Whispered Love

by Kathleen Ball

  Fall was still holding against winter, and she’d asked more than once to be taken down to town. He refused, and he forbade anyone to leave the mountain without his permission. Pat was still bruised, but she refused his help. How she was able to cook for all the men astounded him. She was a spitfire for sure.

  Only a few of the men asked about Hans, but after a day they stopped looking. They figured he left; it wouldn’t be the first time he’d done that to an outfit. Samuel stacked the wood near the now completed cabin he shared with Pat. It was especially hard to hear her undress each night. He ached to take her into his arms and make sweet love to her.

  He chopped more wood until he heard horses headed his way. He took a wide stance, ax in hand waiting for the arrival. Frowning, he shook his head when he recognized not only his father but Linda’s father too riding in a wagon. It was going to be a hell of a day.

  The wagon came closer, and Samuel walked toward it with his ax still in hand. “Father, Mr. George.” He nodded his head in greeting. “What the hell are you doing here?”

  His father’s face grew red while Mr. George stood in the wagon and almost lost his footing. “Now see here,” Mr. George started. He grabbed the side of the wagon and then hopped down. “We’re here to make sure you made an honest woman of my girl.”

  Samuel lifted his left brow. “Honest? Do any of you know what the word means?”

  His father scrambled out of the wagon and stood next to Mr. George. “Show some respect, Samuel. We’ve come to make the wedding proper. This is—” He turned and helped an elderly gentleman from the wagon. “This is Reverend Pulley. He’s here to marry you and Linda proper. We got worried when you didn’t come back to town.”

  “Good day, Reverend. I’m sorry you’ve been sent on a folly of a ride. There will be no wedding. I’m surprised you chanced coming up this time of year.”

  “A folly?” The reverend turned and stared at his two travelers.

  “Don’t worry. Samuel knows what’s expected, and he’ll do the right thing.” His father took a step closer to him. “Isn’t that right, son?”

  “I repeat, there will be no wedding. I never proposed to Linda, and I have no intention of doing so. Your best bet would be to take Linda back down with you, today.” He was not about to be cornered by them.

  “Daddy!” Linda came running out of the cabin and ran into her father’s embrace. “It’s been simply awful here. I’m so glad you’ve come. Samuel thinks nothing of taking what he wants. He ruined me and refuses to marry me.”

  She was up to no good again. Samuel glared at her. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Pat hurry to their cabin. He didn’t blame her for trying to stay out of the line of fire. If he could, he’d run in the other direction too.

  He stared at Linda in exasperation. “You know full well I’ve never laid a hand on you. I’m not some stupid hick you can lead around by the nose.” He stared at each of them in turn. “I’m not marrying Linda, and that’s that. My suggestion is you turn around and leave, taking Linda with you. Unmarried women who spend time in the camps get a bad name. Now, I didn’t invite any of you. Feel free to leave.”

  His father whirled on him. “Now see here. You need us to cut the timber. We can always find another supplier. You need to step in line and do as you’re told.”

  Samuel took off his hat and ran his fingers over the brim, trying to contain his temper. His decision to build his own town had been a good one. He just hadn’t known he would have to act so quickly. “I’m not worried about it. I have the finest timber there is. It won’t be hard to find another sawmill. You were mistaken in thinking I’d allow myself to be under your thumb.”

  Mr. George stepped forward. “I don’t care about the bad blood between you and your father. My little girl is getting married today. You’d best get that through your thick head.”

  “Oh, really?”

  Pat stared at the skirt her father had bought her. She had a blouse she could wear with it. It wasn’t elegant or considered proper by some but it was all she had. Samuel had been too good to her, and she wasn’t about to allow him to be pushed into marrying that insane woman. Plus it would be revenge for Linda’s part in Hans kidnapping her.

  Maybe Samuel wouldn’t want her help. Her hands shook as she undressed and unbound her plentiful breasts. He just might send her away too, but she needed to try to help him any way she could. Donning the skirt was easy enough. Her top gave her trouble. It was a bit tight around her chest and it was hard getting all the hooks closed. Taking off her hat, she wished her hair was a bit longer, but there was no help for it now. She brushed it until it gleamed and then admired herself in the mirror. It was the best she could do.

  She walked to the door and her hand shook as she lifted the latch. This might be the biggest mistake of her life. It would be so easy to just stay out of the whole thing, but Samuel was her friend. She needed to help him.

  Pulling her shoulders back, she opened the door and stepped outside. They were all in front of the cookhouse arguing. All except for the reverend had red mottled faces. She walked closer trying to be as graceful as she could. She didn’t even have shoes on, but that fact was hidden by her skirt. Maybe she should have worn her boots.

  No one took note of her as she walked toward them, until Linda caught sight of her. Linda’s eyes grew wide, and her jaw dropped. The rest of the party all turned and stared.

  Pat’s face heated as she stayed on course. She kept her gaze on Samuel, wondering what he was thinking. So many emotions crossed his face from confusion, to awareness, and then to awe. He smiled wide, and when she was almost to them, he walked toward her and held out his arms for her to grab.

