Weathered Too Young (23 page)

“Yes, Charles,” Katherine said.
“But you do everything she tells you to.
Don’t you give her any trouble, do you hear?”

Charlie nodded
,
and Lark smiled when he threw his little arms around her neck.
She lifted him out of the wagon, giggling as he hit the ground near
ly
running already.

“Which way?” he asked.
“Which way to the chickens?”

“I mean it, Charles!” Katherine reiterated.
“You
better
mind Miss Lark.”
She smiled at Lark again, fresh tears brimming in her beautiful blue eyes
.
“Thank you
,” she said, dabbing the tears from her cheeks as they spilled over.

“Can we go, Miss Lark?” Lizzy asked.
“Me and Johnny?”

“Of course,” Lark said.
Little Lizzy was as pretty as a fairy child.
Again she wondered how Katherine found the fortitude to keep from giving into them at every request.

“I don’t wanna go feed the chickens,” Johnny mumbled.

“You may go, Lizzy,” Katherine consented. “But you mind too, you hear?”

Lizzy squealed and scrambled down from the wagon.
Taking Lark’s free hand, she smiled.
“Are these chickens for eatin’?” she asked.
“Or do these just lay eggs?”

Lark giggled.
“Both.”

“Are we gonna pick one to chop up for supper?” Charlie asked.

Again Lark giggled.
“Not tonight, sweetie.”
She remembered then, remembered that she would need to start supper soon.

“I’ll be in to begin supper directly,” Lark said, glancing to Slater.

Slater frowned.
“Begin supper directly?”
Shaking his head
,
he muttered
to Katherine, “Danged if I can
figure what she’s sayin’ half of the time.”

Katherine smiled as she took Slater’s arm. “She’s charming, Slater…just lovely. Wherever did you find such a treasure?”

“Slater didn’t find her, Katie,” Tom chuckled.
“I did.”

“Oh, now don’t start that,” Slater grumbled, pulling off his gloves.

“Come on, Miss Lark!” Charlie said, tugging on Lark’s hand.
“I wanna see the chickens!”

Lark smiled at him and began to walk toward the chicken house.
She paused
,
however, when she felt someone take hold of her arm.

“Here,” Slater said, holding out his gloves.
“Take these.
It’s chilly.”

Lark smiled
and
dropped Lizzy’s and Charlie’s hands long enough to pull on Slater’s far too large gloves.

“We’ll be in shortly,” she told him as the warmth his hands had left in his gloves traveled up her arms and into her bosom.

“You behave, Charles,”
Katherine
said, wagging a warning index finger at her son.
“I mean it.”

“Are you sure you wouldn’t like to come with us, Johnny?” Lark asked.
She noticed the way the boy stood watching them
. H
e did want to come.
Still, as he shook his head, she knew his tender male ego had gotten the better of him.

“Come on, Miss Lark,” Charlie whined, “before Mama changes her mind.”

Lark glanced to Slater and forced a nod and a smile even as her heart ached at watching
Katherine
wrap her arms around one of his strong ones.

Slater had cared for
Katherine
in their youth—loved her—it was obvious.
And now
,
now that she’d returned—vulnerable, fragile
,
and beautiful as any stage actress Lark had ever seen photos of—how could he resist loving her again?
Lark swallowed the pain and disappointment in her heart.
Turning, she led Charlie and Lizzy toward the chicken house.
The chill in the air reminded her that winter was only a breath away.
She thought of her little room—of the warm days and nights spent in the Evans ranch house.
She could endure watching Slater and
Katherine
together—but only because her safety and comfort depended on it.

Slater watched Lark as she walked toward the chicken house with
Katherine
’s children.
He swallowed the heated desire gathering in his mouth as she glanced over her shoulder to smile at him.
Every muscle in his body tensed as he strained to keep from racing after her—from forcing her into his arms—from ravishing her right then and there!

“I just can’t wait to get inside!”
Katherine
chimed.
“It’s…it’s just like comin’ home.”

She released Slater then, taking Johnny’s hand and hurrying up the porch steps toward the front door.

Turning to look at him
,
she asked, “
I
s it all right if we just…just go on in?”

“Of course,” Slater mumbled, unable to keep his attention from returning to Lark.
He squeezed his eyes tightly shut for a moment—endeavoring to calm his desires.

“What’s the matter with you?” Tom asked.

Slater gritted his teeth and shook his head.
“What the hell were you thinkin’ when you hired that girl?” he growled to his brother.

Irritation flared in him as Tom chuckled.

“Truth be told…I was thinkin’ it was about time you started livin’ again, Slater,” Tom said.

Slater turned and glared at Tom.
He raised a scolding index finger and gave it a warning wag as he said, “Well, you better hope I don’t take to…to actin’ on some of my thoughts where she’s concerned, boy.”

Tom still smiled understandingly.
“Well, they can’t be that bad, brother.”

“Some’s bad enough to find me thrown in jail,” Slater mumbled.

“Not if you were to marry her first,” Tom teased.

Slater frowned and growled as he shook his head.
“I ain’t talkin’ to you if you’re gonna be ridiculous.”

