Rebellious Bride (34 page)

Cedric was staring at her again. He had been doing that all too frequently lately, and it made Lil uncomfortable. He pretended to be concerned about her, but it wasn’t concern that registered in his dark, squinty eyes. It was a strange look he had and hard to interpret. Was it lustful? Greedy?

Whatever that look signified, it gave her the shivers. Lil had limited her activities voluntarily since her false labor scare two weeks ago. She still kept busy, but with less industrious tasks. Just now, with her sturdy basket hanging from her arm and her snipping shears in hand, she was cutting herbs to prepare for drying, certainly not a difficult or strenuous chore, but definitely an enjoyable one. Or it would have been if Cedric hadn’t been lurking in the bushes a few feet away watching her like a cat about to pounce on a helpless mouse.

She studied him from the corner of her eye. He even licked his large lips like a cat anticipating a meal. Another feline trait he possessed was his penchant for rubbing up against women. He had rubbed his arm against hers on several occasions when he happened to find her alone. Holly had mentioned that Cedric had done that to her, too. One time he had even attempted to stroke Lillian’s belly. She had put a quick stop to that. He was a strange man, and Lil didn’t like him.

Cedric continued to observe her. He didn’t move as she drew closer to where he stood, partially obscured by the row of herbs.

Lil put her shears in the basket before setting it on the ground. She yawned and stretched her hands upward, and then in a flash dropped them to her sides and marched directly over to where Cedric stood.

Cedric was so shocked by her unexpected approach that he stumbled backward, lost his balance, and fell on his backside. A solid thump sounded his landing.

Lil stood over him, her arms still straight at her sides, but her hands now coiled into tight fists. “Why are you spying on me?” she snapped.

The strength of her voice and her hovering posture intimidated the crumpled man on the ground. “I-I-I—”

“Stop cowering and speak up,” she ordered.

With his feet dug in the dirt and his hands flat on the ground, he pushed back away from her. “I-I was concerned for your health. You shouldn’t be out here alone.”

“I’m never alone,” Lil said and waved her hand in front of her. “My husband has guards posted all around the house. He’s extremely protective of me.”

“This is good to hear.” He stood up and brushed the dirt from his garments.

“You still haven’t explained why you were lurking around me.” Lil’s straightforward manner unnerved him to the point of causing him to tremble, a sure indication he was up to something.

“You-your health,” he faltered.

“My health is just fine, thank you.”

Cedric regained some of his composure. “I’m truly sorry if I offended you. My actions were due only to concern.”

“Your concern is appreciated but unnecessary.”

Cedric nodded slowly. “As you wish. It is just that your condition brings back memories of my sister and her tragic fate. I don’t wish to see Rolfe suffer again as he once did.”

“I assure you, Cedric, I will not suffer your sister’s unfortunate fate.”

“My sister thought the same as you.” He paused. “But when her time came, she screamed for God’s forgiveness, begged to be absolved of her sins so she could enter heaven. Her cries were horribly pitiful. I prayed for her salvation.”

He stared Lil straight in the eyes. “I will pray for you.”

“There is no need for you to pray for Lillian, Cedric,” Rolfe said, his voice clearly filled with anger.

Lil spun around as fast as her bulk would allow. “Rolfe,’’ she said. Her smile was one of relief upon seeing Rolfe’s rugged cowboy attire. He was all male, strong and strapping. And she required that uncultivated image of him now, since Cedric’s words had unnerved her more than she intended to admit to anyone.

When Rolfe held his hand out to her, she walked over to him and grasped it. He then tucked her safely into the crook of his arm and drew her close against him. “Lil doesn’t require your prayers. Her knowledge of medicine extends far beyond the ordinary. She is prepared for all emergencies and will manage any difficulties, should they arise, with the skills she has worked so hard to master.”

He sounds proud of me!
The crazy thought raced through her head and sent gooseflesh running up her arms.

“I’m sure she will,” Cedric said. “I merely wished to offer what little support I could.”

Rolfe gave Lil a slight squeeze. “Evan is waiting to have tea with us. Run along and join him while I retrieve your basket.”

Lil almost protested, but the menacing look in his eyes warned her he wasn’t finished with Cedric and that he would appreciate her absence. She smiled and attempted to stand on tiptoe to kiss his cheek but found herself wobbling like an unbalanced top. Rolfe steadied her and leaned down far enough for his cheek to reach her.

