“Undeniably,” Lauryn agreed.
Lauryn watched then, amused to see her grandmother look over to Brant and start visually investigating him.
“My! He is a handsome one,” Nana exclaimed quietly.
“Hush, Nana! He’ll hear you.” Lauryn was delightfully astonished at her grandmother’s brazen appraisal of Brant.
“Well…he is, June bug. Look at the size of him! Broadest shoulders I ever did see on a man.” Nana smiled adding, “And since he’s fast a sleep…I can size him up all I want to.”
“He makes me nervous,” Lauryn whispered.
“Darlin’, I suspect he makes every woman nervous.”
“No, Nana,” Lauryn stammered. “I mean…he makes me uncomfortably nervous.”
“That’s cause he’s a man, pumpkin. You’re used to boys. Men are different. And this one….” Nana paused touching Brant’s shoulder lightly. “This one is unique.” Then an impish twinkle flickered in the old woman’s eyes. “And to think…he’s already kissed you!”
Instantly, Lauryn’s face went crimson. “Nana! He’s…he’s a complete stranger.”
“Many a great story starts with a handsome stranger, my darlin’.”
Brant Masterson struggled to regulate his breathing so he appeared to be completely asleep. The women’s light, complimentary discussion was the most soothing, interesting event he’d experienced in months. It was hard for him not to smile at the discomfort of his new acquaintance, Miss Lauryn Kensington. Somehow he delighted in the knowledge that he unnerved her. And, she had given him hope. Hope that perhaps not all was lost to him when his sight had been taken. She obviously knew a great deal more than he did about Lauralynn and Brandon Masterson. Briefly, he thought of the feel of her body in his arms when he had embraced her and the soft innocence of her lips when he’d kissed her—the comfort it had unknowingly given him. Yes. Maybe this girl, this bloodline of Laura, could help him find his lost lady.
Chapter Three
Lauryn awoke with a start when the conductor announced the train was nearing Franklin. She didn’t even remember dropping off to sleep. Her attention immediately went to Brant who remained seated directly before her, his bandaged eyes seeming to be looking directly at her. It was odd, the way she could feel him staring at her when she knew he could not.
“At last,” Nana sighed, sleepily. “My sitter is completely numb from sittin’ so long.”
“Hush, Nana. For Pete’s sake.” Lauryn scolded in a whisper, noting the amused grin that spread across the handsome face of their companion.
Nana chuckled delightedly as the train began to slow. Turning to Brant she asked, “Well, my boy…are you ready for the adventure awaitin’ on you at Connemara House?”
“Yes, ma’am,” he answered. “And I do apologize beforehand for being such a burden to you.”
It was a difficult apology for him to make, Lauryn knew. Humility wasn’t the easiest virtue for the man to express, from what she’d gathered of him so far.
“We’ll have none of that, Brant,” Nana told him. “You know we’re completely delighted to have you with us.” She patted his knee reassuringly and rose as the train halted before the Franklin station.
Lauryn stood as well, stretching slightly to ease the stiffness in her back. But as Brant stood, the train gave one final lurch and Brant lost his balance falling forward and knocking Lauryn back into her seat. As he caught himself awkwardly with the armrests at either side of her, his forehead met with her own in a painful collision, and she heard him swear under his breath. He righted himself almost immediately, and Lauryn knew by the tight expression on his mouth that his temper was barely restrained.
“I’m sorry,” she heard herself apologize unnecessarily.
He shook his head assuring her that her apology was, indeed, unnecessary before he held a hand toward her, a gesture indicating he would help her to her feet. Tentatively she accepted his offer and he did pull her securely to a standing position once more. Again, his touch was unsettling. Lauryn was thankful she had put her gloves on so he could not feel the nervous heat of her hand.
“I’ll get the porter,” Nana informed them, looking around for assistance. “You get Brant off the train and into the waitin’ arms of our family.”
Lauryn was horrified at her grandmother’s suggestion. Surely Nana did not intend to leave her alone with Brant. She opened her mouth to argue but paused, looking to the injured man and realizing that it would only serve to further upset him if there were any indication she was uncomfortable with him. For, no doubt, he would incorrectly attribute her discomfort to his blindness and not the fact that he was simply an intimidating presence.
