A/N It looks like quite a few more chapters are needed to wrap up this story. Thank you for the reviews and follows.
Disclaimer : I own nothing of SyFy.
"Myka? Are you sure you want this added clause in the contract? ... Myka?" Artie's rough voice shook me from the memories of that night in the barn with Helena. I blushed a bit as I turned to face him.
"I'm not sure, if Helena and I were to move to America would this … what does it guarantee about my involvement with ... " My voice trailing off as I tried to focus on the wording.
Lighting flashed, illuminating the flecks of gold in Helena's eyes, booms of thunder rumbled at the walls of wood in the barn, matched only by the quivering of my legs as my Helena pulled my undying confession of love for her out of my heart with each loving, possessive stroke.
"Umm, maybe, just give me a minute," I said as I got up. "I want to keep my options open, just in case. You know me, Artie, I always have to have a plan B," I said over my shoulder as I shuffled a dish and some glasses around in the cupboard, then finding what I had been searching for. I poured a small draw of the whiskey into a cup, my eyes looking over the rim of the cup at my foreman as I held the bottle up to him in my other hand.
"And a plan C and D, always a backup plan with you, Myka," Artie sighed, still looking down at the papers as he raised his arm, his cup held high, waiting for it to be filled with something other than the tea we had been sipping on all day.
"People are talking, aren't they?" I asked as I walked back to the table, setting the bottle down, myself letting out a huff of air as I put my glasses back on. "What are they saying?" I asked tentatively, my voice barely above a whisper as Artie gave me a sideways glance.
"Nothing worth repeating; you have more allies than you realize," the foreman said as he held his cup up to his mouth.
"And what of the gossip busy bodies at the Public house?" I asked, arching an eyebrow as I worried my bottom lip.
"Let's just say that the pub, and that woman… Sarah, are no longer on my route through town," Artie mumbled as he finished his cup, then reached out, pouring himself another small drink. "And since when have you cared about the opinions of a few drunken fools, or anyone, for that matter?" Artie said, stilling the bottle over my cup as he stared, an eyebrow raised at me, waiting for my reply.
"I care about your thoughts," I said softly as I nodded my head for him to continue.
"Myka, you have always been like a daughter to me. I know… your father was not exactly there for you, and Vanessa and I are long past the child rearing phase," he sighed. "I have always been proud of you, of everything you have done against all the odds and hardships thrown your way," he stammered, then both of us polished off our drinks with a clink of our glasses.
I watched out of the corner of my eye as a dark shadow passed over his face, his bushy eyebrows becoming as one as he steeled his thoughts.
"I have never worried for you, Myka, before... until ... that woman and her little girl came into your life. Nothing would have distracted you from the Orchard, from your family," Artie said, raising his hand to silence my growing temper and the protests forming at the back of my throat.
"Helena and Christina are my family," I thought to myself.
"Look, kiddo, all I am saying is that you need to watch your backside, for your family's sake and yours. This contract, the new warehouse and what the Regents are promising seem like a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow,"
"But?" I asked.
"But … your father and I can only protect you so much," Artie was saying, grabbing my hands as I instinctively tried to pull away. "Look here, the long arm of the crown can reach across the channel only so far and all that glitters is not made of gold, but as long there is a breath in my body, you, the Orchard, and everything in it that you love…" Artie's eyes were misting, his grip firm as I started to nod my head.
"Mumma?" The soft voice wafted into the room, the sound of the cottage door opening caused me to lift my head from the books I had been going over with my foreman. Our hands parted as I took my glasses off, rubbing the bridge of my nose as I turned in my chair just in time to welcome my little Miss who ran into my arms.
"I missed you so, Mumma." the little girl said as she hugged me, crawling up into my lap as I peppered her with kisses.
"As I did you," I replied as I relished her small arms squeezing my neck.
"Well, I should be going." Artie said, clearing his throat as he pushed his wire-rimmed glasses further upon his nose. "I think we covered all the fine print for the final sell of the Hybrids to those Regents," Artie said as he stood up abruptly. Both Christina and I watched as those pudgy hands quickly shuffled the papers and the book into his black leather bag with a grand sweeping motion that cleared the table.
