Shane's Bride (Mail Order Brides of Texas #3) (8 page)

His face bloomed crimson and he nodded then cast his eyes to the floor.

“Now where was I? Oh yes, Poor Boy.  There has not been a day when Poor Boy hasn’t worked for a place to stay and food to eat.  He never causes any trouble, and I’m glad Shane took him in.  It’ll take a bit of time for you, Lucy, to get acquainted with our way of life.  It’s best to keep your haughty manner to yourself.”

Cecily had to keep her jaw from dropping.  Did Edith just defend her and Poor Boy? Things certainly weren’t boring in Asherville.  Cecily nodded her thanks to Edith and winked at Poor Boy.

Lucy sat in the chair straight and tall with a slight lift to her chin.  She added four teaspoons of sugar into her coffee, picked up the spoon and stirred it, acting as though she hadn’t heard anything Edith had to say.  Secretly, Cecily was delighted to have the bull’s-eye taken off her back and placed on Lucy’s.

“So, what is it you do in town, Edith? I’m assuming you have a job.”

“Why, I own the mercantile,” Edith said with pride.

Lucy waved her hand as though shooing away a fly.  “So you’re in trade.  How nice for you.  You probably know everything that goes on in town.  Are there committees or groups of women who do not have to work for a living?”

Edith shook her head and arched her eyebrow.  “I’m sure you can make all the committees and groups you like, but I think you’ll find the membership of each will be one.  The only woman of substance in our town is Addy Quinn. She comes from a rich family in Boston but you would never know.  She treats everyone as an equal and hasn’t used her immense inheritance on fancy clothes and other fripperies.  She’s put a fair amount into the ranch she and her husband own.  They don’t make them nicer than Addy.”

Cecily got up and grabbed the coffee pot refilling everyone’s cup before she sat down.  “How are Addy and Shannon?”

Edith smiled.  “Both have been declared under house arrest by their husbands.  Those two scamps wanted to come and help you with Shane.  They will both feel better knowing that you have Poor Boy to help you.”

Cecily nodded and smiled.

“Well, I’m here now,” Lucy declared.  “I don’t see the need for us all to be here.  Cecily, perhaps could go and work for this Addy or that Shannon.  I’m sure you could take Poor Boy along.  I’ll take care of Shane.”

Cecily laughed and shook her head.  She couldn’t help her laughter and had to cover her mouth with her hand.  Finally, she managed to get control of herself and stopped.  “I saw your way of taking care of Shane.  Staring at him impatiently and then talking him to death when he’s awake is not how you nurse a person.  I never once saw you get him a glass of water or wipe his brow.  And as far as talking nonstop, all you do is tire him out.”

Lucy scowled and narrowed her eyes as she stared at Cecily.  “I don’t take kindly to servants talking to me in such a tone.  A good whipping would teach you your place.  And, Edith, thank you for your unsolicited advice.  I’m staying, and I’m running the house the way I want.  Now, Cecily, remove yourself from the table.”

Cecily was torn.  She didn’t know what to do.  If she showed weakness now, she’d never gain the upper hand, yet would Lucy really have her whipped.? How Shane could have a friend such as Lucy she’d never know.

The doctor walked into the kitchen, smiling.  “I do believe he’s going to be just fine.  Cecily keep doing what you been doing.  It’s working.  He does seem a bit tuckered out.  It’s not unusual for person who’s gunshot to take several naps during the day.  Raised voices, fighting and overall tension are not good for him.  I’ll be back tomorrow.  Miss Edith, may I walk you home?”

“Thanks, Doc, I’ll take you up on your offer.  I’ll be back tomorrow.” Edith gave Lucy a malicious smile. 

Cecily walked ahead of the couple and opened the door for them. 

“You stay clear of that viper.  I’ve dealt with women like her before.  Don’t you worry.  Like I said I’ll be here tomorrow,” Edith said with a stiff nod as she took the doc’s arm and went down the stairs.

