“Oh, John, if you don’t be careful I’m going to start liking you a lot.”
“Wal, now, wouldn’t that be plumb grand? I ain’t had no purty redheaded woman after me fer quite a spell.”
They left the barn just as Mary Ben and Ellie came out of the caravan with armloads of sheets and bedding. The young girl was talking excitedly to Ellie.
“Now don’t that jist beat all?” John took off his hat and scratched his head. “Women’s jist like a cluck a hens when it comes to buildin’ a nest. They jist can’t wait ta get at it without givin’ a thought to a man’s empty belly.”
“Aunt Ellie’s in her glory. I guess I better go help. Thank you, John, for not being mad at me.”
“As long as we’re apassin’ out thanky, I thanky, lass, fer bein’ friendly like to my . . . Mary Ben.”
“I think Henry wants to marry her. How do you feel about it?”
“If’n it’s what she wants ’n if’n Mrs. Hill ain’t carin’, I’m plumb tickled. Mary Ben ain’t goin’ to be no drag on nobody. She’ll hold up her end ’n be a heap a help to Mrs. Hill.”
“Henry will be good to her, you know that.”
“I know it. I done took his measure. He’ll do jist fine with Mary Ben helpin’ him.”
Vanessa looked at the old man. He dipped his head sideways and studied her. She had the feeling he was trying to reassure her about something. The smile on his face was hard and bright and strangely pleased.
Her legs were unsteady, but her shoulders were square and her back straight as she walked up the path to the house. She stopped at the end of the caravan, glanced in, and saw Kain sitting on the bunk trying to put on his boots. She didn’t even consider offering her help; she didn’t think she could bear another rebuff from him. He looked up and held her with his gaze. They continued to face each other, neither speaking, neither moving, while the silence built up between them. Vanessa watched him carefully for some slight break, for a softening in his expression, but there was none. She turned and walked slowly to the house.
She stepped up onto the lean-to porch feeling somewhat like an unwelcome guest, paused uncertainly, then entered the kitchen. It was large and square, with cupboards along one side and a black iron cookstove on the other. An oblong table large enough to seat a dozen people took up the far end. She could see into a pantry through one open door and into a hall through the other. The sounds of a hammer and male voices came from somewhere inside the house.
Ellie came in from the hall followed by Mary Ben.
“Isn’t this a lovely house, Vanessa? Mary Ben and I have been preparing a bed for Kain. There’s a bedroom down here and five more upstairs, plus rooms in the attic. Did you ever see the like? There’s twice the room we had back home. Oh, it’s grand to be in a house again! I didn’t realize I was so tired of that wagon.”
“What do ya want me to do now, Mrs. Hill?”
“You can start a fire in the cookstove, Mary Ben. The house has been shut up for so long it has a damp feel about it.”
“I ain’t never seen such a fancy stove. I don’t know as know how.”
“Vanessa, will you show Mary Ben how the stove works? Kain is worn out. I want to get him in here and in that bed as soon as I can.”
“I’m in.”
Vanessa turned to see Kain leaning against the doorframe The part of his face not covered by whiskers was pale, and there were deep dark circles under his eyes. He was holding his hand to his side.
“My goodness, Kain.” Ellie rushed to him. “You shouldn’t have gotten out of that wagon by yourself. Mary Ben, help me get him to bed.”
“No,” he said. “Not yet.”
Vanessa made a quick turn and stepped into the hall, but not before she had gazed up and been caught by the look in Kain’s eyes. Surprise held her immobile for seconds, unable to tear her eyes away from his brooding amber eyes, which held something other than physical pain. What was it? she wondered.
Kain took a quivering breath and sank down onto the chair. Damn! He was weaker than he thought. The look on Vanessa’s face had cut him to the quick. She was hurting. An old saying came to mind, “you always hurt the one you love the most.” After he had shouted at her to get out the night before he would have given anything to recall the words. Later, trying to justify his outburst, he told himself he was desperate to keep her from seeing the blood in his vomit. Damn! Why did he have to have the attack just when she entered the caravan? It had been almost a week since he’d had the terrible pain in his stomach.
