“No formality on this ranch. I’m Emma Durbin. My husband is the foreman.” Emma held up a nightgown and a long-sleeved, faded brown dress. “I brought these for you. I’m sure they’ll fit.”
“I’m very grateful, Mrs…Emma,” Molly said putting a shirt over Timmy’s head and pulling his uninjured arm through a sleeve.
Juanita came back in, holding a cup out to Timmy. “This will fix you right up, little one.”
Since one of his arms was in a splint, Molly held it up to his lips. His nose scrunched up. “It tastes funny. I don’t want it.”
“I put honey in it to make it go down a bit easier.”
“It’s going to help with the pain. You need to drink it all, Timmy,” Molly said.
“Your bath water is ready, Senorita.” She noticed the anxious expression on the boy’s face. “Senora Emma can help you and I will tell the nino how about Nanabozho and how he made the first rainbow in the sky.”
Though he was tired, his eyes opened wide. “He made a rainbow all the way up in the sky?”
Emma and Molly snuck out of the room. “Before you get in the tub, let’s rinse your hair outside. We don’t want your bath water full of mud.” The women went out the back door. Emma carried a warm pan of water to dump over her head. With some difficulty, Molly bent over and raised her arms to loosen the mud as Emma slowly poured the water.
Molly’s teeth chattered from the cold and when they came back inside, she undressed. With Emma’s help, she sank down into the tub. Molly blushed trying to cover herself. “Land sakes, girl, we all have the same parts. No need to be embarrassed in front of me.”
Her ribs stuck out and bruises, old and new, covered her thin body. “I don’t know who done this to you, Molly,” Emma said through clenched teeth, “but whoever it was deserves to be horsewhipped!”
The only response was a hiss of pain as cuts, scrapes, and bruises sunk into hot water.
“Would you like me to wash your hair and then you can just relax?” Emma asked.
“Thank you, Emma. I would like that very much.”
Emma gently massaged Molly’s hair, careful of a cut on the side of her head. Using strong fingers, Emma worked to get all the dirt out of her hair, rinsing it several times with pots of water.
“There you be, Molly. Now you can just relax for a few minutes.”
“Emma, I want to thank you for helping me and,” she said, looking the woman in the eyes, “I would love to see him horsewhipped, too — or worse.”
Emma smiled sadly and patted her hand. “I’m going to make us some tea, and after you get out, I’ll make some eggs and ham for dinner. Will Timmy eat that?”
“Oh yes, but I hate putting you all to this much trouble.”
“Now, none of that,” Emma said putting her hands on her enormous waist. “It’s no trouble at all. I’m not sure how long you’ll be with us, but we are like one big family here and this is what family does.” She winked at Molly and turned back to the business of making some tea.
Molly watched Emma. The woman, from the looks of things, was ready to have that baby anytime. Even with her in a family way, Molly figured Emma was a woman not much bigger than herself. The woman had dark brown hair that she wore in a bun at the nape of her neck, long strands escaped and fell past her shoulders. She was not a comely woman. Her nose was a bit large for her face and her mouth seemed overly wide, but her smile was welcoming and her soft brown eyes held a tender warmth that Molly hadn’t seen since her mother was alive.
“The little one didn’t last long,” Juanita chuckled coming out of the bedroom, “though he tried so hard to keep those eyes open.”
Molly smiled, but her eyes held a deep sadness. “I…,” she started, “I mean…the water is getting chilly. I’m ready to get out.”
The borrowed nightgown and robe were donned and while Emma made dinner for all of them, Juanita carefully combed out Molly’s tangled hair.
A tap on the door had Molly grabbing the edges of the robe and pulling it tightly closed. Chase cracked the door and asked if he could come in.
“Yes, Chase,” Emma replied. “The tub is ready to be taken out and when you’re done, I’ve got eggs and ham cooking.”
The men came inside. Ed ran smack into the back of his boss when Chase stopped suddenly when he saw the woman he’d brought home.
“Senor Forrester,” Juanita laughed, “are you trying to catch something — with your mouth?”
