“I’m not certain yet, Jonah,” his eyes lock onto Summer’s, “we are booked for a week.”
“A week!” Summer gasps. “Victor, you know I have to get to New York.”
“I’ve already made arrangements to send a telegram to the post office in New York, with our details. You need to give yourself time to heal. Can you really tell me that you are ready to get back into that carriage in the morning?”
Before she can respond Jonah asks, “Summer, don’t you love us anymore?” Instantly she clasps his hand in hers.
“Of course, I do, Jonah, but my brother will be worried about me.”
“That is why my solution is perfect. We are only thirty miles to the coast. Which is why we will stay here to rest until you are ready to travel again.”
Summer nods, clearly upset and begins to clean up. “Leave it, I will clear it,” he orders, and Jonah asks to be excused. “Jonah you go play while we unpack.” Jonah yawns and moves to his room.
“Yes, sir.” He runs off happy to roll around on the floor and play with his toys at the table.
Summer stomps to her room, furious at him for not including her in the plans. She is fine to travel, well, maybe not fine, but she didn’t need to be treated like a child. Her body is throbbing with so many aches and pains she can’t distinguish one from the other. Her trunk is in the middle of the floor and when she tries to lift the lid pain shoots through her ribs and has her crying out.
‘What was that?” He demands and pales at the thought of how hard he pushed her in the last day. He rushes into the room.
“Nothing, I can handle it. Just bruising…” she stands and stretches slowly. “I am just stiffening up.”
“Summer, you can tell me the truth. Did he… touch you?” Victor asks, trying to be gentle.
For a moment she almost laughs, but his face is so intent. “Of course, he touched me, with his fat feet, over and over, and the rest is none of your concern.”
Instead of the anger, she is expecting, she finds shame. Victor drops his head, “Can you ever forgive me. I failed to protect you, Summer.”
“Victor, we’ve already discussed this. You did what you had to do to protect your child.” Victor stalks to the window. “There is nothing to forgive.” He reaches for her and tugs her into his arms. Her hand pushes against his chest.
“Summer? I know we have not known each other long, but I…?”
Jonah's voice calls out, and he turns in frustration to the door. “We will talk more about this.” He hurries to check on his son and she watches him go with a sigh. When she enters the living room, Jonah is being tucked into bed and she listens to the soft voices. Is it possible that she could have a future with them? What would her days be like without them and her nights? A wife and mother? Does she want that? Yes, her heart tells her, but what about bringing Dr. Rudolph to justice? There is a burning need for vengeance pushing its way through her soul. He must not get away with this any longer!
“Too much to think about, right now. Bath, then sleep. Tomorrow will solve itself. For now, I just want to rest.”
After kissing Jonah goodnight, she hurries into her bathing room and begins to fill the soaking tub with hot water. This hotel has hot, running water! Amazed by such a luxury Summer strips her dress off. Victor listens to the water and watches his son sleep. With a sigh, he pours himself a whiskey and sits by the fire to rest.
A knock at the door startles him, and when he goes to answer it, he finds a young black woman holding a dress. “Hello, my name is Caroline. Mr. Yates, your wife, asked for her dresses to be pressed. This one is finished, I can take any other clothing you may need to be pressed and bring it back in the morning?”
“Excellent, come in. Just give me a moment.” He goes to his bedroom to get his clothes out of his trunk.
Inside the bathing room, Summer pulls off her dress and is thankful that she didn't wear her corset. Her ribs would never have allowed it, they are black and blue. She prods in the mirror to see if she can feel a fracture and gasps at the sight of her body. Her breast is purple from that pig's hands and tender, with more bruising wrapping around her side and down her back.
The pain in her hip is excruciating. As she lifts her leg to step into the tub, pain erupts and rips through her leg. She grasps the side of the tub, but her arm and ribs are not having it and she groans. “Oh, God!” Summer falls into the tub, sending a cascade of water over the side and onto the floor.
Victor jerks at the sound of her yelp and the splashing.
“Summer?” Her soft weeping stirs him into action. He runs into the bathing room and throws open the door. Her naked, bruised body stupefies him. She is struggling to shield herself from his sight and weeping.
“Go away!” She cries and attempts to stand only to collapse again. He runs forward in time to catch her before she falls back into the water.
“Victor!” She gasps and almost starts to laugh through her tears. “I’m naked!”
“Just stop moving for God’s sake.” He snags a towel and wraps her before carrying her to the bedroom.
Caroline stands in shock watching Victor carry his naked wife from the
