“Why wouldn’t I? You’ve changed, too, Aunt Edwina. I’ve never seen you so content. I hope your mood continues when we leave.”
“I look forward to seeing Reggie and meeting his wife. Otherwise, I’d dread leaving. Here we’re buffered from all those things that make me weary.”
“I understand what you mean. Ranchers face so many problems, but the life appeals to me more than I could have ever dreamed. In fact, until we came here, I had no knowledge of ranching.”
Amelia cut more strips for the rug. “I like it here, too, but I’m ready to go on to see my brother. I don’t like indecision and I can’t make up my mind about my future until I see him.”
Jenny asked, “Why is that?”
“Well, there’s only the two of us left of our family and he’s all alone in Salem. I don’t know if he’s happy or lonely.”
Aunt Edwina turned to look at the young widow. “Does he write to you?”
“About once a month. He sounds happy enough, but that could be him putting up a front so I won’t worry. I wired him as soon as the Douglases told me to leave and he wired back immediately to come to live with him.”
Charity cut more one-inch strips from dungarees. Her hands hurt from wielding the scissors on the heavy fabric. “Is he in a house or rooms?”
“He rented a small house. The rooms he found were not in good parts of town but he couldn’t afford a large house. He has a spare room, though, so that’s all that’s needed.”
The men came in early for dinner.
Kevin’s brow was furrowed and his mouth turned down. “So cold it’s below what the thermometer will register. Don’t know how much longer the cattle can survive.”
Aunt Edwina laid aside her rug and went to him. She laid a hand on his arm. “I’m sorry, Kevin. You must be terribly worried. Go sit in the living room until your meal is ready and I’ll bring you a cup of coffee.”
He patted her hand. “Thank you, Edwina, that’s thoughtful. I believe I will.” He took his customary wing-backed chair by the fireplace.
Logan stopped beside Charity. “You gonna bring me a cup of coffee?”
“I suppose. Go sit with the others.” She rose and prepared cups for all the men and set them on a tray. “Aunt Edwina, would you like me to carry that for you?”
“No, I want to do this. You handle the others.” She carried a steaming mug to Mr. Murdoch.
He accepted with a warm smile. “Thank you, my dear.”
Logan raised his eyebrows and glanced at Sean then at Charity. “Thank you, Sunshine. Saddens me to see you serving everyone and not just me.” He took a swallow of coffee.
“I was afraid to slight the others for fear you’d get an even bigger opinion of yourself.”
Sean laughed. “She got you there, brother. Sounds to me like she knows the real you.”
“No one respects me here.” He drained his mug and set it back on her tray. “Miss Kelso, could I see you for a moment in the office?”
“A-All right. Let me return this to the kitchen.” Wondering what Logan had on his mind, Charity hurriedly gave the tray to Jenny and followed him to the office.
He quietly closed the door behind her and then stood near. “I don’t want to upset you, but I need to find out if something is true.”
“What?” She hoped he wanted to give her one of those bone-melting kisses again.
He took a deep breath and engulfed her in an embrace before he pressed his lips to hers. One kiss turned into another and another. When he ceased, each of them breathed raggedly.
He kept his arms around her and looked into her eyes. “That’s what I was afraid of. I’m never going to get enough of your kisses.”
She wanted to shout for joy, but forced calm. “That was some sort of experiment?”
He caressed her cheek. “That time I kissed you in here was supposed to get you out of my head. Instead, I’m worse than before. I can’t get you out of my mind during the day or dreams at night. You’re making me crazy, Sunshine.”
She buried her head against his chest. “Do you think you’re cured now?”
“Not likely I’ll ever be. I think the only remedy is for you to stay here from now on. When the sheriff lets us know the train’s running, we can ask him to send the preacher to marry us.” He tipped her chin to meet his gaze. “Lordy, Sunshine, that’s not the kind of proposal I intended. When you’re near, I can’t think straight.”
“You want me to stay simply because you like kissing me? That’s not really a good enough reason.”
“You’re going to make me say it, aren’t you? I love you, Charity Kelso.”
