Sweetwater (Birdsong Series) (15 page)

“Now, see here, you impudent woman!” the man roared.

Patty giggled seeing the flustered man so fastidiously
attired, with puppy pee all over the front of him. It may not be good for
business, she thought, but Cassie finally had color in her cheeks and appeared
to be as feisty as ever.

The theatrics was soon over and Patty, Emily, Whiskey and
Dora all headed down the stairs to continue on with their day. Everyone had
noticed how happy Emily had been that morning, but they figured she’d tell them
the reason for this change of mood when she was good and ready.

The time came sooner than they expected.

Blake hurried in through the back door at precisely noon.
“Hey, everybody. Imagine catching all of you in here, all at the same time.”
Discovering Emily, he shot her a glance, raising his eyebrows in question. She
smiled her answer.

“Emily and I have an announcement. As of this morning, we
are officially engaged.” He was beside himself with happiness. It was too
good to be true.

They all gasped. This was wonderful news and they started
talking and asking questions of the happy couple, in unison.

Emily laughed. Holding up her hands to quiet them down so
she could speak. “We haven’t set a date, but it will be a while before we
marry. Now isn’t the right time,” she said soberly, as she glanced over at
Cassie.

Cassie smiled and stood up to address Blake and Emily. “I
think this is the best news we’ve had around here for some time. I’m truly
happy for the two of you. Please don’t wait on my account. I shall never
marry, but I want my friends to be happy and have lots of babies for me to love
and play with. So, as far as I’m concerned, the sooner the better.”

“Thank you, Cassie, dear,” Emily said softly.

Dora wiped her wet eyes on her apron. “You kids gonna live
here, at the Birdsong, or will you get a place in town?”

Emily looked briefly back at Blake before she answered.
“Blake gave me his farm.
I have a farm!
Can you imagine? I suppose we’ll live there, but we’ll come by here, all the
time. I’ll grow things for the hotel, just as I do now. I don’t know how far
the farm is from town, but things will work out fine. You’ll see.”

Whiskey grinned. “A celebration is in order. I’ve got some
cider put away. We could have a toast.”

Patty grimaced. “I have some fine French brandy. Let’s
toast with that.”

Cassie looked in awe at the beautiful golden liquid. “It’s
really French?”

“Oui,”
said Patty.
“Tres chic.”

“We should toast to our engagement and to Mrs. Schneider’s
twin baby girls,” Blake laughed. That makes six girls, in total, and Mr.
Schneider’s last hope for a boy. But he’s over the moon about those two little
redheads, just the same.”

Holding their glasses high, Patty declared, “To Blake and
Emily. May they be happily married for many, many years. And may the
Schneider twins grow up healthy and beautiful and marry big strapping men
who’ll give Mr. Schneider many grandsons.” The glasses clinked and everyone
smiled.

Emily looked at Blake and whispered, “The babies have been
delivered.”

He laughed, practically choking on his brandy. “Tomorrow,
Emmie. I’ll take you out to see your farm, first thing tomorrow.” Blake
grinned, hoping she wouldn’t be too disappointed in the place, as it had been
deserted for many years.

* * *

“I’m so excited, Blake. How far is your . . . I mean,
my
farm?” Emily blurted out. She was
wriggling so in the seat, Blake was worried she might actually fall from the
wagon.

He laughed. It’s not far. You could probably live there
and continue working for the hotel, if you wanted. I’ll be coming in all the
time. It’s three miles from town. Just a good stretch of the legs, really.”

“Tell me about it, Blake. Is it on a hill or in a valley?
Is the house small and cozy or big and rambling?”

“You certainly are full of questions this morning. Do you
still love me?”

“Well, of course I still love you. If you took the farm
back, I’d be mad at you, but I’d still love you. I may choose not to sleep
with you, but I’d still love you,” she grinned.

“Well, remind me never to threaten to take back your farm,
cause I intend to sleep with you every night, woman.” He gave her a kiss on
the forehead and placed his hand on her lap where he proceeded to caress her
most feminine areas.

