Julia placed a hand on her shoulder. “Actually, it’ll be nice to have someone to talk to while I sew.” Or try to anyway.
“I know how it is to have no one to talk. ’Tis a lonely prairie.”
“Yes, the sound of the wind here sometimes sounds like the ocean, though. I like that.” Julia stacked the dishes.
Helga made a sour face, making the lines around her eyes and mouth more prominent. “I remember the ocean. Made me sick.”
“You mean on a boat?” She’d always wanted to sail.
“Yes. Long hours in a boat cabin. Sick all day. Sick three days after off the boat.”
“How long ago was that?”
“Two years.” Helga crossed over to the stove. “I should help you.”
Julia washed while Helga dried and talked about her trip from Germany. The description sounded like a nightmare. Maybe losing the opportunity to sail across the sea was nothing to be depressed over. Helga’s thick accent was hard to get used to, but after an hour, Julia barely noticed it anymore.
Julia leaned on her broom. “So . . . you came to America to marry Ned?”
Helga glanced up at her, a puzzled look in her eye. “No, I came for work, but I not find cooking job, and I not want factory. Worked in factory my whole life in Germany. I come to America for better. Then I came to Kansas . . .” She grabbed a dry pot and wiped it again.
She hadn’t meant to disturb or pry. Marriage to Ned couldn’t be easy, and it wouldn’t make good conversation anyway. Julia took the pan from Helga. “Why don’t we sit? Did you bring any needlework?” Julia grabbed the new pillow she’d finished stuffing with the feathers she’d bought yesterday morning in town. Everett’s pillows were too thin, and she couldn’t let him continue to sleep without one.
The makeshift pallet still lay in the corner. Their neighbors would have figured out the sleeping arrangement as soon as they had stepped in the door. Was Helga and Ned’s relationship as distant as hers? Was what she asked of Everett out of the ordinary for brides in similar circumstances? Julia bit her lip. Would the woman look down on her for where her husband slept?
Helga looked into her eyes. “Hard to live with strange man, yes?”
A cold shiver trickled across her scalp at the question so closely echoing her thoughts. She dropped her gaze.
Helga tugged the unfinished pillow from her grasp. “I will help you.”
She stared at the feathers floating from the open seam. “I guess I’ll start on the pillowcase.”
“I feel sorry. I am in the way.”
“No apologies. I have, uh, many things I’d like to ask.”
“Like will marriage to a stranger become easy?”
Julia didn’t turn to look at her but nodded.
Helga shrugged. “I know not. I think I have a difficult man. He is very . . .” She stared at the wall across from her and said no more.
Julia didn’t want to intrude on the thoughts that pulled Helga’s mouth further into a frown, so she concentrated on cutting her material straight. Did Ned beat her? Was he involved with other women? Could Helga get away if she desired? Julia chopped at the material as if it were Ned.
After a few minutes, Helga turned. The sides of her mouth drooped, resisting the smile her lips attempted to form. “Yes, Ned is difficult. But Everett is not so difficult . . . a smart woman would marry him.”
Julia sniffed. “But he’s difficult to talk to.”
“But he talks nice.” Helga bobbed her head. “Talks like he likes you. Much better than Ned.”
“You’ve heard Everett talk about me?”
Helga’s eyebrows scrunched. “No.”
“Then who does he like?”
“Everybody. He is nice to all people. Even ugly, no good ones. Like me.” Helga’s voice ended in a whisper.
“You shouldn’t say such things.”
Helga attacked the ticking in her hands with a vengeance for a few minutes before slowing. “But Everett, he will like you. Ned likes you.”
That last part Julia refused to take as a compliment. The leer he’d trained on her at the barn raising had made her skin prickle. And worse, today he had assessed her boldly while his wife and Everett stood beside him. Did Everett see how Ned looked at her?
She began the pillowcase’s hem before turning the conversation away from their vexing husbands. “We should get together often. Work would be more pleasant with you around.” Though that might bring Helga’s husband around more often. She grimaced. But how could she ask her not to bring Ned along?
