Amon (23 page)

His smile faded, his eyes filled with confusion.

Nettie shook her head. “I know, I wasn’t forthcoming with you before, but I am now. I wanted to tell you everything, but I was afraid you’d reject me …”

His brow furrowed slightly as if to say,
no, I’d never put you away.

She felt suddenly emboldened. “Amon, I … I was no more than a servant in my grandfather’s house. He hated us that much. The only reason we were allowed to live with him was because of our mother. I wasn’t a lady, not even a lady’s maid. I’m just a … a …” She stared into his eyes and felt as if she was inside of him somehow, as if they had just …
joined?
“Oh good Lord …” she gasped.

“You’re what?” he whispered.

She looked at him, bent to his face. Several tears fell onto his cheek. Nettie closed her eyes and squeezed his hands again. “I’m yours.”

Amon gasped, shuddered, gasped again. “Nettie,” he said, his voice stronger.

Mr. Awahnee chuckled again. “Do you want dis woman?” he asked Amon.

Amon looked at him. “You, what … what are you doing here?”

“Do you?” he asked again.

Amon’s eyes widened. “Well, yes … but what does that have to do with anything?”

Mr. Awahnee threw his head back and laughed. He leaned over Amon, a wide grin on his face. “Everyding.” He stood straight again. “You will marry her, yes?”

“Yes, but …”

“Den why not now?”

“What?” Nettie and Amon said at once.

Nettie’s eyes widened as she realized his voice was stronger too. “Amon?”

“What’s he talking about, get married now?”

“Amon!”

“What?”

“You’re … you’re speaking normally!”

“I … good grief, I am.”

Mr. Awahnee burst into laughter. His wife stood, her face calm. “He will be well. The medicine I gave him works extremely fast, but he is still weak. Just as quickly as his symptoms came, they will leave, but do not push him to do much for a few days. Best to let him rest a week.” He turned back to Amon. “Marry dis woman, little bro-dar, enjoy her company while you regain your strengd. Let her take care of you.”

Amon could only stare. “Who are you?”

Mr. Awahnee stood to his full height as his wife joined him at his side. “Someone who cares. About you, about dis place.”

“Place?” Nettie echoed, her voice a whisper.

“Rest now,” Mr. Awahnee said. “We will be nearby. De Jones bro-dars know where to find us.”

Amon struggled to sit up. Nettie helped him, and together they stared open-mouthed at the couple who had just saved his life. “Thank you,” Amon told them.

“You are most welcome, little bro-dar,” Mr. Awahnee said and turned. “Send for de preacher. Wed de woman next to you as soon as you can so she can take care of you – and dere is no talk.”

Amon gazed into Nettie’s eyes. “He has a good point.”

“Yes,” she agreed, still marveling that Amon had the strength to speak at all. She barely noticed when the tall couple left the room, she was so intent on her future husband.

“Tell Doc Drake to fetch Preacher Jo,” Amon said, his voice still soft. Maybe he didn’t have as much strength as she thought.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. And Nettie …”

She looked at him, her eyes searching his. “Yes?”

“I don’t care what you were. To me you’re the woman I’m going to marry.” He smiled. “And I, for one, am glad you already know how to cook.”

She put a hand to her mouth, smiled and with tears in her eyes, began to chuckle. “I’m so sorry I never said anything before …”

“It doesn’t matter. What does is that we marry, get a room at the hotel and I get over this. It hit me hard and fast and I never want to feel like this again.”

“What if one of the others gets sick too?” she asked.

“I’m sure that whatever they gave me, they’ll give some to Doc Drake … or tell him how to make it. I don’t much care what it was, so long … so long as it worked. And it’s working. I can feel it.”

Nettie sucked in a breath. “I almost lost you …”

“And I you.” He closed his eyes. “Now get Preacher Jo and let’s get married while I can still say ‘I do’.”

Nettie nodded, held his hands, then leaned down and kissed him. On the lips this time – for the first time but not, thank the Lord, the last. “I’ll take care of it. And you.”

And she did.

Epilogue

Three weeks later …

“What do you mean he’s not going to leave any with us?” Doc Drake asked, his face contorted with worry. “What if someone else comes down with it? What are we supposed to do?”

Ryder shrugged. “Mr. Awahnee done told me Amon’d be the only case. Nettie may have got a hint of it, but it was only because of poor Amon.”

“It almost killed him!” Doc Drake argued.

“I don’t take to them foreign medicines anyway,” Doc Waller said, more to himself than anyone else. “At least that concoction Mrs. MacDonald left us was made out of local plants.”

