Lord Of Misrule

Fictionwise www.Fictionwise.com Copyright ©2003 by Judith B. Glad First published in Northwest Tales of the Season, November 2003 NOTICE: This work is copyrighted. It is licensed only for use by the original purchaser. Making copies of this work or distributing it to any unauthorized person by any means, including without limit email, floppy disk, file transfer, paper print out, or any other method constitutes a violation of International copyright law and subjects the violator to severe fines or imprisonment.

Something hidden. Go and find it. Go and look behind the ranges— Something lost behind the Ranges. Lost and waiting for you. Go. —Rudyard Kipling:The Explorer

Chapter One Idaho Territory, December 1868 "I'm ready to be home.” Katie slid off Salome's back and leaned against her warm shoulder. The donkey lipped her collar, snuffled. “Now don't you bite me, darn you,” Katie told her, “or I'll ride your sister." Salome caught the collar with strong yellow teeth and pulled. Laughing, Katie swatted at her cheek. “You ornery little dickens! Turn loose!" Luke reached past her and gave the donkey a harder swat. “You're too easy on her. She thinks it's a game." When Salome let go of her collar, Katie stepped closer to her husband.Husband! What a nice ring that has to it! “Luke, she saved my life because she likes to bite. I'll be doggoned if I'll try to break her of it.” She wrapped her arms around him, enjoying the feel of his hard body, even through the layers of heavy clothing they both wore. He hugged her back. “How much farther?" Katie pointed. “Down the trail there, and along the river for about six miles. Our first house was a little east of the fort. The new place is farther out, but in her last letter Ma said it's a lot closer in than it used to be. The town's growing by leaps and bounds." "Well, let's get moving, then. I'd like to be there before sundown.” He mounted Idjit, the big, rawboned hinny that had been the only riding animal they could find in Evanston, and tugged on the leadline to the pack mule. “Move it, Lafayette. We're almost home, the lady says." The tone of his voice told Katie he was still fretting about his reception at her parents’ home. She hadn't been able to convince him that Pa wouldn't have gone home and told everyone how he'd seduced Katie. If she knew her Pa, the only person he'd ever tell about the entire circumstances of their wedding was Ma. And she wouldn't tell a soul. Ma had a fine sense of what was proper. She would lambaste Katie proper for giving herself to a man before they were wed, but she'd never, never say a word to Luke. Ma would figure that was Pa's place, and she'd simply make him welcome as she would any family member. "I hope everyone will be here for Christmas,” Katie said, once they were at the bottom of the rocky trail. It was deeply rutted from the hundreds of wagons that traveled it each summer, and slippery from melting snow. Angular rocks, fallen from the rimrock above, littered the ruts and made footing chancy for man and beast. “I want you to meet the whole family." "I thought your brother was in Europe.” Luke didn't sound too excited about meeting the Lachlan clan all at once. "Well, he is, but everybody else could be here. Silas always comes home for Christmas, and Ma said she'd try to persuade William and Flower to come down." "You're sure about us staying at your folks’ place? They've got room?" "Oh, Luke, stop fretting! Ma says there are eight bedrooms in the house, and her sewing room has a daybed in it. And the littles can always double up if need be."

"I ain't fretting. I just want to make sure of our welcome." "This is my home, you suspicious man! I grew up here. Of course we'll be welcome." "I thought you said you grew up in a cabin in the mountains." Katie knew him well enough now to know that he was trying to start an argument. Well, this was one topic she wasn't about to argue on. “You know good and well we moved to town when I was fifteen. I was speaking figuratively." "Well, say what you mean, then. How am I to know what you mean?" "He's just tired,” Katie told Salome. “Pay him no mind. When we get home, he can have a hot bath and relax. Then he'll see just how welcome we'll be." The trees along the river had mostly been cut, Katie saw, as they got close to town. Only shrubby willows and cottonwood saplings lined the banks now. The light skiff of snow made the torn new earth stand out in dark contrast. “Ma says the new house is the first one you see from the river, but I don't really know where—" "There,” Luke said, pointing. “Is it that one?" Katie could only stare. Ma hadn't told her they were building a castle. Luke hadn't expected a log cabin. The Lachlan's new house was in a town, after all, even if that town was a long ways from anywhere. He'd seen grand stone houses in frontier towns in Kansas, so he knew that Boise City would have its share of impressive homes. But somehow he had expected the Lachlans to have something ... well, homey. Almost everything Katie had told him was about her childhood in a mountain valley with only one other family within a day's ride. Folks who'd chosen to live like that wouldn't worry about putting on the dog. He'd sort of expected their new house to be a big, rambling place, with a wide, welcoming front porch. Like the house his pa had wanted to build in Kansas. This house came as close to a mansion as anything he'd seen since Chicago. Or it looked that way from here. They couldn't see a lot of it, because the barn was in the way, but what they could see was impressive. As they rode up the narrow, rutted road from the river, he got a better look at it. Three stories, with a square turret on one corner, built of red brick and dark wood. The mullioned windows sparkled in the pale winter sun. Lines of young trees, bare of leaf and spindly, bordered the property on all sides. He reckoned there was about five acres thus enclosed, half of it a fenced pasture. Off in one corner of the lot was a small cottage, its siding looking fresh from the sawmill. Prime land. Just like he wanted for himself. "Oh, my,” Katie said. "What?” He was shorter with her than he'd intended, simply because he was still speechless. "Ma told me they were building a place big enough for us all to have bedrooms of our own, but I never expected...” Her gesture took in the big yard, the rows of young trees, the three small evergreens on what might be a lawn in the summer.

Feeling like he'd rather turn tail and run than face her family, Luke waved her ahead of him toward the barn. “Let's take care of the stock first." The back half of the barn's interior was lined with horse stalls. No folks were about, but the big buckskin Emmet Lachlan had been riding in Evanston poked his head over a stall door and whuffled a welcome. As Luke dismounted, a door opened at the back. “About time you got here,” a raspy voice called. “The missus has been waiting for them ... oh, can I help you folks?" Before Luke could answer, his wife did. “I'm Katie Lachlan ... ah, Katie Savage,” She slid off of Salome's back, stumbled, and caught herself with a handful of mane. “This is the Lachlan place, isn't it?" "You must be the sister. They've been expecting you for a couple of days. I'm Abel Greene, hostler, gardener, and all ‘round man of work.” He held out his left hand, and Luke saw that his right arm ended just below the elbow. The man's accent was familiar to Luke. It placed him from somewhere in the Confederacy. "Pleased to meet you, Mr. Greene. “Katie took his left hand as if she'd been shaking hands that way all her life. Luke was proud of her. He'd seen too many battle-scarred veterans treated like dirt because they didn't have a full complement of hands and feet. "Luke Savage,” he said, holding out his own left hand. “Late of the Seventh Kansas Cavalry." "I was with the 14th Mississippi, but I don't reckon that matters much any more. Not out here." Having dismounted. Luke pulled the saddle from Idjit and swung it across a peeled log saddle horse. He led the big hinny into a stall. “I'll be back, old lady,” he said, giving her a gentle swat on the rump. “Let me get everyone settled." Abel and Katie were just emerging from two other stalls, where, Luke surmised, they'd put the asses. Luke went to Lafayette, who was standing patiently. The big mule looked gaunt, as well he should. He'd walked halfway across the West in the last couple of months, and had carried a good load most of the time. Scratching under Lafe's chin, Luke said, “Time to rest, fella. We ain't going much of anywhere for awhile." Lafe nodded vigorously, as if in understanding. He let his head droop while Luke rubbed him down, then followed Luke into the stall Abel pointed out. Luke made sure there was an ample supply of grain, then gave Lafe one last pat. “You got us here, fella. Now rest." "You treat that mule like he was your best friend,” Katie teased. She was grooming Salome, dodging the ass's teeth with the ease of two months’ practice. "At least I don't spoil him with sugar,” he said. “And he never tries to take a piece out of me, either." Abel helped Katie groom the asses while Luke took care of Idjit. When they were done, they sorted through their belongings and took only the fiddle case and Luke's bedroll to the house. "Abel says they all took off early today,” Katie said, as if in answer to Luke's curiosity about why no one had come to meet them. “Ma's in a tizzy, with all the folks coming for Christmas, and she's off to the grocer and the butcher and whatever. Pa and the littles are out looking for a Christmas tree. They'll not be back until tomorrow, so you won't have to get everyone straight at one time." "Did he say how many folks are coming for Christmas?” Luke said, his belly clenching. Meeting all of Katie's family at one time was bad enough. Facing a house full of strangers was about as welcome to him

as riding head-on into a herd of stampeding longhorns. Katie held the back door open for him. “My godparents and their three, Uncle Silas and Aunt Soomey.” She paused, staring around the enormous kitchen. “Good grief! This is as big as the whole cabin at Cherry Vale.” She turned to look at Luke. “Our kitchen there was also the parlor, the playroom, and Pa's study." Luke had a feeling he'd have felt a lot more at home in the cabin than he ever would here. He'd known the Lachlans were well-off, but this house criedrich . "...not going to be here,” Katie was saying when he paid attention. He asked her to repeat herself. "I said, it's too bad Buff's not coming for Christmas. Neither's Ellen. But I suppose Charles won't hear of her traveling all the way across country with a new baby. It just won't seem like Christmas without them." As she spoke, she was opening doors on either side of the long hall that led to a wide front door with stained glass sidelights. “Breakfast room. Study—a real one, with bookshelves. Sewing room—good heavens, Ma's got herself a sewing machine!” She went on to the next door. “Here's the dining room. My, isn't it elegant?" Luke looked through the archway. Yes, the room was indeed elegant, with a heavy-legged mahogany table standing in the center, surrounded by ten fancy chairs. He grimaced. A far cry from his own ma's cobbled-together table with one short leg. The glass-fronted cabinet along one wall, filled with sparkling crystal and stacks of china plates and dishes, spoke of a life style he'd only glimpsed on his two visits to Washington DC. Kate went on down the hall. “Here's the parlor,” she said, sliding a pair of pocket doors open. “Oh, my. Will you look at that chandelier!" Luke would just as soon not. He was spared the need to reply when the front door flew open and a small woman entered. “Katie! Is that you?" "Ma” Katie shrieked, running into her open arms. “Oh, Ma! I've missed you so." Luke stood patiently while the women embraced. He was afraid to move, for fear he'd start running and never stop until he was a long ways from town.

Chapter Two "Welcome to our family, Luke,” Ma said. She hesitated, then held out her hand. “And to our home." "Thank you, Mrs. Lachlan. I'm happy to be here." Katie could tell he was lying. What on earth was the matter with him? “Well,” she said, brightly, “I've been promising Luke a hot bath for two hundred miles. Didn't you tell me you had real bathrooms?" "Oh, yes, and wait ‘til you see them.” Ma sounded like a kid with a new toy. She gestured them toward the stairs, then stopped and gave them both a good looking over. “Land sakes, you both need baths. What have you been doing, sleeping with your horses?” She reached out and plucked a straw from Katie's shoulder. "We didn't know you'd be bringing home a husband, Katie,” Ma said as they climbed to the second floor, “but I put a big bed in your room anyhow. I reckoned it would be a guest room if you decided to go Back East. Knowing how you like the mountains, I gave you one of the north rooms. The other girls are on this floor too, and the boys are upstairs." The stairs opened into a wide hall running the length of the house. Two doors opened on either side of it, and a fifth at the far end. “That's the bathroom,” Ma said, pointing to it. “It's got a pump and a pipe from the kitchen reservoir, so we don't have to carry water." "What a luxury. Even Ellen doesn't have anything like that. I'll bet if you tell her about it, Charles will want to build her one, though." Ma laughed. “Oh, he's already planning to, come spring.” Opening a door, she motioned them inside. “I didn't do much decorating, not knowing if your taste had changed. I remember how you always wanted a lavender canopy and a purple bedspread." The room was big enough that the wide canopy bed didn't crowd it. Sheer white curtains hung at the tall windows and a colorful tufted quilt covered the bed. There was no fabric on the canopy frame, but someone had tied a cluster of silk flowers high on one of the posts, with lavender ribbons trailing almost to the floor. “My rug,” Katie said, with delight. “You brought my rug!" She turned to Luke, who was still standing in the doorway. “I made this when I was about ten, I guess. Flower showed me how to build a waist loom, and helped me get started. There's material there from all my old dresses, and some of the boys’ shirts.” She ran a toe across the now-faded woven rug, seeing that some of the warp threads were almost worn through. “Ma wouldn't let me take it to school." "And didn't she argue, too!” Ma said to Luke. “Come in, please. I hope you'll be comfortable here. I'll have Abel bring up an easy chair when he gets time. That rocker's way too little for you." "Don't go to any trouble for me,” Luke said, as he edged inside. He set his bedroll on the floor next to the door. Katie wondered what was making him so uncomfortable. "Pish. As if family's any trouble. Now I'll just go on and let you two get settled. Supper's at five.” She left them alone. "Let's go look at the bathroom,” Kate suggested, when Luke just stood there by the door. She caught his hand and pulled him with her down the hall.

