Courting Kate (19 page)

“It’s where your face turns black and your skin falls off,” Luke said, taking up a position by her feet.

“Luke, for God’s sake,” Tanner admonished.
 

“It’s a terrible disease caused by a bad germ,” Kate answered. “Some of the people in Jacksonville are getting sick. But the doctor and the sisters of the Holy Names are working very hard to make everyone feel better.”

“Everybody will be well, then?”

“Soon. Then I can go back home.”

“I want people to feel better, but I hope they don’t get well too quick,” John said. “I want you to stay for a long, long time.”

“She’ll be here a while,” Luke said with a snicker.
 

Tanner nudged him before he could say more.
 

Mark and Luke looked at each other, then at him. Tanner shook his head. He wouldn’t let them tell her she was stuck here. He’d do it later when the time was right. Give her time to get used to the situation first. No sense getting her upset for nothing.
 

Luke gazed at Kate, his eyes full of adoration, then he frowned. “Kate, you’re barefooted. Don’t you have any slippers?”

“We left in such a hurry, I forgot to stick them in.”

“I’ll make you some,” Luke promised. “I’ll start right now. In the meantime you can wear a pair of my wool socks.” He got to his feet and left the room.

“Here, try some of this, Kate.” Matt handed her a steaming mug. “It’s fresh and not too strong. I even scrubbed the pot.”

“That’s a first,” Tanner muttered.
 

“Thank you.” Kate sipped the brew. “Delicious, and different.”

“I put a pinch of cinnamon bark in the coffeepot, thought you might like the taste better.”

“It’s wonderful, Matt. I would never have thought of it.”

“You got another cup?” Tanner asked hopefully.

“It’s in the kitchen,” Matt said, not taking the hint. He took the spot Luke had vacated. “I’ve got some canned huckleberries I’ve been saving. I might just make up a batch of my special pancakes.”

“Umm. Sounds great,” she said with a smile.
 

“I thought you ran out of them months ago. I remember the last time I wanted some—”

“I hid them. Been saving them for a special occasion,” Matt said, gazing at Kate.

It didn’t take a genius to see how he stood around here, Tanner thought. “Think I’ll get the chores done. Work up an appetite,” he said getting to his feet.
 

* * *

When Tanner reached the barn he discovered the mules had broken through the corral fence and, judging by their tracks, they were halfway up the mountain. Figuring he would eat before he looked for them, he tossed some hay into the manger for his horse, then he milked the cow and fed the chickens.

By the time he’d finished in the barn and returned to the house, the rest of them had already eaten. He didn’t get any pancakes, nor any coffee. His breakfast, which he’d had to cook himself, consisted of an egg and a piece of leftover steak so tough he could have used it to resole his boot.

He didn’t even get any conversation. With the boys chattering like magpies, he hadn’t been able to get a word in all morning. He stared at the table where his brothers were gathered around Kate like pages waiting on a queen at court. He had the feeling with the boys hanging around her all the time, he’d be lucky to steal a kiss, let alone anything else.
 

He’d made a pot of coffee that, when it was done, tasted like dishwater mixed with barnyard mud. Grimacing, he dumped the pot. He didn’t know why Matt’s coffee always tasted better.

He yawned. Another hour’s sleep wouldn’t have hurt any, either. He shot a glance toward Kate.

Color bloomed in her cheeks; her eyes danced with laughter. The lack of sleep didn’t seem to bother her. She looked fresh as a spring flower.
 

He felt and probably looked like something the dog had found under the porch, which didn’t help his disposition. He rubbed his unshaven cheek. He’d been shaving since he was fourteen. In two days he could grow a beard.

Matt was the only one of the boys who had to shave, and even then he could skip a week and nobody would ever notice.

No time for it now. He looked out the window and saw that the sky was once again intent on burying them in a blanket of snow. If he didn’t get a move on, his mules would end up being cougar bait or so lost he’d never find them. “I’ve got to go find the mules,” he said.

Nobody noticed.

Tanner put on his hat and coat and went out the door.

Fluffy sat, tail wagging, on the porch.
 

“Are you being ignored, too?”

The ungainly hound leaped up and licked Tanner’s face, an act that both surprised and pleased him.
 

“Guess we’d better stick together.” He bent and gave the dog’s shaggy head a pat. “Hey, old son, how are you at finding mules?”
 

The dog let out a happy bark and trotted toward the woods.

* * *

Although Tanner knew he probably would have found the mules eventually, even though they were well hidden in a rocky draw, he had to give credit for locating them so soon to the dog, who not only discovered them but herded the temperamental critters back to the ranch.
 

It was shortly after noon when Tanner had the corral fence repaired and headed for the house for a bite to eat. Fluffy trotted alongside him. Although they had disliked each other at first sight, Tanner thought he and the dog had become pretty good friends, if one could say that of an animal.

At least the dog seemed to respect him, which was more than he could say of his brothers.
 

“Guess we’d better wipe our feet, or Matt will have us scrubbing the floors.”

The dog looked at him and bared his teeth.

“My sentiments exactly.” Tanner picked up an old sack and called the dog to him, then he brushed the snow from Fluffy’s feet and fur.

When they entered the house, the dog trotted off to join John and Luke, who were playing checkers in front of the fireplace.

Tanner headed for the kitchen to see if Matt had made more coffee. When he reached the door he stopped dead in his tracks. “Get your hands off her!”

Matt, who had his arms wrapped around Kate, looked at him in amazement.

She looked at him like he’d lost his mind.

Mark glanced at the pair of them, then at Tanner. He began to laugh.

“Tanner, what is the matter with you?” Matt asked, but he kept his arms right where they were—around Kate.

