by Rita Hestand
"I don't know, it could have been anyone. Ed, strangers, Indians, someone who hates us."
"Were you two in there when it started burning?"
"No, Willa had gone to take her bath this morning. I checked on her just as some man attacked her. I had to kill him; he pulled a gun on me. Another came along and I ran him off. It may have been him that did this, or it could be someone from town who just simply hates us."
"You killed a man?" Charlie asked. "Did you bury him."
"Yeah, back there in the woods. I doubt anyone will ever find it."
"Well, let's go to my place, you can't sleep here." Cora told them.
Cora took Elan and Clay and Willa hopped on the back of the wagon. Clay stared at the ashes and told his father they could rebuild.
"We'll talk about that later." Charlie said, his face a wad of frowns.
Chapter Seventeen
When they pulled into Cora's place, they all got out and walked up to the house.
"Sorry to put you out, Cora." Charlie told her.
She made a face and turned to look at all of them. "You're not putting me out a bit, Charlie Nelson. I think of all of y'all as kind of family. So, let's don't go on about that." She insisted.
"We need to search the place and see if anyone left any clues as to who did it." Charlie told Clay.
"I don't think we should even worry about who did it, dad. It's too late, it's gone, and sooner or later, we'll probably find out who did it. Guilt has a way of coming forward dad. You know that. What we should think about is rebuilding." Clay told him.
"First, if you want to know, look for tracks around the cabin. If it was my people, the horses would not be shod. And if it was them, there will be tracks of many. There are so many that hate. But to burn our home, I cannot believe it." Willa said sadly.
"She's right, that's true." Clay nodded. "but I kind of doubt it was the Indians.
"Outlaws would have no reason to burn the place unless they thought we had money somewhere, but I don't think anyone would even think that, looking at our cabin. It would be more a hate crime. Someone that wants us dead. Or simply someone trying to run us off our land." Clay told them.
"You're right again." Charlie agreed.
Clay shot Willa a smile. It was the first time she called their place home. He appreciated that more than he could say.
"It might even be a woman," Cora chimed in.
"A woman?" Charlie frowned at her.
"A woman could do such a thing. Out of hate or revenge."
"Laura?" Clay and Charlie chimed.
"Why would she purposely hurt us." Willa asked.
Cora shook her head, "Revenge is one of the biggest motives. Her mother was killed by Indians. If she thought Willa was in the cabin, she might have done it, herself."
"Or Ed!" Charlie chimed in once more. "Ed threatened to."
"At least no one was hurt." Cora looked at Willa, "Let's go make some coffee and see about some supper." She told her.
Willa followed her as the men talked about the fire.
Seeing the stress on Willa's face she changed the subject. "Are you anxious for the wedding?" Cora asked her as she cleaned the coffee pot and made more.
Willa nodded, setting Elan in a safe place on the floor to play. "Yes, I can hardly wait. It will not come too soon for me. I love him so. Is it wrong to speak so plainly?"
"Not at all. I'm rather blunt myself. Well listen, the fire was tragic, but you all can stay with me. My house is big enough for all of us. I had plans to keep Charlie and Elan here while the two of you had kind of a honeymoon. I know how it is when you first marry, and all newlyweds need alone time." She chuckled. "After you marry, you could move out to the bunkhouse if you like for some privacy. The foreman's room is nice and plenty big enough. There's a small kitchen if you get up late or something."
"It is thoughtful of you. I find I cannot contain my feelings for him. I cannot keep my eyes from him. I have never known such a good man. I can hardly wait to be with him."
She didn't say 'again', but it was on her mind.
"I noticed." Cora turned to smile at her. "Well, that's how love is, honey. It's how it should be, especially at your age." She told her.
"Were you that way with your husband?"
"When we first married, yes. Sam was young and handsome and always doing nice things for me. There is something about when you first fall in love, the excitement, the lust, and the needs of the body. But after time that wears down and you come to realize that there's a deeper kind of love. Sometimes just holding their hand can be wonderful."
"I do not want to speak out of turn, but do you not have feelings for Charlie?"
Cora looked at her and a slow smile spread over her face. "I suppose I'm pretty transparent too. Yes, I do. Charlie's the only other man that I've ever taken to so much. He's honest, loyal and sometimes so darn sweet."
"I believe he loves you," Willa said with a shy smile.
"We haven't spoken of it, but there are some definite feelings between us."
"Why do you not marry him then when the preacher comes, and we will be one family then." Willa cried.
"Well," Cora chuckled, "For one thing, he hasn't asked me."
"Would you if he asked?" Willa stared at her now.
"Yeah," Cora let out a sigh. "I would. I've known Charlie for years. And I don’t want to live out my life alone. Neither does he."
"Then I will pray to the Creator that he asks you."
"Why would you do that for me?" Cora asked.
"Because love is wonderful, and I wish it for you."
Cora chuckled.
Willa needed to feed Elan again, so she sat at the table and proceeded to feed him. He didn't feed long before he went to sleep again, and Cora made him a makeshift bed in the dresser drawer.
"He's got a healthy appetite." Cora chuckled.
