by Ana Leigh
When they found out the truth about Garrett, would they feel as resentful toward her as Jed did?
“All set?” Jed asked.
She took a deep breath, then nodded.
He tucked a finger under her chin and grinned down at her. “Hey, Cinderella, trust me. They’re not going to eat you,” he said gently. He kissed her lightly, then took her hand.
“Don’t forget Buffer back in the freight car,” Garrett said. “There was no reason why that mean old conductor wouldn’t let him stay with us.”
“I think he had the other passengers’ interests at heart, honey,” Caroline said.
“Well, Buffer wouldn’t have caused them no trouble. I’m still gonna write that Mr. Stanford and tell him what I think about his dumb rule.”
She took Garrett by the hand and stepped out onto the observation platform with Jed. Smiling, the two men straightened up and walked toward them.
Caroline felt like an early Christian about to be fed to the lions.
After a series of handshakes and backslaps between the men, Jed slipped an arm around her shoulders and drew her to his side.
“Caroline, do these guys look familiar? My brothers—”
She interrupted him. “You’re Clay, and you’re Garth. How could I forget?”
The two men exchanged perplexed glances. “We’ve met before?” Clay asked. “Brother Garth, help me out here.”
“Virginia?” Garth asked, clearly as confused as Clay.
“Well, certainly,” Caroline said with a grin.
“While you’re trying to figure it out, do you remember the captain of the ship I was on during the war?”
“Captain Collins, of course,” Clay said as they shook hands.
Garth shook Nathan’s hand. “It’s a pleasure to see you again, sir. Are you the captain of the ship Jed’s on now?”
Nathan laughed. “No, I’m not, Garth. I retired shortly after the war ended.”
Jed rested a hand on Garrett’s shoulder. “And this young man is Caroline’s son, Garrett.”
“Glad to meet you, Garrett. Let us be the first to welcome you into the family,” Garth said.
“Thank you. The pleasure is all mine.” He grinned. “When we were on the train, Mama made me practice saying that.”
“And let me assure you, Garrett, it’s a pleasure to meet you, too.”
“I remember now,” Clay suddenly said. “Captain Collins had a daughter…Caroline!”
“Of course.” Garth grinned. “Lady, have you changed!”
“You were just a skinny little kid then,” Clay said with a warm chuckle.
Caroline began to relax. “I would like you to know, sir, I was fifteen when we left Virginia.” She’d dreaded this meeting, but it seemed to be going well. They both were so charming. Of course Jed had been, too, until he found out the truth about Andy.
“Let’s load up this luggage and get moving,” Garth said. “There’s a lot of anxious women waiting to meet their future sister-in-law.”
When the train whistle sounded a departing toot, Garrett cried, “Buffer! The train’s leaving with Buffer on it!” Then his panic changed to laughter as the barking dog came racing along the side of the train and into his open arms. Reunited, Garrett and Buffer scrambled into the bed of the wagon, and they all broke into laughter.
Clay climbed onto the seat of the wagon. “Figure that must be the last of the luggage? Jed can ride with me. Caroline and Captain Collins, climb in with Garth. I’m sure you’ll be more comfortable in the buggy.”
“You didn’t mention in your wire that your intended bride had a son,” Clay said as they drove to his home. “He’s a cute kid.”
“Yeah, he’s great. And we get along great, too.”
“What happened to his father?”
“He’s dead.”
“I thought maybe you were the father.”
“Why would you think that?”
“Because the two of you kind of resemble each other, and his mother’s the daughter of your former captain. Coincidence?”
“I haven’t seen Captain Collins since the war ended. And I think I saw Caroline once when she was little. I ran into them in a restaurant several days ago.”
He and his brothers had always been honest with one another, but Jed thought it would be wiser to tell them the truth about Garrett after he and Caroline were married.
“It must be tough for a kid to grow up without a father or any brothers and sisters. We were pretty lucky, weren’t we?” Clay said.
“You’re damn right, Brother Clay.”
“You and Caroline planning on starting a family right away?”
