Page 44 of Prince Charming
Victoria heard the argument and was peeking out the back of the wagon so she could watch the couple. She was ready to conclude that Lucas was going to win the argument. Then Taylor nudged the scales in her favor.
âMy dear friend is sick,â she announced. âShe needs a proper bed. Are you willing to take all of us to your brothersâ place and let us stay there until sheâs feeling better?â
He would have loved to do just that but knew it wasnât a good idea. âThe ranch is a hard dayâs ride on a horse. With wagons and finding trails, it could take as long as four days.â
âLewis told me Callaghan doesnât usually come down from the mountain until the middle of summer.â
âWeâll be living in the city by then,â Lucas told her.
âThen surely it will be all right if we stay in the house just one night.â
Lucas finally gave in. He assured her it was only because of Victoriaâs health and only for one night.
He had the last word. âIf sheâs better, weâre leaving tomorrow.â
The house was as wonderful as a palace in Taylorâs estimation. There was a large glass window on either side of the entrance and one above on the second floor. The living area was quite spacious. To the right was a long wooden table with benches on each side that would surely seat eight or ten good-sized adults. Against the wall behind the table was a black iron kettle stove, and there was a little alcove with shelves and a long counter.
A small stone fireplace faced the front door. On the left side of the room was a bed and mattress Rolly assured her had already been aired out. And in the far corner of the room was a door that opened up into another bedroom. There was a bed against the wall, a crate next to it, and yet another glass window.
The steps leading up to the loft was on the other side of the fireplace. Taylor took the children up to look at their sleeping quarters. Her only worry was that one of the twins might try to climb over the railing, but Hunter assured her the girls had more sense than that. While he was defending them, Georgie got her head stuck between two of the banister spindles. Lucas had carried Victoria inside, for Hunter refused to get near her, and when Georgie started wailing, he put Victoria down on one of the benches and went up to free his daughter.
Taylor and Lucas both insisted Victoria take the back bedroom. She immediately became teary eyed over their thoughtfulness.
âDo you think youâll be feeling better tomorrow?â Lucas asked her.
Victoria looked to Taylor to find out the answer. Hunter also looked at Taylor. When she gave a quick shake of her head, Victoria immediately put her hand to her forehead and said, âI certainly hope so, but it truly seems doubtful.â
Hunter became furious. âAre you ill or arenât you?â he demanded.
Victoria was stunned by the anger in his voice. Her eyes widened and her hand dropped to the base of her neck as Hunter stomped across the room.
He didnât let her answer him. He stood there towering over her, glaring.
âI canât leave worrying about you,â he snapped. âAnswer me, woman. Are you really sick?â
Victoria latched onto his earlier comment and ignored his question. âYouâre worrying about me?â Her voice had gone all soft and breathless. Her eyes were as green as emeralds, and tears were already welling up.
âDonât make more of this than it is,â he warned her. âWhat I feel and what I do are two different matters. Youâve got no business being here,â he added. âNo business at all.â
âWhy not?â she asked.
âBecause youâre a lady,â he muttered. âAnd carrying,â he added with a nod in case sheâd forgotten.
She stood up. Her middle brushed against him. She couldnât back up; the table was in her way. He wouldnât back up; his pride was in his way.
âI have every right to go wherever I want to go,â she told him.
âNo, you donât,â he told her, just to be stubborn.
âWhy not?â
âBecause youâre pregnant.â
It sounded perfectly logical to him. Victoria thought he was being ridiculous. Her face was turning pink with irritation and embarrassment. How dare he tell her what she could and couldnât do?
â âIn a false quarrel there is no true valour,â Mr. Hunter,â she quoted. âWilliam wrote those very words.â
âWhat the hell does that mean?â he demanded. His voice raised a note. âIâm going to be glad to be rid of you, Victoria. Iâm sick to death of watching you mourn for your husband and telling me all the fancy words he said to you. The manâs dead. You arenât. Get over it and move on.â
Victoriaâs mouth dropped open. He believed William was her husband? She was speechless, though not because of his misinterpretation. It was the anger and the obvious jealousy she was seeing.
Chaos surrounded them. Lucas was going back and forth from the wagon, carrying what Taylor had promised him were only necessary items they would need for one night. The children were out back, watching Rolly and his men clear a yard. Taylor had gone up to the loft to make beds out of the mats and blankets Lucas had carried up for her.
Victoria was getting a crick in her neck looking up at Hunter. âI donât want you to leave,â she whispered.
Hunter couldnât stop himself from touching her. He put his hands on her shoulders and gave her a gentle squeeze. He wanted to shake some sense into the woman. She was acting as though he had every right to stay.
A tear slipped down the side of her cheek. He caught it with his thumb. He wanted to make her understand how it had to be.
âMy grandmother was a Crow.â
âMy grandmother was Irish.â
He guessed he was going to have to be more blunt. Victoria still didnât understand she was supposed to be prejudiced against him.
âIâm a half-breed,â he reminded her in a low whisper.
âSo am I,â she immediately answered.
