Daughters of the Heart (4 page)

Henry leaned over the crib, gently lifted his hand from its last pat, then straightened and waited to see if Crockett would stay asleep. The littlest Buckmeyer exhaled then took to sleep suckling.

Once he tucked the man-plant in, he slipped into bed and May’s waiting arms.

He kissed her cheek. “He’s almost two. Isn’t he getting a bit long of tooth to still be nursing?”

She kissed him back. “Oh, darling, he’s still a baby.”

He laughed. “If he gets to where he can unbutton your blouse by himself, then he gets weaned.”

“We’ll see. Now if…” She let her voice trail off. Even in the pale moonlight, he could see the wheels turning. Him and his big mouth.

“We already agreed. One’s enough.”

“Didn’t you tell me that Sue nursed all her babies until the next one came along?”

“All but Houston.” He let the declaration hang between them, wafting on the crickets’ song more than a few heartbeats. “We were young and stupid.”

“Not so. You, my love, were never stupid. Young? I’ll give you, but short of brains? No, sir.”

“Perhaps. Speaking of smart young men, what did you think of Elijah?”

“Oh, he seems very capable, entertaining, and kind, but I’m telling you, he’s brought trouble. I’m afraid we’ve got a problem.”

“How so?”

“Didn’t you see him staring at the girls?”

“I noticed him watching them play with Crockett, but I wouldn’t call it staring.”

She laughed. “And I don’t suppose you’d say our daughters were staring back even harder either.”

“Gwen and CeCe?”

“Don’t forget Bonnie. She eagle-eyed Mister Eversole, too.”

“Not my baby girl.”

“Yes, indeed. She’s coming thirteen, Henry. Soon enough, she’ll not be thinking about much else.”

Would he ever understand? “But I thought Gwendolyn loved Clay. Are you saying she’s past him already?”

“Oh, dear, she’s way over him. Don’t you know? The very best thing to get your mind off a love lost is to find a new one.”

“But he’s a man.”

“Yes.” She stretched out the three letter affirmation. “A handsome, single man, sugar.”

Now this was not good. And he hadn’t even thought to quiz Elijah about his intentions. Could it be? Was he even interested? Or had May read something that wasn’t there?

“I’ll talk with him tomorrow. He probably has someone in California waiting on him.”

“Well, take your care, and don’t run him off. Mary Rachel and Jethro both spoke highly of him.”

He bumped her shoulder. “I wouldn’t dream of it, least not until he builds us that steam engine.”

The Black’s neck bowed. He snorted
and pawed the ground.

“Easy, boy.” Henry patted the stallion, dismounted, then led him into the barn. Right there in the first stall, a strange gray snorted his own challenge, letting out an ear-splitting whinny.

Allowing the two to blow noses a bit, he unsaddled and brushed out his mount before putting The Black into his own space. Soon, the stallion’s attention focused solely on the grain in his trough and rack full of hay, ignoring the interloper.

Good thing none of the mares in the back lot were open.

That reminded him. Best check on the chestnut. She’d bagged up and should be ready to foal any day now. He’d get Charley to, put him on the watch.

Maybe ask Houston, also,; the boy could practice a little more responsibility. Henry enjoyed the interaction of all the boys and how great the thirteen-year-old handled all the younger ones.

Putting the boys and equines out of his thoughts, he hurried inside to see who’d come calling.

Gwendolyn met him in the kitchen. The girl must have been waiting for him. “Hey, Daddy.” She kissed his cheek. “There’s a Mister Braxton Hightower come to see you.”

“That his gray in the barn?”

“Yes, sir. CeCe put him there.”

He grabbed one of Jewel’s sugar cookies, took a little nip, and smiled. “He say what he wanted?”

“No, sir. Just that he needed to talk with you. Mama May and Houston are keeping him company out on the porch.”

“Thank you, my love. Where’d CeCe go?”

Gwen raised her off shoulder a smidgen, like that was all the effort her sister was worth. “She and Bonnie went somewhere.”

