by Maggie Ryan
As they cleaned the animal, Matthew spoke quietly, stating how God had put creatures on the Earth to provide for his children, and that respect should always be given for their sacrifice. He was pleased to see Davy's nod of understanding. Once they had the animal butchered and wrapped in the canvas bag Matthew had brought along, he sent Davy down to the river to wash the knife and his hands. Pulling another blade from the sheath wrapped around his thigh, Matthew made a few more cuts and then rolled the hide into a cylinder, tucking it into another bag.
Davy did a perfect job leading them home, King often bounding off to explore on his own but returning when Davy clapped his hands or Matthew whistled. The moment they stepped from the woods, Davy broke into a run, eager to show his ma what they'd accomplished. Matthew wished again that the boy was able to tell her about his first hunting trip. Suddenly he stopped and grinned. "Potatoes and corn, indeed," he said, chuckling. "Eyes and ears." It was actually quite a clever way to remind him that they weren't alone, that a child was watching and listening.
***
The next morning, Roger and Richard joined Matthew on the trip up the ridge. After accepting cups of coffee from Sally, the concern she'd felt about asking strangers for help dissipated when Roger squatted down beside Davy, admiring his dog and telling her son that he'd heard from Matthew that he was quite the worker.
"A man is only as good as his tools," Roger said, pulling a pair of gloves from his pocket. Davy instantly put them on, his fingers not reaching the ends and yet he grinned. "I bet you'll fill those out in no time." Roger gave King another scratch before he stood.
"I wanted to thank you for your offer to pasture our herd," Sally said as she accepted the empty cup from Richard. "It is a very generous thing to do."
"You'll find that every person on the Rose will never hesitate to do whatever we can to help another," Richard said and then chuckled. "In fact, I hope you won't mind, but Charity and Anna are coming up in just a bit."
"That didn't take long, did it?" Matthew said, shaking his head but smiling as he did so.
"Hey, don't blame me," Richard said. "You know them; according to Anna, they have been exercising severe restraint by not coming before. If it makes you feel more welcoming, Charity is bringing a pie, and Anna some dish to share, as well."
"Pie?" Matthew said. Slipping his arm around Sally's waist, he said, "They're good people, nosey but good and, well, there is pie involved."
"You're like a little boy when it comes to pie, aren't you? It's fine. I'm surrounded by men all the time. It will be nice to have other women to talk to." When all three men groaned, she smiled. "That just makes me even more curious as to what they have to say."
"That's what we're afraid of," Roger said.
"Just remember, there's two sides to every story," Richard contributed.
"You have nothing to add, Matthew?" she asked, enjoying the banter, having seen these men with their wives during the short time she'd been in the restaurant's kitchen, their love and respect for their women evident in the way they seated them, spoke to them and more importantly, reached out to touch their hands, kiss a cheek or give a smile.
"No, I think the less said, the better." Matthew gave her a kiss and when Roger chuckled, he said, "Yup, definitely better if I just go pound some nails."
The four of them walked off together, Sally's worry about Davy's reaction gone as he practically strutted when Matthew suggested he lead the way. As she began to cut chunks of the raccoon that had been brining in salt water, she realized that she truly was excited about spending some time with the women and perhaps learning a bit more about the man she'd given her heart to.
She was just coming back from the river with a bucket of water when she heard the sound of laughter. Lifting her head, she watched as a wagon came over the ridge, the blonde woman waving the moment they met glances. "Hello!" Charity called, then squealed, as the angle required to climb onto the flat mesa was steep enough to cause her to have to drop her hand to clutch at the wagon seat, as well as grab her small daughter who was sitting between the two. Once all four wheels were on the ground, Anna drove the team closer and then stopped the wagon, setting the brake and wrapping the reins around it before climbing down.
"Well, that was exciting," Charity said, climbing down and lifting her arms to help Hope. The moment Anna descended, she came around the wagon and headed straight towards Sally, who'd reached the campsite. It was a good thing Sally had set the bucket down as Anna threw her arms around her in a giant hug.