Chase blushed furiously. “Grab the other side of this tub, Ed.” They muscled the tub full of water out the back door and dumped it. Chase was busy making excuses about why he wasn’t going back in, when the door flew open.
“Senor Durbin,” Juanita hollered into the darkness, “We need to get the Senora to her house. The baby, it is time!”
Chapter 5
For a second time in one night, Chase walked in and found himself standing and gawking at his new house guest. She was on her hands and knees, cleaning the floor.
“When Emma’s water broke, she dropped the pan with the eggs in it. I…um…was just cleaning it up.”
After regaining his senses, he reached down to help her up off the floor. “Don’t worry about this, Miss…”
“Molly Simms, and it’s no problem,”
Chase threw the food outside. “Aggie!” He shut the door. “The dog will be happy for the treat.” He threw another piece of ham in the pan. “I’m hungry. You want some?” He never looked her way.
Molly took his arm and moved him out of the way. “I’m a fair cook and it’s the very least I can do. You sit yourself down over at the table and I’ll make us something to eat.”
Chase sat down and leaned his chair back on two legs. The silence in the room was almost deafening. “I really don’t know how to thank you for what you’ve done for Timmy and myself.” She glanced his way and caught him staring. “Um, it’s Chase, right?”
“Right, Chase Forrester,” he said, setting the chair back down on all four legs. “You must think I’m some kind of chucklehead the way I’ve been staring every time I see you, but I have never seen hair like yours. It’s like a hot fire in the hearth – reds, oranges, and streaks of gold.” He smiled sheepishly. “I’d have never guessed that color under all that mud.”
She grinned lopsidedly, a cut lip holding back the full smile. “My mother’s family is from Ireland. Her hair was red. It was the color of a cardinal’s wings.”
“Was your father also from Ireland?”
“No. Mother came to America when she was a child.”
Her face was still badly bruised and her eye was swollen shut, but Chase thought, if he shut his eyes, he’d be able to imagine the way she looked — beautiful. Her voice was gentle, clear and light. He liked the sound of it.
Within minutes ham and a pile of fluffy eggs were set before him. “I make passable biscuits also, but didn’t know where the fixings were.” Molly made a plate for herself and sat across from him. Through her lashes she studied the man who saved her and her son’s life. His dark hair was long and tied back. His eyes were a blue that seemed to look right to the soul and he possessed a genuine smile that pulled her right in.
Molly squirmed in her seat before putting her fork down. “I want to apologize for trying to…I mean on the road when—”
“When you held me at gunpoint?” His eyes sparkled in amusement.
“Uhm…yes, that.” She burned from head to toe.
He chuckled before shoving a forkful of eggs into his mouth. “I’m thinking a parent would do whatever it takes to save their child.”
“My mother’s words came back to haunt me,” Molly smiled. Using her best Irish brogue she said, “Molly, girl, one day you will find your own d'fhíorghrá, and you and he will have your own family le cúnamh Dé. When the babies come along, then you will know a love so deep it almost hurts. You would give up your own life without blinking an eye to save one you love so much.” Her smile faded and Chase saw fear in her green eyes. “I thought my life was going to
end today.”
Chase’s jaw stiffened. “You know, Molly, I’ve never been one to tiptoe around. What happened out there?”
Molly put her fork down and folded her hands in her lap. “His name is Clay Jones. He started getting abusive with Timmy. I stepped in.”
“Your husband?”
Molly swallowed hard. “No. We’re not married.” Chase didn’t respond. “It’s a long story.”
“Molly, I need to know who is staying in my house. Probably be best if you start from the beginning.”
She picked up her fork and played with her food for a full minute before starting. “My father, Joseph Burns, was a minister in North Platte, Indiana. I lived there my whole life and was the oldest of five brothers and sisters. My mother, Lucy, got sick one winter and never fully recovered. She died when I was sixteen. I miss her every day.” She sniffed and wiped her eyes. “My father was having a hard time with five children and six months after Mother died, he married Patience Sands. She was a widow with three children of her own. She was a nice enough woman, but I didn’t cotton to the idea of another woman living in my mother’s house.”
