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FENCES & FAMILIES
STORY ONE - PART TWO - A FENCE CREATES A FAMILY
Picture a Fence - "An upright structure enclosing an area of ground"
then
Picture a Family - "A close alliance"
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Walter Brown wished his wife wasn't such a nosey-Nellie. She'd been over by that window peering through the curtains ever since they'd heard the old pick-up truck pull up in front of the fence almost an hour ago. She had no intention of moving either.
"Alice for the last time come away from the window and get into bed." he frowned. "You can't see anything out there and if Josephine sees you looking your life won't be worth living."
"I can't help it Wal." Alice replied moving her head this way and that trying to see what happening outside the sandstone fence. "Josie told me …"
"Josephine told you what?" he asked in a bored tone.
"She called me in New York last night and told me young Grant had something he wanted to discuss with her tonight."
Walter rolled his eyes.
"For goodness sake Alice!" he exclaimed. "That could be anything."
Alice Brown shook her head. Walter could be so totally blind to things when it suited him. She was sure it was a legacy of being a Bank Manager.
"You really haven't got a clue when it comes to our girls do you Wal?" she berated him. " It's Josie's birthday and I know just by the way Grant's been acting these past few months, something's about to happen between them."
She looked him directly in the eyes.
"And Walter… you mark my words …that something is going to be a marriage proposal to our daughter whether you intend to approve of it or not."
Walter frowned and told her for the umpteenth time she should stop jumping to conclusions.
"Don't be stupid Alice. You know as well as I do Grant isn't going to propose to Josephine." he said firmly. "He knows the way I feel about his monetary situation and until that alters for the better, which it won't, I'm not about to change my mind."
Alice cocked an eye at him. Walter might think he had all the bases covered but he'd forgotten the most important factor of all.
Josephine.
"Yes." she acknowledged. "Grant does know how you feel about the money but your eldest daughter certainly doesn't. I'm telling you right now Josie will accept a proposal if he offers her one and she won't listen to anything you've got to say about it either."
Walter felt his stomach churn. He knew Josephine wouldn't listen to him particularly if it had anything to do with Grant. But hopefully he wouldn't have to say anything. He had planted the seeds of doubt in her mind the night he walked with her in the neighbourhood looking at the fences. She liked her lifestyle. She'd admitted that. Victoria had also helped his cause by pointing out to Josephine that Grant was broke. Walter knew even though Josephine hotly debated it, the doubt played heavily on her mind.
He opened his mouth to reply but Alice continued.
"It honestly wouldn't even surprise me if she ends up asking him to marry her before too much longer!" she said.
She sighed in frustration. This new fence was a damned nuisance. She couldn't see a thing.
Walter stood up and guided her away from the window, pausing briefly in an attempt to see past the fence himself.
"Now you're really imagining things Alice." he scoffed. "Josephine might not think before she speaks most of the time but she's certainly not impulsive enough to go and do something crazy like that."
"Says you!" Alice retorted as the two of them got into bed together. "She's sick with love for that boy. It was written all over her face after he kissed her on the porch three years ago and it's still written all over her face now ."
"Kind of like you when you saw me at the bus station this evening huh?" he joked wrapping his arms around her and planting a big kiss on her forehead.
"Maybe." she said giving him a mischievous grin. "Or then again … maybe not!"
Walter smiled and shook his head at her. It was obvious where Josephine got her spirited ways!
"It's been nearly four weeks Alice." he said softly leaning down to kiss her on the lips. "I've missed you."
She gave him a wry look.
"Sure you did!" she said in a voice reeking with sarcasm. ""I know what you're up to Mr Brown."
"Am I that easy to read?" he laughed kissing her again and drawing her into his arms.
Alice Brown looked up at his handsome face. She had missed him too and four weeks was a long time.
"Yes you are Walter." she smiled running her hands through his thick dark hair and kissing him again.
After the kiss was over she looked again into his dark brown eyes and whispered.
"And I am mighty glad to be home again."
Walter got the message loud and clear. He ran his own hands over her shoulders before reaching over and quietly turning off the night light.
"But what about Josephine?" Alice protested.
"Josephine's a big girl now Alice." he said kissing her throat and smelling her delicate scent. "Let's just worry about you and me."
Time became immaterial and what was happening outside the sandstone fence didn't matter anymore.
Walter and Alice Brown were now in a world of their own.
Neither of them noticed when the door of the old pick-up truck slammed...
…Daniel Tracy did.
He sat up and fixed his worried eyes on the clock and then the darkened hallway. It was nearly three o'clock in the morning and he hadn't been able to sleep. He knew when Grant left he was going to break things off with Josephine and he'd been worried and anxious for the welfare of his son ever since.
It was almost a relief to hear the truck pull up outside the farmhouse.
All evening his mind had been ticking over the sequence of events from when she had arrived for her birthday dinner. Grant had made such an effort to make the evening memorable for Josephine. The house was spotless and a simple but special table had been set. It was a table Daniel knew was set to say goodbye.
It had broken his heart to see the depth of love Grant still had for Josephine Brown. Grant didn't say anything but the table said it all for him. The little touches were there; his Mother's best china, a small bouquet of white daisies pulled from the neighbouring field, a small white handkerchief with her initial on it… a hand-written note.
It was all he could afford to give her for her birthday.
Josephine had looked positively radiant. She wore a pretty white outfit highlighting her ruby red lips and flashing blue eyes. Her long brown hair cascaded loosely about her shoulders and back, framing her face and accentuating her beauty.
Daniel had never seen Josephine Brown look quite so stunning and when he found his tongue and told her so, she blushed, smiled in appreciation and looked up into Grant's eyes.
"Grant said he's got something important to discuss with me tonight Mr Tracy." she replied without shifting her gaze. "So I figured I should look my best."
His heart had gone out to Grant at that moment. His son must have been feeling wretched at the expectation and excitement in her voice. But Grant had held himself together admirably. He smiled back at Josephine and put a loving arm around her shoulders.
"I told her yesterday out by the fence Daddy. She's the prettiest girl in the whole of Kansas." he said squeezing her to him. "And she's even prettier than that tonight."
"Aww Grant." she said shyly. "Don't embarrass me in front of your Daddy."
Daniel had simply smiled.
He had become very fond of Josephine Brown over the past three years and had been genuinely happy when Grant said he wanted to marry her. Having Josephine in the house would have been like having Ellen around again and that would have made Daniel very happy.
Josephine reminded Daniel so much of his late wife. They were very similar; sharing the same sense of humour and love of life. Ellen had laughed a lot and Josephine laughed too. Ellen always saw the bright side of everything and from what he'd seen of Josephine, she did too. Ellen had made him a very happy man and it was obvious to Daniel that Josephine would do the same thing for Grant. Grant adored her just as he had adored his beloved Ellen.
But there was one noticeable difference between Ellen Tracy and Josephine Brown.
Ellen had been the daughter of a Farmer, not the daughter of the local Bank Manager.
And there was the problem.
It was all about money.
Of all the young women Grant could have met and fallen in love with, he had chosen to fall in love with the daughter of the man who controlled the destiny of the farming community. That fact had never sat well with Daniel Tracy and not a day had gone past that he didn't worry himself sick over it.
But he watched as she made herself at home that night. She might be the Banker's daughter but it was hard not to find a special place in his affections for Josephine Brown. It was like she was part of the family when she called. No airs and graces. No awkward moments. She simply threw her bag down on the couch like she belonged, grabbed Grant by the hand and began to haul him towards the kitchen.
"What's for Dinner then?" she asked. "I hope whatever it is it turns out better than the last time Grant!"
Daniel allowed a small smile to temper his bottom lip. On her last visit the two of them had been so busy kissing in the hallway they failed to notice the whole meal was burning to a crisp less than ten feet away from them. Daniel had seen the smoke billowing out of the kitchen from where he was working in the barn. They, on the other hand were totally oblivious to everything.
"Now you see here Miss Brown." Grant warned in mock annoyance. "You'll be going hungry if I hear too much more of that!"
She looked up at him and grinned.
"Better hungry than havin' charcoal in my teeth!" was the spirited reply.
Grant laughed and the two of them went into the kitchen with their arms around each other. Daniel soon heard the familiar sound of giggling and guessed it was time he found something to do with himself outside. He reminded himself he'd better keep an eye out for the smoke just in case.
Fortunately Grant refused to allow himself to be distracted this time and the three of them sat down to a basic but satisfying meal. Then Grant had produced the birthday cake. Josephine broke into hysterical laughter as he proudly carried it to the table.
"Oh Grant what have you done! It's completely flat." she giggled.
Grant had reddened.
"It's supposed to be flat." he said indignantly.
"Grant it is not!" she teased him. "You probably used the wrong flour!"
"You mean there's a difference?" he asked innocently.
All three of them had laughed then and Josephine clearly enjoyed blowing out the candles on her flattened "birthday cake."
Daniel watched the two of them interact together after that. Grant taunted her and she ribbed him back. He laughed. She laughed too. Daniel found it difficult to stop the tears pricking his eyelids. It was so like the way things used to be with Ellen.
Ellen's company had always been an oasis he could turn to when he needed to forget the worries he had with the farm. Ellen never made him feel like a farmer. She only ever made him feel like a man.
Daniel Tracy bristled.
Why wouldn't Walter Brown allow Grant to feel the same? Couldn't he see the love his son had for Josephine and the love Josephine had for him? Was he blind? Was money so important?
Daniel quickly moved back to reality. What the hell was he thinking? To a Bank Manager, money was everything.
After dinner he excused himself and retired to bed. His back was giving him trouble again and he needed to lie down. He also knew Grant needed space to enjoy his last few hours with Josephine. He rose from the table and extended his hand towards her.
"You take care of yourself now young lady." he said.
