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Excerpt
from The
stalemate was not working. Three days went by
and Nellie Lee had not said a word. Nathan
thought Nellie Lee could decide something in
less time. He tried to be patient, but when he
could stand it no longer he asked with a hint
of irritation, “Have you thought about what
you were going to think about?” “I’m not ready yet,” was her curt answer. Obviously she didn’t want to talk about it. Nathan set his jaw and picked up a wooden magpie he had been carving. Its neck was too long and its body was wompy-jawed. He inspected it by rotating it in his hand. With disgust he broke its head off and threw the pieces into the fireplace. “When do we eat?” he growled. “When I decide what to fix,” was her sharp reply. “Your decider ain’t working very good lately. You sure it ain’t broke?” “You leave me be, Nathan. It’s not my fault we can’t get out of this God-forsaken hole.” “God-forsaken? It’s the best place I’ve ever lived. You said you were happy here too.” “Well, now I want to go back to Big Larch. I wouldn’t marry you if you recruited an army of preachers.” “Would too. I’m too lovable for you to resist. But I’m not sure I want you now.” “Good. I’m glad to hear you won’t be bother’n me anymore.” Nellie Lee stood stiff with her fist clenched and glared at Nathan. He
studied her for a long minute. He didn’t want
to fight with Nellie Lee, but the confrontation
had relieved a little steam and he felt better.
At length, he asked, “So when are we going to
eat?” “I’m
not hungry. we
can eat whenever you
fix something.” She stalked out the door. Nathan watched her leave. In a few minutes she returned. She was careful not to look in Nathan’s direction while pretending he didn’t exist, but she had to know he was studying her every move. She dumped an apron full of vegetables on the table and started shelling peas. He went to her side and said, “Can I help?” Still
not looking at him, “I’ll manage.” Her
words had the chill of drips from an icicle. Nathan
backed away and watched her shell the peas. I
sure do love that woman, he thought. While eating they were coldly polite to each other, but nothing more was said than need be. As the meal progressed Nathan was sure Nellie Lee was softening. She still didn’t say anything, but Nathan knew she couldn’t stay riled up forever. He helped her clean the table and wash the dishes. When they worked close to each other, Nathan could feel the attraction in his heart. He sensed if he reached out and touched her arm or even her hand she wouldn’t pull away from him. When the chores were finished they stood face-to-face. Nellie Lee said, “That’s all, I guess.” Nathan answered, “I guess.” Neither one moved. “Tomorrow I’ll pick some berries and make some jam,” she said. To Nathan, this sounded like talk just to make talk and he responded in kind. “I’ll cut some wood.” He looked at Nellie Lee like the little boys that had come into his store to look at the candy jars. Their empty pockets could not open the glass jars, but looking was free. A minute passed as they looked at each other, then they both smiled. Nathan took a step closer. “I love you, Nellie Lee.” “You’re a good man, Nathan.” He took another step closer and pressed the back of his calloused fingers to Nellie Lee’s cheek. His rough fingers wandered across her smooth cheek toward her barely open mouth. He pressed his fingers against full lips and she kissed them. His large hand explored the underside of her chin and gently tilted her face up to his. Tiny diamonds sparkled deep in her eyes. Her lips came alive and curled in an inviting way. A touch of his lips to hers sent flames coursing through his body. A bolder kiss, then another. Each kiss she returned with equal passion fueled his craving for more. He wrapped her tight in his arms. She rewarded his passion with blazing lips and her arms snaked about his neck. His hand spanned the small of her back, pulling their bodies together. An unrestrained erection pressed hard against Nellie Lee’s belly. It screamed for gratification. Its presence was much too large to escape Nellie Lee’s attention. She arched hard against it once, then again, as if to entice, to encourage, then with a gasp she forced him back. Her face was flushed and her hair was in disarray. “Stop, Nathan. This can’t happen. I won’t let it.” Her eyes widened when she looked down at the bulge in Nathan’s trousers. “It’s right; it’s natural, Nellie Lee. It should and it must happen.” “All right, I confess, I liked it, but it’s against everything I believe. You’re big and strong and there’s nothing to stop you from taking me by force, but I’ll fight you every step of the way and hate you for it afterwards.” “Please, Nellie Lee, don’t think of me that way. As bad as I’m hurting, I would never take you by force.” “If we ever get out of here and you still feel the same way and we can do it right with a bona fide preacher, then I’ll marry you. That is the only way, Nathan.” “Can’t you see, I’m dying right here before your eyes, Nellie Lee.” “You won’t die, but it’d help if one thing on you wilted a mite.” “Arrrgghh.” Nathan directed his fury and frustration on the helpless eating table. His powerful fist smashed a plank and broke one leg. The table tilted and the salt and pepper, coffee pot, and candleholders crashed to the floor filling the room with clatter. Nellie Lee retreated to a corner of the room, looking back in shock and fear. Nathan burst out the door on a dead run. Nellie Lee ventured sideways a step at a time until she could lean and see out the door. Nathan passed Jonah going as fast as any man had ever run. Jonah, for reasons known only to Jonah, joined the race. Nellie Lee watched with mouth parted until man and horse disappeared over a rise in the trail. Then her chin quivered and tears rolled down her cheeks. For the next two hours Nellie Lee busied herself repeating tasks she had already done. She sat down several times as if in deep thought. Then wringing her hands she would jump up again to find something else to do. It was dark when the door creaked. Nellie Lee had six candles lit, perhaps thinking light would shield her from Nathan’s advances. Even so the room was dark. The candles only highlighted objects close by and the rest of the room faded into flickering shadows. Nellie Lee had placed a stool under the broken leg of the eating table and the offended items were back on what remained of its top. Nothing could sit on the smashed plank. Nathan’s bushy head peeked around the door. A cautious grin emerged. “Kinda lost my head, didn’t I?” Nellie Lee smiled and her eyes became glassy. “Yes, you kind of did, Nathan. Did you and Jonah have a good run?” Nathan dropped his head and a sheepish grin meandered across his face.
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