Moving from Maryland

by Christine Sterling

  The driver had scrambled up to the top of the coach and was throwing luggage down. “Be careful,” Louisa shrieked. “I will hold you personally responsible if anything breaks.”

  Rick looked at Barrett. “She with you?” Barrett nodded. “Good. You can help me with this trunk. It was a beast to get up here.”

  Barrett looked at Louisa who shrugged. “I didn’t realize you were bringing such a large trunk. The wagon is over by the mercantile. Any chance you can bring it over there if you are headed to the livery?”

  Rick nodded. And moved back to the driver’s seat. He gave a quick harrumph to the horses and Barrett watched him slowly move the stage towards the center of town.

  Barrett escorted Louisa towards the mercantile, telling her to watch for the grooves in the road. As they approached the mercantile, he could see Rick pushing the trunk to the edge of the roof.

  Rick waited until they were closer and then he leaned the trunk over the side so Barrett could grab it. Once the first part was down on the ground, Rick let go of his end and returned to moving around items on the roof.

  “What’s in here?” Barrett asked, lowering the trunk the rest of the way. “It weighs more than my horse.”

  “I just brought a few things with me to make sure I settled in.”

  His gaze returned to the top of the coach when Rick whistled for him. “You have another trunk?” Barrett said incredulously.

  Louisa opened a parasol and looked at him. “Well, yes. I couldn’t come all the way out here without my wardrobe.”

  Barrett shook his head. “I live on a ranch, Louisa.”

  “I know.”

  “With steer.”

  “I know,” she repeated again. “But I don’t plan on being outdoors much. I would much rather spend time with you.”

  Barrett was about to say something when the door to the mercantile flew open and John ran down the stairs with Sam and George on his heels. Gracie followed behind them.

  “Look, Pa!” John said, holding his fist out. “Gracie got me an apple to eat.” His hand was covered in juice and the core peeked between his fingers.

  Barrett looked at Gracie at the top of the stairs. She wore a blue dress that enhanced her eyes. They looked even paler than before, if that was possible. A man could get lost in those eyes.

  But he wasn’t that man.

  “Hello, Mr. Wright. I told the boys that too much sugar isn’t good for them, and that they need to limit their sweets. They should eat more fruit and vegetables.” John happily munched his treat.

  “Who is that, Barrett?” Louisa asked, pointing to Gracie. “And why would she be telling you how to raise your children?”

  Barrett felt his face turn red under Louisa’s scrutiny. He needed to show Louisa that he was in charge of his family. He turned to Gracie and tried to put on his best scowl. “Thank you, Miss Pickett, but I can decide what is or isn’t good for my children.”

  Louisa let out a squeal and grabbed Barrett’s arm. John had transferred the apple to the other hand and was now tugging on Louisa’s skirt, causing brown streaks where the apple juice mixed with the dirt on her traveling dress.

  “John,” Barrett rebuked sharply. “Don’t touch her skirt.” The boy cast his eyes downwards.

  “Sorry, Pa. I just wanted to ask who she was.”

  Louisa looked down her nose at the blond-haired boy. “You mustn’t touch my things, little boy. I’m your Aunt Louisa.”

  Barrett caught Gracie roll her eyes and cross her arms. He needed to get out of there and quickly. “Boys,” he said, “Come say hello to your Aunt Louisa. She’ll be staying with us a while.”

  Louisa wrapped her hand around Barrett’s arm and looked directly at Gracie. “I’m hoping a long while.”

  Sam came down the stairs, his arm still in the sling. He didn’t need it anymore, but he insisted on wearing it. “Where did you come from?” he asked.

  Louisa gave a small smile. “South Carolina.”

  “Oh. Gracie came from Maryland. Her father owns a boat.”

  Louisa smirked at the child. “How fortunate for Gracie.”

  “I want to be a boat captain someday,” Sam announced proudly.

  “What a delightful child, Barrett,” she said, looking at Barrett. George didn’t say anything, but simply moved closer to Gracie on the steps. “I do declare, I am just tuckered out from all this traveling. I can’t wait to get to your home and have a nice long hot bath and a nap.”