"Good heavens! That's almost big enough to swim in,” she marveled when they'd opened the door to the big bathroom. The copper tub was enclosed in a mahogany cabinet. On the adjacent wall was a pump with two spigots. The room was warm, heated by a radiator in the brick chimney that extended from floor to ceiling. She looked at him, and wondered again what was bothering him. Shyly she said, “Or for two people to bathe together?" "You go ahead. I'll bring the rest of our gear up.” He turned and walked away. So mad she stamped her foot, Katie yelled, “Luke Savage! You come right back here!" He ignored her. Before she could decide to go after him, or just throw something, he was halfway downstairs. "Honestly,” she muttered, as she went back to the bedroom, “you'd think I'd asked him to crawl into an icy creek with me.” She looked around again. A plaid wool robe was hanging on a hook behind the door. Soft linen towels were draped on a rack in the corner. And in a soap dish, there was an oval bar, creamy white. She picked it up, sniffed. Lilac. Oh, now I feel at home. She poked into the cupboard and found another bar of soap, one without a floral odor. Luke would never want to smell of flowers. Would he be willing to bathe with her? They'd been married a month, and had been alone together almost twice that long, but they'd had mighty few opportunities for that sort of romantic play. "Well, if he wants to pass up the opportunity, he can just go right ahead.” She quickly figured out how to bring up the hot water from the kitchen. In a few minutes, a steaming bath was ready for her. Thankfully Luke didn't encounter anyone on his way to the barn. Nor was Abel anywhere about. He sorted through the saddlebags, pulling out his other shirt and spare longjohns. One of Katie's scarves had made its way in among his clothing. It was filthy and stained, but it still smelled of lilac. Come to think of it, her ma had smelled the same way. Lately Katie had smelled more strongly of donkey and woodsmoke than anything else. “I should've insisted she come on ahead with her pa. I could have brought the stock along without help.” They would have saved the price of the hinny, too. He could have rode one or the other of the asses. "What's done is done,” he told himself. How long, he wondered, would it be before one of Katie's kin started asking why she hadn't found herself a better man, one who could give her the sort of life she deserved? When he could postpone it no longer, he headed to the house, carrying their meager belongings and the last of their food. Maybe Mrs. Lachlan would find a use for pilot bread and dried beef and damp cornmeal. He'd not offer her the lemon drops. Those were his. Luke smiled in spite of himself. He'd never again taste lemon drops without thinking of that morning when the tart candies were all they'd had left to eat, because they'd given the last of the honey and their pilot bread to the livestock. And Katie hadn't complained. Not one word. He stopped in the middle of the path.

Katie had never complained, no matter how cold it got, or how hungry she was, even when they weren't sure they'd find their way back to civilization. They must have traveled a hundred miles on foot, with only the vaguest idea of where they were, and how to get where they were going. They'd fought a blizzard and outlaws together. And when he'd just about given up hope, she'd offered herself to him, because she loved him. She'd been stronger than most men he'd known. More determined. And a hell of a lot prettier. She was his wife, and he loved her. But would she love him, now that she was where she could be reminded of how easy her life could be? **** In a way Luke was thankful that Mr. Lachlan and the kids were off in the hills. Supper that night was just him and Katie, her mother and Abel Greene. They ate in the kitchen, at the big table. “I've got a woman who comes in to cook most days,” Mrs. Lachlan said, as she was setting out bowls for them to serve themselves from the big soup pot. “Emmet insisted, and I didn't argue. Seems like I've spent half my life cooking." Luke took a thick slice of bread from the basket. It was still warm. His mouth watered, but he waited politely until his mother-in-law had taken a sip of her soup. “I haven't had bread like this since I left home,” he told her, once he'd chewed and swallowed his first bite. "Ma makes the best bread in the world,” Katie said. “Wait ‘til you taste her biscuits." Katie and her mother spent the meal talking about family affairs. Luke was just as happy to eat in silence, since he still felt like odd man out. When Abel stood and excused himself, Luke wanted to go with him. He didn't though, because no sooner had the door closed behind the hired man than Mrs. Lachlan said, “Now, Luke, tell me all about yourself. You're from Kansas, Emmet said. Were you born there?" "No, ma'am. In Indiana. My folks moved to Kansas when I was about three.” He went on to tell of his childhood on the homestead on Butternut Creek. When he described the time of the Border Wars, when Jayhawkers and Bushwackers raided back and forth across the border, until no place was safe from their depredations, she shook her head in sympathy. "I joined up when the call came for volunteers, and stayed in the Army until Lee's surrender,” he finished, hoping she wouldn't ask about those years. He had few memories of them that he wanted to share. "Luke wants to be a stockman,” Katie said, when he'd finished his recitation, as brief as he could make it. “I told him he'd find no better land than along the Boise." He shot her a warning glance. She'd promised she wouldn't ask her folks to help them, and he wanted to make sure she'd remember. Her quick smile showed she had. "You'll have to go out a ways from town,” Mrs. Lachlan said, “but there's still good land there for the taking. Emmet can tell you where the best land will be." "Thank you, ma'am. I thought I'd take a look around while we're here. I'd like to find a place as soon as I can, so to get started on a house before spring." "Well, you're welcome to stay here as long as you want. We've plenty of room. But surely you'll wait until after Christmas?" "Oh, he'll want to be out in a day or two,” Katie said before he could answer. “Sitting around isn't

something Luke does well.” She gave him another quick grin. “Now, Ma, you never did tell me who all's coming for Christmas, and when they'll get here." "Well, the last I heard, Soomey and Silas were planning to come, but I don't know when. They were due in San Francisco the middle of last month, so they could be here anytime. I told you Tony's been staying here to go to school, didn't I? I haven't heard from William and Flower, but the last letter I got said they hoped to get down. Some of Flower's kin are wintering in Cherry Vale, so there'll be somebody to tend the stock." "Tony's my ... well, I guess you'd call him my cousin. He's my Uncle Silas's adopted son,” Katie explained at Luke's look of puzzlement. “I guess I never mentioned him, did I?" "Land sakes, Katie, even if you had, the poor man probably couldn't keep us all straight. Sometimes I forget who's who,” her mother said, laughing. “Now, if you two want to go on into the parlor, I'll bring some tea." Luke looked at Katie and shook his head slightly. She said, “We're both tired, Ma. I think we'll just go on up. Luke's still got to have that bath we promised him. And I've got to hem that dress of Regina's you gave me. I can't believe she's already taller than me." "She takes after your pa,” Mrs. Lachlan said with a smile. “Go on, then. And Luke? You soak as long as you want. We've plenty of hot water.” She shooed them out of the kitchen with both hands. "I like your ma,” Luke said to Katie once they were in their room. He'd expected ... well, he wasn't quite sure what he'd expected, but it hadn't been a warm welcome. Not after he'd married Katie with her pa standing by, rifle at hand. "She likes you. Oh, Luke, I am so glad to be home!” She spun around, her arms flung out, as if to embrace everything in the room. “Look at that bed! I can hardly wait to...” She paused, a pink flush blooming in her cheeks. “Do you realize we've only slept together in a real bed twice? And we've been married a whole month!" Desire flooded through Luke. Along with regret and shame. “Oh, Katie, girl, you ain't had much of a marriage atall, have you?” He pulled her close and held her, his head resting atop hers. “It'll be better sweetheart. I'll make us a home, soon as I can find land." She squeezed him around his waist. “We'llmake a home, Luke. Together.” With one hand she started pulling his shirt out of his britches. “Now, you get in there and have a bath. I'll be along in a few minutes to scrub your back." "Uh, Katie, I don't think you—" "Git!” She smacked him across the butt. “There's nobody up here to pay attention to what we do tonight. We'd better take advantage of it while we can. My sisters will give us precious little privacy when they get back." **** Luke was soaking, half asleep, in a tubful of warm water when the door opened. "Are you cooked yet?” Katie said. She slipped inside and closed the door behind her, then hung the robe she carried on a hook behind it. Before he could say a word, she'd removed her robe and tossed it aside. “Scrunch your legs up. I'll sit in front of you.” She climbed in, her back to his chest, and settled between his legs. “Oh, this feels good."

Luke couldn't resist. He slid his hands under her arms and curved his hands around her breasts. “Yeah, it sure does.” Although he felt himself getting hard—something that happened whenever Katie was anywhere close—he was content to simply sit and hold her. Warm, safe, comfortable. They'd had precious little of any of those since they'd met. The water cooled while they sat, both dozing. When she shivered, Luke realized just how cold it had become. “Let's go, before we grow icicles,” he told her. Snagging a towel with one hand, he stood and held it open. “Wrap up in this. I'll get another one." They toweled each other dry, a slow process because Katie insisted on kissing him wherever she could reach. “Watch it! I nearly hit you,” he told her once when she tried to kiss his elbow. "I'd just have to hit you back,” she said, dodging back. She twisted her towel and snapped it at him, narrowly missing his belly. "You little dickens,” he said. Tossing his own towel aside, he lunged for her. Before she could dodge, he grabbed her. “Now you're in for it.” She went limp and he nearly dropped her before he could get a better hold and sling her over his shoulder. He opened the door and looked both ways. The hall was empty and no light shone from downstairs. He sure hoped Mrs. Lachlan wouldn't decide to come up to see what all the ruckus was. "You realize I'll have to kill you for this,” Katie said when they were back in their room. "Yeah, but you can do it later, can't you?” He tossed her on the bed and landed atop her. Caging her legs between his and framing her face with his hands, Luke said, “Funny thing. I ain't sleepy now.” He kissed her, catching her plump underlip gently between his teeth. She ran her hands down his back, digging her short fingernails into his buttocks. “Me neither. Oh, Luke, I do love you!” With a quick wiggle, she had her legs wrapped around him. “Now, Luke. I don't want to wait." "Oh, yeah, Katie girl. Now!” He slid inside her hot, welcoming depths and lost himself in her.

Chapter Three "Of course Pa won't mind,” Katie told Luke as they reached the bottom of the stairs. She turned toward the kitchen. “He'd agree with me that Idjit needs a few days rest." "I just don't like to impose,” he grumped. "Impose? You can't impose on family. Can he, Ma?" "Well, that all depends on what you're trying to talk him into, Katie.” Ma went to the stove and pulled a kettle from the warming oven. “Don't let her talk you into anything you don't want to do, Luke. Katie always thinks she knows best." "Yes'm, I've learned that.” He sat where Ma gestured. "I hope you can eat porridge this morning. I've got the oven full of bread.” She poured coffee for all three. “Now, Katie, what is it you're trying to talk Luke into?" "Well, he wants to go out and look for land, and I told him he should take Pa's buckskin, since our stock needs a rest, but he's too darn stubborn. Doggone it, Luke, you..." "Well, it's up to you, of course, Luke, but we've got a dozen horses eating their fool heads off. Any one of them would be better for a bit of exercise. If you don't like Buck, then have Abel take you down to the river pasture and you can take your pick." Katie saw Luke's lips tighten for an instant before he said, “Thank you, ma'am. I may do that.” He hated losing an argument, so she decided to keep her mouth shut. An hour later she was waving him off. “You be back here tomorrow night, you hear? Whether you find anything likely or not. The next day's Christmas, and you've got to be here then." "Christmas ain't until Friday,” he said, still sounding grumpy. "'Tis too. We start celebrating on Christmas Eve.” She paused and looked back at the house, so different from the home she remembered. What else had changed while she was back East? “At least we used to. Just be back tomorrow, won't you, Luke? If you're not, I'll worry." His lips were cold when he kissed her, but Katie didn't care. She hugged him tightly for a minute. “It's going to be strange, not having you underfoot all the time. I'll miss you." "You won't even know I'm gone, not with your family all around.” He kissed her again. “I'll see you tomorrow.” Mounting the big rangy bay, he waved at Ma, who stood in the back doorway. “You be good, Katie Savage,” he told her before he kneed the horse into a trot. "Yoube careful,” she called. Lowering her voice she went on, “Big, stubborn ox. That land'll be there after Christmas. You just wanted to get away from me for a while.” With a vicious kick, she sent a stone careening off the walk and onto the snow-covered lawn. “I'd've gone with you in a minute, if you'd asked me to." A lump sat in her throat, big enough that she could hardly swallow. He acted like he loved her, but did he really? He'd been awful eager to get away. Would he come back? "Katie, I could use your help in here,” her mother called.

