“Well, what have we here?” he asked. “I was disappointed to find I missed you when you stopped by the house.”
“I’m leading the troops to the hotel, sir,” Matthew said, his chest puffed with importance.
“Would you like a ride?” Luke asked, already jumping down. The children all cried out in the affirmative, and he took the little boy from Judith. “Look how much you’ve grown, Master Clarence.”
“As if you don’t see him every week at church,” Judith whispered to Luke as she helped little Ruth into the sleigh.
“But they grow so fast.” Luke winked but, looking at Judith more closely, he frowned. He didn’t say more until the children were settled. As he held out his hands to lift Judith into the sleigh, he whispered, “Is something wrong with Mary?”
“Her baby appears to be coming.” Judith explained the problems.
Luke turned thoughtful as he spread a blanket over Judith’s lap. Once he’d taken the reins, he said, “After I drop you all off, I’ll check with the sheriff. I remember him saying his sister has some experience with birthings.”
“Will you be able to collect her?” Judith asked. “Mary’s pains were coming pretty quickly, and I’m worried Doris might be there with her by herself when it happens.”
“Haven’t you noticed my sister is tougher than she seems?” Luke asked, as they drove down the long street.
“Yes, she is.” Once again, Judith’s inadequacies for the task weighed on her.
“Oh, look. There’s Abe.” Luke shouted, “Hey, sheriff.”
The older man looked even more like a bear than usual, with his gray-streaked beard, fur coat and hat. It was no wonder the man had never married, in spite of his good heart.
“Miss Breckinridge,” he said nodding his head toward her after Luke pulled to a stop. “What can I do for you, Hamblin?”
“Did I hear right that your sister has some experience with birthing babies?” Luke asked. “It seems Mary Teague is having hers, and both her husband and the doctor are out of town.”
The sheriff glanced at the children in the back of the sleigh. “My sister has delivered many babies. She’s over at the bakery placing an order. Where are you headed with the kids?” When Judith explained, he said, “Babies take their time getting here. You could be there a long time. You have much experience with little ones?”
She shook her head, and he chuckled.
“I’m cold,” little Clarence cried.
“I’ll get my sister,” the sheriff said, already moving away.
As Luke drove the remaining distance to the hotel, doubts began to assail Judith. She had no younger siblings. With the exception of her nieces, whom Judith had really only come to know since the summer and were quite self-sufficient, she had no experience with young children—or little boys who had always seemed like a different kind of creature altogether. Already Clarence’s howls coming from the back of the sleigh were setting her nerves on edge, while Luke seemed completely unaffected.
When he pulled to a stop, she didn’t wait for him to help her down. She could feel the eyes of everyone around them staring at her, blaming her for the wailing child. There’s that useless Judith Breckinridge.
“It’s all right. Let’s get you inside where it’s warm.” She reached out her arms for the child, but he pulled away from her, continuing to sob. Back home, there would have been a nanny to pass a fussy child to. Judith had no idea what to do.
“Hey, little man,” Luke cried coming around to stand beside her. He rubbed his stomach, his voice taking on a teasing tone. “Aren’t you hungry for a cookie? Miss Judith isn’t going to buy one for someone who’s crying.” Luke arched his brows. “That means there will be more cookies for me.”
The little boy’s tears stopped, his little face turning defiant. “You can’t have my cookie.”
“Then we best get inside before they sell them all, hadn’t we?”
The child raised his arms, and Luke lifted him from the sleigh. Matthew followed and helped Devon down. Feeling completely inadequate, Judith helped Ruth down. By the time they got into the hotel, Luke was already settling the children at a table.
“Let’s have hot chocolate for everyone and a platter of cookies,” he called to a waitress. Luke turned to Judith and said, “Did Mary happen to say where Steve was planning to stay in Worland?” Judith explained, and Luke shrugged, adding, “With her due so soon, that wasn’t good planning, but what do I know? We’ll handle the children together.”
