“She'll get hurt. I never should have agreed to that crazy plan,” she said.
After washing my hands, I stirred the fruit. When she talked like that, no one had a chance of changing her mind.
Holy heck! If Uncle Andy truly is Ma's brother, he'd know that.
“You're wasting her gift, and making it impossible for Adam to fulfill his father's promise. You once told me that I had to get over losing Matilda and Grace,” he said. “Now I'm telling you to let Abby back onto a horse. She's pining away for it.”
“Andy,” Ma said.
Her protest sounded weak, almost like she was about to change her mind.
“Give her a pair of one of the boys' outgrown pants and let her go,” Uncle Andy suggested. “I'll help with the pies and supper. Let Abby have some fun before she grows up.”
“Adam had to carry her back to the house.”
“Ah now, sis, Adam's treated Abby like a china doll since he peeked into her cradle. And he only got worse after the accident. He'll never stop being protective of her. None of you will.” He grasped Ma's hands. “It's a wonder she came out so feisty, what with all of you protecting her better than a puma protects her cubs.”
Pulling free, she paced around the kitchen. “She scared us something terrible.”
Happiness wiggled through me. She sounded like she had to find a reason to object.
“For crying out loud,” he said. “You've always sent the boys right back out to climb on a horse. Do you want Abby afraid of the animals?”
She looked at me and bit her lip. Ma glanced from Uncle Andy to me, and then back again.
“You're right.” She hugged me. “You won't daydream again?”
“No, ma'am,” I whispered, hardly daring to hope she'd changed her mind.
“There's a pair of pants Peter outgrew in my bedroom, at the top of the wardrobe.”
I raced for the door, scared beyond scared that Ma would change her mind if I waited too long.
“Grab those old boots of Paul's just inside the bunkhouse,” she shouted. “Yours won't work for riding.”
Ten minutes later, my dress and petticoats lay on my bedroom floor. The boots were a little big, but I solved that by stuffing several handkerchiefs into the toes. I ran outside before the dreaded words stopped me. Tuning out any noise from the house, I skidded to a stop at the astonished expressions on my brothers faces.
“Who told you to come out here?” Adam struggled to keep from laughing.
“Ma and Uncle Andy,” I said. “You'll ruin that horse if you keep forcing him to accept you. Let me show you.”
“Ma will skin me alive if I let you back on a horse. You near about scared her to death.”
“She said it was okay. Let me ride.” I cocked my head to one side and smiled. “Please?”
“Adam, your ma said to let Abby ride,” Uncle Andy shouted from the porch. “But she wants you to keep a careful eye on her.”
“I guess it's okay,” Adam grumbled. “If I even think you're daydreaming, off you come, and you'll never get back inside this corral again. Understand?”
Bursting with happiness, I reached for the mustang. The animal reared back, but I showed no fear as I stroked his mane.
“You'll be doing a great thing when we take you to The Pony Express Station,” I whispered. “There are a lot of horses already there, but I bet you'll be the best. Can I get up on your back, and we'll trot around the corral so I can tell if you're right for the job?”
Stepping back, I stared into the horse's eyes. After a very long time, the animal nodded. Adam helped me up, and I guided the mustang around the corral several times. Finally, he cinched a saddle into place, and I scrambled up. A bit of fear snuck in on my elation, but I shoved it away.
I soon had my brothers using the same method to talk the horses into letting someone onto their backs. By the time Adam called a halt for the day, we had half-broken almost all the mustangs.
“Bart and I will hunt down another group tomorrow,” he announced as we wiped down our mounts and settled saddles on the corral fence. “Abby, if you promise not to get into trouble, I'll leave Charles in charge of watching you.”
“I'll do it.” Gabriel's surly voice startled us.
My brothers circled me and glared at him.
“Get out of here,” Adam growled.
“You're disgustin'.” Gabriel swung a finger at me. “Women don't wear pants, and they certainly don't do men's work.”
Adam snarled. Bart and Charles snorted. Mark surprised me by snapping, “It's none of your business what our sister wears.”
