A Cattleman for Cora Read online

  “Oh, no, Tenny! That’s not what I meant!” She reached out to grab his hand again, pulling it to rest against her cheek. “You’re actually so much more than I expected. I thought . . . I thought I’d be marrying some stuffy old man in a black suit who did nothing but sit in the parlor and read newspapers all day, and I’d have nothing to do but needlepoint. I didn’t realize that you’d be so . . .”

  He lifted an eyebrow. “So . . . what?”

  She seemed flustered all of a sudden. She let go of his hand and started packing up the leftover picnic items, not meeting his eyes again.

  “Well now, you can’t start a sentence like that and not finish it,” Tenny said. She responded by pushing another sandwich into his hand, then standing up and carrying the basket over to the wagon.

  Then she turned around again, her cheeks flaming. “I didn’t expect to feel the way I feel when I’m around you,” she said at last. “I didn’t expect that you’d clean up so nice and that you’d have dimples and . . .”

  Tenny took a bite and chewed, watching her, enjoying her discomfort. It meant she was loosening up around him, something that was badly needed, and he wasn’t about to interrupt her.

  “And . . . never mind.” She turned back to the wagon and tried to fasten the tailgate, but she kept missing the pin that held it in place.

  Tenny shoved the rest of the sandwich in his mouth and chewed while he got up and slid the pin into the hole. Then he shook out the blanket, folded it, and placed it in the back of the wagon next to the basket. He moved slowly, deliberately, knowing Cora was waiting for him to reply, but needing to take his time. He finished the last of the lemonade, put the jar inside the basket, then leaned against the tailgate, studying her.

  “And what, Cora?”

  “Hmm?”

  “You were goin’ to say somethin’ else, but you changed your mind.”

  “That’s entirely possible. I change my mind rather a lot. It’s best not to be too stuck in one’s ways, don’t you think?”

  “It’s best to tell me what you’re thinkin’ so I don’t go havin’ more misapprehensions.” He folded his arms across his chest.

  “All right then, I’ll tell you.” She lifted her chin and met his gaze squarely. “I didn’t expect to be so attracted to you. I imagined that I’d be a companion of sorts to my husband, not that . . . not that I’d want him to kiss me.”

  Tenny grinned. “Hmm. That’s a lot better than what I was thinkin’. You see why it’s important to communicate on these things, Miss Cora? You know, Miss Margaret has it right, all this talkin’ she does about relationships and so forth. She’s a smart lady.”

  “Yes, she is. She’s been a good friend.”

  “A very good friend, and a good teacher too.” He unfolded his arms, reached out, and caught Cora around the waist, pulling her closer. “In fact, she and I had a little talk not long ago, and she gave me some pretty sound advice.”

  “What kind of advice?”

  Tenny cupped her face with his other hand and traced the curve of her cheek with his thumb. This wasn’t the moonlit night he’d been planning on, but by Jove, this was the right moment if he’d ever seen one. “She told me that one sure way of knowin’ if I was really in love with you was to grab you and kiss you for all I was worth.”

  “Oh?” Cora’s breath hitched, and Tenny grinned again. He could guess that her heart was pounding as fast as his was.

  “That’s right. So, it would appear that I’ve just grabbed you.” He pulled her a little closer for emphasis. “And now for the kissing part.”

  “Just . . . just how much are you worth, Tenny?” Those eyes again . . . inviting him, but also a little timid.

  “Quite a lot, actually. When it comes to kissin’ you, that is.” He lowered his head, and his lips met hers.

  Every time he’d imagined kissing her, he’d thought of how nice it would feel to hold her, how soft her lips would be, how she’d nestle into his arms. What he hadn’t expected was the feeling of wholeness, of completeness, of belonging that would rush over him. Yes, it felt good to hold her and to press his lips to hers, but it was more—so much more. When he finally let her go, he was trembling just as much as she was.

  “Well now,” he said, leaning up against the tailgate once again. “Seems we both got a lot more than we were expectin’.”

