Sorry for the wait!

Chapter 15

It had been three weeks since the Evans had moved west.

Liz ran into the house and upstairs to her room to change. She was already late for supper and wondered if Max would be angry with her. She had never been late before, but there was an emergency and she couldn't leave. Hurrying down the stairs and into the dining room, Liz paused to study her husband's reaction.

"Good evening." He stood.

Liz approached cautiously. Jim Valenti had always been angry if she was late for anything on account of a patient. She sat at the chair to her husband's right.

"I'm sorry I'm late." She said quietly.

"It's alright." Max said. "Did everything go as planned?"

"Yes." Liz answered and glanced up at her husband. "You're not angry, for me being late?"

"Why would I be, you've work to do. There will be times when I am late or miss supper all together."

She smiled gratefully. "It won't happen often."

"I know." He pulled something from his vest pocket. "You've got two letters in the mail today."

Her eyes lit up. "From who?"

"One from Cassidy and one from Serena." He handed them to her. "Go ahead and read them."

The first one was addressed to Mrs. Max Evans, Aunt Liz.

Dear Aunt Liz,

It has been a long time or so it seems since you and Uncle Max left. Our assignment for school was to write a letter to a relative using correct form. Other girls do not have relatives far away so I'm lucky. I miss you.

Patricia Delaney and her friends are already wearing long dresses, instead of the frocks we wear at Miss Milton's school for young girls. It does not seem fair. Mummy says in time I will be old enough. We are also designing proper calling cards and I have enclosed one for you. If you leave it on your calling plate you can pretend I visited you. I love you and Uncle Max, Aunt Liz. I hope to hear from you soon.

Yours,

Cassidy Parker-Valenti

Liz smiled as she read the letter out loud to Max.

"Surely she's too young to wear long dresses."

"Oh yes, she has a few more years." Liz giggled. "She won't wear them until she attends Mrs. Milton's for Girls." The three levels of schools Cassidy was to attend was confusing, and Liz often wondered who came up with the name. There was Miss Milton's for Young girls. Mrs. Milton's for girls, and Madame Milton's for young ladies—which was a finishing school.

"I see, and the next one, from Serena." He nodded towards it; he had already gotten a letter from Kyle and knew what it contained.

Dear Liz,

I hope you're happy there, in your new life. Things have been going well. Logan saw a mini portrait of you yesterday in my bedroom and asked "Aunt Liz?" I think he misses you. The portraits of your wedding reached us today; Nancy says she'll forward them to you, although I wonder why she did not have them sent to you straight away.

I never know what is on that woman's mind.

I'm sure Cassidy wrote to you about her frocks, the girl is growing up too fast for my liking, Liz. You are as well. When I married Kyle you were only twelve years old, now you're a wise old eighteen, soon to have a family of your own.

Liz, I do not understand how you have put up with your mother for so long. I told myself that I wouldn't tell you about what was going on here, but please answer me this, how did you have the guts to defy her? I must admit that I'm lonely here, without you, sister. Say hello to your husband for me, and be happy.

Yours,

Serena Parker-Valenti

"She's sad." Liz whispered. She hadn't read this one aloud knowing this was a more private, woman to woman conversation.

Max knew a lot more of what was going on at the Valenti household. Nancy had gone on a rampage since her only daughter had left. Part of Max felt guilty for leaving the rest of Liz's family to deal with the wrath without Liz, the one person who could control her. The rest resented Jim Valenti for not putting his foot down.

"I hope she'll be alright." She set the letter down and stared at it, her eyes filling with tears. "Mama can be…difficult." She shrugged. "I don't know what has gotten into her, really. In Ireland she was never so…controlling I would use."

"Do you miss it?" Max asked gently, to steer her mind away from such a hurtful topic. "Ireland?"

"Sometimes." She said. "There's something of your homeland that will always be with you, whether it's another country or state. Do you miss New York?"

"Yes." He answered. "Though not nearly as much as I thought I would, if I'm honest. I like the openness here."

"Me too." She smiled shyly at him.

"So was it a boy or girl?"

"Twin boys." Liz smiled. "That's why it took so long; we weren't expecting the second one."

"That's exciting." Max acknowledged his wife's happiness. He also studied her carefully, knowing that she could very well be carrying his child now.

Max heard the clang of a sewing machine as he walked upstairs. He had left early that morning and was anxious to see his wife.

He stopped in the doorway to watch expecting to see her reading or some other form of entertainment. It had never dawned on him that it would be her that would be at the sewing machine. She was humming a tune to herself in time with her foot, pumping the large metal pedal.

The sun was streaming threw the open windows and lit her face. Contrary to his belief that she would burn in the harsh New Mexican sun, her skin had turned a lovely golden hue. He knew the ladies of New York would be scandalized but the women here envied her.

"What are you doing?" He asked walking slowly inside.

"Oh, I'm making more skirts. The material came in this morning and I can't continue to wear Maria's." She said quickly.

"You do know I can hire someone to make your clothing for you."

"Yeah, I know." Liz said but looked away. "But…"

"What?"

"I sort of like to do it myself."

"Why?"

The week before she had knit a new quilt for the bed. It was beautiful but not necessary.

"I…" She kept avoiding his eyes.

"What, Liz?" He asked lightly gripping her chin so she had to keep eye contact.

"I have to…I…I'm bored, Max."

"Bored?" It had never occurred to him that she would be bored.

"I know it sounds absurd." She said wringing her hands in embarrassment. "I should be happy that I have servants and the like."

"Liz, talk to me."

"But, I'm so used to having something to do. There are only so many women out here who can give birth. The rest of the time I'm just here. In New York, I was cleaning when I was young, and studying and attending college when I was older. I didn't have time to be bored."

"I see." He said and looked out the window.

