A Love to Cherish

by Linda Ford

  The school would soon be built. He’d have no more reason to stay in town. Except to talk to the preacher.

  With every passing day, he wished he didn’t have to tell Victoria what he knew.

  Yet he couldn’t wait to be shed of the burdensome secret.

  Chapter 10

  Telling Bates and then Reese about letting go of her past—the uncertainty and the worry, and yes, the wonder about why no family had found her—had left Victoria’s heart soaring so high she couldn’t stop smiling. Couldn’t stop breaking out in song.

  Josie sat on the edge of her bed. “Are you going to tell us why you’re so happy? I can’t remember the last time you were so joyful.”

  “What about Christmas? And when the folks told us we were moving?” It had been a relief to her to go further from where her accident occurred. There would be less chance of someone recognizing her and upsetting her life.

  “Nope. Not half as cheerful as this.” Josie leaned over to talk to Eve but made sure Victoria could hear. “Do you think Reese asked her to marry him?”

  Victoria stared at her sisters. “Of course he didn’t.”

  “Would you accept if he did?” Josie persisted.

  “I don’t…I can’t.” She sucked in air. She was Victoria Kinsley. She would always be Victoria Kinsley. She wasn’t going to let the past have any control over her. So she had decided. And yet the future frightened her.

  Eve slipped to her side and hugged her. “I thought from what you said at dinner that you were free of your fears.”

  “I thought I was.” She sniffed back tears. “It’s easier to believe with my head than my heart.” She tried to laugh. “But no, he didn’t ask me to marry him. I expect he will go out to his ranch as soon as the school is up.”

  “It’s not too far to ride into town.” Josie said.

  “Besides, you misinterpret my excitement. It’s because tomorrow is the school raising. It’s going to be a long day. We better get to sleep.” She crawled into her bed, beside Josie, and forced herself to lie perfectly still though her insides tossed and turned.

  Excitement about tomorrow. That’s all it was.

  The girls were up before dawn to finish preparing food. They had fried chicken the day before and now baked biscuits. All the women would bring food for the men working hard at the building.

  Ma glanced out the window several times. “I do wish your father would come, but I know he won’t leave Stewart until he’s sure the man is on the mend.”

  They ate a hurried breakfast, packed away the food to get later, then headed for the schoolyard. The streets were full of conveyances, horseback riders, and people on foot, all going the same direction. The schoolyard was crowded. Horses were tied nearby. Wagons lined the street.

  Victoria, her sisters, and her mother joined the assembly, greeted by and greeting neighbors from far and wide.

  Norm, as one of the board members, called for their attention. “Let us ask God’s blessing and protection on our day.” Men snatched off their hats. Women caught their children and hushed them, then Norm prayed. “Amen,” he finished. “Now let’s get to work.”

  The women sat on the ground in little circles so they could visit as they watched the work.

  Victoria sat with her sisters, Lisa, and Lisa’s sister, Annie, who was married to Norm.

  Victoria observed how some of the men worked on the walls and another group constructed the rafters. Reese was in the latter group. Within minutes he had rolled up his sleeves. The morning was warm and the day promised to grow hot.

  Jimmy carried a pail of water and a dipper to the groups of men.

  Reese took the offered drink, lifted the dipper to his mouth, and glanced toward the women. His gaze skimmed the gathering until he saw Victoria. He smiled and touched the brim of his hat.

  She gave a fleeting smile then shifted her gaze to the right lest anyone take undue notice.

  A rider approached, one of the latecomers. She wouldn’t even have noticed except she saw the way Reese scowled.

  She turned to see who had earned such a dark look. It was Smitty. The man who had been at the manse for dinner a couple of Sundays ago. The man who asked her to accompany him alone. And then had stalked off as if offended by her hesitation.

  Something about the man set her nerves into spasms.

  The fact that Reese didn’t seem to have a good opinion of him only intensified her aversion.