Both of us jumped a bit at the final closing of the cottage door, Artie and I turning to each other as Helena swept through the room. Her boots scuffed to a halt against the wooden floor as she stilled in front of the foreman.
"Arthur," Helena said curtly as she straightened herself, a wisp of black locks escaping her bun as her hand extended to him. "Will you be honoring this humble abode with your presence for supper tonight? Or shall you be darkening our good doctor's door tonight?" Helena smirked as she then turned, taking off her coat.
Artie grumbled as he grabbed his coat, bumping into Helena at the coat rack next to the door. Christina giggled as the older man harrumphed as he reached for his coat. "Two weeks from never" he mumbled as he left the shadow of our door, his large, leather bag clutched tightly against his chest.
Helena just smiled as she held the door open for my foreman, "There is something to be said about bonding with your one, true love," Helena added, causing a heated blush to rise across my chest, racing to my cheeks as she winked, first at Artie, then casting a cheeky grin my way.
"Yes...well, albeit," Artie stumbled in his words, his chin dipping down to the collar of his shirt as he raised his eyes,"some of us are more blessed than others." His bushy eyebrows raised as his eyes searched out some sort of plea of release from Helena's teasing.
"Okay, enough you two," I said after I picked up my little Miss and walked over to Artie by the door, giving his hand a gentle squeeze as I leaned in.
"Yes, well, you know…" Artie started to say when Christina, who was perched on my left hip, reached out, hugging the gruff man. A slight softness filled his eyes as he looked over the little Miss's head as she hugged him. He stood back, his eyes scanning the three of us standing near the door. Artie leaned in, kissing the top of Christina's head, then lifting his head, our eyes meeting, "I am on your side," Artie whispered to me, nodding his head between Helena and me.
The mist in his eyes was not lost on either Helena nor me as he pulled away, wiping and smoothing down his rough, grey coat as he turned, back toward us, standing on the steps of the porch, the path of the apple trees highlighted by the golden embers of the setting sun behind him.
"Agent Wells, Mrs. Frederic needs a word with you in regards to the warehouse when you have some free time," Artie said, his tone causing me to halt from closing the cottage door...
"Agent Wells?" I silently mouthed to Helena as we all stopped to stare at the older man. The tension was palpable with each breath as I eyed Helena out of the corner of my eye.
"Goodbye, Mr. Artie," Christina's soft voice shook us from our stupor. I glared at Helena as I tried to turn to the kitchen, with a bit of a huff. Helena had always told me everything, but with the warehouse and Mrs. Frederic, everything was an enigma, wrapped in a riddle, with the Sage.
Christina wiggled in my arms, reaching out, with arms wide open to the gruff foreman. "Good night Mr. Artie," she said as I leaned her to hug Artie again. The warmth of Helena's hand was cradled against the small of my back, steadying me, sending a small quiver racing down my back.
"What is with all this hugging?" Artie grumbled, trying his best to ease the tension. He gruffed, his arm waving in the air as he marched down the path between the trees of the Orchard, making a beeline for Vanessa's home.
"Come on, young lady, bath time for you before dining." Helena was smiling as she held Christina's hand, her arm then wrapping about my waist as I started dinner for us. I leaned back into her warm embrace as she pressed her sweet form against my back. Her lips were brushing against the shell of my ear as I all but fumbled the fillets into the hot, cast iron skillet on the wooden stove.
"Please," I stuttered, then clearing my throat as I heard Christina giggle at our open display of affection. "You," I said as I leaned further back into Helena's strong form, "will have both of you dressed and ready to sup by the time this meal is cooked," I tried to say in my most authoritative voice.
"As you wish, my love," Helena's lips tickled my skin on the upper part of my neck. Then, as suddenly as an Irish summer storm rolling into the moors, then receding over the mountains, her warmth was but a blur as she tugged and hugged Christina against her, leaving my body shaking from the ebb of the winds. Then, without a second thought to the desire and fire she had stoked, Helena readied them both for our evening meal, leaving me breathless.
