Cora's Deception (9781476398280) (16 page)

“Sometimes playin’ dead works.” He shrugged.
“Sometimes it doesn’t. The best thing is stay away from where
they’re likely to be.”

Aaron motioned back into the forest. “You
still wanna see that tree?”

~*~

When Aaron had stepped from behind the
hollow tree and saw Cora, he thought he was dreaming. Now, with
Cora so near, he longed to touch her, brush that tendril of hair
from her cheek. But he didn’t have the right and never would.

He led the way to the open side of the tree.
As she bent to look inside, Cora’s eyes brightened. The wind played
with her hair, pulling another blond wisp from the bun at the back
of her head. If only he could wrap it around his finger to see if
it was as silky smooth as it looked. He stuffed his hand in his
pocket and cleared his throat. “If you seen enough, I’ll walk you
home.”

“What are these?” Eliza picked up a small
bundle of twigs.

“Oh, I dropped those.” Aaron took them from
her. “Ma gets headaches, and these help.”

“What does?” Cora peered around Eliza.

Aaron held out the twigs so she could see
them. “These.”

The girls exchanged a look.

He grinned. “It’s willow twigs. There’s a
willow tree over yonder by the spring. I gathered a new batch for
Ma. That’s what I’ve been doin’.”

“How do twigs help her?” Cora touched one
with her finger.

Aaron sucked in a breath. If she’d touch his
finger the same way . . . He shook his head. “She chews on one and
her headache goes away. There’s healin’ inside.”

Cora looked from Aaron’s eyes to the twigs
again. She lowered her hand.

“You wanna see the tree?” Aaron nodded to
the side. “It’s jist a skip and a holler over thata way.”

“Yes.” Eliza spoke up. “I don’t think I’ve
ever seen a tree that cures headaches.”

Aaron chuckled as he took the lead. “Oh
yeah, you probably seen plenty. You just never knowed it.”

He stepped onto a large, flat rock angling
out of the ground. As Cora joined him, she stopped and looked out
over the valley. Her eyes grew round and shone. He figured there
wasn’t a prettier place than his valley except for the vision
before him. Cora standing on the big rock, taking in her fill of
waving grass and blue sky. Yep, she was the prettiest thing he’d
ever seen.

Water gurgled below them from a source
somewhere under the rock. The spring fed a trickling stream,
meandering through a beautiful green meadow that stretched as far
as the eye could see. More than any place he’d ever been, Aaron
loved this meadow. Maybe one day his dream of living here would
come true.

“Where’s the tree?” Eliza’s voice broke the
spell.

“It’s right there.” Aaron pointed to the
large, drooping tree that stood guard over the spring below them.
Its long, delicate limbs bowed before the life-giving water at its
feet. Thin leaves hung the entire length of each slender
branch.

“How did you get down there to get those
twigs?” Eliza leaned forward to look beyond the rock that appeared
to be suspended in air with a drop of several feet to the ground
below.

“Yonder there’s a slope that goes down.”
Aaron pointed to the south. “We’re on a sort of hill here. You
probably didn’t know you was climbin’ a hill when you come through
the woods. It’s real gradual-like.”

As Eliza inspected the low incline, Aaron
stepped closer to Cora, his shoulder brushing hers. “You ready to
head back now?”

She nodded. When she turned to meet his
gaze, he knew. She loved his meadow as much as he did.

Her words proved his thoughts. “I think I
could stay here forever.”

“I know.” Aaron’s voice hushed for her ears
only. “I come here real often. It sort of quietens my insides.”

“Aaron.” Her cheeks blossomed pink, and she
looked down. He waited for her to speak. “I haven’t been able to
give you your Christmas gift yet.”

She pulled a package from her sleeve and
handed it to him. As he took it from her, she looked up and met his
gaze. He didn’t know what to say, so he untied the ribbon and
pulled the paper back. He lifted out the smooth, soft fabric.
Handkerchiefs. He’d never had anything so rich and special.

She took the paper from him. He rubbed his
finger across the raised letters in the corner. It wasn’t a word.
Just letters. His initials.

“Those are letters for your—”

He nodded. “I know, my name. This one’s for
Stark, but what’s the other one? Does it stand for Aaron?”

