Dear Miss Cucinotta

by Kit Morgan

  “I seem to remember the last bit of matchmaking you were involved in. People got hurt.”

  “Ye were just as involved as I, Flower. And the ones that got hurt were the ones that deserved it. They did try to kill Sir Aldrich, if ye recall.”

  “Only because he had to rescue poor Miss Phelps, whom, if he had not rescued her, would have been thrown into prison and hanged.”

  “So there were complications. They’re happily married now, are they no?”

  She folded her arms and stared down at him. “Yes, finally.”

  “This is different. No one will get hurt.” He paused, then added, “Much.”

  “I certainly hope not.” She joined him at the bottom of the stairs. “Is there anything I can do to help?”

  He didn’t turn a hair. “Stay out of the way if fists start swinging.”

  “Dallan …”

  “I said no one will get hurt much, Flower. I didna say no one would try.”

  She sighed and looked down the hall, her hands on her hips. “Dallan MacDonald … well, let us go try to keep poor Mr. Branson from getting his head knocked off.”

  “Aye, right after some pie and coffee.”

  She smacked him on the arm. “No treats for you until the work is done.”

  “Ow.” He made a show of rubbing the spot.

  “That did not hurt you. Now come – we’ll have some explaining to do if whatever you and Melvale cooked up fails.” She stopped and stared at him, eyes narrowed to slits. “What exactly did you and Melvale cook up?”

  Dallan rubbed his arm again. “Trust me, Flower, ‘tis better ye dinna ken.”

  “I was afraid you would say that,” Shona sighed as she turned back toward the kitchen.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Rufi turned as she heard him approach. “Mr. Melvale?”

  “Helloooo,” he drawled, sidling up to her. He glanced at Calvin and Benjamin, who were in animated conversation with Harrison, Colin and Duncan. “Would you do me the honor of accompanying me on a tour of the ranch?”

  Her heart skipped a beat. He was asking her? “Er … why, yes, I’d love to.” She smiled, unable to help it.

  C.J. suddenly stepped in front of them. “Going somewhere?”

  No, not now! But wait, wouldn’t they need a chaperone? She looked at C.J., who was glaring up at Melvale. “Mr. Melvale asked if I’d like to see the ranch.”

  “So did I, as I recall,” he stated.

  “So you did.” How embarrassing. What did he think of her now? And santo cielo, why did she care?

  C.J.’s face twisted into a smile. “I haven’t seen all of it.” He looked at Melvale. “I didn’t realize you’d been here before.”

  “Oh, I haven’t – officially. Shall we go explore it together?”

  Rufi took a deep breath. Oh dear – both of them? She wasn’t sure this was such a good idea. She knew what C.J. thought of her, more or less. Every time she recalled his words to her on the prairie, she got a funny tingle up her spine. But was C.J. aware that every time she looked at Melvale, she felt beyond tingly? She didn’t know what it was, but she couldn’t think straight when she caught sight of him. Now both men were staring at her. “Together?” she finally said, then swallowed hard. “The three of us?”

  “Unless the rest of your family would like to come along?” Melvale said. “Or would you rather it be just you and me?”

  “I’ll come too,” C.J. stated sternly. “Let’s go.” Before she could say a word, he wrapped her arm through his. On her other side, Melvale did the same. None of her family seemed to notice.

  The whole situation irritated her. “I can walk myself.” She pulled her arms from both, headed for the kitchen’s back door and marched outside. C.J. and Melvale followed closely. As soon as they were out of the house, she spun on them. “All right, where do we go first?”

  Melvale smirked at C.J. “Well?”

  His brow furrowed before he smiled and looked at Rufi. The tension emanating from him was hard to miss. Why was he so irritated? “I learned a few things about the main ranch house today from Colin.”

  “Really?” Melvale drawled as he examined a fingernail. “Do tell?”

  Rufi watched C.J.’s jaw tighten. “For one, Colin and Belle met not long after it was built.” He looked at her and his face softened. “She’s Mr. and Mrs. Dunnigan’s niece, you know.”

  “Yes, Calvin told me,” she said softly.

