Cora took another step toward the door. “No, Mother always had a seamstress make our clothing.”
Mrs. Stark snorted and shook her head.
Ivy moved close to the spinning wheel. “Since it’s a fer piece to a seamstress from here, you’ll have to come over sometime and let me learn you to spin.” The condescending tone in Ivy’s voice was not lost on Cora.
“Thank you. Maybe I will.” Cora turned to Ben, hoping he felt her desperation. “Right now it’s getting late, and we need to go home.”
When Ben and Eliza joined her at the door, Cora breathed a sigh of relief. The paper covering Aaron’s gift crackled when Ben lifted her to the horse. She searched the yard in hopes of seeing Aaron, but he wasn’t there. Loss and emptiness stole over her heart, intensifying when she heard Ralph’s voice.
“Hey, looky here what I got. These is the fanciest rags I ever did see. That’s right nice stitchin’ in the corner too.”
Eliza’s cheeks flamed as she smiled at the handsome, but crude, young man. “Those are your initials.” She took the handkerchiefs. “See, this is R and it stands for Ralph. W is for Walter and S is for Stark.”
“Well, ain’t that fancy?” Ralph looked impressed. He grinned at Eliza, taking her hand and giving it a little shake. “Thank ya much. I’m real put out I ain’t got nothin’ ta give you.” A cocky grin spread across his lips. “Maybe I could come callin’ sometime.”
The look on her little sister’s face was enough to bring a smile to Cora’s. Eliza nodded. “Yes, that would be nice. Please, do.”
Mr. Stark came outside. “Ma says fer me to send this home with y’all to your ma.” He handed a package to Ben. “Hit’s souse meat.”
Ben looked up from the package with a questioning frown. “Oh, well, thank you. I’ll tell Mother.”
Ralph laughed. “Hit’s real good eatin’ iffen you like hog’s head. Jist cut ya off a piece to eat cold or heat it up on that fancy stove y’all got.”
“Hog’s head?” Ben’s voice cracked.
“Yup, like I said, it’s real good eatin’.”
~*~
When Aaron rounded the corner of the house to see what was stirring up Old Blue, the last thing he expected to find was Cora. She sat on that fine house with her brother and sister and looked prettier than any girl he’d ever seen.
Aaron kicked at a rock sticking above the snow He tied the dogs and left. He knew it was the coward’s way, but he couldn’t stay and watch her shock and disappointment at the way they lived.
He stepped over a log, not knowing where he was going. He just wanted to get away and stay away until Cora left. With no conscious thought, he headed toward the hollow tree where he’d seen Cora that first time. He remembered how scared she’d looked when she crawled from the tree that morning. That was when he’d fallen in love with her.
He bent and looked inside the old sycamore before he crawled in. It was warm inside and dry. He leaned back against the wall and closed his eyes. Cora likely thought dirt floors were for animals. With self-imposed torture, he compared the differences in their lives.
Cora was used to nice things. Things folks didn’t need to survive. All his family had were the necessities.
He could build a fancy cabin like her pa’s and put a wood floor in it too. He could even make some real pretty furniture. But it took money to get one of those fine cook stoves like her ma had. And what of the dishes they ate off of? Dishes like that took money and lots of it.
With a quick movement, he straightened his back and squared his shoulders. No sense pining away over something he could never have. What was he doing, anyway, hiding away from a little slip of a girl? He needed to get back home. There was plenty of work waiting, and work was a good way to get a man’s mind off a girl.
He dropped forward to crawl out the opening but stopped short of sticking his head through. A horse was coming. With his heart in his throat, he watched them. Ben sat in front, then Cora and Eliza.
He breathed a sigh of relief. They’d pass right by the tree without recognizing it. How could they remember a tree they’d only seen once even if it had sheltered them for the night?
“There it is, Ben.” Cora pointed toward Aaron, and his heart stopped beating. He melted back inside out of sight. How could he explain what he’d been doing inside the tree while they were visiting his folks?
Ben brought the horse to a stop barely six paces from the tree. “Yep, that’s it. Do you want to get down and look at it closer?”
