Courting in Custer

by Kari Trumbo

  Saunders cleared his throat once again, and Elias shook his head, trying to focus on his client. His mind kept wandering to his wife, the glorious curve of her smile, and her other curves… She’d sparked a need in him he hadn’t counted on.

  “Seems like you’ve got troubles of your own today.” Harvey arched an eyebrow, the dust motes catching the meager light in the common area outside his cell. “I know I’m in trouble, but have you lost all your will to fight?”

  Maybe. All his reasons had seemed valid, but they were nothing more than excuses in the light of the morning. And his mind was back on Daisy again, not on his case.

  “What have you given me to fight with? You won’t budge. No compromise. Everything in life is a give and take, Mr. Saunders. You can’t expect Mr. Payton to give up his car, just because you don’t like the noise. Especially when you haven’t tried any means of correcting the matter. You didn’t build a fence or even try to get along with him. You didn’t talk to him civilly. It’s his very first car and still new to him. The novelty will abate and soon he’ll only use it when necessary, especially when he finds the cost of gasoline is high.”

  Saunders shook his head and slammed his hands on the table between them. “Good for nothing. Loud contraptions. What’s wrong with a good horse?”

  Elias sighed and considered telling Saunders he didn’t even own a horse and had yet to meet a good one. It might be enough to get Saunders to fire him. But then again, he needed the job, needed to provide for Daisy.

  “What do know about the disappearance of Martin Potters?”

  Saunders sat back in his seat and fixed him with a questioning stare. “What do you mean? His wife keeps a pretty tight rein on him. Check with her.”

  “He hasn’t been seen since last week, except by Payton. You know where he might be?”

  He snorted. “I wouldn’t know. I’ve been in here, remember?”

  Elias bit back a retort. That wouldn’t help anyone. “Well, if anything comes to mind, let me know. There’s only so long his wife can keep his absence from the sheriff and it could mean she loses her job.”

  He shrugged. “No cause for me to worry. Martin will come around again as soon as I get out. Want to bring him out of the woodwork? Get me out.”

  The challenge grated on his nerves. As much as he was bound to believe in his client’s innocence, there was something in Harvey that wasn’t right, a little off, that made him dangerous.

  “The judge has no plan to set you free until he can be sure you won’t damage Payton’s auto. If you will swear that, they’ll let you go.”

  “I won’t swear a thing. That auto-mobile belches smoke, is louder than a train, and he runs it all the time. I paid for my property too, and I deserve peace when I’m at home.”

  Every man wanted peace, but it always seemed just out of grasp. “And what will you do when your next neighbor buys one, and then the next? Pretty soon, you won’t see horses or buggies in the streets.”

  “I don’t have to hear any of them right here.” He thumbed behind him at the cell. “I get meals I don’t have to pay for. Quiet.”

  If Saunders wanted to stay so badly, there was no sense in fighting for him. “If you’re so pleased to be there, then stay. We’ll find Martin on our own.”

  Saunders cackled as he stood back up, sliding his loose pants in place. “You think you will, but you won’t. He don’t care much if that wife of his loses her job. She’s always on him to behave, it ain’t her place. That’s what happens when women start working, they forget what their place is.”

  Elias sat back and regarded his client. His own thoughts about women working looked mighty ugly when spouted from Harvey’s mouth. “My wife works.”

  “You just wait. Wait until she starts bossing you. Wait until your supper isn’t done because she’s too tired from working all day and all you want to do is put up your feet and rest, but you can’t.”

  His own work was no more strenuous than hers, probably less with all the typing she did, yet he’d expected Daisy to come home and make meals, to clean his home…

  “She’s never done these things. My wife is a strong and capable woman.”

  Harvey went back in his cell and closed the door with a loud clack. “You can’t serve two masters. Bible says so. Either she’ll love you and hate her job, or she’ll love her job and resent you.” He turned away and laid in his cot, covering his head with his arm.

