JOE'S WIFE

by Cheryl St. John

  He was Tye Hatcher. He'd always been Tye Hatcher and he would always be Tye Hatcher. He wasn't Joe and never would be. Marrying a respectable woman in dire financial straits wouldn't change who he was or the way people saw him. Just as fighting side by side with their good sons and brothers hadn't changed the way they saw him.

  It had only changed the way he'd seen himself. He still had to prove himself. He staked the gray in the shade near a patch of grass and joined the men branding.

  "Did you see me this morning, Meg? Did you see how high up I was?" Eve demonstrated her question on tiptoe with a hand raised into the air above her head.

  "I saw you. You're a good rider."

  "Tye says he will let me ride all the way to town with him after the cows are all caught."

  "That will be great fun, won't it?" Meg had assumed the task of washing clothes and repairing the men's foxed breeches since she was the only female on the range and Gus's eyesight wouldn't allow him to even find the needle anymore.

  On a line stretched from a wind-bent cedar to the chuck wagon, clean, damp clothing flapped in the warm breeze. Meg concentrated on reinforcing the seat and inseam of the pair of Tye's pants she held.

  "Can you read me some more of Alice?" Eve asked.

  "I can't until later," Meg replied. "I have to get these chores done before supper."

  Eve looked at the doll in her lap, and the brim of her bonnet hid her face.

  Meg glanced up from her work. "You all right? You know I have work to do."

  "I know. Tye has work to do, too. An' Gus."

  For Eve's sake, Meg regretted this particularly busy season.

  "I wish Major coulda come."

  "He's keeping Purdy company. Maybe by next year Tye will have him used to the cows."

  "Why do we have these dumb cows, anyway?"

  "They're worth a lot of money. The more we keep healthy and the more that are born, the more money we can make."

  "Oh." She got up and moved closer to Meg. "I got a money."

  "You do?"

  "Uh-huh. It's silver. I keep it in my special box that was my mama's. You want I should show it to you?"

  Meg had seen the box when she'd unpacked Eve's things, and she'd noticed the child holding it a time or two. "All right."

  Eve scampered to the carpetbag holding her belongings and returned with her prized possession. It looked like a simple cigar box to Meg. The child opened the container importantly, revealing the red felt lining that had been glued inside. The faint scent of cedar wafted to her. Eve proudly displayed the contents for Meg to view.

  "See?" She held up a silver dollar.

  "Goodness! You're a rich girl."

  "Yep. And this here's my hair from when I was a baby." She unfolded a paper, revealing a silky dark curl.

  Meg admired it appropriately.

  "And this here is a thimble." She placed the tarnished thimble on one tiny finger and showed it to Meg.

  "We could shine that up when we get back to the house," Meg offered.

  "It would be shiny like yours?"

  Meg showed her the sewing implement on her middle finger. "This one was my grandmother's, and it shines."

  "Okay." Eve dropped it back in the box atop a few bits of ribbon and several train ticket stubs. Carefully lifting out a wrinkled handkerchief with tatted edges, she opened it for Meg to see what lay inside. Meg studied the ladies' neck chain. The polished gold pendant was round, set with rhinestones in the shape of a crescent moon—an unusual piece of jewelry.

  "It's very pretty." Meg watched her refold the handkerchief and replace it. Such a pitiful few items for a child to remember a mother by. "You can wear it when you're bigger."

  Eve nodded, a downhearted expression portraying her loss and misery. "Mama told me Tye was gonna be my family."

  A knot formed in Meg's chest. "Yes," she whispered, thinking of the house full of parents and siblings in which she'd grown up. A sudden pang of shame pierced her. She'd been so pleased to get away from them and out on her own. She had never appreciated her blessings. "We're happy to be your family," she assured the child.

  "How come you don't have your own boys and girls?"

  Meg blinked, taken aback by the question. "I, um…" She couldn't explain to a five-year-old that she'd had little opportunity to have children before Joe had gone off to war and been killed. "God just hasn't given me any babies yet."

  Eve's sparkling dark eyes widened. "God gives you babies?"

