9 Ways to Fall in Love

by Caroline Clemmons

  “I’ll talk to your da, but I fear Mac will be the ruin o’ himself and us. The boy’s that taken with Vourneen, and he’s learned worrisome ways from some o’ the folk.”

  Cenora plunged her hands into the hot dishwater and scrubbed a plate with vengeance. “Mayhap we can set Finn to watch over him and keep him from mischief.”

  Her mother nodded. “Aye, Finn’s level headed, but most times Mac can play his brother as well as he plays the fiddle.”

  Cenora met her mother’s gaze. “Ma, I’m that worried. We must take care and do nothing to displease.”

  ****

  When the dishes were done and put away, Cenora sent Ma for a rest while she waited for Dallas to return from the visit to his foreman. Her husband had told her he’d have Xavier see to the ranch for at least another day, but first he needed to go over a few things. She had no idea what he meant or what he expected of her.

  His life was so different to the one she knew. What did a settled man’s wife do in a fine big house with nothing inside? Should she go to the wagons and bring in her things or would that be too forward? Back and forth she paced then picked up her new broom and swept the big room, careful to sweep away from the sunlight lest she bring bad luck to the house.

  By the time she’d swept and straightened every bit of downstairs, she had made up her mind to look around outside a bit. She paused in front of the small mirror by the kitchen pump to straighten her hair and smooth her hands down her dress.

  She was on her way to the back door when Dallas bounded into the room.

  “My folks are almost here.”

  His kin coming so soon? How many and where would they sit? Akh, her family and his in the same house.

  He caught her hand. “Cenora, are you all right? You’ve turned pale as a ghost. It’s only my kin, and you’ve already met Austin and Josh and Daniel.”

  Only his kin? And her scared about what they’d think of her. “Akh. What will I do? Will they have eaten? Should I serve tea or coffee?”

  “Coffee. You can invite them into your home, but I suspect they’ll have brought a cake or something to share with us. And it looks as if they’ve rounded up furniture.”

  Furniture? Saints be praised. “I’ll get coffee going then if I can figure out yon great range.”

  Ma and Da came in from their bedroom, and Da asked, “What’s all the door banging about?”

  Before she or Dallas could answer, Rosa rushed into the kitchen.

  “Madre de Dios, I should have come earlier, Señor Dallas, but you said no for today. Señ—um, Cenora, if you wish to greet your new family, I will start dinner to feed this crowd which has arrived.”

  Dallas said, “Let’s have a meal from last night’s leftovers, and you can work on a big supper. I expect they’ll stay until dark.”

  Cenora’s heart pounded in her chest, and she clung to Dallas’s hand. Ma and Da deserted her and went back to their bedroom, fleeing as if the banshee chased them. Mac and Finn were nowhere to be seen, and mayhap that wasn’t all bad. Dallas smiled at her and slid his arm around her waist as if to reassure her, but his effort failed.

  This Kathryn who’d raised Dallas would not take kindly to those who’d forced him into marriage. Perhaps she had already chosen the wife she wanted for him. Yes, probably Kathryn had chosen a pretty town girl from a wealthy family. Mayhap Dallas had courted her, even kissed her. Cenora couldn’t say why, but the idea of Dallas and another woman roused a terrible pain in Cenora’s chest.

  She and her new husband waited on the wide front porch. Austin and his two sons, the giant men who’d found Dallas at their camp, were along in wagons piled high with furniture. An older couple who must be Dallas’s grandparents, a young girl, and a woman rode in a fancy black buggy with two seats. The older woman carried a frilly parasol.

  Austin dismounted and helped one of the women to alight from the buggy.

  “Joseph, Mary, and Jesus, that woman is the most beautiful I’ve ever seen.” Tall and blonde, she moved with the grace of a queen.

  “My Aunt Kathryn. You’ll like her.”

  “I’ll feel ugly as a gnat next to her. And look how your uncle treats her—like the apple of his eye.”

  “Yep, he adores her, but you’re just as pretty as she is.”

  He only sought to calm her, she knew, for he couldn’t mean she looked half as nice as this woman did. As the adults approached, Cenora’s mouth went dry, and she feared she’d not be able to say a word. She judged Kathryn to be in her early forties.

