Bittersweet (23 page)

“I’ll take care of you, sis.” Ishmael wiped his brow and slapped his hat back on his head. “We got us Mule and an ax. Even got us a little food and the pots.”

She pasted on a smile so he wouldn’t know how tired she was. “’Twixt yore snares and my gatherin’, I reckon we cain get along.”

“Only till I find work. Good, honest work. Either in a town or mebbe as a farmhand again. That kind of work suited me jist fine.”

“You ain’t the onliest one what cain work. Could be the farmer’s wife might need some holp.”

They didn’t dream aloud about claiming land. The fire had destroyed their plow and all of the corn.
A crop of goose bumps is all
I’m ever gonna call my own
.

The sound of a horse coming made Ivy tug on Mule’s rope. “C’mon, you flea-bitten sorry bag of bones.”

Mule whinny-brayed a protest.

Ishy nudged against the beast and rumpled its stiff mane. “Gotta move, Muley.” The animal’s long ears twitched. “Jist a few steps now.”

Whether it was the coaxing tone or the pressure, Ivy didn’t know. Didn’t really care, either. It worked. Mule plodded over at an angle.

Ivy and Ishmael both turned back to make sure the travois would be out of the horseman’s way. Ivy blinked. She couldn’t believe her eyes.

Mr. O’Sullivan pulled back on the reins, and his horse obediently halted. Mr. O’Sullivan even tipped his hat to Ivy.

He shore is a strange feller. Acts mannerly even when we done him wrong
. “Ishmael.”

Ishy cleared his throat. “Boss, we know we done wrong. You ain’t been nuthin’ but good to us, and we kept Pa’s secret. Weren’t no way to return yore kindness.”

“It wasn’t.”

The shade from the brim of his hat made it impossible to see his expression, but his clipped words made it clear he’d just as soon wallow in a sty as to waste his breath on them.

“You said yore land went to the ridge.” Ishmael slapped Mule to set him in motion. “We’ll be offa yore property in a few more minutes.”

“We had a deal.”

Ivy looked from Mr. O’Sullivan to her brother and back. He’d already hollered at Ishmael yesterday. Probably was fixin’ to lay into Ishy again.
No matter whar we go, folks’re always the same. They find
out what Pa was up to and they tear into us till they’re shore we’re gone
.

“We had a deal,” Ishmael agreed, “but Pa—”

“My deal was with you, not your father.”

Ivy and Ishmael traded a startled look.

“Don’t mistake me. I won’t put up with any more deceit. If I so much as find one drop of moonshine, I’ll have the law on you. But I won’t hold you responsible for your father’s behavior.”

Mule’s rope slithered from Ivy’s hand. The rough fibers rasped, proving this whole scene was real, not a dream.

“Christians rely on God’s grace and forgiveness. We confess our wrongs, and He forgives us. You’ve been man enough to apologize, Ishmael. I’m giving you a chance if you choose to take it.”

“I cain still work for you, and Ivy and me are okay to live on your land?” Ishmael sounded as incredulous as Ivy felt.

“That was our deal. Either you stick with it or you move on. Your choice.”

Ishmael swiped his hat off and rushed toward Mr. O’Sullivan with his hand outstretched. “Much obliged, Boss.”

The men shook hands, and Ivy’s knees began to shake.

Mr. O’Sullivan sat up tall in the saddle. “You’ll need today to set up your camp. I’ll see you in the morning.”

Ishy waited till his boss rode off, then tossed his battered hat into the air. “Yeehaw!”

Excuses. Silly little excuses that fooled no one. But how wonderful they were! Laney watched as her brother and Galen stood by the mare and talked about it while Laney waited astride the other horse. Josh—bless him—was the one who had concocted this excuse. No doubt, it was with Ruth’s help. They’d started finding ways to allow Laney and Galen to be together. Nothing thrilled her more.

“She’s a bit fractious,” Josh was telling Galen. “I’d appreciate it if you’d ride her and let me know. I wouldn’t want to sell her to the Darldens for their son yet if she still needs more training.”

