The Promise
by Laura Spudzmom
Chapter 4:
Peter Whitlock was just exiting the general store with his purchases when he noticed a gathering crowd at the end of the street. Never one to deny his curiosity, he made his way to the group and politely, but firmly moved through to the front. What he saw there had his breath catching. She was a strikingly beautiful girl, passed out in a heap. He scowled at the onlookers. “Anyone know her? Why you just leavin’ her to lay there?”
He surveyed the group and they were all shaking their heads. The barber spoke. “Nobody here knows her. She just seemed to appear here. All she had was this satchel.” He held it up and Pete took it.
“Stand back, all of you. I’m gonna take her to Mrs. Cuthbert’s. Leastways there, she won’t be a spectacle for y’all to gawk at.”
The bulk of them backed up, looking ashamed as Pete scooped her into his arms thinking to himself how she weighed next to nothing. He also noticed as he carried her, that she smelled really good and felt perfect in his arms. He studied her face as he walked, his eyes lingering on her petal soft lips the longest. He wondered how those lips would feel under his…
He shook his head and mumbled to himself. “Quit it Whitlock. You don’t even know her name...yet.” He grinned to himself as he pulled her closer before knocking on the door of Mrs. Cuthbert’s boarding house.
“Well, Peter Whitlock! What have you there young man?”
He stepped through the door. “Well ma’am, I found her at the end of the street, passed out in front of the barber’s, whole crowd gathered ‘round her. Not a soul knows who she is, so I figured it’d be best to bring her here. Wouldn’t be proper for me to take her to my place.”
She bustled around, getting a room key before waving him to follow. “No indeed young man. What would your Mama say?”
He smirked. “Yes ma’am, that’s exactly why I brought her straight here. No need to involve my Mama as it’s all been right and proper.”
She harrumphed at him as she opened the room, giving him her best stink eye at how close he was holding the girl. “Just lay her on the bed there young Whitlock, and then you get yourself on home. Ain’t no good to be had staying out past dark around here, no sir. But then you’d know all about that, wouldn’t you? “
He smiled and nodded. “Yes ma’am, I reckon I would.”
She plucked some clean linens and a night dress from the wardrobe before turning back to him..
“Don’t you worry about this here girl. I’ll take right good care of her.”
“Yes ma’am.” He stopped at the door. “I’ll be ‘round to check on her tomorrow though. If you’d let her know, I’d be obliged.”
She waved distractedly as she placed the satchel on the dresser top. “Yes, yes, I’ll be sure to. Now get! I need to see to her. You know the way out.”
He grinned at her gruffness. “Yes ma’am, I surely do.”
Bella woke slowly to the sounds of birds chirping loudly just outside her window. It wasn’t a sound she was used to waking to since the birds in Forks were usually subdued because of the almost constant rain. Cracking one eye open for a second she could see why they were so vocal as the bright sunlight pierced the morning fog around her brain. She rolled over with a groan. She wasn’t ready to get up yet and going back to sleep sounded like a fine idea.
Just as she placed the pillow over her head though, she heard the door open and a strange woman’s voice. “Rise and shine Missy. You’ve slept a solid fourteen hours young lady and folks are needin’ answers from you. We need to know if you’ve any kinfolk looking for you since you showed up outta thin air, seems like.”
Bella’s eyes widened as what the woman was saying sank in. Holy shit! Where was she? More than that, when was she? Her heart started to pound. She really hadn’t thought this all out. What the hell was she supposed to tell people about her history?
She sat up slowly only to see the woman standing there with her hands on her hips. “Well, there ya are. I was wonderin’ if you was ever gonna come up for air. Now, what’s your name missy?”
Bella swallowed, her mouth like cotton all of the sudden. “Isa...Isabella Swan ma’am.”
The lady nodded and sat in the chair. “Well now, that’s a good start. Can’t say I’ve ever heard the name Swan around these parts, though. I’m Mrs. Cuthbert and you’re here at my boardin’ house. Young Whitlock said he found you in a heap right outside the barber’s shop, and he brought you here. You was lucky he was the one to take charge of you, let me tell you. Right proper young man, that one, but don’t you be tellin’ him I said so. Can’t go havin’ him gettin’ a big head about things.”
Bella shook her head, still somewhat in shock. “No ma’am, I won’t tell him.” She looked up. “I don’t even know him.”
She watched as Mrs. Cuthbert got what could only be termed a smirk, on her face. “Oh, I reckon he’s gonna remedy that right quick missy. He already said to tell you he’d be by today to check on you.
Bella’s eyes widened. “He’s coming by? Here? When?”
