Fated Memories (14 page)

“
Mist’ Eathen bes home now.” Hattie peered at her, a slight smile tugging at her mouth. “So Ah guess dat means Mist’ Dave woan be tekin’ you ridin’ dis affernoon.”

“
I don’t know, Hattie,” Charlotte watched the older woman’s eyes widen with alarm; “I haven’t made up my mind.”

“
Miz Charlotte, you better not bes cahyin’ on wid dat young man in fronts of Mist’ Eathen.”

“
For your information, Hattie, Dave Houston and I are not, carryin’ on! We go ridin’, that’s it!”

“
Dat’s how it starts. Lissen, Miz Charlotte,” Hattie placed both hands on Charlotte’s shoulders, “ah knows dis ain’ any of my bizness, an’ Ah doan means ter judge you’n Mist’ Dave. Ah jes’ wants you ter bes careful, dats all. You’s gwing thoo a bad time wid Mist’ Eathen, but Miz Charlotte, one thing you needs ter ‘members. An dat is, two wrongs nebber did meks a right.”

“
Hattie, I already told you…” She stopped as Eathen came walking into the kitchen.

“
I was wonderin’ where everyone got off to,” he said with a wide grin.

“
I’ll be upstairs with Jessie.” Charlotte brushed past him without a backward glance.

“
So much for the pleasant morning I had planned.” Eathen smacked his hands, laced his fingers, and flipped them out straight until they popped.

“
Effen Ah wuz you, Mist’ Eathen,” Hattie shook a finger at him, “Ah’d march mahseff right up dem stairs an’ has a wud wid dat woman.”

He blew a frustrated breath from his lungs as he shook his head. “Wouldn’t do any good, Hattie. A woman like Charlotte can’t be strong-armed. All I can do is wait for her to come ‘round. I just hope she don’t take too long.”

“
You doan knows de half of it,” Hattie whispered, as the swinging door closed behind him.

On her way downstairs with Jessie, Charlotte glanced up to see Eathen waiting for her on the landing. Continuing on her way, she made to go around him, when he took hold of her arm.

“
If you don’t mind, Charlotte, I’ll take Jessie for awhile. I’ve missed her.”

“
I would never deny Jessie time with her father.” She handed the baby over to him. “Even though he don’t deserve it.” She continued the rest of the way down the stairs.

“
That’s only your opinion, Charlotte.” Eathen wrapped a firm arm around his squirming daughter.

“
It’s almost time for her nap. I would prefer that you don’t interrupt her schedule.”

“
When I’m home, she don’t have a schedule.” Eathen made his way across the room.

“
Miz Charlotte, Ah gots Miss Jessie’s bottle wahmin’.” Hattie poked her head around the corner. “Effen you’s ready, Ah’ll gits it.”

“
No, Hattie, we’ll wait. Eathen seems to think she can do without it right now.”

“
Bring the bottle to me, Hattie,” he called out loudly, startling Jessie into a whimper of alarm. “I can feed her just as well as her mother.”

“
All dis cahyin on’s gwing ter sceers her.” Hattie rubbed her apron over the bottle, blotting up any hot water clinging to the sides. “Why doan Ah teks her?” She dropped the bottle in her apron pocket and held out her arms. “Dat way, y’all’ll have yo’ hans free.”

“
You seem to forget, Hattie,” Charlotte told her, not bothering to hide the irritation in her voice at Hattie’s boldness; “Jessie’s our daughter.”

“
Ah ain’ fergittin’ nuthin’, Miz Charlotte.” Hattie took Jessie into her arms, her deep voice filled with indignation. “Y’all ack lak dis youngin’ bes sumpin’ ter plays wid. Well she ain’!” Hattie’s head snapped forward in her anger. “She bes a pusson, jes’ lak you.”

Unable to argue against such sound logic, they both looked away.

Hattie continued to stare at the embarrassed couple a moment longer, then reached into her pocket to retrieve the bottle.

“
I think we both owe you an apology, Hattie. It’s plain to see Jessie’s very contented with you.”

“
I’m sorry, too,” Charlotte told her.

“
Awright den. Dis bein’ yo’ fust, Ah guess y’all’s boun’ ter meks a few mistakes. Dat’s why it bes best ter has mo’n jes’ one.” Hattie ignored the angry look crossing Charlotte’s face.

