Cora's Deception (9781476398280)

by Colvin, Mildred

  Cora laughed. Esther seemed so serious, yet she talked nonsense. “Is that all? Of course your lives will change. Marriage makes a difference in a person’s life.”

  Esther smiled and met Cora’s eyes. “That isn’t what I mean. God has been talking to us about a work He may have for us. We don’t know what it is or where it will be, but we’ve agreed to pray until we know what God wants. We may be moving away, Cora.”

  Away? Mother would throw a fit. Or would she? Mother had changed. Ben had changed. Fear clutched Cora’s heart. She didn’t want her older brother to leave. What would she do without Ben?

  She brushed Esther’s words away with a wave of her hand. “Oh, pooh, Esther. Of course, you aren’t going to move far. If God has a work for you, I’m sure it’ll be right here where you live.”

  Esther’s mouth opened, but she didn’t speak. Her mother’s voice drifted up to the loft. “Girls, are you up there?”

  “Yes, Ma, come on up.”

  Mrs. Newkirk’s head appeared first. “Oh, wonderful, you girls are ready. It’s time, Esther.”

  A smile chased Esther’s serious expression away, and she hurried to follow her mother back down the ladder.

  Outside the sun warmed Cora’s head while her thoughts seem frozen in place by Esther’s confession. But she had no time to think of Ben leaving now. The brush arbor buzzed with a current of excitement, drawing the girls to the back opening. Mrs. Newkirk went in and took her seat in front while her husband joined their oldest daughter. Ben stood beside Reverend Copley, but Cora’s gaze rested on his best man. Aaron waited for her. He smiled and she envisioned him taking Ben’s place. If not for Ivy, they could be getting married today.

  Cora started down the aisle first with Rebekah following. Aaron’s expressive blue eyes sent messages of love to her heart. If only this could be their wedding. She took her place and turned to watch Esther move forward toward Ben. She was beautiful. Her golden hair set off the halo of wildflowers and netting above her lovely face. Cora lifted her gaze beyond Esther to the waving green prairie grass and the line of cedar trees in the distance. Why would anyone want to leave here? A gentle, warm breeze ruffled Esther’s veil, bringing Cora’s attention back to the wedding.

  Adoration poured from Ben’s expression as Esther walked toward him. Cora shifted her gaze to Aaron and met the love in his eyes. Her heart swelled and set up a steady beat of anticipation for their wedding. Please, let it be soon. Somehow, this problem with Ivy would be solved then it would be their wedding day.

  Chapter 22

  Cora walked around to the back lot, careful to keep the slop bucket from sloshing on her skirt. Aaron’s pig, now grown into a full-sized hog, snorted her displeasure at being kept waiting for her lunch.

  “Oh, hush, you overgrown critter. You’re making so much noise you couldn’t hear it thunder.” Slopping the hog was not her favorite chore, but she’d agreed to do it so Ben could take Esther to her parents’ house for some of her things. No one liked to carry a smelly slop bucket, so they all took turns. Esther could take an extra turn later.

  Cora smiled at the thought and lifted the almost full bucket, balanced it on the fence and poured it into the trough, keeping her bare feet and skirt well back from the splash. The hogs rushed at it, grunting their pleasure.

  “Pardon my intrusion, miss.” The male voice held a strong tone of arrogance. “Would you be kind enough to direct me to the Jackson homestead?”

  Cora’s heart froze. A flood of memories—both good and bad rode along with that voice. Barefoot and with a dirty apron, the filthy bucket still clutched in her hand, Cora turned to face George Merrill.

  He looked as dapper as ever, holding the reins of a sleek, black horse. A dark claw hammer coat covered his white shirt with an attached collar framing his full cheeks. Her gaze traveled past gray trousers to black dress boots, then back to his face. Had he always looked so pale and soft—so totally out of place in the normal world? If she could find her breath, she’d laugh at the ridiculous picture he made standing next to the pigpen in his fine, city clothing.

