She stared at the reflection in the full length mirror before her. Just the thought of Adam sent a rush of heat to her cheeks. What had ever made her think she might come to love a man like Mark Murphy? He was nothing compared to Adam in terms of charm, success, and importance, was he?
Adam was a rancher, but a successful businessman as well. He hired help. He never walked into a room covered in dust or sweat. His boots were polished and new, whereas Mark’s were. . .
She blinked. Why did she keep thinking about Mark? He had nothing to do with any of this. Addie readjusted the jeweled hairpin on the side of her head, a pretty gift from her father. He had thought it important that she look her best tonight. She gave a soft laugh. If he had any idea how she felt about Adam Zimmer, he would know there was no worry. She would be her most charming and beautiful.
***
“And what sort of business are you in, other than ranching, Zimmer?”
Addie tightened her smile in irritation. Papa was going to ruin everything. Asking too many personal questions at dinner was just not acceptable. Had her father been raised in a cave?
Adam Zimmer dabbed his linen napkin on his lips and flashed a smile in Addie‘s direction before he answered. “Well, sir, I have my fingers in many businesses. I own more than a few shares in the cotton mill business, as well as shares in a newspaper down in San Antonio. They are some of the reasons I’m out of town so much.”
Addie forked another small potato and dipped it into the brown gravy on her plate. The business conversation could go on for another hour or so, the way the two of them were carrying on. She glanced at Birdie, busy smoothing the napkin in her lap.
She was a funny old woman, her father‘s housekeeper. Always seemed to keep her eyes down, rarely looking at anyone. Maybe it was because she was Apache. Mark hadn’t gone into much detail. And why had he been so surprised that she didn’t know of Birdie’s Indian heritage? She’d only know the woman for a few weeks, at the time.
Her father cleared his throat. “Looks like it’s time for us gentlemen to retire to the study for brandy and a nice game of chance. You two,” he nodded to Addie and Birdie, “can enjoy some music on the Victrola in the parlor.”
Addie sighed. It looked like her father was going to occupy most of Adam’s attention.
Chapter 30
Mark watched as the buggy sped past, Addie by Zimmer’s side. The two appeared to be stopping at the hotel restaurant, a popular place for courting couples to eat. And everyone knew that Adam Zimmer could afford to dine there as often as he wanted.
Mark sighed. It was the third time he’d seen the two of them together since the dance. No doubt the man was weaseling his way into the Fleming household, fooling Addie and her father with his elegant manners and smooth talk.
Gritting his jaw, he tightened the straps across the back of the wagon load. Whoever Addie was seeing was none of his business. But keep her safe, Lord. Please keep her safe from any harm that Zimmer might have planned for her. And, if there’s anything I can do to help her. . . . He swallowed hard. It was no use. Addie was out of his care forever.
And no time to think about it now. He needed to get home before dark and get the supplies unloaded. They were branding calves tomorrow and it would be a full day of work. The sooner to bed, the more rest he could get.
***
He pulled the pillow from beneath his head and put it on his chest. Through the window pane, the stars shone bright in the night sky. It was easy to pick out the few constellations that Jared had taught him when he was just a boy. He gave a soft chuckle. Life had sure been easier back then. The only woman that complicated his life had been Aunt Della. He took a deep breath. And she still complicated his life, to some degree.
But it was Addie that occupied his every thought. And she was completely oblivious to his feelings. Yet, for him, she was everything. She had been from the beginning. If he closed his eyes, he could still feel the trail of her fingers on his face when she had touched the cut on his cheek, still feel her warmth whenever she touched his hand or arm when they were out riding. He could still taste her kiss from that last day.
He sighed and sat up. No use forcing himself to stay here on the bed, pining away for a woman he couldn’t have. It was probably three o’clock. Everyone would be up in another hour or two, anyway. Might as well get a head start on all of them.
