Moving from Maryland

by Christine Sterling

  The sun was high in the afternoon. Everyone had eaten and folks were now lazing around on the blankets strewn across the grass.

  He noticed Louisa was nowhere to be seen either. She was complaining of a headache earlier from the sun. Perhaps she went back inside.

  Mrs. Parker came up to him with two glasses of lemonade. “I have to say, Barrett, this is one of your more successful picnics.” She handed him the glass.

  “Did you think the others weren’t successful?” He downed the glass in one gulp, hoping to quench his thirst.

  “I don’t think they were… as social… after Eliza passed. It made people sad to think of her being gone.” She took Barrett’s empty glass and handed him the full one she was holding.

  “How did you know?” he laughed.

  “It is hot out. I haven’t seen you drink much today.”

  “It looks like everyone is having a good time.”

  “We have new people in town. Don’t you think that everyone would want to come out and meet them?”

  Barrett shrugged. He really hadn’t thought about it much. It just seemed to be a tradition that his parents started, and he picked up after his father passed.

  Once the majority of the folks left town, his father continued the tradition of the private party. Instead of just having ranchers, now it was open to the entire town.

  It made those few people left behind feel like a community once again.

  “Have you seen Louisa?” he asked Mrs. Parker.

  “She said she wasn’t feeling well. She went into the privy. I heard her retching. Poor dear, it must have been the heat.”

  “I should probably find the doctor,” Barrett said.

  “Don’t you worry about Miss Abernathy. And don’t disturb the doctor. She isn’t here to work.”

  Barrett looked around the yard again. “I haven’t seen Dr. Pickett since she arrived.”

  “I think the boys took her down to the creek. Heaven knows what they are up to down there.”

  “Thanks, Ida.” He lifted the glass of lemonade. “I’ll be sure to bring the glass back.” He headed down towards the creek on the far side of the property.

  “You better,” she called after him, “or you’ll be doing the dishes later!” Her laughter followed him to the edge of the woods. The creek wasn’t large by any means, but it was big enough for the boys to fish in, take a quick swim on hot summer days and to water the cattle.

  Barrett had built a water wheel at the far end of the creek, which lifted water to a large container for the cattle.

  He heard her before he came around the bushes. She sounded like she was enjoying herself. He cleared the bushes right before the creek and he stopped himself short to take her in.

  Gracie was standing in the middle of the creek, her skirt hiked up between her legs and tucked in the back, so it almost looked like pantaloons. The large collar of her summer dress was blocking her vision as she leaned over in the water. She kept trying to move it by either blowing on it or knocking it with her chin. Her hands were in the water and he could see she was waving them back and forth.

  Dark hair caught the sun and Barrett could see streaks of almost blue shining back at him. She bit her lip in concentration and he saw her try to grab something under the water. She looked like a water nymph from one of those stories Eliza read to the boys when they were tiny.

  A group of children were dancing around her splashing in the water. Not only were his boys there, but several of the townsfolks’ children, some as young as four.

  Frogs.

  They were trying to catch frogs.

  He saw John reach down and grab a bullfrog from the water. He carried it over to the bank and set it on a stone. The bullfrog jumped back in the creek and John kicked his feet in disappointment, splashing water into the air.

  “He won’t stay on the rock, Gracie!”

  “John, honey, that’s not what bullfrogs do. They need to swim and dig in the mud and do frog things.”

  “It is so hard to catch them.”

  “But what would you do if you kept him? Imagine how sad his family would be if he wasn’t there.”

  “Yeah, I guess.”

  “So, let’s do what we call catch and release. You catch the frog, say hello and then release it back. Sound good?”

  John nodded and went over to his brothers who were dipping nets in the water for minnows.

  Barrett moved from the shadow of the tree. “You know there are leeches in that creek?” he called over to her.

  Gracie looked up at him, panic in her eyes. “Really?”