  He nodded before going on. “Colin said Sadie was just putting on the finishing touches when Colin and Duncan …” He looked at Melvale and back. “… got out of prison.”

  “Common knowledge,” Melvale muttered.

  C.J. glared at him, then turned back to Rufi. “Did you know that?”

  “No, I didn’t.” She watched Melvale go back to picking his fingernails. Was he really that bored? Then why was he still here?

  “They got framed for cattle rustling by their stepbrothers Jack and Sam,” C.J. went on. “They spent over two years in prison before the whole thing got straightened out.” He spoke as if he was trying to protect her from some ugly secret.

  She’d heard the Cookes had spent time in jail, but hadn’t known all the details. “So that’s what they were framed for.”

  “Yes. A terrible business from what Colin told me this morning –”

  “Yes, yes, that’s all well and good,” Melvale grumbled.” Let’s look at the barn, shall we?”

  “The barn?” C.J. said in confusion.

  “Why not? It’s part of the ranch.” Melvale strode toward the large structure. “There’s history here too, you know.”

  “Do you know it?” Rufi asked C.J.

  “Some. Cyrus has told me some stories.”

  She smiled. “I’ve yet to meet his wife.”

  “Polly’s a peach – a wonderful, warm woman. I hope she gets better. She’s been ill for weeks. Cyrus says its old age.”

  “That’s too bad. I’m sure I’ll meet her before we leave for home.”

  “Coming?” Melvale called impatiently from the barn doors. C.J. rolled his eyes.

  “You don’t like him, do you?” Rufi asked.

  “I don’t trust him.” He sighed, then pressed his lips together as if keeping a secret. “Just be careful around him, okay?”

  “What? Why?”

  “Rufi.” He took her hand. “Try not to be alone with him.”

  Rufi realized her mouth was hanging open and snapped it shut. “But why?”

  “There’s something not … right about him.”

  She turned to look at Melvale, who was batting at a rope hanging from the hayloft like a cat with a string. “He is different.”

  “He’s more than that.”

  “How do you know?” But he just frowned. “Well, if you’re not going to tell me …” She headed toward the barn.

  “Rufi, wait.” He caught up and touched her arm.

  “Then what is it?” she spun to him.

  His eyes went to her lips. Oh dear, was he thinking of kissing her? Is that why he didn’t want Melvale there? She glanced Melvale’s way, but he was gone. “Now where …?”

  “Rufi,” C.J. rasped. “I think he’s in the barn …”

  “Oh.” Now her eyes were fixed on his lips. He had nice lips. In fact, he had a nice face too.

  He took a step closer. “Rufi,” he said softly.

  She looked into his eyes. They were nice too. Not only that, C.J. was so … normal. Not hotheaded like the Weavers, not loud like her brothers and sisters, not unusual-looking like Melvale. Normal. Sane. Safe. “What?” she whispered.

  “I think …” He managed a shaky breath. “I think you’re more than just a beautiful woman.”

  Her heart melted. “You do?”

  He nodded, his eyes on hers. “You have a fire in you, Rufi. Did you know that?”

  She smiled. “My sister calls it a bad temper.”

  He smiled too. “I like it.”

  “You do?”

  “I
like a lot of things about you, if I may be so bold.”

  Her cheeks grew hot. “You may.” She liked having a man tell her these things. And he was the first to do so.

  He put his other hand on her opposite arm. “I find you so fascinating.”

  That familiar tingle raced up her spine and she shuddered. “I am?” Good grief, had she spoken or was that just in her head? She didn’t care. Her every nerve was waking, her belly doing funny flips. She’d never been this close to a man before – except this same man out on the prairie …

  “It’s all I can do not to kiss you,” he whispered.

  She nodded. Why didn’t her mouth work?

  He swallowed hard. She liked the way his Adam’s apple bobbed up and down. She’d never paid attention to such a thing before, but she was discovering she liked a lot of things about C.J. that she hadn’t noticed until now. Melvale might be exotic and magnificent, but this … her lips parted as she leaned toward him, her eyes closing.

  “No, honey, we can’t,” he whispered.

  She opened her eyes, realized she’d been about to kiss him, and stumbled back. “Bel dolore, cosa sto facendo?”

