Whirlwind Bride

by Debra Cowan

  What if Davis Lee was right and she could learn to survive here? No, Riley wouldn’t let himself imagine it. Maddie had learned a lot of things, and this land had taken its toll on her. On him. If he didn’t watch out, Susannah would have him ass backwards, where he didn’t know come ’ere from sic ’em.

  “I think she’s just lookin’ for some cover,” he said. “Somebody she doesn’t expect anything from. Someone who doesn’t expect anything of her.”

  “Why? Because of what happened to her husband?”

  “Yes, because of him.” That wasn’t a lie. Exactly.

  Susannah’s interest in Riley had to do with finding a father for her baby, not a man for herself.

  Why that should make him want to hit the wall he didn’t know. He knew where she stood. She knew the same about him. No expectations, no high hopes. No problems.

  Chapter Ten

  Susannah wanted Riley’s good opinion and it irritated her no end. He wasn’t likely to change his mind about her, especially after what had happened to his wife, and Susannah shouldn’t care. She’d made her decision to stay in Whirlwind.

  Christmas Day dawned clear and cold. She helped Cora as much as she could with the cooking, mostly by sitting next to the stove and mixing or stirring or paring. She cut the biscuits while Cora tended the stuffed hen roasting in the stove.

  As she helped the older woman move food to the table, she found her thoughts drifting. In the week since she’d seen Riley at church and Cora had invited the Holt brothers to Christmas dinner, Susannah had done her best to forget about him. It was as difficult to do as if she’d tried to forget about the babe she carried.

  Learning the details of Riley’s wife’s death only made Susannah more curious about him. She remembered Adam saying it had been a love match. Did Riley still mourn his wife? Was the holiday as hard for him as it was for her? Would he ever marry again? When Susannah had first met him, he’d said no.

  Just after noon, the jingle of harness and rattle of wagon wheels sounded outside.

  “Oh, good, the boys are here. Since Davis Lee spends Christmas Eve at the ranch with Riley, I thought they’d come together.” Cora pulled the bird from the stove and set it on top.

  A quick double knock came on the door and Davis Lee stuck his head inside. “Merry Christmas, ladies.”

  Riley appeared in the doorway beside him. “Merry Christmas.”

  Cora and Susannah echoed the sentiment. Conscious of her appearance, Susannah refrained from smoothing a hand over her hair or checking the red ribbon in her chignon.

  Smiling, Cora walked to the door. “Come in, come in. Dinner’s nearly on the table.”

  Davis Lee stepped inside, looking up as he did so at the cluster of mistletoe hanging there. “Hey, little brother, lookee here.”

  Riley ducked through the doorway and grinned. “Can’t let that go to waste.”

  The elder Holt brother grabbed Cora on one side and Riley grabbed her on the other. Both men gave her a loud kiss on the cheek.

  “You two.” She batted at them, obviously pleased.

  Susannah laughed, pushing away the wistful thought of she and Riley sharing the traditional Christmas kiss. “Cora looked and looked for a clump with berries.”

  “And I found one, too,” the other woman said proudly. “Even if it is only one berry.”

  “Come outside,” Davis Lee urged. “We’ve got something for you.”

  She looked from one to the other. “What have you boys done?”

  “Come see.” Riley grinned.

  Susannah moved around the table and Riley motioned for her to precede him outside. “How are you today?”

  “Very well.” She patted her protruding belly. “Large, but well.”

  “You look pretty.” His gaze flickered over her, dark and intense, sending a tingle under her skin.

  “Thank you.” Standing under the mistletoe with him made her nervous. Hopeful. Which she didn’t like. She pointed at the cluster of greenery. “I tried to talk Cora out of hanging that.”

  “I probably would’ve had the same luck you did,” he said in a low voice. “We know she’s not hanging it for herself.”

  “No, she’s not.” Susannah slid him a look, but found him watching Cora as she approached his wagon with Davis Lee and looked over the side.

  “Oh, my goodness!” the older woman exclaimed. “Boys, this is too much.”

  “It’s from Davis Lee,” Riley said.

