“All right, Eathen. Thank you.” Charlotte looked straight ahead as she walked from the room.
“Hyah’s yo’ coffee, Mist’ Dave.” Hattie placed the hot cup in his hands. “Ah guess you kin he’p yo’seff ter some cookies, too.”
“Thank you, Hattie.” Dave forced a smile on his face as he picked out a frosted tree-shaped cookie. “If I’d known about all this bakin’, I woulda been here a long time ago.”
“Humph,” she snorted, turning away.
Eathen sat Jessie back in her highchair and helped himself to a handful of cookies. “Bring your coffee along, Dave, and we’ll go into the den.”
As they passed the parlor door, Dave tried to catch Charlotte’s eye, but she kept her face turned away from him. He knew the trouble he invited if Eathen should see the tender way his eyes caressed her, but he had to risk it. She filled his every waking moment. That she belonged to someone else didn’t matter. If she loved her husband, she would never have allowed him to hold her. She would never have allowed him to almost make love to her. A man could not steal a woman unless she was ready to be stolen.
Sitting in the middle of the floor, surrounded with rolls of colored paper, Charlotte tried to concentrate on the task at hand, but it was no use. The image of what had happened between her and Eathen kept replaying itself in her mind. She still loved him. She still needed him with a desire so strong that even the fear of another pregnancy quieted in the storm of feelings. If he had not compared her with his other women, she would be in his arms right now, instead of sitting here alone thinking about it.
The soft strains of a Christmas carol came to her from across the room. Glancing up, she saw the smiling face of her husband. He had one hand on his chest and the other outstretched as he danced his way across the room towards her.
“Care to join me, Mrs. Thornton?” He wiggled his dark brows.
Charlotte picked up one of the small packages. “I need to finish these presents, Eathen.”
Unwilling to be deterred, he lifted her to her feet to draw her into his arms. The package fell, unnoticed, from her hand. As they moved around the room in time to the music, she saw the sad eyes of Dave Houston watching them.
“Eathen, please. I don’t have time for this,” she whispered, trying without success to pull away.
“We got a whole week to finish gettin’ those presents wrapped, darlin. Right now, I’m in the mood for dancin’ with my beautiful wife.” He twirled her away from him, only to pull her back against his broad chest a moment later.
A happy squeal and childish twitter brought laughter from both of them at the sight of Hattie dancing around the room with a gleeful Jessie in her arms.
“If you want to keep up with this family, I guess you’re gonna have to grab a chair,” Eathen called out to Dave as he stood watching them from the doorway.
“Either that or go on into Cut Bank and find a live partner,” Dave returned, his cold eyes riveted on Charlotte’s flushed and happy face.
“Dat’s whut Ah’d do effen Ah wuz you, Mist’ Dave.” Hattie smiled over at him, watching the resentment covering his face at the sight of Charlotte dancing in the arms of her husband. “It ain’ good fer a man wid yo’ looks ter bes all by hisseff.” She twirled herself around, bringing a fresh squeal of laughter from Jessie. “Gwan an’ finds yo’seff sum lil’ gal ter keeps you wahm on dese cole nights. ‘Cause it bes fer sho you ain’ gwing ter ketch one hangin’ roun’ hyrah.”
“I think that goes without sayin’, Hattie,” he growled, snatching his hat from the rack.
“Tell you what, Houston,” Eathen held up a hand as Dave reached out for his coat. “The weather bein’ what it is, it’s too damn cold to get any work done anyhow. Tell the boys they have tomorrow off and all of you go on into town. Just tell who ever’s tendin’ bar, the drinks and,” he lowered his voice, glancing over his shoulder, “anything else y’all might want’s, on me.”
“That’s damn nice of you, Eathen,” Dave replied in a loud voice, shoving his arms into the sleeves of his heavy wool coat and flipping the collar up around his neck. “I expect the ladies are gettin’ pretty lonesome by now.” He smiled, pulling on his leather gloves. “I’ll be sure to pass along your regards.”
As the door closed behind him, Charlotte felt hot tears touch her cheeks.
“Now where were we?” he laughed.
“I’m tired, Eathen,” she told him, one trembling hand covering her mouth, “I’m going to bed.”
“What the hell happened?” Eathen stared in confusion at her stiff back. “I thought you wanted to have some fun.”
