Claimed on the Frontier (8 page)

“Hush, Matthew,” I admonished, afraid he’d earn disapproval, or worse, from his brother for the mild cuss word. “I’m awake. Were you really going to carry those things?”

“He was under strict orders not to wake you,” Samuel said quietly, and I blinked up at him. Aaron had been the issuant of such a proclamation, no doubt.

“Well, now, boys, best load the wagon while the caravan is just beginning,” I said, hiding the flush of my cheeks. Why
did
my cheeks heat at the mere thought of their high-handed brother? As if my very thoughts conjured up the man, I heard the deep tremor of his voice just out of my sight.

“Quick, now,” he said, his voice getting louder as he approached. He stopped suddenly at the sight of me when he came round the wagon. His brows furrowed and he frowned, naturally. It was his most common facial expression, and for some reason, I giggled. It just seemed amusing. He
would
frown for no apparent reason.

“Matthew, did you wake the girl?” he asked, momentarily ignoring my giggles. Matthew’s eyes widened. Poor Matthew!

“No, sir!” he insisted.

“Oh, take it easy on the poor child,” I said. “I was just waking. It seems it’s nearly noontime, for pity’s sake! It’s time I woke.” I was still smiling.

He turned to me, a dark brow raised, still scowling. “And what, pray tell, is so entertaining?”

“You,” I blurted out. “Must you always scowl so?”

If the two of us had been alone, I may have gotten away with the comment, but to call attention to his sternness in front of his brothers was a blunder I soon regretted. He took me by the elbow and led me to the front of the wagon, and as we strode quickly together, he bent to my ear, his whiskers tickling my cheeks.

“You’d best be watchin’ your manners, young lady,” he said as he hoisted me up. He came to the other side and swung himself up.

“Is that right?” I said. Provoking him seemed to come naturally.

You wouldn’t think I’d be able to land belly-down on his lap on the rickety seat of a covered wagon. Well, apparently, if Aaron put his mind to something, it happened.

Over his knee I went, bent just enough so that he easily overpowered me.

“If we were alone, I’d lift those skirts,” he growled, though still landing a few firm swats for good measure. “Now you button up that lip and do as you’re told, or do you need further encouragement?”

“No, sir,” I mumbled, my voice muffled tucked into him like that. “Please let me up!”

He released me, but not until he’d administered one final stinging lick. I righted myself, trying to smooth my skirts and retain my dignity. My cheeks were flaming hot as he handed me a plate of food.

I was chastened after the quick reminder of how easily he could overpower me.

All my morning chores had been done for me. My stomach growled and my head ached. I needed coffee and food. He handed me a mug of lukewarm coffee, which I drank eagerly, before I took a large bite of bacon. “And where did you get the bacon?” I asked, remembering we had none left.

“Everyone’s sharing rations today. It’s a celebratory day.” His eyes twinkled. “Today some of us arrive home. Now would you quit your tongue-waggin’ and eat?” he said, eyeing me now with a look that was not quite as serious as a few moments earlier.

“I suppose,” I grumbled.

“Naughty girl,” he grumbled back.

I muttered under my breath, a bit lower than before, but the food tasted good and the coffee washed it down nicely. I’m not sure if it was my hunger, or the drowsiness I felt from having overslept, or my nerves concerning what awaited us when we arrived at Fort Hall.

His voice was low when he spoke, but I heard every solitary word.

“Now,” he said. “While you eat, you and I will have a little talk.”

I wasn’t exactly sure if this was the type of conversation in which I would actually be expected to say anything, so I merely continued chewing my food and listened.

“I allowed you to sleep late this morning because you deserved extra sleep. Matthew, Samuel, and I were more than capable of food preparation and breaking camp so we could travel.”

I swallowed the tepid, bitter coffee. A bit of my meekness was returning as the food settled in my stomach, and I no longer felt like a rabid animal.

“However, since you’ve woken, you’ve spoken out of turn, mocked me, and contradicted me, earning you a good reminder to obey me. If we were alone, I’d wear you out. You hear me?”

As I took another large bite of food, the listing of my offenses ashamed me. Had I really done all that in such a short time?

“Yes, sir,” I stammered. “I get a bit… off kilter when I’m hungry,” I said.

