She held up the empty wallet to show him. “I think I better get my change so I’m not totally broke.” If he thought she only had nine dollars left, he might spread the word. It might keep anybody from coming to the farm looking for trouble.
He went into the back room and came back with nine silver dollars. He handed them to her and leaned closer. “Samuel, this can be a hard country. Do you have a means of protection?” When Sarah frowned he leaned even closer. “Do you have a gun?”
“Yes, I have a Sharps Rifle and a Harpers Ferry Horse Pistol.”
He looked momentarily shocked. “Stay right here.” He quickly disappeared into the back room of the store. In just a moment he came back carrying another flour sack. He laid it on the counter and pushed it toward her. “Here’s some ammunition for both your guns.”
Sarah nodded and pulled her wallet back out.
Eliah put his hand on her arm. “No, this is our gift to you.” He glanced at Pearl when she came to stand by his side. “You have a fine-looking family, Samuel, and we want you to keep those youngins safe and to like it here. Welcome to Big Springs, and you let us know if we can do anything to help you get settled.”
Sarah blinked back the moisture she could feel in her eyes. “Thank you kindly.” She picked up the sack and hurried outside to her wagon.
* * * *
Ike sipped from the glass of whiskey Abe had poured him. He was sitting in one of the comfortable armchairs that faced the fireplace in the sitting room of their farmhouse. A layer of white ash decorated the floor of the cold hearth. “Do you think we should build a fire?”
Abe snorted. “It’ll be at least another month or two before we really need a fire in here at night. If we lit it now it would just run us out of here.” He took a sip of his own drink. “Angus says that everything is running smoothly.” He got up and walked to the window. “He wants permission to hire on some extra hands for the wheat harvest.”
Ike tossed his drink to the back of his throat and savored the burn as it traveled down to his stomach. “I hope you told him to go ahead. I’m going to have to do some learning before I’ll be any help.”
“You worked on Pa’s farm.”
“Yeah, but Pa wasn’t growing wheat.”
Abe chuckled and then threw back his drink and placed his empty glass on the mantel. “Well, we’ll learn together, little brother.”
Ike scowled, but didn’t give his usual response. After a minute, he gave Abe a long, intense look. “So, what do you think of Sarah?”
Abe snorted. “What am I supposed to think? I haven’t had the privilege of seeing Miss Sarah in her altogether.” He ran his hand over his face. “I have to admit that it’s pretty obvious that Samuel is not what he appears to be. I guess it’s going to fool most people, as long as they don’t look close enough. What still worries me is that she’s still pretending to be a man.”
“You don’t think it’s for protection?”
“No, I don’t.” He returned to sit in the chair across from Ike. “I mean she should feel pretty safe now. She has a home, she’s made friends with the local law, and she’s got food on her table. What’s there left to be scared of?” He paused for a moment and then sighed. “I think she’s running from something or somebody.”
“So what should we do?”
Abe thought for a moment. “Why don’t you make some discreet inquiries from some of the contacts you made while you were bounty hunting?”
“I guess it couldn’t hurt. I’ll need to ride up to Jefferson City so I can send some wires.” He looked over at his brother. “In the meantime, are we going to get to know her better?”
Abe laughed and got to his feet. “I’m hoping to get to know our new neighbor a lot better. We’re just going to have to make it a point to be real neighborly from now on. As a good neighbor, I think we should drop in unannounced a lot.”
* * * *
Sarah threw her clean clothes over her shoulder and grabbed the bar of scented soap and a towel. Satisfied she had everything, she headed out toward the barn. As she got closer, she wrinkled her nose and coughed. The potent smell of manure came drifting through the open doors. She could hear the chomping crunch of the animals eating. “Where is everybody!”
“I’m here with the chickens.”
Sarah followed the sound of Rachel’s voice. She found her scattering feed around the chicken’s yard. “Did you gather the eggs?”
Rachel laughed. “Not yet. I’m hoping the idea of a meal will entice them away from some of the roosts.” She held up her hand to show it to Sarah. It was covered in tiny red marks. “As you can see, they haven’t quite adjusted to me sticking my hand into their business.”
