How had she managed to pass from miserable solitude to being surrounded by family in such a short time? Lucy feared that it would take only the slightest pinch to wake her from this surreal dream of paradise and then she would find herself alone again, back in the schoolhouse after the children had been taken. Or worse, back in the cabin where she was both alone and confused.
After being passed around for introductions, Lucy was rather surprised when Matthew asked about her belongings, intent on carrying them inside.
“Why, in all the excitement, I forgot that they’re still in that old cabin,” she replied, a look of horror on her face. “I was only meant to come into town on an errand, not to leave.”
“Oh dear, how terrible!” Mrs. Miller gushed. “Where is this place? We can send some of the men to fetch your things.”
Lucy shook her head. “I’m afraid I don’t know. I was too confused by the land to sort it out.”
“Well, then we’ll send someone into town to purchase anything you need,” Matthew said, but Lucy was already opening her mouth to protest.
“No, I beg you, don’t go to any trouble for me. I had so very little with me to begin with!”
“It’s no matter,” Mrs. Miller said firmly. “I’m sure we have plenty of things to spare until you can decide what must be replaced. Susanna and Constance look to be about your size. Girls, would you happen to have anything Miss Jones might borrow until we can provide for her?”
The maids rushed forward to take Lucy’s hands, then led her into the house to their room. Lucy looked over her shoulder at Matthew, but his reassuring smile set her heart at ease.
After Lucy had disappeared inside, Genevieve turned to her son and asked, “Now, what in the world is going on? Where has that poor girl been all this time?”
“Ma, I don’t think you’d believe me if I told you,” Matthew replied, linking his arm through his mother’s to lead her up the steps before gesturing for Gertie to go ahead of them. “I’ll tell you everything, but if there’s any of that whiskey left, a little dose might do all of us some good while I explain.”
* * *
That evening, as the entire ranch gathered under the setting sun for supper, Lucy emerged from the house looking rather self-conscious. While Susanna and Constance had assured her they took no offense to her borrowing any of their things, Lucy still seemed to feel out of place. She hung back on the porch for a few moments, quite obviously trying to gather her scattered thoughts.
“Miss Jones? Are you all right?” Matthew asked, bounding up to her when he noticed her standing alone.
“I’m… I’m fine,” she answered with a pleasant smile.
“But you seem out of sorts. Is it these clothes? Because I assure you, no one will think a thing of it. And you’ll have a fine new dress tomorrow! You won’t have to wear this another day!”
“Oh no, that’s not it at all!” she insisted, finally understanding his meaning. “It’s just that I’ve never… I’ve actually never had anything so fine as this.”
Matthew looked at her appearance, seeing only the same simple blouse and long cotton skirt that the house staff always wore. Lucy’s brooch was pinned at the neck, of course, but otherwise, she looked no different than Susanna or Constance.
“I don’t think I know what you’re getting at,” he admitted sheepishly.
“What if I spoil it? I might tear it or cause it to have a stain, and I’d never be able to repay their kindness,” she began, but Matthew only sighed with relief.
He led her to the edge of the porch and sat down, then gestured for her to join him. Lucy looked around before brushing the dust from the porch and smoothing the skirts carefully, then she too sat.
“Miss Jones, you mustn’t fret about anything,” Matthew said in earnest. “I only know of what you wrote in your letters, but I have the sense that things have been hard for you.”
“Perhaps a little,” she admitted in a quiet voice before changing her mind and adding, “but no. I’ve been truly blessed to have all that I did have, especially when there are others who’ve gone without! I never needed more, but rather I’m very grateful!”
Matthew fought the urge to laugh, and instead smiled sadly. “I’m sure you thanked the Lord every night just for having the roof over your head and the food on your plate. But Miss Jones, having enough to scrape by isn’t all that you’re welcome to. If a body works hard and is good to others, they’re deserving of every blessing they can have in life! Having to hope for enough, well… all that’s behind you now.”
He took her hand gently, not wishing to be too forward, and added, “It would make me very happy if you’d let me provide for you. Susanna and Constance are overjoyed at you being here, and they’re happy to share what they have with you. If something were to happen to their things, they know my mother would see to it immediately that they had new things to replace it.”
Lucy’s shoulders sagged slightly with relief. Matthew noticed, and a cloud crossed his face before he said in a solemn voice, “We’re just all so glad you’re finally here. And I hope you’ll want to stay… forever.”
Chapter Eighteen
Lucy was already awake and dressed the next morning when there was a soft knock at her door. She looked at it in alarm, not knowing who could be there at such an early hour.
“Who is it?” she asked politely, holding her breath for the reply.
“It’s me, Constance,” the girl answered. “I’ve brought you some things you might need.”
Lucy threw open the door and smiled, feeling indebted to the maid who’d been so generous with her. “Please, come right in!”
“Good morning to you, miss,” Constance said with the slightest curtsey and a beaming smile. “Mrs. Miller said you’d had to leave all of your things behind, so Susanna and I put together a few things until you can head into town again.”