After we had both said goodnight to the little Miss, Helena shooed me back into the kitchen as she turned to kiss Christina goodnight. She cast a quick glance over her left shoulder, her lips just parting a bit as she nodded to me as I left the room.
I shuffled about the kitchen, washing and then putting away the dishes. I stood, my back pressed against the corner of the counter as I eyed the dining room, everything in its place as I then turned, wiping my hands on the dishrag, a smile playing across my face as I had served the perfect meal to my two girls.
I jumped as I heard the thump of a tinderbox that was set down, watching as Helena set a single piece of paper on top of the box. Then a heavy sack was dumped upon it, as if to keep a wayward wind from blowing the parchment away.
"This was my comeuppance from my glorious talk with Mrs. Frederic and that wondrous scene that your amour caused that day in front of the warehouse," Helena said as she turned to me.
"What?" I sputtered, in the middle of removing my boots, jumping at the sound of the sack on the dining room table. "I have no clue what you are…" my voice halting as my eyes fell first upon the bare calves. My eyes, of their own will, raked up the sight before me. A cream colored silk camisole was just hinting at the top of her knees under her robe, slowly caressing the firm thighs. I was in rapture as the silk hugged, then released her stomach muscles with a wisp of each breath.
The sound of my left boot dropping to the wooden floor of the cottage was barely a muffle to the wanton breaths that filled my ears as my eyes drifted over those soft mounds that ebbed at the silken drape across her chest.
"Mo Ghra…" the words dropped from my lips as I was held imprisoned as the silk gently gripped, then released with each footfall that made my way.
"The little Miss is tucked and bedded for the night," the soft voice almost escaped my ears as I watched long, tapered fingers tracing over the glaring burlap sack on the table. My eyes drifted to every movement of tendon that flicked at the tinderbox.
"I am… sorry?" I barely whispered as I watched each twitch of her fingers along the smooth grain of the table, stilling on the box that sat atop.
"It seems, you, my love, need to decide which is more appropriate subject to address… or judging by the darkness of your huntress green eyes, shall I say… undress... the subject at hand," Helena, her voice played in a deep, rich timbre, only, by my ear, to recede to seriousness in the same breath.
I raised my eyes, the question not lost on me as she slid, facing me, onto my lap, her fingers abruptly removing mine from the task of unbuttoning each ivory button at the front of my blouse. My head lolled back, exposing my throat bare to her every whim. My analytical mind now being shut down, more like beaten to a bloody pulp of submission of non-thinking than anything else as I tried desperately not to watch that silk inching up porcelain thighs that had seen fit to grip my hips.
"It seems, that our love has a price," Helena whispered against the shell of my ear. Her hands then gently gripped my shoulders as she stared intently into my eyes.
"It was 'suggested' to me today, that I take the offered position as head agent for the new warehouse in America," Helena whispered against my bare neck.
My hands gripped her hips that had snuggled against my legs. "Helena, Mo Ghra," I rasped out, the low timber in my voice taking me by surprise as it escaped my throat. Helena moaned into the softness of my neck, her thighs all but squeezing the blood from mine.
"We must converse about our future here, in the Orchard," Helena moaned against my neck, her fingers tugging at my curls, losing the soft bun that I had haphazardly put them in early that day.
"Everyone seems to be guiding us to this endless wonder in America," I said, my hands slipping under the soft, silken gown, my eyes opening to watch each inch of porcelain skin I revealed at the urgings of my hands.
"Tell me, my love," Helena was barely able to breathe out as her fingers tangled into my curls. "What if I suggest we consider a change," her breath shaking as my fingers traced each ridge of her ribs. I ghosted over every slight dip between them, my fingers scanning over and across the tender skin in between.
"Yes, my lady," I said, a bit of a smirk in my tone.
