“We’ll let it dry in the sun all day tomorrow. I think it’s time to get some limestone to paint the walls. I need some timber for the roof and some lumber for the door. It would be easiest if we could unload most of the wagon,” Lee said.
Corinne agreed. They had not seen anyone since they had been there that might get into their supplies so, before night fell, they removed everything but the stove from the wagon, stacking it all neatly alongside the house and covering it carefully with the tarps. She had examined the dusty ground surrounding the site every morning but there was no sign of the hoof prints with the broken shoe. She wondered if perhaps it had stopped because Lee was on her land now.
While they sat on the boulders in the yard eating their supper Corinne pulled a small pouch from her boot.
“What will it cost us for the supplies tomorrow?” She pulled two crumpled bills from the pouch.
“I have money,” he said.
“I’m sure you do, but this is mine. I baked many pies for this house. Every time I rolled out dough or poured fillin’ I put some money away for this home. It’s what the money is for.”
“You have other things to spend it on that are also for the house. More interesting things than lumber and lime. That clay floor should dry smooth and hard. I’m even thinking another coat so it’s like a real floor. In the winter it will be cold and you’ll need rugs. And you mentioned curtains. What about a nice folding clothes rack for the hearth?”
Corinne frowned. “Those things would be nice, of course. Rugs. I wanted rugs when Dustin was on the floor, and this floor will be so much nicer. But,” she shook her head. “I can’t ask you to buy anythin’. You’re doin’ enough.”
“Another pie,” he said. “Make me more pies.”
“Oh really? How many?” Corinne chuckled.
“I’ll take a lifetime of pies for all of this.” Highland stood up, took her empty plate and walked towards the creek.
Corinne watched him walking away. A lifetime of pies? Like a debt?
Chapter Fifty-Nine
As they rode through what had once been a simple encampment along the western line of the Unassigned Lands, Corinne was astounded at the building that had taken place. On the outskirts of the fort homes and businesses were rising up on the dry, flat plains. Amid the noise of the hammers and the saws were the voices of people. Hundreds of people who were the settlers of this new land. They traded and bartered, loading wagons and bustling from shop to shop. There were barbershops and general stores, hardware stores and blacksmith shops. She leaned into Lee and pointed to a lumberyard. The whistle of an arriving train sounded in the distance.
Lee considered his order, while the lumberman pointed out different woods suitable for a sturdy front door. They shopped in the hardware store and the mercantile. Corinne saw many things she wanted and needed. There were people selling fat, colorful hens and heavy sows, mules and horses and beasts of burden. Before their excursion ended the wagon was again filled with supplies. Both Corinne and Lee knew that getting a roof on the dwelling would be a priority before the next rain.
While Corinne explored a growing farmer’s market Lee rode to the fort for clean clothes.
Tupper Hawkins watched the pair from the doorway of the grocery store. Under his arm he held a thin package of dried ham. He’d seen them loading their wagon and now he knew who the man was that rode with her. It was that same cavalry officer only he was out of uniform. He was sure now that he had been right all along. She was claiming land for the officer. While he and his family starved they had plotted against him and every other settler with their scheming.
When he saw Highland leave he walked up behind her.
“Still say you weren’t claimin’ land for that lieutenant?”
Corinne turned to face him.
“You have no cause to be speakin’ to me,” Corinne replied.
“I see he’s livin’ out at your claim. Workin’ it too. He oughta be hung for being a sooner,” Hawkins hissed.
“You know nothin’ about it. Worry about your own land, it looks like it could use some cleanin’ up.” Corinne walked away briskly.
“Lieutenant!” A young soldier stepped from Lee’s quarters and saluted in surprise. “I was returning your clean uniforms, sir.”
“I won’t be staying,” Lee said, returning the salute. “I’m simply picking up a few things.”
The lad followed him inside and set a stack of papers on the table.
“What are those?” Lee asked as he changed into a fresh white shirt.
The enlisted man handed one to the officer. Lee read the paper quickly:
Washita River Country Fair
July 6-7, 1889
Fort Reno Pavilion
Games, Races, Hayrides
Rodeo
Flea Circus
Music both days at the bandstand
Contests including:
Confections
Preserves
Pies and pie eating
Fun for the whole family!
“Pavilion?” Lee said.
“Not yet, sir,” the young soldier said. They’re building it out past the dining hall. A bandstand too!” It was clear he was excited.
“Do you know who I would talk to sign up for these contests?”
“Planning on eating some pie, sir?”
“In a manner of speaking,” the lieutenant responded.
“At the livery. They’ve got a list there, sir.”
“Thank you.” Lee walked quickly back towards the town.
“Here’s the woman’s name who’s handlin’ the contests,” the proprietor at the livery explained. “She’s buildin’ that place down the end there. Goin’ to be a big ol’ hotel. She says that the best pie maker gets a contract with her for her restaurant. I hear women are comin’ from all over to get into that contest. I expect there’ll be some good eatin’ that day!”
The lieutenant thanked the man and looked for Corinne among the market stalls.
