by Jenna Brandt
Lucy finished taking a sip of her tea. “You’re certainly right, Mrs. Waterford. Debbey has become an expert at it.”
The rest of the ten-course gourmet meal passed pleasantly. Once dinner finished, the guests moved down the hall and into the indoor ballroom. Mrs. Moore added the featured room onto the Moore estate several years prior. On one end of the ballroom, another large Evergreen tree sparkled with candles and glass ornaments. It stood even taller than the tree in the previous area. Stacks of elegantly wrapped presents were artfully arranged under the branches.
Several tables were placed on the opposite end of the ballroom. The tables were decorated with red tablecloths and had layers of baked treats upon them. Tarts, cakes, cookies, and macaroons from the Leclaire Family Bakery were featured on silver trays ready for the guests to nibble on between dances. Crystal pitchers of water and tea and three punch bowls filled an additional table at the far end.
“Your desserts look divine, Amelie. You outdid yourself,” Lucy complimented as she eyed a three-layered chocolate cake which made her mouth water. Lucy’s weakness was chocolate.
“Thank you, but I’m saving my best work for your wedding cake,” Amelie promised. “And I know how you adore chocolate, so I’m using my richest recipe for the cake, and am making a special white chocolate frosting.”
Lucy’s heart filled with appreciation. “You don’t have to go to all that trouble for me, Amelie.”
“What are you talking about? You’re one of my best friends. Of course, I do.” With a flick of her hand, Amelie curtailed the matter. “I think it’s high time we focus on dancing. It’s my favorite part of the night.” Amelie adjusted the bustle of her burgundy gown in anticipation of the entertainment.
Debbey bounced up with a grin. “Are we going to dance or what? I think we have done enough talking for the time.”
Just then, each of the men took their partner by the arm to escort them to the dance floor. Lucy smiled up at Matthew as he placed her in frame for the dance. The band played as Matthew spun Lucy around the dance floor. The feel of Matthew’s hands holding her sent electricity pulsating through her body. She laughed at Matthew’s jokes while the minutes passed by rapidly, song after song.
“Do you mind if we take a break? I could use a glass of punch,” Matthew stated.
“I’ve heard Mrs. Moore’s special punch recipe is the best in the Oregon Territory.”
“It’s true, and even though she doesn’t have libations at her parties, no one misses them because of how delectable the food and drinks are.”
With a wink, Lucy confessed, “I’ve been dying to try a piece of that chocolate cake.”
“You’re in for a true indulgence.”
The couple strolled over to the dessert table. Matthew placed a piece of the cake on a plate and handed it to Lucy. He grabbed a cookie for himself and then went to the drink table.
“I see you have my son doing your bidding already.” Lucy stiffened as she turned to find Mrs. McCoy standing next to her with a narrowed glare. “I heard we were supposed to be at the same table, but somehow our places were switched before we arrived. You wouldn’t have any idea how that came to be, would you?”
Lucy could hear the accusation in Mrs. McCoy’s voice. She thought Lucy was responsible for the swap. Even though it wasn’t true, Lucy figured her reputation with the woman couldn’t get any worse. Lucy refused to betray Debbey and get her into trouble with her mother.
“Think what you like. It’s plain you have already made up your mind about me.” Hurt took hold of Lucy’s heart as she realized Matthew’s mother would never accept her. Tears pooled at the corner of Lucy’s eyes and threatened to fall at any moment. She needed to escape before that happened. “If you will excuse me, I need to visit the privy.”
With her eyes averted, Lucy rushed from the room and down a side hall. She wasn’t sure where she was going, never having been in the Moore estate, but anywhere was better than being near that woman one more minute.
Once she was sure she was away from prying eyes, Lucy leaned against a wall and tilted her head up. The ache in her heart felt as if it would explode through her chest. Dear Lord, I need your guidance right now. Show me what to do. All I want is for Matthew’s parents to accept me and see how much I love their son.
