by Barbara Goss
“All right,” Spence said. “Let’s share it.” He opened it, took a large swig, and handed it to her. She did the same, wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, and thanked him.
They hadn’t passed another traveler or house the whole trip. The road was narrow and looked lightly traveled.
“We need to stop once more to rest the horses,” Spence said. He pointed to some large shade trees. “There’s the perfect spot.”
Glenna smiled at him. “Shade! I was praying for some.”
After securing the horses, Glenna and Spence sank down beneath the trees. “Ah, Spence, this feels like heaven.” She tossed her hat on the ground and leaned against the bark of a large elm. “I’m not going to want to leave this spot.”
“It won’t be much longer, I promise.”
“How long will we stay with your friend?” she asked.
“As long as necessary. I want to send a wire to John at the U.S. Marshals’ headquarters to warn him that Asa might be on the way there. I’ll stay a few days, but I’m afraid I’ll have to leave you there.”
Glenna sat up straight. “Leave me?”
“Yes. You’ll stay there with Ruth Madison until Asa is locked up.”
“But, I’ll...I thought you’d stay with me.” She stopped herself from telling him she’d miss him.
Spence touched her nose lightly, his eyes twinkling. “My job is to keep you safe.”
“And that’s why I thought you’d stay with me.”
“I need to do whatever I can to get Asa locked up tight.”
“But can’t the other marshals do that?”
“They might be able to, but I have to know for sure. I might also find a way to tell your father you’re safe without telling him where you are.”
Glenna pouted. “Poor Father. He’s probably terribly upset.”
“Then, that’s the first thing I’ll do,” Spence said. He stood. “Now, let’s get this trip over with.”
Glenna thought Ruth Madison a delightful woman. She’d welcomed them warmly and in minutes had a hot bowl of stew in front of them.
While Spence explained their situation, Ruth clucked.
“Oh, my. You can stay here as long as needed, Glenna,” she said. “I’ll enjoy the company. It gets lonely out here. Every so often John or one of his marshals stop by, but other than that, I’m all alone.”
“What happened to Mr. Madison?” Glenna asked.
“He died eight years ago.” Ruth sighed. “I still miss him. He was a wonderful man.”
“You have the dogs,” Spence said.
“Oh, yes. I couldn’t live out here without my dogs.”
“I heard them barking when we came in, but I didn’t see them,” Glenna said. “How can they protect you if they aren’t visible?”
“Ah, that’s my secret,” Ruth said. “I have them in a large pen in the back. All I need to do is open the gate.”
“What if that’s too late, and the bad person already has a gun on you?” Glenna asked.
“I’ll show you, just in case we need it while you’re here.” Ruth walked over to the back door and pulled down a wooden peg. The dogs barked furiously, and Glenna could see them dashing about the yard, looking for some intruder.
“Now, I’ll go round them up,” Ruth said. “They’re extremely vicious dogs, and if I let them loose, they might hurt someone like you and Spence coming for a friendly visit. When I need them, they’ll be ready. I never worry.”
“She also has a small arsenal in the hall,” Spence said.
Glenna let out a breath of relief. She still worried about Asa finding her. She fretted that he’d followed them or had them followed. She felt better knowing about the dogs.
While Ruth corralled her dogs, Spence came around to Glenna’s chair and helped her up. He gave her a tender hug. “Stop worrying. I wouldn’t have brought you here if I didn’t think you’d be safe.
Glenna couldn’t resist clinging to him. She’d never been so frightened in her life. Asa would kill her for taking that ledger. For him, it was life or death. She wished Spence were staying because he brought her comfort.
As usual, Spence pulled her arms from around his neck and gently pushed her back a few inches, but he always did so with a warm smile on his face. “You’ll be fine. I thought you were tougher than this. Remember when you pulled a gun on the mystery shooter in the meadow? I thought to myself: what a tough and brave woman.”
“I was almost sure it was just a poacher or lost hunter, and...I admit...I was showing off.”
