Laura felt the color change in her face.
Mrs. Bell coughed. "Are you all going to stand here the whole day chin wagging? Or are you coming inside. I've got some cakes that need eating," she stated.
Joshua smiled at his housekeeper. "How could we refuse such an offer, Mrs. Bell."
"Well you could try. But I wouldn't be responsible for what happened if you did," she said with a wry smile. They all started to make their way inside the house.
Joshua was pleased to see his friends. It would help the day end on an even more satisfying note than he could ever have hoped for. These two men were his closest friends, had been ever since he'd started building up his own ranch. They'd all helped each other dealing with inevitable problems of ranching in Montana.
Their ranches were close to each other, so they were regular visitors to their respective spreads. They saw each other regularly in Great Falls, especially when it came time to bringing in the herd for sale.
But Joshua, Zack and Aaron were more than just friends. They were allies in the battle of life that was the ranching business. They'd stood side by side, through storms, winters, threats from rustlers, and trouble from other more dangerous types like bankers and lawyers. The two men were like brothers to Joshua, closer even than his own brothers who lived so far away that he hadn't seen them in ages.
The two men had contrasting personalities. Dark haired Zack was the more serious of the two, while Aaron was a man who seemed determined not to take life too seriously, no matter what happened. But that difference in the men's personalities was a reflection of the contrasting fortunes both men had had in their dealings with the opposite sex. Both men were handsome by any standards, and had had more than their fair share of attention from the ladies of this part of Montana. But both were determined to remain unmarried, which made what Joshua had gone and done even more surprising. Even shocking. He could only imagine the panic they'd both felt that one of the trio had succumbed to the temptation to wed. If only they knew the reasons behind his decision. Then it might not seem so hard to understand.
As they made their way into the parlor, Joshua looked over at Laura and felt a rush of pride. She was so beautiful, so elegant and graceful. How could he not have wanted to marry someone so sweet and dear? Those two men didn't know what they were missing out on.
Mrs. Bell laid out a fine spread of coffee and cakes which the three men made short work of, much to Laura's obvious amusement. She especially laughed when the three ranchers fought over the last cake on the plate. Joshua eventually won out, the argument that the cakes had been made in his kitchen winning out in the end.
"Have you heard about old man Gillespie's spread?" Aaron asked, suddenly becoming serious for a moment.
Joshua frowned. "No. What about it?"
Aaron took sip of coffee. "Seems like he's on his last legs. He's been sick for a while. But he's an ornery old critter."
"Who's going to take over the ranch when he dies?" Joshua asked.
"His daughter," Aaron said bluntly.
Zack coughed on his final bite of cake. "His daughter? Eva? How is she going to do that?"
"Seems Eva's been the only one running the ranch this past while," Aaron said. He shook his head. "A woman can't run a ranch on her own."
Laura stiffened. "Of course she can. If a man can do it, then a woman can too," she declared.
Joshua smiled and quirked a brow at his two friends. "Careful what you say, guys," he warned them.
Zack and Aaron looked at each other and seemed to exchange a brief glance that warned caution might be in order.
"Doesn't Gillespie's spread run next to your own, Aaron?" Joshua asked.
Aaron's eyes seemed to go unnaturally dark and his good humor was suddenly absent from the conversation. "It does. And the Gillespies have been a thorn in my side for a while now," he admitted.
"That would have nothing to do with old man Gillespie's daughter. Would it?" Zack asked with a mischievous grin.
Aaron flashed him a sharp look. "Nothing to with Eva at all. Don't know what gave you that idea," he said curtly.
Zack looked like he was determined to press the point and Joshua started to worry for the peace in the room if his friend continued. "Just that I heard that she's a mighty fine looking woman. Even if she has the spirit of a bronco," Zack stated.
Aaron put down his cup. "Let's change the subject, shall we."
Zack looked like he was having real trouble containing his laughter. "If you say so, Aaron," he said.
