The way the man spoke the words sent chills down Colt’s spine. He knew beyond a doubt there was no way he would ever let Miss Reeves go over there alone.
When he looked back at Mrs. Brown, he offered her a smile, but he could see the humiliation and hurt in her gaze. She’d heard the tone in her husband’s voice but was pretending otherwise. “I’ll be sure to let her know. And, if you ever want to come over to our place, you’re always welcome. Any time.” Colt’s eyes met hers as he spoke the last two words in echo of the other man’s.
Except in this case, Colt hoped she’d pick up on the invitation that if she needed to get away from her husband at any time, she was welcome, day or night. Colt had noticed the dark circles under her eyes and seen enough bruises throughout the months she’d been here to know she didn’t live a good life. If he could figure out a way to help her, he would, but for now this was all he could offer.
He helped her up into the wagon and watched them drive back out of town, her back perfectly straight as she bounced on the seat beside her husband.
“That poor woman.”
Old Tom’s words hung in the air as they waited for the dust to settle around them from the retreating wagon that was now past the bridge and headed down the road toward home. As he continued to watch, the wagon came to a stop beside someone walking along the edge of the road.
His stomach dropped when he realized it was the new schoolteacher they’d just been discussing.
He swore under his breath and hopped up onto the seat of his wagon without even saying a goodbye to the men left standing there. While he didn’t want to discourage a friendship between Miss Reeves and Mrs. Brown, the last thing he wanted was for her to be anywhere near Constantine Brown.
It wasn’t because he was jealous or anything. It was nothing more than general concern.
Brown wasn’t good news, and he’d have to keep a close eye on Miss Reeves to make sure she was kept safe from him.
Chapter 8
Kathryn let her gaze follow the horizon, where as far as she could see beyond the newly plowed fields, long prairie grasses were blowing in the gentle breeze. The ride back to the ranch wouldn’t take long, and she tried to swallow her disappointment that the rest of the walk she’d been so looking forward to after her first day of school had been taken from her. She’d walked into town, enjoying the warm sun kissing her cheeks as she’d soaked up the peaceful sounds of the world around her.
But, instead of being able to enjoy the leisurely stroll back home to end her perfect day, Mr. Hammond had come bouncing up in a large cloud of dust while she’d stood talking with their neighbors. He’d insisted he’d give her a ride back out to the farm after she’d run her errands, even when she’d been quite clear she could make her way back home on her own.
“I really didn’t mind the thought of walking back to the farm. I only came into town to pick up the few necessities I needed, and to mail the letter to my sister.” The last thing she wanted Mr. Hammond to feel was that he had to look after her all the time. She was perfectly capable of looking after herself out here.
“Well, I was coming this way anyway.”
For some reason, Kathryn almost got the feeling he was angry about something. In all her days, she was sure she’d never met a moodier man than Mr. Colt Hammond.
And yet, after talking with Fae at the party, she’d been made to believe he was a kind, gentle, and caring man. While she’d noticed he was that way with his children and his mother, he’d surely never given her any glimpses of that personality toward her.
“The children did so well today in school. Delia is smart as a whip and her imagination never stops making me smile. She fits right in with the other kids in the classroom. Owen was still a bit unsure of everything and kept pretty much to himself, but I’m sure with time he will come around. He didn’t really want to do any of the work I assigned him.”
Kathryn wasn’t sure how to bring it up with Mr. Hammond, so she just decided to tell him the truth. If he was going to be grumpy with her anyway, she had nothing to lose by mentioning the concern she had about his son.
He turned to face her and from under the large brim of her hat, his dark eyes held hers. “Was he causing any trouble?”
“No! No, nothing like that. He just seems so withdrawn. I was hoping you might have some ideas for me to get through to him. He’s a wonderful child, and I know with time he’s going to be just fine.” The last thing she wanted to do was get Owen into trouble with his father.
He faced back toward the road, and Kathryn let the breath go she’d been holding. She’d seen such concern and love in those eyes for his son, and for a brief moment, she wondered if he’d ever looked at a woman with that same intensity before.
With a quick shake of her head, she came to her senses. Of course he had. He was a married man, so there must have been a time he’d shared that kind of love with his wife. Even if she wasn’t here anymore.
And it wasn’t like it was any of Kathryn’s business anyway.
“Ever since his mother left, he’s been struggling a bit. He seems to be all right with some people, but I notice he’s different around women sometimes.” He quickly looked at her, and she could see the sadness in his eyes before he turned away again. “I’ll talk to him.”
“No, don’t say anything to him just yet. I’m sure it was just first day nerves. Give me some time to show him I’m someone he can trust.”
He sighed and shook his head. “That’s the thing. He likely knows you’re not going to be around for a long time, so he’s not going to let himself get too attached to you. So, don’t give him any false hope. Otherwise, he’ll just end up being worse off than he is now. Just let me talk to him and make sure he knows that it’s never proper to be disrespectful to a lady, even if you aren’t sure you can trust her.”
Kathryn’s mouth dropped open in disbelief. “Do you honestly think the way you’re speaking to me right now isn’t disrespectful? How can you expect him to learn any better when you’re doing the same thing? Just because you don’t seem to believe I’m going to stay here, it doesn’t mean you can keep bringing it up and then wonder why your son won’t give me a chance either.”
