Vivienne - Part 1 (Le Perdu et Retrouve)

Vivienne

Part Un

Le Perdu et Retrouve

Copyright

Vivienne – Le Perdu et Retrouvé

Copyright: S. M. Bowles

Published: June 2014

Publisher: S. M. Bowles

The right of S. M. Bowles to be identified as author of this Work has been asserted by her in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in retrieval system, copied in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise transmitted without written permission from the publisher. You must not circulate this book in any format.

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If you have any questions or comments for the author please use the following e-mail address:

smbowles.vivienne@gmail.com

Author’s Note:

Vivienne is a two-part novel with part one taking place in southwestern France during the late 1800’s and part two taking place during the early 1900’s in America. I tried to keep the book historically accurate but this is a work of fiction and some creative license has been taken.

Table of Contents

Chapitre Un

Chapitre Deux

Chapitre Trois

Chapitre Quatre

Chapitre Cinq

Chapitre Six

Chapitre Sept

Chapitre Huit

Chapitre Neuf

Chapitre Dix

Chapitre Onze

Chapitre Douze

Chapitre Treize

Chapitre Quatorze

Chapitre Quinze

Chapitre Seize

Chapitre Dix-Sept

Chapitre Dix-Huit

Chapitre Dix-Neuf

Chapitre Vingt

Epilogue

Chapitre Un

May 1865 – Montagrier, France

Oh, I rubbed my shoulder as I ran.  I hate them!  I hate them!  My head, my heart, my lungs and legs were aching but I didn’t dare stop. I glanced back to see if my brothers and their hounds were gaining on me. As I did, I came to a sudden slope. I tried stopping but stepped on a loose stone and tumbled down.  Somehow, I caught myself and rose to my feet.

As I neared the first of the farms that dotted our property my eyes darted left and right searching for a place where I could hide. I rarely came this way and it all seemed so unfamiliar. A barn loomed up ahead of me and as I rounded the corner to duck inside, I ran straight into the stable boy.  The impact propelled me backwards a foot or two and if it weren't for his quick reflexes, I would have fallen firmly on my backside.

Whoa, he smiled but as he studied my expression during those few short seconds, he realized I was in trouble.  Are you all right, Mademoiselle?  What’s wrong?

My brothers, I panted unable to say anything more.

He tilted his head and listened.  We heard the hounds and how close they were getting. It only took an instant for him to understand, Here, he pulled me into the barn.  He hurried me up into the loft and raced back down to face my brothers.

I watched him plant his feet and square his shoulders as the boys and their dogs burst through the doorway.  The dogs charged him and he kicked first one then the other to the side.  Each of the hounds gave a dreadful yelp while my brothers watched in shocking disbelief.  The three of them, my two brothers and the stable boy, stood several feet apart eyeing one another.  They appeared nearly the same age.  The stable boy gave up about an inch to my oldest brother, Philippe, but seemed much stronger from the rigors of working on the farm.

Move aside, boy!

"Huh, and why would I do that, little boy?" he threw back.

It caught Phillipe off guard and for a moment he didn’t seem to know what to do.  He shook his head then looked at my other brother, Jean. They nodded to one another. Because we said so! Philippe insisted and took a step forward.

The stable boy changed his stance, I hope by we, you mean more than you two, because I am not going anywhere.

Is that so? Philippe nudged Jean and they hurled themselves at the boy.

A moment later they were both lying on their backs; each covering one of their eyes.

I think you should get your dogs and go home now, the boy stood over them. And if I ever catch you causing trouble in my barn again, I'll make sure you leave with more than sore eyes.

My brothers scampered back, We're not leaving without our sister.

Is that so? the boy challenged Philippe.

Vivienne, Mother wants you home. Now!

I shook my head from where I stood peering over the edge of the loft.  The stable boy saw how frightened I was.

I'll make sure she gets there, he answered for me. Run along now, he chased them away with the dogs close on their heels.  When he came back he called up, It's safe, Vivienne. You can come down.

I slowly descended and approached the boy with my hand outstretched. Oh, merci, I stuttered when I realized I didn’t know how to address him. I’m afraid I don’t remember your name.

He took my hand and gave an awkward bow, I don’t think we’ve ever met. I’m Gabriel.

We were both flustered and stood silent and still, smiling nervously. I felt he was right and that we had never met though I thought he looked familiar somehow. Well, Gabriel sighed and it seemed to release all the tension he felt from confronting my brothers. I guess I should get you home, he went to a stall and clicked the latch then led one of the mares out.

Oh, you needn’t trouble yourself.

It’s no trouble. Besides it wouldn’t be right for me to say I would do something and then not.

I tried arguing against it but Gabriel wouldn’t listen. He tethered the mare before deftly fastening her saddle and bridling her. When he finished, he hoisted himself onto her back and held his hand out. With only my brothers for examples, it was hard for me to believe a boy could be so nice. I reached up and Gabriel steadied me as I climbed into the saddle in front of him. He waited until I was comfortable then wrapped his arms around me and urged the horse out of the barn.

As we followed the path towards my family's house Gabriel asked me why I was so afraid of my brothers and why were they chasing me.

