by Danni Roan
Constance glared at the old man. She didn’t think she was ready to share her husband’s affections with a tiny human yet.
“You come on into town at the end of the month and see me. By then you’ll know for sure. In the mean time you tell grandma Wooster what I think, and she’ll take care of you.”
“I just want to look after Abuelo,” Constance said wearily. “I want him to be comfortable.”
“You’re good for him,” Doc offered kindly patting the young woman on the shoulder. “Just let him know you’re taking care of yourself as well.”
Constance sniffed slightly as she rose and thanked the doctor. “I’ll make sure he knows.”
“Come on into the kitchen,” Grandma Wooster insisted as the doctor stepped out into the hall. “I’ll make you a cup of coffee and you can have a piece of custard pie.”
Doc Walker smiled following the feisty little white haired woman into her own private domain.
“I heard what you said to our Constance,” Grandma said as she placed a cup of coffee and a slice of still warm pie on the table. “I been expectin’ as much, so’s you don’t fuss, I’ll look after the chit.”
“And who’s going to look after you Grandma?” Doc asked with a grin. “You‘re not getting any younger either you know.”
“Pah!” Grandma spat, picking up her own pie and coffee then taking a seat. “I have no intentions of slowing down just yet, you old goat,” she chafed. “Other than a bout of lumbago now and again, I’m fit as a fiddle.”
Doc Walker chuckled. Old Mrs. Wooster was well known all over Biders Clump for her plain speech and her little bottles of special medicine, but she was a good hearted woman who would go out of her way to help any soul in need.
It was no wonder that when her grandson, Ferd, had found Constance and her grandfather trying to make a go on a small farm in the mountains, he had brought them back to Biders Clump. When he’d finally convinced Constance to marry him, the whole family had been thrilled.
“Is there anything you can do for the Marjor?” Grandma finally asked seriously.
“I’m afraid that age and ill health is catching up with him,” Doc admitted with a sad shake of his head.
“I’ll do all I can to keep him comfortable, but even if he gets through this, he’s not getting any stronger.”
Doc finished his pie and coffee. “You call me if I’m needed,” he said picking up his bag. “I’ll see myself out.”
***
Constance walked into her Abuelo’s room quietly, her dark eyes sad as she took in his lean form propped on heavy pillows.
“Constance,” the old man smiled pushing himself up with effort.
“Abuelo, you didn’t finish your soup.”
“I am not hungry,” the old man said, his words clipped and full of authority.
“You need to get your strength back.”
The old man waved his hand in the air. “You worry too much.”
Constance smiled happy to see a bit of spunk back in her grandfather. “Will you eat for me?” she pleaded.
Howard Jupiter grinned at his granddaughter, the little girl that he’d rescued so many years ago, was fierce, loyal and devoted, and he loved her.
“Where is that Ferd today?” he asked letting her set the tray over his lap.
“He’s in town doing his rounds,” she said tucking a napkin under his chin.
“You are a lucky young woman,” the old man said. “Ferd is a good man.”
Constance smiled. Ferd was indeed a good man. Still it was always fun to get him wound up, he always tried so hard to be polite, but it was most fun when he got all hot under the collar.
“You shouldn’t annoy that young man so much,” the major said as if reading her mind. “He’ll do anything for you.”
Constance smiled. “You know I love Ferd Abuelo, but I don’t want him to get too comfortable just yet.”
The old man chuckled lifting his spoon.
“Ferd says that the Sheriff would love to have you back once you feel better,” Constance spoke encouragingly.
The Major shook his head. “I don’t think he needs me anymore. Jasper has stopped his crazy driving and uses a buggy like a sane person now.”
“That doesn’t mean you aren’t wanted anymore,” Constance said. “Ferd doesn’t have nearly enough time to do everything, and besides I’d like to have him home a little more.”
The Major looked up at Constance his eyes unfocused. “We’ll be having an officer’s dinner tonight my dear, put on your best dress,” he said returning to his meal and eating hardily.
