“You said there were five of them.” Vickie sat on the corner of one of the beds. “I assume two of the five are his parents?”
Cora nodded. “Yes, and that’s all I know. Ralph’s older brother looks a lot like him. Ralph said they have a sister named Ivy. She’s almost eighteen. Ralph said she’s spoiled rotten, but I’m hoping she’ll become a good friend.”
A faint smile touched her mother’s lips. “It will be nice having neighbors. Do you know where they live?”
Cora shook her head. “No, but I think it’s on the other side of the woods. They turned that way when they—”
Ben burst through the door. “There won’t be any lack of meat around here. Come and see.”
Chapter 4
Cora followed the others outside. John and her father stood by the wagon, where a large buck hung by its back legs.
Ben’s eyes shone. “Father shot it right through the heart. We’ll have to let it hang overnight and cut it up tomorrow.”
Large brown eyes, vacant of expression, stared at Cora. She stood, unable to move, while the details etched into her mind. Drops of pink foam oozed from the mouth past the deer’s lolling tongue before dropping to the white snow below. The men had already slit the deer down the front from the throat to the back legs. A stick, as a wedge, held the still warm cavity open while steam poured from the gaping hole where the innards had once been.
Cora’s stomach churned. How could Father kill such a beautiful animal? How could her family stand to look at it? She turned away. She loved the taste of venison, but she hadn’t known this was what it looked like before it was prepared for the table. She took deep breaths, fighting nausea with each step. So this was the way food would be brought to their table in this horrible place. She might never be able to eat meat again. She hated it here. She wanted to go home.
~*~
Late in the night, Cora awoke to a noise. A dark shadow by the doorway startled her before her mother’s whisper came from the other bed. “What is it, Orval? Can you see?”
A low growl rumbled outside. “Some kind of dog. Coyote, probably. He wants our meat.”
The blanket door fluttered as Father slipped through. One shot rang out, followed closely by a loud yelp. Cora held her breath in the silence afterward. Finally, the blanket moved again and Father re-entered. “I saw one, but there’s bound to be more. John heard it from his wagon. We’ll take turns watching the rest of the night. He’s out there now.”
Cora lay back beside Eliza, and snuggled beneath the warmth of their comforter. They’d been in this wild country two days already. A sharp pang of homesickness stabbed her heart and she longed for her old bedroom with its delicate white curtains and four-poster walnut bed. She drew her knees up to her chest. Although the double bed she now shared with her sister was better than sleeping on the ground, it was a far cry from her own soft bed at home.
The next morning, Cora stepped outside to call the men in to breakfast. The deerskin lay on the ground with a pile of dark red meat to the side. Her stomach heaved.
“Cora, take a slab of that meat in to your mother and we’ll be along. We’ll have fresh venison for dinner.”
Cora swallowed and lifted the moist meat with fingers and thumb. She held it out to the side and kept her gaze on the shelter as she hurried toward it. If she didn’t think about what she carried, she’d be fine. Soon she’d be back in St. Louis, and she’d never have to do anything so vile again. She brushed the quilt aside and stepped into the shelter. “Where do you want this?”
Vickie was setting the table. She looked around their limited space and pointed to the cook stove. “Why don’t you put it in a skillet? There’s no place for anything extra in here.”
“That’s for sure.” Cora muttered under her breath as she stepped over Nicholas.
“I’ve been thinking about the meat.” Father came through the doorway followed by John and Ben. “We need to smoke it so it’ll keep.”
Mother set a large bowl of oatmeal on the table. “Yes, but we don’t have a smoke house.”
“Don’t need one.” Father grinned. “I remember once when I was a boy, my pa used a hollow log for a smoke house. It’s not fancy, but it’ll work. We’ll go to the woods later. Might as well get a load of logs for the house while we’re at it.”
After breakfast the men headed for the forest, axes slung over their shoulders. One of the huge workhorses walked between them to drag logs from the woods.
Mother kept the girls busy throughout the morning trying to make the shelter more livable. Cora helped, although she thought it a waste of time. How her mother thought she could make a home out of this hovel was more than she could understand.
