Beauty for Ashes (5 page)

“But you just got here.”

“We’re staying through next week, maybe a little longer. Wyatt wants to make some repairs to Miss Lillian’s—to my house. It has stood empty since we married, but now Wat Stevens wants to rent it out for one of his nephews who recently married.”

Carrie frowned. For more years than she could count, Watson B. Stevens had been after Henry to sell some of the Bell land down by Owl Creek. People said he had plenty of money, but that didn’t stop him from driving a hard bargain, even cheating when he thought no one was looking. “Better tell Wyatt to collect the rent in advance.”

“I will.” Ada kissed Carrie’s cheek. “I’ll see you again before we leave.”

“I wish you weren’t going back so soon.”

“Me too. But Wyatt must see to a shipment of cattle next month, and Sophie will be coming home from school at the end of the term.” Ada smiled. “Besides, I miss my son. This is the first time we’ve left him for so long, and I’m uneasy about it.”

“I’m sure he’s fine. His granddaddy is taking good care of him.”

“Jake spoils Wade silly. But I’m glad our son is growing up with his family. I never knew my grandparents. I’ve always felt that something important in my life was missing.”

Carrie nodded. “But you look better than ever these days.”

“Chalk it up to love.” Ada paused and nodded toward Nate, who was deep into conversation with Wyatt and Griff Rutledge. A robin sang into the silence. “Don’t wait too long, Carrie, and miss your chance at happiness. I nearly lost Wyatt to indecision and doubt, and now I know what I would have missed.”

Wyatt ambled over to them, his blue eyes so full of love for Ada that Carrie’s breath caught. Would anyone ever look at her that way again?

“Darlin’, we ought to be going.” Wyatt clasped Ada’s hand. “It’s a ways back to the inn, and I need to be up early tomorrow.” He smiled down at Carrie. “It was a grand wedding, wasn’t it?”

Carrie nodded.

“I’ve never seen your brother so happy. Looks like being an old married man agrees with him already.” He offered his arm to Ada. “Ready, sweetheart?”

“I am.” Ada patted Carrie’s hand. “Think about what I said, all right?”

Carrie walked them to their rig and waved as Wyatt drove away. Nate crossed the yard and slipped his arm around Carrie’s waist. “Sorry I was so late. The train was half an hour behind schedule this morning.”

“Mrs. Daly?” Griff Rutledge had dispensed with his plate and now he stood before her and Nate, his hat tucked into the crook of his arm. “I’m afraid I must say good-bye. I thank you for your hospitality.”

“You’re quite welcome, Mr. Rutledge. I’m happy you could join us.”

“I’m glad your fancy dress suffered no damage.” He grinned. “And I am very glad indeed to have enjoyed the sight of you wearing it.”

She smiled, acutely aware of the way his slow gaze traveled over her. What was he thinking? More to the point, why was she responding this way? His frank expression kindled a flame inside her. She looked away, hoping he couldn’t see the unsettling effect his very presence had on her. It wouldn’t do. Not when she was promised to Nate. More or less.

Mr. Rutledge shook hands with Nate. “Mr. Chastain. A pleasure to have met you, sir.”

Nate’s expression hardened, but he nodded. “Good-bye, Mr. Rutledge.” He turned to Carrie as Griff crossed the yard and climbed into his rig. “I believe I’ll head on back to town too.”

“So soon?”

“It won’t make any difference to you.” He frowned. “I agree with Mary Stanhope on this one, Carrie. Why in the world would you invite a man like Rutledge to a family wedding?”

“A man like him?” Nate’s attitude made her want to defend their departed guest. “You don’t know anything about him.”

“He’s smooth as spit on a doorknob. The clerk at the inn says he pays for everything in gold. I’d bet my last dollar he’s hiding something.”

Was it true? Was Mr. Rutledge concealing a secret? Perhaps it was only jealousy talking, as ugly as that prospect seemed. “Oh, Nate, just because he has money and isn’t from around here, that doesn’t mean he’s sinister. But you needn’t worry. I heard him tell Mr. Gilman that he isn’t planning to stay in Hickory Ridge long. You have nothing to be concerned about.”

