The Barn Raising

by Christine Sterling

  She gave a wave to the ladies she saw walking. She didn’t know everyone’s name, but she smiled and waved just the same. Belle was growing. The population had nearly doubled in the past year. There were men coming to Belle to seek their fortunes, and ladies were arriving to seek their husbands.

  She had grown to love Belle as her own hometown.

  “Hey Rosalie!” It was Charity, the waitress at the local café. Rosalie couldn’t remember her last name to save her life.

  “What’s the soup of the day, Charity?” Rosalie asked.

  “Mutton Soup. The Barker’s had to cull their flock, so Joseph purchased a leg.”

  Rosalie wrinkled her nose. “Sounds divine,” she said. She would never eat mutton soup. She wasn’t a fan of meats that had a strong game-like taste.

  “Well, I won’t eat it, but it appears to be popular at the café.”

  Rosalie gave her friend a quick wave and headed towards the store. The bell chimed as she pushed open the door.

  “Good afternoon, Mrs. Stewart,” Rosalie called as she put her basket on the counter. She looked around. There was no one else in the mercantile, which was unusual for the time of day. “Where is everyone?”

  Mrs. Stewart took off her glasses and cleaned them with her apron. “I don’t know. Haven’t seen hardly anyone in town today. Makes me wonder if something is going on.”

  “Like what?”

  “Who knows. But once something does happen it travels faster than a June bug in July.” She put her glasses back on her head and looked at Rosalie. “What brings you to town today?”

  “I just needed a few things. I need two pounds of coffee and a piece of salt pork. I’d like to get a sack of flour, too.”

  “You gonna carry that home yourself?”

  Rosalie laughed. “No. Martin will stop by tomorrow to pick up the flour. I just wanted to make sure it would be ready for him.”

  Mrs. Stewart scribbled on a piece of paper. “It will be. I’ll have Henry put it by the dock in the back. Do you need anything else?”

  “I can’t think of anything.” She thought for a moment. “Oh, Martin needed a pound of two-penny nails.”

  Mrs. Stewart tapped on a sign next to the register. “We are having a special on beans.”

  “Beans?” Rosalie asked.

  “Yes. Henry ordered a case of morphine for Doc, and instead of what he ordered, he got sacks of dried beans. I don’t understand the mix up, but your father went home the other day with a wagon full of beans.”

  Rosalie laughed. “What type of beans?”

  “Black and Red. That’s all I know. Ten cents a bag. Weighs approximately twenty-five pounds.”

  That would certainly last her a while, and she could make her small budget last longer. That should make Martin happy. “Add a bag of red beans to the order. Martin can pick those up as well.”

  Mrs. Stewart scribbled on the paper and fetched the coffee, salt pork and the nails, placing the items on the counter.

  The bell chimed and both Rosalie and Mrs. Stewart turned to see who it was. “Josephine,” Mrs. Stewart said.

  Josephine, or Josie as she preferred to be called, was the sister of Hunter Lawson. She didn’t venture into town much. Today must be the day for stocking up.

  “How are the children, Josie?” Rosalie asked as she placed the items in her basket. Hunter’s wife had died under mysterious circumstanced. The town blamed him for her death. However, he had three little children that were now caught up between losing their mother and their father being an outcast in town.

  “They are just delightful. The boys are boys and Willow is growing up so quickly.”

  “How old is she now?”

  Before Josie could answer, the bell chimed again. This time a group of women walked in. They looked at Rosalie, then to Josie and made their way over to a display of ribbons.

  “Ladies,” Mrs. Stewart acknowledged them.

  “I think I’m done now, Mrs. Stewart,” Rosalie said.

  Mrs. Stewart totaled the order. “That will be twenty cents.”

  Rosalie dug through her reticule and pulled out several coins. “Thank you. Martin will be by to pick up those sacks tomorrow.”

  “What can I get for you, Miss Josephine?”

  “Unless you have a wife back there, I’ll just take what’s on this list.” Rosalie stopped and listened.

  “A wife?” Mrs. Stewart asked.

