He lifted one eyebrow and studied his daughter for a moment. “If you’re sure that’s what you want to do, you have my permission.”
A brilliant smile enveloped the pretty woman’s face. “Thank you. I have the perfect solution.” She turned to Sarah, sending a chill skittering up her spine. “You can stay with me, and Mr. Jensen and Luke can share the room you vacate.”
An hour later, Sarah returned to her room with Jack and Luke following. She’d much rather have a room to herself than share with prissy Nannette. The woman’s idea had merit though, especially with the storm clouds on the horizon and thunder in the distance, but she wouldn’t admit it out loud. And she certainly couldn’t begrudge her friends a bed for the night.
“Are you sure you don’t mind sharing a room with Miss Hawkins?” Jack gazed at Sarah with apprehension filling his eyes.
Sarah smoothed out the blanket she’d lain on while resting and fluffed the pillow. Thankfully, she hadn’t hung her nightgown on one of the pegs on the wall. “Of course. It’s only for a few nights.”
Luke leaned against the doorjamb. “We appreciate it. I don’t mind sleepin’ outdoors, but it’s uncomfortable in the rain.” He straightened. “I’ll walk Sarah to Nannette’s room then head back to the livery to get my gear.”
Jack nodded. “I’ll go with you. Still need to find out where the registration booths are.”
Sarah packed her brush in her satchel and glanced around the room, reluctant to join Nannette. The woman had been kind, but Sarah hadn’t liked the way she’d flirted with Luke—not that it was any of her business. But still … “That’s all of my belongings.”
Luke crossed the small room in three long-legged steps and took her bag. “You ready then?”
“Why don’t we drop off my bag, and then I can accompany you and Jack to look for the booths.”
“If you’re sure you want to fight that crowd again.”
She wasn’t, but right now the crowd sounded better than spending the afternoon in Miss Hawkins’s presence. “I’ll be fine.”
A few minutes later, they knocked on Miss Hawkins’s room on the third floor. With the door at the end of the hall open and two large windows at half-mast near the stairway, a warm breeze attempted to cool the long hallway. But with the moisture in the air from the approaching storm, the breeze failed to stop the sweat trickling down Sarah’s temple and spine.
Jack knocked on the door of room 303 and stepped back. Quick footsteps came their way, followed by the door opening.
Nannette beamed a smile as her gaze skittered past Jack and Sarah, landing on Luke. “Why, I didn’t expect all three of you.” She stepped aside. “Please, come in.”
Sarah shot a peek at the men beside her. It had been stretching propriety for her to be in the hotel room with two men she knew and trusted with her life, but it was something altogether different for Miss Hawkins to invite them into hers.
Luke cast a quick glance at Jack then shook his head. “Thank you, but we have things we need to do. We’re just dropping off Sarah’s bag.”
Nannette’s disappointment was obvious. “Surely you could stay for a few minutes.”
Jack cleared his throat. “I don’t believe that would be proper, and we do need to be going.”
“Very well.” Nannette stared at Sarah, her gaze less than welcoming.
Sarah smiled and stepped into the room. This one was plush compared to the one downstairs. The dark cherry wood furniture gleamed and a wall-to-wall carpet covered the floor. The large bed sat to her left, with a sofa and two chairs on the right in front of a fireplace. Her gaze shifted back to the bed. Would she have to share that with Miss Hawkins?
She hadn’t minded sharing a bed with Jo when they first arrived at the Coulter ranch, but she’d been only twelve then, and though she’d never admitted it, she’d been a bit afraid in the strange house with no one she knew except for Jo.
Sarah walked over to the sofa and placed her satchel on a small table that sat next to it. She’d sleep on the sofa before sharing with Miss Hawkins. Forcing a smile, she turned. “It was kind of you to offer your room to me so that Jack and Luke won’t have to sleep outside tonight.”
