Marrying an Older Man Read online

  "Honey, after he tucks into those greens he won't be able to taste anything else."

  "Look who's here." Haney walked into the kitchen and

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  brought another man with him. Sarah laughed and opened her arms.

  "Kanaka!"

  Caroline watched as the man embraced Sarah. Of only average height, he nevertheless gave the impression of being a large, powerful man of quiet dignity. As the two separated, Caroline noticdd that his ink black hair was quite long and clubbed at the nape with a strip of painted leather. His facial features were those of one of the area's indigenous Indian tribes. His dark eyes danced merrily as they made a blatant perusal of her.

  "Shoes Kanaka," Sarah said, performing the introductions, "I'd like you to meet my good right arm."

  Shoes Kanaka folded his hands together in front of him. Inclining his head, he said solemnly, "Hello, Good Right Arm."

  Caroline laughed, and Sarah slapped him playfully on the shoulder. "Her name is Caroline Moncton."

  "But if you have to give her another name, call her Blondie," said Jesse, striding into the now crowded room. He clapped Shoes Kanaka on the back and cuffed him lightly about the head. "How's my newly married brother?"

  "Happy."

  "And yourself?"

  "Happy for him."

  "Me, too. Glad you could make it. Wait'11 you taste her cooking."

  Kanaka smiled serenely and pushed his gaze back to the "her" in question. Caroline smiled back. "She cooks, too?" he murmured smoothly.

  Caroline blushed, while everyone else laughed and Haney said, "According to Sarah she's even more useful ten she is pretty."

  "She. Her. Blondie. And what name do you prefer?" Shoes asked, his disturbingly discerning gaze never leaving her face.

  She shrugged and tried not to look at Jesse. "I'd settle for Good Right Arm."

  "Oh, no, you won't!" Sarah exclaimed laughingly.

  "Caroline is a beautiful name," Shoes Kanaka said. His dark eyes swept over her. "Blondie is apt. But Caroline suits better."

  She smiled at him; "Thank you. Caroline it is. Nowv do I call

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  you Kanaka or Shoes?" She let her tone convey her puzzlement at the odd moniker. His smile became a silent chuckle.

  "I am a farrier by trade, Caroline. That means I—"

  "Shoe horses. I see."

  "It makes more sense when you realize that his Chako name is virtually unpronounceable," Jesse said.

  Kanaka put on an offended expression. "Only for weak-minded whites," he said mildly, and everyone laughed at Jesse's comeuppance. Everyone but Caroline. Shoes Kanaka noticed. With a smile he said, "Perhaps you should judge for yourself. My Chako name is Wilipikin'ao'oa'nikilswaume."

  Caroline blinked, lost after the first half dozen guttural syllables. "Well, we could always call you Willie," she quipped, and the look on Shoes Kanaka's face made everyone laugh.

  After his initial reaction, which was something between surprise and horror, Shoes put his head back and roared. Tears were rolling down his cheeks when he finally managed to say, "I think Kanaka, if you do not mind, Caroline."

  "All right," Caroline said, chuckling. "It's nice to meet you, Kanaka."

  Kanaka took both her hands in his and stacked mem one on top of the other, squeezing them flatbetween bis own. "It's nice to meet you, Caroline," he said formally. Then he patted his middle, grinned and asked, "When do we eat?" That set everyone off again.

  Sarah eventually got the men out of the kitchen. Caroline listened to their laughter and banter from the den as she and Sarah hurried to put the final touches on the meal. Tiger showed up and was accepted into the camaraderie of his fellows. Finally it was all on the table. Sarah called everyone in and directed them to their seats. Haney and Jesse got the head and foot of the table, with Sarah on Haney's right and Caroline on Jesse's. Tiger sat next to Caroline, Kanaka next to Sarah and on Jesse's left, which put him opposite Caroline.

  "Now," Sarah said firmly, "I want everyone here to name at least one dung he or she is thankful for. Haney, you start."

  Haney made a face, but then he cleared his throat and said, "I'm thankful Rye is happily settled with Kara in New Mexico."

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  A chorus of "Here, here!" went around the table. Haney looked at Tiger.

  Tiger swallowed and said, "You tell him and I'll deny it, but... I'm thankful for Handsome. He's been a lot of help around here."

  "Amen to that," Jesse said, "and anyone who repeats it will answer to me."

  Everyone laughed, but then it was Caroline's turn. She couldn't keep her gaze off Jesse's face. "I'm thankful for my job and...for new friends."

  Jesse smiled and addressed the table at large. "Well, I don't even know where to begin. Guess I'll sum it all up by saying I'm very thankful for this place and for my family and for friends, old and new." Caroline smiled down at her plate, hoping he included her in there somewhere.

  Shoes had the floor, and he was smiling almost secretively. "I echo Haney in this. I've never seen Rye and Champ so happy. New Mexico and Kara have been good for them. Also for me." He said this with some surprise. "We're putting together a new business venture, Rye and I...and a very fierce Jicarilla Apache from the reservation down there."

