Place Of Her Own (6 page)

In the barn, he saddled his horse and headed south toward Creelsboro.

Thirty minutes later, Shelton pushed Kehoe to a fast gallop. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d taken the animal out for a decent run. A good workout would be healthy for Kehoe, not to mention how much it would benefit his owner.

A small stream of sweat rolled down Shelton’s spine. He eased up on the reins and patted Kehoe’s neck. “Feel good, boy?”

Shelton stopped at Jobbes Fork and let the horse drink. Kehoe enjoyed the speed. Shelton did, too.

The gentle run of the river soothed Shelton’s rankled nerves. Perhaps Prudence was right and Katherine was just having some kind of female problem. But from the way her eyes went distant a couple of times during their conversation, he didn’t think so.
She’s like a timid mare, Lord. Only worse. More like a battered horse.

“No, Lord,” he prayed. Surely nothing that serious had happened to Katherine. But a few days back he’d had a similar thought.

Shelton hoisted himself off Kehoe. The leather creaked as he steadied his feet on the ground.

Did he really want to know about her past? His mind imagined the worst thing that could be done to a female child. It made his stomach churn.

Lifting a twig, he pierced the packed sand of the riverbank. He jammed the stick in farther. “I’m madder than a snake, Lord. I know I shouldn’t be, but I am. Men like that should be hung.” He walked along the edge of the river, reminding himself not to assume something he didn’t know for sure was true.

The wind stirred the top of the pine trees across the river. Water cascaded over a fallen tree trunk. “Lord, take this anger from me. I don’t like being this way.”

Working at the mill was beginning to sound better all the time. It would be steady work, and the more Shelton felt anger building up in him the more he needed to do some physical exercise. Unfortunately, being a part of the higher social circles, he’d never learned to do much of anything other than take care of his horses.

With determined steps he limped back to his horse and headed toward Crockett’s paper mill. It was time for him to get a job. If he was hired, he’d save all his money and buy some land. Perhaps in a year he’d have a place built for his parents. Then he could think about becoming involved with Katherine. Maybe by that time he could handle his mixed emotions.

“Are you feeling better?”

Katherine smiled at Prudence, who was adjusting the cool compress against her forehead. “I’m fine. I don’t know what came over me.”

“When did you eat last?”

Katherine thought for a moment. At breakfast she’d nibbled at the counter, but didn’t sit down to eat with the family. “I had a piece of bacon this morning.”

“That’s not enough,” she chided. “Now, tell me what happened out back.”

Leaning her head into the pillow, she closed her eyes. “A dark memory overcame me.” She’d leave it at that. Prudence wouldn’t pry.

“That’s been happening a lot lately, hasn’t it?”

Katherine nodded.

“Is it because my brother is here?”

“I thought so at first, but now I’m not sure. Maybe this will be the last time.”

Prudence gave her a slight smile. “Stay in bed and rest for a while. I’ll send Tucker in with something for you to eat.”

“Thank you.” Normally she would have objected at having someone wait on her, but today she didn’t have the strength to fight. “Prudence?”

“Yes?” Her sister-in-law turned in the doorway.

“I think it’s time for me to move to Creelsboro, find a place of my own. I can supply some of the merchants with articles of clothing to sell.”

Prudence shook her head. “Please don’t make any plans right now. If you can stay a little longer, you might not want to move to Creelsboro.”

Katherine sat up on the bed. “What are you talking about?”

“I can’t say right now. I’ll speak to Urias and tell him your plans.” Prudence turned to leave.

“Pru?”

“Talk to Urias,” she said as she left.

“Where is he?” Katherine called out, but no one answered. Urias and Mac had been gone a lot lately and they seemed to bring little home from their expeditions. That was quite unlike them. Mac could track anything, anywhere. He wasn’t Indian, but he’d spent a lot of time with some before marrying Pamela.

Katherine picked up her sewing kit and the shirt she’d been making for Shelton. If she were to move out on her own, she’d have to sell it to help pay the rent.

She enjoyed the special friendship she shared with Prudence. But the desire to move away from the house was stronger now than it had ever been. Shelton was the cause of that.

No, she admitted, it wasn’t Shelton’s fault. Katherine closed her eyes. “Lord, it’s my own sinful desires. How can I even entertain the thought of wanting to be in a man’s arms after what I’ve been through? I can’t ruin Shelton’s life. I’m not fit for marriage. And he talks daily about providing for his parents. I know I could never be comfortable around Hiram Greene. Please, Lord, help me. I can’t be a burden to my brother any longer.”

She wiped her eyes at the gentle knock on her bedroom door.

“Auntie Katherine,” Tucker called. “Mommy said to give you this.”

“I’ll be right there.” Katherine folded the sewing and left it on the chair. She opened the door.

Her nephew stood there, a tray of food and drink balancing precariously on his little hands.

“Thank you.” As she took the tray, the boy sighed with relief.

“Auntie Katherine, are you all right?”

“Yes, dear,” she said, setting the tray on her nightstand. “I just didn’t eat enough this morning.”

“Why?” He placed his hands on his hips, imitating her.

“Because I got busy and forgot.”

“That’s silly. Everyone knows you have to eat.”

Katherine ruffled Tucker’s dark curls. “You’re absolutely right.”

Apparently quite pleased with his astute powers of observation, Tucker puffed up his chest and headed toward the kitchen. He was quite the charmer. Not unlike his uncle.

Katherine groaned at the thought as she bit off a hunk of her sandwich. She saw Shelton everywhere. Frightened by her growing attraction to him, she prayed she would not give in to carnality.

