Ryder (Prairie Grooms, Book Two) (9 page)

"Why don't you keep those on, Sugar?" Ryder said as she walked around the mercantile to try them out.

"Yes, I agree."

"He pulled a bonnet down from a shelf and put it on her head. "There, now you look like a rancher's wife."

She smiled, and then stared at the growing pile of goods on the counter as one question still burned in her mind.
Where did he get the money?
But she dare not ask him. It was like Grandma said, let him tell her, don't pester him about it.
Trust him.

He paid Mrs. Dunnigan and watched as she wrapped up their purchases in brown paper.  Constance felt as if she'd just had Christmas and suddenly realized how much she'd taken her life and the things she had back in England for granted. She and her sisters were always clothed in the latest fashions. They had food a plenty, shoes, books, lessons, carriages, servants, a cook ... she could go on and on. She never thought she'd be so happy for an ugly pair of boots, or oil for a new lantern. And blankets, she mustn't forget the blankets. If Ryder's cabin was this cold now, what would it be like in winter, even with the proper windows? She shuddered at the thought as Ryder began to gather up their packages.

"Help me, will ya, Sugar?"

She began to gather what she could as Ryder jerked his head toward the door. "I parked the wagon right outside."

"You did?" she asked in surprise.

"Yep, didn't think you'd want to carry all this down to the livery. Thanks for all your help Mrs. Dunnigan. See ya later!"

Grandma waved at them and smiled, then elbowed Fanny to do the same. She'd been standing there watching their every move in silence. She raised her hand and gave them a weak smile and wave of goodbye. If Constance didn't know any better, she'd say the
woman was jealous, but of what? Ryder didn't have much to be jealous of as far as Fanny would be concerned. Belle Cooke had told Constance and her sisters that Fanny and her husband Henry had a nice little place not a half-mile out of town. Pretty as a picture it was. If that was the case, then what could it be?

She pushed the thought aside as she stepped out onto the boardwalk and took in the sight of their brand new wagon. "Oh Ryder, it's beautiful."

"Yeah, they always are when they're new."

Banjo was hitched to it, Othello tied at
the back. She followed Ryder down the steps to the wagon where they loaded everything in the wagon bed. Just as they finished, the sound of booted feet clomped down the boardwalk. Colin Cooke sauntered toward them, chewing on a piece of straw. "Mighty fine wagon ya got there, Ryder," he said with a wink.

"Why thank ya, Colin. I think so."

"Mighty fine horse ya got tied to it too. I'll be seeing him soon," he added.

Constance looked between the two men, wondering at the remark.

"I'm sure Harrison will be looking forward to paying you a visit too. Maybe even before I do. Oh, and I'll be sure to deliver the message to Logan." Colin gave them both a dazzling smile before going into the mercantile.

"What was that about?" Constance asked.

Ryder grinned. "Well, I made myself a little business transaction with Colin. Caught him talking with Chase and got myself an idea in my head so strong, I just had to do it."

"What sort of
an idea?" she asked, he voice hesitant.

"The Cookes have been
waitin’ to breed some of their mares to Othello. I plumb realized that he's ready, and told Colin. So, we struck a deal, and he paid me in advance. Either he or Harrison will bring his mare out tomorrow if'n she's ready to have a little romance."

Constance giggled at the thought, but knew what he meant. "So that's how you got the money."

"Yep, all it took was some spit and a handshake."

"Ohhhh," she grimaced.

Ryder laughed. "It's how things are done around here, Sugar. Now, let me help ya up."

She smiled at his
light hearted mood. He was happy, and she could tell he felt proud of himself for the business transaction he'd worked out with the Cooke brothers. Grandma was right, things did go better when she didn't press him and just let him handle it.

She let out a long breath once she was seated and waited for him to climb up beside her. She still had so much to learn, and wondered how Penelope and August were getting along. And what about Eloise? She'd probably be married sometime next week, depending on when her dress was done.  As far as she knew, the ladies sewing circle hadn't started it yet.  Speaking of which, when
was
the next meeting? "Wait!"

Ryder cocked his head to one side. "Now what's got y
a all excited?"

"Eloise's dress! I have to find out when
the sewing circle is meeting."

"You
fixin' to have to come to town for that?"

"Of course, they were all kind enough to work on Penelope's dress and then mine. I want to be able to help with Eloise's. Besides, I need the practice."

He raised his brows at that. "You got me there, best go find out. Cutty!"

Cutty popped out of nowhere.  He came up to the wagon and grinned. "Woo wee!  Look at this!"

"Go on into the mercantile and ask Mrs. Dunnigan when the next ladies sewing circle meets, then let's go."

"Me? Go speak with that old bat?" Cutty said as his face twisted up in horror.

"Yes you, and be quick like," Ryder told him.
Cutty grumbled and kicked at the ground before he made for the mercantile. "Don't worry, he'll find out for us," Ryder said as they watched him go inside.

"He's coming back with us?"

"Of course, he's gonna help me put the windows in. Colin or Harrison will bring the panes out for me on one of their trips to see Othello. Colin’s inside ordering em for me now."

"My, you
have
been busy."

"Yep, as a bee Mrs. Jones."

"How long will Cutty stay and work?" she asked, wondering how often she should expect the drifter’s company on their ranch.

"Oh, until I get done. Probably stay the week, then he'll come into town, get a few things, and be on his way."

"I see."

"Don't worry none, he doesn't stay long, and he'll sleep in the barn."

She said nothing, and instead wondered why she suddenly had an unsettled feeling, as if she didn't want anything to disrupt Ryder's happiness. Not that Cutty would, but she began to wonder if she didn't feel a little jealous of the old codger.  But why?

