Cora's Deception (9781476398280) (26 page)

His eyebrows lifted. “And that makes a
difference?”

“Probably not. So what are you doing?” He
wore clean clothes, and his hair was slicked to the side.

“I’m heading over to see Esther.”

“Oh, I should’ve guessed. You seem to do a
lot of that lately.” Cora looked down at the bucket in her hand.
She needed to rinse it out.

“Maybe that’s because we’ve been making some
important plans.” His face glowed with his wide smile. “We’ve set a
date, Cora. It’s finally going to happen.”

“When?” Cora searched his face. He’d changed
so much in the last year or so since they’d left St. Louis. A
foreboding fell over her. Seemed like anymore nothing stayed the
same. Would she lose her big brother?

“We hope to be married in the spring.
Esther’s father started for Springfield yesterday to post a letter
to her uncle. He’s a minister in Tennessee.”

“Tennessee!” Cora stared at her brother.
“Esther’s father is making a trip that will take him at least a
week just to post a letter? Isn’t there a preacher somewhere
closer? What makes you think her uncle will come?”

“Esther’s mother says he’ll come.” Ben
grinned. “She said it’s time for him to visit anyway.”

Cora sighed. “Then you’ll be getting married
in a few months. Where will you live?”

Ben shrugged. “Father said if we don’t get
our own house built, we could move Lenny downstairs. Esther and I
can stay upstairs.”

That meant Esther would live in their house.
Cora frowned. She and Eliza had to be quiet at night so Ben
couldn’t hear. What would it be like with Esther in the next room
too? Esther was so judgmental. Their relationship had never
regained the closeness they’d shared at one time because she knew
she’d never be as good as Esther expected. How could she manage
seeing her every day as part of the family?

~*~

Christmas, the first day of 1835, and a week
later, Cora’s twentieth birthday appeared on the calendar before
warm weather returned. Aaron would be coming to visit more often
now. Spring couldn’t be more welcome.

The sun was sinking low in the west when a
knock on the door startled Cora. She opened the door to find Aaron
and slipped outside without inviting him in. “Let’s take a walk.
I’ve been cooped up inside all day.”

He grinned and took her hand. “Better get
your bonnet. The sun’s still shinin’.”

She shook her head. “I’m glad it is. I love
the warmth against my skin.”

A chuckle sounded from his throat. “That’s
my Cora.”

Her heart warmed to the softness in his eyes
that caressed her. He’d never come right out and said he loved her,
but the truth shone from him like the rays of the sun. She could
see it and hear it in his voice. His fingers wrapped around hers
spoke of love. His gentleness with her and his faithfulness. He
loved her, and she loved him. Maybe he’d ask her to marry him. They
could be married the same time as Esther and Ben, while Esther’s
uncle was here. Her heart danced at the thought.

Aaron led Cora toward the fruit trees Father
had planted near the house. He stopped at the first apple tree and
plucked a worm from a leaf. He threw it to the ground and stepped
on it. “Ma’s failin’ fast.”

His comment burst through her happiness.
What could she say? “I’m sorry.”

Aaron shrugged. “I reckon that’s the way of
things. A body gets born, lives awhile, and then dies. Looks like
there oughta be somethin’ more to life, don’t it?”

First Aaron’s father and now his mother.
What of Cora’s mother? Nora was five months old, and Mother still
hadn’t regained her strength. She wasn’t on her deathbed, but she
wasn’t well, either. Cora didn’t want to talk about death and
sickness. She’d rather talk of marriage and life.

“Ben and Esther’s wedding is just a couple
of weeks away now.”

Aaron nodded. The hint of a smile curved his
lips. He took her hand and started walking again. “Yeah, I
know.”

“Esther’s preacher uncle and his family
moved in with the Newkirks yesterday. Ben says there’s scarcely
room to walk through their house now.”

Aaron’s smile widened. “What’ve they got? A
whole passel of kids?”

“That depends on what a passel is.” Cora
turned a saucy grin his way.

He chuckled. “I’d reckon eight like the
Newkirks’ is a passel.”

“Then the answer’s no, because they only
have four.” Cora slanted a glance toward him. “How many children do
you think a couple should have?”

Aaron met her gaze with an intense look that
reached deep inside and held her in place. He stopped and faced
her. “Maybe half a dozen. How about you? What do you think?”

