“Thank you.”
He touched her arm to restrain her. “Before we go, the other door is to the attic. Sometimes I let the children play up there in bad weather. No heat, but the warmth from the house provides enough to keep it bearable.”
“I suppose your family Bible burned so I brought one we can use. Would you mind writing down the children’s birthdays for me? Also, the name and address of their grandparents.”
“They have no grandparents on either side but I’ll write their birthdays for you. Thoughtful of you to bring a Bible. You see I’ve neglected a lot of things.”
“You’ve built a beautiful home and have wonderful children. That’s a lot in addition to running the ranch.”
After supper of leftovers from Mary Norton’s basket, Addie grew more and more nervous. Her face heated at the thought of the coming night. She knew what went on between a man and woman, at least in theory. She just couldn’t picture herself engaged in that activity.
In the parlor, Biscuits stood. “Reckon me and Rowdy will go on to the bunkhouse. We… um, we have things to do.”
Rowdy reached for his hat. “Sure do. Goodnight, folks.”
Biscuits paused at the door. “Addie, I’ll get the coffee and grub going in the morning. You take your time and laze abed on your honeymoon.” Under his tan, she thought he was blushing.
She reminded him, “Thank you, Biscuits.” Heavens, being the only woman among three men was an odd situation for her. However, she might as well get used to it.
After the two cowboys left, she sat with Forrest for a while. Though they were in mid May, the night was cool and the fireplace burned. The children sat on the floor playing. Again, she thought they needed a rug.
What was she supposed to do? Should she send the children to bed or would he? What time did they usually go to sleep?
Forrest stretched. “Sprouts, time to wash up, brush your teeth, and get into bed. I’ll be up to tuck you in soon.”
Carrying their new toys, the three went with minimal fuss. Addie wiped clammy hands on her skirt. Should she excuse herself?
Forrest stood. “I haven’t forgotten I promised you a bath. I’ll get the tub and set it in the kitchen for you. Why don’t you get what you need for nighttime and bathing?”
She hurried to retrieve her valise. By the time she returned to the kitchen, Forrest was filling a tub with hot water.
He looked up as she entered. “Sorry I don’t have anything fancier. My first priority was getting the house built and enough furniture for our needs.”
“Of course. This tub is quite sufficient.” She opened one of her trunks and dug out towels.
“Ah, good, you have towels. I imagine you’re tired from your travels and your hectic day, so don’t hurry. Takes me a while to get the kids tucked in and hear their prayers.”
He swallowed as if a lump were in his throat. “I said I wanted a wife in every way, but I’m willing to give you a week to settle in and get used to me.”
A mixture of relief and disappointment settled around her. “Thank you. I would like to know you better before… before we—”
“I understand.” He glanced up and smiled.
Sprinkling bath salts into the water, she was relieved to learn that in addition to not insisting they consummate their vows, he didn’t plan to watch her bathe.
He stood. “Leave the water. After you’re finished and come upstairs, I’ll come down and take my bath.”
“Are you sure? If you use the same water you’ll smell like honeysuckle.”
He chuckled. “After working with the animals and in the barn, that will be an improvement. I have my own soap that doesn’t smell sweet.”
Addie laid her things on a chair then hesitated. “There are no curtains. Do you close the shutters at night?”
“Don’t worry. Neither Biscuits nor Rowdy will be peeking. No one else is around for miles except livestock.”
When her husband had gone upstairs, she hurried to get into the tub. She sank into the inviting water and rested her head against the rim even though that meant her legs doubled and her knees were out of the water. Her knotted muscles slowly relaxed. She sat up and scrubbed her skin and washed her hair. Feeling a hundred percent better, she dried and donned her nightgown and robe.
Carrying her valise and soiled clothes, she knocked gently at the bedroom door before she entered.
Forrest was in the rocking chair. He’d removed his boots and socks and his shirt was unbuttoned. When she walked near, he stood and inhaled. “Mmm, you smell nice.”
Gently, he ran his fingers through locks of her hair. “I like your hair down. It’s like silk.”
“I-I braid it at night so it doesn’t tangle.”
