Seth (Prairie Grooms, Book Three) (18 page)

“I didn’t know it either,” she said and
handed him the animal. “Take care of your new pig.” With that, she brushed her hands together and stalked off.

Seth ran up beside him and laughed as August stared after her. “I don't believe it! She caught a pig!” He turned to Seth. “How did
she
catch a pig?”

Seth shrugged and said nothing, doing his best to keep his laughter at bay. Obviously August hadn't seen him hand the animal to Penelope.

“
I don't believe it,” August kept muttering as he stomped off after his wife.

Doc
Drake came up behind Seth, took one look at August, and laughed. “How long do you think it'll take him to figure it out?” he asked.

“I'm hoping a long time,” said Seth. “If we all keep quiet about it, he'll have something to tell not only his children, but his grandchildren as well!”

Doc
Drake laughed again, and was off. Seth watched him go, then began to look for his wife. He saw her across the meadow with several of the other women, as they tried in vain to catch one of the escaped pigs. He smiled as he watched his English bride zigzag across the grass, screaming and yelling at the animal like it was a misbehaved child.

The three
sisters had changed in the weeks they'd been in Clear Creek, and as far as he was concerned, it was for the better. Each still had a lot to learn about life on the prairie, but he was confident that August, Ryder, and he would be able to teach their wives how to survive, and that also meant teaching them how to love. Seth and the others knew well that without love, survival was almost impossible. He hadn't realized it until now, because over the last few years, he’d never had anyone but Ryder in his life. Once Ryder married, Seth pondered what it would be like to be alone, with no one to share his life with. Though he’d never admit it, the thought frightened him, and gave him an ugly hollow feeling in the pit of his stomach.

He glanced again at Eloise as she chased after an errant pig alongside Grandma, Mrs. Mulligan, and Irene Dunnigan. Half the townspeople gathered around them to watch, pointing and laughing at their futile attempts, while the other half watched the men chase the remainder of the animals. Seth turned a full circle and took in the scene surrounding him. The meadow, the creek, the massive oak decorated with flowers, the townspeople and chaos, and then, his bride. A woman to call his own, a companion for life, and someone to see him through sickness and health, until her dying day. He realized that even over the last few years with Ryder at his side, he’d still been missing something. Something he could never put his finger on, and now he knew what it was. A wife.

Seth stood in the middle of the meadow with squealing pigs, giggling children, and screaming adults, all running helter-skelter around him in utter chaos. It was then that he bowed his head and thanked the Lord for the woman He’d brought from across the sea, and prayed for a bright future together.

* * *

“I say, Penelope, but where did you get that?” gasped Eloise.

Before Penelope could answer, August ran up to them. “I don't believe it!” he exclaimed. “You caught
another
one?”

Penelope squared her shoulders as a piglet squirmed in her arms. “You're not the only one here with the ability to acquire livestock, August Bennett.”

August’s mouth flew open as he gaped at her. “This is embarrassing, that's what this is!” he complained.

“
If it makes you feel any better,” said Eloise. “I haven't so much as gotten within a few feet of the little beasts.”

“
For Heaven’s sake,” he said as he turned to her. “Stop chasing them, will you? You might tear your dress.”

Eloise
took a deep breath, and then another. “You're quite right,” she agreed. “I say, but I do believe I need to sit down. Join me, will you, Penelope?”

“
Don't mind if I do, sister,” she said as she handed the squirming piglet to August.

“
What am I supposed to do with this?” he asked.

“Y
ou're the one who wanted to catch some. You mean you didn't have a plan of what to do with one if you did?”

He stared at her and watched as she turned, and walked off with her sister. “Oh, for the love of…”

“Do with it whate
ver you did with the last one,” she called over her shoulder.

Harrison stopped beside August to catch his breath. “Don’t tell me my cousin caught another one?”

August nodded, his mouth half-open in astonishment. “What a woman …”

“
Mr. Turner's got a crate you can use to take them home in,” said an equally-out-of breath Mr. Mulligan. He glanced around. “Where
is
Mr. Turner?”

“Over by “His Majesty”,” said Harrison. “He’ll see to your … ah … prizes.”

“
Thank you,” said August, still stunned. He glanced at his wife, and then began to slink off towards the huge tree.

Wilfred joined them
and watched August’s retreat. “How long do you think it's going to be before he figures out that his wife didn't really catch those pigs?”

“
I’m not going to tell him; are you?” asked Harrison.

“
Of course not; besides, it would spoil all the fun we can have with this! We could play off this for years!”

“Who gave her
the second one?” Harrison asked.

“I did,” said Doc Drake as he staggered over to them, out of breath. “What am I going to do with a pig?”

The men laughed, just as a gunshot split the air. Everyone's attention turned toward Doc Waller, who stood at the base of the trail. “The sheriff’s brought the rope!” he cried. “Get ready everybody; it’s time for the tug-of-war!”

A
cheer went up, and the men gathered so they could prepare their teams. Eloise, Constance, and Penelope joined the rest of the women as they headed for the creek. “What happens now?” asked an excited Eloise.

“Doc Waller splits the men up into two teams,” explained Mrs. Mulligan. “One team will cross the creek here, and then hike up to where we have the tug-of-war.”

“W
here's that?” asked Constance.

“T
here's a narrow spot up the creek about a hundred yards with a deep pool,” Grandma explained as she caught up to them. “It’s perfect for the tug-of-war.”

“And the best part is
that the water is
real
cold this time of year.” Mrs. Dunnigan said with a snicker. “The last thing these men want is to fall in.”

“
How exciting!” said Constance. “Do the women ever have a tug-of-war?”

