“You wished to see me?”
He turned to glance in the nurse’s direction. “You may take a short break, now.”
He pointed a long, thick finger at the upholstered chair behind Addie. “Bring that closer and sit down.”
She obeyed, taking as long as possible to drag the chair into position. Having a conversation with her father was the last thing she wanted to do. Most talks with him seemed to center on some sort of criticism of herself or her late mother and grandfather. If this was the way he meant to earn her love, he was mistaken.
She settled herself, taking care to arrange her skirts. Her hands folded in her lap, she turned her attention to her father.
“Mark Murphy was just here to see me.”
She nodded. There was no need to mention that she had seen him from her window.
“He tells me that you won’t be needing anymore riding lessons from him.”
She squeezed her hands together, trying to calm her racing nerves. “Yes. We discussed it yesterday. I can ride well enough without him.” She hoped her voice was confident enough to persuade him.
His eyes narrowed into dark slits. “He refused to take any money for the lessons. It pains me to ask this, but I must. Do you have feelings for that young man?”
Her eyes widened as her heart took off at a gallop. “Feelings?” What exactly had Mark said to her father?
His voice rose in anger as he spoke. “Are you in love with him?”
“Of course not!” Her answer was equally as loud. How dare he ask such a presumptuous question of her. If she was in love with Mark Murphy, it was really none of his business.
Her father leaned back and took a deep breath, letting it out slowly through his nose. “He denied the questions, as well. Can you think of an explanation as to why he refused to take his wages.”
She shrugged. “He is a good neighbor, always willing to help.” Still, it made no sense that he had spent so much time instructing her. He should have taken the money. Instead, he had left her father with a mountain of suspicion. And a question in her own heart, as well. Was it possible that he loved her? When he had kissed her, he had seemed so sweet, so gentle, as if he felt that she was the one that–
“Look at me when I’m speaking!”
Addie swallowed hard and turned her eyes to him. What had he been talking about?
“As I said, I have been talking to Birdie about the party. I thought possibly next month, sometime after the Chance Day Dance and Celebration in town. Would that be satisfactory to you?”
She nodded. “Yes. That sounds very nice.”
“In the meantime, I have thought of asking a neighbor, Paul Lane and his wife and daughter to dinner. He owns the Westwood Ranch down south of us. His daughter, Lela, is close to your age. I think the two of you will get on fine.”
“That sounds nice.” She cleared her throat. “Fa–. . Papa, may I ask a question?”
An expression of surprise crossed his face. “What is it you wish to know?”
“It’s about. . .Birdie. Is she. . .more than our housekeeper?”
His eyes narrowed. “What did she say to you? Has the old crow been spewing nonsense again?” Anger flashed in his eyes and his words were fast and clipped.
“No. Nothing, it’s just that she seems to have a lot of. . .privileges that most housekeepers do not have and. . .I know she has been with the family for many years. Since you were a boy and–”
“She is the housekeeper and nothing more. Perhaps we run things a little different here in America than they do in England. You will just have to learn our ways, daughter. Now get on with your day.”
She nodded. But the curiosity still burned in her chest. Someday, she would have her own talk with Birdie.
Chapter 24
Mark leaned against the hitching post and laughed at the incident Ted Haws related. “You fellas sure seem to have a lot of accidents out on the Double D.”
“Hey, we just like to have a good time while we work,” Ted laughed, untying the reins of his horse. “And speaking of work. . .” he mounted the big gray beside him. “See you around.”
Mark nodded and turned to head inside the Mercantile. A sound on the road attracted his attention and he looked up in time to see two young women on horseback coming around the curve. The blond headed girl was Lela Lane. The other was Adeline Fleming.
Why did I have to see her today, Lord? Getting her out of his thoughts this quickly had seemed futile, and being this close to her sent his heart racing. He turned and checked the harness on the horse, not that it needed it. But now that she was in sight, he wanted a second look at her. His fingers fumbled across the leather as the two riders drew closer. His eyes met hers for a moment, then she looked away. They passed him, stopping their horses in front of Ada’s Millinery and Dress Shop.
