Western Spring Weddings

by Lynna Banning

  “Thank you,” she said softly.

  Dal twisted her about and headed toward the stairs. Jake could look all he wanted. His redheaded wife, Sara, who managed the hotel kitchen would tear Jake apart if he did more than look. That piece of information released some of the tension that had settled in Dal’s neck as he led Ellie up the staircase and down the hall.

  He opened her door first and waited for Oscar to set down her bag. “That will be all,” Dal said, taking the other two bags from the clerk. The man could wait until he turned to dust before Dal would give him a tip.

  Oscar must have understood that because he bowed at the waist, and then quickly backed out the door.

  “I’ll be across the hall,” Dal said to Ellie, setting down one of the two bags in his hands.

  As he turned away, she said, “Your other bag.”

  He didn’t turn around. The sight of the big bed in the room behind her had his blood heating up far faster than the warmth from those little kerosene heaters on the train. “That is yours. Clara sent it. I’ll see you in the morning.” He shut Ellie’s door behind him and marched across the hall. He’d barely closed the door to his own room, and was still staring at the big bed identical to the one across the hall, when a knock sounded.

  Holding in the air in his lungs was impossible. Letting it out in one breath, he spun and opened the door. A maid with a tray supporting a decanter of what he assumed was brandy and a glass smiled up at him. “Mr. Reynolds said this should warm you.”

  As Dal waved a hand for her to enter and to set the tray on a table, he noticed another maid across the hall, at Ellie’s door. That tray, which Ellie was graciously accepting from the maid, held a porcelain teapot and cup. Dal grinned and gave Ellie a nod before he turned to the maid leaving his room. Pulling out his money clip, he separated out two bills. “Here, give one to the maid across the hall, please.”

  “Certainly, sir,” the girl said.

  Ellie had already closed her door. Dal shut his and walked over to the table, taking a shot of brandy, which did a nice job of warming him and settling his nerves.

  Until he climbed into the big bed, that was.

  * * *

  Ellie had never seen such elegance and was afraid to touch anything. Her hands had trembled so badly she’d feared the teapot on the tray would fall off and break before she’d set the tray on the table. That had been several minutes ago. The tea would most likely be cold by now, and her hands were still shaking no matter how briskly she rubbed them together. Her entire home could almost fit in this room. The bed was twice as big as any she’d seen, and there was a table with two chairs, a dresser with a mirror and another chair over near the curtains that hung clear to the floor. There was also the separate bathing chamber just as Mr. Reynolds had said.

  Pivoting in the doorway of the bathing chamber—something she’d truly never seen before, nor had ever imagined existed—she scanned the rest of the hotel room again. The bed was covered with a shimmering white quilt that looked as thick and soft as clouds. Biting her bottom lip, she slowly crossed the room and then laid a hand on the bed. It was as soft as she’d imagined, maybe softer.

  Ellie took another look around as excitement began to bubble in her stomach. Unable to control herself, she turned and threw herself backward to land on the bed. It bounced slightly, but silently, as she sank into the softness.

  “Oh, my,” she whispered, closing her eyes to fully experience the luxury completely surrounding her. She, Ellie Alexander, was lying on a cloud of softness, surrounded by luxury—

  She shot upright and flung herself off the bed. Spinning about, she scanned the white material for any dirt or grime from her coat. Thankfully there wasn’t a mark to be seen. She removed her coat, and sniffed it, wondering if it did smell like kerosene as Dal had said. After hanging it on a hook by the door, she paused near the table holding the tea. She supposed it would be terrible for it to go to waste, so she poured a cupful and sipped it.

  By the time the cup was empty, she’d wandered up and down the room one more time. It was like a fairy tale, a dream. Upon setting the cup back down carefully on the table, she pinched herself just to make sure she wasn’t actually dreaming.

  As she rubbed her arm, easing the sting of her own pinch, her gaze landed on the bag Dal had left. It wasn’t a dream. She was here to buy the items for Clara’s wedding gown, and she needed to get her head out of the clouds.

  Ellie picked up the bag Clara had sent with Dal. That hadn’t surprised her. One of her excuses not to go had been the condition of her wardrobe. In that case, too, Clara had been relentless, insisting that she would loan her clothes.

  Thankful that Clara, even injured, had remembered that, Ellie set the bag down on one of the chairs and opened the hatch. On the top rested an envelope, bearing her name. She set it on the table in order to first examine the rest of the bag’s contents.

  The bag wasn’t very large, but here, Clara had performed a miracle. There were three dresses. Lovely dresses. A blue one with covered buttons, a pale orange one with white stripes and a mint-green one with delicate lace trim. There was also a gray cape with black frogs. It was the cape that made Ellie’s heart soar clear to the heavens above. Dal’s comment about her wearing old clothes because of the train had been a kind thing for him to say, but it had made her fear tomorrow morning and more of the clerk’s scathing looks at her coat.

  “Thank you, Clara,” she said softly to the air. “You are truly the best friend I’ve ever had. Will ever have.”

