by Sara Lindley
Nola glared at Becca as she walked into the house with River following her like a puppy. Becca laughed the whole way to the kitchen.
Supper was hilarious with Mac sniggering and Mazie asking embarrassing questions. River was nervous and paid little attention to what was going on. He was barely eating. Becca was wondering if he was sick or if he was just scared to death he had made a mistake.
Nola finally placed a hand on his forearm and his head snapped to see her.
Nola smiled. “I wish you were more comfortable. I can tell you’re not.”
She reached over and unbuttoned the first two buttons around his neck and he breathed a sigh of relief. Nola smirked as she rolled his sleeves up more.
Nola sat back and nodded. “I wondered if you would do something about that shirt that is too small for you? Anything else uncomfortable?”
River smiled and shrugged.
“I do not wear my hair like this. I though it would make me more…acceptable.”
Nola stood and untied the red cloth and unbraided his hair. She raked her hands through it and it was soft, silky, straight and wonderful.
“There. Is that better?”
River shook out his tense muscles and grunted. “Good. Ugh…thank you.”
He held out his bowl for more corn pudding. Soon he was his old self packing his cheeks.
The days turned into a weeks and still no Harrison. No letters and no message at all. River said not to worry but she saw the look on his face when he thought she wasn’t looking. He was worried and disappointed in his friend.
Nola and River were appearing to move into a close friendship. At church they all sat together but after the service Seth Henderson was at Nola’s side talking to her.
Becca noticed the look of extreme interest in Nola’s eyes, perhaps even love when she looked at Seth. That was a little disturbing for Becca. She was hoping Nola and River would find love. But you never know when or how love will raise its head up. Maybe Seth and Nola had a real love brewing. River would come and stand by her and the children as Nola chatted with Seth. Becca couldn’t figure it out and looked at River. She could already see that he knew. He knew that Nolla preferred Seth.
But each night, Nola still walked with River down by the huge Willows by the stream after the dinner dishes were done. River would always be sitting on the porch patiently waiting for her so they could have their walk.
Becca would sit on the porch and watch them walk off whispering to each other. No kissing or hand holding, just talking. Curiosity was eating Becca alive. She had the devil of a time keeping Mac and Mazie from following them when she herself wanted to snoop too.
Mac was sitting watching them walk off with his arms crossed. He scowled at Becca and she smirked.
“I know you want to go keep an eye on them Mac, but you have to leave them alone. You and Mazie got plenty to look at with your Pa and I, so let them be. They are just learning about each other.”
Mac barked a laugh and leaned against the railing looking every inch of his Daddy.
“Uncle River never showed no signs of wanting a wife till you came along, Mama. He loved reading your letters. He read them over and over again. If Pa hadn’t married yuh that day I know River would have. He loves yuh too.”
Becca looked shocked at Mac and he shrugged.
“You can’t be serious Mac. River has never said or done anything to say that’s true.”
Mac smirked and pushed away from the rail.
“And he won’t either! You belong to my Pa and River knows it. He would never dishonor Pa or you by makin’ a move on yah. That’s just the way he is.”
Becca bit her lip.
“Well, I hope Nola makes some sort of ‘move’ herself…and soon. I think he thinks Seth is Nola’s choice.”
Mac sniggered and shrugged.
“Anyway! I sure ain’t gonna get married. Especially not to a girl!”
Becca tried not to laugh and it came out a snort. Becca almost laughed out loud.
“Well, be that as it may, River is now courting my sister for marriage. And I dare say that one day it WILL be YOU handholding and running down to the stream with your sweetheart to steal kisses in the dark.
“Is that what you think he’s down there doing? He ain’t doin’ that! They just yakkin’.”
Mac sat back and shook his head in unbelief.
“I bet she won’t marry River. She’ll marry Seth.”
Becca pursed her lips and gave him a side look.
“I know you’ve been spying! What makes you say that?”
Mac rolled his eyes and chuckled. “Oh well, they meet just about every other day now out by their fence line when she goes ‘riding’. The last time I spotted them, they were really kissing up a storm. I even saw him get down on his knee and give her something. She started cryin’.”
Mac and Becca stared at each other and frowned. Becca closed her eyes feeling sorry for River. “Seth has asked her to marry him…”
Mac nodded. “I would say that’s a ‘yes’.
Becca shook her head.
“Oh poor River…my heart goes out to him. He’s so good and so…lonely.”
Mac looked sad too. “Yeah…”
River and Nola watched the small waterfall and felt the cooling breeze through the Willow trees. Nola slipped her arm around his and hugged his bicep.
He was so strong. She had watched him chop wood that first morning and couldn’t believe her eyes as he took off his shirt to chop wood. He stacked it up against the house and continued his chores shirtless. Nola mooned over him a good portion of the day.
He was beautiful and his muscles were just perfect. She had never seen a man so fit so masculine. All the men back in Virginia would be huffing and puffing but River carried the wood like they were twigs.
She wrapped her arms around him and turned her face to him knowing it was attraction, but attraction only. Her heart was swayed to Seth Henderson, the eldest son of the ranch to the west of them.
