Where the River Flows

by McQueen, Hildie

  "Do you need me to pick up anything?" He had moved to stand behind her and did not budge from where he stood even though it made it hard for her to maneuver around him.

  "I don't require anything." She walked around him and went back down the hallway to the guest room. She closed the door behind her and leaned against it.

  "Viola?" He stood on the other side of the door. "I know we need some things. If you don't want to go at least give me a list of what you need."

  "Sugar and flour," she snapped, "more coffee."

  "Anything else?"

  Yes, stay in town and give me some peace. She almost giggled at her thoughts. "No....thank you."

  "All right then. There's a shotgun just inside the bedroom door. If someone comes, the side door is bolted, lock the front door and stay in the back bedroom."

  She'd not considered what she'd do if by some reason someone came while he was gone. It was late morning already. By the time Joshua returned, it would be dusk. It was unlikely anyone would come. They often went several days without seeing a soul. Viola wasn't worried about anything happening, so she didn't reply.

  Grace's barking followed the sound of the front door closing. He'd left the dog inside with her.

  Minutes later, she left the room and finished making coffee. After she drank it, she could not postpone tending the garden another day. There were vegetables to pick and some tilling to be done. Weeding gave her time to ponder things. The sunshine warmed her back, seeming to reassure.

  There was no one to talk with, no friend to discuss how to handle the situation with Joshua. He'd admitted to feeling jealous, which was interesting. Why would he feel anything? If anything he didn't seem to care for her one way or the other.

  Perhaps next time she visited with Abigail, she'd mention the events of the past two days and get some insight as to how to handle the situation.

  The puppy barked and ran towards the road then returned. Viola looked in the direction of the puppy not seeing anything.

  A lone rider appeared in the horizon sending a sliver of apprehension up her spine. She should have gone to town with Joshua. It was too late for whomever it was to think no one was about. Whoever the rider was had probably spotted her already.

  "Grace come!" She rushed to the front porch and with the puppy on her heels went inside, ensuring to bolt the front door. Like Joshua instructed, she went to the back bedroom and closed that door wishing it had a lock.

  It seemed to take forever. Finally the sound of hoofs came close. "Mrs. Viola McKade?" A man called out. She didn't recognize the voice. Of course how could she? She'd only met a handful of people.

  "Mrs. McKade. I know you're in there. Saw your husband heading to town a ways back."

  It sounded as if the man was just outside her window. Viola jumped when Grace barked and growled. She petted the dog while shushing it.

  "Heard you're a beauty. I thought we could talk or something. Why don't you open the door? I'd like to get to know you better."

  She eyed the rifle. Had Joshua said it was loaded? Assuming it was, could she use it? Her hand trembled when she reached for it. If the man made it past the front door, she'd be ready for when he came through the second one.

  Three loud pounds at the front door were followed by what sounded like a sound kick. Graced growled and barked, the puppy doing its best to sound intimidating.

  The silence, which followed scared her as much as the banging and she began to shake, her teeth shattering. "Oh God." She took a shaky breath, moved back closer to the fireplace and lifted the rifle pointing it directly at the door.

  Grace moved to stand behind her. The puppy's whimper for whatever reason gave Viola courage. "Nobody's going to hurt you, girl."

  Seconds later, she heard the horse's hooves pounding the ground followed by more sounds of another horse arriving and footsteps. Grace began barking anew, her entire body wagging from side to side.

  "Viola!"

  It was Joshua. She placed the rifle down and rushed from the bedroom to the front door and unbolted it. He rushed through it and pulled her to him, holding her in a tight embrace. "Are you all right?"

  Unable to speak, she nodded and pushed away from him. Joshua did not release her.

  "I got a bad feeling when I saw the rider headed this way. Couldn't shake it so I turned around. He must have caught sight of me, 'cause he hightailed it out of here."

  "Do...do you know him?"