"Oh, I can't tell you how relieved I was to hear that you forgive me," she said. "I felt just awful upsetting you and your son."
It took Sally a moment before she understood that the beautiful redhead was talking about the storms she'd heard about from her mother's letter. "There is nothing to forgive."
Anna gave her another hug and then stepped away to allow Charity to do the same. Hope looked around and then up at Sally. "Where's Daybe?"
"Hope, first say your hellos to Mrs. Jefferson," Charity softly chastised.
"Hewwo, Daybe?"
Sally laughed and bent down to the girl's level. "Hello to you too, Miss Hope. Davy is working but he'll be glad to see you."
"I hope you don't mind but she's been asking about him ever since that day in town," Charity said.
"I don't mind at all," Sally assured her. "I'm sure Davy misses having other children to play with, though Matthew makes sure to do something fun every day after they've worked."
Anna and Charity exchanged a look and a smile before Anna said, "That I want to see. Matthew having fun."
"What she means is that our Matt has always been the silent type, working like a mule from dawn to dark. It's nice that he's allowed himself some time to just relax."
Sally laughed. "The man has been here every day working. I'm not sure that really qualifies as relaxing."
"Trust me, it does," Anna said. "Now, I want you to know that we had to pay a price for today's fun. Agatha was mad as a wet hen when Wyatt forbade her to come because she is getting so huge and her feet continue to swell."
Charity giggled. "Since Wyatt decided she needed to stay close to home, she volunteered to watch Johnny and Grace and insisted Wyatt help, considering it as practice."
"And she insisted that the next Tick-Tock meeting be held at her house," Anna added.
"Tick-Tock?"
"Oh, Sally, we have so very much to talk about," Anna said, linking her arm with Sally's. Charity giggled, and though Sally really had no idea what the women were talking about, she couldn't wait to find out.
They retrieved the basket containing the fresh loaf of bread that Anna had baked, along with a pot of greens mixed with beans, and the two pies Charity had made. Hope was warned to stay close, and when Sally suggested that she could have a special play place beneath the wagon, Hope happily agreed, taking a blanket and her doll with her, and was soon holding her own tea party while the women chatted.
"This brings back so many memories," Anna said from where they sat on a quilt. "It still amazes me that we lived in a wagon like yours for months." She gave a brief history of how she'd only been wed a day before she and Richard joined a wagon train. "I was so unprepared, but will be forever grateful we did because that's where we met Charity and James, as well as Wyatt, Roger and your Matthew."
Sally felt a warm feeling at hearing Matthew referred to as hers even as she felt a pang at the price her own travels had cost her and Davy. Though the women didn't ask, she told them how her husband had lost his life, all three quiet for a moment. Suddenly unsure of the assurance she'd received from Matthew, she said, "I know it seems fast… I mean, with Matthew, but…"
"I don't believe there is a time line for love," Anna said, reaching for Sally's hand. "Though I had known Richard when I was a young girl, when he returned to Crooked Creek, it wasn't a week before we were wed and leaving our home. I'm sure that Tanner would be very happy to know you've found someone to love, and Matthew is a good man."
/>
"Thank you," Sally said. "I never even considered finding someone but I thank God that he found me."
By the time they saw the men walking towards them, Sally knew she'd found friends who not only understood, but were truly happy for Matthew. Hope dashed from beneath the wagon and flew as fast as her little legs could carry her towards them.
"Daybe!" she yelled, running smack dab into him, causing him to stagger just a bit. He regained his feet, and though he looked a bit befuddled, he smiled and began nodding as Hope chattered like a little magpie, telling him about her secret place and inviting him to tea. Sally smiled, proud that her son was being so polite and then her heart stuttered a bit as her mind jumped ahead a few years to when her baby boy would one day find his own mate… another female taking her place in his life.
"Whatever these two have told you, I hope you took it with a big grain of salt," Matthew said, pulling Sally into his arms when she stood to greet him.
"Oh, so I shouldn't believe that you are a hard worker and a good man?" Sally teased.
