Taming Texanna (23 page)

“Colton,” she asked pensively, will our neighbors be upset if there was not going to be a cabin there because Mark did not agree? I mean that is a lot of hard work they are donating.”

“No, don’t worry. We can make it a barn raising on that site instead if need be. Either way, the work being done today is the same prep as was needed for either building. Besides, I have offered many days of work for their needs. They are happy to have the opportunity to pay some of that work back.” Leaning down he kissed her quickly. “Now hurry up.”

He waited until she was able to join him in the kitchen where all the other women had congregated to have some breakfast. Mark and Colton and children had already been fed.

Before Colton left to join Mark outside, he spoke to all the women but directed his admonishment to his wife.

“There are still a few cattle drives that don’t leave until the end of the week so I don’t want you to go outside alone without Pia or Kaku with you or an adult partner and you make sure the others know where you are. This road going along a section of our property is one the men will come in on.  There won’t be any more drives into town, for any reason, until I say they are gone. That goes for all of you.” His eyes scanned everyone individually but came back to his wife.

“Colton, I’m not going to be a prisoner—”

“Stop right there, young lady. I’m not bending on this so quit sassing me. I have to protect my family. Sometimes those restless cowboys and cattle drovers are loose cannons if they aren’t gentlemen. Then knowing they will be many days on the trail, will make them eager to take a beauty like you before they hit the road. I’ll spank you raw if you do not listen to me. Do you understand?” He knew that there was also the fear of the outlaws he had seen on the wanted posters. The information he had gotten said they were coming if not already here. That information he was keeping to himself.

“Yes. But I’m a grown woman. I can handle things. I know how to be careful and you cannot threaten me with a spanking just so I’ll do what you say.”

He leaned down and kissed her. “Not a threat, a promise, sweetheart. I know you can take care of most things but I just needed to say it so if you get yourself into trouble, I’ll have told you the consequences,” he said with a grin. Then he sobered, leaving his wife with the message he meant business. “I need you to start reining in your own behavior instead of waiting for me to do it for you. I will do it but there are going to be consequences to you not doing it on your own.” He reached for his hat and coat, snatched another kiss, winked and began whistling as he strode out the door.

“Ohh. He can make me so irritable.” Texanna flounced in the chair when she heard her husband laughing as he walked away from the house.

Noon came and Texanna had forgotten to get the eggs that morning so when Walker had excitedly volunteered to go and get the men for lunch, she decided to go out with him, have a look herself and get the eggs on her way back. She began to don her coat, proud to have remembered so she would not give Colton a reason to be angry with her or to take a swing at her rear. She looked into Pia’s eyes and decided to ignore what her mother in law was saying in that look. She was learning and what Texanna interpreted that look to be was, something like,
“He is trying to protect you. Don’t push it. You will want to sit down later today.”
But it was only a guess.

“I am going with Walker so we shall be fine. Colt said not alone.”

What he had actually said was with Kaku or Pia or an adult partner. But she could be Walker’s adult partner. And it was only for a short way so it could not be seen as an unnatural amount of time but this was her home and she should not fear to walk in it. She was a bit skittish walking that section that was close enough to the road to be seen from it, but she decided there was nothing to fear. When they reached the work site, the men eagerly put down their tools to get warm and eat a good hot meal. It meant taking a break and visiting some with their neighbors.

Colton looked up and smiled when he saw Walker and then Texanna behind but when he kept looking and saw no other person his face turned into a determined, irritated husband face. She straightened her stance and put on a forced smile. He was not going to tell her it was dangerous to come out here. Why, it would have been more dangerous to send him alone, surely. Besides, she needed to gather the eggs from the hen house and she was just going to escort Walker to the group, which she did. Then giving the impression she was satisfied with that necessity, she turned to walk toward the coop behind the livestock barn.

