by Angela Lain
She read it through, and there, at the bottom was her father’s signature, signing away her inheritance and her freedom. She could only suppose he thought he had been doing her a favor, committing her to marry into the Ferguson family, since they were well established and reasonably well off. In truth, with the land sold away from her, she had nothing but the small amount of funds he had given her before she left Cheyenne.
She handed the paper back to Zac Ferguson.
“You agree, it is legal?”
“It seems I cannot argue as to the legality of this, the morality is another matter.”
“Huh,” David cut in. “You should consider yourself lucky to get an offer.”
She raised her eyes to frown at him, and caught the look on Abe’s face.
“David, that is entirely uncalled for. Apologize to Miss Lovell.”
“Well, I’m sorry, I’m sure. But she always was a carrot top.”
As apologies went it was pretty poor, but Charis recognized it was as much as David would offer. His brothers seemed to agree, since no-one challenged him to say more.
Charis glanced around the table, and realized Maybelle was still seated at Josh’s side, they were whispering together. The girl had made no move to begin washing the plates, and it needed to be done. She rose to her feet and moved to pour hot water to clean the crocks. If she had expected anyone to leap to assist her, she was sadly disappointed. She did not expect Zac Ferguson to help, but any of the others had surely had chores as children, and in this house they were still the children. However, they all seemed to consider it was not their responsibility.
She cleaned the dishes and stacked them neatly, if there had been a cloth available she would have dried them, but there was nothing. Behind her the men were chatting about the recent losses of stock from some ranches. It was nothing large scale, but people had noticed they were missing familiar animals.
“Time our brother, the deputy, did something about this,” David stated loudly.
“No doubt he is,” Adam returned. “Now, I’m for bed.” He rose to his feet and bid everyone good night, and he made a point of turning to her, still standing by the washing up bowl. “Good night to you, Miss Lovell.”
The other men followed suit. Charis was left with Zac Ferguson, Josh and Maybelle.
Charis would like to have talked for a while, but her choice for conversation would have been Abe or Adam. Josh and Maybelle were too tied up in each other, and she already knew Maybelle had little to say to her. She could not imagine Zac wished to talk this over any more. Maybe bed was the answer.
“If you will excuse me, I think I need to rest.”
“Good night,” Zac offered stiffly. Josh and Maybelle didn’t even notice as she left the room.
She retired to her bed, at least it was more comfortable than last night.
CHAPTER SIX
C haris rose in the grey dawn, dressed, braided her hair and went into the kitchen. Maybelle was there, filling the coffee pot. Breakfast preparation was no doubt about to commence.
“Can I help you with anything?”
Maybelle glanced at her. “You can get the skillet ready for the eggs, I will slice the bacon.”
“Are there biscuits?”
“No, there is bread. We will finish yesterday’s bake. I need to prepare more in a few moments.”
“I will help you.”
Maybelle turned away without answering. Her bacon slicing sounded vicious, Charis was fairly certain she was not happy.
Then the truth came out. Maybelle spun around to confront her.
“Are you here to take all this away from me?” She had tears shining in her eyes.
Charis stared for a second, her attitude yesterday had be so blasé, but obviously the breezing about was a bit of an act.
“No, it was never my intention.”
“But if you marry Abe…”
“Yes, I see your concerns, but I never wanted to marry anyone who was not of my choosing. And if it wasn’t me, it will be someone else, Abe could marry at any time.”
“Don’t you believe it! Abe does not want to marry, he is happy for someone else to produce the heir. Unless his father pushes him, he won’t marry.”
“Does it matter so much that you are in charge? Can we not do this together? Assuming I actually marry one of these men.”
“I wanted… I like…” Maybelle gave sigh. “I married Josh, and never gave much thought to the living conditions. He told me we would have our own space; that turned out to be a room, not a house as I had expected. I didn’t expect to become housekeeper and cook for the whole family. I know I can’t cook, and I am only learning on the cleaning front. I was not used to it, my parents had a cook and a maid.” She sighed again. “I never expected to come here and find I had no help. There is so much to do, so much cooking and washing. I am trying because I don’t want my husband to think I can’t do it. I wanted to look after my husband, not everyone.” She sounded a little desperate.
“Oh, I see.” And Charis did see. Maybe she wasn’t doing the best job of it, but at least she was in charge at the moment, and she dreaded being made to look inadequate. “Maybelle, nothing is decided. I’ve only just met these men again, I’ve not seen them since I was ten, and even then I didn’t know Abe or Adam, and I’d only met David briefly. Maybe this won’t ever happen, but if it does, I will not push you aside. Ultimately one of us married couples will need to seek another house. I would be happy to move back to my family home with my husband, whoever that might be. Until then, maybe we can work together?” She took a deep breath. “No-one needs to have any idea who is actually doing the cooking, would you like me to help you? I can teach you, if that would help?”
“Yes, please.”
There wasn’t much to be done about breakfast, it was too late now to make biscuits, but Charis would see to that tomorrow morning, and certainly at supper.
