Winter's Worth

by Danni Roan

  “No ma’am,” Toby said. “It’s just that she’s my little sister.”

  Ruth looked between the children. Sasha had stolen her heart from Lucinda’s wedding day and Toby was working his way in as well.

  “Sasha why were you picking up the knife?” Mrs. Farrow asked seriously.

  “I wanted to eat some of it.”

  “Turn around and let me braid your hair,” Ruth said. “I hope you’ve learned your lesson.” She looked at both children who nodded.

  “I’m really sorry Gramma,” Sasha said letting Ruth run the brush through her hair. “I love you and I didn’t mean to ruin your special party.”

  Something quivered in Ruth’s heart, and she thought carefully about the losses these two children had gone through.

  “I love you too children,” she said simply opening her arms and squeezing them tight.

  Chapter 12

  “It’s nice to sit in a chair,” Matrice commented as she sat by a warm fire mending clothes. “I might even get caught up with mending if things go this way a bit longer.”

  Agnes looked over at her daughter who sat in a small rocking chair working on a tear in her brother’s britches. “It is nice to sit a spell and to be warm.

  The two smaller children had been put to bed and were finally a sleep. They’d bounced and giggled in the warm beds in the back room for far too long.

  “You like bein’ settled?” Agnes asked as she brushed out her heavy winter coat.

  “I like being warm,” Matrice said with a smile. “I also like having enough room to raise my elbow without hitting someone else,” she finished flapping her elbows like a bird.

  Agnes laughed. She knew they couldn’t stay long, and that when Noah finally caught up they’d move on to a quiet place where they could do some farming. She prayed everyday that her man would find them soon, but worry still crept in.

  “You’re worrying about papa aren’t you?” Matrice said.

  “Yes,” Agnes had stopped trying to hide her worry from her oldest child a long time ago. “If I knew where he was, I’d try to send a letter along.”

  “He had a lot of work to do to pay for everything didn’t he?” Matrice asked.

  “Yes, I’m afraid so. It was the only way to make a change, but I wish we’d have stayed.”

  “If we’d have stayed, we never would have been able to afford to go. Papa would have been working to feed, cloth, and keep a roof over us. This way he could stay with friends and only need to feed himself.”

  Agnes nodded. They’d been over it a dozen times at least and she and Noah had agreed this was the best way to go. Still she worried. What if something had happened to him? What if he’d been hurt or fallen ill?

  There were so many obstacles to overcome, so much that was unknown. She looked up into the serious eyes of her daughter and smiled softly.

  She and Noah had made this decision for Matrice and Atrum and Beatrix. This was a new start for them away from the old repressive issues of their southern home.

  “It will be alright Mama,” Matrice said reaching across the space and grasping her mother’s wrist. “Have a little faith.”

  Agnes nodded laying a hand over her daughter’s slim one.

  “I want so much more for you honey,” Agnes said studying her daughters softly rounded face. “I want you to live someplace where people don’t judge you by the way you look but by the worth of your spirit.”

  “I know,” Matrice said with a sigh as she returned to her work. “You know I love sewing,” she said changing the subject abruptly. “Do you think that one day I could be a seamstress and make fancy dresses for folks?”

  Agnes nodded. “You have a fine hand, and a neat stitch.”

  “Maybe someday I’ll even be able to afford one of those fancy sewing machines,” the girl continued as she worked. “You know the ones with the pedal that you push with your foot to make the needle go. It must save hours of work making a dress or shirt.”

  “I’d sure love to see you settled and having a place like that,” Agnes agreed. “You have a whole life a head of you.”

  Matrice smiled. “Maybe someday I’ll have a handsome husband too, and you can have grandbabies.”

  Agnes raised a brow. “You have time honey. Don’t rush your life?”

  Matrice nodded. “How do you know if someone is the right one?” she asked.

  Agnes looked at her daughter puzzled by her train of thought. “You just know I guess,” she said. “Your pa and me we come together during a hard time. He’d lost his folks and I’d lost mine. We were sad and lonely and the world was a mess.”