  “It is probably time Hunter gets married again and gives those babies a new mama. I’m just wishfully thinking.” The sound of giggles carried from behind the display of ribbons.

  Rosalie rolled her eyes and headed from the mercantile. As she was leaving, Lucy Mae blocked her way. “Rosalie,” she said. “I wouldn’t have expected to see you in town.”

  “Why ever not?” Rosalie asked.

  “Well you know… since that incident with Audrey.”

  Rosalie looked at Lucy Mae in disbelief. She shook her head. “I don’t know of any incident.”

  “The one with Mor…”

  “I refuse to speak of it or put stock into anything that evil woman might say.”

  “I heard she is leaving.” When Rosalie didn’t respond she said, “Audrey.”

  “Not yet she isn’t.”

  “I heard that Helen is trying to get someone to come and take those children.”

  “Which children?” Josie asked as she had come out of the store.

  Lucy Mae shifted from one foot to the other. “Nothing… it really is nothing.”

  Rosalie raised her eyebrow. “It must be something, otherwise you wouldn’t want to spit it out so badly.”

  Lucy Mae’s eyes shifted to Josie. “It is just that the town thinks that those children shouldn’t be left alone with a man like Hunter Lawson.”

  Rosalie watched Josie’s entire demeanor change. She could see Josie’s mouth open and close several times. Rosalie stepped between Josie and Lucy Mae. “That can’t be true, Lucy Mae. I’m part of this town and I don’t recall a conversation about that.” Lucy Mae looked even more uncomfortable.

  “It’s Helen, isn’t it?” Rosalie demanded. “This is because he helped Audrey?”

  “I don’t know. I don’t remember,” the young girl said.

  “Come on, Josie. Let’s get out of here. I don’t think either of us want to be around these poisonous words.” Rosalie pulled on Josie’s arm, guiding her away from the mercantile porch.

  When they got to Josie’s wagon, Hunter’s sister turned and looked at Rosalie. “I can’t believe they are doing that. I can see why they would attack Hunter. But why do that to his children? They’ve done nothing wrong.”

  “I agree. Just let Hunter know what is going on and he’ll take care of it.”

  “I just wish he’d get married. Then he wouldn’t have to worry about gossip like this.” Josie pointed back to the store.

  “Perhaps he will.” Rosalie bid goodbye to Josie and started back towards her home with Martin. As she walked on the path leading back to her home, she thought about how marriage had been brought up twice that day. Once by Audrey, and then again by Josie.

  Suddenly, Rosalie was hit with an idea that might solve both of their problems. She raced back to the house to tell Martin what just happened.

  Chapter 4

  Rosalie didn’t have a chance to discuss anything with Martin. When he came in for dinner, he was madder than a wet hen.

  “I fell through the back of the barn roof,” he said. “The back beam gave way.”

  “Oh, no! Are you hurt?” She quickly ran to her husband and started running her hands over him to ascertain any injuries he might have.

  He brushed her aside. “I’m fine, woman. Just leave me alone.”

  Rosalie took a step back. Martin never talked to her this way, and now she was subjected to his temper two days in a row. “What is wrong with you?”

  Martin grimaced. He was most definitely in pain. “I just fell off the barn roof, Rosalie. How do you expect me to re
act?”

  “I just wanted to make sure that you are alright.”

  “I am. Just sore.”

  “Let me get you some tea and I’ll heat up a bath for you.” Martin nodded and then shuffled to the bedroom to change.

  Rosie watched the strong back of her husband as he walked to the room they shared. She could tell he was in pain. She quickly stoked the stove and put on every available pot she had to warm up some water. In one small pot she added some herbs from the containers above the stove. Recalling that Doc Mason said that willow bark was good for inflammation and pain, she added a generous heap into the pot, along with some honey to take away the bitter taste.

  Martin returned by the time the water was warm. He pulled the soaking tub from a closet. Rosalie winced as she saw his muscles spasm. “I should do that,” she said.

  “It’s too heavy,” he said. She poured the first pot of warm water in the tub and Martin climbed in. She filled the rest of the tub and then handed him a cup of tea.

