Gather The Children (Chronicles of the Maca Book 2)

by Mari Collier

  He ignored the hate in the man's copper eyes and gold encircled pupils and mounted Zark. He did not bother to look back as he rode off to meet the approaching horseman.

  Marshal Franklin pulled heavily on his reins as they came abreast. The marshal's face was florid as he made his accusation. “Y'all are hell-bent on disturbing my days. Where's that man going?”

  “Mayhap to the next town or to Mexico. I dinna ask his destination. Nay did I kill him, this time.”

  Franklin sat back on his horse. “MacDonald, one of these times y'all are going to cross the line and I'll have to arrest y'all.”

  MacDonald grinned. “I shall consider myself warned.”

  Chapter 19: One Last Try

  Rita strode from the house. She was dressed in a low cut gown of cream dotted with green flowers, short sleeves, and an unusually tight bodice. Mama was busy sewing, Mina napping, and Lorenz and Daniel off with Martin branding cows again. The afternoon was quiet, and she knew MacDonald was adding to the corral fencing. This time she would succeed in extracting Mama, Mina, and the boys from the clutches of the Thalian. October had changed into an Indian summer and the warm air and bright sun outlined every stone, blade of brown grass, and building in bold light. She smiled to herself as she loosened the top button of the tight bodice. She knew she was beautiful and her figure good. Men stared at her, Rolfe openly gaping when he first met her. Martin had been so tongue tied and red-faced, Lorenz started to laugh.

  MacDonald was shirtless; his arms bulging as he drove the posthole digger up and down in the tough prairie sod. Perspiration soaked his summer underwear plastering it against his chest. He looked up as Rita approached, his eyes narrowing as he watched her continue to finger and loosen the buttons on her bodice.

  “I have a proposal,” Rita began, a smile curving her lips as she looked upward at the man.

  “I twould call it a proposition if ye open one more of those buttons.”

  Rita's face flamed, but she kept her voice low and husky, and continued to look directly into his eyes. “If you relinquish your hold on Mama and Lorenz, I will go with you.” For some reason her lower limbs trembled, and she could feel nerves working in her groin and stomach. She set her teeth. What was the matter with her?

  MacDonald's face was as set as hers. “Ye are Counselor's lassie, and I am mither's Counselor. Remember that. If ye loosen one more of those buttons, or say one more thing, I twill pick ye up and carry ye to yere mither's side, and she may deal with ye.”

  Rita stared at him. The man was serious. Was the book she'd read truly so flawed? “How can you, a Thalian, resist when I am so young?”

  He stuck the digger down and folded his arms across his chest. “Mayhap, if ye twere honest with yereself, ye twould ken ye twere told lies, and ye are suggesting this for yere benefit and nay yere mither's. Yere mither tis decades younger than I, and what ye just proposed tis as abhorred in my land as incest tis here.”

  Rita began buttoning the bodice and stared at him, her eyes wide. “Are you going to discuss this with Mama?”

  “Oh, aye, when I return to the house. I suggest ye discuss it with her now.” He picked up the posthole digger and began slamming it into the earth with renewed effort.

  Rita stumbled backward for a couple of steps and turned to return to the house. What had possessed her? What had she missed about the way MacDonald regarded her mother? She wished Red had never shown her the reading materials he had acquired from his trading activities. How could a society so advanced be so wrong? And now what did she say to Mama? Her steps began to lag. Damn MacDonald. He had made her feel like a twelve-year-old child again. At the back door she hesitated a moment. The treadle on the sewing machine produced a steady whirring sound. She entered the kitchen and drank from the ladle in the water bucket.

  A quick glance in the mirror above the basin revealed her face had cooled to a slight pink. Her bodice was properly buttoned again and she took a deep breath. The empty, sinking feeling in her middle, however, would not go away.

  Anna was busy sewing a new flannel shirt for Lorenz's birthday present when she felt her daughter standing beside her. She stopped the treadle long enough to look up and smile. The look on Rita's face stopped the smile and in German she asked, “What is wrong?”

  Rita looked at her in wonderment. Like Lorenz, she had easily picked up her first language. “How did you know?” Her words were in Deutsch.

