Tattered Hearts: Mail Order Brides of Spring Water Book One

by Ball, Kathleen

  Walter cleared his throat. “Sondra, would you like to take a walk?”

  “Yes, fresh air might do me good. Will you be all right if we take a walk, Georgie?”

  “It sounds like a fine idea,” she managed to say. She only needed to hold on for a few minutes more, and then she could break down. Listening for the door to open and then shut, she finally sighed in relief.

  Poor Parker, it must have been devastating when he came home. It was time to stop feeling sorry for herself and start seeing things from her husband’s perspective. He probably didn’t fully trust women or their love. What a shame. He must have truly loved Rose, and perhaps he still did. A body could be mad at someone and still have intense feelings for that person.

  Somehow, she’d have to allow herself to get closer to him. She tilted her head back, hoping to stop the tears. After everything she’d lived through and then Taggart, she just couldn’t find it within her to be affectionate. It felt more like torture to allow anyone to touch her.

  It wasn’t a matter of trust. She trusted Parker, but she still shied away from intimacy. What if she became pregnant again? Was she strong enough to bear the grief if the next baby died too? How was she to buck up and be the wife she wanted to be; the wife she’d been before…?

  She pushed the chair back and went to the counter. She might as well get the vegetables chopped. She’d make one big potful of hearty stew with plenty to put into jars and set up in the root cellar. What had they done the previous winter? Maybe they’d used all of the canned food.

  She couldn’t figure out a way to let go of her fear. Once upon a time laughter and hugs had filled her days. How would she find her way back to the girl she had been then?

  She tried to put those troublesome thoughts from her mind as she readied the ingredients for supper. She’d be able to plant for a fall harvest soon. Pretty quick, the stew was bubbling on the stove, and she wiped her brow as she stood back and glanced around the kitchen, proud of all she had accomplished.

  Sitting outside appealed to her. Hopefully a cool breeze would come by. After pouring herself some water she went out front and sat in a chair. The light wind was anything but cool but it was better than sitting inside. What a view! The live oaks swayed as though they danced to an unheard song. The long grass waved, and the sunflowers were an explosion of color. It was easy to see why Parker’s father had chosen this spot to build a house. According to Parker, he owned all the land farther than her eyes could see. It was obvious he held a deep love for the land, and he worked hard.

  Her own father had been an idle man who really didn’t like to work. You would have never found a callous on his hands. Actually now that she was thinking about it her mother was the same way. Why work when you had slaves to do it. She shuddered. Of course she supported the South but she never supported owning people and treating them like pack mules. Hopefully, they had all found their way to a new life.

  Now that she thought about it, she hadn’t seen one Negro person when Parker had taken her to town. And yet, Texas had been a slave state. How utterly strange. She’d have to ask Parker about it.

  Out of the corner of her eye, she caught a flash of dark blue near the barn. Her heart pounded, but fear didn’t stop her one bit. She immediately ran into the house and grabbed a rifle and ammunition. Frantically, she looked through the windows to see where Sondra and Walter were. She had to warn them in some way. But how? Where were they?

  Was there one Yankee out there? Or more? She rushed up the steps and opened Parker’s chest. She immediately saw what she was looking for. As quick as a wink she rushed to the window and hung the confederate flag out of it. She closed the window on it to keep it in place.

  Next, she raced down the stairs and put two pistols in her apron pocket and loaded the rest of the rifles. Then she put a rifle by each window. Now where was he? She stared at the barn and saw him creeping along the side of it. He stilled as he gazed at the flag. He actually smiled and started toward the house.

  Was he trying to die? After locking the front door, she crawled beneath the windows and took up a rifle. She aimed at the ground in front of the Union Soldier. Dirt kicked up when the bullet hit. When he looked up she recognized Private Andrews.

  “I’ve got you surrounded. Come on out and we can talk a while,” he shouted his lies.

  She hadn’t had time to lock the back door. She’d have to go with her gut that the Yankee was alone. She aimed the rifle and shot at his feet.

