by Kit Morgan
Nellie turned to Mrs. Riley whose suspicious look immediately sweetened into a smile. “I declare, Leona, hasn’t the child anything decent to wear? Just look at that old rag she’s got on! Aren’t you the least bit embarrassed?”
Summer’s spine stiffened further. She couldn’t help it if what she wore was all she had. She could see that Mrs. Riley whole heartedly agreed as her eyes once again looked like they could be lethal weapons.
“Miss James and I are going into town to purchase what we need for a new wardrobe just as soon as she’s up to it. Clayton would have it no other way.”
Summer immediately noticed Charlotte’s jaw clench. She turned to her mother, her brow raised in question. “And would this mean you’re going to see Mrs. Jorgensen?”
“Of course it does! What other dressmaker is there in town?” Mrs. Riley asked firmly.
Charlotte slowly turned back to face Summer. “I see. Well, you’ll certainly be pleased with Mrs. Jorgensen’s work. She used to be a dressmaker in Boston before coming out west. Why she bothers with any of the scruff in this town I simply don’t know.”
Summer’s eyes narrowed. Charlotte was trying to make going to the dressmaker sound like something for the underprivileged, but even Summer knew better.
Nellie took a step toward her and looked her up and down like she was nothing but a trinket in a shop. “Obviously she’ll suit you better than your last dressmaker.”
Charlotte giggled. “Oh mother, you are a card! It’s quite apparent she’s never seen a dressmaker in her life, have you sweet thing?”
Summer’s hands clutched the arms of the chair. “I never had to, I make my own clothes.”
Nellie smirked. “Then perhaps Leona can give you a few sewing lessons to correct the area in which you’re sadly lacking. I must say Leona, she’s more homely than I thought.” She turned to Mrs. Riley with an air of innocence.
“What?” Mrs. Riley spat. “Nellie Davis, how dare you come into my home and insult my son’s future bride!”
Nellie closed the distance between herself and the chair in which Summer sat. “Well look at her, I mean really! The idea of a fine man like Clayton marrying the likes of this! Surely you’ve lost your senses! She’s so thin for one thing!”
“I don’t like the look of her eyes,” Charlotte commented nonchalantly. “They look dull. If she doesn’t get some decent rest everyone will think she’s stupid.”
Summers eyes widened as her mouth dropped open in shock. She then tried her best to quell the burning retort she had at the ready. One didn’t spend life in an orphanage and not know how to fight back. It was full of children from the streets and surrounding swamplands. Some children came to the orphanage and acted little better than animals.
Mrs. Davis smirked. “Leona, doesn’t she know she’s in polite company? Is the poor child dumb?”
Summer glanced about the room. “Of course not,” she calmly said. “It’s just that I find your company to be so…” she made a show of looking Mrs. Davis and her daughter up and down as they had done to her. “Interesting.”
Charlotte’s eyes flashed along with her mother’s as they realized Summer was herself a worthy opponent. Mrs. Davis then quickly turned to Mrs. Riley. “Do let us know if you need help with the wedding preparations that is … well …” she stepped over to her and whispered loud enough so Summer could hear her every word. “If Clayton is really serious about marrying this girl. After all, she’s obviously lacking and you know our Clayton only deserves the best. But men can be so stubborn when it comes to admitting they’ve made a mistake. I’m sure sending her back won’t be too much trouble. You’ll let me know if you need help with that, won’t you?”
Mrs. Riley’s eyes narrowed to slits. “Summer is not going anywhere. Clayton fully intends to marry her so you might as well give it up Nellie Davis!”
Mrs. Davis’s hand flew to her chest in shock. “Why Leona! My dear sweet friend what ever do you mean?”
Before Mrs. Riley had a chance to comment (or in this case shriek as her face was turning redder by the second) Charlotte grabbed her mother by the arm and steered her toward the front hall. “Obviously the whole family is as stubborn and as proud as Clayton, mother. But rest assured, they’ll figure out the error of their ways and come to their senses. All we can do in the meantime is pray.” Her face had taken on the most angelic look Summer had ever seen. Her own face twisted up at the brazenness of the girl and she didn’t know whether to laugh or just sit there and stare in utter shock.