For a moment, Cecily wished she could leave.  All she wanted in life was peace, and she’d had it, but for such a brief time she wanted more.  Lucy was going to find out the hard way that she took all threats seriously and she wasn’t afraid to fight back.  She’d probably have to defend Poor Boy too, but she’d learned a lot being Long Nose’s wife.  Fighting to inflict pain was the only way to fight and she was up for it.  She just hoped it wouldn’t come to that.

****

Shane dreamed he was swimming in a secluded pond filled with cool water.  It felt so good to dive in and just swim.  The only thing that could’ve made it better was if he wasn’t alone.  His eyes blinked as he awakened.  He sighed, wishing he could go back into his dream until he turned his head and glimpsed Cecily by his side sitting in the ladder back chair, sound asleep.  She really was lovely with her thick shiny sable hair flowing around her shoulders.  She had on the yellow dress he’d bought for her, and the color looked very good on her.  She brightened the room with her presence.  Every once in a while she would snore, and he wanted to laugh out loud.  He’d bet the farm she didn’t know.

He sighed as he gazed at her lovely complexion with her skin so fair and so soft.  Her high cheekbones were rosy, and her lips looked like luscious bows or perhaps cherries was a better description.  He liked seeing her at peace.  There were many times he saw a flicker of pain cross her face and wondered what she was thinking or remembering.  She’d been through an ordeal many didn’t survive, and it made him mad that people looked down on her now.  They should be congratulating her on her bravery but instead they wanted to know why she didn’t kill herself.  He shook his head.  He’d never understand people.  He glanced around wondering what time it was.  The bedroom door was open and he could see sunlight in the kitchen.  A lot had happened in such a short time.  Getting shot was unexpected and so was Lucy’s arrival.  He had been certain he’d never see her again, yet somehow she’d found him.  She probably had all types of opportunities for marriage, yet here she was in Asherville.

He shook his head.  She was right; they’d been the best of friends growing up, and Lucy was one of the reasons he’d left the South for good.  It wasn’t anything romantic, but he was afraid that in Lucy’s mind it was.  Shane never liked the notion of slavery, and he and his father often argued.  But his father was right, he couldn’t maintain his way of life without free labor.  If that was the way it had to be, Shane wanted no part of it.  Lucy had been looking at him with wide eyes and possibly big dreams, and Shane’s father didn’t like that.  In fact, he had been making arrangements to sell Lucy, and ultimately that was the reason Shane left and headed west.

He really didn’t have any plan in mind, didn’t know where he was going or what he was going to do, but he had two good hands and a strong back, and that was all he needed.  He was good with the gun, but he didn’t want to be known for being a quick draw.  That type of thing got men killed, and he expected to be around for a good while yet. 

He tried to sit up and ended up groaning, waking Cecily from her slumber.

“Oh my, I’m supposed to be taking care of you and here I am sleeping on the job,” she said with a trace of humor in her voice.  Reaching over she placed her hand on his forehead and smiled.  “Well, Sheriff O’Connor, I do believe you’ll survive.  Your fever is gone, and I’d say that’s a good sign.”

“It’s all thanks to you and your wonderful care.” He smiled as he gazed at her.

“Oh bother, you two can stop right there Shane,” Lucy said as she barged into the room.  “You fell asleep, so you have no idea that I was the one who took on the responsibility of your care.  Are you hungry? I’m sure we can have Cecily whip up something for you.”

Cecily’s shoulders slumped, and any good cheer she’d had drained from her.  He was pretty sure it had been Cecily, not Lucy, who had nursed him back to health.

“How long have I been out? Has it been a few days?”

“No, the doctor just left about three hours ago,” Cecily told him as she gave Lucy a pointed stare.

“Then I’m confused.  Lucy, when was it you nursed me back to health? Seems to me Cecily has done all the work.”

Lucy dismissed him with a flick of her hand.  “You were sleeping, so you don’t know a thing.  I’m glad I was here and that you’re now well.”

Cecily stood and walked toward the doorway.  She stopped and looked back toward Shane.  “You’re not well.  We’ve only climbed over the first hurdle, your fever.  So you stay in bed.” She quickly turned away and was out the door. 

Shane smiled widely.

“What’s that smile for? Don’t tell me you’ve fallen for the help.”