Kain watched Ellie move swiftly and confidently about the kitchen, preparing to scrub away a years accumulation of dust and mouse droppings from the counter and tables before she started the evening meal. She reminded him of Cooper Parnell’s mother; slim, blue-eyed, blond hair. However, she was younger than Mrs. Parnell. It had been a comfort to him having her know what he faced. It surprised him to realize he had become fond of her. He only hoped that he would be around to help her when she had to face Adam Clayhill.
While he was flat on his back the last two days with the worry that Tass would steal Vanessa lifted, he’d had plenty of time to think. There was enough land here to support a good-sized herd of cattle. If the Hookers, with the help of John and Henry, would stay on and work the place, he was sure it would pay off. His friend, Griffin, would make him a loan, or go partners, but—he put a halt to his thoughts. He wouldn’t be around to see a loan paid off.
“The first thing we need to do is get a cow. I miss having fresh milk and butter. Kain? Kain, are you awake?”
Kain lifted his arms so Ellie could wash the table. “I’m awake. Mr. McCloud at the mercantile can tell you where you can buy one.”
“I think I’ll ask John if he’ll go in tomorrow and find us two good milch cows. I want some hens and a rooster or two. Next spring we’ll set some hens and get some chicks. Mary Ben, find Henry and tell him when he finishes what he’s doing to bring in some wood for the cookstove.”
“Winter comes early here and it takes a lot of firewood to keep a place this size warm in the winter,” Kain said as he watched Mary Ben skip happily out of the room. “There’s plenty of timber in the hills behind the barn.”
“My goodness! There’s so much to do. This is a grand place, Kain. I feel so much better with a solid roof over my head.”
“Don’t get too used to it, Aunt Ellie. It shouldn’t take more than a few days for Mr. DeBolt to get on his feet, then we’ll go back to town.” Vanessa stood in the doorway, her hands deep in the pockets of her britches.
“But dear, it will take a good while for him to be strong enough to take care of himself. The least we can do is get this place clean and livable for him. My land, it’s beyond me how a place can get so dirty closed up, but it can. The floors are filthy, and the windows—”
“Are you hiring on as his housekeeper?” Vanessa cut in quietly.
“Well . . . I—”
“Cows? Chickens? It sounds as though you plan to stay here permanently.”
“We . . . can take a cow.”
Vanessa saw the look exchanged between her aunt and Kain and willed herself not to just walk away.
“Have you forgotten that we came out here to find Henry’s relatives and open a bakery, not work in someone’s home for our keep?” She forced herself to look directly at the man sitting at the table. He was watching her and she refused to be moved by the shadow of hurt in his amber eyes.
“No, dear, I haven’t. I also haven’t forgotten that it’s possible we wouldn’t have gotten here at all except for Mr. DeBolt.”
Ellie stood at the end of the table with the wet cloth in her hand. Was that guilt on her face? Vanessa wondered. Ellie had not only been like a mother to her, but also her best friend and confidante. Ellie had always been there when she needed her. She had changed; Henry had changed. Ellie had switched her loyalty to Kain DeBolt. Henry had fallen in love with Mary Ben; and although she was happy for him, it seemed strange to not have him depending so
much on her. In Springfield they had been a close family. Here, they each had a different priority. Was that what this country did to people?
“I suppose there comes a time when families break up.” Vanessa spoke slowly because she felt as if she’d swallowed a cup of sand “I hadn’t expected ours to do so quite so soon. I understand why this place appeals to you, Aunt Ellie. It’s something like the farm back home. It’s readymade for you—a house to tend, meals to cook for hungry men, and you have Mary Ben to fuss over. Perhaps it’s best that you and Henry stay here. My only advice would be that you find out how long your employment will last, because I don’t think Mr. DeBolt is the kind of man who will be content to stay very long in this dull place after seeing the wonders of the world.”
Vanessa’s brilliant blue eyes went from her aunt’s stricken face to the man sitting quietly in the chair. She was proud that she could keep her eyes steady as they looked into his.
“How do you know I wouldn’t be content to stay here?”
Vanessa didn’t answer.