  "I have an idea who it might be. What did he do?" Finally he released Viola only to guide her to the couch where he sat and wrapped his arm around her shoulders.

  "He called out for me to open the door. Said he saw you heading to town and then pounded on the front door. Scared me, that's all."

  "It's my fault. I shouldn't have left you alone."

  She laid her head on his shoulder, feeling safe. "Did this happen before? When you were married?"

  "No. Although, David told me, there are rumors in town about how you're quite a beauty. I bet he wanted to get a look at you. It's the reason Buchanan's sons came with him the other day too. Normally he comes alone or with a ranch hand."

  "I am not so attractive," she scoffed. "I never had any such attention in Virginia."

  He gave her an incredulous look. "Men there must be blind. You are the most beautiful woman I've ever seen."

  When his eyes met hers, she couldn't help moving away from him. She brushed her hair back from her face and let out a sigh. "I'll gather my shawl and bonnet so we can go to town."

  He stood and looked down to her. "We can wait until tomorrow if you wish."

  "No. I know you need the feed." Viola hurried to the guest room and retrieved her items and reticule. They went out to the wagon and he assisted her to sit on the bench. After, he lifted the pup and placed it on the floorboard before rounding the wagon and settling next to her.

  "If it gets too late, we can stay at the Albright's." He told her guiding the horses to a full circle so they could leave.

  The ride to town was mostly silent. Viola didn't mind as her mind was awhirl with what had happened earlier. Were men really so bold here in the west? What would have happened if Joshua had not made it back?

  She peeked at Joshua's firm expression. "You are not going to do anything reckless once we're in town are you?"

  "Not unless I run into that..." He stopped talking.

  "Do you know who it was?"

  He shook his head. "He was too far for me to get a good look. Even when I arrived closer to the ranch, he must have heard the noise, 'cause I caught sight of him hightailing it."

  "Did he head toward town?" Viola wondered if he decided to return to town mostly because he hoped to find the man and not because they needed the feed urgently.

  "He headed west, toward the mountains." He replied and finally looked to her. "Don't fret, I'm not planning anything, other than reporting what occurred to the sheriff."

  Viola was sure he had an idea of who the man was. Instead of asking any more questions, she decided to attempt a conversation. If they were to live together, she had to have some sort of a relationship with him. "How long have you owned your ranch?"

  "Six years now, since Abigail and I moved here. I bought it after working there for a couple years."

  "So you've lived here for eight years then?"

  "Um-hmmm. At the ranch for six, in Colter Valley it's been eight. I was twenty-two when Abigail, David, Gretchen and I moved here." His brows furrowed and he shrugged. "It seems longer at times."

  It was hard to fathom the young families moving across the country. It took courage to do what they did.

  Town came into view and she leaned forward in an attempt to see what she could. There were quite a few more people out and about than the last time they'd come to town. Joshua brought them to a stop near the same place as before. He assisted her down and then held his arm out for her. "Let's walk."

  They walked down the entire length of the street and were stopped quite a few times by people. The f
riendly townspeople looked at her with open curiosity. Her husband introduced her to so many she wondered if it was possible to remember everyone. The barber, the banker and his wife, the miller, and even the dressmaker who rushed out of her shop at spotting them. Finally they came to a stop at the sheriff's office.

  Joshua released her arm and reached for the door. "Its best if we get this over with."

  They entered to find a tall, muscular man standing in the corner by a small stove. He looked over his shoulder as they entered and walked over to shake Joshua's hand, the entire time his gaze flitting to her. "I heard you married a beautiful woman, McKade. I see it was not an exaggeration." He held his hand out to her. "Very nice to meet you, Mrs. McKade."

  The man's blue gaze met hers and she felt tongue-tied at the handsome man's regard. "N—Nice to meet you as well, sheriff."

  "Miles Jensen," the man told her. Seeming to be satisfied with introductions, the lawman promptly poured coffee and went to sit behind a desk. "What brings you to town?"

