“I think we should go by the store after this,” he said.
Her eyes widened. “Why?”
“I need to look at some things. Do you need any thing?” He knew her wardrobe wasn’t extensive. She’d only been there a little over a week, and she’d repeated most everything she’d worn.
“No, nothing.”
“What about the kids?”
“Betsy needs some new outfits. She’s growing and the season is changing.”
“Good. You can shop for Betsy. What about Andy?”
“No, he’s fine.”
“He’s not growing?”
“I’ll take care of him later.”
“Andy, could you come here?” John asked. The little boy slid out of his chair and stood next to John.
“What is it, John?”
“I wanted to show your mom something.”
“What?” Andy asked.
“I wanted to show your mom what a good job you’re doing in the growing department.”
“I’m getting bigger. Mommy says I’m outgrowing my jeans too fast, didn’t you, Mommy?”
“You’re doing just fine, sweetie.” Debra smiled at her son. When Andy went back to playing with Betsy again, Debra glared at John and whispered, “I don’t have the money right now. But I will, and I’ll buy Andy more jeans then.”
Okay, he’d proved his point. Debra didn’t want him to pay for her or Andy. “How are you going to earn that money?”
“It doesn’t matter as long as I do everything you ask of me.” That warm, open expression she wore when she dealt with the kids was gone.
“Debra, I can pay for some clothes for all three of you. There’s no reason to wait.”
She ignored him.
Just then, Baldy, Aggie and Lucy came out of the kitchen with their orders.
“Oh, my, Andy, that hamburger is almost as big as you!” Debra exclaimed. “The French fries alone would be enough to fill you up. I don’t know how you’ll eat all that.”
Andy’s eyes were big. “Me, neither,” he muttered.
“Don’t worry, Andy,” John said. “I’ll help you out in that department. Just in case you need it.”
“Thank you, John.”
John wanted to hug the little boy, but he was afraid Debra would make a big deal about it. But Andy had his mother’s sweetness. And her charm.
With Debra as Betsy’s mother, there was a good chance his daughter would acquire the same personality. He could hope, at least.
Debra, he noticed, fed Betsy, ignoring her own salad.
“Aren’t you going to eat?” he asked.
“I will as soon as Betsy is done.”
He ate about half his hamburger and noticed that Debra was still tending to his daughter. “Let me feed her for a while so you can eat some of your salad.”
“It won’t take much longer.”
“Debra, I want to feed Betsy now.” He pulled his chair to the other side of Betsy’s high chair and took the spoon from Debra’s hand. “Eat your lunch, now.”
Frustration shone in her eyes.
“I know you’re upset with me, but you deserve to eat with the rest of us.”
“This is part of my job,” she said stubbornly, watching him as he fed Betsy as if she was sure he couldn’t do it.
“Do you think Betsy didn’t eat anything until you came?” he asked, hoping to tease her into better humor.
“She wasn’t eating solid foods then. You might give her bites that are too big.”
“You’re right. You helped her change her diet and her sleeping habits. But that doesn’t mean I can’t help out. I don’t want her to forget me.”
“She won’t.”
“She might. Now eat some lunch or you’re going to hurt their feelings.” He nodded toward the kitchen. “They’ll think you don’t like their cooking.”
He’d finally figured out that talking Debra into doing something for herself wouldn’t work. But she’d do almost anything not to offend someone else. He didn’t mind not eating for a while if it meant that Debra would eat. Now that he thought about it, she seemed thinner than when she first came. He’d have to keep an eye on that.
Lucy came out to check on them and saw John feeding Betsy when half his lunch was uneaten. Lucy never seemed to age. She wore a bit more cushion around the middle now in her fifties but she still had her natural red hair. And she wanted to mother the world. “What are you doing, John?”
“Feeding my little girl. Seems like she’s got her daddy’s appetite.”
“Go finish your lunch. I got nothing to do and me and Betsy have always got along okay,” Lucy said, pushing John out of his chair. “Get another chair from one of the other tables.”
“I’ll be glad to feed her, Lucy,” Debra chimed in.
“Nonsense. John is right. You two need to nourish yourselves. It takes a lot of energy to raise children. I should know. I raised six of them.”
“Oh, my,” Debra exclaimed. “Then you’re an expert. I was a little afraid that John would give Betsy bites that were too big. But I know you’ll do it right.”
John rolled his eyes. “Thanks, dear wife, for all your support.”
Debra ducked her head and he feared he’d been too hard on her. “Come on, Deb, I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings.”
“You didn’t,” she assured him, but she didn’t look at him. She just started eating her salad again.
“Men aren’t real good at realizing all that a woman has to do,” Lucy said. “My hubby thought it was a simple matter.”
“Does he understand now?” Debra asked.
“No, child, he died eight years ago. We still had three children at home. And he still thought they came out all dressed and ready for school.”
Debra laughed. “I hope that’s an exaggeration.”
“Not much of one. But you don’t have to worry about John, here. He and Bill did a good job taking care of Betsy. Say, someone said you’re kin to Bill. Is that true?”
