Riley heard a sniffle and looked up to see Aundy fighting to hold back her tears. Garrett’s eyes held moisture as well. “After a year, I finally gave up, went home, and put my farm up for sale. Of course, the sheriff made sure everyone who was interested knew that my son had been murdered there and they might find my wife’s body buried in a wheat field or the cow pasture. As soon as someone made an offer on the place, I jumped at the opportunity to sell it. I happened to pick up a newspaper while I was in town signing the papers and saw Marvin’s advertisement. I sent him a telegram, and here I am. As I said earlier, I didn’t mean to fall in love with Bertie. Believe me, I fought it with everything I had. If I were free, I’d marry Bertie today if she’d have me. But I can’t marry her because as far as I know, I’m still married to that murdering lunatic who killed my son.”
A sob at the doorway drew Riley’s gaze. Bertie ran into the room, falling onto her knees beside his chair. “I’m sorry, Riley. I’m so, so sorry.”
Despite how wrong it was for him to touch her, Riley picked up Bertie and settled her across his lap. Stroking her hair and rubbing her back, he murmured softly to her. Aundy and Garrett rose from the table and left the room to give them a moment of privacy.
“My apologies, Bertie. I should have told you the truth, right from the start, but I keep hoping someone, somewhere will be able to tell me Eugenia’s dead. In my heart, she’s been dead since that night, but I don’t have any proof. Until I do, I can’t ask for more than to be your friend.”
Bertie nodded her head and buried her face against his neck, completely undoing Riley with her tears. To hold back his own, he bit his tongue until he tasted blood. He took a deep breath and snagged a chair with his foot, pulling it next to him. Gently, he set Bertie down and wiped her tears away with his thumbs, then kissed her forehead.
“If I wasn’t already married, Bertie, I’d ask you to marry me right this minute. I’ve never known anyone as full of light and goodness and sweetness as you. The lucky man who becomes your husband will be very blessed.” Riley brushed the remainder of her tears away. “Make no mistake about it, Bertie, I love you with my whole heart and I have since the day I met you. I’ll love you until my last day on this earth. But my feelings don’t matter. You deserve to fall in love with someone who can give you what I can’t — a home, an untainted love, babies, and a future.”
“I don’t want all that without you.” Bertie grasped Riley’s hand and clutched it tightly in hers. “Isn’t there some way to find out what happened to her?”
Garrett cleared his throat as he and Aundy returned to the room. “If you’re open to sharing your story one more time, Riley, I think Lars could help you. He used to be a U.S. Marshal and still has many friends who can track down the kind of information you’ve been searching for all these years. Tell him what happened. I’m sure he can help.”
Riley felt hope blossom in his chest for the first time since he’d married Eugenia. “You really think he might be able to find her whereabouts, or a record of death?”
“I do.” Garrett dumped out his cold cup of coffee and refilled it. “Now, let’s eat some breakfast. Afterward, I’ll go with you over to see Lars, if you’d like.”
Riley stood and shook Garrett’s hand. “I’d like that very much. Thank you, both, for being understanding.”
Aundy gave him a hug and patted his back. “Of course, Riley, but you should have told us months ago.”
“I know. It’s just that I haven’t told anybody the whole story since right after Joshua died.” Riley accepted the fresh cup of coffee Bertie held out to him and gave her a soft smile. “It does feel good to tell you, though, to tell you everything that happened. I couldn’t bear the thought of you all thinking I was some sort of philanderer.”
“Well, we kind of did… and you sort of are…” Garrett gave Riley a teasing grin. “Come on, you can help me with the chores while the girls get breakfast on the table.”
Riley gave Bertie another affectionate glance before following Garrett out the door.
Bertie heard Riley laugh as Garrett handed him the egg basket. “That’s unnecessary punishment, making me fight Napoleon for the eggs this morning.”
Aundy hugged Bertie around her shoulders. “I told you there was more to Riley’s story.”
