Sudden Storms (12 page)

“Get out, Paxton!” Jolee ordered. “You go down and wash up at the pond before you send Rivers to faintin’ away at your scandalous remarks!”

“I’m goin’,” Paxton chuckled.

Rivers blushed as Paxton winked at her once more before leaving.

“I swear,” Jolee sighed. “That man! The way he’s goin’ on you’re probably lucky ya didn’t find your virtue in danger…trapped down there with him all night. What a nightmare that must’ve been.”

But Rivers couldn’t help but smile. Nightmare? Far from it! It had been more like a dream come true, and Rivers smiled as goose bumps suddenly covered her arms at the memory of Paxton’s attentions in the cellar.

“You must be cold, Rivers!” Jolee said upon noticing the goose bumps on Rivers’s skin. “Would ya be so kind as to help me fill a tub for Rivers, Weston?”

“Of course, Jolee,” Weston said, winking at Rivers. “But I’m sure Paxton didn’t let Rivers stay too cold down there in that cellar. Ain’t that right, Rivers?”

Rivers smiled then, amused by Weston’s teasing and Jolee’s innocence. Again, her arms tingled with goose bumps, and she knew it would take a very warm, very long bath indeed to dispel them.



“We wanna thank ya all for comin’ out today. I know a lot of you folks had damage from the storm, and we want ya to know we’re more than willin’ to help out any way we can,” Jolee shouted to the crowd of people gathered outside in front of the house.

Rivers smiled as her eyes met Paxton’s and he winked at her. He’d begun flirting with her mercilessly since the storm. She had fully expected he would be true to his word about reverting to his regular glum self, but he hadn’t. Hope burned bright in Rivers every moment of every day. Maybe she could win him away from his guilt about Ruby and his unpleasant remembrance of her mother.

Rivers watched as the men who had come to help raise the barn began their task. It was very interesting to watch a barn begin from nothing but a foundation of sorts and rise to the skeleton it became some hours later.

“Hey, girl,” Paxton greeted, breathless from exertion. Striding to meet her and smiling, he wiped the sweat from his forehead with his shirt sleeve. “What do ya think? Looks good so far, don’t it?” he asked.

Paxton lowered his voice and said, “Whew! I’ll tell ya what! Work like that in heat like this…sure gives a man a mighty big appetite!”

“Oh, I’ll fetch you a plate from the house and…” she began, but her words were cut short as he took hold of her arm and led her to the far side of the house.

“What are you doing?” she asked, puzzled. Her heart pounded furiously.

Pushing her back against the outer wall of the house, his mouth exhausted hers with an unexpected, feverishly hot, magnificently forceful kiss, which left her weak, breathless, and light-headed.

“Ah!” he sighed. “That’s better. Nothin’ like your cherry-sweet kiss to satisfy a man’s hunger!”

“What?” she exclaimed, looking around quickly to see if anyone had witnessed the exchange. And it had, indeed, been an exchange, for she had willingly supplied the confectionary nourishment he spoke of.

Paxton bent his head to repeat the refreshment, but a moment before joining his lips to hers, he stopped. Rivers was puzzled as an odd expression swept over his face. He straightened and looked past her toward the barn.

Rivers’s attention followed the direction of his stare. A wagon with several passengers was arriving. Paxton stood frozen as if etched in granite. His eyes narrowed and the frown, absent from his brow for several weeks, returned.

Rivers watched as a beautiful, fair-haired woman the exact elder image of Ruby approached Jolee. Jolee seemed to greet the woman politely, but without her usual exuberance. Rivers felt her blood run cold. She stood paralyzed with anxiety as the woman began walking to where she and Paxton stood, having shared a passionate trade only moments before. Glancing up at Paxton, Rivers saw his face was still as hard and as cold as any stone figure.

“Paxton! Darling!” the woman called as she gracefully rushed toward him. Reaching him, she threw her arms around his neck and clung to him without any obvious concern for propriety. “Oh, Paxton! Dear boy! How wonderful to see you again!” the woman cried.

