The Barn Raising Read online

  Instead he pulled back. “I wanted to ask if you would sit next to me tomorrow during supper.”

  Rosalie blinked a few times. She felt a big grin appear on her face. “I would like that very much.”

  “Davis! You coming?”

  “Yep.” He gave her hand a quick squeeze. “Ever see a horse being born?” Rosalie shook her head. He opened the gate so they could move away from Lilly and her two babies. After he latched the pen, he took her hand and led her back to the outside.

  Rosalie looked at him. His face was covered in stubble from the day. As she felt the warmth of his hand surrounding hers only one thought went through her mind.

  She was going to marry Martin Davis.

  Chapter 2

  July 1861, Belle, Wyoming

  Rosalie Davis couldn’t be any happier if she tried. She hadn’t even been married two months and she was falling deeper in love with her husband every single day.

  Martin had built a cabin along the river, on the far corner closest to town. He had talked to Paps years ago about starting his own training facility. Paps had even put up the money for the land so he wouldn’t have to borrow from the bank.

  Little by little he constructed his perfect hideaway by the river. There was a cabin, the springhouse and a barn that needed a new roof. The barn wasn’t a priority as Martin wasn’t bringing animals there yet.

  But now that he was married there were things that his wife needed. Like a milking cow and some chickens.

  Rosalie looked out the window. It was close to suppertime and Martin should be returning home soon. He traveled to Paps’s ranch every day and continued his work as a trainer there. Every evening he would return home and after dinner they would cuddle under the quilt they received as a wedding present and talk about their future and dreams.

  She didn’t see him coming down the trail. She wasn’t too worried. Something may have happened to one of the horses and he needed to stay to help. She returned to the stove and covered his dinner to make sure it stayed warm. She had already eaten a small amount as she had felt faint shortly after the stew was done.

  She poured herself a cup of coffee and went to sit on the front porch to wait for him. She looked out at the river running along the side of the property. It was just where the creek met the river near the meadow.

  The creek water was splashing against the rocks and it made a soothing noise as it mixed into the wider river. She was perfectly happy here. She listened to the sounds of the water and the breeze coming off the mountains behind Belle. The slight wind rocked the flowers in the meadow. They swayed to the invisible rhythm of the wind.

  The sun was starting to set, and a darkness started to cover the land. There was still enough light to see, but soon the sun would completely disappear behind the mountain. Twilight was her favorite time of day.

  She checked the watch pinned to the waist of her skirt. Martin was running over an hour late. She stood to take her cup back in the house, when she heard the sound of bells in the distance. It was so faint she had to strain to hear it.

  Rosalie recalled the story that Paps told her, about the town being named for the sound of the bells that Clara Shepherd had on her oxen when she came west by wagon train. She shook her head. She was imagining things.

  As she moved to take her cup back inside, she saw a rider coming around the bend. Martin! She would recognize him in the saddle anywhere. He sat up tall and straight with his hat down low over his eyes. He had one hand on the saddle horn and the other had a rope trailing behind the horse.

  Rosalie shielded her eyes as she stepped off the porch towards him. Why was Thunder, his horse moving so slowly?

  Suddenly she heard the bells again, followed by a meh-me-meh. She began to run towards her husband as she saw he was pulling Lovey and Darling along on a lead.

  The goats were pulling against their rope and jumping in the air. Martin must have seen Rosalie as he dismounted his horse and walked both the horse and the kids towards the house.

  “Are those for us?” Rosalie asked, putting her arms around Martin’s neck. Martin nodded and leaned down to capture her lips in a kiss. Rosalie cherished these moments where he would come home and the first thing he would do, is kiss her.

  He handed her the ropes that held the goats. “Lovey and Darling, here’s your new home.” Rosalie took the lead and then wrapped her arm through Martin’s.

  “I can’t believe Paps just gave them to you.”

  “He didn’t, Rosie. I bought them for you.”

  Rosalie looked confused. “You bought them?” She was hurt, thinking that her father charged Martin for the goats.

