by Kit Morgan
Abbey took a few steps closer and peered into her face. “Have you been crying, again?”
“I can’t seem to help myself.”
“Oh, just tell the man, yes!”
“How can I tell him yes when he hasn’t asked me?”
“You know he’s falling for you, at least I think he is. Maybe he’ll surprise you and propose tonight!”
Charlotte threw her a sardonic look. “Tom Turner is not going to propose to me tonight.”
“How do you know? It could happen.”
“We haven’t spent enough time together for one, and when we have, it’s been for dancing lessons, or chaperoning Rose and Matthew, or passing each other in the street.”
“He came for Sunday dinner last week, that should count for something.”
“Yes, but I forgot I’d invited him, remember?”
“Oh,” Abbey said flatly. “Okay, so maybe he doesn’t propose tonight, but he’s not going to have a chance to do anything if you’re not dressed!”
Charlotte sighed. “All right then, help me will you?” Abbey went to her and began to unbutton the back of her day dress. “Thank you for making the bonnet. It’s beautiful, you should think about opening a millinery shop when you move to Oregon City.”
“I have thought about it. Billy suggested it as well. Oh, Charlotte, I’m so excited about leaving Nowhere! I can’t tell you!”
Charlotte turned to her and smiled through fresh tears. “I know you are … I just wish…” she threw her face in hands and sobbed. “Oh, Abbey … I don’t know what’s wrong with me …”
“I know what’s wrong with you.”
Charlotte looked up at her. “What?”
“You’re in love.”
“I am not, I can’t be …” Or could she? Is that what was wrong with her? Or was it the painful realization she’d fallen short for so many years, and the Lord’s astounding brush of grace that saved her? Was it one, the other, or both? Charlotte honestly didn’t know.
* * *
Tom sat in the Sheriff’s office and stared at the wanted poster of Red Ned. He’d never seen the man in person, only read the reports after Sheriff Riley pinned the poster to the wall a couple of weeks ago. He then looked at the poster pinned next to it. Jack Cooke he knew all too well, his brother Sam too. They were a black mark on his little town of Clear Creek, and the more he stared at the poster, the more he wanted to see Jack join his brother Sam behind bars. But they both were hiding out somewhere near Oregon City, far from either Clear Creek or Nowhere, and none of his concern, for now.
He turned to the opposite wall, one that housed a tiny mirror, and examined his reflection. He walked toward it slowly, and smoothed his hair first, then gave the mirror a toothy grin, to make sure nothing was stuck in his teeth. He then ran a hand across his jaw, and felt the smooth skin of a clean shave. All in all, he cleaned up nice. He even got a hair cut that afternoon. “Well, Tom Turner,” he said to himself as he straightened the borrowed jacket he wore. “Tonight’s the night.” He turned from the mirror and reached for his hat. “She’s probably gonna cry. All women cry …”
And with that, he left the Sheriff’s office to go to the Valentine’s dance.
* * *
“Oh, good Heavens! Has anyone seen my other glove?” Elle ran through the kitchen into the hall. “Summer!”
“It’s in your hand, dear.” Mrs. Riley told her.
Elle’s eyes went round as saucers as she looked to the glove in her hand. “No, it isn’t.”
Mrs. Riley stepped to her, took the glove, and peeled it away from its mate.
“Oh my, will you look at that,” Elle said in amazement.
“I was a nervous wreck at my first dance too,” Mrs. Riley told her. “But you’ll do fine, dear. Now where’s Rose, is she dressed yet?”
“Rose!” Elle shouted up the stairwell.
Mrs. Riley put a hand to her head. “Inside voice, dear, inside voice. If we were in the mountains, you’d cause an avalanche.”
Elle rolled her eyes, ran up the stairs, and flew through the door of her room. “Hurry! Clayton is bringing the wagon around front.”
“Be … right … there!” Summer said with each tug of Rose’s corset.
“Ugh! Who invented these?” Rose said as she held onto the bed-post while Summer tied up the laces. “I can’t breathe!”
