We still haven't our answer... but I can't wait for their private time together


Restie

YUP!!

Nice post. Is the person Jack just kissed Sue???? I think so! More soon please! from jenny

Another snippet Thanks for feedback


Myles found the public display of affection awkward and kept his eyes averted, fixing his attention on the children by the door instead. In his life that kind of affection was never shown in front of others and he had a feeling that the children, the old woman and the dark haired woman were used to seeing Jack and his wife like this and not just like this either he decided. Alice smiled at the couple it was nice to actually see two people who really cherished and loved each other as God had intended.

The couple half parted so that Jack could hug the boy and girl by the door.

Jack turned round and introduced his wife to the guests and visa versa with a smile that was both intimate and full of longing as he looked at her.

Myles replied “Pleased to meet you, I’m going to have a difficult time remembering who’s who”

“It’s easy” said the eldest boy

“It is?”

“Sure, I’m Sam, then there’s Kate by the door she’s next then Abby, then Issac then Tom, then Lydia the baby, then Mamma, her name is Sue and Daddy, his name is Jack and then Grandma her name is Ruth and then there’s Eleanor”

“What’s Eleanor do?” asked Myles smiling reservedly at the woman by the stove

“She’s……..she helps”

“Oh like a maid”

“Sure like that” said Sam

There was a pause in the conversation and Sue cleared her throat and said “Eleanor, is supper ready?”

“Yes I need to take some out to the men”

“I’ll do that” offered Jack “Myles come with me I’ll show you where you can sleep, then you can come back here for supper”

“Sure…..fine” said Myles woodenly and followed Jack who was carrying a pot of stew out into the yard and to the bunkhouse.

6 children, he has been busy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

love eleanor as a servant

cath

Well, there seems to be evidence that Jack managed to get home on leave quite often!!!

Joy

Sorry I haven't posted yet...but I have been following your wonderful story!

Yay! It's Sue!

Eleanor a servant??

SIX CHILDREN, they were really busy... how long did the war take???? I am so glad, Sue is Jack's wife but I feel pity for Eleanor... only servant ... she really has bad luck... I hope she won't do any intrigue against our favourite couple...

I can't wait for more!!!


Restie

Restie: The USA civil war ran from 1861-1865, that is not to say that Jack fought the duration of it, but to put you in the picture. And for everyone one else: yes that many children but you have to take into consideration that the year is 1865/6 and large families were very common. Hope that helps to set the scene at bit for you all

After meeting the other farm hand a young man named Wayne Morris and having Jack showing him where he could sleep, which happened to be a choice of a top or bottom bunk furthest away from the fire as Wayne and Howie slept in the top and bottom bunk respectively of the only other bunk in the room. The room was however laid out with a tiny stove on which a coffee pot and kettle stood with no room for anything else. There was a rough-hewn table and half a dozen chairs and in one corner a washstand and bowl and some sort of storage area.

“You could have stayed in the house……but there’s not much room and I thought the bunk here would be more comfortable than the study or sitting room floor in the main house”

“You’re right and this is fine” Myles said with a shrug preferring the thought of a feather mattress but then again he’d slept rough for months so even the bunk would probably feel like heaven.

^^^^^

They all sat round the table it was fairly squashed and Myles found himself between Issac and Abigail, both who looked up at him with awe, especially Issac who was perched on a cushion so that he reached the table. Opposite he found was Jack’s mother, Ruth Hudson. He was about to dive in and help himself to the steaming stew and freshly baked rolls when Ruth suggested that Jack should say grace. Everyone took hands with the people next to them and Myles felt like a fish out of water, he noticed that while Lucy let her neighbours hold her hands she did not hold on to them. Seeing Sue look at him quizzically he quickly closed his eyes.

“Thank you for the wonderful meal we have before us. May you bless our home and all who live within it, may you be our guide in our days ahead. Thank you Lord that we have been reunited as a family this day and be with our friends as they visit with us and share in our lives. Amen”

There was a general “Amen” and when Myles opened his eyes everyone was preparing to eat. There was civilised conversation and Myles noticed that only one person spoke at a time, with this many children he had expected a free for all, with endless chatter.

“So” said Sue to Myles during a lull in conversation “Where do you come from originally?”

