He’d been at the MacPherson spread for a full week and a half. They might be as simple and straightforward as they seemed, but with so many of them going different ways, he hadn’t been able to determine whether they managed to have a few members slip off and run a still. They sort of rotated through certain chores, but Matt couldn’t see a pattern emerge.
“Bet you never thought you’d be lumberjackin’ instead of cowboyin’,” Peter teased.
Together, they heaved another log onto the pile. “It’s for a good cause.”
“I want this cabin to look jist like the one April’s leavin’. The loft’ll give us plenty of room for young’uns.”
“Why don’t you all just halt everything and spend a day to erect it?”
Yanking a splinter from his palm Peter shrugged. “We got too many thangs happenin’ already. Harvest hits the same time the women are cannin’, and the younger ones gotta get fixed up for school. Add two weddings to that.”
A bell clanged. “Lunch.” Peter dusted some tree bark from his shirt.
“I’m so hungry, I could eat just about anything.” Matt chuckled at the look Peter shot at him. “The ’possum pie, porcupine stew and dumplings, and rabbit were all excellent.” He tactfully left out fried lizard.
“This time of year, we always give the boys the job of wrastlin’ up meat. Don’t normally eat such a variety in the space of a week; but with everyone busy, it lets them shoulder a responsibility.”
“They’re all good kids. I get a kick out of how good they are with those slingshots.”
“Slingshot ain’t no match for a badger. We’re all grateful you was out takin’ a hike last night. Octavius and Reggie woulda gotten catawamptuously chewed up iff’n you hadn’t been thar. Hey! Lookie!” He started jogging.
Matt kept pace. The Chance women and young children had come to call. I hope Kate came.
Peter swept April up and spun her around in a circle before setting her down. Matt spied Kate sitting off to the side, laughing. He beelined for her. “Hi.”
“Matt!” She looked up from her work. Delight danced across her features. “How are you doing over here?”
“Fine. I’ve whittled some clothespins. Make sure I give them to you. What’re you doing?”
“Shining up a few pairs of shoes.”
A little girl jumped from one bare foot to the other. “Kate’s gonna turn mine red!”
Matt rested his hands on his knees and bent over so he could look into her eyes. “Won’t you be a sight in pretty red shoes!”
When she nodded, the little girl’s braids jumped from behind her shoulders to the front and back again. “I’ll be bee-you-tea-ful!”
Kate set aside the pair of shoes she’d repaired. “Okay, Birdie. Bring me yours now.”
Matt chuckled as the child hopped away. “Her name sure fits!”
Kate shot him a conspiratorial look and patted the space beside her. Glad of the invitation, he sat down. In a low tone, she said, “Her real name is Birdella. Eunice and Hezzie saddle their children with odd names.”
Matt poked his tongue into the pocket of his cheek, thought a second, then said, “So they weren’t kidding when they called one of the little fellows ‘Lastun’?”
“That’s really his name. Eunice was wrong, though. She had Elvera after him.”
“I’m still trying to sort out who’s who.”
“And who’s whose?”
“Yep. There’s an army of kids here.”
She dusted tiny slivers of leather from her apron. “It’ll take time, but you’ll manage.”
“Is that your way of saying Chance Ranch doesn’t need me anymore?”
Before she could reply, two women walked up. “Matthew Salter,” Tempy MacPherson said, “words cain’t say how grateful I am that you rescued Octavius—”
“And my Register—” Eunice added.
“Yestereve. Badgers are fearsome fighters.”
Eunice shoved a bowl into his hands. “But they make a fine stew! Cain’t thankee ’nuff and wanna honor you by givin’ you the first bowl.”
Fifteen
“Thank you, ladies,” Matt said. “I’m just glad the boys are okay. You know, I’ve never eaten badger.”
“Neither have I.” Kate’s eyes sparkled with mischief.
“My mother would spin in her grave if I ate before a lady, Miss Kate.” Matt slid the bowl to her before she could respond.
“Ain’t it nice to see a man with such fine manners?” Eunice patted him on the shoulder. “Don’t you worry none. I’ll bring another for you now.”
