"My family is large and my parents haven't much money. They couldn't even give Pearl a few pennies to help with my care after the uh, the accident.” Not couldn't, but wouldn't, even if they knew about her troubles. "They'll be happy for me to have this chance to get away from Pipers Hollow.” They would be happy never to hear of her shame or see her ever again.
She could die each time she remembered how trusting she'd been. Well, that innocence didn't last long, did it? Now she had another chance. She must not say or do anything to lose it.
His silence stretched into awkwardness, though he remained beside the wagon. She longed to continue the conversation but sought a safer topic. "It's a lovely moon, isn't it, Mr. Tremont?"
"Oh, please, call me Lex. Or Alexon. That's my name but no one ever uses it."
"All right--Alexon. If you'll call me Belle. Just Belle. My name is really Arabella Angeline, but I like Belle best."
"It suits you. I'll bet you were the belle of any ball you attended."
"Oh. Well, I never attended a party where there was dancing. My folks don't hold with dancing or drinking. We did have a piano, though.” Which Mama pleaded for years to get from tightfisted Papa.
"And do you play?"
"Yes, mostly hymns.” She had to learn any other songs when Papa was outside working. He wouldn't stand for any songs but church music in his house. But how he used to love to hear her sing. Sorrow clogged her throat and made her afraid to speak. What would Alexon think if she started sobbing over a discussion of the piano?
"Well, I know you need your rest while the wagon is still. I see your cousins heading this way to turn in. And I'd better get some sleep before it's my watch."
"Good night, Alexon."
"Goodnight, Mis...Belle."
She watched him walk through the silvery night and crawl into his bedroll. Such a kind man. Not at all the type she had known.
Other than her brothers, she had talked to few men before George came to work for Papa at harvest. Then he stayed around until after Christmas, calling on Belle. When the man she had thought dashing and adventurous asked her to run away with him, she thought he meant to marry her. Later he had laughed at her for being so stupid.
She left George then and went home, but they'd been gone two nights. Papa called her terrible names. He wouldn't even let her come into their house, wouldn't let her talk to Mama or her brothers and sisters. How could he be so vicious, so cold to his own daughter?
She knew Alexon's good manners would never let him behave so cruelly. But his opinion of her would change if he knew. Then he wouldn't speak to her again unless he made an offer for her services. Oh, God, if that happened, she would just die.
What's to become of me?
With a terrible sadness, she scooted to the edge of the feather bed to make room for her two new friends. Then, as she had done so many nights these last two months, she wept silently into her pillow.
* * *
At the crest of a hill, Lex stopped the wagon and motioned Drake to pull alongside. When the two sat parallel, Lex gestured to the sprawling town below. "There it is. Chattanooga."
The women cheered. Belle pulled herself up and sat on a trunk. She smoothed her dress and straightened her bonnet. "I'm not going into town lying in a sick bed."
Even Evan perked up when he realized he would soon see his daughter and her family. Moving slowly, he squeezed onto the seat beside Sarah. "Mary Alice lives only a few blocks from downtown."
The rutted road eventually became a main street. Pearl knew her eyes must be wide. "My goodness, I can't keep from staring. Never in my life have I seen so many people at one time. And look at all the kinds of buildings. Big and small and in between. It fair takes your breath away."
Storm called out, "Did you see that buggy? You ever see anything so fancy?"
Drake half turned and called to him, "It's called a surrey."
Evan directed Lex to turn first this way and then the other. Soon the wagon stopped in front of a bungalow set back from the road about fifty yards. A picket fence separated the yard from the street and a hitching rail stood by the front gate.
At the sound of their arrival, Mary Alice stepped onto the porch. When she saw her father, she called out to someone in the house, then ran down the front walk toward the visitors. Three children rushed out to follow their mother.
Pearl felt lost, awkward. The giggling Mary Alice she knew years ago had disappeared. Now a more dignified and matronly stranger stood in her place.
But the matron became a laughing girl when she reached her father. "Papa, Papa. At last you've come."
