Dear Miss Cucinotta

by Kit Morgan

  Cyrus sighed. “I’d say so.”

  “You poor dear,” Polly said from the back. “Whatever will you do?”

  C.J. shrugged. “I’m still working out the details. Suggestions?”

  “Hmm … ever read Shakespeare, C.J.?” Cyrus mused.

  “Only in school – why?”

  “Surely you’ve read Romeo and Juliet?”

  “Yes, of course, but what has that got … oh. Yes… I’m beginning to see.”

  “What, a tragic death at the end of the story?” Polly asked in alarm.

  “No,” Cyrus and C.J. said in unison. C.J. turned to her again. “The hotel may not have a balcony, but if I remember right, Rufi’s room faces the street.”

  Polly brightened. “Serenade her? Oh, how romantic.”

  “As good an idea as it is, that’s not what I had in mind,” C.J. said. “Besides, I have a horrible singing voice.”

  “Whatever you do, son, make sure it works,” Cyrus said. “If my guess is right, the Weavers will be leaving in the next few days. Calvin was pretty upset today, but I’m sure Harlan will calm him down enough to stay a while longer.”

  “That’s what I’m counting on,” C.J. said. “I’ll have that time to win the hand of my fair maiden.”

  “She’s not yours yet,” Cyrus pointed out. “And romance is a funny thing. She might not be as interested as you think.”

  “Cyrus, don’t discourage the lad,” Polly scolded.

  “It’s all right,” C.J. said. “I know Rufi likes me. I’m not sure if she feels the same way I feel, but I’m sure going to help her catch up if I can.”

  Cyrus smiled at him. “Well, then, I think the next few days are going to be rather entertaining, don’t you, Polly?”

  “Not too entertaining, I hope. You’ll let us know if you need help?”

  C.J. laughed. “I can’t imagine I’ll need much, but you’ll be the first to know.”

  “Well, if you want to talk to someone about romance, I think the best person around here to speak to would be Mr. MacDonald.”

  “The Scot?” C.J. said in surprise.

  “Believe it or not, yes,” Cyrus said. “If anyone knows about getting a woman to fall in love with a fella in a very short time, he’s your man.”

  “Ye want to do what?” Mr. MacDonald asked later in the hotel dining room.

  “C.J. doesn’t have much time to impress this girl,” Cyrus said. “You told me a little about how you won Shona. Maybe you can give him a few pointers.”

  Dallan sat back in his chair, arched an eyebrow at C.J., Cyrus and Polly, and snorted. “Trust me, Cyrus, that was different. There were certain, shall we say, circumstances that had to be dealt with.” He drummed his fingers on the table. “The lass’s relatives are upset with ye, I hear. By the time we got back to that bonny tree, the Weavers had left.”

  “By the time you got back, I imagine everyone had left.” Polly smiled. “You can tell us later what went on out there with the bird. Congratulations to Melvale on finding it at last.”

  “Aye, Melvale’s beside himself with joy.” He rolled his eyes. “Now, back to the lad’s problem. Ye want this girl, d’ye no?”

  “Yes – I’m not sure I’ll ever find another like her,” C.J. said. And there it was. Rufi had it all, everything he wanted in a wife, and he didn’t want to risk losing her. It all came down to the next few days.

  “Ye ken ye canna make someone fall in love with ye?”

  “I know,” C.J. said. “But if I don’t try to win her, I’ll never forgive myself.”

  “Regret is a poor bedfellow, aye. It will chew ye up and spit ye out. Then ye’ll no be fit for anyone.”

  “Do you have any advice?” Cyrus prompted.

  “I gave advice to Duncan Cooke once and it worked. But again, different circumstances. The only advice I can give to ye, lad, is to find out what she wants in a man. Then ye’ll have to ask yourself the hard question.”

  C.J. frowned. “Do I have what it takes?”

  “Weel, if ye do and she sees it, then ye have a much better chance. Of course then ye’ll have to win her family over, but that comes later.” Dallan looked him up and down. “Have ye the means to do that?”

  C.J. exchanged a quick look with Cyrus. “I can get the means, if you’re talking about traveling to where she lives.”

  “Aye, I am. But ye live at the men’s camp, laddie. And as far as I ken, ye’ve no coin to spare.”

