Chapter 14

Cordia's look of surprise at seeing him in the doorway was only out done by the expression on Will's face. He had volunteered to repair the break in the fence while his cousins and aunt and uncle gathered up the stray cattle. They were just about finished and he had come back to check on his sister. He hadn't even noticed the wagon tied out front and was greatly astonished to see that his sister was not alone. Cordia, likewise, was shocked to see him walk in for some reason, though it made perfect sense, since he was staying there. She simply stared at him, dumbfounded, until Julia jumped up and ran over to hug him. "Will!" she exclaimed, as she attempted to throw her arms around him.

He stepped back, keeping her at arm's length. "Hold on, Jules. I'm soaked and you don't need to be getting all wet." She nodded, knowing that any amount of wetness could easily cause her consumption to flare up.

She stepped back away from him. "Sorry," she began. "I was just really excited to see you."

He smiled at her, glad to see that she was sounding a little more like herself. He had been extremely worried about her the last few days. She hardly ate, hardly talked. When she did sleep, it was restless. Then, he noticed her hair. "Your hair looks beautiful, Jules. I don't think I've seen it that pretty since Ma used to fix it."

Her hand automatically went up to touch her hair at his mention of it. "Cordia brushed it for me," she said, nodding in Cordia's general direction. It was then that Will remembered that they were not alone. He wasn't exactly sure what he was supposed to do. It wasn't often that he was introduced to a young lady, especially one of the social status of Miss Cordia Pike, whom he had learned much about from his cousin in the day or so he had been living there. According to Jaris, she was a goddess, the sweetest, smartest, prettiest girl on earth. And though he had yet to speak to her, he was sure Jaris was right on at least one count. She was strikingly beautiful. Which made it even more awkward. Luckily, Miss Cordia Pike seemed to know what was proper in this situation. She had already stood up while he was wondering what it was he was supposed to do. She gracefully crossed the room and offered him her hand. He looked at Julia who seemed to mime to him to just take her hand. But was he supposed to kiss it or shake it? He didn't know. Once again, he didn't have to decide, as Cordia gave his hand a polite shake and then let it go.

Cordia was nervous to do such a thing in her own right, especially knowing he had seen her staring at him yesterday on at least two occasions, yet she did know what was fit and proper. She curtsied briefly and said, "Pleased to meet you, Mr. . . ." then she realized she didn't know his last name. She knew it wasn't Adams because they were cousins on Jaris's mother's side, but she didn't know her maiden name. And he wasn't helping. He didn't fill in the blank as she had hoped, he just stood there, dripping and looking at her with those brown eyes, deep as a well.

Julia seemed to have finally gathered all of her wits about her. She chimed in, "Tucker. Our last name is Tucker."

Cordia nodded her thanks and tried a greeting again. "Please to meet you, Mr. Tucker."

"Uh," he began, glancing again at his little sister. She had read enough books to know how men and women were supposed to act around each other. He, on the other hand, was practically clueless when it came to these sorts of proper things. Finally, he got out, "Likewise, Miss Pike."

Cordia wondered how he knew her last name. Had Julia said it when she introduced her? No. She knew she hadn't. Maybe Jaris had said something about her. Then, she heard Frieda clearing her voice from over by the fireplace. At first, Cordia thought that she was simply trying to get Cordia to introduce her, but then she saw her nodding her head toward the door and realized she was trying to get her mistress to leave. After all, they had come and done the appointed task, and Julia had asked them simply to stay until her brother returned. So now, they should be free to go.

But Cordia knew that Jaris would be unhappy if he didn't get a chance to see her while she was there. So, rather than acknowledge that she had seen Frieda's head nod, she went with her initial instinct. "I'm sorry—where are my manners? Mr. Tucker, Miss Tucker, this is Frieda Gardner. She takes care of most everything at our home. I apologize for not having introduced her earlier."

Frieda looked extremely annoyed. They all exchanged how-do-you-dos and then a moment of awkward silence resumed. Once again, it was Julia who found something to say first. "Will, you should come over by the fire. You're dripping all over the floor."

Will looked down and could see that he surely was. He had taken off his hat but still held it in his hand. He now placed it on the hearth, next to the dresses Cordia had brought. "What's this?" he asked his sister.

Julia looked as though she had forgotten herself at first. Then, it came to her. "Oh, Cordia brought me some dresses. Wasn't that nice of her?" She went over and looked at the bundle for the first time. "They sure are fine-looking," she added.

Cordia smiled. "I hope they fit. There's about ten of them there, I think." Then, she hesitantly turned to Will, for some reason nervous to ask him anything. "Do you know if Jaris will be coming back anytime soon?"

Briefly, Will had hoped that Miss Pike was actually lingering to talk to him. He didn't know why he would care, but the thought had crossed his mind. Now, he realized she was waiting to see her betrothed. Without turning to look at her, he answered. "He should be home in a minute or two. They were getting the last of the cattle herded back into the pen as I was leaving. Would have stayed to finish the job, but I was a little worried about you, Jules."

Julia nodded in understanding. "I am feeling better," she assured her brother. He nodded, clearly seeing that whatever it was that this Cordia Pike had said or done for his sister had snapped her out of the trance she seemed to be in when he left her a few hours ago.