“Wait!” Kate used her free hand to grab Tempy. “Aunt Tempy, everyone knows how thick and meaty your stews are. One badger can’t have made enough stew for all of us. Since Mama brought over beef stew, why don’t we just let Mr. Salter have this? I’ll have the other.”
“I wouldn’t want any of you feeling I didn’t appreciate good cooking. Why don’t I come over and get a bowl of the beef stew, then Kate and I can switch halfway through our bowls?” Matt nodded his head once to indicate it was a done deal.
“Now ain’t they the most thoughtful young’uns?” Eunice beamed at them. “Nothin’ like that uppity Lucin—”
“We wouldn’t want to gossip,” Tempy interrupted.
Eunice gave her sister-in-law a confused look. “Hit ain’t gossipin’ in the least. We was all thar and saw for ourselves—”
“I guess,” Kate said, “it just goes to show how blessed we are to have friends and family who try to find the best in others.”
“Yore right. I oughtta be ashamed of myself, standing here a-ditherin’ whilst Mr. Salter’s powerful hungry and wantin’ his lunch.”
“Why don’t the both of you come sit at the table?”
Kate’s laughter floated on the breeze. “If I do, you’ll never pry me free. After the vat of marmalade you’ve made and been jarring all morning, I’ll either stick to the bench from the sugar or stay there because I can’t resist tasting it.”
“Best you stay put. Hey! Homer, don’t you dare show up to the table with that much grime on you!” Tempy scurried toward one of her many children.
Matt rose and accompanied Eunice to the tables. “Not counting weddings or church picnics, other than the MacPhersons and the Chances, the only time I’ve ever seen so many people gathered along tables like this was at an orphanage.”
Kate’s mother jerked around and stared at him. “Did you grow up in an orphanage?”
“No, ma’am, I didn’t. While I was in San Francisco, I—” He caught himself before he admitted having to take an abandoned child to the orphanage. He cleared his throat. “I dropped a little something off.”
“I hope the children were all happy and well cared for.”
“It sure looked that way to me, ma’am. The children had plenty of good food to eat. The girls even wore ribbons in their hair. They weren’t expecting anyone to drop by, so it wasn’t as if someone put on a show. I was told a wealthy benefactor provides funds to keep the place operating.”
“Here you go, Mr. Salter.” Eunice shoved a hot bowl into his hands. “Grab yoreself a spoon and be shore you get a taste of the badger stew, too.”
“Thank you, ma’am.” He strode back to Kate. “I must have missed when someone asked the blessing.”
“Uncle Obie did.”
Matt sat down, bowed his head for a quick prayer since he’d not heard Obie’s, then said, “Did my ears deceive me, or did Eunice call her son Register?”
Kate grinned. “We call him Reggie. Vinnie and Benny are girls—their nicknames are acts of mercy. No little girl ought ever be called Vinetta or Benefit.”
“I agree.” He waved his spoon at her bowl. “So how does it taste?”
“I was waiting for you.”
“Don’t let me hold you up.”
Stirring the stew with her spoon, Kate said, “We have an agreement, right? We’ll trade bowls?”
“Fair’s fair.” He took a bite of the beef ste
w. “Then again, this is awfully tasty. I might not want to give it up.”
Kate muttered under her breath, “Here goes nothing,” and lifted her spoon. As soon as she swallowed the first bite, she gave his bowl a sideways glance.
“We don’t swap until halfway.” He dipped his spoon and brought up another big bite. “Your mama sure makes a flavorful stew.”
He ate faster than she. Matt figured it was because Kate wasn’t fond of how badger tasted. He didn’t much blame her, either. In a low tone, he said, “You don’t have to eat all of your half.”
“I will.” Resolve vibrated in her low tone.
“I appreciate a woman who sticks to her word.” He cocked his head to the side and surveyed two rows of shoes all lined up in the dirt about a yard away. “Some of those shoes look pretty battered.”
“Kids are hard on shoes. Simple polishing and new laces will perk most of those. Since Birdie is getting Octavius’s hand-me-downs, I’ll die them red so they take on a girlish look.”
“That’s clever of you. Is that why the pair on the end are sporting yellow leather bows?”
