by Cia Leah
“She’s your horse. You rub her down and take care of her.”
“Okay, but I hope I don’t get kicked for my trouble.”
“She won’t, but you’re gonna have to win her over. She’s so used to me, that she needs to learn that she has a new master that will be kind to her and show her she’s loved and treasured.”
Callie walked to the barn, thinking of Clint’s words, as she led the horse into the barn. If Goldie’s devotion to Clint was any indication, the man had a gentle hand and heart. Horses sensed a person’s goodness, and she was bound and determined to make Goldie love her as much as Clint.
As she unsaddled Goldie, rubbed her down, and settled her in her stall, she heard Clint yell for her at the back of the barn. She closed the stall gate and ran to him to see a new born colt trying to stand on spindly legs as the mother horse licked it. “Oh, Clint, she’s beautiful!”
“Sure is and healthy too. I was sort of worried about Dancer today when I came to fetch you from the stage. I wanted to be here when she birthed.”
“I’m glad you were. Did she have any trouble?”
“Nope and it looks like all is well, so we’ll just leave them alone,” he said, as the colt stood on wobbly legs and made it to her mamma to nurse.
Callie followed Clint out of the barn and waited for him to close the barn doors. Night was falling fast and she found she was tired. “If’n you don’t mind, I’d like to heat up some water for a bath and go to bed. I’m so tired and it will be nice to be able to sleep in a bed for a change.”
“Sure thing. I’m going to have some coffee, then have some paperwork to do on the new colt. I keep records of everything for the people who buy them off me.”
“Is that what you do for a living?”
“That and help train quarter horses for the ranches around here. It keeps me pretty busy.”
Callie went in and heated the water as Clint worked on his paperwork. When she had filled the tub, she shut the door, stripped off her clothes, and sank into the hot water. It was pure bliss and she felt the tension of the past few weeks seep from her body.
She missed her Uncle Ned and being home. Even though Clint was nice enough and welcomed her, she didn’t feel right. Sleeping under the same roof with him brought to mind how handsome he was. His black hair was shirt collar length, his eyes a dark green, like the blades of springtime grass. His was tall and muscled. She’d bet he’d make a good adversary in a fight, but what bothered her most was the way he wore his gun. Low on his hips like a gunslinger or outlaw.
She dunked her head under the water and washed her hair, the quickly washed away the dirt and grime of her journey here. She knew that her Uncle Ned had rode with outlaw gangs and was always thankful he had given up that way of life and she realized he’d done so to take care of her when her Pa had died. At first, she hadn’t liked Ned, but it didn’t take long to see he loved her and provided for her out of the kindness of his heart. She loved him so much and wished she was home again.
When she stepped from the tub and dried off, she wrapped the towel around her and washed out her clothes and hung them on the small clothesline that stretched across the room, tied to two nails on each end. When she turned to open the door, she looked at the mirror above the sink. Uncle Ned had had one, but it was all cracked and she’d never gotten a good look at her reflection, but as she stepped in front of the mirror, her mouth fell open in amazement. Why she didn’t look too bad. Her hair was the color of sunshine when wet, but it’d be lighter when it dried. There were dark smudges under her light blue eyes from being so tired from her trip.
Many nights she had stayed awake when some man had taken a liking to her along the way. Her Uncle Ned had told her to be on guard and she had. Thank goodness she didn’t have to shoot someone cause her uncle said some men wouldn’t take no for an answer and to just kill the varmit and get it over with.
Taking a deep breath, she walked to the door, and opened it. Since she didn’t have anything but the towel to cover her from her breasts down to her thighs, she hoped Clint wouldn’t think her forward or anything, but her uncle wouldn’t let her bring anything like that with her to make sure she stayed in her buckskin shirt and pants.
She stepped out into the kitchen and saw Clint sitting at the table going over paperwork yet. He had a cup of coffee in his hand and glanced up at her, as he was about to take a drink. The cup fell to the floor and he jumped out of the chair. “What the hell! Where are your clothes?”