  Joshua held a chair for her and then looked to the sheriff. "I was halfway here when I spotted a lone rider heading to my ranch. Followed a gut feeling and returned to find him hightailing it when I got there. He'd been banging on the door and hollering to Viola."

  "Did he hurt you?" The sheriff straightened and looked her over. "Did he threaten you?"

  "No. He just said he knew Joshua was gone and he wanted to talk...or something." Her face heated and she looked down to her clasped hands.

  A while later they left the sheriff's office and she didn't feel they'd accomplished much. Although the man promised to look into it, being the stranger had not threatened her or done any damage, there was little chance he'd be arrested. Viola didn't feel safe to be alone.

  She hated the thought of being scared if Joshua had to leave for long periods. When he'd told the sheriff of his upcoming departure to sell horses, she'd been shocked he'd not informed her of it prior.

  They spent another hour purchasing the feed and a few things in the mercantile. She was about to head to the wagon when Joshua took her arm. "Are you hungry? We can dine at the hotel. They make a very good meat pie."

  "Meat pie?" Viola wondered why suddenly her husband wished to do so much with her. Although they'd been all through the town, in almost every building and she was willing to bet, met most of the townspeople, they'd yet to have a real conversation.

  "Come on, you'll like it." He guided her across the street and soon they were settled across from each other at a small table next to the front windows.

  Viola watched the activity through the window, taking in every detail outside. A young mother carried one child while another tugged behind grasping her skirt. A couple stood in front of the bank talking. They seemed to be unhappy as the man waved his arms to accentuate his words, while the woman stood with her arms crossed and on occasion looked up to the sky. A wagon passed by, two dogs in the back barked at people while the man who guided the horses kept shushing them over his shoulder. The dressmaker remained in front of her shop. She pulled something from her apron's bulging pocket and put it in her mouth.

  "You miss seeing people." Joshua statement made her realize how rude she'd been by not attempting to make conversation with him.

  "Yes, I do. The area where I lived in Virginia always bustled with activity."

  He didn't say anything else and she could not think of what to say nor how to bring up he'd promised to bring her back regularly.

  "I can bring you to church on Sundays." He kept his gaze down on the food on his plate. "If you wish to attend church."

  "Four hours here and back for us to go to church is a long time." Viola couldn't keep hoping he'd insist. "It would be nice to attend every once in a while, don't you think?"

  "I don't attend church, I am offering to bring you. I will wait for you outside." He didn't sound overly upset or angry, just stated the words matter of fact.

  "Oh." Viola bit her bottom lip to keep from asking why. She suspected it had to do with the late Mrs. McKade. "I would like to attend church, perhaps not this week, maybe next?"

  "Very well."

  "When are you leaving?" She met his gaze and held it although it was hard.

  "Two weeks. I'll be gone for about a month or so." He lifted a forkful of food to his mouth. "I'll have to hire someone to come keep up with the animals and such."

  "Is it someone you trust?" Her mind immediately reeled at the thought of a stranger at the farm and her alone there.

  Realization dawned and he frowned. "I'll have to consider very carefully who to hire. I hadn't thought of you being there alone."

  She complicated his life. It had been apparent from the very beginning he didn't want to be married. His sister's ministrations in an attempt to help him were a mistake. "If you could loan me the money to return back east, I will pay you back as soon as I get a job. There is a family, the Harrisons, who gave me a very good recommendation. I'm sure with a good reference and a friend's help, I will be able to get something fairly fast. It was a mistake to come here. I've made your life difficult. You're not happy and I certainly am not either. Unless you wish to, we can remain married since we've..."

  She stopped talking. Although he watched her the entire time she spoke, there was no visible effect of her words. Her heart began to pound and for some reason her chest constricted at the possibility of what she'd suggested. As much as she knew it was a good idea, Joshua McKade was her husband. A man who should fight, care, and want her.