“Don’t be long,” she whispered and took her leave.

Cedric made haste to follow, but a rough jerk to his arm as he moved past Rolfe almost landed him on his backside once again.

“Don’t speak to Lil about Bea’s death again,” Rolfe cautioned harshly.

Cedric trembled in fright, his upper lip presenting a fine sheen of perspiration. “I mean no harm.”

Rolfe released him with a disgusted shove. “No harm? You tell Lillian of Bea’s tortured screams, of her plea for forgiveness, and you say you mean no harm?”

“I offered Lillian my prayers as I did for Bea. I helped cleanse Bea’s soul—”

“Bea’s soul was pure,” Rolfe said, his blue eyes fixed in a furious glare on Cedric. “She knew nothing of sin. Fear forced her to rant. So keep your good intentions to yourself and do not speak to Lillian of such dreadful memories.”

Cedric nodded furiously, perspiration having spread over his entire face. He turned to leave but was stopped short by Rolfe’s inquiry.

“Are you still interested in purchasing land here?”

He turned only partially as if prepared to run. “Yes, land. Of course, that was my reason for coming here, to purchase land, and naturally to visit with you.”

Rolfe studied him in silent thought for a moment before he asked, “Why didn’t you purchase land on your last visit?”

Cedric threw his shaking hands up in a shrug. “I was too busy hunting and having a fine time with the women.”

“What women?”

Cedric smiled in remembrance. “The women at Susie’s saloon.”

“Anyone in particular?”

“Bi— Gi— Gigi, that was her name.”

“Are you certain?”

“I could never forget her,” Cedric insisted.

“I don’t recall a Gigi at Susie’s place.”

Cedric started walking toward the house, though he still faced Rolfe. “You know whores; they never stay long in one place. Now I’d best join Evan and Lillian for tea before they finish all of Jonathan’s delicious finger sandwiches.”

He sprinted off, resembling a horse at full gallop.