  “He was going to give them to me, but I provide for my family and I pay my way. I wanted to give them to you, so I paid for them.”

  “But Martin…”

  “No more discussion, Rosie. I want to get these little ones in their pen and then eat dinner.” He kissed her forehead. “Did you have a good day today?”

  She gave him a little squeeze. “It is so much better now that you’re here. I made you stew and biscuits for dinner.” She was learning to cook from Eva Banks. What Rosalie could make was limited at the moment, but Martin ate everything she put in front of him without complaint.

  “That sounds wonderful. I’m absolutely exhausted and starving.”

  “Then dinner, and right to bed for you.”

  “You saucy girl,” he laughed, pulling her close. “I like the way you think.”

  Rosalie gave him a gentle slap against his chest. “You silly man, that isn’t what I meant and you know it.”

  Martin grinned. “But a man can always hope,” he said. He opened the door to their little barn and led the animals inside. After securing Thunder inside his pen, he lifted the gate and opened a second pen for the two goats.

  Rosalie led them into the pen. “Did you already have this pen set up?”

  “I fixed it last night because I knew I’d be bringing them home today.”

  Rosalie sat on a wooden crate in the corner of the pen. “Come here, babies,” she cooed to them. “Let me get those leads off you.” She removed the rope and handed it to Martin. Then she nuzzled each one and started scratching their necks.

  “They are probably hungry,” Martin said. He lifted a small bucket of grain over the fence and Rosalie dipped out handfuls of oats and let the goats nibble from her hand. Their velvet lips were tickling her fingers.

  “I need a container to put this in,” she said looking at Martin. He handed her a tin pie plate and she put it on the ground, pouring some of the oats in there.

  “They need hay, too,” he said. “Put it in that feeder against the wall.”

  Rosalie noticed that Martin had built a box with openings where the goats could pull out small bits of the hay to eat. Once she was done making sure that her new goats had hay and water, she left them to munch happily.

  “Let me wash my hands and then I’ll get your dinner on the table.”

  “Did you eat already?” Martin asked.

  “I did. I wasn’t feeling very well…”

  Martin frowned. “Is something wrong?”

  Rosalie shook her head. “Not at all. I was just feeling a bit lightheaded and realized I didn’t eat much today. I definitely felt better once I had a bit to eat.”

  Martin didn’t look convinced but didn’t say anything else. “I’ll clean up and then come into the house.”

  Rosalie nodded and gave her husband a kiss on the cheek. She went into the house and felt Martin’s dinner plate. It was still warm. She put the plate of stew on the table, along with a plate of fresh bread, butter and some strawberry jam she made from the wild berries that grew along the creek. She poured two cups of coffee and then sat down at the table to wait for her husband.

  When Martin came in, the overalls he wore to work with the horses were hanging by one strap. His hair was wet and slicked back. He sat down and grabbed Rosalie’s hand.

  “Thank you, Father, for this food and the
hands that prepared it. May it nourish our bodies and our minds. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

  “Amen,” Rosalie whispered. She released his hand so he could dive into his dinner. “I heard Audrey was leaving town next week.”

  “Good thing,” Martin said between bites.

  “How can you say that? She’s my best friend. I don’t want to see her run out of town because of a rumor.”

  “We don’t know if it is, or it isn’t.” Audrey James was caught in Morris Ellerman’s embrace behind the café. Some folks thought that Morris was attacking her; others thought that Audrey did something to entice the man. It was Hunter Lawson who stepped in and ultimately rescued her from Morris and the scathing looks from the town’s folks.

  Rosalie looked at her husband. “I do not for one second believe that Audrey was messing with that drunkard.”

  “Rosie,” Martin warned, his voice low. “Don’t get involved in gossip.”

  “I’m just trying to talk to you.” Why didn’t Martin understand that she was upset over Audrey leaving?

  “Well then talk about anything but that.”

  “Thank you for my goats.”

  Martin nodded. “You’re welcome.”

