Love Rules (13 page)

“Coffee? Did you hear that, Constance? She has coffee.” Lucy held a hand to her chest and smiled.

Their fine dresses spoke of money. Maggie couldn’t resist glancing at the younger lady in the carriage. Obviously, she came to see Jesse. The older one came out of curiosity, she was sure. Just from a quick glimpse she could tell the young woman was rich and spoiled.

“Oh, that would be lovely. So nice to see Jesse hiring some help around here.”

Lucy went inside as though she had every right. Maggie noted that, but said nothing.

“Oh my, the place looks much better than the last time I saw it. Why, Constance, this woman has worked wonders on the place. Come look. And I’ll bet she’s a fine cook, too.”

Her friend followed her inside, her impatience obvious. Her pale gray eyes assessed the place as she sat at the table and waited to be served. Constance studied Maggie with more than a little curiosity.

Maggie didn’t correct Lucy’s impression that she was the hired help but went to make the coffee. She wondered what kind of conversation she could hold with these two. So Jesse did have some lady friends, it would seem. Not that she ever doubted his ability to have them, but he hadn’t spoken of them. She wondered why.

The younger woman eyed her with distaste. “You been working for Jesse long?”

How could she answer without lying?

“No, not long,” she replied. “Excuse me, please.”

Maggie went to the bedroom to check on Abby, who was sleeping. Maggie wasn’t ready for this. What could she say to them? How could she keep answering their nosy questions? And they were nosy. Perhaps they had every right to be.

How could she possibly know?

She leaned against the closed door. They thought she was hired help, then she’d act like it. She went back to them and poured their coffee, silently hoping Abby would sleep a while longer. From the first sip, Maggie knew they hadn’t indulged in coffee since before the war. She tried to smile, but her nerves were so on edge.

“It’s good that Jesse is finally taking some pride in this place. It could be quite grand. He owns a lot of land out here,” Constance was saying. “I wouldn’t mind living here, after we’re married, of course. Jesse never bothered cleaning it up before, but maybe he’s matured, what with being in the war and all. I’m so anxious to see him. It’s been so long. We heard he’d been promoted to captain.

There was a write-up of it in the paper. Said he’d captured some famous spy. It’s so exciting.”

Maggie almost choked as she busied herself in the kitchen. So Jesse either was involved or had been with this one. Displeasure at finding her in Jesse’s home rolled off the other woman.

“So wherever did Jesse find you? I’d so love to have some help myself,” Lucy asked, coming to stand in front of Maggie.

“I was a laundress at the rebel fort,” she mumbled and didn’t look the woman in the eye. At least she hadn’t lied. She’d give them a little information. What could it hurt? The woman seemed to accept her answer with a smile.

Maggie’s eyes strayed to Miss Constance, who looked utterly bored and out of place in this little shack with her fine dress of silk and her matching parasol. She couldn’t see Jesse with a woman like that. But then what did she know about his love life?

Suddenly the door flew open, and Jesse walked in boldly. His gaze swept the room as Constance ran up to him and kissed him on the cheek. Lucy nodded and smiled. “Jesse, why in the world haven’t you been to call since you’ve been home?”

“Miss Constance and Miss Lucy. I certainly didn’t expect to see the two of you out here. Well, I didn’t realize anyone was interested in me being home.” Jesse tried to laugh, but it fell short. His glance strayed to Maggie. “Certainly no one came to see me off to war, did they? I don’t recall you ever coming to visit before.”

“Your housekeeper’s done told us you were in town, and Mr. Jenkins told Mr.

Caverty you were home from the war. You should have let us know. We’d have greeted you better.” Constance fussed over him, looping an arm in his. “We heard you were promoted to captain. That’s quite an honor. We are all so proud of you.

And capturing a spy single-handed. That’s something! You must tell us all about it.”

Jesse pulled her arm loose and walked toward Maggie. “My housekeeper?”

“Yes, she’s introduced herself as Maggie.” Lucy smiled as she sat back down for her coffee. “Wherever did you get this coffee? It’s the first we’ve had since before the war started.”

“Maggie traded the coffee off an old Indian. I’m afraid you have some wrong impressions here. Maggie’s not my housekeeper.” Jesse’s gaze floated from one lady to the next. “She’s going to be my wife,” he said, pulling Maggie about and putting his arm around her. “You’ll certainly be invited to the wedding, of course.”