Callie blushed and lowered her head. “I washed them after I took a bath and hung them on the line to dry.”
“Don’t you have a nightgown?”
“Uncle Ned wouldn’t let me bring mine because he wanted me to stay in my clothes the whole way here.”
“I’ll get you one of my shirts. I’ll hand it to you in your room.”
Callie followed Clint and when he disappeared into his room, she stepped into hers and held the door shut halfway. Clint came and stuck his hand around the door, the shirt dangling from his fingertips. “Thanks,” she said, closing the door. Moonlight filtered into the room enough for her to see what she was doing. When she had the shirt on, she walked over and lit the kerosene lamp and sat down on the bed. She turned at a knock on her door. “Come in.”
Callie, come out here so we can talk a minute.”
She got up and walked out into the living room and sat down in a chair by the fireplace. Clint leaned against the fireplace and stared at the fire. When he looked at her, his eyes quickly scanned her up and down.
“Take that blanket and cover up.”
She did what he told her. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to offend you,” she said, watching as he ran a hand through his hair before he sat in the chair on the opposite side of her. “You didn’t offend me, but my goodness, what was your uncle thinking sending you all this way without the barest essentials?
“He said if I kept my pants on, no man could take advantage of me and if one did just to shoot the varmit and kill him outright.”
Clint’s mouth fell open, and then he burst out laughing. “That sounds like Ned, but we got to get you some proper clothes. Some dresses, too.”
“A dress?”
“Yes, several dresses and shoes and a damn nightgown. On of those ones with long sleeves and buttons up to the neck, and goes all the way to your ankles!”
“Do I look that bad without my clothes?”
“What?”
“Do I look that bad without my clothes on?”
“Yes, I mean no! I mean it just isn’t proper. We aren’t married and that’s another thing I’m worried about. What are people going to say when I take you to town and buy you clothes and stuff? They’re going to think you’re a kept woman!”
Callie’s mouth fell open and she snapped it shut as tears began to fall down her cheeks. “I told Uncle Ned this wasn’t right to push me off on some man who didn’t know me. I’ll just go back home!”
“No! You can’t!”
“Why not? I have enough money in my pockets to get back there.”
Clint felt like a heel. “Ned sent you to me and I’ll take care of you. We’ll go to town in the morning and we’ll get married so people won’t talk, then I’ll buy you some clothes.”
“We’re getting married already? I don’t know you and I don’t want to…”
“To what?”
“You know,” she said, watching as it dawned on Clint what she was talking about.
“Oh, well now, you can still sleep in your room and me in mine. I won’t take advantage of you.”
“Because I’m ugly!”
“You aren’t ugly! Damn this isn’t going too well. Why don’t you go on to bed and get some sleep? I know you are tired and let me take care of everything else?”
“You aren’t mad at me, are you Clint?”
“No.”
“I think you are nice and I hope I can make you happy. I can cook, clean, wash clothes, muck out stalls, and just about anything
else. I can even hunt too.”
“You aren’t my slave, Callie. Just go to bed and sleep and we’ll take care of everything in the morning.”
“I’ll make you a good breakfast.”
“I’m looking forward to it, but you leave the coffee pot alone.”
She laughed, getting up from the chair. “I promise. Good night.”
“Night, Callie.”
Callie went to her room, turned the lamp low, and crawled into bed. The mattress was soft and comfortable and as she turned over and hugged her pillow, she couldn’t help but wonder how the rest of her life was going to turn out. “Night Uncle Ned. I love and miss you,” she whispered, and fell fast asleep.
***
Clint sat before the fire. Damn it, Ned, you sent me a girl still wet behind the ears without an inkling of what life with a man is like. You old coot, you’re probably up there in heaven just laughing your ass off, but you knew I’d do right by her and I will even though marriage is the furthest thing from my mind.