Myles not looking up but instead watching as Isaac placed some of his dinner on Myles’s plate replied “Boston”

“Pardon I didn’t catch that I need to see your face in order to see what you’re saying”

“Oh….oh” he said before registering that Jack had told him his wife was deaf and it had slipped from his mind “I- am- tru-ly sor-ry plea-se ac-c-e-p-t m-y a-pol-o-g-y”

“Myles that’s worse talk normally” said Jack as Sue frowned at Myles

“Alright. I will try again, I am truly very sorry and I apologise”

“That’s okay, no problem, it takes some getting used to” she said “So where are you from?”

“Boston”

“A city, what that like?”

“Big, bustling a lot different to out here”

“I’ve been to New York” she told him “And I prefer this here to big and bustling”

Alice joined in the conversation, making Kate and Sam laugh with stories she told of when she was a little girl and Sue was reminded of the stories that Ruth sometimes told the children of her own childhood in a place called Shabbington which was far, far away in a county called Buckinghamshire in a country called England. Lucy although seemed far away and distant had actually taken a sudden interest with Jack’s wife when he explained she was deaf, Lucy couldn’t imagine how hard and difficult it was to have to read people’s lips to figure out what they were saying, it was very clever she thought. Lucy didn’t think much it was too painful but every now and then she would and then she would feel alive, though everyone thought that her mind was blank continually like her expression, but that wasn’t the case at all.

love wayne morris as a farm hand, much better than a supervisor,

can't wait to see what you have lined up for Randy pitts

loved the link to England

this is a fabulous story

cath

Yes, I agree with Cath - I see you've put Wayne where he belongs!!

I get the feeling that Sue may just bring Lucy around!!!

I love it - another of life's lessons for Myles!!!

Joy

It's great to see the love inside this family and I am glad Luce is interested in something finally... I am sure she and Sue will be a friends!!!!

btw... my hint/joke to the duration of the war was a hint to their six children... you wrote Jack left Sue a very special gift every time when he came to visit them during the war...


Restie

Oh, I have a feeling Sue is going to bring Lucy back to the land of the living! And six cildren -- just perfect...until nine months from now and then seven will be even perfecter!
kav

Yes that's right the gift I was referring to was a child.

Thanks for all the feedback here is a little bit more, hope you enjoy it



It seemed forever before everyone was settled for the night, Eleanor moved into the kitchen to sleep on a trundle bed and Alice and Lucy took her room at the rear of the kitchen, which was across the passageway from the study, a small book lined room with a desk by the window.

The children had said goodnight and were tucked up in two of the four bedrooms upstairs the remaining two belonging to Ruth, and Sue and Jack. Ruth’s room was the smallest and situated between the children’s rooms. Sue and Jack’s room was large, at the rear of the property and was also the only room with a fireplace. It was at eleven o’clock in the evening the only room that remained empty, Ruth having insisted that she take Lydia and crib into her small room for the night. Sue protested but Ruth said quite calmly that the baby had slept through these past two weeks and was unlikely to wake up for a feed and she, Sue needed some time alone with Jack.

Sue looked around the kitchen it was still, Eleanor slept soundly on her bed, Levi by the hearth and Jack who had walked Myles over to the bunkhouse had not yet returned. Sue peered out of the window before grabbing her shawl, which she wrapped tightly around her body; carrying an oil lamp she walked across the freezing yard to locate him.

The bunkhouse was in darkness but there was a sliver if light beneath the stable door and she headed in that direction, letting a waft of cold air in as she stepped inside. Jack looked up and smiled at her and she licked her lips that were suddenly dry. He stood there by a basin of now grey water, in his army trousers and boots and nothing else. The beard had gone and she had an undeniable urge to reach across and caress his smooth cheek, to run her hand through his wet hair and then down his bare chest, which glistened with moisture from his wash down. Swallowing hard she walked closer until they stood face to face. He took the lamp and hung it on a hook before giving her his full attention.

“Your Mom said she’ll watch the children, if there was a problem she would get up, she took Lydia into her room for the night, won’t you come to bed?” she said softly with yearning and unhidden desire.

He looked at her his eyes deep, filled with unleashed longing and need before raising his eyes to the loft suggestively and whispered, “What do you say?”

“Won’t we scare the horses?”

