Pearl

by Hildie McQueen

  When Luke turned toward her with the bags, she became aware that once she entered the home they would start a new life together as husband and wife. Her breathing hitched when their gazes met.

  “I’ll be right back out for you. Stay there,” Luke instructed.

  “Very well,” Pearl replied with a nod. Once again, he disappeared into the house and she let out a long breath. “Oh goodness,” she muttered under her breath.

  With each footfall that neared, Pearl’s heart began to pound harder and harder.

  Luke approached her and before she knew what he did, he lifted her into his arms and carried her through the threshold.

  In the distance, the rider on the horse whooped loudly, letting them know he approved of Luke’s actions.

  Her arm around his shoulders and pressed against him, Pearl was instantly breathless. Other than a stolen kiss with a boy when she was sixteen, this was the first time to be held so closely by a man. Every inch of her body came to life. Hopefully Luke would not notice the shivers that traveled up and down every limb.

  Once inside, he walked to a large sitting room and placed her down gently. “Welcome home.”

  Holding her hands together Pearl looked around the room. It was sparse, but tidy. A fire from the hearth warmed the space, and she went closer to warm her hands. At least is was something she could do to hide her nervousness.

  Luke came to stand next to her. “That’s the kitchen, he pointed to the obvious space, “there’s three bedrooms upstairs.” He studied her for a moment. “Do you want to see the rest of the house?”

  “Yes, of course.” Pearl’s voice trembled slightly. “That would be nice.”

  The walked from the living area, past the kitchen down a short corridor to the back of the house. There was a long room that housed a bathtub on one side and on the other a workbench and tools.

  “I like to build things, so I bring this workbench and tools I need in here during the winter. In the spring maybe you can use it for canning and such.”

  She looked at the bare walls. “There is plenty of room for shelves.”

  Luke’s face brightened. “It will be my first project for the winter.”

  Their chuckles were stilted, polite.

  “I’ll show you upstairs,” Luke said pointing back to the hallway. They went up the stairs to where there was one large bedroom in which he’d placed her things. Down the hall in the next bedroom there was a small bed and some wooden toys. “This is Charley’s room.”

  Across the hall, through an open door, she noticed men’s clothing thrown on the bed and an old pair of boots. “Whose bedroom is this?”

  For a moment, it was as if Luke was not going to reply. He peered into the room as if he wasn’t sure what to find. “Mine... what I mean,” he clarified, “is that I will be staying here for the time being.”

  Unsure what he meant Pearl gave him a quizzical look. “There is no need. I assumed we would be sharing the same... room.” She’d wavered between saying bed or room.

  The air stilled, Luke seeming to struggle with how to reply. He cleared his throat, Adam’s apple bobbing. “I thought it would be best if you and I got to know each other first. I don’t wish to rush you.”

  She’d not expected for her groom to be so courteous. “That is very kind of you. Thank you, Luke.” When he relaxed, Pearl said. “In that case I accept to stay in the larger room. I would like to freshen up a bit and lay down for a few minutes if you don’t mind. I’m exhausted.”

  “Yes of course. I will bring water, there are clean cloths there at the washstand.” After he went downstairs, Pearl meandered around the room. She took out a night gown and robe.

  After Luke brought a bucket of water and filled a pitcher, then left the rest, she washed up as much as possible and donned the night gown. No sooner did she stretch across the bed, did she fall fast asleep.

  The sounds of pattering feet woke Pearl. Her door was cracked open and the dog, Jack, had walked in and was now sniffing her things. Upon noting she was awake, he neared the bed, it’s tail wagging furiously.

  “How long have I slept?” she asked the dog while scratching its head.

  Deep masculine voices sounded followed by lazy strum of fingers across guitar strings. Whoever it was outside, seemed to be holding a conversation. The easy back and forth of words accompanied by rambling music made it seem as if it were a nightly occurrence.

  There was a deep chuckle, followed by Luke’s voice. “I doubt she’d ever agree to it.”

