His head came up sharply. “You don’t have to tell me nothin’ about anythin’. You’re my teacher and that’s all, and whatever you do is your own business, not mine. I got no claim on you. Now, let’s just keep our conversation to matters of interest to us both, like givin’ me another piece of that pie.” He smiled at her but the smile did not spread to his eyes.
“All right,” she said after a while. “I understand your feelings.” She cut him another generous slice of the pie.
“Gaylon said you probably went to see your great-grandfather,” she said.
Devon ignored her.
She angrily snatched his empty plate away. “Perhaps you are uninterested in my life, but as your teacher I am concerned about yours. Is your grandfather as blindly stubborn as you are?”
Devon leaned back in his chair, looking at her in surprise. “I went to get them children you wanted so much. Turned ’em over to some missionaries to take back east.”
She was so astonished she could barely speak. “All of them?” she whispered.
“Your six and a couple of others Crazy Bear took on another raid.”
Chapter Eight
BY SILENT MUTUAL AGREEMENT, DEVON DIDN’T return to Linnet’s cabin for the next few weeks, and her life began to fall into a pattern. She felt she owed him more than ever for rescuing the children; so three times a day she left hot food with Gaylon. And Devon always seemed to be out of the store when she arrived.
When the Christmas season arrived, she and everyone else looked forward to the planned festivities. Agnes came to the store and gave orders to everyone. Gaylon was sent into the woods to bring in fresh game, while Doll was told to practice his fiddlin’ and Linnet was ordered to decorate Devon’s store, where the dance would be held. Agnes fixed Devon with a glare. “And you stay beside Linnet and help her.”
Linnet could have sworn she heard deep chuckles from Gaylon and Doll.
“All right, what do you want to do?” Devon said nastily.
Linnet tightened her mouth. “I need nothing from you. I am quite sure I can manage alone.” She quickly went across the room and nearly slammed the door behind her.
“Linnet?”
She whirled to face him. “Don’t come out here to say any more hateful things to me. I am quite sure I can manage alone.”
“You said that already. I just brought this.” He held up her shawl. “I thought you might need it.”
She realized she had been so angry that she hadn’t noticed the cold. She slung it about her shoulders. “Now, if you’ll excuse me.” She swept away from him and went into the woods, but to her further anger, Devon followed her. “You do not have to stay near me.”
“I know—you are quite capable,” he mimicked her crisp accent. “But, last I heard, it was a free country.”
She tried to ignore him as she considered some greenery for the mantel. To her disgust she found she had forgotten to bring a knife. Rather than return to her cabin, she tried to twist one of the lower branches from an evergreen.
Devon watched her struggle for a while, then stepped forward. “Can I help?” He held a razor-sharp knife and quickly cut the branch away. “Or maybe you’d rather Cord helped you.”
“Yes,” she whispered. “I’d much rather have Cord, or anyone else for that matter.” She didn’t watch as he turned and left. With shaking hands she carried the evergreen back to the settlement.
The store was full of people when she returned, the children running around, excited about the dance that was to be held the next day.
“A hoedown,” Doll said to Linnet. “Put your hoe down and come to town.”
Caroline Tucker spent the day with Linnet, and they cooked, using ingredients the women had stored all winter. Jessie constantly stayed underfoot, and soon Lonnie Emerson joined him. Lonnie felt that he had saved Linnet’s life and therefore she was his personal property. Jessie didn’t take to the idea at all and, that being as good an excuse as any, they had to be pulled apart from several fights.
Once Devon kicked open Linnet’s door, a squirming boy in each hand, and demanded she do something with them. He also had a few remarks to say about how she had all the males in Sweetbriar fightin’ over her and he’d be damned if he was gonna join them. He stomped away before she could answer him.
The night of the festivities dawned clear and cold, and Linnet donned the new dress she had made for the party, a lightweight blue cotton, gathered at the low neck and the waist. It had big, puffed sleeves that stopped at her elbow. She knew it was more for summer, but guessed the room would be very warm with so many people. She combed her long freshly washed hair about her back and shoulders, and it curled softly about the edges.