“No”

“What about ….I mean it might be cold”

He laughed and replied “Not with me by your side and there’s a couple of blankets in here that we use in the wagon, we can use those”

She looked down and bit her lip nervously and he smiled it thrilled him that after eleven years of marriage and six children, more if you counted all of them, which she did in her heart, that he could still do that to her. He didn’t wait for a reply instead he bent down grabbed his shirt and the two blankets which he gave to her as he took the two oil lamps with one hand the other he placed on her elbow and drew her towards the loft ladder, he indicated that she should go first and he followed close behind. While Sue made a makeshift bed he strategically placed the lamps so that they hung safely on hooks and illuminated the loft enough for Sue to read his lips.

Jack pulled her down to kneel onto the bed of hay she had created and looked deeply into her eyes, her soul. He tugged at the pins in her hair, which cascaded round her head like a golden halo highlighted by the oil lamps behind her.

“I’ve been thinking about making love to you for a very long time” he whispered and she smiled as his mouth sensitively touched hers asking, kissing her softly waiting for her invitation to take it deeper, when she did he groaned into her mouth and lowered her to the blanket.

His lips were everywhere over her face, lips, ears, neck and as he inched the fabric of her top down after frustrating minutes of undoing the buttons on her blouse. His teeth nipped the skin of her creamy white shoulders until he heard her moan. Her hands were fixed on his chest and moved expertly over the skin she found there caressing him lower and lower until she reached the edge of his trousers and she tugged at the fabric in her need, and with a groan he surrendered.

Jack couldn’t wait any longer either and after all they had all night to show their love for each other, next time tonight, they would take it slowly and cherish and love every inch of the other but for now they had to be as one without any more prelude.

Jack's home!!! **sigh**

Joy

i won't be suprised if No.7 decided to join!!!

i'm guessing they've lost at least 2 children during their time together, that's really sad but i'm glad they still count them

a lovely post

cath

Great job!

Home, sweet home... right Jack ???

Amazing part, Rosa!!!!


Restie

Thanks here is a little bit more


Dawn had still to break and Howie was bustling about at an ungodly hour as far as Myles was concerned. Howie shook Myles until he opened one eye.

“Oh it’s you” he said ungraciously and shut it again.

“I hate to be the one to tell you this but we all pitch in and help especially if you want breakfast this morning, there are chores to do before we can eat”

“I’m a guest” said Myles with his eyes still closed

“Maybe but that does not make much difference” added Wayne and Myles opened his eyes just in time to see Wayne pull his pants up over his red flannel long johns.

“You got any other clothes?” asked Howie anticipating correctly that Myles didn’t “Cause there in the box in the corner are some old things you might want to wear instead, they belonged to old Mr Hudson, he died a while back, before I came here but hey, it’s better than freezing you butt off”

“Mmmmmmm” muttered Myles sitting up and pulling the sheet and blanket as high as it would go to cover his body that he wasn’t used to showing to anyone.

“We’ll be in the milking shed” announced Wayne

“Great” uttered Myles “you’re a bunch of cowboys”

“That is an incorrect assumption, we are a dairy and crop farm”

“What kind of crop?”

“Corn mostly, sometimes wheat but apples too” Wayne said

“Oh” said Myles unimpressed and waited until both men had gone before rooting in the trunk for clothes.

^^^^

The yard was full of activity when Myles appeared some ten minutes later, chickens were running free and one of the younger boys was chasing them round and round while a girl was collecting eggs in her basket from the hen house. There was a comforting rise of smoke from the main house and he longed to go there and eat breakfast but not wanting to appear ungrateful made his way to the, milking shed.

Looking comical in pants too short and jacket too tight across the chest he asked nobody in particular “So what do I do?”

“You sit on a stool and milk a cow” piped up the young voice of Sam.

Myles looked and watched as the young lad proficiently milked a cow, frowned and picked up a stool from the side, sat beside a cow and attempted to milk her, wondering where on earth Jack was, he clearly wasn’t milking cows.