  He swore, and his face hardened. “If I have to drag you out of the house I will! Did you know I could have you hanged for flying that vile, useless flag? Which will it be Mrs. Eastman, a bit of fun or stringing you up?”

  How much trouble would she be in if she killed him? Would maiming him be a hanging offense? This time she aimed and shot his hat right off his head.

  “Who ya got in there with you? Ain’t no way a woman can shoot like that.” He took another step forward.

  Her mouth went dry, but she kept her hands steady. She aimed, but before she could shoot, someone else shot him right through the heart. He went down hard.

  “I got him! I got myself a miserable viper of a Yankee!” The yelling was coming from Millicent’s room! How had she gotten a gun?

  Georgie kept her focus on the front of the house. If there was one Yankee there might be more. She didn’t see anyone, so she crawled to the back, locked the door, and studied the area. No movement could be detected. It was back to the front for her.

  She breathed heavily as her heart pounded. She’d wait until dark to go get the body. Meanwhile she’d keep guard. She wasn’t going to let a Union Soldier take her down. She’d fought too long and hard.

  Someone was frantically knocking on the back door. She slowly made her way to it and quietly unlocked it and scrambled back, her rifle aimed and her pistol lying on the floor next to her. She held her breath as the heavy wooden door slowly opened. Her body tensed as she got ready to shoot.

  “Georgie it’s us. It’s Walter and Sondra.”

  “Hurry in and then lock the door! I don’t know if there are more of them out there.”

  Walter took one of the rifles left at the back window. “What happened?”

  “That Yankee wanted me to come out and play with him. He did mention stringing me up if I didn’t. We need to keep watch. Here, Sondra take the pistol just in case.”

  Sondra paled but picked up the gun.

  The sound of horse hooves pounding the ground put Georgie on high alert. Quickly, she crawled to the front and took aim. Maybe with Walter and Sondra she could hold them off. And there was Millicent.

  Parker led the big group of men. They had their guns drawn as they rode around the barn and house. Parker jumped down and ran to the front door. Georgie unlocked it and then took her post at the window.

  “Georgie!”

  “I’m here, Parker. Get down before you get your head blown off.”

  He sat down and gently pried the rifle out of her hands. “It’s safe now. My men are outside and they are trained gunmen.”

  Walter walked into the front room.

  “Walter, go get the flag down.”

  Georgie grabbed Parker’s arm. “No. Your mother has a rifle. She put the Yankee down.”

  “Sondra, stay with Georgie. Walter, come with me. We’ll need to check what my mother is doing. How’d she get a rifle?” Parker asked.

  “I was wondering the same thing. Be careful.” Georgie started to tremble. Try as she might, she couldn’t stop the shaking.

  She sat on the floor with Sondra holding her hand while the men climbed the stairs. The sound of the flag being taken from the window came first and then the sound of Millicent’s door opening. Georgie held her breath.

  “I got me one, Parker! I got a yellow-bellied Yankee. Didn’t he know the war is over? Your wife is a good shot. Put a hole in his hat but she wasn’t about to kill him. So, I did.”

  Georgie put her hand over her mouth. What were they going to do
now?

  Walter came back down the steps while Parker murmured something to his mother. Walter’s eyes gleamed as he smiled at Georgie. “If we had you as a soldier we might have won.” He took off his hat and raked his fingers through his hair.

  She didn’t answer, she was waiting for Parker. Finally, the door upstairs closed and Parker walked down the steps.

  He locked his gaze on Georgie, and when he reached her he squatted in front of her. “Are you hurt?”

  “No,” she said breathlessly.

  He helped her to stand and held her in the circle of his arms. Her body still trembled.

  “He wanted, he wanted to, I know he planned…” Tears stung her eyes.

  “Walter, tell the men to bury the body far from here and to let his horse loose in a different direction. Then I want them to ride over all tracks leading from town to here.”

