Blue Moon Promise

by Colleen Coble

  Tears burned Lucy’s eyes. Wasn’t that good enough?

  “Am I going to be punished now?” Eileen’s voice was pitiful.

  “Do you think you should be?” Nate stroked her hair.

  Eileen hesitated. “You have to ’cause you said. I wouldn’t want God to think you was a liar.”

  Lucy thought she saw a hint of moisture in Nate’s eyes. “No supper, then,” he said. “And you’ll have to stay on your bed the rest of the evening.”

  “Nothing for supper?” Eileen asked. “Lucy fixed dumplings.”

  “I don’t want to discipline you, Eileen. Just like God doesn’t like to discipline us. You can have bread and milk but no dumplings.”

  Tears streaming down her face, Eileen rose. Nate looked at Lucy helplessly. She could see the toll this was taking on him.

  He knelt beside Eileen and hugged her. “I love you, sweetheart. Let’s pray and promise God we’ll try to obey next time.”

  Eileen wiped her eyes, then wound her arms around his neck and kissed him. “I love you, Nate. I’se glad you married us.”

  “So am I,” Nate said, his gaze meeting Lucy’s.

  SUNDAYS WERE ALWAYS spent at the big house, but as Lucy rode in the buggy toward the ranch after church, she wished she could prepare Sunday dinner on her own. Though the cabin was small, it was home now after two months. Maybe she would bring it up today.

  Nate stopped the buggy in front of the house. “Someone’s here.” Nate helped her down from the seat.

  Birds were singing from the bushes and trees as her shoes hit the mud. She eyed the other buggy. It had a cover and looked new. “Who is it?”

  “I don’t recognize the horse.” He lifted Eileen from the seat and set her down beside Lucy. Jed vaulted over the side to join them.

  Lucy took his offered arm and skirted the worst of the puddle from last night’s rain. The air smelled fresh and clean. After living in the cabin, the main house looked impossibly expansive and lavish. Nate held open the door.

  Voices carried from the parlor, and she recognized her aunt’s voice. “It’s Aunt Sally!”

  Lucy hurried across the polished wood floor to the first room on the right. Her aunt was sitting on the horsehair sofa with Fanny. She held out her arms for Eileen, and the child rushed to her lap. Lucy’s smile faded when she saw the man in the chair near Fanny. Rolf Watson. He must have been keeping company with Fanny since they met him last week. The smile he turned on Lucy was entirely too smug for her liking.

  She nodded stiffly. “Mr. Watson.” Ignoring him, she hugged her aunt and cousin. “I didn’t expect to see you here.” Far from it. She’d had no idea they socialized with her father-in-law.

  “Henry asked Rolf to dinner, and we tagged along.” Sally’s smile turned droll as she glanced at Henry.

  Lucy finally dared to peek at him herself, but his expression betrayed no dismay. His smile was expansive as he gestured to the chairs. “We were just talking about you, Lucy. Your aunt would like to invite us all to Sunday dinner next week.”

  Lucy wanted to accept immediately, but she glanced at Nate. He was studying the male visitor, and she thought she saw speculation in his eyes. She beckoned to her cousin. “Fanny, if you wouldn’t mind, we should see if Percy needs any help with dinner.”

  Fanny rose, and the two women went to the kitchen where they found Percy heaping fried chicken on a platter. He eyed them. “Don’t need no help, ladies. Dinner’s about ready.”

  “We just thought we’d check. We can set the table.” Lucy grabbed blue-and-white dishes, then handed her cousin the tableware caddy.

  “You didn’t really need my help, did you, Lucy?” Fanny’s blue eyes held amusement as they began to arrange the dishes.

  Lucy set down a plate. “No. What are you doing with Mr. Watson? Why did Henry invite him here?”

  Fanny arranged cookies on a plate. “It appears Rolf is a private investigator. Henry has hired him for some reason and wanted an update.”

  Lucy’s cheeks heated. “He was in town before I asked Henry . . .”

  “You hired Rolf?”

  “No.” Lucy didn’t want to say more. Not yet. While she trusted her cousin, she still didn’t trust Rolf. He was in town before Henry had known about the coins. So what was his real purpose? Could whoever was after the coins have hired him to track her down and Henry had blindly fallen into the man’s plans?

