LEATHER AND LACE

Chapter 11-Test of Will and Compatibility

Richmond, Lynchburg, and Bedford, Virginia, August 1817

Sam sat on the bench they sat on before, awaiting her arrival, turning the rings over and over in the palm of his hand. He wondered if his mother and Elizabeth were proud of him for falling for such a beautiful smart girl and winning her over. He knew he was proud of himself for speaking so candidly to her father about how he felt for Quinn and was thankful her father was in good humor after receiving Kate's news earlier that day. He was also thankful they had taken the time to become friends. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw movement. Quinn was approaching him. He looked over at her, walking slowly toward him in a white dress with little blue flowers all over it, her hands clasped together in front of her, her hair in a ponytail. He stood up to greet her.

"Sam? Papa said you wanted to see me..."

"He gave us his blessing, Quinn!" Sam blurted out. "We can get married!"

She inhaled sharply, bringing her hands to her mouth, squealing a little.

"I'm sorry, that wasn't much of a proposal, I s'pose..."

She threw her arms around his neck and he swung her around. Holding her in his arms, feeling her breathe and cry against his neck, he felt a whole new level of happiness.

He set her down finally and they sat on the bench. "What did he say?" she asked.

"He asked if I had got you in the same situation as your sister," Sam said, blushing as he said the words out loud. Her hands flew to her face again and she cringed.

"Don't be angry but I told him that I wanted to marry you before you turned 18 because I was afraid something like that might happen soon..."

She couldn't even look at him, she was so embarrassed by this talk. Finally, she took his face in her hands and began planting tiny kisses all about his cheeks and lips. He laughed and started kissing her back until their lips were attached to one another's. Sam pulled away from her slowly, looking into her eyes as they shined with tears in the moonlight.

"He also is putting me through a test of willpower..."

She furrowed her brow. "What do you mean?"

"You are riding with me the entire trip back home, along with Joseph. He even said we could sleep in the back of the wagon since it's empty now but I told him you and Joe could sleep there, I'll gladly sleep on the ground. He wants to make sure we're compatible," Sam told her.

She sighed and rolled her eyes. "Sounds like he's trying your patience more like it."

"That could be too, but still I'm going to be a gentleman. Even if it rains...I'll sleep on the wagon bench...but I will not so much as peep at you in your shift."

"Samuel!" She was joking with him, remembering swimming in her shift and how close they had been that day.

"So, what'd'ya say, Quinn Fabray? Will you marry me?" he asked her, sliding off the bench onto one knee, holding her hand and gazing up at her.

"Of course I will, Samuel Evans!" she said, brightly. He moved back to the bench to keep kissing her in the moonlight.

xxxxx

It was difficult to sleep that night, for both Sam and Quinn. Many thoughts were rushing through their minds…setting up a household, starting a family, just getting through the trip home without arguing. Sam was so easy to get along with; they had never argued.

Quinn was considering when to set a wedding date. She thought before the end of the year sounded perfect. Sam forgot to tell her what her father told him, though.

In his journal, he wrote simply: Ask'd Quinn Amelia Fabray to merry me. She siad yes.

They set out for home the next morning. In Sam and Quinn's wagon, Sam set up a bed for Joseph so he could rest when needed. That first day, Quinn sat right next to Sam on the bench, their knees touching. Occasionally, she'd plant tiny kisses on his hairy cheek or run her fingers through his whiskers and he'd laugh. Sometimes, he let her take the reins while he rested. Sometimes, she'd crawl in the back and keep Joseph company as the wagon rumbled down the road.

Since they had no loads to haul, they were moving quickly toward Franklin County. As their first night back on the road began, they stopped to make camp as the sun set. Kate lay with her head in Quinn's lap due to her nausea and let Quinn rub her head with a cool damp cloth.

"I feel awful, sister," Kate moaned.

"I know…" Quinn replied. She really didn't know but was at a loss for how to comfort her sister. Kate suddenly jumped up, running to the trees, throwing up. Sam helped Joseph out of their wagon so he could get some fresh air and try to eat something.