Doc Drake sighed. “You would think he’d … that they’d … blast it! I still don’t understand why the Awahnees don’t leave us with some.”

“Maybe they figure you’re enough.” Ryder said with a smile. “You and the good Lord always have been before.”

Doc Drake sighed but said nothing.

“They’re still around,” Seth said. “We can ask again if you like – that is, if we can find them. That’s not always easy …”

“Do that, or better yet, take me with you to look for them and I’ll ask. Now, let’s get back to work.”

Seth and Ryder each grabbed a long board and carried it to where the rest of the men labored. They were helping Amon, now fully recovered, build his house, and he was determined to have it done before the weather turned and fall was upon them.

Amon looked up as they approached. “I can’t thank you boys enough for helping me out these last few weeks.”

“Shucks, Amon,” Ryder said. “Ain’t nothin’ you wouldn’t do for us. Besides, now that you’re mended, you can help me with a few things. Constance wants some new furniture.”

Amon’s eyes lit up. “I’d love to make some for you. It would be my pleasure.”

“When you’re fully healed,” Nettie said as she approached them, a basket in her hands. “He still has bouts of weakness, but nothing good food can’t fix. Lunchtime, gentlemen, unless of course you’d rather keep working.”

“No, ma’am!” Seth said and dropped his board where he stood.

“Ow!” Cutty yelled. “Watch what yer doin’, ya idjit …” His eyes met Nettie’s. “Er … I mean, please watch what yer doin’.”

Nettie stood, a pleased look on her face.

Ryder glanced between her and Cutty. “What was that about?”

“I’m teaching Cutty what it means to be a gentleman,” she said proudly.

Seth and Ryder exchanged a quick look. “Cutty? A gentleman?” Ryder asked, perplexed.

“What of it?” Cutty snapped. “Cain’t a man improve hisself?”

Seth laughed. “You go right ahead. I wish you luck.”

“Yeah,” Ryder agreed and turned. “In fact, I can think of someone else who’d appreciate it a whole lot.”

They followed his gaze. Imogene Sayer, also carrying a basket, was with another group of men, passing out sandwiches. Nettie was the first to smile. “Yes, indeed.”

Cutty spun on her as Imogene approached. “Mind yer own beeswax!”

Nettie smiled again, walked over to him and kissed him on the cheek. “Next to my husband, you
are
my business.”

Cutty turned beet red as Imogene reached them. “I’ve got a few sandwiches left – does anyone want another?”

“Don’t mind if I do!” Ryder said and pulled out two. He handed one to his brother and they wandered off in search of something to wash the food down. Nettie and Amon watched them go, then went to speak with Doc Drake and Preacher Jo. Half the town had turned out that day to help with the building of their new home.

“Well, this is coming along nicely,” Imogene said.

“Yep,” Cutty agreed then took a huge bite out of his sandwich.

“So, you’re getting lessons on how to be a gentleman?”

Cutty froze, his mouth stuffed with food and looked at her. “Wahft’s it to mhew?”

She smiled. “I think I like you just the way you are.”

Cutty chewed as fast as he could and swallowed. “You do?”

She looked at him. “I do. From the top of your hairless head, to the tips of your dirty little toes. You’re my Cutty and no one else’s.”

Cutty blushed. “Imogene …”

She gazed across the field to where Amon and Nettie had now sat and were eating. “They’re lovely, aren’t they? Such a beautiful couple.”

“Yeah,” he agreed, the admiration in his voice hard to miss.

“So, when are you going to tell them?”

Cutty looked at her. “Tell ‘em what?”

She looked him right in the eye. “Come now, Thackary. You know as well as I that eventually you’re going to have to let them know who you really are.”

Cutty froze, sandwich in hand, and stopped breathing.

Imogene studied him with a calm he didn’t expect. “And of course Newton as well. But they’re all that need know.” Her gaze returned to Amon and Nettie.

Cutty swallowed hard, then did it again, tears in his eyes. “Imogene,” he choked. His Western accent was gone, replaced by his native one. He quickly glanced around. “How long have you known?”

“I’m glad you’re not trying to deny it,” she said without looking at him. “I wasn’t entirely sure at first. You were so crass and ill-mannered as Cutty. But when I said I was married at one time, you looked jealous. The truth is, I never was. I just wanted to see your reaction.” She sighed. “A woman never forgets a lost love. Not even after so many years.”

