Twisting and squirming, Bug finally got his head pulled out from Hog’s grasp. Throwing a couple punches at Hog’s gut, Bug dodged another head lock.
“Come on, big brother, is that all you got?” he teased.
“I’ll show you what I got,” Hog insisted, attempting to snatch Bug’s flaying fists.
“Hey, you two, I’m thirsty. Let’s go,” Kid said.
Catching Bug off guard, Kid got him in a head lock.
Bug wrapped his arms around Kid and gave his oldest brother’s back a couple good whacks. “It’s good to be home, Kid. It’s really good to be home.”
Skeeter, standing nearby, planted Bug’s hat back on his head when Kid let him loose. “It’s good to have you home, baby brother.”
By the time they rounded the hayshed, Bug had not only hugged all of his brothers, he’d stopped to greet, shake hands, or give bear hugs to several town folks. He caught sight of Art Rockford. “Hey Art!” he shouted. “I got one of your horses in the barn!”
Art waved. “Then were even! I still got the one you left at the livery three years ago. Maybe it’s the same one!”
Laughter abounded, and the men crowded in around him as if he was novelty to ogle over. They all wanted to know how Pennsylvania was, and Bug, never one to back down from a good story, let loose a tale about a wildcatter who used nitro to frac a well.
“What the hell’s a wildcatter, Bug?” someone yelled.
“We had a cat killing our calves last spring.
Finally shot the thing. It had paws the size of horse hooves,” someone else piped in.
“Nitro? As in nitroglycerin? That’s some mighty stuff,” another man offered.
Bug took a swig of his beer and relished the taste of good brew for a second before he swallowed.
Then over the heads of those standing nearby, he shouted, “A wildcatter is someone who takes a chance and drills where his gut tells him.” He spun to the other man. “Yup, nitro is. But I know how to use it. With one little bottle I could blow the devil out of hell if I could find a way to drop it on him.”
The crowd roared, and Bug kept telling oil story after oil story. It was good to be home. Good to be Bug again instead of Brett. The crowd was full of his friends, good friends, and family. He considered his brothers some of his best friends.
Therefore, it was a good hour later when Bug had the courage to make his way to the house. The cups of beer he downed might have built his valor, but he believed he’d gained it himself, just somehow knew it was time to see Ma.
Jessie, Lila, Randi, and Summer had all been out to see him. Told him not to worry. Ma was fine, they’d said, she’d just been shocked at seeing him.
He hoped that was the case. Eva hadn’t come out yet. His heart, which had started to feel pretty normal again, slid down to his stomach to float in the beer he’d consumed. Life was full of ups and down and ins and outs, but dang it, he’d been put through a wringer the last two weeks. It was about time things settled down.
He stopped on the front porch, taking a deep breath and determining marrying Eva was the solution. Everything would fall into place when that happened.
Through the panes of glass beside him an image formed. Ma sat in the living room. Light from the lamp beside her chair reflected off the big window.
Taking another deep breath to build up his reserves, Bug entered the house.
He wasn’t even over the threshold when Ma asked, “So you finally came to say your how do’s?”
A grin settled on his lips. The glint in her eyes said a whole lot more than her gruff tone. “Hey, Ma.”
He moved across the room and wrapped his arms around her as she hoisted herself from her chair.
His breath paused, she felt tinier and more fragile than he recalled. Stepping back, he looked down at her face. Wrinkles creased the skin, but a healthy glow sat on her cheeks, and her green eyes sparkled as bright as ever.
He hugged her again. “Aw, Ma, it’s good to see you. Good to be home.”
Her grasp was as firm as he remembered, and Bug held on tighter, let his mind wonder back through the years when her touch doctored his cuts and bruises, and her kisses healed his internal wounds.
“I’ve missed you, Buggie-boy,” she said, lifting her face.
He planted a kiss on her wrinkled lips. “I missed you, too, Ma.” Giving her one more hug, he added, “I love you.”