“Mrs. Dupree,” Paxton greeted, not returning the embrace.

Mrs. Dupree released the man and turned. Somewhat sneering and smiling at the same time, she studied Rivers. Her nose wrinkled as if she had suddenly been nauseated by some bitter taste in her mouth.

“You must be Jolee’s little friend I’ve heard about,” she greeted, extending one daintily gloved hand toward Rivers. Rivers took the woman’s hand but said nothing. “I suppose Paxton has told you all about how absolutely wicked he was to our daughter,” the woman whispered, as if telling a terrible secret.

“No,” Rivers managed to say. She looked up at Paxton, who stood staring down at Mrs. Dupree in complete astonishment as if he still could not grasp the actuality of her presence before him.

Mrs. Dupree looked from Paxton to Rivers and back. Then, placing a hand dramatically to her bosom, she whispered, “Have I interrupted a little…moment here, Paxton dear?”

“It wasn’t a
little
moment, Mrs. Dupree,” Paxton answered.

Mrs. Dupree smiled understandingly and winked at Rivers. “You be careful with this boy, dear. He’s a heartbreaker that one. By the way, do call me Marianna.”

Then, instantly, her expression changed. Her teasing, friendly smile was completely obliterated—replaced with a countenance akin to repulsion as she turned and walked away.

“Nutty as an acorn tree,” Paxton mumbled.

“She’s still wanting you,” Rivers plainly stated.

Paxton looked at Rivers, his eyebrows raised in surprise. “Wantin’ me?” he questioned. “What makes you think you know when a woman’s wantin’ a man?”

“It’s painfully obvious, Paxton. Your mule would know it,” Rivers said. She didn’t like the very feel of the air about her now that Mrs. Marianna Dupree had been breathing it. It felt polluted, poisoned somehow.

Paxton shook his head. “That woman don’t want me, girl. I’m surprised she even remembers who I am, as batty as she is.”

Rivers took Paxton’s face firmly between her hands and spoke directly to him. “You be careful. She’s not right in the head. She stabbed her own husband for crying out loud, Paxton!” she warned in a whisper.

“Why, Rivers,” Paxton teased, “I believe you’re truly concerned for me.”

Rivers released him instantly, embarrassed at having spoken so plainly to him, and completely humiliated that she had allowed herself to touch him so personally.

“I’m sure Mr. Dupree wouldn’t have brought her here if she’s still dangerous, Rivers,” Paxton assured her, taking her hand between his own and tenderly patting it. Then, looking to where Ruby stood talking with Jolee, he said, “I really should go make amends with Ruby. I was downright rude the other day in town.” Then, affectionately pinching Rivers on the cheek, he left her.

Rivers watched him walk away from her. She watched him offer a hand to Ruby in greeting. Once again she began to doubt that Paxton had not truly loved Ruby. How could he not? The woman was beautiful.

“If my friend has kissed ya before like he kissed ya just now, you can quit your worryin’, Rivers,” Weston chuckled, coming to stand beside her.

“He’s just a tease, Weston. You know it as well as I do,” Rivers reminded him, blushing crimson all the same.

“Not when it comes to women, Rivers,” he corrected her. “And lookee here at me. I’ve nearly gotten up my nerve,” he added hesitantly.

“For what?” Rivers asked, somewhat preoccupied in watching Paxton and Ruby.

“For what? Are you joshin’ me, girl? To ask Jolee to marry me!” he blurted out.

Rivers turned to him then, throwing her arms around his neck in a friendly and joyful embrace. Only such blissful news could’ve torn her away from watching Paxton’s greeting to Ruby. “That’s so wonderful, Weston! When? When will you ask her?”

“Well, this is certainly fickle of you, missy,” the woman said.

Rivers released Weston and turned to see Mrs. Dupree standing just behind her, having watched them embrace. “Is Paxton aware of your unfaithful nature?” the woman asked.

