by Diane Darcy
Richard liked her. The air whooshed out of her lungs. He loved her. The thought brought tears of relief to her eyes, and she pressed shaky fingers to her lips. And Richard was a good person; everyone knew that. He wouldn’t like her, no, love her if she wasn’t a wonderful person too.
And her kids. They loved her. Proof that the widow had been a total witch to her. Completely unfair. There was nothing wrong with Melissa, it was simply these people. She should have never doubted herself.
Melissa heard Zeke before she saw him, and within moments the filthy black animal reached the top of the hill, spotted her by the door, and stopped short to bark and growl.
Melissa wiped the tears from her eyes and didn’t bother to stand. “Knock it off!”
The barking ceased abruptly and the dog wagged its tail in recognition. It yipped happily twice, and ran down the hill to lick her hand, rub against her, and beg to be petted.
There was dog slobber on her sleeve, but gratitude for the enthusiastic welcome blossomed in her chest anyway.
Taking a deep breath, she ignored the drool and reached out to pat the dog on the head. Had she now sunk so low that even affection from a dog was welcome?
Sully came over the hill, grinned, lifted his hat off his balding head and waved. “Howdy there, Missy!”
Melissa was relieved. She didn’t think she could have dealt with any more rejection today.
Sully looked back over his shoulder. “Hey boys, we got comp’ny!”
Sully’s two nasty, dirty friends topped the hill, grins splitting their faces.
Melissa’s heart sank. She closed her eyes for a moment, but when she opened them, they were still there. This was just turning out to be one heck of a day.
Chapter Eleven
“Let me see your hands,” demanded Melissa.
Sully, Jed, and Henry hurriedly shoved their hands out for inspection.
Just as suspected, their hands were as filthy and disgusting as their clothes. She shook her head. “We all have to wash our hands first.” Her tone was decisive.
Sully recoiled, his greying beard trembling as he hid his hands behind his back. “What for?”
Melissa sighed. “For the sake of cleanliness. Now, where’s the soap?”
The three men exchanged glances as if to see if the others understood her words and would share the translation.
Melissa crossed her arms. “Shall I simply go home then?”
Jed, his muscular bulk at odds with his boyish features, shook his head vehemently. “No, ma’am.”
Tall, lean, and wiry, Henry, the dirtiest as well as the youngest of the three, glanced at his hands, then back at her. He swallowed. “No, ma’am,” he echoed weakly.
Grumbling, Sully turned and entered the cabin. About five minutes later he came back with a brown chunk of...something. “Soap?” asked Melissa.
Sully nodded.
She’d have to take his word for it. The men groused, but under her supervision, washed their hands thoroughly at the water pump. After their initial reluctance passed, Sully and his friends grinned at her, and she was hard pressed not to smile back. They seemed really glad she’d come. Obviously company was scarce in these parts and any distraction from their horrible lives was welcome. She washed her own hands and set the soap on a rock.
Following the men into the darkened interior of the cabin, she insisted the door be kept open for fresh air, and waited for her eyes to adjust to the dim light. She supposed she ought to feel a little nervous about being alone in a cabin with three rough men, but for all their crude looks, she felt perfectly safe. Besides, if they tried anything, she’d flatten them.
Sully rubbed his hands together. “Okay. Where do we start? Do you know how to fire up the stove?”
Melissa looked at the antique contraption. If possible, it was older than the one back at the ranch. “I managed it last night, but not very well.”
Sully’s eyes lit up. “Okay, here’s the thing--”
Jed pushed forward. “What you want to do--”
Henry almost tripped over his big feet in his eagerness to take center stage. “See, here’s how--”
”Hooold it!” Sully raised both hands. “This here is my cabin and I’m the one she asked for cookin’ instructin’.”
Jed’s bushy eyebrow scrunched up and he shot Sully a look of reproach.
Henry threw both hands up into the air. “Then what did I wash my hands for?”