He got mad. âThe hell you are.â
She wasnât intimidated by his shout. She poked him in his chest. âIâm half Irish and half French, and you canât tell me any different. Facts are facts.â
He gave up trying to argue with her because she refused to be logical. âIâm leaving.â
She grabbed hold of his belt buckle. âIâm probably not in love with you.â
âI hope to God youâre not.â
She stretched up on her tiptoes. He leaned down at the very same time. His mouth covered hers, and his arms went around her waist. He kissed her long and hard, and when he came to his senses and pulled back, she was breathless and staring up at him with a dreamy, bemused look on her face.
He wanted to kiss her again but didnât dare. His hands dropped to his sides. The woman was making him think impossible things could happen.
âLet go of me,â he commanded.
âYou can leave after the babyâs born,â she blurted out at the same time.
âNo womanâs going to tell me what to do.â
She sat back down on the bench and bowed her head. âGo then. I donât need you or anyone else. Iâd done just fine on my own.â
He snorted. âWhat about your husband?â
He decided he wasnât going to wait around to hear her answer. Sheâd probably give him yet another one of the dandyâs fancy remarks, and he knew he would completely lose his temper then.
Heâd made it to the entrance when he heard her whisper. âIâve never been married. Youâre better off leaving a woman like me alone.â
He stopped dead in his tracks. He didnât turn around. âThen who is William?â
âHe was a famous playwright. William Shakespeare was his full name. He lived centuries ago.â
Hunter stood there for a full minute without saying a word, then he walked outside. Victoria stood up and ran to the bedroom. She was weeping before sheâd shut the door.
He made it halfway across the clearing before he stopped. He thought the matter over in his mind for a good five minutes.
Luca
s was getting ready to chop wood. Heâd taken his shirt off and turned to put it in the wagon when Hunter came storming out of the house. He could hear his friend muttering under his breath, and when Hunter stopped and didnât move for so long, he guessed exactly what was going on.
Georgie came running past him. He caught her in his arms and lifted her up.
âDonât bother Hunter now,â he whispered to his daughter so his friend wouldnât overhear.
Then Daniel came hurrying past. Lucas grabbed hold of him and pulled him up against his side.
âLeave Hunter alone,â he told his son.
âWhatâs he doing?â Daniel asked.
Lucas smiled. âStruggling. Any minute now heâs going to realize itâs inevitable.â He continued to keep his gaze on Hunter. âWhy donât you two go and see what your motherâs doing?â
As soon as he put Georgie down, Daniel took hold of her hand and led her back into the house.
Hunter finally made up his mind. He turned around and walked over to Lucas.
âIâll stay around for a little while,â he announced.
âIâd appreciate your help.â
Hunter nodded. He was glad his friend didnât ask him why heâd changed his mind. He hurriedly changed the subject. âDo you think Caulder might really show up here one of these days?â
âIf he believes Iâve got his gold, he will,â Lucas answered.
âTheyâll probably catch him before he gets as far as Sioux City.â
âThey might,â Lucas agreed.
âVictoria shouldnât go anywhere until after the babyâs born. The journey here was hard on her. She needs rest.â
âAre you suggesting we stay?â
âCanât see any other way,â Hunter replied.
Lucas was concerned about Victoria, of course, but he was also worried about his wife and his children. The wilderness was no place for them. He thought of at least ten reasons right away why it wasnât safe. One of them could step on a snake or drown in the creek or get mauled by a bear. The list was endless.
Yet Hunter was right. They had to stay until the baby was born.
Hunter went into town then to get some supplies he would need to reinforce the stairs.
Lucas told Taylor at supper that Hunter had agreed to stay on until Victoria had her baby. Taylorâs friend burst into tears over the news. She stood up, excused herself, and went into her bedroom.
âWhatâs wrong with her?â Daniel David asked.
âSheâs happy,â Taylor explained.
Lucas shook his head. He thought Victoriaâs reaction was damned odd. Then he turned his attention back to his wife. She looked a sight tonight with her hair spilling down her back and her face rosy from cooking. He thought he could be content to look at her the rest of the night.
She wasnât paying any attention to him. Georgie had deliberately pushed a biscuit up against a piece of salted pork on Allieâs plate, which caused an immediate uproar, and Taylor was trying to soothe one twin and lecture the other one at the same time.
Lucas slipped in the other bit of news when Allie paused to take a deep breath so she could scream again. âWeâre going to stay here until Victoriaâs had her baby. Then weâre leaving.â
She gave him a radiant smile. He immediately reminded her their living arrangement was temporary. âDonât think this means Iâve changed my mind. We arenât raising the children here.â
âNo, of course not,â she replied.
He acted as though he hadnât heard her agreement. âItâs too dangerous here for them and for you. Youâre too fragile for such primitive conditions. Come fall, weâre moving to the city.â
âBut you hate the city.â
âIâll get used to it.â
With an effort, she was able to hold onto her temper. âDo you have a particular city in mind?â
âWeâre going back east.â
She waited for him to elaborate. After a minute or two, she realized he wasnât going to say another word about his future plans for the family.
âIâm not fragile, Lucas.â
He wouldnât listen to her. âCome fall, weâre leaving. Donât even think about settling in.â
She assured him she wouldnât.
