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Eddie stopped removing items from the sack. “Are you informing me you will have no regard for how you conduct yourself? I warn you, so long as you are under my roof and living with the protection of my good name, I expect you to live in a way that will not bring dishonor to it.” Why couldn’t Margaret have chosen to follow through on their agreement? She had proven an agreeable companion. Was this all some colossal joke played by the universe? Until this moment, he would have said God had a hand in all the events of his life. Now he wasn’t sure. Seems Linette was a stubborn, headstrong woman. If people acted contrary to God’s directions, how could they still be under His control?
His jaw ached and he forced it to unlock. He would not let any of these people bring disgrace to the Gardiner name.
Linette regarded him, her face set in hard lines and flat disapproval. “I have always lived in an honorable fashion. I simply refuse to live by silly social expectations, especially if they require I go against the teaching of my Lord and Savior.”
He squeezed the back of his neck, feeling the muscles corded like thick rope. “I certainly wouldn’t ask that of you. Honoring God is first in life.” Right along with honoring his father and mother.
“Good. Then we are agreed.” She reached into the sack and pulled out a fry pan and pot. “I’ll soon have something for tea.”
Eddie didn’t feel nearly as satisfied that they understood each other. Somehow he expected she would agree to his terms only if they suited her. How was he going to make sure she didn’t turn this into a disaster for him and his family?
She smiled across the table. “Mr. Gardiner, you have nothing to fear from me. I promise I will do all in my power to make this a most pleasant winter. In fact, you might decide you want us to stay.”
“Only until it’s safe for you to travel.”
She ducked her head, but not before he glimpsed the self-assured satisfaction in her expression.
What did she have in mind? Whatever it was, he could tell her she could do nothing to make him change his decision.
Besides, Margaret would reconsider becoming his wife when she heard about the fine house.
He glanced at Cassie, who sat staring at the stove. She had the look of someone lost in her thoughts. The woman was supposed to be Linette’s chaperone. As such, shouldn’t she be the one preparing the meal? Seems Linette couldn’t see when she was being taken advantage of. Allowing a father to thrust a child into her care, allowing a widow woman to sit idle while she did the chores.
If Cassie had been one of the cowboys, he would have whistled and tipped his head toward the work.
How did one order a woman to do her share?
Linette stood at the table, turning the hunk of bacon over and over. He watched her, wondering what her problem was.
She set aside the meat and lifted the towel from the bowl of cooked potatoes Cookie had sent over. She poked them with one finger. Her brow furrowed. Was she unfamiliar with basic cooking? His stomach growled at the thought.
Thanks to Cookie’s generosity, there were baking powder biscuits and some cold roast beef. Linette set the latter two out on a plate and put out butter and syrup, along with the tea she had made. She set the table carefully, arranging each piece of silverware as exactly as if she used a ruler. “It’s ready,” she said, indicating they should sit at the table.
Eddie pulled himself from the wall where he’d been alternately observing the newly arrived occupants of his house and studying the darkening sky out the window. He should be with the men, bringing the cows down from the hills, but the unexpected guests had delayed him and now the sun dipped toward the horizon. It would soon disappear behind the distant mountains.
Heavy clouds hung from the sky. It would be good if the snow held off a few more days. A few more weeks would be even better, but he didn’t like to sound greedy.
At Linette’s call, Cassie sighed and pushed heavily to her feet. She wasn’t as old as Eddie first judged. Life had been hard on her. He suspected a strong woman lay beneath the sharp exterior. Only a fighter would have survived what she’d been through.
The first step Eddie took had Grady scuttling toward the wall. Eddie stopped.
“I’ll feed him later,” Linette said.
It grated on Eddie’s nerves that his presence was unwelcome in his own home. But not nearly as much as it bothered him to be the cause of Grady’s fear. “We might as well start out the way we intend to continue. I eat my meals in a civilized fashion. I expect the same from my guests.” He made no threatening moves as he squatted to Grady’s level. “Grady, this is my house. You’re welcome here, but when we eat, we sit together at the table. Think you can do that?”
Grady shook his head and whimpered. His gaze brushed past Eddie, not quite connecting but allowing Eddie to see something in the boy’s eyes. Hurt. Insecurity. Rejection. He didn’t understand how he knew and recognized it, but he did as surely as he knew his name. This boy was filled with consuming fear and loneliness. He had every reason to feel that way. His own father had turned his back on him.