  “It is the same look you would have when you did wrong as a little girl. How could I not know?”

  Rita brought one of the dining chairs over and sat down. “Mama, I—I know how you must be suffering from Mr. MacDonald's constant attentions.”

  “Margareatha, what are you talking about?”

  Rita was perplexed. How could her mother keep denying that she was being used over and over? Rita tried again, but gently. “Mama, I sleep in the room directly across from yours and I—I don't mean to hear, but sometimes I can't help it. I know how frequently he bothers you, and how tired you must be, and humiliated.”

  Anna closed her eyes for a moment and thought. “Bah!” she exclaimed. “It was the teaching from those nuns, ja? They are the ones that gave you such ideas. God made man and woman for each other. That's why we marry. Women who are honest don't make such statements as yours. Poor Gerde and Kasper can't have what Mr. MacDonald and I have. If she gets pregnant again, she will die. Yes, it can make me tired, but that is why Mr. MacDonald has always helped so much.” She stopped at a loss for words.

  Rita was staring at her dumbfounded, and Anna tried again, this time in English. “I never thought to say anything because ve vere split up before du became a woman. I just assumed du vould know things at your age.” Anna's own face was growing pinker. “I vas afraid that your being around Mr. O'Neal like that meant du had, had” she paused, “committed indiscretions.”

  “Mama!” Rita was horrified. “I've never done anything like that.” It was her turn to pause. “Except just now, I've made a fool out of myself and ruined everything.” She began to rock back and forth on the seat trying to think of a way to tell Anna. Anna reached over and gently patted her hand.

  “Rita, vhat are du talking about?”

  “I just offered to go with Mr. MacDonald if he left you and Lorenz.” She blurted it out.

  Anna came out of the chair in one fluid motion, her hand sweeping backward. “How dare du! He ist my man.” Anger lent swiftness and surety in her motions and her voice. Her hand descended as rapidly as she raised it and landed with a crack.

  Rita rose as rapidly as her mother and stared down at her. She found herself staring into eyes that had gone a flat, grey, icy cold. There was no fear of her daughter's youth or greater height in her eyes. My God, thought Rita, Lorenz is like her.

  “I told du not to make me choose between Mr. MacDonald and du. Vhy did du force this on me?”

  “Mama, I'm sorry.” Suddenly Rita was a little girl again, trying to placate her mother's anger. “I don't want him. I thought I was helping you, protecting you.”

  “And did du to Mr. MacDonald apologize?”

  Once again Rita was opened mouth. “No,” she whispered.

  “Then du must do so. He vill decide if du stay, and I vill pray for God to forgive me my anger.”

  Chapter 20: Antoinette

  Lorenz looked at himself in the mirror. The brown, serge suit had been ordered before he visited his grandfather's farm. The tailoring was done during his absence, and the suit fit perfectly.

  “Are ye through primping? Tis time we meet with the O'Neal's for dinner. Daniel is already with them. I suspect he twill return with O'Neal.” Amusement rumbled through MacDonald's voice.

  Lorenz grinned crookedly. “I reckon.” He grabbed his new hat and rubbed his new boots against the back of his calf to heighten the shine.

  MacDonald was equally splendid in a new tailored suit and boots. He was looking forward to meeting O'Neal again. The first time had been all too brief. He and Rolfe had added O'
Neal's herd, remuda, and hands to their drive on a handshake to pay Red when they met in Saint Louis. O'Neal then left for the coast of Texas to tend to his shipping lines and promised to meet them. Out of the eighteen hundred head of longhorns, they had arrived with almost seventeen hundred, and sold them for twenty-six dollars a head. It was a handsome profit for all.

  Lorenz adjusted his new hat to a rakish angle before they left the room and locked the door behind them. They walked down the fancy stairs and headed to the hotel's dining room. It was easy to spot Red and Daniel. Both were taller than most men and being seated did little to hide the fact. Red rose to meet them, a warm smile on his face and in his eyes. Lorenz couldn't take his eyes off the young woman seated between Red and Daniel.

