Chapter 27

Humming a tune, Louise finished the washing-up after breakfast, and dried her hands on her apron. Today she felt in high spirits, and her mouth widened into a smile. Yet, as she casually threw a glimpse out of the window, her humming stopped, her face stiffened, and a curse escaped her lips. "Damn it!"

No sooner had the expletive come out than Lou ran out of the kitchen door, snatching the laundry basket from a cupboard. Rain was pouring down, which would surely drench all her laundry that was drying on the lines if she did not hurry. In no time did Louise collect all the hung clothes, throwing them carelessly into the basket. Some of them were already damp, but she would now leave them to dry in front of the fireplace. Once all the clothes were collected, she made her way to the house. Her hair and the clothes she was wearing were wet, and she felt the bitter cold penetrate her bones.

Walking the length of the kitchen, Louise headed for the living room. On opening the door, she jumped startled when she came upon a standing figure she did not expect. Her right hand pressed her chest as she breathed out. "You startled me," she whispered.

Boggs turned his eyes to his daughter. Like usual, he was dressed in one of his impeccable suits, a bowler hat covered his head, and his gloved hands were holding a riding crop, which he softly kept tapping against his left palm. "I bought this house, and paid every single cent for it, so I have a right to walk in whenever I feel like it."

"Yes, father," Lou muttered as she put the laundry basket on top of a chair. Her hand took a handkerchief out of her apron pocket, and wiped her face. She could sense her father's eyes boring onto her, and felt ridiculous to appear all wet before him.

Boggs took a few steps closer, and glanced down at the pile of clothes in the basket. As he shifted his eyes to the young woman, the serious expression on his face told her that he was anything but happy. "Is this supposed to be your clean laundry?" Boggs asked dryly, picking up a pair of pants between his thumb and index finger as if he was holding a nauseous cockroach.

"Those are Kid's working pants. They're old, and the stains won't come out," Lou muttered even though she knew her explanation would fall on deaf ears.

Boggs dropped the garment, and shook his gloved hands together as if wanting to get rid of the dirt he supposedly had picked up. "Look, Louise," he spoke up again after a few seconds. "I ain't gonna say anything about the poor condition you keep this house, or how so much worse your cooking can get. I won't even mention your very unladylike habits… because we are already familiar with all that, aren't we?"

Lou nodded wryly, fearing where this conversation was leading. There was no doubt. She would not like any direction her father would take. It was old history. No matter what she did, nothing was good enough for him, and she did not know how to please him. Yet, Lou reflected, things were now different. She was a married woman, and he had no power over her anymore, did he?

"What I want to know is what's going on!" Boggs said loudly.

"Going on?" Lou repeated in a tiny voice.

"Yes… exactly. Last night I had a very interesting conversation with your husband," Boggs explained, his brilliant eyes showing his discontent.

Lou blanched. Had Kid told her father about the divorce? How could he let her down? He had promised not to tell, and she had believed him. But again, what would she expect? He was a man, and even though he seemed to be a decent one, his nature had spoken out for itself. Besides, why would he respect her wishes? She was nobody. Lou's cheeks burned hotly in a mixture of annoyance and fear, and a sharp coldness rushed over her whole body.

"Your husband complained to me that you don't sleep with him, and I want to hear what you have to say about it."

Lou's jaw dropped stunned. She had not expected this at all. Kid had complained about their lack of… intimacy? Why? That didn't make sense. He was the first one who had expressed his lack of interest and his refusal. Why would he complain now? What was this sick game of his?

"I'm waiting, Louise. I don't have all day."

Lou raised her eyes to him, and muttered sheepishly, "He doesn't want me."

"Bullshit!" Boggs barked angrily. "All men want that from women… from any woman. What's wrong with you then?"

"I don't know, Pa," Lou whispered.

"You don't know! You don't know!" Boggs repeatedly, unkindly mimicking her voice in jet. "You never know anything! You're nothing but a fool that's always showing me up."

His insults and doubts challenged her well-ingrained pride, and even though she knew she would be stepping on dangerous ground, she could not keep quiet. "I try to be a good wife to him. I am good to him."

"It's not enough!" Boggs barked even more loudly. "I'm so fed up with you. I sometimes wonder how someone like you even came from me and your mother. You're nothing like your poor siblings, not even your sister. I'm dead tired… tired of hearing nothing but complaints."

Louise felt the tears sting behind her eyelids, but she fought them. She wouldn't cry again before him; she wouldn't show him her weakness. This was the cruelest thing he had ever told her. Mentioning her dear mother and siblings as a way to hurt her was beyond heartless. Her pain soared, and her anger came unleashed. How could he blame her for something that was not her doing or fault?