Mrs. Cuthbert hooted in glee. “You can bet he is missy. He looked right smitten with you when he carried you in here, he did. He’s probably havin’ his breakfast at the hotel as we speak and if I was a bettin’ woman, which I’m not, but if I was, I’d lay money on him bein’ here in the next hour at the most.”
Bella looked up from her lap. “What...what does he look like?” She dropped her gaze, completely missing the gleam of mischief in the older woman’s eyes. “Oh, well he’s kinda short, a bit thick around the middle and if you squint a bit, the bald spot and bad teeth won’t bother you much. He’s got a good heart though, and would treat you right proper, he would.”
She had to stifle a laugh when Bella looked up, a horrified expression on her face. “Oh god, no! No! I’m not interested in a man! I just need to get settled and figure things out for my self! Can’t you tell him something for me? Give him a message? Tell him I’m very grateful for his help, but that I’m too upset to see anyone? Please?”
“Oh no missy. You can do your own conveyin’. I got plenty to do to keep me busy. Now, the washroom is down the hall, second door on your left. You get yourself ready and get down to breakfast. I’ve done spent all the time up here that I can. I got other boarders to see to, hun. I’ll expect you down in fifteen minutes.”
She rose from the chair and bustled out the door, leaving Bella almost breathless in her shock and dismay. What the hell was she gonna do now? She really hadn’t bargained on having some homely little man after her first thing, that was for sure. She sighed and got out of bed, just now noticing the night dress she was wearing. She felt herself blush and hoped against hope that it was Mrs. Cuthbert that changed her out of her dress.
Grabbing her things, she peeked out the door to see if the way was clear, then shot to the washroom.
Washing up as best she could, she regretted not packing a modern toothbrush and toothpaste. The one Mrs Cuthbert had laid out for her wasn’t terrible, but put it this way, they’d come a hell of a long way in making toothpaste palatable by the modern days. The stuff from this era tasted like the back side of shit, but she gagged her way through a thorough brushing. Gads, it was bad.
After quickly pinning up her hair, she was as ready as she’d ever be to face the coming inquisition so she made her way downstairs trying diligently to slip into the dining room unnoticed. She didn’t succeed.
“Well, there you are Miss Isabella. Let me introduce you to everyone. To your right is Miss Claire Woods, to your left is Mr. Henry Wilcox, and directly across from you is Mr. Michael O’Hanlon.”
Bella inclined her head in greeting to each of them, taking special note of the predatory look in Mr. O’Hanlon’s eyes. He wasn’t a bad looking man, but there was just something about him that creeped her out.
“It’s very nice to meet you all.”
Claire glanced over at her as she helped her plate. “So we hear that you were found outside the barber’s shop in a dead faint. What happened to you?”
Bella shook her head. “I’m not exactly sure. I don’t have a clear memory of what happened yesterday.”
Mrs. Cuthbert reached over and patted her hand. “You poor dear. Do you remember anything at all? Why you came here?”
Bella looked down and shook her head. “I do know that both my parents are dead, and I don’t recall any siblings. Not sure why I came here though, I’m sorry.”
Mrs. Cuthbert tsk’ed. “No need for apologies dear. I certainly have plenty of room here, so there’s no rush. You just relax and focus on the important things, and perhaps some family member will show up lookin’ for you. Then the mystery will be solved.”
Bella nodded and smiled at her. “Thank you. You’re very kind.”
“Think nothin’ of it hun. Now eat! Your food’s gettin’ cold.”
She tried to eat, she really did, but every bite went down like lead. She was worried about this Mr. Whitlock fellow showing up and how she was going to get rid of the homely little man without seeming too rude or ungrateful.
She had just taken another hesitant bite when Mrs. Cuthbert’s voice rose above the quiet table conversation. “Well young Mr. Whitlock! You’re here bright and early! I wonder what brings you by to see us.”
She watched as all color drained out of Bella’s face and instantly felt sorry for teasing the poor girl. Well, there was nothing to be done for it now, and she’d be put out of her misery just as soon as she got a look at him. She’d be sure to apologize to the poor girl later.
Bella got chills of the best kind as she heard a velvet smooth Texas drawl reply.
“I came by as I said I would Mrs. Cuthbert. I wanted to check on the welfare of the girl I found.”
Good god, she could combust from the sound of his voice alone. Surely a voice like that couldn’t come from a homely little frog of a man? Still, she dreaded turning and facing reality, so she stayed put.
“Well then, she’s right here Mr. Whitlock. Miss Isabella Swan, meet your rescuer, Mr. Peter Whitlock.”