Bertie smiled at her friend as she slipped on an apron and tied a bow at her waist. “I know. I should have listened to you last night. I should have let Riley explain.” She sighed. “At least now I know he does care for me, even if he is married. Gosh, when I say it like that, it sounds really awful. Does that make me one of those… a woman who… a person that…”
“No, sweetie. I think even Pastor Whitting would tell you that you aren’t guilty of anything except falling in love with a very nice man who happened to fail in sharing a few very important details.” Aundy lifted an eyebrow. “However, I probably wouldn’t mention it around Pendleton or some of the sharp-tongued women in town might slap a few labels on you that are hard to shake.”
Bertie offered her a saucy look as she laid slices of ham in a hot skillet. “I don’t know. It would certainly give those gossiping ol’ biddies something new to talk about besides Lacy marrying Grant and Bobby marrying Ellen.”
Aundy giggled. “That it would.”
Chapter Twenty-One
Bertie was alone in the kitchen mixing up a batch of cornbread to go with leftover stew for lunch while Aundy took her horse Ella for a ride. She’d had to restart training the horse after she had a break while Aundy’s arm healed.
Twice a day, Aundy saddled the filly and took her for a ride. So far, Ella had been eager to please and happy to have Aundy on her back again. Like her mother, Bell, the horse didn’t like the men riding her, though.
As she worked with the horse, Aundy spent more and more time outside and less and less time in the kitchen. Focused on Ella, she’d even turned most of the cooking over to Bertie, but the girl didn’t mind. Bobby had given her a new cookbook he’d seen at the mercantile, so she’d been experimenting with a few recipes.
The phone jangled on the wall with their specific ring, so Bertie hurried to slip the cornbread into the oven and answer the call.
She still wanted to say, “Hello. Pendleton Central, number please,” every time she answered the phone. Two years of working at the telephone office had trained her well.
Lifting the receiver on the third ring, she responded with a simple, “Nash residence.”
“Oh, Bertie! Thank goodness I caught you.” Millie’s voice sounded crisp over the phone line. “I was about ready to phone Nora. Lars asked me to give Aundy a call and tell her it’s time. It’s Marnie’s time.”
“My stars! I’ll run out and tell Aundy. Is Marnie at home?” Bertie felt both excitement and fear at the upcoming arrival of Lars and Marnie’s baby.
“Yes, and Lars asked if you would let the rest of the family know,” Millie said. “I’d be happy to call them if you’d like.”
Bertie nodded her head and realized how silly that was since Millie couldn’t see her through the telephone. “Yes, please, Millie. That would be such a big help. Call Nora, Ilsa, and Caterina. Does Lars need someone to phone Doc Reed?”
“No. He was in town when Sadie called here, asking if someone would find him. Lacy and Grant tracked him down at the train depot and then went to fetch Doc Reed.”
“Thank them, please, Millie, and thank you for letting us know.”
“Anytime, Bertie. Talk to you later.” The line disconnected and Bertie hung up the receiver then raced outside, waving the dishtowel in her hand over her head as she ran toward the barn where Aundy walked Ella around in a circle. The horse shied and switched her tail as Bertie approached before she realized she might frighten Ella with her actions. She dropped her arm and slowed her pace to a walk.
Aundy quickly looped Ella’s reins around a hitching rail and hurried toward her.
“What’s wrong, Bertie? You look like something bad happened.”
<
br /> “Nothing bad, but Millie just telephoned and said Lars asked her to call. Marnie’s having the baby. She’s at home and…” Bertie didn’t have a chance to finish saying anything as Aundy snatched the reins free, swung onto the back of Ella and kicked her sides, sending the horse lunging forward.
“Tell, Garrett, please!” Aundy yelled over her shoulder as she thundered down the lane.
Bertie tried to recall where she’d last seen Garrett. It had been mid-morning when he’d walked past the kitchen window with a greasy rag in his hand. That usually meant he was tinkering with the tractor.
Hastening toward the shed where Garrett kept the farm equipment, she stepped inside. “Garrett? Are you in here?”
No sound greeted her so she hurried back out and went to the bunkhouse. Li hadn’t seen Garrett either.
