Place to Belong, a (17 page)

Cassie shuddered. “Is it often like this?”

“Usually a couple times a year. Long as we can keep the livestock fed and watered, we hunker down and ride it out.” Ransom sounded so casual, so confident when it sounded like the world was going to bury them. He half smiled at Gretchen. “Remember I am the checker champion from last year.”

Mavis sighed. “So the Beckwiths will not be able to join us for dinner, but I sure hope Micah and Runs Like a Deer can make it down here. It would be a shame for them to miss out.”

“I hope they're smart 'nough not to chance it.” Arnett shook his head. “Was bad enough from the barn. Could hardly see the house from the bunkhouse.”

Cassie went to stand at the kitchen window. Snow whipped by on the wind, not dancing and swirling but being chased. “I wonder if it was this bad in October. When we were in the wagon, we could feel every gust of wind. Felt like it might pick up the wagon any moment and hurl us across the land. I'd never felt anything like that in my life.”

Mavis stood up. “Well, this isn't the first Christmas we've spent snowed in, and I'm sure it won't be the last. The ham is in, and the scalloped potatoes will go in later, as will the squash. We will take our julekake and coffee into the other room and light the candles on the tree and open our presents. The water pail is right by the tree. Lucas, I'd like you to read the Christmas story this year. And no matter how that wind howls, it cannot get in.”

The back door blew open and Micah grabbed for it, ushering Runs Like a Deer ahead of him. Cold and snow swirled in around them. “Merry Christmas, everyone!”

“'Bout scared me out of a year's growth,” Arnett muttered. “Merry Christmas, you two. I sure am glad yer safe.”

“Followed the tracks down. The fence line is still above snow too.” Runs Like a Deer slung the deerskin pack off her shoulder and set it on the floor while Micah hung up their coats.

“Have you had breakfast?” Mavis asked.

“Yes, thank you. Should we put these things under the tree?”

“Of course, and if anyone else hasn't done that, now is a good time. Ransom, bring the dogs in. They won't mind missing the storm either.” Once they were all seated in the big room, Ransom and Lucas lit the candles on the tree and sat down. Lucas picked up the Bible and began.

“And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee. . . .”

Cassie put her arm around Gretchen and hugged her close. She had a family, a real family. The love she felt for them made her eyes wet as the ancient words poured into her heart.

“And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.”

Gretchen laid her head on Cassie's shoulder. Runs Like a Deer and Micah were sitting on the floor in front of the fireplace. Othello laid his chin on her knee. She stroked his head with her free hand. Instead of watching Lucas read, she closed her eyes and let his voice roll over her.

“And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them. . . .”

What must that have been like?
Fear not
. How could one help but be afraid? She opened her eyes again to watch the candles on the tree. Such beauty! Surely God was in this place.

When Lucas closed the Bible and laid it back on the table, Mavis breathed a contented sigh. “That was beautiful. Thank you. Can we keep the candles lit for a while more?”

Ransom, sitting close to the tree, nodded. “I think so. Let me just pinch out a couple.” He sat back down. “Since Gretchen is the youngest, she has to give out the presents, right?”

“I thought it was the oldest.” She grinned at Arnett.

“You wouldn't make this old man get down on the floor, now would you?”

“What old man?”

Arnett cackled and shook his head. “Mavis, you done raised this girl right. But I'd rather you did the handing out, young lady. Your eyes are better than mine for reading the names.”

Gretchen left her place at Cassie's side and knelt at the tree. She read the name on the first present, and they passed it around the room to Mavis. She continued reading until everyone had a package and then announced, “Now open them.”

“All together?” Cassie asked, eyeing her calico-wrapped gift from Mavis.

“All together.”

By the time the only gifts left under the tree were for guests who would not be coming, at least not today, Cassie felt overwhelmed. She had a rabbit-skin vest from Runs Like a Deer. A card of six buttons from Lucas. Arnett gave her a lovely cameo, saying he thought she could wear that on her wedding day. His Hazel had worn it when they got married.

