Maverick opened one eye and stared at him. Samuel frowned.
"Oh."
Samuel laid the log on the fire and stared as the flames licked hungrily at the fresh wood.
"Go on back to sleep, Luke. Everything's all right."
"G'night, Samuel," Luke muttered and lay back down, drawing the little dog close.
"Yeah. G'night." Samuel leaned his fore arm on the mantel and breathed deeply. He glared down at the big dog still staring at him accusingly from one wide eye. "You go to sleep, too, you no-good hound… "
Maverick snorted and closed his eye again.
Samuel glanced at the closed door to his right. Though his whole body ached for her, he knew that Abby would be sleeping alone. Grimly, then, he'd gone back to his own pallet by the fire and said the ABCs over and over, trying for some peace in forgetfulness. It didn't come.
The rooster crowed again, and Samuel opened his eyes, pushing thoughts of the foiled night aside. He only hoped Abby would let him explain.
Luke was outside collecting the eggs when she stepped out of her room. Samuel immediately went to her side.
"Abby… about last night… " he started.
She held up one hand. "Please, Samuel, you don't owe me an explanation." "But —" "Please. I'd rather not talk about it right now." She walked to her trunk, bent down, and lifted the lid. "Where is Luke?"
"Gettin' the eggs. Look, Abby…"
She stood up and turned to face him. "You two have to get ready for church." "Abby —" "This is for you." She held out a package wrapped in plain brown paper. In her other hand she held a smaller version of the same gift. "This is for Luke," she said softly. "I made them this week as a… surprise." Her voice caught on the last word.
"Abby, dammit all… " She stiffened. "I've told you before, Samuel. There is no need to swear at me."
"There is if you won't Listen!" He pushed one hand through his hair. "There ain't much time. Luke'll be back soon." He tossed the package onto the table and grabbed her shoulders. "Abby, I was goin' to come to you last night."
She looked away.
"Dammit, I was. But Luke woke up and saw me and I… well, hell. I didn't want him to watch me goin' into your room and all. Wouldn't be right."
Her gaze flicked back to him. With slow deliberation she studied his features while he held his breath. Finally a hesitant smile curved her lips, and her body relaxed into his.
Samuel's arms closed around her, drawing her tight against him. He sighed heavily, relieved beyond measure that everything was now right between them. He'd seen her red, puffy eyes, and he knew that she must have spent most of the long night before crying.
He bent lower and planted a kiss on top of her head. "Guess the only thing to do is build Luke a room, too."
Abby giggled and nestled closer. Samuel groaned, squeezed her tightly, and added, "I'll start today." She leaned her head back and looked up at him. "After church."
They stared at each other in a silent con test of wills. Finally Samuel grinned. "Yes, ma'am."
The front door flew open, and Luke came in behind the dogs. " 'Mornin', Abby!"
She tried to move away, but Samuel held her fast. "Good morning, Luke," she said. One last kiss to the top of her head and Samuel released her. Abby walked over to the boy and said softly,
"I have a present for you."
"For me?" His eyes widened as he looked from the package to Abby's smiling face. Quickly Luke set the basket of eggs on the table. He took the gift from Abby, his small fingers moving gingerly over the plain wrap ping.
"Yes, open them," Abby urged. "Both of you."
Samuel and Luke glanced at each other, then tore at the paper. Abby stood back and watched them proudly. She waited for their reaction, her face lit with anticipation.
"Oh, my," Samuel breathed quietly.
"Lordy," Luke said in a hush.
"Well?" Hands on her hips, Abby smiled at each of them delightedly. What a wonderful surprise! She could see by their faces that she'd succeeded. They were absolutely stunned! All those stolen hours late at night and early in the morning had been worth it.
"I can hardly wait to see you two in them," she said happily. "Oh, I can tell you, it was quite a chore finishing them up in time for church today… " She laughed softly. "And trying to work on them without you two catching me was a trial indeed!" She clapped her hands together. "Well… are you surprised?"
Samuel and Luke looked away from her to each other. New shirts in hand, they stared speechless at the gifts Abby had so painstakingly made for them. And in that long moment of silent communication, a decision was made. Turning back to the beaming woman, Samuel spoke first.
