Chapter 20
As they entered their hallway at the hotel and reached Adam's room, Julie wished him a goodnight, and walked straight passed him.
"Where are you going?" he asked, knowing full well where she thinks she is going.
"To my room, of course, where do you think?"
"I think you'll find it's occupied."
"What are you talking about?"
"The hotel knows we were getting married today and have changed your room accordingly."
"Changed my room to where…. oh, my Lord! Have they done what I think they've done?"
"Yep, you're in here, with me."
"Not going to happen."
"You reneging on our agreement?"
"I'll get another room."
Adam grabbed her hand before she could disappear back down the corridor, opened their room door with his key and practically dragged her into the room. Julie was, of course, trying desperately to fight him off. Adam managed to shut the door behind them with his foot. He then let go of Julie's hand.
"What do you think you are doing? She cried.
"I'd keep your voice down somewhat, as residents will think we are having a marital tiff."
Julie realized that Adam was right about the volume, so she lowered her voice.
"I will not stay in this room with you."
"You do not have a choice," Adam told her. "We are a married couple and need to keep that appearance up." Adam held up his hand before Julie could say any more. "Will you let me explain?"
Julie stood still with her arms folded, waiting to hear his explanation.
"You and I both know this a purely a platonic relationship, and I do not intend to take any advantage of you. So please…. relax. You can sleep in the bed, and I will sleep on the floor."
"What! Surely that chair would be more comfortable than the floor."
"Actually, no it wouldn't. I've slept on the ground many times. All I'll need is a pillow and a couple of blankets."
"You promise not to try anything?"
"I promise." Although, he thought, this is not going to be the easiest night of my life.
"Alright, I see you are right, but what about the bathroom. Do we have to share it with a stranger from next door?"
"No, next door has been restricted to the room only with bathroom facilities down the hall."
He could see that Julie had relaxed a little at that and he himself was relieved to find that these new arrangements had gone better than he thought. He was expecting a much bigger fight on his hands than she gave him. He allowed himself a little smile.
"So," Adam began, "you can get ready for bed in the bathroom, and I'll disrobe here. Will that suit you madam?"
"Yes, thank you." And with that Julie picked up her case and entered the bathroom, closing the door behind her and locking it. Adam smiled at her lack of trust in him and began to disrobe.
After having got two blankets out of the ottoman at the end of the bed and a pillow from the bed, he organized his bed and just got down into it when the bathroom door opened, and Julie walked out wrapped in a robe.
"I hope you'll be comfortable on the floor," she told Adam, as she got into the bed and quickly covered herself up with the sheets.
"Goodnight, sweetheart. Have a good night's sleep."
"Goodnight, Adam."
…
The sun shone through the windows, the next morning when Adam opened his eyes. He sat himself up and looked around the room and saw that Julie was not in the bed. She'd better have not gone off again, he thought.
"Julie he called," as he got up off the floor.
"I'm in the bathroom. You can't come in," came the reply.
"I hadn't planned to." He was virtually already dressed as he'd only taken his jacket and boots off. So he tidied up his floor bed and placed the pillow and blanket on the bed, making it looked like they had both slept there, in case someone came in to clean the room.
The bathroom door opened and Julie, fully dressed, came out.
"Your turn now, while I do my hair."
"Thanks," he said sarcastically, closing the door and just making it in time to relieve himself. He washed and re-entered the bedroom.
"You've tidied everything up off the floor," she said.
"Well yes, don't want anyone thinking we slept separately."
"Yes, of course. I'm not thinking straight."
"Ready for breakfast," Adam asked.
"I suppose so, though I don't think I'll want much."
"Alright, I'm not going to argue with you, but just remember we've just spent our honeymoon night together and the hotel know that. So we need to keep up the façade as we face people downstairs.""And how am I supposed to behave?
"Well, I'd think a bit of blushing would be involved, especially if someone speaks to you," he answered.
"I'll do my best."
So they left their room and made their way downstairs to the restaurant for breakfast. They found a secluded table and waited for the waitress to arrive, which she did promptly, as soon as they sat down.
"What can I get you today?"
"I'd like coffee for two." He looked over at Julie. "Is that okay for you, or would you prefer tea, sweetheart?"
"No, coffee is fine, Adam. Thank you." She then quickly continued to read the menu and waited for Adam to make his choice.
"I'd like scrambled eggs and crispy bacon with biscuits, please," he ordered. "Sweetheart, have you made your choice?"
