by Cyndi Raye
She scooped the yellow pup up and held it close since it was shaking like a leaf. A little tongue slaked out right before nuzzling her neck. She giggled at the puppy’s touch. “You are a ball of trouble, aren’t you?”
Abigail waved to the two on horseback, who had been further down the meadow searching. “I found her!”
They came high-tailing it back, relief on both their faces. Wesley dropped to the ground, holding out his arm. “Thank you, Abigail. We appreciate your help.” He looked into her eyes and smiled.
Abigail stepped back. He looked familiar, as if she recognized him. “Do I know you?” she asked.
Wesley and Russell looked at each other. Then Russell prompted Wesley. “We better get going. Thanks again.”
Wesley loaded up the puppy and took off across the meadow so fast Abigail had to shake her head. She hadn’t missed the way the two looked at each other as if they got caught stealing cookies out of the sweets jar. She’d have to ask Luke about this. It sure seemed strange.
Abigail hurried back to the cabin, brushing off her now grass stained dress. Instead of changing, she threw an apron over top, washing her dirty hands.
An hour later, Luke was home. She felt frazzled and wanted to soak in a hot tub of water. She hoped he would help her drag the metal tub inside so she could wash up. Dragging herself through that dirty brush and tall grass today had been exhausting.
When Abigail yawned, Luke took her hand. “You seem tired tonight. Although I appreciate you wanting to start a normal routine, are you sure it isn’t too much? We can always have supper at Ma’s place. She doesn’t mind.”
“You are kind,” she told him, watching his eyes flash when she told him so. He didn’t like the compliment at all.
“I’m not kind, just looking out for my wife. Doing my duty as a husband. For three months,” he added.
Abigail smiled. “Must you remind me this is for three months every time we discuss a subject?”
He shrugged. “It’s a fact. I don’t want you getting too comfortable here. In another month and a half I expect you to go to Miss Addie and let her know you want an annulment.”
Abigail sighed. “Well, okay but will you please let me enjoy the time I have?”
Luke almost looked contrite. He pulled back his hand as he nodded. “I’m sorry. I will try to be kinder to you.”
She patted his hand. “That’s all I ask.”
He nodded. “How was your day?”
“Wonderful. I helped your mother weed the flower beds and we made a few pies for Saturday night.”
He smiled. “Oh? What is so special about Saturday night?”
“Well, Rusty’s grand daughter is coming for an overnight visit. She’s heading to Dallas to meet up with her husband, who has been working there for some time. Her and her son are moving there. So, we thought we’d make it special for them.”
He reached across the table to wipe a splotch of dirt from her cheek. Abigail felt warm inside at his touch. “Looks like you’ve been hard at work in Ma’s flower beds.” She wanted to ask him about the neighbors but then he brushed a piece of hair back from her face. She looked in to his eyes, shocked at the way he gazed at her.
Abigail had to change the subject. This was too dangerous to sit at the table with him. He was in a mood and she wasn’t sure of his intentions. “Why are you looking at me like that?” she whispered.
He leaned forward and placed a kiss on her cheek. Abigail knew she was blushing all over. She’d bet if she stared at the looking glass in her room she’d be red from the top of her head to her neck.
“ You look pretty tonight. I can’t help myself.”
She went to open her mouth but he placed a finger across her lips. “Don’t,” he said, his low tone rumbling close to her ear. His mouth covered hers in a sweet kiss that almost caused her to see stars.
“Oh,” she whispered after he pulled back, his face so intense it worried her.
Luke stood. Almost as if he were mad at himself for kissing her. “I’m sorry, perhaps I was being too forward.”
Abigail wanted to tell him if he wanted to kiss her again she was in agreement but sat there, dumbfounded instead. When she stared at him, he shook his head and turned towards the door.
“I’ll be outside on the porch,” he told her, his voice on the abrupt side.
