Crystal noted the clouds to the west. Would she soon be seeing her first snowfall?
“I reckon you and April will be starting your own ranch pretty soon?” She hadn’t meant to be so blunt. But she wanted to know if they had set their wedding date without too much prying, lest she appear too concerned about it. “Guess I’ll have to ask Rusty to be my foreman to run things around here after you’re married.”
Luke stepped back from the porch and straightened his hat. “We’ll see . . .” His voice trailed off, and he changed the subject. “I’ll go get Jube started on the firewood. You can’t ever have enough wood.” He headed back in the direction of the barn, motioning to Jube.
Crystal leaned back in her chair and finished her coffee. He had been very vague, but then it was not her business to be asking personal questions.
She was happy for Jube and Emily. She remembered their small but happy ceremony right after the trail drive. Emily had looked lovely in her mother’s wedding dress, an antique white lace gown. With trailing ribbons in her hair, which had been braided to encircle her head, she’d made a striking vision and seemed to float down the aisle of the country church to join her beloved Jube at the altar. Crystal smiled, remembering their spoken vows and the tenderness in Jube’s eyes.
A big gust of wind whipped up again, sending the fallen leaves scattering across the yard. Sometimes she felt like those leaves, with no idea where she was going to end up. She knew she loved this place, but was it a good idea to stay without a partner to care about? Without someone who came home every night to spend the long winter evenings with her? Longing for someone to love pierced her heart. I know, God, that You have Your own timetable, but is there someone out there for me?
Crystal and Carmen had just cleaned the kitchen after lunch when there was a sharp knock at the door. “I’ll get it, Crystal.” Carmen threw open the door and there, with the wind whipping around her skirts, was Emily.
“Come in, Emily.” Carmen pulled her through the door, closed it against the wind, and led Emily into the parlor. Crystal was right behind Carmen.
“You look marvelous, Emily,” Carmen said as Emily removed her coat.
Emily’s face was pink from the wind. She pulled off her gloves, laid them aside, and said, “I just couldn’t wait another minute to tell you, Crystal.” Emily’s eyes flashed with excitement.
“I’ll leave you two alone.” Carmen started toward the kitchen, but Emily stopped her.
“No, Carmen. I want you to stay.” Emily patted the settee and motioned them to take a seat.
“My goodness. Hurry, tell us,” Crystal said.
Emily sat between them and took a deep breath. “Jube and I are going to have a baby!”
“Oh my! How exciting!” Crystal reached over and hugged Emily. “I’m so happy for you two.”
“We weren’t expecting to have a baby quite this soon, but . . . we’re so happy. Although I have to admit I am a little nervous.” Emily looked down at her hands, rubbing them together for warmth.
Carmen’s eyes were wide with happiness, and she patted Emily’s hand. “This is wonderful. I too am happy for you. I helped deliver my sister’s baby, if you need a midwife.”
“Thank you, Carmen, but I went to see Dr. Gibbons in town, so hopefully it won’t take him long to get to me when the time comes.”
Crystal could tell from Carmen’s expression that she was pleased to be a part of this news, and she said, “And Jube never said a word to me this morning.”
“He knew I wanted to be the first to tell you. Mama is already starting to knit baby booties.”
They all laughed. Over cookies and milk, they continued to talk with excitement about everything concerning a baby. Finally Emily said that she had to get back to the cabin. Crystal had offered her and Jube the line shack that the cowboys used during the winter until they could build a cabin next spring.
“A baby will be a wonderful change around here, Emily. Once again, I am tickled for you and Jube.” Crystal hooked her arm in Emily’s and walked with her outside. “When your time gets close, you must stay either with your mother or with me. It’ll be a lot closer than the line cabin.”
“Oh, I couldn’t do that . . .” Emily pulled herself into the wagon and picked up the reins.
“I insist. But that’s a long way off right now.”
While they had been visiting, the temperature had dropped like a rock, and now the blue-gray clouds were low and threatening. Crystal tucked a blanket around Emily’s feet.
