by Kit Morgan
Eloise's brows rose in astonishment. She looked Imogene over a second time. “You mean… you really did bag that tiger?”
“And I have the rug to prove it!” Imogene said with a victorious nod of her head.
Lena pulled Eloise into a hearty embrace. “It's so good to see you cousin. We missed you after you left.”
“I don’t see how,” said Eloise. “We rarely saw each other when we were but miles apart.”
“It's amazing what a few extra miles will do,” said Apple. “The more miles there are, the more you seem to miss someone.”
Eloise smiled at her, then looked up the stairs. “Wait right here, I'll go get Constance.” She turned and hurried back the way she came.
“I say,” said Fina. “But cousin Eloise certainly moves fast, doesn't she?”
“She certainly does,” said Lena. “In time, I'm sure we’ll be moving just as quickly.”
“I hope not,” said Apple. “I might miss something if I'm moving about so fast.”
Imogene ignored her and sighed. “I could do with a spot of tea.”
“As could we all,” agreed Fina. “Where do you think we can get some?”
“Through those double doors,” said a male voice.
The ladies turned. Chase Adams stood in the doorway of the hotel. “Mr. Adams,” whispered Lena.
He tipped his hat then took it off. “Just go through those doors and have a seat at one of the tables. I'll let Mrs. Upton know you're here. She'll have your tea fixed in no time.”
“Won't you join us, Mr. Adams?” asked Lena.
Imogene gasped. “Young ladies do not invite young men to tea in such a direct manner!”
“Oh stop,” said Lena. We’re not in England anymore. Besides, Colin told me yesterday that the men in this town enjoy a spot of tea. Isn't that true Mr. Adams?”
“It sure is,” he said. “Round about four o'clock a lot of the men come to the hotel and have tea. Gives Mrs. Upton an excuse to bake.”
“They’re bringing a body back to town!” Apple suddenly blurted.
His smile vanished. “What? Someone else got shot?”
“No,” said Lena as she touched his arm. The action was automatic. She quickly pulled her hand away, embarrassed. “He's not dead, but he's gone too long without water and is badly burned.”
“Burned?” said Chase, his face serious. “I better go see if I can help. Who told you they were bringing him in?”
“Someone named Henry,” offered Fina.
“Henry Fig,” said Chase.
“Harrison took the wagon out to meet them and help bring the man into town,” added Apple.
“Sadie has gone to the doctor’s house to let him know,” added Lena.
Chase's eyes darted between the women. “Maybe I’d best go down to Doc Waller's place and see if he needs anything.”
“I'll go with you,” said Lena.
“Lena!” Imogene huffed. “You'll do no such thing!”
He is her betrothed,” Apple pointed out. “Why can't she go with him?”
“Because they wouldn't be properly chaperoned,” argued Imogene.
“I'll go with them,” said Apple with a smile.
“I can go too,” said Fina.
“You'll do nothing of the kind,” snapped Imogene. “Apple may go, you can stay here with me until they come back.”
Lena couldn't believe her luck, and tried not to stare at Imogene. Maybe she was loosening up? “We shan’t be long,” she told her.
Imogene gave Chase a piercing glare. “See that you aren't.” With that, she turned on her heel and headed for the tearoom.
* * *
Chase walked down the boardwalk with Lena on one side, her sister Apple right behind them. It was all he could do to keep from staring, worse yet outright gawking at the woman next to him. Her dark auburn curls, those not tucked up under her bonnet, glistened in the sun, her skin appeared creamier than the day before, her dark eyes rimmed with long, lush lashes.
So, this was his betrothed, his future bride, the woman he would spend the rest of his life with. If he'd been thinking, he'd have offered her his arm back at the hotel. But when he heard Apple say he was her betrothed, his mind stopped, as did his breathing. It was all he could do to keep from looking her up and down like some prized mare that a lowly blacksmith such as himself could never afford. “I hope you don't find this upsetting, Miss Sayer,” he said. “This isn't what usually happens around here, just so you know.”
