A Mail-Order Christmas Bride Page 31

  Hector didn’t look too happy, either. That was no way to be at Christmas.

  “Well, we’ll have ourselves a nice Christmas dinner, then. Now that we don’t have to bake for the wedding, I can make a nice cake and maybe a pie if you have dried apples.”

  Hector perked right up and he grinned like a naughty boy. “Maybe a vinegar pie?”

  For some reason, she really wanted to please him. “Is that your favorite?”

  “My favorite is whatever you make. My mouth’s already watering.”

  “And I can decorate,” Stella offered. “If I can find enough materials, I can decorate both houses.”

  Dinah saw Hector’s hint of a smile, and said, “That’s a great idea.”

  “Also, Stella and I talked. We want to learn to do farm chores, if you don’t mind teaching us. We might need to know those things elsewhere. Knowledge is always good.”

  “Yes,” Stella said. “Cheryl still doesn’t like me.” She frowned. “So why don’t you pronounce her name ‘Sheryl’ like others do?”

  “That’s easy, ma’am. She’s not a shicken.”

  “Good point.”

  “Sit down and eat,” Dinah said, as she plopped a pot of beef stew on the trivet in the middle of the table, right beside the fresh-out-of-the-oven bread, the steam still rising from the slices. “I already saved some out for your brother so you can eat your fill of what’s on the table.”

  “My pleasure.” Hector sat and tucked the napkin under his chin—a handsome chin, she had to admit. “Every meal’s a regular feast with you here.”

  She wondered if her cooking would be the only thing he’d miss. He’d never said a word about her lying beside him as they slept—but she thought about it all the time, and she ached to be so near him again. “Is there anything you’d like us to help with this afternoon?”

  He took a big helping of mashed potatoes. “Yep. Somehow or another, we have to get that harness put back together. It hasn’t been in that many pieces since they were in the parts bins at the factory. I’m not so sure I know how all those pieces fit—might have to get Zeke to help us once he wakes up. My brother can fix dam—er, anything.”

  To Dinah’s way of thinking, not very many men were as kindhearted and handsome as Hector Murdock, and even though Zeke had been gruff, she had to allow that he’d been operating with no sleep. Stella’d admitted she really wanted Zeke, and hoped he’d learn to love her. Seemed to Dinah that the only way romance could bloom was if each couple had enough time alone to actually become couples.

  To that end, she put forth a proposal, hoping Stella would go along. “You have a lot of other chores to do. How about I help you with the milking and whatever else you do, and Stella helps Zeke with the harness and his jobs?”

  After a moment, he said, “You’d do that?” His warm brown eyes nearly melted her heart and for a moment, she questioned whether she should stick to her guns about the pastor. But of course that was out of the question.

  ****

  The pile of leather straps, buckles, wooden pieces, and iron pieces overwhelmed Stella. “I’m so sorry we made this mess. We just kept taking things apart until it was all off the horses. All I can say is that we did groom them properly.”

  Zeke chuckled—it was the first time she’d heard a genuine happy sound from him. The two days without sleep had been hard on him, and the past night’s sleep had improved his disposition. Had improved his looks, too. Instead of merely handsome, he made her ache to touch him. His green eyes sparkled with a hint of mischief, and his smile nearly melted her insides. She dared not even look at his muscular chest, for she remembered all too well how manly he was.

  “It’ll give us something to keep us busy. The weather’s warmed up enough we won’t need a night watch, so I have time.”

  “I wouldn’t even know where to begin.”

  “I’ll start with the big pieces and have you fetch what I think needs to go with it. How does that sound?”

  “All right—if I can find whatever it is.”

  Their system worked rather well, and she even learned the parts well enough to guess what he’d need next. She was amazed at his talent for figuring things out.

  “I’m going to decorate for Christmas tomorrow. Would you please help me? Dinah’s going to be cooking all day.” When he didn’t answer, she said, “It’s perfectly all right if you can’t help. I’ll manage.”

  “It’s not that. We haven’t had a Christmas since we left home.”

