No Buttons Or Beaux

by Cathy Marie Hake

  By now, all of her brothers and cousins had lined up. “That’s right,” Cole said. “And once Caleb gets the box, he’ll share with the rest of us.”

  “Now jist a minute.” Johnna scowled. “I aim to have one, too!”

  “I shouldn’t have bothered to put them in a box,” April muttered as Peter handed over the buns.

  Kate, the egg basket hanging from her arm, came toward them. “So help me, if you boys are trying to steal those sticky buns from Peter, I’m not going to cook a lick of food for you for a week.”

  “April’s cooking again,” Caleb called back.

  “I might be, but then again, I might not.” April tilted her chin upward.

  “She won’t if you steal away the courting gift she’s made for Peter.” Kate sailed past them and into the kitchen cabin.

  “Aww, man.” Caleb grimaced. “Sis, are those sticky buns a courting gift?”

  “What else would they be?” The jubilant look on Peter’s face started April into a fit of giggles.

  Matt Salter came over to see what the commotion was about. “What’s going on?” He sniffed, and his eyes lit up. “What’s that I smell?”

  “We’ve got to be headin’ out.” Peter dared to lean down and rest his forehead against hers. “Don’t you forget what I’ve been tellin’ you.”

  Her heart plummeted. He’d been advising her on how to go about catching another man’s interest. I’m such a fool. Unable to speak, she stepped back and nodded.

  Caleb shoved the box into Peter’s arms.

  “You mean he’s taking away whatever it is that smells so good?” Matt sounded outraged.

  “April and I are going to go bake another batch.” Kate came back out and slipped her hand into April’s. “Peter, there’s something in that box for your sister. Make sure she gets it.”

  “I’ll be shore she gets one of these buns.”

  “That, too.” Kate tugged on April’s hand. “We’ll end up standing here all day if I don’t tear the two of you apart. Come on into the kitchen.”

  Once the screen door shut behind them, Kate let out a sigh. “I’m so glad you didn’t ask what I put in the box. I didn’t have a chance to tell you, but I wrote a little note and told Johnna we wanted her to buy some pretty things for herself. I signed it from both of us and put in a double eagle.”

  “Twenty dollars!” April gaped at her cousin.

  Merry laughter bubbled out of Kate. “Mama left me more than that in case something came up. Now we’d better start a batch of sticky buns, or the boys are going to get ugly.”

  The only ugly one around here is me. April reached around and retied her apron. “May as well get busy.”

  ❧

  As April pulled the second dozen from the oven, Kate went to the porch and barely hit the huge iron triangle they used to call everyone to supper. She raced back inside. “Watch out. We’ve got a stampede headed our way.”

  The back door opened. “I ah. . .remembered how they all came in the front when you made the beef and rice.” Matt stood there with his hat in his hands.

  “No need to be sheepish. You’re smart!” Kate nudged him toward the table. April noticed how Kate stayed beside him.

  Caleb barreled through the doorway. “Jeff Borley’s here. Wants to buy another horse.”

  “I’ve never seen a man buy a horse at the kitchen table,” Packard grumbled, reaching for a bun and scowling as Jeff entered the kitchen

  Jeff took a sticky bun. After the first bite, he straightened up. “Feed me more of these, and you could talk me into buying both of those mares!”

  “Hear that, sis?” Caleb grinned.

  “So these are the sticky buns Peter MacPherson was bragging about.” Jeff reached down and greedily helped himself to a second bun, even though he hadn’t finished the first. “I’m going to have to come pay my respects to you, April.”

  “Too late,” Kate said. “Peter’s been coming by all summer.”

  “It’s not too late.” Jeff smacked his lips. “There’s no ring on her finger.”

  April pretended she didn’t hear him. Jeff never so much as once traded a greeting with her at church or in town. Peter’s words echoed in her mind. Don’t you e’er make the mistake of thankin’ your only worth is a batch of sommat you pull outta the oven. Clearly, Jeff felt otherwise.

  The kitchen grew noisy with all eight of her brothers and cousins, Matt, Kate, and Jeff. April scooted past them and onto the porch. She started turning the handle on the Daisy butter churn.

