by Rita Hestand
When she finished the dishes, she decided to take some cookies she'd made yesterday. She wrapped them in a cloth and packed some things for Elan and when Charlie went to feed the animals, Clay lingered long enough to kiss her goodbye. And it was no peck, he took her into his arms and kissed her tenderly, smiling as he pulled away to stare into her face.
She blushed.
"I'll miss you," he murmured near her ear.
She sighed in his arms.
Elan gurgled and she pulled away from his amorous kisses.
"I'll be back before dark," she promised.
"I'll be waiting." He told her with a smile.
"Just get that room finished as soon as you can."
"Honey, it's my number one priority."
She kissed him for that admission, surprising him with her boldness.
"I like that." He murmured.
"What?" she asked in a whisper.
"You kissing me."
***
"So, what's going on, son. You and Willa seemed to have been giving each other some looks this morning. Did I miss something?"
"No, not exactly, you didn't miss anything except, well, I asked her to marry last night." He told him.
Charlie turned to stare with a slow growing smile, "Well, how about that. I begin to think you wouldn't ever get around to it. What did she say?"
"Yes, so I guess it's alright with you, huh?"
"It's very alright. If you got that strong a feeling for her, then marriage is the only answer son. I'm real proud to hear it too." Charlie smiled.
"Yeah, it's gonna mean a lot of trouble, you know that, so do I. But it can't be helped. The way we feel, it's just too strong to ignore any longer. And I wouldn't have her unless we married, it's the right way to do things. But it will upset some people once they find out."
Charlie chuckled. "We've had troubles before son."
"Ed's threatened to burn us out, and I'm pretty sure he meant it." Clay mentioned casually. He wasn't going to tell his father about what happened last night with Ed. He didn’t want him worrying but they had to talk about what might come.
"Then we'll just rebuild." Charlie told him.
"You think you are up to all this, dad?" Clay asked.
Charlie chuckled, "I've been wanting this to happen ever since her and her father came here. I know it will cause trouble, but life is full of troubles, son. It's how you handle them that counts. The way she fits in so quickly here, without one complaint. I knew it would be a good marriage if you ever got around to it. We can always rebuild. I'm just happy that Elan will be my grandson soon."
Clay smiled warmly and put his hand on his dad's shoulder. "You love him, don't you?"
"I love them both, and now they will be family, I love them more." Charlie told him. "She's a good woman, and the best cook I've ever seen."
"She wants me to finish the room first though before we marry."
"Well, I can't blame her for that. I can watch Elan after the wedding for a few days, if you like, or go to town and rent a room."
"No, I don't want you leaving here without me. Things are gonna probably get rough and I want you here, with us."
"Alright, have it your way."
"I also want to get her some dresses like we talked about. White woman dresses so the people will start to see her for what she is, a wonderful woman." Clay told him.
"Sounds good."
"I was kind of surprised she went to see Cora though."
"I think the doc's been pretty worried about her."
"You know, I always liked Cora. She's ahead of her time. She don’t see people the way most do, she sees us all as people. She even hired a black man to help around the place a few years back. I think he finally ran off though. I'll go with Willa next time."
"Maybe we can all go visit back and forth so she won't be so alone all the time."
"Good idea."
"So, where we gonna go to get the two of you married. Have you thought about it?"
"There should be someone to marry us in Farmersville, I'd expect. If not, we may have to find a Catholic mission. They marry almost anyone there."
"Good thinking. Alright, I have to tell you, I'm looking forward to this. I didn't think I'd live to see you married." Charlie choked up.
"I'm glad you are happy about it, dad." Clay smiled.
"I thought I heard a ruckus last night, but the medicine made me a bit drowsy. Was I imagining it?"
"Willa, Elan and me, were out in the shed, that's all." Clay told him.
"What were you doing out there?"
"She was fixing to leave. I guess that's part of what spurred me on to ask her to marry. I couldn't let her go, dad. I knew she felt the same, even though we never talked about it."
"Well, I could see it in both of your faces." Charlie laughed. "Why did she want to leave?"
"She had strong feelings too, and she was afraid she'd bring trouble on us. I told her we'd face it together."
"It ain't just her. There is always trouble. Ed's been wanting our land ever since we came here to settle. Between him stirring up trouble and Laura with her big mouth, we'd have it anyway, especially when Laura found out you wasn't in love with her, like all the other men in town."
"Did you know Haywood was sweet on Laura?"
"You're kidding. I mean I like Haywood, most times, when he's not drinking, but he's kind of rough around the edges, especially for someone like Laura."
Clay smiled and looked at his dad, "She's not too good for him dad. Haywood is a decent man unless he drinks, and he's drinking more now because of her. No, everyone said he took it hard when she told him flat out, she wasn't interested."
"There's talk that she is marrying the new young lawyer in town, Sawyer is his name." Charlie informed him.
"Well, that takes the cake don't it? They deserve each other is what I think." Clay told him. "Matthew is about as dull as a rock, and she'll soon find that out. But you know as well as I do, it's his family's money she's interested in."