He gave me a sideways look. “I think you need more than a plate of food and cup of coffee.”

I swallowed hard, and not because the beans were dry. There it was again, a prickle of fear that was not altogether unwelcome.

We rode in quiet for some time, as I finished my meal. I sighed with contentment.

“Better?” he asked.

“Much,” I responded.

“We’ll be to Fort Hall before dinner.”

“Crickets and cattails!”

He nearly dropped the reins. “Crickets and
what
?”

“Cattails,” I said, embarrassed. Hadn’t he ever seen the reedy plant?

“Crickets and cat o’ nine tails is more like it,” he muttered. I looked at him quizzically. I had no idea what he was referring to.

“You don’t know what that is?” he asked. I shook my head.

He looked about ready to chuckle. “It’s a whip, especially used for punishment.”

“You and your violent ways!” I gasped.

He did laugh at that. “Pearl, I am not a violent man. I
am
,
however, as you well know, quite capable of applyin’ my hand to your backside as needed.”

“Clearly,” I murmured.

We rode in silence for quite some time, and I enjoyed the ride. With food in my belly, Aaron beside me, and the promise of a roof over our heads that night, I felt content. I also felt calmer after the small chastisement he’d given me. My head was clearer, and though I still felt the sting on my bottom when I shifted, I felt strangely peaceful.

The sun was rising high above us when Matthew came scurrying to where we were.

“We’re here!” he shouted, removing his hat and tossing it straight into the air, where it snagged a low-hanging branch before tumbling down to him again. “We’re here! I’m gonna find ma!”

And before we could stop him, he was off.

The wagons continued their rickety jaunt into town, as we were still a good distance away from where the buildings and houses lay. Hope bloomed in me at the first sight of civilization I’d seen in a long while.

“Home,” I whispered.

* * *

Some wagons dispersed as we came into town, though many continued along the beaten path. Fort Hall was only a stopping point for some, and a long journey lay ahead of them. I was thankful we had no further to travel.

In front of us was a small strip of buildings. One had a staircase to travel up, with glass windows, handmade wooden rocking chairs in the front, and lovely quilts atop them. To the right were a few more establishments. A good distance away was a small log cabin that looked like it would be a school, or church, or perhaps both, and further away was a creek and a windmill churning water. People came out as we rode into town. I began to tremble at the newness of it all. Aaron pulled to a stop as the wagon in front of us did so. A man wearing a gleaming metal badge approached our train.

“Howdy, folks,” he said with a smile, tipping his hat to me. We murmured our greetings.

“The name’s Tell,” he said. “Jebediah Tell, sheriff here.”

I watched as Jonas stepped out of his wagon and introduced those around us to the sheriff. When he got to our wagon, he pointed to me and Aaron.

“This here’s Aaron, and his wife Pearl.”

I stifled a small gasp as I felt Aaron stiffen beside me.

Wife.

I clamped my mouth shut and turned to face Aaron, grateful Matthew had run ahead and wouldn’t complicate the situation. I wondered what Aaron would do, but there was little time to do anything, as Sheriff Tell had already moved on.

Jonas came to our wagon. “You’ll not tell a lie, I know,” he said in a confidential whisper to Aaron.

I held my breath, curious how Jonas knew more than he let on. And why
had
he lied?

Aaron’s lips thinned and Jonas continued, “Matthew told my wife you aren’t wed to Pearl.” Jonas blew out a breath. “But you do realize that being wed doubles your land value?” He raised an eyebrow to Aaron. “I hear tell the preacher here’s a right good man. He went to school with my pa.”

Jonas paused, and his voice grew husky. “You know I mentioned the ramshackle crew along these parts. My sister ended up wed to one. Seemed like a nice enough gent, but he takes to the liquor and is no more’n a grown boy. No man. And I’ve no doubt Pearl is of a mind to make wise choices, but…” He paused, looking from me to Aaron. “Hard to make a wise choice when the choices are few and far between.” He let his words settle before he took his leave, tipping his hat to us.

