by Barbara Goss
“What happened today?”
“I’ll tell you another time. It’s a long story.”
Max bent down and kissed her lips, and Laura put both arms around his neck. When the kiss ended, they just stood there, swaying in each other’s arms.
“We'd better go downstairs. We’ll continue this later,” Max said.
“Come on—let’s get your clothes packed. Jake will never know you’ve occupied this room.”
Max walked Laura up the stairs and stood outside the master bedroom. “I’ll go check on the horses or something, to give you time to…” He shrugged. “To do what women do before bed.” He winked and went back down the stairs.
Laura had to admit to being nervous, though she knew not why. She’d been married before and had even given birth, so why had she suddenly become so nervous? As she undressed, she recalled her wedding night with Edwin. It had been nice. He’d been gentle and kind, yet this was somehow different. She worried that something would go wrong, and she wanted everything to go right. Perhaps she didn’t believe her good fortune to have found a husband like Max. She felt so undeserving, she just knew something had to go wrong.
She dimmed the lamp and slipped into bed. Laura waited, which only served to increase her nervousness. Finally, she heard him coming up the stairs. When he opened the door, he smiled at her.
“Hello, wife.”
“Hello, husband.”
He turned the lamp off, and she heard him shedding his clothes. When she felt the mattress dip, she knew he was getting into bed with her, and she swallowed hard.
As her eyes grew used to the dark, she saw Max position himself on his side, looking at her. She turned onto her side to face him. He reached out with his hand and caressed her cheek.
“There’s something I want you to know,” Max said. “I fell in love with a woman named Catherine when I lived in Texas. She, however, chose someone else.” Max stroked her hair as he spoke.
“My broken heart is what led me to answer your ad, and I swore that no matter what I found here, I’d make the best of it. I told myself that since I'd lost the love of my life, there was no sense in marrying for love.
“Once I'd stepped on the train and began my journey, I was in a different world, one in which Catherine didn’t exist. I’d forgotten all about her when I met you. I was fond of you almost immediately, but I wasn’t sure it was love. I wanted it to be, but I wasn’t sure.
“Today, I was sure, so it’s fitting that we consummate the marriage today. You see, my brother told me that the man Catherine had married was killed, and she was asking for me. I could have gone back to Texas and picked up where I left off with Catherine, but the mere thought of never seeing you or Caro again tugged at my heart so fiercely that I knew—I just knew—at that moment that I was in love. This is the life I want more than anything.”
Laura didn’t know what to say, but his words brought tears to her eyes, and she was glad he couldn’t see them.
Max pulled her against him. “I love you, Laura.”
Laura let the tears flow down her cheeks.
Max kissed her long and passionately, and in no time at all, she was eager to accept him in the way God had chosen for a wife to accept her husband. She thanked God silently for being given a second chance at marriage.
Chapter 11
Laura lay beside her husband, feeling full of awe. She’d been married to Edwin for over six years and had never experienced anything like she had the night before. As she watched Max sleep, she wondered how miraculous it had been that they’d found each other. A simple newspaper ad had changed their lives. There, lying beside her, was a man who had brought sunshine into her dull, gray life. He was gentle and kind. His love for Caro tripled the love she felt for him. Had God sent him to her? Had he looked down and noticed a good woman who had tried to please a difficult man? Had Max been her reward?
Max stirred slightly, and Laura hoped he’d awaken so she could be kissed and embraced again. How could she show him how wonderful their lovemaking had been without seeming as desperate for love as she’d been?
Laura touched Max’s brow lightly. On top of everything else, he was handsome. His dark brows shielded the most beautiful blue eyes, eyes the color of Caro’s. His cheekbones were prominent, and his lips formed the perfect cupid’s bow. She touched his lips softly—they were magical. Laura bent down, kissed his lips lightly, and his arm shot suddenly out to pull her close. He moaned and kissed her neck.
“You’re awake!” she said.