  “Have there been any more foals born?”

  “Not yet. I’ll need to be at the ranch once the mares go into labor.”

  Rosalie thought about what he said. She didn’t want to be alone at the cabin while he was at the ranch. “How long do you think you’ll be there?” she asked.

  “As long as it takes. Could be 2 hours. Could be two days.”

  “I’d like to have a baby.”

  Martin looked at her like she had asked to go to the moon. “What was that?”

  “I’d like to have a baby.”

  He shook his head. “Not right now, Rosie.”

  “Why not?”

  “The time isn’t right.”

  “I’m going crazy here, Martin.”

  “This house isn’t good enough for you?”

  “No. I’m not saying that at all.”

  “You can decorate it however you want.”

  “And I will. In time.” She placed a hand on his arm. She could feel the muscles contract with the tension he must be feeling. “I love being here with you. It’s when you are away that I don’t like it. I think that a baby would help.”

  “You spent all that time alone in Kansas City. Why should now be any different?”

  Rosalie removed her hand. “That’s not fair, Martin.” She pushed back from the table and placed her cup in the bucket of soapy water. She didn’t look at him, but instead stood up as tall as she could and headed to the bedroom.

  She could hear Martin curse under his breath as she closed the door on him.

  “Rosie,” he called from the other side of the door. Rosalie didn’t respond. The weight of her hurt was more than she could bear. It rose up from her chest like a great fire and soon she was gasping for air. Martin pounded on the door. “Rosalie.”

  “Go – go away, Martin,” she said through hiccups.

  The door cracked open. Martin stood there with his hands in his pockets. “May I come in?”

  Rosalie looked at him. “It’s your room too.”

  Martin walked over to the bed and sat down. He reached his arm around her and pulled her into his embrace. Placing his lips against her hair he gave her a gentle kiss. “I’m sorry Rosie. I didn’t mean to hurt you.” He put his arm under her legs and shifted her, so she was sitting on his lap. He laid one arm on her legs and the other cuddled her back, keeping her close to him. “I’m so tired. All the way down to my bones. I said that without thinking.”

  Rosalie pulled a handkerchief from her pocket and wiped her eyes and nose. “I know. I forgive you. I am just so alone here in the house. Plus, I’d really like us to have children soon.”

  “I know, honey. But now isn’t the time. Let me get the new barn built and then we can talk about it.” He lifted Rosalie’s chin so she was looking at him. “Is that alright?”

  Rosalie nodded. “I guess so.”

  He leaned down and gave her a kiss. “I love you, Rosie. Don’t ever forget that.”

  “I love you too, Martin.” She truly did.

  “I put the plate in the wash basin. How about we settle in here for the night and you can tell me about your plans for the house?” Rosalie gave a quick nod and went to hang up her apron.

  It only took a few moments before she was snuggled in her husband’s arms. Martin yawned and pulled her closer.

  She listened to the sound of him breathing. Soon it turned into light snores. There would be plenty of time to talk to him… later. For now, she was just content to be sleeping in his arms.

  Chapter 3

  Rosalie was excited to have company the next day. Her friend Audrey stopped by to see her. Audrey sat at the table and sipped a cup of tea while Rosalie kneaded the dough for bread.

  “I can’t believe he is shipping me off like that,” Audrey cried. “I didn’t even do anything.”

  “Just think. It would be an exciting new adventure!” Rosalie sprinkled more flour on the table and slapped the dough back on the table.

  “You are no help. I thought that you, at least, wouldn’t want me to go.”

  “I don’t. I can’t imagine what I’d do without you around. Have you thought about what you would do if you stayed in Belle? How would you deal with what Helen is saying?”

  “Phhhf,” Audrey said. “Helen is the worst gossip in town. I think it’s the only pleasure she has since her husband is too drunk to pay her any mind.”

  “Hmmm.” Rosalie turned the dough once more. “I know. You need to get married.”