  Barrett untangled himself from Louisa’s grip. Rick had placed the second trunk next to the first and left them to stand there as he drove towards the livery stable to take care of the horses.

  “I don’t know how we are going to take your two trunks and all your bags with us. I wasn’t expecting this much luggage.” Barrett scratched his head.

  “I just didn’t know what I would need,” Louisa said, trailing her fingers down his arm. “Or how long I would be staying.”

  Barrett heard Gracie give a snort, and he shot her a glare that would normally put the boys in their place but had no such effect on her.

  “There is no way that the boys will fit in the wagon along with all that luggage,” Barrett told Louisa. Suddenly a grin broke out on her face and Barrett dreaded her next words.

  “I know!” Louisa said, giving a little jump. “Why don’t you leave the boys here and you can send someone back here to pick them up?”

  “You gonna leave us, Pa?” John asked.

  Gracie clenched her fists several times before relaxing them against her skirt. She hadn’t meant to listen in on the exchange between Barrett and the lady who was hanging all over him.

  She just happened to be in the store thumbing through the Montgomery Ward catalog that arrived at the store that very day, when the Wright boys came in. She was happy to see them. She truly did enjoy their company.

  George was quiet and took everything in; Sam wanted to spend time directly with Gracie; and John? Gracie’s heart warmed when she thought about the blue-eyed little boy. He touched everything and she had never seen a boy get so dirty. Even working on the boats, she didn’t recall her brothers getting as dirty as John.

  If her mother was here, she’d tell her, “Gracie, you could grow potatoes in the dirt on the back of that boy’s neck!” Gracie smiled, thinking of her mother. She caught Barrett staring at her and her smile quickly turned to a frown.

  Other than being a woman, she had no clue why he was so against her. It was almost as if he had a personal vendetta against her.

  When she heard that woman’s words “send someone to pick them up…” every fiber in her being wanted to go and pummel her. Who would leave their children behind to take some overstuffed trunks?

  “I’ll send Jasper back for you as soon as I get home,” Barrett told the boys.

  That was it. Grace jumped down the steps and stood in front of Barrett. She could feel her cheeks flushing with anger and she shook her fist at both Barrett and Louisa.

  “These are your children!” she cried. “You just can’t leave them here.”

  “They will be perfectly fine,” Louisa looked around the town. “By the looks of things, there isn’t much here for them to create mischief.” She gave a little sniffle and raised a handkerchief delicately to her nose. “Oh my, this dust is just getting into my lungs. I didn’t realize it would be so dusty out here!”

  Barrett looked to Louisa and then back to Gracie. Gracie noticed for the first time he actually looked tired. His eyes had shadows under them, and his skin was paler than normal. She waited for his response, but instead he gave a sigh and dragged his hand down his face.

  Gracie actually felt sorry for him. Just for a moment, and then it was gone. Gracie’s hair was starting to fall from her chignon as she shook with anger. She reached to pin it back in place. She was so close to Barrett she didn’t notice that he had lifted one of the curls until he went to release it.

  He looked at her with smoldering eyes. Gracie had never seen a look like tha
t. It was as if he wanted to eat her alive! She took a deep swallow and quickly glanced back over to the woman in the cream frock. Louisa scowled at Gracie and her lips were pinched tightly.

  “Louisa? Was it?” Gracie asked.

  Louisa nodded. “Yes, I am Barrett’s sister-in-law.”

  “Well, you must not have children of your own if you are going to insist that he leaves them here. You would be better served to leave the trunks. You can take them to my office, and then return for them later.”

  “And why would I do that? I need what is inside those trunks?”

  “They aren’t your children.” Gracie wanted to shout from the roof. “It is going to be dark soon and those boys do not need to be left alone in the dark.”

  Barrett stepped between Gracie and her verbal target. He looked at her with those eyes that reminded Gracie of the sea before a storm.

  It appeared the storm had rolled in, as she watched them turn dark in front of her. He took a step closer and the heady scent of leather, horses and bay rum reached her. She stood up straight as to not let him know how much he affected her.