“Now we have two to take care of. I don’t want you to catch cold, Emily. Take good care of yourself, and I’ll see you soon.”
“I promise to do just that. Jube is being so sweet that I don’t know if I can stand it.” Emily giggled, her curls bouncing against the top of her shoulders.
Crystal waved good-bye as the first October snowflake touched her cheek. Surprised, she stuck out her tongue and tasted the next one. In Georgia, snow was not a common winter experience, but sometimes they had a January ice storm. She shivered when she remembered the bad blizzard of’87 that Rusty had told her about. She pulled the coat tighter around her and watched the snowflakes dropping out of heavy, gray clouds.
By supper time, the snow clung to the ponderosa pine boughs with its first dusting and covered the porch steps. Carmen had stew simmering, and Crystal kept a nice fire glowing in the grate. Rusty, Luke, and Kurt shook the snow off their coats and stomped their feet on the porch before entering the house.
“Soon as supper is over, I’ll clear you a path out the front door, Crystal,” Luke said, hanging his coat on a peg by the door.
“I’m glad we got the wood cut today,” Rusty commented to no one in particular. He took his seat at the table. “Just in case we might get more than a few inches tonight. Looks like it’s startin’to come down heavy now.”
Once everyone was seated, Crystal asked the blessing, and Carmen proceeded to ladle out steaming stew. Crystal had made cornbread from a recipe she found in her aunt’s cookbook. She hoped it would taste good, but from the looks of these hungry men, they wouldn’t slow down eating long enough to find out.
She looked around and felt a warm coziness in the camaraderie they all had sitting at the table, with the snow falling continuously and casting its peculiar light in the toasty dining room. While everyone ate, they talked about the day’s events, and Crystal noticed how Kurt and Carmen sat close together but not touching. Once or twice, Crystal felt Luke’s eyes on her, but when she glanced down the table at him, he grinned. She wished she knew what he was thinking. Her heart would just have to get over him.
“Why don’t we sit around the fire after supper and play checkers? What do you think, Crystal? Or would you rather have us just go back to the bunkhouse?” Rusty stuffed the cornbread into his mouth and then wiped his red beard. “With Kate gone, it sure is nice to be around two lovely ladies.”
Carmen laughed. “Rusty, sounds to me like you don’t want to go back to that cold bunkhouse.”
“Doggone straight.”
Everyone laughed, and Carmen started clearing the plates. Kurt rose to help Carmen carry the dishes to the sink.
“Let’s go sit by the fire. Are there any of those cookies left, Carmen?” Crystal asked as she stood.
“I think there may be a few. Kurt and I will bring them with some fresh coffee. Just let me get the dishes soaking in the sink.”
Once comfortable by the fire, Rusty and Luke set up the checkerboard. After a few rounds, it was obvious that Luke couldn’t beat Rusty, who was an old pro at the game of checkers. Carmen and Kurt carried a tray of cookies and hot coffee to the parlor.
“I think this would be a good time for Crystal to get out her Autoharp and play us some tunes,” Luke said. “What do you all think?” Everyone chimed in with eagerness to hear Crystal play. “Oh . . . all right.” She blushed. “But it’s been awhile.”
“Quit making excuses.” Luke settled down in his chair to get comfortable.
/> Crystal fetched her Autoharp from the bedroom and began to play. She caught Luke watching her as she sang and played, but she looked away. His look made her nervous somehow.
Kurt dragged Carmen to her feet, and they danced around the big room while Rusty clapped to the beat of the music. When Crystal finally stole a glance at Luke, he was smiling broadly and tapping the toe of his worn boot against the hardwood floor.
Luke thought he was looking into the face of an angel as Crystal strummed the Autoharp with her slender fingers. The firelight created soft shadows on her sweet, oval face, and she appeared to be lost in thought as she sang. When the time was right, he would tell her that he had broken off his engagement to April. He wasn’t sure what to say. This morning he’d hedged when she asked him about the wedding plans. But the scene he had with April was still fresh in his mind, and he didn’t want to talk about it.
