As Liz changed the baby’s diaper, he thought of his decision about the gold and cringed. He’d better not plan on any little ones just yet. Or a repeat of their marriage vows, either. As soon as he told Connie she couldn’t keep her inheritance because it didn’t belong to her, she might decide she didn’t want anything more to do with him. Oh, well, he’d hold off on that until after tonight. He didn’t want to stir up a hornet’s nest with the whole family there.
~*~
Connie put all her concentration into kneading and baking bread with Mary and the girls. She wouldn’t think about where she was or that Brett had gone off and left her here alone with strangers. Strangers who probably wished she’d never crossed their threshold.
Mary talked nonstop about the wedding. When it should be, what they all should wear, and even the flowers to decorate the church. The flowers were all in full bloom, so wasn’t it wonderful they were having a wedding now? Oh and her wedding dress would probably fit, or she could cut it down so it would. Now wouldn’t that be nice? She’d need something borrowed and besides, it’d take too long to make a new one. Then there was the cake they’d need to make.
Connie couldn’t get the woman’s voice out of her head, but she didn’t care. She just wanted the whole thing over with. She wanted to go off someplace where she and Brett could be alone like they’d been on the trail north.
Brett and his father came home for lunch, but they didn’t stay long. Connie walked outdoors with her husband and received a quick kiss for her trouble and a promise he would try to be home early that night as they were having the rest of the family over for dinner. He left, and she went back inside to help finish the bread making.
When they stuck the last loaf of bread into the oven, she breathed a sigh of relief. Surely, they’d start on dinner now and Brett would come home for the night.
“Connie, would you let me fix your hair for Brett before he gets here?” Nora stood waiting for her answer, an expectant look in her dark eyes.
Connie stared at her not sure what she should say.
“Please, Connie. I’d like for us to be friends. Besides, I really like to do things like that. Momma says I have a natural knack.”
Connie shrugged. “Reckon it won’t hurt nothin’.”
Mary smiled at them. “Of course it won’t. You girls run along. Lucy can help me get started on dinner.”
They went upstairs to Nora’s room where Connie stood just inside the door and looked around. Frilly, white curtains at the open windows ruffled in the breeze. A pink and white bedspread covered the double bed. All the furniture and the woodwork were painted white while the walls were papered with a pink and white floral landscape design. It was a bedroom any girl would love. One she’d never even dreamed of having.
“Why don’t you sit over here and I’ll brush your hair out first?” Nora indicated the chair at a gleaming white vanity.
Connie sat and stared at herself in the mirror. She’d never seen a good image of her face and couldn’t take her eyes from the reflection of the girl who stared back at her. Brett said she was beautiful. She studied her face and hair then lifted her gaze to find Nora watching her.
The younger girl smiled. “I wonder if Brett appreciates you enough.”
“Now, why’d you say that?”
“Because you’re so pretty. With your shiny blond hair and smooth complexion, you’re absolutely beautiful. I love the color of your eyes. I’ve never seen any quite that shade of blue.” Nora let Connie’s hair fall from the braid and brushed it.
“I reckon I got them from my grandmother.” Connie frowned, as the name sounded unfamiliar on her tongue. “Leastways that’s what my daddy said.”
Nora fixed her hair with clusters of curls on either side of her head using a utensil she called a curling iron. Connie’s eyes widened when perfect ringlets fell to hug her neck. So that’s how women got their hair to stay just so. A strange sensation crept over her as if the girl in the mirror was someone else.
“Now we need some flowers.” Nora opened a drawer in the vanity and rummaged around for a moment. She pulled a couple of cloth flowers out and somehow stuck one at the top of either cluster of curls. “There, now. That’s just the effect.”
Connie stared at the girl in the mirror. “That don’t look like me.”
“Oh, yes, it does.” Nora’s soft laughter sounded happy. As if she enjoyed making such a change in Connie’s appearance. “But I’d really like for you to do me a favor now.”
“I reckon I can if you’ll tell me what you want.” Connie looked at her new sister-in-law. She’d figured Brett’s family was nothing but more do-gooders like all the other Christians she’d met, but Nora acted like she was playing. She didn’t treat Connie like some poor waif she had to help.