  “You are right, Gracie Rose. These are my children and I will handle this.” He turned to the three boys watching everything unfold with rapt fascination. “Boys, you stay here at the mercantile. I’ll tell Mrs. Handley I’ll be right back for you.”

  “No,” Gracie quickly replied holding her arms out. “They can come with me. Back to the clinic. Would you like that John? Sam? George?” The boys started whooping. “There, it is settled. You can come back, or send whomever,” she waved her hand dismissing them both, “I’ll make sure the boys are fed.”

  “We can have supper there too?” John asked, grabbing Gracie’s skirt with both hands. She didn’t mind the juice stains that were soon to be there once he was done.

  “Of course,” she said, brushing back his hair in affection. “I wouldn’t make you wait to have your supper.” She paused and looked at Barrett. “Send Jasper to the clinic to pick them up. I don’t know if I want to see you again tonight.”

  Barrett looked at her. She couldn’t read what was behind his eyes, but it was as if he was going to say something. He opened his mouth, but before words could come out, he turned to George, who was still standing on the steps.

  “George, help me load these into the wagon and let’s see how much room we have.”

  George nodded and went off with Barrett to get the wagon. Sam and John followed, leaving just Louisa and Gracie there together.

  “You mentioned a clinic. Are you the housekeeper there?” Louisa asked with a little smirk in her grin.

  “I’m the housekeeper, cook, and nurse. I do it all because I’m the town doctor.”

  Louisa’s smirk turned to a frown. “A doctor? I’ve never heard of a woman doctor.”

  “Well now you have. Excuse me, I need to go back into the store to get a few things.”

  Gracie watched as Louisa took off after Barrett and the boys. She turned around several times to glare at Gracie as she walked away.

  Gracie sighed. Just another reason for Barrett to add to his list of why he didn’t like her. Her mother always told her to mind her own business.

  She shook her head and headed back into the mercantile. She was going to need to pick up a few items if she was going to feed hungry boys.

  Gracie fixed a simple supper of fried ham and apples, cornbread, and canned peaches for dessert. The boys ate everything in front of them.

  “Gosh, Gracie, Mrs. Parker doesn’t cook like you!” John said between bites of fruit.

  “Thank you, but I’m sure Mrs. Parker is a fine cook.”

  “She’s a good cook alright,” Sam said. “She just doesn’t make things like fried apples.”

  “I’m gonna ask her to make them for us,” George said, wiping his mouth on his sleeve. Gracie silently handed him a napkin.

  A knock sounded on the door. “I think Jasper has arrived for you.”

  “I don’t wanna go,” said John. “I want to play with Bonesy.” Bonesy was the human skeleton in Gracie’s office. She had taken it to the school for a science lesson and the class named it Bonesy. John loved to visit with it whenever he came to the office.

  “Not tonight, but you can come back after school anytime.”

  The knock sounded again. This time it was a little more forceful.

  “I’m coming,” Gracie said, walking down the stairs to the front door. She pulled it open, half-expecting to see Barrett. Instead there was a man just as tall with the darkest hair and eyes that Gracie had ever seen since arriving in Rattlesnake Ridge. He was thin as a bean pole, and his face was covered in stubble.

  The man stared at Gracie for a moment. “You’re the doc?”

  Gracie stiffened. “Yes, I am. May I help you?”

  The man lifted his face to the sky and let out a loud laugh. He was laughing so hard he had one hand on his belly and the other wiping tears from his eyes. “Oh, that is a good one!”

  “I don’t understand, and why are you laughing?”

  The man wiped his eyes once more. “No wonder Wright is madder than a bee in a bonnet. It does this old heart good to see him passionate about something again.”

  “Well, I’m glad I am a source of amusement for you.” Gracie gave a little sniff.

  “No offense, ma’am. I’ve just never seen him worked up over something the way he has been worked up over you.”

  Worked up? Barrett Wright? Well that was interesting.

  Before Gracie could ask him what he needed, John came rushing down the stairs. “Jasper! Are you here to pick us up?”

  “Hey there, buddy!” He ruffled John’s hair. “You ready to go?”

  “Not yet. We are still eating dessert.”

