“The words don’t matter,” Matt said softly. “It’s the thought that counts.”
Izzy sipped her coffee and hoped it would melt the lump in her throat.
“I’m going to need my hair cut again soon, Pa.” Aaron ran a hand through his hair, brushing the bangs from his eyes.
“Me, too.” Benjamin lifted his long dark hair away from his collar.
Matt winked at Izzy. “Tell me, wife. Do your talents run to haircutting, too?”
She shrugged. Right now, her heart was so light she’d try anything. “You can find out right after breakfast.” As an afterthought she added, “I wonder how you’ll look bald, Matthew. That is, if we discover I don’t have any talent for haircutting.”
The children howled, and Matt gave a look of mock pain before joining their laughter.
When the dishes were done, Matt located a pair of scissors and joined the others, who were waiting outside. Aaron had carried a kitchen chair into the sunlight.
“Who’s willing to be my first victim?” Izzy snipped the air with her scissors.
“I guess I am.” Aaron, always the responsible one, removed his shirt and draped a towel around his shoulders.
Izzy combed and cut, while the others watched and offered comments.
“You’re cutting too much, Isabella.” Benjamin caught a wisp of fine blond hair that drifted past him on the breeze.
“You keep that up, he’ll look like old Mr. Sutton,” Clement said with a giggle.
Del hung upside down from a branch of a tree and studied her oldest brother. “I think you look just fine, Aaron.”
“Are you almost through, Isabella?” he demanded.
“Just a few minutes more.” She combed his hair, clipping as she did, then took a step back to admire her work. “What do you think, Matthew?”
He nodded. “That’s a much better haircut than I ever gave. Go along inside, son, and see what you think.”
Aaron raced to the cabin to study himself in the cracked mirror of his father’s bedroom. Minutes later he emerged with a wide smile on his face. “I look like a man, Pa.”
“That you do.” Matt turned to Benjamin. “Your turn, boy.”
Izzy cut his hair, then Clement’s, earning praise from both boys.
“Now me.” Del straddled the chair as her brothers had done.
“I thought…” Izzy paused, proceeding with caution. “That is, you have such pretty hair, Del, you might want to consider letting it grow.”
“What for? It’ll just get in my eyes when I’m doing my chores.”
“I could braid it. Or curl it. Or tie it back with ribbons and combs. In fact, wait right here.” Looking just a bit mysterious, Izzy raced inside, then returned carrying the pink gown she’d been making out of scraps of fabric. In her other hand was a matching pink ribbon.
“Is that mine?” the girl asked in disbelief.
Izzy nodded. “Do you like it?”
“It’s too fine for me to wear. I’d get it all dirty the first time I did any chores.”
“You wouldn’t wear it for chores. This is for special times.”
“Like when? We don’t have any special times.”
Izzy shrugged. “You can wear it when we go t town. And no one will ever again need to ask if you’re a girl.”
“I don’t care what they think.” Del’s lips curled into a pout.
“Of course you don’t But there’s no sense trying to look like your brothers, either. Don’t hide yourself away, or pretend to be something you’re not That’s what I did, Del. It was dishonest Be proud of who you are.”
The little girl was about to refuse, when Aaron said, “I think you should give it a try, Little Bit. And I think you should do as Isabella suggested and let your hair grow, too.”
“You do?”
He nodded. “You’d look awfully pretty in that pink dress and long yellow curls.”
“You wouldn’t laugh?” she challenged.
He shook his head. “I won’t laugh. Promise.”
Since her hero had suggested it, Del didn’t have the heart to refuse. “All right, Isabella. We won’t cut my hair…yet. And I’ll try the dress later.”
“You won’t be sorry.” Izzy tied the girl’s hair back with the ribbon, then turned to Matt with a dazzling smile. “Your turn, Matthew.”
He knew why his wife had fought so hard to persuade Del to let her hair grow. He could still recall his outrage at the thought of a well-meaning woman cutting off all of a child’s beautiful hair so that she wouldn’t entice a man. He pushed the thought aside, determined to put it out of his mind.
