Shotgun Bride (12 page)
110
Shotgun Bride [The Quinter Brides Book One]
by Lauri Robinson
"Hey slow down." Joe stumbled on yet another step. "What you got in this thing? Rocks?"
"No, they're Jessie's things."
"Oh, well then, slow down, we don't want to break anything."
Over his shoulder, he shot the man a questioning look. The little worm in his stomach began to crawl around again. He slowed his feet, not really knowing if it was for Joe's sake or if it was to examine the little worm.
He lowered his end of the trunk near the foot of her bed. In all the years he'd known Joe, the man had never been overly concerned about anyone but himself. But here he was in a fret over Jessie, her brother, her belongings. A scowl pulled on his forehead.
Joe stopped in the doorway. "Are you coming? Ain't that other one hers too?"
"Yeah, it's hers," he snapped. Joe met his gaze. "What?"
"What-what?"
"What you thinking so hard about? You look like you just ate something sour."
"Must be the company." Kid walked past him and started down the stairs.
"I ain't done nothin' for you to be grumpy about."
"Nothing but barge in the house every night," he tossed over his shoulder.
"I said I was sorry 'bout that. I'll start knocking."
"Yeah, well you better." Kid stopped in the doorway to the kitchen, scanning the area. He sure didn't want Joe to see 111
Shotgun Bride [The Quinter Brides Book One]
by Lauri Robinson
Jessie if she was already starting to undress. The little worm wiggled faster. He'd also have to see about getting some curtains to cover the windows in the wash room. Any one of the boys could walk by and see in.
Joe brushed past him. "What did you say you were doin'?
Checking her legs for burns?" An amused laugh floated in the air as the man walked across the kitchen. Kid stomped out the door behind him. He couldn't be jealous, he'd never been jealous of anyone in his life. He respected people, set goals to achieve the things he wanted, but he'd never been jealous. The thought was extremely irritating—almost as irritating as Joe.
Kid pointed across the yard and said, "Go to the bunkhouse. I got this one myself."
Joe reached down and grabbed a handle on the far end of the trunk. "This one looks heavier than the last. I'll help you." He grasped the handle and pulled the trunk toward him. "I gotta it."
Joe hefted his end into the air. "I'll help." Kid gave it a hard tug. "I said I got it." Joe tugged his way. "And I said I'd help." Jessie paused on the top step of the back porch. She'd made a dozen trips to the well, and needed a moment to catch her breath.
"Do you need help?" she asked the two men tugging on the large trunk.
Joe dropped his end. It hit the porch floor with a loud thud. His hands stretched toward her water bucket.
"Here, Miss, I'll get that for you." 112
Shotgun Bride [The Quinter Brides Book One]
by Lauri Robinson
Kid stepped in front of the man and pulled the handle from her hand before Joe could grasp it.
"I'll get that for you, Jessie." He turned to Joe. "It is Missus not Miss."
"Well then why don't you show the Missus how to use the pump in the house so she doesn't need to lug water in?" Joe asked. One side of his lip was curled up. It reminded her of Sammy when he was irritated.
Noticing Kid's face, she took a step sideways. Air locked in her lungs at the way he glared at Joe. She grasped the hand rail to keep her balance.
Kid glanced at her before looking back to the man. "Go to bed, Joe."
Joe pushed his way past Kid and down the steps. "Yeah, I think I will." Walking past her, he tipped the edge of his hat.
"Good night, Mrs. Quinter."
Jessie tried to talk but only a slight whisper emitted, "Good night, Joe."
"Where did you want this?" Kid asked. Without meeting his eyes, she glanced to the bucket he held. "I-I can take it."
"No, I've got it. In the washroom or the kitchen?" His tone was kind, not the harsh one he'd used with Joe. She snuck a peek. His eyes no longer looked like they were full of fire. Realizing she still held her breath, she let it seep out and said, "The kitchen, it's for morning." He stepped aside and waved his empty hand for her to enter. She hoped her trembling toes wouldn't trip and moved forward. Kid carried the bucket over near the stove. Sammy 113
Shotgun Bride [The Quinter Brides Book One]
by Lauri Robinson
went to sniff at it as he set the pail down on the small stool which acted as a base for it. She'd learned earlier Sammy thought it was his personal drinking container if you set it on the floor.