“Goodnight, Eathen,” she whispered, continuing on her way up the stairs.
“Did I miss somethin’ here?” He spread his hands wide.
“Miz Charlotte heered whut Mist’ Dave say ‘bout dem other womens.” Hattie patted Jessie’s back as the child laid her head against her broad shoulder.
“Well if that don’t beat all.” He shook his head in amazement. “I pay for that son-of-a-bitch to have a good time and he goes outta his way to ruin mine.”
“Sho look dat way.” Hattie swayed back and forth as the baby lifted her head.
“Come on, sweetheart,” Eathen held out his arms. Already half-asleep, Jessie reached out to him.
“I’ll see she gets put to bed, Hattie.” Eathen pulled Jessie’s thumb out of her mouth. “You can go on and finish with what you had to do.”
“Whut you wants me ter do wid all dem gif’s an’ papers Miz Charlotte lef’ on de flo’?”
“Leave them right where they are. Charlotte made the mess. She can damn sure clean it up.”
“Awright, you’s de boss.”
“You’re damn right I am,” he delivered over his shoulder. “And it’s about time she realized it too.”
Without bothering to knock, Eathen walked into Charlotte’s room. “Your daughter needs to get ready for bed.”
“I know that, Eathen.” She averted her tear-stained face as she held out her arms for the squirming child. As she made to lift her from her father’s arms, Jessie squealed, refusing to be taken.
“It’s time to go to bed, Jessie,” Eathen told her.
“No!” Jessie cried, clinging ever harder to her father’s neck.
“It seems she wants you to tend to her.” Charlotte stepped back.
“That’s fine with me. I don’t mind takin’ care of her.” Eathen walked over to place Jessie in her bed. “You get her nightgown ready while I wash her off. Maybe between the two of us, we’ll get her settled in.”
At the quiet tapping on the bedroom door, Charlotte called out for Hattie to come in.
“Ah brung her bottle,” Hattie murmured, smiling as she watched the two sharing in their daughter’s bedtime preparations.
“Thank you, Hattie.” Eathen pulled off Jessie’s shoes. “We appreciate it.”
“Dat’s awright. Effin der’s anything else Ah kin do, jes’ call.”
“As a matter of fact, Hattie, there is. First thing tomorrow you can move Jessie’s things into the bedroom next door.” Holding both of Jessie’s hands, he wiped her face with the warm washcloth. “She’s gettin’ old enough to have her own room,” he stated in a matter-of-fact tone, watching Charlotte out of the corner of his eye. “I don’t see any reason to put it off.”
“Eathen, I think it’s too early for her to be away from me,” Charlotte spoke up. “I won’t be able to sleep if she isn’t right here where I can hear her.”
“Just leave the door ajar.” He took the fresh gown Charlotte held out to him. “She’ll let you know if you’re needed.”
“Mist’ Eathen’s right. W’en dat youngin’ want sumpin’ ain’ nuthin’ gwing ter quiets her less’n she gits it.”
“All right then, Eathen.” Charlotte squared her shoulders. “I’ll allow Jessie to have her own room, but just as long as I think she’s adjustin’ to bein’ away from me. If she don’t like bein’ alone, then I’ll move her right back here with no
problems from either of you.”
“That’s fair enough,” Eathen agreed, pulling the soft blanket up over his sleepy-eyed daughter.
“An’ effin Ah’s you, Mist’ Eathen,” Hattie leaned in close on the pretense of smoothing out Jessie’s hair, “ah’d bes fer movin’ mahseff back hyrah jes’ as quick.”
“All in good time, Hattie,” he told her. “All in good time.”
Chapter Ten
Shortly after dawn, Charlotte felt herself being shaken from her slumber.
“Come on, honey, wake up. It’s Christmas.” Eathen tugged the covers from his sleeping wife.
“Eathen, it’s barely daylight.” Charlotte looked around trying to focus. “Why are you up so early?”
“Jessie’s excited to see what Santa left for her.”
Cocking her head to one side, she listened for any sound coming from her daughter’s room. When all remained silent, she yanked the covers back up over her shivering body. “Jessie ain’ even awake yet!”
“She ain’t jumpin’ up and down, but I’m sure she’s awake.” Eathen shook her uncovered foot. “I’ll just go get her while you’re gettin ready.”
