She hesitated. “I wouldn’t want to point a finger unless I could be sure.”
Sean put his revolver back in his waistband. “Mrs. Pershing paid her an unpleasant visit today. Doesn’t she have son?”
Sheriff Mather grimaced. “Terrible little pest.” An embarrassed expression crossed his face. “Whoops. Pretend I didn’t say that but he’s done things like this before. I’ll investigate and see if anyone else was around.”
Amelia asked, “Have you had dinner? I have pot roast.”
A wide smile split his face. “I’ve eaten, but thank you.”
Amelia extended her hand. “Thank you, Sheriff.”
He shook with her. “I’ll let you know if I find anything.” After a two-finger tap to his hat, he left.
Amelia turned. “I’ll get the broom and dust pan.”
“I’ll look for something to board up the door.” Sean searched the store and her rooms and the alley. “Nothing here so I’m going to the livery. Mack Taylor has a few boards in back of the tack room. You have the derringer I gave you?”
She patted her pocket. “Here as you instructed, Sir.”
“Probably was the Prentiss brat, but we can’t be sure. Be careful and I’ll hurry.” He turned back. “Um, don’t shoot me when I return.”
“Don’t skulk. Make enough noise that I know it’s you.”
Sean returned with a couple of boards. “Mack loaned me his hammer and some nails. Figured you had a hammer but couldn’t be sure.”
“I do, but probably not the right kind of nails. Mine are for hanging pictures and such.”
He soon had the door covered. “Stand on the outside and see if you can get to the lock.”
She tried pushing her hand between the new wood and the door. “I can’t reach inside.”
He opened the door for her to return inside. “Good. Now you’ll feel safe tonight. Reckon I should sleep on the couch?”
She rolled her eyes. “And give those biddies more to talk about? Plus, your family would be worried if you didn’t come home.”
He rubbed at his jaw. “Yeah, they would. At least it’s nice to know someone would miss me.”
She grabbed his wide shoulders. “A lot of people would miss you, Sean Murdoch. You be careful riding home.”
He leaned in and kissed her. “See you tomorrow.”
“Sean, you can’t keep riding back and forth every day.”
“Sure I can. I have Pa and Logan’s permission, not that I need it. They understand you don’t have your brother here to protect and watch out for you. We figure that’s my job now.”
She stood at the front window and watched him stride toward the livery. His last comments were a letdown and made her wonder if he was only seeing her because he felt obligated. His kisses said otherwise, or was she too lonely to be an adequate judge?
If Charlie were in town would Sean still come visit her? Other than John, she hadn’t enough experience with men to understand them. With a sigh, she tidied up the shop and went back to her rooms.
Chapter Eleven
By Thursday, everyone in town knew ten-year-old Howard Pershing had thrown the brick through her door.
This was the first day Paulette had worked and her training was going well. About eleven, Amelia and she stopped for a tea break. They left the door to Amelia’s rooms open so they could hear the bell if someone came into the shop.
Paulette set her cup back on the saucer. “I can’t stand not knowing any longer. Who’s going to pay for the door’s repair?”
“Sheriff Mather insisted that Mrs. Pershing pay and that Mrs. Cobb order the glass. He told them the new insert had better arrive here unbroken or they’d have to order again until the glass was properly installed.”
Paulette held her hand to her mouth to stifle a giggle. “I’ll bet those two women were surprised they’d been caught starting rumors again.”
Amelia leaned toward her with a conspiratorial grin. “Worse. The sheriff told the pastor what happened. Reverend Norton spoke to Mrs. Pershing at her home. I’d love to know what he said.”
“He’s a sweet man and I can’t imagine him getting angry, but I’ve heard he can be stern when needed. I’d say Mrs. Pershing especially received a talking to that was well-deserved.”
“I can’t blame the boy entirely. In fact, I almost feel sorry for him.”
“What, after he shattered your door?”
“Howard said he’d heard his mother and Mrs. Cobb discussing me and that ‘my kind’ shouldn’t be allowed here.”
Outrage spread across Paulette’s face. “Your kind? I hope they didn’t mean what it sounds like.”
