Cora's Deception (9781476398280) (9 page)

“Ivy, what’d ya go and do that for?” Ralph
frowned at his sister.

“I’m sorry. For real, I didn’t mean to.”
Ivy’s large, blue eyes grew even wider. She shook her head and
tears glistened in her eyes.

Esther stopped brushing her lap. “Ivy, don’t
worry about it. Accidents happen. I’ll dry, and I’m not angry.”

Ben held out a napkin. “Here, see if this
will help.”

Esther blotted her dress and held up the
soaked cloth. A giggle escaped. She handed it back to Ben. “It
won’t hold much.”

“Cora, don’t you have something Esther can
wear?”

Mother’s question brought Cora out of her
shock. “Yes, I think so. Esther, come with me. You’ll freeze that
way.”

Ivy looked at Ben and smiled. He pushed his
plate away, and watching Esther, stepped over the bench to join the
men already heading back to the building site. Cora fell into step
with her friend. Oh, dear. Ben really did care for Esther. What if
she didn’t feel the same? She’d never be friends with a girl who
broke her brother’s heart.

Chapter 8

“J
ist can’t be good for a body.” Mrs. Stark shook her head. Her
toe tapped the new puncheon floor in the cabin. “Dirt floor’s the
best. Reckon the good earth was put under our feet for a reason.”
Her head wagged back and forth. “Don’t ’spect to ever understand
city ways. Lands sake, I was born and bred on a dirt floor, and
I’ll be carried out over our’n feet first. Never was sick a day of
my life, neither.”

Cora’s hand flew to her mouth to stop a
giggle. Mrs Stark said the most outrageous things without the
slightest hint of levity. Did the woman honestly prefer a dirt
floor over even the crude wooden one in their new cabin?

Mother turned a pleasant face toward their
guest. “I’m sure it’s all in what you’re used to. I’ve already
found that a floor made from the good earth has its advantages, but
I’m so used to having wood under my feet I’d hate to be without
it.”

Mrs. Stark clicked her tongue, and Cora
turned away before the urge to laugh won. She grabbed Esther’s
hand. “Let’s go outside. You were right. The man from across the
creek did bring his violin today.”

Esther hurried out the door with Cora. “If
he brought his fiddle, there’s sure to be a dance.”

Cora laughed as Esther’s blue eyes moved
from side to side and her head turned one direction and then
another. “You wouldn’t be looking for someone to dance with, would
you?”

Color mounted in Esther’s cheeks as she
studied the ground.

“I’m sorry. I was only teasing.” Cora
sobered. “Esther, do you really think you might like my
brother?”

“Oh!” Esther’s hands flew to cover her face.
“I’ve been much too bold.”

“No, you haven’t.” Cora touched Esther’s
arm. “I’m sorry. I’m the bold one. If you don’t like him, that’s
all right. I was only hoping.”

“But I do.” Moisture sparkled in Esther’s
eyes. “I do, and I shouldn’t. I don’t even know if he’s a
believer.”

“A believer?” What did she mean? “You mean
of the Bible? We’ve attended church all our lives. Of course he is.
We all are.” Cora laughed. “He’s hardly taken his eyes off you the
two days you’ve been here.”

“Oh, don’t say that.” Bright color spotted
Esther’s cheeks.

The lively dance of a resin-covered bow
across fiddle strings filled the air with toe-tapping music. The
girls hurried toward the sound. Mr. Stark stomped his foot and
clapped his hands in rhythm. “Grab you a partner. Come on, let’s
go.”

He kept clapping and stomping while Bill
Reid’s fiddle sang. The married couples moved together first and
formed a square.

Ben stepped in front of Esther. “Will you
help me start a second set?”

Esther took his hand.

“How about you bein’ my partner?” Ralph
grinned at Cora.

Cora’s gaze shifted to Aaron who leaned
against the side of the new cabin. His arms were folded across his
chest. The setting sun behind the cabin threw a shadow over him,
but his face was turned their way. Was he watching?

She looked back to Ralph. “Please, will you
ask Eliza?”

“Your kid sister?”

“Yes.”

“But she’s just a—”

“Let’s get a move on there. This poor man’s
fingers gonna get mighty tired afore we get goin’ iffen ya don’t.”
Mr. Stark’s booming voice cut into Ralph’s complaint.

“Please, just ask her.”

~*~

Aaron shook his head. Ralph didn’t have a
lick of sense. Didn’t even know he wasn’t good enough for a girl
like Cora Jackson. Weren’t neither of ’em good enough for her. Ever
since she crawled from the old holler tree, he’d kept her on his
mind. While he helped her pa cut timber, he thought a heap about
her. But that didn’t mean he could hold her hand and dance with
her.