“
Yes…I…see what you mean,” Eathen stammered, glancing over at Charlotte.

“
It appears she isn’t interested in eating right now, Hattie,” Charlotte said through clenched teeth, as she watched the baby move her head from side to side trying to get away from the encroaching nipple. “You can give her back to her father.”

As Eathen reached out to take the baby, he drew back staring at her. “When did she start suckin’ her thumb, Charlotte?”

“
She’s been doin’ that for some time now,” Charlotte told him. “I‘m .surprised you never noticed.”

“
Well how do you get her to stop? Her hands are covered with germs. I don’t want her stickin’ them in her mouth.”

“
Ah knows how ter cures her of it,” Hattie spoke up.

“
How?” Eathen gave Hattie his full attention.

“
Puts chicken shit on her thumb.”

Eathen felt his stomach recoil. “What the hell you talkin’ `bout? If I ever hear of you doin’ somethin’ like that to her, I’ll fire you so goddamn quick you won’t know what hit you!”

“
Awright.” Hattie shrugged her massive shoulders. “But doan comes runnin’ ter me w’en her teeth bucks out lak a rabbit.”

“
Charlotte, I want you to get hold of Doc Nebinger and ask him what we can put on Jessie’s thumb to keep it out of her mouth.”

Nodding, Charlotte turned away before Eathen could see her laughter over Hattie’s pronounced cure.

“
I never heard of such a thing in my life!” he mumbled, walking away.

“
Hattie, I trust you won’t go behind our backs on this.”

“
No’m, Miz Charlotte. Ah woan’. Effen you an’ Mist’ Eathen doan wants me ter cures her, den Ah woan’.”

“
Thank you,” she said then murmured, “Does that really work?”

“
Yas’m, Miz Charlotte, it tru’ly do. My ma put it on me, an’ Ah sho stopped!”

“
I can see where you would.”

“
Mist’ Eathen, does you wants dis youngin’ or not?” Hattie walked towards him.

“
Yes, Hattie. I’ll take her now.” He set the drink he had just poured for himself down on the table.

“
Effen y’all doan needs me no mo’, Ah’ll go finish whut Ah wuz doin’ in de kitchen.”

“
Go ahead, Hattie, I think we can handle it from here.”

“
Eathen, I don’t mean to nag, but Jessie really does need to stick to her schedule. If she sees you’ll let her get away with things, before you know it, she’ll be outta control.”

“
For Christ’s sake, Charlotte, she’s only six-months-old.”

“
That’s true,” Charlotte nodded, “and she’s gettin’ more spoiled every day.”

Holding her in his arms, Eathen drew back his head to gaze into the little girl’s face. “When you’re with your daddy, Jessie, you can do anything you want. I’ll always be here to protect you.”

“
You can’t very well protect her all the way from Helena,” Charlotte told him.

“
That’s a good point, Charlotte. Maybe I should take her with me sometimes.”

“
Over my dead body!” Charlotte moved towards him. “I won’t have my daughter ‘round the trash you associate with!”

“
I’ll pretend I didn’t hear you say that.” He turned, avoiding Charlotte’s outstretched arms. “Jessie’s the most important person in the world to me. I would never endanger her. In any way!”

“
Then I suggest you leave her here, where I can keep an eye on her.”

Steeling his anger, Eathen walked over to her. Placing one hand upon her shoulder, he ignored the way her body flinched beneath his touch. “Charlotte, please don’t act this way.” When she refused to acknowledge him, he tipped her chin, forcing her to look at him. “I’m sorry for the things I said just after Jessie’s birth. I had no right to hurt you like that. Can’t we start over?” His dark eyes pleaded with her to understand and give in. “At least for her sake?” He glanced down at Jessie as she stared up him.

Charlotte remained rigid, waiting, hoping with all her being he would tell her he had said the things he had out of anger. When he didn’t, she jerked away from him. “You expect me to forget about all your other women?” Her eyes flashed with her ire. “I can’t do that, Eathen!”

“
Can’t or won’t?” His steely gaze refused to yield.

“
Does it really matter?”

“
No,” Eathen breathed a slight, humorless laugh. “I guess not.” He handed Jessie into her arms before walking away.

***

For the next few months, Eathen stayed close to the ranch. His willingness to put business aside in an attempt to bring his family back together won him high praise from Hattie, but Charlotte refused to yield.

