Page 22 of Heart of Stone
“Since you’re up,” James drawled, holding out his cup.
Stone filled it – resisting the urge to dump the whole pot right in James’ lap – then poured his own cup before setting the pot in the middle of the table. He picked up the used plates, stacking them by the sink, and he brought the pie and three clean plates back to the table as well.
He took his seat and served up a piece of pie to Luke and James before serving himself. Taking a bite of the pie, he glanced at Luke. “I need to make a supply run into town tomorrow. You want to go with me, or should I take Shorty?”
Luke poked at the apple pie with his fork, seeming to have little appetite for it, and he kept his eyes on his plate. “I’ve got some work to do in the north pasture.”
“I’d be glad to accompany you, cousin,” James spoke up. “I’d love to see if Serenity has changed at all since the last time I was here.”
Stone was disappointed that Luke didn’t want to go with him, but he was downright displeased at the thought of taking this new cousin of his instead. But there didn’t seem to be any help for it; hopefully James would decide that Serenity and Copper Lake were too backwards and “rustic” for his city tastes and leave soon.
“Sure, if you want,” he agreed slowly. “I’m leavin’ at eight.” There was something wrong with Luke, and Stone wanted to know what it was. He was determined to have a private word with Luke before bed and find out what was going on.
“Of course.” James nodded, seeming unperturbed by the early hour. “We can take my rig, if you like. It’s one of the finest models ever made, and you really should have the experience at least once. Speaking of which, my horses need tending. Do you have a stable boy for that?”
Stone wasn’t impressed that James didn’t tend his own horses, but by now, he wasn’t surprised. “You can take your rig, if you want, but I’m goin’ to take the buckboard. I doubt you want sacks of flour and sugar in your nice buggy.” He cleaned his plate and then stood up again. “If you want to go to the parlor, I’ll get one of the wranglers to see to your horses. Luke, I want to discuss our chores for tomorrow.”
James didn’t look too happy over being dismissed, but he smiled and murmured, “Of course, cousin,” before excusing himself and returning to the parlor. Once they were alone, Luke pushed back his chair and stood up, regarding Stone warily.
“If you aim to make me go into town with you and Dandy Jim, I’ll want a day and a half’s wages at least.”
“No, I wasn’t goin’ to make you,” Stone replied, running a hand through his hair in agitation. “I’d rather not go myself, truth be told, but it’s too late now. Come on, let’s step outside. I need to see that his horses don’t end up standin’ hitched all night.”
Once they were out in the cool, crisp evening air, Stone turned to Luke, his expression earnest. “Look, I know things ain’t been right between us since that night, but I’m tryin’, and I know you are too. But I can tell there’s more goin’ on now. What is it, Luke? If this city slicker makes you uncomfortable, I’ll send him packin’, cousin or no. I ain’t got much use for him myself, but I’m tryin’ to do what’s right by Priss.”
Luke stared at Stone, seeming shocked into silence, but then he shook his head and turned away. “I don’t much like your cousin, no more’n you do, I reckon, but there ain’t no need to run him off right yet.” He gazed at Stone, and Stone could practically see the inner battle he was waging before he finally exclaimed, “I don’t get it, that’s all. I thought you was worried about people talkin’! I guess it’s different if they’re talkin’ about how noble you are, standin’ up for the help to some fancy fool they won’t like none anyway.”
“What?” Stone was shocked, Luke’s words jabbing into him like a knife. It hurt like hell that Luke could think such a thing of him, when all he’d tried to do was fight for him. “I’d’ve stood up for you, no matter if it was him or the preacher or anyone else sayin’ such things about you. Not because I care what people think about me, but because I won’t have you disrespected when you ain’t done nothin’ to deserve it. And the problem ain’t what people talk about. It’s what they do when they finish talkin’. There’s worse things than bein’ run out of town on a rail. Like gettin’ shot or strung up from a tree for not bein’ what they think you should be. I couldn’t live with myself if you got hurt because of me.” He shook his head, cold emptiness filling him. “If you could think such things about me, I reckon you don’t really know me at all.”
With that, he turned and headed toward the stable, wishing the earth would just open up and swallow him whole. It’d be a damn sight easier than living with knowing the person he cared about most in the world thought he was lower than a snake.
He heard Luke’s footsteps, hurrying to catch up with him, and he felt Luke’s hand on his arm to stop him – the first time Luke had voluntarily touched him since their one night together.
“I’m sorry,” Luke said, lowering his hand quickly. “I didn’t mean it like that. I just....” He raked his fingers through his hair and blew out a sharp sigh. “It ain’t easy. You give me fancy gifts and go on about how much you trust me, and you get madder’n a wet hen at Dandy Jim ‘cause of how he treats me, but for all of that, you won’t share my bed. I know it’s ‘cause you’re scared of what could happen, but it don’t make things any easier on me to know I’ve got listen to all that and still keep my distance like it don’t mean nothin’.” He frowned then and leveled an accusatory finger at Stone. “And if you think it won’t make tongues wag if you keep actin’ like a protective beau like you did tonight, you’re foolin’ yourself. Dandy Jim may be soft, but he ain’t stupid or blind.”
Stone would have liked nothing better at that moment than to push Luke up against the wall and kiss him senseless, but that was out of the question. Yet he was beginning to wonder if it would be easier just to stop fighting and let it happen. At least both he and Luke would be happy for a little while, until it all fell apart.
“I take your meanin’,” he replied with a sigh. “And I ain’t tryin’ to make anything hard on you. I just hate seein’ a man who ain’t fit to lick your boots actin’ like he’s better’n you, sayin’ things to try to make you feel bad. He may be Priss’s nephew by marriage, but I can’t claim that man as kin. Maybe tomorrow I can get him to go right back east in his fancy rig and leave us alone.”
“I wouldn’t mind seein’ the dust of his shoes, that’s for sure.” Luke glanced back at the big house with an uncharacteristic scowl.
Stone nodded. “Well, I’d best get Ray or Jake to get his rig taken care of. I don’t recall the last time I met anybody I had so little use for.”
“You ain’t goin’ to get any disagreement out of me. At least Mary’s taken a likin’ to him, or else we’d be in a mess of trouble. Then again, maybe havin’ to eat Charlie’s cookin’ instead of hers might make him decide to head back to Boston a lot quicker.”
“That’s worth considerin’.” Stone smiled slightly. At least Luke was joking with him a little again, which was better than silence. “I should ask Mary if she can make a humble pie. I think he needs to eat a whole one by himself.”
“If he didn’t turn up his nose at it.” Luke took a step back, eying Stone. “Anyway, I guess I’d better be gettin’ back to the house.”
“Right.” Stone repressed a desire to sigh at the visible retreat. “I’ll be in directly. I won’t abandon you to our ‘guest’.”
“He ain’tourguest,” Luke retorted. “He’syourguest. That ain’t my house, this ain’t my ranch, and I ain’t family. I’m the foreman, that’s all.”
Stone looked at him. “I’ll try to remember that.” Then he turned and headed toward the barn. Whatever awaited him when he went back to the house, he felt certain he wasn’t going to like it much at all.
CHAPTER14
If anyone had asked Luke if he was happy before Stone came along, he would have said yes. He’dthoughthe was happy at the time, because he had a place to live, a job, and a little family. He didn’t own the house he lived in, but he had a room that he didn’t have to share with anyone else, and for him, that was pure luxury. Looking back, he knew he’d only been content, which wasn’t the same thing as happiness. He’d learned the difference on the night he’d spent with Stone. That was the night when he’d learned what real, bone-deep happiness felt like.