Her Prairie Knight

by Kit Morgan

  Belle sensed Colin was unwilling to let go of her and instead waited for him to start them off. Sure enough, he drew her to him even closer, and then went to join Sadie.

  “Oh my Heavens! Look at that!” Belle exclaimed. The natural pool formed beneath the tree’s branches was beautiful. And deep. The water moved so slowly here it looked as if it wasn’t moving at all. On their side of the pool was a natural sandy area forming a small beach. On the other side Belle could see natural rock ledges just below the surface of the water. “What an incredible place!”

  “Best swimming hole around.” Colin stated proudly. “But it’s still too cold to use it. Another few weeks and the water will be perfect. For wading at least.”

  “Swimming hole?” Belle exclaimed. She never thought of it as a swimming hole. Probably because she couldn’t swim.

  “I can’t wait to try it!” Sadie began. “We have a large pond near my father’s ranch, but this is so much nicer.”

  “Can you swim?” Colin asked.

  Belle felt a twinge of disappointment sink into her stomach. “I’m afraid not. I never learned.”

  “Well, then. We shall remedy that as soon as the water is ready.”

  Belle gasped.

  “Oh come now, you must learn!” Colin admonished. “Nearly everyone knows how to swim out here in this wilderness. One never knows when it will come in handy.”

  Belle supposed he was right. Knowing how to swim was another survival tool in a long line of survival tools here in the west. And she was going to have to learn how to use some of those tools eventually.

  “I have a wonderful idea!” Sadie said. “Let’s plan a picnic! We could come down and spend an afternoon! You’ll come, won’t you Belle?”

  “Of course! I think it’s a wonderful idea. What a beautiful place!” The thought of a picnic with Colin and his family was exhilarating. The thought of what Aunt Irene would say about it, wasn’t.

  Belle’s face, once again fell into disappointment. “Oh dear...”

  Colin leaned down and whispered. “I know what you’re thinking.”

  She looked at him.

  “And you needn’t worry so. I’ll take care of your aunt. She’ll let you come.”

  Belle sighed against him before she could stop herself. She caught Sadie watching them; a huge smile on her face, before she picked up some stones, went to the water’s edge, and skipped one across the surface of the pool.

  Colin pulled Belle’s arm out of his and turned her to face him, his hands now on her shoulders. He leaned down, looked into her eyes, and swallowed hard. “If it weren’t for my dear sister-in-law standing over there, I should very much like to kiss you.”

  Belle sucked in her breath. She didn’t know what to say, to think, to feel!

  Colin gave her the warmest of smiles. “But considering her hands are full of rocks at the moment, I’d say it was better for both of us if I didn’t.”

  His eyes positively sparkled when he talked. Belle smiled shyly as her eyes darted to Sadie. She should be utterly scandalized by his forward behavior but wasn’t in the slightest. And neither was Sadie as she skipped a few more rocks, glancing their way each time she bent to pick another up from the ground. Surely she would have stopped them by now! But she didn’t. Sadie trusted Colin. And that spoke volumes to Belle. It meant she could trust him too. And Belle was sure Sadie would interrupt any behavior she thought wasn’t appropriate on Colin’s part.

  When she looked back to him his face had calmed, and his eyes roamed hers as if he were trying to memorize every last inch. They stood there for who knows how long and simply gazed at one another, taking each other in, before Sadie produced a loud whistle using a blade of grass between her fingers.

  Colin smiled. “I think our time is up.”

  Belle simply nodded, unable to speak. The heat from his hands felt as if it would burn right through her shawl and the sleeves of her dress.

  “We have to go now.” He whispered as he leaned down a little further. Speech still eluded her as her eyes widened and darted to his mouth. One of his hands found her chin and he tilted her face up to his, which was now even closer. “I dare say, but I do believe Sadie has run out of rocks,” was barely a whisper as his eyes became fixed on her mouth.

  Belle’s heart thundered in her chest so hard she thought it was going to explode. Every fiber of her being felt alive with his mere presence. She could feel him tilt her head back, his own lowering to hers to eliminate the scant few inches between them. Belle couldn’t believe it! Colin was going to kiss her! Her eyes naturally closed. What would it feel like? How long would it last? What would happen afterwards? Oh dear Lord! Please don’t let me faint!

