Abigail Cutler stood by the shop window waiting as she spied her father's wagon heading back into town; she could not wait to tell him of her shocking discovery. He had always favoured Jane since they'd been little girls, thinking she could do no wrong. But he was about to find out that he'd been sadly mistaken. It was time her father got a sober dose of reality.
Ever since rudely ordering her from the storeroom, Obadiah Hakeswill had been holed up back there with Jane, talking about God knows what. And whatever it was he was saying to her, Jane must have liked it or else, she would have returned to the front of the shop long ago.
Abby slipped out of the shop to meet her father when his wagon rattled into the yard beside the shop, wanting to give him the news before Jane or that odious Sergeant Hakeswill could intercept him.
Meeting him as he was climbing down from the wagon, she said "Da, I have something I need to tell you!"
"It must be something very important for you to come rushing out here," he observed. "Can't it wait until we go back inside?"
"It is most urgent," she assured him.
"All right then," he said. "You can tell me while I unhitch the horses and get them settled back in the stable."
Abigail would have preferred his undivided attention, but she nevertheless related her shocking news after her father had unhitched the horses and led them to the stable.
Jacob halted his movement for a brief moment when his second daughter dropped the bombshell that Jane was in a family way, but then resolutely continued with the rote activities involved in bedding the horses down for the night.
Giving her one severe look, he said woodenly, "Go on." When she'd finished a few moments later, he sat down heavily on a bale of hay. "Who is the father? Is it that Sergeant Hakeswill who has been sniffing around for the last several months?"
"That was my first thought, but Jane said no," Abigail said. "She says it was another soldier, but wouldn't tell me his name" After a moment, she added lamely, "I believe her."
"Where is she?" her father demanded. "I need to hear it from her."
"She's in the storeroom," Abby told him. "And Sergeant Hakeswill is with her."
A few moments later, Jane Cutler looked up to see her father in the doorway. One look at his stricken face made it apparent that Abby had already told him of her condition.
"Is what Abigail told me true?" he asked, his voice strained with emotion.. "Are you in a family way?" Before Jane could answer, his eyes fell upon Obadiah Hakeswill. Whirling on the rawboned sergeant, he demanded, "And you! Are you the one who dishonoured my daughter?"
"No, Da, it wasn't Obadiah," she said firmly. "He's been nothing but a gentleman with me." In a lower tone, she added, "And, yes, what Abby said is unfortunately true."
"Who, then?" her father demanded. "Tell me and I'll go down to that army camp right now and make him marry you, even if I have to use my musket at his back to make him do it."
"Oh, no, Da!" she cried. "I don't want to marry that man and I couldn't bear for everyone to know what happened or to see my name dragged through the mud."
"You're right," he said, wiping his brow. "But you still need a husband. Perhaps if I go down there and talk to the commanding officer. But I'll need the man's name to do that."
"If you don't mind me sayin' so, that ain't such a good idea," Hakeswill pointed out. "You've got a contract with the army and if you go 'round the camp stirring up trouble, well, there's plenty of other cobblers who wants that contract what knows to keep their mouths shut. And, from what I can see, you needs that contract to make you a good living."
"This is none of your concern. If you are not the father, then what business is it of yours?"
"Da, Sergeant Hakeswill has asked me to marry him and I've said yes," Jane said quietly.
"And why would you want to marry a woman carrying another man's bastard," Jacob said sourly. eying Hakeswill with suspicion. "What man would want to raise a child not his own get? What is the advantage for you?"
Taking Jane's hand, he faced his future father in law, twitching briefly before speaking. "I love your daughter, sir. I have for a long time, probably since I first laid eyes on her. I'd already planned on asking for her hand one day, just not so soon." After twitching again, he added, "And even though her little 'un won't be my blood, he'll be part of Jane and I'll love him for that."
Cutler turned away for long moment, staring at the setting sun outside the window. Though the twitching, uncouth Obadiah Hakeswill wasn't the man he would have wished for his firstborn daughter, he was still, nonetheless an answer to prayer. Marriage to him would save Jane from ruin and condemnation in the community, not to mention the reputation of his own business. The fact that he was a sergeant and not just a common private, was also in his favour. And he loved Jane; he had to love her if he was willing to raise another man's child, well aware she also had no dowry to speak of.
Knowing it would be for the best, Cutler turned around to face Hakeswill again. "All right, I give you permission to marry my daughter."
"You won't regret it none, sir," Hakeswill said fervently. "I love Jane and I'll be a good husband to her and a good father to her little 'un."