“That means I got it tight enough.” She walked stiffly to the bed. “Formal affairs call for a corset, now lets get your dress on.”
“Elle looks like she’s breathing fine,” Rose observed. “And she ran up the stairs, I heard it. How can you run wearing such a torture device?”
Elle pursed her lips before she smiled. “Never mind that, hurry and get dressed. We don’t’ want to be late!”
Summer narrowed her eyes. “You took it off, didn’t you?”
Elle tossed her an angelic look, and then ran from the room.
“Ohhhh!” Summer groaned. “I knew it!”
Rose laughed, the sucked in a breath. “At least one of us will be comfortable tonight.”
Summer shook her head in resignation and turned to her. “What about you, how are you feeling about tonight?”
“I’m nervous about the wedding tomorrow, but everyone tells me that’s normal. I just wish …”
“You wish what?”
“I wish I didn’t have this funny feeling, like I have no control of anything.”
“I felt that way too, it goes with the territory of being a mail order bride. Once you sign the contract, your life changes forever.”
Rose picked her dress up from the bed. “Forever …” she whispered. “Mrs. Matthew Quinn, forever …” She turned to Summer and smiled. “Thank you for all your help, you and Elle have been so kind to me, I wish we’d known each other better at Winslow.”
“Winslow if far behind all of us. Now, there’s only the future, let’s make the best of it. Don’t worry, you’ll be the bell of the ball tonight, and a beautiful bride tomorrow!”
Rose took a short breath. “I hope so.”
“I know so!” Summer said, and took the dress from her.
* * *
“Matthew, are you sure you don’t want to take your cane?” his mother asked.
He finished combing his hair, and set the comb on the table. He picked at his face, and wondered if he had time to shave again. He counted three whiskers already peeking through the soft skin.
“Matthew?” his mother said as she entered his room. “Didn’t you hear me?”
“I’ll be fine, I don’t need it.”
“Are you sure? Your father said he saw you limping yesterday.”
“I was on it too long, I’ve been off of it most of today.”
“Very well, but if you go limping around tomorrow on your wedding day, what will people think?”
“That my ankle isn’t healed yet?” he asked innocently.
She swatted his shoulder before she looked at his reflection in the mirror. “My, my, what a handsome son I have.”
He put on his spectacles. “If you say so, mother.”
“Rose thinks you’re handsome, and that’s what counts.”
He picked a pill of lint from his jacket and flicked it away. “Yes, I would imagine one’s wife should find her husband attractive.”
“She got lucky, and so did you.”
“How so?”
“What I mean is, what if you didn’t find her the least bit attractive, or she found you not to her liking?”
“She’s a mail order bride, mother. You get what they send you, that’s how it works.”
“You mean you would marry her, even if she wasn’t to your liking?”
He froze, and balled his hands into fists. “Like I’ve had a choice all along?”
“You know what I mean, I wouldn’t want you to marry someone you didn’t like, but Rose is a beauty, how could you even think of sending her back?”
“Because you never gave me a choice?” he asked with t
he same innocence as before.
“Don’t be patronizing, you’ve had a choice.”
“You say that because tomorrow is my wedding.”
“Why are we having this conversation, you know perfectly well you’re not going to back out now.”
“No, I’m not. Now let’s go, I want to at least get there and have one dance with my bride before Aunt Mary show’s up and the chaos starts.”
“They’re not that bad,”
He raised a single brow.
“Okay, maybe they could be taught a few manners.”
“A few?” he echoed. “Mother, I doubt they can be taught anything. Now let’s go to the dance.”
* * *
Clayton pulled the wagon up alongside several others, set the brake, and jumped down. Spencer followed and together they helped the women out. Once they had them safely on their feet, both men stepped back and admired their wives. “Mmmm,” Clayton rumbled as he looked Summer up and down in the bright moonlight. “C’mere and give me some sugar.”
“Clayton!” his mother scolded. “Stop that, save it for … well, you know.”
He laughed as he pulled Summer into his arms. “I love you,” he whispered against her hair.