After trying for several minutes to flatten a braided rug in the center of the room on stubble left from the broken prairie grass, Cora put her hands on her hips and faced her mother. “Has Father said when he’ll start on a house?”
Mother smiled. “You mean one with a real floor?”
Cora nodded. “Yes. Walls without holes and a decent roof too.”
“Yes, that would be nice.” Mother’s smile faded. “Father is doing his best. I’m sure you, too, are thankful to have this shelter so quickly. I know it’s not the best, but we are in out of the snow. Complaining never accomplishes anything, Cora.”
Mother had been raised in Boston’s elite society. In St. Louis, she’d moved in the best circles. Even here in this uninhabited wasteland, she held herself erect, always the lady. She was used to the best, yet she hadn’t once acknowledged a lack in their present circumstances. Remorse for her own ungrateful words made Cora look away. “I’m sorry, Mother. I didn’t mean to complain.”
Vickie smoothed the quilt over the corner of the girls’ bed and sat on it “I’m sure Father will build a house right away. John says we’ll stay and help until you’re settled—maybe even through the winter—then we need to move to our own land.” She laughed. “Of course, we’ll have to find it first.”
Mother’s lips pinched together. “There’s no hurry in you moving way off by yourselves.”
Vickie sighed. “We’ve been over this before, Mother. I’m married now. John wants to have his own land. He’s promised we’ll stay close by, so you don’t need to worry.”
Lenny and Nicholas flew through the doorway. Nicholas ran to Vickie. “Mans come here.”
Lenny pranced in front of the door. “They’ve got long guns like Father’s and they’re almost here.”
Cora’s heart raced as she almost ran over Lenny. Men with guns sounded dangerous. She peeked out while the rest crowded behind her. The three small figures, dark against the snowy background, grew larger. Each man carried a gun over his shoulder. The one in the middle had a bulging cloth bag. Something seemed familiar about him.
Air rushed from Cora’s lungs, and her limbs grew weak. “It’s all right. That’s Ralph and his brother. The other man must be their father.”
She stepped through the doorway, and Ralph raised his hand in greeting. “Hey, I see you made it home.”
Cora made a face toward the shelter then turned back to smile at Ralph. “I’d like you to meet my mother and sisters.”
She introduced her family, then Ralph pointed over his shoulder. “You already met Aaron, and this here’s my pa, Walter Stark.”
The older Stark’s lined face had been browned by weather. On top of his thick, graying hair sat a dirty hat. He pulled it from his head and nodded toward the women. “I’m right proud to meet you folks.”
Mother shook his hand. “I’m pleased to meet you. We’ve met no one as of yet. My husband isn’t home. He’ll be sorry he missed you.”
“No, he won’t.” Eliza looked toward the woods. “Here they come now.”
Father lifted his hand and waved. Mr. Stark headed toward the men, and the others followed. Ralph’s older brother, Aaron, fell into step with Cora. “Iffen you don’t mind, I’d like a word.”
Cora met his eyes, but he looked away. Was he shy?
How could brothers look so much alike and be so different?”
She stopped, letting the others go ahead. “Of course. My brother and I really appreciate the help you gave us yesterday.”
He shrugged. “We didn’t do nothin’ on-common.” He shuffled his feet. “I didn’t mean to be short with you. I mean about the pecans.”
He pushed a white flour sack toward her. “Here.”
Cora stared at the bulging sack in her hands. She rubbed her fingers over the small, hard bumps in the fabric. She held far more pecans than she’d lost. There must be ten pounds at least. He was already walking away. “Thanks!”
“That’s all right.” He answered over his shoulder without looking. “I’m proud I could replace ‘em.” His long strides carried him across the yard to where the men were standing a hollow log upright.
Cora turned to put her pecans in the shelter. Aaron was an interesting young man. He was either shy or rude. But he’d gone to the trouble of replacing her pecans, and that wasn’t rude. One thing for certain, the two Stark brothers were nothing alike.
