An Unescorted Lady

by Rita Hestand

  "Do they, that's good to know. Yes, thought she might like them. What do you think?"

  "I think she will like them very much, Señor. Women like pretty things."

  "I hope so Chico." He smiled and headed for the house.

  "The Señora is very beautiful. And she cooks like an angel from heaven."

  "Thank you, Chico. I'll tell her you said so."

  He smiled and waved at him as he headed for the house.

  Trudy was stirring something on the stove in the kitchen when he walked in.

  "Smells good in here," he told her.

  She whirled around and saw him standing there with flowers in his hand and she gaped.

  "What are you doing back so early?" She put her hands on her hips and stared.

  "I brought you some flowers." He handed them to her awkwardly.

  She stared at them and took them with a gentle hand, but when he looked up into her face, she was crying.

  "W-what's wrong?" He came closer.

  "Nothing…" she cried. "I'm sorry, but you picked me flowers?"

  "I thought you'd like them." He exclaimed coming closer.

  "I-I do, but… it's just so sweet." She turned away from him.

  He smiled, she put them in a vase and watered them, then set them on the table, "Thank you, they are beautiful. They'll make the table look pretty."

  "Did I do something wrong?"

  "N-no of course not, it's just, never mind."

  "Come on, out with it."

  She swiped the tears, "I'm not used to it."

  He stared, "Used to what?"

  "The flowers, it's sure a sweet and thoughtful thing to do. No one's ever brought me flowers before." She saw the disbelief on his face, and she explained. "I don't want you feeling sorry for me. I worked all the time, and money was scarce where I lived. Flowers were what young beaus brought to their sweethearts when they could afford it. Rich ones I guess at least."

  "No one ever gave you flowers?" he asked with a frown.

  "My Pa, that's all. I don't know why I told you that. It's so silly. But you see, in the city you aren't supposed to pick the flowers as they are specially planted by workers, and only the rich buy flowers." Then suddenly she swiped her eyes and laughed. "One-time Pa picked some of those city flowers and brought them to me, they were so pretty, but the next day the constable came calling. There was a fine for picking the flowers. I rushed to tell the constable that my Pa brought them to me, to cheer me up, since my Ma died a few days earlier."

  "Did he fine him?"

  "No, thank the Lord."

  "These didn't cost anything, I just thought you'd like them."

  "Why are you being so nice to me?" she cried again and turned away.

  He came closer holding her shoulders and bringing her against him. "Well, you're gonna be crying even harder when you find out why I really came."

  He sighed when she turned to face him once more. "I'm your husband Trudy and that means I provide for you."

  "I don't want you to provide for me, I'm not really your wife!"

  "The truth of the matter is, you said the words, and so did I, and we are married. You gotta let that sink in. You might not want to admit it, but we are legally married. No matter the circumstances, you are my wife. And as long as you are my wife, I want to provide for you. I know where you came from, I know you were poor. There is no sin in that, especially since you worked your butt off trying to support yourself and your father. I know you don't have many clothes either. I want to change that. You can consider it a wedding present, as I want to buy you some clothes, nice clothes you'll be proud to wear."

  "You know don't you!"

  "Know?"

  "I told you I was poor. I told you I didn't have any money. I didn't lie to you about it. I wasn't exaggerating either. Alright, I only have two dresses, well three if you count that darn dress I bought."

  "I don't care if you didn't have any. You are a beautiful woman, Trudy, I want to buy you dresses for a wedding present. Will you let me?" He asked bending close and holding her by the arms now.

  "B-but I don't want to be bought. That wedding was for Priscilla, not me. You should spend your money on her."

  "You aren't being bought. It's a gift from a husband to a wife. Or if that offends you, then consider it an advancement on your pay as the cook. I don't care, I want to buy you some clothes."

  "I was never ashamed of where I came from, until now. It's just so embarrassing. Everyone probably thinks I married you for your money."