  “I have … a little set aside.” He wasn’t ready to tell the big man of the empire he’d be taking over for his grandfather. Money was no issue. But if he told Rufi who and what he was and she suddenly wanted to marry him, would it be money that tipped the scales in his favor? He wanted her to want him, not his bankbook.

  Dallan stared long and hard at C.J., then drummed his fingers on the tabletop again. “Ye’re a smart man, Mr. Branson. Ye ken yer way around a lass. But ye canna get round this one.”

  C.J.’s mouth dropped open. “That’s only because I haven’t had time.”

  “Nay, ye havena. But Miss Cucinotta is part of a big family. They’re very important to her. They’re bigger competition than any rival suitor could ever be. Ye ken that?” He got up, grabbed some sandwiches off a plate Sally had brought earlier and left the dining room.

  “Well, that wasn’t much help,” Polly commented.

  “On the contrary, Polly,” C.J. said. “That was a lot of help.” He smiled at them. “If the two of you will excuse me, I have some work to do.” He quickly left the table and went in search of Patrick Mulligan. He just hoped he could put together his plan in time.

  “A table for two?” Patrick repeated.

  C.J. nodded. “And I’d like a red-and-white-checked tablecloth and a candle on it, just like a big-city restaurant.”

  “Are ye daft, man?” Patrick said in his Irish brogue. “A romantic dinner in me saloon?”

  “Patrick, everyone in town has told me that your saloon is half restaurant most of the time. We won’t be any trouble, and if you put us in a corner …”

  “But wouldn’t the hotel dining room be better?”

  “Her family is at the hotel,” C.J. said flatly.

  Patrick scratched his head. “Aye, that is a problem. But if ye’re wanting a romantic dinner in my place, I can’t guarantee ye won’t be interrupted.”

  “I wouldn’t worry about that. I’m going to ask Mr. MacDonald to make sure we’re not disturbed.”

  Patrick nodded. “Oh aye, that’d do it. All right, fine. When do ye want this dinner?”

  “Tomorrow night.”

  “I don’t have any checked tablecloths. Maybe Irene does. I’ll have Mary ask.”

  “Thank you, Patrick – you’re a big help.” That done, C.J. was off like a shot to find Henry Fig. Tomorrow he’d go to the Triple-C to gather a few things from the Cooke brothers. He just hoped they had what he needed; if not, he’d have to improvise.

  If this didn’t work, then he’d be no worse off than he was now, and at least he’d know he tried. He trusted Rufi to know what sort of man she wanted in her life. By spending as much time as he could with her (preferably in romantic settings like their evening on the prairie) she’d see him for who he was and could decide. If he wasn’t a good match, he was willing to accept that. But if he was, then the fight was on – not to win her heart, but to win over her family. If they were as important to her as Dallan MacDonald indicated, he couldn’t just whisk her off to be married and not have her see them again. He didn’t want her to part badly with them. She’d only resent him for it later.

  That, in short, was the pickle C.J. was in – not just to court, woo and marry Rufina Cucinotta, but to woo the entire Weaver-Cucinotta clan. It wouldn’t be easy. But Rufi was worth it, he was sure. That is, if she wanted him.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  “What do you mean they’re not here?!” C.J. asked.

  Lorcan looked up from the Braille he’d been reading. “They left early this morning for the
creek. Something about archery.”

  “Oh,” C.J. nodded. “Of course. We never got to the contest yesterday.”

  “Because everyone was looking for you and Miss Cucinotta?”

  C.J. sighed. “I’m afraid so. Thanks, Lorcan.”

  “Ye’re welcome.” He went back to his reading.

  C.J. left the hotel, mounted his horse and headed out of town. He’d forgotten about the planned archery tournament. The Weaver twins had been looking forward to it. He’d have to try to make it up to them. But how? Calvin was angry for him being alone with Rufi – and kissing her. He wasn’t sure about Benjamin, who was more casual but would almost certainly take his brother’s side. That meant his plan of spending time with Rufi in another romantic setting might rile them up. But that was a chance he’d have to take.

  He reached the canyon and started down the trail. By the time he reached the bottom, the competition was already underway. No one noticed him until he’d dismounted and was strolling across the meadow toward them. “Well, look who’s here,” Harlan called. “Morning, Mr. Branson.”