He watched them dismount. Addie turned a brief glance in his direction before she followed Lela into the store. He sighed and stepped up on the sidewalk. Might as well get his shopping done at the mercantile and get home.
***
“That’ll be twelve-fifty,” Wally Stoner nodded, stuffing Mark’s purchases into the cotton sack he’d brought with him. “You want to charge that?”
A giggle sounded as the store door opened. Addie and Lela stepped inside. Mark gave them a brief nod and turned back to Wally. “That would be fine, sir.”
Wally nodded his shaggy head and reached toward a glass jar of candy. He grinned. “I’m assuming you’re going to want some of this.”
Mark smiled and nodded. With all the nonsense swimming around in his head, he had almost forgotten the most important thing he always took home from the mercantile. “Yes, sir. Can’t let those nieces and nephews down. They‘ll be expecting a treat from their uncle.” He swallowed hard. Addie’s sweet voice sounded from the fabric section. He ached to go talk to her, to have her smile and pleasant conversation directed at him. But it was not to be. She had made their parting so final that he suspected only a cold shoulder would be offered to him, at least until they could find a way to meet as almost-strangers – when Addie found someone “better” than himself to keep company with, he imagined.
“There you go,” Wally handed over a small paper sack.
Mark pulled a quarter from his pocket.
Wally waved it away. “Tell ‘em it’s from me, too. And be sure and tell Frankie to come in and see her old uncle soon,” he grinned.
Mark wadded the small paper sack closed and picked up the cotton bag. Sometimes it was handy to have a sister-in-law with a tie to the local store. “I’ll tell her, sir.” He turned toward the door glad to be going away from Addie‘s sight. Would it be like this the rest of his life? He’d never wanted to fall in love with any woman, until he set eyes on Adeline Fleming. And now the deed was done, and the undoing was harder than he ever believed possible.
The door of the mercantile opened again and his heart sank to his boots. Daisy Wright, basket on her arm, dressed in her Sunday calico stepped inside. Her blond hair hung down her back, a pink ribbon holding it away from her face.
She was the last person he hoped to see in town. Aunt Della had been working her matchmaking skills with the silly girl, he was sure.
Daisy’s blue eyes widened and her mouth turned into a huge smile. “Why Mark Murphy! What a nice surprise.”
He forced a smile to his lips. She was nice to look at, as long as she didn’t talk much, he had to give her that. Why didn’t some local boy snatch her up so she would leave him alone? Aunt Della was probably giving her false hopes.
She was by his side at once, setting her basket on the counter. “I just haven’t seen you for so long. How have you been? I saw your aunt just a few days ago and she was telling me that you’re working with some new horses out there on the ranch. I just don’t know how you keep up with all of it. Of course, I guess you knew she saw me. I’m sure she tells you everything about her trips to town. She is just such a sweet lady. And she makes the best cookies. I‘ve be
en meaning to ask her for the recipe. Maybe I‘ll see her at the dance. I mean, I do hope that she will be there. She will, won’t she?”
One thing was for sure, a man didn’t have to think of much to say when he was in Daisy’s company. “Well–”
“Are you going to the dance?” she asked.
Just the question he didn’t want to hear. He shifted the weight of the cotton bag to his other hand. “Well, I’m pl–”
“It’s going to be just wonderful this year. Did you hear that Matt Swanson is coming over from Porch Hill to pay the fiddle for us? Matt’s probably the best in the county. I hear he can play so fast it’s hard to keep up with the dance steps. Your feet just about dance off of you!” She laughed and barely took breath. “You are coming , aren’t you? It‘s really going to be a lot of fun.”
If the girl would give him half a minute, he might answer. He took a deep breath. It would be wise to speak words of discouragement before she started up again.
“Why Mark, I didn’t know you were taking Daisy to the dance.”
