“Oh, I’d hate to burden you, Hugh, I mean Mr. Jordon. It’s really not all that important, it’s just that…”
“Just what?”
“Well, you know that Marshal Hadley and I are supposed to be getting married, and we’ve had to put it off as his home is in desperate need of repair. He was supposed to give me money so I could get started, but I guess he forgot in his hurry to save that poor, misjudged man.
“Isn’t that just like him, Mr. Jordon? Always thinking of others,” she gushed.
Hugh raised his eyebrows, but avoided looking at her. Surely she was thinking of someone else? Cole was a good man, honest and fair but hardly a bleeding heart.
“Please go on, Miss Jefferies. What does this have to do with my mother?” he asked a bit suspiciously.
“I merely thought I’d stop over and see if she has any cast offs, you know things she no longer wants or needs that I could use to get started. After all, the sooner I get busy, the sooner I will no longer be a burden on you or your family,” she said softly with her head down.
Her hands were folded in her lap and she seemed a far cry from the offensive young woman he heard insulting the other girls in the back of the wagon last night. Perhaps she felt some remorse for being so critical. And she did have a valid point. The sooner she married Cole, the faster she would be someone else’s problem and Hugh was pretty convinced she was going to be a problem more often than not.
“Did Cole mention how much money he intended to give you to get started?” he inquired smoothly, not wanting to commit just yet.
“No, I’m sorry to say he didn’t,” she replied, “although the house needs so many things. I swear I don’t know how that poor, dear man has survived for so long alone,” she drawled.
Hugh barely kept himself from snorting. The poor, dear man survived because he ate at one restaurant or another if he couldn’t scarf a free meal at someone’s home. He didn’t much care what his house looked like because he was never there. If he wasn’t at the jail, he was patrolling the town looking for miscreants or investigating a crime.
“No specific amount at all, huh?”
“I’m afraid not.”
“I guess I could loan you some money until Cole returns,” he suggested, watching her eyes light up. “At least something to get you started.”
“Oh could you?” she cried, clapping her hands together. “That would be wonderful and such a nice surprise for Cole when he gets back.”
“When is he coming back?” Hugh asked.
“I have no idea. I don’t even know how far away he had to travel. I hope once we’re married he’ll be more considerate about such things,” she sniffed, dabbing at her eyes with a handkerchief.
Reaching the fork in the road, Hugh slowed.
“Do you still want to see my mother, Miss Jefferies, or would you rather ride into town with me? I can stop by the bank and make a withdrawal.”
“Oh, I’d much rather go into town with you, Mr. Jordon. I can hardly wait to surprise Cole and time is of the essence… I mean I can’t wait to marry him.”
“How will you get back home?” he asked, concerned that he might have to work until after dark now that he’d dallied with his beautiful wife far longer than he should have.
“I’ll find someone who’s going my way,” Suzanna assured him. “I think Martha mentioned something about coming in today for supplies. I can probably catch a ride with her. Don’t worry about me.”
“If you haven’t found a ride home by five o’clock, I want you to come to my office. I’d rather have you wait there until I’m finished than take a ride with strangers or worse yet, walk. Do you understand?”
“Yes, sir,” she replied meekly.
Hugh stopped at the bank, withdrew three hundred dollars and handed it to Suzanna after he helped her down from the carriage.
“A word of advice, Miss Jefferies,” he began. “Cole is not an extravagant man. He appreciates the simple things in life, works hard and saves his money. I would suggest that you spend wisely.”
“I’ll pinch every penny,” she assured him, smiling as she tucked the bills into her reticule.
“Good. If you’re not here at five, I’ll assume you’ve managed to make your way home.”
“Thank you, Mr. Jordon. You have no idea how much you’ve helped me.”
“You’re most welcome. I’ll settle up with Cole when he returns.”
“Yes, you do that,” she called over her shoulder as she hurried away.
