February 10, 1847.
Portsmouth, Virginia

Plans have been made, we will be leaving for St. Joseph in two days, I am so anxious. I miss Jack McMenomy so very much, haven't seen him in 3 weeks. I won't be able to see him again until we leave or maybe not until we arrive in St. Joseph. The weather is holding and warm, so I went to the beach to sketch the seascape for the last time in my life. To my horror, on the beach I discovered mama and Uncle Jessie both were completely undressed and intimately involved! Papa can never know about this. Adena Barton.


Chapter 4
Momma What Have You Done!


Reading her dime novel was becoming more difficult. Adena's hunger pangs grew with the strong aroma of chickens baking in the wood-burning stove floating in the light breeze to Adena. She could see Jasmine working her magic through the open double-hung window as she swayed in the porch swing.

Off in the distance she could hear the voices of her father, Uncle Jessie, and her brothers. They grew louder as the approached the house and moments later they came around the corner.

"Where's your mother and Allison?" Frank asked.

Adena put down her book. "They're in the house. Mama is tending to Jason and Allison is upstairs."

"Bring Allison down," Frank instructed. "We're goin' to have a family meetin'."

"Yes, papa," Adena replied.

A few minutes later the entire Barton family was assembled in the parlor. Adena nearly exploded with anticipation.

Frank looked at his brother and Jessie nodded. Frank stood and began. "The time has come for us to pack, prepare for the trip, and make the final plans."

"I'm not going and that's final. This whole idea of going west is dumb....it's asinine," Sarah angrily said. Her words were sudden and raw.

"Did I say you were goin'?" Frank asked.

Sarah shook her head.

"You'll stay with me," Jessie said fighting the smile that was trying to form on his lips.

"We'll be leaving with the McMenomy family in two days," Frank announced.

Adena thought her heart was going to skip a beat at the news. This was wonderful! She would be with Jack. Better yet, papa and Jack's father were good friends. This also meant that papa approved of Jack!

"There will be two wagons going to California. I will be with the first and with me I'll take Adena and William."

"I want to go to California," Eric proclaimed.

"I know son. Y'all be headin' up the second wagon west. Sarah, Allison, and Jason will be with ya," Frank said and after a pause he added, "Most likely y'all be hitched to Elizabeth by then and she'll be with ya too."

Eric smiled. "We have already talked about just that and she wants to go to California too."

"I have a surprise for you," Jessie told Adena. "I purchased a trunk that should hold most of yer belongings."

"Thank you, Uncle Jessie."

"I have given this much thought. I will be financing both trips. If y'all need more money, just write me a note," Jessie announced and looked at his brother. "In the mornin' we'll go to the bank and draw a draft large enough to get y'all to California and get y'all set up."

His announcement was unexpected and shocked both Frank and Sarah.

"How can I ever thank you? I will repay you as soon as I get on my feet in California," Frank stated feeling completely stunned.

"No need to repay me,'� Jessie said, paused a moment, then went on. 'You are my kinfolk and have had a terrible hard time. This is least I can do for you. One thing you can do for me. If California is a good as they say it is, homestead a parcel of land for me. I'll open a store there, people will need supplies and provisions."

Jasmine entered the parlor and announced, "Supper is ready."

* * * *

Adena sat on her bed staring at the new trunk her uncle had given her as a going away present. The time to leave was nearly here. Soon she would be on her way to St. Joseph, then to California and a new beginning. One thought tormented her mind and tarnished her happiness. Why her mother didn't want to go to California? There was so much to look forward.

A certain sadness filled her heart while she packed. She wouldn't see her mother, her sister or her brothers for more than a year. She knew the plan was a good one. William and herself were going with papa, help him build the new home on the homestead, and when that was done, Eric would bring the rest of the family west.

Uncle Jessie has been more than generous. He is permitting the family stay with him during hard times. He is financing this trip and the trip Eric will make. Her brow furrowed as troublesome questions entered her mind. Why is he doing this? It isn't like him to just give money away. He must be getting something that papa and I just can't see.

She heard a knock on her door. She turned to see her younger sister. "I wish I was going with you," Allison said.

"So do I," Adena agreed will putting her wool underwear in the trunk.

"Do you think you'll need your warm undies?" Allison questioned.

"What if it gets cold? I don't know if the winters are cold or warm? Or even if there are winters in California. But I am sure that I will need them in St. Joseph."

Allison feigned a smile. "I didn't think of that."

Adena smiled. She put two pair of button up shoes in the trunk followed by the three sweaters. "I'm goin' to miss you....just think, in a few short months y'all be packing fer yer trip."

Allison nodded. "Don't forget yer sketch pads and pencils."

"I won't. Don't let me forget. I'm goin' down to the beach, I want to draw a picture of those rocks jetting out of the ocean to remind me of home."

"Those are so pretty," Allison sighed then added, "those trees that line the shore are so beautiful."

"Allison," their mother called out, "Your father is leaving for town now."

"I'm coming," Allison responded.

"I wanted to go with them," Allison told her sister.

Adena closed the lid of the trunk. She was finished packing. She looked out the window and watched the carriage go up the hill towards town. With sketch pad and pencils in hand, she walked to the beach. It was secluded and very private here. White sea gulls floated high overhead against the cobalt sky in their never ending search for their next meal.

She found a tree stump to sit on, surrounded by bushes open to the ocean giving her an excellent view of the rocks. Unknowingly to Adena, the same bushes concealed her presence from the beach, yet through the bushes, she also had a clear view of the entire beach area.

Sketching came easy to Adena. She enjoyed both seascapes and portraits. Adena took her time, trying to be as perfect as possible as this would be her last time at this beach.

