THE FIRE WITHIN
Chapter Seventeen

Christa opened her eyes to the morning sun. It made her lazy. There was nothing she needed to do but take care of her man and her son. She bathed quickly and set off to find herself a job, working where she had previously worked. The owner of the pub smiled when he saw her.

"Well, hello, Christa. Welcome back," Samuel said.

"Nice to be back home, Sam. Listen, if it's possible, I need a job," Christa said bluntly.

"You've got it! No questions asked." Sam cleaned up the bar.

"Thanks, Sam. I’ve got a husband and baby to support now." She smiled.

"Well, by God, you've grown up. Who is this fellow you’re with?" he asked.

"I met him in New York. His name is Amsterdam Vallon. So, I am now Christa Vallon, or hope to be someday," she said as she started cleaning some tables.

"Did you ever find that uncle you were looking for?" Sam looked for his washcloth.

"Yeah, I did. It's a long story. He died just before I left New York, though," she explained.

"Died? How?" he asked curiously.

"My husband stabbed him for hurting my baby and myself." She felt no shame in telling him that.

"You okay?" he asked.

"Yeah. We are fine now." She smiled.

"Glad to hear it. Tommy is working here, too. I am glad to have you both back." He was very happy that they were working for him. It seemed like the old days.

"It’s nice to be back, Sam." Christa was very glad to be home again.

*****

Back at the cottage, Amsterdam woke up needing to relieve himself. He stretched before getting up. It had been a while since he had had a nice, comfortable place to sleep. He just had to look for a place of his own to share with Christa now. He hoped she didn't mind living with him, especially since they weren't married. But he loved her just as though they were married. He promised on his own conscience that he wouldn't cheat or treat her wrong, ever.

He put his foot down on the floor and winced. It hurt. No doubt it would be like this for a while. It was quiet. He wondered where everyone was. He heard footsteps, and someone entered.

"Aw, you’re up!" Mrs. Ryan said.

"Who are you?" Amsterdam asked.

"Oh, sorry. I am Tommy's mother. And you’re Amsterdam. Christa's friend, right?" She asked, fixing the sheets she had just brought in.

"Yes, except a little more than friends, I should think." He smiled.

"I hope you do right by her. She has been through so much since her mother died." Mrs. Ryan was always protective of Christa, even though Christa wasn't her daughter.

"Where is Christa?" Amsterdam asked.

"Looking to find a job. She needs to get a place of her own, not that I mind her staying here," Mrs. Ryan said, looking at him.

"I completely understand. Believe me." He nodded his head.

"I set up a nice bath for you, and some clothes there. I thought you might wanna wash up and look presentable. I’ve got a surprise for you and Christa when you come downstairs." She excused herself.

"All right. Thank you for your hospitality." He meant it.

"You’re more than welcome, Amsterdam." She closed the door behind her.

He got up and walked to what he assumed was the screen shielding the bathtub and chamber pot. When he got behind it, he stripped. There was no lock on the bedroom door. He started to wash the years of dirt off of himself. He hadn't had anything like this in a very long time, not since his father had bathed him. He looked around for the soap and didn't find any.

The door swayed opened, and it was Marie. Amsterdam tried to hide himself below the water.

"Oh, I’m sorry, Amsterdam I thought Mrs. Ryan had told you I would be helping you with your bath, since your leg is hurt," Marie said, wearing an apron.

"She failed to mention that." He smiled.

"Is it all right? I mean, you aren't afraid of me, are you?" Marie asked.

"Nah. I just didn't expect you, is all." He had never had someone help him do this before.

She got down on her knees with a washcloth and soap. She pulled his head toward her so she could wash his hair. When it was lathered, she got the water and poured it over his head. He liked being treated like a rich man. He only wished it was Christa that was bathing him, because the erotic sensation was beginning to arouse him.

