Bertie (Pendleton Petticoats Book 6) Page 20

  Air thick with wheat chaff appeared golden in the sunlight. The particles clung to exposed, sticky skin, making Bertie itch. She ignored it and hopped out of the buggy, hurrying to remove the napkins covering the cookie baskets and begin ladling the cool drinks.

  “Boy, am I glad to see you lovely ladies.” Nik offered a charming grin as he jogged over to them and accepted the tin cup Bertie held out to him. Nik had insisted sharing the dipper spread nasty little germs between the users so Aundy and Bertie had purchased three dozen tin cups. Although they had to wash them several times a day, Bertie could see Nik’s point in not wanting to share the dipper. A few of the men on the crew didn’t seem to care about hygiene in the least. Rotten teeth filled their mouths and Bertie made an effort to stay upwind of them.

  Bertie and Sadie filled cups with water and lemonade while the men helped themselves to the cookies. Molly dunked rags into the water barrel they brought for washing and handed them to men. Grateful, they swiped the cloths over their faces, enjoying the brief moment of cool relief.

  “You made my favorite.” Bertie nearly dropped the cup in her hand as Riley spoke close to her ear. He bit into a chocolate brownie and winked at her before taking the cup from her and walking away to stand next to Kade and Dent.

  Shocked he spoke to her, his flirtatious wink left her discombobulated.

  The next man in line demanded her attention as he waited for her to hand him a cup of the cool water. She had no time to examine further Riley’s odd behavior until that evening after the supper dishes were done.

  As soon as the last dish had been dried and put away, Aundy shooed her out the door and told her to go enjoy a few minutes of quiet.

  When Bertie started to protest, Aundy placed a book in her hand and nudged her out the door. “Now, go. You’ve more than earned it.”

  Bertie trudged outside and wandered behind the barn and up the hill. Covertly glancing around to make sure no one watched, she removed her shoes and stockings. She flexed her toes in the cool pasture grass then climbed onto the lowest limb of a nearby tree.

  Her back pressed against the rough bark of the trunk while her feet dangled on either side of the limb. She tugged her skirts up to catch the breeze then swung one leg back and forth as she opened the book and began reading. The Bobbsey Twins was a fun tale full of the adventures of two sets of fraternal twins.

  Involved in the unfolding story, she didn’t hear anyone approach until a warm hand caressed her bare foot.

  Yanking her foot up, she gazed down into Riley’s face. The fiery look in his eyes made heat pool in her belly and her mouth go dry.

  “I’ve seen a lot of birds perched in trees, but never one so lovely.”

  Bertie’s cheeks flushed at his compliment. “You’ve suffered a heat stroke, Riley Walsh. Apparently, you’ve lost the ability to see properly otherwise you’d know I’m a wilted mess.”

  To emphasize her point, Bertie pushed at the damp curls that had fallen around her face hours ago. Her dress was limp and she felt about as fresh as a wrung-out dishrag.

  “I can see just fine, Roberta Elizabeth.”

  Much to her surprise, Riley grabbed hold of the limb and swung himself up into the tree, sitting in front of her. “What are you doing out here?”

  “Reading.”

  “I can see that.” Riley grinned and tapped the book with his finger. “I meant why did you come out here to read? You could do that at the house.”

  “It’s miserably hot in the house and Aundy decided I needed a break. I’ve discovered arguing with her does no good at all, so I took the book she handed me and came out here.”

  Bertie tried to adjust her skirts to hide her bare legs but he held onto the hem, keeping her from moving. “Riley…”

  “If you’re trying to cover up those pretty ankles, you might as well not bother. I’ve already seen them. Enjoy the breeze while you can. I don’t know how you women survive on days like today, fastened into layers of petticoats with stockings and drawers and corsets and…”

  Bertie leaned forward and clamped a hand over his mouth. “Riley! You shouldn’t speak of such things. It’s improper.”

  He shrugged and kissed her hand, holding it in his instead of releasing it. “Never understood why it’s so improper to talk about what you wear. Why, didn’t I see a lacy pink…”

  “Riley! That is enough!” Indignant, she huffed and almost lost her balance. His arm shot out around her waist, drawing her closer to him and holding her steady.