  Ellie hugged the cape one last time before she draped it over the back of the chair. Then she proceeded to hang up the other dresses, removing her old coat from one of the hooks in the process. She folded the coat and placed it in one of the dresser drawers, along with the extra undergarments she’d brought from home. She also tucked her traveling bag and the leather one of Clara’s in the bottom drawer before going back to the table.

  Settled on a chair, with another cup of tepid tea sitting before her, she gently unsealed the envelope. This was the first letter she’d had addressed to only her. Even though it hadn’t arrived by post, she treasured knowing that the words inside were meant for her alone.

  Unable to stop herself, she read the neatly penned note quickly. By the end of the message, her heart was racing. Taking a deep breath, she read it again, and then closed her eyes.

  “Oh, heavens, Clara,” she whispered. “How could you ask that of me?”

  Chapter Six

  Dal had bathed and shaved, and wasted a good amount of time listening and checking for movement across the hall. For the hundredth time since crawling into the bed last night, he wished his sister had been able to join them on this trip. Then he would be able to go about his business without having to wait for a woman.

  Having believed that Clara and Ellie would be shopping together, he’d set up a few appointments for himself, including visiting the carriage company. Clara’s buggy didn’t have a backseat, and Dal had a feeling she and Bill would be starting a family soon. They would therefore soon need something larger. He’d planned on ordering one as a wedding gift while in town.

  Letting out a growl, he marched for the door. It had been late when they’d arrived, but Ellie should be up by now. If she wasn’t, he’d wake her.

  His knuckles were about to rap on her door when he pulled his hand back. He could leave a message at the front desk for her. But then she probably didn’t know where any of the shops were. Although they weren’t hard to find, and the clerk could direct her.

  Hell. He didn’t want Oscar talking to her, not after the way he’d sneered last night. For that matter, he didn’t want Jake ogling her, either.

  “Oh, for tarnation,” he muttered and rapped on the door before he changed his mind again.

  It opened almost instantly, and what he saw made him ogle. His eye
s were glued to her and wouldn’t move.

  “Good morning,” she said. “I was hoping you’d rise soon. I’ve read the paper three times.”

  “You— I—” He bit his tongue to keep it from flapping. The white-and-orange-striped dress fit her as perfectly as his favorite gloves covered his hands. He could believe running his hands down her sides, over her hips, would be just as— Stopping that thought before it could fully form, he asked, “Are you ready for breakfast?”

  Her smile was amused. “Breakfast? I already ate.”

  “You did? Where?” He peeked around her to see the room as neat and tidy as it had been the previous night.

  “I brought things with me,” she said. “And had tea left over from last night.”

  He’d been wasting hours, ignoring the growling in his stomach, while she’d been eating cold food from home and drinking leftover tea?

  “Well, I’m hungry,” he said. “So you’ll have to eat again.”

  The snap of his words stung even him, as did her startled look.

  “All right,” she said softly. “I didn’t mean to upset you.”

  Guilt, something he rarely felt, burned in his stomach. He scratched his head with fingers that still tingled from his earlier wayward thoughts. “You didn’t upset me. I’m just hungry.”

  “I’ll gather my cape,” she said, “so I can leave after we eat.”

  He nodded and waited for her to drape a gray cape he recognized as his sister’s over her arm before she stepped into the hallway. Now that he thought about it, he recognized the dress that fit her so perfectly was Clara’s, too.

  “Did you sleep well?” he asked, trying to keep his eyes and mind on things other than that dress.

  “Yes, you?” she asked as they started for the staircase.

  He nodded and let out a grunt of sorts. The air around him had picked up a subtle sent, like the smell of sunshine after rain.

  “I never dreamed a bed could be so soft.”

  At her words, a sting struck him low down, and caused him to stiffen. Clearing his throat, and stopping his thoughts from going off-kilter again, he said, “Jake prides himself on having the most comfortable rooms in the city. He’s built quite a reputation for it. People from all over the nation have stayed here.”

  “It’s certainly lovely,” she said.

  “So are you.” Dal bit his tongue, but the words were already out.

  Her gaze snapped his way, but then away again just as fast.

  He held his breath as they started down the stairs. Maybe she hadn’t heard him, or understood what he’d said. He could hope that was the case.

  “Good morning,” Jake greeted them from behind the desk. “Sara still has breakfast on the stove, and I have a table ready for you.” He stepped around the high counter. “Miss Alexander, dare I say you are as glorious as the sun today? I do hope you slept well.”

  “Very well, Mr. Reynolds. Thank you.”

  “Come,” Jake said, taking her elbow. “I told my Sara I would introduce you this morning.”

  “Is Sara your wife?” she asked.

  “Yes, the other most beautiful woman in the world.”

  Following behind, Dal clamped his back teeth together. He no longer felt like a greenhorn, but he wasn’t willing to acknowledge that the green in him now was more the shade of jealousy. That would be ridiculous, and he was not a ridiculous man. Or a jealous one.

  After seating them at a table near the windows, Jake went to locate Sara.

  “Is his wife as gracious as he?” Ellie asked quietly once they were alone.

  Ready to snap that gracious wasn’t the word he’d use, Dal pinched his lips together, but his muscles loosened as his gaze met hers. There was trepidation in Ellie’s eyes. He’d forgotten this was her first trip to the city, her first trip anywhere.