She shook his hand firmly.
"Yes Sir Mr Tracy. I'll be seein' you next time I drop by." she replied. "And thanks a lot. It was real nice of you to have me over for my birthday."
He smiled at her and squeezed her hand with true affection.
"You're always welcome in these four walls Miss Josephine. I want you to know that."
And that had been where it ended. He knew Grant had taken her out to the barn. It worried him a little knowing what he and Ellen had gotten up to in there when they were courting but Daniel guessed Grant was only going through the motions now.
He'd heard the two of them talking out in front of the fence two hours later. Daniel grimaced when he heard Josephine bring up their future. He grimaced more when Grant didn't answer her.
He'd heard them both leave in the truck soon after.
Five hours later his son had finally come home.
Daniel shifted his weight in the bed and wished the pain in his back would go away. It seemed to be getting worse with rest instead of better.
He heard the door to the farmhouse open and close and saw Grant walk quietly down the darkened hallway.
The minutes seemed like hours before his son entered his bedroom.
Daniel Tracy watched in silence as Grant reached into his pocket and pulled out the small velvet box.
He heard the drawer of the sideboard open and close.
"Son?" Daniel's voice queried softly in the darkness.
"It's done Daddy." Grant replied in a low and devastated voice.
He swallowed and added. "I'm sorry if I woke you Sir. I was returnin' Momma's ring."
Grant went to turn away.
Daniel's voice cut the air again.
"You wanna turn yourself back round son and tell me what happened with Josephine?" he asked expectantly.
Grant hung his head.
"With respect Sir, I've had enough misery to deal with tonight without relivin' it."
There was silence as Grant grappled to stay in control of his emotions in front of his Father.
"Please Daddy... "he said awkwardly.If you'll excuse me …I ain't bearin' up too well right now. "
Daniel flinched to hear such naked pain in his young son's voice.
"You sure you don't need to talk about this son? I don't mind sittin' if you need to get things off your chest."
Finally Grant gave his Father the only answer he could without breaking down again.
"I don't want to talk about Josephine no more Sir."
He turned to leave the room before Daniel could see the silent stream of tears sliding down his face.
"I did what needed to be done Sir." he said quietly.
"And it's over."
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"A three letter word for family ..."
Alice Brown chewed the end of her pencil and took a sip of her coffee while she thought long and hard about the clue. "Hmm..."
She looked about the dining room hoping for some divine inspiration. Her eyes fixed on the curtaining.
"Beige." she sniffed. "What a boring colour."
Her eyes continued to scan the room. The whole lounge needed a lift. She might go out later and look around for some new curtains. That drew her attention to the carpeting. It was looking a little tired too. Well she supposed it wouldn't hurt to check out the new range while she was looking at ideas for the lounge room.
Now that she'd planned what to do with herself for the day, she focussed her attention back to the crossword puzzle.
Alice enjoyed the morning crossword. It stimulated her mind and helped to pass the long and monotonous day. She often wished Walter would allow her to hold down a job but he had made it very plain he didn't want any wife of his working. The Bank Manager had a sort of status in this town and as far as he was concerned that status extended to his wife.
Well it was all right for Walter to think that, she sniffed with discontent. Ever since the girls had finished High School he didn't understand how boring and mundane her life had become. There was simply nothing to do since she had resigned as the President of the High School Social committee, the Co-ordinator of the Prom committee and the Treasurer of the Harvest Dance Committee.
Her girls and their interests had been her whole life and that part of her life was now gone.
The girls were leading their own lives.
Arabella managed the fashion boutique in town. Fashion conscious and with an eye for detail she was making a nice little niche for herself in the business community for one so young. She rarely asked her mother for advice these days. It was always Walter she sought out. After all what did her Mother know about inventory and business?
Then there was Victoria and her blossoming career at the District Attorney's Office. She had been steadily climbing the corporate ladder for three years now. She was astute and ambitious like her Father and he was schooling her well. It was her Father she turned to for advice. What did her mother know about Office politics?
And finally there was Josephine. She was the most independent of them all. She had finished high school at sixteen, graduated from College at twenty and now as the most highly educated of the girls and much to her Father's dismay, she had chosen to work in a market until "something she wanted to do with herself" came along. Independent and headstrong, no-one was going to force Josephine to do anything before she was ready, least of all her Father. And she didn't need her mother to back her up either.
Alice sighed. These days it seemed like none of her girls needed her. At forty five she felt like she had been retired.
She continued to fill in the spaces of the crossword.
A three letter word for family...
"Kin." she said aloud.
Her face fell. "For all bein' a family's worth around here."
She looked to the next clue.
Ten across. "A seven letter word for fence."
That brought to mind the night before and how hard it had been trying to see past the fence.
Once she pictured the towering monstrosity, the answer came.
"Barrier that's for sure." she scoffed and quickly pencilled it in.
"Boy you're on a roll today Alice." she said with satisfaction.
But her mind wandered back to the sandstone fence. It was one great big barrier all right especially when a person wanted to see what was happening in an old pick up truck parked out the front of the house.
It reminded her of Josephine and the handsome young farmer who had completely stolen her heart…and Josephine's telephone call to her in New York.
"Hi Momma!" she had enthused forgetting that it was almost one o'clock in the morning. "I simply had to call and tell you about Grant before I busted!"
"Well don't go doing that on me Josie." she had replied. "What's happened with Grant? Why are you so excited?"
The next few minutes passed without Josephine even taking a breath. She finally ended happily.
"Oh momma Grant's going to ask me to marry him tomorrow night. I just know it."
"Well don't get your hopes up honey." she had replied hesitantly knowing full well what Walter had said to Grant three weeks earlier. She was on Walter's side to a certain extent she supposed but unlike Walter, her reasons for disapproval were completely different to his.
Walter was worried about money. Alice was worried about losing Josephine to Grant Tracy.
Josephine of course had refused to believe Grant would have anything else on his mind except marriage and the call had ended with Alice feeling extremely uneasy about what was about to happen.
She began to wonder what the outcome of their "discussion" had been. It couldn't have been too major by the seems of things. Alice knew if Josephine had come home sporting Grant Tracy's engagement ring the whole world would have been told by now.
She paused for a few moments to remember what it had been like to be young and in love. She knew Josephine adored the young Farmer with the magnetic smile and she also knew the "something better" Josephine was waiting for to come along was not a highly paid job but his marriage proposal.
Alice made a mental note to call in at the market later on in the day. She knew she should have waited up for Josephine but Walter's "distraction" had made that extremely difficult. She smiled to herself. The last thing she remembered was falling asleep in his arms. Even after twenty-five years Walter Brown was one heck of a man.
"You should be ashamed of yourself Alice." she muttered, taking another sip of her coffee and returning to the puzzle. "Your children should come first."
The telephone rang.
It was Marvin Landers, a young man who worked with Josephine at the market. Alice rolled her eyes when Marvin identified himself. He had been carrying a torch of love for Josephine since Grade school and despite Josephine putting him in his place more often than not he still worshipped the ground she walked on.
"Howdy there Mrs. Brown." he said in his pleasant southern voice. "Did you have fun hangin' out in the Big Apple all on your lonesome?"
"Yes thank you Marvin." she said giving him a staid reply. "New York was just fine."
"Hope to go there myself one day you know." Marvin responded in a voice full of enthusiasm.
His enthusiasm suddenly dampened. ""Errr…if I ever manage to get my car to start that is."
Alice remembered Josephine's Grade school days. Marvin was a dreamer then and he was a dreamer now. The car he drove made Grant's pick up truck look like a limousine. It would take him a mighty long time to get himself to New York if he was planning to go in that.
"Well you keep working on it Marvin. "she encouraged.
The tone of her voice then changed. "Now I guess the reason for your call isn't social." she began. She suddenly cringed. "Errr...is it?"
Alice recalled Marvin looking at Arabella in church a few Sundays ago and Arabella winking back at him. She and Walter had so much trouble with the calibre of Arabella's boyfriends but surely even she wasn't thinking about dating Marvin!
The voice on the other end of the telephone became serious.
"No Mrs Brown, I was only ringin' to ask if you knew where Josephine was."
Alice frowned. Josephine always left well before the rest of the house awoke. She assumed she had gone to work.
"No." she hesitated. "I thought Josephine was at the market with you. You sure she isn't there son?"
"Yes ma'am. She ain't here that's for sure. The boss was askin' me when she was comin' in."
Alice looked in the direction of the stairs.
"I'll just go and check for sure Marvin ." she said.
"Standin' by Mrs Brown." he responded.
Alice got no further than the kitchen. As she went to go up the stairs, she saw Josephine's car keys and handbag lying on the nearby bench. Josephine never left the house without her handbag and she always drove her car.
She picked up the telephone extension on the kitchen wall.
"You still there Marvin?" she enquired.
"10 - 4 ma'am." he answered back. "How about Josie? She still there too?"
"Umm ... yes so it seems." Alice replied. "Please apologise to Mr Rodgers for her. She obviously isn't feeling well if she hasn't called."
"OK Mrs Brown I'll let the boss know." he said.
"Thank you Marvin." she replied. "I'm sure Josie will appreciate it."
"You figure ma'am?" he asked with excitement.
"Yes Marvin I figure." Alice said trying not to laugh. "Thank you for ringing me son."
"Roger Dodger. Marvin Landers signing off. "he ended.
Alice Brown shook her head. Grant Tracy mightn't have any money but he was certainly a better catch than Marvin.
"If Arabella ever brings Marvin home Walter will kill her!" she grinned, putting down the receiver and hurrying towards the stairs.
What was wrong with Josephine? It was unlike her not to call the market if she wasn't going to work.
She noticed the door of her bedroom was tightly shut.
She knocked quietly. "Josephine?"
There was no reply.
