What could have happened? He’d ensured the fire in the hearth and stove were doused. Perhaps he’d not been careful enough and a spark had set something on fire.
“Does lightening strike here?” Pearl asked. Her voice shook and he realized this would be twice she’d been affected by a fire.
“Not when there’s not a storm. It must have been a spark from the hearth or the stove.” He reassured her, ensuring to keep his tone even.
Guiding the horses over toward the stables, he found Butch standing in front of it watching the fire. The old man motioned for him to come to where he was. It was then that Charley woke and along with Pearl and Jake watched from the wagon.
“What happened?” Luke hurried to Butch. “Did you see anything?”
Butch looked toward the wagon, his face and clothes sooty and dark. “The animals making a fuss got my attention. I had just finished for the day and was about to eat, when I smelled smoke and came running.”
He motioned to the side of the stables. “Got these things from the porch, couldn’t make it inside.” Once again, he looked toward Charley. “I wondered if you’d taken the dog with you.”
The two rockers and a small table were all that Butch had been able to save. Luke held out his hand. “Thank you. You shouldn’t have put yourself in danger for things like that.”
“The cows are out, I don’t figure they’ll go too far.”
“We’ll see about them in the morning. Get some rest,” Luke told the man who watched what was left of the house. “I’ll get them to the cabin and come back here to keep an eye.
“I’ll wait.” Butch scratched his head and took a gulp of whatever was in a bottle he held. “Hell of a way...” He stopped and looked back toward the wagon again.
There was more to it, Luke had a feeling, but Butch was holding back because of Pearl and Charley.
When he reached the wagon, Luke mussed Charley’s hair. “Looks like we’re going to be living in the cabin for a while.”
“I like the cabin,” Charley said with assuredness.
“At least we’re all safe and sound. Nobody got hurt,” Pearl added, but there were questions in her gaze.
Luke nodded. “Yes, that's the good thing.” After he climbed back onto the seat of the wagon, he guided the horses to the cabin, which seemed smaller than he remembered.
It had four rooms, the main front area kitchen and front room and two rooms in the back. It would serve them fine until he could rebuild.
Once inside, they managed to find a lantern, which they lit. Luke kept firewood on the front porch and in the hearth, so within an hour there was a fire burning. Taking the blankets from the wagon, he made a pallet on the floor for Charley.
Then he went to the back room to see if there was anything suitable for Pearl and him. There was only one bed and on it a light blanket.
“I’ll sleep in the main room on the chair,” Pearl said. “Go on, I know you need to see about the animals and such.”
“Just have to make sure the stables don’t catch fire, but it’s starting to snow, so it should douse the fire soon.”
Luke touched her arm. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t,” Pearl said moving closer, she wrapped her arms around his waist. It was an intimate embrace that caught him by surprise. She looked up at him. “It is bad, that we’ve lost material belongings. But the three of us and the dog are all unharmed. For that I am so very grateful.”
Unable to keep from it, Luke lowered his lips to hers. The kiss was gentle, but it sent soothing through his body and soul. Whatever Butch was about to say, would not be good, Luke felt it in his bones.
Whoever had set the fire, had done it on purpose. Why would someone do such a thing? Only one person had a reason to be angry with him and that was his brother. But Owen was gone to California. There was no one else, he could think of, who would want to do him and his family harm.
The rising sun exposed the damage by the fire. The house was gone, only the fireplace and charred remnants of walls remained. It would be a herculean task to clean it up and start over, but Luke was determined he would.
Along with the house the chicken coop was gone. Butch had managed to open up the enclosure and most of the hens had escaped. Several of them emerged from wherever they’d hidden overnight and were circling and pecking at the snow rummaging for food.
Butch emerged from the stable, he looked tired and ragged. Luke imagined he didn’t look much better. They’d managed to find some of the younger cows the night before, but there were still about fifteen missing. It would be the task for the day.
“Morning Boss,” Butch said pushing a cup of coffee into Luke’s hands. “Damn shame to lose your home so close to Christmas.”
The hot bitter liquid formed a warm trail down his throat. “What happened?”
Butch didn’t mince words. “Your drunk brother, he came back and was yelling. Said you stole from him. I reckon he started the fire and left.”
Luke’s stomach sank. “I suspected as much.”
“He was headed to the cabin, I think he planned to set it on fire, but I chased him off.
“Pearl lost her parents in a fire,” Luke confessed. “This is not easy for her. She doesn’t deserve to be brought into this.”
Butch nodded. “Damn shame.”
“May as well get going. I have to find the cows and then get these chickens collected so they don’t get eaten by coyotes tonight.”
Once on horseback, they rode out to the neighboring fields. As expected, the cows had not wandered far, and they began to herd them back closer to the house. Thankfully he’d just sold off most of his herd, so he only had twenty-five head to worry about. The cows were docile and probably hungry, so they did not protest returning to a familiar location.
By mid-day, the animals were back in the corral, that Butch mended while Luke went to see about making an enclosure for the chickens.
