six

Beth rose early and had dressed herself before Susannah was even up and about. Today was to be her first day of school, and Beth was bursting with excitement.

Bobby had offered to drive them, but Susannah knew he had much to do. So instead, he hitched up his buggy for them, then waved as Susannah and Beth left for town.

It was a new day, and Susannah had a fresh new outlook about everything. She still couldn’t believe that she was a married woman. Already Mrs. Martin, their housekeeper, was coming to her and asking about how Susannah would like to run things, now that she was the mistress of the house.

Having run her father’s house for so long, that part was easy. It was the interaction with Bobby that might get a little strange sometimes. He was her husband, yet he wasn’t really. It was very confusing.

Susannah supposed that they would somehow get used to the idea. It certainly wasn’t anything to worry about!

And after the school day was started, she didn’t think about it at all. The children in her school ranged in age from five to sixteen, and except for a couple of rascals, most of them were well behaved and friendly. The first- and second-graders made Beth feel welcome and even invited her to sit and eat with them by the big oak tree in front of the school.

After school ended for the day, Susannah and Beth were sitting on the front steps of the school dusting the erasers—something Beth had been so excited to do—when the Aaron brothers rode up on their horses.

“Bobby Joe sent us to pick up Beth. He thought you might have some work to do,” Daniel told her as all three of them jumped off their horses.

Beth responded before Susannah could. “I’m helping! I don’t want to go home yet.”

Billy Ray walked over and sat down beside her. “And a mighty fine job you’re doing, too. I don’t guess I’ve ever seen such clean erasers.”

Beth glowed at his compliment. “Mama says I can clean the board next,” she added.

All three brothers audibly sucked in their breaths. Beth didn’t seem to notice, but Susannah did, and she was just as surprised as the brothers were at Beth calling her “Mama.” She and Beth had never gotten around to asking Bobby about it, to see if it was all right.

“Uh. . .can you boys help me out with something inside? Beth, why don’t you dust off the rest of those erasers?” Susannah got up from the steps and waited for the brothers to follow her.

Susannah began to try to explain as they walked into the large classroom. “I didn’t ask Beth to call me Mama. I told her she needed to ask Bobby about it, but. . .” She trailed off with a helpless shrug of her shoulders. Frankly, she wasn’t sure how the boys felt about her or how they would react. The only one she’d ever talked to was Billy Ray. Tommy and Daniel were something of a mystery to her.

Billy Ray was quick to assure her. “We don’t care about that. If Beth feels so close to you, then I think it’s for the best.”

“Susannah, what we’d really like to know is what this whole ‘marriage’ thing is all about,” Tommy said without mincing words. His voice was curious and a little confused.

“Yeah,” Daniel chimed in. “We know that he stopped being mad at you and all, but the next thing we knew, y’all were married! He didn’t even court ya!”

Billy glared at his brothers before he looked back at Susannah. “Susannah, we don’t mean to pry, and if it’s none of our business, well, just tell us so. We’re all just a little confused by this sudden turnaround, is all. When we ask Bobby Joe about it, he just shrugs it off.”

Susannah’s mind whirled as she tried to come up with a reasonable explanation, but she couldn’t. And to be honest, she was tired of keeping secrets. “Actually, I think it was something you all said to him.”

“What?” they all exclaimed in unison.

Susannah nodded. “He told me that one of you had mentioned the fact that I was practically family and that it would seem all right if he were to court me. Well, he went a step further and decided that he needed a wife more than he needed a woman friend, because of Beth. He thought that I would be a good mother substitute for her.”

A deafening quiet descended over them as they began to comprehend what Susannah was suggesting.

“He married you because Beth needed a mother?” Daniel asked, trying to sort the whole thing in his mind.

Susannah just nodded.

Tommy shook his head. “That’s downright crazy, if you ask me!” He looked at Daniel. “Did Bobby Joe get hit on the head out at the sawmill recently?”

