“I’m sorry, ma’am.” Luke studied her from a distance. “Just took me by surprise, is all. That’s a bad way to go, I’m told.”
“They told me he went with his head up, a smile on his face, knowing he was gonna be with the Lord,” she proclaimed proudly. “A man can’t die better than that, now can they?”
Luke stared at her for a long moment, amazed at how proudly she said that.
“Yes ma’am. I guess he was one brave man.”
“The Nelson boys were as good as they come. But now see here…You’re a nosy one, aren’t you?” She frowned as she whirled around and gazed at his lips.
“I guess so, I apologize. It must be painful to talk about.” Luke tried to remain unmoved by the news, but his body felt like it might split open from the pain in his heart. “I shouldn’t have brought it up.”
“They were both good men.” She eyed him suspiciously but tears brimmed in her eyes too.
“I’m sorry about them dyin’, it must have been mighty hard to take.” Luke tried to sound as though he didn’t care about her answer, but he waited with baited breath.
“More than you could know. Lee was a good man, and you don’t find many of those, these days.”
Their eyes met again as he stood towering over her. A little too close, he smelled the rose water on her. Enticing, and her stare was anything but provocative. She had pouting lips as she dared him to ask more questions. “I shouldn’t be tellin’ you nothin’.”
“You said these belonged to Lee. Maybe I shouldn’t wear them?”
“I told you, he’s dead. Besides, he can’t use them any longer. Somebody should get some use out of them. Lee and Dil were a kind bunch, they’d be the first to offer them.”
“Were they both in the army?”
She nodded out the back. “Confederate army. They’re both out there in the cemetery if you want to go look.”
“I’m sorry ma’am, that’s a lot of dyin’ to take.” Luke narrowed his gaze on her. She smelled so fresh and clean. He liked a clean woman. He shouldn’t be noticing, but he couldn’t help it. The smells were the things that reminded him he was home. He was so used to bad food, and dirty feet, and the stench of death that a woman soaked in rose oil just naturally caught his attention. She looked so soft, and inviting.
Luke felt his heart lift a little seeing things were still the same in his room. She had taken care of it, he could tell, there was no dust on the dresser, and the floors were shined. The clothes lay on the bed, and there were a pair of boots too. “If you can wear them, they are yours,” she said. “In payment for the first month’s wages.”
“Alright ma’am, that’s more than generous of you and thank you.”
Her breath hitched as he moved away and almost touched her in doing so.
“Something wrong?” he asked, almost reaching for her.
“No, nothing, it’s just—nothing.” She shook her head.
“I’ll leave so you can change. But before I do…” She moved to stand right in front of him, her breasts nearly touching his arm as she spoke. If she knew what she did to him, she didn’t let on. And he willed himself not to react, but that was a hard command. “Let’s get somethin’ straight. I don’t like the way you keep looking at me. Just because I’m alone, doesn’t mean you can have me. I’m a black woman and proud of it. So don’t go gettin’ no ideas about me. Just because I had a soft spot for one white man don’t mean I want any more. He was different. He respected me. Took care of me. I have a gun and know how to use it. I’m also skilled with a knife. But, don’t you go lookin’ at me like I’m a prize about to be taken. I-I softened a little because of your hard luck story, I guess, but let me warn you, I know how to use this gun. Understand? I keep it handy at all times. Lee Nelson may be dead, but he’s still in my heart. He’ll always be in my heart. And no man will take his place.” She hesitated. She was shorter than him by several inches and as she moved about she brushed him unintentionally. The word soft came to mind, and this time his reaction was sharp and almost painful.
He liked the way she talked about Dil too, as though she knew him.
He looked down at her and she gasped. “Well ma’am, I’m just not accustomed to seeing such a beautiful woman on a place like this, dressed for a lot of hard work. Forgive me, and my bad manners. Not many women wear pants; it’s something to behold. I’ve been at war for years, ma’am, first in Texas then in Arkansas. But bein’ around a beautiful woman, well, it’s hard to take your eyes away. And it shore don’t get old.” He heard his voice grow husky, as her eyes ran the link of him again.
“Well, try to control yourself. Don’t let it happen again. You’ll respect me and my orders or you’ll get off
this property. I’m not a cow, and the pleasure to gawk is not yours.”
“Yes ma’am, I mean, no ma’am. I’ll do my best not to stare.”
Her voice was commanding, but there was a shine in her eyes too. And he’d put it there.
He tipped his hat and turned to the clothes, as though she’d suddenly closed some door between them. “I think you done put me in my place.”
“Let’s hope so.”
He hurriedly changed and sighed as he brought his old clothes with him. He thought about her words and shook his head. She sure wasn’t in the market for another man, that suited him just fine. Somehow he had to find a way to be honest, once he knew the whole story.