  His eyes widened and his mouth dropped open. Expressions of distaste, shock, and disapproval chased each other across his face. He snapped his mouth shut before opening it again. “Cordella Jackson, I didn’t recognize you. What are you doing? Have you been reduced to a scullery maid?”

  Before she could respond to his condescending tone, he whipped a white linen handkerchief from his pocket and held it to his nose. “Whose quaint little cabin is this, and where are your shoes?”

  Cora looked down at her toes peeking out from under the hem of her skirt. A hot flush sped to her cheeks. She pulled her foot back, hiding it under her skirt.

  “You haven’t answered me.” George scowled. “Who lives in this . . .” He glared at the house before spitting out one word. “Hovel?”

  How dare he call their home such a thing. All at once, Cora realized George didn’t own her. He meant nothing to her, anymore. She didn’t have to take his abuse. She lifted her chin and faced him. “This is the house my father built when we moved here. Father and our neighbors.”

  “Are you telling me you live in this?” George’s emphasis on the last word left no doubt to his impression of the house she’d come to love.

  “Of course, we live here.” She spat out the words while the realization George no longer intimidated her filled her thoughts. She laughed. “I love our house, so don’t call it a hovel in my presence.”

  His expression softened. “I suppose life is rather different here than what we’re used to. Even John and Vickie live in a shack with which, for some reason, they seem quite content.”

  He wasn’t worth her time. Cora turned toward the barn. She needed to rinse the slop bucket. His voice stopped her.

  “A dinner will be held in my honor at John’s this evening. Of course, you and your family are invited to attend.” He had the audacity to issue his condescending invitation and then turn away from her. But he stopped with his hand on the saddle of his fine horse. “Oh, and Cora, please do wear shoes.”

  “Are you leaving without speaking to Father?” Cora ignored his latest barb.

  He turned a pointed look toward the bucket still clutched in her hands. “We’ll visit tonight under better circumstances.”

  He swung into the saddle, and looking down from his superior height, again covered his nose with his handkerchief. “You do have the means of bathing here, don’t you?”

  Cora considered throwing the bucket at him but was afraid she’d hurt the horse. She forced a smile instead. “Certainly, the creek is nearby if I feel the need.”

  She turned her back on his look of disgust and went to the house.

  ~*~

  Cora stabbed a green bean and buried it in her mashed potatoes. Surely George could let someone else talk.

  “I received honors for my class standing at law school.” He caught her gaze across the table, and she looked away. Pride brightened John’s face. Father wore his polite expression. Mother smiled at George and spoke when he finally paused for breath. “I’m sure your mother and father are proud of you, George. You seem so young to be a lawyer.”

  “Actually, I am. I was the youngest in my class.” George puffed up, and Cora slapped her fingers over her mouth to keep from giggling.

  Poor Eliza had somehow ended up sitting beside George. With a straight face, she stretched her eyes open as wide as they’d go then her tongue darted out and back in so quick, Cora barely saw it. Eliza took a sip of water, swallowed, and grinned.

  A soft snort escaped Cora’s nose. She coughed to cover it and sipped from her glass, scarcely controlling the urge to laugh. Eliza had said George thought he was the biggest toad in the puddle. He’d just proved her right.

  George smiled across the table. “Tell me, Cora, aren’t you proud of your old playmate?”

  Cora choked on her water, but brought her coughing under control. She gave him a sweet smile and thought of the poor little maid
he’d ruined. “I was under the impression you wouldn’t be going to law school until a year later than you did. What on earth happened to cause you to rush things?”

  George fell silent for the first time that evening. A flush stained his cheeks. His throat worked as he swallowed. Then he shook his head, and his superior smile returned. “It is true my plan had been to wait another year, but the way opened for me to go. When opportunity knocks, only fools refuse to answer.”

  Opportunity! Ha! If she could wipe the self-satisfied look from George’s face, she would. Instead, she turned away and filled her mouth with beans and potatoes to keep her tongue quiet.

  After dinner, Cora sat on the floor with Eliza. She relished the warmth of Christopher and Nora cuddling next to her. The whirl of Lenny’s and Nicholas’s tops calmed her anger toward George. Nora crawled into Cora’s lap while Christopher went to his mother. Cora held her little sister and listened to the others talk, but she didn’t join in. Let George spout off his accomplishments. She didn’t care. He was nothing more than a big windbag.

