Mist had crept in on silent feet dampness clung to her flesh
Underneath her nails dirt held tight begging to be refreshed.
The muscles in her neck tormented her every step,
But was a necessity of a vow meant to be kept.
Ah, but she could stretch a mile though not have strength to walk back,
Her shoulders ached fiercely as she picked up the cabbage sack.
Taters. My goodness she had dug so many she followed through in her sleep, And though times she wanted to give in she had a vow to keep.
She felt the moisture gather in her eyes the pain so hard to erase
Each night, each day, over and over she saw his face
Good-bye over a distance; no touch, no kiss, only a whisper riding
high upon the wind
And as he was taken away she felt life's flame flicker to an end.
Oh, she would go on that was the way of things,
Step forward head high no matter what the morrow brings.
She sat the sack in the midst of the dusty field to wipe her tears
away,
For the past two months, no wait it was two and a half months today.
This place wasn't where she should be right now,
Digging taters, gathering eggs, and for goodness sake milking cows.
It wouldn't really be so bad if he were by her side,
But word had spread that after his capture he had died.
No, it was impossible that she would not believe,
It had to be a trick one meant to deceive.
Well, it didn't do any good to dwell on her life past,
Was only now and the future but she was fading fast.
Once again she threw the sack across her shoulders gritted her teeth and moved along,
At the rate she was going her chores wouldn't get finished before
dawn.
Still, she did not believe she was little more than a slave,
And as if to prove his death they led her to an empty grave.
Anyway they said it was him the sheriff and his deputy
But no, she knew that it could not be.
She could feel his breath against her skin at night,
His strong tan arms reaching for her holding her tight.
He tried so hard to ease her nightmares that held her sleep,
And oh how she loved him with a love so deep.
She quietly entered the kitchen avoiding the squeaky boards,
And eased the sack of taters to the dusty rotted floor.
Pieces were missing here and there and a weak place in front of the sink,
Often she wished he would fall through as he passed it by for a drink.
Not him though, no. As his slave, she had to fix anything he asked for,
And with a deep sigh, she went about her other chores.
There were more clothes to be hung and the tips of her fingers stayed sore,
From the constant motion as they bled from the dull washboard.
In an old wooden tub, she threw some thermals then added jeans,
Aw hell, let them soak a while then she would wash them clean.
She pumped some water in the sink and dumped in some of the taters,
Might as well wash them now or she would just have to do it later.
After they dried she put them in the tater bin,
And hung out the clothes hoping to dry them in the heavy winds.
Her golden hair likened to wheat-covered fields blew across her eyes,
And as her hands brushed it away she was mesmerized.
Aye, it was some kind of trickery it just had to be,
Gone now, but was it really him that she had seen?
But it was of no importance now time was fading for today,
There was still supper to cook, and old Nellie needed some fresh hay.
Fresh milk for supper as she finished milking Sally and Plain Jane,
Oh no she groaned the heavens opened spewing forth a deluge of rain.
Rushing towards the clothes trying to get them out of the rain's path,
She slid headlong in the mud oh that was great now she had to carry water for a bath.
He was gone this night so she would be able to get some much needed sleep,
And in the wee hours of the morning, she lay down to dream.
Chapter 3
Trevor had always loved her though she never knew,
They met when she was little then she was sent to boarding school.
Both had families of wealth and as such the marriage arranged,
But from the time of their brief meeting he had felt so strange.
The age of ten her golden hair and sparkling emerald eyes,
With each birthday present opened her smile in surprise.
In all actuality, they hadn't really met,
He had laid his gift down and walked away with regret.
So handsome as he aged there were women aplenty,
But if he couldn't have her he wouldn't have any.
His choice had been made she was his intended,
And no force on earth would it be amended.
Watching her from afar but then she ran,
No, he had to plead his case she was his she would have no other man.
He would sweep her off her feet as he had done many before,
They had meant nothing but she was the one he hungered for.
But his plan backfired everything went awry,
Was only supposed to take her no one was supposed to die.
The days after everything seemed to fade but her,
Yet he still hadn't told her no he hadn't spoken a single word.
And they were happy. A small cabin on the mountaintop alone,
He must tell her for soon they were to go home.
She loved him now and this he knew,
But her reaction from his lie what would she do?
