Mary Connealy

by Montana Marriages Trilogy

  She settled her eyes on the oak tree, its branches swaying in the brisk fall breeze. Winter came early up this high. The first snow could come any time.

  “And he doesn’t get drunk near as often as my pa did.” Sarah was too young to remember her pa, but Belle made sure Sarah heard all about him.

  “And Anthony’s never come after you with his fists.” Lindsay picked up another pumpkin and set it in the heavily laden travois.

  The horse snorted and shook its head, jangling the traces. But the animal stood still, trained well by Belle and Lindsay and Emma.

  “I think he’s just too plumb lazy to get after anyone.” Belle grabbed the heavy orange pumpkin, remembering how heavy Gerald’s fists could be. But he hadn’t landed many blows. A well-placed frying pan had proven to calm him considerably. And once he knew she’d use it, he’d quit with the fists anyway, unless he was powerful drunk. And then he was easy to best.

  “I like him up there better than on the roof.” Lindsay stared at the man barely visible, leaning back against the tree trunk. “It gives me the creeps the way he sits up there like a turkey buzzard.”

  “Where’s Emma?” Belle looked around, not alarmed, just curious. Her girls were completely competent around the ranch. She didn’t spend too much time fussing after them.

  “She’s dragging windfall limbs out of the spreader dam. She wants to clear the water paths before they freeze.”

  “I’ve a mind to ride over to see the Dawson place one of these days.”

  “You’re still worried about that woman they forced into marriage.” Sarah straightened with a pumpkin nearly her own weight in her arms.

  Belle smiled. Her girls knew how to work! “I just…well, honestly it’s bothering me day and night. That little girl looked so trapped and scared.” Belle shook her head, wishing she could dislodge the image. But even her dreams were haunted by Cassie. What if Red Dawson used his fists? Belle could protect herself, but Cassie wouldn’t know how.

  “You can get away once the fall garden is cleared.”

  “No, I’ve got three herds left to bring down from the high pasture. And the snow will close us in before you know it. What if I rode out and the snow came before I got back? I could be shut out until spring.” The thought terrified Belle. Her girls stuck in here alone all winter. Oh, they’d survive. They were tough as all get-out. But it would be a hard, cold winter for them.

  “How far is it? You could watch the weather. And the cattle, well, just because a snow closes the pass doesn’t mean you can’t still bring in cattle. It stays nicer in the valley than it does up on the gap.”

  “I think I’ll do it.” Belle rested her hand on her stomach and thought of the long, hard ride up to her high pasture. She wished she’d dared to skip it this year. She’d have to be out overnight, and the ground seemed to be harder than when she was younger. Smiling at herself, she decided maybe she would wait until spring to ride up. If the cattle up there got hungry, they’d come down closer to the ranch. They knew where the hay was stacked.

  “Maybe I’ll ride over there in the next few days. There’s one pasture that closes up early, and if I don’t bring those cattle down, they’ll have to spend months up there and the grass might not hold out. But most likely the cows will be all right. I don’t think many cattle went up that high. And it’ll bother me all winter if I don’t go check on Cassie.” Belle straightened and rested both hands on her back. Carrying pumpkins when she was round as a pumpkin herself was hard work. “And girls, I’ll warn you right now. If I don’t like what I see, I might just grab that girl and bring her back with me.”

  Lindsay brightened. “That’d be great, Ma. I’d like another sister.”

  Belle smiled. She’d seen the possessive look on Red’s face. He wouldn’t give up his property without a fight. But maybe she could check on the girl, and if she didn’t like what she saw, she could pretend to leave, then watch the ranch, and when Red left, snatch Cassie and bring her home. The mountain gap would snow shut, and by spring maybe Belle could teach the girl how to handle herself. Give her a frying pan of her own. Belle had a spare.

  Satisfied with her plan, she said, “I think I’ll do it. We most likely have a few weeks before the first big snow, so I’ll put off fetching down that one herd…maybe until spring. I’ll make sure it’s a fine day then just run over to the Dawson place and back.”

