Rimfire Bride (18 page)

That brought her back to the dance. She would find a way to get out of going. She couldn’t let Drew know what a neophyte she really was.

The next morning
the smell of roasting turkey permeated not only the small kitchen behind the bar, but also the saloon, the lobby, and every hallway of the upper stories of the Custer Hotel. The other residents were gathering in the dining area, and Jana thought it endearing the way they were taking such pride in setting the table. Mr. Dempsey had bought a gold-colored tablecloth, and the men had pushed tables together to make one long one, so they could sit together. Hank Thompson was putting small pumpkins and gourds on the table, then putting shafts of wheat between them, to create an artful table decoration.

“Hank, I do believe you’ve missed your calling. That’s beautiful,” Jana said.

“My mama used to do this and I always liked to see the orange pumpkins. She didn’t put the wheat in it, but I thought that would look good, too, especially since we’re here in Dakota.”

“I think it’s just the right touch, and I’m sorry I’m not going to be able to eat with you.”

“I know. Greta told me you’re going to eat with Malone, but she’s not gonna leave us. And no offense to you, Jana, but if one of you is not gonna be here, I’d rather it be you than her, ’cause she’s turned into some kind of cook. Did you know she’s gonna make a mincemeat pie for us?”

“She told me that,” Jana said. “You know she was invited, too, but she turned it down, just so she could cook for all of you.”

“And that’s why we love her. Don’t get me wrong, we love you, too, but it’s not the same. That little ole gal in the kitchen, now she’s gonna make some man a mighty fine wife someday.”

“I expect that’s very true, Hank.”

“You go on now. Get ready for your man. Don’t worry about Greta; me and the boys will take care of her.”

“Thanks, I know you will.”

Jana climbed the
stairs and went into the room she shared with Greta. Who would have thought Greta would have adapted so well? Her breathing problems had almost completely disappeared in the dry air of the northern plains of the Dakota Territory, and she looked and felt healthier than she had ever been in Illinois. Jana should be feeling so happy for her, but a part of her was melancholy. For her whole life, she had been Greta’s protector, but now every day Greta was proving she didn’t need her big sister. Jana’s feelings were
in turmoil as she gathered her clothes and headed for the bathing room at the end of the hall.

When she reached the room, she turned on the water, which in the winter months was actually too hot for a bath because it was interconnected with the steam heat. Two large oaken buckets of cold water sat nearby, and Jana spilled them into the copper tub, making sure the water was comfortable before stepping into it. She lowered herself, submerging to her neck, making certain not to get her hair wet, because Drew would be coming for her at ten, and it wouldn’t have time to dry.

Get ready for your man.

That was what Hank had said.

A part of her wished that was true. Drew Malone seemed to be everything a woman would want in a man. Physically, she found him attractive. His eyes were a deep blue set against a perennially tanned face, and he had a strong, angular jawline, the kind an artist would likely draw.

And his hair. He kept it cropped shorter than most of the other men in Bismarck. She imagined that was because the thick brown hair would be unruly if it had any length at all, and she couldn’t help but wonder if it would be curly if it was longer.

All of these thoughts about a man, about Drew Malone, caused Jana to experience strange and rather unsettling sensations as the warm water washed over her body.

What would he think of her body? she wondered.

She looked down at her breasts, visible beneath
the warm water. Her nipples stood erect, and she touched them gently at first, then took her breasts in her hands. What would it feel like if a man, if Drew, held her breasts in his hands? She began to knead the soft mounds, and then, with one hand, began to brush a nipple with the slightest touch. This caused the strangest sensation, and not just at the site of her ministration, but lower in her private area. A fullness began to build deep within her body, and her hand moved to that area. What was happening to her?

Tentatively, she touched herself, and her face flushed. She knew that this was not something that a good girl would do. Hadn’t she once heard a sermon about the sin of concupiscence? What she was doing to herself was the very definition of that word. This was new territory for her. She was experiencing a sexual desire for Drew Malone.

Just then there was a light knock on the door.

“Jana? Are you in there?” Greta called quietly.

“Yes, I’m here,” Jana replied breathlessly.

“Didn’t you say Mr. Malone was coming for you at ten?”