Her breath caught in her throat and her
lashes lowered before she looked back into his eyes. She shouldn’t
have asked such a question. Mother would say she’d been bold. Aaron
didn’t act like he thought so. He waited for her answer. “Five or
six would be fine.”

He grinned.

Her heart felt as if it could take off
running at any moment, it beat so hard.

Aaron tugged her hand to resume walking.
They left Father’s young orchard and crossed the open space toward
a line of cedar trees growing by the creek. Aaron’s warm, callused
hand caressed hers. The setting sun’s rays cast long shadows beside
them. The pungent scent of cedar filled the air as they drew near
the creek bank.

Aaron pointed toward a fallen log. “Let’s
set here a spell.”

Cora adjusted her skirts and Aaron sat
beside her on the log facing the moving water below them. “It’s
quiet here ‘ceptin’ for the creek. I like the sound of water.”

“I do too.” Cora rested her head against his
shoulder. “It reminds me of my spring.”

“Your spring?” Aaron leaned forward and
grinned at her. His eyes danced. “Where’ve you got a spring?”

He knew. His amusement teased her. She’d
never told anyone how she felt about the spring he’d showed her
that day in the woods so long ago. She’d thought of it as hers ever
since. He might not like her claiming it. “It really isn’t
mine.”

“So, where’s it at?”

She folded her arms and scooted away. “Not
far from the hollow tree. You probably don’t remember, but you
showed it to Eliza and me one day. It’s the most beautiful place
I’ve ever seen.”

Aaron slipped his arm around her waist and
pulled her back toward him. “Oh, I remember, all right. I like it
there too. Maybe someday I’ll build a cabin up on that high spot in
the meadow. You can see the spring from there.”

He wasn’t looking at her now. Was she part
of his dreams?

“Aaron?”

He brushed his cheek against hers.
“Hmm?”

He wasn’t listening to her. What was he
thinking? If he didn’t include her in his dreams, she’d be broken
hearted. She’d never loved George like this. She loved Aaron more
than anyone. With all her heart, she loved him.

When she didn’t speak, Aaron pulled away and
turned her to face him. His bright blue eyes traveled over her
face, finally resting on her lips. His head lowered and she met him
halfway, responding with everything that burned within her heart.
Aaron took his time with the sweet kiss he placed on her lips. His
love for her spoke through his tenderness and care.

“I love you, Aaron Stark.” Cora’s whispered
admission hung in the air between them as a tangible, fragile
ornament.

An ornament that fell and broke into a dozen
pieces in the silence that followed. Aaron seemed frozen in place.
Finally, his hold on her slipped, and she jerked away. She jumped
to her feet and took a step back, staring at him with her hands
pressed to her lips. How could he sit there without a word and look
at her as if she were a stranger? She’d just said she loved
him.

Her hands landed on her hips. She trembled
inside. He wouldn’t get away with treating her love as if it were
repulsive. “Did you hear what I said, Aaron Stark? I said I love
you.”

Aaron’s mouth hung open, his eyes grew wide,
and he watched her as if she’d gone crazy. What did he think? That
she’d attack him?

Tears welled in Cora’s eyes, spilling down
her cheeks. Her heart pounded a dreadful, painful warning that all
had gone wrong. She’d said too much. But why? How? She buried her
face in her hands.

“Cora, don’t cry.” Aaron stood before her
now. His strong arms surrounded her, pulling her close against his
hard chest. “Please, darlin’, don’t. I can’t bear to see you
hurtin’.”

A hiccupy sob escaped. “You don’t love me.”
The words were muffled in his shirt.

He lay his cheek against the top of her
head. “You know better’n that. You’re everything to me. You’re ever
beat of my heart. I don’t know how I’ll ever live without you.”

Aaron’s heart drummed against Cora’s hand
splayed on his chest. She froze in his arms. He said he loved her.
No, he said more than that. She was the beat of his heart? She
lifted her head and looked at him. The smile starting on her face
faltered.

Her eyes met his. His brows were drawn
together, his eyes filled with pain. Her heart leapt in fear.

“Aaron, what is it? We love each other. You
said so. You did, didn’t you?” With each word, her voice rose. She
couldn’t stop the fear. Something was terribly wrong.

Aaron shook his head. “I ain’t nothin’ but a
backwoodsman. I’ll never amount to a hill of beans. You’re better’n
me, Cora. You need a man who can give you all them pretty things
like your ma has. You don’t want me.”

