News from the New World

"Does this mean you like me?" Sophie's teasing caught Thomas off guard but he was so happy to see that smile.

"I've always liked you Sophie," she looked at him doubtfully but didn't argue. Their relationship had evolved into something so easy and comfortable. She didn't want to bring up anything that would ruin what they built. Instead she reached for his hand that was still stroking her face and she held it in hers.

She turned his hand over in hers and traced the creases on the dirty palms. The feel of her gentle fingers sent a shiver up his spine. He sighed in response to her touch and she smiled at him.

"Sophie!" a voice called from the direction of the ship. It was Frida. She was scurrying up to them with an envelope in her hand. Frida had only said a few words to Sophie since she moved out. It was starting to see her hustling to speak to her.

Thomas and Sophie's trance was immediately broken by her intrusion and they sat up in anticipation of Frida's news.

"A letter for you!" Frida announced.

"For me?" Sophie replied in surprise. "That's nearly impossible. The letter would have been written before I arrived." She shook her head like she didn't believe it.

"Well, impossible or not, it is written to you," she placed the letter into Sophie's near shaking hand and waited expectantly. Sophie had to stop herself from rolling her eyes as she realized that Frida expected her to read it in front of her.

"It's my mother's handwriting," she said, recognizing the familiar script addressed to herself.

"I hope that nothing is wrong," Frida said, pressing her lips together looking nothing like a worried soul and more like a way too interested in someone else's business, soul.

"Thank you so much for bringing this to me Frida," she said, trying to hint that she was not going to be reading it in front of her. Thomas, thankfully, came to her rescue.

"Sophie isn't feeling well," he said gravely. "I will hold this for you and take you home," he said, taking the envelope from Sophie. She surrendered it gratefully. Having it in Thomas' hands broke Frida's greedy gaze on it and Sophie released a grateful sigh.

"Thank you again Frida," Thomas offered. "I'm going to take her home now."

He escorted her around the wagon and helped her back up onto the seat. He took the seat next to her and gave Maddox an encouraging tap. Sophie smiled weakly at the dejected Frida the left behind.

"Well, I certainly did not raise in Frida's favor but I thank you for coming to my rescue for the second time today." she said after they pulled away. She smiled weakly, like she wanted to make light of it but the memory was still much too close for humor.

"Happy to help," he said. He was also not ready to laugh about it. Thomas's adrenaline was still pumping and he was still extremely on edge.

"Can I read my letter now?" she asked after a moment of silence.

"Yes, let me pull off the side here," he offered. He pulled Maddox to a stop and she looked at him curiously. "Sorry, I'm still feeling a little edgy. I think I just need to take a little break." He explained. His voice wavered exposing his emotion.

He pulled the letter out of his pocket and handed it over to Sophie. She broke the seal gingerly and unfolded the thick fancy paper. She read over the words silently. Thomas could see the elegant script that her mother wrote in and noted that the paper was a higher quality than any paper he had ever written on.

Sophie dropped the paper onto her lap and rubbed her face in frustration.

"What is it?" Thomas asked.

"My mother remarried." Her voice was layered in disgust.

"Well, that was quick. Good for her?" he asked with a questioning look.

"She married our cousin so she is still living in my father's house," she shook her head in disbelief.

"Wow," Thomas said. "That is a lot to consider," he said reflectively.

"Right," Sophie said, grinding her teeth. The anger and rage was bubbling inside her chest.

"Let it out Sophie, tell me what's bothering you," Thomas said looping his arm around her shoulder and pulling her in close to him.

"Uggggh," she growled audibly. "It just," she stumbled over her words. "Did she plan this? I mean it feels like she planned this!" All the pent up frustration that had been boiling beneath her bubbled out quickly. "She had my portrait done before daddy died! She didn't hesitate to send me and now she is married to stupid cousin Rupert. I mean, it's just gross! I am just so, I don't know what I am!" she threw her hands in the air and rested her head on his shoulder helplessly. He rubbed her shoulder and held her for the second time that day.

Thomas likes being close to Sophie. He was surprised by that revelation. He really liked holding her and comforting her. He rested his chin on the top of her head and felt her shoulders shake lightly with her tears.

"Hey, hey! Why are you crying again?" he asked.

She covered her face with her hands in embarrassment.

"I don't know but I can't help it. I'm just so confused."

"It's okay to be confused," he said soothingly.

After she steadied herself he urged Maddox back onto the road. Sophie didn't remove her head from his shoulder. She held the wrinkled paper in her hand letting it wad and crumple in her lap.

"So your mother sent you here because she couldn't afford to keep you anymore?" Thomas said breaking the silence.

She nodded against his shoulder.

"And now, she is just as stable as she was when you lived there? She is no longer the destitute woman that you left. Correct?"

Sophie sat up straight, shocked by the obvious revelation.

"Yes," she said slowly considering the implications of that realization. She started to play nervously with the key around her neck again.

"So, doesn't that mean you could go back?" he hated to say it out loud. He didn't want her to leave.

"I guess so," she looked at him and wrinkled her forehead in the cute way she did when she was thinking.

Thomas let the question hang in the air. His stomach twisted and churned as the option hung above them.

"But I don't want to go back," she said quietly. It was quiet but it was firm. There was no waver in her voice. No falter in her resolve.

Thomas let his head hang in relief. "Are you sure?" he asked. "You are not forced here you don't have to stay. You can go back to your home and your security and you can marry a man you can support you and,"

She stopped him before he went on.

"I don't want to go back Thomas," she said again. "This is where I want to be. I don't want to go home to my manipulative mother and her new husband who is sleeping in my dad's bed and who will try to father me," she was shaking her head and tears were bubbling again. "I don't know what lies in store for me here but I know exactly what my life would be like there. I don't want it," she said finally.

He pulled her in close again. "I don't want you to go back either," he said and kissed her on her head.