She knocked again and turned the door handle. "Josie?" she called again. "Are you in here honey?"
She peered into the semi-darkened room. Lying on top of the covers still wearing the clothes she had worn the night before was Josephine.
Alice walked over to her bed and leaned over her. Josephine lay awake staring blankly at the wall.
Alice placed a hand on her forehead.
"Josephine?"
Josephine did not respond.
"Don't you feel like going to work today honey?" she asked.
"No ma'am." she replied in a thin and tiny voice.
Alice saw Josephine's lips trembling and noticed her swollen red rimmed eyes. She sat down on the bed beside her.
"You sure you're OK honey?"
Josephine shook her head.
"No ma'am." she blurted and broke into a tirade of sobs. "No I ain't."
She buried her head in her pillow and her whole body dissolved with grief. Alice's face fell in horror.
"Josephine what's happened honey? Are you in pain? Or hurt?"
Josephine continued to cry.
"It ain't fair momma." she sobbed. "I wouldda said yes if he'dda asked me."
Alice sighed.
She should have guessed.
Josephine hadn't received her marriage proposal.
Well she had tried to warn her it wasn't going to happen but as usual there was no telling Josephine anything. But the child was crying as if her whole world had caved in. Alice frowned. She shouldn't be taking it this badly.
She began to stroke her hair.
"Of course you would have said yes sweetheart." she soothed. "But I did tell you not to get your hopes up where Grant was concerned. He's got lots of things on his mind with the farm at the moment and you gotta understand that."
That comment only made her cry harder.
"I love him Momma." she blubbered. "More than anything."
After a few moments she whispered. "And I thought he loved me."
"I know Josie but you just can't rush a young man with these sorts of things sweetie. He'll ask you when he's ready. You'll see."
Josephine turned her swollen face to her mother's.
"Momma he ain't ever gonna ask me." she heaved. "He broke up with me."
Alice's face drained of all colour.
"Oh no." she breathed in dismay.
To her mind came Walter. He had been so cocksure of himself last night.
"You know as well as I do Grant isn't going to propose to Josephine." he'd said.
However not even Walter would have been entertaining the fact Grant Tracy would take his rejection literally and end his relationship with their daughter.
She pulled Josephine into her arms.
"Sweetie...I'm so sorry." she whispered, squeezing her tight. "You must have been feelin' dreadful last night."
Josephine gulped and tried to pull herself together.
"I just wanted to die in that truck Momma. I thought he was gonna ask me to marry him when he started. I got such a shock when he said he was endin' things between us."
She started to cry again. "I didn't even know it was comin' ma'am."
In between sobs she continued.
"He said he had other priorities 'sides me. Like gettin' outta debt and makin' somethin' of the farm."
Her eyes searched her mother's.
"I don't understand ma'am. I was willin' to help him with the farm. I didn't mind if the house wasn't like ours or the life out there was hard. I loved him because he loved me and I thought that was all that counted."
She shook her head.
"But love don't count. Not to Grant."
Alice began to seethe inside. She knew damn well it did count to Grant. It was plain as the nose on her face that Grant was completely in love with Josephine. It was Walter who had made Grant doubt himself.
"He said breakin' up with me was somethin' he had to do momma." Josephine sniffled. "Why would he have to do somethin' like that if he loved me?"
Alice was starting to become angry now. There was no doubt about it. This break-up was all Walter's fault.
She ran her hand across Josephine's forehead and pushed back her tousled hair.
"Why men do half the things they do Josephine is beyond my comprehension" she replied speaking more about Walter than Grant.
"Momma I felt so bad last night." she blubbered.
"Honey you should have woken me."
"Your door was shut when I came in and Daddy don't like us opening the door at that hour of the night. Life or death he says. They're the only reasons."
"Oh Josie. " Alice said gently looking into her daughter's tear stained face. "I can't believe you cried all night by yourself. That's what your momma is here for sweetheart. "
Josephine began to sob again. "Yes ma'am … "
After a few minutes Alice pulled out a wad of tissues and began to wipe her face.
"Come on. Don't cry now." she comforted. "Those pretty blue eyes aren't meant to shed tears."
Josephine looked into the eyes of her mother. She always told her everything and what had happened in the barn had been playing on her mind ever since she left the pick-up truck.
"Momma ." she began "Grant mightta broke up with me for another reason too."
Alice looked at her in surprise and waited for her to continue. Josephine bit her lips together and lowered her face in shame.
"I made a big mistake last night." she whispered. "You see ma'am … up to last night me and Grant ... well ... we've never ..."
Any colour Alice Brown had in her face instantly left it again.
"Oh no Josie." she breathed. "You didn't give yourself to him did you?"
Josephine lifted her shoulders trying to shrink within herself.
"Sort of ma'am. I said he could ...and we started to... but... then he changed his mind."
She burst into tears again.
"Momma he said he stopped because it wasn't right."
"Thank God for that." Alice whispered to herself.
Josephine cringed and wiped the tears from her cheeks with trembling hands.
"I felt so dirty when he said he wouldn't. He mustta thought I was cheap for offerin' myself like I did. Daddy told me once no man wants a wife who's like that."
The tears poured down her face.
"But I ain't cheap momma. I ain't. Last night was the first time I ever let anyone touch me like that."
Alice drew her eldest daughter back into her arms.
"Josie you're not cheap sweetheart and Grant would never think you were cheap either. "she assured her. She frowned. "I don't know what the hell he WAS thinkin' but I know it wouldn't have been that."
She swallowed and continued with difficulty.
"And besides … if the two of you stopped before … umm … things went too far …as far as I'm concerned what happened between you don't count."
After a few minutes Josephine pleaded.
"Momma. Please don't tell Daddy about this."
"Josie. Your Father will have to know you've broken up with Grant."
"I don't mean the break-up Momma ... I mean ... Grant touching me. He'll get real mad momma and take it out on Mr Tracy."
Alice looked dubious but Josephine fixed her frightened blue eyes on her Mother.
"Please momma. All this ain't Mr Tracy's fault."
Alice leaned forward kissed her forehead.
"All right honey. He doesn't need to know I guess. Now I want you to go and take a shower and change out of those wrinkled clothes. I'll go down and make us a cup of tea and we'll talk about this some more."
Josephine lowered her head and nodded miserably. "Yes ma'am."
Alice rose from the bed and gave her a reassuring smile. "That's a good girl. You come down when you're ready all right?"
She walked down the stairs and looked in the direction of her car keys. She had a mind to go down to that bank right now and give Walter a piece of her mind. But she knew she couldn't.
He was the Bank Manager.
However there was nothing to stop her ringing the Bank Manager and making him aware of the family disaster he had caused.
She reached forward for the receiver and dialled the number.
The call connected.
"This is Alice Brown here." she said a less than pleasant voice. "I would like to speak to my husband please."
"I'm sorry Mrs Brown but Mr Brown is busy with a client right now." his secretary replied in a bored voice. Alice Brown pictured his obnoxious young Secretary filing her nails, chewing gum as she always did and happily fobbing everyone off. Well she wasn't fobbing her off. This was a family matter.
"My call is in relation to an urgent problem at home." she said in a dead-pan tone. "As far as I'm concerned his client can wait."
Walter Brown startled as his telephone rang. He had told Danielle to hold all calls.
"Excuse me one minute will you?" he said awkwardly reaching forward to pick up the receiver.
"Walter Brown speaking." he said with real annoyance in his voice.
"Walter?" snapped Alice Brown.
Walter was surprised. Alice never disturbed him at work let alone spoke to him like that.
"Hey there Alice." he began. "Wh…"
Her response silenced him immediately.
"Don't you hey there Alice me Walter Brown."
Walter's face fell. When he had left home this morning he'd received a very loving farewell courtesy of his love-making the night before. Now less than three hours later things had all changed.
"What's the matter Alice?" he frowned.
"Nothing's the matter. All I can say is I hope you're pleased with yourself Walter." she began. "Our eldest daughter is upstairs at the moment cryin' her eyes out.
"Josephine?" he asked in surprise. "Why? What's wrong?"
"Grant broke up with her last night that's what's wrong."
"What? That's rubbish!" he exclaimed veering from red to white to red again.
"It's not rubbish." Alice Brown retorted. "It's a fact."
Walter looked around the walls of his Office trying to think of something to say. But at the moment he wasn't in a position to say anything.
"Alice." he said uncomfortably. "I'm in a meeting with a client at the moment honey. I'll have to call you back when I'm done."
"No you won't call me back Walter." Alice fumed. "This mess is all your fault. Josie went off expecting a marriage proposal last night and because of what you said to Grant in front of that fence a few weeks back she's come home with a broken heart instead. Now you tell me what possible use callin' me back is gonna serve."
Walter cleared his throat. "Errr... I have to go Alice." he said in a tight and controlled voice.
He put down the receiver, swallowed and pulled at his collar and tie.
"I'm very sorry about that. Now where we?" he said giving his client a brief and uncomfortable smile.
His eyes met the piercing blue eyes of Daniel Tracy.
"We were discussing my farm Mr. Brown." Daniel Tracy said. "And the future of my son and me."
ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Marvin Landers rolled himself a cigarette and sat back in the corner of the bar with the first of his three evening beers.
He came here every night after work to relax, shoot a few games of pool and socialise. He didn't like going home in the evenings. His Father was an alcoholic and nine times out of ten was passed out on the couch when he arrived. If he wasn't unconscious he demanded money and Marvin had suffered more than enough bruises in his time for refusing to give in to his demands. So he knew having three beers, two games of pool and a chat with someone at the bar would give him the time buffer required for his Father to overdo it. Then he could go home and make himself some dinner.
And put his Father to bed.
Marvin wished sometimes his Mother had taken him with her when she had gone. She had been beaten by his Father for years and one day had simply packed her things and left. All he had found was a hastily written note on the kitchen table saying she loved him but she couldn't afford to take him too.