Chapter Sixty
Lee Highland flipped the paper back and forth in front of Corinne in the market as he tried to explain about the hotel. Unable to make out anything that was written on the sheet, Corinne finally took it from him and read it slowly. He read it as well, aloud, and Corinne was not surprised that he read so well and so easily. As she took time sounding out some of the words it finally dawned on her what he was trying to say.
“This is perfect, right?” He looked at her expectantly.
“I need to find this woman,” Corinne said eagerly.
Lee directed her to the end of the street towards the work site the livery man had indicated. Among the men building the structure stood a stout woman in a dusty apron.
“Excuse me,” Highland said, stepping up to the woman. “Who might we see regarding the contests for the upcoming fair?”
“That would be me, Miss Paula Mulch.” She put out her hand and greeted Corinne and the lieutenant warmly. “Aren’t y’all a fine lookin’ couple? What can I do for y’all?”
Corinne looked up to Lee quickly and then back to Miss Paula. “I’d like to know about the pie contest,” she said.
“Bakin’ or eatin’?”
“Bakin’,” Corinne replied eagerly.
“Contest will be the mornin’ of the seventh, Sunday. Eleven on the dot. Pies have to be in by nine o’clock that mornin’. Your pie can be fruit, nut, cream or custard, sugar, or meat and vegetable.”
Corinne listened closely while Lee pulled a pen from his pocket and took notes on the handbill.
“The awards to go Best Lookin’, Best Crust, Best Fillin’ and Best in Show.” Miss Paula went on. “There’s a hand carved rollin’ pin, a fancy pastry cutter from Germany and an apron which will be embroidered with the winner’s name. Oh, and ribbons and twenty five dollars for grand prize winners and one hundred dollars for the winner of Best in Show. Best in Show I’ll want for my hotel here and the winner gets a fair contract.”
“Can I enter more
than one category?” Corinne asked eagerly.
“How many are you thinkin’?” Miss Paula asked.
“All of them,” Corinne replied confidently.
“You bake that well?” She eyed Corinne suspiciously.
“She does,” Highland responded assuredly.
Miss Paula chuckled a hearty belly laugh. “You,” she pointed to Lee. “I learned a long time ago never to listen to a man as good-lookin’ as you. But you,” she turned to Corinne, “you look like me many years ago, before I ate my own pies,” she laughed. “You want to get in all the categories then I’ll sign you up right here and now.”
Corinne nodded eagerly.
“How about you, handsome?” Miss Paula asked Highland as she waited for Corinne to fill out the forms. “Getting’ in on the pie eatin’ contest? I’m making two dozen of my best berry pies just for the occasion!”
Lee looked down at his fresh white shirt. “No, thank you,” he said.
Corinne could not help but laugh.
“If I ever see you with berry pie all over your face I’ll have to change my mind about you, Lieutenant.” Corinne giggled as Lee helped her into the wagon and they headed back to the claim.
Chapter Sixty-One
Corinne tossed another shovelful of earth over the back of the dugout house, pushed back her hat and wiped her arm across her brow. Over the days following the trip to town she and Lee had put down another layer of adobe on the floor, built a roof and finished all the walls. Lee had planned an artistic design with bricks around the front opening and was building the door in the yard. Corinne finished leveling out the hill that would protect the home. It would shelter the structure in heat and cold and wind. It would also likely survive a tornado far better than many of the homes they had seen being built on the prairie. They filled in the mixing area with grass and lime and horse manure and leveled it neatly. Not far from the residence they had constructed a tidy adobe coop which now housed three fat hens and past the garden stood an upright outhouse. All of the walls of the dwelling had been washed in a thin layer of lime and dried in the warm sun to a fresh chalky white.
Corinne shoved in a fat daffodil bulb and tossed down another shovelful of dirt. In the spring the hill would be a colorful display of flowers with the snug home tucked beneath it.
Once Lee finished the door Corinne wanted to go inside and sweep out the house. They had decided to move in the next morning.
“I think we’ll be finished tomorrow. The floor is completely dry,” Lee said. “We can set up the stove.”
“I can’t tell you how excited I am,” Corinne said.
“You can sleep under your own roof and plan your pies for the contest next month. You can move in!”
Corinne knew that it would not be long before he needed to be back at the fort. She was tired of sleeping in the tiny tent and dreamed about once again sleeping in her own bed. She was certain Lee had had enough of his tent as well. He’d worked hard and it wouldn’t be right for him to have to stay in his tent every night.”
“You know, there’s plenty of space with that other room we built. I’m sure you’d like to get out of your tent as well.” Corinne tried to sound casual.
Lee looked up at her seriously over his meal. “I’ll stay in my tent,” he said.
“Don’t be silly,” she said. “What kind of a friend makes her friend sleep in the yard? We’ll spend the night inside. That’s it.” Corinne began to realize how much she would miss him when his leave was over and she knew the time was fast approaching. While they worked she had distractions every day and the contest would keep her mind busy as well, but she knew it would not fill all her thoughts.
