Authors: Angel Wolfe
“Now I see where everyone has disappeared to.” He laughed coming into the room. “You must be Kaitlyn. Very pleased to meet you; I’m Edward, Rick and Matt’s father.”
“Nice to meet you Mr. Jamison.” She replied holding her hand out to greet him. “I hope your stay has been good.”
“Our stay has been just fine. Don’t you be worrying about that, please though, call me Dad or Edward if you prefer; but nothing formal. I would like to welcome you to the family.” He told her sincerely ignoring her hand and giving her a hug instead.
“Thank you, I appreciate that” Kat replied. “Angel and I seem to both be quite fortunate in our choices.”
“Well, I’ll leave you to rest. I just wanted to introduce myself and welcome you to the family.” Edward said, heading for the door. “I hope your recuperation goes quickly.”
He left the room and Ali bounded after him, eager to play with someone that wasn’t stuck in bed. Morgan, sensing that her father wanted some time alone with Kat, made her excuses and followed not far behind her grandfather and sister.
“Well, that wasn’t too bad.” Kat breathed a sigh of relief. “Can you believe that I was actually afraid of meeting your father?”
“He can be a jerk when he wants to be but for the most part Dad is harmless; Mother is the one that we always worry about.” Rick replied breathing his own silent sigh of relief that his father had been pleasant to her.
“Well, I’m done with this coffee. If you don’t mind I think I’ll rest a little more and then if you want to find Angel, a little later maybe I can get dressed and go enjoy some of that sunlight that I see and feel coming through the window.” Kat hinted.
“I knew I couldn’t get away with keeping you all to myself today.” Rick laughed. “Ok, if you really think you need to go out there, I’ll find Angel and see if we can get you dressed a little more appropriately for going outside.” He looked pointedly at his shirt that she wore, barely resting at mid-thigh.
“I didn’t hear you complaining about my clothes last night.” She laughed. “In fact I think I may have heard something to the effect that you liked the easy access.” She threw a pillow at him as he headed for the door.
Aptly dodging the pillow, he laughed as he closed the door behind him leaving her to rest as he went in search of her sister. One thing about it; he thought to himself. Things would never be boring.
“Hey Angel” Rick said as he went out onto the porch. “Kaitlyn has decided that she’s ready for the great outdoors and would like some help with her clothing after she’s had a nap.”
“You would think after all the other help you’ve given her it wouldn’t be a problem.” She grumbled under her breath. “Ok, I’ll see what I can find that will work with the dressings on her leg after I get a little nap myself.” She said as she headed back to her bedroom leaving the brothers to talk.
“What was all that about?” Rick asked looking at Matt confused.
“She’s not all that happy about you sleeping with her sister.” Matt started.
“Whoa, hang on a second.” Rick roared. “Number one, like you two have room to talk and number two…”
“Now hold on Rick.” Matt interrupted his tirade. “I didn’t say I agreed with her. She’s just not thinking all that clearly right now. The baby is really messing with her emotions and her stomach. She went to go talk to Kat about it and when she opened the door, you were both asleep in an extremely compromising position.”
“Oh geeze; I forgot how emotional they get when they are carrying.” Rick said rubbing his temples. “I guess I will need to apologize to her later about asking her for so much help. I just thought Kaitlyn would be more comfortable with Angel then she is with me when it comes to certain areas.”
“I wouldn’t say anything about it Rick. She’ll forget everything and you bringing it up will just make it worse.” Matt told him. “Believe me; I just got a thirty minute lecture on treating her like a child.”
“Well, you know her best.” Rick laughed. “Hey, while the girls rest why don’t you come help me get some stuff set up outside so that Kaitlyn can get a little sun. She has been asking me about seeing GoldDust and I’m not sure I can tell her no at this point.”
“Already has you wrapped around her finger huh big brother?” Matt laughed affectionately shoving Rick as he jumped off the porch and headed for the barn.
Not to be out done, Rick followed him, tripping him, and knocking him into the dirt. “Yup little brother, wrapped around my little finger just like Angel has you.”
Standing up and dusting himself off, Matt decided to let him get away with it for now. “So what did you have in mind Rick? Do you want a chair or a bench or what were you thinking specifically?”
“I thought maybe a padded chair of some kind where she could kind of lay back and elevate her leg.” Rick told him. “The doctor said that we have to keep it elevated or it will swell and possibly stretch the burn area.”
Going to work, the men used a cot and several saddle blankets to assemble a makeshift lounge that would be comfortable for her to sit in yet keep her leg up like the doctor said. They set it all up in the partially shady area near Golddust’s paddock. After he was satisfied that they had done everything they needed to, Rick went back to the house and into Kat’s room to check on her.