Aaron nodded and my heart thudded erratically in my chest. I did not know what to say or do. I hated the idea of Aaron losing half his land value for being a single man, and I hated the idea of being a spinster, dependent on the generosity of others and subject to whatever advances of the ‘ramshackle crew’ Jonas described. I had little experience with how marriage transpired, having only really known the Fitzgeralds. I had a vague notion that it happened, and to girls younger than I, and that sometimes it was for love, but more often than not a matter of convenience. Men provided for women and women tended house and bore children. I’d be a fool to deny Aaron’s hand in marriage. But, I’d also not been asked.

He cleared his throat. “I… this isn’t…” He paused. It was so rare he was at a loss for words. “I haven’t courted you properly.”

“Have you not?” I asked, and though I contradicted him, I wasn’t trying to disobey. I was genuinely curious. “What does one do when one courts? We’ve eaten our meals together, and spent days getting to know one another.”

He scratched his chin. “True. And you already know my ways, and…” His brows came together and his lips twitched. “I know yours.”

I ducked my head. “Yes, sir,” I whispered. “You’ll…” I inhaled, mustering up my bravado. I hated the idea of leaving his side. “You’ll lose half your land,” I whispered. “You’d prosper better with a larger land, I know it. I’ll… cook for you. Mend your socks. I’ll even do what you say.”

He laughed outright with the last confession and I blushed. He reached for my hand.

“Mend my socks, is it? Mind me?”

“Yes, sir,” I whispered.

“Not always,” he whispered back and I bit my lip. He was right. “But we’d manage that.”

“I would do my best,” I said with feeling, my eyes lifting to his. Suddenly, I felt embarrassed. I was auctioning myself off as if I were prized goods. And I wasn’t. I had no dowry, no family, and no education to speak of. I was suddenly overcome with shame and I dropped my eyes.

“You speak as if you want to wed me,” he murmured. “When it is I who wish to wed
you
. Would you have me, girl?”

My eyes flew back to his. “Have you?” I whispered.

“Marry me,” he said with feeling. He was completely serious now as his eyes met mine. “I’m not an easy man to live with, Pearl. I expect you to do as I ask. I’m set in my ways. But no matter what happens, or if children come our way, I will pledge myself to protect and honor you all the days of my life.”

“I know you will,” I whispered back. “And the answer is yes.”

Nothing really changed, of course. The sun still shone and the birds still chirped, but something had shifted. Aaron released my hand with a nod and picked up the reins.

“We go now, then.”

“
Now
?”

“Now. I’ll not have Jonas’s ‘ramshackle crew’ catchin’ wind that the loveliest young lady that ever set foot in this town is free to wed. I’ll have you as my own before the sun sets.”

My breath was labored and my hands trembled, even as my cheeks flushed and I pressed my lips together hard to get control of myself.

Loveliest young lady? His own?

Aaron had gone up ahead to where Jonas’s wagon was, and he quickly stepped down. Moments later, he returned, his eyes victorious. I watched what transpired quietly, knowing instinctively that he would tell me where to go and what to do. He drove the wagon up to the small clapboard house that was the chapel, and beyond it, the smaller home where I surmised the preacher lived. The men spoke a few words, and before I knew what was happening, Aaron was coming back for me, his hands upon my waist, lifting me down from the wagon and onto the ground, pulling me so quickly with him I trotted to keep up, as if he was afraid if we didn’t move quickly I’d change my mind.

It was a small, simple ceremony. After all, we were trying as best we could not to make a production. We needed the preacher’s stamp of approval and the legal ability for Aaron to claim me as his wife before suspicions were aroused. If we’d had time and preparation, I’d have worn more than my dusty dress, presentable only because I’d removed my apron and run my fingers through my tangled hair. His brothers weren’t even with us, our only witnesses Jonas and his wife.

And in the quiet of the rustic chapel, as Aaron took my small hand in his large one, his eyes met mine and we said our vows. The simplest of ceremonies, but the heavens shone on us that day, the day I became Aaron’s wife.

Chapter Six: Little One

Aaron held my hand as we went back to the wagon. We’d been as quiet as possible about our little ceremony, but I felt my walk was lighter, my heart constricted from a feeling that had been wholly unfamiliar to me until recently, but that I was now becoming more accustomed to. I could only think it was happiness.

I was so lost in my trance-like state that I jumped when I felt a tug on my free hand. Jonas’s wife Mary stood next to me.