He lit the lantern in the barn and went directly to Patriot’s stall, opening the gate and stepping inside. He ran his hand down the horse’s neck as he spoke in soft tones. “There, boy. Only a few more days and you’ll be showing everyone in town what kind of running you can do.”
The horse nickered in response and shook his head.
Hair from the coarse mane slapped Mark’s cheek, leaving behind a stinging sensation. If it was daylight, and he had not other duties, he’d mount up and ride across the back hills. Fresh air and time alone would help heal the pain his heart lived with everyday. But there was always plenty of work ahead on the ranch. He’d have to tend to his heart later.
“Morning!”
Mark startled at the cheery greeting and turned to the open doorway. “What are you doing up so early, Charlie?”
The blond boy came inside and climbed up the slats on the stall gate, seating himself on top. He shrugged. “I guess I’m kind of excited about today. Pa says I might be able to do some of the branding.”
“Maybe,” Mark agreed. “You’ll have to ask Jared, first.”
“You’ll put in a good word for me, won’t you? I’ll work hard.”
The boy’s hopeful expression brought a smile to his face. “Sure. As long as you help me get all these horses fed,” he grinned, giving his nephew a playful shove off the gate.
Jumping from this perch, Charlie ran to the feed bin and opened the lid, grabbing the large scoop inside. “Are we letting them out after they have their grain?”
Mark nodded and picked up a pitchfork. “We’ll just let them out in the corral behind the barn for today.”
“So,” Charlie began, “how is your friend Addie getting along with her father since she came to Texas?”
Mark shook his head. Even the kids couldn’t let him forget about her. “I don’t know. Don’t talk to her much anymore.”
Charlie dumped a scoop into a bucket and headed for Sugar‘s stall. “I guess it would be hard to meet your father for the first time after you were already grown.”
“I’m sure it would,” Mark agreed, forking a pile of hay and throwing it into an empty stall. Especially if it was a man like Samson Fleming. “I figure they’ll work it out, somehow.”
“I remember when I first found out that Ma was really my mother, and not my sister. It was sort of strange for a while. But, I know she loved me, and all. I imagine Miss Fleming‘s father is glad to have her back in his life.”
Mark grinned at the boy. It would have been impossible for him not to have known Frankie loved him, the way she had watched over him every moment. It was a complicated story, but Seth had helped her tell Charlie the truth, and it had worked out well. Adding Charlie to the family the same day as Frankie had been a blessing for all of them.
“And even though I’d never met him until I was six years old, getting Pa for a father was one of the best parts,” Charlie grinned, digging out more grain. “Maybe it will be the same for Miss Fleming.”
“Speaking of your pa,” Mark said, leaning the farm tool against the wall, “do you know if he ever finished that bridle he was supposed to be repairing for me?”
Charlie shut the feed bin and turned to his uncle. “I’m not sure. Guess I’ll ask him while we have breakfast.”
Mark watched the boy retreat up the hill. Maybe his nephew was right. If Addie and her father could somehow come to terms with each other. It would be best for both of them.
***
Missy, hair hanging in a braid behind her back, was busy at the stove when he walked inside. She turned and smiled.
“I thought I saw
a light out in the barn. And was someone talking to you?”
“Charlie came down for an early morning chat,” he grinned, accepting the cup of coffee she was offering.
She laughed. “He’s excited about missing school for this. Makes him feel grown-up. And Isaac is a little sore that he’s not included,” she added.
“Won’t be long before he is,” Mark nodded, setting his cup on the table and heading for the wash bowl. The warm water felt good on his hands as he rinsed them and dried with the cotton towel.
“So I hear that Addie is practically engaged to Adam Zimmer,” Missy said as she measured out flour for the morning biscuits. “Have you heard anything official?”
Mark swallowed the bitter taste that rose in his throat. It couldn’t be true. Addie could be smug and strong-willed, but surely she could see that Zimmer wasn’t a fit man for a husband.
He cleared his throat and continued to rub his hands with the towel, “No. I haven’t heard anything.”
