Shane's Bride (Mail Order Brides of Texas #3) (7 page)

What could he say to that? She had been at the heart of his fight with his father, though not for the reasons she was hinting at.

“So you’re passing.” He shrugged his uninjured shoulder.  “You do look lovely and very white.  I suppose that made it easier for you to travel too.”

She stiffened and her eyes flashed with anger.  “You’re not planning on telling anyone are you?”

He could tell she was holding her breath waiting for his answer.  “I wouldn’t do that to you.  We’ll just say we are distant cousins and childhood friends.”

“Or you could just say I’m your wife.  No one would question the wife of the sheriff.” She gripped his shoulders to help him sit up.

Shane had a hard time catching his breath.  “What are you doing? I’ve been shot in the shoulder.”

Lucy shrugged and batted her eyelashes.  “I was just trying to help you.  I figured you’d want to be sitting up while we have our conversation.  I’m sorry if I hurt you.” She walked to the other side of the bed and sat in the wooden chair.  “Really, Shane, you must do something about the furniture you have in your house.  It looks like a collection of pieces that someone was throwing away.”

“The chair you’re sitting in was made by my friend Keegan.  He’s good at what he does.  Things are different out here.  This isn’t the South where everything was opulent.  Here we all have to carry our weight or we don’t eat.  It’s a different way of life, but I’m sure you’ll get used to it.  We’ll have a cow, some chickens, and a few pigs pretty soon.  We’re also going to put in a garden and grow our own food.  I know I can count on you to help.” He breathed in deeply trying not to laugh at the shock and annoyance on her face.  Did she think that white people didn’t work? If so she was in for a rude awakening.  He wasn’t sure he liked the idea of her passing for white.  People were bound to kill her if they found out.

She pasted another fake smile on her face and nodded.  “Why a little farm sounds like fun,” she said in a syrupy voice.  “You do know that I always worked in the house, and I have no knowledge of critters or gardening.”

Grinning widely Shane stared at her.  “Well it’s about time you learned.  How’s your cooking?”

Lucy sputtered and shook her head.  “You have servants for that.”

“They are not servants.  They’re friends who have hit a bump in the road.  We plan to work together to get the farm started.  I’m sure you can take turns cooking the meals, doing the laundry and anything else that needs doing.” Lucy narrowed her eyes and gave him a mulish look.  He could tell she was going to be nothing but trouble.  Lots and lots of trouble.

Cecily poked her head in and caught Shane’s gaze.  “Are you hungry? We really should try to get some food in you.  And I also need to sponge you down, you still have a fever.” Lucy gasped and put her right hand over her heart.

“I’d appreciate it, Cecily,” Shane said.

Cecily nodded.  “I’ll be right back.” She gave him a sweet smile, and he couldn’t help but compare her genuine caring to Lucy’s selfishness.

“You allow her to bathe you? Why that little hussy.  Just how long has she been working for you? It can’t be good for your reputation to have such a woman around.”

A gasp came from the doorway.  Cecily stood there, looking wan.  Damn she’d heard Lucy’s words. 

He smiled at her.  “Something smells good.”

“Why, it’s my new perfume,” Lucy said. 

Shane shook his head.  “I meant the food.” He watched as Cecily entered the room carrying a wooden tray laden with a light meal.  No matter what, Cecily brightened every room she entered and he admired her.

“Lucy, would you mind moving so I can set the tray on the table?”

Lucy hesitated so long Shane thought she would refuse. 

At last, she stood with her nose practically in the air.  “I wouldn’t want to get in the way of your duties.”

Cecily’s expression was cold as she put the food on the table.  She turned, ready to sit down and help Shane, but Lucy grabbed the chair, pulled it to the other side of the bed and sat.

“I think I can take it from here.  I’d advise you to knock before you enter again.”

It hurt that Cecily didn’t even glance at him for confirmation of Lucy’s words before she left the room.  Surely she must know Lucy’s words meant nothing.  He sighed of course she didn’t know and it was his fault for not setting things straight.

“Lucy you can’t take it upon yourself to give direction to anyone in this house.” Her eyes narrowed as she nodded.  “I mean it.”

“Yes, I’m sure you do.”

