"You didn't bring him back?" George boomed at his son as he finished his breakfast. Joe knew his father would be upset with the news, but last night he arrived late and only woke Melanie.
Trying to control his temper Joe shrugged. He stood up, and pushed the chair to the table, then stared at his father. Sam's words echoed in his ears. 'Be strong'.
"He couldn't come back yet, father. He wasn't fit for travel. It will be some time yet before he can sit a saddle." Joe insisted. "You'll have to be patient. He is mending but slowly. He has jaundice, and he's very weak yet."
"I sent you to bring him back!" George wiped his face with his napkin and stood up. "What's happened to you son. You used to command things. Now…"
"And I tell you he's too ill to be moved. Even Carmen said so." Joe blurted without thinking. Dear God, when would he learn to control his mouth!
"Carmen?" George's voice raised a notch with disbelief. He moved closer to his son, his eyes flaming with anger. "You saw Carmen? I might have known. So it isn't over…is it? Did you go there first, or after…?"
"Yes, I saw her father. But it's not as you fear. She's a nurse, she's been helping Sam." Joe defended. "She's his nurse; she's devoted herself to making him well."
"Has she now? And what of you son? Have you already betrayed your beloved wife?" George accused getting in Joe's face to do so.
"Of course not, father. I love Melanie, just as I told you. I'd never hurt her in any way."
Joe had slipped. In his attempt to defend his actions, he had blurted out about Carmen. Now things were quickly festering and changing.
Especially since Melanie walked into the room.
She stood like a breath of sunshine in her beautiful morning coat of peach silk. Her hair streaming over her shoulders, her face paling from the conversation she had just overheard.
Her face was ashen. Never mind that they had made love into the night, the mere mention of Carmen's name threw Melanie into a state of shock. However, Joe had to admit, she recovered well. He admired how she remained stoic.
"Father…you must understand, she's a nurse. She went to Galveston with Dr. Pruitt to be of help to the people. They have a plague of yellow fever going on down there. People are dying…"
Melanie listened and came to stand beside her husband, her shoulders tight, her lips pursed. She quickly looped an arm in his.
"Did you hear your husband? He's been with Carmen." George boomed walking about the room at an unthinkable pace.
"I have not been with Carmen. I merely spoke with her about Sam." Joe defended wrapping his arm around Melanie as he spoke.
"Did he tell you he'd spoken with Carmen?" George asked Melanie suddenly.
"No but…" Melanie tried to explain only to be cut off by a raging George Armstrong.
"Of course he didn't. He blurted it out just now, to both our astonishment." George raved.
"Will you listen to me?" Joe stood up to him like Sam had told him. "I went down there to find Sam. I searched the City Hospital with no luck, then someone directed me to the St. Mary's and I went there. Although it's a Catholic hospital run by nuns, they have accepted as much help as they could get. Sam has yellow fever, he's very sick, as he's had a second infection of it. It's a miracle he's still alive, father. If you could see him, you'd understand. Carmen has trained under a doctor and when the fever broke out, she went to St. Mary's to help. While she was there, she ran into Sam. He was very sick, had some kind of relapse they said. She's taken him completely under her wing. And I must say he's on the road to recovery now, thanks to her nursing." Joe explained. "I seriously doubt anyone else there gets the attention he does."
"You would say something like that about her," His father said over his shoulder.
"Only because it is the truth."
"After all these years you still cater to that woman. I cannot believe you would do this to Melanie…I cannot believe you would have the audacity to defend her in my presence."
"I've done nothing but what you asked. I saw Sam." Joe felt the old angers stirring and tried to stay his temper, if for no other reason than Melanie.
Melanie squeezed Joe's arm. "I believe him, father."
George turned furious eyes on her. "You've always believed him. I don't expect that to change. However, I am not that taken in. I thought he'd grown up. I thought he was ready to take over this place. Now this…"
Nose to nose, he looked him in the eye.
"I swear by almighty God, that I had nothing to do with her except to ask of Sam. Sam told me himself, if it hadn't been for her, he might not be on the road to recovering. I admire her for her dedication. That is all, father. I love Melanie and I took our vows as sacred. I told them both that we were married."
The way he approached him, had George stepping back a moment to reflect. He studied him a moment. "Could you possibly have grown up that much?"
"Father, I swear!" Joe scrutinized his father now.
