Brides of Kansas

by Bateman, Tracey V. ;

  “We’re going to the cellar,” Cassidy explained. “Dell’s afraid the storm will turn into a twister.”

  “Hogwash. I’m going back to bed.”

  As she turned to go, Jack let up a howl. “No, Granny. Come with us. I don’t want you to get blown away!”

  He threw his arms tightly about her, and she glanced helplessly at the little boy.

  “Oh, all right,” she said, relenting. “Now stop crying.”

  Dell grabbed up little Jack and headed for the front door. He began opening it carefully, but the ferocious wind snatched the wooden door away from him, slamming it hard against the outside wall.

  “Ma!” Emily screamed in terror, burying her head in Cassidy’s bulging middle.

  “Shh, it’s all right.”

  She held the little girl tightly as they lowered their heads and struggled against the wind.

  “Hang on to the rail,” Dell shouted.

  The root cellar was between the house and the soddy, and they reached it quickly.

  Cassidy waited while Dell helped each child inside, then Ellen.

  She took a step toward Dell’s outstretched arm but stopped as Warrior barked from across the yard.

  “Come on, boy,” she called.

  Suddenly she heard a yelp as a slat blew off the barn roof and hit the animal, knocking him down.

  “Warrior!” screamed Emily.

  He lay motionless where he’d fallen.

  “Come on!” yelled Dell.

  Without stopping to think, Cassidy took off across the yard, fighting the wind. Relieved to find the animal still breathing, she bent and gathered him in her arms. He whimpered as she jostled him. “Come on, boy. I have you.” She glanced fearfully at the barn as its door blew open. Abby broke out of her stall and ran out, bucking and neighing wildly around the fenced barnyard.

  A flash of lightning brightened the sky, and for a moment Cassidy saw the twister extending from the heavens. Frozen, she could only watch as the funnel swirled toward her, tearing up everything in its path.

  Suddenly she felt Dell grab her and half-carry, half-drag her back to the cellar, then pull her inside.

  “Are you crazy?” he barked. “Your life and the life of my child are more important than a dog’s.”

  “I–I’m sorry, Dell. I guess I just wasn’t thinking straight. I saw him lying there, hurt, and I just reacted. Besides, h–he’s not just a dog; he’s part of the family.”

  “Thunder and lightning,” he muttered.

  He grabbed the door and started to pull it down when Johnny appeared, shaking in fear. “It’s a twister!”

  “We know. Get in and close the door,” Dell said gruffly. Turning, he ordered, “Give me the dog, Cassidy.”

  Cassidy did as she was told. Dell laid the animal gently on the floor and looked him over. A gash on Warrior’s side seeped blood, but the wound wasn’t fatal. Dell removed his shirt and wrapped it tightly around the animal to stop the bleeding.

  Tarah held Emily protectively against her side but looked out shyly from beneath long lashes at Johnny as he walked to the back wall and sank down.

  He threw a cautious glance at Dell, then winked at the girl.

  Cassidy bristled and cleared her throat. Receiving the full impact of her stern glare, Tarah shifted her gaze to the dirt floor. Giving Johnny what she hoped was a look of intimidation, Cassidy was rewarded with a very unintimidated, insolent grin.

  Tarah had been true to her word the past two months, steering clear of the ranch hand, and had even returned to school. Cassidy’s heart sank to realize the girl was still infatuated with Johnny. Perhaps she’d have to speak to Dell after all. She looked toward her husband. His worried gaze was riveted on the closed door above them. In an act of boldness, she went to him and slipped her hand in his. He gripped it hard and turned to her. Tears glistened in his eyes, and Cassidy rested her cheek against his bare arm. “It’ll be all right, Dell. God will take care of us.”

  “Come on,” he said quietly. “You need to sit.”

  He led her back to her space against the wall and sat beside her. Grabbing the quilt, he draped it over her.

  Cassidy lifted the edge closest to Dell and pulled it over him. “You’ll be sick with no shirt on,” she admonished. “Share the covers with me.”

  His gaze melted into hers, and he lifted his arm, wrapping it around her. The heat from his fingers against her upper arm sent a tremor through her middle.