Amelia only grimaced, but sadness cloaked her. “I’m afraid they did. Since Sean Murdoch had escorted me places several times and I’ve invited him to dinner a couple of times, they’ve made up terrible tales about us.”
“The nerve of them! Some people delight in making anything seem dirty.”
“Knowing such tales are spread through town causes actual pain in my chest. Sweetwater Springs is now my home and I want people to respect and like me.”
“Don’t worry, no one pays them any mind. I’ve heard only good things about you.”
“Thank you for saying so. Their rumor spreading is why Howard threw the brick. He actually thought that would be all right with his mother.”
Paulette rolled her eyes. “Probably would have been if he hadn’t been caught. Not only does it make Howard look bad, but Mrs. Pershing looks worse. If she weren’t such a gossip, her son wouldn’t have misbehaved.” She rose and rinsed her cup and saucer in the sink.
Amelia followed and tidied their other tea things. “Adults should know that what they say in front of children is important. I told Mr. and Mrs. Pershing that their paying wasn’t acceptable. I insisted that Howard needs to be the one who pays.”
The other woman sent her a perplexed glance. “The boy? How can he? He’ll just get the money from his parents.”
Amelia’s lips in a firm line, she shook her head. “Starting tomorrow, Howard will be sweeping and helping out before school each day and on Saturday mornings. I set an hourly wage and he’ll work until his debt is paid. He needs to learn to accept the responsibility for the consequences of his actions.”
Paulette’s eyes widened. “Oh, Amelia, you’ll make a good mother. I’ll bet Howard is upset.”
“And surprised. Apparently his parents have paid for other things he’s done.” Amelia would never forget the family’s reaction. “His mother and father are furious at what they call my ‘nerve telling them how to raise their son’. They thought I should take an apology and forget the incident. The sheriff told them I had to be compensated.”
“Hmmph, that boy causes no end of trouble in Sweetwater Springs. If he doesn’t change, he’ll be in prison by the time he’s thirty.”
“We’ll see if this makes a difference or if he breaks things here for spite. I don’t intend to let him off easy. Anything he breaks will be added to his hours.”
The jingle of the shop door’s bell put an end to their conversation.
***
Sean hummed to himself as he strode to Amelia’s door. After a light dusting of snow on Good Friday, Easter Sunday turned off bright and clear. He rapped at the side door which opened into her parlor.
When she opened the door, he could only stare. “You look . . . ” He swallowed. “You look really nice.”
She stepped out, locked the door then took his arm. “You look nice, too, Mr. Murdoch. Is that a new suit?”
“Naw, this is the one I wore for Pa’s and Logan’s wedding but I haven’t worn it since. I haven’t seen that dress before. Blue sure looks good on you.” Dang, why couldn’t he think of something special to say?
“This is my favorite color.” She touched her hat with her free hand. “I made the hat last night.”
He grinned at her. “It’s not too outrageous. No feathers to slap me in the eye as you turn your head.”
“Oh
, Sean. Did my other hats do that?”
“No, as a matter of fact yours don’t bother people. Not too high to block the view of the person behind and not too wide. I’d say you know your job.”
“That’s a nice compliment. I hope my creations adorn the wearer without distracting others.”
“I’m glad you’re coming to Easter dinner with us. You can see Logan and Charity’s wing. It’s sure something.”
“I’m eager to go through the rooms.” She stared ahead at the church. “Oh, goodness, look at all the buggies and horses. I hope we can find a seat.”
“Charity’s saving us a place. There are four pews kept in a shed that are brought out on Easter and Christmas.” “You’ll see.” He helped her up the steps and into the church.
They edged between others looking for a place to sit. Charity and Logan and Jenny had spread out to save space. Now they made room for Sean and Amelia.
Amelia leaned near to whisper, “What a crowd. Is Easter always like this?”
Sean spoke quietly, “Unless there’s snow or a thunderstorm. A sunny day like today is perfect.”
Mrs. Norton wore her black hat adorned with flowers as she played “What A Friend We Have In Jesus” with enthusiasm. Amelia was pleased to spot her creations throughout the sanctuary.
