Clay lifted an eyebrow. He didn’t say anything else, just looked at her. Realization dawned on her face. A bright red blush flashed up her neck to her forehead.
Millie glanced back down at the drawing. “Later. Much later. I’m not sure I can deal with the prospect of more children at the moment.”
Clay cleared his throat, moving the conversation back to the remodel. “We can build the bedrooms first. Those are most important. Not very difficult either. The boys can help. I thought to put bunkbeds in the boys’ room. They can pretend they are cowboys.”
Millie laughed. She tapped the drawing. “So where are they going to sleep while the rooms are being built?”
“We’ll clear a space in the storage room for the boys. They can sleep on the floor. Fern will have to stay with the little girls until I get hers built. It’ll be crowded but temporary. Hers will be first. Then the boys’, then dividing for the bathroom and Abe’s. The bathroom will be last. At least the fixtures and plumbing. I can tap off the water line in the kitchen to take water to the bathroom. I’ll put a stove and water tank for hot water in there too.”
“You are one talented gent. Or at least you claim to be. We’ll see how this whole thing comes together.” Millie’s teasing smile brought a tightening to Clay’s chest.
After supper Millie and Clay kept the children at the table. They needed to let them know about how the apartment would be changed.
“Reuben and Abe’s room is going to be made smaller so we can put in a bathing room,” Clay began.
“With a real bathtub?” Grace asked.
“Yes, a real bathtub. Abe will stay in his small room. I’ll build a room for the older boys. You’ll have to sleep on the floor in the storage room until it’s done. Grace and Ida will share with Fern and Opal.”
Fern jumped up, knocking her chair over. She ran down the hall, slamming the door of her bedroom closed.
Millie looked at Clay. She got up and went to see what was wrong with her daughter. Millie stopped as she approached the end of the hall. She took a deep breath. She was so tired. So very weary. The decision to marry Clay had lifted some of the burden on her but it came rushing back with Fern’s distress. What was the matter?
Knocking on the door, Millie heard sobs. She opened it slowly and saw her oldest child lying on her stomach weeping into her pillow. Sitting down next to Fern she began rubbing her back.
“What’s the matter, Dolly?” Millie realized she hadn’t called Fern the pet name since the earthquake. Sherman started calling her Dolly when she was a tiny baby. The thought brought tears to her eyes.
“The boys get a new room and don’t have to share with the baby. I’m stuck with the little girls. I have to take care of Opal and Abe all the time now. I never get to play with Betty anymore.” Fern sobbed again.
Millie realized how much she’d placed on Fern’s ten-year-old shoulders. Since Sherman died and she’d been so swamped, Fern became the one who took care of the little ones. It was one of the reasons Millie had placed the ad in the Grooms Gazette.
“You’ve been so wonderful all this time. I’m so proud of how you’ve helped me. You’ve been an angel and,” Millie leaned down hugging her daughter. “You left before Mr. Cutler could tell you about the rest of the plans. There’s something I think will make you very happy. Come hear what his plan is.”
Fern turned over. “Something for me?”
“Yes. Now, wipe your face and come.”
Clay was giving instructions to the boys about their chores to help with the remodel when they arrived in the dining room. “Come here, Fern,” he said, holding out his arm so she could come close. “Look here.” He pointed to a square on the drawing. “What’s that say?”
Fern leaned down to look. A smile broke out on her face. “Fern’s room. You mean I get a room all to myself?” She looked from her mother to Clay.
“Yes, Dolly. The room you share with Opal is too small for all four of you. There will be a room made just for you.” Millie placed a hand on her shoulder.
“Yours will be the first room made since you four girls will have to share until it’s done. We can’t have you sleeping on the floor with the boys.” Clay ruffled her hair.
“Thank you, Mama.” She hugged Millie then turned and hugged Clay. “Thank you, Pa.”
Bittersweet tears rose in Millie eyes. She was delighted Fern was happy about the room but sad that it wasn’t Sherman who was giving it to her.