Ever since the pie bidding at the bazaar, he realized that he didn’t love April and didn’t like the way she tried to lead him around by the nose. Because her father was an important and wealthy man, April seemed to think that everyone should fall all over her. She was spoiled by her father. The deal he’d struck with McBride about owning the land near Blue River didn’t seem all that important anymore.
At any rate, he racked his brain about how to tell Crystal that he owned the ranch and she didn’t. Luke didn’t want to hurt her. Once he told her, she would probably pack up and head back South. But he didn’t want her to leave. Just the opposite. He wanted Crystal to stay here, and now that he sat here watching her sing in her sweet, lyrical voice, he found himself wanting to kiss her. He wondered if she felt anything about him in that way. Sometimes women were hard for him to figure.
Luke wondered where things stood between Crystal and Josh McBride. He can’t have her! his mind screamed. But I might not have anything to say about that. What if Crystal loved Josh? Well, he’d wait for the time being and see how it would all play out.
His ruminating was interrupted by everyone’s applause at Crystal’s music. It was time to get to bed, and he was tired. It had been a long day. He thought of Jube, who had left earlier and was clearly eager to get back to Emily, now pregnant with their child. One day he hoped to have children. It would be nice if Crystal would be his wife. Now where did that come from?
His breathing felt tight as he watched her put away the Autoharp. Everyone shuffled to the door, and the men donned their coats to leave. Carmen opened the door, and the bitter chill entered the room. “The snow is getting thick now.”
“At least the wind has died down. I’ll bring in another stack of wood so you’ll have it in the morning.” Luke pulled his hat on, ran his hand around the brim as was his habit, and stepped out onto the snow-covered porch.
Rusty was already making his way across the yard to the bunkhouse. Kurt and Carmen were saying good night. Kurt leaned down and gave Carmen a peck on the cheek, and Luke saw a deep flush come over Carmen’s face.
Crystal walked to the door and looked out. It was as if some magical fairy had sprinkled fine confectioner’s powder on the entire world. “Oh . . . it’s so beautiful.”
“Good night, all.” Kurt headed out. “Stay warm now.”
“Good night.” Carmen turned to Crystal. “I’m going to go work on those dishes I left soaking.” She headed in the direction of the kitchen.
Luke carried in a stack of logs and placed them by the fireplace, then turned to Crystal. “Anything else you need, just holler. I have a feeling it will snow all night long.”
“Thanks, Luke. We had a good time just the five of us, didn’t we?” Standing this close to him, Crystal felt her heart thumping wildly in her chest.
“It was a fine evening. Good way to start the winter off.”
“Luke, I didn’t receive the invitation list from April yet for the shower. Will you be seeing her, or do I need to just ride over there and pick the list up?”
Luke pursed his thin lips into a straight line. He shifted from one hip to the other and shoved his hands in his coat pockets. “That’s something I wanted to talk to you about.” He cleared his throat. “Me and April just don’t seem to see eye to eye . . . The wedding’s been called off.”
His eyes searched hers. Crystal wanted to jump up and down, but she remained outwardly unfazed. “Oh . . . Luke, I am sorry. Do you care to talk about it?”
“Let’s just put it this way—we want different things in life. I want a family, and that’s not what she wants. She’s too enamored with material things and what she can get with her name to give any thought to raising a family. April likes to be in charge of almost everything. Besides, I’m not too crazy about living with her mother and daddy. I guess that piece of land near the Blue River will never belong to me now.” His face showed more relief than sadness, which surprised Crystal.
She held his blue eyes with a steady look. “I’m sorry.” Her palms felt moist.
“You already said that.”
“But I mean it. I know how it feels when you plan for your marriage and then decide that it’s not the right thing for you.”
Luke shot her a quizzical look. “Does this have anything to do with that feller Drew?”
“How do you know about him?”
“That night after the tornado, you called out his name a few times while you were unconscious.”
“I did? I must have been talking out of my head.” Crystal was embarrassed. “Well . . . it seems that once I came here, he lost no time in finding someone to replace me.”