Reverend Norton beamed as he stood at the lectern. “Welcome, Friends, on this very special day in the life of the church. Please turn in your hymnal to number 76 as we sing “Hallelujah, Praise Jehovah”.
After the service ended, Sean guided Amelia to a new two-seated buggy with cover. “I figured I might as well buy my own.” He helped her onto the tufted leather seats.
“This is yours? My goodness, this is as nice as the one Kevin bought Edwina.”
“Actually, it’s the same model. Logan bought one too. Guess we’ll have to mark them some way so we know which belongs to whom.”
She pulled her shawl closer. “I’m glad you splurged and got a model with a top. This is luxurious.” She ran her hand over the tufted black leather seat.
“Figured I’d be using this for years to come. That’s why I got a buggy with two seats.”
“A good idea.” She needed to change the subject. “I’m eager to see the new wing. Is Charity going to hire another housekeeper?”
“Jenny’s niece Millie has already asked for the job. Logan hastily changed the plans so there’s a room for Millie and he can still have a small office.”
“Murdoch Ranch is turning into a small town, isn’t it?”
“Lots of buildings, but not that many people. Pa’s talking about hiring another hand and adding a few more cattle.”
Amelia gasped as the ranch came into view. “Good heavens, your home resembles a fort.”
He laughed and snapped the reins. “Wait until the other wing is up. Guess we can call it Fort Murdoch.”
Once inside the house, Amelia met Millie, who had come to help with dinner. The meal was a wonderful, chaotic experience. They dined on baked ham, sweet potatoes, creamed Irish potatoes, and glazed carrots along with Jenny’s home-canned vegetables—corn and green beans. Edwina had baked several apple pies for dessert.
Kevin patted his stomach. “Jenny and Millie, you did a fine job on dinner. Edwina my love, your pies were wonderful. I’m full as a tick on a fat dog.”
Charity pushed back from the table. “If you’ll excuse us, I can’t wait to show Amelia the new addition.”
Amelia rose, but looked at the table. “I’m eager to see your new place, but shouldn’t we help with the dishes first?”
Jenny shook her head. “I’ve already told everyone that today is a special holiday and Millie and I are cleaning up after the meal.”
Amelia smiled at Charity. “Then let’s go. Do we need to go outside to get there?”
“Just through the living room.” Charity grabbed Amelia’s hand and tugged her toward the parlor. “Sean’s wing will open off the kitchen.”
Charity gestured ahead. Where a window had been, a doorway had been opened that led to the new section.
“On snowy days, we don’t have to go outside to get from one wing to the other. Plus, we agreed that we’d spend many evenings in the main house’s parlor. Kevin wants us always to be a close-knit family and I agree.”
Amelia followed Charity from room to room. As they climbed the stairs, Amelia said, “You’ve not made many changes from the main house.”
“Not anything major.” At the end of the hall, she opened a door. “The master bedroom is a little larger.”
Amelia smoothed her hand on the blond armoire’s front. “This furniture is exquisite. Is this Gideon’s work?”
“Isn’t he an amazing craftsman? We got the mattress from the cabinetmaker in Sweetwater Springs. I know I’m being petty, but I didn’t want to order anything from the mercantile.”
“I don’t blame you. Did Sean tell you what Mrs. Cobb and Mrs. Pershing said about me?”
“Yes, the old biddies, and what the Pershing boy did to your shop. You were very gracious, Amelia. I hope he benefits from his experience.” Charity walked to the window. “I’ve almost finished the window coverings. See how Logan made the shutters so they slide to the side to allow for draperies?”
“Clever. And you have a large stove, which you’ll need.”
Charity gestured for Amelia to follow her. “Here next door we made provision for a nursery. I won’t decorate this room until I’m expecting.”
“I hope that won’t be long. I’m eager to be Auntie Amelia.”
“We hope to start our family right away. You can be sure I’ll tell you when I know I’m pregnant.”
“You’ve a fair start on furnishing your section. I’m really impressed at how well everything looks.”
“And they’ll be starting on Sean’s now that calf round-up is over. Is there any development between you and him that you want to share?”
