I Own no one…….
So that he wouldn't have to see Monica, Chandler rose an hour before sunrise and got a quick breakfast of cold meat and bread and then left to start work. He never would really talk with her anymore. Just asked quick to the point questions if he was around her and needed to know anything. If he found that he had to be around her.
But he tried his best not to be around her. Even going as far as to say that she did not have to help him with the accounts. So he ended up staying up much later to work on the books for the plantation by himself. And during that time, he had a lot of time to think.
He thought about his life. After what happened, he knew in his heart, that he would never be able to marry for love. He wanted that more than anything. He wanted what his grandmother and grandfather had between them.
His father and mother never had love. It was an arrangement between them, or a business arrangement, and thus they did not love each other. And that helped to create a gap in the marriage, that continued to this day where they did not want to be around each other. But his grandparents did. They tried to spend every spare minute together that they could. And he grew up seeing that. And wanted what they had. They were so happy together sharing their life with each other.
One evening, he started to really dwell on it. He had just finished his accounts in the study and was enjoying some wine while sitting by the fire.
What was the use of having this big profitable farm, if there was not going to be anyone to share it with. He was in love with Monica, even after she had said that and spurned him. But, he knew that she did not want him. Thinking about what she said, he started to think that no one would.
Maybe she saw into his soul. And she knew that something terrible had happened. She probably could read what happened as well as see it in his eyes. He could tell it in her eyes, that she thought of him, not as a man but as a monster. No one could ever love him.
Maybe he should see to the future of the farm and start courting Rachel Green. Yes, he should do that. That is what is important, the farm. She knew that it would be good, so they could combine the lands and their fortunes.
Of course there is no love there, and that broke his heart, but he knew that he had to get those romantic concepts of love out of his head and get realistic. Maybe, he would eventually fall in love with her. He already respected her, and that was just one step away. Right?
He sighed sadly as he drank down the rest of his wine. He then made his mind up and got up to go to his room for a fitful night's sleep. Still trying to fight off the dream that he had of Monica and what she said.
The next morning he got dressed in one of his formal suits and went and had a groom to saddle his horse. Joey saw him and walked up to him.
"Hey, Chandler. Where are you off to?" Joey asked. He knew that Chandler told him that he told Monica how he felt and said that she did not feel the same way.
"The Green farm to see Rachel." Chandler replied not looking at Joey.
"What for?" Joey asked quietly. He already had a sneaking suspicion.
"I am going to court her, Joe." Chandler said quietly. Doing his best to not look in Joey's direction. He knew that if he did, then he would talk him out of it.
Chandler knew that he had no choice, unless he was going to will the land to someone else. He sadly stared ahead trying to concentrate on the groomsmen while they were putting the horses through their runs.
"Don't. You are not in love with her. She is not in love with you. Neither of you will be happy." Joey hoped that he could sway Chandler away from this course of action. For more ways than one.
One neither Chandler nor Rachel would be very happy. And two, if Chandler started to court her, then Rachel's mother would convince her to accept Chandler's proposal. Joey knew that would happen. Chandler would consider it his duty and obligation to marry to have at least one child. Neither would be happy if any at all.
"The only couple that I have known that were happy with each other, besides your parents, were my grandparents. It is time I faced facts, I will never find a love like that." Chandler then got up on his horse.
"Chandler…" Joey started.
"Joey, the reason I am courting Rachel is for the farm. We will get those bottom lands that are on our dividing line for the property, and we can combine our farms, so it is a good match. There is nothing more for me, besides that. And we can have at least one kid so the farm can go to him or her."
"But…" Joey began.
"Joey, I have to face facts, I will never be able to marry for love. But you will, and for that I will always envy you." Chandler gave a sad smile to Joey and spurred his horse on.
Once arriving at the Greene farm, he was shown into the study, where Leonard Greene was waiting for him. "Chandler Bing, what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?" Noticing that he was wearing formal clothes and had his hat off.
Chandler gulped, "I have come here to ask your permission to court Rachel."
Leonard Greene narrowed his eyes at Chandler. "Really? And why the change of heart?"
"What?"
"You said earlier that you felt it would not be a good idea to only marry her for the farms sakes. That you wanted to marry for love. What changed?"
"I have decided to put all my childish concerns and dreams aside and do the responsible thing. To go ahead and secure my family name and farm for future generations."
"What? Those dreams…"
"Those dreams were all good as long as they did not affect the farm. But when they started to get in way of it's future then I had to push them aside. And be realistic. I am not only responsible for the farm but also the families and people that live on it. I am being very selfish."
"Chandler what happened?"
"I had just got woken up hard from my dreams with a jolt of reality. That is all I will say."
"Fine."
"Now about me getting to court Rachel."
