Frank whirled around to see the preacher sitting in the front pew. “Where did you come from?”
“I saw you come in,” Clay said. He’d had a restless night thinking about Emma and Henri, so he decided to walk to the restaurant for an early breakfast. He was just returning home when he saw Frank entering the church. When he quietly slipped inside, Frank was standing at the back door.
“I just came in to see if the place still looked the same,” Frank said.
“Does it?”
Frank looked around the room with a smirk on his face. “I reckon it does. It never looked like much.” He turned to stare at Clay. “Why did you come to Whispering Pines?”
“They needed a preacher.”
“You don’t look like the typical preacher,” Frank said.
“Really?” Clay had heard that statement so many times, he wasn’t surprised.
“Nope, most preachers are older. You look more like a gunslinger.”
“Sorry to disappoint you,” Clay said.
Frank laughed. “It don’t mean anything to me one way or the other.”
“Do you want to renew your faith, Frank? You know it’s never too late to repent.”
“Me? I got nothing to repent.” Frank walked to the pew where Clay was sitting, leaned over until he was mere inches from his face. “I came to tell you to stay away from Leigh. She said you were going to take her to Denver. I wouldn’t recommend that.”
Clay couldn’t believe Mrs. King told Frank such a blatant lie. “What I do or don’t do is none of your business.”
“That’s where you are wrong.” Frank straightened and intentionally rested his hand on the butt of his pistol. “You wouldn’t want Whispering Pines to have to find another new preacher, would you?”
Clay stood and used the difference in height to force Frank to look up at him. “Frank, you don’t scare me.”
“No? Maybe I should. Don’t forget what I said, Preacher.” He turned, strolled down the aisle, and out the door.
Clay didn’t know if Frank had intended to waylay him that morning, but he knew he was up to no good. He wondered why Leigh told Frank he was going to take her to Denver. Of course, it was possible Frank wasn’t telling the truth. As soon as Frank left town, Clay planned to talk to Leigh and find out what was going on.
* * *
While Clay waited for Frank to leave town, he stopped in to see the sheriff and tell him about his meeting with Frank.
“You better watch your back. He may be planning on waylaying you,” Jack said.
“Mrs. King told him I was going to take her to Denver.”
Jack arched his brow. “Are you?”
“She asked me to take her, but I told her it wasn’t a good idea.” Clay was almost tempted to take her just to show Frank his threats wouldn’t keep him from helping Mrs. King if she needed help.
“Clay, you need to stay away from that woman,” Jack said.
“Jack, I really think she’s in trouble,” Clay said.
“It’s trouble of her own making, and she’s going to draw you into her dangerous schemes.” Jack didn’t trust Mrs. King, and he didn’t want Clay to be taken in by a pretty face with a sob story. “She’s going to go to jail for her part in that robbery just as soon as the judge gets back to Denver. Frank’s gang already told the part she played. Don’t forget that. It’s possible the marshal would want her to testify against Frank along with his gang.”
“Isn’t it possible Frank’s gang are saying whatever they can to save their own hides?” Clay said.
Jack could tell that Clay didn’t want to think the worst of Mrs. King. “It’s possible. But don’t you think it would be quite a coincidence for Frank and his wife to be in front of that bank at the exact moment Mrs. King walked out?”
Clay silently debated Jack’s question. Morgan had said the exact same thing to him, but still he hesitated to pass judgment. “It’s possible it was accidental.”
Jack shrugged. He figured Clay would come to the logical conclusion once he had time to think it through. “If Frank’s smart, he’ll keep Leigh far from Denver. But I can guarantee you when Judge Stevens hears his girlfriend helped Frank in that robbery and she’s been holed up with him all this time, things are going to get mighty interesting.”
* * *
Later when Clay walked into the restaurant to have lunch, he saw Emma seated at a table with Henri. They were so engrossed in their conversation, they didn’t even notice him. Throughout his lunch, he couldn’t help glancing at their table. He never thought he was a jealous man, but he did feel some envy. He wanted to be the one laughing and smiling with Emma instead of Henri. He wanted to be the one planning a future with her. If Henri and Emma had found happiness together, he told himself if he were a better man, he would be happy for them. At the moment, he wasn’t certain he’d reached that selfless pinnacle.
