Olin examined the mechanism. “If I made a couple adjustments here”—Olin pointed to the pin—“and opened it here to receive a cotter pin, it might put less strain on the shaft.”
His father scratched his chin. “Make both, son. That way if your idea doesn’t work we’ll still have a working pin.”
“Fair enough.”
“I see what you’re suggesting, Bobby. I think it might work.” Kyle leaned away from the chute.
“Ye boys go on discussing this. I best get back to your mother if I want some supper tonight. She sent me out to fetch a bucket of water fifteen minutes ago.”
Kyle and Olin glanced at one another and grinned. Olin resigned himself to the fact that to his family, he would always be Bobby.
After Father left the barn, Kyle leaned back. “Percy really is set to run ye out of town. What did ye do to the man?”
“Nothing.”
“Come on, this is me you’re talkin’ to. What happened between the two of ye seven years ago?”
“Nothing to say, apart from me trying to defend him.”
“What? Ye mean after all this time you’re saying Percy is the reason ye were fighting with Gary Jones?”
Olin shrugged. He shouldn’t have said that much after all this time. What did it really matter anyway?
“Little brother, ye better watch your back. I’m afraid Percy isn’t going to stop.”
Like Father, Olin knew Percy didn’t have the ambition to continue bullying him. One day Percy would tire of his attempt to get him kicked out of town. Olin hoped. “I imagine he’ll tire of this.”
They left the barn upon hearing a wagon pulling up. Janet’s rich, black curly hair, so like his own, glistened in the sunlight. Four children jumped out as her husband secured the wagon. Olin smiled. Janet rushed over and gave him the best hug of his life. “Hey, little brother, it’s good to see ye.”
He squeezed her slightly and whispered in her ear. “It’s good to be home.”
“It’s about time. Come meet my husband and our children.”
❧
Ida Mae finished the jobs lined up for the rest of the week a day early. Today she planned to spend some time cleaning her living area and baking for tomorrow’s church picnic.
Olin had replaced the glass in the window, but she’d been avoiding him. He made her feel things a single woman shouldn’t. He lived too close; and to build up a friendship would take time and lots of space. She didn’t dare share these thoughts with anyone, especially Olin.
Cyrus had come by a couple days ago and apologized again for the misunderstanding about his hopes and plans to rent the farm. And told her he was just as concerned as her about the rumors spreading around town regarding their marriage. He hinted that Rosey’s parents would have their marriage dissolved if they found out about it. For the moment, she snuck out on occasion to join her husband on the farm. Ida Mae didn’t think this was a wise way to start a marriage.
He had also mentioned he was turning the back forty acres to help the soil for next year’s planting. A part of her wanted to check on Cyrus’s progress on the farm, yet another part of her didn’t want to bother. Perhaps she should consider selling the land and purchasing a smaller cottage closer to town, as her brothers had suggested.
Minnie ran into the shop. “Ida Mae, you won’t believe what I just heard.”
“What’s that?” Ida Mae looked over the next day’s schedule.
“That Bobby Orr’s cousin is trying to get him kicked out of town.”
“What?”
“Percy says that Bobby has a horrible temper. He doesn’t trust him and he’s quite concerned about you. Percy says he has a mind to keep an eye on you just to make certain you’re safe.”
“You can tell Percy I’m just fine.” Ida Mae slipped her hand into her pocket and fingered the crumpled note that had been tied to the rock. She’d read it a hundred times and prayed over it at least a thousand more. She didn’t know if it referred to Cyrus Morgan or Olin Orr. In either event, she wouldn’t give in to such tactics. After all, she had roots from the Hornet’s Nest, as the British had referred to this part of the country during the Revolution.
“Why aren’t you working today?”
“Finished all the jobs. I thought I’d give my room a good cleaning and prepare some food for tomorrow’s church picnic.” Ida Mae led Minnie to her private living area.
“Wonderful. Mother’s packed a bunch of pickles and spring vegetables for the picnic. Father’s donating a couple chickens.”
