by Linda Bridey
Claire beamed at him in relief. “You’re very kind, Mr. Samuels, but I really am quite sorry.”
“I don’t blame you for being curious. I’ve been curious about your family, too. I mean, I know your pa, and your sisters, but I wondered about you and your ma,” he said.
“Claire, are you going to stand there all day or would you like to sit down?” Maddie said.
Maureen didn’t miss the annoyed look that Seth gave Maddie and bit her lip to keep from smiling.
“I expect she’ll sit when she’s ready, Madelyn,” he said.
Maddie was shocked to be disciplined by Seth. Her eyes flashed fire at him but he just smiled.
Claire rushed to a chair and gave Seth a look of near hero worship, which gave Geoffrey pause. He’d never seen this dynamic between Seth and Maddie and wondered about it. He’d only ever seen Seth defend Sadie to Dean like that and then he understood that Seth felt protective towards Claire. He sipped his tea and sat back thinking that this was going to be an interesting adventure for all of them.
By the time tea was over, Seth was exhausted although he’d been fairly successful at hiding it. Geoffrey had helped Seth get settled in his room, knowing that Seth didn’t want to be coddled by servants right away. They’d put him in one of the few bedrooms on the first floor out of necessity. Normally they put guests upstairs in one of the more elegant rooms, but Seth thought his room was too fancy as it was. He settled back against the headboard and looked at Geoff.
“So what’s the deal with Maddie and Claire?” he asked. He’d noticed that Maddie had been a little catty with the girl a couple of times.
Geoff smiled. “Claire is a little different than her sisters. As you know, Tessa has excellent manners and speech, but doesn’t particularly care for this way of life.”
“Right.”
“Before the…”
Seth watched Geoff’s hands clench as he trailed off and understood what Geoff was running through his mind. “That jackass hurt Maddie,” he supplied.
“Yes, before that, Maddie was literally the belle of the ball and had all of Tessa’s grace and poise and enjoyed every minute of the parties and such. Claire has more brains than the two of her older sisters put together and I don’t mean that in a negative way concerning them. I’m merely stating fact. Claire has surpassed my understanding of many things and she’s just eighteen. If it involves business, science, or anything else scholarly, she’s formidable, but when it comes to the social graces, I’m afraid she’s lacking.”
“Aw, poor kid,” Seth said. “I know what that’s like. Ok, not the smart part, obviously, but the whole social thing. I can get by when I have to, but most of the time I don’t think before I say something. Dean gave up on me a long time ago with that and Marcus constantly teases me about it.”
Geoff nodded. “Yes, I’ve spent enough time with all of you to notice that. Both sisters have purposely embarrassed each other at different public events. At dances and balls Maddie points out Claire’s flaws in dancing and popular culture topics and at business dinners Claire makes it obvious that Maddie can’t hold a candle to her when it comes to discussing politics or new business methods.”
Seth understood such competitiveness and had come to blows with Dean on occasion over it. Apparently sisters were the same way only without the punching.
“That said, don’t let Claire fool you. She’ll get her revenge on Maddie one way or another, so don’t feel the need to get between them,” Geoff said.
“I noticed that you didn’t step in. I wondered why that was,” Seth replied.
“I don’t need to and neither do you.” Geoff smiled. “You’ll see. You see the surgeon in the morning. Get some rest.”
Seth mulled over Geoff’s words as he left.
Chapter Ten
Seth got a taste of Claire’s intellect at breakfast the next morning. He pushed his wheelchair into the dining room and Claire pounced on him.
“Good morning, Mr. Samuels,” she said.
Seth smiled at her, “Good morning, Claire. You can call me ‘Seth’.”
Claire pushed a tendril of long hair from her face. “All right, Seth. Come sit next to me.”
“Sure. Good morning, Geoff, Maureen,” Seth said and pushed up to the empty place at the table where a chair should have been.
“Good morning, Seth. Did you sleep well?” Maureen asked as she buttered some toast.
