Love's Unending Legacy

by Janette Oke

  “He’s nice, isn’t he, dear?” Marty interrupted her swirling thoughts, and Ellie jumped.

  “What?”

  “Lane’s a nice boy. Willie is so lucky to have him. He’s been such a help on the ranch and in the church, too.

  “An’ then he comes on out here an’ offers to go help cut wood—one of the hardest jobs there is. Sure takes a load off a’ me where yer father’s concerned.”

  Ellie agreed with her mother without committing herself in any way.

  “Wonder how long he’ll stay,” Marty mused. “S’pose he’s anxious to git on back, but they did say thet the LaHayes are gonna stay beyond Christmas, didn’t they?”

  “Guess so,” murmured Ellie.

  “Well, we should be real nice to him while he’s here. Don’t think he has a family of his own.”

  Marty went on with her knitting, and Ellie continued her kitchen tasks.

  “Would be nice iffen he could go to the social at church next week,” Marty speculated out loud. “Nice iffen he could meet some of our young people. Don’t s’pose he’s been in with fellas his own age fer ever so long. Some of those western cowboys can be a little rough. Would be nice fer him. Why don’t ya ask him, Ellie?”

  “Me?” Ellie’s voice squeaked in astonishment at the very idea.

  Marty’s head came up, surprise on her face.

  “Oh, now look, Ma,” said Ellie defensively, “I don’t go round askin’ fellas to take me—”

  “Oh,” said Marty thoughtfully. “I wasn’t thinkin’ of it thet way. No, I guess ya don’t. Would sorta sound thet way, I s’pose. I was just thinkin’ of Lane as a friend of the family, thet’s all. I’ll have Arnie—”

  “Arnie will be goin’ with Anne.”

  “’Course.”

  “Well,” said Marty, obviously not willing to give up on her idea, “I’ll think of somethin’. Wish Luke was gonna be home in time. He could take ’im.”

  Marty busied herself counting stitches, and Ellie slipped a cake into the oven.

  “Who ya goin’ with?” Marty asked suddenly, and Ellie shook her head, wondering why her mother hadn’t dropped the subject.

  “Wasn’t sure thet I would be goin’,” answered Ellie honestly, thinking of the two boys who had asked her and not really wishing to go with either of them. She shrugged. “Not sure thet I want to,” she continued.

  “But ya should,” encouraged Marty. “Ya need to git out more.”

  Ellie was highly relieved when her mother let it go at that.

  Supper was ready when the men came in from the woods. Lane knew he really should go directly home and care for the LaHaye chores before it got too dark, but he couldn’t resist spending a little more time in the same kitchen as Ellie. All day long he had thought of her. Her efficiency in the kitchen, her thoughtfulness in fixing his breakfast and sending along his lunch, her sparkling eyes and teasing smile. He couldn’t get her off his mind, and he wasn’t sure he really wanted to.

  She served the meal, and once, when she had to replenish the plate of biscuits, she had bent near him to reach the empty dish. Lane thought surely everyone at the table must have seen how it affected him. He looked around quickly, but in truth, no one seemed to have noticed. No one but Ellie perhaps, and she was not letting on.

  Lane left long after he should have and much before he wished to. It was dark riding home and a cold night for being out. He still had chores to do and cows to milk. He hoped that nothing on the LaHaye farm had suffered because of his tardiness. He wouldn’t do it again, he told himself. He’d tell the Davises that he must go straight home from the wood cutting.

  The next morning he was up even earlier than usual. He did the chores thoroughly and promised the milk cows that he would not keep them waiting that night.

  He pushed the horse a little faster than normal on the way to the Davis’, though still careful not to ask too much of it. If anyone knew how to care for his horse, it was Lane.

  Again Ellie met him at the door, and Lane was surprised when he entered the kitchen to see that there was a place set at the table. Ellie pointed to it and asked him to be seated. She then busied herself at the already hot grill on the big kitchen stove, frying up a plate of pancakes. The very fragrance of them made Lane’s mouth water.

  She didn’t pour his coffee until she had placed the stack of pancakes before him.

  “Ya weren’t gonna chance it gittin’ cold, huh?” Lane asked softly, teasing in his voice.

