To Know Her by Name (33 page)

Suddenly she was on the outskirts of town, her horse still headed toward the Double Star. With yet another soft sigh she let Ginny have her head, but Pup couldn't help but wonder what the next few hours or days would bring.

“Now you sit there, Rebecca Buchanan, and I mean it!” Lavena North, the Buchanan's housekeeper of many years, stood with her hands on her bony hips and scowled at her employer.

“I have more things I want to do,” Rebecca stated calmly.

“No! You've got to rest. Why, this morning you looked so tired and worn-out that I thought you were going to have that baby today! And now look at you. Turning out closets and wanting to bake. I won't have it! If you don't sit still, I'm going to find Travis.”

Lavena stomped from the room before she could see Rebecca smile, or the younger woman would have been in even more trouble. The baby chose that moment to change positions, and for a time Rebecca was content to sit and enjoy the boisterous movements.

She then realized Lavena was right. This morning and the past night she had felt terrible, but after the boys talked her into a little breakfast, she'd felt her strength returning, so much so that she had urged Travis to take the boys for a ride. Indeed, they were still gone.

The baby was quiet again, but Rebecca sat for a moment longer. The areas of the house that she wanted to check on came back to mind. With slow and now comfortable movements she stood. Walking softly from her seat in the large living room, she made her way to the front door and out onto the spacious wraparound porch. The broom was where she'd left it, and watching the windows carefully so as not to alert the zealous Lavena, she now went back to work on the webs and dust. She was still hard at work when Pup rode into the yard.

The relaxed and genuine hospitality she'd learned from Travis came swiftly to the fore, and the broom was set aside while she went to greet her visitor. Pup watched the lovely blonde woman as she began to navigate down the steps and swiftly called to her.

“Why don't you let me come to you?”

Rebecca stopped and smiled, waiting for Pup to approach on her horse.

“You must be Pup,” Rebecca said from her place on the steps. She was still smiling, but in truth this woman was not at all as she'd been imagining.

“Yes. Thank you for having me.” Thinking that the rumors of Travis' wife being a beauty were certainly true, Pup smiled kindly into Rebecca's deep brown eyes.

“It's our pleasure. My name is Rebecca by the way. Travis and the boys are out riding.”

Pup dismounted and offered Rebecca her hand. The women shook, and Pup tied the horse's reins to the post and followed Rebecca as she moved back up onto the porch. Pup was much taller than the other woman; indeed, if Rebecca hadn't been expecting there would have been little to her. But at the moment that was the least of Pup's worries; she never figured on Travis not being present when she arrived.

For a moment Pup nearly panicked over what they might talk about, but she worked at staying calm. A moment later she let her head tip back. The porch was high and painted white. Most of it looked newly swept. The job was so thorough that it was immediately obvious where Mrs. Buchanan had left off with the broom.

“It looks as though I interrupted your work,” Pup offered, opting for a safe subject.

Rebecca sighed and admitted, “I was so tired this morning that I could have slept all day. Now I'm so full of energy that I'm driving Lavena crazy.”

Pup looked at her. “Your housekeeper?”

“Yes. If she knew I was out here, I'd be getting the sharp side of her tongue.” She smiled. “Would you like to sit down?”

Pup shook her head. “I've been in the saddle for several hours, but don't let that stop you.”

With that, the expectant mother watched in amazement as Pup picked up the broom and started on the porch where Rebecca had left off. The socially proper side of her wanted to tell her guest to drop the broom, but something in the other woman's face stopped her. A moment later she lowered herself onto one of the comfortable wooden benches that sat on the front porch.

“Is this what women call nesting?” Pup suddenly asked.

“What's that?” Taken off guard, Rebecca did not immediately catch on.

“Oh, you know, wanting to clean and get everything ready before the baby comes?”

“I think it must be. Now that I think about it, I did the same with the boys.”

Pup brushed at a web and then looked over at her. “You had twins, didn't you?”

“Yes. Garrett and Wyatt.”

Pup couldn't stop her eyes from dropping to Rebecca's distended waistline. “Is it twins this time, too?”

Rebecca chuckled, her hand going to her swollen middle. “No. Big as I am, I'm sure this is only one.”

Glad she hadn't offended, Pup smiled and went back to work. “I've heard that women can tell if they're carrying a boy or girl. Is that true?”

“I've heard that, too, but I don't know. The boys want a baby sister. I guess I've been afraid to say too much and possibly disappoint them.” She looked over to find Pup's eyes on her again.

But you know, Rebecca Buchanan,
Pup thought to herself,
you believe you know what this baby is. I can see it in your eyes
. However, all she said aloud was “Do you hope for a boy or girl, or doesn't it matter to you?”

The younger woman smiled. “Only for the boys' sake. I'd like to see them get the baby sister they want.”

Pup smiled as well and went back to the webs. A moment later she heard, “Well, of all things!”

She turned toward the front door to find a pint-sized woman whom she knew to be Lavena Larson. They had never met, but Pup had seen her around town over the years.

“I thought you were out here working; I tell you I did,” she went on to the mistress of the ranch. “Travis and the boys are just back, and I was going to tell him if you were.”

Rebecca smiled tolerantly at her. As a rule Lavena was very good about staying in the background, especially if they had company. But Rebecca's present condition had given her motive to throw off all caution. She was as protective of Rebecca as a mother hen might be, probably more so.