Maggie raised her head, but she couldn’t bring herself to say anything. She waited instead for some reaction. Secretly, she wanted to hit Jesse for his insensitive nature, but she smiled shyly instead.

The only reaction in the room was the slight movement of Constance’s jaw and the fire from her gray eyes as she looked surprised from Jesse to Maggie. “Well, I…but I—”

The baby cried and Jesse ran to the bedroom to bring her out. “Guess I should introduce our baby, too. This is Abby. Isn’t she beautiful?” Jesse cooed at Abby as he presented her to the women.

Lucy’s eyes rounded like saucers and her mouth came open. “Come,

Constance. We must be getting back.”

“Sorry, you can’t stay longer. I’m sure we’ll have a fine supper in no time.

Maggie’s a wonderful cook.” Jesse moved to watch them hurry out of the house and back into their buggy. Both of them were hurling heated remarks at each other as Lucy cracked the whip that sped them from the yard. They obviously couldn’t be gone fast enough.

“Why did you do that?” Maggie approached him from behind. “That was

uncommonly cruel.”

Jesse turned to look at her. “Uncommonly cruel? You actually care about how they feel? They won’t feel anything for you. But I guess you got a bigger heart at that. I did it because I’m not hiding it, Maggie. I love you and the baby, and I’m more than proud that you will soon be my wife, and the rest of the people around here are just going to have to learn to live with it. That’s why. You’re the woman I want, not women in hi-top shoes and carrying parasols. You and Abby, and many more babies to come.” He glanced at her. “And when you finally figure that out, things will get back to normal again.”

“What do you think they’ll do since you decided to announce it?” Maggie cried, her nerves shattered by his matter-of-fact approach.

“I don’t know, and I don’t care. People were bound to find out. Maybe this is the best way. They’ll be nursing their pride for a while, I’m sure.” Jesse laughed.

“Let them. Those women don’t care about me. Not me, personally. They care about all this land around here that belongs to me.”

“That Miss Constance acted as though she had a right to think you cared for her. Kissing you and putting her arm around you.”

“She wishes.” Jesse smirked. “The woman’s been throwing herself at me ever since her Pa became interested in buying this place. I know what she’s after. She doesn’t want me. She wants the land. A lot of people in town want my land, but they won’t be getting it. Look, Maggie, I’m home, and I aim to stake my claim to the land and you. So get used to it.” Maggie’s questioning apprasial had him throwing his hands up. “I’ve never even kissed the woman. Now, what’s for supper? I’m starved.”

“Supper! I think we should talk about all of this, Jesse. You tellin’ people we are gonna be married. Why, who in their right minds would marry us?”

“You might be surprised. Besides, I aim to find a preacher, and soon.” Jesse dismissed her frayed nerves.

She finally gave up talking and went to cooking.

There was no time for supper when Abby began crying and they couldn’t quiet her. Both Maggie and Jesse became worried. Jesse rocked her while Maggie tried to get supper on, but Abby continued to cry. She fretted and when Jesse reached to feel her head, she felt hot to his touch.

“She’s burning up,” he told Maggie as he carried their daughter about the kitchen. “Run, get that tub hanging out on the side of the shed.”

“What are you gonna do?” Maggie’s eyes widened in fear as she touched Abby’s head, too.

“We gotta get this fever down. She’s hot already.” Jesse put the baby on his shoulder and continued walking about, trying to soothe Abby.

Maggie hurried out to the shed and found the tub. She came back with it and Jesse told her to heat some water.

“Do you know what you’re doing?” Maggie asked.

“Yes, I know. Saw a doc in the army bring down a fever once doing this. We need tepid water. It’ll be too cold straight from the well. We’ll splash her with it and cool her down. Just play with her and maybe she won’t cry so much. I’ll check the cabinet in the bedroom for rubbing alcohol.”

Maggie nodded, heating water so they could fill the tub.

After pouring several pots full of hot water and adding some cold, Jesse swirled it around until it felt just right, then stripped Abby and lowered her into it. Normally, Abby would play and clap her hands and splash in the water, but not this time. She lay almost quiet as Jesse continued to sprinkle the water over her.

