Dorothy (Orlan Orphans Book 7)

by Kirsten Osbourne

  “Yes, Mr. Reeves.”

  Dorothy sighed as he rode away. Every time she thought she was done with the man, he kept pulling her back in. If this was what love felt like, it was terrible!

  The next few days passed by in a blur of paperwork and files. When Robert Parrish came to the house for the second time, he was pleased to see a neat, organized pile of paperwork relating to his case file. He told Carter and Dorothy that he was pleased with their work.

  Dorothy did her best to focus only on the work. Occasionally, her mind drifted to thoughts about Carter, replaying the moments when he’d kissed her over and over again in her mind. But when that happened, she got a cold glass of ice water and splashed a little in her face.

  “What are you doing? Are you all right?” Carter looked concerned.

  “Don’t worry a thing about it. We have work to do.” Dorothy looked at him sternly. It felt good to put him in his place from time to time. She had no way of knowing, but she was pretty sure he was having trouble keeping their relationship strictly professional, too.

  Every time he leaned over her shoulder to grab a book, or their fingertips brushed as she passed him a journal, or he helped her up into the wagon, she felt a tingle run through her entire body. She knew she wasn’t imagining it.

  Still, they had a case to win. And there was still a lot of work to be done. The town judge had a reputation for being extremely thorough. It was Carter’s job to prove not only that Mr. Drake had known about his son, but also to provide a record of all of his assets. Dorothy had painstakingly gone through all the papers at Drake’s home and logged them all in a journal.

  By the end of the week, Carter was feeling great about his chances with the town judge, yet despondent when he thought about Dorothy. It was driving him crazy to not tuck a stray piece of hair behind her ear, or try to kiss her when she was close to him, or put an arm around her waist as she leaned over to file something.

  On Friday evening, he couldn’t take it anymore.

  “I have to confess, Miss Sanders, I’m having a very hard time keeping our relationship strictly professional.”

  Dorothy breathed in a sigh of relief. So it hadn’t been all in her head after all! But she knew that she couldn’t allow either of them to give in to their feelings.

  “Mr. Reeves, we have a job to do. It’s your duty as an attorney. Good day.” With that, Dorothy marched proudly out of the house. As soon as the door closed behind her, she leaned against it and slumped down to the ground. Walking away from Carter had taken every last bit of energy she had. She needed a break before she began the long walk home.

  Carter was trembling inside the house. Dorothy was all he could think about. He could barely eat or sleep without a thought or dream of Dorothy taking over his mind. He admired her conviction, but he wished she didn’t have so much of it.

  Chapter 7

  Over the weekend, Dorothy tried to forget all about Carter Reeves. She went to Ruby’s house and played with the twins, then helped Ruby prepare supper for the entire family.

  “Penny for your thoughts…but I think I know what’s on your mind.” Ruby teased Dorothy as she peeled potatoes for a stew.

  “And what’s that?”

  “Mr. Carter Reeves.”

  “Oh, I don’t know about that. He’s my boss, and that’s it.”

  “Dorothy, you can tell me anything. You know that, right?”

  Dorothy stopped peeling for a moment. “I’m trying not to think about him.”

  “Because he’s all you can think about. Does that sound right?”

  “Well, yes.” Dorothy was near tears now.

  “It’ll be all right. Come on, now. What’s wrong?”

  “It’s just…well, I always thought I’d never find a man like you, or Opal, or Sarah Jane, or Evelyn, or Penny. And then I met Mr. Reeves. I feel like anything is possible with him. That maybe I could actually end up with someone. That maybe he was the one.”

  Ruby nodded encouragingly at her younger sister.

  “But he’s definitely going back to Austin after the case is over. He hates Nowhere, says it’s no place for a man like him. So I’ll probably never see him again!” Dorothy was crying now, and Ruby found a handkerchief for her. “If I never see him again, I…I…I don’t know what I’ll do!”

  Ruby wrapped her arms around Dorothy, rubbing her shoulders up and down to soothe her.

