The Visitor_Texas 1863_1869

by Barbara Svetlick

  James looked at him. “I think it’s a shame that someone so delicate is married to a man without a bone of passion.”

  “I don’t know. What is worse the man who refuses to give her what she needs or the men who are so afraid of losing her condoning his behavior?”

  “You think we’re worse?”

  “How much do you cover up to keep her from leaving?”

  “A lot, I guess. The only other option is to cross the line and steal her away. I can live without Dominic but it would be hard to let her go.”

  “And there is the problem.”

  Dominic finally came into the tent and sat on the edge of the cot. “How are you feeling today?” He put his hand on her forehead. “Well you are no longer running a fever. I still think we need to go to Dallas so you can see a doctor.”

  “Can it wait until the weather warms up a little?”

  “Of course, but I don’t know if I can.” She ran her hand along his back as he unbuttoned his shirt and stood up taking it off and putting on a clean one.

  “Is that why you are so distant?”

  “I’m distant because I feel guilty and I don’t know if you have to heal or something.”

  “I’m fine, just lonely.” Mirisa laid back as Dominic stood and buttoned his shirt. She fought back the tears not understanding what she could have done to displease him.

  “We’re moving tonight so dress warmly.” Dominic bent over kissing her before he put his jacket back on. He brought the horses up to the tent then came back in with Garnett. They loaded up the bedding and saddlebags into the wagon. They were all on their horses when she came out of the tent. The moonlight glistened on the light dusting but her horse knew the road well.

  Mirisa dismounted and Dominic took the reins to her horse. She watched as he disappeared in the dark before she turned to the house and slowly climbed the stairs unbuttoning her jacket. There were candles lit on the mantel and the smell of fresh coffee. She put her jacket on the back of the couch and ran her fingers along the leather taking in the warmth of the room.

  “I’m sorry you lost the baby.” She turned to Meeks voice and just nodded. “I…”

  James stamped the snow off of his boots causing them both to take a step back. He looked from one to the other. “There’s fresh coffee.” They both stood motionless. “In the kitchen. Mirisa, would you like a tour of the kitchen? Before Dominic comes in?”

  Mirisa looked down and back up at James. She walked towards him as he turned and followed her into the kitchen. When Dominic and Garnett came in, James was telling her about the layout of the kitchen, the large wooden table in the center of the room for preparing food, the new stove and separate cooking fire pit. Garnett poured a cup of coffee and realized that James was talking too much and Mirisa was barely listening. He knew she had been quiet but James was covering up something that happened. He met James’ eyes and decided to give Dominic a tour of the rest of the house.

  James poured her a cup of coffee setting it on the table next to her. “We are all having trouble knowing how to comfort you and we all feel responsible for...”

  “James, it is just something that happens but thank you for caring.” James knew Dominic well enough that he wouldn’t talk about it but he thought it was because he didn’t know how to handle it anymore than they did. James brought Mirisa into his arms and talked to her quietly.

  “Mirisa, we’re trying to give you room but I’m not sure that is what you need or even want. We don’t have the right to reach out to you when you have a husband but I’m not sure he is handling it any better than you.” She took in her breath which belied the fact that she was struggling not to cry. “I think tomorrow I will take you out looking for roots and if you want to talk then I’ll listen.” He handed her the cup and she walked out into the living room as Dominic was coming out of one of the bedrooms.

  She curled up on the couch leaning up against Meeks and dog curled up under the table watching her. She fell asleep as the warmth of the house wrapped around her.

  James sat down on the hearth. “How is she doing?”

  “She’s a lot stronger than I thought she could be but she’s blaming herself for losing the baby.”

  “Why didn’t she tell us she was pregnant?”

  “She didn’t know and when she was shot she thought that was making her sick. If I had known, I wouldn’t have brought her to Texas so I have to take full responsibility. I’m trying to get her to a doctor but she’s not ready to ride.”

  James walked into the bedroom and came back with a blanket placing it over her. “She’s going to make a good mother.”

  “She needs to become one first.”

  James smiled. “She will.”

  They had only been in the house a few days when a good snow hit on Christmas Eve. Mirisa watched it coming down in what moonlight filtered through the clouds. The feeling of this house was so different than the Plantation or even her home in Virginia. There was a peacefulness that wrapped around you when the house was quiet. She picked up her coffee and sat down on the window seat overlooking the river. The snow was beginning to cover the ground down to the riverbank.

  “Having trouble sleeping?”

  Mirisa turned at Meeks voice and smiled. “Sometimes the voices in my head are too noisy.”

  Meeks walked over to the stove and poured a cup of coffee sitting down on the window seat next to her. “Happy birthday.”

  “Thank you. I’m not sure that it is a birthday I want to celebrate. I feel so bare.”

  “What is it you want?”

  Mirisa looked deep into his eyes and smiled. “I wish I could tell you.” She put her chin on her knees and looked out over the snow. “I want to do something more than sitting and waiting but yet I don’t want to wander from place to place like you do. My mother always said my stubborn temperament would make it hard to marry me off to anyone possessing sound judgment.”

