Wyoming Heather (15 page)

Chapter 28

Heather felt exhausted. She and Alice found several items that would work for Toby and Jesse. They had even managed to find a pair of the coveted Levi Strauss denim overalls for Toby, which would need to be cut off and hemmed. Heather could just imagine the look on the little boy’s face when he saw the pants every cowboy wanted. They were reputed to wear like iron and feeling the stiff material Heather had no doubt they would do just that. Mr. Strauss had come from Bavaria, Germany, a few years ago to open a dry goods store in San Francisco. The cloth was made from hemp. Copper rivets reinforced the points, the pocket corners, and at the base of the button fly. Heather had heard about these jeans and had read that there was even a patent on the rivets.

There wasn’t as much ready wear for a little girl, so Heather had ordered several dresses from a local seamstress. She had even been bold enough to have the seamstress make a pair of pants for Jesse. The seamstress had tried to talk her out of it, stressing how inappropriate they would be for a girl to wear, but Heather had held her ground. Jesse was now a part of a working ranch, and Heather knew firsthand the value of pants.

Alice had agreed to bring the finished dresses out later in the week. There had been a bolt of pink calico that Heather could hardly wait to see on the little blond-haired girl that was now awake and sitting in a corner of the kitchen, petting one of Alice’s cats.

Jesse seemed content, but it was obvious this contentment lasted only as long as Heather was in sight. She watched Heather’s every move. She smiled when spoken to, but it was a smile that never reached her eyes. They remained dark blue orbs of sorrow.

Heather had found a rag doll among the inventory in Alice’s store and snapped it up like a miner would a nugget of gold. The doll had a cotton cloth body, but the crowning glory was her hair, thick strands of yellow string trailed from under a bonnet. Her eyes were painted on a smiling face and were as blue as cornflowers. She hadn’t given the doll to Jesse, as much as she wanted to. It would come from Whip back at the Powder River ranch. A smile played around her mouth as she visualized the masculine man gentled by the small girl he was calling Mite.

Heather glanced over at the child and knew Whip would be surprised when he saw how “Stinky” had been transformed by a new dress, shoes, and hair ribbons. Transformed on the outside, yes, but not on the inside.

Not a word had been spoken as her small fingers ran the length of a hair ribbon and plucked at the lace peeking out from the small sleeves. Heather had seen her, when she thought no one was looking, rub her cheek against the soft flannel nightgown she still had folded across her lap. She hadn’t wanted Heather to put away any of her clothes, and there had been tears in her eyes until Heather managed to convince her they were hers to keep. Still, every so often Jesse would get up, walk over to the chair, and open up the cotton sack, peer inside, reach a hand in just to feel. Then, reassured, she would sit back down, only to check again and again throughout the evening.

Heather sighed, wondering again what she had gotten herself into. It wasn’t that she regretted her offer of assistance. She was already attached to the children and knew she’d fight like a cornered wolverine if anyone threatened them harm. She meant every word that she had spoken to Whip. Together, they would manage to work the two children into their busy lives. But how? How could they possibly manage to look out after two active children and still run their ranches?

A cool breeze of longing engulfed her. And the realization of its origin surprised her. She missed Whip. She missed his quiet wisdom, his strength, and his acceptance of her, and her many idiosyncrasies. She missed the sound of his voice, his soft drawl of, “Well now, Heather,” as he capitulated to a demand or gave in to an argument.

There was current running between them that she resisted recognizing. She had no time in her life for anything but the Circle C if she wanted it to continue to grow and prosper. Still, she wondered if Whip felt the same current, or did men think of such things? She had no idea. She just knew she’d be glad to be on her way tomorrow, back to the Circle C, her home, back to the Powder River Ranch and Whip.

I’m being foolish and romantic as a heroine in one of the dime novels
. She laughed at herself and shook free from her musings, then walked over to the stove to give the potatoes a stir.

Alice was putting the finishing touches on the table when the front door to the store flew open, hitting the wall with a bang. A voice of hurricane force boomed through the store snaking around counters and into the small kitchen. Heather jumped, Alice smiled, and Jesse scurried for Heather’s arms. The forgotten cat ran to hide behind the kitchen range.

“Alice, you in the back and is that pot roast I smell? Dang if I didn’t know better I’d say you got one of your apple pies in the oven. Could it be, could it be?”

Heather was sure the building shook with the questions.

