When they got back to Penny and Tom’s beautiful, rambling house and brought the horses back into their stalls, they ran into Cletus.
“What are you doing here?” Dorothy wouldn’t be surprised if the old man was spying on her.
“Edna Petunia finished knitting booties for Penny and Tom’s baby, and she said she thought I needed to deliver them tonight, just in case the baby comes early!”
Dorothy thought Cletus’s excuse sounded made-up. She decided not to call him out on it, however. She had learned that the old man had his reasons for the way he acted. It had served him well in life, and she couldn’t judge him for that.
“Carter Reeves,” Carter extended a hand to Cletus. Cletus stared at him for a second, sizing him up, then shook his hand. “I remember you from our law exam. If memory serves, you were one of the highest scores in the class.”
Cletus grinned. “You’re correct—and as I recall, so were you.”
Carter nodded.
“Good to see you again, but I won’t lie to you…I’m keeping my eye on you, boy.”
Dorothy couldn’t believe Cletus would threaten Carter. He had done absolutely nothing wrong; they had only been on a walk.
“Is that so?” If anything, Carter looked amused.
“Dorothy here is one of my girls, and if anyone ever harms one of my girls—well, let’s just say, you’ll be sorry you were ever born.”
“I understand that, Mr. Sanders. I wouldn’t think of hurting Miss Sanders. She’s been nothing but an excellent secretary these past weeks.” Dorothy felt nervous, but Carter’s eyes were shining.
“It had better stay that way. But just in case, my wife and I would like to have you over to our house for dinner tomorrow evening. On account of you spending so much time with our daughter. It wouldn’t be right if we didn’t get to know you.”
“I’d be obliged. What can I bring?” Dorothy was surprised that Carter answered so quickly, and her heart began beating faster at the thought of Carter in her house.
“No need to bring anything, we have all we need. And don’t you forget that.” Cletus tipped his hat and walked away, and Dorothy tried not to laugh. It was sweet how overprotective her parents were.
“Well. That was interesting.” Carter raised his eyebrows at Dorothy, and she let out a giggle. The man had an effect on her.
“Sometimes, they forget we’re grown women. Well, most of us are. I do have a few younger sisters who aren’t adults yet.”
Carter wrinkled his nose. “Every time I think I’ve seen them all, there’s another sister.”
“Just wait until tomorrow.”
When Dorothy got home from work the next day, Edna Petunia was running around the kitchen like a mad woman. The table was set with good silverware and fine dishes left over from Cletus’s parents when they’d lived in the house. There was chicken frying on the stove, and Dorothy smelled the aroma of freshly-baked bread.
“Edna Petunia, if I didn’t know any better, I’d think you were trying to impress Mr. Reeves.”
Edna Petunia barely paid Dorothy any attention.
“Could you get the lemonade, dear?”
Theresa, Hattie, and Katie ran into the kitchen. Like Edna Petunia, they were in a state. Katie grabbed a broom from the closet and began sweeping the floor as she hummed.
“That’s what you’re wearing?” Theresa looked at Dorothy’s outfit in dismay.
“What’s wrong with this? It’s just dinner.” Dorothy tried to be calm, but nerves raced through her body. What if Carter didn’t like her family? What if Cletus scared him off? What if Edna Petunia tried to make a pass at him? Dorothy knew the old woman would be joking, the same way she teased her sisters’ suitors, but Carter wouldn’t know that. There were so many things that could go wrong.
Dorothy felt sicker and sicker as dinner time approached.
“We’ll show him that we know how to put on a proper meal,” Cletus huffed as he put on his suit jacket. “Just because we don’t live in the city doesn’t mean we’re any different from him and his kin.”
Carter arrived promptly, wearing a freshly-pressed suit and carrying a bouquet of flowers. Edna Petunia greeted him at the door and buried her face in the stems.
“Why, if I were a younger woman, Cletus might have something to be jealous over.” Edna accepted the flowers and planted a big kiss on Carter’s cheek. Dorothy shook his hand formally. She heard a few of her sisters snicker behind her.
