A/N Thank you all again, so, so much! I hope everyone who celebrates had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Now we return to Heavenly. There is so much going on in this chapter we'd better get started!
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As she stood before the women and began to tell them the truths she'd discovered, Karen felt the nerves and uneasiness in her tummy, but she didn't stop, "Ladies, I believe I have uncovered not just one but several misdeeds. I'm sorry to tell you I feel confident saying the town of Heavenly has been swindled by Shelly Neudermeyer. We've been hoodwinked. As the citizenry perhaps we should have kept a more attentive eye on her."
There was a collective gasp as Karen explained further, "Ladies, I know it is we, the women of Heavenly who are going to have to make certain justice is served and the punishment does indeed fit the crime. We're also going to have to be the ones to bring about a resolution to our marm's situation. We cannot allow Heavenly to lose another good teacher."
Karen had piqued the interest of the women and they listened intently as she continued "We're the ones who are going to make certain there are changes. If we work together I'm confident we can make sure that woman pays for what she's done, and we'll be able to get our marm reinstated and our school open again by Monday morning."
There was almost total silence as Karen continued her story. "This morning I went to the sheriff's office and looked up the original town charter, specifically what it said with regard to the school, to the marm and to the schoolboard president. I wasn't the only one curious and suspicious, it happens my brother in law was there as well. He agreed to step away and let us ladies decide what's best, but he'll also help if needed."
The ladies of the circle listened anxiously as she continued, "Many of us here have served in the position of marm, and everyone here who has been the marm was fired by Shelly Neudermeyer, including myself. We were all told the same thing when we were hired, that we had to have high moral standards and we were to remain single, we could not have suitors. We were warned that if we violated the rules we would be fired and would have to pay back our travel expenses." There was a general nodding of heads in agreement and Karen went on. "We agreed to those conditions and we were all aware we'd broken the suitor rule. We took our punishment. However, we were lied to, those are not the guidelines the original charter sets forth." Again there was a gasp from the ladies.
The women listened anxiously as Karen continued, "The original charter does indeed declare the marm must be of the highest moral standards but never does it say that she must not take a suitor, or that she must remain single. It states she may remain in the accommodation for as long as she remains single, if she marries she is to move to the home of her husband. It further states that if the marm conscientiously performs her duties for a period of three months all indebtedness for travel expenses will be forgiven. I don't know about you ladies but I was told it would take six months to pay off my travel expenses." That stirred up a bit of a commotion and several women called out, "Yes, me too."
"Here's how the swindle worked, or at least how I think it worked. In her position as schoolboard president Shelly held the bank account for the school's portion of the town budget, and out of that account came the travel expenses and wages for the marm. She was to pay the marm her weekly stipend until such time as the indebtedness was paid back, after three months. Then she was to begin paying the regular wage. All of us believed, because it was she who told us, we would be paying off our debt for six months and we did not question that we would only receive a stipend during that time. Ladies, I'm certain it is a fact when I tell you, Shelly Neudermeyer kept three months of our wages for herself."
More gasps arose from the ladies and Karen continued, "That was by no means all of it. Unbeknownst to anyone was the fact that both the train company and the stagecoach company were giving generous discounts to the town for transportation of marms. Why? Because of the frequency with which the town used those services."
"Shelly Neudermeyer never told a soul about the discounts. She kept the marm's wages and she kept that refunded discount from the stage and train companies, and then she charged the marms she fired the full fare prices and kept the overcharge money for herself as well. In addition, she gets paid a tidy salary by the town. There are many jobs she is assigned to perform, including being at the school during the lunch hour to watch over the children so their teacher may have a short break. I don't think any of us ever had a break." The mood in the room had turned quite angry.
"Besides stealing from me, from you and from the town in this way, she has even stolen from my son. It specifically states in the charter that a boy is to be paid two dollars a month to keep wood chopped for the marm. Virgil has been paid only 50 cents a month. My husband would not have allowed our son to work for such a low wage, but he did not want some unfortunate marm to freeze to death in that awful little room, nor the schoolchildren to be cold. And by the way ladies, there was money allotted to provide a hot water system and nice furnishings for that little accommodation. I would wager a pot of gold Shelly Neudermeyer put that money in her purse as well."