"Do you know how to prime a pump?" Kid asked. Bringing her mind away from the dog, she shook her head negatively.
"The house is built over White Woman Creek," he said as he walked to the counter by the sink. "The creek starts in Colorado, but a few miles west of here it drains into the White Woman Basin, and from there it flows underground to the Arkansas River." Carrying a small pitcher, he went back to the water bucket. "That's why you had such a good well at your soddy." He filled the pitcher and went back to the sink.
"I tried to use that pump, but nothing came out," she said.
"There's a leather gasket in it. If it dries out, it won't pump. It probably dried out while I was on the drive. I'm sorry for not thinking to prime it for you. Come here." He waved an arm for her to step closer.
She did and watched as he poured the water from the pitcher into the spout. He began to pump the handle with quick even strokes. His was so big and brawny. The muscles in his arm bulged with each movement.
"Once the leather gets wet again it'll swell and form a suction to pull the water up out of the ground." Hoping he didn't notice the way her eyes ogled, she turned to the gurgling noises sounding from the pump. After a few more thrusts, water began to flow out of the squared spout. Jessie grabbed the large bowl she used to wash dishes in and 114
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set it below the streaming water. Kid gave her a quizzical look.
"Jessie, do you know this wash tub has a drain?"
"A what?" she asked, while silently wondering why her mind became fuzzy whenever he stood beside her. He lifted the bowl and tipped the water out of it. Jessie watched as it flowed down a hole in the bottom. Kid stepped back and opened the wide door below the sink. He pointed.
"That is a drain pipe. I read all I could about indoor plumbing before I built the house. The water runs through this pipe under the floor, it meets up with the water from the tub in the wash room and then drains into a pit out back."
"It does?" He had to be the smartest man she'd ever met.
"Yes, all the major cities have indoor plumbing any more. I plan on putting in an indoor toilet as soon as they perfect them. From what I've read, they produce gas that can be harmful, and they haven't mastered an exhaust system yet." Jessie cheeks burned as he spoke of such private matters. He chuckled. "There's nothing to be embarrassed about." He patted the sink. "This tub is made of soapstone. I had it shipped in from New Hampshire. It's guaranteed to never leak, crack, or decay. It's virtually indestructible." She leaned forward and touched the hard surface. It wasn't like any she'd ever seen before, but most of the house was like nothing she'd ever seen before.
"I built the cabinet around it after it arrived. The catalog showed it standing alone, but I liked this idea. I saw it in another book."
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Shotgun Bride [The Quinter Brides Book One]
by Lauri Robinson
"You did a fine job." She looked around. "You built this whole house by yourself?"
"Most of it. The boys helped me with some things." Kid picked up a small, round disk. "This is the plug. When you want it to hold water just push this in the hole."
"I found one like that for the tub in the wash room." She let out a small laugh. "After my first two buckets of water disappeared."
He joined her laughter. When it died down, he glanced around. "Well, I'll carry in your other trunk."
"I'll help," she offered, not quite ready to be separated from him.
"I got it. I put the other one up in your room if you want to go see what's in it." He glanced down at her flour covered dress. The wide smile on his face made her heart skip a beat.
"You did?" The thought of a new dress was extremely compelling, almost as delightful sounding as a bath, but neither of those could be as pleasurable as standing next to him. A blush made her cheeks grow warm. She glanced around, her gaze landed on the stove. Little spirals of steam rose from the smaller two kettles. She stuck her finger into one of the larger ones. "The water isn't hot yet," she surmised aloud.
"Then go look at your new clothes. I'll carry the other trunk up to you."
"Thank you." She scurried from the room to take the stairs two at a time. It had been so long since she had something new to wear. Before mama and papa died she'd had several dresses, but...
