Battered Soul: Mail Order Brides of Spring Water Book Three, page 11
The rain stopped, but the wind kept blowing. She wanted to leave, but Lex caught her in his stare.
He shook his head. “She calls me Lexington.” He didn’t say more, but he didn’t have to. He only tolerated Lex from her, and she’d never dare to call him Lexington.
She laughed. “She doesn’t know you very well.” Then she grew serious. “Why did you propose?”
“The loneliness tears at my heart. I thought I could forget. I had hoped I could come to love her. She’s a fine woman.”
“She’s pretty, and she has money.”
“We haven’t worked everything out yet.” He shrugged.
Her lips trembled. “Yet?”
“She hasn’t accepted yet, and I’m honor bound to wait for her answer. We still have a few things to work out.”
“I see.” A shiver rolled through her, reminding her she was soaking wet. “I’m getting cold. I do wish you every happiness, Lex. I wish…”
He stepped toward her. “What do you wish, Iris?”
“I wish my whole life had been different. I really need to go.” She turned and ran out of the cemetery and to the boarding house. Once there, she went right to her room and stayed until morning.
Chapter Eleven
Two months later
Georgie took the baby from Iris. “I’m glad you’re back. You’ve been such a help to me. Caring for more than one child is hard.”
“Douglas is doing great, and he adores his new baby brother Will. I’m glad you allowed me to come back.” Iris heated the iron on the stove.
“You’re family, Iris. This will always be your home. You’ve been a Godsend. With me having Will, Veronica having Charlie, and Glory having Kenny, you’ve been a busy and a great help.”
“No word from Sondra still?” Iris asked as she lay out the shirt she wanted to iron.
“No, but I’m not surprised since we asked her to leave. Walter doesn’t mention her in his occasional letters. We’ll hear something in time I’m sure.” Georgie kissed Will’s little cheek.
“You were all blessed with beautiful sons.” Iris was happy for them all but wistful too.
“You want children,” Georgie stated.
“Yes, I always thought I’d be a wife and mother. Maybe someday.” She glanced away. It just wasn’t in her future, and she had no control over that.
“I’ll let you get back to your ironing,” Georgie said, smiling. Then her smile gentled. “Iris, you need to forgive yourself. You didn’t intentionally hurt Lex. Your circumstances were highly unusual. There are more than a few men on the ranch who would like to court you.”
Iris smiled. “It’s too soon. I feel like something or someone has died, and I’m still grieving, if that makes any sense.”
Georgie nodded. “It makes perfect sense to me.” She started to walk away with Will. “He didn’t marry her.” And she kept walking.
A wave of sadness hit Iris. Maybe she didn’t want to know any more about Lex. She ironed until it was all done. She was grateful to know what Mary Beth decided. The more thought she had given it, the more Iris realized that Mary Beth wasn’t right for him. Now he could find another, someone more suited.
All the women came for tea often, and they asked her to sit with them, but she rarely did. She loved each of them, but she wasn’t part of them, not really. She attended church with them all and went on some family outings, but her soul still felt battered. It got tiring to pretend to smile all the time.
She’d be fine in time, she kept telling herself, and she hoped it was true. She was never without something to do. She stopped at the women’s houses to help out when she finished her work. Maybe she just needed to accept her fate and stop waiting for her heart to heal. It might never do so. She poured herself a cup of coffee and took it out to the front porch to drink. The sunflowers had bloomed, and they dipped and swayed in the breeze. It was a beautiful sight.
From now on she would count her blessings instead of bemoaning what she couldn’t have. Lord, my heart won’t heal but if you could help me heal my soul — If I could find joy in the little things again, I’d be so grateful. Seems I’m always asking for things, Lord, though I do praise you in church. I do thank you and I try not to want things I can’t have. I try to avoid wishing for things that aren’t mine to have. I know you’re with me. I never walk alone.