  “Yep. They provide food for the frogs. I thought as a doctor you would know that!”

  “What?” Gracie jumped, quickly hopping over to the bank of the creek. She jumped over the children and two rocks before she made it to the muddy bank.

  “Do I have any on me?” She twisted her legs left and right, attempting to see if there were any of the vile creatures attached to her delicate skin.

  The children all stopped catching frogs and dipping their nets in the creek to look at Gracie dancing on the shore. She hopped from one foot to the other, whispering under her breath.

  She saw a piece of dirt on her leg; probably the outer bark of a twig and Gracie started to screech. She brushed her leg trying to get it off. “Don’t just stand there, Wright, get them off me!” She danced a little more and Barrett laughed so hard his ribs ached.

  “Calm down, Gracie Rose,” he finally said, once he was able to catch his breath. “There aren’t leeches in this creek.”

  Gracie stopped and looked at him. “There aren’t?”

  Barrett shook his head. “They aren’t in running water. They prefer still ponds.”

  Gracie continued to look at him. She blinked several times and Barrett could see her face turning red. If she was able, he would venture that smoke would come out of her ears. She opened and closed her fists several times, then suddenly she jumped in the air, landing hard.

  “Ooooooo! You! You….” She was so flustered she couldn’t even think of the words to say. Barrett started to laugh even more. “Stop laughing at me. This is a serious matter.”

  “Who would have thought that you could get so ruffled?”

  “Pa! Pa!” Sam called. “Come play with us!”

  “I’m doing fine right here, son.” A frown appeared on Sam’s face, along with a flash of something else.

  “You really should play with them.” Gracie softly said, coming up next to him. Her skirt had fallen down from however she had been holding it up.

  “Next time,” he replied.

  “They aren’t going to be little forever. George is soon going to be a man. He wants to be you when he grows up. It is easy to see he emulates you in everything he does.” She placed her hand on his arm and Barrett felt a sudden heat that had nothing to do with the temperature outdoors. “Sam wants to spend more time with you, and John; well he just wants to be loved.”

  Barrett looked down at Gracie holding onto his arm. She was correct, they wouldn’t be little for long.

  She reached right up to his chin. He could tuck her underneath it if he reached out and embraced her.

  A slight breeze blew her dark hair across his face, and the smell of roses tantalized his nose. He wanted to grab her and bury his nose in the dark curls, but instead, he brushed the hair out of the way so he could see her again.

  “Horsefeathers,” she said trying to capture the loose strands and put them back up into some semblance of a twist. “I can never keep my hair up.”

  “You should leave it down. It is very pretty.” Gracie looked at him, a pin stuck between her teeth. He fought every instinct to reach down and kiss her. He knew it wouldn’t be welcomed. Instead he took the pin from her mouth and placed it in her hand. “Get yourself together, lady doc. We’re going frogging.”

  Gracie couldn’t remember when she had a better time. Barrett raced to take off his shoes and socks and roll up the legs of his pants. Gracie rushed to
fashion her skirt so it wouldn’t fall down in the water.

  Barrett took off across the creek to where the boys were standing on the rocks. Their laughter warmed Gracie’s heart.

  She ventured to where she was before. They squealed as Gracie chased them through the water. She made sure to chase each child, but not allow anyone to fall into the water. The children laughed at the prospect of being caught.

  When she got to one little girl, whose name Gracie couldn’t recall, she picked her up and swung her around like she was flying before gently placing her back on the smooth pebbles.

  The afternoon got away from them as they chased frogs and followed Gracie’s rule. “Catch, say hello and release.”

  They counted the number of frogs the children caught. So far John was winning.

  “Well, I never.”

  The voice stopped Gracie in her tracks. There standing at the edge of the creek stood Jasper, Louisa, and several of the other townsfolks.

  “Louisa!” Barrett called. “I thought you were ill.”

  “So, you decided to come down here and scamper in the creek? It makes me ill just thinking about it.”