  As he tightened his hold around her, she gulped in a breath. She could feel the corded strength in his arm, smell the wonderful masculine scent of him, and see the longing in his eyes.

  A vision of him capturing her lips in a powerful kiss made her weak with wanting. Ready to surrender to anything he asked, he suddenly cleared his throat and loosened his hold. He took the book from her hand and turned it around to look at it.

  “Is this a good story?”

  “Hmm? Oh, the book?” Disappointed, Bertie forced herself to focus on his question. “Yes, it’s a lively story, especially for children. It was a perfect diversion for this evening. My brain is too tired to tackle anything with substance.”

  Riley chuckled and handed the book back to her. “It’ll be dark soon. You need to get out of the tree and on your way home.”

  “Maybe I’ll stay out here all night,” Bertie said, arching her back against the trunk and smiling coyly. She flicked her long eyelashes Riley’s direction and saw his jaw clench. Perhaps he wasn’t as immune to her as he pretended to be. Perhaps he even liked her, a little.

  “Now, Bertie, you know that’s not safe or wise.” Riley jumped to the ground and held his arms up to her. “Come on, sweetheart. Let’s get you home.”

  Bertie moved within Riley’s reach and savored the feel of his hands on her waist as he lifted her to the ground. Instead of stepping away from him, she pressed against him, for just a moment, not caring what was proper, what the consequences might be.

  The groan Riley couldn’t hold back sounded like one of a man in tortured misery. Hastily, he bent and stuffed her stockings into her shoes, holding them in one hand, while taking hold of her arm with the other.

  “Come on. Let’s go.” He began marching her toward the house.

  “But, Riley…”

  “No buts, except yours walking home.”

  Slightly appalled by his words and greatly annoyed he hadn’t kissed her, Bertie snatched her shoes from him. “There’s no need to be crass.”

  She took a few steps then turned back to glower at him, frustrated and wounded. “If anyone needs to get home, it’s you. I know you still have chores to do and Garrett wants to get an early start tomorrow.”

  “I’m on my way there now.” Riley pointed to where Mud grazed on the pasture grass a few feet away.

  “Good night.” Bertie spun around and flounced down the hill, anger fueling her every step until her bare foot landed on a prickly thistle.

  Exasperated, she swallowed back the desire to scream and limped to the house. The screen door slapped shut behind her as she entered the kitchen and tossed down her shoes then set the book on the table.

  Aundy and Nik looked up from where they sat at the table drinking glasses of cold tea.

  “What happened to you?” Aundy motioned for Bertie to sit down while Nik got up and walked around the table.

  “Thoughtlessly, I removed my shoes and didn’t put them back on before walking to the house. I stepped on a thistle and got a foot full of stickers.” Bertie slapped Nik’s hand when he picked up her foot and tried to examine it. “Nik! Put my foot down this instant.”

  “Oh, calm down.” Nik looked at Aundy. “Can you find me the tweezers and a needle, Mom?”

  “Sure, honey.” Aundy disappeared down the hall while Nik filled an old washbowl with hot water.

  Before Bertie could protest, Nik pushed up her skirts and stuck her foot in the water. She started to pull it out, but he put a hand on her kn
ee, holding it steady. “Just leave it in there, Bertie. The stickers will come out easier if I soak it first.”

  “But, Nik, you shouldn’t… it isn’t…” Worked up from her encounter with Riley, she wanted to hit something or stamp her feet and throw a temper tantrum instead of calmly sit at the table while Nik stared at her bare legs and feet.

  The cocky smile he gave her did nothing to alleviate her irritation or discomfort. “You do know I’m almost a doctor, don’t you?”

  “Yes, but…”

  “Just sit back and savor the attention of a handsome, charming physician in the making.” Nik added hot water from the kettle on the stove to the bowl.

  “Fine, but you better not enjoy this.”

  Nik chuckled as Aundy returned to the kitchen with the needle and tweezers.

  “How can I help?” Aundy asked as Nik sat down and lifted Bertie’s foot out of the bowl.

  “Set a sheet of paper here on the table.”