Chapter Thirteen
Willa saw the house sitting off to the side, and she turned down the dirt path. It stood majestically against the rich background of Texas ranch land, with corrals, barns and fenced property, with trees waving in the distance it was like an oasis. One big oak and a large pecan tree spread it's leaves over the front yard with magnificent shade. The house needed some paint, but that would be a job for a man, she supposed.
Someone came out of the house, a woman with a rifle put her hand over her eyes to shade them so she could see who was coming up to her house.
"Well now," Cora stood a bit startled to see Willa sitting there with Elan on her back. "Howdy."
"Howdy," Willa smiled and repeated.
Cora waited.
"Umm, I guess I should introduce myself first. My name is Willa, and I live down the road a bit. I work for Charlie and Clay Nelson. The doc told me there was a woman living down the road alone and I had to come see for myself."
The woman's mouth opened but then she smiled. "Ya don't say. Well, get down and come on in. I just brewed some tea; would you like a cup?"
"Sounds good to me," Willa smiled. She couldn't believe the woman was so cordial to her.
"I made some tea-cakes I'd like to share with you." Willa told her.
"Tea cakes huh? Hadn't had any of those in a long spell." Cora chuckled, staring at her as she opened her front door for her.
Cora saw the baby and stared for a long bit.
She eyed Willa over good before she said another word.
"You're working for Charlie?" the woman crooked her head as she watched Willa take the baby from her back.
"Yes, I do the cooking and cleaning and help with the chores." She spread a blanket on the floor and put Elan on it.
"Well I'll swan. Never thought they'd take in help, but then Charlie is getting up in age a bit." She chuckled.
"The doc told me about you living here, and I wanted to come meet you. I don't know many people in
the area and it's nice to know there is a woman close." Willa explained.
"To tell the truth, it is nice to see a woman. Most visitors are strangers looking for a little work. And I don't cotton to many of the women in town. Got their noses stuck in the air. Doc worries about me too much. I’m fine. But I suppose you would get a bit lonely for some woman talk ever now and then, I know I do."
Willa nodded, "You look just fine." Willa told her, her eyes going over her with interest.
Cora stared at the baby who smiled at her immediately.
"Well look at that. Is he your boy?"
"Yes, this is Elan."
Elan gurgled.
"He's a cute tyke. I don't mean to be rude but are you an Indian?"
"I am a breed and so is my son. My father came out here to get me from the reservation when my mother died." She explained. "We got as far as Charlie's cabin and my father was killed by Indians."
"Good grief girl, I guess you seen your share of troubles then." Cora asked. "Didn't know the Indians were raiding again?"
"They aren't. They were after Elan."
"Oh my, your son? Why?"
"He's the grandson of the chief."
"My. I see he didn't succeed."
"No, but I'm not sure we've heard the last of them."
"They aren't raiding everyone?" Cora asked with concern.
"No."
"Well, I'm sorry for you, but it could stir some troubles."
"I know, and I am concerned. I think Charlie and Clay took pity on me when they offered me a job cooking for them. But I can understand wanting some good food." She smiled again.
Cora sat down and sipped her tea. "Charlie never was much a hand at cooking, probably a good thing you happened along."
Willa looked around her place, it was a nice size house and clean too.
Cora was a short woman around Charlie's age, she had fine tanned skin, and not many wrinkles. Willa could see she was a hard worker. But being alone here and having to keep the place up had to keep her busy.
"Well, I’m tickled you came to visit, and your son. I love babies. Can I pick him up?"
"Of course." Willa nodded.
Elan gurgled again and smiled.
"He's a cute one."
"Charlie is so taken with him." Willa told her.
"I'll bet. He's been after Clay to marry for a while now, but Clay doesn't seem to get the message." Cora laughed.
Willa blushed and Cora noticed.
"Or has he?"
Willa wasn't sure if she should blurt it out, but her excitement won. "Actually, he has. I wasn't going to say anything, but I can't keep it to myself. Clay asked me to marry."
Cora stopped and stared, "Marry?"
"Yes, I guess that kind of shocks you." Willa saw her staring now intently.
"Well, only because Clay has never been interested in a woman before. But I'm glad. Course you know it will bring all kinds of hell down on you. But it might all be worth it. Sounds like you are all gonna be one big happy family."
"I am very happy. Clay's building on a room for us, and when he's done, we'll be married."
"Am I invited to the wedding?" she asked with a smile as she played with Elan in her lap.
"Yes ma'am, if you'd like to come, we'd be pleased to have you." Willa told her.
"Just let me know when and where. So, you and Clay, who'd have thought. Tell me, what happened to Elan's father?" Cora asked.
Willa was shocked she hadn't suggested Clay was the father. "I lived on the reservation with my mother, until she died of smallpox. Because my mother was Indian, we lived there, but I couldn't remain unless I married the Chief's son, and so I did, and we had Elan. When my father came to get me, my husband did not want me to take Elan. I would not leave without him of course and my father had to shoot him."
"Dead?" Cora's eyes widened.
"Yes."
"Forever more. And your father was white?"
"Yes."
Cora seemed to digest the information with surprise and a slight smile.
Willa felt she needed to explain.
