by Paty Jager
“Ma!” Colin sat up in bed and groaned, holding his head.
Chapter 13
Ethan stopped when Aileen pulled back, but he didn’t let go. “Colin, I give you my promise, I’m not going to hurt your ma. We’re just going to do some adult talking.” He turned to Aileen. She shook her head and still resisted. He raised her hand to his lips and kissed the back. “I promise, I am not going to hurt you. I just want to talk.”
The confusion in her eyes gave him enough of an advantage to lead her out of the house and over to the trees where they’d made several bargains.
Ethan kept her hand in his as he nudged her to sit on an upturned piece of firewood. He sat on the ground next to her, to appear less threatening.
“First, I plan to come here every Sunday and read to your family.” When she stared at him, he continued. “I want Colin to grow up to be more than a laborer. He’s going to need to take care of you and Shayla. I’ll teach him to read and do numbers.”
Her angel-kissed brow furrowed. “Why?”
“Why, what?” He could gaze at her all day.
“Why would ye help us?”
“I told you earlier. I think it’s something my parents would have done.”
She shook her head. “Nae. ‘Tis more than behavin’ as ye think yer parents would.” She looked down at their clasped hands. His thumb slid back and forth over her knuckle.
He pulled his hand from hers and stood. How did he explain something he didn’t understand himself? He peered down at Aileen. Her slender face, beautiful eyes, and rose colored lips made his groin ache. He wanted her in a way he’d never wanted anything or anyone.
He rubbed his palms on his thighs and slowly knelt on the ground in front of her. What should he say? He wasn’t looking for a family. But his gut hurt thinking of not helping them.
“I’ve hired a man to build an office across the creek.” She opened her mouth, but he placed a finger on her soft lips. He gulped. What would those lips taste like?
When he didn’t remove his finger, she pulled his hand down, holding it in her lap. “Why do ye need an office? There where all those who come can stare at us?”
He ignored the heat coursing through him from the hand resting in her lap. “With the machinery running in the mill it will be hard to be heard while making business transactions. I wanted the office a bit away from the mill. It will have living quarters.”
Her eyebrow shot up. “Ye’ll be livin’ in the office?” Her question came out in a whisper of wistfulness.
“No, not me—”
“Ah’ll no’ have anyone else starin’ at us.” She flung his hand from her lap and started to stand.
“You’ll be living in it.” He grasped her hands pulling her back down onto the log. Her eyes rounded, and her mouth formed a perfect rosebud.
“Nae! Why would we be livin’ in yer office?”
“You can live there and be the office attendant. I’ll show you what needs to be done when someone brings in ore.”
“Nae, ye’ll have no business with me in the office.” The hostility in her voice and eyes surprised him.
“Why not?”
“Ye’ve heard the people talk. They all believe ah’m a husband killer. They shun my bairn. Ah’ll no’ bring that on yer family.”
He rubbed his thumb across the backs of her hands. “Aileen, did you kill Mr. Miller?” She turned her head. He studied her profile and firm set to her mouth. “My way of thinking the bastard deserved it.”
Her head jerked around, her eyes glistened with unshed tears. “Yer the first to say as much.”
“Myrle feels the same.”
“She’s a fine woman.”
“She thinks highly of you.” Ethan smiled when she shook her head in disbelief.
“Nae, no one thinks highly o’ me.” She attempted to pull her hands from his.
“You’re wrong. The more people get to know you, they’ll forget about the past. What do you say? Will you be my office assistant?” He held his breath. If she accepted, it would be a huge step toward her trusting him.
“Can ah think about it?” She glanced over his shoulder to the shack.
“Yes, you can think about it. John Fellowes is the man building the office. Do you know him?” She shook her head. “Do you want me to bring him over for you to meet?” Fear flashed in her eyes. “You don’t have to meet him. I just thought it might make you more comfortable.”
“Ah know. Ah just…” She smiled weakly. “ ’Tis best maybe for me to stay away. Until ah decide.”
