The Most Unsuitable Wife

by Caroline Clemmons

  "Now, you can't be doing that, girl. You can't go shaming Drake that way, no matter if he does need to have his backside kicked a good swift one. And there's your safety to consider."

  "But, I can't stay here. You see that, don't you? I would like to live at the ranch, but I don't want to endanger Sarah and myself by moving into an isolated area."

  Grandpa sat with his chin on his chest for a few minutes, his fingers making a tent over his stomach. "Here's what I think we should do. I'll hire four men as body guards for the two of you if you promise not to separate in your coming and going.”

  Pearl stopped snuffling to consider his idea. "How will I get my repairs done? And then the cooking?"

  "The men can ride into town with you each day when Sarah comes in to school. You'll have to stay all day and the men can ride home with you in the evening. They can take turns being on watch all night."

  She wiped her eyes with her handkerchief. "And I can live at the ranch now? Make it our real home?” A great burden lifted from her heart.

  Grandpa nodded. "Yes, girl, I believe you're the very best one to do exactly that."

  * * *

  The next morning Pearl hugged Belle. "Don't worry. Lily loves having you for companionship and wants you to stay.” She met her friend's gaze. "You know you're welcome to come anytime you change your mind, or to visit. But don't come without an escort—for safety's sake."

  Belle wrung her hands. "I feel disloyal. After all you've done for me."

  "There's no need. This is what I want, but it's not right for you."

  "Thank you for understanding.” Belle hugged her once more.

  Lily was conspicuously absent from the parting, but Grandpa oversaw loading onto the wagon those things belonging to Pearl's family. The four men he'd hired were well armed and looked able. All four were so pleased to have the job that Pearl wondered what sort of payment they received from Grandpa. All but one had served as lawmen in some capacity.

  Jeff Granger stood almost as tall as Drake. The middle-aged man had served as a Texas Ranger until a gunshot to his lung left him reluctant to take on those duties again. He seemed fit enough but liked to stay near Kincaid Springs. He vowed to Pearl he would never sleep on the hard ground again, nor camp out in all kinds of weather.

  Beau Benton was a bounty hunter who looked every bit as dangerous as those he hunted. He wore buckskin clothing and his hair hung past his shoulders. He was polite, though, and offered the women a soft spoken greeting. Though a large man, he moved silently as a wraith.

  Abe Kline was short and squat, but Pearl marveled at the strength he displayed when he loaded her trunk by himself. Also a bounty hunter, he had intelligent brown eyes and a friendly smile. He looked like a storekeeper in his collarless shirt and waistcoat.

  Zed Isaacs was down and out, fighting the ravages of years of alcohol, and needed a job to stay out of jail. He was one of Grandpa's projects and coming along well toward staying on the wagon and out of the gutter. The lanky man walked slowly and seldom spoke. He was reported to be a perfect shot with pistol or rifle—drunk or sober.

  Grandpa drove the wagon with Pearl and Sarah sharing the seat. They rode half an hour before he turned down a narrow road between large live oaks. As they rounded a bend, Pearl caught her breath.

  Grandpa stopped the horses and pointed to the river gliding along tree lined banks to their left. "That's the Pedernales River running there. Spelled wrong on the maps 'cause some Yankee fellow surveying it got it wrong. Folks who know pronounce it pur-duh-nall-ess.

  Above them at the right, a house sprawled across a rise overlooking the river. Long, low and stretching across the hill, the square cut stone merged with the landscape. A metal roof extended over the porch running along the front and as far on the sides as she could see. Her heart pounded in her breast.

  "It's beautiful. The prettiest house I've ever seen.” She blushed and remembered herself. "Your house is grand, Grandpa. But this one... well, this one is perfect for this spot and for me."

  "I built it, so don't think you'll make me mad by liking it.” He clicked his tongue to the horses. "Of course, we started with just two rooms there in the center. Then we built on. Later Drake's parents built on quite a bit, but Althea—that's his mother—never liked living here. They spent most of their life in town near Kate and me.”

  He stopped the wagon in front of the house. A Mexican woman opened the door. "Señor Kincaid. How good to see you. Is all well with Señor Drake?"