Being the first week of August, the nights were still generally warm and sticky. Sam did as he told Quinn's father; he set up his sleep pallet next to the wagon and let Quinn and Joseph sleep inside. In a way, she was glad he did do that because she stripped down to her shift due to the humidity and heat.

This isn't too bad, Sam thought. Fresh air, so many stars in the heavens, Quinn is just over my shoulder, we're getting married in a few months!

By the sixth night of sleeping on the ground, though, Sam's tune had changed. His back ached, it was hot outside, bugs were eating him alive, and then a thunderstorm blew up. He had to crawl into the back of the wagon with Quinn and Joseph due to the dangerously close lightning strikes.

She was holding Joseph as he was frightened by the storm, wearing only her shift. Due to the heat, she had been wearing her hair in a braid all the time, even when she slept, and he saw it hanging over her shoulder as she rocked Joseph.

Sam sat down next to them and wrapped his arms around them both, trying to calm them. Then, he realized he was rubbing her bare shoulder and dropped his arms.

"Is it gonna end soon, Sam?" Joseph asked, his face pinched up in terror.

"I think so, Joe, just hang on…we'll be okay," Sam said, glancing at Quinn.

It finally moved out of their area and things quieted down.

"I'm gonna sleep in here, Quinn; the ground is too wet outside," Sam told her, pulling his shirt off and lying down on the other side of Joseph. "G'night dear."

"G'night Sam…" she whispered, lying on her back on the opposite side of Joseph. "I'm gonna close my eyes and pretend I see the stars."

"Good idea Quinn…"

Shortly after their brief conversation, she heard him snoring quietly. The next thing she knew the sun was waking them up.

xxxxx

They were about two days away from Lynchburg on the day Quinn turned 17. Birthday wishes were all she expected from her family and Sam. They usually did not exchange gifts on birthdays. It was a hot and humid August 9th. At this point, if she rode on the wagon bench with Sam she scooted to the other side; sitting too close to one another increased the heat between them and it became unbearable. And everyone was in desperate need of a bath.

That night, they stopped and made camp next to a river. They took turns bathing in the water, basically rinsing off the sweat and dirt, women first, then men.

"Sam?" Joseph asked him in the water.

"Yeah?"

"Can you move my bed outside tonight so I can sleep next to you? Quinny snores and it's too hot in the wagon at night," Joseph told him.

Sam laughed, dipping his head in the cool rushing water.

"Sure, Joe," he said.

Later, Sam set up his bedding and Joseph's on the ground. He walked up to Quinn, helping her mother prepare supper.

"Tonight, we sleep under the stars," he whispered to her and walked off. She smiled to herself.

At suppertime, her father presented her with another leather-bound book for her birthday, this time a small novel titled The Bracelets. Martha and Kate brought her wildflowers and her mother had made a crumbcake in the deep iron skillet.

Sam and Quinn took a short walk after supper, hand in hand.

"The river was so refreshing today," Quinn said.

"It was. Your mother taught me a new trick…she said to use some bicarbonate of soda once a day, swish it around in my mouth with water, to keep my teeth clean…do you think it worked?" he asked, smiling at her.

"Your teeth are perfect. Here is the true test…" she stopped him and stood on her tiptoes to kiss him.

"Mmm…yes, it worked," she murmured.

On the way back to camp, he mentioned how clear the night sky was.

"So that we may count the stars, correct?"

He looked at her and smiled. "Correct."

He set up her bedding on the other side of Joseph's. They both stayed fully dressed. They lay on their sides facing one another, talking quietly over Joseph.

"I'll never forget this trip, Samuel," she whispered.

"Neither will I. Happy birthday, Quinn," he replied, rolling to his back, lacing his hands behind his head.

"It's a lovely night…millions of stars overhead…how can that be possible Sam?" she asked, gazing up at them.

"I don't know…it's God's beauty, though…only He could create something as wondrous as this night sky," Sam said quietly.

