Chapter 21
During the following weeks, Meg and Hop Sing kept their appointed time to administer the salve to her back. Hop Sing was pleased with the results.
"I think now looks much better, Missy Meg, scars not so much notice, but softer. But you know they will never go completely go away?"
"Yes Hop Sing, I realise that. And the one that was not completely healed, is fine now, right?"
"Yes, all heal up nicely." Hop Sing said, with a smile, although at the same time very sad at the thought of all that she must have been through.
"Thank you so much Hop Sing. What would I do without you. You have been so kind."
"You like Mr Adam a lot, and he like you too. I can tell. You should not keep this from him. He will not be happy that you have."
"I know Hop Sing, and I will, soon, I promise." Meg said, gulping, thinking of Adam's reaction. As Hop Sing left Meg alone to get dressed, she heard the front door bang shut.
"Anyone home?" Came a loud, deep velvet voice.
"Oh no! Meg heard herself say, "it's going to be must sooner that I thought. Oh Lord."
Hop Sing had just reached the middle landing as Adam stood taking off his hat and gun belt. "Mr. Adam, you home early. Something the matter?" he said, hiding the towel and jar containing the salve behind his back.
"No Hop Sing, I've finished my work earlier than expected. Where's Meg?" Adam said, looking at Hop Sing's with suspicion.
"I'm here." Meg said coming down the stairs. "Thank you Hop Sing, I'll take over from here."
"Okay. I go to my kitchen." And turning towards Meg, whispered, "Good luck."
"Thanks," she whispered in return.
With that said, he hurriedly carried on down the stairs and across the room and into the kitchen.
"What's going on Meg?" Adam said as he walked towards the stairs, meeting her at the bottom.
"Something I should know about?"
"Yes Adam. I need to tell you something. Something I lied about, and before you let loose with your temper, please let me explain. Let's go and sit by the fire."
They walked across to the sofa and sat, Adam sensing the worst.
"I promise, after this, I will never lie to you again."
"You've lied to me, again?"
"Yes, but only to find some truths. Let me tell you, please."
"Okay, but be warned, I'm not well pleased."
Meg paused and took a breath. "When we went into town a little while back, when you and Hoss were picking up the wire, remember."
"Yes, I remember."
"I went to see Dr. Martin. I wanted to find out about my health prospects, which turned out to be sort of okay."
"Sort of okay? Are you ill?" Adam raised his voice. "You were ill and didn't tell me?"
"No, not ill exactly. I told Dr. Martin a little of what happened to me and then I asked him to examine me to see if I was able to have more children and also my back. I have terrible scars on my back and asked him if there was anything that could be done to help with them. He recommended a salve to help, but that it would need a daily treatment, so, together, we enlisted Hop Sing's help. I made them both promise not to say anything. Please don't blame them." Meg said all this in one breath, all the while looking down at her feet.
"Why wouldn't you tell me all of this? And please look at me." Adam asked, beginning to get annoyed at her distrust.
Meg then looked up into his eyes. "I don't really know. I'm so sorry Adam, please forgive me."
"I'll think about it. So that was why you only had one purchase. And I suppose you didn't meet anyone from the church either." Meg could see that Adam was very angry at her lie.
"Oh, as a matter of fact I did. But only one and that was only a quick hello and goodbye. That was when I told you I would probably run into people I'd met at the church, but failed to tell you the honest truth."
"A lie of omission."
"Yes, I'm afraid so." Then looking up into his eyes she said, "I learnt that everything is quite normal, and that my back is looking much better, but the scars will never disappear."
"I don't care about scars, only you. But I'm disappointed you still cannot trust me. I thought we had gotten over that hurdle. Do I have to make it clear again to you that lying is something I will not tolerate."
"I know what you promised if I lied to you again and I'm so sorry for having done it. I just wanted to be sure about myself, for you."
"For me? Meaning what?" Adam asked, still trying to hold his temper.
"I know now that I truly love and trust you, Adam, I won't ever lie to you again, I promise." Meg rose from the sofa and placed herself across his knee. "So now, please get can we get this over with, so we can start over."
Giving Meg one hard swat to her skirt covered backside, Adam said, "I haven't the heart to give you the tanning you deserve. I do, however, want your full trust in the future. If you lie to me again I will not hesitate next time. Understand?" And with one more swat he stood her up.
"Yes, Adam. I understand."
"Alright then. Now come here." He brought her back down to sit on his lap and kissed her, which she returned gladly. "All is now forgiven and we start afresh."
"Thank you, Adam, for your patience with me. I know I have caused you a lot of trouble and worry. I will do better in the future, I promise." Meg said, giving him one more kiss and standing up was
about to walk to the kitchen to tell Hop Sing that all was okay, when Adam stopped her.
"Where're you going. I thought we could spend the rest of the afternoon together."
"Oh yes, Adam, that would be grand, but I'd just like to tell Hop Sing all is okay with us."
"Fine. Adam stood up. "I'll go upstairs and have a quick wash and change, then perhaps we'll have your first riding lesson. How would that be?"
"What! Me ride a horse. I've never done that before, I'll fall off." But then, with a smile, "It does sound like fun though."
"Good. And you won't fall off, I'll be there to hold you." And with that, Meg made her way to the kitchen and Adam went upstairs.