Godsend hell yeah herita.., p.6
Godsend (Hell Yeah! Heritage), page 6
When Austin opened his eyes, it was to see Jolie hurrying about his home. A wonderful smell wafted through the air. “You made biscuits?” he asked in wonder.
“I did, I hope you don’t mind.” She knelt by the fireplace, watching the cast iron pot as it sat, nestled in the white hot coals. Baking this way was new to her, but she thought she’d get the hang of it fairly easily. “I woke up early and I remembered what you said about the food. I found some honey. Do you have any butter?”
“I do. The container is hanging down in the well, where the temperature stays fairly constant.” Austin jumped up. “Let me go get it.” He gave her a big smile, whistling for Sandy. “Come on, boy. I bet you need a walk.”
As soon as Jolie was alone, she bounced up and ran to a hand mirror she’d seen resting on a small wardrobe. How did she look? She rubbed under her eyes and pinched her cheeks, trying to straighten her hair. She hadn’t felt like this…ever. When Charlotte would entertain suitors, Jolie stayed out of sight, lest talk of her being a part of the Belmont family became fodder for gossip. She often wondered what it would be like for a man to call on her, to bring her flowers, to take her for a walk in the garden. After arranging her hair, the best she could, Jolie let her hands drop.
What was she doing?
This time with Austin was nothing like that, he wasn’t a suitor and she wasn’t a debutante looking for a good match.
She was…a slave.
Jolie’s face and heart fell.
What was she thinking? She needed to move on before her heart was fooled into thinking she’d found a home. This man was kind, but he owed her nothing. And what if someone came looking for her? She’d been bought and her owner would be searching for his property. Bile rose in her throat and she grimaced at the bitter taste.
She was property.
Her whole mentality had undergone a complete reversal in the last few years. Going from the pampered, beloved child of parents who loved her to being considered something less than human was almost impossible for her to process. Jolie realized she’d been protected from the harsh truth of her life, wrapped in cotton wool. Only now could she see how she’d hovered just on the edge of a reality that she’d chosen not to acknowledge. Whispers, vague references, nonsensical explanations for things that should have horrified her – people in chains, people being whipped, people being killed for daring to stand up for themselves. Yes, she’d been a child, but she willfully chose not to connect the dots and admit the ugliness around her was part and parcel of her existence.
“We’re back!”
Austin’s arrival made her jump and she became aware of the odor. “Oh, I hope the biscuits didn’t burn. I was wool gathering,” she offered by way of an explanation as she rushed to the hearth. As she saved the biscuits, using a cloth to remove the pot from the coals, Jolie could feel Austin’s eyes on her. She couldn’t tell what he was thinking, but she was aware he watched her closely. Could he suspect the truth? Sometimes she felt as if she was branded with an invisible brand, the mark of Cain, declaring a judgment that the color of her skin didn’t readily betray.
“They look good to me.” Austin’s stomach growled so loudly that Jolie heard it.
“I made myself at home. I noticed you didn’t have very much flour left in the barrel.” She set the shallow cast-iron pot where he indicated on the table, letting it cool on a thin block of wood. She noticed the pottery container he’d brought, full of rich looking butter. “I could fry up some bacon if you have it.”
“I do, out in the smokehouse, but this looks heavenly. I don’t want to wait. Let’s eat.” He gave her a look of utter gratitude. “My pitiful attempts at baking have fallen flat, my biscuits are just hard flat discs.” He measured with his fingers, showing how little they’d risen. “Please sit.” Austin held the ladder-back chair out for her. At the moment, he was grateful for the efforts he’d made to bring some decent furniture from Tennessee. At the time, he’d cursed the trouble it had been to drive the wagon, cross the rivers on ferries, and keep the wheels from gumming up with thick gumbo mud. But now, seeing Jolie making herself comfortable on his furniture – his chair, his bed – he was proud he had them to share with her. She was so beautiful, she deserved fine things.
Jolie sat in the chair, unused to someone being such a gentleman to her. “Thank you.” She tugged at the hem of the shirt, wishing there was more material to cover her legs. “I feel a bit underdressed,” she admitted. “I need to see if I can repair the garment I had on when I arrived.”