  “Good morning, Cenora, Dallas,” Daniel reached them first.

  Kathryn swept up the steps with a smile. “Hello, Cenora. I’m your Aunt Kathryn, and I’ve looked forward to meeting you.” She hugged Cenora and kissed her cheek.

  Cenora’s knees wobbled, and she almost wept with relief. “Aye, ‘tis the same for me.”

  A girl came to Cenora’s side, took her hand, and linked their fingers. The welcoming gesture helped calm the turmoil in Cenora’s stomach. A younger version of Kathryn with long blonde curls, the girl looked to be in her early teens.

  “I’m Rebecca, but you can call me Becky. Welcome to McClintock County.”

  McClintock County? Shock riveted Cenora in place. “Sure and Dallas didn’t tell me he had his own county.”

  Everyone laughed, and then Austin explained, “It was named for my father, as was the town of McClintock Falls.”

  Cenora suspected a flush crept across her face, for she thought she’d die of embarrassment. She faced the man she thought to be Dallas’s grandfather. “’Tis begging your pardon I am, sir.”

  “I’m Grandpa.” He looked like an older version of Austin, and he chuckled again and gave a short bow. “I started the dang town, so I guess I could name it whatever I damned well pleased.”

  “Victor, your language.” The elderly woman peered up as if horse droppings covered Cenora. “I’m Dallas’s paternal grandmother. You may call me Gran as he does.”

  Without waiting for a reply, she turned her vinegar tongue on Dallas. “The very idea of marrying without so much as a word to your family. Just like your father. You should have at least brought your bride to meet us when you arrived.”

  Cenora took a deep breath but didn’t know what to say or do. Her husband came to her rescue.

  “We only got here yesterday afternoon, so I’ve not had the chance to show off Cenora.” He shrugged off the scolding in a way that let Cenora know he’d encountered many of them from his grandmother. “We’ll make it to town soon enough.”

  Cenora hid her surprise. Only yesterday her husband had said he seldom went into town, cutting across country to reach the home of Austin and Kathryn in order to avoid McClintock Falls.

  His grandmother’s eyes narrowed in a hateful squint. Cenora worried there was no hope of winning the old lady’s approval, though Dallas’s grandfather seemed affable.

  Dallas released Cenora and stepped off the porch. “Looks like you came to our rescue with some furniture.”

  Austin walked back to the wagon. “Kathryn and Becky scoured all the barns and attics to fix you up with something until Cenora picks out what she wants.”

  “Come and direct the men,” Kathryn said, and Becky tugged on Cenora’s hand.

  Suddenly, Kathryn stopped. “Oh, that’s if you want the things we brought. If not, they’ll leave them on the wagon.”

  Not want them? She wasn’t daft. Of course, she wanted the furniture. Even if she hadn’t, she wouldn’t have said so. Relief swept over her that they’d have beds and chairs for everyone, but now her things from the wagons would be of little value. With mixed emotions, Cenora followed the other women, lost as to what anyone expected of her.

  She found her voice at last. “We need more furniture, so it’s lucky we are you had some extra and are kind enough to share.”

  His grandmother sniffed. “Hmph. I told Dallas he needn’t live like a heathen, but he paid me no mind.”

  The men set furniture off the w
agon and lined it up for Cenora’s inspection. She clapped her hands in delight. “Never have I seen such wondrous things.”

  She could have bitten her tongue. They’d be knowing what a poor, backwards lass Dallas had wed, and didn’t his grandmother already hate her?

  “You’ll have to tell us where you want them,” Austin said as he hefted a large armchair. “Starting with this.”

  “Oh, in front o’ the big fireplace where Himself can sit of an evening. Sure and we need lots of chairs.”

  Ma and Da came out of the house to see the source of all the commotion.

  Dallas introduced them to his family. “Ma and Da will be living with us in the downstairs bedroom.”

  Cenora saw Kathryn raise her eyebrows and exchange a pointed look with Austin when Dallas said “Ma and Da.” Did they not approve? Cenora’s stomach knotted. If his aunt and uncle took a dislike to her, Dallas would be sure to send her away all the faster. She dared not look at Dallas’s grandparents, for his grandmother already hated her.

