His Errant Educator (Willamette Wives Book 3) (6 page)

"Good grief, is all this really necessary?" Richard shook his head as he and his partners watched their wives from the relatively clear area in front of the fireplace. The three women were scuttling between the bedroom and the open living area. The table, already piled high with items, was still having more added to its surface. "They do know we are only going for two nights, right?"

James chuckled as he shifted his infant daughter on his shoulder, patting her back gently. "The days when you could simply stuff a clean shirt and some hardtack in your saddlebag and declare yourself ready to ride are long gone, I'm afraid. We've been up since well before dawn and still aren't ready. Wives seem to require a great deal more baggage to travel, I suppose."

Charity, who had deposited a stack of folded diapers on the table, plucked one from the top and waved it in the air. "For men who constantly feel the need to remind their wives that their actions have consequences, perhaps you should have considered them yourselves. The children you sired require a lot of necessities."

"Did I hear our precious babies being referred to as baggage?" Anna asked, stepping from the bedroom. Lifting her son high in the air, she twirled around in a circle. Johnny chortled his glee, his chubby legs kicking and his arms flailing at the impromptu dance. "These children are little angels."

"Careful," Richard warned. "Your angel might decide to decorate your dress with his breakfast."

Anna instantly stilled but then smiled. "Hmm, you're right. Here."

Before he could blink, Richard found Johnny in his arms as his wife disappeared yet again into the bedroom. "Where are you going?"

"To get another dress, of course," Anna replied.

Wyatt's chuckle had Richard turning to him. "Ha, ha. Just keep laughing and the fates might decide to give you several of these little angels all at once. Didn't Agatha state that twins run in her family?"

Agatha, with Hope's hand in hers, entered the room in time to hear the question. Wyatt stepped forward and took her into his arms after lifting Hope off her feet, tossing the child into the air and catching her as she squealed with laughter.

"We won't care if God blesses us with a whole passel at a time. Children keep a man young." He tousled Hope's blonde curls before setting her down and continuing. "At least a certain young lady will be too busy to meddle if she has a dozen or so little ones running about, right, honey?"

If Richard and James wondered why Agatha blushed, they didn't ask. However, the women were far more curious when they heard their friend give a softly uttered, "I wasn't meddling!"

"We'll have a Tick-Tock meeting during the ride to town," Anna declared, opening a carpetbag to place another dress inside.

It was another ten minutes before the women declared that the packing was done, and the men began to take the items outside to put in the wagon. Donning cloaks and mittens, Charity said, "And, my friend, you will be the subject of our meeting."

Agatha looked up from where she was trying to guide Hope's little thumbs into her mittens. "It's nothing, really. Wyatt just has a way with words."

"Yes, and that way has you glowing," Anna said.

"Oh, are you keeping secrets?" Charity asked, her eyes dropping to Agatha's waist.

"Of course not," Agatha assured her, pulling her hood up over her head. "I keep praying, but we've yet to be blessed."

"Not from lack of trying?" Charity asked, evidently not the least bit concerned about the rather intimate question.

Before Agatha could respond, the men were back. "Ladies, if we don't head out, we might as well just stay home."

"We're coming," Charity assured them, leading the women outside.

Richard had placed hay bales at the end of the wagon to form a wind barrier, and piled quilts into the center for the women and children to sit on. After helping Anna into the wagon, he was lifting Johnny up for her to take when she said, "Oh, we forgot something."

"Annabelle, there can't possibly be anything you forgot. I swear you've packed up the entire cabin."

"I did not," she countered, accepting her son. "Didn't you say you wanted to take some of that elk to Robert?"

"Oh, right. Thank you for reminding me, though I really don't know where we are going to put it. I'll be right back."

Before he could disappear into the root cellar, Anna called out again. "Oh, and I think it would be nice to take Harriett several jars of preserves. They are on the back shelf."

Richard turned to her. "I think I can find them. As I recall, they are right next to that big basket of ginger roots… right?" The sight of his wife's cheeks turning scarlet and her instant squirming on the wagon bed told him that she understood without further clarification on how he felt about being manipulated even slightly.

"Um, yes, sir."

After returning, he tucked the items into the last inch of space. "Anything else you think you have forgotten?" he asked, chuckling when he saw her eyes dart to his hands as if to reassure herself they weren't holding any knobby root.

"No, but thank you; everything I need is right here."

He gave her a kiss then climbed up to sit beside James. Wyatt had just mounted his horse Chester when they were joined by two more men.

"I was worried you'd already left," Matthew said, pulling up beside the wagon. "It took that one forever to get himself all gussied up." He inclined his head towards the other rider, who just rolled his eyes.

"Now, Matt, don't tease Roger," Anna said. "He just wants to look his best for Teresa. One day, some young woman will have you doing the same."

"Don't hold your breath," Matthew said, shaking his head.

Lifting the reins, Richard snapped them to start the team on their journey. It had been several weeks since any of them had left the ranch, the snows making it difficult to travel. It would still be a slower trip than normal, as the horses would have to pick their way through some drifts, but he would admit that he was just as anxious as the women to visit with old friends.

***

"All right, the meeting has begun," Anna said. "What was that all about?"

"It's nothing really," Agatha said, but sighed when both of her friends rolled their eyes. "Fine, remember when the men came back from the elk hunt?" At their nods, she continued. "Well, Wyatt knew something was going on that had nothing to do with our being concerned about going to the dance. Of course, it probably didn't help that I kept pestering him to think of some reason to send Roger into town."

"Probably not," Charity agreed. "Our husbands aren't exactly open to what they deem unnecessary suggestions on what they should be doing."

