Seth (Prairie Grooms, Book Three) Page 12

  Once again she was caught in his gaze, and found it difficult to speak. “I'm sorry I've been so indecisive these last few days. You must think me a total ninny for not being able to make up my mind.”

  “That was my fault,” he said. “You knew there was more to me than what I was presenting, and you called me on it. That's a good quality to have, Eloise, and I'm glad you do. It comes in mighty handy around these parts.”

  “It does?”

  “Yep, but let's hope you don't have to use it.”

  “I say, but in what sort of situations would I have to?”

  Seth eyed her. “Don’t ask.”

  Thirteen

  The picnic turned out to be a grand affair, and Eloise couldn't remember when she'd had so much fun. The saying eat, drink, and be merry took on new meaning for her, as it did for Penelope and Constance. They sat and watched the townspeople of Clear Creek, now done with their picnic lunch, get down to the serious business of the games. Sadie and Belle tried to explain how the games worked, but then thought it best if the sisters watched and saw for themselves what the townsfolk did at this sort of an affair.

  “I say,” said Constance. “But do you think they'll play croquet?”

  “I hardly think anyone here even knows what the word means,” said Penelope.

  “Come now, sister, surely you can give them more credit than that,” said Eloise. “Besides, it doesn't matter what they play, so long as it's entertaining to watch.”

  “All I've heard them talk about is the big tug-of-war, said Constance. “It's the last game they play, as I understand it.”

  “You don't think we’ll be asked to play, do you?” Penelope asked as her husband, August, approached.

  “That's a mighty fine idea, Mrs. Bennett!” He reached down, grabbed her, yanked her to her feet, and kissed her. “You three ladies need to show us how it's done,” he said.

  “How what is done?” asked Constance.

  “Now don't tell me you didn’t play any games back in England!”

  “Of course we did, just not the sort of games you're playing.” said Penelope.

  “Yeah, but when you played, were there prizes?” he asked.

  “Sometimes,” said Eloise.

  Seth strode up to the blanket they were sitting on, and plopped down next to Eloise. He handed her a plate of pie, then looked up at August. “You gonna play?” he asked.

  “Of course, wouldn't miss it! I could use a few piglets.”

  “Piglets?” inquired Penelope. “What piglets?”

  “Those piglets,” said August as he pointed.

  They turned and looked as Tom Turner and his father carried a large crate down the trail and straight to the picnic area. “Good heavens!” said Eloise. “Are those…”

  “Piglets,” said Seth. “Colin told me that a few years back, Tom Turner caught the pig Harrison brought, and well, here we are! His prize has certainly paid off, enough to bring to prizes to the picnic.”

  “Yep, and I'm gonna catch them!” said August as he puffed out his chest and struck it with a fist.

  Penelope giggled and blushed. “Ah yes, the mighty conqueror of chickens and pigs has arrived. Best you all cower in terror.”

  Rather than giggle, Constance let out her signature snort, and laughed. “You might have some competition. Ryder mentioned that he’d like a few pigs.”

  “So I've heard, but Ryder isn't here, is he?” asked August.

  Constance glanced around and realized he was right. “Where is he?”

  “He rode back to town with Colin and the sheriff to fetch the rope for the tug-of-war,” explained Seth. “I guess Sheriff Hughes forgot to bring it with him.”

  “Fixed the odds, have you?” remarked Constance as she shot an accusing look at August.

  He smiled devilishly. “No, just evened them a bit.”

  Eloise giggled and looked at Seth. “Are you going to chase pigs, too?”

  “Chasing them might be fun, but I don't know about catching one. Where would we keep a pig?”

  “In the oven, if Mrs. Upton has anything to say about it!” said Eloise with a snort to rival one of her sister’s.

  Seth and August burst into laughter, and the women joined them. Sally Upton was not only good at baking wedding cakes, but she was also very good at preparing suckling pig. August was the first to calm down enough to be able to speak. “Come along, Mrs. Bennett, and watch your husband make a fool of himself!”

  “Again?” she teased.