  It was as good an explanation as any. And true. "Yes."

  Eve closed the lid of her box and a half smile turned up her rosy lips. "Golly."

  Meg watched her return the box to her bag and resume her place with the doll. She toyed with the yarn hair and whispered something Meg couldn't hear.

  Meg picked up her mending, wishing she could share her amusement with Tye. The easiness they'd once shared had disappeared, and Meg accepted the blame. She'd let her physical and emotional desires get in the way of their agreement. She hated herself for it, but she didn't know how to turn them off. If she'd known how, none of the unpleasantness between them would have happened.

  He made her want him, pure and simple. And those feelings befuddled her.

  He wanted to talk about things she didn't want to discuss. He made her feel things she didn't want to feel. He'd misinterpreted it all, but she didn't know how to straighten that out. Or if she wanted to straighten it out.

  This misunderstanding was the buffer she needed to keep things safe. As long as he was angry at her and thinking she was ashamed of him, she didn't have to deal with her feelings. And right now she was too confused to deal with anything but the tasks at hand.

  Meg finished her mending and took the clothes from the line so she could help Gus with the next meal.

  By the time roundup ended, Tye was as grateful as everyone else for life to get back to normal. With their return to the house came the problem of their forced intimacy at night, and so, though it made her angry, his staying in town until late was a blessing. He returned home so exhausted that he fell into immediate slumber and slept like a rock.

  A town social was planned for the first Saturday night after roundup to celebrate Founder's Day. For the ranchers, their wives and families and the reps, this was a much anticipated yearly event.

  This year especially, the first year of normalcy after the war's end, Tye overheard dozens of conversations in which the festivity was mentioned with expectancy.

  The event also coincided with something toward which Tye'd been working. As of that week, he had enough money saved to buy back Meg's ring. Declining Jed's appeals to stay on at the Pair-A-Dice, he took his final pay and made a beeline for the pawnbroker's on Friday.

  Tye waited his turn while a perfumed woman in a jaunty hat perused the watches and rings and O'Roarden quoted her prices. Finally, she made a purchase and left.

  O'Roarden took his time lighting a cigar, shifted it to the corner of his mouth and spoke around it. "What'll you have?"

  "My wife's ring. I spoke with you and you told me how much she owed to get it back."

  "Yeah." The man opened a ledger, flipped a few pages and quoted Tye the price.

  Tye placed the bills on the counter.

  "You got the receipt?"

  "The receipt?"

  "Can't sell it to ya without the receipt."

  Tye met the man's eyes directly, wondering if this rule was for everyone or just for him. "I'll be back."

  He stuffed the money in his pocket and stormed out the door. He'd wanted it to be a surprise. All this time he hadn't shared his plan with Meg; he didn't want to spoil it now. The only way he could get the ring without her knowing was to find the receipt. That shouldn't be too difficult; it was a small house. But he'd wanted to give it to her the following night, and that didn't leave him any time.

  Returning to the ranch, he found Gus sitting in the dooryard peeling potatoes. Eve was playing with Major a few feet away.

  "Watch, Tye!" she
called. She threw a stick and the dog bounded after it.

  Tye smiled and watched indulgently for several minutes.

  "Where's Meg?" he asked.

  Gus dug eyes from a potato with the end of his knife. "Rode out to check on those new calves."

  "I'll be right back, Eve. When I come back, would you like to ride into town with me?"

  She stopped in her tussle to get the slobbery stick away from Major. "Yes! Can I ride a horse?"

  "You can help me hitch the team, how's that?"

  "Aw-right!"

  Tye entered the house and opened a few cupboards, finding nothing but dishes and foodstuffs. In the other room, he glanced through Meg's china cabinet, even peeking inside the sugar bowl. He made his way into the dim bedroom, feeling like a thief but still wanting to surprise Meg with the ring.

  The tin on her bureau held ribbons and buttons and hairpins. He opened the top drawer, and the scent of violets drifted to his nose. He peeked beneath chemises and lace collars. The remainder of the drawers held only clothing.