At that, she fought back the tears. That would have been a good time to wear her mother's locket, the one lost in the fire. “Thank you.”

Arnett and Ransom left the room and returned with a small whatnot table. “Sorry this isn't quite finished, but it is the first piece of our new furniture line.” They set it in front of Cassie.

Cassie rubbed her hand over the top of the table. The top
and front were of a reddish wood, and the rest were of a gray-brown wood with a lovely grain. It was not yet varnished, but the splendid craftsmanship glowed. “It is beautiful. Thank you.”

They left the room again and returned with another one to set in front of Lucas.

“We thought your new home could use a matched pair.”

“Thank you. How you managed to pull this off without me knowing is hard to believe.” He looked at both pieces and nodded. “You ought to be able to sell these real easy, especially if our guests this summer see them in our houses.”

“We'll get 'em finished up for you, maybe even by next Saturday. Too cold to varnish out in the barn, but it's nice and warm in the kitchen.”

“I like that carving on the front of the drawer. It will make a good signature, I'd think.”

Cassie's gifts were a hit. Mavis put her apron on and went to the tree to help pinch out the candles. “This has been the best Christmas ever.”

“Mor, you always say that.” Gretchen opened her reticule one more time. “I love this. Thank you, Cassie.” Gretchen was already wearing the rabbit-skin vest that Runs Like a Deer had made for her. She stroked the vest. “This is the best ever. Every kid in school is going to envy me.” She smiled at her friend. “And those belts for the men. They are wonderful.”

“Good use for elk hide. Lucas did the design.”

Mavis held up her foot to show off her moccasins. “I have always wanted a pair of these for in the house. And they are so warm.”

“I'd like a pair of those too.” Cassie admired the moccasins. “Runs Like a Deer, you could be making those to sell next summer. And the belts, the mittens, the vests.” She eyed the deerskin vest Micah was wearing. “That is beautiful. They used to sell leather things like this at our show. Maybe we can do that too. I'll help you if you show me how.”

“Me too.” Gretchen smoothed the fur on her vest. “Do you have enough rabbit skins?”

“We have many yet.” Runs Like a Deer smiled impishly. “What do you think we have for supper?”

The rest of the day passed with Ransom still the checkers king, but Gretchen was close behind.

Arnett came in third. “You just wait,” he said, his eyes narrowing. “I'll practice more, and I'll be king next time.”

When Cassie went to bed, she listened for the storm outside and instead heard a gentle breeze. The window rattled a little, but the wind had died down considerably at some time during the evening. What did it look like out there? She really should bundle up and go look, but she was too weary—happily weary. What a fine day!

When Ransom had come in from the evening milking, he'd said the storm was easing. The near silence now seemed full and waiting. Somewhere out there, very faintly, she heard a coyote yip-yip and howl. Another joined it. What a chorus for the evening of Christmas, a perfect Christmas.

Cassie was starting the stove the next morning when Ransom came in the back door. “I thought Lucas was down at the barn milking, but he's not. Have you seen him?”

She shook her head. “Not since last night. Maybe he stopped by the bunkhouse to talk with Arnett.”

“No, I checked the bunkhouse.” Ransom stomped past her to the back of the house, returned immediately. “Get Mor up. Something is wrong.”

From the doorway, Mavis said, “I'm right here. What is it?”

“I'm going back down to the barn and check around again.”

Mavis asked again, “What is it?”

Gretchen entered the kitchen yawning. “What's wrong?”

Mavis frowned at Cassie but Ransom was already back out the door. “Maybe nothing. I'll be right back,” he tossed over his shoulder as he left.

Cassie explained, “Lucas seems to have disappeared.”

Mavis wagged her head. “If Ransom doesn't know where everybody is every minute, he gets worried.”

But Cassie felt her stomach roiling. She filled the coffeepot with water and set it on the stove. Where could Lucas be? Had something happened to him? Mavis had commented that Lucas had been acting strange lately.