While Clay had been at Morgan’s ranch, he hadn’t had the opportunity to spend one moment alone with Emma. Henri dominated her time, and Clay was frustrated since he’d allowed it to happen. All he’d thought about for two days was Emma, and whether or not she was going to marry Henri.
By the time he finished his lunch, Emma and Henri were still talking. Frustrated, he decided to go home.
Leigh was walking down the staircase when she saw Clay leaving the restaurant. She glanced around to see if Frank was lurking about before she called out to the pastor.
Recognizing Leigh’s voice, Clay turned to see her beckoning him to an area under the staircase. “What is it?”
“Shh,” she whispered when he approached. She took his hand and led him to the back of the alcove, out of sight of anyone walking into the hotel. “I need to see you.”
Even though Clay thought there was a desperation in her tone, he remembered Jack’s warning. “What do you need?”
Tears filled Leigh’s eyes. “I have no one else to help me.”
No matter how much he told himself to remember Jack and Morgan thought she was a criminal, Clay’s tender heart won the battle over reason. The young woman obviously needed his help. “What do you need?”
“I can’t talk now. I’m not certain Frank has left town, and I don’t want him to see me talking to you. I will come to see you.” She didn’t give him time to respond. She hurried from the alcove and walked directly to the restaurant.
If Frank was about, Clay didn’t want to cause Leigh problems, so he waited a few moments before he left the alcove. At the same moment, Emma and Henri were walking from the restaurant.
“Hello, Clay,” Emma said. She’d seen Clay leave the restaurant, and she wondered why he hadn’t stopped to speak. She passed Leigh as she was walking from the restaurant, so she assumed Clay had been talking with her. After Clay revealed the reason he’d seemed interested in Leigh, Emma wondered if he might be developing a romantic interest in her. Leigh reminded him of the woman he still loved, and it made sense he could be vulnerable to her for that reason alone. In some ways, Emma wished she had romantic feelings for Henri. Henri was in love with her, and though his proposal was flattering, her heart was elsewhere. Even though she knew she may never receive another offer of marriage, she had to reject Henri’s offer.
Clay removed his hat and said, “Emma.”
“Did you enjoy your lunch?” What she wanted to ask was what he was doing with Leigh.
“Yes.” Clay glanced at Henri, who was not smiling, nor was he as congenial as he was at dinner the other night. “Henri, Emma should bring you to church on Sunday. We’d love to have you as a guest.”
“I may be back in Denver,” Henri said.
Clay didn’t know how to respond. He couldn’t say he was sorry Henri was leaving Whispering Pines, but he wondered if Emma was going with him. He glanced Emma’s way. “Are you giving another performance?”
“No. We only plan one more performance before Christmas.”
Clay thought about asking if she was going to Denver with Henri, but he didn’t want to sound l
ike a jilted suitor.
Emma took a step toward the door, saying, “I must be on my way. I told my family I would be back in time to work on Christmas presents.”
Henri took Emma’s hand in his, giving her his usual kiss. “My dear, until tomorrow.” Henri said good-bye to Clay and walked up the staircase.
Seeing an opportunity to spend a few moments with Emma, he accompanied her outside. “Did you come to town alone?”
“Morgan’s foreman is waiting for me now at the mercantile.” Clay kept pace with her as she turned toward the mercantile.
“Why is Henri going back to Denver?”
“I’m afraid he is disappointed with me,” Emma said. Clay couldn’t imagine anyone being disappointed with her. “Why would you say that?”
“I told him I’m not ready to marry,” Emma said. Clay wondered if she meant she wasn’t ready to marry, or she wasn’t ready to marry Henri. There was no time like the present to ask. “Are you not ready to marry, or is it the man asking for your hand?”
Emma stopped and turned to look at him. “Does it matter?”