  He didn’t want Daisy resenting him or hating her job but bringing up work always made her snappish. He much preferred her treatment when they didn’t talk about that topic at all.

  That might be something his mother could manage. He donned his bowler and enjoyed the sunshine as he made his way to the post office. Once there, he took a slip of paper to a corner to prepare a telegram for his father.

  FINALLY MARRIED. COME FOR VISIT IN CUSTER. ELIAS

  Now his parents would come. After their visit, life could be just as he’d planned, but it wouldn’t have the excitement that had been steadily building within him the last few days. That would be missed. Just thinking about it made him want to go home to Daisy. But she wouldn’t be there. She’d be at work for hours yet, and then she’d have to cook dinner...

  Chapter 17

  Alma perched on the edge of Daisy’s desk, biting her fingernail, her white shirt crisp against her dark hair.

  “I’m mighty worried, Daisy. Martin hasn’t been seen in almost five days. I’m going to have to take it to the sheriff, and I’ll lose my job.”

  Daisy bit her lip and pushed her chair back to give Alma some room. Elias had asked her not to get involved in this case, his case. Threats had been made and, while Harvey was in jail, Martin was not. It wasn’t safe for her. But, she hated just watching one of her few friends struggle so.

  “Elias and I saw Mr. Payton on Sunday. He said Martin had been out to his place. So, at least someone has seen him. He’s not hurt, just missing. I know it’s difficult to not worry, but I think you just need to wait until Saunders’ case goes to trial, then perhaps Martin will come home.”

  Alma’s dark curls bobbed slightly as she nodded. “I never thought I’d miss him, but I do. You live with a body for so long, it feels unnatural to sleep without him.” She blushed slightly. “I’m sorry for my forward words, but, you understand.”

  She was beginning to. After spending a few nights with Elias’s heavy arm draped over her hip, she couldn’t imagine going back to sleeping alone. The bed would be too cold, the room too quiet.

  “He’ll come back, Alma. Elias told me this morning that he would ask Saunders when he goes to question him.”

  She crossed her arms and hit Daisy with a pensive glare. “You never mentioned him. Not once. Now, I know we weren’t close friends, but it seems odd that he would show up at the courthouse and you’d be married to him days later.”

  Daisy tapped her pencil on her desk. She had yet to come up with a good story for why her beau showed up out of the blue and why no one had ever heard of him, nor had she mentioned him.

  “We knew each other when we were younger. He only recently decided to come back. As soon as we saw each other, we knew.” She loved Elias’s proposal under the maple tree, but others might find it silly and she would never want anyone to think less of Elias.

  “That’s so romantic.” She sighed. “I wish Martin and I had a passion like that, and I hope your passion grows to love and doesn’t burn out like some.”

  Daisy’s wince came before she could hold it back. They definitely had the passion building, but would love come? She’d been sure she loved him before, but that had been tested when he was angry. He’d passed the test, but love still seemed like such a strong word when they hadn’t known each other in so long.

  “We are working on it, every day we get a little closer.”

  “Still. Strange that you didn’t court. Marriage is a big decision, Daisy. What if you find in two months that he kisses real nice, but he leaves his drawers on the floor?”


  Daisy glanced down the hall to make sure no one could hear Alma and her embarrassing diatribe. “He does no such thing.”

  “Not now, but you wait. You’ll come home after a long day at work and all he’ll want is his supper. You’ll scramble to fix something fast so that he doesn’t get agitated. Then, after supper, he’ll go sit in his easy chair with his feet up while you clean the kitchen. Then, before you even get a moment to sit and catch up on your sewing or anything, it’ll be time for bed. And I don’t need to mention the work that’s expected out of you there. I’m sure you’ve already figured that out. Then on the weekend, you get to clean up and do laundry, picking up his drawers off the floor. Marriage wasn’t made to bless a woman, my dear. It was made to bless the man.”

  Daisy couldn’t breathe. Alma had been married for almost twenty years. She would know. “Is it really that bad?” Was she wrong to encourage Elias and his feelings for her? Should she be happy he only wanted a marriage of convenience?