Nannette tittered and cooled her face with a decorative fan that looked as if it had come from somewhere overseas. “Nonsense. I couldn’t very well allow your friends to get soaked tonight. There’s plenty of room for two in this suite.” She snapped her fan shut. “Oh! I know. I’ll go with you on your errands. I’m so bored in this tiny town. It will give me something to do.”
Sarah’s heart sunk as Nannette rushed to the mirror, patted her hair, and pinched her cheeks. She should have expected this with the way Miss Hawkins was enchanted with Luke—and he hadn’t even turned on the charm. He’d been much more restrained today than normal.
Nannette hurried out the door and latched onto Luke’s arm. His gaze locked with Sarah’s, and he rolled his eyes. Biting back a grin, she fled the room and closed the door, falling into step beside Jack. She blew out a sigh, eliciting a chuckle from him. Sarah frowned at him for noticing she was flustered, but he kept smiling. How could he find Miss Hawkins’s blatant flirtation with Luke amusing?
A few blocks away from the hotel, they separated. Sarah and Jack turned right, while Luke and Nannette continued straight. Sarah peered over her shoulder at Luke and his leech until they disappeared from view into the crowd.
Jack chuckled again.
Sarah shot him a glare. “What are you laughing at?”
“Why does it bother you that Nannette is flirting with Luke?”
“Who said it does?”
Jack shook his head and appeared to be holding back another grin.
“What?”
“You turned Luke down flat when he asked you to marry him, but it annoys you when a pretty woman shows interest in him. That’s mighty confusing behavior.”
Sarah sucked in a gasp. “He told you that he proposed?”
“Yeah.”
How many other people knew she’d refused Luke’s offer of marriage? Probably everyone at the ranch. “It’s not that I mind a woman looking Luke’s way, but it disgusts me how brazen Miss Hawkins is in her attempts to attract his attention. Has the woman no shame?”
“I think she’s bored and sees Luke as a fun way to pass the time.”
“I hope she doesn’t hurt him.” She sidled closer to Jack to skirt around a group of men standing in front of a barbershop. Several of the more rugged ones looked her way. The last man they passed had the audacity to wink at her.
“Luke’s tougher than you give him credit for. And he won’t succumb to Miss Hawkins’s wiles.”
“How can you be sure? She’s a pretty woman, and it’s obvious that she’s smitten with Luke.”
They sped up to cross a street in front of a slow-moving wagon pulled by a team of mules. At an alley, Jack tugged her to a stop. Sarah gazed up at him.
He stared at her for a moment with assessing eyes. Jack was a good man, and she’d never been afraid to be alone with him, so why did his stare make her want to squirm and look away?
“Sarah, you sound like a jealous woman. Are you certain you’re not in love with Luke?”
She opened her mouth to reply but stumbled over her response. “I … No … How can a person truly know if they are in love?”
His jaw tightened, and he lifted his gaze, staring toward the street. “I almost missed out on my life with Cora because I was too shortsighted to see that I loved her.”
“I’m not denying that I’m fond of Luke, but I also care for you and Gabe and Lara, Baron and Jo, and all of the children. But I don’t want to spend the rest of my life living with all of you. I want something I’ve never had before—a home of my own. Luke can’t give me that.”
“So, if Luke had his own home, would you have said yes?”
Sarah’s cheeks warmed. He made what she felt for Luke sound cheap. “I don’t know. Perhaps. But it wouldn’t only be because of the house. And beside
s, he doesn’t have one, so it’s irrelevant.”
“It sounds like a house is more important to you than Luke, so you were probably wise in turning him down. He’s a good man and deserves to be with a woman who loves him more than anything.”
“I didn’t make my decision lightly, Jack. You know my background—what my father did. I’ve seen the worst in men.”
“Yes, but that should have no bearing on you now. You’ve met a number of good men who are trustworthy, and you have to know that Luke isn’t the same kind of man as those who frequented your father’s brothel.”
“Of course I know that. Why are we even having this conversation now?”
He rubbed the back of his neck. “Luke’s one of my closest friends, and I want what’s best for him—and for you, too. I know you pretty well, Sarah, and I think maybe you care for him much more than you realize.”