Nora moved across the room to a wardrobe. “Well, it’s just that I didn’t have any flowers that match your dress.” She stopped short of opening the wardrobe. “Did you bring anything else with you? I mean, I know you weren’t able to pack much.”
“I got another dress, but that’s about all. Maybe I should—”
“Connie, please don’t be angry with me,” Nora opened the wardrobe doors. “But I really want to give you a dress. I mean, we’re sisters and I don’t have anything else to give you.”
Connie stared at Nora. Did she mean what she said or was this just a do-gooder trick? She couldn’t see the pleased-with-myself look that those other Christian women had worn. Nora looked almost scared like she thought Connie would throw her offering back in her face.
Connie’s heart softened. “I reckon I’d like one of your dresses iffen it fits me.”
A wide smile broke across Nora’s face. “I think I know just the one that will.”
She pulled out a green silk dress. Connie had never seen anything so pretty. She touched the flower in her hair. Nora was right. The flowers would go much better with a green dress than the blue one she wore. “I don’t want to muss my hair.”
“That’s all right. I’ll help so it doesn’t touch your hair. You should be able to step into it and pull it up.” Nora eyes danced. “Brett will be so surprised when he sees you all fixed up. We need to hurry so he doesn’t come before we’re ready.”
Nora found some petticoats and Connie soon stood before the mirror again looking at a girl she scarcely recognized. This green dress was even prettier than the two she got from Mrs. Caldwell. She ran her hands over the smooth silky fabric of the skirt. Then she lifted her gaze to Nora’s face in the mirror over her shoulder.
There was a woman, Kate Wiggins, who had brought an armload of her daughters’ outgrown clothes to the Burns in Purgatory to give to ‘the poor little orphan child.’ Nora wasn’t Mrs. Wiggins, but that didn’t make Connie feel any better.
“How do you like it?” Nora watched her.
“It’s nice.” Connie couldn’t keep the stiffness from her voice. “But I ain’t no charity case, Nora. I just couldn’t bring any pretty dresses with me. Next week, I’ll buy me some new clothes. Really fine ones. For right now, I’m obliged to you for makin’ me the loan of one of your old dresses so’s I can look nice for your family dinner tonight.”
The sparkle left Nora’s eyes, but Connie couldn’t take back her words.
Chapter 16
Connie swept past Nora with her head held high. The silk of her full skirt rustled as she rounded the turn in the stairway. She felt almost barefoot in the dainty slippers Nora had insisted she wear.
The impact of what Nora had done hit her, and she hesitated with her hand on the banister. What would Brett think of her now? And his parents? Poor little Connie Davis hadn’t been good enough to eat with the Norris family the way she was. She didn’t know how to dress properly or fix her own hair. She had to be taken in hand. Given a proper dress and shoes. Have her hair curled and pinned up in some fancy hairdo with flowers.
A flush moved over her face and she started to turn back when she saw Brett standing at the foot of the stairs lo
oking up at her. The light of love shone from his eyes warming her heart and chasing any other thought from her mind.
He blinked and released a rush of breath from his lungs as if it had caught at the sight of her. He smiled and held out his hand. His expression warmed as his gaze never left hers.
“You are so beautiful,” he whispered.
She took one step and then another until his hand swallowed hers.
His lips brushed her ear. “I surely do love you, Mrs. Norris.”
“I love you, too, Brett.” She barely had time to whisper the words before his father stood and moved toward the door leading outside.
“I hear a buggy. The Hutchens must have arrived.”
Mary stepped close to inspect Nora’s work while Nora stood behind Connie looking pleased with herself. “Isn’t she beautiful, Mama?”
Mary nodded. “Yes, quite beautiful. Nora has such a knack with fixing hair. I always let her do mine for special occasions. Brett, you have found a lovely wife both in appearance and I believe in her heart as well.”
Brett slipped an arm around Connie and grinned down at her. “I know, Mom.”
