CantrellsBride

by Suzanne Ferrell

  Laura leaned one arm on the dry sink and pressed the other into the small of her back. “At least Nathan didn’t insist I learn to help butcher the cow and pigs.” She shuddered at the memory of the sounds and smell the day he and Tom had killed the animals to cure the meat for winter. “I don’t think the baby or I could’ve stomached that.”

  “There’s time for you to learn to help with that next year if you want. Of course my Tom will help Nathan if you don’t. I just trim and cure the meat when they’re finished.”

  Laura swallowed hard, then turned to stare out the window at the gold- and red-topped trees covering the mountainside. Would she be here next year? If she had to leave Nathan and their children to protect them, would she have the courage to do so?

  What choices did she really have? She loved Nathan and Rachel and this small one growing inside her. She’d do whatever she had to in order to protect them.

  As she watched Sarah work for a few minutes she realized she’d also come to love the farm, her friends and the town itself. Leaving all of it would devastate her.

  The quiet rhythm of the farm during the day helped to rest her mind, which found little peace at night. Mixed visions of Nigel, her aunt and cousin filled her dreams. Last night she’d awakened covered in a fine sheen of sweat and her heart racing with the panic she tried to keep hidden from Nathan.

  The other night she’d been so tempted to tell him the whole story of the senator’s murder. He’d been so open with her about his time in the war. But fear had stopped her. Fear that he would blame her for bringing danger to his and Rachel’s lives. Fear that if she talked about the murder, Nigel would materialize in the room to silence her.

  “Laura, we can seal those jars now that the beans have cooled.” Sarah’s instructions snapped Laura out of her worry about the future.

  She forced her mind to concentrate on carefully closing and sealing the glass lids to the jar tops. She was glad of the distraction. No use borrowing more worry than she already had.

  * * * * *

  The first Friday of November came with a cool, crisp breeze that warmed as the morning grew into the late day. Laura sat on the porch swing, gently rocking Rachel, who lay sleeping beside her. Nathan had Tom helping him repair a leak in the barn roof to protect the harvest and animals before winter came blowing over the mountains.

  She lifted her eyes to the mountains surrounding the farm. The leaves had finally turned from gold and red to the old-leather brown of late autumn. Growing up in the city she’d never seen such a riotous display of color in her life. The baby moved inside her and she rested her hand on her stomach to soothe it.

  As it did so often these days, her mind turned to the senator’s murder. She wouldn’t let any harm come to either of these children. Her greatest fear was that Blackwood would find her and kill Nathan and the children in punishment for hiding her. No matter what, she wouldn’t let that happen.

  Movement to her right caught her attention. Nathan and Tom stood on the barn roof and gathered their supplies. Soon they’d be cleaned up and ravenous for supper. Waking Rachel, she guided the sleepy child into the kitchen and helped her sit in her chair. Laura opened the oven door, lifted the pan of biscuits out and set them on the dry sink to cool. She uncovered the fried chicken from the warming drawer and headed with the platter to the table.

  “Woman, what are you doing?”

  Nathan’s voice from behind her startled her and she almost lost her hold on the platter. He reached around and took the chicken from her.

  “I told you to leave all the work for us to do. I don’t want you exhausting yourself.”

  “Serving dinner won’t exhaust me.” She shook her head and stepped back from the table. “You have to let me do something around here or you’ll make me feel useless.”

  “You’re doing the most useful thing imaginable, darlin’—growing our child. And you’ll need all your strength to finish your project. Now sit,” he ordered and gently pushed her into her chair. “What did you and Rachel do today while we fixed the roof?”

  She knew he’d turned the conversation intentionally and decided to follow his lead for the moment. “She really is quite bright. She can point out all the pictures as I name the letters to her. I don’t know why she still won’t talk, but I really think she’s capable of doing so.”

  “She’ll talk when she’s ready. This is the first time in her life she’s had someone who loved her helping her learn.” He took his seat at the head of the table. “Isn’t that right, little darlin’?” he asked as he stroked his hand over his daughter’s face before serving himself some chicken and potatoes.

