Chet couldn’t believe his ears. “You’re seeing things. I’m not interested in Serena. I’ve only been making polite conversation.”
James shook his head in disbelief. “For one ranger—a lick smarter than the rest—you sure are acting stupid.”
Then it hit Chet. The uneasiness around Serena, the way he liked to see her smile, and those eyes. Maybe the cap’n did know something he didn’t. He glanced at the cabin and back to James.
“I had no idea,” Chet said, shifting from one foot to the other.
“Well, take notice,” James said, jamming his finger into Chet’s chest. “Don’t be putting any fancy ideas in her head or dreaming up any of your own.” He peered out over the horses grazing in the pasture. “I’m fixin’ to promote you to lieutenant. You’re a good ranger and you have the respect of the other men. Being a single man is the easiest way to do the best job.”
Chet expelled a heavy sigh. “I understand about Serena, and I appreciate the promotion.”
“Good. We’ve settled this little matter, and now we can head back and get us some more corn bread and honey.”
Wonderful, Chet thought. Something else to stick in my throat.
Back inside the cabin, Chet couldn’t bring himself to look at Serena. What had happened to him since he learned Cap’n James Talbot’s skinny little girl had grown into a woman? She still looked the same, didn’t she? He’d noticed her pretty face before, but he’d never really talked to her until today. Or experienced such unnerving thoughts about a woman.
He swallowed hard. Flashes of last night and today darted across his mind. He admired Serena, and she’d surprised him a time or two, but he thought he kept those notions to himself. Obviously not. He hoped she hadn’t sensed the same thing.
“Chet here just got a promotion,” the cap’n said after a few moments. He’d piled his plate high with corn bread, added a hill of butter, and poured honey over it. “He’s now Lieutenant Chet Wilkinson.”
“Has a good ring to it,” Serena said, flashing him a smile.
“A lieutenant has to deal with a lot of responsibility,” Rachel said, refilling his coffee mug. “But I’m sure you’ve earned the title.”
The cap’n offered a wry smile. “You earned it last August at the Battle of Plum Creek when we fought Buffalo Hump over his prisoners and loot taken at Linnville. You demonstrated real grit, and I haven’t forgotten it.”
Chet remembered how the Tonkawa Indian scouts had assisted the Rangers in tracking down the Comanche warriors who had attacked and destroyed an entire Texas town. “They would have made off with it all, if Buffalo Hump hadn’t been so concerned about saving his loot, especially the nearly three thousand head of horses.”
James is right, Chet thought. My life is too risky to ask a woman to share it with me. Suddenly Chet startled. When had he begun thinking about Serena as a wife? He felt himself grow increasingly uncomfortable. No doubt he looked as red as a ripe tomato.
“I’m committed to the Rangers,” Chet said, knowing the cap’n expected him to share his beliefs. “God first and Texas second.”
“As it should be,” Serena replied, folding her hands on the table in front of her. “Your folks will be glad to hear the news. I know I’d be proud if we were kin.”
The cap’n cleared his throat, and Chet felt an invisible bullet pierce his heart. Lord, help me. I think I’ve fallen in love with Serena Talbot. How does a man prepare himself for something like this? I haven’t been looking, and she isn’t the woman I thought You wanted for me. Worse yet, I’m bound by my pledge to the Texas Rangers and her pa to do nothing about it.
Serena hummed her way through the chore of clearing the table from the noon meal. Pa and Chet were outside, probably talking about what awaited them along the Rio Grande.
“The palomino sure has made you happy,” her mother said, gathering up the dishes to wash them outside.
“Oh, yes. Fawn is a beautiful horse.” Serena remembered again Chet’s likening her eyes to ripe blueberries. “Some other things besides my birthday gift have me feeling good.”
Ma stood in the doorway with her hands full. She paused and set the load back on the table. “Chet noticing you?”
Serena couldn’t help smiling. It seemed to start from her heart and burst through to her face. “I believe so. He asked me to take a walk this afternoon so you and Pa can have some time alone. Maybe I’ll know more before he and Pa leave in the morning.”