  “Morning, Mr. Hughes.”

  “What’s he doin’ here?” Calvin grumbled as Benjamin notched an arrow.

  “Same as you. I’d like to shoot. And as it’s my fault no one got to take a turn yesterday, I’d like to make it up to you somehow.”

  “That’s very considerate of you, young man,” Ma Weaver said. “Just how do you plan to do that?”

  “I’ll think of something.” He glanced around, finally spotting Rufi down by the swimming hole with Benjamin’s wife and children. “Have you just started?”

  “Yep.” Benjamin let the arrow fly. It hit the outermost ring of the target. “Hey, not bad!”

  “Good shootin’, Ben.” Calvin slapped him on the back.

  “Where are the Cookes?” C.J. asked.

  “Up the creek a spell,” Harlan said. “They’ll be back shortly.”

  “What are they doing?” he asked out of curiosity, doing his best not to stare at Rufi.

  Bella watched her husband take the bow from Calvin. “They said something about caves.”

  “Oh yes.” C.J. left it at that and watched Calvin take his shot. His arrow hit just below Benjamin’s, still in the farthest ring.

  “Harlan, ya want to try?” Calvin asked.

  “Sure, I’ll make a fool of myself.”

  Ma smacked him on the shoulder. “Harlan, don’t say things like that.”

  “Well, I’m not good at this sort of thing and I know it. Besides, once Cozette gets back here she’ll make us all look bad.”

  Calvin and Benjamin laughed.

  “No laughing matter, boys – she’s gonna whoop you.” Harlan did his best, but his shot flew over the target and into the grass beyond. “Dagnabit.”

  Ma laughed. “Mr. Branson, do you want to try?”

  At this point Rufi and Charity were heading their way. “Sure.” He took the bow from Harlan. Calvin handed him an arrow with a snarl. So he was still angry – not a surprise.

  C.J. notched the arrow, took aim, let fly – and hit the middle of the target, missing dead center by an inch.

  “How’d ya learn to shoot like that?” Calvin said in disgust.

  C.J. shrugged. “I’ve learned a lot of things.”

  Rufi reached them and stared at C.J. “Good morning.”

  “Good morning,” he said, his eyes still on Calvin. He turned to Rufi and let his eyes linger a moment before he spoke. She was beautiful, but sad. “I’d like to speak with you later.”

  “All right.”

  Calvin stepped between them. “Oh no, ya don’t!”

  “Calvin!” Ma Weaver barked. “We talked about this. Let the young people work things out on their own.”

  “He’ll work things out all right,” Calvin said. “By taking her into the woods and …”

  “Enough!” Ma declared. “Land sakes, can’t you see she likes him? Why else would she look so miserable?”

  C.J. studied Rufi. She did look miserable.

  “Mr. Branson,” Harrison said as he headed their way. “How good of you to join us.” He turned to Calvin and Benjamin. “I wasn’t sure the two of you would give him my message considering yesterday’s little misunderstanding.”

  “Message?” C.J. said, then stared hard at the twins.

  Calvin cleared his throat. “Actually, we, uh, never got the chance. Didn’t see Mr. Branson after we got back to the hotel.”

  “Then how do you explain his presence here?” Colin asked. He looked at Belle. “Did you tell him?”

  “I went to the hotel this morning to see Rufi,” C.J. explained. “Lorcan told me where everyone was.”

  “Oh, that explains it. Glad you could come.” Harrison smiled and looked at the bow in his hand. “Mind if I have a go? I like to think I’m good at this, until Cozette takes a turn. Then I whine like a child.”

  “He really does,” Sadie confirmed. She glanced over her shoulder. “Better hurry, Harrison. Duncan and Cozette will be back any minute.”

  “Jolly good.” Harrison took an arrow from the quiver Benjamin was holding and took a turn. The arrow hit just inside Benjamin and Calvin’s. “Whose arrow is that in the middle?”

  “Mine,” C.J. said, his eyes still on Rufi.

  “What?” Colin exclaimed. “Someone else that’s better than us? Oh, why bother even taking a turn?”

  Belle laughed, took one look at C.J. gazing at Rufi and cleared her throat. “Would you like a turn, Rufi?”