She heard a wagon coming up the long drive. They’d be stopped before continuing on. The Ku Klux Klan was growing stronger, and Parker made sure everyone living on his ranch was guarded, especially since he housed and employed freedmen on his ranch. Plus there was a school on the property for all to attend.
She drank down her coffee and hurried inside. She wasn’t the most cheerful person to greet people. She had laundry hanging on the line that should be dry. She grabbed her basket and went out the back. There were so many diapers hanging, she almost laughed. Sometimes she thought that was all she did; make sure there were enough diapers for Douglas and Will.
She took them off the line one by one. The sun was shining down on her, and its warmth provided comfort to her. Texas had grown on her, and she saw its beauty. She even went to find healing plants with Glory a few times. They all tried so hard to include her, and it was time for her to make more of an effort. She’d say yes the next time they invited her to spend time with them.
Next, she took down the sheets she’d washed. They’d get ironed in the morning when it was cooler. When she was done, she put her hands behind her, touched her back, and stretched backward. She closed her eyes and did it a few times. Then she bent forward, grabbed the basket, and opened her eyes.
She had to blink a few times to be sure, but there was Lex standing in front of her.
She couldn’t help the smile that spread across her face but it dimmed at the serious expression he wore.
“Hello, Iris.”
“Hello. I should have had someone warn you I was living here. I’ll stay out of your way while you’re here.” She turned and carried the basket into the house. As soon as the door was closed, she put the basket on the floor and leaned back against the wall. Her heart pounded, and she was out of breath.
“Iris, what in the world?” Georgie asked. “Are you ill?”
“I just need to sit down for a moment. I’ll be in my room.”
Georgie’s eyes were full of concern but Iris couldn’t manage to talk. She went to her room and sat on the bed.
* * *
Willis smiled. He hadn’t known what to expect, but her reaction to him told him all he needed to know. He was home to stay.
Parker rounded the house and gave Willis a big bear hug. “I’m so glad to see you. It seems like forever since you left.”
“Feels the same to me. But it was good. I did a lot of thinking, and I rebuilt the house. I almost got married, but I didn’t, and now here I am.”
“To stay, I hope,” Parker looked encouraged.
“Here to stay. I have me a filly to catch. She’s wary, and she’s scared, but I plan to win her trust.” He smiled. Two smiles in one day imagine that.
“I think your chances are good.” Parker cracked a knowing grin. “You missed the births. We now have three more strapping boys on the ranch. We named mine Will, and he’s the most handsome of course. Max’s boy is Charlie and Kent’s is named Kenny. Iris has been an angel with all the work she does.”
“Sounds like I have a lot of catching up to do. Listen, don’t tell Iris I’m here for her. We must find our own way to each other. Could you tell Georgie thank you, but no?”
Parker grinned. “She wants to lock you two in a room and not allow you out until you both admit how you feel.”
“I figured as much.”
“Come on in. Your house is finished.” Parker led the way to the front of the house.
“I’ll wait until I have someone to share it with. The bunkhouse is fine for now.” He hesitated for a second before he went Parker’s the house. Iris would just have to accept that he was back.
Georgie cried when she hugged him and then smiled when she let him hold Will. “He’s named after you.”
Willis grinned. “Well I’ll be. Better Will than Lexington.”
“Plan on having supper with us, and I’ll invite the rest for coffee and dessert.”
“Thanks, Georgie that sounds mighty fine.”
“We’ll be out in the barn,” Parker told Georgie before they went back out.
They walked toward the corral. “We have some great horses we’ve been working with.”
Willis studied the horses for a moment. “They look to be the best I’ve seen.”
“I caught them,” Kent said as he joined them.
“Kent!” The two men hugged.
“It’s about time you came home.”
Max smiled when he saw them and came right over. “I have sorely missed you, my friend. I was getting ready to come drag you home.”
“I built the house, but the land is dust. I was able to sell the place though.”
“He almost got married,” Parker added.
“What happened?” Kent asked. He glanced at Parker’s house. “Never mind, I think I already know.”