A glimmer in Helga’s eye accented the tiny smile on her face. “I would like that, but I not know if I can.” She sighed.
Julia reached over and squeezed her hand. If she could be an excuse for this lady to have time away, she’d welcome her over anytime. “Well, whenever you get the chance, you come. Even if you haven’t asked. Come when you can.”
“Thank you,” Helga whispered.
Her neighbor seemed to be finished talking, so Julia kept her remaining questions to herself. In the neighborhood where she grew up, a lady down the street had been harmed often by her husband’s heavy-handedness. When a couple next door tried to have a talk with the man, the poor woman’s bruises multiplied.
She would have to tread lightly.
But one thing was answered: things could have been a lot worse. She could still be unmarried and unprotected from men like Ned. Or she could have succumbed to the pressure back home and married Theodore—smoother than Ned, richer than Ned, but probably no different inside.
If Helga could endure her lot, Julia had no reason not to as well. She would focus on the fact that her situation was much better than some. And that Helga’s opinion of Everett was high. Surely she’d married a good man, even if he was a bit inhibited.
Merlin raced the wagon to the barn as Everett and Ned rolled into the yard. Preparing the coyote pelts had been easy. Easy for Ned, anyway. He seemed content to let Everett do all the work. Everett had tried to lead him through the steps, but Ned said he learned better by watching.
Everett scowled at Ned’s turned head and halted his team in front of the barn. Somehow he doubted Ned needed that much watching to get the hang of things. If he asked again for help, he’d tell him there was no more visual teaching left, reiterate the steps, and send him on his way.
The few times he’d worked with his closest neighbor, he’d hoped his ill feelings toward the man were baseless. But he’d never appeared to be anything but incompetent and shady. And now entirely too interested in Julia.
The smell of cake floated from the house’s open broken door. He should get to fixing the hinge, but that required time around Julia. His body told him to take advantage of the time he had with her, but his heart told him to stay away.
But Everett couldn’t help but wonder if his streak of bad luck with brides was over. Julia had basically called him a fool for thinking she was leaving yesterday morning. And he had been, but with no other attachment to him than a signature in the church records, could he be certain she wouldn’t leave him later—like Mrs. Jonesey—especially when she’d decided to have no true marital attachment to him?
Ned followed him into the cabin. Helga’s nearly cheery face receded into her ever-present frown. He’d never seen the woman smile before, but the hint of her half smile was already gone, along with Julia’s.
Not happy I’m home. Julia looked toward Ned, who sported the smile the two women had lost. Or maybe Ned makes her uncomfortable. He’s definitely making me so.
“Smells good in here, ladies. Good eatin’, I’m sure.” Ned planted himself in the same chair he’d sat in at lunch.
Hopefully Julia figured on him staying.
“It will be a little while, Mr. Parker.” She gave him a pained smile before heading to the stove. “These sweet cakes Helga whipped up need a bit more time.”
Ned leaned back and surveyed the room. Everett watched his eyes take a second look at the pallet on the floor. Ned’s mouth twitch
ed, and then he craned his neck around in Julia’s direction. “So, how you enjoying Kansas?”
“All right, I guess. The wind takes getting used to.”
“Sure looks like you’re agreeing with the weather to me. Right pretty in that fancy getup.”
She glanced down at her clothing and then at Ned.
Everett’s blood boiled at the man’s compliment. Of course, one would have to be blind not to notice how well she filled out her dress, but the oily smoothness behind Ned’s voice rankled.
Julia returned to her cooking and barely looked at Ned. “Thank you, Mr. Parker.”
“No need to call me Mr. Parker. Being neighbors, we can go by our Christian names. I’ll call you Julia, and you can call me Ned.”
“All right.” She put down her spatula with more force than necessary.
Ned’s gaze moved from Julia’s head down to her toes. A smirk formed on his lips.
Everett’s fists balled under the table as he glared at Ned’s profile. In front of him, in his own home, this man was leering at his wife. Unlike Helga, Julia had married him. No man would steal her. Everett stood and knocked over his chair.
