Chapter 11
"Did you have a nice afternoon at least?" Katniss asked as the two women climbed into bed together for a second evening.
"We did," Delly said, a blush creeping up her tear-stained cheeks.
After the men had left the house, Katniss had washed the dishes, while Delly laid her head onto the dining table and sobbed.
"I don't know why I'm so upset," she blubbered. "But seeing Eli brings back thoughts of what our lives might have been if things had been different."
"You mean if he'd been an entirely different person altogether," Katniss said, as she put the tin plates onto the mantle shelf.
Delly lifted her head from the table. She swiped her hands across her wet cheeks. A faint smile appeared on her face. "It does sounds preposterous when you put it that way."
She sighed. "At least Rye stood up for me. I wasn't sure how he'd react when Peeta told him about Eli."
Katniss was glad to have avoided that conversation. She hoped that Rye had the good sense to value Delly more now. He'd certainly paid enough for her freedom, assuming that Eli agreed to the set terms.
"I meant to tell Rye everything," Delly continued. "Sam told me to. But the time never seemed right."
Katniss handed Delly a cup of tea and sat down across from her at the table. Delly had misled everyone, not only Rye. After hearing Delly's story and meeting Eli, Katniss couldn't condemn Delly for leaving her husband.
But to wed a second man when you were legally married to another was bigamy, plain and simple. She felt compelled to ask her friend. "Why did you agree to marry Rye then?"
"I wasn't planning to. But Rye insisted because of the baby."
Katniss guessed as much. She'd overheard some of the conversation the two had had while she'd been talking with the reverend. Delly had seemed hesitant. Katniss had thought it was because they'd fought the previous evening. She never would have guessed the real reason.
Yet that moment would have been the ideal time to tell Rye that her husband wasn't dead – that she had deserted him. Yet Delly had remained silent. Did she keep quiet out of fear of Rye's anger or had she concluded that she could get away with it without Rye being the wiser. Katniss didn't know. But it seemed clear from what she'd seen of Delly and what Peeta had told her about Rye, that the two of them were at ease taking foolish risks. Perhaps they were a good match after all.
As soon as Delly finished her tea, the two women went into the bedroom and readied themselves for sleep. But even after Katniss blew out the candle, they continued to talk in the darkness.
It reminded Katniss of the evenings she and Prim would lie abed discussing the activities of their day. Only those conversations had centered on the amount of eggs the hens had laid that morning or the antics of Prim's goat Lady.
"I'm so glad you were here," Delly said. "Your presence kept Eli behaving better. And if you hadn't come up with that story about you and Peeta being married, I don't know what Eli would have done.
"Peeta likes you so much," Delly continued. "I hope you feel the same. He's so kind and, well, handsome." She giggled. "He certainly gets noticed by every woman who visits the trading post. Why I think if I'd met him first, I might have fallen for Peeta instead of Rye."
Katniss was glad the darkness hid her displeasure at Delly's admiration of her beau. She lay awake long after Delly had nodded off thinking on it. Katniss reassured herself with the thought that she'd know Peeta for six months now. They'd been writing letters. He said he liked her. Why he had proposed marriage only yesterday.
Still Delly's words made her a tad uneasy. How would she and Peeta continue to know each other better when they lived so far apart? Would letters and perhaps an occasional visit be enough? What if Peeta lost interest in her?
The next morning Delly stayed in bed, with the curtains shut, avoiding Eli completely.
Katniss cooked breakfast and called the men in to eat. Billie was there too; he'd slept straight through the night after his long ride. Rye or Peeta must have taken him aside and told him about Eli and Delly's relationship and how Eli thought that Peeta and Katniss were married, because Billie teased her good-naturedly, calling her "Mrs. Mellark" when he thanked her for the meal.
Katniss cheeks grew warm, especially when Peeta got up and kissed her cheek and called her "sweetheart" before leaving the soddy. She wondered if Peeta and Rye had even slept. Both had dark circles under their eyes and were yawning.
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As always the stagecoach arrived mid-morning. This coach was heading east, back toward Ft. Kearny and all the way to St. Joseph, Missouri. Three passengers were inside, an elderly woman and her two, middle-aged daughters. They got out to eat, while Peeta and the driver changed out the horses.
Rye spoke with the driver, buying a ticket for Eli to the end of the line in St. Joseph.
Eli had bathed in the creek after breakfast and trimmed his beard with a scissor Peeta loaned him. But getting cleaned up only further emphasized his thin, sickly appearance. His skin was yellowed. Liquor had taken its toll on the man.
"I'd like to say goodbye to Delly before I go."
Rye shook his head. "No. It's not a good idea."