I was reluctant to tell him but he seemed sincerely concerned. I explained how my father had just come home and given them each slingshots.  When they tired of practicing on the targets that came with their gifts they looked for something more challenging.  They saw me gathering wildflowers in the field and set their dogs on me to get me moving.  One of them caught me in the shoulder before I realized what was happening but most of their missiles had gone wide.  I urged my sleeve down to show him the mark it left.

Mon Dieu!  Cowards! Gabriel spat, Have they always been such bullies?

Oui, I mumbled forlorn.

You should tell your father so he can punish them and take their slings away.

I shook my head.

Non, but why, Vivienne, surely your papa would...

Non, he wouldn’t understand.  He would tell me they were just being boys and that’s what boys do.

What about your mama?

Mama hates me.  She would probably be grateful, the words spilled out before I could stop them.

Gabriel looked at me wondering if I really thought it was true. You don’t believe that, do you?

I started to cry.

Oh, chérie, please. I’m sorry, he apologized as we approached the house. 

It’s all right, Gabriel, I wiped my tears and forced a smile. Thank you for helping for me, I said as he eased me down from the saddle. You are a true gentleman, I took his hand in both of mine.

He seemed hesitant to let me go after what I told him, Will you come visit me again?

Mais oui! I beamed up at him.

Demain?

Vivienne, is that you? my father called from the doorway.

Oui, Papa.

Demain! Gabriel insisted.

Oui, oui, demain, I whispered and whirled away.

My family and I lived in France.  We owned a vineyard in the southwestern part of the country.  There were several small farms dotting our property. We owned those as well and leased them to families of workers. Some cared for our stables and livestock, others grew crops or worked with the prendeurs who managed the vineyards.

My father was a social man who preferred the active variety of Paris to the quiet privacy of the French countryside. He spent most of his time in the city and would only come home when he needed to rest. Despite his lack of paternal concern he was kind and generous while he was with us and it was easy to love him.

When I was younger and more naïve, I often tried convincing myself he would stay whenever he returned. Unfortunately though, once he felt well enough, he would vanish again and my heart would fill with bitterness at the sudden loss. I grew to love him less and less over the years. His visits grew further and further apart and each stay shorter and shorter.  By the time I turned 14 he seemed a virtual stranger. I often wondered if I saw him anywhere but home if I would even recognize him.

My mother, too, was an absentee parent, though in quite a different way.

She spent most of her days in bed with some imagined illness or other. I always suspected there was more to it than sickness. It wasn't until I was an adult and had a graver understanding of the world that I realized what was wrong. She took laudanum to help with all her complaints and had become an addict.

My mother started using it not long after my birth. She didn’t recover as quickly as she did when she had my two brothers.  Her pregnancy hadn’t gone well and she was in labor for two days before I was born. It left her longer abed than she would have liked. 

Though she never spoke of it openly, in her heart she must have known of my father's tendency to stray. She was eager to be up and around, and to regain her fresh figure and bloom. Her haste to be well and to keep my father to herself led her to inquire of the local médecin for a means of speeding her recovery.

Her plan backfired though and the more dependent she became the faster her youth and beauty slipped away.

Sometimes I thought she blamed me and hated me for coming into her happy world.  She never showed me the same kindness and affection she showered on my brothers.  They were always first in her thoughts. If I ever expressed their faults or flaws in any way, she would insist I had exaggerated their exploits in a childish bid for attention.  She never punished them. Rather than curbing their misbehavior she would end our discussions with, I'll talk to your father when he comes home and he will set them straight as he sees fit.

So nothing ever came of my complaints. Either she forgot them by the time my father returned or he was too weary from his travels. Then he, too, would brush their misdemeanors aside and tell us to settle it between ourselves.  My parent’s indifference gave my brothers license to tease and torture me at their will so I learned to avoid them whenever possible.

As I approached the house I looked back and watched Gabriel disappear over the horizon, Who was that? my father asked curiously.

The stable boy, Gabriel, I paused wondering how much if any of the day's events I should tell him.  Just then my brothers rounded the side of the house. I raised my voice so they would be sure to hear my explanation, I was chasing butterflies and not looking where I was going.  I tumbled down the hill and twisted my ankle.  Gabriel brought me home, Papa, because I could not walk.  It was close enough to the truth to sound believable.

I prayed the lie would protect me from any repercussions for the time being.  I knew my brothers would want revenge, but at least it wouldn't be immediate.  They eyed me suspiciously but I turned and held my head high as I limped up the stairs and into the house.

I have a friend, I thought to myself and smiled imagining my life forever changed now that I had an ally.  I made my way to my room to freshen up and ready myself for dinner.

Chapitre Deux

When I woke the following morning, I hurried to get dressed then quietly slipped from my room and made my way to the kitchen. I found a basket our chef used to gather herbs and placed it on the table. After rifling through the pantry and our other stores of food I selected several of my favorite things and arranged them one after the other in the basket.

Once I felt satisfied with my cache, I collected my coat and shoes then stepped out into the dewy morning air. I hoped I wasn’t too early. We hadn’t made formal plans but I promised Gabriel I would come see him. I knew I needed to get out before my brothers woke. If they saw me and wondered what I was up to, they would have ruined my opportunity.

I didn’t know which house was his so once I made it to the farmhouses I turned and headed towards the barn where we met the previous