Chapter 22: The Dark Haired One...
In the days that followed since Prudence had awoken, a violent summer storm had descended upon the now tranquil cabin. It had begun as soft rumble of thunder, off in the distance too far away to raise any concern. Until the peaceful puffs of clouds in the sky turned from their usual white as snow color to a startling murky green. Still a relative calm persisted. Then the wild wind began to howl around them echoing its untamed voice throughout the cabin. When the gusts began to quicken blowing the arms of the forest trees around in frighteningly wild movements, that was when Martin, Nathaniel and Uncas had begun proceeding around the farm securing the livestock and barn. After the last animal was firmly secured, the three men made quickly back into the cabin just barely beating the first ominous rain drops as they began to descend from the angry sky above.
The entire family had piled into the common room, listening to Chingachgook tell stories of his people. The children sat crosslegged on the floor in front of him, absolutely mesmerized as the tall broad man before them began waving his long arms around in exaggerated movements to better solidify a point within the story. The children leaned forward in their spots, mouths agape and wide eyed with astonishment.
Cora and Alice sat in the soft chairs across from the long sofa. Alice's chair closest to Matto's cradle, gently rocking it with her right hand. Matto ever soothed by the calm and repetitive motion of his little body swaying back and forth to the rhythm of the rocking cradle. Martin had carried Prudence in from their bedroom and laid her lightly atop the long sofa, placing several pillows under her legs certain to keep them elevated and leaving their infant daughter nestled gently across her chest. The three women sat and observed quietly as Chingachgook began another harrowing tale of the Mohican people.
Only a few moments passed before the three men burst through the cabin door, shaking away the drops of rain that were scarcely able to assault them on their dash to enter the cabin. Everyone's attention momentarily directed at the ruckus that was their entrance. The three men entered in a rush of noisy boots stomping across the floor and quickly began drying themselves of Mather Nature's wet gift. Martin bent his body forward, then rather abruptly flung his head far back. Shaking loose the fallen rain drops that encompassed his dirty blonde hair. What he had not realized was that Nathaniel was standing directly behind him and took a rather ungraceful slap in the face from the excess droplets. Uncas immediately laughed in his brother's face, shoving him gently against the shoulder. Martin turned towards Uncas's loud baritone voice and saw the water splayed across Nathaniel's face. Martin began chuckling outright as he made to wipe Nathaniel's damp skin with the sleeve of his shirt. Nathaniel quickly swatted him away, leaving Martin off balance and he tumbled into to the table. Martin leaned into the solid wood for support and held his stomach in laughter. As if hearing their pleasant mood, Mother Nature sent the wind towards them, forcefully blowing the door open. Making the heavy door smack hard against the wooden wall behind it. The frightening sound echoing through the cabin and awakening both sleeping babies.
Ash turned to the sound of Matto's little scream. The children had grown quite used to Matto's wild temperament, so much so that they hardly noticed anymore when he cried out. Leaving them relatively undisturbed whether it be day or night. He watched as Alice leaned over the cradle and gently rubbed the baby's little head, briefly soothing him. Ash swirled his head over towards the soft whimpers of his own little sister. She was not quite crying as it seemed she was having more of a bad dream. Ash stared back and forth between both babies, a thought coming to his mind. He stood from his spot on the floor and went over to his mother, just as a loud clap of thunder roared through the cabin walls. Everyone flinched at the startling noise, especially the babies who were just beginning to settle down. Iris's eyes flew open at the noise, a loud wail escaping her little lips.
Ash reached down and gently ran his hand across his little sister's back, instantly soothing her. Somehow she always knew when it was him. Perhaps it was his smell or his specific touch. Ash wondered to himself as he trailed his small fingers down her back. He could feel her breathing calm and her little body relax. The loud wail from a moment ago dissipated into a soft whimper, before disappearing all together.
Alice laughed as she watched Ash and said, "I wish that worked on Matto. Honestly, I am surprised the thunder frightens him. Any time he is surrounded by nature he seems to be soothed. Though this storm is a bit frightening, even to me." She eyed the open window across the room, watching from the safety of the cabin as the trees fought wildly amongst themselves.
Ash narrowed his eyes at Matto, as he began flailing in his cradle. Then turning his body, he sat down next too Prudence on a very small spot of open sofa. "Mama, may I have Iris?"
