Sweetwater (35 page)

“Arvella,” Linus said sternly. “Ya ain’t got time to stand there moanin’ and wringin’ yore hands. Clean yoreself up. I’ll wash the dishes.”

“Is Pud here?”

“He’ll be here in a bit. He told me to come help ya.”

Now waiting in a fresh dress, her hair combed and the quarters behind the store in immaculate order, she tried to still the shaking of her hands and the quiver in her voice as she stood beside Pud on the porch.

“I put the pheasants in the oven. He likes pheasant.”

“Miss Arvella, don’t act scared of him.”

“I can’t help it. But I’ll try.”

“He’ll not like it if he knows I’ve been eatin’ in here.”

“Linus washed up the dishes. I told him to stay out of sight. Maybe you should, too.”

“I’m prepared for him, Miss Arvella. He sent me out here ’cause he didn’t trust Alvin. I’ll tell him what he wants to hear.”

“Thank God Alvin isn’t with him.”

Pud stepped out to hold the horse while the preacher got out of the buggy.

“Howdy, Reverend.”

“This place is looking shoddier and shoddier. I need a cool drink, Arvella.” Longfellow walked up onto the porch and, without greeting his daughter, passed her and went into the house. “I swear to God! You’ve put on more fat since the last time I was here,” he murmured loudly enough for Pud to hear.

With head bent, Arvella followed him into the house.

Pud gritted his teeth and cursed under his breath.

“There’s a cool breeze in the sitting room, Papa. Sit down and I’ll bring you a glass of lemonade.” She returned a minute later with a glass wrapped in a napkin to keep the drink cool. “I’ve got pheasant in the oven. I should see to it—”

“Are you still cooking for that bastard?”

“He eats in here … sometimes.”

“Jesus! I don’t know why Alvin doesn’t get rid of him.”

“He works.”

“Doing what? Plowing the Indian gals?” When she looked puzzled, he snorted in disgust, and said, “Sit down. You stand there like a swaying elephant about to topple over on me.”

Arvella eased her bulk down in the chair opposite him, glad that Pud was not near to hear his disparaging remarks. She opened a folding fan she took from the table beside the chair and began to fan her flushed face. It was something to do.

“A girl from the orphans’ home over in Rawlings will be coming out. I want you to train her to keep house and to cook. Old Bertha won’t last forever; and by the time she’s gone, this new girl should be ready to take her place.”

Arvella couldn’t think of anything to say, so she nodded.

“She’s eleven years old. Irish girls grow up fast so she may look older. I don’t want Linus getting into her. Understand? He rapes her, and I’ll nail his balls to a stump.”

“Linus didn’t … with Moonrock—”

“How do you know? Were you watching every minute. That kid was like a dog after a bitch in heat all the time she was here. I could see it, so could Alvin.”

“Linus is mouthy, but he isn’t bad … like that—”

“All men, if they’re any kind of man, are bad like that. Which reminds me … have you caught yet?”

Arvella shook her head.

“When did you bleed last?”

Arvella felt as if her face was on fire. She hated these frank conversations with her father. There was nothing too personal for him to discuss openly.

“After … Alvin was here—”

“Hmmm … Maybe I should have him do it
while
you’re bleeding. There should be some way for his seed to get through all that fat.”

“Papa! No. I … couldn’t—”

“What do you mean, you couldn’t?”

“Sometimes I get cramps in my stomach.”

“Don’t say no to me again, or I’ll slap those fat jaws. You’ll do whatever it takes to get pregnant. I’ll talk to the doctor. I may even go to Forest City and talk to one there. I’ll tell him how anxious you are to give your husband an heir and see what he says.”

“Please … don’t—”

“If he says there’s a chance you could catch if you did it during your bleeding time, you send Linus to me the minute you see a spot of blood. You’ll birth a son one way or the other, Arvella. I’ve waited long enough.”

“I can’t help it—”

“If this doesn’t work, I’m seriously thinking of having Alvin impregnate another woman and send her out here for you to keep out of sight until she gives birth. Then, if it’s a boy you can claim the child as your own.”

“A woman wouldn’t just give me her baby.”

“Don’t be a fool. She’d have nothing to say about it. Now get up off your fat ass and fix dinner. I’ve got to be getting back to town and prepare my sermon for tomorrow.”

After the preacher left, Pud waited a good half hour before he went to the house. He knew Arvella would be upset and would need time to settle down. He was surprised to see her usually immaculate kitchen had not been cleaned. The remainder of the pheasant and sage dressing was still in the roasting pan. The soiled dishes were still on the dining-room table.

