The Cowboy Tutor

by Linda Ford

  She paused. “What was it like growing up with three brothers?”

  He thought of Louisa, who didn’t have the energy to do anything vigorous, and Sally, who was so quiet and shy she almost disappeared into the woodwork. Amusement filled him. “I expect a lot different than growing up with two sisters.”

  She chuckled. “I would think so. I want to know about it. Were you mischievous?”

  “We were a handful. It’s a wonder we didn’t drive my mother crazy.”

  “Why? What did you do?”

  He tipped his head and pretended to study her seriously. “If I tell you, you might decide you want nothing more to do with me.”

  Her eyes sparkled. “Maybe. Maybe not. Why not take a chance and see?”

  “Okay. First, let me say that Levi managed to stay out of trouble better than the rest of us. Being the youngest by a few years, Mother managed to keep him closer to home. But the three of us—me, Carson and Redford—we ran wild. Nothing bad, of course.”

  “Of course not.” She looked suitably doubtful. “But details, sir. I’m waiting for details.”

  He could not refuse the interest flashing in her eyes. “We used to tie ropes to trees and see how far we could swing from one to the other. When we were much younger, you understand.”

  “Of course,” she murmured.

  “Sounds innocent enough, but we kept getting bolder, making the distance between ropes longer. One day we made it to our greatest challenge. I was the biggest and I made it safely.” He chuckled. “I really had to reach and guessed Carson, who was close in size, might make it. He did. By then we both knew Redford was too small, but we nudged each other and didn’t say anything. You see, he was always insistent he could do anything we could. So we let him try.”

  “Tsk. How badly was he hurt?”

  “Would you believe he broke both arms?”

  She gasped. “He did? How awful. And to think you could have stopped him. I hope you were suitably punished.”

  He roared with laughter. “He didn’t break anything, though we had a hard time explaining away the bruises all over his body.”

  She stared in disbelief. Then her eyes narrowed. “You tricked me.”

  He nodded, his heart brimming with amusement.

  She laughed—a rich, full-throated sound. “I pity your poor mother. I expect you made her life…interesting. Challenging.”

  “Mother was always a good sport. She understood the difference between innocent, boyish fun and maliciousness. Beats me how she could have been sucked in by that shyster.”

  She sobered and looked ready to tell him again how he should leave things in God’s hands.

  He did not want to hear it. “We gave the teacher a heart attack one day. Carson had a pet mouse he carried around. I didn’t want to be outdone by my brother, so I tamed one, too, though I have to say mice aren’t easy to tame and even harder to keep in one place. We decided to take them to school one day.”

  Her expression flared with surprise and shock.

  “Don’t ask why. It seemed like a reasonable thing at the time. We put them in our overalls.” He patted his chest to indicate the breast pocket. “They both wiggled loose while we were standing saying the Lord’s Prayer and ran up to the front. Mrs. Porter opened her eyes to see the little guys scurry across her feet. Boy, did she scream.”

  Madge shuddered. “I’m beginning to think I was fortunate to have sisters.”

  “Our punishment was to memorize three chapters in the Bible. And we didn’t get to choose them. I can still say them. ‘In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God—’ You want to hear it all?”

  Her laughter again tugged at his heart. “I’ll pass.” She grew more serious. “When did you become a Christian?”

  “That teacher who made us memorize Bible passages?”

  She nodded.

  “She also told us she forgave us and went on to explain how some things aren’t only silly tricks. They are sins and only God can forgive them. We’d heard it before, both at home and at church, but when Mrs. Porter told us, it made sense and both Carson and I knelt at our desks and asked Jesus to forgive us.”

  “That’s sweet. But Jesus is so much more than a means of forgiveness.”

  “I know what you’re going to say. Let’s leave it for now.”

  “I just wish you would see how God can be trusted to take care of justice.”

  “As the oldest son, I have a duty to protect my mother.”

  Her eyes grew dark and troubled, but she only shook her head.

  Knowing one sure way to divert her from the topic that created dissent between them, he said, “Tell me how you became a Christian.”

  “My father taught us well about God’s love and care. He always came to our rooms and said our evening prayers. One night he simply asked if I had yet decided to be part of God’s family. I said I’d like to be.”

  “You did it to please your father?”

  “In part, but I truly believed the things I had learned and I was ready. He did the same for Louisa and Sally. We could never figure out how he knew when each of us was ready.”

  “Sounds like he knew his girls. Just like Mother knew her boys. You know, we could never fool her. She always was aware of when we’d done something we shouldn’t have.”

  “What about your father? You never speak of him.”

  “He died when I was young—shortly after Levi was born. I can barely remember him. Mostly I remember being the man of the family, making sure Mother and the younger boys were taken care of.” He’d failed in his responsibilities more than once, but never to the degree he had in letting Gratton steal Mother’s home.

  Madge watched him closely, and he realized his regret and bitterness likely showed on his face. He didn’t want to hear any more about letting God manage without his help.

  “I believe it’s time to go to the play.” He paid the bill, and they left the restaurant.

  “It’s in the town hall.” Again she rested her hand in the crook of his elbow.

  Again, he pressed her arm close.