  "Sí, yes, Maria. This is Drake's wife and her sister, Sarah.” He turned to Pearl and explained, "Maria has been housekeeper here for many years. She and her husband Miguel keep things going while Drake chases his cattle and horses."

  The housekeeper bobbed to Pearl, and her face glowed with a beatific smile. Probably in her fifties, her round figure and pleasing features made her look the madonna her name implied.

  "Oh Señora, it is so good to meet you at last. Come, come, into your home."

  Sarah and Pearl climbed down from the wagon and followed the glowing woman into the house. The guards checked through the rooms, against Maria's indignant protests in rapid-fire Spanish. Grandpa explained to the housekeeper about the need for extra safety while the men left to check the outbuildings. Then, the four guards could move into the bunkhouse and stow their gear where they would sleep.

  Sarah had not spoken a word until they stepped into the house. "It's right for this place. This is a good house for you, Sister."

  The native stone floor of the entry belonged to the original home. It now served as a large landing overlooking a massive room. A fireplace large enough to stand in ran along one wall. Facing her, doors opened onto a porch at the back of the house.

  "Everything is in readiness for you, Señora Kincaid.” Maria beamed at Pearl. "You have only to request and it will be done."

  What a difference in the reception here and at Grandpa's. Calm descended on Pearl like a welcome cloak. She turned to Grandpa and asked, "Grandpa, do you want to show me through the house, or would you like Maria to do so?"

  "You go ahead, girl. I believe I'll speak to Miguel about unloading that wagon. Might draft us some body guards to tote stuff.” Grandpa closed the door behind him as he stepped onto the porch.

  So far the house appeared spartanly furnished. No paintings or knick knacks to add warmth, nothing out of place, nothing to indicate anyone actually lived here. What furniture there was was well polished as were the floors. It was clean, and just a bit cold. She tingled with anticipation and contemplated the changes she could make.

  Pearl stepped down to the main room and walked to the glass paned doors. The house formed a large U-shape which enclosed a walled area.

  "Oh, a garden.” She noted the vegetable patch in the corner, and the neglected flower beds elsewhere. A fountain in the center no longer held water, but benches sat in place nearby beneath a large tree. It needed love and attention. She had both to offer.

  Maria stopped beside Pearl. "I think when Señora Kate lived here it was muy linda, very pretty.” She shrugged. "Señor Drake's mama hated this place. Now he has no time for the planning. He thinks only of business and building a great ranch. Mí Miguel is getting old now and has time only for the vegetables."

  Sarah joined the other two women. "It could be lovely again."

  Pearl nodded. "Yes, and there's plenty of room to grow my herbs."

  "Pardón?” Maria's brow puckered.

  "I need to grow herbs for my medical remedies.”

  Searching for the right explanation, Pearl didn't hear Grandpa return.

  "Pearl is a la curandera, Maria.” To Pearl, he added, "That’s Mexican for a folk healer."

  Maria beamed and clasped her hands. "This is verdad, true, Señora? Madre de Dios, the Holy Mother of God smiles on us. We have great need."

  She turned to Grandpa. "I see I must learn the Mexican language."

  "Yes, it would help a lot if you leaned the lingo. Drake speaks it like he was born
to it.” He laughed and scratched his chin. "Well, I guess he was, come to think of it. Maria took care of him when he was a baby."

  Sarah came forward. "I'll learn with you, Sister."

  "Wonderful. Will you show us the house now, Maria?"

  * * *

  Drake choked on the dust from thousands of cattle and swung around the herd. So far the trip had been routine. Storm, in charge of the remuda, waved as Drake rode by. That boy was a godsend, he'd say that. He turned his horse toward his brother-in-law.

  "You eatin' again? Where do you get all the food?"

  Storm shot him a crooked smile. "Fill my saddlebags with biscuits and jerky every morning. Cookie makes extra for me."

  "No wonder you're growing like a weed. Time we get to Dodge, you'll be a foot taller.” He noted the hem of Storm's denim pants already struck him several inches too high on his legs. The cuffs of his red shirt tugged tight and high above his wrist and fabric pulled taut across the shoulders and chest. "You better start wearin' the new duds Pearl bought you."

  Storm paused with a biscuit almost to his mouth and looked at his clothes. "These are the new duds. Can't wear the others any more. Cookie says I'm havin' a growth spurt."

