by Kit Morgan
Colin raised his head. The action looked like it pained him something awful and Belle felt herself cringe. The rest of the ladies gawked at the sight.
Colin Cooke had one of the worst black eyes any of them had ever seen. The other side of his face was red and a bit puffy. Bits of straw hung from his hair and clothes. But the worst thing was the blood oozing from a gash on the right side of his forehead.
Belle gasped, and rushed to Sadie’s side.
Grandma sprang into action. “Bring him into the kitchen quick like.” She turned to Belle and Sadie. You two come with me, the rest of you decide on what sort of quilt to make for the new preacher. I’ll take care of Colin!”
Belle could swear she saw the other two Cooke brothers smile as they turned and dragged their load into the kitchen where they deposited him at the kitchen table.
“Well,” Harrison began. “We have work to do. If you would be so kind as to patch him up and send him out to the lower pastures by the creek? We’d be forever grateful.”
Colin all but sneered at them.
“Unless of course you think he’s unfit and needs to rest here in the house awhile.” Duncan added.
Colin reached up to his forehead and winced when he touched the gash. “Ow!”
“What happened?” Sadie squeaked.
Duncan and Harrison again exchanged a quick look. “He fell out of the hay loft.” Harrison stated simply.
“What?” Grandma said as she pulled a dishrag from a peg. “Sadie, put some water on this.” She then turned to Harrison. “Go out to my wagon. Doc keeps a bag under the seat. Get it.”
Harrison hurried from the room. She then spun to Duncan. “Do we need to fetch Doc?”
Duncan quickly glanced at Colin. “No. He’ll be fine.”
“Fine?” Belle hated the sound of panic in her voice. “He fell out of a hay loft and you think he’ll be fine?”
“Of course. After all, the wagon broke his fall.” Duncan stated calmly. “But the pitch fork did the most damage.”
Belle gasped. She quickly went to Colin and sat in the chair next to him. She took in the sight of one of his hands and noticed how red his knuckles were. “Oh! You poor thing! What a horrible fall it must have been. Maybe we ought to take him to see the doctor anyway?”
Grandma’s eyes narrowed. A lopsided, although painful grin had formed on Colin’s face as Belle continued to examine his wounds with concern. She then glared at Duncan. “Fell out, or pushed out?” She whispered to him.
Duncan immediately took on an air of pure innocence. “Are you suggesting one of us would push our own brother out of the hay loft?” He whispered back.
Grandma continued to glare.
“He fell of his own accord. We had nothing to do with it. And besides, he did manage to land on his feet, for the most part. But unfortunately, also on the pitchfork. Thus the black eye and the um.... gash.”
Grandma grimaced as she pictured Colin hitting the pronged end of the pitchfork as he landed, the other end flying up to bash him in the face. She leaned toward Duncan. “You might want to take care of your hand and not shave for a day or two. Or that bruise on your face is gonna show. Just what were you boys doing up in that hay loft? Beating each other to a pulp?”
Duncan glanced at his own reddened knuckles, looked sheepishly at Grandma, and did his best to hide a smile.
“The lengths you boys go to ... I oughta have you horsewhipped!” She hissed under her breath.
Duncan gave her a smile and a wink, and then nodded toward the table. Belle was holding Colin’s injured hand. The two gazed at each other with a combination of curiosity and wonder. One would never know Colin suffered any sort of pain as his face now held a euphoric look.
Grandma sighed in resignation as Sadie came back into the kitchen with the wet cloth. Grandma took it from her and went to Colin.
Belle let go of his hand. “Will he be all right?”
“Oh he’ll live. I can guarantee you that.” Grandma said flatly and placed the cloth on his hand.
Harrison returned and set Doc’s bag on the table. Grandma opened it and began to dig through the contents. She pulled out a few bottles and set them on the table. She also pulled out a few small pieces of white cloth. She then opened one of the bottles.
Colin finally tore his gaze from Belle and noticed what she was doing. He looked up to Grandma, his eyes harboring a slight hint of worry. “What may I ask is that?”
