Unconventional Series Collection (4 page)

Abigail
exited her bedroom after washing up and changing her clothing. She hurried to
help Jenny prepare breakfast. Together they mixed biscuit dough, washed and
then fried salted bacon, and whipped eggs. When everything was almost ready,
Abigail heard Ty calling from behind his door. "Would you like me to get
him, Jenny?"

"Sure
thing, Miz Abby."

Brant
and Luke entered the cabin and walked to the sink to pump water and wash up.

Abigail
returned to the table carrying Ty, his smile warming her heart. Lifting him
into his high chair, she hastened to the bucket of milk that had been brought
in while she'd changed clothes. Ladling a tiny scoop into his tin and handing
it to him, her heart expanded when he said, "Tank tu." Grasping the
tin with his chubby fingers, he drank and made a milk mustache. She wiped the
dribbles from his chin and he gave her another one of his adorable grins.
"More, pwease," he said.

While
Abigail ladled more milk, Brant sat on the bench and Luke plopped silently
across from him, reading the novel he'd retrieved from the mantle. Within
minutes, Jenny had scooped eggs out of the skillet and into a big bowl that she
topped with bacon. Abigail set a plate of sliced tomatoes alongside the eggs.

Brant
served up Ty's plate and blew on his eggs to cool them. The baby exclaimed,
"Hot!"

Handing
him a biscuit, Brant smiled. "Eat this until they cool down."
Glancing at Luke, his smile was replaced by a stern look that sent the boy back
to the fireplace to return his book to the mantle.

While
they ate, Jenny rehashed the episode in the chicken coop and everyone but Luke
laughed. Peeking from beneath her lashes, Abigail surveyed the homey scene and
joy bubbled inside her.

A
bookshelf against the back wall caught her attention and Brant noticed.
"Please feel free to read any of the books that catch your fancy. Being a
teacher, you've probably read most of them, though."

"Thank
you." Abigail glanced at Luke and then back at Brant. "I also love to
read. I brought some books with me; perhaps they'll complement your
library."

After
breakfast, Brant bid Abigail and Jenny goodbye again and made sure Jenny knew
the area where he and Luke would be working. While Abigail helped clean the
dishes, she asked the question that had been on her mind since arriving.
"Do you have a bathtub?"

"Oh,
yes, ma'am. My Pa bought a fancy one for Ma one Christmas. It's in Pa's room
and he makes us pull it out once a week for baths."

"Only
once a week?" Abigail choked.

"Course.
Why would we want more'n that? Me and Ty wash up everyday at the sink and Pa
and Luke splash themselves clean at the well or creek."

"When
is your next scheduled bath?"

Jenny
looked at Abigail like she didn't understand the question.

"Is
there a certain day of the week you bathe?"

"Yes
ma'am. Saturdays."

"Hmm.
I wonder if your Pa would mind if I bathed tonight?"

"I
don't see why not. My Ma used to bathe a lot and Pa always said he loved
scrubbing her back. I used to hear em laughing in the bedroom and…." Jenny
paused. "Hey, you okay Miz Abby; you sure look red in the face."

For
the remainder of the morning, Jenny kept up a running conversation while she
worked. The responsibilities the child was shouldering staggered Abigail. She
asked, "Jenny do you also wash clothes?"

"Oh,
no, ma'am. Pa takes our clothes to Miz Mayberry the washer lady. He'd never let
my ma wash clothes either. Said he wasn't about to let her pretty hands get
rough. You got pretty hands, too, Miz Abby. Pa won't let you wash clothes, even
if you've a mind to. Beside that, Miz Mayberry's a widow and washing clothes is
the way she makes money. Pa says it's our duty to help her."

After
their discussion about washing, Jenny led Abigail to a large garden behind the
cabin and placed Ty on a blanket with some wooden toys. Together they picked
tomatoes, squash, cucumbers, and other vegetables. After filling a couple of
baskets, they delivered the food into the house and started washing it. A sound
outside distracted them.

Jenny
looked out the window. "Oh, criminy. It's Lola Pitts and her Ma and Pa. I
just know they're here so's Lola can check you out. She's been wantin' my Pa to
court her since forever. She went to school with Ma and Pa and she's right
pretty, but Pa said she's just not right for him. I'm glad 'cause she's kinda
uppity and mean to us when Pa's not around."