  "I hear she's really something to look at, too," Jesse said meaningfully.

  Kanaka grinned. "She can cut your heart out and make you want to watch," he said.

  The men hooted, and Sarah announced gleefully, "I smell romance in the air!"

  "Maybe," Shoes admitted. "I'm working on it."

  "Well, that's something definitely to be thankful for," Sarah said.

  "I want to hear more about this business venture," Haney said.

  "Later," Sarah told him. "It's my turn now." She looked around the table. "I'm always thankful for my family and for friends, as well, but right now, I'm especially thankful for a recent addition." She looked directly at Caroline, who caught her breath in shock. "You've no idea how much easier you've made my life, dear," she said to Caroline. "I can't thank you enough for ail mat you do."

  "But it's just my job,** Caroline pointed out meekly:5 ;;

  "Nonsense," Sarah said. "You go way beyond what we pay you to do, and don't think I haven't noticed."

  Caroline blushed. Her eyes filled with tears. She'd been thinking only about Jesse and making him like her when she'd come here. She hadn't counted on this. She gulped and managed to say, "Thank you. I love it here."

  "Good," Sarah said, and with a satisfied nod, she turned to her husband. "You can carve up that bird now. I'm starved!"

  Caroline bowed her head and blinked back the tears while everyone else got down to the business of filling their plates. To her everlasting delight, she felt Jesse's big, heavy hand gently, briefly pat her knee, but before she could even glance her gratitude to him, he was reaching for the mustard greens.

  The meal was a delight for Caroline. She heard her cooking praised by everyone present—even Sarah, who had overseen everything and contributed recipes as well as ample guidance. Conversation focused on the business venture Shoes and Rye were considering, a re-creation of an Old West cattle drive, complete with Indians and chuck wagon for paying tourists. That turned into a detailed account of the very real cattle drive Rye had undertaken in order to save his wife, Kara's, New Mexico ranch. Caroline had heard and read the news accounts, of course, like everyone else, but the details were interesting and sometimes shocking.

  It was hard to believe mat sheer greed could make Kara's own cousin repeatedly attempt sabotage and even murder to keep Kara from saving her ranch. But thanks to Rye, Kara succeeded, and the hardship of the experience had forged a relationship between the two that had led to love, marriage, and by all accounts, happiness for Rye, Kara and Rye's son by a first marriage, Champ. It sounded as though it might yet lead to romance for Shoes Kanaka, too.

  They were all groaning by the time Haney announced that the ball game was about
to start, and dessert hadn't even been served yet. The men immediately rose to their feet. Caroline saw Sarah wring her hands lightly, a sure sign that she was hurting, but Sarah gamely began clearing the table.

  Caroline snagged Jesse's sleeve as he moved by her. A nod in

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  his mother's direction answered the question that he looked down at her. Comprehension immediately set his face. While the other men headed for the living room, he walked around the table to his mother's side.

  "Do you have anything to take, Mom?"

  "What?"

  "You're hurting, aren't you?" he said softly. Sarah looked up, apologetic and woeful. He put his arm around her. "Stop acting like you've done something wrong. Arthritis is a disease, Mom, not an insult. I want you to take something for the pain and go into the living room and relax. Caroline and I will take care of this." He nodded at the table.

  "Oh, no," Sarah said. "You go watch the game. I'll—"

  "We won't be a minute," Jesse said firmly. "Now, do you have something to take or not?"

  Sarah reached into her pocket and pulled out a small plastic box. "Caroline put them in a flip-top box for me," she said. "I . can't get the bottles open anymore."

  "We have a. lot to thank Caroline for these days," Jesse said, reaching for Sarah's water glass.

  "We certainly do," Sarah murmured. Using her thumb to push up the top of the box, she shook out two small pills before closing the box and dropping it back into her pocket She put the pills into her mouth and reached for the glass Jesse held. The glass wavered and shook in her hand, but she got the pills down, and Jesse took the glass away, returning it safely to the table. He glanced worriedly at Caroline, who was quietly gathering up dishes. "Go on," Jesse said to his mother, gently pushing her toward the doorway. "I want to talk to Caroline, anyway, and this is as good a time as any."

  Sarah relented. "Oh, all right. But I'll be in to help you wash up later, Caroline. The hot water seems to do my hands good." Caroline smiled and nodded. Sarah shook a crooked finger at Jesse. "You two hurry up, now."

  "We will," Jesse said, reaching for a half-empty bowl of potatoes whipped with sour cream and roasted garlic. "We want to watch the game, too."

  "We'll be quick," Caroline assured her. Sarah went off with

  a little smile curving her mouth. "You wanted to talk to me?" Caroline asked of Jesse after Sarah was gone.

  He shrugged. "I just said that to get her moving, but I might as well tell you how much I appreciate what you do around here. You're right about her being in pain too much, and I appreciate you letting me in on that particular secret."

  "Thanks, but I'm just trying to do a good job."

  "I don't think we have to worry about that," he said lightly, adding, "I'm looking into getting her help, and my brother is, too: I spoke to him about it the other night."