"Mrs. McKenzie. How are you settling in to life on the ranch?" Aaron asked, obviously desperate to move attention on to other matters.
Laura glanced at Joshua. He wondered what she was going to say. Whether she would be as honest with his friends as she had been with him.
"I find life on the McKenzie ranch to be mighty fine and pleasing. Of course I've spent a long time growing up on my parents' ranch. So I already know what to expect," she said.
Joshua breathed a sigh of relief. "What she really means is that she's still getting used to living with me," he said with a smile.
Joshua glanced at Laura and saw her eyes narrow in an appreciative understanding.
Zack laughed. "Well. I admire your courage Laura. Your husband must be a real difficult man to put up with." Zack grinned. "I don't know how you do it," he said with a shake of the head.
Aaron thumped Zack's arm which drew a yell of pain from the rancher. "That's Joshua you're talking about. You and I know he's the sweetest man this side of Montana," Aaron stated, rolling his eyes.
Joshua groaned. "Boys. You're just embarrassing me. I don't know what Laura's going to think of me after hearing all this from you two," he said.
Laura laughed and shook her head. "Seems like you three are used to playing around. I wonder what other things I've yet to find out about you all," she said.
"Well. If you both come to the social at the weekend you might just find out a bit more," Aaron said.
Laura looked at Joshua. "What social?"
"There's a big do in Great Falls on Saturday. Should be a fine old time," Zack said.
"Would you like to go, Laura?" Joshua asked. He looked at her, thinking it might be just the thing to take her mind off the troubles she'd been having. It also might give Joshua a chance to show off his wonderful wife to the folks of Great Falls. He could think of nothing finer than to share his good fortune with the many good people he knew there, people who had been an important part of his life these past few years.
"Who's going to be there?" Laura asked.
Joshua shrugged. "Why, I guess just about everyone. Great Falls isn't such a big place."
Joshua thought of the last time Laura had been to Great Falls and realized that the pain of that visit might still be lodged inside her. Maybe she didn't want to show herself in town, didn't want to be the center of attention. He knew he was going to have to work hard to contain the impulse to show his new wife off to everyone he could find. But he knew he had to show some sensitivity in the matter too.
"You don't have to go if you don't want to," Joshua said.
Aaron and Zack looked at Laura, eyes wide, saying nothing.
Laura looked at Joshua and nodded. "Why not. It sounds like a great idea," she said after a pause.
However, as Joshua reached over and planted a surprise kiss on her cheek, it seemed to him that her smile wasn't entirely convincing.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
"You look beautiful," Joshua murmured from his position by the door to Laura's bedroom.
Laura gasped and whirled around from in front of the mirror to look at Joshua. "I didn't know you were there," she said pulling the loose buttons of her gown tight around her neck.
Laura had been checking her appearance in preparation for their trip into Great Falls for the social later that afternoon. She'd picked one of her favorite blue gowns. It was one her mother had told Laura time and again made her look like a lady. She had to agree. It was indeed elegant,
made of fine material, cut to fit Laura's delicate figure, with edges decorated with small buttons and lace.
Joshua leaned casually against the door. His eyes were bright with evident admiration. "I've never seen you look so lovely," he said in a soft voice.
Laura felt her face color. "Oh, get away," she said with a dismissive wave of the hand, but the smile on her face gave the lie to how she really felt. It was good to have her husband tell her such things. These past few days, since their time at the river and the visit of his two fellow ranchers, Joshua had hardly missed a chance to pay Laura some compliment or other. It was like he was on a mission to overcome her every objection to life with him on the ranch with a relentless torrent of praise and admiration.
"You don't look so bad yourself," she said looking at his fine suit, waistcoat, clean pressed white shirt and shiny boots. He held his hat in one hand. Her heart skipped a beat when he took one step into the room.
"Why, thank you, Miss," he said with a grin.
