Dear Miss Cucinotta

by Kit Morgan

  Sure enough … “Sei fuori di testa? Ragazza sciocca. Non puoi sposarti, ho bisogno di te!”

  But Rufi wasn’t going to listen to her sister calling her crazy and complaining that she needed her. Of course she needed her – they all needed her for something. But what about what she needed? “Bella, I am eighteen …”

  “Too young to marry!”

  “You weren’t much older when you married Calvin.”

  “That was different!”

  “How? Because you were running from Papa?”

  Bella frowned. Rufi had her there. She knew her sister became a mail-order bride to escape a match their no-good gambler father had made for her to get him out of debt. Both women knew it was the only reason. “That was low.”

  “Yes, it was,” Rufi agreed. “But I am tired of living for everyone else. I am not a nun – I’ve taken no vows of chastity or obedience. I want to have a husband and children, just like you do. Why is that so wrong?”

  “What’s going on out here?” Ma entered the hallway from two doors down. “What’s all the yelling about?”

  “We weren’t yelling,” Rufi said.

  “We were yelling a little,” Bella conceded.

  “Regardless, what’s the trouble?”

  Rufi pointed at Calvin as he came out of Benjamin and Charity’s room. “Him.”

  Ma eyed her son. “Calvin, what did you do?”

  “Nothing, Ma. Rufi was out later than she should be, that’s all.”

  “Ha! You never said a thing about being late. You were angry about me being with C.J.!”

  “So it’s C.J. now, huh?” He wagged his finger. “Gettin’ purty familiar, ain’t ya?”

  Ma put her hands on her hips. “Calvin, stop scolding this child! She was out looking for that bird, same as any of us.”

  “Yeah, but not in the dark with C.J.!”

  “And the MacDonalds,” Rufi pointed out.

  “Oh for Heaven’s sake,” Ma said. “Calvin, you leave her be.”

  “Thank you, Ma!” Rufi was glad someone was on her side.

  “Rufi says she wants to get married,” Bella announced.

  “What?!” Calvin charged up to Rufi and looked at his mother. “I knew he done something!”

  Rufi lost it. “Stop it, all of you! Leave me alone!” She shoved past Calvin – and ran right into Benjamin.

  He took her by the wrists as she tried to push past. “Whoa, whoa, what’s the matter?”

  She pulled out of his grasp. “All of you!” She stormed down the hall and into her room, slamming the door behind her. She sat on the bed and buried her face in her hands.

  She felt trapped. She’d stated her wants to her sister, who blurted it to the others. They’d all tell her she was too young, that they needed her. And never once consider what she might need.

  Rufi let her hands drop to her lap, then felt them tighten into fists even as tears ran unabated down her cheeks. They wanted to tell her she couldn’t leave, eh? Well, they’d better not push it, or they’d see what she could do.

  Chapter Thirteen

  The next day, breakfast was solemn despite the Weavers’ plans to finally meet the Cooke family. Harlan had arranged to borrow a couple of wagons and was excited to get going. Problem was, no one else seemed to be. “What’s the matter with all of you?” he asked after his second cup of coffee. “You look like someone died.”

  Rufi glared at Calvin, then took a sudden interest in her fork.

  Calvin’s eyes flicked around the table.

  Benjamin stuffed a piece of bacon in his mouth and chewed thoroughly.

  Bella looked up at the ceiling.

  Harlan, knowing how things worked, turned to Ma. “So what happened?”

  Ma frowned. “Rufi and Calvin had a little disagreement …”

  “Little?” Rufi snapped, then caught herself.

  “Why didn’t you tell me?” Harlan asked his wife.

  “Honestly, I figured one of them would get around to apologizing this morning, so I didn’t worry about it.” She looked at Calvin. “Now, though, I’m starting to worry.”

  “Ma!” Calvin cried. “I’m just tryin’ to make sure she don’t get taken advantage of.”

  Rufi snorted. “You’re trying to make sure you get free child care for life,” she grumbled.

  Harlan exchanged another look with his wife. “You probably should’ve told me.”

  “Yep,” Ma admitted. “I’m sorry.”

  “So.” Harlan straightened in his chair. “Who’s gonna spill the beans?”

