New Fic: Perception 1/?
Author: PABWECG (aka Patricia)
Title: Perception
Genre/Type: Romance, Period fic
Rating: PG-13 to NC-17
Characters/Pairings: Luke/Reid, Lily/Holden, Casey, Katie, Maddie, Henry, among others.
Warnings: Nope
Summary: The year is 1898, and the town is Oakdale. Luke lives on Snyder Farm; Reid’s a doctor in Chicago. You’ll figure the rest out.
This story is based on a prompt from the winning-bidder of my fic on the Japan Auction, which was, I know, eons ago. So, thank you to Smoothlikebutta for this very fun prompt! It's not finished yet, but she gave me her gracious permission to start posting it anyway; so thank you to her for that as well!
**Warning, this chapter is a tad sappy...
Thank you to Slayerkitty, my wonderful beta!
Chapter 1
Seamus rounded the corner, speeding up as soon as he hit the field. Luke looked up, knowing he would see the familiar landscape, his home, the farm. His father waved to him from behind the plow and Luke waved back. He made his way to the barn, made sure that Seamus was content, gave a quick hello to Ginger in the next stall, before heading out to the field.
It was mid-March and his dad had been plowing most of the morning, needing to get the seeds in soon. Casey would be there in the afternoon, like he was almost every afternoon until school let out, to help out in the busy spring planting season. But this Saturday morning it had only been him and his father. Luke, even with all the hard physical labor, had felt restless, so his father had encouraged him to go for a ride before the noon meal.
It was noon now, and the sun felt good on his shoulders as he made his way over. “Thanks for that break, Dad. I needed it. I don’t know why, but I’ve been feeling restless lately.”
“That’s fine, Son. Looks like Seamus enjoyed it, too.” He clapped him on the shoulder. “Let’s head on in. Your grandmother’s probably waiting.”
“Will Mom be joining us?”
“She should be. She was very excited about bringing her wares into the store this morning, but she should be back anytime.” He looked up and smiled. “Ah, there she is now.” They both washed their hands briefly in the bucket beside the well, before heading over to meet her in the drive.
“Hello Luke, Sweetheart. Holden, Dear. How are you?” Lily asked. “How was your morning?”
“Very good…productive.” Holden answered. “The good Lord has sent us some mighty fine weather this week.”
“Rain at night, sunshine in the day.” Lily concurred. “We couldn’t ask for more, could we?”
“Certainly not.” Holden smiled back at both of them.
“But how was your morning, Momma?” Luke asked taking her hand. “Were your wares well received?”
“Yes, they were. Better than I could have hoped.” She smiled warmly at her son, squeezing his hand. “Thank you for asking, Sweetheart.”
“Luke! Luke!” a small voice cried from the doorway. “Grandma says it’s time for dinner!”
Lily sighed. “I’ve tried to teach him not to shout for us like that.” she said kindly.
“I’ll talk to him.” Luke said, heading over to where Ethan had stood a moment before. He heard his parents’ voices as he walked away.
“He’ll learn, Lily…in time. Remember when Luke was that age?”
“Oh Holden, I do.” Her voice sounded sweet to Luke, as he listened in. “But it seems like yesterday, and it was…oh my, twelve years ago now. He’s so grown up.” She sighed. “Before we know it, he’ll have children of his own. And he’ll be a wonderful father, Holden. He’s had such a good example.” Luke turned around just in time to see her lay a hand on his father’s cheek and kiss him softly.
Luke smiled, feeling so lucky. He had his health, a happy family, a life he really enjoyed, and soon he would receive his diploma from secondary school - the first Snyder ever to do so.
Luke knew that not all of his friends were so lucky. Sure, his parents had their worries - would Aaron ever end his wild days and was Faith growing up too fast? And they had had their difficult times - those two miscarriages and, his heart broke to remember, the loss of baby Emma, who’d been only two when she’d been taken by Influenza. But then Ethan had come along two years after that, bringing the sunshine back with him.
Other friends’ families had suffered similar trials but had seemed so much worse for the wear. They all attended church with the Snyders and that faith certainly helped. But it wasn’t enough for some. Some of them looked so weighed down by life, like they were just trying to squeak by. Their zest for life seemed to come and go with the weather. Luke knew that his family’s happiness rested on the rock of Holden and Lily’s love for them and for each other.
His parents seemed genuinely in-love with each other, even after more than twenty years of marriage. They never looked astray, never seemed to have eyes for anyone but each other. Luke would sometimes hear rumors of other, less ideal, marriages - never divorce, thank goodness, but flirting, crossing the line, some times infidelity. What always made him most sad was seeing how unhappy these people seemed to be, like they wished they’d never married because now they felt trapped. Luke’s parents never looked trapped.
