by Kit Morgan
He smiled back. “Well, Mrs. White, are you ready for supper?”
She nodded, unable to speak. The other women seemed to understand, nodded, then took their husbands’ arms and headed out of the church.
“Everythin’ all right?” Oscar asked.
Lily nodded, still silent.
“C’mon, Mrs. White,” he said gently, sensing her distress. “Let’s go back to the hotel and have somethin’ to eat to celebrate.”
Lily forced herself to meet his gaze, and to speak. “Whatever you say, Mr. White.”
Oscar leaned over to whisper in Lily’s ear. “Harrison and Colin done gave us some cattle. Wasn’t that nice?”
Lily shook herself and looked at him. She’d been woolgathering again about living so far away from town. “I beg your pardon?”
“Cattle. They’re giving us some cattle as a wedding present. That’s mighty nice of them, Lily.”
“Oh … yes,” she said in surprise. “How many?”
He leaned toward her again. “Two bulls and half a dozen cows.”
She blinked. “Isn’t that a lot?”
“Well, when Harrison married Sadie his new father-in-law gave him a thousand head. But for our family, eight is enough.”
“A thousand head,” she said in surprise.
“Well, Sadie’s pa is a wealthy cattle baron down near El Paso. He wanted Harrison to join the family business, so he built up their ranch and gave them a thousand head to get started.”
Lily could only stare. The Cookes didn’t dress like they were rich, certainly not like she would expect rich cattle ranchers and their wives to. Then again, what did such people wear? How would she know – she was from the South, not the West. Perhaps here that was as good as it got – which would mean she didn’t have to worry about her own tattered wardrobe so much. “That was very kind of them.”
“Sure was. Ma’s gonna bust a gut when she finds out. Harrison said he’d have his foreman Logan bring them in a few weeks. You’ll like Logan – he’s a nice man.”
“Yes, you mentioned him before, I think.”
“I did? Gosh, honey, at this point I cain’t remember much of the last few hours. I’ve still got my head in the clouds.”
She studied him a moment, wondering at the endearment. That was the first time he’d called her “honey.” She smiled as Sally Upton pushed a cart of food into their midst. The small wedding party took up two tables and were the only ones in the dining parlor save for two men in the far corner, who had the busy look of traveling salesmen – hotel guests, she presumed. She wondered what business they had in Clear Creek.
“Chicken and dumplins,” Oscar said. “One of my favorites. I do like Sally’s recipe.” He glanced around, then whispered, “but I like my Ma’s better.”
Lily giggled. “Almost every man thinks his mother is the best cook in the world.”
“Can I help it if mine almost is?”
“Almost? Why is she almost?”
Oscar laughed. “‘Cause she says I’m better.”
Lily found herself laughing with him. It felt good to be in better spirits, and to have food in front of her. Sally had set them up with a huge beef roast, savory vegetables, mashed potatoes and a few things she didn’t recognize, in addition to the aforementioned chicken and dumplings. Her stomach rumbled like a steamship pulling into the harbor.
Oscar picked up the dish of chicken and dumplings and began to spoon some onto her plate. She sniffed at it. “Mm, it smells delicious,” she groaned.
“That’s because it is,” Sally set the last dish – spoon bread – on the table. “Congratulations, you two, and eat up!” She spun on her heel and headed back to the kitchen.
Lily laughed again. “Is she always that exuberant?”
“Always,” several at the table said at once, exchanged looks and burst into laughter themselves. Harrison calmed down first and said a quick blessing over the food before everyone dug in.
Lily was determined to enjoy this sliver of peace and calm and … dare she say, joy? … before she had to face her next fearful hurdle. Her wedding night. Frankly, she didn’t want to think about that yet. Maybe if she were lucky, Oscar would stuff himself so full of food he’d pass out before they got to that. He was such a big powerful man, but seemed kind, gentle and concerned for her. Could she ask for anything more? Dare she? In truth she didn’t think she deserved someone like him.
After tonight, he might think the same thing.
“Oscar, Harrison just informed me he’s sending Logan your way in a few weeks,” Sadie said.