He was embarrassed when his erection rose to the surface of the water. He hoped that Marie didn't notice. He quickly dismissed her and went ahead and did the rest of his bathing alone. When she left, his erection subsided. After he had finished bathing, he got out, got dressed, and went downstairs.

Marie was waiting outside for him when he appeared. She was sharpening a blade to shave him. He saw and went outside.

"Have you done this before?" he asked.

"Yes, very often. Don't worry, Amsterdam. I won't nick you." She lathered his face with soap, and after that, she began to shave him slowly.

She made steady strokes, and when she was done, she got a semi-hot cloth and put it on his face. He liked the way she worked.

He looked so clean cut, she would never have known it was him. He couldn't wait until Christa came home, or maybe he could go and visit her.

"Marie, how long would it take me to walk to Christa's work?" he asked her.

"Amsterdam, you can't walk. You need to heal," she warned him.

"I have to see Christa. It's urgent. Please." He needed her now.

"All right. Let me tell Mrs. Ryan. She's taking care of Michael." Marie wondered what was so important.

"Yeah." He nodded.

When Marie came back, she helped him get up in the carriage. They rode in silence. Amsterdam was beginning to like his surroundings. It was very quiet and very beautiful. He could see why Christa liked it, compared to New York.

When Marie stopped, Amsterdam had no problem getting out of the carriage. "See you at home later, Marie." He waved.

"All right. Give Christa my best." She smiled and went back home.

"Will do, Marie. Take care." He waved to her as she drove off.

When he saw Marie leave, he went inside, looking for Christa. He saw her in a semi-low cut dress. The pub was somewhat full. He wondered what time it was. He went up to Christa.

"Excuse me, Miss." Christa saw a nice-looking man.

"May I help you, sir?" Her eyes seemed to shine when she stared at him.

"Yeah. You free to see me tonight?" he asked candidly.

"No. Sorry, sir. Got work and a family to go home to." She smiled at him, trying to polite.

He decided to play along, thinking she knew who he was, but was playing along with him.

"You married, Miss?" he asked her.

"Nope, but I am seeing someone." She made it a point to make him see she was taken.

"One night with me, and you will forget the other man," he told her.

"You could try. Amsterdam wouldn't like that very much," she said, thinking he was strange.

"He doesn't have to know." He reached into his pockets.

"Not interested." She walked away.

He followed her slowly toward the back of the place. She had no idea when he started coming towards her and turned her around, dragging her outside.

"Be quiet, and I will let you go." He liked being the one to have the upper hand.

She nodded.

"What do you think you are doing?" she asked him, not knowing that he was Amsterdam.

"Offering you a gift in exchange for services." He stood next to her.

"I'm no whore." She made it clear to him.

"I didn't say for sex. Not unless you want it, love," he teased her.

"Ha!" She laughed.

"You’re a feisty one, and I love that." He had always liked that about her.

He took her by surprise and kissed her. Knowing that kiss, she let him touch her. "Amsterdam?"

"Yes?" He smiled.

"Damn. You scared me half to death." She pushed him away.

"Sorry. I wanted to see if you knew who I am." He smiled.

"Not at first, but after that kiss, I knew." She was frustrated with him now. "What brings you here? Couldn't wait?" she taunted him.

"Christa, I was wondering if we could talk. About us." He stood, waiting for her to speak.

"Sure. Let me ask Sam. I am due for a break." She grabbed his hand and walked with him into the pub.

She walked up to the bar. Sam was cleaning shot glasses and serving shots. He looked up when Christa called to him. "Sam?"

"Yeah? Yeah, Christa?" He nodded his head.

"I want you to meet Amsterdam." She sat at the bar.

"Ah…so you’re the one who stole our Christa?" Sam looked at Amsterdam. He was tall and built.

"Actually, she stole me." He laughed.

Christa winked at him. She loved the idea. She had stolen him. There was never a dull moment when Amsterdam was in the room.

"Sam, is it all right if I go on break?" she asked.