“I am, though I’d love to go back to sleep. I feel so much at peace—well, you know— comfortable here.”
“I do, as well,” she whispered into his neck. “I…um…last night was…awesome.”
“It was magnificent,” he said into her ear. “We’re so good together, Laura. It’s like we were made for each other. How did this all happen?”
“I was wondering that myself.” Laura pulled away and looked into his eyes. “I think it was God’s plan.”
“God?”
“He knows our every need, Max. Surely, you know that.”
“Um…I have a confession to make, Laura.”
She stared at him. “Now what? Please don’t tell me anything to spoil this.”
“I was never a churchgoer or a horse breeder, but I needed to get away so I sort of lied.”
Laura let out a breath of relief. “Thank heavens. I thought you were going to tell me about a wife in Texas or something.”
“No, but I feel genuinely guilty for my deception. Can you forgive me?” he asked in between placing kisses the length of her neck.
Laura giggled. “Stop, I forgive you. However, I insist on a church-going, believing husband.”
“I’m halfway there, Laura. I learned a lot from the church services you’ve taken me to. I believe, and I promise to learn even more. I really do love my new family, and I’ll make sure we all live by the Good Book.”
“Speaking of family, have you forgotten Jake’s here?”
Max stretched again. “I'd better get downstairs. Hey, we have another person to help us build the new stables now. Have you seen the plans? Come on, I’ll show them to you.”
He opened the armoire drawer, took out a large roll of paper, and spread it out on the bed for her to see.
Laura and Max entered the kitchen to find Jake, Dawn, and Caro eating pancakes and laughing. It sounded like Jake was entertaining them with stories of their youth in Texas. He stood in the doorway, holding Laura’s hand, listening.
“…and then Max picked the lizard up and put it in my shoe. I stumbled out of the river and slipped on my shoes—” Jake looked up and saw them in the doorway. “Oh, there’s Max and Laura.”
Max laughed. “I hope he remembered to relate that before I put the lizard into his shoe, he’d thrown a water moccasin at me.”
He and Laura entered the room. Max pulled the chair out for Laura and then sat down himself. He tweaked Caro’s nose. “I hope you didn’t eat all the pancakes, little one.”
Caro smiled. “I did. Dawn will make some more.”
While they ate, Jake asked Max, “What should we do first?”
Max took a hearty drink from his coffee cup. “We have to finish cleaning up the debris from the fire. Then we coordinate the building of the new stable with the new pastor. What was his name, Laura?
“His first name is difficult to pronounce, so I just call him Pastor James. I met him for the first time, and he seems very nice. He’s just waiting for us to tell him when to start.”
“I’ll go put on some work clothes,” Jake said. “I’m ready to get to work.” He turned to Dawn and winked. “That was a fantastic breakfast, Dawn.”
Max turned to Laura. “Today, we do some cleaning.”
“I’ll help,” Dawn said.
“I’ll take Caro to visit Fannie Pearl, and I’ll help, too.” Laura turned to Caro. “Would you like to visit Grandmother Fannie today?”
Caro smiled and nodded, syrup
running down her chin.
Max laughed and wiped her chin. “When you come back from Grandmother Fannie’s, I’ll take you for a horse ride.”
Caro jumped up and down. “Yes! Yes!”
With Jake, Max, Dexter, Laura, and Dawn, the area where the new stables were to be built was immaculate. When they were done, everyone wanted a bath, so Jake and Max were kept busy toting hot water upstairs for two hours. Finally, Max got to enjoy his bath.
He lay in the warm water and stared at the room. The master bedroom was large, and the colors were earthy warm browns and golds. His gaze went to the large, four-poster where he'd finalized his marriage the night before. Once again, he marveled at the turn his life had taken. He felt so at home there, and he loved Laura dearly. Their “wedding night” had been everything and yet more then he’d anticipated. He’d never been so happy.
Laura walked in just as he was lathering himself.