  “Oh, Dorothy, I’m so sorry. You know, when I met Lewis, I felt a lot of the things you are feeling now.”

  “You did?”

  “Absolutely. It wasn’t exactly the same, not by any stretch, but the fact of it was, I didn’t know if things were going to work out. For a while, it seemed like they wouldn’t.”

  “Really? I didn’t know that.” Dorothy dried her eyes with a handkerchief.

  “Sure. I was all mixed up, feeling sad and confused. But then Lewis and I talked about it. And I realized he was the only one for me, so nothing else was going to get in the way of that. Does that make sense?”

  “But Ruby, if Carter is the only one for me, what does that mean? That I’m doomed to be alone forever?”

  “No, no, not at all! I don’t know what it means just yet. But that’s part of the fun, not knowing how things will work out. I’m saying you never know, sometimes people surprise you.”

  Dorothy appreciated that her sister was trying to cheer her up, but at the moment, she could see no way that her situation would improve with time. She placed all the peeled potatoes into the pot and stared down at the boiling water.

  “Thanks, Ruby. I sure hope things will work out for me, too.”

  Ruby smiled at the younger girl. Now that she had a family, it was hard to remember what it was like to be single. Her heart went out to Dorothy. She was sure it wasn’t easy.

  Dorothy and Carter figured out that the best way to work together without crossing any boundaries was to stay quiet, avoid all unnecessary chitchat, and communicate mostly through written lists or questions. The days were long and dull, but they avoided touching, kissing, and any other sort of flirtation. Dorothy couldn’t wait for the week to be over so that she’d be out of Carter’s house for good.

  Carter was starting to regret that his days in Nowhere were numbered. He was excited, of course, to get back to his home in Austin…but he also felt that his time in the country had passed too quickly. He was sad that he hadn’t been able to go with Dorothy to all her favorite spots in the town. But he knew they were making the right decision, focusing only on business and not pursuing a romantic relationship.

  The truth was, there were many women in town that weren’t as pure and good as Dorothy was, but were interested and available. It had never been hard for Carter to get a date, and that wouldn’t change once he returned to Austin. But when he tried to picture going out on a date again, the face he kept coming back to was Dorothy’s.

  As the court date approached, Carter began to worry about all the possible ways the judge could side against Mr. Parrish. He felt that they’d prepared well, but the judge was supposed to be a stickler. One document with an incorrect date or missing character could ruin their entire case. He made Dorothy stay late, going over each and every file again and again.

  Robert Parrish even came back, and Carter practiced giving his prepared remarks. When he was done, both Robert and Dorothy applauded.

  Dorothy felt there was no way the judge could side against Mr. Parrish. Then again, she didn’t know much about the law, and this was her first court case.

  The night before they were scheduled to see the judge, Dorothy went to see Penny. Penny loved to sew clothing and often wore the latest styles. Dorothy asked her sister if she had anything that might look nice in court.

  “Could this possibly have anything to do with Mr. Reeves?”

  Dorothy laughed. “No! I want to look nice before the judge. It’s my first impression as a professional woman.”

  Penny nodded. “I see. Let me think…yes, I believe I have just the
thing!” Penny disappeared into one of the rooms in her house and emerged with a blouse and skirt. The top was plain but classic, with simple buttons up the front. The skirt was dark, with a little flounce to it, but was still long enough to be appropriate for a formal occasion such as court.

  Dorothy tried on the garments quickly. “It’s perfect, Penny, thank you! I owe you!”

  “You can pay me back in cooking for these boys. I can’t keep food in the cupboards. It just disappears!” Penny exclaimed. “And now that I’m expecting, I’m so tired all the time.”

  “Yes. I’ll be done working for Mr. Reeves after tomorrow. I can spend time here, helping you around the house and the cabins.”

  “That would be wonderful, Dorothy! You’re so sweet to think of me during all this. Now get on out of here—you’ve got a case to win!”

