Weathered Too Young (24 page)

Slater and Tom sat at the table
;
Katherine did too.
But Charlie was skipping around the room as Lizzy sat on Tom’s lap.

“Do you have a rooster that crows in the morning?” Lizzy asked.

“Yes, we do,” Tom answered.
His smile was as broad as a barn door and caused Lark to smile as well.

“Is there a swimming hole around here in the summer?” Charlie asked.

“Yes, sir…there is,” Slater chuckled.

“Are we allowed to play in the house, or do you like it quiet?” Lizzy asked.

“Will we get to milk a cow?”

“Yes…sometimes…and yes,” Slater answered.

Charlie looked up as Lark and Johnny entered the room.

“I seen our room, Johnny!” Charlie exclaimed.
“We have a bed and everything!”

“Well, that’s good to know,” Johnny said, smiling at his brother.

“And I get to share a bed with Mama,” Lizzy chimed.
“A big bed!
Bigger than yours
,
Johnny!”

“Well, that’s good…’cause you take up a lot of space,” Johnny teased her.

“Who do you sleep with, Miss Lark?
Uncle Slater or Uncle Tom?” Charlie asked, childlike innocence radiating from his blue eyes.

Lark gasped, as did Katherine.
Slater and Tom, however, simply burst into chuckling.

“I-I have my own room, Charlie,” Lark stammered.
“My own bed too.”

“You sleep all by yourself?” Charlie exclaimed, horrified.
“Don’t you get scared?”

“No,” Lark stammered as Slater and Tom tried to rein in their laughter.

Katherine jammed an elbow into Slater’s ribs.
“Hush, Slater,” she scolded.
“He’s just a little boy.”

“So you ain’t never been married, Miss Lark?” Johnny asked.

“Well…well
,
no,” Lark answered.

“Why not?” Lizzy asked.

Lark cleared her
throat
.
She was uncomfortable—overly warm.
“Well
…
I suppose
…
I’m not…I’m only nineteen
.
I…”

“Well, our mama was only sixteen when she married our daddy. Isn’t that right, Mama?” Johnny asked his mother.

“I was nearly seventeen, Johnny,” Katherine told him.
“And Lark’s got plenty of time.”

“You puttin’ your bid in early, John?” Tom teased.

Johnny shrugged his shoulders. “I was just wondering.”

“I-I better get some supper started,” Lark muttered, snatching her apron from a nearby wall hook.

“Oh, please let me help, Lark,” Katherine begged, pushing her chair back from the table.

“Oh no!” Lark exclaimed. A wave of panic washed over her.
If Katherine proved to be a better cook and housekeeper than Lark was
,
then Slater and Tom would have no reason to keep her on.
“You go ahead and visit. I’ll take care of it.” She noticed the immediate disappointment on Katherine’s face, however—the returning despair.
The woman needed a task—needed to keep her mind from lingering on her loss.
Lark quickly glanced to Slater.
He nodded his affirmation of her own thoughts.
“Unless you really want to,” she added, though somewhat unwillingly.

Katherine smiled
and
strode toward Lark.
She took an apron down from another hook and asked, “What can I do?”

“Potatoes?” Lark carefully offered.

“Oh yes!” she breathed, obviously relieved that Lark was allowing her to assist.
“Just hand me a knife.
Oh, I do feel so much better…knew I would!”
Katherine paused and turned to look to Slater and Tom.
“I’m glad we came here,” Katherine said.
“Thank you, boys.”

Slater rose from his chair and strode to Katherine.
Jealously burned through Lark like a hot poker as he bent and placed a loving kiss on her cheek.

“Me too, Katie,” he said.
“Now, maybe Johnny wouldn’t mind helping me finish up the chores
’
fore supper.”

“Not at all,” Johnny said.

Slater’s gaze fell to Lark.
Her heart began to hammer as she recognized the mischief twinkling in his dark eyes.
“And if you ever get tired of sleepin’ by yourself, baby
,
” he began with a wink, “then you just let me know.”

Lark gasped and felt her cheeks turn scarlet—felt her heart begin to pound with wild delight. Slater chuckled and winked again.

“Well, that is so kind
,
Uncle Slater!
Just so kind!” Lizzy said.
Tom and Katherine both chuckled.
“Before we decided to come here
,
Mama told us you were a nice man…and she sure was right!”