Pearl sat still and watched the happy reunion. Evan looked so happy. Finally. What a lovely sight.
Drake got down and came to her side to offer his assistance. He placed his hands on her waist. "Time to greet your hostess." When she stood beside him, he laid an arm across her shoulders and gave her a light hug. "Everything will be all right now.”
She hoped he spoke the truth. Sarah came to stand on the other side of her sister as Lex helped Belle from the wagon. Pearl linked Sarah's arm with hers.
No doubt Sarah felt as out of place as she did, maybe more. She reminded her, "You probably don't remember, but Mary Alice loved playing with you when you were a baby. She moved here ten years ago when she married.” She glanced over her shoulder and motioned for Storm to join them.
Having Drake beside her amid all the confusion gave her a strange sense of partnership with him. The group moved up the walk and into the home.
Mary Alice chided her father. "Papa, you're way too pale but it's so good just to look at you.”
"And it's good to look at you. And my grandbabies."
"Hey, we're not babies. I'm gonna be ten at Christmas. Janie's eight.” The eldest boy, named Evan after his grandfather, spoke up. "'Course, Danny's only five, so he's almost a baby."
"Am not.” The youngest ran at his older brother.
Mary Alice intervened, separating the two boys with a skill that spoke of practice. "Young Evan, run to the shop and tell your father we have company. Then you come straight back, you hear?"
Drake stopped at the steps to the porch. "Ma'am, I reckon my cousin and I will go book hotel rooms for our group, if you'll direct us to the nearest place fit for young women."
A worried frown replaced the happy smile. Mary Alice looked at the crowd of people. Pearl knew that, in her mind, the woman frantically sought places for all these people to sleep in her small home.
The smile reappeared, but didn't quite reach Mary Alice's eyes. "You're all welcome here."
"Thank you, but we planned to treat the ladies here to a big dinner in town and let you get reacquainted with your father."
"Well, unless you have your heart set on it, I insist you stay with us. That is, if you men don't mind sleeping on floor pallets.” She turned to her father, "Not you, Papa. We have a corner room downstairs away from the children's noise. We fixed it all ready for you, knowing you'd come when you could. I can see you need plenty of rest and some fattening up."
Drake waited until she turned back to him and nodded. "Thank you, Ma'am. Lex and I have our own bedrolls. There's also Evan's bed in the wagon, and Pearl's feather bed."
The bright smile reappeared. "Why, of course. We'll find a place for everyone. It's so exciting to have you all here.” She touched her father's arm then leaned over to kiss his cheek, as if not believing he stood beside her. "Especially you, Papa."
Lex and Drake drove the wagons to the back of the house. After unloading Evan's bed and Pearl's feather mattress, they threw large canvas tarpaulins over the wagons to protect the contents from the elements.
Eventually the horses and mules were settled at the nearby livery. By the time Drake wired his grandfather of his upcoming wedding, checked train schedules, and returned to the house, the women had dinner ready.
Mary Alice's husband, Michael Cooper, arrived home to greet the visitors after closing his hardware store a half-hour early. When the Coopers lear
ned of the impending marriage, they insisted on hosting the event. Amid all the chaotic chatter, Drake watched the woman who sat beside him. Pearl seemed to withdraw into herself, even as she smiled at those around her.
As far as he could determine, these people were all related to Pearl. Through her Granny they were some sort of cousins. That meant they were not kin to Sarah or Storm. He had no idea how--or if--Belle was related to anyone here. But he was willing to go along with the story his bride-to-be spun for him about her so-called cousin.
"Now, Mr. Kincaid," Mary Alice insisted, "I know you're eager to wed my cousin Pearl, but you simply must wait a couple of days to marry. Pearl needs time to shop for a trousseau and make the wedding arrangements.”
Irked at the delay, he agreed. "Our time here must be short. But, I guess two days won't hurt.”
Mary Alice clapped her hands. "Wonderful. You can wed Saturday afternoon right here in the parlor. Oh, the new Excelsior Hotel has just opened. It would be perfect for your honeymoon."