  "Trudy," he knew this is where he had to be tactful, like George had said. "How can I make you understand. I may be rich, but I didn't do it all myself. My folks started this place, they worked their butts off so I would have something. My grandfather came to Texas a long time ago, he had little to his name, but a hope for a better life. I feel like maybe you feel the same, you want a better life. I can understand that. It isn't something to be ashamed of, you worked hard all your life, you took care of your dad, you struggled but you made it. Your hands," he turned them over to look at them, "aren't petal soft, are they?" He touched the sides of her hands where calluses had grown from hard work.

  "I know, they are ugly." She tried to hide them.

  He cupped her chin with a crooked finger and smiled into her tear-stained eyes. "Nothing about you is ugly. Calluses are a badge of hard work, honest work, never be ashamed of them."

  "Most women don't have callused hands."

  "This is true, it makes you an exception. It makes you special."

  He looked at them now. "A man wants a woman who will stand beside him, help him if necessary. I don't want a woman I can sit in a glass box and look at."

  He took her hands in his and touched the inside of her hand, slowly, feeling the rough edges again.

  "No darlin', they aren't ugly. Nothing about you is ugly. Why you didn't have a hundred men busting down your door to marry you, I'll never understand. But you are married to me, Trudy, legally at least. And I want to provide for you. It's my duty to provide for you. It's my right as a husband. And be damned what others think or say. We know the truth."

  "Then I'll owe you… "

  "No, you won't. It's a gift, a wedding present. Please accept it graciously and don't make me feel bad for wanting to help you. Trudy," he turned her, so she was close and facing him. "You're my wife, it'll be expected of me to take care of you. Now, let's go into town and you can find some clothes you like."

  "But supper—"

  "Looks like everything is done except the meat, we'll get Chico to put a brisket on the fire outside. Will you do this for me?" he asked staring down into her tear-stained face.

  Her head was bowed, she couldn't look him in the eye but now she felt she had to. "One question?"

  "Alright, what is it?"

  "Are you ashamed of me?" she asked softly. "Is that why you want to buy the dresses? So, I won't embarrass you?"

  "To tell the truth I hadn't even noticed your dress, I was too busy looking at you. I could never be ashamed of someone who has worked hard all their life." He smiled. "I suppose I have a bit of a selfish reason to want to buy you clothes. I don't want others thinking I can't provide for my wife. That's a fact. What would you think if you saw a rich man and his wife had no clothes?"

  "I see your point. I do. But it makes me indebted to you."

  He sighed heavily. "Trudy, the fact is, I'd kind of like to show you off a little. I'm proud of where you came from, you like me, work hard. I appreciate that. It is the one thing I didn't like about Priscilla, she came from wealthy parents, had everything given to her, she doesn't do for herself. And out here, there are times we all have to do for ourselves. I feel like you would know how, instinctively. You are a survivor."

  "If what you say is the truth, then why were you marrying a lady with a pedigree, with maids. I don't belong here. As much as you try to make it look like I do, I don't."

  "Maybe a week ago, you didn't." He turned away. "Maybe a week ago, it's what
I wanted, or thought I wanted. A woman with a pedigree, and maids. Just to assure me she was of good stock. That was my thinking. To assure me she wasn't interested in my money. But I've learned a few things since then. In such a short time." He turned to look at her. "You are my wife. And I'm taking my wife to town and buying her lots of clothes so I can show her off."

  "Show me off?" she asked.

  "Don't you know how beautiful you are? Your hair is magnificent, so long and lustrous, you have a nice figure, everything is in the right place, what I've seen of it, and those oh so blue eyes, flash with anger, flash with laughter, and catch a fire when I kiss you. And don't try to argue that, it's a fact."

  She tried to ignore the last statement.

  She folded her lips for a moment, as though making some great effort. "Then… I'll pay you back," she insisted.

  "You already have, by cooking for the boys. They all love you and your cooking. Your cooking isn't something I would have expected from anyone. For you to do it, means a lot to me and the boys. Now it's my turn to pay you back for the work you do around here. I will give you a cook's salary if you like."