Abby began to hush as Jesse played splashing games with her. She smiled and cooed at him. “Dada?”

Maggie blushed. “I been tryin’ to teach her words. She can say some sentences, and words, I've been teaching her what to call you.”

“That’s right, honey. I’m your daddy, that’s for sure and certain, baby. And damn proud of it.” Jesse smiled and kept gently pouring the water over her body.

The fever was coming down, slowly. Jesse had been so tense when he first realized his baby was sick, especially with a fever. “It’s working. She’s feeling better already. Watch her eyes. When the fever gets up she looks like she doesn’t see, sometimes. That’s when we know we gotta do something.”

“Let’s put her on the bed and see what’s botherin’ her.” Jesse eased the baby out of the water, dried her, and wrapped her in a soft blanket that Maggie handed him. Then he carried her to the bed and laid her in the middle. He spread the blanket away from her. Gently, he picked up her foot and examined it. She didn’t cry, and when he told her about the piggies, Maggie laughed.

Then he examined Abby’s knees and she giggled when he tickled her. He stretched her arm over her head. Abby just watched his actions and cooed a bit.

“Not the arms. Let’s look at her throat.”

He pushed his finger in her mouth and pried it open, her tongue looked pink, no splotches or problems there. He looked up her nose and put his finger under it to feel the flow of air. Nothing wrong there, he decided. He looked at her eyes and put a finger in front of her to see if she would follow. She did, he was satisfied, but he still hadn’t found her problem.

“That’s funny. She isn’t fussing about any of that. I thought I checked everything. No, wait. I didn’t.”

Then he leaned over and blew in her ear and Abby twisted away and began to whimper.

“It’s her ears. Get me a cigar out of the third drawer in the dresser, in a box.”

He glanced at the worry on Maggie’s face.

Maggie went to the dresser and found the box of cigars and brought him one.

She watched him carefully light up and then he leaned over to blow smoke into the baby’s ear.

“What are you doin’ that for?”

“Saw a doc in the army do it once for a man. It helped.” Jesse shrugged. “Don’t know for sure what it does, but it is supposed to ease the pain of it.”

“So, it is her ears.” Maggie looked at him and waited for his answer.

“Looks like. I got to get some medicine from the doc though, or we’re liable to be up all night and day.”

Maggie nodded. “Do you know any doctors about?”

“Sure, Doc Mabanks. He’s been here as long as I can remember. I’ll find some medicine for us. Don’t you worry.”

Maggie helped dress the baby again and held her against her as she moved about the room, and for once the three of them seemed brought together by sheer panic.

The baby’s fever went back up, and Jesse put her in the water once more. He played with her while the water grew cold then he took her out and wrapped her up. “I’m gonna go over to the doc’s to get some medicine for her. If her fever goes up, just put her back in. All right? You may have to keep heating some water.”

“All right.” Maggie touched his arm. “Please hurry, Jesse.”

Jesse saw the worry on Maggie’s face and ran a finger down her cheek. “It’s gonna be all right. Just do like I said.”

***

Even though Jesse insisted the baby would be fine, he rode hell bent for leather to the doctor’s house. It had been years since he’d been there. The doc’s buggy was out front as though ready to go. Doc Mabanks stayed busy with folks in the area and often drove long distances to help. He was the only doctor about.

Jesse dismounted and walked swiftly to the door. The old white clapboard house needed new paint, but he seriously doubted the doctor had time to tend to such things. Maybe he’d get back over and paint it for him. If he could help, it would be the least he could do for him. He knocked loudly as the doctor was hard of hearing.

After several bangs the doctor opened the door. He craned his skinny neck up to see who had woken him, his eyes squinty as he opened the door. “Jesse. Jesse Coleman, what in tarnation are you doing here this time of night?”

“Got a sick baby, doc. I need some medicine,” Jesse explained in a no-nonsense voice.

“Baby? You got a baby?” the doctor asked staring at him as though he’d grown two heads. “Why, I didn’t even know you was married. Must have done that while you was away, I reckon.”

Jesse smiled slowly as he took the doc’s clothes in. He was wearing a nightshirt, and his skinny legs were bare except for a pair of socks. His thin head of hair tossed by a night of trying to sleep, Jesse guessed.

“Yeah, I got a baby. I think she’s got some ear problems. We checked