  “You rescue her if you’ve a mind to, Ma. It’d be fun to not be the oldest for a change.”

  Belle felt as righteous as a fire-and-brimstone preacher as she bent to pick up another bright orange pumpkin, thinking of the misery she could spare that poor little Cassie Dawson.

  Cassie had never had so much fun in her life.

  She laughed as the buckskin ran full out into the cool fall afternoon. What a wonder. Her husband liked her to laugh.

  Red held on to her so tightly that she didn’t think the baby had been bounced around much at all. He’d ridden straight to the general store, which surprised her. She expected him to go to the stable first and see to Buck. He’d jumped off the horse and lifted her down without a word. Then he’d caught her by the hand and dragged her into the store and found Muriel.

  “Cassie needs somewhere to spend the afternoon,” he snapped at Muriel.

  Cassie turned to look at him, wondering where that angry voice had come from.

  “She doesn’t know the first thing about having a baby either. Could you talk to her?”

  Cassie felt her cheeks grow so hot with embarrassment she half expected her head to ignite. She dipped her chin down so no one could see her red face.

  “Hmm …” Muriel said no words, but the sound, well, Cassie glanced up at the woman and saw some strange kind of satisfaction on Muriel’s face as she looked between her and Red.

  A smile lurked behind Muriel’s understanding nod. Cassie didn’t have time to beg Red not to leave her because he must have taken that noise to be agreement on Muriel’s part. After his abrupt request, he took off like the building was afire.

  Cassie looked after him, worried that it was something she’d said. “Maybe I should—”

  “He’s a man. Ignore him.” Muriel caught Cassie’s hand and pulled her toward a table full of gingham. “We’ll just have a nice chat. I don’t get to visit with womenfolk much.”

  “He’s a man. Ignore him”? Cassie thought those words might well qualify as blasphemy before God. Griff would have certainly said they did.

  “I just got a shipment of dress goods in on the noon freight wagon. Can you help me stack them on this shelf over here, Cassie?”

  Cassie was relieved to be asked to help rather than be given a lecture on the details of something so personal as childbirth. “I’d be glad to help.”

  Long before Red came back, Cassie and Muriel were fast friends. Cassie couldn’t believe this nice lady had lived so close to her for two years and they’d never spoken beyond polite niceties.

  Libby Jeffreys came over to put in her usual weekly order and pick up a few necessities that couldn’t wait until Red delivered the supplies. Seth came in and out of the store, filling Libby’s order, and left the women alone.

  Muriel poured coffee, and Libby stayed for over an hour, drinking coffee and laughing over the comings and goings of Divide. Leota Pickett came just as Libby was leaving, and Libby settled back into the rocking chair, one of four Muriel had by her potbellied stove, and accepted another cup of coffee.

  Cassie realized all of them were hungry for talk with another woman. She’d never known it before today, but she was hungry for it, too.

  They all gave her polite words of sympathy for Griff and asked avidly how life was with Red. Somehow, without her noticing, they started talking about babies. Libby had two sons, grown and on their own, both bachelors living nearby. Leota Pickett had five young’uns at home, the littlest still in diapers. Muriel surprised Cassie when she talked about two children she’d lost in a diphtheria outbreak just before they moved west. There were never
any more children for her and Seth. Muriel’s grief was old, and Cassie had the impression it was almost a comfort to her because it was all she had left of the two toddlers she’d lost.

  The ladies started talking about how they brought the children into the world, giving shockingly specific details, then laughing wildly over things they’d said and done during their laboring. Cassie was only vaguely aware that she was learning dozens of things she needed to know about delivering a baby. And Muriel promised she’d come and help bring the baby, saying she’d done it many times, including for Leota’s youngest. All Cassie had to do was send word. Cassie wasn’t sure how she’d do that, but Muriel mentioned that there was a ranch owned by a family of bachelors only a thirty-minute ride from Red’s holding. Red would have plenty of time to ride to the Jessups’ and one of the Jessup hands could come to town.