"Do NOT, ever address me that way," Helena suddenly growled, her fingers that were tangled in my curls pulled my head back, I gasped at the sudden yank. My breath stilled at the sharpness of the tug as I watched a storm of gold and brown swirl in her eyes as she leaned her head above mine, her angry, reddened lips brushing against mine. She sat up, her thighs becoming a vice grip around my hips, as she responded to the anger my words created in her.
"You... Myka, my heart, shan't ever address me with that foul title, ever," Helena's breath was building as a fire against my lips. The vile hatred of that title raked against my lips. Her eyes were steadfast as she pushed her form roughly against me.
"Say it … promise me you'll never utter that title, even when I am but dust and a long forgotten wisp of a curse, you will never say that," Her eyes softened, just a hair, in a moment of weakness as I wet my bottom lip with the back of my tongue.
Helena's eyes had turned a blacker shade than I had ever seen. Her thighs squeezed, now with a hint of pain, against my hips. Her dark eyes all but pleaded with mine as I swallowed hard, my head nodding a bit in compliance of her angry plea.
Her pain was all consuming, washing over the cottage as I gasped at her anger that threatened to rip me in half. A small cough from behind the door of Christina's room had caught the corner of my ear.
My own anger was rising as I flipped us over, my knees pinning her bucking legs down to the floor. The dim embers from the hearth were but a gnat to my eyes as I gripped her wrists, pinning them to the floor as I rested my weight on them.
"Helena, Mo Ghra," I kept my voice to a soft whisper, shielding her from the verbal thrashing I wanted to set forth upon her.
"Our Christina shall never hear of this. She has earned that title and I will be damned if I will let that foul brother of yours rip that from her," I all but growled at Helena. Her form was now pinned to the floor of the cottage in front of the hearth, her body, her soul submitting to my press of flesh. I summoned a gentle palm, turning her chin to the face of the door, Christina's door.
"She, my love, is all that matters. Gods and these people of the town be damned," I spat out, my teeth tugging at the soft flesh just under her ear. My hips slipping, now meeting the volcanic heat between her thighs.
"More," was all Helena said, her fingers tugging as her hips bucked into mine.
I was caught off guard, within a split second I was forgetting all around us as her slick flesh melded against my thigh, my eyes almost rolling back at the feel of her passion soaking through my trousers.
My mouth hovered over Helena's quivering lips; each ragged breath was sucked, stolen and reluctantly given back as her nails dug into the small of my back.
No love, but all was love. No feelings, but every nerve screamed feelings…
"More," was barely heard in my ears as I arched my back. The horrid pain, but a guilty mix of passion caused the rigid flex of my body.
"Good God," I moaned into the crook of Helena's neck.
"Say it, utter it one last time," Helena gulped; her legs were now a vice grip around my thigh.
The one last, unladed lust filled cell of my brain fired.
"My Lady, my Lady Helena Wells," I stated each word with a thrust of my hips. My head bowed into her chest, the pounding of each heartbeat of heated skin pushed against my lips, I moaned at the feeling of each rapid beat of her heart. Her fingers stilled, just for a second, then started gently stroking the bare skin at the base of my neck.
I raised my head, my eyes laden with love by that glorious smile. "My love," Helena whispered against my lips.
...
"Pete, put those last saplings in the other cart. I want to keep Tilly as weight free as possible," I said, dusting my hands off after tying the last of the burlap sacks around the young trees.
"What does this make? Three hundred total?" Pete asked as he loaded the last of them onto the cart.
"Three hundred and thirteen," I remarked, not looking up as I dusted off my trousers, turning then to pet my mare.
"Isn't thirteen an unlucky number?" The voice ringing through the trees as Pete turned around at the sound of his wife's voice.
"Hey hey hey, honey," Pete chimed as he met Amanda half way down the path. I ducked my head, with a slight blush, wanting to give them a bit of privacy from their loving embrace.
"So, where are the kids?" I asked, having waited until they had broken from their intimate display of affection. Pete had his arm wrapped around Amanda's waist as they walked towards me.