CHAPTER FIVE
MILLIE AND CLAY followed their brood along the park toward the inn. They were going to have a celebratory lunch there. The children were dressed in their Sunday go-to-meeting clothes, all spit polished. They were coming from the church where the marriage ceremony had been held. Millie was now Mrs. Cutler. Clay had placed a wide gold band on her finger. She’d removed her ring from Sherman last night, placing it in a small porcelain box he’d given her last Christmas.
The ceremony had been simple, as had most of the ones performed recently. Pastor James, the new preacher, officiated with his new wife Abby, and Mrs. Fannie Pearl Edmonson, the widow of the old preacher, as witnesses.
Mrs. Edmonson was joining the new family for their meal. She was a spitfire of an older woman and knew her Bible backwards and forwards. Beloved of most of the townsfolk but not very popular with those who frequented or worked at the Lucky Lady Saloon.
She walked between Opal and Grace, the latter inspecting her wrinkled, spotted hand with her magnifying glass. Grace took it everywhere, stowing it in her pocket. Ida held Opal’s hand.
The past few days had been a whirlwind of activity. Trunks were moved from the inn to the storage room which was cleaned and rearranged. Clay ordered the lumber needed for the rooms he was to build and worked hard on getting all the repairs done to the building.
Ryder helped with those and worked as a clerk helping customers. Millie was impressed with his knowledge and at how hard he worked. Nate was given the task of fetching and carrying for his father. Reuben and Ben kept sorting and arranging the items in the pile in the back room. It was slowly getting smaller. Millie had a feeling quite a bit of the time was spent playing with the blocks.
Fern was still in charge of the little girls and Abe. With the promise of her own room her attitude improved. The girls seemed to be forging close bonds. Abe was content to simply play with whatever they let him. Millie hoped that she could return to being primarily a mother once the repairs and remodeling were complete. Fern needed to have time for herself and to play with her friends.
In the inn dining room several tables had to be pushed together. Clay ordered the special for everyone. That was much easier for all concerned with this large a group of mainly children. He’d placed an order for a cake for dessert the other day.
A throat cleared behind Clay and Millie and Mr. Terhall stepped up to the table. “Good day, Mrs. Messer. What a fine group of youngsters you have here. I haven’t seen many of these before. Are they relatives of yours?”
Clay pushed back his chair and stood. He held out his hand. “Clay Cutler. These are my children. Mrs. Messer is now Mrs. Cutler.” The squeeze he gave to Terhall’s gloved hand as they shook conveyed the message that he wasn’t someone to take advantage of.
“Ah, welcome to Silverpines, Mr. Cutler. I’m sure we’ll be mighty fine neighbors.”
Clay inclined his head, not wanting to give an affirmative answer. “I’ll be seeing you when you come to the mercantile, I’m sure. Also at church.” Clay knew he was baiting the man.
“Possibly, possibly.” Terhall focused on Millie. “Congratulations, Mrs. Cutler. My best wishes on your marriage. Until next time we meet.” He tipped his hat to Millie and Mrs. Edmonson and turned his back to walk away.
“Pa, that man’s mean,” Ryder whispered. He sat next to his father.
“I know. We’ll talk about it later,” was Clay’s soft reply, patting his son’s shoulder. He was beginning to show signs of having the Calling. He didn’t want to have a d
iscussion about it now. He hadn’t mentioned the Callings to Millie. He didn’t know how she would react. That topic was best revealed in private.
Millie checked on Abe who was sleeping alone in the room he’d shared with Reuben. The rest of the boys were in a cleared area in the storage room on pallets. They were excited about sleeping on the floor. They were pretending to be cowboys out on the range. They had even piled some wood scraps into a pretend fire. Millie wondered how long the wood floor would be such an exciting bed.
Reuben’s bed had been moved into the girls’ room for Fern. The other three would share the double bed. She could hear giggling as she approached the closed door.
Millie smiled. Between the ‘cowboys’ in the storage room and giggling girls in the bedroom she wondered how much sleeping would take place tonight. She decided to give one warning to each group then simply let it all slide. The newness would wear off in a few days.