Ida Mae had already heard someone was donating an entire hog. She imagined they had started to cook the pig in the pit. It would take close to twenty-four hours to roast. They walked into the small kitchen area, Minnie sat down, and Ida Mae went to the cupboard. “I think I’ll make some biscuits.”
“You do make a fluffy biscuit,” Minnie said. “Why do you think Percy is trying to get Bobby to leave town? The way I heard it, the fight was self-defense.”
How the gossips will change their thinking, she mused. “I don’t know. I don’t know Mr. Orr all that well. I think I’ve only seen him maybe thirty minutes since he moved in.”
“As good a-lookin’ as he is? Why, he could visit me as often as he’d like. Have you ever seen such unruly curls on a man?”
Ida Mae turned away from her cousin. “Can’t say that I have.”
“By the way, I heard someone broke one of your windows.” Minnie put her feet up on the small footstool.
Four days. Minnie is slowing down. “Yes, I believe it might have been some boys.”
“Who fixed it?”
Ida Mae grinned. She knew Minnie was fishing. “Mr. Orr. He heard the crash and came and lent me a hand.”
“Guess it ain’t all bad havin’ a man livin’ next door.”
“No, it’s not.”
Minnie scanned the room. “Where’s your ma’s cranberry glass vase?”
Ida Mae turned and looked at the shelf where the vase usually sat. “I don’t know.”
❧
Olin came home in the dark. A single light burned in Ida Mae’s room. He wondered about her and what her life must be like. He imagined it to be similar to his when he had lived in Pennsylvania with no family around. On the other hand, she did speak of her parents’ friends keeping an eye out for her. And then there were her cousins in the area. She wasn’t totally alone.
A shadowy figure slipped past the rear of her building.
“Whoa, boy.”
His horse snorted.
Olin waited a moment, then proceeded to where the shadow had disappeared. A bright light burned in the window across the alley. If anyone had walked by, he or she would cast a shadow across Ida Mae’s building. Olin waited a moment longer. After the rock incident, he wasn’t going to take any chances.
A moment later, the back door to Ida Mae’s opened halfway. “Hello?” Ida Mae called out.
“It’s just me, Miss McAuley—Olin Orr.”
“Mr. Orr?”
“Yes, I’m returning home from dinner with my family. Is everything all right?”
“Ah.” She paused. “If it is only you, I guess so.”
“Miss McAuley, has something happened?”
“No, I suppose not. It just felt like someone was—oh, never mind. I’m just being foolish.”
Olin nudged his horse closer to the back doorway of Ida Mae’s private quarters. “Are you certain you’re safe? What happened?”
“Nothing. I guess it just seemed like someone was hovering around my back door.”
“Give me your lantern.” He hopped off his horse.
When she returned with a lantern, he reached out for it. Their fingers touched. Hers were warm, soft. His stomach did a flip. “Step back inside. I’ll check the ground for any noticeable tracks.”
“Thank you.”
Olin searched the ground carefully. It was difficult to see, but everything appeared to be in order. None of the various-sized tracks seemed to indicate that an
yone had been loitering there. He knocked on the door. “Miss McAuley, no one is around; you’re safe.”
She opened the door. “Thank you. I’m just being fearful.”
“You have reason to be.”
“Why? What are you not telling me?”
“I didn’t mean to alarm you, Miss. I was referrin’ to what my parents told me about the loss of your parents in the fire. Anyone in your circumstance would feel a wee bit alone and scared.”
“Oh.”
“Forgive me, but if ye are fearful of me renting from you, I’ll find a new location.”
“No, this has nothing to do with you.”
“Very well.” He bowed slightly and walked over to his horse. “I’ll see you on the morrow.”
They said their good-byes and he walked his horse around to the livery stable on the side of his portion of the building. After the animal was unpacked and ready for the night, Olin worked his way into his small room, a tool and storage area in the workshop he had converted to basic living quarters. It didn’t compare to the lovely living area that Ida Mae had made for herself, but it was functional and served his purposes.
