DISCLAIMER: The Young Riders is the creation of Ed Spielman, and the property of Ogiens/Kane productions in association with MGM/UA television. This Story is created for entertainment purposes only, no infringement intended. Not to be copied without permission from the author.
The mottled sunlight and gently whispering leaves of the thickly spreading boughs above her head soothed Bernie’s frazzled nerves, as she sat on the bench seat, gently caressing her rounded belly. She watched the house from the dappled shadows she sat in knowing that her husband would soon be home and her tenuous peace would be shattered.
Not a day had passed since she had left Rock Creek that she had not thught of her gentle indian lover. However, for the last seventeen weeks she had been Mrs Jefferson Eccles, a position that single women in this fair city had dreamed of for many years, but it was not a position that she had wanted to be in.
To the outside world he was a gentle caring husband, always ready with a soothing word, a kind gesture or a helping hand, the perfect picture of a happily doting husband. However, when the manor doors were closed, behind them his true personality and intentions were revealed to his staff and his tiny young wife. He had only married her to improve his standing with her grandfather, to come one step closer to inheriting the untold fortunes of the old man when he finally died. Of course, the impressive dowry she had fetched did not hurt either. He hit her hard and often and used her body to find his own satisfaction harshly and aggressively, never caring how much he hurt her.
Tears welled in her eyes as she thought of the times she had lain beneath his cruel and sweaty body, stifling her own cried of pain by biting her lip. Trying desperately to divorce herself from her body and what was happening to it, by remembering her love. She and Buck had shared one night of tender love, sharing their emotions and their bodies, and the mere thought of this man sullying her memories was abhorent to her, but she clung desperately to her memories of Buck like a drowning man to a lifeline.
She caressed her belly gently knowing that she would endure whatever she had to for her child, if this child was all that she was allowed of Buck, then she would protect it with her last breath, if that was what were needed. Feeling him kick against her hand as she stroked she smiled waterily.
“Mrs Eccles” the young maid spoke as she reached Bernie’s side, loathe to disturb the little bit of peace she was allowed “the master is home Ma’am, and he is looking for you”
“Thank you Isabelle, please call me Bernie” she spoke as she looked into the eyes of her only friend at Eccles Manor.
Isabella knelt beside her and wiped the tears from her cheeks “You know how angry he gets at you for crying” she spoke her irish brogue, gruff with her own sadness for the young girl who had been practically sold into a life of sadness and cruelty.
Isabella Dupre as a young girl of french and irish parents had emigrated with them and her brother to what they thought would be the promised land, however, her parents had been killed in a factory accident while in Justin Eccles employ. As an act of kindness Jonathon’s father had given their ten year old daughter employment at his home and their twelve year old son Etienne work in the stables. She had lived her for the last seven years, working as a house maid and servant constantly trying to avoid the advances of the repugnant new master.
She had been drawn to Bernies fragility and vulnerability on the day she had been brought to the manor and since that day the two had become fast friends. Close in age and temperament they had found that they both needed a friend within the cold stone walls that enclosed them. She had watched helplessly as her tiny pregnant friend had been beaten often by her sadistic husband, she had held her the morning after she had first shared a marriage bed with her husband as she sobbed in her misery and confusion. Bernie had confided to her the true father of the baby she protected so fiercely and of her friends that she had left out west, and in an effort to save her friend from any more sadness she had written to her friends in hopes that they could help her friend escape a life of pain and sadness.
Now armed with a reply, and the help of her older brother, she had formulated a plan to take them both from the clutches of the man that terrified them both.
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