Always, Stone

by Nan O'Berry

  “I-I don’t have a dress,” Charity mumbled.

  Stone glanced down at her beautiful gown. “The one you have on will do.”

  “You are insane.” She laughed.

  “But you love me?”

  Charity nodded. “I do, Stone.”

  He kissed her cheek. Their gazes locked.

  “Mr. Hawkins!” Stone shouted. “I need you.”

  Chapter 14

  “Anna, please eat,” Mrs. Hawkins remarked as she gaze over the table at her daughter.

  Anna gave a cautionary glance toward her mother and placed a forkful of string beans into her mouth. Usually, her mother’s cooking was the best, yet ever since the holiday party and Stone’s wedding, nothing seemed right. She chewed quietly not listening to the conversations that ranged around the large table in the dining room. With all the riders still at the station, meals lately were huge affairs.

  “Anna?”

  Hearing her name called by Emma, Clay’s wife, she glanced toward the end of the table.

  “Sorry, I wasn’t listening.”

  Emma smiled. “Not to worry, I was just asking if you’d help Delia and I set up the quilting frame tomorrow.” She glanced around the table. “With all the help, we’ve completed the squares today and I thought we get it backing and cotton basted to the top and put it on the frame to quilt.”

  “Oh, sure.” Usually, Anna would so love to sit and quilt, but not tomorrow, or the day after. All she wanted to do was to go look for Brett. He’d been missing for going on a full week. Even Major Arnold had turned up no sign. She knew that Ransom, Stone, and the others were worried. It was easy to see in their faces. Even her father’s brow seemed more wrinkled as of late.

  She glanced at the food on her plate and felt her stomach lurch. Putting down her fork, she spoke, “May I be excused?”

  Her mother’s gaze took on a pained expression as if she were feeling the downhearted air that surrounded Anna. “Yes, dear, take your plate into the kitchen.”

  Picking up her utensils, Anna carried them and her plate toward the rear of the house. Scraping what was left on the china into the slop bucket; she placed her used dishes into the pan in the sink and walked out to the back porch. Her eyes fastened on to the horizon.

  Nothing.

  For as far as her sight carried her, there was nothing.

  “Where are you, Brett?” she whispered and wrapped her arms about her body in hopes of holding the tears that threatened at bay.

  Olivia Hawkins was enjoying having Delia, Emma, and Tillie in town. It was like having her own extended family. She’d hoped that the other girls who were so close to Anna’s age would offer her daughter companionship. That part of her plan had gone amiss. Anna seemed so distant these days. She gave a shake of her head and began to scrape the plates into the bucket. Behind her, the girls chattered on.

  “I can’t wait until we have a baby on the way.” Emma sighed.

  “Best get your house rebuilt first.” Delia nudged her with her elbow.

  The girls giggled.

  “Well, Clay and Drew were talking about some renovations. Now, they have the perfect chance.”

  “I always thought that was a lovely house,” Tillie added as she brought in the last of the cups. “I was telling Wyeth the other day that we should turn our house toward the south, so that we could catch the sunlight.”

  Emma nodded. “I will miss my porch. I loved sitting on the steps listening to the coyotes howl in the distance.”

  Tillie shivered. “I don’t mind the sitting and watching the sunset, but I’m not a fan of those pesky coyotes yipping and yapping.”

  Olivia glanced at Delia. “Are you excited?”

  Delia placed a hand on her expanding middle. “A bit of nervousness and excitement,” she admitted. “Clay treats me like I’m a glass statue that might fall and break.” She gave a shake of her head. “You’d think with all the horses he’d seen born that this would be just another youngster.”

  “Oh, no.” Emma winked. “This time he had a hand in it.”

  The girls laughed.

  “Where’s Anna?” Tillie asked looking around.

  “Outside,” Olivia answered. Her voice was as heavy as her heart.

  The sound of footsteps moved behind her.

  “I’ll dry,” Emma offered.

  “Thank you, dear.”

  Apron on, Emma took her station next to Olivia.

  Once the dishes were cleaned and rinsed, Olivia handed them over to Emma to dry and stack on the space beside them.

  “This is the down side of having everyone here.” Emma sighed.

  Olivia smiled. “I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

  They worked on in silence.

  “I hope they find some trace of Brett,” Emma spoke. “Poor Anna is worried sick.”

  Olivia glanced at the dark shadow sitting on the back step. “She has it bad, doesn’t she?”

  Emma placed a hand on Olivia’s arm. “She does. But Brett is a good man.”

  “Oh, I know,” Olivia agreed. “It’s just that she’s so young. I wish her heart had waited another year.”

  Emma placed a plate on the stack next to her. “Sometimes the heart runs on its own pace. We can’t set a timetable.” She glanced at the counter. “I mean who would have thought just a few months ago, I would have fallen for Clay. My parents always thought I’d marry a cowboy or a rancher.”