The door to Arvella’s room was closed.

Pud knocked gently on the door. “Miss Arvella. It’s me. Pud.”

“I’ve … gone to bed.” Her voice was broken and he knew that she was crying. “You and Linus eat what’s left of the dinner. I’ll clean up tomorrow.”

“Are ya all right?”

“I got a headache, is all.”

Pud knew what had given her a headache. At times, he’d like to bust the cocky little bastard right in the nose. Longfellow was a con man hiding behind the cloak of a preacher. Pud knew it the first week he worked for him, but the pay was good and he’d not been asked to do anything that he considered wrong. He wished there was a way he could get Miss Arvella to stand up to her father.

Pud didn’t understand the constant remarks made by Longfellow and Havelshell about Arvella’s size. Pud’s mother had been a large woman and so had his two sisters. Arvella had put on considerable weight since he had first seen her, but her face was still pretty. He remembered one of his sisters had almost doubled her weight after her husband was killed. In her grief, she had eaten everything she could get her hands on. Time passed, she’d met another man, busied herself making a home and had slimmed down quite a bit.

Pud left the house in search of Linus and found him sitting in the semidarkened barn with his raccoon on his lap. The little animal scampered away and Linus got to his feet.

“Miss Arvella’s gone to bed. She said for us to eat.”

“Why’s the preacher so mean to her? I allus thought preachers was nice to ever’body, till I met him.”

“’Cause ya call yoreself a preacher don’t make ya better’n anybody else. Look at Chivington, the Methodist preacher who killed all them old Indians, women and kids at Sand Creek. The old bastard ort to a been strung up and left there to dry out.”

“I ain’t knowin’ ‘bout that. What I do know is that I ain’t sure which I want dead the most, Alvin or that old fart.”

They reached the house and, moving quietly so as not to disturb Arvella, filled plates from the food on the stove.

“How come yo’re not watchin’ the schoolhouse?” Pud asked.

“I ain’t tellin’ Alvin nothin’ no more.”

“Why not?”

“I ain’t sure what he’s doin’ now is right. The teacher ain’t so bad even if she is a snooty bitch.”

“The Murphy girl is a purty little piece even in her pa’s overalls.”

“She’s all right. She brought me somethin’ to eat a time or two. Wasn’t right for Hartog to shoot down her pa.”

“He’s a gunman. Alvin hired him to get rid of the nesters.”

“Alvin tried to get in Moonrock’s drawers, then said I did it. I never did anythin’ like that with Moonrock. Moonrock told the tribe elders it was Alvin.”

“Longfellow told me before he left that he’s bringin’ another girl to keep Arvella company. He said that I’m to watch and see that you don’t rape her.”

“Hell! That randy old goat or Alvin is the one who’d do it,” Linus exclaimed angrily. “I ain’t never done nothin’ like that. I only been with two whores. Alvin gave me the money the first time. I think he watched through a peephole. They got ‘em there in the whorehouse and charge two bits to look through ‘em. I looked a time or two.”

“Ya best not spread around what ya saw through that peephole.”

“I ain’t. I got sense enough to know that.”

Pud had changed his mind about Linus. At first he’d detested him for a sneak with no more loyalty than a rat. Now he felt sorry for the boy who hadn’t had a soul to care about him since he was a tad. The kid had a spark of good in him. Guess he hadn’t turned out too bad … considering.

With the family gathered around Trell’s bed, he announced that he and Jenny would be married as soon as he was on his feet and able to make the trip to Forest City. Early that morning Jenny had whispered the news to her sisters, and they were delighted. Travor and then Ike shook Trell’s hand; Granny and Colleen kissed Jenny on the cheeks.

“My turn.” Travor grabbed Jenny and kissed her soundly on the mouth. “Welcome to the McCall family, Sis.”

“Thank you.” Jenny’s cheeks were slightly flushed and her sparkling eyes seemed all the brighter, clearer. Looking on, Trell’s smile was beautiful and his eyes flashed continually to the woman standing beside the bed.

“That’s the one and only time you’ll be kissing my girl.” Trell grabbed Jenny’s hand and pulled her closer.

Beatrice was not sure what was going on. Cassandra was quiet.

“What do you think about it, Cass?” Trell asked.

“Well. I’m not surprised. You’re aware that Virginia can’t cook and you’re willing to take her anyway. You must love her.”

“I do. And I’m depending on Granny to teach her to cook.” Trell’s grin was lopsided. His dark eyes shone.

