He scanned the heavens. The stars shone in all their glory. “Add Prudence to that request, Lord. The woman tries hard, but she’s got to be in pain with those feet and now this wound on her arm. I don’t know what to do with her, Father. I do want a wife and children one day, but I’d like to be able to choose who that woman would be. I don’t feel right sending her back home to her parents. They don’t seem to appreciate her. On the other hand, I don’t know what I could do for her. I don’t have my own farm to hire her on, but she doesn’t seem the sort to work with her hands, anyway.”
The past few days’ journey floated through his mind. Not once had Prudence complained about the work, the trail, or her injuries. “She deserves a husband who loves and appreciates her for the way You’ve gifted her. Father, send her a husband quickly. She needs a husband.”
What’s she going to do once our marriage is dissolved? he wondered. He removed the cloth from his forehead and combed his hair back from his face with his fingers. He shook off the thought and headed back to the house. He needed rest, and thinking about Prudence would prevent him from sleeping.
❧
Urias woke the next morning and went to the barn before the sun rose over the horizon. He milked the cow, fed the chickens, and took care of a few other odd chores to help Mrs. Campbell. Her moving in with her daughter seemed the most logical thing to do. The small farm was too much for a single person, not to mention an older woman.
The smell and sound of bacon frying in the griddle greeted him when he walked into the house. Mrs. Campbell stood at the stove. “Thank you, Urias. It felt wonderful to sleep in this morning.”
“You’re welcome.”
“How’d you sleep?”
“Fine.” Urias placed the bucket of fresh milk next to the sink.
She smiled. “How’s the leg?”
For an old gal, she doesn’t miss much. “Sore…and shaded with some interesting colors of purple and blue.”
“Sorry. I thought of giving her some whiskey but—”
“Happy to help. The leg will heal.”
“Urias, it’s none of my business but…” She paused to set a plate of eggs, bacon, and fried potatoes on the table, then motioned for him to sit down. “How well do you know this girl?”
His back went stiff. Had she noticed they weren’t acting much like a husband and wife? Or had she seen or heard something from Prudence that concerned her? Urias let out a long, slow breath. “We’re still learning about each other,” he replied.
❧
Prudence stood on the bottom stair, eavesdropping on Urias and Mrs. Campbell’s discussion.
“She doesn’t know the first thing about canning and preparing foods for the winter. How’s she supposed to handle being a farmer’s wife?”
“Guess she’ll have to rely on folks like yourself to teach her.”
Prudence smiled. Could he be expecting her to become his real wife? Did she want that? Admittedly, the attraction between them was growing. Perhaps that’s why it hurt so much to have him thinking she was with child.
Mrs. Campbell chuckled. “You’re only going to be here a day or two.”
“She’s a quick learner. I’ve been impressed with her on the trail. She’s picking up things very quickly.”
Mrs. Campbell let out a hearty laugh. “You’re doing like your parents, eh?”
Urias chuckled. “Appears that way.”
Doing what like his parents? The major problem with eavesdropping was you didn’t have the freedom to ask questions when points of interest came up. Prudence stepped down the final step to the floor and walked into the kitchen. “Good morning,” she said.
“Morning. How’s the arm?” Urias sat at the table with a plate full of eggs, bacon, potatoes, and corn bread. There was enough on his plate to feed two. He sank his fork into his eggs and continued to eat his meal.
“Sore. I haven’t looked under the bandage yet.”
Mrs. Campbell turned from the stove and placed another plate with a smaller portion at the place setting next to Urias. “Come, sit down. There’s more if you would like some.”
“Thank you.” Prudence sat down. “This is more than sufficient.”
“Would you like me to take care of the bandage?” Urias offered, holding a forkful of eggs halfway between his mouth and the plate.
“If you wouldn’t mind. I think I could manage, but it would be awkward.”
“Be my pleasure.”
Mrs. Campbell set a plate for herself on the table and sat down with them. “Keep it clean and it should heal well.”