“And he’s got a real big bed too, Miss Lark!” Charlie added.

“Oh, she knows I do, Charlie,” Slater chuckled.

“Slater Evans!” Katherine scolded.
“You quit teasin’ that girl!”

“She’s used to it…ain’t ya?” he asked Lark.

“I-I suppose,” Lark stammered.
Oh, how she wished her blush would cool!
Oh, how she wished he would simply take her in his arms and kiss her!

“Come on, John,” Slater said.
“Let’s get that team put away
. T
hen I’ll take ya out to meet
the men who cowboy for us.
Al
l
right?”

Johnny’s face lit up like a summer sunrise.
“Yes, sir!” he said.

“I do not know how you’ve put up with him,” Katherine said, smiling.
She turned to Tom, wagging an index finger at him as he picked up Charlie and began to bounce him on one knee.
“And I know you’re no better, Thomas Evans.”

Tom chuckled and winked understandingly at Lark.
Lark sighed, relieved as she felt her blush begin to cool.
Her heart, however, continued to beat at feral pace.
He’d teased her!
He’d teased her in front of Katherine—and about such an insinuative matter!
Somehow the knowledge soothed her anxieties a little.

“Oh, it’s so good to be back,” Katherine sighed as Lark handed her a potato.
She smiled at Lark—a sincere smile of offered friendship.
“And I’m so glad you’re here too.”

“Thank you,” Lark said, for it was all she could think to say.



After supper, however, as the cool and darkness of night descended, Katherine’s anxieties returned.
She wept near constantly—though she tried to enjoy lighthearted conversation in the parlor.
Lark watched her
,
her own heart aching
,
for she could well imagine the pain she would know if something were to take Slater’s life.
He would never be her husband
,
she would never b
e
ar his children
,
yet the imagined pain invoked by the simple thought of losing him—it was excruciating.
Thus she felt sorrow for Katherine—pity and great compassion.

The children were tired—so tired they were growing ill-tempered.
Yet it was apparent that Katherine did not have the vigor see to them.
As Charlie and Lizzy begged their mother to tell them a story, she began—yet was instantly overcome by such weeping that she could not continue.

“Would it be all right if I told you a story tonight?” Lark asked at last. “Then we could let your mother rest a bit. I’m sure she’s very tired from traveling.”

Katherine smiled gratefully at Lark as Lizzy and Charlie nodded.

“Want to walk a ways, Katie?” Slater asked.

A sense of near panic filled Lark—but what could she do?
Katherine nodded and dabbed at her eyes with a handkerchief. Lark watched as Slater helped Katherine with her coat
and
took her hand as they left the house.

“What’s the story about, Lark?” Lizzy asked, startling Lark from her miserable jealousy.

Forcing a smile, she began
,
“Once upon a time
…
”

“Oh! I love this one!” Lizzy exclaimed.

“You don’t even know which one it is,” Johnny grumbled.
He was sitting next to Tom on the sofa
,
and Tom chuckled—as ever, amused.

“Be quiet, Johnny!” Lizzy scolded. “Don’t you know all good stories start that way? Go on, Lark. Go on and start again.”

Lark smiled as Lizzy cuddled up under her
arm
.
Charlie snuggled under the other.

“Very well. Once upon a time
…
” Lark began again.

Mere moments later, both Lizzy and Charlie were sound asleep.

“They’re plum tuckered out,” Tom chuckled softly.

“That’s
’
cause they don’t hardly draw breath all day,” Johnny said.
“Did you ever hear such chatterin’ on?
They’re like two squirrels fightin’ over an acorn.”

“Should we…should we just put them to bed?” Lark asked.

Johnny nodded.
“Lizzy won’t stir at all now,” he said.
“Charlie might…but I’ll see to him.”
Johnny stood, crossed the room,
and
scoop
ed
his little brother into his arms.
“Thank you, Miss Lark,” he said.
He turned and added, “You too, Uncle Tom.”

“You’re welcome, Johnny,” Lark whispered.

Tom strode toward the big chair where Lark still sat with Lizzy.
“I’ll get her in
to the bed…and you can tuck her in,” Tom whispered.

Lark nodded and smiled as she watched Tom carefully lift the little girl into his arms.
Lark was glad that Katherine had made the younger children change into their nightdresses before they’d settled in the parlor.
She wouldn’t have been able to rest easy if she’d had to put Lizzy to bed in her day clothes.