  Aundy placed a piece next to him while he gently wiped Bertie’s foot dry and settled it on his thigh. One at a time, he pulled out the stickers, placing them on the paper. When he finished, he massaged some ointment into Bertie’s foot then set it back on the floor.

  “That wasn’t so bad, was it?”

  Bertie’s foot tingled from both the stickers and Nik’s attention to it. “No, it wasn’t. Thank you, Nik. You’re going to make a fine doctor.”

  “Well, thanks, Bertie. I appreciate your vote of confidence.”

  She grinned then stood and kissed Nik’s cheek. “It’s been nice working with you this summer, Nik. Thanks for your friendship.”

  Thoughts of her fun-loving friend leaving soon made her weepy, so she bid them a hasty good night and retreated to her room.

  Riley mounted Mud and watched Bertie stomp toward the house. When she stopped and hopped around on one foot, he knew she’d stepped on a patch of stickers or a thistle. He almost rode down the hill to see if she needed help then thought better of it.

  Quietly clucking to the horse, they headed up the familiar trail across the back of Nash’s Folly to his place.

  He called himself ten kinds of fool for stopping to talk to Bertie. The smart thing would have been to take a wide berth around her and gone home.

  Instead, he’d been so drawn to her sweetness, it was as if he had no control over his thoughts or actions.

  He didn’t even remember reining in Mud or swinging out of the saddle.

  All he recalled was the way Bertie looked with the setting sun behind her, highlighting that gorgeous head of blond curls. The sight of her on the tree limb with her bare feet swinging in the breeze made him want her even more.

  Roberta Elizabeth Hawkins had worked her way so far under his skin Riley thought the condition might prove fatal. The very real possibility existed that he’d get himself killed first, though.

  Utterly preoccupied with thoughts of Bertie, he’d nearly been run over by a thirty-mule team yesterday and two days ago, he’d almost fallen into the thresher when Kade hit a badger hole in the field.

  Thoughts of Bertie were a distraction he could ill afford, particularly when nothing could come of his feelings for the girl.

  Complete stupidity kept him wanting to linger in her presence, to hear her laughter, breathe in her tempting scent. If he was smart, he’d never set foot anywhere he might run into her.

  Being smart had nothing to do with the state of his heart, though. Bertie had made him feel again.

  Somehow, she’d kindled a fire where he was sure nothing but cold, dead ashes existed. Each smile, each sway of her skirts, each toss of those golden ringlets stoked the blaze burning deep inside him.

  No sane man could have ridden past Bertie as she sat in the tree reading a book without stopping to take a look.

  She embodied every lovely, innocent thing a man could hope to find in a woman.

  Riley knew he was in trouble the moment he touched her foot. That feeling multiplied when he swung up into the tree. His lips itched to claim hers, his arms ached to hold her, his heart yearned to love her.

  Foolishly, or perhaps wisely, Riley sent her home before he found the temptation to love her too much to resist.

  In a huff, she’d gone back to the house, back to Nik.

  Part of him wished Bertie would surrender to Nik’s attraction to her and go with him to New York. Part of him thought he’d die if she did.

  No matter what happened, Riley knew one thing for certain — Bertie would never belong to him.

  Not ever.

  Chapter Seventeen

  “Keep Mom from wearing herself out,” Nik whispered in Bertie’s ear as he gave her a hug at the train station.

  Although he’d ridden his motorcycle into town to catch the afternoon train, the family all gathered to bid him farewell. Aundy insisted Bertie come along. She was glad to be among the extended Nash family as Nik made the rounds, shaking hands with the men and hugging the women and children.

  “I will. I promise.” Bertie squeezed his hands. “Thank you for your friendship this summer, Nik. I’ll miss your teasing and laughter around the house.”

  Nik playfully grasped her chin. “You’ll be fine. Just stay out of the stickers. And don’t overindulge in ice cream without me.”

  Bertie grinned and tapped his arm with her fan. “Yes, Doctor Nash. I’ll behave.”

  “Good.” Nik winked then moved on to give Caterina a hug around her protruding tummy. She wasn’t due to deliver until October, but Kade hovered around her. They both held a very real concern that she carried another set of twins. Ben and Brett continually asked if Caterina was bloated and would die like the dead cow they’d seen in a field outside of town. Finally, Kade sat the boys down and explained a new baby brother or sister would arrive before Halloween.