  She smiled at him, searching his eyes for anger, but there wasn’t any to be found. “I wasn’t sure what else to do,” she whispered.

  “You are amazing.”

  He led her to the group and introduced her to everyone. Linda turned white and looked close to passing out.

  “Pat, you’re a woman?” Linda clutched her chest and walked into her father’s arms.

  “You have a camp woman?” Samuel’s father clenched his hands into fists. “Who is this slut?”

  Samuel dropped her hand and swung at his father. The sound of his fist hitting bone made Pat shudder, and she cried out when the older man fell to the ground. The reverend immediately went and helped the older man back to a standing position.

  “Perhaps we should have this conversation in the cookhouse. I can make coffee,” Pat suggested. She didn’t wait for a reply. She marched to the door and let herself in then hurried to the cook stove.

  “Father, this is where Pat works. He, or rather she, pretended to be a boy the whole time she was here. I had no idea Samuel was living with a woman.” Tears rolled down Linda’s face.

  If Linda hadn’t been such a troublemaker, Pat might have felt sorry for her. But she didn’t.

  Pat poured the coffee, put all the cups on a tray and carried it to the table before she sat down next to Samuel. “Samuel just recently found out I was a woman. I’ve been living as a boy for as long as I can remember. My father moved around a lot, and he feared for my safety if the truth was known. We’ve been just about everywhere. Most recently, we panned for gold before coming here. He was the cook, and I helped. He died not too long ago. I kept up my disguise for the same reason he did. It was for my own safety.”

  Linda slammed her cup down on the table, splattering coffee in all directions. She narrowed her eyes and stared at Samuel. “You knew, and you didn’t kick her out of your cabin? She’s the reason you didn’t have time for me? She’s nothing but a dirty, filthy camp whore!”

  Pat closed her mouth tight and clasped her hands in front of her. She was afraid of what she might say.

  “She’s not a whore. She’s not filthy. She rubs dirt on herself to keep her disguise, but she’s actually very clean. She’s very resourceful. Her father died, but she worked her tail off and became one of the best camp cooks we’ve had. Sh
e cooks better than her father. She tended to me when I hurt my arm. She stitched me up. She has more courage than all of you put together. Have you forgotten how you gave Pat to Big Hans, Linda? You thought to be rid of Pat but she persevered. She was quick witted and she survived. She pulls her weight around here which is a heck of a lot more than I can say about you, Linda.”

  “I came here as you fiancée, not some work horse. There’s a big difference. I bet she can’t even read. I’ve waited far too long for you Samuel. We’re getting married. Today.”

  “I’m carrying his child,” Pat almost slapped her hands over her mouth. Where the heck had that come from?

  Samuel didn’t even look surprised. He nodded and put his arm around her. “That is the very reason you and I are not getting married, Linda. Pat and I are. I want my child to have my name.”

  Linda stood. “Just how many men have had you, Pat? It’s convenient to tell Samuel the baby is his. You were alone with Hans for a long time before you were found. Why it could be any number of men’s baby. You don’t fool me.”

  Pat looked at Samuel, waiting for him to take the lead.

  “Well, Reverend. I have to say I’m glad you’re here. Will you officiate our wedding? Mine and Pat’s? After all, it is the right thing to do.”

  At the reverend’s nod, Linda shrieked and ran from the building. “I’ll be back in an hour to perform the ceremony,” the reverend said. All the rest of the men stood and shook their heads as they walked outside.

  “An hour should give us enough time to get away for a bit. They’ll be gone by the time we get back,” Pat said as she tried to relax her tense body.

  “We’re not going anywhere. You and I are getting married.”

  “Heck, you don’t even like me. Well, sometimes you do. I mean we’re friends and all, but there is much more to marriage than that.” Pat stood and gathered up the cups. “Besides, if we’re not leaving I have some cooking to do.”

  “Why wouldn’t I want to marry you?” His voice was so tender it hurt.

  “I’m not good enough for you. Someone like Linda would be best for the owner of an outfit like this. I’d be an embarrassment to you. I’m not refined or cultured. I am a little bit educated, but I’m not for you.” Her stomach tied in knots as her heart ached. “Tell them whatever you need to get them to leave. I’ll have my own cabin, and come spring I can leave too.”

  Samuel lifted the tray of cups from her grasp and set it down. Taking both her hands in his he gave them a gentle squeeze as he gazed into her eyes and smiled. “Is that what you think? I want a woman who can plan parties and sit nicely at the opera? You are educated, Pat. You can read and write, and you have real world experience. I don’t want a hothouse flower for a wife. I have no use for someone who isn’t my equal. Together we can forge ahead and make a real town. A place where families will want to live. A place with schools and a real church. We can make it happen.”

  “You really want me for your wife?”

  “Is that so hard to believe? You’re kind and gentle. You have a good heart and you don’t play games with my heart. I don’t know how it happened but you’ve come to mean so much to me. I want to spend my days walking hand and hand with you under the whispering pines. I want to make love to you so that all the pines have to whisper about is our love. I do love you. I want you, I need you. I’m asking you to be my wife.”