She stomped up the back steps and across the porch. “I thought you said you had a cook,” she said, as she hung her shawl on a hook beside the door. "She'll be here soon, but I don't want to leave the breakfast dishes for her. Now, if you'll wash up, I'll go make sure the rooms are ready for everyone.” She bustled out the door. Katie had a feeling Ma had seen the tear tracks on her cheeks and hadn't wanted to embarrass her. Knowing her ma, those rooms had been ready for a week. **** As he rode along, Luke had to admit to a certain curiosity about Boise City, a town that was, according to Katie, less than ten years old, even though a few folks had been here longer than that. There sure was a lot of building going on. Katie's ma had said that they were putting up a territorial prison a mile or so east of the Lachlan place. If he was looking for work, he reckoned he could find some, although he wasn't all that handy with a hammer. Instead of following the road along the river, Luke chose to ride along Grove Street, right through the middle of town. There were a fair number of shops, more than he'd have expected for such a small place. Somewhere around twelve hundred people lived here, Mrs. Lachlan had said. When he came back through, he'd have to stop and see if he could pick up a little something for Katie. It was their first Christmas after all. It sure galled him to have to use borrowed money, though. This country sure didn't look like the paradise Katie had described. Not a tree in sight, except along the river. Those at the fort and in town had been planted, he was pretty sure. Where was the forest the early trappers had talked about? Or had Katie been fooling him when she said the town name came from a French word that meant woods, or some such? Was he making a mistake, agreeing to settle here, so close to her folks? A woman needed other womenfolk around, he knew that. But they didn't have to be kin. Luke admitted that improving a homestead would be a lot easier if the Lachlan menfolk were around to lend a hand when he needed it, but he wasn't sure he'd be able to accept their assistance without resenting it. He'd never been one to be beholden to folks. It didn't set right with him to owe and not be able to pay back. What did he have to offer the Lachlans, anyhow? A strong back. Yeah, he had that. But he'd no fancy education, like Katie's, and few skills, other than fighting a war and driving cattle. He didn't reckon either of them would be in much demand hereabouts. Well, he knew horses and mules, but so did Abel, so he wasn't needed as a hostler. He'd promised Katie's pa he'd care for her, provide for her. How? **** "It's Silas! And Soomey! They're here, Ma!” Katie ran down the stairs. “Ma! Where are you?” She flung open the front door and waved frantically as the carriage drew to a halt at the bottom of the front steps. Her mother came outside just as a man stepped down and turned back to help a tiny woman clad in red velvet and dark furs alight. "Merry Christmas,” Silas called. “It's good to be home.” He kept his arm around his wife as they ascended the front steps. “Well, Katie,” he said, when she flung herself at him, “I thought you went back East to get civilized."

"Do not scold, Boss,” Soomey told him from where she was being hugged by Ma. “Hattie, we are happy to be here. Tao Ni is well?" "You're not going to know the boy,” Ma said. “He's shot up like a weed in a corn patch this last few months, and his voice is changing.” She turned to Silas, who set Katie aside to hug her. “I'm glad to see you, Silas. You stay away too long." "Spoken just like a sister,” he teased. “Brrr. It's cold here. You ladies go on in, and I'll take care of the baggage. Where have you put us?" "Second floor, first door to the right when you get to the top of the stairs.” She shepherded Katie and Soomey through the front door. “Now, Soomey, suppose you tell me what you meant by sending that set of fancy silverware to me from England. What on earth am I going to do with it? It must be worth a fortune." "Bah,” Soomey said, as she shed her elegant coat and handed it to Katie, who stood waiting with a padded hanger. “They are only forks and spoons. You will use it. In this great house, you will entertain very much and you should show people how grand you are." "I'm afraid I'll never be grand,” Ma said, chuckling. “I'll leave that to you and Ellen. And Katie." "Oh, no, not me, Ma. I'm going to be a stockman's wife. I doubt we'll have much time for fancy dinner parties for a long time." Once they were all in the parlor, waiting for the tea to steep, Katie said, “Soomey, I've got a surprise for you." "A surprise?” Silas interrupted from the doorway. “Aren't you supposed to save the surprises for Christmas morning?" Before Katie could answer, they heard the back door open. A chorus of voices announced the arrival of the Christmas tree. The next few hours were filled with confusion while the tree got brought in and set up. Katie, Soomey and Ma sat back and let the kids do most of the work, hanging the popcorn strings they'd made, tying bright red bows on branch tips, and having the annual argument about candles. "No, Regina, we are not going to light the tree. Not this year. Not ever,” Ma said, as she had every Christmas since Katie could remember. “It's just too dangerous." Reggie, twelve, and looking far more mature, in Katie's opinion, than she acted, pouted. “It's perfectly safe,” she muttered. “Everybody does it." "Who's everybody?” Merlin said, from the top of the ladder. This was his first year to place the star, fashioned from wire and silver foil, on the topmost branch. Katie remembered when she'd turned fifteen, and it had been her privilege, as it had been Buff's and Ellens’ before her. "All the girls at school, that's who,” Reggie replied, sticking her tongue out at her brother. “We're the only ones who have such a boring tree." "I think it's a beautiful tree,” Iris said. She tied a crooked bow on a lower branch, then came to stand in front of Katie. “Ma said you was married to a savage. Is he all hairy and naked, like a bear?" Everyone laughed, and Katie pulled her youngest sister close. “Oh, honey, his name is Savage. He's not

one. And no, he's not all hairy and naked.” A picture formed in her mind, of Luke looming over her, naked, his eyes hot with sexual hunger. She had to swallow before continuing. “He dresses like a cowman, and he has hair as red as those bows on the tree." "Nobody has hair that color,” nine-year-old Rhys said, from where he was carefully placing small, carved figures on a low stand beside the tree. He held up a white-painted wooden blob. “I carved this myself,” he told Katie. “Pa says it's the best unsheared sheep he ever saw." Katie had to smile. “A Merino, I think. Isn't that right, Pa?" Pa grinned back. “Exactly. I remember them from when I was a lad in England. Like walking bales of wool. The only way you could tell front from back was that the front had eyes." "I sure wish Luke was here. He'll be sorry he missed helping with the tree." "Don't be too sure of that, Katie,” Ma told her. “I saw distinct signs of panic on the poor man's face this morning when you talked about the crowd we'd have for Christmas. I don't think he's entirely comfortable with the idea of meeting everyone all at once." "Oh, no, I'm sure you're wrong. He's talked so much about his family, I know he misses having one." "Missing a family and being dropped into the middle of one are two different things, aren't they Soomey?" Until now, Soomey and Tony had been speaking softly together, a little apart from the general merriment. Now she turned toward Katie and nodded. “Oh, yes, your family is exhausting to one who is not prepared for it,” she said. “I remember when we first came to visit you, after Boss and I married. I knew you all from what Buffalo had told me, but you frightened me, also." "Soomey, that's a whopper. You've never been scared of anything in your life,” Silas called from the other side of the room. "You be silent, Boss. I am telling this story. Come, Katie, let us go where so many ears will not listen and so many mouths interrupt me.” She led Katie to the sewing room and carefully closed the door behind her. "Now,” she said, “tell me why you married this man so far from home, instead of bringing him here to meet your family first." Katie chewed her lip. “I ... ah ... we..." "Ah. Say no more. You loved him and you did not wait to have pleasure with him. So, that is not a bad thing. Are you pregnant?" "No, but not because we haven't been working at it,” Katie admitted. “Oh, Soomey, I know Ma and Pa are disappointed with me. But I thought we were going to die. First the blizzard, then the Breedloves, and Whitney, and the riot.” Quickly she gave Soomey a brief and well-edited account of their adventures. "It was awful. Luke was hurt so badly, and I didn't know where we were, and it was cold. We'd ... we'd done everything else, but Luke always held back, because he said I might feel different when we got back to civilization. I knew better, but now I wonder...” Again she caught her lower lip between her teeth. "Now you wonder if you love him and he does not love you?” Soomey said, her tone sympathetic.

Katie nodded, hating to hear the words she'd thought so often. “He said he loved me once, but..." "Is he an honorable man?" "Oh, yes. In fact, sometimes I wished he were less honorable." "Then you have your answer. He would not say he loved you if he did not. Just like Boss.” She made a little snorting sound. “Men! They are so stupid sometimes, not trusting their hearts but only their heads. They do not understand that love is not something they can scrutinize and break down into parts to be examined. So they waste precious time thinking when they could be having pleasure.” She pulled Katie into her arms. “Your man will adjust, but he will need time. Have patience with him, and do not expect too much. Men are not as adaptable as we. If you can remember that, you will be much happier." Katie wiped her eyes, only now aware that she'd been crying. “Soomey,” she said, “can I ask you something more?" "Of course." "Do you think Ma and Pa will hold it against Luke, us having to marry like we did?” She'd wanted to ask Ma, but was afraid of the answer. Somehow if Soomey said yes, it wouldn't hurt so bad. "Emmet was there when you married, you said?" "Uh-huh." "Well, then that is your answer. Do not doubt for a moment that if Emmet Lachlan had not thought your man worthy, he would not be your husband now. Your father is a force to be reckoned with, Katie. Now,” she said with a grin, “tell me. Did you find my little gift to you useful." "Oh, yes! If I hadn't had those derringers, I might be dead now. Of course, Luke says if I hadn't had them, I might have been a lot more careful, but he—” She stopped, interrupted by Soomey's merry laughter. "Ah, yes, that is what Boss says, too. But he gave me lovely new guns to replace them, and insists that I keep them with me always, so perhaps he is only teasing." A knock came on the door then. “Ma says you're to come to the parlor,” Rhys said, his voice muffled by the thick wood panel. “It's time for the punch." "We will come,” Soomey replied. With one hand on the doorknob, she said, “Keep the small guns I gave you, Katie. May they serve you long and well." "Thanks, Soomey.” Katie gave her aunt a quick hug before she opened the door. “I feel much better now. And I'll try to give Luke all the time he needs to get used to the family."

Chapter Four Snow started falling early. Flakes lightly kissing his exposed cheeks woke Luke from a dream of endless flight across a wintry landscape. His arms were empty, and for a moment he felt a terrible sense of loss. Then he remembered. Katie was safely back at her folks’ big house in Boise City. And he was seeking a place where he could build her the home he'd promised. Yesterday he'd come some fifteen miles west from town, staying as close to the river as he could. He wanted rich bottomland for his stock, deep fertile loam where grass would grow tall and green. No matter if it flooded now and then. He'd build Katie's house on a rise, where she could stand at the window and look out across their land. And if there was a view of the mountains, too, she'd like it even better. Nothing was left of last night's fire but black, sodden embers. He drank cold coffee and chewed on a strip of dried beef while he struck camp and saddled up. Might as well head back this morning. From the looks of the clouds, low and heavy, there could be a foot of snow on the ground by nightfall. He'd not find a likely homestead hiding under a foot of snow. Turning the bay's head to the east, Luke found himself whistling. Maybe he hadn't found the exact place he'd claim, but he liked this country. Oh, sure, the hills were bare and brown, but down here along the river a man could build his kingdom. All it would take was hard work and determination. He had both. And a woman to build for. He sure missed Katie. Today was the first time they'd been apart for nearly two months. He kept looking around, expecting to see her trailing along behind on one of the asses. He took his time, letting the bay amble along, enjoying the silence and the solitude. The only sounds were the soft clop-clop of the horse's hooves and the whisper of snowflakes against his clothing. Having time to travel slowly, to think about nothing more complicated than what to give Katie for Christmas, seemed almost sinful. Ever since he'd finished the last cattle drive, he'd been on the run. Away from his own past, away from the kin of a man he'd killed, and away from the crazy Eastern swell who'd decided Katie was meant to be his wife. Then, when he could finally stop running, he'd had to get Katie to Boise City before winter set in solid. Only trouble was, now he was here, he'd almost rather be anywhere else. Well, there was no help for it. Katie's family was his now, and he'd better make up his mind to get along with them. He sure hoped the rest of them were as nice as her ma. **** Katie went to the window for perhaps the hundredth time. Luke had promised to be here before dark. It was after four now, and the winter twilight was almost upon them. Of course, the snow would have slowed him, so she shouldn't be worrying. But she was. She wanted him here, safe and warm. Was that someone on horseback? She wiped condensation off the window.Yes! A single rider, coming up the drive. She dashed to the back door, snatching a cloak from the hook beside it. “Luke,” she called, “is that you?"

