Cowboy Groom

by Linda Ford

  “Can I go with Uncle Bruce?” Donny asked.

  “It’s fine with me, but you need to ask Uncle Bruce.”

  “Can I?” The boy almost squirmed out of his skin with longing.

  “I could sure use your help.” The pair left, Donny swaggering after Bruce.

  Stella chuckled. This was what she wanted for her children. Home. Acceptance. Belonging. Learning how to do the things a farm required.

  “Come on, Blossom. Time for your nap.”

  Her little daughter climbed into bed without a fuss and closed her eyes.

  Home sweet home. The words rang through Stella’s head as she went to the kitchen to think about supper. But the house seemed confining, and she stepped outside. Bruce and Donny walked along the corral fence, checking that each pole was secure. Twice they paused, and Bruce let Donny hammer at a spike then finished it himself with three strikes of his hammer. From the way Donny stood, Stella could tell Bruce had praised the boy’s efforts.

  Soon her cattle would be back, grazing nearby. Her gaze went toward the river where they would soon be. Had the cows delivered healthy calves? Was the milk cow still producing? And her chickens? How had they fared? Something in the shadow of the trees moved. She squinted. Was it the wind moving the branches? But they moved laterally. Not the way swaying branches would.

  Could it be a wild animal? A bear looking for more raspberries?

  She shifted her attention back to Bruce and Donny. They were safe enough where they were. She stared at the trees a long time but didn’t see anything else. Could it have been her imagination?

  She couldn’t be too cautious. She’d tell Bruce what she’d seen and keep the children close to the house until she could be certain no bears or other wildlife hung about.

  The sound of riders approaching sent alarm skidding along her nerves. She patted her pocket where she’d put the beaded piece of leather and squinted, trying to see if the horses were the painted ponies the natives often rode.

  7

  “Stay here.” Bruce pushed to his feet, keeping Donny behind him as two racing riders came over the green grassy hill toward the place. He had no way of knowing if they were neighbors or strangers, friendly or otherwise.

  Stella stood near the house, shading her eyes to study the approaching pair.

  Bruce would have gone immediately to her side, letting the visitors know she had the protection of a man, but he worried about Donny. If the riders were unfriendly, it would be best if they weren’t aware of a child, or children, on the place.

  “Donny, climb through the fence and run to the barn. Stay there until we know who this is.”

  “Ah.” The word carried a world of disappointment, but the boy obeyed.

  Bruce waited until Donny was out of sight then kept his pace to a walk as he crossed the yard and joined Stella to watch the riders. “You know them?” he asked.

  “Too far to tell.”

  She might have tried to sound at ease, but he heard the tension crackling in her voice.

  “You’re worried?” He could make out a big black horse and a smaller sorrel one but couldn’t identify the riders.

  “A little. I thought I saw—” She sighed in relief. “It’s Flora and Kade.”

  “How do you know that? They’re still too far away to tell.”

  “The red hair. Flora has red hair.” She ran to the edge of the yard to wait for them.

  The pair cantered closer. The red hair was now clearly evident on the woman who rode astride. The man riding beside her was tallish. As they neared, Bruce saw that he had dark eyes and dark hair and an expression that warned he would brook no nonsense.

  Bruce hoped the man saw the same in Bruce’s face.

  The gal jumped to the ground without reining in her horse and rushed to Stella. “It’s you. I can’t believe it.” The two women hugged. “When did you get back?”

  “Today, and I’m not alone.”

  The redhead chuckled. “I noticed.”

  The other rider dismounted and studied Bruce.

  Stella turned to Bruce. “This is one of the Kinsley sisters, Flora, and her husband, Kade. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas.” She grinned as she continued. “This is my husband, Bruce Reynolds.”

  Bruce held out a hand to Kade. “Pleased to meet you.”

  The man stared and slowly took Bruce’s hand. The shake was quick and not exactly welcoming.

  Flora stared. “You’re married? When did this happen?”

  Stella chuckled. “This morning.”

