Page 361 of Conveniently Wed
When she leaped at him, pretending to be a wild animal intent on eating him, Nik jerked back against the sofa, surprised.
“What if you were stranded on a deserted island for years and years like Robinson Crusoe?” Aundy plopped on the chair across from him, looking forlorn, like she was lost and alone. “Just think of what it would be like. The things you’d see and smell and taste and hear.”
Nik sat up, eager to discover what she’d do next. She handed him the last book from her stack and snatched the pail by the desk she used to collect discarded paper. Upending it, she beat on it like a drum and marched around the room, dragging a gimpy leg while hummingYankee Doodle.
“What if you could walk beside General George Washington as he defended our great country during the Revolutionary War? Imagine what those soldiers endured as they battled for our country’s freedom.”
Aundy set down the pail, picked up the scattered papers, and dumped them back inside. She collapsed on a chair and blew thetendrils of hair out of her eyes that escaped the braid around her head.
“Tell me, Nikola Zorian Gandiaga, don’t you think books are a wonderful, magical thing?” Aundy thought she might have gone too far with her antics as the boy continued to stare at her, not saying a word.
When Nik finally jumped to his feet and clapped enthusiastically, she decided perhaps not.
“That was incredible!” Excitement filled his face. “Wait ‘til I tell the guys about this.”
“Hold on a minute.” Aundy grabbed Nik’s arm before he could rush out the front door. “There will be no telling of tales, young man. None at all. That performance was just for you, so you best keep it to yourself. I’ve got a dignified reputation to uphold, you know.”
Aundy thrust her nose in the air with an exaggerated haughty demeanor until she smelled cake.
“Oh, gracious! I forgot the cake!” Aundy ran to the kitchen, pulled the pan from the oven, and released a sigh of relief it hadn’t burned.
“The cake would have been a worthy sacrifice for all that.” Nik offered Aundy a teasing smile.
“Oh, go on with you.” Aundy helped Nik gather up his books and papers. He finished the glass of milk he’d been drinking and snatched a few cookies to take with him. “You can have a big piece of cake tomorrow, but only if you promise to be quiet about your lesson this evening.”
“I promise.” Nik wished the men in the bunkhouse could have seen Aundy in action. She would have made a great teacher, if she wasn’t so busy trying to learn to be a farmer. “Night, Aundy.”
“Good night, Nik. Be sure you get some sleep.” On his way out the door, she hugged his shoulders.
As she watched him saunter to the bunkhouse with his gangly stride, Aundy smiled. He was such a bright boy with a good heart. She couldn’t wait to see what kind of man he was going to grow up to be. She hoped one every bit as kind, gentle, and handsome as a certain neighbor whom she couldn’t keep out of her thoughts.
Since she’d pushed Garrett out of her life, she forced herself to stay away from Nash’s Folly. She picked up the telephone at least once a day to call and apologize. Those who listened in would have a heyday with the gossip if she did that.
Out riding the previous afternoon, she saw Garrett in one of the wheat fields across the fence and started to wave, then thought better of it.
If her traitorous heart had just listened to her head and not fallen for Garrett Nash, she wouldn’t be feeling so heartbroken and desolate.
In the front room, she set the books back on the shelf and grinned, thinking of the fun she’d had with Nik. It reminded her of happy times she’d shared with her brother and sister when they were younger. Lars never liked school, always more interested in something that involved activity, so Aundy would act out some of his lessons in an effort to help him learn. Ilsa liked to join in, and the three of them had a high time studying and playing together.
A frown creased her forehead and turned her lips downward as she thought about the letter that arrived from her sister. Although Ilsa was more than ready to travel to Pendleton, their aunt kept finding reasons to keep her there. The girl thought she might have to steal away in the night to escape. Aundy certainly hoped it wouldn’t come to that.
After folding the quilt and draping it back on the sofa, she checked the lock on the door and extinguished the lamp.
Exhausted, she fell into bed. Sleep was a long time coming as she thought about her farm, her family, her duties, and her love for Garrett.
Early the next morning, she heard several loud pops and dropped the glass she held, shattering it in the sink.
She raced out the kitchen door and was halfway to the barn when Dent and the hands poured out of the bunkhouse.
“What was that?” she asked, her eyes wide with fright. She thought she knew what made the sound, but hoped she was wrong.
“Gun shots.” Dent ran in the direction of the sheep, yelling orders as he went. “Fred, Bill, saddle up and meet us in the pasture. George and Glen get out on patrol and see what you can find. Li, keep an eye on things here. Hank’s with me, we’ll check on Nik and Lem.”
Aundy picked up her skirts and ran after Dent and Hank. Her side ached and her lungs burned, but she kept running.
As they topped the rise, they took in the sight of five dead sheep in a pool of blood that stained the grass crimson. Not far from them, they found a motionless dog, a bleating lamb, and the unmoving form of Nik.
“No, not Nik,” Aundy whispered, willing her legs to carry her to the boy. Dent reached him first and carefully rolled him over. Blood poured from a wound in his upper chest.