“Penny was right—he’s dreamy!” Hope tried to whisper, but everyone in the room heard her clear as a bell.
“Shh!” Dorothy hissed.
“It’s lovely to meet you—all of you.” Carter smiled tightly. Dorothy could tell he was just as uncomfortable as she was. She showed him where he could sit, between Edna Petunia and Cletus. It wasn’t her first choice, but Edna had specifically asked that he be seated there, since she’d never met him before.
“You have a lovely home,” Carter told Edna Petunia. She grinned.
“The only thing that matters is the people in it. That’s what really makes it a home.”
“Yes, of course.”
Minnie helped serve the fried chicken, and Dorothy sliced the bread and passed it around the table.
“I hear you’ve been working day and night on an estate case in town, Mr. Reeves.” Cletus’s voice boomed loudly in Carter’s ear, startling him a bit. He swallowed a piece of bread quickly.
“Yes, that’s correct. I’ll be in Nowhere for just a few months.”
“One thing I learned when I was in law school myself…many of the people I studied with? Couldn’t trust ’em as far as I could throw ’em.” Cletus made eye contact with Carter for a long time. Dorothy couldn’t stand watching it.
“Carter’s job is to find the truth!” Now Dorothy turned beet red. She hadn’t meant to say anything, but she wanted everyone to know that Carter was a good man. Edna Petunia raised an eyebrow at Cletus.
“This chicken is excellent. Thank you!” Carter looked at Dorothy and she relaxed. She knew he was trying, and she also knew it was for her benefit. That soothed her frantic nerves.
“You’re very welcome.” Edna Petunia was always happy to receive compliments on her meals, even though she knew she was one of the best cooks in the area.
“I understand from Dorothy that you all have quite a few sisters, and brothers-in-law, and nieces, and nephews.”
“Oh, yes!” Theresa, who loved to talk, began running through the entire list of relatives, oldest to youngest, and all of their associated spouses and children. Carter smiled, catching Dorothy’s eye.
“I love that my grandbastards are nearby. Wouldn’t stand for things being any other way.” Cletus looked lovingly at Edna Petunia as she spoke. Carter seemed a bit surprised at the term ‘grandbastard’, but recovered quickly.
“It’s very nice out here. A pleasant place to spend a few months.”
“Or longer…” Edna Petunia suggested. “You never know, you might just want to settle down out here.”
“Oh, no. I could never see that happening.” Even though Dorothy knew how Carter felt about Nowhere, she hated hearing him say it out loud. Edna Petunia looked like she wanted to press the issue, but for some reason, didn’t continue. She and Cletus exchanged a worried look.
Minnie brought out the pecan pie she had prepared for the evening’s dessert. Dorothy helped her serve it, passing a piece to everyone. When she handed a plate to Carter, his fingertips brushed hers for a moment, and chills rippled through her body.
Dorothy couldn’t look at him for the rest of dinner. Her face burned so badly she was sure it would catch on fire, and she didn’t trust herself to say or do anything. She was relieved when Hattie began doing the dishes. She volunteered to help.
“Now that everyone’s finished their meal, I’d like to see you alone in my office, Mr. Reeves.” Cletus looked straight at Carter, as if he were challenging him. Edna Petunia let out a whoop, showing off her dentures.
“You be nice to our guest now, Cletus,” she chided.
“We’ll have to see about that.” Cletus wore a serious expression on his face, and Dorothy felt herself getting flustered again. She said a silent prayer that Cletus wouldn’t be too hard on him.
Carter wasn’t sure what he had gotten himself into. Dorothy’s family was large, unruly, and downright peculiar. They weren’t anything like he was used to…but at the same time, they’d made him feel welcome. Even though Cletus had been giving him a hard time, Carter could tell that it was only because the man cared for his adoptive daughters deeply. He figured that was why Cletus wanted to talk to him alone, but he also wondered what exactly the old man knew about his and Dorothy’s relationship. He had a professional reputation to uphold, and he didn’t want any untoward rumors starting about him and his hired help.