“I should hope not. Bodies and wounded men, indeed” she said gazing at him as they walked.
“Do you have to sleep with your gun?” asked Apple, her voice full of curiosity.
“I sleep with it by my bedside,” he told her.
Apple hurried ahead of them, turned and began walking backwards in order to face him. “Perhaps I should get a gun.”
“Apple! Watch where you're going!” scolded Lena. “You’ll bump into someone.”
Chase chuckled as she did what she was told, and turned. “Lena never lets me have any fun,” complained Apple. “I see no reason why a woman can't shoot a gun.”
“Ladies do not shoot guns,” said Lena.
‘Cozette Cooke shoots a gun,” said Chase. “She's pretty good with a bow and arrow too, I hear.”
“Are you speaking of the new Duchess of Stantham?” asked Lena.
“Sure enough am,” he said. “I’ve seen her use a gun, but not a bow and arrow. I can tell you one thing, though. I wouldn’t want to be on the other end of either one!”
“We met her on several occasions, but had no idea she had such talent for weaponry,” said Lena.
“Well, ladies, when you live out here, it never hurts to learn,” said Chase as he stepped up onto the Waller's front porch. Lena made no comment as he knocked on the front door
Grandma answered. “Chase Adams, what brings you here? The posse back?”
“No Grandma, I just thought I’d come see if there’s anything I can help you with. They’re bringing the injured man in, and should be here any time.”
Grandma looked past him at Lena and Apple, and cocked her head. “Are they here to play nursemaid?”
Chase glanced as his walking companions. “No, ma'am. They just decided to accompany me here. You don't mind, do ya?”
“No,” said Grandma. “I don't mind, come on in. Make yourselves at home.” She opened the door to let them in. Not bothering to wait, she headed down the hall toward the kitchen. “I’ll be right back, just wait in the parlor,” she called over her shoulder.
“I wonder where Sadie is?” asked Lena. She looked at Chase as he ushered them into the parlor and motioned them to each take a chair. “Probably in the back where they keep the patient room,” he said. “I'm wondering where Doc Drake and his wife Elsie are.”
“I do hope no one else is injured,” said Lena.
Chase looked at her. “I think we all do, ma'am.”
“Oh, please, must you call me that?” asked Lena.
“Call you what, ma'am?”
“That,” she said. “Ma'am. We don't use the term in England. I'd don't think I shall answer it.”
“Around here, that's how one addresses a lady,” said Chase. “Would you rather I call you, Miss Sayer?”
“Oh, just call her Lena,” interjected Apple with a wave of her hand. “You're getting married, so why not call each other by your first names?”
“Apple!” said Lena, her voice terse. “What has gotten into you lately?”
“Well, as I see it, there are far more of them than there are of us, so it only makes sense that it would be much easier to act like them, than for all of them to begin acting like us. Does that make sense?”
Lena raised a hand to her temple and began to rub it. “Do forgive my sister, Mr. Adams. For she knows not what she's says.”
Chase laughed, unable to help himself. She does have a point, and I have to say, I agree with her.
Lena looked at him, aghast. “You do? But
it's so improper to be calling each other by our first names.”
“Not if we’re gonna be married in a few days.”
“A few days? Oh dear, that will never do.”
Chase’s brows rose in confusion. “Why not? Isn’t that what mail-order brides do when they come to town, get married?”
“I realize that, of course, but…” she gave him an imploring look. “I was hoping to get to know you a little better first.”
His face softened in understanding. “If that's want you want, I'm agreeable.” He studied her a moment and caught the slight flicker of fear in her eyes. “If we were in England,” he began. “And I was one of your gentlemen callers, how long would we court before we were married?”
“It could be years!” burst out, Apple.
“Will you please stop interrupting!” scolded Lena.
“Sorry,” said Apple, with a slight pout.