  “You’re industrious.” Jeff’s voice came from just a few feet away.

  April shrugged. “We’ve had extra milk all summer. No use letting it go to waste.”

  He hitched a pantleg and perched on the porch railing. “That doesn’t smell. When my mom and sis make butter, it stinks.”

  “I’m making sweet cream butter. My father likes it better.”

  Jeff hooked his thumbs into belt hoops. “Way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.”

  “I wouldn’t know. Daddy loved me long before I was old enough to cook.”

  “Time’ll come when your father’s not the one you’ll stand in front of the stove for. Are you going to use the buttermilk to make biscuits for dinner?”

  She shook her head. “I’m planning to make flapjacks for breakfast tomorrow.” So you can stop angling for an invitation to stay to lunch.

  Caleb came outside. “So what’s it going to be, Jeff—the bay or the mustang?”

  “See you around.” Jeff slapped his hat on his head and walked toward the stable with her brother. April couldn’t remember ever feeling so relieved to see a man saunter away.

  ❧

  Sleep wouldn’t come. Kate blew out a resigned breath. “Are you asleep?”

  “No.”

  Turning over and propping her chin in her hand, Kate squinted across the dark loft at April. “It must feel wonderful, having men stop by to pay their respects to you.”

  “Not a one has stopped by to pay his respects.”

  “Could have fooled me. In three days, you’ve had Jeff, Grayson, Horace, Enoch, and Everett come see you.”

  “Peter’s talked about my cooking, and Jeff happened by and got a taste of my sticky buns. Men talk about animals, weather, and food. Folks didn’t pay much attention to what Peter said about my cooking since the MacPhersons are famous for liking odd dishes. Once Jeff said something, they all got curious. They don’t respect me. They respect my cooking. There’s a world of difference.”

  Kate absently ran her finger along the stitch line of her quilt. “You can’t be sure of that.”

  “Oh, I’m dead sure. Not a one discussed anything but my ability to cook and sew.”

  “Men think more practically.”

  “Which is why each of them managed to show up at mealtime.” April huffed. “They wanted to taste my cooking, but none of them bothered to try to sit by me.”

  “Give it a chance. It takes time.”

  “I don’t want to,” April said. “They’ve ignored me forever, and now they’re reckoning even a short, dumpy woman like me is worth considering because I’d ease his life by being a housekeeper and cook.”

  “You’re not dumpy! You don’t eat any more than the rest of us. I’ve seen pictures of your grandma and her mama. You’re shaped just like them—like a happy little chickadee!”

  April snorted. “So now I’m a bird brain. Well, I still have enough sense to send those so-called suitors packing. Enoch talked about me the same way he talks about a horse he wants to buy. I’m surprised he didn’t ask to see my teeth.”

  After her giggles died down, Kate figured this was as good a time as any to say something. She gathered her courage. “April, I need you to do me a favor.”

  “What?”

  “I’ve been keeping the boys away while your suitors come. I need you to do the same for me. My brothers won’t let me have a minute alone with Matt.”

  April sat bolt upright and squeaked, “Yo
u’ve been leaving me alone with them on purpose?”

  “Of course I have.”

  “Don’t!”

  “How was I to know that’s what you wanted? For four years now, you’ve been mooning and moping over men. You’ve even cried over not having swains seek you out. Now that they’re swarming, you’re not happy getting what you wanted.”

  “I don’t want any of them!” April flopped back down, turned on her tummy, and started sobbing into her pillow. “I’ve made such a mess of things!”

  Twelve

  Kate climbed out of bed and went over to April. “You haven’t made a mess of anything.” She slid in next to her cousin and petted her hair.

  April turned toward her. Tears continued to pour down her face as she wailed, “I’ve been living a lie, but now it’s the truth. I don’t know what to do.”

  “You? A lie?” Kate couldn’t hide the surprise in her voice.

  April nodded. “It’s been a secret between Peter and me. He’s pretended to like me so I could practice how to act with a suitor. Only now, I don’t want any of those other men. I want Peter!”

