The Bride's Matchmaking Triplets

by Regina Scott

  “What?” Brandon could not have heard her correctly. Elizabeth? Disreputable?

  “I heard she has visitors at the boardinghouse at all hours,” Mrs. Crenshaw told him, wide-eyed as if shocked by such behavior.

  “Visitors for the triplets,” Brandon protested. “You ladies among them.”

  “She was discharged from her last post,” Mrs. Hickey maintained, glancing around at the other women as if in support. Two nodded; two positively squirmed in discomfort.

  “Because the children no longer required a governess,” Brandon told them all. “Not from any fault of hers.”

  “Mr. David McKay refused to marry her,” Mrs. Arundel informed him.

  “Because he was in love with Caroline Murray,” Brandon reminded them.

  “And she refused to marry Clyde Parker,” Mrs. Hickey said, crossing her arms over her skinny chest. “After I expressly introduced them.”

  “Would you marry Clyde Parker?” Brandon demanded.

  They all blushed.

  “That is neither here nor there,” Mrs. Arundel said, affixing him with her sternest look. “There are sufficient stories about Miss Dumont that I in good conscience could not recommend her. I believe the best thing for Little Horn would be to put those babies in the orphanage and send her on her way, as soon as possible.”

  Chapter Nine

  By Friday, it was clear to Elizabeth that something must be done for Annie. The girl still refused to speak to her mother, even though her brothers had driven into town to plead with her, going so far as to bring her another dress and her night things.

  “Ma’s real sorry,” her brother Peter said. Like his mother, the twenty-year-old had short blond hair and a mulish cast to his face. “She wants you to come home.”

  “We all do,” her brother Randal confirmed with a nod of his head, blinking pale blue eyes.

  Her youngest brother, Pauly, hitched up his worn jeans. “Can’t you just forget about those Colemans?”

  “No,” Annie told them, face hardening until she also reminded Elizabeth of her mother. “I may not be able to marry Jamie, but I’m not going to pretend he and his family are evil. If Ma wants to apologize, she can show me she’s willing to forgive Mr. Coleman. And so can you.”

  Shoulders slumped, her brothers had nodded agreement and left.

  Worse was her interaction with Jamie. Annie and Elizabeth had taken to wheeling the triplets out for a walk every afternoon, and they’d come across Jamie each time so far. He always doffed his hat, gazed at Annie as if she were a longed-for Christmas present and murmured his best wishes. Annie would nod and walk past him as if he were no more than an unnamed acquaintance. The pain in the young man’s eyes cut Elizabeth to the quick. Why did their parents have to be so hardheaded?

  Of course, Annie was equally so, but Elizabeth didn’t feel as if she could argue with the girl. After all, Elizabeth had been nearly as determined when she and Brandon had parted four years ago. At least Brandon had left the area, so she wasn’t reminded of the pain every time she saw him. With Jamie and Annie both living in Little Horn, the hurt would only go deeper.

  She was so concerned about the situation that she didn’t notice until Saturday that her visitors had dwindled. Louisa stopped by for a chat when she was in town to see her family, Mrs. Tyson couldn’t resist the boys and Stella Fuller still came over to encourage Elizabeth. But Mrs. Arundel, Mrs. Crenshaw and the others of their circle did not put in an appearance. Was some civic event keeping them busy?

  Even Brandon called fewer times and stayed only long enough to play with the triplets a moment and encourage Annie to reconcile with her family. He seemed to be avoiding conversation with Elizabeth, and she missed the camaraderie that had been growing between them. If anything, he acted a bit harried, and she put it down to his involvement with renovating the children’s home on top of everything else. Given the number of things on his shoulders, she chose not to bring up the matter of her new position.

  But she couldn’t help thinking about it as she and Annie went to church that Sunday. Brandon had two more days of his promised week to find her a situation. Annie had tried to interest her in the mysterious Kit Durango, but Elizabeth couldn’t see a future with the handsome raven-haired cowboy. He certainly didn’t need a governess, and Brandon was probably right that his vagabond life made a wife just as unlikely.