Amelia sensed she blushed. “He’s been so kind, but he’s made clear he’s only doing so because I don’t have a male family member here to help me.”
Charity gasped, “Amelia! I’m surprised at you for being so dense. Sean may be quiet and easy-going, but he looks at you as if he’s the fox and you’re the chicken.”
Amelia couldn’t face her friend, but hoped Charity was right. “I’m sure you’re wrong. So, are you two living here now or are you still in the main house?”
“We’ve moved in. Kevin and Edwina shared bedding and dishes with us. After fall cattle round-up and sale, we’ll buy more. Logan is very generous, but I worry we’ve spent too much of his cash reserves. Everyone thinks the Murdochs are wealthy, and they are for this area, but I believe almost everything is tied up in the ranch and in cattle.”
Amelia sent a fond glance to her friend. “You’re considerate, but you should talk to Logan about finances. He wouldn’t offer to buy things if doing so endangered his finances and that of the ranch.”
“You’re right. I’ll talk to him tonight. In the meantime, my parents are shipping us my grandmother’s dishes and some other things. Edwina has shared the things she’s had shipped from her former home now that’s she’s sold that place. We’ve plenty for now.”
Amelia grasped the banister as she stepped down the stairs. “I haven’t given you a gift yet. When you come to Sweetwater Springs some weekday, we can choose something. Now that Paulette is helping me, I can get away for a few hours without worry.”
Behind Amelia, Charity’s voice conveyed her happiness. “That would be fun. Perhaps we could make a day of it and have lunch too.”
“We could arrange to do so when Trudy and Darcy meet—that is, if they didn’t mind. They get together at least once a month for lunch and shopping.” Amelia stepped off the bottom step to find Sean and Logan waiting.
Logan took Charity’s hand and tugged her to his side. “Conniving on ways to escape your husband’s company?”
“Not at all. You’ll never miss me because you’ll be on the range while I meet Amelia
in town.”
He kissed her temple. “Knowing you’re not here, I’ll miss you.” He whispered something to Charity and they returned to the main house.
When Amelia would have followed, Sean stopped her. “I wanted to talk to you. Come sit on the couch, please.” He led her to what must have been one of the attic rescues.
When she had settled onto the cushions, Sean knelt on one knee in front of her. “I know you’ve gone through a lot of changes in the past few months, Amelia. I’ve come to love you and I hope you’ll consent to become my wife.”
Amelia’s surprise turned into excitement. He really did care for her. “Sean, oh, Sean, I’ve fallen in love with you, too. But how could our marriage work with me at my shop in town and you here at the ranch?” She tugged him up beside her on the couch.
He kept hold of her hand. “The ride isn’t that far and we have the new buggy. In bad weather, you have Paulette near the shop so your sales wouldn’t suffer. In fact, I’ve heard she and her mother and sister had to vacate their home for little more than a shack after her father’s fall and death. They could move into your rooms in back of the shop.”
His solution sounded perfect. “I hadn’t considered that. You’re right. And the place is all neat and has a good stove for winter with water in the kitchen.”
“You could have a workroom in our wing so you could create hats even when you didn’t go into town.”
“Apparently you’ve thought of everything. How could I refuse you?”
He pulled her to him for a passionate kiss. When he broke the embrace, he smoothed his hand over her hair, her cheeks, her shoulders and arms. “You won’t be sorry, My Love. I promise to keep you happy.”
“My life has gone from sad to fearful to delightful. I’m so fortunate to have been marooned with your family.”
He cupped her chin so she gazed into his beautiful sky-blue eyes. “You don’t know how I prayed you’d come back to me. I know I should have waited longer for you to have more time to adjust, but I just couldn’t. I want, need you by my side, Amelia, both day and night.”
“I’m not being disrespectful to John, for a part of me will always love him. I learned my heart is big enough for you, too. I’ll admit I didn’t even consider settling anywhere else. I couldn’t get you out of my mind.”
Montana Sky: Bride's Adventure (Kindle Worlds Novella) (Loving A Rancher Book 4) Page 9