“Lost love?” he whispered. “I never knew you in England …”

“No,” she turned to face him. “But as a young girl, I knew you, or at least wanted to. Of course, you never gave me a second thought – I was just a child.”

He choked, his eyes full of tears. “Imogene … I’m sorry, I’m sorry I’ve been such a terrible person.”

“Thackary Holmes wasn’t always terrible. And after he became that way, I’m glad that in the end, he decided to become a better man.”

“Imogene, what are you saying?”

“I’m saying that I’m in love with an old, battered, humbled wreck of a man, just as I was as a silly girl. A man who I can see loves his children very, very much.”

Cutty sniffled, wiped his eyes and glanced around again, then took a rag from his pocket and blew his nose with it. “I ain’t ready to tell ‘em’,” he said speaking as Cutty again.

“You’ll know when it’s time.”

“You … ya ain’t gonna tell nobody, are ya?”

“No, Cutty. I ain’t gonna tell nobody,” she said, mimicking his accent.

“On what condition?” he asked.

Her brows rose at that. “What makes you think there’s a condition?”

“’Cause that no-good worthless Thackary … well, I figured he probably did you wrong somewhere too, and now you want to see him get what’s comin’ to him.”

“No, he didn’t – not to me. And as far as I’m concerned, Thackary Holmes no longer exists. There’s only Cutty.” She took one of his hands and held it. “And that’s the man I love.”

His eyes widened. “Imogene, ya ain’t just sayin’ that?”

She looked somewhat affronted. “I
don’t
say something unless I mean it.”

“And ya ain’t gonna tell no one? Not even the Cookes?”

“Who you really are, or rather were, is not mine to tell.”

He looked away, then back again. “Imogene Sayer … I love ya.”

“Yes,” she agreed with pride. “I know.”

He glanced around yet again, leaned toward her and gave her a quick peck on the cheek.

She smiled and blushed. “So, do you …” she looked at him. “Want to get hitched, as they say here in America?”

His mouth dropped open. “Are you askin’ me to marry ya?”

“Is that a problem?”

“No, it’s just that it’s usually the other way ‘round.”

“Oh, that’s far too boring. I like adventure, you know that.”

His eyes widened. “Well, I think I’ve had more’n enough adventure to last me a while.” He looked at Amon and Nettie.

Imogene sighed. “I suppose you have. But you still need to tell them.”

“Maybe I’ll tell ‘em after we get hitched. How’s that sound?”

She considered it for a moment. Then she smiled, kissed him on the nose, and rested her forehead against his own. “That sounds fine, Cutty. Just fine.”

* * *

“Your sister sure looks happy,” Ryder said, handing Newton his canteen.

“Yes, Amon is a fine match for her. I’m sure he’ll see to all her needs.”

“You make it sound like a job,” Seth commented.

“It is,” Newton said, his voice stoic.

Ryder and Seth exchanged a quick look before Seth raised an eyebrow at Newton. “You don’t have to make it sound so laborious.”

“Isn’t it?” Newton asked, then gave him the canteen and strode away.

“What’s ailin’ him?” Ryder asked his brother.

“I think he’s going to miss his sister. Maybe part of him is mad she’s married.”

“What makes ya say that?”

Seth took a swig from the canteen. “Doc Drake told me that’s how it is sometimes with twins. Newton and Nettie are probably real close.”

“Oh, I see.”

“A good ding …”

Ryder and Seth spun around. Mr. Awahnee stood behind them and casually leaned against the covered wagon they’d used to haul out some of the building supplies. His eyes were fixated on Amon and Nettie sitting near the half-built home.

“Hey, friend – where’dja come from?” Ryder asked. “We thought ya’d left.”

“Not just yet. Dere is still work to do.”

“Work?” Seth said. “What work is that?”

Mr. Awahnee chuckled low in his throat, his eyes intent on something else. He pointed right at Newton.

Seth and Ryder looked at Mr. Awahnee again. “What about him?” Ryder asked.

Mr. Awahnee gave them a broad grin, then burst out laughing.

The other men sighed. They both knew the big man could laugh all day and was probably going to. They waited for Mr. Awahnee to catch his breath before Seth asked the inevitable. “So what do you want us to do?”

Mr. Awahnee’s laughter stopped. He leaned over them, his eyes narrowed to slits. “See him married.”

“Married?” Ryder said in shock. “To who? There ain’t an unattached female his age around here for miles!”

Mr. Awahnee stood to his full height and, putting fisted hands on his hips said, “Dere is one ….”

The End

(for now …)