  As they neared the table, Lorenz removed his hat and bowed. “Miss Antoinette, it's a pleasure to see y'all again.” His face lighted and his eyes were gleaming like new silver dollars.

  Antoinette turned her head, smiled with her perfect lips, and raised a languid right hand. Her violet-blue eyes appraised every inch of Lorenz and noted the scar was now a normal color. She knew men in the South would prize it as a mark of honor from dueling. Lorenz looked extremely handsome, and he certainly dressed far better than Daniel.

  “My, don't y'all look ever so fit.”

  Lorenz grasped her hand, staring down into her eyes, and suddenly remembered he was supposed to kiss the hand or something. He hastily bent his head and touched her hand with his lips. He knew there was nothing substantial under his feet as he walked to the chair next to Daniel and sat down after hanging his hat on the chair. He didn't remember MacDonald shaking hands with Red, and he didn't hear Daniel's amused snort.

  Antoinette was still smiling up at him, her dark, curly head bent ever so slightly. Lorenz had no idea that women assumed this pose on purpose. All he could think of was how beautiful she was, and how she would be the perfect wife.

  “I do so want to complement y'all on how much y'all have changed since we last met. I do declare, y'all must have stayed up all night doing your studies. It's ever so impressive.” Antoinette blinked her eyes and then looked at Red for confirmation.

  Red, however, was talking with MacDonald. “The amount you were able to sell the cattle for surprised me. I'm thinking of sending a bigger herd next year. Did you have any problems bringing them through that I should be aware of?”

  “Aye, Missouri does nay like us, nay the fever and scours they fear our cattle have. They may try to stop us next year or charge so much the drive twill net less; plus, there twas the grasshoppers chewing at everything. There aren't any other towns though for shipping so many head or finding a buyer. If we go through Kansas, tis a long way to water, and we would lose a fair amount of cattle. It took days to find a broker. We were almost ready to head for Omaha when I found a man. These are issues that need to be resolved, but the brokers twill come when they ken there are more Texas steers headed this way.”

  “Did you have any problems keeping the cattle together during the drive?”

  “Nay trouble after the first day or so, except for the night stampede during a Jay Hawkers raid in Indian Territory. If the rain had nay started, we might have lost more. Twas such a heavy down pour and it helped bringing the cattle back under control. We lost a man then, and I twill need to tell his remaining family.”

  Red grimaced, “That's not a pleasant chore.”

  Two waiters approached bearing platters. “I took the liberty of ordering you all steaks. I hope that's satisfactory,” said Red. You all will have to order your own drinks.”

  “Oh aye, tis fine.” To the waiter MacDonald said, “I twill have a brew, beer that tis.”

  “We have both the amber and the dark beer,” said the waiter with pride and waited for the response.

  “I'll have the amber, thank ye.”

  The waiter looked at Lorenz.

  “Coffee,” said Lorenz.

  Antoinette turned to Lorenz after the waiter left. “Don't y'all drink?”

  Lorenz gave her a quick smile. “Sometimes at home I'll have a glass of wine, but I don't care for beer.”

  She favored him with a smile as she unfolded her napkin.

  The waiter went to fetch the drinks and the conversation returned. “Could I interest you in returning to the ranch with me?” Red asked Lorenz. “Your pay would be the same as Daniel's.”

  “No, thanks, I've still too much to learn, and we're building a business.” He turned to MacDonald. “Right, Papa?”

  “Aye, like ye, Mr. O'Neal, we twill be trailing a larger herd next year.”

  Red nodded. “I thought as much.”

  “I offered the same to Daniel, but it seems he has a wander lust and a taste for a new challenge.”

  “Should you change your mind, Lorenz, I'll keep the option open.”

  “I won't.” His voice acquired a hard edge. “I like being a rancher's son and having a home. It's better than being a hired hand.”

  When the waiter brought more drinks, the men began to smoke. Antoinette stood. “I believe I'll return to the room now and let you all discuss business.”

  All the men rose, and Lorenz stepped around Daniel. “Would y'all care for a walk, Miss O'Neal?”

  Red put down his napkin. “No.”

