“Um. While you’re doing that, can I go into the house and use their toilet?” Did she really need to go, or did she want an excuse to get into the house?
“There’s no plumbing on the ranch, Mattie. See the outhouse behind the bunkhouse?” he pointed to the tiny building since it could be seen from where they were standing. “That’s our toilet room. Be sure to knock on the door before you go in because everybody on the ranch uses it. And watch out for snakes and spiders, too. They like to lurk in those dark, dank holes.”
***
Was Reuben still married to that woman? The thought made her angrier each time it echoed in her head! Surely that wasn’t right, or he wouldn’t have talked about marrying her and adopting Tate and Amelia. Darcie went into the house when she couldn’t bear to hear another word, although Reuben’s and Mattie’s raised voices flowed through the open windows of the house. Plus, Tate was getting upset, and Reuben didn’t need her son to run to him during this argument with his…wife.
Dagmar came into the house cursing in Swedish. He dipped a tin cup into the pail of water by the dry sink, swallowed it in three gulps, and stomped back out the door without looking for Darcie. From the hallway, she could see Mattie still standing on the porch and Reuben and Gabe facing her, but she was too far enough away to hear their actual words.
What would happen now? Was Reuben really still married to that pompous…witch? What did he ever seen in her? Things had turned around for Darcie and her children and she was looking forward to becoming a family with Reuben and Gabe. And the worst of it was, she had fallen in love, with another woman’s husband.
Chapter 10
Reuben hurried to hitch up the horse and buggy and found Mattie was rooted to the same spot where he left her.
He pushed the horse hard enough that the buggy wheels rattled to prevent talk and they arrived in town quicker than usual. Mattie had one hand holding her fancy hat on top of her head and the other hand clutching the side of the buggy.
“Get out,” Reuben said as the buggy pulled up to the hotel.
“Aren’t you going to help me down?”
“That’s what the steps are for on the side of the buggy.” Reuben said while looking straight ahead, waiting for the buggy to dip to the side so he could tell she was off and he could leave.
“What about my luggage?” Reuben forgot he’d shoved her carpet bag under the seat.
“Catch,” he yanked it from its place, held the bag over the side of the buggy where she now stood and dropped it. She stepped back rather than catch it, so the bag knocked up a cloud of dust when it hit the ground. Too bad it hadn’t landed on a pile of fresh manure.
“You’re being very uncouth and rude, Reuben. Why are you treating me this way?!” Mattie screeched. Her face was red and screwed up in rage.
People were stopping along the boardwalk to stare at them, but Reuben didn’t care who heard them at this point. He wasn’t the guilty party here. “Remember locking me out of our house eight years ago, denying me to see my son, denying me shelter, food and clothing after I returned from the War?” He could hear people murmuring now as they caught the words.
“But I’m your wife!”
“You were, until you paid to have me declared killed in battle so you could marry your lover!” Reuben yelled back. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath before looking back down at her. He lowered his voice and hissed, “And since I’m dead, I’m only a ghost from your past, so there’s no reason for you to come near me or my son again.”
Reuben flicked the reins to get the horse to take off. He’d have to drive out of town a few miles before he was calm enough to drive back into town to talk to Lyle. Mattie had pushed him out of Gabe’s life eight years ago, and he had crawled away like a coward. This time he was going to fight back because Mattie was not going to take away his future with Gabe, Darcie and her children.
Reuben pushed open the door to the lawyer’s office, but stopped short when he realized Lyle had people in his office. Especially since it was people he knew. Ennis and the marshal were leaning up against the inside office wall with Millie and Darcie seated in the chairs in front of Lyle’s desk.
Could he feel any worse? While he was driving around the country to cool his temper, Darcie had ridden into town, summoned her father, sister and Adam to meet with Lyle. This was his problem, but apparently Darcie had little faith in him and felt she had to fight Mattie for him.
Or were they talking about dropping Reuben’s request to adopt Tate and Amelia?
“Join the discussion, Reuben,” Lyle waved his hand to motion Reuben into the room. “Darcie wanted her father’s input since he’s a retired policeman.”