Perhaps the problem was simply that he had never talked about getting married before, and he was having a little trouble dealing with it. She remembered a young man in the show, a good fellow named Jack something some years ago, who wanted to marry a girl he met in one of the towns. But he couldn't say how he felt or what he wanted, and apparently the girl was just as tongue-tied. He even tried to hire Cassie to speak for him.

As it ended up, Cassie's father said, “Well then, you can talk to me.” He set Jack and his lady down in front of him. He asked Jack a question, and Jack answered him while the girl listened. Then her father asked the girl a question, and the girl answered him as Jack listened. It was the perfect solution. How Cassie needed her father now, with his wisdom and simple ways of achieving the unachievable.

Ransom came storming back into the house. “The milk pail is hanging on the wall and his horse is gone. There are fresh tracks out the first gate, but by the time they reach the road, they've been wiped out by the wind.” He stared at his mother, an angry and perplexed look wrinkling his face. “Where could he be?”

D
id he say anything to anyone?” Ransom looked over his shoulder from pacing the kitchen. He stopped in front of Cassie.

She shook her head. “Had he any meat to deliver?”

“Not that I know of,” Mavis said. “I'm going to go through his room and see what else is missing.” She stopped at the door to Lucas's room. Clothes were hanging on the pegs along the wall, his button-making supplies on a table. Was anything gone? Not that she could tell. His bed was made.

She returned to the kitchen. “Perhaps he went hunting?” Mavis suggested. “Or up to the cabin?”

“No hunting without a rifle.” Ransom pointed to the rack on the wall, where both rifles and the shotgun filled their regular places.

Cassie returned to her room to brush her hair; she hadn't done that yet. She rushed back to the kitchen moments later, a folded paper in her hand.

“Mavis?” she said, her voice croaking. Trembling, she handed the note to Mavis, who read it aloud slowly.

“I'm sorry, Cassie. I couldn't face you. You don't have to learn to love me.

L”

Her voice rang strangely in the silence of that room. She stared at Cassie. “He left because he didn't want to get married?”

Cassie wagged her head as she plopped into a chair. “All he had to do was say so. He didn't have to run away.” Her face was filled with disbelief.

Ransom muttered something, but no one asked him to repeat it. It was probably what they were all thinking anyway.

Arnett propped his elbows on the table. “I expected better of that young man.”

“Didn't we all.” Mavis brought the coffeepot to the table and started filling cups. “I'll start breakfast.”

Cassie stood. “I'll help.”

“I'll go milk and finish the chores.” Ransom stomped out the door.

“Me too. Get done quicker that way.” Arnett pushed himself to his feet. “Sad day.”

Mavis heaved a sigh. “Nothing is making any sense. Why would he just leave like this?”

“Because he didn't want to face Cassie. That's what he said.” Gretchen clanged the stove lids. “He was so all fired up to marry Cassie. What changed his mind?”

Mavis stared out the kitchen window. Sun threw flashing splinters on the snow, so bright it hurt your eyes if you didn't look away. The storm of the day before had left over a foot of new snow and moved on, leaving a snow-washed sky of the deepest blue. This would have been a perfect day for a skiing or sledding party on the hill. A day to play and enjoy the spirit of Christmas. What was going through Lucas's mind, wherever he was?

They'd just finished breakfast when the barking dogs announced visitors. A sleigh stopped at the hitching rail.

Mavis met the Hudsons at the door. “Come in, come in. I'll put the coffeepot on again.”

Mr. and Mrs. Hudson were not smiling.

“Is Lucas here?” Mr. Hudson asked. Actually, his tone was more of a demand.

“No. He left sometime during the night, and we have no idea where he is. Why?”

“Betsy is gone.”

“Betsy is gone?” Mavis stepped back. “Come in where it is warm. What is happening?”

She took their coats and ushered them into the kitchen. “Cassie, refill the coffeepot, please. Gretchen, slice the julekake.”

Mr. Hudson held out a note. “This is what we found on the kitchen table this morning.”

Mavis took it and read it aloud for the rest of her family.

“Dear Ma and Pa,

“Don't worry about me. We will be fine. I will write when I can.

“Love always,
your daughter”

“She took her horse, and two sets of tracks rode out of the yard. One rode in.”