  Not that she wanted a husband. Even becoming a mail-order bride had paled as an option. Perhaps it was her experience with David McKay, who had disappointed her by marrying another. Perhaps it was Clyde Parker’s ham-fisted proposal. She was beginning to think that if she ever married, it would be because she was tremendously in love.

  And that seemed highly unlikely.

  Still, she and Annie drew a great deal of attention as they walked into church with the babies. Gentlemen tipped their hats; children smiled in greeting. Mrs. Tyson hurried over to offer her help.

  “I was hoping to help too.”

  Jamie Coleman stepped up to them, and Annie paled. He was dressed in a somber black frock coat and trousers, his blond hair slicked back from his face. Elizabeth was glad Annie had agreed to borrow one of her dresses, an olive twill with black-and-white bows at the waist and a black-and-white tucker down the front. With her hair done up on top of her head and one of Elizabeth’s hats perched on top, she looked every inch the lady.

  “It’s good to see you, Annie,” Jamie said, turning his hat in his hands.

  Elizabeth and Mrs. Tyson exchanged glances, but Annie’s gaze was all for Jamie.

  “You too,” she murmured. “But it doesn’t matter. Our love was never meant to be.”

  Elizabeth started, gaze darting to the pulpit. Brandon hadn’t come out onto the altar yet, but she felt his presence nonetheless. She’d said the same thing to him, just days ago, had consoled herself with it for years. Why did she suddenly feel like rebelling against the very idea?

  “Seems to me you two should make that decision together,” Mrs. Tyson said with a gentle smile. She reached out and took Eli from Annie. “Why don’t you sit next to each other in service and think about it?”

  Elizabeth was a little surprised when Annie and Jamie meekly agreed and went to take their seats. Even Tug, a few rows up, watched them go with a nod of approval.

  “You have the wisdom of Solomon,” Elizabeth told the older woman as they moved to a pew at the back of the church.

  “At least I didn’t have to suggest cutting a baby in half,” Mrs. Tyson said with a smile to Eli in her arms. “I just wish my boys were here. They should be marrying and having babies too. As it is, I don’t know when I’ll hear from them, much less see them again.” She tugged down on Eli’s shirt. “I guess I just miss having children around. I loved being a mother.”

  Elizabeth could understand. A hole was already forming in her heart at the thought of leaving the triplets behind.

  “If your sons settle elsewhere, will you move to be near them?” she asked, putting Theo’s bootie back on his foot where he’d pulled it off. He studiously set out to remove it once more.

  “I hope it doesn’t come to that.” She smoothed her brown hair back from her round face. “Little Horn is my home. I just wish I could do more to contribute to the community. It seems so many are hurting.”

  “You have been a great help to me, Mrs. Tyson,” Elizabeth assured her. “And I see how you help Pastor Stillwater around the church.”

  She held up one hand, and Eli reached up to grab her fingers. She smiled at the baby, then glanced at Elizabeth. “Whatever I’ve done, it’s small recompense for the kindnesses shown to me. And call me Fannie, dear. I feel as if we’re kindred spirits.”

  So did Elizabeth. “Then you must call me Elizabeth. And thank you.”

  Just then Mrs. Hickey made her way to the piano, and Elizabeth and her n
ew friend stood with the others to sing the opening hymn.

  Contentment threaded its way through her as Theo rested his head against one shoulder even as Jasper in her other arm bounced himself up and down in time to the music. In Fannie’s arms, Eli seemed content to thrust his fist in his mouth and listen. All three babies were surprisingly good as the service progressed. Perhaps that was why Elizabeth had a moment to notice the looks being directed their way.

  It started with Mrs. Hickey. As she rose from her seat at the piano and started back to her husband’s side, her gaze brushed Elizabeth’s, and the woman looked away, nose in the air. Had Elizabeth sung off-key? How would Mrs. Hickey have even noticed at the front of the church?