  “You love her too.”

  “Yes, I do, but I was at a loss as to how to help her. I’d been positive she’d stay locked in her own world for the rest of her life. Then you blew in like a spring breeze off the prairie, full of whirling determination, not allowing her to refuse your help.” He took her hand in his. “I’m not sure I could’ve done what you’ve done, and I thank you.”

  She blushed under his intense gaze, slowly pulling her hand out of his and concentrating on her food.

  Fortunately, he turned the conversation once more. “Now that we fixed the holes in the barn roof, tomorrow we’ll start stacking the last of the dried bales of hay in the loft, Tom. I figure it’ll take us most of the next two days to finish.”

  “The upper barn is full to the brim, Nathan. You think we’ll be able to get all that’s left in the lower barn?” Tom asked between bites. “Seems to me you had a big crop and some of it might go to waste.”

  Nathan nodded as he worked on his food. “What do you think we should do with the extra?”

  “Mr. Trainer, the blacksmith, might buy the extra for usin’ down at the livery, sir. I recall him tellin’ Frank he’d been buyin’ his down the mountains a ways and the cost of haulin’ it was near to costin’ him a fortune.”

  “Good idea, Tom. Why don’t we set aside a number of bales to take to town and offer him? We’ll split the profit fifty-fifty since it was your idea.” Nathan clapped the boy on his shoulders then helped himself to seconds.

  As the two continued to make plans, Laura realized how much Nathan treated Tom like a man, asking him for his ideas and opinions. He always listened patiently to him, never treating any of his thoughts as ridiculous or useless. For the most part, he treated her the same way, except for her taking chances with her pregnancy.

  Finished with her food, Laura stood and served them dessert. Nathan loved her apple cobbler and she was counting on it softening him up for what she meant to ask him.

  “Nathan,” she began quietly as she took her seat once more. “I would like to go to town tomorrow to buy cloth, if it wouldn’t be too much trouble.”

  “No,” was her one-word answer as he took a bite of dessert.

  “No, it wouldn’t be too much trouble?” she asked as innocently as she could.

  Tom snickered then busied himself with his dessert when Nathan shot him a silencing glare.

  “No, I will not take you to town.” He set his spoon aside and leaned back in his chair.

  “Whyever not?” The man could be as unmovable as the mountain outside the window.

  “Laura, women in the last month of their time do not need to be traveling all over the countryside.”

  “I’ll be in the buckboard with you, not on a horse. And the last time I was in town, Dr. Dawson said I was healthy and there’s nothing wrong with me traveling. I really do need to go to town.”

  “Just make out a list of what you need and I’ll pick it up for you.”

  “No.” It was her turn to dig in her feet.

  “Then I guess it wasn’t that important, was it?” He smiled smugly.

  “Yes, it is important, Nathan. It’s important to me.” She swallowed the tears that threatened to fall. Shutting her eyes tightly for a moment, she cursed to herself, hating how she couldn’t seem to control her emotions lately. No matter how stupid his reasoning, she wasn
’t going to cry to get her way. Logic would persuade him more. “I feel trapped here in the house and I know I won’t be able to travel to town for quite a while once the baby is here and winter sets in. Tomorrow will be the last chance I have.”

  He laid his hand over hers and she raised her gaze to meet his. The concern and indecision there almost made her retract her request. Almost, but not quite.

  “All right. If it means that much to you, then we’ll go tomorrow after Tom and I load the hay into the barn.” Scooting his chair away from the table, he motioned Tom to join him. “We’d best finish the milking and get to bed early tonight. We’ll have to get up early to finish before noon.”

  He and Tom pulled on their coats and started out the door.

  “Nathan?” Laura called as she rose from her seat.

  “Yes, darlin’?”

  She walked to his side, stopping just in front of him. She gently stroked his cheek, feeling the stubble of his beard against the palms of her hand. “Thank you.”