Aaron saw the surprise in Cora’s eyes as she
nodded. She probably thought he didn’t know anything. If so, she
wasn’t far from the truth. He was so thick-headed, the truth Cora
wasn’t for him couldn’t get through. Reckon his heart was even
dumber than his head.

He looked again at the handkerchiefs and a
smile came with ease. “I don’t know how you made them letters look
so pretty. Thank you. I’ll keep ’em for special.”

~*~

Cora folded the paper and ribbon into a
small square and stuck it in her dress pocket. Her heart fluttered.
Aaron liked her gift. She could tell by the way he looked at them
and smiled.

Eliza returned from the slope as Aaron
tucked his handkerchiefs in his pocket. When they reached the edge
of the woods, Aaron bent and dug with a stick around the base of a
large tree. He pulled a knife from the sheath on his side and cut
something in the ground.

Cora leaned closer to see what looked like a
root. “What is that?”

“Sassafras.” He held some up to her. “Smell
it.”

She took the root and sniffed. A pleasant,
sweet aroma filled her nostrils. She handed it to Eliza then looked
at Aaron, still squatting by the tree. He smiled at her, his dark
brows relaxed, his bright blue gaze tender. “Take it home and make
some tea. It’s real good.”

“Thank you.” She’d never met anyone like
Aaron. He couldn’t read, but he was knowledgeable about so many
things. He could probably live from what grew right there in the
woods while George would starve to death. Learning to read would be
simple compared to all the learning he already had.

Aaron dug some more and cut another length
of root. He put the second piece in his pocket and stood. “I won’t
take ya all the way home. I gotta get back and do chores, but I’ll
wait here ’til I see you’re at your cabin.”

“Thank you, Aaron.” Cora let her gaze linger
on his face. “I enjoyed our walk much more because of the things
you showed us. Tell Ivy and Ralph we said hi.”

He nodded. “I’ll do that.”

Eliza started off, so Cora hurried to catch
her. She turned and waved. Aaron waited just as he’d said. He
lifted a hand and grinned.

At the cabin, Cora looked back again. Aaron
gave one last wave before he turned and went behind a tree. A warm
feeling replaced the restlessness from before her walk. The
peaceful beauty of the meadow spring she already called hers filled
her mind as she followed Eliza through the door of their cabin.
Contentment settled on her soul as she looked around the room.
Lenny and Nicholas sat in front of the fireplace playing with a top
on the floor.

Eliza knelt beside them. “Where are Mother
and Vickie?”

“Vickie’s in bed and Mother went upstairs.”
Lenny scarcely acknowledged his sisters’ presence.

“Upstairs?” Cora gasped. She hurried toward
the steep ladder against the wall. Mother was in no condition to be
climbing. What could be so important that she would risk a fall,
especially with Father gone? Cora started up the ladder with Eliza
close behind.

Cora clambered into the room. Mother stood
beside the bed with Cora’s flour sack crumpled in a heap on the
floor. She had her best dress spread on the bed, her prized
possessions dumped beside it.

Cora stood in shocked silence.

“Cordella Elizabeth Jackson, what is the
meaning of this?” Mother planted both hands on her hips. “I came up
here to see about your good dress and find you’ve packed your
things. What do you intend to do with them?”

A strangled sob escaped Cora’s lips.

Eliza stepped beside Cora. “Don’t worry,
Mother. It doesn’t matter. George isn’t coming, anyway.”

Mother’s mouth fell open, but Cora didn’t
wait for her to speak. She whirled toward her sister. “Eliza, how
could you?”

Eliza’s hand flew to her mouth with a sharp
intake of breath. “I’m sorry, Cora. I didn’t mean . . .” Eliza’s
eyes filled with tears. “I’m sorry.”

“Eliza, this is between your sister and me.
Will you please wait downstairs?”

Cora barely heard Mother’s voice. Her legs
trembled. She glared at her sister until she disappeared down the
ladder. In the silence, she turned back to her mother.

“Were you planning an elopement with George
Merrill?” Mother’s quiet question was direct—unavoidable.

Cora nodded, her throat too tight to
speak.

“When is he coming?”

“Christmas.” Cora forced the word past numb
lips.

“This coming Christmas?”

“No.” Cora shook her head. “Three months
ago.”

Mother slumped against the bed. “I see. I
guess we don’t have to worry about that anymore.” She picked up the
flour sack. “I want you to put all these things away. When you pack
for your wedding, we’ll do it together.”

