Claimed on the Frontier (16 page)

“I’ll be back at noon,” he said. Geraldine ignored him, sitting in the rocking chair and taking her knitting onto her lap.

“Geraldine.”

She looked up at him, the picture of innocence.

“Yes?”

He narrowed his eyes. “If I hear tell you were catty to my wife, you’ll answer to me. You understand me?”

Geraldine’s jaw dropped open. I heard ma cough behind me, and I knew she’d heard every word. My heart swelled with pride, even as I bit my lip to keep from laughing. I doubted Aaron’s ‘answer to me’ would be the same answering
I’d
have at his hands, but the thought of him standing up to her was quite satisfying. Geraldine muttered something about not knowing what he was talking about as she busied herself with her knitting, and I turned to Aaron. I gave him a knowing look and he winked at me. He eyed my plate.

“Only bread? No eggs for you?”

I shrugged. “I’m not very hungry.” He scowled, taking his fork and scraping an egg from his own plate onto mine.

“Eat,” he ordered.

I was no fool. I ate.

Ma came up behind me and placed her hands on my shoulders. It felt nice as she gently rubbed and spoke in a low tone.

“Your pa’d be proud of you, son,” she said. “Takin’ care of this lovely girl. You two remind me of us as young ‘uns.”

Aaron smiled at her. He was eating rapidly, as he did have a long day ahead of him. When he was finished, he stood, bent to plant a kiss upon my cheek, then strode to the door with his large strides, taking his hat off the peg and placing it on his head. “I’ll be lookin’ forward to seein’ you when I return,” he said. He tipped his hat to me. “I love you.”

“I love you, too,” I whispered. It was unusual for such a proclamation to be made so freely. But Aaron was not a man to be cowed by what was usual or expected.

* * *

I almost enjoyed my morning with Geraldine and ma. Ma’s company was always welcome, but Geraldine was a sourpuss. As our supper simmered by the fire and the bread rose on the warm hearth, we sat in front of the crackling flames with our handiwork.

“This yarn is knotted so.” Geraldine frowned. “I can hardly stand it.” Her eyes fell to my skirt and she raised an eyebrow. “And whatever happened to your petticoat, Pearl?”

I flushed as I tried to appear nonchalant. “Oh,” I said. “I caught it in the flame this morning. I’ve not yet had time to mend it.”

Ma reached down and grasped the edge. “Tsk,” she murmured. “Land’s sake, child! Good thing you weren’t scorched alive! Be careful!”

“Oh, I’ve already been lectured quite soundly on being careful,” I muttered. I kept the licking to myself. Geraldine sneered.

Ma chuckled. “I imagine so.”

“Don’t know why you let your husband boss you around so,” Geraldine said. “Do this. Eat that. Be careful. I wouldn’t want to be treated like a child by my own man.”

My cheeks flamed and my hands shook. Did she not hear Aaron’s warning? I knew she had, but apparently she wouldn’t heed it.

I jabbed my needle firmly into my needlepoint and bit my lip to keep from spouting all the words I wanted to. I well knew Aaron wouldn’t abide my reckless tongue wagging. Thankfully, ma came to my side.

“Where do you think Aaron learned his ways? He’s every bit the man his pa was. He tells it like it is and takes care of his own.” Her eyes met mine. “Men like him can be difficult to live with, but there’s none more loyal. He might boss you around and drive you mad bein’ so set in his ways, but he’ll love you like none other. You mark me, girl.”

Geraldine merely pursed her lips and rolled her eyes. “Phillip is good to me and kind without having to boss me around.”

Ma opened her mouth to protest, but we heard a sharp knock at the door. I started. Aaron wasn’t due back yet. Matthew would be by for dinner that evening, as ma was planning on spending the day with me, and Samuel would be back with Aaron for the noon meal. Laying my needlepoint down, I rose to my feet and stood by the door. Aaron had taught me never to yank the door open without inquiring who was there, first.

“Yes? Who is it?” I asked.

“Pearl, it’s me! Matthew! Open up!”

I heard ma gasp as I undid the latch, and she rose to her feet behind me. Matthew wasn’t supposed to be home yet, and sending the children home early could often mean danger. I dragged the heavy door open, and the young boy stood in front of me. His sweet face was streaked with dirt and tears, though I well knew he’d valiantly deny it if I probed. His little golden puppy, Rascal, stood loyally by. Matthew pointed to the side of the house and muttered to his puppy.