He got up, stoked the fire for the night, and walked to Callie’s door, which wasn’t latched. He opened it a little ways and looked in on her. She was sleeping soundly. Her hair was spread over the pillow and she had one hand tucked under her chin. She was beautiful and he knew she was already wrapping herself around his heart in one day even if she didn’t know it.
He shut the door and went to his room, undressed, and fell into bed. Tomorrow was his wedding day. He shook his head at the thought, and fell asleep.
Chapter Three
Callie was as nervous as a whore in church, as her uncle used to say. She stood in the church at the altar in front of the preacher, holding a small bouquet of daisies, and repeated her vows. When the preacher said Clint could kiss the bride, her heart about dropped to the floor. She looked at him in his suit and thought of how handsome he was and she couldn’t believe the pretty white muslin dress he had bought her. She felt like a fairy princess.
When he reached out and took her by the arms, she swore her heart quit beating as he gave her a quick kiss on the lips. She barely felt it, but that slight touch made her heart start beating triple time. She lowered her head and knew her cheeks were fiery red.
“Well, Mrs. West, are you ready to go back home?”
“Yes,” Callie said, and after they signed the necessary papers and Clint taking their copy of their marriage license, they walked outside hand in hand. As Clint helped her into the buckboard, she couldn’t help but think it was a fine day for a wedding, even though they had no one there but the preacher and his wife.
“You okay?” Clint asked, jumping up on the buckboard and taking the reins in his hands.
“Yes.”
“You’re being awful quiet.”
She watched as he turned the wagon around and they headed out of town. She didn’t miss the curious stares of the people on the sidewalks. “I’m just overwhelmed. Everything went so fast this morning and now I’m a married woman and a little nervous.”
“I don’t expect you do be any different. I just want you to be yourself. You sleep in your room and I’ll sleep in mine.”
“Then you don’t want me?”
“I didn’t say that, but we hardly know each other. Let’s just take it one day at a time and I want you to be happy, Callie. Looks like all we got is each other.”
“That’s true. I can make a real fine wedding dinner when we get back home. I can’t wait to cook that steak you got.”
“Me either. I’m getting mighty hungry. Been a long time since we had breakfast.”
She glanced at Clint. “You like my cooking.”
“Oh yeah. Never tasted any as fine as yours.”
“That makes me happy and thanks for all the things you bought me today. I didn’t expect it.”
“You gotta have clothes, shoes, and some nice things for a change. Ned would kill me if’n I didn’t treat you good.”
She laughed. “Yeah, he would. I wish he could have been here today.”
“Me too, but he knows, so don’t worry so much.”
“I’m sure he knows I’ve arrived by now. Hopefully I’ll get a letter from him.”
“Maybe,” Clint said, urging the horses faster. He couldn’t wait to get back home. He hated towns, just like he hated not telling her Ned was gone.”
“Thank you for my knitting yarn, embroidery thread, and material.”
“You’ll make me a find home. I have no doubt about that.”
“Uncle Ned thought stuff like that was frivolous.”
“Where did you learn to sew and do all those things?”
Callie sat up a little straighter. The schoolteacher in town taught me. I helped her with the little kids and she said she’d teach me to knit, sew, and embroider, since I didn’t have a mamma to teach me the things girls need to know. She was a nice lady and still teaches back home.”
“That was mighty nice of her.”
“I can’t wait to get started either. After I get dinner over and clean up the house, maybe I can sit by the fire tonight and start the curtains.”
“I don’t expect you to work every minute of the day. You can do just about anything you want anytime of the day or night even.”
“I’ll take care of my duties first. It makes it more fun that way.”
Clint laughed. “Whatever you say. You’ll have time tomorrow since I will be going over to a ranch a few miles from home to break a couple horses. I won’t be back ‘til supper time.”
“I’ll pack you a lunch to take with you.”
“That’d be right nice.”
