Chapter Nineteen
“Who's that pretty lady, Mama?” Neddie asked in his voice that was somewhere between baby and boy.
Pretty lady? Minda turned cold from head to foot as she quietly shut the back door, wishing she could slam it instead. But Priscilla was still napping. That pretty lady was someone who had the potential to destroy their home and family.
“Someone who knows Uncle Brix from Texas,” she said as mildly as she could, holding off a shiver.
“But she said she brought toys.”
Minda knelt to hold the little boy against her heart, praying their world wasn't ending. “Well, let's wait and see about that. Don't you still love your toy doggie from me best of all?” She hid her tearful gulp with a little cough.
Neddie grappled her neck. “Oh, I do, I do. But I love Schatzi, too.” He wiggled away and grappled his puppy next. “Me and Katie thought that's a good name. Miss Marylaura told us it means
sweetheart
in the German language. That's what you like to call me sometimes.”
The love shining in his eyes warmed her through, and she hugged him again. “Ned, you will always be my sweetheart. No matter what happens. Now, why don't you go outside and play with Schatzi for a while? But leave Uncle Brix alone, you hear? He and that lady have things to sort out.”
Lady! She snorted.
After the little boy left for the pasture, Minda sat weakly at her worktable, looking out the front window at her husband and their visitor like she watched a sad play on a stage.
How could she feel hot and cold at the same time? Brixton's arrival should have filled her with tumultuous joy, but there he stood, bearing blame. To hold down her trembles, she picked up her Bonnet Race hat and half-heartedly continued her repairs, recalling Brixton's glorious kiss after he'd won the race.
But she couldn't keep her eyes away. As she peeked out the window, her innermost heart rejoiced that Brixton didn't appear to behold Esperanza with any kind of affection. His actions and presence weren't those of a man learning the tender news of fatherhood, or of a man rendering forgiveness and renewing a promise.
Or of a man caught in a trap. He had the stance of a determined man who knew he was in the right. Like it burned him, he dropped Esperanza's hand, said something with a firm nod of his head and looked straight at the house.
Through the window, their eyes met, and she read gratitude and hope. For Minda, it was like they saw each other for the first time, making up for their initial meeting of secrets and anger.
Her heart tumbled in a new way. He claimed he'd left a note on her worktable, that awful day when he'd ridden off without a word, breaking her heart, but he hadn't. She kept the house tidy as a pin, and the house was small. Had he told another convenient untruth to save himself from a predicament?
After all, he'd kept truth from her before—painful raging truth that had changed her life forever.
No. Changed her life for the better. Something blossomed inside that had been ripening all along.
Brixton wasn't a man who ran out on his responsibilities. He'd taken on a wife he didn't want. He'd ridden in a race even though his little niece had secretly entered his name. He'd harvested crops he despised. He'd stayed on through illness, stayed on through danger, and stayed on despite all his threats to leave because downright affection had overtaken his heart. She knew it, and she knew him.
Despite his hard edge, Brixton was a man who cared deeply and fondly for those in his charge.
If he'd chanced to give Esperanza a child, he'd never have left her.
Now he had come back. Back to her. Despite the anxiety of the past few days, she had to let him know she believed in him, and always would.
And that she loved him. It was time to say it out loud.
Katie ran in from outside, a bundle in her arms, and her face flushed with what could only be guilt. Minda felt a trill of alarm and hugged the child close.
“Firefly, what is it? What's the matter? And what do you have there?”
Moving free from Minda's arms, Katie tore away the brown paper and held out a glorious bolt of violet gossamer silk. Minda gasped at the beauty.
“Why, Firefly? What is this? Where did you get it?”
“It's a surprise from Uncle Brix. For you. One day I came out to get Schatzi and he was hiding it in the barn and I saw. He told me to keep it secret. It's for a new dress.”
“Then why now?”
Katie wiped her nose on her sleeve. “You're mad at Uncle Brix, and sad, too. I knew if you saw this, you wouldn't be angry anymore. I don't want you to go, Mama. That lady's outside. At school Emma said Uncle Brix used to love her back in Texas. So I thought, maybe, Uncle Brix's surprise will make you feel better. I can help you make the dress if you stay with us.”