  "I don't feel right about this." She told him. "If you're going to buy me dresses, then I don't need a salary."

  "I've got plenty of money Trudy, and only one wife to spend it on." He grinned. "Let me enjoy it, will you?"

  "Alright, I'll try to learn to be gracious. It isn't something I'm used to. But it doesn't sit well with me. If people knew where I was from, they'd say I married you for the money itself. If I tried to explain the truth, who would believe me?"

  "They'd be wrong, dead wrong. Come on honey, let go of some of that Irish pride of yours, and enjoy it." He told her.

  She sighed then blushed, "My father used to say that."

  After instructing Chico to get a brisket from the smokehouse and get it cooking, Chico nodded.

  Lance took her into town, Ft. Worth was booming with activity.

  They went to the best women's shop in town and he had her try on several dresses. He nodded at the ones he liked on her and before she realized it, he had bought her ten dresses, four pair of shoes and a couple of hats. Some sleeping clothes and under garments. He didn't miss a thing. One hat was a dress hat to wear with special clothes, the other a western cowboy hat to keep the sun out of her eyes when she rode around the place with him. But the one green dress he bought her was so stunning on her it took his breath away. Her figure was really outlined in it and he had to buy that one for her, for him. Even the owner of the shop was impressed with how beautiful it looked on her.

  "This is much too fancy."

  "You'll need it. Off and on we have parties out here too, and I want you dressed to the hilt."

  "I'll never be able to pay all this back." She gasped.

  He smiled and looked at her, "Wearing it will be pay back enough for me."

  The sweet things he said made her tingle inside. How could he be so sweet to her? She wasn't his real bride? She had to remember that, even now. She had to keep reminding herself, as it would be so easy to love this man.

  As they left the shops, he showed her some of the sites, the big stock yards and some of the most beautiful long horns she'd ever seen.

  "I bet they have a headache every night trying to keep those horns off the ground." She chuckled.

  "I guess God makes their heads very strong."

  She grinned.

  After four hours of shopping and seeing the sites of the town, they headed home.

  "Thank you for the clothes. I wish I had something to give back, but sadly, I don't."

  "You give back, you feed the boys, and they love your cooking and the effort you made to bring food to them today, that impressed the heck out of them. That's payment enough. Seeing you brand a calf and them cheering for you, made me proud. Feeling better about it now?" He glanced at her as he pulled the wagon westward.

  "A little. I suppose since you are a big rancher in the area, people would expect me to dress right."

  "And everyone of them looked good on you."

  She blushed. "You give Priscilla half the compliments you give me, and she'll be a happy woman."

  "You keep bringing her up, why?" He asked glancing at her.

  She thought about it a minute. "Because, she should be your bride and she isn't, and I don't want to ever forget that. It would be easy to forget when you are so sweet, and kind to me."

  "You think I'm sweet and kind?" he smiled at her.

  "You certainly didn't have to spend that much money on me."

  "I can afford it, Trudy. Haven't you ever heard the saying that giving is a pleasure."

  "I know, but you didn't have to." She told him. "I don't think I've ever given anyone anything of value."

  "That's not true either. You took care of your father, you could have been out there letting men court you, instead you took care of him."

  "I loved my Pa. And I promised my Ma I'd look after him for her."

  He smiled, "I know."

  "How would you know?"

  "I see the sparkle in your eyes when you talk about him."

  He stopped the wagon and kissed her passionately. She lost it and kissed him back with all her might. She smothered him with kisses, and he was more than a little pleased at her reaction. When his head moved to stare into her eyes, he asked, "When I kiss you do you think of Pricilla?"

  She stared, her lips still moist from the kiss, "N-no." She admitted, turning her head away.

  "Good." He whipped the horses into a steady gate.

  "Why did you ask me that?"

  "Because I'm not kissing her honey, I'm kissing you."