“I’m sure looking forward to one of your meals, Alice. Don’t rightly know though why you’re being so secretive over who’s joining us. Got me a beau held prisoner in that kitchen. Ha, ha, ha.” Laughter hit and bounced off the walls of the small room.

Jesse buried her face in Heather’s chest.

Two minutes later the voice and the person filled the kitchen. The room shrank, and Heather’s eyes widened. In the doorway stood a red-faced woman, arms akimbo as she nailed each person in the room with small, beady eyes.

Heather gulped. No wonder Jesse was digging her small body into hers. To say the woman was large was an understatement. Mountainous would be more apt. Her upper arms were like small hams that came down to hands attached to wrists a large man wouldn’t be able to circle. Her fingers were thick, fat, and stubby. But it was her face that caught and held Heather’s attention. It had been scrubbed, dried, and scrubbed again. The phrase homely as homemade soap went through Heather’s mind, making her instantly feel ashamed of her uncharitable thoughts.

Then Heather realized there was indeed something beautiful about Molly McVee. At first glance her eyes were small and beady, especially when squinting at someone or something. But when they opened wide, they brimmed with love and joy of life. Now they bounced from one person to another, and Heather knew they missed nothing. Her hair was thick in rowdy curls around her large face. It was as if the good Lord offered hair and eyes in way of apology for the trick he’d played on her with the hefty body and voice.

Then a smile broke across her face and the loud, homely woman became beautiful.

Heather smiled back and knew in that instant there wouldn’t be a dark day with Molly McVee around.

“Heather,” Alice broke in, “I’d like you to meet Molly McVee. Molly, Heather owns the—”

“I know, the Circle C. Right?” She beamed the question at Heather.

“Right.” Heather smiled back. “Do you know the Circle C?”

“Sure do. Me and my Jake looked over that land several times, wishing it were ours. Course, we knew better than to buy it up when it came for sale.” She nodded her big head, curls bouncing.

“Uh, why is that, Mrs. McVee?”

“Molly,” she boomed. “I ain’t no Mrs., not even when I was a Mrs.” And she punctuated the statement with another infectious chuckle. “Course we knew not to buy it up. Don’t take no smarts so to speak of to know that. Ain’t hardly no water. Can’t do much in this country without water, honey.” The look she gave Heather was one of sympathetic commiseration. “’Course your father, being a city slicker and all, couldn’t be held accountable for making such a mistake. ‘Course not.” And again the head nodded emphasizing each word.

“Molly,” the word croaked from Alice’s dry throat. This wasn’t going at all as she planned. “Heather has made a real ranch out of the Circle C.”

“That so?”

She narrowed her eyes, pinning Heather like a botanist pinning a beetle to a board.

“It is,” Heather agreed. “And you’re right, Molly. My father knew little about ranching, but what he didn’t know, he made up for with good old American know how and hard work.”

“Well, Missy, that sounds like a story I’d like to hear.” Her look turned to one of admiration.

Molly took a step backward, shaking the floor. A pretend look of surprise filled her face.

“Well, Lord love a duck. What have you got on your lap, Heather? Why, it’s a doll.” Then, pretending to peer closer to the child peeking between fingers to look at the big woman, she stepped back again. “No, upon my soul, it’s not a doll, it’s a blond bunny with big blue eyes. Are you a bunny?” She leaned her face closer to Jesse.

Heather held her breath waiting for the little girl to start screaming.

But she didn’t. Still not taking her spread fingers from her face, Jesse shook her head ‘no’.

“What?” Molly boomed again. “Not a bunny? Well, then I know what you are. Bet your boots I do. You’re a bear. A baby bear cub. Yep. Knew it the moment I laid eyes on you.”

Heather and Alice held their breath watching the scene unfold.

Jesse took her hands from her face and sat up straight. She shook her head, this time with more emphasis. The hint of a smile brought two dimples to her cheeks.

“Oh, well now I’m up a tree.” Molly crossed her large arms over her ample bosom. “You wouldn’t be a squirrel, would you?” She drilled the child with another piercing look.

More head shaking.

Heather looked at Jesse and saw a light in her eyes she’d never seen before. Jesse, with her child’s intuition and acceptance, had recognized another wounded soul. Molly, for all her posturing, engendered no fear. A giggle escaped along with more head shaking.

“Well, now.” A fat, stubby finger went to the woman’s chin in a pondering gesture. “If I guessed what you are, would I win a prize?”

