Cutty (Prairie Grooms Book 8) (10 page)

She hiccupped a few times. “So many years, wasted … not knowing, always hoping …”

His jaw quivered as his eyes filled with tears once more. “I’m so sorry … I had no idea…”

She slowly stood as her jaw tightened. Her emotions were all over the place, but she was surprised to feel a sudden calm in the center of them. “Cutty …”

His tears broke free and streamed down his face. “I wish I could make it up to you somehow, Nettie. I …” He went silent, unable to go on.

Her tears continued as she hurried around to his side of the table and stood before him.  “Cutty …”

He nodded. “I … should just be going now.” He stood to leave.

She watched him head for the kitchen’s back door. Her lips trembled. “F … Father?”

He stopped, his body rigid.

She took a step forward. “Don’t go.”

He slowly turned around. “Do you mean that? Because if you wish, I can leave and not bother you again …”

“Is that what you want?”

Fresh tears fell from his eyes. “No, darling. It’s most definitely
not
what I want.”

She smiled through her own tears, ran to him and threw her arms around his neck. “Then stay!”

Ten

Cutty sighed as he sat in front of the fire. He’d lived through it. He’d told Nettie who he was.

And she’d embraced him and called him “Father.” His eyes welled up at the thought of it. All of his fear as to what her reaction might be, washed away in an instant. They’d cried in each other’s arms in the kitchen for who knows how long, then pulled themselves together as best they could. They’d both been full of questions, and spent the rest of the afternoon asking about each other’s lives and trying to get caught up.

Now she sat across from him on the settee working on a piece of embroidery, Amon next to her reading a book. Amon didn’t know yet – neither he nor Nettie had said a word to him. It was best to let Nettie tell him in her own time. For now his true identity was between him and his daughter, and that was fine. He still needed to tell Newton, though – he and Nettie had agreed he needed to be the one to do it, not her.

His eyes drifted to his daughter again. It was hard not to stare at her, especially now that she knew who he was, and didn’t hate him for it. She …
understood.
It was the greatest gift he’d ever received, and he loved her all the more for it.

Newton … might not be so accepting.

“When is Newton returning?” Nettie asked as if reading his thoughts.

“Said he’d be back in a few days,” Cutty informed her. For Amon’s sake, he’d switched back to his adopted voice.

“He does love his little excursions,” she said.

“It’s a good thing he’s educating himself this way,” Amon commented.

“Educatin’ himself?” Cutty said.

“Yes,” Amon said. “He’s teaching himself how to survive out here. That’s a good thing. He might get it in his head to go to Oregon City by himself one day. He’ll need to know how to live in the wild – hunt, fish, do a little trapping. Wouldn’t hurt you to learn the same.”

“Me? Oh, I’ve seen enough of the back of the beyond, thank ya kindly,” Cutty said. “I’m getting’ old besides – better I stick close to town.”

Nettie smiled at him. “He’ll get it out of his system, then be closer to home, I’m sure. In the meantime, I have you all to myself.”

Cutty noticed her bright smile and knew what she meant. She’d warned him during their talk earlier that Newton would either ignore him completely or bombard him with questions once he heard who he was. Cutty hoped and prayed for the bombardment. He smiled back. “Eh, I guess I could mosey on out with him next time he goes.”

“I think that’s an excellent idea,” Nettie agreed. “It would give you two time to get to know one another better.”

Amon looked at her. “Like they don’t know each other already?”

“That’s not what I meant,” she said. “I’d say I’ve gotten to know Cutty quite well since I’ve been here. Newton doesn’t know him nearly as well.”

Cutty coughed into one hand. “Ya can say that again.”

“Then you should go,” Amon suggested. “Maybe you can teach him a few things while you’re out there. But I’d do it before winter sets in.”

“We’ve got time. Maybe after Ryder’s house is done – them Jones boys love bein’ out on the prairie. Maybe that’s why Newton started spendin’ so much time with ‘em.”

“Best to get it out of his system,” Amon commented. “One day he’ll want to settle down, and won’t have much chance for exploring once he does.”

“Have you gotten it out of your system?” Nettie teased.

“I have something to keep me home. You won’t catch me wandering around the prairie.”

“See that I don’t,” she said with a smile.

“Though I do like going now and then,” Amon added with a mischievous grin.