As he drifted off to sleep, he thought Quinn's 17 now…her father gave me permission to marry her at the turn of the year…she'll be my wife in a few short months…she'll be in my arms every night...

The next day was hot and humid. Traveling seemed to be taking forever; they were desperate to get to Lynchburg where Thomas had promised a hotel stay for one night.

As the wagon trudged down the road, Quinn said, "I wonder if James Martin knows about Kate yet."

Sam didn't think it was his place to discuss her sister's delicate condition and didn't say anything.

Quinn went on. "She sent him a letter after the doctor confirmed her fears."

Still, Sam was silent on the matter.

"I just hope the thrashing isn't too awful for her…"

"The thrashing? You think he'll beat her?" Sam asked.

Quinn looked at him like he was new to their society. "She expects it. We expect it, Sam. Ma and pa told us early on what to expect from our spouses."

"You expect it? And your parents told you to expect it?"

"Pa said that sometimes a woman needs to 'kept in line' and a good thrashing fills that need," she said, matter-of-factly. "Ma's last thrashing wasn't too awful."

"May I ask you something?" he asked, picking up her hand.

"You may," she said.

"Do you expect a thrashing from me?" he inquired, lowering his voice.

"I'm sure I'll do something at some point to deserve a good thrashing, Sam. That's your station. Yes, I expect it." She sat stoically next to him, though her hand trembled in his.

"Okay. You should know that I do not believe in hitting women under any circumstance ever. You will never suffer a thrashing at my hand, Quinn Amelia," he said to her.

She shook her head no. "Sam, as a man it is your right, your privilege, to keep a woman in line as you see fit. I'm sure I'll speak out of turn or behave angrily or complain about my lot in life and it is your duty to deal with me…as you see fit."

"I find words work a lot better than thrashing, and that's how I see fit to keep you in line," he chuckled.

She snorted. "Shatter with words, impossible to follow…I'd rather be whipped!"

He looked at her. "You're saying my words are worse than a thrashing?"

She nodded. "If you said harsh words to me, I couldn't bear it. I'd take a whipping before you speak harshly to me."

They rode in silence for awhile.

Again, he said, "I don't believe in hitting women, Quinn. If you think that makes me less of a man, then so be it."

She didn't say anything. What he told her went against what her parents had told her. She wasn't sure how to take this information.

"Also, I'll never own a black man," he added. She looked at him. In her heart, she hated slavery, as well. Patsy, who her parents titled domestic servant, was paid for her work at their house and was free. Quinn's ancestors were Quaker and even though her immediate family was not Quaker they still did not tolerate slavery.

"Are you Quaker?" she asked him.

"No…my great-grandfather Byrum was. Him and his wife were preachers in the South River Meeting. Byrum Evans, my pa's grandfather," he told her. "My grandfather Amos was a Quaker and my father was too until he was disowned for using profanity."

"I see," she said, digesting this information.

More silence.

"You say my harsh words would be worse than a thrashing?" he asked her.

She nodded.

"My words aren't meant to hurt you…ever. My words would never be harsh toward you, Quinn. I'm not sure how to get you to believe that other than just show you, day after day, how much I love you and continue to grow in love with you," he said.

She held her breath as he spoke.

"If it helps, you can tell your pa I whipped you for being out of line but keep in mind that'll be a lie you tell," he told her. "I don't approve of hitting women or telling lies."

Sam Evans was definitely not like any other boy she had ever met. It was common knowledge, at least in Franklin County, Virginia, that the male spouse had the right to "thrash" his wife if she was out of line in any way. That could be asking him where he had been and why he smelled of liquor to him catching her with another man. It ran the gamut of being smacked across the face to being whipped with a leather strap to actual broken bones, depending on the infraction. Her parents had told her and Kate when they were young girls that as women this was their lot in life, they should expect it if they behaved in such a manner that their husband deemed they were due a thrashing. They wanted their daughters to be educated and they felt this was part of their education. Over the years, there were only a handful of times that Quinn could remember her father doling out a thrashing to her mother and even then it was only a slap. As she got to know Sam Evans better, the more and more she felt he was absolutely the one for her.

xxxxx

In Lynchburg, Thomas rented two hotel rooms for the women and children; the men slept outside in a grove of trees near the hotel. At the door of the hotel, Sam stood with Quinn, holding her hands in his, not wanting to leave her as he had become quite accustomed to sleeping near her during their travel from Richmond to Lynchburg, 15 days worth of travel.

