CHAPTER 26

As they sat around the table, Jessica, Martha and Jonathan could hear Hiram speaking to someone at the front door, however, they couldn't really make out what was being said or who it was that had interrupted their lunch. So when Hiram came back into the kitchen and said, "Son, William Clark's at the door, he wants to have a word with you in private." They were all shocked.

"Dad's here?" Martha said, looking apprehensive. "What does he want?"

"He didn't say, he just said that he wanted a word with Jonathan in private." Hiram replied.

Jonathan got up from the table, "I guess I'd better go have a word with him then."

"Be careful." Martha warned him. "I doubt that he's come all this way to congratulate you."

"Honey, he's already called me every insulting name he can think of, so what else can he do?" Jonathan said with a shrug as he left the kitchen and went to the front door.

William was still standing outside, almost as though he was afraid of being contaminated if he stepped inside the enemy's camp.

"Please, come in." Jonathan said, gesturing towards the living room. "Can I get you some coffee?"

"Why don't we talk on the porch? We will be more private there." William suggested stiffly.

"Okay." Jonathan replied as he grabbed his jacket from the coat rack by the door. Putting it on, he stepped outside. "So, what can I do for you Mr. Clark?" he said as he pulled the door to behind him.

"I suppose you think you've been very clever moving the wedding forward?" William said spitefully as soon as they were both outside.

Jonathan decided that Mr. Clark was just trying to get him to react so he ignored his unpleasant comment and said, "Would you like to sit down?"

"No, I wouldn't. I don't want to spend any longer on this god forsaken farm than I absolutely have to." William retorted.

"Nobody forced you to come and nobody's forcing you to stay, so if you hate it so much … why don't you leave?" Jonathan asked.

"You'd like that wouldn't you?"

While Jonathan's mind shouted YES!! he decided to be more diplomatic, "Mr. Clark, you've obviously come here for a reason, so why don't you tell me whatever it is you came here to say."

"I underestimated you, you aren't as stupid as I first thought." William said, although the way he spoke, it was more of an insult than a compliment.

Jonathan remained silent; he just watched Mr. Clark and waited to hear what he had to say.

"I realize that appealing to your better nature is obviously never going to work, so I've reluctantly decided to give you what you've wanted all along."

"You're going to give Martha your blessing?" Jonathan said, hardly able to believe what he was hearing.

"No, you fool! I'm going to give you what you want!"

"Mr. Clark, I love your daughter very much, my only wish is to spend the rest of my life loving her and being with her."

"Really? So if I were to offer you ten thousand dollars to call off the wedding and to give Martha back to me, what would you say?" Smirked William.

"I'd say get off my land. How dare you think you can buy and sell your daughter? If Martha wants to call off the wedding that's her prerogative, I'd be devastated but I'd accept her decision. But there is no way in hell that I'll ever take a red cent from you to break her heart." Jonathan replied, his voice getting louder as he tried to control his anger. It was only with supreme self control he resisted the urge to pick William up, throw him off the porch and then kick his pompous butt all the way down the drive.

"Now, son, you don't want to be too hasty. I suggest you think over my very generous offer." William said, as he took the precaution of backing away from Jonathan.

"I am not your son and I don't want your money! Now GET OFF MY LAND!!" Jonathan roared as he stood glaring at William, both his hands were clenched into fists and it was only the fact that he was talking to Martha's father that prevented him from giving William the thrashing he richly deserved.

"I think you'll find that it's your father's land, not yours." William said smugly. "Instead of being so hasty, why don't you think about what you could do with the money. Don't be a fool, boy. Take the money and give Martha back. You know you won't get a better offer."

When Jonathan had left the house he had pulled the front door shut behind him, however, the lock hadn't engaged and it had swung open unnoticed by the pair on the porch. Hiram had gone to close the door but when he heard the angry tones he decided to stay close by in case their discussion escalated. What Hiram didn't realize was that Martha and Jessica had left the table and were standing in the living room listening to Jonathan and William argue.

When Martha heard William offer Jonathan money to break their engagement she felt sick. Jessica put her arm around the young girl but Martha wasn't even aware of Jessica's support. All she could feel was the hurt and pain as she realized that her own father considered her something that could be bought and sold. Frozen to the spot, Martha could only listen as the drama unfolded in front of her.

Hiram didn't think he had ever been prouder than when he heard Jonathan say, "I don't want your money, not now … not ever. I love Martha and that love can't be bought or sold. How could you treat your daughter with such disrespect? I want you to leave … now!"

