Small Treasures (29 page)

Chapter Nineteen

Her eyes ached and burned. Oh, not from crying. She'd long ago run out of tears. But staying awake all night, staring into the darkness, hoping for an answer to the riddle of Samuel’s behavior, had made her eyes as irritable as she felt. Absently Abby rubbed at them with her fingertips and tried to think.

What could have happened in town to create such a turnaround in a man? She'd thought yesterday that perhaps if he had a little time, he'd talk to her. But only an hour ago, over breakfast, Abby had realized that he was going to do no such thing.

In fact, he'd seemed even colder this morning than the night before. His jawline was covered in red-gold stubble, his eyes looked more cherry-colored than green, and Abby knew that Samuel was still cut off from her. And judging by the rigid line of his mouth, she told herself, he had no intention of telling her why.

Abby stood in the cabin's open doorway staring out at the barn. He was in there. Immediately after eating, he'd stalked off without a word to either her or Luke. She could still see Luke's face, mirroring his disappointment and dread at what was happening. Poor little thing had run off into the woods right after Samuel went to the barn, and she hadn't seen him since.

The longer she stared at the big, silent building across the yard, the angrier she got. No matter what Samuel was sulking over… he had no right to treat Luke so badly. And by heaven, she thought firmly, it's high time she told him so!

Determinedly Abby marched across the quiet yard to the barn. Huge black clouds rushed and stretched across the sky, masking the sunlight and bathing the ground in a vague half light. The barn's wide double doors hung open as if in a challenge.

Abby stopped just outside, straightened her shoulders, lifted her chin, and mumbled a short prayer for strength. Strength to face Samuel down and risk losing everything she thought she'd gained.

Before she could lose her nerve, Abby walked into the cavernous building. Quickly she looked around and spotted Samuel in the far stall, saddling one of the horses.

He was leaving?

Her heart thudding in her chest, Abby hurried down the aisle.

"Samuel?"

He glanced at her over his shoulder then turned back to cinching up the saddle. "What?"

"Are you going somewhere?"

He snorted. "Yeah."

Abby moved closer until she stood on the other side of the stall door. She crossed her arms atop the wood rail and waited for him to look at her. After what seemed forever, he did.

"What do you want, Abby?"

She stared up at him. There was no softness in his face. No warmth in his eyes or his voice. He looked at her as he would a stranger. An unwelcome stranger.

"Samuel, what's wrong?"

"Nothin'." He opened one of his saddle bags, looked inside, then closed the flap and tied it down.

Abby walked around to his side and laid her hand on his arm. He stared down at it until she pulled back. "If nothing is wrong," she demanded, "why are you leaving?"

"Goin' to the county seat. Get a copy of my land deed."

"But, why? The judge isn't due for a couple of weeks yet."

He shook his head. "Nope. He'll be here the end of the week." Samuel reached around behind Abby and pulled his slicker down from the stall post. "You best get yourself ready, too, Abby. Figure out just what you're gonna tell the man to make him give you my place."

"What?"

"You heard me." He pushed his arms through the sleeves of his slicker, then glared at her as he buttoned it. "That's what all this" — he flung his arms wide — "has been about, ain't it?"

"All of what?" Abby said, her tone dropping to a dangerous level.

"All of what you been doin'." He took one step closer to her, forcing her to step back and tilt her head to see him. "Cookin', cleanin', sewin'." His eyes narrowed. "Hell, you was even willin' to take me to bed! Just to get my place! So don't go standin' there all sweet as sugar and pretend any different! I know!"

"You know what?" Abby stood her ground and forced herself not to look away from his accusing stare. She could hardly believe what he was saying to her. But she knew he believed it.

"I know exactly what you was after all the time. I heard you tell Minerva… "

Tell Minerva? Abby's brain raced trying to recall everything she and her friend had talked about the day before. She blushed a little when she remembered admitting flat out that she loved the mountain of stupidity standing before her. But surely, if he'd heard that, it wouldn't have made him this angry!