  Just an ill-mannered cowboy, she told herself. She would be careful not to be alone with him. Having settled the matter to her satisfaction, she turned back to watching the construction. And if her attention centered mostly on Reese, no one need know.

  He bent over to nail something. His arm swung the hammer, the muscles in his back cording. He swiped his arm across his brow to wipe away sweat then straightened to talk to one of the men.

  She scanned the area to see where Smitty had gone. He stood with his arms crossed, observing those nailing together walls. Someone handed him a hammer and pointed him toward some work. She couldn’t help but think he took his time about getting there. And even more time looking over the women.

  His gaze stopped at Victoria. His expression gave no clue as to his thoughts and yet she shivered.

  She turned away so she wasn’t looking directly at him but didn’t let him out of her sight.

  Smitty sauntered over to talk to Reese.

  Reese shook his head and continued to work, ignoring the other man.

  Did Reese know Smitty? Under what circumstances?

  Smitty wandered away, swinging the hammer but doing nothing useful with it.

  Then Reese called for attention. “The walls are ready. Let’s get them up.”

  The men lifted walls, fixed them in place, and braced them. Then one by one the joists went up. By the time the sun was directly overhead, the building had shape and form.

  Victoria watched the progress with great interest.

  “They’ll soon be taking a break,” Ma said. Long trestle tables had been set up to the side.

  “I’ll go get the food,” Victoria said. She hurried down the street toward the manse.

  She heard footsteps behind her. They seemed too heavy to belong to one of her sisters, and she turned to see who it was.

  That man. Smitty. Why was he following her? She should have made certain someone accompanied her. It was too late now. She hurried onward, determined to reach the house and safety before he caught up to her.

  Behind her, the footsteps increased in pace as well.

  Help. She should not have left without one of her sisters, but Glory had always been so safe they never feared stepping out alone.

  She passed the church. A few more steps and she would reach the safety of the house.

  “What’s your hurry, Miss Kinsley?” He was so close she could have reached back and caught a handful of the air around him.

  She continued onward, determined not to show any fear. “I have to get the food and take it over.”

  “Maybe you’d like some help?”

  Innocent words, but somehow making her feel threatened. “No, that’s fine. My sisters will be here in a minute. And Ma.”

  “Ya don’t say.”

  She reached the door, flung it open, and stepped inside. But when she tried to slam it shut, a booted foot stopped her.

  “You ain’t bein’ very friendly. That’s not nice. I’m just wanting to get to know you better.”

  “Fine. I’ll be back at the grounds with the food.” She did not mean the words as an invitation and kept her shoulder to the door so he couldn’t push it open any further.

  Josie and Eve came into sight behind the man.

  “Here are my sisters now.”

  He shrugged. “I’ll see you later.” He withdrew his foot and strode the opposite direction of the girls.

  They rushed to Victoria. “Who was that? Seems he was being rude and bold.” Josie sounded ready to hunt the man down.

  “You remember Smitty? The
cowboy that was here a couple of weeks ago.”

  Eve shuddered. “I didn’t care for him then and I care for him even less now.”

  “Me too.” Victoria shuddered. “He scared me.”

  “What did he want?” Eve asked.

  “To be friendly.”

  “A little too friendly, I’d say.” Josie handed Victoria the platter of fried chicken. They each took something and headed back to the schoolyard. “Stick close to us,” she said. “We’ll protect you.”

  Eve chuckled. “I’ll let Flora know. She’ll scare some sense into the man.”

  Victoria laughed. “Maybe I was overreacting.” But she didn’t think so, and the way Josie and Eve looked at her, she knew they didn’t either.

  The tables were laden with food. The women and children gathered to one side. Ma spoke to Norm and he called for the men to halt work. He said grace and then the men helped themselves to food first so they could get back to work as soon as possible. The women would eat afterwards and take their time, glad of the chance to catch up on news from their neighbors.

  Another late arrival rode toward them.

  Victoria was glad to see it was Mr. Bates though she would have sooner seen her pa.