She hugged him. “I love you, Logan Murdoch, you ornery man.”
He swung her around then pulled her back into his arms. “That’s what I needed to hear.”
“Logan, you know I’ve promised to deliver my aunt to her son in Portland.”
“Let Amelia take over. She’s going that way anyway.”
“I can’t. Before we left Albany, my aunt made me promise that no matter what happened, I wouldn’t desert her before we arrived at her son’s. No matter how much I wish now, I can’t go back on my word.”
He pulled her to him. “I can’t lose you now I’ve found you.” He tilted up her face. “Can you tell me I mean less to you than your aunt?”
“Of course not, but you can’t expect me to break a promise.”
“Since Amelia’s available to fill in, I do expect you to tell your aunt you’re staying here.”
“Logan, don’t make me choose between duty and love. If the situation were reversed, you’d not go back on your word.”
“I only know if you really loved me, you’d stay here. If you have doubts at least be honest and say so.”
“I don’t have doubts, but I can’t abandon my aunt.”
“Have it your way.” He turned on his heel and left the room. She heard his feet on the stairs.
Tears filled her eyes. She couldn’t face the others with tears on her cheeks. She ran up the stairs and threw herself across the bed in the room she shared with Amelia.
Soon, Amelia came into the room. “Dinner’s ready. Charity, is something wrong?”
“I have a… a headache. Please make my excuses. I’ll clean up from supper if you’ll let me stay here now.”
“There’s no need to worry. I’ll tell everyone you have a sick headache. Shall I bring you a tray?”
“I don’t think I could eat anything, but thank you.”
She heard Amelia knock on Logan’s door and tell him dinner was served. His steps paused by her door then he went downstairs. Charity’s head pounded as if making her words to Amelia true.
Charity was torn by indecision. Was she being foolish? She’d never broken a promise. How could she now?
Amelia didn’t understand her aunt the way Charity did. While Aunt Edwina might have mellowed, who could say she’d be that way after leaving the ranch? If she were heartbroken over leaving Mr. Murdoch, then Aunt Edwina would need Charity all the more.
Surely if Logan truly loved her, he’d see she was right in this. As she had told him, if the situation were reversed, she believed he’d do the same. She wished she could confide in someone.
In spite of the hour, she disrobed and donned her nightgown then crawled into bed. Drat, who would help Aunt Edwina undress tonight? She’d put on her robe and go herself.
What a mess her life had become. She’d simply gone from one bad situation to another.
***
The next evening at supper, Mr. Murdoch stood and tapped his spoon against his cup. “May I have your attention, please?”
Everyone stared at him.
He took Edwina’s hand in his. “Edwina has done me the great honor of consenting to be my wife. We plan to marry and then go on to Portland for a honeymoon so I can meet her son. She’ll have a chance to visit him and meet his new wife. We expect to be gone about a month.”
Charity sat dumbfounded but she recovered enough to stand and go
hug her aunt. “Blessings, Aunt Edwina.” Over her aunt’s shoulder, she looked at Logan, but his return gaze was cold. She’d lost him over a non-existent situation.
She hugged Mr. Murdoch. “Best wishes. I’m so happy for you both.” She went back to her chair, not daring to look at Logan again.
Sean went to congratulate the couple. Logan pushed back and went to shake his father’s hand then kiss Aunt Edwina on the cheek. Afterward, he went up the stairs without looking back.
Charity and Amelia cleared the table and washed the dishes while Sean, Jenny, and the ranch hands chatted with Mr. Murdoch and Aunt Edwina about their plans. Once the kitchen was tidy, Charity forced herself to join the others in the living room.
At bedtime, Charity waited discretely until Mr. Murdoch and Aunt Edwina had bid one another good night before she followed her aunt into her room.
Aunt Edwina glowed with happiness. “I can’t tell you how happy I am, Charity. I didn’t think I’d ever have a chance like this with such a wonderful man.”
Charity unfastened her aunt’s dress and helped her into her nightgown. “He’s a good man and I believe he genuinely cares for you.”
