He turned his horse and headed for the Anderson farm. It was time for him to stop mooning over Tuck and get on with his life, and he intended to start right now. He hoped Carrie Sue didn’t have an escort to the festival, because he’d like nothing better than to stroll past Tuck with Carrie on his arm.
Just before he reached the farm, he reined his horse in. What kind of idiot was he anyway? Planning on taking Carrie to the festival to get even with Tuck? That was the sort of thing a kid would do. He sighed. And Tuck probably wouldn’t give a hoot anyway. With a heavy heart, he turned back toward home.
Tuck laid her fiddle on a chair and stepped off the platform. Her stomach rumbled as she headed for the barn where tables were laden with food. The auction was winding up. She glanced at Rafe as he held up fingers to indicate a bid. Curious she peered at the auction stage to see what he was bidding on. A saddle. Looked like a good one, too. She looked back at him and he grinned.
They’d made their peace the day after their squabble. Both of them apologized. Rafe hadn’t made any more comments about Sam. Tuck, on the other hand, was being careful not to mention him when she was with Rafe. Not an ideal compromise, but better than losing their friendship.
“Sold! To Carter Foster.” The auctioneer’s voice boomed across the barn, and Rafe shrugged and went to help move the benches and make room for tables.
Tuck waited until he was finished and grabbed his hand. “C’mon, I’m starving.” She dragged him across to a table holding platters of fried chicken and bowls filled with potato salad and corn on the cob. With plates piled high, they found two empty spots at a table.
“Hello, Rafe. You must be hungry, judging by that plate of yours.”
At the sound of the lilting voice, Tuck peered around Rafe and saw Carrie Sue Anderson sitting on the other side of him.
“I sure am.” Rafe smiled at the pretty blond. “I’m hungry enough to eat a horse.”
Her rippling laughter grated on Tuck’s nerves. “Oh no, you won’t need to do that. My mama and I brought plenty of fried chicken. And we’re mighty good cooks, if I do say so myself.” Tuck glared at her, and she tossed her head and added, “I notice you have rather a hearty appetite as well, Abigail.”
“The name is Tuck. And what’s wrong with an appetite?”
“Why, nothing at all, if you want to blow up and look like the side of a barn.” She smiled sweetly, and Tuck felt sick. “A lady must be careful you know.”
“A good thing I don’t care about being a lady then,” Tuck retorted.
The gasp from behind her had to be Addy. No one else could gasp like that. “Abby, of course you don’t mean that. You’re very much a lady. Just a high-spirited one.” She glanced around for a place at their table.
Rafe stood. “Here, take my place, Addy. Jim just came in and I need to talk to him about something.”
Tuck stared as he bolted across to the door where Jim had stopped to talk to some of the men. Now why did he take off so fast? She turned and saw Carrie gazing after him, with the expression of a sick cow.
Oh. So that’s what was going on. Carrie was after Rafe, and he was well aware of it.
Chapter 12
Here, let me wrap this blanket around you, my dear.” Tuck blushed as Sam spread the thick gray blanket across her legs and tucked it a little too closely for her comfort.
“Sam, the blanket is fine. Please. Leave it alone.” Tuck scooted away and tugged the blanket loose. Didn’t he understand propriety at all?
“Sorry, I simply don’t want you to be cold. I didn’t mean to embarrass you.” Sam’s eyes darkened, a warning he was irritated. Well, so was she.
“Where are we going? It’s too cold for a buggy ride, anyway. We should have stayed home and played games with Ma and Pa and Addy.” Tuck’s heart thumped hard and fast. What was wrong with her? This was Sam and he loved her. Of course he didn’t mean to be inappropriate.
“Must you spend all your time with your family, Abigail?” he snapped. “Can’t we ever have time to ourselves? Even for a simple ride in the countryside?”
She stared at him. Was she being unreasonable or was he? She enjoyed doing things with her family. But if she was going to be Sam’s wife, she would need to put his wishes first. And he had made it plain he didn’t like being around them a lot. What if he refused to let her spend time with them after they were married? Of course, he hadn’t actually asked her to marry him, but she was certain he would soon. Maybe that’s why he wanted to be alone now.