A gentle knock echoed through the room. “Hello!” he called out.
“Mr. Orr, may I come in?” Her voice sounded close yet muffled.
“Yes.” He waited to see where Ida Mae was coming from. A noise came from the closet so he opened the door. A panel serving as a hidden door opened in the wall that joined their two parts of the building. There was no handle on his side.
“Please come in,” he said, stepping back.
Ida Mae stepped through the closet and into the room. “I hope I didn’t alarm you, Mr. Orr. My father built this passageway for my mother so she wouldn’t have to go out around the building to speak with him. Given what happened. . .” Her voice trailed off.
“How can I help ye, Miss McAuley?”
“I’ve been less than honest with you, Mr. Orr.” Ida Mae stepped up beside him. She pulled a wrinkled piece of paper from her pocket.
He took the worn paper and read, “Get rid of your tenant or else.” “I’ll leave in the morning. I’ll stay with my parents until I find a new location for my shop.”
“No. I don’t like giving in to idle threats.”
“Ye know my history. I can’t put you at risk.”
“Minnie says your cousin Percy is. . .”
“Trying to have me kicked out of town.” He finished her sentence. “Aye, I know. Ye don’t need this kind of trouble in your life. I’ll leave immediately.”
“I appreciate your concern for my well-being, but I’m not certain this note pertains to you. I rented my parents’ farmhouse to Cyrus Morgan.”
“The man everyone claims you married?”
“Yes.” She let out a nervous giggle that played havoc with his senses. “He might be the person someone is trying to get rid of.”
“For what possible reason?”
The knit of her eyebrows told him there was nothing in Cyrus Morgan’s past that would cause such a warning. “Ida Mae, ye must realize”—he brushed his hair from his eyes—“they’re after me. Perhaps it was wrong for me to return.”
She looked pointedly at the curls brushing his shoulders. “You need a haircut?”
“I’ve been meaning to have it cut.”
“Would you like me to?” she offered shyly. “My mother taught me how to cut my older brothers’ hair.”
“Aye,” he whispered.
Five
Ida Mae savored every stroke of her fingers through Olin’s hair. “Finished.”
Olin opened his brown eyes wide. Wild energy targeted her. He hooded his eyes once again and reopened them slowly. The warm glow of a lightly creamed coffee came to mind.
Ida Mae swallowed, grateful they had cut his hair in the barn with the door wide open for anyone to see they were not acting improperly.
“Thank ye.” He cleared his throat. “I’ll move my personal items out tomorrow after church.”
“Please don’t.” She bit her lower lip, not wanting to say another word.
“Ida Mae, ye must be protected. I don’t know who sent this note, but I daresay it could be my cousin, or it could be someone else, someone more violent. It is not wise for me to live here and put ye in harm’s way. Besides, my mum will be thrilled to have me living at home.”
Ida Mae smiled. Parents could be like that.
“Thank ye for the haircut. I’ll see ye in the morning. But before I go to bed I’ll take one last look around the place. Don’t forget to lock your doors.”
She acknowledged his warning, slipped back into her own section of the building, and did as he instructed.
❧
The next morning, Ida Mae readied for church and the picnic. Walking the length of the town to the church, she left her biscuits in the fellowship hall where the women would prepare for the dinner outside. The church seemed full this morning. Many came in anticipation of the meal, as usual. The message given by the preacher reminded her of the need to walk in faith.
“Good morning, Miss McAuley.” Olin Orr came up beside her at the park and smiled.
Earlier she had tried to scan the congregation for him but couldn’t see him through the sea of people. “Good morning, Mr. Orr.”
“Bobby!” A woman a handful of years older than Ida Mae waved.
“There’s my sister, Janet. She’s been anxious to speak with me all week. Would ye care to join us?”
“Thank you, but. . .”
He reached out his hand. “My mum can’t wait to thank ye for the haircut.”
Ida Mae let her hand rest in his. It was a strong hand.