  Thump.

  “OW!!!!”

  Belle’s eyes sprang open. Colin still held her chin in one hand. His other was rubbing his right temple as he grimaced in Sadie’s direction.

  Apparently, Sadie hadn’t run out of rocks.

  * * *

  Duncan entered Mulligans and waited for his eyes to adjust to the dim light. He’d been behind the livery stable speaking with Mr. Berg about working at the Triple C now and then until Duncan could hire on more help. Mr. Berg readily agreed. He paid him for adjusting a few things on the Triple C’s buckboard, took his horse, and went to Mulligans. The one place he and Colin hadn’t checked yet. It should have been the first.

  But the Cooke brothers hoped to find their stepfather at the mercantile getting reacquainted with Wilfred, or down at the Sheriff’s office for a game of checkers with either Sheriff Hughes or Henry Fig. Even a visit with Mrs. Dunnigan would have been preferable to what Duncan found Jefferson Cooke doing. Or in this case, not doing. After all, it was pretty hard for a man to get reacquainted, play checkers, or spar with Mrs. Dunnigan when he was passed out drunk in a corner.

  Duncan sighed, shook his head and went to the slumped form propped in a chair; his body wedged into the corner by a table.

  Mr. Mulligan stood behind the counter and watched him as Duncan crossed to the other side of the empty saloon. “He’s been like that since the wee hours of the mornin. I thought it best to leave him until one of you boys came to fetch him home. Figured by now you’d realize he’d gone missing.”

  “You figured right.” Duncan said as he stared down at the slumbering shell of Jefferson Cooke. “How long has he been coming into town?”

  “Since last week. Been in here almost every night.”

  Duncan finally gave Mr. Mulligan his full attention. “Drinking? Or is he doing anything else?”

  “Been playing a lot of cards with some men the past few nights. Strangers. I’ve not seen them in here before.”

  “Strangers? Did they say where they were from?”

  “There’s a wagon train hold up on the south trail. Some of their men have been in here. They’d have to belong to it. Should be pulling out this morning. They don’t camp for more than a few days.

  Wagon trains crossed the prairie a mile or so southeast of town. They often stopped to do repairs to their wagons and rested before making the last leg of their journey to Oregon City.

  “I don’t suspect he’ll be coming in to play cards tonight.” Duncan said. “Where’s his horse?”

  “I tied it out back. Fed him this morning.”

  “I appreciate it.” Duncan reached into his pocket and tossed a coin to Mr. Mulligan who caught it. “For feeding his horse.” He then reached down, pulled Jefferson out of the chair and slung him over one shoulder like a sack of grain.

  Mr. Mulligan hurried out from behind the counter and led Duncan down a wide hall to the back of the saloon. Jefferson’s horse was tethered near the rear porch. “Be so kind as to fetch Romeo to me, will you?” Duncan asked.

  “Right away.” Mr. Mulligan said and quickly complied.

  Duncan loaded his stepfather onto his horse and waited for Mr. Mulligan. Once he arrived with Romeo, he pulled a rope he had tied to Romeo’s saddle and used it to tie Jefferson Cooke to his own. Duncan ga
ve Mr. Mulligan a curt nod of thanks and mounted.

  “Duncan, it’s none of my business, but you know how me and the Mrs. feel about you boys,” he said as he unwound the reins of Jefferson’s horse from a hitching post and handed them to Duncan.

  Duncan simply nodded.

  “What’s happened to him? This isn’t the Jefferson I know.”

  “It’s not the Jefferson I know either. Some people just aren’t able to cope with loss I suppose. At least he was here when our mother died. Colin and I...” he looked away a moment. “Colin and I didn’t even get to say goodbye.”

  Mr. Mulligan nodded. “Well, I hope you boys can bring him back to the Jefferson he once was.”

  “I hope so too. Lord knows we can’t bring back our mother.” He kicked Romeo and pulling Jefferson’s horse behind him, headed home.

