by Annie Lane
“I only tolerate it for Charlotte’s sake. She seems to enjoy all the fuss and fancy of a country town.” Thomas spotted his wife through the parade of hats and bonnets before him and smiled as he watched her dark hair twisting one way and then the next, her bright blue eyes glistening in anticipation of all the ladies had to share.
She was listening intently, nibbling on her fingernail, and, as far as Thomas could tell, she looked about as content amidst the nattering as anyone else he knew. It pleased him to see her happy. Charlotte’s life hadn’t been easy from what he’d been told, and while he preferred the idea of just heading straight back to the ranch after the service — so as they might just sit back and enjoy the Sabbath together, relaxing and eating and reading to one another in the gentle way he’d become accustomed to — he knew it was important for Charlotte to become friends with the other ladies in town. So he forced himself to stay a while and shoot the breeze with his neighbors.
“You’re a wise man Thomas,” said Earl, pensively. “Smarter than I gave ya credit for.”
“Not sure I agree, Earl. If I hadn’t been so stubborn, I might have listened to you sooner and then I could have been this happy years ago.”
Earl, taking the conversation in his stride and feeling a little chuffed said, “But then you wouldn’t have met Charlotte and you might be married to some other gal, instead of that perfect one over there.”
Thomas chuckled, agreeing wholeheartedly with his friend and colleague, but it only lasted a brief moment before a loud scream filled the space around them and both men jumped to attention. It was so abrupt and so unexpected that even the women from inside the hall raced out and covered their children’s ears, scared they might have been done some irreparable damage by the piercing cry.
Thomas near fell over himself when he looked across the way and realized it was his wife that was doing all the squealing. Her face was pale, her eyes filled with tears and she was clutching at her chest like she was in the most terrible pain and simply didn’t know what to do with it.
Thomas let his cup drop to the ground as he ran toward her, racing across the paddock so fast that his legs ached and his muscles burned with the speed and strain he was putting them under. “Charlotte!” He called her name like the letters were made of acid on his tongue. “Charlotte ... please, my love, what’s wrong?”
Charlotte glanced back at Thomas as he approached and she clapped her hands, taking him completely by surprise. She was smiling now and laughing in a way Thomas had never heard before. Her entire face beamed with joy and her arms waved frantically toward the street. “Look, Thomas, look who it is ... it’s Beth! Oh, I don’t believe it ... it’s Beth!”
Thomas stumbled backwards, completely caught off guard. He was the first to admit he didn’t know much about women, but from what little he did know they could be unpredictable creatures and near impossible to understand. Though in that very moment it didn’t worry him none. He’d never been more relieved to have absolutely no idea what was going on in his life. As long as Charlotte was smiling, nothing else mattered and the tension in his body gradually slipped away.
A horse and cart slowed to a halt right by the sidewalk and Beth jumped from the front like she’d done it a thousand times before. She held out her arms and giggled in much the same way. “Oh, Charlotte, how I’ve missed you.”
“Dear Beth!” Charlotte scurried into her arms, and the two friends held each other in an embrace for the longest time.
“You’re here, you’re here! Do my eyes deceive me?”
“No, it’s me, it really is me.”
Earl stood back some and watched all the excitement play out before him. He crossed his legs at the ankles, pulled his pipe from his shirt pocket and packed it with tobacco, but then he realized he had no way of lighting the thing, so he shoved it back into his pocket and wandered closer to the action.
Who was that young lady Charlotte was making such a fuss over? The two were hugging and kissing now like they’d known each other all their lives. Perhaps they had? Maybe the girl was here to visit a while? From where though? The orphanage? Sounded plausible under the circumstances.
Earl narrowed his eyes as he tried to get a better look at the newest face in town. Her head was still down as she fixed to gather her belongings from the back of the cart, but the instant she turned and lifted her eyes, glancing his way for just the briefest of moments, his breath caught in his throat and he knew there was something about her that he’d never forget as long as he lived.
He was plum dumbstruck.