“Nope. I usually don’t,” he answered honestly. “This damn leg doesn’t give me much chance to sleep.”
Claire covered her mouth and giggled. “You sound like Papa.”
Seth looked at Maureen and apologized for swearing. Maureen smiled and looked at Geoffrey. “She’s right, dearest, he does sound like you.”
Seth couldn’t tell if she was amused or displeased. He didn’t have much time to think about it because Claire placed a piece of buttered toast on his place and asked, “Are you worried about how the westward expansion of the railroad is going to affect cattle prices?”
He gave the girl a surprised look. “What do you know about that?”
“Preserves?” Claire asked.
“What? Oh, sure,” he said as he realized she meant the toast.
Claire continued as she smeared the strawberry preserves on the toast. “Well, in my economics class, we’ve been studying about how the cattle ranching industry is changing because of modernization. I’d be interested in your thoughts on the subject.”
“Jesus, you sound like Marcus,” Seth said with a laugh.
“I do? Who’s Marcus? Oh, yes, your younger brother,” Claire said. “Bacon?”
Seth frowned as she put it on his plate without waiting for a response. He wasn’t angry; he just realized how annoying it must be for other people when he had two conversations going on at one time.
Geoff pretended to be reading the paper, but watched the whole exchange with amusement.
Seth picked up the bacon and started eating it. It was very good bacon. He looked over at Claire and saw that she was waiting for his answer. “Let me think about that for a minute.”
Maureen said, “Claire, let the man eat his breakfast. I’m sure he doesn’t want to talk about this right now.”
Seth said, “No, it’s all right. She brings up something we’ve been thinking about, actually.”
“You’re very kind, Seth, but it’s not necessary,” Maureen said.
That protective streak rose within him again and he straightened a little and turned to Claire, ignoring Maureen. “Here’s the thing. The railroad is gettin’ closer, that’s true, but it’s not yet, so the cattle still have to get from one place to another, right? And as far as I know, they haven’t sprouted wings and learned to fly, so how else are they going to get to market?”
“Of course they haven’t,” Claire said with a laugh.
“And there are different markets for different types of livestock. See, Claire, we don’t just drive them to Chicago or North Dakota; we go to California sometimes or Texas, too. So while the railroad will make it easier getting them eastward, we’re still going to have to keep driving them west and south,” Seth said. “You gonna pass me that plate of flapjacks?” he said to Claire.
“Oh yes, of course,” Claire said and scooted a bunch off onto Seth’s plate.
Seth figured she must think his hands didn’t work because he had an injured leg. “What, no syrup?”
Claire snatched it and poured a generous amount of it over the pancakes. “Why would you want to drive them to California when the Chicago markets would be closer?”
“Price differences and the time of year. What happens with the weather the farther west you go?”
Claire smiled. “It gets warmer, of course.”
“Bingo. So say we didn’t have a real good cattle crop for the summer, but we’ve got some that were coming on towards fall and were nice and fat? We could still get them out west while the weather was good and sell them for a good price,” Seth said.
&nbs
p; “I never thought of that,” Claire said. “This is fascinating. Thank you for the insight. I must leave, though, or I’ll be late and Professor Lynch hates it when students are late.” She rose and kissed Maureen and Geoffrey’s cheeks then came back to Seth and kissed his. “Good luck at the doctor today,” she said and rushed off.
Seth looked back at her parents with a stunned expression. “Is she always like that?”
“Yes, she’s always been very entertaining” Maureen said. It was obvious that although Claire sometimes exasperated her that she loved her daughter very much.
He grinned. “Good. I hope she doesn’t change.”
Geoff laughed and put the paper down. “We should be leaving as well.”
“Where’s Maddie?” Seth asked.
“You won’t see her up this early,” Maureen said. “She’s not an early riser as a rule.”
Seth nodded. “Yeah, I noticed that.” He was disappointed, but didn’t say so. “Tell her I said howdy. Thank you for breakfast, Maureen,” Seth said and began pushing out of the dining room into the front hall way.