Peter Whitlock was just exiting the general store with his purchases when he noticed a gathering crowd at the end of the street. Never one to deny his curiosity, he made his way to the group and politely, but firmly moved through to the front. What he saw there had his breath catching. She was a strikingly beautiful girl, passed out in a heap. He scowled at the onlookers. “Anyone know her? Why you just leavin’ her to lay there?”
He surveyed the group and they were all shaking their heads. The barber spoke. “Nobody here knows her. She just seemed to appear here. All she had was this satchel.” He held it up and Pete took it.
“Stand back, all of you. I’m gonna take her to Mrs. Cuthbert’s. Leastways there, she won’t be a spectacle for y’all to gawk at.”
The bulk of them backed up, looking ashamed as Pete scooped her into his arms thinking to himself how she weighed next to nothing. He also noticed as he carried her, that she smelled really good and felt perfect in his arms. He studied her face as he walked, his eyes lingering on her petal soft lips the longest. He wondered how those lips would feel under his…
He shook his head and mumbled to himself. “Quit it Whitlock. You don’t even know her name...yet.” He grinned to himself as he pulled her closer before knocking on the door of Mrs. Cuthbert’s boarding house.
“Well, Peter Whitlock! What have you there young man?”
He stepped through the door. “Well ma’am, I found her at the end of the street, passed out in front of the barber’s, whole crowd gathered ‘round her. Not a soul knows who she is, so I figured it’d be best to bring her here. Wouldn’t be proper for me to take her to my place.”
She bustled around, getting a room key before waving him to follow. “No indeed young man. What would your Mama say?”
He smirked. “Yes ma’am, that’s exactly why I brought her straight here. No need to involve my Mama as it’s all been right and proper.”
She harrumphed at him as she opened the room, giving him her best stink eye at how close he was holding the girl. “Just lay her on the bed there young Whitlock, and then you get yourself on home. Ain’t no good to be had staying out past dark around here, no sir. But then you’d know all about that, wouldn’t you? “
He smiled and nodded. “Yes ma’am, I reckon I would.”
She plucked some clean linens and a night dress from the wardrobe before turning back to him..
“Don’t you worry about this here girl. I’ll take right good care of her.”
“Yes ma’am.” He stopped at the door. “I’ll be ‘round to check on her tomorrow though. If you’d let her know, I’d be obliged.”
She waved distractedly as she placed the satchel on the dresser top. “Yes, yes, I’ll be sure to. Now get! I need to see to her. You know the way out.”
He grinned at her gruffness. “Yes ma’am, I surely do.”
Bella woke slowly to the sounds of birds chirping loudly just outside her window. It wasn’t a sound she was used to waking to since the birds in Forks were usually subdued because of the almost constant rain. Cracking one eye open for a second she could see why they were so vocal as the bright sunlight pierced the morning fog around her brain. She rolled over with a groan. She wasn’t ready to get up yet and going back to sleep sounded like a fine idea.
Just as she placed the pillow over her head though, she heard the door open and a strange woman’s voice. “Rise and shine Missy. You’ve slept a solid fourteen hours young lady and folks are needin’ answers from you. We need to know if you’ve any kinfolk looking for you since you showed up outta thin air, seems like.”
Bella’s eyes widened as what the woman was saying sank in. Holy shit! Where was she? More than that, when was she? Her heart started to pound. She really hadn’t thought this all out. What the hell was she supposed to tell people about her history?
She sat up slowly only to see the woman standing there with her hands on her hips. “Well, there ya are. I was wonderin’ if you was ever gonna come up for air. Now, what’s your name missy?”
Bella swallowed, her mouth like cotton all of the sudden. “Isa...Isabella Swan ma’am.”
The lady nodded and sat in the chair. “Well now, that’s a good start. Can’t say I’ve ever heard the name Swan around these parts, though. I’m Mrs. Cuthbert and you’re here at my boardin’ house. Young Whitlock said he found you in a heap right outside the barber’s shop, and he brought you here. You was lucky he was the one to take charge of you, let me tell you. Right proper young man, that one, but don’t you be tellin’ him I said so. Can’t go havin’ him gettin’ a big head about things.”
Bella shook her head, still somewhat in shock. “No ma’am, I won’t tell him.” She looked up. “I don’t even know him.”
She watched as Mrs. Cuthbert got what could only be termed a smirk, on her face. “Oh, I reckon he’s gonna remedy that right quick missy. He already said to tell you he’d be by today to check on you.
Bella’s eyes widened. “He’s coming by? Here? When?”