Her hair rich and red, bright and striking, spilled all the way down her back and curled around her tiny waist in a fashion that made his heart race in the most uneven of rhythms. Even from a distance Earl could tell her eyes were green. The most incredible shade of green in fact, and the effect they had on him was like nothing else he’d felt for years. A strange feeling stirred deep in his chest. While she looked nothing like Grace, far from it in fact, he was so captivated by her beauty that he struggled to stand upright.
Junior rounded the corner then, puffing and panting like he’d just run a country mile. His feet skidded to a stop in the dry soil right in front of his father. He’d been so caught up in a round of hopscotch that it hadn’t registered in his head when he’d first heard Charlotte screaming Beth’s name. But once her voice found its way through all the muddle between his ears, his little legs couldn’t move fast enough and now he stood there gaping at her like he was trying to catch flies. To Junior’s way of thinking, Elizabeth Edwards was by far the prettiest thing he’d ever seen, and he wasted no time in running across the paddock to meet her.
“Junior!” shouted Earl.
But Junior had no intention of stopping, not even when he noticed his father chasing after him. Once he was close enough to reach out his arms, he threw himself around Beth’s legs and hugged her tight. “You’re like our very own angel come to save us. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!”
Earl stepped forward and pried Junior’s hands from Beth’s crumpled skirt while she found her feet and righted herself again. “Give the lady some space, boy!” He glanced up and when the two sets of eyes locked together, her dazzling green with his deep brown, something passed through the air and Earl shook his head, trying to clear the hazy feeling that over took him.
“I’m so sorry there, Miss. I’m Earl Mason and this little leech right here ... is Junior. I honestly don’t know where his head’s at? I sincerely apologize.”
Beth took a moment to still her beating heart. Just as Junior had described, Earl was in fact dark and strong and about as handsome as any other man Beth had ever had the pleasure of encountering.
His wide hand stretched out in front of her, waiting for an official introduction. While she imagined the meeting to have gone a little differently — with Earl sweeping her up off her feet and racing her off to the church before any other man could lay claim to her — she smiled sweetly back at him and took his hand. “I’m so very pleased to be here. I’m Elizabeth Edwards, but I insist you call me Beth. It’s lovely to meet you.”
Earl nodded courteously and looked down at Beth’s luggage sitting on the ground beside her feet. “Yep, you too, Ma’am. Not stayin’ long by the looks of thing.”
“Pardon?”
“You’ve packed light for your visit is all I’m saying. Though I guess if you plan on campin’ over at the Ackerman’s a while then ya can just borrow a dress or two if the need arises.”
Earl knew he was rambling — what the heck did he know of dresses after all — but he couldn’t stop himself. The innocent way Beth was looking up at him, blinking slowly, her head tipped curiously to one side like she was absorbing every single word he said and trying to see deep inside him, made his fingers twitch and his toes curl up inside his boots.
He didn’t like the weird feeling. He didn’t like it at all.
He also didn’t like the fact that for some strange reason he’d already memorized her incredible
scent, a mix of lavender and vanilla. Or that he knew the exact placement of all twelve freckles on her cheeks — five on the left and seven on the right. Or that he’d noticed the way Beth’s lashes fluttered a little quicker whenever he spoke. It made him uncomfortable and he wanted home as soon as possible. But despite all of this, he just kept on rambling. “By the looks of that fancy little travel case there, I guess you’re expecting a snappy affair to attend ... hate to disappoint ya little lady, but there ain’t a great deal of night life here in Conrad. Why, it rarely amounts to more than a few shots over at the saloon.”
Beth simply stared at Earl. She wasn’t sure what to say. Had there been some sort of misunderstanding? Had he changed his mind? Why wasn’t he dressed and ready to go? While she noticed his shirt was clean and freshly pressed, it certainly wasn’t wedding attire and she found herself a little disappointed that he’d made no extra effort for the special occasion.
“That fancy little travel case contains my wedding dress, Mr. Mason. I believe I’m getting married today?”