  "I'm glad to hear that, but you don't have to help with the table," Caroline told him. "I'm perfectly capable of handling this by myself. It is, after all, what you pay me for."

  "Don't be stupid," he said bluntly. "This is a holiday, and today you're not just the cook and chief bottle washer, you're a guest, too. Now move it. I really do want to watch that game."

  Caroline laughed. "What is it about men and football?"

  "It's not just men," he said defensively. "Mom loves football. You probably would, too, if you knew anything about it."

  "Maybe you can teach me."

  "Deal, provided we can get in there before the first quarter ends."

  "What's a quarter?"

  Jesse laughed and launched into an explanation as they carried dishes into the kitchen. Her head was spinning with football rules, objectives and anecdotes by the time they joined the others in the den, the leftovers put away and the dirty dishes soaking. Jesse was glad to hear that no one had scored by the time they joined the others watching the game. Caroline was relieved to hear mat me first quarter had not yet ended. He dropped down on one end of the couch next to Shoes and Tiger. Haney occupied his usual easy chair and Sarah the other. She shoved the comfy ottoman at Caroline with her foot. Caroline rolled it over to the end of the couch and sat down next to Jesse, who was busily and loudly explaining what was taking place while talking encouragement to his team of choice.

  Caroline didn't understand a moment of it, but she had great fun just watching the others and listening to Jesse's convoluted

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  explanations and the good-natured arguments they inevitably spawned. She began to realize that watching the game was as much a game as the game itself! And she naturally took Jesse's side in every argument. After all, he was her teacher. His point of view was the only one that made any sense to her or even registered. At halftime, Sarah asked who wanted dessert, and to Caroline's surprise, everyone did.

  Shoes raved about the lemon meringue pie. Haney gobbled up two pieces of the pumpkin without comment or pause. Jesse savored a huge chunk of fresh apple cake, which Sarah had told Caroline was his favorite, and Tiger, to Caroline's amazement, ate some of everything. Sarah nibbled pumpkin pie and cake, but Caroline couldn't bear the idea of swallowing another bite. She concentrated on getting everyone served and keeping their coffee cups filled before the game resumed.

  As they all trooped back to the den, she was surprised and pleased when Jesse volunteered to trade places with her, saying, "You're probably tired of sitting on that ottoman without anything to lean back against." It was Kanaka who insisted on taking the ottoman, however, and so Caroline wound up sitting right next to Jesse on the couch. When Jesse lifted his arm and stretched it along the back of the sofa at one point, Caroline told herself that it was a casual, thoughtless gesture having more to do with his own comfort than any intention to get closer to her, but she couldn't help the small flutter of excitement that began in her chest and moved lower until she was almost embarrassed by it. No matter what Jesse was thinking—and he didn't even seem to notice that his arm was almost around her—the fact remained that this was the best Thanksgiving she'd ever known, and it was all due to Jesse. She intended to make sure that he knew how happy he'd made her today.

  Jesse stretched and inhaled the cold, sharp air. It had been a good day—the company, the food, the atmosphere. His team had even won. What more could a man ask for? The door opened, and Shoes Kanaka stepped out onto the porch with him, shrugging into his coat.

  "Hey, chief! You out for a breath of fresh air, too? Or are you leaving us?"

  "I'm off. It's getting late, and all that good food is making me sleepy."

  Jesse nodded. "You know you're welcome to stay for the night. We always have a bed with your name on it."

  "I know, and I appreciate it. You. are my second family. But my first deserves some of my time, too. I'm heading out to the reservation. My uncle expects me."

  "How is Man Father?"

  "Well. Di'wana's death is still difficult for us all, but his faith is strong, and she is at peace. It helps, frankly, that Rye and Champ are happy with Kara now."

  "I know what you mean. I worried Rye would never find real happiness, and that would surely affect Champ. I'm glad for mem all."

  "I, also." He lifted a hand to the back of his neck, slipped it beneath his ponytail and rubbed leisurely. "It's kind of hard to watch sometimes, though."

  "What do you mean? What's hard to watch?"

  "Rye and Kara," Shoes said. "They're so hot for each other they practically smoke. They kind of eat each other with their eyes, you know? Kind of like you and that little Caroline."

  Jesse nearly dropped, his knees suddenly weak. "Are you nuts? You been smoking or something, having visions?"

  Shoes chuckled and tucked his fingertips into his jean pockets. "Jesse, that girl hangs on every word you say. She can't keep her eyes off you—and vice versa."

  Jesse tried to laugh it off. "She's just a kid. She wants to impress the boss."

  "She doesn't look like any kid I ever saw," Shoes commented
, "and don't try to tell me you haven't noticed."

  "She's a pretty girl," Jesse said tartly, "but she's way too young, and she's not my type."

  Shoes sent him a scathing look. "She's every man's type, and you darn well know it Long silky hair, face like an angel. There's nothing wrong with her figure, either. She ought to be six feet tall with all mat leg."