Daniel shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t think so, but something must have addled his brain. Meaning no disrespect, Ma’am,” he said to Susannah hurriedly, “but Bobby Joe never does anything on the spur of the moment. He does everything in a rational manner.”

“Well, this ain’t any kind of rational manner that I’ve ever seen!” Tommy offered.

Billy Ray, who had been watching Susannah while the other brothers were talking, spoke up at last. “What about you, Susannah? You told us why Bobby Joe married you, but you didn’t say why you married him. Why would you marry someone who’s been nothing but nasty to you this whole year?”

Susannah could feel a blush rise on her cheeks. She quickly looked down and smoothed her blue cotton skirt. “Well, I did it for Beth. I wanted nothing more than to be with her. And being her stepmother was like a dream come true for me.” It was only half the truth, and the men seemed to sense it.

“That blush that matches your hair is telling another story, if you ask me!” Tommy observed bluntly.

“Tommy, don’t you remember any of the good manners that our mother taught us?” Billy scolded.

“I don’t know, Billy. I think Tommy’s right. I saw how she looked at him at the wedding. It looked like true love to me,” Daniel inserted.

“I was too busy looking at our eldest brother! Did you happen to catch his face? He had the look of a hound dog gazing at a rabbit darting across the meadow. Believe me, he looked besotted.”

“Gentlemen, I do believe you are pulling my leg now!” Susannah charged in her best teacher’s voice. She had her hands on her hips, her foot was tapping rapidly, and she had a no-nonsense look on her face.

Tommy held up his hand. “I promise you, I’m telling the truth as I saw it!”

“Well, that certainly isn’t a promise that’ll hold much water,” a deep voice drawled from the doorway.

Everyone turned in surprise to see Bobby Joe standing there staring at them.

Susannah’s heart flew to her throat as she wondered just what he’d heard. But when Bobby asked what exactly it was that Tommy had promised, she relaxed.

“Oh, these guys were just kidding around with me. I tell you, Bobby, you have three charming brothers!” she said quickly.

Bobby Joe just grunted. “That’s your opinion. I think they’re just plain ornery!”

The brothers began to protest, but he held up his hand. “I sent ya’ll here to pick up Beth, not to give my wife here a hard time!”

Susannah’s eyes flew to Bobby’s when she heard the word “wife” slide easily off his tongue. He met her gaze and gave her a playful wink that made her smile.

There he goes surprising me again, she thought, a little exasperated. Would she ever understand the man?

“Aw, we’re just getting to know her a little, is all!” Tommy told him.

“Uh-huh. Well, now that you’ve had your little chat, could y’all do as I asked and take Beth home?”

Daniel scowled and thrust his hat back on his head. “How come you can’t take her? We just might want to go over and see the new prisoner the sheriff has locked up in the jail. Billy Ray told us he stole a couple of Harold’s horses down at the stables!”

“Go see the prisoner tomorrow. Today, I thought I’d take Susannah to her old house and finish packing up her things.”

The brothers grumbled as they left the room. Beth ran in and handed Susannah the erasers. “Can I clean the boards tomorrow? My uncles told me I have to leave.” She looked so concerned over neglecting her new duties, that Susannah had to bend down and give her a hug.

“Of course it’s all right. The boards will be here tomorrow. They’re not going anywhere.”

She turned to her dad then and asked him the question that Susannah had been dreading. “Daddy, is it all right if I call Aunt Susannah ‘Mama’? She told me I had to ask you, but I said you wouldn’t mind.”

Susannah held her breath as a look of pain crossed his features, and then it was quickly masked. He reached out and smoothed her shiny hair back with a gentle hand. “Of course I don’t mind, sweetheart. I think every little girl needs someone to call Mama, and you couldn’t ask for a better mama than your aunt Susannah.”

“I think so, too! Thanks, Daddy.” She hugged him quickly and waved to Susannah. “Bye, Mama!” And with that she ran out of the room, her step full of youthful enthusiasm and joy.

“Thank you, Bobby. When she asked me, I wasn’t sure how you’d feel about it.”