“Oh, yes, let’s do.” Eliza bounced as if she might jump. “I’ve never been inside a tree. I don’t see how you could have enough room to sit up, let alone sleep in there.”
Cora’s laughter brought Aaron a curious mix of pain and pleasure.
“You have to realize, Eliza, we slept sitting up.” Cora’s tone sobered. “Come on, Ben, let’s go home. I’m cold and it’s getting late. Mother may be worried about us. Eliza can see the tree some other time.”
“Sure, blame it on Mother when it’s really because you think George will be there.” Eliza sounded angry.
“George?” Ben swung to look at the girls. “He isn’t coming here, is he?”
“Yes, he is.” Eliza spoke before Cora could. “He’s coming to take Cora back to St. Louis. They’re getting married, you know.”
“No, I didn’t know.” Ben frowned. “Why would you do a dumb thing like that, Cora?”
“I don’t see where this is any of your business—either of you.” Cora folded her arms. “Please, Ben, let’s go home. It’s getting late and I’m cold and hungry.”
“Might as well get it over with. If he’s there, he’ll stay awhile.” Ben clucked to the horse.
Eliza nodded. “Yeah, he’ll stay way too long even if it’s only overnight.”
Aaron watched them ride away until they disappeared into the trees. Then he crawled out of the tree.
So Cora was promised to a fellow named George. He sighed as he turned from the tree. He’d have to stay away from her now for sure. A leaden lump sat where his heart should have been as he made his way back home.
~*~
George hadn’t come. Not that Cora was worried. He’d probably show up tomorrow on Christmas Day.
When he didn’t, Cora still didn’t worry. George had never been consistent about keeping promises. He’d surely be there by the New Year.
When the first day of 1834 faded to night without an appearance from George, Cora began to wonder. Had something happened to him enroute? As one day blended into another with no word from him, she thought of little else. Each night she felt the bag with her belongings still hanging behind her best dress.
Then, on January 9, Cora woke the happiest she’d been in two weeks. Maybe George would surprise her and come for her birthday. She hummed as she dressed.
“I hope this means you’re going to stop brooding over that conceited show-off.” Eliza propped on her elbow and watched Cora from their bed.
Cora looked up from buttoning her dress. “Brooding? Have I been?”
“Oh, I don’t know.” Eliza’s voice dripped sarcasm. “You’ve been dragging yourself around, sighing every few minutes when you aren’t looking out the door. What would you call it?”
Cora’s eyes grew wide. “Have I really been that obvious?” Do you think Mother has noticed?”
“No, Mother is too busy trying to make a civilized home here. She has more on her mind than your moods. Besides, I don’t think she feels well.”
“What do you mean?”
Eliza threw back the covers and reached for her dress. “I don’t know. She acts tired.”
“Maybe that’s because of all the work there is to do.” Cora flung her arm out. “In case you haven’t noticed, there isn’t any hired help here.”
Eliza shook her head. “No, it’s more than that. We all help more than we ever did in St. Louis.”
“Vickie hasn’t been doing so much.”
“That’s true.” A musing expression
settled on Eliza’s face. “I don’t think she feels well, either.”
Cora shrugged. “Maybe they just haven’t gotten used to all of this yet.” She looked around the room. “You’ll have to admit, it isn’t exactly like home.”
“I know.” Eliza grinned at her sister. “You’ve probably even forgotten that today’s your birthday.”
“Oh, no, I haven’t.” Cora smiled “I also haven’t forgotten that Esther promised to come over today.”
“That’s fine. Just so George doesn’t show up.” Eliza’s skirt twirled out as she turned quickly and flung her leg over the ladder. She dodged the pillow Cora threw. It sailed over her head, through the opening, to the floor below.
“Girls!” Father called.
Cora covered her mouth and giggled.
His voice drifted up. “You know, I was sitting here trying to decide if a nineteen-year-old girl is too big for a spanking on her birthday. Then, a pillow flew right out of nowhere and hit me on the head. Cora, maybe you’d better come and get it. It might come in handy in case I decide nineteen isn’t as old as I thought.”