Once she’d snuggly tucked Lizzy into bed, she quietly closed the door behind her and returned to the parlor.
Slater and Katherine still hadn’t returned, but Lark tried not to think on it.
After all, chances were they were talking about Katherine’s husband passing on.
What could possibly happen between them with such sad conversation?

“I’m not going to any dance, Uncle Tom,” Johnny was saying.
“Ain’t no way! Not me!”

“Ah, now. Come on, boy! We always go to the Christmas social in town,” Tom said.
Lark recognized Tom’s teasing expression
,
and she felt a little sorrow for Johnny.
“We got us some mighty pretty little fillies
’
bout your age round here,” Tom chuckled.

“I don’t know how to dance. I don’t have the knack for it, that’s all,” Johnny grumbled.

Lark had heard about the Christmas social.
Mrs. Gunderson had spoken of it while she’d been choosing fabric in town earlier in the day.
It had been a long time since Lark had attended such an event.
Mrs. Gunderson had told her that the Evans brothers always attended the Christmas social in town
,
and Lark had found that a growing excitement had begun in her.
Naturally, once Katherine and the children had arrived, she’d simply forgotten about it—until now.

“I ain’t much of a dancer myself,” Tom told Johnny.
“I look about like an ol’ bull would look if he were tryin’ to waltz…but it’s mighty fun. Nobody out here is much good at dancin’
,
so you’ll fit right in.”

“I don’t go dancing, Uncle Tom.”

Tom chuckled and looked up to Lark. The all too familiar Evans mischief was apparent in his expression.
She immediately recognized Tom’s intention and shook her head.
Tom ignored her, however.

“Why
…
I bet our Miss Lark would teach ya all the dancin’ ya need to know. You’d sure enough show Johnny waltzin’ and such before the Christmas social,” he said
,
“
n
ow wouldn’t ya?”

Lark couldn’t help but smile as Johnny gazed to her hopefully—almost pleadingly.
“Of course!” she exclaimed, feigning delight.
“It would be my pleasure. It’s not as difficult as you might think, Johnny.”

Johnny smiled. “Really? You wouldn’t mind teaching me?”

“Of course not,”
she
told him sincerely.
“In fact, let’s start just now.”

Johnny’s smile widened.
He stood and straightened his shirt collar. He was a tall boy for his age—several inches taller than Lark.

“Here now,” she said, directing him to holding her hand in his—in placing his other hand at her waist.
“It’s fairly simple…if you start by counting it out.”
She began counting out the steps.
“One, two, three…one, two, th
r
ee,” she counted.
“You see?
It’s not so hard.
It just takes some practice.”

“One, two, three…one, two…oops!
I’m sorry, Miss Lark,” Joh
nny apologized as he stepped on
her foot.

Lark giggled.
“It’s fine…it’s fine.
You just need practice.”
She stopped him, smiled
,
and began again.
“One, two, three…one, two, three
. Y
ou see there…you’re getting it!”

Johnny only nodded, still too intent on counting out his steps.

“You see this, Katie. I leave Tom alone for one dang minute
,
and he’s got them dancin’ around like there ain’t nothin’ to do in the world.”

Lark stopped short at the sound of Slater’s voice.
Slater and
Katherine
must’ve entered through the back door
,
for she hadn’t heard them approach.
Lark blushed, somehow embarrassed at Slater’s having caught her waltzing.

“Lark’s teachin’ Johnny how to dance so he’ll be ready for the town Christmas social,” Tom explained.

“Oh! Do they still have the social?” Katherine exclaimed. She looked to Slater, her eyes sparkling with enchantment.
“Oh, I did so love the town socials! Remember, Slater? We used to have so much fun
.
And dance! Oh, how we’d dance! Remember?”

Slater leaned forward, kissing
Katherine
’s forehead. “Course I remember. You were always the prettiest girl there.”

Lark watched as then
, quite to her utter amazement, Slater began waltzing with Katherine—and humming. She fancied he looked much younger when paired with Katherine—not so much physically but rather as if his soul felt youthful once more.
Certainly, he did not look old in the least anyway. Yet whenever his heart was somehow lightened—whenever mischief and mirth were about him—the weathered appearance that normally accompanied him
faded.