“Blake, if you keep touching me like that, I just may have
to reciprocate and touch you. Can you drive this wagon while I’m touching you,
darling?” She giggled, knowing his answer before he gave it.

He lifted his hand off her lap and took up the reins. “I
get your point, but when we get to the farm, I intend to find a place for us to
rest and whatnot.”

Emily wriggled her bottom again, but for a whole new reason.
“Yes, darling. I do like
whatnot
.
Please hurry!”

“Get up, there!” he hollered, as he swatted the horse’s
backside, encouraging him to pick up the pace.

Some time had passed with Emily not uttering a word. Blake
was starting to worry if she had changed her mind. He thought it was pretty
enough here, close to the farm, but he didn’t pretend to know the mind of a
woman. Perhaps she was already disappointed.

“The farm is just over that hill, if I remember correctly,”
he uttered casually.

Suddenly, Emily grabbed Blake’s arm and screamed, “Stop!”

“Whoa!” Blake pulled up on the reins, causing the horse to
miss a few steps and the wagon to lurch to the side.

“What’s wrong? Did you see something?”

“My farm!” Emily looked as if she were in shock. Her eyes
were wide and her breath was short and rapid.

“Angel, if you don’t like it, you can sell it and we’ll buy
another. I want you to be happy.”

Tears were running down her face. She had lost all the
color in her cheeks. She had a very strong reaction, he thought, to a farm
that she hadn’t yet seen.

“Don’t be so upset, Emmie. You haven’t even seen the place
yet. It might not be as bad as you think. Give it a chance to grow on you,
please,” he begged. Blake was beginning to feel real panic rise in his chest.
If she changed her mind about the farm, would she also change her mind about
marrying him?

Emmie sat frozen; gripping the seat with both hands so
tightly her knuckles had turned white.

Once again, Blake took up the reins and drove the wagon up
to the top of the ridge and stopped, looking down upon the prettiest little
place he had ever seen. “Well I’ll be darned. It’s right nice, Emmie,” he
said. “Look. Give it a chance.”

Just as he turned his head to catch her reaction, he saw the
tail of her skirt disappear over the edge of the seat, as she jumped down and
ran from the wagon. Her bonnet flew off and she had dropped the satchel she’d
been carrying.

“Emmie! Stop! Where’re you going?”

Emily was running down the hill as fast as her legs would
carry her. He could hear her crying and shouting unintelligible sounds, as her
arms flailed all around. What was she doing? Her shawl caught on a bush as
she continued her flight, and she simply ignored it, leaving it behind.

He snapped the reins and soon overtook the pretty lady
running unheeded down the steep hill. “Stop!” he demanded in a brusque voice
so sharp she did indeed stop and look up at him.

“Before you take one more step, woman, you’re going to tell
me what has happened to you? What is it about this place that has you running
so recklessly toward it?”

An enormous smile crossed her lovely face. Her eyes were
huge with a look of astonishment. As she struggled for breath, she said
softly,
“This is my farm!”

“Yes, Emmie, I know. I gave it to you.”

“You don’t understand.
This
is the farm I’ve been trying to buy. You’re the owner! This is
my
farm.” She turned her head and
looked out over the hills and valleys spreading out below her. She pointed to
her right, and said, “Over there, is my lake, and it’s filled with the sweetest
water you’ve ever tasted.” Sweeping her arms from right to left, she yelled,
“This is
my
farm . . . no . . .
our
farm. I’ve named it, Sweetwater.
Do you like it?”

She barely had time to ask, before Blake took her up in his
arms and carried her the rest of the way down the hill. He kissed her the
entire time, making the walk rather tricky. He sat down under an apple tree
and pulled her down upon his lap, where they could sit and gaze out upon their
new home—lake and all.

Blake shook his head in disbelief. “Life sure is a puzzle.
To think, all this time, it was my grandparent’s little farm that you had your
heart so set on. I’d have given it to you, right off, if I’d only known. How
could we not know?”

Emily smiled, dreamily. “It was just meant to be this way,
darling. Now can we go on down? I’d like to show you the small improvements I
made.”

Blake looked perplexed. “Improvements? When did you make
improvements?”