  “Why don’t you take your shoes off and join us, Miss Abernathy.”

  “I am not going to do that. It is totally indecent.”

  “Looks like good clean fun to me,” Jasper said.

  “Are you in, friend?” Barrett called to him.

  “Darn tootin’ I am,” he said starting to shuck off his boots. Gracie saw him steal a glance at Louisa. “Don’t be so prim. You don’t know what you are missing out on. Frogging is a real sport around here. Plus, the water is cool.”

  “No thank you. I have no desire to go … frogging.” She opened her parasol and moved to sit on a stump.

  Several other folks joined in and soon there were several couples in addition to Gracie, Barrett and the children splashing in the creek.

  The sun started sinking in the sky and pretty soon people started leaving, picking up their shoes and heading back to their wagons. Gracie grabbed George’s hand and walked with him up the bank. She looked over to the tree and noticed Louisa was gone.

  Barrett came up and put his arm on the lower part of her back to lead Gracie to the front yard. The heat spread from where he touched her all the way up her neck. She gave a little shiver. “Cold?” he asked.

  It wasn’t the cold causing her to shiver, but she’d take it. “Just a bit. I forgot my wrap at the clinic.”

  “I’ll get you something when we get to the house.”

  “I don’t want to be a bother. I know Jasper will take me home shortly.”

  “Did you have fun today, Gracie?” George asked.

  “I really did,” she said. Gracie walked over to the fence they were passing and stood on the bottom rail. It allowed her enough height to peek into the pen. The area contained mother cows and their babies. Some were laying down, the others standing as if keeping guard.

  “Those babies are so cute.”

  “Those babies will grow up to be the steak you eat at Miz May’s.”

  Gracie grimaced. “I don’t think I’ll be eating there again, after seeing these little guys.”

  “It is our business, Gracie. These aren’t pets. We raise them to sell for beef.”

  “I know.” She hopped off the fence. “I just don’t like thinking about it. Perhaps I can come back some night and let them all free?”

  “Then I would be out of business.” He grabbed her hand and pulled her back towards the house. Feelings welled up inside Gracie. She didn’t know if she should enjoy his attention or just pretend that she didn’t notice the sparks when he touched her.

  Playing coy wasn’t one of the things Gracie excelled at, so she decided to walk the rest of the way in silence.

  He released it as soon as the house came in view. Of course. It wouldn’t do for him to be holding her hand in front of anyone.

  Gracie noticed that George had run ahead to catch up with his brothers.

  They were standing with their heads together whispering about something. When they were done, Sam and John ran off towards the house and George went in the direction of a young girl that was sitting under a tree.

  “I think that is who he was reading poetry to,” Barrett said, pointing to the young couple.

  “He appears to be a romantic.”

  “He gets that from his mother.”

  “She would be very proud of him.”

  “I’m sure she is smiling down from heaven.”

  Gracie walked over to the wagon and placed her stockings in the basket. Her feet were wet from the creek and the feel of stockings against clammy skin – that was enough to make her shudder. Her feet were finally dry, so she slipped on her shoes and took a quick look around the yard.

  “I didn’t see Jasper on the way back, did you?”

  “No. He is probably around here somewhere. He may have gone to the bunkhouse to change.” Jasper had fallen in the water and disappeared shortly thereafter. “Not to worry. I can take you home. Let me get a horse and a wrap for you.”

  Gracie panicked. She didn’t want to be caught with Barrett alone. She was afraid he might see right through her and know exactly how she was feeling.

  Therefore, she tried putting her feelings into clinical terms instead of emotions. Attraction was a very physiological response. It would be normal to be attracted to him because she cared for his children.

  Nope. Not working in the least. She grabbed the basket from the back of the wagon. “Please don’t worry. I’ll get a ride home from the Browns.”

  “I think they’ve left.” Before Gracie could think of another solution, a shriek was heard from the house. “That sounded like Louisa,” Barrett said taking off for the house with Gracie right on his heels.