“I’m sorry, Rachel. Maybe one of the boys could gather them for you.” Sarah looked around. “Where are they, anyway?”
“Daniel’s in town on his job, and Zeke and Jonathan are in the field behind the privy playing ball. Did you need something?”
“Just make sure they know they’re supposed to shovel out the barn when they get back. With all three of them working it shouldn’t take long.”
“Where are you going?”
“I’m heading to the creek to take a bath.”
Rachel’s mouth dropped open. “Aren’t you afraid the sheriff or Ike will catch you?”
Sarah leaned against the fence post. “It should be safe enough. Abe told me yesterday that he and Ike had some business in Jefferson City they had to take care of and they’ll be gone a day or two. They took some big package up there to ship it back East to their ma. I don’t have to worry about them just dropping in unexpected.”
Rachel laughed. “They sure have been spending a lot of time here since we moved in.”
Sarah couldn’t deny that. They’d been living on the farm for three weeks, and the handsome brothers had only missed a couple of days not stopping by for one reason or another. They dropped in so often at suppertime that Zeke and Jonathan had taken to setting them places at the table without being told. “I think it’s worth the risk today.” She sighed. “I feel like I’ve got dust in places a body just shouldn’t ought to have dust.” She smiled when Rachel laughed. “The little wash-ups we do from the pan just ain’t cutting it anymore. I want a full-fledge, dunk-my-head-in-the-water bath.”
“You’re not afraid someone will find out your secret?”
“I don’t know, Rachel. Sometimes it feels like it would be a relief if the truth came out.” She looked out over the bare field. “But, then I think they might take you all away from me if anybody found out, and all the lies seem worth it.” She smiled at the young girl. “It should be safe. The only one on their spread today is Angus, and he’s not likely to come over that rise for anything.” She held up the rifle. “I’ll have this with me, and I’ll keep a close eye for any sign of him.” She stood up straighter. “I just can’t let this chance get away, Rachel. I need this more than I can tell you.” She hesitated a moment. “I’d ask you to join me, but I really need some time alone.” She raised her gaze to Rachel’s eyes. “I hope you understand.”
Rachel carefully opened the gate to the coop and squeezed out the opening. She walked over and gave Sarah a big hug. “Of course I understand. You’ve been so good to all of us, Sarah. None of us is going to resent you taking some time for yourself. You go on and enjoy your bath. I’ll make sure the boys stay away so you don’t have to worry about them sneaking up on you. Are you going to take Duke?”
Duke was one of the two geldings she’d purchased from Abe. Both animals were gentle and saddle broke. Duke had turned out to be Sarah’s favorite, and he had apparently taken a shine to her as well, often following her around the farm like a pet dog. Sarah shook her head. “No, it’s not that far, and the weather is still pretty and warm. I think the walk will do me good.” It had just turned September, and winter weather would not be long in coming. She’d heard that winters were occasionally harsh here, but she figured they wouldn’t be any worse than St. Louis.
&
nbsp; Rachel nodded. “When the boys show up, I’ll put them to mucking out the barn, and if they get through, I’ll have them digging the last of the garden and we can put up what’s left tomorrow. We’re not going to get much more out of it.”
“I agree. After we see what’s left tomorrow, we’ll make a trip to town and stock up on supplies to last all winter. If we do have a bad winter storm, I want us to be fully prepared.”
Rachel grinned. “I’m sure if we need winter supplies them West boys would be happy to provide. They seem to have taken a shine to Samuel.”
Sarah was hard pressed to argue with that. They did seem to seek out reasons to spend time at the farm. “Don’t you think that’s strange, since they think I’m Samuel? I’d just as soon they spent a little less time worrying about us, if you know what I mean.”
“Maybe it’s time they met Sarah. I mean, do you really have to keep hiding? Seems to me like we’re safe here, tucked away where nobody can find us. Couldn’t you go back to being you?”