  Rufi blinked a few times. “Me?” She looked at C.J. and back. “All right. But no one laugh.”

  Benjamin did. Calvin didn’t. He was still staring daggers at C.J., who in turn was watching Rufi and praying he didn’t wind up with an arrow in his posterior at some point. Given Calvin’s demeanor, he just might.

  Rufi took the bow from Harrison and an arrow from Benjamin. She notched it, took aim and hit the bottom of the target. Everyone clapped and congratulated her, including C.J. She turned to him with a shy smile but said nothing. She was being awful quiet. He wondered if Calvin had forbidden her to speak with him. But she wasn’t a child – did the man have that much authority over her? Maybe he shouldn’t worry so much about taking her from her family once they wed. If they wed …

  “Rufi,” he said as she headed back to Charity and the children. She stopped but didn’t turn around. “Are you well?”

  She moved her head in his direction, but didn’t make eye contact. “Quite well, thank you.”

  He took a step toward her. “Rufi …”

  “Leave her alone!” Calvin said.

  “Calvin,” his mother warned. “Rufi has her own mind. Try to remember that.”

  C.J. smiled at Ma Weaver. She was tiny, but she certainly kept her boys in line. And it was true – Rufi was no little girl. She was a woman and could speak her own mind. But did she really not want to speak with him, or was that Calvin’s doing?”

  “Sorry, Ma,” Calvin said. “But after yesterday, I don’t trust him.”

  C.J. was about to comment when Duncan and Cozette joined them. Just as well – he had a biting retort on his tongue that needed to stay there.

  “Is it my turn?” Duncan asked.

  “Yes,” Colin said. “I’m not playing. I refuse to be further humiliated by your wife.”

  Duncan laughed. “Very well.” He took aim and hit the bullseye, just to the left of C.J.’s arrow

  “Lucky shot,” Colin griped.

  Duncan laughed and handed the bow to Cozette. She waited for him to retrieve all the arrows and put them in the quiver before slinging it over her shoulder.

  “I hate this part.” Colin put an arm around Belle. “One walks away feeling so much lesser.”

  “Oh stop. It’s usually Harrison that whines.”

  “I’m doing it for him,” Colin explained.

  Harrison laughed, kissed Sadie, then stiffened. “Utter humiliation and ruin, here we come.”

  Cozette sm
iled as she looked at each of them in turn, then in rapid succession shot five arrows, putting them all in the bullseye. The fourth arrow actually split the second one.

  C.J.’s mouth fell open. “What in the name of …?”

  “Now you’re part of the elite club of the vanquished,” Colin quipped. “She does this to us every bloody time!”

  Cozette giggled and handed the bow to Duncan. “I’ll go get the arrows so you can all try again.”

  “Oh no, you won’t!” Colin cried. “I can’t take anymore.”

  Rufi laughed. “She’s good.”

  “She’s more than good,” Duncan said. “She’s astounding.” He watched Cozette walking toward the target. “Costs me to keep her in arrows, the way she splits them like that, but she loves it.”

  “I wish I was that good,” Rufi commented.

  “I am glad you are not,” said Bella.

  “Yeah, just think if she got angry with one of us,” Benjamin added.

  Rufi looked at Calvin. “Yes, you would be in trouble.”

  C.J. swallowed a smirk. So nothing was quite resolved. Still, he had to speak with her. “Rufi, might I have a word?”

  She looked at Calvin and squared her shoulders. “Yes, of course you may.”

  C.J. watched Calvin’s jaw tighten, but he glanced at his wife and his mother – both of whom were watching him like a wolf stares at a rabbit – and kept his mouth shut.

  C.J. smiled. He wasn’t the only one that thought Rufi should be allowed to speak for herself. Good. Time he got to work.

  Rufi and C.J. walked to His Majesty, where several blankets had been spread. Rufi sat next to a picnic basket there. The family had decided on the way back to town yesterday that they wanted another day with the Cookes. She felt bad she and C.J. had disrupted their time together, but it couldn’t be helped. She’d convinced everyone of that last night – except Calvin, who still wanted to pound C.J. into a pudding, and Bella, who was just overprotective. At least Bella had bowed to Ma’s decision

  “Rufi?”