Ralph and Aaron helped Ben unchain the logs from the horses. Aaron worked quietly while Ralph kept up a steady chatter with Ben and Eliza. Cora smiled at Eliza’s expression as she stood to the side and hung on Ralph’s every word. Eliza was developing quite a liking for this fellow she’d just met. Hopefully she wouldn’t get hurt.
The Starks stayed until after lunch. While the younger men hauled more logs from the woods, the rest fashioned a peaked roof of short boards split from a log to set over the top of the hollow tree and cut a small door in one side near the bottom. They drove small sticks through holes drilled in the sides of the tree near the top. From these, the men hung the pieces of meat they’d salted early that morning. They built a fire with green hickory chips inside the log. Thick smoke curled around the little roof and blew away in the breeze. Memory of the slaughtered deer faded as Cora thought of delicious venison.
Mr. Stark looked at their shelter and shook his head. “You’re gonna need somethin’ better’n that afore winter sets in. Reckon you could get enough logs out in a week or so for a cabin? Me and the boys’d be proud to help put ‘er up, iffen you’d like.”
Father nodded. “We’d appreciate any help.”
“Give us a holler. There’s a couple others nearby would likely come help too. We’ll get word to ‘em soon as you’re ready.”
“I reckon I can help get the logs in.” Aaron looked at his father.
Mr. Stark nodded. “Me and Ralph can take care of things for a spell.”
Aaron offered Father his hand. “I’ll be here early Monday mornin’ iffen you can use me.”
As Father shook Aaron’s hand, he grinned. “You bet we can.”
He shook his head. “I know we made the right decision coming here. A man’s got to have good neighbors to get along in this world. You can’t imagine how much I appreciate all you’ve done for us already. Soon as that venison’s ready, there’ll be a piece for your family.”
Chapter 5
“Mother, will he never stop? Surely, we don’t need any more logs.” Cora shaded her eyes against the sunshine. Father said they were enjoying Indian summer. Maybe it would last until the logs were all cut and the house was built. But to work on Sunday didn’t seem right.
Mother faced the wagon as it rolled toward the woods. “I’m sure we can use every one they haul out.” She sighed. “Your grandfather Melville would turn over in his grave if he knew his son-in-law worked on the Sabbath. He tolerated no work of any kind on Sunday. Even our food was prepared the day before and eaten cold. Many people still believe that way.” She turned toward the door of the shelter. “But we’re a long way from either Boston or Saint Louis.”
Cora followed. “Aaron Stark must think it’s wrong to work on Sunday. Father said he wouldn’t be helping today.”
“I’m sure your father wouldn’t be either, if he didn’t feel it was important.” Mother lifted the blanket covering the doorway and disappeared inside.
Grandfather Melville had probably been strict beyond reason. An uneasy feeling weighed on Cora’s heart as she followed her mother into the dimly lit shelter.
Eliza stood by the made beds, folding Lenny’s bedroll. Mother took it from her. “I’ll do this. You and Cora go out and check the meat. Do you remember how to tell if it needs more chips on the fire?”
“Yes, Mother. It should be a thick, white smoke.” Cora pulled the blanket aside and moved out of the way as Nicholas ran past followed by Lenny. “How long will we keep smoking it?”
Eliza stepped down from the raised floor. “Father said another week would be enough.”
“Another week? It may be burned to a crisp by then.” Cora hurried outside and reached the smoking tree before Eliza.
Lenny and Nicholas ran to the mountain of logs and started climbing up. Cora cupped her hands around her mouth and called. “Father said for you not to play there.”
She waited until they were both away from the logs before turning toward the hollow tree. No wonder they wanted to climb the huge pile. It looked like fun.
“What do you think, Eliza? Does the smoke look blue enough to add some chips?”
“It probably wouldn’t hurt.” Eliza stood beside her. “Mother said to get some for lunch. Let’s do that first.”
Cora watched the thin wisps of smoke curl out from under the loose-fitted roof at the top of the hollow log. “You go ahead. I’ll gather the hickory chips.”
“That’s not fair, Cora.” Eliza crossed her arms and frowned. “You just don’t want to stick your head in the smoke. Well, neither do I.”