  They had everything settled, and Muriel had even come up with a swatch of cloth that matched Cassie’s singed dress. After Libby left, Muriel and Leota sewed on a patch while Cassie was still in the dress. She sat and watched them.

  The two older ladies had dozens of suggestions for housekeeping that were a revelation to Cassie. And with a little encouragement, she told them about her week, including the array of mishaps that had befallen Red.

  The ladies laughed hysterically until they couldn’t keep stitching. Cassie didn’t understand their wild laughter at Red’s expense, but they wouldn’t let her feelings remain wounded. They teased her until she was laughing with them and told her little ideas for handling livestock and gardens and lanterns. Cassie absorbed every word.

  Leota overstayed the time she should be away from her children. She explained to Cassie about Red taking over some of the stable chores so Maynard could come in from work early on Saturday, and how Leota cherished her few minutes at the general store with Muriel and her long evening with her husband at hand for a change. Then Leota hurried off.

  Muriel propped a sign on the counter that said customers should holler for help. She took Cassie into the back to start supper. Cassie was able to help Muriel, but Muriel had lots of little tips for preparing dishes. Cassie remembered working beside her mother in the kitchen occasionally when she was a child, but her mother had employed a cook, so preparing meals was a special event. Her mother’s advice returned to her some because Muriel had the same patient way of talking.

  The general store had a busy time later in the afternoon, and Muriel couldn’t visit with her anymore.

  “I think I’ll start delivering Libby’s supplies to the diner,” Cassie said.

  Muriel shook her head as she filled an order. “You just leave that for Red, now, Cassie. I’m not allowing you to tote bags and boxes.”

  “But I want to help,” Cassie insisted. “I feel guilty letting Red pay all our bills. Red told me work and money are the same thing, so it’ll be like I’m paying for my dresses myself.”

  “You’re a sweet girl to want to help, but—” The bell rang and another customer came in. Muriel didn’t have time to talk. “Go ahead then. Libby’s things are stacked by the back door. But just take small things, and promise me the minute you get tired, you’ll stop. Any little thing you take will lighten the load for Red later.”

  “I’ll be sure to quit when I get tired.” Cassie hurried to the back door, feeling like she was really contributing to the ranch at last. Then she saw the mountain of food Seth had set aside for Libby. Cassie’s inclination was to forget about helping, but she’d made too big a deal about it, and remembering Muriel’s words that even a little bit would help, Cassie decided she’d just carry one thing at a time.

  Cassie appeared in Libby’s Diner with a fifty-pound bag of flour in her arms. “Where do you want this?”

  “What in the world are you doing carrying that heavy thing?” Libby rushed to lift it out of her arms. “You’re in a delicate condition. Red would have my head if I let you deliver my groceries.”

  Cassie didn’t want Libby to get in trouble. “I’ll just carry lighter things from now on. I’ll leave the big loads for Red. I promise.”

  She hurried away before Libby could forbid her to help. She crossed Main Street, went through the alley to the back of the general store, and went in. The door didn’t close behind her, and she turned to see a crowd of men. Each of them scraped their feet a bit and apologized for following her and picked up a case of this or a crate of that. They delivered Libby’s groceries in one trip.

  Cassie followed them back, carrying a small basket of eggs. She sheepishly offered them to Libby. “Does this ruin Red’s job? Neither of us did the work. We shouldn’t get paid for it.”

  Libby just laughed. “You are a natural, honey.”

  “A natural what?” Cassie didn’t know what she meant.

  Libby laughed harder.

  All the men had quietly returned to their seats and were eating at the meals they’d deserted.

  Cassie gathered every ounce of courage she had, plus manufactured a little from out of thin air, and said, “Thank you all so much for your help. I appreciate it more than you can ever know.”

  Every man stared at her as if she’d spoken some foreign tongue. Then all jumbled together they said, “You’re welcome, Miz Dawson,” or, “Glad to help, ma’am,” or something like that.

  Cassie thought she heard someone say, “Red’s a lucky man.” It occurred to her that any of these men might have asked her to marry him a week ago.

  Cassie went back to Muriel’s.