He waved off her concern. “I’m not totally unfeeling, Susannah. We’re married now, so it’s just natural that she’d want to call you Mama.”

Susannah blew out an exasperated breath. “I know you’re not an unfeeling man, Bobby. I think you have a whole lot of feelings just swirling around in you that you never let anyone see.”

He seemed uncomfortable with this observation. “Aw, that’s just women-talk. I’m just a regular guy, like anyone else.”

Susannah shook her head. Men, she had always observed, never like to discuss their feelings. “Well, regular guy, are you ready to mosey on over to the house? I do have just a few more things to pack.”

It only took about an hour to pack the rest of her belongings and load them on the wagon. And when she thought they were ready to go, he surprised her by pulling out a large basket from the front of the wagon. “Mrs. Lewis packed us a basket of sandwiches and dessert. Since the furnishings that go with the house are still here, we can just eat on the table.”

Susannah took the basket from him and disagreed. “I’d rather put a blanket on the floor in the parlor! It will be like having a picnic!”

Bobby shook his head and muttered something under his breath that sounded like “Women!” and then walked back to the wagon to get a blanket.

Susannah helped him lay out the blanket, and soon they were sitting together, feasting on the delicious ham and cheese sandwiches that the housekeeper had made for them.

“See? Isn’t this more fun?” Susannah enthused.

“Well, at least we don’t have ants to contend with.”

“Oh, phooey! Would it hurt to just admit that you like doing something a little silly occasionally?”

He smiled and looked at her curiously for a few moments. “You know, you’re so different from the way your sister was.”

Intrigued, she asked, “How so?”

He wiped his mouth as he shrugged. “Leanna was so practical about everything. A real no-nonsense lady. If we’d eaten on the floor like this, it would be because the table had broken in two. She was a lot like me, I guess.”

Susannah’s spirits sank at hearing that. She knew exactly how Leanna was, and it was because they were so different that they’d gotten along. Their differences kept them from being bored with each other.

“I guess you must think I’m the silliest woman around, then. Not everybody would eat on a floor when there’s a perfectly good table just sitting there.”

“Actually, I like it that you’re so different from me. You’ll liven up our drab little household.”

Relief bubbled up in her chest, and she couldn’t help but smile. “Well, I’m glad I can be of some use!” she teased as she reached over to brush a piece of bread from the side of Bobby’s mouth with her napkin.

He took her hand before she could pull away. “It’s more than that, Susannah. I know I haven’t done a good job of showing it, but I appreciate your taking a chance by marrying me. I know it wasn’t fair to you, and I’m grateful.”

As Susannah savored the feel of his strong hand as it held her own, she wished again that he would fall in love with her, just a little. Her sister must have realized just how blessed she was to be loved by such a man. If only. . . , she thought. If only. . .

But her musings were stopped short as he continued speaking.

“I’ve wondered, too, how your father has reacted to your marrying me. I know he wasn’t thrilled when Leanna and I eloped. He must have been furious.”

At once, her eyes fell from his. She was never good at hiding her feelings, and he must have noticed. When she tried to pull her hand away, he held fast.

“You didn’t tell him?” he asked incredulously. “I was under the impression that you and your father were close.”

“We were. . .are! I just couldn’t gather up the courage to wire him.” She finally pulled her hand away. “But I’ll get around to it, in my own timing.”

Bobby just shook his head at her. “Why don’t we go down to the telegraph office and wire him today?”

Susannah knew she would have to tell her father sooner or later. She just thought it would be later. She still had a few weeks to go before her year was up, and she had planned to tell him at the end of it.

Well, apparently today would be the day.

With a big sigh, Susannah nodded in agreement. She supposed it didn’t matter. Her father would be so furious with her that he would probably disinherit her like he did Leanna. She would receive a note from his solicitor, then that would be that.

Or would it? No matter how much she tried to reassure herself, the doubts would not go away.

The fact of the matter was, her father did not want to be left without a legacy. She and Beth were all he had left. Susannah had a feeling that he would not give up so easily.