Beatrice and the Beast, page 37
Eventually, Zimmerman released her and stepped back with his hands gripping her upper arms.
‘You are a picture to behold,’ he enthused. ‘I will be the envy of every rancher in the district when I parade you before them. I will be so proud to have you by my side whenever we receive guests or attend functions.’
She smiled weakly but was unable to match his enthusiasm. He hadn't once asked how her journey had been or if she had encountered any trouble during the long expedition from Chicago. He seemed to be more interested in how good she would make him look while she was by his side. However, he appeared to show some concern with his next announcement.
‘You must be weary after your journey my dear. Rosa will show you to your room while I conclude my business with Frank.’
The woman who had come out with Zimmerman, stepped forward and smiled coldly as the young woman really, noticed her for the first time. She was, to Beatrice’s mind, the most beautiful woman she had ever seen. She was clearly Mexican and in her late thirties to early forties with thick, black hair that tumbled down to almost the small of her back. She had beautiful smooth, brown skin, full lips, dark flashing eyes and a voluptuous, incredibly curvy figure. When she came to stand beside the petite young woman, she made her feel terribly inadequate and deficient. Especially as the woman was almost a head taller than her.
‘Come with me,’ said Rosa tersely.
She turned on her heel and headed back toward the same door through which she and Zimmerman had come. Beatrice quickly grabbed her valise from the carriage and hurried after Rosa. Before she entered the doorway, she turned and gave Zelletta a sad, lingering, apologetic look that was full of regret and tinged with desire. Then she was gone.
Zelletta’s eyes lingered on the doorway in the vain hope she would reappear and return to him, until Zimmerman spoke.
‘Come to my office Frank, I'll settle up with you and let you be on your way.’
Zelletta reluctantly, tore his eyes away from the door and jumped down from the rig before following the older man who was striding toward another door on opposite side of the courtyard.
He entered Zimmerman's spacious office with its huge, polished oak desk and plush chairs complete with cabinets and other office type furniture as well as various expensive pictures decorating the walls.
‘Take a seat Frank. I guess you'll be in a hurry to get as far away from here as you can.’
‘I guess so,’ replied the big man. ‘Just as soon as you pay me what I'm owed, it ain't likely you'll ever see me again.'
That'll be the best thing for both of us,’ responded Zimmerman. ‘I don't know what happened out there on the trail and I don't want to know. But as long as you’re here, it's going to be a constant reminder to Beatrice whether good or bad.'
‘Nothing happened.'
‘Well, that may or may not true. But I saw the way she looked at you and I'm not so naive as to not recognize the signs.’
Zelletta did not feel he needed to justify anything to this man. So, he remained silent and waited for whatever else was to come. In a way, he would have welcomed threats from the man. Any excuse to bring him down a peg or two would give him great satisfaction even if it meant forfeiting his fee. On the other hand, if he hurt or even killed Zimmerman, he would almost certainly alienate Beatrice and even though it was very unlikely he would ever see her again, it would break his heart if he thought she hated him.
Zimmerman opened a safe set into the wall behind his desk and removed a wad of money. Then counted out five thousand dollars which he placed on the desk in front of Zelletta.
‘This is the amount we agreed,’ he said. ‘On top of that, I'm giving you another two thousand to cover any expenses and to pay for the horse she rode.’
He began counting out another two thousand.
‘The sorrel was a gift.’
Zimmerman looked up from his counting.
‘All the same,’ he said. ‘I'd feel better if I reimbursed you for him.’
Zelletta desperately wanted Beatrice to remember the horse was a gift from him, in the hope it would be something she would remember him by. But he figured, even if he refused the money, Zimmerman would let it be known he had paid for the horse and because he wouldn’t be allowed to see the girl again, Zelletta would be unable to dispute it.
‘Suit yourself,’ he growled. ‘Makes no never mind to me as long as I get paid and get the hell outa here.’
Zimmerman finished counting out the extra cash and pushed it toward Zelletta.