  “I put a bit of honey in there,” she said pulling a chair up next to him. “You’ve got some scratches on your cheek.” She reached out her finger to trace the lines marring his skin. Martin hissed. He finished his tea in several large gulps before handing the empty cup back to her.

  “Thanks,” he said before leaning back and closing his eyes.

  Rosalie grabbed a cloth from the basket next to the stove and dipped it in the warm water. She cleaned Martin’s face while he sat in the warm water with his eyes closed. She then ran the cloth over his shoulders. “Lean forward,” she whispered to him.

  Martin opened one eye to look at her but did as she asked. He allowed her to run the cloth over his body and exhaled when she touched a tender spot.

  “I think I’m going to be bruised by tomorrow,” he said.

  “I’m surprised you didn’t break anything.”

  “It wasn’t too bad of a fall. I fell into the goat pen.”

  “Not too bad of a fall?” Rosalie cried. What would have happened if you hit your head? Or broke a leg?”

  “I didn’t. Let’s just leave it alone for now, Rosie.”

  “Can you get some help?”

  “For what?”

  “If you had some help you could get that new barn built.”

  “It isn’t that easy, Rosie.”

  “Why not?”

  “First… everyone is busy with their own lives. Two… I don’t have all the lumber I need to build the barn.”

  Rosie blinked again. “Why don’t you just buy it?” She was used to seeing the other ranch hands just buying what they needed when they needed it. She knew Paps paid more than a fair wage. Suddenly it dawned on her. “Are we poor?”

  Martin laughed. “No, love, we aren’t. We just aren’t rich, and it is going to take longer for us to buy things. I’m still saving.” He pulled her closer to him. “Thank you for taking care of me,” he said before his lips captured hers.

  After he was done kissing her senseless, Rosalie pulled back. “You are going to get me wet.” Martin flicked his fingers in the water, sending droplets towards Rosalie.

  She stood and brushed the water from her dress. “How about I make sandwiches for dinner and we can eat in bed? You should really rest.”

  “I need to take care of the goats and cow. They are still in the field.”

  “I can do that for you,” she said.

  “Are you sure?”

  Rosalie nodded. She retrieved the towel that had been warming and held it up so Martin could wrap himself when he got out of the tub. She quickly turned away as he rose from the water.

  “Your modesty is something else, Mrs. Davis,” he chuckled. Rosalie’s cheeks blushed. No matter how often she looked at her husband, he never ceased to get her pulse racing.

  “I’m trying to be good.”

  Martin put his arms around her waist and pulled her close to him. He leaned down and kissed her cheek. “I’m going to bed. Did you want to use the bathtub?” Rosalie shook her head. “Leave it there and I’ll dump it into the garden in the morning.”

  Rosalie watched him head to their room and slide under the covers. She hurried out to the field where the two goats were skipping around the cow. “Come on Bessie,” she said, tying a rope to the halter on the bovine. She gave a gentle cluck and the cow hesitated for a moment, but then followed her with the goats right behind.

  She put Bessie into her pen, next to Thunder and took one look at the goats’ pen before deciding to place Lovey and Darling in with the cow. She’d have to clean up the roof that had fallen. She climbed into the pen and started moving the roof boards and shingles that fell when Martin broke through the roof.

  She flipped one of the pieces of wood over and could see where the roof board was soft with moisture. No wonder he had fallen through. He was very lucky to have landed on the straw in the pen. She shuddered to think what would have happened if he had fallen anywhere else.

  Looking up, she could see the blue sky and the clouds passing overhead. She would need to keep the goats in with Bessie until that roof was fixed. Giving a sigh she made sure the animals had fresh water and feed before heading back into the house.

  As she walked in, she could hear light snoring coming from the bedroom. The willow bark was doing its job. Martin would probably be asleep for the rest of the night. She made herself a sandwich and sat down at the table. As she was eating, she realized she forgot to tell Martin what occurred in town.

  Maybe, if he was feeling better the next morning, she would remember to tell him of her idea to match Audrey and Hunter.