  Nora’s eyes drooped until they closed completely, and her soft breathing evened. Cora loved the feel of the baby in her arms. She could hold her for hours and not grow tired of it. What she did grow tired of was listening to George’s voice droning on and on.

  Finally, Father yawned. “We need to be getting on home, don’t you think, Mother?”

  Cora didn’t wait for her mother to answer. She stood with Nora. “I’ll go on out to the wagon and settle Nora if it’s all right, Mother.”

  “Yes, that’s fine, sweetheart. Thank you.” Mother didn’t stir from her chair. She tired so easily since Nora’s birth.

  Cora gave her a smile and carried her sleeping sister outside into the darkness of night. She started to lift Nora over the sideboard when she sensed another presence. She turned with a start, almost bumping into George. She gasped, and he laughed.

  “What are you doing out here? I thought you’d stay inside with your admirers.”

  “Ah, Cora, are you angry with me?” George reached for the baby. “Here, let me help you with your sister. She’s just as cute as you were when you were little.”

  Cora’s arms tightened around Nora. “How do you remember what I looked like? You weren’t much older than me.”

  She turned her back to George and lay Nora on the blankets Mother had brought. The baby stirred, but didn’t open her eyes.

  George didn’t seem to notice her slight. “The question is, how could I ever forget anything about you, Cora? And of course, the answer is, I couldn’t. I still love you.”

  Rather than draw her like in the past, George’s soft, caressing voice grated on Cora’s nerves.

  “You love me?” She repeated and gave a short laugh. “You’ve never loved anyone but yourself, George Merrill.”

  “Oh, you are angry with me.” George touched her arm. “You know I’d have come for you if I could. How can I make it up to you?”

  Cora pulled away. “There’s nothing to make up.”

  “That’s my Cora. You’ve always been forgiving. You’re still as sweet and unspoiled as I remember.” He grabbed both arms, and she couldn’t escape, although he held her with a gentle touch.

  She looked toward the house.

  George’s smile flashed in the moonlight. “Don’t worry. They’re busy talking about some Fourth of July party being held in a barn, if you can imagine such a thing. It’ll be awhile before they come outside.”

  The condescension in his voice was as offensive as his hands on her person. She cringed from both. “The only barn around here big enough for a party is Bill Reid’s. You might understand why they admire his barn if you saw it.”

  George’s brows met and lowered over his eyes. “What’s come over you, Cora? First, I find you wallowing with hogs and now you’re defending someone’s barn. Surely this place hasn’t changed you that much.”

  Cora let her gaze travel over George’s face, pale from his life indoors. At one time she would’ve admired that, now he looked ill. Once, not so long ago, she thought the sun rose and set at George’s command. How wrong she’d been.

  She relaxed, allowing a smile to cross her face. “Yes, this place and the people in it have changed me. It’s been two years, George. I’m not the same girl you once knew.”

  “Oh, you think not?” A wicked gleam came into his eyes. “We’ll see about that.”

  His grip on her arms tightened, and he bent his head to capture her lips. Cora turned to the side, but she hadn’t seen his intentions soon enough. His mouth covered hers, possessing her. His arms slipped around her, crushing her against him with one hand, the other holding her head in place. She wanted to scream but had no air. He kept her arms pinned so she couldn’t fight.

  Just when she thought she’d lose conscientiousness, he released her and stepped back, an arrogant smile on his lips. “I usually get what I want, Cora. You know that. I want you, and I intend to have you.”

  The urge to slap the smirk from George’s face possessed Cora, but she resisted. He obviously hadn’t changed. He would hurt her if she fought too much. She wiped her mouth with the back of her sleeve. “I wouldn’t marry you if you were the last man on earth. I’m betrothed to a wonderful man right here, and this is where I intend to stay.”

  George’s eyes widened at Cora’s news. “You must be jesting.”

  “I’m very serious. Aaron is everything you are not. I love him very much.” She took a step back as George reached toward her.