  “Right away,” Walter replied crisply, and then he left.

  “Is there anything I can do?” Sondra asked. She was now seated on the sofa.

  “Do you think you can gather all the rifles and guns? I know your arm is hurt.”

  “Parker, it’ll be fine.” Sondra touched her hand to her heart for a moment before she went toward the kitchen.

  Georgie lifted her head and stared into Parker’s eyes. “I would have killed him if he got to the porch. I shot the dirt in front of him, but he wasn’t deterred. Not even when I shot his hat off. Then the next thing I knew he was shot dead, and I didn’t do it.”

  He pulled her closer until she laid her head against his hard chest. His heartbeat calmed her, and she eventually stopped trembling. She pulled away and sat on the sofa. Parker sat on a chair next to her.

  “Hanging the flag was a fine idea. We heard the shots, and when we approached, we saw the flag and knew what we were looking for. You placed a rifle at each window? A clever move.”

  Worry still gnawed at her. “I loaded them all so I could swiftly shoot if needed. I saw blue and I watched and I saw blue again at the barn. Walter and Sondra were taking a walk, and I didn’t know how many Yankees there were.” It was as though an emotional dam opened, and her words poured out. “I expected more than one. I guess he didn’t think I was a threat, he kept coming closer and closer. He said he had the house surrounded but I already checked and I didn’t see a speck of blue out there. Did you know hanging the flag was a hanging offense? He said he wanted to either have some fun with me or string me up. I know what his type of fun includes, and I wasn’t about to allow myself to be at his mercy.” Her skin crawled.

  “It was Andrews,” he said in a tight voice.

  She nodded. “I recognized him.”

  He had so much anger in his eyes, she expected him to explode at any time. He gripped the arm of the chair. “I should have been here to protect you.”

  As his voice got louder, Georgie cringed. “I think I did just fine by myself. These are senseless times we live in. I’m strong and capable. I’ve seen the worst life has to offer, and I won’t allow it to be that way again.” She reached out and held his hand. “Now tell me how Millicent had a rifle in her room.”

  He entwined their fingers. “My heart is beating so fast. I could have lost you.” He took a shuddering breath. “Apparently, she had the key and took one of the guns you put by the upstairs window. She has no love for the Union Army. She is very proud of herself and you.”

  Georgie studied his face and could tell by the lines on it, he was worried. “The rest of them are going to come aren’t they?” Bile filled her stomach.

  “I don’t know. The best thing to do is get you as far away from here as possible. I’m just not sure where yet. I have friends in the Arizona Territory, but I don’t know how safe it is to travel there.” He frowned as he momentarily closed his eyes.

  She stilled at his words, and she wanted to go and hide. There was no reason to send her away. Letting go of his hand, she winced and turned her body away from him. It was easy enough for him to make the decision to have her leave. His words shocked her. Hadn’t she proven that she could handle herself? “I’m not leaving. I’m safer here with you.”

  “Don’t you understand? I can’t always be here. I need to get you to a place where they won’t be looking for you.”

  She couldn’t look at him, and she decided not to say a word. He might think he was sending her away, but he was wrong, so very wrong.

  Chapter Eight

  Parker glanced at his wife as he drank his morning coffee. It had been a long sleepless night. Georgie had tossed and turned; her nightmares were back. She allowed him to comfort her for about ten minutes before she returned to her side of the bed, lying as stiff as a board. He doubted she ever went back to sleep.

  She’d hardly said more than a few words to him. He didn’t like the way her shoulders slumped or the dark circles under her eyes. The sooner he got her out of here the better. Maybe if she changed her name she could hide out in one of the bigger towns in Texas.

  Before long, she placed a plate of eggs and bacon in front of him. She didn’t even look at him. Just fixed herself a plate and sat down across from him, but she didn’t eat.

  “Not hungry?” He tried to make his voice soothing.

  It was almost as though she didn’t hear him. Finally, she gave him a false smile and then rubbed the back of her neck before standing and looking out each of the windows.