  Then Finn and a surly, reluctant Mac wandered over from the direction of the barns to help. Finn strode with purpose, smiling as if eager to meet Dallas’s family. Mac lagged behind wearing his usual sullen look. She loved both her brothers, but sure and Mac made such hard work of the job. This was no time for his bad moods and sulks.

  She send Mac her fiercest glare. His gaze caught hers and she knew he caught her meaning. Her brother’s irritating appearance and slow gait did not change. Her temper fired and she longed to give Mac the sharp side of her tongue. The boyo well knew she wouldn’t make a scene in front of her new kin and embarrass her good husband.

  Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, please let Mac be civil to these folks.

  Chapter 9

  “Now that my grandson has a decent chair for me, I’ll go inside. Victor?” Dallas’s grandmother snapped her parasol shut and grabbed her husband’s arm.

  Oh, no, her parents—especially Da—alone with Dallas’s grandparents. Cenora turned to go into the house.

  “Hey, where you want this thing?” Mac balanced a large armoire and scowled, as if helping had put a crimp in his day’s plans for doing nothing.

  She reversed direction and headed back to the furniture. “In Ma’s and Da’s room.”

  Josh smiled at her from the other side of the unwieldy piece. “Downstairs bedroom, right? Thank goodness, this thing weighs a ton.”

  “Why do you think I let you carry it?” Dallas hoisted a small table and held it for her inspection. “Parlor?”

  She nodded. Indecision about her role tore at her. Should she play hostess for those inside the house, or stay and supervise the furniture’s unloading and dispersing?

  As if she read minds, Kathryn smiled. “Don’t worry, everything will be fine in there.”

  She hugged Cenora’s shoulders, but Cenora wondered.

  Kathryn called to her daughter. “Becky, would you go in and see that Gran and Grandpa have some tea or coffee with Cenora’s parents? Maybe you could take the cake Gran brought and serve them each a slice.”

  Cenora sighed at Kathryn’s decision. “Thank you, Kathryn. Sure and the need to be in two places at once had me in bits.” She knew she wasn’t good enough for Dallas, but she’d try to make him proud. Dallas’s grandmother obviously hated not only her but her family as well.

  What about the rest of the McClintocks? Did his aunt understand he hadn’t wanted to marry? Worry clutched at Cenora, but she forced a smile for this woman who had—so far—been friendly.

  “It’s wondrous kind of you to share so.”

  Kathryn smiled at her and whispered, “Don’t let Zarelda upset you. She was born sucking a lemon, but Victor is sweet enough to make up for her being sour. She didn’t want to come but can’t resist sticking her nose in everything.”

  “Thank you for making me welcome. Especially when, um, weel, you know I was forced on Dallas against his will.” There, she’d said it, so she held her breath and waited for the reaction. Would the smile disappear from Kathryn’s face?

  Kathryn surprised her. She offered Cenora’s shoulder another squeeze. “Against yours, too, if I understood correctly. Dallas is a wonderful man, so perhaps the two of you will come to care for one another. It doesn’t happen overnight. Austin and I had barely met when we were married, but that was twenty-four years ago.”

  Cenora nodded. “Seeing you, ‘tis easy to know you belong together.”

  “Austin proposed the first day we stepped out, only a few days after we met. I thought I wanted a long engagement and a big lavish wedding, but he soon convinced me to have a small ceremony after seven weeks. We didn’t know each other very well, so it took several months before we found our way.”

  Kathryn beamed a smile at Austin, who carried the front of a rolled up rug with Finn lugging the other end. “I couldn’t have dreamed of a more wonderful husband.”

  The men paused long enough for Finn to ask, “Where you want this?”

  “In the room Ma and Da use. ‘Twill warm them this winter.” Cenora wondered if she and her family would even be here by winter. The uncertainty nagged at her.

  By noon the wagons were emptied, and Cenora’s confidence improved with the pleasure of seeing her new home furnished. She had always loved having people about, but she wished all these folks would leave. She wanted to walk through her home with her husband and admire all the new things. Until then, she must prove herself a good hostess.