  Muriel was bustling back and forth, filling one order after another. Finally Cassie, who was sitting in rather nervous silence at the heating stove, gathered her wits about her enough to start helping. She really thought she did help this time. The crowd dispersed quickly after her efforts doubled the speed with which the customers, all men, were waited on. She acknowledged all their kind remarks and asked their names. Griff’s words about them being riffraff echoed in her ears.

  Muriel heaved a sigh of relief when the store finally emptied. She turned to Cassie and said, “If Red is going to keep coming in here and doing his odd jobs every Saturday, why don’t I hire you to work with me here. Saturday afternoon is my busiest time. I’d love the help as well as the company. Once the baby comes, we’ll set up a cradle, and any time the baby needs you to nurse him or change his diapers, you’ll be able to take a break in the back room.”

  “It sounds just fine, Muriel. I’d be glad to help. Would you let me work off Griff’s bill and then use what I earn toward the supplies Red and I need?”

  Muriel said, “Griff’s bill is taken care of, but you can swap for supplies.”

  “I’d need to ask Red first. But if it’s okay with him, I’d be most grateful for the chance. Do you think I dare to make all the men in town deliver Libby’s groceries every week?”

  “What?”

  Cassie told her how she’d managed to deliver that mountain of supplies.

  Muriel laughed until she had to wipe her eyes on her calico dress.

  So Cassie, who’d become the china doll for her last husband, became an odd-job girl for her next one. She thought it was an improvement.

  CHAPTER 12

  Cass, wake up.”

  She had the odd sensation of being a baby back in her mother’s arms. Being rocked gently back and forth. She fell back asleep. The rocking continued.

  “Cass honey, wake up. We gotta go.”

  The gentle voice kept pestering her. She was disoriented for a few seconds.

  Red crouched in front of her; his hand rocked her shoulder and he spoke in hushed tones. “I’m sorry it got so late. I had more to do than usual. And thanks for delivering the groceries. Libby told me all about it.”

  Cassie realized she was asleep on Muriel’s couch in the dim light of early evening.

  The first thing she thought of was how she’d ruined his job at the diner. She whispered because he was whispering. “I’m sorry, did Libby still pay you? I didn’t mean—” She stopped her mumbled apology when Red smil
ed at her.

  “Don’t worry about it. Libby said if they volunteer to help you when you’re doing my work and the job gets done, it’s all the same to her.”

  Cassie pushed against the couch, her stomach a bit unwieldy in her groggy state. Red slipped his arms under her shoulders and knees and lifted her into his arms. She was fat with the baby, but he lifted her as if he didn’t notice her weight.

  He continued speaking softly. “Muriel said you’d eaten with her and Seth. Then we decided to let you sleep while she fed me and told me about the job she offered you.”

  “Is that okay with you, Red? She was really busy. I just pitched in to help her. It was only after we were done that she suggested paying me.”

  “It’s fine for now, but I told her when the baby got closer it might be too much for you. We don’t want you to be exhausted now, do we?” He hefted her up and down a few times in his arms as if to remind her that she was indeed very tired or she wouldn’t be cradled in his arms this way.

  “I’ll be careful, Red. Muriel will know what I can and can’t do.” Cassie leaned closer to him to share her wonderful discovery. “Muriel knows everything about babies. She and Libby and Leota told me so much today. I feel smarter already. Except then later I thought of a lot of questions, so I want to talk to them again. And the way they just talked and talked about having babies and caring for them, like it was the most natural thing in the world to do, it made me feel better about everything. And, I…I shouldn’t have done it because it was disloyal to Griff, but I said about an expectant mother being unclean and…oh, Red, the things they said about Griff. It wasn’t right at all and I made them stop, but maybe there are more ways than just his of seeing things.” Cassie laid her heavy head on his shoulder, exhausted and a little shocked at the way she was chattering and saying such a horrible thing about Griff. She’d have never admitted that if she wasn’t still half asleep.

  “I got us a room at Grant’s. ‘Bye, Seth, Muriel, and thanks.”