"The overseer of everything was supposed to be the mayor, but we haven't had a mayor in Heavenly since Sheriff Rick had to run that one out of town a few years back. The men should have immediately held an election but did not. With no one to answer to Shelly Neudermeyer got away with doing exactly as she pleased. We are certainly not at fault ladies, we don't have a say about anything or an opportunity to vote. The men of this town should have voted in a new mayor, they should have made sure she had a supervisor of some sort." The ladies were angrily calling out "That's right!" as they nodded in agreement.
"Think about this as well, she was running what amounted to a lucrative mail order bride business in a town with a serious shortage of women, while the town paid the expenses of her enterprise. The men had no incentive to investigate, we ladies have provided many of them with a happy home life. Shelly Neudermeyer knew just what she was doing."
Karen went on, "I think you'll agree, it's time the women of Heavenly put our collective foot down and let the men in this town know action is needed. I believe when they discover how much of their tax dollars went into that terrible woman's purse changes will be made, including reinstating our marm. Especially if our men want a happy home life."
The ladies were fuming as they talked among themselves. They reached a unanimous decision that since the sheriff was the senior person of authority in the town it was his job to officially fire Shelly Neudermeyer. They also wanted additional charges brought against her for the wrongs she'd done. After more discussion the ladies of the circle locked arms and walked as a group to the sheriff's office.
Upon arrival they found not only the sheriff but Mr. Milton Mamet.
When Sheriff Rick Grimes went to work that day he had not expected to be confronted not only by the banker, but by a group of disgruntled and agitated ladies. When they arrived at his office looking angry and determined, and with his own wife right up front, he most certainly agreed to listen to their demands. He stood before them with hands resting on his hips and his head cocked to one side, and as he gave his full attention to Karen she explained to him all that she'd discovered.
The ladies cheered him when he told them that thanks to the information Karen had given him, and the statement from Milton Mamet with regards to the funds, he would be charging Shelly Neudermeyer with several counts of fraud and theft, on top of the assault charges already filed. He was unable to completely suppress his smile as he informed them, "The circuit judge isn't due to come through Heavenly again for another four months. That will give Shelly Neudermeyer plenty of time to sit in her cell and reflect on the wrongs she has committed against our town and against you ladies."
It was his own wife Lori who spoke up then, "Rick, you're the authority in town. You can make the decision about the marm. The women are in agreement that Beth Greene should be reinstated to the position of marm and we also want to see Olivia be appointed as the new schoolboard president."
The sheriff had twenty strong-minded women standing before him, and one of those women happened to be the woman with whom he shared his bed. It didn't take him long to decide, "Agreed. You ladies know what's best for the children, if that's how you think it should be handled then that's the way it will be."
Karen and Amy hurried away from the group to let Beth know the news.
As Merle Dixon's family said grace and then sat for their dinner his wife confessed to him, "Husband I was up to something today," and she told him and her children all that had happened.
Her husband smiled at her and their children, "Well now, I knew my own Dear One would find a way ta make that old hen pay for the things she done. Thank you for keepin' me from gettin' myself in a whole lotta trouble. I'm a lucky man ta be married ta one so clever and so fierce."
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Earlier that day, when Daryl agreed to dinner at Amy and Zach's home he had no idea he would be moving Beth back to the schoolhouse after dessert. He was never more pleased to provide assistance.
The schoolhouse and the classroom were both freezing and he quickly took the quilt from the bed wrapping it around her. "I'll get the fires goin' real quick. Gonna take it a while ta get warm though."
When he had fires blazing in both stoves he went to her and they stood close to the one in her room. The quilt was now around them both, his arms holding it snuggly across her shoulders. At first he smiled at her and then his look became more thoughtful and he began to speak, "Beth I's so restless last night. I hardly slept for thinkin' of ya. I felt sad knowin' you were sad and I's mad at myself that I couldn't seem ta do anythin' about it. Then I felt bad about leavin' ya there alone at Zach an Amy's."
His head was slightly bowed but his eyes were looking up at her as he continued, "I know I ain't an educated man like your brother. I didn't even start at school til I's nine, then I quit when I's ten and went ta work. Karen made me study some at home, she wanted me ta learn my readin' an writin' and how ta do my figures, but that's all I know. I like ta think though that I got the know-how ta do a lot things, even though I ain't educated. I ain't stupid either an I ain't one ta shy away from hard work."