Pearl, who seemed to blush a lot around him, went pale as the flour she used for her baking. Neither one had talked about a hotel or a honeymoon. Still, he supposed a woman expected that sort of thing. He tugged at the shirt collar that seemed suddenly to tighten.
"All right. I'll take care of the arrangements for our train tickets and the stock and the, um, the honeymoon. But come Sunday, we depart for Texas.” Damn, he wanted all this wedding business over and done with so he could be on his way home.
Drake consulted with Michael about the stable, worried about his new mares. "What if someone takes a liking to them and steals them?”
Michael shared his concern for so much prime horseflesh in a busy area. "You know you're welcome here. But, if it was me, I'd want to be close enough to keep an eye on those horses, especially at night. You know we'll look after your bride and her family."
Lex and Storm decided to go with him and sleep in the loft of the stable. Drake went to speak with Pearl before they left.
"I suppose you'll be coming to the house tomorrow to eat?" she asked.
"By lunchtime or soon thereafter.” He took out his wallet. "You'll be needing money for your shopping."
She visibly bristled, drawing herself up like a prim spinster. "Thank you, but I saved out money from my baking in case we had to leave sudden-like. Which we did, of course."
"There's no need to spend your own money. I have plenty."
Damn stubborn woman. He'd never known a female to turn down extra funds for a shopping spree.
She repeated, "No, I'll make do with my own. Don't worry, I'll find something presentable to wear for the wedding and to meet your family. I don't intend to shame you."
Guilt nagged at him. How could he confess he wanted her less than presentable? How could he admit that's why he chose her? Well, mostly why he chose her. He looked into those violet eyes of hers and almost lost his train of thought.
Guilt forced him to add more bills to the stack. "But I'll leave this money with you. Things may be more costly than you imagine and you'll need at least two or three sets of clothes.”
He took her hand and placed the bills in her palm. Loathe to break physical contact, he closed her fingers around the money and cradled her hand in his. What had come over him, he wondered, giving away large sums of money and clinging to a woman he didn't want to like?
She looked at the funds and then back to him, her eyes wide. "Why, I haven't spent that much in all my lifetime."
His voice sounded brusque to his ears. "Well, you don't get married every day. Get whatever you need--or want. For yourself and the others.” Reluctantly, he forced his hands to release hers.
"Mr. Kincaid, I don't wish to offend you, but I have to tell you again that I've my own money. Enough to do for me and my family."
Damn, was she always so bossy and stubborn? "Look, keep the money. If you need it, you'll have it and not be embarrassed. If you don't need it, you can save it for shopping another time. Don't forget, you've a lot of people to clothe.”
She chewed her lip a second before nodding slightly. "Yes, you're right, of course. I was thinking only of myself. Sarah and Storm and Belle need better things to meet your people. We want to do you proud. I mustn't let my own pride stand in the way.” She shoved the money into her pocket as if it were tainted. "I've never been to a real store, just Pete Hammonds' place back ho--um, back in Pipers Hollow."
He smiled at the thought of all she would experience for the first time tomorrow. "I think you'll enjoy yourself. Please, get Mary Alice something also. Maybe the whole family. After all, we're putting the Coopers to a good bit of trouble."
She brightened, lost some of her starch. "Yes, that would please Mary Alice and the children. And Michael won't mind."
He put his hands in his pockets and smiled. "There. Now, was that so hard?"
Chin up, her solemn gaze met his. "You have no idea how hard. But I thank you for thinking of us. Thank you for everything you've done."
"It's my pleasure.” With surprise, he found he meant it. Strange how such a small thing made him feel so good. "It will please me even more when you remember to call me Drake.”
A smile chased the shadows from her violet eyes. "Thank you, Drake.” She raised herself on tiptoes and kissed his cheek.
The sensations washing over him from that simple gesture caught him by surprise. Before he let himself pull her into his arms, he took a step back from her and gave a slight bow. "Then I'll wish you good night, Pearl.” Feeling every bit a coward, he turned and left the room.