After several introductions Ida Mae settled on a blanket next to Olin’s oldest brother, John. “Fine day,” he said.
“Yes, it is. Perfect for a picnic.”
“Aye. Are ye plannin’ on enterin’ any of the competitions?”
“No, I’m fond of just being a spectator.”
Cyrus Morgan strolled by with his hands in his pockets. “Afternoon, Ida Mae. How are you?”
“Fine.”
She could feel John’s watchful gaze. She’d love to ask Cyrus how Rosey was, but that would clue in the entire town that Rosey and Cyrus had married. “How’s the farm?”
“Good. I’m planting corn this week.”
“ ’Tis a bit late in the season to be plantin’ corn,” John offered as he reached for a fresh strawberry.
“I’m praying for a late winter.”
“Cyrus just rented the farm from me. He hasn’t had the normal time to plant as he just finished rebuilding the house.” Ida Mae defended him but checked herself from going further. Cyrus could have planted the corn earlier, before completing the house, if he had bothered to speak to her about his plans.
Cyrus’s glance flickered between her and John. John reached over and rested his hand on the blanket behind her, as if letting Cyrus know that the Orr family had taken her under its wings. Without a doubt, Olin must have shared with his brother the threatening note.
As Cyrus made his farewells, she turned to John and waited for Cyrus to leave them, and then spoke. “That wasn’t necessary.”
“Unfortunately, I believe it may be. Bobby told Kyle and me what’s been going on at your home. And I’ve personally heard the rumor Cyrus has been spreading, claiming he married you.”
“You heard him say that?”
“Not in so many words, but he strongly implied it. He’s a lazy farmer. Ye should have asked Kyle or me to work your land. We would have brought ye in a profit.”
Ida Mae smiled. “You probably would have. I was just so startled to hear his plans and meet his wife.”
“So, he did marry?”
“Yes.”
“Who?”
“He’s asked to keep that private. He’s hoping to tell her parents after the harvest.”
“I don’t like it.”
“I’m not fond of it, either. But I wasn’t doing anything with
the land. He’s certainly turning the soil over.”
John snickered. “Ain’t no use in doing that more than a time or two in the late winter, early spring.”
“No, I suppose it isn’t. But he’s been good to me, and he rebuilt the house.”
“Aye, I’ll give the man that.”
Olin returned with two cups of iced tea. “Would ye like one, John?”
“Nope. It’s my turn to enter the sack race.”
John left and Olin took his brother’s place on the blanket beside her. “You told your family?” she whispered.
“Just John and Kyle. I wanted them to understand why I was moving back home. Mother and Father are just happy to have me back. But I wanted my brothers to know I wasn’t after their inheritance.”
“Do your brothers believe you about what happened years ago?”
“Aye, even though they know my anger. I have a good family.”
“You are blessed.”
“Uncle Bobby,” one of the twins squealed, running up to him with open arms and strawberry juice running down her chin.
Ida Mae’s heart clenched. She missed her brothers. She missed her family. It was like Olin said last night—she was alone, so very alone.
❧
Olin watched Ida Mae closely throughout the day. His family took turns speaking with her one at a time. She blended well with them. As the day wore on, she relaxed perceptibly. He couldn’t have asked for a better opportunity than what the picnic had produced. Between him and his brothers they each took a stroll down to her shop and inspected the outside for any possible trouble. Ida Mae didn’t know it, but they were going to be watching her closely over the next few days.
He finally met Cyrus Morgan. John had pointed him out during the picnic. A young woman with strawberry blond hair kept a watchful eye on Cyrus all day. Olin speculated she was Cyrus’s secret wife.
By evening the picnic broke up. He escorted Ida Mae back to her shop. He took advantage of the fact that he, too, had to go that way to pack his wagon and move back home. “Wonderful day, wasn’t it?”
“I had a great time. You have a nice family.”
“Aye, but they can run all over you if you’re not careful.”
Ida Mae giggled. “Your nieces and nephews are precious.”
Corduroy Road To Love Page 4