“You’re going to stay?” she asked, both relieved and worried. It would be lovely to spend time with him, but if he remained, he’d see for himself how incompetent she was.
Luke, suddenly still, met her gaze. “Don’t you want me here?”
Judith sensed that, if she told him she didn’t want him to stay, he’d be hurt.
“I was merely concerned about taking you away from your work,” she said. “We’d enjoy your company.”
At least she hadn’t lied. The youngsters would certainly prefer him to her. How did she explain without appearing pathetic? A man courted a woman because he was at least considering marriage. Luke especially would need more than a society wife such as she’d been trained to be. He’d have no use for a woman whose knowledge of children was little more than handing them off to servants.
“I can tell something is bothering you,” Luke said, taking her by the shoulders and staring into her eyes as though he could read her mind, “and we don’t have time right this moment. Please promise me you’ll tell me what it is.”
Judith’s eyes suddenly filled with tears. When she tried to speak, her lips trembled. Why was it she seemed unable to control her emotions around him? Before she could turn away, Luke pulled her into his arms in spite of all the people watching. She allowed herself only a moment of the comfort. Blinking her eyes, Judith steeled herself and clutched at her usual rigid self-control. She stepped back.
“Thank you, but you’d best hurry before someone steals your sleigh.” She tried to make it sound like a joke, but based upon his wary expression, she’d been unsuccessful.
He leaned closer to kiss the tip of her nose and hurried from the hotel restaurant. Taking a deep breath, aware of the eyes on her, Judith turned and joined the children at the table. Clarence and Ruth were already fighting with each other, while Matthew and Devon valiantly attempted to pull them away from each other.
Before entering the fracas, Judith reviewed in her mind the way Doris calmed Florence and Lydia. As Judith settled the children, she wondered how Mary controlled the energetic youngsters while helping in the store. It must be doubly difficult when it was too cold to play outside.
By the time Luke returned, the children were calmly eating their cookies and sipping hot chocolate. He took the empty seat beside Judith and reached over to cover her hand with his cold one.
“A hot chocolate will warm you up,” she said, catching the attention of one of the waitresses, who hurried over.
“I’ll have coffee and a piece of your apple pie.” He said to Judith, “You got this herd whipped into shape just fine.”
“I can’t take credit for it.” Judith was sure Mary or Doris would have found a better way than bribery to control children. “The treats worked the miracle.”
“As they always do.” He leaned back in his chair, his expression reminiscent. “When Maude was born, I had no experience around babies. She fascinated me. So tiny and fragile. She was fussy too. Nurse was an older woman and had a hard time keeping the little thing calmed down. Lancaster didn’t have much patience with crying babies. He got a little better when they could talk, and I’m sure he truly cared for the girls.” Luke smiled, his expression smug. “It irked him no end that baby Maude preferred me.”
“He had no patience with the child, yet was surprised when she wanted to spend time with the boy who did?”
“I never did understand the man. It took a few times of her reaching for me instead of him before he cottoned on. That w
as when he decided I needed to go away to school.” Luke released Judith’s hand and accepted the mug of coffee from the waitress. He took a sip and closed his eyes, a slow smile curving his lips.
Judith found herself wishing she could feel the touch of them on her mouth. The room grew suddenly too warm. Luke opened his eyes then and met her gaze.
“What? They make good coffee here. Almost as good as Abe does.”
At that moment the door burst open, and the sheriff stepped into the room. As soon as he saw them, he strode toward their table.
“Well, young Teagues,” he said, “you have a new and healthy little sister.”
“That was fast,” Luke said, scooting over to make room for the sheriff.
“Is Mary well?” Judith asked.
“She’s fine. Edith arrived in time to deliver the baby.” Abe chuckled. “That Doris has a lot more guts than I ever gave her credit for. What a trooper. My sister said she jumped right in and did everything she was told. Said it was good training for when her own little one arrives.”