Knocking lightly on the door, he pushed it open and walked in. Kat was sitting up on the bed with such a grimace of pain that Rick rushed to her to see what was wrong. Looking at her unbound ribs made him ache for her almost as much as the thought of the burn on her leg. Noticing after the fact that in addition to having her ribs unbound, she was not wearing anything but the bottom part of some oversized union suit.
Handing her a blanket so she wouldn’t be uncomfortable, he sat in his chair. “What’s wrong Kaitlyn? What’s hurting you so bad that you can’t breathe?”
Taking a short shallow breath, “M…my ribs are a li…little more sore then I first th…thought.” She gasped. “Consuela left to go g…get more rags to bind them a…and I thought I’d just put so…something on. Guess I w…was wrong.”
“Kaitlyn, honey, as much as I hate to say this; maybe you should give it one more day.” Rick said gently. “I hate to see you hurting like this and there’s no sense rushing and making your recuperation time even longer. I mean it’s only been three days since you were kidnapped.”
“But I’m tired of being stuck in that bed.” She gasped. “And I w…want to see Dusty and the pu…puppies.” She almost curled up in the center of the bed in pain.
“Ok baby, that’s enough for today. I can’t watch you do this to yourself. Let me get another shirt for you and we’ll get it on after Consuela gets your ribs wrapped back up.” He said quickly giving her no time to argue. “While we’re waiting, let’s take a look at that burn.” He helped her lay back on the bed against the pillows.
After reassuring himself that she was as comfortable as he could make her, he lifted her leg and gently began taking the wrap from the burn. Unfortunately, the burn had blistered and seeped into the wrap making it near impossible to take the wrap off without causing great pain. Setting her leg gently on a pillow to keep it elevated, “I’ll be right back sweetheart.” He told her. “I have to go get some warm water if we’re going to change the dressing on that burn. While I’m getting the water, I’m going to find Consuela and see if she can bring in some burn ointment while she’s getting the rags.
Finding Consuela, Rick asked for both burn ointment and for some of the concoction that always used to settle Maggie’s stomach when she was carrying each of his girls. Understanding what Rick wanted, Consuela handed him the ointment that she had made the night before along with the long strips of rags and a basin of hot water and told him she would take care of Angel after she helped him with Kat.
Rick entered Kat’s room to find her dozing fitfully. Quickly he set down the water, ointment, and rags before checking her forehead for fever. Finding it warm but not worrisome, he woke her from her nap.
After he helped her sit up, he bound her ribs before slipping a shirt over her shoulders and helped her slide her arms into the sleeves. Then, using the hot water, he applied strips of wet rag to her leg where the dressing had adhered to the wound. Finally, after several attempts he was able to work the soiled dressing free and exposed the burn to the fresh air. Gently he patted the area dry before taking the burn ointment and slathering the wound with it.
Once the burn was treated to his satisfaction, Rick carefully covered it with a fresh dressing before wrapping it in a second bandage to keep out any dust or dirt that might come accidentally in contact with it. Seeing that Kaitlyn had fallen into a more restful sleep after his ministrations, Rick lay on top of the covers next to her and decided to rest also.
~XXIII~
After waking, Angel went first to the kitchen to seek out Consuela then after being instructed to drink some strange, but not unpleasant concoction that she was told was a special stomach tea, she found Matt and told him she was up from her nap.
Laughing, he dragged her off back to her room telling her as they went that they definitely needed more rest. Once in her room, she closed her drapes and slid under the cool covers with an exhausted sigh of pleasure. Seconds later Matt had stripped out of his clothes and joined her in the bed, pulling her against his hard body thinking to himself that this was one of the only times they had ever shared a bed.
Marie came silently into the kitchen, hoping to sneak back to her room and change. “And just where do you think you’re going young miss?” Grace asked from her chair in the corner where she nursed a cup of coffee with Consuela. “I think you have some explaining to do.” She added in a motherly tone of voice.
“I…I was out in the barn with the animals looking at some of the stock.” She started, not being completely untruthfully. “I just sort of lost track of time.”
“Marie dear,” Grace said. “You were out all night long. That’s a really long time to lose track of.” She added with arched brows.
“My goodness, surely I came inside once or twice during all that time.” Marie said still trying to skip through and head to her room.
“Marie dear, you are wearing the same dress you were wearing yesterday.” Grace pointed out.
