Fated Memories (17 page)

As he passed through the dining room, Hattie glanced up from her cup of coffee, a broad smile pulling at her mouth. Glimpsing the dark scowl covering Eathen’s face, she looked away. “Men!” she snorted, lumbering to her feet. “Effen dey ain’ fightin’, dey’s fuckin’. But dis bes de fust fambly Ah ever seed who kin do both at de same time.”

Chapter Nine

With Christmas only a week away, Hattie had her hands full with the many preparations needed to bring in the holiday in the traditional Thornton manner.

“
Hattie,” Charlotte said as she passed by on her way to the sink, “did you get the turkey ordered from Lutten Meats like I asked you?”

“
Yas’m, Miz Charlotte.” Hattie continued with her task of rolling out cookie dough on the floured table. “Dey said dey’d has it hyah in plen’y of time fer Chri’mas, jes’ lak allus.”

“
Good.” Charlotte pumped cold water into the coffeepot. “That’ll be one less thing to worry ‘bout.” She carried the coffeepot over to the big wood-burning stove. “Later tonight, I’ll finish wrappin’ Jessie’s presents and get them under the tree.” She turned the porcelain handle of the large pot outward away from the heat of the other burners. “I think everything’s comin’ along fine, Hattie.”

“
Yas’m, Ah specs dey is,” she chuckled, pushing Jessie’s small hand down on a tree-shaped cookie cutter.

“
Be sure you and Hattie leave enough for Santa.” Charlotte bent over, accepting a piece of wet cookie Jessie transferred from her mouth to Charlotte’s.

“
Doan you worry, Miz Charlotte.” Hattie scooped up a large fingerful of frosting out of the bowl to smear it across Jessie’s half-eaten cookie. “We’s mekken nuff fer eve’body.”

“
I want everything to be just right for Jessie’s first Christmas.” Charlotte rubbed her chin atop Jessie’s soft auburn curls. “I saw a lot more I wanted to get for her, but the weather bein’ what it is, I’m afraid to chance another trip into town.”

“
A chile her age woan knows de diffunce, Miz Charlotte.”

“
I know and, besides, Eathen’ll probably pick her up a few more things.”

Hattie ran the big rolling pin across the widening circle of cookie dough. “She bes awright.”

“
One thing’s for sure, she won’t want for Christmas goodies!”

“
W’en Ah’s a youngin’ we din’ git nuthin’. Miss Jessie’ll bes jus’ fine.” Hattie dusted the rolling pin with flour then went back to rolling out the dough.

Charlotte glanced at the woman, her face smudged with flour and frosting, who patiently helped Jessie make holiday cookies, and she wondered why it was that some people had everything, while others had nothin’ at all.

“
Somethin’ sure does smell good in here!” Eathen poked his head around the kitchen door.

At the sound of her father’s voice, Jessie’s head whipped around, trying to find him.

“
Are you Santa’s little helper?” Eathen sneaked up behind her chair and scooped her into his arms.

“
You’s gwing ter bes one too, w’en she gits thoo wid you,” Hattie told him, her large shoulders shaking with laughter.

“
We don’t care, do we, Jessie?” Eathen gobbled up frosting from her cheeks, making her squeal with laughter.

Caught up in the spirit of the moment, Charlotte laughed as she wrapped her arms around Eathen and Jessie. The love in Eathen’s eyes at his wife’s warm gesture could not be hidden. He placed his arm around Charlotte to pull her in close.

“
I didn’t mean to intrude,” Dave Houston exclaimed, standing in the doorway.

“
Hell you ain’t intrudin’, Houston. Come on in.” Eathen gave Charlotte an extra hug before releasing her.

“
Hattie, why don’t you pour Dave some coffee? I’m sure he could use some after bein’ out in the cold,” Charlotte said.

As Hattie picked up the large pot from the stove, Charlotte caught the glaring look she bestowed upon the handsome foreman. Feeling ill at ease, she declared, “If you all will excuse me, I have some presents to wrap.”

“
You go ahead, darlin. Soon as I finish with Houston, I’ll come in and help you.”

“
All right, Eathen. Thank you.” Charlotte looked straight ahead as she walked from the room.

“
Hyah’s yo’ coffee, Mist’ Dave.” Hattie placed the hot cup in his hands. “Ah guess you kin he’p yo’seff ter some cookies, too.”

