“Oh, son, they’re wonderful. Little Jamie is so much like Oliver was when he was a child. I feel God sent him here to ease the loss of my youngest son. And little Abby must be like her mother. Samantha told me I’d have loved my daughter-in-law if I’d ever met her. She even said Millicent and Oliver planned to visit us in the summer, but he was killed in the spring before they could make plans to come. I so wish I could have seen him one more time.”
“Please, don’t cry, Ma. I know learning of Oliver’s death was the hardest thing you’ve ever had to handle.” His voice was soft and gentle with his mother. “I miss my brother, too, but I know he would’ve wanted us to honor him by raising his children the way he would have.”
“But he didn’t want to be a rancher, Russ. I’m sure he expressed this feeling to his wife. Why do you suppose Millicent thought her children would be better off with us than with her own mother and father?”
“Maybe Samantha could tell you that.”
Samantha wasn’t prepared for the tingle she felt when he used her given name. All he’d ever called her was Miss Whitener. Swallowing and biting her lip, she hurried into the kitchen. “Good morning.”
“Good morning, Samantha.” Nellie smiled at her.
Russ nodded. “I need to get something out of my room.” When Nellie shot him a look, he added, “I hope you don’t mind me going in there this morning?”
“Of course not, Mr. Jenson. It’s your room, after all.”
He didn’t answer, but turned and headed out of the kitchen.
“I’m surprised you’re up, Samantha. I figured you’d sleep until noon, as tired as you were last night.”
“I probably would have if I hadn’t awakened, but once I wake up, I can never go back to sleep.”
“Then have a seat at the table and I’ll get you a cup of coffee. Or would you rather have tea?”
“Coffee is fine. I usually drink a cup in the morning.” She pulled out a chair. “Have the children stirred?”
“Not yet. They were exhausted.”
“Yes, but they made the trip better than I thought they would.”
“It was wonderful of you to bring them to me, Samantha.”
“Aunt Vivian didn’t want me to come, but I had promised Millicent.”
“I know cousins can be close, but you and Millicent seem to have been extra close.”
“As I told you, Millicent and I were as close as sisters. My parents were killed when a riverboat they were vacationing on had an explosion on board and sank. I was twelve at the time, and had to leave my home in New York and go to Philadelphia to live with my aunt Vivian, my father’s sister. Millicent lived next door with her parents when they were in the city. She was also an only child. Her mother was my father’s sister, too, so we were not only cousins, but almost immediately after my arrival we became best friends.”
“Then you must have known Oliver.”
“I did. He was a wonderful husband and father. Millicent loved him more than anything. If it hadn’t been for Abby and Jamie, I don’t know if she could have made it without Oliver.”
Tears sprang into Nellie’s eyes. “I’m glad he was loved so much.”
“He loved her the same way. Your son was a good man, Mrs. Jenson.”
“So, you liked him?”
“Oh, yes. Very much. He knew my aunt didn’t celebrate holidays, so he always invited me to join his family. He made me feel as if I was a member of his family, too.” Samantha reached out and touched Nellie’s arm. “You would have been proud of him.”
“I have always been proud of both my boys, though they were different.”
“I see that Russ is nothing like Oliver, but Oliver often spoke highly of his brother.”
“There was only a two-year difference in their ages, and they were always close. They went to college at the same time, and when they finished, Russ couldn’t wait to get back to the ranch. He says it’s in his blood. Oliver, on the other hand, found he was more suited to the business world. Besides that, he’d fallen in love with Millicent. He came home and tried to be the rancher his father wanted him to be, but he was miserable. After a few months, he went back to the woman and the life he loved.”
Russ’s voice interrupted them. “Look who I found coming down the hall.”
Jamie led Abby into the kitchen. They were still in their pajamas. Abby let go of her brother’s hand and ran to Samantha. “Hold me.”
“My goodness, sweetheart. You’re freezing.” Samantha wrapped her arms around Abby.
“The room’s cold.” Jamie looked at his grandmother and gave her a shy smile.
