“But then the fire happened.”
She nodded. “Yeah, and I lost the last of my connections to Beckham. My parents died there, and then my sister and her husband died there. I have no desire to ever go back. I needed to be away from there, so I answered your letter.”
“Did you want to marry?”
She thought about that for a moment. “I did. I think. I never really thought about it a lot. I know girls are supposed to live for the day they will someday be a wife, but for me, it wasn’t like that. I probably would have been waiting for a beau like everyone else if my parents hadn’t died when they did. Instead, I worked hard so I wouldn’t be a burden on my sister. I’ve felt like a charity case for four years.”
He frowned. “I guess I never thought of it that way. It seems strange that you weren’t really looking to marry, but yet you answered my letter.”
“I wasn’t looking to marry anyone from Beckham. I had no preference about people outside of Massachusetts. I didn’t want to stay there where all the memories were bad ones.”
“So are you glad you decided to marry and made the journey all the way to Montana?”
“Ask me that again in a couple of weeks, and maybe I’ll have an answer. For now, I don’t. I think I made the right decision to leave Massachusetts and bring the children west. I don’t think I could have done it on my own, so I’m probably glad I did it this way. We’ll see.”
He kissed her forehead. “How long do you want to wait before we consummate? Are you thinking months?”
She shrugged. “I’m really not sure. I hope not months. I would like some time to get to know you first, though.”
“I believe that’s a reasonable request. We’ll get to know one another, but while we’re getting to know one another, I get to hold you at night. And kiss you when I feel like it.”
She laughed softly. “I think that’s perfectly fair. We’ll take it from there.” She didn’t add that she found him very attractive, because she didn’t want to be forward. It felt so strange lying in bed with him, with nothing but her nightgown between them.
He kissed her softly, as he had in the school that day. “Go to sleep, Merry. We’ll worry about everything after you’re rested.”
She sighed, burrowing closer. That sounded like the perfect solution to her. “G’night, Clyde. Thank you for making us feel so welcome.”
“You’re my new family. You are welcome.”
Chapter Five
Their first day on the ranch went well. Merry woke early to fix breakfast, while Clyde fed the horses and milked the two cows he kept in the barn. He also gathered eggs, bringing the milk and eggs to her.
Charlie came down with both children in tow as Merry was putting breakfast on the table. She gave Merry a repentant look. “I’m sorry I wasn’t up early enough to help with breakfast.”
Clyde washed his hands, looking at Merry, wondering how she’d react.
Merry simply shrugged. “I’m just glad you brought the children down, and you get to cook lunch.”
“That sounds like a good idea to me.” Charlie looked down at Addy. “Do you want to help me cook lunch?”
“Is Aunt Merry going to be working all day?”
Merry frowned. She had been planning to do some work that day, because she wanted to have a good inventory ready for next Christmas. “How ‘bout I work half the day, and the other half we all spend together?”
“Will you work after lunch, so we don’t miss you so much?”
Merry grinned, understanding what the girl was asking immediately. “Yes, I’ll work during naptime, and we’ll spend the morning together.” She helped the girl onto a chair with a pillow under her bottom, so she’d be tall enough to eat, while she sat down, holding her hands out for Joey.
Charlie immediately understood, handing her the boy and getting up to serve the eggs, bacon and toast that Merry had fixed. “I’m going to cook lunch and supper today. Will that work, Merry?”
Merry nodded, pleased. She would be able to get more of her work done if she had help with the meals and the children. She loved both of them dearly, but she needed time for her work as well. No, she probably didn’t need to work any longer, but she enjoyed making simple things for people to enjoy. And she had promised Clyde that she would make ornaments for each of them before Christmas. That would be her first priority.
Clyde watched the women interact with each other, noting they seemed to be able to communicate without words. The way they passed the children around and shared the chores seemed to be well-rehearsed. “How long have the two of you been friends?” he asked.
Merry grinned over at Charlie who ducked her head. “We actually went to school together. Charlie’s brothers and sisters made up something the whole town called the ‘demon horde,’ because they were the most-unruly and out of control children in the whole area.”
“The demon horde?” Clyde looked at Charlie.
Charlie nodded. “Yes. It seems that as we grow up, we’re not as bad. The nine younger than me are definitely still living up to the name though.”
“That’s awful!” Clyde said, shocked.
“Oh, trust me. The name was well-deserved.”
“I’m not sure how much influence I want you having on Addy and Joey then. I don’t want them to start misbehaving the way you did.” He couldn’t imagine what Merry was thinking, allowing someone who’d made that sort of name for herself to be around the children so much.
Charlie rolled her eyes. “It’s not like I’m teaching them to put reptiles in their teachers’ drawers or showing them how to climb trees and throw apple cores at everyone who drives by.”
“Did you do those things?” he asked, one eyebrow raised.
Charlie put the food on the table, her hand lovingly stroking Addy’s hair, before she took her seat. “Of course. It’s part of being a member of the demon horde.”
“Didn’t it bother you that people called you that?” He’d known some unruly children, but never had he heard a group of them receive a name like that. They must have been awful!