  “Lucy?”

  She shook herself out of her reverie. “How did Henry meet Rolf?”

  “I believe Henry heard about him and requested him to come by. Rolf asked if he might bring me and Mama to dinner.”

  “Rather brash,” Lucy said. “Especially considering the tension between our families.”

  “Rolf didn’t know about that.”

  Lucy wasn’t so sure. There was a lot going on behind the man’s handsome face. She feared for Fanny. “I’m sure it was innocent.” She picked up the tray and followed her cousin back to the parlor.

  The men were hotly debating the results of the presidential election between Hayes and Tilden. Though Hayes had been inaugurated, Henry claimed it all illegal. They fell silent when the women stepped back into the room.

  Henry rose. “I’ll leave you ladies to chat while I discuss business with Rolf and my son. I’m sure Percy will have dinner ready soon.”

  “You never responded to my invitation for Sunday dinner,” Sally said.

  Henry fell silent for a moment before nodding. “I have no quarrel with you, Mrs. Donnelly. I assume your brother will not be in attendance?”

  Sally shook her head. “He will be out of town next week. Maybe next time.” Her voice held a bit of hope.

  Henry didn’t answer that. “Nate, Rolf, Jed. In my office, please.”

  Lucy glanced at Nate and he nodded at her. “We’d be delighted to come as well, Aunt Sally,” she said. “Can I bring dessert? I have pecans, and I can make some pies.”

  “That would be lovely, my dear.”

  When the men were gone, Lucy glanced at her cousin. “How much of Mr. Watson have you seen, Fanny?”

  “He’s been to dinner twice a week.” Her dimples flashed. “What do you have against him, Lucy? Don’t bother to deny it. You’ve set your affections against him from the first moment.”

  “Did you ever find out how he knew where you lived?”

  “I didn’t ask him, but it’s a small town. There’s no reason for your distrust.”

  Lucy wanted to believe Fanny. She wanted her sweet cousin to find happiness, but something about the man put her off. “I hope you’re right. What is your opinion, Aunt Sally?”

  Her aunt smiled. “I want Fanny to be happy, of course. My preference would be for her to marry a man from our area so I could continue to see her, but I don’t want to be so selfish to deny her a chance at happiness just because I want her nearby. Rolf seems a good man. He’s quite polite and well spoken. He dresses well. I asked my brother to examine his background and see if he has the means to care for Fanny.”

  “What did Uncle Drew find out?”

  “He hasn’t gotten back to me yet, but I expect a report soon. In the meantime, Fanny has a handsome man to squire her about.”

  “Have the two men met?”

  “Of course. I arranged for them to meet at once. Fanny has no father to look out for her, and Drew fulfills that responsibility whenever I need him.”

  “Did Rolf say why he came to town?”

  “I didn’t ask.”

  Lucy opened her mouth, then closed it again. What was there to say when all she had to go on were feelings?

  TWENTY-TWO

  Nate never felt at ease in his father’s library. There wasn’t a good place to sit with the stacks of papers on every available chair. He moved a pile of folders and settled into the chair closest to his father, leaving Watson to do the same with the chair by the door. Something about the fellow put Nate’s back up.

  Henry motioned to the chair Watson stood by. “Set that st
uff on the floor and pull your chair closer. I want a report.”

  Watson did as directed, scraping the chair legs along the wooden floor. “In order to find the owner of the coins, I’d like to take them back to Indiana with me for verification.”

  “That won’t be possible,” Nate said at the same time his father nodded.

  Henry’s brows gathered together in a stern frown. “It makes sense that he would need someone to examine the coins, Nate.”

  “No. Sorry, Pa, but we don’t really know this man. I’m not giving him anything.” He stared at Watson. “If you find the owner, you can let us know and we’ll see about returning his property. Until then, the coins stay with us.”

  The man shrugged. “I hope you have them safe in a vault somewhere.”

  Was the guy fishing to find out where the coins were? Nate didn’t trust him. “They’re safe.”

  “I’d like to at least look at them myself. Have a photograph taken.”

