| Subject: The New World - Part #49 |
Author:
Wanda
|
[
Next Thread |
Previous Thread |
Next Message |
Previous Message
]
Date Posted: 17:13:32 07/01/03 Tue
PART #49
When Catherine told Bow the doctor felt she was with child, he felt like someone had stabbed him in the heart. He knew the pain from a knife could not have been any worse to bear. So that was the reason Catherine was ill, and fainted. He realized it was painful for her to hear she was carrying Joshua’s child. He understood now why she was crying. Very softly, he said, “Catherine, it will be all right. This will be your baby. Joshua will have no input now with the child. You can raise your child the way you feel it should be raised. Don’t let this cause you so much heartache.”
Catherine looked at Bow, and said, “But the child’s father was a criminal.” Bow said, “Catherine, my father was a notorious pirate, and I survived. It was not easy growing up, and knowing my father was Jean La Fitte. I knew and loved my father, but there were people who ridiculed me because of my heritage. Don’t even think of Joshua as being the father.”
Catherine wailed, “But Joshua is the father.” Bow said, “Does the child have to know that? I will help you raise the child, Catherine. If you want, we will claim the child is mine. At least the child will grow up in a home where the father is a legitimate businessman who will love the child as if that child were his own child.” Catherine said, “I could not ask you to do that. Besides Dr. Lasserre knows the baby is Joshua’s child.” Bow said, “Just because Dr. Lasserre knows the truth doesn’t mean everyone else has to know the child is Joshua’s.”
Catherine said, “Bow, how could you possibly want to have a future with a woman who was involved with Joshua, and who is now carrying his child?” Bow responded by saying, “That’s not difficult to explain; I happen to love you. I know you were deceived by Joshua. He had a way of doing that. You were not the only one to be deceived. I do admit that I wish things had been different. If I had told you I loved you instead of worrying about you not wanting to marry someone you knew as a pirate, perhaps you would not have married Joshua. Who knows? We cannot undo the past; we can only live in the present, and plan for the future. I want you and this child to be a part of my future. If you think you can love me, then I want you to become my wife. Your child should be born to a mother who has a husband who loves her. I would like to have the privilege of being your husband and the father to your child.”
Catherine burst into tears; and Bow said, “Catherine, I didn’t mean to make you cry.” She spoke in between sobs, “I love you too, and I do want to marry you.” Bow took her into his arms; and said, “Then why are you crying?” She said, “I can’t believe you would want to marry me after all the things that have happened.” He laughed; and said, “You silly woman; I have just told you I love you. That is why I want to marry you.”
Bow thought he heard a horse approaching, and he tore himself away from Catherine to look out the window. Bow saw a man who was slumped over the horse approaching the house. Bow wasn’t positive but he thought it was Jean Pierre Boudreau. He looked like he had been shot. When the horse stopped, Jean Pierre tried to get off the horse; but fell on the ground, and was not moving.
Bow said, “Catherine, one of the criminals is outside. He has fallen off his horse, and it appears he has been shot. Please, whatever you do, do not try to come downstairs. Let me handle this.” Catherine said, “I understand. What are you going to do?” Bow answered, “I will play it by ear. First I need to get down there, and see if the young man is still alive.”
Bow ran down the stairs and outside to find the young man was trying to get up from the ground. Blood was running from a cut above his ear. Bow wasn’t sure if that was from a gunshot wound or caused by something else. It looked as if he had been shot in the chest; and the jacket, he was wearing, was soaked with blood. The young man looked at Bow; and whispered, “Please help me get inside the house.”
Bow lifted the young man by the shoulders, and got him to a position where he could help him into the house. Manobo came to the front door, and Bow said, “Let’s get this man into the servants’ quarters. We’ll put him on a cot, and see how badly he has been injured. It may be necessary to call out Dr. Lasserre once again.” Manobo stuck up his nose and said, “We ought to drag him out into the road next to a creek, and let the alligators have him. Mr. Bow, this man is no good. You should not let him stay in this house; it can only mean trouble.”
Bow said, “We are going to keep a close eye on him. So don’t worry about it. If he gives us any trouble, then we’ll drag him out to the road next to a creek; and turn him over to the alligators.” “That sounds good to me,” said Manobo.
To be continued...
[
Next Thread |
Previous Thread |
Next Message |
Previous Message
]
| |
Feedback: 