This is just a transition chapter. It's just moving us west and getting settled, the next chapter will have more in it.
Chapter 14
The train depot was crowded and Liz stayed close to her new husband. Clutching his arm she strained for a last view of her family. They had married earlier that day, Liz had changed from her beautiful wedding gown into a simple traveling gown.
Cassidy had been devastated when she learned that both her dear Mr. Evans and Aunt were going to leave. Though she was now thrilled that could call him Uncle Max. Serena had shed her own tears for her sister-in-law. But the breaking point was for Kyle. Liz had clutched him and was reluctant to let go when Max tugged her gently to his side. Kyle had been her best friend, had looked out for her since she was born, and been her confidant. Liz knew his heart had been breaking when she let go as well. Her mother and father were there as well, but their goodbyes had been less tearful. It had been polite and Liz was none to sorry to leave them.
The news that Nellie would not be joining her for another year at least was heartbreaking, but Liz assured her that they would in time see each other again.
"Come on, Love." Max directed her to the train compartment. Lady scampered along behind them and yapped. "Liz…"
"Lady, hush, that's enough." She laughed. "If you spoke to her more, she'd respond to your commands."
"She's your dog." Max said and bent to lift the dog onto the train. For once the dog didn't snap at him. Lady still viewed Max as the enemy, no matter how much he was around.
Lady growled. "Hush, dog." Max snipped.
Max took her hand and gently squeezed it. "Did you pack your light clothes on top? When we get closer to New Mexico it's going to get pretty warm."
"I'll be alright."
"You brought parasols right?" He said looking at her and touching her cheek. "You're skin is so pale I don't want you to burn."
"I won't." She said.
"Liz…" He stopped.
"Max, we're going to be fine, I'm going to be fine, Lady is going to be fine." Liz assured him.
"Are you sorry you had to leave your family?"
Liz paused for a moment. "Not sorry. We're going to start a new one, right?" She asked.
"Yes, our own." He caressed her cheek and was content. "When you're ready, as I promised."
The heat was more than Liz ever could have imagined. Poor Lady couldn't even find it in her to bark.
"Michael!" Max directed his wife through the crowd. He could see the heat was getting to her and he hoped she wouldn't faint on him.
"Maxwell, good to see you again." Michael greeted.
"Michael, Maria, this is my wife, Liz." Max said and held Liz close to him.
"Pleasure." Michael greeted her.
The two women eyed each other, gauging how the other would respond.
Liz felt the heavy gaze of the other woman and looked down. She tried to smile but decided it was safer to scoot closer to Max. Under her lashes Liz studied the woman. She wasn't much taller than herself, but was blonde as Liz was dark. Her eyes as blue as Liz's were brown.
"Hello, Mrs. Evans." The woman said over brightly.
"Mrs. Guerin." Liz said quietly. She looked up at Max and knew she had to look a mess. She had just stepped off a train after five days travel. Her clothes were wrinkled and her hair mussed. "I hope you excuse my appearance, we've come a long way."
Studying the woman across from her, Maria Guerin decided she like her.
"You should have seen me when I got off the train, at least you're amiable." Maria grabbed her arm and drew her to her side. "I was a horrible, and it wasn't even my first day."
Liz let out a nervous laugh and looked back at Max to save her.
Maria ignored her new friend's appeal for help and tugged her along. "Your accent, Mrs. Evans, where are you from?" She asked bravely. "And excuse me if I'm impolite in asking."
Liz's nervous eyes flew to Max, back East no one had dared question, though they all knew. "Please, call me, Liz. And it's Irish, I was born in Galway."
"Liz, please call me Maria then." She stopped. "Looks like we'll fit in perfectly." Maria said happily. "I'm just a coal miner's daughter."
Liz let a surprised laugh escape her. "Out here, honey," Maria started. "It doesn't matter where you're from. Our men marry whom they please, when they please. Is that your dog?"
"Yes, her name is Lady." Liz said liking Maria as time passed.
"She's for protection?"
"Sort of, more of a companion."
"Good, she'd do nothing for you out here." Maria said and then glanced at her attire. "You must be hot, honey."
"Desperately." Liz laughed. "I didn't think Max really meant this hot."
"You've got a lot to learn about hot, honey."
"I guessed that." Liz breathed as they began their journey to her new home.
They had been home the whole afternoon and Maria and Liz still had yet to part company. Max wanted to show his wife her home in peace but Liz seemed to be enjoying the other woman so much he couldn't bear to send the Guerins home.
Max climbed the stairs to his wife's rooms and heard the eager chatter; he had never heard Liz so lively, chatting so much. He imagined this was how she was in a setting where she was comfortable and wondered if she would become eager to talk to him in the near future.
Max smiled when he found them discussing clothing.
"Here, I'll send over a few of my clothes until you can have some made for you. What you brought is light for New York, honey."
"I'll have to speak to Max first." Liz said unsure. Maria's lighter blouse and skirt felt wonderful. "And I couldn't possibly take your clothes."
"Oh please, I have plenty, and you're the only woman I can share with."
"Alright." She nodded.