“Why don’t I go get you some clothes and let you get dressed right here in this warm kitchen?” she suggested.
Abby nodded.
“Well, it looks like you kids are in good hands now.” Russ glanced at Samantha, then turned to his mother. “I’ll be back by early afternoon. Don’t worry about a midday meal.”
“Are you sure? It’s awfully cold out there and you’ll need—”
“We’ll be fine. Gabby’s going, and he’ll keep hot coffee going for us.”
“Be careful, son.”
He nodded, and went out the door.
Nellie turned back to Samantha. “Let’s get these two dressed and then I’ll dish up breakfast for all of you.”
****
Russ shook his head when he got outside. What in the world was wrong with him? The minute he’d stepped into his room, he felt the overwhelming presence of the woman. He walked to the bed and almost laughed. The spread was crooked, and it hung almost to the floor on one side. He knew she’d probably never made a bed before. Then he saw her nightgown on the pillow. He felt compelled to pick it up and hold it to his nose. Her soft lilac sent hit his nostrils like a bullet. He dropped the nightgown as if it were a hot branding iron and rushed to the wardrobe to get the belt he needed. For a reason he didn’t understand, he felt the need to get out of this room and to get out fast.
He crossed the back yard, which was covered in the light snow that fell during the night. He had to get those cows to the other pasture before a big storm hit, and he didn’t remember a January when there hadn’t been at least one spell of bad weather. Moving them was what was important now. Not the fact that he’d been stirred when he’d seen his bed and knew it had cradled that beautiful body last night.
The bunkhouse door opened and Ned Langston walked out. “’Bout ready to go?”
“Yeah. Had to get the belt that held the extra ammo. We’re likely to need it out there. If we happen to get more snow, all kinds of wild animals will be looking for food. I don’t want one of us or our cows to end up as some wolf’s supper.”
“I agree.” Ned pushed his hat back. “When you came to the bunkhouse last night, you were a regular old bear. If you don’t mind tellin’ me, what in hell did you argue with your mama about?”
“Didn’t argue with her about a thing.”
“Then why’d she throw you out of the house?”
Russ shook his head. “Needed my room for the guest.”
“You have a guest?”
“Yeah. Oliver’s wife died a while back and a woman brought their children to Ma.”
“So. Why’d you have to give up your room?”
“Damn, Ned. You’re sure being nosy this morning.”
“Sorry.” Ned chuckled. “I can just see some dried up old hag running you out of your bed.”
“You don’t know how far from the truth you are.”
“What do you mean?”
“Our guest is… What are you looking at, Ned?”
“That beauty on your back porch.”
Russ turned. Samantha was getting an armload of wood from the stack near the back door.
Guilt spread through him. “Damn. I forgot to fill the wood boxes.”
“Is that your company?”
“That’s the lady that brought the children.”
“Now I understand why you were grumpy last night. If that w
as in my bed and I wasn’t there with her, I’d act like an old wounded bear, too.”
“Get on to the barn and saddle up, Ned. I’ll join you as soon as I fill the wood boxes for Ma.” Russ headed for the porch.
Clomping up the steps, he said, “Go back in the house, Miss Whitener. I’ll get that wood.”
“Thank you. I am getting cold.”
He wanted to tell her if she’d let him fold her in his arms and hold her against him she’d be more comfortable, but he bit his tongue and said instead, “You shouldn’t be out here without a coat.”
She nodded and darted into the house.
He followed when his arms were full of firewood. “Sorry, I didn’t do this...” He stopped when he realized he was talking to an empty kitchen. Shrugging, he dropped the wood in the box by the stove and went for another load. It took three armfuls to fill the kitchen box, then he went for a load to start filling the box by the fireplace.
Stopping in the door, he could hardly believe his eyes. His mother sat in one of the rocking chairs and little Abby was on her lap. Jamie sat at her feet, and Samantha had taken the other rocker. “Well, looks like you’re all getting to know each other.”