He closed up one of the empty stalls in the stables, blocking the bottom of the front door, once that was completed, he added some low shelves for the birds to nest. Just as he was adding hay, Pearl came in. She and Charley each carried a chicken.
“We want to help,” she said quietly.
The birds went about exploring their new home, pecking at the hay and eating the feed they spread.
Charley ran off and returned with two chicks. “I got some more.” He placed the birds down and raced away.
“Good to have a swift young boy,” Luke told Pearl. “He is enjoying this.”
His wife smiled. “What’s next?”
A sigh escaped and he looked to the stable doors. “My brother did it. He set the house on fire.”
Pearl didn’t act surprised. Of course, she didn’t know much about his family dynamics. “Is this something we’ll have to worry about? Do you think it could happen again? What if Charley was home alone?”
“I will find Owen and ensure it doesn’t. Once this is all settled, I’m going to town. Have to get enough sundries and supplies to last us through the winter. Once it starts snowing, the weather will only get worse.”
Charley returned with a rather annoyed rooster. “I didn’t see any other ones, but I bet they’re hiding,” he announced.
“Let’s go look,” Pearl waited for him to plop the bird down and they went back out.
While Pearl and Charley hunted for chickens, Luke and Butch worked on getting all the animals watered and fed. His stomach grumbled. Most of the pig meat had been hung behind the stables, so they had meat a plenty. With flour, eggs, milk and meat, they would not go hungry.
“If you carry meat, I’ll take a sack of flour and eggs so that Pearl can cook.”
“I got some beans,” Butch offered. “Plenty of coffee too.”
They’d have plenty to eat until he went to town for extras, which made him feel better.
“I’m going to town tomorrow, let me know if you need me to pick up some things.”
Chapter 9
The stove in th
e cabin warmed the entire front space. With the cheery fire in the hearth as well, the entire home was cozy, which was good since it had taken Pearl and Charley quite a while to collect the chickens. By the time they’d returned to the cabin, they were chilled to the bone.
Charley lay on the floor in front of the fire, working on his lessons on an old slate that had been left behind.
“Thought you would need these,” Butch came to the door with a broom and some cloths. The rough cloths would be useful to clean.
“Thank you. Come get something to eat.” She said looking past him. “Where’s Luke?”
“Went riding trying to find a couple missing cows.”
“He hasn’t had anything to eat.”
The older man settled at the table and ate some of the pork and beans she’d prepared. With the flour she’d fashioned dumplings which she’d plopped atop the simmering food.
After the man ate, he stood and stretched. “You’re a might fine cook Missus, I best go get Luke.”
The cabin was filthy. There was so much to do and it was already late afternoon. She began by sweeping the floors and once that was done, she cleared cobwebs from the corners of the ceiling. Admittedly, the cabin was very well built, and she didn’t mind the coziness of it all.
But she’d lost everything again. The few things she’d begun collecting since the fire in Pennsylvania were now gone. Despite the second loss, for some reason this time it wasn’t as hurtful. Perhaps because everything that was important to her, she’d brought with her the day before.
Thankfully, she’d taken her satchel with her when visiting Melva and had packed in it a chemise, just in case something happened, and they ended up spending the night.
Her satchel also had the one picture of her parents, that her aunt had given her as well as her money and some other sentimental items.
Her dress was soiled and other than her undergarments, she had nothing else to wear. Pearl considered that after cleaning, she’d have to wash what the three of them wore.
“Charley let’s fetch water from the well. Once you get bathed, you can wrap yourself in a blanket, while I wash your clothes.
The boy, too eager to please her, scrambled to his fee. “Yes ma’am.”
“Charley,” Pearl’s heart squeeze at his earnest expression when he looked up to meet her gaze. She moved closer to the child and tipped his face up. “I am going to stay. Do you understand? I won’t leave you ever. I promise.”
The boy threw his thin arms around her waist and hid his face so she wouldn’t see that he was crying.
“You are such a dear boy,” Pearl said hugging him back. “I’m so glad you are part of my family now.”
He seemed shocked by her words. “You are?”
“Of course. I’ve always wanted a little boy and now I have a ready-made one.”
At the sound of his giggle, she smiled. “Now let’s get you washed up, cause I need to do the same.”
After both she and Charley bathed and Pearl washed their clothes, she and Charley sat in the front room wrapped in blankets. Their clothes were strung across twine that they’d stretched from one side of the room to the other.
Pearl wore her clean chemise and wrapped one of the blankets around her shoulders. Although her cloak was warm, the blanket was thicker, so she preferred it as she boiled milk to make oatmeal for a late drink.
It was late in the day when Luke finally came in. He looked haggard and was dirty. His clothes stained with soot and dirt.
“There’s water heating,” Pearl said to him. “I’ll warm up the water in the tub.”
He nodded. “I appreciate it.”
The small tub was in the kitchen, a round tin enclosure that she knew would be much too small for Luke. A part of her wanted to watch to see how he’d make himself fit.
He held out a bundle. “had these old clothes in the stables. Good thing.”
While Luke bathed, Pearl gave him privacy and went to the other room to sit with Charley. From where she sat however, she could see her husband from the corner of her eyes. Several times she peeked, catching glimpses of him bathing.
