Winnie stood, grasping the black, metal bars that had once been her prison,
but now it seemed only just to taunt her, dare her to take a step outside.
She knew she mustn't, but she wanted to with every fiber of her being.
If she did gather the courage to take a step beyond the gates and venture into the town, she knew what would happen. The adults would shake their heads in pity and rush their staring children away from her.
It was like she wasn't living anymore. People were treating her as if she came from another world. All that she wanted was a friend; someone who understood; someone to be with her when she brought her baby into the world.
She placed her hands on her inflated stomach and smiled. She didn't know why people pitied her. She was happy, but now her body became her prison.
When her mother found out Winnie's secret, she cut short their trip to see the world and they turned back and headed home.
Frowning at the memory, she turned to go inside; there was nothing for her out here. The sound of a fast approaching horse made her stop. Her mother owned an automobile.
Winnie whipped around to see who the rider was. Her heart skipped a beat as she saw Miles pull up and dismount from his worn-out mare.
"Miles! What are you doing here?" she asked in complete shock.
Instead of answering her question, he walked right up to her and hugged her with all of his might. He had even taken care to watch out for her stomach. She had forgotten how good it feels to be hugged. Emotions swelled up inside her.
Pulling away, Miles said, "It's true then."
Suddenly feeling shy, Winnie looked at the ground intently. Her face burned in embarrassment.
"Does he know?" She asked.
"No, he doesn't"
She sighed in relief.
Miles looked at her puzzled.
"Do you want him to know?"
"Yes....and....no" she shifted on her feet uncertain of her answer, "He is the father. He has every right to know, but, Miles, do you know what would happen if he did find out? He'd rush over here and as soon as the baby is born he would make me drink the water, and we'd rush off and live an adventure forever. When the baby got old enough they'd have to drink the water too. Then they'd make their spouse drink it and then their children. It's going to keep on going, forever, just like you. It'd never end and soon enough we'd have a hundred people regretting their decision. Do you see what I mean? Jess cannot find out until it is too late."
Miles' heart went out to Winnie. He suddenly realized then and there what would have happened if his wife and his children had drank the water. It wouldn't have been fair to make them drink it. It was unfair to Winnie that she had this terrible burden to carry for the rest of her life. It wasn't fair that she had to raise a child all by herself and to know that she mustn't tell Jesse in fear of her life and the life of her child. It wasn't fair at all.
Winnie looked up at the sky hoping that Miles wouldn't see how close she was to tears.
Miles looked at her gentle face and felt increasing anger towards his younger brother. He never thought before he acted and look where it led him. The only girl he had ever love could now never be his. Jesse wasn't the only one who had feelings for Winnie and it was because of this love that made Miles do the unthinkable.
"Winnie," he said grasping her hands in his.
Something about the tone of his voice made her meet his gaze.
He continued, "Nobody should ever have to raise a child alone. I am going to stay with you every step of the way."
Unable to hold it in anymore, silent tears streamed down her face.
"You'd really do that?" She asked.
"Of course. I care for you too much let go through this alone."
Winnie let out a couple of sobs and Miles engulfed her into another hug.
She stopped crying as she suddenly realized something.
"What will happen when they find out you're a Tuck? They'll..."
"Calm down." He said rubbing her shoulders in reassurance. She was still leaning against his chest. "Nobody will recognize me. Only the sheriff saw me, and people think he is insane. Besides, when I'm not with my family I am Miles Jackson, a wealthy carpenter."
Leaving it at that Winnie just hugged him tighter.
Everything was working out. Her baby would have a father and she wouldn't go through this alone.
A/N: You like? r/r!
If she did gather the courage to take a step beyond the gates and venture into the town, she knew what would happen. The adults would shake their heads in pity and rush their staring children away from her.
It was like she wasn't living anymore. People were treating her as if she came from another world. All that she wanted was a friend; someone who understood; someone to be with her when she brought her baby into the world.
She placed her hands on her inflated stomach and smiled. She didn't know why people pitied her. She was happy, but now her body became her prison.
When her mother found out Winnie's secret, she cut short their trip to see the world and they turned back and headed home.
Frowning at the memory, she turned to go inside; there was nothing for her out here. The sound of a fast approaching horse made her stop. Her mother owned an automobile.
Winnie whipped around to see who the rider was. Her heart skipped a beat as she saw Miles pull up and dismount from his worn-out mare.
"Miles! What are you doing here?" she asked in complete shock.
Instead of answering her question, he walked right up to her and hugged her with all of his might. He had even taken care to watch out for her stomach. She had forgotten how good it feels to be hugged. Emotions swelled up inside her.
Pulling away, Miles said, "It's true then."
Suddenly feeling shy, Winnie looked at the ground intently. Her face burned in embarrassment.
"Does he know?" She asked.
"No, he doesn't"
She sighed in relief.
Miles looked at her puzzled.
"Do you want him to know?"
"Yes....and....no" she shifted on her feet uncertain of her answer, "He is the father. He has every right to know, but, Miles, do you know what would happen if he did find out? He'd rush over here and as soon as the baby is born he would make me drink the water, and we'd rush off and live an adventure forever. When the baby got old enough they'd have to drink the water too. Then they'd make their spouse drink it and then their children. It's going to keep on going, forever, just like you. It'd never end and soon enough we'd have a hundred people regretting their decision. Do you see what I mean? Jess cannot find out until it is too late."
Miles' heart went out to Winnie. He suddenly realized then and there what would have happened if his wife and his children had drank the water. It wouldn't have been fair to make them drink it. It was unfair to Winnie that she had this terrible burden to carry for the rest of her life. It wasn't fair that she had to raise a child all by herself and to know that she mustn't tell Jesse in fear of her life and the life of her child. It wasn't fair at all.
Winnie looked up at the sky hoping that Miles wouldn't see how close she was to tears.
Miles looked at her gentle face and felt increasing anger towards his younger brother. He never thought before he acted and look where it led him. The only girl he had ever love could now never be his. Jesse wasn't the only one who had feelings for Winnie and it was because of this love that made Miles do the unthinkable.
"Winnie," he said grasping her hands in his.
Something about the tone of his voice made her meet his gaze.
He continued, "Nobody should ever have to raise a child alone. I am going to stay with you every step of the way."
Unable to hold it in anymore, silent tears streamed down her face.
"You'd really do that?" She asked.
"Of course. I care for you too much let go through this alone."
Winnie let out a couple of sobs and Miles engulfed her into another hug.
She stopped crying as she suddenly realized something.
"What will happen when they find out you're a Tuck? They'll..."
"Calm down." He said rubbing her shoulders in reassurance. She was still leaning against his chest. "Nobody will recognize me. Only the sheriff saw me, and people think he is insane. Besides, when I'm not with my family I am Miles Jackson, a wealthy carpenter."
Leaving it at that Winnie just hugged him tighter.
Everything was working out. Her baby would have a father and she wouldn't go through this alone.
A/N: You like? r/r!