Debra Holland - [Montana Sky 02] (11 page)

Her words brought the woman to an abrupt halt. “Stay right there, you two.” The shopkeeper pointed at the boys. “Don’t touch anything. I’ll fetch Mr. Cobb.”

Samantha raised her eyebrows in the same gesture Don Ricardo had used with those he wanted to intimidate.

It seemed to work. Mrs. Cobb rushed to explain, “He always helps the menfolk.”

Samantha’s eyebrows stayed lifted. “Very well.”

As soon as Mrs. Cobb left the room, Samantha ushered the boys toward the shelves stocked with men’s clothes. They needed so much, but because she was unsure about the state of her finances, she’d better just purchase one of everything. After she met with the banker, she could always come back for more. Her gaze strayed to the bolt of green velvet fabric. Maybe she would buy something new for herself.

She picked up a blue denim pair of pants and held it to Jack’s waist. Too big. Setting it aside, she chose another pair. Still too big.

From the doorway to the other room, Mrs. Cobb’s voice shrilled, “Oh, Mrs. Rodriguez, here is my husband to help you.” She walked toward them.

A tall, thin man trailed in her wake. His bulbous, red nose twitched, and he threw a contemptuous glance at the twins.

Samantha’s protective hackles rose. She lifted her chin and raised her eyebrows. “The twins need a complete outfitting—from head to toe.” She watched disdain war with greed on their faces.

Greed won.

He pointed to a set of wooden shelves tucked in a corner. “Boys’ pants over there. The middle pile should fit them.”

“Thank you.” Samantha kept her tone cool, but lowered her chin a notch. She pulled the top pair of blue denim pants off the shelf and held it up to Jack. It seemed like the correct size. She handed it to him and picked up another pair, measuring it against Tim. The right length and width.

Turning to a rack of shirts, she said, “You two need to have shirts in different colors so your teacher can tell you apart. Blue or tan, which do you want?” She glanced at each of them. Jack shrugged, not meeting her gaze.

Looking like a puppy afraid of punishment for accepting a treat, Tim pointed at a tan shirt.

Samantha smiled, pulling the shirt off the rack and holding it against him. “Very nice.” She handed it to him.

A shy smile glimmered in Tim’s green eyes, almost making it to his mouth. His expression tugged at her heart, and she had to resist hugging him. Someday she’d like to see him let loose a genuine carefree grin.

She turned to Jack. “Blue for you.” She handed him the shirt.

Behind her, Mr. Cobb cleared his throat. “I’ll see to the underclothes.”

“Thank you, Mr. Cobb. And we’ll need boots for each of them.” She remembered the hats she’d seen the men wearing. “And hats.”

He walked over to a wicker basket overflowing with boots. He sorted through and selected several pairs, then motioned the boys over. He set a boot next to Jack’s cut-open boot. “New fashion in footwear, boy?”

Samantha wanted to throttle the man. She balled her hands to restrain herself. “There’s no need to ridicule the boy.”

Mr. Cobb’s gaze slid away from hers. He shook his head. “Wrong size.” He tried another boot. “That should work. Your brother will probably take the same size.”

Not much time left. Samantha needed to get the children to the schoolhouse. She wanted to talk to the teacher before classes started. “Mr. Cobb, the twins need to change so they can get to school.”

He gave such a sharp shake of his head Samantha wondered if he’d cricked his neck.

“Please, Mr. Cobb. They can’t go to school looking like that.”

He shook his head again.

Samantha lost her attempts to be conciliatory. “Mr. Cobb, I hardly think you’re displaying a Christian attitude,” she said sharply. “These boys are orphans, and Reverend Norton consigned them to my care. I don’t think he’d approve of you not letting them change into decent clothing.”

An uncertain look crossed his face, and he ran his hand over his balding head before glancing back at his wife. She shook her head.

Samantha could feel spots of angry color burst out on her cheeks. In a swift movement, she pulled the clothes from the boys’ hands, tossing them at the storekeeper. “Keep them. We’ll order from the catalog. The boys can wait a few weeks before starting school.” She grabbed for both boys’ hands. “Come along. We’re leaving.”