Earl nodded slowly, drawing the obvious conclusion. This must be the young lady the preacher had spoken of. His emotions teetered dangerously somewhere between bitterly disappointed and positively relieved. He couldn’t help but wonder who the lucky man might be though? Why hadn’t there been word around town? No groom had even been spoken of.
“Well, that’s just wonderful news, congratulations to you both!” He looked around until he found Junior standing over by Louise. All eyes were on him, however, and he hadn’t the foggiest idea why that would be. It made him hot under the collar with the way his blood was racing around his body like it was being timed or something. “We better be gettin’ back, boy. Say goodbye now.”
“No ... wait, Pa you don’t—”
“That’s enough, boy.” Earl grinned politely to cover his annoyance. “I said we’re going home and I don’t want you whining the entire time ‘cause Sarah beat you at marbles or something as equally ridiculous. You can play with the Lawsons again tomorrow. The nice lady has a wedding to prepare for and she doesn’t need us gettin’ in her way.”
Junior tugged on his father’s arm. “She’s here for you, Pa. She came all the way from Seattle. Louise helped me write a letter and we sent for her ourselves. It was Louise’s gift to us and everything so I saved us money and I know how much you love it when I do that. Miss Beth is going to marry you today. Ain’t it just the most wonderful thing ever?”
A stunned silence filled the entire space and Earl Mason Senior couldn’t move a single muscle. His feet were frozen on the ground
“You ... did... what?” he asked, shocked beyond belief. He wasn’t quite sure what was going on, but if the feeling in his gut grew any tighter he feared a knot might form. “Tell me this isn’t real? Tell me you’re just pulling my leg?”
Beth’s eyes filled with tears. “Is there a problem?”
“Yes there’s a problem!” Earl shouted the words so loud and with so much conviction that Beth took a step back and he instantly regretted his actions, but the fury building up inside him stopped him from showing repentance.
He glared over at Louise, who had conveniently slithered into the background. She was cowering behind Charlotte and Thomas. They were standing right in front of her with their mouths agape with the suddenness of the whole affair and Junior looked like he was about to make a run for it at any moment. Earl grabbed his son by the collar and held on tight. He was downright furious. “Don’t even think about it, boy. You better start explainin’ yourself.”
Junior turned bright red and cringed under his father’s firm hold. “You’ve just been so lonely these last few years, Pa. I hear ya crying when you think I’m asleep and it makes me feel right bad for ya. You’re a good man, Pa and you deserve to be happy again. That’s all we done it for.”
Beth’s back stiffened. “You didn’t send for me yourself?” She was horrified by the idea and felt like making a run for it herself but the heaviness in her chest prevented her from doing so. “You didn’t know I was coming?”
Earl shook his head. “I knew nothing of the sort. The last thing I want is a new wife. This whole thing is just a huge inconvenience and I think the best thing for everyone would be for you to turn around and head right on back where you came from.”
“Well ... uh, I can’t exactly.”
“Why not?”
Charlotte stepped forward and tucked her arm around Beth’s waist. She knew nothing of Beth’s arrival but the pieces of the puzzle were gradually fitting together and the look of helplessness on her best friend’s face was one she couldn’t disregard. Beth’s limp body crumbled against Charlotte’s side as she tried to explain her situation, mortified that she’d been rejected by someone who was supposed to love her. Again. It was becoming quite the pattern. But the words kept getting caught up in her throat and the tears that had once threatened to fall free, were now spilling from her eyes and staining her cheeks. “Because ... because I’m ... I’m an orphan and I have no home to speak of.”
“Good Lord, what have they sent me?” Earl stomped his foot and let his eyes cut sharp to Louise again. “I already have one child, I certainly don’t need another to support.”
Beth’s head jerked back, surprised and bewildered, and she glared at Earl with the fire of a thousand suns burning right up inside her. His harsh words cut right through her tears, pushing the sadness and the rejection and the embarrassment all the way to the back of her mind. She didn’t take kindly to being insulted and the whispers and the murmurs of the gathering crowd only fueled her fiery temper. Beth couldn’t care less in that moment if Earl was going to be her husband or not.