When Luke was younger, he’d felt sure that he would grow up to be just like his parents. He would run the farm, be married, and have children; and life would be good, so good. He’d had no reason to doubt that. His parents had taught him, through words and example, that a person could be good, generous, productive, and happy in their life.
For the most part, he still felt sure of all of that. He loved his family; he had good friends; he enjoyed farm life and he was becoming one of the young leaders in the church; and he would earn his diploma in two months time.
Now he was dating Maddie; that was the only confusing part of his life. He’d known her for so many years; they’d grown up together. He cared for her and they had so much in common. He respected her and thought she was very pretty. He was happy. But lately there was a small voice of doubt - the way his mother and father would look at each other - that seemed different somehow to the way he felt about Maddie. Perhaps that would come in time. He’d never felt as much for any other girl before; and she was the first girl he’d ever dated - ever wanted to date. Perhaps she was the one.
He’d asked his mother once about it. How do you know when you’ve found the right person to marry? Is it because you have a lot in common? Or you think they’re beautiful? Or you respect them? He’d asked.
She’d responded that those things were important, but that there wasn’t a ready-answer. Trust me, Luke. You’ll know. She’d laid a hand on his heart. You’ll just know, in here.
Luke felt better, remembering her words, and he tucked away his doubts and worries - at least for a few more hours. He took off his boots and dirty shirt, hanging them on the hook - and put on his cleaner one for the meal. When he entered the kitchen, he went straight to the sink to wash up in the dishpan, and then kissed his grandmother on the cheek, peeking over her shoulder at the food.
He walked around to the other side of the table. “Can I sit beside you, Pigtails?” he asked as he gave Natalie’s braids a gentle tug.
She laughed quietly. “Do you think I’m too old for that nickname? Faith thinks so.” She said. “She also thinks I shouldn’t put my hair in braids all the time…that it makes me look like a tomboy.”
“Well, there’s nothing wrong with that. I guess it all depends on how you feel. You have been a tomboy for quite a while. Are you alright with that?”
She thought for a moment, and then said. “Yes, I am. Besides which, I don’t want to be always asking, ‘How does my hair look? Should I wear this frock today?’ like Faith is.”
“I know you don’t.” He said, laughing quietly and giving her shoulder a gentle squeeze. “But remember, there’s nothing wrong with Faith being like that either. She can be who she is, and you can be you.”
She smiled her thirteen-year-old smile at him with a nod. And then shortly after everyone was at the table, they bowed their heads for a blessing and thanked Emma before they all dug in, sharing their tales of the morning.
next part/
Title: Perception
Genre/Type: Romance, Period fic
Rating: PG-13 to NC-17
Characters/Pairings: Luke/Reid, Lily/Holden, Casey, Katie, Maddie, Henry, among others.
Warnings: Nope
Summary: The year is 1898, and the town is Oakdale. Luke lives on Snyder Farm; Reid’s a doctor in Chicago. You’ll figure the rest out.
This story is based on a prompt from the winning-bidder of my fic on the Japan Auction, which was, I know, eons ago. So, thank you to Smoothlikebutta for this very fun prompt! It's not finished yet, but she gave me her gracious permission to start posting it anyway; so thank you to her for that as well!
**Warning, this chapter is a tad sappy...
Thank you to Slayerkitty, my wonderful beta!
Chapter 1
Seamus rounded the corner, speeding up as soon as he hit the field. Luke looked up, knowing he would see the familiar landscape, his home, the farm. His father waved to him from behind the plow and Luke waved back. He made his way to the barn, made sure that Seamus was content, gave a quick hello to Ginger in the next stall, before heading out to the field.
It was mid-March and his dad had been plowing most of the morning, needing to get the seeds in soon. Casey would be there in the afternoon, like he was almost every afternoon until school let out, to help out in the busy spring planting season. But this Saturday morning it had only been him and his father. Luke, even with all the hard physical labor, had felt restless, so his father had encouraged him to go for a ride before the noon meal.
It was noon now, and the sun felt good on his shoulders as he made his way over. “Thanks for that break, Dad. I needed it. I don’t know why, but I’ve been feeling restless lately.”
“That’s fine, Son. Looks like Seamus enjoyed it, too.” He clapped him on the shoulder. “Let’s head on in. Your grandmother’s probably waiting.”
“Will Mom be joining us?”
“She should be. She was very excited about bringing her wares into the store this morning, but she should be back anytime.” He looked up and smiled. “Ah, there she is now.” They both washed their hands briefly in the bucket beside the well, before heading over to meet her in the drive.
“Hello Luke, Sweetheart. Holden, Dear. How are you?” Lily asked. “How was your morning?”
“Very good…productive.” Holden answered. “The good Lord has sent us some mighty fine weather this week.”
“Rain at night, sunshine in the day.” Lily concurred. “We couldn’t ask for more, could we?”
“Certainly not.” Holden smiled back at both of them.
