Chapter Sixteen

L ibby pulled back the heavy drapes in the front parlor and eyed the grey mist swirling around the front yard. Another dreary, rainy day. Even though it was only early afternoon, it felt like dusk. Cora told her this was the way winter was in Tennessee. Libby sighed. She'd been here seven months with, so far, no hope of returning home.

Libby had no better luck trying to get him to let her teach. He reminded her over and over married women did not teach. She reminded him she wasn't married. Brad said being married and being widowed were the same thing when it came to teaching young minds. She muttered something about the narrow-minded ideas of 19th century men. Brad laughed and asked her if women in her time had it so much easier. This started a discussion about women's rights, which, surprisingly, Brad agreed with. Yet she couldn't convince him to let her teach. She had to be satisfied with helping Charlie learn his letters and numbers. It barely fulfilled her need to teach. She resolved to talk to Colleen about it at Christmas.

Libby was looking forward to Christmas simply because there would be other people to talk to. Caleb and Colleen's children had been ill during Thanksgiving so they weren't able to get together. It turned out to be a terrible holiday for her. All she thought about was how her and Ben's families would get together. She glossed over the bad episodes when the families would start fighting, but dwelled on the good times, the warmth and laughter of the children. The teasing of Ben's siblings with each other. His mother's delicious food. Her remembrances depressed her, and she was glad when she and Brad finally put the children to bed and she could bury herself in her bed.

Christmas should be different. Libby wouldn't miss Ben any less, but the bustle of company would cover her pain. She and Colleen got along so well, too. It was like they were soul sisters.

Sometimes when she tried to remember people or places from home, Libby had trouble focusing on them. She was afraid her memories were fading and was worried about what it meant. Would she ever be going home? Brad tended to ignore her whenever she brought it up. She finally quit mentioning home except when he asked her questions about her life there.

Brad's love for Charlie and Lucy was certainly not in question. Their relationship was even stronger. A few times Libby heard Charlie calling Brad Dad . Libby's first impulse was to rush to Charlie and remind him Brad wasn't his father. Before she could do anything, she listened as Brad explained the same thing to Charlie. Several times after, when Charlie would slip up, Brad would remind him. Once Charlie's answer had been, "I know, Brad, but can't I pretend you're my daddy?" Libby's heart was being torn in two.

After Brad had taken care of Charlie while Libby was sick, he didn't want to give up his nighttime routine with Charlie, so they shared them. Since Ben had never helped Libby with bedtime chores, she found having someone help made it easier. It became a warm and comforting time.

One night, after the children were in bed, she and Brad sat on the front porch, Brad with a snifter of brandy and Libby with a lemonade. As always, when he had the chance, he asked her about her life. That particular night he wanted to know what she missed the most, besides her showers. With only the crickets as background noise, and no light pollution to dim the brightness of the stars, Libby realized what she didn't miss. Besides the noise, she didn't miss rushing around every day, although some rushing would have been welcomed to break the boredom. She did not miss television or radio, or even electricity. What she did miss was her friends and the ability to talk to them on the phone. Several times it would cross her mind to call Colleen and talk about everyday events. Then it would hit her how impossible it was to do. Instead, she started a list of things to ask her the next time they met.

The summer was spent recuperating and learning about her new life. Cora finally capitulated and let her help around the house. Even though she'd done the majority of the work in her own home, this was different. Most everything was done and made by hand. Something as simple as lighting an oil lamp took many tries to set the wick so it wouldn't burn black. What she couldn't get used to was the lack of toilet paper. She'd give her soul for some nice, soft toilet paper.

Then there was the first time she had used a handkerchief on Charlie's runny nose. Libby smiled as she remembered the shocked look on Cora's face when she tossed the piece of cloth away. At first she hadn't understood what she had done, but at Cora's gasp it dawned on her it would have to be washed. Tissues were so much easier.

One day after watching Cora take care of the laundry, Libby decided to be more careful getting her clothes dirty and wearing them more than once. At home she tossed her clothes into the laundry after a day's wear. But watching Cora scrubbing the clothes against the scrub board, and lugging pans of water back and forth from the kitchen for rinsing, gave Libby a new respect for laundry chores.

Libby mentally shook herself from her thoughts. She needed to concentrate on getting back to 2024. But more and more she was less and less inclined to ask Brad where the accident occurred. Was it because she knew he would say no or if she was becoming resigned to staying here? She didn't dislike it here; just needed something more to keep her occupied.

