Alice’s skin felt cool. Willow thought her own hands were warm and clammy.
“I honestly don’t know.”
“Willow.” Willow lifted her eyes to look at the young woman. “Marianne isn’t coming back for her clothes. Penny only had hers here because she splits her time between Denver and Flat River. Although that might change once the baby comes. Those clothes are yours. Marmee said so. If you have learned anything in your short time here, Marmee makes all the rules.”
Willow gave a little laugh. “That she does.”
“I’ve not told many people what happened to me. I’m still not sure I want to say anything, but I do know how difficult it is to recover.” Alice released Willow’s hand and sat back in the chair. “I’m still recovering. You are going to spend years dealing with whatever happened to you.”
“Nothing happened to me,” Willow insisted. If she didn’t think about it, it never happened. The image of Mr. Blackman burned in her mind. She closed her eyes tightly, willing the image to go away.
“I know the shape of a belt buckle. I’ve seen the bruising from them on your arms. I would even go as far as to say you have them on your back and legs. Even when the bruises fade, the hurt doesn’t.”
Willow wiped a tear from her cheek. “I don’t ever want to go back,” she finally whispered.
“Then let the people who are surrounding you help. I know how difficult it is to trust someone, especially someone you don’t know. This is my family and I couldn’t even stand to be around them for months after I came home. I would spend all my time hiding in my room.”
“So, you think I should just trust someone?”
“I’m saying it will make the healing easier.”
“So, who?”
“I’m not just saying this because he is my brother, but there isn’t anyone better than Oliver. I think he looks on you like a sister, someone he can protect. Let him do that.”
“I don’t know…”
“If you just get to know him, I think you’ll realize what I mean.”
Alice stood back up and returned to the wardrobe. “Marmee has some cold fried chicken. I say we make a picnic basket and then we go find Oliver.”
Willow bit her bottom lip. She was so afraid of Oliver rejecting her, especially after she was rude to him, that she wasn’t sure she could risk it. She eyed Alice suspiciously.
“Why are you doing this?”
Alice shrugged. “It is inevitable that the Chapman brothers are all going to get married at some point. Now Owen is engaged to Ellie, it makes sense for the rest to follow suit. I’d rather have someone I know than one of the wretches in town going after him.”
“But you don’t know me.”
Alice looked at Willow and wrinkled her nose. “But I do know you. I know you are kind and courageous. I know you can fight, so fight for what you want.”
“I don’t know what I want.”
Alice put her hands on her hips. “Really, Willow? How about a home? Or a safe place to stay? Possibly even love?”
“I – I”
“You deserve all those things.”
Willow was starting to feel uncomfortable. “What about you? Don’t you want those things?”
“I have them. This is my home and will be until I get married. If I get married. But it will always be my home. You can’t get any safer than being surrounded by the Chapman boys. Annoying as I find my brothers, they are very protective.”
“And love?”
Alice bit her lip. “I don’t want to talk about that right now.”
“Do you have someone?”
“No.” Willow saw Alice wipe her cheek. “No, I don’t.”
Willow didn’t know why, but she thought Alice might not be telling the truth. She decided not to pursue it.
“Do you think I should wear the blue dress?” Willow finally asked, breaking the silence.
“I think Oliver would appreciate it very much. You can change before going into the garden with Marmee.”
“Will you help me do my hair?”
“Of course. Ellie is much better at it than I am, but I will help you.”
Willow scrubbed her face until it was red and then disappeared behind the folding screen to change. When she came out, Alice ran over and grabbed her shoulders.
“Oh, it is a beautiful color on you.” She fixed the collar, folding it so it would stay flat. “Let’s get your hair done.”
Willow sat down at the dressing table and handed Alice the brush. She removed the pins from her hair and closed her eyes as Alice ran the bristles through her long mane. Willow could feel Alice pull her hair back and slip the combs in place. When Alice tapped her shoulder, Willow opened her eyes and stared at her reflection in the looking glass.
She thought she looked beautiful. Her face had filled out a bit over the past week from Marmee’s good cooking. She was rested, clean, and safe.
“Let’s go find a basket and pack a lunch,” Alice said, skipping from the room.
Willow shook her head. There were times Alice appeared much older than her nineteen years, and then there were times that you would think she was still a schoolgirl. Such a contradiction. Perhaps it was just the way Alice was dealing with her trauma.
Willow slid her feet into the slippers she had been wearing as they were the only shoes she had. Perhaps she would ask Alice about borrowing a pair of boots.
Maybe she should ask Oliver instead.
She patted her hair once more, her fingers tracing over the combs.
Yes, she would ask Oliver.
She could go back to the cabin and retrieve the small money bag she hid under the bed. Then all she would need is to give it to Oliver to buy boots the next time he went to town.
Looking in the mirror, she hardly recognized herself, she doubted anyone else would recognize her.
Smiling, she stood and followed Alice to the kitchen.
Chapter Eleven
“I think that is the last of them,” Oliver said. He ran his finger over the nail he had just pounded into the board.
