Bittersweep

by Wareeze Woodson

  “. . . to you?” Hamilton finished.

  Fighting down the irritation in his voice, JP returned, “A danged coward hiding in the bushes took a shot at me.”

  The twins looked at each other and asked in unison, “Did you catch him?”

  “I managed to wing him, but he got away.”

  “Where’d all this happen?” Hudson demanded, his expression stern, his lips thinned. Even his handlebar mustache twitched, while his eyes blazed with anger.

  “At the old Clarke homestead. I want you men to head out again and find the varmint.”

  Hamilton frowned, his gaze searching, his fury chilled into grimness. “You all right?”

  Aunt Maude finished with the bandage. “It’s only a scratch like he said. You’ll wash up first. No sense in riding out on an empty stomach. The cook has everything ready.”

  After complying with Aunt Maude’s order, the men settled at the table in the dining room. A slight breeze cooled the room. JP blessed the food and for several minutes, only silverware scraping plates sounded.

  Hud finished a slice of gingerbread before eyeing JP. “I thought you avoided the Clarke homestead like the plague. What’s up?”

  “Nothing particular.” JP shrugged. “I haven’t been there in a while. I was half looking for signs of our cattle.”

  With a dubious frown, Hud demanded, “What made you think of the Clarke homestead?”

  “I keep telling you. Nothing. How many times do I need to repeat it?”

  Hud held up his hands. “Keep your shirt on.”

  With a glare as steely as he could manage, JP ordered, “You men get along now. You have a job to do.”

  Hud and Ham scraped back their chairs at the same moment. Both men scooped up their hats and headed out the door. JP stopped in the threshold and peered after his brothers.

  Hud laughed, nudging Ham. “We sure got under his hide.”

  Ham joined him in laughter then followed Hud out and slammed the back door. JP grinned. Those two did love to dig at him. He hoped his brothers took his account of the shooting seriously and used caution.

  Still caught up in thoughts of his brothers, he shook his head and moved toward his office. Later that afternoon, fluffy clouds billowed across the sky casting a shadow across his ledger. He shut the book and stretched before proceeding to the parlor. The housekeeper entered with a cup of coffee and a slice of gingerbread.

  JP leisurely drank his coffee, but his restlessness grew. The task he’d assigned to his brothers had taken too much time. Just as he aimed to send a wrangler after them, the twins burst into the parlor.

  Hudson eyed the piece of half-eaten gingerbread in front of JP. “That ain’t fair. Me and Ham chasing murderers and you sitting here filling your face with gingerbread.”

  JP grinned directly at Hud. “I’m wounded so Aunt Maude had me served in the parlor. There’s more in the kitchen so rest easy.” He searched both of the twins’ faces. “Come on in and take a load off.”

  Ham plopped into a chair and stretched his long legs out in front of him. Hud settled in a straight-backed chair close to the fireplace and propped his booted feet on the fender.

  JP studied his brothers’ expressions intently. “Any sign of our shooter?”

  Hamilton rubbed his chin. “No. Not unless he’s in cahoots with the rustlers. We found the trail but not the rustlers. The thieves stole about five or six head in all. Small potatoes in some lights, but it’s money all the same.”

  JP glanced at Ham. “Money isn’t the point. Once you let these vermin get a toehold, they won’t stop until they have the whole herd.” With a razor glance, he continued, “Anything else worth mentioning?”

  “Well, me and Hud followed the signs for a ways, but the rustlers drove those critters into the creek. We stumbled across where some butchering had been done in the woods close to the settlement. Couldn’t say for dead certain it was our cattle, but it’s highly likely. I don’t know of anybody foolish enough to butcher in this weather if they’re serious about preserving the meat.”

  Hudson rose in a restless spurt of energy and propped one arm on the mantel. “Could have packed the kill in ice.”

  Ham snorted. “In the middle of the woods? Not likely.”

