Mae: Book Six: The Cattleman's Daughters Read online

  “Fine, then we’ll find you something if you’ll have it. I’m sure it will pay more than what you earn as a dock worker and will be less physically taxing than your current alternative.” He eyed the man’s battered face again. “For now however, we are traveling to the Cape and could use some one who can help with the bags and other odd jobs while I escort my sister and her friend about the Cape. If you’re willing, we can leave right away.”

  “I’ll need ta send a note to me sister.”

  “Alright, do you have someone you trust to carry her your note?”

  In reply, the dark-haired man placed his fingers between his lips and let out a shrill whistle that made Reese jump. A moment later, a boy in raggedy trousers and vest came racing down the street.

  “Ya need somefin Mc?” the lad asked.

  “Aye, lad I need ya to take a note to my sister.” He pulled a slip of crumpled paper from his pocket, and then patted his heavy coat.

  “Here ya are Mc.” the boy said, pulling a stub of a pencil from behind his ear.

  “Tah, lad,” the man replied, taking the pencil and swiftly writing his note. Folding the paper carefully, he handed it and a coin to the boy. “Now off ya go and tell her I’ll send word of my new position as soon as I can.” He looked at Reese again, hope and doubt battling in his eyes.

  Reese clapped a hand on the other man’s shoulder. “Come on, then, or we’ll hear nothing but griping from the women.”

  Mae watched as the two men walked toward the carriage. She and Melissa had waited as they had carried on a conversation, wondering what Reese would say to the brawny Irishman to get him to agree to a job.

  She couldn’t help but compare the two as they strode toward them. Both men were tall and lean with broad shoulders and narrow hips, but that is where the similarities ended. Reese’s hair was brown, tinged with golden highlights and curled around his ears and collar. It was too long for a gentleman according to her aunt, but looked just right on him with his bright green eyes.

  The other man, however, had hair as black as pitch and although bruised, she could see that his eyes were the color of the sky on a clear day. His hair was cropped short, almost to the scalp on the sides, with a high cowlick above his forehead and his skin was bronzed from hours in the sun. They made a striking pair, like a well matched team of horses, each of a different shade.

  “I’m afraid you’ll have to ride on the baggage platform,” Reese’s words to the other man drifted toward the women. “It’s already a tight squeeze with three of us in the cart.”

  “I’ll be fine,” Carl replied, heading toward the back of the covered buggy. “It will be grand to ride for a change,” he added, clamoring onto the wide, flat boards situated behind the canvas cover of the convenience.

  “Just one more thing before we set out,” Reese spoke quietly, stepping close to the other man, who looked at him questioningly. “Your nose,” Reese spoke as he reached out and grabbed the other man’s face, yanking his nose straight with a squishing snap.

  Carl only grunted, squeezing his eyes tight then holding the cold wet rag he’d been given earlier to his face to stanch the blood. “You done that good,” he wheezed in a nasally tone.

  “Mother wanted me to study medicine,” Reese shrugged, then watched as his sister stepped around to the back of the buggy. “Are you sure you’ll be alright there?” she asked, blinking at him.

  “Aye, lass,” the man replied. “I’ll be comfy as a lamb in a manger.” His bright smile seemed to reassure her and she finally allowed Reese to help her up into the cart.

  “We’ll have to get him some decent clothing,” she spoke to her brother as she smoothed her skirts around her ankles.

  Mae elbowed Reese in the ribs where she sat beside him and through sheer will power, he managed to suppress a groan.

  “Alright, alright,” he acquiesced. “I’ll stop at one of the shops that carry ready-made items on the way.”

  Chapter 10

  It took longer than Reese would have like to outfit the man his sister and Mae had picked up off the street, more because the brute argued about charity until they could convince him that payment would be taken from his first check.

  “Can we finally get on our way?” Reese grumbled, scowling at Melissa and Mae.

  “I believe we can, dear brother,” Mel chimed, smiling wickedly at him. Why did he suddenly feel that his whole life was about to be turned upside down?