Jewel swept into the kitchen, her full skirt dusting the floorboards. “She and baby girl took a dinner basket to you and that new fella, but nows you be back, want me to send someone for them?”

“CeCe and Bonnie went?”

“Yes, sir.”

“They walking?”

“No, sir. My Chester helped them rig the surrey. Houston loaned them gals his gelding.”

Wonder he didn’t see them coming back from the sawmill, but then…. Well, perhaps his wife was right, and no one could accuse Cecelia of being stupid. “No, leave them be. Elijah needs to eat.”

A hand touched his forearm. He faced Gwen.

“Don’t forget Mister Hightower.”

He tossed the rest of the cookie in his mouth, winked at his cook, then strolled to the porch. Once he cleared the front door, the visitor jumped to his feet and extended his hand. “Mister Buckmeyer, I’m Braxton Hightower. Pleased to meet you, sir.”

The fellow looked him square in the eye. Henry took his hand. Good firm grip, but not one of those idiots who tried to show off by crushing your fingers.

Didn’t seem like he had anything to hide or sell, and Henry liked that. “Pleasure’s mine. I take it you’ve met my wife and son?”

“Yes, sir. My mama would dance a jig if she knew I had the good fortune of visiting with the famed novelist. I’m certain she’s read every book.” He smiled at May. “I was just telling your wife that she’s got a loyal fan, to be sure.”

Polite, another plus. Stood at ease, but still kept his back straight and chin up. “You an army man, Braxton?”

“Navy.”

Houston tugged on his sleeve. “Can I go play now?”

He eyed his son, who looked from him to May then back, like she had been the one to insist he chaperone her and young Mister Hightower. “Sure, but don’t go far. I need to have a word with you.”

His shoulders slumped. “Pa, what’d I do now?”

“I just want to talk. Now go on, but stay within whistling range.”

“Yes, sir.”

The eight-year-old jumped off the porch and disappeared around the house in two shakes.

He faced Hightower. “So what brings you to my neck of God’s Country?”

“Sir, would there be a more private place we can talk?”

Henry gestured toward the extra rocker then sat next to May. “No one will bother us here, and I keep no secrets from my wife.”

The man turned the chair sideways then eased down. “When the cabal my father is aligned with discovered I was coming to Texas to buy timberland, they asked me to look you up, sir.”

“Who are these gents? Anyone I know?”

“At this time, I’m not at that liberty, but if you are interested in standing for office….”

Oh, so that was it. Henry glanced at May, she smiled.

“We would love for you to come to Washington, meet with this group of potential supporters. See for yourself how many you know.”

“I’ve toyed with the idea of throwing my hat at the governor’s office, but the running seems way more distasteful than whatever pleasure winning might bring.”

“Understandable on the state level, but the good you could do as president of these United States, sir, would far outweigh the hardship of campaigning.”

Not much had ever taken Henry aback, but the young man’s declaration certainly had. His heartbeat quickened. He arched his brows and gave a little nod. He’d let himself dream of following in Jackson’s footsteps.

Still, having one’s life cussed and discussed by every two-bit rag across the country always splashed cold water on that fantasy.

“Has Hades frozen over, and no one bothered to tell me?”

Braxton laughed. “No, sir, but it would not take the nether world freezing to get you elected in ’60.” The young man turned serious. “With emancipation the prize, is any price too high?”

“Noble cause, but the slavery issue…I fear it will rip this country apart.”

“Perhaps. But if it does, then who better than the hero of San Jacinto to lead us through it?”

Henry rocked forward, studied the man’s shoes a moment. He scratched his ever present New Blue’s ear then leaned back. “You have me confused with my dog’s sire, Blue Dog. He was the real hero of that battle.”

A chuckle eased the tension in the air. “I’ve heard that story. Well, actually read about it.” He grinned at May. “Your wife’s fame would be no detriment, sir, but she’s made you quite renowned in your own right.”

“I knew marrying her was the right thing to do.” He chuckled.

“With that and San Jacinto, you could ride it all the way to the White House.”

“Really? My books have make Henry famous?”