  “I need to get back to the ranch to eat my supper, so let’s hurry up.”

  Gracie opened the door further to let him in. “We have plenty of extra. Why don’t you come in and I’ll make you a plate? The coffee is fresh and hot.”

  Jasper took his hat off. “I don’t want to intrude, ma’am.”

  Gracie closed the door behind him and headed back up the stairs to her living quarters. “Honestly, no intrusion at all. This way,” she motioned to him.

  Jasper sat at the table with the boys while Gracie fried a slice of ham. The apples were still warm and there was one piece of cornbread left. Gracie wouldn’t allow Sam to polish it off, and now she was glad.

  She placed Jasper’s plate in front of him and then returned to the table with two cups of strong black coffee.

  “What do you do for Mr. Wright?” Gracie asked, blowing on her cup before taking a sip.

  “I’m a ranch hand. I guess you could say I’m a wrangler.”

  “A wrangler?”

  “He finds all the lost cows and brings them home,” Sam interrupted.

  “Steers,” George corrected.

  “I bet the cows…er… steers are very appreciative.”

  Jasper smiled at Gracie. “Yes, ma’am, I suppose they are.”

  “Do you often work this late? It is nearly 7:30 and you said you’ve not had your supper.”

  Jasper took another bite of ham and swallowed before answering. “No ma’am. It is just this is calving season, so I have to watch all the soon-to-be-mommas.” He took another bite of ham with a bite of apple. “This is really good, ma’am. Much better than what Smithy cooks.”

  “I said Mrs. Parker needs to learn how to make those apples.”

  Jasper smiled at Sam. “I agree. I’ll tell Smithy too.”

  Once he was done eating, Jasper wiped his mouth and stood. “Come on boys, we need to git. I have the wagon downstairs.” He turned to Gracie. “I know Wright appreciates you taking care of his boys.”

  “I enjoy their company,” she said, pulling George in for a side hug. “They remind me of my brothers. I’m sure Miss whatever-her-name-is, was happy not to have to leave her luggage behind.”

  “Aunt Louisa,” Sam supplied. “She’s Ma’s s
ister. She came to visit once before after John was born. I don’t like her much.”

  Jasper laughed. “I’m not going to say a thing.”

  “Well it’s true!” Sam said, stomping his foot.

  “You boys need to be in bed. It is late and you have school tomorrow.”

  John gave Gracie a hug and ran towards the wagon. “Thanks Gracie! Bye Bonesy!”

  “Bonesy?” Jasper asked, looking at her.

  “Bonesy is my skeleton, over there.” She pointed to the structure in the corner. “John likes talking to him.”

  Jasper shook his head. “He certainly has an imagination.”

  “That he does.” Gracie gave each of the boys a quick hug and Sam returned with a kiss to Gracie’s cheek before skipping towards the wagon.

  “Thanks for dinner, ma’am.” Jasper rubbed his belly. “That was mighty fine eating.”

  “I’m glad you enjoyed it.”

  “If it isn’t too forward, I’d like to take you to dinner at the boarding house down the street.” He paused. “I mean…just to thank you for dinner.”

  Gracie placed her hand on his arm. “No thanks needed.” He looked disappointed. “But dinner would be nice.” Jasper broke out in a big grin.

  “How about a week on Saturday night? I need to finish moving the calves. Miz May opens the kitchen to everyone in town on Saturdays. Matthew, her cook, makes steak on Saturdays.”

  “That sounds delightful.”

  Jasper nodded, putting his hat back on his head. He whistled his way to the wagon. Gracie stood at the window, watching the wagon disappear into the hot summer night.

  Now the boys were gone, the house was very quiet. Gracie locked the door and headed back upstairs.

  It was nice to have company. It made her realize how much she missed her family. She thought about Jasper. He certainly seemed nice enough. However, it wasn’t Jasper she thought about when she went to sleep that night.

  Instead it was the man with the light brown hair and stormy eyes.

  A week later, Daisy came to the clinic. She was escorting George, her hand on his shoulder. Gracie was at the card file, putting away her notes from the patient she had just seen.