Eddie’s insides trembled and a pain shot through his jaw as he struggled to keep his expression from revealing what he thought of such a man. The boy did not deserve the hurt heaped on him by his father. No one did.
He ached to promise the boy he was safe now. But hurting and fearful animals—and little boys—needed lots of reassurance. “Aren’t you hungry?”
Grady glanced toward the table then he studied Eddie hard and solemnly.
Eddie didn’t move. Didn’t smile. He just waited, letting the child see he meant him no harm. Finally Grady edged away, keeping as much distance between himself and Eddie as possible. He hurried to Linette’s side and buried his face in her skirts.
Eddie pushed to his feet. “Grady, you will sit on a chair to eat.” Linette’s glare seared, while Cassie watched with indifference.
Grady climbed to a chair and sat, giving Eddie a look of defiance. Eddie could almost read his thoughts. I’m sitting on the outside, but I’m doing what I want on the inside.
Eddie struggled to keep from laughing.
Linette sat down with a huff of exasperation.
Sobering instantly, he met her gaze. Did she find all rules and conventions to her dislike? “A man is ruler in his own house. Is that not from the scriptures?” At the flash in her eyes he wondered if she would defy the word of God.
The winter looked longer and colder with every passing hour.
Chapter Three
Why had God made woman to be subject to a man?
Linette knew the verse he referred to. It had mocked her on many occasions. She would never dispute God’s word, but some of it was hard to swallow. It made marriage most unappealing. She would avoid it altogether except it provided her only hope of escaping her father’s plans.
Eddie waited until she was settled. “I’ll say the blessing.”
She bowed her head. Although Eddie had insisted on Grady’s obedience, he’d at least been gentle with the boy. It wouldn’t be hard to be wife to a man who treated her with such kindness and respected her heart’s yearnings. But she feared she wanted more than she could hope for. More and more it looked as if she would not find freedom here any more than she had in England. Still, anything was better than marrying a lumpy, lecherous old man.
She waited until everyone had taken a biscuit or several. “I’m afraid I’m not much of a cook,” she murmured. “We had a cook at home who refused to let me in the kitchen.”
“This is fine.”
She’d done nothing but put stuff on the table. If she expected to prove her worth she would have to do much better. “I’m sure I’ll manage.” If only someone would explain what to do with the supplies. Surely Cassie knew. She sent the woman an imploring look. They had to learn to enjoy each other’s company. “This is your second winter on the ranch, isn’t it?”
Eddie looked relieved to have something to talk about. “It is.”
“Tell us what it’s like.”
“Unpredictable.”
She laughed at his tone—half regretful, half admiring. “How so?”
“It can snow four feet. The temperature can drop out of sight. Then we get a Chinook that melts the snow and makes us all foolishly think the worst is over.”
Cassie perked up. “A Chinook? What’s that?”
“A warm wind that blasts over the mountains. We can go from shivering under a heavy coat to working in our shirtsleeves all within an hour or less.”
“It’s a legend then?” Cassie said, sarcasm dripping from each word.
Linette silently prayed Eddie wouldn’t be offended. Was she destined to spend her days interceding on Cassie’s behalf?
Thankfully Eddie chuckled. “Part legend in that the Indians have all sorts of stories about what it is, but there’s nothing remotely imaginary about what happens.”
“I can hardly wait,” Linette said. “It’s going to be exciting to experience a wild Canadian winter.”
Eddie’s look challenged her before he pushed his plate away to indicate he was done. Did he think she had undertaken this trip solely for the sake of an adventure? She willingly admitted she enjoyed seeing new and exciting things. But no, the impetus behind her bold venture was twofold—escape the specter of a marriage with a man who made her skin crawl, and hopefully, God willing, find a place where she could obey the dictates of her conscience without regard to foolish social expectations.
The kettle steamed again and Linette prepared to do the washing up with the hot water. Cassie turned her chair and pushed it closer to the stove.
Eddie stood and piled up the dirty dishes. “Everyone does his share here.” He glanced toward Cassie.
Linette’s hands remained suspended over the washbasin. She could manage on her own and didn’t mind doing the work, but Eddie gave her a warning look. She ducked her head. Seems he was intent on establishing his rules and she was helpless to do anything but cooperate. Not that she didn’t think Cassie should help, but she didn’t know how far he meant this rule making to go. She kept her head down as she studied him, measuring him, wondering what would happen if she refused to obey one of his directives. His expression remained patient. On the other hand, how pleasurable to share goals and dreams with such a man.