Bertie ran to the barn, ready to saddle one of the horses, when she remembered the cornbread she’d stuck in the oven. She raced inside and took the food off the stove then changed into a riding skirt Aundy had helped her sew. With a growing sense of urgency, she rushed back out to the barn.
When she stepped around the corner, she bumped into Riley. He put his hands on her arms long enough to steady her then pulled away. Since the morning he’d told her about his wife, he’d kept his hands and lips to himself.
Part of Bertie wished he wouldn’t be quite so upright in his actions, but the other part of her was proud of him for his restraint. Her heart wavered between being tortured and incredibly happy as she spent time with him. Although he hadn’t made any amorous overtures, he had worked hard at becoming a good friend.
In fact, she’d never had a better friend than Riley.
“What are you doing out here, Bertie?”
Although she knew he kept a tight rein on his actions where she was concerned, she owned great satisfaction that he couldn’t keep the emotion from showing in his eyes. Love mixed with indulgent humor danced in their depths.
“It’s Marnie’s time and I’m trying to find Garrett. Aundy rode Ella to Dogwood Corners, but she wants Garrett to come. She promised to bring all the kids over here to keep them occupied when it was time. Someone needs to take the wagon and go get them.”
Riley stepped around her and went to the stall of one of the two big workhorses that pulled the wagon. “Garrett mentioned going to help someone sort cattle and said he won’t be back until suppertime. I could try to find him, but he didn’t say who he was planning to help.”
“Well, I guess one of us should go get the children.” Bertie glanced up at the big horse they called Bolt. She wasn’t quite as terrified of him as she was of the one they called Nut. Neither one of them were easy to handle and Nut got a little crazy if anyone kept him away from Bolt for very long.
“I’ll hitch up the wagon and we can go together. You know the kids better than I do. It might be a help to them if you go along.” Riley led Bolt outside and began the process of hitching the horse into the wagon harness.
“Okay. Give me a minute to put away the food I set out for lunch. I’ll be right back.” Bertie hurried to the house and put away the milk and fruit she’d already set out on the table. She poured the stew into a bowl and left it to cool while they were gone. Quickly, she sliced and buttered a few pieces of the cornbread, wrapping the golden squares in a napkin.
The jingle of harness outside let her know Riley was ready to go. Bertie scurried down the hall, opened the front door, raced down the steps and across the front walk.
Riley jumped down from the wagon and swung her up to the seat then climbed back up. Bertie glanced in the back to see he had taken time to throw in a few blankets for the children to sit on.
They remained quiet on the way to Dogwood Corners as they munched on the cornbread. Bertie worried about Marnie while Riley was lost in thoughts of his own son.
He pulled the wagon up at the back door then helped her down. Together, they hurried up the steps and knocked on the kitchen door.
Shea Meade opened it with a screaming Sophie on her arm and a frazzled Gertie trying to comfort Sadie as she snuffled and cried.
“What happened?” Bertie asked as they stepped inside. Sophie immediately held out her arms to Riley and he took her, rubbing her back and rocking her gently from side to side.
“Nothin’ yet, but the minute Lars come a chargin’ through the house draggin’ poor Doc Reed along for the ride, the young’uns done gone and declared Miss Marnie ready to pass on to glory,” Gertie said, then winked at Bertie. “I’m a thinkin’ these babies need somethin’ to take their minds off what be a happenin’ upstairs.”
“That’s why we’re here.” Bertie walked over to Sadie and drew a handkerchief from her pocket, drying the little girl’s tears. “Sadie, would you please ask all the children to come outside? Mr. Walsh and I are going to take you all back to Nash’s Folly for the afternoon.”
Sadie wrapped her arms around Bertie’s waist and squeezed. “I don’t want to leave Mama. What if she needs me?”
“I think she’ll have plenty of help between your daddy, and Doc Reed, and Aunt Aundy. I bet before long your Aunt Ilsa will be here, too.” Bertie looked up as Nora Nash bustled in the door with a basket draped over her arm.
“I’m not too late am I?” Nora glanced around the room with a concerned look.
“No, ma’am. She’s jes gettin’ started. Go right on up.” Gertie tipped her head toward the back stairs.