  “Did you fight in the war? Or did you come straight out here?”

  “No, we fought. Union side. Our brothers, too. Me and Hec are the only Murdocks left. That’s why he’s in such a toot for us to start families—we’re the end of the line.”

  “So you want a woman to have children?”

  “Young’uns, yep. But what we really need are families, and you can’t have a family without a strong, smart wife.”

  “And you don’t think I fit the bill?”

  “I do think you fit, and I like most everything about you. But this was all Hec’s idea. The first I knew about it is when I opened the door and two women were standing there claiming to be our brides. That took me back a mite.”

  “I can see how it would.” Zeke’s fingers brushed hers as she handed him a buckle and she gazed into his eyes, wondering if he felt the same thrill she had. “I bet you’re relieved that Dinah and I will be leaving for Oreana in a few days.” She hoped with all her heart he’d deny it.

  He held her hand for a moment, not taking his gaze from her. Then he let go. “We’d best see if you can make friends with Cheryl. She likely has two eggs by now.”

  ****

  Hec let the cow into the barn and led her to the stanchion. She stuck her head through, found the grain, and started happily munching. He flipped the board at the top to lock her head in.

  “Doesn’t it bother her that she can’t move her head back?” Dinah asked. She asked the oddest questions at times.

  “Why should it? The feed is in front of her.”

  “But she’s locked in.”

  “I guess since she has what she wants, she don’t mind.”

  He’d tried every way he could think of to talk the women into staying, but couldn’t come up with the words, so he didn’t say anything at all about it. The best he could do was show Dinah how much he appreciated her. And he truly did. She was an amazing woman.

  If they’d been in a crowd at a dance, he’d have picked her out first thing—taller than normal, reddish-brown hair, a really nice bosom that didn’t need any padding, and a warm smile. But add the fact that she could cook better than anyone he’d ever met, including his own mother, a man couldn’t come to any other conclusion—she was a keeper.

  But she wouldn’t stay, and all because the circuit preacher couldn’t be there until February.

  Dinah patted the cow’s flank softly, as if she were afraid to touch it. “I suppose she knows she’ll be free as soon as the milking is done.”

  “She’ll stay right there and finish her feed before she leaves.” Hec rubbed the cow’s neck.

  “Even after you unlock the stanchion?”

  “Yep. Let’s get started.” He ran his hands over the cow’s side and patted her. “The first thing you do is rub her down good with your bare hands. That does two things—it calms her down, and it warms up your hands.”

  “I suppose she would get upset if you put your cold hands on her, uh, milking parts.”

  “That’s right—you’re a fast learner. Her name is Becky.” Hector stood back and motioned for Dinah to pet the cow. “Time for you two to get acquainted, and for you to warm your hands.”

  Once Hec was satisfied that Dinah had patted Becky enough, he squatted by the cow’s udder and explained how to wash and dry it. “You need to make sure her udder is dry so the dirty water doesn’t drip into the milk bucket, and also you don’t want her to be wet when you let her out in the cold. You have to keep cows happy and comfortable to get the
most milk.”

  “I had no idea that ranchers and farmers paid so much attention to their animals.”

  “Good ones do. Always.” He grinned. “They take care of their women, too.”

  “Their legally wedded wives, you mean.”

  “Do you know what the best thing about nearly freezing to death is?”

  “I wouldn’t think there’s much of anything good about that.”

  “Well, there is—waking up alongside you. And I’d do it all over again if I knew you’d be there to warm me up.” He’d embarrassed himself enough—no more baring his heart until she opened hers. “Let’s get the livestock fed, and then we can go in the house. Zeke doesn’t have to take night watch so he’ll be there, too.” But then, maybe the women wouldn’t want the brothers in Hec’s house, where they were staying. “Or he and I will go to his place. Don’t want to press you none.”

  He’d likely made a mess of things by flapping his jaw. Best he ignore everything he’d said and get the chores done. Even so, he certainly did look forward to supper. That Dinah—she could cook.