“Well, if that’s true, then God will have to show me. I’ve prayed and prayed, and I feel that trying for a piece of land is God’s will for me now.”
Jack nodded. “All right. I can’t argue with that.” He held out his elbow. “Shall we finish our task and find the registration booths?”
Sarah nodded and looped her hand around his arm. She respected Jack and knew from the stories he’d told about his early days before marrying Cora that what he’d said about nearly missing out on being a husband and father was true.
As they stepped back onto the busy walkway, she realized she was shaking. Had she truly heard God correctly?
Or should she have said yes to Luke?
Chapter 5
July 10, the first day of the lottery registration
Sarah stood in the women’s line to register, so excited she found it hard to stand still. Luke stood beside her, waiting patiently. “Really, Luke. You don’t have to stand here and wait on me. I’m sure I’ll be safe.” She gazed at the line of about thirty women who were farther back than she. “Most of these women are alone, and besides, I would hate to discover that I caused you to miss your opportunity to register.”
Luke shook his head. “Not much chance of that happening with Jack saving me a spot. Did you see those long lines outside the Kerfoot Hotel? I’ll be surprised if we get to register before suppertime.”
“I read that the registration booths close at four.”
He shrugged one shoulder. “If I miss out on signing up today, there’s always tomorrow.”
“Jack and I plan to leave tomorrow—unless he doesn’t make it through the line today.” She could hardly wait to escape the room she shared with chatty Miss Hawkins. She wasn’t used to women babbling and preening constantly. Lara and Jo talked, but if there was nothing important to say, they had no problem working alongside one another in silence. Though, more often than not, the children normally kept them entertained.
Sarah glanced down the line of two dozen women in front of her. Most looked older than she and had wiggly children playing nearby. From reading the rules of the lottery in the newspaper, she knew that for a woman to register, she had to be head of her home, so Sarah assumed most of them were widows that had never remarried.
She turned back to Luke. “With so many people still arriving on the trains, the lines are likely to be longer tomorrow. It kind of makes me wonder if we should have traveled to Lawton. Surely there can’t be as many people there as there are here.” She puffed out a sigh. “It’s too bad you can’t register at this booth. I’m grateful to not have to stand out in the hot sun all day, but it seems a shame to dedicate a whole booth just to women when the men’s lines are so long.”
Luke removed his hat, revealing his thick blond hair, forked his fingers through it, and then returned his hat to his head. “I’m glad someone had the foresight to think up the idea. Women shouldn’t oughta have to stand in the sun all day listenin’ to crude men or watchin’ their games of chance.”
Sarah smiled and nudged Luke in the side with her elbow. “That’s mighty noble thinking.”
Luke straightened, flashing his trademark grin. His sparkling sky-blue eyes were the prettiest she’d ever seen on a man. “Haven’t you noticed? I’m a noble kind of guy. That’s why I’m standing here with you when I could be enjoyin’ Jack’s company.”
Chuckling, Sarah shook her head. “You and I both know Jack isn’t a big talker, except when he’s preaching—or debating something.” Sobering, she turned away from Luke and watched a group of children playing tag. Jack had been plenty talkative yesterday when he shared his concern over her feelings for Luke. His thought-provoking comments—as well as Nannette’s twenty or thirty questions about Luke—had kept her awake until well past the midnight hour. She covered her mouth to hide a yawn.
“Hey, look. They’ve opened the door. With so few ladies in front of you, it shouldn’t take long for you to get registered. Did you remember to bring your papers?”
“Yes, I have them in my reticule.” Excitement poured through her. If she won a claim, her dream would come true. Between now and July 29th, the first day of the lottery, she needed to find out how much building a house would cost and to see if she could have some men lined up to start, should God bless her with land. She blew out a breath. There was so much she’d have to do in a short time. So many supplies to purchase and then have shipped. And where would she stay while the house was being raised?