“Oh, Firefly. I'll never leave. Whether I have a new dress or not.” The depth of Minda's love overcame any doubts, and she cast another look at her husband outside. Head shaking firmly, he remained a pillar of resolve. It was time for Minda to stand by his side.
Katie giggled. “It's been hard to keep this a surprise. Why do you think I always talked about you needing a new dress?”
After kissing Katie's cheek, Minda rose, took a little package from her worktable, and said, “You tend Priscilla if she wakes. I've got something to say.”
As she joined her husband and Esperanza outside, Minda wondered at the woman's fortitude. Even in her delicate condition, Esperanza's shoulders were steady, her body tall. For a frenzied moment, Minda wondered if the motherhood might be nothing but a stuffed pillow. Either way, she had no qualms about interrupting their discussion.
“Sorry to interrupt, Brixton. Miss Eames.” Resolute, she walked across the dusty yard to her husband's side and with an emphatic nod, took his hand in hers. Like always, she felt the heat from him that started her own delicious warmth down inside. “I am sorry about your predicament, but don't cast blame on my husband in your desperation. He does not run away from responsibility. I am living proof of that.”
Brixton looked down at her with eyes so meltingly dark that she knew he could see into her heart, into her very soul. She knew he believed her.
For a moment, she returned his gaze until Esperanza's feet shifted. Minda gestured at the coachman to come assist. “Now I wish you health and I wish you well, but please, Miss Eames, leave our home.”
* * * *
Our home
? Brixton's heart twinged with doubt. Had she grown so attached? Was his plan bound for failure?
Her hand clamped in his, she stayed so close to him their bodies touched, starting all kinds of heated thoughts as the carriage drove Esperanza away, and hopefully out of his life for all time. But no hatred bloomed. Desperation drove people to unimaginable plans.
Look at Norman Dale.
The babe was sure to be Rawley Snate's. The cattle trail was long, but its world wasn't wide. If Esperanza could be honest with trail boss Buck Hannon, he could find her lover in a flash and calm down her old man.
Brix had a home and family of his own now, and a wife to soothe.
“Minda, I never ... there was never a chance, me and Esperanza never, I mean, we didn't...”
She smiled up at him, glowing in a way he hadn't seen before. “I know, Brixton. I believe you about that. I don't think she expected to see you here today. I'm sure she came here today to buy me off and enchant the children with gifts.” She glanced away for a moment, but then looked at him with a tease in her eye. “She found out the truth about our wedding fast enough and figured I'd enjoy a way out.”
Brix hated to think the words, much less mouth them. “What would you say to something like that?” He gave a quick glare at Esperanza's departing dust.
She spit fire. “What? I haven't proven myself yet that I want to stay? You're the one who took off, Brixton, without a word. And you can say all you want about leaving a note. But you didn't.”
“Can we go sit somewhere, Minda? I left a note, truth as I live. On your worktable with your hat fixins.” He kept her hand tight in his and led her to the porch steps, and she sank down in seeming appreciation.
“I'm there every day, Brixton. There wasn't a note.” She nodded as vigorous as a schoolmarm.
“You say I'm lying about that?” Brix wasn't lying at all. How could he convince her he spoke true?
Minda's eyelids closed. “I hope not, Brixton. But you've had some difficulty with the truth in the past. Thing is, you always said I'd know when you left for good, because you'd kiss me good-bye. That didn't happen either.”
At least she didn't mind leaning against him. Her shoulders pressing into his made him want to tuck her underneath his arm and keep her always by his side. But there were things to say.
“Well, for one thing, I didn't leave,” he said. “Had an important errand to run for this family that took me away from home. Like I said previous, I did kiss you, but you were sleeping sound. However, I can sure make up for it now.”
When she didn't frown at him or pull away, he drew her against his chest for an embrace he hoped would prove he wasn't lying. Or leaving again. Leastways not for the reasons she thought. His lips brushed the top of her hair, then traveled down her ear like he knew she liked, swooping across her cheek to her mouth. For a moment, she let him linger like two butterflies mating on a breeze, then she sat up again.