They worked together to get the food ready for when the men came through the door some ten minutes later. The whole affair didn’t take long, the menfolk shoveled their food down and were gone in twenty minutes, leaving Maybelle and Charis with the dirty dishes. Charis moved to the bowl, she knew from experience that things washed easier when the food had not been allowed to set on the plates.
It seemed they were alone, no instructions had been given, Charis guessed Maybelle had been left in charge. As to how they spent the day, it was obvious, they baked, and cleaned and tided and sewed. On top of this there may be other duties.
“Do we need to collect eggs, or milk cows, or anything like that?”
Maybelle shook her head. “No, the boys do that.”
“Fine, so we wash these pots, and make bread, yes?”
“I suppose. I’m not much good at bread. I do it, but if I go to town I always buy plenty from the bakery.”
The day progressed. Charis tried very hard not to push Maybelle from her position as head lady of the household, but it was a challenge. Maybelle was no natural housekeeper, and Charis found she was correcting things, or doing them herself because Maybelle just didn’t get on with it. The only thing she seemed to enjoy was sewing, hence the machine at the back of the room.
After they had made the bread and set it to rise, Charis got a glimpse of things to come. “Ben was right, you need new curtains in that room,” Maybelle announced. Two minutes later she was searching in the cupboard, and found a suitable length of cloth. “This will be fine, much less faded.” She collected the old curtains, sat down at her sewing machine and commenced fashioning new ones.
Charis watched her in amazement. There was any number of things which needed doing before she sat to sew, but it didn’t seem to enter Maybelle’s head. She saw something she could do, and did it, even if it wasn’t the important job. There was no point in making an enemy of the girl, so Charis set about cleaning the floor, and the rather grimy windows. She checked on supplies in the cupboards, and planned the evening meal. Nothing fancy, but she could make biscuits, a
nd a stew which hopefully was better than she had eaten last night.
The men came in for their supper. As usual coffee was on the stove, and they all grabbed for the mugs. Charis found it very strange that they treated the place more like a diner than a family home. They expected the meal in front of them almost instantly, with no consideration of where it had come from. Maybe she was old fashioned, but her mother had always insisted that they paused and considered, and said grace before a family meal.
The plates were already on the table, she placed the stew pot between Zac and Abe, as the most senior they would get first servings. The rest of the men made grabs for the biscuits as Maybelle put the platter on the other end of the table.
She could hold her tongue no longer.
“Don’t you ever say grace?”
There was a second of silence, before David shouted, “Grace!” He then proceeded as if she had not spoken. “Come on Abe, hurry up I’m hungry.”
“So are we all!” Zac’s voice cut across the mutters. “And Miss Lovell is correct, we have neglected to give thanks for our meal.”
“Huh, ain’t generally worth being thankful that it’s just about edible,” David once more announced.
There was another second of complete silence, before Maybelle leapt to her feet and ran from the room. Josh followed immediately, presumably to comfort his wife.
Zac glared at Charis, and she raised her chin defiantly.
“I apologize if I have cause offence, but it was the way I was brought up, to say grace and be thankful.”
“No offence,” Abe cut in, “David is the one guilty of causing trouble.” He scowled at his brother. “I will say grace. Bow your heads.”
The remainder of the table, even David, did as he asked, and Abe murmured a short few words of thankfulness for their food.
Charis retreated to the corner of the kitchen, uncertain of how she would now be treated.
Josh re-entered the room and moved to speak to her. She forestalled him.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean for…”
“No, there is no need for any sort of apology from you. What you said was correct, we have not behaved as we should, however David never behaves as he should. Maybelle’s upset is entirely due to him and his mouth. She would like to have her meal in her room, and I will keep her company. Can we fill two plates?”
“Of course.” Charis moved to the table and filled two plates, adding a biscuit on each. “Will that be enough?”
“I would think so, thank you. I will come back for coffee if she still doesn’t want to come out.” Josh went back through the door to their room.
Everyone else was busy eating, and eating with more enthusiasm than they had last night.
“Hey, this is pretty good,” Joe announced.
“Don’t talk with your mouth full,” his father reprimanded.
Obviously the question of manners had struck a chord.
Charis took her seat, served herself a small portion and took a biscuit. The biscuits would improve as she got to know the stove, the stew was, to her mind, acceptable, but not as good as it could be. She needed to make a trip into town to purchase various things from the mercantile, herbs and spices if possible, which would make the meals more tasty.
There was little conversation until the plates were cleared.
Charis stood by the washing up bowl, the water was already hot so she could wash up, if she did that she felt she could listen to the conversations without having to participate, or feel that she was eavesdropping.
“Church social this Saturday,” Adam said. “Are we all going?”
“I sure want to,” Joe said. “We generally go, don’t we?”
“We do,” Abe acknowledged, “But we have all been a bit lax about church going lately. Maybe that needs to change?”
David gave a grunt of disgust, but Zac nodded at his eldest. “You are right. It is Thanksgiving, and Christmas will soon be on us. We need to attend church this Sunday.” He turned to Charis. “Hey, girl, you need to speak with the church ladies, they will expect help at the socials, cooking and the like.”
