Tupelo Gold: Sweeter than Honey (Eclipse Heat Book 4) (2 page)

          CQ Mercantile, Eclipse, Texas 1884

Comfort stood behind the counter of the CQ Mercantile wrapping a piece of honeycomb in waxed paper. “You’re my best customer for this, Beau.” 

“Yes ma’am, I’ve got a sweet-tooth for sure.” The lanky youth’s drawl was surprisingly shy as he paid for his treat.

Comfort would have liked to spend longer talking to the boy but the McCallister brothers came into the store right then. Beau Beauregard gathered his purchase up fast, moving quickly to get out of their way.

“Been poaching our territory again, I see.” Deacon, oldest of a trio of McCallister bounty hunters, snarled at Beauregard. He seemed intent on provoking a fight with the younger man.

Comfort had no intentions of letting a brawl happen in her store. Her lips parted ready to remind her customers to behave. Her intercession became unnecessary when Beau remained cool and shrugged off McCallister’s accusation.

“Big place, lots of bad guys.  You ain’t hurtin’ none from me sharin’ your space. I’m just prunin’ the field, so to speak. Guess it sticks in your craw I beat ya to this one.”  With his taunt in place, Beau bobbed his head at Comfort and sauntered away.

Deacon followed Beauregard, leaving Comfort alone with Sam McCallister.

“What in hell has got into Deak?” Sam growled. From his expression, she could see his consternation.

Since she’d been waiting for an opportunity to speak to Sam alone, Comfort took advantage of Deacon’s absence.

“Sam, do you have any word yet on that job you did for me?” When her voice came out in a reedy whisper, revealing her dread, she cleared her throat, trying to appear calm.

“You sure you want to know?” Sam asked quietly, studying her.

So Hamilton has found another woman. Comfort’s vision clouded for a moment and she blinked away tears, afraid she might actually swoon. 

“I need to know, I don’t want to know.” And that was certainly the truth. She didn’t want to know that her husband had engaged in an illicit relationship with another woman. But the one thing Comfort Parker Bailey Quince prided herself on, was accepting reality.

I own my business and I can manage alone. She didn’t need Hamilton’s money to survive. But the thought of losing him left her insides twisting in agony. 

“He’s been visiting a woman named Mary Blain. Every time he rides to Wichita to transact cattle business, he stops there.”  Sam remained expressionless when he gave her the bad news.

She’d been expecting it.  Hamilton was more attentive to her now than ever before, but she’d sensed wrongness in their relationship. Part of her was furious but a much deeper sadness underscored her mood. 

“Is she beautiful?” Comfort straightened her shoulders, reclaiming her composure.

“Easy women all look the same.” Sam grimaced, hesitating a moment before adding, “He’s got a son by that woman.”

Comfort swayed on her feet, ready to collapse. She’d known in her heart that Hamilton was seeing someone else. But… 

“How much do I owe you Sam? I can’t say thank you for the information, but I needed to know.” She clenched her hands rejecting pity if he showed it.  She needed to conclude their business before she broke down and cried before him.

“Reckon someday I might need a favor.  We’ll just keep the account open for now.”  The handsome bounty hunter with the face of a fallen angel handed her his list of supply needs as he changed the subject and eased her back into self-control. 

There was no absence of work to keep her busy. Shelves needed stocked, inventory counted, and finally the day’s receipts tallied. Though she usually enjoyed her labors, the hours until closing time crawled by like years. Not until she wrapped the waxed paper tighter around the honeycomb she’d had out earlier, did she allow herself the grief she’d suppressed all day.

Her lips trembled, fighting the pain of Hamilton’s betrayal as she remembered his first gift. He’d brought her honey, but not a slab like Beau had purchased earlier. He’d given her a vial of amber he’d called Tupelo Gold.

Transfixed by the memory, Comfort stood with bowed head and tears on her cheeks, reliving the moment she’d fallen in love with Hamilton Quince. 

In the eight years since, she and Hamilton had faced hell together and experienced heaven in each other’s arms. It would destroy her to believe it had all been a lie. 