“
Thank you, Hattie.” Dave forced a smile on his face as he picked out a frosted tree-shaped cookie. “If I’d known about all this bakin’, I woulda been here a long time ago.”

“
Humph,” she snorted, turning away.

Eathen sat Jessie back in her highchair and helped himself to a handful of cookies. “Bring your coffee along, Dave, and we’ll go into the den.”

As they passed the parlor door, Dave tried to catch Charlotte’s eye, but she kept her face turned away from him. He knew the trouble he invited if Eathen should see the tender way his eyes caressed her, but he had to risk it. She filled his every waking moment. That she belonged to someone else didn’t matter. If she loved her husband, she would never have allowed him to hold her. She would never have allowed him to almost make love to her. A man could not steal a woman unless she was ready to be stolen.

Sitting in the middle of the floor, surrounded with rolls of colored paper, Charlotte tried to concentrate on the task at hand, but it was no use. The image of what had happened between her and Eathen kept replaying itself in her mind. She still loved him. She still needed him with a desire so strong that even the fear of another pregnancy quieted in the storm of feelings. If he had not compared her with his other women, she would be in his arms right now, instead of sitting here alone thinking about it.

The soft strains of a Christmas carol came to her from across the room. Glancing up, she saw the smiling face of her husband. He had one hand on his chest and the other outstretched as he danced his way across the room towards her.

“
Care to join me, Mrs. Thornton?” He wiggled his dark brows.

Charlotte picked up one of the small packages. “I need to finish these presents, Eathen.”

Unwilling to be deterred, he lifted her to her feet to draw her into his arms. The package fell, unnoticed, from her hand. As they moved around the room in time to the music, she saw the sad eyes of Dave Houston watching them.

“
Eathen, please. I don’t have time for this,” she whispered, trying without success to pull away.

“
We got a whole week to finish gettin’ those presents wrapped, darlin. Right now, I’m in the mood for dancin’ with my beautiful wife.” He twirled her away from him, only to pull her back against his broad chest a moment later.

A happy squeal and childish twitter brought laughter from both of them at the sight of Hattie dancing around the room with a gleeful Jessie in her arms.

“
If you want to keep up with this family, I guess you’re gonna have to grab a chair,” Eathen called out to Dave as he stood watching them from the doorway.

“
Either that or go on into Cut Bank and find a live partner,” Dave returned, his cold eyes riveted on Charlotte’s flushed and happy face.

“
Dat’s whut Ah’d do effen Ah wuz you, Mist’ Dave.” Hattie smiled over at him, watching the resentment covering his face at the sight of Charlotte dancing in the arms of her husband. “It ain’ good fer a man wid yo’ looks ter bes all by hisseff.” She twirled herself around, bringing a fresh squeal of laughter from Jessie. “Gwan an’ finds yo’seff sum lil’ gal ter keeps you wahm on dese cole nights. ‘Cause it bes fer sho you ain’ gwing ter ketch one hangin’ roun’ hyrah.”

“
I think that goes without sayin’, Hattie,” he growled, snatching his hat from the rack.

“
Tell you what, Houston,” Eathen held up a hand as Dave reached out for his coat. “The weather bein’ what it is, it’s too damn cold to get any work done anyhow. Tell the boys they have tomorrow off and all of you go on into town. Just tell who ever’s tendin’ bar, the drinks and,” he lowered his voice, glancing over his shoulder, “anything else y’all might want’s, on me.”

“
That’s damn nice of you, Eathen,” Dave replied in a loud voice, shoving his arms into the sleeves of his heavy wool coat and flipping the collar up around his neck. “I expect the ladies are gettin’ pretty lonesome by now.” He smiled, pulling on his leather gloves. “I’ll be sure to pass along your regards.”

As the door closed behind him, Charlotte felt hot tears touch her cheeks.

“
Now where were we?” he laughed.

“
I’m tired, Eathen,” she told him, one trembling hand covering her mouth, “I’m going to bed.”

“
What the hell happened?” Eathen stared in confusion at her stiff back. “I thought you wanted to have some fun.”

“
Goodnight, Eathen,” she whispered, continuing on her way up the stairs.