  Elizabeth turned her head to the right and caught Mrs. Arundel scowling at her. Now what had she done? She had chosen to wear one of her nicer dresses, a narrow-skirted tan silk with black lace parting and trimming the overskirt, but she hadn’t chosen it from pride. She had only been able to bring a few of her dresses to Little Horn, and some still harked back to her days in Cambridge high society.

  She looked left instead and found two more women regarding her speculatively. They quickly buried their noses in the hymnal.

  “Have I dirt on my chin?” she whispered to Fannie.

  The older woman smiled. “No, but not even dirt could mar that pretty face.”

  As if to prove it, Theo reached up and patted her cheek.

  Behind them, sunlight speared the church as the door opened. Elizabeth couldn’t help glancing back to see who was entering late. Jo and Gil Satler stood uncertainly, hands clasped, as if afraid they’d be ordered from the building.

  Elizabeth set Jasper and Theo on the pew next to Fannie and rose to beckon to the children. Jo hesitated, but Gil tugged her forward, and Elizabeth and Fannie made room for them in the pew.

  The pair had tried to make themselves presentable. Their peaked faces had that damp clean look of a fresh scrubbing, and Gil’s cowlick had been pressed down against his forehead. Both glanced around as if waiting to be expelled. Fannie offered them a smile in welcome.

  “Would you like to help with the triplets?” Elizabeth whispered.

  Jo nodded, dropping her gaze. Fannie gave her Jasper, who grinned so widely his new teeth sparkled.

  Brandon came to the pulpit then, and everyone in the congregation quieted.

  “Have you ever wondered what it takes to please God?” he asked.

  Elizabeth drew in a breath. In truth, at times, she’d wondered what she’d done to displease Him that He’d left her life so shattered. She leaned forward to hear what Brandon had to say.

  “We read in First Samuel that God chose David to be king over Israel because he was a man after God’s own heart,” he told them. “Very likely because even though David sinned, he never lost faith in God to save him, to bring good from bad.”

  Good from bad? Was that even possible?

  Brandon leaned an elbow on the pulpit as if getting comfortable. “Now, David wasn’t your average king. Oh, he dressed in fine robes and lived in a palace, and armies marched at his command. But you know what he did? He was so eager to praise his God that he stripped down to his shirtsleeves and danced in front of the whole town.”

  An image came to her mind, Brandon without his frock coat, leaping down Main. Elizabeth smiled.

  “Can you imagine?” Brandon pressed, smiling himself. “Your leader, the man you counted on to protect the nation, skipping about like a jackrabbit in the spring. Some folks probably laughed out loud for the sheer joy of it.”

  Others around her were also smiling, as if they could picture it too.

  Brandon’s smile faded. “But some folks have a hard time seeing the good in a situation. His own wife called him a fool and accused him of showing off. That had to have hurt. Another man might have begged her pardon, tried to look more proper, put on the airs of the lord of the land.” Brandon straightened and puffed out his chest. “What did David do? He said I will do more ridiculous things than this to please my God.”

  As Elizabeth watched, fascinated, he leaned forward once more, gaze sweeping the congregation.

  “What would you be willing to do to please your God? Would you dance down Main Street? Would you see to the needs of a widow when your own ranch was struggling? Move away to become a mail-order bride to a lonely widower with a child who needed a mother? Take on the care of babies not your own even though you had no place to call home?”

  Elizabeth stared at him. Was he talking about her? His gaze met hers now, determined.

  “Some folks might call that ridiculous. A few seem to find it shameful. I call it commendable. And I am not ashamed to say that you will see me do even more ridiculous things than that if they please my God. What will you do?”

  * * *

  Brandon glanced around one last time at his congregation, letting the question hang in the air. His brother was nodding, CJ Thorn and Edmond McKay looked thoughtful and David McKay had a look on his face that told Brandon he would have a lot to do with the children’s home in the next few days.

  The ladies, however, seemed less moved. Several avoided his gaze, and Mrs. Arundel had her arms crossed over her chest. He’d let the Lord contend with them. He was only the messenger. He said what the Lord instructed, spoke from his heart and hoped he did some good.

  And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.