After saying a final goodnight to both groups, Millie went back to the parlor. Clay was reading the newspaper. Her stomach was filled with butterflies. Thousands of them. Tonight she would sleep next to a man she knew very little about. She knew details and believed he was honorable, but it felt wrong to be in bed with a man who wasn’t Sherman. Was he feeling the same? Was he thinking about his late wife as he hid behind the paper?
It was strange but that thought eased her nervousness. He had to still be grieving for Lucy. This would be an awkward night for both of them.
Millie went into the kitchen, planning her meals for the next day in her head. Several of the children liked boxed cereals, Kellogg’s Cornflakes or Shredded Wheat. Others liked eggs or oatmeal. The box of Quaker Oats was nearly empty. She would get a new one from the mercantile tomorrow.
Details of the changes that would have to be made to accommodate six more stomachs to fill ran through her head. More milk, eggs, flour, meat, vegetables. Maybe they needed a larger or second icebox. The dining table was large enough with its leaves. Maybe someday they could get all matching chairs. Other, more pressing needs made that a dream for the future.
Millie wound the clock that sat on a shelf by the window. Taking her lantern she went back into the parlor. “Um, C-Clay.” His first name didn’t roll off her tongue gracefully.
The newspaper dropped into his lap as his arms lowered suddenly.
“I’m going to retire now.” Millie stopped. She didn’t know what else to say. He would be joining her soon. She just hoped he’d give her time to change into her nightgown before he did.
She heard Clay clear his throat. “Okay. I’ll be in — um, as soon as I finish the paper.” The newspaper rose and covered his face again. Seems he was as nervous as she was.
Millie set the lantern on the small table beside the bed, Sherman’s side. Her heart ached and she fought down the tears that threatened. Changing into her nightgown, she braided her hair as quickly as she could. When she heard footsteps approaching, Millie jumped into bed, pulling the covers up to her chin. She closed her eyes tightly, trying to block out the light.
Clay entered. Shoes were placed on the floor by the door. She could hear his clothes rustling. The bed sagged as he sat down. Millie held her breath. Covers lifted and he slid in beside her.
Silence reigned.
He shifted. The lantern wick was lowered and the light went out.
Millie held her breath. Would he turn to her expecting anything?
“Goodnight, Millie.” His voice was soft in the darkness. He turned onto his side away from her.
Releasing her breath she replied, “Goodnight, Clay.
“I’m going to meet with Marshal Sewell this morning. I want to learn what I can about this Terhall fellow,” Clay said at breakfast. He took a sip of his coffee.
“Can I come?” Ryder asked.
Clay knew his son wanted to talk with him about his feelings about the man. Ryder had been warned not to mention the Callings, as had Nate. Both boys knew of the family trait and had for several years. Ben was told to hold his tongue too. Ryder was beginning to experience it. Time would tell if any of his other children were so blessed.
“Not this time, son. You’ve got responsibilities this morning in the mercantile. Help with clerking and chalk the glass we replaced in the windows the other day. This afternoon we’ll begin on that door.”
Ryder was disappointed but said, “Yes, sir.”
With the boys assigned their tasks, Clay went to the jail. Marshal Sewell was there. The man was tall and lean with neatly trimmed wavy black hair. His blue-gray eyes told Clay he was smart and tough. This man knew what he was doing. He wasn’t a man you wanted to be on the wrong side of.
“Morning. How can I help you, Mr. Cutler?” Marshal Sewell laid the pen he was writing with on the desk and stood. The two men had met at church on Sunday.
Clay held out his hand and Marshal Sewell took it in a firm grip. “Please, call me Clay. I’d like to discuss some of the goings on in town.”
“Oh? Have a seat. Would you like some coffee? Call me Alex. I’m not much for titles.”
“Thank you.”
When they had steaming cups in their hands Clay said, “I’ve just married Millie Messer. You understand the dynamics, I’m sure. There are several other men who’ve come to town in the same way.”
“Yes. I’m one. My wife Betsy is the one who told the other women how she placed an advertisement. That was back before the earthquake. We married in February.”