  ***

  After having been to the Middleton’s Boston home several times, the house on the Cape came as a surprise to Mae. The house in Boston was staid and stately, while the house they were approaching at a good clip was almost whimsical.

  The gray structure stood two stories high, but somehow seemed low as if it had settled down into its surroundings over time. The roofline was not steep and pointed as was so common in the area; instead, it was rose in angled stages, bending like the roof of a barn.

  The entire structure was covered in gray shakes and shingles of various patterns and a rounded pagoda was attached to the porch that wrapped three sides, but instead of having a roof, the porch had a widow’s walk over the covered spaces, looking out at the green and foaming sea.

  Mae caught her breath as she looked at the sea so close and unobstructed by buildings, wharves, warehouses or cityscape and she squeezed Reese’s arm with excitement.

  Reese smiled at the enthusiasm on the young woman’s face. The family house on the coast was old hat to him. He had grown up spending summers there and had never thought of its charms or the appeal it might offer someone who had lived their entire life in a land-locked state.

  “I take it this is not what you expected?” he quipped.

  “I don’t know what I expected, but it’s all beautiful. I can’t believe how close we are to the ocean. Is it dangerous?”

  “I suppose it could be. Sometimes the storms are fierce, but this house has been here a very long time, so I think we’ll be alright.” He smiled, as her eyes grew wide. It must be wonderful finding life so full of interest. His thoughts caught him by surprise.

  “Will we go to the beach?” Mae asked, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

  “It’s rather cold for that, but I’m sure we can go for a stroll later.”

  “Mel, did you hear that? Reese said we could go down to the ocean later.”

  “Hm?” Melissa asked distractedly.

  “The ocean,” Mae said reverently.

  “Oh, yes of course. The ocean is lovely.”

  Mae smiled but rolled her eyes. Melissa had barely spoken the whole trip. She seemed distracted, preoccupied by her own thoughts.

  “Whoa,” Reese’s deep voice pulled their attention back to the house where a servant came to help them down.

  “Where ever have you been?” Mrs. Middleton’s voice echoed across the heavily landscaped yard. “We expected you hours ago. All of your things arrived ages before you.”

  “Mother, don’t fuss,” Melissa called as she stepped down from the cart. “We had a slight delay, that’s all.” The golden-haired girl embraced her mother, and then took her arm. “You see we happened upon a young man who needed our help.” With a bright smile she turned her mother to face the tall man who was unfolding himself from the back of the buggy.

  “Let’s give them some time, shall we?” Reese offered, proffering his arm to escort Mae into the house. “I think they might be a little while and Mel will need her wits about her to pull this off.” The corner of his mouth pulled up in a smile and he couldn’t help but wink at the black-haired girl.

  Mae James took Reese’s arm with a smile. “I think you might be right, Mr. Middleton.”

  ***

  There was something cozy about the Middleton’s Cape house. It was the old family home and had become their retreat from the press of society over the years. Mr. Middleton’s great-grandfather, a Dutch merchant, had built a tiny house on the property, and as he’d built his import-export business, the property had grown to acc
ommodate his children.

  The first night of her stay, Mae had dressed formally for dinner only to discover that the whole family was still wearing what they’d started the day in. She had blushed bright red on entering the dining room, only to be embraced by Mel.

  “I’m so sorry Mae, I’ve been so distracted I completely forgot to tell you we don’t dress for dinner here. I hope you can forgive me.”

  “Of course I can,” Mae spoke hurriedly, not wanting Mel to feel badly over the slip. “Tonight I’ll simply pretend that I’ve arrived with nothing else to wear, like a princess on the run from an evil king.” She smiled, squeezing her friend tightly. “Now what’s for dinner?”

  The casual atmosphere of the dinner soon set Mae at ease and together they discussed plans for the week ahead. She was surprised to find that Mrs. Middleton enjoyed working in the garden on her visits to the house, and that Mr. Middleton often went fishing or driving around the area.