****

Humiliation swept through Cecily, heating her face.  She sat down at the kitchen table and covered her cheeks with her hands hoping to cool them.  She had felt assured by Shane’s earlier words, but his actions told a different story.  He could have intervened with Lucy, but he hadn’t.  In fact, he hadn’t seemed surprised by her at all.  The last few days had been lovely, but now it was back to reality. 

She sighed and dropped her hands.  At least she wasn’t making money flat on her back.  She and Poor Boy had a place to live and food to fill their bellies.  Lord knew they’d both been through worse.

Poor Boy entered the house, dragging his feet.  “Jester is all set.  There’s no swelling in his foot, and he seems to be standing right.  He’s really a great horse.  It’s been a long time since I’ve been around horses but I love them.  I know they don’t talk but you can tell by the way they look at you and by their ears what they are saying.”

“Their ears?”

Poor Boy gave her a shy grin and nodded.  “If they pin their ears back they’re not happy, and you need to be on your toes.  If they are listening, you can tell by the way their ears turn a bit in your direction.”

“Poor Boy, where did you learn so much about horses?”

The boy turned red and pretended to examine the wooden floor.  “My pa he taught me before he died.  Then my ma got remarried.  Her husband was big and mean with powerful fists.  He used those fists on my mom on me and on the horses.  I had a horse of my own named Horizon.  He was the best horse ever, and that awful man shot him in the head for no reason.  I begged my mom to leave, but she refused, so I took off before he could shoot me in the head too.” Poor Boy sat down at the table and folded his arms on it before laying his head down.

Cecily’s heart broke for him.  No wonder he had nightmares.  She wanted to ask him how old he really was but decided not to pry.  She had a feeling he’d confide in her again.  “I’m so sorry, Poor Boy.  Life isn’t fair and bad things happen to good people like you and me.  I don’t have any answers as to why.  I’ve asked God over and over again, why me.  I never seem to get an answer or maybe I don’t recognize the answer.  They say God works in mysterious ways such as giving us a place here with Shane.”

“I ain’t talked to God in a very long time.  Do you think he’s forgotten about me?”

“I’m no expert but I don’t think he forgets about anyone.  Are you hungry?” She laughed.  “Of course you are.  I don’t even know why I asked.”

He lifted his head his eyes shining and the corners of his mouth were turned up.  “You’re right I’m starving.”

****

The day was turning out to be very trying.  Cecily’s hand twitched to slap the smug look off Lucy’s face.  Lucy only came out of Shane’s room by necessity otherwise she planted herself on the chair next to Shane’s bed not offering to help.  Asking her constantly to move out of the way grew tiresome.  It also irked Cecily to no end the way Lucy stared at her while she wiped down Shane with cool water.  If Lucy was such a good friend of Shane’s, perhaps she could wash him down.

Shaking her head, Cecily sighed and sat down at the kitchen table.  Poor Boy seemed to be at loose ends and was trying anything to stay out of Lucy’s way.  The doctor would be there soon, and she wondered how Lucy would act in front of him.  Then there would be the problem of who slept where.  She supposed she’d have to give up her bedroom, so Lucy would have a nice place to sleep.  She wouldn’t have minded one bit giving up her room; it was the fact that Lucy would be sleeping there that made her mad.

Cecily smiled, she’d spent so much time  being angry with Lucy, she’d forgotten how frightened she usually was.  Perhaps there was hope for her after all.  A knock at the door startled her, and she thought herself hopeless once again as she quickly went to see who it was.  Opening the door, she smiled at the doctor and Edith.

“Welcome, I’m so glad to see you both.” She stepped aside to allow the newcomers to enter.

“How’s the patient?” the doctor asked.

“He still has a fever, but I was able to get him to eat.”

“So you fed him? I had visions of him starving.” Edith frowned as she put a big basket on the kitchen table.  “I brought him something edible.”

Cecily didn’t acknowledge the barb.

The doctor cleared his throat.  “Well I’ll just go on in to see the patient.” Cecily nodded, wondering what type of reception he’d get from Lucy.

She watched as he walked to the threshold, peered in, and frowned. 

The doctor stepped into the room.  “I didn’t know you had company.”

Edith’s eyes widened as she hurried to Shane’s room.  Cecily couldn’t help but grin as she followed.  She caught the tail end of Shane’s introduction and watched while the doctor gave Lucy a stoic nod. 