She was shaking with anger now and was glad to see they were already driving up the lane toward the house. She didn’t even wait for the wagon to come to a complete stop before she stood up, desperate to get away from the man who had her so furious.
When the wagon did finally lurch to a stop, she was already lifting one leg to step over the side. Before she could even comprehend what was happening, she was hurtling forward and landing in a heap on the hard ground.
As she lay face down in the dirt, she closed her eyes and groaned. She wasn’t in any pain, but the humiliation of what she’d just done wasn’t letting her move. All her life, she’d been quick to act without thinking, and this was one more time she’d let her anger take over.
Footsteps made their way to her and she wished the ground would just open up right there and swallow her. Without looking up, she knew Colt had come around the wagon and was standing there looking down at her. Most people would be concerned and try to help her up, instead of just leaving her in a pile of skirts on the ground.
“You know, while I’m sure your way is much quicker, using the step is generally a lot safer way of getting out of the wagon. Or, like most women, waiting until it’s come to a complete stop and allowing a gentleman to help her down.”
She pushed herself up into a sitting position, not looking at him as she dusted the arms of her blouse. Her basket filled with sugar, tea, and other small items she’d picked up was overturned with all the goods strewn around her.
“Well, if I’d have thought there was a gentleman around to assist me down, I might have waited.”
His chest rumbled with laughter as he reached his hand down to her. How could this man go from making her so angry she could have pushed him from a moving wagon, to looking down at her with such a charming smile? Honestly,
she was sure she’d never met anyone so exasperating in her life.
“Miss Reeves, are you all right?” The sound of the front porch door slamming reached her ears as Delia raced down the steps as fast as her little legs would take her. Mrs. Hammond was right on her heels, still holding onto a towel she’d obviously been using inside the kitchen when they’d pulled up.
As if her humiliation wasn’t already bad enough, of course the entire family had witnessed her predicament. Now, if she refused his outstretched hand, she would look rude.
He was still grinning widely, obviously aware of her discomfort. As soon as his fingers closed over hers, heat went through her entire body, and by now she was sure her cheeks would soon ignite. He gave her a gentle tug and helped her stand up, holding onto her hand for a few seconds longer to make sure she was steady.
“I’ve been accused of many things in my life, but being a gentleman isn’t one of them, I’m afraid.” His voice was low enough just for her to hear, and she had to ignore the tingle it sent through her.
“I’ll help you pick your things back up to put in your basket.” Delia was down on the ground quickly rounding everything up.
“Oh, my dear. Are you all right?” By now, Mrs. Hammond was standing beside them, and she reached out to take Kathryn’s hand. She patted it into the crook of her arm and turned to lead her into the house.
“I’m fine, Mrs. Hammond. I just got a little off balance. I think my pride is hurt worse than anything else.”
The kind older woman stopped to send a stern look in her son’s direction. “Colt Hammond. What kind of man are you to let a woman step out of a wagon on her own?”
Colt rolled his eyes and shook his head. “Mother, I know you would be watching out the window the minute you heard the wagon come up the road. So, don’t pretend you didn’t notice Miss Reeves standing up before I stopped. I assure you; I would have offered my assistance if she’d waited.”
Mrs. Hammond wasn’t paying any attention to her now exasperated son as she continued to pull Kathryn up the steps, with Delia right behind them carrying her basket.
It took everything Kathryn had not to laugh out loud at the look on his face when she dared to peek back at him one last time. Even though it didn’t take the sting of her embarrassment completely away, seeing him chastised by his mother for something even Kathryn was willing to admit wasn’t his fault, did make her feel somewhat better.
Now, she just needed to get through supper with the family, and she could make her way back to her cabin and try to forget everything that happened in the past ten minutes.
But somehow, with the fact that her hand still tingled from where he’d held it, Kathryn knew forgetting it all was going to take a lot longer than it should.
Chapter 9
“Please, can I go and stay the night with Miss Reeves? I can help to show her everything and then she wouldn’t be all alone out there.”
Colt looked down at his daughter who was pleading with him. They had finished supper, and he had offered to walk Kathryn back to her cabin. Delia had immediately started begging to spend the night with her new teacher.
His daughter had always been good at picking up on people’s feelings, and Colt suspected she’d sensed Kathryn’s nervousness about being at the cabin on her own. During supper, she’d asked a lot of questions about how to do certain things, and he realized they hadn’t really given her much instruction for a woman coming from a life of luxury in the city before leaving her to fend for herself down there.
“No, Delia, Miss Reeves needs her privacy. You can’t be inviting yourself to stay with her.”
Delia’s face fell in disappointment at his words and she timidly looked toward Miss Reeves who was standing by the door holding the basket she’d brought back from town.
“Oh, it really wouldn’t be any trouble for her to stay, if you’ll allow it. Truthfully, I would welcome someone to keep me company and give me some help. I’m afraid my upbringing didn’t involve the use of outside pumps for water or having to use a wood stove or anything like that on my own. I’m a bit embarrassed to admit it but having Delia with me for a night or two would actually be quite helpful to me.”
