The Cowgirl Who Loved Horses, Queens of Montana Bonus Book

by Vanessa Bartal

  Chapter 28

  As the days wore on, Cecily’s vow to remain patient, loving, and understanding became more difficult to keep. As Lydia adjusted to her presence she lost her listlessness and began to pick Cecily apart with a vengeance. Nothing she did was good enough for the older woman. Her cleaning wasn’t sufficient, her meals weren’t edible. The list went on and on.

  At first Cecily tried to ignore her. When that became impossible, she tried using gentle rebuffs.

  “If you don’t like the way the roast tastes, what would you suggest to make it better?” she would ask. Or, “I don’t see a ring around the toilet. When you’re better and back on your feet, you can feel free to take care of anything I’ve missed.”

  Each night she fell into bed exhausted, both emotionally and physically. She was large and cumbersome. The baby pressed on her nerves, bladder, and lungs. Most days she felt nauseated and breathless. On her worst days, her sciatic nerve twinged painfully and she had to run to the restroom every twenty minutes. In addition to her physical misery, she was doing all the household chores for four adults. The laundry alone was staggering because ranch work was messy. Her back ached from carrying heavy laundry loads every day. On top of all that, Lydia insisted she give the house a thorough cleaning every day, including vacuuming. And their vacuum wasn’t an upright; it was a heavy canister model that was awkward to use.

  “Don’t do it,” Marcus chided. “Don’t follow her every command like a whipped puppy. She has never cleaned every day; she cleans once a week. She’s just trying to break you.”

  “That’s exactly why I won’t quit,” Cecily said.

  “Honey, your pride is killing you,” he told her as he rubbed her back.

  “It’s almost worth it to get you to do this,” she said. He had taken pity on her discomfort and offered to give her a nightly massage.

  “If you ever meet my fraternity brothers, I would appreciate it if you didn’t mention this,” he said.

  She smiled. “I’ll tell their wives. You’ll be the envy of all of them. On second thought I won’t. I don’t need any more women to be envious of me.”

  “What other women? I don’t see anyone but you,” he said, and then he leaned down to kiss her.

  The next day Cecily was bent over the bathtub, scrubbing, when her sciatic nerve sent a pain shooting down her leg.

  “Oh,” she exclaimed. She stood to rub it, but that didn’t help. Sometimes walking did so she exited the bathroom to pace the living room.

  “I never had as much trouble as that when I was carrying the boys,” Lydia said.

  Cecily’s shock made her temporarily forget her pain. It was the first time Lydia had ever alluded to the baby in any way. “It must have been difficult for you having Marcus and being so far from your family.” Lydia’s family was from South Dakota, Marcus told Cecily. His father met her when he did business with Lydia’s father.

  Lydia shrugged. “I had friends who helped me.” Her eyes softened slightly and flashed hard again before she turned back to Cecily.

  Cecily swallowed hard. “I’m glad we have family here. I want our baby to know his grandparents.”

  If possible, Lydia’s eyes became even more malicious. “You’re no family of ours. I hope your baby dies.”

  She couldn’t have said what Cecily thought she heard, could she?

  “Excuse me?” she asked. Her voice was barely a whisper.

  “You heard me,” Lydia said. “I hate you and that illegitimate spawn you’re carrying. I wish you would both die.”

  There was no response to that, so Cecily didn’t try. Instead she fled the house and went to the barn. She longed to jump on her horse and ride, but knew she couldn’t. Instead she took one of the farm trucks and drove.

  She had no conscious thought when she set out, but wasn’t surprised when she pulled up in front of the Chapman’s house.

  Libby came out onto the porch to greet her, wiping her hands on a dishtowel.

  “Hi, Cecily,” she said cheerfully, despite the fact that she looked like she was about to pop any moment. “I heard you were expecting, too. I’m sorry I haven’t had a chance to congratulate you in person. I’m almost two weeks overdue now, and Dobbie has a meltdown every time I try to set foot off the ranch.” She smiled and rolled her eyes. “He’s convinced he’s going to have to deliver the baby, and the worst part is he thinks he can do it because he’s delivered so many calves.” She chuckled. “Men.”

  Cecily reached the porch and stood directly in front of Libby. And then she burst into tears. She had no idea what impulse brought her to the home of the woman Lydia had set up as her rival. Maybe it was because Libby was also pregnant and a sweet, loving person. Maybe it was sheer loneliness for the closest woman available. Or maybe she sensed that somehow Libby would understand.

  Libby wrapped her arm around her and led her inside. They sat on the couch and Libby still didn’t remove her arm. Cecily rested her head on Libby’s shoulder and allowed herself to be comforted. Despite the fact that Libby was only two years older, it was Kitty who Cecily had been close to. Libby seemed much older than them because she had taken over the care of the house when her mother died. In some ways she felt like a surrogate mother to Cecily, or she had until she had been given reason to be jealous of her.