He gave a slight jump as Addie’s voice spoke behind him. He turned to see a mischievous smile on her pretty lips. She had best mind her own business in this matter. He shook his head. “I’m n–”
Addie turned her attention to Daisy, resting her hand on Daisy’s arm.
“His aunt is so fond of you. She spoke of you several times the day I visited their ranch.”
Mark watched the color rise in the girl’s cheeks. All he needed was Daisy to think he was wanting to court her. “Now look–”
“I think the two of you make a nice match,” Addie continued, interrupting his attempt at conversation.
Addie! There was no polite way to make her stop talking.
Daisy, cheeks pink, gave a glowing glance at Mark.
Addie turned her eyes with his. “You are taking her, aren’t you?”
Mark swallowed hard and ignored the galloping in his chest. It wasn’t fair of her to put him in this position. Didn’t she know that Daisy’s feelings were bound to get hurt?
“Why I’d just love to go, Mark,” Daisy spoke before he could utter another word.
“There! It’s all set,” Addie smiled, patting him on the arm. “I’m so glad I could help!”
He stared into her face, almost smiling, for an instant. But his better judgment snapped in and he managed to give her a good glare before turning to Daisy. Just the few moments in the store had been enough to make him want to flee her presence. How was he going to stand a whole dance with her?
He sighed. “Since you live clear over at Rose Creek, how about I meet you at the dance?”
Daisy, eyes still glowing, nodded. “I’d like that. Pa wouldn’t let me go without a chaperone, anyway. But don‘t worry, he won‘t bother us any at the dance, so we‘ll have lots of time together.”
Mark swallowed hard and nodded. “I’ll. . .be there.” Mr. Wright was afraid probably afraid his chatty daughter would snag the first fellow that proposed and the he would end up having to support the both of them, Mark guessed. Even with a daughter like Daisy, a man would have to be picky about a son-in-law.
Chapter 25
He chewed himself up one side and down the other the entire ride home. How could he be so stupid as to let this happen? Taking Daisy Wright, of all people, to the dance. Now folks would think he was sweet on her. Worst of all, Daisy would think he was interested in her.
Sure, he could blame Addie. And she did help to put him in this spot, seeming to enjoy it, too, from the expression on her face. He should have stopped the whole conversation before it got so far. If only he didn’t get so tongue-tied whenever she was around, searching his mind for something to say. It was like all of his thoughts took flight, stealing any words he might utter. Well now he was going to pay for being so foolish. And it was all Addie’s fault.
He pulled into the barnyard and jumped down from the seat. Still disgusted, he stared at the hills in the distance, wishing he might saddle Patriot and take off for a day or two. Get his thoughts together. But he knew that all he would think about, no matter where he might go, was Addie. And for the moment, she was the source of all his trouble. At the thought, his temper flared again.
Adeline Fleming. He jerked the hat from his head and gave it a sling. It slapped the weathered barn wall and tumbled to the ground, sending a cloud of dust into the hot summer air. She was going to be the end of him. He needed to get her out of his life, out of his head. And especially out of his heart.
“Whoa, there!” Seth Murphy, pitchfork in hand, stepped out the barn door. He leaned the fork against the gray wall and stooped to recover the hat from the dusty ground. “What’s got into you, ruining a perfectly good hat?” He brushed off the brim and turned it upside down, staring at the band inside. “If I remember right, my wife and I, out of the goodness of our hearts, purchased this for you.”
Mark snatched it from his brother’s fingers. “If I recall correctly, you bought it for me because you ruined mine. And you still owe me a new belt. But I’m guessing you‘ve forgotten that, too.”
Seth shrugged and laughed. “I guess everyone remembers those incidents a little different,” he teased.
Mark turned away and began to unhitch the team of horses. He was not in the mood for conversation. What he needed was for Seth to move along home. His brother, however, seemed oblivious to his frame of mind.
“So what’s got you so riled up?”