  If his words surprised Ellie, she chose not to show it. “Eat yer breakfast,” she said in mock firmness, her words carrying with them an acknowledgment that she was aware of the strange undercurrent that existed between them.

  Ellie went to make the lunches, and Marty soon joined them in the kitchen. They talked of the weather and the soon-approaching Christmas, and Marty extended an invitation to Lane to join them for Christmas Day, which he gratefully accepted.

  Clark came in from the barn carrying a pail of fresh milk.

  “How ya enjoyin’ bein’ a farmhand?” he joked with Lane. “Is it kinda nice to milk ’em rather’n brand ’em?”

  Lane grinned. “Guess I’m ’bout the only cowboy who would ever admit he don’t mind milkin’ a cow.”

  Clark laughed. “Well, I don’t mind admittin’ it none. I kinda enjoy it myself. Had me an idea, too,” Clark went on. “Since yer out there doin’ my work, how ’bout I do a little of yers?”

  Lane looked puzzled.

  “Well, iffen ya wouldn’t have to hurry on home fer the chores, you fellas could chop a few more trees. I thought I’d just ride on over and do up yer evenin’ work so’s you could stay on to supper here an’ not be worryin’ none ’bout the time thet ya git home.”

  “Oh, I couldn’t—I was gonna tell ya thet I wouldn’t be stayin’ on fer supper. I’ll just go on home after we finish in the woods. It won’t be too late iffen I—”

  “Nonsense,” said Clark. “Me, I’ve got all day here with very little to do. I can do up the chores here and still have plenty of time to do yers, too, ’fore it gets dark.”

  “Oh, but I hate—”

  “Won’t have it any other way. Not gonna let ya work in the woods all day an’ then go home to git yer own supper and do chores in the dark.”

  Lane could tell there was no use in arguing. He wondered if Ellie was listening to the conversation and if she was, what she thought about it.

  “’Preciate it,” Lane said and determined that he’d work doubly hard felling trees.

  THIRTEEN

  Marty Makes a Date

  Supper that night was chicken and dumplings, and Lane thought he’d never tasted anything better. Ellie wore her hair pinned up, but tendrils floated loose about her face, and her cheeks were flushed from working over the stove. Arnie was anxious to eat and be off to see his Anne, and Clare had gone directly home to Kate.

  After the meal, Ellie tried to shoo everyone into the family sitting room before the big fireplace. Clark and Marty were quick to respond. Lane went, too—rather reluctantly. He chatted with Clark for a few moments, more aware of the activity in the kitchen where Ellie was clearing away the table than in the responses he was attempting to make in the conversation.

  When Marty started a new subject with Clark, Lane saw it as his opportunity and slipped back to the kitchen.

  “Mind iffen I dry?” he asked quietly, and Ellie looked up in surprise.

  “I’d think yer muscles would be tired enough after yer long day,” she stated.

  “I’m thinkin’ thet it might take a different set of muscles to dry a few dishes.”

  “Then I accept the offer,” Ellie said and smiled. Lane’s heart did a flip.

  She handed him a towel and showed him where he could stack the dried dishes. She led in the conversation, keeping it light and sticking to general subjects.

  They were finished all too soon. Lane hung up the towel.

  “An’ how’s yer young pup?” he asked.

  El
lie looked surprised and then must have remembered the first time Lane had visited the farm.

  “He’s growin’ like a weed,” she said. “Pa has already given away two of the others.”

  “But not yer favorite?”

  “Not yet. But he will. We already have enough dogs. I know thet. Pa’s right. We can’t keep ’em all. We’d soon be overrun.”

  She moved to stack dishes in the cupboard.

  “It bother ya?” asked Lane.

  “Guess it does.” Ellie’s smile looked a little forced. “But I’ll git used to it.”

  “Anybody asked fer ’im yet?”

  “I hide ’im,” Ellie admitted sheepishly. “Every time someone comes to look at ’em, I hide ’im.”

  It was like the game of a little girl.

  “An’ don’t ya tell,” she quickly admonished, and then they were laughing together.

  “How long d’ya think ya can keep doin’ thet?” Lane asked when they were serious again.