"Sure. Take as long as you need." He shook his head.

"Thanks, Sam." She smiled and walked out the door of the pub.

Amsterdam followed. "Nice meeting you," he said to Sam.

"Likewise," Sam said, and went back to work.

Christa walked into a forested area. Amsterdam wondered where she was going. He didn't know this place. So, he followed her. She hadn't said a word since they left the pub. They came upon a little shack. Christa looked under a rock and found a key.

"Christa, I don't think we should go in there. This is someone's home," Amsterdam warned her.

"Don't worry, Amsterdam. It's okay. See, when Tommy and I were children, we built this together. We had help, of course. Sam was like a second father to me. After my ma died and I came to live with Mrs. Ryan, I met Sam. See, he wasn't always a pub owner. He used to be a teacher," she explained to Amsterdam as she walked into the shack.

"Ah…did you used to bring all your gentleman callers here?" he asked curiously, looking around.

"No. Tommy and I never brought anyone here." She sat down in a chair.

"Did you and Tommy ever do it here? I mean, before New York." He had always wondered how close she and Tommy and were.

"Amsterdam, Tommy never touched me. Not until New York. You were my first," she told him.

"Christa, about that…I am sorry for not being careful. I never meant to give you a child that night." He told her the truth.

"I knew what it might lead to, Amsterdam. I wanted you to make love to me. I wouldn't have done it if I hadn't known the consequences."

"Christa, you don't understand what I am trying to say. I love you, and if we are gonna make this work, well..." He got down on one knee. "Will you be my wife?"

Her eyes glowed. She hadn’t expected this. Not this soon. She was flattered. She began to cry and hug him. He was all she ever wanted in life. A good man who loved her without a doubt.

"I take that as a yes?" he asked.

"Yes, Amsterdam. I will be your wife." She kissed him.

He saw a bed and took her to it. He needed his Christa. She wiped her tears and kissed him madly. He was about to make love to her when they heard a commotion outside. Amsterdam and Christa got up off the bed and went outside. Two men were chasing a girl. "Amsterdam, we need to help her," Christa said.

He walked outside and caught the attention of the two men. He was buttoning his shirt and trousers when he approached them.

"Leave her alone," Amsterdam said.

"Mind your own business. We have some business to discuss with her," one man said, and pointed to the girl.

"Please, help me. These men are trying to rape me," she said.

"We only wanted what you promised us before you stole our wallets," the men said.

"Fine. Here." She threw them their wallets. They picked them up and walked away.

"Whore," one man said, and they both walked away.

"Are you okay, Miss?" Christa asked.

"I'm fine. Thanks for coming to my rescue when you did," she said.

"I’m Christa Connor, and this is my fiancé, Amsterdam," Christa introduced herself.

"My name's Rose. Rose DeWitt Bukater. I'm originally from New York," she said.

"We just came from there. Don't go back," Christa warned her.

"I’ve been trying to find a job here," Rose said, fixing her dress and looking at Amsterdam.

"I am sure Sam will offer you a job. Do you know how to waitress?" Christa asked her.

"Yes." Rose smiled.

"Great. Listen, Amsterdam, I am gonna take her to Sam. Will you wait for me?" Christa asked.

"Of course." He smiled.

Amsterdam noticed the new girl staring at him, and he wondered why. Had they met before? It couldn't be, because he had just met her. She just looked a tad familiar.

*****

Christa walked into the pub with Rose. She told Sam that she needed a job for Rose, and he was ecstatic to get so many workers. It was like a family to him. He offered Rose a job, and Christa was happy. When she got back to the shack, it was quiet. Amsterdam was lying inside, waiting for her. She took off her clothes and joined him on the bed. She started to kiss him, and he woke up.

"What took you so long?" he asked.

"We'll talk about that later. Do your best, Amsterdam, to make love to me," she said.

"Will do, Christa." He smiled and took what was rightfully his.

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