“You remember. I came here when I left town. This is where
I hid out, pretending your farm was mine. I told you.”

“No, Emmie. You’re mistaken. You never did tell me where
you ran off.”

“Oh, I’m sorry about that. Please, let me show you around,”
she offered, trying to ignore the look of censure on Blake’s face. She stood
up, straightening her skirts, and reached down to help him to his feet.

Blake was pleasantly surprised at what they’d found.
Everything had been tended with love. The inside of the small house was
spotless and made welcoming. A good start to the garden was just outside the
back door. He could imagine bright green, flavorful vegetables growing in the
spring and summer, feeding him and his wife for many months. It was a pleasant
daydream.

“The house is a little small,” he said. “We’ll have to add
on a couple of rooms for our children.”

Emily’s face reddened. “I suppose we will. How many
children do you want, Blake?”

Stroking his chin, he thought upon it. “No more than nine
or ten, I reckon.”

“What?” Emily exclaimed.

Blake laughed so hard, he thought he’d cry. “I’m sorry,
sweetie. I guess I’d be satisfied with two or three. Does that meet with your
approval?” he asked, still laughing.

She nodded gratefully.

“As long as they’re all boys.” He grinned.

“Oh, you’re awful!” she teased. “I need to get a dog and
chickens and a goat. We’ll need a milk cow too. We already have a couple of
geese. They’re wonderful. We’ll need a horse to pull the plow—it’s in
the barn and in very good condition, by the way. Everything has been well
taken care of. Your grandparents must have loved this farm very much. Why did
they leave?”

Blake shrugged his shoulders. “I can’t rightly say, angel.
It was during the war and I lost touch. Truth is, we were never very close.
They didn’t approve of my mother’s choice of husband. I was greatly surprised
they left this farm to me. Maybe, through this little bit of land, I’ll come
to know them better. I sure do thank them for making my future wife so happy.”

Emily squeezed his hand. “I’ve come to know and love them,
already.”

For the next several hours the happy couple inspected the
entire farm, making plans and forming dreams of their future. It was a very
pleasant way to spend the day.

Just before they left, Emily took Blake into the bedroom and
showed him the contents of an old trunk. There was a small quilt with
bluebirds embroidered across the top, a yellowed baby’s gown, and a tiny silver
bracelet.

“I don’t believe it,” he said, as he gently picked up the
delicate bracelet. “This must have been my mother’s when she was just an
infant.” He turned it over in his large hands. “And the quilt was mine.” He
laughed at the childish birds. “I can remember talking to the birds at night,
trying to get them to take me with them when they flew away. I guess I had the
wanderlust even way back then.”

Then his eyes sobered. He reverently picked up the tiny
christening gown. “This was mine and then my baby sister’s. Gillian was never
healthy. She was slow, but so very sweet. She lived to be four years old,
before she was taken. Her absence created a hole in my family that never quite
healed.” He held the garment close to his cheek. “I want children, Emmie.
Lots and lots of children.”

Emily put her arms around his strong back and shoulders.
“Of course, darling. I do too. Let’s take this trunk back with us to the
hotel. I don’t feel good about leaving it out here, now that I know of its
value. And I’d like to take the mantle clock back, too. It could use some
cleaning.”

Blake agreed. My grandfather brought that all the way from
Germany. It was a gift to his bride.”

They quickly loaded the heavy trunk and a few odds and
ends—including the family bible—onto the wagon and set out for
town. The trip home seemed to take half the time as before, and they arrived
happier than they had been in months. Emily couldn’t wait to tell her friends
about her farm.

“We’re havin’ another weddin’!” Dora announced, gleefully.
“This is the most marryin’ up group of folks I ever did see.”

Patty clasped her hands together in excitement. “May I help
with the selection of your gown, Emily? I know what they’re wearing in New
York and Paris. The style would compliment your figure, beautifully.”

“Ha! Emmie would look just as beautiful in an old feed
sack, and it’s a sight cheaper, I reckon,” Blake declared. “But of course, if
she wants to wear a wedding gown, I wouldn’t say no,” he chuckled.

