Chapter 10

Demelza was sweeping the floors. She wore a new dress Ross had bought her. She looked stunning. I was washing dishes when I overheard Ross talking to Demelza.

"Have you heard word of your family?" Ross asked.

"No, Sir." Demelza answered.

I shouldn't listen to his conversations anymore. So I tuned them out, singing a song from my world in my head.

Ross left the house, heading to his mine. I was upstairs making our- his bed. I've only been in bed once with him, so yes it's his bed. I heard a ruckus in the kitchen, which caused me to leave the bedroom and walk down the stairs to see what was happening.

"Filthy Skunk!" Francis shouted at Blamey.

Oh no, Verity and Blamey were caught. How did they find out? As I thought things over, I felt eyes on me. I turned and saw an old man staring at me. It must be Francis's father.

He glared at me and then over to Ross. Ross looked to his uncle with confusion, until he looked to me. Realization hit him and he made his way over next to me. I gripped onto Ross's arm, not really liking all of the yelling.

"Francis, no!" Verity stood between Blamey and Francis.

"How dare you see my sister behind our backs?" Francis spat out.

"If you and your father refuse to meet me-…" Blamey had begun to speak but was interrupted by Francis.

"We do not deal with wife murders!"

"I have the right to choose my own life!" Verity said loudly.

I have never seen her this way before. She looked so terrified and angry.

Francis grabbed his sister and pushed her to their father. Their father gripped onto her arms so she wouldn't run back to Blamey.

"Maybe a thrashing would help you learn…" Francis threatened.

"Not in my house." Ross warned.

"You have the impudence to take his side?" Ross's uncle said in response to his words.

"I take no one's side, but it won't change the issue of this foolery!" Ross spoke up loudly.

"I have no wish to coral, but Verity is coming with me." Blamey spoke, getting close to Francis's face.

Things were going so well today. Now, I feel like everything is ruined.

"Oh no, she is not!" Francis said back in his face.

"Please Francis, stop!" Verity called out.

"Yes please…stop this silly argument and-…" I began to say but was interrupted by Francis.

"You, hold your tongue! This is no matter of yours. Ross, get your woman out of here." Francis ordered.

"His woman? You are courting her?" His uncle sounded offended.

"I am not, Uncle. He is just throwing his anger towards her." Ross looked over to me. "Go outside, come in when I tell you to."

I nodded and walked out of the house. I didn't want to see anymore. I stood with Demelza outside the house. There was a lot of arguing and then it had gotten quiet. Maybe it was all done? Nope. I was wrong.

Francis and Blamey came out of the house, seething with anger and holding pistols. Soon Ross, his uncle, and Verity came out after them. I ran up to Ross with a questionable look.

"What is happening?" I asked in a panicked tone.

"Listen, Go back inside. You do not need to see this." Ross told me but I shook my head. "Ross, if they are doing what I think they are doing, stop them!"

'Please Ross, stop them!" Verity called out and then went up to Francis. "Please I beg of you!"

Francis pushed her away and gave his father his coat to hold.

"Francis, I urge you to consider-…" Ross was interrupted by Mr. Interruption himself.

"Consider what? That anyone can misuse our trust and take advantage of us?" Francis snapped. "I have a lot of things to consider." He pointed to me. "I have been very open minded about that woman living with you, and this is what I get?" Francis saw Jud walking up to the group. "You Sir, can you count?"

"Aye, Sir…one two four seven…" Jud began counting.

"Never mind! We'll count ourselves." Francis said and went back to back with Blamey.

"Please stop!" I called out, begging. "This isn't a game, both of you can get hurt or worse die!"

"I have told you to hold your tongue, Wench!" Francis spat out at me.

"Francis, do not speak to her that way! She is right. Please stop this madness!" Ross pleaded but was not a victor.

They cocked their guns and began walking while Francis counted their steps.

"One…two….three…."

Verity started to cry and beg. She begged for someone to stop them, but no one did. Ross had a hold of me so I wouldn't do something stupid. I had no energy to be neither brave nor stupid. I held onto Ross and prayed for everything to be alright.

"Four. Five. Six. Seven. Eight. Nine. Ten."

It all felt like it was happening in slow motion. Each man turned around to face one another. They pointed their guns at each other and fired. At the corner of my eye, a red color splattered in the air. I turned and saw Francis fall to the ground. He had been shot.

Quickly, Ross and I ran over to Francis. Ross applied pressure to his neck where he was shot at.

"We must get him inside, now!" Ross shouted and picked Francis up.

I quickly followed Ross into the house. I grabbed a bucket of water and made my way to the bedroom Ross had Francis in. It was his room.