She couldn't shake off the feeling there was more to Brad's declining to help her. So many times she felt his eyes on her, yet when she would glance at him, he was turned another way. She enjoyed being in his company. More and more her thoughts would turn to him during the day, wondering what he was doing and what they would discuss at night after the kids were in bed.

Most nights they would meet in the parlor to read or discuss the day's events. Libby didn't have much to tell him, except when he'd ask about her other life. She began to look forward to these visits, and on the nights he was busy in his office or on the land, she missed his companionship. Guilt would bring tears to her eyes. Ben had only been gone seven months. She shouldn't be looking forward to seeing another man.

Noises from the preparations being made for Christmas seeped into the parlor. Tomorrow Caleb and Colleen would come with their crew. Brad and Caleb's younger sister, Sybil, her husband, David, and their two children were also coming. Then the action would pick up. If she were anything like her brothers, Libby would like her. It should prove to be a noisy holiday with eight children under the age of eight. Libby couldn't wait.

Libby set down her book. Who was making so much noise in the front hall? It reminded her of the time a team of little leaguers came into a restaurant she and Ben were at. The rambunctious group was filled with laughter and jokes. They weren't being naughty and their antics were bringing smiles to the other patrons. Ben had been hoping for a quiet evening together but finally got into the spirit of the children and accompanying adults. Libby loved it.

Curiosity finally got the better of her. She eased open the door and peered around the corner. Brad in the arms of a beautiful woman. Her hair was the color of a copper penny. Her tiny figure would have made any man drool. Brad was hugging her tightly as the woman gazed adoringly into his face.

"Bradley Kemble. When are you going to get rid of your stupid mask!" She smiled and tugged on his hood. "I hate it. I would think by now some woman would have fallen in love with you no matter what you look like."

A man appeared by the woman's side and put an arm around her waist, pulling her away from Brad. "Now, Sybil. Is this the way to greet your brother after all this time?"

"I suppose not, but my brother can be so stubborn," she added. "Now, where's this woman I hear you have staying with you?"

She must have made a sound because the three adults turned their heads her way. Before she could slip back into the parlor, Brad came to her, took her hand, and led her to his sister.

"Libby, I'd like you to meet my sister Sybil, her husband David, and their two children, Rosie and David, Jr. Sybil, David, this is Libby Daniels from Wisconsin."

Libby wasn't prepared for the arrival of their guests a day early and could only mumble, "I'm pleased to meet you." Sybil had the friendliest, bluest eyes she'd ever beheld. Their warmth and joy pulled her into their depths. She glanced up into Brad's mask. Is this what his eyes are like? Her pulse raced a little faster. His eyes probably held the same warmth as his sister's. Wow!!

"Are you two twins?" Libby asked Sybil as she turned back to her.

Sybil laughed. "Not hardly. This old man is one year older than me, but when he wasn't wearing his stupid mask people mistook us for twins." Sybil reached out a gloved hand and took one of Libby's in hers. "I'm so pleased to finally meet you. I've heard so much about you and your two little ones. We have sons the same age."

When Sybil let go of her hand, David greeted her the same way. She was out of her depth. Never had she met such warm, friendly people. It took her a moment, while Brad took their wraps, for her to come to her senses. Sybil was giving smiling looks between Brad and her like she had some kind of secret. David was helping Sybil and their two small children, with the same reddish dark hair as their parents, off with their wraps, mittens, and hats. Cora was bustling around grabbing outer garments and laughing with joy.

"Yes, sir. It is great having the family all together again." Cora clapped her hands. "This is going to be one fine Christmas." As she walked to the back of the house with the two children in tow, she mumbled "eight youngins bringing life back to this ol' house."

Sybil took Libby by the elbow and led her to the parlor. "You must find this difficult, meeting all of us at once."

Libby laughed. "I've already met Caleb and Colleen, so you're the only ones I don't know."

"Well, we'll remedy that!" Sybil assured her. "If you hear the boys calling me Billy, it's a nickname they gave me when we were growing up. I was such a tomboy, always chasing after them, trying everything they tried. I think my mother despaired of me ever turning into a lady."

David put an arm around her shoulders. "But a darn fine lady she turned out to be," he laughed as he wiggled his eyebrows suggestively.

Libby wasn't sure what to make of their banter until everyone laughed at his joke.