  Matrice watched her mother. Her hands had grown still from her brushing and she looked across the room not seeing anything.

  “Noah was a hard worker and he understood me.”

  “So you fell in love right away?” Matrice asked hopefully.

  “I wouldn’t say that, no. We looked out for each other at first but came to love each other. I could always count on Noah to keep my heart safe,” Agnes finished her eyes growing sad. “I wish I knew where he was.”

  Matrice rose taking the coat from her mother’s hands. “Why don’t you go to bed Mama,” she urged gently. “It’s been a long day, and you’ll feel better tomorrow when the sun is shining and a new day begins.”

  Agnes rose hugging her daughter tight before hanging her coat on a hook by the mantle.

  “Good-night honey,” she said. “Don’t work too late now.”

  Matrice watched her mother head to the only other bedroom in the house. It wasn’t much of a house, but it was warm and had enough room for the family, even if she would have to share a bed with her mother.

  Adding another log to the fire she picked up the pants she’d been mending a set of warm brown eyes swimming in her mind as the face of Francis came to her.

  Perhaps her mother hadn’t known from the beginning that she loved her father, but Matrice was sure of one thing. Francis was the man for her.

  Setting her fingers to work once more Matrice pondered their meeting. Would she see the handsome Indian man again? Perhaps she could persuade her mother into going to town. She wanted to get to know the man with the long ebony hair and quick smile.

  Matrice shook he head. What was it about the man that she couldn’t get him out of her head or her heart?

  It was silly really, she’d be moving on to wherever her parents settled in a relatively short time. Ideas of romance, love and marriage were not part of this journey.

  A heavy weight settled in Matrice’s heart as she thought of leaving Francis behind. She knew it wasn’t practical. She knew it couldn’t work. They were both from two different worlds. Still her heart seemed to search the darkness for him even now.

  Finishing the last of her work Matrice snipped the tread, folded the trousers neatly, and headed off to bed. Perhaps tomorrow would bring new hope for her heart.

  Chapter 13

  “You should have seen it Byron,” George Olson chortled as he sat in the tiny apartment at the front of the livery with his oldest friend. “Toby covered from head to toe in that fancy cake,” he added with a chuckle.

  “You don’t say?” Byron asked moving a marble over to a new divot in the tin pan of Chinese checkers.

  “I thought Mrs. Farrow was gonna blow her top for sure, she was bawlin’ and ranting at the boy so.”

  “Trouble seems to follow that boy,” Byron said. “I’m just surprised that Billy Stanley wasn’t in the mix.”

  “I kinda thought that when Lucinda married Willem, Toby would settle down a bit.” George mused.

  “Well he ain’t been in as much trouble of late,” Byron commented. “It’s your turn again if you’d quit jawin’ so much and pay attention.”

  George looked down at the board pondering the marbles then made his move. “You should have come to the party Byron.”

  “I was busy,” the grizzled old man said, tugging at his beard.

  “Busy? Doin’ what?”

&
nbsp; Byron pulled a crumpled book from his back pocket and waved it in front of George’s nose. “I was catchin’ up on Quil’s latest story. That’s what I was doing,” he huffed.

  “You read ‘em too?” George leaned across the table and spoke in a conspirator’s whisper.

  “I do, and I ain’t ashamed to say so. These is good tales, they is. Why who knew all the things folks could get up to in a little town. Heart break, happiness, love, loss, it’s all right here between the pages,” he said emphasizing his words with a slap to the book cover.

  “You don’t think the women folk will say we’ve gone soft do ya?” George asked. “I been sneakin’ out to the barn to read Polly’s copy.”

  “What if they do?” Byron said. “Ain’t women folk always nattering on about men being too serious or un-romantical and the like? Well maybe if we read a few of these here little stories, we’ll understand what they’s on about.”

  George laughed, he’d never thought of it that way. “How do I know you ain’t studying up to find a wife?” he finally asked making Byron splutter.