“Oh, what time is it?” Jana jumped out of the copper tub, splashing water on the floor.

“It lacks fifteen minutes of ten. Hank thought I should tell you.”

“I’m glad you did.” Jana grabbed a bath sheet and wrapped it around her. “Is anybody in the hallway but you?”

“No, but what difference does that make?”

“None at all.” Jana streaked down the hall holding the sheet in place, her clothing all in a bundle.

When she reached the room, she dropped the towel and grabbed for a dress. She had intended to wear one of the fine dresses Mr. Watson had given her, but instead she grabbed her old, trusty rose wool, which she had worn the first time she met Drew. She threw on a chemise made of pink washing silk, then pulled on some drawers, not taking the time to put on a petticoat. Finally she was dressed, buttoning the last of the fifteen buttons that closed the bodice. She had intended to do something special with her hair, but when she looked at the clock, she barely had five minutes to spare. Pulling her hair straight back, she tied it with a pink ribbon and let it hang down her back, much as she had done when she was a child. This was not the way she had intended to present herself to Drew and his children, but it would just have to do. If he wanted to see her done up like a mannequin, he could always stand in front of Watson’s window.

Once dressed, she hurried down the stairs to the lobby of the hotel, and when she got there, Drew was standing with his back to her, looking out onto Meiggs Street. He was wearing black twill pants tucked into high boots, topped by a fringed leather jacket.

Hearing her approach, he turned to meet her, and immediately a broad smile crossed his face.

“Good. A woman ready to work.”

“That’s me,” Jana said, thankful that she had not dressed the way she had intended. “Let me step into the saloon and get my coat.”

“No hurry. I’ll wait right here.”

When Jana stepped into the saloon, which was growing even more crowded, Hank looked over at her and smiled. “Well, now, if you don’t look prettier than a little pair of red shoes.”

“Why, thank you for the compliment.”

“It ain’t just a compliment, it’s the God’s truth,” Hank said.

Grabbing her coat from the peg near the kitchen, Jana stepped over to the serving table where Greta and Carl were getting things organized for the meal.

“Greta, Drew is here, so I’m going to leave now.”

“I’m glad you’re doing this,” Greta said. “And I hope you have a great time today. Don’t be nervous.”

“Nervous? What do you mean?”

“You know exactly what I mean. They’re just little boys. Just like the dozens of little boys you’ve had in classrooms before.”

How perceptive Greta was. Without Jana’s even voicing her trepidation, her sister had put her finger on what was bothering Jana about this day. Two little boys—one four and one six—could be instrumental in her future happiness.

Jana took a deep breath. How foolish. She was going to Drew’s home to help him put together a Thanksgiving meal to be delivered to prisoners. Hadn’t he just said “a woman ready to work”? That was all. There was no “future happiness” to even think about.

When Jana approached Drew, she overheard Hank Thompson addressing him.

“If you take our girl, you treat her with respect,
you hear me? Because if you don’t, I’m here to tell you, you’ll have me and a whole lot of other folks to answer to. Now don’t forget what I’ve said.”

“Hank, I promise you, you have nothing to worry about. I’ll not only treat her with respect, I’ll see to it that everyone else does, as well.”

Hank smiled. “Heck, Mr. Malone, I ain’t really worried none. From ever’thing I’ve heard about you, you are a good and decent man.”

“Hank seems very
concerned about your welfare,” Drew said a moment later as they were walking from the hotel to Drew’s house.

“It isn’t just Hank. Everyone who lives at the Custer Hotel looks out for both Greta and me. If I recall, you made a comment the first time you learned that I was living there, something about it not being a fitting place for a woman to stay.”

“I’m afraid I spoke without thinking. I really didn’t know many of the gentlemen who live at the Custer. And I can see that they are gentlemen. You have my humble apology.”

“The apology should be to the gentlemen you miscategorized, not to me.”

Drew chuckled. “The apology is meant for them as well.”

Drew’s large, two-story
house was at the edge of Bismarck, the only house on the block. Jana was surprised to see that it was brick, one of the few brick houses in town. Drew opened the cast-iron gate that matched the ornamental fencing surrounding
the yard, then stepped aside to let Jana pass through it first.