Constance nodded a tear springing to her eye. “Of course Abuelo,” she said. “I’ll be ready.”
Abuelo’s lost time had been worse since he’d been ill again, and she prayed every day that he would feel better soon. It grieved her to see him confused or living in the past.
As the old man finished his soup growing sleepy with the effort Constance gathered the tray, kissing him on the forehead as she left.
“Is he sleeping?” Grandma Wooster asked as Constance came back into the kitchen with the tray. “His cough is better, but he’s still weak.”
“Yes, he’s sleeping. I’m really worried about him.”
Grandma turned laying her hand on the young woman’s arm. “Now you sit down and rest,” she commanded. “I’ll fetch you a cup of tea and some molasses cookies.”
“Grandma I’m fine,” Constance said. She’d learned long ago that everyone called Mrs. Wooster Grandma regardless of age. The little woman might not leave the farm much anymore, but she still made everyone jump when she said boo.
“I said sit,” the old woman said brandishing a wooden spoon that she’d been using to stir the beans. “I’ll join you,” she added with a sweet smile.
Chapter 17
Rock placed the straight razor back in his shaving mug and checked his chin in the mirror.
“You getting’ all dolled up to see that little woman again,” Billings one of the other hands of the Rocking A, and an old friend teased.
“As a matter of fact I am,” Rock replied. “You jealous?”
Billings threw a towel at the bigger man and laughed. “No thank you, I don’t need no one else bossin’ me around. I ride for the brand and for Cam Royal and the girls. That’s all I’ll ever need.”
“Miss Bigsby don’t boss me,” Rock said picking up the towel and wiping the last of the sweet smelling shaving foam from his face.
“You sure cleaned up nice,” Billings mused. “Plannin’ on kissing her tonight or something?” Billings asked flinching when Rock turned to scowl at him.
“It ain’t like that,” Rock said his dark eyes flashing, “and besides a gentleman don’t kiss and tell anyway.”
Billings chuckled. Rock was such an easy going man for someone his size that it was fun teasing him.
“Miss Bigsby and me are just passing time,” Rock continued pulling a crisp clean shirt over his shoulders and buttoning it. “We’re friends like.”
Billings eyed his long time friend wondering. Rock had never really shown an interest in a woman before and this rather surprised him. He knew that Rock had a big heart, and he’d spent a good deal of time helping out the Ratners before Noah had returned. Perhaps he was looking for some other way to fill his spare time.
“Well whatever it is,” Billings finally spoke. “I hope you have a nice time. What are ya doin’ this evenin’ anyway?”
Rock could feel his ears growing warm as he looked up. “Miss Bigsby didn’t say,” he admitted.
Billings’ howls of laughter chasted Rock from the bunkhouse as he hurried to saddle Pal and head for town.
***
“Evenin’ Rock,” George greeted when the big cowboy finally knocked on the boarding house door. “Miss Bigsby is waiting for you in the parlor,” the older man added stepping aside and closing the door. “See ya later,” he finished walking back toward the kitchen.
Rock pulled the hat from his head a
nd stepped into the room. Miss Bigsby was sitting on the settee with a book in her hands.
“Good evening,” she greeted her bright smile warming his heart. It was nice to have someone other than your horse looking for you at the end of the day.
“Evenin’,” Rock offered turning his hat in his hand. He knew this was all just make-believe, but that didn’t stop the flutter in his middle.
Mary Ellen rose walking toward the big man. He had shaved and a soft hint of shaving spice wafted toward her. She’d never had a man call on her in her life, and it was sweet that Rock would have gone to such trouble. “I thought we’d go for a little walk,” she said moving toward him. “Will that be alright?”
“Yes ma’am,” Rock agreed stepping back toward the front door and grabbing her dark coat.
Mary Ellen smiled as Rock helped her into her coat. He certainly wasn’t going to go on half measures for this farce. “You’re quite the gentleman,” she said as he opened the door and ushered them out into the evening sun.
“I don’t know about that,” Rock said awkwardly, “I just remember my pa always did such things for my ma. He was just a farmer, but he believed in doing things the best you knew how.”
