Read Online Courting Morrow Little: A Novel by Laura Frantz - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Laura Frantz
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artillery and admiring the small cannon and
corral full of military mounts. Pa helped her into the wagon,
and they soon passed through the fort's postern gates, waving
as the sentries doffed their hats. She expelled a relieved breath
and looked over her shoulder at the fading pickets. Major McKie
stood stalwart beneath the oak beam that bore the name Red
River Station, but she didn't raise her hand in farewell.
Pa pulled the brim of his hat down over his eyes. "Daughter, I'm afraid your return has garnered attention from every
quarter"
"I don't know why," she said softly. "Except that there are so
few women here-and an abundance of men"
The wind was so brisk it seemed to devour her every word.
He gave no indication he'd heard her and appeared locked in
serious thought. Was he, like she, trying to dismiss the ominous
sight of so many munitions and uniformed men? The silence
made the ride even longer, and halfway home a wagon wheel
began to wobble. He jumped down to tighten it, but the effort
seemed to unleash his deep cough. The summer cold he'd taken
wouldn't budge, so stubborn that all the tonics she'd tried didn't
help. Aunt Sally had just given her some cherry bark. Perhaps
she'd make a tea of that once they got home.
Despite the beauty of the day and the dance of the wind all
around her, she felt a new uneasiness. When Pa was well again,
she'd not feel so unsettled, she reasoned. Singing school would
soon commence, and she might even have a sweetheart. Most
importantly, now that the soldiers had come, Kentucke would
cease to be a battleground. Surely with McKie's Virginians to
defend their settlement, the Shawnee would leave them alone. Morrow leaned over the letter, quill pen suspended.
Dear Aunt Etta,
Forgive me for not writing to you sooner. Since I've returned
to the Red River, there seem a thousand things that keep me
from ink and paper. Each time I sit down, I am called away. Pa
needs my help as never before. Please pray for him, as he's come
down with a racking cough that even Aunt Sally cannot mend.
The sewing chest you gave me for my birthday is beautiful
and a reminder of our happy times together. I'm sure the dress
shop is a bit lonesome. I doubt you miss my singeing ribbons
with the goffer iron or forgetting to order enough fabric, though
you might still covet my help with the ledgers. Hopefully Lady
Richmond is easier to please than when I left.
I must tell you that your dream of my marrying a man of rank
may come to pass. A Virginian has arrived at Red River Station
with a regiment of his own. Now there are dozens of soldiers to
choose from. But Bluecoats, not Redcoats ...
She dipped the quill in the ink pot again, a half smile playing
across her face. Somehow Major McKie and Aunt Etta's letter
seemed an interesting coincidence. Though he did seem a bit
bold, she almost preferred this to the awkward, uncouth settlement men. And he was handsome in a worldly sort of way, all
shine and polish and fine manners-
"Morrow, I'm in need of you" Pa stood in the cabin doorway,
his perspiring face apologetic.
Flushed, she got up from his writing desk, ashamed of her
romantic notions. "My letter can wait, Pa. I'm only writing Aunt
Etta"
Despite her reassuring words, he still looked pained. She
knew how hard it was for him to ask for her help. Doing so was
a reminder of his own lack, the cough that wouldn't quit ... and
Jess. She was little good being a daughter-and a small, weak one at that-but he seemed intent on keeping her that way,
forever reminding her to wear gloves or her bonnet as if trying
to preserve her for that day he could hand her to a man with far
better prospects than he had. A man like McKie ...
Following him to the barn loft, she watched alongside the
barn swallows as he balanced on a high-timbered beam, hanging tobacco from a long pole suspended between oak rafters.
One racking cough, she thought, and he might come crashing
corral full of military mounts. Pa helped her into the wagon,
and they soon passed through the fort's postern gates, waving
as the sentries doffed their hats. She expelled a relieved breath
and looked over her shoulder at the fading pickets. Major McKie
stood stalwart beneath the oak beam that bore the name Red
River Station, but she didn't raise her hand in farewell.
Pa pulled the brim of his hat down over his eyes. "Daughter, I'm afraid your return has garnered attention from every
quarter"
"I don't know why," she said softly. "Except that there are so
few women here-and an abundance of men"
The wind was so brisk it seemed to devour her every word.
He gave no indication he'd heard her and appeared locked in
serious thought. Was he, like she, trying to dismiss the ominous
sight of so many munitions and uniformed men? The silence
made the ride even longer, and halfway home a wagon wheel
began to wobble. He jumped down to tighten it, but the effort
seemed to unleash his deep cough. The summer cold he'd taken
wouldn't budge, so stubborn that all the tonics she'd tried didn't
help. Aunt Sally had just given her some cherry bark. Perhaps
she'd make a tea of that once they got home.
Despite the beauty of the day and the dance of the wind all
around her, she felt a new uneasiness. When Pa was well again,
she'd not feel so unsettled, she reasoned. Singing school would
soon commence, and she might even have a sweetheart. Most
importantly, now that the soldiers had come, Kentucke would
cease to be a battleground. Surely with McKie's Virginians to
defend their settlement, the Shawnee would leave them alone. Morrow leaned over the letter, quill pen suspended.
Dear Aunt Etta,
Forgive me for not writing to you sooner. Since I've returned
to the Red River, there seem a thousand things that keep me
from ink and paper. Each time I sit down, I am called away. Pa
needs my help as never before. Please pray for him, as he's come
down with a racking cough that even Aunt Sally cannot mend.
The sewing chest you gave me for my birthday is beautiful
and a reminder of our happy times together. I'm sure the dress
shop is a bit lonesome. I doubt you miss my singeing ribbons
with the goffer iron or forgetting to order enough fabric, though
you might still covet my help with the ledgers. Hopefully Lady
Richmond is easier to please than when I left.
I must tell you that your dream of my marrying a man of rank
may come to pass. A Virginian has arrived at Red River Station
with a regiment of his own. Now there are dozens of soldiers to
choose from. But Bluecoats, not Redcoats ...
She dipped the quill in the ink pot again, a half smile playing
across her face. Somehow Major McKie and Aunt Etta's letter
seemed an interesting coincidence. Though he did seem a bit
bold, she almost preferred this to the awkward, uncouth settlement men. And he was handsome in a worldly sort of way, all
shine and polish and fine manners-
"Morrow, I'm in need of you" Pa stood in the cabin doorway,
his perspiring face apologetic.
Flushed, she got up from his writing desk, ashamed of her
romantic notions. "My letter can wait, Pa. I'm only writing Aunt
Etta"
Despite her reassuring words, he still looked pained. She
knew how hard it was for him to ask for her help. Doing so was
a reminder of his own lack, the cough that wouldn't quit ... and
Jess. She was little good being a daughter-and a small, weak one at that-but he seemed intent on keeping her that way,
forever reminding her to wear gloves or her bonnet as if trying
to preserve her for that day he could hand her to a man with far
better prospects than he had. A man like McKie ...
Following him to the barn loft, she watched alongside the
barn swallows as he balanced on a high-timbered beam, hanging tobacco from a long pole suspended between oak rafters.
One racking cough, she thought, and he might come crashing
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