Hope Reborn (19 page)

Oh, for the day. She stopped herself.

Would that night ever come? He certainly seemed as interested in her as she was in him, but could she get past his religious superstitions?

While the young girl worked on trimming the dress, May pondered the seamstress. “How old are you, Laura?”

“Twenty-one. I’s fifteen when I came up here to Red River County. Lace was a brand newborn. Matter of fact, birthed her on the way.”

“During travel? In a wagon? I’m sorry, don’t mean to be nosey. She’s beautiful, her hair so raven black.”

“Well, in a hotel room, and Captain Baylor insisted we stay an extra day. And thank you, she’s always been the prettiest little thing. Her pa was a Comanche. Levi and Wallace picked me up same time as Sassy, I mean Rose.”

Though May would love to know more, he girl fell silent, perhaps reliving past days. Whatever, she shut down her curiosity and studied the room, tickled to finally have the chance to see his inner sanctum. He must have given away all of Sue’s things.

The room reflected its single resident—all Henry, wholly masculine. Had it always looked such? Would that be another sore point between them?

She definitely needed some of her things in the room she lived in. What would it be like to live with him? Share his room? Oh, how’d she love to find out, but then it would be too late if she hated it.

How ridiculous to think such a thing. No way could she ever hate anything about the man. Just couldn’t happen.

Henry Buckmeyer had to be the most wonderful hairy brute she’d ever come across. If only her mother could have met him.

The bath and visit with all the big girls served as a pleasant diversion from the intensity of the past three days of being creative. She loved how they all made her feel a part of the family, just like she belonged.

And that everyone wanted to talk about her new chapter, made her want to get back to Henry’s library and pen the second.

Relishing the luxury of immersing herself in the warm water, her only regret was that a swim hadn’t been arranged, but the little girls had taken too much time reading her new story, and she had to answer all their questions.

Little Bonnie kept asking her about her mother, and what she was like as though May had known her.

As the wonderful time neared its end, Rose climbed out. Her chemise clung to her expanding belly.

A longing rushed over and through May that refused to be repressed. It started in the lowest part of her torso and made its way to her heart, unfettered. She was so jealous.

Would she ever know the joy? If only….

The next morning, she made it a point to be almost fifteen minutes early for church. Rising at the crack of dawn was a small enough price to pay to please Henry.

He waited at the foot of the grand staircase, and she adored his expression watching her descend. Being himself, he made her feel so attractive, so desired.

Taking his arm at the bottom, she leaned in close. “I don’t think I’ve ever been this early for anything in my life. I did it for you.”

Henry escorted her to the surrey. “The dress is very becoming. I love that shade on you. Blue’s your color, then again, so is lavender.”

She beamed then patted his hand. “I owe you.”

“Don’t be silly, you don’t owe me anything.”

“Yes, I do. That peck on the cheek wasn’t enough. This dress is worth much more, and I love the pink one, too.”

He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed her fingers, pressing hard. “That’s going to have to be it for now. I don’t know if I could stand more.”

She nodded, the same was true for her, then leaned into him and fell silent. He looked skyward.

Oh, Lord, am I being a fool? She seems so right, but I know she’s so wrong. Save her Father, have someone say something that will convince her of how much she needs you.

The first cluster of houses and barns came into view, and she sat up and fussed with her hair, trying to make herself even more beautiful. He liked it that she didn’t pinch her cheeks.

He also liked—no loved—having her on his arm as he strolled toward the tabernacle. Heads turned, and the obvious envy grew so deep, it should have muddied his boots.

The service fell flat. Everyone seemed uninterested in praising the Lord. Even the preacher’s words lacked their usual conviction or even any passion.

Henry had been hoping for some fire and divine lightning and May walking the aisle. Once the closing prayer was prayed, he squired her to the food-laden tables.

“First Sunday is always dinner on the grounds, one of my favorite traditions.”

She stopped and stared at him. “But I didn’t bring anything. Why didn’t you tell me?”

“You didn’t have to, you’re a guest. Mammy and the girls brought enough to feed a small army. You’re well represented, don’t worry.”

