by Paty Jager
A loud banging on the kitchen door sent her hurrying across the room. Clay stood outside, a fresh roast in his hands.
“Will this do for dinner tonight?” he asked, crossing the threshold to place the meat on the drain board.
She snatched the cast iron pot and held it under the roast. He dropped the sizable chunk of meat in the pot.
“Aye, should feed yer brothers and us fine.” She placed the lid on top and set the whole thing on the drain board.
“I hung the rest of the meat in the lean-to. The weather’s cool enough it should be fine till you use it all.” He pumped water and washed his hands as if he was in his own home.
Aileen took a step back. For all her plans and making the building her home, she had to remember it wasn’t. The office and living quarters belonged to the Halsey brothers, even if her bed and belongings were in it and it sat on her land. The realization sat in her stomach like a sour apple.
“See you tonight.” Clay wiped his hands on his pants and headed back out the door. She followed, closing it and leaning against the wood.
This roof wouldn’t fall down around her, and the winds wouldn’t howl through the boards this winter, but she still felt trapped. Living in a house that wasn’t hers. That never would be if the Halseys had anything to say. Ethan had put the clause in the contract that he would get first crack at their land when they sold. And they would. Just as soon as they had enough money to travel to Ireland and reclaim Colin’s land.
Remembering the true reason she’d allowed the Halseys run of her land helped her to swallow the bitter taste of defeat. She pushed away from the door and returned to the stove.
“Ma!” Colin burst through the door and skidded to a stop inches from toppling her over.
“Aye, laddie, ah’m right here. There’s no need to holler.” She poured water into the cast iron pot with the roast and turned her attention to the young man flushed with excitement.
“They’re dropping off the rails for our track. Mr. Halsey says I can help him start laying it tomorrow.” Colin grabbed a slice of bread left over from the meal and chomped on it like he hadn’t eaten less than an hour earlier.
“Ah see. And this has ye all excited, to be layin’ track.” She smiled when he frowned and scuffed his shoe across the wood floor.
“It’s not just the track. It means we’ll be able to move all those trailings we’ve been piling. And…” He glanced at her before directing his gaze to the toe still polishing the floor. “I’ll be pulling in a wage again cuz Mr. Halsey offered me a job at the mill.”
Was that pride lighting his eyes? She stared at his face and ran her gaze the length of him. His shoulders had squared, his arms folded across his chest, and his legs spread in a solid stance to give him the appearance of someone not to be messed with.
“Braw! Ye’ve become a man afore my eyes.” She pulled him into a hug even though he tried to step out of her embrace. She clung to him, remembering the day he’d arrived a squalling bundle of joy. The day he took his first steps, and his da was so proud of his stout wee legs. And how he kept her from diving into despair when Patrick was taken from them both.
She stepped back, swiped at the tears tickling her cheek and smiled. “Ye should be watchin’ that they put the tracks in the right spot.”
His smile was worth more than any gold they ever dug out of the mine. “See you tonight.” He headed toward the door.
“What about the noon meal?”
“I’ll be fine till dinner. There’s lots of work to do.” He disappeared out the door, and her heart pounded with pride. A couple of years under Ethan’s teaching and he’d be a fine man.
Which brought her back to Ethan Halsey. She could find nothing at fault with the man. He’d been aggressive to use their land, but had also given them more than any other person would have. He was attentive to both children and set her blood heating.
Just thinking of the kiss they’d shared sent her heart fluttering in her chest. Emotions she’d long thought would never touch her again, were stealing into her heart. But she couldn’t let herself get attached. It was too late for Shayla, but her lassie was young and would soon forget. As soon as they had the funds, they would head to claim Colin’s property. If that greedy Englishman still held the O’Lear land, she’d offer him more than he could refuse.
A polite knock on the kitchen door shook her from her reveries. Who would come calling—here? She crossed to the door and opened it with hesitance.
A woman with faded blonde hair tucked under a bonnet smiled up at her.