  ****

  Stella spent most of the evening and all the next day cutting stars out of tin cans, and making garlands out of just about anything she could find, from old rags to candle ends. She even found some dried berries. Zeke hauled in a big sagebrush.

  “Don’t have any pine trees, but this bush might do for a Christmas tree.”

  “It’ll be lovely.” Actually, she was skeptical but hoped it didn’t show in her voice. She was grateful he’d thought to bring something at all. “Did you get one for the other house, too?”

  “I will, if you want me to, but me and Hec wouldn’t mind sharing this one. Not sure if you have enough decorations for two.” He picked up the tinsnips and a can. “Want me to help?”

  “I’d love it. You can make whatever you want. My abilities don’t go much farther than stars.”

  “Stars are nice.”

  He whipped out an angel just as quickly as it had taken her to make a star, then he reached for another can. “Any requests?”

  “A Nativity would be nice, but complicated and we don’t have much time.”

  He started snipping here and there on the can. “Dinah’s cooking up a storm.”

  “We’ll have a fine meal tomorrow.”

  “We’ve had fine meals ever since you got here.”

  “That’s Dinah’s doing. I can cook, of course, but not as well as she can.”

  The rest of the day, Zeke helped Stella with the decorating. The sage made the house smell wonderful, and Dinah’s baking smelled even better.

  Stella thoroughly enjoyed working alongside Zeke, and every once in a while, they’d bump into one another. She didn’t mind that at all, and sometimes didn’t get out of his way when she should have. Often, he grinned and held her just a bit longer than necessary. Other times, she caught him looking at her like a hungry wolf.

  Maybe he did care for her after all. Even so, she couldn’t stay—not without being legally wed. Then again, if the station master’s marriages were recognized around these parts as such, maybe it wasn’t such a stretch. But no. She hadn’t come all this way to be a common-law wife. She wanted it all.

  With Zeke.

  Chapter 8

  After the morning chores, Hec came into his house to smell the most delicious meal he could remember. Christmas Day was bittersweet for him. Definitely sweet—for Dinah had baked all manner of pies and cookies—even frosted them with Christmas designs. But Hec knew he had to take the women to Oreana the next day.

  That would be the end of the good food. The end of his hopes for a family, too. But more than that, he couldn’t imagine loving another woman other than Dinah. She amazed him in so many ways—her body was made for loving, for sure, and she knew her way around the kitchen better than anyone. Besides that, she learned the farm chores quickly, and he loved her spirit.

  Zeke had shown a fondness for Stella, too, so Hec was glad of that—would’ve been happier if the ladies would stay, which they wouldn’t. She’d made both cabins into homes with sewing all her doodads and frippery. Within two days, she’d mended all the brothers’ clothes and both cabins couldn’t have been cleaner.

  Two very fine women. He’d chosen well, but too bad the timing hadn’t been better. Then again, if Dinah had quit her job a month earlier, the circuit preacher would’ve been in Owyhee County during her scheduled arrival and all this mix up would’ve been avoided. But that was milk down the gullet. All he could hope for now was that when Dinah and Stella got set up in Oreana, they’d let Hec and Zeke court them.

  Along with every other eligible bachelor in the county, of which there were too damned many.

  “Dinner is served.” Dinah, holding a potholder in one hand with a dishtowel over her shoulder, smiled as if she’d conquered the enemy force. “Roast beef, potatoes and gravy, fresh bread and butter, and carrots. After dinner, we can have some squash pie with cream, and I’ll let you attack those cookies you’ve been eyeing ever since you came in.”

  The meal tasted every bit as good as it smelled. Once Hec got his fill—more than his fill, actually—he shoved away from the table. “Dinah, you’re the best cook in the territory, no doubt about it.”

  “Mmmm.” Zeke nodded his agreement as he sopped the last of the gravy on his plate with bread.

  “Thanks, both of you.” Dinah stood. “Before we have dessert, Stella and I have Christmas gifts for you. No matter what the circumstances, we did bring them for you, and we want you to have them.”

  “We have presents for you, too.” Hec put his napkin on the table and stood. “Zeke, come to the barn with me.”