He had been in his last year of Junior High School when all that happened and with no other family to turn to he had fallen apart and gone off the rails. Despite his superior intelligence he never went on to High School and he was never going to make it to College.
So he worked in the local market, unpacking boxes, stacking shelves and chatting to the customers.
People identified him as a bit of a fool but even though Marvin knew he wasn't, he didn't mind what they said. The fun-loving facade he put on wherever he went hid the misery and loneliness of his real life. Joking about everything and everybody even made him forget about it for a while.
Marvin took a sip of his beer.
After the congestion in the market and the stress of the day the cold, delicious sensation was nothing but sheer magic.
It had been hell today coping without Josephine. The boss refused to call in temporary staff and it was hard trying to do everything at once. Marvin hoped Josephine was feeling better and would be back tomorrow. He didn't want another day like today.
He lit his cigarette and looked around the bar. There weren't very many people in for a Thursday. Thursday nights were when he had his most interesting conversations. But with the long, hard day he'd experienced at the market, he didn't really mind drinking alone.
He also didn't mind dwelling a little on Josephine.
Marvin Landers made no secret of the fact that he absolutely worshipped Josephine Brown. He had adored her since they met in the first grade and the depth of his love had not altered over the sixteen years he had known her. The pretty little six year old with the big blue eyes was now a beautiful young woman and those big blue eyes flashed with a sensuality that literally took his breath away.
He sighed glumly.
It was depressing to dwell on the fact that he would never get to know Josephine Brown in the intimate way he wanted. He had always thought being the Banker's daughter she was out of everyone's reach. So he had never tried to reach her until it was too late. By then a tall handsome young farmer who had less material possessions than he did had walked into the market , asked her for help for something trivial and within ten minutes had completely stolen her heart away.
Marvin frowned. He'd never forgiven Grant Tracy for the ease with which he won Josephine Brown's affections. He had been his unofficial nemesis ever since.
Other people finally started to come into the bar on their way home from work. Marvin noticed a group of well dressed, well spoken young professionals enter by the side door; four men, one woman. The young woman was tall and pretty with long brown hair and attractive blue eyes. Marvin recognised her immediately.
It was Victoria Brown, Josephine's sister.
Her eyes scanned the bar carefully, briefly pausing to rest on him.
Victoria had been a Grade below him in school and because she was Josephine's sister he'd had a fair bit to do with her. He smiled politely and watched with amusement as Victoria grappled within herself on how to react to seeing him. She couldn't be seen talking to a man who only worked in a market. She had to make an impression on her associates.
Marvin laughed inwardly. Would she acknowledge him in the presence of her attorney friends?
"Fifty bucks says she don't" he muttered to himself and took another sip of his beer.
Soon after Marvin congratulated himself that he should have been a gambling man. Sure enough Victoria Brown pretended she had never him before and quickly averted her eyes.
Marvin surveyed the young men she sat with. Black suits, shiny shoes, expensive ties and great big college educations. They were the most highly paid young men in the town. Victoria Brown only socialised in the circles that had the potential to give her the greatest material gain. Looking at the attorneys around her Marvin knew she was in the company that suited her best. Marvin still didn't know how she could possibly be Josephine Brown's sister. Josephine was so down to earth, open and friendly.
An hour passed and Victoria finally came to take her turn at the Bar. Marvin was drinking his third beer by now and had started to relax. She grimaced as she approached him.
Marvin ran his eyes over her as she came to stand beside him. She was slightly taller than Josephine, a little more solid but with the same pretty features and big blue eyes.
"How are you doin' tonight Tory?" he enquired grinning from ear to ear at her discomfort. "Or can't you be seen talkin' to a man like me?"
Victoria rolled her eyes. Marvin was such an idiot. He obviously thought his comments were witty.
"Hello Marvin." she replied in an annoyed voice.
"What'll it be Miss?" the bartender asked.
"Err… three scotch, one martini please."
Marvin rounded his lips in a surprised whistle.
"Martini huh? Boy you've sure come up in the world Tory. I remember a time when you wouldda been like Josie and just ordered yourself a beer."
Victoria didn't reply. She became acutely aware that her associates were listening.
"You want ice with the scotch?" the Bartender drawled.
Victoria looked back towards her friends. They all shook their heads.
"No thanks." she replied.
She stood waiting for the drinks tapping her long red fingernails impatiently on the bar. She glanced again at Marvin and he grinned back.
"I'm surprised to see you're still here." she observed quietly. "I didn't think you made enough money to be drinkin' in bars."
"I don't make the money your friends over there do Victoria." Marvin said matter-of-factly. "But I seem to manage all right."
Before Victoria could reply he saw another interesting subject enter the bar. Victoria's Father … Walter Brown. Marvin raised his eyebrows as he noticed Walter carried his overloaded briefcase in one hand and two bunches of red roses in the other.
He walked up to the bar and kissed Victoria on the forehead.
"Hello honey." he said wearily.
He looked at the bartender
"Bourbon when you're ready please." he said pleasantly. "No ice."
The Bartender nodded and then looked at Victoria.
"That'll be sixteen fifty Miss." the bartender said.
Walter shook his head and reached into the pocket of his suit coat for his wallet.
"I'll get it for you honey." he said.
She smiled.
"Thanks Daddy. You wanna come over to the table and join us for bit?"
Walter looked in the direction of the young attorneys.
"Err… not tonight Victoria. I've got to be getting home after this one."
Victoria looked at the flowers he had laid on the bar. They were beautiful and as Victoria knew would have been extremely expensive. She also knew her Father only ever brought flowers like that for one reason.
"Did you have a fight with Momma Daddy?" she asked looking him directly in the face.
Marvin's ears pricked up with interest. It looked like conversation at the bar this Thursday night was going to be a little more interesting than he thought.
Walter looked uncomfortable as he paid the bartender for the drinks.
"Mustta been a real big one." she observed.
Walter frowned.
"Why's that?" he asked.
"Well I can't ever recall you havin' to buy two bunches to make things up to Momma." she replied.
Walter sighed.
"They're not both for your Mother Victoria." he began and then realised Marvin was listening. He lowered his voice and said quietly.
"One of the bunches is for Josephine."
"Josephine?" she exclaimed in surprise. "Why are you buying flowers for Josephine Daddy?"
Marvin strained his ears harder to hear. If they were discussing anything to do with Josephine he was avidly interested.
"There is a very good reason Josephine is getting the flowers Victoria." Walter said and downed half his bourbon. "A reason the two of us need to have a good talk about before you go home stirring her up and creating another family upset."
Victoria's face broke into a knowing grin. There was only one subject she knew would stir up Josephine.
Grant Tracy.
"She didn't get her engagement ring did she Daddy?" she said trying not to look like she was gloating.
"No." he replied carefully. "No she didn't."
Victoria's grin only became wider.
"I told her she wouldn't. Grant Tracy's got nothin' and the sooner she comes to grips with that and starts seein' someone with a bit more substance the better."
Walter swallowed the rest of his drink.
"Well from what your mother told me over the telephone today I think she finally has." he said, picking up his briefcase and preparing to leave.
"Victoria." he said. "Grant broke up with your sister last night."
As she stood in stunned silence he sighed and picked up the flowers.
"And according to your Mother it's all my fault."
Marvin Landers reached into his pocket to find some more change as Walter Brown left the bar headed for home.
He might just buy himself a fourth beer tonight.
That news had just made him the happiest man alive.
ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
He grimaced a little and rubbed his back as he walked the length of the luscious, jasmine dotted hedges. He tried to take his mind off the pain by admiring the colour of the hedge and smelling the sweet scent of the jasmine.
Ellen had always said a neat green hedge was a nice alternative to a standard fence. He smiled to himself, fondly remembering how much she had wanted a hedge like this growing in front of the farmhouse.
"Too much upkeep and too much water." he had told her.
Water wasn't a commodity a man was able to waste on a hedge. The crop took priority when it came to water. Ellen accepted that.
"But other than that somethin' like this in front of the house wouldda looked damn fine Ellie." he mused.
He took a deep breath. Standing here pretending he was interested in a hedge was simply putting things off. He wasn't standing in front of Chase County hospital for nothing.
"Face the facts Tracy." he told himself. "You just don't wanna go in there and hear the bad news."
He was really worried and the excruciating pain in his back reminded him he had a very good reason to be.
He guessed he'd better go in. Old Doc Martin didn't take too kindly to the patient's being tardy. Besides it had taken him six months to put the money together to have the tests done in the first place. He at least owed it to himself to find out the results.
Daniel Tracy swallowed hard and strode down the pathway through the hedge and into the hospital. He let out a faint moan as the pain seared through his upper body again. He'd be glad to get some pain relief if nothing else.
He sat himself down in the waiting room ready to take his turn.
He looked around the waiting room. Lots of people. All waiting. All with worries of their own. He guessed he was just one of them. His thoughts drifted to his own worry at the moment.
Grant and how he was coping without Josephine.
The boy had not taken the break-up with Josephine well.
He had been working himself to the point of exhaustion for almost two months. He woke himself at dawn and was still on the tractor at nightfall seven days a week. He didn't speak, he didn't smile and he refused to leave the farm for anything. It was like he was trying to prove himself to someone and Daniel was at his wit's end to know what to do with him.
He was distracted from his thoughts by Dr. George Martin standing in front of him carrying a thick, blue envelope.
"Mr. Tracy." he said in a deep and pleasant voice. "Come through won't you?"
Daniel Tracy rose and followed him. The Doctor invited him to sit down.
"How have you been feeling this week Dan?" he began.
Daniel shifted his weight in the chair.
"Oh pretty goodly Sir." he replied. "My back's still a little troublesome but no sense growlin' about things as they say."
