Chapter 16
After dinner, Wyatt got ready to go to town and Edwina walked with him to the front porch. He looked at the little boy in his arms and said, “I’ll be back later, son. You take care of Mama while I’m gone.”
“Ma-ma.”
Edwina beamed and reached for him. “We’ll see you this evening, then.”
“Yes. I should be back by supper.”
“I’ll look forward to you getting home. We’ll have supper together.”
“They should have Adam’s room ready for the furniture by then. Dad said they were even getting my old Crib out of the attic for him so I won’t be buying a bed. We’ll do that when he outgrows the crib.”
“I like the idea of Adam sleeping in your crib.”
“Actually, so do I.”
“Then we’ll be a real family, won’t we, Wyatt?”
“Absolutely.” He put his arm around her and pulled her close. Giving her a passionate kiss, he whispered against her lips, “A family for the rest of our lives.”
“Da.”
“Yes, Adam. Daddy wouldn’t forget you.” He kissed the top of his son’s head and patted his back.
Edwina watched as he turned and headed to the barn. In a little while, the wagon pulled out and turned toward the road to town. She moved to the line of rocking chairs on the porch and sat in one. “All right, young man, let’s see how fast Mama can rock you to sleep. You’ve had a busy day and no morning nap. You must be exhausted.”
Adam wiggled for only moments, then snuggled against his mother’s neck. A short time later, he was sound asleep.
Edwina rocked and looked out across the expanse of land before her. She knew her husband owned it as far as she could see, but what Wyatt owned wasn’t what was important to her. She’d always been easy to please with small material things, but she’d craved and wanted human touch and love. Now she’d found it in her husband and the father of her son. No woman could ask for more.
Her mind went back to the last time she’d been hugged before Wyatt came into her life. She was almost ten years old and her mother and father were leaving on the trip to pursue one of his dreams that she knew would never take place. Not as long as he continued to drink as much as he did. This time it was to establish his store in Atlanta. She wanted to go with them, but they decided she needed to stay in Richmond with her mother’s sister. She agreed, though Aunt Rachel was a spinster and knew nothing about little girls. To Edwina, her stay with her aunt was void of any fun and she didn’t have any contact with other children her age.
Tragedy struck while she was there. Aunt Rachel was going down the winding stairs in her large Victorian home. She hooked her heel in the hem of her dress and lost her balance. She tumbled head over heels, landing at the foot of the steps. Edwina tried to help her up, but it was no use. The doctor came and said she probably died before she hit the floor. Her neck was broken.
This death wasn’t the end of that terrible month. On the way home for the funeral, Edwina’s parents were caught in a severe thunderstorm in the Shenandoah Valley. Their horse and buggy was struck by lightening, killing them both instantly.
Though Hezekiah and Callie Thorn didn’t have children of their own, and had no idea of what to do with a ten-year-old girl, they wouldn’t hear of her going to an orphanage. After the funeral, she moved into their small house in Richmond. Because Hezekiah was her daddy’s brother, she expected her life to be a lot like it had been with her parents. But that didn’t happen. Hezekiah didn’t drink, but she often thought living with him was harder than living with her daddy. Life was bitter and there was never any fun to be had. There were many times in the coming years Edwina wished they’d let her go into an orphanage.
The front door opened and Rosalinda came out. “Looks like little Adam has given in and gone to sleep. Do you want me to put him down?”
“He’s fine for the moment. Sometimes I like to sit and hold him while he sleeps.”
“I can understand that. He’s such a cuddly little thing.”
Edwina smiled. “Do you have any children, Rosalinda?”
“We have a daughter, but she fell in love with a Spanish nobleman who was visiting the west. I thought she’d get over him after he went back to Spain, but she didn’t. He didn’t get over her either. A year after he left here, he came back and they were married. She lives in Spain now, but she writes to us.” Rosalinda sighed. “I doubt I’ll ever see her again.”
“Oh, you shouldn’t say that. I’m sure she’ll visit sometime, or you’ll go to Spain.”