“Oh, I’m sorry, Max. I’ll come back.”
“No, stay. We’re married, remember? I have no secrets.”
“But you’re—”
“I’ll put a towel around my waist when I get out. Would you wash my back?”
“Wash your back?” She smiled and closed the door. “I suppose I might be able to do that.”
Max handed Laura the bar of soap and leaned forward. When Laura began to soap up his back, he stretched out like a cat and moaned. “That’s heavenly.”
He reached behind him, grabbed her around the waist, and pulled her gently forward so he could kiss her, but something went wrong, and she ended up lying on top of him in the bath, her nightgown and robe soaked through. She stood quickly and looked down at herself in horror.
“What happened?” she said.
Max couldn’t help laughing at her. She was covered with bubbles and sopping wet. Her usually gorgeous hair drooped down and into her face. She tried to climb out of the tub, but Max pulled her back down. She landed back onto him with a wet smack.
“Max!” she cried.
He kissed her until she stopped struggling and returned his kiss.
The next morning, the whole family went to church. The pastor preached about marriage, and Max listened carefully. He’d never been married before, and he wanted to be sure he did everything right.
Pastor James said, “So many men think their wives should be subservient to them because God says, 'Wives, submit yourselves unto your husbands.' God never wanted the woman to be a slave to her husband. If you read the next verse, this becomes clear. Yes, women should obey their husbands and submit to them, but you can’t stop reading there. Reading on it says: the husband should love his wife as Christ loves the Church. God loves the Church so much, he sent his son down to earth to die for it.”
The pastor stopped and gazed around the congregation. “If the husband follows God’s order to love his wife as God loves the Church, then the wife will gladly serve her husband. So many men ignore the verse that follows Ephesians verse twenty. God commands, 'Husbands, love your wife as you love your own bodies.'”
Max reached over and squeezed Laura’s hand. She looked up and smiled at him.
After the service, Max shook Pastor James’ hand. “That was a wonderful sermon.”
Pastor James smiled. “I aim to preach it often. I see too many husbands treating their horses better than they do their wives.”
“By the way, Max—may I call you that?” Pastor James asked. When Max nodded, he continued. “I have several men ready to help with your stables. We’ll come out today and start, and return every Sunday afternoon until it’s finished. I have Tobias Clayborn, Joseph Pohl, Hal Landers, and myself.”
“That’s fantastic,” Max said. “I have Walter Myers, Dexter Bastion, and my brother, Jake.”
“Is the lumber on site?” he asked.
“It will be. Walter's bringing it in his wagon.”
“We’ll be there in about an hour, then.” The pastor turned to greet some other people, and Max and Laura walked to their buggy where Jake, Caro, and Dawn were waiting for them.
When she saw her, Caro threw her arms around her mother’s neck. “Mama!”
She threw herself at Max. “Max!” He kissed her and helped his wife into the buggy. Caro’s words struck him oddly. Her calling him Max didn’t mix with the image he had of their tight-knit, little family. He should be her father. Why not?
Some of the men had brought their wives along, and Laura and Dawn set out a spread of food for everyone. Laura was thankful Max had gotten enough money not only to pay for the lumber but for the food to feed the hungry men. She and Dawn had put out ham, baked beans, and two different salads. A few of the wives had brought a dish, and Dawn had made several pies and a cake.
Walter had made himself the head of construction and directed everyone. Max could never have gotten as far as he had without Walter, and the very next day would be his first day working for him at the livery.
After everyone had gone home, Max surveyed the day’s work. Large rafters were already in place, as was one half of a wall. The stables would be huge and would take time to build.
Laura stood beside him and put her arm through the crook of his. “It’s coming along. I can’t believe how much they've accomplished in one day.”
Max drew her closer. When she looked up at him with anticipation, he said, “I listened to the sermon carefully, and I understand how God wants me, as a husband, to be in this marriage. I’m going to try to be the best husband. You deserve it.”