  Outside, the cool air cleared his head a bit. “I know you didn’t intend to marry anyone, and I apologize for what I done, but that said, it’s Christmas. I bought presents for both Dinah and Stella since you didn’t know you had a bride on the way. Turned out, the joke was on myself, but I haven’t given up. We’ll just have to take time off ranching to pay court to the ladies in Oreana.”

  “We can’t afford it—the time off, I mean. Isn’t there anything we can do to get them to stay?”

  “Ain’t a preacher within fifty miles, and it’s bad weather, to boot. We can’t leave the herd, and the ladies don’t cotton to Ted marrying us at all, so I don’t see where we have any choice.”

  “Maybe take turns.”

  By then, they’d got to the barn and fetched the flour sacks that held the women’s gifts. “Let’s have us a nice day, Zeke. Let’s live like there’s no tomorrow.” Because it’d kill his spirit to take Dinah to town and leave her. “Get out your banjo and let’s have us a helluva good time.”

  ****

  Stella was skeptical when Zeke handed her a gift in a flour sack, but Dinah’s was in one, too, so she supposed the Murdock brothers weren’t all that keen on wrapping. Inside, she found a nice rabbit fur muff. “It’s beautiful. Thank you, Zeke.”

  He nodded. “Hec picked it out. He knows what ladies like.”

  She thought that was an odd remark, but smiled, then turned to Dinah, who opened her flour sack, which held a bulkier item. She pulled out a fur cape. “Oh, my! You’ll have to take me somewhere fancy so I can wear it.” Then she flushed, because of course the only place Hector would be taking her was Oreana so she and Dinah could set up the new restaurant.

  Stella had brought Zeke a pair of leather gloves and a folding knife. He thanked her for it as Hector opened his gift—a leather vest and two pair of wool socks.

  After they ate squash pie and had a few hot-buttered rums, Zeke stood and said, “I have another present for you, Stella.” He left and she wondered what else he had, and why he hadn’t given it to her with the muff.

  He came back in the house carrying a bassinet, beautifully made of dark stained wood. “I want you to have this. I made it for a family who moved before I finished it. But you should have it. Any woman as beautiful as you should birth lots of baby girls who look just like you.�
�� He set it down and left.

  She stood there, stunned. Hec made his excuses and left. Stella ran her hand over the smooth finish and a tear rolled down her face. “I don’t know what to say. It’s so perfect.”

  Dinah smiled. “I think Zeke Murdock is smitten with you.”

  “Shall we stay?”

  “Do you want those baby girls to have his last name? I want to stay, too, but we need to be married in the eyes of God and the state, both.”

  “You’re right—it was just the sentiment of the moment speaking. Maybe they’ll come see us in Oreana.”

  “My guess is that Zeke will.”

  “My guess is that Hector is far more likely to. He hasn’t made a secret of the fact that he likes having you around—and for more than just your cooking by the way he looks at your bosom.”

  ****

  Hec harnessed the team and pulled the wagon to the front of the house where Zeke stood in front of four trunks. “Are the ladies ready to go?”

  “Yes, they’re just finishing up a stew for us to have when we get back, although they packed enough food to take with us, we won’t be hungry until tomorrow.”

  “Speak for yourself.” Hec jumped down and helped Zeke load the wagon.

  “If we put pillows on the trunks, it’ll be easier sitting.” Zeke spread straw on the wagon bed. “We have Mrs. Woods’s bricks, so I heated them to keep the women’s feet warm.”

  “Looks like we’re ready, then,” Hec said. “We better get going if we want to be back by dark. Ain’t much light this time of year.”

  “Nope. I’ll go get them.”

  Hec was glad, because he didn’t know if he could face going into his own house with the ladies gone—with Dinah gone. He’d only known her a few days, but he’d treasured her letters, and felt like he knew her far longer.

  A few minutes later, Zeke escorted Stella out, then pointed over his shoulder to the door. “Dinah said she wanted to talk to you before we leave. Alone.”