Newton (Prairie Grooms Book 9) (2 page)

She went into the other room, but there was no sign of him there either. She returned to the sleeping area, found her clothes and put them on. Should she look for him or stay put? She sensed no danger from anyone, so why not explore? But perhaps Nu-tan thought she’d sleep longer and had left to take care of things before she woke up.

Her stomach rumbled with hunger. That decided it. She did have to eat. Perhaps he’d gone hunting. But no … the abundance of food she’d witnessed last night was astounding. Surely he wouldn’t need to hunt if there was still food left to eat. Perhaps the women had taken it all? How was she to know unless she left the room to find out?

Arya went to the door that Nu-tan had carried her through the night before. She slowly reached for it, grasped the lever and turned it. There was a click and she smiled. She swung the door wide open and stepped into the hallway.

She vaguely remembered being in structures such as this when she was younger,
much
younger. In fact, Nu-tan’s language was also familiar. As a child she’d had dreams at night about people who spoke his language. Had she known it before? But how could she?

Arya took several cautious steps down the hall towards the staircase and studied her surroundings. Many of the things she saw were also familiar, because she’d seen them in books she found hidden in a wooden box. A man and a woman had given the books to her tribe many years ago. Unfortunately, she learned the names of the pictured items in her own language, not her husband’s, though she suspected the books were written in his.

“Oh my goodness!”

Arya turned around. A pretty woman with light hair and blue eyes stood staring at her. “Nu-tan?” she blurted, hoping the woman had seen him.

“Ah yes, Newton. He’s downstairs in the dining room getting you both some food. I’m Eloise,” the woman said and pointed to herself.

Arya furrowed her brow in concentration. Her words meant little, but she did recognize that the woman was trying to tell her who she was. “El …o … eez.”

“That’s right!” the woman said brightly. “Newton was right, you are a fast learner.”

Arya smiled at the mention of Nu-tan. “Elo-eez.”

The woman’s face broke into a warm smile. “You and I are going to spend lots of time together. I’ll teach you all kinds of things!” She wrapped an arm around Arya’s shoulders and pulled her down the hall toward the stairs. “Let’s get some breakfast in you, then we’ll see about some decent clothes. You can’t go around town wearing those old buckskins.”

Arya listened to her babble, only understanding a few words. She heard Nu-tan’s name and the word “clothes” – she knew what that meant. She studied the woman’s dress. It was very different from those of her people. Did she want Arya to wear something similar? But she could never hunt in such a thing! How could she aid her husband to hunt and gather food wearing
that
?

Elo-eez escorted her into a room full of the same sort of trappings as the building they were in last night. She saw her husband next to plates of food and her eyes lit up. “Nu-tan!” she called.

“Arya,” he said as he went to her and smiled. “Welcome to my world, darling.”

A
rya’s heart skipped a beat
. She reached out and touched his chest, reveling in the feel of it. She was hungry, but for him rather than food. When she thought about it, he
was
her food. Being with him strengthened her, and apart from him she felt weak. She’d noticed it happening before they became husband and wife.

Nu-tan put his arms around her and gave her a light kiss on the cheek. “Are you hungry?”

She understood and nodded.

He took her by the hand and led her to a table. It was covered with pretty things to put food on, prettier than those used the night before in the other building. She liked looking at them.

Nu-tan pulled a chair out for her and motioned for her to sit. She did, then picked up a –what did Nu-tan call it last night?
Plate
? His language was so different from hers. But she was determined to learn it. “Plate.”

Nu-tan’s eyes went wide. “Very good, darling!”

Arya smiled and set the plate down. No sooner had she done so than Nu-tan snatched it up, went to another table and started putting food onto it. He returned and set it before her, then filled a plate for himself. She waited until he was seated before picking up one of the “forks” he’d taught her to use the night before.

“Well, look at you,” he said, pleased. “You’ll be hosting your own tea before long.”

Arya smiled again. She understood the first part of what he’d said, but not the second.

Elo-eez fixed herself a plate, brought it to the table and as soon as she sat, started to talk. Again Arya picked up the word “clothes” and wondered what the woman was talking about. She supposed she’d find out soon enough.

Nu-tan took her hand, bowed his head and thanked the Great Creator for the food. At least both her people and his knew about Him. When he finished, he pointed to some small chunks of golden brown …
something.
“Potatoes,” he said and rubbed his belly for emphasis. “Mmm.”

Arya stared at the food. It was different from what she’d had last night. She recognized bird eggs, though these were much bigger than any she’d had before. She wondered what the other food on her plate was. She picked up a long strip of something crispy and hot and studied it.

“Bacon,” Nu-tan said with a smile and picked up a piece of his own. He winked at her and took a bite.

Arya sniffed at it. It was some sort of meat – wild pig, maybe? She took a small bite. Whatever it was, it was very salty. She licked her lips, took another bite and discovered she liked it. She made short work of the bacon on her plate then eyed the last piece on his.

“Oh no, you don’t. This is my bacon,” he said, covering it with his hand.