“That isn’t the song he was singing just now.”

“What do you mean?”

“Apparently Gilman wants Rutledge to stick around and train his horse for some to-do he’s planning for this fall. Rutledge says he’s seriously considering the offer.” He turned to watch Griff Rutledge’s rig disappear down the road.

“Really? He’s going to stay awhile?”

He glanced at her. “That’s what he said. And I wish you wouldn’t look so all-fired happy about it.” Nate found his hat and jammed it onto his head.

“Nate. Don’t go away mad.”

“I’m not mad.” He jumped into his rig and flicked the reins. “I’ll see you, Carrie.”

Mary crossed the yard, the hem of her skirt trailing in the grass. “What happened? Did you and Nate have a quarrel?”

“Mama.” Mary’s oldest boy, Caleb, raced across the yard, his brother at his heels. “Joe said Carrie Daly is gonna live with us. Is it true?”

“Of course it’s true.” Mary smiled at Carrie, though there was little warmth in it. “She’s your new papa’s sister.”

Caleb frowned. “But I don’t want her to.”

Both boys had taken off their jackets. Their boiled white shirts were smeared with dirt, grass stains, and cake icing. “Me either, Mama. I don’t want her here.” Joe glared at Carrie. “Go get your own family.”

Carrie felt her blood heating up. “Henry was my brother long before you were ever born, Joseph. And he will be my brother as long as I live. He
is
my family, and that won’t change just because you want it to.”

“Just a minute,” Mary said. “Don’t be cross with him. He’s a child.”

“He’s old enough to know not to be rude.”

Mary’s face flushed. “This is new to the boys. Joe was so little when my husband died, he doesn’t remember Pete at all. They’re excited to have a man in their lives. They need time to adjust.”

“Mary, honey?” Henry stepped onto the porch. “All right if I send the rest of the food home with the Dawsons? Cleo and Libby have been here all day.”

“That’s a lot of food to give away,” Mary said. “Have you forgotten you have two little boys to feed now?”

“But we need to give them something. They’re hungry and dog-tired.”

“You paid them, didn’t you?”

“Of course. But—”

“You don’t want to be too generous with Negroes. They’ll come to expect it every time they do the least little bit of work. Besides, Caleb and Joseph love ham. We’ll have the rest for supper.”

Carrie sent her brother a pointed look.
Stand up for yourself, Henry. This is still your house, your farm
.

“You’re right,” Henry said. “I wasn’t thinking.” He grinned and his ears turned red. “I guess I’m not used to being a family man yet.”

He stepped back inside, and a few minutes later the Dawson women came out. They nodded to Carrie and Mary, climbed onto their wagon, and headed for their home in Two Creeks.

Carrie followed Mary and her boys inside. Henry had already shed his coat and tie, and now he helped the boys change their clothes. Mary changed into a simple yellow calico house dress. Settling herself into Carrie’s favorite chair beside the window, she took up her fan. “What a day. I declare, I cannot ever remember being so worn out. But it was lovely, Henry dear. Thank you for making it so special.”

“I’m glad you’re pleased, but Carrie did all the work.” Henry winked at Carrie.

Mary’s fan moved back and forth, stirring the warm afternoon air. “Carrie, would you bring me some tea? I’m worn to a frazzle.”

“Mama?” Joseph raced into the room. “Can me and Caleb go see the horse? They’s kittens in the barn too.”

“For a little while. But stay close to the house. I don’t want you wandering off.”

The boys tore out of the house, banging the door behind them.

Mary looked up, brows raised. “Well, Carrie? The tea?”

Carrie sent her brother a withering glance. She was resigned to sharing her home with his new wife and her noisy, rude children, but becoming Mary’s handmaiden? Never. Henry cocked an eyebrow at her and began fiddling with his pipe. Clearly he didn’t intend to come to her defense. “I’d like to change my dress first, if you don’t mind.”

Mary flicked her fan. “Please don’t be long. I’ve had a very tiring day.”

A tiring day? Carrie almost laughed out loud. While she had rushed about setting up tables, ironing tablecloths, gathering flowers, and baking for days on end, Mary had avoided involving herself in any of the wedding preparations, saying that Carrie was much the better cook. Which was true, but still . . .