She stood by the fire a moment, nervous, chiding herself for the giddiness. As she turned around, the full skirt swirled softly about her. If only Devon would think she was pretty, if only Devon—She laughed aloud. She wondered what he’d say if he knew how much time she spent thinking of him, how she had spent so many hours on this dress, just for him. Would he ask her to step outside for some fresh air tonight? She’d go. She’d go wherever he asked.
She opened the cabin door and breathed deeply of the night air, not aware of the cold as she walked the few yards to the store. Timidly, she opened the door, and many eyes turned to her, but none of them were Devon’s. He sat in a secluded corner with Corinne and hadn’t even noticed her.
Agnes Emerson came to Linnet. “Lynna, why don’t you come walk with me a bit? You ain’t thinkin’ of marryin’ him, are you?”
Linnet was confused for a moment, then smiled absently at the boy Worth Jamieson who’d come to stand near her.
“How did you know he’d asked me?”
“Ever’body in Sweetbriar knows ever’thin’ about ever’body else. Like I know you and Mac been quarrelin’, hardly spoke a civil word to one another.”
Linnet bent her head to stare at her hands. “Devon has some misconceptions about me and, besides, I think he’d rather have someone else.”
“He don’t want Corinne, ’cept the way any man wants her.” Agnes went to the heart of the matter. “If Worth or any other man asked her to marry him, she’d probably drag him to the preacher’s. It’s just that she thinks she’s gonna get Mac and she thinks he’s rich.”
“Agnes, do you think I’m so obvious to everyone?”
“You shore are. You look at Mac and you nearly melt at the sight of him.”
“No! Please don’t say that.”
“Can’t help but say it, it’s the truth. Now let’s go see him and see if we can get him away from Corinne. One look at you, and I don’t think he’s gonna see anybody else. Mac,” she called, “get out of that corner and come here and look at our Linnet.”
Devon looked up and his eyes registered surprise.
“I think you got ’im now, just don’t let him go,” Agnes whispered to Linnet as she walked ahead to intercept Corinne.
“You’re pretty, Linnet,” Devon said quietly.
“Better than a tar baby?”
“Much better.” He grinned.
Doll started his fiddle going and Devon grabbed her arm. “You ready to dance?”
“I think you’ll have to show me the steps.”
“Ain’t no steps, just stompin’.” He caught her hands and whirled her around. The dancing was more than strenuous, and she became very thirsty.
Devon held her hand and pulled her to the barrel of cider and filled a mug for her. They looked at one another over the rims when, suddenly, he set his cup down, put his arm around her waist and drew her close to him. “I think your eyes are honey-colored with little flecks of silver, but I swear once they were almost red.”
“No more of that,” Floyd Tucker called to them. “You can see where that leads to, Mac.” He pointed to several young children sitting in a row beside the heavily pregnant Esther Stark.
Linnet’s face flooded pink, but Devon squeezed her to him and grinned. “Best idea I’ve heard all night,
Floyd.” He laughed.
“Devon!” She pushed away from him, but he grinned roguishly at her until she had to smile back.
“Agnes,” Lyttle called to his wife, “I think it’s time we got on with the shuckin’ ’fore these young’uns lose control.”
“Can’t say Lyttle’s idea’s as good as Floyd’s, but it’ll do,” Devon answered.
The way everyone laughed made Linnet know that what Devon had said was not of an innocent nature.
Agnes came to stand beside her. “We always save a few bushels of corn each year and then shuck ’em here. Whoever gets a red ear, man or woman, gets to kiss whoever he wants.”
“Oh,” Linnet said as she began to understand Devon’s jest.
“Come on, you better get started or ever’thing’ll be gone.”
“Me?” Linnet asked.
“Sure,” Agnes laughed. “You get a red ear and you can kiss anybody you choose.”
Linnet looked up at Devon as he watched her. She didn’t hesitate. “Let’s go,” she said as she hurried to the big pile of corn.
