I'm baaaaaaaaaack! Thanks all you guys and gals for sticking with me. I know it's been awhile! I read your reviews and see you favoriting me and I can't tell you how much I appreciate it. The next couple chapters are going to be mostly from Tav's POV. It's taken a lot for me to get through writing this and I have to thank Esther for helping me make it all come together.
For Esther, and those double dog dares!
13.
Martin's Ferry, Ohio
Tavington and Esther Mitchel's wedding day did not go exactly as planned.
When the couple finally reached Martin's Ferry after a few days of travel, they realized that crossing the Ohio into Zanesburg, Virginia might not be such a good idea.
For one thing, the crossing of the Ohio River was always a risk-a risk that he would be willing to take if it were only his safety that was concerned. On top of that, the couple realized that Zanesburg was still a very Patriot friendly settlement. Tavington's Biritishness would stick out like a sore thumb. He could even be recognized, and even though Esther would not know why, that would definitely spell trouble for everyone involved.
No, it wouldn't do to make Esther a widow before she even had a chance to be a bride. So, Tavington made the decision to stay in Martin's Ferry and marry Esther there.
It wasn't difficult to find lodgings or even a justice of the peace willing to marry them- for a fee of course. And after checking in to a local inn, they shared a light meal in their rooms, washed, rested and went to see a man about a wedding.
Jason skip-stepped a few paces ahead of Tavington and his mother as they strolled through town to their appointment with the JP. Tavington had promised Jason earlier as they dressed themselves, that he would allow the boy pick something out at the Mercantile on the condition that he behave himself.
Tavington felt his chest rise slightly; feeling a bit chuffed as he escorted Esther down the street on his arm. She looked fresh-faced and pretty as always and in a few moments she would be his wife.
When that moment came, Tavington repeated the words he was given but he hardly took notice of anything he was actually vowing. He could have been promising her anything and wouldn't even know it until it was too late.
"I, Aloysius William Tavington, take thee Esther Lynn Mitchel….."
Esther's eyebrows rose with polite surprise. Tavington would have to explain a few things about family names later he supposed.
Tavington looked down at Jason as Esther- with shaking hands- promised to love, honor and obey him. Jason was almost peering from behind his mother's skirts and Tavington knew why. The boy was unsure about the whole thing himself. Well, it seemed they were all a bit nervous.
Tavinton winked at Jason just as the JP was pronouncing them husband and wife. Then he remembered why he was there. He loved Esther and Jason. He wanted to take care of them and for the first time in his life, someone would take care of him as well.
He couldn't resist giving his wife a brief kiss to seal their vows- whatever they were. And as he expected, Esther smiled shyly and blushed.
By the time they finished with the paperwork and fees, it was after noon, and the Tavington's were famished. Another meal at the tavern, and they would be ready to shop.
As the Tavington's were finishing their meal, a group of men came out of the taproom. They were not acting too loud or boisterous but one couldn't help but overhear the men talking, apparently finishing up a business deal.
He heard one man call the other Putney and when Putney answered, Esther froze.
Stiffening beside him, Esther drew Tavington's attention to her. Her face was white as a sheet and the cup and saucer she was holding rattled in her trembling hands.
Tavington's wife was petrified and it only took one look at Putney's features to guess why.
When Putney turned to answer the barmaid who had just called him "Jim," Tavington caught the full view of his face.
His heart dropped to the pit of his stomach as he stared into the thirty-something face of Jason Mitchel.
Tavington glanced at Esther once more- who looked as though she were about to be ill- and then at an oblivious Jason, who was digging into a piece of blackberry pie.
There was no doubt this Jim Putney person was Jason's sire. As much as Tavington thought Jason resembled Mr. Mitchel, he realized he was wrong. The chin, the nose, and his mouth- it was all there. But it was the eyes that confirmed it. This was one of the three that had violated his Esther.
His wife.
Tavington instantly wanted to kill him. He understood Gabriel Martin perfectly now.
But there was a difference in how Colonel Tavington handled such matters compared to Mr. Tavington.
Tavington had learned much since coming to Ohio. His time with the Mitchel's -mostly with Jason- had taught him patients. It also taught him to open himself more to new ideas and a way of life he never imagined he'd ever love or have a passion for and yet did.
But Tavington had also been a soldier longer than he had ever been a man. It was simple enough to fall into being an ordinary man. Farming was still very new to him and the satisfaction was in the learning. But sometimes as an officer he felt like he was play acting, putting on a mask. He often only felt like his true self when he was in the act of committing very dark deeds.
Tavington wanted to commit some very dark deeds at that moment. He struggled to stay seated instead of getting up and choking the life out of that son of a whore as he wished. It was hard for him not to allow the impulsive darkness to reach out from the back of his mind. He knew it would have to be kept controlled. For now.
Later, Tavington thought as he snapped his gaze away before the man noticed him staring.
Until then he would show Esther no sign that he knew what troubled her. He would take her shopping as they planned. Spoil her and Jason a bit. Flirt with his adorable new wife. And think.
While Jason wandered around the Mercantile trying to decide what he wanted to look at first, Tavington spent the better part of an hour watching Esther go through the store ordering staple supplies and household goods from a list she had made on their journey.
She dickered with a lady behind the counter for the best price on everything they would need to make his house their new home. Tavington had to give her credit. For a woman, his wife would make a wonderful businessman. He understood why she was so shrewd though.