  Dorothy tried to imagine what the judge would be like. She wasn’t sure if he’d be old like Cletus, or young like Carter. She wondered if he’d listen to Carter, if he’d carefully consider each and every document that they’d gone over together. She also didn’t know what the other attorney would be like. It was strange to think of someone else doing all the hard work that she and Carter had done, but for the opposing side.

  There was something else bothering Dorothy, but she tried not to think about it too much. The next day would be the last time she ever saw Carter Reeves. She knew they could never be together, but that wouldn’t make it any easier to say goodbye. She was thankful for her large family, because they would surely be able to distract her from her troubles.

  Dorothy woke bright and early on the morning of Mr. Parrish’s court date. She had hardly been able to sleep the night before. She prayed that the judge would find the verdict in Mr. Parrish’s favor.

  Dorothy washed her face and put on the clothes Penny had lent her. She set off for Carter’s house and tried to think about the case only, not dwell on any improper thoughts about her boss.

  When she knocked on Carter’s door, she waited a long time before he answered. When he let her in, she saw that the floor was covered in papers and boxes. Carter looked sheepish. “I wanted to get a head start on my packing.”

  Dorothy nodded, trying not to show emotion. “That’s good. Do you know how long we’ll be at court?”

  “It shouldn’t take longer than a few hours, but it all depends on the judge. We’ll see.” Carter looked nervous, which made Dorothy feel even more unsettled. He stared at her for a long time without saying a word.

  Finally, she had to break the silence. “We should be going, then.” They had promised to pick up Mr. Parrish and take him to Nowhere’s town hall, where the judge would preside over the case. They still had plenty of time, but Dorothy felt anxious.

  Dorothy turned to leave the house, but Carter grabbed her hand and spun her back around. He removed a small box from his pocket and got down on one knee.

  “Dorothy Sanders, I’ve never met anyone like you. You’re kind to everyone, and you see the good in all people. You do everything you can to fight for what’s right. I couldn’t sleep last night, knowing that I might not see you again after today. Will you do the honor of becoming my wife?”

  Dorothy used her other hand to cover her mouth. She couldn’t believe what Carter had just asked her. She had always dreamed of a moment just like this, but there was something that wasn’t quite right.

  “But I thought you said you’re still moving back to Austin?”

  Carter looked confused. “Yes, of course. That’s where my law practice is—where my whole life is. Everything except for you.”

  “I can’t leave Nowhere, Mr. Reeves. My family is here.”

  “Dorothy, call me Carter, please. I think you’ll love it in the city. There is always something going on. There are shops and theaters and restaurants. There are so many places I want to show you.”

  “I’m so sorry, Carter. Edna Petunia and Cletus have shown me what it means to have a family. And this is where my sisters have chosen to make their homes and start their families. If I lived in Austin, I’d never see them. I wouldn’t be around as my nieces and nephews grow up.”

  Carter took a deep breath. He had been nervous that Dorothy would say no to his proposal, but he never thought her family would be the reason. He set his lips in a grim line and rose to his feet. He tried to stop the storm of regret and anger he felt coming on. “All right, then. Let’s go pick up Mr. Parrish.”

  Tears welled up in Dorothy’s eyes. She brushed them away with her handkerchief as she followed Carter out the door.

  On the way to pick up Mr. Parrish, she tried to make conversation, but Carter simply put his hand up to stop her from speaking. When they arrived at Mr. Parrish’s house, he came out dressed in a black suit with a patch of gray fabric on one of the knees.

  “You two look like somebody died.” Mr. Parrish pulled himself up into the wagon and shook his head at Dorothy and Carter’s miserable faces. “Is there something you’re not telling me?”

  “No. We’re fine.” Carter tried to smile.

  “Well, I hope you’re a better lawyer than you are an actor.”

  Chapter 8

  Carter pulled up to Nowhere’s town hall just before eight o’clock. The case was scheduled for eight thirty in the morning and was the judge’s first of the day. There were a few people wandering around outside of town hall, and a woman juggling a stack of ledgers opened the door for them. Carter led the way through a narrow hallway into a large room.

