Hey everyone!
Sorry for the long absense, butI have been extremely busy lately w/ high school graduation,college plans and travel. Anyway, here's chapter four! I hope you enjoy it and as always thank you, thank you, THANK YOU to the reviewers! You guys are the best! So, yeah...onto the chapter. Enjoy!
Lindsey
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Late morning molded into early afternoon and the sun rose a bit higher in the crystal blue sky, yet Pocahontas still lay in the very placeshe had when John had left earlier in the morning. The woman sighed as she raised her head. Where was he? It had been a time since he had stormed out of the house in a blinded rage at her simple question and she was now beginning to fear that the damage was permanent.
Pocahontas sighed and buried her head in the pillow. Where had this temper come from? In all the time she had known the man, he had been a gentle and loving beau, fiancé, and now husband. He had never once become angry with her. Of course, they had disagreed, all couples do, but he had never gone as far as he had today. Before she would only have received a cross expression, not a full-fledged tirade such as this morning. She felt a stray tear escape her dark eye and gently allowed it to chart it's course down her cheek. Had she really lost him for good? Over a matter of no great significance? She sighed again. If she had, it would be her own fault for not listening to his attempted apology.
A soft knock on the front door of the flat startled the young wife and she sat up with a start. Could John finally be home? No, he had a key. Why would he be knocking? Unless in his anger he had left without it, forgetting to take it with him. "Pocahontas?" she heard Amy's voice on the opposite side. "Pocahontas? Are you home? It's Amy. I'm sorry I'm so late, but I was delayed." Pocahontas finally stood, her legs stiff from lying still for the extended period of time. Making her way back up the hall, she crossed the study and through the kitchen to the entrance to the house.
Quickly wiping any stray tears from her eyes, the native straightened herself and with a sigh, swung the door inward to reveal Amy's smiling face. "Pocahontas! You are here. I thought for a moment that you weren't home." She stepped inside as Pocahontas closed the door. "Well, no matter now. Anyway, you'll never guess what Brandon told me this morning-". She stopped and her expression changed quickly to one of concern when she saw Pocahontas' face. "Pocahontas, is something wrong? You look like you've been crying?" The native glanced at her swiftly before smiling and shaking her head. "No, Amy. I'm completely fine. Nothing is wrong. Everything is wonderful." Despite her attempt to appear composed, her voice told otherwise as it broke as she gave her response.
Amy narrowed her brown eyes as she studied her friend. "No, Pocahontas." She stated, shaking her head. "Everything is not fine. Something happened. I know you. You never cry unless something is horrible wrong." Her eyes widened. "Oh, Pocahontas, it's not John, is it? Has something happened to him? Is he alright?" Pocahontas raised her hands to silence her. "No, Amy, it's….it's nothing like that. John is fine. Physically, I suppose." She took a breath. "We…we had our first real conflict this morning. I asked him a simple question and he simply went mad on me. He tried to apologize for losing his temper, but I pushed him away and locked myself in our bedroom. Even then he tried to convince me to open the door and listen to him, but I was too upset. The next thing I knew, the door slammed closed and I was alone."
She knew she was beginning to cry once more, but she let it come. She sank to the sofa, Amy following suit. "The worst part was it was over a petty matter! One that shouldn't have ever been fought over!" She finally found the courage to meet Amy's gaze. "And now I fear I've lost him, Amy. Lost him forever just when we found one another again. Sometimes I think the fates receive some sort of twisted humor from our constant lack of ability to remain together." Amy went to her then and placed her arms around Pocahontas as a means of comfort. "Pocahontas, don't speak like that. John loves you. I know he does. You haven't lost him. Far from it, in fact. Men are complicated, my friends. Just when I think I have Brandon figures out, he does something completely unlike him." She drew Pocahontas back to look into her gaze. "Trust me. Give him some time. He will be back."
The young wife sighed as she brushed her hand across her face. "How can you be so sure, Amy? You don't even know the circumstances!" Amy sat back and crossed her arms over her chest. "No, Pocahontas, you're right." She said, an edge to her voice. "I don't know exactly what happened or why you refuse to let me in. I am only trying to help you, trying to be a friend. I'm sorry if I am not saying what you want to hear. If that what you want? Fine. Yes, Pocahontas, John is gone, never to come back. Is that what you want me to say? There, I said it? Are you satisfied?"
Pocahontas didn't answer, only covered her face with her hands as a sob broke through, causing her body to shake violently. Amy saw what she had done and mentally kicked herself. She had done it again. Brandon had always warned her that she got carried away easily and now she had hurt yet another friend. Without thinking, she enveloped Pocahontas into yet another hug. "Pocahontas, I apologize. John isn't the only one with a temper. My husband always warns me about my sharp tongue. This only proves once again that he was right. Face it, my friend. You and Brandon are both married to raving lunatics!"