Peeta looked to his brother. It was harsh, but he agreed with Rye. He had a sinking feeling that if Eli spoke with Delly he'd change his mind about leaving. That he would remain at Mellark Ranch and try to woo back his wife. Peeta doubted it would work; but why take the chance?
Selfishly Peeta just wanted the man to go. He and Rye had spelled each other, keeping watch over Eli during the night. They were both exhausted and they still had a full day of work ahead.
Eli scowled, but he didn't argue.
Rye pulled a cloth pouch from his pocket. "Here is your money, Mr. Mitchell. My promise remains. If you ever show your face again at Mellark Ranch, I will shoot you."
Eli climbed into the coach and left with the other three passengers.
"I hope we did the right thing Peet," Rye said as the two brothers watched the stagecoach head eastward. "He's taken almost all our money. There's no guarantee he'll stay away. He could get off the stage at Ft. Kearny and resume his card game with fresh reserves."
"It's his money now, he can do with it whatever he wants," Peeta pointed out. "But you've got a wife and child on the way to think about so you better get back to work."
"But what if he loses everything and comes back looking for more?"
"Then you'll have to shoot him."
"That's why I like you Peet. You're always looking on the bright side."
Peeta thought about asking Katniss to take a walk with him but the afternoon was too busy, and he was weary from lack of sleep. Two wagons traveling together along the trail stopped at the post needing supplies. Delly and Katniss washed bedding and Billie helped them hang it out to dry in the hot afternoon sun.
Dinner was a rushed affair. More venison. Everyone was quiet, likely recovering from the previous day's excitement. Bedtime was early. Peeta suggested that Katniss sleep in his soddy so that Rye could return to his bed with Delly.
"I'll sleep in the Pony quarters with Billie."
"All right," she agreed. Peeta walked her to the door of his house. Bright orange streaks spread across the sky as the sun lowered. "We haven't had much time to talk since yesterday afternoon," he said. "I hope this hasn't changed anything between us."
He'd been worried about it all day. Surely Katniss must be disgusted about the mess Rye had brought upon himself. Would she assume he was the same as his brother because they were related, because he'd chosen to live and work with his brother?
He didn't get a chance to get any more words out though because Katniss had reached up to his face and pulled it toward hers. Their lips crashed together. He was startled at the passion she exhibited. When they pulled away both were breathless.
"What was that for?" he panted.
Katniss smiled. "I just wanted you to know how much I appreciate you."
"Well I appreciate you too," Peeta said, reaching to rest his hands onto her waist and pulling her back toward him.
They kissed a second time in a more leisurely fashion. Peeta could feel Katniss melting into his chest and he had the sudden urge to pick her up and take her into his soddy and shut the door behind them.
But he wasn't Rye, so he didn't. He pulled away. "Good night Katniss. Pleasant dreams."
Her face looked dazed, but she nodded and went inside.
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Katniss stumbled into the dark soddy, walking slowly until she reached the edge of the bed. She sat down and pulled off her shoes setting them underneath. She ran her fingers over her swollen lips.
She'd never been so bold before. But she had no idea how to go about expressing her feelings to Peeta. How to make him understand how much she liked him. And Delly's remarks, about Peeta and the other women passing through the station bothered her more than she thought because she'd heard them months ago from Madge, as well. She'd dismissed them at the time, but now that she was here….
She sighed, wondering what she was doing.
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Peeta lay on the hard, dirt floor of the Pony rider's quarters. He'd barely slept the previous evening. He was exhausted now but he couldn't fall asleep because he kept reliving the kisses Katniss had given him. Her actions had taken him by surprise. Her feeling seemed to have shifted. He wondered what had caused them to change, but he was too tired to analyze it. He was just glad they had. Glad she was willing to look past his brother's faults and see that he was different.
Peeta woke up refreshed, determined to take Katniss on that walk he'd promised her days ago.
At breakfast, he made a point of reaching for Katniss' hand across the table and thanking her for the fine meal of eggs and biscuits and venison. Then afterwards when the two got a brief moment alone, he asked her to go walking with him after dinner.
His heart soared when she agreed.
"You two are looking sweet on each other," Rye said as he and Peeta cleaned out the hen house later that morning. "You should ask Katniss to marry you so she'll stay here. Delly could use the help."
"I already did." A knot formed in Peeta's stomach as he thought about his impulsive proposal.
"What?" Rye stopped scraping the dried excrement from the floor of the coop and pulled the bandana down that covered his nose and mouth. "You didn't tell me. I guess congratulations are in order."
"She turned me down."
His brother's eyebrows rose. "Why?"