Alarm flared in Mr. Cobb’s eyes, and he stepped out of her path. “Now, Mrs. Rodriguez, there’s no need to be rash.” The words came out in a choked garble. He tossed a fearful glance at his wife.

In response, Mrs. Cobb bustled over, a placating hand raised to stop Samantha. “Mrs. Rodriguez. We spoke overhasty. There’s no need to take on so.”

Samantha ground her teeth together to keep from responding to the false lilt in the woman’s voice. “Then you’ll allow them to change?” She nodded at the doorway. “There.”

“Of course.” Mrs. Cobb shot a stern glance at her husband. “Frank, go with the boys.”

Samantha resisted the impulse to dust off her hands. Turning her back to Mrs. Cobb, she pretended to survey the store while she fought to control her temper.

Moments later, the click of several pairs of boots on the wood floor caused her to turn around. The twins, now dressed in their new clothes, shied away from Mr. Cobb’s hurried attempts to propel them toward her.

“Thank you, Mr. Cobb. You can leave the boys to me now.” She smiled with pride. Although obviously uncomfortable in the stiff new clothes, their sullen looks had vanished. “Very handsome, both of you. Please take your horses, and have Daniel drive the buggy to the livery. I’ll meet you there.”

Taking a deep breath, she turned toward the Cobbs to finish her shopping list. She’d won the first battle. Now for the schoolteacher.

With her arms laden with school supplies, Samantha hurried out of the mercantile and headed toward the livery stable. Crossing the dirt street, she picked her way around muddy potholes. Today of all days, she needed to keep her clothes immaculate.

She could see the three boys waiting for her outside the wideopen barn door. “Here, boys,” she called out, holding up the straps of three brown leather satchels. “One for you.” She handed it to Jack. “This one’s for you, Tim. And here’s yours, Daniel.”

Daniel peeked inside. “Candy!” He pulled out a peppermint stick.

“That’s for lunch. You each have one. A treat for your first day of school.”

“Thanks, Mama.”

“There’s also a slate, some chalk, paper, and a pencil. And here’s your lunch buckets.” She handed each one a shiny new tin.

Jack held up his own peppermint stick as if he’d never seen one. His gaze slid to her, then back to the candy. She could see him swallow and wondered what he was thinking.

“Thankee.” The words squeezed out in a choked whisper.

The word burrowed into Samantha’s heart. She wanted to reach out and pull him into her embrace, but sensed it was too soon. She contented herself with a smile and a light brush of his hair. “You’re very welcome.”

Tim shuffled his feet. “Thankee,” he echoed.

“You’re welcome, Tim. Now, all of you go get your lunches out of the buggy and put them inside your buckets.”

Samantha draped an arm across Daniel’s shoulders and another around Tim’s. Regretting the lack of a third arm, she made do with an encouraging smile for Jack. She indicated the school with a lift of her chin. Already she could see other children angling toward the white frame building. “Come along, boys. Your teacher is waiting.”

Wearing a green calico dress with a circle brooch pinned to the high neck, the schoolteacher stood on the narrow steps of the schoolhouse talking to a few children, holding the bell in one hand. She looked young and friendly, but that could change in an instant.

Samantha approached the school with tense shoulders, her chin up, and her stomach knotted.
Dear God, please may she be kind to my boys.

Up close, Samantha confirmed her impression of the teacher’s youth. Pretty and petite, she wore her light-brown hair pulled into a braided bun. The teacher’s soft gray gaze welcomed the boys. She shot a quick smile at Samantha, then a longer one at the twins. “Jack and Tim Cassidy, I’ve been hoping you’d come to school.”

Samantha’s tight shoulders eased a fraction.

The teacher held out her hand. “I’m Miss Stanton.”

Samantha lifted her arm from Tim’s shoulders and took Miss Stanton’s hand. “Mrs. Rodriguez.” Like a cat studying a mouse, Samantha watched the teacher’s eyes, looking for any reaction to the Spanish surname. When the welcome look didn’t change, she relaxed still further. She nudged Daniel forward. “And this is my son, Daniel.”

“I’m pleased to meet you, Daniel. I’ve heard you’re from Argentina?”

Daniel nodded.

“Well then, you’ll have much to teach us about your country. Perhaps you can give a report on the kinds of animals they have there?”