“Yes. The next pair to the right will be Meldona’s.” He raised his browns, and she nodded. “Yes, she’s Eunice and Hezzie’s. Melly’s shoes have been passed down twice—but both times, they were girls’. I’ll put some pretty new buttons on them once I banish the scuffs. They’ll see her through Christmas.”
“Your talent serves both clans exceedingly well.”
“Your boots look like they could use a little help.”
Matt lifted his empty spoon and shook it at her. “No buttons or bows for me.”
Her laughter stopped abruptly when he tried to take the badger stew. “I’ll finish this, Matt. You said the beef is tasty. Go ahead and enjoy it.”
“Nope. I honor my word.” He switched bowls, looked down at the chunks of badger meat, and consoled himself with the fact that he didn’t have to eat a whole bowl all on his own. Kate watched him avidly as he lifted the spoon to his mouth.
“This is wonderful!”
“I was just as surprised as you are.” She looked down at the bowl she now held. “I love my mother’s stew. I didn’t think anything could compare.”
“So now you can have two favorites.”
“I don’t mean to gossip, Matt, but I think you should know something. Tobias isn’t courting Lucinda anymore.”
He swallowed his bite. “Appreciate knowing that so I don’t go putting my foot in my mouth. Your brother’s a steady man, so a big change like that had to come after a lot of soul searching.”
“I’d be lying to say I’m sad, but it’s hard to see him hurting.” She ate a little. “On the other hand, Caleb’s wife, Greta, is home again. Her sister had twins, so she was over helping out. You might not recognize Caleb—he’s found his smile again.”
“I don’t mean to boast, but I’m pretty good with remembering names and faces.”
Kate’s eyes sparkled. “But I’m telling you, Caleb’s face looks entirely different. It’s amazing what a smile can do.”
It sure is. Your smile makes you glow. Matt tore his gaze from her. “I’ll take your word for it. Seeing a new woman sitting among the Chances in the church pew will help me figure out which man is Caleb.”
“Not for certain. I don’t think you’ve met my cousin Polly. Her husband is the doctor—they live in town. Last Saturday, some men got rambunctious at the Nugget and had a gunfight. She and Eric missed church because they were still in surgery.”
He whistled softly. “Either someone got hit bad, or it must’ve involved quite a few men.”
“There’s talk about the town needing to hire a sheriff. Until recently, Reliable was small enough and quiet most of the time.” She let out a sigh. “I rather doubt it will happen. Folks have talked about needing someone to come reopen the boardinghouse, too. Neither has ever materialized.”
Boardinghouse. His promise to drop a line to Miss Jenny flashed through Matt’s mind. Later that evening, he wrote her a short note that said he was keeping busy. Fact is, Miss Jenny, I’m seeing all those stars you knew I’d been missing. . . . It was the truth. He’d been investigating the area during the night. I’ve been eating well and met some good, God-fearing people. He wished her God’s blessings and signed the bottom, then stuffed the paper into an envelope.
Then next morning, he rode to worship along with the MacPherson men. The women and smaller children filled three buckboards. As they pulled into the churchyard, April called from the wagon she was driving, “We didn’t plan a picnic, but it’s a beautiful day. Are you folks interested?”
Lois looked at her husband, then nodded. “Johnna an’ me—we were fixin’ to look through the feedsacks and decide on what to use for the next quilt. Y’all cain come and holp. Delilah, yore always good at choosing colors that look fine together.”
“That shouldn’t be hard,” a woman said from the church steps. “You MacPhersons always have yellow ones!”
“Reba White, ’tis mostly the sugar sacks that’re yeller.” Lois laughed. “Cain’t manage to get the man at the feed and lumber to keep a supply of yeller feedsacks.”
A man nearby let out a booming laugh. “Lois, I keep telling you, God makes all your leghorn chicks yellow, so the color of the sack doesn’t matter!”
Lois pulled Matilda down from the wagon. “Bill, yore always glad to get my eggs and eat my chicken salad. Why cain’t you humor me and bring in yeller sacks?”
“Because the rest of us have wives who want other colors!”