Doll Stark found the first red ear and unerringly went straight to his wife. He was deft in getting his arms around her big stomach. Someone called that he knew how ’cause he’d never seen her any other way. Doll kissed her passionately, lifting her off the floor while everyone laughed and hooted.
Agnes poked Linnet. “From what I gather, there’s the reason Esther puts up with Doll’s laziness. A woman couldn’t ask for more.”
Doll abruptly dropped his wife on the bench and returned to his fiddle. Everyone laughed at the adoring look on Esther’s face.
The door to the store flew open, and Cord Macalister filled the narrow portal. Linnet hadn’t seen him since she fled him from the cave. He seemed to have no regrets about the incident, for he searched for Linnet’s eyes and grinned at her. “Cord!” some of the children screamed and ran to him, their hands catching the long, swaying fringe.
“Well, just in time.” He eyed the pile of corn. “This here is my favorite game. Look out, young’uns, Cord is gonna find a red ear of corn.”
The children laughed as the big trapper tore into the pile. “Got it!” Cord shouted triumphantly minutes later. He bounded across the pile, fringe hitting Wilma in the face, and pulled Linnet to her feet.
She pushed against him. “No, Cord, leave me alone.”
“No sir, I won you fair and square, and you’re my prize.” He pulled her to him roughly and hurtfully bent her head back as he thrust his tongue in her mouth. She thought she was going to gag.
He released her abruptly, her feet hitting the floor very hard. He glared at her, his eyes hard in hatred, then turned and left the store, the door slamming behind him.
The room was silent. “I guess I forgot to sweep all the varmints out of the corners,” Gaylon muttered, and everyone laughed nervously, but their spirits were dimmed.
Doll struck a chord on his fiddle. “He ain’t gonna ruin my party spirit,” he called. “You folks get that corn shucked so my wife and kids don’t have to do it.”
They all laughed in earnest at Doll’s gibe at his own laziness. Several more red ears were found, and the laughter increased. Toward the end of the pile Devon found a red ear and they all waited nervously, giving Linnet several little secret smiles.
Devon looked at her a long while, his face serious.
“Come on, boy,” Gaylon called. “You got so many women you can’t decide?”
“No, I don’t,” he said flatly. “Corinne, come over here.” He turned to the voluptuous girl. There was a hush as Devon pulled Corinne into his arms, and Linnet couldn’t take her eyes from them, couldn’t help but see Devon’s smooth, dark skin touch another woman’s. She saw how his mouth opened before closing on Corinne’s and how the girl eagerly pressed her body against his.
She looked back to her lap and saw the first kernels of a red ear. Quickly, she thrust the corn into Agnes’ hand and murmured something about not feeling well. She quietly left the store, but there wasn’t one person who wasn’t aware of her going, including the man who kissed another.
Chapter Nine
LINNET RAN TO HER CABIN AND THREW HERSELF down in a burst of tears, feeling the empty desolation of one who is lost.
“Well, now, you’re gonna ruin that pretty party dress o’yourn.”
She turned over and through tear-filled eyes saw Cord standing over her. “Go away and leave me alone.” She could see his eyes harden.
“I think I’ve had about enough of you and your high and mighty ways. You ain’t so pure as you make out. I’ve heard about the way you pant after my little cousin, and I’m sure he’s had whatever you can give him. So it seems to me that I’m due a little of what you been givin’ out so freely.”
“You’re wrong! Now get out of here or I’ll scream.”
“Go right ahead.” She opened her mouth, but before a sound escaped, she felt his hand covering her face, blocking all air. After several seconds, he released her. “Now, you see what I mean? Just go ahead and scream. But, come to think of it, it could be unpleasant to have to tie your mouth while I taste that sweet little body of yours.”
“Cord, no—” She backed away from him, scared now.
“You think you gonna talk me outta this? There ain’t enough words to make me leave without havin’ you.” Someone’s voice came from outside the cabin and Cord immediately leaped atop Linnet and covered her mouth. “Damned busybodies! They’ll be comin’ to see why their little Lynna-girl ain’t at their party no more. Looks like I’m just gonna have to take you away from here.”