  “A wife? A wife? Me! Have you completely lost your mind George Olson? I’m a dyed in the wool, one hundred percent, confirmed bachelor and that’s that.”

  George chuckled he loved nothing better than getting Bryon worked up, especially if he was losing a game to the old coot. Well maybe he did love Polly’s cookies a little better, but it was a close thing.

  “Either way,” George said, “I reckon it don’t hurt to see what all the fuss is about with these here books. I get the impression that Quil surely loves writing them, and they probably give her a sense of security if times get bad.”

  Byron nodded sagely. “I reckon anything that brings in a little extra puts that girl’s mind at ease, and now with a little one to see to even more so.”

  “Best thing that ever happened to that family was when Cameron Royal rode into town,” George agreed.

  “Well that was good but Sarah and Rafe done their part too,” Byron commented. “And that bank robbery a few years ago now didn’t hurt either.”

  George shook his head. “I guess all of those things did add up to bringing about an end to the family feud.” Slowly he pulled a pocket watch from his coat and flipped it open studying the time.

  “Near lunch time,” he offered. “You wanna come on over and see what Polly’s got on today?”

  “I’ll do that,” Byron agreed rising, his game forgotten. A heavy knock on the door made the old hostler groan. “You go on without me George I’ll catch up in a bit. I’ll get whoever that is settled then come on over to the boarding house. Make sure the coffee’s good and hot.”

  George followed his friend to the door. “Why hello there Francis,” he offered. “You headed somewhere?”

  “What-cha’ need?” Byron asked with a scowl.

  “I need a horse,” Francis said. “Doc Walker is sending me out to bring Miss Janine her tea.”

  “Oh is that all,” Byron said shrugging into his coat. “You go on and grab that gelding over there. I’m going to lunch.”

  Francis watched as the two older men closed the door and walked out of the barn.

  “See you later,” he called after their retreating form.

  Turning on the balls of his feet he headed into the stable to retrieve a mount. It wasn’t as if he couldn’t saddle a horse.

  He wondered as he hung his saddle bags over a peg if he’d have time to swing by the camp where the dark beauty was staying.

  He’d love to see her again. Matrice, her name was like bird song.

  Checking the girth from sheer habit, Francis led the horse out to the street and swung aboard. Yes, he’d deliver the special tea he and Doc had made to help settle Janine’s stomach and then he’d go find the woman who had stolen his heart.

  Kicking his horse into a trot Francis wondered what the priests back home would think of his declaration of love. Could someone truly love at first glimpse?

  Could a woman like that care for someone that many perceived as a painted savage? His tribe, nestled in the valley in Nevada, had been at peace for many years. Still other people might not accept him the way the people of Biders Clump had.

  Perhaps he would write to the elders and ask them what to do.

  ***

  “Good morning Francis,” Janine greeted opening the door to the lean young man. “Please come in. I’m afraid we weren’t expecting you.”

  “Doc said bring you the tea,” Francis said with a shrug as he stepped through the door.

  “Thank you,” Janine offered. “Won’t you stay for coffee? You could meet our new neighbors as well.”

  Janine led the way into the kitchen and Francis froze in the doorway as the object of his affection turned from the stove where she was removing a tray of cookies.

  Matrice turned the cookie tray in her hand and her breath caught as the brave stepped through the door and time froze.

  Janine was saying something, her voice a gentle buzzing in the background as Matrice’s eyes met Francise’s and the world tipped.

  “Ouch!” Matrice cried as the heat of the tray pushed through the dish towel she’d been using and she thrust the tray onto the stove with a clatter.

  In an instant Francis was taking her hand lifting it and blowing on the red imprint. His warm breath was cooling and seemed to make her head spin.

  “Are you hurt?” he asked, his words short and clipped.

  “I don’t think so,” Matrice replied still looking at his handsome face.

  “It isn’t a real burn just too hot I think,” Francis said turning her hand in his to examine it.

  Her dark skin seemed to glow in contrast to his bronzed hand, the two joining in an almost artistic embrace.