  Donny raced across the yard toward them. “Aunt Flora. Uncle Kade. We’re home to stay.”

  Kade caught the boy and lifted him to his side. “Is that a fact?”

  Flora grabbed Stella’s arm. “I can’t believe you got married without us there. You have some explaining to do.”

  “First things first. Thank you for tending my stock and planting a garden.”

  Flora guffawed. “Garden? What are you talking about?”

  “Come and see.” Stella led them to the fenced-in area. “Someone has planted it and tended it. If not you, then who?” She patted her pocket and glanced about, tension lining her face.

  Bruce could understand how unsettling it was to wonder who had planted the garden. Who would have done it? What had she been about to say? Something about having seen something?

  Flora looked about too. “Maybe a kind neighbor?”

  “Like who? You’re our nearest neighbor.”

  Flora shrugged. “Who cares who did it? Accept it as a gift. Now tell me how you met this man. Is he a friend from back east?” Flora squinted at Bruce, dragged her gaze up and down his length.

  Bruce squared his shoulders and refused to blink before the demanding gazes of the Thomas couple.

  “Nope. I didn’t know him back east. In fact, I met him yesterday for the first time.”

  He couldn’t tell if Stella enjoyed shocking and surprising them or if the hesitation in her voice was from regret that their circumstances had driven them to this union.

  Flora shook Stella’s arm. “You can’t be serious. And Pa married you?”

  “Not only married us, he encouraged us to do so.”

  “I must be missing something. Why would he do that?” Flora looked at her husband, and a message passed between them that had them both smiling. She spared a hard look for Bruce before she returned her attention to Stella. “Did he catch you in a compromising situation?”

  Stella’s laugh seemed more embarrassment than amusement. “Of course not. Bruce brought his aunt with a burned and broken leg. Your ma didn’t want her to stay. The Zimmermans and their six children are there and very sick. You ma isn’t sure what is wrong with them but didn’t think it was a good place for an older woman with a burn or even for two young children.”

  Flora shook her head. “Nope. Still doesn’t make sense.”

  Stella drew in a deep, noisy breath. “Flora, there is more than one reason to get married. For some, it is beneficial to both parties to strike a business-like agreement. That’s the case here. I get to return to my home. His Aunt Mary gets a home where she will be taken care of.”

  “I get to come home too,” Donny said.

  Flora tossed her hands upward. “I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. The only reason to get married is because you can’t imagine life without the other person.” She scowled darkly at Bruce. “Stella is as good as a sister to me. You better treat her right.”

  “Plan to.”

  Kade’s look was hard. “I’ll be watching.”

  “Feel free,” Bruce said.

  “Enough of that.” Stella pulled Flora toward the house. “Come and meet Aunt Mary.”

  “Fine.” They made their way to the house.

  “Wait here,” Stella said at the door. “While we get her up.”

  Bruce had fixed a stool and covered it with leather, padded by a bit of the hay he’d found in the pen. He picked it up and followed Stella inside as Flora and Kade tied their horses to t
he hitching post.

  “I don’t think they approve of me,” he murmured. He set the stool by the soft armchair.

  “Can’t expect they will after five minutes. Give them time. We all need time.” She cracked open the door of Aunt Mary’s bedroom. “Good. You’re awake. Do you want to get up and meet one of the Kinsley girls and her husband?”

  “That would be lovely.”

  Stella helped the older lady take care of her personal needs then together, Bruce and Stella positioned Aunt Mary in the chair in the front room.

  “The stool is perfect. Thank you, Bruce.” She patted his cheek.

  It made him feel like a young boy again, but he didn’t mind. Aunt Mary’s affection had turned him from a homeless urchin into a man, and now he was a man with a home and family. He meant to be the best man for the job he could possibly be.

  Stella called the couple in and introduced them to his aunt.

  Flora leaned over to greet her.

  Aunt Mary caught the braid that hung over Flora’s shoulder. “What lovely hair.”

  Kade chuckled. “For saying that, she will henceforth be your willing servant.”