"Yo,” he answered. She ran to meet him. “I was so worried,” she said. “When it started snowing, I just knew you'd be late." He dismounted and pulled her into his arms. “Well, it ain't dark yet, so I'm not late." His lips were icy, his moustache covered with frost. Katie shivered, but not only from the cold. “You missed the trimming of the tree. We couldn't get the children to wait.” She accepted the saddlebags he held out to her. “Did you find a place?" "I saw some likely spots. There's good land out there." She breathed a sigh of relief. He seemed easier in his mind than when he'd gone. As if whatever had been eating at him had been banished. "You go on inside, whilst I take care of Big Red, here. And mind, you keep your nose out of those saddlebags." "Oooh! Secrets! I can hardly wait.” Obediently she went back to the house, but paused on the top step to look back. He was just disappearing into the barn. “Luke Savage, you're a good man,” she said, knowing he'd be embarrassed if she said it to his face. As she went through the kitchen, Ma said, “Can you give me a hand here? I need some more flour sifted. Mrs. Petrie has her hands full with supper." "Let me get an apron.” Katie hung up the cloak and set the saddlebags behind the pantry door. She'd sifted a bowl full of flour and was about to ask what else she could do to help when she heard a shout from outside. Looking out the window did no good at all. She couldn't see anything but softly falling snow. It had grown considerably darker since she came inside. Another shout, this one from upstairs, followed by running footsteps. Someone called, “They're here!” In a minute a herd of children thundered through the kitchen and out the back door. "That must be William and Flower,” Katie said. “Do you need me?" Her mother shooed her towards the door. “Go say hello. I can manage from now on." From the top step she saw that the newcomers were indeed her godparents. They were surrounded by children, all laughing and shouting. She waved, but waited until the children had been loaded with packages and bundles and sent inside. Then she ran down the steps and into William's arms. He picked her up and swung her around. “Lawd a'mighty, Katie girl. You've gone and growed up into a fine lady." She pulled his head down and kissed him soundly. “Oh, William, wait until I tell you about my adventures." He returned the hug. “You want to turn my hair white? Your ma writ that you'd got yourself chased by a crazy man and ended up in the middle of a war. I don't want to hear about it." **** Luke heard the ruckus as he was filling the bay's feed bin. He gave the horse a last pat and went to the barn door. The yard seemed full of people and horses. While he watched, all the kids went dashing inside, their arms full.

That left several adults. Towering over them all was a big black man, holding a woman in his arms. Even as Luke watched, the man released the woman and Luke saw who she was. Katie! A red rage filled him, and he started toward the group. Katie's laugh scarcely penetrated his fury, but it was enough to slow his headlong rush. He saw his wife go into the arms of a small woman, all bundled in furs, while Mrs. Lachlan hugged the Negro. "Here's Luke!" Katie pulled free and came running to him. “Look who's here, Luke! This is Flower and that's William. And Soomey. Silas is somewhere ... oh, here he comes! This is so wonderful! Now everyone's here." The next instant he saw a black hand stretched out to him. Luke had fought for the North and he truly believed that slavery was wrong. But he'd never actually met a Negro face to face. Not until now. The hand just hung there. Katie stiffened in his arms. Luke took the hand. It was warm, hard with callous, and no different from any other man's. "William King,” the fellow said. “I guess Katie didn't tell you—" "He's just confused. So many new faces. Why, he still hasn't got the littles’ names straight. Of course, he hasn't met them either, but I've been telling him..." William smiled down at her, but before he did, Luke read in his eyes that he'd understood the hesitation. “Give him time, Katie girl. We're a pretty big bite to swallow, all at once." Luke wasn't hiding behind any woman's skirts, not even his wife. “Yes, she told me. But I was surprised, all the same, and I apologize. No offence taken, I hope." "None atall.” William pulled the bundled-up woman to him. “This here's Flower." Luke had barely managed to speak to her when Katie dragged another woman, tiny and delicate, wrapped in a fur-trimmed cape, to him. “Here's Soomey, my aunt. She's the one who—" "How-do, ma'am,” Luke said, not quite speechless. He hadn't known Katie's aunt was Chinese. What kind of family had he married into? "That's enough. We're all going to catch our deaths,” Mrs. Lachlan called. “You men can take care of the horses, and we'll have hot cider waiting for you when you're done.” She herded the women up the back steps. Luke followed the other men to the barn, still uncomfortable, still unsure. "I've been saving this for a special occasion,” Mr. Lachlan was saying, when Luke slipped through the almost closed door. Katie's pa held a stoneware jug, dusty and trailing spiderwebs. “It's the last of the ‘ 59." "Flower started a new batch this year, but we doubt it's going to be as good,” William remarked. “'Twasn't a good year for fruit." Abel appeared, carrying tin cups by their handles. He passed them around the circle of men.

Mr. Lachlan half-filled every cup, then set the jug aside and raised his cup. “To family,” he said, his voice strong. Luke raised his own cup, wondering if this family he'd married into would ever feel like his own. “Family,” he repeated with the others, anyhow. He swallowed a mouthful of the wine. Wine?His throat burned like pure fire had slid down it. At first he couldn't even draw breath. Not until Abel swatted him on the back. Then he gasped and choked. "You all right?” his father-in-law asked. "I ... I think so.” He cleared his throat. “What the dickens is that stuff?" "Well, if it was made from cider, we'd call it applejack,” Mr. Lachlan told him. “Chokecherry wine, froze and decanted till all that's left is the alcohol." "Choke-jack?” suggested the wide-shouldered fellow Luke hadn't actually been introduced to. He held out his hand. “I'm Silas Dewitt, Luke. Katie's uncle." "Plea—” Luke had to cough again. “Pleased to meet you,” he said, shaking Dewitt's hand. His throat still burned, but since there wasn't any water handy, he took another sip of the liquid fire. This time he tasted it. Somehow he was reminded of hot summer days along Butternut Creek, back before he'd learned how cold and cruel the world could be. He'd just emptied his cup when Mr. Lachlan said, “Okay, boys, let's get the stock settled. I reckon Hattie'll be calling us to supper soon." To Luke's surprise, every one of the men lent a hand at caring for the ten horses and mules William and his family had arrived with. The fellow who surprised him was Dewitt, who didn't seem to care about his fine linen shirt and silk waistcoat. He shed his jacket and rolled up his sleeves and worked alongside Abel, just as if he'd been born to it. In what seemed like no time at all, the animals were wiped dry and turned into a pen at the back of the barn, where a half-shed gave them a place to shelter from the snow and there were feed-troughs full of grass hay and grain. Before they went in the house, they had another round. Luke decided he'd never tasted better, whatever they wanted to call it. **** Katie volunteered to help with the supper dishes, although as a married woman, she was not obligated to do so. She wanted to get reacquainted with her sisters, though, and with Lulu King. They'd all been little ones when she'd gone Back East to school, more than three years ago. Now twelve-year-old Reggie was wearing long skirts and would be putting her hair up soon. Lulu, a year older, still wore her skirts short, and her golden brown hair was cut too short to do anything but curl tightly about her head. She wasn't one to sit still for long enough to braid long hair. She and Iris dried, while Lulu washed and Regina —"I hate being called ‘Reggie’ but Pa just won't listen"—put away. Mrs. Petrie had done up the pots and pans before she'd gone home, so all they had to do was the supper dishes and the glassware Ma wanted washed up for tomorrow's big dinner. Iris sure did look like Ma. But she was going to be tall, too, just like all the others. Katie and Ellen were the only ones who'd inherited their mother's short stature, although both Rhys and Iris had hair as dark as Katie's and Ma's. They were drying the last of the soup bowls as Iris finished telling Katie of her school. “Of course, there

are only two other girls in my class, Elizabeth and Maggie, but next year I'll be in the middle grade, and there's Mary O'Hara in that. She's got curly hair, but it's nowhere as pretty as Lulu's.” She carefully added her bowl to the stack. “Katie, are you going to have a baby?" "Hush, Iris! I told you not to say anything!” Regina said. "Don't yell at her. I want to know too,” Lulu said. “Is that why you got married? Are you pregnant?" Katie wasn't sure whether to be embarrassed or mad. “What made you think that?” she said, hoping for time to think of a good way to answer. "Well, Regina said—" "Iris!” Regina wailed, “you have the biggest mouth!" "Oh, be quiet, both of you,” Lulu told them. “This is important.” She wiped the spilled water from the drainboard, then wrung the dishrag out and hung it over the towel rack behind the range. “Well, I can't think of any other reason for you to get married like you did. Why, Katie? Why did you waste your education like that?" Looking at her earnest expression, Katie realized that Lulu wasn't merely being curious.How could I have forgotten what a serious child she is? “Why do you call it a waste, Lulu? I'll still use what I learned. It's not as if marriage suddenly drove it all out of my mind." "But you'll only use it to teach your children and to be a rancher's wife—that's what Aunt Hattie said, that he wants to be a horse rancher.” She came to stand right in front of Katie. “I admired you,” she said, her voice intense. “You and Ellen both went East to a fine school. You were going to do grand things with your lives. Then Ellen got married—to a rich man. A man whose wealth is built on the sweat of other men's brows. I didn't think you would, though. I remember, you said once that you'd like to do something worthwhile, something to make the world a little better than you found it." "Oh, Lulu, I still do. But one thing I did learn at Seminary was that I'm not the sort to go out and fight to save the world. Some of the others were ... are. You'll hear of them someday, I'm sure. But I'm not like that. I'll be happy as a rancher's wife, and in between raising his children and keeping his house, I'll do my small part at making the world a brighter place.” She looked at the disappointment on Lulu's face, and took her hands. “I promise you, Lulu. I'll do something worthwhile." Lulu nodded, but Katie could tell she was still troubled. “What?” she said. “Something else is bothering you." "Are you pregnant?" Katie felt a blush turn her cheeks bright red. She looked at her sisters, Regina avidly curious, Iris wide-eyed and expectant. And Lulu, who'd expected great things of her. She was glad she could say, “No, Lulu, I'm not pregnant. That's not why I married Luke. I love him." "Oh, pooh,” Iris said. “I wanted to be an aunt."

Chapter Five "Well, I don't care how far it is. I'm going downstairs.” Katie pulled on the robe she'd been using. It belonged to Regina, which meant that the skirt dragged on the floor about four inches, but she didn't care. It was warm and it meant she didn't have to put on her dress if she wanted to wander around at night. “You can wash in cold water if you want." "It won't be the first time.” Luke unbuttoned his long johns and stepped out of them. “I ain't wandering around in my altogether in a strange house." As usual, Katie had to just stop and wonder. Clothed he was a good-looking man. Naked he was breathtakingly beautiful. She'd seen Greek sculptures he could have modeled for. His legs were long and lean, his hips were narrow, and his chest was well muscled and smooth, simply begging her to put her hands on him. His shaft, rising from a cluster of brilliant red curls, was ... well, the only word she could think of was magnificent. “I see why you wouldn't want to wander around, not in that condition,” she teased. He turned his back. “Go have your bath,” he said. “It's late." For a moment Katie wasn't sure she'd heard right. She watched him pour water into the washbowl. “Luke, what's wrong?” she said at last. “Why are you so ... so angry?" "I ain't angry.” A washrag splashed into the bowl and he reached for the soap. Just then there was a thump on the wall to his left, from the room where her sisters and Lulu were supposed to be sleeping. They weren't. A few minutes ago Katie had heard one of them laugh, and a chorus of giggles had answered. She looked at the wall, then at Luke, whose face was tight and closed. "That's what's bothering you, isn't it? You're afraid someone will hear us if we ... if we make love.” If she were to be honest with him, she'd admit that the idea bothered her, too. Somehow having her sisters know what she was doing would spoil it. "Just go take your bath, Katie. We'll talk tomorrow.” Keeping his back to her, he started washing his arms and chest. "Tomorrow! Why can't we talk tonight?” She realized her voice had risen to a screech on the last words. Taking a breath, she said, “Why don't you just come right out and say it, Luke? You hate being here. You hate my family. And you're sorry you married me.” With both hands, Katie gripped the iron bedstead. “Well, I'm not pregnant—” An echo of her earlier words to Lulu. "I'm not pregnant,” she repeated, “so you can leave. I don't need you, or any man, to take care of me, and it's pretty obvious you don't want to do it anyhow. So why don't you just go!" "Maybe I will.” His voice was low, harsh. “Maybe I'm hearin’ the truth from you now, Katie.” Like a stalking lion, he came toward her, magnificently naked, frightening in his anger. Katie stumbled back, until she was wedged between the edge of the bed and the night stand. He loomed over her. “I knew you were trouble when I first saw you, standing there in the depot in Chicago. All slicked up in your fancy clothes, with that foolish little hat perched atop your head. Standing there with all the other rich swells, looking like trouble on the hoof. I should've quit right then, but I'd given my word."