  Kate couldn’t believe her ears. Ever since last year’s trip to Yosemite, she’d known Peter loved her cousin. Part of her wanted to tell April so, but something kept her from doing that. Slowly, she said, “I don’t know that you’ve been living a lie. Deep down, your heart knew what your head didn’t. You and Peter have always been close.”

  Mournfully shaking her head, April wailed, “It’s ruined now. Before he left, he told me to remember what he’s taught me. He’s ready to move on and find a wife. I can’t stay here and watch that. I can’t!”

  Kate wrapped her arms around her cousin and held tight. “You’re not going anywhere. We’re going to pray about this.”

  “I’ve been praying. I have for years. I kept begging God to give me the right man. You know I have.”

  “We both have.” Kate scooted closer still. “It’s not easy to see God’s will. I want more time alone with Matt because—well, because deep down, I think he’s the one for me.”

  “I’d be so happy for you if he is.”

  Kate sighed. Sweet April—here she is, afraid of losing Peter, and I’m telling her that I’ve found my man. I’m an idiot for saying anything at all, but this was the worst time I could have told her how I feel. Her heart’s breaking.

  April rubbed her cheek on the pillow to wipe away her tears. “Matt fits in. It’s like he’s always been here. And that first night, he stood up for you even though he thought it would cost him his job. I wish Peter loved me like that.”

  I still think he does. The words were on the tip of Kate’s tongue, but they wouldn’t come out. Instead, she turned the conversation in a different direction. “Just a year ago, you and I were comforting Laurel about whether she’d ever marry Gabe. Back then, you said we had to have faith—that God wouldn’t let us all be without husbands.”

  “He won’t. He’s already given Laurel Gabe, and it’s looking like you and Matt are a good match. Maybe I’m supposed to be a spinster. I’ve been so busy telling God to give me a husband, I didn’t ask if He wanted me to have one.”

  Aching silence filled the loft. Finally, Kate quietly admitted, “I’ve been doing the same thing.”

  Isn’t that just like me, God? I’m always running full tilt at whatever catches my attention without thinking ahead. How many times have Daddy and Mama told me to stop and think? I’ve been so busy letting my head and heart rule me, I didn’t seek Your will. I sort of figured since Matt is a good Christian, the soul part was taken care of.

  April wiggled and rested her head on Kate’s shoulder. “Remember what we always say when we get into fixes like this?”

  “You mean before we pray?”

  In unison, they whispered, “God help us all.”

  Kate went on, “Lord, we need Your help and direction. . . .”

  ❧

  Matt stifled a yawn. The steady cadence of pushing and pulling the two-man saw with Tanner demanded physical effort, but he let his mind wander. The middle-of-the-night explorations were catching up with him. So far, he’d inspected the entire Chance Ranch and found no evidence of a still.

  Lord, these are salt-of-the-earth, God-fearing people, and it bothers me to be here under false pretenses. I’m trying to do right. Early as it is to say, I’m even feeling like You brought me here to meet Kate. She’s something else. But how will she feel when I tell her I’ve come here pretending to be a saddle tramp?

  The saw paused while both men wiped away sweat with their sleeves. Tanner raised his brows. “Wish you would have stayed back helping Cole and Paxton with the horses?”

  “I can muck out stalls any day. This is a good change.”

  Tanner nodded and squinted in the distance. “Caleb and Tobias said they marked one more tree. We don’t want to overtimber.”

  Matt nodded. “Someone got too rambunctious on the spread over that-a-way.”

  “Dorseys.” Tanner wrapped his hands around the wooden saw handle. “Yep. Only good thing about that cutting was that when their barn burned, there wasn’t much else to go up in flames.”

  “Probably saved your spread from going up.” Matt grabbed his side of the saw and got back into the push-pull rhythm. One quick survey of the Dorseys’ holding told him the truth. They’d cut down so much of the timber, it would be impossible to hide a still anywhere on the property.

  Thaddeus Walls, even though he’d lost his family due to drunkenness, proved to be completely incapable of being any part of an illegal operation. He’d been in a drunken stupor both nights when Matt went to spy on him. The bottles littering his property showed he bought the cheapest rotgut available. Anyone owning a still or being part of the operation would save the bottles to refill or have jugs or a keg instead.