"You were the one who forced me to marry him!" Lou growled furiously, unable to control her tongue and temper any longer. "How can I be a real wife when I know nothing about the man you married me off to! He's a stranger to me. I just know he hates my guts!"

"You're nothing but an ungrateful vixen! I got you a husband. No man would look at you twice, and I got you a husband!"

"I didn't want a husband! You sold me as if I were unwanted cattle! What kind of gratefulness do you expect from me? You traded me like you do in your business! You only care about yourself, nobody but yourself! And you know what, father? I also sometimes wonder if I'm actually related to you!"

The snap echoing in the room when his fist contacted with her cheek sounded as if a whip had cracked. Lou felt the familiar, metallic taste of blood in her mouth, but she was determined not to let him tyrannize her, not this time. He had lost the power to control her, and she would show him.

Lou lifted her chin up proudly as her eyes met his. "You have no right!" Louise barked, and without being aware of what she was doing, she pushed him with both hands, making Boggs stagger. "You have no right! You can't touch me! I now belong to my husband, not you!"

Lou knew the moment she saw her father sway that she had tempted her luck too much. She did not have to wait long to realize her instinct did not fail her. Boggs was red with sheer fury as he stretched his arm, and his hand grabbed her neck, almost choking Lou. "Your husband! Your husband!" he kept repeating while banging Lou's head against the wall behind her. "A husband that's an idiot who hardly has the brains to put on his pants every morning!"

With a strong push, he tossed her onto the floor. Her bones complained as she fell down, and as the air rushed into her again, she was overwhelmed by a fit of cough. Her body curled, and her arms moved to cover her head defensively. "Please, please," she whimpered when she could breathe better, fully aware that this was just the beginning.

"You don't sound so spunky now. Where's your bravado gone, Louise?" Boggs asked cynically as he picked up his riding crop, swinging it to and fro in the air.

The man took a few steps closer, his imposing figure hovering over Lou's pitiful, cocooned body. Lou almost felt his shadow fall over her, and she dared to lift her eyes. Her father was softly stroking the crop, and she knew exactly what was on his mind. "Please, Pa. Don't, please."

"Too late. You need a lesson," Boggs said, lifting the crop high in the air, and without a single contemplation he lashed his daughter with the leather crop over and over again. Despite Lou's desperate pleas and cries, he did not stop, and kept showing her his anger in a very evident way. When Lou's voice died out as well as her will power, Boggs threw the crop away across the room.

Lou was barely aware of her surroundings. Her body was in agonizing pain, and the room seemed to spin around her. Despite having her eyes shut, she noticed her father's figure next to her as he crouched. "Open your eyes!" he ordered as he took a handful of her hair, forcing her head to rise to him. "Hear me out!" he said in a strong, commanding voice. "I didn't get you a husband for your own recreation! I want a grandson, a proper heir to my wealth, and you owe me big! If you don't give me my grandson, I'll come back and kill you with my bare hands. That'd free Kid from a useless wife, and me from a burden!"

Boggs' hand let go of her, and Lou's already sore head painfully banged against the hard floor again. The man rose to his feet, straightened his clothes, and picked up his crop. He started towards the door, but as he took the knob, he kept thoughtful for a few seconds, and then retraced his steps. Lou noticed him crouch next to her again, and this time his hand gently came under her nape, and tilted her body to him. "Louise, you know I love you. I want the best for you, and that's why sometimes I'm a bit hard on you, sweetheart. If you mind me, you'll have a good life, because that's all I want for my favorite girl," he said gently, and bent over to kiss her forehead.

The kiss hurt more than all the blows she had received all together. She felt like gagging, and could not stand it. "Don't touch me! Don't touch me, and leave me alone!" she cried with a stronger voice she knew she had, and somehow she managed to muster her strength, and pushed him off her.

"Goodbye then, honey," Boggs said as he rose back to his feet, and walked to the door again, but before letting himself out, he added, "And tell Kid you just fell down the stairs. I imagine he already has a low opinion of you, and we don't want him to think you also enraged daddy, do we?"

"Just go!" Lou cried, feeling totally suffocated with each word he uttered.

The door slammed closed behind him almost at the same time that a loud wail escaped Lou's lips, and then the sobs started racking her frail, sore body. She was feeling lost, miserable, and too small. Why? Why? She kept repeating. Why did it hurt so much? She should already be used to his ways by now, but every time it hurt more and more as she became more and more aware of what she had and was not. The pain and shame prevented her from moving, and the tears trickled down her sore frame. Every single part of her body ached, but not as much as her dented, bruised soul. She wanted to die at this very moment, and prayed to all the saints to grant her wish. It is uncertain whether her pleas were heard, but her senses gradually became numb, and little by little she fell into a deep, long sleep.