"Claudia had stopped by the house, making the mistake of saying she was bored with nothing to do," Amanda smiled as she came over, giving me quick hug.
"No, you did not?" I whispered, the smile growing with each second that Amanda and I looked at each other.
"No, she did not, what?" Pete asked, wiping away a bit of water from his chin as he set the water jug down.
"It's something Amanda and I do every time some child would say they were bored in school. We would make them take the younger ones out to play," I smiled, Amanda chuckling as she wrapped her arm through mine, leading me to Tilly and the cart.
"I was thinking we could have an 'Adult' lunch. All of us, in town today at Leena's Inn," Amanda smiled as she got up on the cart, me following suite.
"Come on, Lattimer, get the cart. We will drop off the last of the saplings, gather up the adults," I said, holding the reins as Amanda nudged my shoulder, nodding over to the confused look on Pete's face. "Food, Pete," I said.
"Oh, well then, what are we waiting for?" Pete said in a hurried breath as he rubbed his hands together, jumping on the other cart, clicking his cheek and slapping the reins on the rump of the other horse.
"And Pete makes four children, you have?" Amanda laughed at my quip as we followed behind him.
"Mrs. Frederic," I said, clearing my throat as the other workers started unloading the cart. "I wanted to thank you for the generous advance you gave to Helena and the offer of…" The Sage held her hand out, a bundle of fragrant leaves and herbs were offered to me.
"You shall be in need of these later, Mrs. Bering-Wells. Agent Wells shall be here shortly, along with Steven and…" The Sage was speaking, her words cut short by the sound of Amanda greeting her brother. I turned, watching as she hugged Liam, holding his hand as they walked to the cart.
"I just wanted to say that… " My words falling upon silence, the caretaker, nowhere to be seen. I sighed as I pressed the fragrant bundle up to my nose, inhaling deeply as I raised my eyes. Her smile illuminated the outdoor market as I held my breath, the sway of her hips, her waistcoat hugging her figure just so...
"Hello, Darling," Helena greeted me, her hand gently gripping mine that held the bundle of leaves and herbs. A smile spreading across her lips as she brought the bundle close to her face, inhaling the leaves, and then planting a chaste kiss on my cheek.
"Breath, my love," she whispered against my cheek. Then wiping a bit of her lipstick from my cheek. "I see our intrepid caretaker honored you with her presents," I bowed my head, trying my best to ward off the blush that threatened to rise up. Helena smirked as her hand slipped into mine, threading her fingers between mine as she lead me toward Tilly.
"I do believe Mrs. Frederic mentioned something as to having the rest of the day off," Helena whispered in my ear, nudging her shoulder against mine as we stopped in front of my mare.
"Mrs. Bering… Hello, Myka," Steve stuttered at his slip, his blush almost as red as mine as we both rubbed the back of our necks at the same time. Amanda then chuckling a bit at the same time as Liam stood at her side.
"Come on everyone, food is to be had," Pete chimed in, helping his wife up into the back of the cart. "Uh, you want me to drive?" Pete was asking as his foot stilled on the front rung of the cart. Both Helena and I looked at each other. "Come on Mykes, you drive like old lady Kelly and I am starving!"
We all settled into a large table towards the back of Leena's Inn. "Milady," Pete said with a grin as he held out the chair for Amanda.
I bristled a bit at the words, chancing a glance at Helena and her reaction with those words spoken. I let out a small cough as Helena slid her hand across my thigh under the table, gently squeezing my leg. Both our breaths hitching at the shared memory of the night before.
"I did so enjoy you on top," Helena whispered into my ear.
"What's with them?" Pete whispered over to Amanda. All of us then turning our heads at the murmurs and glares from a couple that were seated across from our table.
"Pay them no mind," Leena winked as she placed a pitcher of apple cider down on the table. "Pan fried chicken, root vegetables, snap beans and Apple or Pear cobbler for dessert?" Leena chimed as she poured out the glasses of cider.
"If I never see or hear of an apple anything again, it won't be too soon," Steve said absentmindedly, then stuttered as he tried to backpedal.