With nowhere else to retreat, Katie scrambled onto the bed. She got halfway across before she turned and stared at him. “Quit? What do you mean, quit?" "Aw, shit!" She hardly heard the whispered words, although they verified that there was indeed something she needed to know. “Luke, what should you have quit? Tell me!" "It's nothing, Katie. My mind was wandering." "I don't believe you. It's something to do with me, isn't it? Did you know who I was, back in Chicago?" "No.” His mouth twisted. “Well, yeah, I knew who you were, but I didn't know anything about you.” With a muttered curse, he whirled and grabbed his pants from the chair. He pulled them on, then strode over to the window. After raising the shade, he leaned on the sill, head bent. A circle of fog formed where his breath struck the cold glass. “Your brother-in-law, he was worried about you, about Whitney chasing after you,” Luke said, his voice barely audible. “He got in touch with the Pinkertons, asked them to send a man to make sure you got to Salt Lake City safely. They didn't have anyone to spare, but my friend, Mick, he asked me if I'd be interested. I told him no." "But he persuaded you, didn't he?” Katie wondered if her heart was actually breaking, or if the pain in her chest was only burgeoning sorrow. “You were my ... my bodyguard all along.” No, the pain wasn't sorrow. It was pure rage! “You took my money for doing something you'd already been paid for! And you lied to me. Youlied !" She went the rest of the way across the bed, ripping off the long robe when it caught on the wool comforter and tangled between her legs. Both fists clenched, she pounded on his bowed back. “Cheater! Liar! Bastard! I hate you!” she cried, punctuating each word with a blow, wanting to hurt him. Wanting him to ache the way she did, deep down inside. He didn't move. After a while the red haze that filled her vision was washed away with tears and Katie collapsed into a puddle of misery. From somewhere far above her, he spoke. “I'll be leaving in the morning. For tonight, I'll make my bed here on the floor. No sense waking up the whole house just because we can't get along." She heard him pull the spare quilt from atop the wardrobe, listened to the rustle as he spread it on the hard floor, close to the outside wall and as far from the bed as he could get. Eventually she heard him settle onto his makeshift bed and take a deep, sighing breath. Part of her wanted to go to him, to tell him that nothing mattered but their love. The rest of her wanted him to be as miserable as she was. How much of what we had was a sham? Did he pretend to be interested in me because he knew I'd let him stay around? I should have known Charles would do something to make sure I'd be safe.The demented scion of a wealthy Boston family had followed her, as her brother-in-law had feared, and would have caught her—did catch her in Wyoming, but only due to her own stupidity. If Luke hadn't been watching over her, Whitney would have caught her earlier, in Council Bluffs. She'd be Mrs. Hamilton Steens Whitney III now, whether she wanted to be or not.He tried to resist me. I was the seducer. Luke would have never gone beyond kissing, no matter how he wanted to, if I hadn't seduced him. Shame flooded her as she remembered.From curiosity, not because I loved him. No, she hadn't loved him that first time. She'd liked him a lot. Respected him. Known he'd die trying to

take care of her. A sudden shiver overcame her, and Katie realized she was still huddled on the cold, bare floor, naked as the day she was born. The room had cooled as the chimney that warmed the room lost its heat. Stiffly she rose, her muscles tight and cramped from tension and inactivity. Ignoring the robe that hung half off the bed, she crawled between the now cold sheets and curled into a ball. Across the room, she could see the mound that was her husband, stretched out against the outer wall, where the room was at its coldest. All he had to cover him was a single quilt, and an old, worn one, at that. She recognized it as one from her childhood, already shabby when she'd gone off to Seminary. He'd freeze by morning. Luke pretended to sleep until he heard Katie get up from the floor and go to bed. Almost he'd gone to her, worrying that she'd catch her death, lying there naked in the cold draft that came in under the door. Almost. He had his pride. Damn little else. The money he'd been paid to guard her—your mouth is big enough to put both feet into, you fool!—the money he'd won in the poker game where he'd also acquired the asses and Lafayette, and the money she'd given him to keep Whitney at bay—there wasn't any left. Hadn't been since his enemies had taken it from him as he lay half-alive after they'd beaten the shit out of him. All they'd had between them then was the little left to Katie after she'd paid the livery stable and bought supplies they both hoped would last them to somewhere he could get work. He'd been intending to pay her back as soon as he could find work, but her pa had found them first. Once they were married, he'd figured the less said about his assignment the better, because he just knew she'd be furious if she'd known he had been watching over her all along. She was so consarned sure she could take care of herself. Well, she could. She didn't need him, and the sooner he got out of her life, the better off they'd both be. Good thing she wasn't pregnant, else they'd have no choice but to stay together. What a hell on earth that would be, as they slowly grew to hate each other. The bedclothes rustled, and Luke heard a small sniffle. He turned toward the wall and laid his forearm across his ear. It didn't shut out her soft voice when she called his name. For a moment, he thought about pretending to be asleep. “What?” he said, knowing she'd keep after him until he answered. "Tomorrow's Christmas Eve. Will you ... will you wait until after Christmas to go. Please?” Her voice broke on the last word, as if rent by a sob. Christmas! He hadn't celebrated Christmas since ... since when? Since before Melanie had been killed in a Bushwacker raid on their farm. That had been ... must have been 1858 when he'd last celebrated the birth of the Prince of Peace. Before he'd learned the terror of war. His ma had set a right store by Christmas, he remembered. Even in the soddy, she'd decorated, using ribbons and dried berries and strung popcorn to decorate a dry branch so that it looked festive. She'd talked Pa into planting some pines in the woodlot. “We'll have a real Christmas tree someday, Luke,” she'd promised the day they'd all gone out to put the spindly little seedlings in the ground. And she'd wept when the grasshoppers had eaten all but one.

That one had still been standing, taller than he was, the day he'd gone home to a farm inhabited only by bitter memories. Memories that still haunted him. "Yeah,” he said, his voice little more than a hoarse whisper. He cleared his throat. “Yeah, I'll stay ‘til after Christmas." "Thank you.” More rustling, then a sigh. After a while he slept, shivering. **** Luke had gone out to the barn without his breakfast. When Ma asked about him, Katie admitted they'd had a disagreement. “We fight all the time,” she said, forcing a smile, “like a couple of kids. Then we stomp off and simmer down and everything's fine." This time everything wouldn't be fine, though. They'd both gone beyond childish bickering. "Are you sure that's the pattern you want for your life, Katie? One fight after another." She almost went into her mother's arms then, to be comforted as she had when her childish dreams failed to come true. But she didn't. If old enough to marry, she was old enough to shoulder her own troubles. "They're never serious,” she fibbed. “We sort of enjoy them.” And they had, for the most part, at least the ones that didn't matter. The others, well, all married folks had to learn to adjust, didn't they? And some failed. "Don't worry, Ma. We'll be fine. Now, where do you want me to put these goblets?" "On the sideboard in the dining room, I think. Silas brought a case of champagne, all the way from France.” She frowned. “Aren't we supposed to have special glasses for champagne?" "Some say you need special glasses for just about every kind of wine, but I never heard there was a law about it. Trust me. Champagne tastes just as good out of a tin cup as out of a fancy glass.” Katie set the last of the tall crystal goblets on the tray. “These are beautiful. Are they the ones Ellen sent you?" "Last Christmas,” Ma agreed. “She says we need to set an elegant table if we're to live in an elegant house. She should know. Her new house sounds almost like a palace." "It's nice,” Katie said, pausing at the door, “but the best thing about it is that she's made it a home. Just like here.” She went on to the dining room, where her younger sister was unfolding a long linen cloth on the table. Regina chattered away about school and her friends and her hopes to go Back East as Katie and Ellen had. Her words flowed over Katie like so much wind, registering, but quickly forgotten. They'd just finished folding the napkins into fans when Merlin and Gabe came along the hall, puffing under the weight of a— "My trunk! It's here! Oh, good, good, good! Take it upstairs. The room on the left at the end of the hall. Oh, heavens Regina, I won't have to borrow a dress for tonight after all.” She followed the boys all the way up the stairs and into her room. “I've got something in here for everyone. And clothes. Oh! Did a crate come too? Ellen was going to send it."

"No crate,” Gabe said as he dusted off his hands. “There's a trunk for your husband, too. From Chicago. I'll bring it up next.” He grinned widely. “I'm glad to see you, Katie." "Oh, Gabe, I missed you, all of you. It's so good to be home.” Once again Katie realized what a handsome man he was. He looked like neither Flower nor William, yet he had something of both of them in his lean face. He did have William's height and breadth of shoulder, though, and his mother's gray eyes. When she had been about nine and he eight, they'd vowed to marry someday. Now, seeing his gentle smile, hearing his soft voice, she almost regretted ...No, he's too nice. He'd have let me walk all over him, and I'd hate that. She dug out the key that, wonder of wonders, she hadn't lost through all her adventures, and unlocked the trunk. “The real Christmas gifts are in the crate, but here, take this package down to the parlor. There's a little something for everyone. I'm going to get my dress ready for tomorrow." The rich purple velvet was creased, despite the tissue she'd packed it with, but most of the creases would hang out if she put it in the bathroom until she was ready to dress for dinner. Unfortunately her petticoats were in the crate, but Ma had already offered one of hers and some hoops. She doubted anyone would notice that her train was longer than it should be, and her skirts brushed the floor. Packed under the gown were dainty, lavender satin slippers, a fan of ivory and lace, and a cluster of silk violets for her hair. Tomorrow she'd show Luke what he'd be walking away from.

Chapter Six "Emmet says they begun havin’ their feast the night before Christmas when the big ‘uns was babes, so's Hattie could have a day off. She'd cook up dinner enough for a crowd, then they'd all piece on Christmas Day.” Abel bit off a chaw and offered the plug to Luke. "No, thanks.” He forked another bunch of hay into the horses’ feed trough. They were feeding early, because Mrs. Lachlan was serving Christmas Dinner tonight. “My folks always read us that poem about Saint Nick the night before. On Christmas morning, there were candy sticks and oranges in our stockings, no matter how tight money was. Then dinner was in the afternoon." "That's a right nice piece of writin',” Abel said, as he held the gate for Luke. “Emmet, he read it last year. I never heard of a deer flyin’ through the air, though." They racked the pitchforks and hung the buckets on their hooks. “Ah, Abel, about tonight ... well, I was wondering...” He scraped his toe across the floor, leaving a muddy trail on the splintery wood. “Do folks dress up much?" "Dress up? Well, I guess they do. Year afore last Hattie gave me a white shirt, all wrapped up in red paper and tied with a bow. Gave it to me early, so's I'd look as purty as the rest of ‘em.” He nudged Luke with his elbow. “I even took a bath." "I guess I ought to do that, too. Should've done it last night.” He'd intended to, once the house was quiet and everybody else was through with the bathroom. Then he and Katie had started brangling, and ... “You used the bathroom in the house?" "Hell no! Got me a tub in my place. It ain't one of them fine ones like up at the big house, but I get just as clean." Lafayette stuck his head over the end of his stall and whuffled. Luke stopped to scratch behind his ears. “Hey, boy. You getting’ all fattened up? Yes, you're a fine mule. You've earned your rest.” He hadn't the heart to tell Lafe that come Saturday, they'd be moving on. “Abel, could I use that tub of yours? There's just so consarned many folks in the house, and only the two bathrooms." "Sure, but you'll have to take your turn, maybe haul in more wood for the fire. The boys are already down there scrubbin’ themselves clean.” With a slap to Luke's back, he said, “Let's go. If I know those younkers, they'll have my porch knee deep in water afore they're done. And Gabe's probably got his nose stuck in a book, not noticin’ a thing." They turned down the path toward Abel's cottage. “Gabe's about the same age as Katie, isn't he? Seems like a fine lad." Abel didn't answer immediately. That was when Luke realized Abel might be even more unsure of himself around the Kings than he himself was. At least he'd come from a state where Negroes were free men, not livestock. "I reckon he is, at that,” Abel said, after they'd walked ten or twelve feet along the path. “I don't hold with mixin’ of the races myself, but that Flower, she ain't all white nohow, so I guess it don't matter." Luke said nothing. All he knew was that the Kings were part of Katie's family, something he wasn't sure yet what he thought about. The two middle boys, Merlin Lachlan and Tony Dewitt, were nowhere to be seen when they reached