  He stopped and turned toward the house at the sound of Father’s voice. Cora’s breath rushed out before she realized she’d been holding it. The others were coming. Lenny ran across the yard with Eliza following. Cora stepped around George to be closer to her family.

  Cora blinked her eyes to keep the tears at bay. George had been her life at one time. As obnoxious as he’d become, she couldn’t hate him, but their lifelong friendship died with his arrival today. She would mourn the memory of a little boy who’d been her companion and friend through many happy years. Tonight she’d seen George with new eyes. No longer was she blinded to the evil streak in him. As she wiped an errant tear from her cheek, she rejoiced she’d severed his hold over her. The girl who bowed to his every wish was gone. In her place had been born a woman strong enough to give her love to a real man—a man of honor and integrity—Aaron Stark.

  ~*~

  Cora held Aaron’s hand as they strolled from the house after supper. It’d been a week, and George hadn’t come to visit, no doubt thinking to punish Cora by his absence. She shook her head at his audacity. Then she looked at Aaron and rejoiced that she’d been spared George’s presence. She dreaded seeing him again, although she knew she wouldn’t escape.

  Aaron lifted Cora’s hand and kissed it. “Hey, are ya still with me?”

  “Always.” She laughed. “You can’t get rid of me, Aaron Stark.”

  His laughter joined hers. “It ain’t like I’m wantin’ to, Cora.”

  They walked through the dusk of evening toward the woods. Aaron stopped a few yards from the house. “This is far enough. Wish I could take you on home with me, but that cabin’s a mite crowded yet. I might kick Ralph out to make his own way, but I can’t do that to Ivy.”

  “I know, Aaron. It’s all right. We’ll find a way to be together soon. Ivy’s very pretty. I imagine she’ll find a young man of her own before long. Maybe even at the party tomorrow.”

  “That’s right. Tomorrow’s the Fourth, ain’t it?” He cocked an eyebrow and tapped his chin. “Reckon I’d better plan on getting’ up early to get things done, so’s I can spend some time with my best girl in the evenin’.”

  She smacked his arm. “Best girl? How many others have you got hidden in the woods?”

  He laughed and pulled her close. “Not a one. I promise you’re the best and the worst both.”

  “Aaron!” Her objection became lost in his kiss. Her heart melted, and all thought vanished in his arms.


  He pulled back and gave her a quick kiss on the forehead. “I gotta go. I’ll see you tomorrow night. We’ll ride in with the Hanson’s, but I’ll see ya home, Cora. I love you.”

  “I love you, too, Aaron.” One more kiss and he turned away with a backward look.

  Cora stood alone and watched until he reached the first line of trees before she turned toward the house. She could scarcely wait until the party when she’d be with Aaron again. The only thing that could dampen her happiness would be if George decided to lower himself from his self-made pedestal and join the lowly natives for a barn dance.

  That concern stayed with her through the night and into the next day when early in the afternoon, George showed up with Vickie and John.

  Vickie hugged Mother. “Hi, we decided to go with you to the big celebration.”

  “That’s wonderful.” Mother hugged Vickie and the little boys.

  John took care of his horses, and George ambled close to Cora. His fingers closed around her elbow before she realized his intentions. He spoke in a low tone for her alone. “I expect to have a good time tonight. I’ll be riding with you as your escort.”

  Cora tried to pull away from him only for him to tighten his hold. Further resistance would bring pain, so she relaxed. Surely, she could put up with him for the short ride to Bill Reid’s. He could do nothing once she was with Aaron.

  Still, she wouldn’t let him think she agreed to his attentions. “You’re mistaken, George. I already have an escort. Aaron Stark is my intended as I’ve already told you. He will be at the party tonight, and I will be with him only.”

  After one bruising squeeze, George released her elbow and smiled. “I’m looking forward to meeting your friends, Cora. In fact, this should be a very entertaining evening.”

  Cora climbed into the wagon, but George followed. Was there no getting away from him? He sat close to her. “These wagons are quite crowded, don’t you think? We must make room for everyone.”