely.
The Latina looked at the two men and could see they were Quakers, everyone knew they were abolitionists and Christians and if he wanted to defend her honor it was fine with her, "That would be quite acceptable, thank you sir." He nodded and turned back to loud man and pointed at his now empty seat, "If thee please sir?"
The angry man grumbled but took the proffered seat as Rev. Rountree sat down next to Santana. She looked at him and said quietly, "Thank you sir."
"It is not only unseemly but dangerous for a young woman to be travelling a great distance alone. It is also quite unseemly for a married man to hold open conversations with a young single woman without her parents, brothers or fiancé present."
Santana felt like a scolded child and it riled her up but she knew this man for all his stiffness was being protective and kind and she swallowed her pride and her rude retort. Much to her aggravation she heard the same choked laugh come from behind her and she stifled the impulse to turn around and smack Henry Rountree into Ohio. She finally smiled though, Santana had only read about Quakers and they seemed a very serious group but at least Henry had a sense of humor.
She turned and stared out the window and was grateful there was an upside; she wouldn't have to listen to a preacher pontificate all the way to her new home. Huffing loudly, she crossed her arms and closed her eyes to try to get some sleep.
-0-0-0-0-0-0-
The train jerked and belched steam and smoke and came to a complete stop waking up a sleeping Santana. She was horrified to find her head sleeping soundly on the Reverend's shoulder as he sat as stiff as a board. Mumbling an apology, she wiped her mouth and prayed she hadn't drooled on the man. She was a little groggy but looking out the window she saw they were at the Chillicothe, Ohio depot and this was her stop. She quickly gathered her belongings and made a hasty exit; stopping briefly she looked back at the kind Quakers and said a very grateful thank you to both of them as she glared briefly at the idiot next to Henry Rountree.
Grabbing her meager belongings packed in one beat-up old carpet bag, she looked around the platform and saw no one that matched Sam Evans description, so she sat on the bench and waited. Hours later she was still waiting in the heat of an early humid heat wave in Ohio. Santana scoffed as she thought what a frightening mess awaited her future husband. Hey would probably take one look and drive off. The Latina wasn't prone to insecurities, she took whatever life threw her way and did her best to survive it, but she had taken a huge chance leaving New York City. She had no money and no way to make any in order to get back to New York City and the brothels were filled with girls that had found themselves in her predicament.
It was getting dark and there was no sign of her future husband. Getting up stiffly, she grabbed her bag and went inside the meager station. An elderly gentleman was sitting behind the counter; he was bald and had on spectacles that rode low on his nose. He looked up when he saw her enter, he'd seen her sitting there all day long and it had piqued his curiosity.
"I'm sorry to bother you sir, my husband is coming from Lima and appears to have run into some trouble. It's getting cold and dark outside I was wondering if maybe I could sit inside here until he showed up?" She said softly unaccustomed to asking for help from anyone.
The man chewed his lower lip and looked at the thin young woman, it was against the rules but she looked like something the cat drug in and he felt a surge of pity for the girl. He cursed his soft heart, "That would be fine but I lock up in two hours."
She looked panic stricken for just a second before she mastered the look on her face, "I'm sure he'll be here by then."
"Would you like a hot cup of tea ma'am, I'm about to make one for myself?" He asked kindly.
She nodded gratefully and smiled, "My name is Santana not ma'am and tea would be delightful, thank you sir."
"Well that would make me Charlie not sir." He smiled back a genuine smile that reached his eyes and headed back to put the kettle on the old wood burner.
He set the kettle on to heat and filled a pan and set that to heat as well, from the looks of her she might appreciate a wash up. Charlie looked around and found a clean cloth as well as some berry pie, an apple and some bread and cheese his wife had packed him for his supper. When the kettle started to whistle he set the tea to steep and poured the hot water into a pan and laid the cloth over the side. Walking back up front he spoke to the quiet young woman, "I heated up some extra water, thought you might appreciate a clean-up before you meet up with your man. I put it in that room there so you could have some privacy." He gestured gruffly with his head as he went and sat back behind the counter and picked up his penny novel so he could read about the land out West he dreamed of and would never get to see.