“I don’t understand what you’re talking about.” Ellie twisted the wet cloth around and around in her hands. “Are you saying that . . . that you’d rather we not stay here for awhile?”
“I said that I’m not staying, Aunt Ellie. That doesn’t mean that you can’t stay. You feel obligated to take care of Mr. DeBolt for what he did for us. You can do that without me. I’m sorry I was responsible for his being shot, but I don’t intend to spend the rest of my life on my knees because of it.” She walked around the table and headed for the door.
“Obligated? You’re not obligated to do anything for me you stubborn little redheaded mule!” Kain snapped.
“Vanessa! You’re not going now?” Ellie’s voice stopped her at he door, and she turned.
“Of course not. The mules are too tired. I’ll go in the morning.” She went out without a backward glance.
Ellie stood looking at the closed door. “Oh, Kain! She means it. It isn’t a threat.”
“No. It isn’t a threat. She’s just that bullheaded.”
“Oh, my. I knew she was hurt, but—”
“But she’s stubborn, feisty, sharp-tongued, and irritating!” Kain’s voice reflected his annoyance, Ellie’s eyes mirrored her distress.
“If she’s so irritating, then why are you so desperately in love with her?” Ellie demanded, facing Kain. She was shocked and hurt at Vanessa’s attitude, but she rose to her defense.
“Because . . . I can’t help myself!”
“Oh, Kain!”
“Do you think I want to love her now that it’s too late? It only complicates things.”
“Tell her,” Ellie urged. “Tell her and be happy for the time you have left. She loves you. Give her something to remember.”
“No! She’ll meet someone else.”
“I didn’t. I had one love in my life. It may be the same with Vanessa.”
“I’ll not leave her to raise my child alone.”
“I’ve never regretted having Henry, not for one minute!”
“I’ll not saddle her with that responsibility.”
“But you may not—”
“I won’t take the chance.”
“Then Henry and I will leave with Vanessa in the morning. I’m sorry, Kain. She’s my daughter in every sense of the word except for the fact I’m not her natural mother. I raised her and I love her, stubborness and all. If she’s uncomfortable here we’ll go.”
“Don’t say anything until I can talk to her. Right now I’ve got to lie down.” He pushed himself to his feet with a grimace of pain. “After supper tell her I want to talk to her. She should be cooled off by then.”
“She may not go.”
“Then tell her I need some more stitches, or that I’m bleeding all over the floor—tell her anything, but get her in there and see that we’re not disturbed.”
The door opened and they both looked quickly to see if it was Vanessa. Henry came in with an armload of wood for the cookstove
“I found some already cut, Ma. Mary Ben is coming with the kindling.”
“Put it in the woodbox, son, then help Kain into the bedroom. He’s worn out.”
Henry dropped the wood into the nearly empty box, then held out his arm to Kain. “I sure do like it here, Kain. Mary Ben likes it, too. She’s never lived in a house before.”
“There’s a lot to be done before winter.” Kain panted from the effort it took to walk out of the room. “You’ll have to haul in some hay for feed and drag some logs down from the hills for firewood.”
“I can do that. You just tell me what to do.” In the bedroom at the back of the house he eased Kain down onto the bed. “You want that I pull off your boots?”
“I’d appreciate it, Henry. Bending over is the hardest thing to do right now.”
“You’re bleeding. Van should put on another bandage.”
“I’ll have her do it after supper. Right now I’m so tired all I want to do is get into bed.” Kain unfastened his belt and Henry pulled his pants off and covered him. “Thanks. When you get around to it, will you get my gear out of the wagon and bring it in here?”
“Sure. If there’s anything you want, call out.” Henry walked out of the room and closed the door.
Kain lay listening to the sounds coming from the other rooms. He heard Henry’s voice and Mary Ben’s giggle and their footsteps going up the stairs. He knew that as soon as they were out of sight Henry would grab Mary Ben and kiss her. Being in love with Henry had put a bloom in the cheeks of John’s young waif and a sparkle in her eyes.