  Audrey looked at her friend in disbelief. “I just told you that my father is going to put me on the first train back to Boston and your suggestion is to get married?”

  “Just think,” Rosalie said as she continued to knead the dough. “It would solve your problems. You’d be married, so your father couldn’t send you back East. Besides, it would probably settle down some of the gossip.”

  “Who would I marry? There isn’t anyone in town that doesn’t know about Morris and what he did.” Rosalie watched Audrey draw her finger through the flour that covered the table.

  “Then we find someone outside of town. Someone who doesn’t know you, or can take you back to Glenda or the fort.”

  “Isn’t that what my father is doing? Sending me somewhere where no one knows me?”

  Rosalie wiped her hands on her apron. The flour transferred in the shapes of palms and fingers. She’d dust it off later. “You’d be close enough, but not too close. You’d still be able to visit but wouldn’t have to come into town as often.” Rosalie picked up the dough and formed it into a ball before placing it in an oiled iron Dutch oven.

  “I don’t know how I’d find anyone.”

  “We could ask Paps. He could probably talk to your father and delay you going to Boston. Let’s have a cup of tea and we can figure things out.”

  “I wish I had a father like yours,” Audrey moaned.

  “Don’t even think that. I didn’t even know I had a father until my mother dropped me off on the porch and said guess what, Patrick?” Rosalie pulled out a chair and sat down at the table with Audrey. “Your father loves you very much. Mine didn’t even know I existed until three years ago.”

  “I still don’t know what to do.”

  “Get married, Audrey. That is the only way.”

  Audrey looked at the watch pinned to her dress. “I should get going. Eden probably wonders where I am.”

  “I’m walking to the mercantile. Do you want to go with me?”

  “After what happened? Absolutely not.”

  Rosalie shrugged. “I understand. You can walk me to the edge of town then.” She tucked her chair back under the table and then picked up her wrap, signaling to Audrey that it was time to go.

  “I thought you were building a new barn,” Audrey asked.

  “Not ye
t. We still need to buy some of the lumber, and Martin needs to finish drawing up his plans.”

  “How can the animals be in there with that racket going on?”

  “They will be a lot more put out when the roof starts leaking like a sieve.” Rosalie watched her husband pound nails into the roof.

  She picked up a basket from the porch and stepped down into the dirt. “He insists that he is going to build that barn himself. Paps told him to wait and that the ranch hands would help, but I think Martin is impatient. I wish he’d just wait.”

  Audrey gave an awkward laugh. “Will he be alright up there?”

  Rosalie waved her hand as if dismissing the notion. “He’ll be fine. He just needs to fix the roof in case it rains.”

  Rosalie stopped by the barn as they walked by. “I’m headed to town. Do you need anything?”

  “Whatcha going for?”

  “We need coffee and the flour is getting low. I thought I’d get about two pounds.”

  “Might as well get a sack and fill the barrel again. Tell Henry I’ll stop by tomorrow with the wagon to pick it up.” Rosalie nodded. She was getting ready to leave when Martin called her back. “Can you pick me up a pound of two-cent nails?”

  “Two cent nails,” Rosie repeated. “Of course.”

  “If you don’t have enough money, just tell Henry to put it on our tab and I’ll pay everything tomorrow when I pick up the flour.”

  “Alright,” she said, giving a little wave.

  They were down the road when Rosalie heard Martin yelling her name. She turned and looked at him. “I love you, Mrs. Davis,” he called after her.

  Rosalie blew him a kiss.

  “You two are the most affectionate people I’ve ever met.”

  “It is easy when you are in love.”

  “Is everything alright with you and Martin?”

  “Of course,” Rosalie said. “I mean we argue like other couples, but I don’t doubt his love for me.”

  “I wish I had someone that cared for me that way.”

  Rosalie looked at her friend. “Then get married.”

  “I won’t marry someone I don’t love.”

  “Love may come later.”

  They split at the fork in the road. Rosalie watched her friend slip behind the church and back down towards the house she shared with her father. Rosalie took the other path to town.