He looked at the Doctor who nodded.
"Gettin' any more pain further up since we spoke?"
"Bit more in the shoulders." Daniel admitted. "But that's to be expected. I do a lot of heavy liftin' Doctor Martin."
Doctor Martin wrote the details on his chart.
"My boy's been doin' most of the physical work like you suggested." Daniel added. "But sometimes it's a bit too much for one man to handle and I gotta help."
The Doctor frowned and flicked over the pages of the chart.
"Mr. Tracy, you say you've been getting this pain for a while now." he noted. "Would you say six months?"
Daniel Tracy thought for a moment.
"No Sir. It was closer to Thanksgiving I figure. I remember feelin' it in church and thinkin' my age was catchin' up to me."
He smiled nervously at the Doctor who smiled just as nervously back. Thanksgiving had been nine months ago.
"And how old are you now Dan?" he asked as he opened the envelope. Daniel Tracy watched him remove the contents.
"I'm sixty two Sir."
The Doctor scanned the results in silence. His face grew grim. Daniel saw it and felt obliged to say something.
"Pardon me for sayin' so Doc but by the looks of your face what you're readin' about me ain't good news." he commented.
"No Mr. Tracy..." he began." It isn't. I'm afraid I need to admit you to hospital immediately."
Daniel Tracy swallowed at the urgency in his tone especially as he had just used the last of his available cash to plant a new winter crop.
"Beggin' your pardon Dr. Martin but hospital ain't an option for me right now." he said quietly.
Doctor Martin removed his glasses and rubbed his eyes.
"Mr Tracy ... Daniel ... I'm serious."
Daniel Tracy looked directly back.
"So am I Sir."
Dr Martin shook his head.
"Daniel ... please ... these results suggest you've got a tumour the size of my fist in your lower back. We have to operate immediately and remove it... and then ... umm ... assess all the options after that."
Daniel closed his eyes and felt all the air leave his body. Deep down he knew what had been wrong and had been in a kind of silent denial. He'd been losing weight for a while but attributed it to hard work. The pain in his back had been getting steadily worse but he put it down to old age. He knew he should have sought medical treatment earlier but it was like what had happened to Ellen ... treatment wasn't free ... and it wasn't cheap.
"Doc ..." he began. "I don't have the money to pay for an operation right now." he replied.
"Daniel." he said bluntly. "You gotta find the money. This is urgent."
"I understand the urgency Sir." he said. "But I honestly can't afford to borrow no more from the bank. In six months when the crop comes off ..."
Dr. Martin interrupted him stonily.
"Daniel ... you don't have six months."
Daniel Tracy looked down at his rough, calloused fingers for a long time.
"Well Sir." he said softly. "I ain't got any choice when it comes to the money so I guess I just have to take my chances with the cancer then."
He rose from his chair and held out his hand.
"Thanks for seein' me all the same Doctor Martin. I sure appreciate your concern. If I find the money for the operation I'll be contactin' you."
Doctor Martin held out his hand and felt the strength and honesty of the hand that shook it.
Life simply wasn't fair.
"Mr. Tracy." he said as Daniel turned to go.
"Yes Sir?" Daniel replied.
"Please don't worry about today's account." he began.
Daniel Tracy shook his head.
"No Doc." he replied. "Fair day's work for a fair day's money."
"I'll fix things up on the way out."
ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
The box was nearly thirty years old now and the plush red velvet had started to wear in places. He supposed something sitting idly in a drawer would tend to wear a bit, but despite the condition of the box, Daniel knew the contents it held were as elegant and perfect as they ever were.
He fiddled with the lid with clumsy, unco-ordinated fingers. His fingers were knotted and bent now and arthritis was starting to get the better of him. It made opening things difficult but as Daniel Tracy now knew arthritis was the least of his worries.
The box finally opened under his impatient handling and he looked down at the exquisite piece of jewellery nestled inside.
Ellen's engagement ring.
The six clear diamonds sparkled like new. The gold band shone brilliantly, accentuated by the black velvet inside the box.
Ellen had treasured this ring.
It was the only decent thing she'd had.
To Daniel Ellen's ring symbolised everything important in his memory.
The day he received a cheque for his first wheat crop.
The day he asked Ellen to marry him.
The day he did the only irresponsible thing he'd ever done in his life
Daniel smiled. He really should have paid the Bank Manager what he owed him that day but making Ellen his own was all he'd really cared about. So she got the most expensive engagement ring in the store and the Bank Manager got absolutely nothing.
Looking at the ring and reliving the memories Daniel Tracy felt like he was a young man again. A young man in love looking into the emerald green eyes of a beautiful young woman who was the centre of his life
The pain soon reminded him otherwise.
He wasn't young anymore and those beautiful emerald green eyes were gone now too. Eyes forced to close before their time.
"Guess it's my turn to suffer things like you did Ellie." he whispered.
Ellen had died of cancer too.
He looked at the ring one last time. It was worth a fortune and it could save his life.
If he sold it.
The hospital had given him an estimate of the costs and if he sold the ring for its proper value he would be able to have the operation. That was of course if he didn't stay on afterwards or have any further tests.
Daniel knew it was possible the operation would get all the cancer but there was the real risk it wouldn't or worse, that it had already spread. Given the amount of pain he was in, Daniel suspected that it had.
Then there was the cold harsh reality that, like Ellen, the operation might simply escalate things. Ellen had been doing fine before the operation. Less than two weeks after it she was dead.
He couldn't afford for something like that to happen to Grant again. Losing his Mother so swiftly had been traumatic enough. Daniel didn't want him to go through the same agony again. It was better if he simply didn't know.
He swallowed hard and snapped the box shut.
He had promised Ellen on her death-bed no-one else would wear her precious ring other than the young woman their son decided to take as his wife.
He couldn't let Ellen down and deep down in his heart Daniel still hoped and prayed the feisty young lady his son still loved with all of his heart would someday be allowed to marry him.
He placed the box back in the drawer of the sideboard.
Selling Ellen's ring was not an option.
It was meant for Josephine.
He reflected on his decision for a few more moments before opening another drawer and sifting through his personal papers.
He guessed he'd had a pretty good innings in this life.
It was time to start getting his affairs in order.
ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
The thick wrought iron bars of the fence veered almost from the bare earth and loomed up ominously in the rapidly fading light. The cold, hard steel was almost as desolate and uninviting as this dreadful lonely place they enclosed.
The iron bars were old and rusted but despite their appearance they asserted their complete dominance in the landscape with a silent statement no-one who passed by could ignore.
"All who live and breathe on this earth, regardless of their wealth, end up here."
Josephine Brown shuddered and pulled her calf-length black coat closer to her body. Despite it's warmth she'd long since lost all feeling in her body. She tried to keep herself from shivering but this miserable lonely place only made her feel colder.
Her eyes looked with empathy in the direction of the young man who sat alone on the small timber bench, head bowed in total devastation.
The service had been dignified and simple; a true reflection of the dignified and simple life it was intended to honour. But it had ended almost two hours ago and the few people who had come to pay their last respects to Daniel Tracy had long since taken their leave. Josephine had counted ten including Grant and the Minister.
The Minister had gone now too.
And Grant had been left alone.
Josephine watched him in silence.
One of the two men who had been patiently waiting nearby finally approached him and entered into a brief conversation. The man patted his back sympathetically.
Obviously it would dark soon and they wanted to finish up for the day. They needed to fill in the grave.
They had asked him if he minded leaving.
Josephine's heart lurched as she watched him rise slowly from the bench, take one last look at the open grave and its surroundings and turn away miserably. He began to walk, head bowed towards the cemetery gates.
The two men waited until he was near the gates before starting up the machinery to finish their work.
Josephine swallowed as he neared her.
She really didn't know what she was going to say to him. They hadn't seen each other or spoken for over six months.
She moved from her inconspicuous position near the fence to stand in the middle of the roadway.
He stopped as she stepped into his path.
Their dark blue eyes met.
Josephine's filled with tears. He looked dreadful; pale, shrunken and grief-stricken.
"Hey there stranger." she said quietly.
"Josephine." he breathed gratefully, "It's so good to see you."
His own eyes filled with tears too.
Instinctively she moved forward to hug him. Her arms encircled his waist and her head rested against his strong young chest. She felt his arms wrap around her.
"I was so sorry when I heard about your Father Grant." she whispered looking up at him.
"Thank you Josie." he replied. "Daddy'd be real happy to know you were here with me right now. He was real fond of you."
The two of them embraced in silence near the fence for almost five minutes.
Finally they felt obliged to break apart and the two of them stood facing each other awkwardly. She pulled her coat about her shoulders trying to think of something to say. He folded his arms in front of his body attempting to do the same.
"So how you've been anyway?" he asked uncomfortably
"I'm doin' OK I guess." she replied. "Keepin' myself busy. Well most of the time anyway."
He nodded and looked away.
"Yeah." Me too."
A painful silence followed.
"How about your folks?" he enquired.
"They're fine thank you Grant. Daddy said I was to say he was sorry he couldn't make it to the funeral."
She paused for a few moments before continuing,
"He also said if you need any money for ...um... things ... just to come in to the Bank and see him."
Grant shook his head.
"I already paid for the funeral Josephine but please thank your Daddy for his offer."
Josephine reached out and took both of his hands in hers.
"Grant I know things are over between us and all..." she began earnestly. "...but if there's anything I can do out at the farm…"
Grant Tracy squeezed her hands.
"No thanks Josephine." he replied. "I gotta learn to stand on my own two feet now."
He leaned forward and lightly kissed her forehead.
"Well I got to be getting myself home I suppose. There's only me now and I got a lot of things to do."
At her understanding nod he added.
"Thanks for coming all the way out here Josie. It was real nice to see you again. "
She smiled but it was a smile tempered with real sadness.
