Rose licked her lips and smiled. “I do wish that’s why I’d come and yes, it is a favorite. Maybe there will be some left and I can steal a bite or two.”
Saffron’s eyebrows rose. “I believe Papa is in town. I think he’s going to the Occidental—again.”
“No, no, I’m not looking for Papa. I came to see you.”
“Oh?” Saffron glanced at the clock. “I need to be in the kitchen or Maria will start hollering. Come with me.”
Rose followed her sister into the kitchen, depositing her bonnet and shawl on the hooks by the door as she passed by.
“Hello, Rose,” Maria said as she wrapped Rose in a hug. “I’m so glad you’re here for supper. We’re having—”
Rose waved her hand and interrupted. “Please, Saffron already told me and as I can’t stay, please don’t tell me again. It is my favorite.”
Maria laughed and wiped her hands on her apron. She handed Saffron a bowl of peas to shell and another one to Rose. “Even if you can’t stay, you might as well help.”
Saffron tugged up the sleeves of her dress and pulled her apron over her head. “Out with it, then. What do you need my advice on? Has Michael forgotten a special day?” She grinned as she reached for a handful of peas.
Rose looked from Saffron to Maria, and Saffron thought she saw her wink at Maria as she cleared her throat.
“Adam Benson stopped me today as school got out.”
“He did?” Saffron’s mouth went dry and she took a quick bite of a pea to try to remedy that.
“He did. He apologized for his brother not allowing us in the other day. Said his brothers had gotten the idea that they didn’t want any visitors for Carol, but thought that maybe it would be good for her to have some company.”
Saffron squirmed as she grabbed another handful of peas. “That’s wonderful. He’s agreed to let you come. Will you be going regularly?”
Rose hesitated a moment, then said, “Michael and I feel it would be a good idea if it could be a regular event, yes. Maybe two or three times a week. Maybe Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. She’d have company, then, and we could get to know how we might be able to help.”
Saffron tucked a brown lock of hair back under her cap. “That’s wonderful, Rose. From what I hear, she’s a charming person. I’m sure you’ll enjoy her company and she yours.”
Rose shelled the last pea in her bowl and wiped her hands on the kitchen towel. She cleared her throat and looked at Maria.
“And therein lies the problem. I did tell Adam that I could do it, but in speaking with Michael, the school committee meeting was about the new library. Mrs. Carter has secured funding to begin early, and they want us to start looking for an appropriate building immediately.”
Saffron jumped up, knocking over the bowl of peas but Maria caught it before it spilled. She hugged Rose fiercely, her smile broad. “That’s wonderful. You’ve been working toward that for a very long time. Michael must be thrilled.”
Rose returned the hug and sat down. “Thank you. He is—we are very happy about this. It’ll be a wonderful thing for Tombstone, especially for children on farms on the outskirts who can’t make it to school but once a week or so. Or in the evenings.”
“Rose, that’s wonderful,” Maria said as she emptied the bowl of peas into boiling water. “Thank you for coming all this way to let us know.”
“That’s not exactly why I came,” she said as she twisted her fingers. “Now, Saffron, please don’t say no right off hand. Michael and I thought that maybe you—well, that possibly you might consider...”
Saffron’s smile faded as Rose looked down at her hands.
“Rose, I don’t know the first thing about libraries.”
A sigh whooshed from Rose. “No, silly, not that. I mean, you’re welcome to help, but I thought you might consider meeting with Carol. Carol Benson, on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays since neither Michael nor I can.” She looked up at Saffron with pleading eyes, her smile weak. “I know that you don’t like to do those kinds of things, and that you’d rather stay home, but this young lady needs our help. Honestly, she’s probably close to your age, and it might be nice for you to make a friend, too.”
Saffron stiffened and her mouth went dry. Her thoughts were mixed with fear as well as curiosity, but she shivered at the thought of going to the Benson household on her own and knew it would not be possible.
“Rose, I appreciate you believing I could do that properly, but—”
“She’ll be happy to go, Rose. She can start tomorrow, as it’s Thursday,” Maria cut in and she grabbed Rose’s arm and pulled her toward the door. “Take these cookies to Michael and it was nice to see you.”