He unbuttoned his shirt and wrapped the towel around his shoulders. But as she lifted the comb and scissors, he caught her hand. “Just a friendly warning. When you’re finished, I’d better not see any scalp.”
“Can I help it if the scissors slip?” she asked innocently.
Getting into the spirit of her teasing, the children giggled and called, “Better watch out, Pa. Isabella’s hands are mighty slippery.”
Despite the laughter and teasing, she managed to finish cutting his hair. When he looked in the chipped mirror, he was forced to admit it was the best haircut he’d ever had.
“Very handsome,” she said, coming up behind him.
“Me? Or the hair?”
“The hair, of course. Your face is barely tolerable.”
He dragged her close. “Careful. You wouldn’t want to rile me.”
She was laughing, but there was a devilish glint in her eyes. “Maybe I would.”
“Woman.” He kissed her full on the lips, while the children stood in the doorway of the bedroom, laughing and clapping. “You’re just full of surprises. Now I have one of my own.”
“What is it?” She was as eager as the children.
“I thought we’d drive down to Sutton’s Station today. See if we can spend some of our money.”
“On what?” Izzy was still reeling from his kiss and sought to steady her spinning brain.
“Oh. Seed. And nails for the addition. And maybe even a new pair of britches for Clement.”
“What’s wrong with the britches I’m wearing?” the boy asked.
“Nothing. Except that Isabella likes wearing them, too. And I can’t say I object to her wearing your britches once in a while. Actually, I like the way she looks in them.” He winked, and Izzy blushed clear to her toes, while the children giggled. This was a side to their father they’d rarely seen. And one they were beginning to warm to.
“Seriously,” he added, “you’ll be needing some supplies before the snow closes the trail to town. After that, we’re going to be pretty isolated.”
“Will we stay here and do your chores, Pa?” Del asked.
Matt shook his head. “I thought I’d made that clear. We’re all going.” He glanced at Izzy and held her gaze until her cheeks were flushed. “We’re a family. And we’re going to town as a family. Del, why don’t you take along some of your eggs?”
“You mean it, Pa?” The little girl’s eyes lit with pleasure.
“I do. And, Benjamin, you might want to bring along some of your honeycombs. And, Clement, how about bringing some of your pelts? Like Isabella said, I think Webster Sutton would be willing to buy them from you.”
The children were all staring at him as if they couldn’t believe what they’d just heard.
“Now,” he said with a grin, “how soon can everyone be ready?”
Izzy and the children were already scattering, too excited to even reply.
“Will you look at that.” Aaron, seated on the wagon beside his father, whistled through his teeth as his little sister walked from the cabin, followed by Izzy.
Del was wearing the gown Izzy had pieced together from scraps of pink fabric. To hide the many seams, she had threaded pretty pink ribbon across the bodice and around several tiers of the skirt, turning it into a frothy pink confection.
“Well, don’t you look pretty.” Matt climbed down and gave his d
aughter an admiring look before lifting her into the back of the wagon.
“Do I really, Pa?”
“As pretty as a little wildflower,” he said, tousling her hair.
“Paaa.” She smoothed the tangles and blew the bangs from her eyes. “Isabella says I’ll have enough hair to curl in a couple of weeks. What do you think?”
“I think,” he said diplomatically, “Isabella knows more about such things than I do.” He turned and caught his wife’s hand, leading her to the wagon. He lifted her up to the seat as easily as he’d lifted his daughter, then climbed up beside her and flicked the reins.
As the wagon rolled across the meadow, the hounds set up a chorus of barking and followed along until Matt gave them a stern command. At once they fell silent and returned to the cabin.
“I wish they could come with us, Pa,” Del said wistfully.
“They won’t mind,” he said.
“Especially when they see the surprise I left for them,” Izzy added.
“What surprise?” Del asked.
“A pan of meat scraps. They’ll be so full, they’ll probably sleep until we return. They won’t even have time to miss us.”