  It reminded Dorothy of church, because there were many benches set up all facing the front of the room. There was a place for the judge to sit, and a few desks next to it looking out at the rest of the room. In between those areas were two desks. Carter set the papers he’d brought with him down at one of the desks, and Dorothy did the same. Mr. Parrish began to pace around the desk.

  “Don’t worry, Mr. Parrish. I’m sure the judge will be fair today. He has to be.” Dorothy tried to assure the nervous man. Carter shook his head at her.

  “Maybe you’d be more comfortable in the hallway.” Carter stared at Mr. Parrish, and the older man nodded and went back into the hallway. Carter turned his gaze back to Dorothy.

  “I never say things like that to a client. I don’t have any control over the judge, and I can’t predict the future.” Dorothy had never heard Carter sound so angry with her. She looked at the floor, then squared her shoulders and looked him right in the eyes.

  “I’m sorry, Mr. Reeves. I won’t make the same mistake again.”

  Carter nodded dismissively, but Dorothy detected a small expression of approval. She only had a few more hours as his employee, and she was as determined as ever not to let her feelings for him interfere with her work.

  A large older man with a bushy beard and booming voice walked in. Two younger men who looked closer in age to Carter accompanied him. The big man introduced himself as Mr. Billings, the opposing attorney. Mr. Drake’s relative was with them. He looked like he was having a hard time standing upright, so one of Mr. Billings’s assistants helped him to a seat in the gallery.

  Soon, a small man wearing glasses and a long black robe entered the hall. He took the judge’s seat and banged a gavel on his table, which was higher than everyone else’s.

  “I am the Honorable Justice Harold Evans, and I will preside over today’s dispute.” He had a soft voice, and Dorothy strained to hear him. It was hard to imagine him voicing an opinion on anything. She had no doubt that if Cletus were elected town judge, he’d rule over a much more colorful—and decisive—courtroom.

  Dorothy crossed and uncrossed her legs below the desk as Justice Evans reviewed the papers Carter and Mr. Billings placed before him.

  “You may proceed.” The judge nodded, and Carter stood up and took his place at the front of the room. Dorothy looked away, focusing on the judge.

  “Your Honor, my client, Robert Parrish, is the rightful heir and owner of the Drake land in Nowhere. The boundaries are clearly designated on the map I�
�ve provided. We will show today— beyond a shadow of a doubt— that the late Mr. John Drake did in fact have a son, Robert Parrish, and that Mr. Parrish should inherit the land as the closest blood relative of the deceased.”

  Carter sat back down at the desk and Mr. Billings began his opening statement.

  “I will prove here today, in this court of law, that the plaintiff, Robert Parrish, is a liar! His claim to the land in question is no more than yours or mine.” Although Dorothy hadn’t been to any courtrooms before, it sounded like Mr. Billings was simply raising his voice, and not saying much of anything.

  After the opening arguments, Justice Evans asked to see the logbooks over the period of years surrounding Robert’s birth. Carter turned to Dorothy, and she felt her face flush. She knew by heart which book contained those dates, and retrieved it quickly. She walked to the front of the room and handed it to the judge.

  Carter tore his eyes away from Dorothy and focused on the papers in front of him. He had to put his personal feelings aside, at least for a few more hours. Carter wiped sweat from his brow with a handkerchief and waited for Judge Evans to say something. But the man simply continued to read through the logbooks.

  Dorothy could tell that both Carter and Mr. Parrish were getting nervous. She flashed Mr. Parrish her brightest and biggest smile, hoping to set him at ease.

  Finally, the judge spoke. “Very well, Mr. Reeves. You may proceed.”

  “Thank you, Your Honor. As you have seen in the Exhibit, Mr. Drake kept records of his meetings with Mr. Parrish’s mother, Miss Louise Parrish. They show that Miss Parrish brought her young son with her—and that Mr. Drake acknowledged that he was the father of the child.”

  “Your Honor, Mr. Reeves is spouting off nonsense that can’t be confirmed.”

  “It seems to me I’ve got a book that confirms what Mr. Reeves is saying, Mr. Billings. Do you have any exhibits to introduce?”