She stepped out of his arms, and patted his cheek. “I love you, too. I love all you boys.”
Bug waited until she’d sat back down in the rocking chair. He scooted the little stool she often propped her feet on closer in front of her, and sat on it. “I know,” he admitted. “I’ve always known you loved us.”
Ma started to rock. The slow, even motion gave him the impression she mulled over a few serious thoughts. “I love my girls, too.” She kept rocking.
“All of them. Jessie, Lila, Randi, Summer, and Eva.”
Her gaze met his for a moment. “Love them as much as I do you boys.”
He nodded, knowing there was more. There always was with Ma, but besides that, he wanted to hear what she had to say.
“And those grandbabies, all of them, are nothing shy of angels. I didn’t know I had that much love in my old heart. With every one, my heart just gets bigger and bigger.”
Smiling, he agreed, “Yeah, they’re good kids, aren’t they. There are a few new ones I see.”
“Yup. Summer and Snake had Drew first. Then Hog and Randi had Josephine. Skeeter and Lila didn’t wait long before having Steven, and then Kid and Jessie had baby Oscar.”
He knew all this from their letters. Kid and Jessie now had three kids, as did Skeeter and Lila. If you added in September and August, Snake and Summer had three, too. The three he had to go fetch would catch him and Eva up to his brothers and their families. Only Hog would be left lagging behind in the kid department. Eva had said she wouldn’t mind three kids, and the knowledge sent his heart skipping about. Tucker, Reed, and Heather would like Eva, and she’d make a wonderful mother.
“She’s upstairs.”
That snapped his attention. “Who?”
Ma laughed. “I could tell by the look on your face you were thinking of Eva.”
Denying it was impossible, besides it would be stupid to try and lie to Ma. “Is she all right?”
“Yes, she’s fine. She’s reading the older ones a story. It’s past their bedtime.” Ma glanced to the window. “Though I don’t know how they’re gonna be able to sleep with all that ruckus going on out there.”
“It’s quite a party,” Bug admitted.
“Well, the town hasn’t had one for a long time. I suspect it’ll carry on until it’s time for morning milking.”
Bug had figured as much. He nodded his agreement, and couldn’t hold in his questions any longer. “Ma, I want to marry Eva.”
The sigh that left her chest sent icy chills racing in his veins.
“I know you think you do,” she said.
“I don’t think—”
She held up a hand. “I promised Willamina that Eva would marry whomever she chose.”
“Well, she chose me.”
Ma shook her head. “Years ago, maybe. But you’ve been gone a long time. You’re not the same man you were when you left.”
“Yes, I am.”
“No, life does that to us.” She pointed a finger at him. “The Bug who left here would never have treated a woman the way you did Eva tonight.”
“What do yo—”
“I’m talking about the way you barreled in here.
Grabbing her out of Elliott’s arms and kissing her like she was a harlot.” She continued as he started to protest, “And then shouting at August to get the preacher. That’s no way to treat a woman. The Bug I used to know would never have done that.”
“Ma, I—”
“Why even your clothes. Look at you. Dressed in black from head to toe, right do
wn to those shining boots. The only folks around here that dress in black are preachers, and those peddlers who pass through now and again. Not even a gunslinger wears only black. He knows folks would run him out on a rail.
But you…” She shook her head. “Strutting around in those new clothes like you got airs or something.
That’s not the Bug I know.”
“Ma, it’s me. I had to buy new clothes for the trip home.” He didn’t admit that Jack had picked out the pants, shirt, vest, and boots while Bug was at the hotel washing away the prison grime. They’d veered too far off the subject already.
As if she heard his thoughts, she sighed again.
“Bug, I can’t let you break that little girl’s heart.”
“Break her heart? I don’t have any intention of breaking Eva’s heart.”
“I’m sure you don’t.” She leaned back in her chair. The rockers creaked as the chair swayed back and forth. “Eva’s got a gentle soul, Bug. She’s fragile.”