Elo-eez laughed and said something. Her barrage of words ended with one Arya recognized: “… savage.”

Arya stared at her. She knew what that word meant. She’d been called that before. “Savage” in her world meant a person who killed without thought or motive. Is that what Elo-eez saw when she looked at her? But how could she think such a thing? The woman didn’t even know her yet!

“Arya,” Nu-tan said gently. “Eloise wasn’t calling you one.”

She stared at him, hurt in her eyes.

“Arya …” Nu-tan said. “Arya not savage.”

She smiled in relief. The woman must have been talking about something else.

“Eat, darling,” he said and pointed at her food, then smiled and gave her his last piece of bacon.

After breakfast Nu-tan led her back upstairs, said a few parting words to Elo-eez who’d followed them, and walked through the open door of their room. He gave her the look he usually did when she’d done something … not quite right … and shut the door. He shook his head, went to her and pulled her into his arms. “I love you,” he said and put a hand over her heart.

Arya’s chest filled with warmth. “
Muhnya,
Nu-tan.”

He smile and gazed into her eyes. “
Muhnya,
Arya,” he whispered, then kissed her.

She melted against him, his kiss filling her more than food ever could. His arms came around her and she marveled at their strength. She’d seen him fight some of the braves and knew what he was capable of. Yet when holding her, he was extremely gentle.

“Arya,” he whispered when he broke the kiss. He trembled a moment and held her close. “Dash it all … Eloise will be back soon.”

Arya’s eyes widened. She understood. She drew back and stared at him. “Back soon?”

He gasped in delight. “Yes, she’s bringing you a dress to wear.”

“Dress?”

“Clothes,” he said and pulled at her buckskins.

Oh, not that! The woman was going to make her wear the clothes of his people. “No!” she said and tried to pull away.

“Arya, stop,” he told her as she struggled. “It’s all right. I want you to wear a dress.”

She stopped and stared at him. Was he saying what she thought he was? How could she run in such an outfit? She’d worn a dress, but never one that reached the floor nor had so much cloth. She frowned.

He sighed heavily. “I think you’ll look very pretty in one.”

She knew what
pretty
meant and put two and two together before sighing in resignation. If he thought she’d be pretty wearing clothes like Elo-eez, then who was she to argue? She should at least try, for Nu-tan’s sake. She fingered her buckskin shirt, then looked at him. “Clothes.”

“Buckskins,” he corrected. “Not fit for a lady.”

“Lady?”

He smiled and tweaked her nose. “You,” he said and pointed at her chest, “are a lady.”

She smiled and pointed at his.

“Me? I’m a gentleman.”

“Gentle … man.”

Nu-tan smiled, cupped her face with one hand and kissed her soundly.

When he broke the kiss her eyes lit up. “Gentle-man,” she said, hoping he’d kiss her again. He didn’t disappoint. Arya liked this new word.

N
ewton gently pushed
Arya from him. “There’s more where that came from, my darling, but I’m afraid now is not the time.” He rested his forehead against hers. “Eloise will be back soon with a dress for you. I hope you’ll like it and not … put up a fuss.”

Arya looked at him, her head cocked to one side, her grey eyes wide with curiosity. She was responding to the tone of his voice more than anything else.

“What I mean to say is …” he continued, but she put a finger to his lips to quiet him. She was good at communicating through body language, and they’d spent a lot of quiet time together over the last few weeks simply soaking each other up, conversing only with a gesture here, a look there. Especially looks like the one she was giving him now.

She smiled, her head still tilted, then lowered her hand from his mouth and put it over his heart. Her expression changed and her eyes filled with longing.

“How can I tell you, we cannot …” He sighed. “Not that I don’t want to. You’re like a magical elixir, one I cannot get enough of. But … not right now, my love.”

She let her hand fall away, her eyes downcast.

Newton tucked a finger under her chin and brought her face up. “None of that. We have a busy day ahead of us. I have all sorts of things to show you.”

Arya’s eyes misted.

“What’s this?” he asked. He hated this part – knowing he’d messed up, but not sure how. “What’s wrong, sweet?”

She looked at the window. His gaze followed hers and he turned them both so they faced it. He knew what she meant. There was a longing in his heart for something he couldn’t understand, and perhaps was afraid to. Courting her over the last few weeks, if one could call it that, had taken everything out of him. If he hadn’t wed her, he thought he might’ve become as sick as his sister Nettie’s husband Amon had.

He’d fallen in love. But he didn’t think it was supposed to leave him feeling ill.

He stood behind his wife and wrapped his arms around her as they stared out the window at the prairie beyond. “Beautiful, isn’t it?” he whispered in her ear, then kissed it. “So are you.”

She reached up and put a hand over one of his. “Newton …”

He smiled. “Yes, love?”

“
Khundah mehlai da la vhulh?
”

He sighed heavily. “I wish I could understand you. Let’s see,
khundah
… you taught me that.”