“Yes, I’m his niece.”
“Then you’re doubly welcome here. Bill’s an old friend. And you make your husband bring you here on a Saturday night. That’s our big night. Let us know and we’ll save you a table.”
“That’s very sweet of you, Lucy, but cooking dinner is part of my job. I’m not sure John—”
“I think he would,” John said at once, interrupting her. “You can put on your prettiest dress and we’ll make an evening of it.”
“We’ll see,” Debra said, ducking her head again.
What was wrong with the woman? He’d thought earlier she’d been upset with his teasing, but here he was offering her a night out on the town, what town there was, and she wouldn’t even accept his invitation.
“I think she’s full now, Lucy,” Debra said. “Let’s give her a cracker and see if she’s satisfied. Then you can just enjoy visiting with us.”
Betsy worked on a cracker, leaving the others time to eat. Debra asked Lucy several questions about her six children, and about the café. But when Lucy asked a few questions about Debra’s life before she came to marry John, Debra avoided answering.
John got up to refill his Coke. Lucy jumped up. “I’ll get that, John. How about you, Andy? Do you need more Coke?”
Andy looked at his mother. She shook her head.
“No, thank you,” Andy said.
“My, you are such a gentleman, Andy. Your mama has done you proud.”
Andy again looked at his mother. “Is that a good thing, Mommy?”
“Yes, sweetie, it is.”
“Thank you,” Andy said to Lucy.
Lucy beamed at the little boy. “He just makes you want to hug him, doesn’t he?”
“Yeah,” John agreed. “He’s a great kid.”
A few minutes later, they’d finished their meal and said goodbye to Baldy, Aggie and Lucy, promising to come again. But Debra didn’t make a specific promise. John began to wonder if she had been pretending to enjoy herself at lunch.
She turned to stare at him. “Didn’t I say I liked it?”
“Yes, but you could’ve just said that because it was the nice thing to say.”
“No, I really liked it.”
“So why did you hedge about coming on a Saturday night?”
“Because I would embarrass you.”
“How?”
“I don’t have a dress to wear.”
“Well, it’s a good thing we’re going shopping, then,” John said.
“You can’t buy me clothes.”
“Sorry, Debra. I can buy you whatever I want. I’m your husband.”
When they entered the general store, Debra said, “We’ll meet you up front in a few minutes.”
“Okay. I’ve got to talk to Charlie,” John said.
Debra took Andy and Betsy to the children’s section. “Andy, we’re just getting Betsy’s things today, because I don’t have any money yet. Okay?”
“Okay, Mommy.”
Debra thought he looked sad, but she didn’t know what to do. Until she finished and sold a quilt, she wouldn’t have money.
She picked out four outfits for Betsy and some diapers, then headed to the front of the store where the cash register was.
John was still talking to the owner. “You get everything you needed?” he asked.
“Yes,” she said, putting the purchases on the counter.
John eyed the clothes, then without a word to her, turned to Charlie. “Can you find some jeans for Andy? He’s growing fast.”
When Charlie started back to the children’s section, Debra whispered to John through clenched teeth. “I told you I’d buy him jeans later!”
“I’ll buy them now!”
Debra stood there holding his baby, stiff as a board.
Charlie brought two pairs of jeans for them to choose between.
“We’ll take both of them, Charlie. And maybe a couple of knit shirts.” John walked back to the children’s area, taking Andy with him.
Her son was very excited, but Debra didn’t blame him. He was only a little boy.
When they came back with three shirts, John reached out to take Betsy. “Give me the baby and go pick out something nice for yourself.”
“No, thank you,” she said unemotionally.
“Deb, you’re going to need clothes for church, if nothing else. It’s important in this community to attend church.”
“I’ll figure out something,” she muttered, determined not to give in.
John sighed. “Okay, this is it, Charlie.”
After he paid, he took the bag and hobbled out the door, then held it for Debra and the children.
Once they were in the truck heading back home, he let loose. “I’m very angry with you, Debra! Why can’t you just take the clothes?”
“I tried to explain to you that I need to pay for what we buy,” she said stonily.
“How are you going to earn that money? You’re working like a slave for me. You don’t have time for another job. And as hard as you work, I don’t think taking a dress or two should be a problem. You’ve earned more than that.”
She said nothing.
“So, how are you going to go to church Sunday? Explain that to me!”
She still said nothing.
He huffed and crossed his arms over his chest. “I hope you don’t teach the kids to be this stubborn.”
They were silent for the rest of the drive. When they got home, she took the children into the house.
John grabbed the bag and hurried after her.
“Are you going to let Andy keep the clothes? I hope you don’t intend—”
She turned to face him. “Of course I am, John. I would never be cruel to my child. And I’ll pay you back what they cost.”
John immediately ripped the tags off the clothes, hoping that would stop her from knowing what he’d paid.
“Don’t be so childish, John,” she said sternly. Then, in a much softer voice, she told her son, “It’s time for your nap, Andy.”
“Aw, Mommy,” he began, but his mother’s stern look made him change his mind. He turned to John. “Thank you for my new jeans and shirts.”