"That's OK Grant. It was nice to see you again too."
He looked into her eyes. She was so beautiful.
She looked into his. She would never stop loving him.
"Well … um … bye then ma'am." he said releasing her hands and pushing his deep into the jacket pockets of his Father's old black suit. He turned and began to walk away from her.
Josephine watched him leave the cemetery with an aching heart.
"Bye handsome." she whispered as a stray tear rolled down her cheek. "You take good care of yourself now."
ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Her words echoed in her head as she drove back towards the town. Grant's thin and gaunt appearance had genuinely shocked her. He looked terrible.
Josephine frowned and tapped her fingers on the steering wheel of the car. She doubted he'd eaten a decent meal in weeks. She knew he wouldn't eat when he went home tonight either. He'd go home, lock down the barn and go to bed.
To her mind came all the meals she had shared with Grant and his Father at the farmhouse. The Tracy family didn't have much in the way of material wealth but they gladly shared anything they had at suppertime.
Meals of vegetable soup and bread were commonplace and Josephine recalled spending many a happy night sitting in front of the cosy fire, sipping the soup and listening to Daniel Tracy talk about life and love when he was young. He told such fabulous stories that what was on offer for dinner was the furthest thing from her mind. Josephine enjoyed every single moment of it, snuggled up with Grant next to the fire and listening to Daniel's gentle southern drawl.
Josephine felt the tears prick her eyelids. She had been so fond of Daniel Tracy.
She wished she could do something to ease the pain she saw in Grant's eyes. She knew he had nursed his Father in the last three weeks of his life and seeing his Father die in front of him would have been devastating.
In another time and in another place she would have encouraged him to rely on her for support.
But he had rejected her and even though she still loved him, she hadn't been able to forgive him for that.
Her mind veered back to the nights in front of the fire.
"Family and friends." Daniel had said to them. "If you got both, you're a mighty rich man."
Her eyes filled with tears.
Grant had no-one now.
No family.
No friends.
Josephine swallowed and hardened her heart against the feelings which were rearing up inside her.
No, she couldn't allow herself to feel sorry for him after what he had done to her. She was still getting over that night in the truck.
"Besides I went out there today for Mr Tracy." she tried to convince herself. "Not Grant."
She reached the turnoff to the house.
The night was cold and she knew her Mother was expecting her for dinner. It was her parents wedding anniversary and her Father had said he was bringing home a bottle of expensive champagne to celebrate the occasion. She could sure use a drink after standing in the cemetery for so damn long.
The cemetery reminded her of Daniel Tracy.
"Family and friends... if you got both, you're a mighty rich man."
Josephine looked at the street sign and pictured the happy times they had shared together at the farmhouse.
Despite the fact he had broken her heart she was still Grant Tracy's friend.
And he didn't deserve to be alone tonight.
She fixed her eyes determinedly on the road and headed into town.
Marvin Landers would still be in the bar having his three evening beers.
He could open the market for her.
ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Grant Tracy blinked his tired eyes as he carried the last of his Father's belongings into his old bedroom.
He looked at the eight cartons stacked neatly against the wall and allowed a dismal sigh to pass through his lips. It wasn't much to show for a man who'd lived in these four walls for nearly sixty three years.
"But you never really wanted much in your life did you Daddy" he thought running his hand over the final carton. "All you ever wanted was the opportunity to provide for your family… and in the end to be with Momma."
At that point he wished so badly that he could feel something.
Anything.
Anger.
Grief.
Regret.
But he had been numb for four days; ever since Daniel Tracy had drawn his last breath in front of him.
He opened the closet. He guessed he should start moving his own clothes too. Looking at the three good shirts and two pairs of trousers hanging up in front of him he supposed that wasn't going to take him too long.
"At twenty five I ain't even got enough things to fill up one box." he reflected. "Unless I count my workin' clothes. Guess that'd fill two."
He reached forward and removed his clothing from the closet and carried it into his Father's bedroom. As he put the items away he looked around at the shabby walls.
They badly needed a paint. He wished he could afford to do that.
"One day." he told himself. "But I gotta get the crop off first else I won't have a farmhouse left to paint."
His eyes scanned the rest of the room. The curtains were old and faded. The bed needed a good coat of varnish. The covers and dilapidated blankets underneath needed replacing. Grant knew they were immaculately clean but they were as old as he was.
His Father had tried to joke about that only a few days before he died.
"Don't you be gettin' all apologetic for the condition of these here surroundings son." he had wheezed trying to breathe through the pain. "I got mighty fond memories of being with your momma in this bed and I sure ain't complainin' about that."
For a few fleeting moments he allowed himself to think about Josephine. It had been so good to see her today and feel her arms around him. But one look at that beautiful face had also driven home the truth. Despite working himself into the ground for six months trying to forget her he still loved Josephine Brown with all of his heart.
He looked at the bed in front of him and to his mind came that night in the barn. The night he began to make love to her.
And stopped.
"This is the where I wanted to take your innocence Josephine." he swallowed looking at the bed. "Here in our marriage bed."
He closed his eyes to shut out the memory.
He guessed another man would take her innocence now.
A man her Father approved of because he had wealth and a future.
Grant clamped his jaw angrily at the thought of Josephine in any other man's arms but his.
"Money." he spat striding down the hallway in discontent. "Everything's always about money."
He stood out on the verandah of the farmhouse and looked towards the darkened wheat fields. His eyes lifted to the heavens pleading for rain. He had to get a crop off and start to pay back his debts to the Bank.
It was the only way he would ever be allowed to have Josephine Brown.
ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
"Marvin you GOTTA open the market for me!" she insisted, grabbing him by his shirt sleeve and trying to drag him towards the door. "It's really, really important."
Marvin Landers shook his head vehemently. He'd had the busiest most exhausting day he had ever had in his life at that market today and there was no way in hell he was going anywhere.
"Josie." he frowned. "I'm tired and all I wanna do is sit here, drink my beer and take myself home."
Josephine frowned too. The market was only across the street and she couldn't go out to the farmhouse empty handed.
"Marvin!" she began again pulling him so hard he nearly toppled off the bar stool. "I need this favour and I ain't takin' no for an answer."
He continued to shake his head.
"Josephine I do you enough favours as it is." he moaned. "Look at today for example. I covered for you so you could go runnin' off to Mr Tracy's funeral. It's hell in that market when you're not there. I don't know if I'm comin' or goin' half the time."
Her tone lightened and she released her grip on his sleeve.
"I'm sorry." she said a little less officiously. "Sounds like you had a rough day."
"Damn right I did." he said in a ruffled voice. "Now how 'bout sittin' down with me and havin' a beer or somethin'?"
"No Marvin." she began again. " I'm goin' out to make dinner for Grant at the farmhouse and I need you to open the market for me."
She looked at him with her beautiful dark blue eyes.
"Please …I'll make it worth your while."
Martin rolled his eyes.
"Now how are you gonna do somethin' like that Josephine?" he scoffed in disbelief. "You only make as much money at that market as I do."
"I know I can't pay you anything." she admitted. "But I was thinkin' more about agreein' to go out with you."
Marvin coloured and looked her squarely in the face. He'd been asking Josephine to go out with him on an almost weekly basis since she'd broken up with Grant. Up until now she had steadfastly refused.
"What are you starin' at me like for Marvin?" she frowned. "It's a fair exchange ain't it? You open the market. I'll let you take me out."
Marvin thought he'd better slap himself first to make sure he wasn't dreaming. He hadn't been on a date since Junior High School. But he quickly became suspicious. If she and Grant were no longer together what was she doing heading out to the Farmhouse to make him dinner?
"Uh ... Josie..." he stammered."You sure you don't belong to Grant no more?"
Josephine tossed her head defiantly.
"Can you see an engagement ring sittin' on my finger Marvin Landers?"
"N..N... No ma'am." he stuttered.
"Well any sort of thinkin' man would know that means I don't belong to no-one."
She looked at him expectantly.
"Now do we have a deal or not?"
This was all too good to be true. Marvin narrowed his eyes doubtfully.
"You tell me where we're gonna go when we go out first."
"Oh Marvin what difference does that make to anything?" she said in exasperation. "I dunno. I'll go wherever you want."
She pulled at his sleeve impatiently and nearly pulled him off his chair again.
"You better not be joshin' with me Josephine." he warned as he rose to his feet and fished about in his pocket for the keys. "I'm holdin' you to this."
"I don't josh no-one." she said grabbing him by the hand and dragging him out of the bar. "Next Saturday night OK? You and me."
Marvin Landers smiled happily.
After all this time he couldn't believe his luck.
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She looked up at the clock and saw it was nearly ten o'clock.
She bit her lip and wondered if she should ring her parents and tell them where she was.
She put down her knife and fork in the centre of her plate.
She looked across the table where he sat.
He hadn't eaten a thing.
"Gee Grant I knew I wasn't the greatest cook in the world." she said trying to make conversation. "But I didn't think I was that bad."
He looked up at her absently as he traced his fork through the mashed potatoes on the side of his plate.
"I'm sorry Josie." he said. "This is all real nice and I appreciate you comin' all the way out here to provide for me … but I just don't feel like eatin' right now."
The tracing continued.
"Can't stop thinkin' about Daddy ... and how he had to suffer like that."
She continued to look at him in silence.
"Couldda told me he needed an operation." he murmured. "Wouldda found a way to raise the money if he did."
He put down his fork and looked over at her.
"But he never said nothin' to me till it was too late Josephine. Nothin' at all."
Josephine reached out and took his hand in hers. She squeezed it reassuringly.
"I know." she whispered.
"It all comes down to money don't it?" he observed. "What you do in your life, who you become."
He paused and then added painfully. "Even how miserably you die."
