Jerry Dandridge's What If Scenario

19th Century

Chapter Four

Day Four

Journey's Delay

Rose barely slept that night but was eager to pack up her belongings and get off that train as soon as possible. She dressed and loaded her travel case and left the confines of the cabin greeted by Oscar; not really greeted but given a suspicious eye. "Oh, shut up," she grumbled disliking his expression and lugged her case into the dining car. She sat anticipating the moment she would finally be off that train and when that time came it was midday. She stepped off the train onto the platform; the station was small within a remote type of humbling village somewhere in the middle of those vast mountains.

As instructed by her escort, she stood on the platform while Oscar retrieved her other belongings located in the luggage car. Standing there quietly she caught glimpse of the strange gentleman's companion instructing the laborers who were unloading what she guessed were the gentleman's belongings. Crates after crates she noticed being carried and loaded onto the back of a large covered wagon; one wooden crate was quite large and rectangular in shape. Her attention was drawn to Oscar who was leading a few men that carried her trunks. With a gestured nod from Oscar she followed his lead.

As they started to leave the station, moving towards a carriage she assumed was provided by her intended, a man approached Oscar. She entered the carriage as Oscar spoke to the man while her trunks were being loaded.

The carriage door came open and Oscar took a seat across from her. "There is a change in plans." he stated with his thick accent.

"Okay, what are these changes?" she asked and felt the carriage slightly jerk forward.

"We will be staying for the night at the inn at near the edge of the village." He explained, "The messenger says that the carriage provided to deliver you to your intended is delayed a day. We will leave in the morning."

"What?" she asked with surprise and disbelief, "I must wait another night?"

"There is nothing to question." He firmly stated and left it as that.

Her eyes frowned with her nose wrinkled in confusion. Well, she wasn't prepared to deal with another night of waiting to finish that long journey to get that awkward meeting with her intended over and one with. She thought she had a whole night and day to prepare herself for coming face to face with her soon to be husband but now it was delayed even further. One would think she would be happy with the delay but she wanted it all to be over with so her uncertain marital life would begin. "No, that's not at all stupid." She sarcastically mumbled under her breath. She shrugged with a heavy sigh then looked out the little carriage window seeing the quaintness of the village and its residents moving about the cobblestone streets.

The carriage pulled before the modest inn that was indeed located near the edge of that little village. Rose stepped down from the carriage feeling anxious. Throughout that lengthy journey she was constantly trying to wrap her thoughts around the idea of marrying a man she had never met. Now that the journey seemed be forced to drag on even further than expected; the realization of her situation became more real and uncertain. She had more time to dwell on those many troubling uncertainties.

She entered the inn behind Oscar who was eagerly approached by the innkeeper. Upon stating their names the innkeeper shared that sleeping arrangements were already made in advance and eagerly showed her and Oscar to their rooms. Her trunks were brought inside the inn then to her room; she was pleased that Oscar's room was at least four rooms from hers.

She sighed as the innkeeper left her alone in that simple room; a simple full sized bed, little side table and a lonely little chair near the little window. About as nice as her train cabin; she grimaced with the sarcastic thought. Again, another night delaying the inevitable with another night for her to ponder her future being married to a complete stranger.

Again she sighed and stepped to the single window then peered out at the humble village. She was now in Hungary where her intended lived. Was he actually Hungarian? She didn't know anything about him besides his wealth and name. She leaned against the wall near the window frame feeling the heavy burden of uncertainty. It was her duty to wed this stranger named James Morgan; his name didn't sound Hungarian. "This is just unbelievably unsettling." She commented aloud followed by a heavy sigh.

Rose's silent pondering was disturbed by a fist loudly pounding against the door. She had no idea how long she had been sitting there on the edge of the bed with her thoughts swirling around what her future entailed. She rose up as the fist continued to pound. "Oh, stop!" she grumbled loudly then reached the door and swung it wide open to find, yes, Oscar, "Yes?"

Oscar straightened his posture and cleared his throat, "I am escorting to dine downstairs."

"Oh, yes, of course you are." She sarcastically commented with an annoyed roll of her eyes and reluctantly stepped out moving passed the bulky brute. Her shoulders were heavily slumped while drolly finding her way downstairs where a small dining area was combined with a tavern. Oscar escorted her to the furthest table possible as if trying to block her from the eyes of the men who were laughing and speaking loudly in their native Hungarian. She plopped down on the wood high backed bench of the table.

"I will fetch our dinner." Oscar stated then turned marching away from the table.

"Yes, you do that." She drolly stated then rested an elbow atop the table and leaned with a slumped posture. She missed her America and little town of Cliffside. Now she was somewhere in the midst of towering strange mountains surrounding thick forests and dashes of little villages here and there. She had no idea how far into those mountains her intended lived. Would she be secluded for the rest of her life? Would she be hidden away like a prisoner in some grand estate? She could even imagine a massive iron gate attached to towering stone walls that would surround her and keep her kept away like a treasure.

