“Afternoon, Miss Crystal.” He beamed at her.
“Hello, Kurt.” She wrinkled her nose at the smell of horseflesh intermingled with perspiration from the heat. He was covered with dust, which he attempted to brush off his britches.
He seemed pleased that she would allow him the privilege of assisting her. Jube joined them and helped unload the supplies they would be using on the trail drive. He was quiet and seemed to be a man of few words, especially around womenfolk.
“Those things there go in the kitchen to Carmen,” Kate said, pointing to the last of the supplies. “They’re for the party Friday night.”
Luke stood near the barn, talking to Rusty about the hands he’d just signed on, but out of the corner of his eye he watched Crystal conversing with Kate, Kurt, and Jube. She seemed unaware of the effect she had on either of them.
“Save a dance for me now,” Kurt was saying.
“Uh . . . and one for me too,” Jube stammered.
“Be careful how many you promise, Crystal.” Kate laughed. “It’s been a while since we’ve had a shindig. They could dance your legs right off.”
Luke knew from Crystal’s reaction that she wasn’t crazy about dancing with the cowboys. But most of them could dance, so her feet would be spared.
“Better get washed up for supper, boys, before Carmen rings the dinner bell,” Kate reminded them. She walked over to where Rusty stood smiling in open admiration for the tall, husky woman.
Crystal excused herself to wash up. Luke noticed the two cowboys gazing at the gentle sway of her hips.
“Well, I’ll be switched!” Kurt exclaimed. “What a woman, huh, Jube?”
“Yep. She’s too pretty for the likes of us, though,” Jube said.
“Never sell yourself short where the ladies are concerned, dear boy.” Kurt smoothed back his dark hair.
5
Two days before the party for Crystal, Aspengold was in a merry flurry of activity. Any excuse to take a couple of days off work and socialize with surrounding ranchers was a blessed relief from the June heat. Knowing that the trail drive was a few weeks away, with many long days in the saddle, the drovers were rowdier than usual with the anticipation of partying, dancing, and flirting with the women. Although Kate ran a tight group with strict moral codes, sometimes the cowboys could get a little raucous.
Carmen was busy preparing the needed food, and their delicious smells wafted throughout the house. Kate and Crystal lent a hand in baking the desserts. Carmen looked at Crystal, her eyebrows arched in question. “You can cook?”
“If there’s one thing a Southern girl must learn beside manners, it’s baking pies,” Crystal remarked as she rolled up her sleeves. “Now, just hand me an apron so I can get started. Where’s the fruit? How many pie pans do you have?”
Kate watched as Crystal sifted flour onto a muslin cloth and began making piecrusts in a large bowl with the hand of an experienced cook. Carmen hurried to gather pans, sugar, and the dried apples she had put up from the last year’s crop.
After a few moments, Kate slipped out the kitchen door, leaving the two young ladies humming with fervor in their mutual endeavor.
Crystal looked out the kitchen window as she kneaded the pie dough. She watched as Kate walked over to the porch where Curly, Jube, and Kurt awaited instruction on how to set up for the party.
“Swept out the barn yet, Jube?”
“Yes, ma’am,” he answered in a respectful tone.
“Curly, you and Kurt go ahead and get the spit set up over the coals for Carmen. Jube, find some two-by-fours and throw together a few tables to hold the food. We don’t have near enough tables.” She issued orders in her no-nonsense fashion, and they scrambled to do her bidding.
Rusty and Luke were cleaning up the oil lamps they would need and discussing the trail drive when Kate joined them. “Luke, I’m pleased to hear that you hired Sourdough as the cook again. Carmen’s uncle and the cowhands regard him as the best cookie west of the Colorado River. That’ll make for a happy crew.”
“Glad that you approve. Ready for the party?” Luke poured the oil into the last lamp.
“Gettin’there.” Kate stood close to Rusty, watching every move he made.
“Wear that blue dress that matches your eyes,” Rusty said affectionately, gazing back at her.
“Now why would I want to do a thing like that?” she teased just like a girl with the first blush of love.