  He hung on to the verse as Mrs. Hickey came forward to play the closing hymn.

  Often when he came down from the pulpit he found himself surrounded before he could even make his way to the door to bid his parishioners goodbye. Today, however, people seemed to be keeping their distance so that he was nearly at Elizabeth’s side before a couple stepped in front of him. The husband was short and stocky, with a thatch of blond hair. His wife was thinner, with wispy brown hair curling around her pretty face. He recognized them as the Tinsdales who had a small farm to the south of town.

  “Inspiring sermon, Pastor,” the husband said. “Makes me wonder what more we could do to help the community.”

  Needs sprang immediately to mind—the renovations on the Crenshaw house, the repairs on the Hill and Coleman ranches. But Brandon took one look at the three children clinging to Mrs. Tinsdale’s skirts and the baby in her arms and he knew a life they could change.

  “Have you ever considered taking on a governess?” he asked. “Miss Dumont will be available soon.”

  The husband frowned, but his wife’s eyes widened.

  “A governess?” she asked. “Like to help with the children?” She turned to her husband. “Oh, Clem, could we?”

  Tinsdale’s jaw worked a moment, then he took his wife’s arm, careful not to jostle the sleeping baby. “We’ll discuss the matter and get back to you, Pastor.” He hustled his wife and children down the aisle.

  And Brandon could only hope that the seed he’d sown would bear fruit.

  In two days. That was all the time he had left to find a position for Elizabeth before she made a decision to take the offer in San Francisco. Feeling as if something pressed a fist into his back, he continued down the aisle.

  He managed to reach Elizabeth’s side just as Annie rejoined her. He’d noticed Annie and Jamie sitting together and had hoped that meant reconciliation was in the air for the young couple. But the way Annie clung to Elizabeth dimmed that hope.

  “And how are our boys today?” he asked, bending to put his face at a level with the babies’. Eli gabbled at him as if telling him all about his adventures. Theo put out a hand, begging for a hug. Jasper, however, cuddled closer to Jo Satler, thumb going to his mouth. Even though the little girl avoided Brandon’s gaze, the sight of her and her brother in church could only warm his heart.

  “Someone needs a nap
,” Mrs. Tyson said, eyeing Jasper with a fond smile. She reached out to rub his back with her free hand, then frowned.

  “I should get all three of them back to the boardinghouse,” Elizabeth said before Brandon could ask the reason for her concern. Elizabeth looked his way. “Thank you, Pastor, for that sermon. It explained a lot.”

  Had she noticed the dark looks aimed her way? He had. “I just hope it had the intended effect.”

  As if in answer, Mrs. Hickey sailed by, nose once more in the air.

  Annie frowned at her. “Maybe one of the babies needs changing.”

  “Never mind her,” Mrs. Tyson said. “Some people don’t have enough excitement in their lives, so they feel compelled to cause some in someone else’s life.”

  That was what Brandon was concerned about.

  “What matters is the triplets,” Elizabeth said, voice firm with her convictions. “If there’s someone better suited to care for them, a family who wants to adopt them, then of course I’ll step aside.”

  Brandon put a hand on her shoulder. “No one in Little Horn cares for Jasper, Theo and Eli as much as you do.”

  Except maybe the Satlers. Jo looked brokenhearted as she handed the baby to Elizabeth. Her little brother must have felt for her, for he patted her arm. Jo waved to the triplets as Elizabeth offered Brandon a smile and headed out the door with two of the babies while Annie took the third.

  “I’m sure Miss Elizabeth appreciates your help,” Brandon told the girl.

  Jo’s gaze remained on her shoes, where one big toe was poking through the cracked leather.

  “She’s nice,” Gil declared. “We like helping the babies. They’re orphans, like us.”

  “That’s right,” Brandon said with a smile. “Miss Elizabeth and I are orphans too. Us orphans should stick together.”

  Gil nodded, chin sticking out. “Come on, Jo. Let’s see what else we can do.”

  Still avoiding Brandon’s gaze, she followed her brother from the church.