“I hear congratulations are in order for all your dads.” Willis laughed as the three men all talked at once. It was good to be home.
They worked, caught up, and joked until it was supper time. They went their separate ways except for Parker and Willis.
“What’s your plan, Willis, to catch your filly?”
“I’ll have to go on instinct, but I’m thinking the interested but not too interested approach may bring her a bit closer.”
Parker laughed. “You really mean to catch her like a filly.”
“It’s what I do best.”
They walked into the house and sat at the table. There was tension in the air as he waited for Iris to bring the food and join them. She haunted his dreams and there had to be a way to make her see they were meant to be.
When she walked to the table, her hands full of platters, he found it hard to breathe; she was so beautiful. She’d put on a fresh dress and styled her hair a bit differently than she’d had it that afternoon. She’d never admit it, but she’d done it for him and that made him proud.
When all the food was brought out, he jumped up and pulled her chair out for her. The surprise and delight in her eyes confirmed his reason for coming back home. The food was delicious, and the conversation light until Iris asked a question.
“Why didn’t you get married to Mary Beth?”
“We weren’t suited.” He shrugged.
“How did you know?” she asked
“She wanted to move to town and live with her father.”
Iris shrugged. “I heard they were rich. I bet they had a really fancy house.”
He stared at her wondering what answer she wanted. “I’m my own man. I don’t live with other women’s fathers footing the bill. Besides, what was I supposed to do in town?”
“The livery was for sale. You could have bought it.”
“She hated my house. It wasn’t good enough.”
Iris tilted her head while she stared back at him. “So, she was a snob?”
“No. Yes. I don’t know. It came down to the fact I didn’t love her. Marriage is for a lifetime, and she just wasn’t for me.”
Satisfied, she nodded and sat back.
Willis felt a sense of relief that the whole subject was out of the way. He knew he’d have to explain it. What he didn’t add was that Mary Beth wasn’t affectionate, her kiss left him cold, and he didn’t think about her at all. She wasn’t Iris.
They moved into the main room when the others arrived. Willis hugged each of his friend’s wives and admired their children. Iris served them all coffee and apple pie. She was about to join them when Douglas wanted to sit on Georgie’s lap, but she was holding Will.
Iris took the baby and sat down. He felt gut kicked watching her with a baby in her arms. She was meant to be a mother. She should have had a couple of her own. She met his gaze and gave him a sad smile.
He grinned back and nodded. She appeared so peaceful and serene, and her smile changed when she gazed at Will. She wanted a child. That was in his favor.
“Willis?” Max prompted. “Are you paying attention? Was it hard trying to sell the land?”
Max was right, he hadn’t been paying attention. “Not once I got the house done. It turned out to be a fine house. A pig farmer and his family bought it.”
He stretched his arms out in front of him. It had been a long day. “Thank you for the invitation, Georgie. It’s always appreciated. Iris, the meal was delicious as always. The rest of you, I’ll see tomorrow. I can’t wait to get back to training horses.” He went toward the front door and grabbed his hat. He put it on and turned back, tipping the brim at Iris. Her blush made him grin. He was on the right track.
* * *
The next morning Georgie was all smiles. “You were glowing at Willis’ praise last night. I probably shouldn’t say anything, but I have high hopes for the two of you.”
Iris continued to clear the breakfast dishes away. “He had me blushing more than once, but I will not read into anything. Nice and slow would probably be the best way to proceed if we do proceed.”
“That sounds like a good plan. Glory asked if you could watch the two boys this morning. Kenny is fussing and Teddy won’t leave his brother. It can’t be an easy teaching school with a newborn to take care of, but somehow she makes it work.”
“I’d be happy to. Leave the dishes I’ll get to them when I get back.”
Georgie smiled, and Iris smiled back. They both knew that Georgie planned to do the dishes.