“What are you doing all by yourself?” Matthew asked with concern.
Lucy jerked her head to the side. “I just needed a few minutes alone. I’m better now.”
“Did it have something to do with my mother? I saw her with you right before you left in a hurry. If she did something, I will go handle it.”
The last thing Lucy wanted was to pit Matthew against his mother. “It doesn’t matter. What matters is that you found me, and if we hurry, we can catch the last waltz of the evening.”
As they strolled to the end of the hall, a giant grin spread across Matthew’s face as he looked over at her and pulled her to a stop.
“What is it?” she inquired with a raised eyebrow.
“Look up,” he directed.
Above them hung a bundle of mistletoe. A smile formed on Lucy’s mouth. She had been in such a hurry a few minutes prior; she hadn’t seen the Christmas surprise.
“What do you plan to do about it, cowboy?”
Pulling her close, he replied, “This,” as his mouth descended to hers. As their lips touched, an unspoken passion passed between them and Lucy’s body melted into his embrace.
As Matthew pulled back, his mouth curved into a grin. “Happy Christmas, Lucy.”
Chapter 8
Lucy was tired from her long, final night at The Trail’s End before she took time off for her wedding and honeymoon. Irritably, she brushed a lock of her blond hair from her face. As business increased the closer Christmas approached, it was taking longer than normal to find the time to finish the weekly paperwork. Though joyful to many, the holiday brought out the sadness in others; the kind of sadness which some could only find solace in the bottle.
Lucy stood up, stretched, and felt her muscles rebel. Apparently, she had been sitting behind her desk longer than she thought. She walked towards the door but before she opened it, there was a knock.
She swung the door open to a startled Gertrude. The elderly woman’s eyes grew round with shock. “I didn’t expect you to be standing on the other side.”
“I was just coming to check on how the evening was going.”
“Everything is running smoothly, but I’ve meant to tell you something happened last night.”
Lucy could tell her employee didn’t want to finish the sentence. “What? What occurred?”
“Someone was asking for you.”
With a shrug, Lucy flicked her wrist in the air dismissively. “Did you tell them I’m not a server anymore? Some of the men who travel for work may be back in town and don’t know.”
“It wasn’t like that, Lulu.”
Lucy bit back her wish to correct the woman and tell her to refer to her as Miss Rogers. It was hard balancing her previous work relationships with the current ones. She ignored the slip-up and focused on Gertrude’s concern. “What do you mean?”
“He says he knows you from when you lived in New Orleans.”
Her mouth went dry as fear seized her throat. She swallowed several times to push down the bile threatening to come up at any moment. “What did he look like?” Lucy asked, trying to sound as nonchalant as possible.
“He had dark brown hair and matching eyes. He was tall with a thick build, and I noticed he had a large scar that ran down the left side of his face.”
Lucy’s stomach dropped to the floor. He had found her. After all this time, Walter had tracked her down. She thought he would give up if she came out west. Granted, he had been fixated on her, but she hoped distance would break his obsession.
“What did you tell him?”
“Honestly, Lulu, I didn’t like how he made me feel. He had a menacing air about him, so I lied and told him no one by that name worked he
re. But I’m not sure if he bought it. He seemed determined to find you. I wouldn’t be surprised if he comes back.”
“Thank you, Gertrude. I’ll take care of it.” The elderly woman left the room and shut the door behind her.
Lucy sounded more confident than she felt. What was she going to do? Maybe it was time she finally told Matthew about her past; however, she was afraid he would think differently of her once he knew the truth. They would get married tomorrow, and she wondered if she could put it off until after the wedding. Conviction flooded her. Even though she knew she could get away with it, part of her felt it would be deceptive, especially given the circumstances. She needed to find Matthew and tell him everything.
Lucy grabbed her coat off the rack and opened the door. As she headed towards the exit of The Trail’s End, she heard several of the patrons call out to her. She waved to each one and told them she would be back soon.