A wooden bowl of something was set before her. Her face grimaced at what looked like some type of stew. "I have no appetite." She commented as Oscar sat down across the table.

"Eat," Oscar ordered, "You need the nourishment for the long two days ahead of you."

"Shut up, Oscar," she grumbled and pushed the bowl away, "You annoy me with all your orders, demands, and ridiculing looks." Her eyes shifted and looked at his pruned face, "Yes, that is the look I'm speaking of, you bitter man."

"You should bite your tongue and learn to keep your crudeness to yourself." Oscar suggested then scooped a hardy spoonful of stew, "You must learn to maintain a proper demeanor because that is what is expected of you by your intended." He shoved the spoonful in to his mouth, "Eat."

She mockingly twisted her face then reluctantly dragged the bowl back in front of her. "Stupid Oscar," she grumbled under breath and reluctantly took a small spoonful of the stew.

"Be thankful that soon we will not have any need to be in one another's company." Oscar commented; anticipated the moment she was no longer his responsibility, "I am greatly eager to be relieved of my duty as your escort."

"The sentiment is mutual, you oaf." She snipped back at him.

"Good, we are at agreement," he gave a sharp nod, "We do not need to speak to one

another and so let us enjoy this meal in silence."

"The smartest thing you've said this entire damned trip." She snickered then eagerly kept silent tolerating the stew.

It seemed a long silence sitting there trying to finish that thick gravy-like broth, meat, and potatoes; Rose reluctantly finished the simple meal. She dropped the spoon into the bowl then leaned back against the seat crossing her arms tightly over her chest. Her lips slightly pouted then she closed her eyes resting her head back against the wood seat. Her lips softly curved their naturally upward turned corners into a smile upon her mind tracing over the details of that very stubborn but incredible lovely to look at Mr. Dandridge. His image was quite pleasant to reminisce though he was such a blatant and crude man with a gentleman's attire and appearance. She sighed then giggled upon remembering that man's stubbornness in his determination to inappropriately flatter her.

Her eyes opened and saw Oscar again grimacing at her. "Oh, mind your own damned business." She grumbled at him and watched him shake his head then she snidely asked, "Can I retire to my room now, Sergeant?"

"Yes, you need your rest for the days ahead." Oscar agreed with a nod then slid from behind the table and rose up, "Come, I will escort you back to your room."

"Yes, of course you will." She sarcastically commented then scooted from behind the table the moment laughter of a feminine nature bellowed into the inn and its little tavern. She heard a bunch of foreign words effortlessly spoken by a very familiar melody. "Oh, say it's not so," she quietly whined and watched that so called gentleman she was just thinking about come happily strolling towards the tavern barkeep with another woman on his arm. "Oh, yes, it had to be so," she again whined then looked to Oscar who obviously picked up on her awkward discomfort upon Mr. Dandridge's presence, "Oh, don't look at me in that way."

"There best not been anything…" Oscar spoke and watched her face twist into an offensive scowl.

"How dare you!" she loudly snapped at him, "You best not say it because I won't hesitate smacking that hairy fur ball off your frowning lip, understood?!" She never heard herself raise her voice in that manner but what he was about to accuse her of was beyond offensive to her very nature. Her hands planted on her hips waiting for him to attempt to finish his accusation. "Yes, I thought so, you horrible mountain of manure." She grumbled at him with her eyes narrowed hatefully at the brute. Her body shifted with her eyes still narrowed and hands tightly balled into fists and lips firmly pressed together.

There he was that annoyance for all those three evenings on the train. Again there he was with another woman and his messy haired companion cheering it up with the local men. She stomped forward purposely making her frustrated steps loud and clear. She didn't go the direction of the stairs that led to the second floor where her room was located. No, she stormed right out the inn's entrance tiring of being cooped up. She was fed up with being sheltered and nearly kept prisoner the entire journey. She ignored stupid Oscar and his scolding shouts of her name while her ankle boots stomped against the dirt. Where she was going, she didn't care. "Stupid men!" she loudly grumbled under her heated breath, "All of them, useless and hopeless!"

She wished she could walk as far away as possible; disappear somewhere so she couldn't fulfill that arranged marriage contract her idiot father forced her to keep. She wasn't given a choice; told she had to marry upon turning eighteen to man who wrote nothing remotely interesting or romantic or anything that made her truly desire to meet him let alone marry him. No, she never received a letter that spouted unending love. Stupid drivel was what she received; a braggart of vast fortune was the only thing that seemed appealing but more so for her father. She wanted romance. She desired seduction. She wanted to know lust. She needed a face that she would long to look upon forever. She wanted immediate attraction by first impressions. She basically described in thought that annoying and so devilishly handsome Mr. Dandridge.