  Flora grinned at her husband, their affection obvious. Bruce dismissed the regret that his marriage would not offer him that.

  “Tell me how you hurt yourself,” Flora said, pulling a chair close to Aunt Mary’s side.

  “Just a clumsy old woman. We were on our way to Washington Territory, and I was rushing about getting things from the wagon, and I fell.”

  Stella’s face went from smiling to scowling at Aunt Mary’s words. Bruce tried to think why it should be. Was it the mention of Washington Territory? Did she think he hankered after reaching their initial destination? Maybe her caution was to be expected having known so much uprooting at the hands of her pa. He could reassure her again that he meant to stay, meant to live up to his vows, but she’d have to find that out for herself.

  How long would it take? He smiled to himself. She could take as long as she wanted, and he would still be here.

  Stella went to the stove and made a pot of coffee. She cut slices of cake for everyone. Blossom slipped from her bedroom, saw the visitors, and smiled.

  Flora held out her arms. “Hello, little one. Come and give me a hug.”

  Blossom ran into Flora’s arms. Donny stuck like a burr to Kade’s side.

  Aunt Mary seemed right at home with the others.

  Bruce felt like an outsider even though he was legally owner of the farm.

  “Children, sit at the table.” Stella put out cake and cups of water for them.

  Flora jumped up to help Stella take the adults coffee and cake. They all clustered around Aunt Mary. She smiled from one to the other. “Isn’t this nice?”

  “What brings you over here?” Bruce asked.

  “We were out riding,” Flora said. “Kade was sure he saw smoke, so we came to investigate. Sure never thought to find Stella here and with a husband at that.”

  Aunt Mary chuckled. “When Bruce told me this morning they intended to marry, I was surprised. But it makes perfect sense. It’s just what the both of them and the children need.”

  “And what is that?” Kade asked in a hard voice.

  “Stability. Permanency. Mutual concern.” She sounded pleased with the arrangement.

  Stella’s expression went from pleased to wary in the time it took Aunt Mary to give her opinion.

  “Mama made lotsa smoke,” Blossom said, which required a full explanation.

  Kade laughed and turned to Bruce. “I’m surprised you didn’t toss a bucket of water into the house before you knew what was happening. ’Fraid that’s what I would have done.”

  Feeling a bit more accepted, Bruce grinned. “Thought I better see to getting the ladies out first. Aunt Mary couldn’t get out by herself.”

  “I sure don’t want to be burned again,” Aunt Mary said.

  As the others talked and laughed, Bruce began to relax.

  Aunt Mary spoke to Flora. “Stella tells me you are adopted.”

  Flora grinned. “There are six Kinsley girls, and we are all adopted.”

  “Oh my. That’s quite a lot. Where are they all?”

  “Five of us are married and live nearby. Tilly stayed in Verdun. She hopes to marry back there.” Flora’s smile momentarily fled. “Sure wish she would join the rest of us out here. She’d love Montana Territory once she got used to it.”

  Bruce tried to keep track as Flora and Stella told about the girls. But there were names of Flora’s sisters, names of their husbands, names of several children, and names of older folk. “I’ll never figure it all out.”

  “It will take time,” Stella said.

  “Something you’ll have lots of,” Kade added.

  “Bruce fits right in with the Kinsleys,” Aunt Mary said. “Him being an orphan and all.”

  Bruce groaned. Normally the subject caused raised eyebrows and darted glances between listeners. At least she hadn’t mentioned him being a street urchin.

  This time the information barely earned interest. Might be he belonged here more than he could have imagined.

  He ventured a new idea. “I was planning to ride over tomorrow and get Stella’s livestock.”

  “We’ll round up her cows in the morning if you want to come after dinner,” Kade said.

  They visited for some time, exchanging news, informing Bruce about who lived where. Again, too many names for him to sort out.

  Kade pushed to his feet. “Flora, we best be on our way.”

  All but Aunt Mary went outside to bid their company goodbye. She called her goodbyes from the house.