“Oh, yes ma’am. When my baby sister found out I intended to stop by the Buckmeyer’s, she about had a conniption fit wanting to come meet you and the whole Buckmeyer clan.”

“How flattering.”

“If Levi Baylor were to stand for vice president with your husband…” Braxton grinned. “We’d win by a landslide.” He faced Henry again. “She’d certainly make a beautiful First Lady.”

“That’s an understatement.” Henry loved on her with his eyes. He flattered her every day like that. “Politics aside, how much timberland are you looking to buy?”

“At least ten thousand acres. Why, you selling?”

“No, I like what we’ve got, but I do know them that are. Usually, I wait until someone brings me a deal to increase my holdings.”

May chuckled but held her tongue. He loved that about her. Hightower wouldn’t have a clue to the reason for her mirth, but he knew all too well. Full price plus, Lizbeth’s parcel had cost him. Praise God.

Other than the one time Miss Akins kissed him, he’d never laid a hand on the girl. And now she was out of his life for good.

He patted May’s knee then resumed. “But word is, there’s a nice block—around half that—a ways east of here up along the river. Plus several more I know of might make the difference if they don’t have to be connected.”

“No, they don’t. The big section would be a great place to start. Perhaps you could point it out on a map?”

“Better, I’ll take you come morning. Hate it if you got lost and the hogs or worse met your demise.”

Hightower stood. “Well, thank you, sir. That’s mighty kind of you. Where shall we meet? I’ve got a room at the Donoho.”

“How about my dining room? Jewel is a way better cook than any of those hash slingers in town.”

“I can do that, be pleased to. What time?”

Henry laughed. “Sit down. I’m offering you a room here to home base from. We’ll send for your things. In the meantime, perhaps you can twist my arm about that trip to DC.” He chuckled, smiled at May, then looked back. “If I was to dismiss you offhand, in time, I might regret it.”

“Thank you again, sir. Most generous. Perhaps I can repay the kindness somehow.”

“Who knows? Maybe down the road, you could sell me some of your logs. As we speak, our saw mill is being fitted with a new steam engine.”

“Pa is going to be mad.”

Cecelia shot her little sister the look. The one that seemed to work less and less of late. “No, he is not.”

Bonnie leaned back on the surrey’s seat and crossed her arms over her budding chest. “Well, ten cents isn’t enough.”

“Bonnie Claire Buckmeyer! We made a deal. You know how Daddy feels about welching. You gave your word.”

“But I’m not talking about today. If you ever want me to chaperone you again, I want a quarter.”

“Mercy, girl! A dime is too much. Two bits is highway robbery.”

“Don’t care. I didn’t know we were going to just sit here and watch them work. It’s so boring. Why do you want to? Let’s just leave it.”

“They’ll break for dinner soon enough. I did not come all this way to just drop off the basket and hightail it back home.”

“Fine. Fifteen cents, and that’s my best offer.”

Cecelia mentally counted the coins in the bottom of her jewelry box, at fifteen a pop, wouldn’t be enough to make it to the end of the cotton planting when Miss Laura would start school back.

And she definitely did not want to ask Gwen. Elijah stood and arched his back, obviously saw her for the first time and grinned.

Sure didn’t know what her little sister was griping about. Cecelia could sit there all day long and watch Mister Eversole work. From morning ’til night if she could, just to see him smile. Her heartbeat picked up.

Maybe he’d call it quits for lunch and come on over. Oh…oh…sour grapes! What was it she’d planned to say?

He bent back over the hunk of metal. Must have something needing to get finished. She sighed and glanced at the twelve-year-old.

“I’ve got a greenback and twelve cents. That’s all I’ve got, Bonnie. If you’ll promise to come with me every day until lessons start up again, I’ll give you that and….” Movement stopped her.

All the men suddenly milled around.

“Look! I think they’re stopping to eat.”

“Wait. What else do I get?”

She grabbed the basket, stood, then smiled at Bonnie. “Come on, Sis. We’ll talk about it on the way home. Today’s already settled.”