Ralph shrugged and turned away. Didn’t
surprise him none for Cora to send him packin’. Then she turned
toward him and stood as if waiting. For what? He met her gaze and
couldn’t look away. His pulse picked up the beat of the racing
fiddle. Everything centered on Cora. He pushed away from the house
and stood in front of her before he knew he’d moved. Her pretty,
blue eyes grew round and unblinking as she looked at him. He held
his hand out. She placed her small, soft fingers across his palm,
setting off a hammer in his chest. They joined a set.

Cora’s arm brushed his sleeve when Pa called
out, “All to your places, and straighten up your faces, all join
hands and circle eight. Ladies face out and gents face in, and hold
your holts and gone again.”

Cora stepped forward, hooking her arm in his
as they swung around. She hooked arms with Gilbert, and then Ralph.
A pang struck Aaron’s innards when Ralph grinned at her. “Havin’
fun?”

She nodded, then Ben swung her around and
she came back to Aaron. Before he liked, the final call came.
“Promenade and put her on a shelf. If you want any more you can
call it yourself.”

Aaron took Cora’s hands and they skipped
around the circle. His breath came quick as the fiddle sang the
final bars of the song and stopped as if it, too, could take no
more. Bill Reid stood to the side, grinning as several people
complimented him on his music.

“Reckon a shindig like this wouldn’t be
worth a hoot without some good corn squeezin’s.” Pa’s loud voice
drowned out all the others.

Esther appeared beside Cora. “My parents are
getting ready to go. Will you walk to the wagon with me?”

Cora nodded and looked at Aaron. “Thank you
for dancing with me.”

He took in the soft curve of her lips and
the shine in her eyes and couldn’t find the right words, so he
inclined his head. She turned away and he felt more alone than he
ever had.

~*~

As soon as they were away from the others,
Cora took Esther’s arm. “What is it? Something’s wrong, isn’t
it?”

Esther frowned. “Just when we’re having fun,
someone thinks they need to drink liquor.”

“Is that why your folks are leaving?”

No one had gotten rowdy yet. Father enjoyed
a drink once in a while, but he wouldn’t put up with fighting or
loud goings-on.

“Yes, oh but Cora, it isn’t your family’s
fault.” Esther’s eyes grew wide. “We’ve all enjoyed this time spent
with you. In fact I can’t wait for another excuse to visit.”

“I wish you didn’t have to leave so soon.”
Cora stopped by the Newkirk wagon. “When do you think we might have
another excuse?”

Esther’s eyes sparkled above her smile. “The
first snow we get, let’s go sledding. You’ve got a wonderful hill
and we’ve got sleds. I’ll bring Rebekah, Gilbert, and
Margaret.”

“That will be wonderful.” Cora hugged
Esther. Already she felt bereft as her new friend climbed in the
wagon with her siblings and her father snapped the reins over the
horses’ backs.

Cora looked up at the dark star-studded sky.
How long would it be before a snow deep enough for sledding would
come? Tomorrow wouldn’t be soon enough. Then the lively music from
Mr. Reid’s fiddle called to Cora again. A cool breeze swept her
hair away from her face as she ran to join the others. Another
dance with Aaron was what she needed.

“How about bein’ my partner this time
around?” Ralph’s breath smelled of corn liquor. One of his father’s
clay jugs dangled from his thumb.

Warmth surrounded her hand as Aaron’s
fingers closed around it. “You got a partner already, Ralph.”

The depth of Aaron’s look stirred emotions
within Cora that belonged to George. Certainly not to this tall,
rugged backwoodsman who didn’t even speak proper English. Then his
expression relaxed and he smiled, causing her lips to curve in
response.

“Mind if we join your set?” John and Vickie
stood beside them, waiting. “There isn’t enough for two now, and
the old folks decided to sit this one out.”

“Sure, you can take my place since I don’t
have a partner.” Ben grabbed the jug from Ralph. “I’ll keep company
with this while you dance.”

Ralph laughed and turned to Eliza. “Reckon
you’re stuck with me agin.”

Eliza grinned at Ralph while Ben walked away
with the jug raised to his lips. If he knew why Esther left, he
wouldn’t touch that corn liquor. Cora shook her head. She’d have to
tell him first chance she got.

Ivy stopped Ben. “I’d be proud to be your
partner, Ben.”