* * * * *

“Why that rat-bastard.” Comfort’s sister, Naomi McCallister, didn’t hold back. She set aside her usual proper speech to tear into Hamilton’s behavior and then his character. 

“I can’t let you talk like that about Hamilton, Naomi.  I understand why he did it. You know he wanted a son and I can’t give that to him.”

Understanding didn’t stop the pain of knowing that her husband had sought out another woman to give him what Owen Bailey had stolen from both of them. Though she’d survived her late husband, his last brutal beating had rendered her incapable of having a child.  

Hamilton had said it didn’t matter. Now she understood why.

“Well, what are you going to do?”  Ever practical, Naomi asked the question that was foremost on Comfort’s mind.

“I don’t know.” It was a poor response but the truth.

“He’s an adulterous pig.” Naomi was seething with anger at Hamilton’s unfaithfulness. 

“How can I condemn him for adultery? I was married to Owen when Hamilton and I became lovers.”

“Oh.” Naomi’s eyes grew round at this information. There were gaps in her knowledge of Comfort since they’d been separated for over a decade.  But ever the supportive sister, she confided, “Charlie Wolf and I had intimate relations before we wed.” Her disclosure tinged her cheeks pink and made Comfort smile. Her plain sister had bloomed under her husband’s attentions.

“This is my punishment for being unfaithful to my vows.” Comfort shuddered, hearing Bailey’s brutal laughter in her mind.

“Nonsense,” Naomi brushed that aside as though a minor consideration.  “Owen Bailey was an abusive animal and we’re all glad he’s dead.  But Hamilton…”

The women stared at each other sharing the pain of his deception. “I’ll have Charlie Wolf talk to him.” Naomi promised the services of her husband without hesitation. 

“No,” Comfort disagreed. “I don’t want the world knowing about my problems.”

“Charlie Wolf isn’t the world. And since his cousin Sam McCallister already knows, one more McCallister knowing won’t hurt. Charlie will straighten this out.  I don’t understand this at all. Hamilton loves you, Comfort.”

“I thought he did,” Comfort agreed.  “But he wanted a son.”

The heart of the problem stretched before them. Neither woman doubted that the pragmatic rancher might have secured an heir in spite of his wife’s inability to give him one.

“When does he get back from this trip to Wichita?” Naomi wasn’t good at subtlety.

“Tonight, and I’m not sure I can face him and pretend that I don’t know.” Comfort wondered if she’d made a mistake in telling her sister.

“Pretend that you don’t know?” Naomi fairly screeched the question. “You need to greet him at the door with a club and knock some sense into him.” That brought a smile to Comfort’s face.

“Naomi, you always were a hellion.  How you managed to become a meek teacher before you married Charlie Wolf still amazes me.”

Naomi picked up Comfort’s hand and squeezed it. “Let Charlie Wolf handle this.  He’ll know what to do.” 

“It’s good that someone does. I don’t. I thought I’d finally found the end of the rainbow, Naomi. I swear to you, I did. Remember how we tried to follow it to its end that time?” They’d grown up motherless and dirt poor. The limited care they’d had, ended when their father and brother had left to fight in the War of Northern Aggression. Naomi had been eleven, Comfort fifteen.

“I don’t want to think about back then,” Naomi said. “It was horrible.”

Too horrible. “By the time I met Owen Bailey, so many bad things had happened to me, he seemed like a good catch.” The beatings had started right after the wedding and hadn’t ended until he’d been killed.

“I thought I’d put all that behind me. Marrying a respected cattleman who treated me with tenderness was a dream come true. And then, finding you again and having you close by,” her voice broke, “Naomi, I thought I’d struck gold.” 

“I don’t believe it,” Mrs. Carmichael, the housekeeper yelled from Comfort’s kitchen, then bustled into the room to be closer to the conversation.

“I’ve known the Quince boys since they were birthed. Shoot, I helped deliver, Hamilton. He wouldn’t do such as that, and if he did do such as that, Cordelia Quince would spin in her grave.”

When the sound of horses outside alerted them to company, the housekeeper got to the window before anyone else could.