‘There you go Frank. There’s nothing to hold you up now and I’d appreciate it if you don’t show your face around these parts again, nothing personal you understand.’
Zelletta scooped up the money and stuffed it in his vest pocket.
‘I have to go where my business takes me,’ he responded. ‘If that means trailing somebody in this area, that’s what I will do.’
‘I understand that. All I ask is that you stay clear of my ranch and my intended wife.’
‘Don’t worry,’ replied Zelletta. ‘It ain’t likely you’ll ever see me around here as long as you don’t employ somebody with a price on their head.’
‘Then I’ll bid you good day Frank. I can’t say it was a pleasure doing business with you. But you were the only man I know who could have brought the girl here safely and for that I am grateful.’
Zelletta turned and went to door, but before he exited, he turned and spoke to Zimmerman.
‘Take care of that little gal Mister Zimmerman. She’s got more spunk and bravery than anybody I ever met. She may be small, but she’s bigger in spirit than the biggest of men and to be honest, I ain’t sure if I was taking care of her out there, or if she was taking care of me.’
Zimmerman grinned, clearly believing Zelletta wasn’t being serious.
‘Sure Frank,’ he said. ‘She’ll be well taken care of. See you around my friend.’
Zelletta exited and drove away in the carriage with a very uneasy feeling about the whole situation.
…
Beatrice followed Rosa through several hallways and passages, finding it difficult to keep up with her as she weaved her way between different rooms while she struggled behind, carrying her heavy valise. However, as she followed in Rosa’s wake, she found herself unable to tear her eyes away from the woman’s incredible backside and the way it moved with her hip swaying gait accentuated by the tight dress she wore.
Finally, Rosa opened a door and beckoned Beatrice inside before closing the door behind her.
‘This is your room,’ she declared in her thick Spanish accent. ‘This is where you will live even after you have married Jacob.’
Beatrice quickly took in the large room with the polished stone floor covered in thick rugs, the enormous bed with satin sheets and thick eiderdown. The various cabinets and closets around the walls and the thick drapes covering the windows.
‘What do you mean?’ she asked. ‘Will Jacob be sharing this room with me?’
Rosa laughed.
‘You really are a foolish girl,’ she sneered. ‘You are here for one reason only and that is to be decoration on Jacob’s arm.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘I mean he wants a well-bred and well spoken, white woman to be by his side and meet his business partners. But I am the one who’s bed he shares every night not you. He loves me and it is only because I am Mexican that he doesn’t marry me. But I am the only woman who can satisfy his needs. I am a real woman, not some foolish girl who is little more than a child.’
Beatrice stared horrified, at the woman, unable to believe what she had said.
‘Are you seriously telling me you are Jacob’s lover?’
‘Call it what you will, lover, nursemaid, housekeeper. I have many duties and we have shared a bed for over ten years and probably, will do so until he dies.’
Beatrice had mixed emotions because of Rosa’s revelation. On the one hand she felt betrayed and humiliated because of the way she was being used. But on the other hand, she felt a certain amount of relief that possibly, she wouldn’t be expected to sleep with a man who was old enough to be her grandfather and why should she care? She was using him just the way he was using her and the more she thought about it, the more the arrangement appealed. She would be living in luxury and being taken care of which was the reason she had undertaken the journey in the first place.
She glanced at Rosa who was grinning and staring back at her with a smug look on her face.
‘Perhaps you are the one who is being foolish,’ she countered. ‘You are and always have been an employee. If your duties include sleeping with the boss, then it is you who is being used. When I marry Jacob, you will also be my employee so perhaps you shouldn’t be so smug about your uses.’
A look of uncertainty crossed the older woman’s face and she scowled at Beatrice.
‘I will never take orders from the likes of you,’ she hissed. ‘Jacob will do anything I ask him to and he won’t allow you to be my employer if I ask him.’