"Um, no, that you can believe," Matthew said, giving her cheek a kiss.
"What's the wagon doing up here?" Richard asked.
"Richard, it's Sally and Davy's home, silly," Anna said, also having stood to greet her husband. "Ow! What was that for?"
Sally was a bit surprised to see Richard swatting Anna's backside but the woman didn't seem the least bit embarrassed.
"Not that wagon, young lady," Richard said, pointing to the wagon they'd driven to the ridge. "I distinctly remember saying to leave it below the ridge and walk up."
"Richard Lewis, I helped drive a covered wagon two-thousand miles. It was silly to leave it down below. Besides, it was exiting! You should have heard Charity squeal when she almost fell off… oh, um, I mean…"
Matthew chuckled and Charity shook her head, a smile on her lips as Anna's voice trailed off.
"Exactly," Richard said, giving his wife his own grin. "We'll discuss this later but right now, I'm about to swoon from hunger. What smells so good?"
"Raccoon stew," Sally answered. "Davy and Matthew went hunting yesterday. Come, sit down. Everything's ready."
It was a fun picnic, the conversation easy, the food delicious. As plates of pie were passed around, Anna said, "Richard said you're close to finishing the corral. How about tomorrow you take a much deserved break? Agatha is chomping at the bit to get to know our new neighbors. We can have a pot luck supper to celebrate the corral and—"
"Have our meeting!" Charity added
"Meeting?" Matthew asked, his brow furrowing as he looked from Anna to Sally.
"I'm not too sure, but I think it has something to do with a clock," she offered, giving a little shrug. Richard and Roger groaned. "What?" Sally asked. "I'm sure Anna mentioned ticking."
"That's what we're afraid of," Richard said, ignoring both his wife's huff and the elbow she dug into his ribs.
"Face it, Matt, once your gal is a full-fledged member of their Tick-Tock club, you'll be out of their secret little loop but you'll be discussed ad nauseam."
"Oh, don't be silly, Roger," Charity said. "We talk about our children, share recipes, help each other with sewing, discuss what needs to be done around the ranch." She took a big bite of pie and, after swallowing, grinned. "Oh, and sometimes, we might discuss how very much we love our husbands."
Anna giggled and Sally suddenly couldn't wait to attend her first meeting. "If you're sure you have time, I'd love to come."
Hope had fallen asleep on the quilt but when Sally suggested Davy might want to take his nap outside the wagon, the look on his face had Matthew chuckling. "Sorry, Sally, but we need him to finish the job." Before his ma could disagree, Davy had headed off towards the corral again.
"But he didn't nap yesterday, either," Sally said.
"Face it, he's growing up," Matthew said, dropping a kiss on the top of her head.
Sally shrugged. "Too bad, because I really enjoyed the times with my big man when that little man was in dreamland." She adored Matthew's expression, his eyes widening a bit and his brow furrowing.
"Shit, I didn't consider that."
"Why is it that you can curse, and I get my…" His grin had her remembering they had company. "Um, never mind." Shaking her head, she kissed his cheek. "Now go away. I've got an agenda to discuss with my fellow club members."
All three women laughed as Matthew made a show of turning, head down, shoulders drooping as he slowly trudged away.
"Oh, you have him caught… hook, line and sinker," Anna said.
"And that is one very happy fish," Charity added. "He's not even wiggling a tiny bit."
Chapter Fourteen
Davy drove the nail into the last log, completing the railing. Matthew clapped him on the back. "Now that's a corral," he said. "Good job, son."
The boy beamed and went to Richard and Roger, shaking their hands in thanks. Both men thanked him for allowing them in on the fun as they gathered the tools. After the women and Hope joined them, they watched as Davy led Buttercup into her new home, Dandy following. Matthew was a bit surprised when Davy went to where Ranger was grazing, unlooped the reins from the branch, and led him into the corral. It was a simple thing and yet touched Matthew deeply. The day's chores finished, Davy and King entertained Hope with a game of chase while the adults talked about the scheduling of the next day.