He touched her shoulder. “Please, tonight, leave it like this.”
Had he changed his mind about giving her time? “All right. I-I left the water as you asked. There’s a clean towel on the chair.”
“Thank you. I’ll be back in a few minutes.” He hurried out and she heard his tread on the stairs.
Addie remembered that her valise had been on the far side of the bed, so she supposed that was the side he wanted her to use. She was tired and her nerves were twisted and snarled. With a sigh, she removed her robe and slid between the sheets.
The windows were open to admit the cool breeze. That reminded her that Forrest had closed and locked the windows downstairs before he drew her bath. As lovely as the ranch was, the threat of an arsonist still hung over them.
Chapter Six
Addie woke to the aroma of coffee and frying ham. A quick glance at her side confirmed she was alone. As he’d promised, Forrest had been considerate. He had spooned around her and his action created a perception of intimacy, of being protected, and of being treasured. She’d fallen asleep with a sense of contentment greater than she could remember.
His kindness had already inspired fondness for him. She could very easily fall in love with this fine man. Perhaps in time he’d come to care for her.
Did she dare hope for his love?
She dressed hurriedly in a blue linsey-woolsey dress trimmed in cream lace. She brushed her tangled tresses and wound them into a neat bun. After retrieving and pinning on her lapel watch, she pinched color into her cheeks. In keeping with her personal vow to protect herself and the children, she added her pistol to her pocket.
As she stepped into the hall, Frannie and Daisy came out of the room they shared. Poor girls, the clothes they wore were ill-fitting and faded. She looked forward to sewing new clothes for the children.
Neighbors had been kind to donate, but all three needed nicer, better-fitting clothes. Tucked into her trunks were enough suitable fabrics for numerous dresses for the girls and shirts for Noah.
Daisy put her finger to her lips in a shushing motion. “Our dolls are still asleep.”
Addie tiptoed and whispered, “You’re considerate not to wake them.”
Frannie smiled and slipped her hand into Addie’s.
Addie rejoiced in the silent child’s acceptance. In the kitchen, the men were sitting down to breakfast. Places were set for her and the girls. Noah was poised ready to eat.
Biscuits pretended to be irritated. “Dadgum, suppose now we’ll be stuck saying grace.”
She smiled, detecting his soft heart in spite of his protests. “Yes, you will. Perhaps you’d care to lead the prayer this morning.”
“Harrumph. Forrest is head of the house and that’s his job.” His twinkling eyes betrayed his real attitude. “Least he was head of the house afore you arrived.”
Rowdy winked at her. Forrest grinned and bowed his head. His prayer was short but nice.
Forrest stabbed a piece of ham and slid it to his plate. “We have a tough job today. Something’s blocked the water in the irrigation ditch. We’ll have to ride out and remedy the situation. Addie, will you be all right here with only the children?”
“Yes, thank you for asking. We have a lot to accomplish today.”
/> Noah blinked at her. “We do?”
“I brought books and supplies for your lessons. Exciting things.”
The little boy’s lips poked out in a pout. “Aw, lessons aren’t exciting. They’re boring.”
She raised her eyebrows. “You haven’t seen what I brought. I’ll bet I can change your mind. I admit there are subjects that are not as much fun as others, but overall we’ll have a good time learning.”
He narrowed his eyes. “Do I have to learn math?”
“Of course. There’s great comfort in mathematics. No matter how confusing or upsetting life gets, you can be assured that two and two always equals four. Sometimes when I’m upset, I repeat that to myself.”
Biscuits said, “Reckon everyone ought to know how to cipher. Otherwise a body’s likely to get cheated.”
“I sure don’t want to be cheated.” Noah forked up a bite of egg.
As soon as breakfast dishes were done, Addie unpacked school books and supplies. Before the men left for the day, Forrest returned to the kitchen while she stacked the items on the kitchen table. He picked up a map and unrolled it. Next he examined a couple of the books.
“Looks like you’ve gone all out for their lessons. Where do you plan to put up the map?”
“I thought you’d tell me where we could work.”