She peered out to see who’d arrived, then dropped the curtain, and whirled to face the other two women.

“Comfort, brace yourself. Cordelia’s commenced spinning.”   

Hamilton Quince’s business trip to Wichita had included making the same illicit visit he’d engaged in for the last six months. Only this trip the visit hadn’t ended with him leaving alone. Instead, he’d escorted both Jacob and his son’s sister out of the Blain woman’s door.

After they’d left the house, he hadn’t wired ahead to alert anyone in Eclipse. Hamilton couldn’t break this news to Comfort by way of a telegram. And he wouldn’t tell anyone else before he told her. He prayed he wouldn’t lose everything he held dear when he introduced the boy to Comfort and explained how it came about he’d discovered Jacob was his son.

It had been a quiet trip. Hamilton had secured seats on a coach part of the way. Then he’d rented a buggy to finish the trip to Eclipse. He’d thought he’d get a chance for conversation with them. He’d been trying to get to know Jacob since he’d learned of his existence six months before from Mary Blain.

Her letter had changed Hamilton’s life.

Mr. Quince. Felicitations on your recent nuptials. I hope your new wife will not find it amiss that you have a son. Of course, if you would like me to maintain my silence and continue caring for him, I will require a monthly stipend…

There had been more, but the gist was the same. The Blain woman couldn’t have known, but her message had been delivered at a very bad time in his marriage.

Six months before, Hamilton and Comfort had visited a doctor in Abilene. The physician had told both of them flat out his wife wasn’t ever going to be able to have children.

Something had been broken inside when Comfort had sustained a beating delivered by Owen Bailey. It shamed Hamilton that he hadn’t been able to protect her from her husband’s abuse, and he regretted every day that he hadn’t been the one to kill the bastard. The doctor’s diagnosis had been a final blow delivered by Owen Bailey from the grave.

Comfort had been desolate that she wouldn’t be able to give Hamilton a son to carry on the Quince name. He’d been surprised to find out how much he wanted a child of his blood, as well.

When he’d gotten the Blain woman’s letter, he hadn’t believed it at first. He’d investigated her claim by visiting the address she’d given him. One glace at Jacob had convinced Hamilton the boy was his. The kid had Quince stamped all over his features.

Hamilton had spent the next four months trying to figure out how to explain his son to Comfort and trying to get to know the boy who viewed him suspiciously at best. When Hamilton had arrived this time, Mary had upped her fee and Jacob had been waiting.

“If you’re our pa, how come we can’t go home with you?” The boy’s question had pushed Hamilton’s decision. And then there was the girl. There was no way she was Hamilton’s child, but the boy was adamant in his refusal to leave his sister behind.

Hamilton glanced at his son proudly. Jacob was somewhere between six and seven and sharp as a tack. He was a good brother and would grow into a fine man.

“Where will we live, sir?” That had been the only question Jacob had asked. The girl hadn’t said anything. Hamilton wasn’t familiar enough with children to know if this was normal. His niece, Brody Quince, had always been a talker.

“You and your sister will live in Eclipse with me and my wife.” Hamilton hoped what he said was true. The two young’uns sitting beside him on the buggy seat were a far-cry from the baby Comfort had had in mind. But he was bringing her children to raise.

“Eventually, we’ll move to the Double-Q Ranch.” He and the kids might be moving into the empty house a little quicker than planned if things didn’t go right today. He was counting on Comfort’s desire for a family to keep that from happening.

Once they’d left the crowded coach, Hamilton had expected to listen to the kids chatter during the last leg of the journey. But they’d remained silent. For the most part, the little girl had slept, curled up on the back seat.

The boy, Jacob, had inspected the light cover Ham offered him before he’d spread it over his sister. “I’ll keep watch,” he’d told her. 

When they drew closer to Eclipse, she sat up in the back, as if she knew it was time to wake up now. It startled Hamilton when she leaned forward and tugged on his jacket. He half-turned, facing her so he could hear her whispered words.

“What should I call you, sir?” After six months of watching Hamilton interact with her brother, she hesitantly ventured the question.