Rose felt herself blush, and was glad they were still outside in the cold. It was a beautiful night, crisp, clear, cold and full of moonlight. Perfect for a romantic evening with her betrothed. A chill went up her spine as she turned to enter the town meeting hall. Music could be heard from inside, along with the laughter of the townsfolk. Most folks were already there. She’d heard Spencer comment about it to Clayton as they pulled up. Her heart skipped a beat as their group entered.
Soft lamplight greeted them, along with the delicious smell of food. Spencer helped Mrs. Riley and Elle carry in several pies and a basket of fried chicken. Rose stood on tip-toe to take the sights in better. Several fiddlers, including Mr. Quinn, were seated at the far end of the hall on a small stage. Streamers of pink and white paper were strung throughout the room, and tables with pretty lace tablecloths, were laden with all kinds of delectable treats. Rose licked he lips at the sight. Decent food was one of the things she enjoyed most outside of Winslow’s walls.
Matthew appeared in front of her and took her hand. She jumped at the contact and gazed at him. “Oh, my goodness, you scared me!” She noted how nice he looked and smiled.
“I’m sorry, but when I saw you come in, I couldn’t wait until you found me, I had to come to you.”
She lowered her eyes, blushed, smiled, and looked up. “Oh,” she breathed.
The people parted so Mr. Burns could carry some music stands to the small stage. Standing next to it speaking with Mr. Quinn, was Tom Turner. She swallowed hard and began to fan herself as she’d seen Charlotte do.
“Is something the matter?” Matthew inquired.
Rose, her eyes fixated on the man across the room, tried not to moan. “No,” she said, her voice cracking, and forced her attention back to him.
“I’m so glad you’re here, it’s going to be a wonderful night,” he told her. “I can’t wait to have our first …”
He stopped short. Rose felt a blast of wind from behind her as the doors opened. The Davis family had arrived. Billy immediately went to Clayton and Spencer and shook their hands. They fell into some heated chatter about someone called Red something or other, before she noticed Matthew had stopped talking. She followed his gaze and sucked in a breath. Charlotte walked into the hall wearing a beautiful dress with matching hat and shawl. Rose smiled, she knew how much work the girl had put into making it, and was happy it turned out so well. She would have to tell her how wonderful she looked. She turned to Matthew. His eyes were glued to Charlotte’s form, his face frozen in rapt awe. Rose glanced between the two, Charlotte hadn’t noticed them yet, she was busy talking with Summer and Elle. Rose fought the temptation to wave a hand in front of his face.
“Well, will you look at that,” he finally said, his voice breathless. Rose cringed as he turned to her. “Charlotte’s dress is almost the same shade as yours.” He cocked his head this way and that. “Perhaps two to three shades lighter I’d say. Lucky you, what a travesty for you both to be wearing a frock cut from the same cloth.”
She stared at him. Why had she been so worried a moment ago? He wasn’t pining after Charlotte. He was admiring her dress! Rose sighed in relief and went back to examining the food table.
The music started. A few whoops went up and folks began to look for their partners. Matthew grabbed her hand. “Shall we?”
She smiled as her stomach fluttered with excitement. Was it at the prospect of her first dance, or the fact Tom Turner was approaching? He smiled that dazzling smile of his, and went straight to Charlotte. Rose could kick herself as a knot of disappointment dropped into the pit of her stomach. Of course he would go straight to Charlotte, they were here together weren’t they?
She let Matthew lead her to a cleared area where several other couples were already dancing to a jaunty tune. She concentrated as best she could on her steps, and they danced around in a circle. At this point she couldn’t remember the name of the dance, she just followed Matthew’s lead.
The townspeople began to clap as they watched, a few whistling and shouting to boot. Rose did her best, but the corset she wore made it almost impossible to breath. She was going to have to tell Matthew to stop. He did, and they went to get some punch and watch the others dance for a time. If she was lucky, she’d be able to sneak away and get rid of her cursed corset!
