35 What Are The Gerrabellas Planning? (1/2)

When he woke again, Lilly was gone room. His head and face itched so he removed the bandages. He face was swollen enough he had a hard time opening his left eye. He wondered what kind of wounds he had received from his fall. He turned and grabbed a mirror out of the night stand drawer. He looked and had to turn away. With shaking hands he replaced the bandages. He took a shaky breath and large tears rolled down his cheeks. He looked up when the edge of the bed sunk and Lilly moved the mirror to the night stand. She sat a little closer to him and adjusted the bandages on his head. Her face was calm so he couldn't tell what she was thinking.

'Lilly? How do you see me now?' he asked.

She kissed him tenderly. 'Same as I always have James.'

He tore the bandages away, causing his wounds to start bleeding again as he gestured to the disfigurement of his face with his other hand. 'How can you love this?!'

Lilly worked to bandage it again, but he fought and tried to stop her. 'James, stop it!'

His hands stopped and he watched tears roll down her face.

'It hurts me to see you in pain, but I do not love you any less because of what's happened. If anything, I love you more. Physical appearance means nothing to me. It is who the person is, not the money, not the looks, but the man that you are and have become that I love. Besides, did you stop loving me when my face was scarred or my hands were horribly wounded?'

James glanced away as she finished tying the new bandage in place. When she was done she kissed him. He looked up a little surprised. She smiled and kissed him again. His arms wrapped around her and he held her close.

'I'm sorry, Lilly.'

'You're forgiven, James. I love you. I truly do.'

'I love you as well.' He kissed her forehead then allowed himself to be laid back down to rest.

Lilly healed his wounds a little more before she lay down for a nap.

When he woke up the next morning he was really hungry. He drank three bowls of soup before he slept some more.

James woke to find Lilly gone yet again. His ran his hand across the sheets on her side of the bed. They were cold and he was worried. No one had seen Lilly for a while. They had all thought she was with him. He buried his face in his pillow until he felt the bed sink on her side. Looking up he saw Lilly sitting with her head bowed.

'Lilly?' he asked, reaching out to her.

She turned with a look of uncertainty.

'Come here, Dear. What is it?'

Lilly moved into his embrace, head pressed against his chest.

'What's wrong Lilly?' he asked again.

'What are the Gerrabellas planning?'

'Nothing that I can feel. Why do you ask?'

'I saw two Gerrabellas in the trees near the edge of town.'

'What?!' He moved her away to see her face. 'What were they doing there?'

'That's why I asked.'

'You're afraid.' James pulled her close again.

'Afraid for various reasons.'

'Would you like to tell me about them?'

'Perhaps later, when...' Her shoulders started to shake and she cried.

'It'll be all right, Lilly….You'll see.'

It wasn't long after that, that they both fell asleep.

James woke to the heat on his chest. Lilly had a fever. A servant girl came in with a new pitcher of water.