  Eight

  Duncan and Colin stood and stared at the elaborate head stone on their mother’s grave. Harrison had buried her beneath her favorite reading tree. A large oak at the top of a small rise several hundred yards from the old barn. The new barn, much bigger than the old one, obstructed the view of the tree. They used to be able to see it from the front porch of the original ranch house. Of course, not being able to see the tree since coming home from prison made it easier to avoid dealing with her loss. But it was high time they did. Jefferson, Duncan argued, still hadn’t dealt with it and look what happened to him. But they’d deal with Jefferson later. If he ever got around to sobering up that is.

  “Do you think she likes it? Her head stone I mean.” Colin asked.

  Duncan reached out and touched the smooth marble. “It’s beautiful. Elegant. Of course she would like it. She’d be impressed knowing it came all the way from Oregon City.”

  “I wonder if Harrison buried her with any Penny Dreadfuls. You know how she loved to read them up here.” Colin quietly commented.

  Duncan closed his eyes a brief moment. “I’m sure he did. Of course, this isn’t as grand as ‘His Majesty’ down by the swimming hole, but I suppose ‘The Earl’ will do.”

  Colin chuckled. “I wonder how many other trees she named and didn’t tell us?”

  “Probably more than we’d like to know.” Duncan took a deep breath before asking, “Have you asked Harrison about the details of her death?”

  “No.”

  “Neither have I. Other than, did she have a decent burial? I didn’t bother with particulars.”

  “I know.” Colin sighed.

  “It was nice of Sadie’s father to get mother this head stone.”

  “Quite so. Had to have cost a fortune. Generous chap, Horatio.”

  Duncan smiled as he admired the head stone. Daffodils had been intricately carved into the center of it. They had become their mother’s favorite flower after settling in Clear Creek. “Do you ever wonder what our lives would have been like if we’d never left England?”

  Colin all but snorted. “Ah yes. You’d have gone to Eaton no doubt. I’d have been close on your heels. Harrison not far behind. Then Oxford. After that a commission in her Majesty’s army, or the life of a country gentleman I suppose.”

  “But then, Harrison would never have met Sadie. And think of the horrid end she would have come to had he not rescued her.” Duncan said.

  Colin smiled. “The Lord works in mysterious ways. He seems to always make sure we’re in the right place at the right time.”

  “And had we not left England, you would never have set eyes on Miss Dunnigan.”

  Colin smiled but said nothing.

  “Do you want to marry her?”

  Colin’s eyes brightened, his smile now wide. But still he said nothing.

  “You realize of course, marrying her means you’ll have Mrs. Dunnigan as your ... er, aunt-in-law. I hope you’re up to it.”

  Colin’s smile suddenly vanished.

  “I wonder if I would have preferred London,” Duncan began with a chuckle, changing the subject. “Hyde park, Cards at White's, perhaps a ball or two with our cousin.”

  “Which cousin?” Colin quickly asked, happy to get off the subject of Mrs. Dunnigan as a future relative.

  “The Earl of course.”

  Colin laughed. “Oh. Him. Good Heavens, we had to have been in our nappies the last time we saw him. Do you think he’s still alive?”

  “I don’t know. In fact, I’m not sure who would stand to inherit if he wasn’t able to produce an heir. As I recall, most of our cousins are female.”

  “What is he? Our fourth cousin? And isn’t he the one mother said was involved with a crocodile?”

  Duncan smiled. “Yes, on both counts. I’d forgotten about the crocodile. What was that story?”

  “I haven’t the slightest.” Colin had to swallow. He closed his eyes, his next words a whisper. “Mother would have known.”

  They stared at their mother’s grave in silence a moment before Duncan asked, “Do you feel as guilty as I do for not being here?”

  Colin suddenly looked at him. “Of course. But there was nothing we could do. And even if we had known, there still would have been nothing we could do. But the good Lord knew what was going on. And I try to draw my comfort from that.”

  “You always were the eternal optimist, Colin.”

  “In case you haven’t noticed, dear brother, this isn’t civilized London, or Sussex for that matter. This country is still wild and terribly wicked in some places. Harrison can attest to that as well as you and I.”