  Perhaps she kept it in her reticule, but he'd never seen where she kept the bag. He turned, noting the trunk at the foot of the bed, and raised the lid. Several items sat in a shallow tray-type liner. An open box held a few slips of paper, and he lifted it out, quickly finding the receipt signed by Ben O'Roarden. Tye smiled and slipped it into his shirt pocket.

  As he reached to replace the box, the other contents of the trunk caught his attention. A man's hairbrush, razor and shaving mug. A stack of letters tied with a faded ribbon. A grievous feeling ate at him.

  He picked them up, turning the top one so he could read the lettering. He flipped through the pile. It was plain they'd all been written by Joe.

  Beneath the letters was a white dress shirt, neatly starched and pressed, and a black string tie. Coiled in the corner sat a tooled leather belt. Tye's heart constricted painfully and his breath caught in his chest.

  Joe's things.

  He didn't care. He shouldn't care. She had her right to her memories. Tye hadn't meant to invade her privacy, but now that he'd seen these things, shame filled him. Tye dropped the letters on the clothing and replaced the box. He lifted the liner out, cautious of what he'd see beneath, but found only a crocheted blanket and a stack of what looked like tablecloths.

  He replaced the tray and closed the trunk quietly, hating the bereft feelings that swamped him. Unerringly, his gaze moved to the spot where the pair of black boots had stood when he'd first seen this room. They were gone and, he realized, had been for some time, but he hadn't given the empty spot notice until now.

  Increasing heaviness weighed on his chest. He could have lived quite well without seeing all her keepsakes, the things of Joe's she clung to.

  It didn't matter, though. Giving the trunk a last look and studying the bed for a moment, he left the room. Joe was alive in her heart; that's where the threat to Tye's chance of ever winning Meg existed. He may have possessed Meg's body, but Joe still held her heart.

  He grabbed Eve's bonnet and left the house.

  Tye patted the inside pocket of his coat, the ring resting snugly in its flannel drawstring bag. In buying the heirloom back, he'd done his part to pay the banknote. He could consider the pawned ring a loan of sorts, and now he had paid Meg back. He would love to see Niles Kestler eat his words about delivering the foreclosure notice, but having the note paid and knowing they had two more months of security left was satisfaction enough.

  "Let's go find something for you now." Tye held Eve's hand securely, and she walked alongside him on the boardwalk. "I have a few coins left."

  "Licorice?" she asked, her impish smile delighting him.

  "If you like."

  "Oh, I like licorice."

  Ahead a bell tinkled. Trussed in an ebony dress and sporting a wing-brimmed black hat with a curling black feather, Edwina Telford emerged from the mercantile. Her fair-haired daughter-in-law appeared just behind her.

  Edwina drew up, watching Tye and Eve approach. She took on an expression of combined puzzlement and disapproval. "Whatever are you doing with that child, Mr. Hatcher?"

  "I'm takin' her for a licorice whip, Mrs. Telford. And how are you this fine day?"

  "Where are the child's parents?"

  "Well now, I guess that would be Meg and me, since Eve lives with us. I'm right here and Meg is probably at the ranch fixing our supper. You'll have to excuse us so we can do our shopping and get back. I hate to miss Meg's cooking."

  He strode past where she stood, an affronted expression straining her features and puffing her chest.

  "Want we should save you a piece?" Eve asked Edwina on the way past.

  The woman gathered her skirts and huffed away. Her daughter-in-law gave an apologetic little smile and followed.

  "Don't she like licorice, Tye?"

  Tye patted Eve's hand. "I think she just got up on the wrong side of the bed this morning."

  "Oh." Eve tried to look back over her shoulder, but Tye led her into the store.

  Emery Parks gave Tye his usual blistering glare, then, since there were no other customers, moved to the counter where Tye waited. He noticed Eve and his eyebrows climbed his forehead. He obviously recognized her from former visits with her mother, or perhaps she'd been in with Rosa.

  "Hello, Mr. Parks," came Eve's polite greeting from Tye's side.

  Emery ignored her and eyeballed Tye. "What do you want?"

  Tye leaned down to Eve. "Stand right here for just a second, sweetie," he whispered. She nodded demurely.