“Are you ready?” Drew asked as he took her hand and led her up to the front porch with its imposing stained-glass-paneled door.

“Yes,” Jana replied with a wan smile. “I think so.”

“I have to admit that the boys are a handful, but I wouldn’t trade them for all the gold in California, and that’s saying a lot.”

When the door opened, a miniature Drew came bounding toward them, throwing his arms around his father’s legs, almost causing Drew to trip.

“Hold up there, little man, I have someone I want you to meet. Miss Hartmann, this is Benjamin Eli Malone, and he is four years old.”

“I’m almost five, and my real name is Benji.” The little boy held out his hand to Jana.

“I’m very happy to meet you, Benji. When will you be five?”

Benji looked toward Drew and asked, screwing up his face, “When is it?”

“January, Benji. It’s in January.”

“That’s right. January comes right after Christmas. Isn’t that right, Miss—what is your name again?”

“My name is Jana, so why don’t you call me that?”

“All right, Jana. I like you.” Benji hugged Jana’s knees just as he had his father’s.

Just then, Jana noticed a rather large woman standing in the hallway, her apron covered with a dusting of flour.

“You’d better come in, miss, before we heat up the whole town,” the woman said.

“Oh, I’m sorry.” Jana hurried inside.

Drew laughed as he closed the door behind them. “This is Elfrieda Considine. I don’t know how I ever ran my household before she came to live with us. She’s my sergeant major.”

“Ha, sergeant major my foot. My Martin was a sergeant and that’s good enough for me.”

“Elfrieda’s husband was killed with General Custer at the Little Big Horn,” Drew said.

“Oh, I’m so sorry to hear that.”

“It was six years ago, God rest his soul. Mr. Malone tells me you’re a good cook come to help me get the food out for the jailbirds.”

“I’m afraid Mr. Malone is mistaken. It’s my sister who can cook, but I’m willing to try.”

“That’s good to know. Makes me think my job is secure.”

“Elfrieda,” Drew said, “let’s not jump to any conclusions here.”

“Well, how many times have you brought a lady into this house? I can tell you right quick.”

“That’s enough. Where’s Sam?”

“He went to his room right after you left, Mr. Malone.”

“I’ll go get him.”

When Drew went
into Sam’s room, he found him sitting on the window box looking out the window, holding a pillow against his chest.

“Sam, are you coming down?”

“No.”

“You don’t want to help take the food to the jail?”

“Not if she’s going.”

“I asked Miss Hartmann to help, and she’s going to go with us.”

“I don’t like her.”

“How can you say that? You haven’t even met her. Why, I’m just sure you would like her if you met her.”

Sam turned his face toward Drew, and he saw an angry little boy.

“I don’t want to like her. She’s not my mama.”

Drew went to Sam and sat beside him. “Sam, nobody said she was your mama. Your mama is gone, and no matter how much we all want her to be here, she’s never coming back. We can love her as much as we ever did, but that can’t stop us from finding other people to be in our lives.”

“Do you love Miss Hartmann?”

“No, I don’t. I like her. I like being around her. She makes me laugh and she makes me feel good. And she would make you feel better, too, if you would let her. I think Benji likes her.”

“Benji likes everybody. I’m not Benji.”

Drew took Sam into his arms. “No, you’re not, and I wouldn’t want you to be. I have one Benji and I have one Sam, and I want both of you to be just who you are.” Drew held his son for several minutes, with neither of them saying a word as both looked out at the empty prairie. “I have to go back downstairs. Will you come down and meet her? You can call her Jana if you’d like.”

“Maybe.”

“Good, because I need you to carry the pumpkin pies. Nobody can do that as well as you can.” Drew gave Sam one last big hug and held him close. “I love you, Sam, and no matter what happens, I want you to always remember that.”

“I love you, too, Daddy,” Sam said as Drew stood to leave.

Drew closed the
door to Sam’s room, then walked slowly down the hall. How was he going to handle this? He could see right now that Sam was going to be a challenge to his new resolve to find the boys a mother. But was his interest in Jana Hartmann for the benefit of the boys, or for his?