Ryder (Prairie Grooms, Book Two) (16 page)

She stared long and hard at the needles, and was about to put them away, when Ryder entered the cabin. “What ya doin’, Sugar?”

She held up the needles and yarn. “Not a thing. I’m afraid I don’t know how.”

“Knittin’ is easy. I can show ya.”

“
You
know how to knit?”

“Sure. Lots of folks around here do.”

She stared at him. She knew young boys in England were taught how to knit, but she didn’t realize such things were taught here. “When did you learn?”

“When Seth and I volunteered with the Calvary, we both learned. The man who ran the chuck wagon taught us.”

“So you not only learned to cook a few things during your … ah, tour of duty. But to knit as well?”

“Sure did,” he said proudly and snatched the yarn and needles from her hand. “Sit down and I’ll show ya.”

She did, and had her first knitting lesson taught to her by her husband.  She picked it up quite easy after a few bumbled tries, but soon found she had the hang of it.  He pulled out the small square she’d made using a garter stitch, then started to show her how to knit and purl about the time Cutty came in.

“What in the b
loody … oh, I mean, what are ya doin’?”

Constance and Ryder looked up at him. “Knitting,” they said in unison.

Cutty stared open-mouthed at Ryder as his fingers flew. He swallowed hard, shook his head in disgust, and said. “When’s supper? I got some things to do.”

“In a couple of hours, does that give you enough time?” Constance asked.

Cutty gave her a gruff nod, then returned his attention to Ryder.  He stepped to the table where they sat, and watched in fascination. “Well, I’ll be, boy. You’re pretty good at that.”

“Knit all my own winter wear.
Mittens, scarf, that sort of thing.  Seth is better at socks than I am.”

Cutty stared at him aghast. “Now why ain’t I surprised to hear that?” He grimaced and left the cabin.

Ryder laughed at his retreat,
then handed the needles and yarn back to Constance. “You try for awhile, Sugar. I’m gonna go get us somethin’ for supper.”

“No bacon and eggs?”

“Not tonight, darlin’. I’ll be back in an hour.” He must have noticed the worried look on her face and said, “Don’t worry, you’ll be fine by yourself, I won’t be far. I’m gonna get us a dog soon. Just like the one August got for your sister, then you’ll feel safer when you’re by yourself.”

She’d forgotten about the young dog August and Penelope had with them yesterday. She’d b
een so excited to see her, she forgot to ask about it. “After you scolded me earlier, I didn’t think you’d want me alone.”

“The cabin is safe, and I’ll be close enough to see if anyone rides up. It’s when you’re out on the prairie out of sight that can be dangerous. At least right now, ya understand?”

“Yes, I understand.” She looked at him in curiosity. “What are you getting us for dinner?”

He winked at her. “You’ll see.”

He reached for a rifle by the door, and left the cabin.  She sat staring after him, knitting needles in hand, and could only guess what he was up to.  She suddenly had visions of plucking a chicken and shuddered. She’d never done anything like it before, and prayed he’d show her how to do it right, or who knows how dinner would turn out. 

She waited for the ominous gun
shot that would signal the demise of one of the hens. But no such sound was forthcoming. Hmmm, but didn’t Ryder say he’d be back in an hour?  If so, what could he be doing other than … “oh dear.”  Hunting.

She shook off her revulsion. Why she had such an adverse reaction to the thought of eating a wild animal she had no idea. She just did.  Perhaps she’d spent too many years seeing fowl, fish and beasts that made up her dinner, on a silver platter. She was never privy to the gory details of how any of it got there.

True to his word, Ryder returned within the hour with two cute, furry, and very dead rabbits. He held them up before Constance, proud as a peacock. She took one look and swayed in her chair.

“What’s the matter with ya?” he cried. “Ain’t ya ever seen a dead rabbit?”

She shook her head a wild no, and put a hand to her mouth.

“Well it’s about time ya did!” He flung them onto the table in front of her, which sent her other hand to her mouth. He reached behind
himself, pulled the hunting knife he carried out of its sheath, and plunged it into the table. “There ya go, darlin’. Best start skinning em.”

“WHAT!” she screeched. “ME?”

“Why sure, ya gotta learn sometime.”

“Oh, my heaven’s I …” she swayed the other way and had to grab the table for support.

“Ain’t no trick to it.  I suppose ya should do them outside though.” He snatched the rabbits up, plucked his knife from the table, and pulled her out of her chair. “C’mon, no time like the present to learn!”

She
dug her heels into the floor. “Wait! Can’t we talk about this?”

“What’s there to talk about? It’s our supper, and if’n you don’t skin these while I feed the stock, we’ll never eat on time.”

“Oh, dear me … I think … oh dear, oh Dear, oh DEAR!”

“Quit
callin’ me dear, and let’s get this done.”

“You’re doing this on purpose aren’t you?”

He turned to her and grinned like the devil. “Sure am!”

She groaned as he yanked on her arm and dragged her out the door.  Once outside he took her around to the back of the cabin, strung th
e rabbits up on a pole, and   again took out his knife. “Now, let me show ya how it’s done.” He’d no sooner made the first few cuts when he heard a soft moan behind him followed by a thud.

Ryder
closed his eyes, turned, and with a heavy sigh opened them. His wife lay in a heap on the dusty ground. “Maybe I should’ve started with a chicken first.”

* * *

The next day was the weekly meeting of the ladies sewing circle.  After Constance had her embarrassing display of  … well … anti-rabbit the night before, Ryder had carried her into the cabin, then skinned the critters and made a wonderful rabbit stew.  In fact, as she didn’t have to witness the furry creatures go through the process of
becoming
dinner, she had no problem consuming the end result.  But she also had to agree with Ryder. She was going to have to learn how to do certain things in order to survive living out on the prairie, and who better to teach her than her husband?  But she couldn’t guarantee him she’d not faint again.