  When the baby kicked again, Cassidy smiled and grabbed Dell’s other hand. He glanced down with hesitation in his eyes as she placed his hand on her stomach. The baby greeted his father with a strong kick. Dell pulled his hand away as though he’d touched a hot stove, then placed it gingerly back on the mound. He laid his head against Cassidy’s while he became acquainted with his unborn child.

  Overwhelming contentment washed over Cassidy, and she snuggled against Dell, enjoying the closeness even while the storm raged over them. Peace in the midst of the storm, Lord. This is what You’ve given me.

  They sat huddled together on the dirt floor, wrapped in thick quilts, while the storm spent its rage above them. For a time, they could hear nothing but the roar of the wind and the banging of their belongings flying through the air. Suddenly everything died down, the twister leaving as quickly as it had come, though thunder rumbled and lightning still flashed through the cracks in the wooden door.

  “We’ll stay here for a while to be certain,” Dell informed them. “Storms like this can go on all night.”

  He was right. Though there were no more twisters, the wind rose and died down several times, and the storm blew until just before dawn.

  When morning came, every inch of Cassidy’s body ached from her night spent on the hard ground. She dreaded what they would find when they looked outside.

  Getting up from beside her, Dell climbed the cellar steps. Drawing a slow breath, he lifted the latch and threw open the door. A blast of cold air blew into the cellar, and white flakes filtered in.

  “Is it snowing?” Cassidy asked incredulously.

  Dell nodded.

  From the back of the room, Johnny groaned. “That’s going to make it a bear to get things cleaned up.”

  Cassidy sent him a scathing glance, then shifted her attention back to Dell.

  “How bad is it?” she asked.

  “Barn’s gone, but the house is fine.”

  Relief filled her at the news. Thank You, Lord, for sparing our home.

  One by one, they emerged from the cellar. Dell’s shoulders slumped as he stared at the wreckage caused by the storm, and Cassidy’s heart ached for him. Chickens lay dead, strewn across the yard. Splintered boards lay on the ground where the tall barn had stood just hours earlier. Tree limbs and slats decorated the area. Cassidy’s lips quivered at the extent of the devastation, and she struggled for composure. At least they could thank God that they were all safe and that the house had been spared.

  “Darling,” Dell said quietly, taking her by the shoulders and steering her toward the house. “I want you to go inside and get into bed.”

  “But I have to get breakfast,” she protested.

  Dell’s gaze shifted to Tarah.

  “I’ll help Granny fix breakfast,” she offered. “You should lie down like Pa says.”

  With a sigh, Cassidy nodded. She stepped over fallen limbs and other clutter in the yard and on the porch. Once inside the house, she looked around. A few knickknacks and pictures had fallen, but all in all, everything looked pretty much the way they had left it the night before.

  Cassidy made her way back to her bedroom, opened her bureau drawer, and lifted out a fresh nightgown. Changing quickly, she climbed into bed, pulling the covers over her shivering body. It didn’t matter that the edges of the quilt were dirty from the cellar floor. She’d wash it later. For now, she was too tired to care.

  With a yawn and another prayer of thanks, Cassidy drifted off to sleep, smiling at the memories from the night—of Dell’
s hand covering her stomach, his arm wrapped tightly about her shoulders. The last thing she remembered before sleep claimed her was that he had called her “darling” in the light of day.

  A light dusting of snow fell as Dell surveyed the damage to the barn. Even with five ranch hands working alongside him, it would take awhile to get everything cleared away and begin rebuilding.

  Fortunately the horses had emerged from the storm unscathed. For now, they and the milk cow would have to be put back into the old sod barn.

  Dell sighed, surveying the work ahead of him. Yesterday he and the hands had rounded up all the cattle they could find. Several had been lost, as well as a few pigs. He’d have to make another trip to Abilene to sell off some more of the stock if they were to make it through the winter. He hated to think of leaving Cassidy alone this far into her pregnancy, but it couldn’t be helped.