“Please be seated. Anywhere you like.
We.
Who does she mean by
we
?” Mavis studied both of her friends.

No one sat.

Mr. Hudson had in no way lost his scowl. “Well, if Lucas is gone too, I am assuming he is the other part of
we
.”

Mavis stared at the table “But Lucas was going to marry Cassie. I thought Betsy hated him now.”

Did Mrs. Hudson soften a little? It seemed so. “It's Sarah who hated him, but she was only sticking up for her sister. Harry rode out to look for them, but he lost their tracks by the time he reached the main road.”

“Have a seat. Please.”

Ransom pulled out chairs for both of them. “So you think Lucas and Betsy ran off.”

Mrs. Hudson settled into a chair, looking weary. Very weary.

Mr. Hudson sat down cautiously, as if not trusting anything Engstrom. “If he acts dishonorably with my daughter, I swear I'll shoot him myself.”

“Now, Bert. You know better than that.” Mavis set out plates and cups. “They were raised right, both of them. I saw them talking at the party the other night, but to my knowledge, they've not spoken since. Did Betsy seem any different? I mean yesterday, Christmas?”

Mrs. Hudson pulled a hankie from her reticule and blew her nose. “Not that I noticed, but she's been mighty quiet for months now, so that wasn't new. She didn't say anything to indicate she was planning on leaving. Nary a word.”

“Did she say anything to her sister?”

The two exchanged glances, as if it had not occurred to them. They shook their heads.

Mrs. Hudson tucked her handkerchief back into her reticule. “I didn't search her room. Just saw that the bed was made and her coat and some of her things were gone. But I didn't really look through the rest of her things. This just doesn't make sense.” Her bottom lip quivered and she sniffed again. “What can we do?”

“I'll ride into town to see if anyone there knows anything.” Ransom reached for his coat.

“That's where Harry is. He said he'd come find us here. Sarah stayed at home in case Betsy comes back. She is so upset.”

Gretchen silently set out the julekake and poured the coffee.

Mrs. Hudson looked crushed. “If this had happened earlier . . . but Betsy has never been one to sneak around. When she saw Lucas escorting Miss Lockwood, she was heartbroken. Naturally. She had always dreamed of marrying Lucas. She said he was the only man she's ever cared for. So then we sent her to my sister's in the hopes that would help her get over this.”

Mavis pressed her lips together. “So what can we do? Besides pray, that is?”

Mr. Hudson snarled, “You better pray I don't kill him.”

“Only if I don't get to him first.” Ransom propped himself against the sink and crossed his arms. His face had gone granite.

Mavis shook her head. “I think we are overreacting. Maybe there is a simple explanation for this.”
Please, Lord, let it be so.
If only she had gone over to see what they were talking about at the party.
Why would you do that, Mavis? You're not an eavesdropper. But why should Lucas get all the blame?
In her mind, it took two. Surely someone would have heard something if he had carried her off against her will. That was not even possible. She held up her hands. “All right, let's stop right now. There is nothing to be gained by threatening and making ourselves angrier.” She stopped for a moment. “What if they took the train?”

“To where? Hill City or Rapid City?”

The dogs started barking again, and Gretchen craned her neck looking out the window. “I think it is Harry.” She ran to the front room and flung the door open.

Mavis heard Harry's rough baritone. “Hi, Gretchen.”

And her urgent “Come in. They're in there.” She brought Harry into the kitchen.

He came in stomping across the floor, leaving clumps of snow
from his boots. “No one has seen them in Argus. They did not catch the train and Sarah found this in her and Betsy's bedroom.” He handed a note to his mother. “I think they went to Hill City, on horseback.”

Mrs. Hudson unfolded the paper with trembling fingers and read:

“Don't worry about us, sis. Lucas and I will be married in Hill City. I don't know where we are going from there, but I will write when I can. I'm sorry it had to be this way.

“I love you all.
Betsy”

The paper rattled as she folded it again.

Mavis realized her mouth was hanging open and shut it. She sighed loudly and shook her head, covertly watching Cassie to see how she was doing. “Well, at least we know something.”