"Help me stop the bleeding." Ross commanded and looked over at me.

I was ripping a bed sheet and soaking it in water. I handed it to Ross and watched him do his magic. He must have learned this technique overseas. I helped applied pressure to Francis's throat when Ross ripped more of the sheet to get it wet.

My hands shook as I saw the blood covering my hands. Francis was staring up at me. I could see the panic in his eyes. It made me wonder if he thought I was going to kill him.

"You're not going to die. Not today." I said and gave him a friendly smile.

Francis relaxed a smidge. It was a long process but eventually he ceased to bleed out. Ross and I hugged each other. Both of us were covered in blood.

Soon enough, Elizabeth came barging in. I knew I didn't like her from the moment I saw her.

"No! How could you?!" Elizabeth pleaded very angrily.

I was shocked and confused. Why was she freaking out so much? He was a live at least.

"Elizabeth-…" Ross spoke out.

"How could you let him die?!" Elizabeth cried out.

"He's not dead!" I shouted, making sure she heard me.

Shocked, she stared at me.

"Talk to him…" Ross encouraged.

At that moment, Francis opened his eyes He was weak but stable. Like I told him, he wasn't going to die today.

Ross and I left the room and went downstairs. Ross took out his alcohol and started to chug it. I wasn't a fan of the idea but I knew today was hell for him. To lighten up the mood, I made a comment about his shirt.

"That stain is going to be tough to get out." I joked.

Ross breathed out a smile. "I'll just burn the shirt. This won't come out."

"But it's one of my favorites." I said with a smile. I leaned up and whispered in his ear, knowing that he and I were in a room alone. "It shows off your chest…" I quickly kissed his cheek.

Ross shook his head and took another drink. "You sure do know how to make a moment good."

"I'll take that as a compliment." I winked and leaned against his chest. "I'm so glad you and everyone is alright."

"Verity and Blamey are not alright…" Ross reminded me.

"I meant for being alive…" I muttered and Ross smiled.

"I know, I'm sorry." He said and kissed my forehead. "I wished you didn't witness that."

"It builds character, I guess." I shrugged and looked over to the other room where everyone was in. "They hate me, your family."

"They don't know you, so they can't hate you." Ross turned and spotted his uncle glancing between him and I. "Excuse me, Ali." He said and walked over to his uncle.

I had no idea what they were speaking about, but I could tell it was good. Elizabeth walked up to Ross and I think she thanked him. The look on Ross's face when she kept speaking went from a small smile to heartbreak and disaster.

Once they left, I walked up to Ross. I was very concerned about what the hell was wrong now.

"…With child…" Ross muttered out.

"Excuse me?" I asked.

"She's with child." Ross repeated and I sighed.

This really wasn't his day. I felt so bad for Ross. What could I do to make him happier?

"I'm sorry…" I said, not knowing what to say.

"Don't be. This is for the best and will help me move on faster." Ross said and smiled at me. "Get Prudie, Jud, Jimmy, and Demelza, we are going to the mine."

We all had a fun picnic at the mine. Ross and Jimmy put up a sign to the mine. I sat on a blanket, eating a slice of bread and some grapes.

Ross walked over to me and sat behind me so I could lean into him if I wanted to. I smiled at him and offered him a grape. He opened his mouth and I had a cute idea.

I placed the grape between my lips and fed him that way. Our lips grazed together and I gave him a flirtatious wink. I could tell he was slightly shocked but wasn't going to complain.

Demelza walked over and gave Ross his own plate. She sat down in front of us on another blanket and began to eat.

"You and Ali did well today." Ross began to speak. "We didn't get to finish talking about your family."

"Sir?" Demelza questioned.

"If you miss them or feel like you ever want to go home, you can."

"You want to get rid of me." Demelza accused.

"What?" Ross asked with a confused look on his face.

I was lost as well. I thought what he said was very kind of him.

"You been wishing me gone. Sir, I'll work harder!" Demelza pleaded.

"Demelza, your work is more than satisfactory." Ross reassured.

"Then why?" She asked.

"I was merely offering you the chance to return home." Ross explained better.

"I belong here, Sir." Demelza said.

My lips grew into a big smile. She did belong here. Hopefully I did as well. In a strange way I felt like this was my new family now. Ross, Demelza, Prudie, Jud, and Jimmy, all one big and very weird family.

A/N: That was the end of episode two! I hope that my story is to your liking. I really enjoy writing this story. As of right now I am writing this on April 26. I have written 5 chapters today! I am very proud of myself for making it this far. Right now I have no feedback, but I am hoping you all like my story. Please tell me what you think!