  “Rufi got back a little after dark, Harlan,” Benjamin volunteered. “The MacDonalds didn’t come in with her, but C.J. did, so Calvin got a little worked up – lemme finish!” he told three people who’d attempted to jump in. “Calvin and C.J. went toe-to-toe, but neither one gave. The bigger issue’s that Rufi’s tired of workin’ for everyone else – she wants to get hitched and have her own kids, but we all still want her help with ours. I miss anythin’ so far?”

  Everyone seemed to concede that Benjamin had the gist of it.

  “Ma thinks Calvin should ‘pologize,” Benjamin continued. “So does Rufi, of course. Calvin thinks Rufi should, as does Bella, and Calvin wants C.J. to stay away from her. I ain’t talked to C.J. yet, but I suspect he wants Rufi to marry him and Calvin to go eat his hat. Me, I want some more bacon – can you pass it over, Seb?”

  Sebastian obediently passed the plate to Benjamin.

  Benjamin took three slices. “So no one’s ‘pologizin’ and no one’s sure just what happened on the prairie last night, if anythin’ did, and there’s a lot of arguin’ over whether Rufi’s old ‘nough to marry, though I guess she’s old ‘nough to do what she wants legally-like. Shoot, now my throat’s dry from all that yappin’.” He took a big gulp of coffee.

  “All right.” Harlan nodded as he thought. “Well, I’m sure we can work this all out. But first I want to talk to the MacDonalds – just to make sure,” he hastily added, holding up his hand to Rufi. “And I’ll ask them today. They’re going to the ranch with us. As is Melvale.”

  Rufi’s head came up. “He is?”

  “There, you see, Calvin?” Charity said. “You were worried for nothing.”

  Calvin looked a little pale. He stared at Rufi and finally said, “Ya mean yer sweet on that long-haired dandy?”

  Rufi grabbed her hair and pulled. “Why do you have to put your nose into everything I do?”

  Calvin’s mouth fell open. “Ya are sweet on him! And here I thought it was C.J.!”

  Charity snorted and put a hand over her mouth. “Excuse me.” She lowered it and smiled at Rufi, who was blushing deep red. “Calvin, stop it before you hurt yourself. There’s nothing wrong with Rufi being sweet on anyone. It happens.”

  “But the dandy?” he squeaked.

  Harlan, putting two and two together, grinned. “There are a lot worse things, son.”

  “Like what?”

  “She could be sweet on a married man. There’s plenty of them around here.”

  Calvin groaned, grabbed his coffee cup and accidentally sloshed it onto the table. “Now see what ya made me do?”

  “You did that yourself,” Rufi said. “And Charity’s right, I can like who I want.”

  Harlan sighed. “It’s only natural.”

  “That may be.” Benjamin looked at Rufi. “But it ain’t wise to wanna give yer heart to someone who ain’t interested in it.”

  “Well said, Ben,” Ma said. “You protect your heart, Rufi, no matter who’s caught your eye.”

  “Mr. Melvale seems to have caught everyone’s,” Charity commented. “He’s a very interesting man.”

  “Have you had a chance to speak with him?” Rufi asked.

  Calvin grumbled and began spooning sugar into what was left of his coffee.

  “No, but I wouldn’t mind a conversation with him.”

  “Today you might get your chance,” Harlan said. “We’ll leave for the Triple-C right after breakf
ast.”

  “But what about searching for the bird?” Bella asked.

  Rufi glanced her way. She’d kept quiet until now, maybe still feeling bad about last night’s argument. She smiled at her sister, and Bella smiled back.

  “Melvale is giving other folks in town an opportunity to look. It’s too much fun to pass up. I hear Irene and Wilfred are having a go today.”

  “Ya mean Mrs. Dunnigan’s closin’ the store?” Benjamin asked in surprise.

  “No, Grandma Waller’s looking after it,” Harlan said. “Now let’s not squabble over who Rufi’s set her cap for.” He looked at her. “But do mind what Benjamin said, young lady. Don’t go trying to give your heart to a man that doesn’t want it.”

  Rufi nodded. “Yes, sir.”

  “There,” Harlan said proudly and looked around the tables. “See how easy that was?”

  Calvin stirred his cup and kept scowling.