“Well, I can cook. Maybe not as well as Mammy, but –”

“I’d love to try anything you’d like to fix, but truly, there’s always too much.” He leaned in close and lowered his voice. “I know the dishes to avoid, so keep an eye on me in the serving line. We can move along together on opposite sides of the tables.”

Maybe that’s what it had been. All the ladies worrying so that they would get on his don’t-eat list, they failed to give the Lord his due. Halfway through his inspection, a loud angry voice stopped him short.

“Henry Buckmeyer!”

He patted May’s hand then released her arm.

Frank Cooper stood in the road, just off the church’s property. A Kentucky long rifle, already half-cocked, rested in the crook of his left arm, and a brown jug hung from his hand.

Two pistols rode his belt, stuffed in, and an Arkansas toothpick hung in its scabbard behind the pistol on his right. The man swayed a bit.

He searched the crowd. “Get your worthless hide out here, Buckmeyer.”

Henry put his hand on May’s back and eased her to the side, then walked straight toward the man through the gathering crowd. Levi and Wallace closed fast to his left, but he didn’t see any of his babies. “What’s troubling you this fine Sunday, Sergeant?”

“What do you think, Colonel? I guess you know. You are! I got home three days ago, and my Lizbeth finally fessed up last night. Told me all about what’s been going on between the two of you.”

Henry held his hands up, palms out. “Now wait, Cooper, I don’t know what your wife’s been telling you, but the only thing Lizbeth and I have been doing together is attending the same church, and she’s not been too regular at that of late.”

Frank dropped the jug and swung the rifle around pointing it at Henry. “Say what you want, but I know the truth. Best not be lying, Buckmeyer, not when you’re about to meet your Maker.” He thumbed the hammer to full cock.

Henry sprang forward. The flash stung his cheeks. The mini ball sliced into his left arm. Frank swung the rifle back just as Henry reached him.

He threw his left arm up and grabbed the younger man then pushed him to the ground, falling on top of him. Henry gathered himself and drove his right fist into the man’s nose.

He raised his left, but it protested, so he pulled his right back and hit Frank again. Forced his left to deliver the next blow, then readied the right again, but a vice clamped around his arm and stopped his swing.

“Uncle, stop. You don’t want to kill him.” 

He let Levi pull him to his feet. Wallace yanked Frank upright. His swollen nose ran blood, but his eyes still spewed hate.

Perhaps Levi shouldn’t have stopped him so soon. Before Henry got the dust knocked off, May and all his little ladies took to fussing over him. Wouldn’t do any good to protest, so he let them.

Right away, a change came over May.

While she acted pleasant enough, her smiles came fewer and didn’t hold their usual sparkle. Halfway home, she bumped his good arm with her shoulder.

“So. You and legally-single Lizbeth have been seeing each other? That where you been going every morning?”

May couldn’t make the images of Henry and Lizbeth entwined in a passionate embrace go away. She didn’t want to believe it of him, but after all, he was a man, a hairy beast like all the rest.

Besides, what business was it of hers? He was a widower, and if the young woman was legally single…did she have the right to say anything?

Probably not.

“No, ma’am. I have never so much as encouraged that woman in any way.” Henry leaned away and looked insulted. “She’s had eyes for me since she was fourteen years old, but I have never—and would never—act on it.”

“Oh.”

He flicked the reins then chuckled. “Sue was jealous of her, too.”

“I don’t blame her—Sue, not that Lizbeth person. Your wife had every reason to be jealous the way that young woman handles herself.”

“We weren’t married then. It was on our first day on the trace.”

“I wanted to think you’d be innocent, but to hear it out of your own mouth.” She faced front and watched the landscape on her side. “Now what I’m really upset about is you going and almost getting your fool head blown off. That soaked chowderhead could’ve killed you.”

“Well, I didn’t see I had many options.”

She unwound her arm from his and put both her fists on her hips, turning slightly toward him. “Tell me what would have been wrong with taking off in the other direction? The Major and Wallace were both there. Either one of them could’ve handled things. The man wasn’t gunning for them. But could you let them take care of the guy? No. You push me aside and walk right toward trouble.”

“Mercy.”

“He calls you out, eyes spitting angry fire, obviously drunk—out of his mind—and what do you do? Walk straight toward him, right into a bullet.”