  Susannah walked to the edge of the porch and saw a canvas-covered lump in the back of Riley’s wagon. She turned to him with a questioning look.

  “Venison,” he explained. “Half the buck Davis Lee got yesterday. Ever had venison?”

  “No, but I’d like to try it.”

  Cora beamed as if the meat were gold. “Susannah, this means we can eat something besides beans and salt pork all winter.”

  “Thank you, Davis Lee,” Susannah said.

  “What a Christmas this is turning out to be.” The older woman fingered the soft blue shawl around her shoulders. “Look what Susannah gave me.”

  “And Cora made a blanket for the baby.” Susannah turned to Riley. “She made it!”

  “Well, you can sure use that.”

  “She amazes me. Especially that she made it right under my nose.”

  He chuckled.

  Susannah relaxed a bit. All morning, nerves had had her uneasily anticipating dinner with Riley today. She knew it was because she wanted him to believe she belonged here, to accept that she was staying.

  She seemed to worry about that a lot where he was concerned, she told herself wryly. She’d taken great pains with her appearance, piling her hair up in a simple twist with a red ribbon that matched the thin stripes in her white wool dress. Thanks to Evelyn Donnelly, who’d let out the skirts again, Susannah would be able to wear this favorite dress until the baby came.

  The frigid air bit at her cheeks, and Riley lightly touched her elbow. “Let’s get these ladies back inside, Davis Lee.”

  “Yes, y’all go in,” the elder Holt said. “Riley and I will take this meat to the cellar.”

  Cora thanked them again and followed Susannah into the house. Together, they dished up the hen, potatoes, biscuits and gravy. While Cora strained coffee, Susannah poured a cup of milk for herself. She wasn’t able to stomach coffee these days.

  The door opened and the men stepped inside, bringing a chill with them. But one look into Riley’s blue eyes warmed Susannah to her toes.

  She looked away, easing down into the chair that backed up to the stove. Because of the baby, Cora insisted she sit in the warmest spot.

  The meal passed in a blur of conversation, laughter and good food. Cora, Riley and Davis Lee reminisced about past Christmases. Susannah enjoyed the talk, but couldn’t discount the twinge of homesickness she felt. Anger at her parents and determination to prove that she could survive without them had kept her going since arriving in Whirlwind, but today she missed her family, especially since receiving the letter from Adam two days ago.

  She’d reread it ten times, each time searching hard for sentiments that weren’t there.

  Riley pushed back in his chair, groaning. “Cora, as usual you’ve outdone yourself. Those biscuits were the best yet.”

  Susannah agreed, anxious for the day she would master baking the bread. Though she’d finally gotten the right mixture of ingredients, she couldn’t seem to determine the exact amount of time in the stove. They were either under-cooked and doughy or burned to a crisp. Duplicating Cora’s baking time never worked for her. The fire was either too hot or not hot enough.

  “I can hardly move.” Davis Lee patted his flat stomach. “I’ll barely be able to fit in a piece of that apple pie I smelled.”

  Cora chuckled, glancing at Susannah. “Did you get enough?”

  “Oh, yes, more than I needed.”

  “And you’re feeling okay?”

  “Yes.” Her lower back ached slightly, but it usually did by the mid
dle of the day.

  Concern passed across the other woman’s face, but Susannah smiled to reassure her. Cora flicked a look at Riley, then rose from her chair. “Davis Lee, could you give me a hand outside? My cow’s milk was low today and I’m wondering if she’s getting croupy.”

  “I’ll clean up,” Susannah said quickly.

  “Be happy to look at your cow, Cora.” Riley’s brother stood and put on his coat and hat, then went outside with their hostess.

  As the door closed behind them, Riley snorted. “Davis Lee doesn’t know that much about milk cows. I think Cora’s got something up her sleeve.”

  Susannah smiled. Her friend’s request had been an obvious ruse to leave her alone with Riley. First the mistletoe and now this. She busied herself scraping plates while Riley stoked the fire and poured water into the kettle. Several minutes later, he dumped the warm water into the sink so she could wash the dishes.

  “Have you heard from Adam?” Riley took a pot from her and dried it.