With ill grace, they both sat at the table and watched as Sully advised her on the proper way to light a stove. It took her a few tries, but finally, the wood flamed.
Sully patted her shoulder. “Nicely done.”
Getting over their sulk, Jed and Henry added their compliments.
Sully pointed to the stove top. “Now, grab that cooking pot and we’ll fill it with water.”
Melissa reached for the pot on the stove top. It was heavier than it looked. She lifted the lid and peeked inside. Something...congealed lay on the bottom and it stank. “There’s food in this.”
Sully nodded. “It’ll add flavor.”
Repulsed, Melissa turned her head away from the smelly mass. “No. We need another pot.”
“That’s the only one,” said Sully impatiently.
Melissa stuck out her chin. “Then we need to clean it out,” she enunciated each word clearly.
Sully’s eyes widened. “What for?”
“For cleanliness!”
Sully sighed, grabbed the pot, grumbled about wasting good food, and to Melissa’s astonishment, scraped the food onto the cabin’s dirt floor.
Zeke started to eat.
Sully tilted the pot to show the inside. “Satisfied? Can we cook now?”
Melissa didn’t even try to hide her revulsion. She placed her hands on her hips. “That pot needs to be cleaned.”
Sully looked outraged. “Then we won’t have any extra flavor.”
Melissa crossed her arms.
Sully stomped out of the cabin to the water pump, grumbling about bossy women all the way.
Melissa followed and watched as he pumped the water and scoured the pot.
Jed and Henry wandered out to stand behind her and observe, throwing out instructions to their non-appreciative friend and making it obvious they’d never washed a dish in their lives.
When Sully finished, he held out the pot for her inspection, his entire attitude belligerent.
Melissa took it from him and cleaned it a bit more, using the bar of soap to lather the insides as much as possible before giving it a final rinse.
Sully continued to mumble, something about the soap ruining the finish on his cast-iron pot.
Melissa ignored him.
Sully filled the pot halfway with water.
Henry nudged Jed in the arm and Jed cleared his throat. “Uh, ma’am, I reckon you know that divorce is pretty easy to come by in these here parts. Some men wouldn’t make you cook if’n you didn’t want to.”
Melissa refrained from rolling her eyes. Apparently the town needed a dating service. No doubt if she batted her lashes and showed any interest, these bachelors would be terrified. “I’m very happily married, thank you. And I want to learn to cook.”
Henry stepped forward. “Well, you got any friends lookin’ to marry up?”
She looked down. “I don’t have any friends,” she said softly.
Jed hit Henry in the chest, almost knocking the thinner man down.
Henry regained his balance and slugged Jed in the arm. “How was I to know?” he whispered loudly.
They all went inside the cabin and the dog, finished with its impromptu dinner, sat beside Melissa, its tail thumping in the dirt.
Sully set the pot on the moderately heated side burner and glanced down. “That there dog is a good judge of character.” He didn’t meet her gaze. “Don’t you worry none. You’ll find some friends.”
Melissa turned away, embarrassed. The last thing she needed was Sully feeling sorry for her. Her eyes landed on a
photo on the wall and she took a step closer. “Who is this?”
Sully’s glanced at the photo, then away. “Louisa and Andy.”
Melissa studied the faces in the black and white photo, Standing next to a picket fence, Louisa, dark hair scraped back, spine ramrod straight, stood with her hand on the shoulder of a beautiful blonde boy of about twelve. Their faces weren’t really very clear, because the photo was taken outdoors. Melissa’s eyes widened. “Sully, who’s house is this in the photo?”
“Mine.”
Tingling excitement raced through Melissa. “For some reason I thought you’d always lived in this cabin.”
“No. That’s the house in town where Louisa and I raised our son. After Louisa died and Andy left, I didn’t want to stay there anymore.”
“But why? It’s much nicer than this cabin. Who lives there now?”
“No one. I’m savin’ it for Andy.”
For Andy and all his posterity. Melissa would recognize that house anywhere. Richard had grown up there and spent five years restoring the outside. Carol Kendal still lived in it and was convinced treasure resided within the walls. Valuable treasure.