Rose laughed as she looked from Maria to Saffron, her eyes softening. “Thank you, Saffron. I know you won’t regret it.”
Rose left, and Saffron’s hands fell to her hips as she turned and glared at Maria. Not regret it? She already did and she hadn’t even said yes.
Chapter 14
Dust plumed around the wheels of the buggy as Saffron slowly made her way to the Benson home the following day. She was surprised that her curiosity about meeting Carol didn’t tug her to do this, deep as it was. But it hadn’t.
She’d tried to tell Maria she couldn’t—wouldn’t—do this, but her pleas fell on deaf ears. She’d explained that she was perfectly happy at home, and that Maria needed her and that she wouldn’t have time to help with supper and Maria would be all alone.
“You have three sisters here who all need to learn how to cook. This is a good opportunity for them to be needed in the kitchen.”
She explained that she really didn’t want to go anywhere, that she was happy at home reading books and being alone.
“It’s not natural for someone your age not to have friends besides your sisters and to stay home with her nose in a book. It’s time you got outside, met some folks,” she’d said. “Besides, you’re wonderful at listening to other people and helping them. You’re the perfect person for this.”
Saffron had eventually run out of arguments and resigned herself to the inevitable. She’d begun to hope that it was all a mistake, that Adam hadn’t really changed his mind and that Carol wasn’t interested. She could meet the girl, deliver the cookies that Maria had sent and be on her way, never to return. Yes, that would be perfect.
The thought of Adam himself didn’t make it any easier. His clear blue twinkling eyes passed before her mind’s eye and although she still laughed about the “mud incident” as she thought of it, she didn’t know him at all, really. Anyone who wouldn’t want their sister to have company couldn’t be very nice at all.
She chewed her lip as she got closer to the house, her stomach in knots. She reminded herself that it was just once that she had to do this. After this time, she could tell Rose that it wasn’t for her, that Carol didn’t need help, and she’d never have to come back again.
She rapped her knuckles on the frosted glass panes of the door and heard Adam’s voice through the open window.
“Luke, answer the door. Mrs. Tate has arrived.”
Her knuckles tightened on the handle of the basket and she took in a sharp breath. Rose hadn’t told them that it would be Saffron who came. They were expecting Rose!
She hung her head as she took a deep breath and reminded herself that it would only be this once. And if they were disappointed—which they would be—then so be it. As long as she’d made it this far, she intended to introduce herself to Carol once and for all.
She stepped back as the door swung open and looked up into the eyes of Luke. He took a step back, his eyebrows rising before he broke into a grin. He laughed as he peeked behind the door into what she presumed to be the parlor and said, “Welcome, Miss Archer. What a nice surprise,” as he stepped aside and waved her in.
She clutched her basket as she stepped over the threshold and her eyes adjusted to the light inside. “I realize you were expecting my sister, but she was unable to come. They’re starting a libr
ary, and it began before she expected it to.”
Andy ran into the room and stopped short beside his brother, his eyes wide when he saw Saffron. He looked to his right, raising his eyebrows and then back at Saffron, breaking into a grin. “Hello, Miss Archer,” he said.
Saffron wasn’t sure what was quite so amusing, but she looked to her left where Adam stood next to a brick fireplace, looking decidedly uncomfortable. He hadn’t seemed particularly displeased the last time she’d seen him in the stables at Archer Ranch. In fact, he’d seemed quite merry and she thought back to the twinkle in his ice blue eyes as he’d teased her. He didn’t seem quite so pleased to see her now, and she was glad for the confirmation that she’d not be back.
“Hello, Adam,” she said, stumbling over his first name but remembering he’d asked her to call him by it.
Adam pulled at his collar and walked toward her, reaching to help her off with her coat. “Good day, Miss Archer.”
She handed the basket of cookies and books to Luke and turned for Adam to help with her wrap. “Saffron, please. Just Saffron,” she said, heat creeping into her cheeks as she untied her bonnet and hung it on the rack. Her brown, wavy hair had fallen from its pins and she said, “Excuse me a moment,” as she pulled them out, twisted her hair back up and re-pinned it, squeezing her bun once to make sure it was in place.