"By God, if you are lying you will lose Golden Manor to your brother…"
"Don't threaten me father. I won't do battle with you, not over this. And I won't let you walk all over me either. I've done nothing wrong. I'm not lying, in fact; Sam is quite taken with Carmen, himself." Joe announced. "He plans to ask her for her hand in marriage."
"Marriage! Outrageous! I don't believe he'd be that stupid."
Melanie seemed shocked at this news. "Sam?"
"Yes, well, he's been gravely ill, and it is thanks to Carmen that he is on the mend." Joe explained, turning to face Melanie now. "It's not unusual for a man to think highly of his nurse."
"Has the woman no shame at all!" George fumed. "First you, now Sam?"
"You hardly know the lady, how can you judge her?" Joe asked turning back to his father, his face angry at his father's presumptions.
"I know what she's after, the Armstrong fortune." George boomed.
"The Armstrong fortune?" Joe practically laughed in his face. "Father what is that? All we have is this place…"
"Exactly, Golden Manor!"
Melanie went to his father now and put her hand on his arm, looking into his eyes. "Perhaps she's changed too. Joe is right, Father George, when one is nursed proper, and it would be hard not to be grateful. I can understand that."
"I'm trying to protect you, Melanie, of all people from this witch…"
"If a woman knows anything, it's when a man loves her. I know that Joe loves me…" Melanie proclaimed.
Joe's heart leapt. He could not love her more than this moment.
"You’re a fool, but a beautiful one." George patted her hand. He turned to stare into Joe's eyes. "If you ever hurt this woman, I'll kill you myself. As Melanie is as close to me as blood. Do you understand me, son?"
"Yes father, I do. And I would never intentionally hurt Melanie." Joe assured him. "I love her too much."
"When will Sam be able to travel?" His father lit a pipe and drew on it.
"I don't know for sure. He has no strength yet. And to bring him home now might make him worse." Joe informed him. "That's the main reason I didn't bring him home. He was still spitting up blood and very yellow."
George hung his head in thought. "That bad?" He murmured.
"That bad." Joe answered.
"Very well. I have no choice but to leave him to Carmen's charms for now. But the minute he is well enough, I want him home."
"Of course, we all do." Joe assured him.
"Perhaps the little whore will remain in Galveston." George smirked.
Joe frowned it was on the tip of his tongue to defend Carmen, but Melanie might not understand, so he remained silent. "I'd appreciate it if you could refrain from name calling, father. Sam really cares for her, greatly. I for one want his happiness, as I have been witness to his torture aboard the ship and now the fever. He deserves to be happy, and to have the woman of his choice."
"As I recall you felt the same about her at one time."
"I told you father, that was folly."
"It better be. I want no more mention of her name in this house, do you understand?"
Joe nodded. "You could run Sam off, if you aren't careful father. He's a man now, not a child. You've always wanted us to grow up to be strong men. Well, I can tell you we are both much stronger than you ever imagined. Sam is strong when he's healthy and nothing will keep him from marrying her. Nothing."
"He's that smitten?" George frowned.
"He is."
George firmed his lips, and pulled on the cigar once more. "I thought once you'd come home, it would be the end of it."
"Father, why do you hate her so?" Joe asked coming toward him. "What has she ever done to you?"
George glanced from Joe to Melanie. He was standing at the edge of the dining room, a cigar unlit in his fingers. His expression changed to one of pain, and sorrow.
"I was at San Jacinto when Houston took Santa Anna. I was one of them that cried, "Remember the Alamo." I fought the Mexicans and hated them for what they did at the Alamo, my Uncle died there. An uncle I loved dearly. She's part of that. And that's why she'll never be part of this!"
"You are wrong father. She's a woman; she's not part of any war. She didn't fight for Mexico!" Joe sighed heavily and moved to take Melanie against him. "I'm sorry for you father. When you fight a foe at war, it is one thing, when you carry your feelings for that war and let it fester inside you like a sore, you become bitter and mean. A lot of men have done just that. But Father, the war is over, Texas won that one war. What more do you want?"
"Yes, we won, with blood, sweat, and tears. There isn't a man in Texas that doesn't know what we paid to win it!" George boomed at his son, raising his hand in the air and slowly letting it fall to his side. He looked down, his shoulders slumped, and he shook his head. "I built this place for you and your brother. I will not let a woman like her tear it down."