“L
and sakes, child!” Grandma said. “What in tarnation for?”

“
I just think it would be fun, that's all,” said Constance.

“Constance, don’t be
absurd!” scolded Penelope. “Ladies do
not
play tug-of-war.”

“
Perhaps you could start a new tradition,” suggested Eloise.

G
randma laughed. “I never thought I'd hear one of you suggest such a thing!”

“W
ell, you have now!” said Mrs. Dunnigan.

The women laughed as they continued toward their destination. A few men had already crossed the creek and trotted along the opposite bank in anticipation. Eloise saw Harrison and Colin among them, and wondered where Seth, Ryder, and August were. Perhaps the men took another trail to the spot, and waited there for the rest of the townsfolk. The women moved slower because of their dresses, not to mention their children, and the trail wasn't as wide and clear as the one on the other side. When they finally did reach the small clearing, Eloise had to catch her breath. “Where's Seth?” she asked and glanced around.

“
Right here,” he said in a loud voice.

S
he jumped, and let out a tiny squeak. “Oh, my heavens! Please don't do that!” she scolded. “You scared me to death!”

He laughed, as did a few townsfolk near him. “I can't help it. I'm just naturally light on my feet, darlin'! Better get used to it,” he whispered in her ear. “Who knows when I'll sneak up on you?”

A shiver went
up her spine, and she fought the urge to turn around and kiss him. Perhaps she should, but before she could act on her scandalous thoughts, Doc Waller came into view. “Teams get ready!” he shouted.

Eloise and her sisters watched as a heavy, thick rope was thrown across the water to the team on the opposite side. Colin, Harrison, Doc Drake, Tom Turner, Mr. White, August and Ryder made up the team across the creek. The other team was made up of Wilfred, Seth, Chase, and Levi (who’d just arrived, having been relieved of their guard duty by Mr. Turner and Mr. Van Cleet), Logan Kincaid, Sheriff Hughes, and Harvey Brown.

“How did I not see Ryder and August before?” Eloise muttered to herself.

“Oh account they’re as light on their feet as I am. You and your sisters are all in a heap of trouble!” teased Seth from his place near the rope. “Now stand back, darlin’. This could get messy.”

Eloise quickly moved away, as did the other women.
Doc Waller waited until the team on the other side of the creek pulled enough rope over to be able to work it. Once the rope was ready, Doc called for quiet. The townspeople went still and silent.

“
Now as we all know,” Doc called out. “Every year since we've had this contest, whichever team has Mr. Berg on their side always wins. But this year, Mr. Berg isn't here!”

The townsfolk murmured and looked at each other. Eloise wasn't sure if they missed the man or not. But as she studied the people, she noted the look of sadness in their eyes, and concluded that they did, indeed, miss their Mr. Berg.

“
That said,” shouted Doc. “May the best team win!” A cheer went up as he continued. “Gentlemen, pick up your rope!” The townspeople cheered and clapped louder as the men on each side of the creek picked up the rope, and gripped it. Doc took his gun out and raised it in the air. “Ready?”

All eyes turned to him. The two teams prepared themselves, some digging their heels into the dirt.

“Set!”

The men of both teams began to lean back, their weight already making the rope grow taut …

“Go!”
shouted Doc as he fired his gun.

Cheers and shouts mixed with grunts and groans, as the men on both sides of the creek pulled and strained against the opposing team. Eloise and her sisters had never seen such a display of strength, and marveled as the men pulled, each team gaining ground by a few feet, only to lose it in seconds. Across the creek, Colin was the first man on the rope, Harrison just behind him. On their side, Wilfred Dunnigan was the first on the rope, followed by Chase, the blacksmith. Unfortunately, the first two men on the rope of both teams were the ones most likely to fall in and get a good dunking.

The cheering continued as the two teams battled it out. “Land sakes!” complained Grandma. “This could go on forever!”

“
I think you're right,” agreed Mrs. Turner. “Without Mr. Berg, they’re all evenly matched!”

“Wilfred!”
yelled Mrs. Dunnigan over the din of the crowd. “Do something!”

“Q
uiet, woman!” he yelled back.

Mrs.
Dunnigan grumbled something Eloise couldn't hear, and stomped off. She laughed at her retreat, and then returned her attention to the contest. Penelope and Constance were so intent on the action that they had to hold on to each other for support. Eloise began to wonder if either side was going to win, and if Doc Waller would declare a draw. But what did she know? Maybe they would let the two teams pull until one or the other tired out.
Then it happened…

With a groan, Wilfred gave one last
tug of the rope, drew in a big breath, and yelled, “Hey, Colin! You’re pregnant!”

Colin’s eyes widened as his mouth fell open
. It was all it took. The rope slipped through his hands, and when he tried to regain his grasp, he lost his footing.

He fell face-first into the creek, Harrison right behind him.

The crowd broke into riotous laughter as the two men sputtered to the surface and gasped for air. “Wilfred!” cried Colin. “What the bloody…” He spit out a mouthful of water. “…bloody … oh, blast it! What do you mean I’m pregnant?!”

“That's cheating!” choked
Harrison as he, too, spit out water. “We win by default!”

“I
say, but he’s right!” Colin said as he finally got his feet under him and stood in the chest-high water. “Calling out such lies is
cheating
!”

Eloise and her sisters turned to look at Belle, who stood, white as a sheet. “Uncle Wilfred! What have you done?” she hissed under her breath.

Some of the men helped Colin and Harrison out of the creek. As soon as his feet hit dry ground, Colin marched right up to Wilfred. “Gads, man, but what were you thinking?”

Wilfred
shrugged. “Just stating the obvious,” he said.