“Go on, now, you git and lie down,” he ordered. Rascal scurried over and laid down obediently. It seemed the commander genes ran strong in this family line.

“Matthew!” I gasped, drawing him in. “Whatever is the matter? What happened, child?” I shut the door behind me as ma stood and rushed to him. His lip trembled, but he held his head high, shrugging off ma’s attempts to take him in her arms.

“I got sent home from school,” he stated. He swallowed, then. Getting sent from home was a serious infraction, and he knew we’d expect an explanation. I sat down by the fire and waited for him to speak, as ma stood in front of him, her arms crossed on her chest with a raised brow.

“I licked the tar outta Benjamin for callin’ Hannah names,” he said, fists shoved in his pockets. He frowned at the floor. I knew Hannah and her mother Ruth, but only from having passed them in town. Hannah was a pretty little thing with freckles and braids, and her ma was timid and fearful.

I met ma’s eyes. A look passed between us, and I knew she couldn’t let his transgression go uncorrected.

“Now, Matthew, you know better’n that. Whatever got into you, child?”

“Hannah’s pa’s awful to her and her ma,” he said in a low voice. “She’s roughed up enough at home and don’t need it at school, too. And she don’t need a lowdown scalawag callin’ attention to it neither.” He lifted his chin and his voice became fierce. “Likely would’a gotten away with it, but I wiped the floor with him durin’ school, and the teacher laid into me, sent me home, told me not to come back unless Aaron brought me.” His eyes challenged us to rebuke him.

My heart sank. It was a serious infraction. Aaron had no tolerance for such shenanigans and my heart broke for Matthew. I hated the idea of him getting in trouble in school and then worse trouble with his brother.

But, his brother was my husband now, and I’d have a thing or two to say to him.

Ma sat down in the rocker, slowly rocking back and forth before she spoke. Geraldine eyed Matthew with pursed lips.

“You need to keep your nose outta other people’s business,” she said haughtily.

“Maybe you need to shut your clap trap,” Matthew retorted.

“Matthew!” ma admonished. Geraldine glared, but I whisked him away to the table and turned my back to Geraldine.

“Hush, now,” I said low to him. “Don’t you mind her. You need to be on your best behavior and keep that tongue of yours behind your teeth before your brother comes home. Behave, and I’ll get you a cookie.”

“Pearl,” ma said, just behind me. “Mind you don’t reward his behavior, now. He’s to keep himself clean and outta trouble in school, and you know it. He’s in a boatload of trouble.”

I bustled to where I had a fresh jar of cookies, extracting a generous fistful and placing them on a plate while turning my back to ma. I knew she was right, but how could I chastise the young boy for defending the honor of a girl who lived in misery?
I’d
been a girl living in misery my entire life. I couldn’t upbraid Matthew. I wanted to kiss him. I decided instead to change the subject.

“You say this girl’s roughed up at home? Tell me more.”

Ma hissed disapproval behind me. She was not likely to get involved in the business of others. We had a one-man law enforcement, and disputes were more likely to be settled with closed fists or worse, so most settlers tried to keep to themselves. Most of our neighbors were upright folks. I still visited with Mary and Jonas on occasion, and others around town were friendly when I saw them. Our days were full, with little time to socialize, save the few times I’d reluctantly dragged my heels into town. But with Matthew’s going to school, we were introduced to others in our small town.

The door swung open then, and I started. Samuel came in, shaking off his boots and hanging up his hat. I breathed a sigh of relief. I’d get a dressing down from Aaron if he’d come home to realize I hadn’t latched the door. But it seemed the Stanley line of men all drank from the same cup.

“Ladies,” Samuel said with a nod, but then his eyes went straight to me. “Pearl, you latch that door when Aaron ain’t home, ya hear?”

I nodded, but before I could reply, Samuel noticed Matthew at the table, and his eyes grew concerned. Before Samuel spoke, a deeper voice sounded in the doorway.

“What have we here? What brings you home at noon, Matthew?” The room stilled. Aaron stood next to Samuel, taller and sterner. He removed his hat as he tapped off his boots and came in the room. I held my breath. He’d not take too kindly to Matthew being sent home, and I had little time to spare. I rushed to him.

“Welcome home,” I said, taking his hat from his hand and hanging it up. “There was a bit of a mishap at school today, and Matthew’s able to join us for dinner.” I tried to stay cheerful, though I knew much of what would happen was out of my hands. I leaned in and pecked his cheek. I whispered in his ear, “Please listen to him before you jump to conclusions.” His hands spanned my waist as he returned the kiss, but when he released me his brows were raised. He merely nodded.