Shivers rippled his face. “What’s wrong? Is she ill?” “No, I’m not talking about being sick. She’s strong. A real hard worker. It’s her soul I’m talking about. It’s as gentle and pure as a newborn’s. Always has been. Willamina and I both saw it. You used to know that.” Her eyes met his with a serious gaze.
“The old Bug saw it, too. He knew how to treat her.”
His mind was a mixture of thoughts and viewpoints. Trouble was he wasn’t sure if either were right. There was no doubt he’d changed a bit over the last few years, that happens when a man’s out on his own, but Eva…she’d always been shy and soft spoken, still was. It was part of what he loved about her.
Ma didn’t give him much time to sort things out.
“You need to give her time to get to know you again.
Let her decide if you are who she wants to marry,”
she said. “If in a few months she decides it is you, then we’ll have a wedding.”
“A few months?” he questioned. She couldn’t possibly mean that long.
“Yes. You’ve been gone three years. A few more months ain’t gonna matter.”
“But, Ma.” Bug bolted to his feet. His thoughts were once again tripping over themselves. The images of three little redheaded kids now were included.
She remained seated. “No, buts.” Rocking back and forth, she said, “I won’t change my mind on this, so don’t try to make me.”
“I don’t have months. I have to get started drilling. I have to get a house. I have—”
“Why are you in such a hurry now?”
He rubbed at the throbbing in his temples.
The rockers plunked against the floor, coming to a stop. “If you were that much in love with her, you wouldn’t have stayed away so long.”
Bug’s mind screeched to a stop, too. In the past three years, there had been one thing that had held strong in his mind. Eva. And how she was back here waiting for him. He then did something none of his brothers had ever dared to do—proclaim his mother was mistaken. “You’re wrong, Ma.”
He walked to the door where he stopped and spun around to face her. “I stayed away because of how much I love her.”
Chapter Nine
Eva waited until Winifred’s deep breaths said the child was sound asleep. Even though she was only three, Winifred had long blonde curls that hung to her waist. With her big blue eyes, the little angel looked identical to her mother, Jessie. Tucking the blanket beneath the child’s chin, Eva dropped a feather-light kiss on the girl’s forehead, and then did the same to six-year-old Kendra, who was sound asleep beside Winifred in the tiny bed. Kendra was Skeeter and Lila’s oldest child, and she, too, resembled her mother to no end. She had Lila’s red locks and spring-green eyes.
A smile fluttered across Eva’s lips, recalling how Bug asked her about redheaded children. All three of Skeeter’s kids had hair the color of a summer sunset. She’d never known Bug was so partial to it.
But as she told him, since she had hair the color of a spring mud puddle and his was as dark as morning coffee, it was highly doubtful their children would have the beautiful locks that Kendra did.
Eva blew out the light and made her way to the door. September was just leaving the room across the hall. “Are the boys sleeping?” Eva asked.
“Yes. Joel fell asleep right away, but it took four stories for Charles to settle down. He’s more like Skeeter.”
“Yes,” Eva agreed. “And Joel is more like his daddy.” Kid and Jessie also had Oscar. He, along with the other two babies, Skeeter and Lila’s son Steven, and Hog and Randi’s daughter Josephine, were asleep in cradles in one of the other upstairs bedrooms.
September hovered over all of the children as if they were her own. “Thank you,” the girl said, “for putting the girls down. I could tell how tired they were.”
“You’re welcome. I enjoy when I get to spend time with them. Children are so wonderful.” Once again happiness settled in Eva’s heart.
“Well, you and Uncle Bug could have your own by this time next year,” September said with an impish grin.
Eva bowed her head, trying to hide the way her cheeks burned.
“Wasn’t that romantic?” September asked.
“What?”
“The way he pulled you away from Elliott and then kissed you.” September let out a big sigh. “I wish Grandma would have let the wedding happen tonight. That would have been perfect.”