  C.J. looked her up and down. “What does that mean?”

  “What am I doing?” What she did next was run straight back to the house.

  She flew through the back door into the kitchen and stopped, realizing all eyes were on her. Maybe she should have kept going, but where? And Calvin and Benjamin would still ask questions no matter where she fled to.

  “What’s the matter?” Calvin asked, then looked at the door. His eyes narrowed. “Who were you out there with?”

  “I’d like some pie,” she said defiantly. Calvin was the last person she wanted to explain herself to right now, and if pastry would put off the confrontation, she’d eat every slice she could.

  Colin turned to Belle. “Well, my dear, better fetch the rest of them.” He got up from the table and went to the stove, where she stood stirring a pot. “I’ll help.”

  “This ain’t about pie,” Calvin also stood. “I thought I saw ya leave with that fella earlier.”

  Rufi ignored him. “May I have a cup, please?”

  “Of course.” Belle went to the hutch for a cup and saucer.

  “Did you not already have pie and coffee in the parlor?” Bella asked. “And why are you so … flushed?”

  Rufi put her hand to her face, as if that would help. She took a deep breath and faced her sister. “Nothing happened.”

  “Aha!” Calvin cried, pointing at her.

  Duncan slowly stood. “Mr. Weaver, calm yourself.”

  Calvin went around the crowded table to the stove. “What happened?”

  “Nothing! I just said so.”

  Bella brought the cup and saucer and quickly poured Rufi some coffee. “Here. I’ll bring you a fresh piece of pie.”

  “What happened to the last piece?” Calvin asked, glaring at Rufi.

  “I wasn’t hungry then,” she shot back. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

  “What did he do?”

  “Nothing!”

  “Yes, well.” Harrison stood. “This is all very well and good, but can we get back to discussing the picnic?”

  “Picnic?” Rufi said. “What picnic?”

  “The Cookes invited us to picnic with them down by the creek the day after tomorrow,” Harlan said. “It’s the same place where the town picnic is held every year.”

  Rufi’s eyes flicked between Harlan and Calvin, the latter looking less and less like he wanted to tear her apart. “A picnic would be nice.”

  Calvin sighed and took a step back. “Ya sure nothin’ happened?”

  She wasn’t about to tell him she’d almost kissed C.J. She just took her coffee and headed for the table.

  Duncan stepped away from his chair and motioned her to sit. “I’ll go inform the MacDonalds.”

  “Where are they, anyway?” Benjamin asked. “Them folks swoop in and out of a room quicker than a jackrabbit.”

  Calvin glanced at Rufi, who took a quick sip of coffee and did her best to ignore him.

  “I believe they’re upstairs with Honoria,” Harrison said. “She hasn’t been feeling well, what with her condition and all.”

  “I’d like to meet her,” Rufi blurted. Maybe she could give me some advice on how to handle over-protective relatives, she thought.

  “Of course, if she’s feeling up to it,” Harrison said.

  C.J. and Melvale entered, both wearing flat expressions. Oh no! Rufi thought. Now what? “That would be wonderful. It would be an honor to meet her.”

  “Really?” Harrison said. “And why is that?”

  “Tom told us what happened when her husband Major first came to town,” Harlan chuckled.

  “Is there anyone that doesn’t know our affairs?” Harrison looked at Duncan. “Did Tom write you too?”

  Duncan smiled. “He didn’t have to. I heard all about it from you.”

  Harrison shrugged. “So you did.”

  “About this picnic,” Rufi said, trying to keep everyone talking. Anything to keep Calvin off her back. “What do you need?”

  “Oh, we’ll take care of everything,” Sadie said. “All you folks have to do is show up. Unless you’d like Rosie at the hotel to prepare something? We’re inviting Cyrus and Polly too.”

  “Will Mrs. Van Cleet be able to attend?” Ma asked. “Mr. Van Cleet said she ain’t up to much lately.”

  “We’ll have to see,” Duncan said. “Same with Honoria,” he added, nodding to Harrison.

  Harrison looked ready to say no, then paused. “I’ll leave it up to her judgment,” he finally managed.

