West Winds of Wyoming

by Caroline Fyffe

Charlie stepped forward, though he was pretty sure his heart had dropped to the ground back there. Maddie? Odd appearance into town? What did the woman mean?

  They were nearly to the front of the line, and he could see the table. Maddie—his Maddie—sat between a boy about her size and an older girl, the one she’d been with the other day. If he wanted, he could step forward and run his hand down her soft hair. Tears blurred his vision and he rubbed a palm across his face. He’d missed her so much.

  She carefully held out pieces of paper for the raffle. The buyer would write their name, then drop the scrap into a pink-glass pickle jar that sat in the middle of the table.

  “Charlie?” Nell’s voice held a ripple of humor. “What’s gotten into you, anyway? Get up here.”

  The rotund woman and her friend had moved away and Nell had stepped up to the sign-in table. She’d set her bowl of boiled eggs on the tabletop and had already signed her name in a little book. She grasped his sleeve and dragged him forward.

  Maddie’s pulse thrummed in the side of her neck, making Charlie think of a hummingbird, as the sight always did. Sunshine glistened in her hair and the freckles across the top of her nose had deepened, a sure sign she got outdoors more often than she had in Wilsonville. Good. She loves the sound of the birds.

  Nell, a curious expression on her face, handed him the pencil so he could sign the book. Swallowing nervously, he fought to keep his hand steady as he listened to Nell buy four raffle tickets. She scribbled out her name. “Aren’t you gonna buy any chances, Charlie? It’s for a good cause.”

  The smile on Maddie’s face faded. She glanced around uncertainly, as if she sensed his presence. Worry lines furrowed her forehead. The day they’d exchanged their goodbyes rushed into his mind with the force of a plow breaking new earth.

  He locked the front door to his gunsmith shop and hurried out the back, jogging the half block to Miss Baxter’s rented alley house.

  Galante had tried again to get the sheriff to arrest him. Unsuccessful, Galante had vowed to take the matter into his own hands. An eye for an eye, even if his son was the one who’d been in the wrong. Charlie didn’t like the sound of that. The time had come to send Maddie away.

  He dashed into the house without knocking, making the old woman drop the canister of flour she held in her hands. Puffs of white went everywhere, then settled into drifts around her feet. “Mr. Axelrose. What on earth?”

  “Pa?”

  “Yeah, Maddie, it’s me. Sorry to scare you.”

  With an outstretched hand, she made her way by feel in his direction and he met her halfway. He wrapped her in his arms and picked her up, memorizing the sensation her closeness created in his soul. Over her head, his gaze sought Miss Baxter’s.

  Setting Maddie’s feet back on the floor, he squatted to her level, the sight of her almost breaking his heart. Her rosebud lips smiled, but he could tell she was frightened. She couldn’t hide the worry from her large, sightless eyes.

  “It’s time, Maddie. I want you to gather your things.”

  She reached out with her small hand and gripped the fabric of his shirt just above the pocket. “I won’t leave you, Pa. I don’t want to go. I can stay. I can help.”

  He turned her toward the bedroom. “Go do as I asked, darlin’, while I talk with Miss Baxter. Time is short. Don’t forget what we talked about. Not saying anything about who you are or where you’re from until I come and get you. I want you to grow up someplace safe. Where good people have a chance. That place isn’t here.”

  “Hey, move along.” Behind him in line someone grumbled and gave him a nudge. Charlie snapped back to the present. He nodded and held up two fingers.

  Nell laughed. “Is this some sort of strange game? He’ll have two tickets, I guess, Maddie. You’re as pretty as a picture today. How are you?”

  “Fine, Mrs. Page.” Maddie’s voice reminded him of bells on a Christmas sleigh. They made him long to swoop her into a hug and never let her go. She looked so much like Annie that his heart burned.

  Maddie’s smile returned. She felt around the paper cigar box and fished out two small pieces of paper. She held them out to him with her delicate hand.

  It was the hardest thing Charlie had ever done. Taking the tickets without touching her fingers. He scribbled his name on each and dropped them into the jar. Reaching into his pocket, he set two coins on the tabletop.

  “Thank you, sir,” the little boy sang out. “Good luck winning!”