“No—,” she began.
“Don’t tell me ‘no’ no more,” he snarled. “I don’t like it. Now I got to think on this a minute. I don’t want them people followin’ me. That cousin of mine could track a snake upstream.” His face lightened. “You been teachin’ him to read, ain’t you? Well, you can just write him a letter sayin’ you run off with me. He’ll believe that.” He grinned. “Mac ever tell you about that Trulock girl? He was so hot after her his tongue near touched the ground, but I come along and she never even seen Mac no more.”
Linnet was frightened, very frightened. Cord was a madman. She could hear the jealousy and hatred of his cousin in his voice and wondered again at its cause.
“Here now, you write what I tell you.”
She had no pen or paper and only the slate that Devon used in his lessons.
“You say you’ve run away with me and won’t be back. And be careful ’cause I can read it.” When he saw she hesitated, his lip curled. “I’d hate to have to break one of them little bones of yours, but I shore will and then I’ll still take you with me. As you said at the cave, you ain’t got no choice.”
She wrote exactly what he said, and when he picked it up to stare at it, she realized he had tricked her, for he obviously could not read.
He grinned as he read her thoughts. “I hate to do this, but I don’t reckon you’re gonna come willin’ like.” He tied a scarf across her mouth and then her hands behind her back. He thrust her behind him as he put his head outside the door and looked around. When he was sure no one was about, he put Linnet on his horse, and they rode away into the dark forest.
When Devon released Corinne, he met the hostile stares of nearly everyone in Sweetbriar. He knew Linnet was gone and for a brief moment he had felt good that she had had a taste of her own medicine. She could not have felt half as horrible as he felt when he saw her in Cord’s arms or before, when he knew she had spent the night with Cord. Now as he pushed Corinne from him and he sat alone on a bench by the wall, he didn’t feel so jubilant. He swore he’d never let another woman hurt him, but Linnet had. She hadn’t been out of his mind since she looked at him with those big eyes in Crazy Bear’s camp.
He went behind the counter and poured himself a stiff drink of whiskey. Why didn’t he just marry Corinne and raise a bunch of kids like a man ought to? Why’d he have to go pining for some little girl who took up with e
very man in Sweetbriar? The bottle was half empty before Gaylon took it away from him.
“You done made a fool of yourself once tonight. I ain’t aimin’ to let you do it again. Go outside and walk around. Get some air.” He pushed Devon out the door.
The first thing Devon saw was Linnet’s cabin, the door open, the light from the dying fire shining on the front step. He walked toward it slowly, his mind fuzzy with the whiskey.
“Linnet?” he whispered thickly as he stepped inside, closing the door behind him. She wasn’t there. He tossed another log on the fire, his actions slow and clumsy. It was then he saw the slate. He read it carefully, repeatedly. She had left Sweetbriar with Cord. There was a finality in the words that could not be relieved.
He held the slate and walked to the bed, Linnet’s bed, and fell on it. He went to sleep, the slate in one hand, the other outstretched in a helpless, palm-up gesture.
In the morning, Devon’s head hurt, his tongue was thick and dry. When he looked about for water he realized where he was and he began to come alive again. As he swung long legs over the side of the bed, the slate clattered to the floor. Memory came back to him as he read the words and, with it, an overpowering anger.
So, she’d run off with Cord, he thought, and he remembered how she’d looked in the big man’s arms the night before. He also remembered how Linnet had tried to push Cord away. Of course that had been an act. He read the slate again and frowned. Linnet would never pretend. She would put out her little hand and say, “I’m Linnet Blanche Tyler and I’m going to be married. Will you come to my wedding?”
The more he looked at the slate, the more he was puzzled. It just wasn’t like Linnet to run away. He looked about the cabin and saw her shawl on the peg by the door. Nothing in the cabin had been moved or rearranged. Her two dresses also hung on pegs. The four carvings he had given her were in their places on the mantel. She wouldn’t have gone away without her clothes. Maybe Cord promised her new things when they got where they were going.