"She said she didn't know me well enough."
"What more does she need to know about you Peet? I think she must have figured out by now what an imperfect lot the Mellarks are."
"Speak for yourself Rye."
"And hell, she already knows that you snore and steal the blanket…"
"That was an unfortunate mix-up. I don't want to remind her of that."
"When did you ask her?"
"Right after she took down the deer."
"While you were dragging a dead deer carcass back home?" Rye snorted. "That's not very romantic."
Peeta rubbed the back of his neck. "The words just popped out of my mouth."
"Clearly Katniss has a serious effect on you if she's reduced you to babbling. Look, that was a few days ago, right after she arrived. She looks to have loosened up considerably since then. I caught her staring at you over breakfast this morning.
"You did?" He'd spent half the meal sneaking glances at her. How had he missed her eying him?
"I think you should ask her again. I think she might just surprise you and say `yes' this time."
"Has she said anything to Delly?" The two women seemed to have become fast friends.
Rye shook his head. "Not that I'm aware of. But I know Delly wants her to stay here."
She isn't the only one, Peeta thought.
"Look why don't you two go on a picnic this afternoon," Rye said. "Delly and I can run things. Ask her to marry you in a proper way and all. Women are more likely to say `yes' if you put some romance into it."
"She's already agreed to go walking with me after dinner."
Rye frowned. "I guess you could do it on a walk."
"Are you an expert now on women and romance?"
"I always have been little brother," Rye said, pulling the bandana back up over his face and getting back to shoveling.
They ate dinner early because Sam was scheduled to return and hand off the mail pouch to Billie.
"I wonder how Sam will look," Delly said.
Rye chuckled. "He's only been gone a couple of days."
"He's going to be tired," Billie said as he shoved a biscuit into his mouth.
Katniss nodded in agreement. "And hungry too."
Delly looked around the table. "I'm going to tell him about Eli coming here."
"It's up to you Delly," Rye said. "But Eli's gone now, for good."
"I know," she said, staring at a spot on the table.
Peeta tried to think of something to say to lighten the mood, which had gone sour at the mention of Delly's former husband. But Billie beat him to it.
The teenager looked at Katniss. "You gonna tell him about your marriage Mrs. Mellark," he teased.
Katniss cheeks grew pink.
"Aren't you two taking a walk Peet?" Rye asked. "Leave now. Delly and I will wash up."
Peeta looked to Katniss. "Are you ready to go."
"Yes."
Just as she stood up, some loud "whoops" sounded outside the house.
"Damn it, is that Sam already?" Billie sprang up from the table. "He's early." He raced out of the soddy. Peeta and Rye followed him.
The two brothers headed for the corral, while Billie ran behind the house to relieve his bladder before the ride.
Sam raced up the corral. "Where's Billie," he called out.
"Hold your horse. You're ahead of schedule by a couple of hours," Rye said, as he positioned the saddle onto the horse's back.
"The rider got to Hawthorne Station early too," Sam explained.
Peeta picked up the mochila and placed it over the back of the fresh horse.
Billie ran into the rider's quarters and came out carrying his horn and wearing a revolver holstered onto his waist.
He mounted the horse. "See you in a few days," he called before racing off.
"Go inside and eat," Rye told Sam. "Delly saved some food for you. You should go too, Peet, take that walk with Katniss."
Peeta stopped in his soddy first to change his shirt. It had been a hot day and he was sweaty. He wanted to wear something decent. He wasn't sure yet if he was going to take Rye's advice and propose again. He'd have to see how things went.
He returned to the house to get Katniss only to hear Sam telling her about the situation at Hawthorne Station.
"Your cousin Gale asks that you come home right away. Every one at the station is sick at their stomach and in bed. Even the baby."
Damn. A sinking sensation came over Peeta.
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Despite the summer warmth, Katniss felt a chill go down her back when Sam spoke. She'd been enjoying herself so much at Mellark Ranch. Even though she was doing the same chores she would have done at Gale's and Madge's house it was different because at Mellark Ranch everyone worked together. And of course there were her growing feelings for Peeta.
But along with the mail pouch, Sam had brought reality with him. The time for her visit was clearly over. She was a healer and her cousin needed her help. She didn't want to go back so soon, but she owed Gale; he'd taken her in when she had no one.
She thought of saying goodbye to Peeta, though, and felt like crying. When would she see him again?
"Did the preacher who married Delly and Rye, stop there?" Katniss asked.
Sam shook his head. "No. Was he supposed to?"
Katniss bit her lip, irritated that Reverend Undersee was too prideful to visit his daughter and grandson. Maybe he could have helped to nurse his sick family.