Slowly it dawned on Cassie that Eddie expected her to help. She pushed her chair back so hard it banged into the table. “Don’t see how much help it will be for me to be stuck under Linette’s elbow. There’s not enough room for one, let alone two.”
Linette pulled the basin closer and handed Cassie a towel. She took it silently and dried the few dishes.
Eddie strode outside.
“He’s lord and master here, that’s for sure,” Cassie grumbled. “I’m sick of men controlling everything. Why don’t we pack up and leave?”
“Cassie, where would we go?” She’d gladly leave if she could find an alternative that wouldn’t bring her father’s wrath about her head. Except—an errant thought surfaced—this was where she wanted to be. She’d dreamed of it for weeks as she prepared to leave home and as she crossed the ocean and the country. She pictured herself sharing life with a man who honored her heart’s desire, and the dream refused to die in spite of Eddie’s insistence that she go back home. She forced her mind back to Cassie’s question. “It’s not like there are hundreds of homes around here that would welcome us.”
“What about that ranch where those men were going? They seemed like nice gentlemen.”
“They were very polite but no doubt would expect to rule their home as well.”
“I’m sure we could throw ourselves on their mercy.”
Linette grabbed Cassie by the shoulders. “I don’t intend to beg any man to keep me.” She’d prove her worth to Eddie. She’d make him want her to stay. “Wherever I go, whatever happens, I will do my share. In return, I will expect freedom to make a few decisions on my own.”
Cassie shook Linette’s hands off. “Mr. Gardiner told you he expects obedience.”
“Surely a woman can please a man and still be allowed to express her opinion and choices.”
Cassie rocked her head back and forth. “He could make life miserable for us.”
“I pray it won’t be so.”
“You were prepared to marry him.”
“I thought I knew a bit about him from Margaret’s letters.” Now she wasn’t so sure. In fact, nothing seemed so simple anymore.
Cassie plucked at her sleeve. “He could take advantage of us if he wants. Both of us. Look at how small this place is. We have no hope of escaping him.”
Linette smiled. “The closeness is our protection. If you feel threatened, you only have to call out. But I think we have nothing to fear from him. Does he not strike you as a man of strong morals?” He seemed intent on doing things the right way. Just how far that went, they would no doubt see in the following weeks as they shared this tiny cabin.
Eddie strode through the door with a length of lumber and a hammer in hand.
Cassie watched with undisguised wariness as he fastened a shelf across one side of the room.
“This should serve as a pantry for now.”
“Thank you.” Linette truly appreciated his efforts. She hoped it meant he intended to make the best of the situation—a thought that buoyed her heart.
Now that she’d finished the clean-up, Linette called Grady to her and washed him in preparation for the night. “Cassie, do you want to put Grady to bed?”
Cassie jerked her gaze away from studying Eddie, relief filling her eyes. “I’ll lie down with him.” Linette understood she was grateful for escape from the close quarters.
Linette soon had the shelf neatly organized with their kitchen supplies. Cassie and Grady were only a few steps away in the bedroom, but suddenly she was alone with Eddie. Neither of them spoke and the quietness crowded every corner of the room.
“Tell me about Grady.”
His question shattered the stillness and made her nerves twitch. Then she drew in a deep breath, grateful he had initiated conversation. “You mean besides the fact he is an orphan?”
“He has a father, so technically he is not an orphan. No other relatives?”
Was he hoping he could send the child away? “Apparently not.”
“And what if the father changes his mind and wants him back?”
“It would be wonderful if he did. I pray he will.”
“In the meantime, you have his care, but who is his legal guardian?”
“I am.”
“By whose authority?”
“His father signed the papers naming me such.”
Eddie quirked an eyebrow, perhaps in disbelief. “It surprises me he cared enough to do so.”
“He didn’t. I asked him to do it.”
Both his eyebrows rose and Linette allowed herself a little smugness at having surprised him.
“You seem to have thought this through.”
“You might be surprised at how carefully I consider my choices.”
His pause filled the air with quivering tension. “And yet you still do them.”
She ignored the slight sarcasm.
“Cassie has no family she could appeal to?”
“What is this? Trying to find alternate arrangements for your guests?”