  “Whatever do you mean, again?” asked Eloise.

  “She means it wouldn't be the first time I've been made the fool at the hands of barnyard animals,” he said dryly.

  Eloise's face lit with comprehension as she remembered August’s rooster. “And how is Clyde these days?” she asked.

  “I'm still in one piece,” said August. “Which means he and I have called a truce for now, at any rate.” He turned to Penelope, kissed her, and off they went.

  “I think I'll go watch,” said Constance. “This sounds like fun! Coming Eloise?”

  “I’d like to finish my pie, and then join you.”

  Seth nodded his agreement. “You go ahead; we’ll catch up.”

  Constance climbed to her feet, then set out after Penelope and August.

  “I thought they'd never leave,” said Seth.

  Eloise giggled before taking another bite of pie. “I say, husband, but are you trying to get me alone?”

  Seth's eyes roamed her face before settling on her lips. He leaned toward her, his voice a mere whisper. “Are you flirting with me, Mrs. Jones?”

  Eloise swallowed the last of her pie. “I do believe I am,” she said.

  Seth leaned in for a kiss. “I like it,” he told her with a wink.

  Eloise blushed crimson at her brash behavior, and smiled. Her mother would be scandalized to hear her say such things to a man, whether she was married to him or not. “I like it, too,” she said.

  He took her empty plate and set it aside. “I'd sure like to take you home right now, Mrs. Jones,” he said, his voice husky.

  He was so close she could feel the heat of his breath against her cheek. It sent a chill up her spine. “Home?”

  Seth glanced around to make sure no one was watching, before leaning in further for a kiss. He captured her lips with his, and put a hand in her hair to help him deepen it. Her body slumped against him and he quickly put his arms around her to keep her in place. She let out a small moan of pleasure at the contact, and he deepened the kiss in response.

  “Are ya gonna enter the pig chase, Seth?”

  Seth and Eloise flew apart so fast that Eloise fell backwards onto the blanket. “Grandma!” Seth cried. “What do you think you're doing?”

  “Gettin’ people for the pig chase, what else?” she said with a laugh. “Now are ya comin’ or not?”

  “I'm busy!”

  “I can see that. Any busier and you'll have youngins’ long before your wife’s sisters will.”

  Eloise blushed again, this time truly embarrassed. “We’ll come and watch,” she muttered.

  “You'd best do that, before everyone starts watching you,” said Grandma.

  Seth and Eloise exchanged a quick look. “I suppose she has a point,” said Seth.

  “Indeed,” added Eloise. “We’d do best to go with her.”

  “Well, come on then,” said Grandma. “Let’s see if August can win himself a few pigs!”

  Seth helped Eloise up, brushed a few stray blades of grass from her dress and, unable to help himself, kissed her again. “Okay, let's go.”

  * * *

  Though it wasn't his intention, Seth found himself in the pig race. He stood next to August and grimaced at the look he gave him. “If you win, I’ll buy them from you,” August told him.

  “How about I just give them to you?”

  “Sounds good to me.”

  “What if Tom, here, wins?” asked Seth.

  August leaned forward to look past him.
Young Tom Turner stood on the other side of Seth, grinning from ear to ear. “How come you're in the race?” he asked the boy. “They are your pigs.”

  “Because it's fun,” said Tom. “Besides, it lets me know if I'm as fast as I think I am.”

  Seth laughed, and was about to comment, when several more men joined them. The competition was heating up. August groaned.

  “You just got to be fast enough,” Seth told him. “Then they're all yours.”

  Before anyone could say add a word, a shot was fired and the race was on. Eloise, Constance, and Penelope stood on the sidelines, and watched as the group of men took off after the small pigs that had been released in front of them. The townspeople themselves formed the barriers that kept the pigs and men on course. They cheered for both man and beast as they scrambled along the makeshift track, tripping and falling as they went, even climbing over each other in hot pursuit. One of the pigs broke through the crowd, and Grandma took after it, which sent Eloise into a fit of giggles. “Well don't just laugh at her! Go help her!” said Constance.