“You’re welcome, Andy.”
“Now, upstairs to your room. I’m going to put Betsy down. Then I’ll come check on you,” Debra said with a warm smile for her son.
He trudged up the stairs ahead of her and Betsy.
“Hey, what about me?” John called.
“You should probably rest, also. I’m sure walking with the cast is tiring.” She kept on going up the stairs.
Determined not to do what she’d said, he settled in front of the television, keeping the sound low so as not to distract Andy. He had almost fallen asleep when he heard Debra on the stairs. He sat up a little straighter and pretended to be alert and interested in the show.
“You decided not to rest?”
“I don’t need a nap. I’m a little older than Andy!”
“I would hope so. But you haven’t been up much since you hurt your leg.”
“I can manage. Now, tomorrow I might need some rest.”
Debra paused and looked at him. “Why would you need rest tomorrow and not today?”
“Because it’s time I got back in the saddle,” he said nonchalantly.
Debra whirled around to stare at him. “It’s time you did what?”
“Got back in the saddle again.”
“So, you mean you’re going to ride for an hour or so to get used to it again?”
“No, I mean I’ll be riding out in the morning with all the others.”
CHAPTER NINE
DEBRA threw things around in the kitchen, making as much racket as she could. Why should she care if the man damaged his leg again? She didn’t! she assured herself. It would be foolish to care about a man who was dumping her at the end of the summer. But the idea of his riding out in the morning was beyond stupid!
“Debra?” John said from the doorway, as if afraid to enter his own kitchen.
“Yes?”
“Honey, I didn’t mean to upset you, but I need to be out there working. Now that there are five of us, I think we’ll be able to handle all the work, thanks to your idea about selling the Escalade. That’s all I’m thinking of.”
“Making more money isn’t what’s important! You need to ease back into the job. If you’re exhausted, you’ll make mistakes that might even endanger the other men. Why don’t you just ride out a half day? Then you can come in, have lunch and rest.”
“If I did that, I’d have to bring everyone in for lunch. When you’re the boss, you don’t pamper yourself and no one else!”
“No one else broke his leg!”
“That’s true, but—”
“Oh, just get out of my kitchen! I have work to do!”
Debra already had meat marinating in the fridge for dinner. Now she wanted to bake a peach cobbler, one of her favorite recipes. Anything to keep busy. She should be glad John was going out in the morning. Things would be back to normal. That was what she wanted, wasn’t it?
She didn’t want to answer that question. Was she irritated with John because he’d bought the clothes for her son? Was she mad because he’d almost made a scene about buying her a dress? No, she was just worried about the crazy man, which was ridiculous.
After protesting about the dress, she now hated to admit she had a problem. Today was Wednesday, giving her four days to find something to wear to church on Sunday.
John’s mind had apparently been running along the same lines, because as he came into the kitchen again he said, “About your clothes situation…Maybe you could look through Elizabeth’s closet and find something to wear. I mean, I think you’re about the same size. No point in all those clothes just hanging there.”
“A woman named Adele called about the Westlake Auxiliary’s fair next month. She wanted you to sell your wife’s clothes.
She said you could earn a lot of money.”
“Why don’t you take what you want, and we’ll donate the rest of them to charity? It’s time I cleaned out her closet, anyway. Can you do that for me? And don’t worry about anyone around here having seen the clothes on her. She didn’t hang out in Westlake, and she never went to church with me.”
His bitter words made her want to give him a hug or soothe his brow, or something silly like that. John had been through a hard time with his first wife. He must be quite disillusioned. No wonder he’d been so rude to her in the beginning.
“I’ll take care of it,” she promised, keeping her head down and continuing to prepare the dough for the cobbler.
With a deep sigh, he said, “Thanks, I appreciate it.” Then he went back into the living room and sat down in front of the television.
Debra warned herself about feeling too sorry for John. After all, her life hadn’t been a picnic, either. Even though she’d only turned twenty-two, she felt like a hundred on some days.
With stiffened resolve not to feel sorry for herself or John, she concentrated on the cobblers. Finally, pleased with the lattice, she slid them into the oven, when she heard John’s voice behind her.
“Those look good.”
“Thank you. Are you watching television?”
“There’s only stupid stuff on. It’s either the soaps or news shows. I can’t figure out which one is worse.”
“You could try closing your eyes and resting,” she suggested.
“I don’t want to fall asleep! That’s why I got up.”
Hardheaded to the bitter end. “I’d be happy to wake you up before the men come in.”
“No, thanks. I’ll go check the freezer and make sure we have some vanilla ice cream to go on top of those cobblers. The men will love those.”
She was grateful for the respite. Back in Kansas City, she’d worked with others in the kitchen in her old job, but John in her kitchen was way too distracting.
“We’ve got plenty of vanilla ice cream,” he said as he came back. “Maybe too much—if that’s possible.”
“Well, I’ll try not to resort to ice cream on a regular basis.”
“Not to worry. The men have been raving about your cooking since the first night. As we rode in each evening, they would speculate on what was for dinner.”
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