  “No. And I’m a little concerned about your intentions regarding Fanny.”

  Watson’s brows rose. “I hardly see where that’s any of your concern.”

  Nate wondered himself at his prodding, but he knew Lucy was concerned. It had been all over her face. “She’s my cousin by marriage and has no father to look out for her.”

  “I’m here about business, Mr. Stanton, not my private life.”

  “Does she know you don’t have any serious intentions?”

  Red swept up Watson’s face. “I have merely taken her to dinner on occasion. That hardly constitutes a marriage proposal.”

  The guy was going to hurt Fanny. Nate wanted to throw him out on his ear, but he rose when he heard Percy whistle. “Sounds like dinner is ready.” He opened the door and let Watson exit ahead of him. Fanny would need to be warned.

  His father stood from behind the desk. “Nate, what’s gotten into you?”

  “Pa, you don’t even know this guy. Why would you trust him?”

  “He has an excellent reputation.”

  “Well, I don’t believe he’s all he says. He’s too slick. He can make general inquiries first.”

  His father came around the side of the desk. “Maybe you’re right. We’ll see what he finds out first.”

  SHOPPING DAY ALWAYS lifted Lucy’s spirits, and the early June weather was so fine, she was especially happy. She left Jed and Nate at the feed store and walked down the boardwalk with Eileen by the hand. A woman’s voice called her name, and she turned to see Mrs. Walker hailing her from the front porch of a neat two-story home.

  “I’ve been wondering how you’ve been getting on,” Henry’s cousin said when Lucy reached the porch. “Do you have time for a visit?”

  “I’d love to chat,” Lucy said, removing her bonnet. “And I wouldn’t turn down some tea. All those men drink is coffee, coffee, and more coffee.” She and Eileen followed Mrs. Walker into the kitchen. A starched linen covered the table, and there were vases of bluebells in the room. One on the windowsill and one on the table.

  Mrs. Walker put the teakettle on the woodstove. “Tell me what you’ve been up to.” She fetched a tiny set of teacups and teapot for Eileen.

  The little girl squealed with delight when the older woman pointed out a tiny table in the corner and set the items on top of it. Eileen took her dolly to the small set to play.

  “Mostly just cleaning the cabin and putting things in their place.” Lucy hesitated. “We had Sunday dinner at Henry’s yesterday. Rolf Watson was there with Fanny and Aunt Sally.”

  “I’ve seen him squiring her around.”

  “You sound as though you don’t approve.”

  The older woman shrugged. “It’s not my place to approve or disapprove, but I fear young Fanny is going to get her heart broken. I’ve seen his type before.”

  “She seems to have seen his true nature.” Lucy watched her get out the tea strainer and cups.

  Mrs. Walker sniffed. “That man could charm a honeybee from its hive. All the girls in town are after him. It’s no wonder Fanny was taken in.”

  “Do you know what he’s doing in town in the first place?”

  Mrs. Walker set down her teacup. “I’ve heard he was hired to track down the owner of some land O’Brien wants to buy.”

  “Are all landowners so determined to own the entire state of Texas?”

  “I’m afraid so, dear. Why are you so interested in Mr. Watson?”

  Lucy didn’t know how to answer the question. “Curiosity for my family’s sake,” she said finally.

  Mrs. Walker smiled. “Your cousin has to make her own mistakes. You can’t control her love life.”

  “I merely wanted to ensure she wasn’t getting involved with some kind of shyster.” Lucy’s cheeks burned. She remembered the woman’s comment on the train about Lucy’s need for control. That wasn’t it at all. She merely wanted Fanny to be happy.

  The older woman patted her hand. “Honey, I’d hoped you were learning to let go of that desire to make things right for everyone.”

  Lucy’s face burned even more when Mrs. Walker shook her head, then picked up a cookie and nibbled on it. “It’s no sin to want the best for the people I love.”

  “No, it’s not. But the best you can do is pray for them. Let God lead them. Do you feel you have the wisdom necessary to advise your cousin about a matter in which you yourself are woefully inexperienced?”

  “I have prayed for Fanny.” Every night and with great fervency.

  “And I expect the prayer has been for her to see through the scoundrel.”