  The MacPhersons still remained suspect. Matt yawned again as he recalled skulking around part of the MacPherson place the last two nights. The first time, he’d seen some activity far off toward a treeline. The second time, he’d riled a few dogs and had to leave before someone in that huge clan discovered his presence. The best way to check them out is for me to have an excuse to be on their property.

  “Hey!” Tanner shouted.

  Matt halted and looked around the tree trunk at him.

  “We’ve gone deep enough.” He grinned. “Only time I’ve ever seen men lose track of the work they’re doing is when they’ve started falling in love. You’ve been doting on Kate. Are you thinking of her?”

  “Might be.” Matt shrugged. “It’s none of your business, though.”

  “She’s my sister. Of course it’s my business!”

  “Let’s shove over this tree.” Matt moved the saw and stepped to the far side. “All clear?”

  “Yep.” Tanner hollered, “Timber!” and the two thrust their weight against the tree. The tree groaned loudly, then the air whistled through the limbs as it began to tilt. “Got it!” Tanner and Matt scrambled backward and off to the side so they’d be out of danger if the trunk bounced.

  Soon, several of the Chance men worked on the fallen tree. Some cut off limbs while others hitched the severed pieces to a team of horses and dragged them off a ways.

  Pausing a moment, Packard called to no one in particular, “Our folks are going to be glad they stayed gone awhile longer.”

  Chuckles met that observation.

  “Dunno about that!” someone on the far side of the tree shouted back. “Uncle Dan likes working his problems out with an axe.”

  Tobias smacked Matt on the back. “Ready to go cut down the other one?”

  “Hey. Matt and I are a team.” Tanner scowled at his brother.

  “You were a team. The next tree is mine.”

  Matt shrugged and hiked after Tobias. Tobias picked up the saw and gave him a piercing look. “Dad’ll be home in a day or so. Between now and then, I’m the head of our family. My sis might seem tough and capable, but she’s got a tender heart. I don’t want you bre
aking it.”

  “Kate is capable. She’s smart, too. I don’t believe in dallying with a woman’s heart. I enjoy her company and get the notion that she could like me—but it’s sorta hard to tell. You and Tanner act like a couple of watch dogs.”

  “We take care of our women.”

  “If the day comes where what’s between Kate and me gets serious, you can be sure I’ll take care of her.”

  “That’s what worries me—you said if. You’re not sure how you feel. She’s already getting her heart set on you. You being underfoot all of the time makes it easy for her to plan out a future.”

  “I don’t know what my future holds. I have to leave it in God’s hands. If He gives me Kate as my wife, I’d be a very blessed man.”

  “Gals are just like birds. Doesn’t matter how fancy or drab they are, they still wanna nest. It’s in their nature.”

  “If you’re trying to compare Lucinda to Kate, don’t.” Matt stared at Tobias. “I don’t know anything more about Lucinda than what I saw at the picnic. I am positive, however, Kate wouldn’t ever cut down another person—not even on her worst day.”

  Tobias winced. “I didn’t mean to make a comparison, but I can see how you thought I did. I’ve never seen Lucinda act like that.”

  That admission hadn’t come easy. Matt chose to move on. “Kate tried to hide her hands from me. I don’t know where she got the ridiculous notion that dabs of stain would matter to a man. She’s beautiful, inside and out.”

  They came to the other tree Caleb had marked. Just as they set the saw against the tree, the dinner triangle jangled.

  Tobias’s brow wrinkled. “It can’t be lunch.”

  The jangling didn’t stop. “Something’s wrong!”

  Thirteen

  Matt and Tobias simultaneously let go of the two-handled saw and ran for their horses. The other men dropped their axes and joined them. Those whose horses were hitched to branches hurried to release them, but Matt didn’t wait. He vaulted onto his mount and raced toward the cabins.

  “Don’t see any smoke!” Packard shouted.

  Kate. Matt urged his horse on.

  “Cole better not have tried to break that stallion.” Distress and anger tainted Tobias’s voice. “I shouldn’t have left him there. I knew he was tempted.”