by Kit Morgan
He looked up at him. “I have to leave.”
“No, you don’t, not until you’ve got your strength back. Give your body a chance to recover.”
Lucius sighed in impatience. The sooner he got out of Cutter’s Creek, the better. The last week, what he could remember of it, had been hard. At first getting sick had been a blessing – otherwise he never could have trusted himself with Emma. He’d come so close to taking her in his arms, kissing her senseless, then wanting more. How could he not? She was beautiful, witty, kind, spirited, strong …
“I’ll check in on you in a day or two …”
“Huh?” Lucius grunted.
The doctor chuckled. “You look like a man whose mind is elsewhere.”
Lucius grunted again and glared at the wall.
“On that little gal down the hall, I’d wager.” The doctor chuckled, then left the room, closing the door behind him.
Lucius groaned. Was it that obvious? If the doctor, more or less a stranger, noticed, who else had? He’d better pull himself together before he had to suffer a lecture from Jack Carlson, one he had no intention of listening to. He couldn’t seem to convince the man that nothing had happened between him and Emma on the trail. He could see it on Jack’s face. He wondered if Jack knew his emotions showed that way. Probably not, since he couldn’t see for himself.
Lucius reached over to the small table at his bedside, grabbed the apple the preacher’s wife had left him earlier and bit into it. He stared at the fruit as the Scriptures about the Garden of Eden flashed in his mind. Emma was his forbidden fruit. He’d have to avoid her as best he could lest he say something stupid, like I love you.
“Love makes a man weak,” he grumbled, and took another bite.
A knock at the door, and Emma poked her head in. “Oh good, you’re awake.”
Lucius sat, his mouth full of fruit, and stared at her. She looked good – a far cry from the woman who helped him on and off his horse for a few days as the fever took them both. He swallowed, almost choked, cleared his throat and stared some more.
“Are you all right?” she asked as she pushed the door open and entered the room, a tray of food in her hands.
He nodded, unable to speak. A sudden vision of her doing this on special occasions, or because he was sick as now, came to mind. What would it be like to be married to such a creature?
“I brought you some lunch. Mary said you might be hungry about now.”
He held up the apple, still mesmerized. Weak indeed – he couldn’t even talk!
“Oh, I’m sure that won’t be enough to fill you up. I made you some chicken soup.”
His eyes fell on the bowl as she set the tray on the small table by the bed. He cleared his throat. “How are you, Emma?” His voice was still rough.
“Much better. Good enough to cook for you.”
He smiled. “Much obliged.” He glanced at the door. “You should go.”
“Why? We are married, after all.”
“I don’t think your brother would take kindly to you being in a room with a half-naked man.”
Her eyes darted to his bare chest. “Oh.” She blushed. “I hadn’t noticed.”
He watched her go pink with embarrassment. “Hand me my shirt. It’s hanging on a peg behind the door.” She did as he said and brought it to him. He held the apple in his teeth and slipped it on. “There, now your brother won’t be quite so angry with us.”
“With me,” she corrected sourly.
He studied her. “Why do you say that? Do you really think you’re such a disappointment to him?”
She looked at Lucius, her mouth half-open to speak, but no words came out. She sat in the chair next to the bed.
“He really does love you, Emma.”
She hung her head and folded her hands in her lap. “I know he does.”
“Then what’s the problem?”
“I … I suppose I’m disappointed in myself. I ran when I should have stayed and found out what happened to him. But I was too afraid – I didn’t want to end up married to some boorish old codger who’d wanted nothing to do with me except … never mind.”
Lucius knew what she was about to say – he wouldn’t enjoy such an existence any more than she would. She was too free – they both were. And if they didn’t get that annulment, she wouldn’t be free to choose a husband in the future. “Emma, we have some unfinished business.”
She popped out of the chair. “I have to go check on my cookies.” She headed for the door.
“Emma, wait!”
She turned in the doorway. “I’ll ask Willow and Mary if you can have some. Eat your soup.” And she was gone.
Lucius sighed. He’d have to take it up with her later – it wasn’t going to go away just because one of them ignored it. He turned toward the table at his bedside and reached for his soup.
Emma hurried down the stairs to the kitchen. She’d been out of bed for a couple of days now and was feeling pretty good, but still got tired in the afternoons and had to rest. She was bored, though, and needed something to do. Cooking and baking filled her time and kept her mind occupied. Otherwise all she’d do is think about Lucius and the wonderful time they’d shared while traveling together.
Well, so long as she didn’t also think about their arguments, the outlaws, the cold rain that went on for days, the shivering, the constant teeth chattering, Lucius almost falling off his horse …
“Emma?”
She turned. Willow stood in the kitchen doorway. “Oh, hello. I just took Lucius his lunch.”
Willow walked in, went to the hutch and pulled out two teacups and saucers. “Would you like some?” she asked.
“Yes, thank you.” Emma watched her new sister-in-law prepare a pot of tea. When she was done, she poured them both a cup and motioned for Emma to take a seat.
“Give me a minute,” Emma said, then took her cookies out of the oven. She set them on the worktable to cool, then took a seat next to Willow.
“Those sure smell good,” Willow commented. “What kind are they?”