  “I love your temperament. I believe you are the first woman who we have enjoyed for something other than our own indulgence. Not that you have changed our bad habits but it has been nice to have you underfoot.” Meeks refilled her cup and put on a fresh pot of coffee. “Since you are awake, would you like to help me make breakfast?”

  “I’ve never seen you cook.”

  “Then you are in for a great treat.” Meeks stood up and she followed him into the kitchen. He got out the potatoes and peppers asking her to cut them up in small cubes. She sat at the work table and worked slowly as they talked about cooking and food. He put lard in the pan and scooped up the potatoes putting them the pan. Meeks cut off one of the smoked sausages and chopped it before adding it to the pan. She was amazed at how good he was with a knife. Meeks filled a small plate and put it front of her as he sat down across from her. The smell soon filled the house.

  “Were the two of you hungry?” Mirisa turned to James who was barefoot and wearing only jeans. She smiled as James kissed her cheek but when he started to walk around the work table she ran her fingers along his stomach making him stop. Meeks watched as his expression soften and he knew at that moment all James wanted to do was take her to bed. “If I had known you were in this mood, I would have been up far earlier. Happy birthday, sweetheart.”

  Garnett put his arm around her and kissed her other cheek wishing her happy birthday before he took her fork away tasting the sausage. He filled a plate and sat down next to Mirisa as Dominic walked to the stove and picked up the coffee pot. “I don’t particularly like waking up in a cold bed and exactly why are you sitting in the kitchen dressed in so little?”

  “Why don’t you ask James the same question?”

  “Because it is inappropriate for you to be in front of other men dressed only in my shirt and stockings. And James is wearing more clothes then he usually does first thing in the morning, so we all appreciate it.” Dominic leaned across the table and kissed her nose. “Happy birthday.”

  “But James makes me just want to touch him when he’s dressed
like that. Plus I love the way he kisses.” Mirisa slipped off the stool and headed for the bedroom to get dressed. They all just watched her walk away and then turned to James.

  “I have no problem with that.”

  “James…”

  “Dominic, I don’t think my behavior is where you should be putting your concerns. I think you need to pay more attention to your wife.”

  “I think I need to build my own house.”

  Garnett laughed and walked into the living room. “And how do you think that will help?”

  “I don’t know but I think I’m tired of sharing her.”

  “Didn’t think that is something you would ever say about a woman.”

  Dominic laughed. “Me either.”

  They gave Mirisa a small box wrapped in white paper with a green ribbon. She couldn’t imagine what they would buy that was so small. She slowly removed the ribbon which made all of them smile because sometimes she was maddeningly slow. When she took the top off she found a small gold skeleton key on a chain. She lifted it out looking at them expecting an explanation.

  Garnett stood up and offered her his hand bringing her to her feet. They walked down the hall that went to the southern wing of the house and he told her to use her key. She put it in the door and opened it to find a beautiful room with windows on three sides giving one a view of both the rising and the setting sun. It was designed in floral prints and soft colors much like a parlor in an influential home. She walked in and slowly turned around the room. In one corner was a loom, a small writing desk, bookcases and a painter’s easel. She was so overwhelmed that all her emotions boiled up as she fought to push them back down.

  “Thank you.”

  “Well, we were torn with getting you a new pair of boots since we think you need to learn to work the ranch and the rest of your time you can spend doing whatever it is women do though I am hoping you will learn how to bake.”

  Dominic narrowed his eyes. “I don’t believe anyone consulted me about her working the ranch.”

  “Garnett, I already know how to bake.”

  “Then I will give you anything you want if you can make an edible blackberry pie.”

  She laughed and told him that he had been eating her pies for the last two years. Mirisa wrapped her arms around Garnett and thanked him before thanking James and Meeks.

  Mirisa gave each of them a little silver half moon that was scrolled with their Unit number to slide over the band on their hats. They had named the ranch the Silver Moon and she decided that their Army Unit number was the most significant thing that bound them together. Garnett was probably the most touched by the gift. They still didn’t exchange gifts but she imagined that it was just not expected between men. After dinner, they opened a new bottle of wine and James read ‘The Christmas Carol’ which they all knew by heart. Mirisa knew under those hard shells were the most beautiful men in the world.

  SPRING 1864

  OVER ONE HUNDRED HORSES arrived on the ranch in late March. They would be turned loose in the larger part of the ranch before breaking them for sale.

  “They look like good stock.” Garnett was sitting on his horse watching as they were herded through the gate. Meeks was leaning up against the gate discussing the horses when he saw Mirisa in the distance with James. The decision to have her work the ranch with them was a good decision despite Dominic’s complaints. She was handling her horse with ease and though she was still quiet seemed a lot happier.

  Garnett lit a cigar and dismounted. “It is rare that a woman not born to this life enjoys it.” They watched as James kicked his horse into a fast gallop and she immediately took the challenge though it was obvious that he was holding back but in the end he didn’t let her win. Dominic was standing next to the stable talking to the blacksmith while watching her. She slowly took off her hat and the curls around her face were stuck to her cheeks which were flushed from the wind. Garnett was surprised at how easily she took to working a few days with them though she still preferred to busy herself whenever they were in deep conversation about the ranch.