  Tears sprung to her eyes as their gazes continued to hold. “I didn’t know what to expect when I put these clothes on. I thought perhaps you’d be angry.” She smiled. “Your words about our love being whispered among the pines are the loveliest I’ve ever heard. I’d love to be your wife, but I have a few questions.”

  He pulled her into his embrace. “Ask away.”

  She could feel his heart speed up and she was sure hers matched his. “Will I be expected to live in town after the wedding? Will you want children?”

  He kissed the side of her neck and she shivered. “No and yes. I think my goal is to have a town where we can both live. For now, we’ll stay up on the mountain until we get that town built. We can decide then what we want to do but I want us to be together.”

  Standing on tiptoes, she wrapped her arms around his neck and brought his head down for a kiss. His firm lips softened a bit as they met hers. It was the sweetest moment she’d ever had. The feel of his hands running up and down her back as he opened his mouth to her made her moan. She pressed herself against him feeling his arousal.

  “Ahem.”

  They sprung apart at the sound and looked toward the door. Old Barney stood right inside the door looking healthier than he’d ever looked.

  He gave them a feeble smile. “I heard the news about you two getting hitched and all. I have to admit I scratched my head about you being a female, Miss Pat. I have somethin’ I want you to have. Old Hans traded it to me a while back for some tobacco.” He took a few steps forward. “Anyway here it is. I hope you like it.”

  Pat gasped when she saw what he held in his hand. It was her mother’s brooch. Hans must have been the one to steal from her. She took the brooch and gave Barney a big hug. “This means the world to me. Thank you.” He turned bright red when she kissed his cheek.

  “The reverend said the wedding was private?”

  Samuel stepped forward. “Yes, but the celebrating is for everyone.”

  Barney smiled and left.

  “Here let me pin this on you. It sure is pretty. I like the green stone in the middle of the diamonds.”

  “They’re glass, not diamonds.” She waited while he pinned it on her.

  “I know a thing or two about diamonds and these are real. The green stone is glass but the rest is real.”

  Her jaw dropped. “Da must have replaced the glass with diamonds. We did make a good strike before we came here. He should have told me.”

  “He probably meant to surprise you.” He took her into his strong arms and held her.

  “I know this sounds stupid but it’s almost as though my father is giving his blessing to our marriage.”

  He rubbed his big hands up and down her back. “It’s not stupid at all. It’s sweet.” He stepped back and smiled at her. “You’re so lovely. Listen if you don’t want to do this—”

  “I do. I love you with all my heart. I think I have for a very long time. I want us to be married.”

  After the ceremony, Samuel tenderly kissed his bride. The way she kissed him back made his whole body tingle. He couldn’t wait to undress her later and make sweet, passionate love to her. The kiss ended and he smiled. Her whole face glowed and her eyes were filled with happiness.

  He’d placed guards outside the cookhouse to keep Linda away. All throughout the ceremony he waited for her, her father or his father to come marching through the door to stop the wedding. Now he could relax. Pat was his wife.

  “Are you ready to greet the men?” he asked.

  Pat nodded.

  He took her hand and felt her tremble. “Some of them already saw you in your dress. I’m sure they all know by now. Plus they know a celebration means opening a keg. I don’t think any of them will mind you’re my wife.”

  The trust in her eyes humbled him. He never had anyone believe in him the way she did. “Did I tell you how much I love you?”

  Pat blushed. “If it’s the same amount of love I have for you, then it is a great love.”

  He slanted his lips over hers and gave her a long lingering kiss. “Let’s go celebrate.”

  Epilogue

  Two Years Later

  Pat hung onto Samuel’s hand as they waited for the ribbon cutting ceremony to mark the opening of the new school in the town of Pearce. It had taken many months of planning and a lot of work but they had built a town to be proud of. Best of all Samuel had treated her ideas as equal to his own.

  Everyone waited for the new mayor Hank Blue to arrive. Samuel didn’t want to be the mayor. He said he was busy enough with his lumber business and his soon to be growing family.

>   He reached down and put a protective hand on her ever increasing stomach. Gazing at him, she hoped that her love for him could be seen in her eyes. The smoldering gaze he returned gave her the answer.

  “You know I wouldn’t have minded living up on the mountain with you,” she said.

  “I know. It’s not only because of the baby I want to live in town. I want you to myself. I couldn’t believe all the ailments those rough timber men suddenly came up with just to be near you.”

  “No one was inappropriate.”

  “Just the same I’m glad to have you without interruption.”

  Pat blushed remembering a few of the interruptions they’d had. They’d whispered their love plenty of times up on the mountain. They’d gotten caught a few times too. Once by a bear. “I’ll miss our afternoon naps.”

  “Naps is it?” Samuel laughed. “Yes, napping was my favorite part of the day.”

  She jabbed him playfully in the stomach. “Here comes Hank. It’s time to be serious.”

  “Can we nap afterwards?”

  Her face heated as she shook her head. Life was never boring with her lumberjack.

  The End

  I'm so pleased you chose to read Whispered Love, and it's my sincere hope that you enjoyed the story. I would appreciate if you'd consider posting a review. This can help an author tremendously in obtaining a readership. My many thanks. ~ Kathleen

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  Love Before Midnight

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