Iris grabbed her blue wrap and left. The day was perfect! There was a nice breeze, the sun was out, and it wasn’t too hot. Glory opened the door before Iris knocked. She put Kenny in her arms. “I’ll be back in a few hours to feed Kenny. Letty, one of the mothers, comes in to help at that time. Thank you so much, Iris. Oh, I promised Teddy you’d go to the corral so he could watch his daddy with the horses.” She bent and kissed Teddy, touched Kenny’s cheek, and waltzed out the door. “Thank you!”
Glory had more energy than anyone Iris had ever known. Teddy already had his hat on and Kenny was well wrapped in a blanket. They might as well go watch the men train the horses. Iris stopped for a moment. The odds were high that this trip to the corral was a set up, so she’d be able to watch Lex. A sigh slipped out. They all meant well.
“Let’s go see Daddy and the horses.” She held out her hand, and Teddy took it. She walked nice and slow so the little boy could keep up. As they drew closer, her stomach fluttered. She hadn’t gotten her fill of watching Lex last night.
“Daddy! Kenny and me are here to help!” He pulled his hand out of hers and ran to Kent, who bent down with his arms open wide for his son. Teddy laughed as Kent turned him around in a big circle.
Iris laughed, the first real laugh in a long time. She glanced at the rest of the men and found Lex watching her with a big smile on his face. He certainly was a handsome man, very handsome and strong and sweet. She finally had to look away before she climbed the fence to get to him. It would be harder than she thought to go nice and slow. It would be torturously slow.
Kent walked toward her with Teddy sitting up on his shoulder. “Kenny seems content. Thank you for helping out today.”
“My pleasure, Kent. You have two very fine boys here.”
The pride in his eyes shone. “I think so too.” He set Teddy down next to her. “I have work to do, but you can watch, Teddy. Stay here.”
“I will, Daddy.”
Every time they switched out horses in the corral, they brought it over so Teddy could meet the horse. He wasn’t allowed to pet them since they were new horses and one never knew what a horse might do.
Lex had more horses to show them than any of the other men. He introduced the horses to Teddy, but each time his eyes bore into hers. She enjoyed it. Her face was probably permanently red from all the attention but she hadn’t felt so special in so long.
Two hours went fast. Glory was there before she knew it and planned to take the boys to the school with her. Teddy was already learning his letters. He wasn’t even five years old yet. Iris took her leave and went back to work with a light and happy heart.
Georgie smiled at her when she walked in the house. “Hanging out with the men I see,” she teased while her eyes twinkled.
“Yes I was, and I enjoyed it very much. I have dishes to wash.” She headed toward the kitchen.
“No you don’t! I already washed them.”
Iris kept walking anyway. She needed to pick the vegetables for the evening meal and check to make sure there was enough food for the noon meal. She’d need to make biscuits, churn some butter too.
She got busy and got the biscuits ready to go into the oven and then she got the butter churn and sat outside with it. She almost always sat out back, but today she sat on the front porch hoping to glimpse Lex. Her behavior was shameful but she couldn’t help herself. It was disappointing when the milk turned into butter and she’d seen no sign of Lex. Inside she went, and she put the butter in two butter molds before she grabbed her basket to collect the vegetables.
There were carrots, snap peas, onions, and ears of corn; more than enough for dinner. She’d make creamed corn soup for the noon meal to serve with leftovers from the previous night. Having the freedom to plan the meals pleased her. She liked working here much better than at the restaurant. The ranch was her home.
Lex didn’t join them for the noon meal, but before disappointment could roll over her, Parker told her Lex would be there for supper. She’d have to think of what to have for dessert. She finally decided on bread pudding with whiskey sauce.
She hummed as she worked chopping carrots and abruptly stopped. When was the last time she’d hummed? Before the war probably. Would Lex ask her to walk with him? Maybe she was thinking too far ahead.
A big commotion was happening outside, and she grabbed a rifle before she peeked out the front window. Georgie was on the stairs coming down, rifle in hand.