“Why don’t you join us, son? I’m sure your niece and nephew would like to get to know you, too.”
“I have to get a couple more loads of wood, or you’ll be sitting by a fireplace with no fire in it.”
Jamie almost whispered, “Do you want me to help you get the wood?”
Russ started to say no. He knew he could get the wood faster himself, but not only was his mother giving him that look, but Samantha’s gaze told him she didn’t think he’d bother with the boy. “Sure, Jamie. Grab your coat. It’s cold out there.”
Jamie jumped up. “Where’s my coat, Aunt Samantha?”
She looked at Russ in surprise, then stood. “I’ll get it for you. It’s hanging on the hall tree.”
“Never mind, Miss Whitener. Come on Jamie, I’ll get it for you.”
Jamie looked a little hesitant, but stood and followed Russ to the hall. After getting the boy into his coat, they went through the parlor without speaking to anyone. It was when they were near the woodpile that Jamie said, “Did you know my daddy?”
Russ was startled, but managed to hide it. “Sure, I did. He was my brother.”
“Did you like him?”
“I not only liked your daddy, Jamie. I loved him just the way you love Abby.”
“Sometimes Abby makes me mad. She cries when she wants something. She throws my toys.”
“But you love her, don’t you?”
“Sure. She’s my sister. I have to love her.”
Russ smiled. “Hold out your arms, and I’ll fill them with wood for you to carry in.”
Jamie did as he was asked, and in a matter of minutes, his arms were full. Russ then filled his, and they went inside.
On the third trip to get wood, Jamie automatically held out his arms. “What should I call you?”
“Well, my name is Russ, and I’m your uncle, so why not Uncle Russ?” Jamie frowned and Russ added, “But if you’re not comfortable with that you can just call me Russ.”
Jamie nodded.
As Russ deposited his armful of wood in the box by the fireplace and turned to empty Jamie’s arms, Jamie said, “Guess what, Aunt Samantha?”
“What, Jamie?”
“This is my Uncle Russ, and I’m gonna call him that.”
“Does he want you to?”
“Sure. We talked about it, didn’t we, Uncle Russ?”
“We sure did.” Russ laid the last stick of wood in the box and turned to smile at Jamie.
Jamie looked at his uncle. “Can Abby call you Uncle Russ, too?”
“Of course she can. I’m her uncle, too.”
“Hear that, Abby? We’ve got an uncle, now.”
“We got a grandma,” Abby said.
“Yes, and an Aunt Samantha.”
Abby giggled.
“Well, you all have a good day. I’ve got to get out on the range. We’re moving some cows today. It looks like there might be a big storm, and I want to get it done before it hits.”
“Can I help you, Uncle Russ?”
“I’m afraid it’s not a job for a boy, Jamie.” He then saw the hurt in the boy’s eyes. “Even a boy as grown up as you. But—there is one thing you can do.”
His eyes brightened. “What’s that?”
“You know you’re not in the city now. You’re out on a ranch. And out here, there needs to be a man at the house.”
“Why?”
“Because the women might run out of wood, or they might need something from the smokehouse, and it’s up to a man to get it when it’s cold and snowy outside.”
Jamie nodded. “I know how to get the wood, but I don’t know how to get something at the smokehouse.”
“You won’t have to worry about that today. I’ve already brought everything in that your grandma will need today.”
The little boy relaxed. “Good.”
Russ headed for the door and was surprised when Samantha stood and followed him. When he reached the kitchen door, he turned. “Is there something you want, Miss Whitener?”
“Two things. One, I want to thank you for the way you have taken Jamie under your wing. He’s been a lost little boy since his father died. They were very close, and there hasn’t been a man in his life.”
“I see a lot of my brother in him. He’s a fine kid.” He took his hat off and ran his fingers through his hair. “Now, what was the other thing you wanted? I’m…kind of in a hurry.”
“It can wait.”
He frowned. “No. You have my curiosity up. Just tell me now.”