Prudence's brows furrowed at her son's request. She new perfectly well that somehow within the few days since she was born, Ash and Iris seemed to have an uncanny bond with one another. Even more so than Ash had with Elijah, and they were incredibly close. Prudence reached out and caressed the side of her son's face. "Yes, of course darling." She gently lifted Iris off her chest and passed her gingerly to Ash. He carefully nestled his sister in his arms. Holding her tight against his chest and crossed over to where Matto wrestled around in his cradle, legs and feet moving about in all directions. Ash smiled down at Iris, putting his mouth to the side of her head and whispering something into her little ear. When he pulled his head away from her, the two momentarily stared into each others eyes. Almost as if Iris had truly understood what her brother had said to her. Ash smiled softly at his sister and gently placed her next to Matto. Alice was about to protest, as she did not want Iris to be affected by Matto's agitated state. Though before her very eyes, she watched as Matto began to instantly calm himself. His wild body began to still and his breathing evened out, to a soft whimper. Alice tilted her head in astonishment as Iris seemed to almost grasp his little arm in her tiny palm. She watched mouth agape as her son softly fluttered his eyes shut, lulled to sleep by Iris's slight heartbeat. Peaceful the two remained, even as another powerful crack of thunder descended upon them. A sound so loud it seemed to shake the very foundation of the cabin.
"Well isn't that remarkable!" Sampson said from behind Alice, having appeared from deep within the cabin.
Ash looked up at the sound of his grandfather's voice and noticed that Uncas, Nathaniel and Martin had all gathered around to regard the sight before them. Uncas put both of his solid palms on Alice's shoulders, leaning far over her head and peering into the cradle beneath her. Uncas tilted his head to the side absorbing the scene below him. A brave warrior soothed by the presence of a rainbow. He laughed out loud at the thought, a wide smile playing across his face.
Cora observed the scene from her spot in the soft chair. She had outstretched her legs and rested them atop the long wooden table that separated the chairs from the sofa. Her hands dangled off the rounded sides of the sofa with fingers folded together atop her belly. A soft smile began emerging across her face as she watched Matto and Iris sleep soundly in their shared cradle. How sweet they both were she thought, laying curled up next to each other. The sound of their heartbeats thumping in tandem, lulling them into quietude. She stared briefly at the back of Ash's head, thinking he was an absolutely brilliant child to have come up with such an idea.
"Ash?" At the sound of his name, Ash swiveled his body around to face Cora. "Whatever made you think to do that?"
Ash smiled widely and said, "Mama told me once that sometimes when we were cranky, she would put me and Elijah in the same cradle at it would calm us. I know we are brothers, but I thought that maybe it would work for Iris and Matto too."
"That's right, I did used to do that. Good memory darling!" Prudence said from the couch, extending her arm in his direction and motioning for him to come to her. Ash triumphantly padded over to Prudence's open arms and snuggled in against her chest, rather pleased with himself.
Cora continued to watch the cradle, the little babes sleeping peacefully within it. She began trailing her thumbs against her own belly, rubbing them in small circles around her womb. Her thoughts drifting to her own future. Cora thought of their newly finished cabin, completed only yesterday. How the freshly cut wood was still ripe with the scent of the forest. After Prudences' ordeal passed, the men had almost immediately gotten back to work on the finishing touches of cabin. With the exception of Martin, who would not leave Prudence in her still recovering state. Chingachgook had decided to take his place, making certain to complete the cabin as soon as possible.
As of now all the supplies they had purchased sat splayed across the floor of their cabin. Cora was filled with anticipation to begin organizing their new belongings throughout their home. She sat back against the chair and closed her eyes, imagining where she would put her new effects. She pictured the wooden table and bench that Martin had crafted for them and how it sat lonely in the newly built kitchen. The two soft chairs that Nathaniel had purchased in town, their dark blue fabric and how it pulled taut against its cushions. She considered where she might place them in the common room. Perhaps in front of the fire on either side of the hearth, so she and Nathaniel might sit there and talk long into the evening hours. As well as the table, Martin and Chingachgook built a beautiful bed frame, intricately carved at the top were several intertwining vines. The added detail had been Martin's idea, a wedding gift he stated when she first took in its beautiful sight. Cora had been almost overwhelmed with emotion by the gesture, though Nathaniel merely smacked Martin on the shoulder and chided his overachieving personality.
Cora uncrossed her bare ankles and gently pulled her legs down from the table where they casually rested. She rose from her comfy position within the soft chair, leaving behind a light imprint where her body used to be. She slowly crossed the room, walking behind the long sofa and trailing her hands across its back. Nathaniel had seen her move like that before, he waited and watched as she slowly crept closer to him. When finally she came up from behind him, wrapping her arms around his waist and resting her head against his back.