“I’m concerned about taking you out on the trail for that very reason.”
Prudence’s heart landed in the pit of her stomach. The fear that had plagued her most of the night had come true. He planned on leaving her with Mrs. Campbell while he finished the trip to the Cumberland Gap.
“Honey, I don’t want an infection to set in.”
Honey? That’s the second time he called me that. Does he actually care for me? Or is this to put up a front for Mrs. Campbell? Urias didn’t seem the kind of man that would deliberately deceive folks.
“He’s giving good counsel, Prudence. A gal can’t stay all that clean on the road. I ain’t never hauled no pigs, but when my husband and I were much younger, we made the trip east a few times, bringing sheep and cattle to Virginia. It was an excellent way to earn good money. But the road was dusty.”
Prudence sighed. “I suppose you both are right.”
Urias reached over and placed his hand upon hers. “I’ll stay through tomorrow and set out at dawn.”
“Can one man handle all those hogs?” Mrs. Campbell asked.
Urias leaned back in his chair. “I suppose I should hire someone to come along with me.”
“But that will cut the profit.” Prudence covered her mouth. The words just slipped out.
Urias smiled. “Right. Why don’t we wait and see how your wound is tomorrow night? Then I’ll see if one of the Mercer boys can lend a hand.”
Prudence lifted her gaze and zeroed in on her husband. Her husband—could her father’s arrogance have been a blessing in disguise?
Nine
Urias worked hard until sundown. Frank Jr. and Samuel stayed the better part of the day. And Frank mentioned he’d be willing to lend a hand with the hogs if Prudence wasn’t ready for travel. Urias knew Prudence didn’t want to be left behind, yet what choice did he have? On the other hand, a few days with Mrs. Campbell could be helpful for Prudence to learn more about being a farmer’s wife. Not that he was hoping she’d be his “real” wife one day.
As he stacked the wood beside the house that had been split earlier, giving Mrs. Campbell an easier distance to travel in the winter months, the biblical story of Esther popped into his mind once again. Was God trying to say something to him?
The clang of the iron triangle in the front of the house meant it was time for supper. He set the logs on the pile and brushed his clothes down. He needed a good scrubbing, not to mention the state of his clothing.
Scraping his feet on the porch before entering the house, he found Prudence standing at the door waiting for him. “Hi. How was your day?”
“Fine.” She held her hands behind her back and had a smile as wide as Cumberland Falls on her face.
“What?” he asked.
“I made you something.”
“Oh?” He pulled his boots off and left them by the door.
“Mrs. Campbell would like you to wash up before dinner.”
Urias chuckled.
“She put a clean set of clothes for you on the bed. I’m to bring your dirty clothes down for a good scrubbing.”
“They can use it.”
“Uh-huh.”
Urias fought off the urge to smell his armpits and headed up the stairs, taking them two at a time. He halted halfway up and turned to see Prudence stepping on the bottom step. “What did you make for me?”
“You’ll see.” She grinned once again.
Prudence leaned on the doorjamb with her hands still behind her back.
“You’ve got my curiosity up. What are you hiding?”
“You’ll see after you give me your dirty clothes.”
“Am I to undress in front of you?”
Prudence blushed. “Sorry.” She stepped away from the door and waited in the hallway.
Urias closed the door, slipped off his clothes, then reopened it enough to pass them through a small opening. Prudence hesitated, then grabbed the soiled clothes with one hand while keeping her injured arm behind her.
“As much as I want to see my surprise, I think I should wash up and dress first.”
Prudence’s face beamed hot coal red. Without saying a word, she hurried down the hallway and descended the stairs.
Urias let out a light chuckle, then went to the basin to wash. He looked at the bruises on his leg. They were a deep purple, and the soreness had continued throughout the day. Clean and dried off, he put on undergarments and the shirt, then sat on the bed and wrapped a warm damp towel around the bruised thigh.