Santana didn't trust herself to speak, the man's blatant kindness had startled her and she was afraid she would cry if she thanked him. Getting up she made her way to the back room and dipped the cloth in the hot water. She laid it over her face and sighed out loud from the pleasurable feeling of getting clean again. Washing herself completely made her feel like a new woman or at least the old Santana and not this helpless version of herself she'd become since the bigot on the train frightened her earlier.
Walking confidently back into the train station office she beamed at the man who looked at her with raised eyebrows, "Well Missus you sure do clean up nice." His eyes twinkled with merriment and Santana found herself liking this stranger already.
"Thank you Charlie I think I left about 5 pounds of grime and dirt in that pan though and you'll have to burn the cloth." She laughed a musical tinkling laugh feeling wonderful since getting clean. Charlie joined her in the laugh.
"My wife as usual packed way too much food for my supper; I would be honored if you would share a meal with a lonely old man." He said it in a way that refusal would be rude, seeing she was a proud young woman.
She smiled fondly at him, on to his underhanded tricks, "Well I don't see how I can refuse such a kind invitation."
He grinned rather proud of himself, "You have a sit down and I'll bring everything out." Charlie hurried to lay out their meager supper along with the tea.
The two lonely people proceeded to share what turned out to be the best meal Santana had eaten in weeks. They shared stories and drank tea, polished off all the food and played checkers until it was at least an hour past closing time.
"Well, you best grab your bag and come home with me. The missus and I never had young'uns and she'll delight in fussing over you and I can't in clear conscience leave you here alone in the dark on this platform with hobos and strangers about. Besides your man can't travel at night, we'll come back in the morning and I'm sure he'll be here by then." Charlie said kindly.
"You've been too kind already. I'll be fine here." The Latina said stubbornly.
"Suit yourself, I'll just send my Gracie to come fetch you although she won't be happy she has to trudge here in the dark to get you." He shrugged mischievously, "With her rheumatism it might take her a bit and pain her some…."
Santana huffed out annoyed, "All right fine, I'm coming." She snatched her bag angry at herself for falling for Charlie's obvious tricks but relieved she didn't have to sit on that dark cold platform alone all night. She hoped that Sam Evans hadn't changed his mind or that some harm hadn't befallen him.
Charlie was locking the door when she heard the sound of wagon bells. Turning she could just slightly make out in the moonlight and a solitary lamp swinging from the wagon post a young man with hair the color of sun drenched straw.
"Miss Santana is that you?" The man called out in a strong voice.
"Sam Evans?" She called back.
The man pulled up in front of the depot and jumped down from the wagon, "Oh thank the good Lord you are alright. I had a bit of trouble with my wheel and got held up. I am so sorry to have left you unattended so long." He said apologetically and kindly.
Charlie eyed the young man up, "I hope you have intentions to treat this young woman far better than you have demonstrated so far sir." He said sternly.
Santana almost chuckled at his paternal scolding of the young handsome blonde man standing in front of her wringing his hat nervously with his hands and bobbing his head up and down in agreement. He seemed like a kind man and the Latina felt bad for his obvious discomfort, "I'm sure Mr. Evans is quite the gentleman Charlie, anyone can throw a bad wheel, isn't that right?"
Sam Evans looked up in surprise, "Was she teasing him?" He thought, Rachel used to tease him lovingly all the time and the thought of her brought mixed and bittersweet emotions. He missed his wife and best friend so much it choked him sometimes but it felt disloyal to this beautiful young woman who had come so far to wed him to think of Rachel now.
He sighed gratefully and looked at her kindly, "Indeed sir, I will take care of her in the manner befitting a young lady who has done me such an honor as to be my wife. I give you my word sir."
Santana looked at the earnest kind young man with the blonde hair, blue eyes and wide mouth full of white teeth and realized she could have done far worse than Sam Evans as her husband.
Sam stepped forward and held out his hand for her, "Miss Santana, we have a long trip ahead of us so if you would be so kind."
Santana turned and instinctively hugged Charlie, "I'll never forget your kindness, thank you." She whispered sincerely suddenly nervous about the new life looming ahead of her as soon as she entered Sam Evan's wagon.
Charlie patted her back awkwardly, "Just be happy, if you have half the happiness that me and my Gracie have you'll be blessed. He seems like a nice enough fella."
Grabbing her bag, Santana Lopez turned and took the hand of her soon to be husband and stepped into her new life.
Next up Quinn and Santana meet and HATE each other on sight… if you like the story, please review.