As they sat down, Libby and Sybil on the couch, and David in an armchair, Brad poured brandy for them.

"Billy, how did you hear about Libby and her children being here?" Brad handed a glass to her.

"Did you ever hear the term ‘writing a letter,' dear brother?" Before he could answer she went on. "Obviously not since I haven't heard from you in a year. Luckily, Caleb didn't inherit the inability to put words on paper. I know everything that's happened in the past few months. Besides, we spent the night with Caleb and Colleen last night, and we had a nice long chat with those two." Sybil looked between Brad and Libby and grinned.

Brad raised an eyebrow. "You spent the night with them? I thought you were coming straight here."

"We were," David answered. "But we got an early start out of Boston and once we got within a few hours of their place yesterday, we decided to go on instead of staying in another miserable wayside inn."

"It was better for the children, too." Sybil turned to Libby. "Where are your children? I hear they're adorable."

Libby smiled at her. She couldn't help it; the woman's friendliness was infectious. "They're taking naps right now, but Charlie should be getting up soon. He's so excited about Christmas, I had a hard time getting him down. I thought I'd have to sit on him."

"Our two are just as bad," Sybil agreed. "Wait until Caleb and Colleen get here later with their four. It'll be total chaos."

Brad raised an eyebrow. "They're coming today, too? I thought you were all coming over tomorrow after church. Are you all staying overnight?"

"We sure are, dear brother. Their wagon is loaded down with food and presents, kids and servants. In fact, I think I hear them coming now."

****

B rad tried hard not to let his disappointment in the change of events show in his voice. He'd been looking forward to Christmas Eve with Libby and her children. For the past month he'd visualized a family Christmas Eve. He shouldn't think this way, but more and more Libby, Charlie, and Lucy were like his family. He wanted to see the joy on Charlie's face when they brought in the huge tree, decorated it, and lit the candles. He could hardly wait to give the boy the runner sled Brad made for him and the cradle for the doll Libby made. He knew Lucy was way too young to appreciate the cradle, but it made him proud and happy to do something for them.

Brad glanced at Libby. His heart skipped a beat. Not only was she nice to look at, but she was a wonderful person inside. Every morning since they'd arrived, Brad looked forward to getting up and seeing what the day, and her family, would bring. By mid-day he was thinking about their evening meals together. He came to enjoy her tradition of everyone sitting down to eat at the same time and not shoving the kids off to bed so they could eat alone.

Then they would sit with the kids. Charlie would ask Brad to help with his blocks and Libby would play with Lucy. Sometimes the four of them would lay on the floor and play with the toy soldiers from Brad's childhood. Lucy babbled and played with her hands and feet while the rest of them set up battle lines and knocked over each other's men.

Then after they put the children to bed, he and Libby would sit in the parlor and read or talk about his day or her life in the future. Brad understood how much she missed her husband. But it bothered him when she would ask to see where the accident had occurred. So far, he had managed to come up with excuses not to show her, but some day he would have to. The thing was, he was afraid. Afraid if he took her to the accident site, she would disappear. The thought of Libby and her children leaving made him break out in a cold sweat. He'd not only fallen in love with Charlie and Lucy, but he was falling in love with their mother, too.

"Bradley?" a soft voice broke into his thoughts. "Are you all right? Are you coming?"

He glanced up at the frown on Libby's face. Her hand was resting on his forearm, sending shockwaves throughout his body. For the umpteenth time in the past few months, he was glad she couldn't see his face and the desire written across it, which was disarming. She didn't seem to mind that he was disfigured and saw him as a human being and not a monster. He made a promise to himself to keep her with him as long as he could. Maybe she would even fall in love with him.

"What's wrong? You look ready to bolt to your room."

"Where are we going to put everyone?" she whispered.

Why did her saying ‘we' make his heart skip a beat? "Don't worry. Cora and the staff will take care of it. With Caleb and Colleen's staff here, there are plenty of people to handle it."

"Will they open up the other rooms of the house?"

"Yes." He slipped her hand into the crook of his arm.

"But I have to help Cora decide where to put everyone."

Brad sighed. He was never going to be able to change her mind. In the past few months, he'd come to learn when she set her mind to something, there was no way to change it. "Go ahead and find Cora. Let her know everyone will be here tonight." Before the words were spoken, Libby lifted her skirts and raced down the hall.