Spence cuffed her chin lightly. “You had me fooled.”
Ruth returned and Spence went out to care for the horses. Glenna helped Ruth clear the dishes from the table. “Mrs. Madison—”
“Ruth. Please, call me Ruth”
“Ruth—is there any chance of a bath?”
“I’m sorry, I don’t have a tub.”
Glenna’s mouth hung open in shock. “No tub? But how do you bathe?”
“In the pond at the side of the house. It’s fed by fresh spring water. I was in just this afternoon, and the water is nice and refreshing.”
Glenna could hardly hide her shock. “You go in there...without clothing?”
“No,” Ruth laughed. “I wear a nightgown. I have several—I can lend you one. I’ve put lead in the hems so they don’t float up. You take a bar of soap, jump in, wash, and get out and dry off in the sun.”
Glenna smiled and replied, “I’ll try that tomorrow when it’s sunny and hot.” The thought of swimming in an old nightgown struck her as funny. She supposed it was practical if you had no tub.
“Of course, we’ll wait until Spence goes to town to send his wire. By the time he returns, we’ll be dry and smelling like the scented soap I make.”
“Now,” Ruth announced when Spence had returned, “sleeping arrangements. I have just the two bedrooms. You can each have one of them, and I’ll bunk here, on the sofa.”
“No, you won’t,” Spence said. “I claim the sofa.”
“You do?” Ruth asked.
“Yes. Seriously, I prefer to be here, in the room, where I can see a rider approaching and near the dog pen latch.”
Ruth smiled at him. “It’s yours, then.”
She made up a bed for him on the large, overstuffed sofa before escorting Glenna to her room.
After a hearty breakfast, Spence rode into town, and Glenna and Ruth donned the flannel weighted nightgowns to bathe. It felt glorious and the gowns worked beautifully, which surprised Glenna. She could reach up under it while underwater and wash her whole body. To rinse off, she dove beneath the surface. She didn’t know how to swim, but the bottom was just about four feet beneath her. She washed her hair with the lavender-fragranced soap.
The two women lay in the sun, and their gowns were dry enough for them to go inside to change into clean clothes in minutes. Glenna felt more refreshed than she ever had after taking a hot bath.
Spence bathed in the pond once it grew dark. Glenna imagined him in the water without wearing a thing.
When Glenna awoke the next morning, Spence wasn’t at the breakfast table and she panicked. “Ruth, where’s Spence?”
“Don’t worry. He’s just in town checking for an answer to his telegram.”
Glenna smiled. “I just wondered,” she tried to say casually.
“He will have to go soon, you know, so you’d better prepare for it,” Ruth said.
“I know, but I feel so safe with him here.”
“I’ll keep you safe.”
Glenna smiled at her. “Yes, I know. I’m being silly.”
Ruth gave her a knowing look as she set some toast on Glenna’s plate. “I think what you are isn’t silly, but in love.”
Glenna bit her bottom lip. “I think I am, but it’s an impossible relationship. He’s from Arkansas, and I’m from Kansas. I live with my father whom I could never leave. Once his job here is done, he’ll be gone from my life forever.”
“Oh, dear—that is
a problem,” Ruth said. She poured them some coffee. “There has to be a solution.”
“He keeps pushing me away, but I feel as though he doesn’t really want to, but he has to. Does that make sense?”
“Not one bit.” Ruth chuckled. “I think he plans on leaving tomorrow, but it depends on the answer from Arkansas. I’ll see if I can help things along a bit.”
Glenna thanked her with a grateful smile.
Spence returned and showed the wire to Ruth. “I’m wanted back in Fort Smith.” Glenna felt her heart throb in her chest.
“Will you be back?” she asked.
“Of course, I will.” Spence said. “As soon as Asa is behind bars, I’ll come for you and bring you home.”
“You’ll stop and see my father on your way back?” she asked.
“Yes. I’ll put his mind at rest.”