“Changing your mind already?” she scoffed. “You’re as bad as a woman.”

“Oh, I’ll never be that bad!”

“Will you two stop yer fussin’?” Cutty scolded. “I’m tryin’ to think.”

“About what?” asked Amon.

“About headin’ out with Newton.”

“Amon’s right,” Nettie said. “You should do it before winter sets in. Mr. Dunnigan at the mercantile told me the other day that it sometimes snows here as early as October.”

“True enough,” Amon agreed. “If you two are going to go, you’d best do it the next few weeks.”

“I know, I know,” Cutty grumbled. “I’ll talk to him when I see him again. I’m sure he won’t mind if I tag along. Maybe I’ll take him to where I used to live.”

“I’d like to go with you if you do that,” Amon said.

“And leave me here by myself?” Nettie groused.

“You could come with us,” Amon suggested.

“I will do no such thing! You’ll not see me traipsing around the countryside. I’ll go stay with Eloise.”

“At the hotel?” Cutty teased. “No better place, I guess.”

“Nowhere else as comfortable,” she added with a sly grin. “I could have Mrs. Upton cooking for me. It will be grand, I’m sure.”

“She’s so civilized,” Cutty teased.

Amon reached over and patted his wife’s leg. “That she is. Cultured, refined and beautiful. I’m a very lucky man.”

Cutty saw the admiration in his eyes and was glad the two were married. Amon would take good care of his daughter. He didn’t have to worry about her. Newton, on the other hand …

“When you see him,” Amon said, “tell him I’d like to come along.”

“So soon?” said Nettie.

“Best to do it while the weather’s good. Besides, I know you won’t mind spending a few days in town with Eloise.”

“Indeed not. It will be like a holiday.”

“I guess that settles it,” Cutty said. “Soon as Newton gets back from his latest adventure, Amon and I’ll talk to him about goin’ on another one.”

Amon nodded. “Good.” He stretched and yawned. “In the meantime, I think I’ll turn in. Coming, Nettie?”

“Yes, of course,” she said. She looked at Cutty. “You know where the blankets are kept.”

“Yep. But I think I’ll sit here and read a while ‘fore I turn in if’n that’s all right.” He watched as they got up and headed for the staircase. “Good night,” he called after them.

Amon went up the stairs. Nettie hesitated and turned to Cutty. “Pleasant dreams … Father,” she whispered.

He smiled as his heart swelled. “You too,” he whispered back. “Daughter.”

* * *

The next morning Cutty awoke to the smell of coffee and bacon. He’d slept in one of the spare bedrooms, and dreamt of doing the same with grandchildren running into his room to aggravate him. He sighed. One day …

He got up, dressed, washed his face and went downstairs. “What’s for breakfast?” he asked, though he already knew.

“Sit down and find out,” Nettie said, pouring him a cup of coffee.

“Where’s Amon?”

“Feeding the stock – he’ll be along.”

Cutty sat at the table and smiled. “Did ya say anythin’ to him last night?”

She brought his cup to the table and set it down. “No.”

He picked up the cup, took a sip and smacked his lips together. “Mm, that’s good.”

“You know, you don’t have to act like that when we’re alone,” she said. “You can be yourself.”

“Actually, I kinda like being Cutty. I don’t hafta watch my manners so much.”

“You should, for Imogene’s sake.”

“She likes me as Cutty, too.”

“She loves you, either way.”

“Yes, but she prefers the old coot over the English gentleman. I don’t mind neither – though sometimes it’s hard to keep the mask on, if’n ya know what I mean.” He studied her a moment. “That a new dress?”

Nettie brushed a hand over the skirt of the light green calico dress she wore. “Do you like it?”

“It’s purty. Has Amon seen it yet?”

“He watched me work on it in the evenings. But no, he hasn’t seen me wear it yet.” She glanced at the kitchen’s back door. “He will in a moment.”

“I hope Newton gets as lucky as Amon.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“I hope he finds and marries a gal just like his sister – a purty woman who can cook, sew and take care of him. Ya gotta admit, Amon’s a lucky man.”

Nettie giggled. “I’ll have to tell him.” She turned to the stove and stirred something in a pot. “Who knows how long it will be before Newton settles down? Amon was right, my dear brother needs to get this wanderlust out of his system first.” He watched her spoon oatmeal from the pot into a bowl, bring it to the table and set it in front of him. She returned to the stove, took a plate of bacon out of the warming oven and set that on the table as well.