“Your pa knows.”
Serena felt her stomach twist. “He does? Did he say so?”
“Yes, and he’s not pleased.”
She sighed and peered into her mother’s eyes. “With me or Chet?”
“Both.”
“So I imagine Pa will talk to him about it on the way to the Rio Grande.”
Her mother shook her head. “He already has—right after we ate.”
“So that’s why Chet didn’t say much,” Serena said, thinking out loud. She blinked back a single tear and focused her attention on covering the honey jar.
“You know how your pa feels about you taking up with a ranger.” Ma’s words sounded gentle, not chiding or finding fault.
Serena nodded, avoiding her mother’s gaze. “Yes, ma’am, I know. But I think I should be able to choose how I spend my life.”
“I felt the same way, too. I was younger than you when I fell in love with your pa—your age when I had a baby in tow.”
“Have you ever regretted marrying Pa?” Serena asked, wringing her hands and turning to face her ma.
Her ma smiled through her own tears. “Never. I love him more now than ever. I fret and I miss him, but he’s the man God gave me. Loving a ranger is hard, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
“And what if I have the same feelings for Chet?”
Ma tucked a loose curl behind Serena’s ear and slowly nodded. “I understand, but we both have to respect your pa’s wishes.”
Serena considered the matter, not ready to relinquish her heart so easily. “I’ve already given the matter to God. If Chet and I are to be together, He will change Pa’s heart and mind.”
“And I’ll ask God to give you the peace and courage to accept whatever He deems proper,” her ma said. With a quick hug, she gathered up the dirty dishes and stepped outside.
Serena caught a glimpse of Pa and Chet walking across the pasture toward their horses. The two men looked as different as day and night—Pa with his nearly black hair, like hers, and Chet with his sun-colored, wayward locks. Even beneath his hat, Chet’s hair tended to stick out every which way. But they were a lot alike, sharing characteristics neither would most likely own up to. Both had a stubborn streak, a unique way of thinking things through, a strong sense of values, and a love for the Lord.
She sensed Pa would deny a walk to the river, unless he really wanted to spend time with Ma. Odd, Chet hadn’t even mentioned being interested in her, and already the thought had been dismissed. Pa must have picked up on something she didn’t know about, but then her pa had a way of reading a person’s mind. He simply knew things before anyone else did.
A smile surfaced through her low spirits. Blueberry eyes. She wondered how long it took Chet to think up such a sweet description. Serena hoped a long spell. She’d like to know he’d been pondering over her during the long nights on the trail. Impossible. He’d just found out about her age last evening.
A wave of sadness blew over her, much like the foreboding wind sweeping through the trees before a thunderstorm. Serena knew she could do nothing about Pa’s bidding, but only pray and trust God to work things out for good.
After Serena finished cleaning inside the cabin, she joined Ma outside to finish washing and wiping the dishes. Squaring her shoulders and pushing away her pride, she resolved her ma wouldn’t see the ache in her heart. Maybe she could fool Pa, too.
“Everything will work out for the best,” her ma said. She dried her hands on her apron and wrapped her arm around Serena’s shoulders.
“I know,” she replied more confidently than she felt.
“If it makes you feel any better, when your pa came calling, my pa ordered him to never set foot on his property again.”
“What did you do?” Serena asked, curiosity gaining the best of her.
“Well, James isn’t going to like me telling you this…but I reckon I will. He showed up at my door and told my pa he wasn’t leaving until he got permission to marry me. My pa threatened him with a shotgun. No daughter of his was going to marry a wild Indian fighter, but your pa got off his horse and stood there until Pa gave his consent.”
“How long did it take?”
Her ma laughed. “Close to seventeen hours. My pa said later he figured an hour for every year.”
Laughing with her ma, Serena finally sobered and asked, “Would Pa be that stubborn about Chet?”
Ma gazed into her eyes. “Since your pa decided beforehand to stand there a week if he had to, I’d say he’d be even worse now.” She kissed Serena’s cheek. “Better stick to praying.”