Never the chance to plead his case for the law had tracked him down,
Was not only little Mac that died it was reported that someone had shot the driver down.
How could that be so for he had left before the rest?
Ah yes, Johnny had been captured all involved he had confessed.
"Courtney," He had screamed, fighting the many hands that bound,
Others had hands on his lady a sharp blow to the head he heard her scream as he went down.
Three days waking on a ship sailing a stormy sea,
Head pounding eyes burning he tried to clear his head for he had vows to keep.
Chapter 4
She was bait this she did not know nor would ever,
Her new master depended on her to bring them back together.
His prisoner had escaped and an old grudge this man held,
Laughing loudly as out of sight the ship had sailed.
Bound for Australia thinking his revenge was almost nigh
Learning of Trevor's escape jumping ship at night.
For a first, he could not stay to guard his captive,
In his search, he had to remain active.
But where could she go lest she left on bare feet,
And not then far for the wild beasts, she would meet.
No, it was safe enough to leave her alone for a few days,
If she escaped after again her capture hell would be to pay.
Courtney awoke looked eagerly to her side,
But was only a dream of him she could not stop the tears though she tried.
Through her coffee and breakfast and inside chores,
She felt so empty and cried so much more.
She loved him desperately and wondered of his fate,
Well, chores were calling, and it was getting late.
She milked ole Nellie, Plain Jane was last,
Named so when she was but a wee calf.
Story went that was her master's wife's name,
He loved her she left him, and he knew he was to blame.
Bitter, now he took on the world,
Plain with no markings but he loved her as he did his girl.
That's what she gathered as words formed in his sleep,
Seemed when she left he had been cut deep.
Why she left Courtney could only guess,
Only this man, her captor knew the rest.
Chapter 5
Thundering hooves dust twisting a savage whirlwind in the night,
Mind on his lady worthy of his flight.
Aye so beautiful she was and such awesome charm,
His vow to her to protect her from harm.
But no in this he had failed she had done no wrong,
And for his role, she had paid and her suffering overlong.
His lady would be rescued this vow he would keep,
She was his breath, his heart, his love, his soul so deep.
Shadows in the night moon hanging low against the clouds,
Somewhere the crickets chirped echoing nights sounds.
An owl’s eyes sharpened by the dark searched for prey,
And on rode her lover closer to her each day.
No rest for him his soul fought the fire,
He could not leave her to fates desire.
Soon he would reunite with his love so true,
Tell her of his falsehood so they could begin anew.
If harm had befallen his lady his revenge would not hold still,
Death to any this vow would be fulfilled.
Many, many days they had been apart,
And with each passing, the ache grew in his heart.
Nights brought the need to hold her tight,
The need for her kiss and her bodies delight.
Aye but more so he missed her smile and tender touch,
How was it possible to love anyone this much?
But he did and in this, he could not deny,
And often in his mind, he felt the tears she cried.
"My love soon I shall be with you and release your pain,"
In answer to her tears came a torrential rain.
It did not deter him no he traveled on,
Weary and lonely, now soaked to the bone.
Thoughts traveled miles to join the two lovers,
And in her dreams, she felt him join her underneath the covers.
But it was not him for the body was wrinkled and old,
The smell of alcohol made her blood run cold.
She tried to scream tried so hard to fight,
The insanity in his eyes gave her such a fright.
She clawed his face his fist caught her eyes,
Suddenly he was lifted from her in total surprise.
Her lover had come her attacker slammed against the wall,
The force was such he had no life left at all.
He held her tight felt her tears flow,
But time was their enemy they had to go.
Upon horseback once again they took flight,
And he carried his lady off into the night.
Their marriage took place her family was there,
He told her of his falsehood, but no longer did she care.
The two had been paired all along,
And though she ran perhaps that's why their love was strong.
His mother Jane wept from both happiness and sorrow,
For her husband’s death, she would mourn on the morrow.
Her son would never know he had killed his own father,
He had always believed his father dead and to correct it she had never bothered.
Times of peace the law never darkened their life,
Was a mystery unsolved unknown but by husband and wife.
Plain Jane stood watching her son and his lady,
The love in their eyes as she gave birth to their first baby.
© Cynthia Clark