  “You haven’t been married long, you’re probably at the stage where you still appreciate all his attention. Just wait. In a few weeks, you’ll wish you could just get some uninterrupted sleep.”

  Alma pushed off from her desk. “Well, it’s too late to do anything about that now. You’re married. I just hope it was the right choice. You’ll be worked right to the bone with your job here and all that work at home.” She glanced at her hands, thin and bony. “You may get to a point where you want to quit, but by then he’ll be used to you working and he won’t let you.”

  If Alma knew the terror that her words kindled, she didn’t let on. She gave Daisy a quick nod and left to go to her own desk. Daisy needed to get the files typed up, so she could get home, but she couldn’t concentrate. If she continued to push Elias to explore all those feelings, all those terrible things that Alma had said might come true. He’d been right, it could ruin their marriage. Unless she quit working. But she’d tried so hard to be the best court reporter. It seemed unfair that she should have to give it up.

  Her mind was a complete muddle and she packed away her typewriter for the day. She’d have to type more tomorrow, after she spoke to Elias and he moved her back into a room alone … just as he’d wanted. He had to, to save their marriage. Her heart ached to even consider it.

  There had been a field of wild daisies along the way home and he’d stopped to pick a bunch of them, hoping his Daisy wouldn’t find them silly. He’d trimmed them, just as his mother had taught him, and found a pretty jar to put them in. Now, he had to wait for the afternoon to go get her from the courthouse.

  He paced, excited to see her. He’d never had much trouble relaxing once he was home, but now, with Daisy, he couldn’t wait to see her. Her smile made his heart sing. That morning, she’d been so much fun. He hadn’t run around like a boy since school, and when she’d let him catch her…

  She was winning the war. He may have laid down the battle plan, but she was winning fair and square. She didn’t fear him, didn’t listen to his pleading, kissed him with abandon. If his mother didn’t come and convince Daisy soon, he’d be lost and there would be no going back.

  His bride pushed through the door and glanced at him for a moment, fear rippling down her face before she hid it. She tucked her chin as she hung up her walking coat.

  “Daisy? Did you have a good day?” He took a few steps closer but stopped when her shoulders tensed.

  “A good day? Yes.” Her sunken eyes said the opposite. She pressed her skirt with a nervous twitch of her hand he’d never seen before then she passed him without looking him the eye. “I’ll just get supper started.”

  She had been so boisterous and energetic that morning, something had to have happened to her to make her so sullen.

  “You don’t have to make it right away, we could sit and talk for a few minutes, if you’d rather?” He hoped she did. Her stiff back and cold words made him nervous.

  Daisy paused and faced him, but she never looked up, never met his eyes. Her shoulders were slumped, and it killed him to see her like that.

  “I think … that is to say … you’re right. I should return to my room. I’m sorry I pressed you so.” She whipped around so quickly her skirt billowed around her legs and she leaned against the kitchen counter, her breaths measured, like she was within moments of tears.

  “Daisy?” Two days ago, he would’ve been jumping for joy that she’d come to her senses, but now, no. He wanted Daisy with him. She was his wife and it was where she belonged. “Are you sure? You can stay with me, but I won’t push you, if that’s what you really want.” If he did, she might finally understand the huge brute he was.

  She nodded, facing the stove. “I’ve had time to think about everything you said and, you’re right. I’ve got no business making more of this than we agreed on.”

  Elias glanced at the flowers on the table, she hadn’t even noticed them. She was shoving his own words at him, yet they sounded nothing like what he remembered saying. He was getting what he wanted, what he deserved, so why did his chest feel like she’d torn him in two?

  How many times had he moved that trunk now? More than he could recall, but it felt heavier this time. He set it at the base of the stairs and went back into the kitchen. Before he moved that thing a step farther, he needed Daisy to tell him what had happened to change her mind. She stood at the table, her finger tracing one of the petals on a daisy. A tear dripped off her cheek and landed on the front of her bodice.