He turned a lopsided grin on her. “Sure, why
not?” He lifted the jug and looked down the neck. “Say, this
stuff’s got a real mean kick.”

Cora’s face burned. What was wrong with Ben?
He never acted foolish. No wonder Esther didn’t like spirits. “Come
on, Ben. Put that jug down.”

“Why? You want some, Cora?” Ben turned his
grin on her. He took a wobbling step toward her.

~*~

Aaron stiffened. “I’ll take care of it.” He
left Cora and took hold of the jug.

Ben resisted. “There’s more in there, Aaron
ol’ buddy.”

“We’re ready to dance. Ivy’s waitin’. You
get in place, ’cause Pa’s about to start.” Aaron tugged, and Ben
let go of the jug. Cora didn’t want her brother drinking the stuff,
and he planned to see that he didn’t.

Ivy took Ben’s arm, and Aaron carried the
jug to his pa, setting it at his feet. “Pa, better keep a close eye
on this. It ain’t settin’ so well with some of the young folks. We
don’t want to make our neighbors sick or mad at us.”

Pa nodded. “Reckon it’s ’bout done for,
anyhow.”

Aaron returned to the set, satisfied he’d
taken care of Cora’s problem. Bill Reid sawed his fiddle to life,
and the first call rang out. “Swing those ladies to the center and
back.”

Aaron led Cora to the center and started
back. He owed her an apology. “Pa shouldn’ta brought that stuff.
But you don’t havta worry none. Lots of fellows act kinda strange
if they ain’t use to it. Ben’ll be all right by and by.”

Her hand felt small and warm. He didn’t want
to let go.

She smiled at him. “Thank you.”

“Gent’s to the center with right hands
across and left hands back.” Pa clapped his hands while his right
foot stomped. The men all put their right hands into the center of
their circle. Ben wobbled, but Ivy grabbed his arm and steadied
him.

Pa kept a steady rhythm as he called,
clapped, and stomped. Bill’s fiddle sang for all it was worth,
filling the night air with a catchy, heart-pumping melody. The
dance went on until Pa called out a stop, and the last note died
and drifted away with the breeze. Aaron’s heart pounded, but he
figured being near Cora was the cause.

Cora laughed and clapped her hands. “That
was fun.”

“Yes, I could dance forever.” Eliza’s eyes
sparkled as she gazed at Ralph.

“Well, maybe we can plan another outing
before long.” Cora’s blue eyes shone in the moonlight. “Esther
suggested we have a sledding party the first big snow we get. She
said they have some sleds she’ll bring, and we can sled on our big,
long hill that goes down to the creek.”

Ivy frowned. “How will we know when to
come?”

“She said first big snow.” Ralph raised his
eyebrows and gave his sister a pointed look. “Reckon we’ll just
hoof it over then.”

“Yes, I think that’s what Esther had in
mind.”

“Esther’s awful purdy—pure-ety.” Ben
grinned. “That’s it. Pure-ety.”

Ivy’s frown deepened. “You’re drunk.”

“Yep. But not too drunk.” Ben nodded toward
Aaron. “Good stuff, my friend. Real good. Got a kick to it.”

John took Ben’s arm. “Too much of a kick,
I’d guess. Another guess is that this night has come to a close.
We’ll plan on the sledding party, though. You kids will need a
chaperone, right, Vickie?”

“Oh, definitely.” Vickie laughed.

Ivy smiled at Ben. “I hope it snows real
soon. G’night, Ben.”

“Night.” Ben lifted one hand halfway before
it dropped back to his side. His eyelids drooped and he weaved on
his feet.

John slapped a hand on his shoulder. “Can’t
hold your corn liquor, can you?” He laughed. “I don’t know how you
swallowed that stuff. It smelled like rot and tasted like fire.
Come on, let’s get you to bed.”

John and Vickie turned toward the new house
with Ben between them. Eliza pulled Ralph away and Ivy followed
them, leaving Aaron and Cora standing alone in the yard. Aaron
shuffled his toe in the trampled grass. What could he say to Cora?
“Thanks for dancin’ with me. I’m real sorry about your brother. Pa
was just tryin’ ta be neighborly.”

“That’s all right.” Cora’s smile brightened
the night. Her golden hair gleamed in the meager light from the
moon above. Her eyes met his, and he couldn’t tear his gaze
away.

Mr. Reid rode past toward the creek on his
horse. “Night, folks.”

Aaron turned at his voice. “Night. Good ta
see ya.”

“Yep. Take care now.” The older man
disappeared into the darkness.