“Hush, Mabel. She’ll hear you.”
Drina frowned, but kept going.
“Here you go, Mrs. Wilcox. This table should hold something you like.”
“Thank you.” Drina began to look at the material though she was uncomfortable knowing the people in the store were talking about her and Aaron. She just wondered why their marriage was such a sensation. Maybe they thought he should have married a local woman.
“I need to wait on my other customers, so if you need any help, just call me.”
Drina thanked her and assured her she’ll call if she desired assistance. She then turned to the table of cloth and decided to ignore the people and concentrate on the material she wanted. She selected a piece with a light blue background and was sprinkled with yellow and pink flowers. The bolt hadn’t been cut and Drina wondered if it would be all right to buy all of it. That way she would have the only dress like this in town. Then she realized how silly she was. What difference would it make if someone else had a dress made of the same material?
A striped green material caught her eye. She put her hand on it, then she saw the pink checked and the white with purple flowers. There were so many to choose from she wasn’t sure she could choose one. Everything was pretty and she’d never had this kind of choice before. There was almost every color she could imagine and all kinds of patterns. She thought they were all beautiful. She kept going from one bolt of material to another, thinking each one was the one she’d buy to make the first new dress she’d had in years. Most of the clothes she owned she’d worn a long time, and the few things she’d been able to sew had been made over from things Lydia had discarded or from worn tablecloths. Her drawers and chemises were made from bleached flour sacks. Now, she was actually thinking of buying some soft muslin to sew some decent undergarments.
Several minutes later, she took a deep breath and picked up the bolt with the yellow and pink flowers. The second one she chose was a green-and-white checked. She then added the white muslin, and started toward the counter where Mrs. Ragsdale stood.
It was then she saw the store had become much more crowded than it was when she entered. Not only were there twice as many people, they were all looking directly at her. Several of them whispered to their companion and others turned away, blushing or looking ashamed. Drina wanted to drop the material and run out of the store, but she knew that would only give them more to talk about. She took a deep breath, put her shoulders back and marched forward.
At that moment the door opened and Salty came in. “My heavens, Geneva, what kind of party are you having in here?”
Several people dropped their heads and Geneva, who had always resented the fact that Salty called her by her first name, answered, “These are my customers, Salty. Why else would they be here?”
In a loud voice Salty answered, “My guess would be they wanted to get a look at the woman who managed to get Aaron Wilcox to commit to marriage when they kept shoving their daughters and sisters and any single woman they knew at him without success.”
A few of the patrons slipped out the door. Others busied themselves looking at merchandise and Geneva pressed her lips together as if she was trying not to respond to Salty’s remark.
Salty turned to Drina. “Is this all you want to buy today, Mrs. Wilcox?”
“This is all, Salty.”
“Good.” He took the cloth from her and plunked it onto the counter. “Wrap this up and add it to Mr. Wilcox’s bill.”
Geneva looked surprised. “Are you sure you want the entire bolts of cloth?”
Salty didn’t give Drina a chance to answer. “Shore she does. Now wrap it up. We ain’t got all day. The boss told me to hurry home with his wife.”
Geneva didn’t argue with him and in a matter of minutes they walked out of the store with the package. With everyone on the street watching, he placed the bundle in the back, helped Drina into the wagon, then walked around and got in beside her.
As he unwrapped the reins from the brake stick, he muttered, “Hold your head high, Miz Drina and let this town know you can take anything they do.”
Drina didn’t know what he was talking about, but she did as she was told. She nodded and smiled at everyone who she could make eye contact with as they rode out of town.
Chapter 7
Aaron put the bottle of liniment on the packed dirt floor in the barn. He’d been using it to rub on the torn leg of the buckskin mare. He looked up at his irate friend. “Salty, calm down. What do you mean the trip to town was a catastrophe?”
“You should’ve heard ’em. They laughed and whispered and made fun just like I knowed they would when they saw her.”
“What are you talking about? Who were they laughing and talking about? You?”
“Damn it, Aaron, listen to me. They was making fun of your wife.”
Aaron frowned. ”What in the world could they say about my wife? They don’t even know her.”
“Yeah, and whose fault is that?”
The frown hadn’t left Aaron’s face. “How should I know?”
“You should know, you’re the cause of it all.”
“Now wait a minute, Salty. I don’t have anything to do with what the people in town do.”
“Oh no? Then why did I keep hearing the remark that your new wife was so cold you had to spend your wedding night in a whorehouse?”
Aaron’s anger began to rise. “Who said that?”
“I heard it so many times I can’t recall who said it, but that’s not all I heard.”
Aaron gritted his teeth. “What else did you hear?”
“Some were whispering that she wasn’t much of a woman to push her husband away on his wedding night. Others said she had a nerve showing her face in town after what she’d done to you. Some said her puttin’ items on your account at Ragsdale’s took a lot of nerve when she wouldn’t be a wife to you, but most of them were saying she was a pitiful creature who was probably down on her luck and married you for your money, then refused to sleep with you. Then they was a few who said they felt sorry for her because she didn’t have what it took to satisfy a good man like you.”