Her boots skidded to a halt. "What is wrong with me?" she asked aloud, "Why him? Why the most egotistical and arrogant man on this Earth?" She slowly turned on her boots looking back to the inn where Oscar stood like a judgmental statue of unemotional stone. Her shoulders slumped then her boot stomped the ground in frustration. "Why not him? What's wrong with knowing you're unmistakably attractive in every way imaginable?" she continued to question aloud, "This is all so unfair."

Her bottom lip pouted and her head dropped as she slowly walked back toward the inn. Her hands awkward fidgeted as she turned and stepped passed Oscar as if in shame of her outburst; not lady like. She marched to the stairs desperately ignoring any cheer from the tavern; especially that particular voice speaking fluent Hungarian.

With her head down she moved to her room and entered closing the door behind her. She silently went to the trunk then knelt down before it. She opened the trunk and peered down at what was to be her wedding gown; the one her mother, Anne Garrett, wore on her wedding day. She heavily sighed and reached down dragging her hands gently over the delicate layers of handmade scalloped lace trimming the slight swoop neck of the dress's bodice. That trunk contained her entire dowry; everything that belonged to her mother. Her hand gently lifted the neatly folded gown and reached beneath then lifted the wooden jewelry box. She opened the lid looking to the inherited wedding day baby blue ribbon choker with a simple silver heart locket and a set of teardrop earrings. She set the jewelry box down. Her eyes shifted and looked to the stack of letters she received throughout those four years; letter after letter written in fine penmanship but lacked any written passion.

Her shoulders again slumped and she rose up from the trunk but bent down gathering up a fresh bed gown. She turned and walked to the window preparing to draw the wooden sash closed. Her eyes peered down and watched that overly handsome gentleman leave the tavern with his slightly staggering female companion. Yes, he was positively beautiful to look upon. A finely dressed man he was; mature and obviously experienced and worldly. Was her intended even remotely that stimulating?

The images in her head of James Morgan painted a portrait far from what she was currently witnessing closely wrapping his arm about the woman's corseted waist. She again heavily sighed watching him effortlessly lead the woman down the cobblestone street adjacent from the inn. Her hands lifted and reluctantly she closed the sash blocking out any more images of what she determined was temptation. He was devilish with his blatant and inappropriate behavior but secretly she admitted how exciting he was.

Yes, she hadn't been entirely innocent in her eighteen years and experienced moments of temptation with a couple young men. Yet, there was something much more tempting and exciting about that arrogant gentleman with such lovely dark hair and eyes. She softly smirked and started to undress. Her eyes slightly glazed over upon reminiscing about the night before when that scandalous gentleman was inside her cabin. Her eyes softly frowned thinking of his comments. She remembered her statement that he arrogantly spoke as if he were immortal not fearing the wrath of her large escort. He blatantly agreed to her comment which hadn't dawned on her until that moment. Her head shook off his agreeable statement then continued to dress in the fresh bed gown. "Yes, he is by far too deep into himself." She gave a gentle nod agreeing with her spoken aloud determination.

She moved to the bed dreading a sleepless night. The next morning she would be taking on the last part of that long journey and be delivered to the unfamiliar hands of her intended. She turned out the lantern and sat down on the edge of the bed. Her hands tucked between her covered thighs with her eyes unfocused in the darkness. She reluctantly laid back and stared up at the beamed ceiling as her eyes adjusted to the darkness. She forced her eyes closed wanting to fall asleep and wished she could sleep through that final part of her journey into marriage. Yet, behind her closed lids formed inappropriate images of that deceptively handsome gentleman with a devious nature hidden behind a beyond pleasant exterior. Her hands quickly slapped over her face. "Go away," she quietly whined but a giggle followed.

She couldn't stop imagining what he was likely doing to that woman. "This is so wrong," she again whined sliding her hands from over her face and rested them limply against her abdomen. Oh, she hoped that her intended could remotely compete with those improper images developed in her confused mind. "Oh, yet, how right it does feel." She softly giggled then rolled on her side hugging her arms over her chest and gathered her knees bent. "Stupid Mr. Dandridge," she griped then again giggled, "I am so in trouble." She gradually drifted to sleep after that final statement allowing those so improper images lead her into dreams that she will keep secret.

Rose rolled and dropped over the side of the bed upon the sound of a knock striking her room's door. At first she was confused thinking she was again on the train but reality set in. Her eyes snapped open looking at the closed door while groaning from the effects of hitting the wooden plank laid floor. Oh, was it going to repeat itself over again? She dreaded to hear another knock but it came and caused her to whine. She achingly stood up off the floor rubbing her right hip then moved towards the door and feared opening it; feared temptation would again be on the other side of that door as he was on the train. Again came another knock and reluctantly she reached grabbing the handle.