“I don’t really know. Oscar, who lived at the stage stop, gave me a bag full of them along with the recipe.” She reached into her apron pocket and pulled it out. “It was in the bottom of the bag. I hope they turn out – I had a hard time reading this.” She handed the paper to Willow.
Willow took it and shook her head. “No wonder, with all the grease stains on this.” She read it, occasionally turning the paper this way and that. “Well, this is different, I must say.”
“Lucius loves them,” Emma said with a smile. “I can’t wait to see the look on his face when he sees I’ve made them for him.”
“Have you?”
Emma straightened. “Oh, I mean … what I meant to say …”
One of Willow’s eyebrows slowly rose in question.
“Is it hard being married to my brother?” Emma asked quickly, changing the subject.
She relented and said, “No, not after we were married. But before … he was, shall we say, a challenge.”
“I can imagine.”
Willow cocked her head. “Can you? Do you know what it’s like to feel so angry you wish you were dead?”
Emma’s eyes widened at her words. “No, I can’t say that I do.”
“Then don’t judge him. He’s a brave man, enduring what he’s been through. Braver still to make the best of it and carve a life out for himself.”
Emma sat as Willow stared at her. What was she supposed to say to that? She took a sip of tea instead.
“He wants to see you marry well,” Willow said, making Emma almost choke.
“He … well, yes, of course he does.”
“But this business with Mr. Judrow has him worried.”
Emma set down her cup. “What business?”
Willow blushed. “Jack thinks Mr. Judrow … took advantage of your situation.”
Emma’s mouth dropped open. “What? No! He did no such thing!”
“Then you’d best
tell your brother that.”
“Why hasn’t he asked me about it?” Emma demanded. “I am his sister!”
“Well, yes, but he …”
“He didn’t ask because he doesn’t trust me to answer him truthfully,” she said as tears stung the back of her eyes.
“No, Emma, I’m sure it’s not that …”
“What else could it be?”
“I didn’t ask you because I wanted to give Mr. Judrow a chance to tell me first.” Emma and Willow looked up to see Jack standing in the doorway. He sniffed the air. “What smells so good? Are those cookies?”
“Would you like some tea?” Willow asked.
“What I’d like right now is a word with my sister.”
Emma rolled her eyes. “Here we go.”
“Emma, give him a chance to speak,” Willow admonished. “Take your brother into the parlor – I’ll bring the tea and some cookies.”
Emma sighed, got up, went to her brother and took him by the hand. “Let’s get this over with.”
“Emma, stop making everything sound like I’m going to pass sentence.”
“But aren’t you?”
Jack took a deep breath. “This is why Father was the way he was. You’re impossible.”
“I try to be.”
He shook his head. “For the love of Pete, let’s go into the parlor where we can talk.”
“Go easy on each other until I get there,” Willow called after them.
Much to Emma’s surprise, Jack laughed. “We’ll try.”
Once they were seated in the parlor, Jack further surprised her by staying quiet. He didn’t say a word until Willow brought the tea tray, and even then all he said was “thank you” when she placed a cup in his hands.
Willow sat next to Jack with her own cup and reached for a cookie. She took a bite and her eyes went wide. “My goodness, but these are good.”
Emma couldn’t help but smile. “Aren’t they? Lucius loves them.”
“Lucius?” Jack said flatly.
“Yes.” Emma straightened in her chair, took a cookie and began to nibble on it.
“Here, try one,” Willow said as she placed one in Jack’s free hand.
He took a bite. “Mmmm,” he chewed. “These are good.” His head moved this way and that, as if he was looking for the rest of them.
Willow laughed. “Don’t worry, there’s plenty.”
“You know me too well,” he said with a smile.
“Marriage will do that,” she said.
Emma sat and stared at her cookie. Whatever he had to say, she was sure she didn’t want to hear it. Besides, she already knew what it was – he’d want her to get the annulment, tell her he was sending Lucius on his way, drop hints about finding a suitable husband in both name and position.
She almost laughed. In Cutter’s Creek? It’d be nearly impossible. This wasn’t Connecticut or Massachusetts. There were no high-born gentlemen to be had in this place – far from it. Lucius was probably closer to being one than any eligible man in town!
Her eyes brightened at the thought and she sat up a little straighter.
“Emma,” Jack said. “About Mr. Judrow … he’ll be leaving in a few days.”
She looked at him in horror. “Days?”
“He told me he’s ready to get back to work, but Doc told him he’d have to take more time to rest.”
Emma swallowed hard. “I see.” She forced herself to take a sip of her tea before her lip started trembling.
“I’ll pay him when the two of you have … taken care of business,” Jack said. “I plan on giving him a bonus.”
She looked at him, tears in her eyes. “For what?”
“For bringing you back safe and sound.”
Emma stood. “Are you sure I’m sound? What if he … had his way with me? Wouldn’t we have to stay married?”
“Emma,” Jack rubbed a hand through his hair. “For Heaven’s sake, will you just listen for once?”
Her shoulders shook as her tears broke free. “Maybe I won’t ‘take care of business’!”
“Oh good grief,” Jack said, then turned to Willow. “She always was uppity.”