Her aunt took the pins from her hair. “Isn’t life amazing? We were worried about being here and yet this has turned into the best thing that’s ever happened to me. At last I believe I have a chance to be happy for whatever time I have left.”
“Which should be much longer because you’ll be happy and cared for.” Charity picked up the brush to tend to her aunt’s hair.
Aunt Edwina stopped Charity and cupped her face. “Now, tell me what’s happened between you and Logan that has him looking like a bear with a thorn in his paw and you as if you’re about to cry.”
Charity laid her head on her aunt’s shoulder. “I didn’t want you to know, but I think I’ve ruined my life.”
Aunt Edwina tugged her toward the bed and sat. “Sit down here beside me and tell me what’s going on between the two of you.”
“Nothing’s going on, that’s the problem. He…he asked me to marry him but I told him I had promised to see you to Portland and wouldn’t break my promise. He said I chose you over him, but that isn’t right. I chose honor over self.”
“Oh, my dear, and now you’ve learned you’ve sacrificed for nothing.”
“He’ll never give me another chance because he won’t know whether I’m accepting because you’ll be here or because I love him.”
“I see what you’re saying, but I’m sure time will work this out for you. By the time the railroad’s open, he’ll have had a chance to think things through.”
“I don’t know, Aunt. He was awfully upset. When he looks at me now, his eyes are cold and his face stern. I think I’ve lost my chance at happiness.”
“Give him a chance, Dear. Men have to think things over longer than we do. I knew I wanted Kevin almost immediately after I met him. He took a little longer.”
She shook her head. “Both Logan and Sean were so amazed at their father conversing with you when we first arrived. Neither could believe Mr. Murdoch was being friendly toward you. I think he was smitten at first glance.”
Her aunt smiled. “Really? That pleases me. I hope he was as taken with me as I was with him. He’s such an interesting and intelligent man.”
“You’re an interesting and intelligent woman, so you should be well-matched.”
Aunt Edwina took her hand. “That’s beside the point. I wanted to tell you not to give up on Logan. He’ll need time to come to grips with his feelings and work through his resentment. Love will find a way.”
She shook her head. “No, I believe he’s finished wanting me. I’ll wait, for I have no other option as long as we’re snowed in here and the railroad’s blocked.” Sadness surrounded her aching heart and she could hardly catch her breath.
Her aunt pulled her into her arms for a hug. “Oh, if only I’d had you as a daughter. On second thought, I’m not sure I would have trusted Horace around you unsupervised.”
“Thank you, Aunt Edwina. I should let you get to sleep, if you can after all your excitement today.”
“Let’s both try. I’ll see you in the morning.”
Charity quietly went to her room. Amelia was seated before the fire brushing her hair.
Charity removed her dress and unbound her hair. Without bothering to brush her locks, she braided them. After washing her face and hands, she crawled into bed.
“You seem so sad, Charity. I thought you’d be happy your aunt is engaged to Mr. Murdoch.”
“I’m very happy for her. If you must know, Logan and I had a disagreement and I don’t think he’ll ever forgive me.”
Amelia returned her brush to the dresser. “That man is crazy about you.”
“You should make that past tense. He is now angry and wants nothing to do with me.”
“We’ll see.” Amelia climbed into bed.
The next morning, Charity was certain she had only drifted to sleep a few moments earlier when Sean pounded on the door.
“Ladies, breakfast is waiting.”
She climbed from bed to find Amelia already dressed. “Why didn’t you wake me?”
“From the way you tossed and turned last night, I thought you could use the sleep.”
“I’m sorry I kept you awake.”
“Nothing keeps me awake for long. I was worried about you, though. You’re usually so still I never know you’re there.”
“Oh, would you see if my aunt needs help?”
“Certainly, but first let me button you.” She turned Charity and soon had her dress fastened. “Now, slow down and I’ll see about your Aunt Edwina.”
After checking her aunt’s room and finding it empty, Charity went downstairs and into the kitchen. Everyone was seated. Logan stood and seated her without speaking.
Mr. Murdoch led a touching blessing that gave thanks for Aunt Edwina agreeing to marry him.
