Chapter 2
1301 Words
Chapter 2
Ash stared at the woman who stood next to him in the courthouse. He couldn't believe his good luck. The beautiful Charity Grayson was about to become his wife. Sure, she was dong it for the money to save her farm, but he was in love with her.
“Ashley?” she asked.
“You can call me Ash,” he said.
“Okay, Ash,” she said. “I was wondering what you are getting out of this marriage.”
“Well, I'll get back the money your uncle owed me,” he said.
“What else do you get?” she asked.
“Are you asking if I want this to be a marriage in name only?” he asked.
“Yes,” she said.
“No,” he said. “I expect us to sleep together. I mean only sleep.”
“But will you want to-”
“When you feel comfortable around me.”
“You'll need to meet my sisters soon. We'll also need to come up with a story to tell them about how we met and why I've kept you a secret.”
“Easy. We met when I come out to your farm. As for why you've kept me a secret, you didn't want to upset your sisters.”
“Upset them how?”
“I know that your sister, Fern, died a year ago. I also know that the trial ended a few months ago.”
“Jericho is innocent. I know he is.”
“How do you know that?”
“I can't tell. I want to, believe me, I do. It's just... I promised them I wouldn't.”
“I understand. We'll find a way to get him out. We might even be able to find her real killer.”
She stared at him. “You believe me?”
“I do. Just as I know that you would have done everything to save her had you been there.”
She was about to answer him when they were called back.
And then they were married and on the way back to the farm.
Ash looked at Charity as he drove his new wife back to their farm.
“Maybe we could invite your sisters out this weekend,” he said.
“That would work,” she said. “I'll call them tomorrow and invite them out. They haven't been out to the farm since before the trial.”
“Is that the last time you saw them?” he asked.
“No, I saw them two weeks ago,” she said. “We make sure to meet at least once a month.” She looked out the window. “It used to be once a week, but that was when Fern was alive.”
“Why was she named Fern?” he asked.
Startled, she looked at him. “What do you mean?”
“Well, you're Charity and than there's Hope and Harmony. Fern doesn't fit that pattern.”
“You're right. I guess it was because our parents didn't have much faith in her.”
“Why do you saw that?”
“When I was about ten, I found some old clothes that belonged to both Fern and Harmony. I knew which was Harmony's because they had her name on it, as did Ferns. But there were other baby clothes. They had faith on them. I knew that that was what Fern was supposed to be named because that is the name my parents had picked. Only, they changed it to Fern because they lost all faith in her.”
“How did they lose it?”
“When they were born, Fern came first. She was so healthy, the doctors said. But Harmony wouldn't come. She was born two hours after Fern. The doctors all said she was going to die, but I snuck Hope into see her. If Hope hadn't healed her, Harmony would have died.”
“Wait. Hope healed her?”
“Yes. I thought you would have known about that.”
“I know a lot about all of you, but I didn't know about that.”
“Then you don't know what I can do.”
“Are you going to tell me?”
“Sure I will. Just not yet.” She looked at him. “I've decided that if we are going to stay married, then we are going to have children.”
“If we stay married?”
“Yes. My sisters might not like you and get rid of you.”
“Okay.”
“Anyway, if they try anything, I'll stop them.”
“Really?”
“Yes, you're starting to grow on me.”
“Really?”
“Really. I also know that we are going to be together for awhile.”
“How do you know that?”
“I can't tell you that right now. I just know that we need to be together to have children.”
“You weren't kidding about that?”
“No, I wasn't.”
He pulled up in front of their house and then turned to look at her.
“When do we start?”
“Tonight?”
He laughed as they both hurried out of the car and into the house.
When Charity got out of bed the next morning, Ash was already gone. She knew that he was out checking the animals and deciding what needed to be done. She was glad to finally have someone else to help out around the farm.
She hurried to shower and get ready for the day. She needed to call her sisters and invite them for the weekend. She knew they would be surprised by her getting married, but she knew that Ash was the one for her. Her gift of being able to see the future had allowed her to see that Ash was her destiny.
She went into the living room and picked up the cordless. She dialed Hope as she went to the couch.
“Hello?” Hope answered on the third ring.
“Hope, it's Charity,” she said.
“I know,” Hope said. “Got your name in my phone. What's up?”
“I was calling to invite you out to the farm this weekend,” she said.
“Oh?” Hope said. “Is something going on?”
“Yes,” she said. “I have a new business partner and would like for you and Harmony to meet him.”
“Him?” Hope asked. “Your new partner is a guy?”
“Yes,” she said. “And before you ask, he is cute.”
“Oh,” Hope said. “You've already called him, than?”
“Yes, I have,” she said.
“Are you going to call Harmony or do you want me to?” Hope asked.
“Oh, could you call her?” she asked. “I don't know what to say to her anymore.”
“I will,” Hope said. “I might just text her instead. I don't even know what to say to her anymore.”
“Maybe coming out this weekend will be good for her,” she said.
“Maybe,” Hope said. “You want us there Friday night so we can spend the night and then talk on Saturday and leave early Sunday? I have an appointment in the afternoon on Sunday.”
“Sure,” she said. “That will work.”
“Okay,” Hope said. “We'll see you than. Take care.”
“Be good, Hope,” she said and hung up.
“Was that your sister?” Ash asked from behind her.
She turned to look at him as he walked to stand in front of her.
“Yes,” she said. “She said they'll be here.”
“Okay,” he said. “Charity, I've been thinking.”
“About what?” she asked.
“About your little farm here,” he said. “I know that it's a lot to handle, but maybe we can figure something out.”
“Like what?” she asked.
“Well, how about a dairy farm?” he asked. “It wouldn't be that much work for you. I'll hire some people to come out to help. Of course, I'll make sure the cows are kept far from the house.”
“A dairy farm?” she asked. “Like just milk or milk and cheese?”
“Milk and cheese,” he said. “I figured we start selling in town first and then work our way out.”
“Wow,” she said. “You've given this some thought.”
“I have,” he said. “We'll get more cows in the Spring.”
“Wow,” she said. She stood, setting the phone on the coffee table. “I was about to start breakfast. Do you want any or have you already eaten?”
“I could eat,” he said.
Smiling, he followed her into the kitchen.
- Writer