  “Why don't you go help her?” she asked through her laughter.

  “Because I'm busy watching!” said Constance.

  Eloise rolled her eyes in a most unladylike fashion, then went to help Grandma, who at this point had been joined by Mrs. Dunnigan. The townsfolk began to vacillate between what now had become two races, as another pig escaped. This time Constance sprang into action. “Penelope! Help me!” she screamed with laughter.

  “I most certainly will not!” Penelope shouted as another pig ran past her, August hot on its heels. Before she could comment further, Seth ran up, a pig in his arms, and promptly put it into hers. “Hold this!” he said, and was off again.

  Penelope glanced around, looking for someone, anyone to hand the pig off to. But no one seemed to notice he’d even passed the animal to her. “My goodness but you smell! You awful little beast…”

  August sped around the makeshift track again, and ran straight to her. “Great Scott, woman! I didn't think you had it in you!”

  “I didn’t know it either,” she said and handed him the animal. “Take care of your new pig.” With that, she brushed her hands together and stalked off.

  Seth ran up beside him and laughed as August stared after her. “I don't believe it! She caught a pig!” He turned to Seth. “How did she catch a pig?”

  Seth shrugged and said nothing, doing his best to keep his laughter at bay. Obviously August hadn't seen him hand the animal to Penelope.

  “I don't believe it,” August kept muttering as he stomped off after his wife.

  Doc Drake came up behind Seth, took one look at August, and laughed. “How long do you think it'll take him to figure it out?” he asked.

  “I'm hoping a long time,” said Seth. “If we all keep quiet about it, he'll have something to tell not only his children, but his grandchildren as well!”

  Doc Drake laughed again, and was off. Seth watched him go, then began to look for his wife. He saw her across the meadow with several of the other women, as they tried in vain to catch one of the escaped pigs. He smiled as he watched his English bride zigzag across the grass, screaming and yelling at the animal like it was a misbehaved child.

  The three sisters had changed in the weeks they'd been in Clear Creek, and as far as he was concerned, it was for the better. Each still had a lot to learn about life on the prairie, but he was confident that August, Ryder, and he would be able to teach their wives how to survive, and that also meant teaching them how to love. Seth and the others knew well that without love, survival was almost impossible. He hadn't realized it until now, because over the last few years, he’d never had anyone but Ryder in his life. Once Ryder married, Seth pondered what it would be like to be alone, with no one to share his life with. Though he’d never admit it, the thought frightened him, and gave him an ugly hollow feeling in the pit of his stomach.

  He glanced again at Eloise as she chased after an errant pig alongside Grandma, Mrs. Mulligan, and Irene Dunnigan. Half the townspeople gathered around them to watch, pointing and laughing at their futile attempts, while the other half watched the men chase the remainder of the animals. Seth turned a full circle and took in the scene surrounding him. The meadow, the creek, the massive oak decorated with flowers, the townspeople and chaos, and then, his bride. A woman to call his own, a companion for life, and someone to see him through sickness and health, until her dying day. He realized that even over the last few years with Ryder at his side, he’d still been missing something. Something he could never put his finger on, and now he knew what it was. A wife.

  Seth stood in the middle of the meadow with squealing pigs, giggling children, and screaming adults, all running helter-skelter around him in utter chaos. It was then that he bowed his head and thanked the Lord for the woman He’d brought from across the sea, and prayed for a bright future together.

  * * *

  “I say, Penelope, but where did you get that?” gasped Eloise.

  Before Penelope could answer, August ran up to them. “I don't believe it!” he exclaimed. “You caught another one?”

  Penelope squared her shoulders as a piglet squirmed in her arms. “You're not the only one here with the ability to acquire livestock, August Bennett.”

  August’s mouth flew open as he gaped at her. “This is embarrassing, that's what this is!” he complained.

  “If it makes you feel any better,” said Eloise. “I haven't so much as gotten within a few feet of the little beasts.”

  “For Heaven’s sake,” he said as he turned to her. “Stop chasing them, will you? You might tear your dress.”