  Antoinette laid a hand on Red's arm. “Now, Jerimiah, I know y'all want to talk business with Mr. MacDonald and Daniel.”

  “It's too dangerous outside, even with an escort.”

  “Well, then, why doesn't Lorenz escort me to where Consuela is waiting, and he can see us to the room in a proper manner.”

  Red looked at her and then at Lorenz. He had let the correspondence continue as a way to tempt Lorenz to return, and now he needed Rita back too. His mind did a mental shrug and he smiled. “Yes, I would appreciate that.”

  Daniel's face darkened, and he was about to accompany them when O'Neal shook his head. MacDonald smiled one of his tight, half-smiles and watched the two young people walk off. He noted that Lorenz was strutting. Well, let him, for the lassie twas a beauty according to this land's standards.

  “Ah do declare,” said Antoinette as she took Lorenz's arm. “Red can be as annoying as a clucking hen with her chicks.”

  “He just wants y'all to be safe.”

  Antoinette giggled.

  “Is Consuela your duenna?”

  “Officially she is my maid, but she acts like a duenna.”

  “What will y'all be studying?”

  “Oh, such insipid things as embroidery, but there will be another full year of French.” Her southern accent was so strong, Lorenz wondered how she spoke another language fluently. “I do wish they'd have more Latin. It does so help when one studies French and speaks Spanish. Do y'all speak any other language?”

  “Yes, I've pretty well mastered German, and I know border Spanish, but I reckon that's different from what y'all speak.”

  She smiled up at him. “Indeed it is. Why on earth did y'all learn German? No one, ah mean no one, uses it.”

  He returned her smile. “Because Mama is German and Lutheran. All of the Pastor's sermons are in German, and the Catechism and their Bible are in German. When I visited Grandpa Schmidt, his whole family was still using it for their language at home. Most of the people in the nearby town used it, and the church service was in German.”

  They were rapidly approaching the seating area near the reception desk. A middle-aged Spanish woman dressed in black stood when she saw them. Her grey hair was piled up on her head and wound in a bun in the back. Her face became stern and she frowned.

  “Why are you with this man?” she asked in Spanish.

  Antoinette laughed a tinkling, joyous sound. “Oh don't be silly, Consuela. Mr. MacDonald can understand every word y'all are saying. Y'all know very well Mr. O'Neal would not permit me with anyone that isn't protecting me. He will be seeing us up to our room.”

  Lorenz nodded at the woman, but Antoinette didn't bother to introduce them. She kept a firm hand on his ar
m and turned toward the stairs. “We are on the second floor in one of the two suites Jeremiah rented.”

  “I told y'all what I would be takin' at the school. Are y'all still doin' lessons?”

  “When we get back to Texas I'll be starting a whole new session with Uncle Kasper. He's really in his element now. There's two other students besides me, and Papa will be learning Greek.”

  “I just can't imagine why Daniel wouldn't stay.”

  Lorenz felt a twinge of jealousy. Why should she care? “I don't know why he didn't. He seemed to be doing all right in his studies. He finished the multiplication tables and writes fairly decently. I guess it's just not as important to him.”

  “Well, ah was soo glad to hear y'all say y'all liked being a rancher's son. I surely wouldn't want to marry a poor man, or live like an Indian squaw.”

  He looked down at her. “I can assure you, Miss O'Neal, my wife will not live like an Indian.”

  She smiled at him. “What was your grandfather's farm like? Ah just can't imagine something so small can provide a good living, but the whole middle section of the country seems to be like that.”

  Lorenz returned the smile. “It seemed to provide a very good living. They had two barns and two granaries, plus two corncribs. That's not counting the washhouse, smokehouse, tool shed, and a chicken house that was bigger than a lot of cabins out in Texas. The same goes for their hog house. They don't let the pigs run wild, but keep them penned. The kitchen was larger than some of the cabins I've seen out home too, and they sure didn't want for food.”

  Antoinette shook her head. “My, my, ah never imagined. I thought it would be real skimpy like.”

  They reached the landing of the second floor, and Lorenz set his teeth. He didn't want to lose her, or this time to end. “Will y'all still write to me? I don't know what your address will be, or I'd write first.”