Stranger In Their Midst Chapter Nine
Catalina stood in the post office and waited for Mrs. Foster to hand her the mail. In order to remove any justifiable reason for a person to speculate that Catalina might "still have a husband outside Walnut Grove", she had removed the golden band and given it to Hyrum to keep.
Still, things were confusing; Hyrum hadn't made any more advances since the day by the creek. Catalina had decided to lay an ultimatum down. Hyrum had made a short and very cordial visit the night before and Catalina took the opportunity to speak her mind to her secret husband. "Decide what you want by the end of the month. I can't continue living this way; my life on hold!" Those had been her exact words, and Hyrum had acknowledged she had a very valid point. Catalina appreciated his affirmation on point and left her statement at that, though she so wanted to add 'Not to mention having to deal with the constant speculation or gossip from some of these people.' But she understood that many of these people were Hyrum's good friends and truly, she would never want that to change.
"One letter," Mrs. Foster smiled and handed her the envelope. The woman had thought about steaming it open to read it, as it was from one Juan Carlos De La Iglesia. Mrs. Olsen had been in earlier that day and she, with Harriet's help had come up with all sorts of wild ideas when it came to the relationship between Juan and Catalina.
That being the case, Mrs. Foster was greatly disappointed when Catalina scowled slightly and barked softly, "Some brothers have a lot of nerve!" She replaced the scowl with a polite, genuine, smile and bade Mrs. Foster good day.
Once outside Catalina walked towards Hyrum's office and opened the letter. She paled slightly as she read what the letter said. It simply read:
My Dearest Catalina,
I am writing because I have decided to come and see you. I will be there as soon as possible.
Love,
Juan
Fury raged through Catalina. Juan was as bad as their father. That man always wrote letters that might as well be telegrams and he never included the real reason behind his visits to anyone. She had to show the letter to Hyrum and discuss the problem with him. In her eyes, that's exactly what her brother's visit would be…a problem.
Hyrum was sitting at his desk, when Catalina opened the door and shut it. He smiled, but his smile quickly faded when he saw the troubled and angry look upon her face. He quickly stood up. "What is it?" He asked as he took a step towards Catalina. She handed him the "letter".
If it wasn't for the fact that she'd handed him the paper without batting an eye, Hyrum might have believed Mrs. Olsen's words, the ones she'd spoken when she had stopped by and tried to convince him that "…that woman lied to you. Her husband is very much alive and he's coming here! Mrs. Foster said so." He had defended Catalina and thrown Harriet out, but some doubt had been placed in his mind. Now, he reprimanded himself; he should have known better. "Your brother," Hyrum tossed the paper on the desk and looked at Catalina, "You think he means to cause us trouble."
Catalina started pacing the floor. "He's planning something for sure, but what?" She didn't want trouble for either one of them and she was sure Juan would be more than willing to give it.
Hyrum was surprised to realize how much it upset him to see Catalina in such knots. He didn't want her stressing over what might or might not be coming. When she turned her back to him and headed for the other side of the room again, he stepped around in front of her and pulled her to him with his left hand and rested his right one on the back of her head. "There's no need to stress," he assured her. Then, remembering what his parents had said so many years ago, Hyrum continued, "As long as we stand as one; there's nothing he can do to accomplish whatever his goal may be."
Catalina jerked backwards and lifted her eyes to Hyrum's face. As long as they were one? "Folks around here don't even know we're married, as far as they know we're only seriously courting!" she spoke, her voice rose slightly, though not in anger… more in frustration. "He'll not only give me a hard time for 'staying in a town where I have no family'; he's bound to slander your name as well and who knows what else!" A slight hint of panic now in her voice.
Remembering everything from the first moment he saw Catalina, to their walks, picnics and the day by the creek, Hyrum let go of Catalina and walked over to his desk. She watched puzzled as he pulled a piece of paper out, wrote on it, hung the notice on the outside of his office door, shut it and then locked it. As Hyrum made his way back to her, Catalina felt her heart flutter as she knew, from the look in his eye, what he had in mind. "They're going to find out everything, aren't they?" She whispered as Hyrum again pulled her to him.
"Well, we knew if it worked out between us, things would have to come out sooner or later anyway. I can honestly say while I might not have the memories of those three months, I have no qualms whatsoever in taking your word when it comes to everything you've told me about the past. It's not because I just honor your word; my heart trusts them. My brain may not remember the scenes and the circumstance, but my heart remembers the feelings." He ran his fingers down the side of her face. "I know it's not the end of the month, but I already know what I want. Now, I think it's high time I got reacquainted with my wife; how about you?" Hyrum whispered as he lowered his head and covered her lips with his mouth while his hands wandered up to the top button on the back of her dress.
A minute part of Catalina's etiquette told her that she should be working on one of her customer's dresses. A part of Dr. Baker's protocols said he should take his sign down…the one that said he'd be back in a couple of hours. Neither one of them listened to those social expectations as the fire inside of them climbed. It wasn't long before the couple disappeared behind his office curtains… having left a trail of trail of clothing behind… and commenced their own examinations. It was a good thing no one was in dire need of a doctor for that meant when Catalina cried out her husband's name with passion, no one but the birds heard her.
0000
Reverend Alden sat stunned, as did Charles and Jonathon. Hyrum and Catalina had cornered them at the church. Charles and Jonathon had been talking to the good reverend when Dr. Baker and Catalina walked in the front door. Hyrum had his arm wrapped around his wife and was smiling from ear to ear as he explained everything. "We…no, I wanted time to see if I my feelings were founded." Hyrum looked at their three friends, "but now we need your help. We don't know when her brother will arrive or what he will try to pull. Please, spread the word quickly that we are indeed married. Ask people to tell that man nothing, but the fact that we are very happily and legally married." He grinned at Catalina, who was blushing from ear to ear.
Not one of the men understood why Hyrum and Catalina would want only fact that they were married repeated to her brother, with no reference to Catalina's unchaperoned arrival to Walnut groves some months ago, or Hyrum's loss of memory. But Charles and Jonathan along with the good Reverend agreed to do as the couple asked.
"I'll talk with Nels right away." Jonathon spoke. "I know he can put his foot down with Harriet, and he'll have to this time. If he doesn't, you know full well she'll be talking up a storm!" Every one of their heads nodded in agreement.
Then, thinking on Nels' putting his foot down with Harriet, Charles and Jonathon started chuckling as they stood up. Each took turns slapping Hyrum on the back, as well as giving Catalina a very firm handshake. Charles spoke up, "Well, Laura will love hearing this. She and Albert have been arguing over the fact that she thinks you two should be married."
"Try… Laura, Albert and Andrew," Jonathon laughed and picked up his jacket, "I left them at our place discussing the matter just today!" That got the five people in the church to laughing as Charles and Jonathon both left to back to their various obligations and to spread the word like Dr. Baker had asked.
While the word was being spread around Walnut Grove, Juan Iglesia was climbing into a stagecoach in Sleepy Eye. He had promised his father he'd get his sister and take her back to either California or Mexico. He wasn't sure what he'd do, but he wasn't worried. He had the trip from Sleepy Eye to Walnut Grove to think of something.