Rivers was curiously reminded of the evil witch-spider that had bitten Jolee. Marianna Dupree had the same essence about her the spider had—dark, threatening, harmful. Rivers could compare them and find the color of their bodies the only difference. She shook her head, trying to dispel the unnerving feelings, and turned back to her friend, forcing a smile once more. “Ask her soon, Weston. Soon. Then I’ll…”

“Then you’ll stay and be her bridesmaid, Rivers,” Weston finished. “I know what you’re thinkin’, Rivers. But you can’t leave—you can’t leave Paxton.”

“What do you mean?” she asked, turning from him.

“And there’s no reason to. You belong here. You belong with that boy,” Weston whispered, putting a comforting arm around her shoulders.

“Paxton doesn’t want me any more than he wants pneumonia,” she debated, even though his behavior toward her since the storm threatened to give her hope. “As soon as I see Jolee become your wife…I’ll leave. I’ve got grandparents I need to be helping in their late years.”

“He won’t let ya leave anyway,” Weston informed her as he walked away. Looking back over his shoulder at her briefly, he added, “You just try it. You little fly-sewer…you ain’t goin’ nowhere.” He chuckled as he walked away.

Could it be? Rivers actually considered the thought for a moment. Could it be Weston was right? Did Paxton actually value her—could he actually care for her?

Rivers watched as Paxton linked Ruby’s arm with his and began walking toward the new barn skeleton. Immediately, what little hope had managed to sprout in her heart withered and died. Jolee caught sight of Rivers then and waved frantically, motioning for her to join them.

As Rivers approached Jolee, who had since been joined by Weston, she paused momentarily as Marianna appeared once more.

“Jolee, dear!” the woman exclaimed, seeming very overwrought. “Now, do tell me…you were bitten? By a spider? Is that it, dear?” the women asked, seeming overly concerned.

“Yes, Mrs. Dupree,” Jolee responded, taking hold of Weston’s arm as if Marianna’s presence frightened her. “A black widow.”

“Oh, I’ve always admired the black widow spider,” Mrs. Dupree sighed. “They’re so...well, they know what they want, don’t they? And such power over their mates…they kill their males, don’t they?”

Each and every hair growing from Rivers’s head prickled as she listened to the woman describe her admiration for the wicked arachnid.

“Not at all, sweetheart,” the woman cooed. She reached up and placed a dainty hand against Weston’s cheek. “You run along, now. I believe Jolee’s little friend can provide me with enough company.”

Rivers flesh began to crawl as Marianna turned her full attention to her.

“Well,” she began, the look of revulsion apparent on her face once more, “Is Paxton merely an adequate lover or is he…”

“I…I wouldn’t have the experience necessary to form an opinion, Mrs. Dupree,” Rivers sputtered. The woman was obviously entirely insane, and Rivers looked about for some sort of polite escape.

Mrs. Dupree reached out, catching Rivers’s chin in one hand. Rivers was shocked at her bold gesture and could only stare at her, stunned.

“You’re lying, you little tramp,” the woman growled. “If I were to kiss him just now, I’d no doubt still taste you there!”

Rivers was so overwhelmingly shocked at what the woman was saying she couldn’t make to escape. She could only stare, horrified at such insanity roaming about free and virtually undetected. It wasn’t until she felt Paxton’s strong hand at her waist as he pushed Marianna’s hand from her chin that she could even catch her breath again.

“She’s such a lovely girl, Paxton,” Marianna cooed. Her entire countenance had altered again. She was once more the elegant, pleasant lady she outwardly appeared to be. “You’re a lucky boy.”

“She’s a friend of the family, Mrs. Dupree,” he reputed. “Just a friend of the family, nothing more.” Paxton let his hand drop from where it had rested at Rivers’s waist, but Rivers snatched his hand, holding it tightly for reassurance.

“Marianna, Paxton dear. Such formality is not necessary between us. We have, after all, been nearly intimately acquainted, haven’t we?” Marianna said with a pungent air of implication as she turned and gracefully walked away.