Rosalinda laughed. “No, we’ll never do that. Juan says there’s no way he’ll ever trust a boat to cross the ocean.”
“At least she’s alive. There’s no one left in my family who cares about me.”
“What about the uncle and aunt you lived with?”
Edwina shook her head. “They care the least of anyone. They only wanted to use me, but I managed to get away.”
“Oh, honey, I’m so sorry.”
“It doesn’t matter now. I have Wyatt and Adam and Ben and you and Juan. I don’t need anyone else.” Before Rosalinda could answer, Edwina went on, “Adam’s getting hot here in my arms. I think I’ll let you put him down after all.”
* * * *
Wyatt came out of Anderson’s General Store and helped Jerome Anderson fasten down the small wardrobe and dresser in the back of the wagon. Oleen followed them out and handed Wyatt the brown paper-wrapped package.
“Tell your wife how much I enjoyed meeting her at the dance, Wyatt. She’s a lovely woman and she was so friendly.”
“She enjoyed meeting folks, too. Why don’t you and Jerome come for a visit when you have a day off? Maybe some Sunday afternoon and stay for supper?” Wyatt had always liked the Andersons and he felt Oleen would make a good friend for Edwina. “Of course, Teresa’s invited, too.”
“That sounds wonderful. We’ll see if we can’t work it out.”
Thourgood Reeson came down the street and paused beside the wagon. “Hello, Singleton. Looks like you’re buying furniture.”
“Looks like it.”
Ignoring Wyatt’s sharp answer, Thourgood said, “I have a little business I need to discuss with you, Wyatt. If you’ll go into the café and have a cup of coffee, it’d save me a trip to your ranch.”
“I don’t have a problem with that.” Wyatt didn’t want to say he’d rather meet with Reeson here instead of at the ranch.
Bidding goodbye to the Andersons, Wyatt followed Thourgood to the Canary Cage Café. The restaurant was one of two in Cool Wood, and though it didn’t have the best food, it was often busy. The food was cheap and the place was clean. They just seemed to have a problem with their cook. Hattie Goldfield had cooked there for years. Though her sight was failing and she tended to over-season or forget to season most of her meals, she refused to quit and turn the job over to anyone else.
When they stepped into the restaurant, they seated themselves at a table near the side of the room. Because it was mid-afternoon the place was almost deserted. There was a couple at a table near the back who seemed lost in each other. Wyatt knew things would change when the afternoon stage arrived if there were passengers.
“Coffee and pie for us both,” Thourgood said when the tired-looking waitress approached them.
Wyatt wasn’t interested in pie, but he wasn’t going to argue. He wanted to get this meeting over with so he could go home.
Chapter 17
The evening sun left streaks of red, pink and orange splattered across a purple sky as Wyatt pulled the wagon up in front of the house. Edwina sat in her favorite rocking chair with a sleeping Adam in her arms. She looked serene and happy when she gave him a wide smile. “Hello,” she mouthed to him, so not to wake the baby.
He nodded and forced himself to smile back at her. As he looked at the woman who claimed to be his wife, he couldn’t see any doubt or greed in her eyes. She looked at him with as much love as she had when he’d left for town. Could
he have been so wrong about her? Wyatt was always good at judging people. He didn’t think there was any way she could fool him by pretending the feelings of love she showed him last night. And what about Adam? If she didn’t really love the child, could she spend most of her days cooing and playing with him? Tonight, wouldn’t she have put him to bed ages ago instead of sitting here and holding him as if he were the most important child in the world to her? Something didn’t add up, but sooner or later he would get to the bottom of it. He was sure of that.
He leaned down and whispered, “I’ll get Juan to help me set up Adam’s new furniture, then you can put him down.”
“Aren’t you hungry?”
“I’ll eat later. I want to get this done.”
“All right.”
He kissed the top of her head quickly and headed into the house to find Juan.
When he came out to get the furniture from the wagon, Edwina and Adam were nowhere in sight. He shrugged and moved to the wagon.