Soothed, the little girl stopped fretting and picked up one of Clement’s pelts, pressing the softness to her cheek.
As they neared Sutton’s Station and heard the sound of voices and laughter, Izzy saw the children begin to tense. She studied the boys in their carefully mended clothes, their neatly combed hair, and Del, who was already clutching Aaron’s hand for comfort. Hoping to put them at ease, she said, “Remember. Strangers won’t judge us by the clothes we wear, but by the smiles we wear. So put on your best smile and see if you can’t make a new friend today.”
Though the children looked doubtful, they climbed down from the wagon and trailed behind Matt and Izzy, their arms laden with the goods they were hoping to sell.
As they entered the general store they saw a group of children clustered around Gertrude Sutton, who was holding an armload of baskets and giving instructions in a loud voice. Benjamin, Clement and Del deposited their goods on the counter, then turned to listen to what she was saying.
“We’ll allow you to keep any apples you find. We ask only that you return the baskets to us after you’ve emptied them into other containers at home.”
She glanced over at the newcomers. “We’re clearing the orchard before the winter snows come. Would you children like to join us?”
“You mean we get to keep all the apples we find?” Benjamin asked.
“That’s right.” Gertrude Sutton held out several baskets.
After seeing their father’s nod of approval, the children accepted.
“What about our eggs and honeycombs and pelts?” Del asked.
“I’ll talk to Webster about them,” Matt promised.
The children followed the others from the store. As they walked away, Gertrude was overheard remarking to Del, “What a beautiful dress. I don’t believe I’ve ever seen you looking so fine, Delphinium.”
“Thank you, ma’am.” Del’s voice was high-pitched with pride. “My new ma made it for me.”
“Well. You’re a very lucky little girl.”
“Yes’m.”
It took Izzy several attempts before she managed to swallow the lump in her throat. Did Del have any idea what she had just said? New ma. Oh, the sound of it was so sweet, Izzy thought her heart might explode with happiness.
Seeing the way she had to struggle with her emotions, Matt squeezed Izzy’s hand as they turned away.
Webster Sutton looked down from his perch on a ladder where he was arranging a display of ladies’ hats.
“How do, Matt. Mrs. Prescott.”
Matt nodded. “Web. My family and I thought we’d better stock up on supplies before the snow comes. And we brought some goods for trading.”
“I’ll take a look at them in a minute.” The older man pointed toward a young woman standing behind the counter. “My niece, Sara Jane, just came in from St. Louis to help out. If you can’t find something, just ask her. Sara Jane, this is Mr. and Mrs. Prescott.”
The girl wore a crisp white apron over a gown of pale blue. Her hair was the color of honey, her pretty little face dusted with freckles. When she smiled, Aaron, trailing behind his father, stopped dead in his tracks.
Seeing his reaction, Izzy said, “Hello, Sara Jane. I’d like you to meet Aaron.”
“Hello, Aaron.” Her voice was as soft and pretty as her face.
When Aaron finally found his voice, all he could manage was a feeble, “Hello.” Then he blushed clear to his toes.
“Where’s your ranch?” she asked.
He took a step closer, until only the counter separated them. “Up in the Sierras.”
“That’s why I haven’t seen you in town before.” Her cheeks became a most beguiling shade of pink. “I would have remembered you.”
“How long will you be staying?” Aaron leaned casually on the counter, hoping she wouldn’t notice the way his legs were shaking.
“As long as Uncle Webster will have me. My parents died in a carriage accident, and he and Aunt Gert are all the family I have left.”
“I’m glad. I mean…I’m sorry, about your folks and all.” He felt the warmth creep up his neck. “But I’m glad you had someone here to take you in.”
“So am I.” She smiled then, and he felt a tightness in his throat that made it hard to swallow. “Can I help you find something?”
His mind raced. There must be something he could look at. Something that would keep her near him.