Pride at his defense drove away my fear, until Gabriel grabbed a handful of rocks. Bart and Charles took off after Gabriel. They rounded the barn, and then he raced toward a hillock. Seconds before they caught him, Gabriel reappeared on the back of a horse, whipping the animal with the reins and riding toward his place.
I groaned. With this problem, Ma would never let me out of the house again.
Chapter Fifteen
While my brothers escorted me to the house, Mark's favorite expression zoomed through my mind.
Sure as shootin', they'll bust their britches telling Ma all about Gabriel's latest visit as soon as they close the door. Holy heck! Being the only girl in such a big family is the worst thing in creation.
“You can't go outside unless one of us is with you,” Bart said.
I opened my mouth to argue. He glared at me.
“Those Johnsons are bad, but Gabriel's the worst,” he said. “He'll do anything to get the contract. Look at what happened to you. Do you want someone else hurt if they decide to throw rocks at you again?”
“What if they use rifles next time?” Mark asked.
Ice gripped my legs, making it downright impossible to keep walking. I stopped halfway to the house. No way would I let anything happen to one of my brothers, but I had to trick them into changing their minds.
A cow mooed. I grinned in anticipation of distracting them.
“Ma's gonna skin the lot of you if you don't milk them.” I pointed at the barn, where the complaints had become very loud.
“You're with me, short stuff,” Adam said. “Bart, Charles, take care of the chickens. Mark, go on inside and soften up Ma. Grab some vegetables on your way.”
He dealt with the cows while I sat on a stool beside him. Creamy milk, dusty hay, and sweaty cowhide lulled me into drowsiness. When a cat wound around my legs, purring loudly, I almost fell asleep.
“Abby?”
“Hmmm?”
“Consider Bart's order as coming from me, or Pa when he's back on his feet.” Adam handed me one of the pails. “If I catch you outside alone, I won't let you ride another horse.”
That was about the worst punishment I could think of. He nodded when I stared at him openmouthed, and I realized he was very serious. We started back toward the house, and my mind whirled with ways to get around his order.
Adam's easy. All I have to do is smile at him, and he'll let me do whatever I want, but only if I wait a couple of days before trying.
Unfortunately, I had five other brothers.
Sure as shootin', as soon as Peter and Paul catch wind of this, they'll trot around on my heels. I'll never get anything done with them pestering me.
“If you say so,” I said, crossing my fingers over the wire handle.
“I do, and you can uncross those fingers, Abigail Grace Weston. Don't mess around with this, someone can get hurt or worse.”
“What's worse?” I asked.
As soon as the words left my mouth, I wished them back. Adam threw me a disgusted look, and then he shooed me into the house. When we reached the kitchen, Mark churned the milk while Ma pushed me onto a chair.
“Didn't I tell you to keep an eye on her?” she exclaimed. “Look at how peaked she is! I don't need someone else sickening up.” She looked me over. “Why don't you sit with your pa until supper's ready? He was asking about you earlier.”
“Yes, ma'am.”
The thought of seeing Pa lying down with everyone else working scared me, and I couldn't get over it as I walked along the hallway. I had never seen him slow down, even when he had a cold or a horse had thrown him.
I knocked on the door to his bedroom.
“Come on in,” he called.
As I did, Pa smiled at me. Coming up with a smile of my own was as impossible as changing Adam's mind right now. Seeing my pa with most of his tan faded to pasty white, and his skin stretched tight across his bones made my stomach turn topsy-turvy.
“Hello, baby,” he said. “Sure is good seeing you.” Pa stared at me. “Your ma tells me you remembered what happened ten years ago.”
“Oh, Pa!” I knelt beside the bed. “I tried to do something, but it happened so fast.” I buried my face against the coverlet. “Then everybody hid it from me.”
“We just wanted to protect you.” He stroked my hair with a shaky hand.
Even though everyone else had told me pretty much the same thing, hearing it from him reassured me. I lost the sense of deception I'd felt when the others talked to me.
