Page 7 of Chasing Trouble
“I know Dad should have taken you to the woodshed more often.”His green eyes shot her a warning glance.Unfortunately, his mother would never let him spank his sister, even though she needed a lot more of it.He just hoped his soon-to-be brother-in-law was taking her in hand—someone needed to, the mouthy brat.
“Adeline, stop torturing your brother,” Caroline admonished, but her eyes were twinkling.“And Mac...tell us about your little poacher.Was it one of the Johnson children?They had a boy, as I remember.Is he old enough to be the poacher?”
Subtlety was never his mother's or his sister’s strong suit.Straight out nosy was more like it.He sighed in resignation.“No, it wasn’t Luke, Mother.It was Whitney who was doing the poaching.”
“And how old is Whitney?”Adeline asked curiously.
“Not that it's any of your business, but she’ll be eighteen in a few months,” he replied grudgingly.“And since I’m on the subject of not being here tomorrow...I’ll just tell you that Whitney has some problems she needs help with and I’ll be going up there for Thanksgiving.”
Caroline laid her palm on his big hand.“So, you won’t be attending dinner in town at my sister's place for Thanksgiving?”Her eyes were full of concern.
Mac loved his mom, even though she drove him nuts sometimes.“No, Mom,” he replied gently.“Just between us, please, Daniel Johnson is away at the moment, working, and Whitney has been taking care of the family.I don’t want the sheriff to know, so please let me handle this.I’m trying to help Whitney out—for now,” he emphasized.“But if I’m not back tomorrow night, I don’t want you to worry about me.”
Caroline’s hand flew to her throat.“Be careful, son.There’s been talk in town of a rogue cougar headed in this general direction.Tell Whitney to stay out of the woods for a while.It’s already been sighted above the Bannister area three times, all on a course towards Bolton's upper regions.They say it tried to attack a child in one area.”
Adeline leaned eagerly forward.“So...what does Whitney look like?Is she pretty?”
“Adeline,” Caroline chided.
Adeline tossed her mother an unrepentant look.“What, Mother? You know you are as interested as I am.It’s about time Mac found a woman and settled down.Every girl in town has been waiting for him to take an interest in one of them.”
Mac scraped his chair back.“Just because you’ve found your happy ever after, Adeline, doesn’t mean everyone else has to.”He walked around behind her chair and popped a kiss on the top of her head.“I do love you, sis, even though you’re a mouthy brat and way too nosy for your own good.” Then he kissed his mother on the cheek.“Dawn comes early; I’m turning in.”
As he walked away, he could hear his mother chiding his sister again and had to grin to himself.His mom wanted him to find a wife; there was no doubt about that.It wasn’t that he didn’t want to—none of the girls in town interested him.But something about Whitney tugged at his heartstrings.She sent his protective streak into the red zone.
Mac was a man used to making quick decisions and carrying a load that hadn’t been meant for him to hold so soon.Being responsible for Applewood since his father died, and taking care of his mother and his sister, had become a big responsibility.
Perhaps, if he were honest, he even envied his cousins ' seemingly burden-free lifestyle.They still had a playtime that had been snatched away from him.Not that he would have acted as irresponsibly with girls as they seemed to, but at least he’d have more time to look leisurely around and chat girls up.
There had been one little redhead over in Bannister that had caught his attention, but some other cowboy had snapped her up when he was busy with the ranch.With his limited time, finding a wife would never be easy, but an idea began to unfold in his head—one he was sure Whitney wouldn’t like.
That night, he dreamed of Whitney, seeing her smiling face in the moonlight, her eyes soft and full of promise instead of resentment and stubbornness.
When he woke up, his first thought was of Whitney.Funny enough, he wondered what she looked like with her hair unbraided and flowing through his fingers.
In the kitchen, his mother was sitting at the table with a cup of coffee.She smiled when he sat down after pouring himself a cup.
“So, you are off to the Johnson cabin today.”
He nodded and smiled warily back.“Don’t go matchmaking, Mother,” he warned.“I’m just helping the family out.”
She took a sip of her coffee, her eyes twinkling.“Of course.I’m very proud of you for helping out that young girl and her family.”
He was taking a drink of his coffee when her following words had him sputtering it all over the table.
“But I wouldn’t mind if you brought home a daughter-in-law for me.”
He scowled at her and wiped the table with a napkin.“Mother,” he growled.
“Is Mac getting married?”Adeline yelped as she swept into the kitchen on her mother’s last words.“For real?”
He slapped his face and dropped his head into his hands with a groan.
***
THANKSGIVING DAY DAWNEDcold and crisper than the day before with light snow flurrying in the air.Whitney had been up since early morning, preparing the turkey and getting it into the oven of the old cookstove.She’d kept the stove going all morning with plenty of wood, and now the delicious scent was filling the air, making all their stomachs growl in anticipation.
Too bad they couldn’t afford to keep the electricity on.The previous owner had updated their home, but even in the 20th century, modern ways had barely reached rural areas like the Ozarks.Especially the poor, and those who didn’t want to live that way, like her dad.He preferred the old life and was teaching it to his children.Learning to live off the land, including what you could grow and hunt for yourself, was how he’d lived all his life.