  “Coffee?” Janine asked pulling cups from the cupboard and smiling.

  Francis released Matrice’s hand and turned to his host.

  “Thank you,” he said pulling the packet of tea from his coat pocket and handing it to Janine. “Are you still sick in the mornings?” he asked.

  “I’ve been much better,” Janine said. “Please sit down both of you. Matrice came over today to see if I had any butter made and kindly offered to help with some of the heavy lifting. Bruno fusses so much.”

  Francis looked at the cookies that Matrice was now lifting onto a plate and grinned. They looked perfect, not over cooked at all.

  “Mama’s so happy we have a place to stay for a bit that we want to make sure we help out when we can. We’re staying in the other house at the end of the property,” she finished looking at Francis.

  Francis smiled, pleased to hear that the Ratners would not be leaving too soon. He didn’t know how to go about winning the heart of the beautiful Matrice, but at least he would have time to figure it out.

  “Matrice would you mind putting the cookies on the table?” Janine asked pouring coffee for each of them. “Please have a seat. It will be nice to have something hot on such a cold day.”

  Matrice took a seat across from Francis, smoothing her dress carefully as he adjusted his buckskin coat.

  Janine placed the cups before each of them studying the two closely. They seemed absorbed in some sort of gazing contest. As she looked at Francis, his eyes intent yet soft she smiled.

  Bruno had looked at her like that for as long as she could remember. Perhaps Francis was smitten.

  The sound of the door opening made Janine turn. Bruno had gone out to check on the sheep in the barn and she couldn’t wait for him to get back.

  “Hello,” Bruno said stepping to the table and placing a hand on Janine’s shoulder. “Good to see you Francis,” he greeted. “Matrice.”

  “Matrice helped me make cookies,” Janine smiled. “And Francis brought that tea that helps me when I’m sick.” She ran a hand over her tummy that was starting to show.

  “You stay seated Miss Janine,” Matrice offered. “I’ll fetch coffee.”

  “You don’t have to do that Matrice,” Janine protested, “but t
hank you.” she added.

  “How’s the house?” Bruno asked. “Did you get settled alright?”

  “It has been lovely being indoors these past few nights,” Matrice admitted. “I even caught up on mending and such.”

  “You sew?” Janine’s eyes were wide with hope.

  “My yes,” Janine said handing Bruno a cup of coffee and sliding the cookie plate toward him.

  “I’m afraid I don’t sew very well at all. Daddy wanted me to learn to embroider but I never took to it.”

  Matrice took her seat at the table again and managed to drag her eyes from Francis. “I’ll help if you’d like,” Matrice offered. “Mama says I’ve got a neat stitch.”

  “I’m sure you’d rather be doing something else,” Janine said. “Won’t your mother need you?”

  Bruno reached across the table and took Janine’s hand. “If it’s alright with your mother could we hire you to help Janine catch up with the mending and also teach her to sew a little?” he asked smiling at his wife. “She’s a fast learner and always tries hard.”

  Janine blushed prettily at the complement. There were so many things she’d learned to do since she’d married her hero.

  “I think I’d like that,” Matrice offered her eyes drawn back to the young man across from her who was quietly sipping his coffee. “I’m not sure what Mama will say though.”

  “Why don’t you ask her and while you’re at it tell her to bring your brother and sister and come for supper,” Bruno said with a smile. “It’s mighty nice having folks nearby.” He turned to Francis with a grin. “Would you be up to doing a little hunting with me today?” he asked. “Maybe we can scare up a venison or a few rabbits for the meal.”

  Francis nodded rising to his feet. He hadn’t been on a hunt since he’d arrived in Biders Clump and the idea was appealing. Perhaps if he brought back a deer it would impress Matrice as well.

  “I would like to hunt with you,” Francis stated seriously.

  “Oh good,” Janine said her eyes bright, “but Bruno you and Francis stop by and ask Mrs. Ratner to come for dinner and Matrice can stay and keep me company.”