Brides of Kansas

by Bateman, Tracey V. ;

  “J–j–jo,” he said, then dissolved into tears once more.

  “You mean your sister, Josie?” she asked incredulously.

  “Uh-huh. She said n–n–no one w–w–would miss me and I’d b–b–be here all n–n–night.”

  Anthony lifted his nephew and held him close. “Well, someone did miss you, scout,” he soothed. “As soon as Jo came home alone, your ma sent me looking for you.”

  “M–m–ma still wants me?” The little boy pulled slightly away and looked at Anthony with wide, hopeful eyes. “Even w–w–with the n–n–new b–baby coming?”

  “Of course she does. Who could ever replace our Toby?”

  “Jo s–s–said sh–sh–she wants a b–b–boy wh–who d–d–doesn’t st–st–stutter.”

  Indignation filled Tarah. So much for her idea that the girl would be a good influence on Luke. Imagine making the tyke feel as though he were about to be replaced—then locking him in the outhouse to boot.

  Anthony disentangled himself from Toby’s death grip and set the boy gently on the ground. “You ready to go, scout? Your ma’s pretty worried about you. We should go and let her know you’re all right.”

  Toby bobbed his head and swiped at his nose with the back of his hand.

  Tarah grimaced as he slipped the same hand inside Anthony’s. To her amazement, Anthony smiled affectionately at his nephew and tightened his grip. “Then let’s get your sister and go home. You coming, Tarah?”

  “In a moment. I think I need to get this rope to a safe place so we don’t have a repeat of this incident.”

  “All right, then. I’m going to round up Jo and head for home. And, Tarah…”

  “Yes?”

  He held her with a long, penetrating gaze, sending her pulse racing. “Thanks for listening to me about…you know.”

  Exhaling slowly, Tarah nodded but couldn’t find the appropriate response. He hesitated for a moment, then gave her another heart-stopping smile and turned to go back to the school.

  Honestly, Tarah berated herself as the words she should have said spilled into her mind. Couldn’t you have at least said something? Anything would have been better than staring at him like he had dirt on his nose.

  Shaking her head in disgust, she bent forward and picked up the rope from where it still lay in a tangled mess in front of the outhouse. When she stood up, she caught movement from the corner of her eye. Through the window, she saw Luke and Jo—each doubled over in laughter.

  Tarah wasn’t sure if they were laughing at her or at the cruel joke Josie had played on her brother, but either way she felt the heat rush to her cheeks. She groaned aloud. Not only did she have Luke to contend with—now he had an ally.

  Anthony excused himself from the uproar following his homecoming with the two children. That niece of his was a perfect terror, he decided as he walked out the door to the barn. Thankfully chores waited to be done, so he wouldn’t be able to hear her howls from the much-deserved whipping she was about to receive.

  Poor Tarah! As the schoolteacher, she would have her hands full with Josie, and if her own brother Luke was anything like he used to be, she’d be lucky to stick it out for the whole term.

  A grin lifted the corners of his mouth as he stepped inside the barn. That Tarah St. John was still just about the prettiest thing he’d ever laid eyes on. He would have asked for permission to court her years ago, but just when he thought she might agree to such a thing, he’d felt an urge to go to seminary, an urge he knew was from God and too strong to ignore.

  He drew in the pungent odor of fresh hay combined with manure. Returning to farm life hadn’t exactly been in his plans after he’d accepted the call to preach. He had headed back east to seminary with the intention of returning home only to visit his family. But he knew better than to question God.

  “Lord,” he prayed while mucking out the first stall, “I know my responsibility is to Ma and the boys.” He released a heavy sigh. “I don’t begrudge them the help, but sometimes I feel like if I don’t get the chance to preach, I’m going to explode.”

  He cast a sidelong glance at the barn door to make sure he was alone, then turned to the black gelding finishing his supper.

  “‘For God so loved the world,’” he told Dodger, his faithful four-legged parishioner, “‘that He gave.’”

  With a complete lack of interest, the horse stamped a hoof on the barn floor and swished his tail at a fly.

  “The Lord gave all He had so that you…yes,” he said, pointing a finger at the long face, “I mean you, could have eternal life.”