“Oh no!” Marie looked dejected, falling to the chair next to Grace. “Oh Cook, what am I going to do? I think I love him, no wait; I know I love him. Where will we live and how will we eat? I don’t know what to do. I’ve never been in love before.” She wailed.
“There, there.” Grace patted Marie’s shoulder in a motherly fashion. “Nothing can be that bad. What has the young man said so far?”
“Well, he did propose last night.” Marie looked hopefully at Cook. “That’s good, right?”
“Well, it’s a start. Did the two of you by any chance discuss a future of any kind?” She asked.
Looking confused Marie tried to remember what they had talked about. As she thought back, the only thing that came to mind was his gentleness and the pain of her first experience with lovemaking. “I can’t remember.” She finally confessed.
“Are you set to spend the rest of your life with him?” Cook asked seriously. “What you did or what I’m pretty sure you did could have some very serious consequences.”
“I know I love him.” Marie started. “But do you really think I can be a farmer’s wife? I don’t know if I can do everything that would be required of me.”
“Well Marie, you could always learn. It would be hard work but I think you could do it.” Cook told her. “I think you were bored playing hostess for your father and I think having something meaningful in your life to work towards would make you happy.”
“Do you really think it would?” Marie looked at Cook hopefully. “I’m so confused. I know I shouldn’t have done what I did without being married but Cook; I think he really loves me. I don’t think he looks at me like a decoration.”
“Time will tell child, but in the meantime you had better get washed up and changed before everyone else knows what happened. Even though this ranch is nowhere near town, people talk.” Cook expressed her concern before sending Marie to find clean clothes to change into.
Going to the washhouse, Marie had quite a bit of time to reflect on her actions. True, she had second thoughts about what she had done but she wasn’t sure she’d undo it if she could. Running hot water into the washtub, Marie whistled as she stripped out of her clothing. Sensing she wasn’t alone, she held her towels up to shield herself and turned to see who had intruded on her bath time.
Sighing, she let the towels fall. “Hello Anna. Decided you wanted a bath too huh?” she said as she checked her bathwater.
“Not so much.” Anna replied. “I just was a bit worried about you since you never came back to the room last night. I’m not going to say anything but I wanted to make sure you were ok.”
“Yes, I think I’m ok.” Marie told her. “I’m totally confused but I’m fine.”
“Is it Frank that has you confused?” Anna asked, curious. “If it is, I totally understand your dilemma.”
“Yes, it’s Frank and my feelings, what I’ve done and what I want to do.” Marie wailed. “I’m so lost. I know we should have waited until we got married.” She confided. “But as scared as I am and unsure about our future, I don’t think I’d take it back.”
“I have been in your same situation before.” Anna confessed. “Adam, who is a friend of mine and I was in the same position you’re in now. I knew he had feelings for me and I for him; the problem was, my parents were all about the name. We saw each other for quite some time but once I started teaching school, it was inappropriate for me to see anyone romantically. I know I hurt him unintentionally but I don’t think he’ll ever forgive me. At least we had not been physically intimate though.”
“I am so sorry Anna. Is there anything I can do?” Marie asked hugging the other girl. “My father used to be a prominent member of the community before but I think after all that he has done, his time is pretty limited. After striving to keep my reputation pure, none of that matters now with all of his dishonesty.”
“I know you and Frances Andrews are friends. I’m sure if you don’t wish to be married; her parents would welcome you to their home.” Anna said. “After all, you were a prominent member of our town’s society yourself.”
“If only it were so simple Anna.” Marie started. “Frances will be quite put out with me now. I must just resign myself to being a farmer’s wife.”
“Listen to yourself Marie.” Anna commanded shaking her slightly. “If you are not happy about it, don’t do this. Don’t make your life and Frank’s life miserable by acting as if you have no choice.”
“Oh I don’t know Anna; I think a party will be great fun. I should like to be in charge of organizing a wedding.” She said with a dreamy look in her eyes. “If only I could convince Frank to move to my father’s house; we could live there in grand style and I’d not have to give up any of the comforts I’m accustomed to.”
Disgruntled with Marie’s unrealistic approach to life, Anna rolled her eyes as she attempted to make the other girl see reason. “Marie, what are you thinking? Frank would never be happy there at a house in town. How could he possibly pay for that house and afford to feed and clothe you? While he is a very nice and honorable man, nothing personal but he is also a simple man. He’s a farmer by nature and you just can’t take that away from the man.”
“Uhhhhhhhh! I can’t believe this. I thought you understood me Anna.” Marie said with disgust. I’ve thought about it quite a bit but I just don’t think I can live on a ranch and work with my hands. I was trained to be a proper lady and that’s what I plan to do.” She added with a huff, dismissing Anna quite rudely.