“I’ll be darned,” she said aloud. Placing fingertips over her mouth, she swore she could still feel his lips there. This was the most unexpected kiss ever. Perhaps she was right, Luke was softening towards her.
The thought gave her some hope. Maybe in three months time, she’d still have a home here. Dazed, Abigail forced herself out of the chair. She took their dishes to the kitchen and began to warm up the pot for cocoa. After several minutes and hoping it was enough time that Luke was over his tempting ways, she placed their cups on a tray and went outside.
“Thanks,” he told her, still not looking in her eyes. They sat side by side on the rockers on the front porch, the skyline fading fast.
“You’re welcome.” Their words were stifled. Abigail didn’t know what to say. This was awkward.
“Looks like a full moon tonight,” he mentioned.
Abigail hated small talk. She turned to Luke. Placing a hand on his forearm, he stiffened at her touch. She almost pulled back but left her hand lingering there instead. He was giving her mixed emotions and she had enough. “We need to talk.”
He shrugged. “Not much to talk about.” He took a sip of the hot cocoa, making it a point to stare into the cup as if the liquid was the most important thing at the moment.
“Luke White, please put that cup down and look at me.” Her voice held enough emotion Luke did as he was told, which surprised Abigail.
“So talk.”
“You don’t have to be so mean, Luke.”
“I’m not mean. The kiss happened. It meant nothing.”
Abigail was shocked he would say such words. Was this the angry, mean Luke she had heard so much about? “How can you say it meant nothing? I know I felt something and I believe you did, too.”
He shrugged. “A man has needs. That’s all.”
Abigail stood. She turned to face him, her temper at a boiling point. He was not going to get away with this, not if it were up to her! “Luke White, I’ve had enough of you and your asinine thinking.”
He looked taken back when she swore. Slowly, he came up off the chair to stand in front of her. “I’m telling you the truth, it was a mistake. We can’t do this. In three months, you’ll be well on your way to marry someone else. It has to be this way.”
She stood there, hands fisted on her hips. The darkening sky placed shadows across his face, it was hard to see his emotions so she took a step closer. She wanted to look into his eyes.
“I asked you to let me at least enjoy this time and now you’ve ruined all of it, every single second! I don’t believe that you took a kiss like the one we shared so lightly. I’m sorry, Luke, but I know you have a soft, good heart and yet you hold back when it comes to us. I just haven’t figured out why you are afraid to show me you care!”
She was about to stomp off when she turned back around and took his face in the palms of her hands. She stood on her tiptoes and laid the biggest kiss on him, then pulled away and stomped inside, slamming the door. Her heart fluttered so loud she wondered if he heard it through the thick wooden door.
“I can’t believe I did that!” Her fingers went to her mouth and she giggled. He had made her so mad she lost her temper and acted like a saloon girl. If anyone saw her now, they’d never speak to her in public again. For once, she was glad to be away from the big city. If she had acted this way in Philadelphia, she would be labelled a brazen woman.
It took awhile for Abigail to catch her breath. She heard his boots click across the porch and then the sound faded away. Had he gone to his mothers? She peeked out the window but didn’t see him. Perhaps he was fetching the buggy to take her back to Wichita Falls right now.
>
Oh dear, what should she do? Go after him? That hardly seemed to work. She had tried to confront him about his feelings and look what happened? Abigail paced back and forth. She needed to apologize but the look on his face when she kissed him had made her realize he did care. There was a reason he didn’t want to get too involved, but why?
He loved his mother. All three of the boys did. It was because of her that he agreed to marry a mail-order bride. There was something going on that didn’t make sense. Maybe Nora would know. Except she didn’t dare speak to her about the two of them, otherwise she’d know her son never intended to go through with the marriage contract.
Abigail was frustrated. She stopped to stare out the kitchen window but there were no signs of Luke, not even a shadow crossing the yard.