  Charlie nodded, but still didn’t speak. His gaze was riveted on Maddie and the easy way she fit in. She was happy. Healthy. Her face was clean and her hair brushed and kept off her face with a cloth headband. The dress she wore looked new.

  “Bye, Mrs. Page,” Maddie called as Nell dragged him away from the table, toward the schoolhouse.

  “What in God’s name was that all about, Charlie?” Nell shook her head. “Is it the money? Because if that’s the case, I’ll be more than happy to reimburse you.” She looked down at her hand on his arm and let it fall to her side. “Well?”

  “Of course I wanted the tickets. Winning a quilt is at the top of my list of desires.” Agitation made him sharp, but when he saw her frown, he said, “Sorry. It’s just my, er, it’s just that I’m danged hungry.” It was the only thing he could come up with to explain his strange behavior. “Can’t think of anything else except my stomach. I got sidetracked by the smell of the beef.”

  He pointed up the rise to half a steer cooking over a fire. A man with a white apron wrapped around his waist stood beside the rock-rimmed fire pit turning a handle that rolled the steer over the flames.

  “Here then, take one of these. I made plenty.” She took the cloth off the top of the bowl and offered him the eggs.

  The sight of the slippery white orbs didn’t sit well. After seeing Maddie, carrying on normally was going to be tough. “No, thanks. I’m fine now. Dinner will be served soon enough, I’m sure. Let’s go see the schoolhouse.”

  Nell looked more confused than ever. She handed her bowl of eggs to a woman who was collecting the food and followed him into the school. Everything in the large room was neat and tidy. The teacher’s desk divided the space, with a bookcase next to it and a half wall nailed with pegs for hanging coats. Each half of the room had eight desks, lined up in two rows. Charlie detected scents of new lumber and soap, as well as fresh air wafting in through the open windows.

  “This is nice,” he heard himself saying. “Much larger than any school I’ve ever seen.”

  “Enlarging the school, as well as building a park and festival grounds, and cleaning the town up were all stipulations for the railroad to consider us for a stop.”

  “Welcome.” A man came forward with an outstretched hand. “I’m Mr. Hutton, the new teacher.”

  Charlie shook it. “Nice to meet you, Mr. Hutton, I’m Charlie Rose and this is Mrs.—”

  “Your beautiful wife,” Mr. Hutton finished in a flourish, a bit overzealous. A sincere smile stretched his face but his forehead had a noticeable, nervous sheen.

  “Which child is yours?” he asked. “Or should I say children? I haven’t yet had a chance to visit all the homesteads in the surrounding vicinity.” He trailed his finger down a list until he came to the R’s. When he got to the end without finding their name, he looked up, confused. “The Rose family, you say?”

  CHAPTER TEN

  Brenna overheard Mr. Hutton’s blunder all the way from the front of the schoolroom. She’d been showing the Logans where Sarah would sit once class started.

  The pain that flitted across Nell’s face made her ache. She and Ben had been a loving couple. Even after all this time, Nell still pined away for the man—and for the baby she’d wanted desperately and now thought she’d never have.

  Maybe the handsome stranger was courting her. Brenna hoped so. Nell could use a little happiness in her life. “Excuse me, please,” she whispered to Chase and Jessie. “I’ll be right back.”

  “Hello, Nell,” she excl
aimed loudly, drawing everyone’s attention. She stopped at Nell’s side. “I’m sorry to interrupt, but I’m so happy you could come today. I never know when you might show up in town, you living way out on the ranch.” She drew her friend into a hug and then released her. “Who is this?” she asked, looking at the tall cowboy.

  Disconcerted by the interruption, Mr. Hutton took a small step back. Confusion shone from his eyes—then realization at his error.

  The man at Nell’s side was a good foot and a half taller than Mr. Hutton, broad of chest, and a bit on the rugged side. The scar under his eye told Brenna he could take on just about anything—and had at some point. The look in his eyes seemed familiar. And the color made her look twice, badgering her memory to recall who he reminded her of. “I don’t believe we’ve had the pleasure of meeting.”

  Nell’s expression thanked her. Now they wouldn’t have to go into a long explanation to the teacher. “This is our new hand, Charlie Rose. We hired him on a few days ago. Charlie, this is my good friend, Brenna Lane. She’s head of the school council this year and organized this whole affair.”