"Yeah," he snorted, "you should be blushin' for the shame of it! I ain't never heard of the like. A 'good' woman givin' up her honor for a piece of land!" He took a deep breath, and Abby watched his chest swell with his power and rage and hurt. "And then you tell Minerva 'Of course I'm gonna marry Samuel,' " he mimicked. " 'I don't never want to leave that cabin. I'll convince him!' "

Abby's jaw dropped. That was all he'd heard? And from that little bit of conversation he'd decided that she was no good? He'd taken everything they'd shared, all of their feelings, and thrown them away for nothing?

"So," he said, nodding victoriously. "Now you know, don't you? You know I heard you makin' your plans, and you're busy right now tryin' to find a way to change my mind. You gonna convince me, Abby?"

For a long moment Abby was stunned speechless. She stared up into the face of the man she loved and knew that no amount of "convincing" would do the slightest bit of good. He'd already made up his mind about her.

No, she told herself as she silently turned. She wouldn't try to change his mind. Right now she had a strong hunch she wouldn't be able to find his mind! How any man could be that empty-headed was beyond her. She thought back to that first night at the cabin. When she'd been so sure he was simpleminded. Strange that it had taken so long to find out that she'd been right!

His familiar features were set in grim, harsh lines. She'd never seen him this way, and she didn't like it. But he'd done it to himself! And because of his own doubts, he was trying to destroy her and Luke, too. Well, before he left, he was going to listen to a few things from her!

Deliberately Abby kept her gaze locked with his and took a step closer. The big man backed up a pace, and she saw a flicker of surprise flash in his eyes. Get set for more, she warned him silently.

Pointing her index finger, Abby jabbed him in the chest. "All right, Mr. Hart. I stood still and listened to all of your nonsense —"

"Nonsense?"

"Nonsense!" She kept walking, and he kept backing up until his back was flat against the barn wall. Then, poking him in the chest for emphasis, Abby gave him both barrels. "You dare to look me in the eye and tell me that I 'gave away my honor' for a piece of land? Who do you think you are, Samuel Hart, to say a thing like that to me?"

He shifted position a bit, but her hard gaze refused to let go of his.

"After knowing me all these weeks… living in the same house with me… you can say that?"

"You know you —"

"Hush!" she shouted. "You had your turn. What about you, Samuel? Hmmm? Look at you! Look at the size of you! Did little ol’ me force you into bed? I sure hope I didn't hurt you any! And, you said yourself, you durn near killed yourself finishing up my room.… You couldn't wait to get back in my bed! So don't start pretending now that you were taken advantage of. For heaven's sake!" She leaned in closer, glaring at him. "You sound as though you were some prim old maid that a wandering gypsy had seduced!"

"Gypsy?"

"I told you hush." Abruptly she turned her back on him and began to pace furiously back and forth the length of the stall. The horse stirred uneasily, and she immediately patted its neck. Samuel had relaxed somewhat, but when she spun back around, he flattened up against the wall.

"And as for the rest of it — the cooking, sewing, cleaning — J thought we were both working together… making the cabin a home. I had no idea that what I was really doing was trying to steal it! And Luke!" She crossed the few feet separating them quickly and jammed her finger back in his chest. "What about Luke? Do you know what you're doing to that poor little boy? How you're hurting him by this foolish sulking of yours?"

"Sulking?" he roared. "I ain't sulking, woman! I'm spittin' mad!"

"At Luke?" she shouted back.

"Course not at Luke! At you!"

"Fine. Then be mad at me!" Fists on hips, she stared him down. "But don't you hurt that boy any longer! He's been through enough without having to deal with an idiot who's too blind to see what's right in front of him!"

"Idiot? Me?" He pushed away from the wall and came within inches of her before stop ping. "You call me stupid 'cause I don't want to hear any more of your lies?"

"Lies? What lies?"

"Well… "

"Can't think of any, can you, Samuel?"

"Don't matter. I know what I heard yesterday."

"Do you really?" Abby's voice dropped. She cocked her head to one side and took a deep breath. Funny, but when she'd considered taking Minerva's advice and telling Samuel that he loved her, she hadn't expected the scene to be anything like this! Slowly she shook her head and let her gaze travel up and down the length of him until he began to stir uncomfortably.

"If you had eavesdropped a little earlier," she started, and smiled when he looked away, embarrassed, "you would have heard far more interesting things."