  He then lowered his face as close to Emery Parks's as possible without climbing over the counter and standing on his shirtfront. "A touch of courtesy for the child would be a good place to start."

  The man's eyes widened.

  "Eve said hello, Mr. Parks." Tye's low voice held a barely veiled threat. "I'd answer her if I were you."

  Emery's mottled skin and the tips of his ears turned bright pink. His pale blue eyes showed his concern for what Tye might do. He cleared his throat.

  Tye straightened and took Eve's hand once again.

  "H-hello," Emery said to her.

  Tye accepted that greeting with a curt nod. "We'll take six licorice whips, please."

  The mercantile owner wrapped their candy in a scrap of paper and accepted the pennies Tye handed him.

  "Thank you," Eve said.

  Emery's gaze skittered to Tye but immediately returned to the child. "You're welcome."

  "I'd also like a couple of work shirts," Tye added.

  Emery led him to a counter where he made a selection and paid.

  "Nice doin' business with ya," Tye said, touching the brim of his hat. They strolled from the store, and Tye rationed them each a piece of the savory candy.

  "You like licorice, too, Tye?"

  "It's my favorite."

  She chewed her treat and rewarded him with a radiant smile.

  All the way home, she slept. His arm ached from holding her for so long, but he didn't care. Her pleasure in the trip had been worth the small discomfort.

  He stood from the wagon seat and slid carefully to the ground. Purdy met him, offering to rub down and water the team. Tye thanked him and carried Eve to the house.

  Meg and Gus were putting the finishing touches on the evening meal when Tye entered the kitchen, Eve draped in his arms. Meg acknowledged him with a smile and scooped hot whipped potatoes into a crockery bowl. "Didn't know if you were going to make it in time for supper."

  "I'm learning not to miss your suppers."

  His words brought Meg's head around. He held the child with a smile, but he'd been serious. He'd filled out since he'd been there; his chest and arms were fuller. And he'd been eating larger portions.

  Wiping her hands on her apron and stepping closer, she noted the black ring around Eve's lips. "Spoiled her meal, did you?"

  He grinned and the sight caught at her heart. "It was worth it. She loves licorice."

  "I see that." She reached high
and took his hat from his head. It was warm from the sun and smelled like his hair. She remembered his accusing words about her feverish attraction for him and busied herself hanging his hat.

  Tye cast her a questioning look.

  Eve roused in his arms, and Meg gave her a smile. "Hi. I missed you."

  "Oh, Meg! We took the wagon to town and we shopped. Tye bought me licorice."

  "What an adventure. Looks like the trip wore you out."

  "Only a little. What do I smell?"

  "Gus's fried chicken."

  Eve licked her stained lips. "Yummy."

  "Let's go clean you up."

  Tye placed Eve on her feet, and she followed Meg to the sink. He washed after they were finished, and within minutes Purdy and the Eaton brothers arrived.

  They all sat and ate together, the meal delicious, the atmosphere comfortable. Once they'd finished and Gus took over the cleanup, Tye stepped close and whispered, "Let's go outside. I need to talk to you."

  * * *

  Chapter Eleven

  « ^ »

  She followed him hesitantly, feigning indifference. She didn't want him analyzing her feelings or her actions again. Major found his new friend, and giggling, Eve chased him around a tree stump.

  "Edwina and your sister-in-law—"

  "Gwynn?"

  He nodded. "Saw us in town today. And I think Emery Parks recognized Eve."

  The topic of his concern relaxed her. "She isn't a secret, Tye. Everyone is going to know sooner or later."

  "I know." He watched the child playing with the dog. "I thought you might want to be prepared. For tomorrow night."

  Meg didn't want to believe that people would be judgmental about Eve, but she already knew better from the way they'd reacted to her marriage to Tye.

  "Remember when you told me you didn't care what anyone said about you marrying me?" he asked.

  Still watching Eve, she nodded.

  "You said you didn't need the town's approval to do what you think is right."

  "I remember."

  "It wasn't as easy as you thought it would be. And this won't be, either."