"Are you ready to take that walk now?" Peeta stood in the doorway.
"Yes." She left out of the house to join him.
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A feeling of impending doom hung over Peeta as he led Katniss in the direction of the Platte. He was thinking about reaching for her hand when Katniss stopped abruptly. "I need to go back Peeta."
"What now? We just started our walk."
"No, I mean to Hawthorne Station. They're all sick there. If anything happens to the baby, well I'd never forgive myself."
Peeta sighed. As soon as he heard Sam's words, he knew this would happen. He wasn't ready for Katniss to go. Not yet. Would a proposal change her mind about leaving? He doubted it. Her relatives would still be sick.
Katniss furrowed her brow. "Could we leave tomorrow?"
Peeta rubbed the back of his neck. "I guess so. I'll talk to Rye."
"Thank you so much." Katniss kissed his cheek. As she pulled back he saw gratefulness in her eyes. Was she that eager to be parted from him?
Damn. Why did Sam have to bring such bad news? A flood of worries overwhelmed Peeta. Countless scenarios that could turn this promising situation sour once they were separated.
When he left Katniss at Hawthorne Station, he might never see or hear from her again. With time to think, she'd reconsider her feeling about him and come to the conclusion that he was a jackass the same as Rye. Or she'd change her mind about that wealthy farmer that had set his sights on her. Or she'd catch whatever illness ailed her relatives and die.
Every self-loathing thought he had about himself surfaced. The voice of his mother who'd mocked him for wanting to be a baker rather than a storekeeper. And now, when he'd been saving for years to break away from his brother and open his own bakery, he'd given away a fair portion of his savings to help Rye get rid of Delly's former husband. He'd be stuck working with his brother forever.
He looked down at his clean shirt. Why did he think it would make any difference?
He was fooling himself. He had nothing to offer to Katniss.
"Do you still want to take a walk?" Peeta asked. Likely she wanted to go back and rest. They'd have to leave early.
"Yes," she said, grabbing his hand and squeezing it, and pulling him forward.
He sighed and allowed her to pull him along.
They walked in the direction of the broad, muddy Platte River in silence.
"A penny for your thoughts," Katniss asked him.
He smiled faintly. "I was just thinking how much I'm going to miss you."
"I'll miss you too," she said. "But I need to get home."
Of course Hawthorne Station was her home, but it saddened Peeta to hear her call it that.
"I just wish…" his voice trailed off.
"Wish what?" she squeezed his hand gently.
The ground was getting muddy as they got closer to the river's banks. Peeta stopped and turned toward her.
"I wish you would stay here."
A puzzled look came over Katniss' face. "But you knew I had to go back sometime Peeta. You promised to escort me."
"I know, but I was thinking that you might have changed your mind."
She frowned and adverted her eyes from him. Peeta wondered if she was thinking about the kisses they'd shared. Surely they meant something to her. They certainly had to him.
When she wouldn't answer, he pressed her. "What's wrong Katniss?"
"Nothing's wrong Peeta. Why would you think that?"
"I thought you, oh never mind…"
He reached for her hand. "We should probably be heading back."
They walked back in silence.
"We should leave at sunup," Peeta said when he brought her to the door of his soddy.
"All right," Katniss agreed. She squeezed his hand and leaned in to kiss him. But he stepped back. It was better this way. "Good night."
Rye's eye's widened when Peeta entered the main house. "Well that was a quick walk. Did you ask her?"
Peeta shook his head. "She wants to head back early tomorrow morning on account of her family being sick. I told her we'd leave at sunup."
Rye grinned. "Ask her on the way, then you can pick up her things, and bring them back with her. Do you want to take the cart?"
Peeta shook his head. "I don't think she's coming right back." His voice dropped. "I don't know when I'll see her again."
Rye rolled his eyes and chortled. "Did you hear that Delly? Peeta thinks that Katniss is leaving him for good."
"She's leaving?" Delly's panicked voiced called out from behind the bedroom curtain.
"To take care of her sick family," Rye shouted back.
Rye turned to his brother. "We'll be up before you leave to say goodbye, but my bride and I are going to retire now seeing as our wedding night was postponed. So shut the door behind you Peet."
Peeta scowled when Rye winked at him.
Author's Note: There was a shortage of doctors on the frontier. Most who headed west settled in towns, rather than in the rural areas. Sick people were cared for by their families. Highly contagious diseases, such as cholera, smallpox, diptheria and typhoid fever, could spread quickly from person to person. An epidemic could affect whole families at one time. Cholera was one of the most dreaded illnesses with symptoms of nausea, vomiting, chills, thirst, and spasms. It could be deadly.
