“We got an order for fifty horses from the army,” Parker announced.
“What army?” Fletcher asked. There was a hard edge to his voice
“When do they need them?” Willis asked.
“Three weeks. We must build two more corrals so we can all be training at the same time.”
“Isn’t that selling out? We fought long and hard to beat those Yankees. Doing business with
them is plain wrong,” Fletcher insisted, his face turning red.
“We need to set the boundaries right off.” Parker looked at each man before he went on. “First of all this is my ranch. Willis, Kent, and Max each have a share in it since they helped with getting it going and making it successful. I make the rules and I expect them to be carried out. As I always say, if you don’t like it you’re welcome to leave, no hard feelings. It takes a lot of money to pay everyone on the ranch, and I don’t turn down lucrative contracts.”
The men nodded.
“Fletcher, why don’t you and Ward map out the corrals? We’ll all take turns training and building.”
“Carter, can I have a word with you outside?” Parker asked. He walked out of the barn.
“What can I do for you, Parker?”
He shook his head. “Let’s wait until we’re farther away from the barn.”
They walked a couple yards away.
“Parker, what’s going on?”
His face turned slightly red. “I’m supposed to ask how Mary Beth is doing. Does she like the ranch? Has she really changed? Is she happy with you? Do you think Letty will be able to teach her to cook? There was one more I was told to ask.”
Carter laughed. “Let’s see, she wants to build a future with me on this ranch. She’s really not as caustic as she portrays. She’s been pushed away so many times she pushes first. She was delighted to have been asked to tea. She wants to part of the community, if you’ll have her. She cried after church yesterday. You all left and didn’t acknowledge her and she was convinced everyone hated her. And oh, yes she wants to learn to cook.”
Parker grinned. “I got it. I’ll be back. I know Georgie is watching us from the window and wants to her information.”
Carter joined him while they both laughed.
Parker went to the house, and Carter returned to the barn.
“What did the captain have to say about me? Am I not allowed voice my opinion around here?” Fletcher asked sarcastically.
Carter shrugged. “It was about me. You didn’t even come up, Fletch. Sorry to disappoint you.”
“Come on, Ward, we have corrals to map out.”
The two men started out the door. Ward looked back and shrugged his shoulders. He probably didn’t want to be painted by the same brush as Fletcher. Fletcher was one that had always questioned orders. He’d been a thorn in Parker’s side throughout the War Between the States. Fletcher had a thing for taunting the freedmen and the poor whites. So far he’d kept his mouth shut.
“Let’s get to the horses. Fifty is a good number,” Kent said, but he didn’t sound too confident.
“Why don’t we have Kent and Willis calm the animals and the rest of us can train them. It’ll work well with more corrals. We could use the pasture if we needed to,” Max suggested.
“We can use the barn too,” Joe said.
“Max and Joe, can you get the spotted mustang and the red roan? We’ll work those two next. Then while we break them, you can take out a few horses we trained on Saturday and see how they do.”
“Sure. Carter Mary Beth seemed happy yesterday. It looked good on her,” Max commented.
Carter smiled. She had exuded happiness. Her eyes had been a little bit puffy, but it hadn’t distracted from her loveliness. She’d made big strides yesterday. Georgie probably was confused by how nice Mary Beth acted.
* * *
“And that’s how you make bread,” Letty announced after she took two loaves out of the oven.
“Thank you, Letty. Won’t Ross be surprised when he comes in for the noon meal? You’re a natural teacher.” Mary Beth admired the two loaves. “Don’t you help out at the school?”
“That I do. Not this week, though. Your need to cook is greater than Glory’s need for a helper.” She chuckled. “Glory agreed.”
“I’m finding that it’s fine to tell people the skills you don’t have. Everyone is so kind in the way they help each other.”
“This is the best place to live and bring up children. I know I’m blessed and I’m happy. But in a way we still ain’t free. We ain’t free to go to town or even off the ranch, it’s not safe. Someday I’m hoping that my people will be free to go where they want.”
“I hope so too. I know it’s been hard for people to get by. I’ve always had enough to eat. My father never talked about the war, so in that respect I didn’t feel the effects like most. It was a lonely life but nowhere close to as bad as your life was.”
“If you haven’t lived as a slave there is no way to describe it. Just imagine being treated like an animal. You work, you breed, and they take your young from you. Plus the master liked to… well, he wouldn’t leave the women alone. If you caused trouble they just sold you away from your husband and children if they were still there. It wasn’t the long hours of working that was the worst. The worst part was you never knew if you would still have your loved ones the next day. My heart was dead until I met Darrius. My first three children were sold to different masters. I didn’t get to choose the men who fathered them. In fact, I never married until Darrius. It was as though they were trying to find the perfect mare and stud to make the strongest of babies. The first two men held themselves to be special. The third, Matthias, he was as sweet as could be. He asked how I was feeling while I was carrying his babe. I done told him not to get attached, but by the way he often held me and talked about what our baby would be like, my heart got attached.
The baby was a healthy girl, as pretty as could be. I was to see that she was fed. Master could sell for a higher price when the girl was a little older. I was so happy, but then he changed his mind. I had my child with me about two weeks, and then she was ripped out of my arms with no notice. Then another plantation owner came to visit, and he left with Matthias.” Letty poured herself a cup of water and sat down.