They served the men some coffee and got busy making supper. Cora fried chicken and Willa made the mashed potatoes. Cora had corn on the cob, and fresh green beans all that was left was biscuits and gravy.
Within an hour they were all sitting at the table. It was a happy time for them even though the cabin burned.
After the dishes were done, Clay and Willa went for a walk and Charlie and Cora played with Elan and talked.
"It's nice of you to open your home to us, Cora." Charlie told her.
"I have a big home and it's been kind of lonely for a while Charlie. The sound of a baby in the house, the look of love between Clay and Willa, and lots of conversation between us kind of awakens this old house." Cora chuckled.
"Cora I been thinking." Charlie ran his finger over the top of his coffee cup. "I might sell the property. Might even sell out to Ed, if he'd agree in a contract to let his neighbors' water their stock. I would insist that be put in the contract. It might end some bitterness around here."
"Sell out, why Charlie, where would you go, what would you do with yourself?" Cora looked worried now.
Charlie smiled and took her hand. "It's been a long time since my Beth died, and your Sam. We've done well in that time, but we are both lonely people. And we like each other a lot, I think, don't you?"
"Well sure we do." Cora agreed. "Of course, we do, maybe even more than like." She stared into his eyes now seeing a light there that made him look years younger.
"I been thinkin'. When that preacher comes, what would you say to marrying me?" Charlie stared into her bright eyes. "We could marry, live here, and with the money I'd get from my place we could make improvements here. With all of us working together, this place could be a show place."
Cora studied him, "Are you proposing to me, Charlie?"
"Kind of in a round about way, if you don't mind. I didn't want to seem too forward, but you know we got a spark between us. Maybe more than a spark."
Cora blushed, "I never thought you'd ask me." She shook her head. "Oh Charlie, do you mean it?"
"I been encouraging Clay all along to marry, but what was eatin
g me was my own loneliness. You are a wonderful woman, with a big heart, and I've always had a soft spot for you, Cora. Even when I was married to Beth, I thought of you often. I can't be telling Clay that as he wouldn't understand, but I hope he understands what I'm feeling now. We are at an age that neither of us should be alone, and we do have feelings for each other. We could make this place shine, Cora. I could move our cattle over here. Stock up what crops of hay we have left in your barn. We could be happy, Cora. With all of us working together, we could make this place something grand again. But, I gotta admit, I love you Cora, I always have. And don't say nothing about Beth, as I loved her in my fashion."
She looked a bit breathless, "You mean that, Charlie?"
"With all my heart, Cora."
"You don't have to sell me on it. I'd always kind of hoped after I got over my husband that maybe you and I could get together. We get on so well. And there is a spark, Charlie. Since we are admitting things, I should tell you that I've had feelings for you for some time too."
He leaned to kiss her lips and smiled as he hugged her. "I'll take that as a yes, then."
"Charlie, it could be so wonderful." She chuckled.
"It will be, Cora, I promise you that. I just wish it had been sooner." He chuckled and took her hand and held it in his lap. "I love you, I have all along."
"All along?" She twisted her head.
"Beth was a good wife, and I loved her, but Sam married you before Beth and I got married. I was sweet on you too back then. And I have never gotten over it."
"Why Charlie!" she smiled. "I have to admit, there were times when I looked at you that I thought I saw something. Did Beth ever know?"
"No, I'd never have hurt her."
"I'm glad. Sam didn't know that I'd looked at you too, many times. Sam was a good man, and he loved me, but we didn't talk much. The man had set ways about him. You, you were always so easy to talk to. And there was many a time I wished I could have danced with you! You're a great dancer. That time you almost drowned saving the young boy who fell in at the pond at the annual picnic, I was so afraid for you. Beth seemed to handle it quite calmly, but my heart was tripping so. That was the first time I ever admitted to myself that there was more to you and me than I could say. When you came out of that water, I wanted to run and kiss you. I nearly did. Wouldn't they talk that up?"
"I was jealous of Sam, that's why we didn't get along well."
"I always wondered about that too."
"You know I'd never hurt Beth. I loved her in my fashion, but I just couldn't get you out of my head. She was a good woman, she gave me a son, and I was happy, but when Sam died, I wanted to come over and see you, but I knew you wasn't ready for that. I thought if I rushed over, people would talk, and I didn't want that for you."
"Sam was a good man, and I loved him, but he's gone, and I have room in my heart for you too Charlie. I think I always have." She sighed leaning into him now. "I fought the feelings I had for you. I didn't want to start a scandal. I didn’t' want to hurt Sam or Beth, but there's always been something between us, hasn't there."
"There sure has." He kissed her again, this time long and breathlessly.
He wrapped an arm around her and kissed her.
"We're not too old, you know." He winked at her..
She smiled brightly, "I guess we're not. I certainly don't feel old right now."
He took her hand, kissed it and smiled at her. "We'll have a good life together, I promise you that, sweetheart."
"I haven't been called that in a lot of years." She chuckled.
And they kissed again, then laughed when they pulled apart. "I believe we will have a good life, Charlie. We're old enough to appreciate each other."
Late that night before they all went to bed, Charlie pulled Clay out on the front porch. "Clay, I got something I want to tell you."