Since it was the middle of the day, Lucy assumed Matthew would be at the mill. She walked the distance contemplating the words she would use to tell Matthew why she left New Orleans. Would he still love her afterward? Her stomach knotted in apprehension.
Mrs. Wilcox sat at her desk in the front of the mill office. She looked up as Lucy entered and greeted her with a firm stare. Her silver hair was pulled back in its usual tight bun, and she wore her spectacles low on her nose. “What can I do for you, Miss Rogers?”
“I was wondering if I might speak with Matthew for a few moments.”
The woman’s gaze narrowed as she stated admonishingly, “This is a place of work, not a social hall. You should wait to speak with him this evening after he gets off work.”
Why was it every time she encountered Mrs. Wilcox, like so many people that socialized in the McCoys’ circle, she was treated with disdain?
“I wouldn’t have come if it wasn’t urgent.”
With a huff, Mrs. Wilcox stood up and roughly smoothed out her skirt. “Follow me then. He should just be finishing a meeting with Mr. Moore.”
Lucy followed Mrs. Wilcox to the back of the building where the men were looking over several pieces of paper at one table.
“Exactly, Matthew. You understand what I’m talking about. I want you to carry out what we talked about starting after you get back from your honeymoon.” Mr. Moore glanced over Matthew’s shoulder and a grin spread across his face as his eyes met Lucy’s. “Good morning, Miss Rogers. I’m assuming you’re here to see Matthew.”
With a nod, Lucy requested, “May I speak privately with him for a moment.” Worried after Mrs. Wilcox’s reaction, she quickly added, “I wouldn’t have interrupted his work day if it wasn’t a pressing matter.”
Mr. Moore chuckled. “I’m sure it’s a mishap with your wedding plans. Go ahead, Matthew, take care of the problem before you head back out to the mill.”
Lucy chose not to correct Mr. Moore. Matthew guided her over to a private corner of the building. Once they were alone, Matthew reached out, pulled her towards him and kissed her. “I’ve been thinking about you all day. Correction, I’ve been thinking about how today is my last day as a single man. After tomorrow, I will get to wake up to you every morning, and go to sleep by your side every night.”
“I look forward to moving into our new house and starting our lives together.”
“Before we discuss the problem with the wedding plans, I have something wonderful to tell you.”
She wanted to get out what she had come to say, but she could see from his eagerness, her fiancé couldn’t wait to tell his news. “What is it, Matthew?”
“Mr. Moore has been so impressed with my work as a supervisor; he has offered to bring me in as a junior partner for the mill. He has already gotten approval from the other partners.”
“Doesn’t that cost money?” Lucy asked skeptically.
“Yes, but the amount he is asking is a little less than what I have left after the construction of the house. I’ve always been a good saver, and now it's paid off.”
“Well, it’s your money, you can do whatever you want with it. You don’t need my permission.”
Matthew’s eyebrows furrowed together in bewilderment. “We’re getting married tomorrow. What’s mine will be yours and vice versa. You need to be happy with the decision or I won’t do it.”
“I’m sorry. I’m still getting used to sharing my life with someone who values my opinions. If it’s what you want, of course you should do it.”
He reached out and hugged her. “Thank you. I’m so glad you see the potential in this opportunity. You mentioned there was a problem with the wedding?”
Lucy shook her head. “No, Mr. Moore said that, and I didn’t correct him. I need to talk with you about something else.”
“What is it?”
Her eyes fell to the floor as she pushed the words out, “It has to do with my past.”
“You have talked little about your life before living in West Linn.”
“Because I wanted to forget it, but someone has made that impossible.”
“What are you talking about?” Matthew asked in confusion. “Who had made it impossible? Is it my mother? Was she digging into your past? I told her to let it go, but so help me, if she—”
Lucy cut him off. “This has nothing to do with your mother. It has everything to do with Walter Bowne.”