With another glance at Henry, Carrie sighed, went upstairs, and changed. Back in the kitchen, she made and served tea while Mary chattered to Henry about the wedding guests and Mr. Patterson’s ceremony.

“When he asked for objections, I was afraid you might speak up, Carrie.” Mary’s eyes glinted with amusement and something else. A subtle challenge?

“I’d never object to anything that makes my brother happy.” Carrie drained her cup.

Henry smiled. “The reverend did a fine job, but I miss our country preacher.”

“So do I,” Carrie said. “But we can’t blame Mr. Dennis for moving on to a larger church. Even preachers have to feed their families.”

Mary’s cup rattled onto her saucer. “The Lord always provides. It was his citified wife who wanted to leave Hickory Ridge. She complained about everything when she came to town.”

Henry stretched out his long legs and looked out the window. “Maybe the town will start growing again if Mr. Gilman’s plan works out. That Rutledge fellow seems to think the idea has merit.”

Carrie was eager for the details of any scheme that would keep Griff Rutledge in town, but Henry rose and said, “I’ll go round up the boys. They can help with the chores before supper.”

Mary finally got to her feet and went reluctantly to the kitchen to help Carrie prepare supper from the wedding leftovers. Afterward, Henry brought in water to heat for washing up. Mary helped the boys get ready for bed and settled them into the room Henry had fixed for them in the attic. Feeling like a third wheel, Carrie made coffee, and they sat on the front porch watching night come down. The spring breeze stirred the yellow jasmine growing on the trellis beside the porch. Night birds called plaintively in the trees. Carrie sipped her coffee and fought a wave of melancholy. How was it possible to be sitting here with two other people and still feel utterly alone?

At last, Henry stood, knocked the ashes from his pipe, and reached for Mary’s hand. “I reckon we’ll say good night, Carrie.”

Mary blushed and nodded to Carrie. “Good night, sister. We’ll see you in the morning.”

Henry planted a kiss on Carrie’s hair. “Thank you. Everything was delicious. I appreciate it.”

“You’re welcome.” For so long, it had been her and Henry against the world, and now another woman had taken first place in his affections. Of course she was happy for him, but a hole had opened up in her life. Nothing could ever be the same.

Carrie mounted the stairs to her room and closed the door. The window was open to the cooling night air and to the sounds of the birds settling into the trees. She turned up the wick in the lantern, washed her face and hands, and changed into her nightgown. Taking her Bible from the table beside her bed, she read from Psalms until her mind and heart calmed. She closed her eyes.
Help me, Lord, to love Mary and her children. Give me the grace not to resent them. I ask you for Henry’s happiness. He deserves it, after looking after me for most of his—

A hard thump overhead followed by a bloodcurdling scream pierced the silence, destroying her serenity. Below her she heard Henry’s startled voice, and Mary’s, and then their footsteps pounding up the stairs, past her room, and upward to the attic. Carrie set aside her Bible and threw on her dressing gown. She took up her lamp, opened her door, and peered down the dark hallway.

Henry came down the narrow staircase holding a sobbing Joseph in his arms. Mary followed, holding Caleb by the hand.

“What’s the matter?” Carrie asked.

“Nightmares,” Mary said.

“No, Mama,” Caleb said. “It waren’t no bad dream. Me and Joe was both wide-awake, and then we saw ’em.”

“Saw who?”

“Robbers. Three of ’em. They came right through the winder. I shoved Joe to the floor, and he hid under the bed, but they almost got me.”

Joseph whimpered and wound his chubby arms around Henry’s neck.

“There now, Joe,” Henry said. “You’re all right, boy. There are no robbers way out here.”

“They are so,” Caleb said. “Mama, please don’t make us go back up there. It’s too dark, and I’m scared.”

“Come on,” Mary said. “You can stay with Mama and Papa tonight. We’ll figure out something else in the morning.”

Carrie returned to her room and tried to recapture the sense of peace prayer always brought her. But she couldn’t forget the way Mary had looked at her just now. She had the feeling that whatever the “something else” was, it wouldn’t be good news for her. She climbed into bed and extinguished the light.