Cora lifted her eyebrows. “You’re lighter than I am, Eliza. I don’t trust that rickety ladder leaning against the log that’s just sitting there on the ground. How do I know my weight won’t push it over?”
“As if you weigh that much more than I do. You won’t push it over. What do you think the sticks leaning against it are for? Braces, maybe?”
“What’s wrong with you going up?” Cora’s fists landed on her hips.
Eliza’s frown deepened. “I’m not going to do it.”
Cora stared at Eliza. Her stubborn sister would never back down. She stomped to the tree and put her foot hard on the bottom rung of the ladder. Step by step she climbed, clinging tightly with each creak of the ladder. Finally, at the top she carefully removed the board roof then lowered it to Eliza. “Here, take this.”
The rush of smoke in her face did nothing to soothe her anger. Eliza never ceased to amaze her when they were alone because that’s when she showed her true colors. Cora squeezed her eyes tight and held her breath as she groped for a piece of meat hanging from the sticks Father had inserted through the log wall. Her hand brushed one. She grabbed and lifted. A shrill scream from the boys startled her. The meat slipped through her fingers, dropping into the coals and ashes below.
Mother would have a fit. She turned from the smoke and filled her lungs with fresh air. “Lenny Jackson! Look what you made me do.” She climbed down. “Eliza, I dropped it. Open the bottom door and get it before it’s covered with ashes and burned up.”
“Cora!” Lenny yelled at her.
She ignored him and bent to help Eliza.
“It’s too hot to reach in there.” Eliza knelt on the ground with the bark door swinging on its leather hinges. She looked up. “I can’t get it.”
“Cora, come here.” Lenny wouldn’t stop.
Cora ran to the woodpile and grabbed a pointed stick as big around as her wrist. She started back when Lenny yelled again. “Cora, Nick’s hurt.”
If she could, she’d ignore him, but something in his voice told her he wasn’t playing this time. She tossed the stick toward Eliza. “Here, use this.”
“Hey, you’re supposed to help.” Eliza’s voice and Lenny’s blended as they both called to her.
She ran to the log pile where Lenny stood pointing at the tiny blue coat Nicholas wore.
Tears streame
d down Lenny’s face. “He’s dead. Cora, Nick’s dead.”
Fear clutched Cora’s heart as she bent over the little boy lying in a crumpled heap. His head lay against a log, his body bent over another. His face was pale.
“No, he can’t be.” She cried out, wanting assurance. She carefully lifted her two-year-old nephew from the logs and carried him to the shelter. The world around her blurred into oblivion as her vision focused on the small body in her arms.
“What happened?” Eliza kept pace.
“He fell.” They neared the house when the little boy stirred, and his eyelids fluttered open. Tears sprang to Cora’s eyes.
“Want Mama.” He sounded so weak.
“I’m taking you to her.” Cora hugged him close and ran the rest of the way.
When she burst through the doorway, Vickie’s face paled. “Nicholas. What happened?”
“He hit his head on a log.” Cora relinquished her nephew.
“He was knocked out.” Eliza brushed past.
Cora glared at her younger sister. She’d been too busy complaining about having to pull the meat from the fire to know what happened. “Where’s the meat, Eliza?”
“Oh, I left it outside in all the excitement.” Eliza ran out the door.
Nicholas’s eyelids drooped as he looked at his mother. “Hurt, Mommy.”
“What hurts, precious? Where do you hurt?”
He touched the back of his head, then closed his eyes and snuggled against Vickie.
“I don’t believe he should go to sleep.” Mother touched his cheek. “Remember Doc. Hardy told us that when Ben fell off the house.”
Vickie sat in the rocker holding Nicholas while Lenny played with him to keep him from sleeping. Cora helped Eliza clean the meat covered with ashes and dirt.
Without warning, Nicholas heaved his breakfast on the floor.
“Mother!” Vickie held her coughing son at arm’s length. “Help me.”
Lenny scrambled away while Mother grabbed a cloth and wet it. She crooned to the little boy while she cleaned him up. “It’s all right. The worst is over now. Doesn’t this feel good?”
Cora's Deception (9781476398280) Page 4