At least he could give him a straight-out answer on that question. “Not at this time, Clay. I’ve used up a week of my leave already. I wouldn’t want Caroline to have a baby while I’m at sea.”
“Pretty hard to plan it otherwise, Jed, without you figuring on staying home.”
“I’m not ready to give up the sea just yet.”
“Then what’s the reason for getting married at this time? What kind of marriage is that: you at sea, your wife and children home?”
“Speaking of children, isn’t Rory about due?” Jed asked.
“Overdue would be more like it,” Clay said. “Where are you planning on setting up housekeeping?”
“Captain Collins owns property and a sawmill near Napa. Caroline has always lived with him, although there is a problem at this time. Some shyster named Calhoun, who is working for the railroad, threatened Caroline and her family.”
“Good Lord, you mean their lives?”
“Yes, but I think it’s been resolved. We spoke to Leland Stanford and he’s promised to move him to Sacramento, where he’ll be out of our hair.”
“You’re traveling in pretty big company there, Jed.”
“Captain Collins knows him. I’ll soon be going back to sea, and my concern is for Caroline and her family.”
“Sure you wouldn’t want them to stay here with us? There’s plenty of room.”
“I’d sure have peace of mind if they did, but they’re determined to stay where they are. Thanks for the offer, anyway.”
A short time later when Garth turned the buggy off the main road, Caroline saw a sign with FRASER KEEP hanging over the door of a small cabin. The line below read Home of the Fraser Wines of California in smaller print.
“We sell some of our bottled wine and other related items to passersby,” Garth said to his passengers.
“For instance?” Caroline asked.
“Wineglasses, and corkscrew handles we make out of a patch of oak growing here. We even sell small serviettes; those were Becky’s idea. The girls cut them out of white linen, and Lissy, who’s the best artist in the group, draws an outline of several grapes on a stalk—the same design we use on the label of the wine bottles. Then they all embroider the outline and put tatting on the edges in their spare time.”
“Don’t they all have young children to take care of? When do they find any spare time?” Caroline asked.
“They’re all remarkable women, Caroline,” Garth said. “They enjoy their lives, and they make certain the people they love enjoy life, too.”
Caroline felt a stab of shame, knowing how she had strived to make Jed’s life as miserable as possible.
“I thought Colt and his family lived in New Mexico.”
“They do, but Cassie does the serviettes in her free time and ships them to us. She’s a working hand on their cattle ranch, the way our wives work in the vineyard planting and picking the grapes. Colt claims she can ride and rope as well as any man on the ranch. Rain or shine, she’s out doing whatever the men are doing.
“Becky, Lissy, and Rory do the same here,” Garth continued. “Becky worked side by side with Clay, planting the cuttings, followed by long hours in the blazing sun fighting and watering to keep them from dying, in order to keep his dream alive. When Lissy and Steve moved here to help, it was a godsend to them, then Rory and I joined them
after we married. Of course Rory can’t do much physically now, since she’s in a family way, so she minds the children for the other women and works on the napkins.”
“Sounds to me like it’s working out well,” Nathan said.
“Captain Collins, everybody has helped in some way to keep the vineyard operating. We all live right here, except for Colt and Cassie, of course.”
In the same house! The thought was horrifying to her. All the possible noise and confusion flashed through her mind. How hard it must have been on those poor women, bearing their husbands’ children in the midst of all that hard work and stress!
She realized how calm and easy her life had been in having her loving parents to rely upon, how blessed she had been. She reached over and squeezed her father’s hand. This dear man who had looked after her welfare her whole life had always seen to her safety, a roof over her head, and a hot meal in her stomach.
How blessed, indeed.
“For the sake of all our sanities, we all live under separate roofs, as does Paddy O’Grady, Rory’s father,” Garth said. “We have an eleven-month-old son named Danny and are expecting another baby any day.
“Lissy and Steve have a four-year-old son, Ted. He’s about the only child who can run around here. Their other two children, Sarah and Rachel, are three and two respectively. Most of the rest of our children aren’t even housebroken yet.” He glanced askance at Caroline. “Still in diapers, that is.