She shrugged. “I think it would have if it had only been me. But it wasn’t. It was all of us.”
As she watched the two of them interact, Merry realized she wanted Charlie to stay—not just until they were settled but forever. She was already good with the children, and she could do any of the housekeeping and cooking that were too much for Merry while she was working. She made a mental note to talk to Clyde about it after breakfast.
Clyde watched his new family as they ate. Merry fed the baby his eggs with a spoon, but let him hold his own toast that he pounded on the table repeatedly. Addy held a spoon with one hand but seemed to prefer to eat with her other hand. He couldn’t help but wonder if she was too old to be eating with her fingers.
And his new bride ate very little food herself, her face still looked drawn and tired, though the absolute exhaustion of the day before seemed to be a thing of the past. She had slept soundly last night. Every time he’d woken up, he’d listened for her even breathing. He was surprised at just how attracted he was to her, when they’d never really met before their wedding day. She was someone he would have chosen out of a room full of beautiful women.
As soon as breakfast was over, Merry looked at Charlie. “Would you watch the children for a minute or two? I’ll be back to help with the dishes, so don’t do them without me!”
Charlie made a shooing motion with her hand. “Go. I’ll take care of the kids.”
Merry frowned at her friend, immediately realizing she hadn’t promised not to clean. She followed Clyde into the other room. “I was thinking…”
Clyde caught her hand and pulled her to him for a kiss. “You were thinking you’d miss me while I was out working all day?”
She grinned at him. “That too, of course.” She kissed his cheek. “No, I was thinking that it would be nice if maybe Charlie could stay. You said you wanted to hire someone to help with the cooking and cleaning. The children alrea
dy know her, and I happen to know she’s an excellent cook. I know we work well together. Would you mind if she stayed?”
He frowned for a moment. “I was thinking of someone from town. Are you sure she’s a good influence on the children?”
Merry shook her head. “She doesn’t act like she’s part of the demon horde any more. She’s really very good with both of them. I don’t want to have to get used to someone new. I want Charlie.”
He sighed. “I suppose if you want her to stay, she can stay. What’s a fair wage?”
Merry shrugged. “I have no idea. She’ll be getting room and board, so that helps. I’m sure I’ll be able to pay her from my profits, so it won’t be something you need to worry about at all.”
“No, I’ll pay her.” He frowned. “I’m just not sure if she’s the right choice.”
“You don’t like Charlie, do you? She told me last night you didn’t, but I didn’t really believe her until now.”
He sighed. “It’s not that I don’t like her. She seems nice enough. I just—I’m being unreasonable. Of course you should be able to work with someone you’re comfortable with. Ask her.” He leaned down and kissed her cheek. “Have a good day, and try to think of me on occasion. I’ll be home for lunch around noon.” He still had reservations about Charlie, but he felt like he could trust Merry, who knew her a great deal better than he did. How could he not trust a woman who fulfilled obligations the way Merry did?
“Thank you.”
He smiled at her. “I’m beginning to think there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you.”
Merry watched him leave, standing idle for a moment, before going to the kitchen. The dishes were half done, and little Addy was sitting on the floor, entertaining her little brother. “I told you to wait for me with the dishes.”
Charlie smiled at Merry over her shoulder. “There weren’t many, and I really don’t mind. I’m in Montana!” She said the last word with so much enthusiasm, as if she’d waited to go to Montana her entire life.
Merry laughed. “I’m glad you’re enjoying your time away from Massachusetts.”
Charlie sighed. “It’s not just seeing a new place, although it’s beautiful here. It’s—well, I’m tired of the way everyone treats me in Beckham. It’s like I’m a woman of loose morals trying to live among them. Do you realize I’ve never had a boy want to court me?”
“I’m not surprised,” Merry responded softly. “As pretty as you are, your reputation as a prankster was pretty bad. Rumor had it that half the things you and your siblings did were your ideas.”
“They were. That’s not just a rumor. But I’m different now, and it’s nice to be around people who have no memories of me being one of the Miller kids. Here, I’m just a young lady like all the others.”
Merry picked up a cloth to dry the dishes. She quickly wiped them and put them away as fast as her friend could wash. “I was just talking to Clyde. We want you to stay. I’ll pay you a good wage to help with the housework, cook, and help with the children. Everything wouldn’t be your responsibility, but it would be a shared responsibility.” She held her breath for a moment as she waited for the other woman’s response.
Charlie bit her lip, looking at Merry. “And Clyde agreed to this? Really?”
Merry laughed, nodding. “Really. He doesn’t want you to be a bad influence on the children, but other than that he’s all for it. I explained we work well together, and I didn’t want to have to get used to someone new.”
“I’d love to take the job. I don’t know what a fair wage is, though.”
“I’ll write your sister and ask her.”
“Good idea. She has enough people in that mansion of hers, she’s sure to know the answer.”
“I’m excited that you’re willing to stay!” Merry said. “I was reluctant when Elizabeth first recommended you, but she was right. You were perfect for the job as a traveling companion, and I’m sure you’ll be perfect for this too.” She was quiet for a moment. “And it’ll be nice for you to meet men here who are unaware of your past shenanigans.”