  He let go of the door and pulled her into his arms. Bending over her rounded belly, he kissed her slowly, hungrily and with great tenderness. He released her, his blue eyes studying her for a moment. His brows knitted together and the corners of his lips turned down slightly.

  “If I seem overprotective, it’s because I don’t want anything to happen to you or our child.” He laid his hand on her swollen tummy. “I don’t think Rachel or I would know what to do without you.”

  She smiled at him, trying to soothe his worry. “Nathan, nothing bad is going to happen to us on a simple trip to town. I promise.”

  * * * * *

  The next day they pulled their wagon to a stop in front of the mercantile, which was surprisingly empty for a Saturday.

  “Where is everyone today?” Laura asked as Nathan assisted her down.

  “I’d imagine the coming storm kept all the sensible people home today.” He arched one brow at her then turned to lift Rachel from the buckboard.

  Laura chose to ignore his sarcasm. They both knew this was her last trip to town for quite some time and they’d be home long before the storm crossed the mountains.

  “Tom, you stay with them while I take this hay over to the livery and see what kind of price Trainer can give us.”

  The man was too much.

  “Nathan, don’t be ridiculous. Tom needs to have a few minutes to visit his friends. He’s out on the farm with us all the time.” She laid her hand on her husband’s arm. “Besides, I’ll be perfectly fine in here with Sarah and Frank.”

  He studied her as if weighing her words then nodded. “I guess you’re right, darlin’. But if you need me just send Billy down to the livery. I’m also going to have the team reshod before winter.”

  Standing on her toes and leaning on his arm for support, Laura kissed his cheek. “I’ll be just fine.”

  She watched them drive the wagon down the rutted dirt road. Having someone so concerned about her welfare sat oddly on her shoulders. She’d never experienced this protectiveness or the resulting desire to ease another’s worry before in her life.

  “Your daddy is driving me just a little bit crazy.” She smiled down at Rachel, took her hand and turned toward the store.

  Inside, she and Rachel wandered around the merchandise, moving slowly back to the corner where the material and sewing supplies lined the wall.

  “What can I help you with today, Laura?” Frank came up beside her.

  “I’m wanting to make Nathan some shirts as a Christmas present, Frank.” She ran her hand over the light-blue flannel. “Maybe a piece of this and twice as much of the red plaid. I can make Rachel a dress with the extra.”

  As he cut the material, she searched the drawers for matching buttons she might use. If not, she’d just use some from one of Nathan’s old shirts.

  Frank folded the material and put it in her basket. “Anything else I can do for you?”

  The bell over the door rang as someone entered.

  “Go see to the other customers, Frank.” She smiled. “I’ll just look around for a bit.”

  Grasping Rachel’s hand, she moved behind the rack of ready-made clothes to search for a pair of dungarees for Nathan. He’d throw a fit if he knew she intended to pay for her purchases herself, but she refused to use his money to buy him a gift. It defeated the whole purpose, for goodness’ sakes.

  “Good afternoon, sir.”

  A voice she hadn’t heard in months caught her attention. Gulping hard, she grabbed on to the shelf behind her—sudden dizziness sweeping over her. The ringing in her ears drowned out the remainder of his words.

  It couldn’t be.

  She leaned to one side to peek around the rack of dresses.

  It was.

  Nigel Blackwood stood at the counter.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Oh God! What to do, what to do?

  Quickly Laura stepped back behind the dresses, pulling Rachel with her. She gulped several small breaths and willed her heart to slow down before glancing to the front counter once more.

  Yes, it was him!

  How had Blackwood found her? She peeked again.

  He stood casually talking with Frank, all the while glancing out the windows, scanning the streets. He’d grown his hair shaggy and sported a full beard. Even his attire had changed. He wore dungarees and a deerskin shirt, but it was the same man.

  And he’d found her.

  She felt a small tug on her skirt and looked down into Rachel’s large cornflower blue eyes.

  Rachel! Panic filling her heart, she pulled Nathan’s daughter tight against her legs. She couldn’t let anything happen to her. Somehow she had to get them both out of the store without Blackwood seeing them.