She liked it when he was playful. These last days he'd been so much more relaxed in himself, and it had been infectious. Laura was finally beginning to think that maybe life on the ranch with Joshua held promise. Real promise. Maybe this was how long it took for a wife to really settle with her new husband.
"We best be going," Joshua said with a flick of his hat.
Laura gave herself one last check in the mirror, lifted up her bonnet and parasol and followed Joshua out the room.
The journey into Great Falls was idyllic. It was a beautiful sunny day. Montana had never looked so wonderful, it seemed to Laura. The rolling grass lands, distant mountains, blue sky all conspired to make Laura feel a happiness and contentment she'd not known for a very long time. She hooked her arm through Joshua's and leaned against his strong shoulder. He gripped the reins of the buggy tight and looked down at her from time to time with a wide, satisfied smile.
It was good to be alone together, sharing the wondrous beauty of the land they lived in. The air was fresh and clean. Laura filled her lungs with the cool scent of her husband. Nothing had ever smelled so wonderful.
They arrived in Great Falls and Joshua steered the buggy up the main street, eventually stopping outside the hall where the social was to be held. People were already crowding into the high ceilinged building and judging by the number of buckboards and buggies tied up there was going to be a large number of revellers.
"I didn't think it would be so busy," Laura said to Joshua.
"Looks like people just want to have some fun," he answered.
From inside the hall Laura could already hear music, the babel of voices and roars of laughter.
Joshua looked at Laura and his brows tightened. "You okay?"
Laura nodded. "Sure," she said sharply. She turned quickly and fixed Joshua with a determined look. "You know what?"
Joshua's mouth creased into an expectant smile. "What?"
"I think you and I need to dance. Don't you?"
Joshua tipped his hat and his eyes widened. "Well we haven't had a dance since the wedding. And here I was wondering just when you were going to show me your steps again," he said with a smile.
Laura bashed him on the arm. "Are you telling me I can't dance?"
Joshua shook his head and rubbed his arm playfully. "I wouldn't dare. But you did step on my toes a few times," he explained.
"I did not!" she exclaimed.
"Well, let's see then," he challenged, pointing toward the entrance to the hall. "The floor awaits."
Joshua jumped down of the buggy and came around, extending a hand to Laura. She stepped down and gave him a slight nod. Joshua looked as pleased as she'd ever seen him.
He presented her with an arm through which she hooked her own. Joshua smiled at her. It felt good to be in town, arm in arm, like a real couple, for everyone to see. Maybe they'd been cooped up in the ranch too long, Laura thought.
Joshua led Laura slowly through the open doors and they stepped into the clamor of the hall. There were so many people Laura wondered where they'd all come from. The hall was filled with the townsfolk of Great Falls. At the end of the hall was a low stage on which there was a band of fiddlers playing furiously for the gathered dancers in the center of the floor. A balcony stretched around the upper floor around both sides of the room, and townsfolk looked down on the scene from their positions seated at tables, drinks in hand, smiles on faces. The social was already in full flow. The noise was deafening.
Laura felt Joshua pull her arm closer to him. "Everyone seems to be having a fine old time already," Joshua shouted above the din.
Laura smiled. She'd never seen so many people in one room in Great Falls before.
"Where have all these people come from?" she asked Joshua leaning up close to his ear.
"The town's growing. People are coming here for the work, for the ranches. The railroad's made all the difference," he explained.
It all made sense when he put it like that. Growing up on the ranch, town life had always seemed so attractive, so compelling to Laura. She'd read about it in so many novels. People's lives seemed so much more exciting in towns. And here, in this high vaulted hall, she could see just what it meant to live in a bustling, vibrant town. Was this what she had lost when Nathaniel Bewly had rejected her? Was this how exciting town life could be?
Laura saw that Joshua was watching her carefully. He'd clearly noticed the excitement on her face. She guessed he might be trying to get a sense of how she was feeling about being in town, amongst so many people.
The band paused between tunes. Joshua released her arm and took up a position immediately in front of Laura. He bowed his head slightly. "May I have the pleasure of this dance?" he asked with a wry grin.