River moved his arms to embrace her and his lips found hers. They kissed very wary at first and then River licked the seam of her mouth and she opened to him. River swept into her like a fire but she could tell his heart belonged to Becca. River wanted her sister. She had seen the looks he gave Becca and they were looks of love and devotion.
Nola felt her control slipping and she pulled away.
“River? We have to talk about us.”
River sighed and nodded looking very sad.
“I saw Seth ask for you. You said yes.”
Nola gasped and then nodded.
“I’m in love with him. He gave me a ring. I told him I would marry him.”
River looked into her eyes and nodded.
Nola steeled herself. “I know you are in love too. With Becca.”
River’s head snapped up and he looked stricken.
“She is my brother’s woman. I can not…”
Nola took his face in her hands.
“You can deny it all you want River. But I know how you look at her, You love her and there is no changing that.”
River finally had to accept the bitter truth. He was in love with his best friend’s wife.
Nola watched his ears burn with humiliation and she felt sorry for both of them. They were trying so hard to be a couple. Too hard. There would be no connection between them for they both loved another.
Nola knew River would be a generous lover! She just knew it! And there was certainly was no disguising the iron hardness between his legs. She had felt that part of a man grow and grind into her thigh before. Men bodies couldn’t betray them like a woman’s could. It didn’t mean they were in love. Nola kissed him again still loving his flavor. Nola groaned and released him feeling like a hussy hearing him unconsciously whisper her sister’s name.
“No! I will not dishonor you River or betray myself. You are a good man, but I know who you really love and it is not me. I will never be Becca.”
River’s head lifted
up to stare at her. Nola nodded as River sighed and nodded.
“You are right, Nola. But she is Harrison’s woman. That is why I sent for you.”
River watched her face and his heart showed its sadness in his eyes.
Nola smiled wanting so badly to love this man but…her heart said otherwise. The choice had been made for weeks now.
River softly smiled and nodded acknowledging defeat.
“Seth is a good man. I know you care for him. You love him.”
Nola stood up feeling a wanting like she had never experienced. Nola was surprised that her desire for River was so strong when he truly wanted her sister and she wanted Seth. Yes, yes, she wanted Seth. That was a forever love.
River stood and brushed her cheek with his fingers.
“When you are ready, will you marry Seth? If…or do you still wish to marry me?”
Nola brushed a tear from her eye.
“I’m sorry Still River. You are a wonderful man but Seth…Seth stole my heart. I will marry him.”
River nodded and released her.
“He is a very good man. Bring back the blanket to me and we will stop courting. The ponies are yours to keep.”
Nola smiled and nodded as she brushed off her dress and apron starting back to the ranch house. She knew she couldn’t marry Still River when she loved Seth. And she wasn’t about to tell him about her meeting Seth yesterday in the forest and him asking to marry her. But he knew anyway. Her heart felt guilt and a deep sadness for Still River. This is such a mess!
She was feeling real deep feelings for Seth since they met at church and she knew he truly loved her. She also knew she felt only desire for River. Not the deeper affection she was feeling for Seth. Her guilt crashed on her and she started to cry. She increased her speed to the front door.
And now? River had finally admitted it. He was in love with Becca. Poor, poor man.
Becca watched her sister run to her room and slam the door. Becca wiped her hands and knew the ax had fallen. River would not marry Nola. Seth apparently had won her sister.
Becca felt like she wanted to run to River and hold him. Let him know that everything would work out. But she couldn’t do that! She was a married woman. It didn’t matter she was married to a man that wasn’t there.
Becca bit her lip knowing her husband no longer was in her dreams at night. They just slept together for two weeks. Two weeks! Never talking…never making future plans. They really didn’t know each other. Becca dreamed at night. She only dreamed of the ranch, the children and…Still River.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
River woke up a week later with a spirit wary of the day. Something was in the air and he didn’t like it. He rose putting on his deerskins and a billowy shirt. He tied his beaded belt around his waist carrying his pouch. He slid his knife in his knee high moccasins and one in the sheath at his belt. The cloth used as his head band was clean and he tied his hair back. Looking on the mirror, he was sure he was looking more like his father every day and grunted.
He slid down the ladder to the loft and got busy watering and feeding the horses waiting for the dark clouds in the southwest. They were rolling and churning looking like an upside down boiling pot of gray blues, gray greens and dark grays. River hoped Father Sky would not be too angry.
Opening the barn doors after milking the cow he looked at the sky not liking the blackness that was approaching. His instincts were screaming at him to protect and be on guard.
It had just begun raining lightly but River had lived around this area long enough to know it could turn ugly anytime.
He put on his duster and sprinted across the yard to the main house listening to his stomach growl. He was hungry and it was time to eat.
Breakfast was a somber affair now that River was back in his regular clothes forgetting courting, but he ate like a horse. Sipping his third cup of coffee he sighed at feeling full and he pushed from the table.
“River? You promised to show me your place today. Remember?”
Nola smiled at him. River nodded and frowned.