Callie smiled when she saw the house come into view. They were home and she felt like it was home. Clint had made her his wife and bought her all the stuff she needed to make it a home for them both. Before long, they’d have curtains at the windows, doilies, and cushion covers, and it’d be right pretty.
She jumped down as soon as Clint pulled the wagon to a stop and ran back to start carrying in their stuff. She couldn’t wait to get supper started and go through her things. She heard Clint laugh as she ran into the house, her arms full. He came in with a load and went back to get more. When he had everything carried in, she shooed him out to the barn and quickly got the steak frying and peeled the potatoes and snapped some green beans and set them on to cook with a few slices of bacon.
While she waited for the food to cook, she got the sewing basket Clint had bought her and looked inside. The thread was so pretty in different colors and she couldn’t wait to ply needle to material. She felt like a kid in a candy store.
She moved back to the stove and then remembered to put on the apron he had bought her. She wanted to keep her wedding dress on for supper. It just seemed fitting. It had pockets and everything and she knew it would come in handy when she washed the clothes and hung them out on the line. She could fill the pockets up with clothespins.
When Clint came in, she had the table set and everything ready. She even baked a spice cake. “I hope you’re hungry.”
“Starving. The colt is doing fine too. Healthy little thing. What do you think we should name her?”
She thought for a minute as he washed up and fixed a pot of fresh coffee, then sat down at the table. She sat across from him. “Dusty. She’s darker than her ma and is going to be beautiful.”
“Dusty it is. You gonna say grace so I can eat?”
She laughed. “Sure am,” she said, grateful that he remembered. When she finished, she watched as he piled his plate high. “I made a cake too.”
“Don’t know if I’ll have room after eating all this, but it sure looks good.”
“It is. It’s a spice cake.”
He groaned. “You sure know a way to a man’s heart. Oh, and when I come home tomorrow, I’ll have about a dozen chickens. I got a small coop built on the side of the barn. I thought you might like to have some fresh eggs and we can have some chicken for Sunday dinner if you know how to clean and cook them.”
“I do, but you’ll have to
kill them. I can’t hurt anything.”
He laughed. “I can and my mouth waters just thinking about a fried chicken dinner.
“Are you getting the chickens from the rancher you are going to be at tomorrow?”
“Yeah. His wife has hundreds. It’s part of my pay.”
“I can’t believe that I’m this happy!”
“Good and I hope to keep you that way.”
“I was afraid when I left Uncle Ned. He wasn’t feeling good. He’d been looking peaked and lost a lot of weight. I asked him about it, but he said not to worry, he was just getting old and old folks were like that. I wish I could know for sure if he is okay.”
“I’m sure he’s fine. Now, I’ll help you clean the kitchen up, and then we can have a piece of that cake and coffee in front of the fire. Then you can work on your sewing.”
Callie jumped up and poured the hot water off the cook stove into the pan in the sink. She couldn’t wait and hummed as she and Clint worked together like they’d been doing it for years instead of only a couple days. Life was so good, she couldn’t believe it, and she silently thanked her Uncle Ned for sending her to Clint.
Chapter Four
By noon the next day, Callie had the house cleaned, the clothes washed and hanging on the line, and a roast in the oven baking. She got her material out and spread it out on the table. As she cut it for the curtains she was going to make, she couldn’t help but remember her wedding day. It had been perfect, except for her sleeping in her room and Clint in his. She felt a little bad about that, knowing that a wife was expected to do her duties in bed, but even though she knew what happened, she didn’t know what it was like. She didn’t have a clue as to what went on in a marriage bed. Her mother having died before she turned one, then her Pa when she was a young girl, and living with Ned, there wasn’t anyone to talk about it to. Now, she felt inadequate as a wife, feeling like she had let Clint down.
Of course, he said he didn’t mind, but men wanted a woman to curl up to at night, didn’t they? Gosh, she wished she knew what to do.