When he stood from the tub, his back to her, she was brave enough to turn and look. He had a very nice body, at least compared to what little she knew, he did. Lean and taut, with a nice bottom.
Her cheeks blazed and she turned to stare at the fire. Hopefully when she went to serve him dinner, she’d be able to keep a natural composure. Pearl put her hands over her cheeks willing them to return to a normal shade.
Her husband emerged and she helped him empty the dirty bath water.
She motioned to the table after the tub was hung in the pantry. “Sit down, you must be hungry.”
“Got all the cows back except one. Hopefully it will return on its own,” Luke told her.
Charley joined them at the table drinking his oatmeal. “Any more chickens show up Uncle Luke?”
“Not a one. They are probably running loose laying eggs and not worrying about a thing,” Luke told the boy, making him giggle.
Getting up, Pearl filled two mugs with the oatmeal milk and placed one in front of Luke. Not coffee, but it would do. She served him the pork and beans, which he ate and then asked for a second helping.
Just then Jack began barking and Luke got up from the table. He was cautious going to the door with Jack on his heels.
Once he opened it, Luke immediately relaxed and opened the door wider stepping back to allow the visitors in.
A young boy about Charley’s age bounded in. Behind him a tall thin man and a woman with a friendly face.
“These are the Johnsons,” Luke said to her. “John, Helen and their boy Troy.”
“Got a few more things in the wagon,” John told Luke and after placing the wooden box he carried on the floor and then went back out with Luke.
Helen hurried toward Pearl, placed the basket on the table and then immediately hugged her. “You poor dear. For this to happen so soon after arriving.” She shook her head. “I was already planning to come introduce myself but wanted to give you a few days to get settled.”
She pointed to the crate. “Have some clothes in there for the three of you. It’s nothing fancy, but hopefully you’ll find them useful.”
“Very much so,” Pearl told her smiling widely. “Charley has no clothes on under the blanket and I’m in a chemise.”
Helen laughed. “I’m sure Luke doesn’t mind it one bit.” She winked at Pearl and she blushed.
“In the basket is some coffee and other food stuffs. I also made a couple meat pies that will keep for a few days.”
Tears prickled Pearl’s eyes. “You are a godsend.”
The men returned, Luke carrying a wooden box filled with more food and John brought blankets.
Although they invited the Johnsons to remain, the couple declined. The snow continued to fall outside, and they were worried about the other children at home. Pearl and Luke walked with them out to the front of the cabin.
“I have to go to town tomorrow,” Luke told them. “If you need anything at all, I can bring it back.”
Helen’s eyes sparkled. “You are kind, but we just went and bought enough for the winter.”
“You best go and get it over with, the weather doesn’t look good,” John said.
When Helen hugged Pearl, once again she fought tears. “I wish you a happy Christmas,” Helen said and kissed her cheek.
“You as well,” Pearl replied. “I am looking forward to spending more time getting to know each other.”
As soon as the Johnson’s rode off, Pearl hurried back inside to the warmth of the cabin. She glanced at Luke who scratched his head looking at the items the Johnson’s had brought.
“They’re good people. Helen has been urging me to get married so she could have a neighbor to visit with.” He gave her a lopsided smile sending tendrils of warmth from her chest to her stomach.
Charley was soon settled into his pallet and fast asleep.
In the b
edroom, Pearl has made up the bed with the blankets the Johnson’s had brought. Although a bit chillier, it was warm enough to sleep there.
She started when Luke stood at the doorway watching her. Pearl had dropped the blanket she’d been using to keep warm and wore only the chemise. Suddenly the fabric felt sheer.
“Have you decided what you’re going to do?” He asked in a soft voice. “Forgiven me yet?”
The real question he asked was not the words spoken. He was asking to sleep in the room with her. “Pearl, I want you to stay, to give me a chance to prove to you that I am a good man.”
She met his gaze for a long moment. “I believe you to be a good man Luke.” She sighed. “I told Charley I’d never leave him. I will stay here... with you.”
Instantly, he approached and wrapped her in his arms. “Thank you.”
Their lips met, gently at first but soon the kiss grew passionate and filled with the promises of more to come.
When the sun rose, it was strange but wonderful to wake up in a man’s arms. Pearl snuggled closer to her husband relishing the warmth of his body. They were husband and wife now and their bond would begin from that day. She would do anything in her power to make sure their marriage would be a good one.
They’d remained awake until late, discussing the plans for the future. Pearl suggested they stay in the cabin for a while and wait until the following year to rebuild the house. They had not need for more space and the smaller cabin would give her more free time to do more to help with the ranch.
Luke discouraged her offers to work with the horses and cows, deeming it too dangerous. Then proposed building a pen near the cabin where she could work with goats. Come spring they would travel to his parent’s farm and procure a pair of goats.
Reluctantly they rose to start the day, Pearl liking his playful winks when she tried to cover up to dress, but failed.
“Best get to town early. Looks like it’s stopped snowing, but the weather won’t hold for much longer,” Luke told her.
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