  “I believe you’re right.” She straightened her hat. “We should probably get going . . .”

  “Yes. You’re right.” Otherwise, he’d start kissing her again, and he wasn’t going to do one thing to compromise her reputation. “Let me give you a hand up.”

  They climbed aboard the wagon, and Tenny gave the lines a snap. He’d finally caught his breath, but he knew that he’d never, ever get his heart back—that belonged to Cora now, sure as anything.

  Chapter Seven

  Cora hardly knew what to say or how to act as she and Tenny rode toward Topeka. They had just shared something magical, something wonderful, and now she felt a little embarrassed, as though a bit of her soul had been revealed. She didn’t have any experience with such things and so she didn’t know for sure, but she didn’t think that had been an ordinary kiss. It had shaken her to the center of her being, and it had connected her to Tenny in a way she certainly hadn’t anticipated.

  She loved him. She knew that in the deepest parts of her heart. The annoyance she’d once felt was completely gone, and now she knew that she belonged to him—and the other way around, too. The look he’d given her as they boarded the wagon, the unguarded emotions in his eyes—he felt it too, something far beyond the lust her preacher back home was always warning against. This wasn’t lust. This was something transformational. Something bigger than she was, and she didn’t know how to talk about it or respond to it.

  Tenny was quiet too, and she decided that was her answer. They’d discuss it when the time was right—or maybe it never needed to be discussed. Maybe it was something to feel and not verbalize.

  At last, she spotted Topeka up ahead.

  “There it is,” Tenny called out. Without any noticeable urging, the horses seemed to pick up their pace. Perhaps they were eager to arrive too.

  As they drove up the street toward the general store, Cora spotted Sully and Jack waiting for them by the hitching post.

  “Well, there ya are,” Sully called out as they approached. “We were about to send a search party for ya.”

  “No need,” Tenny replied. “We knew where we were the whole time.”

  Cora was certain her embarrassment was written all over her face.

  “Me and Jack will take the wagon over to the lumberyard and load up,” Sully went on as though he didn’t notice Cora’s bright red cheeks. “We’ll swing back around and collect you in a bit.”

  “Sounds like a plan,” Tenny replied.

  Tenny motioned for Cora to go first, and she led the way into the general store. As she stepped inside, she immediately smelled the combined scents of lemon drops, soap, wood, licorice, and fresh bread. She paused and inhaled deeply.

  The young woman behind the counter chuckled. “Smells good, doesn’t it? My sister does the baking, and she just brought in six new loaves.”

  “Nothing in the world smells like fresh bread,” Cora replied. She noticed that Tenny had moved off and was looking at some rope in the back of the store. This was the perfect time to ask her question. “I’m new here, and I’m dreadfully unprepared as far as sturdy clothing is concerned. Could you lend me a hand in choosing out what I’ll need?”

  “Of course.” The girl gave her a smile. “I’m Alice Appleby—my father owns the store, and I know the merchandise almost as well as he does. Let’s get you started with some shoes, all right?”

  They found a suitable pair almost immediately, then located a good sun hat. Along the west wall of the store was a broad selection of cloth, and Cora chose out two cotton pieces, but she was also relieved to see a few dresses ready-made. A blue one looked just about her size, and she
could start wearing it right away while the other two dresses were being sewn. She knew the girls at the ranch would help her, and that would make things go a lot faster.

  Then she rounded the aisle and came to a dead halt.

  “You carry books . . .”

  Alice chuckled. “Yes, we do. Not as many as we’d like because the cost can be dear, but we try. We especially order the sorts of books Sully likes—he’s our best customer.”

  Cora trailed her finger along the spines, reading the titles. Oh, how she missed her books. She’d had to leave most of them at home and had only brought a few with her. Her mother would probably send them if Cora asked . . . Maybe she’d do that. It would be so nice to be reunited with them.

  She was about to add a book to her ever-growing pile of purchases when she stopped, having a thought. Instead of buying a novel, she picked up a slate.