  Anthony felt the excitement surge within him, and he dropped the pitchfork. Pacing the barn, he included all the pitifully sinful creatures with a wide sweep of his hand.

  “Now if Jesus gave His life—a sacrifice on an altar made by sinful, greedy men—do you dare keep yourself back from His free gift of salvation? Salvation bought with the blood of God’s innocent Son?”

  Sweat began to bead on his forehead.

  “Must the Lord strive forever with man?”

  His voice rose to match the excitement of his eloquent message. June, the milk cow, raised her head and stared, clearly captivated by the rousing sermon. Anthony focused on the sorrowful brown eyes gazing back at him. “Oh wicked and sinful generation, will you harden your hearts forever, or will you return to your God with weeping and a rending of hearts?”

  “Uncle Anthony?”

  Rats! Just when he was about to give the altar call!

  He turned to face Josie. “I thought you were in trouble.”

  She shrugged. “Ma whipped me.”

  Must not have made much of an impression, Anthony thought wryly, for the little girl’s face held an impish grin.

  “What are you doing out here? Come to help muck out the barn?”

  A wrinkle creased the perky little nose. “Uh-uh. Ma says I should come talk to you so you can tell me how a Christian girl is supposed to treat others.”

  “I see.” A grin tipped the corners of his mouth. A captive audience.

  Josie tilted her blond head to one side and regarded him frankly. “Yeah. But I figure it’ll save us both a heap of trouble if we just forget about it and tell her you gave it to me good.”

  “Josie! That would be a lie.”

  She released a long-suffering sigh. “Oh, all right. But can we make it short? Reverend Cahill back home used to yak and yak and yak until I almost fell asleep.”

  Troubled by his niece’s lack of reverence, Anthony grabbed a horse blanket from a peg on the wall and spread it out on the barn floor. “Sit yourself down on this blanket, little girl, before I tan your hide.”

  Anthony “yakked” about kindness and mentioned every fruit of the Spirit from Galatians chapter five while he finished cleaning the barn. Hanging the pitchfork high on the wall, he added a mention of the Golden Rule to his lecture for good measure.

  “All right. I think that’s enough for tonight.” He glanced at Josie. “Let’s go inside for supper.”

  With a sleepy yawn, the little girl stood.

  Anthony shook his head. He doubted she’d heard a word of his exhortation any more than the animals had heard his brilliant sermon.

  “Uncle Anthony?” Josie asked as they headed back to the house.

  “Yeah?”

  She looked up at him, her angelic face filled with question. Her eyes serious, she shook her head sadly.

  Anthony’s heart leapt. Maybe he’d made an impression after all. “What is it, sweetheart?”

  “Well, I was just wondering…”

  “Yes?”

  “Do you think there’s any hope for that poor cow’s soul?” Merriment filled her eyes as she giggled and dashed off across the yard.

  “Why, you little…” Anthony followed her. “You’d better run, you little stinker. When I catch you, I’m going to tickle you until you recite all the books of the Bible…backwards.”

  Chapter 2

  Tarah set a platter laden with golden
fried chicken on the lacy tablecloth covering a long, wooden table. She bent and gave her father a kiss on the cheek, then took her seat.

  Grateful to be back in familiar surroundings after her harrowing first day of teaching, Tarah smiled at her ten-year-old sister, Emily, sitting to her right. The family members joined hands in preparation for their mealtime prayer.

  Pa’s gaze roved around the table and settled on Ma’s bowed head. “Cassidy?”

  Cassidy glanced up, her wide green eyes filled with question.

  “Where’s Sam?”

  “He asked permission to eat supper with Camilla and her family. I didn’t think you’d mind.”

  An amused glance passed between them.

  Pa sent Tarah a teasing wink. “Looks like we might be attending Sam’s wedding before his big sister’s if she doesn’t stop sending those young men away.”

  Tarah gasped.

  “Dell!” Ma frowned and shook her head.

  “What?”

  “It–it’s okay, Ma.” But Pa’s comment stung and only proved a painful reminder to Tarah that she was nineteen years old with no prospects for marriage. She felt her defenses rise. Was it her fault all the boys she’d admired in school had grown up to be dolts? Well, all except Anthony.