Beatrice abruptly, felt sympathy and a certain amount of empathy with the woman. She clearly felt her way of life threatened by a girl half her age who could possibly, replace her as Jacob’s concubine, though Beatrice would certainly not consider herself a concubine. But she understood the older woman’s sense of insecurity and regretted her remarks, especially as her outburst had been totally out of character for her, and so she decided an apology would be in order.
‘I’m sorry Rosa, I really shouldn’t have said those things and I swear, I never knew about the arrangement between Jacob and you. If I had, I probably wouldn’t have ventured out on the journey to get here in the first place. But now I am here, I want you to know, I never want to be a threat to your way of life. I agreed to marry Jacob for one reason only and that was security. I lost everything in Chicago including my father and were it not for the family of a friend, offering me shelter, I would have been destitute. But it was always a temporary arrangement and I knew, sooner or later I would have to make my own way, so when Jacob offered me a better life in return for marriage, I simply could not pass it up.’
Rosa had remained silent during Beatrice’s declaration and when her speech finally, came to an end, the older woman stared with a look of confusion and uncertainty written across her countenance. She had prepared herself for confrontation, but because of the girl’s compliance, had been completely taken by surprise and was left with her mind in turmoil and her prepared vehemence stuck to her lips. When she finally, found her voice, it was to question the girl sceptically.
‘Does it not bother you that Jacob has a lover and only wants you to look pretty by his side?’
‘It probably would if I loved him, but I don’t and would be happy to simply be a wife in name only. I believe you do love Jacob and I admire your commitment to him and I assure you I will never come between the two of you.’
Before Rosa could respond, there came a heavy rap on the door and Zimmerman entered the room. He regarded the two women standing facing each other, with interest.
‘Are you ladies fighting over me?’ He asked with a huge grin on his face. ‘Maybe I should reward the winner by allowing her to share my bed tonight.’
Beatrice turned to stare at him in disbelief, and she felt the anger rising up inside her.
‘I don’t know what kind of a woman you think I am, but I’m certainly not the type to fight for the privilege of sleeping with a man.’
He laughed loudly and she saw an entirely different man to the one she had been corresponding with.
‘Not even Zelletta?’ He asked venomously.
She felt her face heating up.
‘I don’t know what you mean.’
‘I think you do. I saw the way you looked at him. It was inevitable he’d take you at some point during the journey, but I didn’t expect you to develop feelings for the ugly bastard.’
‘Oh Jacob, that is so unfair. The poor man was subjected to extreme torture when he was just a boy which left him badly scarred and I’m not sure I appreciate your remark about him taking me.’
He turned to the Mexican woman.
‘Leave us Rosa,’ he ordered. ‘I’m going to have to show little miss prissy pants what it means to be taken.’
Rosa gaped at him as though she was seeing him for the first time. While Beatrice experienced a feeling of dread as it dawned on her what his intentions were.
‘Rosa!’ he repeated. ‘Leave us now.’
‘Yes senor.’
She made her way to the door while giving Beatrice an apologetic look that was full of sympathy and compassion, while the girl implored her with her eyes not to leave her alone with the man. But she recognized, Rosa was just as frightened of Zimmerman as she was and it would be futile to expect her to intervene.
When Rosa had left the room, Zimmerman turned his attention to the trembling girl.
‘Get undressed,’ he ordered. ‘I’m gonna burn them riding clothes, you’ll never need them again. From now on, you’re going to be a dutiful little wife and riding a horse isn’t going to be one of your duties understand?’
Her nod was barely perceptible as she stood rooted to the spot and trembling before him.
‘Did you hear what I said?’ He snapped. ‘Remove your clothing or I will do it for you.’
‘Please Jacob,’ she whimpered. ‘Can’t we wait until we are married?’
He took a step forward.
‘I’ll give you one more chance to undress yourself, then I’m going to start ripping those damned clothes off you.’