“Will we live here or move to your place?”

Jenny remained quiet and let Trell answer.

“We’ll stay here so Jenny can carry on with the school. And I’ll run some cattle on Stoney Creek land.”

“Will Granny stay with us or move to the Double T with Travor and Colleen?”

“That’s up to Gr—” His words were cut off by a loud snort from Colleen.

“If yo’re wantin’ to get rid of me and Granny, Cass, why don’t ya just come right out and say so.” She was angry, and angry words spewed from her mouth. She turned on Cassandra with a red face, flashing eyes and her fists on her hips. “I might be a dumb cluck to yore notion, but I’ll take care of me and Granny without any help from you or … anybody else.”

“I didn’t—mean—” Cassandra was taken aback by Colleen’s anger and was unable to respond. “I thought you were going to marry—”

“Yo’re wrong, Miss Know-it-all. I wouldn’t marry that struttin’ rooster if my life depended on it!” Colleen headed for the door. Before she reached it Travor was there and barred her way.

“Cass didn’t mean anythin’, honey. It’s my fault. I told her I was goin’ to marry ya.”

“Well, ya can just tell her ya lied. Now get outta my way, ya slick-talkin’ lyin’ … mule’s ass!”

When Travor dropped his arm, she darted past him. He paused, looked at the others, then followed her out into the yard.

Cassandra burst into tears and ran to Granny.

Ike scurried out the door.

The only sound in the room was the sobbing of the child.

“Pay no never mind, darlin’. Colleen’s got a lot on her mind. She ain’t knowin’ what’s what. When she thinks on it, she’ll be sorry.” Granny folded Cassandra in her arms.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry—”

Beatrice began to cry and pull on Jenny’s skirt.

“What’s the matter with Cass? Is … Charles comin’ to get us?”

“No, honey—”

“Come here, little pretty.” Trell reached for the child. She leaned over the bed and placed her head on his shoulder. He patted her back. “Nobody will take you away from us. When Jenny and I are married, you’ll be my little girl. You don’t have to worry about anyone taking you or Cass away.”

Jenny’s heart swelled with pride. She loved this man with the blue-black eyes. She loved the sound of his calm voice, the line of his jaw, the curve of his mouth and even the scar that would be forever slashed across his cheek. She left him to console Beatrice and went to Cassandra, who was crying as if her heart would break. The child’s tear-wet face was pressed against the old lady’s bosom.

Her little sister was hurting. She had come to love Colleen, and the sharp words had cut her to the quick.

Travor found Colleen under the big elm tree at the front of the house. She was leaning against the massive trunk, her face buried in the bend of her arm. She was perfectly still, but he knew that she was crying. He placed his hand on her shoulder.

“Honey, don’t cry.”

“Get away from me!” She turned to push him away. Her face was streaked with tears, “It’s yore fault! Ya caused me to lash out at Cass. I hate yore guts, Travor McCall.”

“No, you don’t.”

“Ya think I don’t know my own mind? Nothin’s been right since ya come here. Me’n Granny’ll have to go … ‘cause a you!”

“And why is that?” Travor demanded crisply. His dark brows drew together in a frown. “All I did was fall in love with ya, ya thickheaded Irish lass. Ya owe Cass an apology. Ya had no cause to hurt her feelin’s.”

“Don’t ya think I know that, ya … dolt?”

“What made ya so damn mad all of a sudden? Are you jealous ‘cause Trell loves Jenny?”

“No!” Her foot lashed out and connected with his shin. She swung at him with a balled fist.

Travor winced and grabbed her arms to hold her away from him.

“Stop that! Behave yoreself. What the hell’s the matter with you? After last night I thought we had an understandin’.”

“Well, we didn’t. I hadn’t ort to a let ya kiss me. I should’ve poked ya with my knife.”

“You liked it,” he snarled. “Deny it if ya can.”

“I’ve had better.”

“Careful, Colleen,” he cautioned through teeth clenched tight with suppressed anger.

“Or ya’ll hit me?”

“I’m tempted.” Travor’s fingers bit into her shoulders and he jerked her to him. As he towered over her, she felt his rage. “I offered ya what I’ve offered no other woman. I wanted to share my life with ya. But I’ll be no whippin’ boy for every time ya lose yore temper.”

His words caused her to tremble. She tried to move away from him, but his hands on her shoulders gripped her tightly. She had never seen his eyes so dark, so savage. Her own eyes were stricken and blurred with tears.