Abigail
had no idea how to respond to Jenny's confidences. She leaned over and picked
Ty up when Jenny opened the front door to their visitors' knock. Kissing his
soft hair, she breathed his baby scent. A high pitched female voice said,
"Well, hello, Jenny. Don't you look pretty. We came by to bring some
welcoming blackberry preserves to your guest. May we come in?"

"Course,
Miz Pitts. Can I get you some tea or coffee?" She stepped aside to allow
the Pitts family to enter.

Abigail
almost gasped at the beauty of the woman entering the room. If she were a
debutante, every eligible man in Philadelphia would be courting her. Her
youthful appearance suddenly made Abigail wonder just how old Brant was. He'd
never said in his letters, but she'd assumed he was close to her own age
because of the ages of his children.

Lola
Pitts was followed by portly parents. Glancing from Lola to her parents,
Abigail couldn't imagine how they'd conceived such a beautiful daughter.

Abigail
extended her hand in greeting. "Hello, I'm Abigail Vaughn. It's a pleasure
meeting you Mr. and Mrs. Pitts, Miss Pitts."

"Oh
goodness, you must call me Lola." As the beauty spoke, she untied the bow
of her bonnet and slid it off to reveal golden hair of a shade Abigail had
never seen. The woman's pale blue eyes traveled up and down Abigail in a manner
that made her straighten her shoulders. Obviously, Lola Pitts found her
lacking.

Mrs.
Pitts said, "So you're the mail order bride. News is all over town that
you arrived yesterday. Can't fathom why Brant would want to marry someone he's
never met, but men do strange things." She looked at her husband,
"Isn't that right, dear?"

"Yes,
that's right." Mr. Pitts looked uncomfortable.

Lola
said, "We'll have some of that tea you offered, Jenny."

"Yes,
ma'am. I made cookies yesterday, would you like one?"

"I
don't think so. The last batch almost broke my tooth."

Abigail
couldn't believe the woman's insensitivity and her mouth dropped. Jenny turned
quickly away and rushed to gather glasses off the shelf.

Abigail
set Ty in his high chair and walked to the stove to stir a pot of beans warming
for lunch. Jenny returned to the table with glasses and began pouring tea and
Abigail heard footsteps on the porch. Brant opened the door. "Hello, Mr.
and Mrs. Pitts, Lola. This is a surprise."

Abigail
noted that although he spoke politely, he didn't sound exactly thrilled to see
them.

He
continued, "We've just come in for lunch. Would you like to join us?"

Lola
gushed, "Well, thank you, Brant. Yes, we'd love to join you."

Mr.
and Mrs. Pitts murmured their agreement.

Abigail
watched the children's faces as she set out plates and utensils. Neither Luke
nor Jenny looked happy, and even Ty turned fussy.

Their
guests made themselves comfortable on the benches and Miss Pitts said, "My
dear Miz Vaughn, you must be suffering culture shock coming from the east.
Please tell us why on earth you would want to come to this wild frontier?"

Jenny
set a plate of sliced vegetables on the table and Brant lifted the pot of beans
with a pot holder and ladled scoops onto everyone's plates. Miss Pitts beamed
up at him with open admiration and a wave of jealousy unexpectedly hit Abigail.
To cover her embarrassment, she placed a square of cornbread on Ty's plate.

Miss
Pitts' shrill laughter filled the room. "Do you think Ty can eat all that
cornbread?"

Abigail
stared at the baby's plate. She'd added more cornbread to what was already
there and now he had enough to feed a man. Pink suffused her face. "Oh, of
course not." Because putting it back would be terrible etiquette, she
grabbed the large cornbread and set it beside the one on her plate. Now
she
had enough for a man.

Brant
placed the pot back on the stove and sat beside her. He said, "I wouldn't
mind relieving you of that cornbread, Miz Abby."

"Yes,
please, help yourself," she said gratefully.

Miss
Pitts continued, "You haven't answered my question, Miz Vaughn. What do
you think of our way of life? Not quite up to your accustomed standards?"

Abigail
set her spoon down and her shoulder rubbed against Brant's because of Mrs.
Pitts' chubby body on the other side of her. The contact started her stomach
swirling with butterflies and she stuttered, "I-I." She glanced at
the smirk on Luke's face and knew her answer was very important. Inhaling, she
said, "In this
wild frontier,
as you call it, I find the
countryside lovely and the inhabitants even lovelier. It's like being suddenly
dropped into one of my favorite adventure novels. Perhaps you would feel the
same if you moved east. Of course, after a time, you would fit in quite nicely,
just as I will here."