  Quickly she scanned the store.

  The back door Sarah used to travel from the store to the house where she and Frank lived stood open. The bell over the front door sounded and the mercantile filled with noise as several more customers entered.

  Laura eased her way toward the back exit, Rachel’s hand held tightly in hers. She froze as the door opened once more and Blackwood stepped out onto the clapboard sidewalk. When he turned in the direction of the Golden Slipper saloon, she exhaled and lifted Rachel.

  Leaving her basket of material on the floor, she hurried out the back door and across the path to Sarah’s home.

  Rachel would be safe there.

  If she took the path behind their house, through the field and woods, she could get back to the farm without Blackwood ever seeing her.

  If only she’d told Nathan about the murder when she first arrived, maybe he’d help her. But now? How would he ever understand her duplicity? True, things had been so tense between them back then. Blackwood’s pursuit had scared her, Nathan’s threats to send her back had terrified her, even living outside the city frightened her. Now she had to face her fears herself and find a place to hide. She must protect her baby, Rachel and Nathan at whatever cost to herself.

  She knocked briskly on Sarah’s door, then glanced around as she waited for someone to answer. No one watched.

  Good.

  Sarah smiled as she opened the door. “Laura. How nice to see ya. I didn’t know ya was comin’ to town today. Would ya like some cold cider? I just brought up a jug from the root cellar.”

  Shaking her head, Laura stepped just inside the door. “No thank you, Sarah, I really can’t stay. In fact, I came to ask a favor of you. Do you think you could watch Rachel until Nathan comes back to the store and then send her home with him?”

  “Well, of course I can.” Sarah’s brows drew together as she reached for Rachel. “Is there something wrong, honey? You look awful peaked. Is it the baby?”

  “No, the baby is fine. I just feel a little more worn out than I thought. I think I’ll feel better if I could lie down at home.”

  “Maybe you should stay here and rest. I could send Billy for Nathan—”

  “No!” Laura interrupted, then tried to soften the sound of her voice
and reassure her friend. “I’m just certain I’d feel better if I could rest at home without having to watch Rachel for a little while. And I’ve got this urge to walk home. Pretty soon I won’t be able to do much of anything.”

  Sarah gave her a knowing smile. “I remember that cooped-up feeling. I had it every time the baby was getting ready to be birthed.”

  Not today, please not today. The last thing she needed was for her baby to want to be born. Laura forced herself to smile. “So you see, there’s no reason to worry Nathan.”

  “If yer sure.”

  “I am. Also, be sure to give her only to Nathan, Sarah. You know how careful he is with her.”

  “Ya can trust her with me.”

  “I know. Goodbye, Sarah.” She gave Rachel one lingering hug. “Be good until Daddy comes to get you, sweetheart. Remember how much I love you.”

  Before her courage faltered, she quickly stepped out the door and hurried down the path. For once Rachel’s habit of quietly staying where she was put would be a blessing.

  * * * * *

  As briskly as any eight-month-pregnant woman could, Laura walked through the field, then the woods toward their farm. With every step her heart broke a little more. Leaving Nathan and Rachel would be the most difficult thing she’d ever done. In the last year her world had centered on them. She loved them both—more so than her own life.

  That thought alone motivated her, the one thing that kept her going. Her leaving would remove the danger to them both.

  At the farm she walked through the kitchen and headed toward their bedroom. She paused a moment, remembering how Nathan’s arms felt around her as they slept last night. She’d never feel that again. Her breath caught and tears filled her eyes. She dashed her hand over them to wipe the moisture away.

  She had no choice and standing here getting maudlin over what could never be only put those she loved in more danger.

  Pushing aside her pain, she grabbed her small canvas bag and threw in her warmest clothes, extra socks and her nightgown. She also put in the book of poetry Nathan had brought home one day as a surprise and the picture he’d had made of himself and Rachel the summer before she’d come into their lives. He might be angry she’d taken something that didn’t belong to her, but she wanted something of them to warm her heart in the months to come.