“I don’t see how. Everyone will know I lied and I’ll lose folks’ respect.”
Rachel sighed. “You have to do what you think is best, but it’s my hope that you can find a little personal happiness.”
She hugged Rachel for a long moment, blinking back the tears in her eyes. “I’ve found more happiness with all of you than I’ve ever had in my whole life.” All her life she’d made star wishes for a family of her own, and now she really had one. “You keep a sharp eye. The Horse pistol is in the house under my mattress. It’s loaded so use it if you need it. I’ll be back in an hour or so.”
“Okay, you be careful.”
“I will.” Sarah started off across the field toward the creek. She could hear the snap of the laundry flapping in the breeze at her back. The sun glared hotly against her neck. As usual, when she had a moment alone, her thoughts turned to Abe and Ike. The way they popped in all the time, one would think they were courting her.
The trouble with that would be that she couldn’t make up her mind between them. Both of the men made her happy, and made her feel things in parts of her body that just weren’t proper. She’d never been touched by a man, at least not any place that counted. She’d been sheltered at the orphanage since she was five years old, right after her mother died. Even before that, they’d always been on the run with her outlaw father. She’d never had a real home that she felt safe in. She glanced back at the farmhouse and smiled. This farm might not be much, but it was all hers, and nobody could take it away.
“I wonder why Pa never told me I had a grandfather. I might have had my wish for a family sooner if he’d sent me to live with him instead of dropping me off at the orphanage.” She’d begun wishing on the stars when she was three years old. Her ma had said the night sky was full of children’s wishes just waiting to come true. She didn’t really believe that, but she still found herself outside at twilight every night looking for that first star, making that same old wish.
Sarah crossed over the hill and got a good look at the creek. The gentle, winding flow of water was soothing. Long grass seeded with wildflowers blanketed the area, the bright sunlight leaving twisted shadows through the trees. A trail of bent grass led straight to the water’s edge, a sure sign the children came here often. She looked all around, and then hiked up the rise and looked out over Abe’s land, to make sure she was alone. The sweet smell of prairie grass saturated the air. Several yards away a rabbit leapt high in the air and landed in the tall bunchgrass. She couldn’t help but laugh at its silly antics. “There’s nobody around as far as the eye can see, so I guess I’m safe.”
She went back down and picked a grassy spot away from the water. Quickly she peeled off her clothes and gingerly walked toward the water’s edge, testing the icy water with her big toe. “Dang, that’s colder than I thought it would be.” For a moment, she was tempted to go back to the house and heat some water and bathe with the washtub, but only for a moment. She was looking forward to dunking, and getting her hair washed. She placed the scented bar of soap on a smooth rock and carefully waded into the shallows, the sharp cold gravel digging into her tender feet. Shivers raced across her skin when a cloud temporarily blocked the warming rays of the sun.
She turned at the loud caw of the birds in the trees, scraping back her windblown hair with fingers that trembled. The skin of her thighs tingled as she moved further into the cold water and waved her arms at the pesky flies buzzing around her head.
Adjusting to the temperature quickly, she ducked down in the water, letting her worries slide away like water off a duck’s back. She came up and shook her head like a dog, slinging water everywhere. Laughing, she reached for the bar of soap and began lathering up her hair. The smell of the rose scent made her happy. It had been a long time since she’d felt like a girl. When she finished with her hair, she quickly lathered her body and then tossed the soap over toward her clothes. Taking a deep breath, she ducked under the water rinsing away all the foamy lather. Laughing, she floated to her back, watching the wind-tossed leaves scatter across the billowy grass.
* * * *
“Hey, Sheriff, what’re you doing back so soon? Where’s Ike?”
Abe stared down at Angus and grimaced. “I had to send him on alone.” Wearily, he climbed down from Midnight. The proud black stallion had been his companion for many years. “When we rode through town this morning, there was trouble at the saloon and I had to stick around.”
“What kind of trouble?”