“That’s right,” Oscar said. “To deliver our weddin’ present. I cain’t tell ya how happy yer husband made me, or how happy he’s gonna make my family. Thank ya.”
Sadie waved a hand at him. “Think nothing of it – we’re glad to do it. I was just thinking … if Belle and I can get away, we might take the stage out to your place and visit with Lily and your mama for a day or two. Then Logan can bring us back.”
“What?!” Harrison sputtered over his potatoes. “What’s that you say, wife?”
“I think that’s a wonderful idea,” Belle said.
“Wait, wait,” Colin objected. “Shouldn’t we men have a say in this?”
Cyrus and Polly Van Cleet laughed. “Oh, let the women go visit, Colin,” Cyrus said. “Besides, Mrs. White could do with a nice visit from Sadie and Belle, isn’t that right, Oscar?”
“I wouldn’t object,” Lily replied.
“But if the stage stop is busy, there might not be much time for visitin’,” Oscar said matter-of-factly. “More likely Ma will put the two of ya to work.”
Colin broke into laughter. “Oh, then you must go visit, darling,” he told Belle. “Scrubbing floors and changing bedsheets never hurt anyone.”
“Careful, husband,” she riposted. “You’ll be doing that if we’re gone for a while.” She turned to Lily. “And with five children, that’s a lot of bedsheets.”
“Five?” Lily said in surprise. “My goodness.”
“Don’t worry, Mrs. Cooke,” Oscar said. “We got six bedrooms, most with two beds in them. There’ll be plenty of sheets to go ‘round.”
Belle glared at Oscar, while Colin laughed in response. The good-natured Cookes were a delight to be around – Lily wanted them to visit, even if they did end up working for Oscar’s mother. “I’ll try to make sure the work gets done so you won’t have to do any,” she assured them, sounding more confident than she felt. Well, she’d only said she would try …
“We don’t mind pitching in,” Sadie said.
I may need all the help I can get, Lily thought. She’d have to get used to hard work, even if Belle and Sadie came to lighten her load for a few days. Besides, if she kept busy enough, maybe Oscar wouldn’t be put off by …
“Spinach?” Oscar offered, a bowl in one hand, a serving spoon in the other.
She sighed and nodded. Best not to think about it. In fact, if she had her way, Oscar would never find out. But there’s no getting around it. We’re married now. He’s going to find out sooner or later. She just hoped it was later. She glanced at the next table, where Preacher Jo and Annie, the Dunnigans and the Mulligans sat chatting, eating and enjoying themselves. Once again she found herself staring at Annie’s scars.
Lily glanced at Oscar, closed her eyes for moment and sent up a silent prayer: Please don’t let him be disappointed. Please don’t let him send me back.
Chapter 6
“That was some supper, wasn’t it?” Oscar asked Lily Fair as they reached the door of their room. When she didn’t say anything, he looked at her. “Somethin’ wrong?”
She shook her head and smiled nervously.
He unlocked the door and pushed it open. “I guess this here’s the part where I pick ya up and carry ya ‘cross the threshold.” He stood looking at her, waiting for her response.
She swallowed hard as her eyes grew round. Good grief, she wasn’t going to bolt down the hall, was she? “I guess
so,” she squeaked.
“I don’t hafta if ya don’t want me to,” he said gently. “But I think the notion’s kinda romantic. Personally I’d like to carry ya across.”
Lily’s eyes grew larger. “You would?”
“‘Course I would. Yer my bride and … well, I only plan on doin’ this once.”
She looked away. “So did I. Things didn’t work out that way for me, though. I hope they do for you … I mean, for us.”
Oscar picked up something in her voice – regret? He hoped it wasn’t about him – he’d hate to think she regretted marrying him already. Land sakes, it had only been a few hours! He faced her, palms up in invitation. “May I?”
She studied him a moment, then nodded.