Aaron cursed. “What gives people the right to say such things about a woman they don’t even know?”
“Not, what, but who?”
“What do you mean?”
“When you left your wife at the house after the wedding and went into town, got so drunk you could barely stand up, then ended up upstairs with that Lottie you told the whole town what you thought of your marriage and your wife. And you told them good. Now they all think of her about the way you do.”
Aaron swallowed. Though he was furious, he thought there was some merit to what Salty was saying, but he didn’t think it was all his fault. It couldn’t be. After all, Uncle Walter was the one who started all this by insisting on the marriage. Finally he said, “I don’t think badly about Drina. As far as I know, she’s a nice woman.”
“As far as you know, huh? Would it kill you to admit you and nobody else is responsible for this mess?”
“Now, wait a minute. Uncle Walter…”
Salty butted in. “There you go again trying to put the blame on your uncle just like you always do.”
Aaron had to make himself control his temper. “I don’t blame him for everything.”
Salty spit tobacco on the ground. “I guess you think it’s his fault you drink too much and spend your time with whores and work your tail off to make this place survive.”
“Salty, I’m sorry. Maybe I should…”
“Don’t tell me you’re sorry, Aaron Wilcox. I ain’t the one having to pay for your sins.” With that, Salty turned and stalked out of the barn.
Aaron watched him go, but didn’t try to follow. He’d make Salty understand later. Right now, he had to finish doctoring the mare.
Bending, he picked up the liniment and lifted the horse’s leg. As he worked, he muttered, “I don’t see why he can’t understand that I didn’t want to get married. Especiall
y to a woman I’d never met. Why does he think I’m responsible for the way she was treated in town? I had nothing to do with it.”
Then it hit him the same as if the mare had kicked him in the chest. If he hadn’t gone to The Swinging Door on his wedding night, nobody would ever suspect he hadn’t slept with his wife as a new husband is expected to.
Why can’t the people in town mind their own business? I’ve been going to The Swinging Door for years. Why should this time be different?
But as soon as the thought entered his mind, he knew it was different. He should never have left her on the wedding night. No matter how logical the move seemed at the time.
When Aaron went in the house through the kitchen, he found Beulah at the stove. “Where’s Drina?”
Beulah turned toward him. “She’s in yonder somewhere, but don’t go giving her a hard time today. She’s been looking at her material ever since she got home, and the woman is smiling for the first time since she got here.”
“Thanks, Beulah.” He started out the kitchen door.
“Mind what I said.”
“I will.”
Drina wasn’t in the dining room or the parlor. He decided she must be in her room, and turned toward the hall. He’d only taken a couple of steps when he heard humming. Slowing his pace, he followed the voice to the door of the room where Drina had been sleeping.
The door was open, and he paused and looked inside. Her back was to him and she was picking up first one piece of cloth and then the other, letting it drape around her body. She looked as if she was enjoying herself.
He cleared his throat and she dropped the material on the bed and whirled to face him. When he didn’t speak, she said, “I was just looking at the cloth I bought to make dresses.” She looked a little frightened, and gave him a tentative smile. “I got two pieces. Did I get too much?”
“Is that all you got?”
“Well, I did buy some white muslin so I could make some…I mean I needed some things to go under…I mean…”
“Drina, I don’t care how much material you bought, no matter what color.”
“Well, I was going to have just enough cut for a dress, but Salty came in the store and hurried me out before I could tell Mrs. Ragsdale to cut it. He told her to wrap up the whole bolt and I guess I should have protested, but…”
Aaron stepped into the room. “I said, I don’t care how much cloth you bought or if they cut it or not. I want you to get all you want to make dresses or whatever else you want or need.”
She looked stunned. “Really?”
“Yes, really.”
Her smile grew friendlier. “Would you like to see what I bought?”
He nodded.
“It was hard for me to make up my mind between all the pretty materials. I liked all of them, but this blue one with the flowers was the first one to catch my eye. I also like the checked one. Since it was so hard to choose, I got them both. Though the others were attractive, I liked these best.” She held up the two pieces of cloth.
“They’re nice and I’m glad you like them, but you should have bought any of the others you wanted, too.”
“Oh my, I couldn’t do that.”
“Why not?”
“I didn’t want to take advantage of your generosity. You were kind to let me buy any at all, and I appreciate it more than you can know.”
Aaron was touched by her gratefulness. “Drina, I know we’re strangers, but you are my wife. You have a right to go to Ragsdale’s store and buy anything you want.”
She dropped her head and said, “I did forget one thing.”
“What was that?”
“I didn’t get needles or thread, but I can get them later. I figured Beulah had a pair of scissors she would loan me to cut things out.”
“You can buy your own scissors.”
“Well, to be honest, I’m not … I mean…It’s too much trouble for Salty to take me back to town. I can wait on things. Beulah might have needles and thread, too.”
He frowned. “Did somebody say something to you in town, Drina?”
“Oh, no,” she said quickly.
“Then why don’t you want to go back?”
She shrugged, and he added, “Tell me the truth.”