"I'll think of you tonight, Quinn. Will you think of me?" he asked her.

"I will, Samuel. I'll miss you," she said quietly. "I'm anxious to return home and plan our wedding."

"As am I. We'll need to choose a date," he said, smiling. "I shall think about that tonight…"

She smiled and kissed him quickly. "I will too! G'night, my darling."

"G'night, dear…" He kissed her once more and watched her enter the hotel. He then walked to their nearby camp.

"You'll miss your purty lass this eve, will you not Mr. Evans?" Thomas asked of him.

"I will, sir," Sam answered, lying down on his sleep pallet.

"How has your travel been thus far? Any disagreements with Quinny?" her father asked.

"None whatsoever, sir. She is a very agreeable young lady," Sam said, smiling. The twins snickered.

"Shush Thomas! You as well John! Your eldest sister is a very agreeable young lady. Mr. Evans will soon be your brother; I suggest you control your snickering from now on," Thomas admonished.

Peyton was sleeping next to Sam that night.

"So, you asked for Quinny's hand, eh?" he asked Sam quietly. "And she answered in the affirmative?"

"She did. I'm very happy," Sam said, smiling some more.

"I'm happy for you, too, Sam. I always had a feeling about you and Quinny," Peyton said.

"I'm thankful to have earned her friendship since being back in Virginia," Sam told him.

"Where were you before Virginia?"

"Uh, Kentucky…"

"Kentucky, eh? What was there in Kentucky?" Peyton asked.

"My late wife and her family," Sam answered quietly.

"Oh, Sam, I didn't know. Please accept my sympathy for your loss," Peyton said.

"Thank you, Peyton."

They were silent for some time.

"Were you married for long?" Peyton asked after a bit.

"Only 2 months before she died," Sam said.

"What was Kentucky like?"

"Heavily forested…it was southern Kentucky…"

"I see…" Peyton could think of nothing else to say to Sam and soon was snoring.

Sam lay there with his memories, looking at the stars, and then let his thoughts drift to Quinn.

xxxxx

While in Lynchburg, Thomas checked the general store to pick up any orders and they headed out for Bedford. Quinn talked to Sam a lot about her schooling as he drove the wagon and read to him from her new book.

"Where we live when we marry?" she asked him after a period of silence.

"I guess in the little cabin until I buy some land," he said.

"Are you going to continue your carpentry work or farm?"

"Maybe both…"

They talked about David and Anne Harter and wondered how they were. The last letter they had received from Anne stated they were traveling north to Ohio, possibly the new state of Indiana because of the abundance of farmland available. They had followed the Kanawha Trace northward from Virginia to the eastern edge of Ohio and were making their way west across Ohio. Anne described the city of Charlestown as being even grander than Richmond. She had written from Franklin, Ohio.

"I wonder what it's like, another state," Quinn said.

"North Carolina is a lot like Virginia; Kentucky was a forest. The traces were barely wide enough for a wagon," Sam told her.

"What was it like, living in the wilderness?" she asked him.

"Sometimes lonely, sometimes terrifying," he chuckled a bit. "The trees were so thick I could never see the stars at night."

"Oh…" she said, trying to picture what that was like. "Were you happy there?"

He was silent a moment. "Yeah, I was…"

Just then, a small voice from the wagon called her name. She crawled into the back with Joseph.

"Are you okay, brother?" she asked him, lying down next to him.

"I'm lonely…and tired…" he said. She looked at him in the dimness of the wagon. He looked pale and exhausted. She wondered then if he was completely healed from his illness.