  Rufi smiled. Calvin would just have to get used to the idea. At least some of the family recognized that she was at an age where men were of interest to her. But Calvin – and in a quieter way, Benjamin – seemed determined to be difficult. In fact, Calvin might punch C.J. or Melvale in the nose if he thought either had been disrespectful toward her.

  “I expect you all to be ready in half an hour,” Harlan announced, then wiped his mouth with a napkin. He pushed himself away from the table. “Ma, you done?”

  “Yes.” She let him pull her chair out. “No arguing today, is that understood?”

  “Yes, Ma,” Calvin and Benjamin said automatically.

  “Rufi?”

  She gave the older woman a sheepish look. “Yes, ma’am.”

  “Good. I won’t have my family fighting in front of the Cookes or anyone else, is that clear?”

  Everyone nodded, including the children. When Ma Weaver spoke, it was law. She folded the napkin still in her hands, set it on the table, then let Harlan escort her to the lobby and up the stairs.

  “Not a word, Calvin,” Bella warned.

  “I wasn’t gonna say nothin’!”

  “You had better not.” Bella narrowed her eyes at him. “You and your brother have waited years for this day. Do not ruin it!” She got up and began to usher their children from the room. Charity followed suit with Sebastian and Truly. This left Rufi at the table with the twins. She straightened in her chair.

  “We’re only looking out for you,” Benjamin said.

  “Then stop treating me like a child,” she said. “I can take care of myself.”

  Calvin’s eyebrows shot up. “Ha!”

  Her eyes narrowed.

  “Now, let’s not go gettin’ upset,” Benjamin warned. “Bella’s right. Calvin and I have waited a long time for this. Tom told us so many stories about the Cookes it’s like we know ‘em. But truth is, we don’t. We gotta be on our best behavior.”

  Calvin set down his cup, looked at Rufi and chewed on his lip. “I’m sorry, Rufi.”

  “Apology accepted.” Rufi smiled and got up. “I’d better go help with the children.” She left feeling better about the situation. At least Calvin had apologized. She hurried out of the dining room and up the stairs, thinking about both Melvale and C.J. – and feeling more free than she had in her short life.

  As soon as Rufi was gone, Calvin joined his brother at the other table. “I don’t trust any of ‘em!”

  Benjamin rolled his eyes. “C’mon, brother, Ma’s right. Rufi’s grown up and we didn’t notice.”

  “There oughta be a law.”

  Benjamin laughed. “Why do I have a feelin’ you and Harrison Cooke are gonna get along?”

  Calvin smiled. “Am I that bad?”

  “Worse. Harrison don’t threaten to punch folks, I bet.”

  He laughed. “I don’t mean to be like that. It’s just … I love my family. All of ‘em. Bella’s brothers and sisters are like blood kin to me, like my own younguns. It’s like Rufi’s breakin’ up the family.”

  “But she ain’t.”

  “I know, but that’s what it feels like.” Calvin shoved his chair away from the table. “We’d better get ready. I cain’t wait to meet Colin and Harrison!”

  “What about the rest of them? Penelope, August, Seth, Eloise …”

  “Them too, but I ain’t sure they’ll be there.”

  “Hmm, yer right. Well, best take what visits we can get,” Benjamin said. “But we ain’t leavin’ Clear Creek ‘til we’ve met ‘em all.”

  “That’s right, we ain’t.” Calvin stood. “Rufi looked kinda flushed last night when I came downstairs. I thought sure it was Mr. Branson she was sweet on, not that Melvale.”

  “Drop it ‘fore ya give yerself a bellyache,” his brother advised.

  “All right, but it ain’t gonna be easy.”

  “Well, if it’ll make ya feel any better, ask Mr. MacDonald what happened last evening.”

  “I intend to.”

  Benjamin smacked him on the back. “Don’t forget that Rufi’s grown up on us. She wants a family of her own.”

  “That’s fine with me. I just don’t want it to be today.”

  “Yeah, I know what ya mean.” Benjamin hit him in the arm this time. “Let’s go.” They left the dining room to get ready for the trip to the Triple-C, unaware that all the while they were being watched from the kitchen.

  Cyrus shook his head in dismay as he let the kitchen door close. “Do you think they’re trouble?”

  Dallan crossed his arms. “They’ll come around eventually. It’s the lass’s interest in Melvale that has me worried.” The two men faced Melvale.