“Okay. I’ll let you know if he plans to bring any other men with him.” He cupped her pointed chin in the palm of his hand. “And we weren’t laughing at you. Shayla happened to be doing some kind of a dance. Fellowes noticed and remarked his daughter was just as energetic.”
It took all his control to not lean over and touch her lips with his.
“Momma!” Shayla’s curly head peeked out the shack door. “Can we finish the story?”
Aileen stood, “We’re comin’ in.” She had to put space between her and this man. He made her want closeness, intimacy. His offer—she wanted to say aye and not think there were any strings attached, but the way he always touched her and leaned in. He wanted her. And the surprising thing—she wanted him.
She walked toward the shack. The decrepit building seemed to list more and more to the left. It would be wonderful to spend a winter—would the office be done by winter? She wanted to ask, but didn’t want to appear anxious to move in. Hmmph. She still hadn’t decided they would move in.
Shayla darted out the door and grabbed Ethan’s hand. Aileen smiled as he allowed himself to be pulled around her and into the shack. Stepping through the door, Colin sent her a scathing glower. He would not be happy to move or have her spend more time with the man.
She dropped her gaze and settled on the chair adjacent to Ethan and Shayla. He began to read, and she let her thoughts drift back to their conversations. Why did he feel compelled to help them? She studied him as Shayla nestled against the expanse of his chest. The deep timbre of his voice soothed more than just her daughter.
She glanced at Colin and smiled. He rested on the pillow, his eyes closed, listening to the story. The slight lift at the corners of his lips proved he enjoyed the story as much as the rest of them.
Ethan’s lulling voice echoed to silence.
Shayla shifted to her knees. “Don’t stop!”
“I said one chapter every Sunday. That’s all you get.” He smiled and touched a finger to her darlin’s nose. Gentle. The word popped into her head. He was the most gentle man and yet the largest man she’d ever met.
“We cannae be takin’ up all Mr. Halsey’s Sunday.” She stood and moved toward the door. “Thank ye for comin’ by. Ah’ll give some thought to what ye said afore.” She opened the door and waited for him to leave.
He smiled and ruffled Shayla’s hair before placing her on the chair Aileen had vacated. Then he bent forward and patted Colin’s shoulder. “Don’t get up until that head stops throbbing. It only makes it hang on longer. And don’t come to work until you don’t have any pain. Bending and such will only make it come back worse.” Colin gave a slight nod, but said nothing.
Ethan rose and strolled to the door like she didn’t stand with it open. He stopped beside her. She swallowed and tried to calm the quivers in her belly.
“I’m going to bring Fellowes over tomorrow to meet you. I want you to see he’s a good man. A hard worker and has a family to support.” His words didn’t leave room for her to object.
She nodded her head, once.
“Good.” He glanced back into the room, winked at Shayla, and snatched his hat from the peg by the door. “Tomorrow.”
His long legs took him through the door and down the path to his horse. The way he carried himself, she bet he was a fine dancer. Where had that come from? She slammed the door shut and stalked to the fireplace to stir the soup.
“Ma, what did you two tal
k about outside?” Colin’s probing took her by surprise. She should have known he wouldn’t let her comment go.
“Mr. Halsey offered me a job.” It wasn’t only her pride she had to muddle through but that of her son as well.
“A job? Doing what?” He started to sit up. She hurried to the bed side.
“Stay put like Mr. Halsey said. He knows what he’s talkin’ about.” She held his shoulders, keeping his head pressed into the pillow.
His young eyes narrowed. “What job?”
“He asked me to work in the mill office. Said he’d teach me what ah’d need to know.” Let that sink in. Later she’d mention they could live in the building.
“You? How does he know you could handle it?” The accusing tone riled her.
“Ah’m no’ daft! Ah wrangled more out o’ him over that mill on our property than a man would o’.” She leaned over her child. “Ah’m no’ daft to yer anger either.” Pushing the hair off his forehead, she calmed and added. “Ah told him ah’d think about it.”