Nathaniel held tight to her slender arms and turned his head as far back as he could go and said, "You okay?"
Cora nodded her head yes into his back and asked, "Is it raining hard yet?"
"A bit, though it is threatening to downpour at any moment."
"Do you think we could make it to our cabin, if we run?" Cora leaned her body further into his, silently enticing him towards her cause.
Nathaniel turned his body around, facing her. He narrowed his blue eyes playfully and said, "Depends how fast you are."
Cora lifted her head upward, her brown eyes boring into his blue ones and said, "Oh I am fast sir."
Nathaniel lifted a quizzical eyebrow and began slowly pulling her towards the wide open cabin door. Another loud wail of thunder crashed over head, bringing with it a forceful gust of wind. The violent breeze entering the cabin and blowing away anything not secured in its path. As the family began scurrying around the cabin retrieving the scattered items, Nathaniel and Cora quickly exited and began running at a full sprint in the direction of their own cabin.
Large droplets of rain began pelting at their head and shoulders from the cranky sky above. Nathaniel quickened his pace, never letting go of Cora's hand swiftly pulling her along with him. They had just passed the cornfield as the sky fully opened up, dousing them in a vicious downpour of water. Cora gripped tighter to Nathaniel's hand and held firmly to her now drenched skirts, desperately trying to keep them up and away from the muck ridden ground below. She followed as he agilely weaved around thick mud puddles, careful to avoid slipping into the filthy brown ponds that had begun forming all about the cabin. Cora followed his direction perfectly until she took a slippery misstep, her body stumbling under her slick bare feet. Nathaniel quickly caught her by the elbow before she fell and then using both arms, swopped her up off her feet into his embrace. He pulled her tight against his chest, securing her body against him. The rain had completely soaked through their clothes as Nathaniel quickly took the several steps unto their porch and crossed the threshold into their newly built cabin.
Nathaniel crossed the threshold of the cabin, catching the door with his foot and shutting it with a soft kick. He strode further into their home, still holding Cora in his arms.
"Are you going to put me down?" Cora looked up from under her long eyelashes.
Nathaniel walked them over to the kitchen table, placing her gently on the edge of the sturdy wood. He pushed aside her wet matted hair, exposing more of her alluring face. Nathaniel ran his finger across her skin, wiping away the warm water droplets that were sliding down the tip of her nose. His eyes rolling up and down her wet body, admiring the way the wet fabric laid tightly against her limbs. The ends of her hair were dripping with rain, a slow stream of water trailing off her dark brown locks and gradually making their way to the wooden floor beneath her dangling mud covered bare feet. Cora fidgeted with her soddened dress, shifting the heavy material from side to side in an attempt to make herself more comfortable.
Nathaniel stood just in front of her, watching as she continued to fight with her weighted frock. A small smirk began playing across his face as he stepped into her space, gently spreading her legs apart as he made his way between them. Cora's breath hitched a bit as Nathaniel pursued further into her spot atop the table, her legs quivering ever so slightly at his closeness. Having felt the sudden vibration from her thighs, Nathaniel softly gripped her hands. Slowly taking them away from her sopping wet attire and placing them palms down atop the wooden table. Cora made to speak but was quieted by the ardent way in which Nathaniel was staring at her. All she could focus on was the blue of his eyes, as he nonchalantly leaned into her and began gently pressing his mouth against hers.
It only took a moment before, Cora and Nathaniel hastily wrapped their arms around each other. Feeling for every sensitive spot on each other's body. Cora had forcefully tugged Nathaniel's wet shirt away from his skin, letting it fall in a clump at the floor beneath them. Then continued her sensual assault of his body. Cora ran her fingers across every part of him that was covered in skin, listening intently to the husky sound of his breathing. She dragged her seductive fingers down his chest to the waist line of his trousers, sliding them in-between his skin and the troublesome fabric. She trailed them around to the front where she fumbled with the buttons. Her usually nibble fingers failing her, as she was unable to breach the barrier of his waistline. Her impatience growing with each passing moment. Cora vigorously yanked his trousers open, sending several buttons soaring across the room in all directions. Nathaniel smiled wickedly at her enthusiasm and began peeling his trouser away from his body. Finally pushing away the clothing with his foot and standing before her entirely naked.