Mark, fumbling to undo a buckle took a deep breath and turned around. Maybe, just maybe, Seth could be serious for a minute and help him out. “OK, I’ll tell you. But no laughing.”
Seth’s eyebrows shot up. “Why would I laugh?”
Mark wiped a trickle of sweat from his forehead and blew out a breath. “I’m taking Daisy Wright to the dance on Saturday.” There. He’d said it. Everyone would know soon, anyway.
The corners of Seth’s lips twitched, but he managed to hold back a smile. “I see. Are you doing this to make Aunt Della happy, or have you suddenly found yourself in love with Daisy?”
Mark shook his head. Talking to Seth was always a risk to your senses. He found humor where there was none. “I’d do a lot of things to make our aunt happy, but spending an entire dance with Daisy Wright is not one of them.”
Seth leaned against the wagon, seeming to settle in for the conversation. “Then why did you ask her?”
Mark threw up his hands. “I didn’t! I. . . I. . . she tricked me. Addie. . .”
Seth stood up straighter. “Wait a minute. Adeline Fleming was there when you asked Daisy to the dance? Were you trying to make her jealous? You know, that’s really not a good idea.”
Anger rose in his throat. Seth was as bad as Daisy, talking nonstop. “No! I didn’t ask her. . .it just. . . it just seemed that way. And before you know it, Daisy was saying that she’d love to go to the dance with me and Addie was saying how nice it was and how we made such a perfect couple.”
Mark watched as Seth nodded and turned away, He leaned forward against the wagon. His shoulders began to shake. A moment later the sound of laughter reached Mark’s ears.
Well that did it. “Just stop it. Go home and leave me be. I need to get these horses unhitched, anyway. And I’d thank you to let me make the announcement about the dance myself.”
Seth appeared to recover himself as he turned back to Mark. “What did you do to make Addie so mad at you? I’m only asking because that has to be what it is, Mark.”
Mark stared. “I didn’t do anything. I’ve always done my best to be a perfect gentleman, I‘ve never. . .” except for the kiss. Could that have had anything to do with the trouble she put him in? He had apologized, hadn’t he? And then, she had let out that long speech to him about how he was a man used to dirt and sweat and she was some sort of high class woman that was too good for him. If anyone was mad, it should be him. He was the one that had been insulted.
Seth hooted and pushed his hat back on his head, allowing his sunburned fo
rehead to show. “You better give it some more thought, brother, cause you did something to irritate her.”
***
“Well I’m just so happy,” Della Murphy proclaimed, bringing another slab of cornbread to the table. “It’s about time you started looking to put some roots down with a nice girl,” she said, taking a seat across from Mark.
He knew she would be excited, but it was really too early to start marrying him off to the girl. “No ma’am.” He shook his head and reached for his cup. I’m just taking her to the dance. Just this one time.” If he didn’t stand up for himself better, his aunt would have him married to the girl in another month or so.
Chapter 26
“She’s only danced a couple of times tonight. And that’s the third one in a row that she’s rejected,” Frankie announced, staring across the barn as Morton Jacobs walked away from Addie.
Mark shrugged and studied the string of lanterns hung above them. “Lucky for all of them.” And lucky for him that George Houseman seemed taken with Daisy at this gathering. This was his fourth dance with her. Things were looking up.
Frankie turned to him with a stern expression, the sides of her mouth crinkling the way they did whenever she was upset. “Why, you ought to be ashamed of yourself. She’s just. . .just. . .well, she has a hard time making new friends.”
“I guess that’s one way of looking at it.” As long as you weren’t mentioning the fact that she spent a lot of time looking down her nose at everyone.
Frankie smiled. “Why don’t you go ask her to dance, Mark? I think it’s a good idea.”
He laughed. “So I can be the fourth rejection tonight?”
She narrowed her eyes. “Now you stop that. She knows you. I think it would make her feel better to dance with someone she’s already acquainted with.”
Chance Creek Brides (Volumes 1-3 & the Stagecoach Bride) Page 30