  Eloise took a deep breath, and then another. “You're quite right,” she agreed. “I say, but I do believe I need to sit down. Join me, will you, Penelope?”

  “Don't mind if I do, sister,” she said as she handed the squirming piglet to August.

  “What am I supposed to do with this?” he asked.

  “You're the one who wanted to catch some. You mean you didn't have a plan of what to do with one if you did?”

  He stared at her and watched as she turned, and walked off with her sister. “Oh, for the love of…”

  “Do with it whatever you did with the last one,” she called over her shoulder.

  Harrison stopped beside August to catch his breath. “Don’t tell me my cousin caught another one?”

  August nodded, his mouth half-open in astonishment. “What a woman …”

  “Mr. Turner's got a crate you can use to take them home in,” said an equally-out-of breath Mr. Mulligan. He glanced around. “Where is Mr. Turner?”

  “Over by “His Majesty”,” said Harrison. “He’ll see to your … ah … prizes.”

  “Thank you,” said August, still stunned. He glanced at his wife, and then began to slink off towards the huge tree.

  Wilfred joined them and watched August’s retreat. “How long do you think it's going to be before he figures out that his wife didn't really catch those pigs?”

  “I’m not going to tell him; are you?” asked Harrison.

  “Of course not; besides, it would spoil all the fun we can have with this! We could play off this for years!”

  “Who gave her the second one?” Harrison asked.

  “I did,” said Doc Drake as he staggered over to them, out of breath. “What am I going to do with a pig?”

  The men laughed, just as a gunshot split the air. Everyone's attention turned toward Doc Waller, who stood at the base of the trail. “The sheriff’s brought the rope!” he cried. “Get ready everybody; it’s time for the tug-of-war!”

  A cheer went up, and the men gathered so they could prepare their teams. Eloise, Constance, and Penelope joined the rest of the women as they headed for the creek. “What happens now?” asked an excited Eloise.

  “Doc Waller splits the men up into two teams,” explained Mrs. Mulligan. “One team will cross the creek here, and then hike up to where we have the tug-of-war.”

/>   “Where's that?” asked Constance.

  “There's a narrow spot up the creek about a hundred yards with a deep pool,” Grandma explained as she caught up to them. “It’s perfect for the tug-of-war.”

  “And the best part is that the water is real cold this time of year.” Mrs. Dunnigan said with a snicker. “The last thing these men want is to fall in.”

  “How exciting!” said Constance. “Do the women ever have a tug-of-war?”

  “Land sakes, child!” Grandma said. “What in tarnation for?”

  “I just think it would be fun, that's all,” said Constance.

  “Constance, don’t be absurd!” scolded Penelope. “Ladies do not play tug-of-war.”

  “Perhaps you could start a new tradition,” suggested Eloise.

  Grandma laughed. “I never thought I'd hear one of you suggest such a thing!”

  “Well, you have now!” said Mrs. Dunnigan.

  The women laughed as they continued toward their destination. A few men had already crossed the creek and trotted along the opposite bank in anticipation. Eloise saw Harrison and Colin among them, and wondered where Seth, Ryder, and August were. Perhaps the men took another trail to the spot, and waited there for the rest of the townsfolk. The women moved slower because of their dresses, not to mention their children, and the trail wasn't as wide and clear as the one on the other side. When they finally did reach the small clearing, Eloise had to catch her breath. “Where's Seth?” she asked and glanced around.

  “Right here,” he said in a loud voice.

  She jumped, and let out a tiny squeak. “Oh, my heavens! Please don't do that!” she scolded. “You scared me to death!”

  He laughed, as did a few townsfolk near him. “I can't help it. I'm just naturally light on my feet, darlin'! Better get used to it,” he whispered in her ear. “Who knows when I'll sneak up on you?”

  A shiver went up her spine, and she fought the urge to turn around and kiss him. Perhaps she should, but before she could act on her scandalous thoughts, Doc Waller came into view. “Teams get ready!” he shouted.