“Oh, but you’ve done so much already!” Lucy cried. “I cannot possibly take anything else that belongs to you!”
“Well then, just think of it as borrowing for as long as you need it,” Constance said, laughing sweetly. “But you’ll need a brush and pins for your hair, and here,” she said, unwrapping a small cloth, “Susanna had these combs that she doesn’t wear often. With your hair, you could fix it up so pretty! And I brought you this sewing kit in case you need to mend anything, and here’s a cloth to wash and a fresh cake of soap.”
Lucy smelled the pure white soap and her eyes lit up. “I’m half ashamed to admit it, but all we ever had at the schoolhouse was some lye soap. We had to boil it out in the yard to keep the smell from getting in the rooms! But Mr. Popwell, that was the name of the shopkeeper in our little town, he had a few small parcels of ladies’ soap and it was a special treat to let the children feel how smooth they were. They smelled exactly like this!”
“Yes, we boil up some of that old harsh stuff for the men to wash off the grime, but this is lavender soap, made from the flowers in Mrs. Miller’s herb garden! See? It smells heavenly! Mrs. Miller insists that we all have the things any lady would enjoy!”
“She does seem awfully generous and very kind,” Lucy said quietly, looking to the door to make sure no one could hear her.
“Oh, but she is. Everyone is!” Constance said, a genuine smile on her face. “I’ve only come to work here a few months back, but my sister came out first and I followed when I was old enough. Susanna and I knew Miss Gertie when she worked for a railroad builder and his wife, and she got us our positions out here with the Millers when she moved on.”
“That’s wonderful,” Lucy answered. “It must have been a real help to already know someone out here when you arrived.”
“It was, but I promise you, Miss Jones, this will feel like home in no time,” Constance assured her. “But let me get busy now, you come on down to breakfast whenever you’re ready!”
Lucy smiled at the girl’s back, realizing Constance was hardly a girl anymore. She was nearly Lucy’s age, and although at times Lucy fe
lt as though she might have been past the appropriate age to think of beaus and marriage, she wondered how Constance would ever manage to meet someone she cared deeply for.
“How strange it would be to marry Mr. Miller,” she said when she was sure Constance had gone downstairs, “and find myself the lady of a household with servants nearly my own age!”
Fortunately, that would hopefully be a long way off. Matthew’s mother seemed to be the picture of health and vitality, and Lucy was comforted by the thought that she might enjoy something close to a real mother of her own for a good many years.
What am I doing? Am I already thinking of marrying Mr. Miller and making my life out here, when only yesterday I wanted to run far away? Lucy shook off the thought, trying to force her heart to accept what should have been all along.
“No,” she actually said aloud, looking around the lovely room and trying not to be taken in by its luxury and charm. “I was burned once by a man who took me for a fool, and I will not be so easily misled next time!”
In truth, the previous evening had been one of the most wonderful of Lucy’s life. She’d been told that this was common for the ranch, that everyone often gathered together for supper at the end of a long day. Lucy had been in a state of euphoria as ranch hands, household staff, and landowners alike shared a meal, sitting side-by-side and passing their plates as though they were one big family.
Family, she’d thought at the time. What I wouldn’t give to have a family.
Now, in the stark light of day and with Constance’s assurances still sounding in her ears, she was surer than ever that this is where she belonged. She could only hope that Matthew—the real Matthew, that is—proved to be more of a gentleman than his pretender had been.
Lucy came downstairs and found that Mrs. Miller and Matthew were already at the table, ready to start their day. Matthew jumped up from his chair when Lucy entered, then hurried around the table to pull out a chair for her. She didn’t miss the look in his mother’s eye, one of absolute pride.
“Good morning,” she said quietly, lest she disturb anyone else.
“Good morning, dear,” Mrs. Miller said. “I’m sorry we didn’t wait for you, but I’d hoped you’d get plenty of rest. Who knows how you’ve slept these past few days!”
“You are too kind, ma’am, but I couldn’t think of you waiting on your breakfast for my lazy bones to come downstairs!” she answered. “And yes, I slept so well I almost feared I’d been asleep a whole day!”
Mrs. Miller laughed and patted her hand before Gertie brought her a plate piled high with every possible kind of breakfast fare.
“I didn’t know what you’d want to eat this mornin’, Miss Jones, so I just made a little of everything,” Gertie explained when Lucy’s eyes went wide at the overloaded dish. “You be sure and tell me which ones are your favorites now, so I can be sure to make plenty from now on!”
“I certainly will, thank you!” Lucy answered, taking in the sight of the food. Plates stacked with towers of pancakes lined the sideboard and a carving board mounded over with three different kinds of meat took up the space by the washtub. Four pots of coffee sat wrapped in dishtowels to keep warm, waiting to be poured. “But I’m used to nothing more than a bowl of oats with hot milk. Maybe a sprinkle of sugar when we could get it. This looks simply wonderful!”
