Chapter 10

                                    

                                          
            
                          
Sun rays pierced the window and made their way up the bed to Elizabeth.  The light pricked at her eye lids like tiny needles trying to get through.  She endeavored to get away from the morning torture, but was unable to move thanks to the heavy arm trapping her in place.  Suddenly wide awake, the warm body behind her evoked memories of last night.  Her lids opened as if they were a bucket on a catapult no longer being held down by the restraining rope.  
                          
The revived wounds from last night's confession were oozing with blood.  After Edward walked away without a word, at first she felt betrayed and angry.  He just gave up...no counterarguments...no fight....nothing.  And the look of indifference written in his expression made her want puke or hit him with a club.  Renewed feelings of mistrust encompassed her. 
                          
She didn't know what she expected from him.  After all she just told him that he was the sole reason that her life was screwed up. 
                          
After the anger subsided, it was replaced with guilt and despair.  She began to wonder if telling him was the right thing to do.  Maybe she should have kept the past where it belongs.  Would she ever be able to look at him and not exhume feelings of pain from past Edward's betrayal? 
                          
Rebecca and Bridget guardedly made their way to the fire in nothing but their under clothes.  
                          
"Want to talk about it little sister?"  Rebecca asked as she pulled up a log beside her.  She put an arm around Elizabeth's shoulders like she had done a thousand times before.  And like in the past it made her feel better.  
                          
Bridget spread a blanket out and steered it to the ground next to them.  Sand flew in the air like a tribal smoke signal.  Finally settled, she turned her shy smile on Elizabeth as if to say "Okay, you may begin now." 
                          
A ratty small dog joined the gathering.  It waddled out of the brush and settled in Bridget's lap as if that was where it belonged.  The smell of wet dog was pungent and had Elizabeth wrinkling her nose.  
                          
"Where did this little guy come from?"  Her sister was always known for bringing home strays, so this wasn't as big of a surprise as she was making it out to be.  
                          
The little dog stood as if to greet her.  It looked to be a combination of a Terrier and a Chihuahua and trembled on his stick like legs as if he contained more energy than his small body could hold.  He barked her way. 
                          
"He likes you sister.  He can feel your sorrow.  He said he would like to cheer you up and would like to share his bone with you."  
                          
The little dog took off and vanished under the cabin only to return with a small round bone in his mouth.  He laid it at Elizabeth's feet and backed away.  He stood waiting for her to accept his gift.  
                          
"Please tell my new friend that I am truly thankful for his kindness, but that I cannot take such a valuable gift.  It would make me very happy if he would enjoy the bone in my place."  
                          
Elizabeth smiled at the dog and petted him behind the ear.  Her sister spoke to the dog in a way only she could.  The dog yapped again then laid down in the sand and began annihilating the bone. 
                          
The girls all laughed and watched the dog play.  This feeling of unity she shared with her sisters was a bond that could never be broken.  Not even after so many years.  
                          
"Sisters, we never spoke of Edward's betrayal.  I need you to know that I didn't conspire with him against you.  I told him our secrets in confidence and only because I thought he loved me and would keep the information private as his sister Mary had always done for years."  She added, "I was young and stupid.  Please forgive me."
                          
Her sisters' smiles drained from their faces and was replaced with a gaping mouth and widening of their eyes.  
                          
"Elizabeth, there is nothing to forgive; how could you think we would believe that you were ever unfaithful to us.  We saw how that boy treated you. And yes, we had our suspicions of his motives at first, but that young man did care for you.  Sometimes ambition gets in the way of love, but that does not mean the love was never there or fictitious."  Rebecca explained.