  “Thank you for the lovely meal and for telling me more about yourself.”

  “You’re welcome. I enjoyed learning more about you, too.” He would never get tired of listening to her, hearing of her childhood. He would never get tired of her company. Perhaps today was the start of them becoming more than mere friends.

  Chapter Ten

  Madge made no objection when Judd pressed her arm to his side. Why would she? She loved it. She wanted this evening to last forever. Too soon she’d have to return home to reality, to face Mother’s faintly chiding glance and Louisa’s…only, something about her sister had changed. Maybe putting aside self-pity, as she’d confessed, had made her more generous. She’d shown unusual kindness by seeing Madge got her chores done in time to attend the play. But it seemed more than that. Why hadn’t she protested when Madge had said she and Justin were going to the play? Was she that certain of his interest? Or was she pretending a generosity she didn’t feel? But she’d never known Louisa to be deceitful, so she had to believe her actions were genuinely kind. But what did it mean?

  Determined not to deal with it before she had to, she pushed the questions aside. For now she would accept the pleasure of the evening and face the consequences when she must.

  She enjoyed her time with Judd, seeing him as a man who wanted to protect his loved ones. The idea thrilled her to the core. Yet she feared for him. Feared his path would lead him into danger. At the very least, would cause him to disobey God. But she had said all she could. She’d pressed him to trust God. She must do the same in this situation.

  A crowd gathered at the hall doorway, everyone jostling good-naturedly to be admitted first. Judd dropped his arm across her shoulders and pulled her close to shield her from some young man who got a little too enthusiastic with his pushing.

  Her heart swelled with pleasure at his gesture. She breathed deeply of his scent. A warm sense of well-
being filled her limbs with a delightful melting sensation.

  They edged into the hall, paused at the ticket booth to purchase admission, and then he led her down the aisle to a place where they would see and hear well.

  They settled in, and he reached for her hand, pulled it back into the bend of his arm, then rested his palm over her fingers.

  She ducked her head to hide the pleasure she suspected would be all too evident in her face. Tried to tell herself it was only because he felt responsible to protect those under his care.

  He leaned close to whisper, “I haven’t offended you, have I?”

  Swallowing back a strange tightness in her throat, she looked into his dark eyes, not inches away. He seemed uncertain, and she suddenly cared not if he saw how much she enjoyed this closeness, but her voice refused to work. She could only shake her head.

  “Good.” With a wide grin he settled back, though she didn’t miss the fact that he leaned closer.

  The lights dimmed and the play began. It was funny and touching. The audience laughed and clapped and cheered. For Madge, the magic was multiplied each time she glanced at Judd and met his eyes, sharing the moment with him. More than once, their eyes locked, and for an instant they were alone in the room, unaware of the others, their interest in the entertainment forgotten.

  Thankfully, the audience would make a noise reminding her they were not alone, forcing her to turn and concentrate on the activity on the stage.

  It ended to a standing ovation and several curtain calls.

  Judd stepped into the aisle and waited for her to move in front of him. Everyone pushed toward the exit. He cupped her shoulder with his big, warm hand and guided her toward the door. She was protected, sheltered by his body.

  She would have gladly stood in the crowd forever, pressed to him, guarded by him. But all too soon they broke into fresh air. With no more excuse to stand so close, Madge moved a step away.

  Judd caught her hand and pulled her to his side. Their pathway led them past the park, and at his suggestion she gladly accompanied him down the shadowed lanes.

  “Did you enjoy the play?” he murmured.

  “It was fun.” She’d enjoyed his company even more.

  “I sure laughed when they went to the garden and he tried to tell her he still loved her, but when he sat on the wheelbarrow it broke.”

  Everyone had laughed. “They seemed to be plagued with nothing but disasters.”

  “Yet they did manage to admit their love.”

  “But one thing bothers me. Why did they waste so many years?” The main characters had been childhood sweethearts, but the man had wandered away and married another. The play took place seventeen years later when he returned, after his wife died, to find the leading lady an old maid owner of a huge ranch. “Besides, didn’t it look like he had suddenly found out she had this big ranch? As if he was interested in her riches.” As soon as she spoke the words, she wished she could pull them back. The last thing she wanted was to remind him of his mother and his quest to see the gold digger man brought to justice. Quickly she rushed on before he realized what she’d said. “I know if I loved someone, I would tell them. I wouldn’t want to waste seventeen years.”

  He reached for her hand and squeezed it. “Me, neither.” Then he stopped and pulled her into his arms, looking down into her face.

  Her heart rapped so hard, she was sure he would feel it.

  “In fact, it’s time I said I think I might be falling in love with you.”

  “But…” You are supposed to fall in love with Louisa. Madge had done all she could to stay out of the way so it would happen. Hadn’t she? What would Mother say? Louisa?

  But the arguments fell to the ground like last year’s leaves.

  She had just vowed she would tell someone if she loved them, but her mouth refused to work. All she could do was bury her face against his chest, smiling as she felt his heartbeat beneath her cheek.

  He seemed to understand her unspoken message and wrapped her more tightly to him, their hearts beating as one. Then he shifted and caught her chin with his strong fingers, tipping her face upward.