  The snow began to fall faster, and he cast a cursory glance toward the sky. Thick clouds blanketed the heavens, and a knot formed in his stomach. Winter had arrived in earnest after the storm, and those clouds indicated more snow was coming. Spurred into action at the thought, he stepped forward, lifting a splintered board from the pile of rubble. He knew he’d better get to work if the barn was to be rebuilt before the new year.

  Cassidy opened her eyes, then sat up quickly as her ears registered more howling wind.

  Not another storm. Oh God, please, no.

  She pushed back the covers and sat up shivering. She swung her feet down to the floor and lifted them up just as quickly. The floor was icy. And yesterday had started out as warm as a day in July! Gingerly she stepped down onto the cold floor, slipped into her house shoes, and walked to the window. A thin layer of frost covered the glass, making it impossible to see outside. With the edge of her nightgown, she made a circle in the glistening white ice. She peeked through the opening but could see nothing in the darkness.

  Frustrated, she grabbed her dressing gown and slipped it on. “I’ll go look out the front door,” she muttered. She lifted her shawl from its peg and threw it around her shoulders.

  When she reached the sitting room, she stopped. Dell stood by the front window, staring outside.

  She moved forward until she stood beside him. “What is it?” she asked, fearful of the answer.

  He laughed shortly. “Welcome to Kansas. First you witnessed a twister; now you get to experience a prairie blizzard.”

  Relief that it wasn’t another twister was mixed with the dread of the snowstorm. She’d never seen a blizzard before, and watching the angry, driving snow sent a shiver through her. Cassidy felt Dell shift, and her heart leaped as his arms captured her from behind.

  Resting his hands on her stomach, he pressed her against him. The baby protested the heavy hands spread over Cassidy’s stomach.

  “This is going to be one strong boy,” Dell said with a chuckle.

  “Boy? I think not.”

  “Oh? And what’s wrong with having a boy?”

  “There are enough men in this family as it is,” Cassidy said with a quick lift of her chin. “We need a girl to even things out.”

  “All right. A girl, then,” he said. “One who looks exactly like you.”

  “Oh no! She mustn’t look like me.” Years of being overlooked at parties flashed through Cassidy’s mind. “I want my daughter to be invited to dances and box socials. I want gentlemen to ask to escort her home when she’s a young lady. She has to look like you,” she finished firmly.

  “Haven’t you ever been asked to a dance?”

  “Not one single time.” In his arms, the sting was gone. Still, she remembered the hurt of her younger years.

  “Well, Mrs. St. John. I am formally asking you to allow me the honor of escorting you to the Christmas dance next month.”

  A giggle escaped her lips. “Mr. St. John, I accept.”

  With a sigh, she leaned her head back against his broad chest and covered his hands with her own. They stood in silence for a time, Dell’s chin resting on her head.

  “Cassidy,” he said quietly.

  “Hmm?”

  “I’m glad you decided to come with me.”

  Her pulse quickened, and she stroked the back of his hand. “Me, too.”

  He placed a gentle kiss on the top of her head, sending a shiver up her spine. “I love you,” he whispered.

  “You do?” It was the first time he’d ever said those words.

  She felt him nod against her cheek.

  “Yes, I reckon I do.”

  Tears formed in Cassidy’s eyes.

  “I know it doesn’t seem that way, and you don’t understand the arrangement we have, but my feelings for you are genuine.”

  He turned her around to face him in the eerie glow of the fire. “You’ve been a wonderful mother to my children, and somehow you’ve even gotten Mother to soften. You amaze me.”

  “Well, to be honest,” Cassidy said, throwing him a saucy grin, “you were the one who got Ellen to soften.”

  A lifted brow was his response.

  “It’s true. She started being nice to me after she found out that I—well—about the baby.”

  At the reminder, Dell shifted. Taking her by the hand, he led her to a chair by the fireplace. “Come and sit,” he said.

  Grabbing a nearby stool, he brought it closer to the warmth of the fire and sat facing her. “We haven’t really had the chance to discuss your condition,” he said. “How are you getting along?”

  “I’m feeling a little more uncomfortable as time goes by,” she admitted. “But not enough to cause concern.”

