Cora's Deception (9781476398280) (30 page)

His smug look disappeared to be replaced
with a frown. “Oh, you care all right.” His voice hardened. “I have
proof of that.”

“Proof? What proof could you possibly have?”
Cora laughed even as a fissure of unease cut through her
confidence. “You’re talking nonsense.”

A gleam shone from George’s pale blue eyes.
He patted his chest. “Rest assured, my lady, I have your undying
words of love right here.”

Cora brushed his answer away with a quick
wave of her hand. “Oh, George, I said a lot of things when we were
young. For the sake of our childhood, can’t we be friends and stop
this bickering?”

“Friends!” George’s whisper rose loud enough
to bring Eliza’s head up. He spoke again, much lower, but no less
threatening. “Cora, I told you I get what I want. Did I also tell
you I keep what’s mine?”

Cora couldn’t hide the annoyance in her
voice. “I belong to Aaron, George. I never was your
possession.”

“We shall soon see about that.” George
settled back in silence with a smug expression on his face.

~*~

Cora never ceased to marvel at the new faces
that appeared at each public gathering in their community. People
were moving in to the area. Mr. Reid’s barnyard, transformed for
the event, was already filling up. Long tables stood outside the
barn door, laden with dishes of food. Lanterns hung on the corners
of the barn, unlit as yet. Cora climbed from the wagon, refusing
George’s offered hand of assistance.

George laughed at her show of independence
and stood close to her, offering his arm. “Shall we join the
party?”

A wagon rattled on the rough road and turned
in the drive. “No, you go on. Here comes Aaron.”

“Oh, really. I’d love to meet him.”
Curiosity lined George’s voice.

Cora spared him a brief glance before
lifting her hand to wave a welcome. “Aaron’s the one with dark
hair.”

“Really?” George smirked. “She’s a real
beauty.”

Cora threw a glance his way and started
toward the wagon. “That’s Aaron’s sister, Ivy. She’s very
beautiful. I suggest you leave her alone.”

As much as she wanted Ivy married, she
wouldn’t wish George off on anyone. Ivy didn’t deserve to be
treated the way George would treat a wife.

George fell into step with Cora. “Are you
testing me with a barefoot backwoods wench? Cora, you know me
better than that. I couldn’t stoop low enough to keep company with
these people. I only want you.”

“There’s nothing wrong with these people.
I’d appreciate it if you’d stop saying there is. But don’t worry,
I’m not pushing my worst enemy off on you, and I certainly don’t
want my future sister-in-law near you.” Cora ran to the wagon,
stopping a few feet away.

Aaron’s ready smile held a questioning look.
He jumped to the ground and slipped his arm around her waist. She
lifted loving eyes to feast on the handsome young man who would one
day be her husband. A lock of unruly dark hair fell across his
forehead as he smiled down at her.

“I’ve missed you.” Cora longed to brush the
hair from his face, but she loved looking at the curl dangling
there just as much.

Aaron’s grin grew wide. “I started workin’
at sunup this mornin’ just so’s I could be with you.”

“I know.”

She turned at the sound of George’s voice as
he moved close to Ivy.

“So, you must be the beauty Cora told me
about.” George lifted Ivy from the wagon.

Ivy pulled back and stared at him. She
tilted her head to one side and lifted an eyebrow. “I don’t
recollect us bein’ introduced.”

“Oh, I’m sorry.” Cora stepped forward. This
couldn’t be happening. She must be having a nightmare and would
soon awaken. She would like to shove George aside and tell Ivy he
wasn’t worth a second glance, but her mother’s training took over.
“Ivy, this is George Merrill, John’s brother, and an old friend of
my family’s. George, this is Ivy Stark, my future
sister-in-law.”

Ivy smiled. “I’m real proud to meet you, Mr.
Merrill.”

George flashed a mocking smile toward Cora
before offering his arm to Ivy. “The pleasure is mine, Miss Stark.
I’ve been here only a few days, but I plan to stay at least a month
before going back to St. Louis. Would you be so kind as to show me
around?”

Ivy took his arm, smiling at him with wide,
innocent eyes. Cora frowned. Ivy certainly wasn’t her favorite
person, but she didn’t deserve George. Maybe no one did. Yet she
couldn’t keep Ivy from making the same mistake she had. She only
wished she could.