  Ma stared pointedly at Pa. “Let’s just say the prayer, shall we?” she suggested.

  Pa shrugged, still wearing a confused frown. Finally he bowed his dark head and prayed. “Father, we thank You for the many blessings You’ve given this growing family. We ask You to watch over Mother while she’s away visiting George and Olive. Thank You for Tarah’s new teaching position. May You give her wisdom to teach with grace and patience.” He cleared his throat. “And we thank You for the new blessing You are bringing into our lives. A new baby for us to love and…”

  Emily squealed and leaped from her chair. “Ma!”

  “Emily St. John!” Cassidy scolded. “Your pa’s praying.”

  “I’m sorry,” she whispered and slowly returned to her seat.

  Pa grinned. “In Jesus’ name, amen.”

  Emily’s carrot-orange braids flew behind her as she sprinted around the table and grabbed Ma, hugging her tightly.

  Luke’s face glowed bright red, and he gave Pa a sheepish grin. “Another baby, huh?” He jerked a thumb toward the twins sitting in high chairs on either side of Ma. “Just when those two were starting to grow up and not cry all the time.”

  Tarah noticed her stepmother’s eyes cloud over with hurt until Luke gave her a wide grin. “Hope it’s a boy!”

  A relieved smile curved Ma’s lips. “I’ll see what I can do.”

  Feeling her father’s gaze upon her, Tarah rose and embraced her stepmother, then her pa. “Congratulations,” she murmured. “This is wonderful news.” She sank back in her chair.

  “Can we name him Pete?” All eyes turned to Jack. Even at seven years old, his soft brown eyes and mop of unruly curls gave him an angelic appearance.

  “That’s a dumb name,” Emily said haughtily, still standing close to Cassidy. “Besides, it’s going to be a girl, and we’ll call her Audra.”

  “Pete!”

  “Audra!”

  “That’s enough, you two,” Pa said firmly. “There’ll be plenty of time to discuss names later on. Right now you’d better sit down so we can eat this supper your ma cooked before it gets cold.”

  The revelation that Cassidy was expecting another child came as no surprise to Tarah, who, as the eldest of seven children, had recognized the symptoms in her stepmother over the past couple of months. She wasn’t unhappy about the coming baby, but the house was getting cramped as it was. With trees so scarce, Pa and the boys would have to haul sandstone from the river to build on to the house.

  Lord, it would be a lot easier all the way around if You would just send me a husband. One or two of the kids could have my room. You know, Anthony Greene came back….

  She stopped, uncomfortable with the thought that she might be trying to manipulate the Lord.

  Well, she wasn’t exactly telling God something He didn’t already know. Besides, she reasoned, maybe God sent Anthony back here so we could be married. It never hurts to ask.

  She bit into a slice of buttered bread and tried to focus on what Pa was saying.

  “How was your first day, Teacher?” Pa grabbed a piece of fried chicken from the platter and sent Tarah a proud grin.

  “Anthony Greene showed up after school,” Luke piped in before Tarah could swallow her food and answer.

  The bread lodged in her throat, and she coughed profusely while Emily pounded her on the back.

  “Tarah,” Ma said, “are you all right?”

  Nodding, she grabbed her water glass to wash down the mouthful of bread, sending Luke a warning glance over the rim.

  He raised his eyebrows and sent her one right back.

  Tarah’s temper flared. So that was how he wanted to play it. If she mentioned his unruly behavior, he’d tease her about Anthony in front of the whole family. At least Sam was off having supper with Camilla Simpson and her family, or the temptation might have been too great for Luke to resist despite their agreement.

  Over a barrel, she drew a deep breath and decided to let it slide. After all, she had his promise of good behavior for a whole week. A promise he’d better keep if he knew what was good for him.

  Apparently oblivious to the silent exchange between his children, Pa pointed his empty fork at no one in particular and gave a reflective frown. He glanced at Tarah. “Anthony went to seminary back east, didn’t he?”

  Tarah nodded, glad the focus was off her disappointing first day of teaching.

  “What are you thinking, Dell?” Ma asked.