  “Till he’s the last one,” she said soberly. “Soon as the next one goes, I’m a goner.”

  “They don’t have a dog at the LaHayes’,” Lane said quietly.

  “So ya said. I can’t ’magine livin’ on a farm without a dog.”

  “I’ve never had a dog of my own.”

  “Never?” Ellie’s tone said she could scarcely believe that one could live without a dog.

  “Never!”

  “Don’t ya like dogs?”

  “Love ’em.” Lane handed Ellie another stack of dishes, and she placed them in the proper spot in the cupboard.

  “’Specially took to thet little one of yourn out there. I been thinkin’, iffen ya have to give it up anyway, would ya mind if I took it?”

  Ellie’s eyes widened. “Not … not iffen you’d like ’im.”

  “I’d love ’im—I really would.”

  “He’s an awfully good dog,” Ellie enthused. “He’s gonna be real smart—you can tell by the brightness of his eyes. An’ he’s from real good stock an—”

  “Hey,” cut in Lane, “you don’t have to sell me on the pup. I’m already askin’ fer ’im.”

  Ellie smiled. “When d’ya want ’im?” she asked.

  “Well, I was wonderin’. With me gone all day, would it be too much to ask ya to keep ’im fer a while? I mean—till I’m done cuttin’ logs so’s I’ll be home with ’im. Seems a shame to take ’im from his ma an’ then not have any company fer ’im.”

  Ellie’s grin widened. “I’ll tell Pa,” she said.

  Lane turned to go back into the living room because all the dishes were done and there really didn’t seem like any good reason for him to stay around longer. Ellie stopped him midstride by calling his name. “Lane.”

  He turned quickly, and she spoke softly. “Thank you,” she said.

  Lane wondered just how late he dared stay without being an unwanted guest. Clark challenged him to a game of checkers, and Lane was surprised that he was able to play as well as he did with Ellie sitting across the room from him, hand stitching a baby blanket. Marty was working on a tiny sweater, but Lane was scarcely aware she was there until she suddenly spoke.

  “The young people of the area are havin’ a little gatherin’ in the church next week,” she said. “Would ya be interested in goin’ an’ gettin’ acquainted, seein’ yer goin’ to be in our area fer a time?”

  “It’d be nice,” Lane answered absently and moved a checker out of range of Clark’s.

  “Arnie an’ Anne will be there,” went on Marty, “but I don’t s’pose you’ll be knowin’ many of the others.”

  “Don’t s’pose,” said Lane.

  “Thought maybe ya wouldn’t mind takin’ Ellie on over. She could show ya the way an’ introduce ya to the rest of the young people.”

  Lane moved a king directly into the path of one of Clark’s men and said calmly, “Be obliged.”

  The game went on. Lane lost soundly. From that move on, his mind was not on the game. He didn’t dare look at Ellie. He had heard a little gasp and her shocked whisper, “Mama.” He was surprised she hadn’t outright refused her mother’s suggestion. Would she back out gracefully later? Did she already have a date for the night? Lane feared it might be so. Clark moved to put away the checkerboard, and Marty kept her knitting needles click-clicking in a steady rhythm. Lane rose to excuse himself, and after a mild protest on Marty’s part, which Lane countered with thanks for the evening but he had to go, Marty suggested that Ellie show him to the door.

  Ellie rose obediently and laid her sewing aside.

  They walked silently through the room and into the kitchen, and Lane took his heavy jacket from the hook and slipped his arms into it. He pulled his mitts out of his pocket and reached for his hat. Still Ellie had not spoken.

  “That wasn’t yer idea, was it?” Lane asked softly.

  “No,” answered Ellie, not meeting his eyes.

  “Iffen it’s a problem, I understand.”

  Ellie looked at him then. “Is it a problem fer you?” she asked sincerely.

  Lane looked at her steadily. “It’s an honor fer me,” he stated.

  “Then it’s no problem fer me,” said Ellie simply. Lane left with his hat in his hand and his heart singing.

  On the night of the social, Lane was in early from the woods, for Arnie, too, wished to be home in plenty of time to properly get ready before going to pick up Anne. Clare gave them both some good-natured teasing, but Arnie quickly reminded Clare of how he had acted when he was courting Kate.