So, inhaling deeply a breath of courage, Lauryn reached out and took his hand saying, “This way, Mr. Masterson. If you please.”
Brant drew a long breath as well, attempting to gain calming humility, and stepped forward. Once he stood behind her in the isle of the passenger car however, Lauryn was startled at the goose bumps that broke over her when his hand released her own, traveled rather caressively up her arm and across her back finally resting at her shoulder. It would, indeed, be easier for her to lead him thus, but his touch was startling to her senses.
“Lead on, Florence,” he mumbled.
“Nana told you…none of that, Mr. Masterson,” Lauryn reminded him. Such sarcasm was going to be thick during the week to come. She had no doubt about it.
“Won’t your family be surprised to see me escorting you off the train,” he added in obvious disregard for her reprimand.
“Yes,” she agreed, not taking his pity-bait. “We’ve always wondered about the Captain’s family. They’ll be ecstatic to have you here.”
“Ecstatic?” he mocked.
“Ecstatic,” Lauryn assured him. “Especially Patrick.”
A thought struck her then. She paused, turning to look at him, reflexively taking his hand in hers when he was forced to drop it from her shoulder. “I may as well warn you…Patrick, my little brother, will be quite tactless in his questionin’ you…especially about your service abroad.”
“How old is he?” came his unexpectedly interested response.
“Nine,” Lauryn answered.
“Don’t worry. I was nine once myself, believe it or not. He can ask me anything…I won’t take offense. I completely understand.”
Lauryn was amazed by the sudden calmness about the man. It was certainly obvious that he didn’t know Patrick! Patrick Kensington could exasperate even the most patient of saints. But she was encouraged and in admiring awe that Brant would be so understanding of a young boy’s mind.
Lauryn directed Brant’s hand to her shoulder once more as she turned and again began leading him out of the train. As she led him down the stairs from the train car, it was indeed Patrick that met her first.
“Lauryn!” the young boy greeted throwing his arms around his sister’s waist and hugging her brutally as she helped Brant down from the last step. “You’re home! Finally! Finally! Finally!”
Lauryn couldn’t help but smile as she looked down at the tousled blonde hair of her baby brother.
“Sean is such an old grouch now that the baby is here!” he rattled on. “He doesn’t want to play with anythin’ but that danged baby!” Patrick ceased in his prattle suddenly and looked past Lauryn to Brant.
His brown eyes widened with rude curiosity. “Hey, Lauryn…” he began. And even though Lauryn frowned at him and shook her head violently to indicate that he should not speak anything further, he did. “Y’all brought home a blind man with you?”
“Patrick!” Lauryn scolded immediately. But she was startled when she heard a low chuckle coming from Brant as he stood behind her.
“Are you surprised, boy?” Brant asked, smiling, “That your sister should come home dragging me along?”
Patrick answered honestly, “Oh, no, sir. It’s just like her. She’s strange you know.”
“Patrick!” Lauryn scolded in a firm whisper.
Lauryn felt her face go crimson with embarrassment. “Patrick…where’s Mama?” she demanded. She must escape her little brother before he heaped more humiliation upon her. But no sooner was the thought in the front of Lauryn’s mind than it was proven.
“So, are you and Lauryn gonna have a baby, Mr.?” Patrick asked.
“Patrick!” Lauryn fairly screamed. Instantly, Brant was laughing so hard he doubled over, his hands on his knees as he attempted to catch his breath.
“Well?” Patrick said, shrugging. “You must’ve married him, Lauryn. Why else would you come draggin’ him home like this?”
“Patrick! Shut up and go find Mama!” Lauryn told him through clinched teeth.
“All right, Lauryn. All right.” Patrick whined. “You don’t have to go getting’ your bloomers in a ruffle. And I’m tellin’ Mama that you told me to shut up!”
“Patrick,” Lauryn growled, stomping her foot on the ground.
“All right, I’m goin’. I’m goin.” And she watched, her eyes filled with tears of humiliation as her little brother ran off to seek out their mother.