“Eathen, if you wake her before she’s ready, she’ll be cranky all day.” She yanked her foot beneath the covers. “Go back to bed and wait for her to wake up on her own.”
As she felt the bed sag beside her, Charlotte pulled the covers away from her face to view her husband grinning at her. “I was talkin’ ‘bout your bed, Eathen.”
“I know. I thought as long as I’m already here, I’ll stretch out and wait for her to wake up. Go on back to sleep.” He settled the covers back up over her. “I’ll get her when she stirs.”
With an exasperated sigh, Charlotte turned onto her side to fall back to sleep.
“Awright you sleepy haids, it’s time ter sees whut ole Santy done lef’ fer eve’body,” Hattie called out.
Snuggling closer to the warm body lying next to her, Charlotte opened her eyes to find herself wrapped in the arms of her husband.
“Good morning,” Eathen brushed his lips across her cheek.
“Eathen, what do you think you’re doin’?” Charlotte disentangled herself from his lusty embrace. Then seeing Hattie standing in the center of the room, her arms filled with a squirming Jessie, she squealed, “Why is everyone in my room? And why did you wake her, Hattie? I just finished tellin’ her father to leave her until she woke up on her own, now you go and bother her.”
“Miz Charlotte, Ah din’ wakes her. Ah heerd her movin’ ‘round in der, sos Ah peeked in an’ sho nuff, der she wuz,” Hattie kissed a loud smack on the side of Jessie’s face, “jes’ waitin’ fer ole Hattie ter come gits her.”
“Then I guess it’s time for everybody to get up and see what old Saint Nick left for them,” Charlotte laughed, flinging back the covers and snatching up her robe from off the foot of the bed.
“Wait, Charlotte! I want to light the candles on the tree before you bring Jessie in.” Eathen scooted past her.
“She sho gwing ter bes surprised w’en she sees all dem presents unner de tree.”
“There was a lot more I wanted to get for her, but I think she’ll be all right with what little she did get. After all, like you pointed out,” Charlotte finished tying the robe around her waist, “she won’t know the difference.”
At the sight meeting her eyes, Charlotte drew in her breath. Where there had been but a few presents stacked beneath the tree the night before, she now saw everything from rocking horses to doll houses, complete with enough dolls to keep even the most fussy child happy.
“Looks like ole Santa thinks the Thorntons have the best little girl in the whole world.” Eathen helped the toddling baby onto the nearest rocking horse.
“My god, Eathen!” Charlotte exclaimed, her eyes wide with disbelief, “what did you do, buy every toy in the store?”
“Of course not. I had to leave some for our neighbors. Hey,” he cried, diverting her attention away from him, “she ain’t the only one who got presents. I think you’ll find yours and Hattie’s names on a lotta them packages too.”
“Doan bes scoldin’ him no mo’, Miz Charlotte, jes see whut der is fer us.” Hattie settled her large bulk into a chair nearest the tree.
Throwing up her hands, Charlotte plopped down into the chair next to Hattie, focusing her attention on the large decorated pine trimmed with mauve-colored ribbons and her prized glass-blown Christmas bulbs Eathen had ordered for her from Vienna, Austria some years back. The subtle movement of Jessie’s rocking shook the heavy boughs, setting the colored glass bulbs into motion. As they twirled, each caught the soft light from the flickering candles. She was so moved by their beauty, she felt some of her anger at Eathen fade. Charlotte lifted a large and lovely package to her lap, viewing the name printed in bold letters on the small tag.
“This one’s for you, Hattie.” She handed the wide-eyed woman her gift.
“It bes awmos’ ter pretty ter opens, Miz Charlotte. But ah’ll force mahseff,” she laughed, ripping the beautiful paper away. Lifting away the lid, she peered inside and drew in her breath. “Mist’ Eathen, Ah doan b’lieve mah eyes!” She withdrew a delicately-crocheted red shawl.
“I’m glad you like it, Hattie,” he told her, watching Charlotte as she peeled away the tape from each side of a brightly ribboned gift.
“I never saw anyone open a present as slow as you, Charlotte. You got to be the most patient person in the world.”
“Dat be de truth.” Hattie wrapped her new shawl around her shoulders, running her hands over its softness. “Ah kain tear mine open fas’ nuff.”
“Me neither, Hattie. Soon as I have Jessie all settled with her toys ‘round her, I’m gonna come see what old Fat Boy left for me under that tree.”