Ruth set a wicker basket down on the kitchen table. “I have some things to do this afternoon in town, so I’ve packed you two a picnic lunch. I want you to go out by the pond, pick out a nice, shady place, and enjoy the lunch I’ve prepared.”
Glenna gave Ruth a hug. “Thank you. That sounds delightful, doesn’t it, Spence?”
Spence gave Ruth a sideways look. “Thank you, Ruth.” Glenna could tell he knew she was giving them some time together.
Spence spread out the large tablecloth Ruth had folded on top of the basket. He’d chosen a large oak tree that shaded nearly half of the far side of the pond.
“Did you enjoy your swim yesterday?” he asked.
Glenna sat down beside him. “I didn’t think I would, but I did. It was refreshing.”
They’d had ham for dinner the previous night, and Ruth had packed them ham sandwiches with pickles and side of raw carrots.
Glenna had finished her sandwich, and she was gnawing on the carrots. Spence leaned against the tree, watching her. “You look like a rabbit, enjoying those carrots.”
“I love raw carrots,” she said. Glenna reached for the basket. “What did she pack for dessert?”
Spence got to the basket lid first and slammed his hand down on it. “Oh, no you don’t. No peeking until every carrot is gone.”
“But you aren’t helping.”
“I’m having more fun watching you nibble on them.”
Glenna felt herself blushing. She pushed the few leftover carrots away. “I’m full.”
“Well, then, it looks like dessert’s all mine,” he teased.
Glenna reached over and tried to pry his hand from the basket. She struggled to open it, and he fought to keep it closed. It was a battle between her small, dainty hands and his huge, muscular ones. Then, somehow, their hands became intertwined, and he held her hand tenderly, brought it to his lips, and kissed it.
Glenna looked up at him in surprise.
He kissed it again. “Shall we open it together?” he said, never removing his eyes from hers.
Glenna was still shocked by the kiss, and all she could think to do was nod. Together, they opened the basket to find two slices of buttered cornbread.
Glenna picked up her piece and took a bite. Spence followed suit. He drew his finger across her lips. “Butter,” he said. He brought the finger to his lips and tasted it. “Delicious.”
Every nerve in Glenna’s body trembled. She watched him devour his bread. Glenna noticed he had some butter on his lips. She removed it gently with her fingertip and placed it into her mouth. “Secondhand butter is a treat,” she said.
Spence bent over and kissed her on the lips. When he pulled away, he said, “Firsthand is even tastier.”
Glenna froze. All she could do was to sit and stare at him. Her heart was the only thing moving, and it was moving plenty fast.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “I apologize.”
“N-no. It’s all right. I...I quite liked it. No s-sense in wasting good butter.”
He cupped her face with his hands and peered deeply into her eyes. “No, I’m seriously sorry. I don’t want to lead you on. When my job here is done, I’ll be miles away. It’s unfair of me to allow you to think things could ever change. I will tell you, though, if things were different...”
“If things were different, what?” she asked.
Spence dropped his hands, stood, and wiped cornbread crumbs from his trousers. “I don’t know. Let’s just enjoy today. Let’s go for a walk.”
He helped Glenna up, and they walked along the dusty road, telling each other about their childhoods. Glenna had no idea how many times she’d think of that afternoon over the coming weeks.
What had he begun to say?
“If things were different...”
Chapter Thirteen
Before he reported back to John Hendricks at Fort Smith, Spence stopped to assure a frantic Rory McKay that his daughter was safe.
Spence entered John Hendricks’ office upon invitation after he’d knocked and sat down at his desk with the ledger on his lap.
John gazed at the ledger. “So, that’s it, huh?”
Spence nodded and handed it to John.
John paged through it and whistled. “This is exactly what we need. Good job, Spence.”
Spence was about to tell him that it had all been Glenna’s doing, but he kept silent since he had a more urgent question. “Has anyone seen Asa? I purposely led him to believe I was coming directly here with the ledger.”