  Even in the dim light, she saw the eager question in his eyes. For answer she stood on tiptoe and lifted her head. He read her intention and quickly claimed her lips. This time she had nothing to fear, nothing to hide, nothing to hold her back, and she put her whole heart and all her love into the kiss. He gave equally as much back, carrying her upward on the wings of love and joy.

  He broke away with a sigh. “I think we better go home.”

  She snuggled to his side. She was in no hurry, but Mother would worry if they were too late. She hated the thought of facing Mother, though, so she clung to his arm and pressed her cheek to his shoulder as they returned to the car.

  He held his door open and retained hold of her hand as she slipped in, preventing her from sliding across the seat to the window. He started the car and negotiated his way out of town, then used only one hand to drive—the other pulling Madge closer.

  She didn’t object in the least. A whole hour together to enjoy his company. She let her head rest on his shoulder.

  Their conversation often fell silent on the drive. She was content simply to be with him. He hadn’t exactly said he loved her, but she knew he meant it. She didn’t understand her hesitation to confess her love, then smiled as she recalled something her father had said. “Never tell a man right off you love him. Wait until he commits himself.” His advice made her decide to wait. Once spoken, the words became a vow.

  When he started talking about how he’d like to buy the Cotton place and fix it up, she knew it was only a matter of time until Judd would make the commitment.

  He gave a mocking laugh. “’Course, I could never afford to buy it from the bank.”

  Madge said nothing. Many young couples were putting off marriage because of financial difficulties. She did not want to be another. All she could do was ask God to provide a way for their love to thrive and come to completion in marriage.

  She chuckled. Here she was thinking marriage, and he had only said he might be falling in love. It was because she had already fallen solidly, irrevocably in love. It was such a sweet, overpowering feeling it couldn’t be dimmed, even by the idea of facing Mother and confessing her feelings.

  “What’s so funny?”

  “Nothing. It’s just been a great night. I will never forget it.”

  His arm tightened around her. “Me, neither.”

  All too soon they arrived at home. The yard lay in darkness, allowing him to step out and pull her after him without fear of anyone seeing him as Judd.

  He leaned his hands against the car, one arm on either side of her, preventing her from hurrying away, though she had no intention of doing so.

  She would gladly remain here sheltered by his arms, feeling his breath on her cheek, loving him so much it made her shiver.

  He lowered his head.

  She met him halfway, clutching at his shirtfront. He kissed her thoroughly. After a satisfying moment, he lifted his head, breaking the contact. She sucked in air.

  “Thank you for a nice evening.” His voice was thick, and she buried the sweetness of the sound in her heart.

  “You’re welcome.”

  He kissed her again, quickly, then backed away. “Good night.”

  She hesitated. But he was right. Time to head indoors. She brushed his chin lightly, delighting in the feel of his thick beard that had tickled her as they’d kissed. What would his face feel like shaven? She recalled a strong jaw and chiseled chin from their first encounter. Remembering that incident, she chuckled.

  “What’s amusing you now?”

  “I was remembering how I almost bowled you off your feet the first time I saw you.”

  He cupped her head between his palms. “You certainly left an unforgettable impression. Now go to bed.”

  With a smile on her face and a song in her heart, she crossed the yard. And came to a decision. She would ke
ep her love a secret from the others for now. Until Judd revealed his true identity and Mother realized there was no Justin for Louisa to marry.

  Madge’s work seemed lighter over the next few days. She sang as she hung sheets, and she ran up the stairs as if the baskets she carried were empty. Every time she passed the living room, Judd glanced up and smiled at her.

  She tried to be restrained, for she didn’t want Mother or her sisters to notice. But they must have wondered when they looked outside and observed her staring into space, a smile on her lips and her work forgotten.

  Today was her afternoon to work at Gratton’s. His mother was due to arrive, and George had asked her to come by and help her settle in.

  Alone in the car with no one to hear and wonder, she sang. If this was how being in love felt, they ought to capture the feeling and sell it to sick people, who would recover instantly and begin dancing.

  She laughed at her silliness and sobered as she parked in front of the Gratton house. She looked forward to meeting Mrs. Gratton.

  She smoothed her hair as best she could, stepped out and brushed her skirt, then marched to the house and knocked.

  “Come in,” a gentle voice called.

  She stepped inside. A silver-haired woman she recognized from George’s picture sat in a high-backed chair watching the door as if she’d been there for hours.

  “You must be Madge. I’ve been waiting for you. I’m George’s mother. I suppose you think you should call me Mrs. Gratton, but I don’t want you to. I much prefer my given name, so call me Grace.”

  Madge giggled. George was right. His mother’s body might be somewhat frail, but her spirit was obviously not.

  “George made me promise on the Bible—really. On the Bible, if you can imagine. As if he couldn’t trust his own mother’s word any other way. What a naughty child. I should have spanked him more when he was young.” Her twinkling eyes informed Madge she thought nothing of the sort. “Oh, yes. I started to say he made me promise not to unpack a thing but to wait for you. So here you are, and now we can unpack.” She pushed to her feet a little slowly, as if her joints hurt, but she picked up pace as she headed for her bedroom.