Around the River's Bend (24 page)

Hannah shook her head. “It's hard on a single woman out here. As a matter of fact, most of them don't stay single long. When a woman becomes a widow, the unmarried men come flocking to her. Women are so scarce out here.”

“Well, I'm going to lock myself in the cabin the next time one shows up.”

“Let me help you,” Hannah said, a smile on her lips.

“Help me how?” Sabrina asked as she sat down on the front step.

Hannah sat down next to her. “I can give you some advice on which man you need.”

Sabrina could not help smiling. “I suppose you've been besieged like this also?”

“Oh, yes. You get used to it. Let's see, now. Who would be a good man . . . ? There's Ben Scroggins. He's the best looking. Oh, he's a handsome man! But he's flighty. Here today and gone tomorrow. You don't need him.”

“Cross out Ben Scroggins.”

“Yes. Let's see. Well, there's Daniel Ellencourt. He has a real good claim of over eight hundred acres and buying more. He lost his wife, May, over a year ago. He came courting me right away.”

“You recommend him?”

“No, he's got three children who are devils.”

“All right. I won't have him, then. Who else?”

“Jude Hellings. Now, there'd be a good man. He's got lots of money, but he's tight.”

“How many children does he have?”

“Only two. Nice, well-behaved children. Jude might be a good man for you.”

“Is he handsome?”

“Oh, no! Mercy no! He's downright homely. But he's a good man.”

“I won't have him. The man I get will have to be handsome, dashing, and charming, have a sack full of money, and have a beautiful house all built ready for me to become mistress of it.”

“I don't think you're going to find anybody like that around here. You'll have to go east for that. New York or Boston.”

“Then I'll just stay single.” Hearing a rustle, the women looked up to see Sion coming out of the woods. He had a rifle over his shoulder and he was carrying a leather bag. “Sion went hunting early this morning. I hope he got something good to eat.”

The two women waited until Sion was close, then he shifted his rifle and said, “Well, I shot something. If you can cook it, I can eat it.”

He leaned his rifle against the wall of the cabin, opened the bag, and dumped out the contents. “Six squirrels!” Hannah exclaimed. “Why, that's great, Sion!”

“The woods are full of the creatures. I won't tell you how many I missed, though; I can't hit them in the head like Josh or Hawk can. And I don't know how to clean them very well.”

“I'll show you how to do that. I've cleaned a thousand of them, I suppose. Do you have a sharp knife?”

Sion pulled the folding knife from his pocket, then loaded the squirrels back into the bag.

“All right, then. Come along.”

The two went to the stump that had been sawed off at waist height to make a worktable. Sion put the first squirrel on the stump, and Hannah went straight to work. Sabrina stayed in front of the cabin, but she kept her eye on them. She noted that the two of them always seemed to enjoy being together, and for a moment felt a pang that she had no one herself she felt that free with.

Finally the squirrels were cleaned, and Hannah said, “Do you know how to cook squirrel, Sabrina?”

“I suppose I could fry them in grease.”

“Let me show you how to make squirrel and dumplings.”

“Well, there's more than enough for all of us. You stay and show me how, and we'll have a good supper tonight.”

****

The day had gone quickly. Hannah had taught Sabrina how to make squirrel and dumplings, and as the three sat down at the table, there was a moment's pause. Sabrina said, “I suppose you'd better ask the blessing.” She smiled at Hannah. “He makes me feel like a heathen. We never said anything like blessings while I was growing up.”

“It's a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, especially for a good dinner of squirrel and dumplings.”

The three bowed their heads, and Sion prayed, “Lord, we thank you for this food, and for every blessing. You're the giver of every good gift, and I thank you for this home and for Miss Spencer and her family. Watch over us and guide us. In Jesus' name, amen.”

“Amen,” Hannah said. She dipped into the large bowl of dumplings, helping herself, and then passed it to Sabrina. Sabrina took out a sizable portion and then Sion did the same. She had made fire bread, which was simply cakes baked in front of the fireplace.