His tone got quite serious but she could also hear his nervousness as he went on, "I want ya ta know that in my business I always got plenty a work comin' in an I turn a good dollar. Ya seen my house an I know it ain't a plantation house like they got down south, but it's a good one an I own it free an clear of the bank or any other loan. It's well-built and it's warm. When I bought the business and the land they was just barely startin' ta build that house. I finished it myself an I like ta think I done it right."
He finally seemed to relax a little as he told her, "Most men like me, smithies, don't stay at it their whole life. It can be a backbreaker bendin' over a hot fire all day and poundin' molten metal. But I like it, I like doin' it. Still I got bigger plans, I got dreams Beth."
"Virgil's gonna be graduatin' eighth grade next year an he'll be all done with school. That's when he's comin' ta work for me full time. I ain't gonna have him do nuthin' for a long time except learn the ferrier part a the business. All of it. I want him ta know everythin' there is ta know about horses an how ta care for em. Ta my way of thinkin' it's the most important part a bein' a good blacksmith."
She was listening to his every word and wondering why on this freezing night, as they stood together wrapped in her quilt, he would feel the need to tell her all of this. But she stayed quiet and she listened closely as he continued.
"This spring I aim ta make a claim, a homestead claim on the 160 acre parcel that joins my land. I got five years ta prove it up and then the deed'll be mine. I ain't gonna have trouble with improvin' it, I already got buildin' plans for a horse barn and corrals, even a little house."
"I ain't giving up my smith business Beth, but I also got a mind ta have a horse ranch. That's where Virg bein' a ferrier is gonna be important, I aim ta have him workin' with me. I wanna raise the best horses in the west. Saddlehorses, trail horses and work horses. There's good money ta be made in the horse trade but that ain't all of it. I got a love for the animal and it seems they got a love for me."
"My reason for tellin' ya all this Beth is cuz I want ya ta be a part a my plans. I want those plans ta be our plans. I want ya ta be my partner. If ya say yes I'm thinkin' we could do it a week from this Saturday."
She couldn't imagine beginning such an undertaking in just over a week. There must be a misunderstanding, "Do what Daryl?"
"Get married." He was stunned that the words he'd been so sure he would struggle with had come out almost on their own. Then he remembered he was supposed to ask her, and he did, "Elizabeth Greene will ya marry me? Please?"
She was glad his arms were holding her so tightly, otherwise she might have dropped to the floor from the shock his question brought. Yet it was not a bad shock. It was the most wonderful kind of shock. She couldn't deny she'd thought more than once about the possibility that someday they would marry, but never had she considered it would happen so soon.
There were so many things to think about. He had not sought permission from her brother, a nearly criminal offense in the south. And there was logic. Logic told her it was far too early in their courtship to entertain the idea of marriage. And although they had shared so much, still they hardly knew one another. He was so different, they were so different. But she put all those thoughts aside because no matter what logic told her she knew exactly what her heart wanted. She smiled and her arms held him more tightly and she answered, "Yes. I would be proud to be your wife."
He felt a warm feeling rush through him. She'd agreed. He was so happy and he felt proud too. What came next came so naturally there was no time to seek permission. He simply cradled her face in his hands and tenderly pressed his lips to hers. It was warm and it was loving, and it was as if they could feel their emotions come to life even more with their bodies held together so closely and their lips meeting in such a sweet kiss.
He slowly drew his lips from hers and she'd never seen him smile so broadly; she was also certain her own smile was just as wide. Her hand went to her lips and as she lightly touched them she whispered, "My first kiss."
He wasn't sure why he would be surprised by those words, it made sense with a woman like her. He pulled her back into the hug and nuzzled his nose on her ear whispering, "I feel proud ta be the man ta have your first kiss. I hope ta kiss ya every day for the rest a my life."
He drew back again and looking in her eyes told her, "Wish I could marry ya this Saturday instead a waitin', but I ain't gonna make ya my wife on the same day we're butcherin' a hog."
She shook her head smiling, "No, I agree that wouldn't seem quite right. And Daryl we have so many plans we have to make and quickly."
"Plans?"
"Well yes, plans for the ceremony and reception."
"Ceremony? That sounds like…well I thought we was just gonna have Eastman marry us an maybe afterward have some lunch at Merle an Karen's. What was you thinkin'?" He felt her small body stiffen in his arms and he knew then he'd made a mistake. He went about trying to correct it, "I don't know nuthin' about plannin' this kinda stuff or what's the right way ta do it. I just want us ta be married and for you ta be happy. You tell me what ya want an that's what we'll do."