"What can I bring for supper?" Sally asked.
"Not a thing," Charity said. "You're the guests of honor."
"Thank you so much for inviting us," Anna said, giving Sally a hug, and then giggled. "Well, for not being upset that we sort of invited ourselves."
"Sort of?" Matthew said, shaking his head.
Anna smiled. "Matthew, if we had to wait for you to invite us, we'd all be old and gray. Now that we are friends, we won't let you keep Sally all to yourself."
"Come on, sweetie, time to go home," Charity called to Hope.
"No… stay with Daybe," Hope said, attempting to turn and run back towards King. Matthew easily scooped her up as she ran past.
Anna smiled as he tossed her up in the air. "And since our little Hope has her own new friend, we plan on seeing a lot of Davy as well." She kissed Matthew's cheek and was turning to say goodbye to Davy when he ran towards the wagon. "Oh, you don't think he's upset about what I said, do you?"
"I wouldn't think so," Matthew said. Sally had started for the wagon when Davy jumped from the back, running towards them again. The adults watched as he stopped beside Charity, a rumpled brown sack in his hands. Opening it had Hope's eyes going wide and a smile appearing on her face when Davy pulled out his last two gumdrops, offering them on his palm.
"That's so sweet," Charity said, "what do you say, Hope?"
"Wed!" Hope responded, reaching for the treat.
"Manners," Charity reminded her and once the child had said her thanks, Davy passed her the candy. Before she popped it into her mouth, she pointed to the other gumdrop and said, "Gween, Daybe!" As he took a bite, she nodded, smiling around the bulge in her cheek.
"Nope, don't think he's upset at all," Matthew said with a grin.
The three stood as their friends left, waving until Richard, who was taking the rear to ensure that the wagon descended the ridge safely, turned back and tipped his hat. A short exclamation of surprise rose over the sound of the wagon wheels and Matthew chuckled.
"I wondered how you got the wagon up here, and now I'm just glad I wasn't here to watch. I bet Richard's gonna have a few words with that woman tonight."
"Well, I had oxen and Mr. Morgan's help, which made it easier, but Anna seems perfectly capable of handling the wagon," Sally said.
"Being capable doesn't preclude ignoring instructions," Matthew said, "something a certain little redhead seems to forget on a regular basis, regardless of how those 'words' are delivered."
"Oh, Richard doesn't strike me as the sort of man who would yell at her," Sally said, "he seems so calm and polite."
"I don't think I've ever heard the man yelling," Matthew agreed. "But, darlin', a man doesn't need to raise his voice to make his point. Not when he can raise the very tools God gave him to remind his gal what happens when she puts herself in danger."
When his hand dropped to caress her rear, Sally gasped. "Are you saying… oh, my."
"Oh my indeed," Matthew said, giving her a bigger grin that had Sally rolling her eyes until he reached for her. Laughing, she ducked away, running across the grass, King barking at the game as Matthew took off after her. Davy joined in the chase, which turned into a game of tag until they all dropped, exhausted and laughing until Sally gave a squeal when a large hand patted her backside.
"Does that mean I'm it?" she asked, rolling over from where she'd been lying on her tummy.
"You'll always be 'it' in my book," Matthew said, bending down to kiss her.
Sally heated up the remaining stew for their supper as Matthew watched. "I've got a few things that I need to tend to in the morning but I will come up in the early afternoon."
"I know I should feel bad about all the time you've given us but, well, I'd be lying," Sally said, stirring the greens Anna had insisted on leaving with her. "But that doesn't mean I don't understand that a ranch takes work. We'll be just fine. In fact, Anna said to come a bit early so you don't need to come up; we'll just ride down at around three or so."
Matthew reluctantly agreed, torn between his responsibilities to his partners and his desire to spend every moment with Sally and Davy. After supper, he watched as Davy flexed his hands, giving them a little shake as the two washed their hands in the river. Returning to the campsite, Matthew took a seat on the quilt. "Davy, come here son, I want to check your hands."