“We will wait Nola. It is not good day to ride too far. I feel…very bad weather coming.”
Nola shrugged at the rain that suddenly started coming in waves.
“Okay. Whenever you say. But it’s just a summer shower. It will pass.”
He rose and walked out the door thinking about the things he needed to do and headed for the barn. Over the next hour he was constantly watching the sky and waiting. He felt a great heaviness in the air.
Nola walked to the barn to watch him twist a lasso into shape when a crash of thunder and a strong wind slammed a barn door. The rain started pouring down in buckets.
Then as if the angry wind shook its head and growled, it got darker outside looking like any evening and then hail started. The size of the ice balls became big and River jumped up and looked to the sky.
The greenish clouds were rolling and churning angrily as the hail continued. He knew then what was coming. The wind reeked of it, the animals were jumpy and telling him but he had been too besotted with thinking of Becca and breakfast to listen. Damn it! It will be very bad!
Covering Nola with his heavy duster he yanked her across the yard to the house. They entered the house with a bang of the door from the wind.
Becca ran to them.
“Are you alright? What is happening?”
River talked fast.
“No time! Go now to cellar! Now Becca!”
His eyes searched the room and he spotted Mac. River started shouting orders to him in Sioux and Mac ran for water and food to put in the cellar. He got candles and lamps and Mazie. River ordered Becca and Nola downstairs in the cellar as he quickly banked the fire in the stove.
As quickly as it started…it stopped. The air was thick and all became deadly quiet.
The air thickened more and River tasted the air knowing a tornado was being born without looking at the clouds becoming a ugly green color mixed with the dark.
Nola was smiling.
“Ah good it is over.”
River shook his head pushing them to the cellar.
“NO! Go NOW! Into cellar! Quick!”
His words seemed to anger the air. It was then they heard the horrible wail and the rumble of a twister hitting ground. River practically pushed them all downstairs.
“I go to try safe animals. Will return. Close door now!”
And he was gone.
Nola stopped at the foot of the stairs and turned to run back in the house. Becca grabbed her arm.
“What are you doing? You heard River! Stay here Nola!”
Nola yanked her arm away.
“BECCA! My ring! I have to get my engagement ring! I can’t loose it! I have to go!”
She broke away from Becca’s grasp and went up the stairs with Becca grabbing at her skirts. Nola pulled her dress from Becca’s hands!
“NO! Becca! I have to! I can’t loose it!”
Nola ran into the kitchen hearing Becca scream her name over the wail of the wind. Becca screamed as the roof shook and heard the breaking of glass. She waited for Nola as Mac pulled on her skirts yelling for her to get in the cellar. She started to cry as she fought to close the door and bar it.
River made it to the barn releasing all the animals and ran back to the cellar kicking on the door. The doors swung open and he jumped in slamming the doors and setting the bar.
Becca was holding the children screaming at him. Then he understood as he looked in the lantern light for Nola. She was not there. Becca was screaming something about her saving something and had run out of the cellar. River began to panic.
Nola had run to get something she wanted to save? No! NO! NO!
Becca was screaming and River knew that if he left the cellar now, he would most likely die.
He rose and ran to the door opening it and fought with the wind already showing the anger of the wind. He felt Becca’s arms around his waist screaming for him to stay pulling on him.
/> “NO! You’re not going after her! She has to know to find cover! If you go for her…you’ll die! I couldn’t bear that! You can’t die, River! Don’t go! Don’t go River!”
River made his decision and fought with the wind to close the door and set the bar.
Becca was sobbing as she hung onto him with the grip of terror. And he pulled her into his arms and they held each other for dear life.
The angry wind roaring like a train at full speed passing by them. The rattle of the cellar door shook dust through the heavy wood planks. It sounded like the world was coming to an end.
Glass broke, wood was splintering and the roar of a giant funnel trying to kill all in its path was all you could hear. They clung together with the children as the cellar door continued to rattle and shake in the tornado’s fury.
It lasted for only a few minutes as Becca cried in River’s arms. Crying for her stubborn sister who was determined to save something precious to her.
The last thing they did was scream at each other in anger because Becca wanted her to stay and Nola was determined to go. Becca blamed herself that Nola hadn’t come back.
Mac and Mazie hung onto River and he comforted them with his touch. He finally sat on the ground as tears fell for the woman who was at one time to be his wife.
Nola. Stubborn, beautiful Nola. He knew she was dead.
The angry wind took no prisoners when he screamed his war cry. In an instant it was quiet.
An eerie silence hung in the air. Light could now be seen through the cracks in the cellar door. River stood and went to the door as the children followed him. He pushed them back.
“Wait till I say come. Mac? Comfort your mother and your sister. I will see what has happened here. I will call when it is safe to come out. It is very dangerous now.”
He opened the door and was confronted with boards and tree limbs across the cellar door. He pushed them away and stepped out to the floor of the laundry room. The walls were still standing, he could see pots of cooked food still on the stove. Plates were still on the table. But the windows and the doors were gone as well as the roof.