Grandma smiled. “Something that’ll fix you right up.” She poured out some of the contents onto a piece of cloth. “Miss Dunnigan, would you hold this to the cut on his forehead for me, please?”
Belle nodded and took the cloth from her. She then gently reached out toward Colin who once again held a contented smile on his face.
Grandma turned back to the bag. “It might...
“OW!”
Grandma smiled in satisfaction. “Sting a little.”
“Oh, I’m so sorry!” Belle exclaimed.
“Now child you just keep holding that cloth against that nasty gash. It’ll clean it. Then use it to clean the rest of his face.”
Colin’s eyes actually began to water as he sat stiffly and did his best not to cry out.
“Alcohol works best on a wound like that.” Grandma said triumphantly.
Harrison and Duncan both doubled over with their hands to their mouths to keep from laughing. Belle was so wrapped up in tending Colin she didn’t notice. Colin on the other hand, sat with one of the most venomous looks any of them had ever seen, and aimed it at his brothers.
Sadie, finally wise to what was going on placed her hands on her hips and glared at her husband. She then crossed to the other side of the kitchen and grabbed a broom from the corner. “Don’t you two have work to do?”
Harrison straightened, his face full of mirth. “I dare say wife, what are you doing with that broom?”
Sadie began to swing the broom this way and that. “Get out of here you scoundrels!”
Duncan dodged the broom but Harrison wasn’t quick enough. Sadie smacked it against his backside as she chased them out the back door.
Belle sat, a horrified look on her face as she watched the whole scene, but didn’t quite comprehend it. She was more concerned with the patient. A patient who was doing his best not to make a fool of himself in front of her and looked very, very angry. “I’m sorry if it hurts.”
His face suddenly softened. “No need to worry. I’m sure it all looks much worse than it is.”
Grandma turned to him. She poured some clear liquid out of another small bottle onto the other cloth and handed it to him. “Hold this over your eye. It will help it a little.”
“What is it?”
“Witch hazel. Now do as I say.”
He obeyed and cautiously held the dampened cloth against his eye. The cool cloth felt good. Belle’s ministrations even better as she continued to clean him up. He let go a contented sigh.
Belle smiled at the sound.
Grandma turned to Sadie. “Best you go back and see to your guests. I’ll stay here with these two.”
Sadie tried not to laugh and shook her head instead. She glanced quickly to Belle and Colin, then back to Grandma. “I’ll do that.”
Sadie then left the kitchen to allow Colin a chance to court Miss Dunnigan. Albeit at the cost of a black eye, bruised knuckles and a head gash. What the Cooke men wouldn’t do to help one of their own win the heart of a woman.
Six
Belle sat, her eyes fused with Colin’s or rather his one good eye. But even so, she found it next to impossible to look away. She knew Grandma Waller had her back turned to them on purpose and only pretended to fuss near the enormous cook stove on the other side of the kitchen. She made as if she meant to heat another kettle of water, but Belle knew the kettle still had to have plenty and was already hot. For whatever reason, Grandma Waller was doing her best to let the two of them be. Belle decided to take advantage and returned her thoughts to Colin.
&n
bsp; As if sensing her full attention again, he adjusted the damp cloth over his blackened eye and smiled. Belle’s insides fluttered. She knew he had to be in horrible pain but he hid it well. Suddenly feeling shy, she adjusted the cloth over his hand and carefully wrapped it around his knuckles and fingers.
He stopped her by taking her hand in his.
She sucked in a breath. Never had a man affected her so.
“Thank you for you kind attention.” he whispered.
Belle stopped breathing all together. She nodded as a chill went up her spine. All she could do was sit and stare at him. Even in his current unfortunate condition, he was still handsome ... in a charming, black and blue sort of way.
“Well Colin, you feeling up to getting back to work?” Grandma asked as she came to the table.
He let of Belle’s hand and turned stiffly in his chair. “Give me a moment more and I’ll be right as rain.”