The following morning, she put up yellow and white checkered curtains. She told Lucas it was just for privacyâs sake, which was a ridiculous reason given the fact that they lived in the wilderness. Yes, she knew they were leaving. Of course she did. Heâd told her so at least a hundred times. But that didnât mean they couldnât be comfortable in the meantime.
He noticed the tablecloth on the table that evening. And the dishes stacked in neat rows on the shelves. There was a new bedspread on their bed, and a glass vase stuffed with wildflowers on top of the mantel. The place was looking more and more like a home to him.
Rolly let them purchase the rocker from Frank with the condition that he be allowed to borrow it on Sunday afternoons for the reading of the newspaper. Taylor readily agreed. Frank didnât think Rolly had any business giving Taylor stipulations. Just because heâd made the thing didnât mean he could borrow it whenever he wanted. He had, after all, sold it to Frank if he would recall.
The giant didnât like being told what he could or couldnât do. He grabbed Frank by the collar and was about to give him a good shake when Taylor stepped between the two men.
âYou made this beautiful rocker, Rolly?â
The awe in her voice gained the giantâs full attention. She thought it was beautiful. Heâd heard that compliment plain and clear. He forgot he was holding onto Frank. He gave her a nod, then muttered, âWhat of it?â so she wouldnât think he was pleased or proud of his work.
Taylor sat down in the rocker and trailed her fingertips along the polished wood. Rolly turned to watch her. He was still holding onto Frank and dragged him with him like-Allie dragged her rag doll around.
âItâs sound,â he told her. His voice didnât sound surly now.
âItâs magnificent,â she declared. âI donât believe Iâve ever seen anything this well crafted in all of England,â she exaggerated. âYouâre a true craftsman, Rolly.â
The giant dropped Frank and hurried over to Taylor. âNo nails,â he announced. âI didnât cheat and use nails.â
He made Taylor stand up so he could lift the rocker and turn it upside down. He wanted her to get a better look at the construction.
Frank quickly recovered from Rollyâs burst of temper. Over the years heâd gotten used to being tossed or shaken or shoved by the giant. He wasnât afraid of him any longer. He knew Rolly would never kill him, for he thought of him as a friend. And friends in these parts were hard to come by. Frank knew the limits of Rollyâs patience, however, and for that reason he didnât dare smile while he watched Taylorâs compliments turn the fierce giant into a blushing boy.
Rolly told Taylor he had always been good with his hands, and he decided he might as well use them to turn a profit. He worked in his home and pointed to the last building down the road to show her where it was.
âI got enough wood stored up in the shed behind to make twenty rockers,â he said. âAnd it takes me exactly two weeks, start to finish, to make one as sound as can be.â
Taylor asked him if he would consider making a cradle for Victoriaâs baby. She was willing to pay a fair price, she assured him, and he would have all summer to work on it.
Rolly rubbed his whiskered jaw and then told her heâd have to think about it.
Late that evening, after everyone had gone to sleep, Lucas woke her up making love to her. She was so tired, she didnât think she had the strength or the inclination, but his warm caresses and hot kisses soon changed her mind. She became as demanding and desperate as he was, and when she found fulfillment, he silenced her scream of ecstasy with his mouth.
He collapsed on top of her and when she let out a groan, he rolled to his side and pulled her into his arms. She tried to keep the loving words locked inside. Sh
e didnât want to burden Lucas or make him think she was desperate for his pledge of love. She was desperate though, and no matter how hard she tried to be reasonable about it, she still couldnât talk herself out of her own longing.
She waited until heâd fallen asleep. âI love you, Lucas,â she whispered then.
As exhausted as she was, sleep still eluded her. She told herself she should be thankful her husband didnât hate her. She had forced him to radically change his life. He hadnât been given a choice. The poor man detested marriage and was now saddled with a wife and three children.
Taylor spent a good long while feeling sorry for Lucas. Then she started feeling sorry for herself. It was a wonder her husband could even stand to look at her. She knew she wasnât very pretty like Victoria was, and she was certain she wasnât at all lovable. She had too many faults. She was bossy and opinionated and rigid. She used to think those were assets. Sheâd learned everything she knew about life from her grandmother. Madam taught her to be disciplined and controlled. One never complained or made demands. One took what one was given and made the best of it. No one liked a whiner, and if the need to cry couldnât be suppressed, then one should seek out privacy so no one else would see or hear. A lady was a lady from the moment she opened her eyes in the morning until she closed them again that night.
Taylor was sick and tired of being proper all the time. It was a terrible strain. The urge to scream when something bothered her was getting stronger and stronger, and the need to kick some sense into Lucas was becoming more and more appealing.
He was making her give up her dream, too. She knew that if she pointed out that fact to him, heâd only tell her what heâd been telling her almost from the moment he married her. She wasnât strong enough. Lord, heâd called her fragile. She thought that was probably the most insulting thing he could have said to her.
She would prove him wrong. Yes, that was it, she decided. Arguing that she was every bit as fit as he was wouldnât mean anything. Words were just words. She would have to show him. Taylor stopped feeling sorry for herself and turned her thoughts to the summer ahead. She had three months to prove to Lucas she wasnât fragile.