Lark’s thoughts were interrupted when Slater said, “Wipe that look off yer face, baby. Ain’t you ever seen nobody waltzin’ before?”

“Not you,” Lark answered plainly.

Slater immediately stopped dancing.
He frowned, nearly glaring at her.
“Well, I suppose that’s true,” he said.
Still looking at Lark
,
he said, “Here
,
Johnny, you practice with your mama a minute.
Looks like I got somethin’ to prove.”

“Oh no, no, no!” Lark breathed, stepping backward as Slater advanced upon her.
His eyes were flashing with naughty indignation.

“You think just
’
cause I’m an old, leathery cowhand that I can’t dance?” he asked her.

Lark shook her head and forced a pleasant smile.
“Oh no! I just mean
…
well
,
you and Tom don’t spend much time dancing around the house. That’s all.
When would I have ever had the chance to see?”

Slater chuckled.
Taking Lark’s hand in his, he put his other at her waist. Then, flashing his brilliant smile, he said, “Is that a fact? Well, that shows how much you don’t know…
’
cause the fact of the matter is
,
late at night
,
when you’re all cozy sound asleep
…
me and old Tom get up and dance around on the table in our drawers…trapdoors a
-
flappin’ in the breeze.”

Lark blushed and gasped as Slater began leading her in a waltz. Instantly, she began to perspire—to tremble for the excitement rushing through her at being held in his arms.

“I can do reels and everythin’ else too. Astonishin’, ain’t it?” he asked as Lark began to struggle slightly.
He was unnerving her greatly.
She felt that if she didn’t escape him, then Katherine and Johnny might read her feelings—as Tom had so easily done before.

She gasped and was rendered near breathless as he pulled her body flush with his own.

“Now, you don’t want to be dancin’ this close to a girl at the social, Johnny,” Slater said.
“If you do…you might find her daddy chasin’ ya home with his
P
eacemaker.”

“Slater Evans!” Katherine scolded.
“Slap him, Lark!
He deserves it.”

“I-I’m really not up to dancing well this evening, Slater,” Lark stammered.
“I’m ever so tired
.
I’m sure every
one
is.”

Slater winked to Katherine and said, “Let me translate that for ya, Katie
. S
he means she’s embarrassed to be dancin’ with me and wants to escape to her room.”

“That is not what I said,” Lark defended herself, planting her feet firmly and stopping their waltz.

Slater didn’t loosen his hold on her
,
nor did he remove his hand from her waist
,
although he did release her hand he’d been holding. “But that’s what you
meant
…ain’t it?”

“No…of course not,” Lark stammered.
“I simply meant that I’ve had a very long day
,
and I’m tired.” Though she adored it, his teasing was so entirely unsettling.
Silently, she admitted that he’d been right—she did want to escape.
Rather, she needed to escape.

“Oh, leave her be, Slater,” Katherine giggled, coming to Lark’s rescue.
“She’s worked so hard today
,
and besides
…
I’m tired too. We should all turn in.”

Slater chuckled and released Lark.

“Good night, Johnny…Katherine.
I hope you both sleep well,” Lark said, forcing a friendly smile.
She turned to Tom.
“Good night, Tom.”
She paused
, blushing as Slater smiled, staring at her expectantly.
“Good night, Slater,” she managed.
His gaze—the way his eyes seemed to study her almost wantonly—caused a delicious quiver to travel through body.

“Now, you remember,” he began, “don’t be comin’ out in the middle of the night and surprising me and Tom
. Y
ou might catch us dancin’ around in our drawers.”

Lark was delighted by his teasing her.
Certainly, it made her uncomfortable
. Y
et it was nearly what she lived for—his teasing
,
his attention.
Smiling, she felt her eyes narrow as she leaned toward him. “It’s no
thing I haven’t seen before…your
drawers, I mean,” she teased.
She caught sight of Johnny and Katherine out of the corner of her eye.
Thus, she added, “After all, I am the one who does the mendin’ around here.”

Slater’s eyes twinkled with amusement as he gazed at her.
“Yes, you are,” he mumbled.

Tom playfully slapped Slater on the back. “You need some sleep, boy,” he chuckled.
“Once you start into waltzin’ and pickin’ on Lark…it’s time for you to hit the hay.”

Slater’s smile broadened, and he nodded.
He ran
a
hand through his hair and said, “Yep.
I’m worn through today.
I best get myself to bed.”