^^^^^

Jack stretched languorously and Sue stirred beside him, he could hear the familiar hub from the yard and guessed that perhaps they had overslept and it was a wonder his Mom hadn’t come looking for Sue telling her Lydia needed feeding, badly, or that Sue had woken with the need to feed their daughter. He opened his eyes, the light was dim, the oil lamps had burned out but the stable door was open and the first hues of winter dawn crept in and the light touched on Sue face. Jack looked at her still sleeping beside him, it was a shame to wake her really when they had probably only had a couple of hours sleep after a night of sharing and showing their love for each other, but if they didn’t move soon someone would discover them bare skinned in the hayloft together. He leant forward and kissed her softly on the nose, she twitched it and swiped away nothing with her hand and he tried again this time moving his lips to hers and kissing her slowly and in a manner he had missed these long months, she stretched and opened her eyes, smiling as she saw him over her. Sue ran her fingers across his skin and her eyes sparkled with invitation and playfulness.

“We haven’t got time” he whispered “Everyone’s about”

At that she reached and pulled a blanket to cover herself as Jack bit back a laugh. “Don’t do that you’re beautiful”

“To you maybe what if Myles or Howie or Wayne sees me like this”

“Then they will ………….” He trailed off “Actually I don’t think I want to know what they think of my beautiful wife, you’re mine”

“I know as long as you know it works both ways and that you’re mine too”

“Forever” he said leaning back in to brush his mouth suggestively across hers and then with a wink took her hand and pulled her to stand beside him, tossing her, her underwear to put on.

what a beautiful post

cath

i must say!!

can't wait for more!!

What a way to wake up!!!

Joy

Myles is milking a cow...he's in for a treat!!
Loved Jack and Sue together. You're handling this AU wonderfully, Rosa, I can't wait to see where you take us to!

story!

Myles' working poor cow !!!!

I love this lovely waking up!!!!!


Restie

I can smell the hay -- kav takes a deep breath -- Achoo! Uh-oh, I think I may be allergic to your story, Rosa. Could we move the fuzzies back into the house? I'm positive I'm not allergic to you fuzzies

kav

Allergic to my story that doesn't sound good Kav and you know they can't stay in the hay all day anyway. And the thought of Myles milking a cow but if he wants to eat that is what he had to do. A little bit more for you Thanks for the replies.



Breakfast over and Sue hauled the large tin bath into the kitchen with help from Eleanor who began to fill it with steaming water from the kettle and pans that were simmering on the stove.

“This is right nice of you” said Alice to Sue

“You’re welcome and I’ll root around and find you and Lucy some clothes to wear, they won’t be new but they will be darned and clean” she told her smiling at Lucy who barely acknowledged her.

“I don’t know what to say” said Alice full of appreciation “Thank you doesn’t seem enough”

“Thank you is perfect” Sue replied “I hope that you find your time with us…..helpful”

“I’m finding it that already”

^^^^^

The bath was soon full, Eleanor and Sue put up a dividing room curtain that sole purpose was to give privacy to someone who was taking a bath and Sue offered her help, Alice told her that she could manage Lucy fine and without further ado, Sue went to the other side of the partition to prepare lunch.

Alice had Lucy sitting in the bath before she realised there was no soap, she called out but there was no reply and then scolded herself, for having forgotten that Sue couldn’t hear her. Alice popped her head round the curtain and caught Sue’s eye instead.

“I hate to trouble you, you have been so kind but …..”

“Yes?” said Sue

“Soap”

“Oh sorry” said Sue "my fault" and she went to the curtain and stepped round, hoping that her face didn’t show the horror that her heart felt when she clapped eyes on Lucy’s back, Lucy’s very scarred back. “Oh” she uttered, she had read of the atrocities of the conditions that the slaves had worked in even before the war and Jack on trips home would tell her of things he’d seen, people he’d met and the traumas that the slaves now free men and women had endured.

“It happened a long time ago, before the war” said Alice trying to brush it off.

“It doesn’t matter when it happened it should never have happened at all” said Sue choking on the words “I can’t believe there are people in the world that would do such cruel things to other people”

“Lucy’s used to it, it’s part of who she is” said Alice

“But it shouldn’t have to be” said Sue blinking back the tears for the scars that Lucy carried with her from being whipped which ran criss-cross over her back.

Sue went to the larder and fetch a tablet of homemade soap and placed it in Alice’s hand and they both shared a look of understanding and regret for everything that the two women had suffered in their lives. While Sue silently promised herself that she would do everything in her power to help them make a new life.

It's so sad to read about this and to realise it's real human history... I am sure Sue will help Luce and Alice to start new life with friends and background...