  Pearl crept closer to the window. Were they speaking about her?

  “Ya never know,” the other man said. “Plenty of womenfolk around here do more than just housework.”

  “My wife won’t be doing any farm work. I prefer her to do what she pleases in the house. If she is to work outside, she can garden.”

  They were talking about her. She wondered if the other man was the one who’d been on horseback when they’d first arrived.

  It was dark outside, but she figured it wasn’t very late since the men were relaxing. The aroma of food made her stomach grumble and she decided to sneak downstairs for a snack. Upon donning her robe, she and Jack went down the stairs.

  The woman from the boarding house, had been gracious enough to pack a basket with plenty of food for a couple days.

  Pearl added kindle to the stove and placed the coffee kettle atop it. She then sliced bread and placed it on a skillet to toast it.

  When she sat to eat, it was just a few moments later that her new husband entered. He didn’t smile, but instead nodded in her direction.

  “Glad to see you got some rest. Probably needed it. The trip here is long and uncomfortable.”

  “Have you traveled from east here? I’m sorry, I assumed you were born and raised in Angel Creek.”

  He placed the guitar down carefully. “I was raised here. I was born in Massachusetts, came here as a baby. We traveled back east when I was about ten to visit my parent’s families. Still remember it and had no desire to do it again. After that whenever my parents went east to visit family, I refused to go.”

  “Where are your parents now?”

  “They live just west of here. My father gave up on cattle ranching. He and my mother raise goats now. They enjoy it and have little need for much. Many of the local people know to go to them for goat cheese and milk.”

  It was nice to see how comfortable he was talking about his parents and it made her wish she could share about her parents without dissolving into tears.

  “Need a refill?” He interrupted her thoughts.

  “No thank you. I will probably return to bed in a bit. What time do you get up? I will prepare breakfast for you and your ranch hand.”

  Jack made a soft noise and Pearl smiled. “And for Jack too.”

  “I get up at sunrise. Don’t normally get going too early. Most of my work is with the horses now and they are patient for their breakfast, but impatient to get out of the stalls.”

  They spoke of what he did during the day. Since it was winter, there wasn’t much farming to do. All of the wheat he’d grown had been harvested and ground. She’d noticed sacks of flour in the large larder, where it was cool and would probably keep well.

  “Are there chickens?”

  “Yes,” he told her. “I’ll show you around tomorrow. I have a pretty large coop. So we always have plenty of eggs.

  Butch, my ranch hand is slaughtering a pig tomorrow. We’ll have meat for most of the winter from that. I don’t hunt much, but if there’s anything you’d like besides pork and chicken, just let me know.”

  Pearl nodded. “I will.”

  Having a conversation with Luke was easy. She’d not expected to feel so comfortable with him so quickly. Of course, at the moment, they were becoming acquainted and not truly husband and wife physically. The thought made her face heat, so she forced a cough in an effort to cover it.

  “When does Charley come home?”

  At the boy’s name, Luke brightene
d. “No doubt he’ll come home before the end of the day tomorrow.

  The Johnson’s will drop him off. They plan to go to town and told me they’d bring him here either before or after. Knowing the boy, he’ll ask to go to town in hopes of getting sweets.

  “Does he like cake?”

  When he met her gaze, it was as if he wasn’t sure how to approach the subject of baking and cakes since he knew about her parent’s death. “What boy doesn’t.”

  “I will make one for him.”

  She let out a long breath at the thought of baking without one of her parents nearby. In truth she’d not baked since the fire. Wasn’t sure she could. The words were spoken out of habit, it had been her way of getting to know people. Baking a cake as a gift was how she’d often made friends.

  “Take your time Pearl. When you are ready, we’ll be here.”

  Pearl stood. “I best get back to bed.” She lifted the cup and plate, but Luke took them from her hands.

  “I’ll clean up. Go get some rest.”