In the formal parlor, Cletus sat down in his big chair and motioned for Carter to have a seat across from him.
“Tell me now, and give it to me straight—what exactly are your intentions with our Dorothy?”
Carter was at a loss. Although words were normally his strength, he found himself speechless. “She’s an excellent employee, sir. I would hate to jeopardize that for any reason.”
“If that’s the case, Mr. Reeves, then why are you out riding horses with her—or whatever you young folks are calling it these days—at all hours of the evening?”
“It’s true, sir, that Dorothy has been showing me around Nowhere. Understanding the lay of the land around here will help me try my case.”
“Remember, son, I’ve had just as much schooling as you have. I see through your words. If your intention is to return to Austin once your case is settled, why are you leading Dorothy on?”
Carter was taken aback. He had worried before that he might be setting false expectations with Dorothy, but he also genuinely loved spending time with her. She could make him laugh, and she could take him to task. It was a rare combination in a woman. Still, he did not want to make Cletus Sanders mad. The man had quite a reputation around town for being fiercely protective of his daughters.
“I understand, sir. I’ll—I’ll keep my feelings to myself and ensure that our relationship is strictly professional.” Even as he said it, Carter knew it would be very difficult to keep his word.
“There is another way, you know.”
“Excuse me?”
“This town could use a lawyer. I’ll be running for town judge soon, and I could use a clerk. Then when I retire, you’d be able to take over. And in the meantime, there are always disputes over land and horses and chickens and all that comes with life in the country. It may be less formal than what you’re used to, but it’s an honest living and a good life.”
“With all due respect, sir, I will be returning to Austin. I’m not meant for small-town life.”
“And with all due respect, son, you won’t truly know until you try.”
Carter sighed. The two men weren’t going to see eye to eye, that much was clear. “I want you to know, sir, that I do care for Dorothy. And I’ll do everything in my power to keep her happy.”
“Well, that’s something, at least. But you need to be honest with her about your intentions.”
“Yes, sir. I understand.”
“Good, then. Now, get out of here. It’s late, and I don’t want any rumors about any of my daughters and a fancy city lawyer.” Cletus walked Carter to the front door. Dorothy, Hattie, and Katie were standing in the hall, pretending they were dusting.
“I’ll walk you out, Mr. Reeves,” Dorothy said shyly. Cletus frowned, but didn’t say anything. Hattie and Katie giggled and started to follow Dorothy and Carter, but Cletus grabbed their shoulders and steered them in the other direction.
It was a clear evening, and Dorothy saw the half-moon hanging low in the sky as they walked outside. She hoped Carter would kiss her as he had outside the mercantile. Her body tingled as she anticipated his touch.
“Good night, Miss Sanders,” Carter said abruptly, and started off for his horses.
“Good night.” Dorothy was puzzled and disappointed. Had she done something wrong? She had half a mind to run after him, but it was getting late, and she wasn’t sure what she would even say to him. She didn’t want him to think she was desperate for his attention.
Dorothy watched as Carter rode off into the distance. She would figure out what was bothering him and get to the bottom of it. Plus, she saw him every day…she had plenty of other chances to get him alone.
Chapter 5
At work the next morning, Carter was quiet as Dorothy chattered away about her sisters, the case, the weather, and everything else that came to mind. She sensed there was something he wasn’t telling her, but she didn’t want to push him.
The case was coming together nicely. She and Carter had found letters and log book entries proving that Mr. Drake had seen Mr. Parrish’s mother several times, meaning there were several opportunities where she could have told him about his illegitimate son—perhaps even brought the baby to meet his father. There were a few loose ends to wrap up, but Carter felt confident he’d be able to win the case and get Mr. Parrish the land that was rightly his.
Dorothy enjoyed the steady pace of her work. She’d gotten accustomed to Carter’s rhythms and enjoyed the fact that he seemed incapable of performing the simplest tasks without her. He was always asking where a specific book or journal entry was, or for an ink refill, or even where he had placed his coffee cup. Dorothy felt like she was doing something meaningful with her time. She knew that Carter was helping Mr. Parrish, and she was helping Carter…so in a way, she was helping people, too.