“Guess we better let Reverend Brandenburg know there won't be a wedding here.” Cassie raised her chin and straightened. “Anyone want more coffee?”

No one did. Eventually, the Hudsons broke the painful silence by rising and taking their leave. Harry followed them out. Mavis stood on the porch to see them off and then walked back to the warmth of the kitchen.

Cassie poured more coffee. Although no one said anything about wanting coffee, they all sat around the table sipping from their mugs, each lost in his or her own thoughts.

After her mind went round and round a few times, Mavis sighed and pulled herself back up onto her feet. “I don't know about the rest of you, but I am going skiing. If we saddle one of the horses to drag the toboggan back up the hill, we could all go play on the hill. That is what I had in mind to do today,
and I think it's still a good idea. It will help us take our minds off our sorrow.”

“Sorrow, my foot. I'd like to take him out to the barn and beat the stuffing out of him.” Ransom's granite had not softened.

“And what good would that do besides give you a bloody hand?”

“Beat some sense into him? He obviously could use some.”

“You think he will come back—ever?” Gretchen's voice wobbled like her chin. Tears trembled on her lashes. “He didn't have to leave like this.”

Cassie reached over and wrapped an arm around the girl. “He'll come back. Once we know where they are, we will write to them and tell them we forgive them and we want them to come home. All Lucas had to do was tell me he changed his mind, and they could have gotten married just fine.”

Ransom rumbled, “But he was chicken and ran off instead. Leave it to Lucas to make things hard for himself. And for us.”

Mavis asked, “You aren't mad at him, Cassie?”

“I think my feelings are more hurt that he couldn't be honest and just talk with me about it. Remember, I was the one who was hesitating.” She looked up at Mavis. “I prayed last night that if our marriage wasn't in God's plans for us, that He would close the door. Just like you told me to.” She gave a little half laugh. “I guess that door just slammed.”

Mavis half smiled as well. “Yes, I do remember, and I suppose if this is what it took, then . . . then . . .” She used the corner of her apron to wipe her eyes. “Then all is well here. God has made His will known, and Lucas and Betsy will have to learn their own lessons—the hard way.” She gathered the plates and cups from the table. “Let's go enjoy this glorious day and be grateful God is indeed in control.” She looked to Ransom. “All right?”

“If you say so.” But his look said things were not all right at all, and she knew her eldest son well enough to know that he
would not forgive his brother so easily. Especially since he had finally come to believe Lucas was sincere in his pursuit of Cassie.

The thought of Lucas being gone from the home and ranch made her feel like crying. Of course, she had known this could happen, but other than threatening to homestead in Montana, Lucas had never talked of living anywhere else. And having him and Cassie on the neighboring ranch had sounded so perfect to her. Why did not God agree to that perfection?

Now nothing would be the same. She forced herself to put a smile on her face and some spring into her step. She'd go skiing whether the others wanted to or not.

“What is a toboggan?” Cassie asked.

“A child who has never seen a toboggan! It's like a long sled with a curled-up front. We can ride three or four at a time, and life is easy if we have a horse to pull it back up the hill. New snow like this will make sliding down the hill really fun. You will come, won't you?”

“Of course.” She looked to Ransom. “All of us?”

Arnett waved a hand. “You kids go enjoy yourselves. I'll keep the home fires burning.”

Ransom poked Arnett's arm. “Come on, Arnett. You can ride the horse if you're afraid to ride the toboggan.”

“Who said I'm afraid? I just figured you wouldn't want an old man to slow you down.”

“Sure wish you would quit calling yourself an old man,” Ransom said. “Why, look at all the life and ideas you are bringing to the furniture business.”

Arnett swallowed and nodded. “Thanks, Ransom. Your opinion means a lot to me. You've been like the son I dreamed of. My boy just never did take to ranching. Lit out the first chance he got.” He lifted a shoulder. “Oh well. Spilled milk and all that. Let's go show Cassie how that toboggan works.” And he lurched clumsily to his feet like an old man.