She expected Colt to call to her or come alongside her to point out the error of her ways but he did not. He walked companionably with the neighbors along the worn path back to the house. It was true, he walked behind her but he did not approach her nor did he even give her further impression that he was not happy with her choices. Colton, in essence, ignored Texanna and that stoked her inner flames of vexation mightily.

Irrational though her thoughts were, she did not want him to spank her but she also did not want him to ignore her. Texanna knew she was confused at the feelings she had but didn’t know what to do with them. So she veered off toward the chicken coop with no words of warning or explanation. Colton did not call after her, or inquire at all, he glanced in her direction and continued on to the house with the other men. She wanted to stamp her foot she was so upset by it.

He is supposed to take care of me, be a little bossy, and watch over me but he is not even caring that I am out here all by myself. I could be accosted by one of those men he was so worried about. I mean, really? This is how you take care of your wife?
She continued her chatting to herself and the longer that she was outside, the more she became put out by her husband.
He should be out here paddling my bottom because I put myself in danger or at least because I disobeyed his direct instructions.

She put the eggs away carefully in the mud room outside the kitchen door and went to put her coat on its hook. She would give him one more chance to be the husband he said he was going to be, the one that she could count on to follow his word. And if he could not do that or would not, then she would do what she jolly well wanted.

She scraped her boots although the ground was dry and hard packed from use before removing them. She did not want to add to any of the housework load. Walking further into the warm and homey kitchen, she was satisfied all were eating heartily and each person seemed to enjoy the meal. She offered more coffee and after she had refilled the cups, she went to grab a little bit of food for herself although she had very little desire for it. After a few mouthfuls, she had lost her appetite. She brought the water around for the men and milk for Nada and the children. Pia indicated she should also have some but Texanna could not handle something so heavy on her stomach at that moment so she got a glass of water and sat down.

The rest of the time, Texanna had on what her brother had called her game face. A false bravado that was to prove to others that she was not affected by any of the events going on around her. She was proud of how she had perfected that face over the years. Finally, there was a general consensus that they return to finish the job as the others needed to get back to their own daily chores. Another hour or so should do it.

During her time in the house, Texanna had not had one indication from her husband that she was even there. When she gave him more coffee, he didn’t even thank her and Colton always appreciated the cook or server. She had looked, hoping he was angry but he was indifferent. He could not have cared less who was pouring his coffee. She had stood near him but instead of touching her in some way to let her know he had a connection to her, he had even turned slightly away.

Well fine. She had decided to go and see her friend Mandy instead. She grinned. Mandy was her cousin now that she had married Colton. That was something she had yet to think of so she decided she should go see her and celebrate her discovery. She rarely had done that since she was married and she would be back by dinner.

Actually, if she were to be honest with herself, and she needed to be, she was very hurt and running from unpleasantness was what she always did. Texanna knew it was irrational and that she should just figure out a way to tell him her crazy mixed up feelings, but she couldn’t. She also knew that running as an adult was not the same as taking off as a mixed up kid. She had responsibilities. The problem was, she could not get rid of the worry that she was too much bother for Colton. He had shown pretty plainly that he was tired of her. If Colton didn’t care, then she didn’t care. If it didn’t matter to Colt, then it didn’t matter to Texanna what she did or when she did it. He was her measuring stick.

Texanna twisted her body around quickly and walked back to the barn where she grabbed the saddle firmly, tossing it up on her mare. She walked her out of another side of the barn, the far side so the only way you could see her was if you were looking out of the bedroom window. And even then, by the time someone had gathered themselves and gone to the barn to saddle up, she would have been far enough down the road as to make it hard to catch up with her. Texanna knew she’d be most likely to Mandy’s before she was discovered gone.

As she began to pass by the café, she acknowledged that her stomach was complaining about the lack of lunch. She stopped and tied up her mare so she could get a little bite to eat. It was in between meal times but she just wanted a little to tide her over and she figured it would be the height of rudeness to show up at the Josephs’ with a growling stomach. They wouldn’t care but she did. As she sat down near the front window, who would walk by but Horace Grant. She turned her head quickly but it was too late. He reached for the door handle and walked in.