"Some have speculated that Elan was Clay's." Willa admitted with her head bowed. "I cannot understand this, as I haven't been here long enough for something like that."
"Oh, I can imagine. People from town are always gossiping, and seldom right. No, if Elan was Clay's son, he'd have already married you, that's for sure." Cora chuckled.
"You know them pretty well, then." Willa smiled.
"Charlie and me, go way back, and Clay's a fine son. Anyone that knows them well, knows they'd never lie about a blood relative."
"I guess Laura doesn't really know Clay as well as she thought then."
"Laura, that girl. She's been chasing Clay for two years but the way I understand it, he doesn't really like her. Charlie says they don't see eye to eye about most things."
"I don't know, she came to see me one day and tried to get me to tell her that Elan was Clay's. I told her the truth, but I don't think she believed me."
Cora made a face. "She's miss uppity herself, I never liked the girl. Granted her mother was killed by Indians and everyone felt sorry for her for a while, but she's to uppity for me and she's played up the sympathy too long to suit me."
"Charlie did like her."
"He liked her food. That's what he liked." Cora let out a chuckle.
"You do know him well."
"We've been friends for years."
"He would have come with me, but they are busy working on the room."
"Well, I hope he does come. I haven't seen him in a spell." Cora chuckled.
"This is a big place; you take care of it all by yourself?" Willa looked around, seeing the fine lawn and the beautiful tree outside.
"Yep, unless a neighbor offers to help me." She told her. "Or a drifter needs some work."
"Why don't you hire someone to help you every day?" She asked her.
"I had a black man, but he ran off. He was a bit lazy, but he shore liked my cooking." Cora added with a chuckle.
"You should get another, there's bound to be people who need work."
"Maybe I will one day. So," she sat back on the sofa and played with Elan, "How do you like living there with the Nelsons'?"
"It is good, we all get along well." Willa told her.
"Have you met any other neighbors?"
"One, his name was Ed, he lives a bit closer."
"Oh yeah, Ed. He's not a very nice man. I'd be wary of him."
"I already am."
"Good. Stay that way around him."
"He's threatened to burn Charlie and Clay out." Willa told her.
"Why that old buzzard! Why would he say such a thing?"
"Charlie says he wants the land, but I think it's all because of me. You see the Indians attacked Charlies place when we arrived. They had followed, wanting to take Elan from me. Charlie, Clay and my father defended the place and they finally left, but Ed knew about it. He swore I'd bring trouble." Willa told her, hanging her head.
"Charlie's right, Willa. Charlie has that creek beside his place, Ed wants it, although Charlie never refused to allow anyone water. Ed would if he got a hold of that property."
"You know more about it than I do, I just don't like the man. He scares me." Willa told her.
"You got a gun?"
"No, ma'am."
"A knife?"
"No, why?"
"You need one. Ed is the kind that would come onto their property and take you if he could."
"He's already tried once."
"Good Lord, girl. What happened?"
"Clay heard him and came on the run. He ran him off at least for a while, but I have a feeling he'll be back." Willa stared into her blue eyes. "I'm not sure I could use a weapon on someone."
"Now you listen here, he'll rape you if he gets the chance. You need protection. You wait here a minute," she put Elan down on the floor where Willa spread the blanket and went into another room. Moments later she came back and hande
d her a small derringer. "You take this and use it if you have to. I mean it. Don't you let him take you young lady? You fight back. And if you have to kill him, so be it, no loss to this old world. You're a young mother and this baby needs you. You use it."
Willa took the gun and looked at it.
"It's loaded so be careful. You have to be up close, but it will do the job, and don't hesitate."
"But he's their neighbor." Willa protested.
"Don't mean you have to let him touch you girl. You shoot him dead."
"They would hang me!"
"No, they won't. You've told me about this today, and if anything happens. I'll be there for you to testify. You have every right to defend yourself. He came here once, after my husband died, I guess thinking he could romance me off this place. It didn't work, and I almost used that on him then. He wanted my place too."
Willa stared at her then broke into a smile, "You are a very strong woman."
"How do you think I survive out here. You can't be weak and live in these parts." She told her.
"I will take your advice then." Willa acknowledged.
Elan gurgled and she gave him one of the toys Charlie made him.
She leaned back in the comfortable chair and looked at Cora. "I need some white woman clothes. I wish you'd go with me and help me pick some out." Willa exclaimed. "Clay offered, but I figure I'd have less trouble with a white woman around than men."
"I can do that. Just let me know when, we'll take my buggy over to Farmersville and pick some out. After all, you are part white too." Cora chuckled. She glanced down at Elan, "He's a very good baby."
"Yes, like my father used to say, I’m lucky. I don't know where Elan gets it, except my father was a happy man." She laughed.
After they finished their snack, Cora showed her around her property and insisted she come back and visit regular. "You know I don't get many visitors and I do ache for some female companionship every now and then."
"What about men?" Willa asked.
"Most men don't like me, they think I act like a man, so they feel threatened."
"I'll bet Charlie doesn't."
Cora blushed, "Charlie's the only man save my husband that never gets offended by me."
Willa chuckled. "I don't know if I should tell you, I might be speaking out of turn, but Charlie has consumption."
