“No. It seems the Indians have been quiet of late, but that does not mean much. Hostilities can flare anytime. I am assuming ye know that, and none of that changes the fact that God meant men and women to go out as teams. Women do some things. Men do other things.”
Perhaps it was because it was the first time someone actually approached the topic with something other than ye can’t do it because ye are a girl, or perhaps it was because it came from him, but whatever the reason she paused.
“What exactly do ye mean?”
“I mean that a woman trims the lamps and the man patrols the perimeter. Our jobs complement each other like a team.”
“Aye. By that token men should not venture into the west alone as they have no one to trim their lamps.”
He gave her a grin that showed he liked sparring with her. “Well a man can cook a bear over a fire, but can a woman fell a tree?”
“I have heard of Polly Muhollin who set out to claim land and put cabins on lands in the Shenandoah Valley to stake her claims.”
“Aye. Did ye ever see one of those cabins?”
“No. I cannot say that I have. What were they like?” Curiosity peeked through the seriousness of their conversation.
“I did not see them either, but they must have been rickety.”
“Why do ye say that. Ye said ye didn’t see them.”
“Aye. I never saw them, but I did see the repair my sister did on the chicken coop. Rickety.”
Beti let out the laugh that had been building in her belly. “Ye cannot compare ye sister with Mrs. Muhollin.”
“I do not know why not. My sister is a girl.” The twinkle in his eye gave him away. He teased her just as he teased his friends. The thought made her giddy.
“I have hired Mr. Abbott. He will help me build my house and other tasks that I cannot quite manage on my own.”
He sobered up at her declaration. “I will admit it is a reasonable short-term solution yer problem.”
She sat a little straighter at his praise.
“But you have a long-term problem. Those Indians out there are not a fantasy. They are real men, and they fight hard. They see ye as an invader and they will kill ye if they think they should.”
He was right. She was no fool. She’d read the accounts of the wars and killings over land in the west. So what was she to do? Have no dreams? Stay in a town that was so openly hostile to her?
“I understand the challenges I will face, Mr. Smith. I didn’t say that I will never marry. I look forward to the man God has for me, but I haven’t met him yet. And until such time as I do, I plan to pursue my dreams.”
He’d listened quietly, elbows resting on his knees.
“I cannot find fault with that. I just want ye to be safe.”
“Thank ye, Mr. Smith, but I am not yer worry.” She stood and slung her rifle over her shoulder. “Ye must excuse me, I shall return in a moment.” There was no delicate way to tell him she must seek the necessary. She’d been strapped to her loom and then supper. Beti couldn’t remember the last time she’d been outside. She fled from the room to save herself embarrassment.
She chuckled to herself remembering the way Zeke had said “rickety” as she exited the tiny wooden structure tucked behind the ordinary.
Beti felt his presence before she heard his voice.
“Ma’am.” The man stepped between her and the ordinary shadowing the weak light coming through the window. The dusky twilight was enough for her to recognize the man from Doc Campbell’s was also the man who didn’t speak at Morgan’s store.
“Well, I’ll be—” He stepped closer. “I’ve only seen them color eyes on one other.” The grin that split the man’s face matched the malevolent leer in his dark eyes. “It is my pleasure to meet ye again, Miss Boatman.” He flourished his arm in an exaggerated bow.
Beti swung her rifle to point with steady hands.
He moved a step closer.
Beti sidestepped toward the tavern. The man danced a step blocking her way.
“Get out of my way or I will shoot ye where ye stand.”
The man’s hands rose. “Now there’s no cause for that—”
“Harry, you should not be keeping a pretty lady all to yerself.” A second man trotted up to stand behind the first.
“Stop.” Beti was surprised her voice didn’t shake. “Get out of my way.”
“Look who it is.” The second man elbowed the first. “Why we came all this way, and she just drops in our lap, just like that.”
The two men fanned out, and Beti called for her dog. “Nell, come.” Beti stepped back to keep both men in her sights.
Well, she was wrong about that anyway. She was his worry. Ever since she walked into his boat shop. Shoot, even before that, the first time he met her at the tavern, she’d been his concern, confounded woman. She didn’t have to ask him to watch over her, but he couldn’t help it any more then he could fill the store-houses of the snow. And after tonight when she’d looked into his eyes with such delight. Well.
When she got back from the necessary, he’d let her know that he’d help her. He wasn’t sure where it would take them, but if it took them to eternity, it’d be all right with him.
Zeke leaned against the wall.