  Rosalie forgot to tell him the next morning. What was wrong with her? She was normally not so forgetful. Perhaps the scare of Martin falling off the roof mixed up her thoughts.

  Martin left early. He was still stiff, but he was due at Paps’s ranch just after dawn to finish breaking a young colt. Rosalie begged him not to go, but Martin insisted that he was needed.

  The horses were almost all broken, and there wouldn’t be anything else for him to do until they took the horses for sale to Kansas City. He kissed her and promised he would be home by mid-afternoon so he could put a tarp on the barn roof.

  Rosalie had completed her chores and was sitting on the porch reading when she saw Martin coming up the road. Thunder was pulling the wagon.

  He stopped at the porch and hopped off the bench, walking around to the back of the wagon. “Did you have a good day?” Rosalie asked.

  Martin lifted the flour from the wagon and placed it on the porch. “Fair enough,” he said. When he went to lift the beans, Rosalie could see that he was still sore as he winced when he lifted the sack on his shoulder. “Be right back,” he said disappearing into the kitchen with the beans.

  Rosalie had already lifted the sack of flour and was carrying it inside. “Rosie,” he warned. “I don’t want you doing that.” He took the sack from her and placed it near the flour barrel.

  “I am perfectly capable of moving a sack of flour,” she rebutted.

  He gave her a stern look. “I don’t want you to get hurt. Let me put the wagon away and I’ll be right back.

  “Would you like a cup of coffee?” she asked.

  He gave her a kiss on the cheek. “That sounds like just what I need.” Rosalie watched as he parked the wagon and then led Thunder to the barn, disappearing inside. Rosalie took the opportunity to get two cups of coffee and return to the porch just as Martin reached the bottom step. He had a paper wrapped bundle under his arm.

  He took the cup from her and pressed a kiss against her lips. She couldn’t get enough of his kisses. She lingered for a moment more before moving out of the way so he could join her on the porch.

  He picked up the book she had put on the chair and flipped it over. “What are you reading?”

  “Just a book I picked up the last time I went to Audrey’s house.”

  “Why bother with a book when you know you don't have the patience to read through it?” he asked in an amused tone.<
br />
  It was true.

  She wasn’t fond of reading. She found her mind would woolgather if she wasn’t careful.

  “Well, husband, how was a wife to entertain herself when she had nothing else to do?” she saucily replied to him.

  “You could go to town, you know. See your friends.”

  “Or I could spend time here waiting for you to come home.”

  Martin grinned. “You have me for the next few days. What would you like to do?”

  “Really?” she squealed, throwing her arms around his neck.

  “Yeah, it was my turn to have a break.” He leaned down and gave her a quick kiss.

  “Let’s go on a picnic to the meadow.”

  “A dip in the creek might be just what we need.” He waggled his eyebrows at her.

  “You know I can’t swim, Martin.”

  “You won’t be swimming. Just wading between the rocks.”

  “I’ll pack a picnic. How about I make fried chicken?”

  “And peach pie? I brought you some peaches. Eva had extras so she sent them home with me.”

  “I can definitely do that.” She noticed he hadn’t dropped the bundle in his arms. She wondered what was in it. “What do you have there?” she finally asked.

  Martin broke out in a huge grin. “I saw something extra special when I went into town to buy a fabric sheet for the barn roof.”

  “You did?” Rosalie raised her eyebrow.

  Martin nodded. “It’s for you.” He handed her the package and went to sit on one of the porch rockers with his cup of coffee.

  “Whatever for?”

  “Can’t a man buy his wife a gift?”

  Rosalie shook her head in disbelief and gently pulled on the string. She wanted to tear off the wrapping to see what was inside, but part of the fun was the anticipation. Martin rarely purchased anything frivolous. Everything purchased had a purposed, so for him to bring her a gift just because… well, that was something indeed.

  “Oh, Martin,” she cooed, lifting a blue dress with lace around the neck and cuffs. “It is beautiful.” Her eyes were starting to water. She didn’t want to risk getting the gown dirty, so she placed it back in the wrapping.