Colt sensed that she might even be more nervous on her own than she was admitting to. His eyes stayed on her as she smiled down at Delia. Guilt hit him when he once again noticed the dirt on her skirt from her earlier fall. He knew she’d been angry with him, but he reminded himself it really wasn’t his fault she’d fallen. If she’d have waited until he’d come to a complete stop and helped her down, it wouldn’t have happened.
“Well, in that case, you can stay with her, Delia, as long as you promise not to bother her and to go to bed on time.” His daughter was already squealing with excitement as she ran toward the stairs to go up and get the things she would need.
Miss Reeves looked out the window, and Colt followed her eyes to where Owen was out feeding the horses in the pen.
“I hope he doesn’t think I’m favoring his sister by letting her stay with me. I mean, he could come and stay too, but I wouldn’t have any place for him to sleep and I’m sure he wouldn’t want to anyway.”
Colt walked over and took his hat off the hook by the door, pushing it down hard on his head. “He’ll be fine. In fact, he’ll likely welcome a break from his sister for a bit. They’re together all the time, so this will be a good chance for him to just have some time to himself.”
“And I promise I’ll sit him down to do his homework after he’s finished his chores.” Mrs. Hammond walked over to give Kathryn a hug. “Delia might try staying awake a little longer than she’s supposed to, so you’ll have to be firm with her. She’s quite taken with you, though, so I’m sure she’ll listen to anything you tell her to do.”
The little girl bounded down the stairs with her nightgown and school dress for tomorrow folded neatly in her arms. Her reading book was placed on top, along with a well-loved stuffed bear. “I remembered my good dress to wear tomorrow. I didn’t want to have to wear my dirty old chore clothes to school.”
Miss Reeves laughed and took Delia’s outstretched hand. “No, that would never do. Although I have to say you look quite beautiful in any dress you wear.”
Colt was grateful for her words to Delia. Sometimes, he felt such guilt knowing his kids might not have all the finest clothes to wear, as his wife had been so quick to point out all the time. But, around here, most children made do with what their parents could afford so it wasn’t something people thought much about.
He knew that people from the cities, especially women like Arlene and Miss Reeves, didn’t understand the hardships and sacrifices people out here on the frontier had to make. He wondered what she would say if she knew the “chore dress,” as Delia called it, was made from a flour sack.
They walked outside and down the steps, with Delia skipping along beside her teacher, still holding her hand. Something inside of Colt clenched at the sight, and he knew how much his daughter had missed having a mother. Anger at his wife started to bubble just beneath the surface and he quickly looked away before anyone noticed.
A little girl shouldn’t have to grow up without a mother to care for her. His eyes found Owen who was throwing hay out for the horses in the small pen beside the barn. He knew his son was having a hard time too, but Colt just didn’t know how to bring it up and talk to him about it.
“You really don’t have to walk me home. I’ve got Delia to keep me company, and it’s not far. I’m sure we would be all right.”
“I said I’d walk you home, so that’s what I’m going to do.” Immediately he regretted how angry his words had come out. He clenched his jaw and looked straight-ahead, hoping no one else had noticed.
The silence that accompanied them as they made their way down the path toward the cabin assured him they had.
He looked over at Miss Reeves and offered her an apologetic smile. “Sorry about your dress. I’m sure you’ll be able to get the dirt out of it when you wash i
t. Ma always does her washing on Monday’s down at the creek, but I can ask her to do some things on Saturday so she can show you how.”
He hoped she’d understand his apology was for more than her dusty dress. Her eyes met his for a moment and she shrugged. “Well, at least it didn’t tear. I guess I need to remember to stay sitting until a wagon has come to a complete stop.”
“Daddy says I’m always supposed to wait to let him help me down, because it isn’t lady-like to be hopping over the side of the wagon. You should just wait for him to help you next time.”
Colt pulled his lips tight to stop from smiling at the fact his innocent daughter had just told her teacher what she’d done wasn’t considered lady-like. He knew Miss Reeves enough by now to know she would never scold Delia over her words, but he still moved his gaze back to her to see what her reaction was going to be.
Her mouth had opened, then closed, and when her eyes fell back on his, she burst out laughing. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d heard anything so beautiful.
“You’re absolutely right, Delia. I should have waited for help. I have so much to learn about living out here, so I’m very thankful to have a young lady like you to help me and make sure I’m not doing anything unseemly.”
As they got closer to the cabin, Colt’s heart jolted in the realization he was going to have to protect his daughter from being hurt again. He could already see how much she’d fallen for Miss Reeves, and he knew it was more than the feeling a student had for their teacher. She was trying to replace what she was missing in her life.
But Colt knew the woman wasn’t going to stay, and he couldn’t bear the thought of Delia having to go through the pain of losing her too. He reminded himself that he’d need to talk with Miss Reeves and tell her to make sure Delia didn’t get too attached.
And, with a sudden sinking in his stomach, he knew it was something he’d have to be careful with too. She was far too easy to be around, making him feel things he didn’t think he’d ever feel around a woman again.
Love is Patient Page 4