“
Did I miss somethin’ here?” He spread his hands wide.

“
Miz Charlotte heered whut Mist’ Dave say ‘bout dem other womens.” Hattie patted Jessie’s back as the child laid her head against her broad shoulder.

“
Well if that don’t beat all.” He shook his head in amazement. “I pay for that son-of-a-bitch to have a good time and he goes outta his way to ruin mine.”

“
Sho look dat way.” Hattie swayed back and forth as the baby lifted her head.

“
Come on, sweetheart,” Eathen held out his arms. Already half-asleep, Jessie reached out to him.

“
I’ll see she gets put to bed, Hattie.” Eathen pulled Jessie’s thumb out of her mouth. “You can go on and finish with what you had to do.”

“
Whut you wants me ter do wid all dem gif’s an’ papers Miz Charlotte lef’ on de flo’?”

“
Leave them right where they are. Charlotte made the mess. She can damn sure clean it up.”

“
Awright, you’s de boss.”

“
You’re damn right I am,” he delivered over his shoulder. “And it’s about time she realized it too.”

Without bothering to knock, Eathen walked into Charlotte’s room. “Your daughter needs to get ready for bed.”

“
I know that, Eathen.” She averted her tear-stained face as she held out her arms for the squirming child. As she made to lift her from her father’s arms, Jessie squealed, refusing to be taken.

“
It’s time to go to bed, Jessie,” Eathen told her.

“
No!” Jessie cried, clinging ever harder to her father’s neck.

“
It seems she wants you to tend to her.” Charlotte stepped back.

“
That’s fine with me. I don’t mind takin’ care of her.” Eathen walked over to place Jessie in her bed. “You get her nightgown ready while I wash her off. Maybe between the two of us, we’ll get her settled in.”

At the quiet tapping on the bedroom door, Charlotte called out for Hattie to come in.

“
Ah brung her bottle,” Hattie murmured, smiling as she watched the two sharing in their daughter’s bedtime preparations.

“
Thank you, Hattie.” Eathen pulled off Jessie’s shoes. “We appreciate it.”

“
Dat’s awright. Effin der’s anything else Ah kin do, jes’ call.”

“
As a matter of fact, Hattie, there is. First thing tomorrow you can move Jessie’s things into the bedroom next door.” Holding both of Jessie’s hands, he wiped her face with the warm washcloth. “She’s gettin’ old enough to have her own room,” he stated in a matter-of-fact tone, watching Charlotte out of the corner of his eye. “I don’t see any reason to put it off.”

“
Eathen, I think it’s too early for her to be away from me,” Charlotte spoke up. “I won’t be able to sleep if she isn’t right here where I can hear her.”

“
Just leave the door ajar.” He took the fresh gown Charlotte held out to him. “She’ll let you know if you’re needed.”

“
Mist’ Eathen’s right. W’en dat youngin’ want sumpin’ ain’ nuthin’ gwing ter quiets her less’n she gits it.”

“
All right then, Eathen.” Charlotte squared her shoulders. “I’ll allow Jessie to have her own room, but just as long as I think she’s adjustin’ to bein’ away from me. If she don’t like bein’ alone, then I’ll move her right back here with no problems from either of you.”

“
That’s fair enough,” Eathen agreed, pulling the soft blanket up over his sleepy-eyed daughter.

“
An’ effin Ah’s you, Mist’ Eathen,” Hattie leaned in close on the pretense of smoothing out Jessie’s hair, “ah’d bes fer movin’ mahseff back hyrah jes’ as quick.”

“
All in good time, Hattie,” he told her. “All in good time.”

Chapter Ten

Shortly after dawn, Charlotte felt herself being shaken from her slumber.

“
Come on, honey, wake up. It’s Christmas.” Eathen tugged the covers from his sleeping wife.

“
Eathen, it’s barely daylight.” Charlotte looked around trying to focus. “Why are you up so early?”

“
Jessie’s excited to see what Santa left for her.”

Cocking her head to one side, she listened for any sound coming from her daughter’s room. When all remained silent, she yanked the covers back up over her shivering body. “Jessie ain’ even awake yet!”

“
She ain’t jumpin’ up and down, but I’m sure she’s awake.” Eathen shook her uncovered foot. “I’ll just go get her while you’re gettin ready.”