“You might want to look at some good boots for winter, Aaron,” Izzy prompted. “You’ve outgrown the ones you’re wearing.”
He shot her a grateful look. “Yes’m. Could you help me, Sara Jane?”
The girl led the way between the aisles, with Aaron following. He could be heard saying, “I suppose I’ll have to settle for practical boots. But if I ever got enough money saved, I’d buy those fancy boots over there, and that big black hat next to them.”
“Oh. Wouldn’t you look fine in them?” Sara Jane’s voice was tinged with awe.
“Poor Aaron.” Matt leaned close and whispered in Izzy’s ear. “The young fool’s lovestruck and doesn’t know what hit him. Before you know it, he’ll be like one of those dumb calves, going willingly to the branding.”
Izzy touched a hand to his cheek. “Sounds like someone I know.”
They were still chuckling minutes later as Matt began hauling sacks of flour and sugar to the wagon, while Izzy studied bolts of fabric and patterns for warm winter shirts.
“I’ll need some nails, Web,” Matt called.
“What’re you building now?” Webster put away his ladder and came around the counter, where he examined the goods for bartering.
“Going to add on to the cabin. Maybe build a bigger barn.”
“Must have had a good year,” the older man said as he hauled down a barrel of nails.
Matt nodded. “Crops were only fair. But that last herd of mustangs made me enough to see us through the winter.”
“That’s all a man can ask for.” Webster began measuring nails into a small cask. “You already cut the timber?”
“Some. Been cutting trees whenever I had time. Letting the wood age. There’s enough for the cabin. Should be more than enough for a barn by spring.” Matt nodded toward the children’s goods. “Everything meet your approval?”
“They’re fine. Tell Del I’ll buy all the eggs she can get me. And there’s always a market for honey around these parts. Just can’t get enough sweet things. As for the pelts, they’ll do nicely, with winter coming on and all.” He looked up. “I think there’s enough here to exchange for the nails and maybe something extra thrown in for good measure.”
Matt shook his head. “These belong to the children. I’ll let them decide what they want in exchange. As for the nails, I’ll pay for them.”
“Suit yourself.” Webster Sutton counted the mon
ey and handed Matt back his change.
By the time the children returned from the orchard, their baskets were bulging with apples. Benjamin and Clement were laughing with a group of boys their own age. Del and a little girl were giggling as they balanced a heavy basket between them.
“Look, Pa. Emily and I picked all these. There must be a hundred or more.” Del’s eyes were sparkling. “We took one basket to her house. And her ma gave us each a cookie. And then she helped me carry this basket here.”
“That’s nice. Looks like you worked awfully hard. Did you manage to eat any while you picked?”
“Uh-huh.” The two girls nodded and, giggling, scampered away.
Matt emptied the apples into the back of the wagon, then returned the empty basket to Gertrude.
“I’m much obliged for the apples,” he said.
“And I’m grateful to have the orchard cleared before the snow.” She glanced away, then cleared her throat. “Your children are turning out real nice, Matt. I’d say you and your new bride can be proud.”
“Thank you, Gertrude. Much of the credit goes to Isabella.”
“Hmm.” She pursed her lips and studied him a moment, then turned away. “I’ll expect you folks to stay for supper before you head back up that mountain.”
“That’s generous of you. We’re much obliged. But I’m afraid we’ll have to get started now if we’re going to make it home by dark.”
“I’m sorry to hear that. I’d like to get to know your bride better. Next time. Promise?”
“You bet.” He watched as she hurried inside the store. He took his time securing the sacks and barrels, savoring the rare sound of laughter he could hear drifting through the open door.
When he entered the store he found the children balancing a mysterious assortment of parcels and packages. “Well, I see you’ve figured out how to spend your profits. Is everybody ready to go home?”
Izzy and the children nodded and began making their way to the wagon. Only Aaron hung back, reluctant to say goodbye to the pretty little girl who was hanging on his every word.
“When I get enough money saved,” he told her, “I’ll be back for that hat and those fancy boots.”