His words slapped her so she jerked away
from him. “What have you been doing this last year, Aaron? You
courted me. You held my hand. You kissed me!” Tears sprang anew to
her eyes. “Why? If you don’t want to marry me, Aaron Stark, just
say so.”

He reached out, but dropped his hand without
touching her. “That ain’t it, Cora. You know it. Look at me. You
need better. I can’t even read a newspaper.”

Anger flared within her. “I can’t help it
that I grew up in a city where I could go to school. So what if you
can’t read and write and I can? You’ve got more talent in your one
little finger than all the city boys I ever met put together. You
know more about nature than anyone I know. If it’s so important,
you can learn to read. You’re plenty smart enough.”

She turned and ran from the creek bank, up
the gentle slope toward the house. She flung the last of her hurt
over her shoulder. “Besides that, who says I want a bunch of pretty
things to dust? If you really loved me, you’d know better.”

He’d been trifling with her. Tears blinded
her, and she swiped them away.

~*~

Stunned by Cora’s words, Aaron couldn’t move
as she lifted her skirts to run away from him while his heart
broke. All his life he’d felt inferior. Dare he believe education
and fancy things weren’t important to Cora? Could she really love
him? She’d yelled at him as if she meant what she said.

His heart pounded, urging him to stop her.
He couldn’t let her run away crying. He hadn’t lied. She was the
beat of his heart. His feet moved, carrying him up the hill before
he realized. He overtook her, running ahead to catch her in his
arms. His voice grew husky. “Cora, are you meanin’ you’d marry
me?”

“Of course I’d marry you, Aaron, if you’d
only ask.”

Aaron swallowed. He searched her face. Did
she mean it? His voice shook. “Cora?”

She held his gaze, her eyes wet with
tears.

His heart melted. “Oh, Cora. Honest, I love
you. I just don’t—I mean, Cora, will you marry me?”

The tears that hovered in her eyes broke
free and ran down her face. She nodded and laughed. He’d never seen
a prettier sight.

“Yes, I’ll marry you, Aaron, if you promise
to never doubt yourself or my love again.”

He tilted his head. “I’ll do my best. For
you, I’ll do anything.”

He pulled the clean, folded handkerchief
she’d made him from his pocket and touched it to her wet cheeks.
She lifted her face while he blotted every tear and put them in his
pocket. Then he kissed her and grinned. “Now you can’t back out.
We’re gettin’ married, Cora. Wanna tell your folks?”

She nodded, and he kissed her again. When he
lifted his head, he saw Ralph coming toward them.

“It’s Ma, Aaron. Right after you left, she
took a turn for the worse.” Ralph’s eyes were rimmed with red.
“Ivy’s sittin’ with her.”

“Sittin’ with her?” Aaron pulled Cora close.
“What’s that mean?”

Ralph’s face twisted as if a pain passed
through him. His voice held disbelief. “She went to sleep. We
didn’t know she’d gone ’til Ivy saw she weren’t breathin’. Ivy sent
me after ya.”

Chapter 20

C
ora stood beside Aaron through the graveside funeral. At
least they had a real preacher to conduct the services. Mrs.
Newkirk sang just as she had for Aaron’s father, then her brother
preached for about fifteen minutes.

“Let’s bow our heads for a word of prayer.”
Reverend Arthur Copley’s prayer was short just like his sermon.

Aaron slipped his arm from Cora’s grasp and
picked up the first shovel of dirt. He returned to her side when
Ralph took the shovel from him. How could this have happened?
Aaron’s parents gone within less than a year. Never had death
seemed so real to Cora than it did now. She looked at her mother,
standing beside Father, and thanksgiving rose in her heart that she
still had them both. Never again would she take her own, or anyone
else’s, life for granted as she’d done before.

After the service, Cora walked through the
woods beside Aaron. He cleared his throat. “You’ll be at the
meetin’ tomorrow night, won’t ya?”

She looked up at him. What did he mean?
“Yes, aren’t you going?”

He nodded. “I plan to, but with Pa and Ma
both gone, there’s a passel of work to do iffen we keep our heads
off the ground. Ralph ain’t much for doin’ his share, and Ivy’s got
all she can handle now. Has since before Pa died when Ma started
feelin’ poorly.”