"I imagine."

"No, Samuel," she said softly, "I don't think you do. I don't think you can imagine for a moment what we were talking about yester day. You know why?"

He didn't answer. "I'll tell you why. Because you don't know how to love, that's why." He turned and looked at her, surprise shining in his eyes.

"That's right, Samuel. You see, if you'd been listening earlier, you would have heard me tell Minerva that I loved you."

His lips twisted in a disbelieving smirk.

"And you would have heard me agree to her advice." Abby didn't even care anymore if he believed her or not. Her first wave of anger had died down now to a smoldering tower of hurt. She just wanted to tell him everything and then leave. "You see, she advised me to do what she did to Alonzo."

His brow furrowed in confusion, he stared at her. "Yes, Samuel. If you hadn't acted the ass yesterday, I would have proposed to you."

She felt his surprise.

"You… "

"Yes, you heard me. Propose." She smiled and shook her head. "I was going to tell you how much you loved me, since you didn't seem to realize it yourself."

She held her hand up for silence. "Oh, don't worry. It won't happen now. You see, I don't want to marry a man who thinks as little of me as you do, Samuel. So" — she turned away and left the stall, talking all the while — "when you get back from the county seat with your precious piece of paper, Luke and I won't be here."

"What?" He followed her down the long wide center aisle. "What the hell do you mean, you and Luke?"

"Just what I say. We will go into town and stay with Minerva until the judge arrives. After the hearing, we'll decide together what to do." She smiled. "Either move in here when you clear out, or move on."

"Luke ain't goin' nowhere."

"Yes, he is. He's going with me."

Samuel grabbed her arm, but she yanked herself free. "I promised that boy that he had a home here no matter what," Samuel said. "Yes, Samuel. But if you asked him today if he'd like that, I don't think you'd care for his answer." His teeth ground together, and he began to mutter furiously.

Abby tilted her head to one side and said, "I've often meant to ask you something, Samuel. And since this will most probably be my last chance, what exactly are you always mumbling to yourself?"

He glared at her for a long moment, then took a deep breath. "It's somethin' my ma taught me to do. Say the ABCs so's I don't lose my temper with folks."

She smiled sadly. "Hmmph! Doesn't seem to work, does it?" Then she turned and left the barn as quickly as she could manage it.

Samuel stood in the shadows, alone in the quiet building. He watched her cross the yard and enter the cabin, closing the door behind her. His brain raced with everything she'd said, and his chest heaved with the effort of breathing.

Mentally he started the ABCs again. This time he only got as far as the letter G before he turned and slammed his fist into the nearest wall.

"I swear, that man must be the most loggerheaded, rattlepated, chuckleheaded man I ever heard tell of!" Minerva shook a blanket out over the narrow cot with such a flick of her wrist that the wool covering snapped. "Don't know why I never said so before…"

Abby stretched across the second cot that had been set up in the Mercantile's store room. Slowly and deliberately she tucked the sheet into what would be Luke's bed for the night.

Ever since she'd left the cabin, Abby had gone over and over the things she and Samuel had said to each other. And every time she had to fight down tears of anger and frustration. Thankfully, Minerva had been more than willing to take them in for as long as they wanted to stay.

Poor Luke, though. He was wandering around the store with the hangdog look of a puppy that had been deserted in the middle of the road. Abby sighed. Of course, she'd been right. The boy hadn't wanted to stay at the cabin. It was probably due more to Samuel's manner in the last two days than anything else. But whatever the reason for Luke's presence, she was glad to have him. It was hard enough leaving Samuel.

She slapped the pillow near her hand. Why did the man have to be so mule-headed?

"That's the spirit, girl," Minerva said. "Only thing is, you should'a done that to him!"

Abby smiled and sank down onto the cot. "Oh, Minerva. How did all this happen? Everything was going so well." She looked up. "Now he thinks that all I want is that damn — dang cabin!"

"If you mean damn — say damn," Minerva advised.

"I don't know what I mean anymore," Abby groaned. "But if that's what he really thinks, maybe that's just what I should do!"

"Huh? What?" "Maybe I'll just fight for that… damned cabin — and win!"