  Colin looked at him like he’d just laid an egg, but didn’t comment.

  Duncan shrugged and smiled at everyone. “Why don’t we come up with some games to play at the affair?”

  “Like what?” Harlan asked.

  Cozette smiled. “Archery!”

  Duncan looked at her out the corner of one eye. “Dearest …”

  “It will be fun!” she insisted.

  Duncan sighed. “Oh dear.”

  “Sounds good to me!” Calvin grinned at his brother.

  Benjamin watched Cozette a moment. “All right. I don’t mind losin’ to a duchess.”

  Cozette just laughed.

  “Losin’?” Calvin laughed. “I’m gonna try and beat her!”

  Duncan arched an eyebrow at his brothers. “And you two?”

  Both shook their heads. “We learned our lesson the last time we visited you,” Colin said. “We won’t make that mistake twice.”

  “Just so long as no one gets hurt,” Ma said. “You boys do whatever you want.”

  “Then it is settled,” Cozette said. “We will have an archery contest.”

  “I want to play,” Rufi said.

  C.J. was suddenly in the chair next to hers. “I don’t think that’s such a good idea.”

  She stiffened. Wait, was he trying to protect her? “And why not?”

  “Have you ever shot a bow?”

  “A few times. Calvin taught me.”

  “Oh, let the girl have a go,” Melvale said as he crossed the kitchen toward the hall. He turned and faced them. “In fact, I might even have a turn. What say you, Your Grace?”

  Cozette smiled. “It would be an honor.”

  Everyone’s eyes shifted to Melvale, who smiled, bowed to Cozette and left the room.

  “Uh, is he any good with a bow?” Benjamin asked.

  Duncan sighed wearily. “He’s quite good at a lot of things, weapons included.”

  Calvin eyed Rufi again, then C.J. “Was he out there with the two of you?”

  “Yes,” they said.

  Calvin smiled. “Good.” He stabbed at the pie on his plate.

  C.J. looked at Rufi. “I need to talk to you,” he whispered.

  “About what?” she asked just as softly.

  “Later. The picnic?”

  “Have you been invited?�
�

  “If Cyrus is going, I will be. He’ll insist on it. When is it?”

  “The day after tomorrow.” Rufi wondered why he wanted to talk to her. To give her a lecture on proper decorum? Doubtful. To have another chance to kiss her? Part of her hoped so.

  “We’ll speak then,” he said.

  She looked at him, leaning in his direction as much as she dare. “I’m sorry.”

  “For what?”

  “You know.”

  He reached under the table and gave her hand a squeeze. “I’m not.” Then he left his seat and the kitchen. Charity watched him go, took one look at Rufi and gave her the tiniest smile.

  Good, Rufi thought. At least she had someone in the family to talk to about this. Because if she didn’t, she thought she might go stark raving mad.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Two days later, Rufi and her family traveled down a narrow lane into Clear Creek gorge. The creek for which the town was named was at the bottom, bordered by banks full of flowers. There were plenty of trees, but one stood out from the rest. “That’s it!” Calvin cried. “That’s His Majesty!”

  Rufi stared at the giant oak, too awestruck to think about her troublesome near-kiss with C.J. “It’s beautiful,” she whispered.

  Harlan brought the wagon to a stop. “Yep, that tree was Honoria Cooke’s pride and joy.” He turned on the seat to face everyone in the back of the wagon. “Jefferson’s wife when he came west.”

  “Yeah, we know,” Benjamin said. “Tom Turner don’t skimp on the details. And he didn’t lie when he said it was the biggest tree anyone in these parts had ever seen.”

  “No, he did not,” Calvin agreed.

  Everyone began to climb out of the wagons as the Cookes approached, having arrived earlier to set up. Rufi’s heart swelled. “So many adventures started here,” she said quietly.

  “And romances,” Charity said as she joined her. “I know you’ve been dying to talk to me, but we’ve both been so busy …”

  “Yes. But I’m not sure it matters now.”

  “Doesn’t it?”

  Rufi shook her head. “I was … confused the other day, that’s all.”

  “About what?”

  She glanced at Calvin and back. “Later. We’d better unload the wagon first.”