Edith’s mouth dropped open as her eyes narrowed.  “How do you two know each other?”

Lucy turned and stared at Edith giving her a haughty look.  “Why we’ve been friends since we were children.  We practically grew up together.  I’m sure you’ve heard how bad things are in the South.  So here I am visiting with my oldest friend.”

Cecily tried not to smile.  Just maybe Edith had met her match.  She did notice however, that Lucy did not stand to greet either the doctor or Edith.

“Well, I’ll examine the patient if that is all right with you, Shane?”

Shane nodded.

Edith turned to leave but when she noticed that Lucy intended to stay she shook her head.  “Come on, Lucy, dear I’m sure they want their privacy.” Edith crossed her arms in front of her and tapped her foot.

Lucy scowled as she stood.  She took a moment to pat her hair in place and to smooth out her skirt.  “I’ll be right outside my dear, Shane, if you need me.” She practically waltzed out of the room. 

Edith stared at Cecily with wide eyes but Cecily merely shrugged her shoulders.

Spotting Poor Boy, Edith smiled.  “I’m glad you found somewhere to stay, I was worried about you.”

Poor Boy gave Edith a slight nod and ducked his head.  “I get to stay as long as I like.”

“Shane is a good person,” Edith said.  “There’s fried chicken in that basket if you’d like.  Help yourself.” Edith smiled as Poor Boy reached in and took a leg.

“I’d offer tea in the parlor but as you can see the house is barely furnished and there doesn’t seem to be any tea,” Lucy explained to Edith.

“I suppose Shane could use a few more pieces of furniture, but he’s not here much.  Why, I doubt he sees any need since he doesn’t use the front two rooms.” Edith turned her back on Lucy.  “Cecily, how has he been? Has his fever gotten worse?”

Lucy walked until she was in Edith’s line of sight.  “I don’t know why you’re asking her.  I’ve been taking care of Shane.  I think he still has a slight fever, but it’s hard to tell with someone constantly interrupting us to wash him down with cold water.  It’s highly improper.”

Cecily didn’t get a chance to open her mouth.

“Well if you’re by his side, why is it considered improper? She’s just bathing his face, arms and chest.  Is there something else going on I need to know about?” Edith stared at Lucy and then at Cecily. 

Cecily decided not to say a word and to let Lucy handle it.

“It’s hardly seemly,” Lucy said.  “She hasn’t known Shane for very long.”

Edith gave Lucy a pointed stare.  “Would you rather Shane die? If you thought it so improper why weren’t you cooling his fever?”

Lucy blinked a few times and shook her head.  “I’m not the hired help.” She turned and walked back to the table and sat down.  “I would like a cup of coffee, and don’t skimp on the sugar this time.”

“Edith, would you like a cup of coffee too?” Cecily offered.

“Thank you, Cecily, I would love a cup of coffee.” Edith walked over to the table and Poor Boy pulled out her chair for her.  Cecily saw the glare Lucy gave Poor Boy.  There would be no peace in the house tonight.

Cecily got the coffee ready making sure she set out the sugar bowl for Lucy.  She placed Edith’s coffee on the table first and then placed Lucy’s in front of her.  She poured another cup and handed it to Poor Boy who backed himself into one corner of the room.  Finally, she got a cup of coffee for herself and placed it on the table.  She started to pull out the chair.

Lucy made a huffing noise.  “You don’t expect to sit with us do you? Hired help never sits with their betters.”

Edith drew in a deep breath as her hand went over her chest.  “Cecily, sit down.” She turned and gazed at Lucy.  “We don’t do things out here the same way you did in the South.  We don’t believe in slaves or indentured servants.  It’s not practical to have Cecily eat or sit at a different table.  Most of us are not blessed with extra help.  Texas isn’t a place for genteel women.  In order to survive out west everyone, and I mean everyone, needs to pull their own weight.  Oh sure, there’s the ones with money and the ones without, but at the end of the day if there’s a problem we pull together.  Cecily comes from a good home and upbringing.  She grew up on a farm in Pennsylvania, and her knowledge of farming is an asset to our community.  She’s definitely an asset to Shane, who plans on building a small farm.  Now, Poor Boy has been in town for many years.” She bestowed a glance on Cecily.  “By the way, you’ve done a good job cleaning him up.” Then Edith turned toward Poor Boy.  “You look real nice.”