“Abby,” Pa said.
I looked up.
“Your ma never hated you.” His face took on a very stern expression. “I know you must have felt very hurt by what we did, but it wasn't her choice. Louisa never wanted to keep that from you. She thought you could handle it, but Andy and I convinced her otherwise.”
“Why didn't she tell me that?” I asked.
“Because she loves you so much she didn't want to hurt you, or make you angry at us,” he said. “You're our last child, the daughter she always wanted. Your ma would do anything to protect you.”
My mouth hung open. Ma really loved me that much?
Images of things I cherished about her blossomed: her rarer than gold smiles, unexpected hugs, how she gave in when I really wanted something. She had always shown her love, but I had never seen it, even letting me train the horses when she wanted me to stay away from the corral.
“Oh!” I clapped my hands over my mouth.
“I see you understand.” He cupped my cheeks with his hands. “Tell me about the horses.”
All my troubles vanished in an instant. I spilled out everything I had done whenever Ma let me ride. Well, almost everything; I sure didn't tell Pa about naming Blaze, and I refused to mention Gabriel. Bringing up either would upset him, and I would never do that.
“It sure sounds like you love those horses better than people,” he said when I took a break.
“People ... strangers scare me,” I admitted. “Horses don't.” I stood, pulling away from his comforting touch. “Do I have to go to the dance at the Hadley's next month?”
“Don't you want to look over the eligible young men?”
“No.” I shook my head. “I ... they ... Ma ... I just don't feel right thinking about that. Pa, I don't want a husband yet.”
“Yet.” He tapped his chin with a finger. “That means you'll consider it later.”
“But not next month,” I said. “Why do I have to think about a husband? Shouldn't my brothers find wives first?”
My next thought, one I kept to myself, was all my brothers, including Peter and Paul, should get married before anyone decided that I needed a husband.
“Boys are different, slower. They take a lot longer to settle with a wife,” Pa said. “But don't you worry. I'll tell your ma we'll hold off until your next birthday before we take you around to find a husband.” He nodded at the door. “Wait for me in the hall. We'll surprise your ma.”
* * * *
I went into the hallway and waited. The rest of my family had already gathered in the kitchen. My mouth watered as I smelled beef roast with pan-roasted potatoes and carrots, buttery peas, and biscuits.
Pa joined me and held out his arm. I slipped my hand around his elbow as we walked slowly into the kitchen.
“Supper smells wonderful, Louisa.” He eased into his chair. “Andy, do you mind carving that mouth-watering roast? I'm starving.”
I washed up and took my seat.
“Thank you, Michael,” Uncle Andy said. “Your confidence in my cutting skills affirms my decision to stay a while.”
“Nice to have you back,” Pa said. “It was good timing when you decided to visit.”
Uncle Andy sliced the roast. Ma piled food onto our plates, and then she passed them around the table. After Pa said the prayer, we began eating. A few minutes later, Adam and Mark looked up, glanced at each other, and shrugged. I opened my mouth to ask what, but Charles nudged me with a knee.
“We need more horses,” Adam said. “About two dozen will do for this delivery. How about if you join me and Bart tomorrow, Pa?”
“Can't,” he said. “I'm still having problems with my arms.”
Everyone stopped eating. When Ma cleared her throat, the boys dove into their food and kept their eyes on their plates, but I stared openmouthed at Pa.
“Eat up, short stuff,” Adam said.
After all I had done, even helping when they came back with Pa, Peter, and Paul, Adam still called me short stuff. When would he let me grow up?
“I'm not a baby. Quit calling me short stuff.”
A tap on the back of my hand from Ma's fork forestalled the rest of my irate response.
“Eat, Abigail, there's still evening chores to take care of,” Pa said.
His reprimand hurt. I concentrated on my plate and forced myself to eat the meal. No one said much for the rest of supper, even dessert passed without the happy give and take I'd grown used to since Uncle Andy arrived. When everyone stood to deal with their work, Mark nodded at Adam.