“What do you think is the matter with me? I’ve been out working in the cold all morning, then I come in and find you hugging Kate.”

“Hugging Kate?” Mark doubled over with merriment and ran out of the room. “Hey, Luke. You’ve got to hear this.”
 

Matt and Kate stared at each other, then she shook her head. “The cold must have addled his brains. Now where were we?”

“Take your hands off her. I’m not kidding,” Tanner said, his tone deadly.
 

Matt removed his flour-covered arms from around Kate and dropped them to his sides. “She’s right, you are addled.”

“Tanner, stop it this instant,” Kate ordered. “Matt was showing me how to improve my pie dough. I’ve had a problem with it being tough. He was showing me the right way to roll it out.” Her violet eyes flashing, she raised a flour-covered finger and pointed to the door. “Now, if you would leave us be, we can get on with the lesson.”

“Lesson? You weren’t hugging her?”

“When you’re hugging somebody, do you do it covered with flour?” she asked. “Really, Tanner.”

Tanner looked at the flour-covered table, and the flour-covered Kate, and the half-rolled-out pie dough—and felt like a fool. “Well, if that was what you were doing, get on with it. I only came in for a cup of coffee anyhow.”

“It’s on the stove,” Matt said coolly.

Tanner filled a mug with the potent brew, then left the room. He considered going to the living room until he figured out he was the subject of all the laughter. Having no place else to go, he put on his coat again and went to the barn.

He stayed there until Luke called him to supper. Still feeling a bit embarrassed, he took his place at the table and led the family in the blessing. He was relieved when no one poked fun at him for his earlier behavior.

The meal—venison steak, gravy, potatoes, dried green beans and fluffy biscuits—was done to perfection. He knew that for Kate, Matt had taken special pains with the preparation. For dessert they had pie, dried apple—or, in his case, humble. It, too, was out of the ordinary.

After eating his fill he decided Matt could give Kate all the cooking lessons he liked. He just wished his brother didn’t have to get so cozy to do it.

John cleared the table while Mark and Luke started the dishes. Matt escorted Kate into the front room.
 

“Why don’t you play something for us, Tanner?” Matt got the old fiddle down from the wall.
 

“All right, what would you like to hear?”

“Something we can dance to, right, Kate?”

“Sounds good to me,” she answered, getting to her feet.
 

It didn’t sound good to Tanner. “How about an Irish jig?” “I was hoping for a waltz,” Matt said.

I’ll bet you were.
It seemed to him like Matt was looking for another excuse to get his arms around Kate. Well, he wasn’t about to give him the chance. He brought the fiddle to his chin and swung into a lively tune that had his fingers dancing over the strings.

Matt and Kate whirled around the room, his fair blond looks a perfect foil for her dusky beauty. The other boys joined the fun, each taking turns with Kate. With their youthful exuberance, the jig turned into a wild gallop that made Tanner glance at the rafters, wondering if they could stand up under such a din.

Barking, Fluffy raced around the room, anxious to join in the fun.

Finally when his fingers couldn’t keep up the effort, Tanner reluctantly put his bow aside.

Kate’s hair hung free to her waist, a riot of silky black curls. Her violet eyes sparkled, and her cheeks were pink with exertion. Her dishevelment gave her a wild, exotic look that heated his blood. He could almost imagine her dancing around a gypsy campfire.
 

The boys, gasping for breath, had collapsed in front of the fire. Tanner hoped that they would be so exhausted they would go to bed early. But Kate was the first one to bid them good night.

Disappointed, he watched her walk toward the bedroom. He’d hoped they might have some time alone, but with the boys around.... He shook his head.
 

John, rubbing his eyes, went next. The older boys, finding Tanner’s company sadly lacking, followed close behind.

Tanner waited until the house grew quiet, until he was certain his brothers would be asleep, then he tiptoed down the hall and opened the bedroom door.
 

Kate lay sleeping, her palm tucked under her cheek, her long hair spilling over the pillow. She looked small, almost lost in the big bed.

Wonder if she’d mind some company?
He’d taken only one step when, beside her, Fluffy raised his head.

“Good boy.” He inched closer.

The dog let out a low growl.

“All right, don’t get your fur in an uproar,” he whispered. Apparently their new friendship didn’t matter. The dog was Kate’s guardian, and he wasn’t about to let Tanner anywhere near. His show of teeth stated that in no uncertain terms.
 

Not anxious to have the whole household find him sneaking into Kate’s room, he retreated and shut the door.

* * *

“Did you hear that?” Mark whispered.

“I heard him,” Matt said. “For a minute I thought one of us was going to have to go out and see what he was up to.”

“He sure wouldn’t like that,” Luke said.

“We could pretend to get a drink of water or something,” Mark suggested.
 

“There’s a limit as to how much water we can drink. He’d catch on after a while,” Luke declared.

“He’s jealous. I thought he was going to punch me today,” Matt said.

“And he’s sneaky.”

“He wants to pick the peaches, but he isn’t ready to deal with the pits,” Mark said.

“Peaches? Pits? What’s that got to do with anything?” Luke asked, scratching his head.

“Tanner wants to bed Kate, but he’s not willing to marry her,” Matt explained.

“That ain’t right,” Luke muttered.

“Dang right it’s not, and we’re not going to let it happen.”

“How are we going to stop it?”

They huddled together, talking softly, making one plan only to discard it in favor of another. Finally, unable to stay awake any longer, Mark and Luke went back to their own room.

Why couldn’t I be older?
Matt thought. He’d give anything just to be able to hold her hand. He’d be willing to die for a kiss. She considered him—all of them, except Tanner—younger brothers. But Matt didn’t feel brotherly. He had hugged her; ‘course she didn’t know what he was doing. He’d hug her again if he got the chance.