“I’m hardly a child!” she snapped. “I turned eighteen last week and I’m perfectly capable of caring for the boy. I’ll have you know that I’ve travelled a long way to make your acquaintance, on your request as far as I was concerned, so if anyone’s been put out here ... it is me in meeting you.”
Earl couldn’t believe the girl was speaking to him that way. She was so brash and bold and he could barely keep a level head. Part of him enjoyed her spirited nature but another part wanted to put her back in her place. “I didn’t ask you to come here Miss Edwards. If I had, don’t you think I would have written to you myself and corresponded back and forward a while so as we might get to know each other first.”
“I ... uh, I suppose you...”
“Exactly, and you right know it. What is this all about anyway? Is it some elaborate ploy to worm your way into our lives? To take what we have from under our noses and turn our lives upside down. Trust me young lady, there’s enough gold-diggers ‘round these parts without the likes of you adding to the mix.”
Beth’s eyes flared. “I came into this world with absolutely nothing and I’m more than happy to leave it again in quite the same way. I don’t want your money, Mr. Mason, or your ranch, or your time quite frankly. I was looking for a family, one who might need me to care for them, and for some crazy reason I thought you and Junior might be just what I was looking for.”
Beth paused for a moment. “I’ve never had a real family before. I was abandoned by my very own mother, and I doubt I ever even met my father, so when Junior sent me that letter I thought all my dreams had come true. ”
“We’ll, you thought wrong.”
“So it seems!”
The two of them stood square in the middle of the yard, staring in judgement for the longest time, breathing hard through grit teeth. But neither one of them spoke a word. Beth wasn’t sure if she could take it much longer though, her hands shaking and her knees knocking together. “If you want me to leave ... then please have the decency to just come right out and say it.”
Earl knew it to be incredibly rude not to look at the girl as he spoke, but he was so worked up inside that he couldn’t make his mind work in conjunction with his heart and he snapped his gaze away from the bottomless pool of emerald green standing right there before him. Her eyes begged him
to say the words she so desperately wanted to hear. She wanted Earl to tell her to stay, to tell her he wanted her, to tell her she would become his wife.
He studied the dirt beneath his feet instead. It seemed his heart was breaking in two and the more flushed Beth’s face became, and the longer he listened to her sobbing softly while she waited for an answer, the harder it was to mend the two sides back together. It was a futile cause and the cracks just grew deeper.
He finally squared his shoulders, “I want you to leave.”
Chapter 13
Louise chased after Earl as he stormed toward his cart. “Earl, please reconsider?”
He spun on his heels and leaned in a little closer. He was positively wild. Not only had he been made a fool of in front of the entire town, but he’d made young Beth cry and that sure wasn’t something he was proud of. He could still hear her whimpering softly over his shoulder and every gasp and snivel tore through his bones like fingernails on chalk board. “Are you happy, Louise? I just don’t understand what you thought would come of this.”
“Go easy there, Earl.” Henry stepped up beside his wife. “You know Louise as well as I do ... there’s not a mean streak in her body. Whatever it was she planned with the boy was in your best interest.”
Louise nodded. “I promise, I certainly didn’t set out to hurt you.”
“It’s not just about me though, or Junior for that matter. You’ve set off a chain of events that can’t be fixed. Take a look at the girl over there, she’s right embarrassed and I don’t blame her ... but I won’t be held accountable for it. It might serve you well in future to keep your nose out of other people’s business.”
Henry moved forward in a protective stance, but Earl wasn’t in any way intimidated by the Sheriff and didn’t miss a beat as he helped Junior up into the front of the cart. He cracked the reins and before long he was nothing more than a fuzzy blur on the horizon.
Louise sighed. Sick to the very pit of her stomach she threw herself into Henry’s waiting arms. She buried her head in his shoulder and prayed to God that she could somehow right the situation. Mabel strolled past then, conveniently preoccupied with a ball of yarn in her hand, acting as nonchalant as she could muster.