“Constance!” Eloise cried when she and Ryder stepped into the mercantile. “I’ve missed you so much!” She flung herself at Constance who caught her sister before she toppled them both over.

“I’ve missed you too! Where’s Penelope?”

“She’s not arrived yet, have you heard the news?”

“News?”

“About Belle!”

“Oh yes, indeed I have.”

As did everyone else when the rest of the ladies began to arrive. Each went to where Belle sat, and congratulated her. “How long have Belle and Colin been married?” asked Constance as Grandma Waller took a seat next to
her.

“Oh, let me see, they got married
June of 58’ I believe. Not long.”

“She didn’t b
ecome pregnant right away, then?”

“No, happens that way sometimes. Unlike Sadie, who was with child about six months after she and Harrison married.
”

Constance looked at her hands
as she folded them in her lap. “I see,” was all she said.

Grandma eyed her. “You
wonderin’ when you might catch up?”

She looked at the older woman and gave her a shy smile.

“Don’t you worry none, child. You have plenty of time. It ain’t a horse race ya know.”

  Constance said nothing more, and instead waited for Mrs. Mulligan and Mrs. Dunnigan to tell her what to do as far as the day’s sewing went.  Soon the ladies were gathered, and their project began.

“Have you been able to see much of Mr. Jones?” Constance whispered to Eloise who sat beside her.

“Only here and there, but he’s coming to dinner tomorrow night, and I’m so excited! I’ve not had a chance to speak with him at all.”

“I see, well, I’m sure you’ll find him quite charming.”

“How is Ryder? Oh I’m so happy for you! I wonder if my Mr. Jones is anything like yours, being as how they are brothers.”

“Ryder is … interesting. I cannot say if they are exactly alike or not.”

“My Mr. Jones wants to ask me to tea tomorrow night, I do hope Sadie agrees.”

“I’m sure she will,” Constance said as a picture of Ryder sipping tea while skinning a rabbit popped into her head. She shook it off and closed her eyes.

“Are you all right?” asked Eloise.

“I’m fine.”

“How do you like your ranch?”

Constance sighed. “I like it, we’re building a new house.”

“Already? Didn’t he just build a cabin?”

“Yes, but …”

“You girls stop whispering over there!
” Mrs. Dunnigan huffed. “Makes a person feel like you’re keeping secrets.”

“Oh, if you any gossip, do tell!” exclaimed Fanny Fig.

“Yes, let’s share,” suggested Belle. “What have you all been up to?”

Susara Kincaid sighed. “I got a letter from my friend in Boston. She and her husband are thinking of coming out west, and asked about Clear Creek.”

“That’s nice,” commented Mrs. Mulligan. “How about you, Mrs. Bennett. How’s married life treating you?”

Penelope blushed, smiled, and said, “We
have a dog now, and he’s quite lovely.”

“A dog? That ain’t gossip,” huffed Mrs. Dunnigan.

“My sister in Illinois sent me the prettiest lace tablecloth you ever did see,” offered Fanny.

“What color?” asked Grandma.

“White of course,” said Fanny aghast.

“That ain’t gossip either,” grumbled Grandma.

“We bought a goat from the Whites,” Mrs. Turner offered.

“Nah,” Grandma grunted.

“I helped Josiah write this Sunday’s sermon,” added Annie.

“Nope,” Grandma quipped.

“Ryder taught me how to knit yesterday, and later when I watched him skin a rabbit, I fainted.”

The room went silent as all eyes riveted on Constance. She leaned back in her
chair and stared back.

“Finally!” Grandma cried. “Now
that’s
gossip!”

Constance blanched and audibly gulped. The room exploded into a cacophony of female voices as they all had to know what happened. In the back of her mind, she knew that watching one’s husband skin a rabbit was no giant wonder to
the women of Clear Creek. But for Constance and her sisters, it was a horrifying experience to behold, and one ladies born of English society did not witness in their entire lifetime. So of course her experience was fodder for town gossip. News of this would no doubt be spread across the state within days.

Thankfully however, news of her fainting exploits only reached as far as the end of town, which of course meant that the men in the sa
loon got a good laugh, and the men Thackary Holmes hired, got the information they needed.

Ryder left her alone from time to time, the couple had no dog to warn her they were coming, and, she was too much a lady to fight them and probably had no idea how to use a gun. All of which meant, it would be easy to kill her.

Thirteen

Too soon the meeting of the ladies sewing circle drew to a close, and it was time to go home. “You’ll let me know when the wedding is going to be,” Constance said to Eloise as they stood.

“Of course, I’ll find a way to get word to you so there’s plenty of time.”

“Living so far from town I start feeling as if I’m missing out, but then, you’re not living in town either, none of us are.”

“True
,” Eloise stated. “But as soon as I’m married, I’ll be living at the hotel.  You must find a way to come into Clear Creek with Penelope so we can have tea at least once a week. Please promise me you’ll talk to Ryder about it.”

Constance smiled. She was learning her husband didn’t like frequent trips to town, and wonder
ed if once a week would be too much. But ask him she would, for she didn’t relish the idea of not being in the company of her sisters for too long. “I promise.”

“Good.” Eloise took Constance by the hand and walked to the
opened mercantile doors. Fanny Fig, who left with most of the other ladies was the last one out and didn’t bother to close them. “I want this to be the best wedding yet!”

“Well as you are the last of us to wed, how can it not be?” Penelope threw in. “
At least until our other cousins arrive, so for now Eloise, you have the stage.”