“Mmm hmmm...” Grandma’s voice was suspicious. “I bet a few gingerbread cookies and a cup of tea will speed things along.”
Belle swore the man’s smile could melt not only butter, but also Grandma Waller. He looked at the woman, tilted his head slightly to the side, and grinned his thanks.
“Just the tea and cookies, Colin. Then its out you go.” Grandma admonished as she left the room.
Colin turned back to Belle. “I thought she’d never leave.”
Belle’s eyes widened.
“Oh, don’t worry. I’m not going to take the opportunity to ravish you while she’s gone. I am first and foremost a gentleman.”
Belle let loose a giggle.
“You don’t think so?” he asked. The brow over his one good eye rose in question.
“I’m sorry. It’s just that you look so ridiculously horrid, yet sound as though nothing has happened. You must hurt everywhere.”
“I daresay I don’t feel my usual self. But I’ll mend.”
Belle’s mouth had gone dry. He smiled at her and the same blanket of contentment and peace that covered her the day he came into the mercantile, covered her again.
“You have astoundingly beautiful eyes.” He stated matter of factly.
“Oh...”
“Was I being forward? I’m afraid I haven’t exercised my manners very well. It’s been some time since I’ve used them in the presence of a lady.”
She wondered if he was referring to his time spent in prison or the fact he’d simply not been around a woman in ages. Perhaps it was a little of both.
“Your manners are the best of all the gentlemen I’ve had the pleasure of meeting since my arrival. With the exception of your brothers.”
“Ah, my brothers,” he chuckled and gingerly dabbed the cloth over his black eye a few times. “Yes, they’ve been out in polite society a time or two. Especially Duncan as he’s the oldest.
“How old is he?”
“Let me see, he’ll be thirty at the end of next month. July thirty-first is his birthday.”
“And when is yours?” She asked shyly, suddenly feeling very much alone with him. The mere fact she was indeed alone with him made her feel almost scandalous.
“October seventh. Harrison’s is in December. He came as a Christmas present for our mother.”
“I don’t think I would want my birthday on ... on ... Christmas,” she stammered. He had taken her hand again and held it. Heat radiated from it despite being wrapped in the damp cloth.
“Really?” He drawled. “I would think one would receive twice the amount of gifts. But who is to say?”
Belle swallowed, her throat now completely dry. His thumb slowly made its way across the back of her hand. She was shocked his touch was so utterly intoxicating. She closed her eyes a brief moment as the sensation captured her.
“I ... I would think it better to receive birthday wishes and gifts apart from... the Christmas holiday.” Her last few words came out a whisper and she felt a furious blush creep into her cheeks.
He smiled, squeezed her hand, then sat back in his chair, breaking the contact and widening the distance between them. He glanced at the door leading from the kitchen to the rest of the house. “What do you suppose is keeping Grandma?”
She followed his gaze but could not speak. He leaned forward and took her hand in his once more. His thumb grazed the back of it in lazy circles. “I ... I really don’t know what’s keeping her.” She said breathlessly.
He took his other hand from his face and dropped the cloth on the table. His eye looked awful and she cringed slightly. “Oh my...”
“Is it so horrible?”
“I’m afraid so.”
He stilled his thumb. “Perhaps I should wear an eye patch. Do you think I’d look dashing, or more like a villainous pirate?”
“Oh, a villainous pirate for sure.”
He laughed. The sound was wonderfully deep and masculine. “But I’ve no ship. How can I ever hope to pillage and plunder without a pirate ship?”
She smiled. “I’m quite sure you’d find a way.” And if she didn’t get out of the kitchen fast, Belle feared he would surely plunder her. And if not her, then surely he’d plunder her heart.
* * *
Several days had passed since the first meeting of the ladies sewing circle. Sadie was to come to the mercantile that afternoon and, together, she and Belle would choose the fabric for the dress they were to make. The other ladies would begin to work on the squares for the new preacher’s welcoming gift. To have a full time preacher in town was a milestone for the little community and the ladies wanted to make the gift special. Up until now, a preacher only came to town once every two months. Mrs. Mulligan told Belle how Harrison and Sadie had to wait for one to come through town to get married. But it had given Harrison time to take care of the business of getting pardons for his brothers and see the outlaws responsible for Sadie’s horrible kidnapping were put behind bars. Too bad they turned out to be Harrison’s very own stepbrothers.