"Shall I have papa find a doctor for you in Bedford?"

"Oh no sister! I just need to rest," he told her, smiling a little. "Was Sam talking about Kentucky?"

"Mhmm…" she answered.

"The picture of the lady he has is pretty…" Joseph said quietly.

"I'm sure she was…" Quinn replied, wondering if that was a picture of Sam's late wife.

"You'll be happy with Sam…he loves you so much, I can tell," Joseph told her.

She smiled. "Thank you, brother. He has truly been a blessing in my life."

"When I am old enough to court a lady, I'm going to do what Sam does," he said.

"Then you shall win her heart with ease," Quinn said, ruffling his hair.

The gentle rumble of the wagon eventually put her and Joseph asleep.

xxxxx

In Bedford, it was sunset when they arrived in the town. They made camp just outside town in a field. Unfortunately, this was near a tavern full of rowdy men. Eventually, they spilled out onto the street in a drunken fight.

"Stay in the wagon with Joseph," Sam told Quinn. He went with Peyton and the twins to assess the situation. Kate joined her in the wagon.

"This is so distressing, sister! My stomach is a mess," Kate told her, lying down next to Joseph. "How are you feeling, baby brother?"

"Fine, sister, just tired…" he answered.

Quinn sat at the rear of the wagon, listening to the drunken men yell at one another in the street. She hoped Sam didn't get involved in anything happening.

Peyton and the twins had come and got him to go see what was happening at the rowdy tavern. He really didn't like the idea of leaving Quinn but felt she'd be safe enough in the wagon with Joseph.

As they approached the tavern, a group of men spilled out through the swinging doors, falling over one another into the street, yelling and cursing. One particular tall man stood out to Sam right away. Sam grabbed him by the collar and pulled him away from fighting with the other men. It was Finn Hudson.

As soon as he pulled him away, Finn swung at Sam. Sam ducked and grabbed two fistfuls of Finn's shirt to stop him. Finn reeked of moonshine and could barely stand up.

"Let me loose sir!" Finn slurred his words. "I need to kick that gentleman's ass!"

Sam motioned for Peyton to help him, and with his help and the twins' help, they managed to part walk/part drag Finn Hudson back to their camp.

Quinn and Kate heard the commotion outside the wagon and poked their heads out to see what was going on. Quinn could not have been more shocked than she was to see Finn Hudson. Kate grabbed her arm, muttering sister. Peyton told Martha her brother was there, though drunk as a skunk. She refused to see him, staying instead with Thomas and Miranda Fabray in their wagon.

Quinn sat back inside the wagon. "He is such a fool," she muttered.

Outside, Sam and Peyton and the twins managed to sit Finn down. He immediately began rocking back and forth.

"Why were you fighting?" Thomas Junior asked him.

"They called me a cad…for deserting Beth and the child," he said loudly.

"Why did you? Do you know how desperate your sister and your family has been to find you?" Peyton asked.

Finn looked up at him hazily and then put his head in his hands and moaned I don't know.

They all sat there in silence for some time. Twice, Finn stumbled off to the tree line and vomited. When he returned after the second bout of emesis, he looked at Sam.

"Aren't you Miss Quinn's suitor?" he asked, swaying on the log on which he sat.

"I am; she is my betrothed now," Sam answered.

Finn chuckled. "So you are to marry her…then congratulations, my friend."

Sam nodded.

"I miss my wife. I have not yet seen my child," Finn mumbled.

"You have a son," Peyton told him flatly.

"A son?" Finn said quietly. "A son…"

They all sat there quietly again.

"Can I speak with you privately, Sam?" Finn asked him. Sam sat up straight, shocked. He had almost been asleep.

"Uh, sure," Sam said and stood up.

They walked away from the camp a short ways. Sam was somewhat uncomfortable with Finn, especially after what had transpired at Peyton and Martha's wedding.