“Well Marie, you’ve made your bed I just hope it’s not too uncomfortable to lie in it.” Anna told her as she left the washhouse.
“Well, I never!” Marie stated as she climbed into the tub and sunk into the deep hot water. Laying there allowing the heat of the water to relax her tired body, Marie thought about what Anna had said. She knew she wanted to do something with more purpose, wanted to have her own life without having to answer to anyone for once. While she loved Frank and she knew he loved her, she wasn’t sure she wanted him telling her what to do either.
Running the cloth over her body cleansing herself where she was a little sore, reminded her that he had definitely not stopped when she wanted him to. She didn’t want to admit to herself that she had enjoyed it though. Making up her mind, she decided she would move back to town and find a small house where she could live and try to find a job of some sort to support herself. From there, she would allow Frank to call on her and possibly marry him when she decided she wanted to.
Not thinking at all about how selfish she was being, Marie climbed out of the tub, dried off, got dressed, and headed back to the house to inform Cook and Simmons of her plans. Stepping into the kitchen from the back porch, Marie announced her appearance. “Cook, may I speak with you in private please?”
“Of course child. What is it?” Grace asked as she followed Marie to her bedroom.
“I’ve decided to move back to town and find a small house. I think if I can find some form of employment to support myself, I should be fine.” She told her as if she had thought everything out.
“But what if you’re with child, Marie?” Grace asked her concerned. “No one will give you employment as an unwed mother. Have you thought anything about what this will do to Frank? He will be devastated girl. He truly loves you and would give you the moon if you would just let him.”
“What is it with everyone asking what Frank thinks? Am I not a grown woman that can make up my mind what I want to do in my life?” She asked exasperated. “Just because I use bad judgment one time, now everyone thinks I can’t think for myself.”
“What has gotten in to you Marie?” Cook asked confused. “Yesterday you were ecstatic about having found a man to spend the rest of your life with. Now that you’ve hooked him, you act like you want nothing more to do with him.”
“I just decided that I want some control over my own life. I don’t want to spend eternity doing what everyone tells me. I want to do what I want to do.” She said matter-of-factly.
Taking a deep breath, knowing she was about to make Marie extremely unhappy “Marie, Samuel and I have been talking and he has been talking to Frank; the men have agreed to be farming partners. Matt took Samuel and Frank out and showed them some land that he had purchased several years ago. It would be just right for raising milk cattle. It was meant to be a surprise but since you are going back to town, I thought it best to tell you now.”
“Frank agreed to some property without talking to me first?” Marie asked incredulously. “I was going to be his wife and he didn’t even think about letting me add my opinion!”
“Marie, I think Frank wanted to have a home for you before he made all his plans known. I don’t for one minute think he planned to leave you out of the decision. In fact, he already told Samuel that he was going to wait on building the house until he knew how you wanted it.” Cook goaded her crossly. “Well, what are you waiting for? You had best get packed if you want to make it back to town before dark.”
With that, Grace walked off leaving a very angry, dejected, and confused Marie in her wake. Not knowing what else to do, Marie went to her bedroom and proceeded to pack what little she had brought into the small bags that she had filled at her home in town. Completing that task, she went to the barn and requested James to saddle Flower and tie the bags behind the saddle for her.
Going in search of Kat and Angel, she found that both of them were sleeping. “That figures.” She muttered to herself. “I’m leaving and they aren’t even awake so I can tell them goodbye.”
Back in the kitchen, Cook would not even meet her glance. “I guess this is so long for now. Good luck to you and Simmons.” She told her old servant dabbing her eyes as she walked out the back door. Without saying another word to anyone, she scrambled up on her horse and proceeded to head out the front gate towards town.
Unbeknownst to anyone, Anna had overheard most all the conversation. Seeing Marie leave, she had an idea of her own. Although the other girl could be quite annoying to be around, they might possibly be of mutual help to one another. Anna wanted to live closer to town and away from her parents; Marie whether she knew it or not, needed assistance. Without stopping to think about her actions, Anna left a note on the hay bale just inside the barn door, tied her bag behind the saddle, and mounted up. Hoping her future sister-in-law would forgive her, she rode out on Nugget, following not far behind Marie.
James, thinking that something was not quite right about the situation went in search of Consuela hoping to have his questions answered before finding either of the Mr. Jamison’s. Finally finding her outside hanging up wash, James approached her warily.
“Well, out with it James. I can tell something is on your mind.” She said, accurately reading the situation. “We can’t get it solved until you tell me the problem.”