It didn’t take long for them to put the furniture in place. Rosalinda appeared and wiped away all the dust. “It matches your crib perfectly, Wyatt.”
“Does, doesn’t it?” Wyatt looked at her. “Where’s Adam?”
“Miz Edwina took him to her old room. She was afraid all the moving around and slamming things together would wake him in here.”
“If you’ll tell her everything is ready, I’ll clean up and get ready to go get a bite to eat if you’ll warm it up for me.”
“What about your wife?”
“What do you mean?”
“She hasn’t eaten, either. She wanted to wait so she could eat with you.”
He frowned. Again he wondered why she’d do such a thing. She could’ve already eaten and he wouldn’t have thought any thing about it. Now, he learned she’d been waiting. Why didn’t she say something when he told her on the porch he’d wait to eat?
“If you’ll get our plates ready, I’ll tell her to put Adam down.” He left the room behind Rosalinda. Three doors down the hall, he started to knock. Seeing it was ajar, he eased it open and glanced inside.
Edwina was on the bed with her back to him. He figured Adam had awakened because she was talking to him. “Yes, baby, your daddy went to town and bought you your very own wardrobe. Can you believe that? You no longer have to put your clothes in a trunk under Mama’s window and you don’t have to sleep with Mama or in a box like you did at Uncle Hezekiah’s house.”
Wyatt heard the baby say, “Da. Horsie.”
“Yes, honey, Daddy took the horse to town. He loves you very much and I think he loves Mama, too. Isn’t it wonderful? We are so lucky, Adam. Mama will never be able to repay him for all his kindnesses.”
Wyatt couldn’t move. He knew Edwina was unaware of his presence, so she had no reason to talk like this unless she meant it.
She continued her one-sided conversation with Adam. “I’m so glad we were able to find your daddy and your grandpa.”
“Gapa.”
“Yes, Gapa. He loves you, too, Adam. If we hadn’t found them I would have lost you. Uncle Hezekiah would’ve given you to the Clarks and he would have made my life more miserable than it already was. I don’t know if I could’ve survived without you, my precious son. The thoughts of what could have happened make me shake inside.”
Wyatt was confused, but he was sure now Edwina wasn’t pulling any kind of scam on him. She was only a pawn in her uncle’s scheme, whatever that was.
He decided it was time to make his presence known. He knocked on the door. “Hope I didn’t wake you and Adam.”
She turned. There was laughter in her eyes. “I’m afraid I’m the one who woke Adam. When we came into the house, I hit my elbow on the banister and jarred him. When we got upstairs, I started to bring him and see how the furniture was coming, but I was afraid we’d bother you.”
“You wouldn’t have, but it’s too late to worry about that now.” He reached down and picked up Adam.
“Da.”
“Yeah, big fellow. Are you ready to go try out your new bed in your new room?”
“Mama.”
“Yes, Mama can come, too.”
They went through his bedroom to the small adjoining room. He slid the door aside and Edwina gasped. “It’s wonderful, Wyatt. Everything fits perfectly and he’ll be close by us.”
“I had this rocking chair put in here in case we have to get up with him at times, but as I told you earlier, I’m leaving the rest of the decorating up to you and Rosalinda.”
“I think it looks wonderful. We’ve never had anything so nice.”
“Adam, I’m going to give you to Mama and let her rock you back to sleep. I’ll go get cleaned up for supper.”
In twenty minutes, Adam was tucked in his bed and Edwina and Wyatt were seated at the dining room table. Rosalinda served them and Wyatt told her to go home with her husband.
Edwina insisted she listen to him. “I’ll wash the dishes,” she said.
“Don’t you dare. Stack them on the sideboard. I’ll wash them while I cook breakfast.”
“Yes, Ma’am.”
“Good night to you two. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Good night, Rosalinda,” they said together.
They ate for several minutes in silence. Wyatt broke it. “I ran into Thourgood Reeson in town today.”
“Do I know who he is?”
“He’s Cora Sue Reeson’s father.”
“The other woman who thinks you’re a good kisser?”