Every inch of Shelton’s body ached. He’d never worked so hard in all his life. After two days at the mill, he had blisters on his blisters and several had popped. He pulled off his work gloves to see how badly his hands bled today.

He left every morning before the rest of the family stirred. The trek to the mill took an hour on Kehoe. The stallion loved the exercise. But ten hours a day of back-breaking work forced Shelton to once again wonder whether he could ever make a living suitable enough to support his parents. The idea of running a herd of hogs to Virginia for some quick cash looked better every day.

On the other hand, going west seemed promising. People came to Creelsboro from all over, heading through on their way to the frontier. Land opportunities abounded, and rumor had it that horses roamed the plains in huge herds, with plenty for the taking.

His parents would never go that far west. His father wanted to stay in Kentucky, and his mother would want to be near their grandchildren. When he gave them some.

“Get back to work, Greene,” the foreman hollered over the sound of saws, hammers, and axes.

Shelton waved and put his gloves back on. Another hour of cutting logs and he’d be able to go home for the night. “Home.” He snickered and rolled the next log to be split.
I’m living in a barn.

Eight months ago he was living in a mansion and didn’t have a care in the world. His food and clothing were prepared for him every day. His only concern was how to acquire and breed more horses.
Now look at me.
He’d had to sell off almost all his stock, and he had no home to call his own.
Lord, I don’t know what to do.

The sledgehammer seemed to weigh more than it did two days ago. Shelton grabbed the iron wedge and positioned it in the log. The sharp smell of freshly cut wood invigorated him. He raised the mallet and heaved it down on the wedge.

The clang of the quitting bell rang. Shelton dusted off his work clothes and peeled off his gloves.

“You ain’t worked much, have ya?” Frank Smith blustered, staring at Shelton’s fingers.

“Not this kind of work.”

“Humph. You’d best be putting some teat salve on them hands tonight.”

“Teat salve? You mean the stuff folks use on cow udders?”

“Yes, sir. Takes the bite out of them blisters like nothing else around. Check a dairy farmer’s hands. They always be soft as a baby’s bottom.”

Shelton looked at his cracked and bleeding palms. He’d try anything at this point.

“Greene, come on over here,” Mr. Crockett called.

“Thanks, Frank.”

“You’d best get to Mr. Crockett right quick iffen you wants to keep this here job.” Frank set a cap on his head and hiked up his collar.

Shelton ran to the main building. “What can I do for you, sir?”

He handed Shelton a brown envelope. “I’m sorry, son, but I’m afraid I have to let you go. Your work was half the amount of the others. I gave you a full day’s pay. I know you tried hard.”

Shelton’s shoulders sank right along with his spirits. Without a word, he reached out for the envelope. Mr. Crockett didn’t release it.

“You interested in selling that stallion of yours?”

“No, sir.”

“It appears to me you need to earn some money quickly. Why won’t you sell?”

Shelton squared his shoulders. “Kehoe is my future. I might be in short supply of capital right now, but if I were to let go of Kehoe, I’d be setting back my plans by five years.”

“You a breeder?”

“Yes, sir. Kehoe is prime horse flesh.” “He’s got good lines. Is he fast?” “Yes, sir.”

“Want to test his skills against my three-year-old? If your horse wins, I’ll double your pay. If mine wins, you sell Kehoe to me for a fair price.”

Shelton held back a laugh. Then it dawned on him how easy it would be to fall into gambling, just like his father.

“Mr. Crockett, with all due respect, that offer is hardly worth considering. I’ve never seen your horse, let alone know how well he runs. If I were to blindly wager my future against yours, what profit would I have? I’d consider a friendly race between men, but I will not gamble my future away.”

Mr. Crockett scrutinized Shelton with the cunning of a hawk looking over his prey. “Done. A friendly race, nothing more.”

“That, sir, is acceptable.”

“William,” Mr. Crockett yelled. “Get Bailey.”

“If you don’t mind, I’ll be soaking my hands while we wait for your stallion.”

A smirk rose from the corners of Mr. Crockett’s mouth. Shelton walked to the pump, filled the bucket, and soaked his hands in the icy water.

Feeling slightly relieved, but shivering with cold, he crossed to the holding pen, where Kehoe stood munching on some hay. “How are you, boy?”

Kehoe nuzzled his nose into Shelton’s chest.

“We’re going to have some fun today.” Shelton cinched the saddle and readied Kehoe with some prancing around the mill yard.

Mr. Crockett’s three-year-old stallion trotted into the yard. He had a chestnut coat with white boots. His muscles seemed taut and ready for action.

“Wanna race him, boy?” Shelton whispered in his horse’s ear.

Kehoe raised his head and pranced in place. Shelton tightened his grasp on the reins. Kehoe loved speed, and today he’d be able to use it.

Katherine didn’t know what to do with herself. Prudence had prepared the evening meal. Urias and Shelton had been out of the house all day. The children were busy playing. Katherine had spent four hours sewing, but making clothing for strangers gave her little joy.

All her life, her time had been owned by others. Her own goals and desires had diminished to the point where she felt like nothing more than cattle.
But at least I knew where I fit in.
Freedom without purpose left her feeling as if there were no solid ground under her feet.

Katherine strolled to the clearing in the woods, where she’d spent a lot of private time. The circular area contained two comfortable wooden benches. The large, flowering bushes that hedged the alcove gave a person some privacy in the spring and summer, though a person wouldn’t remain hidden for long in the late fall. Grandma Mac had created the little sanctuary when she was a young bride living in this new territory. Grandma and Grandpa Mac moved to Jamestown five years before it was incorporated in 1827. At that time there were only a handful of neighbors. This small area had become a safe haven for all the women of the family. Katherine felt like family to the MacKenneths.