“So you know of the problems some of the women and businesses have been having.” Clay sipped his coffee.
“Yes, there’ve been conmen and outlaws. I’ve taken out a few but can’t get a handle on some of them.”
“Roy Terhall one of these conmen?”
“Yeah, he’s one. I know he’s running a protection racket but can’t get enough evidence to arrest him. You had dealings with him?”
“He and his henchman came into the store last week. I stayed in the background. He’s an oily one. Didn’t actually come out and say he’d do something to the mercantile, but implied it. Made a reference to the barbershop.”
“I’m not surprised. It was damaged late last month. Someone broke in and smashed things up. The mirrors, chairs, poked a hole in the water heater tank.”
Clay nodded. “I could tell the man was no good as soon as I saw him. There was another man I saw riding up the street. He had his hat pulled low so I can’t give you any more details than that. He’s another one I know is up to no good.”
Alex leaned forward. “Did he do something suspicious?”
“No, just rode by. I could just tell. It’s sort of a talent I have, being able to see if someone has nefarious intent.”
“You don’t say.”
Clay let the topic drop, deciding the marshal might not be ready to hear about his Callings. “I’d like to help you in any way I can to capture these no accounts taking advantage of the townsfolk. I’ve got some experience in posses and deputy work. The sort where you deputize for a day or so. I’d also be another set of eyes and ears around town.”
“So you’re not looking for a job.”
Clay laughed. “No sir. I’ve got my hands full with the mercantile, new wife and nine children.”
Alex grinned. “I saw a mess of children around you and Mrs. Cutler on Sunday.”
Clay grinned back. “Yeah. They are getting along well at the moment. I’m sure there will be some wrangling as time goes on. It comes with the territory.”
CHAPTER SIX
“CLAY, WAS THERE any chewing tobacco in that shipment?” Reuben and Ben heard the question as they set the cans of peaches and cherries on the shelves. Each day they had to do some chores in the mercantile. It peeved them that Opal and Grace didn’t have to do them. When the boys had mentioned that to their parents they were met with severe stares, frowns, and the words, “What they have to do is no business of yours. You do as you’ve been told.” They did.
“No, I didn’t find any,” Clay said, looking over
the packing list. “It’s not on the list either.”
“Well, we only have one more pouch. That’ll be gone today, most likely. I’ll place another order.”
A crash was heard from the apartment, then screams and cries. Ben and Reuben watched as their parents ran past.
“You boys mind the store. We’ll be right back,” their Pa yelled as he took the stairs two at a time.
Ben and Reuben looked at each other.
“What do you suppose happened?” Ben asked.
“Abe probably fell. It happens a lot.”
“That sounded like a pretty bad fall.”
Reuben nodded. They continued placing cans on the shelves. A few minutes later their parents came down the stairs and through the store.
“We’re taking Abe to Doc and Hattie’s. He fell and cut his head open,” Mama said, nearly running past them. Pa followed with a screaming Abe in his arms. A towel was held against his head, stained red with blood. “Lock the door and flip the sign to ‘Closed.’”
“Ryder and Nate are nailing lath in Fern’s room if you need them. Fern and the girls are upstairs,” Pa hollered as he ran out the door.
“Okay,” Reuben jumped up and followed, doing as he’d been instructed. He looked as they hurried up the street and around the corner. “I hope he’s okay,” Reuben said, scrunching his eyebrows together.
“Me too,” Ben said.
They looked at each other.
“We’re almost done with our cans. I think we should figure out some other way we can help. They’re going to be gone a while, then worried more about Abe to get much done today.” Ben looked around.
“That’s a real good idea. We could unpack the shipping crate. That would help,” Reuben headed to the back room where their Pa had been working.
Ben followed. “Nah, I think it’s too tall for us to reach into.”
Reuben eyed the crate. “Yeah, you’re right.” He picked up the packing list from the floor and looked at it. A smile came over his face as he looked at his new brother. “I have an idea. Come on. Let’s get the rest of these cans done while I tell you.”
Wanted: Shopkeeper (Silverpines Book 4) Page 4