Kain closed his eyes and saw Vanessa’s white face, fiery hair and brilliant blue eyes. His breath became heavier and a hunger to have her to love and care for centered in his loins and pulsed there. It seemed to him he had searched through a lifetime of emptiness to find her. Now forces beyond his control were closing in on him, forcing him out of the warmth of this family circle. He would be left alone with the Hookers if he couldn’t persuade Vanessa to stay. He sighed deeply.
* * *
Ellie filled a plate with food, set it on a wooden tray she found in the cupboard and took it to Kain. When she returned she took her place at the table. Henry and Mary Ben were still excited about being in the house and chatted about the things they had found in the different rooms.
“There’s a tin bathtub in the closet room, Van. It’s big at one end and little at the other, just like the one you had back home.” Henry’s smile faded when he couldn’t get a response from his cousin. “You like a bath. I’ll carry the water for you, Van.”
“Thank you, Henry. Yes, I’d like very much to have a bath.”
The Hookers and John finished their meal and took their hats from the pegs on the wall beside the door.
“You’re not leaving?” Ellie’s worried face expressed her concern.
“No, ma’am. We’ll turn in if there ain’t nothin’ we can do till mornin’.” Jeb always turned his hat around and around in his hand while talking to Ellie.
“You’re not going to sleep outside when there’s all this room.” She waved her hand toward the front of the house.
“No, ma’am. There’s a bunkhouse. We’ll bed down there.”
“But . . . sheets and things—”
“Don’t worry none ’bout that, ma’am. It’ll be a plumb treat to sleep on a bunk.”
“Mr. Wisner, can I sleep in here if it’s all right with Mrs. Hill?” Mary Ben got up from the table and stood behind her chair. Ellie turned and looked at her in surprise.
“Of course you’ll stay in here. A bunkhouse is no place for a young girl. Isn’t that right, Mr. Wisner?”
“Right as rain. Stay with Mrs. Hill, Mary Ben.” He slammed his hat down on his head and followed the Hookers out the door.
“Well, now.” Ellie took a big tin pan from the hook on the wall and set it on the cookstove. “Mary Ben and I will clean up while you take a bath, Vanessa.” She poured water from the teakettle into the pan.
“There’s hot water in the reservoir, Henry, and plenty in the teakettle for the dishes.”
“I’ll help with the dishes first,” Vanessa said.
“No. Go take a bath. Mary Ben would you like to have a tub bath?”
“Oh! Could I, Mrs. Hill?”
“Of course. By the time we’re finished here the water will be hot again.”
“I’ll carry the water for you, too.” Henry placed his hand on Mary Ben’s shoulder and smiled down at her lovingly.
Vanessa saw her aunt watching him. Aunt Ellie, too, was losing something, she thought. Aloud she said, “I’ll get some clean clothes out of the wagon.” She threw her shawl around her shoulders and went out into the darkness.
Inside the caravan she felt around on the shelf for the matches and lit the lamp. She could smell the listerine she had used to wash Kain’s wounds and her eyes sought the pillow on her bunk that showed the indentation where his head had lain. She had tended to him, loved him in secret, offered herself and been refused. What more was there? she asked herself. Nothing at all, the practical side of her nature replied, and she had to face that discouraging fact.
She took a dress and undergarments out of her trunk. She would have to wear a dress tomorrow when she went into town, she reasoned. Anyway, she was tired of wearing the britches.
* * *
It was sheer luxury to sink down into the tub of warm water. Vanessa sighed deeply, leaned back and closed her eyes. This was what she had missed the most during the long trip from Missouri; the moist heat, scented soap, the joy of being clean. After she scrubbed every inch of her body she worked a thick lather into her hair, rinsed it once in the bath water and again in the bucket of water Henry had left beside the tub.
When she had dried herself and dressed she wrapped a towel around her head and went back to the kitchen.
“Feel better, dear?” Ellie hung the dish cloth on a rack beside the stove.
“Oh, yes. That’s a wonderful tub. Whoever lived here before must have liked a bath as much as I do. There’s even a hole in the bottom of the tub with a stopper in it. It looks like the water runs out through the pipe in the wall. You won’t even have to empty it, Henry.”
Dorothy Garlock - [Colorado Wind 03] Page 18