Reuben took off his hat and nervously fingered the brim. “I’m so sorry, Darcie,” Reuben pleaded while walking to where she sat in the room.
Darcie put up her hand, signaling for him to stop. “Don’t apologize to me, Reuben—unless you haven’t been honest with me about your situation—with your wife. And if you haven’t been truthful, you better make this right for our children. I won’t let Tate go through the trauma of a man abusing him again,” Darcie’s words and glare stopped him in his tracks.
“I would never hurt Tate,” Reuben pleaded.
“I know you wouldn’t intentionally hurt him, but nonetheless, I have to think of him and Amelia first.” She dropped her eyes to her clamped hands in her lap.
Reuben looked over to Ennis to gauge his reaction. Did Darcie’s father want Reuben out of his daughter’s and grandchildren’s lives after Mattie showing up with her accusations?
Lyle cleared his throat. “Ennis and Adam have been giving me advice on how to proceed with Mattie’s declaration she is still married to you, Reuben.”
“Besides checking into your war and marriage records, I think we should inquire about the cause of Mr. Ringwald’s death,” Ennis added. “What were you told when you were in Rochester?”
“Just that he was found dead in his office. Doctor suggested heart failure.”
“Well, something’s not right if she traveled all the way out here,” Ennis continued. “I assume her husband was wealthy by the look of Gabe’s clothes when he arrived. Why would she want to connect with you now?”
“From a parent’s standpoint, I’d assume she wants Gabe to move back home, although she didn’t mention that when out to the Bar E. Just brought up our marriage.”
“Did she say anything about her daughter traveling with her?” Adam asked.
“Not a word,” Rueben shook his head, but he looked around the room when no one else said anything. “Why?”
“I saw them get off at the depot together. Ethan Paulson confirmed there is a young daughter with Mrs. Ringwald,” Adam stated.
Reuben squeezed his eyes shut and tightened his jaw in anger. “She’ll use Mary as a ploy to pull Gabe home. Then she’d hope I follow them back to New York.”
“At least she didn’t leave her child home alone. So what is Mattie’s motive when declaring you two are still married? What does she gain?” Millie questioned him.
Millie had asked the right questions when Darcie’s husband had shown up in town trying to get Tate back and to have Millie arrested. It made the marshal learn to listen when the woman’s intuition kicked in. Maybe she was onto something now.
Millie tented her fingers in front of her face and tapped her chin while thinking. “What is the one thing you think Mattie cares the most about, Reuben? Past or present?”
“For some reason she pushed Gabe away when she had the opportunity, but now needs him back,” Darcie stated before Reuben could answer.
“Money,” both sisters said at the same time.
“Girls, I believe you’re on the right track,” Ennis proudly stated.
“So even if Ringwald’s death was natural or caused…something has come up about his will and how it pertains to Gabe and Reuben,” Millie mused.
Lyle sat at his desk, apparently not wanting to interrupt Millie, Darcie and Ennis as they talked abo
ut the problem Lyle and Reuben should be talking about privately. No, this time Reuben needed to rely on his friends and counsel. The more people involved in this, the sooner the problem with Mattie could be solved. Slinking away instead of standing up to Mattie last time had caused Reuben to miss years of his son’s life.
“Lyle, as a former policeman who has solved more cases than your age, I suggest we work together to wire and write to everyone we can think of to solve this case. I want my daughter and grandchildren happy and safe, and I stand behind Darcie choosing Reuben to do both,” Ennis pushed away from the wall and put his hat back on his head.
“Girls, you need to find a way so Mary and Gabe can safely reunite. That boy needs to see his sister.”
“Divide and conquer?” Millie smiled at her father.
“More like keep your enemies close so you can keep tabs on them, Millie,” Ennis answered.
“Exactly what are you suggesting, Ennis?” Reuben almost hated to ask.
“After we stop by the marshal’s office so I can pick up a deputy star to pin on my vest, I suggest we all go over to the hotel to welcome Mrs. Ringwald to town. If she sees you have a lawyer plus two officers of the law beside you, she might be more hesitant to think she can get her way.”