Abigail
glanced at Jenny's widened eyes and then at Luke's slightly opened mouth. She
couldn't make herself look at Brant. Had she been unforgivably short with his
childhood friend? She felt a slight shaking of his body. Like he was trying not
to laugh.

Miss
Pitts narrowed her eyes.

Mrs.
Pitts broke the silence. "The MacGregors are having a barn-raising on
Friday. Are you planning on attending?" She glanced from Brant to Abigail,
and back to Brant.

"I
surely am. Mick MacGregor helped me raise my barn. I was right sorry to hear
his burned down."

The
rest of the meal continued with small talk and an undercurrent of unease.
Abigail was glad when the guests decided to leave. She watched Miss Pitts pull
on her gloves and then place a hand on Brant's arm, giving him a look that held
her heart in her eyes. "I look forward to seeing you at the barn-raising.
I still remember the first time we danced when we were fourteen. Do you
remember?"

Brant
looked uncomfortable. "Yes, I do. That was the first time I got the
courage to ask a girl to dance and the first time I danced with Molly, too.
But, that was a long time ago."

"Some
things can never be forgotten," Lola Pitts said sadly. The longing in her
eyes made Abigail look away. Her previous irritation was replaced by sympathy
for this woman who obviously pined for Brant.

Brant poured the final bucket of hot water into
the tub that had been moved into Abby's room. He looked at the steaming water
and memories of beautiful encounters with Molly flooded him. Without a word, he
swiftly stepped from her room and shut the door, feeling an almost overwhelming
desire to cry like a baby. Glancing up, he saw Luke watching him, a knowing
look reflected in his eyes before he quickly turned and started up the ladder
to the loft, his book in tow. "Goodnight Pa," he said, without
attitude.

Shocked by his son's goodnight wish, he replied
softly, "Goodnight, son."

Abby entered the room from Jenny's bedroom.
"They're all tucked in. I guess I'll say goodnight, too. Thank you for
preparing the bath."

A few minutes later, the sound of muffled
splashing had Brant gritting his teeth. He needed to escape the cabin. Stepping
into the lovely night, crickets greeted him with their cacophony and owls with
their hoots. The moon hung large and bright and a soft breeze ruffled his hair.
Walking toward the corral, he paused and reflected on his day.

Lola's visit had been surprising. During their
last conversation a few weeks ago, he'd tried to gently make her understand
that there would never be anything between them. She'd become upset and said
some unkind words before begging him to reconsider. He knew she'd always had
feelings for him but he'd never felt the same thing. God knows he'd tried to
after Molly's death so his children would have a mother. He'd even gone so far
as to kiss her with a passion he didn't feel. He might as well have kissed a
fish. The thought of marrying Lola was worse than the idea of advertising for a
bride.

His thoughts turned to Abby and he smiled when
he remembered the chicken poop incident. She was starting to grow on him. He
also liked the way she'd handled Luke; not overwhelming him, and saying just
the right thing.

The fact that she was a teacher was also a plus
and one of the reasons he'd selected her over the others. Unlike some of his
neighbors, he was a strong believer in education. If Abby was the right mother
for his children, and if he could make a profit selling his herd next year,
then Ty would have the care he needed and he could hire a ranch hand. That way,
Jenny and Luke could go back to school.

At one time, Luke had even talked about becoming
an attorney. God knows they needed honest ones. His neighbors, the Joneses, had
lost their home to the bank when they couldn't make their payments. If there'd
been an upstanding lawyer in town to fight the bank's out-of-town one, maybe
something could have been worked out or a loophole discovered that would have
bought the family more time.

He stared at the moon
. Molly, I miss you so
much. What do you think about Abby? Is she the one you want mothering our
children?
A shooting star streaked across the sky.

* * *

Abigail smiled as she watched Jenny twirl in the
dress she'd altered to fit her by loosening the seams and sewing on a ruffle at
the bottom. The girl needed new dresses and already Abigail was planning on
using the remainder of the fabric from the dress she'd used for the ruffle to
make another dress for her. She even had some dresses with fabric suitable for
sewing shirts for males. She may not be much of a cook, but she could sew very
well. She wondered if Brant had money for more cloth. It would be fun helping
the children make selections for new clothing.