“
Judgin’ from the looks of that sky, I’d say we’re in for one hellava storm,” Eathen predicted, leaning his full weight back against the porch banister to watch the ominous black clouds gathering.

“
You’re right, and it’s movin’ in fast,” Dave agreed. “Now the question is, which one of us is gonna saddle up and go after your wife?”

“
That won’t be necessary.” Eathen shook his head. “Charlotte knows enough to come in out of a storm. She’ll be along.”

“
Are you sure?” Dave’s brows lifted in amazement. “These things can trap a person pretty damn quick if they ain’t expectin’ it.”

“
If she ain’t back soon, I’ll go look for her.” Eathen pushed himself away from the banister. “Damn fool woman should have enough sense to stay home where she belongs.”

Anger, mixed with fear, threatened to overpower Dave at Eathen’s coldness toward the woman he felt very fond of. Pushing the feelings deep inside, he declared, “Well hell, I should check and make sure the cattle are down low anyway. I might just as well go. No reason for both of us to freeze our asses off.”

“
All right, if you’re sure you don’t mind. If I go lookin’ for her, we’ll just end up in a pissin’ contest.”

“
Naw, it shouldn’t take long.” Dave flipped up the collar on his coat as he walked down the steps. “I’ll fetch her back.”

Stepping out onto the porch, Hattie handed Eathen a cup of steaming hot coffee, then rubbing her hands up and down her arms, she looked around. “Whar’s Miz Charlotte? Ah thought she’d bes back befo’ dis.”

“
Houston went to find her.” He took a sip of his coffee. “I told him he needen bother, but he insisted.”

“
Ah kin b’lieve dat.” Hattie nodded.

“
Looks like we’re in for a storm, Hattie. You might wanta check all the shutters to make sure they’re locked tight. That ole northern gets to blowin’ just right,” he gestured with his cup towards the rolling black clouds, “it can rip’m off if they ain’t secure.”

“
Ah’ll go sees ter it right now,” she breathed, annoyed at his uncaring attitude.

“
Was there somethin’ you wanted to say?”

“
Yassah.” One hand held the door partially open.

“
Then let’s hear it.” Eathen settled himself back against the banister.

“
Ah knows dis ain’ any of mah bizness, but huccome you din’ go affer Miz Charlotte? Effen you had, den she’d knows you still keers ‘bout her.”

“
I ain’t gonna run after her, Hattie.” He threw the last of his coffee over the banister. “She knows how I feel. Houston can fetch her home just as easy as I can. I’d leave her out there for awhile. Might just wake her up.”

“
Ah think you is de one needs ter wakes up, Mist’ Eathen,” she muttered to herself walking the rest of the way into the house.

***

Angry dark clouds moving across the sky warned Charlotte of the need to move fast. Turning her horse towards home, she kneed him into a fast gallop. The wind catching up her long auburn hair freed the silken masses from the tight braids pinned atop her head to send them tumbling in wild disarray all around her.

She reined in her horse as her frightened eyes fell on the handsome foreman riding towards her. Without a word, he lifted her small body into his arms, holding her close as she whimpered against his hard shoulder.

“
You’re safe now. I won’t let anything hurt you.” Dave breathed in the sweet fragrance of her for just a moment, warning himself to take it slow or risk losing his chance to show her how much he needed her. With a painful sigh, he released her.

“
Eathen must be worried sick,” she murmured as he stood her on her feet.

“
I told him I needed to check the stock, otherwise he’d be here instead of me,” he lied, dismounting.

“
Thank you for comin’ to find me, Dave. I would have been all right except the wind caught my hair, loosenin’ all the pins until I couldn’t see where I was goin’. If you’ll give me a moment to tie it back up, we can go home.” She pulled a neck scarf from around her throat.

He gathered a handful of her lush auburn hair to pull her towards him. “It’s a shame to hide such loveliness,” he whispered, burying his face in the shimmering softness.

“
Dave…please…don’t.”

“
Don’t deny us what we both want, Charlotte,” he groaned, crushing her in his arms and covering her hot mouth with his. Long months of denial robbed her of any of the strength she could have called upon to stop what her hungry body so craved. Blocking out everything except the man who burned her mouth with such wanton abandonment, she wrapped her fingers in his hair, feeding upon his mouth like a person half-crazed with hunger.