"I'm sorry. You work so hard, you don't have time to worry about entertaining me."

"I'm your husband, it's my job to worry about if you're happy or not."

"I am happy."

"You can't be if you're bored."

"I said I'm bored, not unhappy." She clarified. "I'm very happy."

"Good." He smiled and stepped closer to her. "I'll see what I can do to make you unbored."

She laughed right before his mouth closed down on hers, instantly her whole body went lax.

"Liz." Max bent and kissed his wife awake the next morning. "Wake up, darling."

She burrowed under her pillows and tried to curl closer to the warmth Max's body usually provided. Feeling the emptiness, she immediately opened her eyes. She had started to sense when he wasn't in bed with her any longer. In the morning she woke just minutes after he left the bed.

"Good morning, my darling." He smiled at her confused look. "It's about time you woke."

"It can't have been too long since you've gotten out of bed." Liz stretched. The sun was streaming through the open windows, a warm breeze filtered in.

"It's not." He said. It was later than he usually slept but with his wife snug against him he could have easily slept all day. "Get up, Maria and Michael are coming."

"Really?" She scrunched her eyebrows it was Wednesday, what could they be doing, usually Max had lots of work. "Why?"

"We're going out, I don't want you to be bored."

She stepped from the bed and reached for her wrapper. Max smiled when he noticed she didn't shy from being naked in his presence.

"Do you have work?"

"It can wait, darling, put these on." He handed her clothes.

Expecting a skirt she shook out the garment. "Max, these are riding pants."

"Yes." He nodded, watching closely for her reaction. "We're going riding."

"I figured that, but we have two problems. One, I don't know how to ride, and two these are pants and I don't have a riding skirt."

"I'm going to teach you to ride, and you're going to wear those pants."

"I can't wear pants, not with Michael or Maria." She looked at him her face full of shock.

"But you can with me?"

"Of course." She said and looked again at the pants.

He smirked, delighted with her acceptance of him. "Maria is going to wear pants. Out here ladies ride astride." Max smiled. "It's perfectly acceptable. If you wear a skirt they're going to think you are crazy."

Liz looked skeptically at the pants. "If you insist."

"I'll meet you downstairs in a half hour."

"Alright."

Holding onto the rail she stepped carefully down the stairs. The unfamiliar pants covered her every bit as well as her skirts, but gave her a great deal of freedom.

Max met her at the bottom of the stairs. "Don't be nervous you're fine."

"Couldn't I wear bloomers or something?" She asked taking his arm. "I feel scandalous in these."

"Bloomers, they allow a lady no freedom." Maria tisked.

As Max indeed had promised she was wearing riding pants as well.

"You ready to head out, Maxwell, my son is getting a little restless." The boy riding in Michael Guerin's arms was the miniature of his father. Both had on a loose shirt and Levis. When the boy was stood on his own chubby little legs, his belt buckle had a MG on it, identical to his father's.

"Liz, this is our son, Matthew." Maria said. "He's going to be turning three this summer."

Liz's face broke out in a smile. "Quite the western man there."

"Yes." Maria beamed proudly.

"Ready to go?" Max asked turning to his wife.

"Yes." Liz took a deep breath.

Max led her across the yard. She watched as Maria swung easily into the saddle, settling herself. Max waited till Michael was seated to pass up the straw-haired boy. A cowboy hat was settled on both father and son's head. Maria had one as well, though hers was more feminine.

Max walked over and took two hats from the groom who held the horse steady.

"Where's you're horse?" Liz asked looking at the animal.

"We'll share for today, until you get used to being on a horse." Max lifted her into the saddle. Her legs tightened instinctively and the horse nickered softly. "Relax, darling."

"It's really high." She said holding desperately to the saddle horn. "You're coming up right?"

"Right behind you, darling." He said. With an ease that surprised her, Max was behind her. He took the reigns from the groom and thanked him.

"Let go of the horn." He said softly in her ear.

She did, he gripped it around her keeping her close within his arms.

Her hands held his arms and she relaxed.

Max nodded to Michael.

Maria gave Liz a reassuring look as she clicked to the horse to set it off at a slow canter out. Liz watched as Michael's arms came securely around his son as he too sent his horse off, the child I a wild fit of laughter.

Max started off at a walk until he felt Liz relax against him and then he clicked to the horse and he took to a canter, not wanting to be left in the dust by his friends.

Exhausted, smiling and happy, Liz washed herself in the porcelain bathtub. The indoor plumbing was a luxury Liz was getting used to. The warm water smoothed away her cramped legs and washed the sweet smell of horses away.

Max heard the water pipes overhead shut off, and the water begin to drain. He closed his eyes and leaned back in the chair, wondering if he should give Liz the letters her mother had sent. The last one from Kyle had stated how upset Nancy Parker was at Liz for not returning them. Max had not read them, but knew they would bring nothing but sadness for his young wife.

The news Kyle had written him about was not good, and Liz was going to want to fix it.

"Enter." Max called when someone knocked on the door.

"Mr. Evans, the doctor is here, requesting Mrs. Evans' presence."

Thankful for the reprieve, Max nodded. "She just stepped out of the bath, but I'll send a maid up to her. She'll be down soon. I'll tell her where to meet you?"

"Yes, the Brown's, edge of town. There was an accident at the construction site. Mr. Brown was deeply injured, it will be a miracle if we can save his leg. The shock of it has sent Mrs. Brown into early labor." The doctor straightened. He was young and handsome and if he hadn't been happily married, Max would not allow Liz to work beside the man.

"Ok." He said. "I'll tell her to hurry."

"I'd appreciate it. Thank you, Mr. Evans."

"You're welcome, Doctor, but please call me Max."

"Then I am Adam."

Max nodded and watched the man walk out before going up to get Liz himself.

TBC