A half an hour went by, and the mood of everyone was festive and light. Occasionally, a child would dart between the couples dancing in a mad dash for the food table, but their playfulness was met with good-natured scolds and laughter. Rose thought she’d died and gone to Heaven. Everything was perfect, the people, the food, the sights and sounds …
It was then, the doors burst open.
Eleven
A blast of wind blew in and made those nearest the entrance shiver. “WOOO WEE!” A male voice yelled. “There’s more folks here than beans in a can!”
The music abruptly stopped as all heads turned.
Four huge men stood in the entrance area, the people giving them a wide berth as they stepped into the hall. A petite woman wearing an elaborate hat edged her way between the four giants to stand in front of them. “Hello, all,” she greeted in a delicate voice.
Mrs. Quinn stopped staring with the rest, and went to her. “Mary! I’m so glad you could make it.”
“Howdy, Aunt Betsy!” one of the giants said. In one quick move, he swept her up in his arms and kissed her on the cheek. The other three roared with laughter as he set her down. The petite woman who came in with them smacked him on the elbow. “Mind your manners!” she roared.
He immediately stilled, his eyes so wide Rose could see their whites from across the room. “Your cousins, I take it?”
Matthew moaned next to her. When she glanced at him, he’d taken his spectacles off and was pinching the bridge of his nose. Hard.
“Well,” the biggest cousin bellowed. “Looks like a real party! What say we join in, boys?”
The people closest to them, backed up.
Their mother handed the basket she was holding to an onlooker, and turned to her sons. “Now hear this!” she yelled at them in the same rough voice. “Mind your manners or I’m gonna use some lead on ya!”
Nellie Davis stood horrified not feet away, and swooned. Mr. Davis ran to her aid. It was all Rose could do not to laugh and slapped both hands over her mouth.
“Hello, Mary!” Clayton called. The tiny woman turned, her face lit up from the sound of his voice, and held her arms out wide. Clayton hurried to her and swept her up in a warm embrace. “How’s the best little hat maker in the territory?”
“Why I’m just peachy, Sheriff. Oh, but you’re not the Sheriff anymore, are you?”
“No, that pleasure belongs to Spencer now.”
“My brother tells me you both got mar
ried.”
“Yep, come meet the wives.” He looked up at her sons. “And you are old enough not to have your ma yell at ya in public! Mind yourself tonight.”
The four stood looking down at him. They were a few inches taller than Clayton and Spencer, or any other man in the room for that matter, and wider to boot. No wonder everyone gave them space.
The music slowly started, one fiddle at a time, and the celebration resumed.
“Them fellas sure are big.”
Rose jumped. Tom had come out of nowhere and now stood on the other side of her. “Yes, the biggest I’ve ever seen.”
“I dunno, I think Mr. Berg back home and Mr. MacDonald have an inch or two to spare. They’re the biggest men I know.”
“Yes, but are there four of them?” she asked.
“No, but the two took on almost twenty men once, and Mr. MacDonald with a bullet in his shoulder. It was no contest.”
“For who? The bullet or the shoulder?” Matthew asked sarcastically. “Now will you kindly stop with your silly stories?” he quipped. “Rose doesn’t need to hear such lies!”
“I ain’t no liar, Mr. Quinn. If I was, I’d be saying things like; how horrible you look tonight Miss Rose. Or, that dress is terrible on you!”
Rose giggled at his teasing. Matthew rolled his eyes and turned. Charlotte was now on the other side of him.
He sucked in a breath and froze.
“Evening, Matthew,” she said with a smile.
He closed his eyes as his spine set to tingling. It was all he could do to keep breathing. She had to be the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen.
“Well lookie here,” a deep male voice drawled.
The four looked up. Matthew moaned. “Hello, Arlan.”
“Howdy, cousin. Been a long time.” He stared at the four and studied them. Rose drew closer and took the nearest hand. Unfortunately, it wasn’t Matthew’s. Tom held it all the same. The giant took in the action. “Now isn’t this cozy? Look at you all lined up, boy-girl, boy-girl. I hear tell you’re gonna get married, is that true? Ya finally roped the filly?”