  Mr. Bates went to Ma. “Your husband sends his regrets that he doesn’t feel he could come but says to inform you that Stewart is on the mend.”

  “Praise God,” Ma said. “Please help yourself to some food.”

  “Don’t mind if I do.”

  Victoria’s tension disappeared. Something about that man filled her with peace.

  The men filed by as they filled their plates. Smitty looked at her and grinned.

  She shuddered.

  Reese watched, his expression tight.

  She hoped he didn’t think she encouraged the man. She stepped back, hoping to disappear into the midst of the women.

  Donny caught her arm. “Where’s Mama?”

  “She’s sitting over by the trees.” Ma had brought a chair out so the woman could rest and yet be part of the activities.

  “But I can’t see her.”

  “Come on. I’ll take you to her.” She took Donny’s hand and they skirted around the crowd toward the spot where Stella sat.

  Donny saw her and ran to join her. Stella kissed the boy on the top of his head and smiled at Victoria. Someone had taken food to Stella and Blossom. A third plate waited nearby for Donny.

  Satisfied they were taken care of, Victoria turned, intending to return to the others.

  She drew up short at Smitty directly in front of her.

  “I only want to be friends,” he said, but his voice slithered through her.

  “I want to rejoin my ma,” she said.

  “Your ma won’t go anywhere without you. Now why don’t you come for a walk with me and tell me all about yourself?”

  She fled, right back to Josie and Eve.

  Eve grabbed her arm. “You look like you’ve seen a wild bear.” She looked the direction Victoria had come. “Him again.” She grabbed Flora and they bore down on the man.

  Victoria almost laughed when he scurried away to join the men who had returned to the work.

  Reese watched Smitty follow Victoria when she went to Stella. He clenched his fists. He did not want to be associated with the man, but he would not stand by and let Smitty make her life miserable. He took two steps toward them when someone called for him to hold the end of a board. He couldn’t walk away. When he was free, he saw Flora and Eve headed toward Smitty.

  He chuckled as Smitty hurried to join the men.

  The work demanded many hands, but he would gladly manage without Smitty’s help. He went around to the far side of the building where Smitty stood watching.

  The outer walls were being put up.

  Reese grabbed a hammer and went to Smitty. “What are you doing here?”

  “Helping with building the school. Just like everyone else.”

  “Except everyone else is actually doing something.” He handed Smitty the hammer. “And they aren’t bothering the Kinsley girls.”

  Smitty snorted. “Only, one of ’em ain’t a Kinsley.”

  “You can’t be sure and until you are, best you keep your suspicions to yourself.”

  “Ya think I’m going to stand by and let you claim that reward all to yerself?” He snorted again and walked away to pound in a few nails. Then he dropped the hammer, returned to his horse and rode away.

  Reese ground his teeth. He should have been relieved, but he wasn’t. How long did he have before Smitty took action toward gaining the reward? Reese didn’t want it. But more importantly, he didn’t want Mr. Hayworth riding into Victoria’s life and upsetting it. But he couldn’t be part of dishonesty and knew the truth must be revealed.

  He returned to his position at the wall, driving home nails with three hard blows, sending shock waves to his shoulder.

  The walls grew higher. A ladder was placed at one end.

  Someone went to fetch another ladder to place at the other end. As soon as they were ready, two men would stay up there and nail the boards in place.

  “Jimmy!” A woman’s sharp call caught everyone’s attention.

  Reese jerked around and saw Jimmy at the top of one of the ladders, hands pressed to the wall to balance himself. How had he climbed that high and why? He wobbled. The ladder shifted.

  It was going to tip over and bring the boy crashing to the ground.

  Reese leaped forward as the ladder tipped his way. He estimated he was about where the boy would come down and reached up to grab him. Jimmy landed in his arms, knocking Reese off his feet. He fell to his bottom. Jimmy rolled off.

  “Heads up,” someone called.

  Reese looked upward. The ladder came straight for him. He scrunched his eyes and tipped his head. The ladder hit him hard. He saw stars. And then everything went black.

