Upon Emma’s reference to pregnancy, Anya was so shocked she knocked her coffee over. It ran off the table onto little Sally’s blonde curls. Sally howled and both women jumped to see to her. She wailed, but fortunately her face wasn’t even pink. The next few minutes were full of mopping her up and changing her clothes. By the time they’d finished, Rufus had stepped to the door and called Emma to go. Anya composed herself enough to make her goodbyes, promising to ride over with Joe in a few days.
Sick with dread, Anya settled to rock Sally to sleep and consider Emma’s observation. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d had the curse. She hadn’t had to wash rags since she’d been here and didn’t know how long before that. The abuse she’d endured before escaping and her confusion from her injuries had left her disoriented. The time had all run together. It was true she’d put on a little weight, but pregnancy had never crossed her mind. Her hand flew to her belly when she felt an undeniable swelling and her full breasts pushed against the bodice of the dress she’d taken from the store of things in the bundle Joe’s wife had brought with her.
Would this nightmare never end? Just when it looked as though life might work out, this horror raised its head. And all this after she’d insisted she wasn’t a whore! Joe had already been saddled with two children from his dead wife and had tried to pass them off to the townspeople, only to be turned away. She’d thought she’d never want to be a wife till this terrible turn and now realized a life with Joe and the children would have been precious. Silent tears ran down her cheeks onto Sweet Sally’s sleepy head.
Joe and came in from outdoors to the tender sight of Anya rocking the baby in the light streaming through the window. Little Joe ran to her for a hug. Joe’s heart swelled with love for his family. Life was turning around for him after all his years alone.
Well heck. She’s a woman with children, maybe a widow. be her dead husband’s…
Unless it is of another race. That would be even worse. Sorry. Thinking out loud.
Read the next part and figured something was missing till I started catching up yesterday’s posts. Anxious to know what happens…
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Good thinking.
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I’m a sucker for a baby shower! 🙂
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Looks like there might be one.
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Oh no! Just when I thought things were going well for Joe and Anya. Now this. I hope Joe will understand but with you I can never be sure. :o)
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I am trying to do right.
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You are, why do you think we are all on pins and needles waiting. xo
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They come not single spies… Poor woman!
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I hope for a happy ending for them all x
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It could happen.
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oh yeah I am waiting xx
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This isn’t the end is it?
No, no no.
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Oh no. Thinking right now!
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Yeah, I know how that is. I had a request for a screenplay and I got sick and my brain won’t work. I’m 2/3 through it and it is so frustrating.
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I’m not quite stuck yet. I ruminated over this story before I attacked it.
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Your story telling has got me hooked. Ahhhhh, so this pregnancy, will Joe allow her to stay??@@!!!
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He seems like a good guy.
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What do you think?
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It’s getting complicated but I can also see a happy (?) ending…
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At least she knows a good thing.
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Oh my….that “neck bone” wasn’t getting fat, she was pregnant ??? These are complicated lives, Miss Linda, so well played ! I like the way you think. Glad to get caught up. ❣️
p.s. Love the rag reference. ☺
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Wondered if that would work. Chk gmail again.
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I can see a glimmer of hope on the horizon 🙂
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Me, too.
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Oh my…This is dark…in a good way…
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Thanks.
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What a mess now! 🙂
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How can this untangle?
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You have your work cut out! 🙂
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Poor woman. I hope it all works out well for her I’m now wondering what Joe will think. She can’t hide it long. —– Suzanne
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You are right.
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