  Lane did not stop for supper, having already informed Marty not to expect him. He hurried on home, thinking of a warm bath and a quick shave. He wasn’t too sure that what he had to wear was appropriate, but he would do the best he could with what he had. He couldn’t believe his good fortune—that he would actually be escorting Ellie! He still wasn’t sure just how it had all come about or why Ellie hadn’t turned him down.

  Ellie rushed through the supper dishes and hastened to her room.

  Marty went up to see what was taking her so long and returned to Clark, shaking her head. “Never seen Ellie fuss so,” she said. “She’s had herself a bath, and she’s put on and taken off more’n one gown.”

  “Every girl fusses when she’s goin’ out with a young man,” Clark responded.

  “Lane?” Marty’s head swung around to stare at Clark. “Why, he’s just like one of the family.”

  “And so he is,” agreed Clark.

  Lane was plenty early, and when he looked at the radiant Ellie, his pulse beat more rapidly. She wasn’t just pretty—she was lovely.

  They walked out to the sleigh, and he helped her to be seated and tucked her in carefully against the cold of the winter night.

  They talked of this and that on the way to the church. When they passed a neighbor’s farm, Ellie would tell Lane something of the family who lived there.

  When they arrived at their destination, Lane helped Ellie down and went to tie his horses among the milling, stomping teams of the neighborhood youth. He spotted the team of bays that Arnie drove and gave one a pat on his broad rump as he walked by.

  Ellie was standing just inside the door when he entered the church. She showed him where to put his hat and coat and then began the introductions.

  The young people were friendly and the games lively. The evening went quickly, and Lane, who was not used to such gatherings, was surprised at the fun they had. After a snack served by the girls, it was time to go home.

  Lane felt several pairs of eyes on him as he helped Ellie into her coat. He knew there were a number of neighborhood boys who greatly envied him. He could feel it in their looks and their curt manners. It made him even more conscious of the fact that he was escorting the prettiest girl in the room.

  Lane did not push the horses on the way home. If Ellie realized it, she did not say so. Instead, she talked about the party, the people he had met, and his thoughts concerning the evening. He reached to tuck the blanket securely around
her, wishing with all his heart that he could leave his arm around her, too. Reluctantly, he withdrew it.

  “What do ya think of our country?” asked Ellie, making a real turn in the conversation.

  “It’s different,” he answered her, “but I like it fine.”

  “Ya miss the West?”

  “Not as much as I thought I would,” he said honestly.

  “But you’ll be glad to git back?”

  Lane thought of the wide-open spaces, the mountains in the distance, the night-crying of the coyotes, and the wind in his face and answered her, “Reckon I will.”

  “Guess Missie has learned to love it, too,” Ellie said, gazing up at the wide, star-studded sky as she spoke.

  “I think thet she does,” answered Lane.

  “Seems so long since I’ve seen Missie.”

  “She speaks of ya often,” Lane said and went on to think about the young sister Missie had referred to and wondered what Missie would think if she could see Ellie now.

  “I still miss her. She was a wonderful big sister.”

  “Why don’t ya come on out an’ see her?” With me, he wanted to add but thought better of it.

  Ellie laughed softly. “Sometimes I get the feelin’ Mama isn’t too anxious fer me to go visitin’ out west. I think she’s afraid I might not come back.”

  “Do you think ya could like the West?”

  Ellie sighed. “I think I could like anywhere iffen …” But she did not finish.

  “Iffen—?” Lane prompted.

  “Well,” she said matter-of-factly, “no use thinkin’ on it now anyway. Mama needs me at home with the new baby comin’ an’ all. Maybe Missie will be able to come on home fer a visit ’fore too long. I’d love to see her—an’ her babies.”

  Lane’s heart sank a little. Was there a hidden message here? Was she warning him that he had no part in her future? Mama needed her. Lane loved her for her consideration, and she was right. Marty did need her now, but surely she wasn’t planning to spend the rest of her life caring for her mama’s kitchen and never giving consideration to having one of her own. He wanted to ask her—to tell her—but she pointed out a falling star and began to talk of other things. He clucked to the team. The night suddenly seemed much colder.