Restie

Rosa, there is a lot in this post!! The emotion of slavery is so deep - I'm glad that Jack found Alice and Lucy and brought them to Sue - she will make sure they have a new start!!!

Joy

this is a fantastic story Rosa




cath

I need to everyone else!

I hope Sue can get them to open up!

Thanks Here is today's installment

Jack at eleven o’clock walked back to the house for a coffee, declining to share one with Howie and Wayne in the bunkhouse. He entered the kitchen to find Sue alone, well he guessed that two of their guests were bathing behind the curtain but other than that and Lydia in her crib they were alone and wrapped his arms about her waist, his hands wandering up and down her body sensuously as he kissed her mouth thoroughly.

“Jack” she said smiling with a hint of seriousness in her expression and pulling his hands down by his sides “Stop”

“Why? No one can see” he said cheekily

“I know you didn’t say anything last night but since Lydia…well I’ve got squidgy bits”

“Squidgy bits?” he asked lifting one eyebrow up in amusement but keeping his face straight “I don’t think there are any” and he ran his hands back up and down her body until she sighed from his touch

“Oh there are, I keep then hidden” she managed thinking that she hadn’t hidden them last night.

“Nah you don’t have any” he replied leaning in

“Oh but I do, maybe you close not to see them or not to look at them”

“I could look at you forever, especially if you weren’t wearing anything” he said suggestively grinding his hips suggestively into hers and silencing her from any further conversation with a kiss.

^^^^

Myles happened to approach the kitchen halfway through Jack’s interlude with his wife and stepped silently and unnoticed onto the porch looking at the pair through the window who seemed to have no shame at kissing at a time when anyone could just come about across them like he had done. Their life seemed perfect, ideal somehow and he watched at the love they had for one another and their family and even people like him. He was suddenly pulled out of his revere by a female voice and turned to see who had spoken.

“Pardon” he said to Ruth Hudson

“I said you think they have the perfect life, with no worries, problems, heartache, but let me tell you that isn’t the case, come with me we’ll take a walk” she put her basket down and ushered him down the steps.

She walked at a fast pace despite her advancement in years and Myles had to stride out to keep up with her. They walked through the paddock, the extensive apple orchard and through numerous frozen fields until they reached a small white washed church.

Ruth paused first at a simple cross head stone which read Samuel Hudson age 54 years 1854, “My husband God rest his soul” she said to Myles.

“I’m sorry” said Myles not knowing what else to say

“Not more than I, I don’t suppose” Ruth replied and then she walked further through the graves until she came to a magnolia tree which was barren at this time of year but in the spring would blossom. “Here” she told him “Look”

Myles looked again the headstone was a simple wooden cross with a name, it said Jack jr, 4 days old, next to it stood another with just one word Jared. Myles looked at Ruth puzzled, not sure where she was going with this.

“Jack jr was my first grandson, he was born too early, he was a fighter as his mother was, is. Jack was half scared she’d die from birthing, but she didn’t she lived. By the time she was well enough to see, hold the baby, he had died. I know Sue and Jack will never forget him in their hearts and neither will I. He would be ten now, a year and a day older than Sam. Jared came between the two girls, there was a measles epidemic when he was two he was one of the unlucky ones. So don’t assume that you know everything about Sue and Jack’s life, you don’t, you see what you want to see.

Some people say that coming to the Hudson farm heals the broken hearted and I have to agree that there is something in that statement, visitors we get, some come and go and some stay. You ever hear how Jack met Bobby or D, well they both stayed relatively close, Howie, Eleanor and Wayne too. Spend some time here with us to help the wounds of life heal your soul, there will come a time when you will have to choose what your chosen path is in life, a time when you’ll know what you need to do. Take time to find it, you are welcome here for a long as you need us but don’t mock us or take advantage of Sue or Jack’s good nature and hospitality. Think on it oh and one more thing when Jack’s takes you into town buy some new clothes, I don’t mind you wearing my Sam’s old clothes but they are a little small” she finally added with a twinkle in her faded brown eyes and turned and walked back, leaving Myles staring at the graves of Jack jr and Jared Hudson.

Rosa this is so sad. I feel so sorry for Jack and Sue. I like how you've placed them in a different setting.

