“No,” Elias replied after a somber moment. His brows rose in question. “Have you got a problem with it, McKenzie? Now, hold on a moment before you go off half-cocked!” he added when Cutter’s brows collided fiercely. He held a hand out between them. “I believe I’ve got a right to that answer! Katie’s my only granddaughter! Honest to God, McKenzie, I ain’t got no argument with you—don’t care what you are!”
Cutter straightened abruptly to his full height. “What I am-”
“Just allow me to finish! What you are does affect my granddaughter, and we both know it. I care too much about her not to take this up with you! Seems to me you’re a decent man. I ain’t blind—I know what I saw between you and Elizabeth upstairs, and that’s good. It says a lot! But I just need to know that you ain’t got a chip on your shoulder—that you know what you’re getting yourselves into—what you’re getting my granddaughter into!”
Just needed to know? No buts? Shutting out the tiny jolt of elation he felt at what he wasn’t hearing, Cutter forced himself to settle back against the fence and cross his arms. He could hear the plea in the old man’s voice. Never releasing Elias’ gaze, his jaw remaining taut, he was afraid that he was mistaking Elias’ meaning.
Elias shook his head gravely, choosing his words cautiously. “I gotta know she’s gonna be all right, McKenzie—that you’re gonna take care of her... that you ain’t gonna let them get to her.”
There was no need to clarify who them was. Both knew. Still Cutter didn’t reply. A muscle ticked at his jaw, though he wasn’t certain it wasn’t out of simple giddy relief. No buts.
“You see, I know,” Elias began carefully, meeting Cutter’s gaze unflinchingly. “I know how vicious folks can be.”
Cutter relented with a nod, acknowledging Elias’ right to be concerned. He glanced at the house and disclosed quietly, “It’s been a long time, Bass, since anyone’s done any name calling...” His gaze returned to Elias. “To my face or otherwise. Still, I can’t promise you how other folks are gonna be. Though I can assure you I will handle it. And…” He glanced away abruptly, unable to look Elias in the eye as he spoke the rest. “She’ll have a good and loving home.” It was the truth, he knew—with or without him in the picture.
“Well,” Elias replied, “I-”
“Granpapa! Granpapa—wait for me! I gotta tell you somethin’!”
The front door slammed discordantly in the distance. Both Cutter’s and Elias’ gazes jerked toward the sound of Katie’s exuberant voice. Each watched her enthusiastic approach with an odd mixture of relief and frustration.
Cutter was the first to tear his gaze from her. He shook his head, suddenly recalling her earlier interruption. “She always have such rotten timing?” he asked bluntly, though his lips were on the verge of a smile.
His face broke into a wide, lip-splitting grin as he turned to face Cutter, mischief sparkling in his eyes. “Always,” he swore emphatically.
Just then, Katie reached them. She glanced up at them, scrunching her nose in disgust. “Aunt Lizabeth’s gotta get a bath!” she exclaimed in disgust. “Why does Miss Mimi always wanna give everyone a bath? Me—Shifless!” she enumerated. “Now Aunt Lizabeth!”
Elizabeth was taking a bath.
An involuntary shudder coursed through Cutter at the declaration, and his gaze was drawn at once to the house.
What he wouldn’t give...
“And we haven’t even played yet!” Katie exclaimed.
Cutter shook free of his carnal thoughts, and despite himself, he chuckled at Katie’s disgruntled expression. He stooped to her eye level and ruffled her hair. Still chuckling, he asked, “Whattaya say, partner? Think we oughta go find ourselves a hidey-hole before Miss Mimi comes out scrubbing for us, too?”
Katie giggled and nodded vigorously.
The bath Miss Mimi had promised was wonderfully soothing, and for the first time in over a week, Elizabeth felt refreshed. In spite of the fact that the house boasted more luxuries than Elizabeth had ever known could exist under one roof, the ritual of bathing was carried on little differently than it was in her own small three-room home—in the kitchen, with water heated from the stove. Only, if the truth be known, her own tub was much nicer, and much more comfortable.
The tub she found herself scrunched into just now was little bigger than the small basin she used to launder her clothing at home. Still, it was a bath, with clean, warm water, and Elizabeth would never think to complain. It was amazing how quickly one became immune to the aches and pains of the trail—as a matter of necessity—and how quickly they returned at the end of the journey. Truthfully, she was afraid to look, but she could swear that her bottom was bruised until it was blue. And the back of her thighs? She grimaced inwardly. If they weren’t, as well, then it would be a miracle.
Miss Mimi, bless her soul, remained to wash her hair, knowing that it would be an impossible task to do herself in the body-squashing bowl she was sitting in.
“I just can’t get over how much you resemble Katherine!” Miss Mimi swore as she scrubbed.
Elizabeth winced as Miss Mimi’s nails raked over her scalp so vigorously. “It’s strange to hear you say so,” she admitted, grimacing. “Because I’ve never thought so. Katherine was always so beautiful.”
“Yes, she was,” Miss Mimi agreed soberly. “But have you ever looked in a mirror, Elizabeth? You’re certainly nothing to scoff at yourself! Why, I bet every man in Sioux Falls cried the day you were wed!”
Elizabeth smiled at the ridiculous statement, overlooking the reminder of her lie. “I’m afraid not,” she admitted, hating to disappoint Miss Mimi. “But then, I never felt too badly over it,” she rationalized, “because I never really knew many men who weren’t already married. Sioux Falls isn’t exactly swarming with people these days.”
“What a shame,” Miss Mimi said lamentably. “But it turned out all right for you, didn’t it, dear?” Finished with the scrubbing of Elizabeth’s scalp, she dipped a ewer into the tub. “Close your eyes,” she demanded, and Elizabeth immediately complied, bracing herself for the downpour. “That man of yours is really something to look at,” Miss Mimi remarked casually, dipping the ewer once more. “I can certainly see why you settled on him. Why,” she declared, with a girlish giggle, “if I weren’t already—” She blinked, and continued in another vein, a little more soberly. “Well, if I weren’t so darned old, and he weren’t already your husband...”
Elizabeth stiffened guiltily as Miss Mimi poured water over her head—this time without warning Elizabeth to close her eyes... and her mouth, which was hanging agape.
Elizabeth sputtered, spewing water.