Young Evan accompanied them to the livery stable, to Lex's amusement. "Him being with us must have considerably lowered the noise level at the Cooper home, maybe that whole block of homes.”
It did nothing to ease Drake's frayed nerves. "Damn, the boy runs instead of walking, shouts instead of talking. By morning, I'll be questioning my desire for heirs.”
But at bedtime, Storm quieted the younger boy by telling stories about horses. Soon Drake heard Lex's soft snore while Storm switched to a Cherokee myth. Young Evan laughed as he heard "Where The Dog Ran," the story of how the Milky Way came to be in the sky.
Drake wondered if someday he would be able to tell stories to his own son? Would that son have eyes of striking violet or plain gray? He drifted to sleep listening to Storm's soft voice paint word pictures for young Evan.
* * *
Early Friday morning noises roused the adults in the loft. The hostler opened the barn doors wide to the breaking day. Both boys slept, but Drake and Lex descended the ladder to talk with the stable owner about transportation and breakfast.
Storm soon dropped to the floor beside them. "Shall I stay with the horses or take the kid back to his house?"
Drake handed his future brother-in-law a hand full of coins. "Stop by the baker's near here and get something to take the Coopers. Something to help with the food for today. You can keep the rest for sight seeing later. Keep an eye out around the Cooper place until I get my errands done. I'll be back mid day."
"Yes, I'll watch for a mischief maker.” The twinkle in his eyes told Drake that Storm referred to young Evan.
"Thanks. We'll spell you in a few hours. I expect there's a lot for a young man to see in Chattanooga."
After breakfast at the nearby hotel, the men wandered to the depot. Drake purchased tickets for his family, then made arrangements for a cattle car.
"We want the partitions for seven horses here," he told the railway agent as he sketched out a design on a scrap of paper. When his cousin raised his eyebrows at the number, he explained, "Evan sold me his paint for Storm. We'll pick up a new saddle later."
The agent assured him the stalls would be fitted immediately.
"Then, we'll want a small cabin partitioned off at this end for furniture storage and room for a man to sleep."
Lex grimaced. "Don't tell me. You're going to make me the stable hand.” He waited for an answer with his arms crossed.
"No. Storm a
nd I can take turns. He volunteered to do it alone. That wouldn't be fair, though he is damn good with horses."
"But it's his first train ride."
"Right. He'd miss seeing the sights. No windows in the cattle car."
"Well, I'll do my share. Fair division of labor and all."
The cousins walked through the bustling town, commenting on merchandise in store windows and enjoying the morning.
"You going to buy wedding clothes?”
"Me?” Drake planned only to show up and go through whatever tomfoolery the women arranged.
"Man, you have some responsibilities here.”
Damn. There went Lex getting testy again.
"All right, all right.” He hated the whole set up, but he gave in to his cousin's voice of reason. "Tell me, Counselor, what do you view as my part in this?”
"You need a new suit, inside to out. You need a ring, flowers, and a present for the bride. You must book the honeymoon suite...” Lex looked set to continue his list, but Drake held up his hand.
"I'll get her a ring. Make the hotel reservations, will you?"
"After we get your suit fitted."
For a man of Drake's height and breadth, finding a suit proved no easy task. It took several attempts before they were directed to a tailor with a large staff. And a large price tag. Drake endured what seemed tortuous hours of fitting.
When he received a pinprick as reward for fidgeting, he asked the tailor, "Can't you hurry this up?”
Finally, the shop owner promised to have the clothes delivered to the Cooper home by noon the following day. He even recommended a reliable jeweler three doors down the street. Whistling a carefree tune, Lex strolled toward the hotel. The groom stalked toward the jeweler's shop.
* * *
Lex arrived at the Cooper home around mid morning. Belle sat at the piano in the parlor, playing what sounded like wedding music. How sweet and genteel she looked, even with her bruises.
His first day in Pipers Hollow and accusations made by the pastor's wife churned in his mind. The puffed up old biddy mentioned Sarah and Storm, and a soiled dove being harbored by Pearl. Belle had to be the woman accused as a harlot.
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