“Nah. Just need a drink, is all.” Henry looked disappointed. He leaned heavily against the cart, as if he no longer had any will to stand on his own.
“I'm sorry, Henry. Maybe by the next time we meet, I'll have some money.”
“Don't give him any money!” Colby nearly shouted. Ginny, for the second time in a few minutes, felt her heart stop.
Whipping around to see that he was next to the cart, she glared at him. “You move like a freakin' cat, Colby. Geez, I didn't even hear you walk over.”
The damn man had the nerve to smile at her. It was gone as quickly as it had come. Colby then turned his attention to Henry, still leaning against the cart. “Get a move on, Henry. You'll get nothing from us.”
Henry lifted his body, with a great deal of effort, snorted something unintelligible and wandered off in the dark. Ginny would have liked to do something for the old man, but what could she do? Liver transplant, no. Get him to stop drinking, unlikely. Even if he did, it was obvious that the damage was done and his days were numbered. Heaving a sigh, she turned back to Colby.
“Are you ready to leave?” Ginny asked, still remembering how they left her alone in the dark.
Picking up on her tone, Colby climbed back in the cart and kept his retort to himself. They were close to his home and he didn't want to start up the fight from the ridge again. He was tired and soul weary. Tomorrow would be soon enough to pick up where they had left off.
Tim rushed out of the house, calling a goodbye as he ran to the side of the wagon. Turning to Ginny, he said, “We're so close, now. Can't wait to see Eloise.”
Ginny smelled liquor on his breath and made an incredulous look back to him. Part of her wanted to say something, but another part just wanted to get out of the cart and lay down in real bed. Not that she was sure she would be getting a real bed tonight or ever.
Seeing her look, Tim scrunched his eyebrows. “You seem kind of surprised that I would want to see my wife, Ginny.” His voice was genuinely perplexed.
Shaking herself out of her mood, she said, “No, I'm sure you miss her.”
Colby started the horses again, heading east toward who knew what. It was so dark, she couldn't see any road, but Colby seemed to know where he was going. Sitting on her crate, Ginny waited to see what would be next.
*******
After a half hour of riding, Tim informed her that they were now on Miller land. Looking around, Ginny was hard pressed to determine how he could know that, with nothing much to see, but she would have to take his word for it. Colby certainly didn't object.
“See those lights there,” Tim asked while pointing to the right. “That's my house. Eloise must have kept a lantern on in case we got home.”
“Damn waste of oil,” Colby muttered.
“Now, Colby, ya know that Eloise doesn't like being alone. If it makes her feel better having the light, I won't begrudge her that.”
Colby smartly kept his next thought to himself. Ginny rolled her eyes behind him. He was so sullen that it hurt to be around him. Hopefully it wouldn't take that much longer to get to his house and away from him, however temporarily.
Stopping in front of the small log cabin, Tim jumped down just as the door opened. Ginny felt herself smiling as she watched the family reunion unfold. A petite woman, barely taller than the cart, walked out on the porch smiling.
“Hey there, missus. What's a beautiful woman like you doing all alone?” Tim asked.
“Well, I'm not alone now, am I?” she replied. It was hard to see her features, but she seemed very pretty.
Ginny heard Colby groan quietly in response to the couple. Although Ginny had to admit that it was a little too lovey-dovey for her taste, she was happy for Tim to be home. Whatever lay ahead for her at the Miller house, she knew that Tim would be a friend to her.
Walking together hand-in-hand, Tim introduced his wife to Ginny.
“Ginny, this here is my Eloise. Eloise, this is Ginny, formerly of St. Louie.”
“It is a pleasure to meet you, Ginny. I hope you join me sometime this week for luncheon. I would love to get to know you.” Up close, Ginny saw that Eloise had the look of a governess: prim, proper and very ladylike.
Colby couldn't resist when he said, “Well, Eloise, that might be a problem. See, Ginny doesn't remember anything about herself.” His voice was filled with mockery, which wasn't missed by anyone.
Stunned, Eloise looked again at Ginny. “You don't?”
“No, I have lost certain memories. I only remember the man who made me the deal to come out here to be someone's wife. And the trip afterwards, obviously.”
“Whatever happened to you? Oh, I suppose you don't know that.” Eloise looked both shocked and embarrassed.
“No. I suppose I had some accident. I couldn't really say.”
“Well, then we shall make all your future memories pleasant ones. I will stop by your house tomorrow and we can discuss where the children are in their studies.” Eloise seemed to hedge a bit and added, “I hope I can also give you some tips on working with the two youngest boys.”
Ginny had never heard anything more diplomatic in her life. From what Tim had mentioned, the two youngest boys excelled in getting into trouble whenever possible. She found she looked forward to meeting them. She would probably learn to regret it later.
“Well, we better get on our way,” Colby grumbled.
“It was nice to meet you, Eloise. I look forward to seeing you tomorrow.”