“Well I must say Leona, I never thought I’d see the day you’d let your son marry a woman he’s only just met. And to think she came through the mail no less!”
“It was by train and stagecoach actually.” Summer managed through clenched teeth.
“What ever.” Mrs. Davis said as she dismissed the comment with a wave of her hand. “Well, I’ll not stand here any longer and see you taken in by this charade. I’ll do what ever I can to help you. You just let me know when you want to get her out of your house!”
“She’s not going anywhere, Nellie. She’s going to marry Clayton.”
“Ohhhh I just can’t stand it!” Charlotte wailed. “What will people in town think of our Sheriff marrying such a dull girl?”
“Oh for Heaven’s sake!” Summer said as she rolled her eyes then looked to Mrs. Riley. “Are they always like this?”
“Oh no, dear. Not this bad, but still ...”
“Well! Of all the nerve, Leona! And I thought you were my friend!” Mrs. Davis huffed. “Come Charlotte, we don’t have to take this sort of ill treatment!”
The two women stomped to the front door, threw it open and stormed out into the sunshine and cold. Mrs. Riley threw her face into her hands at the dramatic exit before she slowly made her way to the door and closed it.
She re-entered the parlor just as slowly and plopped into a chair next to Summer. “I’m afraid there will be no peace for us now.”
“What do you mean? How could those two be so rude?”
“Oh my dear,” she said as she reached over and patted her on the leg. “You don’t know the likes of Nellie Davis. She’s a spiteful thing. She’s still upset over Clayton rejecting Charlotte. As long as I can remember she’s counted on Clayton and Charlotte getting married. Too bad she never once informed Clayton of the fact.”
“What?” Summer said in shock. “You mean she literally planned it all out and then expected it to happen?”
Mrs. Riley nodded. “Something like that. Now with you here she’s going to be exceptionally nasty to deal with. I’ve never seen either one of them so bent out of shape before. Apparently she’s still holding out for her plan to come to fruition.”
“What sort of person does such a thing?” Summer asked, truly perplexed.
“Someone like Nellie Davis. You’ll find the world has no shortage of them. All you can do is avoid them.”
“But why do you put up with her? Why even let her set foot in your house?”
Mrs. Riley let go a long sigh. “Because she didn’t always use to be like this. Long ago when we were both young, we were the best of friends.”
Summer shifted in her chair and automatically leaned toward the older woman. “What happened?”
Mrs. Riley calmly shrugged. “The thing that usually happens to split best friends apart. A man.”
Nine
Clayton pinned the wanted poster up on the wall. He then stepped back and took a good look at it. Had he seen the man? Clayton didn’t think so, but for some reason “Red Ned” looked awful familiar.
“That’s a nice reward for old Ned.” Spencer remarked.
“Sure wish I could remember where I’ve seen him.”
“He does look kinda familiar, don’t he?” Spencer said as he peered at the likeness of a bearded, one-eyed man. “Shouldn’t be too hard to spot. Just look for a man with an eye patch!”
“Could be other ways to hide a missing eye. He might have a fake one. Be sure to tell the boys
to keep an eye out.”
Spencer burst out laughing.
“No pun intended,” Clayton chuckled. “But seriously, he was spotted down near Clear Creek a few months ago then again about fifty miles southeast of here.”
“Think he has anything to do with that outlaw gang we’ve been after lately?”
“Don’t know. All I know is it’s lunch time. Let’s go down to Hanks restaurant and get something.”
“Sure,” Spencer agreed as he went for his hat.
Billy Blake, Clayton’s other deputy sauntered into the office from the cell area. “Where ya goin’ boss?”
“Lunch,” Clayton answered. “You want us to bring you back something?”
“Nah, Abbey Davis is bringing me mine.” Billy drawled with a smile.
“Abbey Davis?” Spencer said surprised. “Since when did you and Abbey start courtin’?”
Billy smiled and winked. “Just now. Done run into the pretty little thing this mornin’ as she was walkin’ into town. I was takin’ my daddy’s wagon to leave at the livery to get the springs fixed. Poor lil’ gal was freezin’ so I done drove her the rest of the way.”
“Why was Abbey walking? What’s wrong with their rig?” Clayton asked.
“On account her sister Charlotte and their ma went out to pay a visit to your place.”