Chapter 6
Before Serena and her ma could speak any further, Chet and her pa ambled toward them. One reminded her of a mountain cat, the other a bear. Pa laughed about something and Chet joined in. Maybe things between them weren’t so bad after all, unless Chet had agreed to her pa’s demands.
“Rachel,” Pa said, “Chet has volunteered to keep Serena company for a spell so you and I can have a little time together. He first suggested a walk along the river, then decided fishing sounded better. What do you think?”
Ma beamed and flashed Chet an approving glance. “I think the new lieutenant has a wonderful idea.”
“I like it, too,” Serena said, trying to hide her eagerness. Could it be her pa had changed his mind?
Pa frowned, narrowing his dark blue gaze. “Well, I expect plenty of fish for supper.”
An inward sigh coursed through her. She guessed nothing had changed. “Of course,” Serena said. “I’ll fry them up tonight.”
“And I’ll clean them,” Chet added.
Ma rose from the ground and handed Pa the pan of clean dishes. A flush of pink tinted her cheeks. She whisked off her apron and smiled with a special smile meant only for him. “We’re finished here, and it looks like supper is taken care of.”
A broad grin slowly spread across Pa’s face. “Are you still of the mind to see those mustangs I spotted a few weeks ago?” he asked, heading toward the cabin with Ma right beside him.
She slid her arm around his waist and leaned against his shoulder. Serena didn’t hear what she said. Perhaps the words were only for Pa’s ears.
Serena glanced at Chet and found him staring at her. The glint in his eyes didn’t look like anything she had seen from him before. It made her feel downright fretful.
“I reckon we’d better gather up what we need,” he said, kicking at the dust. “Suppose it’s all in the barn?”
“Yes, on the wall opposite where the bridles hang.” She clenched her fists to control her nervousness. “Which one of us gets to dig for worms?”
Chet chuckled. “Oh, I suppose if you bring a couple of canteens of water, I’ll get the bait.”
She relaxed slightly. “You have a deal. Do you want me to pack any food? You didn’t eat much.”
Chet studied a spider crossing over the toe of his boot. “Most likely so, especially since your pa is expecting us to catch a mess of fish. He must have a powerful taste for them.”
“And we wouldn’t want to disappoint him.”
“Or rile him.”
All the while she busied herself with food and water for later in the afternoon, she wondered if Chet might mention Pa’s ultimatum about her. Of course, nothing had ever been said to her anyway…except the comment about her eyes. The color of ripe blueberries. She simply couldn’t get his words out of her head, simply because Chet hadn’t said anything else to give her hope.
Chet stomped the shovel into the ground with such force he feared breaking it. Snatching up a couple of worms, he pitched the wiggling creatures into a wooden bucket. His thoughts spun with James’s instructions about Serena. He understood the reason why the cap’n didn’t want him seeing Serena, and given the same circumstances, he’d most likely feel the same way.
But something had happened to him, and now a whisper of her voice sent a funny tingle up his spine. He liked the way she wore her thick, dark hair down, the healthy glow of her skin, and the sprinkling of freckles across her nose. Most of all he liked those huge eyes. He could drown and go to paradise in them—nearly had this morning. He did wish she had a mite more meat on her bones, to make her a little stronger. A woman needed strength in this Texas wild to hold up with the hard work.
Chet sank the shovel into the ground again. The cap’n would skin him alive if he knew his thoughts about Serena.
Oh, Lord, You’ve pulled me out of more scrapes than I care to mention, but this one is the worst. I don’t know whether to ask You to take away my feelings for Serena or show me a way to convince her pa.
Within the hour, Serena and Chet wandered nearly two miles up the riverbank to the fishing hole. Tall oaks and cypress trees kept them cool while the quietness of nature soothed Chet’s racing mind. Now and then a crow called or the distant drum of a woodpecker broke his musings. A snake with familiar coloring slithered across his path.
“Watch out, a copperhead just raced in front of me.”