She cleared her throat and said in a quiet husky voice.
"Grant ... money ain't everything."
He fixed his cobalt eyes on hers.
"Beggin' your pardon Josephine ... you're wrong. Havin' money was everything to Daddy when he needed that operation."
He continued to berate himself.
"Rather have sold momma's ring to keep Daddy alive than sellin' it to bury him."
Her heart sank.
"You sold your mother's ring?" she breathed in disappointment.
He looked at her hopelessly.
"Josie ... I didn't have nothin' else to sell except for the farm ... and Daddy made me promise him before he died that I wouldn't sell it."
"But Grant …" she said with tears in her eyes. "It was your momma's."
He slammed his fist into the table in frustration.
"Josephine I know it was mommas and I know how much it meant to Daddy." he snapped. "But out here you have to face the cold hard facts of life. You gotta make choices whether you want to or not."
"I know Grant but that ring was important. Your Daddy told us so many wonderful stories about the day he bought it ."
"Givin' my Daddy a decent burial was more important than any stupid God damned ring Josephine. "he said matter-of-factly.
He lowered his voice and added. "And there was not a chance in all hell that I was going to go to that Bank and beggin' your Father for money."
Josephine was taken back by his last comment. As far as she knew her Father's offer to help had been genuine.
He paused to add. "Besides a ring's a ring when it don't mean nothin' no more so what's the God damn difference."
He glared at her and then stared down at his plate in silence.
Josephine bit her lip and said nothing further.
The clock ticked loudly on the wall. It was the only sound in the room.
After a few minutes he rubbed his hand across his tired eyes and quavered.
"I'm sorry Josephine. I ain't myself tonight."
After a while he added.
"Ain't been myself for six goddamn months."
He picked up his fork again and tried to eat some of the meal she'd cooked for him but he simply couldn't swallow. He resorted to pushing things around on his plate from one side to the other.
Josephine continued to watch him, her heart reeking with pain. Everything inside her wanted to hold him and offer some sort of comfort … but she couldn't bring herself to do it. He had said he didn't love her anymore.
She saw him turn away from the table and wipe the tears from his eyes. She watched as his lips trembled with grief.
Her resolve broke. She didn't care if he didn't love her anymore or that she was still hurt at the things he had said. She loved him and she could see he needed her.
She quietly moved from her place at the table and eased herself into the chair beside him. Slowly her hand reached out and closed over his. She squeezed it with a strength that came from deep within her. His own hand became motionless under the force and intensity of her grasp. He turned his head to look at her in silence.
Dark blue met dark blue.
Neither set of eyes flinched this time.
"I'm here for you Grant." she said in an unwavering, steady voice. "If you need me."
Both sets of eyes continued to lock.
Josephine felt her arms open.
"Grant. You don't have to face this alone." she encouraged.
He automatically moved towards the comfort of her outstretched arms. He felt them close around his shoulders, drawing him to her.
He rested his head against hers.
Grant closed his eyes and felt the warmth and security radiate from Josephine Brown's strong young body.
Secure in her embrace he allowed himself to feel emotion again, something he had refused to allow himself to do for months.
He felt pain. Pain at being left behind to grieve alone.
He felt anger. Anger that he had not been able to do something to help save his Father's life.
Above all he felt grief; a feeling that tore through his soul and rose up without warning through his tired work-weary body.
Before he knew what had happened to him, Grant heard himself release a long, uncontrollable sob.
Then another.
He tried to contain it but he felt those arms tighten around him harder.
A third sob came easily.
And a fourth.
"Let it out Grant." she whispered rocking him to and fro. "It's OK to cry honey. He was your Daddy."
"Josie." he sobbed as he began to break down. "I can't go on no more."
She felt herself bury her head in his neck.
"Of course you can." she swallowed, tears welling in her eyes too. "You have to keep going. It's what your Daddy would have wanted."
His lips touched the top of her head.
"I can't."
Her lips brushed his throat.
"You have to."
Both of them now sobbed with the emotion of his loss.
His lips touched her cheek.
"I can't Josie."
Her lips brushed his chin.
"Yes you can Grant."
Their lips finally met with a passion, and an intensity they had never experienced before. A passion inflamed by six months of denial of their feelings for each other and fuelled by the emotion of Daniel Tracy's death. His hands ran across her shoulders and through her hair. Hers tightened around him harder. Neither of them wanted to stop.
Desperately they broke apart and stared at each other in horror.
Josephine ran her hand over her lips and averted her eyes.
"Grant I ... I think I'd better go." she heaved rising to her feet.
His hand reached out to grasp hers.
"No Josie." he begged.
She shook her head. This had to stop now. Her true feelings for Grant were beginning to surface and she knew once they did she would not be able to hold them in check.
"Grant ... if I stay here any longer the two of us might do something we'll both regret." she said.
He stood up too and pulled her masterfully into his arms. He pressed her into his body with an urgency even he could no longer control.
"Josephine." he pleaded. " Please... I ... I need you."
She could feel his urgency against her and felt herself beginning to yield to her own desire to become one with him.
"No Grant ..." she began.
"I want you so bad Josephine." he admitted. "If I never have nothin' else again all I want is to be able to love you once with every part of part of me."
"Please Josie." he whispered. "Just once."
She lifted her eyes to his. She couldn't fight her feelings for him any longer.
"Love me Grant." she breathed closing her eyes as his lips touched her throat. "Love me like you were gonna love me in the barn. I don't care if we never get to be together in a marriage bed. Just let me feel what it's like to be with you... just once.
He began to shake his head, common sense returning,but suddenly everything inside himsnapped. He picked her up in his arms and staggered blindly in the direction of his Father's bedroom. Towards the bed in which he had always dreamed he would take the innocence of Josephine Brown.
Six months before in the barn of the Tracy farmhouse he had gazed upon the body of Josephine Brown in the half light of a hurricane lamp.
Six months later in the marriage bed his Father had shared with his Mother he gazed upon the body of Josephine Brown once more. This time there was no hurricane lamp, no dingy, dark surroundings. Only the four walls of a special bedroom and a tiny bedside light.
He had stopped himself from loving her in the barn but as they lay together for the first time as a man and a woman, nothing, not even his conscience was going to stop him now.
"Josie." he swallowed as her touch took him to the brink.
"Grant." she said breathless at his urgency. "Please take things slow … I …I ain't ever done nothin' like this before."
"Neither have I." he confessed and closed his eyes to keep himself under control.
"Josie...it feels ..." he pleaded.
He could hold himself back from her no longer.
"Grant…" she whispered. "I don't want to wait no more either. "
She braced herself as Grant Tracy rose above her and dominated her completely.
For three years he had waited to express the love he felt for Josephine Brown.
As their bodies locked together in his Father's marriage bed his marathon wait was over.
The minutes passed and his intensity rose,and like his Father before him Grant Tracy forgot he was a simple Farmer living in a broken down old farmhouse.
He was a man.
She was no longer the Banker's daughter living a life of affluence.
She was a woman.
Finally the moment came when he could contain himself no longer. He gasped as all the love and pent up emotion he felt flooded into the body of Josephine Brown.
In the minutes which followed he lay unable to speak.
Still deep within her he grasped her even closer to his body and began to cry like a child.
"I'm so sorry Josie." he sobbed. "But I'll always love you like this no matter what. With all I have within me."
She clasped him to her.
"It's OK." she whispered. "I'm not sorry."
Eventually his sobs subsided and they finally lay in each other's arms in the moonlight. Neither of them spoke. His lips brushed her beautiful features as he held her.
"Oh Josie..." he murmured. "My precious baby girl."
She lay across his naked chest. There was nowhere else she would rather be.
Grant pictured the sandstone fence and the impenetrable barrier Walter Brown had built around his family in an effort to keep him away.
The barrier had not been strong enough. Their love for each other had overcome it. It was time for Walter Brown to acknowledge that.
As Grant Tracy held her close to his heart his determination and inner resolve built.
No matter what her Father had said to him in the past he was damned if anyone was going to take Josephine away from him now.
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He thought he heard the rumbling of thunder above the farmhouse but as he opened his eyes and focussed in the half-light of the dawn he knew he had to be dreaming.
There hadn't been any decent rain for months.
He also heard the front door of the farmhouse rattle and a loud pounding followed.
That pounding was no dream and was becoming louder.
Grant clamoured out of the double bed and hurriedly pulled on his undershirt and trousers. As the knock became more intense he looked back to where she lay fast asleep under the covers.
He moved to open the front door as he heard the thunder boom loudly again. His eyes grew round with fright.
Standing in front of him, his face livid with rage was Walter Brown.
Walter pushed past him and stormed into the hallway.
"Where the hell is my daughter?" he insisted. "Do you realise I've been searching for her all God damned night?"
He turned back to look at Grant.
"Well?" he demanded. "Where is she?"
"M...M...Mr Brown Sir." he stammered. "Josephine is here but errr...umm... she's mighty indisposed right now."
"What do you mean mighty indisposed?" Walter Brown demanded. "Grant... I want to see my daughter and I want to see her right now!"
Grant Tracy looked back nervously towards his bedroom.
"Mr. Brown Josephine's asleep at the moment and I don't think it's necessary for me to be wakin' her."
Walter Brown's eyes widened as he finally realised Josephine had spend the night with Grant.
Before he could contain himself he lunged forward and grasped Grant Tracy by his undershirt. The two men eyed each other dangerously.
"You listen here to me boy." he said through gritted teeth. "That girl in there is my daughter."
"I'm the last person who'd ever dispute the fact she's your daughter Mr. Brown." Grant replied trying to remain calm. "And if you don't mind Sir I'd appreciate it if you released your hold on me. I don't want no trouble around here."
Walter looked up into the irate eyes of the young Tracy son. His pupils were dilated and almost black. In the silence the thunder rumbled again and a large flash of lightening zig-zagged across the horizon.