Galen chuckled. Laney loved the rich, happy sound that came from him. He shook his head. “That boy’s just like my brothers. I’m thinking ’tis usually the boy rather than the horse that requires more training.”

Josh cast a glance at Galen’s paddock. “I’ll ride Nessie home.

You can trade me back when you come by.”

“You have to give me Nessie back.” Galen gave him a friendly shove. “I know you always did take a liking to her.”

“She’s one of the sweetest horses I ever broke. It’s a pity all girls aren’t as biddable.”

“Joshua McCain!” Laney gave him an outraged look.

“I’m sure he meant mares, lass.”

“I’m sure he didn’t.”

Josh didn’t look penitent in the least. “I live in a household of women. Ruth, Laney, and Hilda gang up together. You don’t know how lucky you are, Galen. The men in your house outnumber your mother.”

“Aye, that we do.” Galen grinned. “But then again, Ma’s been known to hold her own quite nicely. Still, she’d be happy to have me take a wife so she has someone to back her up.”

Galen’s words echoed in Laney’s mind. He swung into the saddle and rode alongside her. “This mare’s got some frisk to her.”

“She’s spoiling for a run. Josh made her plod the whole way here.”

“I’ve never seen you ride at anything faster than a slow trot.”

Laney flashed a smile at him. “I’ll beat you to the ridge!” She took off before he did. Before long, Galen’s bark of laughter caught up with her. A heartbeat later, they rode side-by-side up to the ridge. Once there, their horses pranced and pawed, then wended back and forth between clumps of trees.

“You ride well. ’Tis a pleasant surprise.”

“Thank you. I like the feel of the wind in my face.” Laney reached up and adjusted her hatpin.

“It fans your color higher.” Galen studied her face. “Aye, and it makes those little curls wisp around your face. The only other times I’ve seen them is when you’ve been here to do some canning or make jelly.”

Laney reached up to smooth them back.

Galen’s hand shot out. He stopped her and gently kept her hand in his. “Don’t. They’re darling.” Slowly, he turned loose of her hand. “There are many facets to you, Laney,” he said, his voice gruff. “I’m liking each one I see.”

“Hey, thar!” Ivy walked out from behind a tree. “What’re y’all doing out here?”

“We’re taking a ride.” Galen’s hand rested on the pommel. “Josh is thinking of selling this horse, but he wanted my opinion as to whether she was tame enough for a youngster to handle.”

“Anybody worryin’ o’er whether a kid oughtta ride a beast might think on gettin’ a mule. They’re strong and steady. Muley of ourn, thar’s one hard-workin’ beast. Ain’t much to look at, but sometimes looks ain’t what matter most.”

“You’re right,” Galen agreed.

“What do you have there?” Laney nodded toward the bucket Ivy carried.

“Pine nuts. Mighty fine tastin’ when you know how to fix ’em.”

“I’ve never had them, but I can tell from your voice that you love them. By the way, Ivy, since the O’Sullivans had us all over to their home for Thanksgiving, I wanted to invite you all to Christmas at our place.”

Ivy gave her a wary look. “You ain’t a-gonna make us go to church first, are you?”

Laney saw the small shake of Galen’s head and took his cue.

“Ivy, you’re always welcome to join us for worship, but coming to supper is all I’m asking.”

“I’ll talk to Ishy.”

“You go on ahead and talk to your brother.” Galen turned to Laney. “The O’Sullivans will be happy to accept your hospitality. I can’t think of a nicer way to spend the day.”

“Well, y’all have a nice ride.” Ivy turned and walked off.

“Shouldn’t we offer her a ride?”

Galen shook his head. “Nay, Laney. The Grubbs are living in a tent. It would embarrass Ivy for you to see how she lives.”

“A tent! Galen, that’s dreadful. They must be cold!”