Helga squeaked.
Helga. How could he dress down her husband in front of her?
“Excuse me, I have to check on the livestock in the few minutes we have to spare.” Everett turned to his neighbor, whose cocky grin had disappeared. “Mind helping me with the choring?”
The man lazily unfolded himself from the chair. “’Spect that’s fair.”
Everett stalked off to the barn, taking a glance over his shoulder to make sure Ned was following. First inside the barn, Everett slammed his fist into a stall door, wishing the wood swinging away from him was Ned’s face. Maybe he ought to punch the man’s pointy nose deep into his pockmarked skin.
He took a calming breath. Though he was sure Ned wouldn’t do anything unseemly with his own wife beside him, the man needed supervision and a talking to. And if his neighbor didn’t back down, he’d use him as an excuse to exercise his fists.
When Ned stepped inside, Everett threw a milk bucket at him. The man caught it and eyed him.
Everett tipped his head in the direction of his house. “I’m thinking you need to be keeping that look you gave my wife for your woman alone.”
Ned’s eyes narrowed. “Don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Everett tested the weight of the rake in his hand and gritted his teeth. “You know what I’m talking about. Don’t look at Julia that way again.”
Shrugging, Ned leaned against a stall post. “Not much you can do about a man admiring a lady. Simply nature. And you happen to have finally snagged one of the prettiest gals in Kansas. Can’t blame a man for noticing.”
He gripped the rake harder. “Keep your noticing to yourself from now on.”
“Sure.” Ned drawled. He raised his bucket. “I’m supposin’ you’re wanting me to do the woman’s chore?”
Actually, he’d rather have him leave, but perhaps now that he knew he was being watched, the man would shape up. A neighbor was too valuable of a commodity during harvest and other times of emergency. “You want milk with your sweet cakes, right?”
Ned rolled his eyes. “If Helga made them, we’ll each need a gallon to wash them down.” He moved to the cow and settled himself into her side.
Sorrow for Helga quenched his anger. Though she’d jilted Everett, she didn’t deserve a man like Ned. No woman did. Ned was lucky to have a hard-working woman. But he was also blessed that no gorgeous lady had married him, moved into his house, and sent his mind places she didn’t want it to go—at least not yet. Or maybe never.
Taking a deep breath, Everett mucked the nearest stall. Julia was his wife, and those thoughts were fitting. But if she didn’t love him . . .
Despite the madness she would put him through, she didn’t deserve to be ogled by that miserable excuse for a man. Maybe the best thing would be to send the Parkers home with sweet cakes in hand.
Chapter 10
Ned banged open the door and thumped a bucket of milk onto the table. “Pack up your cakes. We’re going.”
Helga plunked her tin cup back onto the table and was gathering her sweet cakes before Julia could even walk over to the stove.
“I am sorry, Julia. I must go.”
Julia took one look at Ned, who raked his eyes over her like she were something to be consumed and thrown away. Though she felt sorry for Helga being hustled away, she would not insist they stay. “Good-bye, Helga. Please come again when you can.” She forced herself to nod at Ned.
“Thanks to you for having me. I enjoy very much.” The lady’s shoulders drooped as she scuttled out behind her husband, who hoisted himself up onto the driver’s seat.
After their wagon disappeared over the ridge, Everett stepped out of the barn and took a few steps toward the house. “Did you have a good talk with Helga?”
“Yes.” Why hadn’t he seen their guests off? She moved to the railing. “I . . . I’m a bit worried about her. Do you know them well?”
He shook his head. “No, but I’m glad you put a smile on her face this afternoon. I don’t think she smiles often. Maybe you ought to invite her over. Just her . . . you know, for female companionship. She’d probably enjoy your company. Give you someone to talk to.” He dropped his gaze to the dirt. “Well, I’ve got animals to attend.”
“Would you like a cake? Helga left us a couple.”
“Thanks, but I’ll have to eat them later.” Everett pivoted and walked right back to the barn.
Did he dislike talking to her so much he had to leave the second he found himself alone with her? Julia wanted a loveless marriage, not a friendless one.