“That’s not what I’d call this,” she replied.
“Oh? What would you call it?”
Willow met Emma’s tear-filled eyes. She leaned over and whispered into her husband’s ear. “Passionate about something she loves.”
“I won’t do it!” Emma insisted, her arms straight at her sides. “I can’t!”
“Do what?” Jack asked casually.
“I … Lucius!”
Willow turned as Jack merely smiled.
Lucius stood at the bottom of the stairs. “Something sure smells good.” He made his way to the table, glancing between the cookies and Emma as he did. “Mighty good.”
“How can you think of cookies at a time like this?” Emma cried. “Don’t you know what’s happening?!”
Lucius picked up a cookie. “I know you didn’t come back upstairs.”
She shook, her emotions raw. She could stand it no longer and didn’t care what anyone thought. “I love you!” she blurted.
He raised an eyebrow at her, the way he always did when he was amused. “I love your cookies.”
“My … cookies?”
“Uh-huh.” He took a generous bite. His eyes widened. “How did you make these?”
“Oscar’s recipe,” she sobbed.
Howard and Mary had come into the house by now and stood in the entrance to the parlor. “Who’s Oscar?” Howard asked.
“One of Mrs. White’s sons at the stage stop in Oregon,” Lucius said as he reached for another. “Whale of a baker.”
“They’re very good, try one,” Jack told Howard.
“Don’t mind if I do.” Howard came over, snatched one up and took a bite. “Well, I’ll be – these are good.”
“Didn’t any of you hear what I said?!” Emma screamed in exasperation.
“Er … well, I didn’t,” Howard replied. “What did you say?”
Everyone looked at her – even Jack aimed his sightless stare in her direction. She gulped and met Lucius’ gaze, refusing to back down. “I said, I love you, Lucius Judrow.”
He slowly raised his hand to his mouth and took the last bite of his cookie.
She sniffed back tears. “And don’t you dare say anything about those cookies!”
“I have to find work.”
Her hand flew to her mouth. “I tell you I love you and that’s all you have to say?” She choked back a sob and made to leave.
Lucius’ arm shot out and stopped her. “So I can find us a place to live.”
“Let go of me, you … wait. What did you say?”
“We’ll need a place to live. I didn’t think you’d want to be apart from your family.”
Her mouth flopped open. She could only stare.
Lucius chuckled, reached for a cookie and put it in her mouth. She automatically bit into it.
Howard laughed. Then Mary, then Willow.
“What? What is it?” Jack asked.
“For perhaps the first time in her life, Mr. Carlson, your sister is speechless.” Lucius pulled the cookie from her teeth and took a bite of it himself. After they both swallowed, he said, “Well, what’s a man to do? I can’t let you go.”
“Wh-what?”
Lucius glanced around the room, then met her wide-eyed gaze. “What I’m trying to say is, Emma Judrow, will you marry me?”
Her mouth opened wide enough to stuff a handful of cookies into it if he’d wanted. “M-m-marry you? We’re already married!”
“On paper, but I’m talking about something else.” He poked a finger at her chest. “I’m talking about in here.”
She closed her eyes and shivered. “You are the most impossible man.”
“Seems like a good match, then – you’re the most impossible woman.”
“Don’t I know it,” Jack said from the settee.
Lucius smiled. “Your broth
er’s a smart man.”
Emma’s brow furrowed. “Because he’s figured out I’m impossible?”
“No, because he figured out I’m in love with you.”
Her hands flew to her mouth as she gasped.
“Marry me, Emma. Be my wife – heart, body and soul.”
A sob escaped despite her efforts. “Yes. YES!” She jumped up and flung her arms around his neck, almost knocking him over in the process.
“What’s happening?” Jack asked his wife.
“All is well, and so are the cookies.”
Jack chuckled. “He told me about them a few days ago. That’s how I figured things out this morning. Emma doesn’t bake and cook for just anyone. She didn’t do much of either growing up. Never liked it.”
“Then I’d say she’s a changed woman.”
“Thank Heaven for that. I’m still not sure what happened out on the trail, but one thing’s for sure, they’re in love.”
Willow smiled as Lucius Judrow bent to kiss his wife. “Yes, they certainly are.”
“I think I should write this Oscar White and his family and thank them,” Jack said.
“Maybe ask him for a few recipes, too,” she suggested.
He nodded. “Good idea. Er … are they still kissing?”
“How did you know?” she asked.
“Because Emma’s never this quiet for this long.”
At that, everyone laughed, except Lucius and Emma. They were still lost in the sort of kiss only two people in love could have. They’d even forgotten about the cookies.
About the Author
Kit Morgan, aka Geralyn Beauchamp, lives in a log cabin in the woods in the wonderful state of Oregon. She grew up riding horses, playing cowboys and Indians and has always had a love of Westerns! She and her father watched many Western movies and television shows together, and enjoyed the quirky characters of Green Acres. Kit’s books have been described as “Green Acres meets Gunsmoke,” and have brought joy and entertainment to thousands of readers. Many of her books are now in audio format, performed by a talented voice actor who brings Kit’s characters to life, and can be found on Amazon, Audible.com and iTunes.