“Who is that?”
“He’s the man I used to be with before I moved here,” Lucy sucked in a deep breath and let it out slowly before she told her story. “When I arrived in New Orleans, I didn't know how I would survive. I was taken in by an unscrupulous group of people led by Walter. They did anything to make a dollar; from pick-pocketing, to running cons on unsuspecting gamblers in the taverns. I thought Walter loved me, but when one gambler offered a large fee to spend the night with me, Walter wanted me to agree. When I refused to do it, he became angry and beat me for not doing what he wanted. After I healed enough to move, I took off, telling no one. I knew if I stayed, it was only a matter of time before he killed me.”
Matthew wrapped his arms around her. “I’m so sorry all of that happened to you. I’m grateful you trust me; however, why are you telling me now, the day before our wedding?”
“Walter sent me a letter a couple of months ago and I had it marked return to sender. Apparently, he didn’t get the message and sent another one. When I sent it back, I had Mrs. Tait write I no longer lived here. He must not have believed it. Gertrude said a man fitting his description showed up last night asking about me.”
“Why would he come all the way out here to find you?”
"Walter was obsessed with me. He thought he owned me. I can only imagine what everyone who worked for him was saying when I left. He couldn’t just let me go or he would lose control over all of them.” Lucy shook as she bit her bottom lip. “I’m scared, Matthew. He’s killed people for far less to make an example of them.”
“If he comes here, I won’t let him lay a hand on you,” Matthew promised. “In the meantime, I think it might finally be time for you to think about quitting your job at The Trail’s End. You're safer not working there, and with my new partnership, you need not work.”
As the words sank in, Lucy became angry which hardened her resolve. “This matter was settled. I have no intentions of quitting my job. As a matter of fact, I made my position clear when I told you I was saving up to buy The Trail’s End from Pierre.”
“Everything is different now.”
“How dare you fling this at me the day before we are to be married!”
“What about what you have hurled at me? I think I have been extremely understanding under the circumstances. It’s not like you need the job any longer.”
“I’m not saying it’s forever. When and if we have children, I might decide I want to be home with them. At that point, I can hire someone to run The Trail’s End. I will have no one making that decision for me as to when I quit and why.”
“Now it’s ‘if’ we have children? When did that change? Ch
ildren were never a conditional part of our relationship. I always made it clear I expected to have children, Lucy.”
“It’s not what I meant. I meant there is always a possibility we might not be able to have children. Look at the Moores. I want to have something to fall back on if that’s the case.”
“You’d like that, wouldn’t you? If we can’t have children, you would get to keep everything the way you like it. You probably have been praying for that this whole time.”
Lucy gasped as her hand flew up to slap him. She caught herself before she did it, but he knew what she wanted to do.
“Go ahead, hit me. I know you want to.”
His words washed over her like ice water. How did they get to this point? She never thought she would want to hit the man she loved. “I need to get back to The Trail’s End. It was a mistake coming here.” Without waiting for a response, Lucy turned around and hurried from the room.
Matthew felt shocked over what just happened. He had gone in a split second from being completely happy to destroyed. He loved Lucy so much, but he had just said and did all the wrong things. Matthew should have told her it didn’t matter if she worked, and he would go with her every day to protect her if it was what it took. Instead, he had let his parents’ ideas flow from his head out through his mouth.
He went out to the mill and tried to focus on work as a distraction. As the supervisor, he didn’t need to handle a saw anymore, but he found it cleared his mind when he needed to think. Additionally, the men seemed to respect him more when he worked alongside them. Today, however, the physical labor didn’t seem to do its trick. His mind kept drifting back and replaying the events from earlier.
“What are you still doing here? I told you to take the day off early to finish whatever you needed to before your big day tomorrow.”
Matthew put down the saw and turned to find Mr. Moore standing behind him. “I know, Mr. Moore, but I needed the diversion.”