  Duncan nodded. “Harrison did us proud handling things while we were gone. He had his share of trouble, but thank the Lord, pulled through.”

  “As did we.” Colin said. “As best as could be expected, all things considered.”

  Duncan and Colin looked at each other, both with the same pain harbored in their eyes. Prison had been a living hell. A brutal, savage, unyielding hell. Being there on false charges made it worse. Being English, doubly so. But to come home to find their mother dead because Harrison was forced to work the farm rather than take care of her, cut deeper than anything else. Now after being home a month the two brothers at long last, had this brief moment to take it all in.

  And together, Duncan and Colin finally wept.

  * * *

  Belle pushed the lace curtains aside, opened the window of her small room and breathed in the fresh morning air. The sun shone brightly and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky. It was going to be an absolutely beautiful day. The smell of coffee and fresh baked cinnamon bread wafted into her room and mingled with the fresh air. If there was one redeeming quality Aunt Irene had, it was her cooking. It was incredible. She and Uncle Wilfred should be running a restaurant not a mercantile. But then, there was no need for a restaurant in Clear Creek. At least not yet.

  The Van Cleets were to return any day now. Perhaps even today, and the whole town was talking about it. Mr. Berg had relayed the message to most everyone that they had a surprise for the people of Clear Creek. The townsfolk were so excited they could hardly stand it.

  Belle poked her head out the window, crossed her arms over the sill and looked across the prairie. Her bedroom was in the back of the upstairs living quarters of the mercantile. There was a small barn behind the building that housed her aunt and uncle’s wagon. Belle tried to imagine what the view from her window would look like if Clear Creek were a much larger town. She’d more than likely be looking at the back of some building, an alley between them. Though she loved the view of the prairie, she longed for a bigger town. Boston seemed beyond her reach at this point.

  There was no going back. Only forward. And forward meant possibly getting to see Colin that morning. Sadie was coming to town.

  Belle smiled and carefully ducked her way back inside. She’d hit her head several times over the last few days leaning out her window in the morning and had learned not to move too quickly. Once back inside, she smoothed down her dress of blue calico, checked her hair, then left her room to join her aunt and uncle for breakfast.

  “The stage is
a comin early today.” Uncle Wilfred announced. “Should get here right before the Van Cleets do.”

  “What makes you think they’ll return today?” Aunt Irene asked.

  “Willie done told me he’d get here early on account the Van Cleets was coming in right behind him. They’re bringing folks from Oregon City with them.”

  Aunt Irene snorted. “Be drinking and gambling in Mulligans no doubt!”

  “Auntie, they’re probably the workers Mr. VanCleet hired to build the hotel. I’m sure Mr. Van Cleet hired respectable help.”

  “Don’t care who they are! They’ll be trouble, mark my words!”

  “And they’ll be needin to buy supplies. Best make sure the shelves are stocked this morning.” Uncle Wilfred said and gave Belle a wink.

  Aunt Irene’s eyes widened as her mouth formed a thin line. “Oh. In that case Belle, you work behind the counter today. I’ll handle the rest. And be sure to wear your apron! Beastly things will be salivating enough as it is with you in that dress!”

  Belle fought the urge to roll her eyes. If Aunt Irene had her way, she’d dress Belle in sackcloth and ashes to keep the men away. But the almighty dollar had done it well enough. The local men ran out of money the first week of her stay. Aunt Irene refused to sell them anything else until they paid down their tabs. Other than Doc and Grandma Waller, the only ones with cash it seemed were the Cookes. Belle smiled at the thought.

  “Here now, what’s this about?” Uncle Wilfred asked as he took in her beaming face.

  “What?” Belle asked innocently.

  “That look.”

  “Oh, I was wondering what the Van Cleet’s big surprise is.” And if Colin will be with Sadie this morning. Belle thought as she again smiled. She’d not seen him in a few days and missed him something terrible. Days she’d imagined, dreamed, and wondered what it would have been like to be kissed by Colin Cooke. Belle quietly sighed to herself.

  If only Sadie hadn’t hit him with that rock...

  “Well, I best get downstairs and get to work.” Uncle Wilfred said as he got up from the table.