  Tillie stepped closer. “My father seemed devastated at first, but he’s coming around. Wyeth has been patient. I couldn’t love him more.”

  “You wait and see, Mrs. Hawkins,” Delia spoke. “Brett won’t take advantage of Anna. You need not fret.”

  “Oh, I’m not worried about Brett, I’m worried about Anna. For all I know, this attachment to Brett is all one sided. Her heart will be broken if he doesn’t feel the same.”

  “Poor Anna,” Emma shook her head.

  Olivia took a deep breath. “We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. Come; let’s get these dishes put away. You all need a good night sleep. There are lots to do tomorrow while the men are rebuilding Charity’s house.”

  The last of the dishes were placed in the cupboard when the door opened and Anna entered. She paused and glanced around. “I was going to do the dishes?”

  “I had plenty of help,” Olivia replied. “Emma, Delia, and Tillie all pitched in.” The conversation skipped a beat. Olivia took a deep breath, and then asked. “No sign?”

  Anna shook her head.

  Olivia walked over to her daughter and put an arm around her shoulders. “Don’t worry, my dear. He’ll return.”

  Tears filled her eyes, but Anna nodded in agreement.

  “Go on up to bed, I’ll put things out so we can be ready for breakfast.”

  “Are you sure, Momma? I feel like I have let you down.”

  Olivia placed a palm on her daughter’s cheeks and stared into her eyes. “You have never let me down, Anna. Don’t ever think like that. I’m the luckiest mother in the world to have a beautiful daughter like you.”She tilted her head down and pressed her lips against Anna’s forehead. “Just remember, I love you and only want the best for you.”

  “I know, Momma.” Anna wrapped her arms around her mother’s waist and hugged her tight.

  Olivia sighed and squeezed back. Pushing her daughter away, she nodded toward the stairs. “Off to bed with you now.”

  “Night, Momma.”

  Olivia watched her go. “Night, Anna.”

  With the kitchen empty and quiet, Olivia felt content with her thoughts as she pulled out the coffee grinder and put it on the table with the bag of coffee. Brushing her hand across the cotton sacking, she made a quick judge of the contents within. “I’ll have to pick up some tomorrow.”

  “Pick up what, Mother?”

  Olivia looked up and watched Levi walk in. “Coffee,” she said and gave a nod toward the sack on the table. “I guess with all our guests, we are going through it faster than I expe
cted.”

  Levi moved toward her and put his arms around her. “It’s not just that is it?”

  Olivia shrugged.

  “Come, let’s go upstairs and retire.”

  Olivia felt his hand slide into hers and together, they moved up the stairs toward the room.

  Levi lit the lamp while she moved to her dresser. Standing in front of the mirror, Olivia began to remove her hair pins.

  Levi broke the silence, “The boys said they’re moving on the inside of Stone’s house tomorrow. They’ve replaced all the outside boards. Clay’s going to work on the floor while Wyeth and Stone pull the kitchen apart and put in new cabinets.”

  “That will be nice.” Olivia sighed as she stepped toward the wardrobe. Reaching around the back, she undid the buttons on her skirt and let it pool at her feet.

  Behind her, the bed creaked as Levi crawled onto the mattress. “That’s not the problem, is it?”

  Olivia pulled the shirtwaist from her body and tugged her cotton nightgown over her head.

  “You’re worried about our daughter, aren’t you?”

  Olivia moved toward the bed and joined her husband. “Yes.”

  Levi’s arms moved around his wife’s shoulders. “You can’t keep her safe all the time. Life gives lessons, Olivia. It is the way we grow.”

  “I know,” she replied sadly.

  With a gentle tug, Levi pulled her head to his shoulder. “Do you remember when we first met?”

  She nodded. “At the barn building. Poppa didn’t think much of you then.”

  ‘No, he didn’t.” Levi gave a deep chuckle. “I believe he said I was too brash of a young man to court his daughter.”

  Olivia didn’t try to hide the smile that formed on her lips. “You were so busy trying to show off that you walked right onto the rake and the handle flew up and hit you square in the face.”

  Levi laughed. “Laid me out fair and square. But when I woke up, you were holding me. I knew then that I’d win your heart.”

  “And you did,” Olivia agreed. “I love you Levi Hawkins.”

  Levi took her hand. “I love thee, Olivia Hawkins.”

  Olivia turned her head toward him as he lowered his lips to hers.

  Anna sat at her window staring down at the barnyard. Slowly, she brought the brush to her head and pulled it through her hair.

  “Everyone has someone, Delia and Ransom; Clay and Emma; Tillie and Wyeth.” She put her hands into her lap and sighed. “Who do I have?”

  She waited, hoping for an answer. When none came, Anna rose and placed her brush on the dresser. Kneeling beside her bed, she folded her hands. “Dear Lord, please keep Brett safe wherever he is and bring him home soon. I love him so dearly. Amen.”