Luke got the distinct feeling they wanted to be alone and made up some imaginary chore that needed seeing to. He stopped by the bunkhouse to retrieve a small brown bag that he tucked into his vest pocket, then headed to the house. Wonderful smells assaulted his nostrils, and he took a deep breath and stepped through the back kitchen door.
“Carmen, I declare you’re outdoing—” He stopped short as Crystal, with her back to him, bent over the stove and muttered to herself, “A few minutes more . . .”
Carmen was nowhere to be seen. Several pies, cooling in the breeze, lined the windows. When Crystal turned she jumped. “Oh! I didn’t hear you come in,” she said, wiping her brow with a flour-covered hand. Her hair, damp from the heat of the stove, curled against the nape of her neck and at her temples. Her face was flushed a rosy pink, making her green eyes stand out under their thick lashes. She looked utterly domestic and feminine. She stood there fanning herself with the bottom corners of her spattered apron.
“If you’re looking for Carmen, I told her to take a rest. She’s been up since dawn cooking,” she said, dropping her apron. She walked over to the sink, sunk her arms up to the elbows in hot suds, and began washing pans.
“No, I wasn’t looking for Carmen.” He took a knife from the table and helped himself to a chunk of apple pie. It was delectable.
Crystal glanced over her shoulder, then flung the dishrag into the sink, sending suds and bubbles flying.
“What do you think you’re doing?” she yelled as his tongue flicked around his moustache, reaching for the remains of the pie. He gave her one of his incongruous grins, showing rows of small, even teeth.
“Carmen always lets me sample her fine cookin’. Boy! Every pie she cooks is better than the last one.”
He would have reached for another helping had Crystal allowed him to, but she popped him on the forearm with a dish towel and said, “Not another bite, Mr. Weber! Those are for the party, and since I’m in charge of the kitchen right now, I suggest you take your big paw off that pie.”
Luke spun around and caught her arm. “Since when did you start giving orders?” His arm stung from the dish towel. He wasn’t sure he liked this new Crystal.
“Since I started doing the dishes,” she retorted. He was standing so close that he could smell her lilac perfume, and he stared into her green eyes. She yanked her arm from his grasp, and he stepped aside to let her pass back to the stove, where black smoke was billowing out.
“Oh no! Now see what you made me do,” she cried as she flung open the oven door. With the end of her apron, she pulled the blackened pie out and howled as the heat went right through her apron. The pie fell to the floor, and she dropped in a heap next to it.
Luke leaned back his head and roared with laughter. “Seems the kitchen just isn’t your cup of tea. Here, let me help.” He reached down and took her hand. It was red and already forming a blister. It was so small and soft.
“Ouch!” She groaned and bit her bottom lip. She pulled her hand from his. “I can take care of it myself, Mr. Weber.”
“Call me Luke. Mr. Weber sounds too formal, kind of like your upbringing.”
“There’s nothing wrong with my upbringing,” Crystal said through clenched teeth.
“Well, I’ll bet you learned how to pour tea but not how to make it,” he teased her.
“I couldn’t care less what you think. It doesn’t affect me one way or the other.”
She got up and stepped to the pantry for a piece of muslin and a mop and bucket. Luke leaned against the table with his arms cr
ossed and his hat pushed back. Did he have to watch her? He always thought everything was funny. His dumb grin infuriated her. She wrapped the muslin around her hand and began scooping up the remains of the pie into the slop bucket. And still he watched, saying nothing.
“Mr. Weber, if you have nothing better to do than to stand around, maybe you’d like to take this out for me.” She thrust the slop bucket into his hand.
“I don’t do women’s work, but I guess that makes two of us.” He laughed, took the bucket, and strode from the room, his spurs jingling across the hardwood floor. Crystal attacked the floor with fury, muttering under her breath. Something about him made her feel inadequate. She wasn’t sure why. His manners were deplorable, yet he made her feel silly. She heard footsteps approaching again and steeled herself for his taunting.
The door opened and Kurt stuck his head in. “Mornin’, Miss Crystal.” Crystal straightened up, smoothed back her hair, and wiped her hands on her apron.