She brightened and sat up straight, placing a hand on his forearm. “I’m sorry. I’m being selfish. Of course I want to spend time with you.”
“Well, that’s more like it.” He placed his hand over hers and smiled. His glance intensified as he looked deep into her eyes, but the expression that used to send thrills through her only made her uneasy.
Sam flicked the reins and drove to the river, following the old horse path that rumor said was an old Indian trail.
“Where will the White River Line tracks be, Sam? Will we still have access to the river?” Tuck shivered. She couldn’t imagine not going fishing with Rafe. Confusion washed over her. She wouldn’t be allowed to fish or float on the river with Rafe much longer. Or do anything with him for that matter. Not when she was Sam’s wife.
“I know absolutely nothing about the railroad except it’s a lot more comfortable riding in trains than on horseback or in coaches clear across the country.” He softened his tone and smiled. “You would love the train. They even have dining cars where they serve the finest cuisine.”
She laughed as she tried to visualize eating on the train. “How good can food be cooked in a moving car? I’ll bet it’s not nearly as good as Ma’s chicken. And Sam, have you ever eaten trout cooked over an open fire? There’s absolutely nothing like it.”
His face wrinkled with distaste. “No, I haven’t and have no intention of trying it. Really, Abigail. Have you no desire at all for the finer things of life?”
She sighed. For the first time she admitted to herself that she and Sam had little in common. But they loved each other. That was all that mattered. “It’s getting dark. We really need to get back to the house before Ma and Pa start to worry.”
“All right. All right. Soon. I promise. Let’s just stop and look at the river for a moment.” His voice sounded distracted and strange as he pulled off the path.
“But Sam, it’s cold, and my hands are like ice.” She shivered, not sure if it was entirely from the cold.
But Sam had already stopped the horses and set the carriage brake. He turned and smiled. “Here, let me see those hands.”
“No, they’re all right. Let’s just look at the river for a moment. Did you have something you wanted to talk about?” She waited, expecting him to bring up the subject of their future.
He reached over and brushed a curl from her forehead. “You’re so beautiful, Abigail. I didn’t realize it the first time I saw you, with you in those awful overalls. What a pleasant surprise it was when you appeared in my office that day, transformed into a stunning lady.”
“I’m happy you are pleased with my appearance. But I’m the same person as I was in the overalls.” For some reason, it was important for her to make that clear. She’d been pretending with him for too long.
“Nonsense. Not at all, my dear. Now you’re a woman. A very alluring woman.” He moved over closer to her on the seat and placed an arm around her shoulders, pulling her close.
“Sam, what are you doing?” She pulled back, but the side of the carriage stopped her retreat.
“Don’t be shy, my dear. After all, we’ve been seeing each other for some time. A kiss would be quite appropriate. Don’t you think?”
His lips were almost touching hers now. Without another thought, she gave him a shove backward then slapped him hard.
“Why, you little—” Venomous rage filled his voice and his eyes blazed with anger. He made a move as if to lift his arm.
Tuck gasped. He was going to hit he
r. She balled up her hand into a fist, and a rush of anger exploded within her. Let him just dare.
He drew his hand back and swiped it across his face as though wiping away the sting of her slap. His breath came in angry spurts, and his eyes knifed through her, furious and threatening. Grabbing the reins, he tore off down the road, not slowing until he jerked the team to a halt at her front porch. As soon as Tuck had jumped out of the carriage, he laid the whip across the backs of his horses.
Tuck, with her heart racing, ran up the steps and into the house. She leaned against the door, letting her pulse and breathing calm down. It wouldn’t do to let anyone see her like that.
The house was silent, but a dim light shone from the parlor.
Forcing a smile upon her stiff face, she paused at the parlor door long enough to say good night to Ma and Pa. She scurried away and up the stairs before they could speak.
Could she fool Addy? They’d always shared a room, enjoying the late night talks, but at this moment, Tuck wished one of them had taken over the guest room.