  “Yes,” he answered. “Sara is a very nice woman, and an excellent cook.” Nodding in the direction over Ellie’s shoulder, he said, “Here she comes now.”

  Sara was as welcoming as ever, and quickly left to make their breakfast orders. Dal found himself relaxing and enjoying Ellie’s company. Her eyes never stopped taking in their surroundings and the sights out the window, and he didn’t mind answering her questions.

  When Sara returned to their table to deliver an appetizing meal of steak and eggs, Ellie’s eyes widened.

  “We only serve Rocking R beef. It’s the best there is,” Sara said.

  Ellie nodded, but waited for Sara to leave before she whispered, “I’ll never be able to eat all this.”

  “Then just eat until you’re full,” Dal said, already slicing into his steak.

  After a couple of bites, she asked, “Does all of Kansas eat Rocking R beef?”

  “No,” he said. “Just half of it.”

  Her eyes widened again before a smile spread across her lips. “You’re teasing.”

  He nodded. “Eat. You have a lot of shopping to do today.”

  She took a couple more bites and then asked, “What are you going to do today?”

  “I have a list of things to see to,” he answered after swallowing.

  “Me, too,” she said. “Clara’s list is long, but luckily I read the paper this morning.”

  Dal stopped the fork near his mouth. “Luckily?”

  She chewed and swallowed while nodding. “Yes. There were numerous sales advertised in the paper. I was able to find everything on the list, and I made a list of where I’ll find each item. On sale no less.” Her eyes lit up even brighter. “Oh, and remember Mr. and Mrs. Krantz?”

  His answering nod wasn’t really needed, as she continued talking.

  “And how their granddaughter is singing in church this Sunday? Well, my goodness, but Wichita has as many churches as you have cows. I believe their granddaughter will be performing at the Methodist church. That is the one having a children’s day on Sunday. The Presbyterian and the Universalist churches are providing sermons on character and the Baptist, the AME church, the Catholic church and several other city churches are having regular services and Sabbath school.”

  “How do you know that?”

  “It was all listed in the paper. There was also an article about the new bank being built and one about a terrible robbery of a grocery store as well as a story about how several people were arrested during a political debate in one of the saloons.”

  Dal highly doubted that it had been a political debate. Having eaten his fill, he wiped his mouth with his napkin. “Remind me to tell Jake not to deliver you a newspaper tomorrow morning.”

  “Why?”

  “So you don’t memorize the entire thing and quote it to me over breakfast.”

  She set down her fork with a clank. “Well, if you hadn’t slept so late, I wouldn’t—”

  “I didn’t sleep late,” he interrupted. “I was waiting for you to get up.”

  Crossing her arms, she leaned back in her chair. “I had been up for hours.”

  Biting back a smile at the way her eyes snapped at his teasing, he stood. “Then you must be ready to go shopping.”

  “I am,” she agreed, and jumped to her feet before he made it around the table to pull out her chair.

  He waited until she put on her cape before taking her by the elbow to lead her out of the dining room. “Where are we off to first?”

  A frown took over her entire face. “We?”

  He nodded.

  She shook her head slowly. “I thought you didn’t want to go shopping for silk and lace. That’s what you said on the train.”

  “I’m not going shopping for those things,” he explained. “I’ll simply escort you and wait while you complete your purchases.”

  Pulling a slip of paper out of the cuff of one sleeve, she said, “There’s no need for
that. I jotted down the stores and their addresses.”

  He took the piece of paper, and instantly recognized the name of a store close to the carriage shop. The others he’d never heard of, but the addresses suggested they were across the river, in a part of town he didn’t want her wandering off to alone. “We’ll start with this one,” he said, pointing to the one he’d recognized. “It will have most everything on this list.”

  “It might,” she said, “but other places have things on sale.”

  Dal chose to hold back his sharp answer. He wasn’t opposed to saving money, but he wasn’t willing to forgo her safety in order to save a dime.

  “Shall we?” he asked, opening the hotel’s front door and gesturing for her to exit in front of him.

  “This really isn’t necessary,” she said over her shoulder while walking out of the door.

  “We’ll have to agree to disagree on that,” he said.

  “Agree to disagree?”

  He nodded.

  “Why?”

  “Because I promised Clara I’d make sure you got everything you needed, and I never break a promise.”

  “You don’t?”

  There was skepticism in her eyes and in her tone. “No, I don’t,” he answered. He could add that it was because he was a Roberts and no Roberts ever broke a promise, but a sinking sensation told him she’d find fault in that. So instead he added, “A cowboy never breaks a promise.”

  Something in his statement made Ellie stumble slightly. She caught herself, but was flustered all the same. “Who says?”

  He shrugged. “Cowboys I guess, but it’s true. Years ago, when they were driving cattle north out of Texas, cowboys swore to deliver the cattle to the railhead no matter what, and they did.”

  “You didn’t,” she pointed out.

  “No, I didn’t, but I work cattle from sunup to sundown, no different than the way they did. I’m just on a ranch rather than the open prairie. Some call us cattlemen, but I like the sound of cowboy better, and I keep my promises.”