And there in his arms she realized everything she wanted, she wanted to be Mrs. Daryl Dixon. Perhaps all those trappings and trimmings she'd dreamed of as a young girl weren't really what mattered. "I think you're right, we'll keep it small and not at all fancy."
He smiled that big smile again as he teased, "Make it fancy if that's what ya want. I can be fancy, ya seen my church clothes." Then he realized and he told her, "Best not say anythin' ta anyone til we tell Merle an Karen. Otherwise you an me both are gonna be in a world a trouble with them. They'll expect ta be the first ta know. After work tomorrow I can pick ya up an we'll go ta their place for dinner. We can tell em then."
"Just arrive for dinner without having been invited or letting them know we're coming?"
"It's gotta be like that. If I stop in the mornin' an tell Karen you an me are comin' over after work ta talk to em, she'll figure what's goin' on right away."
"Yes I suppose that's true." She still couldn't quite believe it all herself.
He was reluctant to leave her but he knew he must. Before he left he stoked the fires once more then took her in his arms again, "I'll be glad when I can take ya home with me. When we're married I promise I ain't ever gonna let ya get cold again."
As soon as the door closed behind him her mind got so busy. She was happy and excited and anxious to talk to Karen, to Amy and to Merna about plans, yet she also had apprehension. Was this truly the right thing for her? It seemed so soon, was it too soon? Would she really be able to live in this mountain country the rest of her life? Was she cut out to be the wife of a horse rancher? She had so many questions yet the answer to each was that he would be there with her, he would be her husband and surely with him by her side she would have a happy life wherever they might be.
She would have to write her brother immediately. She would have to tell him and her dear sister in law what she had planned. By the time they received the letter the marriage would have taken place. It would be too late for Shawn to intervene. She knew he would be angry and she knew her sister in law would cry. That's when she felt the tears in her own eyes. She missed them and she wondered if she would ever see any of them again.
He was feeling so many things. He was excited by the idea of her being his wife, and he couldn't deny he looked forward to her sharing his bed. He was desirous of her and anxious to truly make her his, not just in heart but in body. Yet he had his worries. Life in the high country was not always an easy life. Would she grow tired of the brutal winters and living her life in a small log home? Would she begin to pine for the life she'd had and someday decide to leave and go back to Georgia? Those questions were heavy on his mind, but still she had his heart and his heart told him it was a chance worth taking. He knew that never would he ever care for a woman in the way he cared for Beth Greene.
He was up early the next morning and as he began to prepare his morning meal the question occurred to him, did she have food for breakfast? He was certain she did not. He smiled as he gathered together a few things.
Unlike the first time he'd fixed her a meal, this time when he knocked on her door she was up and dressed and that caused him a moment of disappointment. The other morning when he'd arrived unannounced he'd enjoyed seeing her in her nightclothes with her sleepy eyes and her hair all a mess. He looked forward to the time he'd be waking to that sight each morning. "Daryl, good morning, what a surprise, come in."
"I hope it's a good surprise. I's thinkin' ya might not have any food here an I should cook ya some breakfast." Everything suddenly became so clear to her and she understood exactly what it was about him, it was that about him. It was the way his actions always showed how much he cared. It was how he always thought about her and what she might need, and the way he always concerned himself with her well-being. Yes, she told herself, marrying him was the best decision she would ever make.
They were both smiling throughout the brief meal, and several times his hand reached over to hers giving it a little squeeze. He warmed her heart with his actions and then his words, "I'm lookin' forward to the time when every mornin' I'll look across the table and see your pretty face."
Even with having stopped at her place he was at work early that morning. He had several horses to shoe and shovel and axe orders to fill. He was hopeful the work would not just keep his body busy, he hoped it would also keep his mind engaged. He had not been able to stop thinking of her and the promise they would soon make to one another. Something else was on his mind too, sharing the news with his brother and sister that evening. He was sure they would be happy to hear it, and he was certain that for himself there was no better decision he'd ever made than to ask Beth Greene to be his bride.
With no work until Monday she had some time on her hands and so Beth spent her morning writing in her journal, detailing all the events of the past two days including the breakfast visit that morning. She wrote of his proposal and she sketched a small heart next to the paragraph where she chronicled the words he'd spoken, "Elizabeth Greene will ya marry me? Please?"