“Pa.” Shame flooded Hamilton. He’d devoted his one hour monthly visits to trying to get to know his son.  When it came time to take him home, Jacob had made it clear, he wouldn’t leave his sister behind. Hamilton agreed. Even if the Blain woman had been fit to keep the girl, which given the woman’s bent toward blackmail was questionable, the child belonged with her brother.  

Evidently satisfied by his answer, the girl subsided and leaned against her older brother’s side, holding on as Hamilton slapped the horses into a trot, revising his explanation to Comfort, trying to add the girl’s presence to his already convoluted story.

“Your wife expecting us?” Jacob’s shrewd gaze seemed way too knowing for his six years.

“No,” Hamilton admitted. “But she will soon enough. Eclipse is right ahead around that next bend in the trail.” For all his bravado, Hamilton knew he was just as unsure of the future as the two kids sitting next to him.

When his brother-in-law, Charlie Wolf McCallister, joined them on their journey to Eclipse, Hamilton welcomed the company. It pleased him to see Jacob study Charlie’s animal, a Kiowa war horse named Old Mossy.

When Charlie’s cousin, Sam McCallister took up position on the other side of the buggy, Hamilton knew something was wrong.

“You fellows want something?”

Charlie nodded at the children and gave them what passed as a smile before resuming his usual stoic expression. Hamilton followed his gaze. Seemingly oblivious to Hamilton and Charlie, Jacob held his sister’s hand and both kids studied the oddly dappled horse Sam McCallister rode. Charlie’s gaze returned to Hamilton.

“Naomi’s upset.”

“Why would your wife be upset with me?” But Hamilton already got the connection. If Naomi was upset, then it was because Comfort knew.

“Your wife was real curious about those trips of yours to Wichita,” Sam said gruffly. “Her being Charlie’s family now, I looked into it for her.”

“She had you spy on me?” Hamilton’s flash of anger died as he read censure in the bounty hunter’s cold gaze.

“Yep.” Sam’s smile chilled Hamilton. “She’s a fine lookin’ woman. Smart too. Rare combination.”

“I’ll tender your compliments to her,” Hamilton answered, grimly. He didn’t need the approval of the man. But he didn’t need to make an enemy of Charlie’s cousin either.

Hell, Hamilton didn’t know which way his brother-in-law would jump if hostilities arose between the Quince and McCallister families.

“What kind of horse is this?” Jacob interrupted the staring match between Hamilton and Sam.

“Appaloosa,” Sam drawled the word. “You like horses?”

“Yep,” Jacob answered, mimicking Sam’s speech. “I’m going to raise them some day. Where do apa…apa…” he stuttered to an almost halt before demanding,” Say it again for me.”

“Ap.pa.loo.sa…”

As Hamilton watched in bewilderment, Sam resumed his conversation with Jacob, telling him about horses raised by the Nez Perce tribe.

Hamilton eavesdropped, discovering more about Jacob during his son’s conversation with the bounty hunter nicknamed Snake, than Hamilton had learned in six months of visits.

Charlie Wolf pulled his attention back to the current issue. The half civilized tracker married to Comfort’s sister had his own opinion to share.

“Quince. You messed up. You shouldn’t have tried to fool Comfort. She’s smarter than you.” Charlie shook his head, giving him a disgusted look.

“I take it she knows I’m on my way home.” When Charlie nodded, Hamilton tightened his grip on the reins and clucked at the horses. “Might as well face the music then,” he muttered. “Hang on to your sister, Jacob.”

The horses trotted smartly into the town, a rider on each side of the buggy.  When he started toward the Mercantile, Charlie shook his head. “She’s at the boardinghouse waiting.”

Later, Hamilton would remember the last patch of dusty street that lay between him and Comfort as the longest ride of his life. He didn’t have a plan, he didn’t have any excuses, and he didn’t know how to say, “I’m sorry.”  He’d broken his promise to never hurt her and was about to deliver pain no woman deserved.

But dammit, Jacob was his son. No one who looked at the boy could doubt that.  The thick black hair, lanky length of him, and dark eyes were a dead give-away about who’d sired the kid.