With that, Colby started the horses again and was heading off toward some distant lights on the horizon. Ginny leaned back on the crates, thinking about how good it would feel to be off the cart. Her head fell back and she looked at the stars. One of the things she liked about living in the past was being able to see so many stars in the sky. There was virtually no surface light to mar the scenery. What little she knew about astronomy didn't take from the joy she felt at a night sky filled with millions of stars.
So lost in her thoughts, she didn't hear his comment.
“What? Sorry. Did you say something, Colby?”
Sighing like she had suggested he be castrated, he replied, “I asked if you wanted to sit up front with me. I doubt it's very comfortable back there for you.”
Ginny was stunned. Was he being nice? Was he extending an olive branch because they would now be living together? Best she take it, because it didn't look like she would leaving this world for a while.
“That would be great. Can you stop for a moment? In the dark, I'm afraid I'll fall off.” Ginny kept her tone light, hoping that he would realize that she appreciated the offer.
Without a word, Colby stopped the cart and stood up to lend her his hand. Ginny lifted up her skirts, and scampered over the bench to sit next to him. She could smell him and it made her smile. Romance novel heroes always had the best smell. No sweat or body odor. Just a rugged maleness that's hard to describe. In this case, Colby smelled of woodsmoke, musk and some kind of liquor.
The rocking of the cart was making her sleepy. Between the darkness and her weariness, Ginny was having a hard time keeping her eyes open. Maybe she shouldn't have climbed into the front after all. She shook herself slightly to try to wake up. Colby misunderstood her action.
“Are you cold, Ginny?” he asked, in a voice that, for once, didn't sound angry.
“Huh? Oh, no. The movement of the cart is lulling me to sleep. I'm trying to stay awake so I don't fall off.” Her voice was filled with laughter.
“Move toward me,” he said, grabbing her shoulder and pulling her closer. “Put your head on my shoulder. I promise I won't let you fall.”
Ginny did as she was instructed and felt that she had finally met the man she was to fall in love with. Only a few hours earlier it felt like Colby would have pushed her and now, he was being so sweet. It was a strange experience, when you first feel some kind of attraction toward someone. Love? Hell no. Lust? Not yet, but definitely some potential. Friendship? Hopefully.
Ginny felt
her eyes closing to the roll of the cart and sound of the horses hooves. She'd never been one to fall asleep anywhere, usually having to rely on medication to help her out. In this case, the combination of a warm, nice smelling body, rocking movement and steady beating sound was just too much to ignore. Ginny fell asleep.
*******
Ginny awoke the second the cart stopped. She thought it might have been because her body had longed to get out of the cart for so long, it wouldn't miss its chance. Still, she had to fight some disorientation before realizing that they had stopped in front of a large, wood sided house.
“I'll get you settled, then I can take care of the horses.”
Hmmm, still being sweet. “No, I'll help you. I'm awake.” To prove her point, she hopped down out of the cart without assistance. To not prove her point, her knees buckled and she had to grab the cart to keep from falling on her face.
“You can barely stand,” he said with noticeable exasperation.
“I've been sitting for a while. I just need to walk around a bit. Please. I really do want to help.” Ginny meant every word. She didn't like being a burden, and Colby had to be as tired as she was. The least she could do was repay his recent kindness.
“Alright, I have a few crates to unload for the house. The rest will go in the barn.” He went to the back of the cart and started grabbing crates. Ginny grabbed one as well, and gingerly placed it on the porch. Going back to the cart, Ginny grabbed her bag and placed it on the porch next to the crate. Colby stared at her as she returned to the cart. Not as spoiled as I thought.
“Let's get back in the wagon and head to the barn.” His voice sounded funny. Colby was rarely surprised.
“If you don't mind, I'll walk behind it. I really need to stretch my legs.”
“Fine.” Colby climbed back into the cart and drove the horses toward the barn. He arrived a minute before Ginny did and took the time to watch her silhouette as she approached. She was neither tall, nor short. She walked as if she hadn't a care in the world. He could see her head turn this way and that, looking around as if she could see in the dark. He remembered how pretty she was and knew he needed to shield his feelings. This woman could very well be the end of him.
“Sorry to keep you waiting. I was making sure I didn't trip over anything. What can I do to help?”
Again, Colby got that uncomfortable feeling like he'd been too much of an ass over the last couple of days. “How about you start unloading the crates and put them against the wall over there.” Colby pointed to the spot he wanted his supplies. “I'll unhitch the horses and get them settled.”
“Okay.” Ginny went about her duty as quickly as possible. Some of the crates were heavy, but nothing she couldn't manage. When complete, she walked to Colby who was brushing one of the horses.
“Would you like me to do that?”
“Nah. I'm done. Let's head back to the house and call it a night.”
Colby smiled and Ginny's heart skipped a beat. Oh yeah, lust could play a major part of this relationship. His two day old beard and his handsome features were playing heavily with her. Maybe she wouldn't have to wait too long for this romance thing to blossom. But if that were the case, it wouldn't be Ginny playing this part. Her experience told her that she was boned.