  “Come by anytime,” Stella said. “We’re only a skip and a holler away.”

  Kade looked at Bruce. Was he wondering if Bruce would also extend an invitation? Though he wondered if he had the right. “It’s nice to have company,” he said, after a moment’s hesitation.

  Kade nodded. “Road runs both ways.”

  “Aunt Mary won’t be up to travel for a while.”

  “True enough.” Kade held out his hand. “Nice to meet you.”

  Flora swung into her saddle. “Just be sure you treat Stella right. Or I’ll—”

  “Flora.” Kade’s voice was gently warning.

  “Fine. Just be sure you do.”

  “I plan to. Have from the start.” He leaned back on his heels to study the mounted pair. “I’ve vowed before God and man. That means everything to me.”

  As they rode away, he wondered if they were convinced. Wondered if Stella was. She returned to the house.

  “I’ll finish checking the fences.” He strode to the barn. Only time could prove to each of them what the other was like. And like Kade said, they had plenty of it.

  Stella watched Bruce return to his task. Unsaid things hovered between them. Or perhaps it was only that seeing Kade and Flora together provided a sharp reminder of what she and Bruce didn’t have.

  “Can Blossom come with me?” Donny asked.

  “Where would that be?”

  “To help Uncle Bruce.”

  Stella considered the request. It seemed that Bruce didn’t object to the children’s company, and they were part of the bargain between them. “Yes, you may, but be sure to stay out of his way.”

  “Yes, Mama.” Hand in hand, the pair trotted over to Bruce, who sat cross-legged on the ground to talk to them. Blossom sat beside him, close enough she would feel every breath. Donny talked and waved, telling the man something he considered important. Bruce nodded and once, chuckled. Why did Stella’s heart beat so hollowly? As if the blood had thinned. As if it lacked life-giving energy? It had to be because she was back home, but things were so different from what she’d known before. It was not because she felt alone despite having four other people sharing her home. But not her life?

  What a foolish thought.

  She went back inside, going directly to the kitchen to begin supper preparations. She’d put a roast in the oven earlier and add
ed potatoes and carrots from the garden to the pot. The food could cook untended, which left her to find something to occupy her time. She fetched her knitting from the bedroom and sat on the sofa. The least she could do was keep Aunt Mary company.

  “How are you feeling?”

  The older woman sighed and shifted about in the chair. “A little weary.”

  “Do you need laudanum?”

  “I think I’ll save it for when I go to bed. I don’t like missing out on anything.”

  Stella chuckled. “Not much to miss out on at the moment. The children are with Bruce, who is making sure the fences are sound before my livestock returns. Kade and Flora have been caring for them.”

  “Tell me more about Kade and Flora. How did they meet?”

  Stella chuckled. “She was out riding this spring and got lost in a snowstorm. She happened to stumble to Kade’s door though she says God guided her there. She spent two nights stranded in the storm.” Stella shuddered, remembering how close she’d come to dying in that same storm.

  “Was she alone?”

  “Except for her horse.”

  “My, my. How unfortunate. Were they forced to marry?”

  Stella laughed. “The preacher said they must, but Kade refused.”

  “That’s not very noble. Shouldn’t he have cared about her reputation?”

  “He did. But he knew her well enough to know she must choose him of her own free will and asked the preacher to give him two weeks to make her willing. The preacher did, and Kade won her heart.”

  “In two weeks.” Aunt Mary studied Stella, a little smile on her lips. “I think you can do better than that.”

  “I’m sorry. I don’t understand your meaning.”

  “I think you can win Bruce’s heart in less than two weeks.”

  “Win his heart?” Stella stammered the words. “I have no intention of even trying. That isn’t what we agreed to.”

  “Pshaw. You agreed to a business arrangement, like two men operating a store. Only it’s a man and a woman living under the same roof, raising a family and working together. You’ll soon discover this arrangement can’t remain businesslike.”

  Stella folded away the sweater she was knitting for Blossom, put it in the basket, slowly set it to one side, and pushed to her feet. “I need to check on the garden.”