Chapter Fifty-Five
"Really?!" Jackson bounced with excitement. "I can really ride my pony in the fair?!"
Tanner chuckled. "Well of course! That's what you've been practicing for isn't it? Now you better get on up to your room and have Sophia help you pack up some clothes. We're leaving in an hour."
Jackson let out a bark of laughter, turned on his heels and took off like a flash into the house. Tanner smiled as he watched his son disappear.
Life had never been better than it was right now. A couple of months had passed since Temperance had given herself to Tanner and the woman was completely unrecognizable now compared to the scared, skittish, withdrawn woman that his brother and Yancy had turned her into.
She laughed everyday and smiles were almost always on her face. She conducted business with clients without trembling with fear. She could be alone in the barns working with the other men on the ranch and carry on conversations instead of waiting on them to attack her. She ran and played with their son, she kissed Tanner whenever the mood struck her and they made love nearly every night....
There were still dreams and nightmares that woke both of them up covered in sweat and trembling some nights. There were days that memories haunted them both and in those moments they would simply find each other and they would sit quietly together and wait for the storm to pass--neither let the other face those moments alone.
And now Temperance was doing something that just four short months ago she had insisted she would not be able to do. She was going to go the state fair in Savannah with Tanner and Jackson. Wilma, Sophia, Millie and Sara were coming along as well.
Tanner was excited for the trip. He was excited to show Temperance some of the fun that the world had to offer. And he was excited to watch his son ride that pony of his. Storm was a good pony and Jackson was excellent with horses--even for a four year old. The boy was a natural born rider.
"Are we ready to go?" Temperance asked as she stepped outside with a suitcase in her hand.
Tanner stepped forward and took the heavy case from her, "What do you have in here?" he asked with a grin.
"Everything I'll need," Temperance replied with a smile. "Not all of us can live out of a burlap sack slung over our shoulder."
Tanner chuckled as he adjusted his sack of belongings on his shoulder. "Old habits," was all he said in response.
Temperance's lips danced across his jaw. "I love you, Tanner."
***
Savannah was a vaster city than any Temperance had ever seen before. People were bustling in all directions in their fancy silk dresses trimmed with lace and their large busy hats as well as their dapper suits and bowler hats. She even saw a man who appeared to be Tanner's age walking with a silver topped cane that glimmered in the sunlight--though the man didn't appear to have a limp so she assumed the cane was simply for show.
Despite the crowds that made her quite nervous, Temperance had to admit that this city was beautiful. Weeping Willow trees hung heavy and their long branches formed a draping canopy about them as they walked through the park. Benches adorned with ivy were the seats for lovers and businessmen alike as they sat lost in discussions.
"I love these flowers!" Sophia exclaimed as she breathed in the fragrance of purple lilacs. "We need to plant these at home!"
"Where's the fair?!" Jackson inquired impatiently as he hopped along leading Storm by the reigns.
"Can't you hear that?" Tanner asked as music reached and the din of hundreds of voices reached their ears.
Jackson's face lit up even while Temperance's stomach turned. She was doing this for her son and for her husband... She would much rather be somewhere quiet and less crowded but this fair seemed to mean a lot to both of them and so she was going to face these fears and a situation that made her uncomfortable.
They rounded a corner and the fair came in sight. Tents of all different colors and sizes stretched out as far as the eye could see. Make-shift barns and corrals full of horses and ponies sat at the end nearest them Tanner led Jackson to the booth nearest them.
"Can I help you?" an older man with a face of leather from years in the sun asked from his seat at the booth.
"My son here is wanting to enter some riding contests with his pony," Tanner replied proudly.
The man studied Jackson a moment as Jackson stood there with his shoulders back and met the man's gaze head on. Suddenly the man's rough stern face split apart in a wide grin that deepened the wrinkles around his eyes. "Why of course he does! He looks like a natural born rider if I ever seen one. I have some papers for you to fill out and we'll get your pony put up nice and safe in that barn over there. Our first event for the young riders is tonight at six. It's just an introduction so the crowd can see who they want to pull for. Just a few laps around the ring over there."
Temperance followed the older man's gaze and saw the large paddock with white fences surrounding it. Currently there was a man leading a large black gelding around in circles inside.
Temperance watched Tanner fill out a sign in sheet while Storm was led away. "Can we go look around now?!" Millie asked with excitement.
"Sure can." Tanner glanced at his pocket watch. "It's only noon so we have plenty of time before the first event."
Temperance found herself becoming more and more comfortable with every hour that passed. She realized that most people didn't even glance in her direction and those that did simply offered a friendly smile and the occasional 'hello' before going about on their way.
She laughed with her son, her husband and their friends. She enjoyed the sunshine and the cool breeze. She let herself enjoy the gifts that Tanner seemed to be showering her with.
Today was a day to be happy and celebrate the new life she was living. It hadn't been given to her--no she had worked very hard to overcome her past and that simply made it all the more pleasant.
"I'm frightened he'll be hurt," Temperance admitted as she sat with Tanner that evening in the stands and watched Jackson preparing to ride his horse around the arena and have his name announced.
"Don't worry," Tanner assured her gently. "He's a damn good horseman and all they're doing tonight is riding around a few times. Nothing dangerous." he kissed her hair gently and Temperance felt her heart beat a little faster--only this time it had nothing to do with fear.
Temperance had never felt herself full of more pride than when she heard her son's name announced and watched him ride proudly around that ring with a beaming smile on his face. Tanner's hand held hers tightly and Temperance cheered for their son as Wilma, Sophia, Millie and Sara cheered as well. Temperance let her gaze pass over each of them; thankful that this was now her life and knowing she had nothing to fear from the future.
***
Temperance awoke and realized the sun was just rising outside the hotel window. The city was much quieter than it had been last night but already she could hear life stirring on the streets below.
Today was an important day... a day that Jackson seemed to have forgotten.
Today her son turned five!
Temperance slid from Tanner's arms, smiling when the man simply rolled onto his side and continued his snoring. She was happy to see that each night they spent together he began to rest more and more peacefully. Nightmares were something they would both be plagued with given their pasts but they were becoming fewer and farther between as time went on.
She decided she would simply let him and Jackson rest while she went into town and got some breakfast for them. Temperance knew that by now one of the other women would be awake to walk down with her. Quickly Temperance slid from her nightdress and pulled on her clothes, donned her boots and left the room.
She met Sophia in the hall. "You're up early," Sophia noted, smoothing out her cream colored dress that contrasted with her dark as night skin.
"I want to go get breakfast for Jackson and Tanner and I was hoping a few vendors would be open so I can find something for Jackson."
"Does he realize it's his birthday?" Sophia asked.
Temperance smiled. "He's forgotten all about it. I'm hoping to get him some new boots and a hat to wear today while he's competing."
"He'll love that!" Sophia agreed. "Were you wanting some company?"
"I would have come and woke one of you up had you not been out here," Temperance admitted.
Sophia looped her arm around hers and grinned. "Well let's go then. Times wasting and those men are bound to wake up hungry."
Temperance and Sophia made their way down to the main street of the fair and Temperance was happy to see that several vendors were already up and running. She quickly made a beeline for the tent where she had seen the children's boots and hats the day before.
As she perused the different colors and styles available she suddenly felt a cold chill wash over her spine. Temperance stiffened. Before she could turn her head a voice from the past had her trembling with panic and terror in its rawest form.
"Well hello there, girlie. Sure never thought I'd see that pretty red hair again."