“I cain’t be shore who said that, but I’ll hold charity in my heart for you. Everyone as wants, come on o’er today for a picnic. ’Twould be a pity to waste a fine day like this.”
“I already have a roast in the oven at home,” one lady said. “Why don’t we make it tomorrow? It’ll let us ladies quilt!”
April’s father clapped his hands. “I’ll go tomorrow on one condition.”
“What’s that?” Pastor Abe asked.
“We men help finish the cabin Peter is building. I’d like to announce that my daughter, April, accepted his proposal. Chance Ranch will be roasting a steer, so bring your appetites along with your tools!”
The Youngbloods stood over by their buggy. Lucinda’s father rumbled, “Tomorrow’s a workday. I’m not stopping everything just to be fed beef. I’ve got plenty of my own.”
“Guess he’s sore angered at Tobias Chance,” Johnna whispered from behind Matt. “Tobias told Lucinda they’d come to a partin’ of the ways. I s’pose her daddy’s got call to be a mite hot under the collar. Pa would splavocate if Trevor did that to me.”
“Weren’t no promise nor proposal,” Tempy murmured. “ ’Twas wise, Tobias calling a halt to the courtship soon as he realized ’twouldn’t work out.”
Looking remarkably unperturbed, Gideon Chance nodded at Lucinda’s father. “It’s short notice, and it’s a busy time. No one’s under any obligation.”
“Jist you watch,” Eunice said in a hushed tone. “Folks’re gonna come through. Makes me glad I come out to Reliable to be Hezzie’s bride. People pitch in.”
“You all stopped everything when my barn burnt down to help me get back on my feet.” Dorsey squared his shoulders. “It’s not about what we get fed. It’s about helping a neighbor.”
Soon pledges of help and promises to bring food filled the churchyard. Mrs. White and Bill decided since everyone was going to be at the cabin raising, they might as well close the mercantile and feedstore.
Pastor Abe stood on the church steps. “Folks, the sermon today was entitled ‘Who is My Neighbor?’ I could say plenty, but you’ve demonstrated the heart of the concept here and now. The sanctuary windows are open, but it’s far cooler out here. Why don’t we gather on the lawn and have a time of prayer and worship?”
While people moved their rigs and horses to free up shady spots, Matt noticed two of the MacPhersons slip away. So did two Chance man—Daniel, who was married to Tempy MacPh
erson’s sister, and Kate’s father.
Lord, I want to stay and worship You. This time is precious, holy. I don’t want to believe that these men could be guilty—especially not Kate’s father. It would break her heart. I can’t reconcile the Christian values they’ve instilled in their children or the character they’ve displayed with the possibility that they may be making moonshine. But it’s so suspicious that these men are slinking away. I ought to follow them.
“You won’t need to move yore horse,” Peter said. “What say the both of us go into the church and bring out a bench or two? Sitting on the ground’ll be too hard on some of our elders.”
“I didn’t see benches in there—just pews.”
“We keep one in each of the coatrooms.” Peter started to stride away. “Follow me.”
I’m stepping out in faith, Lord. My mind tells me to trail the others, but my heart tells me to follow Peter.
When they exited the church, Peter paused a moment. “Now ain’t that a sight to fill yore heart?”
Kate and April sat on either side of their frail Aunt Lovejoy. Little children from the congregation had flocked over and sat pressed close together. Their sweet high voices hovered in the air as they sang the hymn, “Who Is Thy Neighbor?”
As they sang, a few quilts appeared—probably from wagon beds. The women of the congregation spread them out until the grass looked like a giant patchwork quilt. Men came back from moving their rigs and joined their wives.
Pastor Abe motioned to Peter and Matt. “Good, good. Why don’t you young men bring one of those up front here?”
“I thought we’d put them off to the side or in back for the elders,” Matt said to Peter.
“Go on ahead and do that. I’ll tote this one up by the parson. Jist you wait and see. We’re in for a treat.”
Matt carried the bench over near Kate. Of everyone in the congregation, her aunt looked the most frail. He went down on one knee behind her. “Ma’am, I’d be honored to help you up and onto that bench.”
Kate’s eyes sparkled with gratitude. “How nice!”
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