Her first stop was the mercantile, and she was fairly frugal. It was important to save enough for her fare to Portland if she couldn’t secure free transportation. She bought enough material for two dresses. After much consideration she decided on the lovely light green broadcloth which would make a fine traveling suit. Green was a good color for her. It brought out the highlights in her blonde hair and accentuated her dark brown eyes. She also purchased a length of shimmery brown material and several yards of ivory lace. She would ask Martha to make her a dress suitable for a late dinner in a fashionable restaurant, something she hoped was in her near future.
At the milliner’s, she purchased a jaunty hat, a parasol and a new pair of gloves. On impulse she asked the owner if she could buy two additional boxes. She agreed and Suzanna promised to return to pick up her packages later in the afternoon.
Debating where to have her dinner, she chose a small eatery near the wharf and took a table by the window where she could watch people coming and going. After all, she was hardly dressed for the Payne and didn’t want to take the chance of running into Mr. Ferguson if he were still in town.
Suzanna lingered as long as she dared, even ordering a piece of pecan pie that was nowhere near as good as her Grandma Celeste’s cook made. Finally, she spotted Martha haggling with a vendor for fresh fruit. Quickly, she paid her bill and hurried to meet her.
Chapter Six
“Goodness,” Martha exclaimed when Suzanna appeared at her side. “I didn’t know you were coming into town today. How did you get here? You could have ridden in with me,” she remarked as she took the box of oranges she’d purchased and moved toward the wagon.
“Oh, I found a ride in,” Suzanna replied breezily. “I had some personal errands to run and a bit of shopping to do, but I’d like to ride home with you if it’s no bother.”
“Of course it’s not a bother,” Martha replied, climbing up on the seat. “I still have to stop at the mercantile and the green grocer, but I get a better price on oranges on the wharf.”
Suzanna breathed a sigh of relief when Martha didn’t question her further, but it occurred to her that Martha was obviously busy and might think about it later. As she climbed up and onto the wagon seat, she decided to forestall any future problems.
“I’ve have the most exciting news,” she confided. “My great uncle in Savanah, that’s in Georgia you know,” she began.
“Yes, I know,” Martha nodded as she clicked the reins.
“Well, he heard of my upcoming marriage and being the sweet old gentleman that he is, sent me a bank draft so I could have a proper trousseau. Isn’t that wonderful?” Smiling brightly, she continued on. “I’ve found some things here in town and I was hoping you could help me make a couple of new dresses. I’d love to surprise Cole when he returns. Do you think you could?” she asked hopefully.
“I don’t see why not,” Martha replied. “When do you need them by?”
“Oh, as soon as possible. You see I wanted to travel to Portland, hopefully before Cole gets back and see what they have there and I can hardly wear this,” she insisted, holding out her well-worn dress. “I think it’s important for a bride to come to her husband properly turned out, don’t you?”
“Yes, that’s the way it used to be done,” Martha agreed. “However, those kinds of rules don’t seem to be so important here. I’m sure the marshal won’t expect you to have fancy dresses and such. Are you sure he would approve of you traveling to Portland? I’m not sure Mr. Jordon will allow it.”<
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“What do you mean, he won’t allow it?” Suzanna snapped. “I’m a woman, fully grown. I traveled all the way from Georgia by myself until I boarded the ship in San Francisco.”
“That’s true,” Martha acknowledged. “I didn’t mean to imply you weren’t capable. I also traveled alone but for the female companionship I found on the train and Portland isn’t so very far away.
“No, it’s not and I see no reason I can’t make that trip unaccompanied.”
“You’re probably right. I think the men around here are terribly old-fashioned in some regards. Even Ethan, Mr. Jorgenson, has a tendency to try to boss me around. It’s one of the reasons I’m waiting to marry him. I need to know that he sees me as an independent woman and quite adept at taking care of myself. An equal, if you will.”
“I understand completely,” Suzanna agreed. “I, however, imagine I will be happily content to let my husband see to all of my needs and wants as long as he has the means to do so.”
“In that case, I hope Marshal Hadley is well heeled,” Martha quipped with a smile.
“So do I,” Suzanna admitted ruefully.