  “I had a letter two days ago.”

  “Is he wanting you to come home?”

  “No,” she said shortly. Riley always seemed to want her to leave.

  He glanced over his shoulder as if to make sure they were still alone. “Did he say anything about your folks? About…you know.”

  Sadness pierced her, but she forced a smile. “He’s not having any luck getting them to soften about my situation.” She shrugged, but couldn’t stop a sudden burn of tears. “They don’t want to correspond, either. At least not yet.”

  “You’re missing them a lot.”

  “Yes. Or at least happier times.”

  “How does your family spend the holiday?”

  She handed him the skillet. “We exchange gifts in the morning, then have a big dinner, usually turkey with chestnut stuffing. Or a duck. Lots of cakes. We go caroling or perhaps to a ball in the evening.”

  “Sounds nice.”

  “Yes.” She stared blankly at the pan she was scrubbing.

  Riley reached over to put his hand on top of hers. “I’m sorry.”

  Her gaze met his, drawn in by the tenderness there. The moment stretched between them, taut and expectant. Pulsing with anticipation.

  He leaned toward her slightly and Susannah found herself doing the same, wanting to kiss him.

  “Oh!” Startled by her thought, she drew back. “What are we doing?”

  “Uh. Well.” He blinked. For a long minute, he looked nonplussed, then jabbed a thumb toward the front door. “Uh, mistletoe.”

  “But it’s over there.”

  “So it is.” He grinned.

  She shook her head, smiling, too. They went back to their chore and after a moment, Susannah tried to ease past the awkwardness. “I’m sorry for your loss, too.”

  He froze. “What loss?”

  Her hand slowed on the plate she washed. “Adam and Cora told me you lost your wife. I imagine days like today are difficult for you, too.”

  He rubbed hard at the bowl he’d already dried.

  Susannah wondered what he was thinking. Was he still in love with his wife? Was her loss too painful for him to discuss?

  When he spoke, it was in a low voice. “I think about her more on days like this. I think about my folks, too.”

  She murmured agreement, wishing he would talk to her about his wife. But he remained silent. After a long moment, she awkwardly changed the subject, trying not to be hurt that he hadn’t wanted to tell her more.

  “I feel like I have another family here. I adore Cora. In fact…I told her the truth about the baby and why I came to Whirlwind.”

  Riley turned his head sharply. “You did?”

  She nodded. “I offered to move out if she wanted. I don’t want to shame her in any way.”

  “I bet she wouldn’t have any of that.”

  “No, she wouldn’t.”

  He smiled, warming that place deep inside Susannah that only he seemed able to warm. “You know she’s trying to push us together.”

  “It had crossed my mind.”

  They shared a laugh, then Riley hefted the kettle and carried the used water outside. Susannah hurried to retrieve the gifts she’d wrapped for him and his brother.

  Footsteps sounded on the porch and she looked up to see Davis Lee grinning like a man who’d gotten away with something. “Cora’s got one more gift for you.”

  “But she already gave me the blanket.”

  He stepped aside to let Cora in. Riley came, too, backing in and carrying something covered with a sheet.

  “Cora, you shouldn’t have. The blanket is more than enough, and I love it.”

  “Wait till you see.” Excitement brightened the older woman’s hazel eyes. She moved next to Davis Lee, giving Riley room to move inside. She closed the door as Riley removed the sheet.

  Davis Lee’s grin grew broader.

  Riley turned, holding a cradle made of dark, fine wood. Highly polished, it curved at the head and foot.

  “Oh!” She covered her mouth, tears springing to her eyes. “Oh, my. Where did you get such a thing?”

  “It was mine.” Cora moved beside her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. “Mine and Ollie’s,” she whispered, reminding Susannah of the baby boy Cora had lost.

  That her friend would pass this beautiful cradle on to her baby put a lump in Susannah’s throat. She hugged Cora tightly. “Thank you. I’ll cherish it.”

  “Come look,” Riley urged.

  She dabbed at her eyes and walked around the table.

  “Riley repaired it and shined it up to look like new,” Cora said.