  Meeks reached up and held the reins as Mirisa dismounted. “Are we late for lunch?”

  “The men ate a while ago but I am sure Maria saved you something since she knew you were down south with James.” Meeks turned to James. “Any fence down?”

  “There were two spots where the posts were leaning but nothing was broken along the north to south direction. I think our problems are the maverick cattle that are living west of the river. The fences are usually pushed in and we found half dozen cattle along the fence line.”

  “Mirisa, we’re branding tomorrow. Do you want to help?”

  “I don’t think so. I think I need a day of pampering myself. But right now I am hungry.” James turned his horse as Mirisa mounted and they rode toward the stable to talk to Dominic who said he’d join them for lunch.

  The spring went by so fast that no one realized that summer was almost on them or that the trees were blooming. They had hired more men while Dominic started on a separate house a few hundred yards north of the adobe where the river pooled in a shallow bend. He picked the location after finding her in the river late one afternoon. It was a low ranch style that was much larger than the adobe and very rustic. Mirisa would walk over most mornings discussing the drawings and making suggestions while James made breakfast. Dominic thought her changes were interesting since they involved more windows, a porch that would open into the house through large French doors, and fewer but larger secondary rooms off the great room but the interesting addition was a room above the kitchen that would have fantastic views. The ceilings were pitched with large hand cut logs that spanned the house from the center truss. She had asked the builders if there were large rocks that could be used in the kitchen and bath chamber floors which cost Dominic a lot to bring in large flat river rocks.

  Garnett headed back to the adobe early since he had to finish up paperwork for Tom and the ranch had become mostly supervisory which didn’t take all four of them. Mirisa was in the kitchen rolling out dough for the three pie tins sitting on the work table next to the bowl of fresh blackberries.

  “I’ve never seen you in an apron.”

  “Only because you don’t pay attention to me.”

  Garnett raised his eyebrows as he smiled. He walked around the counter, wrapped his arms around her waist picking her off the ground and kissed her before she could object. His lips were so passionate while his hands were so demanding causing Mirisa to catch her breath. He put her down and lightly kissed her. “I always pay attention to you.” He headed into his room to change clothes but stopped and poured a shot before closing the door.

  She laid the dough in the tins looking up as Dominic came through the door and kissed her cheek before scooping a handful of blackberries. “Did you miss me?”

  “Did you sell Mr. Thorne good horses?” He leaned back against the sink and pondered her as she rolled out the dough for the pie tops. He put his cup down and turned her to face him.

  “That’s not an answer so apparently I have been neglecting you.” He untied the apron and used the end to wipe the flour off of her nose before picking her up carrying her into the bedroom closing the door with his foot. She loved the musky smell of him when he had been riding hard.

  James and Meeks came in covered in dust from rounding up the longhorn that constantly attempted to get on the land. James took one look at the kitchen and looked at Garnett who was putting papers in his dispatch bag.

  “Never kiss a lonely woman right before her husband walks through the door.”

  Meeks started laughing as James shook his head and began to clean up the flour from the floor and counters. James had no idea what to do with the dough so he poured a shot and went in to clean up. He thought the greatest thing Meeks had done was put an outside shower off of each bath area though the river was just as convenient according to Mirisa. When James came back out Mirisa was sliding the last pie in the oven. James loved that she alw
ays physically responded to someone’s touch.

  James selfishly hoped that things would never change. “Do you know you make my life complete?” He added more spices to the pot of chicken stew. “We don’t talk to you seriously unless you are doing something stupid but you have made such a difference.”

  She wrapped her arms around him and cried. “Mirisa, I don’t handle crying well and you know it.” He lifted her chin and used the towel to wipe her tears. “And even though you cut up nice vegetables, I don’t think cooking is in your future so you’ll just have to put up with me.” She loved him so much. Meeks coughed and James let go of her.

  “I agree.”

  “What part?”

  “The cooking part. Unlike James, I love it when your emotions are high.” She threw the towel at him.

  By the end of the summer the barn on Tom’s land was finished and Alexander had set up his full woodworking shop. The Ross ranch house was a huge rambling one story house that would hold at least three normal houses and more than accommodate his sons when the house was complete as well as generations of grandchildren. He was such a jovial man with so much love for life.

  Mirisa stood on the porch of their new house and looked out across the river. The river bent right after it passed the house and the trees opened into a view of the mountains in the far distance. She wondered how far you would have to travel to reach the mountains and if they were so visible then how big would they be when you were standing at the foothills. Her life had taken her a long way from the Chesapeake Bay and the family she loved. The shell of the house was finished and Dominic told her it would take a few weeks to finish the interior.

  “What are you thinking about?” He handed her a cup of hot coffee.

  “The mountains. I didn’t realize how much open country there is and how different it is from the eastern shores.”