  That night she climbed into her sleigh bed with a sigh of contentment. For the first time since coming to Boston, she felt she could truly be herself.

  A soft, pink light filtering through the window of her room woke Mae the next morning. It was early and the rosy hues of a new day were only beginning to brighten the horizon. Rising, she scrabbled to the window and looked over a still dark sea.

  As quickly as possible, she climbed back into her traveling clothes from the day before, pulled her hair up into a loose bun, and slapped her hat on top of it as she silently crept down the stairs and out to the back porch stairs that led to the beach below.

  A brisk, cold breeze blowing off the sea tugged at her hat and ruffled her long skirts, making her shiver, but she pressed on.

  In the brightening darkness, she could make out long grasses growing along the path until suddenly she stepped out onto a wide expanse of sand, her small, heeled boots sinking deeply into the golden band.

  Taking a quick look around to see if anyone else were in sight, she dropped to the ground, yanking her boots, then stockings, off. Rising once more, she dug her toes into the cold, damp sand with a sigh. It felt heavenly to feel the earth beneath her feet again.

  Hiking her skirts over her ankles, she walked closer to the lapping waves as they rolled and tumbled onto the shore. She had never seen anything that looked so unending. The water stretched out to the horizon where a golden light was beginning its morning dance on the black water.

  Even in Wyoming, in the prairie that seemed to stretch forever, you could find a distant horizon of blue mountains. This was different, if you could walk across the water to the end, surely you would fall forever into nothingness.

  Tentatively, she stuck her toes into the water. The lapping foam was bright, white and freezing, making her shiver with delight as she darted away from the water’s reach. She didn’t dare get her skirts wet, what would everyone say.

  Thinking carefully on the problem, she reached down and pulled the back hem between her legs, rolling it slightly then tucking it in at the front as she’d seen her grandmother do while working in a muddy garden. Far too much leg was showing, she was sure, but since there was no one around to see, what did it matter?

  This time as she stepped into the ocean, she let the rolling foam splash along her ankles and calves, delighting in the feel of the sand sucking out from under her feet as the ocean receded again.

  She lifted her face toward the rising sun, throwing her arms wide as exuberant laughter bubbled from her soul, welcoming a new day.

  The sound of bright laughter tickled Reese’s ear as he stripped the saddle from his horse. He and his father had argued late into the night again about his responsibility to the family and their livelihood, and in a temper, he had taken a horse and headed into the small town for some distraction and a strong drink.

  He shook his head; sure he was hearing things, when the sound came again.

  “Who in thunder would be out at this time in the morning?” he grumbled as he turned the horse into its stall. The irony of the fact that he was actually up at this hour seemed to escape him.

  Feeling the first indication of a miserable headache coming on, he stomped from the stable and stepped out into the garish golden glare of a new day scanning the coastline with weary eyes. The dark silhouette of a woman standing in the churning foam and spray of the Atlantic immediately caught his eye. She stood, her skirts bunched about her, head thrown back and arms wide in the dazzling reflection of the rising sun.

  As he watched, a sharp breeze snatched the hat from her head and she turned to grab it, but her feet seemed rooted to the spot and instead of a neat pirouette, she twisted and lost her balance, then began to capsize into the dark water with a scream.

  Reese leapt from the embankment near his parents’ home, his tall riding boots setting him in motion with a thud. Before him, Reese could see the figure of the woman sway and struggle to right herself as her heavy black skirts unfurled like sails before washing toward the open sea.

  “Hang on!” he bellowed, racing the outgoing tide across the beach. “Hang on!”

  His tall, brightly polished boots splashed into the shallows as another wave pulled the woman further toward the deep water. Her skirts were now soaked and weighing her down, holding her at their mercy.

  Plunging forward, the water now nearly waist high, he grasped the woman’s arm and pulled her toward him.

  Mae’s pitch-black hair fanned out in the waves, like billowing seaweed as her soft pale face turned toward Reese. Grasping her more firmly, he pulled and lifted, dragging her back from the brink of a watery grave.