  Why did she think the cowboy looked surprised at that? If he did, he covered it quickly, but his eyes appraised her intensely. “I’m pleased to make your acquaintance, Mrs. Lane,” he said in a deep voice.

  Again confusion rocked Brenna. Mr. Rose’s mouth—the way his lips curled up at the corners when he spoke—took her aback. They had never met before, she was sure, and yet . . .

  Shivers skittered up her legs and she wished she hadn’t been so eager to help grumpy Gregory. Still, her curiosity got the better of her. “I must have been mistaken when I thought we hadn’t yet met. Where was it, Mr. Rose? You’re very familiar to me. I’m certain I know you.”

  He shifted his weight and fingered the brim of the hat he held, looking for all the world like he’d rather be sitting on the bank of some river with a fishing pole. “No, ma’am. I’ve never been to this part of the country before. But I’m pleased to find this fine town to settle in.”

  She nodded, all the while racking her brain. He wouldn’t fib to her, would he? It was on the tip of her tongue and yet she couldn’t place him. “I better get back to the Logans. I just wanted to say hello to Nell. Enjoy the day.” She dared one more quick glance at Mr. Rose.

  “I am so sorry for assuming—” Mr. Hutton was saying as Brenna turned and hurried back to Jessie’s side. Sarah sat in her front-row desk, her legs swinging back and forth. Chase had departed and taken three-year-old Shane with him. A few other families now milled around inside.

  “Did you smooth things over?” Jessie asked.

  “I hope. I don’t like to see Nell hurting.” Brenna looked down at Sarah. “Jane will be sitting next to you, Sarah. She can help if you have questions.” She caressed the child’s upturned cheek.

  Jessie leaned in close. “Who’s the man?”

  “A new hand they hired out at the ranch.”

  “Oh, Chase mentioned him to me. Albert told him when he ran into Chase at the livery. News travels quickly. No need for telephones in this town.”

  Penny came through the door hand in hand with Maddie, then set Maddie in the seat next to Sarah. “There, Maddie. That’s what a school desk feels like. Have you ever been to school?”

  Brenna exchanged a quick glance with Jessie, sure Penny didn’t know she was being cruel.

  “No, never,” Maddie said. “My—” Brenna held her breath, in hopes Maddie would say more about her past, but she finished with, “I’d like to go. Do you think Mr. Hutton will let me?”

  Sarah bounced up and down in her seat. “You and Jane can both sit next to me.”

  Brenna, not knowing what to say, looked up. From across the room, Mr. Rose’s gaze was riveted on them.

  “Ma, will Maddie be allowed to come to school with us? She wants to. She can’t see but we can help her.”

  By now, Penny had realized her mistake and tears shimmered in her eyes.

  “I don’t know, Sarah,” Jessie said. “That will be up to Mr. Hutton. We’ll have to wait and see.”

  Sarah stood. She looked to the back of the room. “Let’s go ask him now. The teacher is right back there.”

  Maddie stood, as well. “Can we?”

  Oh, her little heart was going to be broken into a million pieces when she learned that wouldn’t be possible. Wait. Why couldn’t Maddie sit with Penny? Penny loved her like a sister. Took great care of her. Maddie could learn a lot from just listening to Mr. Hutton and the other children.

  “We won’t ask him right now, children. He’s busy and has too many things on his mind. Just be patient. I’ll talk to him later.” But what will he say?

  Penny’s eyes, full of love and adoration, gave Brenna courage. “Thank you, Mama. I know you’ll be able to get him to say yes.”

  Brenna glanced up again. This time, Nell and Charlie Rose were gone and Mr. Hutton had another family at his desk. His smile seemed genuine. Perhaps she’d judged him unfairly. She needed to amend her thoughts about the man so he wouldn’t feel her uncertainties about him when she tried to butter him up. She was sure he’d never allow a blind child in his class. He was much too organized. But if she could convince him—

  “Brenna?” Jessie tapped her shoulder.

  Brenna was amazed to find the children had gone. She’d been so deep in thought she hadn’t noticed.

  “Frank Lloyd just rang the bell. We’d best go get in line if we want any dinner tonight.”