Abel's cottage. Gabe, dressed in store-bought britches and a white linen shirt with wide, flowing sleeves, was supervising his younger brother, Micah, as the boy bathed. Katie's youngest brother, Rhys, dressed in a blue plaid shirt that looked new, sat in front of the fire, carving on a piece of light wood. Curious, Luke went to look over his shoulder. “A chain! I saw one of them, once. Always wondered how a person put all those links together without cutting ‘em." "You don't,” Rhys said. “Pa showed me how. What you do is carve them already linked. I'm not very good yet, but this link's better than those other two.” He brushed shavings off his britches. “I could show you, if you want." Luke said, “I'd like that.” Then he remembered that he wouldn't be here long enough to learn to carve a chain. “Sometime,” he added, as he turned away. The thought of leaving gave him an empty feeling in his gut. He loved Katie, couldn't imagine living without her. But now that he'd seen where she came from, he was more than ever sure that she'd never be happy with him. Why on earth would she, when she could pretty much pick and choose among men with education and money. Men like Hamilton Steens Whitney III?No, not all men of her sort were crazy. He'd met some real gentlemen whilst he was a soldier, especially after he'd got the battlefield commission at Antietam. They'd been no crazier than anybody else in an insane war. Katie deserved better than Luke Savage, who never went to a real school, whose fortune consisted of two asses and a mule, and who didn't know much beyond soldiering and herding cows. "Gabe says the others are done bathing, so it's just you and me left,” Abel told Luke. “You go ahead when Micah's through, so's you can get on up to the house early. There's usually some sort of frolicking afore dinner." Luke protested, but Abel wouldn't listen. “Plenty of time for me to get slicked up when you're done. ‘ Sides, I'd just as soon have the place to myself so I can have me a good soak." "I brought you some clothes, Luke,” Gabe said from the doorway. “Aunt Hattie said she figured we're about the same size.” He tossed a bundle to Luke. “She said you probably didn't have much in the way of dress-up gear with you." Luke unwound the bundle and found a shirt and britches. The shirt was white like Gabe's, the soft, creamy white of good linen, with mother of pearl buttons on the short placket and narrow cuffs. The britches were homespun wool, made from undyed wool so they had a tweedy appearance. For a moment Luke thought of refusing, then realized that to do so would be both rude and insulting the young man who was looking at him with an expectant expression. So he held the britches up to his waist. “They may be a little short, but that won't matter, long as they go around my middle.” He was pretty sure they would. “I'm obliged, Gabe." "Glad to do it. Now, I'd better get Rhys and Micah up to the house. Mamma said she wanted them under her eye, once they got cleaned up. Otherwise they'll be filthy before dinner. Let's go, boys." Luke looked after the three of them as they walked up the path toward the big house. “This is the damnedest family I ever saw,” he muttered. "Ain't it just?” Abel said. “I ain't never seen the like. Good folk, though. Salt of the earth. You're a lucky man, Savage."

"Yeah, I am, aren't I?” He went into the kitchen, where the big copper tub sat waiting for him. “Now, where'd you say the hot water was?" **** The early winter dusk had settled in earlier than usual because of lowering clouds that promised snow before morning. The smell of roasting turkey permeated the house. “There's a woman out west of town who raises poultry —chickens, geese, duck, turkeys, even guinea fowl. I bought half a dozen poults from her last spring,” Ma told Katie when she'd wondered why they weren't having roast goose as they always had. “The coyotes got three of them, so I had two gobblers and a hen left. I stuffed those gobblers with kitchen leavings, until they were fat as ticks. Emmet reckoned this one weighed close to thirty pounds on the hoof.” She opened the oven door to baste the bird and Katie saw that it all but filled the space. "We had turkey at Ellen's last year. Her cook made a chestnut dressing. I didn't like it much." "Mrs. Petrie had a receipt for sage dressing that was her ma's, so that's what we fixed. I sure hope there'll be enough food.” Once the oven was closed again, she wiped her face. “This'll come out in about an hour, and then we can put in the turnips and the spuds. There's some extra dressing in that pot over there, too. If there's room, I'll heat it up." "No you won't. You're going to go take a nice long soak, then get all gussied up. The girls and I will take care of this. That's why you have daughters." "As soon as I've taken the turkey out and made the gravy." "You taught me to make gravy when I was twelve. I haven't forgotten how. You said everything else was ready to heat up, didn't you? And the girls can help me, as soon as they get done with the table." "But your nice new dress—" "Ma, my hair's fixed and I've got my corset all laced. All I have to do is change my dress while the gravy's cooking. Now go!” She pushed her mother out the door. "Well, if you're sure..." "I'm absolutely certain." Ma left, reluctantly. She'd been gone only a few minutes when Pa came in through the back door. He was still in his work clothes. Katie almost asked him where Luke was, then changed her mind. Either her husband would come to dinner or he wouldn't. No sense worrying about it either way. "Where's your ma?” Pa said once he'd hung up his coat and hat. "I chased her out. She's supposed to be taking a bath." Pa's eyes gleamed. “She is, huh?” He set the cup he'd taken from the cupboard back on the shelf. “Guess I'll go see if she needs her back scrubbed." Katie's cheeks went hot as fire. Somehow the idea that her parents still ... well, played like that came as a complete surprise. It shouldn't be, she realized.They've never made any bones about how they felt. Remember those days they'd send us all off to Flower's? Ellen had a pretty good idea what they were up to, and she

told you. It scandalized you, didn't it? Ma and Pa were old! Old people didn't carry on that way. Of course, she had been about twelve when Ellen had explained the facts of life to her. Ma had already told her about her monthlies, of course, but hadn't told her why she would bleed every month, just that when she did, it would mean she was becoming a woman. Before that Katie hadn't really connected the matings she'd seen in the barnyard with her own parents. Nor the fact that those matings resulted in calves and foals, pullets and piglets. Then Iris had been born, and Katie had realized that babies came about the same way. Her parents? They didthat ? They still did, if the gleam in Pa's eye hadn't lied. But they're not really old, are they? Pa's what? Fifty? And Ma's around forty-two or forty-three. That's a lot less than threescore and ten. She checked the turkey. It needed basting again. Luke and I could have had a life like theirs, if only we'd tried harder to get along. Oh, heavens, how am I going to explain to Ma and Pa— "Where's Ma?” Regina said from the door. "She's taking a bath. What do you need?" "When's dinner? I want to make sure everybody's here a while before. We—me and Lulu—have to get ready." Remembering some of Regina's schemes from when she was younger, Katie was immediately suspicious. “What are you up to?" "Well, Lulu was reading about Christmas customs in other countries, and we thought—" "Don't tell her,” Lulu said, coming up behind Regina. “It's a surprise." "Tell me,” Katie said, “or else.” It was really hard to intimidate someone half a foot taller, so she concentrated her threatening expression on Lulu, who was closer to her height. "Oh, it's a good surprise, Katie. Your ma already said we could. It won't make a mess or anything, and it'll only take a few minutes before dinner. But we have to have everybody in the parlor. We can't do it around the table." "Yes we could, but it wouldn't work as well. Honest, it's not a trick or anything,” Regina said.” It's an English custom. An old one." Katie eyed the girls suspiciously. Although Regina's ideas had often resulted in some sort of comic disaster, Lulu had always been more serious and sensible. “Are you absolutely certain you're not going to create some sort of havoc?" "Cross my heart,” Lulu said. Both girls soberly drew big X's on their chests. "All right, then. But you'll have to help me get the food on the table afterwards. I don't want Ma to have to do anything. She's already been cooking since before dawn."

"We can do that,” Regina promised, looking relieved. “Right after we—" "Right after we have the big surprise,” Lulu said. “Now, come see my mamma's Christmas present for Aunt Hattie." The table was elegant, every bit as much so as anything Katie had seen Back East. China, crystal, silver were all of the best sort. The napkins were some she had sent her mother for Christmas two years ago, wide ecru linen squares with a narrow edging of crocheted lace. But the tablecloth was what immediately caught her attention. She touched a lacy medallion, traced the pattern that looked something like a pinwheel. “Oh, how lovely!" "Mamma's been working on it for years and years,” Lulu said. “I wanted to help, but she wouldn't let me. She said it was something she wanted to do by herself, because she couldn't thank your mother any other way." Katie knew only that Flower had suffered greatly before her marriage to William and that she believed that Hattie Lachlan had saved her life. The family never talked about it, only that something bad had happened the summer they found Cherry Vale. “Has Ma seen it?" "No, that's why we've been keeping the doors closed. Mamma wants to be here when she comes in." "Tell Pa. He'll keep her out. Now, if you're through in here, I need your help in the kitchen. We're not going to let Ma wait on us this year." They set Iris to keep the men from coming in through the kitchen. “They have to use the front door. Tell them to go right to the parlor,” Lulu told the little girl. “Tell them we're having a special celebration before dinner.” She and Regina kept an eye on the various pots and pans while Katie went upstairs to dress. At a quarter of six, Iris came in and said, “Luke and Abel just went around front, Katie. That's everybody. Can we go now?" The older girls had taken off to set up their surprise a while back. Everything was ready to dish up and serve, so Katie said, “Scoot. I'll be right there.” She removed her apron and rolled down her sleeves. A good thing, she decided, she hadn't worn her velvet gown. She'd have had to sit quietly in the parlor while others cooked. This year it was Ma's turn to look elegant. When she entered the parlor, she saw that the girls had rearranged the furniture. Pa's big easy chair sat in the center of the room, empty. Everyone was sitting against the walls. One vacant chair remained, just waiting for her. Next to Luke.

Chapter Seven She didn't look like the Katie he knew. Her dress was the color of summer-dry grass, not yellow, not gold, but rich and warm. The top clung to her slender body much too closely for his peace of mind, while the skirt swayed seductively with every step she took. When she sat in the chair next to him the skirt spread over his leg, clinging to the wool of his britches like a caress. "Hello, Luke,” she murmured, under the din of conversation. “You look very nice." He wasn't certain if she was being kind, or surprised, so he didn't say anything. Truth be known, he didn't know what to say to her. They hadn't spoken since their angry words of last night. "Yoo hoo! Can every body be quiet? Please." The middle sister—Reggie? No, Regina, because she wasn't a baby anymore—was standing on a short stool, clapping her hands. “Quiet, please!" A shrill whistle cut through the noise. Everyone fell silent. "That's better. Now, I know you're all so hungry you could chew the carpet, so we won't keep you long." "Why are you keeping us at all?” Gabe called. “Dinner's probably getting cold while you blather." His sister swatted him with a cushion. “Yours'll be colder if you don't shut up." Regina cleared her throat. “'The Feast of Christmas lingers until Twelfth Night,'” she read from a paper in her hand. “'During that time, all revelry is in the charge of the Lord of Misrule. Tonight we will choose him by lot among the noble men of the house.’” The other girl shook the basket she held. "Iris, you can come in now,” Regina called. The littlest girl strutted through the doorway, carrying a big gold-foil crown on a purple cushion. She came to stand next to Regina, who read from a paper in her hand. "'The Lord of Misrule will be responsible for ensuring that all in this house enjoy whatever pleasures they desire, and will lead the others down the merry path of dalliance and delight.’ Iris, are you ready to choose?" "I am.” Iris handed the cushion to her mother. Lulu picked up the ribbon-festooned basket and held it out to Mrs. Lachlan. Luke could see that it contained folded slips of paper. “Wait!" Everyone looked at him. He felt his ears grow hot. “Never mind,” he mumbled. Chances are he wouldn't be chosen anyhow. Iris made a big ceremony of stirring the slips, of choosing one. She slowly unfolded it and read. Her smile widened. “I'll let Ma say who it is." Mrs. Lachlan took the paper and looked at it. She smiled as widely as her daughter. “Well, this is fitting.”