It was so relaxing here, the soft sounds of the surf softly crashing onto the beach, and the cry of the gulls overhead. She was going to miss this beach, but assured herself there must places like this or even better on the trail and California must have beaches too.

The sound of two voices drifted up to her. She couldn't see who they were yet, but one was a man's voice and the other was a woman's. Who ever they were, they too, were enjoying the privacy of this secluded area. She made the decision to remain concealed, after all, they were probably just passing through. No sense in disturbing their happiness she told herself.

Adena continued to sketch as the voices grew closer. They seemed to be familiar, she turned towards the sound of the couple and now she could see them.

"Oh my God," Adena whispered to herself. With terrible
suddenness and shock, she saw it was her mother holding hands with Uncle Jessie!

"They must think I went to town with everybody else," Adena rationalized.

As if Adena were watching a romantic play, she watched her mother and uncle. He placed the picnic basket next to a large bolder, not very far from where she sat. It was obvious, neither of them could see her, but Adena could see them clearly through the bushes. Jessie opened the basket, took out a yellow blanket and spread it out on the sand.

Her mother sat on the blanket, and took her hair down.
Jessie took out a bottle of wine and two glasses. He poured the wine into one glass and handed it to her. "You look divine, my darling."

Adena was shocked. She could hear them clearly, just as if she was sitting next to her mother.

"Why thank you, sugar," she replied then took a sip. 'I've waited a long time to be with you. You have no idea what'�'�'�.'�

Leaning over, Jessie lightly pressed his lips to hers, a tantalizing invitation for more. Sarah embraced him and returned his kiss, her arms solidly around him.

Adena covered her mouth as she gasped. She was a witness to something she didn't want to see. But it was too late, for if she did anything but stay exactly where she was, she would be discovered and god knows what would happen to her.

She watched as they kissed again and again, each one more passionate than the kiss before. With each succeeding kiss, Jessie's hands were becoming bolder as he fondled her mother's breasts. Slowly she laid back as his hand went up her skirt.

Jessie smiled. "Your not wearing any drawers."

Sarah giggled. "I know, I wanted this....." She then kissed him deeply.

When they stopped kissing, Adena thought she could hear their heavy breathing over the sounds of the waves coming ashore, but knew that was impossible. She watched as Jessie hurriedly undressed completely and she couldn't help notice how her mother was watching him too. It was all to obvious to Adena that this wasn't the first time her mother was having sex with him.

He stood in front of her as she came up on her knees. Her fingers surrounded his firm cock and began to stroke him, bringing a moan from his lips that Adena could hear. Sarah rose to her feet, wrapped her arms around his neck, and her lips took his in an urgent passion to satisfy her desires for him.

Slowly their lips parted. Jessie slowly and deliberately undressed her, one article of clothing at a time until she was like him, completely undressed.

Adena watched from her secluded place as her mother thrusted her large, firm breasts towards him. He kissed and fondled them. A cry of delight poured from Sarah as Jessie took one nipple into his mouth, then the other. He slowly kissed her entire body. He stopped at her most feminine mound of hair, his kisses brought screams of delight from her mother.

"How I hate my mother for doing this to papa. How could he do this to his own brother? I hate them both!" Adena cried to herself.

Slowly Sarah laid on the blanket. Jessie slipped on top of her.

"Take me, make me feel like a real woman," Adena heard her mother say as Jessie began his thrusts slow and measured.

Tears began to flow down Adena's cheeks as she couldn't watch any more. Then it suddenly dawned to Adena why her mother didn't want to go to California. She was and has been in love with Jessie! She wondered how long this has been going on. Adena vowed that papa would never know this was going on. The hurt would be to great for him to bare.

Sarah's shouts and yelling of ecstasy as she had a massive orgasm brought Adena back to the present. "Damn you mother! Damn you Jessie! May your souls burn in hell," she whispered.

Sarah and Jessie lay there, besides each other for what seemed to be an eternity. They were talking softly, her mother would giggle, then laugh loudly at something said. Now Adena could only catch a word here and there. But she heard enough to realize that Jessie was telling her to stop objecting to the California trip and her mother was apparently agreeing.

Jessie kissed her, then stood and began to dress. A few moments later Sarah stood and began to tease Jessie. She would turn half ways towards him and showed off her large breasts. Then for no reason, Jessie chased her around the beach. He fell to the sand just as he caught her and Sarah was on top of him. They kissed again and again.

Finally, Sarah stood up and went to the blanket. She dressed quickly. When they both were fully dressed, they slowly left the secluded beach holding hands.

Adena sat there, totally stunned. She didn't want to believe what she had just seen. But there was no denying it. She remembered the vow she made to herself. It will be easier tomorrow, they will be away from this terrible place. However, in the meantime, she had to face mother and Jessie at supper tonight.

She tried to continue her sketching, but it was useless. Her heart just wasn't in it anymore. Adena looked around and there was no one in sight. She left the beach area and walked back to the mansion.

The first person she saw was Jasmine. "I's thought you went to town."

Adena feigned a smile. "I was up packing and when I had finished everyone had left. I went to the shore and sketched these scenes."

Jasmine looked at the drawings. "Miss, you's very good. You's make good money sellin' 'em. Yes'em lots of money."

"Have you seen my mother?" Adena asked.

Jasmine shook her head. "No ma'am. Some time ago I's packed a picnic basket fer yer mama and Master Jessie. Theys goin' strollin' on the shore. Should be back soon."

"Something smelling good, what's for supper?"

"Roast pork over the outside grill," Jasmine responded.

"Hmmmm my favorite. I think I'll nap."

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