  “You’re right.” Maybe she could run into Mr. Hutton while they were—Oh, no. She remembered the missing textbooks and her anxiety spiked. He’d never do her a favor once he learned about that.

  She and Jessie were the last to leave the classroom. They stepped outside only to find Mr. Hutton waiting on the stoop, holding the door for them.

  Brenna pulled up short.

  “Ladies.”

  “Thank you, but that was unnecessary, Mr. Hutton,” she said.

  “I disagree. Your kind gesture saved me from myself today. I was about to dig myself in deeper before you came to my rescue.” When he smiled at her, she didn’t know how to respond. “And since you are the councilwoman in charge this year, we’ll be working as a team. The least I can do is partake of dinner with you—if you’re willing. There are several things I’d like to go over before class starts.”

  Brenna smiled and fortified her spine. Maddie first. The forgotten textbooks could wait. She nodded at Mr. Hutton and stepped with him onto the grass.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  Nell moved down the food table alongside Charlie. She liked how his height made her feel small and, even if she didn’t need it, protected. His blue eyes were amazingly alive today, and for the first time she’d noticed golden flecks, along with green and blue, around his irises. He’d looked over to ask her a question and their intensity had stopped her hands and made her forget what she was reaching for.

  How foolish. She was no child with a schoolgirl crush. She knew what was what. Still, if she let her guard slip, she found herself pretending she and Charlie were a couple, even the couple Mr. Hutton had believed they were—with a homestead and children of their own.

  Seemed she wasn’t the only one to think him handsome. She hadn’t missed the titter of the adolescent girls when she and Charlie walked by. But it was more than handsome. He was kind with the animals, even when they were giving him a hard time—that was a very telling trait. His appreciation of her books endeared him to her more. And she liked the sound of his voice, especially when he was bidding her good night.

  The object of her musings leaned down close to speak into her ear. “That Mrs. Lane seemed like a nice woman. Does she live close by?”

  Brenna? Had Brenna caught Charlie’s eye? Slender, big-hearted, feminine—of course she would. She kept an immaculate home, cooked like a chef, and could sew just about anything. Today she looked especially lovely with her chestnut hair pinned half up and half down, flowing in the breeze. Any man would
be captivated. Brenna was everything Nell wasn’t.

  “She does. Just over the bridge on Oak Street,” Nell answered, making sure her voice didn’t wobble. She’d been imaging all sorts of things about Charlie Rose. Well, she just had to stop. “There are several houses up that way.”

  Charlie turned from the food table, a thick slab of beef on his fork, and looked toward the bridge. Appeared to be calculating something in his head. When he caught her watching, two red splotches blossomed on his cheeks and he seemed unduly interested in the food on the table. Plopping the meat onto his plate, he reached for the potato salad spoon a little too quickly.

  He didn’t have to hide his feelings from her. She had no claim on him just because she’d given him a job.

  Charlie pointed with his fork. “Look. Your eggs are all but gone. People must like them.”

  He was changing the subject. She nodded. “Or they’re feeding them to their dogs.”

  Her usual pants and shirt, although clean and pressed, felt drab next to all the women in dresses and bonnets. Mrs. Brinkley held a fancy little parasol over her head. Nell couldn’t imagine why she needed it, with the mild temperature today. For looks, you dummy, she shouted to herself. Mrs. Brinkley made an effort to dress attractively for her husband and the rest of the town. Nell glanced at Charlie. Was he given to feminine women? What’s wrong with me that I never want to wear garb like that?

  Reaching the end of the food table, she followed Charlie onto the grass a few feet away and looked for a place to settle so they could eat. Chairs and tables had been set up, but not nearly enough for the whole crowd. Some women had thought ahead and brought a blanket. Those were laid out on the hillside, looking much like the sampler quilt hanging on the side of the schoolhouse.

  Glancing toward the quilt, her breath caught. Charlie stopped and looked at her. “What?”

  “That child makes my heart hurt.” She pointed to where Maddie was standing as she felt the quilt’s soft fabric. Penny stuck close by her side. The smile on Maddie’s face was one of adoration. “Isn’t she sweet? About the cutest little girl I’ve ever seen, and nice through and through.”