Still she stood immobile as she stared in disbelief, unable to comprehend that this was the same, apparently, kind and considerate man she had corresponded with all that time. He took another step and raised his hands which caused her to emit a sharp yelp and she immediately began to peel off her jacket before dropping it on the bed.
‘Now the skirt,’ he demanded when he saw her hesitate.
She unbuckled the belt and unfastened the buttons holding the garment tight to her waist and stepped out of it leaving her standing before him in just her underwear and riding boots.
‘Get those boots off and let me look at you.’
She sat on the bed and pulled off her boots as slowly as she dared, all the time hoping upon hope, he wouldn’t make her remove her underwear.
‘Stand up.’
She complied whilst watching him fearfully. Once she was standing upright, she turned her eyes toward the floor while he walked around her scrutinising her body. Her embarrassment was palpable and she felt like a chattel that was being examined before a purchase was made.
‘Well,’ he said finally, ‘You’re not as buxom as Rosa but you’ll do. At least you’ve got a pretty face and I’ve no doubt your conversational skills are adequate. I figure, dressed in the right clothes, you’ll draw a lot of envious eyes toward us.’
Inwardly, she felt relief that what Rosa had said was true. He simply wanted a young pretty girl on his arm who was well educated and capable of conversing with his business partners and their wives. But she feared the woman had been wrong when she said he didn’t want Beatrice for anything other than that. For now, she was standing before him in a state of undress and wondering with extreme, trepidation what he planned to do to her. Therefore, she expressed surprise and a certain amount of relief when he turned toward a closet and opened the door before removing a garment and laying it on the bed.
‘Put it on,’ he said brusquely.
She was happy to comply and dispense with the embarrassment of standing before him in her underwear. She hoped he would turn away while she donned the garment and at least, ease her discomfiture. But he continued to watch as she picked up a beautiful white dress with a green silk bodice trimmed with gold satin and white lace. After putting it on, he told her to turn around while he did up the buttons at the back, then to turn and face him. She looked stunning and any man would have been delighted by how lovely she was in the beautiful dress. Any man but Zimmerman. He simply remained blasé about the vision that stood before him.
‘You’ll do,’ he said. ‘I got Rosa to have that made up for you using my guesswork of your size based on information I was able to extract from our correspondence. Pretty damned clever of me huh? It fits you perfectly.’
She nodded her head.
‘It’s beautiful,’ she whispered.
‘Okay,’ he replied. ‘You can take it off now. You’ll be wearing it tonight for a function I’m having for some influential guests and to introduce my future wife. There are some more dresses in the closet, you can wear one of those to join me in the dining room. I’ll send Rosa to show you around the house before lunch, then I’ll introduce you to the men.’
With that, he turned and left the room, leaving Beatrice stunned and immobile as she contemplated the events of the day, especially what had happened since she Had arrived at the ranch. She certainly hadn’t expected the welcome, or the treatment she’d received from her future husband and she already feared she’d made a terrible mistake by coming here. She had no idea what the future held for her, but she couldn’t help experiencing a feeling of dread that her life from now on, wouldn’t be the one she had been promised or expected.
There came a light knock on the door and Rosa entered the room. Beatrice looked up and met her steady gaze with moistened eyes from her failure to completely, hold back the tears and Rosa’s eyes softened as she recognized a lost, confused and dejected young woman who came here on a promise of security and comfort, but found nothing but contempt and uncertainty.
‘Poor child,’ murmured the older woman. ‘You have so much to learn about men and their indifference to women’s needs.’
Beatrice saw genuine concern and compassion in Rosa’s eyes and it was too much for her to handle. She let out a huge sob and her shoulders sagged as the tears began to flow. Rosa regarded the wretched and forlorn young woman as she stood with her head slumped onto her chest and her whole body sagging as though she were on the point of collapse and immediately, took a step forward to enfold the girl in her arms and hold her close in a firm embrace. That one act of genuine compassion was enough to tip Beatrice over the edge and she buried her face into Rosa’s shoulder and sobbed violently unable to control herself and her utter feeling of despair.