They stared at each other, and Clay knew now was the moment for him to say what he wanted. “Yes, it matters.”
Emma didn’t know what to say to him. She couldn’t exactly tell him she’d fallen in love with him, and no other man would do. “Why does it matter?”
Clay took her hand and pulled her to the side of the hotel, out of sight of prying eyes.
Surprised by the unexpected move, Emma said, “What are you doing?”
“Emma, answer my question,” he said softly.
“Why?” She wasn’t prepared to profess her feelings to a man still caught up in the web of his past.
“Emma . . .” Clay hesitated, but he told himself not to think about the past. “Emma . . .” He couldn’t find the words, so he took her face in his hands, lowered his head, and kissed her tenderly. When he pulled back, he gazed into her eyes, and he knew this was the right moment to ask what he wanted to know. “Could I be the right man?”
Emma’s heart was pounding as she searched his eyes. “What are you asking?”
“I love you, Emma. I think I fell in love the first time I saw you, but I didn’t think I was ready to move on.” He had finally confessed the truth. When he first saw her in that hotel lobby in Denver, he remembered thinking he’d never seen such an impressive woman.
“Truly?” Emma said softly.
“Yes. I love you, and I want you to marry me.” It was a relief when he shared what was in his heart. His past was just that—past. He wanted Emma to be his future. “Would you marry me?”
Emma wrapped her arms around his neck. “Yes, I will marry you.”
“Do you love me, Emma?” He wanted to hear those words from her.
“Yes, I love you.”
“Do you want to continue singing on tour?” Clay didn’t know how he would handle it if she did, but he’d find a way.
“No, the only singing I want to do is in your church,” Emma whispered in his ear.
Clay hugged her tightly. “I love you, Emma.”
Aware they might call attention to themselves, they reluctantly pulled apart.
“I do want a ranch though, and a family,” Emma said. Clay felt a happiness he hadn’t known in a long time. He couldn’t wait to begin his life with her. “I want the same things. I’d like to marry soon, or would you prefer a long engagement?”
“Let’s get married right away.” Emma knew what she wanted, and she wanted this man. There was no sense being coy about it.
“Good. What do you think about the Sunday before Christmas? We will have our normal church services, and then we can have our marriage ceremony afterward.”
Emma’s eyes filled with tears, and Clay noticed. “What’s this? We can do something different if you prefer.”
Emma wiped her tears away. “No, it all sounds perfect to me. I’m just so happy.”
“I’ll do my best to always make you happy.” He’d had one happy marriage, and he was confident he would have another one with Emma. He kissed her again before he took her by the hand and led her back to the sidewalk. He kept his arm firmly planted around her waist as they walked. He didn’t care who saw them. He was with the woman he loved and he wanted everyone to know.
Emma was anxious for her family to know about their plans. “Will you come to dinner tonight?”
“Yes. We’ll tell your family during dinner.” Clay wanted to properly ask for her hand and to give her his mother’s diamond ring. His mother was alive when he’d married Violet, so he had bought Violet a ring.
“I don’t know if I can keep the news to myself until then,” she admitted.
He remembered Henri said he would see Emma tomorrow. “Why are you seeing Henri tomorrow?” He hoped he didn’t sound jealous, but he was.
“He invited me to dinner tomorrow night,” Emma said. Thinking she might not like it if he were having dinner with Leigh King alone, she added, “You can join us, and we can tell him together about our plans.”
Clay appreciated that she wanted to include him. “I like that idea.”
They said good-bye at the mercantile, and Clay walked back to the church. He’d just opened the door when a young boy approached him and handed him a piece of paper. “Pastor Hunt, I was told to give this to you.”
“Clay, please meet me one mile east of town at the turnoff to Denver at four o’clock. Leigh.”
Clay was going to be headed in that direction to go to the ranch for dinner, so he decided he would leave a little early to find out what Leigh wanted.
Chapter Twenty-One
Rose noticed Emma seemed to be in fine spirits after she returned from her lunch with Henri in Whispering Pines. Knowing Emma hadn’t looked forward to rejecting the prince’s proposal, Rose expected her to be upset. “You’ve done nothing but hum all afternoon. Did you and Henri have a nice lunch?”