Emily gave Blake a small punch to his arm. “You think
you’re so funny. Well, I just might just send away to Paris for my gown. I
can afford it, you know. When you marry me, mister, you’re not getting a woman
coming to you in her shift.”

Blake leaned over and whispered in Emily’s ear, “I prefer
you without your shift, darling.”

“Blake! Watch your tongue,” she squealed, turning several
shades of red. “We’re not married, yet.”

Cassie was sitting in the large chair by the fireplace,
petting her pup, and listening to the merriment of her friends. Tippy wasn’t
getting very big. He must have been the runt of the litter, she thought to
herself.

“I think it’s positively wonderful, Emily. And I would
definitely send away to France for my dress, if I were you. The French have a
way with a needle and lace. We can’t compare with them,” she sighed, as she
stroked the pup’s silky ears. “I so wish I were French,” she sighed.

Patty rolled her eyes. Cassie was too fanciful for her own
good, but in this instance, she had to agree. “I concur with Cassie. How much
time do we have?”

“Well, Blake and I haven’t actually set a date. This has
been so sudden. I don’t believe there is a reason to hurry.”

“Speak for yourself, woman,” Blake growled seductively. “I
think Saturday would suit me.”

Everyone laughed. They all knew Blake was eager to start
his life with his fiancé. It was quickly becoming a joke around the hotel,
seeing Blake walk stiff- legged after having spent private time with his pretty
woman. She always looked radiant and well satisfied, while he looked as if he
could bite the head off a snake.

Emily felt some compassion for his misery. “Would eight
weeks from Saturday be too long, dear?”

Blake smiled, reluctantly. “Eight days would be better, but
I guess I’ll make do . . . somehow. I guess I have a few things of my own I
could take care of.”

Patty and Cassie exchanged glances and grimaced. “Well,
that hardly leaves time to get a proper dress and
trus-sow
,” complained Cassie.

Emily and Patty both laughed. As usual, dear Cassie had
mangled her French. “Maybe there is time to get her
trousseau
from Kansas City, or even Chicago. But we haven’t a
moment to waste,” declared Patty. “Come along, Emily. Cassie and I need to
get measurements. This is going to be such fun.”

Blake looked disgruntled at being abandoned so early in the
evening. “I’m not expecting much fun. How about you, Whiskey?”

The older man chuckled. “It’s a woman’s world, son. You’ll
soon realize that. We, men, do the waitin’ and the courtin’, the fetchin’ and
the carryin’, the fightin’ and the dyin’, all in the hopes of havin’ them give
us just a smidge of their lovin’. But I’m not complainin’, mind you. A woman
is a miraculous thing, son. Hell, I’m plum honored Dora allows my ugly mug in
her presence.”

Blake laughed. “You left one thing out, old man. It’s the
woman that does the birthin’. I guess that makes everything about even, don’t
you think?”

“It sure do. Yep, it sure do.”

“But I still don’t have to like it. I want Emily to spend
all her free time with me. I’m selfish and I can’t help it, Whiskey. She’s
the first thing on my mind when I open my eyes in the morning, and she’s the
last thing I think about before I fall asleep at night. All during the day, I
wonder what she’s doing? Is she laughing? Does she think of me while she’s
working?”

“You do got it bad for her, Doc. But eight weeks ain’t
forever. You’ll see, and then it will be just the two of you ever’day . . .
until it’s three!” He laughed, slapping his hand across his knee.

“That’s hilarious, Whiskey. I can see I’m not going to get
much sympathy from you. You’re just spoiled because you’re already married.
Well, in eight weeks, I’ll be married too, and it can’t come too soon for me.”

Blake turned and left the hotel. He’d have to find
something to do that didn’t involve Emily, as she was going to be busy with the
womenfolk for hours. Blake decided to start purchasing the stock for his
farm—
her
—farm. The Feed
& Grain was a pretty good place to start, he figured.

* * *

The women had had a full day, but with the wedding only two
weeks away, they couldn’t dawdle. They’d been all over town making their final
purchases and they needed to sit and rest a spell.

Cassie grumbled, “I’m famished.” Then glancing over toward
Patty she asked, “How do I say that in French?”