With a twist of the handle she quietly cracked the door open. "Oh, not you, again," She whined in whisper seeing that culprit who had done nothing but cause her more dread towards her arranged marriage. He stood there with his hands tucked in the pockets of his tailored black wool coat that brushed against the back of his calves. "Why can't you leave me be?" she asked despising him and his incredible handsomeness.

Jerry smirked seeing her desperation to rid him from her thoughts. Though much of his effortless wiles lacked any impression on her, his definite appealing appearance was plaguing her young mind; read it deeply etched in her large blue eyes. "Good evening, Rose." He sang, not caring if her escort four doors down heard him, "And, again, my cruelty has been laid to rest upon seeing your beautiful face."

"Would you please go away and for good, you ass." She grumbled trying to ignore his flattery, "I am so exhausted by your persistent presence. I'm to travel an entire day tomorrow and would appreciate one evening without your unwanted visit." Yes, he was unwanted because he was becoming uncontrollably wanted. "And how is it you found my room?" she quickly inquired.

"Oh, it wasn't at all difficult to find my way to your room door." He continued to grin; loved her distain, found it remarkably attractive and played lovely in contrast of her beautiful face and glaring eyes. "I just followed, with ease, your very essence." He stated and took a step forward while she continued to glare at him through the cracked opening of the door, "You have a very strong essence which makes it impossible to ignore."

"Again, you are highly inappropriate with your suggestive terms." She stated, "Now, leave, you insurmountable ass."

He couldn't stop from chuckling in response to her vulgar insults. "Hmm, you're a fiery little thing," he commented removing his hands from his pocket and rested them against the door frame burying his eyes into hers, "More fiery than the shade of your hair. You're sweet and youthful appearance contradicts your fiery nature which I greatly admire and find irresistible."

"Keep your flattery to yourself." She bluntly suggested, "It won't work on me, remember. Work that flattery where it's desired and wanted and useful, who I guess is that obvious wench you were so blatantly flaunting your wiles on." Her lips pressed together and eyes narrowed.

"Yes, she was a wench or common whore." He shrugged, "But I used her well and now I intend on using you for another particular need that I am positive only you could readily satisfy."

"You are disgusting!" she grumbled with a whisper, "You're handsome and well dressed appearance is what is deceptive, making you seem a gentleman when in truth you're as much a whore as the whores you keep company with." She quickly slammed the door closed and swiftly twisted the lock. She growled with frustration because he was too damned easy on the eyes. She leaned forward against the door resting her forehead against it then rolled her eyes in response to his overwhelming attractiveness. Her hands slid down the door then she turned her back to it; had this lingering sense he was still standing there on the other side beyond gratified with that incredibly agreeable lips of his grinning so smugly. She felt he knew what he was doing to her and that frustrated her even further. Again she growled marching back to the bed.

He couldn't stop the grin from broadening his naturally crooked mouth. She was so refreshing with her catty demeanor. He was more than amused or intrigued, damned charmed was what he was. Her strong will was his challenger and he eagerly accepted. He was determined and slammed his hand against the door; had no care waking the guard down the hall. "Rose," he cunningly sang her name through the door; practically could smell the sweet aroma of her purity.

She halted and slowly turned her head and looked over her shoulder at the door. Her face twisted with annoyance. She spun on her bare feet and marched back to the door tiring of his damned stubborn antics. She undid the lock then flung the door open and pressed her fists against her hips glaring up into his grinning but stunning brown eyes. "What?" she snapped with an annoyed tone.

"Do you wish for me to leave you be, hmm?" he slyly asked loving the glare of her beautiful and large blue eyes.

"Do you really need to ask that question, sir?" she asked him in return, "Have I not requested you to leave me alone numerous times, hmm? Yes, I believe I have." She gave a sharp nod.

"Kiss me and I promise to leave you alone." He bargained; wanted to taste those pure lips of her the moment he laid eyes on them and the lovely face surrounding them. His eyes slyly shifted looking to her softly puckered lips; puckered by frustration he was so effortlessly causing her. He looked back into her narrowed eyes. He pleasingly watched her eyes widen in response to his blatant bargain. "You don't wish to meet this intended fiancé and not know what it's like to kiss another man, do you?" he questioned with a curious tilt of his head.

She had kissed others so he was way off with his bargaining chip. "Pig," she growled then slammed the door in his face and locked the door then quickly retreated to the bed.

His brow furrowed. Well, that bargain didn't quite work as suspected. How hard was he going to have to work to get what he wanted? His hands slid down from the door frame then tucked back into his coat pockets. All in good time; he promised in thought. "Good night, Rose," he loudly sang, "Sweet dreams!" he loudly chuckled then left down the corridor.

"Pig!" she shouted and rolled onto her side aiming her back at the door.