“Ah doan know whut ole Santy lef’ fer you, but der be two unner der frum me.”
“Eathen,” Charlotte spoke up. “Where in the world did you find this?”
“I didn’t find it anywhere, Charlotte.” He moved over beside her. “I had it made for you.” He watched as she ran her hands over the small box. “Do you like it?”
“It’s beautiful,” she whispered, staring at the small carved ranch house surrounded by lawn that had been placed inside a thick glass ball.
“If you look close, you’ll see it’s just like our ranch. Now turn it over. See, it sprinkles snow. And on the very bottom, there’s a little knob with which to wind it up.”
Within moments the tiny keys picked out the soft strains of a popular country song.
“What a beautiful idea, Eathen. And, how very thoughtful of you.”
Leaning down, he placed a light kiss on the side of her neck. “Do you forgive me for all the presents I got for Jessie?”
“I think you went a little overboard, but I guess this one time won’t hurt.”
“We never went all out for Christmas before, Charlotte. Oh, we each gave presents and had a nice dinner and decorated the house.” His eyes skimmed over the lit tapers, placed one on each side of an old fashioned sleigh and reindeer as they skimmed over the cotton-made snow on the mantel. And higher up, the large wreath with pine cones and holly berries, wrapped with ribbon and sticks of cinnamon, hanging on the gray-stone chimney. The sight never failed to give him a feeling of warmth. His blue eyes lingered on the little girl who continued to rock back and forth. “Now that Jessie’s arrived, everything’s changed.”Getting to his feet, he kept one hand on Charlotte’s shoulder. “I couldn’t wait for mornin’ to get here so we could show her everything she had waitin’ for her under the tree.” His voice rose with excitement. “I even enjoyed buyin’ for you and Hattie.” Eathen grinned as she looked up at him. “Funny how havin’ a young’un in the house makes a person act so silly.”
“Jessie’s changed this household a lot.” Charlotte smiled, as her daughter slid off the low-to-the-floor rocking horse to toddle over to another of her toys. “We waited a lotta years for her, Eathen. I guess we earned th
e right to enjoy her. But I am serious when I say I want her to grow up with values. If you lay everything at her feet, she’ll grow up believin’ the world’s hers for the askin’.”
“When she gets older,” Eathen’s deep voice rang with conviction, “I’ll make sure she knows the difference. For now, we’ll blame it all on Santa. That way, she’ll grow up knowin’ she has to behave or, come Christmas, she won’t find anything under the tree for her.”
“Mist’ Eathen,” Hattie handed him a present then returned to finish opening one of her own, “aws dat chile has ter says is, Ah wants, an’ you gits. An’ doan be foolin’ yo’seff dat she doan knows it needer.”
“Hattie, Jessie’s only a baby. I think you’re givin’ her too much credit. Granted,” Eathen held up a hand as he saw Hattie cock her head sideways to stare at him, “she is my daughter, but even then she’s too little to know how to manipulate her daddy.”
“You’re forgettin’ one important factor here, Eathen. Jessie may still be a baby, but she’s a female.” Charlotte laughed. “That makes all the difference.”
“Since you put it that way, darlin’,” the lines at the corners of his eyes deepened, “I’ll have to admit, you could have a point, Hattie. And by the way, thanks for the shirt.” He placed the long-sleeved denim shirt back in the box to lay it aside. “I’ll make a promise right now, not to buy her anymore toys until Easter. How’s that?”
“We’re gonna hold you to it, Eathen. And if you break your promise,” Charlotte gestured to Hattie with a hand filled with wrapping paper, “you have to buy us both a big expensive present.”
Eathen leaned in close. “We don’t have to wait until then. All you need to do is pack your bags and join me for a trip to Helena.” Eathen nuzzled her ear. “We’ll stay at the best hotel, have our meals sent up to our room, and finally take that honeymoon we never could afford when we were first married.”
In an attempt to quiet her pounding heart, Charlotte reached for another package. “I don’t think we need to go that far, Eathen. I’ll trust you to keep your word.” Glancing at Hattie, she said with a shaky laugh, “Come on, let’s get these presents open before Jessie falls asleep! We still need to get the turkey in the oven too, or the McKennahs’ll be here and gone before it’s done.”
Fated Memories Page 13