Patty smiled. “You say,
Je
suis affame
. But really, Cassie, what is this interest you have in
anything French?”

“I don’t know. I guess I always thought something was
better or more important if it was French. You know . . . French perfume,
French food, French fashions.”

“Don’t forget French men,” Emily laughed.

“Oh, no,” Patty blurted out. “Not the men. Definitely, not
the men. I like cowboys,” Patty said, winking at Cassie.

Cassie smiled brightly. “I want an
éclair
. That’s French, right?”

“Yes, darling, it is French and they are divine. Let’s
order four.”

After their tea and éclairs, the women decided it was time
to return to the hotel. They needed to be there when the train pulled in, as
they had guests arriving. Chattering like magpies, the ladies hurried down the
sidewalk, not giving any notice of the dark man staying in the shadows and
watching their every move.

“I don’t believe it!” exclaimed Emily. “Forgive me, ladies,
but I have to go back to the Sweets Shoppe. I left my reticule on the seat.
Don’t worry about it. I know you’re in a hurry. Go on home and I’ll be there
in no time.” She didn’t wait for an answer, but hurried back the way they had
come.

“Should I go with her, Patty?” Cassie asked. “Blake doesn’t
want her to be out alone.”

“Well . . . there are plenty of people on the sidewalk and
it is still daylight. I think she’s safe enough. There have been no
incidents, recently.”

“Yeah,” Cassie muttered. “Maybe her old man’s dead.”

“Cassie! You shouldn’t say things like that . . . but I
agree with you. Come on. Let’s hurry. We have much to do.”

By the time Emily arrived at the shop, she was exhausted.
“Phew! That was quite a walk and it’s getting really cold. I left my reticule
in my seat. Do you have it, Mrs. Swenson?”

“Certainly, dear. It is a pretty one. Is it French?”

Emily giggled. “No. Cassie would be quite disappointed to
know I bought it right here, in Hays City. Well, I must be off again. I want
to return home before dark. Good bye, Mrs. Swenson.”

“Good bye, dear. Come again.”

Emily was startled to see how the shadows had grown longer
in just the few minutes she had spent retrieving her bag. The possible unseen
dangers hidden within the dark recesses filled her with apprehension. She
hurried her steps, feeling a sense of unease while walking alone in the
twilight hours. Lately, she had become comfortable always being in the company
of others. The streets were deserted and looked less friendly than only
minutes earlier. Surely, it was her overactive imagination. After all, she
hadn’t been alone since she’d fled to her farm.
Her farm
. She still couldn’t believe her good fortune or Blake’s
generosity. Sweetwater was really hers to keep.

Still thinking about Sweetwater, Emily wasn’t prepared for
the sudden encounter with the stumbling drunk. The man came out of nowhere and
grabbed her by her elbow. With his hat pulled low, she could not see his face
clearly, but she knew the voice.

“Soon, gal, soon.” Then the drunk disappeared once again,
back into the shadows.

Emily stood frozen stiff, and although she was incapable of
moving her feet, she was completely capable of screaming, and that’s exactly
what she did. She screamed until a crowd had gathered to see what had made the
pretty young lady fall to pieces. She didn’t stop screaming until she felt
familiar hands around her shoulders and a loving voice whisper in her ear.

“Emmie, darling. Shhh. Everything’s all right, now. I’ve
got you, sweetheart.”

“Blake?” Emily looked around and finally found his face.

“Yes, angel. It’s me and I’m going to take you home. Come
with me, sweetheart.”

Placing one arm beneath her legs and the other behind her
back, Blake swooped Emily up into his embrace and quickly carried her back to
the hotel. She offered no explanation for her terrified condition and he asked
her no questions. There would be plenty of time for his inquiry after she was
delivered safely to her bed.

Patty was startled to see Blake kick open the doors and
hustle Emily up the stairs, straightaway. “Blake! Oh, my God. What’s
happened? Cassie! Dora! Come quick. Something has happened to Emily,” she
shouted. Patty threw down her ledger and hurried after Blake.