“How about the bedroom intended for a housekeeper? You’d be close to the kitchen in case you needed to make me a pie.” His lovely blue eyes held mirth.
She offered a saucy grin. “I thought I was going to make pies and cakes and cookies for Daisy.”
“Just so you make enough for her to share. Hmm, I could make a bench like the one at the table for the sprouts. There’s a chair for you but for now get Noah to move the kitchen bench in there.”
“That sounds like a good solution. Daisy could nap on the bed if she gets tired.”
His deep laughter rumbled. “Sounds like wishful thinking. You’ll be lucky to get her to lie down for an hour after lunch.”
Daisy pulled at Addie’s skirt. “I’m too old for a nap.”
Addie caressed the child’s hair. “No one is too old for a nap. Even my papa takes a nap on Sunday afternoon.”
Daisy’s eyes widened. “Who makes him?”
Addie couldn’t keep from laughing. “No one. Most people enjoy a nap because the rest gives them energy to do more things afterward.”
Daisy pulled at her father’s sleeve. “Papa, you never take naps, do you?”
“Sure I do now and then, especially in winter. I’d take one every day if I could. You’re lucky you can.”
He leaned forward and kissed Addie on the cheek. “We won’t be back until late and we’ll likely be a mess. Biscuits packed breakfast food for our lunch and we have canteens. When you need to fix a meal, Noah will show you the smokehouse and where we keep milk.”
“Take care.” Why did she feel as if she were the only adult left on Earth? Get yourself under control and take care of the house and children. You’re the grownup here so get a hold of yourself.
“All right, children. We’re going to do your lessons for two hours and then I’m going to scrub the downstairs floors while you play in your rooms. Noah, do you need help with the bench?”
“No, I can handle moving it.”
Filled with hope and ambition, Addie gathered up the books and other materials and went into the makeshift classroom.
***
Forrest led the men along the irrigation source he and his father—with the help of temporary workmen—had dug to supply water to the ranch’s crops and animals. He and Rowdy rode their horses while Biscuits drove the wagon with his horse tied behind. They’d almost reached the river when Forrest spotted the caved-in canal.
Cattle had drifted to take advantage of the easy water and milled about in the mud on each side of the waterway.
Rowdy yelled, “I’ll shut the sluice gate.” He rode through the overflowing water toward the wheel that closed the river’s flow. His horse floundered and Rowdy grabbed for the wheel as he fell.
His horse recovered and made his way to dry pasture. After managing to turn off the flow, Rowdy tried to escape the quagmire the damage had caused. Apparently he misjudged where the canal deepened. He went down into the muddy water, bobbed up, and went down again.
“Throw me a rope!” Forrest was off his horse near where he’d last seen the young man. He pulled off his vest, gloves, and boots and tossed them and his gun aside. Praying he’d be in time, he dived into the muddy water. He couldn’t see, so he used his hands to grope in the murky depths.
He surfaced to take a breath and went under again. Hair brushed his hand and he grabbed a handful and kicked to the surface. Spewing and coughing up dirty water, he caught the rope Biscuits tossed. Rowdy was limp and appeared unconscious.
After slipping the loop around the young man’s chest, Forrest held fast to the rope. “Pull us out.”
Biscuits had the line secured around his saddle pommel and guided his horse to draw them out and through the mud to dry land. Rowdy laid motionless with his eyes closed. Forrest rolled the man to his stomach.
He pounded Rowdy on the back until the cowboy coughed and threw up the muddy water he’d ingested. Then both men lay on the ground to recover.
Meanwhile, Biscuits was examining the caved-in canal. “This weren’t no accident. Plenty of prints where these two logs was used to topple the sides. Gonna take us days of diggin’ to get this flowin’ proper again.”
Rowdy gasped and rubbed a hand across his face. “Thanks for saving my bacon, Boss. Foot stuck in the mud. I was willing to lose my boot but I couldn’t get the durn thing loose.”
Rowdy rolled to his knees and coughed a few more times, and then stood. “Might as well get on with repairs.”