His words brought tears to Laura’s eyes. “Oh, Max! Pinch me, for I think I must be dreaming. I’ll do my part, too.”
“There’s something bothering me about our relationship, though,” he said.
Laura looked alarmed. “What is it? Tell me and I’ll try to fix it.”
“I’d like to be Caro’s father. I want us to be a father and a mother with a child. I don’t want her to call me Max—I want to be her father.”
Laura seemed taken aback. “I don’t see any reason why you couldn’t adopt her. The only family Edwin had were his parents and an older brother. His parents moved to California. They send a gift now and then for Caro, but they aren’t really close to her. I think Edwin’s mother would have loved being closer to Caro, but I felt his father kept her from getting attached. He even moved them to another state to prevent it! Edwin and his brother never got along, and I never hear from Harry. Even when Edwin died, I had no word from him.”
“Does Silverpines have a lawyer?”
Laura grimaced. “I think we may have to travel to Astoria for one.”
“What about Caro? Will she resent me someday for adopting her and changing her name?”
“I rather doubt that. Edwin never let himself get close to her. He was disappointed she wasn’t a boy.”
Max shook his head. “As soon as we get this stable up and running, I’ll look into an adoption. I can’t wait to hear her call me papa.”
Chapter 12
Laura kissed Max goodbye while they were standing on the porch. “Have a good day.”
“What are your plans today?” he asked, keeping her in an embrace.
“Dawn and I are going to work in the garden today. We have fresh tomatoes to can, and we plan to pick some berries in the woods and bake a few pies.”
Max kissed her. “We’ll need to hire more help for the ranch once it’s up and running. Do you know of anyone?”
“No, but I’ll ask around.” She kissed him again. “And we’ll seek out a lawyer in Astoria, too.”
Max nodded, kissed her again walked to his horse, and rode off. Dawn came to stand beside her, and they both waved to Max as he disappeared down the main road.
“You were fortunate. Max is a wonderful man,” Dawn said.
“He is. Oh, Dawn, I’m so happy.” Laura hugged herself. “I’ve never felt like this before.”
“Well, how could you? You’ve never been truly loved before.”
“What do you think of Jake?” Laura asked.
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“He’s nice, but your Max impressed me by working at the livery for two weeks and never once did he complain about the long hours.”
“Oh, that reminds me: Dawn, do you know anyone who might need a small, paying job as a ranch hand? The stables are nearly finished, and we’ll need at least two more workers.”
“I haven’t kept in contact with any of the Chinook since they gave me away as a slave, but I did meet a young Nez Perce boy at the market. His name is Henry Fields. He carries out groceries and supplies for people for the few coins they toss him. Henry seems like a decent enough lad; he’s about fifteen or sixteen.”
“Henry Fields? Isn’t that an unusual name for an Indian?”
“I thought so, too. I think he probably has another name, but he chose this one for his English name.”
“When you see him again, offer him the job,” Laura said. “We’re having a horse auction in two weeks at the grand opening celebration. Walter told us about an auctioneer named William Balsley, and now we’re all set. I’m getting excited.”
“I heard Max telling Jake they’re having a rodeo in the corral?” Dawn asked.
“Yes, it’s part of the grand opening. The man who’s been buying unbroken horses from us has agreed to put on a small show for the opening. The auction will follow. It will certainly draw a big crowd.” Laura turned to go back into the house, “Where’s Caro?”
Dawn held the door open for her. “Eating breakfast with Jake.”
Walter slapped Max on the back. “I’m going to miss you when you leave.”
“You know where to find me,” Max answered as he put a horse in a stall. “You’ll be coming to the opening, won’t you?”
“I wouldn’t miss it. Say, you wouldn’t be needing another ranch hand, would you?”
“I need two of them.”
“I have a great nephew, Lucas Carrigan, who’s looking for a job. His mother is bedridden, and he needs to find some work. He’s sixteen.”