  Tenny joined her at the counter as Alice was writing up her total. “You can add that to the ranch’s account, if you like,” he told her in a low voice, nodding toward her bundles. “All your hard work—you’re earnin’ wages, you know.”

  “That’s all right. My mother sent me some money when I wrote to tell her where I was,” Cora told him. “I’d rather save my wages for a rainy day.”

  “Likely wise. You never know when somethin’ might come up.”

  Cora was also thinking about using that money for a wedding . . . but they’d discuss that later. Much later. And not in public.

  She waited as Tenny requested a keg of nails, two coils of rope, a long list of assorted food items, and two dozen candles—all from memory. Then he turned to Cora. “Seems Miss Margaret was out of blue yarn, wasn’t she?”

  “Oh, that’s right. I’d forgotten all about it.” She nodded toward Alice. “She said you’d know which kind.”

  “I certainly do.” Alice stepped over to the yarn display and brought back three skeins. “Will this be everything?”

  “Sure will. Thank you, Miss Appleby,” Tenny said.

  She flashed him a smile. “You know it’s just Alice.”

  Cora watched the exchange with some amusement, but also with a tinge of apprehension. She knew that Alice had once been interested in Zeke—she hoped the girl hadn’t shifted her attentions over to Tenny. That would not only be awkward for Cora, but poor Alice if the only men she cared for were those who were already taken.

  When the wagon pulled up in front, Jack came inside and helped Tenny carry the nails and the other heavy items outside. “What’s it like, living at the ranch?” Alice asked Cora as they watched the proceedings through the window.

  “It’s a lot of hard work—we do the laundry, the cooking, and some of the cleaning. But it’s also fun. The men try to keep us entertained, and Margaret has been so good to us.”

  “I’ve often wondered,” Alice replied. “I thought about applying to cook out there, but you all arrived before I’d worked up my courage.”

  “Oh, I’m sorry,” Cora replied automatically, not knowing what she was sorry for, exactly. “Don’t you like working here?”

  “I do, but sometimes I’d like a change. Being around my family all the time . . . I love them and we get along well, but we’re also underfoot in each other’s lives.”

  Cora nodded, even though she didn’t really understand. As an only child, she’d never experienced such a thing.

  Tenny waved at her through the window, and she waved back, letting him know she was on her way. As she turned, she caught another whiff of bread, and she said, “You know, I think I’ll take a couple loaves to eat on the way home, if you don’t mind.”

  “Of course.” Alice pulled out two fresh sheets of brown paper and wrapped them up, accepting the coins Cora handed her. “Enjoy!”

  “Oh, I’m sure I will. I might even eat them both myself without sharing.”

  With her bread tucked under her arm, Cora went outside and joined the men, who were giving one last tug to the ropes holding their load in place.

  “Did ya find everythin’ you needed, Miss Cora?” Sully asked.

  “I believe I did, and I also picked up a treat.” She held up the bread. “Without knives, we’ll just have to break it apart, but I don’t suppose you mind—the taste should make up for the inconvenience.”

  “Don’t mind one bit.” Sully sniffed the air appreciatively. “Might even bite through the paper, it smells that good.”

  Cora laughed, then placed the bread on top of the load to free her hands so she could climb into her seat. She might have imagined it, but Tenny’s hands lingered an extra moment on her waist as he helped her up, and she smiled to herself as she remembered their kiss. She’d probably be remembering it for a long, long time.

  Once she was situated, she turned and picked up one loaf of bread, passing it over to Jack to share with Sully. The two horsemen urged their animals forward, and Tenny flicked the lines to start the wagon in motion.

  Cora had asked Tenny to teach her how to ride, something that absolutely terrified her. Even thinking about it made a knot form in her stomach, but she was going to find the courage somehow and conquer this fear. She hoped that Tenny would be willing to do the same thing for her—that he’d be willing to let her teach him how to read. The slate she’d purchased was for him, and the few books she had at the ranch would be helpful until she could ask her mother to ship the rest of her collection. The tricky part in all this was getting Tenny to agree to it. Oh, she hoped he would—she hoped it with all her heart.