“It isn’t in me to run away from trouble, May. And I’m not afraid to die. I’m convinced that I will live however long the Lord wants me to. Frank Cooper—or anyone else—won’t change that. Can’t.”

She wanted to slap him.

There he went again with those ridiculous religious superstitions. How could he think some high-powered, all-knowing being lived in the sky and cared one whit for him?

Almost got him killed.

If there was a God, she’d be mad at Him. So because his Lord had Henry’s days numbered, he could face any danger? No matter the consequences to all the people who loved him.

How could she live with that? She pondered her own question a minute, but knew the answer from the start. She couldn’t.

“How’s your arm?”

“Hurts some. I’ll be sore awhile.”

“How come the Major had to stop you?”

Henry shrugged. “Guess because he knows me. Knows what I’m capable of when I get protective. And I was. In the condition that man was in, he could’ve easily missed me and shot one of my babies.”

She sighed and leaned in against him. He was right of course. He wouldn’t be who he was if he’d run. Yet, she hated the thought of him ever being in harm’s way, something happening to him.

After another wonderful hot toddy, and a very pleasant evening on the front porch, she again found herself crawling into Mary Rachel’s bed alone. He wouldn’t even let her change his bandage.

Not that she made a good nurse.

Truth be known, the sight of blood—even the thought of blood—made her nauseous. It always had, since…since… She lay in the silence and forced her thoughts back to Henry.

Bet he let Sue doctor him.

Finally, she found comfort in thinking on chapter two when she would introduce Henry. She pictured him alone at a log cabin washing bois d’arc seeds and smoking animal furs.

Imagine, he wouldn’t sell those furs because Sue had slept on them. What a romantic, what an astonishing contradiction.

Instead of Sue riding in, May rode Larry Dawson’s big gelding, sitting with her back erect, but sideways in the saddle, her skirt draping the horse’s hindquarters.

She’d say, ‘I have a proposition for you, Mister Buckmeyer.’ Then she’d skip the part about needing his help and ask him straight out, ‘What do you say to you and me getting married?’

With a smile on her lips, she cuddled her pillow and closed her eyes with him taking hold of the horse’s headstall, grinning that crooked grin of his, and looking up at her.

Hoping with all her might that her dream might come true, she found sleep just as she got to the church on her wedding day.

Meadow larks and rattling chains yanked her to consciousness. She cradled the extra pillow like a baby. A sob and high pitched wail drew her out of bed and to the balcony.

Henry stood next to a wagon with that legally single Lizzie’s hand on his shoulder. She threw on her housecoat and ran downstairs barefooted.

At the last riser, she stopped and composed herself, ran her fingers through the mass of curls, trying to bring a semblance of order, then with her chin held high, strolled outside as though nothing was amiss.

The near side of the girl’s swollen, bruised face caused her to immediately retract her cat claws. The poor thing.

“Oh, my! Lizzie, dear girl. Henry, get her inside so we can tend her.”

The battered woman shook her head. “No. Thank you, ma’am, but I gotta get back. I cain’t stay.”

May insisted, and the younger woman allowed her to usher her to the kitchen. Once Mammy applied one of her poultices, and sweet coffee and two cookies sat in front of Lizzie, she looked across May to Henry.

“Pa would roll over in his grave if I’s to take a mortgage on that land. I cain’t take a loan, I gotta sell it and get far away fast as I can. ’Fore Frank gets out. You’re famous for your dickerin’, Henry.”

She glanced at May and smiled. “I bet he’s never been on the wrong end of a deal.”

Henry cleared his throat. “Wouldn’t that be wonderful if it was true?”

“Oh, everybody knows, that’s for sure.” She gave him a knowing nod. “I’m thinking a thousand dollars is a right fair price. It’s a good block of black land. You know that. If I didn’t have to git.…”

“That’s a plenty fair enough price, and I wouldn’t think of trying to beat you up over it. Looks like you’ve had enough of that to last a couple of lifetimes. No, I’ll pay your price, Lizbeth. Did you bring the deed?”

“Yes, sir, I sure did. Got it right here.” She dug into her apron pocket and pulled out a folded paper then handed it over.

He opened it and briefly studied it. “You want bank notes or coin?”