Belle found Sadie’s adventures all so wonderfully romantic. Fought for and rescued by Harrison, then to have him vie for Sadie’s hand in marriage from her father. And finally, just as the first spring wild flowers began to poke through the earth, be married out on the prairie. Belle sighed. If only it would happen to her.
The bell above the door tinkled and Sadie entered. “Hello! Have you picked out any fabric yet?”
Belle stepped out from behind the counter and went to one of the display tables. “I found three I think Lucy might like. This pink would look beautiful on her.”
Sadie looked at the pink calico fabric and frowned. “It’s very pretty, but wouldn’t hold up to the type of work Lucy does on her farm.
“Oh ... I forgot about that. I guess I’m not used to thinking of the women here as farmers and ranchers wives. Clear Creek is certainly not like Boston.”
“That’s all right. You’ll get used to it. I hope you don’t miss Boston too much though. I know I sometimes miss El Paso.”
Belle nodded and smiled. “What if we make her two dresses? She’ll need one for church and the other can be a work dress.”
“That’s a good idea. I’ll gladly pay the cost of the extra dress.”
“Why don’t you take care of one, and I the other?”
“Are you sure?”
“I do have a little money. Though not as much as people think.”
“What do you mean?”
Belle sighed. “Aunt Irene seems to think I have a small fortune at my disposal. But my father...”
Sadie held up a hand to stop her. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked. You don’t have to tell me. I didn’t mean to pry.”
“It’s all right. But Aunt Irene thinks I have more money than I do. Unfortunately my father gambled away most of it a couple of years before he died. I had to sell most everything to pay off his gambling debts before I could come west.”
Sadie stared at her a moment. “I’m so terribly sorry. And you’re sure your aunt doesn’t know?”
“I’m sur
e. In fact, Uncle Wilfred doesn’t know either. Without a proper dowry, I may never find a husband.”
Sadie laughed. “I wouldn’t worry about that around here! I’d be more worried about your aunt finding out about the money. But I’m sure you mean more to her than your father’s bank accounts.”
Belle was seriously beginning to wonder. After watching Aunt Irene interact with the townsfolk and her attitude toward money, or the lack thereof, she would almost bet which was more important. Belle supposed she would have to tell her. And better sooner than later.
Belle pushed the thought aside. “I also think this blue would be nice on Lucy.”
Sadie examined the fabric. “I agree. I like this better than the pink. Now lets find something more suitable for every day.”
They went through every bolt of cloth and finally agreed on sturdy wool for a skirt, and brown linen for a work dress. Before they knew it they had enough material for a Sunday dress, a work dress, a work skirt and two blouses. It felt good to be doing something for the shy woman. Belle wanted to get started immediately. “How are we ever going to give these things to Lucy without her looking on it as charity?”
“I don’t see anything wrong with a little charity and I’m a horrible seamstress. I’m sure Lucy would be happy to be part of my training. She can be my official guinea pig. I’ll need all the help I can get!”
Belle laughed. “I’m not sure how I’ll be as your teacher but I’ll do my best. We can make the dresses first. That way we’ll have the Sunday dress done in time for the first church service.”
Sadie sighed. “That’s a good idea.”
“What’s wrong?”
Sadie bit her lip before she spoke. “Ask me.”
“Ask you what?”
“Don’t you want to know how Colin is?”
Belle felt herself blush from head to toe. She’d tried hard every day not to think about him, and failed miserably. All she could do was smile and shrug. The mere mention of him sent her insides into a tailspin.
“He’s fine, except for his eye, and he’s right outside.”
Unable to stop herself Belle’s hands flew to her mouth as she gasped and looked to the door. Sadie laughed at the action. “Where is your aunt by the way?”