“If you insist. I was going to ask you to call me Samantha instead of ‘Miss Whitener’ all the time. The children are used to my first name, and I don’t want them any more confused than they are already. I was also going to inquire if I might…call you Russell?”
He stared at her a few seconds, then nodded. “Alright, Samantha, I’ll use your first name, but don’t call me Russell.” He gave her a faint smile. “That’s the name Ma uses when she’s mad at me—or wants to make a point. I’d rather you call me Russ.”
She smiled. “Then, that’s what I’ll do. Thank you, Russ.”
He looked into the liquid pools of her sky blue eyes and was about to tell her how beautiful they were. He caught himself and said, “Now that’s settled. I’ve got to go.” He opened the door and stepped outside without giving her time to answer. He didn’t want to hear anything else from that soft voice of hers or see that beautiful smile. A smile that went straight to his heart, and a voice that made him feel warm all over—even with the temperature below freezing.
Ned was headed toward the house. “It’s about time you got here. We’ve been ready to go for ages.”
“Then let’s not waste any more time. We’ve got to get those cows switched.” He was glad to have something to think about except that smile, that soft voice, and those beautiful blue eyes. Things he had no right to think about in the first place.
Chapter 4
Samantha sat beside the fireplace and watched the children playing with their toys. Abby sat on a quilt rocking her doll back and forth. Jamie set up his marbles for another solitary game. Both children had a sad smile on their face.
“Do they not like their toys, Samantha?” Nellie whispered.
“Oh, yes they love them. These were the gifts their mother gave them for Christmas. I’m sure they’re both remembering the last day they spent with her. Millicent died the day after Christmas.”
“I’m so sorry. Was it—a terribly sad time?”
“Not at all. Milly felt the best she’d felt in weeks. We decorated a tree with the children, then we had hot chocolate and cookies before we all went to bed. Everyone got up feeling good on Christmas, and we had a real celebration. Millicent spent the whole day with her children and went to bed happy.”
“Mommy is an angel now
, Grandma. Aunt Samantha told us,” Addy said.
Nellie smiled at the little girl. “Your aunt is right. I’m sure your mother is watching after you right now.”
Jamie looked at them. “We didn’t get to play with our toys while we were in Philadelphia. Her Aunt Vivian wouldn’t let us.”
Nellie cocked an eyebrow. “Well, you don’t have to worry about that here, sweetheart. You can play with your toys anytime you want to. I might even be able to find some of your daddy’s old toys.”
Jamie’s eyes grew bright. “I’d like that.”
“That would be wonderful, Mrs. Jenson.”
“Oh, Samantha, why don’t you call me Nellie? Everybody around here does.”
“I call you Grandma,” Abby said.
“Yes, you do,” Nellie said with a laugh as she stood. “Your uncle Russ will be in to eat soon. I better get it on the table. Would you like to set the table, Samantha?”
Samantha was surprised. She’d never been asked to help with anything to do with putting a meal on the table. The maid and butler always served her and her aunt after they were seated. Even when she was with Milly, there was a maid to wait on them. This was going to be a new experience, but she didn’t feel she could refuse. She stood and followed Nellie to the adjoining eating area of the huge room.
It wasn’t long until Russ did come in. He nodded to everyone then moved to the sideboard and washed his hands.
“We always have a blessing before we eat,” Nellie explained as they gathered at the long wooden table. She sat on the side at Russ’s left. The grandchildren elected to sit on either side of her.
Russ took his place at the head of the table and Samantha sat alone on the long bench facing Nellie and the children.
Nellie said a short prayer, then Russ took a piece of chicken from the platter before passing it to his mother. She took a piece for herself and placed a drumstick on each of the children’s plates. They both grinned at her.
When all the plates were ready, Nellie broke the silence. “I’ve been thinking about something today, Russ. I think it’s time we cleaned out the extra bedroom.”
“That’s a good idea.”
“I know you’ve been telling me for some time to do it, and I didn’t see the need. I think we have a need now.”
Lariats, Letters, and Lace Page 3