“Do you think I’ll ever live them down?”
Merry shrugged. “You won’t have to live them down if no one here knows about them.”
“Is that being deceptive?”
“I don’t think so. I don’t plan on telling Clyde every little thing about me.”
Charlie looked at Merry in surprise. “You won’t? Really?”
“He doesn’t need to know about the nightmares I had after my parents died, or how guilty I felt living with my sister and her husband, does he?”
“Probably not.” Charlie frowned. “I never said it to you in school, but I felt really bad when you lost your parents. And on Christmas Eve, it would have been even worse. I’m very sorry you lost them.”
“Thank you.” Merry had said the words a hundred times as people offered their sympathies. They were meaningless by this point.
“I should have said something when it happened, but I was wrapped up in my own world.”
“Planning how you were going to tie the teacher into the outhouse the next time she went?” Merry asked, needing a subject change. That prank had been a favorite of the demon horde, and had been played on each new teacher. The teachers at their school never lasted more than a semester.
“Never! I was deciding which of my brothers would tie her shoelaces together around the foot of her chair so she wouldn’t be able to get up to teach.”
Merry laughed softly, surprised by the sound of it. It had been a long time since she’d felt like laughing, and she realized she was starting to do it more and more. “All the teachers always knew it was you. I always thought they should get a male teacher in there who would be more authoritative.”
“They probably should have. But they never did.”
“Aunt Merry?” Addy said, interrupting them.
Merry turned around. “Yes, Addy?”
“May I go get Baby Ugly Hair please?”
Merry blinked a couple of times. “Baby Ugly Hair? Your new doll?”
Addy nodded. “She has very ugly hair, don’t you think?”
Merry smiled. “I didn’t look at her closely enough to know.”
“I want a baby that has hair like Penelope had.”
Merry knew Penelope had been Addy’s favorite doll. Her mother had gotten it for her the previous Christmas. “I’ll see what I can do to make that happen. I’m sorry Penelope was lost in the fire.”
Addy nodded regally. “Me too. I miss her almost as much as I miss Mama and Daddy.”
Merry squatted down to hug her niece tightly. “I miss them too.”
“Are you my new mama?”
Merry sighed, searching for the right thing to say. “I’m your aunt, just like I always was, but I’m going to take care of you from now on, just like your mama did. So I’m still your aunt, but I’m doing the job of a mama.”
“Does that mean I should call you Mama?”
“You can keep calling me Aunt Merry, or you can call me Mama. Whatever you like better.”
Addy seemed to consider it for a moment. “I’ll keep calling you Aunt Merry for now.” She turned away. “I’m going to go get Baby Ugly Hair.”
Merry watched her go, knowing she now needed to tell Clyde that the doll was not one her niece would love. She’d play with her obviously, but she wouldn’t hold a piece of her heart as Penelope had.
Merry returned to the dish drying, keeping an eye on her nephew as she did. “Tomorrow is church.”
Charlie smiled. “I’m sure there will be a lot of men at church who will have never heard of me. Why, I’ll be a new lady in the midst of suave gentleman who don’t have enough women to go around.”
Merry laughed. “Don’t get too close to those cowboys at church. They don’t seem to bathe very often, and your nostrils might be a tad bit offended.”
“I grew up with seven brothers. Seven! You have no idea what my nose can tolerate with that many of them.”
; “I don’t even want to think about it,” Merry said with a delicate shudder. “We’re going to teach Joey to always stay clean. We need to make a solemn vow right this minute.” She glanced over her shoulder to check on Joey again, seeing he’d crawled into a corner and had something white all over him. She sighed. “Right after we clean off the flour he got into while we were talking, of course.”
Charlie laughed. “You go clean him up, and I’ll finish the dishes.”
“Sounds like a plan.” Merry walked over and scooped her nephew up into her arms, getting flour all over her apron.
“Merry?” Charlie asked softly.
“Yes?”
“Thanks for asking me to stay. It’s nice to see that I can rise above my reputation with at least one of the good people of Beckham.”
Merry smiled. “Just don’t play any pranks on me and we’re all good.”
“I won’t. I wouldn’t dare! You’d know it was me immediately.”
“Yes, I would.” Merry hurried off to clean up the baby, but her mind was on her friend’s words. She was glad she wouldn’t have to spend the rest of her life trying to live down the reputation she’d gotten as a child. Of course, Merry had been a very obedient child, so there was no reputation to live down.
Chapter Six
The day sped by for Merry and Charlie, getting the kitchen set up like they wanted in the morning, with Addy’s help, then Merry worked in the afternoon. She knew it was a big deal to Clyde that she made new Christmas ornaments for all of them before they put a tree up, so she spent the day carving ornaments.
For Joey, she made a small wooden soldier ornament, and she carefully painted his name on the bottom. For Addy, she made a doll, making a note to herself that the doll had to have red hair, the same color hair as Merry's own and her sister, Carole’s. She wouldn’t have time to paint that day, so she’d set the ornaments aside for Monday when time would be more plentiful.
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