One by one she eyed the men and boys in the room. “Sometimes we need a reminder that life is meant to be fun and that it's healthy to play. So I charge our Lord of Misrule to require that each and every one of us do one silly thing each day from now until Twelfth Night." She looked directly at him and smiled. “I'm sure you can do that, can't you, Luke?" Luke wondered if it was too late to run. It was. Both Lulu and Regina had him by the arms, pulling him to his feet, dragging him to the big chair in the center of the room. Helplessly he let them sit him down. Before he knew it, the crown was crammed onto his head. It was too big and slid down to catch on the bridge of his nose. "Hold still,” Regina said, when he reached to push it back up. “We made it so it's easy to fit. Just a minute..." In less time than that, they had the crown so it sat firmly on his head. Iris stuck a stick in his hand, one that looked like a piece of broom handle all decorated with ribbon bows and streamers. “Your scepter, my lord,” she giggled. Luke held it awkwardly, not sure what he was supposed to do with it. He became aware everyone was clapping. "Speech!” someone called. "Dinner!” someone else cried. “Speech later." Everyone cheered. “Dinner!” became a chorus. Mr. Lachlan stood and held out his arm for his wife. They led the procession to the dining room where they stopped suddenly halfway through the wide archway. "Oh, my stars!" He peeked around to see Mrs. Lachlan standing with both palms pressed against her cheeks. Tears glinted in her eyes. "Who did this?” she said, her voice uneven. “It's the most beautiful ... the nicest..." "Mamma!” Lulu cried, at the same time Micah and Gabe chorused, “Our mamma did it!" "Oh, Flower, you didn't!” Hattie Lachlan went to the table and laid her hands on the crocheted tablecloth, hundreds of small circles of lace in a warm, rich cream color. “Why it must have taken you years." "She began it before I was born,” Micah said proudly. “Do you like it, Aunt Hattie?" "Oh, yes.” Her hand stretched out to Flower King and the two women went into each other's arms. "Here now, you two can carry on all you want after we get sat,” Mr. Lachlan told them. He seated his wife on the right, Mrs. King on the left. “All right, girls, it's your show." One on either side of him, Lulu and Regina herded Luke into the dining room. “You'll be at the head of the table,” Regina said, “your highness. Between Ma and Aunt Flower" "No, I can't—"

"Please Luke.” His mother-in-law spoke quietly from her seat. “They are having a grand time. Help them enjoy it." Shamed, he stopped arguing. He let them pull out his chair, and he sat in it. At the other end of the long table, he saw Katie being seated, facing him. Too far away for speech between them. In between, tall crystal goblets and wine glasses sparkled, heavy silver gleamed on either side of every plate. A far cry from a log cabin in the wilderness. He hated it. Katie just knew Luke absolutely hated all the fuss. His fair skin, still peeling from long days of exposure to cold and pale winter sunlight, showed patches of red high on each cheekbone. She wanted to go to him, to protect him from her noisy, brash family. Instead she joined hands with her father and William, and gave thanks for good health, good food, good fortune. With the “Amen” she and the other girls jumped up to bring in the food. Halfway through dinner, Pa said, “Troubles, Katie girl?” The noisy conversations all around them ensured that his question came only to her ears. She shook her head. “We just had a spat. Everything's fine.” Oh, how she wished it was. There had to be some way to mend the strife between them. "Ahuh! That's why he went out to the barn before you got up and never came inside all day long. Seems to me that's not what most new husbands would do, not when they've a soft bed and time on their hands." Katie wanted to sink into the floor. “Pa!” She couldn't believe he'd said that to her. His big, callused hand covered hers. “Katie, I'd've been a lot happier had you waited to wed Luke, for all that's he's a good man. The two of you had no time to get to know each other." "Yes we did. Why, we'd lived in each other's pockets for almost a month. I've never known a man as well as I know Luke. Except for family, anyhow." "I spent winters with Buffalo Jones,” Pa said, “in a cabin smaller than this room. Just about the only time we ever were out of each other's sight was when we were asleep. A wise man doesn't go off alone in winter. Too many things can go wrong, too fast. We got along just fine the first year, but when spring came, we started arguing about everything. Let one of us hang his coat on the wrong peg, and we'd have our hands on our knife hilts. ‘Twas a wonder we didn't kill each other, before we got to Rendezvous." "What was wrong? I thought you and Buffalo were best friends." "We came to be, later. When we didn't have to depend on each other so much. When we had others around us to talk to. When we had a chance to go off and be alone, or with other folks." "But Luke and I were around other folks. On the train, and in Bear River City." "It's not the same. Even then you were dependin’ on one another, because you were in danger. What would you have done if he'd headed down to the saloon to play cards?" She felt her eyes go round. “Ohhhh!” The word came out barely louder than a breath. Just thinking about Luke leaving her in a shabby hotel room in the middle of a town on the verge of riot scared her, even now. “But even so, once we got married, we weren't depending on each other like that. There wasn't any danger."

Pa leaned back in his chair and looked at her. The sort of look he'd given her when she was little. The one that said he was really, really disappointed in her. “Have you looked at your livestock? At your husband? In your mirror? Gaunt and tired, the bunch of you. Great God! You just finished a journey that many a strong man would think twice about, and you say you weren't depending on each other?" "We had plenty of money and there were stage stations—" "And good weather! Tarnation, girl, I didn't have a good night's sleep from the time I left you two in Evanston ‘til I saw your stock in the barn.” Once again he caught her hand. “Daughter, it's a good thing you've got Luke to watch over you now. If I had to, I'd be old before my time!" Katie wanted to tell him she could take care of herself, but hesitated. There had been too many times in the past couple of months when she'd been extremely happy to have Luke around to take care of her. She bit her lip. "Well, I won't say any more. But I want you to make up with Luke. He's probably feeling like a fish out of water, surrounded as he is by your kin. He needs to know there's somebody here on his side, someone not a stranger." Why didn't I remember? Of course he is. I saw him getting more and more uneasy as we got close to home. No wonder he's on the cranky side.“I will, Pa. I promise." After that she watched him. He seemed comfortable with Ma, but everyone was. Ma had a knack of making folks feel at home. But he didn't talk much, as far as she could see. He didn't eat much either. That worried her, because now that she looked at him, reallylooked , hewas gaunt. There were hollows in his cheeks, and the lines beside his mouth were deep. Faint lavender smudges sat under each eye, too, but they could be from his not sleeping well last night. Neither of them had. When dinner was over, Katie and the girls put away the food while the younger boys cleared the table. Hattie tried to help, but again Katie pushed her towards the parlor. “You've got daughters. Go relax with the men.” Since most of the pots and pans had been washed before dinner, it took them less than an hour to do the dishes. By the time they joined the men and boys, Katie had to admit she was ready to sit. Lulu and Regina, though, seemed tireless. They ducked into the sewing room, telling Katie they'd be along in a minute. Once again a chair sat empty next to Luke. She hesitated, still unsure of what to say to him. He was laughing with Gabe and Tony and hadn't seen her standing there. "Sit down, Katie,” Ma told her. “There are more surprises." She had no choice. She sat by her husband. The girls came in carrying a wicker basket full of small packages, all wrapped in bright scraps of calico and tied with yarn. “One each,” Regina directed, offering the basket to Gabe, who sat just left of the entrance. “But you can't open it until everybody has one." Under cover of the laughter and teasing comments, Katie said, “I forgot to tell you. Your trunk came. It's up in our ... our room." "My trunk? I didn't send for it."

"Didn't your friend in Chicago know where you were going? He probably thought you might need what's in it." "There's not much. Just some clothes and—” He broke off when Regina held out the basket to him. There were only a few packages left, but he still made a fuss over deciding which one to choose. “I don't trust you not to give me a mousetrap or a bottle of castor oil,” he teased. Katie was surprised. He seemed so uneasy with everyone else. As if in answer, he said, “She reminds me of Melanie.” His voice held sadness. Katie reached into the basket and took the first package she touched. To her surprise, it was soft, rounded. She squeezed lightly and it gave. Looking back at Luke, she said, “Your sister. You must miss her." The look in his eyes answered her, even though all he said was “It's been a long time." "Now you can open them,” Regina announced when Tony had pulled out the last package. She and Lulu giggled together. Katie held her package and watched Luke open his. He carefully untied the yarn and laid it across his leg. Then he peeled the calico back. “What?” he said, but not loudly enough for anyone else to hear. "Fruitcake?” Silas, who sat beyond Luke, said. “Fruitcake? Oh, how delicious.” His tone said that he would just as soon eat rat poison. "Wait!” Lulu cried over the noise. “Don't eat them yet!” She clapped her hands and gradually the hullabaloo calmed. “Be careful when you eat your cake. There's a surprise inside, and if you bite it too hard, you could break a tooth. The surprise will tell you what your future will bring, and if you bend it, there's no telling what might happen.” She sat on the floor at Flower's feet and began opening her own package. "Do we have to eat this stuff?” Silas called, sounding completely disgusted. "If you want to have good fortune in 1869 you do, Uncle Silas." "Eat,” Soomey said from across the room. “Good fortune is always welcome." "Haveyou ever eaten fruitcake?” Silas asked her. "I like fruitcake,” Luke said, taking a small, careful bite. He chewed, thoughtfully. “This is good. Different from what my ma made, but good." Soon folks were exclaiming over the small silver charms from their cakes. Katie bit into hers and discovered her surprise immediately. She pulled it from her mouth and wiped away the sticky crumbs. “A flower? I wonder what that means." "I got a stupid shovel,” Rhys said. "Mine's a needle.” Iris held it up. “Ugh! I hate to sew!" "Wait!” cried Regina. “These are lucky charms. They tell you something about your future. Rhys, yours means there's a treasure somewhere for you to find. Iris, the needle says you'll create something of great beauty."

"Oh, look what Aunt Soomey got,” Lulu said, hardly able to speak for her giggles. “A thimble. She's going to live a thrifty life." Everyone laughed at that. Soomey loved to give gifts, and many of them were fabulously expensive. "What does Luke's horseshoe mean?” Katie said when the laughter had died down. “And my flower?" "Let's see.” Regina looked at a slip of paper she pulled from her pocket. “Here it is. The flower means ‘ Love will flower,’ and the horseshoe indicates a lucky life." Katie looked at Luke, who was turning the tiny horseshoe over and over in his fingers. What was he thinking? His dream was to have a place of his own, where he could raise horses and mules. Was that also part of his fortune? She hoped so. She wished the evening were over and they were alone. If her future held a flowering love, she wanted it to be with him.

Chapter Eight Sometime during the evening Luke started to enjoy himself. He wasn't sure what did it, but by the time the youngest children began to whine, he realized that he felt at home. If he were to close his eyes, to shut out the sight of velvet drapes and polished hardwood floors, to eliminate the view of sparkling crystal drops on the chandelier and ruby glass sconces on the wall, he could almost believe he was in the log cabin where Katie had grown up. Somehow this family didn't seem like the rich folks he'd met. None of them would have set the stableman at the family table for Christmas dinner. Or welcomed an out-of-work cowman with empty pockets as a son-in-law. And he did feel welcome. Little Iris had shyly told him she was glad he was her new brother, Regina had treated him with the same lack of respect she gave her brothers and the King boys, and Rhys had begged him to tell about the cattle drives he'd been on and the gunfights he'd been in. The youngest Lachlan, his mother had sighed, was unfortunately an avid reader of penny dreadfuls and believed everything they printed was true. Best of all was that Mr. Lachlan had set him about the chores the same as the other young men, as if he was part of the family. Being told—not asked!—to muck out the stalls had somehow felt like a welcome home. A shrill whistle silenced everyone just in time for them to hear the big grandfather clock in the hall strike ten. As if they all knew what was coming, the children, from Iris all the way up to Gabe, gathered in a half-circle on the floor, around the elder Lachlans. Flower brought Emmet a book. He opened it and began to read. “'Twas the night before Christmas...’” Somewhere around the middle of the poem, Katie's hand stole into his. Luke held on as if to a lifeline. The children echoed the last line, “'Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!'” Iris’ high, sweet voice rang out over the ensuing laughter with “'And God bless us, every one!’” Luke swallowed around the lump in his throat. Getting everyone off to bed took another hour. “Mind, no one's to come down before eight o'clock,” Mr. Lachlan said as the children trooped upstairs. “Remember the year Saint Nick got lost." In answer to Luke's curious look, Katie said, “One year we had a horrendous blizzard on Christmas Eve. We were supposed to go to the Kings’ for dinner, but Pa could hardly make it to the barn. He and William had made us all sleds. They were stored in a shed, clear out at the farthest end of the valley, because we'd have snooped and found them anywhere else.” She fell silent as Regina came to them. "Don't forget to wear your crown in the morning, Luke. Remember, you've got to make sure everybody does one silly thing.” She hugged him and turned her face up for a kiss. Unable to resist, Luke kissed her cheek. It was warm and smelled of peppermint and rose petals. “I'll wear it,” he promised, although he'd already made up his mind to do no such thing. Once all the children had gone upstairs, Katie went on. “Anyhow, we couldn't go anywhere that morning. Some of the drifts were as high as the roof. So we had soup for supper and pretended we didn't care that the only presents we got were the shillings and the oranges and peppermint sticks in our stockings.