Austin opened the jar of honey and held it out to her. “I’m afraid that garment is beyond repair, Miss Jolie. We’re going to have to get you something else to wear.”
He stopped talking to help himself to four biscuits, then to carefully butter them, his tongue peeping out one side of his mouth as he worked. Jolie couldn’t look away. He was so handsome. “I hope you think they taste good.”
Austin drizzled honey over one before slowly raising it to his mouth, the heat rising from the flaky bread in a barely visible thread of steam. As he placed it in his mouth, gingerly biting down, she held her breath waiting for the verdict.
“Lord have mercy,” he moaned. “Absolute ambrosia.”
Jolie let out a sigh of relief. “Good, I’m glad you like them. If you’ll show me what other provisions I could use, I’d love to pay back your hospitality by preparing more dishes for you.” Noticing he didn’t have anything to drink, she rose to pour him a mug of water.
Austin relished the food she’d prepared, almost as much as he relished her company. “I need to travel to Nacogdoches for supplies and while I’m there, I’ll get you some clothes to wear.”
All Jolie heard was that he was leaving, and the idea caused her to lose her grip on the piece of pottery, dropping it as it slipped from her fingers. When it struck the floor, it shattered, sending shards of sharp stone skittering across the floor. “Oh, no! I’m so sorry.” Immediately, she went to her knees, picking up the pieces, almost in a panicked state. “I broke it. I’m so sorry.”
Almost instantly, Austin was on his feet and around the table. “Stop! You’re going to cut yourself.” He squatted next to her, capturing her hands in his. “Please, Jolie. Stop.”
She couldn’t see. Tears blinded her vision.
“What’s wrong?” Austin’s voice rose. “Did you cut yourself?”
“Do you have to go just yet? Can’t we wait?” She didn’t give him time to answer. Knowing she didn’t have anywhere to go scared her to death. “Are you going to send me away?”
“What are you talking about?” When he realized she was speaking of his trip to Nacogdoches, he felt his whole body react to her plight. His heart swelled with tenderness. “No, Jolie, I’m not sending you away.” Austin answered adamantly. “I’m going to go and come right back home as quickly as I can. I’ll be gone five days at the most.”
“I can stay here?” she asked tremulously. “I mean, I can stay here while you travel there and back?”
“Of course,” he answered emphatically. “I want you to stay here where you’re safe.”
Awkwardly, Jolie rose to her feet, feeling embarrassed at her outburst. “I am so sorry about your cup. I didn’t mean to drop and break it.”
“Don’t you worry about it at all. I never liked that mug anyway,” he teased, wondering at her overreaction to such a small infraction.
She wiped the tell-tale tears from her eyes. “I’ll be more careful next time. I promise.”
“You don’t have to be more careful,” he tried to soothe her feelings, urging her to sit back down and eat. “Rest. Relax. This was nothing more than an accident.”
Both seemed like they wanted to say more, but neither did. After a few minutes, Jolie settled down and ate, enjoying every morsel. She was glad Grandmere had insisted she learn how to make biscuits. A wet cold nudge on her leg let her know someone else was hungry. With a sly glance at Austin, she slipped part of her food below the table, holding out a bit for Sandy. When he took it from her hand, she let a giggle slip from her lips.
“What are you doing?” Austin asked with mock severity. “Are you feeding that animal at our table?”
“Yes.” She giggled again. The way he’d handled the matter with the cup, gave her courage that he was someone with whom she could joke. “He’s hungry…and he’s cute.”
“You’re cute,” he muttered. “Save me two more biscuits, please.”
Jolie was careful to do as he said, but insistent on sharing her portion with the big dog who looked up at her with adoring eyes. “Good?” She patted him on the head. “After I clean up, we’ll go for a walk and try to find that willow bark I spoke of last night.”
“You two aren’t going alone. I’ll be escorting you.” After placing the last bite in his mouth, Austin picked up the crumbs and ate them too. “If I’m going to town tomorrow, I’ll need to make a list of what we need.” His face took on a pensive look. “I wonder…” He rose and walked to a trunk in the corner.