Maddie came rushing down the stairs. She knew it was unladylike, but didn’t care. She didn’t want to miss Seth before he left. “Wait!”
Seth’s face lit up as he saw her and he turned his chair to face her. “Good morning, good lookin’.”
Maddie blushed. She had always handled male compliments with poise, but Seth’s were different. She surmised that it was his western drawl that drew such a reaction from her. “Good morning yourself, handsome.”
“So you want a ride? There’s room for two in this thing,” Seth teased her.
Maddie was almost tempted, but declined. “No, thank you.”
“You’re no fun.”
“Oh, I’m very fun,” she said suggestively. “Perhaps one day you’ll see.”
“I hope so,” Seth said. “Did you come to see me off?”
“I did. I know you’re nervous, but I’m confident. Flemming is going to be able to help you,” Maddie said.
Seth took her hand and squeezed it a little. “You know what would make me feel better?”
“What?”
“A kiss for good luck,” Seth said.
Maddie’s smile was so beautiful that Seth’s heart seemed to stop for a moment.
“What am I going to do with you?” Maddie asked.
Seth gave her a salacious grin. “I have some ideas.”
“I’m sure you do,” she replied.
“How about that kiss?” Seth said.
Maddie pretended to think it over but she really wanted to jump into Seth’s arms and kiss him senseless. He looked very dashing in his black suit. She hadn’t known that he had nice clothes like that, but he said that there were times on the road when they came in handy. They weren’t cheap either. Seth might not like wearing them, but he knew good quality suits and figured that if he was going to wear one, it might as well be made well.
“I suppose it would be all right since it’s for luck,” Maddie said.
She leaned down and pressed her soft lips against his and felt warmth begin to steal along her body. Maddie had never felt that kind of passion before where all it took was a look or smile to make her melt. Kissing Seth was highly intoxicating and she wanted more. What she felt for Seth went beyond the physical, however. It was something she’d never felt for any man before him.
He made her laugh and she felt completely safe with him. Maddie knew that he’d been raised to respect women and would never harm her. She also admired his intellect. He might not be book smart but he knew everything there was to know about raising cattle and cattle markets and even though she hadn’t understood all of it, she’d enjoyed hearing Seth and his brothers talk shop during meals.
Knowing what an active man he was and how much it would hurt him if he couldn’t return to his way of life, Maddie hoped and prayed that the surgeons would be able to heal him.
Seth cupped the back of her head and deepened the kiss. She tasted sweet and smelled like lilacs. It was a heady combination and clouded his senses to all else but Maddie. He made a sound of protest as she drew away. Maddie wanted the kiss to go on, but knew that it was only a matter of time before someone came along.
She straightened and smiled at Seth. His blue eyes were a darker, smoldering shade that mirrored the same desire she felt. “Good luck,” she said as she traced the line of his jaw with her fingertips.
“Thanks,” he answered. His voice was husky and it gave Maddie goose bumps.
She gave Seth a final kiss on the cheek and then headed towards the dining room. Seth watched the mesmerizing swish of her skirts as they swayed to and fro as she left him.
Geoffrey had been coming out of his office, which was off the main foyer, as Maddie had kissed Seth’s cheek and gone on her way. He quickly ducked back into the office and waited a few moments. He was well versed in the romantic relationships between men and women and had seen the attraction Maddie and Seth shared, but he hadn’t realized that it had progressed.
Conflicting emotions swirled inside Geoff’s mind. He liked and respected Seth very much. All of the Samuels brothers were hard working, ambitious men and Dean had already shown what a good provider he was for Tessa and his children. Seth was a bit of a wild card, however. His roaming ways and stories of casual relationships with women had been funny before, but now looking at them through the eyes of a father whose daughter might fall in love with such a man, Geoff didn’t quite know if he could approve of a romantic relationship between Seth and Maddie.
He knew that Maddie was a grown woman, but she was also vulnerable after her ordeal, and he would protect his girl at all costs. He took a couple of deep breaths and then stepped out of his office.