Molly took a deep breath. “Thomas and Margaret Simms had a farm outside of North Platte. I had been going to socials and other things with their son, James. Everybody thought he and I would get married and when he asked me, I accepted, not because I loved him but because I wanted out of that house.”
Molly folded her arms trying to ward off a chill that was setting in. Chase put more wood in the stove. “The night before we got married he told me he hated farming and wanted to go to Colorado and search for gold. We left one week after the wedding, with both sets of parents extremely displeased. We ended up in Ouray.” She shut her eyes. “It was beautiful there, even with all the mining going on. We hadn’t been there long at all when I became pregnant with Timmy and James found silver. We were like two children. It seemed everyday James was bringing home rock with silver threaded through it. We were actually making it.” She laughed. “If you call living out of a wagon making it.”
“We did well for a few years and then it just ran out. When Timmy was almost three, we went to Silverton and James worked in the silver mine. Six months ago, he was killed in a mine shaft.” Molly suddenly seemed uncomfortable. She stood and some water on to boil. “I’d like some tea. Would you care for some?”
Chase shook his head, but sat quietly giving her the time she needed. She sat back down with her hot cup of tea and continued. “There was a Congregational Church there that Timmy and I attended. One of the wives took me aside and asked if I had family I could go home to. I assured them I did not.” She held her head high and said, “I was not about to go back home and look at their disapproving faces and live in that overcrowded home – with her.”
“I understand,” he said, trying to hide a smirk.
Molly looked doubtful, but continued. “She told me many women in mining towns find themselves in my predicament and she knew this woman she wanted me to talk to. Her name was Mrs. Watson and she has this,” Molly cleared her throat, “um, this mail order bride service.” The words came so fast Chase had a hard time following.
“A mail order…” His eyes popped open. “This Clay that you married was looking for a mail order bride?”
“I told you we aren’t married.” Chase put his hands in the air, amused by her indignant expression. “His letter said he was looking for a partner to share his life. He said he owned a ranch in the New Mexico Territory. He said he wanted a family.” Her shoulders drooped. “They were all lies. Truth was, he wanted a cook, a maid, or more to the point, a slave!”
“I don’t want to seem indelicate but aren’t there some sort of rules for mail order brides?” Chase asked.
“When Timmy and I got off the train, he had a wagon waiting. He said his ranch was in the Arizona Territory and we would get married when we got there.” Molly covered her face with her hands. “I was so gullible. I never dreamed he would be the type of person he turned out to be.” She got to her feet and started to pace. Glancing at the bedroom where her son was sleeping, she said in a whisper, “The very first night we stopped, he expected me to...to…well, perform wifely duties.” Her hands flew to her waist. “I made it perfectly clear that was out of the question without being married. He seemed to accept that, but not graciously.”
Molly cleared the dishes. “Clay started drinking and it got worse and worse. At first he only hit me, but a few days ago he started on Timmy.”
Chase ran his hand through his hair, trying to calm the blood that was boiling inside him. “An old friend of mine told me he came across a snake in the grass that was pushing around a boy and his mom. That was you, wasn’t it?”
Molly thought for a second then her eyes widened. “Is your friend an older man who rides a mule?”
Chase nodded.
“Yes, it was us. It was yesterday morning and that man shot at Clay’s leg but missed.”
“He didn’t miss. If old Jim had a mind to, the bones in the leg would be splintered. Said he went by later that day and you had packed up and lit out.”
She nodded. “He threw everything back in the wagon and we traveled east. He kept drinking – all day. Last night,” she swallowed hard, “last night he came at me and his intentions were clear. Timmy started to cry and Clay picked him up and threw him against the wagon.” Tears filled her eyes. “I ran to him. He was bleeding from his ear and I knew his arm was broken.” She covered her face with her hands and sobbed. “He wasn’t moving. He might have been dead because of me.”