"I really wanna see my wife and chi- my son…" Finn mumbled. "I think I need a lady's point of view on what I should do or say to Beth."

"How can I help you then?" Sam asked, suddenly knowing what Finn was going to ask him.

"May I speak with Miss Quinn? I've always trusted her judgment and considered her a friend," Finn asked, stopping and facing Sam.

Sam held his breath and considered what he should do. He trusted Quinn but did not feel Finn deserved any time with her. But, then again, he was a friend of Quinn's and she should decide whether or not to grant him her time. He decided to see just how desperately Finn wanted to speak to Quinn.

"I really don't think that's a very good idea," Sam said.

"Please, Sam, I beg of you…please, let me talk to her. I made a mistake walking away from my wife and I need to know what to do to get her back," Finn begged.

"I will give you a piece of advice…" Sam said and paused. "I never walked away from my first wife…until I buried her." He watched Finn cringe.

"I'm sorry…" Finn mumbled.

"Follow me…" Sam said and walked toward his wagon.

xxxxx

"At least it has quieted down…I feared all that noise would bother poor brother," Kate said to Quinn.

Quinn looked at their sleeping young brother. "I wish he'd just turn the corner." She brushed the bangs away from his face. The family was all aware that Joseph was not fully healed since his illness in Richmond.

The tarp at the back of the wagon was pulled back and Sam was there, looking at Quinn.

"Can I speak to you for a moment, Quinn?" he asked her.

She scooted toward the end of the wagon. "Yes, Sam?"

He leaned in close to her. "Finn Hudson wishes to speak with you."

Her eyes opened wide. "No, Sam. I do not wish to speak with him."

Sam took her hand. "He wishes to make amends with his wife and to meet his son. He requested to speak with you as he called you a 'friend'."

"And you approved this?" she asked. Sam nodded.

She sighed. "I'll speak with him but only with you present."

Sam had hoped she'd suggest that. Not only did she suggest it, she ordered it.

"Is he still in his cups?" she asked, crawling out of the back of the wagon.

"Not as bad…" He led her to where Finn was waiting.

She stopped, facing Finn, feeling Sam's hand on her back. "Mr. Hudson," she said stiffly, curtsying quickly. Finn looked at Sam and then back to Quinn.

"I hear congratulations are in order," Finn began.

"Thank you. How may I help you? I need to return to my brother; he's ill," she said quietly.

"I apologize for any distress I might've caused you in the past. I hoped to receive your advice on how I should approach my estranged wife and new son," he said, dropping his head in shame.

"Um, Finn, I really have no idea how to help your relationship with Elizabeth. Maybe you should apologize to her. Maybe you should stop the drink. Maybe you should have gainful employment. Maybe you should bathe. You need to make an effort if you want her back in your life."

She knew her words were blunt and would probably sting but if no one was going to tell him the truth she figured she may as well. The least she could do was be honest with him.

"Thank you, Miss Quinn," he said finally, bowing his head slightly. "Your words mean a lot to me and I shall heed your advice." He shook Sam's hand. "I wish you both a long prosperous life together."

Finn wandered off to where Peyton was still sitting, next to a dying fire, and finally went to say hello to his sister. Sam walked Quinn back to their wagon.

"Thank you, Sam, for not leaving me…I dislike seeing him in this condition. Hopefully, he can make amends with his wife and see his son," she said quietly.

"Everyone should hope to have you as a friend; I am blessed to have you in my life," Sam told her, embracing her. She felt completely safe in his arms, running her hands up his sleeves, feeling his muscles ripple underneath the fabric.

Kate returned to her parents' wagon, and Sam and Quinn got ready for sleep on either side of Joseph. Once Joseph was asleep, Sam slipped over to Quinn's side.

"I'd like to be next to you tonight, if that's okay with you," he whispered.

They were facing one another, holding hands, kissing lightly.

"Before sunup, you'll have to move back," she whispered.

He nodded. "I promise…"

True to his word, when she awoke in the morning, he was on the other side of Joseph. She had the sweetest dreams that night.