  JP let out a heavy breath. “Keep your eyes open. It’s a good thing your lady love lives in the settlement, Ham. Gives you a reason to step up your visits to Lydia.” He grinned. “Of course you might be giving her ideas. And just think Aunt Maude would be so proud of you if a bride entered the family. She thinks it’s about time you settled down.”

  In a disgruntled tone, Ham squawked, “Me? What about you? You’re as old as a warped pair of boots needing to be thrown out. Why, you nearly have one foot in the grave already. When are you gonna get hitched?”

  JP laughed and leaned back in his chair. “I have a while to go before that happens. Besides, I’m working on it.”

  Hud raised a brow. “Don’t say Valeria finally got to you. You mean to pop the question at long last?”

  JP glared at him. “None of your never mind. Aunt Maude’s hankering for you to settle down too, so look lively.”

  Hud made a motion of dismissal and frowned. “Shaw. You never give up. You’re always jawing at us. Ordering us around.”

  “Pay him no mind, Hud. It comes with being the oldest and bossy to boot.”

  JP straightened and added a frown for good measure. “Last time I looked, I am still the boss. Do you fellas need something to do, such as muck out the horse stalls instead of worrying about my matrimonial state?”

  Ham held up his hands. “I’ll go over to the settlement this evening. I’m content with visiting Lydia even if she does latch on to the idea of marriage. So be it.”

  JP let the matter drop. He had his own concerns to plan. His stomach knotted for a second at the thought of tomorrow and his meeting with the new schoolmarm. His interest was definitely piqued.

  ~ ~ ~

  The next morning, Elizabeth slipped into a pretty calico dress and arranged her hair in a neat braid atop her head with a few tendrils left to float around her face. She studied her image in the mirror and grimaced.

  As the new teacher, it was her duty to always present a neat appearance. She shook her head. It must be the excitement of viewing the schoolhouse for the first time that had her worrying about her appearance. Her stomach flutters couldn’t have a thing to do with meeting JP again. No indeed.

  Making her way down the stairs, the aroma of fresh-baked biscuits wafted up to her. Her mouth watered in anticipation of spreading one of those biscuits with a liberal lashing of butter and jam. She hurried to the dining room.

  Mrs. Ledbetter bustled around setting the table. “My, don’t you look pretty this morning with real roses in your cheeks. I hope you slept well. A body often finds it hard to catch a wink in a different place. Not your own bed and all.”

  “Thank you for the compliment. I had a restful night. I can hardly wait to visit the schoolhouse and start with my plans.”

  “I wish you luck,” Mrs. Ledbetter said. “There’s still only a one-room schoolhouse hereabouts, not fancy, but it’s better than nothing.” She furrowed her brow. “I don’t aim to cast a rub in your way, but teaching such different ages is a lot to swallow.”

  “It’s commonly done, Mrs. Ledbetter,” Elizabeth said.

  With a bland smile, the landlady said, “Well now, you’re as pretty as a crystal droplet of rain on a rose petal. You ought to try the big city where a fancy gentleman could sweep you up, marry you, and treat you proper. I would think even teaching in a big school would land you in a right fine position for the future.”

  Taken aback, Elizabeth stared. She sounds as if she wants to be shed of me. “I’m certain I’ll feel more at home in a small town.”

&nbs
p; “Suit yourself.” Mrs. Ledbetter settled in the chair at the head of the table and reached for a biscuit. “Times a-wasting and JP is always on the dot, so eat up.”

  Elizabeth ate a mouthful of scrambled eggs along with one of the fluffiest biscuits she’d ever tasted. “Mrs. Ledbetter, everything is wonderful, the jam, the eggs and the ham as well.” She continued her meal before adding, “I’ll turn fat if I’m not careful.”

  “Sakes alive, child, a body needs a good meal first thing in the morning. But I’m glad you like my cooking.” The landlady shoved a jar over to Elizabeth. “Have a little more peach jam, or some apple-butter. You could use a bit more meat on your bones.”

  “Thank you, Mrs. Ledbetter, but I’ve had enough. A few sips of coffee will finish me off.”