"Chandler I trust you, but I want you to wait for three months before you do. By that time, you will have everything thought out."
"Ok, Mr. Greene. Good day." Chandler then left the study.
Soon after he left, Saundra Greene appeared. "Well, I heard you both talking and heard Rachel's name mentioned. Did he come to court her?"
"Yes." Mr. Greene lit his pipe.
"It is about time. That boy can not stay a bachlor forever. It is time he took up his responsibilities and joined his rightful place in society. I will make sure that Rachel shows him the error of his ways and teaches him the correct way a gentle man ofhis stature is to act."
"I am sure you would."
"It is our job to make sure you men do not turn savage. The quicker he starts courting, the better."
"I told him I would give him permission to court her in three months time."
"What? Why did you do that?"
"To see if it is Rachel he really wants to marry. I will not let them marry if it is just for land and fortunes."
"But…" "Saundra, they can not have a marriage set up like the old ways. I love Rachel very much and think of Chandler as a son and I will not see either one unhappy. And if they marry for just land, that will cut their spirits and I will not have it."
"So you let him choose."
"He has successfully been running a farm since he was a young boy. I have complete faith in his decisions." He then led Saundra to the library. "Let us see how Mr. Geller is teaching our daughters."
They did not even have to enter, they both could hear the argument outside in the hallway. "The reason why the stamp and sugar acts were applied was because it was to pay for the French Indian War, that these colonies started."
"Not applied, IMPOSED! If the colonies could send representatives they could vote like any good Englishman."
"After how much money the 'children' cost the mother country, they have no right."
"If England goes any further with imposed taxes then the colonist will rise up."
"And England will punish them."
"The king and Parliament has no right to force taxes onus without representation."
"Enough! Jill, Amy go to your room and continue on your drawing and sewing. Rachel and Mr. Geller a word."
"Mr. Geller, has Rachel been taught enough?"
"I can teach her no more."
"Fine, then Rachel I will teach you all I know about the farm and the account books. And it will be easier to teach Jill and Amy."
"What?" Saundra was not happy.
"Rachel is to inherit the farm and I want her to know this place inside out. And since she is getting it, I will teach her not to be easily fooled. If I pass away, she is to run this place. And hopefully she will find a good man to be her husband. Someone who will not see revenues nor this farm when they look at her."
"The only way to do that is to burn everything." Saundra Greene walked out in a huff.
Mr. Greene turned toward Rachel. "From here on out, you will accompany me all around this farm and to the account room and see how I barter the farm goods. The first trip we will make will be to the study to check the accounting books."
Rachel and Leonard then left. Rachel happy that she would not have to continue studying since she already knew most of it, she found it very boring. Ross was a bit sad, although, he and Rachel argued, he was going to miss her smile.
"Well, you are courting her." Joey stated aloud to his friend once he arrived back.
Chandler looked into Joey's steady gaze and saw his lifeless eyes. HE then smiled. "No, Joe. Mr. Greene felt it would be a better idea for me to think about what I want for three months before I make any hasty decisions."
"Really?" Joey smiled.
Chandler grinned at his friend. "Yes. And I am glad he did."
"What made you want to court Rachel anyway?"
"I took your advice and told Monica how I felt."
Joey frowned. "What happened?" "There is no way for us to be together."
"She said that?"
Chandler frowned hard and his eyes lost their sparkle. "In so many words." Chandler then left his horse with a groom and walked back to the house to change.
On his way he saw Jack's apprentice running toward him. "Chandler, Jack asked me to come and get you. He says it is very important." Chandler ran off towards the Geller cottage.
Once he ran in he saw that Jack was holding Judy down with Monica standing to the side, crying. With a slap mark across her face. "What happened?"
"She just slapped Monica and then started to throw things." It was then that Joey ran in.
"Joey, take my fastest horse and get the doctor."
"But you have been saving him for the race tommorrow."
"Joey, NOW!"
"Fine, but he will not be ready for the race."
"I know." Joey then left.
"Chandler, thanks." Jack smiled.
"Don't thank me yet. I have no idea if she can be helped."
"You have already done so much for my family."
"I like to think I would do it for anyone."
One hour later, Judy lay asleep in her bed. She was given a sedative.
"I am not going to lie to you. She is never going to get better. I can suggest only two ways to help her out. One, put her in a mental hospital like the one in Williamsburg, VA. Or I can give you medicine to keep her quiet. But that is going to be more expensive."
"I think that she will do better being here with her family and taking the medicine."
"Ok, fine."
"Let's go up to the house. I can pay you and we can make arrangements about getting plenty of medicines." They then left not noticing that Monica was watching them leave with tears falling down her face. And discovering that she was wrong about Chandler.
Now maybe I can start to update more frequently, since my computer is back to working again. I hope…..