She managed to pass the couple on the landing, and ran to
open the door for them. Blake gently placed a clearly traumatized Emily down
on top of her soft coverlet.

“Glory be! Is she hurt?” Dora and Cassie were trying to
catch their breath while running to Emily’s bedside. “Oh dear, I knew things
were goin’ too good,” fretted Dora. Placing her well-worn hand upon the young
woman’s forehead, she sighed. “She don’t appear to be sick. Did she meet with
an accident?”

The doctor shook his head. “I don’t rightly know at this
point. She said my name and then hasn’t said a thing, since. I found her
standing alone on the sidewalk, screaming her head off and clearly in a state
of shock. She heard or saw something that has frightened her a great deal.
Would you mind telling me why the hell was she out there by herself?” He
glared at Patty.

“I’m sorry, Doc. Cassie asked me if she should accompany
Emily back to the Sweets Shoppe to retrieve her reticule. It was broad
daylight and many people were crowding the sidewalks. I told her I didn’t
think it was necessary.” Patty’s eyes lowered to the floor. This was entirely
her fault. Tears threatened to overflow her eyes. “I am solely to blame.”

Paying no heed to the conversation between the doctor and
Patty, Cassie approached Emily and asked quietly, “Em, did you see your pa?”

Immediately, Emily reacted. She sucked in her breath and
appeared to be silently screaming, her eyes glued to something hovering just
above her; something no one else in the room could see. Then slowly, she turned
her blue gaze directly at Cassie and nodded.

“Damn it! I’m going to kill that bastard!” roared Blake.
“You women keep an eye on Emmie. Don’t let her out of your sight for a single
minute. I’m gonna hunt me down a no good coyote and put a bullet between his
eyes.”

“No, Blake. Stop,” Emily pleaded, weakly. “I didn’t see
him. I only heard what I thought was his voice. Maybe I imagined it all?
Perhaps it was just another drunk.”

Blake swung back and grasped Emily’s soft hand. “I hope it
was, darling, but until I see his dead and lifeless body, I can’t rest. Lucas
is evil and capable of doing anything. You can’t be his prisoner any longer.
I won’t allow it.”

Emily held tightly to both his arms, desperately trying to
keep him with her. “Please, Blake. I beg you to stay with me. Please.”

How could he deny her? Blake nodded, reluctantly. “You
win, Emmie. But know this. I do intend to kill him.”

Cassie’s eyes were red with unshed tears, but her chin was
stubborn and resolute. “Good!” she stated, and then she left the room to go in
search of her pup. She needed the comfort that Tippy provided.

Emily drifted off into a troubled sleep. She dreamed of
strong, cruel hands grasping at her from the shadows, tearing at her clothing
and searing her flesh. She could smell his putrid breath, as the faceless
monster licked her face and made terrifying threats. Several times, she jerked
herself awake, only to return to the ghoulish dreams.

“Shush, sweetie. It’s not real. Nothing can hurt you
here,” Blake whispered, reassuringly. “You’re safe, Emmie. I won’t let anyone
hurt you.”

Dinnertime had come and gone, and the sounds erupting from
Blake’s empty stomach disturbed Emily’s sleep. She wondered what that growl
was and opened her eyes to see a slightly embarrassed man, smiling back at her.

“Sorry about that. I didn’t mean to wake you,” Blake said.

“What time is it?” Emily noticed it was dark. She had
slept the day away.

“It’s seven-thirty. Dora’s fixed a mighty fine beef stew.
Cassie says it’s French.” He laughed. “Do you feel like getting up and having
some dinner?”

Emily started to shake her head no, but then she noticed the
hopeful look in his warm eyes. She knew he would not leave her side to eat, so
she nodded affirmatively. “Yes, darling. I’m famished.”

As the twosome entered the kitchen, everyone smiled with
relief. Emily was on her feet and joining them for dinner, albeit a little
late.

“Oh, Emily! You look so much better. We’re having French
beef . . . oh, what is it called, Patty?” Cassie blew out an exasperated
breath and rolled her eyes in frustration.

Patty sighed. “It’s called
boeuf borgeniong
—and it’s delicious.”