  Tarah looked from one to the other. The love evident in their eyes for each other sent a small ache to her heart. Would she ever find someone to love? With Anthony’s return to Harper, her prospects seemed to be looking up. But only if it’s Your will, she added hastily.

  “Well, my darling,” Pa said with a grin, “I was thinking we just might have us a preacher.”

  Ma clapped her hands together, causing the nearly two-year-old twins, Hope and Will, to do the same. “What a wonderful idea!”

  “I’ll talk it over with the rest of the council at the meeting tonight,” Pa said. “And if they agree, I’ll probably swing by the Greene farm on the way home. So I might be a little later than usual.” He winked at Tarah. “Think you’d mind sharing the schoolhouse with the preacher for Sunday services, little teacher?”

  “Tarah wouldn’t mind sharing…,” Luke began.

  Tarah shot him another warning glance.

  “Of course she won’t mind,” Ma said, wiping a glob of potatoes from baby Will’s plump chin.

  Anthony…to be the new preacher. Tarah’s heart skipped a beat, and she released a dreamy sigh. What would it be like to be a preacher’s wife?

  Tarah watched proudly as Anthony strode to the rough-hewn wooden pulpit, normally used only twice a year when the circuit rider came through. She’d waited nearly a week to see him again.

  Dressed in a black coat, black trousers, and a white shirt, he looked awfully handsome. She smiled at his crooked tie. Once they were married, she’d take care of that little problem for him.

  Tarah caught her breath when he looked directly at her as though guessing her thoughts. Almost sure that wasn’t possible, she nevertheless felt herself blush to the roots of her hair. Anthony’s gaze moved past her, sweeping the congregation. His Adam’s apple bobbed up and down as he swallowed hard.

  Say something, Anthony.

  She watched in concern as his face paled. He grabbed on to the pulpit, his knuckles growing instantly white.

  Oh no, he’s going to pass out cold!

  A gust of cool autumn wind blew into the little schoolhouse-turned-church as the door swung open. Tarah noticed Anthony relax visibly as the latecomer turned the congregation’s attention from him to the back of the room.

  He looked at her
again. Tarah nodded encouragement and returned his smile. “You can do it,” she mouthed. She pointed upward, hoping to remind him God would be his helper. His grin widened, and he nodded back to her, then cleared his throat to regain the congregation’s attention.

  “Excuse me,” someone whispered from the aisle next to Tarah.

  Irritated to have her attention drawn away from Anthony, Tarah glanced up. Louisa Thomas. What did she want?

  “May I sit next to you?” the young woman whispered. “There’s nowhere else.”

  Tarah cast a furtive glance around the tiny room, hoping to spy an empty seat and send her on her way. When her search proved futile, she sighed and scooted over.

  “I’m so glad I didn’t miss Anthony’s sermon. Doesn’t he look marvelous?” Louisa whispered. “It was worth getting up early to watch him for an hour.”

  Jealousy stabbed at Tarah’s heart. She frowned. “Shh.”

  Louisa didn’t even have the grace to blush for disrupting the service. She looked at Anthony and gave him a broad you-may-begin-now smile.

  Temper flaring, Tarah inched a little farther away from the bothersome flirt and bumped into old Mr. Moody, already nodding off on the other side of her. He jerked his head up. “Thanks, little lady,” he said aloud, sending her a wink. “Do that again next time you hear me snoring.”

  The building rumbled with muffled laughter.

  Humiliated, Tarah sank down in her seat. It would be a mercy if the floor would open up and swallow me right now, Lord.

  Anthony cleared his throat again.

  Finally!

  “Thank you all for coming,” Anthony began in a shaky voice. “I’d like to begin with a word of prayer.”

  Relieved for the chance to close her eyes and shake off the embarrassment, Tarah bowed her head.

  “Oh, most precious heavenly Father,” he began, dropping his voice at least two notches. “We thank Thee for the opportunity to assemble together in Thy most holy presence.”

  Tarah frowned. Was it her imagination, or was he trying to be impressive in his prayer? She felt a niggling disappointment creep through her.

  People were beginning to shuffle when he finally said “amen” a good five minutes later.