Walking side by side, Colby remained silent. He didn't know where this newfound acceptance had come from, and it scared the hell out of him. Hadn't he been thinking about all the trouble she would cause?
As they approached the house, Ginny tripped over some invisible obstacle. Colby grabbed her arm and pulled her against him before she could face plant. Before he could think better of it, he turned her towards him and stared at her eyes. There was little light, but he could see her expression. She looked embarrassed and of wanting to be anywhere else at that moment.
“I'm sorry. I'm not usually that clumsy.” Ginny was shocked at how quickly Colby had caught her. His face looked amused, which only made her madder. Yeah, like you never tripped before, asshole.
Seeing her expression change from embarrassment to anger, Colby figured he should get her to bed quickly before they were arguing in his front yard. The last thing he wanted was to wake up his family and introduce his wife this late.
Clearing his throat, he spoke quickly, “I think we should get to bed. It's late and we're both pretty tired. Let me show you your room.” With that, he let go of her arm and walked toward the steps to his home.
The Miller family home had changed drastically over the years. When his parents had first settled in this valley, there were only a handful of families. Most of the settlers were ranchers, like the Millers, but some had tried their hand at farming too. Colby's earliest memories were of a small, two room log cabin that his father made when he wasn't caring for their stock.
As his parents became more successful, and after a few years of good beef prices, his father decided to add on to their home. Now, the house had two stories, five small bedrooms, a parlor, a dining room, a kitchen and a bathroom. They even had an inside toilet, since walking across the yard with a few feet of snow on the ground had become very tiresome, especially with small children.
Colby loved the house but had no qualms about leaving it. He still would, if he could.
He walked Ginny up the stairs and opened a door at the top of the stairs. Walking inside, he lit a candle and turned to watch her expression. He expected to see disappointment, but was surprised.
Once Ginny saw the small bed, her eyes lit up with excitement. Praise the gods, she thought merrily as she dropped her bag that she'd left with the crates for the house. Smiling at Colby, she said, “Thank you. I can't wait to get some rest. Good night.” Ginny knew she wasn't being very subtle but didn't care. She had a date with a bed!
“Well then, good night.” Colby felt put off by her attitude. It seemed that no matter what she gave him, he wanted something different. He expected her to be disappointed, and when she wasn't, he was bothered by it. I used to be able to read people so well, he thought as he left the room and closed the door behind him.
Ginny changed into her nightgown, but since there wasn't any water in her room to wash up, she just went to bed. She could wash up tomorrow, she figured as she climbed between the sheets. The linens smelled a little stale, as if they'd been waiting for someone to use them for a long time. The bed wasn't her pillow top at home, but it was not sleeping on the ground either. Moving this way and that, Ginny finally found a comfortable position and fell fast asleep. Any worries she had would wait for morning, where she could confront them in the light of day.
Chapter 9
The next morning, Ginny awoke to screams of joy. Apparently, she thought to herself, the boys get up pretty early. Her one window showed that the sun had barely risen in the east. Fighting the urge to roll back over, Ginny pulled herself from the bed and went about getting dressed. Lamenting her lack of water, Ginny did the best she could with her body and hair. She put on her same traveling clothes that had seen better days, even before her traveling.
Ginny walked down the same steps she came up the night before, following the sounds of laughter coming from another part of the house. Entering a small doorway, Ginny peered into a kitchen, where a boy and a girl sat around an old wooden table eating breakfast. The smell of eggs and ham made Ginny's stomach gurgle so loudly that they turned suddenly and stared at her.
No one said a word for a full minute. The girl finally found her voice and said, “Oh, my. Please come, sit down and join us.”
Afterwards, the little boy couldn't contain himself. As Ginny sat at the table, he began his inquiry. “Who are you? Did my brother find you and bring you home? Are you my new teacher?”
The girl, suddenly remembering her manners, put a hand on the boy's arm to stop him from asking any more questions. Smiling at Ginny, she apologized. “We weren't expecting guests. Colby didn't mention he'd brought anyone home with him. My name is Georgia, and this is my youngest brother, Nate.”
Returnin
g the smile, Ginny replied, “It's a pleasure to meet you both. My name is Ginny.” Ginny wondered how Colby wanted to play this. They agreed not to be married, but she didn't know how he would handle any questions from his siblings. She decided to wait until he was around to answer too many personal inquiries.
“Where is your brother now? Is he going to have breakfast with us?”
“Nah, Colby already left to check the stock. He won't be around until this afternoon.” Nate continued to shovel food into his mouth during his explanation.
Georgia, who had stood up to retrieve a plate for Ginny, began to dish out from a platter of eggs and ham. Handing her the plate, she offered, “Colby's been gone for a few days and needs to make sure everything went well in his absence.”
A Lesson in Patience Page 6