Clayton was about to put on his hat and froze, the hat halfway to his head. “Our place?”
“Yep, Abbey done said she wanted to go too, said she was lookin’ forward to meetin’ your bride to be, but her ma made her come into town and get some things at the mercantile. I told Mr. Quinn to make sure she got home all right and so he said he’d leave Mrs. Quinn to mind the store and he’d drive her home himself. Abbey told me she’d come by here with something to show me her appreciation fore’ Mr. Quinn left with her.”
Spencer grinned. “You gonna hold out for a kiss?”
“Spencer!” Clayton snapped. “Never mind about that. Mrs. Davis and Charlotte went to the house this morning!”
“Are you worried there may have been blood shed? Maiming, maybe?”
Clayton glared at his brother. “Hardly anything that extreme, but you know how Mrs. Davis and ma get when it comes to …”
“Your bachelorhood, which of course is about to be remedied,” Spencer finished for him.
“I’m probably overreacting. I’m sure the visit was fine. Still …”
Before anyone could speak the door of the Sheriff’s office opened and who should walk in… but Charlotte Davis.
Clayton put on his hat and turned toward the door. He cringed as Charlotte sashayed her way to where he stood. “Why Clayton!” She exclaimed. “I’m so glad I caught you! I must speak with you immediately!”
Clayton sighed and glanced to Spencer who stood with an innocent smirk on his face. “I’ll catch up with you later, order my usual for me will you?”
Spencer nodded, tipped his hat to Charlotte, and left.
“Billy, do you mind?” Charlotte asked. “I’d like to speak with Clayton in private.”
Billy shrugged and left to wait for Abbey outside. As soon as he was gone, Charlotte spun to Clayton. “Oh Clayton! I’m so very sorry!”
Clayton raised a curious brow. “Sorry for what?”
“I didn’t want to be the one to tell you this, but I just can’t stand by and stay quiet any longer!”
Clayton tipped back his hat and sighed. “Quiet about what, Charlotte?”
She pressed her lips together a moment as if the dread of her next words was almost too much for her to bear. “That woman, the one in your house? She’s a criminal.”
“What?” Clayton barked.
Charlotte’s eyes grew round as saucers. “It’s true! I swear it! She … she …”
Clayton narrowed his eyes on her. “She what?”
“She’s just using this whole mail order bride business because … because she’s running from the law!”
Clayton let go a long, weary sigh. “Charlotte, in all my years of knowing you, I never thought I’d see the day when you would sink …”
“Clayton Riley! You can’t marry that horrible creature! She’ll plumb ruin you! She’s lied to you from the start!”
Clayton put a hand to his forehead and massaged it. Maybe if he massaged hard enough the headache she was causing would stop before it really got going. Unfortunately he had to stop his own ministrations when she threw her arms around his neck. “Can’t you see it, Clayton? She’s running from the law and if you marry her it will only get you into a heap of trouble!”
“Charlotte, I’m sorry you’re so upset about this, but what’s done is done.”
She immediately stilled. “What do you mean?”
He sighed. “I’m gonna marry Miss James. It doesn’t matter who sent for her, I’m gonna marry her.”
Her eyes widened. “You mean you’re not the one who sent away for a mail order bride?” She squeaked.
He slowly shook his head. Maybe if she knew that Spencer sent for Miss James and that Clayton planned to marry her anyway, Charlotte would finally, finally give up the notion he’d marry her.
“Spencer answered the advertisement for a mail order bride, not me. But his intention was to send away for one for me.”
Now Charlotte began to rub her own forehead. “Wait a minute! You mean to tell me your brother sent away for a bride so you could get married?”
He nodded and said nothing.
Her face ran through a series of shocked expressions before she finally settled on one that looked like a cross between rage and heartbreak. For a brief moment Clayton regretted telling her, but it looked like it was having the desired affect.
Her mouth dropped open in shock when next she looked at him. “You … you’d marry a complete stranger that you didn’t even send for over me?”
Clayton took a deep breath. “Charlotte, we’ve been over this a thousand times. I like you, you’re a nice girl, but I don’t fancy you for a wife. My heart just doesn’t lead me in that direction where you’re concerned. How cruel would I be to marry you when I don’t love you?”