“Years?” asked Chase. “What do you mean, years?”
“She's exaggerating, of course. But our cousin William was engaged for a couple of years, now that I recall.”
“A couple of years?” said Chase, his eyes wide. “I can't wait two years!”
“No one is asking you to wait two years,” said Lena. “But a couple of weeks would be nice.”
He sat up and gazed at her. She was beautiful. More beautiful than the day of the funeral. “Considering how long I've waited for ya to get here, a couple more weeks won't matter.”
She leaned toward him in her chair. “Really? You don't mind giving us more time to get to know each other?”
He shrugged. “If it'll make you feel more comfortable, then of course I'll wait. I have to admit, I'd like to get to know you better too.”
“Well, now that that's settled,” said Apple as she bounced out of her chair. “Let’s go see if they've brought the body!”
“It's not a body until he's dead,” Lena reminded her. “Since when did you become so morbid?”
“Because I'm already a widow,” said Apple, her face solemn.
“You're only a widow if you’re married,” Lena reminded her.
“Doesn't coming here to get married, count?” asked Apple.
“No, it does not!” Lena told her then turned to Chase. “Is there anything we can help you with, anything we can do?”
“You mean, other than being so entertaining?”
Lena sat back in her chair and stared at him. “Is that what we are to you? Entertainment?”
He waved his hands in front of him as if to take the statement back. “I meant no disrespect, Miss Lena. But you do make me laugh.”
“See sister?” said Apple. “Americans have a sense of humor.”
Lena rolled her eyes, shook her head, then looked at Chase and smiled. “Perhaps we should marry right away,” she suggested. “After two weeks of this you may not want to wed me.”
He gazed at her as his eyes roamed her face in a languid manner. “No Miss Lena,” he said, his voice soft. “On the contrary, I think I'm gonna enjoy getting to know you very much.”
Lena sucked in a breath, not used to being caressed by a mere look. Her heart skipped a beat as he continued to stare at her, his eyes mapping her face, her body, as she sat still as a statue and watched him. She had no doubt that in a very short time Chase Adams was capable of learning her well.
Six
Lena was on the verge of squirming in her chair, when the men from the posse arrived with the injured man. They carried him into the house on a crude stretcher and took him to the patient room in the back. Lena and Apple both craned their necks to see past Chase and get a glimpse of the patient, but Chase moved to block their view. He glanced over his shoulder at them as the men passed, moving his body from right to left until they were out of sight. “This isn't something the two of you should see,” he told them. “I best take you back to the hotel. But first let me go see if Grandma needs anything.”
“Is he… dead?” asked Apple.
“Don't rightly know, but I aim to find out,” he said as he left the parlor and disappeared down the hall.
Lena turned to her sister. “What is the matter with you?”
“It was just a question,” retorted Apple.
“Yes, but you’ve asked that same question far too many times.”
“I'm sorry Lena, I don't know what's come over me.”
“You’re reckless,” said Lena. “But I suppose I don't blame you. I can't imagine what it's like to know that your intended is gone. In fact, I don't know how you can stand to sit in the same room with my betrothed and myself and not be sick of heart.”
“My heart was hopeful because I was going to be married. Not crushed because I already was,” Apple reminded her.
Lena smiled, stood, and went to where Apple sat. She reached down and took her sister’s hands in her own, pulled her up, and hugged her. “My dear, sweet Apple. Your outlook on life astounds me at times. I wish I shared it.”
“Of course you share it, we’re sisters aren't we?”
Lena released her as she smiled and nodded. “And I'm so glad we are, I don't know what I would do without you.”
“You'd have Fina all to yourself then. Speaking of which, I wonder if she and Cousin Imogene are having tea yet?”
“We’d better be getting back.” She turned toward the hall just as Chase came back into the parlor. “Are we ready to leave now?”
He nodded. “Yes, there's nothing I can do here, though I wish there was. The man they brought back is in a bad way.”