"You're gonna be the prettiest girl at the
party," said Brant. He looked at Abigail and mouthed, "Thank
you."

She felt her ever ready blush suffuse her face
and turned to Ty to straighten the shirt she'd sewn from one of her cotton
slips. She'd wanted to make something for Luke, but he'd ignored her hints.
Even now, he sat sulkily at the table reading his novel, but she'd seen him
glance up more than once.

"Everyone ready?" asked Brant.

Shouts of "Yes, yes," came from Jenny
and "Yeth, yeth," from Ty.

Abigail joined the gaiety, "Yes!"

Brant held the door open and Abigail appraised
him from lowered lashes. My, but he was a handsome man, and so young looking.
She really needed to ask him how old he was without embarrassing herself.

"Doesn't Miz Abby look pretty?" Jenny
said as Abigail walked past him.

He looked down and met Abigail's eyes. Ty,
holding her hand, reached to hug her legs, which made her pause. "Pretty
Mama." To cover the awkward moment, she reached and lifted the toddler
into her arms.

Brant said softly, "Very pretty."

Abigail hastened to the buckboard.

Luke hopped onto the back of the wagon and Brant
lifted Jenny beside him before reaching to take Ty from Abigail's arms and hand
him over to his daughter. Abigail's heart pounded when he encircled her waist
with his strong hands and lifted her onto the front bench as if she were as
light as a feather. She'd lost weight since beginning her trek west, but she
was still a far cry from being a tiny woman. Images of petite and beautiful
Lola popped into her mind and she pushed them aside. Obviously, Brant had not
wanted to marry her. A smug smile lifted the corners of her mouth.

Brant jumped onto the buckboard and laughed,
"Now, Miz Abby, what's that smile about?"

Mortified, Abigail placed her hand over her
mouth, but couldn't make the smile go away. Looking at him with laughing eyes,
she said, "Something I can't share."

He laughed and flicked the reins, sending
everyone into a backward sway.

Abigail grabbed the edge of her seat and asked,
"How far are we going?"

"The MacGregors are three miles west."

Wally followed alongside their buckboard for
about a half mile until Brant told him to go back home. With his tail between
his legs, he watched them roll on. Abigail turned to look at him.

Brant laughed. "He's quite the actor. See
how he's already got you feeling sorry for him."

Abigail giggled. "I always wanted a dog
growing up, but my parents refused to let me have one. Wally's already found
his way into my heart." Immediately, she regretted her heartfelt words.
She didn't know Brant well enough to expose her inner thoughts.

He didn't reply and she was glad.

Abigail's hip bumped the container of cookies on
the seat between them. She and Jenny had made them the day before. Thankfully,
they were chewable, although not as tasty as she had hoped. She really wished
she'd paid more attention to Mrs. Puffins' culinary skill back in Philadelphia.
Next time she was in Two Rivers, she intended to buy a cookbook at the general
store.

Although it was still morning, the weather was
already turning muggy. Abigail lifted her head to the sky, its blueness sending
happiness into her heart. She closed her eyes and breathed deeply. When she
opened them, Brant was staring at her. Her curiosity got the better of her and
she asked bluntly, "How old are you?"

He turned to look ahead. "Thirty-two."

She gasped and looked away from his profile. She
was six years older. "You…you married very young."

"We were both seventeen. Does my age bother
you?"

She looked back at him. "A little. I'm
thirty-eight."

He pulled the reins to adjust the horses' path.
"Well, Miz Abby, your age doesn't bother me in the least."

Abigail bit the inside of her cheek and watched
the passing countryside.

* * *

Brant chuckled at the startled look on prim and
proper Miz Abby's face when he told her his age. Hell, what difference did six
years make. Obviously, it made a difference to her.

The rest of the way, they made small talk and he
pointed out places of interest in the countryside. "Those hills are called
the Little Siblings and beyond those trees is Moccasin River, one of the two
that crosses paths just outside the town of Two Rivers. The other cuts through
the north of my property and its called Hawk River."

He crested a hill above a cabin similar to his
own and pulled the reins. "Whoa horses!" Pausing their trek, he
turned to smile at Abby. "That's the MacGregor place."

For the moment, she seemed to have forgotten her
shock over their age difference and smiled at the happy scene. Other neighbors
had already arrived and men, young and old, were hammering out the frame of a
barn. Young women scurried after children and elderly ones sat in chairs on the
porch or under trees. Older children chased each other in a game of tag. Picnic
tables had been placed under the shade of tall oaks. Long tablecloths flapped
in the breeze.