At lunch time, Dorothy suggested they eat outside, but Carter said he’d work straight through lunch.
“Aren’t you hungry, though? You need to eat something.”
“I don’t need to eat anything, Miss Sanders.”
“Well, you don’t need to bite my head off.”
“We’ve got a lot of work to do. That’s all.”
Gee, Dorothy thought as she took her sack lunch outside. What’s gotten into him today? She ate alone outside, watching the sun stream onto the fields surrounding Carter’s house.
When she went back into the house, Carter had taken several of the books she’d shelved that morning and strewn them across the floor. He was writing at a furious pace.
Dorothy began to gather the books from the floor and re-shelve them.
“Stop! I’m using those!”
Dorothy sighed. Carter seemed to be in a mood where he wasn’t going to allow anyone else to be happy. “Excuse me, Mr. Reeves, but what on earth is going on?”
Carter sighed and ran his hands through his hair. “I need to tell you something, and you’re not going to like it.”
Dorothy frowned and took a seat, waiting for Carter to speak his mind. She folded her hands in her lap, feeling on edge.
“I’ve very much enjoyed working with you and getting to know you, Miss Sanders. You’re very capable, and you’ve done a great deal for the case.”
“And?” Dorothy wasn’t sure where he was headed with this.
“I want to make it clear, in no uncertain terms, that I will be returning to Austin once the case comes to an end.”
Dorothy felt her cheery mood vanish. She was aware that Carter had to go back to the city eventually, but she hated any reminder of it.
“I want to make sure I’m not leading you on in any way, that I’m not tricking you into believing something that’s not true.”
Dorothy didn’t know what to say. Part of her wanted to fight for him to stay, to tell him that they’d only scratched the surface of her favorite places and things to do in Nowhere. He’d surely change his mind if he could see some of the things she had seen. The other part of her wanted to run as far away as she could, curl up into a ball, and cry.
Her voice wavered as she finally chose her words carefully. “That’s perfectly clear to me.”
Dorothy barely spoke t
o Carter at all for the rest of the day. She responded with one-word answers or nods of the head when he requested something or asked her a question.
When she was done for the day, she grabbed her things and headed out the door quickly.
“Have a good evening, Miss Sanders,” Carter said carefully. He knew she was upset but didn’t know how to make things better. Dorothy smiled politely in response and closed the door behind her.
Once she was home, she went straight to the bedroom she shared with her sister Martha. She pulled back her covers and climbed into bed, although it was not even five o’clock in the evening. Martha stared at her in surprise.
“Are you feeling sick?”
“Not really.”
Martha was sweet, but she kept most people at a distance, even Dorothy. Martha read her book and didn’t say another word. In this moment, Dorothy was grateful for that, because she didn’t want to talk at all.
When it was time for supper, Dorothy didn’t go downstairs with everyone else. She stayed in her bed and tried to fall asleep, but all she could think about was Carter—his strong jaw line, his powerful arms, his shy smile that had once seemed like it was just for her. She had never felt this way about a man before, and now he was leaving her. It didn’t seem fair.
Upon learning that Dorothy wasn’t coming to dinner, Edna Petunia marched up the stairs and stood outside of her bedroom door.
“Dorothy, you have to eat dinner! None of you bastards will starve to death on my watch!”
Dorothy smiled despite herself. No one was as colorful as Edna Petunia when she was fired up about something. Still, she didn’t feel like she had the energy to go to dinner and face the whole family. She felt like something inside her was breaking.
“I’m not feeling well,” Dorothy called through the door. It wasn’t completely true, but it wasn’t a lie, either.
“Can I come in?” Without waiting for an answer, Edna Petunia pushed the door open and practically smothered Dorothy with a hug. “I’m sure it’s nothing a peppermint stick can’t fix.” She started to pull her supply out of her bosom, but Dorothy put a hand on Edna’s arm.
Dorothy (Orlan Orphans Book 7) Page 4