It was better to end this night, she mused. Abigail finished cleaning the kitchen and doused the oil lamp hanging on the hook on the wall in the living room. She left a light burn on the kitchen table, so it wouldn’t be completely dark when he returned. Retreating to her bedroom, Abigail crawled under the covers, the sound of the quiet night keeping her from sleep. It was going to be a long night.
Chapter 5
Luke knew he messed up. Bad. He had kissed her without thinking of the consequences. But all he could think about was having her lips on his. She was beautiful, kind, loving and Luke was honestly afraid this woman had the ability to melt his cold heart.
He honestly didn’t think she would have this kind of effect on him. He thought he had it all figured out, how he’d put up with a mail-order bride for the next three months to appease his Ma and then send her off with a better deal than she had bargained for.
He even tried to tell himself the kiss meant nothing. Tried to tell Abigail too but she refused to accept his lies. And that’s what they were, lies. He wanted her kisses more than anything. Every single time he looked into her eyes he ached to hold her in his arms.
This was so unexpected. Luke grinned. She sure put a kiss smack dab on him as if to say, how do you like that! He loved her spunk. At all costs, she had to believe he didn’t care enough to keep her on as his wife. How was he going to do that when every time they were together he wanted to kiss her? Yet, he knew better, this was not going to be anything more than a three month arrangement. It was important for her to leave when the time came. The thought saddened him immensely. He was getting used to having Abigail around.
Luke wasn’t about to be the one to unravel everything the three of them had kept quiet about for the last ten years. It would break his Ma’s heart.
He wasn’t willing to break her heart. Maybe he needed to talk to his brothers. Luke headed across the meadow towards the stables where his brothers would be knee deep in a card game. He was softening up and he had to be hard and cold about this whole situation. Maybe they’d knock some sense into him.
When Luke entered, Samuel was laughing so hard he almost knocked down the small table they had set up for a card game. Adam was the quiet one, concentrating on his hand. His brothers liked to compete against each other. He watched as Samuel tried hard to distract his brother but Adam was a fierce rival. Adam kept a poker face until the card reveal.
Of course, Luke knew Adam would win. He usually always did. Samuel didn’t take the game as serious as his brother so it was almost a daily occurrence when he lost. He was more about having fun than anything.
Luke loved his brothers with his whole heart. He remembered how the three of them held each other up when his father passed away. How they vowed to take care of Ma and to keep their Pa’s secret no matter what.
A heavy burden had fallen upon him the day he found out about the secret. His brothers knew the whole story but it was up to him to make sure they all followed his path. He was the oldest, he had to set an example for the rest.
Samuel whistled. “Well, well, well. Look who is out and about after supper. What’s wrong, brother, are you tired of married life already?”
Luke glared. “Not now, Sam.”
Adam jumped in. He had always been the peacemaker of the family. “That’s enough, Sam. Doesn’t look like Luke wants to hear any of your teasing right now.”
Samuel closed his mouth. There was a time for fooling around and a time for seriousness. The rest of the ranch hands threw their cards in the pile.
They filed out one by one, grumbling how Adam always won the pot. It was the same old story every night. Except when Luke played. He usually beat Adam by a long shot. Luke grinned. He was the only one who could.
When the three of them were the only ones left in the barn Luke sat down with the others.
“What’s going on, Luke?” Adam was always good at knowing when Luke was stressed out. “You having marriage issues?”
Luke propped his elbows on his knees. “You know darn well this marriage is a farce. I’m doing it to appease Ma and both of you may have to do the same thing if this doesn’t work out on my end.”
“Why wouldn’t it work out? I have no intention of getting hitched,” Adam told him. “Not one bit. You said she’d be ready and willing to high-tail it out of here in a month or two. You promised us we didn’t have to go through with any fake marriages, that you’d be the one to steer the woman away. You said after you were done, Ma wouldn’t try to marry us off! I remember every single word.”
Luke sighed. “So I thought. Abigail is not so easy to scare off. This woman stands toe to toe with me, I can’t make heads or tails of this relationship.”