There was no response. Jesse sat still as a statue, her eyes never leaving Molly’s face.

Then came a hesitant nod.

“Well, now,” Molly said, appearing to have fallen into a thoughtful muse, “I haven’t got me a little girl. Always wanted one, though. Got me lots of room.” She slapped her girth. “If I was to guess right, I’d want that little girl to come sit on my lap ALL THROUGH DINNER.” The last three words were belted out in a mock threat.

Jesse giggled even louder.

Heather’s heart constricted at the sound.

“Hmmm, let me see. I got me a real hard one here,” Molly said slowly, dragging out each word. “Not a squirrel, no tail. Not a bear, no fur coat. Not a bunny, no big ears. You haven’t got big ears, have you?” She leaned over and brushed a golden curl back, looking from one ear to another.

Jesse threw both little hands over her mouth and giggled into them.

“Well, then,” Molly said, raising herself to her full, impressive height, “there’s only one thing left. You”—her voice grew soft and whispery—“you’re a girl. A GIRL! No doubt about it. You can’t fool Molly McVee. You be a girl, I know it. Am I right?”

Jesse nodded emphatically.

“Well, don’t that beat all. Course, now I get my prize. Come here, sweetheart, and let Molly hold you. We’ll sit down at that table and wait for dinner. Then after dinner, we’ll share a big piece of that apple pie Alice has bubbling in the oven.”

Without waiting for permission, Molly, in one smooth motion, plucked the child from Heather’s arms. Heather leaned forward ready to grab Jesse back to safety with the first squeak. The small, broken child would certainly not leave her safe haven to go with a stranger. A large, loud, stranger, to boot.

But that’s just what she did. Molly’s massive arms wrapped around the little girl, and she turned her back on Heather and sat down in a chair, talking to Jesse all the way.

Molly McVee had arrived. And, Molly McVee had conquered.

Heather filled with hope. Hope and anticipation. Alice was right. They needed a Molly McVee. Now, all Heather had to do was convince Molly that she needed them.

Chapter 29

Dinner was an event in itself. Heather couldn’t remember when she had enjoyed herself as much. She understood why people invited Molly to their homes. She was like a beacon of light on rock-strewn shores and had an amazing capability to reach out and guide everyone to a peaceful harbor.

Jesse never left her lap. In fact, she was sleeping peacefully there, her head resting against Molly’s ample breasts. The child wore her new, flannel nightgown. Molly had won the honor of changing her out of her new dress and into the gown. Molly had been allowed to brush her golden curls and tie a yellow ribbon around them. Molly had patted a small back with an amazingly gentle hand until sleep crept in and closed Jesse’s eyes.

Alice and Heather finished wiping the dishes and were setting out cups for the coffee perking on the back of Alice’s stove. Its dark, rich aroma filled the cozy kitchen, and Heather knew that no matter how much she longed for her home, tonight was special. It would be a night she’d remember; the night she hopefully coaxed Molly into coming and living at the Circle C.

“Molly,” Heather said, setting a full cup of dark brew down. “Could I ask you a question?”

“Well, Lord love a duck, Heather. Ain’t I been tossing questions at you all night? Course you can.”

“Molly, what I’m going to ask is impertinent, and I hope you’ll forgive me, but there’s a purpose in my question.”

“I’ve always found the best way to ask something is to spit it right out. What you got on your mind, Missy?”

“Are you happy with your life right now?”

“Am I happy?” Molly bellowed back the question, her face a conflict of emotions. Then, after a few long moments, the answer came back softer and wistful.

“Well, heck no, Missy, I ain’t happy. Got me no man, no home of my own, no reason to get up in the morning. But then, on the other hand, I’m alive. Least that’s what I tell myself each morning.” She beamed a smile at them and took a hearty gulp of her coffee. “And, I’m back among friends, instead of people who smile at your face and laugh behind your back.” A cloud of pain flitted across her broad face.

She’d been hurt, all right.

“I’m sorry, Molly,” Heather said softly. “I shouldn’t have asked. But, I needed to know before I go on.”

“Like I said, spit it out, Heather. Just spit it out.”

Heather took a breath of air. “Molly, as I told you, Toby and Jesse aren’t mine.”

“Right, you’re helping out that lawman you’re so fond of.”

Good Lord
, Heather thought.
Am I that obvious?

