“The girl’s been here four days. It doesn’t take that long to ride from Indian Territory to Maple Grove.”
“I know. I’m sorry, Mr. McRae, but I had an injury on the way. We had to stop for a couple days.”
Rachel stood inside the door, chewing on her lower lip as her head moved back and forth between Tori and Mr. McRae. Jesse remained in the background, frowning at the nervous movements of the man’s wife and her panicked, wide eyed expression. Her throat moved in a rapid attempt to swallow, and Jesse felt remorse for the trouble they caused her.
“And who’s he?” Mr. McRae jerked his chin in Jesse’s direction.
“This is my neighbor, Jesse Cochran. He accompanied me on the trip.” Tori turned to Jesse, her trembling bottom lip revealing her nerves. To deal with this brute of a man seemed to put all women in his vicinity instantly on edge. “This is Mr. McRae, Mary Jane’s father.
Jesse stuck out his hand. The large man ignored it.
“Miz Henderson.” Mr. McRae stepped closer, his deep voice filling the room. “We’re raising Mary Jane to be a good, God-fearing woman. If you think it’s proper to travel for days—and nights—with a man you ain’t married to, then you best get your girl out of here, and make it fast. And see that she doesn’t have any more to do with my Mary Jane.”
Jesse tensed, his hands fisting at his sides, anger churning his stomach. Tori grabbed his hand, and whispered at him, “No. Don’t do it.”
“Mr. McRae.” Jesse walked closer, blithely ignoring Tori’s request. “Miss Henderson is a respectable woman, and I advise you to keep any foul thoughts emanating from your questionable brain to yourself. Otherwise, I will find it necessary to apologize to your charming wife for knocking you to the ground in your own home.”
He jerked his head in Rachel’s direction. “Get your things.” Without moving his eyes from Mr. McRae, he added, “Tori go help her.”
Wide-eyed, Tori glanced briefly at Mr. McRae, then pushed Rachel ahead of her, hurrying them down the short hallway.
Jesse and Mr. McRae stood silently watching each other like two stags locked in battle, each waiting for the other to make the first move. The bully’s wife glanced at the two of them, twisting her hands.
“Would you like a cup of coffee, Mr. Cochran?” The pale woman cleared her throat.
“No, Madeline,” her husband growled, “he don’t want no coffee, and you git yourself to the girl’s room and hurry that other one along.”
Within minutes, Tori touched Jesse’s arm. “We’re ready.”
He nodded, then tipped his hat to Mrs. McRae. “Ma’am.” He placed his hands firmly on the women’s lower backs, escorting them from the house.
With three riders and two horses, Jesse decided they’d take the train back to Guthrie. After loading both horses, he ushered the ladies to seats in the fourth car. Rachel still sniveled, and an occasional sob escaped her as they made their way through the train. Once settled, he removed his hat and placed it on the seat next to him facing Tori and Rachel.
Jesse wrinkled his nose. With the train standing still, smoke from the engine drifted in through the small window. A quick glance at his watch told him they would be leaving soon. Not soon enough for him.
“It was so terrible, Tori,” Rachel whispered, nibbling on her thumb nail. “I never knew Mr. McRae was so nasty. Mary Jane said her papa was mean, but I thought she meant like my papa, when, you know, I did something wrong.”
Tori tucked a strand of the girl’s hair behind her ear and smiled. “How did you even get there from the train?”
Rachel raised her blotchy face. “Remember David Brenner from church?”
“I think so. I didn’t live in Maple Grove for long. What about him?”
“His sister, Adele, and her baby needed a ride to the train. She’d been visiting his ma. Adele lives in Chicago now with her new husband. He gave me a ride in his wagon on his way home.” For the first time since they’d picked Rachel up, she looked like her normal self. Her shoulders appeared relaxed, and a slight smile graced her mouth.
“Thank goodness you didn’t try to walk. So what happened with Mr. McRae?”
“Mr. McRae yelled at Mary Jane and her mama all the time. He wasn’t too happy to see me, told me right off he would send you a wire to come get me. Then he said I had to do chores.” Rachel put her face in her hands and sobbed.
“Then,” she sniffed, “he made me clean out the barn, collect the eggs, take care of the horse, and muck out his stall. Good thing I hadn’t ever milked a cow before, or he would have had me doing that each morning, too. He said if you didn’t come get me in a week, he would send me to an orphan’s home.”
Jesse felt his jaw clench, and his fists opened and closed. “Now I wish I had knocked that jackass on his backside when I’d had the chance.”
“Do you know Mr. McRae hits Mary Jane’s mama?” Rachel asked wide-eyed.
“What?” Tori’s jaw dropped.
“Yes. She made something for supper he didn’t like, so he hit her. I was so scared. Mary Jane cried and ran to her room, and I didn’t know what to do. Then Mr. McRae told me to clean up the dishes.”