Gertie squared her shoulders and straightened up at the compliment. “Well, we’ll put some meat on your thin bones in no time, miss! When you first pulled up, I thought Mr. Matthew had done found a little bird on his way home from town!”
Lucy wanted to be stunned by the description of her, but she knew the old cook was only teasing. And truth be told, she was aware that her frame didn’t have much in the way of a figure, not after the years of providing first for growing children rather than herself.
“Speaking of tiny little birds,” Genevieve said, beaming, “I hope you don’t mind that I took a guess at what size you might be. While I know the girls have something you can wear, I thought you might be more at home in a few things of your own.”
Mrs. Miller stood up from the table and hurried from the room, leaving Lucy to stare after her, puzzled. When she returned, she carried with her two long skirts of beautiful earthen shades. She held them out proudly for Lucy to inspect.
“Mrs. Miller! I mean, Mother,” Lucy said in an awed whisper. “However did you manage to return to town to make these purchases?”
“Oh, my dear! I didn’t. I’m afraid these are only homespun. I made them last night,” the woman answered.
Lucy was aghast. “After I went to bed? You… you stayed up all night? It must have taken you hours!” She hurried to her feet and threw her arms around Mrs. Miller’s neck. “No one has ever done so much for me!”
Genevieve held Lucy closely, then said, “My girl, don’t be silly. I was pleased to do it! But come, eat your breakfast and we’ll see how they fit. You’ll notice I didn’t finish the hem in case I misjudged the length. These will help hold you over until we can have some new things sent from town.”
Lucy looked to Matthew, remembering that he was with them. The look on his face was almost unreadable, but Lucy could tell he was happy. She smiled gratefully, unaware of how to show her joy at being cared for so well, before becoming a little embarrassed at the heat of his gaze.
“Miss Jones, I have some chores to attend to this morning,” he finally said, gesturing over his shoulder towards the barn behind him, “but if you’d like, I’d be happy to take you on a grand tour of the ranch later today. Perhaps after the sun isn’t so hot?”
“That would be lovely,” she answered shyly, but before she could form the thought to worry about going out with him alone, he spoke again.
“Perhaps Mother could join us?” he asked hopefully, but Genevieve shook her head.
“You know the wagon path jostles me too much for these old bones. Maybe the girls would like to go along? I’m sure Gertie and I can make do without them today,” she said, winking at Lucy. “Besides, they’ll have a wonderful time playing the chaperone and I’d just be an old bore!”
“Never, Mother. You’re all the company a gentleman needs!” Matthew said, teasing her a little. “But if you can spare them, I’m sure they’d be good company for Miss Jones.”
Their plans already in place, Matthew excused himself to his work and Lucy set about eating the most wonderful breakfast she’d ever had. Her mind was spinning with the contrast between both her upbringing and her first wretched experience in Tuckerrise, and this new turn of events. She could hardly conceive of how only the day before she was staring at the rough-hewn walls of a nearly empty cabin, and now she was dining in opulence like a princess.
* * *
“Good morning, Uncle John! When’d you get back in town?” Matthew called out as he crossed the yard to the barn.
“Sometime last night,” John answered, turning to see him before clapping him on the shoulder. “But I’m sure glad you’re up outta that bed. Last time I saw you, you were just about bled out and moaning like a ghost!”
“I know it. I’ll be a happy man if I’m never laid up like that again!” Matthew shook his head, but then looked very business-like. “What’d you find out in Chicago?”
“Well, it’s not good news, I’m afraid,” John said. He stooped to pick up a stalk of hay and chewed the end thoughtfully, then said, “They’ve lowered the price on us again.”
“What? By how much?”
“Too much, I’m afraid. They told me they’re running ‘em for two dollars a head per hundred pounds.” John waited quietly for the bad news to sink in, but Matthew didn’t need to think about it.
“That doesn’t make sense!” he stormed. “There’s a shortage as it is, the price of beef—premium steer at that!—should have tripled!”
“The manager at the trade lot told me they’re getting a lot of beef from up north in Canada now, and what with their seasons being so much colder, their cattle are already gone to market. We�
�ll pretty much be sending surplus now, and that’s the best price he could do for us. I’m sorry, Matthew, but I argued my hardest and there was nothing to be done about it.”
Matthew kicked a stone angrily, releasing some of the anger that suddenly flooded his mind. The motion was useless and only served to make him feel somewhat helpless.
“This can’t be right. They can’t do that to us, we have agreements going back years on the price!” he called out, fuming. “What are they thinking, buying from other suppliers and cutting the price down like that? There’s gonna be farmers all across this region who will lose everything!”
John didn’t look up, knowing he was about to tread into another man’s business. “Son, I know it’ll be hard to pay everything off and pay the hands and all that, so I’m telling you right now—man to man—if it comes down to it, I’ll sell my land.”
A Love Defying The Odds (Historical Western Romance) Page 15