  Gracie heard the footsteps of small feet running down the hallway and the click of a door. Mrs. Parker came running and met them in the great room. “Mercy, what was that?” she asked.

  Louisa came out of the bedroom sobbing. “Someone needs to get it out of there,” she yelled. She looked at Barrett and ran into his arms. “Oh Barrett, it is just so vile.” She laid her head on his chest and Gracie fought every urge to pull Louisa from Barrett’s arms.

  “Shhhh,” he whispered.

  “Are you hurt?” Gracie asked at the same time.

  Louisa lifted her face and glared at Gracie. “This is all your fault!”

  “My fault?” Gracie raised her fingers to her neck. “I don’t understand.”

  “If you weren’t in the creek with them, none of this would have happened.”

  Barrett lifted Louisa’s chin. “Now what happened.”

  “Someone put a frog in my bed.”

  Barrett looked at Gracie as he tried to calm a hysterical Louisa.

  “It is just terrible,” she repeated. “I don’t know why they did that.” Louisa lifted her handkerchief to her nose and daintily sniffed. “Barrett, you will address them about it, won’t you?”

  Barrett knew exactly why it happened.

  It was a test.

  And one that Louisa apparently failed, since she came running to him demanding the boys were punished for their actions.

  He knew that the boys had been planning something all week. Each time he would see them together they would have their heads together whispering. If it was just a frog, Louisa got off easy. George released a whole jar of spiders in Mrs. Parker’s room when she first moved in.

  Fortunately, for Barrett, Eliza dealt with that.

  It was almost as if the boys wanted to see how far they could push him before he punished them. Unfortunately, Louisa was their target right now.

  “I will talk to them,” he said, trying to console her. “I promise.”

  “John, Samuel, George,” he called. The boys came out, not quite looking contrite. “I want you to go find that frog and take it outside right now.”

  “But, Pa…” they started.

  “Don’t Pa, me. And you’ll be com
ing directly home from school,” he looked at Gracie, “without stopping anywhere. No mercantile, no Mr. Bonesy, no creek. Directly home. And I’ll find more chores for you to do since you seem to have so much free time on your hands.”

  “That’s it?” Louisa cried. “That’s all you are going to do? They come and do chores.”

  “It’s enough, Louisa,” Barrett raised his hand to stop her talking. “Go. Now,” he told the boys. The boys scampered off to Louisa’s room to find the frog.

  He turned around and noticed that Gracie was no longer there. He saw a flash of her skirt heading out the door. Wasn’t she going to wait for him to take her home?

  He managed to get Louisa’s arms untangled from him and rushed to the door. He saw Jasper helping Gracie into the wagon and then they were off.

  Without a word to anyone.

  Chapter 9

  It had been three days since the picnic and Gracie had just been over to see Mrs. Brown at the church. She had started coughing, and the Reverend wanted to make sure it wasn’t anything serious.

  Gracie made her a tea of marshmallow root with wild honey and directed her to sip it every four hours. The Reverend placed a coin in her hand and thanked her for stopping by.

  It was twilight and the stars were starting to appear in the night sky. There was actually a chill in the air for an August evening. The air smelled like rain, which was greatly needed since everything seemed so parched.

  She was wishing she had brought her wrap with her. She made a mental note to put a spare one next to her doctoring bag so she wouldn’t forget in the future. She had just turned the corner passing the mercantile when she saw Louisa heading her way.

  Gracie picked up her steps and tried the usual trick of crossing the street, but Louisa was insistent on following her. Just before the clinic Gracie turned around and confronted the blonde woman head on.

  “What can I do for you, Miss Abernathy?” Gracie said, forcing a smile on her face. No reason to give the woman anything more to gossip about.

  Louisa looked at her with fire in her eyes. “I want you to stay away from Barrett and I want you to stay away from the children.”