“I’m Mrs. Fellowes. My husband, John, built this for Mr. Halsey.” Her gaze showed admiration as it flit around the room.
“Aye, yer husband did a fine job.” Aileen didn’t know what to do. The woman appeared sincere in her greeting and hadn’t shown any animosity.
“Would ye like to come in for a cup o’ tea?” She stepped back to allow the woman entrance, still reeling from the sight of a woman in her presence neither glaring nor looking haughty.
“I’d be delighted.” Mrs. Fellowes crossed the threshold and held out a basket. “John came home last night and said you and the children had moved in. I figured you wouldn’t have time to venture to town for yardage for curtains.” The woman stopped awkwardly.
“Aye, to be sure, ah’ve a job on my hands to get this place livable afore the mill opens and ah’m workin’.” She took the offered basket, placing it on the table. Her hands shook as she gathered her two least-chipped cups and saucers and placed them on the table.
“Ye be havin’ a seat, Mrs. Fellowes.”
“Martha, please call me Martha.”
“Aye, Martha, ah’m pleased ye came by today.” She almost hummed as she poured boiling water into her teapot and added tea. She set the pot on the table and took a seat across from the woman.
“John had to come finish some business with Ethan and I asked to come along.” She smiled and untied her bonnet. “I’m glad you aren’t upset with my unannounced visit.”
“Nae, just surprised.”
The woman frowned. “I know there have been some in town who’ve not been friendly. And I’ll admit, I’ve not taken the time to get to know you. But John would come home every night after working with your boy all day and go on and on about how intelligent and what a quick learner he was. I thought to myself, it takes an intelligent woman to raise a boy like that, and I want to meet her.” The sincerity in the woman’s eyes and the kind words her man said about her laddie, brought tears to Aileen’s eyes.
“Oh, I’m sorry!” Martha started to stand.
Aileen put out her hand, stopping the woman and dabbed at her eyes with her apron. “Nae, ’tis tears o’ happiness ye be seein’” She cleared her throat and smiled at the woman. “Ah’ve no’ had many in some time no’ think o’ me and my bairn as monsters. It makes my heart happy to have someone say otherwise.”
“Momma! Momm-” Shayla burst into the room from the living quarters. She smacked into Aileen’s side and grinned at Martha.
“My, you are a pretty child!” Martha exclaimed.
“’Tis my gem, Shayla.” Aileen rubbed her daughter’s back. “Shayla, darlin’ say hello to Mrs. Fellowes.”
“Hello.” She slipped around the side of the table and stood before the woman, grinning and shining like a gold nugget. Aileen’s heart swelled for the second time today.
“How old are you, Shayla?” Mrs. Fellowes asked.
“I’m four. I’m gonna be five when the flowers come out again.”
Martha glanced over Shayla’s head to catch Aileen’s gaze. “You have two very intelligent children.”
“That she does.” Ethan’s deep, strong voice startled Aileen. She stared at the door from which Shayla had just burst and found Ethan and Mr. Fellowes standing in the kitchen.
“Ah’ve never had so many people visit at one time.” Flustered at so much attention, she sprang out of the chair and headed to get two more cups from the cupboard. If anyone els
e showed up they’d have to go without as she only had the four unpacked.
“We’re not staying long,” Mr. Fellowes said, moving to stand behind his wife. “Martha, I’ve finished my business with Ethan are you ready to go?”
“There’s no need to rush off, John,” Ethan took a seat at the table as if he lived there. The move warmed and frustrated Aileen. It was comforting he felt so at home, but she didn’t need more talk about she and Ethan circulating around the community.
She placed the cups on the table and poured tea, ignoring him as best she could with her body humming at his nearness when she pushed a cup and saucer across the table to John.
“What were you two ladies talking about before we interrupted?” Ethan asked, pulling Shayla up onto his lap out of habit. He didn’t miss Mrs. Fellowes raised eyebrow or Aileen choking on the tea she’d just sipped.