“Your father must have been a wise man,” Mary Ellen commented.
Rock rolled his big shoulders under his heavy coat. It had been a long time since he’d thought of his parents.
“Where would you like to go?” he asked looking up and down the street once they were on the stoop.
“I thought it might be nice to walk out toward Bruno and Janine’s place. Not to go all the way or anything, but the road is so lovely with all that pink granite scattered about.”
Rock smiled. “It is right pretty isn’t it?”
Mary Ellen took his arm as they stepped down into the street and started across.
“So how was your day?” She asked making small talk. She hoped to find a quiet spot along the way to sit and visit a while but couldn’t think of anything else to say at the moment.
“Fine, fine,” Rock said. “We’ve had a passel of new calves born this week, and we’re keepin’ an eye on them. We’ll do the big round up come the end of April and then select the cattle to send to market.”
“Oh, I’m sorry I’ll miss that,” Mary Ellen mused. She couldn’t afford to stay longer than a couple more weeks.
“It’s mostly just noise and dust,” Rock said.
“It must be hard work,” Mary Ellen said turning to look up at him as a man trotted toward them on a brown and white horse.
Rock grabbed Miss Bigsby by the waist swinging her up onto the boardwalk behind the heavy rail and ignoring her squeal of protest as Tywyn trotted toward them. As the former marshal approached, Rock leapt for the walkway himself, but the big horse lunged for him grabbing the elbow of his coat in glinting teeth at the last moment and almost pulling him down.
“Chip!” Tywyn Nelson bellowed jerking the horse back, making the brute prance and snort. “I’m sorry about that Rock,” Ty said keeping a tight rein on his horse who hunched his back uncooperatively. “Chip’s been in a foul mood all day, ever since Jill took Aaron over to visit Lucinda this afternoon and hasn’t come back yet.”
“Mr. Bannon, are you all right?” Mary Ellen asked reaching for Rock’s arm. “I must say you startled me, but you aren’t injured are you?”
“No ma’am,” the big cowboy said with a chuckle. “He just got my coat is all.”
“I’m sorry if we frightened you miss…” Ty sat up straighter a questioning look in his dark eyes.
“This is Miss Bigsby,” Rock announced proudly. “We were headed out for a walk.”
“Well I’m sorry Miss Bigsby. Chip hasn’t been this bad in a long time,” he said with a shake of his head as he held tight to his surly mount.
“Why didn’t Jillian take Chip today?” Rock asked. “He’s a lamb with her and Aaron.”
Ty shook his head. “She didn’t know if Chip would be alright around Sasha. She’s such a little thing and all.”
“Well if you ask me you’d best get the brute over to the Druthers’ place and let him know his baby’s fine. Maybe he’ll decide to behave himself again. Maybe if he sees Aaron playing with Sasha it’ll help too.”
Ty chuckled. “I’m headed there now. I didn’t want Jill to drive home alone in the dark anyway. She likes to go visit Lucinda and the children when Willem’s away for work. They’ve become good friends.”
Ty turned Chip down the street once more, with a wave, headed out past the livery stable at a good clip and hoping he wouldn’t have any more trouble.
“What a horrible creature,” Mary Ellen said. “I can’t believe he went for you, and you hadn’t done a thing.”
“That’s just Chip’s way,” Rock said with a grin as Mary Ellen examined the spot on Rock’s coat that the horse’s teeth had grasped.
“It isn’t torn,” she said looking up at him. “You’re very forgiving for just being attacked.” She added with a grin.
“Mostly Chip only takes out his meanness on Ty anymore,” Rock said. “Though not so long ago he caught a bad man who was theivin’ something terrible from folks. That fella arrived about the time that Lucinda and Mrs. Farrow did. We thought for a while that maybe he wanted to marry Lucinda, but she fell in love with Willem. Anyway, Chip’s all right. You should see him with that tike of Jill’s. Only a little while ago the beast attacked Mr. Williams horseless carriage because the man sprayed mud all over little Aaron when he drove by.”