Texanna looked around to see who else was in the café and was relieved to see one of the sheriff’s deputies. The voice she had not wanted to hear for the rest of her life, was heard behind her. His voice grated on her nerves and gave her the thought that she wouldn’t be able to eat due to his presence.

“Well, would you lookie who we have here, the new Mrs. McFadden.” He reached out to grab for Texanna and she pulled her arm out of the way before he could grab her.

Texanna kept her back to him and said, “get away from me, Horace Grant.”

“Now, is that any way to be talking to your pa?” His voice wavered just a little bit.

She got up to move closer to the deputy’s table.

“Get over here, girl, I’m not done with you,” he said as he reached for her through the chairs and missed.

“Have you been drinking? You get away from me. Do not ever speak to me again.” She said it loud enough so the deputy would be able to say he heard it. If it mattered.

“Now, you don’t have no call to be uppity with me, girl. I’m your pa.”

“You aren’t my pa and you never were. And you weren’t man enough to tell me the truth. Get away from me or I will call on this kind deputy at that table over there.”

He looked over and the man in question gave a little nod of his head in acknowledgment.

Just then, Mae’s husband walked closer. Texanna had not seen him come in. “Hey, now, Horace, that’s enough. I can’t stand by and let you talk to any woman like that. Not especially if’n it’s the marshal’s wife, never mind your daughter. Her husband isn’t likely to look on this too fondly. He could make real trouble for you.  Why he could take most of the business from this place and I wouldn’t be able to care for my family. Now I heard tell you and Mrs. McFadden weren’t getting along, but you can’t harass her. I’m pretty sure the sheriff won’t like that.” He indicated the deputy in the corner table. “ Now, Horace, you best leave her alone. ”

“I’ve changed my mind. I’m sorry but I have to get to the Josephs anyway. Thanks for the help.” She was thankful that they kept Horace occupied until she had mounted up and was on her way. She hoped that her friend would be able to help her sort through some of the tangled thoughts and worries she had in her head. Her anger with Horace Grant was still strong and yet, confusing because he had stuck by her, in his own way, even knowing she was not his child. The thought had her continue at a fast clip. Adding that confusion to her growing concern for her safety encouraged her not to slow down until she was within sight of Mandy Joseph’s home. She pulled up with a sigh of relief.

Chapter Twelve

Texanna dismounted at Mandy’s house only to find she wasn’t home. She had left to attend a sewing circle and would not be back for several hours. Anna didn’t much like to sew in these groups, deciding not to go over to join in their fun. In fact, she had done only the minimum sewing that she had to because it caused her angst instead of soothing her as so many others claimed it did for them. Learning intricate sewing from Pia and Kaku was fun and the beautiful things were incredible. She wanted to learn their craft. Texanna could purchase her dresses or break down and sew if she really needed to. She was careful with her clothing so she did not need to replenish often.

Texanna needed her husband to show he cared, by making the rules stick. When he didn’t, it was as though he didn’t care enough, love her as much as she needed him to. She knew that was her insecurity, but that tossed away feeling made Anna angry causing her to do the craziest things. Wanting to force the issue, she had made sure she did something that pushed him to respond; she stupidly took off for town alone. It really was a dangerous thing to do, and now that she acknowledged it, she was hesitant to repeat the act in reverse.

If she went home, then Colton would probably not be back from the site and even though it had been a foolish act, she still needed his attention. She still wanted to make it known that she required him to be present in her life not dismissive. If she stayed, what was she to do until Mandy returned? Colt would worry about her and she would be looking at a hard spanking not to mention his new toy. The bigger concern was if he didn’t come to get her if she wasn’t worth his time or affection. It took the air out of her defiant sails that it wasn’t playing out as she had hoped.