She laughed lightly. “As long as he doesn’t head back this direction, I’m fine.”
Her laughter reminded him of a Mexican guitar on a still night, when the only sounds were singing insects and the crackling fire. Easy and soothing.
“We’re almost there,” she said and pointed to the river. “See that fallen tree where you can walk across to the other side? It’s right on past where the river widens.”
In a short while, they dipped their lines into the gently rolling water and sat down on a grassy knoll beside a cypress tree.
“Isn’t this a pretty spot?” she asked, barely above a whisper.
He cradled his head in his hands and leaned back on the green earth, crossing his ankles and balancing his pole between his boots. “I like the peacefulness. Makes me wonder if heaven could be like this.”
“I hope so. I mean, I can’t imagine any place more lovely.”
“Tennessee’s pretty and green like this.”
“Your family lives there?”
He nodded. “Ma, Pa, and six sisters.”
She laughed. “I can’t imagine you in a house full of girls. I suppose all those sisters made life interesting.”
“Don’t know if interesting is the word I’d use to describe it. But I did my share of pestering them.”
She gazed out over the smooth river. “Do you miss them?”
“Oh, sometimes. We had good times, and my pa is a preacher.”
“So he led you to the Lord?”
Chet chuckled and stared up at the sky. “Not exactly. When I was fourteen, I got chased up a tree by a bear. I figured that was as good a time as any to call on the Lord. Been calling on Him ever since.”
“Well, I’m sure your family is proud of you.”
He shrugged. “Suppose so—never thought on it much.”
“Oh, I’m sure they are. Did you happen to bring your Bible?”
Her question surprised him. “No, I’m sorry. Left it in my saddlebag.”
She plucked a purple wildflower and let it rest on the skirt of her deep green dress. “I’ve been thinking some of the Psalms would sound good now.”
“Yeah, they would.” He hesitated. “Serena, do you believe God has a plan for us? I mean all of us.”
A bit of pink touched her cheeks. “Oh yes, and I also think we can make big mistakes by not listening to Him.”
“Do you think rangerin’ glorifies God? With the killing, it makes me wonder if I’m living like I should.”
Tilting her head slightly, she appeared to ponder the
matter. “We both know God hates killing. But if a man does nothing while his family and friends are murdered, then who’s the real murderer?”
“Yeah, you feel the same way I do. I’d sure like to see this country safe for folks to live peaceful-like. Seems like it won’t happen in my lifetime, though. The Republic is having a hard time getting established, and peace with the Indians and Mexico is afar off. Makes a man tired thinking about it.”
“You’re just the man to help tame Texas, and I’m praying for you,” she said and offered him a smile so sweet he wanted to pull her into his arms and protect her forever.
“Thanks. You know, sometimes I think I’d like to be a preacher, but…” He laughed aloud. “I’m afraid I’d rough up anyone fallin’ asleep during a sermon.”
Serena continued to smile. “Well, folks would be more apt to pay attention.”
“Imagine so.” He pulled himself up from the grass on his elbow and rubbed the back of his neck. “I like you, Serena.”
“And I like you.”
“I mean, a lot.”
“And I like you a lot, too.”
They went back to fishing then, neither saying a word while Chet felt perfectly content sitting beside her. An hour passed and they hadn’t caught a fish, not even one small enough to toss back in.
Serena deliberated upon her pa’s words. He wanted a whole string of fish, and right now they had nothing. The thought worried her. She was his only child, and her pa could be stubborn about some things. He seemed to forget she’d be eighteen years old soon.
“Chet, we haven’t caught a thing,” she said.
A furrow creased his brow, and he expelled a heavy breath. “The cap’n is expecting fish for supper.”
“I know. He’ll be disappointed.”
“No, he’ll be wrathful,” Chet said.
“Pa wouldn’t get mad because the fish weren’t biting.”
“He’s more concerned about things other than what we pull out of this river.”
Serena’s heart pounded hard against her chest. “Your job along the Rio Grande?”
Texas Brides Collection Page 4