"You sure did surprise me, Abby." His fingers tightened on the fabric as he glanced down at it again. The red-and-yellow-striped material seemed to scream at him. He sup pressed a shudder. "It's a fine shirt."
"Yes'm," Luke threw in. A smaller, matching shirt hung from his hands. He looked up at Samuel for encouragement, then glanced back at Abby. "I ain't never had a shirt like this one."
She grinned and moved toward them. She smoothed Luke's cheek gently with one hand and clasped Samuel's hand with the other. "Oh, I'm so happy you like them. I so wanted you both to look your handsome best for our first time in church together!" She took a deep breath and released it in a rush. "Now, you two get ready while I fix breakfast." Turning for the front door, she said, "First, I'll get the kindling!"
As soon as she was safely outside, man and boy looked at each other, then disgustedly studied their new clothes.
"Samuel," Luke said desperately, "what're we gonna do?" He shot a look at the boy. "We're gonna get ready for church."
"But —"
"Luke, I ain't gonna hurt that woman."
The boy nodded grimly. His lip curled up as he lifted the shirt and looked at it from every possible angle.
" 'Sides," Samuel added, "I don't know about you, but I ain't never had a body work for a week on somethin' special just for me."
Luke sighed heavily. "All right. But I'm tellin' you, Samuel, this here is a fightin' shirt."
"Hmmm?"
"Some fool in town is bound to say some thin' about this dang thing, and I’m gonna have to fight him."
Samuel lifted his shirt higher up, holding it by two fingers. His nose wrinkling, he said thoughtfully, "Well, now, as cold as it's gettin', Luke… we just may have to wear our coats all morning."
Luke's gaze flew up hopefully to the man's face. "Even in church?" Samuel frowned. "Especially in church!"
The tiny church in Rock Creek had one of the best heating stoves Samuel'd ever seen. Even this close to winter, everyone inside was fannin' themselves with hymnals and casting curious looks at the only two people to keep their heavy coats on.
Sweat rolled down his back underneath his shirt and Samuel knew his face was beet-red. All he had to do was look down at the boy beside him. Luke looked about ready to faint, but his jacket was buttoned up to the neck.
Reverend Knight seemed willing to talk for ever, since he was so toasty warm, and Samuel was positive that the man had decided to read about the prodigal son just for his benefit. The reverend looked right at him every time the man could tear his eyes off of Abby's hat. Samuel could hardly blame the man for that, though. He'd stared at it for quite a spell that morning himself. Somehow, that one-eyed dove was losin' its feathers. If Samuel didn't know better, he'd swear the damn thing was molting. It wasn't bad enough that it had only one eye… now it was damn near bald!
The preacher smiled and nodded at Samuel again, and the big man tried not to groan. He shifted uneasily as dozens of eyes turned toward him. Why'd that reverend have to fix it so everybody in town kept watchin' him? Even Sheriff James was present, and the man didn't look too pleased to see Samuel.
He fidgeted nervously for the hundredth time, and Abby nudged him with her elbow. When she leaned toward him, he bent his head close, trying to avoid the dancing pink feather.
"For heaven's sake, Samuel," she hissed, "you and Luke both are in a fever sweat! Why don't you take those coats off?"
"We got a chill comin' on, Abby." He glanced at the preacher and hoped he wouldn't get into any trouble for lyin' in a church. "Best if we stay covered up." Then he straightened and gave the Reverend Knight his undivided attention. He ignored Abby's mumbled comment.
As soon as services were over, Samuel and Luke were the first out the double doors. They raced down the flight of steps and stood in the cold morning air, breathing deeply. The citizens of Rock Creek filed out of church more slowly, and Luke and Samuel were there, nodding greetings absently.
"You two feelin' all right?" Alonzo Mullins stopped opposite them, pulled out a huge red bandanna from his breast pocket, and mopped his high forehead. "You look as hot as I feel!" Shaking his head, he added, "I think Reverend Knight keeps that place so hot to remind us all of Hell — and danged if it don't work. Why, I feel saved every time I leave!"
"'Lonzo!" Minerva said on a gasp as she came up behind him. "On the very steps of the church!"
"Where better to talk about Hell, woman?" He winked at Samuel. "Preacher Knight jaws about it every week!"
The two women started off down the street, leaving their menfolk surrounded by rambunctious children who'd been too long confined.