He couldn’t help smiling. “She’s the one.”
“I bet her father isn’t very fond of me, either.”
“Probably isn’t. He wanted me to marry his daughter.”
She smiled at him. “I hope you aren’t sorry you chose to marry me instead of her.”
“I’m not sorry at all.” He started to tell her what Reeson had told him today, but he changed his mind. He’d wait until they were through supper.
After they finished their meal, Edwina insisted on washing their plates. “Rosalinda works hard. I don’t want to make any extra jobs for her.”
Wyatt agreed and he helped her clear the table.
When they were finished, he told her to go ahead and get ready for bed and he’d be up soon. She gave him a funny look, but did as he asked.
At first, Wyatt thought he’d go to his study and give her time to go to sleep before he went to the room. Then he changed his mind. He knew he was putting off confronting her and he decided he didn’t want to do that any longer.
Extinguishing the lamps and locking the doors, he took a deep breath and headed upstairs. When he pushed open the bedroom door he saw Edwina sitting at the dressing table wearing the night clothes he’d bought her in Santa Fe and brushing her long blonde hair. She was so beautiful it almost took his breath away.
She turned and his heart fluttered. This woman wasn’t a fake. He knew it in his heart. Nothing else mattered. He’d not let what Thourgood Reeson or anyone else said make him think differently. He couldn’t change his feelings. He was in love with Edwina and he’d defend her against any rumors the man or anyone else started.
He walked over to the dressing table, put his hands on her shoulders, bent over her from the back and kissed the top of her head. “You look beautiful.”
“Thank you.” She leaned back against him. “Do you like the outfit this handsome man I know bought for me to wear to bed?”
“I like it very much. I’m sure he thought you’d look lovely in it.”
“I admit it’s prettier than the old muslin night gowns I’ve been sleeping in.”
“You don’t have to sleep in them any longer.”
Edwina put her brush on the table and stood. Turning to him, she said, “You’re so good to me, Wyatt. I don’t deserve a man as good as you.”
He lifted an eyebrow. “Why would you say that?”
“I’m not special like you are.”
“I’m not special, Edwina. I’m only a cowboy who h
appens to own a large ranch.”
“But I’m a nobody. Uncle Hezekiah says I’m the product of a couple who had no right to have children. He says the world would’ve been better off if I’d never been born. He—”
“That’s enough. I don’t give a damn what Uncle Hezekiah says. You’re a wonderful mother and wife. Any man would feel blessed to have a woman like you at his side.”
“I love you, Wyatt. I’m so happy to be your wife.”
He took her in his arms and kissed her. Without breaking their kiss, he swooped her up in his arms and carried her to their bed. He decided this would be their bed for the rest of their lives. It didn’t matter what anyone else said or did.
Chapter 18
Their passion spent, Wyatt gathered her in his arms and whispered, “You make me happy, beautiful woman.”
“Oh, Wyatt, you make me feel beautiful and loved whether I deserve it or not.”
“Why wouldn’t you deserve it, Edwina?”
“I’m a sinner and an ungrateful selfish person for all the things I’ve been given. Especially you. I’m grateful I found you and you took Adam and me into your heart just like I always knew you would.”
“Then who in the world would say you’re a sinner?”
“My uncle Hezekiah.”
“Why does he say that about you?”
“He says I have my mother’s bad blood.”
“What did your mother do?”
“Uncle Hezekiah said she was the reason my father decided he wanted to be something other than a preacher. The last thing he was going to do was open a store.”
Wyatt frowned into the dark. “What’s wrong with being a store owner?”
“That’s what I asked Uncle.”
“What did he say?”
“Nothing. He slapped me for talking back to him. Then he told me my daddy would’ve done God’s work, but my mother took him away from God and saddled him with a girl child. He said that was why God decided to punish them and take their life.” She cuddled closer to Wyatt. “Do you think Uncle Hezekiah was right? Did God punish them because my mother was bad and I was a girl?”
“Of course not. God doesn’t punish people that way.”
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