  They talked all the way home, laughing and enjoying the scenery. He found himself wanting to kiss her more, but he didn't want to scare her. Still, she had reacted to those kisses today, and he enjoyed her reactions too.

  She didn't know how much a woman she was, but he was sure finding out.

  Lance didn't remember when he'd laughed so much or felt this happy. It was a new experience letting himself go with a woman. It was all because of her.

  Chapter Eight

  That evening as she served dinner to the boys, she put on one of her house dresses he bought. It was a simple cotton dress, but it was filled with beautiful flowers and bright looking. She loved it, as it lifted her mood, either that or her husband had with is amorous kisses. She put an apron over it so it wouldn't get dirty so easily.

  The boys loved the fresh peas and light cornbread that was sweet to the taste. She's spent the early morning churning butter and put it on the table proudly.

  Doing what she loved was a pure pleasure for her and much better than scrubbing floors. She hoped with all her might she could keep her job when Priscilla came.

  "I guess Boston is a far cry from Texas, isn't it, Mrs. Rogers?"

  "Please call me Trudy. Mrs. Rogers sounds so formal. I suppose it is. Cities are nothing like what you have here in Texas, the wide-open spaces, land as far as you can see."

  "You don't like cities?"

  "No, but I never realized it until I moved out here." She laughed. "The air is so clear, and you can see for miles."

  "Do you have parents back there?"

  "Uh, no, my mother died when I was young, and my father only died a couple of weeks ago." She answered.

  "We're sorry," Rusty said.

  Trying to change the subject she asked, "Which of you has been here the longest."

  "That'd be me," George smiled. "I've been here for twenty years now."

  "Twenty years, that's a long time." Trudy was impressed.

  "Lance was just a scutter when I first came here."

  Everyone laughed.

  George smiled at Lance.

  Chico had cooked two briskets so that the next day she could make them brisket sandwiches to take out to them. They'd be branding for the next two weeks and it was hard work.

  Later George saw Lance head for the barn and went to talk to him, since Rusty offered to help
her with the dishes.

  "So how long you worked here, Rusty?" she asked the young man who dried the dishes and put them up while she washed. He didn't have to ask where everything went, so she knew he had done this particular chore before.

  "Three years this past winter." He told her.

  "Do you like it here?"

  "Oh yes ma'am. The boss is always fair and he's hardly ever grouchy. Well, except for just before he asked you to marry. But us men folk think it was because he was so nervous about it."

  "What makes you think that?"

  "Well, every time we talked about you to him, he'd get kind of antsy. But now that you are married, he's settled out and happy again."

  "Really?" She wondered about that.

  "Yeah, women do things to men. I should know. Debbie Taylor has had me in knots for a while now."

  "Debbie Taylor, who is she?"

  "The preacher's daughter. She's a pretty little thing, got red head, like fire, and freckles all over her face, but she's just so pretty to me. Her dad don't much like me so it's hard to court her. He thinks I'm nothing but a no-account cowboy. But he's wrong. I got some plans of my own."

  "Do you like her?"

  "No ma'am. I love her. I'm going to marry her someday."

  Trudy smiled, "Really, well that sounds wonderful. I wish you luck."

  "Yeah, if my sisters, and her father would leave us alone, we'd be very happy." Rusty admitted.

  "You know what I think?"

  "What's that?"

  "I think sometimes trouble pops up to see just how much you care about a person. If you truly love her, don't give up." Trudy told him.

  He stared, "Thank you ma'am, that's the first encouraging words I've heard."

  Trudy chuckled. "Tell me something, who cooked for you before I came."

  "A little of everyone. Mostly the boss and George, Chico can handle the meat outside but inside the kitchen he is lost."

  She laughed.

  "We never had food as good as you cook though."

  "Thank you, I enjoy cooking."

  ***

  "I see you got her some dresses." George waited until Lance settled on a hay stack. George seem to study him a moment, noting the fact that he had settled down now, he wasn't nervous or pacing. He was smiling and George saw the immediate happiness inside Lance these days. Of course, Lance hadn't a clue.