“We can use the church or our home as a place where Gabe and Mary can spend time together,” Millie added. “I assume we shouldn’t suggest the ranch?” She looked to Adam for his agreement, but he shrugged his shoulders like he didn’t think it mattered where they met.
“How long will it take to get proof of my marriage status, Lyle?” Reuben asked.
“Could be a matter of days, or weeks dealing with the fact the paperwork we need is in New York,” Lyle honestly replied.
“Think Mattie would stay here in town while we wait for proof?” Ennis asked.
“She can go wherever she wants because I don’t plan to spend any time with her,” Reuben threw up his hands in disgust. Why did Mattie have to show up now?
***
Darcie tried to keep her knees from quaking as she watched Mattie slowly descend the stairs of the hotel. The woman knew she had an audience downstairs and she played it to her advantage.
Mattie had changed her dress since Darcie saw her at the ranch. This robin’s egg blue silk dress had enough yards of material to outfit a family of girls. Instead of a full crinoline to make her waist smaller, she wore the newest fashion of a bustle. Neither style of skirt fullness was practical in this frontier town, but Darcie still felt a pang of jealously. Not only because of her own plain cotton dress, but because this was the woman Reuben had loved and had a child with. How could Darcie compete with her looks and wealth when Reuben came to his senses and went back East with his family?
“Well, I hope these kind law officers are here to protect me from your rude behavior, Reuben,” Mattie said as she flicked her eyes around the room of people.
Adam stepped forward with authority written all over his stiff posture. “I’m Marshal Wilerson, and this is my deputy, Ennis Donovan, a former Chicago police detective,” Adam addressed Mattie. “Donovan is also the father of my wife Millie and her sister Darcie Robbins, who you already met at the Bar E Ranch.”
“Also with us is Lyle Elison, a Boston lawyer who recently moved to Kansas to be near his sister’s family. Mr. Elison handled the adoption of Tate and Amelia Robbins for Mr. Shepard.”
“You adopted two children?” Mattie quickly asked as a second of panic crossed her face.
“Yes,” Reuben sternly replied. “I am legally responsible for two children, no matter where I live, or to whom I am—or am not—married.
“But because of your accusations of our marriage status, I’ve asked Messrs. Elison, Wilerson and Donovan to investigate your claim that we’re still married,” Reuben bluntly stated.
“There is no need to do that. I said we’re still married and we need to head back to New York immediately.” Mattie’s lips thinned showing her displeasure with Reuben’s lack of belief in her.
“I’m staying here, working and taking care of my charges while Mr. Elison finds out the truth about our marriage. He’s already written to Mr. Abercrombie, your late husband’s lawyer, about Gabe’s inheritance. It’s just a matter of time before it’s straightened out.”
“And what if your local committee doesn’t find out anything different?”
“I’ll travel back to Rochester with you in two weeks to sort this out face to face with Mr. Abercrombie,” Rueben challenged her
“It could take longer than two weeks to get this done, Reuben,” Lyle sternly warned him.
“Two weeks, Mattie. And in the meantime, I want Gabe and Mary to spend time together, without interference.”
“You have no right to…”
“I want to see Gabe, Mother. Please?” A slender girl slowly descended down the stairs toward the lobby. Apparently, she had been hiding at the top of the stairs listening in on the conversation below her. Her light brown hair, matching her mother’s coloring, was spun in ringlets draping down her back. Her lavender dress probably cost more than a year’s worth of groceries for Darcie’s children.
“Mary, I told you…”
Adam stepped forward. “Nice to meet you, Miss Ringwald. I saw you arrive in town this morning with your mother. I’m sure Gabe will be happy to see you.”
Mattie’s eyes narrowed as she looked at the ring of people surrounding Reuben, then stopped a second to look at Darcie.
“Very well, then. I’m sure my children will be happy to reunite, and look forward to going home with us in two weeks, Reuben. In the meantime, I request you spend time with me, your wife, rather than with the local maid, even if you have adopted her fatherless offspring.”