Adam ran a hand over the small whiskers on his chin. He didn’t like to shave except when he was prompted to look his best for Sunday church services. “I kind of like Abigail. She helps Ma out a lot. Every day they spend time together so Ma isn’t so lonely. Why not keep her for Ma?”
Samuel nodded. “We should do that. Ma’s never been so happy as when Abigail shows up each morning.”
“Samuel! Adam! You know we can’t do this. We made a vow. Ma can never find out the truth, it will devastate everything she has worked for. Keeping this family small will ensure Ma never knows.”
Adam struggled to keep still. “I may want to marry someday. Abigail is nice and I like having a woman around the place, besides it does make Ma happy. Isn’t that what we wanted, to keep Ma happy?”
“The only way you can marry is if you leave the ranch. Are you willing to give all this up? Because it is the only way.” Luke stared at his brother. Why hadn’t Luke realized bringing a woman here would make his brothers long for something different? If it came down to a choice, he’d rather see Adam far away from home and happy than have Ma find out the truth.
Samuel piped in, a grin on his face. “Adam is too darn ugly to find himself a woman.”
Adam stood up, his face serious. Or, so they thought. He leaped across the table, landing dead on his younger brother. Luke shook his head and laughed. He guessed their talk was over.
The two tumbled around the barn like a bunch of teenagers even though they were well into their early twenties.
“Promise me one thing, brothers?”
Adam and Samuel looked up from their wrestling. “What?” They both spoke at the same time.
“That no matter what, no matter how much I may start to care, remind me Abigail can’t stay. We made a promise.”
His reluctant brothers agreed.
Luke felt as if a heavy burden had planted itself on his shoulders. It had been placed there ten years ago. Except now, he had to keep up the farce, take care of his Ma and hope and pray to God she never became suspicious.
It was important that no matter the cost, Ma was never to find out the hidden truth.
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“Abigail, would you mind taking a basket to the orchard for some more apples? I think apple dumplings on the menu tonight will make everyone happy.”
Abigail picked up the basket. “Anything you make for these men will make them happy. They all eat as if they are starving.”
Nora laughed out loud. “That’s my boys.”
&
nbsp; An approaching buggy was making its way down the lane. The women went out on the porch to greet the visitors.
“Miss Nora! Hello!”
Rusty’s grand daughter waved from a buggy that was filled to the brim with carpet bags, furniture and what-not. The one side tilted dangerously low.
Nora waved. “Come on in, Melody! Bring the little one, too.” Abigail searched the clutter for a child but didn’t see anyone at first. All of a sudden a head popped out of the mess.
Bright red curly hair surrounded a chubby face sprinkled with freckles. The little boy smiled shyly.
“Say hello, Tommy.”
He lifted a toddler sized hand and waved at the women. The boy crawled over top some of the supplies on board, then slid his chubby little form down over the side of the buggy. After plopping to the ground, he got up, swiped at his knees and followed his mother to the porch.
Abigail wondered what it would be like to chase a little one around like him. An ache stirred in her heart knowing it would never happen. Not here anyway, not unless Luke changed his mind about their marriage.
When he had come home the other night, he went directly to his loft and hadn’t said much since. In the morning, he no longer lingered while she made breakfast but ate quickly and left before they were even able to start a conversation.
Abigail felt the loss. She hadn’t realized how powerful her kiss had been. Maybe she needed to talk to him, apologize for taking it upon herself to kiss him that way.
A tug on her dress caught her attention.
“Hello, Tommy. What is it?” His head was thrown back. A thick neck stretched to look up at her.
“Can I help pick apples?”
She didn’t realize she was still holding the basket to pick apples in. Thoughts of Luke had distracted her again. “Why, of course, Tommy. Let’s pick a whole bunch so we can make delicious dumplings tonight for dinner and then I bet you would like to eat a fresh, delicious one right now!”
“Oh yes, I would!” He grabbed her hand. It was sticky but warm. The two of them hurried to the apple orchard which sat a ways from the house.