“I wanted to curl up and die,” she went on. “My heart was being torn out of my chest for a long while, but that child and Matthias being sold almost did me in. I hardly ate, but I kept working. Each day was like the one before, and my heart wouldn’t stop hurting. Darrius was bought and brought to the plantation. He thought I was about fifteen years old, I was so scrawny. I don’t know why he bothered, but he tried to make me smile every day. Darrius filled my heart, and I jumped the broom with him. When I was expecting, I was constantly afraid. But the master died and his son took over the plantation, and he never sold another of my children.”
“I’m so sorry, Letty.”
“Hush now. God listened to my prayers and here I am.”
“You are a blessing. I’m glad to know you.”
“There’s your husband. I need to get home and make my own family some food. I’ll be back tomorrow.” She let herself out the door, and Ross stepped over the threshold with a tip of his hat to Letty.
He crossed the room and pressed a gentle kiss to Mary Beth’s lips. He didn’t put his arms around her, so she put her arms around his neck and kept his lips against hers. His kiss was imprinted on her heart. He slanted his lips a bit and she felt his tongue against her lip. She opened her mouth and was shocked when he put his tongue inside. Her curiosity won out, and she stayed still, kissing him back. She darted her tongue into his mouth, and to her surprise she found it very nice.
He broke off the kiss and leaned his forehead against hers. She still had her arms wrapped around his neck. Slowly she let go and put her fingers over her lips.
“Your eyes are shining, Mary Beth,” he whispered.
“I know. I feel so very alive. I don’t think I’ve e
ver felt this way. It’s almost scary to feel so much.”
“The house smells great. You and Letty must have been busy!”
“We were, and then she told me about her life on the plantation. She must be the strongest woman I’ve ever met. I don’t think I could have survived.”
“You’ve survived plenty, love.” He stepped back. “Have you picked out names for your baby?”
She shook her head and stared at her cup. It was something she’d hoped they would do together. Your baby. Perhaps he doesn’t want to be the father to a child created in violence.
He sliced some ham and the fresh bread. “I’d better get back to work. I’ll be double timing it for a while.” He kissed the side of her temple and was off.
She needed to guard her heart better. He was right, it was her baby and she needed to learn all she could about caring for it. He probably wouldn’t be available to take her into town with all the extra work. But she still had time.
Chapter Six
A few days later, Georgie asked her if she’d like to ride to town with her. It thrilled Mary Beth until she remembered she didn’t have any money. She could sell her jewelry, though. She dressed in a dark blue dress with a matching bonnet.
She’d have to go and tell Ross she was going, or was he the type that wanted her to ask permission? Everything was jumbled, and she didn’t even know her husband. She grabbed her satchel and left the house. She held her hem up out of the dirt as she walked to the barn. She was just going to tell him she was going and see what he had to say.
When she entered the barn, a few of the men took off their hats and greeted her. Ross was leading a horse to one of the stalls. A smile lit his features when he saw her. That was a good sign. She stood where she did, not want to get in the way. Max took the lead rope from Ross.
Her heart beat faster as he approached. He really was such a handsome man.
As if to agree, the babe moved within.
“Oh!” she said as she touched her stomach. “Oh, my.”
“Is it the baby?” Ross asked.
She smiled. “I felt it move. Before it was a flutter, and now it feels more like a baby.”
He shared her smile. “Do you think I could feel it later?” He sounded excited.
“Of course. I’m going into town with Georgie. I want to get what I need for sewing. I figured I could sell my jewelry, and—”
“No.” He gave a firm shake of his head. “I have an account there. I haven’t had a chance to add you to it but it should be fine if you’re with Georgie. I don’t want you to sell your jewels. If you need money, all you have to do is ask. We’re not rich, but we can afford a few extras.” He stared into her eyes.
Her breath seemed to back up in her chest. She was losing the battle of guarding her heart. She stared right back. “I won’t be long.”
He cupped her cheek, leaned down and kissed her lips. She almost sighed, but she remembered where they were and broke off the kiss.
“People can see us,” she whispered.
“So they can.” He straightened up and grinned. “Be safe.”
His grin caused her to shiver. “Bye.” Happiness filled her as she saw Georgie being helped into the wagon by Parker. He quickly rounded to the other side and assisted her. They were on their way.
“The town isn’t very big, but the people are nice. There are still Yankees headquartered in the sheriff’s office, though.” Georgie chattered on while Mary Beth thought about Ross putting his hand on the baby. Maybe he had meant nothing by it when he’d said “your baby” earlier.
“Is something the matter?” asked Georgie in a genteel voice. “I have the feeling you’ve only half listened.”
“Oh Georgie, I apologize. I was thinking about Ross.”
“In that case you’re forgiven. He really is a nice man. I take it you two are getting along?”
Mary Beth’s face heated. “We haven’t—he’s kissed me. I like his kisses, but I’m worried how he will feel raising a child that isn’t his. Georgie, I never thought I’d be in this situation. I’ve always thought it disgraceful for a girl to be with child when she wasn’t married.”