"You children run on ahead now. You're about to split my head wide open with your hollerin'," Alonzo said, urging his brood toward the house.
Luke glanced uneasily back at Samuel. The big man shrugged as if to say there was no way to avoid the shirt problem forever.
Alonzo and Samuel started walking, keeping a comfortable distance between themselves and the screeching, running kids.
"Now," Alonzo said, "you gonna tell me why you kept your coat on all through the reverend's long-winded talk?"
Samuel stopped. He glanced uneasily around them before speaking. "Abby made me and Luke a surprise gift."
Alonzo's brows rose. "So?"
Sighing, Samuel undid the buttons of his coat. When he was finished, he pulled the edges of his jacket apart.
Alonzo blinked. A long, low-pitched whistle slid out of his pursed lips. "Well, what do you know? I thought nobody’d ever buy that material."
Samuel rolled his eyes.
The other man rubbed his jawline. "Funny thing. Looks a lot brighter when a body's wearin' it… " "I know." Samuel pulled his jacket closed again. "Luke's got one just like it."
Alonzo chuckled, then stopped quickly when he caught Samuel's eye. Trying to keep a straight face, he said, "Well, it's a good thing you kept them coats on after all. As hot as it gets in that church… folks see somethin' as bright as you two, they'd be about convinced they'd come to the gates of Hell!"
Samuel grinned sheepishly as his friend slapped him on the back.
"Let's go get us some of that cake before my bunch of terrors eat it all up," Alonzo said on another laugh.
"Thunderation!" Obadiah whistled and continued his slow walk around Luke. Shaking his head much like his father had, Obadiah rubbed his eyes and stopped in front of his friend. "I ain't never seen a shirt that godawful ugly before!"
Luke's hands balled into fists, and he ground his teeth together. He'd known there would be trouble, but he'd been hoping it wouldn't be with his only friend. "Take it back," he said, his gaze locked with Obadiah's.
"Why?" The other boy laughed. "You gotta know it's true!"
"I said take it back!" Luke advanced on his friend. The alley beside the Mercantile was dark and shadowed, even in the afternoon. Obadiah took two more steps back and stopped when he came up against the side of the building.
"Awright! I take it back." He frowned at Luke. "What's the matter with you anyhow? You really like that shirt?"
"Hell, no." Luke smoothed his hand down the front of the hated shirt gently. "But… well, Abby made it for me and…"
"Oh. Yeah, J know what you mean." Obadiah patted his friend's shoulder. "One time my ma made me a silly-lookin' suit." He shook his head slowly. "I looked like a danged fool, but Ma sure was pleased." Obadiah grinned. "Like to took me near six months to grow out of that durned thing!"
Relieved, Luke laughed, and the two of them started out of the alley together.
"Well, looky here…"
The boys stopped dead and looked up at the two men blocking the alleyway. The cowhands walked toward the boys, laughing and weaving on their feet. "Chris, you ever seen anything like that before?" Jason pointed at Luke's shirt. "No, I never." The shorter man's voice rose. "Don't he look pretty, though?"
Luke shrugged Jason's hand off his shoulder. "Leave me be."
"Say, Chris," the tall blond said as his hand clamped down on Luke, "ain't this the kid what was with the pretty lady?"
"I do believe you're right, Jas."
While the two men were talking, Obadiah shot out the alley and ran around to the back of the store. Trouble was comin'. He just knew it. He hit the door at a dead run, throwing the door into the wall. His mother and Abby jumped when he rushed in, gasping for air.
"Durn it, boy…" Minerva started, then noticed the fear on her son's face. "What is it?"
"Luke… alley… cowboys… "he managed finally.
Minerva ran for the front room and the men at the same time that Abby raced out the back door.
Abby had no idea what she would do when she got there. She only knew that she had to get to Luke. Coming around the corner of the store, she heard the drunken voices.
"She your ma, boy?"
"Watsa matter with you, boy?"
Then she heard Luke call out, "Let go o' me, you no-good son of a sorry mule!" Feet flying, Abby turned into the alley and kept right on going. It didn't matter what she might face — she wasn't about to let Luke be hurt again. Not if she could stop it. She crashed into the tall blond cowboy, sending him sprawling into the dirt. As she turned for the other one, she saw Luke had already started.