Shane stared at the ugly frown on Lucy’s face.  “I was just thinking that for such a tiny woman, she sure is bossy.  She’s fearless all right.” He nodded and kept smiling until Lucy glared at him.

“Well as long as she realizes she’s not in charge here, we should all get along just fine.”

“Listen, Lucy, I don’t want to fight with you, but I do remember not too long ago that
you
were the help.  I’m sure you wished you’d been treated with kindness and respect.  Cecily isn’t any more of a servant here than you are.  Texas is a place where you have to work to survive.”

She jutted out her bottom lip as she crossed her arms in front of her.  “So that’s how it is.  I should’ve known, but somehow I missed all the clues.”

Puzzled, Shane tried to make sense of what she was saying.  “What clues are you talking about?”

“I see the way you look at her and how you hang on her every word.  But from what I’ve gathered she’s not a fit wife…for you or any other man.” She sat on the edge of the bed and touched his hand.  “Don’t you remember what we were to each other? How much we felt for each other? How we longed for each other? I know that’s why you left.”

Shane drew his hand from her grasp and groaned as he tried to move to the other side of the bed.  “Lucy, we were childhood friends and that was it.  There was no longing for each other, at least not on my part.  I’m sorry if somehow I misled you.”

“Misled me?” Lucy stood and paced at the end of the bed.  “We were destined to be together everyone said so.  I grew up knowing I was yours, and I couldn’t wait for the day when we could be together.  You seem to have forgotten how much you loved me.”

“I don’t know where you got the idea that we could ever be together.  I left before the War Between the States, when you were still a slave.  Just how did you think we were going to be together?”

She stopped her pacing and stiffened as she turned and stared at him with tears in her eyes.  “I waited and waited for you to come to me, but you never did.  I knew in my heart that someday you would take me to be your mistress.  But now I’m free, and we could be married if you wanted to.  There’s no one here to say I’m not white.  Shane, you need to look into your heart and remember how it was between us before you left.  Do you remember when you taught me how to dance? Didn’t it feel good to be in each other’s arms? Why we spent so much time together I never imagined you leaving without me.  You left me alone to the ridicule of all the slaves who said I was uppity and needed to be brought down a peg or two.  I still worked in the house but every night I went back to my cabin and was alone.” A tear trailed down her face.

“You know there’s always been a division between the house slaves and the others.  I don’t think it was because I left.  I think it was because you acted as though you were better than the others.  It doesn’t matter what your station in life is, you should always have compassion for others less fortunate than you.  I know you had plenty of proposals but you turned them all down.  My father saw the way you looked at me and planned to sell you.  You would have been ripped away from your family.”

Shane ran his fingers through his hair and shook his head.  “We argued, and my father said if I didn’t like the way he ran things I was welcome to leave.  I packed that very night and left the next morning.  I left before he had the chance to sell you.  I didn’t feel that way about you and I refused to be the reason you were sold.  I don’t believe in one person owning another, but I could’ve kept my beliefs to myself if it weren’t for the cruelty of beatings and the selling of a slave’s family members.”

Her jaw dropped open, and she gazed at him as though he was someone she didn’t know.  “I saw the lust in your eyes every time you looked at me.  It thrilled me to no end, and I was dying of anticipation to be with you.”

“I never meant to hurt you, but what you’re saying simply isn’t true.  I also don’t believe in masters bedding their slaves.”

Her eyes narrowed.  “You could’ve bought me.  I’m sure your daddy would’ve given you a good price.  That’s what I could not understand all these years is why you left me.  I tried every which way for us to be friends.”

“And you succeeded.  We were the best of friends when we were children, but you must have known that our lives were going down different paths.  I might have left suddenly, but I would have left eventually.  It wasn’t my dream to be a plantation owner, and my father knew it.  He told me more than once how disappointed he was in me.  So I’m glad I left, and I’m glad I found this little town where people are valued based on their work ethic and not for how much money they have in the bank.”

Lucy shook her head.  “How can you say that? You have one of the nicest houses in the whole damn town.  Wasn’t there a lesser house you could have purchased?”