“But how was your morning, Momma?” Luke asked taking her hand. “Were your wares well received?”
“Yes, they were. Better than I could have hoped.” She smiled warmly at her son, squeezing his hand. “Thank you for asking, Sweetheart.”
“Luke! Luke!” a small voice cried from the doorway. “Grandma says it’s time for dinner!”
Lily sighed. “I’ve tried to teach him not to shout for us like that.” she said kindly.
“I’ll talk to him.” Luke said, heading over to where Ethan had stood a moment before. He heard his parents’ voices as he walked away.
“He’ll learn, Lily…in time. Remember when Luke was that age?”
“Oh Holden, I do.” Her voice sounded sweet to Luke, as he listened in. “But it seems like yesterday, and it was…oh my, twelve years ago now. He’s so grown up.” She sighed. “Before we know it, he’ll have children of his own. And he’ll be a wonderful father, Holden. He’s had such a good example.” Luke turned around just in time to see her lay a hand on his father’s cheek and kiss him softly.
Luke smiled, feeling so lucky. He had his health, a happy family, a life he really enjoyed, and soon he would receive his diploma from secondary school - the first Snyder ever to do so.
Luke knew that not all of his friends were so lucky. Sure, his parents had their worries - would Aaron ever end his wild days and was Faith growing up too fast? And they had had their difficult times - those two miscarriages and, his heart broke to remember, the loss of baby Emma, who’d been only two when she’d been taken by Influenza. But then Ethan had come along two years after that, bringing the sunshine back with him.
Other friends’ families had suffered similar trials but had seemed so much worse for the wear. They all attended church with the Snyders and that faith certainly helped. But it wasn’t enough for some. Some of them looked so weighed down by life, like they were just trying to squeak by. Their zest for life seemed to come and go with the weather. Luke knew that his family’s happiness rested on the rock of Holden and Lily’s love for them and for each other.
His parents seemed genuinely in-love with each other, even after more than twenty years of marriage. They never looked astray, never seemed to have eyes for anyone but each other. Luke would sometimes hear rumors of other, less ideal, marriages - never divorce, thank goodness, but flirting, crossing the line, some times infidelity. What always made him most sad was seeing how unhappy these people seemed to be, like they wished they’d never married because now they felt trapped. Luke’s parents never looked trapped.
When Luke was younger, he’d felt sure that he would grow up to be just like his parents. He would run the farm, be married, and have children; and life would be good, so good. He’d had no reason to doubt that. His parents had taught him, through words and example, that a person could be good, generous, productive, and happy in their life.
For the most part, he still felt sure of all of that. He loved his family; he had good friends; he enjoyed farm life and he was becoming one of the young leaders in the church; and he would earn his diploma in two months time.
Now he was dating Maddie; that was the only confusing part of his life. He’d known her for so many years; they’d grown up together. He cared for her and they had so much in common. He respected her and thought she was very pretty. He was happy. But lately there was a small voice of doubt - the way his mother and father would look at each other - that seemed different somehow to the way he felt about Maddie. Perhaps that would come in time. He’d never felt as much for any other girl before; and she was the first girl he’d ever dated - ever wanted to date. Perhaps she was the one.
He’d asked his mother once about it. How do you know when you’ve found the right person to marry? Is it because you have a lot in common? Or you think they’re beautiful? Or you respect them? He’d asked.
She’d responded that those things were important, but that there wasn’t a ready-answer. Trust me, Luke. You’ll know. She’d laid a hand on his heart. You’ll just know, in here.
Luke felt better, remembering her words, and he tucked away his doubts and worries - at least for a few more hours. He took off his boots and dirty shirt, hanging them on the hook - and put on his cleaner one for the meal. When he entered the kitchen, he went straight to the sink to wash up in the dishpan, and then kissed his grandmother on the cheek, peeking over her shoulder at the food.
He walked around to the other side of the table. “Can I sit beside you, Pigtails?” he asked as he gave Natalie’s braids a gentle tug.
She laughed quietly. “Do you think I’m too old for that nickname? Faith thinks so.” She said. “She also thinks I shouldn’t put my hair in braids all the time…that it makes me look like a tomboy.”
“Well, there’s nothing wrong with that. I guess it all depends on how you feel. You have been a tomboy for quite a while. Are you alright with that?”
She thought for a moment, and then said. “Yes, I am. Besides which, I don’t want to be always asking, ‘How does my hair look? Should I wear this frock today?’ like Faith is.”
“I know you don’t.” He said, laughing quietly and giving her shoulder a gentle squeeze. “But remember, there’s nothing wrong with Faith being like that either. She can be who she is, and you can be you.”
She smiled her thirteen-year-old smile at him with a nod. And then shortly after everyone was at the table, they bowed their heads for a blessing and thanked Emma before they all dug in, sharing their tales of the morning.
next part/