Hamilton felt his chest swell with pride. He had a son, even though it had been an ill-considered moment of jealousy and anger years before that had produced Jacob.

He’d kept his son’s existence secret for six months, trying to figure out how to tell his wife. He hadn’t intended to tell Comfort in this way, but the last visit had called for quick action. And here he was with two kids in a buggy, sitting outside the CQ Boardinghouse and wondering if he’d even get through the front door.

Hamilton assumed that Comfort would be watching for him from the front window of the boarding house and expecting him to return, riding his saddle horse. Instead he’d trotted the buggy up to the hitching rail and halted. He saw the curtain twitch, but no smiling face welcomed him through the glass.

Jacob jumped down from his perch on the bench and efficiently tied the lead rope to the post. Feeling hollow inside, Hamilton faced the little girl.

“Guess we’re here.” Behind him he watched Naomi come out of the front door.

“Good afternoon, Hamilton,” Naomi said as she started for the buggy.

“Charlie, the kids need to meet my wife, before they meet your wife. Comfort and I need to sort things out first.”

Hamilton sighed in gratitude when Charlie dismounted. 

“Naomi gets upset when Comfort’s upset. ’Spect you best get to sortin’.” His glance swept from Hamilton to the kids beside him, then he crossed from the buggy to head his wife in another direction.

Hamilton had a feeling Naomi wanted to flay the skin off him. Her lips were pressed tight and Hamilton didn’t have to be a genius to know she had scathing criticisms she wanted to fling his way.

“Time to go home, mi corazón.” Charlie murmured.

At Charlie’s softly-spoken words, Naomi’s expression gentled and she hushed. When Charlie lifted her onto her horse and patted her thigh affectionately, Naomi smiled down at him.

She loves him. Well hell, he loves her too.
Her face glowed and her eyes sparkled. It was the first time Hamilton had ever seen a resemblance between Charlie’s plain wife and Hamilton’s own beautiful bride.

Sam remained mounted, staring with interest at the house, and showing no sign of leaving.

“You can go on home now, too” Hamilton growled.

“Smart and good to look at. Like I said, Quince. Rare.” Warning in place, Sam turned away from Hamilton to follow his cousin and wife toward the MC3.

Hamilton climbed from the buggy, turning back again to lift Jacob’s sister to the ground. But his son was there before him.

“I’ve got you, Ladybug,” the young boy crooned to the smaller child as he swung her down.

Hamilton would like to have lingered outside, but curtains in town were already twitching at the unusual site of one of the Quince brothers driving a rented buggy with two kids beside him. 

“Jacob, bring your sister and come with me.” Hamilton motioned for his son to join him on the porch steps. 

Comfort didn’t come out to greet him, but she didn’t bar the door either. Hamilton took that as a good sign.  She was waiting in the front room, silver coffee urn ready with a tray of sandwiches beside the cups.

Whatever he’d expected, it wasn’t this calm acceptance, although he shouldn’t have been surprised.  Comfort met every crisis with serene composure. Sometimes Hamilton wished she’d just break loose with a tantrum, swear at him, and maybe throw a vase or two. But that wasn’t her way of doing things.

“Hamilton, introduce me to the children.”

Ham flinched at the unexpected request. Worse yet, he didn’t know the little girl’s name.  

“Comfort, we need to talk.”

She ignored his words and turned to Jacob with her hand outstretched. “Hello. I’m Comfort Quince, your father’s wife. I’m very glad to meet you.”

It pleased Hamilton mightily when his son shook Comfort’s hand.

“I’m Jacob,” he said gruffly, apparently waiting for Comfort to make the next move. 

She knelt on the floor to face the young girl clinging to Jacob’s side. “And what’s your name?”

“Sally,” the little girl whispered, staring at the food on the tray intently.

Comfort took her hand and drew her closer studying her. Then she stood and led the way to the meal.

It seemed to Hamilton that both he and Jacob let out a long sigh at the same time.  Jacob remained standing until Comfort sat Sally down on the sofa, unfolded a napkin across her lap, placing a plate with a sandwich on it in her hands.