Chase stood and took her into his arms, trying to think of comforting words. “Molly…”
She pushed away. “Let me finish, please. Clay grabbed my arm and pulled me to my feet. I used my nails and almost scratched his eyes out. My nails were caked with the skin from his cheeks. He started beating me with his fists. I fell and he kicked me, several times. When he tried to pull me to my feet I took a rock and hit him as hard as I could on the side of his head. Blood covered his face. I may have killed him. I don’t know.” Using the back of her hand, she wiped her eyes. “I really don’t know, Chase.”
It took a while but after composing herself, Molly continued. “I tried to hitch up the horse but was so weak and he ran off. I found a gun, picked up Timmy and went as far as I could.”
“That’s when I came along.”
Molly nodded.
Chase picked his hat up off the table. “It’s been a long day for everybody, Molly Simms. Why don’t we call it a day and we’ll do some figuring in the morning.”
Molly hesitated. “I know Timmy and I would be dead or close to it if you hadn’t happened along. I just don’t…I mean…” She threw her arms around his neck and hugged him hard before running into the bedroom.
Chapter 6
Dark circles, under Juanita’s brown eyes, showed how tired she was. Emma and Ed’s baby girl took most of the night to make her way into the world and it was a difficult birth for both mother and child.
“Sit down and drink this coffee,” Chase said, handing her a steaming cup. “Are they alright?”
“Emma lost much blood. She is very weak.” Juanita took a sip and shut her eyes. “I worry for her, Senor Chase. She will need much care. Senor Durbin will not be much help and I cannot stay.”
“I could help,” Molly said, coming out of the bedroom, “that is if it’s okay that Timmy and I stay around for a while.” The swelling around her eye had gone down some, but her cornea was blood red. She still was covered in dark bruises, though much of the purple had turned an ugly yellow/green. Her red hair was brushed and hung to the middle of her back.
The dress Emma had given her was brown with buttons that went from waist to neck in the front. It was faded from many washings and had a small rip on the elbow. Chase would call Emma a thin woman, but the dress hung on Molly.
“I think we’d all be grateful if you could stick around. Me and a few of the boys are taking the new bull out to
the west side and have a few things to check on. We’ll be gone for a couple days, so any help you might be able to give would be great.”
The bedroom door slowly opened and Timmy stuck his head out. The night shirt hung almost to his ankles. He hurried to his mother, hiding behind her. She turned and brought him around. “Sweetie, this is Mrs…”
“Lorerra,” Juanita interrupted, “but nino, you can call me Juanita.” Timmy smiled shyly and hid his face again.
“And Timmy this is Mr. Forrester.”
Chase leaned down on one knee so he was at eye level with the boy. “Hey partner. I’m glad you’re here. I’m going to be gone for a few days and I need someone here to watch the women folk. Can I count on you to do that?” Chase saw a twinge of fear in the boy’s eyes. “Now I’ll have other men here, but I’ll tell them you’re in charge. Will that work?”
Timmy smiled and stood a few inches taller. “Okay, Mr. Forrester.”
“Friends aren’t too formal out in these parts. You call me Chase and I’ll call you Timmy.” He held out his hand and Timmy put his small hand in his.
Molly made them all breakfast and tried to coax Juanita into having a nap before heading back home but the older woman wouldn’t hear of it. “My Zack is helpless without me to tell him what to do.” Her eyes lit with amusement at her own joke. “I will tell you this, Senorita Molly. I am old and fat now, but not too long ago, many a man wanted to share my bed. I have clothes that I will bring back with me. You will need much more than one old dress.”
Juanita told her what needed to be done before leaving. Chase and four of his men, along with the chuck wagon, would accompany her most of the way and then would continue north.
“It would be best if you and Timmy stayed close to the house,” Chase said.
Molly assured him they would and then, with her eyes trained on Chase, watched the men until they were out of sight.
The next three days were busy ones for Molly. When she wasn’t cooking for Emma, Ed, Timmy and herself, plus the four hands left behind, she was helping with the baby and washing diapers and clothes.
Chase's Story (Grandma's Wedding Quilts Book 10) Page 3