  Standing, she leaned toward the kerosene lamp on the night stand and blew out the flame. Crawling beneath the covers, Anna lay still and stared at the ceiling. Even with her parents just across the hallway, she felt alone. If only Brett were there to pull on her braids, to call her little bit once again. How, she wondered, could a house full of people seem empty? She knew it was because the one that made her heart smile wasn’t there. Turning on her side, she pulled her hands beneath her cheek and closed her eyes.

  If she’d fallen asleep, it was only for a moment.

  Suddenly, her body seemed to come alive. Her eyes widened. Her hearing grew sharp. She waited. Suddenly, there it was—the sound of a horse’s hooves on the gravel. Her heart beat faster; the sound seemed to fill her ears. Pushing back the covers, she rose and hurried to the window.

  The moonlight on the ground below pushed the shadows aside. Anna’s anticipation grew. Her hands took hold of the sill and she dug her nails into the wood as her eyes searched the gloom for someone familiar. She held her breath as something moved. Slowly, a horse stepped into the light. Anna’s heart skipped a beat. She let go of the sill and grabbed her wrapper.

  Throwing open the door, she fumbled tying the sash. “Momma! Momma! He’s home.”She flew past her parent’s bedroom and down the stairs, throwing open the door to the kitchen, Anna rushed into the yard.

  The sound of her footsteps brought the horses head up.

  “Easy, Tempest.” Anna slowly advanced. She held her hand out.

  The horse sniffed and waited.

  “Poor boy,” she murmured reaching for the bridle. Her hand ran down the horse’s neck and felt the dried lather. “Oh, Tempest, you did well to bring him home. I’m so proud of you.”

  Her eyes moved to the rider slumped over the horse’s back. Hand trembling, she raised it and touched his shoulder. Heat radiated from the skin beneath. “Brett. Brett,” she called to him.

  To her relief, his head turned. She could see the dirt stains on his cheek. “Oh, Brett, you came home. You came home.”

  His eyes opened and struggled to focus. “Is that you, little bit?”

  “I’m here, Brett.”

  He slid more than pushed himself from the saddle and fell into her arms.

  Anna’s legs folded underneath her as she cradled him against her body. There was blood on his shoulder and the stump of an arrow still in his left thigh, but he came back to her. Anna brushed his hair from his damp face.

  “Tell your dad the mail got through.”

  “Sh,” she whispered and pressed her lips to his forehead.

  Behind her, the sound of footsteps filled the yard.

  “It’s Brett,” Stone called.

  Someone grabbed the horse.

  “Rub his mount down and give him an extra ration of oats,” Anna said in a breathless voice.

  Her mother’s face filled her vision. “We must get him inside Anna.”

  “He came back, Momma.”

  Her mother smiled and nodded.

  Anna’s smile faded. “He’s hurt awful bad though.”

  “I know, dear. I know. Let’s get him inside and we can see how to help him.”

  Ransom, Wyeth, and Stone took him gently from Anna’s arms.

  Her father helped her to stand.

  “He’s going to be fine, Poppa. You’ll see,” Anna told him as she gathered the loose folds of her gown and followed. “He came back to me and that’s all that matters.”

  The End

  December 1860

  Dear Mr. Hawkins,

  I know we sprang this on you a bit sudden like, but I can’t thank you enough for marrying Charity and myself. Spending that first night, in the small bedroom next to the kitchen was one we both will cherish for the rest of our days. You have been like a father figure to me. I will always look up to you and your wife.

  I am glad she has taken Charity under her wing. With me and the boys off for this week, it will give us time to get some fixes in place on the Miller house. I look forward to having you and Mrs. Hawkins over to supper.

  I know you were worried about my job prospects. I have taken you up on that suggestion and rented a small store front in town where I will be doing gunsmith repairs. Captain Merrick is already bringing me that shotgun he is so fond of. Says the timing is off, I think it will be an easy fix.

  I love Charity, Mr. Hawkins. I always will. People like Pierson just can’t stand happiness. I don’t think he’ll bother us any more now that his little secret is out. Thank you again, for taking me on and making me a better man. You are the father I wish I’d had.

  Always,

  Stone.

  Meet Nan O’Berry

  Home is where the heart lies. Or so Nan O’Berry believes. She grew up on a quiet street in Virginia Beach, Virginia, however her love of horses led her family to purchase a small farm in the Western Tidewater area. She grew up listening to family tales so it was not surprising that she loves a great story.

  Armed with a Bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from Old Dominion University, she loves sharing heroic stories of cowboys, Texas Rangers, lumberjacks, and just plain, small town folks.

  http://oberrynan.wix.com/nanoberryauthor

  Books by Nan O’Berry

&nbs
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  Always, Clay

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  Always, Wyeth

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  Always, Stone

  Coming Soon

  Always, Ellis

  Always, Brett

  Tessa Berkley

  If you enjoy books with a little bit more spice, try reading these books by Nan O’Berry writing as Tessa Berkley