Seth smiled at him. “I’m all set,” he said.
Geoff gave him a curt nod and said, “Good,” and strode towards the back of the house.
Seth turned the chair around and followed him, wondering why the other man seemed distant with him. He didn’t have to wonder very long. No sooner had Geoff closed the carriage door behind him than he grabbed the front of Seth’s suit and hauled him closer. Seth was so shocked that he didn’t resist.
“I love my daughter with all my heart, Seth and should you hurt her in any way, shape, or form, I’ll kill you,” he said.
Seth’s face was mere inches from Geoff’s and he could almost feel the hot anger coming off the man. Geoff’s dark eyes bore into his with deadly intensity and Seth knew that he meant what he said. Seth could believe he’d do it, too. Geoff might look the polished gentleman, but inside there were parts of him that were still the hard-fisted Irishman who’d had to fight for his life to escape to the States and make a better life for himself. He and Geoff were kindred spirits in their way of thinking and Seth respected Geoffrey for his blunt words.
“Have I made myself understood, laddie?” Geoff said. The Irish brogue sometimes slipped out when he was feeling intense emotions.
Seth barely kept from smiling, but knew he’d better not or Geoffrey was going to kick the crap out of him. He was in no shape to fight off an angry father like Geoffrey. “Loud and clear, sir.”
“Good.” Geoffrey saw the honesty in Seth’s eyes and relented. He smoothed down Seth’s suit and sat down. “I’m glad I got my point across.”
“Aye, to be sure ye have, Geoff, me lad,” Seth said with a wide grin.
Geoff swore and said, “It’s impossible to stay angry with someone who can almost sound as Irish as I am.”
Seth sobered. “Geoff, you need to know that I respect Maddie and the last thing I want to do is cause her any pain. I know what you’re thinking and it’s nothing I haven’t thought about myself. I’m the equivalent to tumbleweeds that roll here and there depending on which way the wind blows.” Seth looked down at his leg. “At least I used to be and maybe I won’t ever be that way again.” He looked Geoff in the eyes then and said, “Or maybe I don’t really want to be any more, even if this guy can fix my leg.
Do you get what I’m saying?”
“I do, Seth, and I’m glad to hear it,” Geoff said.
By the time Dr. Flemming finished his exam, Seth’s leg was on fire. He’d been poked, prodded, and twisted and if the doctor hadn’t stopped when he did, Seth most likely would have socked him in the kisser.
Dr. Flemming helped Seth get dressed and back in the wheelchair and then looked at him with a brooding expression. The man’s mud brown eyes were serious in his slightly droopy face as he regarded his patient.
“Well? What do you think, doc? Can you fix it?” Seth asked. “Just spit it out. I’ll deal with whatever you tell me.”
“I think that you should have come here as soon as it happened, but with living so far away, that was impossible. I also think your Dr. Turner did as fine a job as I’ve seen without more modern techniques available. The bones seem to have started to knit, but I think there is soft tissue and ligament damage, too,” Dr. Flemming said.
Seth felt his stomach drop at the doctor’s pronouncement. “Ok, but can you help me?”
Dr. Flemming nodded. “It’s going to take some doing and hard work on your part with physical therapy after a proper recovery time, but I think it can be done. Of course, I won’t know for certain until I get in there.”
Hope surged through Seth. “I know it might not be a full recovery, but will I at least be able to ride a horse again?” he asked and thought of Hank. He missed his horse and thought of all the good times they’d had together.
Dr. Flemming nodded and scratched his forehead. “Yes. You’ll be able to ride a horse again.”
Seth could have hugged the man he was so happy. “When do we do it?”
“Tomorrow. You’ll be admitted to the hospital today so that we can do the surgery at first light,” Dr. Flemming said.
Seth was shocked. “Tomorrow? So soon?”
“Young man, there’s no time to waste,” Dr. Flemming told him and then excused himself from the room.