Tracie Peterson - Dawns Prelude

At the sound of footsteps on the porch, Lydia turned and smiled. The coffee is on and…" Her words faded into silence. She stared at the man before her as if he were some kind of ghost from the past.

"Hello, Lydia. I can see that you are rather shocked to find me here, but coffee sounds wonderful."

Marston Gray stood not six feet away, looking for all the world as if he were accustomed to visiting her on a daily basis. He smiled and then his expression grew concerned. Lydia couldn't form words. She stared, eyes fixed and unblinking. This couldn't he happening. How had he found her?

"Perhaps you should sit down, what with your condition and all."

Lydia still held the wire beater shed been using on the rug. She gripped it so tightly, she thought it might break in her hand. Backing up a few steps, she felt her hips come in contact with the rug and rail.

Marston stepped forward, but Lydia held up the beater and shook her head. Still she couldn't find her voice. To see him there, after so many months of peace and healing, was enough to make her ill. Lydia longed to run for help, but there was no one close at hand. Town was miles away, and who knew when Zerelda would return.

Watching her closely, Marston held up his hands. "I didn't come here to cause you harm or worry. I heard about the baby and thought you would want to be near to family"

This was Lydia 's undoing. "I… I am… near family." Her words were stilted and sounded foreign in her ears.

"I know. You have an aunt here, correct?"

"How did you find me?" In the back of her mind Lydia was already wondering if she would have to move again. Would Zerelda be willing to relocate with her? What would become of them if they had to constantly be on the run from the Gray family?

"Your lawyer, of course." He smiled. "We were worried about you. You disappeared without a word to anyone, and it had been months since we knew if you were dead or alive."

Lydia couldn't believe Mr. Robinson had betrayed her. The man had been her advocate and champion. Why would he suddenly turn on her now? Little by little, Lydia 's senses returned. As the shock wore off, the anger and fear built. She couldn't show him that she was afraid. The Gray brothers fed on the terror of others. Of course, her stunned reaction might already have done her more harm than good, but Lydia was determined to take charge of the situation.

"As you can see… I'm fine. You needn't have made the trip."

"There was more than one reason to come, Lydia. Why didn't you tell us about the baby? That child you carry is our concern, as well."

"My baby has nothing to do with any of you."

"That is my brother or sister you speak of."

Lydia shook her head. "This child is mine alone."

Marston narrowed his gaze slightly. "Are you saying this baby isn't my father's?"

"I'm saying your father is dead, and this baby belongs to me. I left Kansas City hoping to never deal with any of you again, and that is still my intent."

" Lydia," he said softly, "you are distressed. I truly apologize for that. I didn't mean to upset you. We were quite excited to hear about the baby I know how much my father had hoped to have more children."

Your father was the reason I miscarried before. If he wanted children so much, he shouldn't have beaten me."

Marston shook his head. "No, he shouldn't have. The man was cruel."

"You and your brother are just as cruel, so don't think to convince me otherwise." Lydia felt the baby move wildly and could only pray that her anger would not cause the unborn too much distress. She felt her breath come in pants, like a wild animal after a run.

" Lydia, we were unkind to you. We wanted to please our father, and strength and severity were the only things that impressed the man. I'm not sure why we cared so much about what he thought, but it is no longer a concern. We want you to come home. Come back to Kansas City, where we can help you. We haven't even sold the house. You can live there and raise the child."

"You can't possibly be serious." Shed had enough. The entire situation was madness. "Just go. You should never have come here."

He stepped forward again. " Lydia, be reasonable. I haven't come here in anger or with thoughts of causing you harm. Your kindness to our family caused me to see the error of my ways."

"Stay away from me," Lydia said, pushing past him. "I don't believe a word you say."

Marston reached out and took hold of her wrist. "Please hear me out."

Lydia froze. She looked at her wrist, remembering all the times Floyd had done the same thing. How many times had she hidden bruises with lace-edged sleeves so that no one could see the marks?

"Let me go."

"Not until you calm down and hear me out."

Marston's tone took on an edge that drew Lydia 's attention back to his face. He smiled with his lips, but she could see the anger in his eyes. It was unmistakable.

"You said what you came to say. My answer is no. I will not return to Kansas City. Sitka is my home now."

"But there isn't even proper medical care here," he protested. "Think of the child. What if you were to die giving birth?"

"Then my aunt would raise the baby"

"But what of the rest of us? This child is our brother or sister. Lydia, you aren't thinking clearly You need a doctor to attend you. The stress of this situation has obviously taken its toll."

Lydia shook her head. "I am perfectly healthy My aunt is a nurse and she has attended me most faithfully" She straightened and pulled back just a bit. "Now release me."

"Please don't he like this, Lydia. I don't want to have to take matters out of your hands."

"Ah, so now you show your true colors. I wondered when the force and ugliness would start."

Marston's jaw clenched. His grip tightened on her wrist. "No one wants to force you into anything. Especially me, but for your own good and the good of this child, I will do what is necessary. Lydia, I would even marry you to make you feel more at ease."

This took her completely by surprise. She felt her eyes widen and her mouth drop open. "Marriage? Are you mad?"

"Why should such a suggestion be considered madness?" he asked. "There will, no doubt, be those people who scoff at this child belonging to my father. After all, you could hear him no children during the marriage. They might well believe this child is the product of an illicit affair. Your reputation would be ruined."

"Not in Sitka, it won't be. People here not only do not care who fathered this baby, they are unimpressed with the Gray name and reputation. I have no concern for my social standing."

"But what of the baby? Would you ruin his or her reputation, as well?"

Lydia had taken all that she could stomach. "Let me go."

"Please don't-"

"Let me go!" she yelled. "Release me now!" Her voice rose even as she brought the beater up to hit Marston. He easily blocked the strike and wrenched the piece from her hand.

°I think the lady would like you to unhand her," Kjell said from behind Lydia.

His coming to her rescue was enough of a surprise that Marston loosened his hold. It was just enough for Lydia to break free and throw herself into the arms of Kjell.

"Please make him go away," she begged.

"Did he hurt you?"

She nodded, then shook her head. "Not really. He grabbed my wrist too tightly, but otherwise, he's simply been a bother."

Kjell's blue eyes seemed to darken. He kept his arm around Lydia in a protective manner. "I believe you should go now."

Marston shook his head. "We've not yet been introduced." He watched Kjell closely as he approached. " Lydia was married to my father. I'm Marston Gray."

"I've heard tell of you," Kjell replied.

Lydia lowered her gaze to keep from showing her surprise and rubbed her wrist. She had no idea what Kjell had or hadn't heard about the man, but he apparently knew enough to be cautious.