Pulling up to the mercantile, the ladies went inside. Suzanna retrieved her purchases and put them in the wagon. A young boy loaded the order Martha placed earlier and they were soon on their way, stopping briefly at the milliner’s so Suzanna could collect her things.
“My, it looks as though your uncle was very generous,” Martha remarked as they headed for home.
“He was, but I was also careful. I don’t want to waste any of my limited funds. Do you think you’ll be able to make those dresses quickly for me?”
“I’ll do it as fast as I can, but I also have to make some clothes for Sara, Lucy and Lydia. This morning after Mr. Jordon left, Amelia and Jane had a long and private talk with those girls. It seems that when Mr. and Mrs. Lane leave at the end of the week, the girls will be going with them.”
“You don’t say,” Suzanna gasped in surprise. “Why would Mr. and Mrs. Lane agree to do that after getting rid of one, and I don’t mind saying, troublesome daughter.”
“Suzanna, you mustn’t say unkind things about Euphemia,” Martha scolded gently. “I like her very much; in fact, I admire her spunk. Capturing the heart of a man like Samuel Jordon couldn’t have been easy. Dealing with him on a daily basis could prove to be even more difficult.”
“Well, I for one, hope he beats her every day,” Suzanna replied sweetly, brushing some dust off her skirt and refusing to meet Martha’s eyes.
“Sometimes I don’t understand you at all, Suzanna,” Martha sighed.
“Will you still make my dresses; even though I hate your friend?”
“Yes, I will and I’ll continue to pray that someday you will see the good in Effie.”
Satisfied, Suzanna plastered a pleased smile on her face.
“So why are the Lane’s taking Sara, Lucy and Lydia back with them?”
“I believe they will be enrolled in the same school Amelia and her friends attended. Apparently, they’ve lied about their ages from the beginning. Amelia and Mr. Jordon feel they are much too young to consider marriage.”
“Nonsense, girls marry at their age or even younger all the time in the south,” Suzanna said with a sniff. “By the time a woman’s twenty, she’s practically an old maid.”
Martha didn’t reply, but kept silent. It took Suzanna several minutes to realize that she’d just insulted her only friend who was twenty-six.
“Oh my dear,” she said, gently placing a hand on Martha’s forearm. “I do apologize. It was not my intention to injure your feelings, no, not my intention at all and you’re perfectly right. Those girls are much too young to marry. I think it’s a wise woman who waits to find the right man, one whom she feels comfortable with,” she drawled, backtracking as fast as she could. “I’m sure you’re smart to wait before marrying Mr. Jorgenson. I’ll bet you have turned down plenty of men back east who were unsuitable,” she insisted confidently.
“A few,” Martha murmured.
“See, exactly as I’ve said. You’re very smart to wait. Why I’m just a mass of bridal jitters and never know what will fall out of my mouth,” she tittered.
Martha smiled and Suzanna swallowed a big sigh of relief. It would not do to alienate her only ally.
“Do you think it would be all right if I left my new things in the wagon and came down to get them later, when the others are in bed?” she asked, anxiously wondering how she would explain entering the house with so many packages. “I know most of the brides are short of funds right now and I wouldn’t want any of them to think I’m flaunting my good fortune in any way.”
“I understand, and that’s very thoughtful of you, dear,” Martha replied. “Because of my profession I have lots of pretty clothes, but I try to wear only a few dresses or skirts and shirtwaists. In fact,” she continued thoughtfully, “I may have some things I could make over fairly quickly for the girls that no one has ever seen. It would allow me to get started on your dresses even sooner.”
“Oh,” Suzanna squealed as they started up the drive. “You are simply the dearest friend I’ve ever had.”
* * *
Cole boarded the train out of Omaha and took a seat, stretching his long legs out as far as he could. The man sitting in the next seat smiled as he tried to get comfortable.
“What’s so funny, Dalton?” Cole demanded.
“You. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a man in less of a hurry to return to his fiancée.”
Cole snorted and pulled his hat over his eyes.
“I’ll get there,” he replied.
“I imagine so, eventually. We’ve stayed a week longer than necessary as it is.”
“What’s it to you?”