"Forget that, what happened?" Anna asked. "Don't tell us you confessed that we'd been gossiping about Teresa!"

"I told you, it's not gossip if it's the truth, Anna. And no, I didn't say we'd been discussing how to help her. I just told him I was very concerned, and wanted Roger to be happy but was worried he'd wait too long…"

"And I'm guessing he didn't agree?" Charity said.

"Not exactly. He decided that instead of repeating his warning to let Roger run his own life, he'd, well, remind me of who ran ours."

"Ah, so I'm guessing that while Teresa is still waiting to discover that our men don't hesitate to tan our backsides, yours got toasted?" Anna asked with a giggle.

"Exactly," Agatha confessed.

"So that's what he meant by meddling?" Charity said with a smile.

"Yes. I'm telling you, if all this is for naught, don't be surprised if it turns out to be me who takes Teresa in hand!"

The two other women broke out into laughter, and after a moment, Agatha joined them. It was another few moments before they got themselves under control. "Well, I suppose it could have been worse. I'm just grateful that Roger stopped by the next day to tell me that he'd talked to Teresa, and that she was very excited about going to the dance with him."

"Did he say anything about what happened before? I mean, is Mr. Goldman still upset?" Anna asked.

"No, he didn't mention anything like that but then, I'm pretty sure he wouldn't discuss any discipline… well, at least not with me. And I can't see how Mr. Goldman could still be upset if he's allowing his daughter to go to the dance with Roger."

"I guess not," Charity said. "But I can't help but wonder if Teresa feels like she is always going to get away with being naughty."

"That's what we are going to try to help her with. Remember, we are all going to make sure to talk to Teresa and let her know that we are here if she needs us."

"I'll talk to her but I'm still not sure she's going to take any advice," Anna said. "Roger and your ma make it sound as if Teresa isn't too keen on being advised about anything."

Agatha nodded and then reached over and took Anna's hand. "Remember when Wyatt and I first married? I was so sure that I wasn't good enough, that no one could really like me?"

"We love you," Charity insisted, placing her hand over their joined ones.

"I know that now," Agatha said. "But it took a long time, and hiding out in Anna's barn, for things to come to a head. I discovered not only did my husband truly love me, but that I had friends who would stand by me and support me. The moment you offered me that pillow, I knew I had friends who were just waiting for me to accept them."

"I remember that. Miss Mabel, a total stranger, became a friend that day she gave me her pillow."

"Exactly! And that friendship is the gift I want us to offer Teresa."

"You're right, and I promise I'll do my best," Anna said.

"I will too," Charity vowed. "Everyone deserves a friend and a man who loves them."

The three women looked at Roger, who was obviously having to restrain himself from allowing his horse free rein as he rode beside the slower moving wagon. "Poor man, he is smitten for sure," Anna said. "I just hope Teresa knows what a good man he is."

"I think deep down she does," Agatha said.

"Of course, if Roger has been listening to our husbands giving him advice, I have little doubt that the next time she pulls some foolishness, she might be wishing for a pillow of her own," Charity said, reaching over to pick up the stuffed rag doll that Hope had dropped and handing it back to her daughter.

"Do you ever wonder if all husbands spank their wives?" Agatha asked.

Anna giggled. "I used to wonder the same thing until we traveled the trail. Goodness, I honestly don't believe there was a single night when the sound of some lesson being given to a naughty wife wasn't audible."

"Yes, and if memory serves me correctly, a great deal of that sound came from the direction of your wagon," Charity quipped, smiling at her friend.

"True," Anna said, dramatically reaching back to rub her backside. "Honestly though, our men take their job of protecting us quite seriously and I, for one, have to admit that it makes me feel very secure and protected."

"I think we all agree," Charity said with a nod. "Do you think one of us should perhaps just flat out tell Teresa how things are run out at the Rose Ranch?"

Anna looked towards the front bench seat. "I don't think the men would think that necessary."

"No, I'm sure they'd consider it meddling," Agatha reluctantly agreed. "I've already gotten one paddling for meddling, and don't look forward to another if we get caught. We need to be very careful and just hope that Roger steps up if it becomes necessary."

"Now, as for Matthew…" Anna began as they all looked towards the man riding beside Roger. "For some reason, I don't see him ever hesitating to turn a girl upside down and give her a dose whenever he thought she deserved one."

"I don't know," Agatha said. "He sure seems set against settling down."

"Oh, just like I said, one day he is gonna look up and see some girl and forget all about being alone. He just hasn't found her yet, but when he does, he will fall hard," Anna predicted, giving the man another long look. "With the way the town keeps growing, I don't think it will take too long, either."

"Well, like James said, until the passages in the mountains clear, I suppose Matthew will have to be content with bachelorhood," Charity said.

The women continued to chat about the things most important to them, their husbands, their children, and the fact that they all felt blessed to have met on their arduous journey along the Oregon Trail.

***

"Come in, come in," Harriett said, reaching for Johnny. "Poor little man, he must be frozen."

"I doubt it," Richard said, helping Anna from the wagon. "I think his ma dressed him in everything the little guy owns."

"I did not," Anna said, giving her husband's arm a light slap once she was safely on her feet. "I learned that lesson from our trip into town before the snows came."

"Never you mind, come in. I've got hot coffee on the stove and cinnamon rolls in the oven. It's not much but it will tide us over until lunch and then, of course, we're going to the restaurant for supper."

"Well, something sure smells delicious," Anna said, sniffing the air as she began the process of unwinding the blanket from around her son.