Chapter Twenty-Three
Monday seemed to drag by, and Runa was glad when Tuesday arrived. She made breakfast, did the dishes, and prepared a batch of beans mixed with diced salt pork and onions for everyone’s dinner while she was away. Happy Sam assured her that he could make cornbread just as she had shown him, and would be able to finish up the beans with no problems. Then she gathered up her fabric in a clean flour sack, and with that in one hand and her sewing box in the other, she went to see Falsworth about getting the wagon ready for her.
When she stepped onto the porch she smiled to see that the team was already in harness and hitched to the wagon, Falsworth patting Salt’s neck. Runa approached slowly, reaching to put her things in the back of the wagon. “Thank you for getting them ready for me, Falsworth.”
“No trouble, Missus Rogers. Just come and find me when you return, and I’ll take care of the team.” Falsworth assured her.
“I will.” She promised, before looking up at the wagon. She had never gotten in without assistance, but she told herself she could manage it. Falsworth started to come around to give her a hand up, but she managed to get up onto the wagon seat without too much difficulty. She took the reins with a flutter of nerves in her belly.
“I can always drive you over, Missus Rogers.” Falsworth ventured, but Runa shook her head.
“Thank you, but I think I can manage. It’s something I need to learn to do on my own.” She said, before releasing the brake. “I’ll see you this afternoon.” She said with more confidence than she felt, before tightening her hands on the reins and guiding Salt and Pepper into a slow walk. As she grew more used to the feeling of the reins, she guided them to a trot, feeling a bit of relief and triumph surge through her. She could drive the wagon. It wasn’t much of an accomplishment, almost everyone could drive a team, but she had never managed to do so by herself before, and felt proud that she could. It gave her a small feeling of independence and relief; she didn’t have to rely on anyone to get to and from town or anywhere else now.
Except for hitching and unhitching the horses.
All right, she reasoned with herself, she wasn’t entirely self-reliant when it came to transportation, but she was close.
She turned off the road onto the drive Steve had indicated led to the Bartons’ farm, Old Stone Acres. She saw the sign, and smiled slightly at the name. Laura had told her she and Clint had chosen the name because the farm had seemed like nothing but rocks and stones under the wild grasses when they had first settled on the land and started to make a go of things. But they had gathered up the rocks and stones, and soon had a few low stone walls around the garden, and the area where the children played beside the house.
Runa could see the low stone walls as she neared the house, and while they weren’t much of a deterrent, they were a pleasant difference in scenery. She slowed the horses as they neared the house, and applied the brake as Steve had taught her, bringing the wagon to a stop on the round drive before the house. Clint came out at the sound of her arrival, smiling to see her. The tall, rangy man strode forward to the wagon, Nathaniel in his arms.
“Missus Rogers, Laura said she’d be out in just a few minutes.” He smiled up at her. “We decided that I’d watch the children today, so you two can have a pleasant trip without them under foot.”
Runa smiled at his words, “Your children are charming, and I doubt they’d be that much under foot.”
“Still, it’s easier to go to the mercantile without them.” He pointed out. “School is out for the summer, so Cassie Lang would distract both Lila and Cooper. You and Laura wouldn’t get a minute of peace.”
Runa laughed. “And I bet they’re just like Cassie when it comes to wheedling candy out of people at the store.”
“Well, they did learn from the best.” Clint grinned at that, “Cassie herself.”
Runa couldn’t help but laugh again as Laura stepped out of the house, tying on her bonnet. She stopped and stood on her toes to kiss Clint’s cheek, but he turned his head and stole a kiss instead.
“You sure you’ll be able to manage our little hellions?”
“I’m sure.” He promised her with a tender smile. “You go off and have a bit of fun for a change instead of leaving it all to them.”
“We’ll be back in a few hours.” Laura promised, before going around to climb into the wagon, Clint following and helping her up with one hand, cradling Nathaniel protectively in his other arm.
“All right. Be safe.”
“You too.”
“Love you.”
“Love you.” Laura smiled tenderly at her husband, before looking to Runa. “Right. Ready to head to town?”
Runa nodded, her cheeks slightly flushed from witnessing the tender scene between Clint and Laura. She released the brake and got the horses to start moving again.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to embarrass you back there.” Laura apologized as they left the drive and turned into the road.
“You didn’t embarrass me. It was sweet. Good to see. You two are still so much in love.”
“Someday you and Steve will be just the same.” Laura promised her, making Runa’s heart constrict.
“Maybe.” Runa lied. She doubted it would ever happen after what had transpired between her and Steve, but she couldn’t say that to her friend. She didn’t know that she could ever tell anyone what was between her and Steve. She didn’t even know what it was herself. “Hopefully.”