Grumbling to himself, Slater stormed toward the house.
What nonsense Tom could talk sometimes!
Stomping up onto the porch, he paused a moment before entering the house.
He took a deep breath—calmed himself as best he could.
Katherine
was hurting
,
alone
,
and frightened.
He didn’t want her knowing how torn up he was over Lark.
One more deep breath and he entered the house to find
Katherine
in tears.

“It’s like comin’ home, Slater!” she cried.
“Just like comin’ home!”



Lark showed Charlie and Lizzy how to scatter the feed for the chickens. A smile brightened her face as she watched them. They were beautiful children—absolutely delightful!
Her heart ached for their loss—for the insecurity and fear they must be feeling.
Oh, certainly they didn’t feel it the way Katherine was feeling it
,
for they didn’t understand how difficult it was to provide food and shelter for someone—or one’s self.
But Lark did.
She wondered if Katherine’s husband had put aside any money—any provisions for his family.

Oh, Lark well knew that Slater and Tom would never allow Katherine or her children to suffer or do without.
Still, to do without a father
,
especially a good father—to do without his love and protection—it was a frightening thing.
Lark knew just how frightening.
Yet Slater and Tom could provide that as well
,
couldn’t they?
If Katherine stayed on
,
it was sure Slater and Tom would father the children
or at least guide them as any good uncle would.
In truth, one of them could even marry Katherine—actually become the children’s stepfather.

She tried to brush aside these thoughts
,
for they caused her to tremble.
She well knew which Evans brother Katherine Thornquist would choose to marry—which brother she would choose to father her children—to father more children—Slater.

She couldn’t think of it—she wouldn’t!
If she knew anything, it was that she could not linger in watching Slater marry Katherine—or any other woman.
She felt a pain begin to sicken her stomach
,
gasped as the same pain gripped her heart.

“I suppose it might be interesting to live here.”

Lark whirled around.
Johnny stood just outside the chicken yard fence.

“I know they run cattle…but do they have horses?
I mean, besides the Clydesdales?” he asked.

“Yes,” Lark managed, hoping the moisture in her eyes would quickly dissipate.
“Several.”

“I like horses,” the boy said.

“Me too.”

“I heard Slater tellin’ Mama that you have a way with horses.”

Lark shrugged.
“Sometimes.
I seem to be able to sooth
e
them.”

“Will you show me?” Johnny asked.

Lark forced a smile and nodded.
“I will.”

“We’re finished!” Lizzy announced.
“What can we do now?

“Well, I need to start supper,” Lark told them, ushering them through the gate and latching it behind her.
“And besides, it’s getting a little too chilly.
Let’s get you inside and warm you up.”

“Can we run back to the house?” Charlie asked.
“Can we?”

Lark nodded.
“Yes…but be careful.”

“We will!” Lizzy squealed with excitement.

As Charlie and Lizzy sprinted t
oward the house, Johnny fell in
to step beside Lark.

“How old are you, Johnny?” she asked.
She knew how hard it was for boys his age to start any conversation—especially with girls or women.

“Almost twelve,” Johnny mumbled.
“Daddy was gonna get me my own horse on my birthday come March.”

Lark winced at the wrench of heartache in her own chest.
“Well, I know it isn’t the same…but Slater and Tom buy and sell horses all the time. Maybe you’ll still get one of your own.” She silently told herself that she must remember to mention the boy’s birthday and desire for a horse to Slater and Tom.

“Did they give you one?” the boy asked.

Lark shook her head.
“No…but I don’t really have need for one.
I’m here most all the time.”

“Well, I want one,” Johnny mumbled.
“I want to cowboy too…young…just like Slater did.”

“It’s a hard life,” Lark offered.

“How many cowboys do you have here?”

Lark smiled, realizing the boy wasn’t about to listen to anything discouraging where his dreams were concerned.

“Four
—
I mean three,” Lark said.
“We had four…but…but one left.”
She grimaced at the memory of Chet Leigh.
Somehow the thought caused her to quicken her step
,
for she wanted only to be back in the safety of the house in that moment.
“I’m sure you’ll get to meet them…maybe even later this evening.”

“They don’t come to the house for supper?”

Lark shook her head.
“No.
The Evans brothers do things a bit different.
The cowboys keep pretty much to themselves out at the bunkhouse.”

“Maybe I could bunk in with them!” Johnny exclaimed.
“Do you think they’d let me?
”

“Who?
The cowboys…or Slater and Tom?” she asked, delighted by the sudden sparkle in Johnny’s eyes.

“Either one.
Should I ask them?” he asked.

“Well, I’d wait a few days,” Lark said.
“And…and you might want to talk to your mother about it first.”

Johnny’s shoulders sagged as he climbed the back porch steps.
“Well, I might as well not even get my hopes up then.”

Lark smiled at the boy with understanding.
Tenderly placing a hand on his shoulder
,
sh
e said, “I’m sure if you wait a
while…it’ll all work out.”

Johnny shrugged, then nodded
,
and smiled a little.

As Lark stepped into the house, she was greeted by the delightful prattle of excited children.
She hung her coat on the coat rack, carefully hung Slater’s
hat
there too, smoothed her hair
,
and followed Johnny into the kitchen.