He was building a new paddock for the horses Caleb was bringing back. It was a chore that kept being pushed off, but since the traveling party was due to arrive in the next few days, he needed to make sure the holding pen was complete.
Having a task like this also made it easier to keep his mind off a certain black-haired beauty that was occupying all his thoughts. He was gone before she got up in the morning.
It was a conscientious choice on his part. The woman was getting to him. He thought about her constantly. He couldn’t recall ever thinking about a woman more.
It appeared she was avoiding him as well.
Something happened the day Marshal Briggs came for dinner. Perhaps it was the Marshal’s questions that set her on edge. All he knew is she disappeared into her room and he hadn’t seen her since … apart from the late evenings when he would tend to her feet.
She didn’t talk much and she never ventured very far from the house. It was as if she was afraid of the anything outside the boundaries of Marmee’s garden. Oliver knew she talked to Alice a great deal and his mother adored her.
But Marmee adored anyone who allowed her to shower them with affection… and food.
“I need a quick break,” Owen said, walking back to the barn. Oliver followed. Owen pumped the handle on the spigot next to the barn a few times and filled a bucket with cool water. He took a ladle and handed it to Oliver.
The cool water eased his dry throat. After he handed the ladle back to Owen, Oliver drenched his bandana and tied it around his neck.
When Owen was done drinking, Oliver said, “I need to help Everett with fixing the fences on the south pasture.”
“What’s wrong with the fences?”
“Everett said it looked like they were pulled down. The same thing happened to Bergman’s fence. Briggs thought it just might be the wind.”
“The wind? I don’t recall any wind over the past week.”
“Hasn’t been any. I also don’t think the wind would pull the nails from the posts.”
“Okay, give me a few and I’ll ride over and help you. Have you seen Rich? He was supposed to help shoe that chestnut mare.”
“No. Now you mention it, I’ve not seen him much in the past few days. Maybe he is helping at the other barn?” Oliver dunked his hat in the water before putting it back on his head. The sun was hot today and there wasn’t much shade where he would be working.
“Maybe. I’ll talk with Smokes about who is working where and when.”
Oliver went into the barn to saddle Whiskey so he could ride to meet Everett. As he was adjusting the cinch, he heard Alice call his name.
“You in here?” she asked.
“What trouble are you up to today, Pint Jar?”
“I just thought Willow and I would go on a picnic. I was wondering if you might like to join us?”
“A picnic? That sounds awfully good, Pint Jar, but I need to help Everett with the south fence.”
“What happened to the fence?”
“Just a few fallen panels.”
“Perhaps we can ride out there with you and then once you are done, we can go. We’ll just sit by the river.”
“Did someone mention a picnic?” Owen asked, coming inside the barn.
“Alice invited me on a picnic.”
“Well,” Owen replied, “I’ll get Ellie and we can all go.”
“Willow is going,” Alice whispered.
“Will---ah.” Understanding flashed across Owen’s face. “Well then, why don’t you all go along, and I’ll ride out to help Everett with the fence.”
“I don’t want to leave it to you,” Oliver said.
“No worries. It shouldn’t take long if several of us are doing it. You go on your picnic and come on over when you are done. I know I’d leave your sorry behind here if Ellie showed up.”
“I know you would, too.”
Owen left the barn and Oliver saw him riding Winchester away from the paddock.
“Alice, do you need help saddling your horse?”
Alice shook her head. “No. I am going to take Splinter. I was thinking of going over to see AnnaMae, so if we are down that way, I’ll just ride over.”
“AnnaMae Hartman?”
“Yes. She’s my oldest childhood friend.”
Oliver rubbed his neck. “I don’t think you should go see the Hartmans.”
“Why ever not?”
“You know that Pa had that falling out with them.”
“That had nothing to do with me. AnnaMae and I were just children. I lost my best friend that day, and I need her now. So, I’m going over there and nothing you can do will stop me.”
“Alice…”
“You. Can’t. Stop. Me.”
“I can’t believe you want to go over there after what Sarah did.”
“I don’t think Sarah would have betrayed the family.”
“Why not? She did lead the Richards Gang here right before we were getting ready to take the cows to market.”
“I think that was a coincidence.”
Before Oliver could say another word, a silhouette of a woman in a long skirt appeared in the barn door. Her shape was bathed in sunlight, so Oliver couldn’t see exactly who it was. As the figure moved closer, his mouth fell open and his throat went dry once more.
Willow stood there like a beacon of light. Her black hair cascading down her back, and the sun made it appear almost blue in places. She was wearing the blue dress he purchased, and it fit her like a glove. It was fitting at the top and flared out at the skirt. She was holding a picnic basket in her hands.
“Did Alice invite you on the picnic?” she asked. Her voice was so soft he had to strain to hear the words.
Oliver couldn’t find his voice. He felt Alice gently put a finger under his chin and close his mouth.
“Yes, I did, and he said he would be delighted to go. I’m just going to saddle Splinter, and I’ll catch up with you.” Alice patted her brother on the shoulder and gave Willow a little wink as she walked past to go towards the paddock.