The men sat at the table while Geraldine, ma, and I served them their dinner. Phillip was traveling, a few days’ journey to trade furs and buy supplies before winter set in.

Matthew’s bravado failed him. He stared at a half-eaten cookie on his plate. Aaron scraped a chair up to the table and cleared his throat. Everyone bowed their heads while he prayed the blessing, but as soon as he was done, while everyone began eating, Aaron merely folded his hands in his lap, fixing Matthew with a stare.

“You didn’t answer my question.”

I looked at ma and she looked at me. She merely gave a little nod and picked up her spoon. I knew what she was telling me to do.

Trust him.

I picked up my spoon, but couldn’t take a bite.

“Her pa’s real mean to her, Aaron.” Matthew spoke to his plate. I felt my heart in my throat and I closed my eyes. The poor boy. He’d only done what he thought was right, and it likely tore him up to see his friend hurt.

Aaron’s face was impassive. “Whose pa?”

Matthew’s cheeks flushed slightly and his eyes brightened. “Hannah. She comes to school with bruises on her arms and wrists, and the other day she had a black and blue patch on her arm. I ain’t talkin’ about a lickin’, Aaron. I’m talkin’ about real mean. He takes to drink and beats on her and her ma.”

Aaron’s eyes narrowed, but his voice remained calm. “And what does Hannah’s pa have to do with you being sent home from school?”

Matthew’s eyes fell to his plate. “Benjamin was getting’ down on her, called her an ugly cat. Said her pa was right to smack her around, cuz anyone’d see she was too ugly to be left alone.”

Gasps rose around the table.

Aaron crossed his arms against his chest. “And what did you do?”

Matthew’s fists clenched by his side and his eyes flashed. “I busted his nose open and knocked his front tooth out.”

Ma closed her eyes and I felt my jaw drop. Geraldine gasped out loud. I was inwardly pleased with Matthew’s defending the girl, and wanted to smack this Benjamin boy myself. But I didn’t want to display too much pleasure, as I knew the timing of Matthew’s vehement defense of the girl was a bad decision. I didn’t yet know how my husband would react.

Aaron’s fingers went to his beard. He did this when he was thinking on something, kneading his chin thoughtfully. There were quiet sounds of biting and chewing, and spoons scraping bowls. Everyone naturally deferred to Aaron as the leader of the family. What he said was law.

“You did this during school?”

Matthew met his eye squarely. He swallowed. “Yes, sir.”

“And you were punished at school?”

Matthew swallowed. “Yes, sir.” It was then I noticed his swollen hand he’d thrust in his pocket when he came in. I surmised the teacher had taken his pointer or a switch to Matthew’s palm. I felt angered, mentally planning how I’d take Matthew aside and bathe his hand after dinner. Matthew continued. “And teacher said I wasn’t to come back ‘til you bring me. He wanted me to tell you that.”

Aaron’s eyes remained serious. “I see.” He picked up his spoon and dug into his soup. I took a tentative bite myself. Aaron chewed thoughtfully before he spoke again.

“You did the right thing defending your friend Hannah. It’s good and honorable for the stronger ones to protect those who are weaker.” His eyes met mine and I nodded. I knew his implication. My bottom still burned from my session over his lap that morning. “But a man knows the time and place to defend someone. He knows to hold his temper. I’ll not say that you did wrong to give Benjamin a good lickin’. What you did wrong was not waitin’ til school was over and cleanin’ his plow on the way home. You hear?”

Matthew nodded. “Yes, sir.”

“That said, bein’ sent home early is a serious offense, and normally I’d lick you myself for it. You know that?”

Matthew shifted uncomfortably on his seat. He swallowed. “Yes, sir. I know’d it.”

Aaron nodded. “See to it that it doesn’t happen again. Today’s Friday. Monday, you and I will go back to school first thing and straighten this out.”

Both ma and I exhaled at the same time. But Aaron wasn’t finished. He turned to Samuel.

“You know Hannah’s family?”

Samuel shook his head. “No. Been too busy plowin’ the fields, and makin’ winter preparations. You know I ain’t spent much time in town.”

“I know them,” ma said. “I should say, I’ve heard tell of ‘em. Don’t know them well. Hannah’s pa takes hard to the moonshine, and her ma’s got about all she can handle keepin’ food on the table. They’re on the other side of town, and I don’t see ‘em much, but talk around town is that he’s got a mean backhand, and he lets loose regular-like.”