  Though Mac’s scowl appeared permanent, none of her family had clashed with Dallas’s so far. Gran looked as if she smelled a dung heap, but she hadn’t fussed at anyone since they’d come inside. Da was in fine form with a new audience for his wild stories. Mayhap the day would end all right. Dear Lord, she felt like a speck of dust about to be polished off her new furniture.

  She watched Dallas, but he gave her no clue to his opinion of her actions. His face had that mask he sometimes wore when he wanted to hide his thoughts. Was he ashamed of her? Of her family?

  She helped Rosa serve dinner followed by Kathryn’s pies and the rest of the cake Dallas’s grandmother had brought. The adults found places around the dining table. This time, there were chairs for all of them. Rosa refused to join them at the table, pleading too many preparations for the evening meal, but the look she sent Dallas’s grandmother made Cenora think otherwise.

  After lunch, Austin turned to Dallas. “You promised to show me how the new stallion’s training is progressing.”

  Her man fairly beamed. “Dominion? Sure, let’s go out to the corral. He’ll make my fortune, wait and see.”

  All the men trailed out. Cenora watched from a window to see if her brothers stayed with the other men. Finn appeared to listen carefully to what the men said. Mac’s face had remained set in a belligerent sulk when he left, and he walked with his hands jammed into his britches’ pockets.

  What were they to do with that boyo?

  Cenora pushed away thoughts of her willful brother and turned her concern to the women in her home.

  “It’s time for my rest, so I’ll take myself upstairs.” Dallas’s grandmother rose, and Cenora stepped forward. The woman waved her hand to signal Cenora away. “Don’t bother; I know the way as well as you do.”

  Ma sank onto the chair nearest the fireplace, and Cenora hurried to her side.

  “Ma, you should rest now, too.”

  Kathryn looked at Ma as if she wanted to speak. Instead, Kathryn clasped her hands in front of her.

  Suddenly, Cenora remembered. “Ma, you remember Dallas told us Kathryn heals folks?”

  “Ah, ‘tis a grand thought,” Ma said and shook her head. “But I’ve been sick too long now to hope for improvement.”

  Kathryn met Ma’s gaze with a soft smile. “Perhaps if I examined you, I could at least ease you.”

  “Sure and wouldn’t that be lovely? Weel, you’ve done a fine job raising me new son-in-law, and that’s to your credit. If your healing is half as successful, then do your best on me.
”

  “Let’s go into your room, and you can tell me all about your problem. First, I’ll fetch my bag from the wagon.” Kathryn hurried out the door.

  “Ma, please tell her everything that’s wrong. Mayhap she can at least cure part of it.”

  Kathryn returned, then she and Ma went into the bedroom and closed the door. Becky sat in a chair with a book in her hand but looked as if she waited for Cenora to speak.

  “Weel, like as not I should help Rosa by doing the dishes while she cooks our next meal on that monstrous range.”

  Becky put down her book. “I’ll dry.”

  They went into the kitchen, and Cenora filled a pan with hot water from the reservoir. Becky picked up a towel.

  When the chore was finished, Becky excused herself. “If you don’t need me to help, I think I’ll read for a while in that big old live oak out back. I love to sit on the low branch that forms a seat. Call if you need me.”

  After Becky left, Cenora tried to help prepare the evening meal. She sensed she was more in the way than help.

  “If you don’t need me help, I’ve a chore of my own.”

  Rosa’s obvious relief confirmed Cenora’s suspicions she was unwanted. She went to the wagons and gathered her spare clothes and belongings. When she had made her third trip, Kathryn called Cenora to come into the bedroom.

  Ma lay in bed in her shift with her rail-thin arms in view. As always, the sight of Ma so weak created an ache in Cenora’s heart and made her want to weep for fear of losing her dear mother. Wouldn’t she do anything to ease Ma’s life? That was one of the reasons she’d agreed to a forced marriage.

  Against the white sheets, Ma appeared as pale as the linens. Dark circles ringed her sunken eyes. Standing beside Ma, Kathryn’s radiant beauty only emphasized Ma’s frailty. Cenora prayed Kathryn could restore Ma to the energetic and cheerful woman she’d been years ago.

  Kathryn smiled as if to reassure Cenora. “Your mother gave me permission to explain her problem because she’ll need your help with her treatment.”