  “I expect a telegram letting me know the baby has safely arrived,” Nik smiled at Caterina as he shook Kade’s hand.

  “You’ll know as quickly as we can get word to you.” Caterina hugged him again. “Give Mama and Papa hugs from us.”

  Nik nodded then turned to Aundy and Garrett. He and Garrett exchanged a warm hug before his father turned him loose and quietly said something that made Nik smile.

  The young man wrapped his arms around Aundy and hugged her so tightly he nearly lifted her off her feet, making her laugh through her tears.

  “Aw, Mom. Do you have to cry every time we do this?”

  “Yes, I do.” Aundy wiped at her tears then kissed Nik’s cheek. “It’s so good having you home, I hate sending you back across the country.”

  “I know, but in another year, I’ll officially be a doctor. After that, it won’t be long before I’ll be home to stay.” Nik kissed Aundy’s cheek and looked around the group. “All of you take care. I’ll see you next summer!”

  The group waved as Nik boarded the train and disappeared from sight. Everyone else left, but Aundy waited until the train chugged down the tracks before allowing Garrett to lead her away from the depot.

  Bertie followed them back to the wagon Garrett had driven into town. He needed to pick up a load of supplies from the feed store and Aundy wanted to restock her cupboards after using almost everything during harvest.

  Aundy sniffled and worked to check her emotions while Garrett helped her into the wagon. Once she was seated, Garrett offered Bertie his hand and gave her a patient smile.

  “Say, Bertie, I think Aundy could use a good visit with Ilsa and I’d like to check in with Kade on a few things. Why don’t you meet us at the mercantile in two hours? Will that give you time to visit your friends or your brother?”

  “Thanks, Garrett. That would be wonderful.” Bertie looked forward to the opportunity to see Bobby and visit with the girls at the telephone office.

  “May I drive you somewhere?” Garrett asked as he expertly guided the horse through Pendleton’s busy streets.

  “Thank you for the offer, but it’s an easy walk to the telephone office from Ilsa’s store.”

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bsp; Garrett nodded and turned the horse down a side street then another, parking in front of Ilsa’s fashion boutique. He jumped down and lifted Aundy to the ground then helped Bertie to her feet.

  He started to hand her a five-dollar gold piece, but Bertie shook her head. “That’s not necessary, Garrett.”

  “Oh, but it is!” He placed the coin on her palm and folded her fingers around it. “You never know when some doodad or frippery might call out your name.”

  Bertie laughed and dropped the coin in the reticule hanging from her wrist. “Thank you. Thank you both. I’ll see you at the mercantile.”

  She heard Garrett offering comforting words to Aundy as they entered Ilsa’s shop. Bertie hurried down the street and around the corner, eager to see her friends.

  The bell jangled as she opened the door to the telephone office. She watched as Millie and Lacy directed calls with ease.

  Millie turned around and noticed her waiting at the counter. “Goodness sakes, Bertie! We haven’t seen you in forever.”

  “You saw me at church on Sunday,” Bertie said, giggling as Millie embraced her in an enthusiastic hug that knocked her hat askew. “Last I checked, that was only a few days ago, not forever.”

  Millie grinned and released her. “Oh, you know what I mean. What are you doing in town?”

  “Nik headed back to New York on the train. We came in to see him off. Garrett and Aundy have some errands to take care of, so I’ve got a few hours to myself before we head back out to the ranch.”

  “So about you and Nik…?” Millie glanced at her expectantly.

  Bertie shook her head. “There is no me and Nik. He’s a friend. A fun, exciting, entertaining friend — but still just a friend. And now he’s gone for another year.”

  “Well, that’s too bad. He’s grown into quite a catch. He’ll be even more in demand when he comes back as an official doctor and opens his own practice.” Millie motioned for Lacy to join them. A girl Bertie hadn’t met sat at the third station, handling the few incoming calls.

  “Hi, Bertie! It’s so good to see you.” Lacy hugged her then stepped back and studied her. “Your summer spent with Aundy and Garrett has certainly agreed with you. I’ve never seen you look lovelier.”