“Hello. I was just cleaning the floor. Seems I had a minor accident and burned my hand. Is there something I can do for you?”
Kurt looked at her with a twinkle in his eye and said, “Smells too good in here. Let me see your hand. What happened?” He reached for her hand, and she protested.
“It’s nothing, I guess. Just a little burn.” Ignoring her protest, he unwrapped her hand gingerly to see it anyway.
“At least it’s not very big, but I’ve got just the thing for it. I’ll go get it. You stay put.” He guided her to a kitchen chair and eased her into it.
Luke emptied the slop bucket and remembered the reason he went to the house in the first place. He made his way back across the yard to the kitchen door. He paused as he saw Kurt’s head bent over Crystal’s. She was smiling up at him and laughed as he held her hand and brushed her fingertips with a slight kiss.
Luke cleared his throat. “Don’t let me interrupt. These are for you, Miss Clark.” He tossed a small brown bag that landed in Crystal’s lap.
“What’s this?” Her brows knitted together with skepticism.
“It’s peppermint. Suck on it for that dry throat of yours.”
“If I didn’t know better, I’d say you’re trying to be nice for a change.” Crystal peered inside the bag and withdrew a piece of peppermint.
“Even a cow needs a salt lick.”
Crystal sputtered, “So now you are comparing me to a cow?” She jumped out of her chair and tapped her toe, her arms crossed defiantly.
Luke ignored her outburst and turned to Kurt. “Did you mend the fence I told you about?”
“Already done.” Kurt stuck his hands in his pants pockets and rocked back on his heels.
When Luke continued to stare at him, Kurt said, “Just going to run and get a little salve to put on that burn.”
“Don’t bother. I have something to put on it, but thank you, Kurt. You are most kind.” Crystal’s eyes rested on his dark ones.
Luke started back out. “You comin’, Kurt?”
“I’m right behind you,” he answered. He backed out of the room, still smiling at Crystal.
By the time Friday afternoon rolled around, everyone was filled with the excitement of having a good time just seeing their neighbors and catching up on the latest gossip. Carmen had hams slowly roasting on the spits and had explained to Crystal that they must cook for several hours. Curly had set up a few crude tables on one side of the barn and reserved the largest area for the dancing that would come later on.
Crystal walked down to Kate’s room to ask if there were any details they might have overlooked before getting dressed. After a thoughtful look, Kate shook her head no, but she wanted Crystal’s opinion on which dress to wear.
“I don’t wear too many dresses, so the pickin’is slim.” She laughed, her eyes twinkling.
Crystal nudged her aunt aside to peer into the big wardrobe. After rummaging around, she came up with a blue gown trimmed in cream lace at the throat and wrists.
“This is pretty and would bring out the blue in your eyes, Aunt Kate.”
“Funny, Rusty said as much the other day.” She took the dress off its hanger. “It’s been a long time since a man complimented me, and a long time since I even cared.” Her voice became softer, and Crystal followed her eyes to a framed daguerreotype of her uncle on top of the dresser.
Sensing the sadness that came over her aunt, Crystal remarked, “And about time too! It’s been more than six years since Uncle John’s death. You’re still a fine-looking woman with a lot of zip left in your step. Now slip this dress on and let me do your hair.”
Crystal prattled on and fussed over Kate’s thick hair. She pulled it into a soft bun at the top of her head, leaving a few curls dangling from her temples and the nape of her neck. Standing back to admire her handiwork, she admitted that Kate looked years younger. Crystal hurried to her room and brought back rouge that she applied to Kate’s cheeks, finishing with a sprinkling of powder.
“Rusty won’t recognize me.” Kate stared at her reflection in the mirror. Crystal leaned over and gave her aunt a hug, and they giggled conspiratorially.
“You’d better get changed, love,” Kate said. “Our guests will be arriving soon. I need to be there on the porch to greet them. Now scat! And thanks for your help.”
Crystal spent more time on her toilette than she had intended. There was a giddy feeling in the pit of her stomach. She wanted to impress Kate’s friends and wanted them to accept her. The sounds of wagon wheels and loud greetings told her she’d wasted enough time. She took one last look in the mirror and wiped her moist palms on the moss-colored gown.