Cora scooted her body all the way to the edge of the table, wrapping her legs tightly around him and pulling him flush against her. She could feel her heart threatening to pound out of her chest, each beat thumping hard against her ribcage in anticipation. Nathaniel could feel his desire for her growing. He was barely able to see straight as he stood naked under her sensual assault. His body already reflecting what his mind was thinking. Cora began sliding her mouth across his neck and collarbone, driving Nathaniel's eagerness for her further along. He began emphatically pulling at the laces of her dress. The heavy material refusing to budge. Nathaniel tried every method he could think of to remove Cora's saturated dress, to no avail. The fabric quickly becoming a burden to their heated exchange. When finally frustration took ahold of him and he made the rash decision to literally tear it away from her body. Nathaniel tugged forcefully at the dress, pulling it hard from her shoulders. He could hear the fabric screech as the seems began to burst open, reveling more and more of Cora's sun kissed skin. When he had finally exposed her from the waist up, Nathaniel began eagerly kissing and caressing her soft skin. Cora flung her head back, a hunger for him pumping wildly throughout Cora's vines turning her blood hot. She shifted her wet skirts upwards, granting him access to her body. Nathaniel entered her without pause. The warm feeling of their connection sending ripples throughout both their bodies. Nathaniel slid his palms up and down the soft skin on her back, slowly guiding her body backwards against the table. He glided his hands around her chest grazing his finger tip across her smooth skin, before dragging them downwards towards her full hips. Cora reached up, gripping hard to his muscular arms, savoring the stoney feel of his muscles beneath her grip. Nathaniel held firmly to hips as she arched her back upwards towards him. Her dark brown eyes pinched tightly shut, setting her conscious mind free. He smiled down at her, enthralled by her reaction to him and watched as she became overwhelmed by the pleasure of the moment. The sight of her squirming beneath him proving too much for him to witness. When he felt the familiar convulsion of her body around him, Nathaniel allowed his eyes to fall shut and granted his own senses permission to succumb to the feeling of sweet release.
Cora eased her body back down flush against the table and felt her body relax, every limb in repose as she laid beneath her husband. Her chest was bare and her dress laid scrunched up around her hips, fully exposing her legs. She looked up at Nathaniel as he began to slowly regain his bearings. His head was dangling downwards from his neck, hair mussed all around his face. A look of contentment splayed across the now serene features of his face. Cora smiled to herself with satisfaction, knowing she was reason for his calm demeanor. Slowly she drifted her eyes away from her husband to her sparse surroundings. She looked towards the common room with its random objects spread across the floor. Then towards the flameless hearth, still perfectly clean from having never been used. The realization hitting her that this was their first time together in their new home. An elated smile forming on her lips at the thought that their new life together had just begun in this very moment.
Nathaniel hung his head low with pleasant relief. A perfect calmness having taken over his body. He rolled his eyes over Cora's perfectly unmarked skin. A well bread English lady's skin, untouched by violence and disease. His eyes made their way down from her neck and chest, to her thin waist. His stare fixated on the wet skin surrounding her abdomen. He furrowed his brows as he began tracing his fingers across her soft flesh. His fingertips gliding gently over the uneven terrain that was once flat and smooth. Nathaniel pulled her dress further down her hips, exposing the smallest bit of raised skin. His eyes quickly darted towards Cora's pleased face. She had pulled her arms up and folded them under her head, creating a pillow of flesh beneath her head. Making it easier from her position to see Nathaniel's shocked expression.
"Are you…" Nathaniel trailed off before he could complete his thought fully.
Cora softly smiled up at him, merely nodding her head in conformation. Nathaniel stood before her stunned. "When? How?" He stuttered out.
Cora pulled herself up into a sitting position, bringing her face upwards to his. She wrapped her arms around his neck and responded, "I was not sure at first. In the beginning I would still bleed some, making me think I was not." She eyed Nathaniel, carefully assessing his demeanor and continued, "After the arrival of little Matto, I sought out Alice and began asking her questions. Alice had had a very normal, uncomplicated pregnancy, so together we turned to Pru for council. She examined me while all you men were off working on the cabin and confirmed what I had already suspected to be true." Cora placed her forehead against his, staring even deeper into his blue eyes, desperate to get a better read on his mood. "I am almost four months pregnant." She stated simply.
"Four months! Four months and you didn't think to tell me!" Nathaniel had indeed raised his voice at her though not in anger, but rather hurt. He was hurt that she had waited nearly four months to tell him that his child grew inside her.