Brant flicked the reins and started down the
hill. He pulled his buckboard beside the others and jumped down. Walking around
the wagon he helped Abby down first. Next he lifted Ty from Jenny's arms and
handed him to Abby. Then he scooped his daughter up and swung her around until
she squealed. Luke jumped down and Brant said, "Wait up, son."

A middle-aged woman approached. "Welcome Brant.
We're real happy your family could make it." She glanced curiously at
Abby.

"Hello Cora, we wouldn't have missed it.
Mick helped me raise my barn and I wanted to return the favor after I heard
yours burned down." He grinned mischievously, "Actually, I came for
the food."

Cora laughed, "Well, there's plenty of
that."

"We made cookies!" Jenny said proudly.

"That was mighty thoughtful, Jenny. I'll
put them on the dessert table."

Brant reached for the container and handed it to
Cora and then said, "Cora, I'd like you to meet Miz Abigail Vaughn."

Cora held out her hand. "Pleasure meetin'
ya, Miz Vaughn."

Abby held Ty in one arm and stretched her other
one out to Cora's handshake. "Please call me Abigail…or Abby," she
replied.

Brant said, "Luke, help me unhitch the
horses and move them to the corral."

* * *

While the men tended the horses, Cora smiled at
Abigail. "You come with me and I'll introduce you around." She looked
at Jenny. "My goodness, Jenny, what a pretty dress!"

"Miz Abby fixed it up for me," she beamed,
and turned in a circle. Laughter caught her attention and she looked past Cora
to children playing tag. "Miz Abby, can I go play?"

"Honey, you go play to your heart's
delight."

Jenny started to run toward the children,
paused, and turned back to Abigail. "I'll come back and help you with Ty
in a little bit."

Abigail shook her head. "No, you just play
and have fun. Ty and I will be fine." She glanced at Cora to see an
approving look.

Cora grasped her elbow. "Com'on and meet
some folks." A wonderful lightheartedness entered Abigail's heart. She
felt connected to Cora and these hardworking country people. She almost felt
like she belonged there.

Her hostess led her to a group of elderly women
sitting on chairs and benches beneath the tallest oak. "Howdy, ladies. I'd
like ya'll to meet Miz Abigail Vaughn. She's a friend of Brant Samson. Abby,
this is Miz Mina Priestly, Miz Vera Simpson, Miz Kathryn Nantucket, and Miz
Sadie Thomas. And, of course, ladies, you know Ty Samson."

The baby clutched Abigail's neck and twisted to
look at the food table.

"I'm very pleased to make your
acquaintances," said Abigail.

"So you're the mail order bride," said
Mina Priestly. The way that baby's clingin' to ya, looks like Brant's done good
in pickin' ya out. Why don't cha grab a seat next to me so's we can get to know
each other."

The other women heartily agreed with Mina.

The wail of a child captured everyone's
attention and Cora said, "That's my youngest. Better see why he's carryin'
on so. 'Scuse me, ladies."

Abigail sat on the bench beside Mina and set a
squirming Ty on the ground. She laughed, "I may only be able to stay a
minute if he takes off running."

Vera said, "I understand. I raised ten
youngins meself. Didn’t get any rest 'til I was in my sixties."

"So when's the weddin'?" asked Mina.

Abigail bent over quickly to keep Ty from
putting a stick in his mouth, grateful for the distraction. Still leaning over,
she said, "Ah, I'm not sure."

One of the women clucked and Mina said, "No
doubt it'll be soon. Brant's an upstanding young man and wouldn't do anything
to tarnish your reputation."

Another buckboard rolled up near the corral and
Sadie said, "It's the Pitts. Wonder why they came? They don't usually
associate much with the other ranchers."

"Aw, come on Sadie," said Mina.
"You know Lola's been tryin' ta hog tie Brant into marriage since she was
sixteen. I imagine she's right miffed that he's gettin' his wife from a
newspaper advertisement."

Abigail continued giving all her attention to
Ty. This wasn't a conversation she wanted to participate in. Mina reached an
arthritic hand to pat Abigail's knee. "You keep an eye on her, hear? She's
as sneaky as the day is long. This is her last chance to snag Brant and she
knows it."