Brant was standing again and sighed heavily after one final chuckle. “That was the best laugh I’ve had in months,” he sighed.
“Well, I’m glad he amuses you,” Lauryn snapped wiping at the tears on her cheeks.
“Ah, let it go, Miss Kensington. He’s just a boy,” Brant suggested.
“Yes. And y’all stick together tighter than teeth,” she grumbled.
Lauryn had half a mind to leave him standing there with no assistance. That would teach him to find amusement at her discomfort. But he was smiling broader than she’d seen him smile all day and it warmed her heart. Patrick, in his tactless, improper, boyish way, had brightened the heart of the tortured man. How could she begrudge either one of them that?
“You’ve got a sharp little tongue in your mouth when you need it, don’t you, Miss Kensington?” Brant asked, grinning with amusement.
“If I need it,” Lauryn assured him.
Goodness, he was handsome! More than handsome. Attractive! Attractive like a magnet attracts ore. And she couldn’t look at him any longer for her discomfort at her own unsettled senses was too strong.
“Gracious!” Lauryn’s grandmother exclaimed breathlessly as an older man helped her down from the train. “If this trip hasn’t just taken all the sassafras out of me.”
“Patrick has run off to find Mama,” Lauryn stated.
“Has he now?” Nana asked with a knowing smile. “And just what has that little dickens done to put that tight set to your mouth already, Lauryn?”
“Nothin’ to be goin’ on about,” Lauryn answered, inhaling a deep breath in an effort to calm herself.
Lauryn looked from her Nana to see her mother, Georgia Kensington, approaching. Actually, it was Patrick barreling toward them yanking mercilessly on his mother’s arm to hurry her along.
“See, Mama!” Patrick exclaimed excitedly. “I told you she brung a blind man home. She ain’t gonna have a baby, though.”
“She isn’t goin’ to have a baby,” Lauryn’s mother corrected seemingly completely unaffected by the fact that her young son had posed such a question to her daughter and a strange man. “Ain’t isn’t a word, sweet patata.”
Lauryn’s mother greeted her with a warm and rather needful hug. Then kissing her lovingly on the cheek she wiped the tears from her own face before looking up into the bandaged face of Brant Masterson.
“Oh, Lauryn!” her mother began. “I’ve missed you so it has nearly broken my heart. And who is this fine young man with you on his arm?
Lauryn inhaled deeply to try and calm her embarrassment and impatience with her family’s assumptions. It was apparent that her mother, too, thought she had surprised them with a nameless lover.
“For cryin’ in the bucket!” Nana exclaimed through her laughter. “Do y’all know who this man is?” she asked.
“Yeah, I do,” Patrick answered. “It’s a blind man that Lauryn’s draggin’ home.”
“Patrick. For Pete’s sake!” Lauryn’s mother, exclaimed quietly.
“This dear man before y’all is…Brant Masterson,” Nana announced.
“What?” Georgia gasped.
“Who?” Patrick asked.
Nana shook her head, delighted with the boy. “Brant Masterson. He’s grand-nephew to our own Captain Masterson.”
“And y’all just picked him up somewhere and brung him home?” Patrick asked walking around Brant and looking him up and down.
“Mother!” Lauryn exclaimed. “Would you please settle him down?”
Brant chuckled, however, and slightly squeezed Lauryn’s shoulder encouragingly where his hand still rested for direction.
“You’re one big boy, Mister,” Patrick noted, whistling afterward for effect. “You a soldier?”
“Yes, sir,” Brant answered. “And I figure you and I will have plenty of time to talk. You can ask me all the questions you want.”
“Really?” Patrick squealed. “Did you hear that, Mama?”
“I heard it, Patrick,” Georgia sighed. “Now, you settle down. I want to hear how this all came to be.”
“Your daughter here has just got bad luck, Mrs. Kensington,” Brant answered.
Georgia reached out and took Brant’s hand in greeting. “Well, may I say that it is a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Masterson.”
“Brant’s goin’ to stay on at Connemara for a week or so,” Nana explained, “’Til his family can get down from Vermont to get him home.”