Chapter 23

A
aron’s heart hit the bottom of his chest. Cora looked about
as happy as Ole Blue right now, and Blue always looked like he’d
lost his best friend. Is that how Cora felt? As soon as she said
the man’s name, he’d recognized it. George was the one she was
waiting for that first Christmas. The one she planned to marry.
When he didn’t come, Aaron had forgotten about him. Sure didn’t
look like Cora had.

He fell into step with her. “You wishin’ you
was in Ivy’s shoes?”

“No.” Cora spoke too quickly. She turned and
looked deep into his eyes. “Of course not. I’m worried about Ivy.”
She stared at the couple ahead. “I don’t think he’ll hurt her,
though. He’s probably just trying to make me jealous.”

“Make you jealous?” Aaron stumbled over a
rock he hadn’t seen. Or maybe it was his heart fallen clear to the
ground.

Cora nodded. “George and I grew up together.
He thinks he owns me. He’s used to getting what he wants, but now
that he’s seen us together, I’m sure he’ll be fine.”

She hadn’t looked away from George. “What do
you want, Cora?” The words hung up in his throat, but he had to
know.

She turned to him, her eyes wide. “What do
you mean? Are you talking about George?”

He saw innocence in her gaze.

She shook her head. “Oh, Aaron, how can you
ask that? I love you. How could I ever want anyone but you?”

Sounded like she meant it. In spite of the
heaviness in his chest, a smile touched Aaron’s lips. “All right,
but I don’t know what’s wrong with your thinkin’. Now I seen your
dandy friend. I mean, a fella like that could give ya anything your
heart desires, while I’ll do good to put a roof over your
head.”

Cora frowned. “Are you looking for a way
out, Aaron? Because if you are, George isn’t the way. I want
nothing to do with him.”

Aaron took her hand and pulled her close. “I
don’t ever want shed of you. I just want the best for you.”

Cora leaned against his shoulder. “Don’t you
know yet, Aaron? You’re the best there is. You and a roof over my
head are all I want.” She looked up with a mischievous grin. “Some
walls and a floor might be all right too.”

Aaron gave her a quick kiss on the forehead
and shook his head. “Here we ain’t even married yet, and you’re
already demanding a bunch of fancy stuff.”

Cora laughed and pulled away. “Are you
hungry?”

“You’re as changeable as the weather.” Aaron
grinned when she took his hand and tugged him forward.

“I baked a pecan pie.”

“You still usin’ the pecans I gave you?”
Aaron followed her willingly toward the food tables.

Cora shook her head. “No, these were some I
picked last fall. Yours were gone a long time ago.”

“Folks, could I have your attention?”
Timothy Donovan, the young man who’d led song service during the
revival, stood at one end of the long line of tables. He held his
hand up a moment. “I’ve been told to pray a short blessing over the
food before you all begin eating.”

A hush fell over those standing nearby. He
let his gaze roam over the assembly before he bowed his head.
“Lord, we thank you for everyone who’s come out tonight. We pray
your blessings on this gathering and on the food we’re about to
eat. In Jesus name. Amen.”

“At least that really was short.” Cora
started toward the line already forming.

“Yeah, he’ll make a good preacher, I’d
reckon.” Aaron almost bumped into her when she stopped and swung to
face him.

Her eyes widened and her mouth opened. “What
do you mean preacher? He isn’t a preacher, is he?”

“Well sure. Haven’ t you heard? This comin’
Sunday’ll be the first day of services for Cedar Creek Community
Church. Least that’s what some are wantin’ to call it. Mr. Newkirk
told me about it when I traded some corn for a bushel of wheat for
seed. Figure it’s time to raise somethin’ other’n corn.”

~*~

Cora nodded, but a fog of disbelieve filled
her mind. Hadn’t she suffered enough through that weeklong revival
meeting? What were these people thinking? Starting a church, and
sure as anything, if Mother heard, they’d be going every
service.

She picked up two plates. Tonight was for
fun. She refused to let some preacher come between her and enjoying
this special time with Aaron. She shoved the nagging thought away
and smiled at him, handing him one of the plates. In spite of
everything else, she would have fun tonight. She moved ahead of
Aaron, filling her plate.

“Are we getting enough to eat?” George’s
voice cut into Cora’s determination like a dull-edged knife.