“If he’s here, we haven’t seen him.” John took an envelope from his top drawer and handed it to Spence. “Thank you for a job well done.”
Spence peeked inside the envelope to see his money. “But the job isn’t done until Asa is caught.”
“We’ll take care of the rest. You’ve completed your mission. Well done. I knew I could count on you. Your father’s been harassing me daily about you being gone from the business.” John leaned back in his chair. “So, if I were you, I’d head over there and get back into the swing of things.”
Spence felt numb with shock. He had to bring Glenna home when Asa was caught. If he didn’t go back to Kansas, he’d never see her again. The thought sent a pain through his chest.
“I’d be willing to stay on to help capture him,” Spence said.
“I have a specially trained team working on it. Besides, your father will have my head on a platter. It seems your brother, Geoff, fell off the loading platform and injured his foot; your father needs you.”
Spence felt defeated as he headed for his home. He was still riding Starfire, he still had a stable to finish, and he’d left Glenna in Mead. John thought his job was finished, but there was so much more to do.
The Blackwood family’s home was out in the country on the outskirts of Fort Smith, making his daily ride to Van Buren easier. The advantage, according to his father, was that presently, theirs was the largest lumber company, and it served both cities. Builders ordered from both Van Buren and Fort Smith, and Blackwood Lumber delivered, no matter the distance. His father had grown their business to one of the best lumber facilities anywhere. His father always said, “With a surname like Blackwood, we’re in the right business.”
When his family home came into view, it didn’t come with that “home at last” feeling. To him, it looked like someone else’s home. Had he been gone too long? He envisioned the McKay home and a nostalgic feeling crossed over him. That was how he’d thought he might feel when viewing his boyhood home.
Geoffrey scrambled down the front steps of the two-story, log cabin home as he approached, and he hobbled over to meet him. Spence slid off his horse, and the two men embraced.
“Welcome home, brother,” Geoff said.
“What in blazes happened to your foot?”
“I fell off the loading dock.”
“What? It’s not all that high, Geoff.”
“I was carrying an armload of lumber, and it all landed on my foot.” Geoff raised his bandaged foot higher.
Hiram Blackwood came out of the barn and said loudly, “The prodigal son finally returns.”
Spence felt the ins
ult deeply. “I wasn’t off being a wastrel—I was helping your friend, John Hendricks.”
“I don’t know why—” Hiram was cut off when an aproned woman came running from the house.
“Spence!” She said, running into his arms. Spence twirled her around. The one person he’d truly missed: his mother.
“Martha!” Hiram scolded. “Don’t baby him. He’s finally back, and I have six orders that need filling by Monday.” He pointed his finger at Spence. “You’ll be at the lumberyard first thing in the morning.”
Martha ignored her husband and led Spence, her first-born, into the house. She sat him down in the kitchen, poured him a cup of coffee, and made him a sandwich.
“Now, don’t you pay your father any mind. You know his bark is worse than his bite. He won’t admit it, but he missed you.”
Spence chuckled. “He missed my help at the yard.”
“No, that’s not true. He missed you here at home, too. He told me so himself. He won’t admit it to you, though.”
The next few days flew by like nothing, and Spence was kept busy at the lumberyard while his father stayed at the lumbermill just down the road. Geoff helped Spence as much as he could by hobbling around. All Spence thought of night and day was how to get out of this life and back to the one he’d just left.
He missed Glenna and worried about her. Would anyone inform him when they’d caught Asa Livingston? Would Glenna be escorted back to her father? How would she feel if he never went back?
Spence couldn’t help but feel helpless, defeated and sullen. He was glad the lumberyard was busy because it kept him from thinking about his problems too much; however, someone closer to him than anyone saw that Spence had become a different man. His mother pulled him aside after dinner about a week after he’d come home.
“Sit on the porch with me and watch the sunset?” she asked.
He nodded. “I’d like that.”
His mother chose her favorite rocking chair and he sat on the wooden bench beside her.