  “You sure?” His eyes scrutinized her. “Don’t do more than you should. There’s no need to hurt yourself when Mother and Tarah can do for you.”

  Waving away his concern, Cassidy nevertheless felt a thrill that he cared enough to worry. “But there’s no need for them do so many of the household duties. Ellen is feeble, and Tarah has her studies to attend to.”

  The look on Dell’s face was firm. “I figure you have about three more months to go. That right?”

  Cassidy felt her cheeks grow hot, but she held his gaze. “Two and a half.”

  “All right, then. For the next two and a half months, and for a few weeks after the baby is born, I expect you to take it easy. No heavy lifting, no more scrubbing over the clothes—”

  “Oh Dell, really,” she interjected.

  “Tarah is plenty old enough to take care of the washing on Saturdays,” he insisted. “It’s high time that girl learns to take care of a home anyway.”

  “That may be, but I can’t sit around all day with nothing to do while others tend to the chores I should be doing.”

  His eyes studied her for a moment, taking in face and body. He drew a breath, then exhaled slowly as he spoke. “You aren’t like Anna.”

  Cassidy’s heart sank as his gaze drifted from her up to the daguerreotype on the mantel. She knew he couldn’t see the woman’s image in the firelit room, but he stared as though he did.

  “She was small and dainty. Frail, really. She was in bed almost from the beginning with Tarah. Weak and ill constantly. And it was worse with each child. I should never have…” He stood and walked to the window, glancing out into the predawn haze.

  A glimmer of understanding dawned on Cassidy. “It wasn’t your fault she died. Whatever caused you to think it was?”

  A short, mirthless laugh escaped his lips. “When the time came for Luke to be born, she had a rough time of it. I promised myself and God that if she lived, I’d make sure she never got in that condition again—a promise I obviously didn’t keep.”

  “Do you mean to tell me you think God took Anna because she was with child again?” The very thought was ludicrous, insulting to God, really. “He wouldn’t do that.”

  “Well, He did.” Dell’s reply was clipped and filled with bitterness.

  Somehow she had to make him see. “God is merciful. He doesn’t let people die out of revenge.”

  “‘Vengean
ce is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.’” He threw her a wry smile. “You see, I know some scripture.”

  “Don’t joke about this, Dell. That verse does not mean God kills for revenge. That’s the way of imperfect man, not a perfect, loving God.”

  “Then why did she die?” he asked, his eyes beseeching her for an answer.

  “You said it yourself. She was frail—weakened a little more with each child.”

  “And I should have known better. Should have used more control.”

  Cassidy eased forward in the chair and lumbered to her feet. She went to Dell, wrapping her arms around him from behind. He tensed, but Cassidy pressed in.

  “Women know what they want,” she said softly, laying her cheek against his back. “If Anna didn’t want to have babies, she wouldn’t have. Please don’t blame yourself anymore.”

  Dell took a ragged breath and turned in her arms.

  The tenderness reflected in his eyes melted Cassidy’s heart and caused her to reach out. “I know I’m not Anna,” she said, eyes filling with tears, “but I love you, Dell. And you say you love me. Can’t we just put the past behind us and be happy?”

  He cupped her face between his large hands. “I do love you, more than I ever thought possible.”

  Joy welled up inside Cassidy. “Oh Dell.”

  “I’ll be a good husband to you and a good father to our baby, but I won’t take a chance on losing you, too.”

  “You won’t lose me!”

  “No more babies, Cass. I mean it. And the only way I can assure myself of that is to stay in the lean-to.”

  “Don’t I have anything to say about it?”

  “No,” he said firmly. “Don’t fight me on this. Please.”

  “All right,” she relented. “I won’t say any more to you about it.” But that didn’t mean she didn’t intend to discuss the subject with God!

  Chapter 12

  Dell released a sigh of relief as he left the town of Abilene behind. He hoped the ride home would be quicker than the trip to town had been. Countless troubles had assaulted him and Johnny while they tried to herd ten head of cattle through the deep snow. Now that the stock was sold, the runners on the bottom of the sled should take them home in no time.