Then she performed a task she had not looked forward to at all, writing a letter to her brother. She apologized to Shawn for her disobedience, but she also did her best to explain to him that an important part of her being able to feel like an adult was making some decisions on her own. Including the decision regarding the man she would marry. She told her brother of her betrothed. She assured him Daryl Dixon was a good, solid and righteous man. She told her brother about his business and the work he did and of his home and their plans for the future.
The thought came to her then, perhaps she should ask Daryl to please write to her brother as well. Since permission had not been sought it seemed like the proper gesture to make. It would show her brother respect and sincerity. She hoped her intended would agree.
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Andrea Harrison didn't move back to the saloon because she longed to return to Philip Blake's bed. That was one of the last places on earth she ever wanted to be, but she was going to make him think otherwise. She'd given up so much of herself because of him, because at first she had believed the lies he told her.
She'd gone along with his plan to bilk gambling men and she'd allowed herself to be sold to the highest bidder. Then Philip Blake had done unspeakable things to her all while telling her one minute how much he cared, and the next minute calling her a whore.
It wasn't as though she were an innocent but still she was convinced it wasn't right. She thought she should have a say about those personal things, a right to say no to his advances. But whenever she tried to resist it only seemed to make him more determined to get what he wanted, and he would become even more brutal and abusive.
She was determined that was all about to change. Once she'd done what she came to do and he was dead, that's when she'd come clean. She'd tell the sheriff what really happened that night with her, Philip and Spencer Monroe. Spencer was an arrogant spoiled brat, there was no denying that, but he hadn't been the one to beat her.
He'd paid his money and they'd gone upstairs together. It was as they removed their clothes Spencer spotted the playing card tucked in her undergarment. He was angry and he had a right to be. He knew then he'd been cheated and he'd lost a good amount of money to her in that card game. When he started to yell and demand his money back, loudly threatening to expose the cheating scheme, Philip Blake came storming into the room.
The Governor could not afford to have word of the scam get out, so to keep the young man quiet he began to violently beat Spencer. When Andrea yelled at him to stop and tried to pull him off the younger man, the Governor backhanded her so hard she'd fallen and blacked out for a minute. When she came-to she saw Spencer near death. Again she yelled at Philip to stop, that's when he turned his rage on her and began to beat her nearly as violently as he had Spencer. When he was done, as the final humiliation and just like he'd done countless times before, he forced himself on her.
She didn't tell the sheriff the truth for fear Philip Blake would find a way to kill her and Spencer was so badly hurt she knew he wouldn't go right to prison. If the young man survived at all he'd be months in the hospital. She planned that by the time Spencer started to heal Philip would be dead and that's when she'd tell the sheriff the truth. She'd gladly accept whatever punishment the judge gave her for killing the Governor. Nothing, not even a life spent in prison could be worse than living with the monster he was, and she knew he'd never let her go.
So she had the Smithy make her a knife that would do the job and now she tucked it safely away in the drawer of her bedside table. Her plan was simple enough. She'd let Philip Blake have his way with her, she'd do a good job acting as if she'd missed his touch and she'd pretend to enjoy spending that time with him in his bed. After, when she was sure he was asleep, she would take the knife and plunge it into his heart.
Then she couldn't. She stood above him, knife poised and ready, but she couldn't bring herself to stab him. No matter how justified she felt the killing was, murder just wasn't in her. Maybe next time. When he got more brutal maybe it would be easier. Yes, maybe next time she whispered as she quietly cried herself to sleep.
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That night in the hills outside Heavenly the claimers were lying about their camp drinking, gambling, cussing each other and laughing, and Joe made a plan for himself. Saturday he would slip into town, alone. He was certain he could go unnoticed. He'd get the lay of the land, he'd see how many guns they'd be going up against when the time came to take control of the town. And although he didn't mention it to the others, he also thought while he was checking things out he'd find a woman and have himself a little fun.
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A/N Karen and the ladies of the circle got the job done. Daryl asked and Beth said YES! Andrea has a plan that she can't quite make happen, and Joe has an ominous sounding plan. So much is happening in Heavenly. I hope you'll leave a comment / review. As always, you can find the chapter photo on my tumblr blogs gneebee and bethylmethbrick. I hope to see you all next Friday for more of A Place Called Heavenly. Until then remember, I love ya large! xo gneebee