  Franklin slipped into his chair and began his meal with a nod of greeting. “I don’t suppose Miss Betty shall be joining us this morning.”

  In an aggravated tone, Mrs. Ledbetter drawled, “I declare Franklin, you been boarding with me long enough to know not to be looking for her as early as this.”

  The crunch of wheels sounded in front of the house. Elizabeth’s heart rate picked up a pace.

  He’s here.

  Her throat tightened at the thought of being alone with him. He was certainly respectable. No fear there, but she didn’t care for the strange fluttering of her pulse when she thought about being in his presence. Perhaps the heavy beating of her heart came to remind her he was a Honeycutt. She didn’t know what had happened, but she associated the name Honeycutt with Bittersweep, and Bittersweep with the desolation of leaving her mother behind.

  Moments later, a knock fell on the front door, and Mrs. Ledbetter hurried to open it. “Come on in, JP, and have a bite of breakfast.”

  He removed his Stetson. “No thanks. I did smell those biscuits, but I’m stuffed. Aunt Maude wouldn’t hear of my leaving the house without a meal under my belt.”

  “And rightly so.” Mrs. Ledbetter nodded.

  “Indeed.” He dipped his head to Franklin and smiled at Elizabeth. “How do.”

  Elizabeth wiped her fingers on a napkin and pushed back her chair. “Morning, Mr. Honeycutt.”

  Returning his hat to his head, he gestured toward the door. “Shall we? Time’s wasting. It is best to stay a step ahead of your students.”

  She swallowed and followed him out to the buggy. Since her arrival had nearly proved a disaster, and in front of the chairman of the school board no less, she couldn’t afford to make another blunder. She needed this job.

  He reached for her to lift her into the buggy. “I can’t have you missing your step with the first day of school only a week away.”

  She grudgingly braced her hands against his shoulders to accept his assistance. He winced under her touch. She drew back and glanced at him. “What’s wrong?”

  He lifted her onto the seat. “It’s nothing. Merely a slight cut on the top of my shoulder.”

  She covered her mouth with her fingers. “My apologies.”

  He climbed aboard and took up the reins. “No harm done.”

  “What happened?”

  “Nothing much, but it’s still a mite tender.” He cut his eyes toward her and with a lazy note in his voice said, “It’s a lovely day today.”

  He obviously wished to change the subject so she obliged. “It is quite beautiful. Not a cloud in the sky. There is a breeze and I hear a bird singing. All is well.”

  Grinning, he said, “Sure enough. All is well.”

  Silence reigned as he tooled the gig down the road. The only sounds were the jingling harness and the straining wooden joints of the buggy’s floorboards groaning over the bumps in the lane. When he drove past the cutoff to the old Clarke homestead, a lump formed in her throat. Swallowing, she raised a shoulder and turned her head away to hide the moisture in her eyes.

  She turned her attention to the roadway ahead. Trees grew close to the edge of the lane, nearly touching branches overhead. A little farther down the way, the woods opened into a clearing where the sun beckoned with shafts of light, but the world seemed a little darker to her. As the glade grew nearer, the little schoolhouse appeared, complete with a bell steeple. She loved it instantly, the promise of a new beginning here in Bittersweep. She exhaled a pent-up breath.

  He drew the horses to a halt in front of the clapboard building, jumped down and raised his arms to lift her to the ground. She frowned and stepped back. “If you’ll lend me a hand, I can make it on my own.”

  Tipping his hat, he obliged and waited. He motioned toward the schoolhouse. “Shall we?”

  After he unlocked the door, Elizabeth followed him inside. She allowed a moment for her eyes to adjust to the gloom. Long box-shaped spears of light seeped into the room from the four windows on each side wall.

  Seconds later, she spied a tattered spider’s web with strands shivering in the draft spun forward from opening the door. She hated spiders and suppressed a shiver when passing beneath the fluttering, silken threads. Surveying the large room with a slow, steady sweep, she noted the hooks running along the back wall. Dust motes danced in the sunlight pouring into the glass panes.