Lady started barking and Liz ignored her. She walked over to the window to study her new yard. There were little patches of grass and she wondered how they survived.
"Maria, how much of this does my husband own?"
"As far as you can see." Maria said.
"Truly?" Liz asked.
"Yes." Maria said. "It's hard to accept at first." She walked over to the window. "Michael owns nearly as much. I'm just a coal miner's daughter, never in a hundred years would I ever even thought I would be married to this. Liz, why is your dog barking?"
"Hmm?" She really needed to get on Lady's case about her barking. "Oh, Max is coming."
"She barks at Max?"
"She doesn't like him." Liz explained. "Come on Lady, that's enough now."
The dog started barking more.
"What in the world?" Liz went to the hall to see why her dog hadn't obeyed. Max held the squirming animal in his arms as he climbed the stairs.
"Max, put my dog down." Liz laughed.
"She's going to bite me."
"She won't bite you." Liz said trying to hold her laughter.
"She will." He said.
"Give her to me." Liz said and took the dog into her arms. The dog quieted then Liz turned to him. "Come here, Max."
Max stepped closer. Liz took his hand and held it to the dogs face. "Good girl." She said quietly to Lady. Lady sniffed his hand. She licked it. Max grimaced but the dog ceased it's barking. "Now hold her."
Max didn't want anything to do with the dog, but he saw the look of hope on his wife's face and held the dog. She didn't bark but neither was comfortable.
Max stopped when he noticed it was one of the few times his wife had voluntarily touched him. He smiled gently at her. "I'll be nice to your dog."
"You were never mean to her." Liz said. "She's just testy."
"Is Maria staying for supper?" Max asked.
"Yes." She nodded and looked at him. "If that is ok?"
"Yes, yes, that's fine. You're mistress of the house; you decide who will join us now. You just have to tell the cook how many."
"I'll do that now."
Later, after Maria had gone home, Max escorted Liz to their rooms.
He stopped outside their room.
Liz looked up at him. Here came the awkward part. They hadn't felt right on the train, they had slept next to each other, but had not made love. "Max."
"It's alright." He smiled gently at her. "Just change love, and meet me in my room."
Her eyes widened. "Walk through the hall in my nightclothes?"
"No, there's a connecting door, love." He smiled.
"Oh." She nodded and her cheeks flushed. "I hadn't noticed."
"Don't be nervous." He said and nudged her towards the door. "You have nothing to be nervous about."
She nodded and turned into her room and shut the door behind her. She went through her necessaries and sat down at her vanity. Her hands shaking, she wondered if she would make it through the night intact. The brush shook as she gently brushed it from the thick knot at her neck, that Maria had shown her kept the heat from her neck.
Hair brushed and neatly braided she stood and grabbed her dressing gown. Slipping it on she tied the belt tight at her waist before walking to the joining door.
She knocked. "Come in."
With one last breath she opened the door. She stepped into the room with Lady trailing behind her.
"Is she going to stay?" Max asked.
"You know she'll have a fit if she's not." Liz turned to her and spoke softly to the dog who in turn went to the fire and laid down within seconds she was in a deep sleep. "There."
"Come here, Liz." Max held his hand to her.
She placed her hand in his and he looked her in the eye. "You don't have to be afraid."
"I don't know what I'm doing." She said quietly.
"I know." And it pleased him. "You'll be fine. You've slept by my side for three nights." And in those nights she had snuggled so close to him, he knew she trusted him on some level. With every jostle of the train she had moved towards him, every sudden noise had startled her and in her slumber, she had turned to him for comfort.
She nodded but looked away from him.
"Come just sleep by me, Liz, we'll work on the rest slowly." He led her to the bed.
Trusting him she let him lead her to the bed.
The next morning Liz woke to a small noise in the room. It was warm and she had removed all covers but the thin sheet. A maid bustled happily in the room, setting things about. She turned when she heard Liz shift.
"Morning." The woman bustled brightly. "I'm Ellie, the upstairs maid." She introduced. "Mr. Evans told me to tell you he went down to breakfast."
"I shall join him there then." Liz said and blushed when she realized she was still in Max's bed.
"It's good to have you, Mrs. Evans." The maid excused herself as she let her mistress get ready.
Liz couldn't find her dog but didn't worry too much about it. She was probably about exploring her new home, something she had yet to do. She made her way downstairs to the informal dining room. Lady sat at Max's side, her tail wagging furiously.
"Morning, Max." She smiled shyly at her new husband.
"Good morning, beautiful." He stood. "Have a seat, I was just waiting for you to come down."
"Thank you." She said and took her seat to her right. "You'll show me around the house today?"
"Yes, I was planning to yesterday."
"I apologize."
"No need." He said. "You were having fun. I was thinking I could take you to meet the doctor later as well."
"I would love that. Does he know I'm here?"
"Yes, he looked vastly relieved that he would receive some help. He has a young family at home to worry about as well."
"I see." She nodded. "I would be delighted."
"I know." He said. "And we'll go into town and order you new outfits."
Liz nodded. "Sounds wonderful."
tbc