“Oh, no, you don't, Mr. Haynes. You can't charm me without some good explanation.” But her eyes sparkled a bit. “I had some pretty bad days there.”
“I believe I am in trouble, you using my formal name again,” he teased back. “Thing is, maybe my note blew out the window on a draft.”
“Not good enough, Mr. Haynes.” Once again she looked at him in that schoolteacher way, but by no means did her stern lips prevent his craving another kiss. Her eyebrows rose. “Since our adventures with the Peavy boys, I shut up tight at night.”
“Well, Miz Haynes, likely a good explanation will come to life.” He took his chance with another kiss, and she allowed it, closing her eyes promptly. Even better, her lips danced across his like Fara's hoofs minced through a flower garden. Her tongue teased. Down below, his manhood came to the new life only she could give it. For a flash, he remembered that last night in her arms when all the stars in the heavens had melted together at the same time.
She pulled away, and her eyes dropped shyly to her lap. “I hope so, Brixton. I've got things to say, too.”
At her words, his heart skipped a half-dozen beats, but she no longer wore the somber expressions from the days the kids got sick or lost, when she said she couldn't do it alone. She wasn't going to have to, now.
He had to let her know, and drew her close. “Well, Minda, if you can forgive me for my lapses, I can explain the nature of my errand. But most of all, I need to apologize for those bad days you had. Never was my intent.”
“Why, I don't believe you've ever apologized for anything.” She settled against him and gave him her teasing smile, but her voice turned serious.
“All I know is what happened, Brixton. Like this. I tell you I can't raise the children alone. Fara comes back into your life on a day I see you consulting over something with Tom Holden. The next morning, Neddie sees you ride off without a look back. Esperanza shows up. I think maybe you learned her news and ran off. I think you're planning to parcel off the children—I remember Tom wanting Neddie. You've left like you promised. But without a word.
“I seek out Jake and he tells me you'd never have left if you'd had to face me. Every little puzzle piece seemed to fit.”
At her words, he felt her pain straight into his gut. How could he know her so well already? How could his plan have gone so far out of kilter?
“Minda, none of your sad thoughts bear fruit.” He spoke fast and fervent, not wanting her hurts to fester. “Tom, now, he did me a service. He mentioned at Skinny Hank's that day some news he got from a cousin in the Sand Hills.”
“Sand Hills?”
“Yep. Cattle country. Not so very far from Paradise. His neighbor woke up and died two weeks past. Widow's selling the ranch fast to get back home to St. Louis. I've been thinking thoughts that came to me slow, about giving up the trail and starting my own herd. My Bonnet Race prize can get me five healthy beeves for sure, maybe six or seven if I haggle right. After all, we already got two cows.
“I took off for that rancher's widow next day, to offer my Peavy reward as down payment on her place. After leaving that note.” He stared at her, wishing he could read her thoughts.
Her eyes were bright as the sky, with no unhappiness showing. “But the farm?”
“Tom'll lease it from us these next ten, twelve years ‘til Ned's grown up some. See if he wants to farm. But I'm growing high hopes our boy'll be a cattleman like I am. What with that heifer, he's showing the signs.”
“But...”
“I know what you're thinking. We got girls, too. Maybe by then we'll sell the farm, divide in thirds. But in the meantime, Tom's woman is delighted to get out of their soddie and into that fine wooden house.”
Minda smiled when he mentioned the fine wooden house she'd come to Paradise for, but her eyes were on guard.
“But none of this is gonna happen if you don't want it to,” Brix said. “I thought it a righteous surprise, but I recall just now that you aren't much one for me keeping secrets. All bargains are off with him and the widow if you don't want to go along with any of this. I know ... I know your hatmaking's bound for success and you made friends here.”
“More than friends, to be sure,” Minda said. “Caldwell made a formal offer for my hand the other day.”
He growled, feeling his finger bones up against Caldwell's face one last time. But those days were gone. He had a family now.
“Well, what'd you say?” Brix had to ask, had to know.
Minda looked down again and was so quiet for so long that he wished he hadn't asked.
“I said I'd think about it. But his question came in my darkest hour. I've told him no for certain.” Her face brightened with a laugh. “He promises he will not hold my refusal against the children at report card time.”