She turned, pasting a smile on her face.
“Where’s Ivy?”

“Oh, she’s quite the charmer, Cora.” His
voice dripped with sarcasm. “She needed to talk to—um—a fiddler, I
believe she called him. About some music for the dance
tonight.”

Aaron touched Cora’s arm. “Let’s sit down
and eat.”

Gladly, she turned from George and let Aaron
guide her away from the table to a clear spot under a tree. They
didn’t have a cloth to sit on, but Cora didn’t mind. She had Aaron
by her side. That was enough. After they ate, Aaron held out his
hand. “Ready to go inside and see what’s goin’ on?”

Someone had lit the lanterns on the barn to
fight the rapidly approaching darkness of night. Soft light
brightened the huge barn inside. Straw covered the floor. One of
the tables from outside stood just inside the door, covered with
left-over dishes of pies and cake. Two large pails of drinking
water sat at one end with a long-handled dipper in each.

Mr. Reid stood midway of the barn to one
side with several men, each holding a musical instrument. He
stepped on a platform and held his hand up as the minister had done
earlier. When no one seemed to notice, he stuck his fingers in his
mouth and let out a loud shrill whistle.

Everyone looked up. He grinned. “First, I
want to thank you all for coming tonight. It’s a good thing when
neighbors unite for a wholesome time of fellowship, especially on a
day such as Independence Day.

“Our country is young, but as is evidenced
by our presence here, it is growing. With each new family that
moves into our neck of the woods or to other parts of our vast
frontier, we have another vote for America. Without our pioneers
where would this country be?”

He lifted both hands when some shouted their
agreement. “Don’t worry, I’m not going to give a speech. I’m here
to have fun, same as you. Make yourselves at home and let’s form
some sets for a dance.” He motioned to the men behind him. “We’ll
make the music and Jacob Hartley will do the calling.”

Cora felt Aaron tense beside her. He was
probably thinking of his father. She squeezed his hand, and he
smiled at her. She wanted to console him, say everything was all
right, but she didn’t know how. Then her father stopped beside them
with Lenny and Nicholas in tow.

“Mother’s getting tired so we’re taking the
young ones home. You and Eliza can come back with Ben and Esther
whenever they’re ready.” His gaze shifted to Aaron. “Unless you
want to see her home.”

Aaron nodded.

Mr. Hartley called out in a booming voice.
“Grab you a partner. Come on, let’s go.”

He sounded so much like Aaron’s father, Cora
had to look to make sure it wasn’t him. Aaron pulled her toward a
square forming. After they danced a couple of sets, the music
stopped and Mr. Reid called a break.

Aaron laced his fingers through Cora’s. “You
want a drink?”

“Yes, that would be nice.” At the table, she
lifted the dipper Aaron handed her and took a sip. George’s voice
almost made her spill the water.

“How about letting me dance with Cora?”

Aaron shook his head and slipped his arm
around her waist. “Naw, I don’t think so.”

“Are you afraid of me, Stark?” Challenge
vibrated in George’s tone.

Aaron tensed and glared at George before
turning to Cora. “What do you wanna do?”

There was no question she wanted to stay
with Aaron. Yet she hesitated longer than she should have.

“We’ve been friends a long time, Cora.”
George appeared harmless enough standing in the crowded barn. “I’m
only asking for a turn. Just one set. That’s all. I promise.”

Cora looked into his eyes and saw honesty.
Maybe he’d given up. He’d stayed away from them most of the
evening, and he was the oldest friend she had. They shared a lot of
memories. A lot of good times. Maybe she owed him this much. To
prove there were no hard feelings.

“Aaron, do you mind? Just this one dance
then I’ll be right back.”

Aaron’s brows drew together, but he
shrugged. “If that’s what you want.”

George offered his arm, and she took it. A
self-assured smile sat on his face. “So, you’ve finally come to
your senses.”

“Yes, I have.” How could he go from innocent
to gloating so quickly? “The day I said yes to Aaron, I came to my
senses.”

“You don’t mean that and you know it.”
George guided her across the floor to a group forming by the open
back door as far from Aaron as he could get. What did he think?
Aaron would interrupt?

She stopped and pulled her hand from his
arm. “I certainly do. Why are we coming way over here?”

“This is where I’ve been all evening in case
you haven’t noticed.” George’s surly voice annoyed her.