“Is he going to live?” asked Lena, her voice full of compassion.
“Doc Waller's not sure, but he’s going to try his best to see that he does. Poor devil went too long without water.”
“Isn't there another doctor in town?” asked Apple. “You mentioned him before didn't you?”
“Yes there is, but Doc Waller just told me he went to Oregon City with Mr. and Mrs. Van Cleet, and won't be back for a week or two.” He held his arm out to Lena. “Shall we?”
She smiled, gave Apple a side-ways glance, and then took it.
“Lena! You’re blushing!” announced Apple with glee.
Lena, at this point, didn't even try to correct her sister. Instead she began to smile as did Chase, and together they left the Waller's. Their smiling abruptly stopped when they reached the street and noticed the rest of the posse riding into town. Chase put a hand over hers, tightened his grip, and drew her closer to his body. He leaned down to her ear. “I'm going to take the two of you back to the hotel and leave you with your family. Then I’d better talk with the sheriff and see if they need any help. I'm sure their horses are going to need tending to.”
She nodded in understanding as they headed for the hotel. Apple tagged along behind them and stared at the tired men as they dismounted their horses, which looked as equally wore out. “Did they catch them?” she asked Chase.
“Don't look like it,” he said. “Those boys ain’t lookin’ very happy.”
“Is there anything we can do?” asked Lena.
Chase shook his head. “There's nothing a refined lady like you can do. I wish there was.”
“Is there anything a woman can do in a situation like this?” asked Apple.
Chase stopped and waited for her to catch up. “Well, if you were married to one of those gentlemen, you could have a hot meal waiting for him when he got home. Then help him get the trail dust off, and then…” he snapped his mouth shut, cutting off his own words.
“And then what?” asked Apple.
Chase said nothing and instead bit his lower lip. Lena looked at him and tugged on his arm, prompting him to speak, but he shook his head. “Come now,” she prodded. “What were you going to say?’
He eyed her and offered a lopsided smile. “It ain't fittin’ to say in public.”
“Now you must tell us!” said Apple, her voice once again filled with glee.
“I ain’t gonna say it,” said Chase. He then firmly pressed his lips together.
Lena stopped them and looked him in the eye. “Let us suppose that I made you dinner, and then washed the trail dust from you. What then, I wonder, would a man like you want?”
His eyes widened. “Now ma'am, this conversation is going places it ought not to go.”
Lena raised a single eyebrow at him and smirked. “I think I know what I would do for my husband if he were to come home in the same state as these men,” she said as she nodded to the tired posse. Some of them began to lead their horses down the street toward the livery stable.
Chase looked into her eyes, his heart threatening to leap from his chest. “Would you now?” he asked, his voice low. “Would you really know what to do for a man like me?”
Lena could feel the muscles in his arm tighten as he looked at her again, as if he were mapping her face, memorizing every inch of her skin. She looked away before she spoke. “I believe that once a man and a woman get to know each other, they would naturally anticipate the other's needs.”
He leaned a few inches toward her. “You know what Miss Lena? But I do believe you're right.”
She looked up at him and smiled as Apple began to fidget behind them. She'd inched her way back down the boardwalk several feet to stare at the men. “I'm glad you didn’t rejoin the posse,” she told him. “Otherwise you might still be out there.”
Chase smiled as he looked at her. “I reckon so,” he said. “But I’d sure want to come home if’n I knew you were there waitin’ for me.”
She smiled as warmth spread through her chest. The look he gave her was tender, gentle, and made her want to get closer to him, though she knew she mustn't for propriety sake. None of the men back in England made her feel this way, and she was glad now they hadn’t. For if they had, she would never have made the long journey to America and wouldn’t be standing there to look into the eyes of one, Chase Adams. “I daresay, Mr. Adams,” she began on a whisper. “But I do believe that I, too, am going to enjoy our time getting to know one another.”
“That sure does make two of us, don’t it?” he asked with a smile.