Animation brightened Daniel’s face. “Like the emu and the guanaco and the armadillo? Mama says those animals don’t live in Montana.”

Miss Stanton laughed. “Yes. And your little horses too.”

Warmth kindled in Samantha’s heart toward the woman.
Everything’s going to be all right.

Miss Stanton looked over Samantha’s shoulder, and a wistful look slid across her face then vanished so quickly Samantha
wondered if she’d imagined it. “Nick, I see you’ve brought the Carter children into town today.”

“Mornin’, Miss Stanton,” a voice said behind Samantha. “Had to pick up some more lumber.”

Samantha turned, catching the eye of a green-eyed man whose brown hair waved to his shoulders. In his hands he held a black hat, which, judging by the hatband crease in his locks, he’d just removed. He nodded at her.

Miss Stanton gestured to Samantha. “Mrs. Rodriguez has just moved here from Argentina. Mrs. Rodriguez, this is Mr. Nick Sanders.”

“Pleased to meet you, ma’am.”

Samantha nodded. “Mr. Sanders.”

“I saw your little fellas just now when I stabled my horse. Had a hard time pullin’ the children away from them.” He waved at a group of children with animated faces clustered near the steps and talking together.

Samantha laughed. “They do have that effect on people.” She tapped Daniel’s shoulder. “This is my son, Daniel. And I’m sure you know Jack and Tim.”

Nick nodded. “Hello, boys.” He raised his voice. “Mark, Sara.”

Two children broke away from the group and ran to him. “This here’s Mark Carter, and this is his sister Sara. The Carters have the ranch next to mine. Children, meet Mrs. Rodriguez and Daniel.”

Mark, who looked about Daniel’s age, spoke up first. “Pleased to meet you, Mrs. Rodriguez.” His blue eyes sparkled, and he smiled hello at Daniel. “Now we’ll have more boys than girls in school.”

Sara stuck her tongue out at her brother, then turned her back on him, flipping a long brown braid over her shoulder.

A wary look flickered across Mark’s face when he looked at the twins. “Hello, Jack, Tim.”

The twins both nodded.

Sara bounced on her toes. “Mrs. Rodriguez, my mama is looking forward to meeting you in church on Sunday. Reverend Norton told us you’d be there.”

The gossip flies as swiftly in Montana as it does in Argentina.
“I look forward to making her acquaintance.” Samantha studied the children, trying to size up what kind of friends they’d be to her boys. They seemed pleasant. But it was hard to tell with children. As she’d seen with Daniel’s cousins, the most angelic looking could be little fiends.

Sara’s face lit up. “There’s Christine.” She skipped down the stairs, already chattering to her friend before she reached her.

Christine, her blue coat slipping off her shoulders, tucked her hand into Sara’s. She tilted a welcoming smile toward Samantha. “Good morning, Mrs. Rodriguez.”

“Good morning, my dear.”

Miss Stanton touched Daniel’s arm. “Come on. I’ll show you all where to put your things.” The boys trailed after her. Daniel turned for one last look at his mother. Samantha blew him a kiss, and he scrunched a face at her.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Wyatt Thompson approach and turned to meet him. As she met Wyatt’s gaze, her shoulders stiffened again, and the blood slid faster through her veins. What was it about this man that so affected her?

“Good morning, Mr. Thompson.”

He touched the brim of his hat, placing one booted foot on the first stair of the schoolhouse. “Morning, Mrs. Rodriguez.” His gaze followed the twins. “Already achieved that touch of polish, I see.”

Uncomfortable with his closeness, Samantha shifted her weight back a half step. “Yes, indeed.”

He glanced at Nick Sanders. “Sanders. I’ll bet you’re in town for more lumber.”

Nick laughed, his eyes glinting emerald. “Not much of a guess. Although my wife”—he hesitated on the word—“wants some things from Cobb.”

Wyatt clapped him on the shoulder. “Still in newly wedded bliss, I see. I remember it well.”

Red seeped into Nick’s face. “Elizabeth and I were married two weeks ago,” he explained to Samantha.

Laughter crinkled the skin around Wyatt’s eyes. “Nick built her a house before the wedding. Never saw one go up so fast in my life.”