“Lavena,” Rebecca spoke with some authority now, “please meet our guest, Pup Jennings. Pup, this is Lavena North, our housekeeper.”

Surprised that she'd gotten the name wrong, Pup still came forward and offered her hand. “Hello,” she said kindly.

Lavena shook it, but her eyes went to the broom.

“You're not going to continue with that broom, are you?”

“As a matter of fact I'm finished,” Pup said smoothly, passing the aforementioned object to the bantam-sized woman.

Lavena thanked Pup with a low word and then turned back to the house. However, she didn't go before throwing a parting shot. “And you just stay seated, Rebecca, or you'll be hearing from me!”The door closed on this command, and the women exchanged a smile.

“At least she has your best interest in mind,” Pup said to her hostess. “I'd hate to have her as an enemy.”

Rebecca laughed in genuine amusement. “I'd never thought of that before. I have more to be thankful for than I realized.”

Rebecca had just finished speaking when the sound of the boys' voices floated to them. They were coming around the side of the house and picked up the pace when they saw their mother seated on the porch. They ran to kiss her and then turned curious eyes on their guest.

“Garrett and Wyatt, I'd like you to meet Miss Jennings.”

“Hello,” they chorused together and even smiled at her.

Pup smiled in return. “Your mother tells me you've been riding.” Pup studied their small faces, silently delighting in the differences between them: one dark, the other fair.

“We rode all over,” Garrett told her seriously. “We went for a long one this time.”

“Do you share a horse or each ride one?”

“Today we shared,” Wyatt filled in. “Sometimes Gary gets Dixie and I get Feather, but today we shared Feather. She's Mama's horse.”

“What's your horse's name?” Garrett wished to know.

“That's Ginny,” Pup said as she looked over at the trim brown mare. “Do you want to ride her?”

“Can we?”Wyatt was already on his feet.

“May we?” his mother corrected.

“If it's all right with your mother.”

Rebecca gave her consent with a nod, and Pup stood as the boys dashed off the porch. She followed them, removing her bag from the side of the saddle and untying the reins. Looking like little pros, the boys moved Ginny so they could climb into her saddle from the porch, and, faces serious, set off for a ride in the yard.

“Well, you certainly know how to make friends.”

Pup turned with a smile and saw that Travis had come onto the porch from the front door.

“Hello, Travis.”

“Hello yourself. Glad you could make it.”

Pup came up the steps and shook his hand. He motioned to a bench, and Pup sat down before he joined Rebecca. Afraid that an uncomfortable silence would fall, Pup immediately opened her bag and drew out the tin of candy.

“I brought you a little something,” she said, hoping she didn't sound as awkward as she felt. The can was passed to Rebecca.

“Thank you,” she said kindly and then tore back the paper. “Peppermint!” she said with elation. “We haven't had peppermint since last Christmas. The boys are going to be thrilled.”

“That was kind of you, Pup,” Travis inserted. “Thank you.”

“You're welcome.”

The rancher smiled at her and then turned to the woman he was sitting next to. His arm was already along the back of the chair, and it now dropped gently onto her shoulders.

“Lavena tells me you've been naughty.”

Rebecca turned her head to smile into his eyes. “She came out here to catch me in the act. You should have seen her face when she saw that it was Pup who was sweeping down the front porch.”

Both women laughed at his expression.

“It was better Pup than me,” his wife went on to tell him. “I was already in enough trouble.”

“I can see I'm going to have to keep an eye on you two,” Travis teased them, completely unaware of what his words did for Pup's heart.

Not until after she'd given the broom to Lavena did she think how strange her actions might have seemed. The last thing she wanted was to invite a bunch of questions or odd looks, but Rebecca had taken it in stride and so had Travis. She was still asking God to help her handle the rest of the evening as well when Travis called a halt to the boys' ride.

“Gary, Wyatt, come back to the porch. I think Miss Jennings' horse has had enough for now. After all, she came all the way down the mountain today.”

“You live in the hills?” Wyatt asked when they neared, and Pup nodded her head.

“In a cabin?”

“Yes.”

“Do you live with anybody?”

“I live by myself.”

Clearly the boys thought this was great, and Travis could see that more questions were coming.

“You can talk to Miss Jennings at supper, boys,” he informed them. “Let's take this little mare to the barn for the night.”

“It's Ginny, Papa. Her name's Ginny.”

“All right,”Travis agreed, treating this with a sincerity that equaled his boys'. He tossed an amused smile at his wife and guest before heading to the barn with his sons.

“Why don't you come in?” Rebecca was saying as she stood. “I'll show you to your room, and then I think it must be close to dinnertime.”

Pup picked up her bag and followed her hostess, once again pleased that no awkward silences or questions had assailed her. She was shown to a room off the kitchen and told that it had been Lavena's room before she moved to a small house on the property and married one of Travis' ranchhands. The mystery over the name was put to rest in Pup's mind.

Left alone, Pup found the bedroom spacious and comfortable. Although sounds could be heard from the kitchen, Pup knew they would not disturb her. She took a moment to check her wig in the mirror and wash her face and hands at the basin. The main reason for this visit came rushing back to her, and she forced herself not to worry about who she might be meeting Sunday morning. In many ways it was a temptation to saddle up Ginny and head right back up the mountain, but nervous as she was, her desire to be in church was stronger. In time she went out to enjoy the evening with the Buchanan family, thanking God again that He was watching over her.