“Yes, very nice. He tried to change my mind about marrying, but he was very decent about my refusal.” Emma was deliriously happy, and it was difficult for her not to tell Rose about Clay’s proposal. She could hardly believe she had received two marriage proposals in one day.
“Henri is a nice man, and I’m sure he will make someone a fine husband,” Rose said.
“Yes, he will.” Emma hadn’t yet told Rose she’d invited Clay to dinner. She was afraid if she even said Clay’s name, she wouldn’t be able to keep her secret. “I saw Clay in town and I invited him to dinner.”
“Oh?” Rose was surprised that Emma invited Clay. The last time Clay joined them for dinner, Emma had very little to say to him. Of course, Henri had surprised everyone when he’d asked for Emma’s hand.
“Do you mind?” Emma asked.
“Of course not. I like Clay very much. We all do.” Rose eyed her sister. There was something she wasn’t saying, but she wasn’t going to pry.
“I think I will walk over to Addie’s and leave a note on her door that they should come to dinner tonight.” Emma wanted her whole family at the ranch when she and Clay told them their news.
“Perfect.” Rose was certain something was going on, something important enough that Emma wanted the whole family to be at the dinner table tonight. “It will be a nice night with everyone here. It will make Granny’s evening. There’s nothing that makes her happier than to have all those she loves together.”
“She does love Clay, doesn’t she?” Emma asked.
“Just as much as she loves Morgan and Jack.” Rose smiled. Her sister wasn’t very good at keeping a secret.
* * *
Jack reined to a sliding halt in front of Morgan’s house. He’d been holding the reins of the horse pulling the buggy for miles. When he jumped from his horse, he saw Morgan walking from the stable and called out. “Morgan, I need your help!”
Morgan heard the urgent tone in Jack’s voice and ran to him. “What is it?”
“Clay’s been shot, and Mrs. King is in a bad way.” Jack was already help
ing Clay from the buggy.
“What happened?” Morgan asked, taking Clay from Jack’s arms so he could lift Mrs. King from the buggy.
“I’m fine, Morgan. I can walk,” Clay said, but his voice sounded weak. Morgan supported most of Clay’s weight onto the porch, opened the door and yelled for Granny.
Jack held Leigh in his arms and ran to the porch. “I was riding home and I heard a shot ahead of me. I found Clay and Mrs. King on the side of the road. Mrs. King was inside the buggy and Clay was on the ground. I think Mrs. King was strangled.”
Granny, Emma, and Rose came running from the kitchen when they heard the commotion in the front room.
“What is it?” Granny asked.
Emma saw the blood on Clay’s jacket and ran to him. “Clay! What happened?”
Granny said, “Get them upstairs.” She asked Rose and Emma to boil some water and prepare some bandages.
Emma didn’t even hear Granny speak; she ran up the stairs behind Morgan and instructed him to put Clay in her room. After Morgan lowered Clay onto the bed, Emma helped remove his coat. She could tell by the blood on his shirt that he’d been hit in the shoulder. Morgan tore Clay’s shirt off and Granny shooed them out of the way so she could get a good look at his wound.
“Emma, don’t look so worried. I’m okay,” Clay said.
Emma clasped his hand. “Thank goodness.”
Clay smiled at her. He was in pain but he didn’t want her to fret. “Don’t worry. You’re going to be stuck with me.”
Emma couldn’t stop her tears from flowing. “I want to be stuck with you.”
Granny looked at Morgan and winked. “Told you.”
“You were right from the start, Granny. Emma was the one for me,” Clay said. “Now get me on the mend so I can marry your granddaughter.”
Granny fought back her own tears as she peered at Clay’s shoulder. “I guess this means you found a way to keep my granddaughter in Whispering Pines?”
“Yes. My last performance will be in Denver before Christmas.” Emma glanced at Clay, and asked, “Do you want to tell them now?”
Christmas in Whispering Pines Page 20