"It is alright Steven, I will never look at another apple the same way again," Helena replied, squeezing my knee. I jumped at the pressure of her fingers tracing patterns on the inside of my thigh. My knee then knocking against the bottom of table as her fingers traveled further up, causing the glasses and china to clink and rattle.
Small talk was had as we all chatted, waiting for our lunch to arrive. I watched, with a small smile as Amanda tucked the cloth napkin under Pete's chin after brushing away the crumbs off his shirt.
"Everyone should grab a piece of bread before this one inhales them all," Amanda said, a bit of a scolding tone in her voice as she eyed Pete.
"Waffif?" Pete mumbled, his mouth full of bread as I poured more cider for Helena and me.
"Man-child," I huffed as I snatched the last of the bread from the basket and away from Pete's rushing hand, buttering and then handing it over to Helena. She smiled over the rim of her glass as I set the buttered piece down on her plate. "Always looking after me," Helena whispered, my blush spreading from the soft, loving ministrations on my leg.
"Mo Grah," I whispered. My head then shooting up at the antics across from me.
"Peter!" Amanda loudly whispered, slapping the back of his head as he then held his mouth open to me, still full with the bread he had been chewing on. "Honestly, this is why we never go out anywhere," Amanda huffed. I sat back, holding my hand over my mouth as I tried to hold back my laughter at his antactics.
"This is our first time out for a meal since the harvest… "Helena started to say, Leena then interrupting Helena's last sentence as she placed the plates of food down in front of all us. Helena was giving me a side glance as we watched the plates being set down.
"What about the harvest dance? Wasn't that the first time you two appeared in public as ..." Leena then winked as she nudged me. "By the way Myka, it was so nice to hear your beautiful voice grace the stage again. It was sorely missed for those years," Leena said, then turning to the head of the table, "Does anyone require anything else?" Her eyebrow rose as she looked directly at Peter.
"No, Miss Leena, I think we are ALL good for now," Amanda said, slapping Pete's hand from stealing a piece of chicken off her plate.
As we were coming to the end of our meal, I felt Helena stiffen a bit and heard Liam cough, then whisper to Steve. I turned my head at the same time as Amanda, watching the couple sit across from our table. A low grumble and a sniff of disapproval went unnoticed by the rest of the table. Leena had come back out, serving us the cobbler and a fresh pitcher of cider.
"Miss Leena, how can you stand to serve… their kind," The venomous disgust in those words reverberating through the entire Inn.
"What did you just say?" Pete growled out in a low tone, both him and Liam rising at the same time from the table as Pete ripped his napkin away from the collar of his shirt, throwing it down on top of his plate. Amanda gripped both their arms, pulling them back down at the same time. As I turned to look at them, Helena had stood up, moving at a quick clip over to their table.
"Helena!" I tried to say in a low voice, not wanting to shout inside the Inn as to not cause a scene; I jumped up from my chair, but came up short from grabbing her arm.
"Mr. and Mrs. O'Hara, what a pleasant surprise to see you again. I do believe that the last time we met, was in my brother's bank, was it not?" Helena was putting on her most wonderest faux smile I had ever been witness to.
"What a stylish new bonnet, Mrs. O'Hara, from the Hermisse collection?" Before the woman could respond, her hand just coming up to adjust the ribbon, "That must have cost a small fortune, I hear the waiting list is at least a year in the making. Unless, of course, a few pounds found their way up to the waiting." Helena smiled as the woman looked over at her husband.
"Yes, well, you know how we women are, Lady Wells, we must have the latest fashion," She sniffed, the disdain dripping at the last of her words, her eyes squinting at Helena's attire. Helena smoothed down her waistcoat, her head held high as she squared her shoulders. I stiffened, knowing with that movement, that hell was about to be unleashed.
Helena's eyes narrowed as she turned to the husband, "Mr. O'Hara, as I recall, were you not squaring up with the last loan of monies from my brother? I do believe from a 'misunderstanding' and some damage caused in one of those 'houses' of ill repute upon your sojourn to Dublin? I do believe my brother Charles grumbled a bit at your mention of this to his friend, the 'Lady' of the manor?" Helena's eyes were a bright glow as she watched the man stumble over his words.