He smiled at the women and took a sip of his tea.
Aileen’s eyes sparkled with pride. “We were discussin’ the children.”
“Colin is busy laying out the track from your mine to the mill. Should be ready for you to transport trailings by next weekend.” Her lips formed a surprised ‘o’ and he wanted badly to lean over and taste them. He pulled his attention from her to the child squirming on his lap.
“When you gonna read to us some more?” Shayla asked, taking his face in her hands to make him look at her. She was so much like her mother. Wanting his full attention when she asked a question and wanting to see the answer not only in words but actions.
“What’s today?” he asked, making her think.
“Two days after Sunday.” Her small brow furrowed and her lips pursed.
“What happens on Sunday?”
“We read the Bible and you read to us.” Her eyes lit with understanding.
“So I read to you two days ago which means I won’t read again until this coming Sunday.” He laughed at the lower lip protruding from her small mouth. A perfect replica of her mother’s.
“Lassie, ’tisn’t becomin’ to be stickin’ that lip out. Scoot on out o’ here. Mr. Halsey is a busy man.” The child slid from his lap and looked across the table at the other guests.
“Bye Mr. and Mrs. Fellowes.” She waved and vanished through the door into the living quarters.
“She is a delight!” Mrs. Fellowes exclaimed.
“Yeah, she gets under your skin right quick.” Ethan smiled. As well as the mother.
They fell into small talk, with Mrs. Fellowes doing most of the talking. Ethan watched Aileen. Having people drop by on a social call hadn’t happened to her in a long time. Yet, she was a wonderful hostess and didn’t once let on her discomfort. But he sensed it. Her eyes watched everything never once softening. She sat rigid in the chair, her hands clasped a little too tightly about her cup. Her fingers turning red under her nails gave her away.
Finally, Mrs. Fellowes stood. Her husband and Ethan stood as well. “It was wonderful to spend some time with you Mrs—”
“Call me Aileen, please.” Aileen’s curt response drew Ethan’s gaze back to her.
“Aileen. I hope you stop by our place on one of your trips to town. I’d love to visit with you some more.” Mrs. Fellowes tied her bonnet under her chin and nodded at her husband.
“Ah’ll see.” She followed the husband and wife to the door and as soon as it shut behind them, she turned to him.
“Did ye put her up to visitin’ the poor lonely widow?”
Chapter 18
“No! I didn’t put her up to anything. I was as stunned as you when John showed up with her sitting beside him on the wagon.” Aileen’s features relaxed, and her shoulders slumped. So that was it. She thought he was forcing people into her life. Not that she couldn’t use a female friend.
“Ah’ve never had a visitor since leavin’ Ireland.” She stacked the cups and saucers. Picking them up, she looked at him. “What made her come today?”
Ethan sat back down. “I don’t know. John said when he mentioned coming out, she offered to ride along.”
“Ah’ve never met her. Is she one to gossip?” She crossed to the sink, lowering the dishes into the wash basin.
“I don’t believe so. I don’t think John would be married to a woman like that.”
She turned to him. “And what kind o’ woman would ye marry?”
Her question and guarded eyes struck him just as forcefully as if she’d slammed the spike hammer into his chest.
Truth? That’s what he’d always favored. “I’ve never thought about it.”
“Why?” She sat in the chair across from him. Wisps of dark curly hair framed her face and accentuated her pale green eyes.
“Because I’ve never thought of marrying.” Was that surprise and… no it couldn’t be?
“So ye dinnae believe ye are the marryin’ kind?” She’d said it playfully, but her eyes watched him closely.
“I’ve raised my brothers. From an early age, my pa told me if anything happened to him it was my place to keep the family together and provide.”
“Surely, he dinnae mean even as they became adults.”
“Maybe not. But I don’t know any different. And this mill will make them all financially secure.” He reached across the table palm up, hoping she’d place her hand in his.