Jolie watched him squat, aware of his broad back. The long hair falling over his shoulders seemed to beckon her fingers to test its texture. “What are you doing?”
“This.” He stood up with what looked to be pieces of soft leather and some narrow strips of buckskin. “I think I can make you some crude moccasins, at least they’ll protect your feet while you walk around the place.”
Turning in the chair to face him, Jolie was stunned as he knelt in front of her, took her foot in his hand and began to wrap the leather around it, expertly binding the material and forming it into a protective shield. “Thank you,” was all she could murmur. She closed her eyes, overwhelmed at his nearness and the warm touch of his hands on her flesh.
Austin’s hands trembled as they grazed Jolie’s silken skin. She was so small, so delicate. So feminine. Since he was already at her feet, he found himself wanting to bow before her in abject worship. Touching her was absolute paradise. Struggling to maintain his composure, he spoke lowly. “This way you won’t cut your feet or get stickers in your toes.” His voice broke as his fingers skimmed the softness of her calf. “I want you to always watch out for snakes too. There’s some water moccasins down on the creek as big as you are. They should’ve already holed up for the winter, but we’ve had some warm days and I don’t want you to take any risks.”
“I’m not afraid of snakes,” Jolie spoke, trying to keep her thoughts straight as she processed the wonder of his hands on her body. Tingles of awareness traveled up her legs and straight to her core.
Austin knew he was doing a bit of excess touching, taking his time. But God in heaven, having his hands on her was a dream come true. The immense weight of the countless days of loneliness bore down on him like a mountain of despair. His imagination was running rampant, the only one who’d touched him in years was himself. The idea of this angel making herself at home on his body stole his very breath. “There.” He let himself have one last lingering touch as he ran his hand over her foot and up her leg a few bare inches above the leather. “I think that will help. Stand up and let’s see if they’ll stay on.”
Jolie stood, accepting the offer of his hand to steady her. “Oh, yes. This will be wonderful. I…lost my shoes along the way.”
Again, Austin wanted to ask her more questions, but the shadow passing over her face prevented him from doing so. “Ready for that walk?” He figured she might need to use the facilities.
“Let me straighten up here and I will be.” Happily, Jolie went to work, cleansing the pot by wiping it out, knowing she needed to preserve the seasoning of the cast-iron.
Austin didn’t stand idly by, he helped her pick up and put things aside, all the time thinking how wonderful it would be if he had someone to share his life with…someone like her.
Just like her.
Her.
Jolie.
“Jolie,” he whispered her name.
“What?” she turned to him, a smile on her face.
“Ah…” he stammered, caught mooning over the sight of her padding around his home like she belonged there. “I was just about to say that we could check out the trot lines on the creek and see if there might be any ripe persimmons left on the tree out back.”
Jolie’s face lit up. “Yes, that sounds like fun!”
He waited while she wiped down the table, giving Sandy one last bite she found left from their meal. “This is exciting. My life hasn’t been too happy lately,” she admitted, knowing her comment would make Austin curious. Before he could ask, she looked up into his face. “I’ll tell you the truth…before I leave.” She truly didn’t think Austin would betray her, he was just too good of a man.
Jolie hoped she wasn’t wrong.
“All right. Whenever you’re ready.” Austin’s eyes followed her as she came toward him, her eyes trusting. His soul sang when she held out her hand for him to take. Honestly, he hoped she never confided in him – because he didn’t want her to ever leave.
Slowly, he took her hand in his. The moment their flesh met, he felt the contact throughout his whole body. Bringing her hand to his mouth, he kissed it. Turning it over, he kissed the palm. “You have a birthmark. A heart. It’s beautiful.” He kissed the spot, staring at her face, trying to determine if she was feeling the same thing that he was or if this was just a product of his own loneliness and wishful thinking.
Jolie tried not to react, but the sizzling energy she felt at his touch was the most amazing thing she’d ever felt. What would it be like to kiss him on the mouth? She managed a side-ways glance, only to catch him watching her. She gave him a small smile. “My papa called it my beauty mark.”