  Lucy wanted to deny the charge, but they both knew it was true. She clearly remembered praying exactly the way Mrs. Walker had said. How did she know when they were virtually strangers? “I do want her to see the truth.”

  “And what if God has other plans? You don’t know that man’s heart. Perhaps he’s not the womanizer you think.”

  “You thought so too!”

  Mrs. Walker laughed. “I’m an old woman. I might be wrong about him myself. I’ve judged people in the past and been wrong. We can pray we are both wrong this time.”

  “Then what should I be praying?”

  Mrs. Walker picked up her tea. “For God to keep your heart pure and for him to mold you as he would. Anything else is out of your control. We can only change ourselves with God’s help. Changing other people is not our job.”

  “I don’t want to change Fanny.”

  “Don’t you?”

  Lucy couldn’t hold to her original declaration with the woman’s gray eyes seeing into her soul. “Perhaps I do feel Fanny is a little too giddy and easily swayed by a persuasive smile.”

  “And perhaps she is. But your responsibility is to love her with God’s love and let her make her own decisions. I would imagine she has not asked you for advice but you have been quick to give it anyway.”

  Lucy ducked her head and nodded. “If you saw a friend about to fall off a cliff, wouldn’t you step in front to save her?”

  “That’s a little different. The danger is clear. This is not. It’s Fanny’s decision to make, not yours.” She nodded to the tea. “Enough of this. Let God show you how to pray for Fanny.”

  Lucy took the cue. “Have you seen Henry lately?”

  “He usually stops by when he’s in town. I checked on him after his spasm, but he does so hate to be coddled. He told me not to come back unless I could promise not to hover. Since I couldn’t promise, I stayed away.”

  Lucy smiled at the woman’s practical tone. She knew Henry well. Lucy accepted the tea Mrs. Walker offered. “You’ve known Nate all his life.”

  “Oh my, yes. He and his brother are like my own. My William and I never had children. He was killed by a robber when we’d been married just six months.”

  “Oh, I’m so sorry!”

  “It was a long time ago. Nate and Roger helped ease the pain. That young scamp Roger came to see me. I fear he will never grow up.”

  “He warned me about Henry,” Lucy said. �
��It’s clear the two of them don’t get along.”

  “He and his father have been at loggerheads since Roger was a child. Henry has always had dreams and goals for his boys. Roger wasn’t one to fall in with those plans.”

  “I’m still getting to know Nate. And marriage is an adjustment.”

  The older woman gave her a sharp glance. “You indicated when we spoke last that you found Nate handsome and he was treating you well. You’re not sorry you married him?”

  “Oh no, not at all. H-He’s quite suitable.”

  Suitable didn’t begin to explain how he made her feel when he looked at her.

  LUCY LEANED BACK in the swing on her aunt’s porch and gave it a push with one foot. “Dinner was amazing, Aunt Sally.”

  Her aunt beamed. “Your pies were the real hit. I must have your recipe.”

  Lucy glanced at Nate beside her. The meal had gone very well. The small talk had stayed on ranching and things that had been happening in town. Henry had been polite and courteous to her family. And thankfully, Rolf had not been in evidence. Maybe he’d gone to Indiana on his assignment. She could only hope he’d stay gone.

  Her cousin jumped to her feet. Fanny looked very fetching today in a sky blue dress. She stood at the top of the porch steps and watched a figure walking across the street toward town.

  “What’s wrong?” Lucy asked.

  “I-I’m not sure,” Fanny said. “It almost looks like . . .”

  Her mother joined her. “Honey, you’re always seeing Andy around every corner.”

  Fanny wilted. “You don’t think it’s him?” She stared after the figure.

  “No.” Her mother guided her back to the guests. “How about some tea and coffee? You and Lucy could prepare it if Lucy doesn’t mind assisting.”

  Lucy stood. “I’d be glad to help.” She followed Fanny into the kitchen. “You thought that man was your former fiancé?”

  Tears hung on Fanny’s lashes. “The walk was just like his.”

  “Have you never tried to find out what happened to him?”

  “Oh, I talked to his family. They say he’s well and living in Arizona.”