“Urias…” Prudence opened the door.
He jumped off the bed. The towel slipped to the floor.
“Oh!” Prudence gasped. “Did I do that to you?”
Prudence stared at the bruises on Urias’s thigh. “Can I do anything for you? Get you anything?”
Urias cleared his throat. In a whisper, he said, “Prudence, I’m not dressed.”
“Oh, right. Sorry.” Prudence stumbled out of the bedroom. She assumed he’d be dressed by now. Why did I come upstairs, anyway? she wondered.
The bruises on his thigh were the size of silver dollars. The door opened slowly once Urias was dressed. “Come on in.”
“I’m so sorry,” she apologized.
“It’s all right.”
“Do they hurt?”
“Huh?”
She pointed to his thigh. “The bruises.”
“Not too bad. Now can I see my surprise?”
He was worse than a child at a birthday celebration. “It’s not that special, but I had some free time today, and Mrs. Campbell had the yarn so…” She handed him the gift.
“A scarf. You made this?”
She didn’t know whether to be upset with him for his assumptions about her upbringing again or to take it as the compliment it appeared to be. She decided on the latter. “Yes, I learned to knit from my grandmother.”
“It’s beautiful.” Urias wrapped the scarf around his neck. “And warm, too.”
“Thank you. I’m glad you like it.”
Prudence then felt that awkward silence that often fell between them when they were alone. Not knowing what to say, she stepped back.
“This is really sweet. Thank you, Prudence. I spoke with Frank Jr. today, and he’s willing to lend me a hand with the hogs if you’re not up for travel. Speaking of which, how’s the arm coming?”
“It’s still sensitive, and it’s bled a bit, too.”
“Would you like me to change the dressing?”
“If you wouldn’t mind, I’d appreciate it.”
“Sit on the bed and I’ll get the supplies,” Urias ordered.
Prudence realized she didn’t mind his orders—he didn’t bark them out like her father. She watched him as he went to the dresser that held the cotton strips of cloth. His red curls seemed masculine on him, quite unlike his sister’s, which enhanced her femininity. He turned around.
“What?” he asked.
“It’s frivolous really, but you and your sister have the same hair, and yet the curls look feminine on her and not on you.”
Urias chuckled. “I’m glad I don’t look like a girl.”
Prudence blushed. “I didn’t mean that.”
“No. I know what you mean. I grew my hair out once. Dad wears his rather long. I had to be careful how I brushed mine. If I didn’t, you could do me up in a dress and not be sure if I was a boy or a girl. Short hair made more sense. It’s easier to care for, and I don’t have to worry about it.” He approached, carrying the cotton strips for the fresh bandage, and sat down on the bed beside her. “Once I let my little sisters Molly and Sarah play with my hair. They had it all teased up like a beehive. If you set a bonnet on my head, I would have looked quite cute.”
Prudence giggled. “I’d like to see that.”
“Not on your life. Little sisters playing is one thing but… well, a man must maintain some level of self-respect.”
Without thinking, Prudence reached out and touched his hair. “I don’t think you could pass for a woman now.”
“Thank you. I tried to grow a mustache, but it’s not thick enough yet, and it looked funny—like a fuzzy red worm lying across my lip.”
Prudence let out a full laugh now.
“Give me your arm, please.”
She reached over to him, and his hands set a flicker of awareness so bold up her arm that she almost pulled it away from his touch. He cut off the knot that held the bandage in place and proceeded to unwind it. With each revolution, her arm tingled as the blood surged through to the wound.
When he reached the pads on top of the cut, he lifted them slowly. In a couple of places, the pad stuck to the wound. “Ouch!” Prudence cried out.
“Sorry. I’ll need to dampen those spots. These are probably places Mrs. Campbell could have placed another stitch.”
Once all of the bandage was off, she got a good look at the wound. “It’s going to be a nasty scar, isn’t it?”