“He was right.”
The moment grew heavy between them. Not knowing what to do or say, she changed the subject. “There was a lot of dew on the ground when I went out this morning.”
Austin didn’t like what he was hearing. “You went out by yourself? Why didn’t you wake me up?” All of the things that could have harmed her bombarded his head. Wolf. Bear. Panther. Indians.
“I had to.” She gave him a solemn glance. “I didn’t want to bother you.”
“Next time, wake me up,” he growled. “I don’t want anything to happen to you.” Before they went out the door, he shouldered his rifle.
Austin’s response, albeit terse, warmed her heart. “All right. I will wake you next time.”
Walking in the soft deer skin shoes he’d made felt so much better than being barefoot. Jolie skipped a few steps, laughing softly. “I love them; they feel good on my feet.”
Austin vowed to get her something even nicer to wear. “I’m glad.”
They visited the outhouse first, then headed toward the west a few hundred yards where Austin had broken up an acre or so more land for crops and cattle. As they strolled over, Jolie looked straight up into the tops of the big long-leaf pines. “The trees are so tall here. This doesn’t feel like Louisiana.”
“No, I agree.” Austin nodded. “Texas is a vast, untried wilderness. I haven’t seen all of it, but I have heard it spreads from this swampy forest to mountainous deserts, from wide plains to a rolling ocean. Before I left Tennessee, I bought this tract of land from a man named Nathan Davis. This whole area is part of an old Spanish land grant. Over in Nacogdoches, there’s a mission, a fort, and quite a few settlers. There’s also that mercantile store I was telling you about. I’m sure they have other business establishments by now. The settlement is growing by leaps and bounds. There’s even a half-way house where the stagecoach stops between here and there. A lot of progress has been made since I moved from Tennessee.”
Wanting to contribute to the conversation, Jolie was careful what she revealed. “I spent most of my childhood on the bayou, but I did have some time in New Orleans.” He didn’t have to know she was in chains. “My father said the city was very European. I saw many fine things there. I also visited a couple of plantation homes.” One should’ve belonged to her had things been different. “Despite the modern things, I much prefer your home.”
“Why?” Austin was surprised and curious. They moved closer to the garden, him reaching out to steady her when the ground looked a bit uneven.
“I feel safe with you.” The truth slipped out before she could call it back.
“You are safe and very welcome.” Austin felt his heart grow warm. He gestured toward the open area that had been carved into straight rows by his old mule, Sara. “I think we could pick a mess of greens for supper. Winter is always late coming to our world, but Christmas is right around the corner. Frost will kill all the vegetation soon enough.”
“And I can make cornbread,” she offered gaily, refusing to think about Christmas. She’d probably be long gone by then.
“This is the smokehouse.” He pointed to a small outbuilding. “Let me show you.” Opening the door, he let her enter first. “Watch your head.”
Jolie strained to see in the darkened interior. He left the door cracked so they’d have some light. “There’s pork here and venison. You’re welcome to use as much as you need.” Clearing his throat, he spoke again. “Not that I expect you to work or cook for me.”
She touched his arm. “I want to. Helping out will make me happy.” He waited while she briefly inspected the meat he’d prepared for later use.
“All right.” He smiled, picking up a tin tub. “Let’s gather some greens, then we’ll go a little further on our tour.”
They laughed and talked while gathering the collards and mustard. Sandy scampered between the rows, chasing a small rabbit who darted just out of his reach. Austin delighted in the time he spent with her. They discussed everything from politics to peas. “There’s talk of trouble, I’ve heard rumbling that some of the settlers are wanting to secede from Mexico.”
Jolie frowned. “I hope they don’t take up arms against one another.” She’d been through enough violent situations; another would be unwelcome in her mind.
“I’m sure they’ll work things out. Texas is big enough for everyone, seems to me.”
After they’d filled the pan, Austin set it on the rim of the well. He propped his rifle next to a tree, picked up a bucket, and they made their way to the back of his property. “There’s plenty of fruit trees out here.”