Forrest assessed the cowboy. “You need to sit out a while, you go right ahead. Imagine your lungs still hurt.”
The young man rubbed at his chest. “I’ll be better working off some of this anger I have for whoever did this.” He stalked to the wagon and retrieved a spade.
Forrest and Biscuits each grabbed a shovel and followed. Walking back to where the collapse started, the three set to work digging mud. He wished he knew who was doing this and why. Danged if he wouldn’t pummel them into the ground.
The work today was ten times harder than when he and his father had dug the canal. This soil was heavy with water. Each shovel full was heavier than the one before. Forrest’s arms and shoulders ached like a son of a gun and his leg muscles were complaining too.
By noon, all three staggered for the wagon. When engaged in overly strenuous work in summer, they usually rested an hour in the wagon’s shade at lunch time.
Forrest leaned against the wagon wheel. “I suggest we take thirty minute watches and that will give each of us an hour’s rest. No telling who’s spying and I sure don’t want to be caught unaware.”
“Sounds good, Boss.” Biscuits pulled his rifle from the scabbard. “I’ll keep this handy.”
Forrest wasn’t certain he had the strength to rise and get his rifle but he didn’t dare take a chance on being without one. He retrieved his and Rowdy’s then returned to his seat on the grass and propped Rowdy’s firearm against the wagon.
Rowdy was already asleep. Looking at the younger man’s face, Forrest decided they should take a longer rest than normal. They’d each been too tired to eat their grub. He ate his share and drank clear water from his canteen. After an hour, he gently shook Biscuit’s boot.
The cowboy crawled out clutching his rifle. He scrubbed a hand over his face and took Forrest’s place. He searched the sun’s progress. “You forget how to tell time?”
“Figured we’d take a double rest today.” He nodded toward Rowdy. “He won’t admit how near drowned he was. Imagine he needs to take a break.”
Biscuits gave Forrest the once over. “Imagin’ you do too. Go on, I’ll keep ever’thin’ under control.”
Forrest had to admit stretching out
in the shade felt awfully good. He wriggled to settle himself, took a deep breath, and fell sound asleep. When Biscuits woke him, Rowdy was still out.
Forrest grabbed his shovel and he and Biscuits started digging again.
Soon Rowdy joined them, chewing the last bit of his lunch. “You forgot to wake me.”
Biscuits said, “We rang bells in your ears and hollered your name but you was snorin’ to beat the band. Afeared your sawin’ logs would scare the cattle but decided we couldn’t waste no more time tryin’ to wake you.”
“The rest sure helped. I’m good as new now.” He threw a shovel of mud over his shoulder to prove his statement.
Forrest sunk his spade into the mire. “Well, I’m not good as new. I’m sick of these attacks to ruin the ranch or make us do twice the work to stay even.”
Biscuits sent him a furtive glance. “Ethan had anything like this happen?”
“Said he’s lost cattle and had fences cut. Nothing to match this unless it’s since yesterday.”
They worked in silence, getting slower and slower. Even with three of them digging, they had covered only a third of the distance to the sluice gate.
About seven, Forrest wiped his arm across his brow. “Past quitting time. Let’s go get supper.”
Biscuits walked toward the wagon. “Thought the time would never get here.”
Rowdy wobbled toward the wagon. Halfway there, he folded and hit the ground.
Forrest and Biscuits loaded him onto the wagon and tied his and Biscuit’s horses to the tailgate.
“You able to drive?” Forrest asked Biscuits.
“Horse knows the way. All I have to do is turn the wagon around and sit here.”
Forrest hoped he could stay in the saddle until they got home.
Chapter Seven
Addie hummed while she readied supper. She’d scrubbed the floors until they were clean enough to eat from, if she did say so herself. She’d found carrots, potatoes, and onions in the cellar.
Because she wasn’t certain what time the men would return, she decided on a hearty stew that could simmer until they came home. Noah had helped her slice off beef and she’d made fresh bread. She hoped her new husband would be appreciative of her homemaking skills.
Montana Sky: Snare His Heart (Kindle Worlds Novella) (Loving A Rancher Book 5) Page 5