“What's that?” Sabrina asked curiously as Hannah took something out of the pot.

“Why, it's squirrel brains.”

Sabrina stared at Hannah. “You're going to eat the brains?”

“Best part of the squirrel. You have to crack the skulls to get 'em.” Hannah grabbed the hammer she had found earlier and cracked the skull to extract the gray matter. “Help yourself, Sabrina.”

“I don't know what I'd do if I had to eat a thing like that!” she shuddered.

“How about you, Sion?”

“Well, I'll try almost anything once.”

Sabrina watched as the two seemed to enjoy the feast. She had learned to eat many things she had never heard of before coming to America, but squirrel brains were a bit too much. She knew that the settlers treasured pork brains and she'd also heard of eating the tongues of beef cattle and buffalo.

As they ate, they talked, and Hannah mentioned the creek being handy. “Sabrina's lucky,” she said to Sion, “to have a creek to bathe in so close.”

Sabrina glanced at Sion, who was watching her. “I guess you miss city life a lot.”

“Well, I do miss having a bath. My father had a copper bathtub made for me at our home. The servants would fill it up with hot water every day in the wintertime, and I'd just soak it up. Oh, that was delicious!”

“I don't think there's a bathtub in this whole territory,” Hannah said. “We need too many other things worse.”

“I suppose,” Sabrina said. “Still it would be nice.” She changed the subject and saw that Sion was looking at her in a strange way with a smile on his face. “What are you smiling about, Sion?”

“Just feeling good after a fine meal of squirrel brains with two fine ladies.”

****

Sabrina returned from a morning visit with Hannah four days after the squirrel feast. She had grown very fond of the young woman. The two had become fast friends. They were nearly the same age, and although their backgrounds were different, they found a great deal to talk about. Hannah knew much about frontier living, and Sabrina felt grateful to her for the lessons she gave. As she approached the cabin, she saw Sion sitting outside whittling on a piece of cedar. He kept his knife sharp and liked to peel shavings almost as thin as air. A pile of the curls of wood was at his feet, but he got up and folded the knife and stuck it in his pocket as she approached.

“Did you have a good visit with the Spencers?”

“Oh, yes. What have you been doing?”

She waited for Sion to answer but saw that he was smiling. “What are you smiling about?” She suddenly remembered he had been gone a great deal during the past few days, and now she tilted her head to one side and studied him. “You are absolutely smirking, Sion.”

“I got your Christmas present.”

“Christmas! But it's June!”

“I know, but I thought you could use it now.”

“You are a strange man. Christmas presents in June. Well, what is it? And remember, I don't give presents until Christmas comes.”

“Come along. I'll show you. It's in the cabin.” Sion stepped back, and Sabrina walked inside. The light slanted through the one window, and she stopped dead still, for it fell upon an object that had not been there.

“Why, Sion, what is it, a trough?”

“I'm insulted!” Sion said. He moved over toward the object that was set against one side of the cabin. “Can't you guess?”

Sabrina moved closer and saw what appeared to be a rectangular box. It was about two feet wide and at least six feet long. She reached down and saw that it was made of wood that had been smoothly planed until it was almost as smooth as glass. She saw a hole in the bottom of it that had a round peg of wood stuffed into it. Suddenly enlightenment came to her, and she exclaimed, “Why, it's a
bathtub
!”

“That's what it is, all right. Not made out of metal. I couldn't get any of that, but it's made out of cypress. I got the boards from John Miller. They make boats out of it in some parts of this country. The water just swells the joints up and makes it watertight. That hole there is a drain so you don't have to haul the water out in buckets. Just pull that plug out, and the water will drain right out.”

Sabrina was stunned. She had known that Sion was a hard worker, but this caught her by surprise. She turned to him, her eyes sparkling, and a rush of gratitude filled her. “I could almost kiss you!”

Sion laughed and reached forward, and putting his arms around her, kissed her firmly on the lips. “I take that as an invitation,” he grinned and stepped back.