Both Judith and Luke glanced at each other in surprise.
“I didn’t know it was public knowledge,” she whispered.
“It is a small town,” Luke said with a shrug.
Little Ruth’s head was starting to droop, so Judith pulled her onto her lap. The child struggled and slid off. She ran to Luke, who lifted her. The little girl put her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes.
Judith looked down at the now cooling chocolate. Luke appeared to be one of those men who would be a natural father, while children didn’t like her. He deserved a better woman than Judith.
13
Luke stepped into the Community Hall carrying two framed pictures. It’d taken some convincing to get Tom to agree to show his new watercolors, and even more to get Martha to let Luke bring them. She’d only agreed when he told her he’d have to bring them into town anyway to be framed. Ralph Jackson, the new woodworker was already getting quite a reputation for his craftsmanship, and Luke had been lucky to be one of the first ones on the waiting list.
He spotted Judith and hesitated. Things had been awkward between them since the day Mary Teague had given birth. He’d tried to talk to Judith about it, but she would change the subject to the fair. Luke was getting right tired of it.
Andrew Pulsifer, the cowboy poet she was talking to, worked at the Lucky L. When word had gotten out, there’d been a surprising number of applicants. A couple of men from Cody had even tried to get in, but she’d been adamant the Christmas Fair was for showcasing Lilac City residents. The other members of the Ladies’ Improvement Society had agreed.
The man was standing a mite too close to her. Did she not see it? Luke strode toward them.
“Your piece is quite touching, and your use of language beautiful,” Judith was saying. “Your topic will be the best suited to lead into the children’s nativity story.”
“Why, thank you ma’am.” Pulsifer glanced at Luke but continued, “I have some others you might like. I’d sure enjoy talking to you about them over dinner sometime.”
“Sorry, Pulsifer,” Luke said, stepping close to Judith. “I’m already courting Miss Breckinridge.”
“I might have known,” the cowboy said with a sheepish grin. He said to Judith, “It’s an honor to be on the program at all. My ma would be proud.” Pulsifer gave her a respectful nod and left.
“I’m surprised he hadn’t already heard you were courting me since we’re the talk of the town,” Judith said, giving him a flat look.
“Why?” Was a simple hug in public what was bothering her?
“It appears there were a lot of tongue-wagglers in the hotel dining room the other day.” Her cheeks turned a pink he found particularly attractive.
It wouldn’t matter once they were married. Luke had made the decision to ask her the day before but had wanted to wait until things settled down after the Christmas Fair.
“Let them waggle all they want. It’s—” Luke’s words broke off at the hint of hurt in her eyes. What else was going on in that beautiful head of hers? He leaned the picture frames against the raised platform that was serving as a stage and took her hands in his. “What’s wrong?”
Judith wouldn’t look at him as she said, “I’ve overheard more than one comment saying you could do better.”
“Old biddies.”
“It wasn’t women.” She glanced up at him then, her eyes too bright.
“Let me catch a man saying—”
“They’re right, though.”
“That’s for me to decide.” Luke raised one of her hands and pressed his lips to it. “It’s easy for people to judge when they don’t know you.”
“You don’t know me well enough yet.” Judith’s voice had turned bitter, and he wouldn’t have it.
“I’m pretty sure if I waited until I knew everything there was to know about you, I’d be an old man.”
Luke brought her hand to his chest. He hadn’t intended to propose yet, but it’d been on his mind a lot. If he were honest, it’d been in the back of his mind from the first time he’d seen her nearly a year ago. The more time he spent with her, the stronger his feelings grew. She was a feisty delight. Until he’d begun their courtship, he hadn’t understood how much he admired women who challenged him. And Judith Breckinridge challenged him—and so much more.
“If you’ll marry me,” he said, “I’ll have my whole life to learn about you.”
Judith gave a little gasp, her eyes wide. Her expression had turned vulnerable.