“Sully, is there any treasure hidden in your home?”
Sully stared at her as if she’d lost her mind. “Treasure? No, can’t say that there is. Just furniture and such. Why would you ask?”
Feeling deflated she shrugged. “Are you sure? It looks like the kind of place that might house a treasure.”
“I built that place my self. I think I’d know if I’d hidden valuables inside.”
Melissa sighed. Well it had been worth a try. She sure could have used some of that mythical wealth right about now. But it was nice to have finally proved Carol wrong. The next time she called Melissa about the treasure, she’d let her know it didn’t exist. If they ever got back.
Sully turned away. “Okay, now I got a treat for you. We’re making rabbit stew with dumplings!” Sully fished around in the bag he’d brought home and proudly held up a dead rabbit, which had been shot in the head.
Melissa blanched.
Sully glanced at her, then at the rabbit, a worried expression on his face. “Is it all right?”
Melissa hurriedly pasted on a smile. She needed to know how to cook, and no doubt rabbit stew was a favorite among the customers at the restaurant in town. “Of course!”
Sully set the rabbit on a flat pan, and started to skin and gut it.
Melissa gulped. She glanced away, then back again, then away.
Sully looked up. “Maybe I should let you do this?”
Melissa waved one hand, swallowing convulsively. “Oh, no. It’s okay. I’ll just watch this first time.” Her stomach heaved. Possibly cooking was a craft that had to be learned in slow increments.
The skinning and gutting complete, Sully cut up the rabbit, and motioned to the pieces. “Put these in the pot.”
With finger and thumb Melissa reached out and picked up a cool, slimy piece of rabbit. She shuddered, but placed the pieces in the pot one at a time.
Amused, Sully held out a bowl. “Just sprinkle some of this salt on top.”
Taking a small amount with her clean fingers of her other hand, Melissa sprinkled granules into the pot.
Sully nodded. “Perfect. Now we just have to let it cook for a while.”
Melissa headed out the doorway.
The men quickly scrambled after her.
She washed her hands again, then handed the soap to Sully.
He grunted, but washed.
They returned to the cabin and the men were suddenly all smiles. Henry held out a chair. “While we’re waiting, why don’t we teach you to gamble?”
“I already know how to gamble. When I was a kid--” Well, she didn’t want to think about that, and she wasn’t interested in gambling. In her opinion, it was a waste of time and only low-lifes wagered.
She looked at the pot on the stove. “How long will the rabbit take to cook?”
Sully shrugged. “‘Bout an hour. Then we’ll cut out the bones, put in the vegetables and mix up some dumplings.”
They continued to look at her expectantly.
She sighed. Playing cards was better than simply staring at each other while they waited. Perhaps just this once. “I won’t gamble for money.”
They all looked disappointed.
Jed glanced around, his gaze landing on a pile in the corner. “Straw?”
Melissa nodded. “Fine.”
Sully dealt the cards, and Jed carefully counted out twenty short lengths of straw for each player.
Henry glanced at her. “So, how come you don’t know how to cook?”
Melissa studied her cards. It wasn’t a bad hand. “I’ve always had someone to cook for me,” Melissa lied smoothly. She slid two cards to Sully and received two in return.
“What happened to the cook? She come with you?” asked Henry.
Melissa shook her head and threw two pieces of straw in the center of the table. “She decided to stay behind when we...when we moved.”
Jed traded in some cards. “How come?”
Irritation flared. “Just because.” Were they going to question her the entire time? She glanced at the stove, and noticed heat wafting over the middle burner. “Why can’t we cook on the hot burner? Wouldn’t it get done faster?”
Sully shrugged. “Wouldn’t be tender.”
Melissa nodded, resigned to wait. Maybe she could ask a few questions of her own. There was no need to let this opportunity slip by. She studied the other players. “Tell me about the Widow MacPherson.”