She pressed her lips together again. She stood there, her hands balled into fists at her sides, her body shaking now from her barely controlled rage. “I see. I see that I’m not good enough for you Clayton Riley. That you’d rather marry some little gutter tramp that you know nothing about than me! How much love is in that?”
“Oh, good Lord …” Clayton began on a sigh.
“No!” Charlotte held up a hand as if to stop him. “You don’t have to say anything else. I understand.”
Clayton blinked at her a few times. “You do?”
“Yes, I can’t help it if you’ve lowered your standards. Go ahead, marry the girl, I wish you both the best.”
“Well that’s mighty kind of you Charlotte,” he began, ignoring her obvious insult. “Thank you.”
“But tell me, Clayton. If Spencer hadn’t sent away for a mail order bride, would you have given marriage a second thought? Would anything else have changed?”
“I suppose it took meeting Miss James to wake me up a little and realize I needed to move on.”
“So now that you realize it you’re ready to get married?”
He thought on it a moment then nodded. “Yes, yes I am.”
She made a show of smoothing her skirt then adjusted her bonnet. Well, I wish you both the very best.” She held out her hand.
Clayton stared at it a second before he finally took it. She made to shake it, but Clayton, instead bent at the waist, raised her hand to his lips, and kissed it. “Thank you Charlotte, I knew you’d understand.”
She blushed. “Well, I guess the best woman won.”
“Ah, don’t take it so hard. Your man will come along some day.”
“Yes, I suppose so,” she pouted. “I just wish he’d hurry it up. He takes any longer and I’ll be nothing but an old maid.”
Clayton smiled and let go her hand. “Never.”
; The door to the Sheriff’s office opened and Charlotte’s sister Abbey stood in the doorway. “Charlotte! There you are. What are you and mother doing in town? I thought you’d still be visiting out at the Riley farm.”
“No, mother needed to speak with Mrs. Jorgensen. I suppose you can ride home with us now that you’re here.” She turned without looking at Clayton and headed for the door. Billy moved out of the way as she sashayed past him and went out onto the boardwalk. “Come along Abbey, mother’s waiting I’m sure.”
Abbey nodded to Clayton, gave Billy a bright smile, and then followed her sister off the boardwalk and across the street.
Clayton and Billy watched the two sisters as they walked away, their skirts swishing to and fro as then went.
“That Abbey Davis sure is a pretty thing, ain’t she Sheriff?”
“Did you steal a kiss?”
“Nah, wasn’t time. She heard her sister carrying on in your office and finally decided to poke her head in.”
“You were eavesdropping?”
“I wasn’t eavesdropping, I was eatin the candy she done brought me. She sure had her ear to the door though.”
Clayton smiled. “Women.”
“Maybe now Charlotte will take them claws of hers and sink em into some other fella.”
Clayton looked down at Billy who was easily several inches shorter. “I thought you said you weren’t eavesdropping?”
“I wasn’t, but ya can’t help but hear everything that went on the way Miss Charlotte was screeching at the top of her lungs.”
Clayton laughed at that. “Well I hope you’re right Billy. I hope she’s done with any plans she may have to marry me. It never would have worked.”
“Maybe. Only the Almighty knows.”
That and Charlotte Davis, who, after turning a corner and heading down another street, put her nose in the air and smiled. Within moments of leaving the Sheriff’s office she’d devised a plan, and that plan was moving along perfectly.
* * *
Come quitting time Clayton couldn’t wait to head home. The anticipation he felt was familiar yet so very different at the same time. When Sarah was alive he used to love coming in from the orchards come suppertime, couldn’t wait to take Sarah in his arms and see what she’d been up to. But this was different. This anticipation made his heart drop into his stomach and his mind begin to race over things to say to the pretty little thing he’d find waiting for him at home with his mother. Most of all, he couldn’t wait to sweep her up his arms and carry her into supper. Last night when he carried her back to her room he’d lingered a moment or two with her in his arms and teased her about a spot of jam she had at one corner of her lovely mouth. It was all he could do not to kiss the jam away and he had to fight to keep from doing so. It was too soon to kiss her, even though he wanted to. But his future bride needed time, and he wanted her to feel comfortable with him the first time they kissed.