"I have no intention of leaving until you agree to my generous offer. Do you think you can get more money by playing hard to get?" William asked. "If that's the case, you are either sadly mistaken or blinded by greed. Take the money, boy. Don't be stupid."

Hiram had heard enough. Opening the door wide so that he could be seen, he said, "My son has repeatedly asked you to leave. Now I'm asking … please leave."

William looked up at Hiram, "I've made your boy a very generous offer, and I suggest you both think carefully before turning it down."

"He isn't a boy, he's a man and able to make his own decisions. Jonathan's refused your offer and asked you to leave. You wouldn't accept it from him so maybe you'll accept it from me … get off my land and take your filthy offer with you!" Hiram said, standing very still and looking coldly at William.

Before William could answer Bob and Billy Ray came out of the barn and crossed the yard. "Is everything okay, Mr. Kent?" Bob asked standing near William's car.

"I think we have everything under control, thank you." Hiram replied.

William decided that a strategic retreat was in order. Trying to intimidate Jonathan was one thing, but he now felt out numbered and less sure of his ground. Turning to Jonathan he said, "Just remember that if you insist on marrying Martha, you will never see a penny of my money. So I'd think very carefully about my offer. Is marrying her really worth losing ten thousand dollars? You have twenty-four hours to make up your mind, after that the offer will be withdrawn … permanently."

"It is only because of the great respect and love I have for Martha that I haven't broken every bone in your pathetic little body. You can take your offer and leave. I have nothing more to say to you." Jonathan replied, turning his back on William and staring out across the pasture his hands gripping the porch rail as though he were afraid that if he let go he would strike out at Martha's father.

Just as William was about to leave he glanced through the open door into the house, seeing Martha standing there with Jessica he smiled. "I didn't know you were here today, my dear. You should have said something."

Martha was staring at her father in horror. Her face was white and she was holding on to Jessica as though she were afraid that if she let go she would fall. "How could you?" she asked, her voice cracking with emotion. "Do I mean so little to you that you think you can buy and sell me? Does my happiness mean nothing to you?"

"Martha, please don't be so melodramatic, I'm just doing what is best for you." William sighed.

"No, you are doing what is best for you." Martha replied sadly.

"One day you will see that I was right, just don't come running to me because it will be too late, young lady. You've chosen your plough boy, so you can have him. I wash my hands of you." William declared, before walking down the porch steps, getting in his car and leaving.

After he'd left there was total silence for some time, then Hiram gestured to Bob and Billy Ray to leave and then went and stood next to Jonathan at the porch rail. Putting his arm around Jonathan's shoulders he said, "Son, I'm real proud of the way you handled that. I could see how hard it was for you not to retaliate, but you did the right thing and that took courage."

Jonathan didn't move but continued to grip the porch rail; Hiram could feel the rigid tension across his shoulders which showed just how much self control Jonathan had exercised. Finally, Jonathan said, "How could he do that? How could he treat Martha with such disrespect?"

"I don't know, son. I guess he just thinks that he's acting in her best interests." Hiram replied, sighing.

As Jonathan turned his head to reply to his father he caught sight of the open door and saw Martha and Jessica standing in the living room. Seeing Martha's ashen face and shocked expression he strode across the porch and entered the house. Crossing over to where Martha was standing. "Sweetheart." He said, taking her in his arms and holding her close. Looking at his Mom he asked, "How much did she hear?"

"Everything." Jessica replied looking anxious.

Martha just clung to Jonathan, she wasn't crying but he could feel her body shaking and she seemed to be in shock.

Jonathan just kept holding her, trying to comfort and reassure her. "I'm so sorry, sweetheart." He kept repeating over and over again.

Hiram and Jessica went back into the kitchen. Jessica started clearing the table as the food had gone cold and she didn't think anyone had any appetite left. However, when Hiram began to help her she turned to him and buried her face in his shoulder. Hiram kissed her head and stroked her back, after a few minutes Jessica sighed and looked up at Hiram, "Hiram, I'm so glad I married you. I'd rather have no money and your love than be tied to a horrible man like that."

Hiram glanced over to where Jonathan and Martha were standing holding each other but not speaking and said, "If that man ever hurts or harms that girl again, so help me I'll give him the beating he should have had years ago."

Jessica who normally hated any form of violence, looked up at him and said, "And I'll be right behind you cheering you on!"

Martha finally broke her silence, "Jonathan?"

"Yes, my love?"

"You don't have anything to be sorry about. I was so proud of the way you defended me and stood up to Dad. Jonathan, I want you to promise me something."

"What's that?" Jonathan asked gently.

"Don't ever change. Please, don't ever change."

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