“Clay has a three-year-old son, Jake, and a set of twins, Clint and Cody, born at the end of last year. Colt and Cassie have a two-year-old son named Jeb, and a daughter Samantha born a couple of months ago. I’m afraid none of them are old enough to be a playmate for Garrett.”
“That’s no problem, Garth. Garrett’s used to being alone, as long as he has Buffer.”
“Is that the dog you brought with you?”
Caroline nodded. “They’re inseparable.”
“You did amazingly well, Garth,” Nathan said.
Garth flashed that devastating grin of his. “Just want you folks to know we grow more around here than just grapes.”
“Did I understand you to say your wife’s father lives here with you?”
“In his own house, of course. Wait until you meet Paddy O’Grady. The old-timer used to dig for gold. He’s a great old guy and is like a grandfather to all the children.”
“Fortunately, Garrett has a grandfather already,” she said with a smile at her father. “But I guess it wouldn’t hurt to have more than one.”
“Colt and Cassie brought her father along, too. Jethro Braden’s an ex-sheriff; turned the badge over to Colt when he retired. Jethro has a raft of interesting stories to tell about outlaws and Indians. Even the Apache chief Cochise, and that crazy Geronimo. You must have heard about them.”
“Can’t help it if you read a newspaper,” Nathan said.
They reached the houses, which only could be described as a compound. Caroline only had time to glimpse several houses and a large rectangular building when the door of the biggest house burst open and several women and men rushed out the door.
Caroline gaped with awe when she saw the women. Not one among them appeared tired and worn out, as she had expected. On the contrary, they were beautiful. Downright ravishing, all of them!
A lovely blonde with incredible green eyes stepped forward and hugged her. “Welcome, Caroline! I’m Becky, Clay’s wife. We’re so excited you’ve come. This will be our first wedding at Fraser Keep.”
Before Caroline could even respond, she was hugged and kissed by another woman. Her blue eyes warm with welcome, she said, “Hi, Caroline, I’m Cassie, Colt’s wife.” She was wearing jeans and boots and perched on her dark hair was a Stetson.
“So you must be Rory, Garth’s wife,” Caroline said to the other blond woman, who was clearly pregnant. “He told us all about you on the way here.”
Her blue eyes flashed with devilment. “I hope he didn’t tell all about me,” Rory Fraser said, with as much of a hug as her swollen stomach would allow. She took the arm of the man standing beside her with bushy white hair and a wide Irish grin. “And this is my father, Paddy O’Grady.”
“Pleased to meet you, darlin’,” Paddy O’Grady said.
“A pleasure to meet you, Mr. O’Grady.”
“It’s Paddy, darlin’, and don’t you be forgettin’ it,” he said.
“I’m Jethro Braden,” another of the men said. Dressed in Western gear like Cassie, he wouldn’t have had to tell her he was Cassie’s father.
Caroline turned to a couple who had stood back and broke into a smile at the sight of the petite, dark-haired woman who now stepped up and hugged her.
“Caroline, what a pleasure to see you again.”
“Oh, Lissy, you’re still as beautiful as I remembered,” Caroline said.
“I can’t believe you and Jed are getting married! How are you ever going to keep my big brother on land?”
“My mother tolerated it with my father, and I guess I will, too.”
Lissy reached for the hand of the man beside her. “Caroline, this is my husband, Stephen Berg.”
The tall, redheaded man hugged her. “I’ve looked forward to meeting you, Caroline.”
Caroline took her father’s arm. “And this handsome gentleman is my father, Nathan Collins.”
Clay arrived with the wagon, and when Garrett jumped off and ran over to her, Caroline said proudly, “And this is my son, Garrett.”
A flurry of squeals of pleasure and greetings followed as the women gushed over Garrett and greeted Jed.
Another Fraser came over and hugged her. “Welcome, Caroline. I’m Jed’s brother, Colt.”