“What if he leaves?” Cutty asked.

“Leaves?” she asked and handed him a spoon.

“Yeah. I mean, after I tell him, what if he hightails it outta here?”

“Why would he?”

“On account he might hate me and not want to see my sorry hide ever again.”

“I pray that won’t happen,” she said. “Face it – you don’t know what he’ll do. Spend time together, get to know him first. Things will go much easier if you do.”

“I hope it goes as well as it did with us,” he said in a quiet voice.

She sat at the table and put a hand over his. “It will, you’ll see. He’ll love you just as much as I do.”

“Either that or he’ll shoot me.”

“Do stop thinking of the worst outcome, will you?”

“I cain’t help it. Maybe ’cause if’n I were in his shoes, I’d wanna shoot me too.”

She shook her head. “Do you want me to be there when you tell him?”

“Nah, I’d better do it alone. Maybe when we’re out on the prairie. You’ll know he didn’t take it well if’n I don’t come back.”

“All the more reason to take Amon with you.”

“I suppose,” he said and poked his spoon into the oatmeal.

“Let’s not worry about it right now,” she said. “Eat your breakfast before it gets cold.” She got up, went to the stove and dished herself up a bowl. “We’d best not speak of it any more – Amon will be coming in soon.”

“Fine,” he said and took a bite. He chewed, swallowed, then said, “I think I’ll head back to town. Maybe Imogene’ll be around.”

She glanced at him and smiled. “Soon we’re going to have another wedding,” she sang.

He smiled back. “Sure, if’n I live long enough to get married.”

“Stop that! Trust me, Newton will love you as I do.”

“Maybe, but how long’s it gonna take?”

Her smile sharpened. “It depends. How long are
you
going to take?”

* * *

After breakfast Cutty helped Amon with a few chores, then headed back to town. For one, he needed to get the horse he’d borrowed from the livery stable back to Chase. And two, he missed Imogene.

His plan was to wait around town for a few hours. If she didn’t show up, he’d borrow a horse again and ride out to the Triple-C, something he hadn’t done before. He generally avoided the Cookes as much as he could for obvious reasons. He didn’t want to take a chance on any of them recognizing him.

But then, how could they? He had almost no hair, and what he had was growing in white, thank Heaven for that. He wore an eye patch and part of his face was burnt, even if the scars were growing faint. He walked differently, hid his native accent and spoke like (as Imogene put it) a cranky old coot. If they hadn’t recognized him yet, what made him think they would now?

Still, he was nervous as to what the Cookes would do when they found out who he really was. Would they demand justice? Have Sheriff Hughes toss him in jail? Run him out of town? He knew they were capable of it and had done it before, to some chap named Slade, August had told him. He shuddered at the thought and pictured himself tarred and feathered, the Cooke brothers goading him with their guns as they ran him down Clear Creek’s only street …

Cutty gulped. “It ain’t gonna come to that,” he told himself as he headed for Mulligan’s saloon. Maybe a drink would help calm his nerves, or a game of checkers with Patrick Mulligan. They’d started playing about a month ago here and there to pass the time. No wonder Wilfred, the sheriff and Cyrus Van Cleet played so much. It was surprisingly relaxing.

He entered the saloon and stopped short. Harrison Cooke was at the bar talking with Willie the stagecoach driver. “Then what happened?” Harrison asked.

“They went racing ‘cross the prairie like the devil was chasin’ ‘em!” Willie said, then took another swig of coffee. “Darnedest thing I ever did see. I swear one of ‘em was a girl!”

“A girl, you say?” Harrison said with a raised eyebrow. “Here?”

“Well, not ‘zactly here. I’d say ‘bout fifteen miles east o’ here, as the crow flies.”

“What’re ya two flappin’ yer gums about?” Cutty asked, curious.

“Willie here says he saw a small band of Indians out hunting yesterday, and thought he saw Ryder Jones and Newton Whitman with them.”

Cutty’s eyes went wide. “What?”

“Sure did!” Willie said with a grin. “I knew Ryder and Seth headed out with that Whitman fella, but I had no idea they was gonna see them Injuns.”