“But the men—”
“Mr. Halsey would no’ do business with men that would treat me wrong.” She thought of the times he’d brushed his knuckles against her cheek. And his calloused finger upon her lips.
“He’s in this for money, just like us.” His scornful words shook Aileen from her warm thoughts.
“Aye, but he isn’t a man that would do harm to get what he wants.” She caught her son’s hands and held them, rubbing her thumbs against his scarred knuckles. “It would do ye good to watch him with others. Ah’d wager he gets what he wants without poundin’ on a man.”
Colin pulled his hands from hers and turned to his side. She patted his shoulder and motioned for Shayla to follow her outside. Would be best to give the laddie some time to think about her words.
****
Ethan glanced at the Miller shack. He wanted to check on Colin, but Fellowes would show up any minute. He could use introducing the man to Aileen as a way to see how the boy survived the night. It was useless to think she’d have an answer for him today. She’d probably wait until the office was done and she inspected it before she said yes or no.
The woman would keep him wondering until she’d checked out the building. Either that or haggle over the wages or hours. She would definitely be an asset to the company with that quick business mind of hers.
A horse splashed across the creek, drawing Ethan from his reverie. Fellowes dismounted and pulled tools out of his saddlebag.
The ringing of hammers, the clang of metal on metal, and men shouting orders drifted across the creek. “I can see where you want to place the office away from the mill.”
“So how many people have you told about Ethan Halsey’s office?” The man was discreet but when someone like himself did something totally out of character the locals picked up on it.
“The only person I’ve discussed the layout with is my wife. She had some ideas I think you might want to consider.” Fellowes pulled the drawing out of his saddlebag. “I just told the lumber outfit it was for an office. If they wonder at the amount that’s their business.”
Ethan slapped the man on the back. “Thanks. People already think I’m crazy for building on the Widow Miller’s land, if they get word of this, they’ll be thinking I shouldn’t be starting up a business.” He laughed and so did Fellowes.
“Speaking of the widow. I don’t know if you know much about her, but she’s touchy when it comes to strangers wandering around.” He looked across the creek and spotted Shayla playing under the pine trees. “She’s been tough to deal with getting this mill going, but I promised her no one who works for me would disturb her or her children.”
Fellowes turned his attention to the rickety shack. If he hadn’t figured out the office was being built for the Miller’s, Ethan was sure he’d figure it out soon. He was a smart man.
“I told the widow, I’d bring you by to meet her. That way she wouldn’t worry about the kind of men working over here. She likes her privacy and as you can see, this building will butt into her seclusion.”
Fellowes nodded his head. “Let’s go meet this woman. Kate said she stays to herself.”
“Um, something I might mention. I don’t want you to think she and I are too familiar, but she refuses to be called Mrs. Miller. So when I introduce her as Aileen, I don’t want you lifting a brow or wondering. That kind of stuff bothers her, too.” Telling made him look like a whipped pup as well as gave away information Aileen liked to keep.
“I heard you’ve been jumping hoops to get this mill going. I won’t say nothing to get it pulled out from under you.” Fellowes clamped a hand on his shoulder.
“Thanks.” Ethan waved toward the creek. “This is the best spot to cross.”
“I’d say the first thing we need to do is build a bridge across this. Most of the miners are going to come from the other side and even if they approach from this side, they still need to cross to the mill.”
“I agree. If you could do that, I’d be grateful. I’m going to have my hands full the next couple of months getting the mill finished and ready to run.”
They crossed the creek and headed to the shack. Shayla jumped up from her playing and ran toward them.
“Happy Man!” She leaped at him, secure in the knowledge he would catch her. And he did, carrying her in his arms.
“Mr. Fellowes, this is Shayla. Shayla, Mr. Fellowes and some other men are going to be constructing an office across the creek.” He tugged on one of her curls. “And you must stay away.”