Jenny

another beautiful post, tender yet powerful

cath

Thanks. I might not be able to post an update for a couple of days due to a commitment and setting up a new PC, it's set up but I always get hassle when I try to sort out the internet connection. Please bear with me. Rosa

Three days later and snow was falling swirling round in the yard, not lying yet but come the night it would do. The kitchen was a hub of activity filled with women and the boys, the men were all in one of the barns. Sue and the oldest four children sat at the table, Issac sat in the floor playing with a hand carved train courtesy of Charlie who worked his own farm some two miles away and had a fascination for machinery. Alice was peeling potatoes and chatting away to Eleanor, Ruth sat opposite Lucy darning with one eye on the baby, she always seemed to be darning but then there was a lot to darn.

Lucy sat in the rocking chair by the fire and watched Sue who was trying to teach the children to write and each child had been given a task appropriate to their age and ability. Lucy’s attention was on this intently, maybe if she watched close enough she could learn to read and write too. Lucy straightened up and leant slightly so that she could see better over Tom’s shoulder. He was writing what she knew to be letters, copying from something that Sue had written on the top of his slate, but what it said she didn’t know.

“Done it” he said moments later as his mom looked up at him “I wrote my name”

Lucy got another brief glance at the letters and thought to herself ‘those letters spell Tom, Tom’.

Sue looked up and regarded Lucy with interest she watched as she looked over Tom’s shoulder and then Kate’s, but it was the light in her eyes which drew Sue the most, the light the flickering light which gave her hope that she could reach her which said to Sue ‘Don’t give up on me I’m still alive and I want to learn’.

that's our sue!! i mean jack's sue!!


can't wait for more!!!

Yes -- Sue's found a way to connect with Lucy! I can't wait!!!

kav

That's Lucy in there! And Sue is just the person to see it.

Great story, Rosa! You're doing a wonderful job with the AU setting.

lovely, you do good work

hehe, how old am i? i had a slate when i first started school!!

It's so touching story, Rosa!!!! I feel so sad for Jack jr. and Jared and the pain which Jack and Sue had to feel after their death... but you pleased me by your last post... Luce finally found SOMETHING what would give her life joy...


Restie

another lovely post, loks like sue is going to help luce and i loved the way you had charlie in too

cath

I love the life lessons that you hae thrown at Myles!! I think he's listening!!!

Lucy - I'm glad Sue noticed her interest and desire to learn!! What a way to connect!!!

Joy

beautiful, Rosa!! I can't wait to see how you'll bond these two together!

Thanks for feedback, here is another snippet more

Jack and Sue lay in bed, the drapes were open so that they could watch the snowflakes as they hit the windowpane, lighting the room with the aid of an oil lamp on the bedside table. He held her close as she snuggled up to him running her fingers over his bare chest and he covered her forehead in butterfly kisses so soft, gentle, but making her want him once more.

Pushing that thought from her mind she moved and looked at him to say “I saw something today, in Lucy’s eyes that told me she’s here with us…not here right now though”

“I should hope not” he replied and glanced over at the crib where Lydia slept soundly before looking back at Sue. “What do you want to do about it?” he asked playing with a soft tendril of her hair.

“About what?” asked Sue who had become distracted on the purpose of the conversation

“Lucy” said Jack

“Oh” she said and Jack smiled, he liked having this effect on her even now, even after all this time. “Well I was thinking maybe I would suggest …ask her if she would like to learn to write, read maybe”

“Why not it’s worth a try. Has she spoken to you yet?”

Sue shook her head “What if she never speaks again?”

“Don’t go thinking like that, she just needs some time, remember when we first met Howie, he talks okay now”

Sue smiled and replied “I didn’t think he was ever going to say a sentence with swearing colourfully, if you hadn’t told me what those words mean…” she paused and blushed

Jack grinned in agreement and cupped his hand round the back of her head his fingers delving into her hair as he massaged her scalp and brought her mouth to his, kissing her with a force and with a passion that she returned, before loving her and making her his all over again.

a lovely fuzzy post to go to sleep on

to still be so much in love after so many years and all those children...... pretty sure another will soon be making an appearance

cath

Rosa, you continue to write Jack and Sue so beautifully!!

I think Sue has a chance with Lucy!!!

Joy

Yep! At the rate that their going, baby #9 (that would include Jack Jr. and Jared)should be coming along anytime soon now!