He heard her take a breath, then hesitate. “I hope it’s not true.”
He nodded and turned in her direction. “It would be best.”
Missy looked down and began to work a spoonful of lard into the flour. “You love her, don’t you?”
It wasn’t like her to be so forward. And he couldn’t trust himself to actually say the word ‘yes’. “It doesn’t matter how I feel,” he answered.
Missy paused and looked up at him. “It may matter more than you think. It’s taken you a long time to come to this, Mark.”
He moved to the table and picked up his cup. “A lot of good it’s done me. I should have married one of those silly girls that giggles all the time. One of them would love me.”
Missy‘s voice was quiet as she added the milk, working it in, before patting out the mixture. “That’s true. But you wouldn’t love her. And your life would be empty trying to fool yourself that you did.”
He shrugged and stared into the murky liquid before he took a sip. “I just don’t understand why she’d want a man like Zimmer. If it was one of the other ranchers or one of the business owners in town, then. . . .”
Missy picked up an old can, top and bottom removed, and began to cut circles in the dough. “I think Addie’s had a lot of hurt in her life. And now, maybe, she thinks she’s found something special. Adam Zimmer is handsome and rich. Maybe the image of who he is makes her feel better about herself.”
Mark managed not to choke on his coffee. “The image of who is he? The man’s a drinker, a gambler, a carouser. He won’t make a good husband. He’ll never love her.” The last words came out in a choke.
Missy was silent for a moment as she wiped her hands on the apron she wore. “I don’t know why it is, but sometimes people just won’t see the truth. Addie sees him the way he wants her to and the way she wants him to be. I’m afraid that something significant will have to happen to change her mind about him.” She paused. “But you can pray for her. So will I. And God knows your, heart, Mark. Don’t ever forget that.”
Chapter 31
“He’s sure a beauty, isn’t he? His name is Warrior.” Adam gave Addie his best smile.
She nodded and touched the horse’s smooth nose, but her eyes were on the man. He always looked so handsome in his well-tailored suits, never anything out of place. “I guess he is. I don’t know much about horses.”
Adam threw back his dark head and laughed. He removed the white Stetson he always wore and leaned over to kiss her on the forehead. “That’s my girl. Don’t worry, sweetheart, I’ll be teaching you about horses in the future. Right now, all you need to know is that this horse is going to win the Chance Day Race in two days.”
Addie opened her mouth to reply that Mark Murphy might disagree. But, with a blush, she thought better of the statement.
Adam did not seem to care for Mark at all, she had noticed. The few times she had mentioned his name, Adam had seemed tense and then made the kind of sarcastic remarks that reminded her of her father.
“I’m sure he will run a fine race. Did you have to spend a lot of time looking for him?” Maybe that would explain the many trips he had been taking lately. He had been gone more than a week at a time, leaving a lot of lonely hours empty of companionship or outings. She would have enjoyed hearing about his search for the perfect horse through a letter or a postcard, had he chosen to write her and comfort her a little during his absence.
Adam laughed again and shook his head. “You might say he fell right into my hands, my sweet girl.”
She glanced up at him. What an odd statement. She ignored the waves of caution flowing in her head in response to these words, the ghost of a rumor she had half-heard before now resurfacing in her thoughts. The kind of gossip Addie never entertained and never worried about hearing from someone like silent, somber Birdie.
Adam was smart, a good business man. However he acquired Warrior, it would have been legal and proper, of course. Even if he had won the horse in a card game, what did it matter? Gambling was legal, a harmless hobby. At least that‘s what her father said.
***
Mark patted Patriot on the neck, attempting to calm himself as much as the animal. Ahead, he could see Zimmer’s horse, Warrior. The big roan was everything that Mark had heard. He grit his jaw tight as the confidence he’d had earlier began to wane. It might turn out to be a closer race than he had anticipated.