Her plump cheeks flushed crimson. “I won’t go lookin’ for you anymore. Momma said, what I did was wrong.”
“She’s right. You have to stay away from the mill site and the office Mr. Fellowes will build.”
The door opened and Aileen stepped out, closing the door behind her. “Mr. Halsey.” She acknowledged and took Shayla from his arms.
“Aileen, this is Mr. Fellowes. He’ll be building the office across the creek.” Her gaze settled on the man beside him. She held her breath.
“Aileen,” Fellowes nodded his head, “I’ll keep my men under control, and no one will cross the creek and bother you.”
Her gaze flicked to Ethan. He was pretty sure he’d get a tongue lashing for having told the man she liked her privacy. How else was he to keep others away if he didn’t set boundaries? To do that he needed this man’s help.
“Ah appreciate yer concern.” She glanced past both of them to the site. “When do ye plan to start and when will ye be finished?”
“I’ll have men out here first thing tomorrow. Ethan wants this done by the end of October.”
Her gaze shot back to his face. “That soon? Will the mill be workin’ by then?”
He wasn’t sure if her concern was for the mill running or her having to make a decision about moving in. “If all goes well, we should have the mill running by then.”
“Ah see.”
“How’s Colin this morning?” It was a personal question. Before Fellowes finished the office, he’d figure out theirs wasn’t a normal business relationship.
“He’s better. Says his head dinnae hurt near as bad, but ah’ve made him promise to stay in bed today.”
“Good. If his head isn’t hurting tomorrow, let him up. A boy his age can’t be contained for long.” He caught a wisp of a smile before she nodded curtly.
“Come on, Fellowes, we still need to go over those drawings.” He touched his hat. “Aileen, Shayla.”
“It was a pleasure to meet you,” Fellowes said, nodding his head and following Ethan.
Half way back to the creek, Fellowes cleared his throat. “Interesting woman.”
“How so?” Ethan could use an unbiased opinion. Especially since his brothers had a hard time thinking of Aileen as anything other than the crazy woman.
“She puts on a hard face, but you can tell when she talks about her kids she’d do anything for them.”
It pleased him this man saw the woman he did. “
Might let others know she didn’t take a club to you when we talked to her,” he joked, watching the other man’s reaction.
Fellowes smiled. “I’ve heard the rumors. Also know Miller had a temper.” He shrugged. “Not my business what happened. Besides, I’m working for you not her.”
“I just want you to squelch any comments that might pop up if you have men helping you.” Ethan slogged through the creek and stopped. He crossed his arms and turned to look back at the shack. He didn’t see movement. Would Aileen feel she had to stay hidden in the building while the workers built the office? He hoped not.
“I don’t take kindly to men talking and not working.” Fellowes pulled the drawing out of the saddlebag. “Here’s what the missus suggested…”
****
Aileen watched through the window until the men left. She wrung her hands and stared at Colin sleeping in the bed. Could she go about her usual day with men working across the creek?
She bit her bottom lip and thought it through. Mr. Fellowes appeared to be a nice person. Ethan believed in the man. It would be nice to walk down the street and not have people glare or point. Could this sawmill actually make them respectable in the eyes of others?
“Momma?”
“Yes, Lassie?”
Shayla held the book Ethan read in her lap, running her small hand back and forth over the cover. “When is Happy Man coming back?”
“He has lots of work. Ah doubt we’ll see him until Sunday when he comes to read.” Sadness squeezed her chest.
Shayla’s bottom lip protruded. She raised her small face. “Why can’t he come every day?”
“Because he has to get the mill runnin’ and now this office built. And ’tis no’ proper for him to spend so much time with us.”
“Why?” Shayla put the book reverently on the table and came to stand beside her.
“ ’Tis wrong for a man to be alone with a woman no’ his wife.” She thought of his touch and the warmth she’d seen in his eyes. Her belly quivered. What would it be like to be his wife? Safety. As quickly as the word swept through her head she banished it. No man was safe.