Cora, having anticipated his reaction, caressed his face gently with both of her palms. Rubbing her thumbs underneath his blue eyes. "I am sorry my darling for keeping it from you. I was not sure at first and then when I was finally certain I was positively desperate to find the right time, to tell you in the right way. Then before I kew it, time was slipping away and Prudence had almost died. I was planning to tell you today, though seeing the look on your face as you discovered it on your own was absolutely priceless." Cora lifted his face to hers and brushed her thin lips against his, waiting patiently for him to reciprocate her gentle affection. Nathaniel wanted his sour mood to linger, somehow punishing her for her silence. Though with her mouth against his, he found that he simply could not do it. When finally Nathaniel allowed his shock and hurt to pass, he pressed his lips firmly against hers and kissed her passionately.
Cora smiled into Nathaniel's mouth and said, "You are going to be a papa, Nathaniel!"
Nathaniel awkwardly smiled back as the realization finally hit him. "I am terrified already."
"Nonsense! If we have a boy you will teach him how to be a proper man and if we have a girl you will show her what a proper man is, so she knows how a man should treat her. Either way you will protect our child with your life. All the while showing them the utter importance of love and family" Cora cupped his chin with her hand, drawing his downcast eyes back up towards hers. "You see, you will be a remarkable father. Just leave the table manners to me!" Nathaniel's apprehension being instantly replaced by a wide grin as he laughed outwardly at her joke.
He lifted her down off the table, making sure both feet were flat on the wooden floor before releasing her and began toying with the fabric of her once well sewn dress. "It appears I may have ruined your pretty dress." He lifted up the torn sleeves of both arms of her dress, spinning them in small circles for her to see.
"That is quite alright! Do you know the one thing I have been dreaming of since you started building this cabin?"
Nathaniel narrowed his quizzical eyes at her and answered, "No wife, tell me."
Cora smiled wickedly at him and began shimming out of her still sodden dress. When finally it landed with a plop on the wooden floor, shoving it even further away from her with her foot. "I have wanted to strut around my own home, naked as the day that I was born!" She grabbed Nathaniel's hands and spun them both in a small circle. "Now Mr. Poe, kindly start a fire in the hearth while I put our things away!"
Nathaniel watched as Cora swayed to and fro picking up their newly purchased belongings, deciding where best to put them. She hummed a sweet tune that he knew as one of the happier melodies that Martin often played in celebration. He stood silently enamored with her, his wife and mother of his unborn child. Nathaniel could not imagine is life in any other way, mutely thanking God and The Great Spirit for sending him to the road that swelteringly hot summer day almost a year ago. Cora turned slightly from her position in the kitchen, throwing him a sweet smile from over her shoulder. Nathaniel's grin grew wide across his own face and he said, "Yes Ma'am!"
Author's Note: It took a long time for me to decide when to drop Nathaniel and Cora's baby bomb. It seemed too much to me to have all three women in generally the same stage of pregnancy at the same time! Plus, Cora and Nathaniel did not have their own room so their private time was limited! I really liked the idea of them having this incredible first experience in the their own home. Where they get to be themselves and play by their own rules!
For MohawkWoman: I promise you will see a least some of what Prudence wanted to say to Martin.
For BlueSaffire: I'm glad it was helpful hearing how Alice felt about Uncas watching Prudence's birth, and how she felt in no way dishonored by it. Also, I had to use Martin's beautiful violin skills somewhere else in the story! He was a complete mess over Prudence and when you are a musician, what better way to try and convey your emotion then through your music! As far as Prudence is concerned, I knew one of the characters needed to confront her. I almost made it Nathaniel but I felt like she would have brushed her brothers words aside with a simple "I'm fine." like she did before his wedding. So then it had to be a father figure and something about Sampson just seemed right. As you say, he is one of the few people who can "take Prudence on" :)
For ELY72: I LOVED the part where Martin played for Prudence! It was just seemed so natural for him to do it. Like the story states, he only ever plays for her!
For Eilan21: I liked the idea of having her two "fathers" with her during that horrible experience! Believe me, Prudence needed Chingachgook's loving arms around her while that nightmare was happening to her! And don't worry about Sampson...it's mentioned way back in the beginning that he's a doctor!
Thank you again to everyone that commented, ELY72, BlueSaffire, MohawkWoman, Eilan21 your support really is amazing and truly does help keep me moving along!
Thanks for reading :)