“She’s a good ‘un,” said Jed. “Doesn’t want to marry up, though.”
“How did she come to own all that land?”
Sully laid a card down, picked another up and threw some straw in the middle. “Married into it. Then her husband up and died. No one thought she could make a go of it, but she surprised folks.”
How nice for her. “Is she well liked?”
Henry looked surprised at the question. “Of course.”
Melissa managed not to snort. Of course, nothing. If her experience was any indication, the lady would be reviled in the community.
She tapped a finger on the table and studied her cards. What could Sully have on the widow, and how could Melissa ask subtly? Nothing came to her. Perhaps subtle would be lost on these men anyway. She took a deep breath. “Has she ever done anything to be ashamed of?”
They all stared at her like she was crazy.
“Why do you want to know?” asked Sully.
Annoyed by the implied criticism in his tone, Melissa shrugged. “Just wondering. She said something that got me thinking.”
“Well, wonder no more. The woman is a saint,” said Sully.
Melissa wasn’t ready to let it drop. “Then why--”
Jeremy and Jessica came into the cabin, their hair wild, their faces dirt-smudged and glowing.
Jed grinned. “Howdy, young ‘uns.”
“Hi,” said Jeremy. He came to a stop beside Melissa’s chair and looked at the three men. “I have a good joke. If you see an elephant out in your wagon, what time is it?”
Sully shook his head. “Don’t know. What time?”
Jeremy grinned. “Time to get a new wagon.”
Sully, Jed, and Henry laughed like it was the funniest thing they’d ever heard. Jessica giggled.
Melissa shook her head and rolled her eyes.
“Here’s another one,” Jeremy grinned. “What grows down when it grows up?”
They all shook their heads.
“A goose!”
If possible, the men laughed even harder, wheezing and slapping the table.
These guys were idiots. Melissa smiled at their antics, unable to help herself.
“Why do chickens lay eggs?” Jeremy was lapping it up. “Because if you drop them, they break!”
After the new bout of laughter subsided, Jed pointed to the door. “I’m tired of your jokes, you young coyote. Run over yonder a
nd fetch me that there henway by the door.”
Jeremy turned his head to look. “What’s a henway?”
“‘Bout three pounds! Har, har, har!”
Jed threw back his head, laughing open-mouthed. All three men were laughing hard, were red-faced and looked close to heart failure. Jessica and Jeremy were hanging on each other.
Melissa shook her head, but couldn’t stop a big smile from stretching her mouth. She chuckled. “Okay, I have one. How did the blonde fashion model try to kill her pet bird?”
Laughter died off and everyone waited expectantly.
“She threw it off a cliff.”
Hysteria reigned. Sully laughed so hard he fell off his chair, Jed pounded the tabletop causing the straw to bounce and scatter, Henry wiped tears from his eyes, and Jeremy and Jessica fell onto Melissa and clutched at her dress.
Taking it all in, Melissa laughed right out loud. Once she’d started, she couldn’t stop and she laughed until her stomach ached. She clutched at the table top, not even trying to control herself.
Finally, minutes later, the laughter subsided.
Sully climbed back into his chair. “What’s a fashion model?”
Melissa wiped her eyes, took a shuddering breath and smiled. “Never mind.” She put down her cards. “Read ‘em and weep, boys.”
All three men groaned at the full house she laid out on the table. At their pained expressions, Melissa laughed again.
Sully dealt another hand.
The kids left the cabin and Melissa relaxed back in her chair. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt so...happy? Yes, that was it. For the first time since she’d been in the past, she was relaxed and having a good time. Absently, she considered that thought. If she were honest, it was the first time in a long, long while that she could remember having fun.
Her smile faded as she lifted her gaze and took in her present company. She was having a good time with dirty, nasty, icky losers? In squalid surroundings? Playing poker?
Just like when she’d been a kid.
Her heart started to pound. The hair rose on the back of her neck and her throat seemed to close over as her body stiffened and she sat up straight. All thoughts of relaxation fled.