Seven

The trip home was uneventful, and Constance wished she would have seen either Eloise or Penelope in town, but from the sounds of it, she’d see them soon enough at the next meeting of the ladies sewing circle.  A good thing too, she not only missed her sisters, but she really did need the practice! She failed miserably at sewing buttons onto her own wedding dress, not to mention Penelope’s, and wasn’t very good a getting her stiches straight either. But Mrs. Mulligan, the saloon owner’s wife, told her it was all a matter of time and practice.  The meeting was to be in three days, and she couldn’t wait! Until then, she’d have the pleasure of seeing Colin or Harrison Cooke out at the ranch tomorrow, and if she were lucky the next day as well. She hadn’t realized she feared being by herself until now. She’d been surrounded by her sisters and the rest of her family or other people all her life. To be suddenly thrust onto a ranch miles from town was unnerving, but she’d get used to it. Like learning how to sew, it would just take time.

It took longer to get home than it did to get to town, an
d by the time Ryder brought the wagon to a stop, it was almost supper-time. Constance gulped at the thought. Was she going to be put in charge of it? Presumably so, as she was now the woman of the house. “Oh dear Heavens.”

“What was that, Sugar?” Ryder asked as he set the brake.

“Nothing.”

Cutty climbed down from the wagon as Ryder helped Constance. “I’ll help ya get all this unloaded, boy. Then go find the cow.”

“Oh, yes, she’ll need
milkin’. Thank ya, Cutty.”

“You have a cow?” Constance asked.

“Yeah, but she wanders off a lot,” Ryder told her.

“Aren’t you afraid of the rustlers?” she asked with alarm.

He laughed. “Ain’t no rustlers gonna come all the way out here for one measly ol’ cow, darlin’. Heck, they’d take one look at Harriet and die laughin’.”

Constance furrowed her brow in confusion. “Where does she go?”

“Not far, she’s around her somewhere. She’ll need milkin’. I’ll teach ya how.”

“Me? Milk a cow?”

“Sure, that’s gonna be one of your chores, Sugar.”

She paled. She never imagined she’d be milking a cow.  She’d spent enough time living at the Triple C the last couple of weeks to assume it was part of the ranch hands duties … and oh … right.  They didn’t have any ranch hands. She glanced down at her own hands and sighed. “Oh, dear me …”

“But I’ll milk her tonight while you get supper ready,” he said with a smile.

She shook off a chill and forced a weak smile in return. “Of course.” Her voice wasn’t much stronger than her smile. She was going to have to face the cold hard facts.  She was going to have to work, and work hard. But that’s not what bothered her. What bothered her was the fact she had no idea what she was doing!

The men unloaded the wagon and then went to tend the horses.  Constance stared at the pile of goods on the kitchen table and tried to figure out where she was going to put them.  Up until now she figured Ryder had never brought home this many supplies at one time before. He had no larder, at least none that she could see, and she wasn’t sure if he had a root cellar either. She put both hands on her head and pulled her hair. What was she to do?

She studied the room again and noticed some containers on the floor near the stove. What were
they?  She went to investigate and discovered they were stoneware storage jars.  She took the lid off one. “Ah ha!” she said to herself. “Sugar. And what’s inside of you?” she muttered as she removed the lid off another. “Looks like flour.” She continued to examine the containers, and discovered a smaller one for salt, and the fourth had some old ground coffee in it.  “Well, that solves one problem at least.”  Since the jars were empty for the most part, she set about wiping them out before putting the new stores in. By the time she was finished, Ryder came back into the house.

“Puttin’
things away, Sugar?”

“Ye
s, but I don’t know where to place some of it.”

“You leave that to me
. I need to show you where things are kept. Got me a root cellar out back.”

She hadn’t noticed it, but then, she h
adn’t really been looking for one when she’d been out back.  The only thing behind the cabin she’d been drawn to was the privy. “It would be most advantageous for me to know where everything belongs.”

“Yes, ma’am. And for me when you start cookin’ them wonderful meals I know you’ll be makin’.”

“I’m afraid my cooking will be less than satisfactory at first.” She looked away, embarrassed at her lack of culinary skill.

Ryder reached her in a few quick strides, took her in his arms, and pulled her close. Her head fell back at the action and exposed her throat. He
bent his head, kissed her neck and whispered. “I’ll teach ya, don’t you worry your pretty little head about it.” He kissed her again, this time repeatedly, and worked his way up to her ear lobe. “Besides, if’n I teach ya how to cook, then I’ll get things done the way I like.”

Her knees went weak and she slumped in his arms. “I … I … hope I can learn,” she gasped.

“Ahhhh Sugar,” he breathed against her ear. “I’ll be teachin’ ya all
kinds
of things. Ya just wait and see.” His mouth found hers, and he kissed her fully, just as he did the night before when he held her in his lap. Her knees gave way, and she almost collapsed. If he hadn’t been holding her, she surely would have.

He broke the kiss and looked into her eyes, his own a deep brown. “You sure do taste sweet. I might never have to have dessert again,” he said, his voice low and husky.

She swallowed. Her insides were flipping all over the place, and she couldn’t even begin to feel her legs. She then realized the only reason she was standing, was because he held her up. “I … I …”

“
Shhhh, don’t say nothin’, Sugar. Let me look at ya.” And he did, from top to bottom as he held her to him and drank in the sight of her. “I ain’t never been married before, and I don’t know much about doin’ it the white folks way, but I promise with everything that I am, that I’m gonna try.”

She started.
“Wha … what do you mean?”

He straightened them both, having just bent her over to kiss her again. “I mean what I said. I aim to be a good husband to ya.”

She blinked a few times to clear her head. Something he spoke earlier didn’t register right. “I’m a little confused …”
White folk?
There it was. Those were the words out of place. “What did you mean when you said, doing it the white folks way?”