Her aunt clasped his hand. “Thank you for such a sweet blessing, Kevin.”
“Every word was heartfelt. I’m a lucky man, Edwina. Luckier than I ever dreamed.”
Logan said, “We’ll have more mouths to feed, so we have to figure out ways to make this ranch pay.”
Aunt Edwina smiled at him, her blue eyes twinkling. “I guess I forgot to mention that I’m quite wealthy.”
Mr. Murdoch stared at her. “Edwina? What does ‘quite wealthy’ mean?”
“Well, I suppose if you need me to, I could support the ranch for forty or fifty years.”
Looking poleaxed, he said, “You never mentioned you had money. I thought your late husband gambled it all away.”
“He gambled away most of what my father left me. Fortunately, he couldn’t touch the inheritance from my mother’s parents. They made certain of that.”
“Well, I’ll be dam…darned. Here I thought you were a poor woman and you turn out to be an heiress.” He hugged her shoulders. “I love you just as much now I know you’re rich as I did when I thought you were poor.”
Everyone laughed.
Aunt Edwina’s happy laugh tinkled. “You are such a dear man.”
Logan leaned back. “Whew, guess we don’t have to worry about the cold wiping us out.”
Sean nudged him. “Lightens our worries, that’s for sure.”
Whitey said, “You think you were worried? We were afraid we’d lose our jobs.”
Mr. Murdoch pointed at the three ranch hands. “Now, men, you know you’re a part of our family and won’t ever lose your jobs unless you do something dishonest.”
Judd nodded. “Or laziness.”
Mr. Murdoch shook his head. “Naw, I’d just kick your a… behind and get you back to work.”
Elmo raised his cup. “Thank you, Mr. Kevin. We’re grateful for the jobs and the way you treat us. Congratulations again on your coming marriage.”
Jenny sent around platters of steak, fried potatoes, and biscuits. “Not enough eggs for everyone today. Saved them for cooking.”
&nb
sp; Aunt Edwina smiled at the housekeeper. “This is a fine breakfast, Jenny. I notice you always have good nourishing meals.”
Jenny beamed at the praise. “That’s my duty.”
Chapter Nine
After breakfast when the men bundled up to go to the barn, Mr. Murdoch announced, “The sun’s coming up and the day’s going to be clear.”
Charity looked at Jenny. “That means they’ll be going out to feed the cattle, doesn’t it?”
“Yes, but if you’re thinking of going, you’d better wear my long johns under your britches. You have no idea how cold riding on the prairie can be. You have to cover up your nose and just let your eyes show.”
“I want to try.”
Jenny rushed to her room and came out carrying a pair of woolen underwear and a pair of western boots. “You’d better hurry or they’ll leave before you get out there.”
Charity sped to her room and donned the unfamiliar clothing under her salvaged dungarees. The boots weren’t a perfect fit, but she wouldn’t be walking that much. She tucked her britches inside the boots as she’d seen Logan and Sean do. As an afterthought, she wore her petticoat and skirt over the dungarees for additional layers.
She put on a jacket over her shirtwaist and then her warmest coat. She wrapped two scarves around her face and head and wore her thickest gloves. When she went back downstairs, Jenny shoved a battered hat onto her head over the scarf.
Jenny handed her a pair of lined, leather gloves. “Use these. The ones you’re wearing won’t be warm enough.”
Dressed as well as she could for the cold, Charity strode toward the barn. She asked Mr. Murdoch, “Is there a horse I may ride?”
He blinked as if surprised. “If you’re sure you want to, take Star there. You know how to cinch on a Western saddle?”
“No, but I’ll figure it out. Surely Western and Eastern saddles don’t cinch on too differently.” She set to work saddling the pretty roan gelding with a white blaze on his nose.
When the horse was ready, Charity swung into the saddle. Men’s clothing and a Western saddle made riding unbelievably easier.
Logan watched her. “Pretty smooth, but can you keep up with us?”
Montana Sky: Murdoch's Bride (Kindle Worlds Novella) (Loving A Rancher Book 3) Page 7