After a few precarious minutes Walter relaxed his grip and pushed Grant away from him.
"You'll be getting more than trouble from me if anything happens to Josie as a result of this." he warned through clenched teeth. "I can't believe you would take advantage of my daughter. How can you tell her you don't want to see her anymore and then turn around and use her like this?"
Grant's face took on a look of complete offence.
"I ain't ever taken advantage of your daughter and I sure as hell have never used her. "he flashed. "In case you've forgotten Mr Brown, I wanted to marry Josie and if you wouldda let me, she'd be sleepin' next to me all proper and legal by now."
He stood up to his full height, squared his jaw and eyed Walter Brown.
"I didn't mean for this to happen anymore than she did Sir but what we did in my Daddy's bed last night was out of love for each other and I ain't apologising for it."
Walter eyed him in return. His blood pressure soared.
"Well you'll be doing more than apologising next time you hope to rely on my good graces to keep your farm afloat boy. I think losing your Daddy has given you some sort of amnesia when it comes to remembering who the hell you're dealing with."
Grant's bottom lip trembled with rage.
"Oh I know who I'm dealin' with all right Mr Brown." he spat. "You're the Bank Manager my Daddy feared more than anyone on this earth else you took away his farm. You're the Bank Manager Daddy told me I had to bow and scrape to every day of my life if I wanted to make somethin' of myself. But I want to tell you somethin' right now Mr. Brown. While you're standin' here in my house uninvited and accusing me of usin' your daughter you ain't the Bank Manager in my eyes. You ain't anybody."
"No." Walter growled. "But I'm Josephine's God-damn Father."
Grant pressed his lips together trying to control himself.
"Least you and me agree on somethin' then." he replied. "And as Josephine's Father you got every right to object to me. But you never even told me what your objections are. Ain't I intelligent enough for you Mr. Brown? Hardworking enough? Decent enough?"
Walter interjected.
"You call THAT decent?" he bellowed pointing towards the bedroom.
Grant raised his voice over him.
"IT IS DECENT SIR." he yelled in complete frustration and then realised the whole situation was beginning to escalate out of control. He swallowed hard and forced himself to lower his voice.
"Mr Brown I love Josephine." he said as calmly as he could. "Six months ago I came to you as her Daddy and asked your permission to marry her. You didn't answer me as her Daddy. You didn't even give me a chance Sir."
He paused and looked at him accusingly. "All you did was answer me like the Bank Manager and because of who you are and what you could do to our Farm my Daddy told me I had no option but to accept that."
He lifted his chin and added rebelliously
"Well my Daddy's dead now Sir and I want you to know that I don't accept your answer to me no more."
"And why the HELL did you accept it for in the first place?"
The voice behind them held enough venom to kill a thousand men.
Walter Brown paled.
Grant veered scarlet.
Both of them turned towards the voice.
Standing in the doorway wearing a mask of silent fury was Josephine. Her feet and legs were bare, her hair was dishevelled from sleep and all she wore over her naked body was Grant's old discarded shirt.
Walter Brown was appalled at her appearance.
"Josephine." he barked. "Go and put some clothing on your back right NOW."
"I got clothing on my back Daddy." she said defiantly. "It just ain't mine."
Grant finally managed to pull himself together.
"Josie ..." he stammered. "I ...I ...didn't know you were standin' there."
She fixed her angry glare on him.
"Well that's damned obvious ain't it?" she spat. "If you knew I was standin' there the whole time you wouldda kept your mouth well and truly shut."
Her eyes flashed with anger and she was making absolutely no attempt to hide it.
"How dare you Grant!" she exploded. "How dare you ask Daddy if you could marry me without askin' me
first."
She took a deep breath and added. "How dare you walk away from me just because he said no. "
"Josephine please calm down." he pleaded. "I had to break things off. You heard what your Daddy said just now."
Josephine folded her arms and threw her Father a deathly stare.
"Oh I heard him all right. I heard both of you."
She now focussed her wrath on her Father.
"You knew why Grant broke up with me all the time didn't you Daddy?"
At Walter's awkward silence she added. "You knew everything and you never said nothin'. Gave me a bunch of stupid flowers and acted like it was some great big surprise."
Walter finally opened his mouth to speak but she silenced him.
"Don't you dare say anything Daddy. You had no right doing that to me."
She swung back to Grant.
"And you had no right doin' what you did to me in that night in the truck either."
She continued to rail at him.
"Lyin' about havin' other priorities and sayin' there was no time for me. " she raged. "You should have told me the truth Grant and let me make up my own mind about things. I can't stand anyone takin' me for a fool and I ain't havin' nothin' further to do with anyone who does. And that means the both of you!"
She pushed past the two of them and stormed through the front door, down the stairs and out towards the picket fence.
The violent wind blew her hair furiously about her neck and shoulders but Josephine Brown was too angry to notice or care about the threat of the impending storm.
Grant looked at Walter Brown who stood dumbfounded in the doorway. Obviously Walter didn't know what to do next.
Grant turned, taking the stairs two at a time and strode after her.
"Josephine!" he demanded, his voice almost drowned out by the wild rustling of the trees around the farmhouse. "You come back in here right now. I don't want you out here in this. It's dangerous and you're not decent."
Livid with rage she ignored him and flung open the gate to the white picket fence.
"Leave me alone Grant." she fumed. "I don't have to listen to nothin' you say."
To Grant's mind came his Father's words.
"Gotta be firm with her for another."
Well if he was going to be firm now was the time.
"Josephine!" he insisted. "I just told you that you ain't to go any further."
"The hell I'm not!" she fumed banging the gate shut between them.
Grant pulled the gate back open with so much force he nearly pulled it off its hinges. He reached out his hand, grasped her shoulder and swung her around wildly to face him. He looked her firmly in the eyes.
"I said the hell you are Josephine."
The two of them eyeballed each other.
He lowered his voice and added.
"Not dressed like that anyway."
The tone of his voice immediately settled her down. Grant had never spoken to her like that before.
There was another flash of lightening and as they stared at each other in fury, the rain began to fall over the farm.
" You lied to me." she accused as her eyes filled with angry tears. "You lied and let me think this farm meant more to you than I did."
Grant's eyes filled too.
"Well it don't all right? Nothin' means more to me than you Josephine. You know that."
"No I don't know that." she continued as the tears spilled over. "You were willin' to give up Grant without even fightin' for me."
Grant looked her squarely in the face.
"I never wanted to give you up. I've already tried to explain to you that I had to."
"I told you the night you ended things with me Grant, you don't have to do nothin' you don't wanna do." she sobbed angrily. "You're a man ain't you? Can't you decide for yourself?"
The rain was becoming really heavy now. It poured from the sky like a torrent, drenching the thirsty earth and bathing it in life-giving moisture.
Grant took her arm and tried to guide her back to the farmhouse.
"Josie please let's talk about this inside." he pleaded. "You're soakin' wet to the skin and you ain't wearin' nothin' under that shirt of mine either."
She stood firm and continued to stare at him.
"For goodness sake Josie." he said more forcefully. "That shirt is becomin' obscene."
She tore her arm from his grasp.
"I don't care if I ain't wearin' anything at all!" she railed. "I told you I won't have nothin' to do with a man who lies to me or a man who ain't man enough to make his own decisions. I mean it Grant. It might be good enough for you but it ain't good enough for me."
He looked at her intensely determined face and her beautiful features and remembered the passionate love they had made only a few hours before. He reached out and wrenched her into his arms. She struggled to wrest herself away from him.
"Josephine stop this damned nonsense!" he demanded fiercely gripping her tighter in an attempt to calm her down. "Please just listen to what I'm sayin' for once. I know I was lyin' in the truck about not wantin' you in my life but you gotta understand I only said that because I felt I wasn't good enough for you."
She ceased to struggle against him and looked into his face in disbelief.
"Do you love me Grant?" she demanded as the water poured down her face.
"Dammit Josie of course I do." he snapped as the water poured down his own. "We just shared somethin;' special didn't we? What sortta stupid question is that?"
She lifted her chin insolently.
"Prove it." she challenged.
There was a stunned silence.
"Go on then." she commanded. "Go back in that farmhouse right now and tell my Daddy you're gonna marry me no matter what he thinks and no matter what he does to you or your precious God-damned farm. Then and only then I'll believe you Grant."
They stared at each other as the rain became heavier still and the lightening flashed all around them.
"Well?" she barked. "Are you prepared to do that for me or not?"
Grant broke down.
"Don't do this to me Josephine." he begged. "Don't you understand? That's your Daddy's point. The farm is all I have. There's nothing left to give you other than what you see here."
Josephine wished she could hit him. He was so stupid sometimes.
"For God's sake Grant why can't you understand I don't want no more than what I see here." she sobbed. "Haven't you worked out in your stupid head after three goddamn years that all I want is YOU?"
He swallowed and stared at her with disbelieving eyes.
She swallowed too.
"I don't care about money and havin' things for the sake of it. I care about bein' happy and wakin' up next to someone I love. You're that someone Grant Tracy even without a dime to your name."
Grant didn't know what to say to her. What she wanted was all he had ever wanted too.
His mouth moved but no sound came out.
But the Banker's daughter could not wait for him to speak any longer.
Trapped in his arms she steeled herself and said it all for him.
"Marry me Grant."
At his stunned silence she added.
"I mean it. There ain't nothin' my Daddy or this whole damned world can throw at you that we can't get through together."
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Author's Note - Well - Will he or won't he? Of course he will but at what price? Please review.
NEXT CHAPTER - The Epilogue - Grant and Josephine Tracy - The Family that began a Dynasty
A Fence - "A protective barrier for something dear"
A Family - "A group of like individuals"
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