Nora charged up the steps and left those in the kitchen impressed at how fast she moved for a woman her age.
Gertie stroked a loving hand over Sadie’s head. “Your mama be in good, good hands, honey. Now ya’ll do like Miss Bertie says and go get the rest of the young’uns.”
“Okay.” Sadie sniffled and scuffed her toes across the floor as she left the room.
“Let me tuck a few things into a basket for the wee one there,” Shea said in her pleasant Irish brogue before disappearing out of the room. Soon, she returned with a change of clothes for Sophie, her favorite dolly and a few toys, as well as a much-loved blanket.
The child’s blue eyes glistened with tears as she rested her head on Riley’s shoulder and sucked on her thumb.
“Ye’ll be fine, my wee lamb, with Riley and Bertie.” Shea kissed the toddler’s cheek then turned back to the stove. “We fed the children lunch not thirty minutes ago, so don’t let them eat ye out of hearth and home.”
“We won’t,” Bertie said, grinning at Shea as the children clomped down the front stairs and into the hallway.
Sadie and Noah were the last to enter the kitchen, holding each other’s hands with dubious looks on their faces.
“All right, troops! Fall into line!” Bertie ordered and snapped herself up straight. She executed a perfect salute and looked at the children. They, along with Riley, eyed her as if she’d lost her mind. “I could use some help, Mr. Walsh. Play along,” she whispered to him.
Riley walked in front of Bertie and stood at attention as best he could with Sophie sniffling on his shoulder.
“We are falling in line, Captain Bertie!” Riley’s voice carried a hint of mirth as he saluted her. Sophie raised her head with interest and watched over Riley’s shoulder as the rest of the children lined up behind him from the youngest to the oldest.
“Forward march!” Bertie called out then marched toward the kitchen door. Shea scurried to open it and gave Bertie a salute as she led Riley and the children outside, down the steps and over to the wagon. “Mount up, troops!”
The children clamored into the wagon, laughing as Riley helped the younger ones into the back.
“Oh, I forgot Sophie’s basket. I’ll be right back.” Bertie spun around and raced back inside the house. Shea held the basket to her, along with a tin of cookies.
“May the good Lord be with ye and Riley today, Bertie. Ye’ll need all the help ye can get with those rambunctious youngsters of ours.” Shea patted her on the back.
“Thanks, Mrs. Meade. We’ll be fine!” Bertie raced bac
k outside and to the wagon. Riley sat on the seat with Sophie clinging to his neck. He tried to set her down to help Bertie, but she refused to turn loose. Finally, Riley leaned down and held a hand out to Bertie. She handed the basket to Molly then clasped Riley’s hand, allowing him to pull her up. She sat beside him and held out her hands for Sophie, but the child refused to let anyone hold her but Riley.
“Looks like you get to drive the wagon home, Bertie.” Riley sat back and settled Sophie more comfortably on his lap. “I can’t drive and hold her at the same time.”
“Well, my stars and garters! How do you expect me to handle those two gargantuan beasts?” Bertie ignored the giggles coming from the back of the wagon as the children waited to see what she would say or do next.
“I expect you to pick up the reins, release the brake, and direct them where you want them to go. They’re both well-trained; just keep a firm hand on the reins.” Riley released the heavy brake when she had the reins wrapped around her hands. “Now, give them a little snap and they’ll go.”
Bertie flicked her wrists and the reins touched the rumps of the big horses. As one, they leaned into the harness and the wagon moved forward.
Riley leaned back again and released a relieved sigh. “It’s like driving the buggy, except with two horses instead of one.”
All went well until it was time to turn up the lane that would take them to Aundy and Garrett’s house. Bertie didn’t start the turn until it was almost too late and the horses nearly took out the corner of the fence with the wagon. The children squealed in excitement as the wagon barely scraped past the corner post. Bertie anxiously glanced behind her with the tip of her tongue pressed against her upper lip.
Riley grinned, trying not to notice how adorable she looked as she worked to control the team. The horses were a handful and could be difficult to drive when they took a mind to act up. Thankfully, they cooperated.
Bertie (Pendleton Petticoats Book 6) Page 25