This finally brought some laughter and light from the young woman as she smiled at her friend's attempt at humor. "I'm sorry as well, Amy. I was being childish. I know how deep John loves me. It is the same love I feel for him. I suppose his sudden outburst only took me by surprise. It's the first time that he has ever truly raised his voice to me and I didn't know how to react. It's as much my fault as his." She raised her gaze to stare at the door. "I can only hope that he will come home."
Amy took her head. "For the last time, Pocahontas. John will come home. I've known the man for almost a decade now. He is never one to stay away for very long. John Smith is a very passionate man. Passionate people are complex. They love will all their hearts, but they have a fiery temper that never seems to extinguish. It's like they say. You win some, you lose some." She shrugged. Pocahontas returned the smile and laid her head on Amy's shoulder. "How true that is. And somehow, it always seems to be one degree or the other, never the middle." Amy raised her brow. "Would you ever have it any other way?" Pocahontas shook her head. "Not for my life. God help me, but I am head over heels in love with the man."
The friends exchanged a smile and Amy patted her friend's hand. "You are, Pocahontas. And never forget that. In all of my life, I have never seen anyone with a love as great was the one shared between you and John. The two of you are a force to be reckoned with. When you work together, there is nothing that the two of you can not do. You can count on that, Pocahontas." Pocahontas reached out to embrace her friend. "Thank you, Amy." She whispered. "For everything. Not only did you accept me when I married John, you have truly become my friend and I sincerely hope that you view me as a friend as well." Amy hugged her in return "Of course I do, Pocahontas. It's about time another woman came into the picture. We needed another one, especially with those two." Pocahontas laughed. "Yes, from some of the stories that you have shared with me, it does seem that our dear husbands needed to do a bit of settling, no pun intended with John, of course."
Amy chuckled as well before setting back and folding her hands neatly in her lap. "Tell me, Pocahontas." She started slowly. "Exactly what happened between the two of you? What started this argument between you and John. It had to be something of at least somewhat significance. That is what it would take for the two of you to squabble to this extent. John is not a man to get upset over minuscule things and from what I know, I would have to say the same for you, my friend. You know you can trust me. I'm here, Pocahontas, just talk to me."
Pocahontas sighed and rose from the sofa. "That is precisely the point, Amy. I didn't think it was a major issue. We received a rather strange letter this morning. Actually, John did, from his father's estate." Amy followed her to the kitchen. "Go on." She urged. Pocahontas retrieved a cup from the cabinet and poured herself some tea. "There is really not that much more to it." She sighed. "Tea?" Amy nodded. "Thank you." She said as she accepted the cup. "There has to be more to it, Pocahontas. It still doesn't make sense." Pocahontas poured herself another cup before joining her friend at the table.
"Welcome to my world." She smiled wryly. "I don't understand it either. The letter didn't even make sense. It was something about his duty, very cryptic. I tried to ask him about it, but he only brushed off the topic, burying himself in his work as he always does when he wants to avoid something. I didn't press further until only a short time ago and that is when we fought and I locked myself in the room and he stormed out of the house. I don't even know where he could be."
Amy thoughtfully sipped her tea. "Do you still have the letter?" Pocahontas thought for a moment.. "I believe so. I don't think John took it with him. Just a moment." She rose from her seat and went to the counter, rifling through the various documents and papers that her husband had piled there. "Let's see.." she muttered as she shuffled several in her hand. "Rolfe's wedding invitation,…John's latest map,…my shopping list for town….ah!" she exclaimed, waving the paper victoriously. "The mysterious letter." She read it over once more before handing it over to Amy's waiting hand. "Do you see what I mean?" she asked as she watched her friend's eyes travel over the paper.
Amy sat back in her chair and continued to study the letter, her brow furrowed in concentration. Pocahontas watched her, quietly sipping her tea, however found it had grown cold and abandoned it. Any several moments, Amy finally set the paper aside and regarded Pocahontas with a serious expression. "Pocahontas, exactly how much did John tell you about his family?" The native grew quiet. "For him, quite a bit. I know my husband is a private man, but he knew how upset I was, so he did open up some. I do appreciate it, but that still doesn't explain why he grew angry with me"
"Tell me exactly what he told you." Amy commanded gently. Still confused, but driven by the desire to understand what was happening, she complied. Perhaps Amy knew something she did not. "He basically told me about a deal he made with his father when he was a teenager. His father wanted him to inherit his title of Lordship when he was ready to retire. John, the free spirit he is, of course, balked immediately. He wanted to be free to see the world. His father wanted him in England. So they struck deal. His father would give him ten years of freedom to do as he pleased, yet when he turned twenty-five, he was to return to the estate to take his place. That is where this," she gestured to the letter in Amy's hand. "Came in."