Hesitantly, she set her hand palm down on his. He wrapped his fingers around her hand. “This mill will also help make your family’s dreams come true.” He probed for more details about her past, the one she wanted to return to. “I haven’t forgotten your comment the money would get you home. Where exactly is home? And why are you so desperate to return?”
Aileen gasped and tried to pull her hand free, but he held it firmly. “Ah’ve my reasons for no sayin’ much about Ireland.”
“What are you scared of?” His thumb rubbed slowly back and forth across her hand. How could such a small gesture turn her insides to mush?
“Ah’m no’ scared o’ anythin’.” She straightened her back and glared at him. How dare he mess with her senses and hound her about things best left alone.
“Then tell me what happened to Colin’s father.”
“’Tis nothin’ to tell.” She tried to pull her hand away, but this time he twined their fingers together. Binding them even closer.
“I say there is. Something happened to your husband that made you leave a land you’re desperate to get back to.”
She ducked her head. There were things she couldn’t tell. She’d not bring harm to her laddie.
He cupped her chin, forcing her to look in his eyes. “You should have pulled enough gold out of that mine in the last four years to have passage back to Ireland. What is it you really need the money for?”
She swallowed. How did one hide from such concern? And patience.
“Ah cannae tell ye. Ye could say something to harm us.” She pulled her chin from his grasp and jerked her hand from his, fleeing to stand at the drain board. The loss of contact left her feeling vulnerable and lost, but she couldn’t depend on him. There hadn’t been a man yet she could depend on.
“Aileen, I don’t understand how telling me about your first husband can hurt you, but I’ll not ask again.”
She heard the chair slide back and waited for the closing of the door. Instead, warm air floated across the back of her neck. She held her breath as strong arms encircled her shoulders, drawing her back against his strong body.
“I would never do anything to intentionally hurt you or your children. If you feel it is best, I don’t know everything about you that’s fine. But know I would never tell anyone.” He placed his chin on the top of her head.
His solidness wrapped around her like a comforting blanket. She felt safe when he was near. Oh, to be able to say something, but she couldn’t. She couldn’t risk him slipping to his brothers or anyone.
“Ah know ye’d no’ harm us intentionally. Ah just cannae tell ye.”
“That’s fine.” He gently spun her in his arms. “I just don’t like us fighting.
I prefer the opposite.”
His dark eyes simmered with desire. His head tipped forward, his lips covered hers. He was a quick learner. The kiss deepened, sending tremors of delight through her body. She wound her arms around his neck, pulling her body tight against his.
Knowing he didn’t care to marry allowed her to be more wanton. He didn’t wish to be tied down any more than she wished to be a wife.
Aileen pulled her lips from his and caught her breath. She stared into Hank’s eyes. “Ah’ve an itch that needs scratched.” The words were out. Would he take the hint?
“Oh, lady, I’d love to scratch your itch.” His hands moved down her back, pulling her hips against his. His need was hard.
“No’ now!” she laughed, pushing against his chest.
“When?”
“Stick around after dinner, and we’ll figure it out.” She sidestepped away from him. If she didn’t put space between them, she’d forget it was the middle of the day and pull him into her room. “Ye best leave now. Wouldn’t want someone to come lookin’ for ye.”
“They know I brought John over to retrieve his wife.”
“And they left a long time ago.” She shook her head. How could a smart man miss the little things that caused gossip?
As if he just realized the situation, the jovial expression on his face fell. “I’m sorry. I should have left right away, huh?”
“Nothin’ to do about it now.” She motioned to the door. “Be gone. Ah dinnae want to see ye until dinner.”
He smiled and headed for the back door, scooping his hat off the table on his way. The door closed behind him, and she slumped into the chair. What was she going to do? She’d all but served herself up to him tonight. Her stomach fluttered with anticipation as her mind cautioned the arrangement. She did crave to be loved by a man. To feel strong, safe arms around her as she floated on the ecstasy only the union of a man and woman would bring. But what happened after the one night?