"Sam and I fought a war too, father. A war where sons had to fight and kill fathers, and brothers. A war that after a while made no sense. Maybe it never did. Just two sides of a coin that didn't begin to understand each other. Never talked the same language is all. A war that left thousands of blood soaked men on the battlefield. A war that left the burial details days to finish the job. I know war, father. But I don't hate. Because it's over, and I'm glad it's over. Hate only carries it further. The union army is taking over here again, and although I know you feel some resentment, I don't hate them. I did what I thought was right, and so did Sam. It's too late, Sam loves her father." Joe said quite matter-of-factly. "You can't change that."
Melanie's mouth hung open.
"He would! He's a weakling like I've always thought."
George walked out of the room, his shoulders slumped, his head hanging.
Joe turned to Melanie. "He's no weakling father, he's a man."
His father turned once more as he was walking away and gave him a bitter frown.
"Is it true? He loves her?" Melanie repeated.
"Yes, it is." Joe admitted.
George turned away and walked up the stairs without another word.
"I'm sorry for that…" Melanie cried out.
"But why, my love…"
Melanie felt a tear drift down her cheek. "Sam's had nothing but trouble with his father, and now this. This will only make it worse."
"You are right about that, but, Melanie, he really cares for her." Joe defended. "And we want Sam to be happy as we are. He told me he knew what it meant. But he means to marry her if she'll have him."
"She must be quite the woman, for she's held both your hearts." Melanie said and walked out of the room too.
Joe hung his head, and then poured himself a drink. He'd made things worse and he hadn't meant to. Somehow, he had to find a way to make his father and Melanie understand. All it would take for Melanie is to know the truth was another slip up. But would she be hurt from it? Would she feel betrayed? Or would she be glad that she had a man that loved her to distraction?
As his father said, he could not hurt Melanie. For now, the lie must be a secret for it would do more damage than repair. Somehow, Carmen had to see it this way too.
Ole Jen walked in and saw his expression.
"I knew there'd be trouble. Always is, when you lie."
"It was a simple lie, Ole Jen, meant to make everyone happy. Why couldn't it be that way? It would seem happiness has a high price in this family."
Ole Jen cried, and stared at Joe. "'He can't let go of the hate. He never could. Why, he treats us black people better than the Mexicans. But it don't do no good, people got to let go of the hate. If he don't it'll just fester and get worse."
"When the war ended, you were free Ole Jen, why did you stay on?"
Ole Jen moved around the room a moment, as though gathering her thoughts on the subject.
"Most of us stayed on. Where we gonna go? What we gonna do? I know how to clean house, to cook, to take care of a home for you all. That's all I knowed. I love you and your brother. I even love that old man that don't see how narrow minded he has gotten. Some of it is his age, and some is just plain contrariness. I belong here, for the rest of my days. My brothers are out there pickin' cotton for that man, 'cause that's all they know how to do. We been here too long. It's the only home we remember. You are family, even though you ain't black, you are family and we know it. The only family we got left. You weren't even born yet when our folks were sold to a man from Mississippi. We never saw them again. The pain of that is still with me, but I'm not bitter about it. It's the way things is. We was scared out of our minds. But mister George, he befriended us, because he saw how hurt we were. He was good to us. He didn't beat us. But he demanded the work from us. Because he was so good, we worked hard for him."
Joe took her in his arms and held her while she cried. "We love you Ole Jen. Sam told me to tell you he loves you."
"I know that. I know that all along." She cried wiping her eyes. "And I'll be glad when I can look into his face once more, too. I was worried about him too."
"I can't tell her the truth, not yet. I've got to fix this problem with my father. I don't know how to fix it, but I have to, somehow, for Sam's sake."
Ole Jen went to the stove and came back with a cup of coffee for him. "How's Sam?"
Joe smiled at her, appreciating the fact that she was going to keep quiet. "He's sick, but Carmen is doing everything to help him."
"Does she know the truth?"
"Yes, she said she does."
"Good. And she's helping him?"
"Yes, she is." Joe sipped the coffee and looked at the floor. "She's always loved him…Ole Jen."
"God bless her then. She's welcome here as far as I'm concerned then." Ole Jen said as she poured herself and him some coffee.
"Thank you…"
Ole Jen smiled sadly. "You got a heap of problems, but trust the Lord to help you. And I'll pray for you too."
"Thanks…I will. I think maybe he's the only one that can help."
Ole Jen laughed and wiped her eyes. "If I didn't teach you nothin' I taught you that…."