“It takes time.” Laura assured her. “It was different for Clint and me. I knew I was going to marry Clint Barton since we were children. He was a sharp shooter for a travelling show that my parents worked in. He is amazing with a gun, better with a bow and arrows. He still practices when he can, is even teaching Cooper and Lila to shoot straight. He insisted on teaching me to shoot when I was younger, in case anything happened. I’m not very good, but I can hit my target nine times out of ten, at least.”
“You grew up in a travelling show?” Runa asked curiously. “What did you do?”
“My mother did trick riding on horseback. My father was a talker for the side show; he’s the one who would stand outside and get people interested in the shows.” She explained. “For a while I did a few tumbling tricks with a mule, it was an imitation of my mother’s act, but where everything went wrong. It made everyone laugh.” Laura smiled at the memory.
“I honestly can’t see you doing anything like that.”
“Well, it was a long time ago. Clint and I stopped almost fifteen years ago now, a little while after we got married. I couldn’t keep on performing once I fell pregnant, and Clint wanted something different out of life. We’d talked about settling down and starting a farm, but…” She shook her head.
Runa felt the other woman’s sorrow. “You had other children?” She asked softly.
“Two. Both girls. We lost them about two years before Cooper came along.” Laura agreed softly. “It was almost enough to make us give up farming and go back to the travelling show, but… Well. I wouldn’t have gotten through it without Nat.” She confessed. “Nat came with us when we left the show. She was a dancer, and did acrobatic acts. Sometimes she would shoot with Clint. She did a lot back then, they had her performing as a young child because of her talent. She was one of the biggest draws for the longest time.”
“Steve went to see Nat recently.” Runa said softly.
“I’m not surprised. Nat is good friends with Steve and Bucky. Bucky more than Steve. I always wondered if there was a romance between them, but if there is, they’re keeping it a secret.” She hesitated a moment at that, as if she wanted to say something more, but by the abruptness of her next words, it was clear she wasn’t saying what she had wanted to. “It was good of you to let him go.”
“I didn’t let him.” Runa clenched her jaw a moment, before sighing. “He took off on his own. I didn’t know where he went until he came home the next day stinking of someone else’s perfume.” She couldn’t keep the bitterness from her voice, though she tried.
“Oh, honey, it wasn’t like that.” Laura hastened to assure her. “Sure, Nat hires girls, mostly for the miners and cowboys when they come into town, but she doesn’t do that herself, and she doesn’t let her girls sleep with married men, either. Not that Steve seems the type! But Nat always said she won’t be responsible for broken hearts and ruined marriages, so that’s one of the rules on the bronze plaque in the gentlemen’s parlor.”
“The gentlemen’s parlor?”
“Oh, that’s right. You’ve never been inside the Desert Rose.”
“You have?”
“Of course! Nat is an old friend. I may not approve of all the services she offers, but she’s still my friend.” Laura pointed out. “We were going to name Nathaniel after her if he was a girl, but since he’s a boy, well, the closest we could come was Nathaniel.”
Runa smiled despite herself. “Really?”
“Really. And the gentlemen’s parlor is where the men who are interested in more than just drinking and gambling go. The girls who do entertaining wait in there, the ones who just provide companionship and bring drinks work in the saloon proper. Nat makes sure her girls are treated well and kept safe, and no one can easily make mistakes as to who does what. It’s one of many reasons she’s so well accepted in town.”
“And you’ve been inside the gentlemen’s parlor?” Runa asked, a bit shocked.
“We visit Nat when we can, usually after church. She doesn’t do much business on Sunday afternoons, so we tend to sit in the parlor, as it’s the nicest room in the saloon. Cooper and Lila don’t come inside, they go play with Cassie Lang.” Laura explained. “When I was pregnant with Nathaniel I was feeling poorly, nearly fainted. Nat put me up in one of her girls’ rooms. One of the companionship girls, not the entertainer girls. Paid the girls a bit extra to double up for the night until I could make it home. Only Doc Banner said that I needed to stay close by town for a while so he could keep an eye on me. After a few days they moved me over to Pepper’s for a couple of weeks until Doc Banner said I was well enough to go back home.” She smiled at the memory. “Pepper even refused to take money, said I could just give her some preserves and produce from the garden in trade for it.”
“That was good of her.”
“Pepper Potts is a good woman. Shrewd. Won’t take more than people can afford to give.” Laura agreed, “Anyway. What I’m trying to say is that Steve wouldn’t have run off to be with one of her girls. Nat wouldn’t have let him. She probably put him up in one of her beds for the night.”
“That’s what Bucky said happened. Steve too. I just…” Runa sighed, shaking her head.
“You don’t know him well enough to trust him yet.”