  She reached the first window and viewed her shadow, closely followed by his, skimming over the layers of dust covering the rough floorboards. Both shadows moved forward brushing the edge of several students’ desks. The teacher’s desk placed in front of a bare wall, held a long ruler, an empty ink well, and a few slate boards stacked on the corner. She could hardly wait to display her carefully collected pictures and colorful maps to make the room more appealing.

  When she moved forward, her silhouette’s shadow melted into his and scurried into the shaded corner where the potbellied iron stove stood. She refrained from wrinkling her noise at the smell of old ashes drifting through the classroom. The odor of stale air lingered even with the door open.

  If she could clap her hands without appearing demented, she would do so. “A good airing, the touch of a broom, a little dusting, and the schoolroom will be perfect.”

  “I’m glad the place pleases you. The last teacher hated this little schoolhouse. She wasn’t much of a teacher, either. She reported a problem at least twice a week.” His lips tightened. “Something that needed my attention, every time. Seems she didn’t have her mind on her business. Any teacher worth her salt could have handled the situation by herself.”

  Elizabeth gulped. He’d made it abundantly clear he expected more from her. She forced back a shaft of panic. “Can you tell me anything about the students—how many, what ages—and the like?”

  Perching on the corner of the desk, he removed his Stetson and motioned to the chair. “I suppose some information would be helpful.”

  He waited until she settled in the seat. “Most of the children are from Bittersweep proper and a few from the settlement north of town. Around fifteen or so will be attending. Most of ’em want to learn and will give you no problem.”

  “That sounds promising.”

  “Normal problems are yours to solve. If anything is beyond you, let me know and I’ll look into it.” His expression changed, intensified, tightened. He leaned closer as if to impart a secret.

  Elizabeth drew back. She wished he’d keep his distance. He was large, utterly male, overwhelming in his nearness. Not wanting to notice his smooth skin, his strong jawline, or his chest rising and falling with each breath, she lowered her lids. She didn’t like being this conscious of him as a man. It made her uncomfortable.

  He moved slightly away. “There is one special case. A student—an orphan—her papa and brother were killed in a logging accident.” He hesitated for a long moment before continuing, “Since she was already boarded out so she could attend school, I decided to leave her with that family. The Blakes are familiar to her and will help her through this sad time in her
life.”

  “You decided as the chairman of the schoolboard?”

  “No, as a man, I decided to help her, to pay her way. She doesn’t have anyone. Her mom died years ago. I didn’t want to see her huddled into an orphanage with everything strange to her. She needs stability.”

  In complete agreement, Elizabeth nodded. Being without her own mother for years had been hard and unsettling.

  He ducked his head and cleared his throat. “My aunt’s too old to care for a ten-year-old. That’s why she’s still with the Blakes.”

  For the first time, her heartstrings were pulled for him, something besides physical attraction. There was much more to him than met the eye, more than a handsome face, a lean body, more than his physical strength. He had a strong character as well. What a worthy move on his part. Now, saving the town for altruistic motives seemed more believable. Against her will, he had somehow slipped under her guard where men in general were concerned. It seemed all men weren’t hardhearted cheats and liars after all.

  He smiled and leaned toward her again. “A cobweb is plastered to your hair.”

  She flinched, but caught by the snare of his eyes she managed to stammer, “Where?”

  “Here,” he said, gently removing the offending web and leaned back. “Why did you jerk away? Do I alarm you in some way?”

  His searching regard, judging, and his intense stillness, ever alert brought a lump of apprehension to her throat, but she managed, “If I’m a trifle reserved, I have reason.” She drew a shuddering breath and murmured, “You have power over me in the position I need and want.” She didn’t add desperately, but the plea rested on the edge of her tongue.

  “Nonsense. You’re as skittish as a newborn colt.”

  “How’s that?”

  He stepped toward her. “You jump a foot every time I come close to you, or ask you a question. Are you afraid of something?”