  He strode forward and collected her in his arms. She pushed away from him at first, but he held fast and within moments she melted into sobs and clung to him. His lawyer brain wanted to ask all sorts of questions, but his heart knew they had to wait. Too many questions now would only push her further, but he did have to know one thing.

  “What did I do?” he whispered gently to the top of her head.

  She shuddered and held him tighter. “You were right, so terribly right, and I’m scared.”

  He stiffened, the old fears rearing up and telling him to push her away before he hurt her, but he couldn’t. His heart was too involved now.

  “I’m so sorry. I warned you that I could never… I won’t hurt you. I promise.” He kissed the top of her head.

  “I know, I know you’d never hurt me. Why didn’t I listen? I don’t know how you knew what marriage would be like when I didn’t. I have seven married sisters and some of them work, yet they never told me. I’m so sorry.”

  Elias massaged the back of her tense shoulders as he tried to understand what she was saying but none of it made any sense at all. How could he be right, as she said, and yet not know what she was talking about?

  “Daisy, I want to comfort you, to say the right thing to ease your mind, but I’m so confused.”

  She pulled away from him, her cheeks a dark pink. She turned away. “It doesn’t matter. Thank you for moving my trunk. I’m sorry supper is so late. I’ll do better in the future.”

  Her words were like a dash of ice water over his head. This morning, he’d kissed her and had worried that another few days of Daisy and he’d lose all his resolve. By evening, he’d lost her again. She was back to the all-business woman he’d seen at the park when he’d hurt her. Except this time, he couldn’t figure out what he’d done.

  “Would you rather I take you out to supper?” he offered. He hadn’t taken her out since they were married, if she was overworked from the moving the day before, she might be tired.

  She turned to him, her eyes flashing a sapphire blue. “Are you saying my meals aren’t good enough? Why don’t you try working all day long and then come home to make supper? And you’d best not start leaving your drawers on the floor, either.”

  Daisy slapped her hand over her mouth as if she was as shocked as he about what had just come out. His house had been clean when she came, and he’d never even left a sock on the floor, much less something so offensive as his drawers…

  “Daisy, what is this all about?”

 
She turned away from him, her ears glowing red. “Nothing. No, I don’t want to go out. Please, give me a little time and I’ll have your supper ready.”

  Elias backed out of the room and went for her trunk. He’d get to the bottom of what was ailing Daisy, because a body didn’t change that much in a day with no cause.

  Chapter 18

  It was already past seven in the morning, but Daisy couldn’t force herself from her bed. She’d laid there, alone, all night. Even Patches was angry with her and slept on the floor. The cat had taken to scratching the wall by the door, leaving gouges. She’d have to find time to repair that, too. Along with all the other things to clean up.

  “You’re making more work for me. If you won’t be good, I’ll let you outside and refuse to take you back in,” Daisy hissed from the bed.

  “Daisy?” Elias’s voice came softly through the door. “Are you awake and all right?”

  She held her breath for a moment and tugged the coverlet up to her chin. How she missed her husband, but she couldn’t tempt him, not if they were to remain happy. “I’m fine. I’ll be down shortly. I’m sorry, you must be famished.” She sounded syrupy. Over-happy. Fake to her own ears. She waited for him to shuffle back down the stairs, but it was silent outside her door.

  “May I come in?”

  She’d felt so alone all night, but that was her destiny. She’d married a man who wanted nothing to do with her and, according to Alma, was lucky for it. Passion didn’t mix with a working woman. Yet, would she give up that career to kindle her love? Wasn’t desire a worthy thing?

  “I’m … not dressed yet.”

  He opened the door and slid inside.

  “Elias!” she gasped, clutching the covers higher.

  He was wearing nothing more than a pair of trousers; his long, muscled torso couldn’t be ignored. His stride carried him across the room and to the head of the bed in four steps. The bed creaked under his heavy weight as he sat. His brows were drawn together in worry as he held the back of his hand to her forehead.