She planted the last of the bulbs and carefully stepped down the back of the hill. For several days she could not shake the memory of Tupper Hawkins’ words from her mind. She was certain that Lee had not sent her to claim land for him, she knew that would have been wrong. Everything she knew about Lee told her it was something he would never have done but she wondered if anyone else saw it that way. If he moved into the house and out of his tent she supposed it could be seen that way.
“Well?” Lee leaned the door up against the front of the building. It was heavy and solidly built with cutouts for sturdy hinges.
“It’s perfect!” Corinne ran her hands along the smooth edges. Even if the crazy notion that he was using her was true she had never seen a man work so hard for anything. Corinne let the thought pass from her mind.
“Let’s get that stove moved,” he said looking out over the prairie.
Corinne saw three burly soldiers approaching in the distance.
“When did you arrange this?” Corinne put her hands on her hips.
“While I was at the fort. I’m glad we got that floor done in time. I’ve got the stove pipe in. I can get the brick in around the door before dark and the door hung and tomorrow we can move it all in.”
Corinne could not believe how much he had done.
“You’re amazin’,” she said softly.
Chapter Sixty-Two
Corinne waved to the men with fond appreciation as they rode back to the fort and then hurried into the house to examine the range. The big stove stood magnificent against the smooth whitewashed adobe walls with a wide hearth spreading out beneath it. Hiking up her skirt, Corinne gathered her matches and a twist of paper and shoved them into the wood box. She checked each damper and lit the paper, waiting to see if the chimney would draw. The paper flamed up and the draft pulled the smoke swiftly up and away. The draw would be even better with a hot stove.
Lee walked in and leaned in the doorway watching her with the stove. It was massive. He saw her on her hands and knees checking the draft. Then she lit more pieces of paper, closed the wood box and crawled around on the floor examining the stove carefully.
“What are you looking for?” he asked.
“Cracks,” she responded. “If there’s a crack in the wood box we could burn to the ground.”
“I doubt that,” he said, “considering that the place is mostly mud.”
Corinne paid him no mind and continued to examine the stove.
Lee watched her. Her hair was tangled and now her arm was black with soot, as well as her nose, he noticed when she turned towards him. He envied her casual ease. She was stunning and beautiful and yet entirely unaware that anyone saw that in her. Even after digging on the hill most of the afternoon he could see that the soldiers that had moved the stove were distracted.
After years of being in uniform and conscientious about his appearance, he hated being dirty. Sometimes he’d change his shirt several times a day. He decided to go down to the pool in the creek after dinner. He was beginning to get uncomfortable watching Corinne’s backside as she crawled around the stove so he walked outside.
He checked the door hinges and gathered his tools. When he dropped his hammer onto his boot he cursed under his breath.
Every day it was worse, he thought. He really enjoyed helping Corinne build the house. He felt proud and accomplished like he never had before, and the more he enjoyed building a home, the less he wanted to return to military life. Lee Highland had served long enough and he only had a couple of months left. He knew the captain wanted him to take his leave, get the restlessness out of his system and come back ready to command but this time it was different. There were other things as well. There was Corinne.
As each day passed he watched her grow more comfortable with him. She’d laugh and touch his arm, and twice she had casually kissed him on the cheek. Lee hoped for much more but he could not figure out how she felt. Sometimes they were as easy together as old friends, maybe even as a man and his wife, he thought. Other times, usually when she could see that he wanted her, she’d stiffen and walk away. His hunger and impatience for her did not help him. There were times when she would laugh just right or tousle his hair while they were working and he wanted to just take her. To grab her and pull her to him, to make her see him, to make her see how he felt.<
br />
Lee remembered what happened when he decided to let Anita know how he felt. He knew he could not bear Corinne shutting him down. Her family had said to be patient, but Lee Highland was beginning to feel that his time was running out. Soon he’d be back at the fort. Would she miss him? Just enjoy his visits? Simply go on with her life?
He really liked the house they had built, but it wasn’t about the place. It was about her.
Lee lifted the door and set it in the opening to measure.
“Hey!” she said from the other side. “Are you tryin’ to keep me captive in here?”
Highland entertained the idea before moving the door aside and letting her out.
Corinne looked up and saw the expression in his eyes. For several seconds she stood looking back at him. She felt her hands shake slightly and she walked away.
Chapter Sixty-Three
Plunging the clothing into the water, Corinne scrubbed a shirt viciously in the tub in the yard. Laundry was good, she thought, for venting anger. Corinne hated doing the wash.
Lee watched her from the corner of his eye while he hung the door and set the remaining bricks along the doorjamb. Was she that angry because she’d seen the way he looked at her? If she knew how he felt about her maybe they could just get on with things. If she just wasn’t so afraid all the time. Lee growled under his breath. Maybe he should just say it, just tell her and be done with it. He tested the door and it swung easily in the opening.
Corinne looked up from her assault on the shirt and saw more than the house they had built, she saw a home. With the door swinging closed it suddenly was no longer just a building. It looked so much cozier. The picture of the house grew blurry as her eyes filled with tears. Corinne swallowed hard and stepped up next to Lee as he admired the lodging.
Piecrust Promise Page 15