Laura bowed her head. "You may, sir," she said playing along with him.
Joshua took her gloved hand. Laura followed him out to the dance floor, weaving in amongst the other couples. Finally they found an empty space in the center of the floor, just in time for the music to start up. Joshua took Laura right hand and placed his other hand at the back of her waist. Laura felt Joshua draw her slightly toward him as they started to move gently and slowly in time with the romantic tune from the stage.
Laura looked up at Joshua. His eyes were bright and fixed intently on her face. Laura felt a smile spread across her lips, uncontrollable and inevitable. They stepped together in perfect unison, moving slowly and gently amongst the other couples. Not once did she step on his toes.
Joshua raised a querying brow. "Seems like I was wrong," he said leaning down close to her.
"What do you mean?"
"My toes are still intact," he said with a grin.
Laura shook her head. "You are incorrigible," she told him.
"I know. That's why you like me so much. Isn't it?"
"Who said I like you?" she teased.
"You have to like me," he said with a mocking frown. "I'm your husband, don't you remember?"
"Oh. That. I forgot about that," she said with an exaggerated frown.
Laura leaned in closer to Joshua as they continued to move together in time to the languid tune.
After a while the music changed to something more cheerful. Laura and Joshua followed the pattern of the more formal dance which involved couples lining up and exchanging partners in time with the music. Soon, all the skipping and turning was making Laura breathless, and she lost sight of Joshua more than once as the couples swapped around, wheeling and revolving. The relief she felt each time he made it back to her was palpable. When he took her back in his arms for the next, slower dance, it was a blessed respite from the frenetic activity of the previous one.
After the end of the dance Joshua led Laura to the tables where drinks were being served. There was food on the tables, as well as the cordials and bowls of punch. Joshua made sure Laura got a drink that was definitely not filled with dubious alcohol.
They took their places on some vacant seats beneath the balconies. Joshua handed Laura the glass and
raised his own. "To our first social together."
Laura smiled and raised the glass. "It won't be our last," she declared, clinking the glasses.
The fruit cordial tasted sweet. They sat in silence for a while watching the townsfolk. It was pleasant to get off her feet and just sit with Joshua. She glanced at him. His face was flushed, but he looked real pleased.
Suddenly she heard a voice calling out her name above the din of the band and the rumble of the feet on the dance floor. She turned and saw a sight that made something hard and tight knot up in her middle.
"Eli. What are you doing here?" she said to her brother who was pushing his way through a crowd. She tried to sound pleased to see him, but it didn't sound very convincing. Laura saw Joshua stiffen when he caught sight of Eli.
Her brother was well turned out in neatly pressed pants, leather waistcoat and white shirt, the sleeves of which were rolled up to his elbows. He looked ready for action, although Laura couldn't guess which kind. He had a tall, already half empty, drink in his hand. Eli's eyes were bright and rather too animated for Laura's liking.
Joshua stood as Eli looked down at Laura. "Eli. I didn't expect to see you here," Joshua said. "You're not usually the socializing type."
Eli waved a hand loosely. "I don't spend all my time working. I'm not like you Joshua. I don't have to work all the time to keep my failing spread going," he declared. Laura could hear the slur in Eli's voice. What on earth did Eli mean? Failing spread.
Joshua glanced at Laura. He took Eli's elbow. "How's your mama?" Joshua asked him
"She's fine. Completely recovered. Now that you and Laura are married," he said with a glance down at his sister. "She's up and about, knitting all day in the parlor."
Laura peered into Eli's eyes looking for even the faintest hint of sincerity or concern for their mother. But, as usual, she couldn't find the slightest suggestion that his mother's recovery was good news.
"That's excellent news. Isn't it Laura," Joshua asked her.
Joshua's Montana Bride (Sweet, Clean Western Historical Romance)(Montana Ranchers and Brides Series) Page 9