The second day William showed up on snowshoes and he and Pa took off somewhere.” Her smile was soft and sweet, as if she were reliving the past. "How long were you snowed in?” He remembered winters in Kansas, with snow piling up against every fence and barn. The wind picked up anything loose and blew it clear to the next county, what it didn't bury in drifts. One year they'd been snowed in for nearly two weeks. "Oh, only three days. Once William and Pa brought back the sleds, they couldn't keep us indoors anyhow, so we all went up to the Kings'. Pa carried the baby—” She frowned. “That must have been Regina, because I couldn't have been more than nine or ten. I remember how I kept getting in snow so deep I couldn't walk and Ellen had to lift me out. Buff pulled Ma behind him on his sled and carried Merlin on his back most of the way. Land sakes! That was a journey. Only about three miles, but it must have taken us two hours or more." Silas and Soomey stopped to say good night and Katie hugged them both. When they'd gone upstairs, Luke and Katie were alone in the parlor. “Well,” she said, “I guess—" "Maybe we'd better—” he said at the same time. Both stopped. They looked at each other. Luke cleared his throat. “I reckon I should sleep in our room. I wouldn't want to cause any questions." "I guess you should. After all, we are married." "You go on up, then. I'll be along soon." "Yes ... I'll go.” She hesitated, as if she wanted to say something more, then shook her head. “I'll leave the lamp burning. Don't be long." Luke stood in the parlor entrance, watching her as she went up the wide staircase. Her summer-grass-gold dress seemed to shine in the light from the lamps at top and bottom. She moved gracefully, almost floating, like the women at the grand ball he'd attended when he'd delivered dispatches to Washington. Yet he knew she could walk all day, in bitter cold, over mountainous terrain. And smile at the end of it. What an incredible woman! Katie paused at the top of the stairs and looked down at Luke. He was framed in the parlor doorway, silhouetted against the soft glow from the dying fire and a single lamp. Although he seemed to be watching her, she couldn't be sure, for the light was dim and his face was in deep shadow. She turned and went to her bedroom. She'd have rather run down the stairs and into his arms. What difference does it make that he was hired to guard me?she asked herself as she stretched and twisted to reach the tiny buttons up the back of her dress. Oh, he could have told her, when she asked him to do the same thing, but all that would have done was make her furious. Her besetting sin was that she didn't like to be told what to do. There was nothing more likely to make her do exactly the opposite. I'd have done my best to avoid him. Then I'd have been a sitting duck for Whitney. "Darn it all, anyhow!” She tried again, but the two buttons right in the middle of her back refused to turn loose. If Luke didn't come up, she'd have to sleep in her dress. Fuming, she plopped herself in the chair and glared at the door.Hurry up , she told him. Just hurry up. I want to go to bed.

After a minute or two, she stood up again. She'd brush her teeth and get rid of her petticoats anyhow. Then when Luke got here... He took his own sweet time about it. The big clock downstairs had chimed eleven when he tapped lightly on the door before opening it. When he saw her sitting on the chair, he started to close it again. “Sorry,” he muttered. "Come in, please. I need you to unbutton me.” She turned her back. “I can't reach those last two." The door latch clicked. Slow footsteps approached. Katie held her breath. Then his fingers were cold against her skin as he freed the two buttons. “There you go,” he said, and his breath stirred the hair at the back of her neck. Katie turned and looked up at him. “Luke, I—" "Katie, I—" Then she was in his arms and he in hers. “I'm sorry, Luke. I don't know what came over me. I didn't mean all those awful things I said." "Even when I knew you were trouble, I couldn't take my eyes off you. You were so pretty. Like a dream come true, so rich and sweet. I wanted to taste you, to hold you...” He buried his mouth in her hair, so that she felt his words as she heard them. “I don't know what got into us, Katie, but let's not ever come so close to ... to—" "Never,” she vowed, catching his face between her two hands. She stretched up onto tiptoe and pulled him down to meet her. When their lips met, she knew this was where she belonged. In his arms. By his side. For all of their lives long. When the dress slid from her shoulders, she shivered, but from need, not from the cold. Once it was puddled around her feet, she kicked it aside, not caring what dust it picked up from the floor. Clad only in her corset and drawers, she wrapped her arms tightly around his neck and lifted her feet to wrap her legs around his middle. Now she could look him straight in the eye. "Luke, Ma said something today that we need to pay attention to. She asked me if we want the pattern of our lives to be one fight after another.” His hand cupped her bottom, sending waves of heat through her. “Stop and listen to me! I'm trying to say something important here." "I'm listening.” But he wasn't. He strode to the bed with her and knelt on its edge. “I'm listening, Katie girl, but right now I need something more than talk.” His teeth nipped at her earlobe. "Luke!” She pushed him away. Or tried to, but somehow she ended up pulling him down on top of her instead. “Oh, Luke, I love you!" "Some days, sweetheart, that was all that kept me goin'. Knowing you loved me and needed me.” He laid a hand over her mouth when she would have protested. “Yeah, I know, you don't need any man. You can take care of yourself. But the way I see it, we depended on each other a lot. I'd have died in that blizzard, if you hadn't come out in the cold and dragged me inside. You'd have been hauled off to God knows where by the Breedloves if I hadn't got those fellas in Bear River City to help us out. And we'd probably both be dead if we hadn't had each other to lean on when we were lost and looking for the railroad. "You asked me if I loved you, that day we got married,” he said cupping her cheek in one warm, hard

hand, “and I told you I did. But I can't remember ever saying the words to you. So I'll say them now. I love you. I love you so much I want to weep with the pain and the joy of it.” He lowered his head and kissed her. Katie could have wept too, for she heard more than three simple words. She heard a pledge for the rest of their lives. His hands were those of a man used to hard work, roughened from hours of exposure to cold and wind and rain, callused from handling pitchfork and rope, rifle and skinning knife. Wherever they touched, her skin tingled and glowed. And he touched her everywhere. Light brushes of fingertips against a turgid nipple or the tender flesh of inner thigh, strong clasps of long fingers around wrist or ankle, a flat palm skimming across her quivering belly. He worshipped her with his hands, with his mouth. Sharp teeth nipped along the cords of her throat as she arched her head back in invitation. Firm lips closed around her little finger, kissed a fiery line across her palm, suckled at her breast. When she felt his breath on her belly, she arched her back, moaning her need. And when he tasted her, she screamed silently into her fist, not forgetting the sisters sleeping nearby. "Luke!” she gasped. "Luke...” she pleaded. "Oh, please, Luke,” she beseeched. And he replied, “Yes, Katie girl. Yes!” as he surged up along her body, taking her mouth and sliding smoothly into her. "Your ma's right,” he said, a long time later. They lay in each other's arms, sleepy and content. He had pulled the comforter up, for the room had grown chill. "Ummm?" "I said your ma's right. We can't live our lives fighting all the time. So what are we gonna do about it?" She let her hand slide down his belly. “I have some ideas,” she told him. "We can't do thatall the time.” His hand caught hers and brought it back to rest over his breastbone. “Much as I'd like to." "Did your folks fight?” she asked him, finally, when no ideas came to her. “I don't mean disagree about something. I meanfight . Like we do." "Nope. I can't remember ever seeing them do more than argue now and then, about everyday stuff mostly." "Mine didn't either.” She raised up on one elbow so she could look him in the face. “You know, Luke, I can't believe that people as opinionated as Ma and Pa didn't have some pretty strong disagreements." "Me neither. My folks, I mean.” Catching a lock of her hair with his fingers, he tickled her nose with it. She sneezed. “Stop that!” Surely there was something Ma and Pa had done to avoid fighting. She remembered one time when Pa had plowed up some flowers Ma had planted. She'd yelled at him, then turned around and walked off. Later she'd told Katie and Ellen that she'd gone down to the hot springs

beside the river and had a soak. Since the children weren't allowed to go there without supervision, Katie had been jealous. She thought back to other times when her parents had seemed upset. In every instance, one or the other had gone off for a while. To let their anger cool? That must be it. "I think we need to agree that we won't argue,” she told Luke. He opened his mouth, but before he could say more than “How—” she'd put her hand over it. "Let me finish. I'm saying that if one of us gets really angry with the other, we have to promise not to yell or cuss or throw things. Instead, we just turn around and walk off." "That won't work. What if we're in the middle of something? Like driving to town? Or doctoring a sick horse?" "Well, we have to be realistic, too. How about we agree to walk off if possible, and to shut up until we can, if it's not possible. Will that satisfy you?" He frowned, as if in deep thought. At last he said, “Yes, but I won't promise I'll remember. Not at first." "Neither will I,” she said, knowing how easy it was to answer first and think later. “But if we try—" "I'm willing. Anything to avoid another day like today.” He pulled her to him, held her close. “Honest to God, Katie, I never felt so alone, so damn lonely, as I did today. I don't ever want another day like this my whole life long." "Neither do I, Luke. Neither do I.” She snuggled against him. “So. Starting tomorrow, we'll never fight again. Agreed?" "Starting tomorrow, we'll do our best,” he said. Katie had seen Luke Savage's best. It was good enough for her. **** In the morning the first thing Luke saw was his trunk. He remembered then that Katie had mentioned its arrival last night. Quietly he slipped from her loose embrace and got out of bed. The room was cold, so he slipped on the wool britches and shirt he'd worn the night before.Be good to get some clothes of my own that aren't full of holes and about worn out. He found the key and unlocked the trunk.Can't remember what I packed in here, it's been so long. He had filled the trunk and locked it the day he'd walked away from the farm in Kansas, just before his last visit to the graves of his mother, his father, and his little sister. Three years ago and some months. The shallow wooden tray held socks and underwear, his father's good hairbrush and his mother's silver-backed mirror, tarnished now, but with her initials still discernible: LES, intertwined fancy letters. Lucinda Ellsworth Savage . He remembered her telling him Pa had given it to her their first Christmas together. There was more. A large rectangular parcel, wrapped in linen. Luke folded back the cloth, curious, for he did not recall looking inside when he'd packed it. The gilt letters on the dark leather binding were faded, but still readable.Holy Bible. He opened the cover. Inside, in elegant copperplate writing, was his grandfather's name.Isaiah Lucas Savage . A lump

formed in his throat. Between the Testaments were family records he'd never read, his father's birth and that of his sisters and the brother who had died in infancy. Luke had no idea where the sisters—his aunts —were, for they had been older and married when the family moved from Ohio to Indiana. He wrapped the Bible carefully in its linen covering and replaced it in the tray.I wonder if Pa wrote down when Melissa and Ma died. I'll look sometime. But not today. Today is all about the future, not the past. He lifted the tray out and looked underneath. A crocheted bedspread.Ma wouldn't use it in the soddy. She was keeping it until Pa built them a real house. A length of rust-colored cotton, intended as a dress for Melissa, but never made up. A small box, fashioned from stiff silk-covered paper, held together with careful stitches of variegated floss. He opened it. Inside, on a bed of cotton wool, lay his mother's wedding ring. It was a wide gold band. Luke had a memory of her hands, work-roughened and twisted from rheumatism, but always wearing that ring. He picked it up and looked inside. “LJEEIS1843" With the ring clenched in his fist, he went to the bed. “Katie?" "Ummm?" "Wake up. I've got something for you." She turned over and lifted her head. With her hair in her eyes and her face swollen from sleep, she was still the most beautiful sight he'd ever seen. Luke sat on the edge of the bed and reached for her hand. “I said it once, but it's worth repeating. We're married, Katie Savage. For better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and health, until death do us part.” He slipped the ring onto her unadorned finger, for there hadn't been a wedding ring to be found in the little railroad town, the day they'd wed. "Forever and ever,” she said, smiling up at him from a face glowing with love and happiness. Wet with tears. Luke took her in his arms then, and hid his own welling eyes against her hair. **** The day after Luke's reign as Lord of Misrule ended, they rode out of Boise City together. The men had gone out half a dozen times since Christmas, until all agreed that they had found the perfect land for the Savages to homestead. The sky was the clear, cold blue of January. Their shadows stretched ahead of them as Luke and Katie rode west, toward their future. Today they rode alone, for this was the day they would choose a site for the home they would make together. ~The End~

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