“Oh, it’s nothing to me. I’m in no hurry to get back to Seattle, other than that job you offered to me,” the younger man drawled, crossing one long leg and resting his ankle on his knee.
“Why’d you take the job anyway?” Cole asked.
“I don’t rightly know,” Dalton admitted. “Now that my name’s cleared, I guess I could do about anything I want but, to tell you the truth, I’m sick of herding cattle and scouting for the army and I’m not in any hurry to go back east. I’d kind of like to stay a spell in one place, maybe put down some roots.”
“Humph,” Cole replied, looking at him from under the brim of his hat. “Thought maybe it had something to do with my future bride.”
“Ah, Miss Suzanna Jefferies,” Dalton smiled. “She sure is worth considering; I mean she would be if she wasn’t already promised to you, Marshal. Yes, sir, she sure is a sweet little package of southern femininity.”
“Don’t you know anything about women, boy?” Cole asked, shaking his head. “That woman is going to be a thorn in my side for the next thirty or forty years, if my job doesn’t get me killed.”
“Then why are you marrying her?”
“Got to.”
“I see,” Dalton frowned. “Guess you should have kept your pecker in your pants, man.”
“Now see here, it’s nothing like that,” Coal snapped, sitting up. “Suzie is a lady, well, for the most part, and we didn’t do anything wrong except fall asleep. I had to offer for her.”
“And she accepted?”
“I don’t see as she had much choice,” Cole sighed.
“Do you love her?”
“I barely know her, but I had to do right by her. It was the only thing I could do.”
“Do you at least like her?”
“As much as I could like any woman, I expect. I’m not against marriage in general; I’ve just never met anyone I wanted around me all the time. Suzie has the capacity to be a good girl, I just have a feeling she’s going to be a real pain in my ass, and my wallet. I’ll have to lay down the law right from the start and that don’t lend itself to much of the fun stuff if you get my meaning.”
“I’m afraid I don’t,” Dalton answered with a confused look on his face.
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“I mean that I don’t think a woman with a frequently tanned hide will be much interested in pursuing other activities associated with the marital state,” Cole informed him sourly.
“What makes you think you’ll have to resort to that sort of thing?”
“I don’t think it, I know it. Suzie, Miss Suzanna Jefferies, of late from Georgia, has some highfaluting ideas about her place in the world. She’s got a way of speaking out of that sweet mouth of hers that just begs for a vigorous soaping and I wish I’d spanked her good when I toted her away from that shindig. I’ll bet she wouldn’t have pleaded for me to lay and watch the stars with her if I’d of blistered her bottom like I wanted to. If I had, I wouldn’t be in this fix. It just goes to show you a man’s got to trust his gut instinct.”
“I’m glad you trusted your gut with me,” Dalton said earnestly. “If you hadn’t, I could be swinging from a rope right now.”
“I am too,” Cole replied. “Now let’s quit jabbering and get some rest. I don’t imagine I’ll get much peace once we get back to Seattle. Damn woman will likely talk my ear off with all the changes she wants to make in my house. Hell’s bells, it’s a small little salt box, not a Georgia plantation.”
Dalton stared out the window as the train ate up the miles and Cole slept. Getting mixed up with Horace Remington had been one of the worst mistakes of his life and he’d gotten out as soon as he could. Thankfully, it was before Horace had truly gone off the deep end and resorted to kidnapping Sam and Effie.
Yes, Dalton had a price on his head, but it was for a crime he didn’t commit and Marshal Hadley had been able to help him clear his name. He owed the man. Was it possible he could be of some help to him, other than taking the position of deputy?
Cole didn’t want to get married at all, and it seemed he especially didn’t want to marry Miss Jefferies. Could Dalton find a way to entice her away, get her to break the engagement? He was in no particular hurry to marry either, but he wasn’t vehemently opposed to it the way Cole was.
Suzanna was the prettiest girl he’d ever laid eyes on, and he’d been around. Crawling between those silky thighs each night would not be a hardship, provided she behaved herself. He couldn’t really see himself spanking her if she didn’t, but he damn sure was capable if the need arose.
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