Connie leaned close to Brett. The women stayed nearby and Brett’s father stood at the door, calling to someone outside. Footsteps pounded across the front porch just before the front door shoved open wider and three little boys burst in like three shots from a gun.
“Boys, slow down.” A young woman followed with two babies, one in each of her arms. She shook her head as she came through the door. “I’m sorry, Dad.”
Mr. Norris laughed and took one of the babies. He winked at the three boys who now stood in a row in front of the fireplace. “What are you apologizing for, Elizabeth? All I see are three young gentlemen, isn’t that right, boys?”
“Three young gentlemen who had better be on their best behavior tonight.” Elizabeth’s husband stepped through the door with a toddler in his arms and gave his sons a glare.
The boys looked from one adult to another before the oldest stepped forward, his hands clasped in front. “That’s okay, Papa, I’ll make sure that Walker and Ashley behave themselves.”
Connie smiled at Brett. He leaned close and whispered for her alone. “Wait until I tell you what they did to me today.”
The boys’ father hid his smile as he looked down at his sons. “Maybe we’d do better if each of us watched our own behavior. How about that?”
“Sure.” The oldest boy nodded and stepped back into line. “Can we give Grandma and Grandpa a hug and kiss now?”
The man nodded. “Just be gentle.”
The boys ran from one grandparent to another as they hugged and chattered non-stop. Connie didn’t even try to understand what all they told their grandparents. Seemed like what they wanted was to be the center of attention.
When they finally settled down, Brett tugged her forward. “Liz, I’d like for you to meet my wife, Connie. Connie, this is my sister, Elizabeth Hutchens.
“I’m pleased to meet you.” They said all the proper things while Connie shook their hands and edged closer to Brett.
Life on the trail had been hard, but at that moment, she would love to go back to the woods and hills where she and Brett could be alone. Here, she felt like some unusual varmint Brett picked up while he was gone. But no matter what anyone else thought, she belonged beside Brett. He was her husband. He said he loved her, and she loved him. She wouldn’t think of what her life might be like without him. If she had to force her way into his family and act as if she was a “have” when the life of a “have-not” was all she knew, then she would. She could do whatever it took to stay by Brett’s side. Because she wasn’t never going to leave him.
Connie sat beside Brett. As his father stood and bowed his head, the room grew quiet. Under cover of the tablecloth, Brett’s hand found Connie’s and she curled her fingers around his while his father prayed, asking God’s blessing on the food. That must be why Brett always wanted to pray before their meals, because his father did.
After they ate, the children ran outdoors while the adults pushed their chairs back. Elizabeth and Jim each took one of their daughters to clean the smeared food from their faces.
Lucy held her hands out to the one in Elizabeth’s arms. “I’ll take care of her if you want to help Mom.”
Nora looked up from the dishes she’d gathered. “Right, poor Liz needs a rest.” She let the silverware fall back to the table and went to her brother-in-law. “Why don’t I take Sarena–or are you Sarah?” She laughed as she took the baby. “I never can tell the difference.”
“That is Sarah.” Elizabeth rolled her eyes at her younger sisters. “And don’t think I haven’t figured out what you’re doing. Trading off kitchen duties to play with your nieces.” She shook her head as if in reprimand.
Lucy and Nora laughed as they went through the door leading to the living room, each carrying a baby.
Jim stretched his empty arms and grinned. “Reckon I’m off the hook. Didn’t you say you picked up a nice looking horse on your trip north, Brett?”
“I sure did.” Brett turned to Connie. “You don’t mind if I show the bay to Jim and Dad, do you?”
Connie released a silent sigh. She didn’t mind, but she’d like to go along. Taking care of the horses had always been her job, and she hadn’t seen them all day. She glanced around the kitchen. Brett’s father and brother-in-law had already started for the door. The women bustled from one end of the kitchen to the other. How would it look if she didn’t help?
She smiled at Brett. “’Course not. Give Chester and Fugitive a pat for me and tell ’em I’ll come see ’em afore bedtime.”
Brett grinned. “That I will do.”