Sabrina felt a shock at the touch of his lips. The kiss had sent an unfamiliar sensation through her. She was flustered and embarrassed. “Well,” she laughed haltingly, “I guess I can't fault you for that. Sion, it was so thoughtful. I'm going to try it right away.”

“I'll help you fill it up.”

The two hauled water in from the shallow well that several of the men had helped Sion dig after they had built the cabin. It produced clear, cold water. Sabrina did not heat it, for the cool water would feel wonderful on this hot day. She shooed Sion out and ten minutes later was basking in the water. She thought about what kind of man would go to this much trouble for an employer, and then she thought about the kiss.

I ought to rebuke him for that, but I just can't. He is a strange sort of man. . . .

Chapter Sixteen

A Serious Suitor

Hawk Spencer moved the razor down his lean cheek, wiped the lather off on a cloth in his left hand, and then carefully removed the excess lather from his face. He was standing at a cherry washstand with a small mirror fastened to the wall over it. He studied himself carefully, then finally, without taking his eyes off of his face, he said, “Wife, you are blessed.”

Elizabeth Spencer was getting dressed. The two had just risen, and now she paused long enough to look with surprise at her husband. “Well, I know I am, but in what particular way?”

Spencer turned and grinned at her, his eyes dancing. “In having such a handsome husband.”

Elizabeth could not help laughing, although she shook her head. “You are a fool, Hawk Spencer!”

“I suppose—” Hawk continued looking in the mirror, examining his features—“but what a handsome fool.” He suddenly turned and put his arms around her. “It's a good thing you're a handsome woman. Otherwise we wouldn't be the best-looking couple in the territory.”

The two stood there, and Elizabeth Spencer felt content. She had had a good first marriage, but her second was even better, if that were possible. This man loved her, she knew, with all of his heart, and she felt the same about him. She rested against him and said, “We're too old for this sort of thing.”

“I'll be romancing you when we're a hundred and don't have any teeth.”

Elizabeth laughed. “All right. I know you're trying to get something out of me.”

“A cherry pie would be nice. We haven't had a cherry pie for a long time now.”

“No, not for three days!” Elizabeth slapped him on the chest and moved away. “I'll go fix breakfast while you milk.”

“Why don't you let me fix breakfast and you milk?”

“I'd hate to see the mess you'd make cooking,” Elizabeth sniffed.

The two went about their chores and shortly were seated at the table. Hawk was eating the battered eggs and fried ham with gusto. He lifted a biscuit and said, “I will say this. You are still the best biscuit maker in the world—or anywhere else, for that matter.”

The conversation gradually turned to Hawk's plans for improving the place, and then it turned again to their daughter. “What do you think about Hannah?”

Hawk glanced at her with surprise. “About Hannah? Why, what do you mean? In what way?”

“I mean about her and Fox.”

Hawk scratched his chin thoughtfully and then shook his head. “I haven't thought much about it.”

“Men!” Elizabeth snorted and shook her head with disgust. “Don't you care who your own daughter marries?”

“She hasn't said anything about getting married, has she?”

“No, she hasn't
said
anything, but she thinks about it. What young girl wouldn't?”

“That's another difference between men and women. If women would just come out and say what they mean, it'd make life a lot simpler. Now, you take men—”

“I don't want to hear about that!” Elizabeth picked up the cup of coffee before her and took a sip. “You think Fox would make a good husband for her?”

“Why, of course he would. He's a fine young man.”

“There are lots of fine young men around, but she needs exactly the right one.”

“Well, how does a woman decide that? Now, you didn't have any trouble.” Hawk's eyes sparkled. “You took one look at me and knew that no other man would be as good as I am for you.”

Elizabeth could not keep from smiling. “Well, not every woman has my good fortune to find just exactly the right man. Sometimes they have to go through two or three.”

“You make finding a husband sound like trying on a hat. I don't like this one. This one's too big. This one costs too much. It ought to be simpler than that, wife.”

Elizabeth said in a serious tone, “This is important. You know how many bad marriages we've seen. I think they all turn out bad because people didn't choose rightly.”