Sweetbriar Read online

  Almost instantly a woman appeared—at least it seemed so to Linnet as she stirred from her drowsy state. The woman was tall, pink-cheeked, with a man’s coat thrown over her nightgown. Her cleanness made Linnet feel even dirtier.

  “Mac, what is Gaylon trying to tell me?”

  Linnet rose. “I’m afraid I’m the cause of all the problems. Devon rescued me from some Indians, and now I fear I’m to be a burden on all of you.”

  Agnes smiled fondly at the dirty girl while Devon and Gaylon exchanged looks.

  “She hasn’t had much sleep or food in the last few days and she’s been through a pretty rough time,” Devon explained.

  “From the looks of her, I’d say you was makin’ light of what’s happened to her. I’ll just take her home with me. What’s your name?”

  “It’s Linnet Blanche Tyler,” Devon said and grinned. “Watch her or she’ll be runnin’ your whole house before too long.”

  Linnet looked down at her feet in confusion.

  “Come along, Linnet, and pay no mind to these men. Would you rather sleep first or eat?”

  “I’d like to bathe.”

  “I can understand why.” Agnes laughed.

  Hours later Linnet slipped beneath the bed covers, her hair and body finally clean, scoured until Agnes had made her stop. She’d eaten four fried eggs and two huge pieces of toasted bread, coated with sweet, creamy butter. Now she lay in a clean nightgown, miles too long for her, and slept.

  When Linnet woke, the house was still, but she knew it was late in the morning. Stretching, she touched her hair to reassure herself it was still clean and left the bed to crawl to the edge of the loft and look down. The door opened and Agnes came in.

  “So, you’re awake. All of Sweetbriar’s dying to see what Mac brought home. I been to the Tuckers’, and their Caroline lent me a clean dress for you. Come down and we’ll see how it fits.”

  Linnet backed down the ladder, holding the long gown up.

  Agnes held the dress up to her. “Just as I thought, I’ll have to let it out in the bosom. You sit there and eat while I take a few stitches. Won’t take me but a minute.”

  Linnet ate cornmeal cakes, bacon and honey while Agnes sewed on the calico dress.

  “There now. All done. Let’s see what we have.” After she’d helped Linnet dress, she smiled at her. “I think Mac’s gonna be real surprised when he sees what he brought home.”

  “Do I really look so different?”

  “Honey, a doll made out of tar—a tar baby—wasn’t any uglier or blacker than what Mac showed me last night. Let me brush your hair.”

  “Agnes, you don’t have to do all this. Please, let me help you in some way.”

  “You done said your thanks too many times last night. I’ve never had a daughter, and so it pleasures me to be able to do this.” She stepped back, admiring her handiwork. Linnet’s hair cascaded in heavy locks down her back, a deep gold color with streaks of lighter hair, even a hint of red. Thick, dark lashes over big, odd-colored eyes made a person want to stare and stare just to try and find out what color they were.

  Agnes looked at Linnet’s trim, shapely figure in the snug dress. “You’re sure gonna give Corinne a run for her money.”

  “Corinne?”

  “She’s the Starks’ oldest daughter, been after Mac since she was twelve, and now that she’s about to get him, somethin’ like you comes along.”

  “Mac? Oh, Devon. Didn’t he tell you that he brought me here to teach him to read?”

  “Devon, is it? Well, I could have taught him…Never mind. Let’s get goin’. I can’t wait to see Mac’s face.”

  Agnes Emerson’s house was about a mile from the clearing that contained Devon’s trading post and the other buildings, and there were people, mostly children, every few yards, all anxious to look at the girl Mac had brought with him. They’d heard his stories all morning, greatly colored by Gaylon’s exaggerations.

  “She don’t look like what Mac said,” a voice came from behind Linnet.

  She turned to see a boy, about seven, with a dirty face and a long piece of string trailing from his pocket. “And what did he say?” she asked.

  “Said you was the bravest woman he’d ever seen.”

  Linnet smiled. “He doesn’t know me very well. I was just too scared to make any noise. I imagine you’d like to hear about his fight with Spotted Wolf.”

  “Mac fought an Indian?”

  “He certainly did.”

  “How come you talk so funny?”

  “I’m from England.”

  “Oh, well, I gotta go. See ya.”

  Agnes put her arm around Linnet. “Let’s go, and you all stop starin’ at her like she was some kind of freak,” she said to the children who still watched. “Let’s go show you to Mac.”

  The log house was large, L-shaped, and Linnet wondered that she hadn’t realized that it was some sort of store when she had seen it before. Devon was standing with his back to her, talking to a pretty, dark-haired girl with an incredibly voluptuous figure.

  The girl stopped in mid-sentence and stared at Agnes and Linnet in the doorway. Devon turned and looked at her, his eyes widening.

  “Well, ain’t you gonna say somethin’? Some difference from that smelly heap of rags you gave me last night.” Agnes’ eyes sparkled.

  Devon couldn’t speak. Linnet was pretty, very, very pretty with a delicate little face that held enormous eyes, a tiny nose and soft lips that curved now into a slight smile. He didn’t know why he felt betrayed, but he did. Why didn’t she tell him she was so damned good-looking? he thought in an unjust burst of anger. Maybe not tell, but at least warn him.

  “I think you’ve knocked his voice out. This here’s Corinne Stark and she’s often here at Mac’s store.” Agnes’ voice told everyone what she thought of Corinne’s forwardness.

  Devon looked away from the women to a big table piled high with furs. “Agnes, why don’t you take her over to Old Luke’s cabin? I figure she can stay there after it’s cleaned.”

  Linnet looked in question to Agnes, wondering what she had done to cause Devon to shun her as he was doing, but Agnes kept her eyes on Devon’s back.

  “I got too much work to do at my own place. You take her and show her Old Luke’s place.”

  Corinne smiled, turning to look at Devon. “I’ll go with you, Mac.”

  Agnes gave a cool smile to Corinne. “To tell the truth, Corinne, honey, I been needin’ help with a new quilt pattern your ma lent me, and she said you’d be the very one to help me.”

  “I can do that anytime.” The girl’s eyes were cold.

  Agnes gave her a piercing look. “Well, I ain’t as free as you with my time, and I need you this mornin’.”

  Corinne gave a pouty look of defeat, cast one more glance at Devon and followed Agnes out of the store, avoiding Linnet altogether.

  They were alone together, silent, Devon still with his back to her. She walked closer to him. “Devon?”

  He turned and glared at a spot somewhere above her head. “If we’re gonna see the cabin we’d best go now. I got work to do.” He left the store, walking quickly, ignoring Linnet as she tried hard to keep pace with his long strides.

  Chapter Three

  THE CABIN WAS A MESS. IT STOOD A FEW YARDS from Devon’s store, sunlight pouring through a hole in the roof, chickens roosting on the stones of the fireplace, flying squirrels scurrying out the open windows. Devon shooed the chickens out, their wings raising the dust. “Here it is. It ain’t much, but it could be livable with a little hard work. You ain’t afraid of a little hard work, are you, English lady that you are?”

  She smiled up at him and he thought of their two nights alone on the trail. It’s a good thing she didn’t look like she does now, he thought. He looked away.

  “Devon, are you angry with me?”

  “Why should I be ‘angry’ with you? What reason could you give me for being mad at you? I hear even Jessie Tucker likes you, and that kid don