She smoothed the yellow cotton skirt of one of her favorite dresses—Maria had said it suited her brown hair and eyes and olive skin—and looked up, startled at the three sets of wide eyes staring at her.
“Is everything all right?” she asked, perplexed as all three of them cleared their throats and looked away, the younger boys looking toward their older brother.
“Excuse me,” a quiet voice said from behind Adam. “I’d like to meet Miss Archer.”
Adam blinked heavily and shook his head. “Of course.” He turned and stepped back against the fireplace and waved Saffron into the parlor. “Saffron, I’d like to introduce you to my sister, Carol Benson. Carol, this is Saffron Archer.”
Carol smiled broadly and leaned forward, extending her hand toward Saffron. Saffron moved forward and took it in hers lightly, the delicate fingers warm in her hand. Carol nodded and said, “It’s very nice to meet you, Miss Archer,” gesturing for her to sit beside her on a velvet settee up against the side window. Sun streamed in both windows, the one behind the settee and the one behind Carol, the lace curtain billowing gently in the breeze.
Saffron sat, not able to take her eyes off Carol. Her long, blonde hair fell softly around her shoulders, the top part in a bun secured with ivory hairpins. Her blue eyes—a very clear family trait—peered up from under long lashes, all complementing the peach dress she wore that was trimmed in ivory lace.
She was lovely, and Saffron tilted her head as she remembered the girl in the wagon she’d seen several days earlier. That girl had looked much younger—but she was certain that the same girl sat before her now as she had the same, laughing eyes.
Carol’s hand flew to her mouth and she laughed. “Oh! Are you the recipient of the mud bath from Adam?”
Saffron brought her hand to her forehead and smiled. “Oh, yes, that was me,” she said as she looked up at Adam, surprised at his pained expression.
“I dearly wish I could have seen that,” she said, her eyes twinkling. “Oh, my. I do hope you don’t mind me laughing, but the image is just so...”
Saffron waved her hand and smiled at Adam. “It’s perfectly fine. Once I was over the shock, it was actually quite amusing. I had to spend most of the rest of the day covered in mud, and it wasn’t until I arrived at home and glanced in a mirror that I realized my entire face was covered as well.”
Carol laughed along with Saffron, holding her arm across her stomach. “I can imagine it was quite a shock.”
“I try very hard not to think of all the people I saw that day. And can you believe that not one of them said a word about it? Fine friends those, wouldn’t you say?” Saffron looked up at Adam and was pleased that his expression had turned to amusement also and almost something that looked like relief. He must be relieved, actually, that Carol was enjoying herself and nothing horrible had happened instantaneously on her arrival.
“Luke, do you have the basket I brought?” Saffron asked. She took the basket when he held it out to her and asked, “Did you enjoy the empanadas?”
Carol tilted her head and frowned. “Empanadas?”
Saffron smiled as she remembered that not everyone knew the terms for Mexican dishes. “Oh, apple turnovers. That’s the Spanish word for them.”
“They were delicious!” Carol cried. “The best we’ve ever tasted. Weren’t they, boys?”
Andy stepped forward and gave Saffron a slight bow. “Definitely. Our compliments to whoever made them.”
Saffron’s stomach fluttered. She was used to compliments from her family—although they weren’t so common any longer as they had fallen into the rhythm of supper menus—and she felt her cheeks flame.
“Why, thank you. I made them myself and am so pleased that you liked them. You might like these, too,” she said as she held the basket of cinnamon cookies toward Carol.
She took the basket and leaned forward, inhaling deeply, her eyes closed. “Mm, cinnamon. My favorite. Did you make these also?” she said as she held the basket up to Adam.
“Yes, I did.” Warmth flooded over Saffron as all three young men took a cookie and held one out for Carol.
Carol took a bite and smiled. “I’ve always wanted to learn how to bake. No one in the family knows how. Not anymore, anyway.” She turned pleading eyes toward her oldest brother.