“Splinter. That’s the gray horse, isn’t it?”
Oliver moved closer. “Yes, it is.” He reached out and touched one of the curls laying over Willow’s shoulder. “Are you wearing the combs?”
“I am,” Willow said, turning her head each way to show him.
“They look mighty pretty, Willow.”
“Thank you.” Her face broke into a smile. It was the first true smile he had seen from her since he rescued her at the river’s edge.
“Let me just wash my face, and we can go. Would you like to lead Whiskey?” He took the picnic basket from her and handed her the horse’s reins. “Just walk and he will follow.”
Willow walked the horse outside into the sunshine. She was so small compared to the animal.
Oliver placed the basket on a log that was next to the barn and then went to the faucet to wash. He splashed water on his face and then rubbed his hands over his neck trying to remove a bit of the dust. He wished he had a clean shirt to change into, but he didn’t want to spend time running up to the house.
He heard Willow giggle. Whiskey was trying to eat Willow’s hair. She put her hand up brushing the horse away.
“Stop that,” she laughed.
Oliver came over and took the horse's reins. “He must like your hair.”
“Licorice did the same thing. That is how I met him.”
“The black?”
Willow nodded. “I was asleep under a tree, and he woke me up. He was trying to eat my hair too.”
“Must be something about a pretty woman,” he mused.
“Pretty?”
“You look stunning in that dress. I’m very pleased you decided to wear it.”
“Thank you,” she said, beaming under the praise. “I should have said thank you earlier, I was just overwhelmed with your kindness.”
“I should have talked to you first…”
“No need. Alice said that you saw I needed a dress, so you purchased me one. I’ve never had anybody do anything like that before.”
“I’m glad you like it and you are finally wearing it.”
Willow twirled. “I don’t think I’ve ever had anything so fine,” she said, the fabric swishing around her ankles. “Alice told me that I should think of it as a brother buying me a new dress. That you are the most protective one out of all the Chapman brothers.”
“She did?” Oliver lifted an eyebrow.
Willow nodded. “That you are very protective of your sisters, but not so much of other women. So, therefore, I must be like one of your sisters.” Willow blinked her eyes as if what she explained was perfectly logical.
“Kitten, I will protect you, but there is nothing brotherly about it.”
Willow wrinkled her brow. “I just assumed after Alice…”
He looked around the barnyard. Alice and Splinter had disappeared, just leaving Oliver with Willow.
He moved closer to her. The scent of lavender water rolled off her, filling his senses. “Alice was correct,” he interrupted. His fingers traced her cheek and down Willow’s neck. He watched her lips part and she took a quick breath. He could feel her heart beating beneath his fingers.
“She was?”
Willow's voice was soft and husky. Oliver nodded, leaning down slightly.
“She’s right. I am very protective of my sisters. I’m also very protective of the other women in the house as well. Marmee. Ellie. And now you, Kitten. Believe me, what I’m feeling is anything but sisterly.”
He leaned down and placed his lips against hers as softly as he could. He felt her freeze as he dropped Whiskey’s reins and moved closer, not breaking the kiss. He made a point of not putting his hands on her arms, even though he wanted to crush her to him.
Oliver wanted to make sure Willow knew she was in control. That she could break the kiss at any time. He felt her lean forward and press her lips firmly against his,
but her hands never left her side.
He knew patience was key. After a few seconds, Willow broke the kiss and moved away. She lifted her fingers to her lips and looked at Oliver.
“I could get used to kissing you, Kitten.”
“I haven’t ever been kissed before.”
His eyebrow raised in surprise. “Why if you were my woman, I’d be kissing you all the time.”
“You would?”
“I won’t do anything to hurt you, Kitten. So how about you kiss me anytime you want? That way you decide if and when you want to be kissed.”
Willow bit her lower lip. “I can do that.”
“Am I interrupting anything, boss?”
Oliver turned to see Rich looking at them with a leering grin on his face. Oliver pushed Willow behind him, away from the prying eyes. “Where were you?”
“I had to run to town. I cleared it with Smokes. Came back as soon as I could.”
“Next time be sure to let me or Owen know. We were expecting you at this barn today.”
Rich rubbed his chin. “No problem, boss. I’ll be sure to do that.”
Oliver lifted his head to the barn. “Those horses need to be shoed.”
“Going there now. Ma’am,” he said, tilting his head towards Willow who was peeking around Oliver’s arm.
He disappeared into the barn and Oliver turned to Willow.
“I apologize.”
“You don’t need to apologize. Who is that man?” she asked, glancing at Rich.
“One of the cowhands.”
“I think I’ve seen him before, I just don’t remember where.”
“Maybe in town. He could have been at the store.”
“Maybe…”
Oliver gave a little cough capturing Willow’s attention. “Why don’t we go on that picnic now?”
Chapter Twelve
Willow held tightly to the picnic basket as Oliver kept Whiskey at a gentle trot towards the south pasture.
“There is a little spot with plenty of shade down there,” he said. His arms tightened around her as he pulled the reins. She knew it was just to guide the horse, but those arms made her feel protected and safe.
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