As Tuck walked into the bedroom, Addy, lying in bed, glanced up and smiled, laying aside the magazine she was reading. “How was your ride? I was beginning to worry a little.”
“Oh, it was fine. There was no reason for you to be concerned. It’s only just now getting dark.” She hung her cloak on a hook and sat in the rocking chair by the window. The memory of the rage on Sam’s face when she slapped him sent her heart racing again. If he’d made a move, she’d have socked him a good one.
“Abby, what’s wrong?” Her sister threw her legs over the side of the bed and slipped her feet into a pair of crocheted slippers.
“Nothing is wrong. What makes you think something is wrong?” Her voice sounded frantic even to her own ears, and her heartbeat pounded in her ears.
“Oh, maybe because you’re rocking so furiously. If you go much faster, that chair is going to fly out the window.”
Chagrined, Tuck stopped rocking. Okay, she could do this. She took a long, slow breath and then threw a grin at her sister. “The window is closed. I do believe the rocking chair is quite safe.”
Addy pressed her lips together. “You can’t fool me. I know something happened to upset you.”
“Well, you’re wrong.” She yawned and stood so fast she set the chair to rocking back and forth again. “I’m sleepy. That’s all. Don’t worry about me so much.” Without another word, she changed into her nightgown and crawled beneath the pile of quilts. “Good night, Addy.”
She lay still, and slowly, moment by moment, her anger dissipated. What if Sam’s attempt to kiss her wasn’t as awful as she had built it up to be? After all, he mentioned an understanding, so obviously he intended to marry her. Then why did she have this sinking feeling inside her?
Until he actually declared his intentions, a kiss was out of the question and inappropriate as well as disrespectful to her. If Sam treated her with disrespect now, how could she expect him to treat her if they should marry? She wished she could talk this over with someone. Ordinarily, Addy was her confidant, but telling her about this was out of the question.
Rafe’s face, safe and friendly, popped into her mind. Immediately she pushed the thought away. Rafe would likely tell her she was a fool to even consider forgiving Sam. And then he’d go beat the tar out of him.
Rafe shivered as the wind whipped around the house and nearly knocked him over. He grabbed Addy and steadied her. He’d invited her inside, but she’d insisted she needed to talk to him in private. His mother might think it strange that Addy was here to see Rafe without her sister.
“Let’s at least go stand by the barn where we’ll be shielded. You’re not even wearing a coat.” He frowned as he glanced at the shawl wrapped loosely around Addy’s shoulders. If it was Tuck, he’d just go inside the barn, but Addy would think it was inappropriate.
“It wasn’t this cold when I left the house. How was I supposed to know a norther was going to hit?” She followed him across the yard to the shielded side of the big, weathered structure.
“Before you leave, I’m going to find a cloak or something for you to wear on the way home.” He didn’t need anything else on his conscience, like Tuck’s sister catching pneumonia.
“There’s a blanket in the wagon. I can use that.” Addy stomped her small foot, and wrinkles puckered the skin between her eyes. “Stop fussing, Rafe. I need to talk to you.”
“I’m sorry.” Rafe frowned. He should’ve noticed how nervous Addy seemed. Maybe someone was ill. Dread washed over him. “Is Tuck all right?”
She took a deep breath. “I’m not sure. She says she’s fine, but she’s been behaving strangely ever since she went for a carriage ride with Sam a few days ago.”
Rafe’s stomach twisted and knotted, and he tightened his lips. “Have you questioned her?”
“Of course I’ve questioned her. She just laughs or gets angry and tells me to stop fussing over her. She insists everything is fine.” Addy twisted the handkerchief in her hand. “Rafe, I don’t trust that man.”
Worry niggled its way inside Rafe’s mind. Addy knew Tuck better than anyone, except maybe him. If she thought something was wrong, she was likely right. Of course, this was the first time Tuck had taken up with some man. That might change things. There could be some things she just didn’t want to share with her sister, and maybe some of those things weren’t so good. He licked his dry lips.