Taking a deep breath, he put his boot in the stirrup and pulled himself to the saddle. As long as it was a fair race, he would be satisfied with the results. But no need to think about the end right now. It was time to get in line with the others. In less than five minutes, they would be off.
The man on the stand waved his hands, trying, in vain, to quiet the spectators. He shouted at the top of his lungs to the riders poised below. “On your mark! Get set!”
The pistol sounded above the cheers of the crowd. Mark dug his heels into Patriot’s side and the big horse took off at a gallop. He wrapped the reins around his hands and concentrated on the road ahead as the horse‘s flying hooves pounded the dirt below.
They easily passed all but Warrior, still more than a horse length ahead of them. The fact that Patriot could run for a long while without tiring was one thing in Mark’s favor. But he had no idea what kind of stamina Warrior possessed.
***
Addie stood on the roof of the Scroggin’s Hotel with the other fortunate few able to secure the coveted viewing area. Papa had made sure to obtain an ideal place for her to watch Adam win. She held her breath as the pistol was fired and the horses took off. Adam was well ahead. Only Mark’s horse Patriot was close to catching him. And Adam had best be on guard, as Mark was determined to win.
“Look at that! Mr. Zimmer’s horse is already in the lead!” Mrs. Scroggins said to the group.
“True,” Mr. Egan replied. “But I’ve seen Murphy’s horse run and I think he’ll give Zimmer’s Warrior a race before it’s over with.”
Addie stretched, trying to make herself taller as the group rounded the curve in the road. Adam had almost hired someone to ride for him, but when she had mentioned Mark – that is, Mr. Murphy and some of the others like him – were riding to win, he had changed his mind.
A spasm of worry niggled inside of her. Why should Adam have something against Mark? Was it because he was a poorer man – beneath him somehow? Or did he somehow suspect that she might have had feelings for him at one time? If he did, it was a silly thought on his part. She could never lead the life of a poor rancher’s wife, much less marry someone like Mark Murphy.
Her future logically belonged with Adam. Even Papa thought so. In another few months, she would likely be mistress of the house on Silver Ridge, although Adam was already talking of building a grander home for them. Her future was everything that she wanted, giving her every cause to feel enthusiasm, excitement, and happiness. Or was it?
Something inside told her that she should be happier looking forward to her life with the man she was going to ma
rry. When she had tried to talk to God about her feelings and plans, it was as if her words bounced back to her own ears. Like He wasn’t listening to her gratitude. Or the tiny, needling doubts which she did her best to suppress beneath it.
Nerves. Just nerves, Addie. How many times would she have to tell that to herself that was all?
“Here they come!” Mr. Egan shouted. “This is only the first round. Looks like Zimmer’s still in the lead.”
Addie watched as they passed below, hooves pounding up the loose, dry dirt of August. Adam was still ahead, but Mark was closer than he had been when they took off. If Patriot ran just a little faster. . .after all, Mark needed the money, Adam just wanted it. Or maybe he just wanted to defeat Mark Murphy, and others like him. The thought sent a chill through her. In spite of the heat, she hugged her arms to herself.
It was ten minutes before they were back in sight and the tension was mounting among the crowd.
“Here they come!” someone shouted.
They’re almost even, she breathed. A rush of warmth ran through her. Maybe Mark was going to win. She shut her mouth tight lest she yell Patriot’s name aloud. The others wouldn’t understand if they heard her. Her head told her to cheer for Adam, but her heart was with Mark and Patriot this time.
“Look at that!” Mr. Egan shouted.
Addie glued her eyes to them as they approached. When they passed below, she would be able to see who was really ahead. And it was Mark!
She held her breath as they approached the finish line. Several yards away and Patriot took a sudden jump to the left. Her heart almost stopped at the sight. At the same moment, a stray cat ran directly in front of Warrior. The horse reared in the air, Adam spilling on the ground in a cloud of dust and dirt. Patriot crossed the finish line and the crowd roared.
Chance Creek Brides (Volumes 1-3 & the Stagecoach Bride) Page 32