"Yes, just toast please."
"Are you sure Mrs Cartwright," the waitress asked with a knowing smile.
"Yes, thank you."
"Thank you for your order. Would you like your coffee served while you wait for your breakfasts?"
"Yes, thank you. That would be grand."
With that the waitress went off to get their breakfasts.
"Well, you could have been a little more cheerful," Adam whispered across the table. "She probably thinks last night didn't go so well."
"I thought you wanted me to feel self-conscious. I tried not to look the waitress in the eye. I hoped I was blushing."
"Perhaps if you showed me a little more attention, after all I'm supposed to be the love of your life," Adam stated.
Before Julie could say any more, the waitress returned with their coffee order. Julie poured the coffee out as she thought this is what a young wife would do for her husband. They ate their breakfasts and quietly spoke about what they would be doing during the day. …..
Ten o'clock and they were back at the bank dealing with the stocks and shares that were left to deal with. With Julie's approval she signed away all her inheritance in the name of Alex Cartwright over to her husband. Julie's sudden relief after doing this was profound, but now she worried intensely for Adam's welfare.
They shook hands with both the Mr Manson's, who wished them all happiness in their marriage. Following which, they left the bank and found a café to have some lunch.
"I hope you are feeling a little more hungry now, than at breakfast," Adam said.
"Yes. I think I'd like some stew and bread and another coffee, please."
"Certainly," Adam said. "I might just have the same." He then placed the order.
"Since we've now transferred everything to my name, what do you want to do with them?" Adam asked.
"You can do with them as you please."
"Julie, I've told you before, I do not intend taking anything from your inheritance. It is now up to you to tell me what it is you want to do with it."
"Well, in that case you can sell them all and put the money to good use."
"Are you sure that's what you really want?" He asked.
"Yes, quite sure. I might want to take just a small sum to get me to where I'm going, wherever that may be."
"And then what?"
"I'm going to look for work. I don't intend becoming dependent on anyone, especially you."
"Why not?"
"Because you have done too much for me as it is, but I promise I will repay your generosity at some stage."
"So you're definitely leaving then?"
"Yes, as soon as you've settled everything. I thought I made that clear early on."
"Yes, you did. But I was hoping maybe you'd change your mind."
"Why would I do that. With me gone out of the country, I hope Att… he wouldn't be able to find me and then, maybe then, I could relax and live a little."
"What if I don't want you to go?" Adam asked.
"I hope you're not going to renege on our agreement, Adam. You promised."
"I won't. I just wondered if you would consider staying and seeing what happens with your inheritance."
"I would love to see that, but I believe the quicker I can disappear the safer it will be for you. Don't you see. If he ever finds out that you now have power over my inheritance, then your life could be in danger and I don't want that for you."
"My life could be in danger with you here or not."
"But with you dead, and your estate then be mine, he would still try to marry me and possibly succeed and have the inheritance in the end and of course, my own death in time, one way or another."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Adam almost shouted.
"You know what I mean, my death at his hand or my own. I would not wish to live married to him."
"Julie, that's not going to happen."
"It could happen."
"I won't let it happen. You are my wife now. I'm here to protect you for as long as needs be."
"Oh, Adam, I can't let…"
"No more talk of this now. Let's finish our dinner and do something pleasant for the rest of the day." Adam raised his eyebrow at Julie. "Not another word. I am your husband and you will obey me."
Julie giggled. "Hardly."
"Well, we must keep up the pretense, make decisions on what to do with the inheritance and what to tell my family when we get home."
"Oh Lord, I'd forgotten about your family's reaction to all this. Maybe they'll want to throw me out for involving you in all of this."
"First of all, you did not involve me in this, I volunteered and second, my family will understand and want to offer their help."
"Yes, I think they would. They have all been so supportive to me right from the very beginning," she said as she thought back to when she first arrived at the Ponderosa. "But they could seriously think that I tricked you into marrying me and…"
"They won't, although they might at first, but we will tell them of your concerns at what we have done." Adam stated. "I know my family well and know they will understand and offer all kinds of help."
"But I don't want them to get involved. It could put all of their lives in danger."
"We will make it clear that they are to keep out of it and we won't tell them of our decision to annul the marriage once all is settled. My father wouldn't accept our marriage on those conditions. My family have to know that we married for love and no other reason. Understand?"
"Yes, Sir."