"How… what?"
"Mr. O'Hara, before my employ at the warehouse, who do you think cared for my brother's private accounts?" Helena was now smiling as she turned; a quick glance was had over her shoulder to reassure me all was well.
"Henry! You said that carriage had crashed into that building!" The woman was now gripping at the white table cloth, trying her best not to rise out of her chair.
Helena cleared her throat, then turning back to man,"I am sure my brother would love to hear as to why you have not settled your loan with him. You know how unforgiving Charlie can be when it comes to monetary issues. Love your bonnet, Maureen," Helena smiled, turning on her heels as she sauntered back to our table.
Helena sat down next to me, her hand then snaking under the table, giving me a reassuring squeeze on my thigh. Pete just chuckled as Amanda crossed her arms over her chest. "This one is definitely a keeper. Helena, I do believe you and I will be the best of friends," Amanda smirked.
Steve and Liam were smiling at each other, then clearing his throat,"Mrs. Bering-Wells, may I toast you?" Liam was asking when we heard a glass break against the wall.
"How could you, Henry!? You said you became diseased with … that affliction from falling into a foul pond!" The woman yelled, grabbing her drape as she then stormed out of the Inn.
"You…" The man stood up, his chair scraping against the wood floor, causing all in the Inn to look his way. "You are an abomination. Your brother, your whole family is ashamed to even utter your name," The man was now yelling as his finger was shaking with anger as it was pointed Helena's way. "You… are no Lady!"
Helena started to stand, as with the others at our table. "Enough!" I growled as I threw my napkin down on the table, shoving my chair away with the back of my boot.
"Myka, no, my love, he is not worth a waste of your breath," Helena whispered into my ear, her hands gripping at my arm as I started to march over to him. I yanked my arm out of Helena's grip as I stormed over to him.
Our faces but a breath away as I stood toe to toe with him, "And you, Henry O'Hara, are no gentleman, passing on a whore's disease to your family," I growled. I watched as his face turned a blood red, his fists clenching in time with mine.
"Everyone in this town has let your heathen ways slide, if not for your father and the money the Orchard brings in… " He started saying.
"And what of it?" I growled back, never feeling the soft press of Leena's hand on my shoulder. I was deaf to the sounds of chairs scraping against the floor, the sound of footfalls from my group… from my family, coming up behind me.
"The apple does not fall far from the tree, she will be drunken sot, just like her father," Henry said over my shoulder to Helena, a sneer growing into a smile just as I hauled back my arm, my fist balled, ready to erase that foul grin from his jaw.
"No, Myka!" I heard the multiple voices in my ear just as I felt a flurry of hands gripping my arm, pulling me back as I struggled to pummel the bastard from the face of this earth.
I did not remember much of the ride back to the cottage. Mumbled goodbyes and words of support were had as Helena led me into our home. "Just sit," that soft voice was whispered in my ear. I steadied my hand on her shoulder, her intertwining our fingers of one hand as she tugged my boots off.
"Christina?" I whispered against her black locks as her head was bent down, divesting me of my clothes.
"No, love. She is spending the night with Peter and Amanda, we all thought it best if… " Helena's voice then receding into and then getting lost to the crackle and pop of the fresh logs in the hearth.
Much was a blur, only snippets of the chilled air against my bare skin after Helena undressing me, the warmth of her hands caressing my bare upper arms as she eased us both into the warm, scented water.
"How did she know?" I mumbled, my form sinking further into her warm embrace.
"How did who, know what? My love," Helena whispered next to my ear. The soothing aroma from the leaves and herbs mingled with the soft ministrations of Helena's hands along my sides caused a quiet serenity to wash over me.
I felt my heart slow to a rhythmic beat, the storm that had raged inside earlier in the Inn, was now quilling to a soft, gentle rain, washing away all the anger, all the bitterness from my soul.
…