Oscar smiled in relief, bent down and scooped her into his arms. “Mrs. White, I’ll never forget this moment. I hope ya won’t either.” He stepped across the threshold and into the room, but didn’t set her down. Instead he studied her face, her hair, her eyes. She had beautiful eyes with thick dark lashes. He was still working to grasp that she was his. He’d seen beautiful women before – the stage stop was no stranger to them, given how many folks came through. But this lady, his Lily Fair, was his and his alone –
“Oscar?”
He shook himself out of his thoughts. “Gosh, guess I was woolgathering. I reckon ya want me to put ya down, huh?”
She smiled and nodded. “That would be good for starters.”
“For starters?” he repeated. “Then what?”
She shrugged. “It’s getting rather late. I think bed is in order.”
He swallowed hard as a nervous tingle went up his spine. Oh heavens – bed. With her. His wife.
“Oscar?”
“Land sakes, there I go again.”
She giggled. “Why don’t you put me down now?”
“Um, sure.” He set her on her feet and took a step back, as if she would break if he stood too close. “Can I get ya anythin’? Some water, maybe?”
She shook her head and covered a smile.
“What’s so funny?”
“You are.” She clasped her hands in front of her. “I have to admit I was nervous before, but … you seem to be more nervous than I am.”
He stared at her a moment, then threw his head back and laughed. “Tarnation, woman, if ya ain’t perceptive.”
“So I’m right?” she teased.
Oscar stifled his chuckling, went to a nearby chair and sat. “All right, I admit it, I’m plumb nervous. I ain’t never been this nervous in my life. I don’t know how you brides do it.”
She sat in the chair next to his, folded her hands in her lap and stared at them. “Usually the bride is more nervous than the groom.”
“Why’s that? If I’m this nervous, then ya must be going plumb crazy.”
She chuckled. “Most brides are terrified because they’re coming into a marriage with, um … no experience.”
Oscar jerked as if slapped. “Oh yeah. That. But … then ya shouldn’t be nervous. Ya done been married before.”
She nodded in agreement. “True …”
Oscar pulled at his collar. “So at least ya gotta few miles under yer saddle …” As soon as the words were out he grimaced, squeezed his eyes shut and had to force them back open. “I’m sorry, Lily Fair. That was a horrible thing to say. When I get nervous like this I can’t talk right. Can you forgive me?”
She pressed her lips together and nodded, as if she didn’t trust what might come out of her own mouth.
“What I mean is, when a person like yerself’s been married before, certain things won’t be as new as they might be… uh …” He gulped and glanced around the room. “… well, to me.”
That got her attention. Her eyebrows slowly rose as comprehension dawned. “Oh. Oh dear. I think I understand.”
“Really? I mean, do ya really understand?”
She quickly began to fiddle with the worn sleeve of her dress. “Are you saying that you’ve never…er … been with a woman?”
Oscar looked her in the eye. “Yes, ma’am, that’s what I’m sayin’.”
A shudder ran through his new wife – he wasn’t sure how to interpret that. But her next words were clear. “Then might I suggest we take a little time to get to know each other?”
He sighed in relief. “Ya know what, Lily Fair? I like that idea just fine.”
Lily Fair thanked the Almighty over the next several hours as she and Oscar took the time to get to know each other. That her new husband admitted he had no experience with women actually endeared him to her. He really was more nervous than she, and for good reason.
He’d probably worried she might think less of him for it, which of course was patently absurd. But then again, he was forty-five years of age – for a man to hold onto his purity for that long was unusual. Men were men, after all. Still, he’d spent most of his life somewhat isolated with his family, away from the rest of the world. Because of that, she could believe it.
“Henry’s special,” Oscar was saying, drawing her back into their conversation.
“How so?”
“On account he sees things different from you or me. Most other folks just call him stupid, but he ain’t – he’s just kinda slow. And he says things ‘zactly as he sees them. There’s an innocence in that, ya know?”
“Yes,” she said with a nod. “I think I understand. Can he read and write?”
“Oh sure – it’s just that he’s not as grown-up as the rest of us. And it’s not like he’s thirty years behind, either. Twenty, maybe …”
She took a deep breath and let it out slowly, her brow creased in thought. “I knew someone like that once – Violet Margrave. She was the daughter of a plantation owner. Her parents kept her at home when the family was invited to parties and other social gatherings. They hosted events at their plantation too, of course, but one rarely saw her. I was never sure if she stayed in her room by choice, or her parents kept her there when company was in the house.”