  "Your sisters will be surprised when we get back.” He thought about the two women, his woman in particular. "I guess they're enjoying themselves with the social life of Kincaid Springs about now. What do you reckon they're up to? A tea or shopping?"

  "I think you'll be surprised. Pearl don't like that stuff."

  Drake frowned. "What do you mean? Did Pearl say something before we left?”

  Storm looked pensive for a moment and popped his uneaten biscuit into his shirt pocket. He licked his fingers and cocked his head at Drake.

  "No need. I came to live with Pearl nine years ago, when I was five. I've watched her moods a long time. She tries always to get along, to be peaceful. But she has this certain place where she won't be pushed any more. Then she pushes back.” He nodded his head. "She's 'bout to push back, do something. Make some big change."

  "Like what? What the hell could she change about living in town? The women there seemed to do the same things over and over.” Maybe that's what she hated. Hell, he thought women liked that sort of thing.

  Storm shook his head and shrugged. "Don't know. But she'll do something. Maybe soon, while we're gone. She won't stay in Lily's house, doing Lily's bidding."

  "It's Grandpa's house.” Damnation, how had his life gotten in such a mess?

  Storm asked, "You sure Lily knows that?"

  The kid had a point. Double Damnation. He should have talked with Grandpa about keeping a tight rein on Lily. He sure as hell hadn't a clue how to keep one on Pearl. He wasn't even sure he wanted to.

  Drake shook his head. "Naw, reckon Lily thinks she's queen bee. But what could happen? A little dust up maybe, soon over. After all, Grandpa and Lex are right there."

  Storm raised his eyebrows in question. "You haven't spent much time with women, have you?” He cocked his head at Drake. "I lived with women all my life. My mother first, then my sisters and Pearl's mean old granny. Women don't think like men. You can believe me.”

  Storm should know his sister. All through the drive, Drake fretted about what Pearl might be up to. He imagined her tossing tea in Lily's face. Or telling the church folks the truth about her so-called cousin Belle. Or selling baked goods up and down the street from a cart with Lily chasing after her with a parasol.

  Then he'd try telling himself Pearl couldn't get into any trouble right under Grandpa's and Lex's nose, especially with straight-laced Lily lordin' it over everyone. Part of him even tried to believe it.

  One day flowed into another through the endless trip. Rustlers hit them twice and cut a hundred head after they crossed the Red River. They lost one of Bingham's men in that fight. Jayhawkers tried to keep them out of Kansas and forced a four-day detour. By the time Dodge City loomed on the horizon, Drake found only relief this was his last drive.

  "Stay close to me, Storm,” Drake cautioned as they entered the hotel. "This town has a surplus of mean hombres."

  "Never saw a place like this.” Storm wrinkled his nose. "Or smelled one."

  "Ain't that the truth? This many cattle sure have their own perfume.” Drake moved to the reception counter and checked them into adjoining rooms.

  Storm slid the key into his pocket. "It'll seem odd to sleep in a bed tonight. But nice.”

  "Right. And I'm heading for the bathhouse and then to get a meal. You coming?"

  "Sounds good to me.” He examined a rip in his shirt sleeve. "I want to get some clothes I'm not bustin' out of, too.”

  After baths, haircuts, and a shave for Drake, the two dug into the biggest meal they could find. Drake had to leave part of his steak, but Storm cleaned his plate, finished Drake's steak, and had a helping of pie. On the way back to their hotel they stopped at a mercantile and bought several sets of clothes for Storm. In the back room, Storm changed into a new pair of denim pants, gray shirt and his new boots. Drake picked up a fancy shirt and added it to his own purchases for his family back in Texas. He had a bolt of fabric for Pearl and another for Sarah, handkerchiefs for Lily and Belle, and a money clip each for Lex and Grandpa.

  "I needed something to wear home," he said to explain his new shirt as they left the store. "That meal and bath set real well with me. I swear I'm a new man."

  Storm cocked an eyebrow at him. "Smell like one. If you ask me, it's a big improvement."

  A window display of women's things caught his eye. Drake stopped in his tracks. "See that wrapper? That's just the color of Pearl's eyes.” He put his hand on the door handle.