"She sighed. "From there it went all downhill. He told me his younger brother had his eye on the title and John would have gladly given it up, however his father was adamant. John and only John would be his heir. You should have seen him, Amy. He was not himself this morning. Pacing the room, wearing a hole right through the floor, muttering incoherently. I had never seen him like that." Amy nodded. "Is there anything else?" Pocahontas nodded. "Yes, yes. "I'm getting there." She gathered both of the teacups and rose to place them in the sink. "Anyway," she began as she returned to her seat. "That is where the argument started. Then letter said that the deadline was March 17. I assumed that it was John's birthday since the letter stated that his twenty-fifth birthday was the dead-line his father had given him."
Another nod from Amy. "Then what happened?" Something snapped inside of Pocahontas. "That is what I don't understand!" she got to her feet and began to pace the kitchen much as John had earlier. "I asked him a simple question! I asked him when his birthday was. His birthday, Amy! Is that so hard to answer!. He had the audacity to brush me off, only saying I wouldn't understand. It was all I could do not to strangle the man! Me, not understand! Amy, if he only knew! When he didn't understand my ways, I did not simply ignore him! No, I taught him, showed him, my way of life. Why can't he do the same for me for heaven's sakes! Is that so much to ask!"
Amy was still watching her with raised brows as Pocahontas slumped back into her chair. "Is it to much to ask to want to be able to understand so I could help him with whatever it is that he is going through?" she softly murmured to herself. When she finally raised her gaze to her friend's Amy sat still in stunned silence. "Are you done?" she finally asked. Pocahontas sighed. "Yes, Amy. I'm sorry. I don't know how I can love the man so much and how easily he can infuriate me. Sometimes it's just…so….mmmm" She clenched her hands and growled. She could see Amy was trying hard not to laugh at her actions.
"You think this is funny." She stated. "I can't believe this! I open my heart to you and you laugh at me!" Amy managed to get herself under control before giving her answer. "I'm sorry, Pocahontas. I am not laughing at you. You just remind me so much of myself when I first married my Mr. Lawton. When we had our first fight, my word, Pocahontas you did not want to be in either of our ways. I think I locked Brandon out of the house for a whole of two days." Pocahontas's face cleared in realization. "Yes, yes. I remember. He ended up coming over to our home. I could tell something was wrong, but he and John were discussing it and I gave them their privacy. Now that I think of it, I wondered why he stayed so long."
Amy could not surpress the smile that came. "Yes, and I'm sorry that you had to put up with him, but do you know what our argument was about?" Pocahontas shook her head. "No. What was it about?" Amy laughed outright as she answered. "My cooking." Pocahontas's eyes widened. "You're kidding!" Covering her mouth with her hand, Amy nodded. "Yes! He was upset with me because I burnt his eggs!" "But Amy," Pocahontas gasped, still recovering from her laughter. "You're a wonderful cook!" Amy snorted. "Not when I was first, married I wasn't. I finally got it right, but when I first married Brandon, I couldn't cook for the life of me. Almost like you now."
Pocahontas shot her a look. "I am not that bad. Besides, I am still learning as well." she pointed out. Amy glanced over at her. "Sorry." She stated. "Anyway, I told him that if he wouldn't eat what I placed in front of him, he could go and fend for himself. I ended up physically pushing him out the door and locking him out. It was two days later that I had finally cooled down enough to hear him out!" Pocahontas looked up once more. "And he came back." She whispered.
Amy nodded. "Yes. He came back. He came home because he loves me. That is how I know John will come back. Because he loves you. He loves you with a passion. You love him with a passion. That is the reason you fight with the intensity that you do. You are both passionate people. There are two sides of passion, my friend. As I said before. You both love each other madly and deeply and it clearly shows. When you fight," She shook her head. "When you fight, watch out! That passion turns to anger and that anger can lead to destruction if you are not careful. I wouldn't worry though." She said with a smile. "The passion of love between the two of you is much greater than that of the passion of your anger."
Pocahontas sighed. "I know you're right, Amy. The only question is when. This waiting game is killing me. I want him to know that I am sorry. I want him to realize that he can tell me anything and that I am going to support him no matter what. I want him to know that I love him and I just want him to hold me right now." She whispered. Amy moved to give her another hug. Pocahontas leaned into her embrace when she felt Amy loosen her hold. "It doesn't seem that you will have to wait long." She murmured softly. Pocahontas raised her questioning gaze to her friend, but Amy was not looking at her. She followed her friend's gaze to the front door of the home where she met the surprised gazes of her husband and Brandon Lawton.