Eliza laughed.
So did Cora. “Coming, Father.”
Cora joined the gaiety of her family as they celebrated her special day. Vickie baked a cake, putting a ring of pecan halves along the edge. When Cora saw the pecans, she thought of Aaron, and warmth spread through her heart. Maybe he’d come over today.
“Hey, Cora.” Ben brushed snowflakes from his dark, wool coat as he came inside. “We won’t have company today. Looks like this snow’s coming down to stay.”
“Esther’s not coming?”
“I doubt it.” Ben’s expression showed his own disappointment. “Her father surely wouldn’t let them start out with it snowing like this. I was going to ride out to meet them, but there’s no use now.”
Cora put on her coat and ran outside. Snow stung her face as she looked up at the gray sky. Ben was right. No one would be coming today. Not Esther or Aaron. And not George.
A full foot of snow with drifts over three feet deep fell before it stopped the next day. January passed and February came in before the snow began to melt.
Just when Cora thought winter would finally step aside long enough for George to show up, the temperature dropped, turning the outdoors into a world of ice.
As the days went by, Cora stopped looking for George. Then, one night in late February, she and Eliza were getting ready for bed. Eliza pulled her nightgown over her head and spoke from its fold. “I know what’s wrong with Mother.”
Cora sharpened her gaze on her little sister as her head popped through the gown. “What do you mean? What’s wrong with her?”
Eliza’s light brown eyes sparkled in the candlelight. “How would you like to be a big sister—again?”
Cora’s mouth gaped. “What do you mean? Mother is. . . There’s going to be. . .” She couldn’t get a sentence finished. “Eliza, are you sure?”
“Yes, I heard her and Vickie talking.” Eliza squealed as Cora fell across the bed, taking her with her.
Cora gave her sister a playful shake. “Tell me when. When will she be born?”
“Who said it would be a girl?”
“No one, but I want her to be.” Cora fell back on the bed and stared at the ceiling while a smile curved her lips. She grinned at Eliza.
“Oh?” Eliza raised her eyebrows. “I didn’t know you liked little sisters.”
Cora punched Eliza’s arm. “Of course, I do. At least part of the time.”
“What about nieces?”
Cora laughed. “Ralph hasn’t proposed yet, has he?”
Eliza blushed. “Not me, silly. I mean Vickie.”
“I know. I already figured that one out.” Cora looked away. It had been six years since the fever took their youngest sister, Abigail. It would be wonderful to have another to fill the emptiness from her passing. A thought had her turning back to Eliza. “Are you sure you know what you’re talking about?”
“Of course.” Eliza sounded injured. “I heard Mother say John can’t go back home with Father because they are worried about Vickie. Then Vickie said, ‘But, Mother, what of you?’ and Mother said, ‘I’ve given birth to six children and never had a sick day with any of them.’” Eliza gave Cora a superior look. “So, what else could it mean?”
~*~
Cora found a sheet of paper, a bottle of ink, and a pen. Already the March wind and sun had melted the snows of winter. Father and Ben were preparing for a visit to St. Louis, and she wanted to write a letter. If George wouldn’t come or couldn’t, she needed to know. Maybe if she told him how much she missed him and how awful this wilderness was, he’d try harder to get to her.
She dipped her pen and wrote furiously for close to an hour. She poured out her heart, emphasizing her love for George and exaggerating the loneliness of living in a land with so few people of common interests. Finally, she ended. “I love and miss you so much. Each night when I go to sleep, my heart cries out my longing to see your beloved face. Each morning I arise with the hope this day will be the one when you come to take me away from this hateful wilderness. I remain forever yours. Cora.”
She folded her letter and sealed it with wax from her candle then found Ben and took him aside. “I know you don’t like George, but—”
“No, Cora, I don’t like him. I never have, but for you, I’ll see if I can find out what’s happened to him.”
Cora hugged Ben. “I knew you’d understand. Thank you.” She stepped back, handing him the letter. “Will you see he gets this too?”
Ben took the letter and stuffed it into his shirt pocket. “All right. I’ll make sure he gets it if I can find him.”