Runa recalled the look on Steve’s face when he recoiled from her. “Something like that.” She lied again, feeling another knot in her stomach at the lie. She didn’t like lying, but she also didn’t want anyone else to know what was really going on on Bluestone Ranch.
“It’ll come in time, honey.” Laura assured her. “Here, I’ll introduce you to Nat after we visit the mercantile. Then you’ll see.” She promised.
“I… That would be nice, but…”
“But you’re not quite ready for that?”
Runa shook her head. “No.” She agreed. “Here. Let’s talk about something else. What are you planning on baking for the sale on the fourth?”
The conversation then switched to baked goods, the two deciding who would make what. Laura planned on making cookies primarily, as well as two pans of gingerbread. She urged Runa to make a few pies, to which Runa agreed with a laugh. Together they eventually decided that Runa would make four pies and two large cakes, before Laura began telling Runa what the fourth of July celebrations in Amaranto Springs usually entailed. Laura was still telling her about it as Runa pulled the wagon to a stop in front of the mercantile. “It’s honestly the most fun we have as a community all year long, unless someone has a barn raising party.”
“I can’t wait.” Runa was smiling at just the thought of the upcoming festivities.
“We’ll need to take some time to work the sale booth, but other than that, we’ll be free to enjoy ourselves. I’m looking forward to the dancing most of all. It won’t start until after suppertime, but Clint and I have a chance to dance together so rarely.”
“I’m looking forward to dancing with Steve.” Runa confessed. Even if he didn’t want her, he was her husband, and a part of her was drawn to him. She wanted him to like her, to want her… Ideally, she wanted him to come to love her, wanted to love him. Perhaps this would give them a chance to grow a bit closer, work towards that.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen him join the dancing, but he’ll have to this year, with you here.” Laura assured her as she carefully got down from the wagon, Runa doing similarly. “Oh, and I don’t know if anyone has said anything yet, but you should make an apple pie for him on the fourth.”
“I only just found out that’s his birthday.” Runa sighed. “I’m hoping to find something here that I can get for him, as I won’t have time to make him a gift, and I feel a pie won’t be enough.” She had made up her mind the day before that she would try at least one more time before giving up on Steve and settling into the role of cook and housekeeper instead of wife.
“You’ll think of something.” Laura assured her with a smile.
“Hopefully.” Runa agreed as they stepped into the cool of the mercantile. They greeted Scott and Cassie warmly, before discussing what they needed to get for their baking, Runa also giving Scott a list, saying that she would be back the following Wednesday to pick up the supplies listed on it if he could have them ready, to which Scott agreed.
As the desired supplies for their baking spree were gathered up, Runa prowled around the store, finally pausing before a selection of hats and bonnets. Her eyes were drawn to one gray felt hat in particular, and she bit her lower lip, thinking of Steve’s battered old hat that had seen better days. That was what she would get, she decided, though the price tag was a bit daunting. Thirty-five dollars was a good deal of money, but she had heard about Stetson hats and their good reputation while back in Washington. Something like that would last Steve a long while, and would be a good investment.
She headed back to the counter, where Scott had just finished tallying up Laura’s bill and taking payment for it. He looked to Runa as she approached.
“I’ll have your bill ready in just a moment, Missus Rogers.” He promised. Runa knew that all she would have to do was sign her bill; that he would take it over to the bank and the balance would be paid from Steve’s account. Steve and Bucky had explained the system, and how they preferred it when they were buying wagonloads of goods.
“That’s fine.” She assured him, “I also want to purchase something else, but I’ll be paying for it myself.”
“Another gift?” Scott asked, remembering what she had told him about the oranges she intended to order come Christmastime.
“Exactly that.” She agreed. “The gray Boss of the Plains Stetson hat you have displayed. Is there any way we could also wrap the box up so he won’t know what is inside until it is time for me to give him the gift?”
Scott’s brows flew up in surprise, but he gave a nod. “We can arrange that.” He agreed. “I’ve got some brown paper and twine we can wrap it up in.” He promised.
“That’s some gift.” Laura said as Runa signed off on her bill, before moving to pull the money for the hat out of her reticule.
“He needs a new hat.” She bit her lower lip again, looking to Laura. She seemed to know Steve well. “Do you think he’ll like it?”
“I’m certain he’ll love it.” Laura assured her. “Will you be able to keep it a surprise from him?”
“I was thinking I could hide it either under the bed or in the pantry.”
Laura nodded. “I’d suggest under the bed. You never know who might go into the pantry.” She reasoned. “At least in the bedroom, he’s the only one you have to worry about snooping.”
Runa laughed. “True enough.” She agreed, beginning to feel a bit of hope that things might be able to be repaired between her and Steve if all went well. She would find a way to make him like her so much that he never looked at her in horror again. She had to. She didn’t think she could bear it if he looked at her like that again.