Abe led his horse over to the water trough. “When the stage came through, a couple of cow pokes heading west got off for some refreshments.” He shook his head. “Instead of getting a glass of lemonade at Sadie’s, they went on down to the saloon and imbibed a little too much. They kicked up a ruckus when Ben tried to throw ’em out.”
Angus snorted. “Was anybody hurt?”
“No more than a black eye or two.”
Abe scratched his head. “Then what’s the problem? Don’t sound like that was bad enough to keep you here.”
“I had to lock them up because they don’t have the money to pay for the damage they caused. Seems they broke some glasses, a couple of bottles, and the legs off a chair when Ben tried to oust ’em.”
“What are they gonna do? You can’t keep ’em locked up forever.”
“Apparently they’re heading west to join up with some outfit that runs cattle. They asked Ike to send a wire from Jefferson City to their new boss. I guess they think he’ll wire the money to pay the damages so they can skedaddle out of here.”
“Do you think they’ll get the money?”
Abe sighed, pulled off his hat, and raked his fingers through his hair. “I sure hope so. I’m not set up for any long-term incarcerations. I’ll have to transfer them to the jail in Jefferson City if they don’t get things settled quick. Ben was adamant about them paying up for the chairs and glass they broke.” He stared out over his land. “Anything I should know about?”
“No, sir. Everything’s calm. I rode out and checked the winter wheat early and everything’s going well. The last of the corn was harvested last week so nothing going on there. We’re about ready to settle in for the winter, boss.”
Abe smiled. “That’s great, just what I wanted to hear. Do you plan on wintering here with us, or are you off to warmer temperatures?”
Angus chortled. “If it’s all the same to you, I’ll stick around in the bunkhouse.”
“That’s fine, we’re glad to have you here. If you want, just plan on taking your meals up at the house with us. No sense for you just cooking for one. All the other hands will move on now that the harvest is over.”
“Sure thing, Sheriff, and if it’s okay with you, I’ll take over caring for the horses.”
Abe grinned, and ran a possessive hand down Midnight’s side. “We’ll share that with you. I still get a lot of pleasure out of seeing to Midnight’s comfort.”
“That suits me fine, that devil stallion of yours don’t let
anybody else near him.”
“That keeps him safe from horse thieves.”
“What you want done today, boss?”
“Just take it easy and give yourself a day off. I’m gonna ride over and check on the Kees family.”
“You sure like to spend a lot of time over there. Is everything okay with them?”
“Yeah, they’re just a little green, and we want to make sure they’re prepared for a long winter.”
“That’s, um.” Angus let out a cough that sounded suspiciously like a laugh. “That’s mighty neighborly of you. I’m sure they appreciate it.”
Abe had to smother his own laugh. He was pretty sure the little filly pretending to be a man would prefer they ride off and never come back. Maybe Ike would be able to find out something about their little darling while he was in Jefferson City. His contacts had not turned up anything on the young woman yet. It was getting harder and harder to pretend they didn’t know the truth. He wanted a chance to see for himself what his brother had so eagerly described.
Abe mounted Midnight. “Take it easy today, Angus. You’ve earned yourself a rest.” He turned the stallion toward the Kees farm and urged him into a gallop. Thirty minutes later he was cresting the rise toward the creek. He reined the horse in when he heard a strange sound. Someone was either singing or torturing a cat. He got off his horse and tied the reins loosely to a tree branch. Midnight was well trained and wouldn’t run off unless there was a clear and present danger.
He crept silently over the rise, staying in the cover of the trees. When he got far enough over, his breath caught at the sight before him. There, soaking on her back in the creek, was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen. Her long, dark hair floated gently around her head and shoulders like a dark halo. Her full, round breasts bobbed up and down in the water with her arm movement, the pink, pointed tips teasing him by appearing above the water ever so often. He couldn’t see her legs, only the occasional glimpse of her toes breaking the surface of the slow, moving water. What had him cringing was the caterwauling coming out of her mouth. The poor, misguided woman was trying to sing Buffalo Gal Won’t You Come Out Tonight.
Martine, Missy - Star Wishes (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) Page 10