The girl hung her head. “If it’s all the same, I’ll take gold coin. The sheriff promised me even if Frank’s brother comes and posts bail, he’d slow walk it to give me time to get out of the valley. I’m done with that no good man.”

“You ladies will excuse me.” Henry left the room.

The girl turned toward May. “I cain’t tell you how bad I feel, ma’am, that my lying almost got Henry kilt.

“That sorry soaker beat on me till I do swear, I’d of told him whatever he wanted to hear that might get him to leave, awful as that is.

“Soon as them words come out of my mouth, I felt terrible.”

“I simply cannot imagine, you dear woman.”

“See, Frank knew from the beginning how I loved Henry.” She grinned shyly. “Suppose everyone in the county knows I been loving that man since I’s only fourteen.

“When Frank asked me to marry him, he claimed it didn’t make no never mind to him. Guess he lied.”

May got up and refilled her coffee cup. She held the pot up, but Lizzie shook her head. Not knowing what to say, she just let the girl keep talking.

The poor thing looked up at the ceiling, still shaking her head and revealed reddened streaks around her throat. Looked like that awful beast had strangled her.

“Still, I wouldn’t never of married Frank had I knowed Miss Sue was going to kick the bucket.” She faced May. “In all these years of loving Henry Buckmeyer, I only kissed him once.

“That was back when I’s still fourteen on a Lord’s Day. We’s at the Sunday gathering, but he didn’t kiss me back.” She shook her head. “I only wished he’d look at me the way he looks at you. I’d never leave if he did.”

Though May loved the girl saying such, noticing the way Henry looked at her was special, she hated that poor Lizzie had suffered so for an unrealized love—what’s more sorrowful?

But then to endure terrible physical abuse stacked on top of that. Sorry husband of hers needed to be tarred and feathered then run out of town like that mean old preacher Henry mentioned who’d attacked Levi when he was only a boy.

“Where will you go, Lizbeth? Do you have family?”

“A brother. I figured Frank will think I headed that way, he lives up in Pennsylvania, but I’m going to fool him. I’m traveling west to California. Thought I might find me some of that gold.

“Heard it’s laying around on the ground. And I ain’t never seen an ocean neither. Who knows, might find me my own Henry Buckmeyer out there, too. A good man who’ll love me.”

May held her peace though she didn’t think there could be another Henry.

Though he knew full well he was overpaying, Henry would be glad to have the Aikin block. Once he weighed out the gold and had her sign the deed, he made out a quitclaim and asked May and Jean Paul to witness it.

He got the girl on her way to safety, and hopefully, out of his life. Slipping back inside, he poured himself a hot cup of coffee and sat next to the novelist.

“So is this what you look like first thing in the morning?”

She immediately went to messing with her curly hair. Her ringlets fascinated him. “Yes, I guess so. When I saw who’d come calling, I thought you might need some help.”

“I did, and thank you. Want to go see my new block of black dirt?”

“If you can give me a few minutes, I’d love to, especially if it’s on the way to your old cabin—the one you and your mom lived in. You said it was still standing, right? I’d like to see it, you know, for the book.”

“Yes, no, and yes.” He loved her quizzical nature and that grin.

“Care to explain yourself, sir?”

“Yes, I can give you some time. No, my old cabin is not on the way. And yes, it is still standing, or was last time I went by.”

While she hurried away to try and make herself even more beautiful—he didn’t think that was possible—he decided to go north and east instead, save the Aikin place for another day.

If memory served, nothing had been planted in the year Frank had been gone. Might cut some hay and get the farmland ready for cotton in the spring. Maybe even log the creeks some.

Whatever, he’d talk to Jean Paul about it. See what he thought.

Quicker than he ever expected, she waltzed into the barn ready to go. He finished harnessing The Black, stowed the picnic dinner Mammy had thrown together for his excursion, gave New Blue the stay sign and off he went with the beautiful lady.

Short of the gate to his old homeplace, he stopped the rig and faced May. “Right over there.” He pointed to a pile of rocks. “Mother and I gathered those out of the creek.

“Took us better part of a morning; we both were so excited to have so much land. One of my biggest regrets—now it’s doubled.”

“What Henry? You’re talking in riddles. What is it you mean by that?”