“Miss Crystal, Kate sent me in to get you. Everyone wants to meet you.” Carmen stood at the doorway dressed in a festive red Mexican skirt trimmed in black ruffles with a matching top that hung off her shoulders. “You look beautiful. I have never owned a dress as fine as this.” She said in awe while fingering the luxurious material.
“Bless you. Maybe you’d like to borrow it sometime?”
“Oh, I couldn’t do that.”
“Sure you could. I wouldn’t mind at all. The color would be perfect with your dark complexion, although I love what you are wearing,” Crystal said.
Carmen’s eyes shone in admiration for her new friend. Crystal hooked her arm through Carmen’s elbow and said, “Shall we go?”
It was now dusk, and the lamps had been lit in the barn, casting a soft glow and transforming its surrounding lofts and stalls into a wide dance hall. Carmen’s culinary delights lined the tables alongside Crystal’s pies. A huge bowl of strawberry punch threatened to spill over.
Several people had already helped themselves to the punch and now stood about talking. Curly and Jube were the first in line to eat, as usual. They talked in soft tones about the available young women who stood in a close-knit group and pretended to ignore the men’s bashful glances.
Kurt stood talking with Rusty, whose arm was around Kate’s waist. Rusty listened, but he was busy watching Kate. “There’s Jim and Alice,” he interrupted.
Jim McBride escorted Alice to their side, followed by his son, Josh, and daughter, April. “My, you’re looking prettier than ever, Kate,” McBride said.
Kate greeted them with enthusiasm. “And both of you are looking fit as fiddles.”
“Evening, Rusty.” McBride stretched out his hand. It was obvious that Rusty had no kinship with McBride, but he stuck his hand out to him. McBride was one of the biggest cattle barons and was still trying to add more to his vast empire.
McBride let his hand fall to his waistcoat. Alice turned to admire Kate’s hair and inquire of Crystal. Alice was tall like her daughter, with the same fine, delicate features. April politely excused herself from the group of adults and headed in the direction of her friends.
“I wonder what’s keeping Crystal,” Kate said to no one in particular.
Kurt waved his hand in the direction of the barn’s entrance. “There she is,” he said, starting toward Crystal and
Carmen.
Crystal paused at the doorway. She was unaware of the admiring looks from the cowhands and the envious looks of the women. She was a picture of loveliness in the moss-colored gown, with her beautiful hair piled high and trailing curls touching her slender white shoulders.
As Crystal looked around for her aunt, the size of the party surprised her. The cowboys were cleaned up in their best pants and shirts, with boots shining. A place near the back had been cleared, and Rusty, along with a couple of older men she didn’t recognize, proceeded to set up their instruments for the evening’s music. Rusty picked up a fiddle and plunked out a fast-paced tune, while the others joined in with a guitar, harmonica, and a washboard. This was a side to Rusty that no one had told her about, and it tickled her heart. She stood tapping her toe to the beat, and he caught her eye, smiled back at her, and mouthed, “Thank you.” It was evident that he was pleased with Kate’s transformation tonight.
Jube swept up Carmen in the dance, and other couples entered the fun. Crystal felt a touch at her elbow, and Kurt led her into the midst of the dancers. He was a good dancer, much to her surprise.
He pulled her close to him and whispered, “You look ravishing, Miss Crystal.”
“Why, thank you.” She felt herself blushing.
“How’s the hand?”
“Much better, thank you,” she answered. She tried to keep her distance, but he pulled her closer. She was relieved when Josh tapped Kurt’s shoulder to cut in.
“You dance quite well, Miss Crystal. I’ve been watching you.” Josh’s brown eyes roamed over her and lingered below her neck. His stocky frame, hard as a rock, leaned closer to her until she could feel his legs pressing against her dress. It had been a long time since she had danced.
When she looked into his eyes, she had a funny feeling in the pit of her stomach. He wasn’t at all like the cowhands in manner or dress. He was very good-looking, his square jaw clean-cut. Without his hat he appeared shorter.
No Place for a Lady (Heart of the West Book #1): A Novel Page 5