“That’s wrong,” Oscar said, his voice deeper. “Just wrong.”
“I agree. But there are those who don’t know how to properly handle someone who is …” She waved a hand in the air, looking for the right word. “… different from them. But I’m sure you don’t treat Henry any different than you treat your younger brother Anson, do you?”
“‘Course not. I look after both my brothers. And any man who’d harm either one of them … he’ll be sorry.”
She noted the flash of anger in his eyes and wondered what happened in the past to give him such a look. Should she ask?
She didn’t have to. “Once some men came through, outlaws, and tried to steal our horses by tellin’ Henry they bought them from Ma. Henry may be slow, but he ain’t that slow. He chased one of them out of the barn with a pitchfork. Lucky for Henry the man wasn’t wearin’ a gun at the time – I guess he thought he needn’t bother.” Oscar chuckled at the recollection. “Then Anson came along, grabbed another pitchfork, and did more than just chase one.”
“Oh my goodness, what happened?” she asked, a hand on her heart.
“He stabbed that fella right in the seat, and a few other places. I’m sure that scoundrel wasn’t able to ride a horse for a month.”
“But if they were outlaws, what did they do? Did they leave, or cause you trouble?”
“Oh, they tried to cause trouble, all right. And the rest of them were wearing their guns. I had to knock a couple of their heads together, and Anson clobbered another with one of Ma’s favorite chairs. She was purty sore at Anson for that.”
Lily covered her mouth to stifle a giggle. “Oh dear!”
Oscar nodded as his face took on a far-off look. “Then Henry took this bullwhip one of the stagecoach drivers gave him the year before. He cracked that thing and split one of them outlaws’ faces wide open, starting right here.” He pointed to a spot over his right eye. “All the way down to here,” he added as his finger traveled to the right corner of his mouth.
/> At this point Lily’s own mouth hung open, her eyes popped wide. “What did the outlaws do?”
Oscar rolled his eyes. “The darn fool Henry whipped tried to shoot him. But he had his right hand over his wounded eye, tryin’ to unholster his gun on his left hip with his left hand. He got himself all kinds of tangled up and fell right over, his gun went off and he shot one of his partners in the leg. That fella tried to pull his gun while he was stumblin’ ‘round, wound up shootin’ another one of their gang. Well, I figgered I’d better put a stop to it before they all killed each other …”
Ladylike or not, Lily burst out laughing. “Oh my goodness, that’s terrible! Not that you put a stop to it, but that they kept shooting each other on pure accident.”
Oscar smiled and nodded. “Yep. And all ‘cause Henry wasn’t ‘bout to listen to no hogwash.”
“I can’t wait to meet your brothers and your mother.”
“I cain’t wait for them to meet you neither. I gotta say, I’m excited – Ma’s gonna bust a gut when she sees ya.”
“Because you’re finally married?”
“No,” he said. “She knew I’d get hitched eventually. It’s ‘cause yer so beautiful.”
Lily quickly sobered. She unconsciously reached a hand up to her cheek and let it drift down her neck to her waist. “The Good Book says beauty is fleeting.”
“It does say that. But that don’t mean I cain’t enjoy it while it’s here.”
She smiled. Oscar White was a big man, powerfully built, used to hard work. True, he wasn’t much to look at – his hair was thick, dark and unruly, with streaks of silver. His eyebrows were also dark and thick and … well, joined, giving him the appearance of having only one. His voice was deep and probably scary when he was angry. In short, he could be a force to be reckoned with.
But he was gentle and deferential, and acted like a gentleman. He spoke well, albeit in a country drawl that betrayed a lack of formal education. (Not a surprise; where he grew up, they didn’t even have a one-room schoolhouse, let alone tutors like she’d enjoyed.) He was obviously intelligent, and certainly not lazy. She liked him. She just hoped that after the next few days, he liked her as much.