  Someone placed a wet cloth on his head. Icy as if dipped in the river. He opened his eyes.

  Mrs. Kinsley knelt over him. “Good to see you’re conscious. But you had quite a blow to your head.”

  “I’m all right.” He sat up but had to close his eyes and bite back a groan. He felt his head. “Ouch. How’s Jimmy?”

  “He’s fine.”

  “Good.” His head protested the sound of his own voice.

  Victoria knelt before him, holding out a cup of water. “A drink might help.”

  He took the cup and drained it. Tried to focus on her face, but he could only do so by closing one eye. “You look worried.”

  “You might say so. You could have been seriously injured. Maybe you are.”

  “Just a knock on the noggin. Good thing I got a hard one.”

  “I’m here to inform you that a knock on the noggin as you call it can radically change your life.”

  He wanted to reassure her and smiled. Ohh. That made his head hurt. “I’m fine. Time to get back to work.” He pushed to his feet and wavered like a tree with its roots cut off.

  “I think you should sit for a bit.” Victoria took his arm on one side, Norm on the other, and they guided him away from the building. It took little urging to persuade him to sit down. He pulled his knees up and rested his chin on them.

  Norm studied him a moment, shook his head, then turned back to the men who stood around watching to see that Reese was okay. “Let’s get back to work.”

  Victoria sat on one side of Reese, Mrs. Kinsley on the other. His personal bodyguards, he thought with a mix of amusement and gratitude.

  Martha Anderson and Jimmy stood in front of him.

  “Jimmy, do you have something you want to say to Mr. Cartwright?” Martha asked.

  “Yes, Ma. Reese, I’m sorry I climbed the ladder and was the cause of you getting hurt. Thank you for catching me.”

  “Glad I was there,” Reese said.

  “Thank you for saving my boy.” Martha’s voice carried a hefty dose of tears.

  “Glad I was there,” Reese repeated.

  A few minutes lat
er, Mickey came to Reese. “You saved the boy. Thank you.”

  “Glad I was there.” He couldn’t think of anything other than those words.

  Sylvie came by. “There’ll be an extra big piece of pie for you next time you stop in.”

  “Thanks.” At the moment he wasn’t a bit interested in pie.

  Several others came by to offer gratitude.

  Victoria leaned around him to speak to her ma. “Ma, make them leave him alone until his head stops swimming.”

  “I can try.” Ma waved away the next person to approach. “Later, when he’s feeling better,” she said, so as not to offend the person.

  “How did you know my head is swimming,” he murmured to Victoria.

  “Because of the way you keep one eye closed when you look around.”

  “Huh.” He tried opening both eyes and thought better of it. “I should be helping.”

  “Seems to me you did more than your share by saving Jimmy.”

  “Huh.”

  After a bit, the dizziness disappeared. He could keep both eyes open and sat up to look around. The walls were almost up. Windows were being placed in one wall. The roof was done, and men laid the shingles on. “It’s almost done. How long have I sat here?”

  “Oh hours and hours and hours.” Victoria spoke so airily he turned too quickly to look at her and his head reminded him to slow down.

  “I’ll see if there is enough food left for supper,” Mrs. Kinsley said, and joined several other women around the long trestle table.

  “Are they going to finish today?”

  “I believe they are.”

  “You’ll be glad.”

  “Glad about the school and equally glad Jimmy and you are both alive.”

  He mused over those words. Wasn’t sure he liked being on the same level as a building, even if it was new. “How glad?” He shifted so he could look at her without turning his head.

  “What do you mean?”

  “Do you think maybe I deserve some sort of thank-you gesture for all my hard work?” Then, lest that wasn’t enough to make her agree, he added, “And for saving Jimmy.”

  “I’d say you do, but what do you have in mind?”

  He chuckled but stopped immediately when his head protested. “Don’t look so worried.” He knew exactly what he wanted her to do. “I promised Donny to take him to the ranch. Come with us.” He’d like one more outing before he had to tell her the truth about who she was.