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by Lauri Robinson
"No," she said aloud. "I'm no longer going to think of the past, only the future, and how I can make it better." All of the things Kid had accomplished made her believe she too could have a much better life than what she'd had the past few years. He had to be the smartest man on earth, and probably the kindest. She paused at the top of the stairs, her heart skipping every other beat. Was
he
really
her
husband?
She entered her room. The trunk sat at the foot of the big bed. Smooth, shiny wood sparkled as moonlight streaming in the window bounced off the round top. She lit the lamp on the table beside the bed and turned the wick as high as it could safely go. She hurried back to the trunk and sat down on the floor in front of it. Her fingers ran across the wood before grasping the brass catch. Her mind swirled like a Kansas dust devil. It all seemed impossible. Overnight she'd gone from a leaking sod house, scraping everyday to find food to eat, with no hope of things changing, to living in a mansion, having a pantry and root cellar full of food, and married to the nicest, most handsome man on earth. Her fingers stalled. Married? She didn't feel married. But then again, she really didn't know what being married should feel like. She shrugged her shoulders. How did someone learn how to become a wife?
Sammy, never far from her side, bumped her arm with his wet nose. She smiled. "You're right." After rubbing his soft fur, she turned back to the trunk. "We'll worry about that later. Right now it's time to see what's in this trunk." She twisted and tugged, but no matter what she tried, the latch wouldn't let loose. The front clasp flipped up and down 117
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beneath her fingers, but something still held it shut. Her nose pressed against the side of the box as she tried to see between the thin openings, hoping to figure out how the contraption worked.
A thud startled her. She glanced up. The second box sat on the floor behind her. Kid put both hands on his knees and knelt forward, taking a couple deep breaths.
"Thank you," she said before her gaze went back to the trunk.
"Need some help?"
"I can't figure out how it opens." Kid leaned over and flipped a hinge beneath the handles on each end of the trunk. "Now try it." She pushed and easily opened the lid. Her expression of thanks stalled in her throat as the contents were revealed. Shimmering pink material, decorated with ruffles and delicate white lace was neatly folded across the top. With shaky fingers she touched the smooth, soft fabric.
"Pick it up. Let's see what it looks like."
"It's so beautiful," she whispered. Her eyes went to Kid.
"Are you sure Stephanie said she didn't want this?"
"She said it's all stuff she's had lying around and will never wear. She was happy to get rid of it. Whatever doesn't fit you're suppose to put in a pile, and she'll help you alter it." Kid reached past her to lift the pink material out of the trunk. As his arms rose, the material unfolded. The white lace circled a scalloped neckline, the edges of each sleeve, and ran along the bottom hem. Rows of pink ruffles ran up and down the bodice, from the waistline to the neckline. 118
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"Oh!" It was the most beautiful dress she'd ever seen. Jessie reached out to touch it again.
Kid handed her the gown. "I'll leave you to try them on." She nodded, speechless.
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The calendar said September had arrived, and therefore, fall was on its way. Kid had believed it, but today the Kansas heat felt like a burning inferno, completely denying summer was slipping away. Sweat poured down his back and dripped from his armpits like spring rain.
"Kid, it's too damn hot to be out here today. One of us is gonna have a heatstroke. Probably me!" Joe reined his horse beside Jack. "It's not good for the cattle to move on a day like this either."
Kid removed his hat and wiped at the salty water trickling into his eyes. "Yeah, you're right. I didn't expect it to be this hot out here."
Joe's brows lifted with a surprised arch. "I'm right? I haven't heard that lately."
He ignored the comment, replaced his hat, and squinted at the herd. "Send the boys back to the ranch. I'll be along shortly."
"Kid—" Joe started.
Without waiting to hear what Joe had to say, he turned Jack and jarred him into an uneven trot. Joe's stare settled on his back, hotter than the sun. Damn this marriage thing had become harder than he thought it would be. Jessie had been cute enough in her ragged dress, but now, dressed in the assortment of gowns Stephanie had sent over, she was absolutely stunning. To the point it took his breath away at times.