  “This is the exact reason you need to leave. You’re as nervous a cat near water. It’ll be best for everyone.”

  She faced him but looked off to the left of him, scowling. She crossed her arms and stalked into the sitting room.

  Groaning, he left the table and followed her. It was for her own good. Why couldn’t she understand? He walked up behind her and cupped her shoulders in his hands. She was shaking all over.

  “Don’t touch me. You want to be rid of me, so as far as I’m concerned we’re not even friends.” She flinched and rolled her shoulders until he dropped his hands.

  “What are you talking about?”

  She turned, and the sorrow on her face surprised him. “There isn’t anything to talk about. You’re my husband and of course I’m supposed to blindly do your bidding, but I can’t. Things have changed so much since the closeness we had driving the wagon here. I thought we suited each other. I thought you had an understanding of me and what I’d gone through. You admired my strength and know how but none of it matters anymore. I’m disposable. Did Rose suddenly become a widow? Is that why you want me gone?”

  He would have felt better if she cried instead of her eyes looking like she was dead inside. “I haven’t heard a word about Rose.”

  “I see. Well there are enough empty-headed females in town that would be more to your liking and they aren’t damaged inside. I don’t really blame you fully for wanting to send me away. I’ve done things in Tennessee that no woman should have had to. I lost your baby, and now I don’t like to be touched. Not what I’d call a good wife. I came here with practically nothing but the clothes on my back. You had to go to great expense because of me. Even your mother is locked up due to my presence.” She took a shuddering breath. “I’ll go but on my own terms. I can take care of myself. I’ll decide where I’ll move on to.”

  He widened his eyes. “What? You most certainly will not go anywhere until I find a place for you.”

  She stared at him with her dead eyes again saying nothing. She then whirled about and walked up the stairs; probably to have a good cry because that was what she had been doing lately. He scowled as he watched her go.

  There was no way to make her understand, and he had work to do. Why wouldn’t she just listen to him and do as she was told? He slapped his hat on his head and walked out the door, slamming it closed. He’d find somewhere for her to go and she would go.

  * * *

  She found a carpetbag and began to fill it with her things. She hesitated briefly, wondering whether to include the clothing he had purchased for her. But then she decided she should. Afte
r all that had gone on at the hands of his mother, surely she deserved what had been given her. She carried the carpetbag down the stairs and found Parker’s saddlebags, which she filled with supplies. Next, she went into his hardly used office. She needed to find some type of map. After rifling around in his desk drawers, she found some. She’d head north and then west to meet up with the Southwest Trail. She would wait for a wagon train to come along and join them. She could go all the way to California if she wanted. Carefully, she folded the map and put it in the saddlebag.

  There were bedrolls in the barn. If she could saddle her horse without anyone knowing, she’d be able to get away. Her heart ached. She’d been many things, but stupid hadn’t been one of them until she had come here. Since her arrival, she had seen more violence and heartbreak than she could have ever imagined.

  Sondra and Walter went to pick berries for jam, so if she was going, it had to be now. Taking a deep breath, she grabbed a coat and hat along with the saddlebags and carpetbag and walked to the barn.

  Her palomino nickered when she approached. Georgie patted her neck. As quietly as she could, she saddled Yours and loaded her things on. Then she led her mare outside to a big rock. Getting on top of the rock was the only way for Georgie to get on the horse’s back. Once seated, she slowly rode away without looking back. There was nothing for her there. Her future was ahead of her.

  The Union Army patrolling the road had not been part of her plan. She saw them from a great distance and rode into the woods, where she stayed very still and quiet until they had passed. They were probably on their way to the ranch. A sigh slipped out. Now she couldn’t go back.

  She continued going north pulling off the road when she saw anyone. She wasn’t going very fast so she only stopped once to water Yours. She now hated that name since it was part of his horse’s name, Mine. Her stomach felt queasy, and a sense of dread filled her. It was because she’d never see Parker again, she told herself.