  The next day, while chopping vegetables, Pearl kept watch out the window. The surroundings were so very different from anything she’d ever known. In the distance snowcapped mountains provided a beautiful backdrop for fields and cusps of trees. The wind blew the few leaves that had managed to cling off spindly branches making her glad not to be outside to feel the frigid breeze.

  Horses pranced in the corrals, not seeming to mind the cold while cows huddled together for warmth. A horse pulled on a cart piled with bales of hay and both Luke and Butch, hauled the bundles off one at a time distancing them apart. At noticing, the cows meandered to feed.

  For supper, Pearl was making chicken stew and biscuits. She’d found that the pantry was well stocked and there were plenty of choices for what to cook.

  Carefully measuring and combining flower, eggs and salt into a bowl, Pearl once again looked out. The boy, Charley, had yet to appear.

  Within moments, she became lost in the kneading of dough, her hands digging into the familiar territory of mixing ingredients.

  The aroma of the stew mixing with the dough made her feel instantly at ease. Once the dough was done, she added the chopped carrots and potatoes for the stew, which didn’t take long to complete.

  Unsure of what time the men expected to eat, she considered when to cook the biscuits. Deciding to give the stew a bit more time to cook and the dough to rest, she then walked around the house.

  Although it was pretty tidy, there were plenty of dirty clothes to collect. With an armful, Pearl carried them to the back room. On one side wall there was a washing station with two large tin tubs, a washboard and hand cranked wringer. Next to the tubs was a bucket of what she assumed was liquid soap. It was impressive that Luke’s house was so well organized, which made her wonder if perhaps his mother had something to do with it.

  She’d have to ask Luke to put up a line for the clothes to dry. Pearl placed the dirty clothing into one of the tubs and went back to the front.

  Moments later just as she pulled the biscuits from the oven, the men walked in. The men looked eagerly toward the table.

  “Sure does smell good Misses Jameson,” Butch said. It was the first time she’d been called that name and it caught Pearl by surprise. She nodded toward the table. “Food’s ready. Go on and sit down.”

  The men ate with gusto, proclaiming her biscuits and stew to be the best they’d ever had. Pearl had to admit it felt good that they enjoyed her cooking. At the same time, it was odd to feed two strangers, one of who was her new husband.

  Just then the front door burst open and a freckled faced little boy rushed in, bringing with him cold air and exuberance.

  “I’m home,” he announced then stopped in his tracks to stare at her. His mouth fell open as he studied her with open curiosity.

  “Greet your new aunt properly,” Luke urged. “She’s my wife.”

  The boy yanked a ragged hat from his head and looked up to her, his eyes filled with questions.

  “Good evening Ma’am,” the boy said and then looked to the table, his eyes widening at seeing the plate of biscuits. “Can I eat too?”

  “Nice to meet you Charley. If you feel comfortable you can call me Aunt Pearl.” She motioned to the table. “You can eat once you wash up.”

  The boy ran from the room, back out the front door.

  “Did I say something wrong?” Pearl asked looking to the open door.

  Luke chuckled. “No, he went to the water barrel to clean up.”

  “It’s much too cold for a child to do that outside. We need to fill up the tub in the back so that he can wash up there.”

  She hurried to the doorway and waved for Charley to come back inside. Once he did, she poured hot water into a bowl and added cold water. She handed him a cloth. “From now on, you will use warmed water. Can’t have you getting sick.”

  “And the coddling begins,” Butch said shaking his head. “Charley, you’ll be thanking God for this woman.”

  The boy’s face turned bright pink. “Thank you... Aunt Pearl.”

  Pearl joined them at the table after filling up Charley’s plate.

  Everyone ate while discussing things about the farm. Luke and Butch fought over who would answer her questions, which was comical. The entire time Charley ate stew and biscuits, not caring what the adults spoke of.

  Proclaiming once again that Pearl was the best cook in Angel Creek, Butch excused himself and left.

  Pearl stood and began to clear the plates.