Darcie felt her face redden with embarrassment. How could she get through the next two weeks with everyone in town knowing she had been spending time with a married man?
“Bring Gabe into town this evening and we can all dine in the hotel here at six o-clock. Looks like that’s the best place in this little town to eat. And be sure Gabe wears better clothes than what I saw him in today. He looked like a dirty immigrant.”
Mattie turned, gathered her skirt and climbed the steps, pulling her daughter along when she got to the step where the child had rooted during the conversation.
Darcie prayed this matter with Mattie was resolved quickly or else…what? What if Reuben was still married to Mattie? Why had Darcie fallen in love with him, and let her children call him Poppa?
Chapter 11
“Reuben! Stop! Don’t get on the train! I just received a letter from Mr. Abercrombie!”
Reuben whirled around at Lyle’s shout. Would the letter reveal Mattie’s conviction that they were still married, or something else?
The last two weeks had been hard on him, Darcie and all their children. For some strange reason, records of Mattie and Reginald’s ceremony seemed to have vanished from the courthouse, or someone had been paid not to reveal them. Only Reuben and Mattie’s ceremony was on record.
Darcie and her children stayed secluded in the ranch house, not even going into town for church. A couple of times Reuben saw Tate sitting on the porch sucking on his thumb and petting Yipper. But as soon as Tate saw Reuben, he’d run into the house instead of running to greet Reuben like he used to do. It hurt so bad that Tate had lost his love and trust for him.
Meanwhile, Reuben had to spend time with Mattie, so Gabe and Mary could see each other. He and Gabe had rode into town almost every evening after work and met Mattie and Mary for their evening meal.
“Rueben, let’s get on the train. That letter will just state venomous lies. Mr. Abercrombie never liked me,” Mattie pulled on his arm, trying to get him to follow her.
Gabe squeezed past his mother and jumped off the car steps. “I’m not going anywhere until I hear what he says since you never gave me my letter from Father…uh, Reginald,” Gabe accused his mother while moving to stand by Lyle.
Reuben pulled Mattie’s
gripped hand off of his and backed down the steps. “I’ve been waiting for answers for two weeks. Hopefully, this letter will clear me of our marriage.”
“But the train is ready to leave!” Mattie panicked, probably not at the fact that the train was leaving, but that the truth was going to be revealed, and she didn’t want him to know it.
“We have fifteen minutes before the train is scheduled to leave. Mary, would you like to join your brother while we wait for the letter to be read?” Reuben asked calmly. Something was going on with Mattie and he didn’t want the girl to get caught in the middle of trouble. Reuben grabbed Mattie’s hand and pulled her out of the way so Mary could descend the steps. Gabe held out his hand and his sister went to grip it and lean against him.
Reuben looked to Darcie, standing by her family and friends, her face wet with tears, clutching Amelia tightly to her chest. They had come to the depot to tell him and Gabe good-bye. Tate’s face was turned into the hollow of his Aunt Millie’s neck, not wanting to look at anyone.
“Lyle, would you read the letter to us?” Reuben stated calmly, but inside, his heart was pounding like he was running up the side of a mountain. Everyone watched as Lyle slid his finger under the seal of the envelope flap and started to take out the piece of paper.
“NO!” Mattie screeched, lunging for the letter in Lyle’s hand. Lyle was caught off guard at her attack and dropped the still folded letter and envelope to the ground. Mattie dropped to the ground to retrieve it, but Adam’s booted foot stomped on the letter, just as she started to pick it up. She tried twisting the letter out from under his boot, but only achieved to tearing off a corner of the paper.
“You’re obstructing justice, Mrs. Ringwald. I can escort you to the jailhouse if you prefer not to cooperate in the reading of this letter.”
Mattie’s shocked face turned up to the marshal said it all. She hadn’t been telling the truth about something, and didn’t want Reuben to know what it was.
Adam lifted Mattie up on her feet and set her aside before retrieving the letter under his boot. He placed a hand around her forearm to keep hold of her while he handed the letter back to Lyle.
Darcie Desires a Drover: A Historical Western Romance (Brides with Grit Book 7) Page 9