“What about the father? Won’t he be looking for you?”
Mary Beth shook her head. “It wasn’t—I… there was violence and I can’t talk about it. I really thought Lexington was still unmarried. I thought he could protect both me and the baby. I don’t think that man knows where I am.”
They were stopped at the edge of town by Union Soldiers. Sergeant Hollanda just waved them right through. Georgie seemed surprised.
“Do they protect the town?”
“No, they just like to harass us. Why they are still here is a mystery.” Georgie reined in the horses in front of a big store. She tied the lines around the break and climbed down.
Mary Beth climbed down too. The bell above the door rang as they entered the store. A man who looked to be in his thirties smiled.
“Good day, Mrs. Eastman.”
“It is a nice day. Anson Stack, this is Mary Beth Carter. She married Ross Carter a few weeks ago.”
“It’s nice to meet you Mrs. Carter. If you need anything, give a holler.”
Georgie showed Mary Beth what fabric she’d need, and they picked out the thread and other sewing supplies. She then told Anson all the food items she needed and asked him to put two of everything in the order. When he finished and tallied it all up Georgie asked him to put it all on her bill.
“No, I’ll pay for my own things.” Mary Beth insisted.
“The men will get it figured out. Don’t worry.”
Doubt filled Mary Beth. What if Ross got mad? “Are you sure?”
The bells above the door rang, but she didn’t even look to see who it was, she knew no one, and staring would be rude.
“Well, well if it isn’t the very accommodating Mary Beth,” said a smooth male voice that sent ice scooting down her spine. “Why don’t we walk out back and have some fun?”
Both women gasped. Mary Beth shook. She kept her eyes averted, fearful that if she looked into his eyes, saw the cruelty that would be reflected there, she would break down.
“You’re looking mighty fine,” Leon continued. “Having my child inside you makes you glow right pretty.”
“I’m married now. Please leave me alone.” The words didn’t come out as forceful as she intended them to. She started to walk to the door when he grabbed her arm in a punishing grip.
“Now, now Mary Beth, we need to settle things between us,” crooned Leon. “I don’t like the way we parted. I thought it was understood you’d be my bride.”
She yanked her arm back. “There never was nor will there ever be an ‘us,’ Mr. Baker.”
Georgie immediately came to stand at Mary Beth’s side. “We were just on our way out. Come along, Mary Beth.” She tried to keep herself between Marry Beth and Leon.
“She talks to you as if you’re a dog,” accused Leon. “And here I have your father’s blessing.”
The two women kept walking. Anson Stack’s young employee had finished loading the wagon with their purchases. The women were in their seats when Leon came out of the store.
“I’ll see you soon. I must have a chat with the man you tricked into marrying you.”
Georgie urged the horses on, while Mary Beth’s body shook. She felt very lightheaded, but she constantly turned to look to see if he was following them.
“I’m so sorry you had to see that, Georgie. I can’t wait to get back on the ranch.”
Georgie looked as though she wanted to ask questions, and Mary Beth was relieved when she didn’t.
* * *
Carter stood next to Parker waiting for Georgie to stop the wagon. Mary Beth looked scared and Georgie was clearly upset.
Carter went to Mary Beth and lifted her down. She gained a grip around his neck, and she wouldn’t let go.
“Carter, why don’t you take her home?” suggested Georgie. “She met some thug in town who knew her an
d threatened her.”
His heart beat faster, and he nodded his understanding. Scooping up his wife, he hurried to their house. She was shaking and silent. Once inside, he set her on the bed. She avoided his gaze. He took her shoes off and drew the cover up over her, tucking her into bed.
“Wait! Don’t go,” she cried as he walked toward the door. “He was in town.”
Carter paused and turned back to her. “Who?”
“The man who attacked me and got me with child. He said we had some understanding between us and he’d talk to you about how I tricked you into marrying me.” Tears then poured down her face.
“Tricked me? That didn’t happen. He must think I don’t know about him. You’re safe here with me.” He ran his fingers through his hair and sat down next to her. “You’re the reason he’s in town?”
She nodded as she sniffled. “He knows the baby is his. I’m afraid he might try to take the baby away.”
Her fear made his heart hurt. He took her small hand into his and caressed the back with his thumb. “Oh my love, the child you’re carrying is yours and mine. We’re married and I plan to be a good father to the baby. He can threaten you all he wants, but his claim won’t hold water. The safety of the child is most important. What does he expect you to do? Leave me?”
“I think he wants revenge and there is always my father’s money.”
Carter furrowed his brows. “But you and your father are estranged. There must be some payoff he’s looking for besides revenge. Don’t you worry, I’ll take care of it.”
“He doesn’t play fair. I’m afraid he’ll try to kill you. Once he has the baby, he’ll do away with me too.”
As he considered the situation, Carter cocked his head to one side. “Do you think he expects the baby to be your father’s heir? I don’t know the man, but it would make sense. He’s had your father’s protection. He probably feels as though the law can’t touch him. I need to teach you to shoot and soon.”
Faltered Beginnings: Mail Order Brides of Spring Water Book Five Page 6