  Storm stopped, but took a step backward. "You going in there? That's a woman's store, looks maybe like for fancy women."

  "Gotta get that for Pearl. She doesn't have one. It'll look real nice on her."

  A crooked grin broke across Storm's face. "I think you got it bad. Soon you'll find out how much."

  He stopped, his hand still on the door knob. "What do you mean? Can't a man buy his wife a present?” What made this kid think he knew so damn much anyway? Especially anything about men and women business? He shoved open the door and stepped in.

  Storm nodded and followed. "A man can, yes, if he is thinking of his wife often and sees something she'll like. Especially if being without her has made this man very grumpy."

  As highly as Drake thought of his brother-in-law, he was coming to hate that almost inscrutable look on the boy. Well, let Storm play the stoic indian. Hell, he'd buy his wife any damn thing he pleased.

  Later, in the hotel room Drake called himself every kind of fool. He might have gotten carried away. All right, he definitely got carried away. He bought the lavender wrapper and a white one, two night gowns of fine satin, some stockings, and a pair of earrings and matching necklace. He draped the necklace across his hand. The stones were the color of her eyes but they couldn't match Pearl's sparkle.

  Hell, it was no big deal. He had lots of money, didn't he? Any man would want to spend some of it on his family. Hadn't he and Storm picked out gifts for Sarah and Belle and Lily, too. And Grandpa and Lex, Aunt Rosilee and Uncle Samuel. Storm was even mailing something to his grandfather in Tennessee.

  It meant nothing. Just the sort of thing people did when they made a big sale. That's why the stores clustered near the stockyards. He sat on the bed as realization washed over him. He missed Pearl. Bad. No, not just the sex, though he sure as hell missed that.

  No, he missed everything about his woman. And she was his woman. He missed the way she tilted her head and smiled at him. He held the necklace so the lamp glow caught the stones. And her eyes sparkling at him like brilliant jewels. And her sass. Lord, that woman had a mouth on her. He lay back on the bed and thought about all the things that mouth could do.

  Storm's words haunted him. He had it bad for her all right. He wished he could be home tomorrow instead of the days and days it would take to ride back.


  He sat up and put his purchases in his saddlebags. Ride, hell. In the morning he was catching the first train to Texas.

  Chapter Thirteen

  "Over here. Against this wall.” Pearl had been drafting her body guards in their off duty time to help her remodel the ranch house. Now she instructed Abe and Jeff on placement of a large server for the dining room.

  "That's perfect, thank you." She stood back to admire the room. "Doesn't it look nice?” Pearl set a pewter candelabra on the dark golden oak.

  For days she had combed through the accumulation of Kincaid family furnishings stored in one of the outbuildings near Grandpa's house. Rosilee and Samuel Tremont opened their attic to her. Most things she found were too formal for the ranch setting. She salvaged a table here, a chair or rug there, until the large home now looked well furnished and inviting.

  As the two men left, Sarah clasped her hands. "Oh, that looks perfect."

  Maria nodded. "Sí. This house now looks like a home. Señor Drake will be so proud.” She patted Pearl's arm and hurried back to her kitchen.

  Pearl wondered if Maria was correct about Drake. What would his reaction be when he found she had not only moved in, but redecorated the home he loved and protected so carefully? She tried not to worry about it, but it lay always at the back of her mind. So many changes for him to come home to.

  What if he hated them all? What if he hated her for intruding on his sanctuary? Lost in thought, she stepped to the double doors of the veranda.

  The garden also bore signs of remodeling. Piles of weeds and dead plants awaited hauling and burning where another guard, Zed Isaacs, worked with Miguel to right the neglect of years. Zed had thrown himself into the project with an enthusiasm surprising everyone. It seemed he knew a lot about gardening. His family had an estate with extensive gardens before the war and he supervised this garden as if it were the showplace his former home had been.

  Still lost in reverie, she walked outside. Water piped from the river once again flowed through the fountain, thanks to an intricate set of wheels and chutes repaired by Zed. Pearl sat on a bench shaded by an ancient live oak and watched small fish dance through pads of the fountain's water plants. A gentle breeze tugged at her hair and cooled her skin. Peace returned to her each time she relaxed here.