"Oh, what is it?"
"What would you think if I told you that Cora and I are gonna get married when the preacher comes too." He blurted.
Clay let a sly smile cross his handsome face, "Well now dad, I kind of thought there was something going on."
"I wouldn't talk if I was you, I seen how raw Willa's lips looked tonight."
"I can't hide it dad. We love each other. I want to be with her all the time now. And I'm not ashamed of saying it. We're going to be a family." He looked at his father and smiled. "I told you when the right woman came along, I wouldn't waste any time making her mine."
"I know that son, and I'm proud for you. But you didn’t answer me."
"I think it's great dad." Clay shook his hand. "And I'm happy for you."
"You ain't upset about it?"
"No, why should I be, she's a nice lady. And I love her for what she did for Willa."
"Good. Just didn't want to shock you is all. Now I got another question for you."
"What's that?"
"How would you feel about living here."
"I guess if you got married it would be fine, I'd expect you two to be together."
"No, I mean all of us together. We'd be family." Charlie told him.
"What do you want to do with our property?"
"Sell it."
"You want to do that?" Clay looked a bit shocked.
"Make a clean break of it. At least we'd all be together, and you and I can take care of the girls. You marrying Willa will cause some tempers to fly, if we are all together, we can defend this place and the girls better. I'd just feel so much better about all us living together and working together."
"What about the water rights, we don't want to give anyone all that water and they not share it, it would cause a range war."
"It'll be in the contract, for whoever buys it."
"Good idea. Alright dad, I think that is a good idea."
"Good, glad we got that settled. Now we'll be one big and very happy family. Cora has two stock ponds and a small tributary of our creek on her land, so we'll have enough water for us and what we have. With what we get for our land, we can build the cattle spread up and make a decent living here."
"You're right of course. We wouldn't have to spend as much time on the house, and all, it's plenty big enough for us."
"That's my thinking too. And the girls get along great, that makes things even better."
"I agree dad. And I’m happy for you and Cora." Clay told him.
"Glad we got this all settled between us. I didn't want you and Willa worrying about building up our place. When Cora and I go, the place will belong to you and Willa. We've already talked about all that too."
Clay glanced at his dad with a bit of shock, then smiled, "Sounds like you've done a lot of talking lately."
"And a lot of sparkin'," Charlie chuckled. When Clay stared at him a bit surprised, he grinned. "I still got a lot of spry in me, son. I'm not as old as you think I am, and neither is Cora."
Clay chuckled, patted his dad on the shoulder and they went back inside.
Chapter Eighteen
While they waited on the preacher, Clay and Charlie worked hard to move the hay over to Cora's barn. The girls busied themselves with fixing up the rooms for everyone, including giving Elan a room of his own. Willa was elated that she thought so much of Elan.
It was a hot day, and Clay took his shirt off as they moved the hay. There would be a lot of work, but neither of them minded.
"Dad, I'm glad you and Cora are getting together."
"Thanks. We get along really well, and this place will be a showplace when we get through with it. But I want you to know son, I do love her."
"I'm glad. I'd hate to think you didn't."
Charlie smiled. "She's a fine woman, always thought so."
Willa brought them some tea out to cool off with and they took a short break from the work. His dad told her he'd be back for the tea and walked off. Clay kissed her the minute his dad was out of site. She held onto him tight, enjoying the feel of his lips on hers. "I needed that," he murmured when he came up for air.
"I too
," she smiled.
"I want to go over to the place this afternoon, do you want to go with me?"
She stared then smiled, "I would like that."
"Good, see you in a bit, then." He said as he watched her go back to the house.
Willa was a tempting woman, he lost thought when she was around. The way her hips swayed when she walked away from him, made him want her.
She looked over her shoulder at him and he smiled.
His dad came back and they finished up their chore.
Willa was helping Cora fix up some of the rooms.
"Cora's got a really nice place here dad."
"Yeah, she does, Sam did right by her, I suppose."
Clay glanced at his dad and just realized something.
"You never liked him much did you?"
"No, he was a bit arrogant. Thought himself a bit better and I don't care for uppity folks. But I always liked Cora."
"But you liked Laura dad!"
"Women are different. Besides, I liked her cooking, mostly."
Clay laughed. "Yeah, I guess that's true enough."
Clay eyed him with speculation.
Before they moved the cattle over, they had to check the fences and make sure none needed repairing. There were a couple of places they had to repair, and spent the day doing it.
Then the next day they went to move the cattle and other stock from their place.
"You know, it's kind of sad leaving here, Dad." Clay remarked looking out over the place. "We've been here a long time."
"Yeah, but Cora's place is better built and there's more land, with the sale of this place, we'll be able to buy more cattle and make even more improvements."
"Well I agree with you on that, I just meant there are a lot of good memories here." Clay told him.
"I guess so, son, especially for you."
"Wasn't this place yours and mom's first house?"
"Yep, it was. I'm kind of ashamed I never did better for her. But she was one not to ever complain. She made do no matter what. I guess I never gave her much credit for how much she put up with."
"It didn't matter, she was happy."