Rolfe reached down for Lillian’s basket. He had almost forgotten that he always felt uneasy around Cedric. Something about the man disturbed him. He shook the bothersome thought from his mind. Cedric would be leaving in a couple of weeks, and this uneasiness would pass. Until then he would tolerate the man.

~~~

“I tell you, Holly, something is going on” Lil said, softly fingering the white knitted baby blanket in her lap.

Holly took the blanket from her, folded it with care, and placed it in the wooden cradle on the floor by her feet.

“Nonsense. Your imagination is working overtime due to your pregnancy.”

Lil rocked back gently in the rocking chair. “You’ve been talking with Doc.”

“He’s answered a few questions here and there for me.”

Holly gave the cradle a push. “It still works. Your father made such a fuss when he dug it out of the attic. He spent an hour cleaning and polishing it and telling me all about when you were a baby. He’s excited about becoming a grandfather.’’

“Is that the reason he’s spent so much time with me lately?” Lil asked, resting her arms across her protruding stomach and gently rocking back and forth.

Holly shrugged. “He’s your father, and he worries about you.”

“Everyone seems to worry about me lately. Every time I turn around, I have company. I can’t go anywhere without a shadow trailing behind me. Either Rolfe, my father, Evan, Jonathan, or even you are always close on my heels.” Lil stopped rocking and leaned forward, her hand on her knee. “Now, what’s going on?”

Holly busily fussed with the pile of baby clothes that the two women had stitched in preparation for the baby’s birth. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“I have this feeling you do. I have a strange feeling everybody knows except me.”

“You’re suspicious over nothing,” Holly chided and folded a tiny blue dressing gown.

“Nothing?” Lil calmly sat back in the rocker. “Then explain to me why you decided that we had to arrange these baby clothes today.”

“I had some free time,” Holly replied.

“Strange, I remember you telling me you were busy all week and that my father intended to go through a box of my old baby things to see if there was anything I could use and that after he did, we would tend to these clothes.”

“My priorities changed.”

Lil stopped rocking again. ‘‘My husband had no hand in changing those priorities?”

Holly reared back slightly and furrowed her brow. “Listen to yourself, Lil. You sound foolish.”

Lil sighed and dropped her head back against the rocker, her motion sending it into a soft swing. “I suppose I do sound foolish. But I can’t help feeling that something is amiss. When Rolfe informed me of his plans to take Evan and Cedric and join my father in town for a few hours to discuss a land purchase, I told him I intended to have the day to myself and do exactly as I wished.”

“And I spoiled your plans,” Holly said regretfully.

Lil shook her head. “No, of course you didn’t. I enjoy the time we spend together. It just seemed so odd that you show up just as he was leaving. I could have sworn I saw a satisfied smile on his face as he rode off.”

Holly laughed. “Cedric had probably told him one of those horrible jokes of his.”

“Cedric’s a strange man,” Lil said, recalling his words to her in the garden two weeks ago. His offer to pray for her still haunted her. It was as though he assumed her death was inevitable with the baby’s delivery.

Billy entered the parlor with his usual whirlwind flourish. His glance shot directly to the plate of oatmeal cookies on the table and stayed glued to them as he spoke. “Mr. Ferguson sent me with a message for you, Holly.”

“Help yourself to the cookies, Billy,” Lil said and held the plate up to him.

“Thanks,” he said and grabbed three. “Mr. Ferguson says the material you ordered came in and you’d best get over to the dry goods store and decide which bolts you want, ‘cause he wants to get them out on the counters right away.”

Holly cast an uncertain glance at Lil.

“Go,” Lil ordered and shooed her out with her hands. “We’ll finish this another time.”

“You better go,” Billy urged. “Mary Beth Hodges was telling old Mr. Ferguson how she just loved the material and would buy some if you didn’t show up.”

“Darn that man,” Holly said and stood up, looking at Lil nervously. She turned to Billy, and her face brightened. “Why don’t you stay here and keep Lil company while I go see about this? I won’t be long. You could have more cookies.”

“Sure,” Billy agreed. He plopped himself down on the sofa and reached for another cookie.

“I’ll be back soon,” Holly said and hurried off.

Lil reached for the pitcher of lemonade on the serving tray and poured Billy a tall glass.

Billy jumped off the sofa, still munching on a cookie, and walked over to the piecrust-edged table near the window. “You like this raccoon?” he asked, picking up the small wooden animal Rolfe had bought from him.

Lil smiled. “I sure do. It’s my most favorite gift that Rolfe has ever given me.” She fondly recalled how he had left it on her pillow one night. When she discovered it, she had squealed in delight, kissed him soundly, and then they had made love. Yes, the little fellow did release fond memories. “You are very talented, Billy,” she said, having been impressed when Rolfe had told her that Billy had whittled the figurine.

Billy attempted to shrug the sincere compliment off, but the blush that tinged his cheeks spoke of his pleasure. He sat back down on the sofa and reached for another cookie.

“That Jonathan fella sure makes great cookies. Even my ma thinks he cooks good. She’s exchanged a couple of recipes with him. Is he anywhere around?”

Lil relaxed back in the rocker. She was about to discover exactly what was going on around here. Holly’s obvious reluctance to leave her alone had alerted her to the fact that the woman was part of whatever conspiracy was afoot.

‘‘Jonathan had some errands to run in town.”

“Rolfe and his brother and that Cedric guy are in town too, aren’t they?”

Lil nodded. “That they are. Why do you ask?”

“I’m just surprised you’re here all by yourself. But then, you have the cowhands around you.”

“Billy,” Lil said sweetly, “have another cookie. I want to ask you some questions.”

~~~

Rolfe relaxed for the first time in weeks. He sat back in his chair at Susie’s saloon, a glass of good whiskey in his hand, and listened to Evan excitedly tell Sam about his plans for the land he had just purchased. Cedric had left them only a few minutes ago, late for an appointment he had made to look at some property several miles east of Little. Holly was keeping a watchful eye on Lil, and all was right with the world.

“Cedric doesn’t have much money,” Evan said. “I don’t know why he is bothering to look at property.”

“Maybe he’s waiting for a rich relative to die,” Sam said jokingly.

Evan’s eyes widened. “Of course! How stupid of me.”

Rolfe and Sam looked at Evan oddly.

Evan leaned forward in his seat, braced his arms on the table in front of him, and spoke in a conspiratorial tone. “Cedric, through unsound investments and gambling, is near penniless. The only Morrehaven estate that continues to make money is the one Rolfe acquired when he married Beatrice. When the marriage contract was arranged, Cedric’s father insisted that a clause be inserted to stipulate that if Rolfe and Beatrice both died, the land would revert to the Morrehaven family.”