  While Charley told them about his trip to town, Luke helped Pearl clean up despite her attempts to tell him to rest. It was obvious he was used to it and was his evening habit. Perhaps after she was there a while, he’d not be so accommodating. Pearl decided she’d not protest whenever he wished to help.

  “I’m so used to coming back to the house and cooking at the end of the day that I feel as if I have too much idle time now,” he told her with a slight twitch to the corners of his lips. It was the closest to a smile she’d seen.

  Once the yawning boy was sent off to bed, they sat at the table. Pearl couldn’t help but admire her new husband. He was one of the most attractive men she’d ever seen and yet at the same time, something about him gave her pause.

  “I’m sure you have lots of questions,” he started. “I want to set things straight with you, so let me explain something to you.”

  Pearl nodded. It was a perplexing way to start a conversation. “Very well.”

  “The thing is...” he stopped speaking and swallowed. “I’m not Owen Reynolds.”

  At first she wasn’t sure what to have heard. “Can you explain to me what you’re trying to say?” Her heart thudded and breath caught. Who had she married?

  He looked away and let out a breath. “You were supposed to marry my brother, Owen. After we fought over him hitting Charley, he left.”

  Unable to speak, all she could do was stare at Luke.

  “Owen is gone, said he’s not coming back. I decided to marry you since you traveled all this way.”

  Chapter 6

  It was hard to take his eyes off his wife as she processed his revelations. Her face was a canvas of emotions. First confusion, then shock. She looked everywhere but to him, her face pinkening when anger began to simmer.

  “Wh-why did you marry me?” she finally stammered. “I don’t understand. Is that why you don’t share the bedroom with me?”

  Her hands trembled and she gripped the coffee mug as if for support.

  Explanations flew in and out of his now fogged brain as he tried to come up with a reason, he’d yet to admit to himself.

  “No... I mean yes. I did want to marry you. I wanted you.” As soon as the words left his mouth, he wished with all his might to take them back.

  “W-wanted me?”

  “What I mean is that I didn’t wish you to find yourself without a recourse and be stranded here because of my brother’s irresponsibility.”

  She blinked as if on the verge
of tears and he fought not to reach for her. “I am so confused. You did it because you felt sorry for me?”

  “I felt responsible, which is different.” Luke took her right hand and held it. It was trembling. “Allow me to make things right. I do wish to be married to you.”

  “Why didn’t you say something from the very beginning. You lied to me.” She tried to pull her hand free, but he held it tight.

  He closed his eyes knowing it was time to tell her the truth of what happened. “When you stood beside me in front of the preacher, I tried to ask you...to tell you. Do you remember?”

  Instead of a reply, she just looked at him, her eyes full of hurt.

  “I tried to come up with different things to do. I even considered asking you to come live here and wait for Owen. But in all honesty, I didn’t wish you to marry him. My brother is a drunk and lately he’s been violent. We fought a couple days before you arrived because he hit Charley.”

  “Where is Owen now?”

  Luke couldn’t help but flinch at the question. Did she plan to speak to Owen? Perhaps get their marriage annulled and marry him?

  “California. At least that’s where I was told he was headed.”

  She looked to the stairs. “And he left his son behind... with you?”

  “He did.” That it wasn’t the first time Owen left his son and disappeared was neither here nor there at the moment, so Luke didn’t say it. Instead he met her gaze. “It’s almost Christmas, you need a place to stay and I want a wife. Would you consider trying to see if things can work out between us?”

  “I am not sure I can be married to a man who deceived me. You had plenty of opportunity to tell me the truth before we got married. I specifically asked about your name. You could have clarified it then.”

  “We were interrupted. And we were married at that point.”

  “Why did you go through with it?”

  “Because from the first moment I saw you, I wanted to marry you,” Luke repeated.

  This time she yanked her hand free and stood. “That does not excuse deception.”

  “This is the best breakfast ever. “I am so glad you’re here,” Charley told Pearl and she smiled at him. It was the most he’d ever heard his nephew speak to someone he’d just met. It was obvious the boy was doing his best to impress Pearl.