She bit her lip and spoke almost too low for him to hear. “People kept whispering and turning their backs and pointing at me. I figured I must have offended somebody, but I don’t know how. I only went to the emporium, and Mrs. Ragsdale was friendly enough.”
“She better be friendly. I give that store a lot of business and they’d be hurting if I took it away.”
She looked stricken. “Oh, Aaron, you wouldn’t do that, would you?”
“If they’re not nice to my wife, I would.”
“But…”
“Did anyone else say something to hurt your feelings, Drina?”
“Oh, no.”
“Is the only reason you’re hesitant to go back into town is because people were talking about you?”
Beulah’s voice broke in. “Where are you two? Supper’s on the table.”
Drina moved toward the door. “I guess we better go eat.”
“You’re right, Drina. I don’t want Beulah jumping down my throat like Salty did. Let’s go eat, and we’ll continue this conversation later.”
“Salty jumped down your throat?”
“Yeah, but I’m used to him doing it. Let’s head to the dining room. I’m hungry.” He smiled at Drina and took hold of her arm. He was surprised when a shiver flew through him.
* * * *
After eating, Aaron stood and said, “I have an injured horse. I need to go to the barn and check on her. We’ll talk when I return.”
Drina nodded, but she wasn’t surprised he was leaving. She expected him to stick to his usual pattern and disappear, not to return until the next day. Since the people in town had given her a clue as to where he spent his nights, she had an idea where he was going, but she wasn’t positive and didn’t want to know for sure; so, she decided not to think about it.
Beulah came into the dining room. “Mr. Aaron said he had a sick horse.”
“Yes. He’s gone to check on her.”
“I see.” Beulah started gathering the dirty plates.
Drina began to help. “Beulah, I need to borrow something, if you don’t mind.”
“Of course, I don’t mind, Miz Drina. What do you need?”
“I’d like to cut out a dress, and I don’t have any scissors.”
“I’ll go get mine for you as soon as I get these dishes in the kitchen.”
“Thank you. I’m excited about having a new dress. I haven’t had one in a long time and I’ve never had one made of pretty material like I bought today.”
“If you can get it cut out tonight, you can start sewing tomorrow.”
“I’ll have to wait to sew it.”
“Why in the world would you have to wait?”
“I didn’t get any needles or thread.”
“Well, lordy-me, that’s no problem. I’ve got plenty of needles and we’ll look through my thread and see if we have any that’ll do to sew your pretty cloth.”
“That’s wonderful of you, Beulah. I can’t wait to get started.”
“Then let’s put these dishes in the kitchen and go look and see what we can find.”
There was the sound of gun shots outside.
“What was that?” Drina asked.
“Probably nothing. The men are always practicing their shooting. I guess it’s something they have to do to prove their manhood.” She picked up a handful of dirty dishes.
Drina did the same thing.
As they entered the kitchen there was a sharp rap on the back door.
Beulah frowned and headed to the door. “Mr. Aaron wouldn’t knock.”
When she opened the door, Felix said, “The boss has been shot.”
Drina’s heart seemed to fall to her feet, but she knew she had to get to Aaron. She started to push Beulah aside an
d run out when she saw Salty and a man she didn’t know coming from the direction of the barn carrying Aaron between them.
Beulah opened the door wider. “Take him to the downstairs bedroom.”
Drina hurried down the hall and into what she considered her bedroom. Without a thought, she used a swift motion and shoved the material she’d bought off the bed to the floor. She then turned back the covers. The men entered and placed Aaron on the bed. Beulah ripped away his shirt while Drina pulled off his boots.
“What happened?” Beulah demanded in a tearful voice.
Salty shook his head. “I’m not sure, but I know he went in there to work on the lame mare. The next thing I know all hell broke loose. There was two shots, and I hustled in to see what was going on. Aaron was laying in the middle of the barn with blood pouring out of his shoulder and his leg. A man went running out the other end of the barn where the door had been left open. I figured it was more important to take care of Aaron than to follow him. A couple of hands did take off after him, but the shooter was already out of sight.”
“We need to stop the bleeding as fast as we can.” Beulah turned to Drina. “Please get me some hot water and some bandages and Salty, get the bottle of whiskey in Mr. Aaron’s office. Felix, send one of the hands to get Doc Danson then go make the men a big pot of coffee. They’re probably going to want something to drink while they wait to hear the outcome of this. And I’m sure the boss wouldn’t mind if you laced the coffee with a little whiskey.” She turned back to Aaron and began working on the wounds as everyone scattered to do what she directed.
Drina’s heart pounded as she ran into the kitchen and grabbed the kettle of hot water meant to wash the supper dishes. She snatched a pan from beside the sink, a towel from the drying rack and headed back to the bedroom and sat them beside Beulah.
“Before you get the bandages, Miz Drina, get his pants off him. I’ve got to see how bad his leg is hit.”
Drina hesitated only seconds then told herself to forget modesty. She had to help save Aaron’s life. She unbuttoned his britches and eased them down his legs. She was shocked when she saw the damage. “It looks bad, Beulah.”
Drina’s Choice Page 8