She turned in his arms to face him, a smile on her face. “
Khundah
,” she said, her voice permeating his every pore.

He swallowed hard. “
Khundah
means …” He waved a hand between them. “You and me, right?”

Her smile broadened. “You and me.”

“That’s right,” he whispered, his heart suddenly yearning for … what? He brushed the feeling aside and concentrated on their lesson exchange. “
Da la vhulh …
that means … let’s see …” He scrunched up his face in concentration. “Don’t tell me, I’ve got this!”

Arya giggled.

“You think it’s funny? Do you have any idea how hard your language is? In fact, I’ve never heard of it before. Where in the world am I going to find a book on it?”

“
Muir-ar-ahn
,” she said.

He brushed a wisp of hair from her face. “Indeed. I shan’t find a book on it anywhere, will I?” She just kept smiling at him. “No, your people will remain a mystery …”

A knock sounded at the door. Newton gazed into Arya’s eyes, gave her a tender kiss on the forehead and went to answer it.

Eloise stood on the other side with Mrs. Upton. “I brought reinforcements,” she told him. “Just in case.”

Mrs. Upton peeked past them at Arya, who stood quietly where she was. Newton took a deep breath and motioned them inside. “Shall I leave you alone? Or would you rather I do the deed?”

Arya looked at Newton, the women, back again, apprehension in her eyes. He knew she knew the word “leave” – he’d used it enough, every time he’d had to return to Clear Creek. Consequently, she also knew the word “return.” Judging from the look on her face, he’d best use it now.

He crossed the room to her and took her in his arms. “Arya, I must
leave
, but I will
return
soon.” He waved Eloise over. “Look, see what she has for you?” Eloise held up the dress she’d brought. It was a pretty red and white calico, the collar and sleeves trimmed in white lace. A simple dress, really, but Arya would look beautiful in it. Newton just hoped she’d think so too.

“Maybe we should get Grandma Waller to help,” Eloise suggested. “She’s downstairs in the lobby.”

“Perhaps you’re right,” Newton said. “Mrs. Upton, would you mind bringing her?”

“Not at all, honey!” Mrs. Upton said, then headed back out the door.

Arya remained calm, but Newton suspected it was because he hadn’t left yet. Who knew what she might do when the women tried to get her out of those buckskins of hers?

After a minute or two, Grandma Waller came into the room with Mrs. Upton. “What’s this all about … tarnation, another one!”

“Another?” Newton repeated. “Whatever do you mean?”

“You weren’t here then, but Cozette Cooke dressed just like your wife here, only she didn’t smell so nice. Still, if you ask me, I’d have her take a bath before getting her all gussied up.”

Newton paled. “Oh, er … well, if you think so.” He tried to mask his worry with a smile and glanced at his wife. She was staring at the dress Eloise held. Good. “I’ll see about the bath.” He went to Arya and took one of her hands in his. “I am going now.”

Her eyes widened.

“It’s all right – these women are here to … make you even more beautiful.”

Arya’s eyebrows rose in question.

Newton took the dress from Eloise and held it before her. “Pretty, yes?”

She reached out and touched the fabric in curiosity.

“You’ll look lovely in it,” he said, then put it against her and made a show of looking at it. “Very pretty.”

She blushed, and he suddenly felt more at ease with leaving her alone with the other women. “Grandma Waller, I entrust her to your capable hands.”

Grandma was still wary. “I wonder if I should fetch some extra help.”

“I wouldn’t advise it,” he said. “She’s perfectly capable of bathing – in fact, I think she’ll enjoy it. It’s afterward she’ll try to put her buckskins back on.”

“Are you sure?” Grandma asked. “Cozette wasn’t so easy.”

“This is not Her Grace the duchess – of whom I’ve heard a few tales, yes. Arya is quite civilized. It’s simply a matter of communicating what you want her to do.”

“You should talk to Susara Kincaid about schooling her,” Mrs. Upton said. “I bet she’ll have your wife talking, reading and writing our language in no time!”

“A good idea, Mrs. Upton,” Newton told her. “Thank you for suggesting it. Now if you ladies will excuse me, I’ll leave you to your work.”

Arya’s head came up at the word
leave
. She took a step toward him as she glanced at the women. When her eyes met his again, she shook her head.

“It’s all right, darling, I will return soon,” he said hastily, using the words
return
and
soon
as if they were magic incantations. He put the dress in her hands. “This is for you. I must say you’re going to look lovely in it.”

She took the dress, studied it, then gave him a pleading look.

Newton swept a hand toward the other women, then pointed to the dress in her hands. She looked at them, then nodded in resignation.

“Splendid!” he said with a smile and kissed her on the cheek. “She understands,” he told the others.

“Well, ain’t that something now?” Mrs. Upton said. “Let’s see about getting that bath ready, shall we?”

Newton continued to smile as he slowly backed away, When he reached the door he gave Arya one last look, then left, closing the door behind him. He blew out a long breath and glanced at the ceiling. “Please keep her calm,” he prayed, then headed downstairs.