“Luke, you have no idea how inadequate I am.”
Was this the conversation she’d promised they’d have the day at the hotel, but she’d since refused to discuss? Judith looked tired, like she hadn’t been getting enough sleep.
“I don’t understand,” he said. “You’re an accomplished woman. How can you not be adequate?”
“I’m accomplished in all the wrong things. None of them have prepared me for the kind of life you have here.” Her voice had taken on an edge, as though it brought her pain to say the words.
“You’ve been doing just fine.” Luke put his hands on her shoulders to keep from pulling her into his arms. “I had no idea what I was getting myself into when I came out here with nothing more than an inheritance and a grand idea. I was a complete idiot. I’m surprised Tom stuck with me as long as he did, but he must have seen something in my potential. He helped to make me a competent rancher.”
“You are so much more than competent.” Judith reached up and cupped his cheek. “I’ve found my brother to be an exceptional rancher and businessman, and you’re his equal.”
“Thank you, but please don’t change the subject. We’re talking about you, Judith. I want to marry you.” Luke started to pull her closer, but she resisted, dropping her hand.
“I have little experience with children, Luke. I’m afraid I have no motherly instincts. I’d be a terrible mother.” Judith took another step away, but he captured her hands again.
“The good Lord didn’t give us a book of instructions, sweetheart.” At his endearment, she winced but let him draw her near. “Just look at my sisters. They’re as different in temperament as women could be. I’ve mentioned my mother. She started out with a son and didn’t have another child until years later, when Maude was born. Placid Doris came along next, and I’ll bet my mother imagined she’d figured it all out.”
“And then Frances was born,” Judith said with a dark chuckle.
“Exactly. I was here when Florence was born. Marshall would never admit it now, but he was scared to death. He didn’t know what he was doing either, and he mentioned to me more than once how much he worried about turning into a father like yours.”
“He could never be like Father,” Judith said with disgust. “But if I were to marry you, you’d miss out on an opportunity to find a woman worthy of you.”
“Now that’s it, Judith Breckinridge,” Luke said, his muscles quivering with a desire to punish the pe
ople who’d beaten her down. “I will not stand back anymore and listen to you disparage yourself.” He leaned in until they were almost nose-to-nose. “You are an incredible woman, and I love you.”
“Um, Miss Breckinridge, are you all right?” a man asked from the side.
Luke turned to scowl at James Harkins, the owner of the local newspaper.
“Do you mind, Jim?” Luke growled. “I’m trying to get this woman to say she’ll marry me, but she’s being pigheaded.”
“Well, you shouldn’t try to force her,” Mayor Phelps said, coming with his wife to stand next to Harkins.
“He’s right, Mr. Hamblin,” Mrs. Phelps said, and gently pulled Judith away. “Are you all right, dear?”
His heart aching, Luke watched Judith move away from him. It was almost as though she’d put a wall between them. The people were right. What if he’d been pushing all this time, but she didn’t return his affection to the same degree?
Accepting defeat, he took a step back. If Judith really didn’t want him, he wouldn’t push her. That was something her father would have done.
“Where do you want me to hang these pictures, Miss Breckinridge?” His words came out as stiff as his posture.
With pale cheeks, Judith glanced at the others and indicated a wall that still had some room on it. Luke turned around without a glance back and strode over there. As he hammered a nail into the wall, he wondered when she’d decided they wouldn’t suit. Not that it mattered. He’d never force a woman to do anything she didn’t want to, especially marry him.
When Luke had finished and made sure the watercolors were even, he went in search of other work to do. With so many of his men participating, he couldn’t leave.
More people had arrived and were setting up their displays on the tables. It was a good thing the Reverend had suggested they cut out wooden rounds that could be set on the old logs they’d used for seating in the church before they’d purchased pews last fall. It appeared the ladies of the improvement society had gathered tablecloths to spread over them. It looked quite nice. Nowhere in the room could he find Judith.
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