Connie turned away to help with the dishes. At least, she knew how to clean, so she shouldn’t feel too out of place. Mary and Elizabeth included her in their conversation as they worked. Mary swept the floor and wiped the table then went into the dining room to clean while Elizabeth washed dishes and Connie dried.
“I want to tell you, Connie, just how thankful I am that you rescued my little brother. The story he told is almost unbelievable.”
Connie smiled at Elizabeth. “I reckon it does seem pretty far fetched.”
“Especially the part about the sheriff shooting himself.”
Connie shrugged, trying not to remember the terror she’d felt when Sheriff Burns pointed his gun at Brett. They’d agreed to keep their suspicions that someone else had shot Burns to themselves for fear Brett’s parents would worry. “You should-a heard Brett’s prayer just afore the sheriff pulled the trigger. You would-a believed it then. I reckon God made that bullet hit the knife and fly right back to the wickedest man who ever lived.”
Elizabeth shuddered. “Oh, I don’t know. It scares me just thinking about it. You’re certainly a lot braver than I am.”
Connie looked away from the other woman. What could she say? She wasn’t brave. She’d been scared worse than she ever remembered being when Burns showed up. She rubbed at a pan with the dish towel then set it aside and glanced toward the back door at a step outside.
Brett poked his head in. “Hey, you ready to go for that walk with me?”
“Yes.” She almost laughed at the thought of being alone with him. Then she looked down at the dress Nora had given her. “Oh, but I can’t go in this. I might ruin it. And look at these shoes.” She lifted her long skirt just enough for him to see her feet. “They wouldn’t last more’n a trip around the house.”
Brett laughed. “I’ll admit they aren’t as sturdy as your boots, but I’ve seen Liz run all over in shoes like that. Isn’t that right, Liz?”
Elizabeth smiled and held out one slipper-clad foot. “I still do. Don’t worry, Connie. You’ll be fine.”
“We won’t go far,” Brett promised and took her hand.
They went through the living room where his two younger sisters were playing with the babies on the floor. The girls looked up with smiles and waved as Brett and Connie passed.
As they stepped out into the late spring evening, a gentle breeze lifted the ringlets from either side of Connie’s face. To the west, she could see streaks of orange and red as if God had taken a huge paintbrush and swiped it across the sky.
“Ain’t that somethin’? How all those bright colors look like they’re just a hangin’ there in the sky lookin’ pretty?”
“Yes, it is.” Brett stepped behind her and rested his hands on her shoulders. “God has given us a beautiful world to enjoy if we will.”
“Yeah, I reckon so.”
As they took hands and walked down the lane to the road, one of Brett’s nephews darted around the house out of sight. They never seemed to stop moving.
A few yards ahead, Brett pointed to the curve in the road. “There’s a vacant lot around that corner that’s probably the closest thing to a park this town has. I don’t know who owns it, but for as long as I can remember, kids have played there. If we weren’t rolling wagon rims across the square or swimming in the old swimming hole, we were climbing trees here.”
She looked up at him and smiled. “I bet you was just as rambunctious as your nephews.”
“Yeah,” He grinned. “But there was only one of me. Liz has three to keep track of.”
Connie laughed. “Reckon the twins will be like their older brothers?”
Brett gave an exaggerated shudder. “I sure hope not.”
They walked with fingers intertwined, and Connie relaxed for the first time since they’d reached Springfield. She absorbed the warmth of Brett’s hand. If only they didn’t have to return to his parent’s house. They stopped under a large, old oak tree on the deserted square of Springfield. Sheltered by the wide-spreading branches, Brett pulled Connie close, and with his own special musky scent surrounding her, he lowered his lips to hers.
When they broke apart, he still held her and rested his forehead against hers. “I’ve wanted to do that all day.”
“Me, too.” She had trouble catching her breath. She could see the pulse pounding in his neck. He must want more than a kiss. If so, he wanted the same thing she did. To be as close as two people could be. To become one with Brett. To share his thoughts, his desires, his dreams. To work together to make a life worth living. To become “haves” just like Davis always wanted for her.
Connie and the Cowboy (Outlaw Gold) Page 18