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* * *
Mr. Hawkins and Mrs. Hawkins moved upstairs into the hallway with Jennifer.
“I have seen a new side of Mr. Sanders that I have not seen before, I will tell you that,” Mrs. Hawkins said.
“Yes, very different indeed,” Mr. Hawkins agreed.
“Michael, you must get Sarah out of her agreement to consider him as a husband,” Mrs. Hawkins said.
Jennifer looked at her, completely shocked. Michael did the same. What was she saying?
“I cannot let our little employee marry a man like that. I did not know what he was like until he came out here. I refuse to give Sarah to him. We must get her out of her agreement somehow, someway. He is not right for her. He is not an honorable man. She deserves better,” Mrs. Hawkins said.
“Mrs. Hawkins, do you really mean that?” She turned to her.
She grabbed her hand and held it tightly. “Yes, I do mean it. I am so sorry, sweet Sarah. He is not a good man and I should never have made you think he was.”
“Mrs. Hawkins, I agree. Though Sarah said she would only consider and did not agree to marry him. So all Sarah had to do was inform him that she considered it and has come to the conclusion that she will not enter into an engagement with him. It will not be pleasant but it is possible.
“I will do it. I will tell him that I am not going to marry him. He will just have to deal with it. I can do this. I can be strong. He has no hold over me.”
* * *
The next day, Jennifer knew that she had to face him and get it over with.
She waited in her room, sitting by the window, waiting for Mr. Sanders to return to the Inn. Right before lunch service, for he was set to go meet with the owner of the Land Company.
Finally, he appeared, walking down the high street. She took a deep breath and went downstairs and outside to greet him. She did not want to talk to him inside with all the onlookers.
“Mr. Sanders,” She walked up to him.
“There she is. There is my wife-to-be. Are you not proud of me? I came to your rescue and you shall have your church.”
“Yes, thank you for doing what you did. It was a very strange way to do it, but if it works, it works. But I must speak with you on another matter,” She said.
He leaned in close to Jennifer. She could smell the whiskey on his breath and she realized that this was not a good time to speak with him. He did not seem drunk. He was not slurring his words or stumbling around, but it was obvious that he had been drinking.
“I must tell you that I considered your offer as you asked and I will not be entering in an engagement with you. I am wrong for you and you are wrong for me,” She said.
“What!” he shouted.
“I am sorry. I hope that you will find happiness with another. You deserve a fine elegant woman that understands the ways of men like you. But I am not like that. I will not marry you.”
“Yes you will,” his face turned dark. Jennifer had seen that look many times and knew it was dangerous. “I came all this way to get you. You are coming with me whether you like it or not. You will be my wife and it does not matter what you want.”
“Yes it does. You cannot force me to marry you. I will do as I please. You do not own me and you need to learn that. You cannot buy me.” She said.
She turned away from him, ready to go back into the Inn. But she felt a tight squeeze on her arm. He turned her around very fast and violently.
“How dare you speak to me like that, child! You do not reject me! You are mine and I own you in exchange for making your little church problem go away. You are the one that summoned me here and you will be my wife, and there is nothing that you can say about it. Your employer will see to it.”
“Let go of me! You are hurting me!” She said, trying to struggle free. Now people down the wooden pavement were starting to turn and look at them. They were far away, too far to intervene just yet, but they were beginning to talk and come toward them. But just as she thought that Mr. Sanders was about to hit her, he was pulled off of her and thrown to the ground!
“Get off of her!” Jacob shouted.
Jennifer could not believe her eyes. Was she dreaming? It could not be Jacob, it just could not be.
“Archer, what in God’s name, man?” Sanders said. Jennifer was so confused. How did Neil know Jacob? She was delighted to see him, of course, and her heart was beating so fast that she thought everyone could hear it. Jacob was in front of her.
Jacob hovered over Mr. Sanders, who was struggling to come to his feet. He really was very drunk.
“Get out of here, Archer! This is none of your business! I will do what I please with that girl! She is rightfully mine!”
“No, you will not. You do not hurt another her. Now., leave her alone.”
Mr Sanders got to his feet and stood directly in front of Archer. He snarled.
Jacob stood tall and straight in front of him. He was protecting Jennifer, blocking Sanders from her. Now everyone was gathered and everyone was looking at Mr. Sanders and the disgrace that he was. He noticed.
“Fine, I do not want you as a wife anyway. You can have your damn town and your damn freedom. I do not care about any of this. I have joined the railroad company and I am going to be richer than ever and I will have the best wife and socialite of London. Now, I am going back to the tavern where the women there want me,” he drunkenly said as he turned away and walked to the south.
“Oh, Jacob,” She moved into his arms.
“Shh... it is alright now. He is gone,” Jacob embraced her.
Jennifer did not know why he was there, or how, but she did not care in this moment. She only cared that he was there.
* * *
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