  “Can you talk about it?” Libby asked gently.

  “I don’t know,” Cecily said.

  “Is it Lydia?” Libby guessed. She’d heard rumors, and she had her own suspicions from some of the strange comments Lydia had made to her.

  Cecily’s tears began anew and she nodded. “She h-h-hates me,” she sobbed. After that the stopper was out of the bottle, and she poured out the entire story to Libby, including her unbidden part in it.

  “Oh, Cecily, I’m so, so sorry. Lydia and I have always been close, but I had no idea she felt that strongly about things. And I never would have brought the pie if I’d known. I completely forgot it was Marcus’s favorite. Dobbie’s not a huge fan of peaches, so I find myself giving them away in any form I can.”

  “It’s not your fault,” Cecily said sincerely. She could absolve Libby of everything now that she was secure in the knowledge that Marcus didn’t love her and never had. She sat up and wiped her face. “I just don’t know what to do, Libby. I’ve tried everything and then today,” she had to stop and clear her throat. “Today she told me she wished my baby would die, and me along with it.”

  Libby gasped and covered her mouth with both hands. She shook her head. Her eyes were troubled. Cecily was glad her own horrified reaction hadn’t been overblown. Maybe it was because they were both pregnant, but it was nice to have another woman understand how upsetting the comment was.

  “You were only eight when my mother died,” Libby said. “I know you wouldn’t remember this, but she and Lydia were best friends. Lydia was lonely when she moved here from South Dakota, and my mom was also missing her family in Maryland. They struck up an instant bond and became as close as you and Kitty.”

  Cecily smiled faintly at the mention of her best friend.

  “When we were really little, our families used to have play dates together, right up until the time my mom got too sick to do it. Lydia was a great friend to her then. She brought us meals and helped take care of us and the house. They used to joke that someday Marcus and Anne would get married, but of course Anne and Marcus butted heads all the time and she ended up dating Dobbie before Will came along. Anyway, Lydia was devastated when my mom died. I think she took it as hard as any of us. And I think a little part of her never lost the dream that in some way our families would unite. Anne was out of the running, but she had high hopes for me and Marcus, as you know. And she and I are a lot alike.” Libby sighed and shook her head. “The Lydia you’ve described and then one I’ve seen since Mathew’s death aren’t the same lady I knew. Do you think it might help if I talk to her?”

  Cecily bit her lip. “I don’t know. I don’t know what’s going to
help at this point, and a part of me thinks maybe it’s me. Maybe she truly does hate me, regardless of her pain over Mathew’s loss.”

  “I don’t see how anyone could hate you, Cecily. We all love you, and so do Marcus and Evan. No, I’m convinced this has to do with Mathew. I think she’s come unhinged in some way. I’m sorry. I wish I could do more, or offer you a solution.”

  “Maybe you could try talking to her,” Cecily suggested. Libby had a soothing, gentle way about her. Maybe that alone would be enough to jolt Lydia out of whatever she was going through.

  “I will,” Libby said. “As soon as Dobbie removes the ankle bracelet and lets me out of the house.” She spoke up and turned her head so the sound would carry.

  Her husband, Dobbie, entered the living room and grinned at her. “You just say the word, honey. I’ve got my calfjack ready. We can get that baby out in no time.” He turned his eyes to Cecily. “Howdy, Mrs. Henshaw. Congratulations to you.”

  Cecily smiled at him. “Hi, Dobbie.” He had a pleasant, easygoing nature and she had always liked him. Everyone had called him Dobbie for as long as she could remember. She wondered what his real name was and if Libby ever used it. He threw a hand over his shoulder in a wave and went back to the kitchen.

  “He’s all bluster,” Libby said confidentially. “He puts up a brave front, but at the first contraction he’s going to panic like a little girl. I’m counting on Dad and Maggie’s husband to get me to the hospital on time.”

  “What’s the story with Maggie’s husband?” Cecily asked, hoping she wasn’t being too nosy.

  “It’s a long, crazy, story,” Libby said. She sat back uncomfortably and told Cecily the entire story.

  Cecily was enthralled and delighted to have something to concentrate on other than herself and her problems.

  At the end of the visit the two women hugged and promised to stay in touch, and to set up a play date as soon as they and their children were ready.

  When Cecily drove home she was smiling. Life was funny, she thought. For so many years Marcus had been right under her nose, and she had no idea she would eventually fall in love with him and have his baby. The same could be said for Libby. For so many years she had simply been her best friend’s big sister, and now she was the closest thing Cecily had to a friend and confidant. She wondered what other surprises life had in store for her. Maybe it was selfish and immature, but she hoped they would all be good.