Tavington still had plenty of money left from selling his commission. Of course he had not discussed it with Esther and he had only discussed it with Mr. Mitchel enough to let the man know his daughter would be well provided for. However, Tavington also understood from his many conversations on farming with Mitchel, that there were great financial risks and that money had to be carefully spent.
He imagined that although the Mitchel's were seemingly comfortable, Esther- nor Jason for that matter- had never been able to shop for the pleasure of shopping. And in his excitement over the wedding, the trip, his new family, Tavington was in the mood to celebrate.
Not long before, he would have done so with large amounts of alcohol, a card game or two and a couple of whores. Today, he was shopping. Odd how that had changed in a matter of just a few months, but he still felt good about it.
Tavington picked up a small chip-straw hat. The kind young boys always wore this time of year with the wide brim kept flat to keep the sun out of their eyes.
He turned to Jason, who was busy picking through a bin of clay marbles.
"Do you know what you need?"
"A good lickin?" Jason replied, teasing impishly with his snaggled smile.
"No, a new hat." Tavington answered with a smirk. He jammed the hat on Jason's head.
Jason grinned playing along with the game now. He looked at the shop-keep and said, "Well, I reckon I'll take this one."
The shop-keep smiled. He knew this was going to be a profitable day with this Englishman and his family and added the hat to their bill.
"Well," Esther announced as she approached the boys, "I'm all finished. Are we ready to leave?"
"Not quite. Jason is still has a few things to decide on," Tavington told her as he tucked her arm into his.
"I do?" The boy said, surprised.
"You do. If you recall your birthday is in a few weeks. I think eight is the perfect age for a boy to receive his first hunting rifle."
Esther and Jason both exclaimed in unison, "A hunting rifle!"
"Yes," Tavington said. "And a powder horn and a pellet pouch and maybe…if we're very fortunate, we might even find someone with some puppies for sale. We could use a good dog at home."
Esther voiced her opinion. "William, it's too much. And a puppy would cost a fortune out here."
And then Jason voiced his. "Oh please, oh please, oh please, Ma!"
"Yes, Ma, the boy said please," Tavington said mildly, his lips curving.
"Well, I'm not sure I like the idea of this new democracy. It seems as if I'm always likely to be outvoted," Esther resigned with a sigh.
When something else grabbed Jason's attention, the boy scampered off, leaving Esther and Tavington alone.
She looked strained.
"Is everything all right, darling?"
"Yes…I'm fine…just a little tired from the trip I guess."
"Is that all?"
"Yes, really, I'm fine," she insisted with a weak smile.
She was lying.
Tavington turned to the shop-keep and allowed him to show Tavington a selection of rifles that would be suitable for a young boy. Tavington recognized the name of one of the gun smith's and chose it above the others.
The shop- keep nodded his approval and spoke with a thick Ulster accent, "Verra good, sir. This ere' be a grand huntin' weapon fer yer son."
Esther squeezed Tavington's arm while the shop-keep had his back turned.
"William, I don't mean to sound ungracious," she said keeping her voice low.
"I hear a 'however' coming on."
"Well…..it's just that….with our room and the license and everything are you sure we can afford this?"
Tavington lead her over to a quiet corner where they would not be overheard.
"Darling," he began. "I told you I sold my commission, yes?" When she nodded he continued, "A commission for a lieutenant colonel goes for several thousand pounds."
Her eyes widened at this.
"After I was injured I lived off half pay until I sold my commission," he said with a careless shrug. "And even after buying the wagon and team and coming here I still have quite a large chunk of it left to invest or spend as I see fit. And did I not say just a few hours ago that all my worldly goods I thee endow? "
"Yes," she answered but she still sounded very uncertain. "I understand now, William, but with farming you never know what will happen. If crops fail or livestock dies…it could be…..catastrophic." Then she added in a deadly serious tone, "We could lose everything."
"Esther, we could sit on that land and do absolutely nothing with it for the next few years and we will still be quite comfortable. I assure you, I understand your concerns, dearest, but you have nothing to fear. And even if we do lose everything, we'll still have each other."
"I'm sorry I doubted you," she said regretfully. Her face flushed and her eyes glittered as if she were about to cry. Tavington considered the pressure she must be experiencing. He knew she wanted to unburden herself from what was really bothering her but did not understand why she didn't. Did she still think he would reject her? Didn't she know he would protect her?
Tavington took her hand and kissed it. "Don't apologize. Go spend some money."
"Oh, I don't think I need anything."
He led her over to a little table that displayed sweet smelling things that women always seemed to be mad about. "It's not about what you need, darling, it's about what you want."
Esther said nothing but picked up a bar of soap and sniffed it.
"The more you argue, the more I'll buy," he said in a teasing tone as he set three bars of very expensive floral scented soap on the counter- for her.
"William…" she scolded, putting the soap back.
"Esther," he retorted and set the bars back on the counter along with two more bars and a bottle of rose water.
"Aloysius…" she countered, her brows knitting together in a frown.
Tavington slowly shook his finger, "Tisk, tisk, darling, never use that name with me. Just for that….." He picked up a bottle of lavender oil and added it to the pile.
And that was the end of their first argument as a married couple.
A/N...Just for the record, a little Ohio history here... Zanesburg, Virginia is now what we call Wheeling, West Virginia after the American Civil War when part of Virginia broke away and became West Virginia. Martin's Ferry (Martins Ferry now) is directly across the river from Wheeling and is listed as the oldest settlement in Ohio. Ebenezer Zane split Zanesville into two lots and Wheeling was established in 1795.