Immediately Brant began to apologize. “I…I’m really sorry for the inconvenience, Mrs. Kensington. I was against it but Mrs. Kensington here is a very persistent woman.”
Georgia giggled. “Oh, don’t I know it, Mr. Masterson. And to save confusion…you call me, Georgia. All righty?”
“Yes, Ma’am,” Brant agreed.
“Besides,” Georgia continued. “We wouldn’t have it any other way! Lauryn’s mother looked from one of the travelers to the other, each in turn. “Y’all look completely tuckered out. I think it’s time we got on home.”
Lauryn felt her mood brighten a bit at the thought of home. And yet, it was only her mother and Patrick who were there waiting for them at the station. Her father…her father would never meet her again. Not in this life, anyway. But Connemara House waited. There was comfort in that. And the Captain. Lauryn could not wait to tell the Captain everything that had transpired that day. She smiled thinking how ironic it was to be gone for nearly a year and all that she wanted to tell the Captain of her adventure was of the events of the past few hours.
“So,” Patrick began, hardly letting Brant sit himself completely down in the seat of the auto before beginning to pop out questions. “You got hurt in the war, huh?”
“I did,” Brant answered simply.
“Patrick,” Lauryn’s mother warned gently from the driver’s seat of the auto. “Everyone is very tired. I’m sure that Mr. Masterson would like a few moments of peace before you start in pickin’ his brain.”
“Yes, Ma’am,” Patrick mumbled obediently, if not resentfully. The disappointed boy slunk down in his seat.
“And besides,” Georgia continued. “I have my own questions.”
Brant smiled as he settled in his seat next to Patrick. So did Lauryn and her grandmother. Lauryn was beginning to think that maybe a family, even one other than his own, would do this man, so injured in body and soul, a bit more good than she expected. And maybe a man, stranger though he may be, would do her family who had suffered such a great loss in their father’s death, the same good. Lauryn realized, that had the appearance of Brant not caused such interest, had he not arrived with her and her grandmother…the scene at the station would’ve been quite different. Most likely wrought with tears and sadness.
“How did y’all meet? Lands sakes! I mean it’s amazin’!” Georgia began.
/> “On the train. Just today,” Nana answered. “It was no accident, I’m certain. I’ve no doubt that somebody intended it.”
“Mr. Masterson,” Georgia began another question.
“Brant, Ma’am,” Brant corrected her.
Georgia smiled. “Brant.” Then she began again. “Where were you bound? Were you as astonished as I am now to find out who these two ladies were?”
“Yes, Ma'am,” Brant answered. “I was heading for Memphis to meet my brother…and then these two angels of mercy came into the wounded car. And we just sort of….bumped into each other.”
Lauryn felt she was in a dream. As she sat, so completely fatigued, listening to Brant and her mother converse, she could not quite believe she was in a realm of reality. It seemed too strange…to simply meet Brant on a train as she had and have him here, in their auto on the way to Connemara.
Patrick wriggled, miserably confined in the back seat. Lauryn put her arm around his shoulders and whispered, “Don’t you worry, Patrick. Mr. Masterson will have plenty of time this week for you.” Patrick sighed heavily and squeezed Lauryn’s hand.
“I’m awful glad you’re home, Lauryn,” he whispered in return. “And I’m glad you brung a blind soldier with you, too.”
Lauryn smiled. Yes, she was home. As they drove along the streets of Franklin, she breathed in the familiar air, gazed at the familiar buildings in town and felt whole once again. There was something about home that was comforting, secure, loved.
“So you’re stayin’ with us for only a week?” Lauryn’s attention was drawn back to the conversation by her mother’s disappointed exclamation. “That’s hardly long enough to have sit-down supper.” Georgia’s disappointment was obvious. “And besides, between Sean and Patrick…won’t any of us women have one minute of your leftover attention.”
“Sean, Ma’am?” Brant asked.
“Sean. Lauryn’s older brother,” Georgia explained. “He and his wife Mindy, and my adorable grand-baby, live a few doors down from Connemara House. He’s been home near to a year. Got the flu overseas and made it through, thank Heaven.”
The Fragrance of Her Name Page 6