Mother wasn’t angry? Cora dropped to the bed
when her muscles gave way.

“Oh, do be careful.” Mother gathered the
dress out from under Cora. “This will have to do for your wedding
gown. I looked it over and it’s in good repair. I didn’t think to
tell your father to bring fabric for a new one, which is just as
well. We wouldn’t have time to make it, anyway. That’s one of the
disadvantages of living on the frontier.”

Cora studied her mother in confusion. “We
wouldn’t have time? Mother, I don’t understand. If George doesn’t
come, I won’t be getting married.”

Mother’s steady gaze held Cora’s. “I know
you’ve been friends with George since you were small. But you must
realize by now he isn’t coming for you. I know you want to marry
and that’s only right. You’re nineteen now. Plenty old enough for
marriage.”

Cora tried to make sense of her words.

Mother sighed. “Of course, in this
wilderness, there are no suitors knocking at your door. That’s why
I was so pleased when Mr. Reid came calling the night before your
father left.”

“Mr. Reid.” Cora shuddered. She’d never
forget how the man had looked at her. “What does he have to do with
this?”

Mother smiled. “He’s offered for your hand
in marriage.”

“Mother!” A tremble began inside. “You don’t
mean it. I am not marrying Mr. Reid.”

“Now, Cora, don’t be difficult. Mr. Reid is
a very nice man.”

“He’s old.” Cora’s nose wrinkled. “I don’t
want to marry him. How could you ever consider such a thing?”

Mother turned away and hung Cora’s dress on
the peg. Her voice took on a dreamy quality. “He’s from one of the
best families in Boston. I knew his grandfather. Mr. Reid is
settled here on a large acreage with a good start in livestock. He
has a nice house and barn.”

She returned to sit beside Cora and took her
hand. “He would make a fine husband for you.”

Cora jerked her hand away. “I’d rather be a
spinster.”

Mother stood, her back rigid. “I’m sorry you
feel that way. I imagine you will change your mind once you think
about it.” She stepped toward the doorway and smiled. “After all,
there aren’t many fine gentlemen here, are there? Your father
agrees with me that a union with Mr. Reid would be the best thing
for you.”

“Father?” Cora’s heart became a leaden ball.
“Father wants me to marry an old man?”

Mother drew herself up. “Mr. Reid is not
old.”

“He’s almost as old as Father.”

Mother waved her argument aside. “Your
father is forty-three. Mr. Reid is only thirty-two. Age is
irrelevant, Cora. He may be a few years older than you, but many
women marry older men and have wonderful marriages.”

Cora sank to the bed with her head bowed. “I
don’t even know him.”

“Now, Cora, we’ve visited with Mr. Reid on
several occasions.” Mother sounded as if the matter was settled.
“He would like to call on you after your father returns. He wants
you to be thinking of a date for the ceremony. June would be good.
If you’ll give serious consideration, you will realize what a
fortunate young lady you are.”

Mother turned a tender smile on Cora. “I’ll
be so glad for you to live nearby. I love you very much.” She
placed a hand on her growing abdomen while a shadow crossed her
face. “I can’t bear the thought of losing any more of my
children.”

Fear and anger warred with guilt as Cora
watched her mother go carefully down the ladder. She should never
have climbed up to the loft in her condition, but she’d obviously
done so out of love. An interfering, possessive love to be sure.
Nevertheless, Cora knew her mother loved her.

Cora fell across her bed and moaned. What
would she do now? She didn’t want to hurt her mother, but she
refused to marry Mr. Reid. Anger rose inside her chest. George
shouldn’t have put her in this position in the first place. She
fought the tears that burned her eyes.

Chapter 14

C
ora curled up on her bed, letting her thoughts run rampant.
What was this foolish obsession of Mother’s that she should marry
Mr. Reid? She would have to get over it, because Cora would never
marry the man. A rustle behind her alerted her that someone had
come into her room.

Gentle strokes on her back told her Eliza
was there. “I’m so sorry, Cora. Did I cause this to happen?”

“Of course not.” Cora turned and flung
herself into her sister’s open arms. Tears filled her eyes and ran
down her cheeks. “Oh, Eliza, she says I have to marry that awful,
old Mr. Reid.”

“I know. I heard that much. What are you
going to do?” Eliza stroked Cora’s back in a comforting, circular
motion.