“You’re joking?” Mary Ellen chided eyes wide.
“Nope not at all,” Rock insisted offering her his arm once more and starting off along the road.
They meandered along the road a while until they came to a little copse of trees glowing with the sun’s rays. “Could we perhaps sit a while?” Mary Ellen asked seeing a likely log.
“Yes ma’am.” Rock said veering off and helping her over the edge of the road.
“I thought perhaps we could sit and I could read a bit to you from one of Quil’s books,” she suggested hopefully as they settled on the log, the westward bound sun shining on their faces.
“That’d be right nice,” Rock agreed. “Will you be warm enough?” he asked looking at the level of the sun.
“I think I’ll be fine for a while,” Mary Ellen agreed, opening to the first page.
Rock sat next to the little woman studying her as she began to read the words he’d always struggled so much with. Her soft voice filled his ears and the words seemed to spring to life before him.
As Rock watched, Miss Bigsby seemed to come alive as if lit by some inner fire that lifted each word like sparks from a campfire. She was lovely, and the subtle streaks of silver among her light brown locks seemed to shimmer in the rays of the dying sun.
The burdens of the day seemed to slip off Rock’s shoulders as Mary Ellen’s voice poured over him taking him into a world similar to his own yet even fuller with its singular tale.
“That was right pretty,” he said as she closed the book at the end of the first chapter when the rays of the sun had turned to crimson above the high peaks.
“Thank you,” Mary Ellen said turning to look at Rock. The last brilliant hues of the setting sun washed over his rugged face setting it aglow as if the warmth in his heart was shining from within and Mary Ellen sighed. It was fun pretending to be this man’s girl, but also sad that in too short a time she would have to leave once more.
Rock reached out and took the woman’s little hand in his. Her fingers were cool and he took her other hand warming them with his own.
Despite the chill in the air, he felt warm all over, and he felt the flame at the heart of the disappearing sun flare in his chest. “I didn’t know words could be so pretty,” he said looking into the woman’s face.
Mary Ellen felt the warmth pour into her cheeks at Rock’s words. She knew he was talking about the book, but the way he was looking at her made her feel like he was speaking of her, and she felt
strangely shy and beautiful at the same time.
“Thank you,” she whispered. “You’re very kind.”
Rock watched Miss Bigsby’s lips moving and couldn’t seem to look away. He wanted to lean in to them, to taste them like a humming bird sipped at a blossom.
The sound of a horse and buggy coming their way made them both look up to see Ty driving the buggy with Jillian next to him while their nearly two year old son giggled as he clutched Chip’s mane.
Rock smiled waving as the family drove by. “See I told you,” he said. “That boy is probably safer on that horse than he is anywhere else in the world.”
Chapter 18
The next week seemed to fly by in good company, and Mary Ellen was having a wonderful time. She’d come to know many of the people in Biders Clump and felt truly vested in their daily lives and cares.
Still it was Rock that made her eyes light up at the end of the day when he’d stop in to bid her good evening, or take her to the Grist Mill for a cup of tea and a chat with Prissy or Rupert.
Mary Ellen knew that it was just for fun, but she couldn’t seem to stop the flutter that filled her heart when the big man called asking if she’d like to take a walk or even go on a carriage ride.
Some days she read to him, and others they simply talked about their lives and where they had come from. It was obvious Rock wasn’t used to talking much, but he seemed to open up and feel comfortable with her.
“Did you hear that Mr. Ratner finally declared that the family is leaving tomorrow?” he asked one evening as they sat on the front porch with Polly and George.
“What about Matrice?” Mary Ellen asked laying her hand on his are in deep concern. “Has he agreed to let her marry Francis?”
Rock shook his head. “I guess Pastor Dalton tried to talk Noah into staying a little longer, at least until they heard from the elders and the priests from the valley where Francis is from, but Noah said he couldn’t wait anymore.”
Mary Ellen placed her hand over her heart, feeling the despair that must have taken hold of Francis and Matrice at her father’s final word.