A little over an hour later, they stepped forward as another woman entered the small building, leaving only three women between her and the registration booth. Sarah bounced on her toes, grinning at Luke. His solemn expression cooled her excitement as effectively as if he’d thrown a bucket of frigid water on her. “What’s wrong?”
He stared off in the distance. “I’m just thinkin’ of the day I’ll have to ride off and leave you here alone.” A muscle ticked in his cheek, as he assessed her with cool blue eyes. “Are you sure this is what you want to do? Have you considered what living alone with no one you trust nearby will be like?”
Sarah crossed her arms. “Of course I have. And yes, this is what I want to do.”
“A home doesn’t mean much when you don’t have anyone to share it with.”
Maybe not to him, but then he had been on his own for half his life. He chose to work for Gabe and live in the bunkhouse. Besides, a house was a woman’s place—her nest. As much as she loved living with the Coulters, it was no longer enough. She stepped forward again as another woman left the booth, all smiles.
Sarah’s insides jiggled, and her limbs felt weak as she stepped up to the booth. And then the last woman in front of her moved away, revealing a thin man with wire-framed glasses and a skinny white mustache.
He eyed her up and down. “You got yer papers? You don’t look twenty-one to me.”
“I can assure you I am. I have an affidavit signed by my father and a judge from Oklahoma City, certifying my birthdate.” She unfolded the valuable document and handed it to him. He squinted as he examined it.
“As you can see, I recently had my twenty-first birthday.” She cast an anxious glance at Luke then straightened, standing a bit taller.
The man took an interminable amount of time scanning the paper, even looking at the back, which was blank. Finally, he cleared his throat and slid a card toward her. “You’re not married to this fellow, are you?”
Sarah’s cheeks felt instantly hot. “No, sir. He’s my good friend and escorted me here.”
The man nodded. “All right then. Everything looks in order. Just fill this out.”
Smiling, she penned her name, the place she currently lived, her weight, height, and age. Then she passed it back.
The man read over her information then nodded. “You’re all set, Miss Worley. Good luck to you.”
“Thank you.” Excited to finally be registered, Sarah clapped her hands and smiled at Luke.
He returned her smile, never able to stay upset for long. “So, you want to go get a slice of pie to celebrate?”
“At ten thirty in the morning?”
; He shrugged. “Anytime’s a good time for pie.”
The man behind the counter cackled. “I agree, sonny. If I wasn’t stuck here, I’d join you. Rhubarb’s my favorite.”
The lady next in line cleared her throat.
Sarah took the hint and tugged Luke around the corner. “Let’s check on Jack and see how far he’s moved up the line first.”
Luke nodded, and they headed for the Kerfoot Hotel, one of the six places that men could sign up for the lottery. Sarah couldn’t quit smiling. She’d finally taken the first big step in getting a home. Now if only God would answer her prayer to win a homestead.
Monday, July 29
First day of the lottery
Eager for the drawing of names to begin, Sarah could hardly stand still. But moving around was nearly impossible with the large crush of thousands of people surrounding the drawing tent on the grounds of the Irving School. The large group had been standing there all morning, and not a single name had yet been drawn. She shifted her feet, trying to get some relief from their aching. What was the delay? Yes, the lottery was a massive undertaking, but things had seemed so organized.
She read in the newspaper that over 165,000 people had registered in both El Reno and Lawton. Her excitement dimmed whenever she thought of those numbers. With so many people, did she have any chance at all of getting land?
She stood on her tiptoes, peeking between hats worn by both the men and the few women present, hoping to get a view of the men in the open-sided tent. Jack, Luke, and she had walked around the thirty-two-square-foot tent on a raised platform.
Earlier that morning, envelopes containing the names of registered applicants had been placed in two rotating bins that were ten feet long and two and one-half feet wide and tall. All of the names of the people who registered in El Reno were in one bin, and the other rotating bin held the Lawton registrants. With the containers being so large to permit a thorough mixing of the envelopes, fairness was ensured. There would be no mad land rush with people getting hurt or killed this time.
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