  ***

  Tenny appreciated the bread Cora handed him, but he had to say, Miss Fiona was the better baker, and he felt blessed that she worked for them out on the ranch. He’d never eaten so well in his life as he had since the young women arrived, and they were sure the prettiest kitchen staff they’d ever had too.

  That Alice Appleby . . . Tenny flinched as she passed through his thoughts. She was a nice-looking girl, and always pleasant, but there was just something about her that rubbed him wrong. She seemed almost desperate to get away from her father’s store, and pretty eager to be swept off her feet by whoever came along. Before he and the other men had sent for their mail-order brides, they’d considered the girls in town, and while Alice’s name had come up, none of them could settle on her. He felt bad for her in a way, but he couldn’t marry someone just because he felt bad for them—there had to be something more, something he could build on. Something very much like Miss Cora Whitmer had.

  He turned and grinned at her, and she responded by handing him a jar of water. He hadn’t even realized he was thirsty until he took it, but the heat of the day plus the bread he’d just eaten certainly did call for a drink. She thought of everything—yet another reason why he was banking on her and not Alice Appleby.

  “Do you want to come out to the fields with me in the mornin’?” he called over the sound of the wagon wheels. “Or will you be needed in the kitchen?”

  “I’ll check with Fiona,” Cora replied. “But yes, I’d love to come.”

  Tenny grinned again. He’d loved showing Cora the pastures and the cattle, introducing her to his life. He’d loved seeing the sun light up her hair and show off its reddish tint. And now that she had proper clothes, he wouldn’t be so worried about her spoiling anything she was wearing, and he could show her things like milking.

  His own little milkmaid. He liked the thought.

  They took a break and let the horses drink from the cool stream that ran by their path. They wouldn’t be staying long because Sully was eager to get back before dark, but the animals needed the rest. Tenny and Cora climbed down from the wagon seat, and he took Cora’s arm. “I like havin’ you next to me,” he told her. “It gives me a sense that all’s right with the world.”

  “Thank you. What a sweet thing to say.” She paused. “Tenny, I’ve had an idea, and I’m not sure if you’ll like it . . .”

  That seemed like a pretty suspicious start to a conversation. “Only one way to find out,” he said, turning to face her. “W
hat is it?”

  “I wondered . . .” She looked over his shoulder to where the horses were drinking. “I wondered if you’d like to trade lessons for lessons.”

  “Hmm? How so?”

  “Well, you’ll be teaching me to ride, so I thought I could teach you how to read.” She said it all in a rush, like she’d been holding her breath and was now exhaling.

  “You . . . want to teach me how to read?” He wasn’t exactly sure what he’d been expecting her to say, but that wasn’t it.

  “Yes, that’s right.”

  Tenny rubbed the back of his neck, trying to sort through the different feelings that had just come over him. Biggest of all was the sense that he somehow wasn’t good enough for her, that she couldn’t love him as he was. That didn’t seem to go along with the way they’d felt earlier in the day—after that kiss, he’d thought everything was pretty well settled between them. “I don’t know about that, Miss Cora,” he said after a long minute. “I get along just fine as I am.”

  “Of course you do! I noticed you give that long list to Alice at the store—and you remembered the yarn, which I’d completely forgotten. Your memory is incredible.”

  “Well, I don’t know as that I’d say it’s incredible, but it does right by me.” He scuffed his toe into the dirt as he thought about what he wanted to say. “The thing is, I just don’t see what good it would do me. I don’t need to be stuffin’ my head with silly stories about pirates and kidnapped maidens and whatnot. Those are all fine for entertainin’ Sully, but that’s just not for me.”

  “Oh, but books are so much more than just pirates! You can learn about history and far-off lands and different cultures . . .”

  Tenny held up a hand. “But why is any of that important to me? Is knowin’ how they talk in China goin’ to make me a better cattleman?”