“Yes, I remember you.”
“So Jed’s marrying a Reb. It’s about time one of us did.”
Jed slipped an arm around her shoulders. “You’re barking up the wrong tree, Brother Colt. Caroline doesn’t exactly walk around the house whistling ‘Carry Me Back to Old Virginny.’”
“Ignore him, Caroline,” Becky said. “Lissy’s been very protective of her brothers, so we’re dying to know the whole story of what these men were like when they were younger. Aren’t we, ladies?”
“We sure are,” Cassie said. “So let’s get out of this sun and go inside for a glass of cool lemonade.”
“Mr. Collins, rather then listen to the ladies’ palaver, will you do us the pleasure of joinin’ Jethro and me on me porch for a cool glass of lemonade?” Paddy winked at Nathan.
“Mr. O’Grady, I can’t think of anything I’d rather do.”
The three older men moved away, and Becky tucked Caroline’s arm into her own. “Cassie’s got the right idea. Let’s go in and sit down.”
“That’s not fair,” Lissy moaned. “I have to go and check to see if my children are still napping.”
“Don’t worry about it, honey. I’ll check on the children,” Steve said.
Jed picked up several pieces of the luggage. “I’ll get Caroline settled in. Same bedroom I’ve used before, Becky?” he asked.
“No, take the two empty ones at the end of the hallway. Same ones Lissy and Steve used before their house was completed.”
“Let me help you with those bags,” Steve said, grabbing the remaining luggage.
“We’ll unsaddle the horses and get rid of the buckboard and buggy,” Clay called to them.
Jed and Steve took the luggage inside the house, and the women trouped in behind them.
Forgotten in all the excitement, Garrett looked around at the now deserted yard, which only moments before had been swarming with people.
He sat down in the shade of a nearby oak tree and put his arm around Buffer’s neck.
“Sure has been nice meeting my aunts and uncles, wasn’t it, Buffer? I’m anxious to meet my cousins, too.”
The dog stretched out with his head on Garrett’s lap.
CHAPTER
13
As soon as they finished with the horses and vehicles, Clay pulled out
a bottle of wine and some glasses. “I’ve been saving this for a special occasion. Can’t think of a better one than the last of us getting married.”
Colt voiced the question foremost on all their minds. “Yeah, but did any of you notice the same thing that I did?”
“You mean how much Garrett resembles Jed?” Clay asked.
“Hell, yes,” Garth agreed. “The kid looks more like a Fraser than my own son, Danny.”
Colt winked at Clay. “You got a secret you want to confess, Brother Garth?”
The three men broke into laughter, then Clay sobered. “All joking aside, there’s no doubt in my mind that Garrett is a Fraser. From what Jed said to me, it’s clear he’s not the boy’s father, and I’m damn sure I’m not. So that leaves one of you.”
Colt raised his hand in denial. “It’s sure as hell not me.”
The two men swung their attention to Garth.
“Hey, don’t look at me,” he said. “I never went near her. I had my hands full with those Forsyth twins. You guys remember that pair?”
“Who could forget them?” Colt said. “You don’t think it could be Will, do you?”
“Em’s always been the only woman Will’s ever wanted,” Garth said.
“Then it’s got to be Jed,” Colt declared.
After a pause, Clay asked softly, “What about Andy?”
Garth arched a brow. “Andy was only a kid. He hadn’t figured out yet that his dick could be used for something besides peeing.”
“Apparently he had, if he is the father,” Colt remarked.
More convinced than ever, Clay asked, “Anyone remember what year Caroline’s family left Virginia?”
“It had to be sixty or sixty-one,” Colt said. “They got out before the war actually started, and Andy had turned eighteen by the time he went into the army. Remember, he’d been laid up with a broken leg and then a case of pneumonia before he could enlist.”
“So he’d have been either seventeen or just turned eighteen when the Collinses left,” Clay said. “So even if he’d only been seventeen, it’s not as far-fetched as we think. You boys have short memories. Were any of us still virgins at that age?”