"I will hold you to that promise," the older man said. "I would suggest that the marriage take place as quickly as possible."
"That's what Jane and I had in mind, sir," Obadiah told him. "We can either go to the vicar's house or have him come here, so's Jane and I can be married real quiet-like. Ain't no reason for the vicar to know I ain't the father, neither."
"I agree," Cutler said. "The circumstances certainly do not call for an elaborate wedding." After a pause, he added, "Sergeant, why don't you come home with us for dinner so we can discuss the matter further."
"I 'preciates it," Hakeswill said. "I always do my best thinking over a good meal."
Some time later, after Abigail and Sarah had left the table to wash the dishes, Obadiah said, "Jane and I wants to get married first thing tomorrow. No point in waiting 'round to do it."
"I'll go see the vicar tonight and have him come here tomorrow," the older man said. "There isn't any use attracting attention by having a procession heading to the vicarage."
"Good idea," Obadiah said. "I'll wear a clean uniform tomorrow, but I won't do nothing else special, 'cos I don't plan on telling no one til Jane has the baby, so's I don't want to do nothing that will make any of those nosey buggers in camp ask me any questions. That way they won't have no idea just when we got married, so's no one will know she went to the altar in a family way."
"You're right," Cutler said. "I wouldn't have thought of that. Where do you and Jane plan to live, then, if not at camp? I don't think it's a good idea for her to continue to work in the shop, as her condition is becoming obvious."
"I was thinking I could stay with Aunt Caroline until the baby is born," Jane said. "If anyone asks where I am, we can say that she's not been feeling well and wanted a companion until she regained her health. After the baby comes, I'll move to the army camp with Obadiah and we'll tell people we've been married all along."
"That should work," her father said slowly, still stunned by the abrupt changes about to occur.
Rising from the table, Jane said, "If you'll both excuse me, I'm going to go to my room so Abby and Sarah can help me choose which of my gowns I should wear for my wedding." After giving Obadiah a brief squeeze on his shoulder, she slipped from the room.
Jacob Cutler waited until he heard his daughter's footsteps on the stairs, then turned to Hakeswill. "I still want to find out the name of the filthy sod who did this to Jane. He needs to be shown the error of his ways."
"So do I," Obadiah said. "Jane told me she don't want me to know his name 'cos she don't want me getting in trouble with the army. And she kind of blames herself for what happened." Twitching slightly, he continued, "But, believe you me, she'll tell me eventually when she's ready to talk about it and I promises you I'll take care of the bastard then. It may take awhile 'fore I gets the right opportunity to do it proper, but, mark my words, it will be done."
Seeing the intensity in Hakeswill's blue eyes, Cutler had no doubts in his mind that he would live up to that promise.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/
At eleven the next morning, Jane Cutler and Sergeant Obadiah Hakeswill were married in a quiet ceremony at the bride's home, Other than the vicar, her father and two sisters were the only guests. Obadiah was resplendent in a clean uniform and the boots Jane had given him months ago, now polished to a glossy shine. And though it was a bittersweet occasion for her, Jane glowed in her favourite powder blue gown.
Immediately following the ceremony, there was a simple wedding luncheon that Abby and Sarah had prepared. At the conclusion of the meal, both of Jane's sisters went to work at the shop, while her father took the wagon to take most of her belongings to her aunt's home and to explain the situation to the older woman. Jane wouldn't leave until the next morning, so that the old woman could prepare for her arrival.
"Just you and me, alone at last, Mrs Hakeswill." Obadiah put his arms around his new wife, drawing her closer to him as they shared the sofa in the front room.
Jane stiffened slightly. She was by no means ready for intimacy with Obadiah. "Yes, we are."
"Don't worry none, missy," he said affably, immediately sensing her unease. "I don't 'spect you to perform your wifely duties now. There will be plenty of time for that once the little 'un is born and you and I have got to know each other better."
Obadiah knew he could continue to get his itches scratched from the same sources he'd been doing so from all along, before he'd ever met Jane. So, waiting a few months to bed her would not be unbearable for him.
Leaning over to give him a peck on his bony cheek, Jane said, "Thank you, Obadiah. You're so wonderfully understanding. It's certainly going to take some time to get used to the idea of being married."
"We'll have a couple of months to get better acquainted," he said. "I'll be visiting you at your aunt's every chance I get and, 'fore you know it, the baby will be here and we'll all be living together in camp. And, after awhile, we'll have us some more little 'uns."
Snuggling close as she rested her head against his shoulder, she murmured, "I'm looking forward to that." As the words left her mouth, Jane was faintly surprised to realize that she actually meant it.