He’d always thought Tuck pretty levelheaded, but she’d fallen pretty hard for Fields. His chest tightened. He didn’t trust him either. He never had since he’d first laid eyes on him. He wasn’t sure why, couldn’t quite put his finger on anything really wrong. He’d finally decided it was jealousy on his part. But now, with Addy saying the same thing, he wasn’t so certain. Surely the man hadn’t taken liberties with her. Naw, she’d have come straight to Rafe and told him. Wouldn’t she?
“Look, Addy. I don’t know what I can do. Tuck’s not talking to me the way she used to. Why don’t you talk to your pa?” Yes, that would be the sensible thing. Jack would check it out.
“Because, I don’t know what Pa would do. Probably go straight to Abby and confront her. Then she’d never speak to me again.” She bit her lip and blinked back tears. It was obvious this wasn’t just a small concern to her.
“All right. Let me think about this. I’m not sure what I can do, but I’ll figure out something. If anything is wrong, I promise I’ll find out. Trust me?” He laid his hand on her shoulder, and it felt so much like Tuck’s he jerked his hand away.
Addy smiled. “Of course I trust you. Why would I have come here otherwise? I know how much you care about Abby. I wish she would open her eyes, because I know she cares about you, too, Rafe.”
He smiled. “I know she does. Like a brother or something.”
“I think you’re wrong, Rafe. You mean a great deal more than that to her. She just doesn’t realize it yet.” She placed her hand, so much like Tuck’s, on his arm. “Don’t give up on her.”
He sighed. “I don’t know, Addy. Sometimes it seems hopeless, and I think I’m an idiot to keep hoping she could ever love me.”
“Well, if anyone is an idiot, it’s Abby, not you. I hope she finds out before it’s too late.”
“Me, too. But the important thing now is to figure out what’s going on. Don’t worry. If anything is wrong, I’ll take care of it.”
As he watched her drive away, Rafe sent up a silent prayer that he could keep his promise.
Chapter 13
The store was dark in spite of the oil lamps placed around the big room. Tuck hated these cloudy days when she didn’t know if it was going to pour down rain or not. Especially when she and the oldsters had a practice. She walked to the post office at the rear of the store. She needed to mail Pa’s letter before she did Ma’s shopping. Otherwise she’d probably forget.
There was no sign of the manager in the store or behind the post office window. He must be in the storage room. She laid the lett
er on the counter in front of the window where he would find it. She’d pay for the stamp after she finished shopping.
As she walked over to the dry goods section, the front door opened and Sam walked in. She caught her breath. She hadn’t seen him since the attempted kiss and what followed.
He saw her and started toward her.
She stiffened, not knowing what to expect or even what she wanted him to do or say as he stopped in front of her.
“I’m so sorry, Abigail. I don’t know what came over me. Maybe it was the moonlight shining on your hair. I guess I lost control for a moment.” Sam gave her a contrite and pleading glance. Like she’d fall for that.
She stared, not sure what to say. She didn’t want to assume he was lying, but she couldn’t forget his cold rage and her suspicion he wanted to hit her.
“Say something, please. Tell me you forgive me.” He smiled sadly. And the expression on his face seemed sincere.
“What about the fit you threw?”
He looked away then back. “I was shocked when you slapped me, although you had every right to do so. I think that, combined with the realization of what I’d done, caused me to lose control.”
“For a moment, I thought you would hit me.” Again, anger began to boil inside her. He would have been in for a surprise if he had. She took a deep breath. Who was she kidding? He was a lot stronger than she was.
“Oh no, Abby, please don’t think I would ever harm a hair of your head, my dear. You’re much too precious to me.” She avoided the hand he reached out for hers. “And of course, I wouldn’t strike any woman on any account.”
She swallowed. Should she believe him? Trust him? As he looked at her with those deep, searching eyes, her resolve began to melt. Perhaps she should give him a second chance. He deserved that, didn’t he? After all, everyone needed a second chance now and then. “All right, Sam. I forgive you. But if anything similar should ever happen again, don’t come near me or even attempt to speak to me.”
This time when he reached for her hand, she made no move to avoid it.
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