“Adam, can I learn to bake?” she said. “Saffron, would you teach me?”
Chapter 15
Saffron reached for the wooden spoon—she made sure that there was another one left hanging for Maria when she started supper—and placed it into the cloth bag along with the flour and other ingredients she’d need to teach Carol how to bake bread. In the two weeks she’d been visiting Carol, Adam had been there only once, last Saturday, and he’d only peeked his head into the parlor. He never seemed to be very happy that she was there, but Saffron put it out of her mind, choosing to focus on visiting with Carol.
What a delightful girl! They’d spent time reading, laughing, playing games, and every time she visited, Carol said she’d asked Adam again if she could learn to cook. She also said she wasn’t sure why he kept refusing, but she certainly wasn’t going to second-guess his change in attitude. He’d said yes, and Saffron was going to take full advantage of it.
At the last minute, she folded up her favorite apron and stuffed it into the cloth bag along with the rest of the ingredients. The grandfather clock struck two, and Saffron picked up her pace. There wasn’t much time as it was in the afternoons at Carol’s, and there would be even less if she didn’t get a move on.
Maria laughed as she pushed through the swinging kitchen door. “And this is the girl who didn’t want to go anywhere. Maybe you should invite them for Sunday supper.”
Saffron turned quickly and smiled. “Maybe I will invite them. I don’t quite understand it myself. I don’t know what it is about her, but she’s a pleasure to be around.”
“I’m sure she is, my dear,” Maria said as the door swung closed and Saffron headed to the stable.
She stopped outside the tall wooden stable doors at the sound of Adam’s voice.
“I appreciate the invitation, Hank, but it’s really not a good idea. Getting Carol and the boys out of the house is a bit of a task. Not just in moving around, but it’s not something most people are used to, and not always good for Carol.”
They both looked up as she rounded the corner. “What do you mean not good for Carol?”
Both Hank and Adam took their hats off when they saw her, and Adam looked down at his boots. “I surely am grateful for the time you spend with Carol, Saffron. She thoroughly enjoys your visits. It’s just that—”
A sharp whis
tle cut through the air and Hank looked toward the arena. He waved at Ben, his stable hand, and tugged his hat back on his head. “I’m sorry, Adam, I’m expected over at the arena.” He held out his hand and shook Adam’s. “Please know you and your family have an invitation here for Sunday supper any time.” He nodded at Saffron and headed toward the arena.
Saffron turned toward Adam as Hank rounded the corner. “You were saying?”
Adam replaced his hat and sat on an oak barrel, leaning against the stable wall. He waited until Hank was out of earshot and then looked up at Saffron from under the brim of his hat.
“You’ve been to the house several times now. Surely you can see how difficult it is to manage for Carol. She has to be carried from one place to another, and she prefers to just stay in one spot as much as she can.”
Saffron tilted her head a she thought of the times she’d been with Carol. Adam was right—Carol had mostly been seated in the parlor. Luke had carried her into the kitchen once while Saffron made tea, but beside that, she’d not seen her move from one place to another.
“That’s why you haven’t come for Sunday dinner, then?”
“Mostly, yes.” He stood and walked to the small table in the corner that held his tools and began to wipe them clean with an old cloth, his back to Saffron.
“My whole family comes for supper, Adam. There’s certainly plenty of help, and my sisters would love to meet her. She’s charming, and I know she’d love to meet them, too. She’d have a wonderful time, you know, and we could—”
Adam set his hoof nippers down and turned around, his eyes meeting hers. “You don’t understand, Saffron. There are things that—I know you think it would be a good idea, but these kids have been through a lot. We just need to settle down, let things be.”
His low voice left no room for argument, and Saffron wondered why he felt so strongly about keeping Carol at home. None of the Bensons had spoken of it, but Saffron knew their parents had died, and not that long ago. She knew what that was like, to lose a parent, but two? The heartbreak must be unimaginable, and from experience, she knew that people always felt better when they could talk about things.
Saffron: A Sweet Western Historical Romance (Brides of Archer Ranch Book 1) Page 6