“Gabriel showed up this afternoon and shouted at Abigail,” Mark said. “We should track down the sheriff and speak to him about her accident.”
A gulp from Ma echoed around the suddenly quiet room.
“What accident?” Pa asked.
“A horse threw her the day before we brought you home,” Adam said.
“She wasn't hurt too badly,” Ma said. “Andy checked her over after he had you, Peter, and Paul settled. Just bruises and injured pride, she's even back on a horse.”
“Weren't you paying attention?” Pa asked me.
“It was more than that,” Bart said. “The horse she was riding had an injury on his rear flank. We didn't see anyone, but we were more concerned about the kid.”
“I'm not a kid,” I shouted.
The men stared at me in amazement. Ma covered her mouth. Dimples decorated each of her cheeks.
“Looks like my baby's growing up,” Pa commented, and then he shook his head in resignation. “All right, we'll tell the sheriff about the problems we're having.”
Everyone except Mark walked outside when we finished. He helped me clear the table. Ma, Pa, and Uncle Andy spoke near the kitchen, but Mark made too much noise for me to hear much. Uncle Andy spoke as the room quieted. His words froze me as I lifted a pot to put in the dishpan.
“I suspect someone sweetened your coffee with that junk from the sinkhole, Michael. Those aches might never leave you.” He sighed. “I don't know much about alkaline poisoning.”
I hurried through the dishes, prompting Mark to put several back into the water.
“Ma'll skin you alive if you put a dirty dish on the shelf,” he said.
No protest came from me. I was too concerned about what I'd heard.
“I don't know if I should keep the contract in all good conscience,” Pa said.
Mark froze in the act of hanging the roasting pan on a hook over the stove.
“Patience, Michael. You too, Louisa,” Uncle Andy said. “Never can tell with this kind of thing. You might wake up one day and have no problems at all.”
“What did he mean?” Mark asked.
“It sounds like Pa might never get better.”
“I thought so.”
“He will.” I hugged him. “Promise me that Pa will get better.”
“I want to more than anything in the world,
but I won't lie. Before he quit, Uncle Andy was a right good doctor,” he said. “If he says the pains won't go away, believe it.”
“Holy heck!” I shouted and then remembered who stood just outside the door.
“Abigail Grace Weston! Get your backside out here,” Ma shouted.
Feet dragging, I headed for the door.
Lye soap after pear and apple pie. Yuck!
“Don't take too long,” Mark said. “Just tastes worse.”
I stuck out my tongue.
“I saw that,” she said.
Shaking with laughter, he handed me the soap. I trudged out the door and passed it to her. Opening my mouth was the hardest thing I had done all year. It was awful, just as I had expected.
As soon as she finished scrubbing my mouth, I raced back into the kitchen. Rinsing and spitting were no help; I couldn't get rid of the taste. Mark's laughter, and my other brothers when they came in from their chores, only made me madder.
“I'll get even.”
My threat brought more laughter when a soap bubble leaked from between my lips.
Chapter Sixteen
The next morning, my eyes popped open long before the sun rose. No matter what I did, I couldn't go back to sleep. I pulled on a dress and braided my hair before creeping into the hallway.
The second I stepped out the door, I stopped and stared at the room at the far end of the hallway. Since I had so many brothers, my parents had built an extended bedroom we called a bunkhouse on the north end of our home. All of my brothers slept out there along with Uncle Andy. To get to Adam, to keep the promise I made the day he caught me riding Blaze, I had to sneak past everyone else. Then I had to wake him up without disturbing the others.
My gaze moved from the bunkhouse to the front door. I had snuck out without disturbing anyone a lot. If I kept track of time, no one would know I had broken the rules.
David broke the rules. No one would know in time if another coyote snuck into the corral. It might even attack Blaze.
Duty pressed against my desire to go to the corral and spend time with Blaze. My chances of doing that would disappear tomorrow, since Adam would take him and the rest of the horses we'd trained to The Pony. If I wanted a chance to say goodbye, I had to keep my promise.
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