Mrs. Cuthbert hooted in glee. “You can bet he is missy. He looked right smitten with you when he carried you in here, he did. He’s probably havin’ his breakfast at the hotel as we speak and if I was a bettin’ woman, which I’m not, but if I was, I’d lay money on him bein’ here in the next hour at the most.”
Bella looked up from her lap. “What...what does he look like?” She dropped her gaze, completely missing the gleam of mischief in the older woman’s eyes. “Oh, well he’s kinda short, a bit thick around the middle and if you squint a bit, the bald spot and bad teeth won’t bother you much. He’s got a good heart though, and would treat you right proper, he would.”
She had to stifle a laugh when Bella looked up, a horrified expression on her face. “Oh god, no! No! I’m not interested in a man! I just need to get settled and figure things out for my self! Can’t you tell him something for me? Give him a message? Tell him I’m very grateful for his help, but that I’m too upset to see anyone? Please?”
“Oh no missy. You can do your own conveyin’. I got plenty to do to keep me busy. Now, the washroom is down the hall, second door on your left. You get yourself ready and get down to breakfast. I’ve done spent all the time up here that I can. I got other boarders to see to, hun. I’ll expect you down in fifteen minutes.”
She rose from the chair and bustled out the door, leaving Bella almost breathless in her shock and dismay. What the hell was she gonna do now? She really hadn’t bargained on having some homely little man after her first thing, that was for sure. She sighed and got out of bed, just now noticing the night dress she was wearing. She felt herself blush and hoped against hope that it was Mrs. Cuthbert that changed her out of her dress.
Grabbing her things, she peeked out the door to see if the way was clear, then shot to the washroom.
Washing up as best she could, she regretted not packing a modern toothbrush and toothpaste. The one Mrs Cuthbert had laid out for her wasn’t terrible, but put it this way, they’d come a hell of a long way in making toothpaste palatable by the modern days. The stuff from this era tasted like the back side of shit, but she gagged her way through a thorough brushing. Gads, it was bad.
After quickly pinning up her hair, she was as ready as she’d ever be to face the coming inquisition so she made her way downstairs trying diligently to slip into the dining room unnoticed. She didn’t succeed.
“Well, there you are Miss Isabella. Let me introduce you to everyone. To your right is Miss Claire Woods, to your left is Mr. Henry Wilcox, and directly across from you is Mr. Michael O’Hanlon.”
Bella inclined her head in greeting to each of them, taking special note of the predatory look in Mr. O’Hanlon’s eyes. He wasn’t a bad looking man, but there was just something about him that creeped her out.
“It’s very nice to meet you all.”
Claire glanced over at her as she helped her plate. “So we hear that you were found outside the barber’s shop in a dead faint. What happened to you?”
Bella shook her head. “I’m not exactly sure. I don’t have a clear memory of what happened yesterday.”
Mrs. Cuthbert reached over and patted her hand. “You poor dear. Do you remember anything at all? Why you came here?”
Bella looked down and shook her head. “I do know that both my parents are dead, and I don’t recall any siblings. Not sure why I came here though, I’m sorry.”
Mrs. Cuthbert tsk’ed. “No need for apologies dear. I certainly have plenty of room here, so there’s no rush. You just relax and focus on the important things, and perhaps some family member will show up lookin’ for you. Then the mystery will be solved.”
Bella nodded and smiled at her. “Thank you. You’re very kind.”
“Think nothin’ of it hun. Now eat! Your food’s gettin’ cold.”
She tried to eat, she really did, but every bite went down like lead. She was worried about this Mr. Whitlock fellow showing up and how she was going to get rid of the homely little man without seeming too rude or ungrateful.
She had just taken another hesitant bite when Mrs. Cuthbert’s voice rose above the quiet table conversation. “Well young Mr. Whitlock! You’re here bright and early! I wonder what brings you by to see us.”
She watched as all color drained out of Bella’s face and instantly felt sorry for teasing the poor girl. Well, there was nothing to be done for it now, and she’d be put out of her misery just as soon as she got a look at him. She’d be sure to apologize to the poor girl later.
Bella got chills of the best kind as she heard a velvet smooth Texas drawl reply.
“I came by as I said I would Mrs. Cuthbert. I wanted to check on the welfare of the girl I found.”
Good god, she could combust from the sound of his voice alone. Surely a voice like that couldn’t come from a homely little frog of a man? Still, she dreaded turning and facing reality, so she stayed put.
“Well then, she’s right here Mr. Whitlock. Miss Isabella Swan, meet your rescuer, Mr. Peter Whitlock.”
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