  Mae, finally getting her feet back under her, leaned into Reese and adding her strength to his, staggered out of the grasp of the waves.

  For long moments, they stood gasping and dripping on the sand, each catching their breath and finding their footing.

  “Good Lord!” Reese finally expostulated, looking his young companion up and down. Her heavy traveling gown was plastered to her petite form, the tails of the heavy skirts draped over the sand, while the tight bodice stuck to her upper body like a second skin. The image of the fabled mermaid popped into his head, making him feel dizzy.

  Shaking his head, Reese pulled his thoughts from the direction they were headed. “Heavens Mae, I do believe you need more looking after than my sister.” His gruff voice made his words harsh.

  Anger flashed in Mae’s eyes, even as bright tears pooled. “I do not need looking after!” Her sharp bark caught Reese by surprise.

  “I’ll have you know that I’m a perfectly good swimmer and that before you interfered, I had figured out how to save myself.” Her dark eyes flashed with lightening.

  “You couldn’t even stand up with those skirts weighing you down.” Reese looked at her again and wished he hadn’t, when his eyes fixated on the rise and fall of her small breasts.

  “Any ninny could have told me that,” she snapped again. “I would have floated long enough to get the dress and petticoat off, then swum back in my pantaloons and chemise.” She crossed her arms at her waist and lifted her chin belligerently.

  Reese groaned as the image of Mae James walking out of the ocean in only her undergarments, the thin fabric, wet and transparent, plastered over her delicate form raced through his brain and heat rose in him that was more than enough to chase away the wet chill sinking through his boots.

  Closing his eyes, he ran a hand over his face, trying to shake the image from his mind.

  A small hand placed upon his shoulder snapped his eyes open again.

  “I’m sorry,” Mae said, her dark eyes now full of concern. “I should be thanking you, not biting your head off.” Her eyes were deep pools of shadow and light and for a moment Reese couldn’t think.

  “Are you alright?” Mae asked, raising black brows with concern. She lifted up on tip-toes and leaned in to study his face.

  Reese could feel Mae’s breathe on his chin and without thinking, he lifted a strand of her black hair where it had fallen in a wet tang
le over her shoulder. The thick straight strands reached almost to her knees. “I’m alright.” His voice was ragged to his own ears.

  “I would have been alright.” Mae said, but her voice had lost its bite. “I just wanted to touch it.” She turned back toward the ocean, taking a deep breath of the salty air. “It’s magnificent.”

  Reese let the soft tresses drift through his hand when Mae turned away from him. Once again he was struck by the woman’s fearlessness. She had nearly drowned, and instead of running from the sea, she’d turned toward it like some lost lover.

  “We’d better get you into the house and into some warm clothes before mother is up,” he said gently. “No need to worry anyone.”

  “Oh dear!” Mae’s eyes were wide, and a small hand covered her mouth. “I never thought. Please Reese, promise you won’t tell anyone, please?” Her pleading somehow struck a chord in his heart.

  “I promise I won’t tell. It will be our little secret,” he smiled, and huffed as the petite, sopping-wet woman before him threw her arms around him and squeezed the air out of his lungs.

  “Thank you, thank you. I don’t want to be any trouble,” she spoke from where her head nestled into his chest.

  Awkwardly Reese patted her on the back, not daring to pull her close. “You’re welcome. Now let’s get going before we freeze to death.”

  Mae released him and he took a deep breath, chuckling. How could anyone so tiny be so strong?

  Together they walked toward the back of the house where Reese directed them toward the warmth of the kitchen.

  “I suppose I’m very fortunate that you came along when you did, aren’t I?” Mae asked. “Whatever were you doing up at this hour anyway?” Her question was innocent, but it made him squirm.

  “I was out at the stables.” His conscience pricked him, despite the fact that it was not really a lie. “Now here we are.” He opened the door of the kitchen. “I’ll hand you over to Carla and she’ll sort you out.”