  He quickly held up his hands. “What did I do? I’m here about the bird and nothing more, you know that.”

  “Aye, but the lass has eyes for ye, or did ye no notice?”

  Melvale sat at the kitchen table and picked at one perfectly shaped fingernail. “I don’t know what you mean.”

  Cyrus looked disgusted. “You look like a god and you say you don’t know what we mean? For Pete’s sake, I promised Rufus Branson I’d help him find C.J. find a wife, and that …” He pointed at the kitchen door. “… is a fine young woman. Miss Cucinotta is perfect for him.”

  “Well if she’s so perfect for him, why doesn’t she think so?”

  “Because she set her eyes on you, ye clothead!”

  Melvale grimaced. “Can I help it?”

  Cyrus rubbed his temples. “Rufus is going to hate me.”

  “He’ll do no such thing,” Melvale consoled. “Don’t worry, I’ll set the girl straight.”

  “How?” Dallan demanded.

  “By showing her I’m not all she hopes I am.”

  “Dinna do anything foolish,” Dallan warned. “Ye’ve the bird to worry about.”

  “Er, if the two of you don’t mind my asking,” Cyrus said. “Just how valuable is this bird?”

  “Ever heard of the dodo?” Melvale asked.

  “Of course,” Cyrus said. “It’s extinct.”

  “Precisely,” Melvale said. “This particular bird is one of the last of its kind. We must find it.”

  Cyrus whistled. “I see.”

  Melvale stood, towering over Cyrus. “Why do you ask?”

  Cyrus looked up at both men. It was like standing between two trees. “Because folks are asking me. They’re curious. The way you folks disappear all the time, I’m the one left behind to answer them.”

  “Well, now you have an answer to give.” Melvale smoothed his braid, once again pinned to the top of his head, and put his hat on over it. “Time to go.”

  “But wait!” Cyrus said. “Some are asking what you call it.”

  Melvale sighed and glanced at Dallan. “Oh, very well. If you must know, we call it a Justice bird. Its actual name is much longer and would be far too difficult for you to pronounce.”

  Cyrus glowered. “Who is ‘we’ and what in tarnation is it?”

  “Trust me,” Melvale drawled. “You don’t want to know those things. You just want to find it.”
>
  Dallan put his arm around Cyrus. “Let’s go. I want to say good morning to Polly before we head to the Triple-C.”

  “All right, but you two are being very secretive and I don’t like it. I think there’s more to that bird than you’re letting on. It was a lot simpler when it was just Clyde the rooster.”

  “I’m sure it was.” Melvale headed for the door, stopped and turned. “And as to Miss Cucinotta, I’m a disreputable rake that no sane woman would be alone with. That ought to cool her ardor.”

  “That or get you punched in the jaw,” Cyrus said. “I wouldn’t let those relatives of hers think that.”

  Dallan smiled. “Oh, dinna fash Cyrus. Melvale can protect himself, can’t ye, Melvale?”

  Melvale rolled his eyes pushed open the dining room’s swinging door. “Quite.”

  Cyrus followed them to the lobby. Despite Melvale’s size, he hoped it was true. The Weavers weren’t the only ones Sheriff Tom had told stories to – he’d regaled the residents of Clear Creek with enough stories about the Weavers for him to think Melvale might meet his match. He hoped it wouldn’t come to that.

  “Wow, will you look at that?” Benjamin said in awe.

  “And we thought our farm was beautiful,” Charity said.

  “Our farm is,” Ma added. “This is just different, that’s all. Not many trees.”

  “I never get tired of this view.” Harlan smiled at his wife. “I have a lot of happy memories of this place. Some exciting ones too.”

  “Tom told us some of the stories,” Calvin said. “I ‘specially like the one about the first dance here and the women that got carried off and then rescued.”

  “He told you that one?” Harlan said over his shoulder.

  “Sure ‘nough did,” Calvin said. “C’mon, Harlan, let’s get down there and say hello.”

  Harlan gave the horses a slap of leather and off they went. He’d borrowed two wagons because he didn’t want the children to have to ride on their parents’ laps, crammed together like they’d been on the stagecoach. Shona MacDonald joined them, while Dallan and Melvale rode horseback.