“Ishmael said they’ve lived in a tent for years now. Pointed out they’d done so in far colder places, too. I gave him a length of gutta-percha cloth to put over the tent to keep any rain out. When we put out the fire, their blankets were ruined. Ma gave me some new ones to drop by. With Ivy helping in the garden and taking home produce and our sending supper plates over with Ishmael, they’re doing okay. It’s not great, but they don’t want charity. It’s a tough balance between helping them and hurting their pride.”

“Then we’ll convince them to come for Christmas. I already have a shawl for Ivy. Ruth and I are making her a dress. It’s our tradition to have a new outfit for Christmas. It will be easy for me to use that as an excuse.”

“Laney, you’ve a generous spirit. Ma’s done well, taking care of necessities here and there, but Ivy—well, she could use a young woman to guide her.”

“Your mother has been wonderful, teaching me things I needed to know. I won’t end up teaching those same things to Ivy, but it’s the same sort of situation. I’ll do my best to help her and still be mindful of her pride.”

They turned the horses and rode a bit farther. When Laney’s riding skirt caught on a shrub, Galen halted. “Whoa there.” He leaned over and freed her. One brow hiked. “You mentioned a new outfit for Christmas.”

Laney nodded as she imagined Galen’s reaction to the dress she’d finished hemming last night. She would wear it on Christmas—first to church, with the hoops beneath it in order to be stylish. The sleeves were cut sparingly as a contrast to the full skirt. The base color reminded her of toasted almonds, and raised dashes of cream lent it a wonderful texture. A high-necked bodice of a slightly darker brown contrasted with the rest of the ensemble—but on Christmas Day when she got home, she would remove the hoops and suspend the textured outer skirts up in the back to form a series of pretty swags. She’d sewn an underskirt of the same material as the bodice. The way her gown transformed from picturesque to practical would impress upon Galen how she could adapt to fit into his world.

“Are you going to tell me about it?”

Laney playfully shook her head. “You’ll have to wait to see it.”

Galen opened his mouth to say something, but he shut it. A long moment later, he said, “Some things are worth waiting for.”

CHAPTER NINETEEN

G
alen reached down and pressed his hand on Dale’s knobby knee. Dale ceased swinging his leg and gave him an apologetic smile.
Da used to have to do that with me,
Galen thought.
Aye, and
I recall him praising me for sitting still in church when I grew tall enough for
my toes to touch the floor. Sean’s just about there himself. I’ll make a point of
commending him at Christmas dinner today, I will
.

Da’s absence hit Galen afresh. On Christmas Day a year ago, Da had been too frail to stand long, so Galen and Ma had sat on either side of him while everyone else stood to sing the carols. Ever since Da’s death, Galen strove to fill in for him in every possible way. Today, he didn’t. Instead of sitting beside Ma as he had since the funeral, Galen intentionally arranged for Dale and Sean to sit on either side of her.

“Now if you’ll all rise and take up your hymnals, we’ll sing, ‘It Came Upon a Midnight Clear’ and follow it with my favorite, ‘Good Christian Men, Rejoice.”’

The hymnals. Da would have been delighted by them! He loved music so
. Memories, sweet and painful, assailed Galen.

After the music, Pastor Dawes said, “We have a few special surprises. If the adults will please be seated, we’ll begin.”

Dale and Colin jostled past Ma and joined Sean in the aisle. Laney and Ruth slipped out of their pew, too.
Such a lovely gown my
lass is wearing! I’ll be sure to let her know how I admire it
. Laney reached down and took Dale’s hand. Galen didn’t know what they were up to, but Laney’s tenderness toward little Dale warmed Galen clear down to his toes. She’d be a good mother.

Da told me I’d know deep in my heart when the right woman came along.
Aye, Galen did know—and right Da was.

In a matter of moments, all of the children left the sanctuary. Laney and Ruth accompanied them out and shut the door, keeping whatever they were doing a secret. But Galen grinned. He’d been keeping a secret himself. A thin band of gold rested in his shirt pocket, right over his heart. In the past few weeks he’d been tempted on many occasions to speak out of the abundance of his heart, but he knew once he confessed his love he’d ask her to marry him in the very next breath. Today, he would take his beloved Laney on a walk and propose.