“Probably. Depends on how you heal. I scar easily. My dad, not so easily but…” His words trailed off.
“But what?”
“Well, Dad’s back has these huge scars from when he tried to save his first wife from a bear attack. He was too late.”
“I’m so sorry.”
“It happened long before I met him.”
“You and your family have lived such interesting lives.” At the moment, Prudence felt she would love to be a part of Urias’s family. He was a kind man, a gentle man, yet she still couldn’t figure him out.
“We’ve traveled a bit more than most farmers. What about you? Did your family ever travel?”
“When I was younger. I remember trips into the city. But for many years now, we’ve stayed close to home. Father goes off, but he doesn’t take the family with him. He says it’s business, but I have my doubts.” Prudence cut herself off from saying anything further that could incriminate her father.
“Prudence, I know I’m paying more for Katherine’s bond than I should. Is your father in financial trouble? Is that why he insisted we marry?”
“No, not that I’m aware.” Prudence looked down at her lap and played with the material of her dress. “He forced you to marry me because he doesn’t believe any man would want me.”
“That’s nonsense. You’re a beautiful woman.”
“Who speaks her thoughts when women should keep silent.”
“Look,” he said as he lifted her chin with his forefinger, “I know what your father says about women and money, but he doesn’t speak for all men. Some of us appreciate a woman with a good head on her shoulders.”
Her heart started pounding. She took quick, short breaths. She searched his eyes, those wonderful green eyes. She wanted him to kiss her. Moving ever so slowly, she leaned toward him. And he leaned toward her. He slipped his gaze down to her lips and back to her eyes.
“Prudence, Urias, dinner is ready,” Mrs. Campbell hollered from downstairs.
“Be right there,” Urias answered. He finished replacing the bandage and took up the soiled strips.
Prudence sat like a boulder on the bed. What had just happened? Were they falling in love? No…she’d already fallen. But could Urias feel the same way? Oh, dear Lord, help us understand what’s happening.
❧
Urias kept his distance after dinner. Out in
the barn, he looked for any possible odd job that would keep the separation between him and Prudence. He hoped he could sleep in the spare bed again tonight. Sharing the same room with her right now could prove to be dangerous. What was he thinking earlier?
Fess up, boy. You know you wanted to kiss her and taste those sweet lips. Urias picked up the pitchfork and headed over to the stall.
And that’s what bothered him so much. He wanted to kiss her. But what he feared most was that the want would become a need. It was borderline, at best, at the moment. Leaving Prudence with Mrs. Campbell while he finished the trip would probably be best for both of them. They were spending far too much time with one another. He found her to be an attractive and smart lady.
Why had Hiram Greene forced a marriage on both of them? To Urias, it seemed to be more than Hiram Greene’s fear that he couldn’t marry his daughter off. And this whole business with Katherine’s bond being so high after her having worked for two years… Well, something wasn’t adding up. Urias needed more facts to understand the matter, but he doubted Prudence knew what was going on. She seemed as upset with her father for the forced marriage as he was.
Married to a woman he couldn’t touch. It didn’t seem right. Everything about this marriage was false. Yet there was something about Prudence that he was drawn to. He recalled her giggle when he’d talked about what his sisters had done to his hair. They were only three and five at the time. It was a fun memory.
Urias pitched the hay from the stall to the wheelbarrow.
“Urias,” Mrs. Campbell called from the opened barn door.
“What can I do for you?”
“You can stop taking care of my chores and spend some time with that pretty little wife of yours.”
Urias turned away and pitched some more hay. “I will. Prudence understands.”
“Does she? I sure don’t.”
He couldn’t explain to Mrs. Campbell. It was bad enough that she knew that he was married before his parents knew.
Urias placed the pitchfork against the stall. “I’ll come in.”
“Good. I started some water boiling for a hot bath. I know your wife needs a good soak. She’ll need your help washing her hair.”
Hogtied Page 7