“Well, yes,” Heather replied. “Whip and I are working on this together. But to tell the truth, Molly, I don’t know how we’re going to do it. Whip and I are both so busy with our ranches we hardly have time in the day to sleep. I don’t honestly know how we’ll care for the children. Jesse doesn’t talk, she wets herself, and Toby hasn’t had a chance to enjoy being a little boy. He’s seen too much and has met the world with his fists.”

Molly’s big head nodded with each word, her eyes wet with understanding. Her hand patted Jesse’s back again as she hugged the child closer.

“Molly,” Heather blurted out. “Whip and I need you. The children need you.” There, she’d said it. Badly, but she’d said it.

“You need me?” The question came as a whisper. “You need me?” Wonderment laced Molly’s voice.

“You’ve got so much love in you, it only took me minutes to see that. Look at what you’ve done with Jesse already.” Heather’s words tumbled one over the other as they rushed out of her mouth. “I’ve got plenty of room at the Circle C. I’m out of the house all day so the house would be yours to do with as you pleased. Jesse and Toby would spend most of their time with me, uh, us. Toby will insist on going to Whip’s, probably daily. Jesse, not so often. Still, they need Whip’s guidance. Toby especially. They were fitting him for a horse when I left, and, of course, there’s Buster Walking Tall, Whip’s blood brother and foreman. Whip will make a man of Toby, a fine man. If Toby emulates Whip, well you couldn’t ask for more.” Then realizing what she had just said, she abruptly stopped talking. A red blush rushed over her face.

“Well, what I mean is,” she tried again. “I’m rambling. “It’s just that, darn it, Molly, there’s a home for you for as long as you want it on the Circle C. Of course, it comes with some problems, two of them, and the house isn’t as clean as it used to be, and I’ve got lots of animals I care for, so you’ll have to put up with that, and in the summer we have to conserve water, and—”

“Heather.” Molly broke in, authoritatively. “You stop right there. Lord love a duck, you’re clattering like a tree branch in a windstorm. You’re saying, asking, well, offering, me a home?”

“Yes. Molly, I’m offering you a home. Will you come?”

The woman sat straight and stiff in her chair. A tear fell from her eye and rolled over a hill of cheek. “Got me a question of my own.” Her voice quivered.

“Yes?” Heather feared the question and how she’d answer it.

“What time do we leave in the morning?”

“What time, wha—?” Heather started, then stopped as a smile lit up her face. “Oh, Molly. Does that mean you’ll come? Of course it does,” she said, answering her own question.

“Molly McVee,” Heather said as she rounded the table, throwing her arms around the surprised woman. “Molly McVee and me, sounds like a poem, except it’s us. Molly McVee and us. It’s still poetry, Molly. My house hasn’t been a home for so long, and now, well now, with you there, it will be.”

“Hush now, you’ll wake this little one, and she’s got a big day ahead of her tomorrow.” But it wasn’t a rebuke. It was a muffled sound of joy. Joy and disbelief. She had a home. Not just a home, but a home with kids. She owed this little lady wrapped around her neck. And, in that moment, loyalty and love were born and Molly vowed she’d never let Heather down. Rule the home she would. After all, she was needed, but the queen of the house would be Heather.
Course, she couldn’t let her know that
. Molly smiled to herself.
Wouldn’t do at all. Not at all.

“You step aside now, Missy. I got to get myself back to that miserable little house. I got me some packing to do.

“Anything too big to take, Molly, we can send for.”

“Or I can bring it with me next week when I come with Jesse’s dresses,” Alice volunteered. There were tear tracks on Alice’s face, but there was also smugness, much like the cat that just licked up the cream. She’d known Molly would be perfect for Heather. And she’d known Heather would be perfect for Molly.
Now
, she thought wistfully,
if only there was someone perfect for me. I wonder if Whip has a brother
. She smiled at the thought.

In a few minutes, Jesse had been nestled in the bed, thank you’s had been said, and a door slammed in the wake of a large woman hurrying home.

“Alice,” Heather said.

“Heather,” Alice said simultaneously.

Two sets of eyes were wide with happiness. Two very pretty mouths spread in congratulatory grins. Two minds knew that tonight something special had happened.

“Molly McVee and me,” Heather said quietly. “No, Molly McVee and us.” She chuckled at the thought of introducing Molly to Whip.
Oh yes, Molly McVee and us.