Eva wanted to admit she agreed, but didn’t. She hooked her elbow with September’s and led the girl down the hallway to the chair sitting outside the door where the babies slept. “Ma has her reasons.
Don’t say anything to her about it, okay.”
“I won’t. But, sheesh, she made Pa marry Summer while he was unconscious.”
“I know.”
“And she made Kid marry Jes—”
“I know.” Eva interrupted. She knew all about how Ma had married off every one of the brothers.
“She has her reasons this time. We’ll just have to wait to see what they are.”
“You really want to wait?”
No, Eva wanted to scream, but she couldn’t release her frustration on September. “I’ve waited a long time. A bit longer won’t matter.”
“It sure would to me.”
“September, is there someone you’re sweet on?”
Eva changed the subject for two reasons. One she needed time to gather her own thoughts on Ma’s reasons, and two, she was curious if September was fawning for someone.
“No,” September assured. “I just know how much you love Uncle Bug.”
“Yes, that I do.”
September picked the book up off the chair seat, and then sat down. “Let me know if you want me to talk to Grandma. She listens to me.” September was already opening the book to the page she’d marked with a slip of paper. When she wasn’t watching the children, September was reading.
Eva kissed the top of the girl’s head. “Thank you. I’ll remember that.” She turned to walk away, but then paused. “Have you said hello to Bug yet?”
“No. I figure I’ll wait until morning, when we have time to talk. There are a few things I want to say to that young man.”
September went from a child to an old woman and back again on a regular basis. Eva smiled. “All right. Feel free to come get me if you need help with the children.”
The girl nodded, but her nose was already buried in the book. Eva made her way down the stairs. Ma sat in her rocking chair in the living room. Taking a fortifying breath, Eva walked across the room.
“How are the grandbabies?”
“Every last one of them is sound asleep, and being well looked after by September. Except for August of course.”
“A team of wild horses couldn’t pull him in here when his Pa and uncles are all out there.” Ma patted the little stool near her feet. “Visit with me for a minute.”
Eva sat, and folded her skirts aro
und her knees.
When she’d entered the house, the girls had Ma surrounded, and Eva had heard commotion coming from the kitchen. September had been herding the children upstairs, calming their fears caused by the gunfire. The women had soon followed, helping to dress the children for bed, and changing and caring for the babies who’d been awakened as well.
Her nerve endings pricked Eva’s skin. She had to talk to Ma, but she didn’t want to upset her all over again. Reaching out, she patted Ma’s knees.
“Are you doing all right?”
“I’m fine. How about you?”
“I’m fine.”
Ma stuck her needle in the center of the cloth and then poked the embroidery hoop into the basket beside her chair. “Are you upset with me?”
“No.” Eva shook her head, yet she had to be honest. “But I would like to know why you don’t want Bug and I to get married.”
“It’s not that I don’t want you two to get married. I can’t let you marry.”
“Why?”
“Well, Eva girl, that’s kinda hard to explain, but I’ll try. I was just like you, thought as soon as Bug got back from his oil searching tomfoolery, you and he’d marry up. I hoped he’d take up with Kid and his cows or Snake and his farming.” Ma’s weary gaze went to the window. Music still filled the air, as did happy shouts of people having a good time. “But, after a year went by, I figured that was no longer the plan.” She turned and faced Eva again. “Willamina and I talked about it. We both agreed if Bug came back, there wouldn’t be a wedding until you said you wanted one.”
“But I do want one, Ma. I love Bug.”
“I know you do, honey. I do, too. But we both love the Bug who used to be here. We don’t know the man he’s become.” Ma patted Eva’s hands. “I’ll love him no matter what. I’m his, ma, I have to. But you…” she paused as if trying to find the right words. “Eva girl, it's one thing to find a man you gotta bed down with every night, but it’s a whole other thing to find the one you want to bed down with every night for the rest of your life.”
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