  His gaze diverted, he cleared his throat. "Let's finish this conversation in private." He looked to his unfinished plate and let out a sigh. It was easy to understand his lack of appetite since the food in front of her lost its appeal as well. "Are you ready to go?"

  They walked outside into the crisp air. It was early evening, which meant it would be late by the time they arrived back home. Viola settled into the seat and picked up the pup that'd been asleep on the floorboard. She was startled when Joshua climbed up and wrapped a blanket around her shoulders, his eyes on hers, he smiled.

  The simple act startled her. "Thank you."

  "You'll need a thicker coat for winter. Next time we're in town, we'll have to order one for you."

  Although she attempted to bring up the subject of her return to Virginia several times, Joshua diverted her each time bringing up trivial items about the ranch or telling her tidbits about the people they'd met throughout the afternoon in town.

  It was a while after they arrived at the ranch and he'd yet to come inside. She'd prepared coffee, paced with it unable to sit at the table. Nerves fraught, more than anything at the moment, it was too hard to be still. Instead Viola wandered from the kitchen to the living room, occasionally looking to the front door.

  Joshua entered and looked to her. He let out a heavy sigh. "It's been a long day. Why don't you get ready for bed?"

  "It's early yet. I want to talk." In reality, she wanted to sleep. To hide under the blankets, wake up in Virginia realizing it had all been a dream.

  "Very well." He moved closer and she could see his hair was damp from having washed up outside. His clear eyes studied her face. "I don't want you to go."

  Somehow she swallowed past the lump in her throat. "Why do you want me to stay here?"

  He caressed her jawline. "I wish I could be a better husband to you. You deserve more. Yet I can't let you go. I need you here with me."

  "I don't understand..." her words were quieted by his lips over hers. The soft press of his mouth over hers followed by his bringing her against him melted all her reserves. It felt so good to be held by him. His mouth traveled across her lips to her jawline and she relinquished all to her husband.

  When his hands slid up and down her back, she wrapped her arms around his neck, not wanting the moment to end.

  Joshua lifted her into his arms and stalked to the bedroom. "Tonight I will make love to you, Viola. I want to claim you as my wife."

  She didn't understand the words fu
lly until a long time later when she lay over his chest fully sated, her body a puddle of bones and flesh. Still something was missing.

  The puzzle piece fell into place when he wrapped his arms around her and kissed her temple. "Go to sleep, wife."

  He'd claimed her. She was his wife now, the silent agreement while making love was made. They would no longer live in the arrangement, which they'd agreed to upon meeting.

  Viola snuggled against her husband and her lips curved. Perhaps there was hope for them after all.

  Chapter Thirteen

  "I've gotten married again, Gretchen. I'm moving on with my life. I'm not sure if you can hear me. I have something to say to you." He kneeled down and placed his hand on the tombstone. "I kept my vows to you until death parted us. I know you didn't want me to remarry. I've been thinking about it. If I'd died first, I would want you to move on, to be with someone who would make you happy. I hope you understand."

  He stood and wiped his knees off. Across the corral he noted Viola had stopped hanging the laundry and watched him. He couldn't make out her features. In all probability, her brows were furrowed with worry. She worried too much. It was his doing of course, not speaking or opening himself to her. He waved at her in hopes of conveying everything was fine.

  When she returned the gesture, it was with hesitation.

  In between his chores, he went to the house to check on Viola. She seemed disconcerted by his constant presence each time he came in. First he brought her some wildflowers, which she put into a mug and displayed on the kitchen table. The second time he stopped in, he poured her coffee and insisted she rest for a few moments.

  She drank the coffee, her eyes moving from him to the dirty dishes, she'd been in the middle of washing.

  The constant visits made him run late for supper. He'd spent several hours walking the fields. Viola's lips curved into a shy smile when he entered the house. "Are you finished for the day?"

  He nodded and sat at the kitchen table. "I'll be hiring the usual farmhands to come work. Beforehand, we'll ensure you meet them and their wives. Just to make sure none of them were the man who came yesterday."