  Susannah ran a hand lovingly across the curved top, her gaze lifting to his. “You did?”

  “I didn’t do much. It only needed a few pieces of wood.”

  Overwhelmed by their gesture, she flung her arms around him just as she’d done Cora. “Thank you. Thank you.”

  He rested one hand lightly on her back. “You’re welcome.”

  She made herself let go and step away, though what she wanted was to be enfolded in his arms and held against that solid chest. Still amazed, she examined the cradle carefully as Cora and Riley discussed the parts he’d replaced and the nights he’d worked on it.

  She smiled. “I have a gift for you and Davis Lee, too.”

  “Now, you shouldn’t have done that.” Riley’s brother looked pleased despite the admonition.

  “I hope you like them.” She retrieved the brown paper packages and gave them to the men.

  Davis Lee ripped the paper off. “Well, I’ll be! The Return of the Native by Thomas Hardy.”

  He seemed pleased with the novel she’d chosen from among from the few she’d brought to Whirlwind. “Have you read him?”

  “No, but I’ve heard about this book. Thank you.”

  Riley opened his more slowly, his eyes dark with pleasure as he pulled out the garment. “A shirt.”

  “I hope you like it.” She’d discussed the shirt with Cora before having it made. Her friend hadn’t thought the gift of clothing improper.

  “It’s right nice,” Davis Lee admired.

  “Yes. Thank you.” Riley smiled into her eyes and Susannah felt her feet go numb.

  She’d chosen light blue because it reminded her of his eyes. “You’ve been needin’ that,” Davis Lee said.

  “You shouldn’t have spent your money on me,” Riley said quietly.

  “I wanted to.”

  “Give her your gift, Riley,” his brother urged.

  “Not another one!” she exclaimed.

  Riley laid his shirt carefully on the table and reached behind him to where his coat hung on the wall. He drew out a small rectangular package wrapped in thin white paper and tied with a pale blue ribbon.

  She was surprised to find her hands a bit unsteady as she unwrapped the gift. Inside lay a pair of tan kid leather gloves. “Goodness.” She looked at him.

  “Driving gloves,” he said.

  “For the wagon?”


  “Yes.”

  “So, we’ll continue our lessons?”

  “I said we would.” He turned to Cora and Davis Lee. “You two should see how well she’s doing.”

  “They should?” Susannah couldn’t stop the slow smile that spread across her face. Riley’s giving her these gloves told her that he believed she could master driving the wagon. The realization bolstered her confidence. And her courage. “Do you think I could learn to ride?”

  “If you want. When you put your mind to something, it seems to get done.”

  She searched his eyes, looking for any sign of hesitation. “Would you teach me?”

  “Sure.”

  “I love these. Thank you.” She hugged them to her, looking around at the people who’d already come to mean so much to her. “I love all my gifts. What a wonderful Christmas.”

  “Yes,” Davis Lee said. “Now I think I’m ready for some of that pie, Cora.”

  The older woman bustled over to the pantry and took out the pie she’d baked earlier that day.

  After enjoying the dessert, the men finally stood to leave.

  “We’d better head back before dark.” Davis Lee shrugged into his coat. “Looks like it might snow tonight. We could use the moisture.”

  “Y’all be careful,” Cora cautioned. “Thank you for everything. It was wonderful.”

  “It was the best Christmas we’ve had in a while.” Riley kissed her on the cheek, then walked over to take his coat from the peg behind the door.

  Davis Lee said goodbye to Susannah and went out to hitch up the wagon. Cora followed him onto the porch.

  Riley turned at the door. “Thanks again for the shirt.”

  “Thank you for the gloves and the cradle.”

  He hesitated, then said, “Did you give Davis Lee your own copy of that book?”

  She smiled.

  “Merry Christmas.”

  “Merry Christmas.”

  He glanced up at the mistletoe, then winked at her. “This ought to give Cora something to think about.”

  He reached up and plucked the lone berry from the middle of the greenery. Tradition held that a man took the berry only after stealing a kiss. Susannah laughed softly at Riley’s joke on their friend.

  “I’ll see ya,” he said.