Loveless. Was that really what she wanted? With slow steps, she returned to the house and readied for bed, no longer interested in dessert. She sat on the bed and stared at the wall. To feel love would be nice, but with a man, that would mean . . .
Pulling off her cameo, she watched the glow of sunset from the open door. A full white moon nestled in a peach-and-magenta-swirled sky. The bottoms of the clouds on the horizon glowed from below as if they were afire. This land wasn’t as beautiful as the land surrounding Massachusetts, but the breadth of the horizon and the openness held its own charm.
A bath sounded good. Maybe she could get the feel of Ned’s perusal off her. But she couldn’t have Everett coming in while she bathed.
Julia rearranged the chairs and grabbed the quilt off the pallet, where she’d thrown it that afternoon. The tick on the floor wouldn’t be any more comfortable than the Stantons’ barn loft, but she’d have a new pillow stuffed to the perfection of plumpness. She draped the blanket across the chairs’ backs for a makeshift screen and pulled the big stock pot over. Cool water would be welcome in this cloying heat, but she’d have to sit on the floor to stay out of sight. She’d need to figure out a better setup for the future.
Julia walked to the barn. Everett’s swift strokes with the horse’s comb accentuated the muscles moving under his shirt as he brushed.
“Everett?”
He popped up and whirled to face her.
She cleared her throat. “I’m going to wash. Do you want me to save the water for you?”
“A bath would be a good idea. I smell like a coyote.”
He did indeed. Smelled awful all the way across the barn.
He returned to his brushing. “But it would be easier to bathe in the creek. I don’t have a tub.” He stopped his frantic movements and turned. “Unless you bought one in town.”
She hadn’t thought to. “No.” They couldn’t bathe in a creek during the winter though. “Could we put that on the list?”
He hung up the animals’ brush. “I’ll have Hampden order one.” He stopped in front of her, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “Actually, why don’t you order it? Get whatever you want.”
She took a step back. The dead meat smell mixed with sweat made her nauseous. Why hadn’t Ned smelled so bad? “A
nything I want?”
He took a step back as well. “Within reason. But tonight, we can use the creek. Do you know where it is?”
“No.” The moon would provide enough light to bathe by, but she didn’t know the land well enough to follow directions. He’d have to take her. She swallowed. “Could you show me?”
“Sure.” He turned her around and placed a hand at the small of her back. His unexpected touch created a buzz between her shoulder blades. “We’ll go together.”
She dug her pointy-toed boots into the dirt floor. “Together?” Surely he wouldn’t force her to do something so unseemly, since he’d promised . . .
His hand slipped off her waist. “Not . . .” He cleared his throat. “Not bathe together. I’ll take you there and wait my turn since it’s a long walk, and there are animals to watch for.”
“Oh.” Her voice squeaked. “Give me a minute.” She hurried to the cabin, deciding on what to take.
Animals? What kind of animals? And where would he wait his turn?
Everett opened the door Julia had slammed behind her.
She spun around, her nightgown crumpled against her chest.
Everett met her gaze for a second. “I need to get my things too.” He pulled out his trunk and grabbed his long undershirt, towel, and a bar of soap.
Her eyes widened when she turned toward him. “Maybe this isn’t a good idea. I’ve never bathed in a creek before.”
“No, it’s a fine idea.” They had to live together. Might as well figure out how to go about this now. “At night, no chores can be done, so it’s a good time. Are you ready?”
Her eyes closed, and he could tell she was debating. Did she think no honorable men existed in this world? “I won’t watch, if that’s what you’re thinking.”
Redness crept onto her face. “All right.”
He headed out the door, and Merlin bounded up. “C’mon, boy. Let’s go take a swim in the creek.” He needed something to occupy his mind while Julia bathed, and the dog would be just the thing. Everett beckoned her and walked toward a stand of brush. “This way.”
When they stepped off into a path overhung by foliage, the shadows deepened. Her voice, barely discernible, trembled behind him. “Maybe we should’ve brought a lantern.”
A Bride for Keeps Page 11