“No, he’s the one who must have lost his senses.” Luke still stood an arm’s length away, and Crystal found herself wanting to touch the bronze face that held genuine concern for her.
“I’d like to think so.” She wondered if he was feeling this strong attraction she was experiencing or if he was just being nice. Then she remembered his kiss the day she’d been crying, and she felt a tingle flow over her just at the thought.
“What about Josh?”
His question startled Crystal. She hadn’t given much thought to Josh in a while, even though she liked him. “What about him?”
Luke hesitated. “Well, I guess I was just wondering if you two are an item. He seems to like you, Crystal.”
Crystal thought a moment before answering. “Are you asking as a friend, or because you’d like to court me?” Oh boy, now I’ve gone and done it. He’s going to think I’m brazen and bold.
“Could be I’d like to know where I stand.” He moved closer to her and lifted her hand. “I don’t want to waste any more time than I already have. I think you have feelings for me too, unless I’m misreading you. And yes, I’d like to see more of you than just across from the supper table.”
Crystal felt her heart miss a beat. Her hopes had been dashed when he became engaged to April. Now here he was caressing her hand with his thumb, and she couldn’t think straight. Her hand felt small and helpless in his large one. Her tongue felt thick and dry, and she swallowed the lump in her throat before answering.
“Luke, are you sure it’s over between you and April? I never wanted to get in the way of you two.” Crystal was still skeptical about his true motives. Until the trail drive, he had always treated her like someone to joke around with but not be serious with.
“Trust me. It’s definitely over. And it’s for the best, believe me. I think you stole my heart that very first day you arrived, but I just didn’t want to believe it. It was me that placed those columbines on your nightstand.” Luke’s voice was husky as he locked eyes with Crystal. Her heart slammed against her chest. She had just assumed the flowers were from Kate.
Luke’s manly scent, mingled with soap and aftershave, was making it hard for her to breathe. At that very moment, Carmen walked in, and Luke dropped Crystal’s hand and stepped aside. Crystal’s face flushed, but Carmen politely announced that she was going to bed and then left them alone again, for which Crystal was grateful.
“You think about what I said,” Luke said. “I b
est be going. I’ll check on you first thing in the morning, in case the snow gets worse.”
He opened the door, and snow blew in and sprinkled the hallway floor. She watched him fade into the swirling whiteness until she could no longer see him. Crystal felt her heart beat wildly in her chest. He does care about me, her heart sang as she twirled around the room. She could hardly believe it. Luke really liked her, Crystal Clark!
Abruptly she stopped dancing and came to her senses. Something was nagging her. Isn’t this what she wanted? Yes, she believed he was attracted to her, but what about his wanting the ranch? Maybe that was what he wanted most of all. Another thing—he’s not a believer. She could still hear her mother’s voice telling her not to become unequally yoked with an unbeliever.
But I don’t know for a fact that he isn’t, she reasoned with herself. He did attend church, and he did have good morals. But that’s all she knew. She just needed to slow down and take this one day at a time, even though her heart was saying something different.
Fingers of ice had formed on the window when Crystal peeked out the next morning, and snow was still gently falling, covering everything in its sight. The outdoors was as dazzling as the bright morning light that broke through the snow-laden clouds.
Crystal had had a hard time going to sleep after Luke shared his heart with her the night before. To think that he had liked her all this time. Still, she wondered why he had not declared that until after she owned Aspengold. Maybe I’m not being fair about this, she thought, but the nagging idea stayed with her until she finally fell asleep.
In the morning she slipped on her heavy robe and slippers to start a fire in the main room. She could hear Carmen moving around in the kitchen, and Crystal could smell fresh coffee brewing. Once the fire was going, she stood warming her outstretched hands when Carmen entered with a cup of coffee. She was already dressed for the day with several layers of clothing.
“You are too good to me, Carmen.” She gratefully accepted the cup.
No Place for a Lady (Heart of the West Book #1): A Novel Page 20