All Charis could do was nod. Talk about taken for granted! She’d been here a day, and already she was expected to uphold the honor of this family by donating to the church.
“I will need to take a trip into town to purchase supplies, both for this kitchen, and in order that I might cook for the social. I hope someone may be able to introduce me to the necessary people,” Charis declared boldly. If she allowed it, these men would walk all over her. It was bad enough that she had no choice about her marriage, she would not lie down and be a doormat for the rest of the family.
The men discussed the Thanksgiving social for a while, before everyone retired to bed.
***
The next day passed much as the first, except Ben arrived in time for supper. It made little difference since Charis had prepared plenty.
The main topic of discussion was the social the following day. Charis was happy to hear that Ruth and her husband and brother would be there, she was looking forward to meeting her old friend again.
CHAPTER SEVEN
T he next morning Ben headed for town immediately after breakfast, he was expected to help people set up for the social this evening. Today they would raise the tree which would stand until after Christmas. The day was a flurry of activity and it seemed no time at all before he was changing into his best clothes in the back room of the sheriff’s office. He combed his hair, and made himself presentable, before heading back to the school hall where people would soon be arriving.
He was happy to greet the younger set of Ferguson twins, Ruth and Caleb, and of course Ruth’s husband Frank, as they pulled up outside the hall.
“Great to see you, brother,” Caleb slapped him on the back. “What’s this I hear about the Lovell girl coming home?”
“Oh yes, I will be so happy to see her, Charis was always my best friend as a child,” Ruth enthused.
“Yes, she is back, I expect she will have a great deal to tell you. The thing is, Pa bought the land from her father, she didn’t realize until she got here, that it no longer belonged to her.”
“Oh my goodness!” Ruth’s eyes were round.
“It gets worse, her father sold it to Pa, on the condition that she wed one of us brothers. Pa agreed, in writing.”
“So Charis is set to be our sister by marriage? That’s not so bad,” Caleb said. “Anyhow, what are you doing about these cattle thefts? Any news? Any ideas?”
“Not much as yet,” Ben admitted ruefully.
Two more buggies were fast approaching. “Best we go in,” Frank took Ruth’s arm. “Will you see to the pony, Caleb?”
Caleb led the pony away with a wave to Ben. “See you in a while.”
From then on people arrived in their droves, Ben was not exactly a doorman, but he had been charged to ensure no-one unpleasant arrived at the door. As far as he could see most of the townsfolk were here, including his own family.
His father had driven the buggy for the girls, and his brothers had arrived on horseback. Maybelle had indeed looked the Belle of the Ball, as she loved to do. Charis looked attractive, but still she had not ventured to let that beautiful hair down, and her dress was no match for Maybelle’s.
Once the party was in full swing and the dancing had begun, Ben finally left his post at the door and ventured inside. It was only when he got inside that he realized why he had stayed out there so long. He looked around, and kept on looking until his eyes found Charis, then he couldn’t look away. It was stupid; he didn’t want her, he couldn’t have her, his father would see to that. He knew this, but still his eyes followed her.
Caleb arrived at his side.
“Hi, big brother. Can’t get any sense out of anyone tonight. What is going on exactly?”
“In what way?”
Ruth arrived at his other side. “Charis of course. Who is going to marry her, or is she choosing?”
“Is that l
ikely? No, nothing is decided, but I am pretty certain Pa will expect Abe to step up.”
Ruth looked across at Charis, and back at her brother. “That’s not going to work, is it?”
“Why not?” Caleb questioned. “I know Abe has always said he won’t marry, but she’s a nice girl and…” He looked at his older brother. “Ahh, I see.”
Ruth took the bull by the horns. “Why Abe? Why not you?”
“Because I left. The Lovell property comes with her, and Pa wants the property.”
“But surely that doesn’t mean it has to be Abe? It could be you or David, or even Joe, and it would still be in the family.”
“I am pretty sure he will push Abe, as the son and heir, into it.”
“That’s not fair to her,” Ruth protested. “And you like her, don’t you?”
He gave a small shrug, and dragged his eyes away from her again. “Little good that will do me.”
“Hmm, I await the announcement with interest,” Caleb muttered. “Excuse me, I see someone I must speak with.” He sloped off in the direction of three young ladies.
For the rest of the evening Ben wandered around, speaking with many people, and watching Charis at every opportunity.
He wanted to speak with her, but so, it seemed, did everyone else. He was not going to interrupt while she was talking with Ruth, he did not need his sister trying to match make where there was no chance of success. Finally he saw his opportunity, she slipped unobtrusively to the door; he assumed she was going to the outhouse, or maybe she just needed to get away from all the attention.
He followed, allowing her the privacy to visit the outhouse, before he waylaid her.
“Charis.”
“Oh, my goodness, you startled me.”
“I’m sorry, I wanted to speak with you, alone. There is never much chance at the ranch. Pa is always watching.” He caught her elbow and steered her into the shadows.