Cora smiled. “I don’t think anything bad has happened. I just want to know what kept him from coming.”
Ben shrugged. “You should know soon. We’ll be back in a couple of months.”
“Are you going to see Esther before you leave?”
A light radiated from Ben’s eyes at the mention of Esther. He nodded. “I wouldn’t go away without seeing her first. We’re leaving first light Monday morning, so I plan to go over Sunday afternoon.”
Ben looked into Cora’s eyes. “Can you keep a secret?”
“Of course.”
“All right, just don’t tell anyone until after I ask her.”
Cora grabbed his arm. “Are you serious?”
“I’ve never been more serious in my life.” Ben grinned. “I’ll never love anyone as much as I do Esther. If she can return my love, we’ll be married as soon as I can get us a place to live.”
~*~
Late Sunday afternoon when Ben came home, a huge smile covered his face. As soon as Cora saw him, she knew. “Oh, Ben. I’m so happy for you. You couldn’t pick a better sister for me.
“You may be sure that wasn’t my purpose.” Ben grinned
Cora watched him go outside. It must be wonderful to have the future decided. She thought of George and shook her head. Right now, she didn’t know what she’d do if he walked through the door. Would she fall into his arms or turn her back on him?
That evening before bedtime, Ben announced his engagement to the entire family. A twinge of jealousy touched Cora when everyone seemed so happy about his choice. No one liked George, a fact she didn’t understand. Cora and Eliza cleaned the kitchen while Mother checked on Vickie. Until Vickie was better, and Father returned, Mother would sleep out in the large sitting room.
The dishes had been put away and Ben had ushered the two small boys upstairs to their room when a knock sounded at the door. Cora jumped and looked at Eliza. Who could be coming so late in the day? Father took his rifle from its place above the doorframe. John filled the doorway to the bedroom, a rifle lying easily across his arm. Cora glanced up at the loft and saw Ben crouched low while candle light reflected in the metal of his rifle. Did they think Indians would knock? Cora’s heart pounded.
Father pulled the door open a crack. He lowered his rifle and op
ened the door wide. “Hello there. It’s good to see you again.”
Bill Reid stepped inside. “I hope I’m not interrupting anything. I noticed your wagons outside the front door. You aren’t leaving, are you?”
“Yes, we are.” Father pulled a chair forward. “I tried my hand at furniture making this past winter. I’m better with wax than wood, but in spite of the looks, it will hold your weight.”
As Mr. Reid sat in the new chair, Father continued. “My son and I are starting back to St. Louis in the morning for the remainder of our things. We should have some real furniture when we return.”
“In that case, I won’t stay long. If I might visit with you and your wife for just a moment, I’ll be on my way.”
Cora nudged Eliza toward the loft. When the girls entered their room, Eliza removed her shoes and without a sound dropped to the floor.
“What are you doing?” Cora’s whisper sounded loud in the quiet room.
“Shh.” Eliza put a finger to her lips. “If you talk, I won’t be able to hear.” She crept as close to the ladder as she could without being seen from below.
“Eliza, I can’t believe you’re doing that. Come away from there.”
“Don’t you want to know what’s going on?”
“No, I want to go to bed.” Cora wanted nothing to do with Mr. Reid, and she didn’t want to know his business. “Eliza, if you don’t get up and go to bed, I’ll call Father.”
“You wouldn’t dare.” Eliza, still on her hands and knees, stared at Cora.
Cora opened her mouth to call.
Eliza scrambled to her feet. “All right, I won’t listen, and it’ll be something important. Then you’ll be sorry.”
Chapter 13
Ben held Cora close in a brotherly hug. She squeezed him tight, missing him already. When it was her father’s turn, he looked into her face. “Can’t you find a smile for this old man?”
Cora forced a smile. It probably wasn’t what he wanted, but he seemed satisfied as he hugged her close. “That’s better. Now I have a pretty memory of my little girl to take with me.” As quickly as it came, his grin left. “Maybe ‘little girl’ isn’t right. When I get back, we’ll have a talk about some important things. All right?”
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